Chapter Four - Windfall

Albus Dumbledore knew his life would soon be over.

While searching the Gaunt shack for one of Tom's Horcruxes, he had discovered the Resurrection Stone. He was so caught off-guard by unexpectedly finding the last of the Deathly Hallows that he had succumbed to the suggestion to put the ring on. That action had unleashed the curse of the Horcrux, and it had started trying to devour his soul and take over his body. Fast action on his part and experimental potions from Severus had prevented Tom from being reborn in his body, but they could not prevent the draining effect that would eventually kill him.

While searching a cave on the English coast for another of Tom's Horcruxes, Albus had discovered a locket in a basin of potion. Forced to drink the potion, which he had termed Dementor's Draught, to claim the locket, it had dredged up every awful memory from his 150 years. It also reignited the curse in his arm, as well as recalled every curse he'd ever taken. Overlaying echoes of the Cruciatus Curse were nearly as potent as the curse itself. It had almost left him incapable of dealing with the horde of Inferi that had risen from the lake.

Albus had only one regret, and it was that he might leave his work incomplete. He did not want to burden another with the great responsibility of ending his former student.

No, I have far more regrets than that. One for every drop of blood in a dragon. One for every grain of sand in the Sahara. One for every mote of air in the sky. One for every star in the universe.

As the number of days left to him dwindled, he set his affairs in order. He drafted a last will and testament. He made a number of decisions as it concerned the future of Hogwarts. He tried to think of any scrap of information that he had not yet passed on to Harry Potter.

Lost in his thoughts, Albus did not notice the knocking at his door until it became quite insistent. He shook himself back to reality and glanced over at the Foe Glass. It was his long-time Potions Master. He waved his wand and caused the door to open.

"Come in, Severus, and welcome. What news?"

Severus sat in the guest chair and folded his hands in his lap.

"I have just returned from his lair."

"He kept you there for some time," Albus noted.

"More like he neglected to permit us to leave," Severus corrected. "He is too busy with his new acquisition."

"He has taken a liking to her, then?" Albus asked hopefully.

"He has. Our desperate plan seems to be working, at least so far."

Relief washed over Albus like an ocean wave. "Excellent. I knew you could do it, if anyone could."

"She plays her part well." Severus was not in the habit of freely giving praise. "In time, I have no doubt that she will convince him of her authenticity."

"His craving for prophecy will be amply satisfied," Albus said with eudemonia. "What about his followers?"

Severus smiled wickedly. "Only three members of the Inner Circle remain. The rest were killed or captured during their recent intrusion. Bellatrix has been punished most thoroughly for her repeated failures. Rabastan has been elevated in her place. Though the honour should be mine, he still requires my presence here at Hogwarts. He has, however, bestowed upon me a sign of his favour."

"Oh?" Albus was curious. "How has he rewarded you?"

When the man pulled out a golden cup, Albus felt a lurch in his chest. The room seemed to dim for a moment, then all light and sound came crashing back. Once more, it seemed, fortune had granted him a great boon.

"Severus!" he gasped. "Do you know what that is?"

His informant shrugged. "A priceless relic of school history."

"Far more, dear boy. Far more," Albus marvelled. "You have done more to strike against him than you know. You hate him and want his end? Severus, you have taken a large step toward that goal."

Startled, Severus slowly smiled, satisfaction sneaking onto his face. "Fortuitous."

"We must destroy this cup," Albus declared. "It must be rendered irreparable."

"And how do we do that?"

"I believe Fiendfyre should do the trick. Can you control it?"

"Of course," Severus said, his tone frosty. He never liked having his competence questioned.

"Good. I would do it myself, but I must conserve my strength, or so Poppy keeps insisting. Fiendfyre takes an extraordinary effort to contain, and if another can perform the deed, then why should I trouble myself?"

Severus nodded. "Logical. Very well. Where did you have in mind?"

"The lake might be best."

A large supply of water would be necessary if the living fire slipped its leash.

Severus' skill and control proved sufficient. The magical flame roared in hunger, desperate to consume everything it could touch. The Horcrux expired with a scream and a hiss of black smoke.

Albus exhaled deeply. "One step closer."

"Now will you confide in me?"

"Ah, Severus, this evil knowledge should not spread, even to those who would stop it. You must help Harry destroy the other objects."

Severus' eyes flashed. "I will render him all possible aid. You already know this."

Albus nodded in acknowledgment. "There is but one thing more. It is a thing terrible to say, to even contemplate, let alone do. Yet you must, else Tom shall win and darkness shall triumph."

