"The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity."
Amelia Earhart
VI
As the first rays of sunlight streamed through the curtains, Hermione woke up and found Regulus lying beside her. His arm was draped over her waist, and his warm breath tickled her neck. A surge of relief and gratitude welled up within her. "You stayed," she whispered, gazing into his dark grey eyes.
The wizard smiled softly, his expression gentle and sincere. He brushed a strand of hair away from her face and planted a tender kiss on her forehead. "Always," he responded, his voice low and husky. He held her tighter, as if he never wanted to let her go.
Regulus let out a sigh and reached for his cloak, which was hung on a nearby chair. From one of the pockets, he pulled out a small leather-bound book and tossed it to Hermione. Gasping, she caught it and cradled it in her hands.
"Yes, I managed to get it," he said, his voice softening. "But it wasn't easy. Malfoy had it locked in a safe, protected by numerous wards and curses. It took me quite a while to break through them, and I had to be cautious not to raise any alarms. I almost got caught by Lucius."
Hermione's eyes widened, and she felt a surge of gratitude and admiration for him. He had risked his life for their mission, and he had succeeded. Smiling at him, she said, "Thank you. You did an incredible job."
Regulus shook his head and returned to the bed. He sat down beside her and looked at her with a curious expression. His finger gently traced the cover of the book as he asked, "How do you know this is a Horcrux? How do you know it contains a piece of his soul?"
The witch took a deep breath, preparing to share the story she had learned from Harry. She recounted how Ginny Weasley had discovered the diary during her first year at Hogwarts and how Harry had used a basilisk fang to stab the book, causing it to release a scream of agony and a burst of black smoke.
Black listened attentively, his eyes widening with each detail. He was astonished by the revelation that the Chamber of Secrets was real and had been opened by a young girl. He was also intrigued by the fact that Harry Potter, a mere eleven year old, had been able to destroy the Horcrux using a basilisk fang.
"So, Riddle created this book while he was still a student at Hogwarts?" he asked, trying to grasp the implications. "He split his soul and hid it in a diary, then gave it to one of his followers, hoping they would unleash the monster in the chamber? And he did all this without anyone suspecting?"
Hermione nodded and replied, "Yes, that's exactly what he did. He was a genius, but also a madman. He was obsessed with immortality and believed that by creating Horcruxes, he could cheat death."
"He sounds like a fool to me," Regulus snorted, "He wasted his talent and potential on a dark and twisted path, losing everything in the end. He became a monster, a mere shadow of his former self. And all for what? A false sense of security, a delusion of grandeur, a fear of death."
"You sound like Dumbledore, you know," Hermione smiled, "He said something similar to Harry when he explained about the Horcruxes. Riddle was one of the most brilliant students Hogwarts ever had, but also the most dangerous."
Black frowned and responded, "Don't compare me to that old fool. Dumbledore is a hypocrite and a liar. He pretends to be a wise and benevolent leader, but he uses people like pawns and sacrifices them for his so-called greater good. In my opinion, he's no better than the Voldemort."
It was well past noon when Hermione and Regulus finally arrived in Hogsmeade, their destination for the next task: retrieving the diadem Horcrux. Weeks of careful planning had led them to this moment, as they sought to break into Hogwarts undetected.
"We're here," she said, her voice a mix of anticipation and anxiety.
The previous day, inside his bedroom, they had earnestly discussed their options. The room was dimly lit, with a faint smell of old books and parchment lingering in the air. Piles of ancient tomes and worn-out quills cluttered the desk, giving the place an air of scholarly chaos.
The witch had suggested exploring a path through the Forbidden Forest, but Regulus had quickly dismissed the idea. "The forest is no longer safe," he warned, his tone grave.
He explained that the Dark Lord had formed alliances with dark creatures, including dementors and werewolves, making it too perilous to venture into the forest. "Centaurs are the least of our worries," he added, his expression darkening.
In search of alternatives, the wizard proposed using the secret passage at Honeydukes. "Honeydukes holds more than sweets," he hinted, a mischievous glint in his eye. The room fell silent as Hermione pondered his suggestion. "But the slide..." she began, her brow furrowed with concern.
She knew that the store housed an entrance to a hidden passageway leading directly into the cellar of the sweet-shop. "A direct route, but not without its dangers," the witch mused, weighing their options. Yet, she cautioned against using it in reverse, as there was a treacherous stone slide at the Hogwarts end. "We could be injured, or worse," she pointed out, her voice laced with worry.
Curiosity piqued, she asked how he knew about the passage. "Slytherin secrets," he replied with a smirk, enjoying the intrigue. A mischievous grin spread across his face as he boasted about his cunning and resourcefulness as a former snake. "Slytherins have their ways," he boasted, his chest puffing out slightly.
Hermione couldn't help but smile, even though her hope was waning. "You never cease to amaze me," she said. She felt as though they were running out of ideas. "We need a breakthrough," she sighed, her optimism fading.
