Ten minutes turned into twenty because after the lovers finished, it took time to come down from the pleasure high and then they had to get dressed and get over to Grimmauld Place for the meeting. It had been rushed, so neither one of them had time to look presentable. So walking into the meeting room, everyone kept their mouths shut about how obvious it was the two had a good shagging that Albus had called them in the middle of.

"We're glad you two could finally join us." Albus greeted.

"Perhaps, next time, a little warning would be nice!" Harry commented.

"Noted for the future, my boy. Please, have a seat…" The old man beamed.

"Now, can we get on with why we've been summoned at 9:30 pm on a Friday night, Albus…" Minerva sighed. "I don't believe it wise to leave the school without its headmaster and deputy headmistress. Oh, and defense teacher and resident potions master. Not to mention the fact the students are due for curfew in thirty minutes!"

"Minerva, my dear, calm yourself. The students are not out of bed, nor campus on their own. They're with teachers and the headmaster himself. I promised Harry his request would be allowed, and so when I call Order meetings, all current members will be present." The Headmaster stated gently.

By this point, Severus and Harry had taken seats where available, though people shifted so they could sit together. "Now then…" Albus paused. "Bill, I believe you said you had some information for us regarding getting access to Bellatrix's vault? How about you lead us off?"

"Right then. Obviously, it's taken some time to work through the ranks of the bank…But I finally got to who was in charge. I explained the situation and they took a while debating the request." Bill began.

"Have they agreed to let us into the vault?" Narcissa wondered.

"Not without probable cause and sufficient payment as trade." Bill informed.

"So they don't actually want money?" Inquired Harry.

"No, and they would not state their price because it's only assumed that there is something in there." Bill said. "Not only that, but none of us also know what the item in question is. So, they want some kind of proof that there is something in there before anything else."

"The whole point of getting into the vault was to check if Bellatrix hid something there while she went to Azkaban." Sorrel remarked.

"I did the best I could with them, but they won't even consider without proof…Or Bellatrix herself to enter the vault." Bill enlightened.

"Fat chance of us getting Bellatrix Lestrange on our side." Sirius scoffed.

"You never know…Sometimes people just need the right motivation to switch sides. For a few here, that was knowing they could escape the branding and live safely." Severus referred to the Crabbe's, Goyle's, and Nott's.

"Harry, I know you think everyone has light and dark, but-," Sirius began.

"Wasn't it you, Sirius, who told me the world is not split into good and Death Eaters?" Harry commented.

"Well, yes, but pup…Bellatrix is insane." Sirius countered.

"Everyone has moments, Sirius," Harry sighed. "You think all the things I've dealt with over the years haven't made me want to just go nuts and hurt people who have hurt me? Of course. For me, it would be as easy as snapping a finger to go dark. But I don't. Because I have too much here keeping me in the light. As Severus said, the right motivation is all it takes. My motivation is knowing how many people end up hurt or dead if I decide to stop giving a shit."

"If I decide, fuck it, the world is going to hell anyway…Might as well let Voldemort win." Harry paused. "But I don't because unlike Voldemort…I have real friends. Friends I see as family. People who I see as family, like you and Remus. Like the Weasley's. Like Narcissa and Lucius. I've already lost my parents, and I'll be damned if I lose another family."

"It's really not hard to want to hurt people. It's a normal reaction. When we were in the ministry battle and she hit you with a stunning spell that almost sent you into that veil, I wanted to hurt her. Thank God Remus was able to use another spell to knock you away, but it didn't stop me from chasing after her and trying to cast Crucio on her." Okay, no one knew that. Harry had left the room where the battle was being held. "I didn't think about it. I just cast it, and she tripped falling right on her face. And she was scared. I saw it in her eyes."

"I could have hurt her. I could have successfully cast it if I wanted to, but I didn't. Because I was just angry that she nearly killed you. If she had, I promise you, it would have been worse. I was angry, blinded by rage. For a moment, I lost my own sanity. It's not hard to lose yourself to it. I have restraint, I don't let it run free. But…Voldemort does give her free reign to enjoy hurting people, she knows it makes Voldemort happy to see people suffer." Harry explained.

