At lunch he brought the note ridded sheet with him to the Gryffindor table. "I don't want you guys wondering if I did you favors. You two earned those spots, fair and square."
Ginny smiled, "Thank you, Harry. I didn't doubt it but seeing how I compared to others is reassuring." she wrapped around Harry's arm.
"I do have one question I need cleared up." Harry asked as he looked directly at Ron. "Who are you and what the hell happened to Ron Weasley? You were an animal. I loved it! Where did that come from?"
Hermione waved and smiled.
Ron explained, "Mione is pretty good at putting a nervous Little Ronnie back in the box and getting Ronald with his game face on."
Smiling Harry replied, "Okay I can respect that. 'Mione, I am now OFFICIALLY wanting you two for a long term. At least until the end of the year please? McGonagall needs that quidditch trophy!"
"We'll see what we can do, Harry," Hermione laughed, shaking her head. Ron just smiled, nodded, and gave a thumbs up.
At the appointed hour Harry came for his private lesson, but only after promising to link in to Ginny if he got back to the tower too late to catch her in the Commons. He came to the gargoyle and spoke the password. The passage opened for the spiral staircase. "Welcome Harry." he heard as he reached the top of the stairs.
"Evening, sir." he greeted at the door just because his mentality was already in that mode he fell into attention.
"Harry, come, sit down." The Professor invited, while sitting at his desk. The office looked like it did last term, circular shape with portraits of previous school heads adoring the wall. Instruments operated on tables giving off gasses and energies. If anything the place had been cleaned from the fit Harry had thrown the night of Sirius death. An interesting revelation came to mind. He remembered in that week of the Dursleys, he had occasionally felt guilty about the way he acted and the state he left the office. After this summer or realization and growth on just about every level, he didn't care.
"First of all, I must congratulate you on your completed N.E.W.T. Surprising but well earned."
Harry smiled as he sat down. "Just muggle studies. I won't even kid. Yes, I was planning on taking it for an easy grade. Sgt. Tonk caught us and called us out on it. Now 'Mione and I have to get the whole A.C.T. Squad there."
"And how is that leadership challenge resting on your shoulders?" Dumbledore asked with curiosity.
Harry shrugged. "It's fine. It is a LOT more homework in a short time, but we have a plan, we'll get it sussed.
"I hope the A.C.T. is sufficient execution of your wish to 'get the team in the fight,'" he repeated with mirth.
"If it progresses as the Sergeant suggests, that will do well. Thank you sir."
"And what is your opinion of Professor Slughorn?"
Harry waffled. "In honesty sir, I'd say 'meh' at best. Gin flat doesn't like him much. We both think Neville pegged him right as a politician. And they're just not my kind of people."
Dumbledore laughed heartily. "Harry, for someone who hates politicians, you have learned much in how to deal with them this summer, myself included."
"Sorry, sir."
"Why? Bureaucracy is an inevitable variable we encounter today. It is good you are learning to navigate it. I admit I did not expect myself to be an early participant. But I can not complain." the Professor said with a smile. "But do you remember what I said of Professor Slughorn before we met him?"
"I believe your phrase was 'good ally to our mutual cause and to assist in wooing him to it."
"Good memory, Harry. And I thank you for your effort in bringing him back to Hogwarts. Unfortunately, I can not release you from your assignment with him yet."
"Sir?"
"I will not go into specifics as I do not wish to color your actions. But there will come a time, relatively soon, where we will need something from Professor Slughorn. It is important that when that time comes, you, Harry, are WELL in his good graces."
Harry sighed. "I asked to be a soldier sir, you're turning me into a spy."
"You are a charmer, like your father before you." he smiled. "We will need this, Harry."
Harry took another courage breath, "Yes, sir."
"Now, for the real reason I invited you tonight and for this year's private sessions. Now last year I did tell you everything that I know for certain about Tom Riddle. But as the war has started, I am willing to push into … less certain areas."
Harry shook his head. "How 'less certain'?"
Dumbledore rose and walked over to the reflecting pool pensive. "You remember the pensive?" Harry nodded. "To borrow from some of your auror training, we will be working a cold case, watching the memories of a few scant witnesses I have collected in the attempt to understand Tom Riddle. This will be an attempt to know thy enemy, Harry."
