Summary: Destroying Horcruxes
A/N: Long chapter ahead! Have fun, and thanks for reading.
Chapter 12
The Golden Quartet sat in Dumbledore's office. He'd called them together to discuss the Horcruxes. Albus looked at all four of them.
"Severus, have you heard anything about Tom's doings?"
Severus shook his head. "Draco has been very tight-lipped since they attacked me. I think deep down he feels badly and is avoiding me."
Albus frowned.
"Let's fix that, hmm? Get chummy with him again. Secretly, of course, so these three don't know you're a double agent."
Everyone sniggered.
"I will try, sir," Severus replied.
"Now, our spy amongst the actual Death Eaters has given us some important information. He heard Bellatrix LeStrange talking with the Dark Lord about an artifact hidden in the LeStrange vault. From what he said, she described it as a cup."
Hermione gasped. "Hufflepuff's cup."
"Indeed," Albus agreed.
"So, now we know where that is," Harry mused. "We need to figure out where the locket went and what the Ravenclaw item would be. Then there's the snake… and me, of course."
Harry looked down as Hermione reached out and grasped his hand, giving it a squeeze.
"I am investigating a way to keep you alive, or should I say bring you back, once the Dark Lord strikes you down," Dumbledore explained. "Miss Granger, I could use your help with this, if you have time."
She nodded.
He smiled at her. "But we have time to figure that out. Right now, we can address the cup… and the locket."
Dumbledore lifted up a small box from his lap and opened it, showing them the necklace with the golden locket attached.
"Merlin, how did you find it?" Ron asked in surprise.
"I was at Headquarters and struck up a conversation with the House-Elf, Kreacher. We were discussing his noble house, and he began to speak of his favorite Black… Regulus."
Albus sat back and gazed at Harry.
"Evidently Regulus' middle name is Arcturus, which I had forgotten since it was some time since he disappeared."
"R.A.B." Hermione murmured.
"Yes, Miss Granger. R.A.B. indeed. When I realized, I urged the little Elf to tell me more about Regulus, and he told me the most interesting tale. You see, Regulus turned against Tom soon before he disappeared."
"He did?" Severus said.
Dumbledore nodded. "You were friends with him, weren't you, Severus?"
"Yes. He had joined the Death Eaters by the time I was a seventh-year. He was the poster boy for those of us with interest to follow. He always spoke highly of the Dark Lord, urging me to take the Mark as soon as I could. What happened to turn him, Headmaster?"
"It's a harrowing tale, my friends. You see, Tom came to Regulus and asked to borrow his House-Elf, Kreacher, to test something for him. He had Kreacher test the protections on the locket in a cave. He left the poor Elf for dead but underestimated House-Elf magic. Kreacher returned and the misgivings that Regulus had been feeling prior to that moment were cemented. He went back with Kreacher and switched out the Horcrux. He ordered Kreacher to take the Locket and destroy the Horcrux, but Kreacher never figured out how."
"What happened to Regulus?" Severus asked.
"He perished. He drank the potion, just like I did. When he went to get water, he was dragged down by the Inferi, and unfortunately, Kreacher was unable to save him. He mourns his lost master to this day."
"So, Regulus died trying to thwart the Dark Lord," Severus mused.
"Yes. And once I told Kreacher what we were trying to do, he readily showed me where he'd hidden the locket and gave it to me to destroy."
Why didn't you just destroy it?" Harry asked.
"It is very crafty. I went to stab it with the Sword of Gryffindor, but it created some rather unpleasant visions. I stopped and was tempted to put it around my neck and never take it off. I quickly left the room until I could control myself and placed it in this magic-proof box."
"Now that you mention it, there is a nasty aura emanating from it, isn't there?" Ron mentioned.
"I can feel it too," Hermione remarked.
The other two nodded.
"So, I ask for your help in destroying this. I would ask one of you to wield the sword and destroy the locket. I will help you to not fall victim to the lies that the locket conjures."
