"Ron, come back," Hermione sobbed and fell to her knees. Harry went to her and hugged her. "It's my fault. He's gone because of me."
"It's not your fault, Hermione. The pressure was getting to him. He was also affected by the locket," he whispered.
"I never should have trusted Tyler. I'm sorry, Harry."
"It's doesn't matter. Tyler doesn't matter anymore. Hermione, we have to destroy the locket. Now," Harry told her. She nodded. He stood. "I need you both to stay here while we do this," he told Remus and Sirius. He pulled the sword of Gryffindor out of his bag. They nodded. Harry and Hermione walked outside. They put the locket on a large rock.
"Will it work?" Hermione asked.
"It has to," Harry gripped the sword in his hands and swung it up into the air above his head. He was just about to bring it down when Hermione screamed.
"Harry!" she shrieked, pointing to Harry's right. Harry looked just as he got knocked to the ground. The sword flew from his hand. He looked into the face of the person pinning him. It was Fenrir Greyback.
"You killed my son, Potter. Bad move," Greyback growled.
"I'm so sick of werewolves. He deserved to die," Harry muttered. Harry felt a stinging on his cheek. Greyback had scratched him with his long, claw-like nails. Harry felt blood running down his face.
"You're going to pay for killing my son."
"Not today." A yellow light illuminated from Harry. It made Greyback jump off Harry like he had been burnt. "Hermione, you have to start using magic even if you're not of age. You have to," he told her and he stood up, his wand out.
"But-but-" Hermione stuttered, backing away from the advancing now-human werewolves from Greyback's pack.
"Hermione, do magic!" Harry yelled and dodged as Greyback jumped at him. Remus and Sirius came running out of the house. Hermione hesitated then pulled her wand. Spells were flying everywhere. Remus, Sirius, and Hermione were fighting off a few of the pack each. In the middle of everything, it was only Harry and Greyback.
"Potter, I'll send you back to your parents for what you did," Greyback threatened. Harry tried to move as Greyback jumped at him again but Greyback was faster. He pinned Harry to the ground.
"I'm not apologizing."
"I don't want an apology. I want your life," Greyback snarled. Harry stared at Greyback.
"Expulso!" Greyback was thrown from Harry. Hermione pulled Harry up as he grabbed his wand, the locket, and the sword.
"Harry, back in the house. They can't get past the wards," Remus called. They ran back to the house.
"Is everyone all right?" Sirius asked and looked at the fresh cuts on Harry's cheek.
"Fine," Harry nodded. "Looks like we have to do this in here," he told Hermione. She nodded. "Stay here," he told Remus and Sirius. Harry and Hermione headed for the drawing room.
"Harry, this could be bad," Hermione said as Harry swung the sword up again.
"We have to destroy it," Harry said. "Ready?" Hermione nodded. There was a flash of silver as the sword came flying down. It hit the locket and there was a white light. Harry felt the locket shatter. His hands slipped from the sword which clattered to the floor. Harry collapsed on the floor, screaming, his hands on his scar. It felt like his head was going to split. A golden light took place of the white and it seemed to make the pain worse. Now, however, Harry could vaguely see Voldemort screaming as well. Just as he was blacking out, the light dimmed then went out. Harry's world went black.
"Did it work?" Remus asked.
"Yeah, this is all that's left," Hermione answered. "Why was Harry screaming?"
"I'm guessing he felt the pain Voldemort was feeling. Being as that was a part of Voldemort's soul, it would have caused Voldemort pain when it was destroyed. Harry, being connected to Voldemort through his scar, would have felt the pain Voldemort felt," Remus explained.
"Remus," Harry whispered. "You healed me."
Everyone laughed. "I couldn't just leave everything," Remus smiled.
"I'm gonna get you when we come back," Harry sighed.
"I'll be on my guard," Remus laughed.
"How are you, Harry?" Hermione asked. She had something in her hand.
"All right, I guess," Harry looked around. "Where's Sirius?"
"He had to go back to work. He left an hour ago," Remus replied.
"Oh," Harry was upset. He had barely seen his godfather. "What happened? How long have I been out?"
"You've been out since you destroyed the locket yesterday at one in the afternoon. It's now eleven in the morning," Remus said.
"Wow," Harry said. "Was the locket destroyed?" he looked at Hermione.
