To Have and to Want

"Care to dance, Ginny?"

"As long as your intentions are decent, Mr. Potter."

"Absolutely decent. I don't like sitting alone."

"Come on, Harry. Any girl here would be--"

"You know what I think about that."

"But you did find someone."

"Maybe," Harry said. He hoped that Parvati didn't get a new boyfriend by now.

"Do I know her?" Ginny asked.

"You might," he said. "Don't worry, Ginny. I'm not that fragile; I'll live. Let me worry about my love life, and you worry about yours. How're things?"

"We don't have much opportunity to contact each other. Owls are still not safe. Would you look at that!"

"What?" Harry turned to where Ginny was looking. Ron and Hermione were dancing extremely close together, looking like they were about to kiss.

At that moment, some twenty figures covered in hoods and dark cloaks appeared out of thin air. "DEATH EATERS!" someone yelled.

"Harry, don't!" Ginny shouted as Harry pushed her away, drew his wand, and rushed the attackers. Seeing this had no effect, she whipped out her own wand and followed.

A stream of curses flew towards them. "Ginny, duck!" Harry shouted, hurling several hexes in reply.

Ginny avoided getting hit and sent a few spells towards the Death Eaters. They joined Ron and Hermione, who stood back to back, defending themselves.

"Protego!" Harry, Ron, and Hermione shouted at once, and several curses impacted on their shield without effect.

"Charlie!" the voice of Mrs. Weasley roared over the fury of blasts. Harry glanced. Charlie was fighting four death eaters, who surrounded him on all sides.

"Stupefy!" Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny said, hitting all four. Charlie fell with them, and Mrs. Weasley rushed towards her son.

"Let's go," someone yelled, and the Death Eaters ran towards him. Harry, Ron, and Mr. Weasley each tried to stun some of them, but only Mr. Weasley managed to drop one.

"We've got to get him to St. Mungo's," Mr. Weasley choked as he looked at his injured son.

Professor Lupin approached them, carrying Tonks. "She's hurt, too."

"We'll escort you," Fred said.

"Where's Bill?"

"Here, Mum," Bill approached, supporting Fleur, and holding little Gabrielle with the other hand. Fleur's dress had been torn and her arm broken.

"Not a good start to married life, is eet?" she said.
Mr. Weasley looked at her. "Remind me to tell you when Molly and I--"

"Arthur!" Mrs. Weasley shouted. "Let's go to St. Mungo's. You, too." She gave a look towards Harry and his friends. Harry took Ginny's arm and Disapparated along with her.

At the hospital, Charlie was taking to the intensive care ward. "He'll have to spend a few weeks here, till his injuries heal, but your son will be all right," a mediwitch told Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. "We've been getting a lot of cases like this recently."

"What is it?" Harry asked. "Some sort of new Dark spell?"

The nurse looked at his forehead. Harry gave back a stare so hard that she flinched. "We have several cases like that here. They started appearing recently."

"Damn it," Harry said. "At least none of the Death Eaters were bigwigs. That's how we took them down so easily." He looked at Ron, Hermione and Ginny. They didn't dispute his assessment.

"I've got to go," Hermione said.

"Where?" Ron asked.
"Well... my parents made me promise I'd keep them in the loop. They do subscribe to the Prophet, they'll find out about this. And in the Muggle world, I'm not an adult yet. It was the only way they'd let me go."

"I'll go with you," Ron said.

"Ron, this--"

"Hermione--"

"I don't need protection, Ron!" she moved to Apparate.

"Yes, you do!" Ron shouted, and when Hermione turned to argue, he added, "We all do."

Hermione's expression turned from anger to bewilderment. "Ron?" she asked.

Harry stole a glance from a smiling Ginny. Ron put his arm around Hermione and they vanished.

"I better go check the Burrow," Ginny said. "There--"

"Harry, go with Ginny," Mrs. Weasley ordered.

"Mum, I--"

"It's okay, I'll go," Harry said. He looked at Ginny. "You can't Apparate, anyway."

