Over the course of the next two weeks, Harry and Susan's relationship changed. They were noticeably closer. The way they spoke to one another, or the way they sat together during meals. It was clear to anyone who looked at them that something had changed and that it was good. Of course there was loads of speculation, and a lot of it had to do with the sexual nature of their relationship. But only those close to the couple knew exactly what had changed for the two.
"Now you get to start trying the fun stuff." Hannah grinned as she and Susan walked from Charms to Runes together.
"Fun stuff? You mean it hasn't been fun yet?" Susan asked a bit surprised.
"Oh no, that's fun. But now you can grab him and pull him into a broom cupboard for a quickie. Or you can take a late night walk outside and let him ravish you under the stars. Or you can sneak into the Prefects bathroom and…"
"Ok, I get it." Susan laughed and shoved Hannah. "You're incorrigible, you know that, don't you?"
"I know. I'm starting to think I'm a nymphomaniac or something.' Hannah smirked. "Not that Neville's complaining."
"Why would he?" Susan asked. They walked on a bit longer without speaking when Hannah spoke up again.
"Has Dumbledore told either of you anything else?"
Susan shook her head, her smile fading at once. It was still a sore subject for Susan. She understood that sometimes people kept things from you to protect. Her Aunt was the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Susan knew better than most that sometimes secrets were good. But not in this case. At the very least, Harry should have been told a long time ago he was carrying part of Voldemort's soul within him.
Dumbledore had chosen not to burden Harry with that information. Noble his intentions were, Susan felt that in the end, it was the wrong choice to make. Susan had noticed that ever since it had all been explained, Harry now appeared as if a giant weight had been lifted. He seemed more cheerful, more at ease. He was like any other teenage boy. Susan wondered how much of this was Dumbledore's explanation, or the fact he was now getting sex.
A few of Susan's friends had noted that she seemed more like her usual self. When she asked what they had meant, they had explained that since she'd been with Harry, she seemed as if she had a lot more on her mind. But that now she was herself again. Susan had asked Hannah about it a few days earlier.
"Yeah, I mean before Harry you were really bubbly and smiling, even when you were sad about Zach. When you and Harry got together… No even before that. Look, I know it was because of the contract and all, but I've watched how you to have evolved and your feelings have grown. You're happy together, and you're good for each other. He's made you better, just as you've made him better. People don't understand it, but they've noticed the change in both of you. They were talking about it before you two… you know." Hannah had explained.
"Harry's been training a lot harder these last few weeks." Susan sighed. "He's so exhausted."
"What happened in Defense class? I heard Parvati telling some people that He and Snape went round and round again, but that Snape backed down and didn't even get detention or anything?" Hannah asked in awe as the two girls took their seats.
Susan had not revealed all that she and Harry had learned about Snape and his feelings for Harry's mother. So far as Susan was concerned, it was a private family matter. It had explained a great deal about Snape's behavior towards Harry which was the stuff of legend. Yet, Susan felt a strange sort of pity for the notoriously bitter teacher.
"Harry didn't say much about it, but I knew he'd had another go round. He always looks really angry after Defense classes. But he did say that things had changed. I didn't ask any more about it because he looked really angry, and I didn't fancy any more broken ribs."
"You mean you don't want Harry waiting on you again?" Hannah joked.
"I didn't say that." Susan smirked. The class started and they were prevented from speaking further. Susan had a hard time concentrating in class. She had a hard time concentrating on anything lately, unless Harry was near. Susan could not stop thinking about what might happen to her betrothed when the final confrontation happened. She prayed every night, when she was held tightly in Harry's arms, that she would never have to let him go. She chose to believe that Harry would be powerful enough to defeat the so called Dark Lord, just as Dumbledore believed. But she wasn't going to chance it.
Susan smiled to herself as she thought of the tiny vial of luck potion in her pocket.
Dumbledore strode through the halls of the school, heading towards the east wing. He liked this time of night. As much as he enjoyed hearing the laughter of the young, he found it most peaceful when the children were in their beds. Silence was a blessing at times. And Dumbledore felt that this was indeed in one of those times. He could not be distracted now. This was too important.
Dumbledore felt as if he'd been going in circles for a very long time, but a few days after he'd revealed everything to Harry, he'd had a bit of an epiphany. It had been then he'd sought out the Grey Lady.
