The Death Eater's Daughter

Chapter Eighteen - Holy Horcruxes

Indeed, Severus Snape showed up again that evening, just as Luci was about to head out the door to meet Harry.

"Miss Keegan," he greeted her, sounding breathless.

"Two visits in one day!" she said cheerfully. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I have no time for your antics," he snapped. "Do you have any estimate of how many?

"How many what?"

"You know what," he hissed in exasperation.

"Horcruxes?" asked Luci, and he looked around frantically.

"Six, I think," she went on. "Why?"

"Has Potter found any of them yet?" Severus sounded panicked.

"Three have been taken care of," she answered slowly. "A ring, a book, and um... some kind of flying thing?"

"This is a good start," said the head, and then he was gone, leaving Luci feeling more culpable than ever.

Before meeting Harry, she headed down to the kitchen to get a cup of tea. To her surprise, Remus was sitting at one of the benches, a book open on the table before him.

He looked up when she entered and said softly, "Evening, Luci."

It was the first time she'd been alone with him since Fleur's wedding day, since she had crushed any confidence he may have had in her by running off with Charlie.

She cleared her throat. "Sorry, I just... I came for some tea."

"Please don't let me stop you. Why are you up so late?"

"I'm always up late," admitted Luci. "The mind churns."

She went to work putting on the kettle and locating the sugar, but continued, "Are you always up so late?"

"No," he replied. "I'm working on a project for the late Headmaster."

"Aren't we all?" she muttered.

Remus sniggered appreciatively, and she turned to face him.

"This is really past due, but... I am so sorry about disappearing for hours after the wedding and leaving you here... after you sent me off in such good faith. It was so irresponsible and I felt terrible for... for letting you down."

He took a deep breath. "You didn't let me down, Luci. You're an adult. I trust you to make conscientious decisions."

"Yeah, but I didn't," she sighed.

"True," he said with a tilt of his head. "And I confess that I was a bit taken aback by your behavior, but I'm sure that Molly gave you more reprimands than you could have possibly deserved. Besides, you're harder on yourself than anyone else could ever be."

"Except for Molly."

"Perhaps," smiled Remus.

The kettle whistled.

"Well, I still owed you an apology," Luci insisted as she poured the tea and stirred in a few lumps of sugar.

"Apology accepted," he assured her.

She grinned. "If they could all be as wonderful as you... Goodnight, Remus."

He nodded kindly to her, and she headed up the stairs, eager to get to the drawing room and begin another night of feeling alive.

"I was about to give up on you," Harry greeted her.

"I'm sorry," she breathed.

"Did you forget?" he grinned.

"No," laughed Luci. "I got to talking to Remus in the kitchen." She held up her teacup as proof.

"Oh. What about?"

"Small talk," she dismissed. "Now let's see if we can get you proficient on the Traitor Hex before I send you out into the world to fight evil."

His expression went to despair immediately.

"Oh, god, don't look like that," she moaned.

"Um," he frowned. "Sorry?"

"No, it's just... the spell isn't that bad, is it?"

"It's not the spell," he sighed. "It's the fighting evil part."

"Oh. Yeah, that part is shitty, isn't it?"

He nodded abjectly.

Luci didn't know what to say. She wouldn't trade places with him for the world. Yet, she wished that she could do something to make it better for him.

"I could kidnap you?" she suggested, and he frowned at her. "I mean, take you off to America and leave all this fighting evil stuff to someone else? It's the only idea I've got."

"I appreciate that..." he mumbled in bafflement. "But it's my responsibility. I can't run from it. Tempting as that sounds..."

He averted his eyes, and she cleared her throat, appalled at herself. Not knowing how to effectively reroute the conversation, she simply conjured the two pairs of mice again.

"Practice," she advised, and after giving her a perplexed nod, he set to work on the animals.

A few attempts later, Luci pulled up a chair to observe. She sipped her tea and watched him ardently. His glasses would slide down his nose every once in awhile, and he would push them back up, like second nature. He was wearing this intense expression, as though perfecting this hex could save the world. Luci knew that it couldn't. But was it true that he could? This small boy, standing before her, with the blackest hair and the greenest eyes? And was it fair for him to be so young and to have so much on his shoulders? He'd never know what it was like to be a lighthearted teenager - going out with friends, drinking, discussing inconsequential topics, dating girls. Girls like Ginny. Perfect Ginny. Maybe even girls like Luci. But he could do better than her. He had done better. She nearly sighed aloud. He was so dazzling and she just wanted to touch him...

Eventually, he interrupted her ponderings and cheered, "I did it!"

Luci took her eyes from his face to confirm that the mice really were sparring with their partners.

"There you go!" she applauded him, shaking her head to clear her haze. "Nice job. Bit more difficult on humans, of course, but I don't think you'll have a problem."

A snapping noise cut off the end of her sentence. She whirled around, terrified that Severus might have appeared somewhere, looking for her again. Instead, before them, stood a house elf.

