Harry awoke bright and early on Wednesday morning. He looked across the dormitory and saw Ron in the next four-poster, still fast asleep. Hedwig had not returned to her cage. She was either still out or bunking among the school birds in the Owlery. The room looked strangely empty, with the remaining three beds still stripped of mattresses and linens. It would be a little over a month before Seamus, Dean and Neville joined them. At least Harry hoped all three would be back.
Parents and students alike had been terrified once they'd learned of the Death Eaters' attack on Hogwarts. Even though the school governors had been persuaded to allow Hogwarts to reopen in September, there were bound to be parents who would refuse to allow their children to return.
Mrs. Finnigan and Seamus had gotten into a very loud argument over Seamus staying a few extra days to attend Dumbledore's funeral service. He'd won that battle, but Harry knew Mrs. Finnigan would rage war once the Hogwarts letters began arriving on Friday.
Dean Thomas, whose Muggle parents knew very little about Hogwarts, would most likely return.
And then there was Neville. Harry grinned for a moment when he pictured Neville's indomitable grandmother. Mrs. Longbottom had been a staunch supporter of Dumbledore's. Her support for his cause and beliefs would not waiver now. Harry knew Neville would definitely be returning. He suddenly remembered that today was Neville's seventeenth birthday.
They were a day apart in age, but as their birthdays were during the summer holidays, there'd never seemed a need to acknowledge them. This year however, Harry felt differently. He'd always liked Neville, but over the last several years, Neville had proven to be an incredible friend.
"I should send him something," Harry thought to himself, and grinned again when he thought of the perfect gift.
Harry got from his bed, retrieved some clothes from his wardrobe, his money pouch from his trunk and left the room.
Dressed, he made his way downstairs and took a seat at a corner desk beneath one of the tower windows. Harry pulled parchment and quill from the desk drawer and began composing a letter to Slugs & Jiggers Apothecary.
He'd finished his written order for a marble mortar and pestle set and was composing a birthday note to Neville when Hedwig flew through the partially open tower window under which he sat and landed on the edge of the desk.
"You've got perfect timing, Hedwig. Before you go to sleep, would you mind handling an errand for me?" asked Harry.
Hedwig hooted happily and stuck out one of her legs.
Harry finished the birthday note and opened his money pouch to count out what he estimated would be enough to cover the cost of the set. He rolled the letter and placed it, the coins, and Neville's note in a second pouch and secured it to Hedwig.
"Now, I need you to wait for them to fill the order and then you can take it and the smaller note to Neville Longbottom," said Harry. "You don't have to hang around for a response. Come straight back here, and make sure you're not followed. I'll have a treat waiting for you when you return, all right?"
Hedwig clicked her beak in acknowledgement, glided to the windowsill and took off into the morning sky.
Harry stood and watched her disappear. He knew Neville would get years of use from that gift. Funny, how the things you hate and love are often connected. Neville had despised Potions class, in part because he'd been tortured for five years by Snape; but he'd excelled more than anyone at Herbology. Harry was hard pressed to think of a potion that did not include a plant or herb in its intricate mix of ingredients.
He turned suddenly when a noise in the empty fireplace drew his attention. A moment later, green embers blazed out of nowhere and McGonagall's head appeared.
"Oh good, you are awake, Mr. Potter. Please come to my office," she said and her head vanished from the fireplace as quickly as it had appeared.
Harry left from the portrait hole and made his way to the headmistress's corridor, pausing only momentarily to speak the password to the gargoyle that guarded the entrance, and rode the winding staircase to the office entry. The door was already open.
"Good morning, Potter," said Professor McGonagall when she saw him.
"Good morning, Headmistress," he said, realizing it was the first time he'd called her that.
It felt weird to actually say it. He looked around the office and noticed some of the changes. They were small changes, but he suddenly felt rather out of place. Fawkes's perch had been removed, and only a handful of Dumbledore's whirring, spindle legged, silver instruments remained in haphazard spots. The others had been replaced by some of McGonagall's personal effects.
"Please have a seat, Potter," she said. "The others are on their way."
Harry sat in the same seat he'd held on numerous other occasions. His eyes rose to the portrait lined walls and many of its inhabitants were eying him curiously. He knew the portrait on the end was Dumbledore's. He braced himself and looked at it. Dumbledore was sleeping peacefully, just as he'd been on that horrible night last month.
McGonagall was watching Harry.
"He's been doing a lot of that – sleeping, that is. I'm told by the others," she said, pointing at the other portraits along the walls, "that that is to be expected and that he will become more animated as time passes. He does awaken for very brief periods and manages to give me orders, which is why we are here now."
