The next morning, after a good breakfast with the House Elves, Harry decided begin to write the first letters to both Neville and Augusta Longbottom. Harry had missed talking to his friend in the last few weeks. Neville had become a very good friend after Ron had abandoned him for getting chosen to participate in the Tournament. Not chosen, forced really.
Harry had been so very panicked when his name had been chosen and then to discover that his best friend didn't believe him? That was the moment something broke between them. Harry had been all alone he had thought but for Hermione and later, Neville.
Neville had, from the moment Harry's name had come out of the goblet, quietly supported him, believed in him together with Hermione. Ron on the other hand...
Neville had helped Harry with the second task and after that they had kept talking. They really had a lot more in common then Ron and Harry did. Both were orphans from the same war. Both had very similair memories from the night they lost their parents. Both could have been the boy from the Prophecy. But it was more than that, their personalities just clicked.
Neville had quickly become one of his best friends. A brother. Meanwhile Ron and Harry took a step back from their friendship. Harry and Ron were still friends but the closeness they had before Ron's abandonment was gone. Now Ron hung out more with Dean and Seamus and that suited both Harry and Ron just fine.
Harry still felt some regret that he had never thought to befriend the shy boy in his first year. They could have helped each other. Neville didn't really used to have someone in his first few years of Hogwarts. He had slept in a dorm with two sets of best friends and that must have been lonely. But it was a lot better now. For all of them.
Harry went to grab the parchment and quill and sat down so he could start writing. The first letter was for Neville and then he would start with the official letter to Madam Longbottom.
Hi Nev,
How was your birthday? Hope you got my letter! Your present will have to wait till we can meet in person. I think you will like it.
How are you doing? Do you have any new plants in your greenhouse? My summer is going great! You may have heard that I have left my relatives house and I must say that that was the best decision I ever made. Sirius made a safe house for the both of us before his death and I'm there now. Sorry I couldn't tell you about it.
I'm safe and happy, Nev. Even thought I am alone here, it is still so much better then the Dursleys. We have a lot to talk about when we can meet in person. So much has happened already and we need to prepare. We both do, Nev.
Included by this letter is another one for your grandmother. Could you give it to her? I have asked her for a meeting and hopefully we will be able to talk more then too. I have a lot of news to share.
Hope you have a nice summer!
Sincerely,
Harry James Potter
Harry now had to write the most formal letter to the Dowager Lady of House Longbottom and Harry was nervous. He had so little experience with being formal and this would be the first step in making allies outside of his school friends. He took a deep breath and put his quill to the parchment.
Dear Madam Longbottom,
Greetings, It is my hope that this letter finds you in good health. I, Hadrian James Potter, Lord of House Black ask of you, the Lady Dowager of House Longbottom, for a private meeting to discuss some things about the current happenings.
Madam Longbottom, I need your help.
Sincerely,
Hadrian James Potter-Black
Lord of House Black
Lord of House Slytherin
Harry had decided to be honest about his titles in his letter to Neville's Gran. After all how could he expect her to be able to help him if he wasn't honest with her? He hoped she would respond soon with a date for a meeting. The sooner the better.
He waited until the ink was dry before putting both letters in an envolope. Then he called for Dobby, "Dobby!"
Dobby popped in next to him looking very excited to deliver the letters, "Dobby be going now to Longbottom House. Be back soon with response!" And popped away again as Harry chuckled.
While Dobby was away, Harry should have a talk with Kreacher about the owlery that Hedwig wanted. After that he would write yet another letter only this time it would be for Hermione. Then he wanted to relax some with one of his new books and eat his lunch. After that he would have to get ready for his guests for the curse breaking.
He was a bit nervous about that. What if they spilled his location? What if Bill Weasley was one of the Cursebreakers? Harry was sure that Bill wouldn't be able to keep his location secret from his mother and Dumbledore. He hoped that the goblins had thought about that. He really should have asked about that himself when he had the chance.
Harry's talk with Kreacher went well and the Elf would make sure that the owlery would be ready for Hedwig and any potential chicks she might have. He really hoped that it would be a while yet before she was ready for chicks. He knew nother about the breeding habits of owls and he didn't have much time currently to research it. And he would have to go back to school in the not all to distant future. Harry needed some background information on Othello before he could even begin with approving him for his beautiful owl.
When the talk with Kreacher done he went back to the living room to write an answer to the letter Hermione sent him. This would probably be his last opportunity to write to Hermione since she would be going all the way to France. That was to long of a way for him to ask an olw to take a letter to her. Though he might ask one of his Elves to take an letter to her. That would be brilliant. He didn't want to stop talking to her even if it would only be for a few weeks.
