So, I almost finished Book Five, but then I decided to make some changes as one does and that put me behind again. C'est la vie. I'm writing as fast as I can.
She couldn't sleep.
Hermione stayed up half the night doing her homework and spent the next few hours tossing and turning. When she could no longer keep staring at the ceiling, she got up and opened the diary. She had decoded the name. Regulus Black. Sirius's brother.
And she decoded quite a bit of it. The key had been: KREACHER. She read through the last entry before the code change.
September First
Mother is pleased that I am quickly rising in the ranks of the Dark Lord's inner circle. I do not think that it is because I am proficient or vicious. I believe they see me more as a little pet. Eager to do their bidding, afraid to displease. Perhaps I am. The only friend I have in the world is my beloved house-elf. I treat him kinder than many of my status and I believe that is what makes the difference. Not even Sirius understood why I care for Kreacher so much. His is the only warmth I have ever known and I am uncertain when my mother removes his head upon his retirement I will be able to save face, though saving face is my specialty. Kreacher is my only confidant and only he knows my reservations about the Dark Lord.
How interesting, Sirius looked down on the elf and was on the side of the Order, yet his brother loved Kreacher as one loved a dear friend and was on Voldemort's side. Guess people were more complex than she thought and there was no one way to be prejudiced.
Hermione sat in her desk chair and spun around in circles until her room was a blur of shadows and lamp light. Every squeak of her chair and flutter of journal pages sounded much too loud.
Regulus had second thoughts. He seemed to realize exactly what sort of person Voldemort was. Or was at least beginning to. Was it Voldemort himself Regulus was uncertain about? Or was he questioning his entire upbringing? It wasn't like he could tell anyone and he saw what happened to his own brother when he rebelled. Obviously he would be scared to come forward, especially if he couldn't be sure his family wouldn't turn him over or even kill him themselves.
But why wouldn't he turn to Sirius?
Hermione stopped hard and felt her brain and stomach swirl. Sirius… She moved over to the journal and read the next encryption code.
Gkkwvwj Nzzml
A prdy dwiivyv zwn bbw Viis Fgjl gtufk bf sywh pza jgomi. Qn ak krtfwv i ywlujco. Py mkmu us twtfdyv zwlay-wdn Bzysupvz ng lmjb nzw lvnyfkmj aojjwlvxafo zb ufv xcihfwl kw fwsdv pce xwi lysv. Q nwh'l kbrvx avtp js sfg cwhywz. Jwgwlpzva fwmua ng tm uwhw. Ab za zggtyilvavvam gf xrz qalp dg vjgbyml'k. A byqhc zm nwodv jv wxvdg gzimv. Qw Q efwe npyjw pv euk, A efcfv lics ng zqd. Bydd pzu bgo afzlq A id. Jyy xwi pck zmcx. C xwii Q qgmtu vil tm rjfw lw xmn fwii pce oqkpiml krtfafo rbnwfbzwh lg upaydx.
Q nim sttv bi xavu qhxgzdinagv imasjlzva lzm ywlujcomm af up nulzmi'a wghg fn Gsyqt Uiklm Vdcd. Ab za qgjav bbsf Q twodv xfamattp punw qdiaafmu ihv A xcih gf lvanjggzva lzm wqlkl wem ngewizio. Kpfcfv A alzpanm, Z ecdd alzlwflvz cl lw kpy Gjlvz ix lpv Xbgwvzf ufv izl cf vmjblgqqeo nzw zvan.
She had figured it was a six-letter word. She tapped her pen against her bottom lip. What if he wanted his brother to know? What if he found something that was important for the Order, but before he could defect he was killed? His last words could very well be in this diary…
And if they were, then there might be only one person Regulus would have trusted with this information.
Clicking her pen, Hermione wrote out what she was sure was the key to the code.
SIRIUS
After writing it out, letter by letter on the blank page of her own notebook, she read on.
