Warning: This chapter will have some blood in it. There won't be too much, but not all of it will be exactly…g-rated. But like I said, it won't be too bad. And the might be a little bit of vulgar language, but nothing too horrible. I promise.
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"Come on mate," Harry said to Ron. The two boys turned and walked to where Hermione was waiting.
"Are you two ready?" she asked as they approached her. They nodded and the two of them left the castle.
"So what exactly is the game plan?" Ron asked. He and Hermione both looked to Harry.
"Well, I thought we could go to Grimmauld Place and search for the locket. If it isn't there, we know that either Kreacher has hidden it or Mundungus must have it or he sold it in the Black Trade. If it's the last option, we better hope to hell that he still has it because if he doesn't we're in for a real long day," Harry said. "Or at least he is." Hermione and Ron shared a look but followed Harry anyway.
"We have to be careful. This place hasn't been used since last year after Snape betrayed the Order. It could be infested with Death Eaters or traps. We should stick close together, but not so close a trap could take out all three of us. You two do realize that if the house is trapped in anyway, either of us could die right?" Harry said as he glanced at his two best friends. The both of them nodded. They knew what they were getting themselves into. If they died…well, it was for a good cause.
"Okay then, let's go," Harry said. They walked down the street of London Borough of Camden. They stopped in front of Number 11, and realized that the Fidelius Charm had worn off after Dumbledore had died. Right beside 11 was Grimmauld Place, looking as dingy and gloomy as ever. Harry took a deep breath and opened the half broken gate that led to the house.
The doorknob squeaked as he turned it and as he took a step inside, he drew his wand. The place was as dark as a tomb and the feeling that something bad was going to happen loomed over him. Behind him, Hermione and Ron stepped into the house, their wands drawn also.
"Lumos Maxima," Harry said softly, almost that he wasn't able to be heard. The bright light lit the tip of his wand and shined on the surroundings. The floor and banister to upstairs was dusty. Cobwebs hung from the paintings and the elf heads the hung on the above wall.
Harry looked to his left and peered into the kitchen. It was empty and dark. The light from his wand lit up a path in front of him, and he was able to see that the kitchen was just as dusty as the rest of the house. But something else was there.
"Someone was here, or is still here," Harry said quietly. On his right side Hermione stood next to him, and on his left stood Ron. He pointed to the finger prints that were on the table. Though a layer of dust covered them too, it wasn't nearly as thick as the rest of the surroundings.
"We need to be careful then. Stick close by," Harry said. He stepped forward and the floor creaked. He stopped, listening for any movements. Nothing happened, and he walked forward again into the kitchen. He did a quick round with his wand and then flipped the light to the kitchen on. It looked like there had been a struggle in the middle of the floor and then footprints led towards the parlor.
The three of them carefully and quietly searched the house. As they entered the den, they spread out to search the room.
After going through drawers and boxes, Harry pulled out a gleaming necklace with an ornament, black `S' with a green snake in the background.
"Guys, I found it," Harry said. As he held the locket, he could feel the power radiating from it.
"Are you sure that's it?" Hermione whispered. Harry nodded.
"Definitely, here, hold it," Harry said. He passed the locket to her and she held it, observing it as she did so. As she passed the locket to Ron, a squeak was heard behind them. All three of them turned to the door quickly with their wands held in front of their faces. A shadow of a creature was outlined in the doorway.
"The arrogant blood traitors and the mudblood dare step into my mistress' house again. I should curse them I should," Kreacher mumbled. Harry growled and went to step forward but Hermione caught his forearm.
"No Harry, let him go," she whispered. "He's caused enough trouble. We don't need anymore." Harry took a deep breath and stopped, but didn't take away the murderous glare he shot towards the house elf.
"What are you doing here Kreacher?" Harry asked, his voice barely controlling his anger.