Severus scowled. "What must be done?"

"This must wait until the very last moment, until the need is pressing, or the burden of the deed may well overwhelm Harry, and his strength may fail."

"Will you speak plainly, or must I draw my wand on you?" Severus' patience was nearly exhausted. "What is Harry's task?"

"That is for he and I alone to know. Pray listen, Severus. I ask that you listen first before you react. This will be difficult for you to hear." Albus drew in a shaky breath. "Once I have passed on to the next great adventure, which is to say death, Tom's behaviour will change. He will become overly protective of his snake."

Severus' brow wrinkled. "Of Nagini?"

"Yes. When the time comes that Tom ceases to send her out to do his will, when he grants the snake magical protections, then you must tell Harry."

"What is this message?"

Albus closed his eyes, unable to bear watching his friend's face as he delivered this terrible news.

"The night his mother died, when Lily offered her own life to shield Harry from Tom's wrath, the Killing Curse was turned back upon him. It destroyed his body and blasted a fragment of his soul apart from the rest. That fragment attached itself to the nearest living soul it could find, the only living soul that remained in that once happy home. There it survived. There it shared its power with Harry, granting him the gift of Parseltongue and opening a connection to Tom's own mind that he has never been able to comprehend. Tom has not noticed this loss, but it remains inside Harry, protected by him all unaware. So long as it remains, Tom cannot die."

Albus opened his eyes to see Severus' face full of horror.

"Harry- Harry must die to destroy this fragment?" he reasoned.

"Yes."

"No!" Severus shouted. He fell back in his chair, his eyes wide.

Albus could not have been more sorrowful. "It must be so."

"You are mistaken! There must be another way!"

"There is not, my friend."

"Don't you dare to call me 'friend'," Severus snarled. "I came to you that I might protect her, save her, and now you would have me allow the last piece of her to die? You must know I would sacrifice anything to prevent it. I cannot-" he broke off, his voice choking.

Albus heard the pain as poignant as it had been fifteen years ago. "Still? After all this time?"

Severus' eyes shone with unshed tears. "Always."

"I am truly sorry, Severus. I see no other way. If this does not happen, then Tom will triumph. He will have dominion over all. The world shall be cast into a nightmare from which there is no waking. Ever."

"He has truly cheated Death? But how?"

"That I cannot share with you."

Severus snarled. "You ask too much. I have failed her in everything else. I will not permit this."

"What is the life of one boy against the fate of the world?"

"Everything," Severus ground out between clenched teeth.

"I agree that every life is precious, but sacrifices must be made." Albus' lips twisted. "For the greater good." Oh, how he hated himself for employing that old phrase.

Severus scowled. "I care nothing for the world. Let it burn. Do not ask me to let die the last thing in it for which I could ever care."

Albus tried to smile. "I know you better than that, Severus. You care for far more than Lily's son. You care for Harry himself. You care for your students. You are a good man."

"I should have been better." Severus' voice was bitter. "If I had been, maybe she would have chosen me. If I had been, perhaps I would not be alone."

"If Harry lives, it will be a life of fear, of terror," Albus predicted. "He will always be on the run, fleeing, desperate to stay one step ahead of the Death Eaters who will never stop pursuing him."

"I will be with him. I will protect him." His tone was iron. He could not be doubted.

Albus thought for a long moment. When he spoke, his voice was subdued.

"'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies...'"

Severus absorbed the words. "The full text."

"Yes," Albus said simply.

"'Either must die at the hand of the other'. Only Harry can kill him?"

"Not while a piece of his soul lives in Harry."

"Then the prophecy has been voided," Severus declared. "How can Harry kill him if he is immortal when he cannot die without Harry's death?"

Albus shrugged helplessly. "'Power the Dark Lord knows not'," he quoted.

"Power to survive death?" Severus pressed.

"Perhaps." Albus was reluctant to delve too deeply into mere speculation.

"And once Harry dies, taking the piece of the Dark Lord's soul with him, he will be mortal again?"

"That is what I believe." It was the best guess he could discern.

"Then anyone can end him," Severus concluded. "I will do it gladly."

"I believe you could, Severus. Another interpretation is that they will kill each other in the final battle."

"It says 'either', not 'both'."

Albus shrugged again. "I am no Seer. Interpretation of prophecy is fraught with hazard. We tend to view words and events and meaning through our personal lens. Only after it is over will the truth be known."

"A singularly unsatisfying observation," Severus noted sourly.

