Chapter 21

"I can't believe you found it." Snape said again as he followed Harry through the castle. "How did you even know where to look?"

"I'd found it before, only I hadn't realized it. I left it with Ron because I didn't want a repeat performance of the last time." Harry remarked as they took the stairs two at a time.

"Very wise. I see Miss Greengrass has had a good influence on you." Snape observed.

They came to the seventh floor to a door Snape had never seen before in his life.

"What is this place?" He asked, stepping through the entrance and finding Ron Weasley staring hard at a strange looking bust. It was sitting on a pedestal and had a rather frightful looking wig n the head, topped by an old tiara.

"The Room of Requirement." Harry said from the doorway, looking apprehensive. Snape turned to see Harry and felt a swell of pity. He remembered what had happened the last time they had destroyed a Horcrux, and it looked as if Harry was trying to avoid repeating the incident.

Snape turned back to Ron, who was still staring hard at the marble statuette.

"Weasley?" He asked tentatively.

"Yeah?" Ron's voice was low, and menacing. It was almost a feral growl. Snape felt a shiver slide down his spine at the boy's tone, and wondered if the cursed object had somehow infected the boy.

"Perhaps you should step back." Snape cautioned.

"I'm fine. I want to be the one to destroy it." Ron snarled.

Snape looked wary at the angry Gryffindor. The once potions master looked back to Harry who was starting to look a little ill. Knowing he had to get this over with, he reached into his robes where he had hidden the Sword of Gryffindor before leaving his quarters. He gently handed the blade to Ron who wasted no time in raising the gleaming saber high over his head.

With a cry that had begun deep in the redhead's gut, Ron lunged forward and slashed the blade down onto the head of the marble bust. Snape could feel the impact of the metal onto the stone from where he stood.

The energy in the room sizzled as the small jeweled tiara fell from the bust and onto the floor, black smoke coming from several cracked jewels. Ron let loose another roar of rage as he again hacked at the fallen crown.

"I DIDN'T FAIL HER!" He screamed, his face red with intense anger. Ron hacked and hacked at the tiara, each cut producing more choking smoke, until with one final downward slash the tiara split into two pieces.

All three men were knocked to their feet by an invisible shockwave, and then had to cover their ears as an unearthly scream rang throughout the hallowed halls, awakening every teacher and student within and shaking the stone fortress on it's very foundation.

Snape sat up uneasily, waving away the thick black smoke, and coughing trying to make sure the two boys were alright. Harry appeared just fine, though he was rubbing the back of his head. Snape guessed he'd smacked it on the stone floor when he'd been knocked down.

Ron on the other hand was a mess. The redhead was curled on the floor holding himself tightly, and crying.

"Weasley?" Snape asked, approaching the boy cautiously. "Weasley!" Snape called again, but Ron remained curled up on the floor.

"Ron!" Harry cried coming to his friend. "Ron, it's ok, you did it."

Ron finally looked up, his eyes red, tears falling freely. Harry had never seen Ron as distraught as he appeared at that moment.

"It kept telling me it was my fault." Ron whispered through his tears. "It told me I failed, and she was going to die. It showed me her body, Harry."

"You didn't fail her, mate. You may have saved her tonight." Harry smiled, helping Ron to sit up.

Snape listened to what Ron had been saying, and pieced together that the Horcrux had been somehow taunting the redhead while Potter had gone to find help. Snape once again silently cursed Dumbledore for his short-sightedness over the entire matter.

"Harry was helping Ron to his feet when they heard the sound of approaching footsteps.

"Severus, What happened here?"

Minerva McGonagall appeared, her dressing gown wrapped tightly around her, hair a tangled mess upon her head.

"These two boys found another of the items, and we have disposed of it." Snape said in his low monotone. He looked back to the two boys, who were whispering to one another. "I think Weasley might need to be examined, and then a dreamless sleep potion. He's undergone quite an ordeal, if I am correct in my assumption."

McGonagall nodded, her face showing deep concern for her tow students. She motioned to the two boys that they should follow her. McGonagall shot a serious look at Snape who only nodded slightly. Once the boys and McGonagall were gone, Snape bent forward and gently nudged the still smoldering halves of the tiara with the toe of his boot.

Nothing.