"If anything happens, get to Order Headquarters. Someone'll be there," Mrs. Weasley told them.

Ginny let Harry take her hand and they left.

Except for the destroyed wedding decorations, the place appeared unchanged. Still, Harry and Ginny drew their wands, and, with great caution, inspected every room and the large yard. They found nothing. They were about to start cooking dinner when two distant pops sounded outside. Harry looked and smiled. The arrivals were the Patil twins. The sisters took out their wands and walked up to the house.

Ginny was about to run outside when Harry restrained her. "Careful!" he said. "They might be impostors!"

Ginny gave him a glare. "Harry, I--"

"Please, Ginny." Harry crouched and stepped outside, concealing himself.

"Hold it right there," he said. "Who are you, and why are you here?"

"Harry!" Parvati exclaimed. "You know--"

"How do I know you aren't Death Eaters under Polyjuice?" he said. "Parvati, what did you see in the crystal ball?"

"Lots of stuff, just none of it made sense until it happened," Parvati said reluctantly.

"Sister!" Padma said, scandalously. "You--"

"Harry," Parvati interrupted, "what is the name of my ex-boyfriend whom we met at the--"

"Patrick Nelson," Harry said. "Come in. We're making dinner. Ginny, they're all right!"

"Ginny!" Padma rushed up to her girlfriend and kissed her. Harry felt a stab of anger, but then he turned to Parvati and smiled. "Come on," he said.

They remained outside while Ginny and Padma went into the house. Parvati looked at him. "So," she said.

"So," he replied.

"I've heard what happened. What were you thinking?"

Harry got angry. "Welcome to my life," he said. "Fighting Voldemort, defending the wizarding world--"

"Come in. There's more to it than that."

Harry nodded. "The Weasleys are my family. My true family."

"And what about me?" Parvati asked.

Harry looked at her. "What?"

"Harry, I just don't understand you. Do you want to date me or not?"

Harry thought for a moment. "It's complicated, Parvati. If it wasn't for Voldemort, I'd date you in a second. But being my boyfriend is dangerous. Too many people put themselves into danger--too many people have died--because of me. I don't want you to be another one of them."

"I see," Parvati said. "So you'd like to do your hero thing and have me wait for you in safety, ready to welcome you home. A Penelope to your Odysseus, right?"

"Parvati--"

"That isn't happening, Harry. You--"

"I wasn't asking you to--"

"Then don't try to run my life for me, Harry. I want to be your girlfriend, I think I made that clear. I'll wait a few weeks, a month or two perhaps--but I won't wait forever. And I refuse to be left out!"

Harry certainly didn't expect that. "There are some things I'm not ready to tell you. Dumbledore made me promise to not tell anyone but Ron and Hermione." Parvati nodded as if expecting this.

"As for other information, I can tell you, but can it wait till Hogwarts?"

"Hogwarts might not even open," she replied.

"Then till our next meeting. I'm leaving, Parvati. I'm going to try to find a way to defeat Voldemort. I might not come back."

"And I can't--"

"Not yet, Parvati. Please don't try to tag along."

"I won't, I promise," she said, and then emphasized, "This once."

Harry looked dumbstruck. "Make no mistake, Parvati. I want you to be my girlfriend. It's--"

"Then let me be that," Parvati replied, and kissed him.

It was during the snog session that they were discovered.

"Harry!" Ginny shouted.

"Sister!" Padma yelled.

"So this is who you've been seeing," Ginny said smugly. "All the subterfuge..."

"Just where did you meet up?" Padma asked.

"Muggle night club," Padma answered.

Ginny glanced at her watch. "You two better go before my family discovers you. Thanks for coming, Padma." She kissed her.

Harry kissed Parvati. "Write to me, Harry," she whispered.

"I will," he promised.

The twins walked away beyond the wards and Disapparated. Harry smiled at Ginny, who looked absentminded. "Ginny?" he asked. "You don't have a problem with me dating Parvati, do you?"

"No, Harry. I think it's great. It's just... how are we going to tell our girlfriends apart?"