"Kreacher is still bound to this house, though he works at Hogwarts now. He has to do his duties to the school, and to this house," Kreacher mumbled. "I have to serve blood traitors and mudbloods all alike. Kreacher does not like it one bit, no sir." He mumbled under his breath once more. "Kreacher still has to serve the blood traitor in front of him because he is the master of this house now. Though he doesn't deserve it, not one bit." Harry rolled his eyes.
"I command you go back to the school Kreacher," Harry said. Kreacher stared at Harry for a moment more before turning from the room and leaving, mumbling under his breath the whole time.
"We should search the room for other important papers before we leave," Harry said. Behind him, he could hear Hermione and Ron back away and continue searching the room. For a moment longer, Harry looked at the doorway but soon enough he went to help search the room.
As Harry made his way down the stairs with Hermione and Ron right behind him, another noise was heard from behind them. Thinking it was Kreacher again, Harry turned around, an annoyed look on his face. But what stared back at him had a pale white mask and death black robes.
"Stupefy," Harry roared. Hermione and Ron, who had walked past Harry after he stopped, spun around with their wands out. The Death Eater Harry stunned fell to the ground and tumbled down the stairs. Another was behind him and four were at the bottom of the stairs.
"Incido," another Death Eater yelled. Harry couldn't dodge the yellowish light that was aimed at him in time and a large gash formed on his chest. Blood immediately stained his shirt. The pain was unbelievable, but Harry pulled himself together and fired back.
"Concido," Harry hissed. The curse shot towards the Death Eater and hit him in the stomach. Blood poured out of him. The Death Eater sunk to his knees, his hands on his wound. Blood stained his hands and ran down the stairs. It was safe to say he was dead. The body slid down a few stairs and rested at Harry's feet at an odd angle. What he saw made him want to gag. Blood soaked the clothing of the Death Eater, but the curse had afflicted him deep enough to rip open his torso. Gathering himself, Harry turned and helped Hermione and Ron with the rest of the Death Eaters.
"Caedes," Harry said. In a flash, the Death Eater went down.
"Multus Negoti," a voice yelled from behind him. Implausible pain hit Harry's body at a force that took him to his knees. The stinging feeling of a million needles coursed throughout his body. Tears formed in the corner of his eyes and he clenched his jaw in vain to stop the scream that wanted to come forth. It wasn't enough.
A bloodcurdling scream erupted from his mouth and he bent over double. His head rested on the floor and his hands were on either side of him. He tried to move but found that he couldn't. He faintly heard Hermione and Ron both yell spells simultaneously. The spell died off, but the pain was still coursing through his veins. Tears streamed down his face. His surroundings were quiet, but he felt the familiar touch of Hermione.
"Harry," she said. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. "Harry, please." He assembled up the rest of this strength and grasped her wrist weakly. His vision began to flicker behind his eyes and darkness took over him.
Sunlight hit Harry's eyes as he opened them. He sucked in a deep breath and groaned as he tried to sit up. Where was he?
His eyes adjusted to the sunlight that he felt he hadn't seen in ages and he looked around. He was in his dorm back at Hogwarts. How did he get there?
Memories of the battle at Grimmauld Place flooded back to him and he remembered getting hit with a curse so painful he must have blacked out. But what happened to Hermione and Ron? Where were they?
"Oh god, Harry," said a familiar female voice. Hermione had just opened his bedroom door. She rushed to his side and he was enveloped in a hug.
"Hi," was all he said. His arms wrapped around her on their own accord and he felt warm lips on his forehead and the sides of his face.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"I'm fine. I've just been worried about you," Hermione said, pulling back but keeping a hand on his cheek, stroking it lightly. "How do you feel?"
"Sore," Harry said as he tuned into his the rest of his body. "But I'm okay. What happened?"
"You blacked out after the last Death Eater and Ron and I got you to the school. I put you in here while Ron ran to get Madame Pomfrey and McGonagall. You've been out for two days now," Hermione said.
"We have the locket right?" Harry asked. Hermione nodded.
