Chapter 135

Mysteries Revealed

Lily sat frozen; her eyes wide as she tried to process everything that Sofia had just said. She wasn't the only one. Ginny, Pansy, and Draco were all looking the same way. No one was saying anything, not sure what to say. It was Draco who managed to find his voice first.

"Aunt Sofia, are you serious? Lily… is a Horcrux?" Draco asked.

"Unfortunately, yes," Sofia confirmed. "It would seem that when the spell cast by the Dark Lord to kill you rebounded, it interrupted the separation of his soul to his chosen item."

"How could it split and be in Ginny as well?" Pansy asked, confused.

"As to that, I only have an idea," Sofia replied. "I believe you have an unusual power, Ginny, is it?"

"It is," Ginny confirmed. "I was told that I'm the seventh daughter…"

"Of a seventh daughter. Yes, that would do it," Sofia said. "And you both share a bond like none other. It is powerful, and it unites you. Have you ever both connected mentally with one another?"

"Yeah, we have," Lily confirmed, surprised that she knew. "We… did something silly a couple of years ago, and we connected… well, with each other."

"I don't need the details, my dear, but what you've said is enough. It would likely be then that your bond fully formed. I am going to ask you both a question," Sofia said. She looked at Ginny. "Do you love her?" Sofia asked. Lily frowned as she saw Draco and Pansy look confused.

"Of course I do," Ginny replied.

"And you love her?" Sofia asked.

"What are you doing?" Draco asked, confused.

"Yes, with all my heart," Lily replied. "Why do you ask?"

"She asked something?" Pansy asked. "All I heard was hissing."

"Hissing?" Lily asked. She then realised what was happening. "Parseltongue. You spoke Parseltongue…and Ginny can speak it?"

"I… I can?" Ginny asked.

"Yes, because Lily can. You have that connection. What one can do, the other can do. Even when the Dark Lord is destroyed, you will always have that bond," Sofia said, with a smile. "The bond is something very rare. Only the most powerful can have such a bond."

"Can we talk about the fact that Ginny and Lily are Horcruxes?" Pansy asked, clearly alarmed. "How can we destroy the Horcrux without harming them?"

"For the moment, you can't," Sofia replied. "To do so would weaken you both against the Dark Lord, and that will not do. I do not wish to see you destroyed, for you are the best hope that the wizarding world has against the darkness."

"With all due respect, you're a part of Draco's family, and most of them are dark. Why would you want to help us?" Ginny asked.

"It's simple, my dear. I'm an old woman, I have lived for a century, and I wish to leave a world of peace for my family. The Dark Lord, Tom Riddle, does not wish to preserve peace, but he would seek immortality to rule for all time," Sofia said. "I might understand, and welcome, the dark arts, but I am not a servant of darkness. I merely see that magic is not inherently light or dark, it merely is. What is darkness is how we use the magic."

"The killing curse is pure evil," Ginny countered.

"Is it?" Sofia asked, chuckling softly. "Let me ask you this; if someone you loved and cared for was sick, and could never be cured, would you end their suffering painlessly, with the killing curse, or would you grant them the dignity of a painless death?"

"I…" Pansy started but froze. Sofia chuckled.

"See, not quite as easy, is it?" Sofia asked.

"This is what she does; she's always used everything as a lesson," Draco said, with a small smile.

"The Imperius curse can be used to control someone, yes, or if someone refuses to get help for something, you can have them do so for their own good. The Cruciatus curse can cause pain, yes, but, and this is something children wouldn't know, but some adults enjoy pain, and the right person can control how much pain to grant someone," Sofia said.

"Wait, how can anyone enjoy pain?" Draco asked. Lily simply blushed, as did Pansy and Ginny.

"It seems three of you have had 'the talk' with parental figures, and one has not," Sofia said. Draco frowned, before his eyes widened.

"Oh!" he exclaimed.

"So, there are uses of the three curses for good reasons. Intent is important with anything," Sofia said. "One day, you may have to use the killing curse, against Riddle."

