Emma Potter; Going to War

79: Horocruxes?

I could feel the Felix Felicis wearing off as we creptback into the castle. The front door had remained unlocked for us, but on the third floor we met Peeves and only narrowly avoided detection by diving sideways through one of Harry's shortcuts. I told him I'd see him off.

 By the time we got up to the portrait of the Fat Lady andpulled off the Invisibility Cloak,we were not surprised to find her ina most unhelpful mood. 

"What sort of time do you call this?"

 "I'm really sorry — I had to go out for something important —" said Harry

 "Well, the password changed at midnight, so you'll just have tosleep in the corridor, won't you?" 

"You're joking!" said Harry. "Why did it have to change atmidnight?"

 "That's the way it is," said the Fat Lady. "If you're angry, goand take it up with the headmaster, he's the one who's tightenedsecurity."

"Fantastic," said Harry bitterly, looking around at the hard floor."Really brilliant. Yeah, I would go and take it up with Dumbledoreif he was here, because he's the one who wanted us to —" 

"He is here," said a voice behind Harry. "Professor Dumbledorereturned to the school an hour ago." 

Nearly Headless Nick was gliding toward Harry, his head wobbling as usual upon his ruff. 

"I had it from the Bloody Baron, who saw him arrive," saidNick. "He appeared, according to the Baron, to be in good spirits,though a little tired, of course." 

"Where is he?" said Harry, my heart was leaping. 

"Oh, groaning and clanking up on the Astronomy Tower, it's afavorite pastime of his —" 

"Not the Bloody Baron —" I snarled "Dumbledore!" 

"Oh — in his office," said Nick. "I believe, from what the Baronsaid, that he had business to attend to before turning in —" 

"Yeah, he has,"I said, excitement blazing in my chest at theprospect of telling Dumbledore we had secured the memory. Wewheeled about and sprinted off again, ignoring the Fat Lady whowas calling after us. 

"Come back! All right, I lied! I was annoyed you woke me up!The password's still 'tapeworm'!" 

But Harry and I were already hurtling back along the corridor andwithin minutes, we were saying "toffee éclairs" to Dumbledore's gargoyle, which leapt aside, permitting us entrance onto the spiralstaircase. 

"Enter," said Dumbledore when Harry knocked. 

He soundedexhausted. 

Harry pushed open the door. There was Dumbledore's office, looking the same as ever, but with black, star-strewn skies beyondthe windows.

 "Good gracious, Harry,Emma" said Dumbledore in surprise. "To whatdo I owe this very late pleasure?" 

"Sir —we've got it. we've got the memory from Slughorn." 

I pulled out the tiny glass bottle and showed it to Dumbledore. For a moment or two, the headmaster looked stunned. Thenhis face split in a wide smile. 

"Harry,Emma this is spectacular news! Very well done indeed! I knewyou could do it!"

 All thought of the lateness of the hour apparently forgotten, hehurried around his desk, took the bottle with Slughorn's memoryin his uninjured hand, and strode over to the cabinet where he keptthe Pensieve. 

"And now," said Dumbledore, placing the stone basin upon hisdesk and emptying the contents of the bottle into it. "Now, at last,we shall see. Harry,Emma quickly . . ."