Harry glanced at her. "You grew up with Fred and George, and you're asking that?"

"I'm not dating Fred or George!" she retorted.

"Don't worry, we'll learn quickly enough. I hope Hogwarts reopens," he said quietly. "I'm not looking forward to showing them Grimmauld Place."

"Them?" Ginny asked.

"If I'm going to tell Parvati, I might as well let you, Padma, Neville and Luna know. Ron and Hermione know already, of course..."

"Who else?" Ginny asked.

Harry shook his head. "Only Dumbledore did."

XXX

Ron and Hermione stood slightly behind Harry in the middle of an empty square. There was nothing left of the house where Harry's parents lived, and yet Harry couldn't make an effort to leave the place.

They'd already been to the cemetery, looked at the graves of Lily and James Potter, and returned here. The sun was setting. Harry shook his head. Ron and Hermione had waited too long for him.

"Let's go," he said.

"Grimmauld?" Ron asked.

Harry nodded. He'd put off the Horcrux hunt for too long.

As soon as they got back, he started getting food ready. "I found something there," he said.

"What?" Hermione asked.

Harry held up a short, worn out wand. "My mother's," he said.

"How do you know?"

"Ollivander told me. Swishy, made of willow. Nine and a quarter inches. Nice wand for charm work. This is it."

"You're going to keep it?" Ron asked.

"Why not?" Harry said, defensively.

"Well... people are usually buried with their wands," he said. "I'm surprised your--"

"My dad was, I think. But I don't think they found this one."

"Harry," Hermione said as they ate, "you wouldn't know Sirius' brother's middle name?"

Harry was surprised at the question. "You couldn't find it? Slughorn told me. It was Arcturus. Wait," he realized. "You don't think--"

"R.A.B. Regulus Arcturus Black."

Harry nearly choked on his food. Ron did the same. "Hermione!" they both yelled.

"Harry, I know Sirius didn't think much of his brother--"

"He thought he was an idiot who bought into all the pure-blood crap--"

"Yes. But isn't it possible that he realized what Voldemort was--"

"Dumbledore gave a second chance to Snape. Look how--"

"Shouldn't we explore the possibility--"

"How?" Ron demanded. "Regulus is dead, so is Sirius, and the rest of his family--"

"There's Andromeda Tonks," Hermione said.

"Actually," Harry said, "there's someone closer to home."

"What?"

"I don't like this. And Hermione, you won't either. But it's probably the best lead we've got."

Hermione looked at him. "Harry, you don't mean--Kreacher?"

Harry nodded. "Kreacher!" he yelled.

The old house-elf appeared out of thin air. "Foul half-blood Master wants to give Kreacher orders, to do harm to Pureblood wizards, if only Kreacher's poor mistress--"

"Kreacher, you're going to answer my questions, and you're going to tell the truth," Harry said.

"Kreacher has to obey the Potter boy, oh, Kreacher wants--"

"Kreacher, do you know anything about Regulus Black?"

"Kreacher knows a lot about his good master, much better than his foul brother, oh, why did he have to be the younger--"

"Kreacher," Harry interrupted, "where was Regulus in the days preceding his death?"

"Kreacher doesn't know. Kreacher won't tell Potter boy--"

"What was the last time he was here?" Ron asked.

"Kreacher doesn't have to obey the blood-traitor--"

"Kreacher, from now on, if Ron or Hermione give you orders, you obey them as if I did it. Answer his question."
"Harry, I--"

"Good young master was here four days before he died."

"How did he come?"

"Apparated--"

"What was he like."

"Young master looked hurt. Kreacher offered to take care of him, but Master refused. Kreacher--"

"What did he bring with him?" Harry asked.

"His cloak, his wand, his--"

"Anything that wasn't his, that was unusual?"

"A big golden locket."

"What did he do with it?"

"Kreacher doesn't know. Master locked himself in his room."

"Then how do you know he brought the locket?"

"Kreacher saw through keyhole."

"Why did you spy on him."

"Kreacher's young mistress ordered him to."