"You want me to take a trip down memory lane chasing a hunch?" Harry summarized
"Very well put, Harry, yes."
Harry bit his cheek and winced. The smartest wizard in the world 6 - 18 months into the Second Wizard War in his office in his school, and his best recommendation was this. "I love magic, I love magic, I love magic." Harry chanted trying to psych himself up for this.
Dumbledore lifted a particular glass vial. "This is the memory of Bob Ogden, an Auror who was assigned to investigate a muggle attack and gives a picture of the origins of our foe." Dumbledore took hold of Harry's shoulder and they both fell into the memory.
They appeared outside a mossy cottage, surrounded by nettles and trees blocking all light around it. It looked like it should be abandoned but clearly not the man Harry could only guess as Ogden approached the building only to be met by a mess of a man who was half covered in mud and had teeth knocked out who went by the name Marvolo Gaunt. Marvolo was a pitiful excuse for a man that frankly in attitude and behavior reminded Harry far too much like Uncle Vernon. It was a reminder that Harry didn't need. Apparently Ogden wanted Marvolo's son due to an allegation of assaulting a muggle. Gaunt showed he was yet another pureblood supremacist, giving the finger to Ogden, but then Mavolo kept talking.
"See this?! Know what it is? Know where it came from? Centuries it's been in the family, that's how far back we go. And pure-blood all the way! Know how much I've been offered for this, with the Peverell Coat of arms."
If the blow hard was talking so much about it, Harry figured he'd take a look. As this all was a memory illusion he simply walked right up to Marvolo and looked. Harry tensed immediately. It was the ring! The horcrux right from his vision! He wanted to shout and yell. But he knew Dumbledore was watching him. A few years ago he would have instantly asked the Professor immediately, but after this summer, he felt the need to play the horcrux cards close to the chest.
Harry had stopped listening as he watched the ring, but howled and brought Harry's attention as he ran to his daughter Merope and started manhandling her in a way that would trigger Harry casting hand if this were real. "See this?" he growled as he grabbed a necklace from around her neck damn near choking her. Harry followed along. The locket! The damn vision locket that shocked him this summer. Again, Harry wanted to play his recognition close to his chest so he doubled down on keeping a straight poker face.
"This was Salazar Slythern's! We're the last of his descendants." Gaunt jerked the chain, and his daughter around clearly caring more about the jewelry than the young woman.
"Mr Gaunt, release your daughter!" Ogden ordered with his hand hovering over his wand. Even if this was an illusion, Harry instinctively got out of the way of a fight. The pair continued to argue. Gaunt holding to an illusion of his pureblood ancestry meant he could do no wrong.
"Mr. Gaunt! I am here because of your son Morfin, who has been accused of magical assault on Tom Riddle. I am serving you notice sir, that Morfin, WILL attend his hearing on the fourteenth of September."
The name caught Harry's attention, and it was a known variable to everyone. Harry looked over to the Professor expectantly. "Father, to the man we face today." Harry nodded.
It was about then when the clopping sounds on horses came around the bend in the road. A young couple on wagon rode by, taking offense to the entire gaunt structure and more so the snake nailed upon the door. As they talked Harry noticed the man at the reigns was called Tom. He could deduce the last name.
But as the couple rode by a woman leaned out the window. She was ghastly pale and seemed to look out to the driver in desperation. "Darling!"
"Darling!" Gaunt repeated in rage.
Dumbledore came beside Harry, "I trust you can understand them."
Harry was almost annoyed at the stupid question… then he put the pieces together. Descendants of Slytherin, snake on door, "Parseltongue?" Dumbledoor nodded. For courtesy sake, Harry started translating.
Gaunt went inside but roared loud enough to be heard. "Hanging out of the window waiting for him to ride home? Alway in the garden when he passes. Peering through the hedge at him, ain't ya? Is it true? My daughter pureblooded descent of Salazar Slythern, hankering after a filthy, dirt veined, Muggle?! You disgusting little Squib, you filthy little blood traitor!"
