New Harry Potter Adventures: Chapter 9 – To Hogwart’s

This story does not reflect the attitudes or characters in the Harry Potter series, or have any affiliation with the author.

Chapter 9
Harry and Hermione were sat on Harry’s bed in Shell Cottage, in deep discussion about where the final horcrux could be hidden. Over a week had passed since they had rescued Luna and Dean from Malfoy Manor and Harry was starting to become agitated by their lack of progress.

‘Hermione, I’m telling you, I think he would have hid his last horcrux at Hogwart’s,’ insisted Harry for the 5th time as he started to pace the room.
‘It just makes no sense Harry, it would have been far too dangerous for him to leave it there,’ reasoned Hermione.
‘Hermione, you don’t know him like me, he sees Hogwart’s as I do,’ said Harry, ‘think about it. He hid his horcrux in the underground lake because it was the one place he went to every year to escape the orphanage he hated. He hid the ring at the Gaunt’s house because that was the place he discovered for certain that he was the descendent of Salazar Slytherin. He hid the cup at Gringott’s because he was penniless and saw Gringott’s as a place of acceptance in the wizarding world. Hogwart’s was his first and only home, I’m certain he would have hidden a horcrux there,’ finished Harry with an air of desperation.
‘You make a fair point Harry,’ replied Hermione calmly, ‘but how would he have even got a horcrux into the castle?’ Harry went quiet for a moment, stumped by the question.

‘His job interview,’ finally said Harry quietly, ‘Dumbledore showed me a memory where he turned his job application to be the Defence against the Dark Art’s teacher down. Before he left he could have easily hidden the horcrux somewhere in the castle!’ finished Harry excitedly.
‘But where……?’ asked Hermione quietly.
‘The one thing Dumbledore taught me about him is that he is arrogant. He could have easily thought that he knew the entire secret’s of Hogwart’s. He could have hidden it in the Chamber of Secret’s or the Room of Requirement’s,’ responded Harry thoughtfully.
‘That’s all well and good Harry,’ replied Hermione in a somewhat bossy voice, ‘but we don’t even know what the final horcrux is!’ Harry stopped pacing the room as he knelt before Hermione, taking her hand in his own.
‘Please Hermione; I’ve never been so certain of anything in my life. I’m asking you to trust me……..one last time,’ said Harry in a calm, leader like voice. Hermione looked deep into Harry’s large green eyes and saw a steely determinedness she had never noticed before.
‘Ok Harry,’ she replied softly, ‘I trust you…. I’ll go to Hogwart’s with you.’

*

Draco grumbled to himself as he trudged through a muddy field on a wet but bright morning. For over a week now, he had been searching every wizarding dwelling he knew of in search of Harry and Hermione. Most people let Draco search their house in peace, too scared to oppose him but some people had foolishly decided to put up a fight, forcing Draco to reluctantly dispose of them. Draco also had all this to do by himself, after Ron had strangely gone missing. It wasn’t unusual for Ron to go off by himself, but he had never gone longer than a week before.

Draco wrapped his cloak around himself tightly as he effortlessly hurdled a low wooden fence. After passing through a clearing of trees, Draco suddenly heard the sound of sea-gulls as he gazed upon the deep blue sea, which was lazily lapping against the sandy beach. Draco looked a bit further into the distance and spotted a small cottage on top of a dune. With a sigh, Draco continued on his journey towards the cottage.

*

‘Goodbye Bill, goodbye Fleur, thanks for everything,’ said Ginny sadly as she gave them each a long hug.
‘Don’t worry,’ said Harry convincingly to Bill as Ginny and Fleur hugged, ‘I’ll drop them off and then come back straight away.’ Bill gave Harry an affectionate pat on the shoulder as Harry walked over to a waiting Dean, Luna and Ginny.
‘Everybody hold hands,’ said Harry as they all obliged, ‘3, 2, 1, go.’ Harry turned slowly on the spot and once again, felt himself being squeezed through a narrow tube, until suddenly they arrived in the narrow drive that led to the Burrow.

‘Goodbye Harry, thank-you for everything,’ said Dean gratefully as he gave Harry a bear-hug.
‘Farewell Harry Potter,’ said Luna dreamily as Dean made his way up the drive, ‘good-luck on your quest.’
‘Thanks Luna,’ said Harry warmly as he watched her make her way to the house, leaving Harry and Ginny alone. An awkward silence filled the air as Ginny stood looking down at her feet.
‘I guess this is goodbye then,’ said Harry finally.
‘O Harry,’ gasped Ginny as she suddenly fell into Harry’s arms and gave him a passionate kiss on the lips. They continued kissing, their lips glued together in a loving passion until after what seemed an age, they broke apart.
‘You take care of yourself Harry,’ said Ginny softly as she placed a hand on Harry’s chest, ‘if you don’t, then you’ll be in trouble with me,’ finished Ginny as Harry laughed.
‘Goodbye Ginny,’ said Harry gently as he kissed her hand affectionately and walked away. Ginny watched in sadness as Harry turned on the spot and vanished into thin air.

*

‘They’re back safely,’ said Harry to a relieved Bill once he returned, ‘now, Hermione and I are going back to Hogwart’s. I need you to do something for me Bill.’
‘Anything Harry,’ replied Bill instantly.
‘Spread the word to anyone who’s willing to fight back. There’s a good chance me and Hermione will need back up, tell everybody to go to Hogwart’s and be ready to fight.