Rowena's Brooch

That evening, holding a pile of books under one arm, Sirius knocked on the door of DADA office to find Inus still marking papers.

Sirius said, "Severus, Minerva and Albus are at in the hospital wing. Minerva's wounds have been treated and she hovering around Albus's bed. She wants me to teach tomorrow, so she can sit with Albus."

"How did teaching go?"

"I only taught the first years," Sirius admitted. "The other students revised while I read the Transfiguration text."

"And the first years?" Inus asked, not wanting to sound impatient. Severus was probably telling Poppy to let him be and pushing her away.

"I did fine," said Sirius. "It was nice having a bunch of eleven year olds looking up to me and calling me Professor Black."

Inus leaned his head back a bit to exaggerate looking up at Sirius. "Almost everyone looks up to you. Then I look up to most adult men. How's Severus doing?"

"He was telling Poppy to leave off and to stop manhandling him," said Sirius. "He has a few cuts and bruises. You're better off waiting here than running off to the hospital wing."

"And Albus?" asked Inus.

"He's in a coma," Sirius explained. "Sorry."

"They got the horcrux?" Inus, finally, asked.

"I think so," Sirius looked at his feet. "They wouldn't return without it."

"No, Minerva would take Albus back," said Inus. "Hermione waited for help with Ron while Harry continued on. They have to have the horcrux."

Sirius put an arm around Inus. "We can walk toward the hospital wing and meet Severus halfway."

xxxx

After they took the moving stairs to the ground floor, Severus ran into Inus's arms. "We have Rowena's brooch. It's in my pocket. We can have Draco do the honours and free his father."

"You tell him the news," said Inus. "Sirius will walk me to the courtyard. We shouldn't have all that screaming inside the dungeon. Someone will think Argus is torturing students, again."

Resisting the urge to lean on his godfather, Inus used his cane and walked to the courtyard, falling behind Sirius's large strides. At least, Sirius held the door for him. Inus sat on the step and decided to catch his breath until Severus and Draco arrived.

Sirius sat beside him. "Draco will exorcise the spirit and Voldemort will really be gone this time. Harry, I can stay here and you can visit with Albus."

"He said that he couldn't see us being friends." Inus looked at his legs, the right one bend at the knee and the left one that was straight - resting on the stone walk. "He came to St. Mungos when I needed a friend. He held my hand. Not really, he had Rubeus hold my hand; he claimed he was too busy. Minerva and Poppy must be hovering over him. I'd only get in the way."

"I'll walk you over after Cousin Draco does the deed," said Sirius.

Inus smiled up at his godfather. "Thanks."

Draco and Severus arrived. Severus took the brooch from his robe pocket, placed it on a stone walkway and stepped away.

Draco stared at the antique lady's brooch. "This is my great-grandmother's brooch. It's might be from the eighteenth century but it isn't nearly old enough to be Rowena's."

Severus hugged Draco. "I'm sorry."

"He got this from my mother's jewellery box." Draco pocketed the antique brooch. "I am sorry about Dumbledore being in a coma due to a wild goose chase."

After Sirius helped Inus stand, Sirius asked, "What now?"

"We continue looking for the last horcrux," said Severus.

"We don't even know what it is. That creature has my father." Draco pounded his fists on Severus's chest. "I hate him. I hate him."

"You can hit me," said Severus. "I can take it."

Draco returned to hugging Severus.

Inus said, "Hermoine read Hogwarts: A History. She may know something."

"You're going to ask a mudblood?" said Draco. "This is life and death for my father."

Severus said, "Binns. The old ghost might be good for something other than curing my insomnia."

Inus smiled weakly at Severus. "I cured your insomnia."

Draco said, "I'm going to spew."

"You talk to Binns. I'll talk to Hermione," suggested Inus. "We need to cover all the bases."

Severus said, "We went on a wild goose chase. He wanted to lead us away from the castle. I'm guess the last horcrux is in Hogwarts or in Hogsmeade."

"Conjecture," said Draco. "We don't know anything more than before."

"Not true," said Severus. "We know it isn't in the Riddle House and we know we were lead away from Hogwarts. That's two things. I have a ghost to bother."

With his head down, Draco walked back into the building from the courtyard. Just because Inus and Draco talked once didn't make them friends. Inus let the boy walk back to the dorm alone. Severus and Sirius walked toward Binns office, leaving Inus sitting on his step in the courtyard.

Using his cane, Inus took the long walk up the stairs to the portrait of the fat lady. "I need to see Hermoine Granger. Tell her Professor Quirrell is here and she needs to bring Hogwarts: A History with her."

A few minutes later, Hermoine was in the hallway with the heavy book in her arms. "Do you want to go to the library or is your office better?"

"My office," said Inus. "More privacy."

"This is heavy," said Hermoine.

"We need to figure out all the possible horcruxes and then think of hiding places," said Inus. "We may be at it awhile."

"Then we should invite Ron along," said Hermoine.

"And Luna," said Inus. "She knows weird. She could see things we would miss. Severus is talking to Binns."

"Come inside." Hermoine was holding the tome with both arms against her chest. "This book is heavy."

"You said that already," said Inus.

Hermoine huffed, "We're still standing in the hall."

Inus took out his wand and did a lightening spell. "All better."

Hermoine sighed, "Why didn't I think of that?"

"Ron and Luna - my office," said Inus. "I'll get the tea ready."

xxxx

Author's Note: You think they would find the last one that easy. Finding three in a few hours means nothing without the last one. Evil laughter.