They all could hear a scream cut short with quieter gagging sounds. Ogden ran inside and forgetting himself Harry did too. Remembering this was a memory Dumbledore followed along. Ogden brandished his wand and shot at Gaunt, throwing him back. Now in the building they saw Morfin leaping at Ogden with a bloody knife in one hand and shooting hexes from a wand with the other. Ogden ran out of the building and out for his life. The memory then faded to black and the pair returned to Dumbledore' office.
"Thank you for the translation, Harry. I had deduced it was something to that effect, but it is good to know I was accurate. Lemondrop?" Dumbledore said as he sat behind his desk and gestured to Harry's seat on the other side.
"Do you know what happened to the pale woman, Merope, I believe was the name?"
"Survived, and we will watch more of her. Another night though. Sufficed in for the events of tonight's viewing. Ogden apprated pack to the ministry and returned with reinforcements. Both Gaunt men obviously resisted arrest, violently so. They were overpowered and removed from the cottage. Morfin had prior offenses, which led him to three years in Azkaban. Marvolo's only charges were from that day, received six months."
"Marvolo? Sir, I've learned to doubt coincidence, doubly so around me."
"And you would be correct. Our Riddle's grandfather," the professor nodded.
"And if as we are dealing with the last name Riddle, not Gaunt, logic suggests I just saw who would be Riddle's mother, Merope."
"Correct, Harry."
"The man on the wagon was a Tom, logic suggests that was Tom Riddle, Senior so to speak?"
"Correct again Harry."
"With respect, and I know I am no master of experience here, but those two did not seem to be in the middle of a budding relationship."
Dumbledore smiled. "Only because they were not, Harry, nor will they ever be. Remember Merope was a witch. So once both Marvolo and Morfin were away, she was able to target all her time and energy to her desire. And if one lacks the moral restraint, can you think of any means for Merope to ensure Tom Riddle Sr to forget the lady at his side and pursue her instead."
Harry put two and two together. "Love potion? Sir is THIS why you wanted Professor Slughorn back?"
Harry had never seen Dumbledore laugh harder in his life. "Your deduction that Merope used a love potion I believe is accurate. But Professor Slughorn is by no means connected to this memory. However, given your point of view, I can absolutely see why you would draw that conclusion. This is a keen example of what I meant by "we now walk less certain areas.".
"The collective general village gossip reports that Tom Sr did run off with Merope. When Marvolo was released from Azkaban he was greatly weakened. With no caretaker he died shortly there after. Eventually the pair conceived, but early in pregnancy, Tom Sr abandoned them. Apparently for one reason or another, Merope stopped using her potions or other influence. Perhaps she felt he would stay for the child? He did not. But as to what happened to her, I believe we shall wait for a future lesson."
Harry nodded, "Thank you sir." Harry rose and began living. If Harry hadn't been learning more and more to be more aware of his environment or so recently reminded of it, he likely would have missed it, but as he passed a display table he saw it. The ugly gold ring with a black stone, cracked."
"Professor, is that Gaunt's ring?"
"Again I am impressed with your investigative eye Harry. Auror work will be well suited for you. Yes it is."
"May I ask when you obtained it?"
"Oh? This summer, only a few weeks after you moved in with the Weasleys."
Harry tried to keep his poker face straight. "Ah… Er, sir… would that be around the same time your hand suffered that injury?"
Dumbledore smiled. "Around that time, yes."
"Am I ever going to hear that lesson?" Harry grinned.
"Harry, tell me again how you dislike politics?" the professor chuckled.
"Good night, sir." Harry said with a smile.
As he got down to the stairs. A thought blazed across his mind. "Bastard's got a horcrux!"
Harry was happy he was able to get back to the Gryffindor commons about 9:45 PM. The three of them were technically studying, but realistically waiting for him, or at least the Weasleys were. Hermione likely actually was studying AND waiting. Though she kept a good face about it, he could feel the tightness in Ginny's back muscles when he hugged hello.
"Can you tell us anything?" she asked.
"You three, always." He looked to Hermione, "Charms?" She nodded.
"How familiar are you all with a pensive? As in memory viewing?" Harry told them his evening: the memory, the horcrux ring, and his continued assignment to charm Slughorn.
Ginny grimaced with that. "Sorry love, just not a fan of him."
"I can't say as I am either Gin, but I did ask Dumbledore to involve me more. It would be a little hypocritical to whine about the first assignment. Especially when this is a pretty safe one. I half expected him to throw me up against a never ending line of ever increasingly stronger monsters."