"Which one?" Hermione prompted.

"The oldest, the good Pureblood--"

"Bellatrix," Hermione said. "What did Regulus do?"

"Kreacher saw master perform a spell on the locket. Kreacher doesn't know what the spell it was. Kreacher didn't hear him say anything.

"Nonverbal?" Harry asked.

"Kreacher doesn't know. Kreacher heard nothing but buzzing. When Kreacher's young mistress found out, Kreacher had to punish himself--"

"Muffliato," Harry said. "So Regulus knew Snape's spells."

"Kreacher, did Regulus take the locket with him?"

"No, young master hid it here--"

"Where?" Harry demanded. "Bring it to me."

Kreacher vanished and reappeared with an enormous locket in one hand, on a long golden chain. Harry recognized it immediately. This was, no doubt, the real Slytherin's locket.

"Thank you, Kreacher," Hermione said.

"Kreacher doesn't need gratitude from the filthy Mudblood--"

Hermione had to restrain Ron from attacking the house-elf.
"Just go back to Hogwarts, Kreacher," Harry said, taking the locket.

Kreacher vanished. Harry held the locket up to the light and inspected it. "I wonder how you can determine if the Horcrux in there is destroyed," he said.

"Regulus seemed confident enough in that note," Hermione said. "He probably knew how to do it."

Harry was skeptical. "Dumbledore lost a hand destroying the ring Horcrux," he said.

"Yeah, but you weren't harmed by the diary," Hermione countered.

"I didn't touch it at that point, or use a wand. We don't have a Basilisk fang lying around."

"So what do we do with it?" Ron asked.

Harry shrugged. "Put it somewhere safe till we can determine for sure."

Hermione turned on the wireless. "And in other news, another meeting of the Hogwarts board of governors ended in gridlock over the question of whether to reopen the school in the fall. The school always billed itself as the safest place for young witches and wizards, and this now becomes questionable with the death of its respected Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. Acting Headmistress, Minerva McGonagall--"

"McGonagall!" Hermione exclaimed. "She might now how to determine--"

"I don't think so. Dumbledore didn't tell her--"

"Horcruxes sound somewhat like Transfiguration," Hermione reasoned.

Harry shook his head. "Dumbledore--"

"You don't have to tell her the whole thing. Just... ask a few questions. And I think we should see her anyway."

"Why?" Ron asked.

"To support her. We want Hogwarts to reopen, don't we? So does she. I think we can help."

"You mean, Harry's opinion can sway the governors," Ron said.

Harry looked at him. "I think my influence is overestimated. All right."

"If anyone can help us, it's McGonagall. You said You-Know-Who placed his Horcruxes in places of significance to him. And Hogwarts was the most important place in his life."

"I'll write to McGonagall," Hermione said. "She won't let just anyone in these days."

"We'd better get some sleep," Ron suggested. "Any meeting with McGonagall is bound to be exhausting."

XXX

Harry, Ron, and Hermione waited in the Grimmauld Place living when Professor McGonagall Apparated in. When Hermione wrote and suggested they visit her, she replied that a meeting here would be safer.

"Good evening, Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, Mir. Weasley. "Your mother," she nodded to Ron, "refuses to give me any Order work."

"Hello, Professor," Harry said.

McGonagall greeted him. "Miss Granger, you said you wanted to talk to me. I presume this is important?"

"Will Hogwarts reopen?" Hermione asked.

McGonagall sighed. "I thought you three weren't coming back."

Harry looked at Hermione. "You didn't--"

"Miss Granger didn't reveal any secrets," McGonagall said. "You said this yourself, and I figured that Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger would go along."

"Professor, whether or not we come back is one thing, but can we? Will--"

"The governors essentially put the decision in my hands. If I make a public statement assuring the safety of all students, they'll permit it to reopen. You understand that I am... reluctant to make such a statement."

"Dumbledore wouldn't either," Ron said. "Hogwarts was never exactly safe... Quirrel... my sister... a werewolf teaching... Cedric..." Ron stopped when Harry gave him a shocked look. He hated using the past like this, but he had expected Hermione to bring this up.