October First
I have learned how the Dark Lord plans to keep his power. It is called a horcrux. He used my beloved house-elf Kreacher to test the defenses surrounding it and planned to leave him for dead. I won't stand idly by any longer. Something needs to be done. It is foolhardiness on par with my brother's. I think he would be oddly proud. If I knew where he was, I would talk to him. Tell him how sorry I am. Beg for his help. I fear I would not be able to get near him without calling attention to myself.
I was able to find information regarding the horcruxes in my father's copy of Magic Moste Evil. It is worse than I could possibly have imagined and I plan on destroying the first one tomorrow. Should I survive, I will surrender it to the Order of the Phoenix and aid in destroying the rest.
Horcrux… what on earth was a horcrux? Was it the locket? Or was it something inside the locket?
There was only one place she could go.
Hermione gathered her things into her backpack and pulled on a fresh pair of clothes. She kissed Crookshanks goodbye and opened her patio door a bit so he could wander. Noa loved bringing him into her room while she was studying.
The campus was quiet, the only people about were dousing the street lamps as the sun rose. None of them paid her any attention. The air was thick and heavy, promising rainstorms. She changed into her otter form and dove into the canal, knowing the path to the library well. The creatures living in the water moved out of the furry torpedo's way.
She splashed out and returned to her human form. Tossing her twists over her shoulder, she entered the library. There weren't any students there, but the staff was all at work reshelving books, casting cleaning charms, stocking up the vending machines, and everything else.
Hermione approached the help desk where a wizard was going through a roster containing a list of overdue books.
"Good morning," said Hermione, sliding the last books she checked out into the return drop.
He looked up. "Good morning. How can I help you?"
"I am looking for information on…" she checked her notes. "Horcruxes. Am I saying that right?"
She did not like how the librarian stilled. His gaze turned cold and suspicious.
"Are you in a Curse-Breaking course?" he asked.
"Yes, sir," she said. "With Professor Cotilla-Gallo."
"Student i.d. please."
Hermione handed it over.
"Ah," the librarian relaxed. "Cursed Sanchez?"
"Yes, sir."
He nodded as if everything made sense, and that only made her uneasiness worse. After writing down her information, the librarian gave her back her student i.d. and placed a card on his desk, pointing any other patrons to the next help desk.
He led Hermione down to the lowest level of the library and waved his wand to lower the barrier. Despite this barrier, there were numerous signs warning that the books beyond this point contained information on dark magic and explicit images. Unlike the restricted section and stacks at Hogwarts, this section was well-lit, clean, and had comfortable seating as well as posters of kittens paired with adorable sayings. The kittens were incredibly suspicious.
There was one other person there. A girl shelving books. She was tall with a long braid going down her back and, even from here, Hermione could see that her lower legs were prosthetics.
"Most of the books down here are single-copy," said the librarian. "So you are not allowed to check them out as many are rare and difficult to replace. However, you are allowed to take as many notes as you want. Bathrooms are that way, vending machines are next to it, and there are trash cans at each table." He walked down one of the rows and stopped at a bookcase. All the books in this section were on chains. "I recommend you start with Arcane Rituale Vol. 1, 2, and 3." He placed them in Hermione's arms. "They contain everything you need to know."
The chains did not unlatch from the books and instead they kept going all the way back to her study table. The librarian moved the rubbish bin closer to her.
"Do not hesitate to ask the library assistant Quripuma if you have any other questions," he said, gesturing to the girl. "However, if you leave the restricted section, a librarian will have to let you back in. The restricted section librarian is on maternity leave and assistants don't have the power to do so."
"Good to know," said Hermione. "Thank you."
He nodded and moved on.
Hermione sat down and readied her note-taking supplies.
She skimmed the title of contents of Vol. 1 and instantly felt sick. This was way beyond the graphic details of Moste Potente Potions. Breathing shallowly, she flipped to the page on horcruxes and began reading.
A horcrux is an object of importance which conceals a fragment of a dark witch or wizard's soul in order to obtain immortality. The Dark wix cannot die completely unless the object is destroyed. However, due to the dark nature of the artifact, it is near impossible to destroy without the aid of something more powerful. For example, fiendfyre is one way to destroy a horcrux.