Dear Hermione,
The 24th is good for me. See you in front of Gringotts around three? We can talk about it then.
I never got a letter from Ron. Did you hear from him?
Now about you owl, where did he come from? How old is he? Is he healthy? Does he have chicks out there? Or a mate? Can he be trusted? He's been sniffing around Hedwig and we need to know more about him.
I've sent a letter to some people who might be willing to help us out. I will let you know how that went when we see each other.
Hope you have fun in France. Would you like it if I ask a friend of mine to deliver our letters while you are in France? He really likes socks if you want to do something back for him.
I've missed you, Mione.
Sincerely,
Harry
PS. No, I'm not paranoid. Othello won't stop flirting with Hedwig!
He would give the letter to Othello who was still hanging around Hedwig. Harry knew what he was after. Hedwig was beatiful, smart and very caring to those she liked. Why wouldn't the owl be interested in her? Still, Harry and Hedwig needed to be careful. You never knew what someone was up to.
He didn't expect an reply for a while since Hermione would be away on a trip to France with her parents so hopefully the eagle owl would stay away from Hedwig for a bit. Dobby popped back in just as he watched Othello fly away with the letter for Hermione. He was holding two letters and a package in his hands which he gave to Harry.
Harry decided to open the letter from Madam Longbottom first.
Lord Black,
I was surprised to recieve a letter from you in this way and at this time. My grandson trusts you with his life and so, I will grant you your request.
I, Dowager Lady of House Longbottom, grant the request of Lord Black for a private meeting.
I will allow you to pop to Longbottom Manor with your House Elf. I am sure we have much to discuss. Tomorrow morning, 11 o'clock. Afterwards you can spent some time with my grandson.
I expect you to be on time.
Sincerely,
Augusta Longbottom
Lady Dowager of House Longbottom
Harry could almost feel her disapproving and stern gaze on him while he was reading her letter. He really hoped the meeting would go well and that she would agree to train him in the way of a Lord and a politican. Or perhaps even some curses. Augusta Longbottom seemed like a fierce old lady who knew her curses. Harry needed all the allies and help he could get.
It was now almost the time for the meeting with the team of goblins so Harry quickly opened the letter from Neville.
Hiya Harry,
Glad to read that you are alright in your safe house. Also happy belated birthday! I gave Dobby your present, I hope you like it. Can't wait to see you again. It's a bit boring here with just Gran. She has the war wards up again so no one was allowed to come over.
My summer has been great! Gran has been very proud of me after the battle at the Ministry and she even got me a new wand! The wandwood is made from Cherry and it contains a strand of Unicorn hair. It's brilliant!
Hope you have a good reason for writing my Gran, Harry, because her reaction to it was strange. But I will see you tomorrow! Perhaps I can even show you my greenhouse. It is lovely in the summer with all the plants blooming.
See you tomorrow Harry!
Sincerely,
Neville
In the round package sat a tiny green plant with a pretty golden flower blooming on it. There was a card stuck to the pot which told Harry that it was a magical lily species that had a smell that makes both people and animals happy when smelling it. It was apparently an ingredient for luck and love potions. It wasn't dangerous or addictive in any way so it was a populair Wizarding house plant.
It was a lovely present that he decided to put on the side table so that he could see and smell it often. Then Dobby popped in to tell him that he would go get the goblin Cursebreaking team now. He popped cheerfully away and came a few minutes later back with three grumpy looking goblins.
Harry didn't know why, but he had expected human Curse breakers. He shouldn't have assumed. Goblins were very proud of their ability to do everything a Wizard could do just without a wand. Different from what Harry was used to but often, if you believed the goblins, even better.
Harry stood up from the couch and introduced himself. One of the grumpy looking goblins stepped forward and stated with a slight bow, "Greetings Lord Black, we are one of the cursebreaking teams of Gringotts that are in your employ for this appointment. I am Sharpcut and these are my partners Gork and Dreanog. Where are the items you especially wanted us to take a good look at before we search the whole house?"
With a small bow back he replied, "Greetings Sharpcut, Gork and Dreanog. Thank you for coming on such a short notice. The wards kept notifying me of these particualr artifacts: a locket that's kept in the kitchen in a box, the portrait stuck to the wall by the frontdoor, a dagger in the room with the family tapestry and a goblet and hairbrush in the rooms of the Lady of the House. I do not know what they do exacly but I hope that you can tell me more about them before destroying them."
The goblins nodded that they understood and then went each a different direction while chanting in a strange language that made the hairs on Harry's arms rise. It sounded harsh but beautiful in it's own way. It sounded like nature given words. Rocks falling down, thunder booming in the distance, water rushing down a waterfall just in a language. Weird yes, but beautiful.
