Harry Potter and the Secret Horcrux

The potion was simmering silently in the attic of Grimmauld Place and Harry was counting each second as it slipped by. He had been sitting in the attic of his late godfather's house for nearly ten hours straight. The potion had been brewing over a day and Harry felt a need to watch in its last hours of simmering. Ginny sat next to him looking just as anxious. Ron was sleeping blissfully with his head in Hermione's lap and Hermione had her nose buried deep into Regulus A. Black's journal. Occasionally Hermione would take a sharp breath or Ron would let out a grunt in his sleep but none of them dare speak a word.

Harry told himself that the potion had to work. He realized that it was foolhardy to place so much trust in a man Sirius had regarded as a lost cause. Still, he kept telling himself that it wasn't Regulus he was trusting: He was trusting Ginny.

Ginny sat as still as a board with her knees wrapped into her chest. Her eyes rarely left the bubbling cauldron. When they did leave they would chance a glance in Harry's direction. He desperately tried not to look at her because now was not the time to be thinking of personal matters of the heart. Whatever wrongs he had committed in his moment of weakness would have to wait to be faced.

The half empty vial of Acromantula venom lay abandoned on the floor. None of them had bothered to ask the twins how they procured the precious rare ingredient. Ron had suggested they bought it from Mundungus who was known to peddle such items. The plan was for Ginny to tell the twins later that her experiment wasn't successful. They would most likely be annoyed but forgiving. Ginny was their baby sister after all.

Hermione flipped another page and signed under her breath when a new sound caught Harry's ear and made his head turn sharply towards the door.

"Are you lot up here?" called Charlie Weasley.

Hermione instantly snapped the journal shut and nudged Ron off her lapcausing his head to hit the floor with a soft thud. His eyes immediately popped open as he gave a yelp before rubbing his offended head.

"We're working on a potion for school," Ginny said quickly as she raced to open the door before Charlie could enter.

"Mum and Dad are looking for you," Charlie announced as he tried to peer around Ginny.

Ginny gave an innocent grin. "Tell them we're working on an extremely important potion for Professor Slughorn. Mum is the one who's been harping on me to take my studies more seriously."

Charlie raised his eyebrow. "You lot have been up here hiding all day. Perhaps I should owl Professor Slughorn and tell him to lessen the homework load."

Hermione gripped Ron's arm and Ginny visibly stiffened before Charlie laughed. "I don't know what George and Fred have you four making but it better not be illegal."

"It's not," Ginny said smoothly as she passed Harry a nervous look. "Come on, we can finish the potion after dinner."

Hermione and Ron followed Ginny and Charlie down the attic stairs but Harry felt a tug inside him telling him not to leave the potion. He knew if the potion started acting oddly there was absolutely nothing he could do and he just had to have faith. All the same, he didn't want to leave the brew as it simmered quietly.

"Harry," Ginny called, "you coming?"

"I'll be along in a minute," Harry called back, though he was certain that Ginny would not believe him.

He wasn't the least bit surprised when Ginny appeared again a moment later. Harry deliberately avoided her eyes as he retook his seat back on the floor near the cauldron.

"Are you all right?" Ginny asked.

Harry nodded. "I just don't feel comfortable leaving the potion unattended."

"I'm sure it will be fine while we grab a bite to eat. We'll make it quick," Ginny assured him as she took a seat next to him.

"Quick," Harry repeated mindlessly as a flowery smell swirled around him leaving him feeling slightly lightheaded.

Ginny lowered her head. "Harry, why...why did you kiss me?"

"Because I'm an idiot," Harry said flatly as he determinedly tried not to look in Ginny's direction.

Ginny sat quietly for a moment. "I should either be flattered or offended. I'm not sure which one."

"Ginny," Harry started.

"No," Ginny snapped. "Don't say 'Ginny' or tell me how stupid of a mistake you've made. Don't you dare apologize."

Harry tried to suppress a grin as the memory of the event lingered in his thoughts. "I shouldn't have kissed you. I didn't have any right..."

"If I'd found it offensive, trust me, you would have known."

"It's just... things aren't exactly simple," Harry stumbled, "are they?"

Ginny shrugged, "No, I guess they aren't, but who said relationships were supposed to be simple?"

"If you're out there... if I know you aren't safe," Harry paused. "I won't be able to do what I have to do."

Ginny sighed but a smile touched her lips. "What am I ever going to do with you?"

Harry blinked as her hand, with a soft gesture, touched the side of his face, "We both know I'm not the type of girl to sit at home and miss all the action."

Harry gawked at her for a moment as he realized something he had always known, Hermione was right. No matter how far away he tired to push Ginny, she would fight just as hard against him. She was in danger no matter what he did; everybody was.

"Ginny," Harry said quietly. "If he suspects that he could use you to get to me, he will."

"I know," Ginny nodded. "But you don't let him. If he tries to use me to lure you out you have to let me go. There are greater things at stake than if I live or die."

"No there aren't," Harry whispered.

Ginny blinked, "There are some things that simply cannot be changed. I realize that now. You have to face him, don't you?"

Harry nodded. "When I finish destroying the Horcruxes."

