I"We'll start with the easy part, " said Sirius clearly, "It is known that my brother Regulus was a Death Eater. He is generally presumed dead although no one really knows what happened to him. However, as he was a known Death Eater, Amelia wanted to search the historical Black family home at Number Twelve Grimmald Place."
"That was where Regulus grew up and is known to have lived his whole life, " explained Amelia, "As Sirius is the last surviving Black, he is now the owner of Number Twelve Grimmald Place. I informed Sirius that I wanted to search Number Twelve Grimmald Place along with my Horcrux expert, Steven Secret. Sirius showed us inside and Steven determined that a locket in the house was a Horcrux. The locket had once belonged to Salazar Slytherin. I interviewed the Black family house elf Kreacher and got the full scoop on the locket."
"Regulus and Kreacher were very close, " explained Sirius, "That's important to understand here. One day, Voldemort said he needed an elf. Regulus had volunteered Kreacher saying that it was an honor for him and for Kreacher for Kreacher to serve the Dark Lord. Regulus ordered Kreacher to do whatever the Dark Lord told him to do and then come home. Well, what happened was Voldemort intended to hide the Locket Horcrux in a cave. Voldemort and Kreacher traveled to said cave where there was a basin full of horrible potion. Voldemort made Kreacher drink all the potion, a potion that burned Kreacher's insides and made him see horrible images. When the basin was empty, Voldemort put the Locket Horcrux in the empty basin and refilled it with the same horrible potion. Then Voldemort sailed away leaving Kreacher to die."
"So, Voldemort just wanted to use the elf and then throw him away as though he were a paper towel!" said Harry indignantly.
"Not all wizards have respect for non-human creatures, " said Sirius seriously, "Many purebloods believe creatures such as house elves to be beneath them."
"But Kreacher didn't die?" inquired Amy.
"He was dragged below the surface by inferni, but escaped by Disapparating, " answered Amelia, "Apparently wizards and witches can't Apparate or Disapparate in the cave in question, but house elves can."
"House elves ability to Apparate and Disapparate is universal, " piped up Susan, "Anti Apparition and Anti Disapparation spells don't work on house elves."
"House elves have much more powerful magic than wizards and witches in general, " added Hannah.
"Here's the big thing, " said Sirius clearly, "When Kreacher told Regulus what had happened at the cave, Regulus was very worried and upset. Ultimately, what Voldemort did to Kreacher turned Regulus against him."
"How?" asked Harry urgently.
"One day, Regulus ordered Kreacher to take him to the cave Kreacher had gone with the Dark Lord and brought another locket. Regulus drank all the potion and switched the lockets when the basin was empty. Regulus ordered Kreacher to go home without him and destroy the locket Horcrux. Regulus sacrificed himself in the cave, " revealed Sirius.
"Did Regulus change his mind because of Kreacher specifically or did he feel he had now seen Voldemort's true colors?" asked Harry curiously.
"In this case, they're one in the same, " said Sirius clearly, "Voldemort had NO sense of friendship, love, or loyalty and so Regulus's emotional response about what had happened to Kreacher would never have made any sense to Voldemort. Voldemort knew that Regulus died but never knew the how and the why surrounding Regulus's death. Voldemort never knew the real Horcrux was stolen. Kreacher was unable to destroy the Horcrux. Steven now has though."
"We thought there were six Horcruxes and now four are gone?" said Heather hopefully.
"Yes, " said Amelia slowly, "But that's the easy news."
"The hard news, " said Sirius uncomfortably, "Is that after some research Amelia has been having her team of unspeakables do, we now have reason to believe that your cursed scar is one of the two remaining Horcruxes."
"S-so?' said Harry shakily, "I will have to be killed?"
"NO!" said Sirius firmly.
