A Living Secret ~ COMPLETED

Chapter 11 ~ Visiting Harry

Hermione created two necklaces, one for herself and one for Harry. The necklaces were made of a slender leather thong, the stones set in a back of pewter with loops on top to pass the thong through. Harry’s necklace had only one stone set in it…Voldemort’s. Hermione’s necklace held three slivers, Voldemort’s, Albus’ and Snape’s.

The next morning she put both necklaces on, ate breakfast, then reported to Poppy to help her take inventory of what she had and what she would need before the school year started. Hermione then sent an owl post to Professor Slughorn listing what potions had to be brewed for the infirmary stores. He would brew them before he returned to Hogwarts.

The brunt of the inventory done, Hermione told Madam Pomfrey she would be gone for the afternoon, heading to Hogsmeade. Luckily, Hagrid walked her to the gate and not the crotchety Filch, who made every little thing seem like a great imposition.

Hermione wasn’t really going to Hogsmeade, but to Godric’s Hollow to give Harry his necklace. Since Hermione was a trusted friend, she could access his home.

When she arrived, she approached the house and knocked on the door. If anyone had seen her, it would have looked as if she suddenly disapparated, the illusion of a thunder crack following her. Harry added this little extra kick to the ward at her suggestion.

“It wouldn’t do for someone to just disappear. It would look suspicious,” Hermione told him.

After a minute, a very doleful looking Dobby came to the door. He brightened when he saw Hermione.

“Oh Miss, I is so glad to see you, I is. Harry Potter is not himself. Maybe you can helps him,” the elf said, letting Hermione in.

Hermione walked through the house to the living room and saw Harry sitting in an armchair, staring into the unlit fireplace. He looked terrible, with dark circles under his eyes and his messy hair needing a cut. He had a bit of stubble on his chin.

“Harry?” Hermione said to him tentatively.

Harry’s green eyes slowly turned on her as if he didn’t recognize her at first. Then they brightened.

“Hermione!” he said, jumping up and rushing over to embrace her.

He smelled horrible.

Hermione coughed and pulled away from him, her amber eyes narrowed.

“Harry! When was the last time you showered? You smell like a troll,” she hissed at him.

Harry shrugged.

“It’s been a while. Now tell me…have you figured out anything about identifying the Horcruxes?” he asked her excitedly.

Hermione scowled at him.

“I am not going to stand here and suffer your stink, Harry. You go shower first and then I’ll tell you what I know,” she said evenly, holding her nose now.

Harry frowned back at her, but Hermione had her chin stuck out in that stubborn way she did when she meant business.

“All right,” he snarked, storming off toward the bathroom.

Dobby clapped his hands together with joy, running up to Hermione with adoration on his face.

“Oh thanks you, Miss. Dobby tries and tries but could not get Harry Potter to shower,” the elf said, his ears flattening slightly at his failure to get Harry to take care of himself.

“What is wrong with him, Dobby?” Hermione asked the elf in a low voice.

“All day and night he thinks about the Snape. Wants to kill him he does Miss. Hates him terrible. Terrible. Is going to murder him if he gets the chance, Miss,” Dobby said fearfully, “Is like Harry Potter is…is…insane to kill him. Even in his sleep he cries out ‘I will kills you dead! ‘ and the Avada Kedavra…but has no wand at night…I takes it from him so no accidents.”

Dobby looked very frightened as he said this. Hermione paled. She didn’t know if it were possible to cast an Unforgivable in one’s sleep, but she was certain Harry had enough hatred for the wizard he believed killed Dumbledore to cast the Killing curse effectively.

She sat down in the armchair that Harry occupied, then leapt up, her nose wrinkled. She pulled out her wand and scourgified it, then fumigated it as well. Dear gods. Hermione walked over to the other armchair to wait for Harry.

After about fifteen minutes he reappeared, dressed in slippers, jeans and a black t-shirt. He had washed his hair as well, but it was still too long.

“Harry, you’ve got to take better care of yourself,” Hermione said to him.


”No, I’ve got to find a way to identify those Horcruxes. I don’t even know where they are,” he said despairingly, then looked at Hermione hopefully, “Did you find out anything that can help me, Hermione?”

