Chapter Eight Hermione's Prisoner

They walked along the overgrown lane in the early hours of the morning. Fog lay on the ground and obscured anything that lay further than a meter or so away. Harry followed the advice Remus had given him and after leaving the main street of the town they turned and entered the valley. The house he was looking for, his true home, his parent's home, was just off the lane.

Harry knew it immediately. There was a stone fence hiding the garden and the only visible part of the house was the roof. It was a small cottage. In better times it would have been a charming little home. He could envision warm glowing lights beckoning visitors to the round-topped slat door and he could almost see the faces of his parents smiling and welcoming them in.

Snape and Draco held back and stood in the middle of the road. Harry stepped away from them and they were immediately shrouded in the mist and fog. He ran his hand along the wall of the fence and felt a tingling at the tip of his fingers. It was if the very stone was acknowledging his presence.

The wooden slat gate hung off its hinges and opened into an overgrown patch of garden. He felt the dampness from the grasses soak his shoes and trouser legs. The windows stared blankly back at him as he walked up the short path to the front door. He understood from the old woman at the muggle hotel that the house had been a gatekeeper's house for the Manor- the large house he had seen earlier- in the valley. She had told him a series of caretakers had lived in the house off and on for many years, but never stayed. It was either the old Manor that cast a spooky gloomy shadow over the valley or the little cottage itself which had taken on a reputation for being haunted and no one wanted to stay long. She also reported that people called it the Potter Cottage but couldn't say where they had gotten the name.

Harry walked to the door and placed a trembling hand on it. It swung inwards with a shocking screech. He stepped in and found the foyer empty as well as the two rooms that opened up on each side. There wasn't any furniture left in the house. The empty house was definitely an entryway into the wizarding world; he was sure. As he entered, he felt the familiar feeling of 'crossing a threshold', one he felt in many places; Grimmauld Place, Platform 9 3/4's, St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.

"Hellooooo," he crooned with a steady voice, although he felt his heart beating hard in his ears. It wasn't a question, as if to ask if anyone was in the house. It was a way to greet his home. He followed the hallway to a set of stairs leading to the upper floor. He closed his eyes as he moved and let his hand follow the railing. The stairs were bare and creaked as he placed a foot carefully on each rise and with his mind he pictured the house as it might have been.

The house opened up at the top of the stairs into a circle and there were doors leading

to three small rooms. They were as empty as the rooms below and he walked through them without a light, using only the dim illumination of the gray light shining through dirt encrusted windows.

Harry felt overwhelmed suddenly by his life and everything that had happened to him. With a strong longing to speak to his mother, he dropped to his knees in the room that had to have been his own nursery and saw clear drops splattering the thick dust on the floor. His hand reached up to his cheeks and he was surprised to find them wet with his own tears.

"Mother!" he wailed through clenched teeth. "Dad! What I wouldn't give to see you or hear you one more time!" He rocked back and forth, his hands clenched in fists held tight to his heart. He stayed that way for a long time until he felt himself grow calm. Finally, opening his eyes he sat back on his heels, his hands dropping to his lap. As he did a thin beam of sunshine streamed in through the window, a sudden break in the overcast sky. The beam spilled over the floor in front of him and he looked at the area where it was glowing softly, noticing and yet not really consciously aware of what he was seeing.

"Harry," a whisper so soft, it sounded like a breeze, drifted through the room. "It's before you. Look!"

"Mother?" Harry jerked his head around and saw no one. "Is it you? Mother?" He asked the question knowing it was only his imagination and his deep desire to feel her presence that he was hearing the sound. And yet he was willing to believe, willing for her to be there and answer him.

Suddenly a stone materialized out of the air in front of his face and landed on the floor in front of him. It landed in the circle of his drying tears and didn't roll away although it was the size and roundness of a marble. It was as if through sheer will power he had materialized the stone to prove to himself he wasn't dreaming.

He looked more closely at the spot and noticed a small notch in the wood of the floor. There was also an old mark on the floor marring the wood. Harry brushed at the dirt, leaned in and gently blew it away with his breath. He knew that mark. He had seen it on the grave stones in the cemetery. It was a scorch mark from the killing curse.

He reared back in disgust. What if this is the place where the curse killed her, he wondered. His fingers felt hot from the touch.

"Look again, my love. It's there."

He glanced around again wondering if he was dreaming. He had heard the voice and it was real and yet it was so faint. He reached for the round stone and his fingers passed through it before it disappeared. He jerked his hand back involuntarily and ran his hand over the surface of the wooden floor again to satisfy himself that it was gone.