"Shouldn't you do it, sir?" Hermione asked.
They all looked at the Headmaster as he lowered his head and shook it.
"I cannot. It is too strong."
"Headmaster, if it's too strong for you, how can we possibly…?" Harry started.
Dumbledore held up his hand. "My past is… complicated. I cannot get past the visions this locket shows me to have the strength to destroy it. However, I am hoping that one of you will be able to do so."
"I can try," Severus offered. The others looked at him.
"Are you sure?" Dumbledore asked.
Severus nodded. "I don't know what it will show me, but with your help, I should be able to overcome it."
"Just know, it brings up things from your past and tells half-truths about them. Do not believe anything it says or shows you," Dumbledore advised.
Severus nodded and stood. "I am ready."
The Headmaster looked at the other three. "You should all take cover. This might release some strong magic when it is destroyed."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione nodded and went to the far corners of the room, each taking cover behind a table or chair nearby. Dumbledore removed the Sword of Gryffindor from behind the portrait over his desk and handed it to Severus. He lifted the locket and placed it on the desk. Looking at Severus, he gave him instructions.
"Pierce the locket through with the tip of the sword. As I said before, don't believe anything it says."
Severus gave him a brief nod but was not quite sure what Dumbledore meant.
The Headmaster looked at Harry. "Would you do the honors?" he asked.
Harry looked at the locket, then realized what Dumbledore was asking.
"Oh, yeah. Of course."
Harry spoke Parseltongue, ordering the locket to open. Severus watched as the locket sprung open and two eyes stared out at him. He recognized those eyes. They were the Dark Lord's eyes. Eyes he remembered from his time in the past. He lifted the sword and then was assaulted by visions.
His mother and father cackled at him. His father yelled that he was worthless. His mother said even worse.
"You fool child. How could I ever love you? You're a disappointment to the Snape and Prince names!"
"Don't listen to her, Severus. It is all a lie!" Dumbledore shouted.
Severus shook his head vigorously and raised the sword again. This time, Hermione jumped out at him.
"You think I'm interested in you?" She laughed vulgarly. "You are just a means to an end to get through this war. Once we've won, I'm going to find a real man."
"Severus, you know that's not true!" Hermione cried from the corner.
Severus looked at her, sadness in his eyes.
"Severus. Stop. It's lying!"
The vision-Hermione laughed and laughed. "What a joke you are, Severus Snape!"
Dumbledore spoke again. "Are you going to let that lying locket get away with saying those horrid things to you, Severus? Kill it!"
Severus' eyes were drawn back to the Hermione-vision. She leaned into him.
"You are nothing!" she said evilly.
Severus grimaced, took a better grip of the sword, and plunged it into the locket. The jewelry screamed as it died, emitting a magical explosion that threw Severus and Dumbledore to the ground. Luckily the other inhabitants of the room were safely shielded by furniture. Wind swirled throughout the room as the moans of the Horcrux finally died away. Hermione was the first to emerge. She rushed over to Severus.
"Are you all right?" she said as she kneeled beside him.
Severus rubbed his head as he sat up. He groaned as he moved. Hermione's hand was on his shoulder as she gazed at him with worry. By then Dumbledore, Harry, and Ron had surrounded him.
"I hit my head, but I'm fine."
Hermione looked at Severus. "You know that thing was lying, right?"
Severus closed his eyes. Hermione waited, fidgeting with her fingers on his shoulder. Slowly, he opened his eyes.
"I do. Its lies were so different from anything you would ever say; I knew it was trying to seduce me."
Hermione threw her arms around him and hugged him. She whispered in his ear.
"I would never think such horrid things about you, Severus."
His arms came around her, and he hugged her back. Dumbledore cleared his throat.
"Sorry to interrupt young love, but if you are feeling all right, let's get back to the meeting."
