Chapter 42: DA Inspiration and Exorcisms

"Hey, Hermione! Hermione, wait up!" Sirius called down the corridor as he spotted the brunette turning a corner just ahead. He and Amelia ran up, coming to a stop behind her. "That was lucky. You seen Harry? We found – ow! Amy, that hurt!"

"Not out here, idiot," Amelia said groaning and rubbing her forehead. "Hermione, if you would be so kind as to direct us to your boyfriend, we have something of great important to provide him."

Hermione frowned for a moment trying to puzzle out just what the adults were trying to say. After a moment of thought, her eyebrows shot up, her eyes widened and her mouth opened into a silent 'oh'. Her face barely taking long enough to spread into a wide grin, she opened her backpack and pulled out her Librarian's Aide. "I promise to never disrespect a book. Locate subject: Harry Potter." She didn't acknowledge Sirius leaning over her shoulder and whistling appreciatively as the improved map zoomed in on the seventh floor, one room to the side flashing. "He's in the Room of Requirement. Let's go. I'll comm Daphne, you get Shiva and Lily."

Amelia chuckled; Hermione presumed it was at the way she had taken charge and started walking down the passageways without even waiting for them to follow. "I'll contact Tonks and let her know as well," the older woman said.

"Don't bother, Harry was with her and Fleur already," Hermione said waving the concern off. "Comm on, contact Daphne. Daph, we need you up at the Room immediately. Well, actually scratch that. You're welcome to come up to the Room if you want to be there."

"What? Hermione, slow down. What's going on?" Daphne's confused voice answered.

Hermione grimaced and took a long breathe. "My apologies. We've made some progress on the scavenger hunt and are heading to show off the results to our partner."

A loud gasp came over the line coupled with a muttered curse. "I'm on my way. Are Tracey and Luna invited as well?"

"If they're with you then yes, but otherwise no. I don't want to hold this up any longer than absolutely necessary. If you see Neville, Susan or Hannah feel free to grab them as well."

"Those three are…busy," Daphne say causing Hermione to snort in amusement. "I'll let them know though and see if they can get up there before you start breathing fire about making us wait. Tracey and Luna are with me. What configuration for the door?"

Hermione paused tapping her fingers on her side before sighing. "Probably the manor bedroom. He's with Fleur and Tonks."

Daphne laughed. "Whatever, tell him to invite me next time would you?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "They didn't invite me either, Daph, but I'll mention it. Disconnect." She looked over her shoulder at two sets of eyes staring at her. Amelia in mild shock, Sirius quite obviously fighting to hold in laughter. She glared at them. "What? We're teenagers, in a boarding school, with very little supervision and two of our partners are exceptionally flirty. We're going to have sex. Get over it and let's go kill a bloody soul shard before it tries to eat my boyfriend's mind again."

Sirius lost his battle and gave an exaggerated bow to her. "Lead the way, Mistress. I see why Harry likes you so much!"

"Did you get in contact with Shiva and Lily?" Hermione asked ignoring the majority of his statement as she resumed walking.

"They're on their way."

Hermione nodded in approval as she pulled up outside the tap dancing trolls. "Wait here a moment please. If they are 'busy' I doubt any of them would be exceedingly pleased to have either of you walk in on them."

Amelia sighed and nodded. "Yes, that would be awkward. Just come out to get us when everyone is dressed please."

Hermione walked past the tapestry three times concentrating on Harry's bedroom and smiled in satisfaction when the door materialized. She knocked on the new door to give them a slight warning before walking in. Harry was on the bed curled up in Tonks arms while Fleur was sitting up on one arm with her other one lightly stroking the metamorph's back. Hermione crossed her arms as the door closed behind her and eyed the three. "You know, you three aren't the only ones who could do with some stress relief."

Fleur smiled over. "Well zen lose ze clothes and climb in, Mione."

"Sorry, Mione," Harry said waving to her. "I walked in on Mum – both of them – then Nev and then these two. Decided there was no way in hell I was going to leave after that, you know?"

Hermione just rubbed her forehead in exasperation. "Yes, well, Daphne also requests an invite next time. Get dressed all of you. Sirius and Amelia have found a Horcrux."

"WHAT!?" three voices rang out in concert nearly knocking Hermione back with the force of their shouts.

"When the bloody hell was this?!" Harry asked leaping out of the bed and grabbing his trousers. Fleur started cursing in French as she slipped on her bra and threw the sheets around looking for her top.

Tonks' hair flipped through a rainbow of colors before settling on bubblegum pink as she threw her leather jacket on over her shirt. "Which one? I can't believe they didn't call us!"

"I don't have details. I just know they found one. It seemed like they discovered it only a few minutes ago," Hermione said shrugging.

Tonks shared a glance with Fleur before sighing and slipping on her boots. "Bloody bastards probably figured out R.A.B."

"R.A.B?" Harry asked. "Nym, shirt's on backwards."

"Damn, knew it felt weird," she muttered. "R.A.B. are the initials of the guy who stole the locket before us and switched it with a replacement."

"Oh," he paused and stared at her. "I guess we'll get that whole story later on now…"

Fleur shrugged and cinched her belt closed around her skirt. "We were going to debrief you all after we finished up here."

Hermione nodded appreciatively at the three before moving back to open the door into the Room. "Everyone's decent, you can come in now." She waved Sirius and Amelia inside and was about to close the door again when Shiva and Lily came dashing around the end of the corridor. Both were sweaty and their hair was tangled. Lily's trouser legs had ridden up enough to show two different styles of socks. Hermione raised her eyebrows at their disheveled appearances and held the door open muttering, "About time." Shiva cast her a questioning glance which Hermione ignored.

Before she could close the door, Luna skidded around the corner with a huge grin on her face and Coco riding her shoulder. She practically skipped down the hall as Daphne and Tracey followed at a slightly less frantic, but still hurried, pace. Luna gave Hermione a quick hug and kiss on each cheek before slipping into the Room. "She's in a good mood," Hermione remarked to the two Slytherins blinking after Luna.

