oooOOOoooOOOooo Chapter 12
Everyone stayed frozen for several minutes. They were all staring at either Harry or Dumbledore with looks of despair on their faces.
"No," Hermione whispered, brokenly. She grabbed onto Harry and hugged him fiercely. Harry resisted the contact at first, but then he clutched onto Hermione.
"Pleasey, say it isn't so," said McGonagall again, desperately.
Madame Bones cursed again.
Dumbledore wouldn't look at anyone.
"Is there anything we can do," Harry asked, his voice breaking.
"I'll keep looking," swore Dumbledore. "For the rest of my days, if I have to," he swore.
Hermione started shaking. She tore herself from Harry's arms and rounded on the headmaster.
"How many days will that be, Headmaster?" she asked, with atypical scorn in her voice. "Do you have any leads at all?"
Albus looked up quietly. He had so much sadness in his eyes.
"I can't be certain but I expect you will have a new headmaster or headmistress next year," Dumbledore said, his voice filled with pain. It was Harry's turn to swing around and face Dumbledore.
"You're just going to abandon me with this?" he asked, incredulously.
"Harry, no. I'm going to help you. With everything that I can. This year we're going to prepare and hunt these things," Dumbledore promised.
Harry laughed bitterly. "Between gladiator-style attempts on my life, right?"
Dumbledore winced again. Harry started shaking his head.
"I can't deal with this right now. I've got babies," Harry said, storming out of the Headmaster's office. Hermione stayed long enough to say her piece then ran to catch up with Harry.
"Do you know what Harry's worst fear is? That his children will become orphans and you'll dump them into an abusive home just like you did to Harry," said Hermione, tears in her voice. She turned and ran from the room.
Dumbledore slumped in his desk, his head in his hands. Minerva didn't say anything, she just turned and quietly left the room, too.
"You're in it up to your neck this time, Albus," said Madame Bones, ominously. She ran to catch up with the teens.
Hermione and Madame Bones caught up to Harry on the last stairway up to Gryffindor tower. They didn't say anything; they just walked quickly beside the boy who was struggling to keep his emotions under control. They entered the tower, which was bustling with the after-feast excitement.
"Harry!" called several excited people who wanted to congratulate him for joining in on the Weasley brothers' prank to get three Gryffindor champions into the Triwizard competition.
Harry growled and hunched his shoulders. He pushed through the excited crowd towards the entrance to his private rooms. Just as the disappointment about Harry's reaction was starting to spread, the Weasley twins returned with party favors, their big brother Bill, and Gabrielle and her usual group.
As soon as Gabrielle saw Harry, she rushed to his side. Hermione got the door to his rooms opened and hurried them all within.
The twins set off some fireworks and started passing around cases of butter beer and stacks of sweets. Everyone cheered and started singing about the jolly good Gryffinor team. The twins cackled as pranks that were mixed in with the piles of sweets and bottles of butter beer started erupting around the room.
Harry stormed into his rooms and went straight into his trunk. He walked as quickly as he could into his home and summoned his broom with vigor. The wood smacked into his palm just as the rest of the group caught up to him. He didn't say anything. He walked back out the door of his house and took off into the skies.
Hermione and Gabrielle watched him go with their hearts aching. They could both tell he was truly upset.
"What 'append?" asked Fleur, always on the verge of nosy impertinence.
Hermione looked at the group and sighed. "I can't tell you, but Harry just might. Let's let him relax for a while. He'll come find us when he's ready. I'm going to check on the twins and grab a book to read. I'll probably come back out here to watch Harry fly. He'll likely be in rare form today."
The rest of the group agreed. Madame Bones didn't have long to stay but she wanted to talk to Harry before she left. She decided to allow the boy a little latitude. He had a terrible shock. The group went up to the library while Hermione and Gabrielle went to check on the boys and the Grangers.
It was less than half an hour later before the entire group, plus the Grangers, elves, the remaining Marauders, and the babies were back on the lawn, enjoying refreshments as the sun began to set. As the last of the light faded, Harry finally saw sense to land. He walked quietly over to the group, his head hung low. Marie and Claudette had already returned to their dorms while the rest of the group remained. They all watched Harry with concern, except for the babies that lay sleeping in their bassinet, lulled to sleep by the sounds of the faux sea.
Harry stared at the babies with tears in his eyes.
"What is it, Harry?" asked Gabrielle, with so much care and empathy in her tone that Harry couldn't help but respond to it. He sank to his knees between Hermione and Gabrielle, his Firebolt falling uncaringly behind him. He reached a hand out to splay across the hands of his sons. He easily covered both of their hands with one of his own. He let a sob wretch out of his throat.
Hermione and Gabrielle moved as one to cradle him between them, his hand never moving from his children. A few minutes passed with everyone holding space for Harry to regain control of himself.
Harry took a few deep shuddering breaths and let go of the boys. The girls didn't let go of him as he settled back between them. Harry started talking. He told everyone the tale of Tom Riddle and his horcruxes.
The silence practically rang in the clearing beside the house by the faux sea inside a trunk within Hogwarts.
"Bloody hell," said Bill, breaking the silence. It was almost funny, if anything about Voldemort being basically immortal could possibly be funny.
Harry smirked. Those were his sentiments exactly.
"I know a little about horcruxes. They're right. In a properly executed horcrux situation, the only thing that can separate you is death. However, we know your horcrux wasn't cast properly," said Bill with confidence. Harry looked confused.
