Harry had received the letter at lunch, and things had become very tense since then. Tracey, Neville, Hermione and Daphne stood just outside of the great oak doors, awaiting Dumbledore, as Harry' note instructed. Only Harry was supposed to come, but Harry's friends wanted to see him off.

The note was very simple.

Dear Harry,

I have located the next one. Please meet me at the main entrance of the school at half past five this evening, and please remember to come prepared.

They all knew what it meant, and they all wanted to wish Harry and the Headmaster luck on their expedition. Daphne remained very close to Harry, holding his hand tightly in hers. She hadn't said a word since lunch, and whenever she looked at Harry, her eyes would sting with tears.

Neville checked his watch, and was about to announce that it was time, when Dumbledore's voice greeted them.

"I see we have well wishers." Dumbledore smiled gently. "Very well, please take a moment to say farewell, but try not to take to long. We have a long journey ahead of us."

Neville grasped Harry's hand, and they stared meaningfully at each other. Neville gave a curt nod, and Harry smiled appreciatively at Neville.

"Just be careful out there mate." Neville smiled. Harry grinned, and nodded again.

"I'll be back before you know it." Harry said.

Hermione launched herself into Harry's arms, hugging him tightly and sniffing, trying to keep herself from bursting into tears. Harry patted her back softly.

"I'm going with Dumbledore." Harry said softly. "Nothing bad's going to happen."

"I can't help but worry." Hermione admitted.

"I know." Harry said, giving her a comforting squeeze. When Hermione slipped herself out of Harry's arms, Tracey replaced her, which surprised Harry a bit, as Tracey had never hugged him before.

"You come back safe, because I don't want to spend the rest of my life trying to comfort Daphne." She said, trying to sound fearsome, but the tears in her eyes, and the shakiness of her voice gave her away.

"I'm actually more worried about what she might do to me if I get hurt than you." Harry chuckled. Tracey punched his arm as she slipped away from him. That left only Daphne.

She stared at him, tears falling down her face. Harry closed the distance between them, capturing her lips with his and a very strong kiss. He poured everything he felt for her in that single gesture, hoping that she knew how much she meant to him. It took a moment, but she finally slipped her arms around his neck and held him as close as she could.

It was Dumbledore clearing his throat that finally made them pull apart.

"I've got to go." He said softly.

"I'll be waiting up for you. I want to see you as soon as you get back so I know that you're alright." She said, her voice cracking. She gave him one final kiss before letting him out of her grasp.

Neville, Hermione, Tracey, and Daphne all watched as Harry and Dumbledore walked slowly down the path that led to the front gates. They watched until they could no longer see either of them. One by one, they began to drift back into the castle, until Only Daphne remained, staring at the now closed iron gates of the school. She knew without a single doubt that Harry would return, but her heart just could not shake the feeling that something horrible was going to happen. She was so happy that she had slipped the vial of liquid luck into his jacket pocket while he had been kissing her. She only hoped that he found it before trouble found him.

The two men walked silently until they had passed through the iron gates.

"She cares a great deal for you, Harry." Dumbledore said, not looking at his young charge.

"I know. I don't think I've ever cared for anyone as much as I do for Daphne. I love her."

"A fool could see that." Dumbledore smiled, a soft chuckle coming from beneath his snowy beard. "I must admit I'm a little curious as to what it was she slipped in your pocket."

"What?" Harry turned questioning eyes on the headmaster, before shoving his hand into his coat pocket to discover a tiny crystal vial on a thin leather cord. Harry recognized it at once, as he'd seen it around her neck several times.

"Felix Felicious. She gave me her luck potion." Harry whispered in awe at what Daphne had done for him. She had been saving this for a while, he knew, though she was always evasive whenever he asked what she was saving it for.

"That was very selfless of her." Dumbledore remarked, as he gazed at the tiny vial in Harry's hands. "Though I do not think we shall need its assistance tonight. Better to save it for another occasion, but keep it handy." Dumbledore encouraged. "I would like it if you donned your cloak at this juncture."

Harry stared at the little vial for another moment before shoving it back into his pocket and retrieving his shrunken knapsack from his pocket. He enlarged the bag to pull his cloak out before shrinking the bag once again. He quickly through the cloak over himself before following Dumbledore into Hogsmeade village as the sun was beginning to descend in the distance.

