The fang, the locket, and the diadem
Thanks for Betaing Caitlin:)
Standard disclaimer, I own nothing you recognize:(
Authors' Note:In this chapter we meet Snape. In my opinion he is the hardest character to write. I can count on one hand the stories that do him well. Yes he is a hero and a good man, he is also a giant ass, mostly due to poor socialization, but still an ass. He is a complex character and one of my favourites in the HP verse, but also the hardest to write. Kind of like Methos in that regard. I'm curious how his characterization comes off in this chapter as he is an important character in future chapters.
Chapter 3: The fang, the locket, and the diadem
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Ron glanced down at the map, making sure that the coast was clear. It was 11:10, Albus would be back from Hogsmeade at noon. Moody would not be back until four at the earliest. The hall outside Myrtle's lavatory was empty after he left the Chamber of Secrets. Ron did his best to walk casually down the the hall, basilisk fangs wrapped and concealed in his school robes. It had taken several tries to produce a sound close enough to "Open" in parsletongue for the chamber to let him in.
The basilisk's corpse had been exactly where he remembered. Merlin he had forgotten how bad that thing smelled. He applied a scourgefy charm to his robes, removing some of the stench of rotting snake and raw sewage. The next stop was the diadem. While the simplest of the Horcruxes to retrieve, Ron still felt nervous. It would set the tone of this entire quest. If he could actually destroy a piece of Voldemort it meant two things. The first was that fate was not immutable. It was possible for Ron to make changes, important changes, changes that may save wizarding Britain. The second was that fate was not immutable and Albus was right. There was no destiny ensuring that Harriett would be born.
When he arrived at the hallway that housed the room of requirement, he paced back and forth until the entrance appeared. With some trepidation he eased the door open. The massive room was piled floor to ceiling with junk. Some of it looked like it may actually have some value, but most was discarded and broken junk that hadn't been thrown out properly.
It took Ron a long time to locate the diadem. His memories of this place had faded a great deal over the years and the cathedral sized room was a massive labyrinth whose walls consisted of stacks and stacks of virtually every item imaginable. He finally found the discoloured tiara resting on the head of a stone warlock wearing a gold wig.
As he removed the diadem from the statue a shiver ran up his spine. The sensation was so similar to the one elicited by the locket that he almost flung the Horcrux away. Suppressing the urge, he shoved the priceless relic into his robes. He was glad that he wouldn't have to carry it around for hours on end.
Before exiting the room he quickly checked the map to make sure the hallway was clear. He noticed Snape and Dumbledore were in the headmaster's office. Ron hoped Dumbledore wouldn't trust Severus with the secret. It wasn't that Snape wasn't trustworthy, it was simply that the mission required secrecy. The fewer people who knew the better. That and Ron just didn't like Snape. Despite seeing Snape's memories and the man's devotion to Lily Potter, the memories of Snape's petty bullying coloured Ron's opinion of the man.
The trip to the headmasters office took minutes, but it was long enough for Ron to feel the effects of Horcrux wheedling at the edges of his mind. Perhaps it sensed its fate? Perhaps Ron was imagining things, it was hard to tell.
"Bort's Bubblegum." Ron said to the gargoyle guarding the main office. It leaped aside and Ron ascended the staircase.
He knocked on the outer door to Dumbledore's office and heard a muffled, "Enter."
As the door swung open, Ron saw Snape siting in one of two chairs opposite the headmaster's desk. "What is he doing here?" Both Snape and Ron asked simultaneously.
Dumbledore raised his hand to forestall the inevitable argument. "I apologize Ronald. I am aware of your mistrust of Severus, however we must put personal feelings aside and proceed accordingly."
If Snape was thrown by the way Dumbledore addressed Ron, it was nothing compared to the reaction to Ron's response. "It's not that I don't trust the pillock! I just don't like him."
Snape was on his feet immediately. "Twenty points from Griffindor."
