Silver Hourglass

Flight of the Chocolates Chapter 23

Harry Potter, age 37, stopped still and frowned. "That's weird." He said.

"What is?" Lucius asked. They were in Little Hangleton, the small village having a dreadful air around it, even in the middle of the afternoon. The clouds were low and gray, the threat of rain ever present as the two wizards walked through the Muggle town.

"It's just, my memory of Sirius must be off... it's as if I known him before I actually met him." Harry said. He stopped and thought "I guess... the younger version of Harry is doing things differently, or out of order. I know that there will be changes but—"

"You expect them to happen at the same time?" Lucius asked.

"Maybe. Or at least stick as closely to our history as possible." Harry said. They walked up a street and Harry looked at the immense building ahead of them, and the small shack that was across and down the street. "I've never been here physically." Harry said, "But I believe I know where we are."

He pointed to the immense house and said "That is Riddle Manor. That is where Voldemort's father and his family lived."

"I take it they are deceased now." Lucius said.

"Yes, Voldemort killed them himself and framed his grandfather Marvolo Gaunt." Harry said.

"Gaunt... I am unfamiliar with that name. Is it Half-Blood?" Lucius asked.

"No, Pure-Blood." Harry said. "I don't know much, but they are the only direct heirs to Slytherin...apparently."

"Why do you mean apparently?" Lucius asked. They reached the small dingy hut and Harry looked at the door frowning. There carved was a snake that seemed menacing, as if it would readily pounce off of the door and bite him or Lucius. Harry looked at Lucius and said "There is another heir. Just one other. At least, I believe so." Lucius raised an eyebrow but Harry didn't say.

He opened up the door and started to cough as years of dust and stale air assaulted his lungs. Harry could see the dust drift about as he walked in, the wooden furniture and wooden floor looking rotten. Everything was covered with a thick layer of dust. Harry picked up a photo and wiped the dust away to reveal a young girl. Voldemort's mother, he thought to himself. He placed the photo down and looked around. "The Horcrux should be here." He said with a cough. Lucius walked in, a handkerchief covering his nose and mouth as he walked around, an aristocratic eye gazing at the poor furniture of the "great" Gaunt family. The shack was as large single room, a bit large than Hagrid's hut. He moved towards the small kitchen area and silently saw the rusted knives and forks that lay on the counter. He heard a small crunching sound and looked with disgust as he stepped on a snake's skin. "There might be live snakes here Harry." Lucius said through his handkerchief. "Be careful."

Harry nodded and moved his shirt to cover his mouth and nose. Harry tried to remember how Dumbledore found the Horcrux, but couldn't. He could remember in great detail where the other ones were and how he and Ron and Hermione destroyed them. But this one, not so much. He walked around the house, the floorboards groaning as he did so. He took a step and heard something thump as he did so. Harry looked down and his brow furrowed. He couldn't see how this one floorboard was different than any of the rest, but still when he stepped on it again, there wasn't the usual groan of the old house. He knelt down on the dusty covered floor, thankful that he is wearing jeans, and took out his wand. Harry casted a simple cleaning spell that wiped away the dust and raised an eyebrow at the floorboard. It looked detached from the others, and when he went to grab it, it came off easily. "Here!" he said to Lucius.

The old Malfoy made his way to Harry and knelt down. He looked into the hole and removed his handkerchief. "A ring it seems." He said. Harry nodded and Lucius reached out to grab it. "Interesting pattern." He mumbled to himself. Harry looked at the ring and dread filled him when he saw the stone. "Lucius don't!" he said but it was too late. Lucius Malfoy already touched the ring and picked it up.