Chapter 42: Slytherin's locket

The silence in the Chamber was deafening. To ensure nothing goes amiss, Harry had even relocated Buckbeak. Sirius was only too happy to host Buckbeak in Grimmauld Place. In fact, Buckbeak was offered permanent resident status in the Black Manor thanks to being instrumental in Sirius' escape from Hogwarts.

For the last two weeks, Harry has been preparing the Chamber for what he considered a bold move against Voldemort. He had gone over and over in his mind the pros and cons of this preemptive strike. The cons would lead to quite disastrous results. If Voldemort can sense the destruction of one of his Horcruxes then the consequences would be unpredictable. The Dark Lord could seek out the remaining Horcruxes and hide them somewhere else under powerful wards. Such a situation would prove to be detrimental to the eventual destruction of Voldemort and his Death Eaters.

Keeping this in mind, Harry with the help of Sirius erected powerful barriers and wards inside the Chamber. There were no known wards in the Black library capable of containing Horcruxes. He already checked after Sirius agreed to loan some of the books regarding the subject. If there were any he has yet to find one. Slytherin's library was also in the same boat. Some of the books in Slytherin's library could not be translated using quick-translating quills. For some reason, some of the books and scrolls of Celtic and Egyptian origin were warded against foreign magic. The real kicker was those wards were still in effect even after a thousand years. Exactly how Slytherin managed that, he had no idea.

The only relevant writings accessible in the Chamber regarding Horcruxes were some notes from Tom Riddle. Those notes while informative about the thinking process of Riddle were in no way any help when it comes to creating wards against Horcruxes. However, Harry could not afford to admit defeat and proceed without taking any precautions. Or he could abandon the whole idea and wait patiently to gather all Horcruxes and destroy them together.

The only problem was that the longer he waited Voldemort would gather more power to his side. Besides, the one thing he managed to glean from pouring over several books about Horcruxes is that Voldemort could become weak if more Horcruxes are destroyed. Herpo the Foul was the first to create a Horcrux. If some of the books are to be believed, Herpo placed his soul inside a coin which he placed amongst his vast treasure hoarded over nine centuries of life. The stories would have you believe Herpo's pet Basilisk destroyed his soul shard accidentally as it was the guardian of the dark wizard's treasure.

Unintentional or not, after the soul shard of Herpo was destroyed his nine-century-long dominance came to an abrupt halt. The dark wizard didn't die immediately but his magical power was greatly diminished from then on. His iron grip over Eastern Europe eroded and he disappeared altogether from the world's notice. While Herpo was not confirmed dead it was a fact that his power greatly diminished. The simple fact that the guy tried to make some good PR stunts like publicly making apologies and overt shows of remorse for his past actions was well recorded in the annals of wizarding history. It was an attempt by Herpo to consolidate his power in the wizarding world through soft power. How long that attempt worked was up for debate but it certainly didn't work in the long term.

So, from a strategic point of view, this was the perfect time to magically cripple Voldemort. The more Harry studied Horcruxes he learned one thing. Voldemort's power was his ability to freely use Dark Magic like breathing. Unlike popular theory, multiple Horcruxes didn't make Voldemort weaker in any sense. If anything, the Horcruxes made Voldemort more dangerous. An average wizard would struggle to cast most Dark spells simply because the mentality needed for the spells to bind was difficult to maintain for long periods. Constantly using anger, hatred, the intent to kill and so on was no sustainable way to live a life. By creating multiple Horcruxes Voldemort has circumvented this natural impediment. Essentially, Harry would say that Voldemort was no longer human in any sense.

Harry flicked his wand charging the runes he painstakingly carved on the floor to come to life. Since there were no known wards that could contain a Horcrux he used wards that could trap some of the darkest creatures known to wizards like Dementors. He didn't stop there. Wards for trapping cursed objects, wards against ill-intent and even a series of shield charms were also used to construct a dome of pure energy against the Horcrux.

Harry looked at Ravenclaw's Diadem lying on the ground surrounded by the protective wards. He considered the wards a success as he could not feel any ill intent or whispers from the Horcrux once they were powered up. It took quite a lot of difficulty to make everything work especially with keeping Sirius out of the loop. Or maybe, Sirius must have guessed what was happening from all the strange questions he had asked and the Dark Arts books he borrowed from the Black Library. Of course, he had to promise Sirius that he'd come clean before the Third Task which was now only a week away.