"I know you have not yet passed your apparition test yet, but I am told that you have been making excellent progress." Dumbledore said as they walked together. Harry noticed that he barely moved his mouth as he spoke to him. No doubt he was trying to appear as if he were just going to the village on his own.

"I guess so." Harry shrugged.

"That's good. However, as you have not passed the test yet, and we wish to keep our activities out of the attention of the Ministry and Lord Voldemort, You shall have to allow me to apparate us this evening. If you would take my arm, Harry."

Harry had barely clasped his fingers on the Headmaster's arm before he felt the telltale squeezing sensation. He remembered the few times he'd been apparated over the summer, and how uncomfortable the sensation was. Time had not improved it. When the sensation finally abated, his nostrils were filled with the scent of ocean air. His ears were pounded by the sound of waves crashing against the cliff side.

Where are we, sir?"

"The same place that a very young Tom Riddle visited with other orphans. There is a small village not to far, but I'm afraid that I have not learned its name. We need to start walking as we have quite a hike ahead of us. Follow me if you would, and I think it is safe enough for you to remove your cloak now."

Harry tore his invisibility cloak off and enlarged his knapsack once again. After stuffing the cloak back inside, he hefted it onto his shoulder feeling it might be better to keep it handy now.

Dumbledore had not been exaggerating. The hike down the side of the cliff was very long, and nerve rattling. Several times, Harry very nearly lost his footing, as chunks of rock broke away and fell into the churning sea below. Harry had never felt as anxious as he did navigating his way along the very thin so-called trail. It was little more than natural erosion that had made their path, and Harry felt that it hadn't done a very good job. That, or Dumbledore just liked the thrill of rock climbing. Either way, Harry hoped they could move a bit faster.

Dumbledore moved very cautiously down the cliff face, picking his footing very carefully. The sun was getting lower in the sky now, and it was getting harder to see, but after about twenty minutes, Dumbledore stopped, and shouted over his shoulder so Harry could hear him over the crash of the surf.

"Our path ends here, I'm afraid. We now will have to swim to our destination. Light your wand, Harry. It is quite dark, and try to stay close."

Harry watched as Dumbledore stepped into a large crack in the cliff face. Harry followed the old Headmaster through, and was a bit surprised to find himself standing on the edge of a small pool, with Dumbledore nowhere to be seen. Harry felt a bit of panic rise in his chest and took two steps forward, only to find the floor had disappeared.

Harry fell into the pool, the icy water chilling him right to the bone. Despite the shock of falling into icy water, Harry could see a bright light in the water moving away from him, and realized that it was Dumbledore. Harry shot to the surface of the pool, took a huge breath and submerged himself again to follow Dumbledore.

It was very dark, and terribly cold in the water. Harry pushed himself through, noticing how confined this underwater cave was. He couldn't help but thinking this would be a very good spot for an ambush.

Pushing such thoughts aside, Harry followed Dumbledore's lit wand, hoping they would get out of the water soon. Just as soon as he finished the thought, he could see Dumbledore's lit wand rising. Harry pushed himself a little harder through the water, and at last his head broke the surface of the water and Harry found himself in a very dark cave.

Harry climbed out of the water and saw Dumbledore drying himself with his wand. Shivering, and teeth chattering, Harry mimicked the Headmaster and began to dry himself as well. When he was finished, he cast a warming charm on his jacket.

"Well, that was invigorating, wouldn't you say?" Dumbledore asked jovially.

"If you say so, sir." Harry said rather dryly. He looked around and saw that they were in a small cave with only the pool they had come from. There was barely enough room for them to stand on before one of them might find themselves back in the frigid water.

"Harry, I would very much like it if you could tell me what we need to do to continue on. Dumbledore said, looking expectantly at the young man with him. Harry gave a questioning look at the Headmaster for a moment before he realized that he was still being trained. Harry nodded, and closed his eyes to center himself.

Reaching out with his magic, Harry almost immediately felt the disgusting imprint of Lord Voldemort's magic. It was just as oppressive and foul feeling as it had been at Godric's Hollow.

Harry could feel that the magic was centered on a section of wall. A section that seemed to be asking for sacrifice.

"That can't be right." Harry said, opening his eyes, and turning to the section of wall that was now singing out to him in malevolence.

