Chapter 20
That afternoon, Remus found a small tree-covered island that was approximately 10 miles in diameter. It was 772 miles from the nearest known shipping route and over 800 miles from the nearest land mass.
"Let's move the trunk there and check it out," Charles said. "Make sure there are animals for food. I don't care if the son-of-a-bitch starves to death, but let's not go out of our way to commit cold-blooded murder."
Sirius snickered and the others looked at him questioningly.
"You know," Sirius said. "Canine? Bitch? His mother?" When he got no response, he rolled his eyes. "Never mind."
Harry grinned at him. "I thought it was funny," he said reassuringly.
Sirius gave him a one-armed hug. "That's because you and I are the only ones around here with a sense of humor."
After a full scan of the island, it was found that the forest was inhabited with small creatures, mostly rodents, and birds—nothing large, but enough for Greyback to hunt and eat, if he wasn't too particular. There were also a few fruit trees scattered about, which meant the island got rain regularly. That would provide the werewolf with water if he were smart enough to preserve it. The island was quite a bit higher in elevation toward the middle, and Charles suspected that there might be a cave or two. But if not, there were plenty of trees for him to make a shelter.
Dobby packed enough food and water for a week, and after the fidelius charm had been placed on the island, he transported the basket of food into Greyback's cell. From the control room, Charles unchained the werewolf, and when he lifted the basket to see what was inside, Charley transported him from his cell to the island.
"You didn't tell him he was leaving," Harry said.
Charles shook his head. "No, I thought I'd give him a nice surprise."
Harry laughed. "Good-bye, Greyback," he said. "And good riddance."
"May you never set eyes upon another living soul," Charles added.
"Amen," Remus whispered.
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That night, after celebrating Greyback's departure, Albus joined the family in their search for one of the last three missing horcruxes. Tonight, they would journey into the cave.
Because Albus had seen the spot before in a pensieve memory, he directed Charles to the correct area. The monitor scanned down the side of a steep cliff, and then over the water where it entered a narrow opening in the face of the cliff. The tunnel was long and narrow, and anyone entering the fissure would have had to swim in the icy water in the dark. Charles pressed a button on the panel and lit up the tunnel. Before long, they reached the entrance to a cave. Inside, it was large, but there were no other tunnels or openings. They could go no further.
"Is this it?" Harry asked.
"No, this is only the antechamber," Albus said. "The opening is hidden."
Charles scanned the area for wards, and finally found what he was looking for. "It's behind this wall," he said. "He's got a blood ward set up on it."
Of course, with the trunk, they didn't need to open the wall, so they passed through the wards and into another tunnel.
The lumos button was pressed again, and in a moment, they reached a large lake. In the middle was a glowing green mist. "I'm not finding a soul piece," Charles said, scanning over the water to a small island in the center. There they saw a pedestal on which a basin had been set. Inside the basin was a glowing, green liquid.
"I recognize that potion," Charles said. "It's an hallucinogen. It makes you relive your worst memories."
"Why would Voldemort put an hallucinogen in the middle of a lake?" Harry asked.
"It must be protecting the horcrux which is probably at the bottom of the basin."
"Can we accio it out?"
Charles shook his head. "There are two charms on the potion. One is a shield charm to prevent anyone from reaching in and touching it. The second one prevents anyone from emptying the basin except by drinking its contents. If you try to pour it into anything else, it will go back into the basin."
"Is it poisonous?" Remus asked.
"No, but it makes you extremely thirsty. You will feel as if you're going to die if you don't get some water. And, of course, the island is charmed to prevent the Aguamenti charm, so the only water available is the lake surrounding the island. And that Inferi-filled swill is not only poisonous, but touching the water will awaken its inhabitants."
"Then how do we get the horcrux out?" Sirius asked.
"There are approximately six liters of potion in the basin that we're going to have to drink. That's between 11 and 12 normal-sized water goblets. If there's a horcrux in there, that's the only way to get it out. There is no other solution."
Everyone was quiet for a moment, thinking about having to drink the potion that Voldemort had placed inside the basin.
"Are you sure the horcrux is in there?" Harry asked.
Charles shook his head. "I'm not getting a reading on a soul piece, but the shield charm on the potion is a strong one. I suppose it's possible that it could be preventing me from reading it."
"What if you drink it and it's not there?" Harry asked.
"Well, that's a possibility, so we have to decide whether or not we think it's worth it. Albus, what do you think?"
"I'm willing to risk it. If there is a horcrux in there, it has to be destroyed."
"Sirius?"
"I agree with Albus. We have to at least check."
"Remus?"
"I think the risk is worth it, but do you know for certain the potion is not poisoned?"