It was only a while later that he heard the goblin that went to the kitchen where the locket was stored exclaim loudly in what was the language of the goblins. It sounded serious and Harry started to get really worried when the other two goblins came running back to the kitchen to chant very loudly in the same harsh sounding language.
Suddenly it went quiet and there was a strange feeling of lightness, of a weight lifting of the atmosphere, started spreading through the Manor. The three goblins came back to him while carrying a black box covered in Runes.
Sharpcut looked very serious as he came to stand in front of Harry and he said, "It has been a while since something in a wizarding house has surprised me but this really was a bad one. This my Lord, is an abomination called a Horcrux. It is a way to cheat death that some wizards are stupid enough to try."
Harry was confused and asked, "A Horcrux? What is it exacly and who's is it?"
"A Horcrux is a piece of someones soul. And after feeling this thing I can safely say that this is not the only one this person has made. Luckily, we of Gringotts are able to track the others with this one for a small fee. Do you have any idea who has made this crime against Lady Magic?" Sharpcut looked hopeful as he asked this.
And so a horrified Harry told the goblins the tale Kreacher told him only a few days ago. The goblins looked at each other and nodded.
Sharpcut was again the one who talked to Harry as he said, "The self named Lord Voldemort has committed a very serious crime against magic with these acts. We of Gringotts will find and destroy these Horcruxes. Since you brought us the first one we will keep you up to date for when we find and destroy the others."
Harry was so relieved that they were willing to help with this and that the goblins had an actual method of finding these horrible things. He hoped they would find them all soon so that Voldemort would be mortal once again. It would make it so much easier to defeat him.
He knew that both Dumbledore and Voldemort thought that he or Voldemort had to kill the other but Harry really wasn't so sure. After all the Prophecy said that Harry would have the power to vanquish the dark lord and that he would be marked. It just said that either must die by the hand of the other.
And Harry had spent some time thinking about it and he wondered why he couldn't just 'loan' out his hand. Or write an order with his hand. After all, if he ordered a hit on someone, it was still a death by his hand, right? He would try to kill Voldemort if he had the chance but to plan his whole life around it? His three parents wanted him to be happy and living like that wasn't being happy.
So he would ask for help. He could at least try it for an change. Maybe this time when he asked someone would actually be helpful. The goblins already said that they would help with the Horcruxes and he hoped that Madam Longbottom and Amelia Bones could help him with the rest. To help him train for when Voldemort would come after him again.
Harry was startled out of his musings when Sharpcut told him, "The House should be safe again. The other objects you said the wards were warning you about were certainly not harmless but not nearly as dark as the Horcrux. We took the curses off the screeching portrait that would kill anyone who touched it with 'unpure' blood. It will be safe to remove now."
The goblin Gork continued with, "The other objects were spelled just about the same and we took off those curses too, we assumed you wouldn't want to keep them cursed. The House is safe again, my Lord."
"Thank you Sharpcut, Gork and Dreanog for your hard work. I am very grateful and I can already feel that the house feels lighter somehow now. I also want to thank Gringotts for the work in the future of destroying the Horcruxes of Voldemort. It will make a huge difference in this war." Harry said greatfully.
"No thanks necessary, young Lord. It is a crime against magic that we will gladly get rid of. You will hear from us soon as we find the other abominations or if there are questions."
With that the goblins decided that they were done and that they would like to popped back to Gringotts. Dobby did so and soon Harry and Kreacher were alone in the Manor.
Harry looked at Kreacher who looked like he was years younger. A weight seemed to have lifted from the old Elf. "I hope you feel better now, Kreacher. Your Master Regulus last order has been fulfilled."
Kreacher shot forward and hugged Harry's legs. "Master Harry be great Master just like Master Regulus! Such a kind Master! Kreacher be so thankful! Kreacher be very happy."
Harry laughed with a slight blush and patted Kreacher on his head. He hoped that Kreacher would feel better from now on.
"Now Kreacher, the kind goblins who uncursed the locket also uncursed Walburga's portrait. I could go a find a place for it that wouldn't disturb our future guests but I was thinking, maybe you would like to find a good place for her? Somewhere private please."
Kreacher had never agreed to something so quickly. He bowed low and popped of the place the portrait in his own bedroom. Harry was just relieved he wouldn't have to hear her screeching anymore. He was sure all the portraits in the hallway appreciated it.
When Harry went to bed later that night he felt like he was a lot closer to the happy Voldemort free life he so wanted. Harry would do what it took to make sure of it.