Harry Potter Book 7

~Chapter Three~

Merope's Locket

Harry found himself standing in a very bright spotlight. Everything else that was not touched by the beam of the spotlight was pitch black. Harry stared around but his eyes could not penetrate the darkness beyond the light that shone on him.

"Hello?" he called out.

Soft, cold, ringing laughter answered him. The sound made the back of Harry's neck prickle with fear.

"Is anyone there?" he called out again, his voice wavering with fear.

There was a strange clicking sound behind him, like the flicking of a switch and he whirled around, his heart pumping furiously.

But what he saw made him draw a sharp intake of breath.

Five feet away from him in the darkness, another spotlight had appeared. And standing in the spotlight was...

"Mum?" he whispered, wondering if it was real.

She had red hair and green, almond-shaped eyes. Lily Potter smiled and waved silently at Harry, standing eerily in the spotlight, just like she had six years ago, when Harry had seen her in the Mirror of Erised.

Harry watched her, eyes stinging with tears and heart aching with sorrow when with another loud click, another spotlight flared next to her revealing someone else Harry knew.

He had the same untidy jet-black hair Harry had and he wore glasses too. Harry had also seen him six years ago in the Mirror of Erised as well.

"Dad..." Harry murmured.

Just like his wife, James Potter was smiling and waving mutely at Harry too.

And then, for the third time, a new spotlight flashed next to James and Harry felt his heart leap.

Another man was standing in the latest spotlight. His face was handsome and full of laughter, not gaunt with matted hair as Harry remembered him. In fact, the man's hair was groomed and he looked just as lively and happy as he did in the photo album Harry had that was full of photos of his parents.

Sirius Black.

Lily, James and Sirius all stood side by side in three separate spotlights. Harry longed to step out of his spotlight towards them, but what would happen if he did so?

"The cherished memories we hold dear of the loved ones who have left us," said a sad and quiet voice in Harry's ear making him jump and spin around.

There was a fourth person standing right next to Harry in the very same spotlight, smiling slightly at Harry's surprise.

"Professor Dumbledore!" Harry gasped.

Dumbledore looked the same as ever as Harry remembered him. With the same, long, waist-length silver beard and his eyes twinkling kindly behind his half-moon spectacles.

"Hello, Harry," Dumbledore replied serenely.

"But, I-I don't understand," Harry stammered. Dumbledore was dead. How was this possible?

The headmaster let out a deep sigh. "None of us will ever understand, Harry," he said sorrowfully. He looked tragically across at Harry's parents and Sirius whom were all still waving at Harry.

"What are you doing here, professor?" Harry asked.

"I am here to teach you that my death is not as significant as it seems. Indeed, my death may seem as first as very important and unbearable, but truly, it is nothing more than the peaceful passing of the soul, much like a drop of dew on a leaf falling into an ever-rushing stream, the river of life, and death, that will carry on, moving constantly forwards and never stopping until time itself chooses to stop. Alas, it is a pity Voldemort does not understand this."

"-But professor, now that you're gone, it'll be much easier for Voldemort-"

"I have told you before, Harry," Dumbledore interrupted. "That your blood is worth much more than mine."

"-But still," Harry argued. "I still don't have the power to-"

"Your power, Harry," Dumbledore interrupted yet again, "is within your very skin. It comes from those you see before you..." He indicated Lily, James and Sirius. "...believe me, you have the power to destroy Voldemort."

"-But you can't protect me anymore-"

"I also once said," Dumbledore said in a slightly raised voice, "that I will have only truly left Hogwarts when there are none left that remain loyal to me. Know this, Harry. Although it may not seem so, I and your loved ones will always be with you, no matter how far away we might seem to be-"

Dumbledore broke off and there was alarm on his face.

"Professor?" Harry asked anxiously. He then let out a yell of shock.

Flames had just erupted all over Dumbledore, engulfing his body.

"Professor!" Harry shouted.

But before he could do anything else, the flames exploded outwards in a vicious blast of fire which receded and disappeared to reveal...nothing. Dumbledore was gone.

Harry whipped around as he heard the same high, cruel laugh he had heard earlier.

Lord Voldemort was pacing towards Harry, his wand drawn, his icy, scarlet pupils contracted with hate, his lips curling into a sneer of triumph.

His stomach sinking faster than a rock in water, Harry backed away, his hand fumbling inside his robes for his wand, but it was not there.

Harry tried to fight the panic that was rising within him as he stumbled backwards and Voldemort drew nearer.

