Disclaimer: The following characters, settings and referenced events are, and always will be, the property of J K Rowling.

– CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE –

The Founders' Key

McGonagall spun around so fast, she almost overbalanced.

'Albus?' she whispered as the colour drained from her face as though someone had pulled a plug. She blinked once at Dumbledore, and then toppled forwards, straight as a felled tree.

'Over here.' Snape turned the armchair in front of the fireplace so Lupin could easily lift McGonagall into it. Already starting to come out of her faint, she shook uncontrollably, tears streaming down her cheeks. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville exchanged worried glances.

'It's all right; it's merely her system's reaction to the shock,' explained Dumbledore. 'I did rather take her by surprise.'

McGonagall gripped the chair's arms in an effort to steady herself as she gazed across at Dumbledore. 'I don't know what you all think you're playing at, but the explanation had better be good.'

'Oh, it is,' Dumbledore assured her. 'Harry, if you please.'

McGonagall frowned as she gazed from one to the other.

'Firstly,' Harry began, 'as you can see, Professor Snape did not murder Professor Dumbledore a year ago. It was all a plan cooked up by Dumbledore and Snape to fool Voldemort. Unfortunately, in order for the ruse to succeed, they had to fool everyone else as well. Please accept their sincere apologies for the trick.'

McGonagall glanced up at Snape, who looked less than pleased to be included in the apology.

'And were the rest of you also in on the trick?'

'Remus (McGonagall looked taken aback to hear Harry refer to Lupin by his first name), Ron, Hermione and I learned the secret last August, Ginny came on board over Christmas, Susan Bones at Easter and Neville just before Filch caught us.'

For several minutes, McGonagall stared around at them, her mouth slightly open. 'I'll move my things out of your office at once, Albus.'

Dumbledore threw Snape and Lupin a knowing look.

'That won't be necessary, Headmistress,' drawled Snape.

'You are in charge of Hogwarts, Professor,' added Lupin. 'You have been for a year now.'

'Albus never actually tendered his resignation –'

'A death certificate is a pretty formal resignation, wouldn't you agree, Professor?' Hermione put in.

'Well, if you don't intend to resume your position as Headmaster, why are you here, Albus?'

It was Harry who answered her. 'To prepare for the final confrontation with Voldemort.'

McGonagall blinked. 'Here?'

Harry nodded.

'But why? He's never tried to attack Hogwarts before.'

'And he probably won't come here intending to attack now, though he may bring Death Eaters with him to act as a distraction from his real purpose – to check on his Horcrux.'

McGonagall paled. 'He has a Horcrux?'

'He had several, though most have been destroyed.' Harry eyed McGonagall nervously, afraid she might faint again.

'Several?' whispered McGonagall. Harry nodded. 'How does somebody destroy several Horcruxes?'

'With great difficulty,' both Harry and Snape muttered. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.

'Anyhow,' Harry ploughed on, before McGonagall could get too overwhelmed by the fact that there had been multiple Horcruxes, 'what we would like you to do is safely get the students heading home on the Hogwarts Express first thing tomorrow. Then we need you to summon Hagrid and ask for the Founders' Key.' He smiled as McGonagall's jaw dropped. 'Yes, we intend to lure Voldemort into the Hallows.'

McGonagall stared, gaping, from Harry to Dumbledore, who nodded.

'But the Founders' Key alone won't open it.'

'We have the whole key,' Harry assured her.

Her eyes darted to Dumbledore. 'You tracked down all the heirs?'

Dumbledore nodded. 'Yes, and kindly address all questions to Harry, please, Minerva. He is, after all, the team leader. I wouldn't dream of planning anything this bold.' The moustache twitched.

'And what exactly is the plan?'

'You, the teachers and members of the Order are to engage and occupy the Death Eaters, keeping them from being able to offer Voldemort any help. At the same time, the heirs, along with a select group, will lure Voldemort, preferably alone, into the Hallows, allowing its doors to seal behind us. All the Horcruxes, except one, have been destroyed, and that one can only be destroyed by Voldemort, so we need to trick him into doing that, then it may be a matter of simply leaving him locked in the chamber and letting time destroy him. If it comes to that, then the fewer people inside, the fewer will be sacrificed.

'And now,' Harry pressed, 'we all need to get as much sleep as possible out of the rest of the night.' He offered a hand to help McGonagall stand. 'Professor Dumbledore and I will meet you in your office at nine-thirty. We would like to be present when you get the Key from Hagrid. And be gentle with him.' Harry grinned. 'He may be a little the worse for wear.'

Early next morning, Harry got Dobby to bring him enough breakfast for four, claiming that he wanted to surprise Ron, Hermione and Ginny with a going-away breakfast party, but as soon as Dobby had gone, Harry grabbed his Cloak and snuck down to the dungeons.

'I wasn't sure what you liked,' he began by way of greeting as Snape stared suspiciously at the food. 'I had to let Dobby think it was for Ron, Hermione and Ginny.'

'I'm certain it shall all be most delicious, Harry.' Dumbledore smiled; Harry thought he still looked very weak and tired.

'Oh, buck up, Snape,' scolded Lupin as he reached for a plate of eggs and bacon. 'The school's food hasn't killed you yet and you're going to need your strength.'

