Chapter nine.
A Powerful Surprise.

Harry stared at Hermione for a few seconds. His mouth was open in shock. He had no idea she was so close to finding one of the horcruxes. He felt slightly guilty at the lack of help he had been giving her in the past few weeks.

"Harry?" Hermione said loudly. Harry gave his head a shake realising he hadn't said anything for quite some time. He sat back down in the armchair next to Ron who also hadn't spoken in a while. Harry looked at him; he looked quite nervous but had a determined look on his face. Harry turned to Hermione.

"Hermione how did you…?" He began to ask her but was interrupted by Hermione, he could tell she had been eager to answer.

"R.A.B. is Regulus Black." She said simply with a slight triumphant smile forming on her face. Harry gasped and clapped himself over the head. How could he have forgotten? He had seen that name on the family map in Grimmauld Place two years ago.

"So how does that help us?" Ron asked confused. Hermione rolled her eyes at Ron glancing around the common room to check it was in fact empty.

"Well," Hermione began explaining. "We know there are quite possibly seven. The ring and the diary certainly destroyed. Which leaves..."

"The locket, snake, the cup, something from Gryffindor or Ravenclaw and of course Voldemort himself. Well so Dumbledore thought." Harry finished for Hermione.

"Hold on, I thought that R.A.B. destroyed the locket." Ron said thoughtfully.

"We don't know that for sure, he was killed by Voldemort. So I've read anyway. What if he got killed, but he'd hidden the locket somewhere before he got the chance to destroy it." Hermione looked from Harry to Ron as if waiting for them both to catch on. She rolled her eyes again and sighed as they both continued to look blankly at her. Harry's mind was racing and going into overdrive.

"Grimmauld Place." Hermione said finally breaking the silence. She continued. " But obviously it will be one of the easier ones to destroy as it's already been taken out of the cave. The hard part will be..."

"Destroying it?" Ron gulped. That's even if it's there, Harry thought to himself. His insides were squirming with excitement and fear. He was keen to destroy Voldemort as quickly as possible. If the locket was there, he would be one step closer. And it would mean Dumbledore's death wasn't totally for nothing. Harry leapt out of his chair grabbing Ron's arm in excitement.

"Ow!" Ron scowled at Harry.

"Oh sorry Ron. Well let's go then!" Harry said eagerly looking at Ron and Hermione. It was now getting dark outside and Harry saw Hermione glance nervously out of the window. He knew she was thinking of putting it off. Before she could say anything he sprinted up the boys dormitory stairs and grabbed anything he might need. His invisibility cloak was the main thing he needed along with the marauders map. He ran back down the stairs and saw Ron and Hermione whispering nervously to each other. This slightly annoyed him.

"Look, if you two don't want to go, I'll go alone." He said loudly and the two of them jumped up when he spoke.

"No, Harry mate. Were coming, that's not what we were talking about." Ron said forcefully. Harry noticed Ron glance and Hermione and his ears turned slightly pink. Harry decided not to continue to ask them what they were talking about.

"Right, you two stay here. Find Ginny for me if you can, I've got to go and speak to Mcgonagall." Harry told them walking out of the common room through the portrait. He ran down the corridor to the Headmasters office hoping he would be able to guess the password when he found he didn't need to. He ran straight into Mcgonagall as he turned the corner. She had a stern look on her face when she saw him.

"Potter, why are you running around like a maniac?" She asked him in a firm tone.

"Professor. Me, Ron and Hermione are leaving the school now. When we get back later I will let you know." Harry said quickly and turned around, he didn't want her to stop him. Well she can't stop me Harry thought to himself. He wondered how dangerous destroying the locket could actually be. Maybe he was underestimating this task. He didn't know for sure if they would all be coming back.

"Make sure you do Potter." Mcgonagall said loudly after him. He was walking quickly away from her. That was the second time this year she had surprised him by letting him go. When he got back to the common room he found Ron, Hermione and Ginny waiting for him. Ginny was looking anxiously at him. He grabbed her hand and pulled her away from Ron and Hermione and walked with her to the other side of the room.

"Your going now aren't you?" Ginny said quietly looking at him helplessly.

