Harry Potter and The Last Horcrux

Ginny walked into her first Defense Against The Dark Arts class feeling excited and a little nervous. She stopped in the doorway and took a look around in surprise at the room’s look.

It was bright. Not blinding bright, but color bright. There were deep purple curtains on the windows. The rug was a multi-colored affair of reds, greens and blues. The walls were painted a cream color and not the usual plain stone. The woodwork was redone and shining and the desks looked as if they were brand new.

Ginny entered and went to the desk in front of the class. As she sat down she looked and saw that she had this class with Ravenclaw. She saw Luna walk in and hesitate too. Luna apparently was also shocked at the room’s transformation.

“This place looks amazing!” Luna said indicating the room as she sat down next to Ginny.

“For a second I thought I was in the wrong room,” Ginny said.

“Ok class! Please have a seat!”

Ginny looked and saw Kathryn and Hermione coming down the steps from the upper office.

“Thank you all and welcome,” she said, “Now I know some of you think this job is cursed and that’s why no one seems to be able to stay in it for more than a year,” she looked at her students, “I’m here to say that I believe that theory to be hogwash.”

The students chuckled.

“But just to keep the rumor mill going I will say this: I will do my best in the one year I have with you and try and teach you as much as I can.”

The students laughed and a few clapped at her comments.

“So since I have only a year here, let’s get to work,” she clapped her hands together and rubbed them as if warming them up, “Now this is a N.E.W.T. level class and I expect you all to work very hard. I am a stern, but fair grader. If I see that you are putting in the effort, I will see that you get your deserved grade. Understood?”

At the nods of comprehension from the students she began the lesson, “Good. Now I’ve seen the notes from your professor from last year, Professor Lupin. He seemed very impressed with many of you and was able to cover quite a bit with you before his death.”

Ginny felt a moment of sadness at the memory of Lupin’s death.

“With that knowledge I have devised a tough year for you all. So be prepared to study your butts off,” Kathryn paused for a brief moment before continuing, “Ok let’s get started. Now how many of you have heard of the spell that can conjure a patronus? For example ‘Expecto Patronum’.”

At least two-thirds of the class raised their hands.

Kathryn nodded, “Good, now how many of you have seen a patronus?”

Of those hands that were raised about half lowered their hands.

“Ok, interesting,” she said, “Now have any of those remaining ever tried conjuring a patronus?”

Only two remained raised. Ginny and Luna.

Kathryn’s eyebrows went into her hairline, “Really? When?”

Ginny cleared her throat to answer her, “Last year when the dementors attacked the school.”

Hermione cleared her throat and Kathryn looked over to her, “Ginny and Luna were members of the D.A. that Harry Potter formed three years ago when Delores Umbridge was teaching this class. He taught us how to conjure a patronus.”

“I see,” Kathryn said sounding impressed, “Mr. Potter’s abilities are more impressive than I imagined,” she looked back at Hermione in confusion, “Us?”

“Ginny and Luna were members. As well as myself,” Hermione said proudly.

Kathryn nodded in understanding, “Very good, then you two should have a leg up on the rest. Now let’s see who can tell me what a patronus is used for? Specifically its use for the ‘Expecto Patronum’ spell?”

Ginny’s hand went up.

“Miss. Weasley?”

“By focusing on a powerful happy thought, your patronus will not destroy a dementor, but will drive them away.”

“Why?” Kathryn asked.

“Because dementors feed off your fearful thoughts and memories, not your happy ones,” Ginny replied.

“Excellent Miss. Weasley, take ten points for Gryffindor,” Kathryn said and began walking in front of the class, “Since this is N.E.W.T. level class it is expected that you should know how to conjure one. Now for those of you who haven’t yet, it will not be easy, but I will aid you with a little lesson called ‘How To Defeat Dementors In Three Easy Steps’.”

“Now first please stand, take your things and move to the back of the class,” she said and waited as everyone followed her direction. When they were in the back Kathryn waved her wand and sent the desks to the side neatly stacked.

“Now put your things down and come up here. Hermione, please bring the chest out.”

Hermione nodded and with a flick of her wand she levitated a large chest from the back office. The students jumped back when it started growling and shaking.

“Now for the purpose of this demonstration I will be using this boggart that has been magically transformed so it will only turn into a dementor.”

The chest came to rest at the front of the room and Kathryn came around in front of the class in the back of the room while Hermione stood next to the chest.

“Step one: Think of an happy and powerful thought. This is the only way to successfully defeat a dementor,” she paused, “When I mean happy, I mean happy. Some memory that truly makes you happy. For example getting a passing grade in this class.”

The class chuckled and Kathryn smiled at them, “Then step two: believe in this thought. Make yourself believe this thought and you will feel happier not to mention make your patronus more powerful. Finally step three: conjure your patronus. The spell that does this is ‘Expecto Patronum’.”

She waved the class back and turned to the chest. She nodded and Hermione magically release the locks. The boggart leaped out of the chest as a dementor and several students screamed in fear.

“No! Do not be afraid!” Kathryn said to them, never taking her eyes off of the dementor, which was slowly drifting towards her, “It knows your fear and will use it against you,” she paused then quickly brought her wand up, “Expecto Patronum!”

A bright white vampire bat erupted from her wand and drove the now shrieking dementor back into the chest and Hermione slammed the chest shut and locked it.