Then, Black made a sarcastic remark, suggesting they seek advice from the Headmaster himself. "Why not ask Dumbledore?" he joked, his laughter echoing in the room. The witch's eyes lit up with a sudden realization. "Dumbledore..." she whispered, an idea forming in her mind.
She spoke in an enigmatic tone, "Perhaps Dumbledore is the key," her voice filled with newfound hope. Regulus, puzzled, moved from the window and joined her on the sofa, eager to understand her train of thought. "Explain," he urged, intrigued.
Hermione shared her knowledge of a tunnel connecting the Hog's Head Inn in Hogsmeade to the Room of Requirement in Hogwarts. "A secret passage, known to few," she revealed, her voice barely above a whisper.
In the alternate timeline, her friend Neville and their allies had used the tunnel to bring people from the outside world into the safe haven of the Room of Requirement during the war against Voldemort. "Neville... he was braver than he knew," she said, a fond smile on her face.
The pureblood questioned the connection between the Hog's Head Inn and Dumbledore, prompting her to reveal that the inn was owned and operated by the Headmaster's brother, Aberforth.
Hermione's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she turned to the wizard, her voice filled with genuine interest. "But how did you stumble upon the Room of Requirement?"
Regulus' gaze met hers, a flicker of nostalgia crossing his face. "It was during my sixth year, after a particularly grueling Potions class. I was seeking a moment of respite, a quiet refuge to gather my thoughts. Little did I know, as I paced aimlessly, muttering to myself, the room responded to my deepest desires and manifested itself before me."
The witch leaned forward, her eyes wide with wonder. "So, it was the Room of Requirement! How fascinating!"
He nodded, his voice tinged with a touch of regret. "Indeed. It was only later, as I delved deeper into the world of Dark Magic, that I discovered the true nature of that mysterious room. It was then that I realized the significance it held for the Death Eaters."
Hermione couldn't help but interrupt, "Did you ever witness any of their meetings in that room?"
Regulus' eyes darkened. "Yes, I did. I witnessed their fervent discussions, their twisted plans, and their unwavering loyalty to Voldemort. It was in that very room that I learned the true extent of the darkness that plagued our world."
With their plan in motion, the two set off for Hogsmeade. The Hog's Head Inn stood as a slightly disreputable establishment in the all-wizarding village. "Charming, in its own way," Hermione remarked, her gaze taking in the quaint lane.
It was tucked away on a side alley, a short distance from the bustling High Street. "Away from prying eyes," Regulus noted, suspicious of the location.
As they approached, their eyes were drawn to a worn-out wooden sign hanging above the entrance. "Grim, but effective," Hermione commented, her eyes tracing the severed head of a wild boar, its blood dripping onto the white cloth below.
The pureblood wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Are you sure this is it?" he asked, doubt creeping into his voice. But, the witch just rolled her eyes as she entered the pub. "Trust me," she said, pushing open the creaking door.
The interior of the Hog's Head Inn matched its exterior in terms of disarray. "It has... character," Hermione pointed, choosing her words carefully. The bar was small and cluttered, with sawdust covering the floor and nearly opaque windows obscuring the outside world.
The air was filled with a scent reminiscent of farm animals, causing Regulus to scrunch up his face in distaste. "Goats?" he questioned, his nose wrinkling further. Even the rags behind the bar seemed perpetually filthy, as Hermione noticed them becoming dirtier with each wipe Aberforth made on a glass.
Above the bar was mounted the head of a boar, which was presumably enchanted so as to seem alive. It had quite a fearsome look to it with four tusks, one of which was broken, and a scar over its left eye. "Quite the welcoming committee," Hermione quipped.
There was a large amount of drool dripping out of its mouth at all times and it often rolled its eyes or snorted at patrons. "Charming," Regulus deadpanned, as the boar snorted in their direction.
Behind the bar, they climbed a rickety wooden staircase leading up to a sitting room, most likely an open area between the guest rooms, with a fireplace and a curtained window looking down at the street. "This must be the place," the witch said, her voice echoing slightly in the quiet room.
Black observed that the guest rooms themselves were located above the bar, and like the bar itself were not noted for being especially clean. "Not exactly the Ritz, wizard or muggle" Regulus remarked, his nose wrinkling at the musty smell.
As they stood in the sitting room Hermione pointed to above the fireplace to the portrait of Ariana Dumbledore. "That's our way in," she explained, gesturing to the painting with a sense of urgency.
As they neared the portrait, a young girl with golden locks and an innocent gaze, no more than ten, peered out at them. "Hello there," the wizard began, with a warm smile. "I'm Regulus, and this is Hermione. We're friends, you see."
Ariana's face lit up with a childlike glee. "Friends? Oh, I haven't had visitors in ages!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with playful reproach.
Hermione looked up, her expression earnest. "Ariana, we need your help. There's something very important we must retrieve from the castle, and it's a secret. Can you keep a secret, even from your brother?"
At the mention of Albus, the kid's demeanor shifted, her voice rising with a hint of frustration. "Albus? He never comes to see me anymore!"
"We promise to come back and visit," the witch soothed, exchanging a glance with Regulus. "Will you help us?"