Because it contains a soul fragment, a horcrux can develop a mind of its own, though incomplete, caught in an imprint of the age the Wix was at when they made the horcrux. Depending on the artifact and its importance this can create new life should the Wixen's original form be destroyed.
A horcrux can possess others. Not just wixen, but No-Majs and Animals alike. Prolonged exposure to a horcrux can leave anger, violence, and possession. Some horcruxes even create a protective barrier around themselves which prove fatal to anyone who tries to adorn the object.
Because of the nature of the ritual, a horcrux has to be an object of importance. It has to be recognizable. The more well-known the object, the more difficult it is to destroy. This falls under the Power of Exchange. For more information read Vol. 2 of Arcane Rituale.
Be warned. A horcrux is a thing of evil. A wix who performs the ritual has no hope of becoming whole. Do not appeal to a wix who has created a horcrux. In doing this, they lose their humanity. Some believe that remorse is the key to healing, but this has been proven mostly untrue. (See Arcane Rituale Vol. 3)
The ritual is extremely difficult to complete, but doing so will ensure immortality so long as precautions are taken to protect the horcrux.
On the eve of the full moon create a circle made from the blood of the creature from the year you were born. Make a circle, then a seven cornered star. In each opening paint each rune as follows in the direction of the sun's ride through the sky beginning in the top section. Uruz, Thurisaz, Raidho, Jera, Elhaz, Ehwaz, Sowilo. Choose your containment vessel and place it at the point of Uruz. Follow each with six items relating to each element of nature in the exact order as listed: Earth, Air, Nature, Metal, Water, Fire.
Stand in the middle of the circle wearing nothing but unmixed and undyed robes. Paint the runes on your viscera in the opposite order equally spaced apart. Chant vitam aeternam animae meae seventeen times as Latin creates a stronger spell in many cases.
This will loosen the soul.
Within twenty-four hours you must perform an act that will split the soul.
Ut non perform coitus with the unwilling victim, kill them, and consume a bit of their flesh. As they pass through you, go back to the circle and repeat the incantation. Your soul will be bound to the object. To create a stronger bond, tie the horcrux to a curse. Pre-existing curses work as well as designed curses.
The next page held detailed illustrations. Hermione slammed the book shut, dove for the bin, and emptied the contents of her stomach. So many things made sense now. How Voldemort has survived for so long. The diary… the locket. Oh… poor Myrtle. She must've died so the diary could be made.
Hermione sipped her water and sighed shakily. This was big. She needed to tell someone! But not yet. If there were more, then she would need to know all she could about destroying them. Especially if Voldemort had more than the diary and the locket.
What other ancient magic was she missing?
This level didn't just contain books on dark magic. It had information on ancient magic as well. Spells people didn't use anymore for reasons unknown.
She got up and approached the assistant who seemed to be working on the card catalogue. The girl was tall and Hermione noticed she had two prosthetic feet.
"Excuse me." No response. "Excuse me!"
The girl turned and jumped. Oh. Maybe she was deaf. Hermione hoped the sign language she personally knew and the sign this girl knew were similar.
"Can you help me? Sorry. Sign I don't understand. Tiny." Hermione made a face and the girl smiled.
She took two notebooks and a pen out of her bag. She handed one to Hermione and then opened the other.
¡Hi! My name is Quripuma and I am deaf. I use these notebooks to communicate.
She flipped the page.
¿How can I help you?
Hermione took out her dictaquill and it poised itself over the page.
"I'm looking for in-depth research on ancient spell work. The bigger and more antiquated, the better. Maybe even spells I can include in my arsenal to throw off the dark wizards I'll be facing. Complexity is no issue."
Quripuma grinned and scribbled out her answer.
"I'll make a list. Start here."
She led Hermione among the shelves and pulled down two books. Hermione read the titles.
