Spur of the Moment

Chapter 37

Harry, Severus, and Draco were silent for quite some time after the locket's destruction. They mostly stared at its remains though they sometimes made eye contact.

"Well, that's two horcruxes gone," Harry said and began to pick up the pieces of the locket.

"Five more," Draco muttered and Harry nodded as he put the shattered remains into the cabinet where the locket had been previously.

"Five sounds easier than seven, but it's not. If anything, it's going to get harder." Harry sighed, sitting heavily on the sofa.

"Why harder?" Draco asked, him and Severus sitting on the sofa as well.

"Well, now we have to discover what a couple of the others are and then actually find them. Then there's Nagini and Voldemort never lets her out of his sight since last year," Harry said.

"Voldemort is also sure to learn Harry is going after the horcruxes," Severus added and Harry nodded in agreement.

"Now we also have to figure out how to destroy the horcrux in the ring without doing that," Harry pointed to the cabinet where he had put what remained of the locket, "to the Stone."

"It's never going to end," Draco said dully.

"Sometimes, most of the time, I completely agree. Whenever I figure one thing out, I have a dozen more things waiting in line," Harry said.

"You must not give up. You are surrounded by people who are willing to help you," Severus said and Harry met his eyes, smiling. Severus found himself entranced by the sparkling green orbs.

"I know and I'm more than grateful, but sometimes it all seems like too much," Harry said and Severus nodded.

"I know. Allow people to help you though. It'll make things better, if only slightly," Severus told him.

"Stay one of those people," Harry said and Severus gave him a real smile. It was small, but it was there.

"Always," Severus said and Harry smiled brightly at him, both forgetting their audience who was looking at them with a knowing look.

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Things, in a sense, slowed down after that day when Slytherin's locket was destroyed. Again, it was only in a sense since the normal life of school was busier than ever. The fifth and seventh years could be found studying and working like mad to prepare for their early OWLs and NEWTs. The others were getting ready for their exams as well, but not as vigorously.

Harry found himself wondering where he would be staying once Hogwarts closed. He figured it would be the Dursleys' and that's what Dumbledore wanted to do, but Severus was adamant Harry didn't return to Privet Drive.

"Gryffindor!"

Harry looked up from his History of Magic essay on the witch trials in the United Kingdom when he heard Draco's voice come from the sitting room. Dropping his quill and closing his ink, Harry rolled off his bed and left his bedroom. It was Saturday afternoon and Severus had locked himself in his lab in order to catch up on restocking the infirmary.

"What do you want, Slytherin?" Harry said, crossing his arms and staring at Draco who spun around.

"What? I'm not allowed to come and visit?" Draco said with a grin. "Where is Severus anyways?"

"Where do you think he is?" Harry said pointedly, raising an eyebrow. Draco chuckled. "Do you want anything to eat?"

"No, I just came from the kitchens," Draco shook his head and collapsed onto the sofa. "So, what's going on?"