Since the Dark Lord's major attack, everyone was scared.
It was easy to tell, in Hogwarts. They were all walking around in small groups, whispering to one another.
Worrying about their families, their homes. Their futures.
Even over Easter, with the school half-empty, the students who stayed seemed to prefer to be in company.
It was by far, the biggest move of the war since the night it all began.
The Dark Lord himself had joined the group attacking the coalition in England. A few of them had been left alive, left to tell of the butchery that had befallen their compatriots.
So few of them were left alive, in fact, that representatives of the countries heading the coalition were said to be planning a meeting, where they would decide whether or not to continue their support of Europe, or whether they should pull back their troops and focus on securing their own nations.
' Fucking idiot. They're all going to fall. They should follow Spain's lead, surrender to us'
There Prophet was full of opinion pieces, the authors arguing back and forth over the back pages of the paper. Debating whether or not England should also follow Spain, and parlay with the Dark Lord.
Those arguing in favor seemed to believe that way they would be able to mitigate their losses.
Harry stifled a snort at the thought.
' As if we're just going to forget everything that's come before now. If He lets, I'm gonna keep Weasley for months. Maybe his whole family too'
Those arguing against trying to make a treaty seemed to believe that they still had a hope in hell of winning.
' Fucking idiots. We'll kill you all. Every last one of you if we have to. We're going to rule. You'll all be ours. Ours to toy with as we want'
Interestingly enough, the debate wasn't only being played out in the newspapers.
Alaine told Harry about a large argument that had taken place in the Ravenclaw form. He had chosen to stay out of it, to simply watch, excusing himself by saying he still hadn't formed an opinion. Horatio though, he'd argued for the other side. Saying how if they just carried on pushing, if they fought with everything they had, they would be victorious.
"Utter bullshit, of course" he confided to Harry, as they took a break from the Cabinet repair, leaving Alaine and Meredith to work on it. "But its what they want to hear"
It wasn't a pure celebration. It hadn't been a totally bloodless victory.
They gathered in the Slytherin Common Room. Harry, Daphne, Montague, Warrington, Andrea, Meredith.
All of them who were there.
Harry raised his glass, the firewhisky throwing up sparks as it sloshed from side to side.
"They were good guys. I-I can't say I knew any of our other people who died. I met Mucliber and Macnair, but I didn't know them. And I don't know if any of you knew Barty, but he was cool. He was really cool. Knew his stuff, he did. He taught me and Draco, one summer"
He took a sip, remembering Barty. How alive he had been, even after Azkaban. Even after what his father did to him.
And now he was dead.
"But we all knew Flint and Avery. They were ours. Our friends. Our roommates. And they're dead. Good deaths, in the service of our Lord. But they're dead"
He looked around the circle, seeing his own impotent fury reflected back at him.
"Let's make them pay for what they did"
"I'll drink to that" Warrington rumbled, knocking back his drink.
They all followed suit.
"So why didn't you go home for the break?"
Andrea sighed, putting down her book.
She stayed silent for a few long minutes before finally talking.
"I-I wasn't sure if I could do that. Be there without-without k-killing him"
"Your father?"
She nodded, biting her lip.
"So why don't you?"
She looked at him, her mouth dropping open in shock.
"I-I can't just-just-"
"Why not? You hate him, don't you?"
"It would-it would kill my mother"
"Ah," He said, nodding as understanding dawned. "And you still love her"
"Kinda. It's-it's weird. The whole situation is weird"
"Listen. You thought of him when you cast the Cruciatus, didn't you?"
She nodded silently.
"If you hate him that much, you should kill him. He doesn't deserve your mercy. He doesn't deserve to live"
He dropped his voice to a conspiratorial whisper.
"And it'll feel really good. Afterward too. Trust me on this"
"You-you?"
"That orphanage didn't burn down on its own," he said with a wink, his eye pulling his scar up as it closed and opened.
She didn't reply. She just sat there, deep in thought.
"Muggles. They don't deserve our mercy. They exist for our pleasure. And killing them. It's the best way to achieve that. Just a word to the wise"
They finished the Cabinet's repairs the next day.
Harry stood there, mouth hanging slightly open as Alaine finished the charms, and a silvery penumbra surrounded the Cabinet.
"Fuck yeah!" He roared. "It's done!"
Around him, Meredith and Horatio started clapping. Alaine just looked overwhelmed.
' Well, he did most of the work'
Harry clapped him on the back so hard he almost knocked the older boy over.
"Well done! You're gonna be rewarded for this, I promise you that!"