"How do you know that?" asked Madame Bones, her investigator mode activated.
"Because you're still you. If the horcrux had been properly cast, you would have died. The ritual calls for the intentional, willful murder of an innocent for the purpose of creating a horcrux. If it had worked, you wouldn't be you any longer. Voldemort's soul piece would have inhabited your newly emptied vessel," Bill said, simply. A look of dawning hope crossed Harry's face. Hermione was studying Bill like her life depended on his words.
Bill continued. "The only way to cast out a horcrux in that situation is to return the host body to its formerly uninhabited state."
"You mean, dead," said Harry, bluntly. Bill nodded.
"In an improperly cast horcrux situation, a soul leech is created. A soul leech forms when the soul piece attaches to a host. It uses the host's life force or magical energy to fuel the soul leech's existence. It can still try to fully possess the host but the host has the chance to fight off the possession," said Bill.
"How?" Hermione practically barked. "How can they fight it off?"
Bill looked at Harry.
"Well, it only works when the soul is otherwise willingly bound. It must be an exceedingly strong bond between multiple magical persons. It won't work with just one or two. Three seems to be the minimum number," said Bill, apologetically.
Harry didn't understand. "What do you mean, willingly bound?"
"He means the bonds of love, Harry. He means a soul deep bound such as a magical marriage. Or perhaps a liege lord binding," said Gabrielle, quietly. Harry turned to look at her, stunned.
"You mean, the only way to fight it is to become a slave or get married?" Harry asked, in disbelief.
"Or death," said Sirius, grimly. That really put things into perspective for the boy.
Harry was speechless. How was he supposed to find multiple people to marry him and hopefully soon? Harry looked to Hermione and Gabrielle for help but they were both blushing fiercely. Harry suddenly noticed they were all three sitting in such a way that they could hold hands with each other. Harry's look turned to one of speculation. He was still green but he was no inexperienced lad anymore.
Sirius looked at him with suggestive speculation, too. He had noticed the way that the three magical teens had almost instantly drawn together. They already had deep bonds of trust or the two French witches wouldn't be here listening to this tale right now.
Remus stopped Sirius from putting his foot in his mouth.
"This is news that gives us hope. Let's plan to research a possible resolution to Harry's soul leech soon. For now, let's focus on the other objects. We won't be able to destroy them if we don't know what and where they are," said Remus, sensibly.
"Dumbledore believes there are seven of them," said Hermione.
"He destroyed one, but he has also been grievously injured from the attempt. He said he doesn't expect to live to see next school year," said Harry, his voice a confused mix of angry and upset.
"This is terrible news," said Remus, fretfully. "How will we carry on the fight against Voldemort without Dumbledore?"
"We won't have to," said Sirius, determinedly.
"What do you mean?" asked Harry, despondently.
"We know who's behind your participation in this farce of a competition. Your name being in the goblet is likely no accident," said Sirius, seriously.
"Right," said Harry, starting to feel the insurmountable pressure of his situation.
"That means Voldemort is going to try to get you, probably during one of these tasks," said Remus, with dawning understanding.
"You have to be ready to face him when he shows up," said Sirius, fiercely.
Harry looked uncertain.
"Everytime you've come up against him, you've come out on top," said Hermione, encouragingly.
"How many times have you faced him?" asked Gabrielle, concerned.
"About four times. Once as a baby, twice during my first year, once during my second year, and well, now," said Harry, feeling his dread come under control. This was nothing new. He just had to find a way to survive.
"That's impressive," said Fleur, honestly. "You must prepare. I will help you," she said, somewhat arrogantly. Bill smiled at her. He loved her confidence.
Harry smiled gratefully at Fleur.
"We all will," said Dan, determinedly. "I'm quite good at the shooting range. I'd be glad to teach you all I know."
Harry grinned at the man. He'd take every advantage he could come across. Voldemort definitely wouldn't be expecting a pistol.
Hermione and Gabrielle shared a meaningful look. In that instant, both girls' were in complete agreement.
"Harry," Hermione said, gently. "If you'd like to try, I think Gabrielle and I would both be open to giving a relationship with you a chance, if I may be so bold as to speak for us both."
"I agree completely," said Gabrielle. "There is something between us all. I think I am not speaking too frankly when I say that I think we all feel it."
Harry blushed fiercely. "I do," said Hermione quietly. Harry's eyes flew up to hers.
He looked over at Gabrielle and saw the open honesty in her eyes. He started nodding, slowly.
"I'd like that," Harry said, embarrassed but determined.
Sirius grinned and slapped his knee.
"See, it's not all bad. We have a plan. We have a plan with a serious upside," he said, waggling his eyebrows at Harry, Hermione, and Gabrielle, all of whom blushed bright red.
"We still have the problem of the horcruxes," pointed out Remus.
"I think the diary from second year was one," said Hermione.
"Makes sense," said Harry.
"What's this?" asked Emma. Hermione quickly told the story of the Chamber of Secrets.
"You killed a basilisk. With a sword?" Madame Bones asked in confused disbelief. Sirius laughed loudly.
"Your pranks are even better than ours were, pup!" said Sirius, rolling around in mirth. "To think, we could have been finding mythical chambers and slaying great beats and instead we filled the Slythern's pants with blister balm," said Sirius.
Fleur was looking at Harry in a new light. She never considered him real competition before but if he could do that at 12 years old, he would be a real contender.
Harry saw her appraising look and couldn't help but smirk.