"What is it?"

"I have to be misreading it or something." Harry said, reaching out to touch the wall, and feeling pure abhorrence at the feel of the cold jagged stone. I think it's asking for a sacrifice."

"Very good." Dumbledore smiled. "Though I think it's more along the lines of payment, though wither term would work in this instance. I believe it is designed to weaken whomever would be trying to gain entrance."

"Payment? Payment of what?"

"Have you not guessed?"

Harry turned to see the headmaster giving him a strange look in the wand light. Harry turned back to the wall, and touched it once again. He took another deep calming breath and focused to see what kind of payment was required for entrance. In his mind all he could see was red. At first he was confused.

What could Voldemort want someone to give that would weaken themselves, and would be red?

Harry slapped his forehead. Of course, it was so obvious. It was the one thing that Voldemort valued above everything.

"It wants blood." Harry said turning to see Dumbledore approaching him, one of his hands bleeding, while the other held a small silver knife.

"Sir, you should…"

"Harry, your blood is much more precious than mine." The older man smiled as he began to rub his bloody palm all over the wall.

Harry took a step back and watched in horrified amazement as the wall began to vanish before his eyes. Dumbledore also stepped back, and began to wrap his wounded hand in white linen from his pocket.

"This way, Harry." Dumbledore said, relighting his wand, and leading Harry through the new opening in the wall. Harry was truly surprised to see a smooth path cut in the floor of the new cave. He followed the Headmaster deeper into the cave, noticing that their path was sloping steadily downward.

Before he realized it, Harry and the Headmaster were standing on the shore of a vast underground lake, that seem to have no end. Dumbledore was looking very intently around the cave, and Harry guessed he was likely trying to feel if there were any traps or wards they might have to break.

Then something caught Harry's eye. There was a green light coming from the middle of the lake, vary faint.

"Sir, do you think that's where the Horcrux is?" Harry asked, pointing his wand towards the light.

"I have no doubt. The trouble seems to be getting to it, as I am sure that swimming there would mean death."

"What do you mean?" Harry asked, looking at the water with trepidation.

"I believe that the lake plays a very essential part in whatever we must do to obtain the horcrux. Disturbing the water will prove, I think, most unfortunate for us."

Harry nodded his understanding, and then began looking along the shore for any clues how they might get to the light.

"Sir, Over there." Harry pointed to a large rock that appeared to have a chain wrapped around it a few feet away from them. Harry led the way over, and both of them began to examine the stone and the chain for traps. It was Dumbledore who figured out the puzzle first, and with a flick of his wand, summoned a very rickety looking boat from the depths of the lake.

Harry watched the boat rise out of the water, and glide towards them. When the boat bumped against the rocky shore, Dumbledore tentatively stepped into the boat, testing it carefully.

"I believe we shall be safe in this." He said to Harry, waving the young man over. Harry stepped into the boat and Dumbledore gave a another flick of his wand, and the boat began to move slowly across the obsidian surface of the lake.

It was deathly silent as they floated towards the faint green light, and Harry found himself staring at the black surface of the water. They were halfway across when something floated near the surface, and made Harry lump back, nearly falling overboard.

"There was a face! A face in the water." He shouted, shattering the deathly quiet of the great cave.

"I had thought as much. Lord Voldemort's victims, no doubt. Made into inferi. As I said, we are not meant to disturb the water."

"Inferi." Harry said to himself, cautiously going back to look over the side of the boat. He remembered the Ministry leaflet that had arrived at the Durselys the day after he'd returned home, as well as Snape lesson about the reanimated corpse of the dead. Harry pushed through all the garbage about the first time inferi were ever spotted, or how one might control such an abomination. The only thing he needed to know was how to fight them.

"Fire." He whispered as he remembered that the only thing useful against Inferi was fire. Harry began to think of a few different fire spells.

It wasn't too much longer before the rickety boat bumped into the rough, craggly rock of the island. Harry saw that, while still faint, the rather nasty green light was much brighter up close. Not only that, but it was emanating from a pedestal, which held a large stone basin.

Harry followed Dumbledore up to where the pedestal sat, and as one, they both peered into the basin to se a glowing green fluid.

"A potion?" Harry asked, looking up to Dumbledore, who was still staring at the nasty looking green liquid.