"Oh piss off, I'm not in the mood."
Snape was paralysed with rage, his normally sallow expression turning crimson. "What did you say to me?"
"That is quite unnecessary Ronald." The disappointment was very clear in Dumbledore's tone, though Ron had the impression that the headmaster was amused.
Ron sighed; he was behaving more like a fourteen year old than a thirty four year old. "Sorry, didn't get much sleep last night." Dumbledore's face softened in understanding at Ron's exhausted tone. In the lull Ron asked, "How much did you tell him?"
"I waited for you to arrive. One moment please while I insure our privacy." He proceeded to do some quick wand work, repeating the spells he had used the night Ron first arrived.
Snape was utterly baffled by Dumbledore's tolerance of Ron's behaviour. "What is going on?" he asked suspiciously.
Ron slouched in the chair next to the one Snape had vacated. "Short answer, I'm from the future, I'm here to help kill Riddle."
Snape raised an eyebrow skeptically and looked to Dumbledore. "You cannot expect me to believe this. His mind has clearly snapped from living in the shadow of that glory hound Potter."
Ron bit back the response he wanted to spit at the man. Instead he focused on Dumbledore. "Why do we need him?"
"Apart from myself, he is the only wizard I trust who possesses a deep knowledge of Horcruxes." Ron shrugged, he seemed to remember that Dumbledore had kept Snape in the dark about the Horcruxes the first time around. Maybe the old man had changed his mind about keeping too many secrets? Maybe he didn't have to worry about Voldemort torturing the information out of Snape?
Snape's disbelief began to fade as Dumbledore spoke openly to a fourth year about some of the most taboo magic in existence. Ron, for his part, was surprised. He supposed Dumbledore couldn't know everything about everything, but it was strange thinking of the old man needing to consult with someone.
Ron shrugged. "Fine." He reached into his robes and pulled out the diadem. "One Horcrux, Ravenclaw's lost diadem." He put the foul object on the desk. He then pulled out the basilisk fangs. They were nearly as long as his forearm. "One pair of basilisk fangs."
Snape regarded the diadem with contempt. "It is most definitely a Horcrux." He looked to Dumbledore, "You theorized that he would have made more than one?"
Dumbledore nodded. "Indeed. Ronald tells me that there are seven in total."
Snape's eyes widened briefly, the only outward sign of surprise. "That makes sense, Voldemort would like the connection to the number seven."
"Yeah Hermione always said seven was a power number." Ron looked over at grandfather clock anxiously. "Can we kill it or do you want to examine it more?" He hated those objects almost as much as he hated Death Eaters. For whatever reason he had almost no resistance to them. It was the same with the imperious curse. He flinched, there was nothing he loathed more than that spell.
Snape shot Ron a glare. "I see your desire to hex first and ask questions later has not changed Weasley."
Ron bristled, but Dumbledore said, "Severus is right to be cautious about destroying the Horcrux, it may alert Voldemort to our plan. That would cost us our advantage."
"It didn't before." Ron said defensively.
Dumbledore nodded. "Nonetheless, we must be certain. Voldemort was not in his wraith like state when you first went about destroying the anchors that held him to this plane."
"Fine." Ron slumped back in his chair and watched absently as Snape and Dumbledore performed some very complex wand work over the diadem. The minutes stretched on and finally Ron asked, "Do you know if Sirius is at Grimauld place?"
Dumbledore glanced up from his work. It took a moment for his eyes to focus on Ron, a sign Ron recognized from when Hermione was deep in thought. "I do not believe so, why?"
"I was going to go get the locket while you two figure out if it's safe to destroy that one."
Albus shook his head, "That is not advisable. You are still physically underage and as such subject to the trace. There is also a very good chance that the ministry has the flu to 12 Grimauld place under surveillance."