Snape curled his lip at Lupin but didn't say anything, probably because Dumbledore was pushing a laden tray towards him. Harry and Lupin exchanged a brief glance, but resisted the urge to laugh or even grin, as they settled down to what would possibly be their last ever breakfast.

At a quarter past nine, Snape spread Harry's Invisibility Cloak over both his and Dumbledore's heads, and with Harry and Lupin a step ahead, they slowly made their way up to the headmistress's office.

'Did all of the students get away safely?' asked Dumbledore as McGonagall conjured up a comfy chintz armchair for him (he had refused to accept the head's chair because it now rightly belonged to her).

'The Express departed from Hogsmeade station twenty minutes ago,' McGonagall assured him, fussily settling him into the armchair; despite the events of the previous night, she still seemed to find it difficult to believe that Dumbledore really was alive and kept touching him … his head, hair, shoulders, hands. 'I've also sent a call out for every member of the Order of the Phoenix to assemble here. They should start arriving over the next fifteen minutes.'

'Good, then if you could please summon Hagrid?'

To Harry's surprise, McGonagall seemed reluctant to comply with this order as if, by doing so, she would somehow be sealing their fates. It was only when Snape tried to grab her wand to do it himself that she pulled herself together and sent a glowing Patronus racing from her window towards Hagrid's hut.

'You do realise he's going to want to know what is going on when he sees the four of you. It's not like you can all fit under Potter's Cloak.' McGonagall turned back to face them.

'It's OK, Professor,' Harry dug in his pocket. 'We can hide in your private quarters and watch using this.' He held up Hermione's Far-Seeing Eye. McGonagall stared at it with revulsion. Lupin and Dumbledore gazed at it curiously. Snape looked at Harry as though he had slipped in his estimation.

'Where did you get … that … Potter?' The dark eyes continued to glare penetratingly.

'Hermione bought it at Christmas.' Harry didn't particularly want to get caught up in an argument with Snape. 'Look, we really need to get this set up; Hagrid will be here any minute.'

Snape looked like he wanted to get more information out of Harry, but an extremely brief glance in Dumbledore's direction saw him reining in his curiosity. He was dutifully attentive as Harry quickly explained how it worked and hesitated only a moment before following the others in pressing their wands first against the fake eye, then their own eyes. By the time Hagrid tapped very lightly on McGonagall's office door (Harry imagined the soft sound was greatly amplified by Hagrid's headache), the eye was strategically positioned on McGonagall's desk and Harry, Lupin, Dumbledore and Snape were safely hidden in her bedroom, eyes tightly shut as the scene in the headmistress's office played out behind their closed lids.

'Yeh wanted ter see me, Professor?' Hagrid almost whispered, wincing as he did so. Obviously his head was being very unforgiving and Harry wondered if it wouldn't be best to keep him away from even the Order's activities.

'Yes, Hagrid.' McGonagall looked him in the eye – not an easy task since he kept trying to squeeze them shut against the light. 'I would like you to give me the Founders' Key, please.'

That made Hagrid's eyes open. He gaped at her uncomprehendingly. 'The Founders' …?'

'Key, yes.' McGonagall confirmed that he hadn't misheard her request.

'But I don' –'

'You are the Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts, Hagrid – at least, that is what you have spent several years proudly telling everyone you have met – so you do have that key upon your person. And I would like you to surrender it to me please. Now.' She held out her hand, waiting.

Hagrid spent several more moments in pain-filled silence then, realising that McGonagall wasn't going to let him return to the comfort of his soft pillows until he had complied with her wishes, he grudgingly began to empty his pockets.

'We'll be here all day,' muttered Snape dryly.

'Shhh,' scolded Dumbledore as Lupin chuckled softly.

After ten minutes, McGonagall's desk was buried under an extremely large pile of coins, string, dog biscuits, keys, weed killer, gardening tools and bowtruckles. Even McGonagall looked taken aback by the amount of stuff Hagrid had managed to store upon his person.

'I told yeh,' mumbled Hagrid as he dug deep into yet another pocket. 'I don' …' (another dog biscuit, a small key and two Sickles joined the pile) '… have …' He started to rummage in another pocket but suddenly stopped, staring at the key he had just dug out and which McGonagall was now holding up. 'I …where'd yeh ge' tha' from?'

One of McGonagall's brows arched. 'You just gave it to me, Hagrid, exactly as I requested.'

Hagrid continued to gape at the key as he unconsciously patted his jacket pockets. 'I've never seen tha' key before Professor.'

'Nevertheless, you did have it upon your person and you surrendered it to me. As requested.' McGonagall tucked the key inside her robes.

'Bu' –' Hagrid's hand grasped at air; he had been reaching for the key as if he wanted to examine it closely.

McGonagall began handing Hagrid's other belongings back to him. Several more minutes passed as pockets were refilled but, finally, her desk was free of all of the gamekeeper's possessions.

'Now, if I were you,' McGonagall gently steered Hagrid to the door. 'I'd call by the hospital wing and ask Poppy for something to help you sleep off that headache.'

'How–?'

'I know what last night was, Hagrid.' McGonagall gave a small sympathetic smile. 'I also know that you were at the Hog's Head and didn't return until extremely late. It's all right; I was feeling pretty forlorn myself.' She patted his elbow. 'So, like I said, you get yourself back to bed – it was most impolite and inconsiderate of me to get you up so early when you were feeling unwell. It's the first day of the holidays so it's the perfect time to sleep late.'

