Last time, after a heated argument with Laura Hurst, Neville told Harry who he and the rest of the D.A. thought R.A.B. was. They connected R.A.B. to Regulas Arctus Black, Sirius's late brother. Ron then realized, while laughing uncontrolled, that Slytherins locket maybe the one they threw out two summers ago. Harry grabbed some Floo Powder, and went to Number 12 Grimwald Place. And now, on with the show!
Chapter 25: The Fourth Horcruxes (For Real This Time)
After traveling through the Floo network, Harry emerged from the kitchen fireplace in Sirius's former house. Technically, it was his house now, but after Sirius died, Harry wanted nothing to do with it. Last summer, he gave the house to Dumbledore so it would remain headquarters for The Order of the Phoenix. I'd never thought I'd ever come back here thought Harry as he brushed soot from his clothes. As he stepped forward, he saw that he was not alone. Three members of The Order, Remus Lupin (a.k.a. Moony), Nymphadora Tonks or just Tonks, and Kingsley Shacklebolt were sitting at the table.
"Wotcher, Harry." Said a surprised Tonks. "Harry, what are you doing here?" asked Lupin. "I'll explain later Professor Lupin." Said Harry as he rushed out of the kitchen. As he ran into the hall, shrieks came from the old portrait of Sirius's mother. "FILTH! BLOOD TRAITOR!" "Shut up you old hag! I'm not in the mood!" yelled Harry. He rushed into the drawing room. On the far wall was the old tapestry which showed Sirius's family tree.
"Kreacher!" exclaimed Harry, and soon after followed a loud CRACK. There was Kreacher, the house-elf who betrayed Sirius, and now belonged to Harry. "Master called and Kreacher comes," said Kreacher, who then muttered, "But he would rather not be called at all." "Never mind that." Said Harry. "Now Kreacher, I'm going to ask you some questions, and I order you to tell me the truth. "Kreacher must do as master says. But he would rather not, the filthy half-breed."
"Now Kreacher," said Harry, ignoring the insult, "When my friends and my self were here two summers ago," "Kreacher remembers," interrupted the house elf, "The little blood traitors and mudbloods were throwing away all of mistresses possessions. Oh my poor mistress!" "Yeah, when we were cleaning in here, do you remember seeing a large gold locket?" "Yes Kreacher did, it belonged to master Regulas, my mistress's favorite son."
Now we're getting somewhere! thought Harry. "Kreacher, do you know what happened to that locket?" Kreacher hesitated for a second before answering, "Master and his filthy friends were going to throw it away. So Kreacher kept it." "May I see that locket? It's very important that I do." "Yes master," said Kreacher reluctantly, "Kreacher will go fetch it." The house elf walked out of the room. Harry assumed he went to his old nest under the boiler.
Just then, Lupin, Tonks and Kingsley Shacklebolt came into the room. "What's going on here Harry?" asked Lupin. If Harry couldn't trust his former Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, then he couldn't trust anyone. "It concerns Horcruxes." Said Harry. "Horcruxes?" asked Professor Lupin with a mixture of shock and surprise. "Who told you about Horcruxes?" "Voldemort told me." Replied Harry. "Well some memories about Voldemort did." At that, Kreacher reentered the room, carrying the locket Harry saw two years ago, and more recently in the pensive.
"Let me hold that locket for a moment or two Kreacher," said Harry anxiously, "And you can have it for the rest of your life." Kreacher gave the locket to Harry. It was exactly as he saw it in the pensive, and it still wouldn't open. Harry took a deep breath, and used the spell he used on the Third Horcurxes a few days ago. It shook in his hand, and Harry let it drop. It landed on the floor, and there was the loud explosion. When the smoke cleared, there was the small, dark black fragment of Voldemorts soul. It soon faded away. "Four down, two to go." Said Harry.
"Can someone please tell me what just happened?" asked Tonks. Harry picked up the locket. He found that it would open now, but it was empty inside. "As I said Kreacher," said Harry, "It's all yours." But Kreacher backed away from Harry. "Kreacher doesn't want it now!" "Why not?" "Master has tampered with it." "Oh very well," said an exasperated Harry, "Go back to Hogwarts where Dobby and Winky can keep an eye on you." "Yes master." Said Kreacher. He gave an unconvincing bow, and left with another CRACK!
Harry stared at the locket. It was because of this that Dumbledore risked himself for nothing. He handed the locket to Lupin. "Here, consider it an engagement present for Tonks." "I can't except it." Said Professor Lupin, "It's yours." "Well I don't want it." Said Harry. He walked back to the kitchen, threw some Floo Powder in the fireplace, and stepped into the green flames. "McGonagall Manor!" yelled Harry, and he vanished.
He soon was back in Professor McGonagalls study, where she and Jill Sparrow ere still standing. "What happened, Potter?" asked Professor McGonagall. "I had to take care of some personal business at Sirius's place." Said Harry. "You might have told us that before." Said Jill. She was rubbing her right forearm where Harry had seen her bleeding. "What's wrong with your arm?" asked Harry. "It's nothing," said Jill, "That harlot Stormy scratched me, that's all."
Harry walked back to the others, who were frantic about what happened. "The fourth Horcruxes has been destroyed. All that is left is whatever belonged to Ravenclaw, and to kill Naginni."
The end of chapter 25. Next chapter, more help is to arrive. Please read and review. I meant to ask this in previous chapters, but it slipped my mind. See you next time!
