Chapter 20

Albus Dumbledore was tired. Far more tired than he'd ever been in his whole one hundred and fifty years. The potion from the cave, as well as the curse he suffered from destroying the Horcrux ring, were accelerating. He had so much left to do and his time was growing shorter.

His plans to get McGonagall to continue Harry's "training" and help the boy find the remaining Horcruxes had some how backfired after the Deputy Headmistress had spoken with Snape. In retrospect, the Headmaster thought he should have left the Defense teacher out of it. Unfortunately, Snape played such an integral role in his grand design, he had little choice. McGonagall had come charging into the Infirmary like mad dragon, harping on about his using her to send a innocent boy to his death, and that she would have no part of his little game. Dumbledore had no more options left to him. He only had one final opportunity in which to convince Harry that his way was the only way.

So it was, the dying man was now surrounded by the only people who had any chance in stopping the dark wizard known as Lord Voldemort. They had all come to see him to find out all they could about the final three Horcruxes. Dumbledore had every intention of telling them everything he knew about Voldemort's soul anchors. When it was finished, he planned to speak with Harry alone.

"So it's the cup of Hufflepuff, his snake, and something else, but you don't know what it is?" Harry asked of the Headmaster.

"No, but I believe it to be something belonging to Rowena Ravenclaw, as he seemed to favor artifacts of great importance." Dumbledore wheezed.

"Why would he use only things from the founders?" McGonagall asked.

"Lord Voldemort believes that because of his lineage, that they are rightfully his. He has killed to gain them for his needs. It is also why he hides them in places of great importance to him. Places tied to his power."

"Like the cave?" Hermione asked. Harry turned to look at his bushy haired friend who looked very tired and worn out. She had dark circles under her eyes, which were quite bloodshot.

"Indeed." Dumbledore nodded. "It was one of the first places where his power manifested."

"So, where are these final three artifacts?" McGonagall asked in the tone she usually reserved for bad students.

"The snake is most likely by his side at all times. She will be most difficult to retrieve, but not impossible. I am also positive that one resides somewhere within these hallowed halls, possibly in a place very few students, or even teachers know of. As for the third…"

The implication hung in the air for a moment before Harry responded.

"You don't know?!" Harry demanded angrily. "You have no idea at all?"

"I have suspicions. I believe that Voldemort might have bequeathed on to his most loyal of followers to hide. He would not have told them what it was, but asked them to put it someplace that he never had the opportunity to venture into himself."

"Such as?" Harry asked impatiently.

"Someplace that is important to wizards everywhere. A symbol of standing." Dumbledore wheezed before breaking into a long coughing fit.

"Gringotts?" Hermione asked, looked dubious.

"That makes sense, actually." Snape nodded thoughtfully. "All of his followers are purebloods and most would have huge vaults. It would be easy to get any of them to hid something away like that."

"What about the Ministry?" Ron asked, not wanting to be outshined by Hermione. Tensions had been rather high between the two over the past week. Harry had tired to find out what was going on, but as he was still training with both Snape and Flitwick, and then spending as much time with Daphne as he could, it had left precious little time for his friends. Harry vowed to correct that right after they finished with Dumbledore.

"While that might still be a possibility, it is most unlikely. There would be no place within the Ministry that would be safe to hide an artifact like that. Nor does the Ministry have any real nostalgia as say Gringotts. The Goblin bank represented wealth, and power, two things young Tom Riddle had none of when he first entered into our world." Dumbledore explained.

"So the task becomes finding out which of his followers were given something to hide for him." McGonagall sighed. "This seems rather impossible. Why can't we just defeat him, and then take care of the Horcruxes?"

"The risk of him returning much quicker is quite great. I fear it would only be a matter of weeks before he would be able to get a new body." Dumbledore said in a wheeze.

"Sir, do you think he's aware of his Horcruxes being destroyed?" Hermione asked, while looking curiously at Harry. Harry suddenly felt nervous. He remembered that he shared a link with Voldemort, and he felt a great swell of fear for his friends, and for Daphne who was sitting quite close to him, his hand folded into hers on her lap.

"It is a strong possibility that he is aware of everything. However, he has made no moves to counter our strategy, and so we must assume that he is, for the time being, unaware." Dumbledore said with a great sigh. He was very tired now, and was hoping they might speed things up so he could rest.

"Sir, I've been wondering something. You said that I destroyed the Diary by using the Basilisk fang, or rather the poison inside of it. I pulled the fang out of my arm, why didn't the poison destroy the Horcrux in me at that time?" Harry asked solemnly.