Albus chuckled. "You echo what I have thought many times these past fifteen years. Prophecy is no one's friend, nor ally."

Severus stood. "Please excuse me, Headmaster. I find myself troubled. Perhaps some brewing will quiet my mind."

Albus raised his good hand in benediction. "Peace be with you, Severus."

"Why should it start now?"

Remus Lupin had gone out of his mind.

It was a familiar sensation for him. With every full moon, he lost himself in the wolf that overtook his body, forcibly subsuming his human consciousness. With the death of dear friends at the hands of his supposed brother, he had crawled into the bottle and stayed there for ten years, doing his best to drown his grief in alcohol. There had been days he didn't know his own name, but he never forgot James, Lily, and Peter.

Or Sirius.

Even now that the truth had been revealed, he still struggled to keep the past in the past. He merely exchanged Sirius' name for Peter's in his angry tirades.

Forging a bond with Harry had helped somewhat. Welcoming him to the band of mischief-makers known as the Marauders had helped yet more. The bad days were further apart now, and the good days between them were blessed.

Now Remus found himself barely clinging to sanity yet again.

Alone for so many years, he had at last found love, a miracle in itself, and married. To share his heart with someone, and for her to share hers with him, was the sweetest bliss he had ever known. Nymphadora Tonks was his companion, lover, and dearest friend.

And she was in danger.

The wolf sometimes influenced his thinking, even during the new moon, and the drive to protect his mate was strong. It amplified his own desires. He had sworn to love her, to honour her, and to cherish her. She was an Auror and had no need of his protection, but he felt the instinct regardless. Yet there was nothing he could do about it at the moment.

Tonks Black Lupin had taken the most dangerous assignment imaginable, going undercover as Professor Sybil Trelawney, trying to crack the Secret of the old prison. She was with Voldemort constantly, and the slightest slip in her disguise or mental barriers would mean her demise.

The stress of his fear and worry made him snappish. He was short with his friends, and curt with his acquaintances. Even Sirius had been on the receiving end of his rancour. It was when he raised his voice to Harry that Remus knew he needed to do something.

So he found himself taking the Floo to Hogsmeade. He was so agitated that he did not trust himself to Apparate. At the gates to the grounds of Hogwarts, he placed his wand against the lock.

"Remus Lupin, here to see Professor Severus Snape."

The gates swung open silently. Remus did not dawdle as he went up the path to the magnificent front gate to the castle. Snape was waiting for him outside, his normally impassive face troubled.

"Lupin," he said quietly. "What brings you here?"

While there were few things he enjoyed more than bantering with Snape, Remus was in no mood for it today. He answered honestly, "Fear. Worry. Love. Desperation."

"I see. Perhaps we should go to my office."

"After you."

Snape swept away, his robes flowing around him. It was a trick he had learned while they were in school, and he had always enjoyed a certain flair.

In his office, he pushed out the guest chair.

"Would you care for a drink?"

Remus could count on one finger the number of times he had been social with Snape. Now he was too agitated to wonder.

"Yes, thank you."

Snape reached into his desk and drew out an unmarked bottle and two glasses. He poured, filling the glasses halfway with a dark amber liquid.

"To love," Snape said obscurely. He clinked glasses with Remus.

"To love," Remus agreed.

He took a sip and began gasping. It was not a firewhiskey as he had expected. It was far stronger than even Ogden's best. It tasted like black licorice and set his head to spinning immediately.

"What- what is that?" he croaked.

Snape smiled mirthlessly. "My personal brew. I do not often drink, but when I do I wish to reduce myself to unconsciousness as quickly as possible."

Remus set his glass down. Perhaps he will let me take some. Then I might sleep.

"What brings you here, Lupin?"

There was no sense in bandying about. "I come to ask a favour."

Snape arched his fingers. "Asking Slytherins for favours can be dangerous. The price we ask may be higher than you wish to pay."

"I know," Remus replied. "I don't care. I need your help."

Snape peered at him quizzically. "What would you have of me?"

"Tell me how my wife fares," he pleaded. "I am consumed with terror. Have you seen her? Is she safe? I beg you, Severus, do what you can to protect her. She is everything to me, and I fear to lose her."

"She is well," Snape declared. "She plays her part well. She has convinced the Dark Lord of her authenticity, and he keeps her close."

Remus let out an explosive breath. The biggest worry of this insane plan was that Voldemort would immediately suss her out. Whether he would execute her out of hand or prolong her suffering was an open question.

"She has been audacious," Snape continued. "She dared to touch him."