"Yes. Harry, it worked. This is all that's left," Hermione smiled. She opened her hand where two small pieces of gold were clutched. The only remaining pieces of Salazar Slytherin's locket. Three Horcruxes down, four to go. "We have four left."
"Four left," Harry repeated. He was thinking about something.
"What is it, pup?"
"Hermione, get my bag," Harry said. Hermione ran from the room to the living room.
"Harry, what is it?" Remus asked.
"I need to ask you something," Harry answered. Hermione returned and handed Harry his bag. Harry pulled out the Founders book and flipped to the beginning of the section on Helga Hufflepuff. A picture was being used as a bookmark. Harry took it out and shut the book.
"Harry, what-" Hermione began to ask.
"Do you recognize this?" Harry showed the picture to Remus. It was the picture of the oversize rook.
"You mean besides the fact that it's a very large chess piece with windows?" Remus raised an eyebrow. Harry nodded. "I do know this place. It's the Lovegood's house."
"Lovegood?" Harry and Hermione repeated.
"Yeah. Xenophilius and Luna Lovegood," Remus nodded.
Harry and Hermione stared at each other. "That's how Ron knew this place," Harry said. "Because Ginny goes over there a lot. She's friends with Luna."
"We have to go there," Hermione said and Harry nodded. "What about Ron?" she asked quietly.
"I don't know, Hermione," Harry sighed.
"Where do you think he went? Home?"
Harry opened his mouth to reply but Remus spoke. "I don't think he'd go home. It's too dangerous. Death Eaters are after all three of you. Ron will be in more danger now. Going home would bring more danger upon the family," he explained.
"Where would he go if not home?" Harry wondered.
"Maybe he remembered this is the Lovegood house," Hermione guessed.
"We'll leave in a few minutes and find out," Harry told her.
"Uh, no, no," Remus said. "You two are not going anywhere for at least an hour."
"Remus, we have to. We have to find Ron and the Lovegoods may be able to help us find another Horcrux," Harry stated.
"It can wait for an hour. You two need to take it easy."
"The longer we wait, the more danger arises, the more people die. We have to go," Harry answered.
Remus stared at Hermione and Harry. "All right, all right," he sighed.
"You need to go back to work," Harry said.
"You need to be careful. Both of you," Remus told them.
"We'll try. You know we can't promise that we'll be safe," Harry replied, watching Hermione sling her bag on her back. Harry did the same.
"Harry-" Remus started.
"I know."
"Make sure you come home. All three of you," Remus hugged Harry.
Harry met eyes with Hermione over Remus' shoulder. They sighed. "We have to go," he said.
"Goodbye, pup. I love you."
"I love you too. Tell Sirius I love him," Harry pulled something out of his pocket and put it in Remus' hand. "Take this. I'll come back for it."
Remus looked at it. It was Harry's Communicator. "Harry, you need this. It's your only means of communication."
"It's too dangerous to talk to anyone. Cheyenne Hudson was killed because we were talking with her. I can't take the same risk with you and Sirius," Harry shook his head.
"Harry-"
"It's time for us to go. I love you. Bye." Harry followed Hermione from the drawing room and outside. Remus watched the two walk to the Apparation point and disappeared. Remus looked at the device in his hand. He closed his fist then went to the Apparation point as well. He disappeared.
"Remus, how's Harry and Hermione?" Sirius wondered.
"Gone. They left. Harry left his Communicator," Remus sighed.
"But this is the only way he can talk to anyone," Sirius frowned.
"I know. He said it's too dangerous for them to talk to anyone," Remus nodded.
"Well, that's not completely true."
"Sirius, Cheyenne Hudson was murdered for talking to the Trio. Harry said he can't take the risk with us. Said he'd come back for it," Remus said.
"We won't know if he's okay or not," Sirius said.
"We'll just have to hope," Remus shrugged.
"This is it, isn't it?" Sirius suddenly said.
"What?"
"Harry's almost found all the Horcruxes. He's being hunted. This is it. It's the height of this war. The full height. We're finally there, aren't we?" Sirius explained.
"Yes, we are," Remus nodded. They stared at each other in silence for several minutes. "Anything new to help with Seth? Anything about the trial?"
"My Lord, what happened? What is it that caused you so much pain?" Bellatrix asked.
"I do not know, Bellatrix," Voldemort said.
"My Lord, I believe I know the reason behind your pain," Lucius spoke, bowing his head.
"Speak, Lucius."
