AN/- Hey...you have only one person to thank for this update and that is Roohi Shake (hope you're reading this second AN dedicated to you). You lucky bitch...anyway...thanks for the motivation (love you and maybe this could be your Christmas present and belated birthday gift...then that would be great).

Read and review people, cause winter in here...apparently people need to eat more when it's cold...FEED THE MUSES!

Chapter 69

When her vision cleared Audrey could see Hermione and Harry looking over Ron as he shivered. Hermione seemed to be giving out orders while Harry followed them as quickly as he could. In a matter of seconds, Hermione proved that she would grow hyper if anything happened to Ron. Harry wasn't far behind as they helped Ron's arm grow back using dittany.

Audrey stood and walked over to the group falling back into the thick foliage. For some reason she still couldn't see straight, everything was a blur again and it grew darker and darker, till she felt her body grow light. She could hear Harry shouting out for her to stay awake, but she couldn't and then Hermione called him back, telling him that she had placed a sleeping charm on her.

Harry rubbed his face with his hands and sighed as he sat down at the table inside the tent. Thank Merlin for Audrey and Hermione's intelligence of packing their entire world.

Hermione seemed to have pulled out a pack of crisps and opened it. Ron had come over to eat something as he chewed slowly still not completely recovered, he sat down next to Harry and he smiled at him eating another crisp.

"Sorry about your arm," said Harry as he looked at Ron's bandages. The other boy smiled and shook his head.

"It's nothing...as long as it wasn't another eyebrow," said Ron as Hermione gave up her grave attitude and laughed with the rest. Audrey groaned in her sleep and turned over.

"Why'd you put her to sleep?" asked Ron.

"Well, I think she's been through a lot today, you know, her father was there...and I think it's better that she was fresh when she remembered all this, because otherwise she'd just drain all her magic out shouting unnecessary spells. I know Audrey might not have gone berserk but, I just wanted to make sure she was comfortable," said Hermione looking over at her friend sleeping soundly.

Times changed since Audrey had woken up in the forest, everything seemed to be pulled, they had spent three days trying to destroy the horcrux but they had no luck. One morning they decided to use spells.

"You first," said Hermione as Harry moved forward pulling out his wand and pointing it to the necklace.

"Bombarda maxima!" he shouted as the necklace only flipped from here to there.

"Flipendo!" shouted Hermione, nothing happened, Audrey was about to try but Hermione pulled her back seeing Harry rushed offensively towards the object.

"Incendio!"

"Expulso"

"Diffendo!"

"Reducto!"

Harry panted with the sudden over use of his magic as Audrey edged towards his outstretched hand and placed a gentle hand on it pushing it down. He took a few moments to look at her worried expression and then picked up the necklace placing it around his neck.

"What are you doing?" Hermione called sounding terrified

"We've got to keep it safe...till we figure how to destroy it," replied Harry.

"We'll take turns..." snapped Hermione as Harry looked at her and shrugged.

"Don't you find it odd mate...that Dumbledore got you to find these things but, didn't tell you how to destroy them?" asked Ron a little put off by all this as Harry looked at him without an answer as he made his way towards the tent. Hermione looked at Ron glaring.

A while later Harry returned to the campsite as he noticed Audrey looked at the shrubs in the vicinity, studying them with detail, picking up some berries from a few rubbing them on her fist and smelling them. Harry sat down outside the tent as he pulled out the necklace, he had been wearing it all day and it was as if he could hear the thing beating against his chest, like it had a heart of its own.

"...where is it?" Voldemort asked an old man who was crouching in a corner as if scared that death himself was before him.

"I...there...was a boy...a boy took...it...I swear...please believe me...I don't have it anymore," begged the man...who lay amongst strewn wands and unopened wand boxes.

"I believe you Gregorwich," said Voldemort finishing the man off with a killing curse but, before that he went through the man's mind as a young blonde turned around to look at a younger Gregorwich and leapt out of the window, the symbol that had been drawn on Hermione's Tales of Beetle the Bard was present almost everywhere in the shop where Gregorwich was killed.