Harry tried to turn and run, but Voldemort pointed his wand at Harry who felt all movement suddenly drain out of his body so that he was frozen, suspended in mid-flight as if he had the full body-bind curse placed on him.

Harry could only look on in terror and helplessness, not able to move a muscle as Voldemort reached him.

"No Dumbledore to protect you anymore, Potter," Voldemort said softly. "There is no one left who can hide or shield you from me..."

Voldemort let out another merciless laugh.

"Do not fear, Potter. I'm not going to kill you just yet. I want you to see something else first..."

Voldemort smiled cruelly as he watched Harry's motionless struggles against his own paralysed body.

"I want you to watch me kill the ones you love."

Harry tried to yell, but he was imprisoned within himself and could do nothing,

Voldemort aimed his wand at James, waving at them from a few feet away.

"It is a pity you never saw your father die when you were small," Voldemort told Harry silkily, closely watching Harry's eyes, darting from Voldemort's wand to his father with horror. "At least now, you get the chance to watch him die."

James burst into flames just like Dumbledore had and disappeared.

Harry tried to scream, but the curse was not letting Harry move an inch.

"Did you enjoy that, Potter?" Voldemort asked in a voice of amusement and malice. "Perhaps you would enjoy your mother's death more..."

Voldemort aimed his wand at Harry's mother next.

Harry wanted to close his eyes, but he couldn't.

"Please let this end," he thought. "Please..."

"Harry!"

Harry's eyes snapped open and he sat bolt upright.

He realized he was breathing heavily and covered in sweat.

"Are you alright?" Ron asked concernedly, standing next to his bed.

"I-yeah, I am. Thanks," Harry stammered. Wiping sweat of his forehead, he looked around and realized he was lying in bed. It had all been a dream. But all the same, Harry could've sworn it was real, somehow...

"Mum says you can come down and have breakfast whenever you want," Ron informed Harry, still looking a little worried. "You're still having those dreams, aren't you?" he added.

"What?" Harry said, caught off guard. "Oh yeah, a bit..."

Ron nodded and left the room.

Harry wrapped his arms around his knees and thought hard. It had almost been as if Dumbledore had really been talking to Harry. Was it possible? Harry nearly all the time had disturbing dreams such as the one he just had and often, they turned out to be real. Like the time he foresaw Mr. Weasley's near fatal injury in a vision he had in a dream at the hands of a snake, could this dream be true too?

*

Harry entered the gloomy kitchen to find Mrs. Weasley cooking breakfast. The Weasleys including Mr. Weasley, Ron, Ginny and Percy as well as Hermione and Lupin were all sitting around the table. They had all nearly finished their breakfast and turned as Harry entered.

"Harry! Sit down, sit down..."

Lupin pulled out a chair beside him and Harry sunk into it.

Mrs. Weasley walked over from the stove and placed a plate of eggs and bacon before him.

Harry thanked her and applied himself to his breakfast.

"Morning Harry, morning," said Mr. Weasley enthusiastically, reaching over the table to shake Harry's hand. "How are you?"

"Fine," Harry lied, forking some bacon into his mouth.

Mr. Weasley was holding a copy of the day's Prophet.

Harry glanced at the front page of the paper and choked on his bacon.

Ginny, who was sitting on his other side thumped him on the back.

"What's wrong?" Ron and Hermione asked together.

After recovering from his fit of coughing and spluttering, Harry gasped, "Could I please see that paper, Mr. Weasley?"

Mr. Weasley looked a little apprehensive and half glanced at Lupin who nodded reluctantly before handing it over to Harry.

"What? What is it?" Ron asked, looking from the paper to his father.

"I-I don't believe it!" Harry said hoarsely.

Ginny, who had been reading over his shoulder turned white.

"G-Ginny?" Percy said uncertainly.

"Look at this," Harry told his friends, spreading the paper on the table so that they could all see the headlines of the front page.

Ron and Hermione both gasped and Percy dropped his fork.

RUMOURS ARISE THAT HARRY POTTER IS DEAD

"Harry, I'm sorry, I should've told you," Mr. Weasley said desperately.

Hermione seized the paper and began to read aloud.

"'Rumours are abroad this morning of an incident that occurred in Little Whining, Surrey, last night. The incident revolves around number eleven of Privet Drive where Harry Potter, the Chosen One, lives with his relatives during his summer holidays. We can exclusively reveal that last night, which also happened to be Harry Potter's birthday, Death Eaters attacked the house, apparently in a plot to kill the Boy Who Lived. When Ministry officials arrived at the scene, the Death Eaters had already escaped and Harry Potter had disappeared.