"My Lord, I believe your pain was caused by Potter. Fenrir Greyback has informed me that Potter and Granger have succeeded in destroying the locket of Salazar Slytherin," Lucius told him.
"It cannot be," Voldemort snapped. "How could a pathetic seventeen year old boy destroy a Horcrux?"
"My Lord, he did the same when he was twelve," Bellatrix bowed.
"Quiet. How did he manage it, Lucius?" Voldemort asked.
"My Lord, he possesses the sword of Godric Gryffindor," Lucius answered.
"No!" Voldemort roared. "You mean to tell me, Lucius, that Potter holds a Horcrux with him?"
"Yes, my Lord."
"Stop Potter and his friends before they can progress. Protect my Horcruxes," Voldemort told Bellatrix and Lucius.
"Yes, my Lord." They each bowed again then left. Harry Potter was looming ever closer to returning him, Lord Voldemort, to a mortal. Potter must be stopped.
"We've got a hearing to go to, but it's not for what I thought," Sirius answered slowly as they sat on a bench outside the Ministry, papers and files in their laps.
"What do you mean?" Remus asked.
"Me, you, Kingsley, and Tonks have to go to a hearing next week, not a trial," Sirius stalled.
"I got that, Sirius. Get to the point," Remus crossed his arms.
"The hearing is to determine the date to carry out the sentence."
"What sentence? Sirius, quit stalling."
Sirius hesitated. "Seth's sentence. Remus, he's been sentenced to the Dementor's Kiss. The hearing is to determine the date. The four of us have to go to the hearing and we're expected to be there the day the kiss is administered," he finally told his friend.
"What? But we haven't even been able to clear him," Remus said.
"I know. I talked to Fudge but he said we can't do anything," Sirius sighed.
"Why do they want you, Kingsley, and Tonks there? Seth was in my department and attacked me," Remus asked.
"We were all involved with the attack."
"When's the hearing?"
"Tuesday. Four days."
"Fine. I'll be there. What time?" Remus stood up swiftly.
"Eleven a.m."
"I'll be there," Remus repeated and went back to the Ministry. Sirius sighed and soon followed.
"This is it," Harry said as he and Hermione stared up at the rook-shaped house. It looked very dark. It reminded Harry of Grimmauld Place with the dark aura. It was also surrounded by gardens.
"There're no gardens in the picture," Hermione looked from the picture to the real thing.
"Well, maybe this was taken before there were gardens, I dunno. It's definitely the place though. I doubt there are many houses that look like this," Harry shrugged.
"What exactly do you have planned? We can't just go in there and ask if he knows where we can find a piece of Lord Voldemort's soul," Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"Do you have to make everything complicated?" Harry frowned.
"It's your fault. Have a plan and I'll be quiet," Hermione said matter-of-factly.
"You're never quiet," Harry muttered and headed up the driveway.
"I heard that, you know."
"Never said you weren't supposed to," Harry grinned. She punched his arm. "Ow!"
"Well."
"Just come on," Harry glared, rubbing his arm. They reached the door and he knocked.
"You still don't know what we're going to do, do you?" Hermione accused.
"Not a clue," Harry shrugged. The door opened and a girl with white hair appeared.
"Oh, hello, Harry. Hello, Hermione," Luna Lovegood greeted.
"Hi, Luna. Would we be able to come in for a bit? We need to talk to your father," Hermione asked.
"Of course. Come in. I'll warn you though, my father hasn't quite been himself," Luna said in her dreamy voice, standing back to let them in.
"What do you mean?" Harry furrowed his eyebrows.
"I'm not sure really. He's just been quite distant and quiet. He also hasn't been working. He sits down to work but he doesn't. He just sits there," Luna shook her head.
"How long has he been this way?" Hermione wondered.
"About four days, I think," Luna replied.
"Where is your father?" Harry asked.
"In the study. On the second floor. Third door on the right," Luna told them.
"Hermione, stay with Luna. I'm gonna go talk to him."
"But, Harry-"
"Please, Hermione. I'll try to keep it short," Harry said and started up the stairs.
"Fine. If you're not back in ten minutes, I'm coming up there," Hermione said.
"Fine," Harry nodded.
"Come on, Hermione. We'll go in the living room. Would you like a drink?" Luna lead Hermione to the living room.
"No, it's all right, Luna. I have water," Hermione motioned to her bag.
