"Matthew, will you just slow down!"

Following the confrontation with Umbridge, Matthew had stormed from the courtyard, the students wisely getting out of his way to give him a free path. Only Harry and Hermione were brave enough to follow the boy, but even they struggled to keep up with his furious pace. There had been plenty of times over the years where they'd been tasked with pursuing him through corridors but their refined skills weren't enough to keep them from panting desperately. The direction he was taking was an obvious one, heading straight for Gryffindor Tower, but his unwillingness to actually tell them where he was going was incredibly irksome.

So, by the time they barged through the portrait hole, much to the Fat Lady's consternation, and stormed upstairs to the boy's dormitory, Hermione's patience had worn thin, causing her to shout at him. It was a miracle in itself that it had lasted so long, to be fair. She was normally the definition of composure but her expression was now frantic, her eyes threatening to be overcome by tears. Whilst Harry wasn't showing it on the outside, his mind was going through a similar level of turmoil, with his heart thundering, though that was probably down to a mixture of fear at the prospect of losing his friend and the rapid rate in which they'd been forced to walk.

Matthew had already thrown his trunk onto the bed, not caring about the mess he made of the duvet. The few personal belongings that he kept in the room to convince everyone else that he didn't actually live inside a box that was bigger on the inside were thrown into the container haphazardly. Clothes were strewn in without being remotely folded. Harry thought that it would be a miracle if some of the objects weren't broken after their mistreatment, especially the couple of photo frames he'd placed by his bed. But the most worrisome aspect of his actions was the fact that he wasn't using any magic to do the simple task, as if this was a way of getting rid of some of his pent up anger.

"We need to talk about this," Hermione pleaded.

"What's there to discuss?" Matthew responded sharply. "I'm leaving."

"That's precisely what we need to talk about. How has this happened? Why are you letting this happen?"

"Everything's going to be alright."

"You don't believe that," Harry argued. "I can tell just from the way you're behaving. I've never seen you this…frantic."

That was probably the best word to describe it. As short as his friend's hair was, it was still managing to look unkempt, presumably from the amount of times he'd dragged his hand through it in frustration. And Matthew's eyes were wide and wild, betraying his confident assurances. For once, he looked like a child, scared about the prospect of an uncertain future. Harry could totally understand the fear. Matthew had admitted on several occasions that Hogwarts had become his first home since spiralling out of his time period. That was now being torn away from him.

"I'm obviously not happy about it. I wish it hadn't come to this. But…this was the only way…"

It was Hermione's turn to run her hands through the knots of her hair. "What do you mean by that?"

Harry was pacing in a small circle. "I knew that the Ministry sticking their noses into Hogwarts' business would end up being a bad thing. We should have kept a closer eye on Umbridge. This is our fault. We've learnt in the past that it's usually up to us to make sure everything works out."

Wasn't that the most daunting part of the situation unravelling before them? The breakdown of 'us', their unit that had provided friendship, comfort and encouragement throughout their years at school. What were they supposed to do if the trio was whittled down to just two? As much as Harry loved spending time with Hermione, the gaping absence would be more than noticeable. And, if there were any problems that the school faced, would they be able to cope with their friend by their side. He thought back to their second year, when Matthew had been petrified by the Basilisk, and how unnerving it had been to be without the first, true friend he'd made.

"I can't believe that I thought Fudge working with us would be beneficial," Harry continued despondently.

"We can fight this," Hermione said firmly. "That's the only choice we have left. We can appeal to the Ministry. If Harry Potter kicks up a fuss, then they'll have to back down. We can finally weaponise the fame you've always hated."

"Maybe start a campaign in the Daily Prophet. I mean, I'd probably have to agree to an interview in exchange, but that's a price I'm willing to pay."

"I need to get in touch with my parents. They'll know a good firm of lawyers to employ, I'm sure of it. Or maybe we could look into magical lawyers."

"Sirius could help us with that. We're both sitting on a lot of gold just waiting to be used in Gringotts. We could probably afford every lawyer in the business. And, if I know Sirius, he'll want to stand against this injustice. We got the right decision when it came to him. We can repeat that same trick."

