Chapter 7
The Search For Answers
The next few days were taken up doing homework, taking class, and getting used to having countless prefects turning up at their door, asking any number of silly questions or just coming by to congratulate Harry and Hermione on becoming Head Boy and Girl. The days were so busy that the three friends barely got to do more than meet each other over breakfast, lunch and dinner, and even then their time seemed to be shared between various people who came up to them and used up their majority of their free time.
On top of this was also Ron's new position of captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, which ate up any time that he had while he worked out the team and organised practices. Hermione and Harry could not remember when they had seen him happier, and he threw himself into the role wholeheartedly. When he was not in class or doing his homework, he was working on the team, which he still had to finalise before the first match, which was against Hufflepuff in less than two weeks.
It was during one of their quieter moments that Harry and Hermione found they both had a free moment, and were lounging in two of the comfortable chairs in their common room, on their laps were the current homework reading for Darks Arts, but neither of them had managed to read more than a couple of lines.
"This is getting ridiculous." Harry sat watching the flames in the fire, finding them much easier to concentrate on than his book. "We'll be lucky to get back to Grimmauld Place before Christmas at this rate." He seemed hypnotised by the orange glow, as if it was speaking to him. "We really need to find that locket."
Hermione, who was watching Harry, nodded her head. "We could go tonight, if nothing comes up." For a moment a frown marred her features. "I don't know if Ron is going to make it, he seems a little busy at the moment."
It was Harry's time to look a concerned. "It's good for Gryffindor that he is putting so much effort into playing." He raised his eyes from the fire and met Hermione's eyes, smiling awkwardly. "It must be hard on you though?"
"Hard on me?" Hermione asked, although she knew exactly what he meant.
Harry nodded as he sat back in his chair. "You've hardly seen him for the last couple of days, and now with the Quidditch…" He let the rest of the sentence hang in the air.
"I've been so busy, I've hardly noticed," she lied, unconvincingly. In fact, it pained her when she realised that she had not given Ron as much thought as she should have. It was true that she had a lot on, but she was not even attempting to find an odd moment to share with him.
Misinterpreting the smile that Harry gave her, Hermione got all defensive. "And don't you dare start pitying me, Harry. I'm not the only one who is on my own right now." She watched as his eyes flared with a mix of anger and sadness, her heart sinking as she realised what she had said. "I'm sorry."
Harry looked at her, silent for a moment. "And don't pity me either, Hermione." His voice was rising slightly as he began to lose his temper. "Don't think that I don't know what you and Ron are doing. Do you think I'm stupid? Do you think I don't know that you stop holding hands and talking to each other every time I come into the room?"
The young witch's eyes stares disbelievingly at him, her mouth opening and closing several times as her mind raced through a multitude of things she wanted to say but could not find the right words.
"And don't try to deny it." Harry rose from his chair, unable to sit and look at her, as he turned his back, his arm resting on the mantel, as his gaze once more found the flames. "All through the summer you were jumping apart whenever I showed up. I don't know why you feel that you have to hide your feelings from me." He slowly turned and met her stare. "I chose to be on my own. I made that decision. Not you, not Ron…"
"Not Ginny." Hermione interrupted.
Harry shook his head and laughed, which was not a pleasant sound in the mood he was in. "Oh, I wondered when you were going to bring this up."
"What?" She stammered.
"Ginny." He shook his head and turned to face her full on. "I've seen her talking to you, and I don't need to be a genius to know that she's been speaking about me." He sighed heavily. "She looks at me all the time, like I'm suddenly going to change my mind, but I'm not. And you can tell her that, as I'm sure you are supposed to report back to her."
Hermione rose from her chair, not calm enough to sit any longer. "It isn't like that." She moved over to him, standing just in front of him, her eyes wide. "She's upset and I've been trying to help. She just wants to know how you are because she is worried about you." Her brown eyes seemed to suddenly appear darker. "And she is hurting. She doesn't know what to do."
"She needs to move on." His voice seemed low, and more menacing. "I can't deal with her right now. I can't have anyone on my mind." He looked deep into Hermione's eyes then took a step back. "I have too much to do, and I don't have the strength to care and worry about someone else right now. You more than anyone know what lies ahead of us, Hermione."
She let out a long slow sigh, as she nodded her head. "Yes, I do, but you mustn't think that you have to do this on your own. It is not your fight alone."