"Indeed." Dumbledore said, standing up, and glancing at Harry. "It does seem rather anticlimactic, doesn't it?" Dumbledore slipped his wand out of his robes, and gave the basin a few waves. Nothing happened.

He gave a flick, and then a slash.

Still nothing.

Then, a little cup that had heretofore gone unnoticed by both Dumbledore and Harry, began to shake, drawing their attention.

"Well, it seems we have little choice." Dumbledore said, picking up the cup. "It needs to be drunk. You will recall, of course, the stipulations I put upon your accompanying me?"

Harry was too gob smacked to do anything but nod.

"It seems very likely that this concoction might debilitate me in some way. No matter what happens, you must make sure that I drink every last drop, understand?"

Harry's brain caught up and Harry began to argue, but Dumbledore held up a finger to stop his protestations.

"This is more important than anything, Harry. I must have your word." Dumbledore gave him a very pointed look. Harry didn't like the situation. He didn't like that someone was putting their life on the line to protect him, especially seeing as it was Dumbledore.

"Sir, I really…"

"Your word, Harry." Dumbledore said, a bit more forcefully.

Harry knew he had no choice now. Their priority was to get the damned horcrux, and this appeared to be the only way. Reluctantly, Harry nodded. Dumbledore gave the barest of smiles and dipped the cup into the basin, filling it up to the brim. He held the cup up to his mouth, and gave a little sniff.

"Interesting. Smells like Lemondrops." The headmaster said wryly, and Harry shook his head , trying to keep the smile off his face.

"To your health." Dumbledore inclined his head, and then, tilted the cup, and drank its contents in one large swallow.

Harry watched the Headmaster's face, as his eyes drooped a bit, and he shivered intensely for a few moment. Eyes remaining closed, Dumbledore hurriedly dipped the cup into the basin again, refilling the cup, and bringing it to his mouth, drinking it quickly again.

When he was finished, Harry saw that he was now holding onto the basin for support, and his face was contorting with what appeared to be pain. Dumbledore was whimpering a bit as he dipped the cup for a third time, bringing it to his mouth again, and swallowing his third cupful.

This time, the cup clattered to the ground, and Dumbledore gave a great wracking sob.

"ARIANNA!" He cried. "NO!"

Harry's heart went into his throat. He had no idea who the Headmaster was talking about, but knew they didn't have time for a question and answer period. Harry bent, and found the cup, and filled it with the potion before going to the Headmaster and offering it to him.

"Sir, it's ok. Everything's ok. Here drink this."

Dumbledore gave a wary look, but drank the cup of nasty green liquid. When it was gone, he let out another heart wrenching wail of pain, begging forgiveness for his crime. Confused, Harry refilled the cup again, and again made Dumbledore drink.

Again and again, Harry made the old man drink the sickly green potion, and each time, Dumbledore's wails of pain and pleas for forgiveness grew worse. They all seemed to center around someone named Arianna.

"She's fine, sir. I promise, but you need to drink this. You have to sir." Harry said, pushing another cup full of potion at the headmaster, who was now turning his head away, refusing to drink the stuff.

"It's only a little more, and then we can go see Arianna. She wants to see you sir, but you have to drink this." Harry tried, but the Headmaster kept refusing, saying he didn't want anymore.

"You have to sir. We need to get the Horcrux, remember? Remember where we are, and why we came sir? You have to drink it all. We need to beat Voldemort, remember?"

Dumbledore looked as if he understood, and allowed Harry to pour another cupful down his throat. Once again, Dumbledore sobbed for Arianna, and his crime. He kept begging forgiveness as tears streamed from his eyes. Harry wanted desperately to absolve the man of whatever wrongs he felt he had committed, but knew only this "Arianna" could do it.

Standing up again, Harry went to the basin to find that it was all but empty, and lying at the bottom was a rather plain looking locket. Harry grabbed it up, and examined it in his wand light. It was nothing like he had imagined the locket of Salazar Slytherin would look like. Still, they had it. Stuffing it into his pocket, Harry set the cup in the basin, and went to help Dumbledore up.

"Sir, We have it. We're finished."

Dumbledore didn't seem to hear him, but sat against the pedestal, breathing shallowly.

"Sir? Professor Dumbledore?"

"Water." Dumbledore said after a long, terrifying moment.

