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Balance Factor Chapter 43

Year Seven

Nagini

A/N: Thanks for the reviews! I'm glad you enjoy this story!

Harry was silent a long while after that, trying to remember the times he had with Shirogane. Shirogane wasn't very expressive. Kazuki hadn't really had that much personal interaction with him without Ryuuko.

He wondered why Shirogane bothered to erase his memory of something like that. Ryuuko had said it was to spare him the pain, but Shirogane had never really cared all that much when he was in pain before…

Now that Harry reflected on it, small things showed up where there hadn't been anything before. Shirogane would always visit him when he was ill, even if Kazuki wasn't awake. He would teach him things that Shirogane personally found useless, such as how to dry his hair with his fire element and how to warm himself and others with his element.

Then there was the time Shirogane had approached Ryuuko to learn how to make tea. And the time Shirogane tolerated Kazuki's hair braiding, even if he had found it personally insulting.

Harry felt a warm tingle travel through his body. So… Shirogane had a strange way of showing affection. But if you looked hard enough, it was there.

Harry swore he would be more observant the next time he met up with Shirogane.

-0-

Harry watched Ryuuko, the barrier he threw up around him shimmering golden white. Ryuuko was standing in the center of the room, the locket on the table in front of them. Ron and Hermione stood on either side of him, watching Ryuuko with a mixture of fascination and apprehension. None of them knew how this was going to end.

Kreacher had emptied out a room for them, carefully placing the items out in the hall. He had then used his elf magic to ward the room. As a result of his help, Ryuuko invited him to see the destruction of the locket. Kreacher cried about the honor, but ultimately stood in front of Harry.

Ryuuko held out his hand, summoning his scythe to him. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Harry looked at the locket, the snake on it coiled. He wasn't sure how this would work, but obviously, one needed to be able to speak Parseltongue to open the locket. He wasn't sure if Ryuuko was one though.

Ryuuko held his scythe up before swinging it down, trying to force the locket to break. The locket clattered, a dent in it, but remained still. Harry paused, watching the broken locket leak out a black substance, a pair of eyes gazing right at Ryuuko.

"Lost and powerless, Ryuuko? Never worthy of your counterpart," The locket whispered. Ryuuko had a rather blank look on his face as the locket continued. "Your Child lay dying, there is nothing you can do. Died before you could reach him. Your counterpart despises you for it. You will never be good enough for him. Pure as you may be, you will never touch his Darkness with your Light. And now he has another. He doesn't need you anymore."

Harry stepped up. "Destroy it, Ryuuko. Finish it."

Ryuuko gripped his scythe hard and swung at the locket with all his might. There was a loud crack and the locket shattered to millions of pieces. Something rose from the locket and screamed, whirling away into black smoke. Harry took a breath of relief, glancing at his father's pale face.

"Ryuuko?"

"The lies the locket spout are truly unsettling," Ryuuko said, turning to them. There was a crater where Ryuuko's scythe had struck the locket, the force enough to shatter one of the three powerful wards in the room. Harry stepped forward, placing his hand on Ryuuko's.

"Shirogane treasures you very much," Harry said calmly. Ryuuko nodded slowly, a small smile on his face.

"I know he does," Ryuuko said. "I am very aware of his feelings towards me."

"Obsession is a good word for it," Ron said, thinking about Shirogane's visit to Hogwarts and his violent and indifferent tendencies towards everything and anything that wasn't Ryuuko.

Harry's lip quirked. "Stalkerish might be a better term." He glanced at Hermione who smiled as well, looking at the place the locket had been. "True love, if you want to get sappy. Or, as we call them, counterparts. True counterparts."

Ryuuko laughed. "To an outsider, it almost seems that way, doesn't it?"

"Don't call it stabilizing the balance. I'm not going to believe that for a second," Harry said calmly, shaking his head. "And yes, I can feel the Darkness and Light in me resonate every time you have sex with him. I've learned to ignore it. I can also feel Akira-nii."

Ryuuko's face turned an interesting shade of pink.

-0-

Harry set the date for travel. They would move out in December, but prepare for things in the three months they had left. Including plans for travel, where they were staying, food, and any emergency gear they were taking. Harry was planning battle with Ryuuko, and training in the time he had left. Hermione and Ron were practicing spellwork, wanting to get a handle on more complex and difficult spells they could potentially be facing. They had agreed to meet at Shell Cottage if there was any time that they were separated, as Bill and Fleur had mentioned in passing that it was to be the Weasley safe house.