"When is Luna not in a good mood?" Tracey noted with amusement.

Again Hermione tried to close the door and again she was forced to pause midway through as Neville, Susan and Hannah came into view. "When did I volunteer to become the butler?" she asked herself in mild annoyance waving the three newcomers inside. "Anyone invite anyone else? No? Good. Harry, you get the door next time. If we're going to be in your room, you should be the one opening the door."

Harry cast an amused look her way before turning to Sirius. "Mione says you found a Horcrux?"

"Yup!" Sirius nodded emphatically and smiled at Amelia. "Amy was the one who figured out most of it. For those not updated, we raided the cave this morning. Locket was a fake, having been stolen and replaced years back. Neville, the Lestrange brothers are dead. Both got killed by Inferi hiding within the lake. It wasn't pretty and they sounded like they were hurting quite a lot before dying."

Susan and Hannah both quietly held Neville's hands. His mouth set into a grim line and his eyes narrowed. "Two down. Two to go."

"After we got back to the Manor, we found the deception. The one who stole the locket was…my brother. Regulus Arcturus Black," Sirius said his voice hitching slightly on the name. He shook his head and swallowed heavily. "I didn't even think of it before. Regulus was always a mama's boy and he was a perfect pureblood son. Joined up with the Death Eaters before he even left Hogwarts. I thought he'd pissed off the wrong guy and gotten killed because of it. Turns out Voldemort had used Kreacher to test the defense around the locket and when the elf got away, Regulus turned on the bastard. He stole the locket and Kreacher's been trying to destroy it ever since."

Amelia sent him a reassuring smile and squeezed his arm. Sirius wiped a bit of moisture from one eye and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a cloth wrapped bundle and placed it in the middle of the floor. "I present to you, the legacy of Regulus Black, Salazar Slytherin's Locket, Tom Riddle's Horcrux." As he peeled open the cloth, an ornate, silver locket was revealed.

Hermione stared at the small snakes curled around the front facing side of the jewelry piece almost entranced. "It's quite beautiful for something that's become so perverted."

"Agreed," Daphne murmured.

"Well, let's not just stand here looking at zis zing," Fleur said glaring down at the piece of silver so intently that one would almost expect it to burst into flames. " 'arry, time to test your rune stone."

"Yeah." Harry took out his bandolier and picked out the Soul Cage hefting it in one hand and looking at the locket in the other. "Fingers crossed everyone." Heads bobbed around the room as Harry moved forward and placed the rune stone onto the locket. He took a deep breath and channeled enough magic into it to activate the stone.

Hermione held her breath and waited.

And waited.

And waited.

After thirty seconds Hannah looked up from the locket in confusion. "Is that it? Isn't it supposed to…do something?"

"Yeah it is," Harry muttered darkly.

Hermione quickly shuffled around the circle to grab his hand reassuringly. "Maybe the locket needs to be open for it to work?"

Harry scowled. "Worth a try I guess. Let's hope this one isn't booby trapped." He took the Soul Cage off the locket and whispered in parseltongue to it. Before Harry could replace the rune stone, the locket popped open and black smoke spilled out of the thing causing everyone to jump back.

"Harry Potter. You seek to destroy me without using me. You are a fool! You could utilize me and become stronger than my original. Stronger than your doppelganger could have ever dreamt of being. With my knowledge and your thirst for power and control you could become what I had only ever imagined. I would rule the country. With my help, you would rule the world."

Harry seemed frozen staring up at the curling black smoke. Hermione used her grip on his arm to haul him back and shove him towards Fleur and Tonks. She stepped forward and glared at the smoke with Daphne, Lily and Shiva stepping up beside her. "Leave him alone. Your petty little scrambling for survival won't earn a reprieve."

"Hermione Granger. You worry he'll toss you aside now that he has others more beautiful and more capable. With my help you could ensure he never wants to leave your side. Daphne Greengrass. You find yourself unclean and unworthy. You are tainted and dangerous. You cause all you touch to wilt. I can help you control the hatred and rage. I can show you how to channel it and use it to make you stronger. Bathsheda Babbling. You think yourself the outsider. The only one who was not born to this conflict. The only one not directly involved. The only one who could reasonably walk away without consequences from either side. You worry that they'll ask that of you. That somewhere deep inside, they expect it. With me, you'd be too formidable for any to ever think you that weak. Lily Potter. Dead for a decade. Your revival directly contributing to your son's increased danger and vulnerability. You find your weakness and imperfect sight to be a danger to all who lean on you and trust you. They feel you know things you don't and can handle that which you cannot. With me as your teacher, you could become more formidable than any you have ever known. Use me. Use me and we can – "

"Shut up already!" Luna yelled out shooting a spell through the swirling mist and cutting off Voldemort's monologue. "Stop letting it talk and hit the stupid locket with the rune!"

Hermione jolted herself out of whatever trance she seemed to have fallen into and grabbed the rune stone Harry had dropped. With a snarl she slammed it onto the face of the locket and activated it. A glow ignited and there was a shriek of pain. Some of the black smoke began curled back down towards the locket and into the rune stone. Unfortunately after a few seconds of continued screaming, the flow stopped and the rune stone stopped glowing. The smoke started to reform with a laughing sound before Luna bounded forward and slammed the small doors shut causing all the remaining smoke to immediately vanish.

Most of the occupants were breathing hard and beside her, Daphne fell to a seat on the floor with her arms wrapped around her legs. "Bloody hell. I hate these things so much," she murmured.

Harry gingerly got up and picked up the discarded rune stone. His face twitched imperceptibly as he stared at it. Hermione carefully got up and reached out to him. "Harry?" She asked softly.