"Guys…please," Matthew murmured, slowly lowering himself onto the bed. "None of that is going to happen. There's not going to be any lawyers or articles in the prophet or bribes given to the Minister."

"Why are you so…accepting of this?" Hermione hissed, her voice rising in pitch indignantly.

Harry was thinking along the same lines. Throughout the time he'd known Matthew, there was never a moment when he was disgruntled about things which weren't just or fair. Snape's biassed treatment of Gryffindors. The Triwizard Tournament placing two underage students into the contest against their will. The Dursleys never showing Harry any love. So it didn't make sense for him to be so apathetic. Unless there was another option, one that had plagued their friendship, particularly in the early years.

Matthew was evidently keeping something to himself.

"I don't want to accept it but I have to. There are consequences sometimes."

"You're talking in riddles again. Is this just because you raised your voice at her? Is Umbridge really that petty?"

"I wouldn't put it past her," Harry added grimly.

"The main thing I want to know is why Dumbledore wasn't there when it happened. He's the headmaster, for goodness sake! He gets final say in these matters, not the Ministry, regardless of what that despicable woman claimed."

"He agreed with the decision," Matthew explained.

"Then I won't give him a moment's peace until this is rectified."

Hermione was about to march from the room, presumably to remonstrate with Dumbledore, but Matthew was quick to gently grab her arm, jumping up from his sitting position. Harry could only imagine how grateful the old professor would be if he knew what he'd just avoided. Harry's friends stared at one another for a few moments, seemingly having a silent conversation, a skill they'd been working on over the years that always left Harry feeling excluded.

"Did you instigate this, Matthew?" she asked after a beat.

Harry pulled a face. "Why on Earth would he do that?"

But Harry then looked more closely at his male friend, examining his expression just as minutely as Hermione had done seconds before. He may not have shared the same connection as the boyfriend and girlfriend, but Matthew wasn't doing a very good job at hiding it. Harry didn't know whether that was a good thing. On the plus side, it showed that Matthew was less resistant to lying to them as he'd once been. But the truth coming out didn't remotely make sense, only adding to the level of confusion in the room.

"Umbridge was gunning for Lupin," Matthew said. "After their altercation during the training session, it seems that she started looking into his background. And you know what she would have uncovered if she looked deep enough…"

"All those snide comments she was making towards him," Hermione processed slowly. "It was because she found out he was a werewolf?"

"Precisely the thing that Lupin has been trying to avoid since he started working as a professor."

"Because she'd no doubt want him out of a job straight away," Harry surmised. "She'd have a field day with the governors. His entire livelihood would be taken away."

"Which was exactly why I went to Dumbledore with another solution. There was the opportunity, before she acted on her new information, that we could distract her with something juicier. A bigger fish to catch."

"You," Hermione whispered, eyes beginning to brim with tears once again.

"Dumbledore was able to use his new alliance with Fudge to dangle that carrot in front of him. As long as I was sought after, they would leave Lupin alone. That's what they must have been discussing the night we barged into his office, after your weird dream, Harry."

"You didn't need to do that," Harry complained. "Lupin would be the first person to tell you to think of yourself before him. He may have lost his job but he'd still have the house. Sirius wouldn't exactly kick him out."

"If it got out into the press about his true identity, he'd be shunned by society. I couldn't let that happen. Not when there was another viable option."

"But won't you face the same level of scrutiny in the Prophet?"

"Perhaps. But, first of all, I'm not a werewolf, so I'm not having to deal with any of that stigma. And secondly, Umbridge wasn't given any specific information about my background. Just enough to make her lash out. She's paranoid about the Ministry's vulnerable position. Imagine going from a position of strength, to then needing to work with Dumbledore because Voldemort is back. The thought of some strange, potentially powerful individual being close to that partnership…she couldn't afford to let that continue."

"Then she should have been removed from the job!"

"This might all be a temporary measure," Matthew tried to reassure them. "You know how quickly political upheaval can happen. Once she's out of a job, I could come back."

"You've been expelled, Matthew. A fate worse than death. You're going to miss the entirety of your fifth year, at least. You'll fail your Owls. You'll never get a job. I appreciate you doing something so wonderfully kind…that's exactly the sort of person you are…but you've jeopardised your whole life."

"And I'd do it again. In a heartbeat."

