Promise to the Past | 🐾 ᴍᴀʀᴀᴜᴅᴇʀs ✓

07 | The Easy Ones

"So Miss Granger," Dumbledore asked as they all sat down. "Where are these Horcruxes?"

"Everywhere, Professor," Hermione replied grimly. "His first one, his diary, is probably somewhere in Malfoy Manor because he entrusted it to Lucius Malfoy. The Gaunt ring is going to be at the ruins of Gaunt house. The locket of Slytherin was originally hidden in a cave. I know one of his Horcruxes is a snake, but it always stays with him so we can't go after it until the very end."

"That's only four," Moody said.

"I think the fifth was entrusted to Bellatrix." She shuddered as she remembered Bellatrix's mania when she was interrogating her about being in her vault. "Is she a Lestrange already?"

"No," Moody said surprised. "She becomes one?"

"Yes she does... But if she isn't one already then the Horcrux might be in the Black vault at Gringotts."

"And the sixth?" Dumbledore implored.

"I'm not sure, we hadn't gotten that far in my time. I just need more time to research possibilities."

"You said there were seven in your time." Moody insisted.

"I did," she said firmly. "However, you Professor," she said looking to Dumbledore, "weren't very forthcoming. So while I'm not entirely positive, I do believe the seventh one hasn't been made yet and won't be if we manage to keep the Potters safe."

"How would you know that if you were never told?" Moody looked at her suspiciously.

"I'm quite sharp," she said dryly. "I'm known in my time as the brightest witch of my age."

"But-"

"I think we can trust her word on it, Alister," Dumbledore said patiently.

"Okay so how should we go about obtaining them?" He asked instead.

"I can fetch the one in the Gaunt house myself. I have someone who can get me the diary from within Malfoy Manor as well." Dumbledore assured. Hermione looked at him knowingly and Dumbledore could already tell she knew of Snape's involvement.

"And the locket?"

"Well that depends entirely on Miss Granger. My dear, you said it was originally in a cave. Does that mean it has been moved elsewhere?"

"That depends. Is Regulus Black still alive?"

"I'm afraid not," Dumbledore said, slightly confused.

"Then the locket is going to be in Grimmauld Place. Kreacher the house elf will know where. Regulus died from defying Voldemort after he abused Kreacher. He'd found out about the locket and got it out of the cave in hopes of destroying it but got taken down by the inferi in the cave."

"Oh my, we should inform young Mr. Black of this news," Dumbledore said.

Hermione nodded absentmindedly.

"Actually, perhaps you should be the one to tell him, Miss Granger," Dumbledore said with twinkling eyes. He might have questions only you would know the answers to."

"That's what I'm afraid of.." Hermione mumbled, continuing to agree to speak to Sirius when Dumbledore asked her what she'd said.

"Alright then, I'll inform my contact to bring us the diary as soon as possible. And then Alister, you and I will be going to retrieve the ring."

All agreeing on the tasks at hand, they walked to the fireplace together. Moody went through first. Dumbledore turned to her, looking at her sympathetically.