"Bellatrix might be insane, yes…Definitely. But have you ever stopped to wonder why she sides with Voldemort?" Harry asked. "It's because she's a pureblood. And she aligns herself with someone fighting for the pureblood ideals, wanting to rise above the tainted lines of muggleborn and half-blood wizarding folk. He definitely wants to kill or enslave the muggles."

"Voldemort lets her do whatever she wants, she has freedom and she's quite obviously in love with him. In love with the power…How fast you think that changes if she knew he was a half-blood himself?" He inquired as Sirius blinked. "You said yourself when you showed me the tree, Bellatrix was your deranged cousin and you hated the lot of them with their pureblood mania…Bellatrix might be insane, but she's a pureblood and she's proud of it. That's why she married Rodolphus, he's a pureblood. There might not be love there, but she still did it."

"And she knows she has no chance with Voldemort because he can't love. He is incapable of feeling and understanding it. If Bellatrix knew she was taking orders from a half-blood, that he didn't return her affection, and would never be with her…I bet you she wouldn't follow him anymore. Maybe I'm wrong, but…Hey…It's still a possibility." Harry shrugged.

"I'm also not saying this to suggest we attempt to recruit her, but…Just know that there are always reasons as to why someone is the way they are and make the choices they do. You told me, Uncle Siri, the motto of the Black family is Toujours Pur and that means Always Pure. Bellatrix might have married into Lestrange, but she was Black by birth and she won't sacrifice her blood purity for a half-blood. I just guarantee she probably doesn't know about it. Sev, Lucius, and Narcissa didn't until me and Severus got married and I told them."

"Yeah, actually…We didn't know until just now either." Francis commented.

"Wow, really? Voldemort is a half-blood?" Lydia stared.

"Pureblood mother, muggle father." Lucius confirmed. "His mother was Merope Gaunt. His father, Tom Riddle Sr. The Riddle's were a rich, but muggle family."

"Well, I learned something new tonight." Theodore Sr. stated.

"Tends to blow everyone's mind when they learn." Harry informed.

"You're right, Harry. I'm sorry." Sirius bowed his head to his godson. "And so proud of you for remembering the motto!"

Harry rolled his eyes. "You drilled it into my head during fourth year. No idea why, it doesn't apply to me. I'm not a Black."

"Oh…But you are, unofficially. I am your godfather. I named you my heir, Harry. I adopted you as my son when I got you into my custody again. If something happens to me, pup…You become Lord Black."

"I am lord to enough houses, thank you!" Harry glared. "Potter, and Slytherin."

"Eh, one more won't hurt." Sirius shrugged. "I would trust no one else with my legacy."

"I'm not even a Black, Sirius. At that, I'm not even a pureblood!" Harry reminded.

"Actually, Harry…You might be considered one if Sirius adopted you." Narcissa interjected.

"I fail to see how. My father was a pureblood, my mother was muggleborn. Last I checked, that makes me half." Harry informed.

"Yes, but…To be considered a pureblood, you have to have four magical grandparents. You have your father's parents…And with Sirius's adoption, his parents count as your grandparents too. So…That means you have four magical and pureblood grandparents. You very well might be considered a pureblood." Narcissa told him.

"Whether I am or not doesn't really matter to me. I've never cared about blood status, and I never will. It doesn't change who I am." Harry reminded.

"That's why you deserve the title of Lord Black, Harry…Pureblood or not, you have a pure heart. And that is the family motto. It says Always Pure, does not specify that purity being to blood status." Sirius told him. "You do not have to call me your father, Harry. The adoption was in name only to claim an heir and you are my godson. I would never try to take James's place in your life. I will always be your godfather. I will always be your Uncle Sirius, Siri, or Padfoot. I will always have your back, I will always keep you safe and I will always love you. No matter what."