”Oh I did better than that, Harry. I MADE you something that can help you,” she said with a big smile.

Harry blinked at her.

“You did? What?”

“First a little background. Horcruxes are vessels, living or inanimate that contain part of a wizard’s soul and gives off a living magical signature. Every witch or wizard has a personal signature different from everyone else’s. Anything holding a fragment of a witch’s or wizard’s soul, will give off a living magical signature,” Hermione said to Harry, who caught on immediately.

“So what I have to do is check for Voldemort’s magical signature…but how can I do that?” he asked the witch.

Hermione pulled the neck of her robes down and showed Harry the necklaces.

“With one of these. These necklaces are made of slivers of signature stones. I have Voldemort’s stone for you. I got it from Hogwarts. The stones were made to help focus healing spells for individuals. Everyone who ever attended Hogwarts has one. I found Voldemort’s in the subdungeons. It will light up and glow warm when you come in contact with a Horcrux.”

Hermione took off Harry’s necklace and handed it to him. He examined it, then looked at Hermione’s necklace and the three stones attached to it.

“Why do you have more stones than I do, Hermione?” he asked, frowning slightly.

Hermione looked a little shifty.

“Well one stone is Voldemort’s. I can check around Hogwarts for you and see if he left any Horcruxes there,” she said slowly.

“What are the other two?” Harry asked her. Whenever Hermione started talking slow…there was something she really didn’t want to say.

“Well the blue one is the Headmaster’s stone,” she said, wincing a little.

“He’s dead, Hermione,” Harry said bluntly, “You’re wasting your time carrying that stone around. It will never register anything.”

”Harry…I keep telling you I felt his power after he was supposed to have been killed,” she argued.

“Supposed to have been killed? He WAS killed, Hermione, by that bastard Snape!” Harry shouted at her. Suddenly he fell silent, staring at the last gray stone on her necklace.

“That’s Snape’s stone, isn’t it Hermione,” he asked in a quiet voice. His green eyes turned dark and hateful as he looked at it.

Hermione put her hand around it protectively.

“Yes,” she said in a small voice.

Harry stared at her for a moment then said, “I want that stone, Hermione. Give it to me.”

“No. You only want it so you can kill him,” Hermione replied.

“You’re damn right I want to kill him. Kill him like he killed Dumbledore,” Harry hissed, madness in his eyes now, “Give it to me, Hermione.”

“No. I want to see if I can find him and talk to him about what happened,” Hermione said, clutching the stone.

“I told you what the fuck happened, Hermione! He’s not going to tell you anything different. In fact, he’ll probably kill you if you find him, you idiot! Now give me the stone!” Harry yelled, rising and walking toward Hermione, a crazed look in his eyes as he stared at the stone she clasped in her hand.

Dobby ran forward.

“Master Potter! Don’t do this…you is not yourself!” the elf cried, putting himself between Harry and Hermione.

Harry viciously kicked Dobby out of the way, the elf flying across the room, hitting the wall and sliding down in a crumpled heap.

“Harry!” Hermione screamed at him in alarm.

Harry in his normal state would never have done that to Dobby. His hatred of Snape had driven him over the edge. Hermione had the means to find him, and Harry wanted it. Hermione pulled her wand and pointed it right between Harry’s eyes. Harry stopped walking toward her for a moment.

“Just give me the stone, Hermione. I need it. I need to kill Snape,” he breathed.

“No Harry. It’s not your place to do it. If anything, Snape has to be brought in and tried in a legal court of law,” Hermione said to him.

Harry’s face contorted.

“Don’t tell me what my place is, Hermione! He killed Dumbledore in front of me! Me! He deserves to be avenged! Now give me the gods damn stone or I’ll fucking rip it off your throat!” Harry screamed at her.

Hermione trembled. Who was this person…he wasn’t the Harry Potter she knew.

“No! I won’t. I won’t let you destroy yourself with hatred, Harry!” she said to him, her wand still pointed at her.

“Fine,” Harry said, relaxing, acting as if he were turning away…then suddenly, he charged Hermione, hatred in his green eyes.

