Chapter Eighteen

Left Behind

"So, you have to destroy this thing?" Ginny was looked down at the bloodstained gauntlet at the center of the table. She had taken the news about the Prophecy and Horcruxes rather well, quietly listening to Hermione explain the long complicated story. Afterwards there was a long silence, until Ginny said "All right, where's the Horcrux then?"

"It's very dangerous," Hermione whispered. "If we mess with it, it could explode or something."

"We should blow it up!" Ron said. "That way it won't matter when it explodes."

"That's not the point, Ron-"

"I don't think we have to blow it up," Harry said thoughtfully. "Ginny, could you hand me that knife?"

Ginny handed Harry Mrs. Weasley's carving knife, neither making eye contact with the other.

Harry plunged the knife squarely through the gauntlet, and it fell apart. Some sort of misty substance floated out of it, making Harry jump back, and then evaporated.

"Well, that was easy," Ron said.

"How'd you know to do that?" Ginny asked.

"It's not hard to destroy a Horcrux; it's the obstacles we have to go through that make it dangerous. That's why Voldemort put them up in the first place. When I battled Tom Riddle in the Chamber of Secrets, all I had to do to destroy the diary was stab it. I figured it was the same here."

"Oh, you figured, didn't you?" Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Don't go into lecture mode, Hermione…"

"Well, honestly! Talk about rash!Boys…"

"We should celebrate or something!" Ron interrupted. He pulled out his wand and summoned a bottle from the cupboard. "Firewhisky!"

"Oh yes, let's rely on alcohol to be our form of amusement…"

"Do you ever stop nagging?"

"I call the large mug!"

"This gauntlet was a thousand years old, belonged to Godric Gryffindor and we destroyed it…"

"Reparo!"

"Oh. Well that was easy…"

"TOASTS!"

"You people are mad…"

"What are you doing, Ron?" Hermione found Ron in the corner of his room.

"Er…nothing…"

"Oh my God!" Hermione gasped. "You're WRITING!"

"Hey! It isn't THAT surprising!" Ron brandished his quill at Hermione.

"Why?" Hermione asked suspiciously.

"I'm taking a leaf out of your book," Ron mumbled.

"What?"

"I'm writing a letter to Mum and Dad explaining everything. I'm going to say goodbye and leave the letter on the table. Harry didn't want me too, but I talked him into it. I don't need the third degree."

"And when are we leaving?"

"Tomorrow."

"Were you two planning to tell me this anytime soon?"

"I thought we did tell you. Any idea how to SPELL Horcrux?"

"H-O-R-C-R-U-X. No, you didn't tell me."

"Oh. Well, now you know."

"Well, thanks for informing me! I'm going to my room."

"Ginny's room."

"Yes, that."

Hermione marched out, not before rolling her eyes at Ron one last time.

She found Ginny sitting on her bed.

"Hi. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Things are pretty much the same, really…I always knew Voldemort would always try to kill Harry, and Harry would always fight him. The only difference now is there's a prophecy, and is Harry is the ONLY one who can kill Voldemort, and that his immortal soul is split in to sevenths which you three are hunting down and destroying."

"Pretty much," Hermione sat down beside her. "I'm sorry I couldn't tell you before."

"That's all right. You made a promise."

"Ron says we're leaving tomorrow. He's writing a letter to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley like I did to my parents."

"Tomorrow?" Ginny looked startled.

"Yes, we have to get a move on."

"I want to come."

"But school starts next week, since it opened late. You should at least stay for your sixth year."

"You dropped out, Hermione. Whoa. That's a sentence I never thought I'd say," Ginny said.

"Don't remind me," Hermione groaned. "You'll have to talk to Harry about coming with us. It's his mission…quest…thing."

Ginny sighed and leaned back. "Everything's so messed up."

"I know," Hermione put her arm around her friend.

"I'm scared for him," she muttered. "And you…Ron…everyone."

"Yes," Hermione sighed. "Me too."

They woke up very early in the morning and went outside. Ginny was waiting for them.

"What are you doing up?" Harry asked in surprise.

"Waiting up for you."

"How did you-Hermione!" Harry turned on her.

Hermione shrugged. "I wasn't aware it was a secret."

"I want to come with you," Ginny said staunchly.

"Ginny…"

"I know the dangers now, all right? Why can't I come?"

"Mum would have a fit with both of us gone," Ron warned her.

Ginny looked uncertain at this.

"Ginny…" Harry ran his hands through his perpetually messy hair. "Can I go talk to her alone?" he asked Ron.

"Er…okay…"

"He doesn't OWN me, okay?" Ginny snapped.

"C'mon, Ginny, let's go over here, I need to talk to you…please?" Harry pleaded.

Ginny followed him huffily, Ron watching after them with lingering uncertainty. Hermione gripped his hand, making him jump. "It'll be fine."

Ron turned beet red as he stared down and Hermione's hand clasped in his, but managed to say. "I know. I trust Harry." He gripped her hand back.

"I thought he was stupid for thinking I'd punch him out for going out with Ginny. I'd rather her be with him than anyone else. He's nice…to people. Even when he breaks up with them. Anyway, that way I can make SURE her doesn't do anything bad!"

Hermione laughed and let go of his hand. A few minutes later, Harry and Ginny emerged. Hermione could tell from the expression on her face Harry had convinced her to stay.

"I told her where we'd be going," Harry said, looking flustered. "In case she ever NEEDS to find us," he put emphasis on the needs. Ginny rolled her eyes and went to do the customary hug to both Hermione and Ron.

"Take care," she squeezed Hermione hard. "Thanks for telling me."

"Have fun in school. We'll be back, I promise. All of us."

Ginny exchanged goodbyes with Ron, the stepped back. The three best friends gripped each other's hands, and spun off into oblivion.

They landed in front of a library.

"Hermione," Ron said grumpily. "Now ISN'T the time for fresh reading material."

"Actually, I figured we needed to go here to find information on the orphanage where Voldemort lived. I think we should go there now."

They entered the library. Hermione's heart couldn't help but be warmed by the vast array of dusty knowledge. There was always something comforting about a library. As they passed volume after volume, Hermione brushed her fingers on the spines, remembering when she had the time to read for hours and hours, and wishing she could do so now…

"Hermione, stop drooling! We need your help!" Ron said impatiently.

"Fine," Hermione snapped irritably. "Harry, do you know anything about the orphanage? The name of it? The town?"

"It was in London and matroned by a…Mrs. Cole…in the 1940's-ish…." Harry squinted in thought.

Hermione quickly did the math in her head, figuring the year when Tom Riddle would have been eleven. She looked around; saw no people or electronic recording devices.

"All right, stand back!"

She pulled out her wand and whispered some words, doing a complicated movement. A book flew off the shelf and into her hands, open to a description of a London orphanage matroned by a Mrs. Cole 1935-1950. There was also a picture.

"That's it!" Harry said.

"How did you do that?" Ron asked.

"The spell will locate any book with all the keywords. I learned it in fourth year when we were trying to figure out the second task," Hermione said.

Ron took the book, looking at its title. "Big Book of Orphanages…okayyyy…"

Hermione grabbed it back from Ron and found the address. "Got it!"

"Okay, let's go," Harry said and they stepped outside the library and Disapparated. They appeared on the street where the orphanage would be, and after walking up it…saw something.

"Oh…my…"

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