Despite being quite a lot bigger, Hagrid didn't try to fight McGonagall off at all, allowing himself to be slowly shepherded out to the spiralling staircase, eyes squeezing shut against the thump inside his head, shoulders slouching tiredly as he started to make his way back to his beckoning hut.

McGonagall rested her forehead against the closed door. 'You can come out now,' she called.

As the four men entered from her private apartments, she turned and removed the key Hagrid had just given her, offering it to Dumbledore, who passed it to Harry.

'The Order should be assembling, Albus.' McGonagall's eyes had followed the key's transfer from Dumbledore to Harry but she remained silent on the matter. 'Would you like to address them?'

'No.' Dumbledore allowed Lupin and Snape to settle him back into his armchair. 'I think it would be best if they were not made aware of the facts concerning Severus and myself, not until such knowledge no longer places them at risk. So not a word, Minerva; this is our secret.'

McGonagall looked as though she wanted to argue with this but then the lips pressed into their familiar line. 'If you think that is best, Albus.'

'I do.' Dumbledore held her gaze a moment.

McGonagall returned it unflinchingly. 'Then, if you will excuse me, I need to greet the others before they come looking for me and stumble upon the two of you.' She gave a brief nod as her eyes flicked between Dumbledore and Snape and then she turned and left, closing the door softly behind her.

'Harry, if you would be so kind as to fetch Miss Bones and bring her here.' Dumbledore was still staring after McGonagall, frowning slightly. 'Unnoticed, please.'

Harry gathered up his Cloak and went in search of Susan.

He slowed as he approached the Hufflepuff dormitory; Moaning Myrtle was floating in front of the entrance. As she looked up at the sound of Harry's feet, he drew the Cloak back from his head.

'Oh, excellent look.' She grinned appreciatively. 'I've got a message for you. She's not here.'

Harry eyed her warily. 'Who's not –?'

'The girl who was hiding in the Hufflepuff dormitories. Professor Sprout came down here to make sure nobody was left behind so the girl … Susan, she said her name was … went and hid in my bathroom instead.'

'Is she there now?'

'Yes. You aren't going to get up to anything you –?' she started to ask but Harry didn't hang around, quickly reversing direction and racing towards Myrtle's bathroom.

'You were told to fetch Bones, Potter, not take any … detours.' Snape's dark eyes narrowed as they focused on the items Harry was carrying when he led Susan into McGonagall's office.

'It's all right, Severus,' Dumbledore stepped in to keep the waters calm. 'It saves Harry fetching them later.'

'Where's Professor McGonagall?' Susan's face was turned towards Professor Dumbledore but her eyes were anchored upon Snape.

'She is currently organising the teachers and several others to rally against Lord Voldemort's possible supporters.'

'Your Order of the Phoenix?'

Dumbledore was taken aback only momentarily. 'Their fame has spread, I see.' The pale eyes smiled up at her. 'Yes, the Order of the Phoenix.'

'So You-Know-Who is definitely coming here, then?' Susan glanced around the group.

'We don't know,' Dumbledore answered her. 'We've laid the trap, but it remains to be seen whether Voldemort shall be tempted. Our preparations may yet be for naught.'

'But you don't think so?'

'No,' sighed Dumbledore.

'So what happens now?''

'We discuss strategy. What are you doing here, Miss Bones?'

Everybody looked up as McGonagall returned.

'I asked her here,' Dumbledore said. 'Are the Order members assembled?'

McGonagall slowly dragged her gaze from Susan to Dumbledore. 'Er, yes, although not as many have turned up as I would have liked.' She fully addressed Dumbledore. 'Bill, Fred and George Weasley have all answered the call but Arthur hasn't put in an appearance. Bill thought Fudge might be keeping all the Ministry's staff close but Kingsley and Tonks both managed to get here, so the twins believe Molly may have confined Arthur to The Burrow. Well, she has almost lost him to the Order's cause once before …' She give a half-shrug.

'Who else has come?'

'Only Alastor and Dedalus. And of the staff, Horace is escorting the students on the Express and Hagrid is presently recuperating in his hut; everyone else is here. I have Firenze watching the forest, Madam Hooch the sky, one outside the Room of Requirement, just in case; one on each of the five tunnels, again, just in case; one watching the Willow, two on the front door and two on the gate. If Hagrid wakes up and is well enough, I'll get him to cover the grounds.'

Harry noticed that she seemed to have left out the tunnel from Honeydukes and wondered if she knew of its existence. He chanced a quick glance at Lupin, who shook his head very slightly.

'Do you have any idea what time we all might be expected to …?'

'Probably not until after dark, though it wouldn't be wise to relax our guard in the meantime.'

'And when are the heirs arriving?'

'They're already here.'

'Are you trying to tell me that the Prophet actually got something right?'

Dumbledore nodded as Snape's eyes glittered darkly.

'And the others?'

Dumbledore waved his hand in an introductory gesture at Susan, who said, 'Helga Hufflepuff.'

The hand swept in Harry's direction. 'Godric Gryffindor,' he said proudly.