Remus choked. "What? Is she trying to get herself killed?"

"She is playing the eccentric perfectly," Snape said coolly. "She has given a masterful performance."

"And he is fooled?" Desperate hope filled his voice.

"Completely." Snape smirked. "For my part in bringing her to him, I am currently his most favoured, and his gratitude has given us means to strike at him."

"I don't understand." And I don't understand Snape volunteering information.

Snape nodded. "He rewarded me with a magnificent golden cup and commanded me to keep it safe at all costs. Only this morning, Albus bid me to destroy it."

"Cup?" Remus perked up. "A golden cup that once belonged to Helga Hufflepuff?"

"Yes." Snape was clearly puzzled. "How did you know?"

"Later. I think you should come with me. Sirius and Lucius need to hear this."

Snape seemed intrigued. "Very well. Let us not tarry. As it is, I intended to speak with Mister Potter anyway."

"I know he'll be glad to see you. He talks about you and your lessons all the time."

"How nice to hear. I have done my best."

"I appreciate it, Severus," Remus said quietly. "I know you don't care what we think of you, but we are grateful for what you have done for Harry."

Snape, for once, did not try to brush off this praise by citing Slytherin obligation. "I could do no less for Lily's son."

Harry was working up a sweat in the duelling room with Draco and Theo while Sirius and Lucius supervised when the door opened to admit Remus and Professor Snape. Vigilant of his surroundings, Harry spotted them instantly and called a halt to the three-way combat.

"Professor!" Harry said. "How unexpected. Have you come to help us train?"

Snape shook his head. "Not today, though perhaps another. I have come to speak with you."

"Draco, Theo, keep at it." Harry wiped his brow and took a drink of water.

"Sirius, Lucius, could I have a word?" Remus said.

"Certainly," Lucius said. "Boys, continue your drill. I will be back momentarily."

Theo cast a Blasting Curse at Draco as the adults and Harry exited the room.

"The sitting room?" Sirius suggested.

"Adequate," Snape replied.

Sirius looked askance.

"He needs to speak with all of us," Remus explained. "This way Draco and Theo aren't feeling excluded."

"How mysterious," Lucius observed. "Very well, Sirius, lead on."

Once they were settled in comfortable chairs and Kreacher had brought them refreshments, Remus said, "Our little mission recently ended in failure and disaster. Now we know why." He turned to Snape. "With the help of the Dwarfen Mining Guild, we infiltrated Gringotts and the Lestrange family vault. We were seeking a golden cup."

"It was not there," Snape noted.

"No, and Vincent Crabbe was killed by one of the traps." Remus' voice caught a little. It was still very raw for all of them.

Snape frowned. "The Dark Lord entrusted the cup to me for my part in bringing him the Seer. Albus bade me destroy it, which we did, yet he would not explain."

Harry choked. "You had the cup? Then Crabbe died for nothing." My friend, I'm so sorry! Please forgive me.

"You could not have known," Snape said without betraying his feelings. "Nor did you see fit to inform me of your excursion."

"It was after school was out," Sirius explained. "You were busy with your part of the plan."

"How did you achieve the destruction?" Lucius asked.

"Fiendfyre."

Lucius nodded sagely. "Yes, that would do it."

"Albus indicated that there were other objects." The pitch of Snape's voice made it a question.

"Horcruxes," Harry said brokenly. "Voldemort made Horcruxes." He had not yet had the opportunity to tell Sirius and Lucius all he had learned from Dumbledore's collection of memories.

Snape frowned. "I should have guessed. I know of these accurséd soul anchors. I know not how they are made."

"They are one of the Dark magicks I have been researching," Lucius said. "The locket surely was one."

"I know them all," Harry said. He ticked off on his fingers. "Voldemort's own diary, the Gaunt family ring, Slytherin's locket, Hufflepuff's cup, and the snake Nagini."

"Albus believes the same about the snake," Snape said. "The Dark Lord has always been fond of her, as much as he is fond of anything. He keeps her close."

"There's one more," Harry added. "Years ago, Voldemort asked Professor Slughorn if it would be possible to make six. Dumbledore suspects it is Ravenclaw's diadem."

"The diadem of wisdom?" Remus exclaimed. "It's been lost for centuries."

"If not, then we have no other ideas." Harry had discussed the conundrum with Dumbledore for at least an hour.

"Is it possible that he found it?" Lucius asked. "It was the ambition of many Slytherins to discover it."

"It is in line with his abilities and his arrogance," Snape said. "We must assume he was successful."