Charles turned back to the monitor. "Notice the luminous quality of the potion. A clear liquid might not affect the emerald color, but it would alter the luminance, even if it were only a bit too much water used during the brewing of the potion. This potion is pure, and if there is a horcrux in it, it can only be something made of solid gold. Pure gold is the only substance that would not alter the luminosity."
"Then, I agree," Remus said.
"Two of us cannot drink the potion. We need one person at the control panel who is unaffected and a second person on the island who is also affected. That would leave 3 of us to drink 4 goblets each. Any volunteers?"
"I will," everyone said. Charles laughed. "I should have asked if there was anyone who didn't want to volunteer. Right, then. Remus, we don't know how the potion will affect you with your condition, so you will be the one on the island who doesn't drink the potion. You'll have to take the horcrux and make sure that the rest of us get back safely inside the trunk. You may have to force-feed us the potion after the first couple of glasses. We'll have Dobby and Winky standing by in the medical facility to give us water and the antidote after we've been transported back to the trunk."
Remus nodded.
"Harry, I want you in the control room. After each person drinks his 4 goblets, transport him directly to the medical facility. We won't be able to destroy the horcrux tonight, so when Remus takes it out of the basin and transports back up, stay at the panel and monitor the medical facility in case something goes wrong. It's possible you may have to take us to Hogwart's hospital wing. Just in case, I'll leave you a copy of the potion ingredients to give to Poppy. I'll also give you the ingredients for the antidote so she'll know what we took."
Harry nodded.
"That means that Albus, Sirius, and I will have to drink the potion. Does anyone have any questions?"
They all shook their heads.
"Right, then. Albus, if you'll prepare Poppy, I'll get the antidote ready. Remus, make sure Winky and Dobby know what to do, then we'll meet back here in an hour."
The three men left to run their errands leaving Harry and Sirius alone in the control room.
"Sirius, be careful," Harry said. "I don't like the idea of you and the others drinking that potion. I know Granddad says it's not poisonous, but we're not even sure there's a horcrux in there."
"Harry, I've known Uncle Charley since I was 11 years old. If he thought there was a possibility that this potion would harm us, he wouldn't let us drink it. Your grandfather is a genius, Harry. He's the kind of person who can look at a problem and see the solution immediately. He doesn't take chances. If he doesn't know something, he learns it. I trust him enough to drink that potion if he tells me that it's safe."
"I believe you, it's just that—Sirius, I just got you back. I can't lose you again."
Sirius wrapped his arms around Harry. "I know, pup. I know. You're not going to lose me. I promise you that I will be very, very cautious."
Harry hugged his godfather tightly. "You're the only dad I've ever known, Sirius. I couldn't stand it if something happened to you."
Sirius closed his eyes. He had thought of Harry as his son since last Christmas, and to hear Harry return his sentiments made him happier than he ever thought possible. "Nothing's going to happen to me, Harry. I couldn't bear to leave you, either. I'm going to be safe and so are Charley, Remus, and Albus. You just make sure you get us back up in this trunk. All right?"
Harry nodded. "All right."
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The plan progressed without a hitch. It took half an hour after taking the antidote for the three men to recover from the potion. They sat in the library where Remus had placed the horcrux on a table.
"That's not Slytherin's locket," Albus said, shaking his head sadly.
"Are you sure?" Charles asked.
"Yes. This is a plain gold locket. Slytherin's had an S engraved on the front. This is not the locket."
Charles took out his wand and scanned the locket. "You're right. This is no horcrux, but there is something in there." He picked up the locket, opened it, and took out a small slip of paper. Frowning, he read it aloud:
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 real 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
"Let me see that," Sirius said, taking the paper from Charles and examining it. "This is my brother's handwriting," he said in amazement. "Regulus took the real horcrux."
Remus smiled. "That means your brother turned away from the Dark Lord before he died, Sirius."
Sirius nodded, looking at the note in wonder.
"So, does that mean the horcrux is destroyed already?" Harry asked.
"We have no way of knowing without finding the locket," Charles said. "Sirius, do you have any idea where your brother might have hidden something like this?"
Sirius looked thoughtful. "He lived at home with our parents until his death. He could have hidden it in the house, I suppose, or maybe in his Gringott's vault. I gave everything in the vault to Andromeda. We should check with her."
"We should also look in Grimmauld Place," Remus suggested. "It may be hidden somewhere in his old room."
"But we cleaned everything out of Grimmauld Place last summer," Harry said. "Remember? We stuck everything in bags and hauled them out to the garden shed."
Sirius looked as if he had suddenly had an epiphany. "Yes! And we found a gold locket with an S on the front. Remember, Harry? We tried everything we could to open it, but it wouldn't budge. There was dark magic on the locket, so we put it with the stuff to take out to the shed!"
Everyone ran to the control room and in less than a minute, they had moved the trunk to Grimmauld Place.