Advanced Astral Projection and Ley Lines: An In-Depth Look. Cool!
Hermione told her as such. Quripuma nodded and noticed the S.A.M.B. pin on her bag. She gasped.
"Member?" Her voice was high-pitched and a bit slurred.
"Founder," said Hermione, finger-spelling the word since she didn't know it. According to her research, most of the sign on this side of the world was derived from American Sign Language and the alphabets were the same. She got out her dictaquill and pointed to the notebook. Quripuma handed it to her. "Interested in volunteering? Meetings are on Thursday evenings in the plaza."
She took out the sign-up sheet and offered it. Quripuma grinned at all the names and flipped to the last page to add her own and gave it back.
Quripuma Huamani - Quechua - Nature spirit-ancestry
"Ohh!" Hermione returned to her dicta-quill. "I will be hyper-fixating on my books today, but maybe we can sit at dinner sometime this week and you can tell me more about yourself."
Quripuma tipped her head side-to-side and jotted down her answer in her own notebook.
"Friend? Or as Founder?"
"Let's call it both. I love making new friends!"
The girl nodded. "Okay!"
Hermione gave the notebook back and returned to her study table. Once she had taken notes on those books, Quripuma had given her a list on both practical magic as well as historical accounts so that if she were keen on trying a spell out she would have a better idea on what it was trying to do. On her breaks, she also learned more about the girl herself. She was originally from Peru, but went to school at Castelobruxo as they have classes geared for disabled students, both blind and deaf. She also promised to introduce Hermione to her girlfriend Cássia, a Djinn who had also heard of S.A.M.B. but was too nervous to show up to the first meeting.
Until then, Hermione had a lot of personal research to do and process.
~o0o~
"Nia… Nia!"
Hermione looked up from her book. When did the library get so crowded? People in this section were doing their own work and ducking the chains stretching from the bookcases to work desks. Some were in groups, while others were alone.
She blinked and Márcia, Noa, and Alejandro came into focus.
"Oh, hey," she said, rubbing her eyes.
"Were you here this whole time?" Noa demanded.
"Yeah." Hermione stretched and gathered up her notes. "I didn't realize how late it was. Did I miss lunch?"
"You missed lunch, dinner, curfew, and all day of classes!"
Hermione scoffed. "No manches!" She stomped her foot twice. "HEADS UP!"
Her fellow scholars hit the deck as the books she acquired zipped back to their proper places. She'd been clocked in the head twice already by flying books.
"Really, Nia," said Márcia. "We were so worried when you didn't show up to meals or classes."
"Why would I show up to classes?" Hermione asked. "It's Sunday."
"No, it's Monday evening," said Alejandro, swiping rubbish into the nearby bin.
Hermione blinked and really looked at her cousin and friends.
"What? There's no way I've been down here for thirty-six hours." That would explain why she was so hungry and tired and also why she hadn't seen Quripuma for a while. "I've wasted too much time. I have to get a message to Dumbledore about what I've found!"
"Is this some kind of vigilante thing?"
"No, this concerns the safety and well-being of my brother."
"Which one?"
"Harry."
"Ah." Noa nodded. "Go on. Just make sure you're in class tomorrow. I told our teachers you were suffering from lady problems today and I fed Crookshanks and Stephen for you."
"Thank you, I love you, you're the best! See you guys tomorrow! I made some new friends for you to meet!" Hermione hurried out of the library and booked it to her dorm. Upon reaching it, she collapsed to her knees and hacked up a cough.
No time.
She flicked through her notes—she had taken enough to fill a book—until she found what she was looking for. It was from one of the books Quripuma gave her where they detailed how to do the spell and what it did but neglected to mention what the consequences were and the rest were implied in historical text . It was Atlantean of origin, but since she was performing it indirectly there shouldn't be any lasting effects. If her friends could get Dumbledore to the Room of Things then she would have no need for it. Still, she tucked the paper in her pocket.