Ron became very serious. "So you're sure, that's not an option?"
"As sure as I can be. I would call it extremely unlikely at this point, ya."
"Bollox," Ron swore as he lowered his head. Then he pulled out two galleons and slid one to each of the ladies.
"Language," Hermione gently corrected, "But thank you, dear."
"Wait, you guys bet on what the hell Dumbledore was going to do to me?!"
"Harry, baby, I love you." Ginny smiled, rubbing his cheek. Tenderly and sweetly she replied, "Yes." Then she smiled.
Harry's head fell to the table. "With mates likes you…"
"You'll never be bored." Ron answered.
"There are days I would like to try. "
Hermione's brain was thinking. "Harry, I know you said the ring in Dumbledore's office was the same as the Gaunt memory."
"It looked gashed and ruined now but The Professor confirmed same ring."
"And you are certain it is the same as your locket vision. "
"Yes, and the locket was the same as well."
"So we're pretty sure he has…" Hermione whispered despite being the one who cast the charms, "A horcurx?"
Harry nodded.
Ron smiled. "This will be the first time I've thought of busting into Dumbledore's office, but I'm willing to give it a shot."
Ginny looked over to him. "Are - are you mental?"
"He's the smartest wizard in the world and HIS office in HIS school." Hermione said. "I can't help but feel out of our league with this one."
"Wait, all of you shut it." Ginny said. "Harry, how's your head?"
"I'm fine babe, thanks for the concern though."
"Well, good, but not my point. You walked right that thing twice, apparently, but it didn't trigger a Riddle headache."
Harry raised his eyebrows. "Good thinking. I missed that. Sorry, false alarm."
"Well, I wouldn't go that far Harry. You're forgetting the Potter effect." Hermione noted.
Harry looked around, "Okay I'll bite. Potter effect?"
"Things around you are rarely a coincidence." they all said together.
Harry smiled. "Okay, I won't even pretend to be offended. What are your thoughts if it isn't a false alarm."
"The gash. What if it was already destroyed, magically speaking."
GInny was surprised. "That would suggest Dumbledore did the deed."
"Exactly, Ginny!" Hermoine said.
"But that would mean for once he was actually directly helpful and useful for once."
Harry rubbed Ginny's back. "Gin, I fully admit I lead the bitching about him… but he has help in the past, just… unpredictability."
Leaning into him and resting her head on his shoulder. "I know, but he's so frustrating."
Harry pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "Okay, we all have had a day, and we have a meeting bringing Neville and Susan tomorrow. Any more thoughts we come up with we can bring up then. Everyone get some sleep. No workout tomorrow. Gin, I'll at least walk you to your stairs."
Sunday was a day of rest, in theory. But the problem with a regular wake up schedule was his body had adapted weeks ago, so even without the alarm, he awoke. He looked at the clock, too damn early to bother people. Then he looked over to his kitchenette. He figured he might as well brew a tea and study. Dumbledore wanted him to get chummy with Slughorn and so he figured doing decent in the class, legitimately, would be a good start. He read ahead, again, as he had been doing this summer. As he was reading through the material and putting his tea together, a startling revelation came to mind. He held his potions spellbook in his right hand, his freshly brewed tea in his left. He had an epiphany.
"No way…It can NOT be that simple." With renewed vigor he looked through the potions list again. They were all standardized; Ingredients, measurements, preparing methods, time. It was all the same. The ingredients were unique, but at Hogwarts the ingredients were always labeled. He would need to learn the potion name and its effect, but that was a fractional work by comparison. He held the text up in disbelief but then smiled, "It's a cookbook." Potion Brewing is just cooking! Hell, it was light cooking teas and soups and the like! "It's just FUCKING COOKING!" he yelled in his room, again thankful for the silence charm. Harry knew how to cook. One of the limited benefits of his upbringing is he knew his way around a kitchen. He'd been doing the lion's share of the work at the Durlsey's Kitchen for half his damn life. If he just approached the class like a culinary course instead of arithmetic he could O this class!
