Saviour of Nothing

Horcruxes and Bonding

After dinner, the small group gathered in the family room. Severus and Lily sat together on the love seat with James in the adjacent armchair. All three had their backs to the fire. Hermione sat on the sofa in front of Harry's parents and Neville claimed the other side. There was another armchair near James. Harry hesitated in front of the fire.

    He wanted to talk about the Horcruxes. Ever since learning about them, Harry had tried to come up with a way to bring them up. The weeks had been busy, and Harry hadn't known what to say. He decided to gather his Gryffindor courage and ask to talk about them.

    "Dad," Harry began. He noticed the others share a look and Lily beamed, but he ignored them. Severus nodded for him to continue. "We need to talk about the thing the goblins found. The one they removed?"

    Recognition lit Severus' eyes and he turned to Hermione and Neville. Harry gave him a hard stare, hoping to convey that he would be telling Hermione and Neville whether the adults wanted him to or not, so they might as well be in on the discussion.

    "Oh, very well," Severus said with a sigh.

    Harry smirked. Then he sat in the open space between Neville and Hermione. He thought for a second, then decided to get comfortable. He laid his head on Hermione's lap and his legs across Neville's. Harry felt a pang in his chest when he realized it was usually Ron's lap but brushed it aside.

    "Prat," Neville laughed, but he left Harry's legs alone. Harry grinned up at him. Hermione huffed a laugh as well and began playing with Harry's hair. Lily and James laughed and Severus' eye roll was definitely fond.

    "Very well. Have you told Hermione anything yet? You had better not have written Neville," Severus said in a warning voice.

    "I haven't told anyone," Harry assured.

    "Good," Severus said. Then he looked at first Hermione, then Neville. "After Harry's purge at the beginning of summer, we discovered that Harry had - likely by accident - been turned into what is known as a Horcrux."

    At Hermione and Neville's confused look, Harry took over the explanation in a quiet voice. "A Horcrux is a container someone would use to hold a piece of their soul. I don't know they're made, but I do know it's extremely dark magic."

    Hermione gasped and Neville turned a bit green. Almost at once, they both realized the implications.

    "You had a piece of You-Know-Who's soul in you?" Hermione exclaimed.

    Harry nodded. He was sure his face reflected the disgust he felt at the idea. "The goblins removed it," Harry admitted.

    "Is that why your scar has faded?" Neville asked.

    Harry jolted, then looked around the room. Severus waved him forward and took Harry's chin in his hand when he got closer. Harry stood still while his father examined the scar. He felt the magic Severus used and fought a shiver.

    "It not only looks different, it feels different as well. To any adult that has spent sufficient time with you, it will be noticeable," Severus murmured and released Harry's chin. Harry went back to his position on the couch.

    "Should we do anything?" Harry asked.

    "We should think of a reason for the change if we can. There is nothing else we could do," Severus answered.

    "I could say I went down to the Chamber and got some basilisk venom to experiment with. Then something went wrong and when I woke up my scar had faded," Harry suggested.

    "With how upset you were at the end of the year, I think it's plausible," Hermione said, her fingers tugging at Harry's hair.

    "That will suffice. I wish we knew how many he made, and what they were," Severus murmured.