Before Harry could speak, McGonagall looked past him to the staircase that had begun to turn once more. One by one, Moody, Lupin, Kingsley and Tonks stepped into the office.
"Good morning," everyone attempted to say almost simultaneously.
Lupin walked over and took the empty seat next to Harry. He pulled out his wand and conjured three more for the others. Once everyone was seated, McGonagall beckoned for Lupin to begin.
"Harry, we need to go over some things before we go," said Lupin.
"Okay," answered Harry.
"First, Alastor will be remaining on premise until term begins."
"Yeah, we figure my absence is the most likely to go unnoticed. Just in case, we've been dropping a few hints about how beat up I am over Dumbledore's death, and how I seem to have lost my desire to fight."
Tonks gave a combined snort and laugh.
"The Death Eaters are dumb enough to believe it, so we'll use it to our advantage. Let them think I've run off with my one good leg to lick my wounds. It really is a half-truth and half-lie. I've not made my peace with Dumbledore's death, but I'm too mad to roll over and play dead. I'll help finish what he started, and if I'm lucky, I'll get to finish off Snape, too."
"Alastor," cried McGonagall, in a disapproving tone as she glanced pointedly at Harry.
"It's fine, Professor McGonagall," said Harry flatly. "I'm in complete agreement."
"Harry," said Lupin somewhat sternly, "you apparently have other things to deal with. You are to leave Severus and the others to us."
Harry looked at Lupin, but he did not answer.
"I want your word, Harry, please," said Lupin when Harry seemed ready to dig in his heels.
Lupin was right. As much as he wanted to rip Snape apart, Harry had other more pressing things to finish. He gave in reluctantly.
"Fine," he answered. "I won't go looking for Snape. But can you tell me, has there been any word on him or Draco?"
"There has been nothing so far," answered Kingsley from just behind Harry's left shoulder. "They are near the top of the Ministry's most wanted list. We will keep you posted."
"Might we get back to the business at hand?' asked McGonagall, still sounding annoyed.
"Of course," said Lupin as he directed his attention to Harry once more. "Only Alastor will remain on premise until the start of term. We don't want to draw suspicion that you might already be here by having too many Aurors missing from the Ministry or too many Order members stationed in Hogsmeade or near the castle grounds."
"An appearance of normalcy is our best offense for the time being," added Tonks. "The school is as impenetrable as possible, especially now. It is almost completely empty during the summer holidays, and we don't want to alter that impression in any way."
"Once school reopens and word gets out that you are indeed here, we'll step up security and move to plan B," said Kingsley.
"So, if you need anything, Potter, just yell. I'll be in Snape's former quarters. It pays to know as much as possible about your enemy," he added quickly before Lupin or McGonagall could stop him.
"Harry," interrupted Lupin, "I went over some communication tactics with Ron and Hermione before we transported them here yesterday afternoon. They can fill you in."
"Okay, but umh, I can reach each of you on my own, now," Harry said tentatively.
"Oh," was the collective and somewhat confused response from the group, except Lupin.
He looked at Harry, smiled and said, "Very good."
Tonks, Kingsley, Lupin and Moody rose to leave.
"I'll get this lot out of here, Minerva," said Moody, "and then double check the barriers."
"Thank you, Alastor," she said.
Harry rose to follow them out, but McGonagall stopped him.
"We aren't quite finished, Mr. Potter. Please remain seated," she said.
Harry said goodbye to the others and plopped back down in the chair. He thought he was in for a lecture about Snape and Order responsibilities and what not, but he was wrong.
"As I mentioned briefly when you arrived yesterday," she began, " I've been directed to give you full access to the castle and its grounds."
She glanced at Dumbledore's still sleeping portrait and continued.
"While everything within me screams not to do so, I have promised to honor this request. I only ask that you not leave the castle without telling someone where you are going. I do not care if it is Alastor, Hagrid, Mr. Weasley, Ms. Granger or Nearly Headless Nick. The grounds are expansive and in the event we need to get to you quickly, it would be helpful to know where to look. Agreed?"
"Yes, of course, Professor," said Harry.
"Very well. Please note, your access most certainly includes the library, and with it, the restricted section. Madame Pince and Mr. Filch are thankfully on holiday for the time being. Your access will continue once school begins, but please do exercise discretion and caution. As Nymphadora explained, the appearance of normalcy is critical."
"I promise, I will," replied Harry.
