The last week of July arrived and with it, a decision. For the last month, members of the Order of the Phoenix had been keeping watch on various locations that held Tom Riddle's Horcruxes. With the wedding coming up, Harry knew that he wanted Tom dealt with before hand if possible. In order to do that, he needed the Horcruxes destroyed, making Tom mortal. One night, Harry decided that sleep would elude him; he kissed his sleeping wife and flamed to Phoenix Nest.
Sitting down at his desk, Harry opened the dossiers on the Horcruxes, their locations, and their histories. Having nothing better to do, Harry decided to read each dossier again.
Dossier-TMR-H-001
Horcrux-Diadem belonging to Lady Rowena Ravenclaw
Official Status of Heirloom-Believed lost in 1575 AD
Current Location-Muggle Orphanage where a young Tom Riddle lived before Hogwarts
History of Heirloom
According to legend Lady Gwendolyn Gryffindor, Rowena's sister, commissioned a clan of goblins to craft a beautiful diadem for her sister as a wedding present.
Rowena wore the diadem for many years, along the way some of her own magic seeped into the diadem, giving the wearer some of Rowena Ravenclaw's powers, such as increased mental powers. After Rowena's death, her diadem was placed in a display case with other items that belonged to her including her wand, her favorite book, and a set of her personal robes.
In 1575, the Headmaster of Hogwarts at the time decided that the wands of the founders were too valuable to be left out in the open. He asked Gringotts to place the wands in the founders vault, so that they would be secured and safe.
Shortly after the wand was removed, the Ravenclaw Diadem was stolen from the display case, never to be heard of again. It had been rumored that one of Ravenclaw's descendants stole the diadem, but it was never proven.
Ravenclaw Diadem officially listed as lost in 1578. Due to status of heirloom, Gringotts has a standing reward for its return.
Current reward value: 1,275,729 galleons
Specifics on the Protections Surrounding the Horcrux
According to the information obtained by Merlin's Judgment, the Horcrux is located on the third floor in the wardrobe in Tom Riddle's old room. Blood Wards, a minor muggle repelling charm, and anti-magic ward surround the wardrobe. The diadem itself is suspended by a minor levitation charm inside a magically expanded compartment hidden in the back of the wardrobe.
Dossier-TMR-H-002
Horcrux-Cup belonging to Lady Helga Hufflepuff
Official Status of Heirloom-Believed stolen circa 1945 AD
Current Location-Lestrange Family Vault, Gringotts Wizarding Bank, London England
History of Heirloom
According to legends and the writing of Lady Hufflepuff herself, the Hufflepuff was charmed to enhance any healing potions drunk from the cup.
The cup was a gift from the chief of a tribe of gnomes that Hufflepuff had rescued from disease. Hufflepuff, whose heart was a big as Hogwarts herself, used the cup to treat a number of injuries, it is rumored that the Hufflepuff could also cure lycanthropy, but it was never proven.
After Hufflepuff's death, the cup was passed down thru her family until it became the property of one Hepzibah Smith in the early twentieth century. Smith, a known collector of rare artifacts, was killed by Tom Marvolo Riddle circa 1945. At the time, it was believed that her loyal house-elf Hokey had poisoned her on accident, though Albus Dumbledore, in his quest for researching for information the Riddle's Horcruxes, discovered the truth and have had Hokey's name cleared and Tom Riddle, aka Lord Voldemort, charged with one more count of murder.
According to the information collected by Merlin's Judgment, Bellatrix Lestrange was given the cup by Tom Riddle with orders to keep it safe from harm.
Current reward value: 1,691,121 galleons
Specifics on the Protections Surrounding the Horcrux
According to the information obtained by Merlin's Judgment, the Horcrux has no protections other than residing in one of Gringotts High Security Vaults.
Mackrack, Chairman of Gringotts Bank, using his authority from the Lord Protector of the Realm, has confiscated all Death Eater vaults. Hufflepuff Cup is currently held in Mackrack's personal vault with a squadron of Goblin Elite Guards protecting it around the clock.