When he emerged at a respectable hour he brought a 3rd cup with him as he took a spot in the Commons. He had finished coming up with a study plan for 5th year Muggle Studies when Ginny joined him wearing jeans and number 7 Potter Jersey. "Good morning, you." she said with a happy, yet but slightly confused face.
"Hey, Morning!" Harry greeted with a kiss and pulled out a chair for her.
"Well, someone is chipper today."
Harry shrugged. "You're here. Why wouldn't I?"
Ginny smiled, "That's very sweet, but that's also bull. You were chipper before I got here. I'll have you know I've quite the experience of scouting out the elusive Harry Potter smile from a distance. And I most definitely saw one from across the room."
"Elusive?"
This time Ginny shrugged. "Formerly. They do seem to be making a resurgence in recent months." That elicited the desired chuckle from her boyfriend. "So what's up, good dream or something, perhaps featuring a certain redhead?"
Harry grinned. "I dream about you every night, Gin, but no. This morning I'm proud of myself for figuring out something for class, that's all."
She actually wasn't expecting such a direct and positive answer. "Okay, wow, questions for later then. What did you figure out?"
"Okay Gin, you're actually perfect for this. You've put in a fair bit of time in a kitchen cooking, helping or just taking care of the meal of the hour, right?"
"Of course, mandatory Weasley training. Mum refuses to let any of us out of the house without knowing how to cook."
Harry pulled his Potions book out and gave it to her. "Take a look at it… but like a cookbook."
Ginny tilted her head to the side, but it was a simple enough task. So she read through it. First one page, then another, and another. "Harry! You're right! Where did you get this idea?"
"It's a Harry Potter original. I woke up early, brewed a tea while studying, noticed the similarities… and it just came to me."
She leaned over and gave a proper hug and peck. "I told you you'd figure out your own way. I'm totally stealing your approach though."
"Please. I'm just really chuffed to bits that I came up with something academically without Hermiones's help, no offense to her."
Ginny waved it off. "Harry, I'm the baby of the family. I get it."
That tripped Harry. "Okay, wait, stop." He took her hand. "Youngest, sure. Seventh, accurate. Now, I may call you 'babe', but you are no baby."
The Crimson smile came to Ginny's face. "Harry Potter, I love you. When next we are alone, you are in trouble."
The rest of the day passed pretty normal. Ron tramped Harry on a few rounds of chess.
Ron caught the group up with his adventures in Astronomy, though most of them relayed in a tone of disbelief as somehow, he was getting the top marks, at least this week. Hermione smile and she rested her head on his shoulder.
Harry did hold his first Muggle Study lesson with Ginny and Luna. After D.A. last year, Harry was getting comfortable with teaching. The three of them were all friendly so it was actually quite enjoyable. Luna would come with the most unique questions. But being fluent in 'Luna' Harry just answered directly with a step or two of background to try to tie things together.
The evening came. Susan and Neville smiled and nodded as they met each other at the corner before the hall to the Room of Requirement. Ron was waiting by the door, and greeted them with a smile. "The others have just been setting up. Come on in." As he opened the door.
It opened to the standard DA training room, with one notable addition, a round wood table and 6 chairs around it. Harry and Ginny were at the table going over some papers. Hermione walking the perimeter of the room with her wand in use. When he heard the last pair arrive, Harry stood to greet them. Ginny followed.
"Welcome behind the curtain." Harry said with a grin. "Susan, Neville, you two have been mates for a while now. You both know the costs of this damn war. You were founding members in this room. Now, you've both risen to the heads of your houses and pledged those houses to the fight. I'd love to have you, but I feel the need to be very clear. What we talk about is dangerous. Especially to ourselves, but we're doing it, often because we're trying to save lives. Loose lips sink ships. Once you sit in those chairs. There's no going back."
To his credit, Neville sat without hesitation.
Susan thought for a moment. She was still guarded, angry, she had a look in her eyes that Ginny recognized all too well in the mirror often. "Tell me again, Harry, just so everyone is on the same page."
"As Master of House Potter I swear to you I will not rest until Riddle is in the ground."
Susan nodded and sat next to Neville. Harry nodded and smiled as he sat with Ginny. "Ron, lock us up please. Hermione, set the charms please."
"I thought the Room of Requirement was normally secure?" Neville asked.