"I can only guess that Fawkes attended to you before the poison could work through your system. Also, the fact you were pierce through the arm rather than your scar, I believe to have factored into the equation. You all must understand that this is dark magic beyond anything I have ever encountered in all my years. I have no real proof of what might or might not work."

"So my idea could work, by that very same statement." Hermione nearly shouted.

"While I am thrilled by your loyalty to Harry, Miss Granger, the fact remains that it must be by the Dark Lord's own hand that the Horcrux is destroyed." Dumbledore looked quite heart sick as he said this.

"But you just said you are guessing about all of this!" McGonagall pointed out. "How can you be so sure of this one factor?"

"It is because of the Prophecy."

Everyone seemed to groan or roll their eyes at Dumbledore's reasoning.

"I understand your reluctance in believing me on this. Prophecies are dodgy business to begin with. However, Lord Voldemort proved his belief when he marked Harry that night fifteen years ago. So it must be that the Prophecy is fulfilled in this manner."

"But you're only translating it to conform with what you believe to be the right way. It could mean something else entirely." Hermione argued. "It might only be referring to the Horcrux within Harry."

"It does refer to the Horcrux." Dumbledore said, sitting up a bit straighter in his bed, arguing with a student, who while intelligent, was no where near as experienced as he was. "It is you who is trying to make the Prophecy fit to your wishes, Miss Granger."

"Enough!"

Both Harry and Snape had yelled for the halt to the growing argument. They both looked at each other for a moment of unity before Snape pressed on.

"Bickering among ourselves is not going to solve our problem. We need to find these damned things and end this. Now, I believe I can get the snake, though it will not be easy. I might even be able to frame Pettigrew for the crime."

Harry couldn't help the smile on his face at Snape's idea.

"But if I fail in my attempt, we shall have another problem, as I will most likely have died."

"If you do, then we may not get a second chance at any of this." Harry said quietly. Daphne squeezed his hand encouragingly.

"Perhaps I might be able to suss out who hid any of the artifacts, as well." Snape said, ignoring Harry's comment.

"Do you have any ideas who it might have been?" McGonagall asked.

"The Dark Lord trusts no one completely. But there are a select few of us who he might have enlisted to this cause. Someone who was willing to do anything to please him. I can think of at least three candidates right away who are not imprisoned or dead. I will start with them. Excuse me, I must prepare."

Snape did not wave goodbye, or any other polite gesture. No one expected him to, and yet, everyone turned to watch him go. When he was out of the Infirmary, and the door had closed, they all turned back to Dumbledore, who looked increasingly weary.

"That only leaves the one hidden within the castle. Harry, I must ask you help Professor McGonagall to search the Chamber of Secrets, as that seems the most likely place to begin the search. Now, I am very tired, and I would like just a moment with Mister Potter."

The rest of the group began getting up and heading out of the Hospital Wing. Daphne lingered, watching the Headmaster and Harry with worry. She knew that the Headmaster was going to try once again to convince Harry to bend to the dying Headmaster's will and present himself before the Dark Lord for slaughter. Harry turned his head and gave one of his famous lop sided grins, as if he were telling her to not worry.

She gave one last look at her love, and followed the others out of the Hospital Wing. When she reached the corridor she found McGonagall speaking to Hermione and Ron.

"…Found another way?" The stern Head of Gryffindor House asked the bushy haired girl.

"I think so, but I can't seem to find anything to back it up. It's very risky."

"It's suicide is what it is!" Ron shouted.

"Enough, Mister Weasley, if you please." She stared hard at the angry redhead for a moment before turning back to Hermione. "What is your idea?"

"I think Harry can rid himself of the Horcrux by walking through the Veil at the Ministry."

"The Veil? Miss Granger, no one ever walks through the veil and emerges on the other side." McGonagall said, clutching her chest.

"Harry isn't just anyone, is he?" Hermione shot back.

McGonagall considered the statement for a moment before agreeing with Hermione.

"I would like to know how you've come up with this, and why you think it will work." McGonagall said, beginning to usher the girl along the corridor.

"As would I." Daphne piped up, catching up to them. "After all, he's my betrothed, and I don't want anything to happen to him if we can help it."

"I'm sorry, did I hear you correctly? Your betrothed?" McGonagall looked incredulous. "Aren't you both a bit young to even be considering marriage?"