Harry let out another laugh, which seemed to echo hauntingly around the room. "That's exactly what it is. You know the Prophecy." He suddenly looked lost and sad to her eyes. "It's me or him. That makes it my fight, Hermione. Mine and no one else's."
"We will be here for you. We will help you through whatever happens." Her voice had grown soft, almost comforting.
His next words caught her by surprise. "Did I die painfully? In your dream." He had turned away from her, was staring into the fire as if he could see the image that she had seen. "Did I put up a good fight?"
"I don't know." She moved a little closer to him, and placed a hand on his shoulder, pleased that he did not flinch at her touch. "I only remember the end." She could feel the tears beginning to well in her eyes. "I just saw you…" Lying dead on the ground, the words echoed through her mind, but she could not say them.
Harry turned slowly and faced her, his eyes searching her face before he gazed into her eyes. "Do you think that is what is going to happen? Do you think we will lose? That I will lose?"
Shaking her head, Hermione fought back the tears that threatened to fall. "No. No, I don't think you are going to fail." She managed a little reassuring smile. "Harry Potter never fails."
"But your dream…?"
"It was just a dream." Hermione stepped closer to him and wrapped her arms around him, holding him protectively. "You know I was never very good a Divination." She smiled as she felt him wrap his arms around her, his body close.
A slight knock heralded the arrival of Ron, who pushed open the door and saw Harry and Hermione locked in each others arms. For a moment, his eyes flashed over with questions. He opened his mouth to speak but was silenced by Hermione, who over Harry's shoulder, placed her finger up to her lips, begging him to say nothing with the look she gave him.
After a few minutes, Harry unwrapped his arms from around the young woman and gave her a smile. "Thank you, Hermione." He turned then and spotted Ron at the door, having been too far away in his thoughts to notice him earlier and with his back to the room's entrance. "Hello, mate. How was Quidditch practice?" He stepped away from the young witch.
Ron stood staring at Hermione for a moment, as if they were having a silent conversation, before he looked at Harry. "You really don't want to know. I thought I had seen some bad practices in the past, but we'll be lucky if we can find the Quidditch pitch let alone the Golden Snitch." He walked over to the chair, and slump himself in it, letting out a large sigh as he did. "We'll not be ready if we practice every day from now until the first match." His eyes caught Hermione's. "Which unfortunately, I will be doing for the next couple of weeks, sorry."
Hermione gave Ron a smile to show that she understood, but felt less than happy when her eyes fell on Harry's face, reading the expression easily as he raised his eyebrow at her. "We really should be getting out of here if we want to look for this locket." She swiftly changed the subject, wiping the look off of Harry's face.
"Do you really think it's back at Grimmauld Place, Harry?" Ron asked, not sounding overly convinced, not to mention trying to stifle a yawn.
"Yes, I do." Harry was once more his old self. "It's the most obvious place. Where else would Regulus hide it?"
Hermione interjected. "The quicker we search the house, the quicker we'll know." She looked over at Ron and then Harry. "We also have to be very quiet. We don't want to disturb Tonks, Professor Lupin or Kreacher."
"'Specially Kreacher." Ron agreed.
* * * * *
The darkness of the library in Grimmauld Place once more disappeared as the three materialised in the middle of the room, their wands instantly throwing a gentle glow around them. Ron was grinning broadly, having managed to arrive in the right place, unlike their previous visit. They looked about them, as if to confirm that they were once more successful in arriving unknown to the other residence of the house. Harry walked over to the door, and opened it a crack, listening for sounds of disturbance outside.
"It all sounds quiet." He whispered as he closed the door and looked at his friends. "Everyone is either asleep or out…hopefully." He moved back over to where the others were milling by the table. Hermione had perched herself on the edge, while Ron stood resting his hands on its surface.
"The plan is still as discussed?" Ron asked quietly, as if he was afraid of being overheard.
Harry nodded and lowered himself down onto a seat. "You, Ron, and I will search the house for the locket, while Hermione works on finding something about Horcruxes, especially how to destroy them." A frown crept across his face, as his voice grew regretful. "I wish Dumbledore was here."
Ron and Hermione exchanged looks but said nothing, knowing that now was not the time to get into that discussion. They had a task to perform and dwelling on things that did not pertain to the search would only hamper what was going to be almost impossible as it was. So, instead of speaking they remained silent and waited for Harry to come out of his thoughts.
