Spy in the Ointment Keeperoliver Chapter 4
A/N: To all my faithful readers, I just want to say that I know the Horcruxes were not placed the way I said they were, but I had to have Peter know of their existence, and that was the only way I could think of. Also, since I have failed to do so up to this point, I should tell you this story is mine, but the characters were created by J.K. Rowling, and all rights to them belong to her. A shame really, as I could use the money right now.
Lily had researched the information that Peter had given her, to find out the meaning of the items that were hidden by Voldemort. There had to be a reason for their significance, to be important enough to hide. She had been looking for two weeks now, and was no closer then when she started. Frustration began to set in, and James was beginning to notice as she began to get irritable, when someone tried to talk to her.
Peter hadn't been called to a meeting in that time, so he had no further information for her to go on. She was about to give up, as even the Professors had no idea of what the significance was, when Professor Slughorn asked her to remain after one of his classes. When the class was over, she told James she would meet him in the hall in just a few minutes.
Professor Slughorn walked over to her, and sat down on the chair next to her. "My dear Lily, was is troubling you? I have noticed a sharp decline in your work, and it is worrying me. Your attention to detail is not there, and I am afraid if this continues, you may end up hurting yourself, or others. Is there anything I can help you with, so that I can get my best student back?"
"I wish you could Professor. I wish you could tell me why someone would hide items that they deem important enough to not want them found?"
"Well Lily, perhaps this person has a reason that concerns someone he cares for and wishes to surprise this individual. Maybe a special occasion, birthday, or an anniversary. Why are you so worried about such a small matter. Surely this is about you, for it to be bothering you so much?"
"Professor, I wish I could confide in you, but if i did, I would be putting a friend of mines' life in jeopardy, I could not do that."
"Without giving names, could you tell me what these items are? Perhaps the significance of the items is hidden within them?"
"I would only tell you, if my friend consented to allowing me to tell you, Professor. It is his wish to remain anonymous. I will talk to him, to see if he wishes to have me ask you about these items. Thank you for your concern, though, as it makes me feel that people care about me."
"Not a problem my dear, after all you are one of my favorite students."
Lily left for the Great Hall to meet up with her friends after her meeting. She found the Marauders sitting at lunch, discussing something as she approached them. They went silent when she got to them, and gave her a look as if to say, 'What did he want'.
"The Professor was worried about me, as my performance has been slipping lately, but I need to talk to you all in private later. Please hold off any questions until then, as I will not answer any of them until then." She then filled her plate with food and began eating.
When the classes were over for the day, and before dinner, she met up with the Marauders in an empty class room, and put spells up to ensure their privacy. She then went on to explain her meeting with Professor Slughorn.
Peter thought it might be a good idea to ask Professor McGonagall what she thought, so they proceeded to her office.
She asked them to come in, and asked what it was they needed.
Lily asked, "Professor, what do you think of Professor Slughorn. I mean do you think he can be trusted?"
"Well, he is a bit pompous, and he likes the attention of being friends with people in the news. But other then that, I suppose he could be trusted. Why do you ask?"
Lily then explained her talk with the Professor, and his request. She told Minerva that Peter thought it would be best to ask her for her opinion.
Minerva thought about it for a bit, wondering what knowledge he could have, concerning these items and what could be done about them. She weighed her options, and felt that any help that was given by Horace, was more then they currently had. They were not getting anywhere, and it was frustrating. "I believe that his offer to help should be taken, as where we stand right now is getting us nowhere. I will set up a meeting for all of us for tonight at 7PM in his office. I will have Poppy and Professor Flitwick with us there also. If he is to be included in our venture, he has to know all the participants. Meet us there at that time."
They all broke for dinner, and the five watched as Minnie talked to Horace, and saw him look over to the Gryffindor table and Nod his head meaning that it was OK with him.
After they had eaten, and dropped off all their books in the dorm, they headed for the dungeons, using charms to hide them selves from view of the students walking the corridors. Once they arrived, they knocked, and were asked to enter. Horace was surprised when he saw all the students walking into his classroom.
Minerva started the meeting , "Horace, as you know, things are starting to get a little out of hand with 'He who must not be named', and his followers. All efforts to slow him down, have failed, and we have lost many good people to his evil ways. This young group has decided to try and do something about it, but need help. Before we make any statements, we ask that you take an oath of silence concerning this matter. If you should decline, we will obliviate you memory of this visit, and continue on our own."
Horace looked at all the faces in the room. All of them determined and steadfast in their convictions. Horace took up his wand , and with subtle movements made a statement, "I, Horace Slughorn, make this oath of silence to protect the secret of this group, and promise to help in anyway I can. So mote it be."
Minerva followed with, "So mote it be." and a flash of light confirming the oath had been accepted, and that it meant a horrible death to Horace if he should decide to betray this oath, without the consent of all these people present. He was brought up to date with inputs by everyone, and then was presented with the current problem on hand. He blanched at hearing this information, knowing he may have been the one to bring about their formations. He waited until they had finished, before he spoke up, "I fear, that I may have been the one to bring about the significance of these items. I fear that they may be Horcruxes, created by using dark magic. A horcrux is created, when a murder has been created, and a evil spell is used to creat this object. It splits the soul of the creator, and joins itself with the item being used as the container. I told a student once, how a Horcrux was created. I fear this student may now be the one known as Lord Voldemort. This student's name was Tom Riddle. I believe, Minerva you may know him, as you were just beggining to teach here for his last two years."
