Author's Note: Right so because I have deprived you so long I figured I'd get to work on another right away. So here's another Chapter. But I'd be surprised if I got out another this week. I wanted to apologize for being so...tardy in updating this story. But the last chapter fought me really hard for every sentence. Oh yeah, and in case you missed it, there is in fact a new chapter before this one.

Chapter 19: Possibilities

The library was an all too pleasant change from the chamber of secrets. Hermione had retreated to the quiet hall following lunch while Harry departed to see to his family's assets. He had invited her of course, but she was unsure how much use she would be and she also had other business to attend to.

Namely she was doing research, specifically that which had to do with the topics Harry had asked her to research for him. She knew he didn't really need her to repay the debt. But she needed to do it for her own sanity. And she was doing what she could now before they became mired in more typical school work.

Unsurprisingly, given the topic, the library was utterly devoid of anything meaningful on the topic in question. Even the restricted section was slim pickings at best.

The library may have been a bust, but the book Sirius had provided from the Black Family library was marginally more useful. The author, who quite wisely in her opinion, had declined to provide their name, had clearly been half mad when writing it.

It appeared, from what she could tell, that soul magic had almost universally been shunned by the world's various magical communities. Something to do with it being viewed as abhorrent, and people being reluctant to mess with the state of their souls.

The book made vague references to works other than the one in her hands, but it appeared none were available at Hogwarts. Madam Pince had started giving her funny looks.

There had only been one reference in close to two hours of studying the book that had been of any use in regards to pointing out a direction of inquiry to follow. It seemed, that of all the civilizations which had gone before, only three were known to have dabbled in that particular art in any depth.

The Egyptians, a go to for anything death related it seemed. The Aztecs, now extinct, and the Babylonians. Old Babylon that was. Hermione preferred to be precise to avoid confusion.

It was as Hermione was sifting through a tome on ancient Babylonian heretics who had been killed very messily, that Kara joined her. The girl in question had been busy most of the afternoon, catching up on as much of the missed materials as she could. She would likely be very busy most of the year. After all she had to catch up on three years of missed education.

"You researching that thing for Harry?" the American asked by way of greeting, sliding into the spot across from her. Hermione bobbed her head distractedly trying to read a particularly blurred line. "Any luck?"

Hermione huffed with frustration and sat back brushing her hair back a bit. "Frankly, I don't even know what I'm looking for. Only that whatever it is has to do with soul magic." She complained.

Kara considered that, "Well technically you know a bit more than that right?" She saw Hermione's dubious look. "I mean, we know it has to do with a piece or fragment of a foreign soul stuck to an object or person." She pointed out reasonably.

"As there is so little to to go on here, searching for that in particular is futile" Hermione replied closing the book and pulling another forward.

Kara smiled encouragingly. "It may not be here, but it's out there somewhere right? After all Voldermort knows how to do what ever it is himself."

Hermione nodded. "True, and I am making a list of references to search for outside of Hogwarts. The only problem is that I don't know of any specific repositories which might house something like this. Not that we have any access to anyways…"

Kara chuckled. "Well we won't give up. We need that chunk of Voldemort out of Harry. Who knows what it's doing to him." She pointed out.

Hermione paused considering that as her mind ran off on a tangent. "Do you think it is what is causing Harry to act so oddly?" She asked absently.

Kara shrugged, apparently unconcerned. "I wasn't aware until meeting you that this wasn't how Harry always is."

Hermione grimaced. "He's different. More tense, secretive…" She glanced at Kara. "And you know some of those secrets, but aren't telling." She noted, a touch accusingly.

Kara sighed wearily. "It's not my place to tell alright?"

"It is if it affect Harry's safety." She argued in return.

"Hermione, Harry's whole eff'n life is one giant catastrophe. You'd need a whole new rating system to tell if this would cross the threshold of acceptable secret keeping or whatever…"

Hermione leaned in intently. "Kara, is it dangerous?"

Kara cocked her head, her face impassive. "No more so than the rest of his life."

Hermione's growl more than conveyed her frustration with that answer. "That is not in any way comforting."

"It's all I can say, I'm sorry." Kara apologized.

The funny thing was, Hermione believed she was sorry, that she did wish she could tell her. But why couldn't she. And what was it about her that worried her so? "And then there's you. You aren't exactly what you appear to be are you?" Hermione noted. It was more a statement than a question.

Had she not been looking for it, she might have missed it. But Kara hesitated, ever so briefly. "What do you mean?"