"This is a most tragic and horrible incident," said auror Kyle Getto, who was investigating the scene yesterday night. "But we are searching the house and nearby areas for bodies and evidence.

The head of the Auror office, Gaiwan Robards is refusing to reveal whether the Death Eaters succeeded or not in killing Potter, though it is very likely so as the Ministry have no knowledge on Potter's current whereabouts and no information on his disappearance. Gaiwan however, confirmed that the Ministry had found the bodies of Potter's aunt and uncle, Mr. Vernon Dursley and Mrs. Petunia Dursley in the house and issued a cover up story. Potter's cousin had also been found, though alive. Dudley Dursley has had a Memory Charm placed on him and has been arranged to go to the local orphanage- (cont. pg three and four).'"

Hermione and Ron looked up at Harry in shock. Harry turned to Lupin.

"What's going on?"

Mr. Weasley looked resigned and was the one who answered the question. "I'm sorry Harry, we should've told you when you got here. The Order has decided it is best if er-you remain under cover for a while."

"What?" Harry said in disbelief. "Pretend I'm dead?"

"I'm afraid it's for your own safety, Harry," Lupin said firmly. "We are very sure that Voldemort is looking for you to kill you. It would be the best cover if people were to believe you were dead. Therefore, you won't attract attention when you are in public and alert the Death Eaters to your whereabouts."

"I'm not hiding in a house like Sirius did!" Harry said angrily.

"No one said you were," Lupin replied gently. "You don't need to hide. We can disguise you so that you don't have to hide when you go out. But you need a new identity so people won't get suspicious."

"We'll tell you more about this when we go to Fleur and Bill's wedding," said Mr. Weasley.

"You all better go upstairs and get your things," Mrs. Weasley called across the kitchen. "We're going to Diagon Alley today to arrange things for the wedding and buy things for it."

Harry rose from his seat. Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Percy followed suit and they all trooped out of the kitchen. As they were about to climb the staircase, Harry heard something.

He stopped and turned around sharply.

"What is it, Harry?" Ginny asked curiously.

He shook his head and gave a meaningful look to Ron and Hermione.

"Okay," Ginny said. "Percy and I will go upstairs to get our stuff."

Harry nodded and watched Ginny and Percy disappear up the stairs.

"What?" said Ron in a low voice.

Harry jerked his head towards a door opposite them and they all listened hard. Sure enough, a faint wheezing could be heard from behind the door.

"What do you think it is?" Hermione asked, a little fearful.

Harry drew his wand out and moved silently towards the door. Hermione and Ron drew their wands too.

Harry gripped the doorknob and raised three fingers. They nodded. He lowered one finger, the second...and the third.

Harry turned the knob and threw the door open. All three of them rushed in, their wands raised.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!"

A small figure whipped around and screamed in horror at the sight of them, his face terrified.

"Kreacher!" Hermione cried. And she was quite right. A snout nose, bat-like ears and panting heavily with fear, Kreacher the house-elf was crouching in the room, fear and surprise mingled in his bloodshot eyes.

"Kreacher! What are you doing here?" Harry demanded, lowering his wand.

"Kreacher is-is visiting his mistress's house," croaked the house-elf in an unconvincing tone. "Master never forbade poor Kreacher from visiting the Black House, so Kreacher can do so..."

Yet Harry was not fooled. He noticed a rubbish sack lying open beside Kreacher and that the elf was hiding something behind his back.

"What are you hiding?" Harry said sharply.

Kreacher looked unnerved. "Kreacher is-is..."

"Don't lie to me," Harry snapped. "What are you hiding Kreacher?"

"Kreacher will not give it to master!" Kreacher said, bursting into tears. "No! It is not master's! It belongs to Kreacher!"

But Harry had raised his wand again.

"Accio!"

A heavy golden locket flew out from behind Kreacher's back into Harry's hand.

"It's a locket!" Ron exclaimed, leaning forwards to examine it. But Harry had frozen at the sight of the locket and was staring dumbfounded at it. He took no notice of Kreacher who had let out a scream of rage and had thrown himself onto the ground, beating his fists on the floor, yelling, "Master took it from Kreacher! Master took it from Kreacher!" in a tantrum.

"Harry..." Hermione said in a hushed, awed voice, gazing at him.