McGonagall was still staring at Snape, clearly unwilling to believe that he could be descended from any founder, least of all Ravenclaw.

'How … you were in Slytherin.' She glanced back down at Dumbledore. 'He was Head of House!'

'You know as well as I do that we are Sorted according to character, not blood. Both your parents were in Ravenclaw and yet the Sorting Hat placed you in Gryffindor.' Dumbledore arched a silver brow.

'I'm not descended from one of the Founders –'

'I am,' Harry said.

'Yes, and you were in Gryffindor –'

'Only because I asked the Hat not to put me in the house it picked first. Not that it changed the Sorting Hat's opinion,' Harry said disgruntledly. 'It still reckons I would have done really well in Slytherin.'

Harry noticed Snape go very still, the dark eyes darting to Dumbledore.

'The Sorting Hat didn't want to put you in Slytherin,' McGonagall half-laughed.

'Ask it!' Harry glared at her.

'The quaffle is at your end of the pitch, Minerva.'

McGonagall transferred her glare to Dumbledore, who merely gazed up at her over the half-moon spectacles. Glancing around the group, she got only challenge in return: Lupin and Susan curious, Harry and Dumbledore daring, and Snape angrily begging her to prove Harry wrong. But nowhere did she see a face discouraging her from reaching for the patched, ragged hat perched on its high shelf.

It took a couple more minutes of dithering before the lips tightened further.

Harry gasped as the light suddenly went out; McGonagall had levitated the Hat onto his head.

'Hmm, difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see.'

'Why are you repeating –?'

'Hush, I'm following orders. Not a bad mind, either. There's talent, oh my goodness, yes – and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that's interesting …So where shall I put you? Let me think. You could be great, you know, it's all here in your head. Yes, it had definitely better be –

'Slytherin!'

Harry reached up, pulled the Sorting Hat from his head and glared up at McGonagall. 'Now do you believe me?'

'You should have been in Slytherin all this time?' asked Susan, with a nervous glance in Snape's direction.

Snape's expression was thunderous; he looked like he wanted to snatch up the Sorting Hat and tear it into tiny pieces. Harry gripped it tighter.

'Now that we have established that the heirs are being truthful, perhaps we can return to the little matter of Lord Voldemort's defeat?' Dumbledore arched a brow at McGonagall and Snape.

'Very well, so Potter and Professor Snape are both what they claim to be, but having the entire Founders' Key won't do you a lot of good without a door to unlock,' McGonagall pointed out. 'And according to the stories, it won't appear until You-Know-Who does. That won't leave you much time to find it and get into position.'

'Finding it quickly won't be a problem,' Lupin told her.

'Hopefully,' Harry.

Lupin frowned at him. 'What do you mean?'

'The Room of Requirement doesn't show up on it,' Harry informed him.

'Ah … yes …' Lupin looked slightly ashamed. 'We were never able to get it to work with that one. Probably part of the magic of the room.'

'The Room of Requirement doesn't show up on what?' McGonagall glanced back and forth between Harry and Lupin.

'This.' Harry reached inside his robes and tossed a folded piece of parchment down onto the desk.

Dumbledore leaned forwards eagerly. 'Is that –?'

Lupin nodded as Harry touched it with his wand.

'Who are Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs?' McGonagall stared at the spidery lines crawling across the parchment with alarm and confusion. Nobody answered her.

'That's … that's a map of Hogwarts,' said Susan.

'What's that?' Lupin pointed at the Great Hall. Harry peered closer.

Where a solid wall had stood behind the teachers' table, there was now a gap in its centre, as though a doorway had been cut into it. Two lines led away from the gap, outlining a passageway which just petered out to nothing.

'Why does it just stop like that?' McGonagall enquired.

'Perhaps the roof collapsed in on it or something,' suggested Susan.

'Or it could be the same thing in play as with the Room of Requirement,' Dumbledore put forwards. He glanced up at Harry. 'Did the Chamber of Secrets appear on it when you were in second year?'

'I don't know; I didn't have the Map then.'

Snape's head shot up. 'But you did have it in your possession a year later and you were being extremely dishonest about it then. Why should we trust that you are being honest now?'

'This isn't necessary, Severus,' said Dumbledore.

'I believe it is, Headmaster.' Snape was still glaring darkly at Harry. 'Potter would have us place our trust in an object of questionable origin. Considering what is at stake, would it not be wiser to determine whether or not said object is deserving of that trust?'

'Where did you get this, Potter?' McGonagall gazed at Harry curiously.

'Er …' Harry could feel colour creeping up his face. Snape's eyes flashed with triumph.

'Stop this, Snape,' sighed Lupin. 'There is absolutely nothing to fear from that map.'

'And what do you know of its history, Professor Lupin?' McGonagall frowned at him.

'I helped create it. I'm Moony; that was my nickname.'

'And who are the others?' McGonagall still looked confused.

'Wormtail is Peter Pettigrew, Padfoot was Sirius and Prongs was –'

'James?' McGonagall shook her head slowly. 'Why such names?'

Lupin briefly explained the reason for both the nicknames and the Map's creation.

'James and Sirius performed the Animagus Transfiguration during their fifth year?' McGonagall slumped against the desk. 'Why didn't they tell me? I knew they were extremely bright but … Fifth year?'