Taking deep, slow breaths, Hermione drew out the runes on her arm and her compact with a sharpie. She muttered the spell and felt energy hum through her core.
"Show me Cedric," she said.
When she opened her eyes, she was in the mirror of the Room of Things. Dumbledore's Army was there practicing their spells. She knocked on the window and frowned when no one looked her way. She jumped up and down and waved her arms. Everyone was too focused on the dummy they were firing spells at. This was important! Why was nobody noticing her?
"LOOK AT ME!" she bellowed and punched the glass, cracking it.
Everyone jumped and a spell misfired, hitting the ceiling. Cedric dug into his backpack's side pocket and opened his mirror.
"Hermione, love, what's wrong?" he asked. "Are you okay?"
"I haven't slept in two days," she said. "But that's not important. I need to talk to Dumbledore. Can you get him here?"
"Umbridge is already on our case," said Harry. "She's got moles who are uncovering other secret clubs. Only reason we haven't been caught yet is because Cedric knows who they are and who to be extra careful to mention things in front of."
"We can take the message for you, Hermione," said Cedric.
"No, no. This is top secret. I don't want just anyone knowing yet. Not even you." She worked her jaw and took out the spell which had remained in her pocket. "If you can't take Dumbledore to me then I just need to go to Dumbledore. And he's gonna listen to me this time."
She wrote out the new runes on her skin and then on the mirror.
"Karod kagin Bernot. ," she muttered and the runes glowed on her skin and on the mirror. "Yobtop kagib! Nageb!"
She hefted her weight against the mirror and fell through. She felt as if her breath was pulled out of her lungs through her back and a headache set in as voices belonging to no one she knew flooded her mind. She saw nothing in front of her, yet she saw everything.
Dumbledore was in his office. How dare he be so calm when children's lives were in turmoil? Umbridge was in her office as well. Vile woman. Horrible woman. Resist. Resist. Resist.
"Hermione!"
Sitting in front of her was Cedric. He shifted between how she saw him with her right eye — a pillar of energy, twisted up with lycanthropy like mistletoe to a tree — and her left eye. A handsome, wonderful boy. Sweet boy. Kind boy. Cares. Loves. Protect. Love. Protect. Protect.
Hermione blinked and took control of her thoughts once more.
"I'm… sorry. That was strange," she said. Her voice was only partially her own. She looked down at her hands and saw that she appeared to be made of nothing but smoke that curled around her and faded in and out. She looked over her shoulder and saw her true self slumped against the mirror, eyes open and vacant. Next to her body was a creature. No… it was her. She was entirely made of smoke and vapor, except her eyes were two orbs glowing with a pale orange light. She was reminded of the anchor stones. Behind her were the D.A. members. They all stared wide-eyed and huddled closer together.
"Hermione," Cedric's voice shook. "Get back inside that mirror. I'll just bring the compact to Dumbledore."
"He would dismiss me too easily," said Hermione. "He would insist I not concern myself with such matters and disconnect the call."
She turned to face him and her thoughts swarmed like two movies edited together. Poorly. She couldn't keep straight what belonged to her and what belonged to… She looked down and reached for Cedric's hand. She merely phased through him and frowned.
"Let me try again," she said and held out her hand.
Cedric gently took it. She could barely feel him, but she knew he was there. He helped her get to her feet. It was… odd. Almost like she were feeling a human form for the first time. She took an awkward step forward before falling to her knees. She stared at her hands in wonder.
"Careful, love," said Cedric. "I didn't even know this kind of magic was possible."
"That's because the last five Headmasters have not had my best interests at heart!" she spat. "I'm here as protection! For knowledge! Instead, I am used as a symbol of power and status."
"Oh…" Luna breathed. "Hogwarts!"
"What do you mean, 'Hogwarts'?" Ron demanded. "What's happened to her?"
Hermione managed to get to her feet with Cedric's support.
"Please, go back into the mirror," he begged.
"Too late. We are already here."