She had been most reluctant to speak to the Headmaster. It was if she had known exactly what he'd wanted of her. She had refused to speak with him, but he'd kept coming to her, kept asking questions. And each and every time, she'd spoken in riddles, giving him nothing.
"My Lady." He greeted her with a soft smile.
"Again you come to me to ask of my mother's Diadem, and Again I bid you to leave it be." The beautiful specter pleaded.
"If it were not so important, I would bother you no longer." Dumbledore said, taking a seat on a nearby bench and folding his hand upon his lap. "I know that it is hidden in this castle, and I know that you know where it lies. If I do not find it, find it and destroy it, than I fear our enemy will win. Why do you not care?"
"You dare accuse me of having no feelings on the matter? It was I Dumbledore. I who led him to it. I who gave it to him to twist and befoul to his evil purpose."
"Then redeem yourself." Dumbledore pleaded, leaning forward. "Why do you protect it when you know what it has become?"
The ghost turned away from Dumbledore and stared into nothingness, folding her arms defensively. Dumbledore remained silent, waiting to see if he could press the ghost of Lady Helena Ravenclaw further, or if she had enough for tonight.
"Many have come to me in search of my mother's diadem Dumbledore, and only one did I grant that knowledge to. He found it and perverted it. Made it something unclean. I allowed him to do this because I was foolish. Even hundreds of years after my death I have learned nothing. I protect it because it is all that remains of my blood. I protect it because when it is gone, there will be nothing that remains of my family, and I will have nothing more to tie me to this world. I protect it Dumbledore, because I am afraid. And I hate my existence because I protect it."
Dumbledore hung his head sadly. He understood the poor woman's feelings. He had done more than a few things he was not proud of, and he also understood her fear. It was part of the reason she had remained in this world after her death.
"My dear lady." Dumbledore began. "The diadem is not the only thing that remains of your mother or your family. This school, which she helped found, will forever be a monument to your mother and her ideals. But to allow that tainted relic to remain goes against everything your mother stood for, and you know it. Would you mother, you family be proud of you for allowing it to remain?"
"Do not try and pretend to know what my mother would think!" The Grey Lady spun, her beautiful face morphing into something sinister.
"The blood that will be spilled because of your refusal to help will be on you." Dumbledore sighed as he stood. He knew that with the ghost now angered, it would be fruitless to continue.
"You care not for them, Headmaster. You care only for the boy." The Grey Lady stared through Dumbledore. The headmaster turned to look back at the ghost who hovered ever closer.
"You forget that there are precious few secrets within these walls, Headmaster. We know, but we have kept our silence because we are bound to serve the headmaster and keep his secrets. We all know that your are trying to protect the child, and that is most noble indeed. But you are also serving your own needs."
"I will not deny it." Dumbledore said. "But by helping this boy, I will be saving countless lives. You would be saving countless lives as well."
The Grey Lady regarded the headmaster for a long moment before speaking again.
"You truly mean to destroy it?" She asked wearily. "Not to wear it seeking knowledge, but to destroy it."
"I do." Dumbledore nodded.
"The boy knows wear it lies. He helped teach all those others last year in the hidden room, though he knew not how close he was to discovering it. He simply needs to ask for it to show him what is hidden. He must be the one to allow you entrance, and together you must see it to the end."
The Grey Lady gave a deep bow to Dumbledore and began to glide away. She called out over her shoulder.
"Goodbye headmaster, I fear we shall see each other again in the next world very soon."
And then Dumbledore saw a wondrous and magnificent site as the Grey Lady kept gliding forward. But instead of passing through the wall, she began to evaporate as a strange warm light appeared where her heart would have been and grew in brightness until it blinded Dumbledore. Then, it was gone. The light, and the Grey Lady.
"My dear lady, I fear you are right." Dumbledore sighed, a tear falling from his eye at having witness the final passing of Helena Ravenclaw, daughter of Rowena Ravenclaw.
"No one's seen him, and he's no one to be found on the damn map!" Harry said tossing the Marauder's map onto the table. "It's like he's not even in the castle!"