"I think Dumbledore knows about more potential horcruxes or their locations," said Hermione, returning the group to the proper discussion.
"He knows a lot more than he's telling. It's high time he came clean!" said Bill, vehemently.
"I say we ask him tomorrow," said Harry, aggressively. The others couldn't help but agree.
Hermione and Gabrielle worked with Bill, Fleur, Dan, and Remus to make a training schedule that would work around Harry's and Fleur's class schedules. It only seemed fair to allow the other girl and her teammates to join in the training, along with Harry's teammates. They left plenty of time for Fleur to study for her NEWTS and for Harry to spend with his children. They expected this to likely be a marathon and not a race. Most of the Voldemort adventures came to a head in the spring, for some strange reason.
The group broke up and headed to their respective beds after that. It was getting late and there had been quite a few shocks this evening. Madame Bones made her goodbyes and headed back to the ministry. She didn't plan to disseminate this shocking information widely but she was planning a strike force.
The next morning, Harry woke up and lay in his bed, contemplating his life. He had just started to feel blossoming feelings for his best friend and his new friend. Now, his very life depended on forming a soul deep connection with not one but both of them. If his life couldn't get any stranger, they both seemed amenable to the situation.
Harry thought hard about his children and what would happen to them if both himself and Dumbledore were dead. Hermione was still in school and not yet of age. Would anyone let her take custody? Should Harry ask the Grangers to take custody until Hermione was ready to take over? Harry really didn't want to leave his children as orphans. He never wanted them to experience that kind of pain.
Harry was supposed to get up now and go to classes for the day. His life was in danger from a basically immortal dark lord with at least four more soul anchors out there other than himself. Yet, people wanted him to go learn to make pumpkins grow into pincushions and make cures for boils? Honestly, how often do these people get boils? Harry had never had one.
He knew he needed to learn and learn fast if he was going to survive another encounter with Voldemort but he just couldn't help the overwhelming feeling of needing to worry about this stupid tournament and his children's future's at the same time.
At least if Harry married Hermione and Gabrielle, there'd for sure be someone to manage and protect his children's inheritance after he was gone. Harry shook his head and got out of bed. He went to shower. He continued his weighty thoughts as he got ready for the day.
Harry went down to say hello to the Grangers and the babies before he headed out for classes for the day.
"How are you feeling, Harry, dear?" asked Emma. She came over and hugged the teen, before settling him down at the breakfast table.
Harry started to protest.
"Not today, dear. You and Hermione both deserve a peaceful breakfast before you get thrown back out to those vultures again. Please, eat up," urged Emma.
There was healthy egg whites and whole wheat toast with fresh, sugar-free orange marmalade and oatmeal with blueberries and raspberries cooked in. Harry ate heartily, enjoying his fresh squeezed orange juice much more than he ever enjoyed pumpkin juice.
Hermione hurried over to Harry when she entered the room. She hugged him fiercely and hurried to settle herself in a seat.
"I made lesson plans for our next two weeks worth of study sessions. This will allow us to get maximum study impact in the least amount of study time. I think we can keep our current ranking while studying only during our regular study period and for two hours each on Saturday and Sunday," said Hermione, breathlessly.
She continued. "We'll still need to work at least two hours per night, five nights per week to finish our homework, but we've been doing that before bed anyway. The new study schedule the group came up with last night is from 2pm after classes until dinnertime. That will leave from dinner time until the twins go down for the night for you to relax and spend with your babies. We'll study for five hours each on Saturday and Sunday to prepare for you know," she said, shiftily.
Harry nodded. She was taking care of him, as always. Harry was a doer, not a planner. He was great in a pinch but not so great at this kind of marathon level of planning.
"Sounds good to me. That's what, 30 hours of preparation for all this mess per week? I just hope it will be enough," Harry said, uncertainly.
Hermione took his hands and stared into his eyes. "It will be."
Harry smiled and squeezed her hands one more time before turning back to his food. The babies entered the room with Winky and Dobby just a few moments later.
"Good morning, Dobby. Winky. How did you both sleep?" asked Harry.
Dobby beamed at the consideration. "Very well, Mr. Harry, sir. Our rooms is being very comfortable."
Winky agreed. "Winky's bed is being very soft. The babies be sleeping very quietly all night. They only be waking one time for a bottle and a nappie change," said Winky, proudly. Harry grinned at his sons.
"They're right cracker, they are," said Harry. The boys were watching him, excitedly. Winky settled each boy into his seat at the table with a bottle then gathered her own plate. She and Dobby were used to eating at the table with the others now.
Soon, the students were off to classes, while the adults were going to work with the elves to put together the deluxe fort that had been purchased for the babies. It wouldn't see a lot of use for a few years but it had baby swings and a swinging bench that could be used right away.
The day passed by slowly. Harry finally saw Gabrielle at lunch. He decided to bite the bullet and take the kind offer the girls had made. This weekend was a Hogsmeade weekend, and Harry intended to take advantage of the convenience. There were only two more Hogsmeade weekends before Christmas break. It wasn't much time but he hoped to be able to present the girls with a promise ring on Boxing Day if all went well.
They would need to be married before the end of the school year, most likely before the third task, if there was any hope of finishing off Voldemort. Assuming the same pattern was followed that seemed to happen to him every year, that's when things would come to a head. Harry just hoped it was enough time to find all the horcruxes and get prepared to face Voldemt and to survive this historically deadly tournament all while being a new father and trying to get two girls to fall in love with him? Harry could feel the headache starting to pound in his brain.
