Prompt: The Seven Deadly Sins

Chapter 10: Vices

The Great Hall was buzzing with an energy that could only be created by a hard fought victory. Remus looked on as Tonks was patched up by Madam Pomfrey. Even though he knew he had no chance of convincing her to stay with her parents, he still wished he had tried. He could have lost her. Teddy could have lost her. The matron had insisted Tonks could be treated at the school; he wasn't convinced yet that a trip to the field hospital wasn't in order. Saint Mungo's wasn't under Order control yet. It might be the next priority. Its close proximity to the ministry would complicate the matter.

When Harry walked through the doors, the room stilled. Remus knew what the next priority would be. Rather, what was still the priority. Pushing away from the wall, he looked at his wife to make sure she was stable. "I'll be right back," he said and she waved him on.

The casualties on their side were minimal. The school had been significantly protected before word got to the Death Eaters that the Order had started an offensive operation. It bought them time. And the fighting suddenly stopped for reasons that still weren't entirely clear to anyone. Most weren't asking questions. Remus needed answers. Walking passed the Weasley clan the twins were showing off some of their new creations.

"This one is called Pandora's Box," George explained, showing seven orbs nestled in a small case. "Sin bombs."

At that Remus slowed to hear the pitch. His former professor responsibilities getting the better of him.

"Sin bombs?" Ginny asked, taking out a bright blue orb carefully.

"Oh, that one is Vanity. Careful with that, we don't need you getting all impressed with yourself," Fred teased, picked up a pale pink orb. "This one is lust. Toss this one into a group and the snatchers start snogging each other." Everyone listening laughed at the mental image.

"Seven deadly sins," George finished. "They are really potent right now. Designed to distract the enemy long enough to get away. The sloth bomb is just as effective as making some drink the draught of living death. We'll dilute them for the joke shop."

The twins had really stepped up and Lupin admired their talent to create chaos. He hoped the war would end soon enough for them to rebuild their shop and use their imagination on novelties not weapons. As he continued toward the front of the room, he weaved in and out of tables and makeshift stretchers. Remus found Harry still near the doors surrounded by people and looking like he wanted to run. "Harry," he called out loudly so everyone would know their hero was needed elsewhere.

Harry backed away, muttering his apologies. Remus joined him and Ron in the nearly empty entryway to the castle. The doors were long gone. The grounds were littered with debris and scorch marks. Great chunks of ground were misplaced, creating mounds in other areas. It was literally a battlefield. "We should help Professor McGonagall clear this," Harry said absently.

Remus nodded, "The order already has plans to make sure there are no traps or magical ordinance left before letting anyone from the school risk themselves. I understand the headmistress would prefer the students help with the repairs. An opportunity to heal."

Ron took a step out onto the bricks. Something was off and Remus was concerned he was hurt. "Ron? Maybe you should get checked over by the matron? And your family is all safe in the Great Hall, I'm sure they'd like to see you." It wasn't meant to be a dismal, there was a sense that the redhead wanted some distance from something.

"I need to get the sword. I hid it away in the Gryffindor common room," he told Harry, turning toward the castle. "I'll go get it after checking on everyone. Do you want me to find Luna?"

Harry shook his head then rubbed his scar. "I'll do it. Go on and make sure your family is good."

"All right there, Harry?" Lupin asked when they were alone.

"No. You-Know-Who is checking on his… on something. He's angry. I need to…" Harry trailed off, not sure how to explain himself.

Lupin felt a sting of hurt and some envy that Dumbledore hadn't trusted him enough to help. After everything, Harry was still keeping that task from him. Multiple things he suspected. Last time he pushed for answers, it hadn't gone over well. "You don't have to do this alone anymore. Let the Order help you."

"The only thing I need help with is getting Hermione back."

"We will. They're disorganized. We can strike now. If that's what you want."

"I want to try something first… agh!" Harry cried out, his hands flew up to his head, pain was apparent.

Remus steadied him, concerned and desperately wanted to get him inside. "I'll go get help."

"No! No, I just need a minute."

Keeping an eye on the castle, wanting to get someone's attention, no one came. He waited for Harry to regain control of himself. "Can you tell me? I want to help you. I want to help Hermione."

Finally nodding, Harry wiped at his face, leaned over, bracing himself on his knees while he composed himself. "He made horcruxes. Professor Dumbledore found two of them. Voldemort just discovered his ring is missing. He's going back to the manor to interrogate Hermione. We have to move. Now. He's never been so angry. Or scared."

Horcruxes. Of all the things he thought Harry was hiding, this wasn't a consideration. What was Albus Dumbledore thinking? Leaving such an important piece of intelligence secret. Anger flared up within Remus, and then it turned to some sadness that Harry had been made to think he needed to risk his life searching for such dark magic. "How many?"

Standing up, Harry held his cloak pocket close, protecting the contents. His eyes cleared as he regained control of his mind. "Six. Three are destroyed. Ron and I found the fourth in the school. The fifth is in the Lestrange's vault at Gringotts."

"And the sixth," Remus asked, feeling relieved that so many were already dealt with.

"The snake."

Letting out a long breath, he processed and tried to come to terms with the abomination of Voldemort's actions. The hubris and avarice one had to possess to commit such a horrific act, not just once but six times was overwhelming. "And you've found a way to destroy them?"

"Yeah. The Sword of Gryffindor. It's imbued with basilisk venom. I suppose there are a whole stack of basilisk fangs in the chamber of secrets we should gather up too. Just in case."

"Can we… I think we should tell the rest of the Order. They need to know what to look for. They can all help."

"We should. I think he'll have had Bellatrix get the horcrux from her vault. I think it will be a chalice with the Hufflepuff seal. If we storm the manor tonight, it might still be there. And the snake will be there too. We can get Hermione and the last two horcruxes," Harry explained, confident in their ability to get inside the manor.

After their successful defense of the castle, there was reason to have confidence. Confidence could get someone killed, Remus knew that much and vowed to stick by Harry that night to make sure he didn't get himself killed with his own hubris.