"Right, forgot about that." Ron felt slightly foolish. Not being allowed to perform magic outside of school would make things more difficult. "Can you make me a portkey? I don't need any magic to pick up the locket. Even if I do, I can be out of there before the ministry shows up to investigate."
Albus hesitated before levitating a small crystal ball off his desk. "Portus" The ball glowed blue momentarily before returning to normal. "This will allow you one trip to and from Grimauld place, the pass phrase is 'Lemon drop'." Ron nodded and held out his hand. Before handing over the ball, Albus asked, "Are you certain you do not need help with this?"
Ron shook his head, "I'll be fine. This is one of the easy ones."
"Be careful Ronald." Albus said before sending the portkey to Ron's hand.
"I will be." Ron gripped the sphere tightly and said, "Lemon drop."
There was a gut wrenching lurch as Ron was carried away to Sirius' family home. Seconds after he had landed in an awkward pile on the floor in the entry way, the portrait of Sirius' mother began screaming bloody murder. "Thief! Thief! Filthy blood traitor! How dare you trespass in the most noble house of Black!"
Ron stood, panicked. He wished he could use his wand to silence the old cow, but that would attract the ministry before he had the locket. Grabbing the hangings on either side of the portrait, he pulled them shut, somewhat muffling her screams. Before Ron could even breath, something heavy ran into the back of his knees. He collapsed on ground in pain. His attacker turned out to be a bewitched brass umbrella stand. Once he was on the ground, the stand rose into the air and stomped down onto Ron's stomach, winding him. Regaining his breath while kicking at the violent piece of furniture was not easy. When he could finally form words he wheezed, "Kreacher, I'm here to help Regulus. Call it off. Call it off."
There was a sharp snap of fingers and the umbrella stand was mercifully stilled. "What does the blood traitor thief mean?" Came the croaking voice of Kreacher.
Ron looked around to see if he could spot the elf. He though he saw his ears protruding from one of the shadows, but it could have been a mouldy house plant. "Regulus gave you a locket to destroy before he was killed by V-Voldemort's inferi." Ron forced himself to say the name, he had to keep reminding himself that it wasn't being tracked yet. "I know how break the bloody thing."
Kreacher stepped out of the gloom. "Evil, Evil locket." He spat, "Kreacher tried and tried to break it but he couldn't scratch it. How does the thief know he can do it."
Ron pushed himself off the grimy floor, feeling the effects of the beating even through the rush of adrenaline it had released. He wasn't looking forward to the bruises that would form. In as calming a voice as he could manage he said, "There's a special tool that can destroy it back at Hogwarts. Voldemort put protection on it, but we know how to break it."
Kreacher was suddenly angry, and Ron remembered that the elf had spent so much time alone he didn't know how to keep thoughts to himself anymore. "Triksy thief, trying to get his hands on the locket. Take it to the fool Dumbledore. Kreacher's mistress has warned Kreacher about him."
"No, I swear I want to destroy it!"
"He lies." Kreacher hissed.
Ron thought frantically. He could take the locket by force, but it would be minutes before the ministry showed up. He needed another tact. "You don't have to trust me. You can keep it with you. Just come with me to Hogwarts." Ron paused and added, "Once it's destroyed, it will stop whispering to you."
Kreacher's watering eyes snapped to Ron's, "How does he know about the whispering?"
Ron felt that he was finally getting somewhere, "I hear it too. Whenever it's near I can feel it picking at me."
Without answering Kreacher began hobbling towards the kitchen. Ron knew the elf had a nest under the stair in the kitchen, and wondered if he had kept the locket with him all these years. It was a wonder the elf wasn't crazier.
Kreacher did not seem to be in any hurry and it took nearly five minutes for him to emerge from under the stairs. The locket dangled from his hands and dragged over the floor as he walked towards Ron. Ron grinned, "Good job Kreacher." He fished the crystal ball out of his robes and held it out to the elf, "This will take us to Hogwarts." Kreacher reached out and laid his gnarled hand on the sphere. Ron said the activating word. "Lemon drops."