One thing at a time. He tried to pay attention in class and to really learn his classwork so he could maybe survive.
Classes finally ended and Harry and Hermione hurried to meet up with Gabrielle, Fleur, Fleur's teammates, and Fred and George Weasley. They met up outside the Gryffindor common room.
"Harrykins!" said what Harry believed to be Fred.
"To what do we owe this summons?" asked George.
"Not that we mind the lovely company," said Fred, winking at the girls'. Fleur's male teammate rolled his eyes. Fleur and Gabrielle just ignored Fred. Fleur's female teammate giggled.
"Tough crowd," said George, grinning at Fred's flirtatious fail.
"Too right. What's up, Harrykins?" asked Fred.
"Come inside and I'll explain," said Harry. He felt Fred and George had a right to know the real danger they were in by being his teammates.
Harry led the group around to the entrance to his private rooms, rather than trekking through the Gryffindor common room. He led them over to his trunk and took them all inside. Sirius, Remus, Bill, and Dan were already waiting for them.
"Brother Bill!" said George, probably.
"The wildest Weasley!" said Fred, probably. They went forward and gave Bill some back slapping hugs and razzed him for being at Harry Potter's beck and call. Bill rolled his eyes and let their jokes roll off his back. Bill only had eyes for Fleur. He went forward and greeted her next.
Harry turned to Sirius and Remus.
"We all have an appointment to talk to Dumbledore after dinner. Officially, Bill is on loan from Gringotts to help you with the tournament. Unofficially, he's on assignment to help find the horcruxes," explained Remus quietly while the twins had everyone else distracted.
"I hope you don't mind, I paid Gringotts for Bill's time out of the Black family vaults," said Sirius.
"Not at all. Does he really think he can help find them?" asked Harry, anxiously.
"With Remus, Hermione, and Fleur on his side? No doubt. They're all task master researchers," said Sirius, jokingly.
Harry grinned. He was truly feeling hopeful.
The twins turned everyone's attention back on Harry.
"Again, Harrykins. What gives?" asked one twin.
"What brings us to your admittedly bodacious abode?" asked the other twin.
"Guys, Bill is officially my trainer for the Triwizard Tournament. He's going to help us train. I invited Fleur and her teammates, and Viktor and his teammates, to join us. Viktor thanked me for my kindness but declined. He's provided his own tutors for his teammates," said Harry.
"You invited Viktor and his teammates, too?" asked Fleur, in surprise.
"It only seemed sporting," said Harry. Gabrielle smiled at him.
"Hermione and Gabrielle will be joining us for our studies, as they deem fit," said Harry, no question in his tone. No one argued.
"My cousin from Canada and one of our former professors will be assisting us as well. This is Padfoot Potter and Remus Lupin. Dan Granger will be observing," said Harry, introducing the adults. Dan would be giving Sirius, Remus, Harry, Hermione, Gabrielle, Fleur, and Bill firearms training for an extra half hour each day. Dan went to the Trunk Bunk and bought a shooting range in a snuff box with glee in his heart.
Hermione passed out the schedules to all of the contestants.
"This schedule still leaves time for your NEWT studies. Remus has agreed to make himself available to help those of you who will be taking their NEWTs this year," said Bill, gesturing towards Remus.
"I can assist from after dinner until 10pm Monday through Thursday. I will need to take three days off per month for personal reasons but am otherwise available," said Remus. Fleur and her teammates were excited to hear this. The Weasleys and Harry weren't that interested. Hermione and Gabrielle looked jealous of the extra studying they would be missing out on.
All of the students looked happy with the arrangement. Remus passed out his own study schedule for the NEWT students, along with a copy of his notes from his own NEWT studies. They were a little dated but still very organized and detailed. Hermione and Gabrielle both begged for a copy, too. Remus gave them all a copy, even the ones who didn't ask for it. Harry knew it was a valuable resource, so he was careful to put his copies away in his study where he'd be able to find them again in a few years time. He was sure Hermione would update it and personalize it to their own classes. With the way Gabrielle squeed and held the documents just as preciously, Harry was sure she'd do the same.
Next, Bill passed out the lesson plans and notes for this week's training for the competition, including a required reading list. Harry wanted to groan at all the extra work but he knew how important this was. He was determined to get it right. He looked at his friends and knew he could do it if they could.
They got to work practicing spells right away. Bill, Sirius, and Remus took two or three of them each and started testing them to see where they were at in their spell casting. Harry was surprised to see that he wasn't that far off from the seventh years. Fred and George, who were sixth years, were on par with the seventh years. Harry didn't have as wide of a breadth of spell knowledge but he made up for that by being more powerful than any of the other students. Hermione and Gabrielle were no slouches themselves. They both excelled at spell knowledge. They weren't as powerful as Harry was but they could rival Fleur's teammates and the twins. Fleur was fully mature magically, so she was more on par with the adults than with the other teens. Harry's raw power still outstripped them all.
"Your power levels are impressive," said Fleur, grudgingly, when she wasn't able to best his power levels after the third try. Only Remus came close to besting Harry and that's only because he had more practice with focus and projecting his will than Harry had. He started Harry and the others on meditation practices that they were to undertake every morning and evening. He intended to teach them occlumency. Sirius hoped Harry and his friends would go on to become animagi, once they mastered the meditation skills.
Harry looked uncomfortable at Fleur's grudging compliment. "It's just something I can do. You know way more spells than I do."