Ever since he'd returned to Hogwarts, Harry had been trying to track Draco Malfoy's movements. But for all intents and purposes, Draco Malfoy had vanished. Harry had even snuck out of the castle in the middle of the night, to shack the Shrieking Shack to see if Malfoy was held up there. But it was empty.
He was sitting on one of the couches in his and Susan's room. Susan was next to him, her legs tucked underneath. Harry had often told her she looked the most adorable when she sat like this.
Neville sat on the floor across from Ron. The two were finishing their Charms essay, the other having already finished it. Lavender, Hermione and Hannah all sat on the second couch. Lavender with the latest copy of Witch Weekly, Hannah rubbing on Neville's shoulders and Hermione with a book on her lap, though she wasn't reading it.
"We know he's still here mate." Neville sighed as he wrote a bit more on his essay. "We see him in the Great Hall at mealtimes."
"Not every meal." Hannah pointed out.
"What's weird is that when he does show up, he eats really fast. It's actually worse than watch Ron eat." Hermione said thoughtfully.
"Hey now, Ron's much more polite and far less disgusting nowadays." Lavender said slightly offended.
"Ron's eating habits aside," Hermione said quickly before Ron had a chance to retort as well. "Malfoy isn't showing up to classes. He hasn't been in a single defense or potions lesson since break. I heard Pansy telling Millicent that he wasn't even sleeping in his dorm."
"But why?" Susan asked. "What do you think he's hiding from?"
"I don't think he's hiding from anything." Harry said looking at each of his friends in turn. "I think he's hiding to accomplish something. But I'll be damned if I know where he's hiding at. He's no where on the map."
"Well does the map show every place in the castle?" Hermione asked.
"I'm not sure." Harry sighed. "I never asked Sirius."
"What about Remus?" Ron asked. "He had a hand in making it, didn't he?"
"I'm such an idiot!" Harry said smacking his forehead. "But it would take to long to get a letter to him and then a response."
"How can you be certain that he's up to anything?" Lavender asked curiously.
"It's Malfoy." Ron said flatly as if that explained it all."
"And we've talked about judging people." Lavender replied. When everyone looked up at her she held up her hands defensively. "Whoa, I'm not saying that the little prick is an angel. But what proof is there that he's doing anything bad? I mean really bad."
"Hagrid overheard Snape and Dumbledore arguing about Malfoy before break." Harry started but Hannah cut him off.
"Harry we all know how much you like Hagrid, but even you have to admit that sometimes he isn't the most reliable source of information."
"I know, but I just feel like I'm right, and when I get these feelings…" Harry began.
"He's usually right." Hermione said wearily. "Maybe not exactly right, but close enough. But We need proof."
"I know, I know." Harry said, tired of hearing that statement. He knew that nothing could be done until they had something showing that Draco was intending to do harm. Otherwise, it was just one person's word against another.
Harry was about to suggest they start patrolling the corridors for any sign of Malfoy when there was a knock at the door. Harry got up from his spot and opened the door to find the headmaster standing there patiently.
"Professor Dumbledore, come in." Harry said quickly.
"Thank you Harry. Ah, hard at work I see. Very good. It should make your exams much easier if you prepare yourselves." Dumbledore smiled at the teens sitting before him. "Harry, I find that I require your assistance. Would it be to much to ask for you to join me this evening?"
"Uh, sure." Harry said puzzled at first, and then realization hit him like a freight train. The only reason Dumbledore would be coming to seek his help so late at night meant he had found the last horcrux. He'd promised Harry that he could oversee the destruction of Voldemort's soul anchors.
"Let me put on my shoes and grab my wand, sir." Harry said quickly. He all but leapt over the couch where his shoes lay, and slipped them on quickly before snatching his wand from the table.
"Harry, wait." Susan said getting to her feet. "I just want a quick word, privately."
"I, uh…" Harry stammered looking to Dumbledore who nodded his consent.
Susan took Harry by the wrist and took him into the bedroom.
"I know what you're about to do. I've been waiting for this since Dumbledore told us everything. I want you to do something for me, right now before you go." Susan said, a pleading look in her eye.
"Suze, I don't know that we have time for…"
"Not that you Prat. We can do that when you get back. I just want you to do something to make sure you come back."