"And you may die," Ginny continued in a strained voice.

Neither can live while the other survives.

"I can't do anything about that," Ginny finished softly, "but I do not intent on standing idly by while you risk your life to save the wizarding world.

Harry lowered his head. "I didn't choose this. I'd do anything for a normal life. I'd do anything if I could just be with you."

Ginny let out a soft whimper. "You can choose a normal life, Harry. You can be with me. You're a normal boy who's been asked to do extraordinary things. That doesn't mean you can't have... Do you think Voldemort is going to care if you admit if were together or not?"

"Harry?" Hermione called as the door to the attic creaked open. "Ginny?"

"We're coming," Ginny called back as she pushed herself off the floor.

Harry slowly followed. When they made their way into the kitchen they were greeted by the shouts coming from Ron. Harry could never remember an instance where Ron had actually shouted at his mother.

"IT'S NOT SAFE. WE'RE NOT GOING BACK!" Ron roared.

Hermione passed Harry a hesitant look. "We have a slight problem."

"RONALD! Don't you dare take that tone with me," Mrs. Weasley bellowed. "Do you honestly think I'd take my family back to a place that isn't safe?"

"We can't intrude on Harry's generosity forever," Mr. Weasley said firmly. "It's time to go home, Ron."

"I'm not going," Ron barked. "I'm staying with Harry."

"Don't be silly. Harry isn't staying here at Grimmauld. This place isn't a home. You kids are miserable here," Mrs. Weasley snapped back.

Ron narrowed his eyes. "You're just afraid I'm going to learn what the Order's up to. You're afraid to let me be involved. Harry and Hermione are allowed to be clued in."

"Harry and Hermione act like adults!" Mrs. Weasley retorted.

"It's really no intrusion," Harry inserted.

Mrs. Weasley sighed, "At the Burrow you children will be able to step outside and take a breath of fresh air. You'll be able to forget about this war and concentrate on finishing your NEWTs. I will not allow you all to rot away in this place and then do something reckless."

"We can't forget about this war," Hermione spoke up. "We're already involved and we need the resources here."

"I'm not going," Ron stated firmly. "I'm of age; you have no right to tell me where I can and cannot live."

"I do have a right! I'm your mother!" Mrs. Weasley roared.

"Molly, he's of age. If he doesn't want to come back with us we can't force him to," Mr. Weasley stepped in.

Mrs. Weasley looked up at her husband. She looked like she was about to argue but the fight quickly drained out of her. "Ginny, go gather your things."

"I'm not going, either," Ginny snapped.

"Yes, you are," Mr. Weasley quickly replied. "Do as your mother says."

"NO!" Ginny roared. "If Ron gets to stay..."

"Ron is of age," Mr. Weasley pointed out. "You just turned 16."

"It's not..."

"GO!" Mr. Weasley barked. "It's not fair; nothing is fair."

Ginny turned to look at Harry before she stormed out of the kitchen, slamming the door behind her has she went. Mrs. Weasley turned and her shoulders slumped over as she tried to control her sobs.

Mr. Weasley sighed. "Our door is always open."

Harry felt a tug on the sleeve of his jumper as Hermione pulled Ron and him from the kitchen and the two elder Weasleys. When they reached the parlor, they saw Ginny, with a defiant looking, sitting on the stairs.

"I'm not going," she said firmly.

Hermione took a seat next to her. "It will be all right. We'll write to you everyday and let you know what's going on."

"It's not fair. I've done just as much as Ron and everybody still treats me like a child," Ginny snapped. "Everybody's the same. They want to lock me up and keep me safe."

Harry felt a twinge of guilt in his chest at Ginny's words.

"We'll come to the Burrow after the potion is finished," Hermione assured.

"Like hell we will," Ron interrupted. "I'm not going back there so Mum can keep an eye on us."

"But your Mum is right, Ron. If we stay here we're all going to go mad," Hermione argued.

Ron shook his head. "If we go back to the Burrow we're all going to go mad."

"Porter Glen," Ginny snapped. "They can't tell us we'll go mad at Porter Glen."

Harry frowned, realizing that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were never going to allow Ginny to come live at Porter Glen unsupervised.

"We'll figure out where we'll go later," Hermione jumped in. "Right now, we need to do what we're told. Ginny, you have to go back to the Burrow. If you resist too much they'll get suspicious and we can't risk then finding the potion before it's done brewing."

Ginny passed Hermione a bitter look but she finally conceded and dashed up the stairs to gather her things. Harry watched her go as Hermione tried to argue with Ron's selfish act wrecking their plans to brew the potion.

"Honestly, Ron," Hermione lectured. "Your outburst could have ruined everything."

Harry soon found himself tuning out his two best mates. "I'm going to go check on the potion."

He made a quick exit as Ron tired to defend his right to live where he wanted to live because he was an of age wizard. Instead of going to the attic, Harry found himself walking down the corridor that led to the room Ginny and Hermione had been sharing.

"I suppose you'll be glad that I'll be out of your way and safe," Ginny said resentfully.

Harry blinked in surprise. "This isn't what I wanted."

"You just said you wanted me to be safe," Ginny muttered.