But he already knew from the moment he saw it. He turned it over and saw the ornate, serpentine 'S'-the mark of Salazar Slytherin.

"It-It's the locket," Harry said, his voice as croaky as Kreacher's. "This is it! The locket! Slytherin's locket! It's a Horcrux!"

Ron and Hermione stared at it, stunned beyond reckoning.

"What do we do?" Ron whispered.

"We take it," Harry said, slipping it into his pocket. "Right. Kreacher, I forbid you to set foot in Grimmauld Place-ever again. You are to never come here or even near here again, do you understand me?"

Kreacher gave Harry a hateful look and muttered, "Yes master."

"You are to go back to Hogwarts and stay there at all times unless I say you can go somewhere else. You cannot leave Hogwarts unless I say you can."

"Harry!" Hermione said, both shocked and reproachful, but Harry ignored her.

"Go, Kreacher," Harry ordered and giving Harry another ugly look, Kreacher vanished with a loud crack.

Moments later, the three of them were in their bedroom, the Horcrux placed on a table they dragged to the middle of the room.

"That's definitely the real Horcrux," Harry announced after checking it.

"But how did it get here?" Ron said in amazement. "I mean, of all the places in the world You-Know-Who could hide a Horcrux, why the House of Black?"

"T-That's it!" Hermione said slowly with dawning comprehension.

"What?" said Ron, completely nonplussed.

"The House of Black!" Hermione said excitedly. "R.A.B! Remember? The initials of the name? The 'B' must stand for Black!"

"Sirius did say his family supported Voldemort," Harry said thoughtfully, ignoring Ron's wince. "You're right, Hermione! Maybe Voldemort gave the Horcrux to the Blacks to safe keep and Sirius didn't know about it!"

"But R.A.B," Ron interjected. "We know he's a Black, but which one?"

Harry thought hard and an idea occurred to him. "Remember when we were here at Grimmauld Place? Sirius showed me the family tree on the wall. He-he had a brother-Regulus Black!"

Ron and Hermione gaped in astonishment at him.

"Sirius said Regulus was killed," Harry said fervently, getting up and beginning to pace up and down. "He tried to back out a few days after he joined and was killed by the Death Eaters or something..."

"What if Regulus joined the Death Eaters, found out about Voldemort's Horcrux and tried to find and destroy them," Hermione suggested. "And then was killed for finding out about them!"

"The note I found in the fake Horcrux," Harry said, continuing to pace. "It said something like, 'I know I will be dead long before you read this...' Regulus knew he was going to be killed for finding about the Horcruxes. Yeah, it all fits!"

"When we were cleaning last time," Ron said suddenly. "Remember the drawing room? We found a locket that looked like this we couldn't open! This must have been it!"

"You're right Ron!" Hermione said, startled. "It was a Horcrux and we didn't even know it!"

"Regulus must have hidden it in the house," Harry thought aloud. "He probably realized he didn't have enough time to destroy it, so he hid it so Voldemort would not be able to find it..."

All three of them sat there excited.

"What do we do with it?" said Ron, looking at it.

"We have to destroy it," Hermione said in a shaky voice. "Right, Harry?"

Harry nodded. "But how?"

"Maybe we can destroy it with a charm or curse," suggested Ron. "It looks like it can break easily..."

"Ron, this is Voldemort we're talking about," Hermione sighed, shaking her head. "He would've placed protective charms and defensive spells on it so it would be near impossible to destroy."

"We can try," Harry said determinedly, raising his wand. "Reducto!"

But the spell merely glanced off the locket and hit the lamp on Harry's bedside table shattering it with a loud crash.

Harry lowered his wand and looked at Hermione.

"Do you know any spells that we could use?"

She shook her head.

"None of them would work. We have to show this to someone like Lupin. He has a chance knowing how to destroy it, maybe."

"We can't do that," Harry told her. "Dumbledore told us not to tell anyone about Horcruxes. Only we're allowed to know."

Hermione bit her lip. "I know, but there's just no way we can destroy a Horcrux. We need help."

"You three!" Mrs. Weasley's voice called loudly from downstairs making them all jump. "Are you ready yet?"

"Yeah, mum. We're coming down now," Ron yelled back.

They all changed as quickly as they could and hurried out the door. Harry, the last of them to leave, was about to grab the Horcruxes and stuff it in his pocket when he noticed that the light reflecting off it gave a sinister twinkle.

Deciding that he had imagined it, he grabbed the cold locket, stuffed it in his robes and dashed out of the room, closing the door behind him.