Snape was furious. 'Not to ruin such a touching moment –'

'That will do, Severus.' Dumbledore cut him off. 'Now, I think it would be best if we make our way to the Great Hall. If that entrance has appeared, then it is very likely that Death Eaters, at the very least, if not Voldemort himself, are on the school grounds.' He glanced up as Snape leaned down and whispered something in his ear. 'Ah, yes. Minerva, do you have a small flask which we may borrow?'

McGonagall was clearly surprised by this request but only hesitated a moment before fetching a flask from her cupboards which Snape then filled from the bottle of Felix Felicis Harry had brought back with him when he went to get Susan. He then gave Harry's bottle to McGonagall.

'Have everyone take a large sip of that before engaging the enemy.'

'How long will it last?' McGonagall sniffed the golden liquid.

'Twelve hours. Hopefully, you won't need it for the full duration.'

'But it won't hurt to have it, though.' McGonagall recorked the bottle and tucked it inside her robes. 'We can use all the luck we can get.'

'Providing it works,' muttered Harry. Snape's face darkened.

'Are you implying that I am incapable of correctly brewing –'

'I was just thinking about what happened at Christmas,' said Harry, 'when two lots of luck worked against each other.'

'Is Voldemort likely to hedge his bets?' asked Lupin.

Snape frowned. 'Doubtful. The Dark Lord believes himself too powerful to need to rely upon such things; he's certainly never asked me to brew anything for him which could fall into that category. And he would not permit his followers to take anything as he would perceive it as a sign of weakness … and he does not tolerate weakness.'

While the others were discussing this, Harry felt something tug his robes. He glanced down and found Dobby staring up at him, his large eyes filled with fear. Harry crouched down beside him.

'What's wrong, Dobby?' he asked quietly.

Dobby twisted one of his many hats nervously. 'Dobby thought Harry Potter should know … Kreacher has disappeared.'

Harry jumped up so suddenly, he knocked the house-elf over.

'What is it?' asked Lupin.

'Kreacher's gone.'

'Probably means Bellatrix Lestrange is here.' Dumbledore reached for the Map 'There.' He pointed to the tunnel from Honeydukes. (Dobby's eyes grew larger at the sight of both Dumbledore and Snape.)

Several Death Eaters could be seen moving along the tunnel towards the statue of the one-eyed witch. Harry squinted at the tiny figures. Voldemort's name was not amongst them but Sirius's cousin was, as well as …

'Hah!' Remus jabbed a finger at the name 'Peter Pettigrew' and was halfway to the door when Dumbledore stopped him.

'No!'

Lupin looked imploringly at the former headmaster, but the steady blue gaze did not waver.

'He shall be dealt with when the time is right. For now,' he glanced up at McGonagall, 'Minerva, if you can gather your forces together near the third-floor corridor, do your best to keep Lord Voldemort's allies from advancing further into the school; especially try to keep them away from the Great Hall.'

McGonagall straightened in the same steely movement she had made when she first took over Dumbledore's office and then hurried from the room.

'Forces? You make it sound like an army marching to war.' Susan laughed nervously.

'This is a war, Susan,' said Dumbledore gently. 'And, as with all wars, it shall not be won without further loss of life, as I explained at Easter.' He watched her closely. 'You are still with us, aren't you?'

Susan paled. For a moment, Harry thought she was going to faint but she remained upright and her voice was steady the second time she tried to say, 'Yes.'

Comfortable that Susan wasn't about to desert them, Harry crouched down to Dobby's level again. 'Can you do us a favour?'

The house-elf was all eagerness.

'Can you go to Gryffindor Tower and tell Ron and Hermione to meet me in the Great Hall?'

'Gladly, Harry Potter. Dobby is most happy to do as Harry Potter wishes.' Dobby's squeaky voice drew a sneer from Snape.

'And then,' Harry held Dobby back, 'get all of the house-elves together and hide in the Room of Requirement. That's an order. On no account are any of you to be involved in the upcoming battle. Understand?'

'But –'

'An order, Dobby.'

Dobby clearly wasn't happy with this. 'Dobby will do as Harry Potter wishes.' The large eyes filled with tears as, with a loud pop, he vanished.

'Is everything all set?' asked Dumbledore as Harry gathered up his broom, Invisibility Cloak and bag of destroyed Horcruxes; Snape tucked the second flask of Luck Potion into his robes. 'Then let us make our way downstairs without further delay.'

Avoiding notice by the Order, teachers, ghosts and even Peeves was made a lot simpler by the Marauders' Map. Harry's only concern, as they slowly helped Dumbledore down the marble staircase, was that Hagrid would wake up and come in, accidentally discovering that Dumbledore was still alive. He could just imagine what Hagrid's reaction would be.

Just as they reached the Entrance Hall, Ron poked his head out from the Great Hall.

'You took your time.'

'I am afraid I am to blame for that.' Dumbledore held the banister to steady himself.

'Are you criticising the headmaster's frailty, Weasley?' Snape's lip curled. Ron was saved the trouble of answering, though, because they had finally reached the Great Hall.

'Where's Ginny?' Harry frowned as he gazed down the room; only Ron, Hermione and Neville were present.

'Fred and George wouldn't let her come.' Ron rolled his eyes. 'I think they're scared of what Mum will do to them if anything happens to her.'