He bent down and very cautiously picked up one half. It was warm to the touch, but rapidly cooling now. He collected both pieces of the broken Horcrux and stuffed them into his pocket. He rose up and went to the marble bust on which the tiara had sat, and examined it closely. There was a deep cut on the forehead of the ugly looking hag, where Ron had made his first cut. Snape peered more closely at the bust, noticing how deep the cut was, and how much stone had broken off. Snape guessed that Weasley's rage had given him a fair bit of strength for that first cut, as the blade had gone fairly deep into the solid marble.

What amazed Snape more was that the Sword of Godric Gryffindor seemed completely unharmed. Snape examined the blade very closely as he retrieved it from the floor, seeing not a scratch upon the gleaming blade.

"What could we have used against this if he had made it into one of his abominations?" He wondered to no one.

The hour was quite late, and he needed to get some kind of rest. He was now doubting he would be able to accomplish his own task now without the proper rest he needed. Yet his desire for freedom was pushing him forward. The end of his enslavement was in sight, and Severus Snape was not about to let it slip out of his grasp.

Hermione had awoken, along with everyone else in Gryffindor tower, to the horrific scream. She had raced down to the common room, pulling her robe on as others were preparing to seek out the source of the earth shattering cry, when Professor McGonagall stepped through the portrait hole, and ordered everyone back to bed.

She had complied, of course, but found it difficult to settle down again. She knew what must have happened, aa she hadn't seen Harry or Ron amongst the other Gryffindors. She lay awake, worrying over her two friends, and had begun to cry silently.

Things with her and Ron were quite strained. They had barely spoken since their break up, and Hermione desperately missed her friend. Though their relationship had been far less wonderful than they'd thought, they had finally formed a fantastic friendship, one that both had assumed they had all along.

Now she wondered if it were even possible to mend things enough to have even a passing friendship.

She hadn't realized she'd fallen asleep again until she was being shaken awake by Ginny.

"Hermione, come on, wake up." The redheaded girl said.

"Wha…"

"Oh very eloquent, and you're supposed to be the smart one. Come on get up. Harry and Ron are waiting for you." Ginny said, smacking Hermione's bottom before leaving her to get up.

Hermione sat up at the mention of her two friends and threw her blankets off and began dressing quickly. She didn't waste much time, running a brush through her tangled hair and pulling on a pair of jeans. Once she had tied her sneakers and given up on taming her hair, throwing it into a ponytail instead, and pulling on a jumper, she raced down the steps to meet her two favorite people.

"Harry, Ro…AHHH!"

Hermione's toe had stuck on the last step, and she plunged forward right into Ron's arms, who had been quick enough to prevent her from falling face first on the cold unforgiving stone floor. He helped her back to her feet, staring softly into her cinnamon brown eyes. There was a moment shared between them, an unspoken apology.

"Hermione…I didn't mean it." Ron whispered. "I wouldn't blame you…I was…"

"Ron." Hermione stopped him. "It's ok. I understand."

Ron gave a small smile and they embraced, Hermione sniffling. Ron pulled back and touched his forehead to hers, and they both smiled as the tension of the past weeks melted away. She wondered why it was so easy to let go of her fear and anger, but chalked it up to being young and Ron had asked, or at least tried to, before she had cut him off.

She knew that they might never be lovers, but they would always be friends. That was enough. It was all she needed.

"Well, what do you guys say to breakfast?" Harry said after a few moments. He had stayed all night with Ron in the infirmary. He'd been awaken early by Ron, and the two friends had spoken about all that had happened. It was Harry who'd provided Ron with the courage to attempt to patch things with their bushy haired friend.

Harry knew he'd never get the details of what the Horcrux had shown his friend, but it had scarred Ron deeply, and that was all he needed to know. Ron was a git at times, but no one deserved the kind of mental torture he had gone through. The redhead had enough complexes as it was.

"I could eat." Ron grinned lightly. Hermione gave him a playful swat on the arm.

"You can always eat." She smiled, wiping at her still teary eyes.

"Come on." Harry smiled and the Golden Trio made their way down to breakfast.

They were joined by Daphne and Tracey, who asked about the haunting scream that had shaken the castle the night before. Both Harry and Ron, who knew exactly what had happened pretended to wonder about the source of the cry along with the others. Hermione, who had guessed that the boys knew more than they were letting on simply remained quiet on the subject.

