Disclaimer: I'm really getting tired of this, you know. By thirty four chapters, you should know that I don't own Harry Potter yet.

The Brotherhood

A/N - Big chapter here. Hope you enjoy it.

~~~ Chapter Thirty Three ~~~

Harry knew he was in trouble. For one, Voldemort was back, and he was angry. For another, Lucius had a very smug look on his face as he informed Harry that the Dark Lord wanted to see him.

Harry was prepared, however. He had been training himself in the time that Voldemort had been gone and he thought he might have the upper hand if Voldemort decided that he was going to die.

Outside the door to Voldemort's throne room, Harry paused as he heard Voldemort speaking inside the room. It wasn't clear, but Harry heard enough.

"…betray me….impossible…die…." came Voldemort's voice

"How….immortal," an unfamiliar voice said.

Voldemort's voice was very soft and Harry had to strain to hear. "…horcruxes…..my soul…seven….."

Harry frowned. What were horcruxes?

Then Harry heard something that was very clear.

"Avada Kedavra!"

Knowing that the conversation was done, Harry knocked on the door. A moment later, he entered on Voldemort's command. He found that Voldemort was alone, with only the body of the man he had been speaking with in the room.

"Ah, Harry," Voldemort greeted. His voice was light and pleasant now, and Harry's scar suddenly became very much less painful.

"I have something of great importance I need you to do for me. This man," Voldemort waved a careless hand toward the body, "has betrayed me, along with several other deatheaters. I wish you to lead a group of faithful followers to their hideout and destroy them."

Harry was surprised. "You want me to lead a mission?"

Voldemort considered him. "The time that you have spent with me has given me a lot of time to study you, and I believe you to be faithful to me. You are, perhaps, my most loyal follower, hence why you have been chosen to become my heir," he stated.

Harry nodded expressionlessly, but inside, his heart was leaping for joy. Voldemort trusted him a lot, which meant that he could get away with a lot more without suspicion. His plans were going very well.

~~~TB~~~

I'm afraid I can't talk much tonight. I have to lead a mission.

To do what? Ginny wrote back in question. She was once again in Sirius' kitchen, this time writing while eating dinner. Around her, Remus, Dora, and Sirius were all talking. They were used to her writing at random times during the day.

Get rid of some deatheaters that betrayed Voldemort.

That's ironic. Ginny commented.

Yes, it is, isn't it? Still, I need you and the others to do something for me.

Anything.

Look up what horcruxes are, will you? Harry requested.

I will. Any particular reason?

I believe they are something that is keeping Voldemort immortal. I think he has seven. Harry told her.

Ginny stared at the parchment. Voldemort was immortal?

"Ginny? What did he say?" Sirius asked.

Ginny looked up to see the other three staring at her.

"You wouldn't happen to know anything about horcruxes, would you?" she asked.

Sirius' face darkened. "I do, actually. Why? Harry isn't planning on making one, is he?" he looked concerned.

"No. Evidently, Voldemort has one, or rather, seven of them," Ginny explained.

Sirius went very pale. Ginny glanced at Remus and Dora to see that they were both looking mildly confused.

"Sirius, what exactly are horcruxes?" Remus asked.

~~~TB~~~

Harry stumbled as he walked through the library, researching once again. He had spent many nights there lately, ever since Sirius had told him what horcruxes were. He was trying to find out what all seven of Voldemort's horcruxes were, so he could send Sirius and Remus out to destroy them.

Harry's stumbling knocked him into a shelf and the shelf fell, books tumbling off of it. Harry cursed, hoping that nobody had heard him. He had a perfect right to be in the library, but someone might question why he was in here so late. It was past midnight, he knew.

Nobody came and Harry began to gather up the books and setting them back on the shelf. Harry paused as he picked up one particular book, which was leather bound and had no title. Harry flipped it open curiously and found that it was hand-written. He recognised Voldemort's handwriting.

Looking around, Harry tucked the book into his robes and continued cleaning up his mess. Afterward, he silently made his way back to his bedroom and got ready for bed.

Once in bed, Harry pulled out the book and opened to the first page. He began reading, and as he did so, he smirked in glee. He had just found his guide to killing Voldemort.

~~~TB~~~

Sirius groaned as an annoying tapping noise filled his ears. He opened his eyes and glanced around, searching for whatever was making the noise, so he could make it shut up.

At the window, there was a black owl which Sirius faintly recognised. He couldn't figure out who it belonged to though, as he was still mostly asleep.

Sirius grabbed the small package from the owl, yawning, and sat on the bed to look at it. Attached was a letter and Sirius opened it to read. Suddenly, he was very awake.

"Remus!" Sirius jumped up and rushed out of the room. "Remus!"

Remus came stumbling into the hall. "What is it, Sirius?"

"Look what Harry sent us!" Sirius insisted, and shoved the small package and letter into Remus' hands.

Remus read over the letter, and soon, he was just as awake as his friend.

A/N - Hmm, is Voldemort actually a closet poet? Review!