Harry snuck through the castle after his visit with Dumbledore. After getting Slughorn's memory, he had rushed to the headmaster's office. He had a lot to tell Ron and Hermione.
Luckily, when Harry entered the common room, they were both sitting in front of the fire.
"You are not going to believe what happened." Harry said as he sat down between them.
"You got the memory?" Ron asked.
Harry nodded and told them the story.
"Horcruxes" Ron whispered, "sounds terrifying."
"And we are fairly sure he has seven of them." Hermione said as she scribbled in her notes. "Slytherin's locket, Hufflepuff's cup, Nagini, the ring, and the diary."
"Still missing two horcruxes." Ron noted.
"We don't know if he got anything of Ravenclaw's or Gryffindor's." Harry said.
"I can't see him getting anything of Gryffindor's. His ancestors are unknown. The only thing left of his is the sword. And only a Gryffindor can get that." Ron said.
"We shouldn't rule anything out yet." Hermione said. "Did Dumbledore know where the others were?" She looked at Harry.
"He said he was close to finding another one. I will go with him on his next trip. Hopefully we can cross another off the list." Harry said.
"So far, we can cross of the diary and the ring. It's not much, but at least it's something." Hermione said quietly.
"You can take the cup off the list as well."
The trio jumped and turned to see Aileen sitting primly on top of the couch.
"Bloody hell Aileen." Ron sighed.
She purred in response and pushed a small bag into Harry's lap. Harry opened the bag into his hand. Small gold pieces fell out. "Hufflepuff's cup?"
Aileen nodded. "I took it from Bellatrix's vault. It's how I got in trouble with The Fates."
"Three down, four to go." Harry said.
"I'll go to the library tomorrow, see if I can find anything on the other founders' heirlooms." Hermione said. The other two nodded.
/
"Harry, there is something you need to do tomorrow." Aileen said as Harry got under his covers.
"What's that?"
"You need to get rid of the Prince's potions book."
"What! Why?"
"You don't need it anymore." She replied. "You don't need to be perfect in class to keep on Slughorn's good side."
"But, I'm learning so much. There are even spells that look interesting." Harry whined.
"You don't need them." Aileen hissed. "Most of those spells are bad news Harry. I'm trying to keep you from making a mistake."
"What mistake?"
"You hurt Malfoy, Harry. Your obsession with him continues, and you hurt him."
"You're protecting him? Seriously, after he became a death eater, you are protecting him?"
Aileen nodded.
They stared at one another for a moment before Harry groaned and collapsed back in bed. "Fine!" he snapped. "I'll hide the book."
Aileen smirked and curled up under his chin.
"If I could actually beat you in a fight, I would throw you across the room right now." Harry said.
Aileen purred in response.
/
The next morning, Harry went down to breakfast with Ron and Hermione. "Do either of you know where I could hide the Prince's book?"
"Hide it, why would you want to do that?" Ron asked.
Harry shrugged, "I don't really need it anymore, do I? It was a way to get into Slughorn's club."
"You got it from the potion's cupboard, right? Maybe you could put it back?"
"I don't think so, what if someone else finds it and something bad happens. Aileen implied some of the spells in there were bad news. Best not chance someone else getting curious."
"You could hide it in the room of requirement." Ginny said. "I've heard loads of people have used it to hide things over the years."
Harry blinked, "Yeah, that would work. Thanks."
"I could come with you." She said quickly as he made to leave.
"No thanks, I'm good." He said and hurried out.
He made it to the wall that held the room of requirement and paced in front of it three times. "I want to hide something."
A large door appeared, opening to a large room filled with mounds of miscellaneous objects. Harry could only stare in awe as he walked in a random direction.
Ginny was right, people had been hiding things here for a long time. Maybe even as long as the school had been open. It wasn't even just personal belongings hidden here. There were chairs, armoires, and even some broomsticks.
Harry decided against leaving the Prince's book amongst the other piles of books, instead heading further into the room. After a bit of walking, he found a partially destroyed cupboard with a cage inside. Harry's face curled in disgust at the strange skeleton inside the cage. He shoved the book behind the cage and closed the cupboard again, hoping it would be a good enough hiding spot.
Since he didn't have anything else to do that morning, he decided to explore the room more. He came upon a lot of different things; old potions, stuffed creatures, jewelry, and loose jewels.
He was about to leave when he felt a slight tingle at the edge of his senses. He sighed, "Really Aileen. Here? I hid the book, just like you wanted." He huffed and followed the feeling deeper into the room. He turned past a large pile and was surprised Aileen wasn't waiting for him.
"Are you hiding?" Harry asked. "You don't usually." He tried to extend his senses, but the tingling sensation was originating from somewhere in front of him. He slowly walked forward, trying to get a feel for whatever was giving off the sensation. He stopped in front of a wooden box. Inside was a tiara with a large sapphire on its front.
Harry could hear a soft voice crying out as he picked up the tiara. He examined it and found the words "Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure."
Harry's brow furrowed, the phrase sounded familiar, but he couldn't place it. He decided to take it to Hermione, so he placed it in his robes and left the room.