The two were immediately returned to Dumbledore and Snape, who were still busy flicking their wands over the diadem. Honestly Ron had to wonder if they were just doing it for show. Both men looked up at their arrival.
Snape glared down at the house elf as though it were a mess he had just stepped in. "What is that doing here?"
"He didn't trust me with the locket." Ron answered.
At the same time Kreacher muttered, "Stupid old man, mistress tells Kreacher how he poisons the bloodlines."
Dumbledore smiled at Kreacher before asking Ron, "Are you certain it is a good idea that he knows about this?"
"Why not? He has as much reason to hate Riddle as anyone. Regulus died trying to destroy that locket." Ron said pointing at the Horcrux in Kreacher's hand.
Dumbledore did not look pleased about letting another person in on the secret. Kreacher for his part sat and muttered, "The thief promised to help Kreacher destroy the locket."
Dumbledore answered for Ron, "We are nearly done our tests. They will tell us if it is safe to destroy."
Kreacher was not pleased, he walked over to the corner of the office where he sat and glared. He kept the locket clutched to his chest protectively and began muttering to himself.
Ron sat back in his chair opposite the headmaster's desk and did his best to ignore Severus and Dumbledore's debate over interlocking arithmetic shades. He soon found his eyelids drooping. It was a situation Ron was fairly used to. Whenever Hermione had one or more of her coworkers over for dinner they would often get into long drawn out debates of this type. Ron had long ago learned to tune it out.
His head bobbed, and he shook himself awake. The only thing keeping Ron in the office was his desire to speak to Dumbledore. Once they were done with the diadem and locket, Ron wanted to have a real discussion with Albus about retrieving the ring and the cup. He had not been at his most alert during their first talk and had had a few ideas since then.
It was nearing three thirty when the professors finally finished their examination. At least Albus was satisfied. "I do not believe there is any danger of Voldemort being alerted when we destroy this Horcrux."
"Good," Ron said as he reached for the fang that was still wrapped in an old jumper on the desk.
"I must protest." Severus interjected. "I do not believe there is a danger, however we should not leave things to chance. The best course of action is to gather them together first, then destroy them."
"No." Ron said forcefully. "I'm not leaving those things in a school full of kids any longer than I can help. That's doubly true when there's a Death Eater running about." Ron stated.
"I assure you Kakarof has no more interest in seeing the return of the Dark Lord than I do." Snape responded bitterly.
"What?" Ron realized that Dumbledore hadn't explained about Moody. "Never mind." Ron shook his head, "I still don't want them around the kids.
If Snape was suspicious of Ron's dismissal of Kakaroff he gave no indication. Instead he arched an eyebrow. "And what makes you believe you have a say in this matter?"
Ron glowered back, "I'm the one who went and got them, you git."
Before Snape could respond Dumbledore interjected, "Calm down, both of you. I happen to agree with Ronald. The risk of alerting Voldemort is far smaller than the the risk of leaving his Horcruxes intact."
"Thanks." Ron said as he approached the desk. Unwrapping the basilisk fang he exposed the poisonous tip. Even after two years, the venom gleamed off it. The diadem seemed to shrink back from the fang, though it never actually moved. Grasping the fang in the middle with his left hand he let the tip rest against the main gem set at the centre of the diadem. He struck the butt of the fang sharply with his palm, causing a small occlusion to appear on the surface of the gem.
It was strange watching the magic leave the object. The colour seemed to bleed away from the tarnished gold and gems. A dark fluid similar to blood spread out bellow the diadem. The relic looked oddly smaller than it had a moment ago, though Ron was sure its measurements wouldn't show a change.
Dumbledore brought his open hand inches from the former Horcrux before nodding. "It is dead."