"It's on your desk. Are you sure you're all right?" she asked. Harry nodded.
"I'm okay. I promise," Harry said. Hermione bent down and kissed his cheek softly.
"Rest for a while before you get up," she said. Her fingers traced over his jaw slightly before she left his room. Harry rested back into his bed and let his exhaustion take over him.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
"Good morning," Hermione said to Harry as he entered the Common Room the two of them shared.
"Morning," Harry replied.
"How are you feeling?" Hermione asked.
"I'm still a little sore, but it's nothing too bad. I'm hungry though," he said. Hermione smiled.
"Then let's do down to breakfast," she said. He followed her out of the portrait and down the corridor.
"Hey, that Ministry worker is here now, right?" Harry asked as they walked down the corridor to the Great Hall. Hermione grimaced and looked at him.
"Yeah, she's here all right," she replied.
"Who is it?" Harry asked.
"You'll see in a few seconds," Hermione said. She opened the door to the Great Hall and walked to the Gryffindor table with Harry behind her, scanning the Hall for the Ministry worker.
"I don't see her," Harry said. Ron snorted.
"Did he ask about the worker?" he asked Hermione. She nodded. Ron's face contorted to an expression similar to what Hermione's had been.
"You're in for a real treat mate," Ron said. Harry sighed, frustrated that no one would tell him who it was but he gathered food onto his plate anyway.
"Mr. Potter," said a sickly sweet voice from behind him. Harry dropped his fork and stared ahead of him.
"Are you fucking serious?" Harry mumbled. He turned around and then back towards his food. Yes, fate was out to get him. That had to be it or he did something to really piss off the big man upstairs.
"Umbridge," Harry said. The ex-professor smiled at Harry, if you could call it a smile. He ignored the toad like woman behind him until she eventually left. His right knee began to shake in order to control his anger and every other emotion running through him. Hermione's hand found the top of his knee and rested on it.
"Calm down," she whispered. "We're seventh years now. We can handle this." Harry's knee stopped shaking but the anger that ran through him remained. He was quiet for the rest of the morning.
Harry didn't speak for the rest of the day unless absolutely necessary. Hermione kept a comforting hand in his and when they passed Umbridge in the hall later that afternoon, her grip tightened to stop Harry from pulling out his wand.
As they walked to Transfiguration, Hermione pulled Harry to the side of the corridor and turned him to face her.
"Harry, you've got to calm down. This isn't helping you heal at all. I can feel the energy coming from you," Hermione said, her eyes holding her seriousness. Harry stared down at her but eventually his face broke into a softer gaze.
"I just can't stand that woman and having her here another year of my life makes me want to scream," Harry said. Hermione took a hold of his hand.
"I know, I feel the same way. But this is our year to show her that she won't be able to mess with us or the school. Don't let her get to you," Hermione said. Harry sighed and nodded.
"Come on, let's get to class," she said to him. The two of them walked down the corridor quickly as to not be late. Professor Caldwell was standing in the doorway waiting for Harry and Hermione among others to get into the classroom. Before entering, Harry kissed Hermione on the forehead and she squeezed his hand before letting go. The two of them passed the Professor and she turned her head to follow them in with a curious look on her face.
Transfiguration passed quickly and Harry walked swiftly with Hermione to get up to the Heads Dorm. They wanted to get to the Horcrux as quickly as possible. Ron still had one more class to take and when he was done, he would meet up with them.
An hour later, Harry was sitting at the desk with his head down and Hermione was staring at the locket. Ron had gotten there fifteen minutes before and he had already had enough.
"This is fucking impossible," Ron said, staring at the locket.
"You're telling me," Harry said. "We've studied how to destroy a Horcrux for two weeks now and everything we've read hasn't worked. No curses, no jinxes, no hex-" he stopped short.
"What?" Hermione asked.