"It's a really long story, Professor." Hermione smiled lightly.

"Suffice to say, neither Harry nor I had much say in the matter." Daphne nodded.

"I would very much like to hear this story, as well. In my office, if you please. Will you be joining us, Mister Weasley?"

"No, professor. I think I'll wait for Harry." Ron said, glaring at Hermione, who quickly hid her face.

McGonagall, not missing the interaction between her students, began ushering the two girls along, while Ron slumped against the wall to wait for his best friend.

"I have apologized many times for this, my dear boy, and I find it is simply not enough. I have truly tried to discover another way for all this to end." Dumbledore said when he and Harry were finally alone.

"Sir… Albus…" Harry said. He felt now that the Headmaster was nearing death, and that it was looking as if he might not be too far behind the old man, that it was time they spoke as equals. "The fact is that you planned on deceiving me into thinking I was ready to fight a monster, only to let me die. You lied, and not just once, but over and over again. I looked up to you and you took advantage, noble as your intentions were. Had you taken me under your wing and begun training me, maybe I would have been prepared to battle him. We could have found a way together, but you preferred to conspire alone."

"I was trying to save everyone." The Headmaster said softly.

"But everyone didn't need saving. I did. You should have led us, not move us about like pawns on a chess board." Harry grimaced slightly.

"Is that what you believe I did?" The old man asked.

"It's what it feels like. Perception is reality."

Dumbledore gave a small chuckle. "I suppose that is true. This burden never should have been yours. Both you, and young Mister Longbottom, should never have been robbed of your parents. I am solely responsible for all that has befallen you. One does gain a certain clarity on their life when it is nearing its end, doesn't one?"

"There are many things I would have done differently had I known, yes." Harry agreed.

"You do not believe Miss Granger's plan will work, I take it." Dumbledore saw his opening now.

"Not in the way she thinks, no. I'm hopeful, but not delusional." Harry looked into the Headmaster's eyes and saw what the old man was thinking. "But, I'm still going to do it her way."

Dumbledore's face fell. "Why choose this way? A way that means our enemy will live on?"

"Does it? Does it truly mean that he will survive? If you theories are correct, all it will take is one good Killing Curse by someone. With me gone, and rest of his Horcruxes destroyed, there'll be nothing to protect him. So, why should it matter if I go through the veil or let him do it? At least this way, I die with honor, and my body isn't his trophy to parade and crush all the hope out of people."

Dumbledore could only nod. He had been defeated. There was no way he would be able to get Harry to follow the path that had to be followed, and he had no more allies in which to convince.

"I wish I could make you understand why it has to be this way. You are going to doom millions of innocent people." He tried.

"Or, I could be setting them free. Does it really matter? If history has taught us anything it's that tyrants never stay in power long. Voldemort will fall."

Harry stood now and stared at the Headmaster. "I wish you could see past your own point of view, Albus. Your knowledge would prove invaluable to Hermione and Daphne, and they might find a way for me to live, and have the life I should. It's not Voldemort who's killing me…It's you."

With that, Harry began walking away, leaving a sad, humbled old man behind him.

"I hate this place." Ron muttered as they entered the quiet dark of the Chamber of Secrets. He had waited for Harry to finish with Dumbledore, and Harry suggested that they take a look down in the Chamber together. Harry wanted to get Ron on his own and just talk with his best mate, as guys.

"At least it's not crawling with spiders."

"Don't even joke, mate. Seriously."

Harry chuckled as Ron shivered. They began wandering through the vast Chamber, now devoid of the rotting Basilisk corpse as Professor Slughorn had harvested the beast and done quite well if the rumors were true.

"There's not much else in here." Ron noted with disdain.

"To be honest, I don't even think it's in here. I just wanted to get away from everything." Harry smiled to his friend, who nodded in understanding. "I get the feeling I'm not alone on that sentiment."

"Things are…difficult right now." Ron grimaced. "I broke up with Hermione. I shouldn't have done it the way I did, but at the same time, I feel like it was the right thing to do. I've been angry with her for a long time, and it isn't even her fault, I just blamed her. We were fighting pretty bad, and it really was my fault. All of it."

"Aww, mate." Harry said, patting the brooding redhead on the shoulder. "We all make mistakes. You should try to patch it up with her."

"No. The two of us together was a mistake." Ron shook his head.

"I didn't mean get back together, but at least try and salvage your friendship."

"Oh." Ron looked up, obviously not having thought of that. "I don't know if that can happen. I said some things…bad things. I kind of said that if you died, I'd blame her."