"I will keep the word in mind, but, dear uncle, we've not gathered to discuss any of that. I have enough to worry about without that concern of having more responsibilities thrust on me." Harry muttered. "Moving on…I'm just making you and anyone else aware that there's always a reason and if you work it the right way, it can change. Severus changed sides. Lucius, Narcissa, and the others I freed changed sides. No idea why, I didn't ask…"

"But the fact is that they realized following Voldemort isn't something they wanted to do." Harry told everyone. "Now…Bill. Don't worry so much. What you did do is remarkable that they even agreed to consider things. It might not be much, but it's…Something. We know they'll agree if we can prove it." Harry relaxed in his seat. "And I'm sure there will be something we can provide them as trade. They're quite the collectors of rare things." He added.

"Have we anything more on horcrux hunting?" Alastor asked.

"We don't know what we're looking for, even with Harry's theory of Voldemort using objects belonging to the founders. I would assume these objects would have been kept respectively with their houses. But no such locket, diadem, or cup was located." Minerva mentioned.

"Well, I don't know what will be found…" Albus started. "But, Harry…I've narrowed down the one I believe I located. It rings dark magic, and has a connection to Voldemort's childhood past." He informed.

"When are we going?" Harry asked.

"No time like the present. We can leave tonight, right now, if you're prepared for it." Albus told him.

"Ready when you are." The teenager nodded.

"Then we'll go. The rest of you may stay here, or return to your homes. I have no say in how long this may take." Albus informed as he moved away from the table and Harry got up to go with him.

"Wait, you're going to go right now?" Severus asked.

"We can't waste time, Sev. I'm sure it won't take long." Harry assured as he gave the man a light kiss.

"Be safe, would you?" Severus hoped.

"Best of my abilities," Harry promised before going closer to Albus, but stopped. "Ivy…Stay behind with Severus. I don't want you getting hurt."

"Yes, Master." Ivy slithered off his shoulders and down onto the table to crawl onto Severus.

"No. No, Harry…You take Ivy with you." Severus demanded.

"I much prefer her to keep you company so you don't pace down the stone floor back at the school waiting for me to return. If it's a horcrux location, I'm sure it's cursed to hell and back. I don't want Ivy to get hurt, so she stays with you." Harry informed his husband. "Don't try to command her otherwise, you know she only listens to me and I gave her a direct order." Harry got in front of Albus.

"You know, Harry…I forgot how much you've grown over the years. I still remember holding you as a baby. Now look at you, all grown up." Harry shrugged as Albus smiled. "Forgive my mawkishness, Harry. I'm an old man."

"Still look the same to me, sir," Harry joked.

"Just like your mother, unfailingly kind." Albus chuckled. "A trait most undervalue these days. Your godfather speaks the truth, and many would agree, Harry. You have one of the purest hearts I've ever seen. Now…Where we journey tonight, is extremely dangerous. I said you could accompany me, and I stand by that promise. However, there is one condition…" He paused. "You must obey every command I give you without question." Harry felt the energy in the room change. Things had gone silent and very serious.

"Yes, sir." Harry nodded.

"You do understand what I'm saying, Harry. Should I tell you to hide, you hide. Should I tell you to run, you run. Should I tell you to abandon me and save yourself, you must do so." Another pause. "Your word, Harry."

"You have my word." Harry agreed.

"Take my arm." Albus offered his to Harry and the teenager grabbed on as they were gone.

"Uncle Sev? You alright?" Draco asked.

"I've got a gut feeling that this is going to be a bad night…" Severus admitted.

"But for now…I believe it best we all return to the school, or our homes. I'm sure Albus will summon us later tonight, or tomorrow, with an update." Minerva stated.

Not arguing with the witch, Severus and Minerva led the students back to the school, while families made their way back home. Sirius and Remus were left at Grimmauld. The same thing was on everyone's minds. They sincerely hoped Harry and Albus would be alright, wherever it was they were going.

. . .

Somewhere in the middle of the ocean, Harry and Albus landed on a large rock with the sea behind them raging. Just ahead was a massive rock formation and Harry had to guess it was a cave of sorts. Quite the odd choice to hide a horcrux, but who knew? Voldemort was a fucked up kid from what he'd seen or learned. Not saying a word, Albus took Harry inside the cave with another apparition jump and they walked to find a wall of rocks preventing them from going further.