He roared and threw the stone at the wall chipping off a large chunk. "It doesn't work! It still doesn't fucking work! What is wrong?! Why won't it work?!"

Shiva was pulling him into her arms before anyone else could even register movement. "Hey, it's okay, kid. It's okay. Calm down. There are other options. Su's potion sucks, but it's an option. Not everything can always be solved with runes. We'll deal with this just like we always do, kid. This is a setback, but it's not the end of the world."

Hermione looked on her boyfriend with something approaching despair. This state of affairs could not continue much longer.

Marcus Greengrass and Victoria Zabini smiled at each other from across the table at Gringotts Bank. Both grins had equal parts greed, cunning and superiority, both persons intent on thinking they had the better part in this deal.

Normally, magicals would sign binding legal contracts in one of three places, ranked in increasing order of formality. The first would be in one of the parties' homes which was seen as a deal amongst friends and equals. The second level would be in a solicitor's office. Many purebloods actually regarded such an event as a veiled insult; if one needed the reassurance of obtaining a solicitor to examine and verify the document then why was a goblin not being paid to do the work? Everyone knew that goblins always scrutinized the most inane language in any contract and were completely unbiased – hating all wizards and witches equally tended to make one fair when dealing with parties in dispute. Therefore, it should be no surprise to learn that signing a contract in Gringotts Bank was considered the most formal, socially acceptable and foolproof method of ensuring that a contract was legal and binding.

"So we are agreed, Daphne will provide at least one male heir to continue my line while Blaise will control the Greengrass business ventures after I step down," Marcus said.

Victoria nodded. "Must we go over this again. The terms have been written and the contract has been scrutinized. Just sign the thing already Marcus and stop stalling."

Marcus raised an eyebrow at her before picking up the quill and laying his signature on the paper with a flourish. "The move is yours, my dear." He handed her the quill and the document and watched with a satisfied grin as her name joined his own. His legacy was secure and Daphne would have a decent husband who was unlikely to do much beyond ensure she remained in her place at the boy's side.

As Victoria lifted the quill, the parchment in front of them remained resolutely dull. "That's odd…Where's the flash of acceptance? Marcus you used your full name didn't you?"

Marcus blinked in confusion. He stood to look at the contract and scowled. "Of course I did. I am not the one with seven different last names to choose from."

"Eight including my maiden name," Victoria commented idly. She frowned down at the parchment in front of them. "Which is completely irrelevant as I always ensure my name is legally changed to match my husband. Snapfist! Get out here, goblin, you idiots missed something!"

The goblin manager walked into the room with a sneer on his features. At least Marcus assumed it was a sneer. He couldn't be expected to pay too much attention to the creatures now could he? They were just goblins after all. "The contract agreement was examined and deemed complete and all-encompassing. If you wish us to determine why you cannot legally sign it then that will be a new fee for each of you."

Marcus scowled at the greedy little thing. "Fine. Take your gold from the vaults and tell us what is wrong. I swear you do this on purpose to ensure you get paid twice for one job."

"Ms. Zabini?" the goblin asked utterly ignoring his jibe.

"Just do it!" she huffed.

Snapfist nodded. He stepped forward and looked over the contract for less than ten seconds before a grin spread across his features. "Ah, I see the problem. Yes, yes this is quite simple."

"Well what is it?" Marcus asked. The goblin really was just toying with them. He'd really have to examine whether he should go to the gnomes for his banking purposes instead.

"This, Wizard, stipulates that Blaise Zabini is to be Daphne Greengrass' husband." Marcus could have hit the fool for that statement of the obvious. Victoria looked just as annoyed. Thankfully, the goblin continued on quickly. "Such an arrangement would be rather difficult to achieve considering that Daphne Greengrass is already betrothed to a different man."

Both humans' jaws dropped. "What?!"

The goblin withdrew a copy of the Quibbler from his jacket and spread it on the table between them. Grinning he pointed to one article at the center of the page.

Harry Potter Announces First Official Betrothal

by Luna Lovegood

Earlier this week Harry Potter opened up about his recent engagement. Some will surely be surprised to find that The Runemaster's first legally binding betrothment is not to one of his current partners, Hermione Granger, Nymphadora Tonks or Fleur Delacour. No, Harry Potter is now betrothed to Daphne Greengrass, Heiress Select of Greengrass Shipping, Greengrass Solutions, Greengrass Maintenance and Greengrass Alchemy.

Daphne and Harry have been friends since 1992, both having come together to assist in solving – and resolving – the Basilisk Crisis at Hogwarts during that school year. They have remained close friends ever since with Daphne always nearby when conflicts developed around Harry. Students who know both regularly describe their relationship as such:

"Daphne is like his right hand. Whenever Potter gets serious and goes to beat someone down, Daphne's right there beside him." –Blaise Zabini

"Hermione is like Harry's anchor, whereas Daphne is probably more like his hammer. Does that make sense? I'm not sure I used that metaphor right…" –Parvati Patil

"They've been dancing around each other for ages. It's a good thing that Harry has two Houses to his name because it would've been a shame if Daphne missed out because she waited too long to say anything. They're cute together!" –Lavender Brown

It has been commented in the past that Daphne was in a romantic relationship with Tracey Davis – a fellow Slytherin and long-time friend to the Greengrass Heiress. When asked for clarification on the state of their current relationship, Daphne, Tracey and Harry all respond with the same reply: "Our relationship is complicated but the specifics of it are our business and ours alone. Feel free to speculate, we won't be confirming or denying anything except that we are all in agreement."