Harry panted as if he had almost drowned. Audrey stood looking at him as he looked back at her still panting. She walked closer to him.

"I thought it had stopped," she said looking worried.

"You must stop letting him in," she added sitting down beside him.

"He's has found Gregorwich..." said Harry sounding distressed.

"The wand maker?" Audrey asked looking confused.

"He wants something that Gregorwich used to have...I don't know...what it is...but he wants it desperately," said Harry as Audrey seemed to think about it. Harry on the other hand stood up angrily.

"Don't...it comforts him!" said Audrey standing up as well.

"It sets my teeth on edge," Harry replied as Ron's radio played louder.

"What's he expecting to hear? Good news?" Harry snapped as Audrey looked at him like that was the meanest thing he'd ever said.

"I think he just hopes he won't hear bad news," she replied placing her hand in his as he jerked it away.

"How long before he can travel?" Harry asked as Audrey frowned, he was being rather inconsiderate.

"Hermione and I are doing everything we can," said Audrey as Harry snapped at her rudely.

"Well you are not doing enough!" he shouted as Audrey looked at him slightly hurt, he walked past her angrily.

"Take it off!" she ordered him as he turned looking ballistic.

"I said take it off now!" she commanded as Harry followed removing the necklace and handing it to her as the horrible thing now hung around Audrey's wrist.

"We'll take it in turns," she replied as he nodded, she couldn't help but give him a kiss on the cheek, making him give her a faint smile.

A week since they had gotten nowhere with the horcrux, it had taken its toll on them and was most definitely affecting the friendship, especially between Hermione, Ron and Harry, even in those things Audrey felt like she was being left out, but she and Hermione had observed that these ill thoughts only affected them most when they had the Horcrux on them, otherwise they were only in passing. It was as if the Horcrux knew how to play their minds. It reached and scratched on the doors of their deepest feelings, the feelings that they never wanted to share with anyone. It played them against each other like they were in a game of dice, winner takes the chicken and loser gets nothing.

So that night when Hermione stepped out for her guard, Audrey could tell Ron had been spying on her, the locket around his neck he seemed to refuse to stop pacing inside the tent as he looked around to find Audrey looking at him with a raised eyebrow.

"She shouldn't be doing night shifts, she's not good with spells," he said explaining his dilemma as Audrey looked at him.

"Ron...this is Hermione Granger...the smartest witch of our age...remember?" said Audrey kindly as he shook his head and sat down. An hour later Harry excused himself stating that he needed some air...Audrey knew he was only going to pee...making up some silly excuse seeing he was embarrassed to admit that he needed to relieve himself in the open.

Ron seemed to have started pacing again. A few more minutes and they heard voices as Audrey looked up from the book she was reading to spot Ron dashing to the entrance of the tent and peering outside like he was spying on them. Audrey walked up behind him stood to see and hear what Ron did.

"Next time Hermione...as much as I like your perfume...just don't wear any!" said Harry panting as they made their way towards the tent.

Audrey noticed Ron turn around angrily as he came face to face with her. He did not say anything, just looked away and made his way to the bunk he shared with Harry.

Audrey looked at Harry and Hermione make their way to the tent as Harry helped Hermione up the slight slope. Audrey knew what it looked like...and it obviously did not set well in Ron's stomach to see Hermione so close to his best friend.

"It's not what it looks like," said Audrey quietly hoping he'd listen to her as Ron turned around to look at her.

"Really? And you'd know that?" he snapped back her as she glared at her.

"She's like a sister to him," said Audrey disgusted by his behaviour.

"Yea...well...explain that to him," said Ron as they glared at each other.

"What makes you really think that he loves you?"

"What if he's just playing you?"

"Ron...how can you say that?"

"I am just telling you what I think Audrey...the rest is up to you!" he said darkly. When Harry and Hermione entered the tent, the four of them discussed their travel on foot to look for clues.

