Harry Potter: Love's Second Chance

Dumbledore blinked as he looked up and realized what had happened. "Thank you Harry," He said quietly. "That was...very difficult," He murmured as he sat down heavily. The sword fell onto the desk with a solid THUMP as he released his grip. For the next two minutes Dumbledore sat and did nothing. Finally he reached over and took the locket in hand. In his mind he could still see and hear his sister's accusations. Seconds became a minute and then two; he seemed to not notice that Harry and Hermione were still there as the painful memories from a long ago childhood passed through his mind.

"Is...is it safe now?" Hermione asked trying to sound nervous but the Headmaster didn't answer.

"Professor," Harry finally said when Dumbledore still eyed the locket without speaking, "What did it mean by what she said?"

Dumbledore eyes stayed on the locket for several seconds more until they finally rose to find Harry's. Wetness glistened in them making the blue lighter in color. "Forgive me but there are some things that are best left buried," He said finally.

"Yes sir," Harry said. "Of course. So...it was definitely a horcrux?"

Again it was several seconds before Dumbledore answered as he had looked back down at the locket. Finally he answered quietly. "Yes, that was most definitely a Horcrux," He finally regained himself and sat the locket down on his desk. He sighed heavily. "Be careful when you are searching for the Diadem. Do not try to summon it. It's possible that there are defensive measures around it that might react to magic. If you do find it, come get me before trying to move it."

"Definitely," Harry said. "Are you alright sir?" Harry asked as he could still see a haunted look in the Headmaster's eyes.

"I will be," Dumbledore replied truthfully.

Harry took Hermione's hand and turned toward the door. As they neared it Hermione remembered Hufflepuff's cup. She turned back to the Headmaster. "Professor Dumbledore, I just had a thought."

"Yes?"

"Well Voldemort gave one of his Horcruxes to Lucius Malfoy right?"

"Yes, but I am sure that Lucius did not know what he possessed."

"Yes sir, but what if he gave another one to a different Death Eater?"

"It is most definitely a possibility," Dumbledore replied.

"Oh, then of course you must have already planned to search the houses and vaults of those who died at the Ministry?" Hermione said. "I mean that's exactly what the Decree for Justifiable Confiscation was made for."

Neither Harry nor Hermione missed the slightly widening of the Headmaster's eyes before he spoke. "I have a meeting with the Minister scheduled for later this morning. I am sure the subject will be broached. It must be approached delicately though to insure no one else finds out about the Horcruxes."

"Of course sir," Hermione replied.

"Good luck on your search. And please remember to not touch the Diadem if you find it."

"We won't," Hermione said. "Would it be possible to maybe block off that hallway? Make sure no one but us and our friends can get to the room?"

"Your friends? You plan on having Mr. Longbottom and Miss Lovegood join you?"

"Yes sir. If the room is as big as Peter suggested, we will need all the help we can get."

Dumbledore eyed them over his half-moon glasses. "I must insist you do not mention what we discussed here."

"We understand sir; we can just tell them we're looking for something that Voldemort cursed."

"Very well then," Dumbledore agreed as a sense of elation grew inside of him. With the fact that they had been willing to listen and not discuss Horcruxes with their friends, he felt he'd won a battle to regain the teens' trust. "I will arrange some means to prevent students from accessing that hall, but I do not want to do anything that would draw attention to the fact you're searching for something."

"Yes sir. We'll keep quiet about it sir."

Again Dumbledore felt he'd achieved another small victory and he knew how to win a bit more of their trust back. "Miss Granger, have you sent the owl to your parents yet? I feel the quicker I put up the wards the better."

"I was going to send it today."

"Please do so as soon as possible so I can make sure the wards are in place before you arrive home."

"Thank you sir," Hermione replied. "That is most appreciated."

As Albus Dumbledore watched the teens leave his office, he felt he had regained some control of the situation.

"Another hurdle," Harry said silently as he turned to look at his wife. "Using Peter was brilliant, you're brilliant."

"It was you standing up to him yesterday. You almost had me convinced we were going to Beauxbatons next year."

"Shall we head for the Room?"

"Let's get the owl sent to my parents first and then I want to check on Ginny's potions."

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