Harry Potter has notoriously held personal information close to his chest. The dangers of enemies obtaining these 'weak points' have historically been the cause. Why then did this betrothal become common knowledge? In his own words: "It's unfortunately not really a secret who my partners are anymore. It hasn't been a secret for a while. Even worse, recent events have seen the people I care about targeted because they associate with me. Daphne was attacked just the other week. I'm hoping that by announcing our new status like this the attacks will be curbed. I don't think any of my relationships need to be formalized, but Daphne is a special case. Her family had been in talks to cement another arrangement and we felt it was necessary to ensure that she was free to choose for herself. Many people in our world have forgotten that a marriage shouldn't be decided by a piece of paper, but by who you care about. The contract between Daphne and myself is meant to remind everyone that we should all be allowed to be with who we desire, not who was chosen for us."

Daphne herself goes on to state the following warning to any who oppose this union: "Harry is too polite to say it, but allow me to be blunt for once. Any who take issue with me or my sister-wives will have to face the full might of the both the Potter family and the Inventor Alliance. This alliance includes the families Potter, Black, Longbottom, Brown, Li, Patil, Greengrass, Davis, Lovegood, Bulstrode, Weasley and Bones. These are just the domestic, big-name families that don't include people like the Delacours or the Krums. The Dark Lord himself has tried to attack my betrothed and been sent away with his tail between his legs three times – four if you count the incident when he was mere toddler. This was with just the Potter family. Envy us if you wish, but I caution you against doing anything further."

Marcus finished reading the article and started laughing hysterically. "The girl outmaneuvered me! By Merlin, I have taught her something! Bravo, child, bravo."

Victoria glared at him. "You are an idiot Marcus Greengrass. If that child of yours can so brilliantly plot this while hundreds of miles away with only the barest notion that we were moving forward…I am glad she's not going to be hitched to my son. Blaise would wind up dead within a year tied to that girl. Check your plans next time before you try to involve me in them. Goodbye Marcus." Victoria stood up and glared at the smiling goblin as she stalked from the chamber.

Marcus just leaned back and fingered the Quibbler in front of him. He really should be horribly angry with her. The deal with Victoria had taken up quite a bit of his time in the last few days and he'd had to pay the goblins an exorbitant fee to have the contract checked over – twice for that matter which was annoying beyond belief considered the frustrating creature knew all along apparently that the contract would not be valid. Marcus was first and foremost however, a businessman. He'd been outplayed. And…well really, his legacy was still assured, Potter was a rising star and even if the union between the boy and Daphne was simple cover for her it didn't matter since it was apparently legal. She'd have a child eventually and his name would continue.

Yes…yes this could have been far worse.

Lunch on Friday saw Lily and Shiva sitting together at the Staff table in the Great Hall. They were both still somewhat muted from the events of the night prior though Lily was attempting to stay jovial. They couldn't do much more beyond what had already been done so she didn't see any true point in remaining morose. She'd had her fill of moping during the year she'd been in hiding with a baby and a trigger-happy husband.

Plus if she kept positive and stayed bubbly, there was a chance that it could spread and her son might perk up a bit as well. Fleur and Tonks had had to leave again though she knew he'd spent the night with Hermione and Daphne while Tracey and Luna convinced the Room of Requirement to leave a second bed for them as well. Lily took a moment of reflection to consider just how much trouble students in this castle could get into if that Room became common knowledge.

Hell, not just the students…she could think of at least a dozen uses for that room…not all of them wholesome at all. Those thoughts had her turning a hungry gaze on the woman sitting beside her who remained blissfully unaware of Lily's stare. Thank god for small mercies.

"Lily? Lily? Lilllyyy?" Filius' amused voice finally knocked her out of her reverie and she twisted to face him an embarrassed blush spreading across her cheeks.

"Yes, Filius? You were saying something?"

The small man chuckled. "Well I was going to ask how you were finding your classes, but now I think I'd rather discuss something a bit more gossip worthy."

"Oh, really?" she asked raising an eyebrow. On the half-goblin's other side Lily spotted McGonagall casually putting her fork down and surreptitiously leaning in to hear better.

"Yes, indeed. So, my friend," Filius asked a grin splitting his features, "just how long have you and Bathsheda been an item?"

Shiva started choking on her juice beside Lily and Lily felt her own face burn. She desperately tried to reach for something to say. "Um, err, uh, well you see, we uh…little help here?" she ended, murmuring to a still slightly coughing Shiva.

"Oh no," Shiva said shaking her head emphatically. "He asked you. You get to field that one. I'm going to get enough questions from Aurora and Septima."

Lily mock glared at her. "Some girlfriend you are." She turned back to Filius and shrugged. "As of yesterday afternoon we're dating. News apparently travels fast."

"If you keep looking at her like you were then it certainly will," McGonagall said hiding her own smirk. "I'm happy for you both. It's nice to see that Bathsheda finally has a date and it's good to see you moving on, Lily. Do try to remain appropriate in front of the students though."

Lily raised her eyebrows and cocked a thumb at Sirius who was busy chatting up Sinistra. "Somehow I don't think we're the ones who need a potential lecture."

McGonagall just smiled wider and dabbed at her mouth with a napkin. "Ah, but Sirius is so easy to control. A simple warning that Amelia may get annoyed if he flirts too strongly and…"

"The problem disappears," Lily finished laughing. "True, true. Don't worry, Min, we'll keep our pants on around the kids."

Filius shrugged far too innocently for his indifference to be believed. "If you can't I recommend remembering to use a silencing charm for the broom closet walls. Almost everyone remembers to lock the door, but you'd be surprised just how many forget to soundproof the walls."

Lily groaned and held her head in her hands while Filius lost his battle with the veneer of calm and started laughing uproariously. Shiva could be mistaken for a tomato beside her and even McGonagall was hiding her mouth behind her hand, shoulders shaking. Lily glanced out over the students and spotted Harry cocking an eyebrow at her and shaking his head, chuckling. He may have been too far to hear specifics, but it certainly wasn't difficult to discern the subject under discussion if one knew the basic situation.

Well at least some people were getting amusement out of her embarrassment.