"That's what I'm worried about."

"Dumbledore said that I could still take my Owls at the end of the year. I just can't attend lessons. Which is where I thought you guys would come in…"

Harry cocked his head to one side. "Meaning?"

"You'll still be going to classes. You could report back what you learn, so I don't fall behind."

"You want us to tutor you?" Hermione asked, almost in disbelief.

"It's not as if I haven't learnt all this before. If you haven't noticed, I'm rather good with a wand."

"Now isn't the time to be cocky."

"You normally like that."

"Funnily enough, I'm not in the mood to be laughing. Because, as much as you want our help and as much as you're saying most things won't change, you're not going to be able to stay at Hogwarts. You're no longer a student. And I'm…we're going to lose you."

Matthew waggled a finger. "We only need Umbridge to believe that I'm not here. Thankfully, I can get in and out of the castle thanks to this wondrous contraption called the Tardis. I won't exactly be sleeping in this dormitory anymore, but we'll figure it out."

"You'd have to hide from the other students too," Harry pointed out. "If one of them was to see you and then report back to Umbridge…"

"Well, I'd hope that they'd be more loyal than that, but I'm capable of being careful."

"I just can't believe that you're being so casual about this," Hermione said forlornly, her gaze drifting to the floor.

"It's not about being casual. It's about being proactive. And there's something else to consider. A second reason as to why Dumbledore was willing to back down."

Harry edged closer. "We're listening…"

The other boy sighed. "If I'm not weighed down by classes, that means I can explore."

"You can explore once you've finished school!" Hermione yelled, apparently not understanding where he was coming from. If there was always one thing she'd be defensive of, it would be the merits of a good education. "That's exactly why people take gap years!"

"I'm not talking about those sorts of adventures. Look…with Voldemort back to full power…there are certain jobs that need doing, and the Tardis is too valuable a resource in completing those jobs for it to be parked in a corner for most of the year. Dumbledore felt that I could be an asset."

"An asset ."

"He's looking for things. Objects, potentially scattered across the country, maybe even further afield. Not having homework to complete means that I can tag along, or even search for them on my own."

"Why are these objects so important in the fight against Voldemort?" Harry wondered.

Matthew chewed on his lip for a moment. "Have you ever heard of horcruxes?"

xxxxxxxxxx

"You're using him as a tool!"

Upon finding out that Dumbledore had grander plans for Matthew, Hermione had seen fit to march over to his office before their conversation was even finished. Cutting a war path through the school, her boys had dutifully followed, neither of them brave enough to question her actions. During their short journey through corridors and up slowly moving staircases, some of the other students looked curiously in their direction. Harry was used to being the centre of attention, particularly after his fourth year in the extreme limelight and his more recent positive press. But it wasn't him they were looking at, nor was it Hermione, whose formidable demeanour would have normally been enough to incite a whirlwind of gossip.

Instead, they were focused on the boy beside them, some of them foolish to whisper to their comrades about his expulsion. That would earn them a deep glare from Matthew, but they were lucky that Hermione's irate anger was distracting him, saving them from a stern word at the least. Some of their classmates presumed that their frantic journey was the final one Matthew was taking, heading for the Hogwarts exit. A few even considered following so that they could get a decent look at the spectacle, yet even the most dedicated of souls weren't willing to keep up with their energetic pace. For the time being, Harry had been grateful for Hermione's urgency, not knowing what Matthew would have done if people started asking him about his real identity or why he was seen to be such a problem.

It was just a good job Umbridge had the good fortune of not inadvertently stumbling in their way. With the way Hermione was acting, fuelled by a rage they'd barely seen within her before, it was highly likely that the Ministry official wouldn't have survived the experience. As it was, the girl channelled that energy into stomping up the stairs to the Headmaster's quarters, barely stopping to give the password. Harry was sure that the gargoyles guarding the entrance would have moved out of the way regardless, frightened of what she'd do to them if they remained in place.