'And they managed to get Ginny to do what they said?' Harry found this hard to believe.

'No,' Ron shrugged. 'So they cursed her. Body-Bind.'

Privately, Harry thought Fred and George were probably hoping they would be killed in all of this because it would be preferable to what Ginny would be likely to do to them once she was mobile again.

'Why did you want to meet us here, Harry?' Neville gripped his wand tighter. 'Is You-Know-Who here?'

'That room has appeared on the Map.'

'Where?' Ron and Hermione both cried as Neville asked, 'What map?'

'There.' Harry pointed to the far end of the Great Hall. Half running, he led his classmates to the teachers' table and examined the tapestry hanging on the back wall.

'What are we looking for?' Hermione asked as she copied Harry hitting his hands against the tapestry.

'A hole … doorway … some sort of open –' The cloth suddenly gave way under the pressure, caving inwards into a hollow space. Harry expanded his field of probing until he felt the clear outline of an opening.

'Ron, grab the other end.' Harry grabbed a large fistful of the heavy fabric and pulled hard. It gave way only a fraction. He pulled again as Ron joined him in his efforts. Neville jumped in as well and, with the combined efforts of the three young men, the tapestry finally tore away, burying them under its dusty folds. By the time they had fought their way out from beneath its weight, Lupin and Snape had escorted Dumbledore the full length of the Hall.

Harry gazed through the archway which had appeared in the middle of the wall. Like on the Map, a passage stretched away from them, its end appearing to be nowhere, it was so dark. Harry stepped forwards ('Lumos') and tried to see where it disappeared to but with no luck. He glanced at Ron.

'You game?'

'What do you think?' Ron grinned back and, before anyone could stop him, he stepped through the archway.

'No!' Hermione called out, too late, but nothing had happened.

'That wasn't very intelligent, Weasley.' Snape sounded disappointed as he pushed past Ron and held his lit wand aloft. 'It appears to be safe, Headmaster,' he called back.

'Then might I suggest we do not waste any further time?' Dumbledore held Lupin's arm for support as Snape led the group deep into nothing.

It took a good five minutes of countless bends and turns before the endless passage finally came to a dead end. Before them rose two of the largest doors Harry had ever seen. Made of timber so dark it was almost black, they stood three times higher than Hagrid and five times wider.

'I told you they were really big.' Harry grinned at Dumbledore.

'Have you been here before, Harry?' Neville sounded like he wished he was somewhere else.

'No,' Harry shook his head as he fished out the Founders' key.

'Then how –?'

'Not now, Neville,' said Lupin as Snape started to look annoyed.

Shining his wand at the doors, Harry saw that the lock was just like he remembered from his dream. A tiny leaden keyhole, just the right size for the key, was surrounded by three small round holes. He rubbed his finger over the top one and felt something carved into the wood. He peered closer and found it was a tiny ornate letter 'G'. He shone his wand at the other two holes and found that they were labelled with a 'H' and an 'R' but, before he could point this out, someone suddenly grabbed his hand.

'Ow'' Harry cried as Snape jabbed his finger with a lethal-looking needle, so long, it even had a handle. His immediate instinct was to suck his finger both to ease the pain and stop the bleeding, but he only got his hand halfway to his mouth.

'Don't!' ordered Snape as he pricked Susan's finger and then his own.

'What was that thing?' asked Susan as Snape stowed it safely away inside his robes.

'A bodkin.' The dark eyes glittered even more darkly in the very faint light. 'After you, Potter.'

'What –? Oh, of course.' Harry stopped trying to wring his sore finger and poked it into the hole below the 'G'. Susan reached for the 'H' hole and then Snape filled the one marked 'R'. Harry awkwardly inserted the key into the lock with his left hand and, as everybody seemed to hold their breath, he turned the key.

The doors dissolved into nothing, leaving Harry, Susan and Snape looking like idiots, pointing their fingers at the air.

'Wow.' Ron, Hermione, Neville and Susan's jaws dropped as they stepped through the opening.

'What is this place?'

Everybody jumped.

'Luna?' was all Harry managed to get out as the doors reappeared solidly between Luna and the rest of the group. He frantically shoved his finger and key into their holes. 'Quickly!' he urged as Susan hesitated a moment before joining him. Snape remained unmoved.

'We have to let her in!'

'She shouldn't be here.' Snape glared angrily at Harry.

'We can't just leave her out there!' cried Harry.

'Open the door, Severus.'

Snape stared at Dumbledore a moment then, with a grim expression, reached for the Ravenclaw hole.

'Why did you lock me out?' Luna sounded more surprised than hurt.

'What are you doing here?' Harry stared at her.

'I was looking for my things and saw you go into the Great Hall. I thought perhaps I was dreaming because Professor Dumbledore was with you but I pinched myself and it hurt.' She gazed around. 'What is this place?'

'Somewhere you shouldn't be.' Snape grabbed her by the shoulder, obviously planning to drag her back to the Great Hall.

'Let her stay, Severus.'

Snape turned back. 'Headmaster –'

'She may stay,' Dumbledore reiterated. 'As I recall, Miss Lovegood was a member of my army, and was also one of the few who did not shy away from danger both at the Ministry of Magic two years ago and here at Hogwarts last year. She has proven herself deserving of the honour of fighting alongside Harry, if he wishes it.' He gazed at Harry, awaiting his decision.