"The ring, the diary, the locket, and now the cup are all destroyed," Harry said. "We have to kill Nagini and find where Voldemort hid the diadem."

"Perhaps somewhere in the school?" Remus suggested.

"Dumbledore has searched the castle many times, he said. But he couldn't find the Chamber of Secrets either."

"Could it be in the Chamber?" Sirius wondered. "How many unfindable rooms could the castle have?"

"I've looked around fairly thoroughly down there," Harry replied. "I never saw anything like a diadem. Of course, I wasn't looking for it. There is a small, outdated library, but I don't think it would be there. It might be at the bottom of one of the pools of water."

"It's worth checking out," Remus said.

"Brilliant." Harry had another thought. "I wonder if Eithne knows anything."

"Who?" Lucius inquired.

"Eithne. The basilisk. The queen of serpents. Voldemort woke her. She might have seen him with the diadem or heard him talk about it."

"Entirely possible," Remus said.

"We must investigate," Snape declared. "I shall go with you. If the basilisk can help us, I will provide her with whatever food for which she may ask. Short of her freedom, she shall have anything she desires."

"She was so grateful to me," Harry mused. "I only asked her name. Tom never cared about her, only about his power over her. I think she will help us if she can."

Sirius raised his glass of pumpkin juice. "To my godson and heir. Through simple kindness, he heals the world."

Lucius raised his glass. "Hear, hear!"

They all drank the toast.

Harry blushed. "Can we go already?"

"Now?" Sirius queried.

"Why not?" Harry replied, rising to his feet. "I didn't have anything else to do today."

"That may not be prudent," Lucius cautioned. "If Voldemort has eyes watching the castle, he will already know that Remus has visited today. Were he to return, or his known associates to visit as well, it might raise suspicion. I assume Voldemort is not aware that we know about his Horcruxes and are working to destroy them."

Snape said, "If we must wait another few months to preserve our stealth, then so be it. Mister Potter and I can go on the first of September. There is no need for others to join us."

Harry chafed at the delay, but there was really no other choice. They couldn't risk Voldemort becoming aware that his enemies knew the steps he had taken to cheat Death. If he did, they would never be able to kill Nagini. Unless she died, there was no hope for any of them.

"It is the summer holiday," Sirius noted. "If we go now, we can avoid being in the castle when the students are present. I know you don't wish to bring danger to them."

"How can we approach the castle without being seen?" Harry wanted to know. "Could we use the Floo?"

Snape shook his head. "No. The fireplaces in the castle are connected to each other, but the wider Floo network can only be accessed through the Headmaster's or Deputy Headmaster's office."

Harry resisted the urge to swear. "We don't want Dumbledore knowing why we're all coming up to the castle. I don't mind if he thinks we're looking for the diadem, but I don't want him knowing any more about the Chamber of Secrets."

"Through the Forbidden Forest?" Remus suggested. "That's how you got out of the castle last year."

"We'd be totally exposed while crossing the grounds," Harry groused. "There's plenty of time for the old man or old McGonagall to notice us."

Harry knew that he could use his invisibility cloak and simply go through the gates with Snape undetected, but he was reluctant to reveal its existence to his Head of House. He trusted Snape completely, of course, but just like he didn't want Dumbledore learning about Eithne, he likewise didn't want Snape knowing about the cloak. He couldn't properly explain why. His instinct was to guard his secrets carefully. Even Lucius didn't know about it.

It's entirely possible Snape learned about it when he was teaching me Occlumency, Harry realised, but there's no way to ask him without giving the whole thing away. He never mentioned it.

"We could go to the Shrieking Shack," Sirius suggested. "That would get us onto the grounds without being seen."

"I really don't want to go crawling through that dirty tunnel," Harry protested. "Plus again, we need to cross the grounds. All the ways Dumbledore would see the Death Eaters coming are now working against us."

"Correct, Mister Potter," Snape agreed. "Before anyone suggests it, the tunnel used by the Death Eaters for their incursion is now sealed."

Sirius suddenly slapped his forehead. "The tunnels! Remus, we're getting senile in our old age. Why didn't we think of it at once?"

Remus nodded. "There is a secret passage in the basement of Honeydukes that leads directly into the castle."

Snape looked intrigued. "Tell us more."

"You know the statue of Gunhilda of Gorsemoor on the third floor? She's the guardian. When her back opens, you'll find a stone slide."

"A slide?" Harry wondered. "How are we supposed to get up it?"

"A Sticking Charm on your shoes will let you walk right up," Sirius said.