Dumbledore had seemingly expected their arrival, although the old man was the master when it came to hiding his surprise. But even his masked expression gave away his abject shock at the way Hermione started to speak to him. For someone who was usually so reverent towards authority figures, she'd used the opportunity to unleash all her feelings at the headmaster. It was a miracle that she hadn't burnt a hole through the floor with how fiercely she was pacing whilst she spoke, thoughts spilling from her mouth without much consideration. Matthew had tried to calm her down at times but his attempts only served to annoy her further. Harry was sure that, once the day was done, she would look back on her behaviour in mortified fashion but, whilst she was in the eye of the storm, Hermione was unrelenting in her takedown of Dumbledore's actions.

"Do you understand how reckless this is?" she pressed on. "How irresponsible? You're neglecting your most sacred of duties, in which you're supposed to protect your students! Not send them on some wild goose chase. Not encourage them to give up their education in the hope that they can be of assistance. I have always respected you, professor, but this might just be the most foolish thing I've ever heard. And I've been friends with these two for five years now."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Matthew murmured to Harry, who was standing next to him.

"I don't think we want to find out," came the nervous response.

The headmaster was, thankfully, still acting relatively calm. "Are you finished, Miss Granger?"

It seemed to be the wrong course of action. His unwaveringly neutral demeanour appeared to aggravate her to the point of madness. Her nostrils flared. It almost felt like her hair was standing on edge, the emotions of the situation getting the better of her. With the amount of training she'd been through with Matthew, especially with the progress she'd supposedly made in actually using her untapped magical energy, Harry grew concerned that they were on the brink of seeing that in action. There were a lot of fine, ornate belongings in the large office that were alarmingly fragile, meaning the potential level of destruction was frightening.

"No, I am not finished. And I'm well aware that speaking to you like this may push me to the brink of expulsion too, but what do I have to lose? You're already ripping away something vital to me. As much as he doesn't act like it at times, Matthew is a teenager. He shouldn't have to worry about missions or schemes. You've taken away his chance of living a normal life for a little bit longer, before Voldemort makes our existence a living hell." Her fists were clenched but she was at least standing still now, some of the energy leaving her body. " Now I'm done."

"I'm grateful for your impassioned critique, Miss Granger."

"You're welcome," she said with a touch more composure.

"I would expect nothing less from one of our best students, and one who obviously cares so deeply for Mister Mormont."

"Which means you'll understand why I don't want it to happen."

"And yet…the decision has been made." He held up a hand to prevent her from complaining any further. "There is every possibility that the expulsion could be put up for review at a later date."

"How long would we have to wait?" Harry asked the pertinent question.

"That, I cannot know for certain. Believe me when I say that I resisted Mister Mormont's punishment with my utmost strength."

"Until you realised that he could be useful to you," Hermione countered scathingly.

The headmaster's eyes sparkled over his half moon spectacles. "Until I came to accept that the situation could help everyone . Perhaps those benefits won't be immediately felt by those in this room but, if this proves to be successful, every single person of a wizarding and muggle background will be grateful for the temporary sacrifice."

"Does that mean you're dangling his education in front of him like a donkey chasing a carrot? If he completes your tasks, you'll reinstate him as a student?"

"I wouldn't put it so cynically…"

"I think it would be best if you actually told them what the job revolves around," Matthew suggested. "It might give them a chance of accepting this."

"I doubt it," Hermione grumbled.

"Matthew mentioned something about horcruxes," Harry said, stepping closer to Dumbledore's large desk. "We didn't have a clue what they were."

"Neither did I before we spoke about it," Matthew added.

That went a long way in showcasing just how hidden this sort of information was. Matthew was usually an encyclopaedia of obscure magical information, sharing tidbits that he frankly shouldn't have known. And, with the amount they all read, most things they didn't know probably weren't important. But just the mention of the word 'horcrux' was enough to make Harry feel cold, as if the name itself gave away just how foreboding a product they were.

"In truth, they are subject matter that you'll be hard pressed to find any mention of throughout Hogwarts' rather extensive library," Dumbledore explained. "They are an example of the darkest of magic, a topic in which those who know about them daren't speak aloud, for how foul the connotations are."

"Which means that Voldemort is definitely connected to them," Harry surmised.

"You'd be correct in that assumption. And, whilst I've had my theories since your second year at Hogwarts, I was only handed definitive proof this very summer that Tom Riddle had uncovered their secret."

"What are they then?"