At this, Susan reached into her pocket and took out the sealed vial of golden potion she'd won in her first lesson with Slughorn. Harry gave her a curious look as she unstoppered the vial.
"I want you to drink half of this right now. That should give you about six hours of help."
"Susan, I can't…"
"You can and you will. I'm not letting you leave until you do this for me Harry. I know you'll be with Dumbledore and all, but I need to be sure that nothing is going to happen to you. I think you'll agree with me that I've never asked much of you. But I need you to do this for me. And I need you to do it right now."
Harry sighed but nodded. Susan held the vial to his lips and watched as he swallowed the mouthful. Susan replaced the stopper and kissed him deeply.
"How do you feel?" She asked when she broke the kiss.
"Good." Harry replied with a strange smile. "Like, I don't know, like there's not going to be any problems. Like if I face Voldemort right now, that it wouldn't even be a fight. Weird, huh?"
"Nope. Now, hurry back before that wears off, and we'll see if you can get super lucky."
Again Susan kissed Harry and then the two returned to the sitting room where their friends and Professor Dumbledore awaited. Harry gave a cheery wave as he followed the headmaster out. Susan's smile faded as soon as the door closed, and Hannah immediately got to her feet and hugged her best friend.
"Did you give it to him?" Hermione asked, also getting to her e. Susan nodded, and Hermione gave a soft sigh, turning to look at the door. "Then we shouldn't worry."
"It's Harry." Ron said flatly as he too turned to stare at the door. "We always worry."
"How did you find it, sir?" Harry asked jauntily and Dumbledore smiled.
"Am I correct in the assumption that Miss Bones gave you a bit of her luck potion?" The headmaster asked.
"How did you know?" Harry asked looking a bit surprised.
"A few tell tale signs. You're walk for one. You look quite confident, if I may say so. Also, the smile, which could only be caused by a small number of things. Luck potion being the least embarrassing for us both to discuss. Also, Professor Slughorn informed me that he award two vials to Miss Bones and Miss Granger. I have seen no evidence that either girl has used it, and I felt they were likely saving it for you and for this very moment."
"You're good sir." Harry smirked, and Dumbledore chuckled.
"I like to think so."
"So what are we doing?" Harry asked quickly.
"First, we will be going to my office where I plan for us to destroy the Horcruxes I have in my possession. I am tired of their presence in my office, and wish to be rid of them. Then we shall be having a conversation in which I hope will lead us to where the final horcrux lies in wait for us."
"Sounds good." Harry smiled, and Dumbledore chuckled again at Harry's enthusiasm.
The pair continued to Dumbledore's office in relative Silence. Harry felt a strange sense of confidence he'd never felt before, as if he was positive they would encounter no problems in the quest that night.
When they got into Dumbledore's office, The headmaster took out the Cup the ring and the locket he had shown Harry and Susan a few weeks previously. He then retrieved the sword of Godric Gryffindor from a case on the wall behind his desk.
"I ask that you take a step back please Harry." Dumbledore smiled as he raised the sword over the cup. "I am unsure of what will happen, having never destroyed such an evil artifact before."
Harry did as he was told and he felt an urge to kneel down and cover his head as well. Trusting his instinct, Harry put his arms over his head just as Dumbledore swung the sword down upon his desk, slicing into the golden cup.
Harry would never be able to accurately describe what happened next. The office was filled with a pained cry, and there was a shockwave of energy that knocked Harry right onto his hind end. Much of the glass in the office shattered under the force of the explosion.
Harry looked up and didn't see the headmaster.
"Professor?" Harry asked. There was a strong smell of sulfur hanging in the air. Harry heard movement from behind the desk. Dumbledore had been knocked to the floor as well. He was sitting up as Harry reached him.
"Well, that was quite interesting." The headmaster said. Harry helped the professor to his feet, and then bent down to retrieve Godric Gryffindor's sword. "Well, one down." Dumbledore chuckled.
"Sir, maybe we should take this outside before your office is demolished." Harry said as he looked around at Dumbledore's ruined office.
"No, I think it best we finish this here. Besides, possessions can be replaced, and as I once told you, I fear I may have accumulated far too many. Now, shall we take care of the ring, or the locket next?"
"Why not both?' Harry asked. He reached out and lined the locket and the ring in such a manner that Dumbledore could destroy both with one swing.
