Chapter 13
It had been a month, give or take a few days since Christmas. The gang was getting along unnaturally well, despite daily, rather amusing arguments between Ron and the Slytherins. Usually fuelled by the smallest things, like a stray sock or a rather unwelcome wake up call. The Slytherins, despite their purebloood anti-muggle upbringings had adapted well to muggle methods of practical jokes, as they seemed to piss Ron off the most, anything from whoppie cushions, to spiking his drinks, to putting his hand in warm water when he passes out. He was particularly on edge at the moment because last week he walked in Ginny and Theo cuddling in the common room. It took Blaise, Draco Fred and George to restrain him before they resulted in pinning him to the floor and tying his hands and feet together. His face was as red as his hair and no one could suppress their chuckles, as a fuming Ron who comically would have smoke extruding from his ears tied with his hands behind his back, feet tied together, shuffling like a caterpillar. As a result, Draco and Hermione still had to hide their relationship much to their dismay. Ron was getting better with seeing Ginny and Theo, together….in the sense that he's ok if they were in the same room. He still wasn't aware of the joined rooms….probably best to be honest. But he would be on edge if he sees Theo sit next to her. IfTheo puts her arms round her, he will openly ball into fists, knuckles turning white. If he kisses her cheek, you see him clench his jaw, stand up and as last time proved attempt to slam his bedroom door but walked into the doorframe rather embarrassingly. Ginny decided that she would scald Theo every time. At least she respected Ron, despite it putting a dampener on her love life…in public at least…From the stories Ginny was sharing with Hermione behind closed doors her relationship was greater than ever.
Anyhow, it was a mild Sunday afternoon. The joys of a new year had passed and a severe case of the January blues was sweeping the group. Boredom now overtook their lives, and they were getting increasingly bored and in Ron's case agitated they had gone back to he gym, signing Harry and Neville up as well. The went to the gym nearly every day, also spending time ta the library and cinema. After Christmas nothing of any particular excitement was on Tv, so the gang was currently all sat on the sofas watching the top 100 music hits of the last year, entertaining themselves by mocking the music videos.
"When did it become normal for girls to get naked in music videos, while in the last one the guy was in a puffy coat?" Draco asked
They were suddenly aware of a gentle tap at the window. Blaise stood up to investigate, opening the window to peer out when a small jet black owl flew in and dropped an envelope on the table, before flying out.
"Anyone recognise that owl?" Blaise asked, everyone else was now on high Alert, sat on the edge of their seats.
""Blaise…What's in the envelope?" Ginny asked
Slowly Blaise edged towards the envelope. Stopping a few inches shy. As Hermione jumped up.
"STOP!" She yelled. Everyone froze. Blaise turned to look at her, frozen with his fingers outstretched, towards the envelope.
"Everybody, sit back down. Right. Before we open this we need to think. Was the owl followed?" Hermione asked
"I didn't see anything else" Blaise commented
"There are dissolution charms and dark invisible curses. We can't be certain. Besides it would be simple enough to track it" Draco added.
"I thought Dumbledore put up protection spells" Neville asked
"They may have held them off but they could be broken down" Theo added
"Does that mean that the safe house isn't safe anymore" Neville added
"It's highly likely" Hermione said. Silence overtook the room.
"How do we know if it's safe to open?" Harry commented
"If it was dark, then it would react to parseltongue" Draco said. Eyes flicking to his mark. Everyone turned to Harry. He crouched next to the envelope and hissed something. Everyone held their breath but nothing happened. Harry picked up the envelope and opened it. Out fell a copy of the Daily Prophet. Today's in fact. The front page was enough to startle them all.
"Hogwarts has been taken over" read Neville
"No…It can't be…Not with Dumbledore" Fred said.
"Exactly" Harry replied. His eyes deadly they skimmed the paper.
"What do you mean?" George asked
"He's gone" Harry said. He threw the paper down
DUMBLEDORE MIA?
The alleged "light side leader" has proven yet again untrustworthy as during the heights of battle, at Hogwarts, while duelling with high death eaters, Lucius Malfoy, Bellatrix Lestrange and Ferier Greyback he vanished. His current whereabouts are unknown but his disappearance has left the Castle defenceless. It was swiftly taken over by the Dark Lord and is now a training camp for death eaters., the hostages from the battle now residing as prisoners, most recent are Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas and Colin Creevy.
As for the Whereabouts of Albus Dumbledore, sources suggests that it is highly plausible that he has joined the liar Harry Potter, along with the Mudblood Granger and the blood traitor Weasley's. If anyone sees any of the people listed here they are to contact the Snatchers, Death Eaters of the Dark Lord himself. By Witholding information will result in torture or death.
See page 7 for Gossip on the missing Slytherins.