"A Horcrux, to put it simply, is an item in which a person has concealed part of their soul. If you successfully split your soul, you can then hide it within said object outside of your body. Therefore, if your body was to perish, a part of you would live on. Naturally, the existence you'd have in that scenario is almost unthinkable."

"Is that how Voldemort managed to survive? Is that why he had to cling onto Quirrel when we first came to Hogwarts?"

"It's good to see that you're a fast learner. Tom Riddle did split his soul. Seven times, to be precise."

"Why seven?"

"It's seen as the most powerfully magic number," Hermione told him. "Presumably, he believed that would help his cause."

Dumbledore smiled softly. "Again, you are spot on. This is only information that I was able to extract from the memories of a dear friend of mine and a former professor at this school. Upon the Ministry's announcement of Lord Voldemort's return, he finally accepted my advances and handed over the memory, in which a young Riddle, roughly the same age as you three, began researching the topic. No books could have told him about what would happen if a soul was split on so many occasions."

"And this professor told him?"

"Without knowing that Tom would actually consider such a heinous act. Most people saw him as an innocent, high-achieving student. Nothing more than that. Certainly not a person capable of murder in such a casual fashion."

"To create a horcrux, you have to kill someone," Matthew added. "You can weaponise the ripping of one soul to extract a fragment of your own."

"Voldemort killed seven people just to achieve this?" Harry asked.

Dumbledore's expression was grave. "I'm afraid so."

"So you've been looking for these horcruxes?" Hermione concluded. "And you're now going to use Matthew's help?"

"If this is the only way to be rid of Voldemort, we should all be involved," Harry pointed. "There's seven of them after all. That could take forever to find them."

"Five, Harry," the headmaster corrected. "Five horcruxes need to be found. The piece of his soul remaining in his true body counts as a horcrux, the one that must be destroyed last. And I told you just then that this theory came to me in your second year."

He thought about it for a moment, his eyes growing wide as he figured it out. "The diary."

"What you battled was a true piece of Voldemort's soul. And the fact that he intended for it to be found, to open the Chamber of Secrets, going against the very purpose of a horcrux, told me that he had made more than one. Otherwise he would not have been so foolhardy with its potential destruction, which you inadvertently took care of."

"Even with two out of the equation, it's a mammoth of a challenge," Matthew echoed the sentiment they were all feeling.

Harry rubbed a hand across his forehead. "Especially given the fact that they could literally be any object. If I was in Voldemort shoes, which really isn't the sort of thing I want to think about, I'd choose an old tin can or a stick. They'd be impossible to find. I don't want to say that we should already give up…but when Matthew's putting so much on the line, I'd like to know if there was more to go on than just this."

"The fact remains that Voldemort has one inherent weakness, and that is his sense of self importance," Dumbledore clarified. "His pride…his belief in his own superiority…his determination to carve for himself a startling place in magical history…these things suggest that Voldemort chose each object with immense care, favouring objects he deemed worthy of the honour."

"An old diary doesn't really fit into that idea," Hermione reasoned, her arms folded, still not giving the headmaster any leeway.

"It proved that he was the Heir of Slytherin, which I presume must have meant a great deal to him."

Harry's mind was already whirring at a rapid rate. "Have you got any idea about what the other horcruxes could be?"

"Nothing definitive, alas. But items with a certain level of grandeur, along with objects from his past, are to be the likely bet. And that will be the task myself and Mister Mormont undertake, to research and locate those pieces of Voldemort's soul."

"If you can find me any books on the Riddle family, I'm sure I could find some potential options," Hermione insisted. "Because you're not doing this on your own."

"Yeah, we want to be involved too," Harry agreed. "It's only right, given how closely I'm seemingly tied with the Dark Lord."

"The only way to keep us onboard with sending Matthew away is to include us."

"I came to this conclusion as soon as Mister Mormont's role was set out. I never doubted the strength of your bond, nor your stubbornness."

Hermione nodded her head. "Good. And perhaps we can come on any searches you plan."

"The one thing I'm not in charge of is who Matthew bids entry to his Tardis. If you were to stumble in coincidentally on those certain days, I'm sure you would not be turned away."

Matthew winked at both Harry and Hermione. "As if I could keep you away."