Daphne tried to pry a bit further, as she suspected Harry knew exactly what had happened as he was most likely at the center of it. Harry gave her a look that promised he would tell her everything later on, so she dropped the questioning.

"Ron, you're looking different, somehow." Tracey said. "I don't know what it is, but it's working for you."

"Uh, thanks?" Ron looked puzzled.

"I'm serious. You just look so…what's the word I'm looking for here…yummy."

Hermione choked on her juice. Harry looked back and forth between Ron, Tracey and Hermione. Daphne began trying to hide her own laughter, while poor Ron could do nothing but stare at his plate. His face turned a shade of scarlet that would have made tomatoes jealous.

"Oh no." Daphne giggled into Harry's shoulder. "I think Tracey might be flirting with Ron."

Harry snorted into his juice, causing the others to glance at him suspiciously.

"Daphne, didn't your mother tell you not to grope your boyfriend at the breakfast table? Save that for lunch." Tracey remarked, causing Ron and Harry to switch places. Ron began choking on his juice while Harry turned crimson. Daphne simply shrugged.

"Sometimes I can't wait that long." Daphne said flirtatiously rubbing Harry's back.

"Oi, trying to eat here." Ron groaned.

"Well, finish up. The weather's real good for flying." Harry smiled, wiping his mouth with his napkin.

"You're going flying?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah." Ron nodded. "Thought it be good to clear our heads."

"That's good." Daphne nodded. "We girls have some things to do anyway." She gave a pointed look to Hermione.

"Ok, see you at lunch?" Harry asked, getting to his feet. Daphne pulled him down for a soft kiss before patting his bum, smiling mischievously as his face colored red again.

"You're evil." He smiled.

"And you love me." She smiled back. She watched Harry and his best mate until they left the Great hall, and then turned to Hermione.

"I want Tracey to help us." She said seriously. Hermione looked up from her cereal a little surprised. "She's really smart and might see something you missed. I don't mean to sound like I don't trust your work, it's just that…"

"I'm not offended." Hermione said. "Another mind would be quite helpful. I just don't want this all getting out."

"Granger, if there's one thing I know, it's how to keep a secret. Besides, you and I haven't had the chance to hang out in a while." Tracey winked.

"Right. Well, let's get to it then. We have a lot to explain to you."

The three girls got up and Hermione led them to the Room of Requirement, where she'd been doing most of her research. The room was as it always was when she used it. A vast library of books with a small table and several chairs around it. It had proven invaluable to her by providing books that she couldn't find anywhere else.

The first thing Hermione noticed was a faint smell of acrid smoke.

"Do you guys smell that?" Tracey asked.

"That's strange, It's never smelled like that before." Hermione looked puzzled.

"I have a feeling Harry and Ron were less than truthful with us this morning." Daphne said ominously. Hermione nodded while Tracey looked rather puzzled.

"Ok, Why are we here?" Tracey asked, taking a seat.

""Do you know what a Horcrux is?" Hermione asked.

"No." Tracey looked at Daphne strangely.

"Basically, it's a way to keep yourself alive. It's a part of your soul put into a object to anchor you to this plane of existence. A short cut to immortality." Daphne explained.

"Ok. How do you make one?"

"You have to rip your soul apart…"Hermione said seriously. By killing someone. By murder."

Tracey felt suddenly nauseous and began wishing she hadn't eaten so much.

"It's how You-Know-Who was able to come back to life after he was supposed to be destroyed by Harry all those years ago." Daphne added.

"Ok. I'm following you." Tracey said, waiting for them to continue.

"Voldemort made seven of them as a way to protect himself from death." Hermione said, finally sitting at the table and pulling notes from her bag. "He's so afraid of death that he's defied nature and made himself an abomination. But in doing so, he's made himself weaker than I think he realizes."

"How do you mean?" Tracey asked, looking perplexed.

"Destroy all of his soul anchors, and you also destroy part of his magic. It's taken me a long time, but I finally found some things on Horcruxes." Hermione jumped up and began scanning the shelves for a certain book. "If it hadn't been for the Room, I never would have found it."

She came back to the table with a large leather bound book. She flipped it open and began scanning the page.

"Here it is…" She cleared her throat before continuing "Magic is bonded to the soul of the wizard. It is why many wizards and witches can live for great periods of time while still appearing quite a bit younger than their years."