Hermione quickly flicked over to Page 7 where a picture of Draco, Theo and Blaise stood. Proudly at the top of the page
What's to say about the missing Slytherins boys. Theodore Nott, Blaise Zabini and Draco Malfoy supposedly left to an unknown location with Harry Potter.
Surely the golden boys haven't traded in their marks for Potter? For the most accurate gossip we went straight to the source with this one. The boys in fact are: "On a special mission, assessing Potter's every movements, in preparation to take him to the Dark Lord when all useful information has been extracted" proudly explained Lucius Malfoy when questioned about the whereabouts of his son. After complementing him on Draco's brave actions, Lucius boasted about how it was his idea, and that he is very proud of his son. Masters Nott and Zabini, after hearing about the mission too expressed their approval and admiration. The Dark Lord is yet to comment but when he does you will have the first hand words.
-Reporter Anicius Boaz
"Trust my father it come up with a solution to benefit himself" Draco muttered. Only seconds later a fury of red flew at him. Although Draco managed to keep his stance, he was too shocked to maintain self restraint, and as soon as Ron's fist collided with his jaw, Ron was on the floor, taken out by a single punch from Draco. Blaise and Theo rushed forwards holding Ron down.
"I told you he was bad! I told you he was still on their side" Ron bellowed.
"Ron seriously, his dad just said that so the Dark Lord wouldn't kill him" Fred argued. Slowly Ron calmed down and Theo and Blaise got off him.
"We can't stand for this" George said after about 5 minutes of silence.
"What part, that innocent people are being captured and tortured for information, or the supposed safest places
Harry picked up the paper again, flicking through the pages. 10 minutes of agonising silence later, Harry threw down the paper Britain has been taken over by death eaters?" Theo asked
"Shut up. It's your kind that's responsible" Ron sneered. Theo shot forwards but was held back by Ginny.
Harry sat up straighter and cocked his head staring intently at the paper. At this and all eyes were shot towards him.
"What's a Horcrux?" He asked
"What do you mean!" George asked
"Look" Harry said. Holding one piece of newspaper up to the light, as the light shone through, the text clearly outlined the word "HORCRUX"
"I don't know, I've never come across it" Hermione said, eyes glancing to her bookshelf
"I hope to Merlin its accidental" Theo said
"What is it?" Neville asked
Draco sighed "Its essentially a piece of the Dark Lords soul" he said
"What?" George asked
"If you wish to keep a part of your soul separate from the body, you can split it, but it's horrible process. It causes you to have to kill someone else in the most gruesome of ways, I won't explain how but if he has a horcrux…then unless the horcruxes are destroyed, he is invincible." Draco explained
"We need to destroy them then" Harry explained
"How do we know what they are?" Fred asked
"And how many of them are there?" George added
"Seven" picked up Blaise.
"How are you certain" Ginny asked
"The Dark Lord always works in seven. He has seven high up death eaters. Besides seven was the Slytherin number."
"You can trace it back to his childhood. He was in the 7th best orphanage in room 7. He stole 7 objects" Hermione said they all gave her a weird look
"What I can't read a biography?" She insisted.
"So what are the seven pieces?" Neville asked
"The diary…the one I destroyed in the chamber of secrets" Harry said.
"Snape has been tending to Dumbledore she hand, with the addition of a new ring. I assume that is one too."Blaise said.
"That would explain the Locket that Dumbledore put in the bag then" Hermione asked
"You've been carrying a bloody horcrux with you the last 4 months" Draco yelled.
"Hang on" Hermione said running to her room retrieving the locket, passing it to Draco.
"It's a fake" he said instantly.
"How do you know?" Neville asked
"It's a good copy…Very detailed. Would fool any Slytherin, but for a year I felt the dark magic coursing through my veins, I know what it feels like. This one is empty" Draco finished passing it to Harry who hissed something at it. To no ones surprise, it didn't open.
"There's a latch on the side" Theo observed
Cautiously, Harry opened it. Inside fell out a piece of paper
Theo picked it up and read it out;
To the Dark Lord. I know I will be dead long before you read this, but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret. I have stolen the read horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can. I face death in the hope that when you meet your match you will be mortal once more- R.A.B
"R.A.B? Who's R.A.B?" George asked
"No idea…but whoever it is, we don't know if they destroyed it" Harry says
"So Voldemort had seven horcruxes. We know the diary and the ring have been destroyed. We know that the Slytherin locket may be one..What else do we have?" Fred asked
"Well…If I know the Dark Lord and unfortunately I had the displeasure to…He would probably want to prove his dominance over the other houses. So I assume that he has something of Huflepuff and something from Ravenclaw…I don't know about Gryffindor, I think if anything Gryffindor will be able to defeat him." Draco explained
"But what would they be?" Fred asked
"I don't know….what about his snake…what's it called" Theo stated
"Nagini?" Draco said to which Theo clicked his fingers in agreement 'it's a strong possibility. She's lived a lot longer than a snake should. He's so protective over her, in fact...The only other thing the Dark Lords ever cared about as much as he cares about the snake is my Aunt Bella." Draco said
Blaise and Theo shuddered at the mention of Bellatrix.
