It's not easy to explain, but . . .

Chapter 11

"Excuse me, what is it that you are collecting, might I ask," Mad-eye spoke up, having been silent, observing, for quite some time.

"Voldemort's Horcruxes."  Rupert answered.

The adults gasped while the teenagers looked back and forth, puzzled.

"What are Horcruxes?" asked Harry. 

"They are objects into which a person puts part of their soul . . . it's very dark magic, from what we've been told.  Usually there would only be one Horcrux made,  as a murder must be committed for the spell to work.  Am I correct in that description, Professor Dumbledore," asked Dan, as he turned to face the Headmaster.  "Tom Riddle made six using various special objects and an additional one, by accident."

Most in the room were staring at Dan and then turning to Dumbledore for confirmation. 

"So, my thoughts on the last one are true, then?"  He looked at Dan with sad eyes. 

"I'm afraid so, sir, but it works to your advantage, as he doesn't realize what he'd done."

Dumbledore nodded and stood by the piano, deep in thought.  Dan looked at Emma, then Tom, then Rupert, who all nodded.

"He needs to know, sir, now, not later, not after you're dead, figuring it out for himself . . . it just isn't fair to all of you."

Dumbledore looked up, shocked, then they could see he was going to argue against it, but Dan held up his hand.

"Not right this minute, but we will get to that bit, whether you think it prudent or not . . .keeping it a secret didn't prove to be such a good idea the first time around, so it's going to be out in the open this time!  You told us you wouldn't take very kindly to being exposed as an, and I quote, 'old fool', but you said you need to be totally open about everything, so there it is, straight from you in 2012."

"What the bloody hell are you on about?"  Harry was looking back and forth between the two. "It's something to do with me, isn't it?  WELL?  Isn't it??"

"Yes, Harry, it's about you, about all of you . . . as soon as we get through this first movie, we can start getting essential information out in the open, no matter how shocking or embarrassing or frightening it is; there are facts that must be known!  That's why we're here.  Don't worry, most of you made it through the first time without knowing everything; it'll be better this time, lives saved, especially, with everyone on the same page, okay?"

"Okay," Harry replied, sitting down next to Ginny, who took his hand and leaned against him.  Molly started to say something, but Emma touched her on the shoulder and when Molly turned to look at her, shook her head no, then smiled and nodded, eyebrows raised.  Molly's mouth dropped open, then she turned and watched her daughter and Harry, with a whole new expression on her face.

 * * * *

"You were right, Dan.  I found him in the attic.  Swears he's been there the whole time."  Sirius came storming into the room dragging Kreacher with him, unceremoniously dumping him in the middle of the floor.

"And the locket?"

"You mean that old, heavy thing we found when we were cleaning last August.  We couldn't open it so we threw it out." Hermione offered. "Kreacher might not have it."

"Oh, he's got it, alright," Sirius growled.  "Now go get that locket and bring it here!"

"Kreacher did not steal any locket.  Blood traitor doesn't deserve Master Regulus' things," he grumbled.

"Kreacher, let me tell you what I know about how your Master Regulus died,"  Dan sat on the floor to be on Kreacher's level.

"Kreacher does not speak to filthy Muggles, shouldn't be in this house, what would Mistress say  . . . " he spat, turning runny eyes to Dan.