"Aragog died," Harry told Hermione who was reading once again.
"Oh...that's sad."
"He wants to have a funeral...but with Dumbledore wanting that memory I think it would be a good idea for me to stay and try for that tonight."
"Okay so then I guess you want me to go to the funeral."
Harry smiled pleadingly.
Hermione sighed closed the book, "fine...okay genius...what's your plan for the memory?"
"Felix Felicis!"
Hermione frowned at him, "you do realize that it's supposed to help you have one of your best days...there's no guarantee it would have anything to do with getting that memory."
"Yeah...well...I gotta try something you know!"
"Please don't tell me that Weasley was the one too..."
"He might have been the one to suggest it!" Harry smiled interrupting her.
"Fine...go ahead. After my apparition test, I will go to the funeral and you run around the school trying to convince Slughorn to give up a memory he most likely doesn't want to remember ever."
"Great! We have a plan then! See you, Hermione!" Harry got up and ran off out of the library doors. Hermione glared after him and sighed knowing it would likely be a long night.
Harry was nervous as he held the bottle of Felix in his hand. Seamus came down from the dorm and looked at Harry.
"Ahhhh mate, is that the potion you won towards the beginning of the year?"
Harry just nodded.
Seamus frowned then it quickly changed to a huge smile.
"Soooo while the brother is gone you decided to try to get with his sister tonight...good thinking!" Seamus grinned.
Harry's startled eyes opened big, looked at him, "W-what?! GINNY!"
"Yes, THAT ONE!"
"N-NO!"
"Shame then...hope however you use it tonight it will be good..." Seamus waved and walked out of the common room.
Harry awkwardly sighed and pushed the bottle of Felix to his mouth swallowing the potion. A warm glow feeling hits him. He smiled and nodded to himself and spoke aloud.
"Welp I'm going to Hagrid's!"
Harry walked out of the common room and down the stairs knowing he wasn't going to run into anyone unneeded tonight. He hummed as he walked. He reached the Herbology classroom and was going through a cabinet that the Professor owned and pulled out a bottle of whiskey she kept hidden.
He smiled more and almost started walking until he saw someone messing around with some plants quietly. Harry walked closer and saw it was Slughorn. Harry was next to him in an instant.
"Hello, Professor!"
Slughorn jumped and looked at him, "goodness Harry...you almost gave me a heart attack."
Harry ignored him and looked at the plant he was messing with. "I really don't like these plants...always a pain to deal with in class."
Slughorn nodded, "a pain to deal with, but it's great for potions you know!"
"Ah...well then good to see you Professor I'm off!"
Slughorn startled looked at Harry again, "AT THIS TIME HARRY! WHERE ARE YOU GOING?"
"You see my friend Hagrid. His pet just died and now I'm going to the funeral!"
"Pet?"
"Yes, it was an acromantula!"
"Acromantula, you say...you know that venom is extremely rare and it's almost impossible to gather!"
"Well, then you can come along! That way I won't get in trouble and you can get the venom!"
"That's brilliant actually."
Harry nodded and started walking outside without waiting. Slughorn had to hurriedly finish with the plants and caught up to him as Harry walked outside and onto a path that would be a long way to Hagrid's. Where Hermione was walking up the hill back to the castle.
Harry waved excitedly, "Hermione!"
Hermione looked up and blinked at him, "What are you doing out here shouldn't you be..." She saw Slughorn trailing behind him slowly. "Oh..."
"I'm going to the funeral and so are you! So we all should go together!"
Hermione blinked at him, "Potter...you're being extra weird tonight."
Harry smiled and passed her, "Well! Let's go!"
Slughorn already tired from walking finally reached where Hermione remained standing stunned at Harry's behavior.
"Ms. Granger...you too?"
"Seems so..."
The group of three continued walking until coming upon Hagrid who stood by an already dug grave and the great spider laying inside of the grave. Hagrid was crying beside the grave.
Harry stepped on a stick and Hagrid turned around and looked at the three. More tears came to his eyes.
"You came..."
"Of course we would Hagrid!" Harry talked.
Slughorn excitedly walked quietly behind Hagrid as he was distracted and started to gather the venom.
"Professor Slughorn what are you..." Harry started, but Hermione interrupted not wanted Hagrid to see and get more upset.
"HAGRID! Why don't you tell me about him...you know I wasn't able to meet him before..." Hermione pretended to care and tried for a smile that was more of a grimace.
"OHHHHH! ARAGOG! HE WAS....." Hagrid started on a long talk about the spider that was hard to even understand over his sobs.
Finally, Slughorn was done and climbed out of the grave. Hermione waited until Hagrid was in one of his breaks between sobs when she spoke again.
"Hagrid he seemed like a wonderful creature...now how about we do this Funeral how he would like it," Hermione spoke softly and Hagrid nodded.
After some words about Aragog. Hagrid buried him and the group went into his house. Harry poured the drinks and gave them to Slughorn and Hagrid who quickly started drinking, laughing, and talking.