"I-I-thanks. We-we still need to test it"
"Yeah. Right. Give me a minute"
He walked a bit away from the group, pulling the mirror out of his pocket.
" $My lord?$"
Almost immediately, Voldemort's face appeared.
" $The Cabinet. We're done. It's repaired$"
Voldemort's lips split into an enormous smile.
" $Excellent. Excellent work, Harry$"
" $Alaine did most of it, my lord. I promised him a reward$"
" $And it shall be granted. He has Lord Voldemort's gratitude. I will call Lucius. You will be contacted by him from within Borgin and Burke's. it should be soon$"
"Hey, Alaine"
Alaine turned at the call.
"You have our lord's gratitude. And he said we just need to wait a few minutes before we can test it. He's sending someone to Borgin and Burke's now"
As he waited, he heard Meredith ask in bewilderment.
"Did-did he just call up the Dark Lord? Just like that?"
He smiled at Alaine's response.
"Harry's a special case"
' If only you knew'
When the mirror heated up a few minutes later, Lucius was on the other side.
"Harry" he greeted warmly. "How have you been?"
"Quite good. Even better, now"
Lucius smiled. "Yes. Well done. To all of you. He is most pleased"
Harry just nodded.
' Don't tell me things I already know'
"Are you in Borgin and Burke's?"
Lucius nodded.
"Great"
Harry walked over to the Cabinet and conjured a rabbit.
"I'm gonna send a rabbit through our side. You ready?"
"The doors are closed here. Put it in and close the doors on your side when you're ready"
Harry did so.
' It better fucking work. Or I'll cut Alaine's balls off'
"It's through"
Lucius nodded again. He aimed the mirror toward the dusty cabinet on his side of the mirror.
Everyone crowded around Harry, staring as a thousand kilometers away, a Cabinet's doors were thrown open.
And a rabbit hopped out.
The cheers were almost deafening.
"FUCKING YES! IT WORKED!"
"I'm going to send it back. Just to be sure"
"Good idea"
"It's through"
They opened the doors in the Room, and the rabbit hopped out, perfectly healthy.
"Wow"
"Well done. All of you, well done. Your work will not be forgotten"
"We should test it with a person. To be certain" Harry said, addressing Lucius again.
"That may prove to be wise," Lucius said, stroking his chin.
' I fucking know it's wise, that's why I said it. Pompous twat'
' That's Lucius Malfoy! You like him. You respect him. Don't you?'
"Just get someone off of the street," Harry said, ignoring his internal debate. "I'll deal with them afterward, just send them here"
"That may be-"
"I don't care how empty Knockturn is these days. There must be someone walking around. Send them here, Lucius"
Lucius closed his eyes in resignation, the shock at being interrupted vanishing off of his face in an instant.
"I'll be back shortly" he promised, and the mirror went blank.
' If He starts laying the trap tonight. How long will it take? Until we spring it? A week? Two? And then I'll be free'
The mirror heated up again, and Lucius appeared, walking with a glassy-eyed, scruffy wizard.
"The doors are closed on your side?"
Harry glanced at them and nodded back.
"Go into the Cabinet" Lucius ordered, prodding the man with his wand.
A second after the Cabinet doors closed in London, Harry opened them in Scotland.
And the scruffy wizard stumbled out of the Cabinet.
His eyes alight with glee, Harry spoke to Lucius, not looking away from the new arrival.
"Awesome. Th-thank you, Mr. Malfoy. Thank you"
"It's my pleasure," Lucius said graciously if a bit stiffly.
"Could you-could you remove the Imperius please?"
A look of uncertainty flashed its way across Lucius' perfectly polished features.
"Remove the Imperius?"
"It's no fun if he doesn't scream" Harry explained, still not looking at the mirror.
Lucius nodded slowly.
"Very well. In 3-2-1"
The wizard's eyes cleared. He scrabbled at the floor. At Harry's feet.
"Pl-please. I-I won't tell anyone. Honest! I never-"
"I know. You won't. Crucio"
He kept the curse going until the cries had mutated into hoarse hooting noises.
At some point, Lucius had ended the connection. He stuffed the mirror into his pocket with sweaty hands, and turned around, panting slightly.
"I think-I think we should all have a turn. To celebrate. It's a good bonding experience"
Meredith and Alaine both looked caught somewhere in between disgust and intrigue.
And Horatio. He looked excited.
"Horatio? You want a go?"
The Ravenclaw nodded,
"Go ahead," Harry said with a theatrical wave.
"P-p-pl-please. Please, don't-"
"Crucio!"