Severus and Hermione broke apart quickly. Severus abruptly stood and went to his chair, leaving Hermione on the floor. Looking flustered, she rose and went to her seat as well. The others returned to where they had been sitting.
"Now then, moving on to the cup Horcrux and how to recover it…"
The Headmaster eyed the four sitting across from him.
Ron put his hand over his mouth as he thought. "How will we get to it if it's in the Lestrange vault?" he asked.
"I will gather it," Dumbledore advised.
"I doubt Bellatrix is going to let you just waltz into her vault and take it," Severus said grimly.
Albus nodded at him.
"Too true, my boy. That's why I have this."
He opened his desk drawer and removed something from it. He held up a vial with a couple of curly dark hairs in it.
"You're going to use Polyjuice," Ron said with a nod of his head.
"Yes, and hopefully everything will go as planned. I have replicated the cup so I can switch it out and no one will be the wiser."
"You should hex it so it exudes some evilness of some sort so it mimics a Horcrux."
"Good idea, Miss Granger."
"When will you make the attempt?" Harry asked.
"My spy says that the LeStranges are taking a short vacation this weekend. I will recover it then."
"Can we do anything?" Harry asked.
"Not until I get the cup. Then we can destroy it like we just did with the locket."
Hermione reached out and squeezed Severus' hand. He squeezed hers back.
"So, my friends, unless you have anything else to discuss, I think we are done," Dumbledore said finally.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione all stood. Severus hesitated.
"May I have a word in private, Headmaster?" he asked.
"Of course, my boy."
They waited until the other three had left the office and the door had closed behind them. Severus looked at Albus.
"That experience with the Horcrux… with my parents…"
"Severus, you know it was just lies."
"I do. But it gave me pause. I don't even know where my parents are. Could you do some investigating and find out for me? I'd like to visit my mother if you can find her."
"Of course, Severus. I will find out where they are as soon as I can. It may take a little bit, as I am quite busy right now, but I will find them for you."
Severus stood and gave a slight bow of his head. "Thank you, Headmaster," he said before saying goodbye, turning, and leaving the Headmaster's office.
He was deep in thought as he descended the spiral staircase. He emerged and was surprised to find Hermione waiting for him.
"Oh," he said. "I wasn't expecting you to be waiting."
She grasped his arm and turned to walk with him. "I wanted to make sure you're okay."
"I am. I actually feel…" he thought of the right word. "Accomplished? I mean, I was tempted by that Horcrux, and I prevailed."
Hermione squeezed his arm as she wrapped her other arm with his.
"I was worried about you. When you got up off the floor it was like you didn't even know me."
He turned to her. "You're right; I'm sorry. I was embarrassed by Dumbledore. He's an old fool, but what he said made me cringe. I don't like attention in that way at all. I just wanted to get away from you so he wouldn't say anything else."
"Are you going to do that whenever we get caught showing affection to one another in public?"
Severus' cheeks grew pink as he furrowed his brow. "It was a foolish thing to do. I didn't think; I just reacted, and I definitely didn't mean to shun you or hurt your feelings. I'll be more cognizant of my reactions in the future. I'm sorry, Hermione, I won't let it happen again." He paused. "I think part of it, too, was that the Horcrux had rattled me so."
Hermione studied his face for a bit. "Okay. I understand," she offered. She looked up at him and studied him curiously. "Are you sure you're okay now?"
He turned and gave her a shy smile. "Thank you for being concerned. The visions did disturb me, but once I destroyed the locket, I understood that it was a bunch of bunk."
Hermione leaned up and kissed his cheek.
"Mmm, you missed."
She chuckled and kissed him properly.
"Now, can you tell me why you wanted to talk to Dumbledore?"
"I can."
She waited as they moved down the hallway and stairwell together. He said nothing. She waited patiently until she couldn't anymore. She stopped on the stairs and looked at Severus.
"So, what did you talk to him about?"