"That's why Dumbledore looks so good." Tracey smacked her head.

"When the soul is split, so is the magical core." Hermione continued. "If a Horcrux is destroyed, the wizard will be weakened. It is for this reason that one should reconsider use of the Horcrux."

"So each one we destroy takes a little power away from him?" Daphne asked, trying to clarify what she had just heard. "Then why wouldn't he notice it?"

"Maybe he doesn't use to much of his magic?" Tracey offered. "It doesn't take a lot to torture and kill. It takes far more magic to create, than to destroy."

"She's right." Hermione nodded. "If He were to be using his magic to conjure, than He might be more aware of it. It's possible that he's feeling it, and doesn't know what's causing it. We can't assume anything at this point."

"What is all this about? Why are you two so concerned with you-Know-Who and his Horcrux thingies?" Tracey asked, concern showing on her face.

"Because Harry's got one inside him." Daphne said flatly.

Tracey looked back and forth between the two girls, unable to form a coherent thought. She attempted speech several times, but only strange squeaking noises came out of her open mouth.

"He's got one inside of him?" Tracey finally asked. "Does he know?"

"Yes." Daphne sighed. "Dumbledore told him. Than he told Harry that the only way to get rid of it was for Harry to die, by You-Know-Who's hand. He believes that it has to be that way because of that stupid prophecy."

"The one calling Harry the Chosen One?"

"The very same." Hermione sighed. "But I think there's another way. A way that might allow Harry to live."

Hermione went on to reveal the prophecy when she had finished she then showed Tracey the one line of the prophecy that had been her main concern.

"You think this is the focus of the prophecy?" Tracey asked after having read it a few times. "I don't get it."

"Neither can live while the other survives." Hermione began. "It's a double edge sword. Dumbledore thinks it just means that Voldemort has to kill Harry, destroying the Horcrux at the same time, but I think it's referring only to Harry. If the Horcrux in him is destroyed, than Harry can live. However, if the Horcrux gets stronger, it could take over Harry. Neither can LIVE while the other survives."

"Brilliant." Tracey grinned. "I would have translated it the same as Dumbledore if I hadn't known about the Horcrux. It's so subtle. But how can you destroy it?"

"Dumbledore says he tried to find a way. But he said nothing could do it without killing Harry. He even claims to have tried." Daphne said, sounding quite bitter.

"I think there's a way." Hermione tried to smile, but the fear and guilt she felt over what she had suggested weighed so heavily on her. "I want him to walk through the Veil."

"Whoa! You're telling me the Veil exists?" Tracey stood up so suddenly her chair fell back.

"I've seen it." Hermione admitted. "Harry's godfather fell through it at the end of last year."

"Hermione, I thought that was just a story. The Veil is one of those things parents threaten you with when you're misbehaving. You're telling me it's real, and that Harry can cross through it and live?"

"That's my theory, anyway." Hermione shrugged. "How much do you know about the Veil?"

"Only stories." Tracey said as she began pacing, running fingers through her thick auburn hair. "Rumors, really. It's supposed to be a gateway to the land of the dead. They used to use it on criminals before they got dementors to watch over Azkaban."

"I heard those stories too." Daphne confirmed. "My nana says that they used it on the most horrible of criminals. They stopped after they sent an innocent man through. I don't remember the details of the story though. I do know that no one has ever just walked trough it and come out on the other side."

"Why do you think Harry can do this?" Tracey asked looking very sick.

"His mother, his god father…It's hard to explain."

"Try!" Tracey demanded.

"The reason Harry survived his encounter with Voldemort…"

"Could you not use that name? I feel like I'm going to pass out every time you say it." Tracey pleaded.

"No. you need to face this irrational fear. It only gives him more power." Hermione scowled. "Harry survived his first encounter with VOLDEMORT, because his mother threw herself in front of the first curse, sacrificing herself. It's what saved Harry that night."

"how did he end up with a Horcrux inside him?" Tracey wondered.

Hermione could only shrugged. "I don't know, but it proves what the book said about magic being part of the soul. That's how Harry is able to speak Parseltongue. It's also why Harry can sometimes see through Voldemort's eyes."

"He can see through that madman's eyes?" Daphne shrieked. "He never told me that!"

"Do you blame him? He's seen some really horrible things. Those things will haunt him for the rest of his life. Would you share that with the world?" Hermione reasoned.

