Harry Potter and the Secret Horcrux

Harry peered out the window of his bedroom and the morning sun stung his eyes. In the distance he could make out the shapes of four owls. They were undoubtedly bringing the promised Hogwarts lessons. Deep in the pit of his belly he felt a sinking sensation. How had he managed to let Lupin talk him into continuing his lessons?

With a loud groan of frustration he pushed himself off the window ledge and grabbed a clean shirt off the back of his desk chair. The house was quiet and he could only assume that everybody else had already made their way down for breakfast. Life had quickly become a routine and Harry felt all put hopeless concerning his quest.

The day after his birthday, Ginny informed him that the medallions held no special powers. They were nothing more than worthless hunks of metal with fancy engravings. Bad news had also come from Remus a week later. He told him him that he couldn't find a single book detailing how to make a Horcrux. Lupin had taken an incredible risk even searching for one and Harry knew for certain that the answers he sought were not written and tucked away for him to find.

Harry's new Crup, Czar, met him at the bottom of the stairs and greeted him with a wagging tail. Harry didn't pay the Crup much attention as he made his way down into the kitchen. He hadn't even taken a seat when he heard a loud squeal followed by Hermione rushing into the kitchen with four letters firmly in her grip.

"Our lessons are here," Hermione announced.

Ron shook his head in amazement as he shoved a spoonful of porridge into his mouth.

"Looks like we have Potions lessons on Mondays," Hermione started. "And they've also included our schedules for when we actually go to Hogwarts."

"You're seriously excited about this," Ron commented.

Hermione ignored him. "We can also request any book we want from the library and it will arrive by owl."

"I thought you had already read them all," Ron continued.

Hermione glared at him before pursing her lips. "Here, you can read it for yourself."

Ron suddenly looked at Harry and asked in a low whisper, "Did you ever get the Prince's book out of the Room of Requirement?"

"Ron," Hermione said sharply. "Don't you remember who the Prince was?"

"It was still helpful," Ron insisted. "It's not like we'll have Slughorn here to help us figure this stuff out."

Harry remained silent. He couldn't help but wonder what he was still doing here. He had promised Ron that he wouldn't take off, but perhaps that was exactly what he should be doing. Dumbledore had trusted Harry with a mission and he was no further along in his quest than he had been the day Dumbledore died. He had found one dead-end after another.

Ginny made an appearance a moment later. She took a seat on the opposite side of the table. She had been extremely distant since his birthday; not that he blamed her. He reminded himself it was all for the best. She had finally accepted that she needed to stay as far away from him as possible.

"Harry, you agree with me that no good can come of that book," Hermione said firmly.

Harry blinked and realized he had successfully tuned out another row between his two friends.

"She's right, Ron. I don't want anything that belong to that greasy good-for-nothing."

Harry had refused to mention the name of his former Potions Master; it only caused his blood pressure to rise.

Hermione passed Harry a pleased grin before looking back down at her lesson. "I suggest we get started on this right after breakfast. This is a seriously complex potion that Slughorn wants us to brew."

"Why don't you just brew it and we'll send in three samples of yours," Ron suggested.

"Honestly, Ron, do you think Professor Slughorn wouldn't be able to tell it was from the same potion," Hermione retorted.

Ron muttered something under his breath before turning back to his porridge.

"Do you have Potions too, Ginny?" Hermione asked

Ginny slowly opened her lessons and shook her head. "No, I have Transfiguration."

Ginny had received her OWL scores about two weeks before and according to Hermione, she had done exceptionally well. The only three courses she wasn't continuing were Astronomy, Herbology and History of Magic.

"We did this last year as well," Hermione commented peering over Ginny's shoulder. "If you want to practice while we're making our potion, we can all work on mastering this spell with wordless magic after lunch."

"It says I have to write two scrolls," Ginny said bitterly. "Two scrolls on the first day!"

Hermione smiled. "Yes, well, it's an important spell. This is the base spell for all the transfigurations you'll be doing this year. It even is the base for human transfiguration."

Ginny rolled her eyes. Harry tried to refrain from watching Ginny but he couldn't seem to keep from it. Ginny, on the other hand, seemed to not even glance in his direction.

"Did you work on your wordless magic last night before you went to sleep?" Hermione asked Harry.

Harry didn't say anything. He didn't have the heart to tell her that he had forgotten. In truth, he had just not cared enough to remember. He found it harder and harder to see the point of honing his skills when he didn't even know if the Dark Lord would ever be beatable. The decoy locket had found a permanent home in his pocket and he spent most of the time he was supposed to be practicing wordless magic, trying to decipher the riddles Dumbledore had left behind.

Harry once again found himself watching Ginny when he finally conceded that the only way he'd be able to stop watching her was to leave the room.

"I'll meet you guys in the library," Harry said forcefully as he left without eating a bite.

Czar trailed behind him, making Harry wonder if the pup was really some sort of spy for the Order.