"Right," Harry said in a non-committed voice, as he slowly pushed the thoughts from his mind. "I'll start upstairs and Ron, you take this floor. Just remember to stay as quiet as you can, we really don't want anyone to know we are here." He looked at Hermione. "Will you be alright searching on your own?"
Hermione gave a brief nod of her head. "I'm not promising I'll find anything tonight, but I'll do what I can. You two just make sure you find the locket. The sooner we have it, the more chance we have of finding what is needed to destroy it." Not that any of them were really that convinced they would be able to do it. Harry had explained to them that Dumbledore had been injured destroying one of the other Horcruxes and he was a powerful wizard.
They three friends exchanged looks and without uttering another word, each set out to complete the errand that they had been assigned. As Harry and Ron disappeared out of the door, Hermione turned and looked at the shelf upon shelf of books. She moved to the nearest one, and began to run her eyes over the titles of the tomes arranged in leather bound rows.
* * * * *
"Now that we have discovered the first clue, I think we can begin trying to locate not only the locket but the other Horcruxes. Dumbledore seemed pretty sure about a few of them, I think we can take it that he was right about those." Harry looked at the inscription inside the cover, a grin still on his face. "I wish Sirius had been alive to know that his brother, Regulus was not as bad as he seemed."
Ron looked up from the comic he was reading. "Not as bad, Harry? He was a Death Eater. What could be worse than that?"
Placing the book in his lap, Harry shook his head. "He hid one of the Horcruxes from Lord Voldemort. That has to make him good in my book…or if not good, then at least not all bad."
"Of course, he could have been hiding it for Lord…" Hermione stopped, unable to say his name. "I just wish he had left a clue to where he hid it. It could be anywhere and we have no idea of where he could have hidden it." She could not hide the sigh that escaped. "If he hadn't have moved it, we would have it in our hands right now."
"Or Snape would have it." Harry snapped, as he always did at the mention of their old Dark Arts professor's name. "And if he managed to give it to Voldemort then we would be stuffed." He shook his head and picked up the book again, looking at the words as if they would speak to him and tell him what he wanted to know. "I say we should be grateful that the locket wasn't where it should have been."
Hermione looked at Harry. "Once we get to Hogwarts, we can…"
"I'm not going back!" Harry's voice instantly rose as he cut her off mid-sentence. "How many times do I have to tell you?" He got up out of his chair, closing the book he was holding with a bang. "I have to find the Horcruxes and destroy them, for Dumbledore."
"Do you think he would want you to give up Hogwarts?" Hermione's eyes sought out the young wizard's face as he towered over his two seated friends.
"Don't start that again, Hermione." The look Harry gave her was enough to silence her for a moment, her mouth opening and closing as she fought to speak. "I've said it once and I'll say it over and over until you finally get it into your thick skull, I am not returning to Hogwarts."
Ron broke into the discussion. "Now wait a minute, Harry. Hermione is only trying to help, there is no need to get be so horrible to her."
"And now are you going to start on me too, Ron?" Harry was getting more annoyed by the minute, his voice rising with his growing anger. "It's like fighting a tag team, once one of you has finished the other starts."
Hermione stood up, her eyes blazing. "You just can't stand that there are people who care about you and want to see you do what is best for you. You are so wrapped up in yourself that you don't see that we might need to help you, not just for you but for us too." Ron stood up and placed his hand on her arm, trying to stop her saying anything else, but she merely shook him away. "Do you think you are the only one upset by Dumbledore's death? Do you think you are the only one that feels betrayed by Snape? This is not only about you, Harry!"
"Hermione…" Ron began.
Harry put up his hand to Ron to stop him from interrupting. "No, let her continue, she obviously has a lot on her mind."
"You think that you don't need anyone, that you can do this on your own, well let me tell you this, Harry, you can't." She barely paused for breath. "Dumbledore knew that you would need us, why do you think he got you to tell us what was happening?"
Harry shrugged. "Why did he? Why doesn't the font of all knowledge put us out of our misery? Go ahead, Hermione, enlighten us." His voice dripped with sarcasm.
"Because you will need us." Hermione little more than whispered the words. "He knew that you would not be able to do this on your own." She looked at him sadly. "And we want to help, Harry."
Harry's eyes flicked between Hermione and Ron several times. "I don't need your help! I don't want your help!" Without another word, he stormed out of the room, with Ron and Hermione staring after him.