Dossier-TMR-H-003
Horcrux-Diary belonging to Tom Marvolo Riddle
Official Status of Heirloom-Destroyed by Harry James Potter with Basilisk Fang in May, 1994
Current Location-Remains of Horcrux are in Hogwarts Vault, Gringotts Bank, London
History of Heirloom
According to information from Merlin's Judgment; Tom Riddle, began to quest for immortality when he split his soul after killing a young girl at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Years later, Tom Riddle, now going by the name Lord Voldemort, gave Lucius Malfoy the diary for safe keeping. Malfoy was told that the diary was enchanted to open the Chamber of Secrets.
In August 1993, Malfoy slipped the Diary into the cauldron of Ginny Potter nee Weasley while in Flourish and Blots Bookstore in Diagon Alley. Mrs. Potter, who at the time was a 11 year old girl, wrote in the diary, which gave the piece of Tom's Soul within the diary a way to possess her and open the Chamber of Secrets.
The diary was destroyed when Harry James Potter pierced the Diary using the fang of Slytherin's Basilisk, which Potter had killed moments before.
Specifics on the Protections Surrounding the Horcrux
At this time, the horcrux has been destroyed. It is held in a secure box in the Hogwarts Vault at Gringotts Bank. The box is warded with Blood wards and a modified Fidelius Charm. All members of the Order of the Phoenix know the secret, but do not know exactly what the box looks like.
Dossier-TMR-H-004
Horcrux-Nagini, personal familiar belonging to Tom Marvolo Riddle
Official Status of Heirloom- Killed by Ginny Potter in June 1997
Current Location-Remains of Horcrux are in Hogwarts Vault, Gringotts Bank, London (see Dossier-TMR-H-003)
History of Heirloom
Nagini was a magical snake, created by Tom Riddle in 1973 from a Basilisk and a Egyptian Cobra. Using a number of dark rituals, Nagini's life was extended beyond the normal time frame for a snake.
The drawback to these rituals was that it took twenty years for Nagini to hatch and become full grown.
Because of this fact, Nagini's egg was placed in the Albanian Forest where Gellert Grindelwald had built a great storehouse of knowledge and artifacts. Once Nagini hatched, she made her way to find her master, whom used her as her final horcrux in 1994.
Specifics on the Protections Surrounding the Horcrux
At this time, the horcrux has been destroyed. It is held in a secure box in the Hogwarts Vault at Gringotts Bank. The box is warded with Blood wards and a modified Fidelius Charm. All members of the Order of the Phoenix know the secret, but do not know exactly what the box looks like.
Dossier-TMR-H-005
Horcrux-Slytherin Locket, Slytherin Family Heirloom
Official Status of Heirloom- In tact
Current Location- Sealed in spell proof box located in Phoenix Nest, London June 1997
History of Heirloom
This locket, a gift from Salazar Slytherin to his wife, has been passed down thru family lines throughout the years. The locket eventually fell to Merope Gaunt, the eventual mother of Tom Marvolo Riddle.
Gaunt, who was 8 months pregnant at the time, sold the Locket to Borgin and Burkes in Diagon Alley for very little money. The locket remained at Borgin and Burkes until Hepzibah Smith bought the locket and owned it until her death circa 1945.
The locket, like Hufflepuff's cup, was stolen by Tom Riddle when he killed Smith.
Regulus Black, a young Death Eater, learned of the Horcruxes and decided that his elder brother, Sirius Orion Black, was right in supporting the light and decided to destroy the locket. Sacrificing himself, Regulus Black was able give the Horcrux to his house-elf Kreacher with order to destroy it.
Kreacher hid the locket in #12 Grimmauld Place, where it remained hidden until Harry Potter asked Kreacher for it.
Specifics on the Protections Surrounding the Horcrux
The locket itself can only be opened by someone speaking Parseltongue.
Dossier-TMR-H-006
Horcrux-Slytherin Ring, Slytherin Family Heirloom
Official Status of Heirloom- Destroyed by Albus Dumbledore Circa 1996
Current Location-Remains of Horcrux are in Hogwarts Vault, Gringotts Bank, London (see Dossier-TMR-H-003)
History of Heirloom
This ring, a gift from Sarah Slytherin to her husband, has been passed down thru family lines throughout the years. The ring eventually fell to Morfin Gaunt, the uncle to Tom Marvolo Riddle.