"How do you know his real name?" Lily asked. Sofia chuckled again.

"There is a lot I know which others don't realise. It's why Draco brought you here, isn't it?" Sofia asked.

"She's not wrong," Pansy agreed. "Obviously, we're going to have to kill him, but unless we can remove the Horcruxes from Lily and Ginny, we're not going to be able to do so."

"I will have to research this a lot. It's been some time since I've needed to research something so important," Sofia smiled. "I enjoy research, if I'm honest."

"There… is a way to remove the Horcruxes, right?" Lily asked. "It… He can't take over us, can he?"

"No, I don't believe he can. In fact, I believe the fact that the Horcrux has split has kept you safe. If I were to guess, and this is only a guess, but I do not think he is even aware of this fact," Sofia explained. "Otherwise, he might have attempted to take over your mind. Did you have any issues when you first discovered there was a link to his mind?"

"I used to sometimes have headaches, which Professor Dumbledore said to me was because there was a connection," Lily replied. Sofia nodded.

"And now? Do you remember when they stopped?" Sofia asked.

"I think… I mean, I didn't even notice, but…" Lily started, thinking.

"After you and Ginny forged your connection?" Sofia prompted. Lily nodded in realisation.

"I think so, yes," Lily agreed.

"Then you both have a power that hasn't been seen in a long time," Sofia complimented. "I'm thankful that you came here, not just for my own enjoyment of research, but if I can be of assistance, I will be."

"Thank you, Aunt Sofia. I appreciate that," Draco smiled at her. "It means a lot to me."

"You're my nephew, of course I'm here to help," Sofia told him. "Don't worry; we'll find the answers you need. In the meantime, I'll begin researching locations and ways to track Horcruxes. If you have any clues, that might of some assistance."

"Can you help find the tomb of Slytherin? There's a chance he hid something there," Lily admitted.

"Slytherin's tomb has long been lost, but if Riddle found it, then I will certainly be able to find it," Sofia promised. "Don't worry; I always put my own intelligence above a child's, and he is a child, compared to me. I was there in the time of Grindelwald, I was there during two world wars, and so many tragedies. There is very little that I won't be able to find."

"I actually feel comforted, to be honest," Lily confessed.

"Likewise," Ginny added, smiling.

"I'm glad. You're welcome to stay tonight if you wish," Sofia offered.

"Thanks, but we should be going. We don't want to risk anyone seeing us," Lily replied. "But I appreciate the offer."

"If you need anything, please let me know," Sofia offered.

"Oh, we'll take you up on that," Draco replied. "Just be careful, please? I don't want to lose you, Aunt Sofia."

"I'm an old woman, my dear. Death isn't something that scares me. Everything has it's time, and I'll help make sure that Riddle learns that as well," Sofia smiled at them. "Now, I have a gift for you all."

"A gift?" Draco asked, as Sofia stood up. She went to a large cabinet, which caused Draco to gasp. "You… you've never let anyone even touch that thing."

"Because it is dangerous, and contains some powerful magic," Sofia said, opening it. She removed a small box, and placed it on the coffee table, before opening it, revealing a small, golden orb inside. "This, Miss Potter, is a powerful artefact. When activated, it creates a protective field like none other. Anyone inside the field when it is activated is… well, shifted, for lack of a better word, from time, briefly. For example, if you use it, then no one in the field will be able to see you, and they can even walk right through you and not know of your presence."

Lily looked at it as Sofia handed her the box. "It's… I never heard of such a thing," Lily said.

"Me either," Draco added.

"It's an ancient device, created by Merlin himself," Sofia smiled. "It cost me a lot to get, but it is something I'm happy to pass on to you."

"I… it means a lot to me," Lily said. "You… you're really giving me this?"

"Indeed. If my nephew is travelling with you, then it will be necessary to keep you all safe. I love Draco and will do whatever I must to protect him. That means protecting you. Please don't misunderstand me; I do not wish harm on any of you, but this is for my nephew," Sofia explained.