And the wizard screamed again.
Harry gave it a few minutes before ordering Horatio to stop.
"Let's give it a few minutes to recover. Then you, Alaine, then Meredith. And I'll finish it off"
Meredith swallowed loudly. "Harry, I don't know if-"
"You're gonna do it, Meredith. All right?" He said, cutting her off before she could even finish her sentence.
Face set, she nodded grimly.
There was no begging when it came Meredith's chance.
The wizard lay there, shaking like mad from Alaine's Crucio, it's eyes unfocused.
With a hitch in her breath, she raised her wand.
"C-Crucio!"
And the screams were music to Harry's ears.
When Meredith had finished, shaking so bad it looked like she had been under it herself, Harry had another chance. Of course, the stupid fucking waste of life chose then to lose its mind.
"Fuck!" He screamed, kicking it.
It barely moved under his assault.
"Fucking stupid thing" he grumbled, going through the motions "Avada Kedavra"
And the nameless wizard died.
"Well," He said, clapping his hands together. "That was fun. Hopefully, we'll get another chance soon"
None of them answered him. But Horatio was still grinning madly.
"Alaine. Take care of this. Transfigure it into something and then vanish it. Cool. Good work, everyone. Fucking amazing"
Whistling to himself, he walked out of the Room, leaving the shell-shocked group behind.
At dinner that evening, still coasting on the waves of ecstasy from the afternoon's activities, Harry found his mind wandering.
He was trying to read the Evening Prophet, and he found he couldn't focus on it. Not properly.
And it was an interesting article, too. Apparently, the Wizengamot had decided to grant the Goblin Nation representation. Not just that, but they were beginning to implement a system where Goblin property law would be considered equal to wizarding law.
It was obvious why they were making such sweeping changes. They wanted to pull the Goblins into the war.
' Well, if the Goblins are dumb enough to oppose us, we'll destroy all of them. Fucking monstrous creatures'
Interesting as it was, and as much as he wanted to think about what the outcome of it would be, he couldn't concentrate.
He kept thinking about how it would be. So soon, and he would have Dumbledore writhing under his wand.
' But fuck, I want it now!'
Of course, during dinner, Diggory had to make his way over to him, stopping to give his apparently customary greeting to the Gryffindors on the way.
He wasn't as subtle this time, instead simply dropping the tightly wrapped scroll into Harry's lap with a smile and a "good evening, Harry"
He shared a worried look with Daphne.
' If he somehow found out about today. I'll have to kill him tonight. Before he can kill me. I've got to be ready'
Dumbledore looked absolutely exhausted.
"Good evening, Harry. I hope the holiday has been treating you well?"
Harry plastered a large smile across his face and nodded.
"It's been great"
' Especially today'
His wand stayed aimed directly at Dumbledore under the table.
"Today, I was finally sent a memory I have been waiting a long time for. It is, without a doubt, the most important out of all the memories I have shown you, and it should answer all the questions you have been asking"
' This should be interesting'
"Whose memory is it, sir?"
"An old friend of mine. A former head of Slytherin house and Potions Professor by the name of Horace Slughorn"
The Pensieve floated out of the cupboard behind him and onto the table.
"Let's see what Horace has to tell us" Dumbledore murmured, motioning to Harry to enter the memory.
He kept his shock from showing on his face when he settled back into his chair. Kept his shaking hand from firing off a curse without his input.
' He knows how many He made. Does he-does he-'
"So-so he made Horcruxes?" He asked, allowing his voice to tremble a bit. It would seem natural.
Dumbledore nodded gravely, the shadows catching his face.
"So the-the stuff that he was collecting? That's what it was for?"
"So it would appear"
"But-but that's only three things! The cup, the ring, and the locket. What about the other four?"
"I believe," Dumbledore said, speaking as calmly as he ever had, "that Voldemort planned to only make six, and to keep the seventh part of his soul within his body"
"So-so what about the other three? He-he can't die until they're destroyed, right? That's why you broke the ring?"
' You fucking asshole. Try me. Just try me'
His hand felt slippery on his wand.
"Indeed. I am unsure as to whether or not he had made all six. I believe he may have been planning to use your death, when you were but a baby, to create his sixth. Nevertheless, we must work on the assumption that he has made six altogether"
' If he knows about me. If he knows, he's gonna try to kill me'
"I believe, however, that I know of at least two of his other Horcruxes"
"W-what are they?"
On his perch, Fawkes shifted, throwing Dumbledore's face into shadow for a moment.
"Do you know of the lost diadem of Ravenclaw?"