Sirius looked at his Fifth Year students with mixed frustration and pride. The frustration was largely due to the teens' rather horrible history of teachers for the Defense course. He had originally thought that Remus and Harry had been exaggerating just how bad the prior instruction had been. Now that he was the one evaluating them all though…yeah it was that bad. He'd even instituted an extra class a week for the Fifth and Seven Year students to make sure that they could at least attempt to be prepared for the O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s. In barely two weeks they'd already made a lot of progress which was extremely impressive and the source of his current pride.

"So, how did you all feel about the substitute? It was Auror Trainee Savage right?" Sirius asked.

Daphne nodded and her distinctly amused, predatory smile didn't escape his notice. "Well, Professor Black, he introduced himself as 'Auror' rather than 'Auror Trainee'. His basic tactics lesson was acceptable though he seemed a bit light on details."

"Well, that's a bit better then I'd hoped I suppose. Savage might be a bit rough around the edges folks, but he's the best the Aurors can spare at the moment beyond me. Nobody can beat me after all," he said striking a dramatic pose.

Harry coughed loudly from the back of the room. His cough sounded suspiciously like, "Lockhart." Sirius grimaced and quickly dropped his pose. "In all seriousness, I do apologize for being absent. It's probably going to happen more throughout the year as there are missions I will have to attend. I'll certainly do my best to ensure that these are limited events and that you'll have proper tutelage for the days that I'm gone. Now, I realize that most of your course work to this point has been somewhat spotty. I'm going to jump ahead slightly and try to get you all working on silent spell casting in addition to basic duel casting. Savage should have given you the stunning spell for those who didn't already know it. Let's practice that first."

The class proceeded rather smoothly surprisingly enough. Many of the students had issues getting the spell working and only Daphne, Harry and Hermione managed to cast it silently. Not that that was all too surprisingly. Harry could probably teach this class at this point, Daphne was nearly as good and grew up knowing most of those spells before she'd even left the house and Hermione was a walking encyclopedia partnered with the previous two – not to mention the addition of having an ex-Auror as a partner as well.

Towards the end of the class Sirius noticed Harry walking around the people near him and assisting each one in getting their stunning spell to work. Sirius' chest swelled with pride as the young man shook off his melancholy from the previous evening and helped his friends. Harry was all smiles as Neville was the fourth person to get the silent casting off without a hitch. Susan followed soon after. The biggest surprise came when Harry walked over to Lavender and barely three minutes later the girl was also casting her spell perfectly every time. Her silent cast was a touch underpowered, but…well it was darn impressive all the same.

Perhaps he shouldn't even bother with getting a sub next time and just ask the pup to teach while was gone…Something to think about at least.

Harry Potter tossed and turned in his bed in the Gryffindor Tower that night. His scar ached and his hands clenched. With a wordless cry of pain his eyes opened and he looked out on a very different visage than the curtain clad tower.

Voldemort yelled in rage as he held his wand on the unfortunate new recruit beneath him. The man screamed in agony under Voldemort's Cruciatus curse. He'd had the misfortune of being nearby when the ritual failed. Voldemort had needed an outlet and the recruit was easier than going out to find a random Muggle or Blood Traitor to torture.

The Horcrux would not work. He couldn't make a new one. Either the incomplete ritual with Potter had permanently scarred his soul and damaged his ability to further tear it or he was unable to create more than seven Horcruxes. Whatever the root cause was it did not matter. He could not safeguard his immortality any further. Cursing the Death Eater yet again, Voldemort turned his gaze on Theodore Nott. The boy laid at the foot of Voldemort's throne lifeless, not a mark on him. Such a pitiful waste. Nott had been reasonably intelligent. Voldemort had dearly wanted to use Draco Malfoy for the Horcrux sacrificial murder yet the Greengrass bitch's agents had absconded with the little fool and he'd been forced to use a more convenient target.

It wasn't as much of a loss as it could have been. If Nott hadn't even been able to foresee the stupidity of following Draco without any supporters loyal to himself instead of the Malfoy…well he deserved his fate in that case. Besides, it wasn't like anyone was going to complain about the loss of the teenager.

Voldemort lifted his spell from the recruit and paced back to the throne. If only he could set alarm wards on the others as he did with the Ring and the Locket his worries would be allayed. Those had been easy to place. Potter's competence and his allies had proven that the minor precaution after the graveyard incident had been well founded. Mostly well founded. Bella's team hadn't been dispatched quickly enough after the alerts to capture any of the hunters after all. But…he knew which Horcruxes they had found out about at least.

He couldn't protect Bella's any further than it already was. None of his people could get close to it anymore – but then neither could anyone else. It was safe. Until he finished taking over this country he'd simply have to accept that.

Perhaps he should canvas his followers to see if any had children still in Hogwarts. Most of the primary personnel had already been ejected from the premises thanks to Draco's ill advised stupidity. There were one or two older students who would accept a mission. However…he didn't trust them or their parents and murdering an older student would only serve to draw attention to something he needed to remain quiet. No, Hogwarts would have to remain unwarded as well. It was safe as it was. No one would be able to find it. A single tree in a forest was always well and truly lost.

Potter's hunters were a problem. They were far too competent. Perhaps a larger scale effort might be required to deal with them.

Voldemort rubbed his Ring letting the reassuring feelings wash over him. He was the Dark Lord Voldemort and he'd live forever.

The recruit moaned and his legs shuddered, scraping on the floor. Voldemort frowned and leveled his wand at the man again. He could wait a few minutes more before deciding what to do about the hunters.

Harry wrenched himself back to the Tower and sat up shaking with sweat pouring down his face. His scar was aching and his mental defenses were in shambles. But not forcing himself out sooner had been worth it. He may never intentionally open that door to Voldemort's mind but…if Riddle happened to do it himself…well…Harry would use it. This soul shard should be put to use if he couldn't get it out of his head. "Bellatrix hid one where nobody could get at it and there's one somewhere in Hogwarts…now we have somewhere to start searching again."