When Ryuuko wasn't training, he was brewing with Hermione. Ron and Harry would practice their teamwork, wanting to be ready for anything they faced.

"Ron… you've never interrogated people, have you?" Harry asked, looking at Ron over the dinner table one day. Ron paused and slowly shook his head. Harry paused over his apple pie and added. "Then you've never been interrogated. I want to teach you Occlumency these last couple weeks we have left."

And so they began. Ron wasn't very good at it, but he got to the point where he could seal off the more important bits of his thoughts. Harry insisted he practiced.

They left on a crisp December morning. The air was cool and promised snow. Harry paused, pulling the cloak up around his neck, mindful of the food Kreacher had stored in his extendable sack. Kreacher had been very helpful in getting them ready, making sure that Harry had enough food to last months and stored in containers that would allow the food to be kept fresh as long as it was covered.

Harry walked briskly up the path, Ryuuko having sank back into his Factor. Hermione tapped Harry's shoulder, pointing to the graveyard and the ruins of a house in the distance. Ron's footsteps could be heard if one listened carefully, but he was completely hidden from sight by Harry's Invisibility Cloak.

"What's that?" Hermione whispered. Harry paused and shrugged, heading in the direction she pointed.

The graveyard was very dusty and full of weeds. Harry paused at a grave that said Ignotus, only brushing it slightly. He glanced at the statue at the entrance, a woman, a man, and a child. He didn't bother to read the names written down on it, but stopped in front of two graves. Hermione strayed back, reading as she went, looking at the many names written on the tombstones.

Harry read the headstones, the white marble shining in the dim light of the afternoon. James Potter. Lily Potter. His vessel's parents were here, as he thought they would be.

It was a little strange. He felt no connection, no tug, not even a little bit of remorse for the dead couple. Their child was dead too, perhaps in the afterlife, if there was one, perhaps dissolved into nothingness. Harry merely possessed their son's body. He wondered what they would say to him, if they had anything to say to him from the next life. He supposed there wouldn't be much to say.

Harry paused as Hermione gasped.

"Harry, Harry! Look! Dumbledore's here too!"

Harry turned, walking back to the graves before his, looking at the names. There were two Dumbledores: Kendra and Ariana. He smiled a little, touching the headstone.

"Godric's Hollow… It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"That's the sign that Mr. Lovegood was wearing!" Ron whispered from a grave. He lifted the cloak a little, pointing at another grave: Ignotus.

"Alright… I think this is quite enough," Harry said calmly. He moved past the graveyard and walked to the abandoned Potter's cottage, looking around for any evidence Dumbledore had left something for him here. He paused at the sign, reading the graffiti that people had written on the rotting wood.

Good luck, Harry, wherever you are.

If you read this, Harry, we're all behind you!

Long live Harry Potter.

Hermione looked affronted. Ron beamed.

"How nice of them," Ron said calmly. Harry placed his hand on the sign and sighed.

"If only they knew the truth," Harry said calmly. He pushed open the rotting doors, looking around the house. The house was a wreck. Furniture was upturned, holes in the walls, the ground covered in dust. Harry shook his head a little, traveling inside, feeling Ron and Hermione travel with him. He searched the house.

Both Ron and Hermione decided to stay the night and set up camp in Godric's Hollow. Harry suggested the house, as no one lived there anyway and they would be protected if any snow fell. Hermione was hesitant to agree, but Ron had shrugged and said "It's your house, mate."

Harry managed to convince Hermione and they camped in the house when it got dark. He had only gotten through half of the first floor, surprised that the area was so large. They ate a delicious meal of meatloaf and potatoes that Kreacher packed, drowning it all down with pumpkin juice. Ron fell asleep almost immediately, but Harry stayed up to survey the balance. Hermione was keeping the first watch.

Harry held the elements in his palm steady, turning them over and over to make sure it wasn't a joke or anything. Akira and Shirogane were still doing wonders, it seemed. The balance was completely stable.

"Kazuki?"

Harry almost jerked out of his core in surprise when he heard the voice echo inside his core. He turned around, looking for the source before his eyes fell on an orb the size of a golf ball, pure white and glowing brightly. What in the world was that?!

"That is the Light tuner inshi you have almost completed," Ryuuko's voice said, the same echoing quality in his tone. Harry paused and looked around for the owner of the voice, but didn't see anyone.

"How long more will it take to complete?" Harry asked quietly. There was a pause and Ryuuko's voice replied.

"Around two and a half months at the rate it's going now. And look. On your other side…"

Harry whipped around, looking at the Darkness in his hand before his eyes settled on what looked like a black golf ball sized crescent moon. As Harry watched, there was a small chip in the Darkness that was being filled.