Hermione casts a Refilling Charm on the glasses to make sure they kept drinking. After a long, while it was clear they were pretty drunk. Hagrid collapsed and started sleeping heavily.
It was then silent as Slughorn continued drinking now a bit slower.
Harry started to talk trying to get Slughorn to talk. Slughorn humored the small talk for a bit before he started frowning.
"I know what you want Harry...but I can't...I can't just..."
Harry interrupted him, "You know I never knew my mom or my dad...all I ever hear is stories. I hear more now with Sirius...but it's not the same as actually knowing them. If I were to get any wish in the world I would ask for a chance at knowing them...really knowing them. Lily, my mom, I know I have her eyes, that's about it. I know she was, in school, really studious and one of the best in potions. One of your favorites. Voldemort..."
"Don't say his name..."
"VOLDEMORT killed them...killed her...I know it's hard but the ONLY way to stop him is for us to see that memory...that true memory." Harry finished.
Hermione was holding her breath watching the exchange between the two.
Slughorn sighed and leaned back farther into the chair.
"You know I have many regrets...I have a lot regarding that boy...Tom...There were so many times I could have...but I never did..."
"It doesn't matter what you didn't do in the past Professor...what matters is what you do now..." Harry was starring straight into his eyes.
Slughorn smiled, "you know, I don't know why people who remember Tom as Tom, think you are like him...you are completely different...your eyes show so much truth and kindness that he never showed. If anything...if anyone reminds me of him is you, Ms. Granger..."
Hermione tried to smile, but it really never came up past the normal amount, "Sometimes Ms. Granger when I looked at you...it's almost like a replica...from the way you sometimes talk, walk even just the air around you, and your mind...Sorry, this is just an old man rambling now..."
Slughorn pulled out an empty vail from his robes and put his wand to his head pulling out the memory. He slowly gave Harry the memory. Harry took it and smiled at him. Harry and Hermione got up to leave when Slughorn's voice came up again.
"Please...what you see there...you won't judge me too harshly for it...I had no idea what he would..."
Hermione nodded, "don't worry Professor...remember what harry said...it doesn't matter what you did in the past...it matters what you do now..."
Slughorn nodded and finally the two students left.
Harry could feel Felix wearing off as they walked back to the castle. They knew they couldn't wait until morning for this.
"Should I wait for you outside?" Hermione questioned as they reached Dumbledore's office.
Harry shook his head, "no. I already decided a long time ago we are in this together. No matter what Dumbledore says or thinks."
Hermione looked at him, "thank you..."
Harry smiled and then knocked on the door. Dumbledore answered and wasn't even that surprised that Hermione was there also.
"I got it," Harry stated plainly.
Dumbledore was delighted at Harry's success. "Come along you two. Let's not wait until the memory is older," he joked.
Soon they were thrown into the memory this time there was no haze to it, fog, or even the loud yelling of Slughorn. Instead when Tom asks about the Horcruxes Slughorn calmly explains that it is an object that holds part of a soul inside of it after a person commits a grave unspeakable act. In other words, they would never die. Slughorn talks about how death would be preferable and the supreme act of evil, murder is the way to do it. Slughorn then tells Tom to never repeat this to anyone. Tom smirks and agrees.
The three were finally out of the memory where Dumbledore was in thought.
"I do believe that our dear Tom has split his soul into seven pieces."
Harry and Hermione blink at him and he continued, "Seven is considered the most magical number and no one has ever attempted to make more than one Horcrux. This means to destroy him you would have to destroy all of the Horcruxes, too."
Dumbledore walked over to his desk and pulled out an object placing them on top of the table. It was the Diary Harry destroyed in his second year of Hogwarts. I do believe we have already destroyed two of them. This diary of his and his old family ring, I do believe you gave to Ms. Granger here."
"Oh..." Hermione blinked.
"Maybe the others would have to do with Hogwarts...like the cup...the Hufflepuff's cup that went missing, and maybe that locket, and something to do with Ravenclaw. What about Gryffindor?" Harry started talking.
Dumbledore nodded to the sword, "the only known relic of Gryffindor was the sword and that is safely tucked in my office. The snake, Nagini, I believe is one of them. I also have an idea where another is, but I need to do more research on it. You two may come along and help destroy it."
Hermione looked surprised that she was included in that, while Harry looked proud.
Dumbledore smiled a bit, "Now off you two go. You two have a long night...get some sleep."
The two nodded and left.
"It seems the end is getting closer," Hermione said.
Harry frowned, "maybe...I feel like it's just starting for real now."
"It's likely to get worst before anything gets better, Harry."
"Hermione...what Slughorn was saying..."
Hermione held up her hand stopping him, "Don't...not now Harry...there will be a time for that...just not now..."
Harry nodded then smiled at her, "at least you know I'm not as stupid as you like to pretend I am!"
Hermione smirked, "Shut up, Potter! I swear!"
Harry laughed and the two separated to go down and up to their dorms for some much-needed sleep.