Kathryn turned back to her class and smiled, “See? It’s difficult, but not impossible. Who’d like to go first and give it a try?”

Luna stepped out, pusher her glasses up on her nose and waited. Hermione smiled at the first volunteer and magically opened the chest. Again the dementor boggart leapt out and sailed towards Luna.

“Expecto Patronum!”

Luna’s eagle-like patronus attacked and drove the dementor back into the chest in short order.

Kathryn clapped, “Excellent! Ten points for Ravenclaw! Who’s next?”

Ginny stepped forward, smiled at Hermione and nodded. Hermione smiled and nodded back and released the dementor.

Ginny waited until the dementor was almost on her before shouting, “Expecto Patronum!”

Ginny’s tiger patronus dispatched the dementor boggart quicker than Luna’s and earned Gryffindor another ten points.

Kathryn had the whole class try it and a few came close to conjuring a patronus, but the most anyone was able to do was a few wisps of white smoke.

“Well done class,” Kathryn said after the last student had attempted it, “Now don’t feel down that only Miss. Lovegood and Miss. Weasley were only two that were able to do it. They have had training and actual practical use of this, but you all will get it I’m sure and I will help. Questions?”

A Ravenclaw raised his hand from the back, “Professor?” Kathryn nodded at him and he asked, “How come your patronus is different than Ginny’s or Luna’s?”

“Excellent question,” she said, “Anyone care to answer?”

Ginny raised her hand and Kathryn pointed at her and Ginny answered, “Each is dependent upon the individual and their personalities.”

“Correct,” Kathryn said, “Yours will be unique to you and you alone. For next class practice conjuring your patronus and you’ll be able to try again to see how you did. Also, I want a three-foot essay on the patronus and its various usages for the next class. Goodbye all!”

The class quickly filed out talking excitedly about what they thought their patronus’ might look like. Ginny gathered up her books and turned to walk out.

“Ginny!”

She turned and saw Hermione running towards her and stopped.

“I’m free after dinner if you want to visit?” she asked.

Ginny smiled and nodded, “Sure.”

“Great. I’ll meet you on the fourth floor next to the statue of Merlin.”

“I’ll be there,” Ginny said and left.

Somewhere many miles away…

SLAM!!!

“How dare he!”

“Master please it’s not my fault!”

The tall man turned on the short, stocky man with fire in his eyes, “Not your fault! Not your fault! And just how is it not your fault Wormtail?!”

“Because…” was all he got out before he was struck backhanded by his master.

“SILENCE!” he roared.

Wormtail whimpered in pain and fear at his master.

“You allowed Potter to find you! You practically gave him the location of the last of my artifacts! Now, how is it not your fault!”

Wormtail backed away from the oncoming man, “He’s taken over for Dumbledore… he… he… no stop! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

The black robed man stopped and stood tall in front of the whimpering man at his feet. He was treading very carefully here, as he could not let anyone know where his last horcrux was. If they knew what he had done, they would demand to do it for themselves and that was something he couldn’t allow.

“You are pathetic!” he hissed angrily, “Send for Leon and get out of my sight before I make you suffer even more.”

With a dismissive wave of his hand he turned and walked back to his chair. Wormtail whimpered the entire way out the door, but Voldemort ignored him.

Fool! He’s nearly cost me everything! He thought. He would settle his score with Wormtail later, but now he needed to see his last horcrux and make his presence known.

Harry rubbed his scar and cursed. It was throbbing more often now than it had been and every time Harry started his Occulmency the pain receded to a dull headache. Whatever had just happened to Voldemort wasn’t something that the evil wizard liked.

Harry stood up and walked over to his window in Grimwauld Place, which faced out onto the backyard, and looked out it. He saw a flash of movement on the ground and smiled slightly as he saw Dobby trying to get rid of a couple of garden gnomes. The house-elf had apparently found one that was a little feistier than most and was having a difficult time getting rid of it.

He watched the house-elf and gnome fight each other for a few moments before he turned and picked up his old mentor’s journal. He went back to his desk and sat down. He opened the journal and began reading.

I have shown him Riddle’s beginning. He has taken it with the curiosity that I have come to expect from him. It will be very interesting to see how he reacts to my offer of taking him to the cave.

Harry let out a short burst of a breath. He remembered Dumbledore coming to him about going to the cave where one of Voldemort’s horcruxes was. Harry remembered the rest of that night as well. Vividly.

He was no closer to finding the last horcrux now than he was many months ago. He had re-read Dumbledore’s journal many times over for any references or clues of where or what it might be. He had even used his pensive to go through the memories of when he and Dumbledore were looking into Voldemort’s past and still nothing.

His expedition to Edinburgh with Shacklebolt had uncovered Wormtail at the center of a recruitment for Voldemort. Not only did Wormtail get away, but Harry was unable to get the information about the last of Voldemort’s horcruxes from the squirrelly little man. Although Harry was sure Wormtail knew nothing about what they truly meant to the evil wizard.

He slammed the journal shut in frustration and stood up again. If the last horcrux were, as his mentor had predicted, not a tangible object then Harry’s responsibility of destroying Voldemort would be in jeopardy.

He sighed heavily and left his room. It was about time for him to meet Shacklebolt at the Ministry. He walked down the stairs and into the living room. He grabbed a handful of Floo Powder and stood in the fireplace.

“The Ministry!”

He threw the dust down and with a flash of green fire he was gone.