"That will take around twenty years to complete," Ryuuko's voice said. "Akira-kun's presence last year sped things up for the Light inshi. It has gathered enough Light for you to see its materialized form, though you still can't remove it. The Shadow inshi became visible due to the amount of Light."

Harry paused, looking at the two inshi slowly. It seemed quite unusual that the inshi were so imbalanced, but Harry could guess it was because Ryuuko had pulled the Shadow inshi out of him when he was stabbed in his fifth year. He looked at his core and the two elements in his hands before letting them go to recycle. Then he turned his attention on the Shadow inshi.

"Who should I give that to when it is complete?" Harry asked.

"Homurabi," came Ryuuko's response. Harry twitched his lip, not liking the idea of handing the Shadow inshi to someone that had killed Ryuuko. Ryuuko seemed to guess what he was thinking though, because he then added. "Shisui's counterpart is Homurabi. It must be him to keep the balance."

Harry paused and then sighed.

"I will only give it to him if he proves himself worthy of it," Harry said finally. Ryuuko hummed in agreement and said nothing else.

-0-

It took four days to look through everything.

Harry found that there was a funny symbol connected with his cloak. Dumbledore's letter to James years before about the Invisibility Cloak had the words Deathly Hallows.

He was intrigued. Hermione scoffed and Ron merely shook his head, but Harry was interested. What did Dumbledore mean? What was this sign and why did Dumbledore mention his Invisibility Cloak? He closed his eyes, trying to recall if he saw the mark on anything else. The Gaunt ring… And Mr. Lovegood at the wedding… And at the grave site…

Harry tilted his head. "I think I want to make a detour to the Lovegoods."

"Harry," Hermione looked exasperated, shaking her head. "What are you thinking?"

Harry simply gave her a strange smile. "I want to check something."

Ron made a dismissive noise. "You can't possibly believe this little sign has something to do with anything. What would going to the Lovegoods prove?" He had seen Harry staring at the sign and Harry paused, tilting his head.

"At least… It will disprove the theory I have that these items are sought after by the Dark Lord, who fears death," Harry said calmly. Hermione blinked.

"Why would the Dark Lord look for these items?" Hermione asked. Harry nodded to The Tales of the Beetle and the Bard book next to her lap, which he had read the day before. The symbol had been there as well.

"The wand," Harry said simply. Hermione gave a small 'o' of understanding but Ron frowned.

"The Elder Wand? You think You-Know-Who wants the Elder Wand? What for?" Ron asked.

"To kill me, Ron," Harry said simply, looking strangely at Ron. "Since our last duel against each other ended up with our wand cores connecting and the last battle I had with him I destroyed his wand with gold fire, he, no doubt, is searching for a wand that can beat me in a duel. And what better than the wand that is all powerful?"

"Except it's, you know, a legend," Hermione said scathingly. Harry sighed.

"Better safe than sorry, Hermione. If such a wand exists, I'd like to know. We'll start with Mr. Lovegood. A wand like the Elder Wand is bound to have a bloody history that can't be erased. If so, it should be the easiest Hallow to track."

He stood up and walked towards the front door, looking out. There was an old women hobbling up the path. Harry looked at Ron.

"Cover and hide yourself. Hermione, clean. We have a guest," Harry said calmly. Hermione froze for half a second and instantly started to clean, her wand sweeping everything into her bag as Ron dove for the Invisibility Cloak. He just managed to pull it on as the old woman reached the gate.

"Name?" Harry asked, frowning. The woman, all bundled up, merely beckoned him. Harry frowned a little, sensing something off about the woman.

"Harry? Isn't that Bathilda Bagshot?" Hermione asked. Harry paused for a second and watched the woman repeat the motion.

"Looks like her. I wonder what she wants," Harry said calmly. There was a pause as Harry turned away from Bagshot and looked back into the room. "We should get going. We have places to go. Things to do. Let's not waste any more time here."

Bathilda ran forward and grabbed his arm, trying to drag him away. Her moves were uncoordinated and shaky and Harry was instantly suspicious of her grip. Though her hand closed on his arm, there was no strength behind it. Instead, there was almost the feeling of something coiling around his arm.

Harry smiled a little, turning back to her, his eyes glinting. This was… interesting.

"But, of course, maybe we should go with Ms. Bagshot," Harry said smoothly, his voice soft. "Shouldn't we?"

Bathilda nodded slowly and hobbled back to the door, heading towards the gate. Harry glanced at Hermione.