"Harry, you're going a bit mental," he said aloud, just as his fingers caught the edge of the notched wood. It drew his attention to one plank in the wood and he dug at it a little to see it more clearly. It was a loose plank and the edges were delineated once the dust had been removed. He pried with the tips of his fingers and pulled up a section that was very small and fit in the palm of his hand. Leaning in he peered into the opening and saw a piece of cloth lying in the crack. It covered an object which was about eight inches long and thin. Harry knew before touching it what it was; it was the shape of a wand. He looked around quickly and pulled it out of the hole and shucked the black velvet from it.

Laying in his open palm was a wizard's wand, gilt in fine gold with a lion's head emblazoned on the hilt and the words; Godric Gryffindor etched in fine gold filigree along the handle.

Gryffindor's wand! Harry stared at it in astonishment. My parent's had it! And the voice which seemed to have drifted through the room before suddenly whispered information in his ear. He started and took a deep agonized breath. Is this what Voldemort wanted all along? Did he know they had it? He struggled to his feet and walked to the window, rubbed a circle in it for more light and held it up to his eyes.

Is this what they denied him? Did he ask for it three times and they refused? The pieces seemed to fall in place. Of course! Voldemort had been on a quest to acquire items from each House at Hogwarts; a symbolic gesture. Each item was to be used to make a Horcrux. And in order to make one a person had to be murdered. Was that why he had come to his parent's house? To steal the wand and make another Horcrux?

"Wouldn't he have just died to lay his hands on this?" Harry whispered to the empty room. A strong emotion of anger and sorrow and even, strangely, glee swept over him. "You didn't get it though, did you? My parents were too clever. They died trying to stop you. And if that's what I have to do, then that's what I'll do."

Holding it safely to his chest he turned and surveyed the room once more. "Thank you mother. I love you." He walked from the room and down the stairs. "I'll come back home soon."

…..

The walk into the valley was a long one. The lane at one time in bygone days had been wide enough to allow several carriages to pass one another. It was now a narrow pathway. The park surrounding the Manor was huge with a dense forest and provided a wall of green protection from the world. The trees were flanked by a large lake. Harry thought it must be very pretty in the area if the sun were shining on it. Now, it had a strange claustrophobic atmosphere. They walked until the fog shifted and was diminished enough to see the white gabled roof of the mansion.

From a muggle point of view, the place was impressive. The manor was about four stories high, with a wing on each side of the center structure. There were dozens of gables and chimneys protruding from the roof and there were hundreds of windows. A tall white tower rose from the center as if it were the steeple of a church. It was made of a white-gray stone that showed very little wear, at least from the distance where they stood. The woman in the village had told him the house itself was nothing more then bare walls and little more. Since the house was unfinished, the masons had not built many interior rooms. However, she reported that the main section was where tenants lived and it did have living quarters.

They all stopped to look at it. Harry felt the presence of the wand pressed warmly against his chest, lending him a feeling of security and comfort.

"Potter, is there a reason you must see this place?' Snape asked him as they stood shoulder to shoulder in the drive.

It was the first time they had spoken since the night before. Harry glanced over and up slightly. He realized he was now almost as tall as the man who stood beside him.

Snape turned to look at him "It is dangerous. The Dark Lord will have these places watched."

"He is expecting a visitor," a man's voice said.

Remus Lupin stepped out from the front gate, his wand pointed at Snape. Harry knew what was on his mind and before Lupin could act, he stepped in front of Snape.

"No, Remus!" Harry held his own wand up. He heard Snape's snarling hiss behind him.

"Stand away, Harry," Remus growled. "Are you mad?"

Harry shook his head. "No, you can't harm him! He didn't kill Dumbledore and I need him."

"What nonsense is this? What has he done to you?" Remus stepped forward.

Harry could feel Snape strong hands grab him and shove him aside. They were face to face with Draco remaining motionless behind them.

"Go ahead, Lupin," Snape snarled. His own wand was pointed at the man. "We've been destined to do this from the beginning."

Harry took two steps forward and stood in profile between them. He glanced at Remus first and then Snape. "Stop this! Stop this now. I can't have you fighting each other. I need you both. We have a job to do and I can't have you injured or dead." He turned to his friend and pointed his wand at him. "Remus remember when I found Sirius at the Shrieking Shack. I swore he was guilty and I wanted to kill him. You wouldn't let me, you wanted me to trust you. Now, I'm asking you to trust me."