"Some," Fleur agreed, graciously. "Not as many as I would have expected. Not from any of you. You should be proud of your efforts so far. I cannot even cast a Patronus but both yourself and 'Ermione can do so," said Fleur.
Hermione looked pleased by the compliment. "I look forward to working with all of you." The others couldn't help but agree.
They finished for the day. The Weasley twins left, excited by the training they had received and even more excited to think of the mischief they could get up to with the new knowledge they'd be gaining.
Fleur's teammates hurried back to their dormitories to prepare for dinner and gather their NEWT materials. Fleur was talking quietly with Bill while Emma came over to where Harry and Hermione were standing. She had the twins with her. They were floating in some strange seat that looked like a flying saucer.
"What's that?" Harry asked.
"It's a seat that assists them with learning to sit up. They want to be a part of the action, Da," said Emma in a soft voice. She never used cutesy words with the children. Only voices. They were smart enough to learn how words were pronounced even now, even if they couldn't speak yet.
"It looks fun, " Harry said, touching his sons' hands and talking to them softly. They gurgled and kicked their little feet in excitement. They had started babbling some. They babbled dadadadada when they saw him. He was sure they were doing it on purpose.
Emma moved off with the children to settle in on the swing while Dan took the rest of the group into the snuff box to visit the firing range. Emma kept the snuff box safe on a side table while she swung with the babies. Winky joined her to help with them.
The next hour was very exhilarating for all of the participants except for Dan and Hermione, both of whom had been shooting for years already.
"Alright, Hermione, why don't you come up here and we'll teach them each some safety rules before we move on to practicing," Dan said.
Dan taught them about ear protection, how to hold the gun safely, where the safety was and how to turn it on and off, and how you never, ever point a gun at another person unless you want them dead. Hermione acted as Dan's model and assistant. Dan lectured while everyone else learned.
Finally, they were ready to try the weapon. One at a time, they stepped up to the firing range.
"First, I want to see you load and unload the gun. I want to see you show me how to turn the safety on and off. Finally, I want to see your hold. Please, begin," Dan said, as Sirius took his turn.
Sirius held the gun and clicked the safety off and then back on. He carefully pulled out the magazine and made sure the chamber was empty. Then, he carefully reloaded the gun and took his stance. Dan corrected his hold and the way he was standing. Finally, once Dan was satisfied, he called up a target and let Sirius practice firing the gun for the first time. Sirius' second bullet hit the target near the outer ring of the bullseye. Everyone cheered.
Dan watched as Sirius unloaded the gun and made sure the chamber was empty. He handed the gun off to Dan and went back to take his place in line. Next up was Remus. Everyone had their turn, ending with Hermione who shot three dead-center bullseyes. Everyone cheered again. Hermione was an impressive marksman. Everyone did pretty well for their first time.
"Great job, everyone!" Dan said, clapping. Everyone joined in. "Tomorrow, we'll each practice in our own lane. We'll do six rounds of twelve bullets each. Change targets after every six rounds. Get to dinner!" Dan ordered.
Everyone trudged out to head to their respective dinners. They were exhausted already.
Harry, Hermione, Gabrielle, Fleur, Bill, Marie, and Claudette all settled in at the Gryffindor table. Trouble started even before the soup course did.
"Oh, what. You've got two Veela girlfriends now, do you, Potter. Stealing my girlfriend wasn't enough. You had to steal my brother, too?" Ron snarled. Bill looked very displeased.
"Ronald Bilius Weasley. You be quiet this instant. You should be ashamed of yourself, talking to your friend like that. You'd best lay off now or I'll be telling mum straight away," threatened Bill. Ron's ears turned red as his friends all laughed at hearing Bill threaten to tell his mum.
"Traitor," Ron growled at Bill. He turned his back on them and ignored them for the rest of dinner. Ginny wasn't so easily swayed.
"Bill, you had best leave those hussies and that cheater to their own devices. Mum won't appreciate you being seen in such company. I'll write to dad, if you don't," she threatened.
"Ginny. Please, go sit down. You're embarrassing yourself," Bill said, kindly.
"Bill, he was my boyfriend and he slept with someone else. Don't you even care?" asked Ginny, tears in her eyes.
"He wasn't, Ginny. You admitted that, remember?" Bill asked, gently. Ginny looked confused for a minute, then she got angry. She screamed at Bill that he was a bastard and fled the room. She didn't eat anything. Bill was worried for her.
"Is your sister the girl from the Chamber of Secrets story?" asked Fleur, shrewdly. Bill was sad but impressed. He nodded and locked questioning eyes onto Fleur's.
"She was truly possessed by one of them, then?" she asked, quietly. Bill flinched and looked at Harry.
"Yes. She almost died," answered Harry, honestly. Bill winced again.
"Was the taint ever properly cleansed from her? Was her personality fully reclaimed?" asked Fleur, nosily.
"Not really," said Hermione, quietly. "Everyone just sort of ignored the problem. She fixated on Harry as her rescuer and her childhood hero. She wanted the fantasy to become reality."
"She seems out of touch with reality. Rather than accepting the truth that exists around her, she is wrapped in delusion," said Fleur, frankly.
"I spoke to my parents about it. They weren't very receptive to getting help for Ginny. They prefer to ignore the situation than admit something might be wrong. She's just a little girl to them," said Bill, his voice breaking. "I don't know how to help her."