The creature grinned upon noticing them and squeaked, "Dobby has a message from Miss Granger, sir, for Harry Potter, sir."

Luci, bewildered, narrowed her eyes at Harry, who was taking a folded piece of parchment from the elf.

"Thanks, Dobby," he said.

This Dobby bowed submissively, his face nearly grazing the carpet. "It is my honor and pleasure, Harry Potter, sir."

Harry was already reading the letter, and he was smiling slightly. Luci was dying to know.

But then something else caught her attention. She was noticing this odd stirring of foreboding in the pit of her stomach. It was almost like sensing that you were being watched. She looked around the room, and her gaze was finally drawn to the object of her discontent.

The elf was now inquiring, "Is it good news, sir?"

Harry responded, "Yes, thanks for bringing this."

"I'm sorry," Luci exploded, hopping to her feet and addressing the elf. "Dobby, is it?"

The creature gazed warily at her but didn't answer.

"What's that around your neck?"

Dobby took an odd little stumble backwards and clutched at what appeared to be a locket of some sort, tucking it away beneath his clothing.

"I just want a peek..." she assured gently, making a cautious advance on him.

The elf was shaking his head, almost maniacally, but Harry cut in, "Let her see it, Dobby."

He gave Harry a look of horror and betrayal, but after a few moments, revealed the necklace once more.

Beside her, Harry sucked in an illustrative gulp of air.

Luci glanced at him. "Do you know what it is?"

He affirmatively bobbed his head.

"Really, really bad vibes coming from that thing..." She pressed her lips together. "Dobby, I'd better take that."

The house elf gasped, shrieked, "No!" and glared hatefully at Luci. She recoiled.

But Harry took a step forward. "Give it to me."

Luci watched, stunned, as Dobby reluctantly removed the trinket from around his neck and surrendered it to Harry.

But as soon as he'd taken it, Harry cried out and tossed it heatedly onto the table next to him.

She moved to him instantly. "Are you okay?"

He nodded, but he didn't take his eyes off the locket. She noticed that he was grasping his hand and hissing softly.

Then he questioned, "Dobby, where did you get this?"

The creature was quaking almost violently, and Luci felt sorry for it.

"Dobby won it, Harry Potter, sir, fair and square."

"You won it?"

Dobby jerked in what Luci thought might be a nod before answering, "From the nasty Kreacher, sir."

Harry gaped. "Kreacher had this?"

The elf gave another jolt of confirmation. "Dobby has helped Harry Potter, sir?"

"Yes, Dobby," said Harry slowly, fixated on the necklace, "you've helped me."

Luci almost tumbled backwards when Dobby gave a deafening screech of apparent victory. Then he Apparated from the spot, and she was sure that someone would hear all of this commotion and come looking for answers.

No one appeared, however, and she turned her eyes to the item on the table.

She felt Harry looking at her, and she asked him, "Is it a...?"

He gave a small tilt of his head to avow.

Luci sucked in a breath. "Holy Horcruxes, Harry."

He raised his eyebrows at her.

"It was a joke," she clarified with a grin.

Puzzled, he puckered his brow.

"Not the time for jokes..." she muttered, disheartened. "Okay..."

Harry sighed. "What do I do with it?"

She looked up at him and bit her lip in contemplation. "You haven't told anyone else about this hunt of yours?"

He shook his head and added, "But Moody suspects."

This wasn't good news. If Alastor seemed to suspect, it was pretty much guaranteed that he knew every single detail.

"Did it burn you when you touched it?" Luci asked Harry. "Like the wings?"

In lieu of an answer, he revealed his palm to her. She didn't even try to stop herself from cradling his hand in her own. Her stomach soared from the contact, but she forced herself to focus on his skin, which was definitely inflamed with the effects of that creepy necklace.

"That'll heal in a few days," she decided, dropping his hand and looking up at him. His eyes were closed. She frowned. "You okay?"

"Uh huh," he answered hoarsely, his lids opening.

He must be exhausted, she thought pityingly to herself. And he needed to get this item to Dumbledore's portrait for inspection. But perhaps it could wait until tomorrow.

She slipped her arms out of her sweater and picked up the locket. She almost expected it to singe her, as well, ridiculous as was the thought. Wrapping the necklace in the cloth to prevent it from burning Harry again, she wondered what power it had over only him.

He was watching her. "It doesn't burn you?"

"I think they burn you because of the connection you have to Voldemort," reflected Luci. "Horcruxes appear as nothing more than inanimate objects to anyone who doesn't know better."

"The diary never burned me."

She considered for a moment. "Yes, but didn't Riddle want you to read it? He would have removed any enchantments that might harm you, maybe?" she speculated.

"I think you know where to take this," she continued, delivering the bundle into his arms.

Shaking his head, he gave her a questioning look.

There was no misunderstanding her insinuation. The only reason for his confusion could be... She gasped. "You haven't opened your birthday present yet?"