Ron glanced at the time. Three thirty exactly; there was still plenty of time to deal with the locket before Moody came back. Dumbledore picked up the diadem and carried it over to a large painting of one of the past headmasters. With a flick of his wand it swung away from the wall revealing a recess in the stone where he gently placed the broken diadem. "It is a great shame that he had to desecrate one of the only relics left of such a great witch." Ron was struck by how sad the headmaster sounded. While he was never overly interested in the history of the wizarding world even he could understand that one should not take pleasure from the destruction of priceless antiques.
Kreacher had watched the whole thing in uncharacteristic silence. He eyed the fang in Ron's hand hungrily. "Gives it to Kreacher." He croaked.
Ron looked at the elf warily. The locket was a far more dangerous Horcrux. He distinctly remembered destroying it the first time around and wondered if the elf would survive. "That's not a good idea Kreacher. This one is dangerous."
"Master Regulus wanted Kreacher to destroy it." The elf was mutinous.
Ron wondered if they were going to need to owl Sirius and have him order the elf to put down the locket. Ever the peacemaker Dumbledore said, "Kreacher, you have done what your master wanted and brought the locket to those who can destroy it. He would be pleased."
The elf looked at Dumbledore suspiciously, but shuffled forward to the desk and placed the locket where the diadem had rested moments before. Ron was suddenly hesitant. Last time the locket had used his greatest fears and insecurities against him. It had been embarrassing enough to have Harry witness that. He looked to Snape and said, "Leave."
Snape glared. "You don't give me orders Weasley."
Ron glared right back and motioned towards the door with the fang, "Out there I'm your student, and I have to listen to you. But when it comes to destroying these things I'm in charge." He patted the palm of his free hand against his chest.
Snape looked to Dumbledore. "Albus?"
Dumbledore showed no outward sign of being annoyed at the two's bickering, in fact he seemed to be in a fairly cheerful mood. "Ronald has mention that the locket can reveal... Embarrassing truths and I understand his desire to chose whom he exposes those to."
Snape was furious, but headed for the door. Before opening it he said, "I will see you in potions tomorrow."
Ron shivered at the words. It was amazing how threatening that simple sentence was. Once gone Ron turned back to the locket. "Stand back." Kreacher and Albus both backed away from the desk and Ron hissed, "Open," in parsletongue. This time it only took one try.
Slowly the locket creaked open of it's own accord, revealing a single eye sitting embedded in the place where a picture should have been. It looked around the room frantically before settling on the fang in Ron's hand. Ron raised it and stepped forward, ready to destroy the locket in the same way he had the diadem.
He froze. She was standing between him and the desk. Looking so real his heart nearly stopped beating. Every detail was exact, from the way she held herself to the way her bushy red hair bounced around her shoulders. "Daddy, what are you doing?"
Tears stung his eyes. "You're not her." He grit his teeth. He knew it wasn't her, he knew she was just an image projected by the Horcrux but he did not step forward.
She laughed. "Don't be silly daddy. Of course I'm not her, but I can be." Glancing back at Albus she said, "You know he won't help you get them back. I can see into his mind, he won't touch that magic, but I will." She grinned and it was no longer the smile of a child. "Help restore me and I will restore your family."
"You're lying." Ron hissed. Why couldn't he have let Kreacher do this, or Albus, or hell, even Snape?
"She's not." Suddenly Hermione was at Harry's side. Not the girl of this time, but the woman Ron had married, the one he had kissed before leaving for that blasted mission three days ago. "He can help you get us back. You just have to trust..."
Ron couldn't listen to the lies any more. He pushed through the ghosts of his family and smashed the fang down on the eye. The locket jumped as the Horcrux was destroyed, but Ron brought the fang down hard twice more for good measure. When he was done he let it fall to the floor. For a long time, the only sound was Ron's ragged breathing as he tried to compose himself. He used both hands to support his weight against the heavy desk.
When he finally raised his head, he saw Dumbledore watching him with an expression of grave pity. "I am sorry Ronald."