"So, Kreacher. Are you ready to see this?" Harry asked, looking at the shabby-looking Black elf.

Kreacher looked pained to be present here. The poor elf was forcing himself to be present in the Chamber because Sirius ordered so. It was a cruel thing to do to force Kreacher to stay against his will. But, this had to be done. Harry wanted Slytherin's locket destroyed but he wanted Kreacher's cooperation as well. He wanted Kreacher not to work against him or Sirius in the future. This little event was a start to solidify Kreacher in his camp so to speak. Everybody in the Wizarding world underestimates house elves. Harry was not prepared to fall into the 'everybody' category.

"Kreacher wonders what the half-blood wants him to see. Bloodtraitor master forces Kreacher to obey. What would Mistress think of Kreacher?" the old elf croaked, his baggy eyes trained on Harry accusingly.

Harry got on his knee so that he could have better eye contact with Kreacher.

"More than a decade ago Regulus Black took you to a cave and tasked you with the destruction of a locket. The magic in that locket is the vilest form of magic that keeps the Dark Lord immortal. Do you still have that locket?"

He could see the question rattled Kreacher to the core. This secret was only privy to Kreacher and Regulus. No one in the world knew how or why Regulus died. Not even his family.

"How? How does the half-blood know of Master Regulus?" asked Kreacher, giving Harry a look that was equal parts loathing and pained.

"That doesn't matter. What matters is that the tiara sitting there has the same magic that the locket holds. Tell me Kreacher, do you know how to destroy the tiara or the locket?"

Kreacher said nothing but his eyes suddenly teared up with unshed tears. The old elf let out a shiver before promptly bursting into tears.

"Kreacher tried many times. But, Kreacher failed to fulfil Master Regulus' orders." Kreacher wailed, blowing his nose against the grey rag that the old elf was wearing.

"Well, you can fulfil Regulus' last wish if you can bring the locket here." said Harry, pointing his wand at a small glass vial containing a viscous fluid.

Using the levitation charm, he made the vial gently float towards the tiara on the ground. Infusing his will into the spell Harry managed to tilt the vial on its side spilling the contents of the vial on the tiara. Rowena Ravenclaw was undoubtedly a magnificent witch for her time and her spells were even still considered the epitome of sorcery. However, her tiara which was imbued with her powerful magic was no match for the corrosive power of a thousand-year-old Basilisk's venom. The tiara hissed and boiled as it took the full brunt of the Basilisk venom.

With a shrill scream black smoke began to pour out of Ravenclaw's Diadem. Harry was ready with enforcing his Occlumency barriers to the best of his abilities. He expected some reaction from the soul shard in his scar but nothing happened. He was not bombarded with sudden headaches or visions of Voldemort which was quite welcoming. Either the wards worked far better than he intended or the soul shard was somehow neutralized by his mental barriers. Whatever the reason, the soul shard's inertness worked to his advantage. While Harry remained perfectly disconnected from the Horcrux the soul shard inside the barrier was another case. A pair of red eyes emerged from the dark aura all the while shrieking in despair and pain. The dark aura of the Horcrux lashed out against the barriers as a last show of defiance before getting snuffed out.

As the Chamber returned to normalcy Harry brought down the barrier. The area around Ravenclaw's diadem was charred and in the place of the tiara, there was now a black tar-like substance.

"Kreacher wonders how nasty half-blood knows to destroy the Dark Lord's magic. Is this how nasty half-blood stopped the Dark Lord?" Kreacher muttered, looking curiously at the smouldering remains of the Diadem.

"The Dark Lord made many such cursed objects. Destroying these objects helps in destroying the Dark Lord. Isn't that what Regulus wanted Kreacher?"

"How does nasty half-blood know of Master Regulus?" asked Kreacher.

"I know him because he was trying to do the same thing I'm trying to do. Regulus was a hero as he fought against the Dark Lord. Let's make sure his sacrifice was not in vain."

Kreacher rubbed tears from the corner of his eyes. Blinking his large tennis ball eyes, Kreacher looked earnestly at Harry.

"What does young master want from Kreacher?"

Harry smiled and asked for Slytherin's locket from Kreacher.

A few minutes later, Harry watched the locket endure the same treatment he dished out on the Diadem. The soul shard inside the locket made quite a ruckus till its miserable end. Harry's ears were ringing from all the screaming by the Horcrux. All the screaming and dark magic aside the two Horcruxes were destroyed for good.