"Wha? Who's tha…? 'Lo?" Tonks mumbled blinking blearily around the darkened room searching for the voice that had awakened her.

"Wow, Nym, you are definitely not a morning person," Harry commented sounding amused.

Tonks blinked her eyes again and slowly reached up to her ear. "Harry? Why are you tiny and in my ear? I should be able to hold you or see you if you're that close but…oh…nevermind."

"Awake now?" he asked.

She shook her head to try and clear it somewhat before looking at the clock on the table. "What are you doing up at 2 in the morning, Wonder Boy? This is an ungodly hour to be up."

She heard him sigh over the line before he muttered. "Dreaming. Look, Nym, I'm sorry to wake you up and all, but I wanted to tell you guys before I forgot. Not that I would forget but…better safe than sorry yeah?"

"Sure. What's going on?" she considered waking Fleur, but decided she'd wait to see if it was an emergency or just another late night rune discovery.

"Voldemort gave one Horcrux to your insane aunt for her to protect. Sorta like with Malfoy and the diary I think. Except she was smart about it because he thinks that neither us or them can get to it where it is. There's another one somewhere in Hogwarts. Hidden among a lot of other things that camouflage it. He's wearing the Ring, which is both good and bad since we need to cut off his finger before killing him I guess, but at least we don't have to look for him hiding it somewhere else. I'm still not entirely sure about Nagini, but I'm almost positive the snake is the last one."

Tonks took a second to force her brain to catch up with her ears and when she did she shot up straight. "Harry," she asked very slowly and with a supreme calm that she did not feel, "just how do you know all this?"

"Told you, I was dreaming." Harry was obviously trying for nonchalance, but Tonks had been his friend – and his lover – for long enough that she could hear the strain in his voice. "Arsehole tried to make a new Horcrux, but it didn't work. He was pissed. Unlucky git didn't realize that he had opened the door and let me in. I didn't try to fight my way back to the surface for a few minutes since he was thinking about the Horcruxes. Now we just need to get this bloody thing out of my head before he realizes that I know."

Tonks gulped and made sure her breathing was calm before she spoke again. "Harry, thank you for the information. I'll disseminate it. But – and I can't stress this enough – you really should not be diving into an insane Dark Lord's head. We'll use this to find the rest, Wonder Boy, but you can't do that again. If he pushes back…"

"I know," Harry said wearily. "I took long enough to build my walls back up before I commed you. I didn't go looking to enter his brain, Nym. I just used it when he drew me in. One way or another this isn't going to be an issue much longer. Su's mum is starting to brew her potion so in a few days I'll either be Horcrux free or dead. I'm sorry for waking you, Nym. Talk to you soon yeah? I gotta get some sleep."

"Sure, Harry. Try to dream of us this time instead of the monster okay? Goodnight, love," she said fighting down a lump in her throat. Once he disconnected Tonks rolled over and shook Fleur awake. The Veela opened one bleary eye and stared up at her in confusion. "Harry called. Voldemort tried to make a new Horcrux and it didn't work. Harry saw the results and found out where the last few are. He's okay. A bit depressed, but okay."

Fleur opened and closed her mouth several times before sighing. She reached up and wiped a tear from Tonks' cheek that she hadn't even known was there. "Lie down, Nym. We cannot do anyzing to make it easier for him tonight and we cannot go hunting for ze ozer ones as we are at ze moment. Sleep, mon amour. We will deal wiz zis in ze light of ze new day."

Tonks nodded and lay back down. She shifted her form enough that she was smaller than Fleur and let the blonde curl her arms around her in a strong embrace. Only then did she start shuddering slightly and let herself cry.

Harry stood in front of his group of friends waiting for the practice room to fill up. Daphne's club was about to start its meeting in a few minutes and he'd been conscripted to help teach the masses. Surprisingly enough, he'd actually managed to get some sleep the night before despite the dream about Voldemort. That wasn't to say he'd gotten good sleep, but it had been better than usual on one of those nights.

He'd let Shiva and Lily know about his discoveries as soon as he woke up and filled in the others and Sirius before they had moved down to the classroom for this meeting. He wouldn't go as far as saying he was upbeat…but he was somewhat positive about their chances now.

Colin and Dennis Creevey walked into the classroom first animatedly talking to each other. Colin's camera snapped as he caught sight of the group at the front and he flashed a wide grin and thumbs up to Harry. Harry managed to stop himself from rolling his own eyes at the younger boy's antics and gave a thumbs up in return. The Patils, Lavender and Su followed close behind him. Blaise walked in with Millicent. A bouncing ball of energy practically danced into the room behind them; Astoria was on the scene talking a mile a minute to everyone around her. Harry smiled and chuckled at how enthusiastic she was. He really had to try and spend more time with the girl, her happiness was probably infectious. Quite a few Hufflepuffs showed up as did many of the younger years in Ravenclaw. Harry saw Flitwick and McGonagall quietly walk into the room and stand at the back before the door finally swung closed.

Daphne stepped forward and calmly took stock of the room. "Alright everyone, thanks for coming. As many of you know, the Death Eaters and the Dark Lord are active again. The last time they were on the move times became quite dark. Dark enough that many people in the Wizarding World today still refuse to use the name Voldemort," a shudder went through many of the people in the room. Harry was surprised that it wasn't quite everyone, but it was still annoying. Daphne scowled. "Voldemort. Voldemort, Voldemort, Voldemort, Voldemort! This is exactly why we are making this club. If one is scared of a mere name how can you expect to stand and protect your brother? Your sister? Your parents? Your children?"

"But he's so strong!" one voice shouted out from the crowd. "We can't fight him!"