The trouble was that Hermione didn't know what she meant precisely, but something was off about the other girl. "I don't know, but I will figure it out eventually." She promised.

Kara eased a bit, and chuckled, sounding honestly amused. "Good luck with that." And glanced over Hermione's shoulder.

"Good luck with what?" a familiar male voice asked. Hermione turned to see Harry at her shoulder.

"Um—" Hermione managed coherently. After all how did she explain it?

Kara answered instead. "Hermione here was trying to figure out what's so weird about me." She said sounding a bit smug.

Harry snorted, "Good luck with that one." He sobered quickly though, and turned his attention back to her. "I've got that final meeting in a few minutes. You two want to come along? It looks like it will be related to what you're studying anyways…" He said gesturing at the pile of books.

Hermione was intrigued, and began tucking her books away hurriedly. "Sure. Are you finally going to tell us what it's all about?" She asked dumping them on the cart so they could be resorted.

Harry opened his mouth to reply but paused at the sound of a throat being cleared. They turned to see a very uncomfortable looking Susan Bones standing there. "Um—Hey Harry—Hermione, Kara…" The girl ventured uncertainly.

"Hey Susan, what's up?" Harry greeted.

"Um—I," She paused, and grimaced ruefully. "Um—this is difficult. I wanted to say, I'm sorry about last year. I was rotten to you, and I bought one of those badges…I mean I was doing it to support Cedric, but I—"

Harry waved that off with an easy smile. "It's done and over Susan. Thanks though, for apologizing that is."

"I just remembered it, and well I felt really bad about it, so…" She cleared her throat. "Well, anyways. I should be going. Have a good day Harry—Hermione, Kara." She nodded to them each in turn before hurrying off.

Harry watched her go with a peculiar expression on his face. "Well that's a new one."

"What is?" Hermione asked confused.

"Someone apologizing to me. Besides you that is." He noted, shooting her a brief grin.

She chuckled, people did have a habit of treating him like crap whenever the mood struck them. "Who knows, maybe it'll become a trend?" She suggested, her tone teasing.

Harry pretended a blissful expression. "Ah, that'd be nice."

—-

Harry and the girls, Tonks joining them as they met on the main staircase, wandered out into the entrance hall where they found a Goblin Soldier in full war plate with a wicked looking halberd clutched in his gauntlet.

He saw the gleam of two eyes through the eyes slit, and a voice growled "Huh…Lord Potter I presume?" It wasn't really a question. "The specialist you requested has arrived and is waiting in conference hall seven, if you will follow me, I will tell you the rules." He said. They followed him as he clattered off down the hallway. "The representative being provided by the Goblin Nation, is Princess Herida of the Goblin Kingdom of Great Britain." He explained as they walked and Harry's eyes widened, he'd never seen a goblin female, let alone a princess. Looking to Hermione he could tell she hadn't either. The Goblin soldier continued unperturbed. "You will wait till she is seated before sitting your self, your will stay on the far side of the table, you will only be allowed closer to her if she approaches you. If you harm her in any way shape or form you will have a price put upon your head by the goblin nation, and when you are killed your gutted remains will be paraded across Europe. Understand?" The Goblin asked coming to a stop at the entrance to the conference room. Another pair of Goblin Soldiers stood on either side of the door, these carrying scimitars. Harry nodded his understanding and the Goblin huffed his grudging acceptance. "Then you may enter Lord Potter."

They stepped through the door and gazed about one of the few rooms he hadn't been in before at Hogwarts. The room's walls were lined by eight Goblin Soldiers in full armour. His eyes of course focused first on the short figure standing by the windows gazing out, he could see her in profile. She was small but more proportional than goblin males tended to be. Harry could almost have assumed she was a child or a human with dwarfism she looked so human in many ways, but a few things gave away her true origins. Her ears were long and pointed, with many piercings, a small ring even hung from her only slightly hooked nose. Her jaw jutted ever so slightly and two large lower canines poked from her lower lips. Here hair was done in such a way that she basically had a pompadour like plume at the front which melded with a harshly braided ponytail which wrapped over the crown of her head, and then hung down her back. Significant tattooing marked her face and the visible flesh on her arms and shoulders. She did not wear a dress as one might expect a princess to do, instead she wore leathers under a finely crafted breast plate, with a crown like circlet resting on her brow.

The second set of individuals which caught his attention were the only two humans in the room. The first was Bill Weasley, one of the chief curse breakers for Gringotts. The Second was his lovely girlfriend Fleur Delacour, the part Veela French girl, Harry had competed against last year, or four years ago depending on how he judged it. He smiled happy to see them, but couldn't help but wonder how their presence might complicate things. Tonks for her part nodded a stiff greeting to the two other Order members.

