Sophia Holmes and the Search for Horcruxes (Harry Potter Fanfic) *Completed*

Chapter Twenty Seven

Luna leads us back downstairs before taking us through a shadowy corridor.

"If you're to find her, you'll find her down there," Luna says, nodding to the other end.

"Aren't you coming?" I ask and Luna cocks her head, staring down toward the dark end.

"No. I think it best if you two talk alone. She's very shy." Luna walks away and Harry eyes the shadows ahead.

As we turn the corner at the other end, we come upon a beautiful ghost, floating in front of a tall mirror. Her reflected eyes look distant and sad. As we get closer, Harry opens his mouth in realisation of something.

"It's you..." he says loudly. The ghost drifts towards us, staring at Harry. "You're the Grey Lady, the ghost of Ravenclaw Tower."

The ghost scowls at him, angry. "I do not answer to that name."

"I'm sorry," I apologise, stepping forwards. "It's Helena, isn't it? Helena Ravenclaw. Rowena's daughter."

Helena calms and studies me curiously. "Are you a friend of Luna's?"

"Yes," I reply with a gentle smile. "She thought you might be able to help us.

"You seek my mother's diadem," Helena says softly and I'm taken aback.

"Yes! That's right -"

"Luna is kind. Unlike so many ofthe others, but she was wrong. I cannot help you." She begins to drift away. Outside, explosions quake the room.

I watch as the sky fills with fire again and see the cracks already starting to appear in the dome. "Wait! Please!"

"Many have sought my mother's diadem," Helena says, still drifting away, her back turned. "Its powers are legendary..."

"But I don't care about its powers!" Harry tries. "Honestly - I don't seek it for myself! You have to believe me!"

She continues to drift on. If the source of her sadness is the story of the diadem and how it led to her murder, then maybe she wants it destroyed.

"We want to destroy it," I call after her. She stops and turns and I let out a relieved sigh, starting to slowly walk towards her. "That's what you want, isn't it, Helena? You want it destroyed."

"She thought I took it to hurt her," Helena says sadly. "But I only wanted to be more like her, clever and wise. She wore it so beautifully, but on me ... I grew to hate it ... the pain I felt ... the pain I feel even now..."

"It must be awful, I'm so sorry," I say gently. "I'll end your pain, Helena. "Tell me where it is and I'll destroy it."

"Another swore to destroy it, many years ago, a strange boy with a strange name..."

"Tom Riddle -" Harry says in realisation.

"But he lied."

"He's lied to many people -" Harry says in an attempt to make her feel better, but her eyes blaze with anger, her face contorting horribly.

"I know what he's done! I know who he is! He defiled it! With Dark Magic!" At least now we have confirmation that it's a Horcrux.

I watch her eyes drift and her face resolve itself again, vacant but beautiful.

"Yes," I say softly, stepping closer to her. "That's right. But I can undo that, Helena. I can destroy it once and for all. But only if you tell me where he hid it. You know where he hid it, don't you, Helena? You just have to tell me. Please. Trust me."

Helena's eyes drift over my shoulders to Harry. "Strange ... you remind me of him a bit..." Harry looks stung, but it gets me thinking. What if she can sense he's a Horcrux - like she could with the diadem. "It's here," she says to me. "In the castle. In the place where everything is hidden. If you have to ask, you'll never know. If you know, you need only ask..." I look back at her, trying to figure it out. I never did like riddles.

It seems Harry's understood it, however. "Thank you!" he cries, turning aways. I follow quickly after him, nodding my thanks at Helena. "Thank you!"