'Er …' Harry's face grew warm with everybody looking at him.

'Well, Potter, the headmaster has said you may have your way. Does Lovegood stay or go?'

Harry bristled beneath Snape's condescending tone. 'If I had my way, none of you would be here; it would only be Voldemort and me. That way, nobody else could get hurt.'

'Well, you shan't be getting that wish,' said Snape. 'You need Bones and myself here, at least. And, in keeping with your propensity to place innocents at risk, naturally you couldn't resist dragging your … friends … into this.'

'Harry couldn't keep us away.' Ron took a step towards Snape; Hermione grabbed his shoulder. 'Like we said last night – this is what friends do. They stick together!'

As much as Harry was flattered by his friends' support, they were wasting time. 'She stays!' he said, making everybody stop and stare at him. 'She stays.'

He waited for Luna to join the others, then stepped back into the room.

Snape frowned at the doors as they closed behind them, then gazed at Harry with a curious expression.

Ignoring him, Harry wandered over to Hufflepuff's tomb. He spread the Marauders' Map upon the flat stone and examined it closely. The Death Eaters had progressed down a level but McGonagall's people were putting up a good fight, forming an almost solid barrier between the Dark forces and the rest of the school. Hagrid was still sleeping off his hangover and Harry felt a small twinge of guilt at Hagrid's disappointment when he realised he had missed out on all the fun.

'I'm very proud of you.' Dumbledore had followed him with a cup of gold liquid. Over near the doors, Snape was distributing doses of Felix Felicis to the others. 'You need the love and support of your friends at this most difficult time.'

'Tell me that again after I get them all killed,' muttered Harry.

'What is it?'

Harry glanced round to find Dumbledore watching him closely. 'What do you mean?'

'Your emotions don't seem to be matching what you should be feeling at the moment. You seem to be more angry than frightened or nervous.'

'I …' Harry stared at the lined face before him. It was really annoying, sometimes, how Dumbledore was able to see through him so easily. 'I'm just mad about something Ron said earlier.'

Dumbledore waited.

'He said there was a way for the last Horcrux to be destroyed without me getting destroyed as well.'

The pale blue eyes narrowed slightly. 'Creating your own Horcrux?'

Harry's jaw dropped. 'How …?'

'It is the only possible way to safely guard against Tom killing you.'

'Yeah, well that's not all. Ron wanted me to kill him to do it.'

'And what did you say?'

'What do you think I said? I told him there was no way I was going to do something like that. He's my best friend. How he could even think of offering, I don't know.'

'Don't you?'

'What?' Harry continued to stare at Dumbledore.

'Look at it this way. If Ron's life was at risk, and the only way he could possibly be saved was if you died in his place, would you? Would you die for him?'

'I …'

Dumbledore's blue gaze seemed to penetrate through to Harry's soul. 'Well?'

'Yes,' Harry admitted. 'But that's different. I wouldn't be telling him to become a Dark wizard.'

'And when has anyone told you to turn from the light?' asked Dumbledore, his voice little more than a whisper.

'Hermione said I'd need to stop being good in order to kill Ron and make the Horcrux.'

'But it would only be your temporary actions which would resemble something akin to darkness. Your heart would still be good.'

Harry gaped at Dumbledore. 'So you're saying I should do it then? I should kill Ron?' Had this room made everyone go mad?

'No.' Dumbledore shook his head. 'I'm merely pointing out that your anger with Mr Weasley is unjust. You have stated that you would have no qualms giving your life for your friends. You do them a disservice if you deny them the right to likewise put their lives on the line for you.'

Unbidden, Sirius's words echoed through Harry's head: 'You should have died, as we would have done for you.'

Trying to camouflage his confusion, Harry peered at the Marauders' Map.

'Any sign of Tom?' Dumbledore gazed curiously at the parchment.

'Not yet.'

'Then we still have time.' He crooked a gnarled finger at Snape and Lupin, who detached themselves from the group.

'Some manners wouldn't go amiss, you know,' sighed Lupin as Snape reached a hand towards Harry's head. The hand stopped midair.

'Would you be so … kind … as to donate some of your hairs, Potter?' Every word seemed to be dragged from between Snape's motionless lips as reluctantly and painfully as a dentist extracting deep-rooted teeth.

Dumbledore gave a very slight cough. Snape's face darkened further.

'Please.'

Aware that Snape's temper was being held by the thinnest of threads, Harry resisted the urge to enjoy his discomfort as much as he would have liked. Instead, he schooled his features into a blank expression as he pulled out several hairs. Snape added them to a small bottle of Polyjuice Potion which he passed to Remus, then he poured a measure of Luck Potion for himself.

'What's going on?' Harry glanced at the three of them warily.

'Oh, nothing major.' Dumbledore took up his own cup. 'I just thought we might have a little toast while we still have the chance.' He held his cup aloft; Lupin and Snape followed suit. A solemn air descended upon the group.

'Many years ago, one of the brightest students to have ever attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry chose a very dark, twisted path which has held the wizarding world in its grip for over fifty years. Today that path shall be straightened and the grip released. Today, Tom Riddle shall learn the final lesson Hogwarts has to teach him; that goodness creates hope whilst evil creates fear.