Lupin looked deadly. Harry didn't think he'd ever seen the man's face filled with so much hate. The gray eyes turned to him and the hand holding the wand trembled slightly before he lowered it. He made no comment as he waited for Snape to do the same.

Harry next turned to Snape who maintained his dueling pose. "Drop your wand."

Snape glared at him and slowly dropped his own arm.

"Right then," Harry let out his breath as he spoke, "maybe we can talk about this quietly."

"What makes you think he didn't kill Albus Dumbledore?" Remus asked coldly. "You were there, Harry. You saw it with your own eyes. I saw him in Hogwarts, too. He even has his little protégé with him."

Snape smirked and remained quiet, watching Harry.

"I can't tell you why I trust him, Remus," Harry said almost pleading. Snape had told him his story and had not asked for his silence or to pledge that he keep it a secret and there was no evidence to prove that Snape was telling the truth, but he had to take a stand and trust someone. "I only know I trusted Dumbledore and he trusted Snape."

"Harry that is not enough!" It was Remus' turn to look concerned. "He is a Deatheater. It is their bread and butter to lie. What could you possible know that would convince you of his trustworthiness? And why have you brought him here?"

This time it was a female voice which cut through the dense fog that swirled around them."You have to tell him, Harry. If you don't, I will. You all have to have the complete story and not bits and pieces or else Voldemort will defeat us all." This time they all turned to see Hermione walking towards them.

"Hermione!" Harry frowned as she closed on them. He had not wanted any of his friends near him, especially in an area which was clearly very dangerous. "What are you doing here?"

"I came with information," she said stepping over to brush his cheek with a kiss and to take his hand. She stepped over next to Remus and put an arm around his neck and gave him a quick hug. Finally, she moved to Snape and stared up at him. "Voldemort didn't go to Hogwarts to kill Dumbledore, not expressly. He was on another mission wasn't he Professor? He hoped to get in and out before Dumbledore returned, isn't that right? Madam Rosmerta had sent word that Dumbledore had left the castle. Voldemort didn't expect him to return before he'd accomplished his mission."

Snape stared at her, squinting slightly. He continued to be silent.

"What are you talking about Hermione?" Harry moved closer to her and kept his voice low. Remus closed in behind him.

"Remus, Harry may not tell you and Professor Snape probably won't tell you, but Dumbledore believed Voldemort had made seven Horcruxes using seven different objects meaningful to him in some way. They included items connected to Hogwarts, to each House."

Lupin gasped in shock and Snape and Harry watched her. Harry felt a grim anger growing. "Hermione..." he didn't finish before she interrupted.

"Please, Harry, this is important. Remus should understand fully what is happening, because... well let me finish. Just trust me." She squeezed his hand and the worried look on her face made him pause. Harry had just asked Remus to trust him. He thought he should do the same for his closest friend.

She continued, "Professor Snape you told us your mother was dead." She turned to him waiting for his response.

He drew in a hissing breath and drew himself up to full height. "What is this about?" he growled in his best schoolroom posture.

"She isn't," Hermione said simply.

One of his eyebrows went up a notch and he opened his mouth to speak.

She hurried on, "Your mother was the one who murdered your father. But she wasn't sent to Azkaban as everyone was led to believe.

"Dumbledore protected you. Everyone thought both of you had killed him. Dumbledore was a member of the Wizengamot and he persuaded them to let him deal with the matter. Since you were underage they could not send you to Azkaban for his death, but they thought they had given the order to send your mother. That was never carried out." She was almost breathless with the speed of her storytelling.

"Dumbledore invited her back to Hogwarts and gave her a job as Defense Against the Dark Arts. She taught until your father found her there and tracked her down. She murdered him to protect herself and you. You had to keep the secret that she was your mother because parents were not allowed to teach at Hogwarts.

She turned to Harry and Remus and continued, "She was a brilliant witch and fell under Voldemort's spell. She was his first Deatheater and she helped him perform the magic to split his soul into seven parts. She taught him how to perform the Horcrux charm. But she was kept imprisoned," Hermione said it with a gulp, "at Hogwarts, by Dumbledore and her son." She turned to Snape.

Snape took in a ragged gasping breath and they looked at him. Harry felt suddenly nauseous as he absorbed what she had just said.