McGonagall looked ruffled. "The governors didn't like all that either. But Dumbledore commanded respect. And even if we reopen, how many people will send their children to Hogwarts?"

"If you don't open, no one will," Hermione said. "It's what Voldemort wants. No organized education, so it's easier to turn young people to the Dark Arts."

"Is that what I tell the governors?" McGonagall asked. "Not exactly a ringing endorsement."

"No," Harry said. "Tell the governors that the Chosen One will be at Hogwarts this year."

"Harry!" Hermione and Ron exclaimed.

"What?" It'd be easier to be at Hogwarts. We'll probably have to do more research into Voldemort's story. We might have to leave for a few days, but I've been considering returning anyway."

McGonagall looked at him. "Mr. Potter, you're asking me to gamble on your ability to protect the school--"

"The entire wizarding world is gambling on me, Professor," Harry said. "Your chances of the gamble paying off might increase if you actually do something."

"I presume that was a jab at the Ministry, Mr. Potter." McGonagall smiled. "But remember, your return will be public if I do that."

Harry nodded. "It can't be helped. Voldemort has enough spies at Hogwarts so that it won't be a secret for long."

McGonagall reached into her pocket. "In that case, I believe this is rightfully yours, Miss Granger." She pulled out the Head Girl badge.

"Oh! Thanks, Professor." Hermione blushed. "What about the Head Boy--"

McGonagall paused. "I'm sorry for you two, but in these times, giving out both positions to Gryffindor students will be seen as blatant favoritism. And, by grades alone," she emphasized, "there are better candidates. I would also agree with Dumbledore that you, at least, Potter, seem to have enough on your plate at the moment."

Harry didn't really care. "Congratulations, Hermione," he said. "One more thing, Professor. Could you help us analyze this?" He held up the locket.

McGonagall took the piece of jewelry, took out her wand...

"Careful, Professor," Harry said, remembering Dumbledore's withered hand.

McGonagall tapped the locket. As soon as she did that, she dropped both it and her wand.

"Where did you get this?!" she yelled.

"Professor--"

"Where, Potter?"

"Here, in Grimmauld Place. Why--"

"How did you get your hands on--"

"A Horcrux?" Harry prompted.

That stopped McGonagall in her tracks. "You know what a Horcrux is?"

All three nodded.

"How?" McGonagall looked a them with fear.

"I told them," Harry said.

"And how did you--"

"Dumbledore," he said. "He told me about this."

"For heaven's sake, why--"

"Professor, since you seem to know about this, what can you tell us about this particular Horcrux?" Hermione asked.

"Someone destroyed the piece of the soul that this locket contained. A lot of energy had been drained in doing that."

"It's gone?" Harry asked.

McGonagall nodded. "Good," he said.

"Good?" McGonagall replied.

"Very good. This was one of Voldemort's Horcruxes."

"Is this why Dumbledore told you--"

Harry nodded.

"Hold on, Mr. Potter. You said one of..."

"Voldemort's," Harry supplied.

"...Yes, his," McGonagall continued, a bit fazed, "Horcruxes. You mean there were more than one?"

"Yes," Hermione said. "Dumbledore told Harry that Voldemort is unique in that aspect."

"He certainly is. Do you know--"

"What they are? We have suspicions," Harry said. "We do know how many there were in total. This is the third one that was destroyed, and there are three whole ones left."

"Three left... does that mean--" McGonagall couldn't hide her surprise.

Harry grimly nodded. "Seven pieces. The six Horcruxes and Voldemort's body."

"Professor," Hermione asked, "do you know who to destroy a whole Horcrux?"
McGonagall looked at her. "I'm lucky enough that I never had to do it. I have no idea what will happen if I perform that spell. Dumbledore's hand wasn't, by any chance--"

"Injured in destroying a Horcrux? Indeed it was, Professor," Harry replied. "I hope we see each other at Hogwarts on September 1^st," he added and smiled.