"He is also just one man. Harry has fought him three times before he was fifteen and walked away," Daphne said matter-of-factly. There were mutters through the room at that. "Yes, his situation is a little unusual, but that does not mean you simply lie down and die. That means you get stronger. That means you pick easier opponents. If you were walking down Diagon Alley and a group of ten Death Eaters apparated in in front of you would you rather the adults nearby cowered behind the closest cover or would you rather they fought the terrorists?"

"Why wouldn't they fight?" another voice rang out.

Daphne just laughed and shook her head. "Ask your parents about that. That's exactly the question my friends and I cannot understand. The last Blood War was so bad because the only people fighting were the Aurors and a few scattered others. Had more stood up and drew a line in the sand, it never would have progressed like it did. Voldemort is one man. He can be overwhelmed with numbers just like anyone else." She paused and looked around the room with a critical eye. "Already this war is shaping up to be quite different. We have weapons against the Dementors. We should soon have a competent Minister with Fudge on his way out. We have determined people willing to fight back. Read the Quibbler and you will see example after example of ordinary citizens standing up to defend others and tell the Death Eaters that enough is enough."

Daphne sighed and shrugged her shoulders. "I am not starting this club to try and teach you how to fight murderers and rapists. I am starting this so that you aren't forced to hide behind someone else. I am starting this to prepare you. To make sure that you have the tools you need to stay alive without having to kiss someone else's boots. I am starting this to make you strong enough to stand on your own and to stand tall beside a friend in need. Now, please pair off. First we will be going over stunning, disarming and shield charms. At the end of the lesson anyone who wishes to learn a family spell to…dissuade attempted rapists, please stay behind."

Harry smiled at Daphne as she and the others in his core group started walking around helping their fellow students where needed. He specialized in showing the older students where they were going wrong with the disarming spell. Hermione and Daphne were focusing on those learning the stunning spell. Neville, Susan and Luna were working with people trying to practice the shield spell. Sirius, Shiva and Lily walked around the large room helping anyone who seemed to be particularly struggling. Hannah and Tracey had slotted into groups near the back and were assisting the younger students working on wand movements.

Towards the end of the lesson, Harry raised his eyebrows at Fred and George who had somehow managed to simultaneously stun each other while flying through the air and aiming at the walls behind their opponent. He calmly woke them both up and leaned back in a crouch. "How the hell did you two manage that?" he asked amused.

Fred grinned. "Well, partner, part of being a good Beater is seeing angles. A spell can be a lot easier to get off a trick shot with than a Bludger."

George laughed and shook his head. "Yes, and the extra training for the Triwizard Tournament had no bearing on it whatsoever!"

"None at all, brother! Look, you hit the same mark," he responded with a laugh of his own.

Harry shook his head and stood helping both to their feet. "If you two are so good, go help the others. Nice shots by the way. Now get!"

Still laughing the twins moved off and Harry shifted closer to Luna. She was working with Lavender who looked confused. "I still don't get why these things absorb some spells and reflect others. They're all just magic!"

Hermione looked over from nearby with wide eyes. "Well you see, Lavender, Jonah Langrich had an interesting theory on that. He was looking into the arithmantic properties of each specific spell and he discovered how the base component of the original core determined the primary attraction or absorption rate as well as the interactions between most other items and defenses. It was quite revolutionary for the time though it has fallen out of favor as a suitable explanation over Gamp's theorems and…"

Luna smiled and nodded enthusiastically before talking over Hermione. "What she means, Lavender, is that some spells cannot be absorbed due to incompatible energies. Those spells must be banished or deflected instead. It's…"

Harry froze and his eyes unfocused. Incompatible energies…absorption vs. banishment…Souls can't be absorbed…souls can't be absorbed!

He barely noticed as Daphne stopped and stared at him for a moment. He was already moving to his bag at a pace barely under a run when her voice rang out over the group. "Okay, everyone, I think that's enough for today. We'll pick this up next week, same time, same place. I apologize for not getting to my spell right away for those interested. If you can't wait for next week, then come see me tomorrow or after classes. Chop, chop, out, out. Practice what you've learned today and we'll build on that next time."

Harry ignored her as he reached his schematics for the Soul Cage and checked over his drawing, tracing his finger to the primary core runes. He let out a cry of victory as he found the Absorption rune smack-dab in the middle. "Souls can't be absorbed," he muttered grabbing a pencil and erasing that rune hurriedly drawing in a Banishment rune instead. It fit perfectly. "HAHA! GOT IT! TAKE THAT YOU BLOODY THING! WHO'S THE RUNEMASTER NOW, HUH!"

"Harry? What brainwave did you get this time?" Neville asked sounding decidedly amused as he crouched nearby. Had Harry cared enough to look up he would have found his friend in almost the same position he'd just recently been in with the twins.

Daphne came up and shook her head. "Glad I got them all out before he started yelling. What's going on? Anybody have any clue?"

"Souls can't be absorbed," Harry said grabbing for his carving kit. He'd have to make a brand new one. Beyond destroying the original prototype the other day this one needed a different core rather than a simple addition.

"And that means what?" Lily asked frowning.

Harry found a suitable stone and started etching the new design. "I made the same bloody mistake the Egyptians made that's what it means. Souls can't be absorbed. It's why their original cluster never worked. It's why the Soul Cage keeps failing. Not even Dementors technically absorb souls. They merge with them. It's a subtle difference and in all practical matters it doesn't mean a damn thing, but Absorb and Merge are two very different runes with two very different rules on interactions. Souls can't be absorbed! But they can be banished! Mum I need the Horcrux!"

He looked up long enough to make sure that someone was moving to go get his test subject only to see everyone looking down at him slack jawed. "Don't just sit there staring! Someone get me the Locket!"

Sirius started chuckling, then laughing, then doubling over in side splitting chortles. "I swear, pup, I am never going to get used to you doing that! Kreacher!" A pop sounded and the ancient house elf stood nearby. He looked quite a bit taller, straighter, and prouder than Harry had ever seen him before. "Kreacher go get the Locket and then you're free to stay here to watch it be destroyed." Harry saw Kreacher's jaw set in a primal grin before he popped away only to return a moment later with the Slytherin Locket in hand.