"How are we going to find clues...if we don't know what we are looking for?" Ron had snapped as the rest of them looked at him slightly annoyed by his attitude. But none said anything blaming it on the potions he had been taking.

Three months had passed and they were still at the same stage they had been prior to the time passed.

Audrey was outside the tent patrolling the area, making sure everything was calm for the night while Harry peered out of the tent flap just to make sure Audrey was fine.

Hermione suddenly urged him to listen to her sudden discovery,

"Harry...I can't believe I missed this... legend has it that goblin made metal tools were a favourite of lords in England, because Goblin made silver was a great absorber...whatever it destroyed...it would at the same time absorb the power of those elements...Harry...that night in the Chamber of secrets...you destroyed Tom Riddle's diary with a basilisk fang... and..."

"I destroyed the basilisk with the Gryffindor sword..."

"That's why Dumbledore left it to you in his will" she replied

"Merlin Hermione you're brilliant...just absolutely brilliant!" he said cheerfully as Hermione smiled back at him.

"I am actually highly logical which helps me look at the minor details and..."

Suddenly the light on the top of their heads was gone. They looked around slightly baffled as a sudden globe of light returned back to its holder and lit the entire tent.

"You two look highly startled...yea...I am still here! But you two carry on, don't let me spoil the fun," snapped Ron as Harry looked at him a little frustrated.

Ron hadn't been himself lately and Harry had noticed it. All he wanted was to clear the air between them, because he knew it was affecting the mission.

"What's your problem Ron...spit it out?"

"Fine...I'll spit it out!" snapped Ron sarcastically as their gaze fell on Audrey who had just entered the tent. She seemed to freeze as she got the vibe of unease floating around; she made her way towards the insides and stood behind Ron, wondering what was going on.

"But don't expect me to be grateful just because now we have another bloody thing to find," snapped Ron viciously.

"I thought you knew what you signed up for!" snapped Harry getting up.

"I thought I did too!" said Ron maliciously which drove Harry to a breaking point.

"Well...what were you expecting...that you be home back with your mum by Christmas eve...that we'd be destroying a Horcrux everyday!" snarled Harry.

"I just expected that...after all this time we would have achieved something...I thought Dumbledore would have told you something worthwhile...I thought you had a plan!" snapped Ron as Hermione walked up to Ron looking at him frightened.

"I told you everything Dumbledore told me...and for your information we've already found a Horcrux,"

"Yea...well we are as close to finding the rest as we're close to destroying this one aren't we!" snarled Ron as Hermione walked towards him fidgeting with the necklace in his neck.

"Ron, please take it off...you wouldn't be saying this...if you weren't wearing it all day..." she begged with him but he threw her hands away.

"You don't know why I listen to radio every night do you? To make sure I don't hear...Ginny's name or Fred or George or mum and dad's name..."

"You think I don't care...you think I don't know how this feels!" snarled Harry accusingly taking quick steps towards Ron.

"No! You don't know how it feels...your parents are dead...you have no family!" Snarled Ron as Harry took that as a personal insult and pounced on the other boy.

"Stop...stop it!" shouted both the girls distressed as Harry finally stood back.

"Fine...go on then...go...leave!" snarled Harry as Audrey looked pensieve for a moment and made a quick decision.

"And you?" asked Ron turning around to look at her. Audrey had been expecting this...she was probably the only one who he could relate to right now. He thought that she was as heartbroken as he was to find that Harry was allegedly cheating on her with Hermione.

"Why would she come with you...?" Harry asked distastefully as his eyebrows vanished into his hair line when Audrey summoned her bag.

"Ron! Please...don't...Audrey...what is..."

"Give me a minute!" snapped Audrey as Ron threw the Horcrux from around his neck on to the ground, nodded and walked out of the tent in a fit of rage.

Harry looked at Audrey as if this was a betrayal, Audrey knew he would refuse to listen to reason and so she turned to Hermione.