"She was insane," Hermione said softly. "It was for her own protection that both of you kept her there, wasn't it?. If she had been sent to Azkaban she would have died. As it was, Voldemort surmised that she was at Hogwarts since he could not find her anywhere else. When he was returned to hi sown body he began searching for her and searching for each Horcrux.

"He killed Madam Bones, Susan Bone's aunt who was the Head of the Law Enforcement Department at the Ministry to find out what happened to her. You see the Dark lord needed Madam Prince." Hermione stopped and pulled her cloak close around her. "Dumbledore discovered the Horcruxes. He destroyed one and Harry destroyed the other, the diary. Voldemort knows he is in danger so he wants her to put it right. He broke into Hogwarts to rescue her." She said the last defiantly and stopped. " Oh, and yes, that's the reason Albus Dumbledore trusted Professor Snape. They shared a secret in common."

"What?" Harry gasped.

"Horcruxes, my god!" Remus gasped.

"You are wrong," Snape said nastily. They all spoke simultaneously.

Hermione shook her head. "No, I'm not. I found the rooms where she was kept. They are near Dumbledore's living quarters. Dobby told me where they were. Dumbledore's house elves could not reveal their master's secrets as long as he was alive. It was only on his death that they could tell. You knew your mother was capable of such magic, Professor. Harry told you about the Horcruxes and you knew who had helped Voldemort make them. The Potion's book belonged to her didn't it?"

Snape stood frozen in place and Harry looked at him in wonder.

"There were reasons why you taught at Hogwarts," Hermione said gently. "Your mother was still there. You were trying to keep the secret of her existence from him, from Voldemort. You were his servant because you could control the information flowing to him. It all worked out beautifully until didn't want the Dark Lord to learn she still lived and she lived near you. Now she's escaped."

Snape's shoulders sagged perceptibly and he ran a hand over his mouth and held it there looking at Hermione as if she had sprouted tentacles.

"Horcruxes! Seven Horcruxes!" Remus said again. They all looked at him. His face was even paler than the mist surrounding them and Harry thought for a moment the man might faint away.

Hermione nodded. "There are seven."

"My god!" Remus managed and raised a shaky hand to his forehead. "Is that possible?"

Harry nodded. "I was with Dumbledore the night we tried to find one of them. They are encapsulated in objects Voldemort chose. The attempt injured Dumbledore badly and I was trying to get him back to the castle that night. If it hadn't been for that, he would have been strong enough to fight off an attack. When he died he thought it was Mr. Snape who pointed his wand and said the killing curse." He nodded to Snape and then leaned against the crumbling wall of stone which had once surrounded the Manor. "Albus thought one of the Horcruxes is Voldemort's snake, Nagini. The Professor is going to help me get to it." Harry said coldly and looked at Snape. "I don't know what all the objects are. I can only guess.

Remus stared at them and finally dropped down beside him on the stone wall. "Merlin's Beard!"

Snape finally appeared to gather himself together and folded his hands in front of him and stood watching them.

"You knew and didn't tell me?" Harry asked tiredly.

"I saw her that night. She was running alongside the Dark Lord. She was under the effects of Polyjuice potion, but I knew her. Before you showed up, she stopped and spoke to me," Snape said the words quietly. "What you all are not aware of is that he has let loose a fiend; an indescribable terror. At his side, the two will cut a swath through this world that will be unimaginable."

Harry felt his blood run cold at the words. This was his own mother he was speaking about; speaking with as little emotion as a stone. He voiced his thoughts, "This is your own mother you're talking about."

Snape looked at him and smirked. This time there was a slight tremor in his face. "Yes."

"We must kill her, too," Harry said without compassion.

"I have been searching for her to do that very thing," Snape responded. "I took some time to piece the puzzle of that night at Hogwarts together- to understand what had happened." He looked over at Remus. "I was not aware she had helped Him perform the magic to make Horcruxes. But I think Miss Granger is correct. She has been turned loose so that she may undo what has been done, or to find the rest."

Remus stood and said hoarsely, "We have to get to her quickly."

Snape nodded.

"This is going to be an impossible task," Remus said shaking his head and staring off into the fog.

"Not necessarily," Hermione said. She had been quiet since telling the story. They all turned to her. "With a little help, I think we may be able to at least find her. You see, a few of us, well more than a few...we've managed... to capture one of the enemy." She stopped and her gaze drifted over to the figure of Draco Malfoy.

Harry followed her glance. "Hermione," he groaned with impatience.

"We have Lucius Malfoy imprisoned at Hogwarts."