Ron shook his head. "You said that last time I saw you."
"It does not change the the fact that I am. I can see that losing your family is taking its toll on you. You should be given time to grieve."
Ron pushed the emotions back down. He didn't want to deal with them. So. He. Wouldn't. "Is it dead?"
Dumbledore didn't press the issue, for which Ron was grateful. As with the diadem he held his hand over the locket and nodded. "It is destroyed." He then picked it up and placed it with the diadem behind the portrait.
Ron collapsed in his chair feeling like he was a thousand years old. He was surprised when Kreacher appeared at his elbow, "Is master Weasley well?" He croaked.
Ron gave a weak smile. "I will be." He hesitated, he knew it was dangerous to let the elf go without wiping his memory, but the creature's mind was already fragile and a spell like Obliviate could break it. "You have to keep this a secret Kreacher. Do you understand? If anyone finds out before we're done it could make Regulus' sacrifice mean nothing."
Kreacher seemed to understand, bowing, he said, "Kreacher will not tell anyone unless Kreacher's master orders it."
"Thank you." The wizened elf bowed before disappearing with a pop. Ron looked back at Dumbledore. "Next time you see Sirius, tell him to treat Kreacher right. He's had a rough go of it, he's been guarding that locket since before I was born."
Dumbledore took his seat opposite Ron. He was looking at Ron in an appraising manner. "I will make sure of it." He hesitated before saying, "You have matured a great deal Ronald."
Ron smiled weakly. "All Hermione's doing." He looked back at the wall, it was hard to believe only fifteen minutes had passed, "Do we have time to talk about the cup and the ring?"
Dumbledore nodded, "I believe so."
Ron sighed, "I told you last time that I don't know much about the ring. Harry said you got it out of the floor boards of Riddle's grandfather's house. The Gaunts I think." Ron saw Dumbledore's eyes light up at the mention of the resurrection stone. "I think we should get that one last. There was a curse or something on it that eventually killed you."
"I will have to do some research to find the house, though I am certain I shall be able to locate it." It was then that the headmaster asked something unexpected, "Would you like to accompany me when I try and recover the ring?" He saw Ron's thunderstruck expression and continued, "In my previous attempt to recover it I must have done something wrong. Perhaps having someone at my side will reduce the risks."
"S-sure Albus." Ron paused, "It's just that the last time you went for the locket you took Harry with you."
Dumbledore sighed, "Harry is still too young to be taken into one of Voldemort's vaults."
Ron nodded, "Speaking of vaults, how are we going to get into Gringotts?"
Dumbledore steepled his fingers. "That is a task I shall handle alone. After Voldemort's attempt to steal the Philosopher's stone I was contracted to aid in improving the security of the bank. I believe I can retrieve Hufflepuff's cup without raising an alarm."
"Oh." That was far simpler than Ron had imagined. Of course there were two Horcruxes left to discuss. Nagini and Harry. "Any luck with getting the one in Harry."
"Unfortunately I know of no way of removing the piece of Voldemort without killing Harry. For a number of years after Harry survived the killing curse I believed he was the only Horcrux Voldemort had. It was not until Harry brought me the diary that I realized my mistake. It seems the only way for Voldemort to be banished for good is for Harry to die."
"Can't you just get a dementor to suck it out?" Ron asked helplessly. He had asked Hermione that same question years ago. She had sighed and said that 'magic didn't work that way'.
Dumbledore chuckled. "If only it were that simple."
Ron looked down at the stone floor, "You know what that means then."
"Ronald, no."
He met the headmaster's eyes, "Once Nagini is dead, we need to consider killing Harry." Ron felt disgusted even voicing the words, but he didn't see any other way.
Dumbledore was grim. "I can see the future has hardened you considerably as well. I cannot condone the killing of an innocent."
Ron laughed bitterly. "You didn't have a problem with that the last time around."
"He is fourteen years old. Could you do it?"