Harry nodded, and went back to the basin to grab the cup. He cast a water spell into the cup, filling it with cool, clean water. But as soon as he went to give it to Dumbledore, the water evaporated. He tried two more times, with the same results.

"He wants to weaken whoever enters" Dumbledore had said.

"Sir, we have to get out of here. I promise you can have all the water you want, but we can't stay here."

"Please, Harry." Dumbledore said feebly, reaching out for the young man.

"Come on, sir." Harry said, pulling the old man to his feet and helping him into the boat. Harry got himself into the boat, and helped Dumbledore to sit up. The Headmaster told Harry which spell to use to get the boat moving again, and Harry complied. Harry took his knapsack, and began rummaging through it, hoping there might be something in it that he could give the Headmaster, but nothing seemed appropriate. Burn salves, blood replenishing potions, strengthening solutions.

"Water, please, Harry."

"Soon sir. I promise."

Harry listened to Dumbledore's pleas for water, and his ragged breathing all the way back to shore, praying that the Headmaster would be okay until he could get him back to Hogwarts.

Finally, the boat made back to where Harry and Dumbledore had first arrived, and Harry, with a great deal of effort, managed to get Dumbledore back onto the shore without disturbing the water. He was thankful, because he was unsure if he would be able to handled an army of inferi on his own at the moment. Harry found a small stone, and transfigured it into a cup, which he once again cast the water charm.

This time, the water did not evaporate, and Dumbledore was able to drink. The water did much to improve the Headmaster's condition., and he was able to stand, though he leaned on Harry's shoulder as they made their way back up the path.

Harry wasn't surprised to find that the entrance way had sealed itself again. Before Dumbledore could protest, Harry cut his hand open on some of the sharp rocks, and spread his blood on the wall so it would open.

The swim back was made harder, as Harry was helping Dumbledore, who was very weak now. The journey back up the cliff was even more arduous than it had been originally as it was very dark, and raining now, not to mention trying to keep Dumbledore upright. But finally, Harry and the Hogwarts Headmaster finally made it back to where they had started. Harry fell in a heap, trying to catch his breath, while Dumbledore lay next to him, his breathing even more labored than before.

"Harry." Dumbledore gasped. "Harry, we must destroy it now."

Harry sat up, still breathing heavily, and reached into his pocket. Dumbledore had managed to get to his knees, and had pulled what Harry recognized as a Basilisk fang from his robes.

"Open it, and hold it down." Dumbledore ordered, and Harry unlatched the little clasp.

What happened next took both of them by complete surprise.

Nothing.

The locket opened easily, and Harry saw that inside was a folded piece of parchment.

"Harry. Harry, give it to me." Dumbledore said, his open hand outstretched. Dumbledore took the locket and examined it carefully, before unfolding the bit of parchment and reading it.

There was a pitiful groan and Dumbledore slumped.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked. Dumbledore held out the parchment so Harry could read it.

To the Dark Lord

I now 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.

"It's a fake?" Harry asked, looking at Dumbledore, who looked so frail and weak. "Who's R.A.B.?"

Dumbledore shook his soaking head, and began trying to stand.

"We need to get back to Hogwarts." Dumbledore said he was shaking terribly, and Harry could hear his wheezing clearly, despite the wind. He quickly got to his feet, grabbing the fake locket and stuffing it, and the forgotten Basilisk fang into his knapsack before shrinking it and stuffing it into his pocket, and helping the Headmaster to stand.

Harry got a shock when he took hold of the old man's arm, and felt the familiar uncomfortable of apparition. An instant later, he found himself in Hogsmeade, just beside the Hog's Head Inn.

"Where have you been, Al? What the hell is going on up there?" A raggedy looking man asked, stepping out of the bar. Harry was struck by the resemblance the two men shared.

"I had business to attend too." Dumbledore said shakily.

"Al, you don't look so good. You need to get some help."

There were a few distant screams, and Harry turned to se people in the streets, and they all seemed to be looking towards Hogwarts. Harry slowly turned, and it seemed as if time slowed.

There above the great castle, staring down at them from the clear night sky was the most heartbreaking, gut twisting, frightening thing Harry ever saw in his whole life.

The Dark Mark had been cast above Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and wizardry.

"Abe," Dumbledore gasped, clutching his chest. "We need brooms."