She turned on her heel and phased through the wall. She could see everything going on inside the school. Every human, elf, and creature that moved within her borders. She held such deep love for every beating heart. Even the ones who had wronged her. She could not hate her students. Not really. But she could be angry with them and encourage others to rise against them.
Please, Hermione thought. I need to focus.
Feeling a sense of clarity, she evaded patrols and passing students on her way to the Headmaster's office. The gargoyle stepped aside for her as she did not need a password. She seemed to glide up the stairwell and the door opened with just a thought.
"Albus—stop screaming, it's just me—I have something important to tell you!"
Dumbledore lowered his wand by a hair and stared at her suspiciously. It took a lot to take him by surprise these days. One look in his eyes and Hermione suddenly knew about everything he had ever done within these walls. Every word he ever said, every action he had made, every breath he drew. She wasn't sure how much she would remember once she was back to normal, but she didn't like what she saw.
"It's me, Hermione," she said. "I have something important to tell you and it is important you actually listen. But first… you're growing lax with the accountability program. If you don't stop Snape from belittling Harjot and Winnifred and Gracie, I'm gonna take a Portkey over here and have some words!"
"It is you, Miss Granger," said Dumbledore, stunned.
"Lotulelei-Sanchez y Granger. I know my name is long, but I would be happy if people used it."
"How did you accomplish such a feat of magic?" the Headmaster whispered. "In all my life and all my studies I have never known such a thing to be possible."
"Did you look at cultures outside of Europe?" she asked. "There are spells involving astral projection in a lot of cultures."
"This seems more than astral projection."
She jerked her head to the side. "Stop evading the issue at hand!"
Dumbledore stilled and waved at her to go ahead.
"Harry trusts you," she said. "And no matter what my feelings are about you, you're still a mentor to him and you are too deeply involved in his life to ignore him. I have reason to believe that Harry is a horcrux! Or, at least, a partial one."
"How do you know?"
"I found out about them and I saw one for myself," she said. "Last summer, I had the unfortunate incident of being punched in my good eye and was only able to see through my magic eye. The magical signature of what I found matches Harry's scar. It makes sense! Why Tom Riddle needed Harry specifically to revive himself! Why their wands can't seem to harm each other! A good wand would never turn against its master!"
"I suspected Tom had been creating horcruxes," said Dumbledore quietly. "And I did have my suspicions that Harry's scar was not what it seemed… This changes everything."
"Uh, what?"
"You say you have a horcrux in your possession," said Dumbledore. "How do you intend to destroy it?"
"I'm… going to ask my curse-breaking teacher," said Hermione. "If she can't help, then I'm gonna ask my family for help."
"Are you sure that is wise Miss Granger?"
Hermione frowned and tipped her head. "Well, yes, who else is going to do it?"
"Perhaps it might be better if you send it along to me. I have been doing research on these for a long time after all."
A weird feeling settled in her stomach. She'd felt this feeling numerous times.
"How many horcruxes do you think Tom made?" she asked instead.
"I'm uncertain," said Dumbledore. "The answer to that lies in a memory of one Horace Slughorn. I hope to get the true one very soon."
"Ball park number, then."
"Tom is obsessed with magic numbers. I would say it would be at least three. The diary is one, you say you have another, and the third one is a mystery, though based on memories I have collected over the years, I would say it is something of great importance. It could be that one is Harry."
"Can't be," said Hermione. "Not a full one anyway. Tom didn't complete the ritual. He would have had to… do stuff to Lily or James and then completed the cycle within three days. You have to do some pretty horrific stuff to split your soul."
"Is killing a person in cold blood not enough?"
"My Papí killed a man," said Hermione. "And he is as wonderful and pure-hearted as they come. No, sir. There are things worse than death."
He was silent.
"I wouldn't go after any other horcruxes until you know for sure," said Hermione. "I only found this one by accident. Tom is smart and could have easily set up false trails to throw off people who are onto him. It would be best to have someone who can see magic go with you."
"I am more than capable, Miss Granger. This is exactly why I believe I am better equipped to identify and destroy this horcrux you claim to have found."