"That's just it," Harry said. "We've tried magic and magic only. Maybe magic isn't a way to get rid of it. Maybe if we apply enough force on the locket, it will destroy the Horcrux." Harry quickly conjured a large hammer with a steel head with his wand and took it in his hand.
"Harry, no!" Hermione said. But it was too late. Harry was already in mid-swing. Ron dove out of his chair and across the floor, landing in front of the couch and Hermione ducked underneath the table. The steel head of the hammer hit the locket with a loud clang and immediately a strong force erupted from it. Harry was flung back and he hit the floor with a hard thud and he looked at the locket.
It was now floating in the air with a light surrounding it bright enough to make those around it squint. Hermione climbed out from underneath the table and made her way across the room to where Harry was now standing and Ron joined them.
An eerie black figure rose from the center of the locket and floated for a second. The locket dropped to the table and Harry barely registered the noise it made. The black shadow floated above the table. It didn't have any sort of feature except for the color and it didn't have a solid state. It was almost like a gas.
Suddenly a white light began to cut through the shadow. This time, Harry, Hermione and Ron had to shield their eyes from the illumination. The black gas, which Harry figured was Voldemort's soul, was overrun with the white light and it erupted with such a force large enough to knock Harry, Hermione and Ron flat and destroy other things around them. When it was over, Harry picked himself off of the floor and walked towards the table and the locket.
"Is it gone?" Ron asked from behind him. Harry picked up the locket and held it in his hand.
"It has to be. The locket doesn't have anything radiating from it and its dull now. I think the black gas that exploded was Voldemort's soul," Harry said.
"Whoa," Ron said.
"Three down, three to go," Hermione said.
o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o
"Harry, I've got the directions," Hermione said as she walked to the table Harry was at. Harry looked up from the large atlas of Europe.
"Where'd you find them?" Harry asked. He was grateful that Hermione had found them, but he was frustrated as hell that there wasn't a clear direction in this atlas…or what was supposed to be an atlas.
"I looked up Switzerland," Hermione said. "This is where it's believed to be." She passed him the book.
"Well, good. Now we have some place to try for," Harry said. "Thank you." He squeezed her hand. "Do you have any idea on how this one might be destroyed?"
"Well, I've been thinking about certain locations inside of an…item," Hermione said, minding her location and not speaking the word Horcrux. "The diary had the center of it pierced and it was gone. I have no idea about the ring. And it took a hammer to destroy the locket. If magic doesn't work, then we know we have to do it some other way. But if magic does work, then we need to figure out what spells are strong enough. I was thinking that we should figure out a spell that tells you the strength of the item." Harry nodded.
"That's a good idea. That way we know what spells have what effect on it or if it has any sort of effect," Harry said.
"Right," she replied. "And I looked it up already to save us another hour of research. It's getting late anyway." Harry looked at his watch. It was ten till midnight and they had classes the next day.
"What is it?"
"Comperio Ingeria," Hermione said. "It means discover energy. I found it in a yoga book." Harry raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"Yoga is in the wizarding world?" he asked. Hermione shrugged.
"Apparently. I didn't know either," she replied. "Come on, let's head to the dorm. We've only got about six hours to sleep anyway." Harry and Hermione put away the books they had checked out and left the library, thanking Madame Pince for allowing them to stay so late.
"I'll see you tomorrow morning," Harry said in front of his bedroom door.
"Okay," Hermione said.
"Sweet dreams," Harry said as he placed a kiss on her cheek. He leaned his forehead against hers and smiled before entering his bedroom
"You too," Hermione said softly, even though he had already closed his door. She smiled slightly before she too entered her room. It had been a long day.
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Well, chapter 9 is out. I tried to put it out as quickly as possible. All the spells used in this chapter save Stupefy I created and looked up. They're pure Latin so if you're interested in that type of stuff, go ahead and look them up. Hopefully I translated them right.
How'd you guys like my little surprise?
Thanks, WarriorPride23, 10 pages.
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