Severus grinned cheekily but still didn't say anything.
Hermione huffed, which caused him to kiss her, extending the time she had to wait for his explanation.
"Sorry for teasing you," he said as he pulled back. "I know how you love to be in the thick of things."
"If you don't want to tell me, that's okay, you know," she sulked.
He gently pulled her chin up so she was looking at him.
"I want to share with you. You're an important part of my life, and I want you to know," he said before kissing her again. "I was just having a go at you."
She grinned and shook her head. "You're incorrigible," she said.
He chuckled before starting to walk down the stairs again.
"I asked Dumbledore to track down my parents."
Hermione stopped. "Oh."
"Those visions of my parents made me want to talk to them. Well, at least talk with my mum. I've been thinking about them off and on since I got here, but that just made me want to find out where they are. I hope Dumbledore can figure it out."
"Do you think they moved from where you lived before?"
He shrugged. "I really don't know. If my dad kept up the way he was, I'm sure they would still be there, but maybe he straightened out his life, you know?"
Hermione squeezed his arm. "I hope so, Severus."
She became serious as they continued down the stairs. They walked quietly for a bit until they came to the entrance hall.
"Let's walk outside," Hermione said.
He nodded, and they headed out, moving toward the Black Lake.
"I know how you feel," Hermione began. "I… I Obliviated my parents at the end of the summer."
Severus stopped and turned to her.
"You did what?"
She looked away. "I knew they would be targets. If You-Know-Who wanted to find Harry, he'd search them out so they could find me. So, I did the only thing I could do. I erased their memories of me. They don't have a child anymore. They have different names, and they have moved to Australia. No one will find them, and they will be safe."
"So that day you said they loved magic but didn't understand the war…?"
"A half-truth. Those two aspects are true, but I didn't want anyone to know what I did."
Severus' arms wrapped around her. "I'm so sorry, Hermione."
She relaxed into him.
"You're the only person that knows. I haven't told anyone else."
"Not even Harry or Ron?"
She shook her head as she buried her face in his chest.
"I didn't want them to worry about me. They have enough to deal with."
"I won't say anything to them, but they are your friends and support. I think you should tell them at some point."
She pulled her head back and looked at him. "I will… just not right now."
"There will never be a good time to do it, you know."
She gave him a half smile. "I know. I'm just not ready to tell them yet. They'll want to coddle me."
"You're right, of course. They can get very… concerned."
She nodded. "But you're right, too. They should know eventually."
Leaning down, he kissed her forehead.
"You're okay?"
She shrugged. "As okay as I can be. I'm afraid that something will happen to me, and I'll never be able to even try to restore their memories. Or if I do, they'll hate me."
"They will understand eventually."
She grimaced. "I hope so."
Everyone was gathered in Dumbledore's office once again. The Hufflepuff cup sat on his desk, and everyone was eyeing it. Dumbledore sighed.
"Who wants to do it this time?" he asked.
Hermione looked at him. "I can do it."
"Hermione, are you sure?" Harry asked with concern.
She nodded. "Yes. I want to do it."
The Headmaster stood and handed the Sword over to Hermione. She came around the desk and eyed the cup. She raised the sword and felt the Dark Magic pushing against her, trying to sway her hand. Determination filled her face as she brought the sword down onto the cup, driving a hole into it.
The cup exploded, sending shrapnel throughout the room. Everyone dropped to the floor and shielded themselves from the shower of metal pieces as they flew off in all directions. Without warning, all the books flew off the shelves and headed for Hermione. Severus quickly threw himself over her as the books pummeled the two of them.
Finally, everything stopped, and there was an eerie silence in the room. Harry, Ron, and Dumbledore stood and looked over to where Severus and Hermione were behind his desk. All they could see was a pile of books. Dumbledore waved his wand and the pile levitated off the pair sorting themselves and returning to their places on the shelves. Severus helped Hermione to scurry out from under the book pile.