Ariana's eyes sparkled with mischief. "If you promise to be my friends and visit, I'll help!"
With a nod from Hermione and Regulus, the little girl beamed and skipped out of her frame, revealing the hidden passage. The two stepped into the dark, narrow tunnel, feeling their way along the walls. After what felt like an eternity, they emerged into the dimly lit Room of Requirement, their mission ahead of them.
The room was huge with huge piles of objects piled up everywhere. There didn't seem to be any order in the mess. "Where do we even start?" the wizard asked, his voice laced with frustration.
Hermione explained that there was no right or wrong way. One couldn't summon the Horcrux so they would have to look everywhere. "We'll have to search the old-fashioned way," she said, determination in her voice.
After almost an hour of venturing among the piles of trash, Regulus was frustrated and decided to try something different he used an adapted form of the four-point spell to look for the Horcrux. "Derigo Ad Execrabilis," Regulus chanted, his wand glowing faintly.
Some time later, he found a small scrivener and as he opened one of the drawers they finally found Ravenclaw's diadem. "Is this it?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Hermione nodded and questioned him where he had learned that spell. "Curses are a Black family specialty," he joked, a wry smile on his face.
Regulus wanted to understand the logic of hiding something so valuable there. "Voldemort thought he was the only one who knew of this place," the witch said, securing the dark artifact into a warded box.
Unlike the others, he did not have time to set up many powerful spells to protect it due to time constraints, but believed that nobody would look for it. "His arrogance was his downfall," she mused, her voice tinged with irony.
They went back through the tunnel to the sitting room at the Hog's Head and were surprised to find Severus Snape at the other side. The potions master had just arrived when he crashed with Hermione. "What's a fine witch like you doing in a place like this?" he quipped, a rare smirk on his face.
Seeing Snape using a cheap flirting line was kind of weird. The witch's image of him was that of a snarky personality and also rude behavior. "Severus, really?" she retorted, her eyebrow raised in disbelief.
Much to the opposite he made a quite gallant way to greet her, what annoyed Regulus. "Snape, what do you want?" the pureblood interjected, his tone sharp as he took Hermione's hand. The potion's master only laughed and explained he was there for an interview as a professor at Hogwarts.
Black was about to make a crude remark about it but then they heard heavy footsteps climbing the stairs and Severus took the three of them into one of the guest rooms. "Quickly, this way," he hissed, ushering them into the room.
They heard voices and then Hermione cast a disillusionment charm in order to hide their presence as someone opened the door. Albus Dumbledore entered the room with a woman wearing strange clothes. The witch's attire was an eclectic mix of layered shawls, scarves, and bangles, each piece more eccentric than the last.
Taking a closer look Hermione recognized it was in fact Sybill Trelawney. "Professor Trelawney?" she mouthed silently, her eyes widening in recognition.
The seer was there for what appeared to be also an interview for the position of professor. "Divination, of all subjects," Hermione thought, her skepticism clear even in her silence.
At a secluded table near the back, Albus sat patiently, his piercing blue eyes scanning the room. He was dressed in robes of deep purple, and his silver beard seemed to shimmer in the flickering candlelight.
Opposite him, Sybill Trelawney fidgeted nervously, her many shawls and bangles clinking with every movement. Dumbledore inquired, "Madam Trelawney, I understand you claim to be the great-great-granddaughter of the celebrated seer, Cassandra Trelawney?"
"Yes, Headmaster. The ability to see beyond the ordinary world has been passed down through my family for generations. I have been fortunate enough to possess this gift since my youth," Sybill responded, her hands clasped tightly together.
Albus expressed his interest, asking Trelawney about her perspective on the importance of Divination at Hogwarts. "Divination is not merely a subject, but rather a profound awakening. It grants one the ability to perceive the concealed truths that lie beyond the realm of the mundane," she explained, her voice gaining confidence.
As Hermione heard Trelawney speak she rolled her eyes and was about to make an argument about that amount of nonsense when Regulus took her by the arm. "Don't," he cautioned, his grip firm.
He couldn't see her due to the disillusionment charm but he could almost sense her reaction. "I know what you're thinking," he murmured, his voice low.
Dumbledore found her explanation intriguing and requested a demonstration of her abilities. "Please, show me," he requested, his tone gentle yet commanding.
Trelawney closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. As she entered a trance-like state, the temperature in the room seemed to drop. "Something's happening," Hermione whispered, her breath barely visible in the cold air.
"I glimpse... I glimpse a future filled with darkness... 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..." she uttered in her altered state, her voice distant and otherworldly.
The Headmaster acknowledged the seer's insights and recognized their potential value. He knew she was delivering a prophecy but he also sensed a strange presence in the room. "We're not alone," he stated, his gaze shifting to where the trio was hidden.
Before Trelawny could continue he got up and cast a Finite Incantatem, at that moment the disillusionment charm was broken and Dumbledore revealed the three hidden figures. Severus perceiving what had happened took Hermione and Regulus and apparated them to his house at Spinner's End. The world blurring around them as they disappeared.