"Thank you, Kreacher. You just helped me strike a blow at the Dark Lord. I appreciate your help." said Harry, reaching out his hand towards the Black family elf to shake.

Kreacher frowned at Harry's hand.

"Young master is not so bad for a nasty half-blood. Kreacher wonders why the young master likes Kreacher's master. Nothing but disappointment for the Mistress." Kreacher muttered absently while giving a bow to Harry.

With a distinctive popping sound, Kreacher disappeared from the Chamber.

"Kreacher be a bad elf master. Shall Winky make Kreacher apologize?" asked Winky, making herself visible. She was dressed in a flowery summer dress and a pink hat.

"No need Winky. Kreacher is old and he has been lonely for many years. Be kind to him."

"Master is kind." Winky bowed low before teleporting away.

Harry spent some time in the Chamber vanishing the remains of the two Horcruxes. He also used a minor cleansing ritual that ancient Celtic wizards used to ward off lingering dark magic or evil spirits. He wanted to make sure there was nothing untoward left in the Chamber clinging to the natural magic of the place and feeding off it. He was not leaving anything to chance with the Chamber, especially with the lingering magic of a dead Basilisk.

Giving one last look at the Chamber, Harry called for Dobby and took his leave.

XXXXXXX

"I'm so jealous of you now."

Harry looked up from the book in his hand.

"What'd you mean?" he raised an eyebrow at Daphne who was sitting opposite him near the Black Lake.

"You don't have to worry about any exams. Instead of preparing for tests, you are reading a muggle storybook." Daphne complained, kicking him slightly with her legs.

"I'll have you know this is no mere storybook." Harry said indignantly, proudly flashing the cover of the first book in the Lord of the Rings series.

"The Hobbit? Is that supposed to mean something?" asked Daphne, a look of tentative interest blooming on her face.

"Mean something? I assure you that you'll find a whole different meaning for everything after you read this book. Tell you what, I'll lend you the book for this summer." Harry offered, knowing Daphne was quite an avid reader of story books. Stories had often become one of the major talking points in their many dates.

"I'll give it a try even if I don't expect much from a muggle book." Daphne snottily replied making Harry crack up internally.

He may have known Daphne for six months or so but he knew a façade when he sees one. The look on her face spoke volumes of her interest even though her words say otherwise.

"Perhaps you could bring the book to my home over the summer if you want." Daphne shyly added abruptly.

"Is that an invitation to your home?" Harry quirked an eyebrow curiously. "I didn't think you to be so forward Miss Greengrass."

The way her cheeks flushed red was quite cute.

"Well, I don't think inviting the winner of the Tri-wizard Tournament would be inappropriate." said Daphne, smoothing out her skirt and taking to her feet.

Harry looked into her blue eyes amusedly.

"I'm heartened by your faith in my skills to declare me the victor even before the Third Task." Harry snickered at the way Daphne's cheeks got further heated up.

"It's a foregone conclusion now. Everyone who bothers to look closely can see your victory. Diggory is no match for your power, Delacour is not even here as she is in France to attend their NEWT exams and Krum is too slow on the uptake unless he is on a broom. You'll win the Third Task for sure." said Daphne.

Harry smiled. He reached out and took her hand in his before pulling her into his lap. For a moment, he forgot himself and proceeded to engage Daphne's lips in a sensual tango. After a minute, they broke away from the kiss to look each other in the eyes.

"Was that too forward?" he asked.

"No, it was not. You seem too happy today." said Daphne, her blue eyes trained into his unblinking and alight with an emotion he couldn't quite place.

"I suppose I'm happy today." whispered Harry, reaching out his right hand and taking a lock of Daphne's blonde hair around his finger.

"Uhmmm."

Someone cleared their throat making Harry and Daphne part away from each other as they were reaching out to kiss again. They both looked at the intruder who happened to be Hermione who looked a bit flustered and apologetic.

"I'm sorry Harry, Daphne. Professor McGonagall asked me to find you, Harry. Professor Dumbledore is asking for you in his office." said Hermione.

'What does the old man want now? Did he by chance sense the Horcruxes somehow?' Harry wondered.

Either way, this was quite bad timing. Then again, Dumbledore can surely wait a few more minutes. With that happy thought, he winked at Hermione before he went for another kiss with Daphne. He got the feeling Daphne approved as she placed her hands on his shoulders but did not push him away. It was not surprising. After all, he was quite a good kisser.