"I guess he doesn't want our help." Ron shrugged and sighed. "You really didn't help. You shouldn't shout at him like that. It just makes him more defensive and determined."
Hermione frowned and slumped back into her seat. "I just wish he would be less stubborn and listen. We'll never get anywhere at this rate." She looked over at the door Harry had just disappeared through. "I hope we can get him back to Hogwarts."
* * * * *
Hermione closed the thirteenth book, and moved it onto the pile, freeing up the space in front of her, before she turned towards the door expectantly. She stared at it for a moment, waiting for it to open, and then looked back at the next book in her to be read pile. Brushing her hair behind her ear with her fingers, she picked up the next leather bound book titled 'Portents and Signs: A Guide to Black Arts', and opened the cover.
Running her gaze over the first page, she looked up suddenly as she heard some strange noises outside the room. She got up quietly from her seat and moved over to the door, carefully pressing her ear against the wood trying to pick up the sounds. Remaining there for a minute, she strained to hear, when the door shot open unexpectedly sending her flying back into the room, causing her to land in a heap on the floor. Visiting 12 Grimmauld Place was not turning out to be very lucky for the witch.
"Harry?"
The face of the young wizard appeared around the door, quickly followed by the rest of his body. "Sorry, Hermione. Are you alright?" He rushed over to where she was sitting on the ground, and taking her hand, pulled her back onto her feet. "I wasn't expecting you to be behind the door." He looked at her questioningly. "What were you doing?"
"Let's just say curiosity felled the cat, even if it did not kill it." Hermione smiled as she brushed down her clothing, before she looked at him suddenly, as if she had just remembered something important. "Did you find anything?"
Harry moved further into the room, once he was convinced that Hermione was not hurt in any way, other than perhaps her pride. He slumped into one of the chairs beside the table and folding his arms on its surface, he rested his head, hiding his face. "We're never going to find it." He mumbled.
Following him over to the chair, she placed her hand lightly on his shoulder, gazing down at him sadly. She hated seeing him giving up hope so quickly, which seemed to have become a new trait of his. "Of course we'll find it. If it's here, we'll locate it, just you wait and see." Her fingers gently began to rub softly and reassuringly. "You must not give up yet. You've never failed before."
Raising his head form his arms, he turned and looked up at her. "What if I'm wrong? What if it isn't here? What will we do then?" He shook his head sadly. "If he hadn't moved it, we would have it by now." He frowned and slapped his hand against the table. "Damn, Regulus! Why couldn't he just leave things alone?"
Hermione could not help grinning as she recalled Harry's praise of the man during the summer. "Wherever it is, we will find it."
Harry moved his hand and placed it lightly on hers where it rested on his shoulder, before closing his fingers around hers and bringing both of their hands before him. His thumb lightly stroked the soft skin on the back of her hand. "You always make me feel better." His eyes met hers with a sad smile. "I don't know what I would do if you ever lost faith in me."
Gazing down into his eyes, Hermione could feel her throat begin to tighten, and she swallowed hard to free the tension. Her eyes sparkled in the low light of the illuminated wand. She smiled then opened her mouth to speak, before the creak of the door drew her attention. She turned to see Ron standing in the doorway, the expression on his face looked far from happy.
"Any luck, mate?" Harry asked, instantly forgetting that he was still holding Hermione's hand.
Ron's eyes flicked between his two friends, until his gaze focused on their hands. "What's going on here?" He looked at Hermione, his expression questioning.
Hermione let go of Harry's hand and smiled at Ron. "Harry was feeling…"
"I can see that." Ron mumbled under his breath.
"…That we were wasting our time." Hermione continued, having not heard Ron's remark.
Harry nodded and stared at Ron, looking more than a little uncomfortable being caught with his friend's girlfriend again. "Hermione was just telling me that she was sure we would find it. But I've checked the upstairs and there is nothing." He frowned, his whole body slumping once more.
Looking briefly at Harry, Hermione moved slightly and sat in her seat. "And I've not had any luck finding anything in the books again." A long sigh escaped from her lips. "I'm just about to start book fourteen. I could do with a stroke of luck."
"Like this?"
Harry and Hermione gazed at Ron, their eyes wide and jaws almost on the ground, as from behind his back Ron revealed his clenched hand and stretched his arm out in front of him, slowly opening his fingers. Dropping down from its hiding place, dangling on a chain, hung a locket bearing the Salazar Slytherin's Mark.