“Stupefy!” Hermione screamed, the bolt of red light hitting Harry directly between the eyes and throwing him back several feet. He landed on his back unconscious.

Hermione’s eyes filled with tears as she looked at her friend.

“Oh Harry. You made me do it,” she said softly.

Dobby hobbled over and looked at Harry for a moment, then up at Hermione.

“You had to do it, Miss. He would have hurt you…not means to, but would. You go now. I will takes care of him. Harry Potter will be very, very sorry when he wakes, Miss…but is best you stays away for now,” Dobby said softly, placing his scaly hand on Hermione’s arm for comfort. “You gives him what he needs. Maybe he will goes out now and looks for Horcruxes.”

Hermione nodded, tears streaming down her face as she looked at Harry. This was horrible. Dobby walked her to the door and opened it, letting the witch out. Hermione turned to look at the elf.

“Dobby will takes good care of Harry Potter, Miss. Don’t worry,” he said to her.

Hermione sniffled, nodded then disapparated directly from the front step.

Poor Harry.

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Hermione dried her eyes and rang the bell that summoned the gatekeepers. Filch came walking arthritically across the grounds and eyed Hermione suspiciously through the gate.

“I heard you went to Hogsmeade,” he said to the witch.

“I did,” Hermione said.

“So where’s your packages?” he demanded, “There should be packages.”

Hermione frowned at him. She was in no mood for Filch.

“Not if you’re window shopping. Now let me in,” she snapped at the old caretaker, who looked affronted at her tone.

“You watch how you talk to me, girl,” he groused as he pulled something out and pointed it at the gate. It opened. It was some kind of magical charm that worked for squibs.

Hermione stalked through and started walking across the grounds quickly, Filch scowling after her.

“The Headmistress wants to see you!” he called after her, “Right away!”

Hermione said nothing as she hurried toward the castle. All she wanted to do was go to her room and cry. But if Headmistress McGonagall wanted to see her, there was nothing for it.

Hermione entered the castle and made a beeline for Minerva’s office, giving the gargoyle the password and watching as it leapt aside. She walked up the spiral staircase and knocked on the office door.

“Come in,” Minerva called.

Hermione took a deep cleansing breath and pushed the door open, entering the office.

“Ah Miss Granger. I wanted to see you for a moment,” Minerva said, smiling and offering her a seat in the armchair in front of her desk. Hermione sat down.

“How can I help you, Headmistress,” she said.

Minerva looked at her a bit sharply. Hermione was rather pale.

“Is there something wrong, Miss Granger?” she asked the witch.

Hermione shook her head.

“No, not really. My stomach is a little upset is all,” Hermione lied.

“Well, then you should get something from Poppy for it,” Minerva clucked.

Hermione nodded but said nothing.


“I just wanted to thank you for the marvelous job you did with Poppy. I am sure she couldn’t have done it as quickly alone,” the Headmistress said.

“It was my pleasure,” Hermione replied, wishing she could leave.

Then suddenly she stiffened noticeably. Minerva’s eyes narrowed.

“Miss Granger…is something wrong?” the Headmistress asked her.

“I…I need to use the bathroom,” Hermione said, rising quickly.

Minerva made a face. Obviously her stomach problem had moved significantly lower.

“Down the hall and to the right,” Minerva said, gesturing to the hallway on the left of her desk. Hermione hurried down it.

“Poor girl. She should watch what she eats,” Minerva said looking after her.

Hermione ran into the bathroom and pulled out her necklace, her eyes widening as she looked at it

Voldemort’s stone was glowing. Slowly it went out.

Hermione stared at the sliver, her stomach really clenching now as she realized what this meant.

There was a Horcrux somewhere in the outside office.

She would have to tell Harry, and when she did, she wouldn’t have her necklace with her.

The wizard couldn’t take what she didn’t have.

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A/N: Wow, Harry’s off the deep end. Hermione is some friend, willing to still help him after he almost attacked her. But maybe she knows it is grief that is doing this to Harry, grief and hatred for Snape. He wants to kill him so badly. Anyway, thanks for reading. ***