"Lord Potter, so good to finally meet you" The voice of the goblin princess reached him as he turned to see her come around from the window and approach him. He remembered not to approach her himself, and merely offered a hand which she peered at cautiously for a moment before shaking shortly and firmly. "I am Princess Herida, though you may simply call me Herida," She said smiling thinly. "I am told you have a matter to discuss in regard to a particularly dark artifact," She said in a mild tenor. "I have brought along two of my staff, both of whom you are familiar with, are you comfortable with their presence?" She asked backing towards her side of the sable and drifting around it trailing a hand idly along its surface.

"That depends on only two things," Harry supplied and turned to Bill and Fluer, "Are you willing to keep this meeting a secret? Even from Dumbledore?" He asked.

Bill looked surprised but nodded, as did Fleur, "Yes Harry, I keep Gringotts business from the old man when required, if that is what you need then so be it."

"I too weell keep your secrets 'arry." Fleur promised easily.

Harry considered it and nodded. "Has this room been cleared of listening charms or devices?" He asked, they nodded. "Then I have no objections." He agreed turning his attention back to Herida who smiled pleased.

"Very good. Now what is this Dark Artifact you wish to discuss." She asked. "Are we to assume it is something you recovered from your newly recovered family possessions?" She asked curious.

He shook his head as they sat. "Unfortunately not, you have been reading the daily Prophet I assume?" He asked, the others nodded. "You may recall the topic of Voldemort's soul fragments being brought up, a diary, and a snake?" He asked.

"Indeed, but I sense it is not those fragments which you are concerned about, it is the one in your head is it not?" Herida replied shrewdly.

Harry jerked a nod. "Yes, I have been against my will turned into a Horcrux for Lord Voldemort's soul. Do not ask me how I know of such objects, I wish I'd never heard of them and will not speak of it." He said, noting the look of dark shock which cross Herida's face.

"A soul container, intentionally made, not simply made by accident." She explained to Bill and Fleur demonstrating her understanding. "The piece fused to yourself is not an accidental fragment then, caused by his death or the bizarre magics surrounding it?" She confirmed from Harry, who nodded agreement. Hermione was listening intently to the byplay. Herida explained further to her staff. "A Horcrux is created when one intentionally shatters their soul during the process of committing murder. Then take the shattered fragment and intentionally bind it to an object." She hissed distaste. "It is perhaps one of the foulest magics I have ever heard of and I wish Humanity, had never figured out how to use their magic in such a way."

Harry was nodding agreement. "I destroyed a Horcrux when I destroyed the journal which claimed Ginny to open the Chamber of Secrets," He explained. "Another resides within the body of a snake Voldemort keeps at his side." He decided to pass along the same information he had to Ragnok. "Another resides in the Vault of Bellatrix Lestrange at Gringotts." He said and watched Herida scowl and Bill give a start.

"That filthy Death Eater, stored an abomination like that among my people?" Herida demanded.

"Yes and I wish I could ask you to simply destroy it, but should he somehow find out we have done so?" Harry said. "He would hide any others he has out there making finding them increasingly difficult." He explained.

"I understand, from your tone you have already discussed this with the Director?" Herida asked.

"Yes, and it is the cup of Helga Hufflepuff, Lord Snake face enjoys his trophies." Harry explained sourly.

Bill almost choke on his spit at Harry's moniker for the Dark Lord. "Lord what?" He asked weakly.

Harry chuckled, and explained. "Voldemort is so twisted by the magics he uses that he no long appears entirely human his eyes have reptilian pupils and are reddish, his nose flatter and more slit like, even the freaks tongue is slightly wrong. Not forked but not precisely human either." Harry explained. "But this is not why I wish to talk with you all, I myself am now a Horcrux, the only way I know of to destroy a soul fragment is to destroy its vessel, I do not wish to die." Harry said sombrely.

Herida was nodding as were Bill and Fleur. "Of course not, so you come to those who use different magic from your own to try and find an answer." Herida said in understanding. "An interesting challenge, William, Fleur? You will assist me in this task, it is to be considered Gringotts business, and thus top level secrecy is required. Only myself, the guards in this room and my father are to know." Here she smiled at Harry. "I suspect you did not realize it Lord Potter, but my father King Ragnok is the Director of the Bank." She said smiling mirthfully at his stunned expression. "He allows you to refer to him so familiarly because he suspected you were ignorant of that fact. And also because you showed respect, you offered him the right to refer to you, a Wizarding Lord of an extremely powerful and ancient noble line, by your first name." She said grinning.