"How thick are you?" Harry cried out.

"I know, I know. I'm a complete idiot, but I was angry and I just wanted to hurt her. I know I was wrong, but…"

"I wish for once you'd have listened to her and used your head. Damn it, Ron. I need you guys, and you're not helping." Harry said, slumping against a nearby wall and sliding into a sitting position.

"Look." Ron said defensively. "You think this has been a walk in the park for me? The guilt has been eating me alive for a week now. Have you even noticed I've hardly eaten anything? Is that normal for me? Merlin, Harry. It was a mistake. It was a mistake for us to even cross that line, but we did."

"Why did you?" Harry asked now curious.

"I don't know. Fear, maybe. I was afraid that I might not get anyone to even notice me. There was Hermione, looking incredible. She's really blossomed into an amazing looking girl. We had this history, and I guess I just convince myself that despite our enormous list of differences, that we might make things work. The truth is that I think you and she might have made a real go of it, once you cottoned on, of course."

"What do you mean?" Harry looked up quickly.

"You're telling me you never once noticed the different ways she acted around us. She was always more affectionate with you. You were always the first person she thought of, even before herself."

"Hermione liked me?"

"Loves you, even with Daphne and you getting married, she still loves you. She always will. Had it not been for the contract, you to might have been together one day. You know she wanted you to ask her to the Yule Ball? Krum got to her first, and she had to say yes, but she wanted to go with you."

"She never said anything…" Harry said, reeling a bit.

"No, she never did, but she showed you thousands of times how she felt. We boys are pretty daft, though, and she was incredibly patient." Ron sighed, sitting next to his friend.

"How did you find all this out?" Harry asked, still feeling overwhelmed.

"We talked more than we snogged, mate." Ron gave a little . "It was nice being the one she confided in."

"Is that why you broke up, because of her feelings for me?"

"Nah. I think we both knew within the first month that it wasn't going to last." Ron waved it off. "We spent the last couple of months just talking. The fire burned out pretty fast, and I don't think either of us wanted to say it. We were to afraid to hurt the other."

"So, you ended up with the friendship you should have had all this time, only to piss it away." Harry shook his head.

"Yeah. I guess I did. I really do want to apologize, and try and salvage what we built, but…"

"You're too damned proud."

"No." Ron shook his head. "I'm too ashamed."

"Ron, you've got to fix this. You and I both know there's a big chance I won't walk out of the veil. I need to know you'll be there for Hermione."

Ron nodded slowly, not daring to look at his friend for fear that he might begin to cry. His fear of losing his best friend was slowly eating him alive, but he didn't dare admit to it. He needed to remain strong for Harry, to be there when Hermione needed him. Ron knew as well as Harry that Hermione had precious few friends, and that she might not be able to deal with the guilt she would surely heap upon herself if things went badly.

"Promise me." Harry said after a few minutes. "Promise me that you'll look after her."

Ron look up and nodded slowly. "I promise to be there for her, no matter what happens."

Harry smiled and stood again, helping Ron to his feet.

"Now, how do we find this stupid thing?" Ron asked, brushing off his pants.

"I don't know. If it were in the Room of Requirement we could just ask for it and…" Harry slapped his hand to his forehead and cried out.

"What? Is it your scar? Is your scar hurting you?"

"No. I'm so daft!" Harry cried out angrily. "I saw it and I didn't even realize it. How can I be so damned daft? Come on. I know exactly where the cursed thing is!"

Hermione and Daphne had spent over two hours discussing with Professor McGonagall about Hermione's idea to use the Veil to rid Harry of the Horcrux left by Voldemort the night he murdered Harry's parents. McGonagall had been helpful in pointing the girls in the right direction for their research and had even offered to write a letter to an Unspeakable, one of the employees in the Department of Mysteries, for help. Daphne had been quite thorough in her questioning of the Gryffindor bookworm about her theory. As they left the office, Daphne could see that Hermione was beyond exhausted, slumping along the corridor looking for all the world as if she might fall over at any moment.

"Hermione, perhaps you should sit down." Daphne offered, helping Hermione to an empty classroom.

"Thank you. I guess I haven't been sleeping well, or eating for that matter." Hermione said putting her head on her arms on the desk she now sat in. Daphne gave another long look at the bushy haired girl, and this time noticed that Hermione looked paler than normal.

"I want to thank you, you're the only one to come up with an idea on how to save Harry." Daphne said gently.