"Your arrogance will be your doom, Albus!" She hissed. "Heed this child's warnings! I can see you are not as strong as you were in your youth and your detachment and regrets will endanger yourself and others." She shuddered and blinked. "What did you mean when you said 'this changes things'? Were you talking about Harry?"
"It is a dangerous affair, horcruxes," said Dumbledore.
"He should know what is inside him."
"I fear it would only do more harm than good."
Hermione felt anger boil in the pit of her stomach.
"He is a living, breathing teenage boy!" she snarled. "He is not a pawn and he does not exist in a vacuum! He is scared and traumatized, and if you think there's only one solution to this horcrux problem, then maybe you're the wrong person to talk to! I'm going to find another way and you had better start telling Harry what he is up against or so help me I will figure out a way to do it myself!"
Dumbledore stared at her and he seemed uncertain and conflicted as to what to do.
"You are not fit to be Headmaster," she said. "Neither are Dolores nor Minerva. I need someone who cares about the hearts of my students, not their personal image."
"Are you really Hermione Granger?"
"Do you really think that matters at this point?"
Though she liked this new form, it was important to get Herminia back to her own body. She was starting to lose herself and too much longer could prove fatal.
She returned to the Room of Requirement. Most of the D.A. had gone, leaving behind only Herminia's close-good friends.
"There you are," Cedric sighed. "Is everything okay? Did you get what you needed?"
"For now," she said and touched his face lightly. He shivered as if her touch was cold.
"Seriously, Hermione," said Fred. "How are you achieving this?"
"Powerful magic," she said.
"Remind us to never get on your bad side," said George.
"If you need reminding then I've done something wrong."
The longer she remained bonded, the more she was losing herself. She needed to return to the mirror and then to her own body.
"I have to go," said Hermione. "I don't know what toll performing this much magic will take on me, but I have a lot of work to do. I might even have to end up returning to Hogwarts."
"Hermione," Cedric sighed.
"Umbridge won't last," she assured him. "Professor Lupin is my favorite. He lasted because I made sure he did. I cannot do it again. I also can't hurt any of my former students. Umbridge, however, needs just." She poked Fred. "The right." She poked George. "Push." She poked Lee.
The twins grinned.
"Is Hogwarts giving us permission to wreak havoc?" they asked.
"Yes."
Cedric pulled Hermione into a hug. She sighed contentedly and closed her eyes. Hugs were her favorite experience.
"If you're going to come back," he said, "just be careful. Okay?"
"I will."
The form was beginning to fade. She needed to get back through the mirror.
"I have to go," she said. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
Hermione nodded at her friends and walked back into the mirror where she found herself on the floor. She felt more stable, which was a good sign. Once the room was gone, her runes would disappear. She exhaled slowly and opened the door to leave the mirror.
Inhaling sharply, she opened her eyes and promptly fell off of her chair. Her skin burned like she had sat in the sun too long and her head throbbed.
"Ow…" she moaned, waved away the smoke, and crawled over to her desk to write down her findings.
There were at least three horcruxes. One was destroyed. If Slytherin's locket is the second it would stand to reason that he would have made more with other objects important to the founders. She made a note to find out the whereabouts of Ravenclaw's diadem and Hufflepuff's Cup. Even if he didn't make more, he would probably collect whatever artifacts he could for other purposes. The others? If there were more than three, she'd have to figure out a way to get Dumbledore to tell her what he thought they were. In the meantime, she could at least see if the other Founders' objects were okay. The memories she saw when she fused with Hogwarts were already fading so she scribbled out whatever she remembered that seemed important. She wasn't sure if the memory loss was just a side-effect or if she would have retained them after a full bond.
She just hoped there weren't any other horcruxes.
Still. She had one in her possession that she needed to destroy and she was not going to waste anymore time in doing so.
It would have to wait for tomorrow.
Hermione didn't have the energy to climb up into bed. Instead, she pushed her laundry off her couch and collapsed onto it.