"Are you guys all right?" Ron asked.
"I'm fine," Hermione said. "Oh, Severus, you're all cut up."
Severus had a gash above his left eyebrow and some other scratches on his face. His arms were also cut up.
"Severus, let's get you to the Infirmary so Madam Pomfrey can take care of you," Dumbledore advised.
Hermione helped him stand, and they exited the Headmaster's office.
"Well, never a dull moment with these Horcruxes, eh, Professor?" Ron quipped.
"Are you two hurt in any way?" he said, ignoring Ron's remark.
"We're fine, Headmaster."
"Good. Let's plan on meeting next week to make further plans," he said in dismissal.
"Thanks, Professor," Harry said as they turned and left.
"That was abrupt," Ron muttered as they rode the stairs back down to the third floor.
"Sure was. He's an odd one."
"That's for sure."
They hurried to the Infirmary to check on Severus. Luckily, he'd only had some superficial cuts and Madam Pomfrey was almost finished healing him by the time the two men got there.
"Why do you always get hurt?" she was muttering. "You need to be more careful, Mr. Snape."
Severus opened his mouth to say something, but closed it and just took the chastisement.
"That was a great lunge to cover Hermione," Ron mused as Harry and he approached.
"Thank you," he said with pride.
Madam Pomfrey finished up and shook her head at the young man. "You're fixed. You can leave."
Severus hopped off the bed and left with his friends. Hermione grabbed a hold of his hand and wouldn't let go. She held onto him like a lifeline. Severus looked over at her.
"Hermione, I'm losing feeling in my hand."
She loosened her grip.
"Sorry. I just… You could have been hurt badly, Severus. Thank you for trying to save me, but…"
"There are no buts. I will always protect you if I can."
She leaned up and kissed him. "I appreciate you."
His arms wrapped around her, and he kissed her fully. "I appreciate you too."
"You guys can get a room anytime now," Harry grumbled but then smirked at them.
Hermione batted his arm. Ron piped in then. "At least Lav and I don't snog in front of everyone."
"Excuse me?" Hermione said defiantly. "All you did last year was snog in public. It was… vomit-worthy."
"Yeah, well now you know how we feel when we see you two snogging," Ron shot back.
Hermione bristled. Severus put his hand on her arm.
"He's joking, Hermione. It's just a joke."
Hermione relaxed. "You're right, of course."
Taking his hand, she led him and the boys up to the Rooms of Requirement, where they relaxed and played Exploding Snap, throwing barbs at one another for the rest of the night.
A week later, Severus left Dumbledore's office and slumped along the wall. He fought hard not to show any emotion on his face, but he was having a hard time of it. Focusing hard, he tried to cast his Patronus but only sparks shot from his wand. He shook his head and tried to empty it of its disturbing thoughts. He thought of Hermione and her lovely smile. He thought of her arms around him, which he so utterly needed right now. He tried to cast it again and was finally successful. A silver panther flew from his wand, turned, and looked at him.
He marveled at the figure before giving it his direction.
"Go tell Hermione I need to speak with her and to meet me in the Room of Requirement as soon as she can."
The panther bounded off, and Severus' face immediately grew solemn. He walked up the stairs to the Room of Requirement and passed by three times. A wooden door with gold inlay appeared. Severus arched a brow and opened the door.
The room had conjured a garden with a babbling brook. A small path led to a comfortable-looking bench. It was dark wood with comfortable forest green cushions on it. Severus gratefully moved to the bench and sat down, placing his head into his hands as he let his emotions finally pour out of him.
He heaved a huge sigh as tears formed in his eyes. He let them come, mourning for an act that had happened almost twenty years prior. His breathing became ragged as grief consumed him.
He didn't know how long he'd been there when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He didn't look up.
"Severus, what's wrong?" Hermione asked softly.