Fleur took his hand and pulled him into her side. Bill went willingly. Fleur whispered to him while Hermione spoke.
"I think we should bring it up to Dumbledore tonight. We're meeting with him after dinner?" asked Hermione.
Harry nodded, a lump in his throat. He thought of Ginny as Ron's little sister. A sort of pseudo little sister to himself. He never meant to lead her on.
"Don't do that," chided Gabrielle. Harry looked at her questioningly. "Don't take responsibility for her feelings. You did nothing more than save her life. She owes you a life debt. You do not owe her anything, though I find you to be kind-hearted and sweet for caring so much," she finished gently. Harry looked even guiltier. He didn't deserve praise.
"She's right, you know," said Bill. "You did more than anyone could have possibly had the right to expect for Ginny. You don't owe her anything else. The Weasley's owe you. I hope I'm doing my part to help repay that debt."
Harry thought of Bill's help with the tournament and the horcruxes. It truly was Harry who owed Bill.
"More than," Harry croaked out. "I can't thank you enough for your help."
"None of that," said Bill. "I will hear nothing of it. You're family to me."
Harry grinned wobbly and shook Bill's hand. "Brothers?" asked Harry.
Bill nodded firmly. "Brothers."
Two voices behind them broke into faux sobs. "Brothers!" they chorused together and fell on Harry and Bill with noogies and gentle jabs to the ribs.
"Geroff!" was echoed by the two as the cackling twins moved out of range of retribution. Bill smoothed his hair. Harry knew better than to bother.
"What's got you too sharing the love?" asked George, probably.
"Why weren't we included?" asked Fred, most likely, pretending to be miffed.
"Don't worry about it. Have you two noticed anything off about Ginny this past year?" asked Bill, turning back to the important matter.
"You mean two years?" asked Fred.
"Since she started Hogwarts?" asked George. Bill nodded, gravely.
"Definitely," the twins answered in stereo.
"She's been unpredictably emotional."
"She doesn't make friends."
"She's only barely passing her classes."
"She floats off into a dream world and then believes her fantasies are real," finished the twins together. It was eerie. Bill felt a shiver go down his spine.
"I have to talk to Dumbledore," said Bill, determinedly. He wasn't going to let his baby sister go down a bad road without trying to help her.
"Might not be a bad idea, mate," said Fred.
"We tried to talk to mum and dad but it was a no-go," said George.
"I tried to talk to them, too," said Bill, morosely. Fred and George gave him sympathetic slaps on the back then took seats on the other side of Hermione and Bill, respectively.
The group settled into milder chatter and finished their meal. When they saw the Headmaster stand and start out of the Great Hall, they were quick to follow. They still never caught up to the man.
By the time they arrived at Dumbledore's office and got through the password protected entrance, a good half hour had passed. The door suddenly opened for them. They followed the spiral stairs upwards to find Remus, Padfoot the dog, Madame Bones, the real Professor Moody, and two other aurors waiting in the room. Dumbledore raised his eyebrows at the group with Harry.
"Please tell me you haven't shared your secrets this widely, Harry?" chided Dumbledore. Harry bristled.
"I told only those I can trust. Those who are willing and able to help me. Have you finally done the same, professor?" Harry asked, boldly.
Dumbledore stared back at Harry, then sighed. Madame Bones and her aurors along with Professors McGonagall and Flitwick started casting to create enough seats and space for everyone.
"It seems I have," said Dumbledore. He urged everyone into their seats and looked at the assembled group.
"Everyone here is aware of the basics of the situation. Tom Riddle has created horcruxes to anchor himself to the physical plane of existence. While he has not yet regained a physical form, I believe it is his aim to do so. He will be in a weakened state until he does," said Dumbledore. Everyone was gravely silent.
"I have destroyed one of these items, as has Harry, to much greater success," said Dumbledore with a gentle smile at the boy. Harry ran his fingers over the scar the basilisk fang piercing his flesh left behind. Harry knew he was just lucky.
"I am afraid my time on this Earth is drawing to a close," many people gasped at this news. Dumbledore waved their inquiries down. His blacked hand, now desiccated to the elbow, gave unspoken weight to his words.
"It is my wish that we settle this matter before I pass on to the next great adventure," Dumbledore said, looking sadly at Harry. Harry grit his teeth in anger.
"Did you know the differences between a properly cast horcrux and a soul leech, Professor Dumbledore?" Bill asked, with a seeming non-sequitur.
Dumbledore looked puzzled and slightly put off by the way the question was asked.
"The origin of the horcrux ritual was the Akhmet Dynasty of the Magical Reign of Wizards over the enslaved muggles almost 8,000 years ago. Akhmet's priests experimented on the muggles, researching new dark spells and rituals that would extend the life of the wizard they viewed as a god. One such ritual they discovered was the horcrux ritual," lectured Bill. Dumbledore was waiting patiently for him to get to the point.
"We run into these vile artifacts occasionally while working in tombs in Egypt. Properly cast horcruxes come in one of two forms. First, an inanimate object is used to house the soul shard. The soul shard attracts and seeks to possess a host only after the main soul piece is no longer tied to a physical body. The soul shard will drain the life and magic of the host, leaving them a soulless husk, much like the effects of a dementor's kiss," now Bill's eyes were burning with anger.
"Then, the soul shard possesses the body and draws the main soul piece to itself, taking over the technically deceased host's body, claiming it for their own," Bill spat, thinking of Ginny. Dumbledore flinched, thinking of the same.