Gaunt, a pureblood who hated all muggleborns, was sent to Azkaban after attacking a muggle named Tom Riddle (Father of Tom Marvolo Riddle) and later a Ministry of Magic official. After serving his time in Azkaban, Gaunt returned to his family home where he learned that his father, who had been sent to Azkaban the same time Morfin himself had been, had died and his sister had used a love potion on Tom Riddle and married him.
Years later, a young Tom Marvolo Riddle returned to his mother's ancestral home where he discovered Morfin, who still lived in the house, even though it was falling apart. After a brief altercation, Tom Riddle stole the family ring that Morfin wore, modified the memories of Morfin to include those of him killing Tom Marvolo Riddle's father, grandfather, and grandmother.
Shortly afterwards, Morfin was sent to Azkaban where he died, all the while believing that he did indeed kill the Riddle family.
Specifics on the Protections Surrounding the Horcrux
The ring, after it was made into a Horcrux, was returned by Tom Riddle to the Gaunt House. This was after Morfin Gaunt had been sent to Azkaban for life. Tom Riddle placed many enchantments including a curse that would consume the entire body of whoever activated the curse.
Albus Dumbledore discovered the ring and the subsequent curse June of 1996 while hunting down Tom Riddle's Horcruxes. However, instead of the curse killing him instantly, Albus Dumbledore was able to trap the curse in his right arm, though the curse continued to kill him slowly.
The ring was destroyed when Albus Dumbledore used the Sword of Godric Gryffindor to puncture the stone of the ring. The sword, which belongs to Lord Gryffindor, had been infused with Basilisk Venom and Blood from when Lord Gryffindor killed Salazar Slytherin's Basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets.
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Harry had just finished reading the last dossier when he noticed his wife seating in one the guest chairs.
"I guess I was too obvious, weren't I?" Harry asked, while staring off into space.
"No. I felt you thru the bond we share. I knew you were here and need someone to talk to." Ginny said as she made her way over to the tea service one of the house elves delivered when no one was looking.
"If we destroy them all now, then when we meet Riddle for the last time, I can end him for good."
"Tom needs a body so that I can kill him. In the form he is in right now, he cannot die easily. If he just get a body back…"
"Harry, call the Executive Committee together. Do it now, even though it is the middle of the night. Get their opinions and then go from there."
Harry looked at his wife for a moment before kissing her on her lips, "You know, you are one of the brightest women I have ever met. You know that right?"
"Of course, now go ahead and contact everyone. If you hurry, we can christen this office." Ginny said, with a mischievous smirk.
Harry sat down in his chair and tapped his remote control, activating his transmitter. Once activated, Harry spoke:
To: Order of the Phoenix Executive Committee, Gringott One, Gringott Two
From: Phoenix One, Lord Gryffindor, Harry James Potter
Priority: Gold 1
Message: Sorry for the late hour but it cannot be helped. Emergency meeting at the nest in 2 hours. Bring any matter related to dossiers TMR-H-001 thru TMR-H-006, DE-001 thru DE-150 and current projections for dark activity.
Once the message was sent, Harry locked down his office and christened his desk with his beautiful wife and a wide selection of 'Honeydukes Liquid Chocolates.'
_________________________________________________________________________________
Two hours later, the Order of the Phoenix Executive Committee was assembled in the main conference room at Phoenix Nest. Everyone was rather tired and were gulping down large amounts of coffee and tea to keep them awake.
As soon as Harry and Ginny entered, Harry saw the condition everyone was in. With a wave of his hand, Harry caste a wake-up charm over the assembled group.
"Toffy, please prepare vials of Pepper-Up Potion for everyone." Harry said to one of the three elves assigned to Phoenix Nest.
The little nodded and disappeared only to return a moment later, handing out vials of potion. Once everyone had taken one, and were now awake, did Harry speak.