Harry noticed she was holding her breath as she waited for his response. "I do want you to be safe."

Ginny rolled her eyes in frustration as she exhaled loudly and shoved a school robe into her bag.

"It's probably for the best. If you're at the Burrow you won't..." Harry started.

"I won't what?" Ginny spat.

"You won't know what you're being left out of," Harry finished, feeling a lump develop in his throat as he spoke.

Ginny narrowed her eyes as she threw another jumper into her bag. "I won't know what I'm being left out of?"

"That isn't what I meant," Harry defended. "I mean you won't know what you're missing."

"I won't know what I'm missing?" Ginny roared.

Harry cringed as Ginny glared at him with her hands firmly on her hips.

"How dare you, Potter. Do you honestly think this is going to keep me safe? Do you honestly believe I'm going to hold out a white flag so you can have your way and keep me out of harm?"

"You said yourself that you're already in harm's way," Harry argued. "I didn't ask your mum and dad to take you back to the Burrow to keep you safe."

Ginny frowned. "You can't deny that it's what you secretly wanted. You wanted me out of the way so I won't lose it and do something foolish like announce to the Daily Prophet that we're in a relationship."

"We aren't in a relationship," Harry snapped.

"Voldemort already knows!" Ginny yelled. "Don't you think that was the first thing Malfoy and Snape told him? If you wanted to keep me safe you shouldn't have dated me at all!"

"That's why I broke up with you," Harry countered.

"Did you remember to owl Snape and Malfoy that information?" Ginny asked sharply.

Harry scolded, "You're just being ridiculous now. It's not my fault that you're having to go back with your parents to the Burrow."

"I didn't hear you taking up for me either," Ginny retorted. "Just leave."

"Ginny."

Ginny pointed her finger towards the door. "Go. You're never going to change and I'm tired of trying to figure you out."

Ginny and her parents left less than an hour after Ginny had told him to leave and that he was never going to change. Her words irked him as he sat there on the bare floor of Grimmauld Place watching the potion simmer. Ron and Hermione had decided to leave him alone to stew in his own discontent and he was thankful for their absence company.

What had Ginny meant by he would never change? Did she want him to change? Harry shook his head in frustration as he glanced at his watch again to see how much brewing time remained on the potion. He wasn't sure how long he had been sitting alone pondering his last conversation with Ginny, but his protesting stomach told him it had been far too long.

Just as he made a motion to stand, and Hermione pushed open the door.

"It's time; it's been brewing exactly 48 hours," Hermione said as she stared at her watch.

Ron looked a bit pale as the trio approached the cauldron and Harry pulled the locket out of his pocket. Harry slowly held the locket out over the cauldron and let the chain dangle from his fingers.

"Wait," Ron said suddenly. "Let me do it."

Hermione and Harry both looked at him curiously.

"If something goes wrong and the potion--you know, blows up," Ron explained. "Harry, you and Hermione should Apparate to Porter Glen or somewhere safe just in case."

"I'm not going anywhere," Harry said firmly. "I can't let you risk your life to keep me safe."

"You're the 'Chosen One' so you have to stay safe," Ron insisted. "If you don't stay safe then who's going to destroy You-Know-Who?"

"The potion is going to work. If we had done it wrong then it would have exploded by now, "Hermione assured," but Ron's right, Harry. We can't allow you to drop the locket in. Don't you remember what happened to Dumbledore's hand? One of us should do it."

"You're not doing it," Ron snapped. "If anybody is going to drop it in the cauldron it's going to be me."

Hermione scolded. "Why should you be the one that does it? Because I'm a girl?"

"Exactly!" Ron replied.

Hermione pursed her lips and pulled out her wand sharply. Ron jumped back but Harry was fairly certain he would never admit to it later.

"Wingardium Leviosa," Hermione recited as she pointed her wand at the locket in Harry's grasp.

The locket floated upwards and dangled dangerously above the boiling brew. Hermione motioned that they should all take a step back as she lowered her wand. The locket plunged into the cauldron with a violent splash. It seemed as if the locket knew that it was being killed. At first nothing happened, then a high-pitched whistling sound punctured the air and the cauldron began to rattle. Just when Harry was beginning to wonder if the potion was going to explode a tall pillar of green smoke shot towards the ceiling as the image of a skull and serpent began to appear as a ghostly swirl.

Harry pulled his hands over his ears as the noise grew louder and louder as if trying to reach a climax.

"Is this supposed to happen?" Harry yelled at Hermione.

"I don't know," Hermione answered as Ron tried to shield her with his body.

The tall pillar of smoke suddenly exploded, knocking Harry off his feet and into the wall. Harry felt his breath leave him as a black veil of unconsciousness fell over his eyes.

Hello, I'm so sorry that it's been weeks (nearly a month) since I've updated. I started my student teaching on August 3^rd and I've been scrambling to keep up with my lesson plans and homework. Sadly, this story is going to take a back burner until November. I apologize for having to do this, but I have to set priorities and the real world takes precedent over fanfiction. I swear, this story is NOT going to be abandoned. I will come back to it before Christmas. Miss Me!