Ron shook his head, "You don't understand. Harry was my best friend. When I was seventeen I watched Voldemort burn him alive." He shook off the memory. "Harry made the choice to go out there and give his life to try and stop that maniac for good." There was a pause, "It didn't work. All I'm saying is that when we manage to finish off the Horcruxes we give Harry that choice again."
There was a very long silence. Neither Dumbledore or Ron broke eye contact. Finally Dumbledore said, "I must think about this. There must be a way to remove it, something we have not thought of." He leaned back in his chair, "There is also the issue of our imposter. Are you certain you can avoid arousing his suspicion? You will sit opposite him in class for the rest of the semester."
"I don't know. You're sure we can't just switch him out with the real Moody?" The prospect of class with that lunatic did not make Ron comfortable.
"I wish that were possible however I believe that he is using his mark to keep Voldemort abreast of the situation. We need him in place if we wish to capture Nagini. There is the added complication that he appears to be Voldemort's secret keeper."
"What are you talking about?" Ron asked.
Albus looked very tired. "After our first meeting I sought out the grave of Tom Riddle senior. I was unable to locate the cemetery."
Ron cursed, "It's under the Fidelius charm?"
Albus nodded, "Indeed. It appears Voldemort has found a way to ensure we cannot provide Harry with a rescue party."
The next topic Ron broached carefully. "About that, I think I know a way of keeping Harry out of that fight."
It was nearly four thirty by the time Ron left the headmaster's office. He only left because Barty Crouch appeared on the edge of the Marauders Map. Dumbledore hadn't liked Ron's idea for dealing with the final task, but he had promised to consider it. He had also given Ron a parting gift. A journal he could write in that no one else could read. He flipped it open and found an inscription from Dumbledore. "Though you cannot grieve publicly, this journal will give you a chance to do so privately."
Ron was grateful for the gift. He had never been one for writing in a journal, but he had been feeling somewhat trapped at the prospect of living undercover for the next six months. It would be soothing to have something, anything, that he could be honest with.
He was nearing staircase outside the gargoyle guarding Dumbledore's office when a voice from behind caused him to freeze, "What were you doing talking to Dumbledore again?"
He spun around and saw Harry and Hermione standing behind him. The sudden movements jarring his umbrella stand induced bruises. Harry was tucking the edge of his invisibility cloak into his robes. How long had they been outside the office? He had been so focused on looking at Moody's set of footprints he hadn't kept an eye out for Harry or Hermione. "Nothing."
It was evident that neither of his friends believed him. Come to think of it, "How'd you know where I was?"
"We went down to the kitchen's after lunch. When we couldn't find you Hermione guessed you were talking to Dumbledore." Harry looked angry. "So what were you doing there?" he asked again.
-Bugger,- Ron thought. -So much for keeping them from being suspicious.- His mind spun, searching for a way to keep them out of his mess. If they somehow found out, or clued Moody into it, he was finished. "Remember in third year, Hermione had that time turner and couldn't tell us about it?" Ron asked.
Harry looked at him blankly. "Of course we remember, it wasn't six months ago."
"Right." Ron trailed off, he needed to be more careful with how he worded things. "Anyway. Something like that is going on with me and I need you two to promise me that you won't ask about it or try to find out what it is."
Harry and Hermione looked at each other. Not expecting this tack. "Will you tell us what it is eventually?" Hermione asked.
"Next summer at the latest." Ron waited with his breath held.
"Very well." She said hesitantly.
"Yeah, alright." Harry nodded, though he seemed uneasy.
Ron smiled in relief. "Thanks. Sorry about lying earlier."
As the three headed back to the common room Harry went over his plans again for the dragon. Now that he was comfortable with the summoning charm he was tossing around other strategies he could use.
Ron did his best to follow the conversation, but his thoughts kept being drawn back to the little girl and woman the locket had shown him. The Horcruxes could not be destroyed soon enough.