"You don't have to follow me you know," Harry said to the creature.

The Crup looked up at Harry with a knowing look and skirted off ahead of him and into the library. Harry pushed the door open and scanned the shelves before letting out a frustrated sigh. Between himself, Hermione and Ron, he was positive they had read every single book in the room. He collapsed into the sofa and closed his eyes. He must have drifted into a light sleep, because the next thing he remembered was hearing Czar give a low growl. Harry's eyes cracked open.

"I'm sorry," whispered a startled voice. "I didn't know anybody was in here."

Harry removed his glasses, rubbed his eyes and gave Czar a pat on the head to let him know it was okay.

When Harry put his glasses back on his face he suddenly found himself at a loss for words. The last person in the world he had expected to show up at Grimmauld Place was now standing awkwardly in the doorway.

"Tonks told me I could wait in here for Ms. Bagley," Cho Chang said swiftly. "But I can wait in the kitchen."

"You're a member of the Order?" Harry asked before she had a chance to disappear.

Cho blushed. "I'm working with Ms. Bagley in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Professor McGonagall helped me secure the position after..."

"Ms. Bagley?" Harry asked.

Cho bit her lip nervously. "Auror Aeval Bagley."

"So are you training to be an Auror?" Harry continued, wondering why he felt so curious.

Cho blinked. "Oh no, I didn't have the NEWTs to be an Auror."

"But you're working for the Ministry?"

Cho nodded. "It's just a small job. They're so short-staffed these days."

Then something else clicked with Harry. "You're working on figuring out why Voldemort is kidnapping all those Muggles."

Cho flinched at Voldemort's name. "I'm sorry, Harry. I wish I had some news on your aunt, but I don't."

Harry suddenly felt even emptier. Just another dead-end, he thought miserably.

"I'm sorry I bothered you," Cho repeated.

Harry shrugged. "You're welcome to look around. Most of these books are pretty worthless."

Cho paused before turning back towards him. "You avoided me last year, didn't you?"

Harry felt a lump form in his throat as he wondered if she had asked him a trick question.

"It's all right if you did. I avoided you, too," Cho confessed. "I was afraid you hated me."

"Hated you?" Harry questioned.

Cho nodded. "Well, because I defended Marietta and insulted Hermione Granger."

Harry grinned. "Seems pretty trivial now, wouldn't you say?"

"Yes, I suppose it does," Cho agreed.

Cho finally entered the room and started to scan the books on the shelf. "Some of these books are very old."

"It's a very old family," Harry commented.

Cho turned back towards him. "The Blacks you mean."

"You know who used to own this house?" Harry asked feeling surprised.

Cho smiled as she continued to peruse. Occasionally she'd pause and pull a book out for a closer examination, but she never opened any of the books.

"Have you started your lessons?" Cho asked casually as she reached up towards the top shelf for a book that had caught her attention.

"Just received the first lesson today," Harry replied.

Cho pulled out a silver book from the top shelf. "R.A. Black."

"What did you say?" Harry asked quickly.

"The author of the book, R.A. Black," Cho repeated as she watched Harry's reaction curiously.

Harry didn't even hear her. His mind was racing and something was slipping into place.

"Harry, everything all right?" Cho asked.

Harry blinked. "R.A.B."

"What?"

"I'm an idiot," he declared. "How could I not pick up on it?"

"Pick up on what?" Cho pushed as she followed him.

He raced out of the library to the drawing room where the Black Family Tapestry was still hanging and his finger found the burn spot where Sirius's name had once been. Next to it he found what he had been looking for, 'Regulus Black.'

"My uncle Alphard gave me a decent bit of gold--he's been wiped off too, that's probably why."

"Lupin even said Regulus knew about them," Harry rambled, not even aware that Cho had followed him.

"Knew about what?" Cho asked a little louder.

It all made perfect sense now. Harry was positive he had finally cracked the mystery but there was only one way to be certain.

"KREACHER!" Harry bellowed as loudly as he could.

Cho cringed as she watched Harry with fearful eyes and the loud crack of the house elf's Apparation caused her to let out a little cry.

"Master called?" Kreacher asked in a bitter voice as he bowed so low that his nose touched the floor.

"What was Regulus's middle name?"

Without missing a beat Kreacher replied, "Master Regulus Alphard Black."

"Where is the heavy locket that Sirius threw out?" Harry asked as he felt the pieces starting to click.

Kreacher lifted his eyes as a puzzled expression crossed his face. "Heavy locket?"

"Yes, that blasted locket that we found right here," Harry snapped. "Sirius was rummaging through his family's old things and chucking quite a bit of it. You kept trying to sneak things off."

"Mistress's disappointing son tossed many things," Kreacher said to himself as if he didn't expect anybody to hear him. "How is Kreacher supposed to remember everything he threw out? He was an unfit wizard that broke his mother's heart."

"I don't care about that!" Harry raged.