"Lastly, but equally important, you are not to perform any magic in the castle until after your birthday. The Ministry normally pays no attention to underage magic at Hogwarts because it is the exception to the rule during the school year. However, students are never on premise during the summer holidays and we don't want to alert more people than necessary to your presence here. Am I understood?"
"Most definitely, Professor," replied Harry.
"Good. I've asked Dobby to see to it that meals are served to you, Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger in the Gryffindor common room. Hagrid is welcome to join you, as well. You may go, now. Please find me if I can be of any assistance," she finished.
"I will. Thank you, Headmistress," said Harry as he left her office.
When Harry walked back through the portrait hole, Hermione and Ron were sitting on the sofa. He couldn't help noticing that Hermione looked slightly flushed and Ron's ears were reddening at the tips.
Harry did his best to stifle the laugh and grin that were fighting to break through and said, "Good morning. Has Hedwig returned, yet?"
"Good morning, Harry," replied Hermione. "No, we haven't seen Hedwig; but Dobby brought breakfast up a little while ago. We haven't eaten yet, though," she finished.
"Yeah," added Ron, "we thought we'd wait a bit for you to return. Where'd you go, anyway?"
Harry had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. He was certain his absence had not been the reason they'd been distracted from starting breakfast.
He kept a straight face and said, "Oh, thanks for waiting for me. I was with McGonagall and the others."
As they sat down to eat, Harry relayed the conversations that had taken place in McGonagall's office. Hermione and Ron listened without interruption.
"Wow, this feels like a final chess match," said Ron.
"Yeah, and the first pawn has already been moved," replied Harry.
Hedwig arrived back safe and sound. Harry rewarded her with a bit of sausage and some juice. When she was sated, she fluttered lightly to Harry's shoulder and nipped playfully at his ear, before stretching her wings and taking flight from the room once more for some rest in the Owlery among her feathered friends.
"Harry," began Hermione, "we need to figure out where to start."
"I know," said Harry. "We've got the school to ourselves for a little over a month. At least we won't have to worry about prying eyes."
"True," said Ron. "We just have to worry about everything else, like identifying and finding the other Horcruxes. And yeah, destroying them, too. That's real easy," he added as he rolled his eyes.
Hermione looked like she was about to launch into one of her plans, but Harry beat her to it.
"Let's start at the beginning," he said. "You're right, Ron. We do need to identify the remaining Horcruxes, first. Dumbledore was pretty adamant about what he believed those items might be, or at the very least, to whom they once belonged."
"Right," said Hermione.
"We started with six Horcruxes," continued Harry.
"Riddle's diary and Marvolo's ring have been destroyed," said Ron.
"That's two down," said Hermione.
"Dumbledore believed Nagini was the sixth Horcrux, and I won't be able to get to her until it's time to face him, so we can table that one for now," he said matter-of-factly.
Hermione and Ron were thrown for a moment. They knew what Harry had to do. He'd told them everything that happened, and even though they'd known all along he was determined to do what needed to be done, there was something different about him, about his tone. Hermione was the first to recover.
"Okay, that's three; half down," she said.
"That leaves Slytherin's locket," said Harry. "Dumbledore risked his very life in pursuit of that Horcrux. And even though we ended up with a fake, at least we know exactly what we are looking for. The locket is definitely a Horcrux. We have to identify R.A.B. and go from there."
"Maybe R.A.B. already destroyed it, Harry," added Ron.
"That'd be great, but I have to be sure. Five destroyed Horcruxes will be meaningless," said Harry.
"Okay, that leaves two more Horcruxes to identify, first," said Hermione.
"Correct. Dumbledore was certain Voldemort would have wanted to use items from the Hogwarts Four. Gryffindor's possessions were in Dumbledore's office forever, so that would have been nearly impossible. He'd already used two items from Slytherin, so that would leave something from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw," reasoned Harry.
"Right," said Hermione. "So, here are our first three tasks. We need to narrow down the objects from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw that would have appealed to Voldemort, and we need to identify R.A.B. in order to find the real locket Horcrux.
"Yes," said Harry. "And don't forget, the Hufflepuff Horcrux is almost certainly a cup."
"Got it," said Hermione.
"I'm glad you do. All I've got is a headache," said Ron.
"We'll start in the library," said Harry.
"Are you suddenly turning into Hermione on me, or what?" asked Ron.
Hermione tossed a sofa pillow at Ron's head before turning back to Harry.
"A month seems like a long time, but we've got a thousand years of history and countless reference materials to check out. Any idea on how you'd like to start?" she asked.