"Is Albus aware of this?" Snape asked.

"I don't know," Sirius answered. "We've never told him about it. I know Filch doesn't know. I can't imagine why Albus wouldn't have told him, if he knew."

"It's our best option," Harry said. "Who's coming with me?"

"I will, of course," Snape said. "I shall meet you once you have come through the secret passage."

"I will as well," Lucius added. "I am a school governor, after all, and my presence in the castle is easily explained."

"I can distract Mister Flume," Sirius offered. "Getting through the trap door was always the hardest part."

"I'll stay here and keep Draco and Theo busy," Remus volunteered.

While gaining entrance to the school was relatively simple, it was all for naught. Their mission to the Chamber of Secrets was no more successful than their mission to Gringotts, though decidedly less dangerous. Harry and Sirius returned to Number Twelve disappointed.

"Well, that was a waste of time," Harry groused.

"Not true," Sirius replied. "We eliminated the possibility that the diadem is hidden in the Chamber. That's a bit of progress, at least."

"I guess." Harry knew Sirius was right, but he was still disappointed. After all the trouble they'd gone to to get in and out of the castle without being seen, it seemed rude of the diadem not to be there.

"Hey, chin up," Sirius advised. "We'll find the thing soon enough. How many more places could it be?"

"What if he put it in a metal case and dropped it into the ocean?" Harry said morosely. "It could be at the bottom of the Atlantic."

"He wouldn't have wanted to put it where even he couldn't get to it," Sirius said reasonably. "What if he needed it for some reason?"

"Like what?"

"No idea. I haven't a clue how those evil things work."

Harry couldn't help but laugh. "Thanks, Sirius. Okay, let's go over things. The cup was in the Lestrange vault at Gringotts for a long time. The ring was in the Gaunt shack. The diary was with Lucius for a long time. The locket was in a cave."

"What was the significance of all those places?"

Harry was glad now for all those lessons and discussion with Dumbledore. "The cave was where he terrorised other children from the orphanage. He felt powerful there."

"I see. That's got to be important."

"The shack was where he discovered his lineage. Learning you're descended directly from one of the Founders has got to be one of the greatest things ever imagined. It's almost like finding out you're royalty."

"Giving the diary to Lucius has to be similar to how he gave the cup to Snape," Sirius said, scratching his chin. "A devoted servant who would keep it safe at all costs. So many of the old houses have elves for servants. It must have made him feel extra special to have wizards as servants."

"Wizards from ancient houses, at that."

Sirius nodded. "Gringotts has its own eminence. All the old families have vaults on the deep levels. I've never had the need to visit the Black family vault. I do all my business out of my personal vault where I stashed the gold Uncle Alphard left me."

"Could it be there?"

"Possibly. I did order an inventory when I was arranging payment to the Artificer who made our pensieve. I'll check."

It took Sirius a few minutes to locate the list, and he began to read, his eyes flitting across the parchment.

Harry was feeling hungry, so he summoned Kreacher. "Would you make us some dinner, please? And bring me some water."

Kreacher bowed. "Of course, Master Harry."

"Are Theo and Draco still training?"

"The Nott boy is," Kreacher reported. "The Malfoy boy returned home an hour ago."

"I bet they're wondering where I am."

"The nasty werewolf told them that the professor took you for a private lesson, Master Harry. They know you have had secret lessons before, so they did not question."

"Thanks, Kreacher."

The old house elf bowed low and went to prepare dinner.

"Should I stay, or can I go see Theo?"

"Go on. This will take me a while. Is Remus still here?"

"I'll find out," Harry promised.

Theo and Remus were still training, though Remus was looking a bit tired.

"There you are!" Theo said. "Have a fun lesson with Snape?"

"About as much fun as always," Harry replied, catching Remus' eye and subtly shaking his head.

"Are you allowed to talk about this one?"

"Not really. What have you been up to?"

"Remus has been working us over pretty hard," Theo admitted. "Draco quit about an hour ago and went home. Remus is much better than he is, and I've been getting my butt handed to me."

"It keeps you humble," Harry said. "Are you ready for a break? I asked Kreacher to make dinner."

"I suppose."

"I am," Remus interjected. "You don't give yourself enough credit, Theo. You've made remarkable gains in the last year. You've caught up with the others."

"That's nice to hear. Harry, want to have a go?"

Harry cocked an eyebrow, giving Theo a once-over. His friend's clothes were torn, burned in places, and soaked with sweat. "Don't you want to clean up before we eat?"