Shiva was looking at Harry with her head cocked to one side and a frown of concentration etched onto her features and her eyes unfocused. "A Banishment rune twined into a Soul rune cluster…that's…that would function more like an exorcism setup than a true banishing spell…maybe at least, since it should force the soul out of the current container like the spell generally intends…at least if the targeting segment keeps it tied to the Horcrux instead of both souls…well the Dementor Anchor tattoo could be a safety net in case the targeting cluster is flawed…Merlin's beard, that might just work!"

Harry quickly finished his etching and blew the dust off of it. He checked the design over carefully and nodded in satisfaction. "Okay. Let's try this thing one last time." He stood and padded over to the Locket. Kreacher delicately handed it over and the remaining group circled around him again just like the other night. Taking a deep breath and muttering a prayer to several gods, he hissed, ~Open.~

Black smoke started to pool out from the Locket again, but this time instead of letting the horrid apparition speak he slammed the Soul Cage down on its face and channeled magic into the stone.

The effect was instantaneous. A horrible scream filled the room and the smoke circled down through the Locket and into the rune stone as if it was being pulled through a giant vacuum. Harry's lips spread into a predatory smile that matched Kreacher's own as Voldemort's piece of soul inside the Locket was forcibly separated from its anchor and cast adrift. The magic of the Horcrux only worked while the soul was kept tied to this plane through the specified object. Without that tie…without that anchor, the soul shard died.

As the last of the smoke drained away and the scream died out, the Soul Cage's glow dimmed and went out. Harry reached out a steady hand and plucked it off of the Locket. He could feel a bit of magic in the piece of jewelry still, but it no longer reeked of Dark Magic or Voldemort's taint.

Slytherin's Locket was no longer a Horcrux.

"It works," Harry said triumphantly holding up the cleansed artifact.

Less than an hour after the Soul Cage test worked, Harry had everyone gathered into the Room of Requirement. Well, not everyone he knew, but everyone who knew about him being a Horcrux. It seemed appropriate. They had all been in the hospital wing when Dumbledore had gone on and on about how Harry had to die in order to render Voldemort vulnerable yada yada yada. It felt only right for them all to be present when he proved the old man wrong and cut the Horcrux out of his soul without killing himself.

That was the plan at least.

Harry took a steadying breath and looked over the assembled students, teachers and friends. "Thanks for coming up so quickly everyone. I wanted you all here, but I didn't want to wait too long so thanks. Um, so I've already tested the rune stone a bit earlier and it cleansed one of Voldemort's Horcruxes without much problem. I'm pretty sure that this is going to work fine on me too so I wanted everyone to be able to watch in order to quell any potential rumors or doubts."

Harry paused again and grimaced. "So, uh, yeah. Wish me luck." Catching his mothers' eyes and the expressions of worry and anticipation crossing his partners, Harry shook his head and steeled his nerves. He pulled out the Soul Cage and tried to calm himself. One way or another this internal battle of wills was about to end. He pressed the rune stone to his forehead and activated it.

Pain like he'd never felt before ripped through his head and he felt his knees buckle. Harry's vision blurred and he heard a piercing scream that matched the one the Locket had let out earlier. Red and black spotted his vision and Harry felt himself falling backward with nothing but sky beneath him. Seconds later he slammed into the ground. Scrambled to his feet Harry sent a sadistic grin towards the visage ahead of him.

He was in his mindscape, the cupboard under the stairs was just ahead. To his left, the door sheltering the Horcrux was finally visible to his eyes. It was standing wide open with the hinges torn off and the wood in splinters. There was an inky blackness beyond the threshold and a stream of tainted air was flowing out of the door and spiraling into a portal hovering just over the stairs. Harry walked forward slowly, finally noticing a figure clinging to the edge of the doorframe fighting against the pull of the Soul Cage's portal.

The figure was shorter than he'd expected being only slightly taller than Harry himself and clad in a deep black robe similar to Voldemort's attire in the graveyard. It had a snake-like face but was more human than Harry had seen him before. Almost like an amalgam of Memorymort and Voldemort. The eyes were red, the nose was flattened and the teeth were surprisingly normal.

Scarmort roared at Harry. "You fool! I could have made you unstoppable! I could have made you into a god!"

"All I ever wanted was a family," Harry stated as he walked to the edge of the storm. "You took that from me once and I will not let you take it from me again. Have fun in Hell. I'll be sure to send more pieces of you there soon enough." Harry reached back and materialized a spear from his mindscape. Lunging forward, he threw the spear, impaling Scarmort through the chest. The soul shard screamed in pain and rage and its hands flexed spasmodically releasing their grip on the door frame. Still screaming, the broken piece of soul flew up towards the portal. Harry watched the body of Scarmort start to stretch, expand and unravel just before it hit the portal.

As soon as the flying body passed through the Soul Cage, the storm in Harry's mind ceased to exist. The door that hid the Horcrux and the inky blackness vanished as if they were never there. The parts of his mind that had been spiraling around the room dropped to the floor and the portal above him vanished. Harry looked around smiling. He jumped out his mindscape and back into the world outside.

And was hit with an incredible amount of pain wracking his entire body. The pain was so extreme that Harry leaned over and threw up the entire contents of his stomach. He noticed with a clinical detachment that the vomit joined a black ichor like substance already on the floor. A shaky hand reached up to touch his forehead and drew back to find the same ichor on his fingers. Only then did realize Lily was holding onto his shoulders supporting him and that he was on the ground with his legs folded underneath him.

"It's okay," Harry murmured. "I saw it die. The soul shard is gone. It's gone."

Lily just squeezed his shoulders. "We know, son. We saw it too. Rest, Harry. Rest."