"Audrey...you don't think that way too do you?" she asked Audrey shocked and confused, tears in her eyes.

"Of course not...but you can't expect me to just leave him...he's our friend...he needs to cool off...I'll talk to him about this...explain some things...you have to trust me Hermione...all I ask is that you handle Harry while I am away...keep him at bay from rash decision...and trouble...you're the only one I can count on!" said Audrey placing a gentle hand on Hermione's shoulder as she moved over to Harry who refused to look at her.

"I still love you very much..." she said softly pecking his turned cheek and then made her way out of the tent. A few seconds later a loud pop was heard and Harry and Hermione seemed to be the only two occupants remaining in the forest.

Ron stormed wildly through the frozen swamp, Audrey should have known he'd be apparating them home. Audrey needed to stop him before he did something stupid and got them caught.

"Ron...stop...wait!" hissed Audrey pulling him by the back of his collar.

"What is your problem?" he snapped at her, rubbing his neck as she let go him.

"Sorry, but Ron you can't barge into your house, you're dying of spattergroit, remember! They are keeping a watch...for all we know they could even spot us here!" snapped Audrey as Ron sighed and nodded.

"What do you think...?"

"Shush..." she said as her wand was out and hit his head and her own. The spell that she had placed on them felt like someone had cracked an egg on them and the insides floated down through the body.

"You sure you heard voices?" hissed someone as Audrey quickly made sure she was holding Ron's hand so that they wouldn't lose each other.

"I am sure!" said the other man who looked around frantically.

"Well must have been a bird o' somethin' come on," said the other man as they walked back towards the barn.

Audrey and Ron took very careful steps as they made their way towards the house. They made sure that they walked with their hands across each other's shoulders, their wands at the ready and their pace slow.

Eventually, they made it into the house safely; Ron seemed to know that his mother hid a spare key in one of the abandoned gnome holes near the door.

"Do you think it is safe?" Ron asked her as Audrey pulled out her wand once the area seemed secure. The two of them were currently standing in the kitchen of the burrow. Ron had a feeling his parents were asleep. There was probably no one but his parents at home and the ghoul in his bedroom.

"I suppose your parents are asleep," said Audrey ridding herself of the heavy travelling cloak as Ron did the same and hung the two coats on the stand. The spell wore off as soon as Audrey whispered 'finite'.

"Yea...I suppose Ginny's at school and Fred and George are living it up in their flat...Percy is obviously still in his ministry flat and Bill and Fleur I heard bought a cottage somewhere," said Ron as he went around the kitchen looking for leftovers.

"Can I fix you a plate?" he asked as she nodded eagerly.

The contents of the plate were simple but since they were made my Mrs. Weasley they were scrumptious, they had been hungry since the past few days because they were facing a shortage of supplies.

They ate in silence only acknowledging the sounds from the cutlery as suddenly the lights in the house came alive. Mr. Weasley had opened the door to the kitchen his wand in front of him a look of anxious annoyance was evident on his face, but it disappeared as soon as it came and then Ron got something he had never got from his father.

Mr. Weasley placed his wand into the belt of his robes and engulfed his son in a powerful hug. Ron swallowed and hugged his father back.

"Oh Merlin!" came a small moan from Mrs. Weasley as she hugged Ron once his father was satisfied.

"How'd you know it was us...me?" Ron asked looking at them in disbelief.

"Your Mother's clock never lies!" said Mr. Weasley pointing to the clock on the wall that had Ron's hand at home.

"You must rest...you can tell us the details tomorrow!" said Mrs. Weasley as her husband shook his head.

"Get the order together?" Audrey asked softly.

"No dear...they are watching...we can't possibly meet here," said Molly as Audrey nodded in grave understanding.

AN/- Review for the next chapter...make it your portal to happiness (mine as well).

Also in case I do not update another chapter before Christmas...here is are a few massive flasks of eggnog and hot chocolate (with whipped cream with the burnt sugary tip and sprinkles and three marshmallows for each cup). Have a great Christmas guys.