"You really care for him, don't you…" Hermione asked, casting her bleary eyes on the blonde Slytherin girl. Daphne smiled shyly and nodded.

"He's kind of hard not to care for, once you start getting to know him." She grinned, then she sat up and looked at Daphne seriously.

"I need to apologize to you. I was afraid you were going to hurt him, or something. The truth is that I have been quite jealous of you all this time. I had planned on revealing my own feelings to him, before we all found out about the contract between you two."

"You love him? Like that?" Daphne asked a bit surprised.

"Is it so hard to believe?" Hermione looked unashamed. "He's been my best friend for going on six years. He's what most girls dream of. Smart, funny, handsome…."

"A prince." Daphne sighed, sitting down next to Hermione.

"When I found out about you and him and that contract, it hurt really bad. I tried to distract myself and give it a go with Ron. After all, he's good looking, and he's been my friend as long as Harry has. But, we never clicked in that way. Instead, we ended up becoming closer friends. He and I haven't even kissed in two months. Shame really, as Ron's quite a good kisser. The fact is we're just too different, and I just don't feel that way about him. Maybe one day, but not now."

"I'm sorry. If it wasn't for the contract…" Daphne began.

"Then you and Harry might not have found each other. I'm truly happy for you both. You make him happier than I've ever known him to be, and for that I thank you. I don't know that I could do what you've done." Hermione said earnestly.

"What have I done?" Daphne asked perplexed.

"You've made him smile. You've made him feel love that he'd been denied growing up. You've made him see things differently. He doesn't just rush into things anymore. You did that." Hermione sighed, lowering her head back to her folded arms.

"Hermione, I don't know what to say. On one hand, I'm flattered that you think so highly of me, but on the other hand, I feel like I robbed you of something that should be yours."

"Just promise me that if this works, and Harry comes out of this okay, that you'll continue to love him with your entire being, because he does truly deserve it."

"Ok. I promise. And, I just want you to know." Daphne began, her eyes tearing up. "If the worst should happen, I won't blame you. This is Harry's choice. I just want to help you make sure he comes out alive."

"Thank you." Hermione smiled tiredly.

"Come on. I'll get you to your Common Room. You won't do anyone any good if you're too tired."

Daphne heaved Hermione up and helped her all the way up to the Gryffindor tower. She hoped that the bookworm made it to her own bed alright, or that someone helped her. She was stunned by Hermione's admission, and as they had been walking back up swore to Hermione that she would never tell Harry what she had shared, to Hermione immense gratitude.

Daphne wondered where Harry had gotten off to, but did not have that incredible map, so she knew better than to try and hunt him down. She decided it best to go back to her own dorm and get some sleep if she could. She knew she would have trouble, as she had begun being plagued by horrible dreams of loss.

"Like it's going to get any better now." Daphne groaned as she thought back to what Hermione had told her.

Snape had been sitting in his favorite chair, thinking of his plan. He knew he was taking great risks, but he was the only one who could accomplish it, and he was so tired of this scenario. He only desired his freedom now. He'd been under the crushing weight of Lord Voldemort, and Albus Dumbledore's thumbs, for so long, and he'd had his fill.

Snape planned to leave the castle very early in the morning and report to his "master" about Dumbledore's ailing condition. Then, he was going to set his plan in motion. It shouldn't be too difficult to achieve his goals, as he was quite gifted. Still, there were many factors, things could go wrong quite quickly, so he had to be vigilant.

With so much that could happen, Snape knew he should feel afraid, but he didn't. He'd lost his capacity for fear long ago at the hands of his master. Now all he felt was hate. Hate for the delusional madman. Hate at that puppet master, Dumbledore. Hate for Potter for reminding him everyday of what he'd done and what he lost. But most of all, hate of himself for being so weak in the first place.

Snape had poured a soothing cup of tea to relax him so he could sleep. He would need to be rested before his journey began. He hated that he would be risking his own neck, but he also knew that no one else was in the unique position of being within Lord Voldemort's inner circle either.

Snape was ripped from his reverie by a frantic knock on his door. A quick glance at his watch told him it was after curfew. He rose from his chair, readying himself to tell off whoever it was disturbing him. He opened the door quickly and lost his voice at the sight before him.

"Potter? What is the meaning of…"

Harry stood panting in the doorway, holding onto the wall to keep from falling over. He looked up at the Defense teacher and gave a strange satisfied smile.

"We found it!"