Hermione answered. "We believe so, but we don't like to take chances. She replied, taking the seat next to Harry. Ron took the last seat between her and Susan.
Harry took the lead. "Alright, we all know each other, but to avoid any level of confusion. Hermione is our genius. Ron is the master of the tactical and practical. Ginny gives us corporate sponsorship, House Bones-"
Susan raised her hand, "Wait, corporate sponsorship?"
Ginny smiled. "Crimson Witch is a bit more than a modeling gig. Mr. Whitehorn with Nimbus brooms is a huge supporter against Riddle. I'll totally admit it's half advertising but also half propaganda, but it's for our side so I won't feel too bad about it. He's already sent some equipment our way and I am pretty sure he's willing to keep doing it."
"Wow, okay." Susan replied, "Impressive. Sorry Harry, please continue."
"No worries, That's the entire point of tonight's meeting. After Gin we have House Potter, Bones, Longbottom, and Weasley at the table. There are two or three items today I want to cover in specifics. Sounds simple, but there is a LOT of depth we need to cover."
Harry flipped back to his top page. "Let's start with the most public the Houses. We're just at the beginning of the war. So far things are inconvenient but not horrible. In the spirit of being prepared I'd recommend we all look to getting safe houses established. There are some obvious places."
"Always room for one more at the Burrow," Ginny invited, "For all of you."
"I won't argue that, Gin." Ron replied, "But I think Harry is looking for less well known addresses. Places that haven't been on the front page."
"Sorry."
"No need to apologize, Ginny," Hermione said. "This is all our first War Meeting."
Harry nodded. "I'd still be willing to put Grimmauld Place in London on the table. I'm already working on getting fixed up. I'd like to see if we can get some information scattered about Britain."
"I can get you a few, Harry." Susan volunteered.
"Same." Neville nodded.
"Brilliant, I'll let you two coordinate addresses. I will trust you to trust your people but reach out to who you need to get ready."
"Define, 'get ready'?" Susan asked. "Just to be clear."
"Fair question, Sue. Nothing fancy. Be ready to hide away people. Us, friends, and family,-"
"Muggle-born," Hermione added, "then Halves and traitors. It's only a matter of time until the Eaters start hunting in earnest." Nods around the table agreed.
Nevile volunteered. "Get me addresses and I can work on getting a fair bit of food and potion, even medical supplies there."
"Wands." Ron added.
"Ron?"
"I agree we should set up caches and safe houses. But then you are just creating a refugee camp. If you have an emergency supply of wands, maybe even some textbooks, those supplies become operating stations for soldiers."
The table fell silent and looked at him. "What? Sorry, it was just an idea."
"And that kind of thinking is EXACTLY why you're at the table, mate." Harry added. "I love the spirit. The folks Riddle makes run, we coordinate and help them fight back. He thinks he has a problem with muggle-born now? Give us five minutes."
"You want wands?" Susan smiled. "I can get you wands."
Hermione looked over. "Why am I so slightly terrified?"
"Likely for the same reasons I am excited." Ginny grinned. "Please, share with the Weasleys tales of your mischief."
Susan simply said while scratching the back of her neck and looking off to a general direction, "Well… it's less mischief, more ministry. Someone has to supply the Dept of Magical Law Enforcement replacement and back up wands."
The table chuckled.
"I can likely get some brooms delivered too. Mobility, evacuation, and such." Ginny nodded.
Ron piggybacked off his sister. "Have we considered communication?"
"Well, I have an idea," Harry volunteered, "but I'm afraid I'd need Miracle 'Mione's help."
"What's the idea?"
Harry flipped his Master D.A. coin in the air. "Last year you set up a system where I change the text on this coin and it is relayed to the rest."
"I remember, Harry." she smiled.
"Okay, so you have a spell that will send information. I am thinking of an upgrade. What I am thinking are, for lack of a better description, Two way letters." Harry took out two pieces of paper to illustrate. I'm thinking we each, and each location, has a portfolio of two pages. The page on the right, is when we write a letter. It is to at least one other portfolio's left page. At least that's the basics. I mean it would be nice if by writing a name I could select who I am sending these."
Hermione rested her chin on her fist, already running the spell calculations through her mind. "I agree the same spell is a starting point. You are asking it to transmit more information…but ink is a far more malleable material…I'll need some time and experimentation, but yes… I'll go so far as to call it likely doable."
