I worked on Chapters 48, 49 and 50 this weekend... Let's just say that, exciting times are ahead... And if you want to be intrigued a bit more, know that Chapter 50 will mark the end of 3rd year worth of content. Yes, you read that right. We have only 3 more chapters to finish this year off.

And the first of the three is here... Chapter 48, Enjoy!

"One more time?" asked Remus.

"Yes," replied Ron as he sat down on the floor.

"Let's take a couple of minutes," said Remus with a smile.

"No, no, I'm fine," replied Ron as he got up quickly.

"It's alright, Ron... training and rest, both are equally important," remarked Remus.

It was their first session after the Christmas break.

After a few minutes, Remus spoke up.

"Come on... let's go one more time," he said. Ron got up and walked to the back of the class. Remus went to the other end and picked up the 5 boxes from the floor.

"Okay... In 1... 2... 3," counted Remus and on the count of 3, with a flick of his wand, he threw all the boxes in the air. Each one of the 5 boxes went up in different directions at the same time. And just as they reached their peak, Ron made a swift movement with his wand and hit every single one of the boxes one by one, before they touched the ground.

"Woah... well done, Ron," exclaimed Remus happily.

"Thanks, Professor Lupin," replied Ron, looking pleased. This was his 4th time attempting it in the session and the first time he had hit all 5 of the boxes. In the 3 attempts prior, he had only managed to hit a maximum of 4 boxes, that too only twice. In the other attempt, he had hit only 3.

"I feared this session wouldn't be as fruitful, what with Harry..." began Remus but paused mid-sentence. Only a couple of evenings back, Harry had fallen on the floor of the Great Hall, mid-dinner, twitching. And ever since then, he had been in the hospital wing, under the supervision of Madam Pomfrey.

"He'll be back," replied Ron confidently.

"I must admit... You have improved a lot in a short span of time, Ron. Many wizards and witches struggle to perform to their ability under stress, sorrow, sadness... You seem to handle them better than most," said Remus, looking proud.

"I am doing what you told me to do... Clear your mind and the magic will flow," replied Ron.

"Good, that's good," sighed Remus.

Remus was frankly taken aback by Ron's improvement in his sessions. Hence, he decided to do some things well ahead of schedule.

"You know, Ron," he said and paused for a moment. "You seem to have good control of your magic. When you put your mind and body towards something, you seem to always give 110%. That is a great first step," he added. "But, you should also know what to use when, and how to use the tricks in your arsenal," he finished.

Ron was listening keenly. And Remus continued, "Performing magic isn't about spells and incantations. You can perform magic even without saying the spell out loud. Well, you don't even need a wand to perform magic," he said. "We will get there in time," he added with a chuckle and Ron gave a broad smile.

"But for now, I think it is time if we went ahead with a bit of situational duelling. Shields, charms, protection spells, defensive and offensive spells, they are all wonderful tools, but your presence of mind is the key," he added.

"Now... I want you to remember this and practice this regularly. Think of what you want to do, what you want to achieve, and then perform the necessary spell to do it. It should be a seamless transition, from wanting to do something to doing it. It should be like second nature to you. You also have to work on your spells, remembering jinxes, counter-jinxes and everything in between."

Once all the speeches and talking were done, they began practising some defensive and offensive spells to get things started. The session was done about 30 minutes later, making it the longest session between them to date. The moment it was over, Ron rushed out of the class to the Hospital wing to meet Harry. The moment he reached, he saw that Hermione was already in there, holding a book but talking to Harry.

"... is dangerous," exclaimed Hermione as Ron entered.

"Dangerous? What are we talking about?" he asked as he sat down beside Hermione, facing Harry, who was sitting upright on the bed.

"He says he is fine and wants to go back for quidditch practice," replied Hermione.

"You can't be serious mate?" remarked Ron, shocked.

"Not you too, Ron..." sighed Harry disappointed. "I am absolutely fine. It's like it never even happened," he protested.

"But it did happen, didn't it?" retorted Ron.

"It's not like anyone knows why it happened. Every test Madam Pomfrey has done, has proved that I'm fine," replied Harry. "And this is boring... Sooo borrrrinngggg," he exclaimed loudly.

"What if it had happened when you were in the air?" asked Hermione, exasperated.

"So, what? Am I supposed to lie in bed all day every day just because it happened randomly one time? Come on, Hermione... that was a one-off incident," retorted Harry.