"I—Wow, I guess I should say, I am honoured he allowed me to do so." Harry offered.

"As you should be, and this deferential attitude is why I too allow you to use my name and not my title." She explained.

"Thank you," He said bowing slightly to her.

"Now then, I will tell you what little I know, the one method extraneous to destruction I know of for removing a soul fragment from a Horcrux is not something to be attempted unless there is absolutely no alternative, and it is that or defeat at the hands of that monster." She said firmly.

"And what method is that?" Harry asked intrigued.

"There were once creatures believed to be gods, a combination of entities which came into being riding the tides of belief," She said solemnly. "Some of these creatures were given dominion over death and the handling of souls. They have, according to legends, purged such fragments in the past to collect particularly valuable souls. But such beings are as fickle as any mortal and often far more demanding. The price they would ask would almost certainly be too high." She said. "That is if you could find them at all. They have hidden themselves from the world for some time." She confided, tapping a finger thoughtfully. Then shrugged. "So, as I said I will attempt to find you an alternative to either of these two already existing paths."

"What kind of prices do they ask?" Harry asked wondering what it would come to if he had no alternative.

She glanced at him, a warning in her gaze. "Often a fragment of your own soul, why they particularly lust after such things I do not know." She admitted. "Sometimes things far worse, your love for those closest to you, your health, your ability to feel joy…" She said sombrely.

Harry imagined any of those things being ripped from him, and he could not justify it unless all else was lost.

"Then I only ask if there is anything that I can do, for you or simply for the task. Also what payment is required for your services?" He asked.

Herida laughed. "I consider the debt already payed Harry." She said a cheeky tone in her voice. "I got to see the Lord who gained my fathers respect, and you warned us of a monstrosity in our own vaults." She said. "As for what you can do? I think you have enough on your plate for now Harry, a war to fight I believe, schooling to attend to?" She said more sedately.

"Don't worry 'arry, we shall take care of eet." Fleur promised, Bill nodded his agreement.

"Then the matter is settled for now I believe." Herida agreed coming around the table as Harry stood. "Otherwise, I would direct you attention to one other location in your search for answers. The library at Alexandria, possesses many things they should not." She said, distaste marring her words. "If any place in the Human world were to possess the answers you seek. It would be there." She decided. She got to her feet and brushed at her skirt absently. "Now, as is my right as Princess of the Goblin Nation you are dismissed and may leave whenever you wish, it has been a pleasure." She said offering her hand again. Harry dug up all he new about etiquette and delicately held in bowing over in a kissing her fingers. She looked shocked when he was upright again, then she smiled, brightly and genuinely. "A charmer indeed, as Miss Delacour indicated. You know I have never even heard of stories, where a human lord condescended to kiss a goblin maidens hand." She noted.

Harry was mildly embarrassed, he couldn't seem to help but cause a fuss no matter what he did. "If anyone is condescending in this instance it is you by allowing me to do so your highness." Harry offered, she offered another smile and a tinkling laugh.

"Well, you are all sorts of surprising Harry, and I will have all sorts of wonderful stories attributed to my name thanks to you." She said happily, and stepped back into a formation of guards which were forming behind her. She smiled one last time then barked something in Gobbledegook and they left.

"May I just say holy shit Harry?" Bill said grinning from his chair.

Fleur nodded sincere agreement, her eyes wide. "Merde"

Tonks on the other hand laughed. "Well wonder boy, you certainly know how to make an impression. I think we've got some things to talk about though." She warned.

Harry turned to get Hermione and Kara's reactions. Hermione was gazing at him intently. "Harry, we will not lose you to that fragment. We will find a solution." She took a deep breath to steady herself. "The Princess will be searching the goblin world, and we will search ours. Even if we have to go to bloody Egypt to find it." She promised.

Harry couldn't help but feel a bit overwhelmed by the support he was receiving. Things looked a bit less bleak than they once had. Hopefully that hope would be rewarded.

—

There was a knock at the door and Minister Bones looked up from the paperwork littering her desk. Another reason to hate being the new Minister for Magic in her estimation. The job came with an endless supply of paperwork.

"Come in." She instructed. She still had to fight the urge to reach for her wand, things were just too uncertain these days. Tonks stepped into the room and closed the door behind her.

"Reporting as ordered ma'am…" The woman said coming to attention.