"Thanks, Mione. So that's the simple stuff."
"THAT passes for simple with you lot?" Neville chuckled.
"You have no idea." Ron replied.
Then Harry took a deep breath. He looked over to Ginny who gave him a silent nod of approval. "Susan, back at the Alley, you said you could read between the lines and knew I had an angle. And I can NOT stress this enough. This stuff does NOT leave your lips."
Neville and Susan exchanged looks then nodded.
"Right, well one of the most frustrating mysteries since the First War is how the hell did Riddle come back? This summer we figured it out. From my Black inheritance, we found the Journal of Regulus Black who worked under Riddle. He assisted Riddle with a powerful magical item called a Horcurx, Riddle himself called it the key to his immortality.
"Okay, so what is a Horcrux?" Susan asked.
Hermione answered "We are still trying to determine what the spell behind it is, but it is some of the darkest magic we have even heard of. We've been able to confirm it is within the school of necromancy and deep into resurrection magic."
"But even though we don't understand the spell, we've been able to make progress hunting them. Thus far, we believe we are only looking for seven horcurxes." Harry took out his sketches and passed them out as he introduced them. "It turns out we have encountered one already, we'll come back to that later. And recently we've discovered it seems Riddle had a penchant for Hogwarts history. So far we have actually obtained Salazar Slythern's Locket. We've identified Ravenclaw's Tiara as a third. The fourth seems to be a personal touch, his grandfather's ring, which we think we've located here at Hogwarts. Fifth is his snake Nagini, which Ron's made the tactical recommendation to wait for till last as Riddle keeps her close at hand. The sixth is a sliver cup that we have obtained, though I admit we haven't identified a significance to -"
"Ah, Harry?" Susan interrupted.
"Ya Susan."
Looking at the sketch of the cup. "I recognize this from a painting at our dorms. This is Helga Hufflepuff's Cup."
The veteran members all winced in annoyance. Ron summed it up best. "This man's ego knows no bloody bounds."
Hermione rubbed her temple. "I'm not even going to scold you for that one Ron."
"The seventh is where… well I'll be honest… we don't have a clue. Looks like lightning cries like a baby."
Ginny leaned over and fake whispered. "Psst, hey, Neville, this would be a great time to even the score with Susan."
"Sorry, I don't have anything to add to that."
Hermione smiled and shook her head. "It's alright, we've only just now gotten back to Hogwarts so I finally will be able to do proper library research. Though one thing I would like to bring up with your Aligned House is during breaks and such I would appreciate access to your own libraries."
Neville and Susan shared a look and in unison answered, "Done."
Hermione smiled like a child on Christmas morning, "Thank you. Based on our research from Regulus Black's journal, we believe destroying the horcruxes will at least make Riddle mortal again."
"Make it a fair fight." Susan summarized.
"Exactly what I said," Harry agreed with a pointed finger.
Susan continued. "You mentioned there was first, that you lot had encountered before ?"
The original quartet fell silent. Harry reached over to grab Ginny's hand in support. She nodded but he didn't let go. With his thumb slowly rubbing on the back of her hand he again tried to offer some level of peace and comfort. "How well do you remember the events of our second year?"
"Correct men where I'm wrong, mate. That was students getting petrified?"
"Ya, Neville, there was a creature called a basilisk that was previously being held in the Chamber of Secrets."
"I remember that," Susan registered somberly. "End of the year you were …kidnapped." she tried to say gently.
"Ya and we-" Harry started
But Ginny cut him off. "In a manner of speaking, yes."
"Babe, I'm-" he countered.
"Harry, it's relevant and it's time and if they're on the team…."
Harry pulled her right hand over to it with both of his, just trying to show support.
Ginny took her own courage breath, and let her anger surface, because she would much rather be angry than hurt. "The first horcrux was a diary that Riddle created when he was a student here. It was planted in my things early in the year. Like Hermione said we still don't know what the fuck these things are but this had what Dumbledore called a memory in it acted more like a ghost, including possessing me."
Neville was stunned silent. Susan just about, only getting out, "Holy shit."