"However, " said Amelia calmly, "You will need for Steven to take a look at your scar and see if it is indeed a Horcrux. If it is, then you will need to have magical surgery to have the soul fragment removed. A Healer with expertise in Dark Magic will have to perform the surgery. The risk to your life is slim so long as the Healer who performs the surgery is truly knowledgeable about Dark Magic. However, the recovery process will be hard. In the immediate aftermath of the surgery, you will find yourself sore, weak, and fatigued. You will need to stay in St. Mungo's for at least a week, if not two. after the procedure is done. I'm going to take you by Side Along Apparition to the Dark Magic Room in the Department of Mysteries. I'm sure Heather doesn't want any more people knowing the location of Abbott Manor and at any rate I want Steven to examine your scar in the absolute quite of the Dark Magic Room. "
So, Amelia grabbed Harry's left arm with her right one and they landed in the Dark Magic Room in the Department of Mysteries.
"Come here, Mr. Potter, " said Steven in a businesslike voice when Harry and Amelia arrived in the Dark Magic Room in the Department of Mysteries.
Harry walked up to Steven, who put his right ear right up against Harry's scar. It only took a few nanoseconds for Steven to know the truth.
"That distinctive heartbeat is there, " said Steven clearly, "You'll need to schedule an appointment for Mr. Potter at St. Mungo's."
"I already have one for Monday morning, " Amelia matter of factly.
""Good luck then, " said Steven.
"See you later, Steven, " said Amelia as she returned herself and Harry to Abbott Manor.
"We've had it confirmed that Harry's cursed scar is a Horcrux and that he will need surgery to remove the soul fragment, " Amelia informed the others somberly.
There were downcast responses to this news.
Sirius and Heather buried their heads in their hands and Amelia followed suit.
Amy had uncontrollable tears streaming down her cheeks.
Susan and Hannah were shaking their heads and had heartbroken looks on their faces.
"Oh, cheer up, everyone, " said Harry defiantly, "I'm a tough cookie, I can handle it. Stop acting like you've heard I'm about to die. The risk is extremely low if done by the right person, remember. Besides, I'll be out of St Mungo's in time for Thanksgiving and we can all have a big Thanksgiving feast together."
"That's exactly the attitude James would have taken, " said Sirius proudly.
"It's incredible that an elven year old can have a positive attitude in the circumstances Harry finds himself in now, " said Heather admiringly.
"Amelia did a great of explaining it, " said Harry, giving Amelia a small smile, "I totally know what will happen and what to expect."
The adults put their faces up again.
Amy stopped crying and Susan and Hannah stopped shaking their heads, though they all still looked a bit uneasy.
"Harry will need to fast after midnight on Monday morning in preparation for surgery, " explained Amelia in a crystal clear voice, "The surgery will take most of the day and Harry will not be able to eat again until breakfast time on Tuesday morning. "
"All I know, " said Harry sadly, "Is that I'm really going to miss Amy, Susan, and Hannah during the time I'm stuck in St. Mungo's. And, Heather, what about lessons?"
"All new lessons are postponed until after Thanksgiving, " said Heather firmly, "Right now we've got bigger things on our plates."
"So?" asked Harry curiously, "Are you just going to do review stuff with Amy, Susan, and Hannah while I'm gone?"
"No, " answered Heather, "Lessons are postponed until after Thanksgiving, Period."
"Amy, Susan, and Hannah?" requested Harry hopefully, "Will you three please write to me while I'm stuck in St. Mungo's?"
"They won't have to!" chroused Sirius, Heather, and Amelia.
"Amy, Susan, and Hannah are going to stay at St. Mungo's with you to keep you company, " explained Sirius, "There will always be at least one adult with you lot, but Amy, Susan, and Hannah are going to stay with you to keep you company and offer moral support. "
"Amy, Susan, and Hannah, are you okay with doing that?" asked Harry.
"Harry, we're behind you 1000%, " said Amy fiercely.
"We'll stand by your side if it's the last thing we ever do!" declared Susan.
"We'll always be there for you in any way you want or need, " promised Hannah.
"The Yellow Quartet!" chroused Harry, Amy, Susan, and Hannah.
One by one, Harry pulled each of his three BFFs into separate tight hugs.
"Amy, Susan, Hannah, I just have to say, I'm the luckiest eleven year old in the world to have you three as my three BFFs!"