"Thank you everyone for coming. I know it is late, or early depending on how you look at it, but I find myself in a dilemma and I need your counsel. For the last month, we have been watching the locations of Tom Riddle's Horcruxes, waiting for him to make a move for them. There has been no movement at any location since we setup surveillance. What I am wondering is if I should go ahead and destroy the Horcruxes, making Tom mortal again, now or wait for him to regenerate in a new body."
"Harry, what would happen if you were to destroy the horcruxes now? Would Tom Riddle know they are destroyed and can he make anymore?" Remus asked Harry. As the Champion for the House of Black, Remus was charged with protecting the current Lord Black and fighting in his stead where allowed.
"We are not sure if Tom would know if the Horcruxes were destroyed. According to what we learned from Lucius Malfoy and Severus Snape, Tom was unaware that the diary had been destroyed. As to what would happen if we destroyed the Horcruxes now, I believe that Tom would still remain here on the mortal plane, even as a specter.
"The issue however is that a specter is very difficult to destroy. With the dark rituals that Tom has undergone, no matter what form he is in, he is still very strong and still has his mind."
"So, if we destroy the Horcruxes, then Tom would be mortal, but still a specter, unless he can regenerate his body, in which case he is still mortal but extremely strong?" Hermione stated, more than asked.
"Yes, that about sums it up."
"I say destroy the damn things Potter. At the same time, we'll clean out the locations that we know about and hope that maybe he is hiding out in one of them." Said Moody.
"Tom is in Albania. I am certain of that. Harry, the question we must ask is, are you ready to face Tom Riddle for the last time?" Albus asked the room at large.
"To be honest, I'm not sure. Do I think that I can defeat Tom, yes. Do I feel that I can go and find him in Albania and beat the hell out of him, I do not think so. I was reading some of the more obscure history books at Potter Manor and discovered something rather…wrong for lack of a better word.
"Gellert Grindelwald, who was a stark raving lunatic, planned for his future. He established a number of private storehouses around the world. He stored many things in them including many dark artifacts and dark magic. After Albus and Moody defeated Gellert, they discovered the locations of all 49 of his storehouses, which were raided and later on destroyed."
"However, what is not widely known, and I can only guess what the book is that holds this information, is that according to the writings in the storehouses, Gellert spoke many times about his 'Final Solution' that was stored in his grand storehouse, which was hundreds of times larger than the biggest one found." Albus said with a grim face. Even after all these years, speaking about the war was very old on the headmaster.
"I think that Tom found Grindelwald's Grand storehouse and his 'Final Solution.' From what we have found, many of the rituals that Tom has through, were the same ones the Gellert not only performed, but created in the firs place. And since there was never any proof of the rituals found in any of the other storehouses or any other location, it is a reasonable hypothesis that Tom discovered his secret and used it.
"After all, after Tom Riddle killed Hepzibah Smith, he disappeared for almost twenty years. When he returned, he already was beginning to look more snake-like, according to Albus and others, while definitely more powerful than anyone else."
Arthur Weasley and Amelia Bones spoke up at the same time. "Where is this storehouse?"
"We are unsure. Grindelwald used many enchantments to hide this location, but I believe that since Tom, or any of his minions, did own the storehouse, it is still protected by the enchantments placed there originally. The only thing we know for sure is that is somewhere in Eastern Europe. If I were a betting man, I would say in the forests of Albania that he owned." Harry answered.
Finally Kingsley stood up, "Harry, I feel that we should collect the horcruxes and destroy them. We should then booby trap the places that Tom Riddle placed his horcruxes in so that he will get a nasty surprise when he checks up on them."
"I agree with Kingsley. I think we should also prepare a small team to check out Albania and the forests there for Grindelwald's Storehouse." Ron said, planning out all the strategies and moves that would be involved in this action.
"I agree. Kingsley, Tonks, alert the teams to remove the horcruxes and take them to Mackrack at Gringotts. Tell them to follow the dossier instructions to the letter. In fact, Mackrack, I would like to send some of your curse-breakers with the teams to retrieve the horcruxes and set the traps."
"Of course Harry. I would also like to send a few of my people along with your team to find this storehouse. The only way this storehouse has remained hidden is by some very strong magic that we goblins have not seen in hundreds of years."