"So once Riddle, or at least the Ghost of Riddle, got his claws on me, he decided an 11 year old girl would be the perfect sacrifice to bring himself back to life and release that basilisk. Fortunately, these three got there in time and Harry started his monster slaying career. And for good measure took one of the fangs and destroyed the diary."
Neville started to open his mouth, Ginny stopped him. "Neville and Susan, both of you, Please don't take this the wrong way. We are friends and I know you mean well. But I do not want any pity or condolences. It has been four years for me, and I have tried very hard to move on. I share it now because it is relevant."
They silently nodded understanding.
Ron continued. "The important part is from that we know how to destroy the horcruxes, by using the basilisk fangs."
Harry picked up. "So here comes your first mission opportunity. If we are hunting horcruxes we are going to need the fangs. So Friday night, I am recommending returning to the Chamber of Secrets. At minimum to collect fangs, though I admit I would like to try to destroy the ones we have too.
Hermione reminded. "Technically, Harry, we are still in the theoretical. We are assuming what kills one horcrux will kill them all.
Harry shrugged, "Name me a better time, place, or method for testing the theory."
"Why Friday?" Susan asked.
"Harry Potter Effect," the Weasleys and Hermione answered.
Harry shook his head. "Something to understand, especially if you join on missions. And I'll be honest about it. We tend to walk towards trouble. I can't predict what but something will happen and we'll walk out with at least some scrapes and bruises. If we do it Friday night, that gives us the weekend to recover."
"Blimey," Neville shook his head. "This is what has passed for normal for you, for like the last six years?"
The quartet nodded. "Welcome to the inner circle you two." Harry took a breath. "Last item. I recommend Friday at 9:00, I HAVE to go to open the doors. Ginny is committed to going back too."
There was an audible gasp from everyone. Her brother stepped up, "Ginny…I'm going regardless. I will do this for yo-"
"No." she replied firmly and angrily. "Harry already made the same offer and I snog him." There was a slight hint of a smile as she tilted his head that way. "I'm going back, I'm spitting on the ground where the Ghost of Riddle died, and if we're testing crap, I claim dibs on killing one of those things."
The rest of the table was in a bit of awe and stunned silence.
"So we have a three man team, which what we usu-"
"Harry," Hermione said, "You know I'm going, don't even pretend like I wouldn't."
"I just pledged loyalty, I'm not sitting out the first mission." Neville answered.
"His name is Riddle and I am not afraid." Susan said.
"Right, we'll meet at the second floor girl's lavatory at 9:00 PM Friday. Be dressed to at least get dirty, if not caving. Dismissed." Harry concluded.
He turned to Hermione who already read his mind. "Go. Get Ginny back to the dorms. Take the long way. We'll close up here."
Harry packed up his bag and walked Ginny out who was holding Harry's arm very tightly and resting her head on his shoulder as the door closed behind them.
Neville watched and turned back to Ron and Hermione. "I think I just gained a lot more understanding about those two."
Hermione shook her head in agreement. "That's probably one of the hardest parts about this team. For a while now the papers and the public, all talk about Harry, and now even Ginny, as heroes, which they are. But it's only on this side of the curtain do you see the prices they've paid to be who they are."
Ginny soon went past Harry's arm and wrapped around his torso as they slowly walked. "Harry, I don't want to go back to my dorm yet."
"Good, because I'm not taking you there." he replied softly with a kiss to her hair.
Ginny shook her head in appreciation and acceptance. At the first available set of stairs Harry led them up to the top to one of the many lookouts from the ancient days. For simplicity sake, Harry swept Ginny off her feet then sat down against the wall with her on his lap.
"Harry, can we use the cloak too?" Without a word Harry pulled out the Invisibility cloak and soon the pair disappeared from sight. "Thank you, I just want to hide away for a moment, and be held by you."
"And so we will, Ginevra. We don't even have to say anything. You just rest, breathe, relax. I'm right here, on watch, I'll keep the monsters away." Harry comforted with a gentle rub of his thumb against cheek as she rested on his shoulder. So finally hidden away in a forgotten corner of a thousand year old castle, hidden under a magical blanket, wrapped up in the arms of the greatest monster slayer she'd known, who'd already pledged love to her, Ginny Weasley finally felt safe enough to cry.