"What?" he blinked.

"The one that I gave you," she explained in vexation.

"I..." began Harry sheepishly. "I forgot."

"You... forgot?" gawped Luci.

He waved his hands feebly. "Yeah, I just..."

But she cut him off, "You've had a lot on your mind, I know. Never mind. You should open it."

Harry's eyes grew wide. "But I did! It's just a useless key!"

She stared in disbelief. "Look in the box," she instructed slowly.

He shrugged. "Okay..."

"Look in the box," she went on, "and you'll know what to do with the Horcrux."

He rushed out, and it was all Luci could do to keep up with him. She followed him to his room, where he flung open the door, ignited a light, and began searching beneath his mattress. He retrieved the box quickly, and she observed from the doorframe as he sat down and opened the lid. He laid the little red key aside and dug to the bottom, pulling out a crinkled piece of paper.

As he read it, Luci wondered what Dumbledore had written. All she knew was that the key could unlock the Headmistress's office.

After a moment, Harry's mouth fell open, and he met Luci's gaze. "Where did you get this? Is this really from..."

She nodded.

He nearly squinted at her. "How did you...?"

"Let's just say that I've had the pleasure of visiting Hogwarts," she answered with a small smile.

"I..." choked Harry. "But I can't get into Hogwarts!"

"You were supposed to go with everyone else for the beginning of the term."

Sighing, Harry said, "Right, but I didn't, so how am I supposed to get in now?"

It was a good question. She hadn't considered it. She could only think of one solution...

He must have noticed her having come to a conclusion, because he demanded, "Just tell me."

"I have a Professor's Pass," she divulged after a second's hesitation.

Harry furrowed his brow. "Why?"

"Well," she began slowly, "I needed to get this key for you, didn't I?"

"You're hiding a lot of things from me, aren't you?" he accused her heatedly.

Perhaps she hadn't become as good at lying as she'd thought. Or perhaps she just couldn't bear to lie to him... She inhaled heavily.

He huffed. "Luci, I've told you everything!"

It was true. He'd revealed things that he probably shouldn't have. She wasn't sure how to answer him. She could tell that his temper was rising. She simply replied, "I know, but these are not entirely my secrets to tell."

"Do I even know you at all?" he fumed.

Luci lost her balance, stunned as she was, and clutched the frame of the door. Even in expectation of his anger, she'd been unprepared for how it how felt when it had hit her.

"Harry, you have to understand..." But she trailed off, because she had no excuses.

"What do I have to understand?" he snarled. "Your inability to tell me the truth?"

It probably shouldn't hurt this badly. It scared her how much it hurt.

"There are just some things about me that I can't tell you," she managed. "And if you can't handle that, then maybe we shouldn't be friends."

God, what a ridiculous thing to say! Of course she wanted them to be friends...

"But, yes, you know who I am," she promised. "I've always been myself with you."

She felt burdened to make him understand, to prove that she'd opened up to him and wanted to continue doing so...

"Who were you talking to in your room?" he surprised her again.

She was confused for a brief moment, but then she realized that it had been Harry outside her door that afternoon when she'd heard a noise. Suddenly, she was furious.

"Are you spying on me?" she seethed.

He looked taken aback. "No, it was an accident."

"I can't believe you."

Luci may have lied about a few things, but Harry had obviously lied about trusting her.

Confirming this, he went on, "Who was it?"

She took a deep breath. "Would it help if I told you that it doesn't affect you?"

"No," he said stubbornly. "I want to know."

Luci would have happily given him the answer that he wanted, if she wasn't certain that it would enrage him beyond repair.

"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you."

"I'll need that pass," glowered Harry with finality. "I'm leaving."

Not like this, she pleaded internally, feeling nothing now but heartbreak.

"Forgive me, Harry," she attempted, hoping frantically that he would.

But he just snapped, "I need to go."

Unable to face him any longer, she scuttled off to get the Pass. She was gritting her teeth as hard as she could to keep from crying. She knew that spending this much time with him had been a terrible idea, but her real mistake had been enjoying it so much. Because now, it was over. And the hatred that she had dreaded from him was finally rearing its head.

The Pass was in her desk drawer, and she had retrieved it quickly, but now she was standing there, holding it, not wanting to move, not wanting to return to that emotion in Harry's eyes...

She forced her legs to carry her back to him. She found him tugging a traveling cloak over his shoulders. He hadn't noticed that she'd reappeared, so she mumbled, "Um... here."

He glanced up angrily. "You can leave it on the bed and go."

"Harry..." she whimpered, crushed.

"I don't have time, Luci."

"But you're worn out," she beseeched. "This can wait."

He snarled, "I'm done talking to you."

Luci thought something must have broken inside of her.

She quickly composed herself and surrendered, "Alright."

Then she left him, wondering if she'd ever see him again, and thinking that it was probably better if she didn't.