Harry shook his head, mutely.
"It has been lost since the time of Rowena herself. It was said to give all sorts of wondrous benefits to the wearer, increased intelligence and the like. But to Voldemort, what would have been most attractive was that it was made by Rowena Ravenclaw herself"
"But-but if it's been lost since then, how could he get it?"
"The Grey Lady. The Ravenclaw house ghost is none other than Helena Ravenclaw, daughter of Rowena. And recently, I managed to convince Helena to confide in me"
' Fuck. But it's still safe, the ward hasn't done anything'
' But surely Dumbledore would be able to avoid it?'
His insides began roiling as Dumbledore continued.
"She admitted to telling a young Voldemort where she had hidden the diadem. There is next to no chance that he would have left it unclaimed"
"Do you-do you know where it is?"
Dumbledore shook his head regretfully, easing harry's tension.
' Unless he's lying to you'
"I am following a lead on one of the Horcruxes. But I believe that to be the locket"
"And-and the other one? The fifth one?"
"Ah, the fifth Horcrux. The one I have the least direct evidence of, and yet am most certain of. Have you heard of Herpo the Foul?"
"I-I think so. He created the first basilisk, didn't he?"
Dumbledore nodded, eyes twinkling.
"Indeed. He was a Parselmouth. And an exceptionally brutal, cruel wizard. And it was he who brought the knowledge of Horcruxes from Egypt and into Europe. And while Voldemort was working as a store clerk in Borgin and Burke's, a handwritten book of Herpo's was discovered, and given to the Department of Mysteries for study"
Dumbledore leaned back in his chair slightly, pulling at his beard.
"And the book was stolen, with the thief never being discovered. And it has not resurfaced since. I believe it would have been most attractive to Voldemort, turning the book of a wizard who in many ways, he surely viewed as a predecessor, into his means for immortality"
' I don't think I've ever heard Him mention Herpo. He's spoken about Erkizidis, but I don't think ever Herpo'
"Regardless. That is our mission. To discover the location of Voldemort's Horcruxes, and destroy them, rendering him mortal"
' You want to destroy all of them? Me included?'
He managed to hold in his giggles.
' I can't wait till I've killed you. Till you're fucking dead'
"You may have been wondering why I've been telling you all of this" Dumbledore said, steepling his fingers.
' Because you want to convince me to just hand myself over to you to be killed?'
"I have, sir"
Dumbledore sighed, his healthy hand running itself over his withered one.
"None of us know when our time on this earth will be up. And I need to know that I have left someone I can trust behind, to take over what I couldn't finish. If I do not finish before my eventual death"
' I swear to you. You won't finish it before your death'
Harry nodded solemnly.
' I swear it'
" $So. Dumbledore believes I am in possession of the book of Herpo and have turned it into a Horcrux?$"
" $Yes$"
Voldemort laughed.
"$If only. I too was never able to discover who had taken that book and what they did with it. You say the diadem was exactly where you had left it?$"
" $Yes, my lord$"
" $Good. So Dumbledore only knows of its existence, nothing more substantial. Let this be a lesson to you, Harry. Always tie up loose ends. Had I killed, or at the very least obliviated Slughorn, Dumbledore would have no proof as to the number of Horcruxes I planned to create. Had I exorcised the Grey Lady, he would not know of my finding the diadem. Always tie up loose ends. I was foolish, in my youth. But I learned from my mistakes. See that you do the same$"
" $I-I will, my lord$"
" $Excellent. You truly are my protege, Harry. You have achieved so much more than any other who ever served me. I am blessed to be able to count one such as you amongst my followers. And Daphne as well has served me well. In the new world, you two shall be as a king and queen among commoners. $"
" $Th-thank you, my lord. But the-the honor is mine. Is ours$"
Voldemort smiled, saying nothing.
" $My lord-if I may ask, how is the war going?$"
" $Very, very well. I believe the coalition is going to pull out of Europe, and in essence, surrender this continent to me. A group in Korea have sprung forth, swearing allegiance to me and joining arms with our force in Japan. And I have begun laying the trap for Dumbledore$"
" $And the-the Goblins? Are they-$"
" $Miserable wretches. They will likely join the ministry in opposition to me. And I will eradicate every last one of their disgusting, subhuman, ignoble species$"
Voldemort smiled again, his lips pulling apart in a horrific parody of happiness.
" $Their corpses will rot where they fall. Perhaps I will feed them to the few muggles I keep alive$"
Harry joined his Lord in laughter, sounding innocent and carefree.