"Let's divide and conquer," answered Harry. "You can start researching Rowena Ravenclaw. I have no idea what we could possibly be looking for, so jot down anything that sticks out for you."
Harry turned to Ron.
"Ron, you can start the search for R.A.B. again. I know Hermione tried at the end of term, but try again, okay? If you still don't come up with any possibilities, drop the middle initial and try R.B. Same deal, make a note of anything that sticks out, no matter how obscure."
Harry was quiet for a moment.
"I'm going to take a crack at Hufflepuff's cup. I'll pull whatever resources I can, on the off chance that Voldemort got his hands on something else of hers. After all, he did have two Slytherin objects, so anything's possible."
"We can write down everything of note we uncover and review our information together. If anything major surfaces, we can address those items immediately."
"That's a good approach, Harry," said Hermione. "Dobby's in charge of maintaining Gryffindor Tower for the summer, so none of our materials should be disturbed."
"For now, anyway," said Ron. "What do we do when school starts?"
"Maybe we can meet after curfew in the library's restricted section or something," offered Harry. "We can soundproof whatever room we're in."
"And Harry," added Hermione, with her eyes lighting with ideas, "we can use the journal Lupin gave you. I'm assuming it works just like the Marauder's Map. We can section it into three parts, and use it to note anything we agree is important. We can burn our individual notes in the fireplaces."
"Let's try it," he said and looked at Ron.
Ron pulled his wand and summoned the journal from upstairs. Harry took the quill from the nearby desk and opened the journal to the first page. Across the top he wrote Rowena Ravenclaw in black ink and handed the journal to Hermione.
"See what happens," he said.
Hermione tapped the journal with her wand and said, "Mischief managed."
She opened the journal to the first page and smiled. She turned it around to face Harry and Ron and all they saw was a blank page.
"Nice," said Ron.
"Well," said Harry, "we've got thirty-two days and counting until school starts. Let's see what we can do."
"Harry," said Hermione, "we can do this."
He looked at his two best friends at said, "I know. No time like the present, right?"
They grabbed parchment and quills and left to spend the remainder of a beautiful summer's day in the library.
Hermione hadn't been wrong. Their tasks were indeed daunting. They worked through lunch and after hour upon hour in the library, they'd only managed to make a list of the books and references they thought merited review; but it was a start.
Harry called out for Dobby, who popped from thin air instantaneously.
"Hi, Dobby," said Harry.
"Hello, Harry Potter, sir," said Dobby. "Hello, sir. Hello, miss," he added in turn to Ron and Hermione. "Dobby was worried when he saw Harry Potter and his friends had not eaten the lunch Dobby left for them."
"Sorry, Dobby," said Harry. "We worked through lunch…Listen, if it's not too much trouble, would you mind putting dinner in a picnic basket for us? We'd like to eat outside, by the lake."
"Dobby would be happy to do that for you, sir," squeaked the elf. " It will be ready for Harry Potter in an hour."
"Thanks, Dobby. We really appreciate this. You can leave the basket by the entrance door and we'll grab it on our way out. Would you please let Professor McGonagall know where we'll be?" asked Harry.
"Of course, Harry Potter, sir," he said and disappeared with another crack.
Harry, Ron and Hermione spent nearly the entire hour cleaning up the mess they'd made in the library and putting their things away in their dorm rooms. They met downstairs in the common room and walked down to the main entrance together. The castle seemed eerily quiet. Harry suspected Professor McGonagall was somewhere in her quarters. They'd not seen Moody or Hagrid at all today.
Ron heaved the basket Dobby had left for them and they made their way outdoors and across the grounds, breathing in the fragrant summer air. The trio stopped beneath their favorite tree. The sky had already darkened and Hermione conjured a few lanterns for their use. They sat silently and watched slow ripples moving across the lake.
Finally, "Can we just eat and not talk about a single book, please?" begged Ron.
"I've got no argument," said Harry. "We can sort through all our jumbled thoughts in the morning. Maybe something will sink into my brain in my sleep."
Hermione nodded and began pulling food from the basket and the trio settled in for a couple hours lakeside.
They were tired and stiff when they made their way back into the castle. Ron detoured to return the basket downstairs in the kitchens and Hermione and Harry waited for him. It wasn't quite ten o'clock when they were admitted once more into the common room, but it might as well have been one AM.
Harry was the first to say goodnight and left the common room, trying to give Ron and Hermione some time alone. He knew they were as exhausted as he was when Ron came upstairs only fifteen minutes after Harry.
Harry's birthday was in a couple of hours, but he never even saw the clock strike midnight.