Once he was out, he brought out the Marauder's Map and searched for Hermione's name. Instead, he saw Malfoy in the boy's bathroom with Moaning Myrtle of all people. Curiosity got the better of him and he went one floor down to the bathroom.
He slowed his gait as he drew closer to the bathroom entrance. He quietly opened the door slightly and scoped the room. Malfoy stood with his back to the door, his hands gripping the sink in a white-knuckled grip.
"Don't," Moaning Myrtle crooned from one of the cubicles. "Tell me what's wrong…I can help you."
"No one can help me," Malfoy said. His whole body shook. "I can't do it…I can't…It won't work…and unless I do it soon…he says he'll kill me."
Harry's eyes widened. Malfoy was obviously talking about Voldemort. Probably about whatever task Voldemort was having him do this year. A part of him felt bad for Malfoy, especially when the soft sounds of sobs reached his ears. Harry risked a peak inside to see the blonde's shoulders shaking and tears streaming down his pale cheeks. Harry frowned and decided not to stick around lest Malfoy look into the mirror and see the door open. He quickly and quietly made his way to the staircase and towards the Gryffindor Common Room.
/
Hermione and Ron entered the common room a few hours later. Harry turned to them and took out the tiara. "I think I found another horcrux." He handed it to Hermione. "Is it a founder heirloom?"
Hermione examined the tiara, "I think…" she put the tiara down and opened her notes. "I believe it's Ravenclaw's lost diadem."
"Diadem?"
"It's another name for a tiara. It is a jeweled headband." Hermione explained.
"So, he got Ravenclaw's heirloom." Harry said.
"Makes more sense than Gryffindor's." Ron said.
"The question is now; how do we destroy it?" Hermione said, as she added the diadem to her list.
"Maybe I could ask Dumbledore." Harry suggested. "He destroyed the ring."
"What about the basilisk?" Ron said.
"What?" The other two turned to him.
Ron shrugged, "You said the diary was a horcrux. You destroyed that thing with a basilisk fang, didn't you."
Harry nodded, "Do you think it's still down there?"
"I can't see anyone going in and getting rid of it." Ron replied.
Harry nodded, "Okay, we'll go down the Chamber tonight and get rid of it."
/
Unfortunately, as the trio was about to leave, Dobby appeared.
"Harry Potter, sir. I have a message for you from the headmaster." Dobby said, handing Harry a folded piece of paper.
"From Dumbledore?" Harry opened the note. "He wants me to meet him at the entrance. As quick as possible."
"He must have found a…you know…another one." Ron said.
"You should go, we can destroy both when you get back." Hermione said.
Harry nodded. He ran back to his trunk and placed the diadem in a sock and stuffed it in the underneath his underwear. He then took another sock, the Marauder's Map, and his cloak and rushed back downstairs.
"Here" he said, pushing the sock into Ron's hand.
"Er, thanks? Why are you giving me a sock?" Ron asked.
"It's the Felix Felicis. I want you two to use it."
"What? No, Harry!" Hermione yelped, "You need it more. You have no idea what you will face out there."
"I'll have Dumbledore with me, I'll be fine. It's you two that will need it. Whatever Malfoy is planning, and he is planning something – Hermione don't look at me like that – I know he is. I overhead him in the bathroom earlier. He's desperate." He shoved the map at her. "Use this and keep an eye on Malfoy and Snape. With Dumbledore gone, it's the perfect time for them to make a move. It's been done before." He said before Hermione could protest.
"He has a point." Ron said.
Hermione huffed. "Fine."
Harry nodded and quickly ran out the portrait hole. He sped walked to the entrance hall where Dumbledore was waiting for him.
"Evening, sir" Harry greeted.
"Good evening, Harry. I hope I didn't take you away from anything important." Dumbledore replied.
"Nothing that can't be put off." Harry said. He thought about telling Dumbledore about the horcrux, but decided to wait until they retrieved the new one. Best not distract him.
Dumbledore nodded, "If you are to come with me tonight, I have one condition that you must follow."
Harry nodded.
"You must obey every command, without question, without hesitation."
"But –"
"Without question, without hesitation." Dumbledore repeated. "Do I have your word, Harry?"
Harry gulped, "Yes, sir."
Dumbledore nodded, "If I tell you to hide, you will do so?"
"Yes."
"If I tell you to run, you will run?"
"Yes."
"If I tell you leave me, and save yourself. You will?"
Harry paused.
"Harry?"
"Y-yes, sir. I will do as you say."
"Good, then put on your cloak. We must leave." Dumbledore put on his own traveling cloak and set off down the steps.
They walked through Hogsmeade, passing the Three Broomsticks and stopping in front of the Hog's Head.
"We will Apparate from here." Dumbledore said.
"But I haven't got a license." Harry said.
"No matter, I can assist you. Just take my arm."
Harry took a deep breath and held Dumbledore's outstretched arm lightly. Turning when the other man counted to three. Then there was the familiar pull at his navel and unbearable feeling of being squeezed through a tube. Harry's next breath was of fresh, salty air. He opened his eyes to see a vast sea; a large cave loomed behind them.