"Oh yes, I remember him. A brilliant student, almost as brilliant as our young Miss Evans here. I never did feel right about him, when ever he was near me. I never could understand why I felt this way, but it was like I could feel something dirty about him. So you think Tom may have become the Dark Lord, Horace? That would explain a lot issues about his reason for being. His life had been a difficult one, with his mother dying so young, leaving him in an orphanage, not knowing love, being abused by the older orphans and neglected by the people running it. It was no wonder he turned out the way he did. So, now that we know what we have to deal with, what can we do about it? How do you destroy a Horcrux?"
"That is the tricky part, only Basilisk poison or Fiendfire can destroy a Horcrux. The Fiendfire speaks for itself, but the Basilisk poison has to be injected into the object, and if I know Tom, there are spells to protect it against most items that will penetrate it. It's not going to be easy, but we will find a way to accomplish it." And then he asked if they knew of the locations of the objects in question.
Peter passed on what he knew, and the team started their cram session on how to go about finding an answer.
Regulas Arturus Black was worried. He knew he had made a mistake joining the insane Dark Lord, when he found out about his means to ensure his continued existence. He knew of the location of five of his Horcruxes, but he also knew of the Dark Lords propensity for magical numbers and Prophecies. He believed, that in order for him to succeed, he had to be in control of his destiny, and any chance for his demise had to be eliminated.
Regulas had called for his house-elf Kreacher.
"You called for Kreacher Master Regulas?"
"Yes Kreacher, I want you to accompany me on a trip, and assist me in trying to retrieve a darl object. You must do exactly as I say, and do not try to anything without my telling you, is that understood?"
"Yes Master, Kreacher understands."
"OK then, first, if anything should happen to me, you must get this letter to Master Sirius, immediately. No one else must see this letter Kreacher." and he handed the letter to Kreacher.
"Now, if you will take my hand, we will begin our little adventure." And with that, Regulas and Kreacher left from the outskirts of the Hogwarts grounds.
Kreacher found himself on the cliffs overlooking a violent scene. The water smashed against the walls of the cliff where they stood with the force to destroy anything that dared to try and stand up against it. His Master led him to a path leading down to the lower level of the cliff, wher they came upon a cave. Kreacher felt evil magic the minute they entered. His Master then went to a wall, cut his hand, and placed his blood on the wall, causing the wall to disappear. They entered this new area in the dark. His master then cast a spell, and the cave lit up brightly, to show Kreacher a large body of water, with a small island in the middle. His Master then used another spell, and called for a boat to take them across this body of water. As they crossed, Kreacher could see forms gliding through the water effortlessly. Not swimming, gliding, as if the water was not there. Kreacher had a bad feeling about these spirits. He knew they were evil. When they finally reached the island, both he and his master left the boat, and approached a pedestal that was the only thing on the small island.
Regulas took Kreacher by the shoulgers, making sure that he had his full attention. "Kreacher, I want you to do something for me. I want you to promise me that, no matter what I say, you will make sure that I drink all the liquid in this bowl. It is important that I drink it all. Is this understood. I must drink it all, and you must make sure of this. I will be saying some cruel things Kreacher, but I want you to understand that I do not mean any of them. The liquid in this bowl will change me, possibly to something evil. Don't let me stop drinking, even if you have to bind me and force me to drink it. Promise me that you will do this Kreacher, or I will fail to do what has to be done."
"I promise Master Regulas. I will do as you ask."
And then it began. Regulas had two goblets drank, when the potion started to take effect. He started sobbing, not wanting to drink anymore, but still he drank. Then he began to get hateful, calling Kreacher names, and cussing him out for making him drinking the awful tasting potion. He then when back to sobbing, and fear was writen all over his face. Kreacher felt sorry for his Master, but continued to do what he was ordered. Finally, Kreacher was not able to get anymore potion out of the bowl. and reached in and pulled out a Necklace with a pendant attached to it, replacing it with one that Regulas had given him. He grabbed Regulas and tried to return to the main land, but his magic did not work, so he brought him back to the boat, and went back that way. The forms in the lake were becoming aggresive, trying to get on the boat. Kreacher beat them off with the oar he was using to drive the boat, and managed to get them back to the main part of the cave, and out onto the path leading up the side of the cliff. Once at the top, Kreacher was able to bring him and Master back to Black Manor.
Regulas was in real bad shape. He knew he was dying. The poison was slow acting, and created terrible thoughts and pain leading up to the deatrh. "Kreacher, I am not long for this world now, and I want you to know that what you have helped me with is greatly appreciated. Now I want you to do me one more favor, before you take the letter to Master Sirius. Take the necklace to him also. First though, I want you to dispose of my body, so that no one will find it. Incinerate it, and throw the ashes into the wind, so that no one can find the remains. Kreacher, I know you do not like Master Sirius, but please make sure you deliver the letter and the necklace and pendant to him. Kreacher, thank you for being a loyal and trustworthy servant. It has been my pleasure to know you.", and with that, Regulas Artureus Black died. Kreacher missed his Master already, but set about to comply with his Master's wishes, beginning with disposing of his body. He created a sphere of containment around the body, and used Fiendfire to insinerate it, until all that was left was ash. Making sure that there were absolutely no fragments left, he took the ashes to the waste disposal plant, where they burned waste for space management. Kreacher dumped the ashes from the highest level of the facility, to ensure the disbursal of the ashes was completely unnoticeable to anyone looking for remains. He then traveled to Hogwarts to give Master Sirius (How he hated to admit this) the letter and the Necklace and pendant. Master Sirius was sleeping, so he left the letter and the necklace in his trunk for him to find, and then left, to go back to his Master's house.
If Regulas' facts were true, then the search for the Horcruxes may be easier than anticipated.