"Oh yes. This is the place; it has known magic." Albus informed before pulled a blade and sliced into his disfigured hand.

"Sir, what are you doing?" Harry asked.

"Payment must be made, Harry. To weaken intruders…" Albus revealed.

"You should have let me." Harry offered.

"No, no, Harry. Your blood is much more precious than mine." The old man smiled. The rocks began to give away, and they entered more. "Voldemort would not have made it easy, so watch yourself." The two lit their wands and looked around the dark cavern. Albus threw a ball of light forward as it traveled across the water and hit something. "That is where we are going. Now…How do we cross?" The man held out a hand as a chain erupted from the water. "Harry, if you would, please?"

The teenager took the chain and began to pull, eventually, a very small boat sailed forward towards them. The two boarded carefully and it began its way across to a middle island. Albus and Harry were quiet, though Albus mentioned for Harry not to worry, and Harry said he wasn't because he had him with him.

Albus joked that he was the one not worried because Harry was with him. Finally, they got to the island and stepped onto the rocks, coming to a pedestal filled with a dark liquid. Albus tried to touch, but there seemed to be a barrier. He noticed the makeshift shell cup and understood.

"This must be drunk, all of it. Harry, you remember the conditions on which I brought you? You must keep giving me this, through anything and ignore all requests I make of you." Albus said.

"But sir, why can't I?" Harry asked.

"Because I'm older, wiser, and far less valuable." Albus told the teenager. He reached for the cup and took the first sip. It was horrid, whatever Albus was seeing. Harry didn't know, but he knew the headmaster was in pain and as he'd said might happen; the man begged for it to stop. Harry had to work and plead for Albus to keep drinking until it was gone. Thankfully, after the last sip had been drunk, Albus quieted, smacking his lips. "Water…Water, please?" He asked.

"Of course, sir," Harry rushed back up to the pedestal and found the item that was hidden at the bottom. He knew what it was. Salazar Slytherin's locket. He recognized it from the man's portrait. This proved Voldemort might have used the Ravenclaw Diadem and Hufflepuff Cup to create other horcruxes. "We did it, sir…It's Slytherin's Locket!"

"Water…Harry, water?" Albus asked again.

"Water, yes." Harry used a spell to fill the basin and collect water from it with the cup. It failed, never lifting anything despite several tries. Harry finally looked at the lake and a feeling of dread went through him, but he wouldn't let his professor down. Harry went to the edge to gather some water.

Nothing ever went as planned. Harry found himself fighting off creatures from the lake, he didn't even know what they were…But there were hundreds, thousands perhaps. Harry did his best to fight, but it failed. Harry ended up dragged into the water, drowning. From above, fire swirled and blasted the creatures away. Harry swam up, finding Albus standing and waving his wand to keep the beasts away.

Harry staggered up and held onto the man as he created a path between fire and they reboarded the boat to escape. Once back out, Harry took point to apparate them out to the rock from before. Harry got Albus some water, finally, and after some moments, the man apparated them into Hogwarts on the Astronomy tower.

. . .

"I thought…You couldn't apparate inside Hogwarts…" Harry panted.

"Being me…Has its privileges." Albus staggered back some.

"You're hurt from that potion…Let me get help." Harry said.

"G-Get Severus…" Albus told him. "T-Tell him to bring for…Dr-Drink o-of Despair…"

"Alright, sir. Don't move…" Harry said as he went over to the wall to put his hand on it. If there was ever a time to activate his ability to control the castle's magic, it was now. However, just as he was about to make himself known as Lord Slytherin, fast footsteps were heard on the stairs to come up.

"Harry, hide below. Now, quickly. Not a word and stay under your cloak. I am still holding you to your vow from before…" Albus informed as he forced himself up.

Harry didn't like this one bit, but he gave his word and wouldn't break it. Harry quickly got below to the next level, pulling his cloak over himself and watching as the steps slowed and Harry saw Peter Pettigrew standing there, wand drawn on Albus. Harry felt his breath get caught in his throat. This was bad.