"If this has something to do with Vol..." began Hermione but stopped mid-sentence and stared at the entrance. Harry turned his neck and saw Daphne Greengrass standing outside.

"Hi Harry," she greeted and walked in slowly.

"Daphne?" exclaimed Harry, surprised. "Hi," he greeted back.

"I'll come back another time," she said hesitantly looking at Hermione and Ron. "Sorry if I interrupted something," she added quickly.

"Oh No... it's fine, no need for any apologies," replied Harry with a smile.

"Bye Harry," said Hermione and then glanced at Daphne suspiciously and then at Ron. Ron patted Harry's shoulder and the next moment, Hermione and Ron left the hospital wing.

"Since when are they friends?" asked Hermione the moment they were out of earshot.

"Isn't she the Slytherin girl?" retorted Ron, surprised.

"Yeah, she's in Slytherin... she is one of their top students," replied Hermione. "What is she doing here?" she asked.

Ron seemed just as surprised as Hermione.

"I don't know, Hermione..." he replied. "I'm tired... I'll see you at dinner," he added.

"Hmm," responded Hermione and with that, Ron left for the Gryffindor common room.

A few days went by and the school was buzzing after the Christmas break. It had been a couple of weeks since the term started and the classes were in full flow. Harry had gotten out of the hospital a couple of days after. Madam Pomfrey didn't have much for him in terms of information. Just before he got out, he was given specific instructions to not take any of this lightly, and that he had to go to Madam Pomfrey immediately if he thought something was strange. He even had a visit from Professor Dumbledore.

Harry was back in quidditch training the very next day he was out of the hospital. And in this term, just like in the previous, Oliver Wood, captain of the Gryffindor quidditch team had devised multiple strategies for them to practice.

John had tasked himself to keenly observe Harry's every movement ever since the incident in the Great Hall. And his only observation was that Harry looked and behaved the same as ever before. Whatever had happened that night, didn't seem to have any effect whatsoever.

A few weeks went by without much happening. The Gryffindor team had beaten the Ravenclaws comfortably, Harry catching the snitch didn't even matter for the scoreline was pretty astounding by then. And life, for once, in the 3 years till then, seemed perfectly normal without anything happening.

Daphne and Harry had started becoming a regular thing ever so gradually since Harry's incident at the Great Hall. At first, none of them made anything out of it. But soon, it became obvious to everyone around Harry that there was something brewing between the pair. Harry however seemed oblivious.

"She was the one with the letters," sighed Hermione one evening at the library.

"What are you talking about?" asked John. Harry and Ron looked at her keenly.

The letters, that Harry got for Christmas and the quidditch accident, without names... It was hers," replied Hermione.

"Whose?" asked Harry curiously. And Hermione frowned at him.

"Daphne wrote him the letters?" asked Ron, surprised.

Hermione nodded quietly.

"What do you mean? Why didn't she tell me?" asked Harry curiously, with a smile.

"How do you know?" asked Ron.

"I asked her, earlier today... I had a suspicion of course," replied Hermione.

"Wow... I didn't know she drew so well, those were cool," remarked Harry nonchalantly.

Hermione's expression turned instantly, and both Ron and John noticed it.

In a desperate attempt to change the topic, John brought up the topic of Animagi.

"Anybody here interested in becoming an Animagus?" he asked.

"Haven't really thought about it," replied Harry.

"That's way too advanced magic," sighed Ron. Hermione however remained silent and focused on the book she was reading. And just like that, the conversation switched topics.

They were almost done with their work when John brought up something he had been meaning to for a while.

"Ron?" called out John.

"Yeah"

"About Ginny..." he said and paused. Hermione and Harry turned towards him. Ron looked at him keenly. "Well... about Ginny... she hasn't regained consciousness till now and she has been at St Mungo's for a long time now..." he added.

"Well, they are trying everything they can, nothing seems to be working," replied Ron sadly.

"I know... and I was thinking... well, I have a place which might be able to help her," said John almost in a whisper.

"What place?" asked Ron.

John glanced at Hermione and then back at Ron. "Well, I know a healing facility in Iceland. They expertise in specialised treatments... It's actually where Remus worked before Hogwarts. I think you should take Ginny there," said John.

"In Iceland?" exclaimed Ron, shocked.

"I know what you're thinking. It is far away, but they are really good..." replied John. "You should talk with Remus and then write to Arthur and Molly... And need not mention it as my idea, tell them that it came from Remus," he added.