"Ah, a good idea." Dumbledore smiled, taking the sword back from Harry. "Once again, over there if you please."
Harry nodded and resumed his position on the floor with his arms protecting his head. He watched as the headmaster raised the blade high over his head, and with a war cry that startled Harry, brought the sword down as hard and swift as he could.
There was a huge thunderclap like sound and Harry was tossed into the wall. Thankfully he was already leaning against it, so it wasn't so bad. Dumbledore however was thrown back violently and crashed into a low table and landed against a large bookshelf where several dozen heavy tomes avalanched upon him.
Harry got to his feet and quickly began to dig the headmaster out of the deluge.
"Well, I am most certainly glad that is over with." Dumbledore smiled lightly. Harry noted that the professor had a few bruises forming on his head. He also appeared a bit unsteady.
"Would you like to sit down for a minute sir?" Harry asked.
"I would very much like that." Dumbledore smiled. Harry smiled in return and helped the professor to his desk, which was now blackened and scorched with two long cuts where the sword had struck. Harry found the headmaster's chair and set it upright for Dumbledore who sat down gratefully and slipped his wand out of his robes, and gave it a wave, summoning a crystal bottle which was cracked.
"Oh dear." Dumbledore frowned. "Well, there is still a bit left." Dumbledore conjured a glass and poured the remainder of the amber liquid into it and then drank it down in one gulp. Harry found a chair for himself and set it before the headmaster's desk and took a seat.
"We have dealt Lord Voldemort quite a blow this night, but when we are down, he shall be mortal once again."
"You said you found the last horcrux."
"In a manner of speaking." Dumbledore said with a soft smile. "I know where it is located, but I need your help in order to get inside. You see, I believe that the final hidden soul anchor. It is hidden inside the same room in which you taught the Defense club last year."
"The Room of Requirement." Harry looked stunned.
"Indeed. The trick will be, as I understand it, in asking the room for just exactly the right thing. I do not believe that simply asking for the horcrux will be enough. So we should take this time…"
"I think I know already what to ask it for sir." Harry smiled brightly. The Felix Felicious was conjuring a phrase in his mind that Harry was certain would give them exactly what they would need.
Dumbledore's light blue eyes sparkled with delight as he got to his feet. "Then we should not waste any more time."
Ten minutes later, Harry was pacing back and forth in front of the section of wall which the Room of Requirement was hidden concentrating on the phrase that had occurred to him in Dumbledore's office.
"We need find something that is hidden." He thought, focusing his mind on that single thought. He heard Dumbledore give a soft sigh as the door appeared and opened.
"I love Felix Felicious." Harry thought to himself.
As they entered the Room, Harry and Dumbledore were taken aback by the site they bore witness to. The room was far larger than even the Great Hall. There were mountains upon mountains of books, brooms, cauldrons, clothing and other junk. Harry saw a few vials of black liquid he was sure were some sort of illegal potions. There were fanged frisbees broken scales, and several empty bottles of cooking sherry. Harry smiled as he realized he'd stumbled upon Professor Trelawney's secret dumping grounds. He then laughed as he realized the was the secret dumping ground for a hundred generations of students.
"Well, I simply had no idea." Was all Dumbledore could say. Harry simply laughed. "I believe we may have our work cut out for us."
"Is there any way we could clear some of this away and make our search easier?" Harry asked.
"I think we might be able to. Let me see…" Dumbledore said thoughtfully. He gave his wand a substantial flick and Harry heard rumbles as from all over the room books came soaring out of every corner of the room and began stacking themselves neatly along the wall to Harry's immediate left. Harry watched delightedly as the headmaster conducted the books into stacks upon stacks.
"I shall have to have Madam Pince come through and catalog all of these. Perhaps out Library will grow. I also think many of these could be used by students. They will of course nee to be checked to make sure there is nothing dark in them."
"Good idea." Harry said, understanding Dumbledore's meeting. Hogwarts did not need another event like his second year.
When the last book settles in it's new place with a soft thud, Dumbledore gave a heavy sigh. "Well, that's all of the books. My word, I believe there are more books hidden here than our entire library."
Harry nodded his agreement as he took a closer look at some of the titles.