"The other form a horcrux can take is when a soul shard attaches to an already deceased host, taking it over immediately, acting as a slave to the main soul shard's will, if the main soul shard is still housed in a body of its own. If not, the main soul shard takes over the empty vessel and inhabits it as their own. Neither of these situations apply to Harry," Bill said into the ringing silence.
"Then, what?" asked Dumbledore, glancing at Harry's forehead. Bill huffed impatiently.
"You don't even know, do you? Did you even do any research on horcruxes? Did it even cross your mind to consult an expert on dark magic or a cursebreaker, such as myself?" asked Bill, impatiently. Dumbledore shook his head slightly.
"I felt the best I could do was research on my own. I am a formidable wizard and researcher myself," said Dumbledore, a little defensively. Bill just stared at the man.
"When a horcrux ritual is improperly done, it creates a soul leech, not a horcrux. The soul shard from the main soul attaches to a living host. It can still take possession of the living host but the living host has the opportunity to fight," said Bill, his voice frustrated.
"Is there anything that can help?" asked Madame Bones, grimly. She didn't have much hope for Potter if he had to fight the dark bastard on his own in a battle of wills. She didn't know Harry very well.
"Yes," said Bill, finally breaking eye contact with Dumbledore. Bill looked at Madame Bones. "Harry can take part in a soul binding marriage or submit himself to a liege lord. The willing soul bond can overcome the unwilling bond. It must be a multi-partner binding but the unbinding ritual enacted during the consecration of the willing soul-bond has been shown to successfully sever the unwilling-bond."
Dumbledore's eyes flew to Harry, Hermione, and Gabrielle. A beatific smile crossed his face.
"Love. Love has always been your strongest weapon, Harry. It's love that is the power Voldemort knows not," said Dumbledore, beaming with joy. His sudden relief and happiness affected the mood of everyone in the room with its power.
Harry didn't want to feel Dumbledore's joy. He wanted to yell at the man some more. "Yes, hopefully. We found a way pretty quickly, when it was all said and done. When we tried to work together," said Harry, snidely. Not that Harry considered his salvation a done deal. He had to get two girls to fall in love with him, pronto. That didn't sound easy at all. Good for him, both girls found him quite easy to love.
"Yes, hopefully," Dumbledore said, settling his emotions somewhat.
"What do you mean by "power he knows not", professor?" asked Fleur suspiciously. "The way you said it made it seem significant."
Dumbledore's happiness dimmed just a little bit more. He looked at Harry, sadness in his gaze again. "I had hoped to spare you for just a little longer from this burden, but I guess needs must," Dumbledore said with a sigh. He flicked his wand and the pensieve from before sailed out of a cabinet behind him.
Dumbledore pulled a memory from his mind and settled it into the pensieve.
"You understand the power of divination and prophecy, don't you, Harry?" Dumbledore said, sadly. Harry remembered the prophecy Trelawney had made last year about the dark lord's faithful servant returning to his side. Harry shivered.
"Yes," he said, grudgingly.
Dumbledore nodded and played his memory. Trelawney appeared above the pensieve and started speaking in that strange, harsh voice once more.
"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 a 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."
Harry touched his scar again, the mark given to him by the dark lord. The mark that showed him as literally the dark lord's equal, a piece of his very soul attached to Harry's. Gabrielle and Hermione clutched at Harry's hands fiercely. Harry returned the squeeze and centered himself.
"This doesn't come as a surprise to me," said Harry, quietly. "It's always been him versus me. He won't allow it to be any other way. I will defeat him. I can't tolerate a world where anything else is the outcome," said Harry, determination lacing his voice.
"He's never been able to defeat you, Harry. I believe in you," said Sirius, even more determined than Harry to see it done with his godson still alive. Harry deserved to live. Voldemort deserved to die. That was all that mattered in Sirius' mind.
Everyone murmured their agreement and their vows to help Harry succeed.
"Is there any way to verify how many there are or what they are?" asked Kingsley Shacklebolt. Dumbledore sighed again.
"I believe Horace Slughorn has knowledge of this matter. He hides from me to keep his involvement from being known with certainty. While I do not believe he meant to help Tom become the blight on society that he has become, I do believe he helped him," said Dumbledore, tiredly.
"We'll find him," said Madame Bones with finality. "We'll use the state secrets act to hide this entire investigation," she said in a no-nonsense tone to her aurors and Moody. He was called back on a special assignment to help find these blasted things.
"How did you destroy the one you ended, Potter?" asked Moody, gruffly.
Harry waved at Hermione. She told the story of the Chamber of Secrets again, quickly and concisely. She left out no details but gave all the information in less than five minutes. The aurors took notes.
Dumbledore then shared what happened in the Gaunt shack.
"I suspected that the murder of Tom's father and paternal grandparents, committed supposedly by his maternal uncle, was not what it seemed. After discovering the true nature of the diary during the summer after Harry's second year, I knew this was the most likely place to find evidence of further horcruxes," Dumbledore began stroking his long beard at the memory.
"I didn't feel I could trust anyone else with the task, so I went alone. First, I checked Tom's father's home. It was empty of all but the muggle caretaker, who had no knowledge of horcruxes," he continued.
"As Tom's maternal homestead was closeby, I checked there as well. I found substantial wards around what was basically a shack. I decided to investigate further," Dumbledore said with regret.