"So back to the topic, how is Harry just going to walk through the veil?" Tracey urged.

"I'm almost positive that the protection his mother gave him through her sacrifice will do it. But it won't just be that. Our love for him will anchor him, give him something to fight for. I believe that our love for him will protect his soul as he passes through the Veil. The Horcrux, Voldemort's soul will not be protected, and it will be pulled out of Harry as he passes. It's not natural, and it isn't protected by anything. It's conceivable that it will be pulled out and Harry could be fine, however it will use up all of the protection his mother gave him, I think."

"Your love for him?" Tracey looked incredulous.

"Come off it." Daphne looked offended. "Wasn't it you who told me that love was the most powerful magic there was?"

"Yeah, but even love can't stop death." Tracey shot back.

"It did for Harry." Hermione argued. "His mother's love saved him."

"She's got you there." Daphne said crossing her arms.

"Yeah, but his mother already died for him. Can she do it again? You don't know if this will work? You're basing it all on your belief. Your own desire to keep Harry alive." Tracey began pacing back and forth again.

"You're right. I don't want Harry to die. I love him too much." Hermione said weakly. "I know that Daphne loves him, and he loves her. That's why I believe this will work."

Those words stopped Tracey's pacing as she turned to her best friend.

"It's true. I don't know when or even how it happened, but I love him with all of my heart. I love him enough that I'm willing to lay down my life for his."

Tracey watched in awe as tears sprang to Daphne's eyes. She quickly engulfed her friend in a comforting hug.

"He's loved more than he knows, by so many people." Hermione continued. "If he can hold onto that as he passes through the Veil, if he can remember the sacrifices made by his parents, his godfather, and a few others who gave their lives to protect him, then maybe, just maybe he can come through it, and live the life he was meant to have all along."

"The power he knows not." Tracey whispered, remembering the words of the prophecy she had heard moments before. "You think it's love?"

"The most powerful magic there is." Daphne grinned, wiping her eyes.

"You two make a powerful case." Tracey gave a nervous chuckle. "Ok. I'm convinced. How do we make sure this works?"

Snape had awaken very early that morning. He dressed quickly, using the time to mentally prepare himself. He then went to a hidden cabinet and began to empty his mind. One by one he pulled any memories he had of Horcruxes and what had been done from his mind. Snape was a master Occlumens, but he dared not take the chance that his master might break through his shields.

He then took a light breakfast before beginning his journey. Snape enjoyed the walk over the grounds and past the gates. It was quiet, serene. Snape had imagined finding a small cottage somewhere far from people where he might live out the rest of his days reading books, and brewing potions in solitude.

It had been his dream for so long, and he could now see it being within his grasp. His promise would be kept and he could finally find some kind of piece away from Dumbledore, Voldemort, and especially Harry Potter.

Snape had thought about the boy more than he ever wanted to in the past few months, and it was beginning to grate on him. He had to admit to himself that the boy wasn't only like his strutting peacock of a father, but he was also much like Lily.

Lily, who'd been a friend to Snape when they had been in school. Lilly, whom Snape had loved for her kindness, and her unwavering friendship, until he had gone and ruined everything, all because of James Potter.

Snape knew now he had been undeserving of Lily's love, or even her friendship. He had been unable to rise above the taunts and torment he'd received, not only from Potter, but his own home. It had driven him to become a follower, a soldier in Voldemort's new order. It had been the reason he had been skulking outside the door when the prophecy had been made, and why Lily Evans had died.

Snape had sworn to do all he could to protect the child of his greatest love at the hem of Dumbledore's robes, and while he knew it would never bring her back, had had hoped it would earn him forgiveness.

He learned far to late that there would be no forgiveness from his own guilt. It had left him a bitter shell of a man, who took out his frustrations on thousands of students over the years, students who were a constant reminder of his own terrible childhood.

His plan was sound. It would take finesse, timing, and a lot of luck. His target was easily manipulated, and would be the perfect tool. That part of the n was the easiest.

It was the second part he feared would go wrong. Too many things to consider. But he had to try. He had to find out who had hidden the final Horcrux.

Snape stopped just outside of the wards protecting the school, and breathed in a lungful of crisp spring air. With a swirls of black cloak, Severus Snape went to meet his master, and possibly put and end to his enslavement.