Bound By Blood.

ch.73~ Not even for me.

"I'm on my way." 

Translated Recovered Correspondents between Order Member Alexandra Brooks, to Death Eater Mattheo Riddle, 2003.

The safe house, 2003.

Alexandra.

"We need to regroup!" Harry yelled to the group of us gathered around the meeting table, "Brooks said the Horcrux was long gone by the time she was able to each the second floor, she couldn't feel its magic at all. So now, we need to come up with a plan to get it back," He took a long breath, "Wherever the fuck it is now."

He looked exhausted, strung out was truly and understatement to Harry's appearance. 

He relied on whatever details we gave to him, and he tried his very hardest to piece it together from there. Since he wasn't "allowed" on missions, we were his eyes and ears.  

There were times he could get by with a polyjuice, and participate. But, we decided long ago that it wasn't worth the hassle, that he shouldn't get getting worked up over petty missions, and he should be saving his strength for when its going to matter. 

So, he relied solely on us. 

On me. 

And while I didn't lie to him, the Horcrux was long gone, I still felt the guilt creeping its way up my throat, threatening to consume me. 

"Maybe it's at Riddle Manor," Ron suggested, running a hand through his messy hair.

"Or one of their other safehouses," Ginny piped in, her eyes sharp and focused. "If they moved it, it could be anywhere, we know they have multiple."

Suddenly, I felt the guilt return, a gnawing feeling that tied my stomach in knots. 

And while I knew it was critical to strategize, the weight of complicity loomed over me like a dark cloud.

Focus, Alex. 

Do not let Zabini be right. 

"They aren't stupid enough to leave it there," I finally said, my voice cutting through the conversation, steady yet tinged with an undercurrent of frustration. "If they know we're looking for it, there's no way it's sitting pretty in Riddle Manor or any of their safehouses."

Harry glanced at me, brow furrowed, and while I could see the tension spiral in his jaw, he nodded. "I know they're clever, but we can't rule it out yet. We have to raid it anyway." he said, summoning whatever reserve of authority he had left.

"Yeah, we are going to need a sound strategy," Ron chimed in, his focus shifting back to the table, which was strewn with various maps and notes scrawled in hasty handwriting. "A good diversion, something to keep them off their toes."

"Exactly!" Harry agreed. "But I don't want to put any of you at risk. It has to be methodical."

Hermione, who had been quietly observing, suddenly perked up. "We need to do some research," she said, shooting a glance across the table to me, clearly realizing the weight of my earlier words. "If we can figure out potential hidden locations—places they've used before—we can narrow it down."

Harry turned to Hermione, his expression earnest. "Right, you'll handle that. Start looking up everything on Riddle Manor, any known locations, and any traceable properties tied to the Death Eaters."