"Now, Let's try this." Dumbledore smiled and gave another sweeping wave of his wand. Harry heard the rumble as the mountains of detritus fell down as Dumbledore manipulated cauldrons into the very back of the room. The cauldrons clanged loudly, echoing throughout the room as they were piled high and out of the way.
"Perhaps Harry, you should start looking."
"What is it I'm looking for?" Harry asked.
"A tiara type crown with a raven upon it. The lost diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw. I shall look in this direction. If you see anything that resembles what I have described, than call out, and I shall find you. Also, be careful, as I shall likely continue sorting some of this mess to ease our search."
Harry gave a nod and headed down the nearest aisle, looking for anything that looked like a tiara. He wasn't sure if he was going in the right direction at all, but he felt like he was being pulled. Figuring it was the Felix Felicious, Harry followed it, keeping his eyes open, examining everything as quickly and carefully as possible.
Harry strolled deeper and deeper into the Room. Harry guessed the Headmaster had started another round of sorting when several broken chairs soared over his head, making him duck slightly. The noise had yet to stop as mountains of contraband was disturbed and crumbled as it was shifted.
And then Harry felt a strange darkness. A cold yet familiar presence that curdled Harry's blood. At the same time, the pull he'd been following surged and Harry rounded a corner and his eyes settled upon a bust of a rather ugly warlock with a very dusty wig upon its head and setting upon that was a rather battered and tarnished looking tiara.
Harry stopped as he gazed upon it. It didn't appear to be anything more than a once fancy piece of costume jewelry. Harry leaned in to inspect it more closely and noticed there were two ravens covered in glittering stones on either side of the piece. Yet, Harry could feel waves of darkness rolling off of it.
"Professor Dumbledore!" Harry shouted.
There was no sound. It was then that Harry realized that the rumble of junk being moved had fallen silent. He shouted for the headmaster again, but got no response. He thought for only a second about how to act. He removed his wand from his pocket while grabbing the tiara, sure he would not find it again, and began to seek out the headmaster.
Focused on his goal, Harry could feel the luck potion guiding him through the maze of rubbish in search of Dumbledore. His search came to an end when he walked right into an invisible barrier and fell right on his bottom.
"What the bloody hell?" Harry asked, rubbing his face where he'd smacked into the barrier. He got to his feet and was about to call out again when he heard a very familiar voice speaking triumphantly.
"Malfoy?" Harry asked himself. He began feeling his way along the barrier, trying to find where Malfoy and Professor Dumbledore were, as he'd also heard the headmaster's voice now.
Harry had to maneuver around a large mountain of rubbish until he found another somewhat clear walkway that was blocked by the invisible barrier. This time however, Harry could see Dumbledore. He was standing before a large wardrobe. The wardrobe sat in an area that appeared as if it had been meticulously cleared away, and not by magic. Harry noticed that Dumbledore had his hands folded before him, and he was listening to Draco Malfoy, who had his wand leveled right at Dumbledore's heart. Harry also saw that Draco had Dumbledore's wand in his other hand.
"Things didn't go to plan though, did they?" Dumbledore asked. "You very nearly killed a classmate."
"You're talking about Bones." Draco sneered. "I wish she had died. It would have given me a bit more favor. No, her friends had to interfere, and don't think I don't know that it was Snape who fixed her up. I'm not stupid. I know that's why you were teaching Defense before the holiday."
"And the mead that killed Professor Slughorn?" Dumbledore asked. "I had no idea you had problems with the late professor."
"That was meant for you as well. But the fat load just couldn't part with it. He did it to himself." Draco said, his tone becoming more triumphant.
"And so, here we are. May I ask what happens next?"
"When I finish, I summon my Lord, and he kills Potter. Then the new world order begins." Draco smiled. "Goodbye, Dumbledore. Avada Kedavra!"
Harry shouted as the acidic green spell hit the headmaster right in the heart, slamming him into the old wardrobe and slumped to the ground, his life light completely extinguished.
Draco rolled up his sleeve and touched his wand to his forearm just as the barrier fell and he heard Harry. Draco turned to stare in surprise, having apparently being unaware that Harry had been right there the whole time.
"Potter!" Draco sneered and then smiled as he turned to look at the wardrobe. "You're just in time to meet your fate."