"I can understand that, and I appreciate it more than you know," Lily said. "I'll keep Draco safe; I promise."

"I'm sorry, I just… I can't even begin to understand how any of this is possible," Hermione admitted. "I don't…I never even imagined of such a thing."

"I didn't even," Lily replied. "I just… I don't know how Ginny and I are… well, both holders of a Horcrux, but what she said… well, we've got to find the other Horcruxes, and she'll be able to help."

"To be honest, I'm glad we've got another ally," Ron said, taking a sip of his drink. "I don't like the idea of the two of you having such a thing in you, but if it's essentially harmless at this point, then we can focus on the other Horcruxes. Would he have made any more than seven?"

"I think he would have done, if he had no idea that I was originally made into a Horcrux. It could also explain why he's not able to feel it when the Horcruxes are destroyed; seven would have been a powerfully magical number; eight would have been too much," Lily said.

"That makes sense," Ginny nodded. "At least we don't have to worry about Riddle getting to us through our minds."

"Agreed. I'll sleep better knowing you're both safe from that," Lavender said. "You've both become like sisters to me."

"Likewise, Lavender, you're part of our family," Ginny told her. "You've been amazing for Ron. He used to be a pain in the butt, and now, he's practically a hero, and someone to look up to."

"Oi," Ron said, with a light glare. "I was… no, wait, I was," he chuckled.

"I'm just glad you're here with us. The same goes for all of you. Being here with you, I feel safer, and happier," Lily said, looking at the group.

"Likewise. And that gift Aunt Sofia gave us," Draco said. "It's incredible. Hermione, did you know such a thing was possible?"

"Honestly? No. I mean, we know that time travel is possible, in limited forms, since I used the time turner, and even though we destroyed them at the Ministry, it would make sense that there would be other spells involving time travel. It's… well, I'm going to research this anyway," Hermione said.

"I'd be shocked if you didn't," Draco laughed, with a small smile, handing her a small book. "Aunt Sofia gave me this to give to you; it details a lot of Merlin's magic. There're many people who would kill for this. They have killed for it, so please, be careful."

"Always," Hermione promised, accepting it thankfully. Fleur smiled at her.

"I'll make some hot chocolate; I know you won't sleep until you've read it," Fleur said.

"Thank you," Hermione smiled, kissing Fleur. "I love you, Fleur."

"I love you too," Fleur said, smiling. "I'll get hot chocolate for the rest of you."

"Thanks Fleur," Lily smiled, as Fleur headed to the kitchen. "We should get some rest. We've got someone helping us and looking out for us. Now, we can start thinking of a way to get into Gringotts."

"You think we can?" Pansy asked.

"We have to try. I'd bet big money that there's a Horcrux there," Lily replied.

"And if I were also betting, I'd bet big that I know exactly where," Draco said. "My aunt's account. She was his trusted lieutenant at the time."

"Makes sense to me," Hermione agreed. "That makes it harder; if anything, the vault's going to be protected, heavily."

"Can't disagree with that," Pansy said. "So, we know where it is, but getting to it…"

"We leave it for last," Lily said. "Or near to last. When we get in and out, Riddle's going to find out."

"And when he does, he'll want to protect every Horcrux he knows of, so we need to find them all first," Draco agreed. "Well, that makes this a lot harder."

"No kidding. Still, we've got a path to start looking on," Lily said, smiling. "So, let's call today something of a success, shall we?"

"Works for me," Ginny said, as Fleur brought in a tray of mugs, with hot chocolate.

"I heard that last part; let's celebrate with this, shall we?" Fleur suggested. As everyone raised their mugs, they froze, hearing the door open. They turned, and saw Sirius standing there, tears streaming down his eyes.

"What's going on?" Lily asked, putting her mug down. Sirius looked at them, and walked over to Lily, pulling her into a hug, saying just two words.

"Moody's gone."