He shook his head as sobs overcame him. Leaning into Hermione, he let them come. Her arms surrounded him, and she pulled him close. He sobbed inconsolably for a while before he was able to say anything, great gasps overcoming him as he cried.
"They're dead," he murmured in between gasps.
"Who?" Hermione asked gently.
"He killed her!" he cried bitterly.
"Severus, who are you talking about?"
He lifted his head from her shoulder.
"My parents!" he cried.
Hermione covered her mouth in shock. "Oh my God," she said.
His eyes met hers. "He beat her to death. It sounds like when he realized what he'd done, he drowned himself in the river."
Hermione's arms were around him again, and she hugged him tightly.
"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry," she soothed as she rubbed his back and rocked him back and forth.
His arms came around her, and he buried his head in her shoulder again.
"I should have killed him before I left," he murmured into her shoulder.
"You couldn't have known this was going to happen."
"I should have. He was always drunk and abusive. I should have known he'd just kill her one day."
"Did Dumbledore say if he was drunk or not?" Hermione asked softly.
Severus pulled back again and worked to compose himself. He used the heels of his hands to wipe the tears from his eyes. He sighed before speaking.
"He said that neighbors saw him stumbling home. It was about six months after I left my time. The neighbors heard shouting, which wasn't unusual, but then they heard my mum scream in terror begging him to stop. The police were called, but they got there too late. They found my mum dead on the kitchen floor. My father was nowhere to be found. His body turned up two days later floating in the river."
"That's horrible, Severus…" She studied him for a moment. "How can I help you?" Hermione asked.
Severus looked down. "Tell me it's not my fault."
Hermione gave him a curious look. "Why would it be?"
His eyes met hers. "I left. Maybe that caused him to snap or something."
"Severus," Hermione replied. "This was not your fault. You said he was a drunk. You of all people understand fully how unpredictable a drunk can be. He probably felt horrible after he killed her, so he killed himself. It has nothing to do with you."
Severus looked at her in anguish. "Are you sure? What if he was trying to make me sorry for running away or something?"
Hermione's lips became a slim line. "If that is what he did, then he's even more evil than if he just did it in a drunken rage. Please, don't think you had anything to do with a madman's actions."
Relief filled Severus' face. He pulled Hermione to himself again and held her tightly. Burying his face against her neck, he sobbed for a bit more before starting to sniffle as he reigned in his emotions. Pulling back, he wiped the stray tears from his eyes.
"Thank you," he whispered.
"I didn't do anything," Hermione stated.
"You did everything," he murmured before leaning back in and kissing her. Pulling back once again, his eyes expressed his gratitude for her being there for him.
"You are the first person in a very long time who has cared enough to be here for me. As you know, I'm not one to be open with others, but with you… I feel your loyalty… your caring… I know I can trust you to support me when I need it. I can't tell you how much that means to me."
She kissed him then and pulled him to her, resting her chin on his shoulder.
"I'll always be here for you, Severus. I just will."
His hand came up, and he played with her curls as they embraced one another. His heart felt full as he held Hermione. He mourned his mother's loss as he buried his head in her shoulder again. Her hand came up and massaged his back.
"I'm sorry, Severus. I wish I could take your pain away."
"I will learn to live with it. I wish I could have seen her once more before I left, but I couldn't leave Hogwarts to go."
"When did you last see her?"
"In the summer before I returned to Hogwarts." he chuckled through his grief. "She was covered in flour. She'd been baking a cake and had spilled a good deal of flour all over the counter and herself. I came in from work and just started laughing. Even her hair was white. She looked like a ghost. At first, she glared at me, but then she started laughing too. Before we knew it, we were both hysterical."
Hermione caressed his cheek. "That's a lovely memory to remember her by."
She wiped away a tear that had escaped his eye. He gave her a rueful smile. Squeezing his eyes shut, he tried to absorb the pain. He felt Hermione's sweet kiss on his cheek and pulled her to him once again.
"It is… it is…" he said finally.