"What? But Harry, didn't you say we were leaving?" Hermione asked, confused. Harry tilted his head at Hermione, frowning a little.

"Yes, but when the Dark Lord hands me something so precious to him on a silver platter… how can I resist?" Harry asked. "Trust me, Hermione."

Hermione hesitated again but then nodded slowly. Harry felt Ron tug on his sleeve.

"Harry?" Ron asked.

"There's no point in hiding under that, Ron," Harry said calmly. "She can sense you. Come with me to her house and take a look around, won't you? The author of A History of Magic should have something useful for us." He strode towards the old woman and followed her, his eyes set on following the woman. The light pulsed inside him and Harry calmed himself. Apparently Ryuuko was worried.

Harry followed the woman back to her dirty and dingy shack. She gestured for him to follow her up the stairs, so Harry did, leaving a protesting Hermione and Ron to look around. Ron instantly began grabbing things from the dusty shelves, deciding what would help them and what wouldn't. Bathilda didn't seem to notice or care.

"Take what you can," Harry said at the base of the stairs. "I don't think Ms. Bagshot really cares anymore."

"You can't just-" Hermione protested, sputtering, "Take things without permission."

"Respect the dead, but understand that they are dead. Treat their possessions well, but possessions they remain and will remain," Harry said quietly. "Ms. Bagshot does not need these items in the future."

"Harry!" Hermione squeaked, but Harry was already up the stairs.

"You're Potter?" Bagshot asked.

Harry smiled. "That's right."

Bagshot pointed to the corner of the room, making Harry glance there. She insistently pointed there, wanting him to face the corner. A weak trap, but Harry obediently turned to the corner, looking at the moldy pile of clothes. His wand arm flew out towards the body of Bagshot.

"Confringo!"

There was a blast that shook the room. Nagini had risen out of the body, only to be dropped several feet through the floor, crashing through the rotting wood. Harry turned to the snake, jumping through the hold, summoning his spear and lunged.

Hermione screamed, jumping away from the hole, firing off a spell that caused Harry's wand to fly out of his hand. Harry ignored her, seeing as he didn't need his wand anymore anyway, holding the deadly spear and aiming it at the snake's throat. The snake snapped her powerful jaws and lunged, grabbing onto Harry's arm with her fangs, twisting wildly, trying to get a good grip on Harry to hold him still. Harry swung the blade.

There was a terrible screeching noise and a hiss of pain, but then the snake's headless body flopped to the ground. Harry pulled the head of the snake off his arm and bent down to grab his wand, which had been snapped during Nagini's thrashing.

"We're leaving. Now," Harry said. "Hermione, please."

Hermione apparated them just as Voldemort's ugly snake-like face blasted through the roof.

-0-

Hermione had apparated them back to camp. The first thing she did was hit Harry over the head with a book titled "The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore".

"Ow! Hermione, what?" Harry asked. Hermione was panting as if she had run a marathon. Ron threw off the Cloak, staring at them. "We got out in one piece didn't we?"

"We got out in one piece!" Hermione shrieked, hysterical. "You irresponsible… We could have been killed! You could have died! And he was… You-Know-Who was right there when we apparated!" She puffed up, her eyes filling with tears. "Oh Harry!" She threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly.

"Err… Well, mate…?" Ron asked, looking awkward. "It guess it's safe to assume this is Hermione we're dealing with."

"Yeah, who else would hit a man and three seconds later hug them to death," Harry gasped out. Hermione gave him a nasty glare and scowled.

"Alright, alright," Ryuuko murmured, trying to defuse the situation after separating from Harry. "The important thing is that we're safe now." He smiled at Hermione and Hermione shook her head.

"That's not the point," Hermione said, shaking her head.

"And we got another Horcrux out of the way," Harry said calmly. "Mission completed. How pissed do you think Old Voldy is going to be when he sees his dead snake?"

Ron had opened his mouth to protest the use of Voldemort's name, but froze at the question. "You knew! You knew she was the great big snake?"

"Partially. I knew because when she grabbed my arm back in the Potter's cottage, it didn't feel right," Harry said calmly. "That and the fact that she hissed at me when I was up the stairs and insisted on me facing the wall." He pulled out his broken wand and Hermione gasped, looking horrified.

"Harry! What…!" Hermione asked. Harry shook his head.

"I don't really need a wand… but..." He took a deep breath. "Nagini's thrashing broke it." He paused. "I… liked this wand. It was faithful to me…"

Ryuuko remained silent and Harry slid the pieces into his extendable sack.