"So the diary, the ring, the locket, the snake. Something from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw as well as himself…that makes seven…are we sure about that?" Harry asked
"It's the most plausible" Draco confirmed.
"Stop for a second. It's all well and good working out what the horcruxes might me but that doesn't say where we'll find them" Ginny pointed out
"Or where we'll go" Blaise added
"Why can't we stay here?" Grumbled Ron
"Are you out of your MIND" George yelled
"What?" Ron asked, oblivious
"Hogwarts has been taken over. Someone has managed to owl us…what is it was traced. We'd be killed or worse, captured" Hermione explained
"Someone explain to Hermione her priorities, Ron asked
"No…she's right. Death is the easy way it, its quick, painless. If captured, your tortured to an inch from death, brought back and tortured all over again" Draco explained
"So…Where can we go?" Neville asked
"The burrow" Ron asked
"No…There's no protection there. Besides I assume the order if there still." Theo said
"Where-"George started before he was cut off by Harry.
"Number 12? Sirius left it to me in his will"
"Yes ok" they agreed. Harry stuck his hands out,
"No…We can't apparate remember" Hermione scolded. They sighed. Hermione revived a piece of paper from her room, showing a map of Britain.
"We're here in Sussex. We need to get to London, which is here" Hermione said showing them on the map.
"So how to we get there?" Blaise asked
"By muggle transport" Hermione insisted.
"Shall we say to set out tomorrow?" Theo asked
"We must leave as soon as possible. But there's no busses today" Hermione said
"So pack essentials tonight. We leave for the bus at 6:30am tomorrow" Draco said glancing over the bus schedule. They agreed and headed to bed as it was nearing 11pm anyway.
-The Next Morning-
Hermione nudged Draco awake before the sun had risen. He groaned. Still tired from their activities the night before. None the less, Hermione Dragged him up. Reluctantly he dressed. They packed the essentials and all met in the common room. They bade goodbye to the house and Ness. They caught the bus and arrived at the train station, which they boarded the train. Different to the Hogwarts express. They found an empty carriage and sat down.
"Draco, how traceable are spells?" Hermione asked
"It depends what the spell is. Curses are always traced, but to the wand not the user, so if I was to crucio Ron using your wand the curse would be traced to you. Some charms aren't traced at all, but any movement is" he explained
"How can we find out which are traced?" Harry asked
"We need to get hold of the tracer" Blaise replied
"Where would that be?" Fred asked
No one replied, but Theo shot Draco a glance
"Malfoy Manor would be the best bet" Theo mumbled.
"Ok…so I guess we just have to be careful then" Harry replied. They all nodded.
Thetgrain arrived in London and they got off. They walked into a nearby side alley and Hermione pulled out the map. They realised that it was only a 10 minute headed out and in a complete silence, they made their way to number 12. They walked to the door. Harry opened the door, as the house was left to him, he had to allow others inside. Which meant that there was no risk of any of the order being inside.
Once inside they found their rooms. Sirius' room was left untouched, Harry wouldn't let anyone in that room. Ron Harry and Neville stayed in Regulus' room. Fred and George got the master bedroom. Blaise Theo and Draco got one guest bedroom and Hermione and Ginny got the other. Although it was a quick discussion once Harry Ron and Neville went to bed, that Blaise would move in with the twins and Draco and Ginny would swap.
They met in the kitchen as Kreacher sorted some lunch for them.
"I have an idea" Draco announced. "You won't like it" he added
"Go on" Harry prompted.
"Hermione, the wands Dumbledore gave us were unnamed, not untraceable…there is a spell that makes wands untraceable but it's only temporary. But it may be the advantage we need. If we call you-know-who. His name is taboo, he'll send a death eater to the voice. We just need to grab their wand and use that wand to cast the spell on our wand. Then, kill the death eater" Draco said
"Can't we just obliviate him?" Ginny asked
"No. The Dark Lord is a really skilled legitimens. Only two people can block him out" Draco replied
"Who's that?" Harry asked
"Snape and myself" Draco replied
"I don't want to kill anyone" Ron insisted
"You don't have to. I'll do it" Draco said
"Or me or Blaise" Theo insisted
"No" Ginny interjected
"I've don't worse. I can do it" Draco replied. Reluctantly they all agreed.
"We need to think of the horcruxes first" Harry said
"Did master say 'Horcrux?" Kreacher asked all eyes turned to him.
"R.A.B…Regulus Arcturus Black" Hermione murdered. All eyes widened
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