After a couple of minutes, Ron replied, "Sure... thank you, I'll write to them and ask them to check the place out."

A few minutes later, the four of them were walking back from the library when Hermione gestured for John to walk a bit behind the group.

"What?" asked John in a whisper.

"Iceland? Healing facility... isn't that where you went last year?" asked Hermione in a whisper.

"Yes," replied John.

"I just remembered... Kristin... As in the Doctor Kristin. How could I not think of it earlier? She was your doctor in Iceland, wasn't she?" asked Hermione, shocked.

John stood still for a moment and responded with a nod.

"Why would Voldemort have her killed?" asked Hermione. And for the first time in her memory, John flinched, just a little at the mentioning of Voldemort's name.

"I don't know, Hermione... we don't even know for sure it was the same person who killed the Flamels and Kristin," replied John. After a seconds pause, he continued, "And, let's not use the word anymore, shall we? There were stories of how he jinxed his name..." he added.

Hermione looked at him shocked with a mild hint of surprise.

"But Flamels and Kristin... that can't be a coincidence, can it?" asked Hermione. John nodded in agreement and with that they joined Harry and Ron back in the Great Hall.

An idea is like a virus, resilient, and highly contagious. Even the smallest seed of an idea can grow. And this idea that was stuck in John's head, the not so far-fetched idea that Harry was a Horcrux had a seed strong enough to grow an orchard. After having tortured himself with sleepless nights wondering the consequences of such an idea being true, John finally decided to confront a wise old man about it.

He was on his way to Albus Dumbledore's office when he ran into Severus Snape.

"Professor Snape," exclaimed John.

"Mr Smith," remarked Severus blankly.

"On your way from Professor Dumbledore's office?" asked John.

"None... of... your... business," replied Snape.

"I take that as a yes," remarked John. After a few seconds, he continued, "your potion seems to be working... I have been better recently, thank you," he added.

Snape nodded slightly and without saying another word, he left.

John continued his journey and reached Dumbledore's office. The moment he did, the sentient gargoyle guarding the Headmaster's office swung open, leaving him astonished.

"How did you know I was outside?" asked John as he stepped in. Dumbledore just gently smiled in reply.

"The password's buttered toast, by the way," he said and chuckled.

"You're joking," remarked John and gave a small laugh.

"What can I say, that was an inspired choice," replied Dumbledore.

Once the moment passed, John's expression changed and hence, so did Dumbledore's.

"How is Harry?" asked Dumbledore.

"He is fine... perfectly normal, actually," replied John with a surprised tone.

"And no vivid dreams recently?" asked Dumbledore curiously.

"None... as far as I know," replied John.

"Good... that's a relief," sighed Dumbledore. "Mr Potter seems to be doing just fine in his academics and his quidditch prowess needs no introduction... that's a relief," he added, looking worried.

"Do we know anything about Tom Riddle?" asked John.

"Not much, No! He has yet to summon his death eaters... Severus has been keeping me informed," replied Dumbledore.

"So, no one knows? Not even his followers? What's his play?" asked John but got no response from Dumbledore.

After a minute's silence, John continued.

"There is something else," he said hesitantly.

"Yes?"

"It probably isn't anything... But you know Dr Kristin? She was tortured and killed the same way the Flamels were... a few months before their death actually," said John.

The expression on Dumbledore's face suggested he already knew.

"I'm sorry for your loss... It's a cruel thing to lose a friend," he said calmly.

"Somehow, I have this feeling, it was about Jane and me," replied John.

"How so?" asked Dumbledore, surprised.

"There was a letter... That I got just before our Hogsmeade visit. It was supposed to be from Jane, but it wasn't. It was an imitation, a trap, set for the both of us. Neither of us fell for it, of course. And at the time, I thought it was set by Emily Davies. But she denied it when asked about it," replied John. "Why would they kill Kristin? Unless it had something to do with Jane and me?" he remarked.

"He knows very little about the two of you. But he knows enough to intrigue him. Which makes your life dangerous, as you may have already realized," remarked Dumbledore cautiously.

"Hmm"

"Practice caution, Mr Smith," said Dumbledore with a gentle smile.

"Mm-hmm," grunted John in response. He was considering whether it was the right time to bring up the Horcrux theory. Having considered against it, John got up. John had gotten up from his seat and was walking out of the office when he was interrupted by Dumbledore.

"John," called out Dumbledore.

"Yes, Professor Dumbledore?"

"I may have something to interest you," he said.