"Master, Kreacher doesn't know what you be looking for. Kreacher is touching none of the things that he was told not to touch," Kreacher said as he lowered himself into another bow. "Even though Kreacher wants to be saving them. Saving them for his poor mistress."

Harry clinched his fist. "Did you hide Slytherin's locket?"

"Slytherin's locket?" Cho repeated quietly under her breath.

A smirk almost crossed Kreacher's face. "Kreacher knows what locket Master is looking for, but Kreacher doesn't have it. The filth-ridden slime that was unfit to be my mistress's son gave it to that drunken fool. Kreacher won't tell, Kreacher won't, Kreacher won't."

Harry's felt the blood rush out of his face as he remembered his encounter last year in Hogsmeade.

"Harry, are you all right?" Cho asked again a bit more desperately.

Harry turned and looked at her as if he was surprised to see here there. "I have to find him."

"Find who?" Cho demanded.

Harry shook his head. "It might be too late."

"You're not making any sense," Cho argued. "Who do you have to find and what does Slytherin's locket have to do with all this?"

Harry took a deep breath as he tried to calm his heart, which was racing anxiously in his chest. "Dung is on patrol today isn't he? He's working with Charlie in York. I've got to go. Tell Hermione and Ron that I found it."

"Found what?" Cho asked a bit more forcefully.

Harry began pacing as he tried to sort his next course of action. He needed to talk to Dung, but he didn't know how to find him. York wasn't a small place and Dung would be in disguise.

"Kreacher, go back to Hogwarts and don't mention this conversation to anybody," Harry ordered before turning back towards Cho.

The house elf gave one final bow while mumbling something under his breath before he disappeared with a loud pop.

He had despised Dung since he had caught him pawning Sirius's things but he knew he had to control his rage. Mundungus was much more likely to help him if he was civil to him. Then again, he might also be easily persuaded at wand point. Harry closed his eyes and Apparated to York. He figured he'd have to find Dung the old-fashion way.

When he arrived at his desired location he was taken aback when an Apparation pop sounded next to him.

"Why'd you follow me?" Harry asked in an annoyed tone.

Cho glared at Harry. "You aren't supposed to leave the manor! You're going to get yourself killed."

"I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself. I don't need a babysitter," Harry barked.

"You don't even know where Dung is," Cho reminded. "I do, so if you want my help I'd change my tone."

"You know where Mundungus is?" Harry demanded.

Cho nodded. "Hestia wasn't feeling well the other night so I took her place on patrol."

She quickly pulled out her wand and sent out a swan Patronus. Then she turned back to Harry.

"Take my hand," she instructed.

"Why?" Harry asked suspiciously.

Cho huffed, "Because you don't know where we're Apparating to and I don't want you to splinch yourself."

Slowly he reached out and took her hand as she Apparated them both to a location in a wooded area. Harry noticed a few chairs and a makeshift campfire but the place looked deserted. A minute later Mundungus appeared

"What'cha two doin' here?" Mundungus asked in a confused tone. "There bin another attack?"

Cho looked at Harry awkwardly and Harry noticed she was unsure herself what they were doing there.

"I needed to ask you a question," Harry said firmly. "Do you remember a locket that Sirius..." Harry paused and took a deep breath. "That Sirius may have given you."

Mundungus looked around nervously then grabbed the back of his neck. "Nope, can't say I remember no such locket."

"It would have been heavy and impossible to open," Harry continued.

"Lis'en, Harry, anything I took from Grimmauld Place I had permission to take, ye see. Sirius said I could have um," Mundungus explained.

Harry raised his voice, "I don't care about that right now."

"Then what's this all about then, huh?"

"I need to find that locket, it's important," Harry insisted.

Mundungus shrugged, "Sorry, mate. I can't help you with that."

Without warning Harry drew his wand and slammed Mundungus to the ground. Cho went to reach for Harry, but he shrugged her off. He pointed his wand at Mundungus's chest.

"I know you sold the locket; who did you sell it to?" Harry demanded.

Mundungus held up his hands. "Easy, Harry, what'cha say it looked like again?"

"Silver, heavy and with an 'S' engraving it would have looked valuable and it would have been impossible to open," Harry said slowly.

Mundungus watched Harry's wand apprehensively. "Oh yeah, that locket. I almost forgot about that one. Can't remember who I sold it to though."

"I suggest you start trying," Harry warned.

Mundungus glanced at Cho. "Help me out, would ya, love?"

"Who'd you sell it to?" Harry asked again digging his wand deeper into Mundungus's skin.

"Borgin, said it was worth its weight in gold," Mundungus said quickly.

Harry blinked. "You sold it to Borgin?"

"I'm a business man," Mundungus pleaded.

"You're a crook," Cho interjected. "Borgin? We have reason to believe he deals with Death Eaters."

Mundungus glanced up at Cho. "It's not like that. I wasn't sort'in with Death Eaters."

Harry felt the air getting thick around him as he realized that the situation had just become far more complicated.