"Yeah, and I said I wouldn't go without telling you. But don't worry; we will all probably be back later tonight. It will be ok." Harry reassured her squeezing her hand. Ginny didn't look convinced but gave him a faint smile. Harry then brushed her hair away from her eyes, and leaned down and brushed his lips lightly against hers closing his eyes. Ginny ran her hands through his hair and kissed him back for a few seconds. Harry pulled away still holding her hand and turned to Ron and Hermione who were looking everywhere but Harry and Ginny. He let go of Ginny's hand and gave her a reassuring smile, which she returned.

"I'm coming." She said suddenly grabbing his arm.

"Ginny, no." Harry looked at her and pulled her hand off his arm. She accepted his wish that she didn't come and sank back in a chair watching Harry walk away.

"Let's go then." Harry said walking over to Ron and Hermione putting the invisibility cloak on them after they had climbed out of the portrait. "Best to put this on, members of the order will be lurking around." He told them getting out the marauders map and looking around it. He realised he was right as he saw various members of the order patrolling the corridors. With the help of the map the three of them managed to get out of the grounds to where they hid the car just inside the forest. As usual Ron got into the drivers seat and Hermione in the back. They had planned to drive the car just outside Hogwarts grounds and then apparate to Grimmauld Place. Harry, Ron and Hermione were silent as Ron flew the car outside of Hogwarts. It was now pitch black outside and freezing cold. Harry could tell both his friends were extremely nervous but wouldn't say they were in fear of not being able to go.

"Here we are." Ron landed the car onto a deserted path and put the invisibility booster on. The three of them got out of the car. Harry was shivering from the cold air, hitting him like knives against his face. They all stood and looked at each other seriously for a few seconds and nodded to show they were ready. Harry closed his eyes and concentrated on Grimmauld Place. He was getting used to the feeling of apparation now, he still didn't like it but he was beginning to not feel the suffocation of it anymore. He opened his eyes and saw he was outside Grimmauld Place standing next to Ron and Hermione. He walked with them up the stone steps and gently pushed open the door. It wasn't pitch black like before. It was dimly lit with candles everywhere.

"What the.." Ron began speaking loudly but Hermione put her hand over his mouth to stop him talking.

"Sssh" she hissed at him.

"What the bloody hell was that for!" Ron whispered frowning at Hermione. Harry looked around; they stood frozen in the hallway. Someone couldn't be here could they Harry thought to himself. He was now aware his breathing was extremely loud. He stepped in front of Ron and Hermione and gestured to them telling them he would go through to the kitchen first. If there was someone in there, he wasn't putting them both in danger. Ron and Hermione both defiantly stood beside him giving him determined looks. Harry sighed and pushed the door open slowly. Suddenly he saw Ron and Hermione being thrown against the wall, no one had spoken. Before he could do anything he saw red sparks coming towards him and felt it hit him hard in the chest and send him flying against the wall next to Ron and Hermione. None of them moved for a second. Ron and Hermione sitting up against the wall. Harry saw Ron take hold of Hermione's hand. They were watching someone slowly step out of the darkness. Who Harry saw made him feel angrier than he'd ever felt in his life, right in front of his eyes was the man he'd dreamed about killing for months now. He felt the rage rising up horribly like he had never felt it before as he looked at Severus Snape staring at him with that same loathing look he always gave him. He looked a lot worse than he had ever looked before. He looked worn down and his hair was even greasier than before.

Harry didn't need to think. He reached for his wand as quickly as he could, as he had imagined it. And felt every feeling he had in his body wanting to cause Snape pain. Pain that Snape had caused him by killing Dumbledore. He wanted him to feel just as bad, he wanted him to pay. Harry leapt up and shouted so loudly Ron and Hermione both jumped, looking scared.

"Crucio!" Harry yelled pointing his wand at Snape who had been taken by surprise at Harry. Harry had never fully succeeded in this unforgivable curse. He remembered Bellatrix's words just after she had killed Sirius. She had said if you wanted to get it right you had to want to cause the person excruciating pain and at this moment he did. Sparks flew out of his wand hitting Snape and Harry felt a force go through it like he had never felt before. He gripped his wand tightly. Harry saw that the curse was working. He felt pleasure as he watched Snape writhing around on the floor, shouting in pain.