"Ah Auror Tonks, good of you to come on such short notice." She greeted, indicating the chair across from her. She noted the tired woman seemed all too happy to slump into it. "I wouldn't normally pull you off your charge unless absolutely necessary, but there are a few things we should discuss."

"Yes ma'am?"

Amelia shook her head, ever since she'd become Minister she'd become more difficult to approach, even in the minds of those she considered friends. "I'd like to get your read on today's events."

Tonks nodded. "I admit I'm surprised, just how much has been going on at that school that we don't hear about ma'am…"

"Me too, Dumbledore was less than pleased when he learned of the purpose of our meeting today. Especially seeing as it put him in an…uncomfortable position for failing to report the incident correctly." Amelia agreed.

"It's…more than a bit disconcerting to know that he's been hiding things from us." Tonks acknowledged. In the privacy of her mind she noted that it was ten times worse that he was keeping it secret even from the Order.

"The Goblins have successfully extracted the corpse from the school. So that's one less snag to worry about. However I thought you should know Harry had one last surprise up his sleeve." The Director noted.

"Oh?" Tonks asked, sounding a mixture of intrigued and exasperated.

"The hide is being sold at discount to the ministry for the express purpose of supplying the Aurors with protective wear."

Tonks blinked in surprise and Amelia just smiled wryly. "Yes that was about my reaction as well." She agreed. "Now, can you tell me anything about Harry, I am reluctant to ask you for information on your charge, but his behaviour has apparently been…counter to that expected by those who know him. Dumbledore made a point of stressing his concerns about the boys sudden change in temperament."

Tonks grimaced. "I don't know ma'am, I admit he wasn't what I was expecting when I met him, but he seems sane enough, if a bit cagey. And it's not like his behaviour can't be explained by the things he's seen."

The Minister nodded sagely. "But?"

Tonks sighed. "But he knows more than he should. About things he has no business knowing, in the Order and out here."

"Such as?" The Minister prompted.

"Such as where the schools games keeper is, such as how to fight like he does…" Tonks' hair shifted colour a bit with her frustration. "He's not trained as near as I can tell, but he fights well enough to keep up with every difficulty I've tested him at in our sparring sessions. Soon enough I'll be pushing him at normal Auror training levels, and if his current work is anything to go by he'll manage to hold his own even then…"

The Minister considered that. "Keep an eye on him. I do not think he is doing anything wrong, but there's something we're missing here. I can feel it." She paused and rubbed her forehead. The boy was a good source for headaches too it seemed. "One last thing and then I think I'll let you go Auror." Tonks nodded after stifling another yawn. "There has been chatter about some kick back from the families of the deceased officers Fudge and Umbridge set on Harry. Right now best guess is none of them are serious enough a threat to worry about, but it would be just our luck for one of them to take a shot at Harry in some ill conceived bid for revenge." She warned.

Tonks nodded, and the Minister got up, making her way to the door. "Now, you've added yet more things for me to think about Auror. Keep me apprised of anything you consider appropriate."

Tonks nodded as she exited the room, "Yes ma'am."

It seemed the Minister's night might have gotten a little longer.

—

Harry lay down on his bed, releasing his breath with a whoosh. This really and been one of the harder days since he had been back. He had been at least managing his anxieties up until the chamber. But as he'd been discussing things with Hermione he'd experienced flashbacks. First to her in second year, frozen and immobile thanks to the Basilisk. Then to her at Malfoy manor.

Perhaps it was the stress of the chamber, but he now found it exceptionally difficult to keep the voices quiet tonight. He'd tried to placate them as he had many times before. He'd pointed out to himself that Hermione was still alive. That she didn't have to die. But they would not be so easily assuaged tonight when the days activities could no longer drown them out.

How long could she remain safe, if he was around her? Rationally he knew that things were not so black and white as that. Hermione was, now and forever endangered because of him, distancing himself would only worsen her peril.

But as he lay there, simply trying to control his breathing, he couldn't help but fear. That he'd lose her again. And this time, he knew it would be that much more painful.

Because this time, there would be no reset. This time, he'd been consciously trying to protect her. And this time, he knew just what she meant to him.

The last few weeks, had been a revelation of sorts. Perhaps it had been Kara and Tonks' words, or the absence of the potions in his blood, but it was clear enough now that he had to admit it to himself, if to no one else.

He, Harry Potter, was in love with his best friend. This was not just some crush or passing fancy, which would have been so much easier to dismiss, if only to protect her. This was something altogether more real. More so than anything he'd felt previous. But, he had to admit, he was utterly at a loss as to what to do about it. Worse he didn't know whether or not he should do anything about it.

—

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