"I agree Mackrack. Remus, Albus, Horace, Tonks, I want you to prepare a team. Try to use some of our local members first. Whatever is needed, make sure they have it. The only request I have is that I want Viktor Krum and Oliver Wood on the team.
"Mackrack, once the horcruxes are collected, I want to destroy them as soon as possible. Please let me now as soon as they arrive and your ritual chamber is ready."
"Or course Lord Gryffindor."
_________________________________________________________________________________
It took two days for the Order Members to retrieve the horcruxes and set the traps. Harry and Ginny arrived at Gringotts dressed in their full battle gear, ready to destroy the horcruxes and were escorted into the Ritual Chamber at once.
Once there they met with Mackrack, Albus, and Bill Weasley who explained what would happen.
"Alright, once you enter the chamber, the wards will go up and will not be brought down until your job is done. We have already submersed the horcruxes in freely given unicorn blood and phoenix tears, that should have weakened the horcruxes considerably. All you should have to do is channel some of your magic thru your sword and pierce the horcrux."
"Ok, Ginny and I also brought some Basilisk Venom with us as well. The venom is from the remains of Ursula, Slytherin's Basilisk, from Hogwarts. She is still just as ugly as the day I killed her. After this is over, I need to find out how much it would cost to harvest the remains." Harry said.
"I have a number of contacts Harry, but first thing is first, these pieces of evil must be dealt with." Mackrack said.
"Of course." With that, Harry and Ginny entered the room and walked right up to the tub holding the cup, the locket, and the diadem and withdrew their swords. After pouring the basilisk venom on their swords, they stabbed their swords into Hufflepuff's Cup first. They watched as a green mist escaped thru where the swords had pierced the cup. Once the mist touched the potion of unicorn blood and phoenix tears, the mist let out a large scream and exploded.
The locket and the diadem were dealt in a very similar manner. Each time they were pierced, the green mist was destroyed. Afterwards, Harry and Ginny used Holy Water to clean the artifacts and found that they still held some magic.
Because of their phoenix powers, they were able to not only see the inherent magic within the artifacts, but also communicate with it. They learned that Slytherin's locket gave the wearer the ability to speak parseltongue, while Ravenclaw's diadem boosted the mind arts including memory retention and telekinesis.
The biggest surprise was Hufflepuff's cup. The legend stated that the cup could cure any ailment, including the Black Plague, but the magic of the cup told them it could do much more. It could cure any ailment; muggle and magical alike. AIDS, HIV, Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer's, Cancer, Spattergoit, botched memory charms, and damage from prolonged exposure to the Cruciatus Curse.
It was then that Ginny had an epiphany and quickly ran towards the door to the chamber that had just opened.
"We can cure the Longbottoms! Helga's cup can actually cure them!" Ginny screamed.
Ginny quickly explained what they learned from the artifacts and specifically what they learned about Hufflepuff's Cup.
"Fawkes and I will flame to St. Mungo's and make inform the head healer. I would suggest someone contact Neville and Augusta after we know this works." Albus said to the group.
"I would also suggest that you take some of that holy water with you to mix it into whatever you are going to use. I'll send mum and old Slughorn to St. Mungo's to help prepare your potions." Bill said as he ran towards the nearest floo.
_________________________________________________________________________________
An hour later, Harry and Ginny were in a private room at St. Mungo's standing over Frank and Alice Longbottom. They held Hufflepuff's Cup in their hands which had been filled to the brim with a complex brew of potions including holy water, phoenix tears, pepper-up potion, strengthening potion, post cruciatus potion, and a Weasley family secret cure all potion that no one knew the recipe too but Molly and Arthur.
Molly, Horace Slughorn, Albus and the Chief Healer were standing in another room watching thru a one way mirror wall.
Ginny also wore the Ravenclaw Diadem to boost her empathic powers which they thought would help with seeing if this idea worked or not.