'Today Tom's fear shall rise up before him. Fear of death, fear of hope, fear of the future. His fear of death led him to maim his own soul. His fear of hope led him to believe mere words describing a time when his tyranny might end. His fear of the future led him to try to prevent those words becoming fact and, in doing so, combined all three fears into one.

'Today, Tom shall learn that he, and he alone, chose his downfall. He chose to create Horcruxes, he chose to believe Sybill Trelawney's prophecy, he chose the one who would share in that prophecy with him by trying to kill a small child. Today, Tom's choices shall turn those fears against him.

'To Lord Voldemort's Chosen One: Harry.'

'To Harry.'

Both Remus and Snape reinforced Dumbledore's tribute, Remus loudly and proudly, Snape, in only the second time Harry had heard him speak his first name, with something akin to calculation and veneration glittering darkly behind his eyes.

Harry didn't have time to analyse Snape's attitude though, because Ron, Hermione, Neville, Susan and Luna started to make their way over to them. Harry quickly downed his shot of Luck.

'Who are those people?' Hermione was glancing warily towards the arches surrounding the hall. Looking up, Harry saw that every arch had a person, like a dark shadow, standing beneath it. And that was all they seemed to be doing: standing there. They weren't moving, speaking or even looking curiously at the intruders.

Remus and Snape spared each other concerned glances as they slowly reached for their wands but Dumbledore merely frowned at them, peering over the half-moon glasses. He spent several moments puzzling over their identity and purpose, then the brow smoothed.

'I believe, Harry,' he said with a touch of awe in his voice, 'that they are the other descendants. Every person who has stood upon the direct line between yourselves and the founders of this school.'

Before Harry could do anything more than let his jaw drop at this news – he certainly didn't get a chance to go over to them and check them out – Dumbledore opened the bag Harry had brought with him. 'Miss Bones, if you would like to do the honours?' He handed Susan Hufflepuff's damaged cup, then dug in the bag again. Susan frowned at Harry, who pointed at Helga's waist.

'Severus.' Dumbledore passed Snape the raven's head and body; Snape turned and strode purposefully towards his ancestor's tomb.

'And lastly …' Dumbledore drew Gryffindor's sword, Slytherin's locket and the Sorting Hat from the bag. Harry accepted his tokens and carried them over to Godric Gryffindor's final resting place.

The stone face made sliding the sword between the clasped hands a little awkward, but Harry finally got it into position, then he placed the thousand year old hat upon its owner's head, reverently rubbing a thumb along the noble brow before turning back to the others, fastening the locket around his neck as he went.

'Still no sign of Voldemort,' Harry told him. It was a little disconcerting seeing himself standing where Lupin had been only moments before. He went to check his watch to mark the hour but stopped when he remembered it had been ruined in the exam lake two days earlier.

'Here.' The Remus Harry pointed his wand at Harry's wrist. The watch not only restarted, but also wound itself to the correct time.

'Now, this is what we shall do.' Dumbledore drew everybody's attention. 'Harry shall go to Miss Timothy's bathroom –' ('Who?' Ron asked, earning a jab in the ribs from Hermione.) '– and wait for Voldemort there. Actually open the washbasin so he sees it closing when you leave, then fly back here as fast as that broom can carry you.

'Remus,' Dumbledore addressed the Polyjuice Harry. 'You wait just outside here in the corridor,' he nodded towards the gigantic doors, 'hidden under the Invisibility Cloak. When Harry gets back, toss him the Cloak and get back in here, making sure Voldemort sees you entering this chamber but not the exchange with Harry. Use this to give yourself a bit of warning.' He handed the Far-Seeing Eye to Lupin.

'You –' he turned to the real Harry, '– try to ensure that you have enough of a lead to enable all of that to happen, then wait outside, hidden, until Voldemort comes in here, then follow him inside; the doors should seal behind you.'

'The Eye won't give you much warning that I'm back,' said Harry worriedly. 'Use the Map as well.' He pushed it towards Dumbledore.

'But how will you know when You-Know-Who is close?' asked Ron.

'I'll manage,' Harry assured him. He gazed at the group before him. 'Last chance to get out while you still can.'

Four faces stared resolutely back at him.

Dumbledore glanced around the group. 'Can anyone think of anything to add?'

'Yes,' Harry dug into the bag again and pulled out the Shield clothes he had gotten for his birthday. He gave an item each to Ron, Hermione and Neville. 'Er …' He gazed at Luna uncertainly.

'She can have mine,' offered Hermione, pulling off her gloves.

'No, you don't,' protested Ron. 'Do you want people to say I let my girlfriend go without any protection while I had some?' He took off the Shield Hat. 'She can have that.' He passed the hat to Luna.

'Ron –'

'Now is hardly the time to get into this discussion, Granger.' Snape eyed both her and Ron darkly. 'If Weasley wants to refuse added protection, let him; the potion he just drank should be sufficient for him to be going on with.'

Hermione looked like she was going to continue to argue but, after catching Dumbledore's eye, she mumbled, 'Fine.'

'Then let us get ourselves into position,' said Dumbledore gravely.

After a quick check of the Map for the safest route to Myrtle's bathroom, Harry gathered up his Firebolt and joined Remus, Snape and Susan at the doors.