"All right," Luna sat in a chair beside Hermione's. "What are you two doing anyways? You both have bags. And where's Ron? He's always with you two," she asked.
"We actually thought he might be here. He took off yesterday. We don't know where he went," Hermione answered sadly.
"Oh. I'm sorry," Luna smiled softly at her.
"Thanks. Anyways, the two of us are just trying to find something," Hermione nodded, knowing she couldn't say too much.
"And you think my father might be able to help?" Luna asked.
"Yeah, we're hoping," Hermione replied.
"You might get lucky. He's actually quite intelligent. Knows many things. I think if he didn't have more loyalty than intelligence in him, he would have been sorted into Ravenclaw when he was in school," Luna said. "He was in Hufflepuff. I'm in the same house my mother had been in. Ravenclaw."
Hermione just smiled at her, not knowing what to say. Let's hope he knows a lot about the founder of his house. Hopefully he knows something. We really need the help, she thought.
Harry entered the room Luna had instructed. There was a man sitting at a desk in a far corner. He was bent over papers on the desk and had a quill in his hand, but he wasn't writing. The only movement was of the man's barely visible chest rising and falling.
"Mr. Lovegood?" Harry called tentatively. There was no answer. He walked closer. "Mr. Lovegood?" he called again. Still no response. Harry slowly reached out his hand to tap Mr. Lovegood on the shoulder. Just when he was about to touch the man, Mr. Lovegood jerked and lifted his head, staring at Harry. Harry stared at him. He noticed Mr. Lovegood looked thin, pale, and had big, round glossy eyes. Harry frowned.
"Who're you? What're you doing in my house?" Mr. Lovegood asked.
"I'm Harry Potter. I'm here with my friend, Hermione Granger. Luna let us in. I need to ask you some questions," Harry replied.
"I told Luna never to open the door for strangers."
"We're not strangers, Mr. Lovegood. We're friends of Luna's from school," Harry shook his head.
"Oh. Who did you say you were again?" Mr. Lovegood asked.
"I'm Harry Potter," Harry repeated.
Mr. Lovegood's eyes travelled to Harry's forehead. "Ah, yes. The famous Harry Potter."
"Yes. I have some things to ask you," Harry nodded.
"Very well. Take a seat. I'll answer the best I can," Mr. Lovegood pointed to three chairs in the middle of the room, facing a stone fireplace. They sat. "What would you like to know?"
"Do you know much about Helga Hufflepuff?" Harry began.
"A bit. She was one of the Founders. I got sorted into her house," Mr. Lovegood answered.
"Do you recognize this?" Harry held up the bejewelled replica of Hufflepuff's goblet, her most prized possession.
Mr. Lovegood's eyes widened. "Where did you get this?"
"A friend. Do you recognize it, Mr. Lovegood?" Harry repeated.
"Yes, I do. I also do not want it in my house. Get rid of it," Mr. Lovegood demanded.
"It's not the real thing. This is a replica. Where have you seen this before, Mr. Lovegood?"
"I will not speak of it," Mr. Lovegood stood.
"I need to know. Where have you seen this?" Harry asked.
"Excuse me. I need to make my daughter lunch." Mr. Lovegood left the room. Harry sighed and put the goblet back in his bag. He frowned. There was obviously something bad about the goblet which made Harry think the goblet was a Horcrux. Harry also recognized Mr. Lovegood's voice. He couldn't place it, but he knew the voice even though he had never met Mr. Lovegood in his life. The question stayed near the front of his mind as he walked downstairs.
"Harry, in here," Hermione hissed and pulled Harry into the living room.
"Where's Luna and why are we whispering?" Harry asked.
"She's in the kitchen with her father and so they don't hear us," Hermione said. "What did you find out?"
"He recognizes the goblet. He won't say where he's seen it though. There's something bad about the goblet which makes me think it is a Horcrux," he told her.
"We need him to talk about it," Hermione said absently.
"I know."
"Sshhh. I'm thinking," Hermione stated. Harry was startled and opened his mouth to speak, but closed it and stayed quiet, allowing her to think. Finally she spoke, "Maybe I could try, but ease into it. I'll try during lunch."
"What about Luna?" Harry's eyebrows furrowed.
"We won't actually say we're looking for a Horcrux or anything. I'll just ask about goblets and whatnot," she said.
Harry sighed. "All right. Let's do it."