"What is it?" asked John curiously, though Dumbledore's expression remained melancholic.

"I must admit, this is not a pleasant discovery. But, perhaps, you may already have knowledge of this from your endeavours through time," remarked Dumbledore hesitantly.

"What happened, Professor Dumbledore? If you have something to ask me about the future, please do so directly. I'm struggling with this tone of yours," replied John confidently.

Dumbledore opened one of the drawers of his desk and took out an eerily familiar dairy.

"That's..." began John, shocked.

"Yes, the same," replied Dumbledore. "The remains of Tom Riddle's diary..." he added.

"But that's impossible... Jane said she used the fiendfyre," gasped John in shock.

"This one is destroyed, there are no doubts about it, even if its state may not indicate it," replied Dumbledore and held out the diary. It looked burnt, yet somehow remained intact. It was covered in black soot. John took the diary and examined it.

"I don't get it... If this is destroyed, what is it still doing in your office?" asked John.

Dumbledore started pacing his office. After a few seconds, he responded.

"What do you know about Horcruxes, Mr Smith?" asked Dumbledore. And to his surprise, John's shocked expression painted a very different story than he had predicted.

"Horcrux?" asked John, shocked.

"I gather you're aware, then," remarked Dumbledore. John nodded quietly. "Upon close examination, we have discovered the true nature of this diary. If we are correct, this will have consequences hitherto undreamed of," he added.

"No... Oh no," gasped John.

"You've known about this?" asked Dumbledore curiously.

"Jane... She suspected... I called it far-fetched," stumbled John in response.

"Your sister suspected?" asked Dumbledore surprised.

"The events of the Chamber. She saw what happened when the fiendfyre hit the diary," replied John, his voice shaking a little.

Dumbledore who had stopped pacing at the mention of Jane's suspicion started pacing again, this time slower than before. After a few minutes of silence, John spoke up.

"She also had another theory," said John faintly. Dumbledore glanced up at him.

"I didn't believe it when I heard it, but since then, I have had more evidence suggesting otherwise," he added. "She thinks, Harry is one of his Horcruxes," he whispered.

Dumbledore's expression didn't seem to change. He was still gazing at John with a piercing look. After a minute, John continued.

"When she destroyed the diary, Harry was rendered unconscious, almost instantly. It took him a couple of days to recover from that. Harry's constant dreams, his odd connection with Tom, Harry's a Parselmouth, the prophecy... the list goes on and on... It is not a solid theory, but it is one nonetheless," finished John.

Dumbledore did not have any words for John after that. After spending a few more minutes in the office, John left.

Voldemort was standing in front of Tom Riddle Senior's tombstone, basking in the glory of having created yet another Horcrux, making it his 6th. He now had 7 fragments of his soul, split and safely guarded in various parts of the world. There was something special about the number 7 and he was proud of Nagini, for she was his 7th soul, or so he thought.

There was a squeaking noise that distracted him. He turned around and saw a small creature scampering around.

"Barty," called out Voldemort in a deep gravelly voice.

"My Lord?" responded Barty Crouch Jr faintly and bowed down in front of his master.

"We have a guest... Isn't that right, Wormtail?" replied Voldemort with a menacing stare at the Rat.

A few seconds passed and the Rat slowly came to a halt a moment later, it transformed into a human form and Peter Pettigrew immediately knelt in front of Voldemort.

"My Lord," he worshipped in a low shivering cowardly voice.

"Wormtail... Came here to die?" asked Voldemort, his piercing death stare persisting.

"I ask for my Lord's forgiveness," replied Pettigrew. "I plead for a chance to serve my master again," he added, shivering as he spoke.

"Shut up coward," yelled Voldemort and there was a sudden pin drop silence around. It seemed like even the nature trembled in his presence.

"Barty... Please... help me," pleaded Pettigrew.

Barty Jr stayed silent, terrified of what was happening.

"You think he can save you? From me?" asked Voldemort and started laughing maniacally.

"Master... please do not kill me... I have information," begged Pettigrew.

"Information?" retorted Voldemort. "Will you look at that, Barty? Little Wormtail here has information," sniggered Voldemort and continued laughing.

"It's about Harry's friend, John... John Smith," whispered Pettigrew.

Voldemort looked at him, a little intrigued.

"Your death will be in my hands... Consider yourself lucky it isn't today," remarked Voldemort.

Hope you liked this chapter. Please leave your comments and thoughts, as always.

PS - Chapter 49 will be out in a few days.