"After several hours of difficult trial and error, I was able to bring down the wards. Inside the home, in what was obviously Tom's mother's bedroom, I found a ring in a box on a shelf behind a false wall in the closet," Dumbledore paused here, gazing down at his blackened arm. A gaudy silver ring with a plain black stone set on the band glittered against he black of his hand and arm.
"I underestimated a simple compulsion charm to put on the ring. I had been searching for this ring for some time, you see. It was a complete shock to find it in this inconspicuous location. I was unable to resist the temptation. I put on the ring," he said, holding up his hand.
Everyone backed away from the cursed object. The stone had a huge crack down the center.
"Don't be afraid. The dark wasting curse that was upon this ring has been spent. The ring is but a relic of myth now. The Slytherin family house ring. It rightfully belongs to you, Harry. You are the one who vanquished its master," Dumbledore said, removing the ring and holding it out, guilelessly to Harry. Harry looked uncertain; he unconsciously looked to Hermione and Gabrielle for direction on what to do. Hermione stayed his hand.
She took out her wand and cast every dark curse detection spell she could manage on it. Remus and Bill joined in. It wasn't that they didn't trust the Headmaster; it was just that he had admitted he'd been taken in by the power of the ring once already.
When they were done casting, they encouraged Harry to take the ring.
"All clear," said Remus, putting his wand away. Bill nodded his agreement. Hermione reached out and snatched the ring first. Nothing happened. Harry gasped and grabbed it away from her.
"Hermione!" he practically shouted. She just shrugged.
"You aren't the only one allowed to be noble," she said.
Harry gave her the stink eye, then turned back to the ring. He strengthened his resolve and slipped the ring over his finger. The ring merely glowed with a dark aura for a moment, then settled down on Harry's finger, just the right size. Harry's other house rings had appeared with the inclusion of the new ring. He looked like a pimp, with a gaudy ring on each finger. He rolled his eyes and tapped them to hide them again.
No one said a word for just a moment.
Dumbledore got the conversation back on track. "I have a lead on another horcrux. The orphanage that Tom grew up in was the location of his first acts of magical power and cruelty. This would be significant to him. The location of the first time he seriously injured a victim can be found nearby. I believe this to be the location of another horcrux," said Dumbledore.
"That leaves three," said Madam Bones.
"Yes. I have some speculation on what these items may be but I have no real proof," said Dumbledore. Everyone waited for him to continue. He sighed again.
"I believe his familiar, a large snake, is a living horcrux. It seems to have intelligence beyond that of a normal snake. According to Bill's theories, I believe this would be a properly cast horcrux or, worse, a being enslaved in animal form," said Dumbledore.
It was news to Harry that Voldemort had a familiar. He guessed being a parselmouth and keeping a pet snake made sense.
"The others?" asked Flitwick.
"I believe Tom has corrupted several founders' items. A broach from Godric Gryffindor's cloak was found at the Potter home after their murders. I believe Tom meant to create his seventh and final horcrux out of this item," said Dumbledore.
Sirius snorted. "That certainly backfired. Literally."
Dumbledore couldn't help but agree.
"I believe a cup that originally belonged to Helga Hufflepuff, which disappeared with the murder of Hepzibah Smith, was stolen by Tom and used for heinous purposes." Dumbledore looked at the assembled group and let his last secret go.
"I believe the final horcrux to be Ravenclaw's diadem. It is well known that Helena Reavenclaw stole the diadem from her mother. Helena was subsequently murdered by her jilted lover, Marcus Slytherin. Both ghosts still reside in Hogwarts to this day," said Dumbledore.
Hermione gasped. "The Gray Lady and the Bloody Baron!"
Dumbledore nodded. His eyes twinkled in appreciation of her quick mind.
"Do you know the location of any of these items?" asked Madame Bones, with her eyebrows raised.
"Alas, I do not. However, I do know that Tom and the Gray Lady were quite close during his later Hogwarts years. Tom worked for Burgeon and Burke's at the time that Hufflepuff's cup disappeared. Those are locations I would begin my search," said Dumbledore, simply.
It was a lot for the group to digest. Bill decided to change the subject.
"I suggest we reconvene to plan for recon on the orphanage or whatever. The aurors can try to find old Sluggy to get the horcrux information from him," said Bill.
"I can talk to Helena. We were friendly during my time at Hogwarts," offered Remus. Bill nodded at him.
"I'll go talk to old Burgeon," said Moody, cracking his knuckles. Dumbledore looked uncertain about that suggestion.
"I'll go with him," said Shacklebolt, hoping to temper Moody's methods with his presence. Dumbledore relaxed a little and nodded.
"In the meantime, I'd like to discuss something else," said Bill, menacingly.
Dumbledore looked at him with trepidation.
"Ginny," Bill said. Dumbledore winced.
"She needs help. She's not right and my parents won't hear of it because you said everything would be fine. I'm guessing you decided Ginny's health and happiness was a worthy sacrifice to keep your secrets?" Bill asked Dumbledore, bitingly.
"I see the error of that now," said Dumbledore. McGonagall was giving him the evil eye while Flitwick just looked disappointed. They were educators. It was their duty to protect the children.
"I expect you'll be having an important conversation with my parents, forthwith. I also expect the school to pay for the mind healer," said Bill firmly.
Dumbledore slumped down in his chair but nodded his agreement. Bill stared at him with malice for just a few more moments before turning back to the group.
"If there's nothing else, I know I'm exhausted and the students still have homework to complete," said Bill.
No one spoke up so the group dispersed.