The Cell

Chapter 9: Day 20, Last confessions

A/N: Trigger warning, brief instance of suicidal thoughts.

If heaven and hell decide that they both are satisfied

And illuminate the 'no's on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks

Then I'll follow you into the dark

- Death Cab for Cutie, I Will Follow You into the Dark

"So, you reckon there are seven?"

She nodded. "That was the number he asked about when he first discovered them, and as you're aware it's considered powerful in a magical sense as well. The diary, the ring and the locket have already been destroyed. To my knowledge, discounting the one inside him at present, the other three were still intact when we were captured."

"And you have no idea what or where they are?"

"I have theories about two of them," she explained, sheepishly. "Given Bellatrix's reaction, I'm pretty convinced that at some point there was one in her possession, most likely in her Gringotts vault."

"And the other?"

"The snake, Nagini," she said. "I know it wouldn't be rational to make a horcrux out of a living thing, but he's too attached for her to just be a normal familiar."

"Alright," he said slowly, placing his interlocked fingers under his chin while he thought. "Just to be clear, Dumbledore, in all his infinite wisdom, thought it was a good idea to task three students with finding and destroying these? Rather than the numerous aurors and dark magic specialists in your blasted Order?"

"That's what I said!" she exclaimed, louder than she had intended, sending her into a coughing fit. When she recovered, she continued, "But Harry was dead set on not involving anyone else because of that stupid fucking prophecy."

"The prophecy saying either he or the Dark Lord has to kill one another?"

"That's how he and Dumbledore interpreted it – it was actually phrased, 'neither can live while the other survives,' which in my opinion is too vague to say for certain that that was what was meant. Also, divination as a general rule is rubbish."

He inclined his head in agreement before once more sinking into a contemplative stupor.

"You know Granger, as far as deathbed requests go, this is a pretty big ask," he said weakly, shooting her a scathing look. She had to suppress a smile at his slip, knowing he had been making a conscious effort to call her Hermione.

"I'm not really asking you to do anything," she defended, "but if I die, and if Harry and Ron died without telling anyone what we were doing, someone needs to know. I would prefer it be someone in the Order, and someone not currently imprisoned with no way of reaching the outside world, but circumstances and all..."

"You're stuck with me," he finished. She nodded.

"Draco, horcruxes aside, if you get out of here, if you want to defect... take your mum and get to the Order. Her sister Andromeda is probably your best bet, I'm sure your mother will know how to reach her."

"Hermione, you have to know that there's no way they'll buy that. We'll be stunned, if not killed, on sight."

"You have to try," she pleaded, the conversation from the past several hours was starting to take its toll and she was breathing heavy. "Tell them what happened. Tell them about me. If Harry is still alive, tell him... tell him that I told you to remind him to never use cat hair in a Polyjuice potion. He'll believe you."