Harry had setup his Phoenix Pendant to serve as the official recording of the treatment process so that it could repeated again if ever needed. "Ok, here we go. We'll do Frank Longbottom first. Ginny, go ahead and open his mouth for me please…Excellent, now all I need to do is pour the potion into his mouth…Just like that. Ok, now I am using a charm to make his throat work and have him swallow the potion. Ok, we have now given the patient the contents of the cup. I am now refilling the cup while Mrs. Potter uses her empathic abilities to see if there is any change."
"I can feel Frank in there. I can see that he is beginning to figure out how to get out of his mind. I can feel the potions freeing his mind, it's taking awhile but it is working."
Harry and Ginny performed the same procedure on Alice Longbottom with even better results. Alice responded immediately and jumped into Frank's bed to hold him. The feeling of his wife in his bed freed Frank's mind the rest of the way and soon they were both speaking to each other, never paying any attention to the Potters.
"Lily? James? Is it really you? Albus told us Voldemort killed you both." Alice spoke, looking like she had just seen a ghost. Harry instantly knew what was wrong, people had always said Harry looked just like James Potter, and now that Harry thought about it, Ginny looked quite a bit like Lily Potter, except that their eye colors were backwards, James had brown eyes and Lily of course the Evans Green eyes.
"Mrs. Longbottom, we aren't my parents. I am Harry, and this is my wife Ginny. I am in the same year as your son Neville. Today's date is July 27, 1997. You have been in a coma like state for almost fifteen years."
"You're telling us that Neville is alive and that our son will be seventeen years old in three days?" Frank asked.
"Yes Frank. You and Alice should be very proud of him." Albus said as he entered the room with the Chief Healer. "Molly Weasley has gone to fetch Neville, his fiancée and Augusta."
"Wait, Neville's getting married? Who is she? My baby boy is too young to marry!"
"Alice. Neville is marrying my grand-niece Luna. They are happy and in love. As for being too young, you and Frank married when you were seventeen as well."
For the next hour, Harry, Ginny, Albus, and the chief healer brought the Longbottoms up to speed on everything that has happened in the last fifteen years. While this happened, the healers continued to give potions to the Longbottoms. However, Harry and Ginny demanded that all potions be poured into the Hufflepuff Cup and then drank from there, which greatly increased their effectiveness.
"So Harry, let me get this straight. You're a Gryffindor, like Neville, hold the title of Lord Gryffindor, and are the head of the magical houses of Potter, Black, Flamel, Azkaban, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin; and to top it all off, you are also the Lord Protector of the Realm, Leader of the Order of the Phoenix, soul bonded to a Weasley, have battled Voldemort more times then anyone else alive, and helped cure us. Is there anything else I missed?" Frank asked Harry.
"I think that's about it. Anyway, you'll be here for a few more days, but I have already made arrangements for the two of you to go home in a few days. Also, once you have gotten acclimated to your new surroundings, I would like you both to rejoin the Auror Corps and the Order of the Phoenix. Anyway, we can talk about it; right now I believe that your son and future-daughter-in-law are here."
With a quick wave, Harry, Ginny, and Albus slipped out of the room right before Neville and Luna arrived. On their way out of the hospital, Albus spoke up. "You know Harry, you have done more than anyone else in history to stop Tom's quest for immortality. Not only have you destroyed his horcruxes, but you have also destroyed some of the fear his name instills in people because of the damage they can cause. For years, the Longbottoms have been an example of what happens when you fight Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Now, it shows that good can overcome evil. So thank you, both of you."
"You're welcome Albus. But I didn't do this alone. I had Ginny standing by me the entire time along with the rest of the Order of the Phoenix; you and Minerva especially have been there for me whenever I needed anything."
"But Harry, it's your leadership and your attitude that has led this charge, you must accept that what you have done not many people could have done."
"He's right Harry. You are a born leader, but there is something that Albus forgot to mention. It is something that Tom Riddle should remember from now thru eternity."
"What is that Mrs. Potter?" Albus asked, confused.
"Never. Piss. Off. A. Potter!" Ginny responded as the two men laughed.
"Yes, I did forget that, and I am sure Tom will not forget that either. Now, the hour late, I gave many things to do before the Wizengamot Session tomorrow and I am sure that you two could use some private time."