Chapter 14: The Ring

It was two in the morning when Harry called it a night and bid farewell to a wolf and dog. He disappeared in flames and boldly went straight to the common room, hoping no one was still up that might catch him. Of course, they would just think it was a random phoenix….but still, he was rather reckless.

"Tsk, Tsk, Tsk…" A voice came, as he appeared. He whirled around, wings flailing awkwardly. It was Ginny.

He quickly turned back into a human and glared at her, but with amusement in his eyes. "You really had me worried for a minute. You shouldn't scare me like that."

"You shouldn't be poofing in here like that. Anyone could have seen you. Besides, don't even act like you are upset. Your eyes give you away so easily."

Harry smiled back at Ginny. "You know it is late in the common room, with no one else here…how are you going to congratulate me on my wonderful performance in the match?"

This time it was Ginny who glared at Harry, but he also could see the mischievous glint in her eyes. "Mr. Potter, I wait up for you, and you come back…"

But Harry cut her off by walking over and pressing his lips firmly against hers. When they broke the kiss moments later, he said, "Don't even try to act like you are upset, your eyes give you away so easily." Then he leaned down once more, and kissed her.

After several minutes of snogging, Harry pulled Ginny into his lap and asked her, "So, Why were you waiting for me?"

Ginny closed her eyes as Harry played with her hair, and leaned into his touch. Harry found he really enjoyed this. She then mumbled her answer, "I actually tried to go to bed, but it was the first time since you were unconscious that you haven't seen me to bed. I wasn't necessarily nervous; I just wanted to see you again."

Warmth spread through Harry at that admission and he said, "I'm glad you stayed up. I don't think I'd have been able to go to sleep without saying 'good night.'"

Ginny turned so she was straddling Harry on the couch and she kissed him lightly and first, then the kisses grew deeper as she opened up his mouth and deepened the kiss. Harry's brain was working furiously and not at all. He couldn't think and couldn't stop thinking.

As it had happened a few weeks previously, Harry was able to focus enough on the thoughts that he needed to stop before he couldn't anymore. Harry was torn between what to do, but he stopped himself, breathing heavily. Ginny had also stopped, and they found themselves lying on the couch again, and Harry's shirt had come off at some point.

Harry swallowed, sat up, and looked down at the floor, and Ginny spoke up. "We kind of got a little too carried away that time."

Harry nodded, but his brain was still racing, and he could trust himself to look over at Ginny. After several minutes, they pulled themselves together, and just cuddled on the couch again. And once more, they fell asleep in each others arms.

Harry walked through a house. It reminded him of The Burrow, but it was a lot bigger, yet still had a homely feeling. I had the nicest feeling about it. He passed several rooms; filled with things a child's room should contain: bed, dresser, closet, toys, and pictures.

Je went downstairs, through the large kitchen, and out the side door. He gazed out at the large lawn with a fence around it, then a spacious field, spotted with trees.

In the lawn sat the most wonderful family Harry had ever seen. Several young children—some with read hair and some with jet black— and the most beautiful woman Harry had ever seen.

Harry awoke smiling and completely refreshed. He gazed down at the most beautiful girl he'd ever see and buried his face in her hair. This motion awoke Ginny, who smiled and turned to she was facing Harry. "Morning, what time is it?"

"We've only been out a few hours. Five o'clock tops."

"How come I feel like I just had ten hours of sleep then?"

Harry smiled. "The same reason I do."

"And that is?"

"Because I was with you," he said as if it was the simplest thing in the world.

Ginny just smiled and said, "I guess you're right. It happened last time." She paused and looked down Harry's body. "You didn't put you shirt back on?"

Harry hadn't realized this, and to hide his embarrassment he said, "Did you want me to?"

Ginny leaned into his mouth muttering, "No."

Harry's surprise at her reply was pushed aside as he again became immersed in her. However, they didn't lose control again, and decided they had better go up to their respective rooms to avoid suspicion.

As Harry looked for his shirt, he wondered aloud, "Now where did you throw it, Ginny?"

Ginny snickered, but then was confused as she too couldn't find it. "Er…I think I made it disappear."

"What?" Harry whispered urgently.

"Well, I don't really remember much of what I was doing," she blushed, but continued. "I do remember thinking how much easier it would be to…er…touch you, if you didn't have your shirt on. Then it was all of a sudden easy to move my hands around."

Harry was also blushing, but said, "Well, you are moving on there in your wandless magic." Ginny smiled and the tension passed easily. Harry said, "Well, everything that we vanish can be returned with a spell. So we will find out."

Sure enough, as Harry cast the spell, his shirt reappeared. Ginny frowned, and said, "I liked it better when it was gone."

Harry just smiled as he kissed her goodbye and headed up the stairs. "It's the Hogsmeade trip today," Ginny called up after him.

"I know," he called back, and entered his room, and found Ron already up.

At first, Harry was scared Ron would question him, but was relieved to know that Ron was too caught up in his own worries to wonder about Harry. Harry stared at his best friend in pity as he stared at his hands on his bed.

Harry spoke first. "Nervous about today?"

Ron's head shot up. "What? No…why would I be?" he asked all too quickly. Then he hung his head down. "I'm gonna screw things up…again."

"Like in third year, when you treated her like crap?" Ron's brow furrowed. "Or like last year when you treated her like crap?"

Ron looked up at Harry. "You aren't helping, Harry."

"Well, the way I see it…if she still likes you after all of that, nothing you can do today will change that. Just be her friend if you're too scared to do anything else."

"How did you get with Ginny, Harry? I never saw that coming at all."

Harry laughed. "I don't know how I pulled it off, Ron…but I've never been happier. I can't remember how I went without having her there before. I mean, I have loads of fun with you and Hermione…it's just different, having a warm body you can always pull in close, whenever you feel like it."

"That's my sister you're talking about."

"Yea, well Hermione is as close to a sister as I've got…so if you hurt her more than you already have, I'm going to hurt you…and you know I can now, mate."

Ron gulped and nodded.

"Just be like you have for the past few weeks and everything will go fine," Harry said reassuringly before he left the room and downstairs, again, to find Ginny, again.

Ginny was grinning broadly, amusement dancing in her eyes. "I just had the funniest conversation with Hermione…"

Harry snorted before saying, "And I did with Ron."

Both had been laughing and hadn't heard the portrait swing wide, and someone clamber in. "I thought you two might be up. Sirius told me a phoenix joined a couple old dogs last night."

The two teenagers swung around at the sound of their headmaster making his appearance. "Professor…what brings you here at 5:30?"

The kindly old man smiled and glanced around the room. "I hate to ask this of the both of you, but are you planning on anything big in Hogsmeade? Anything that you couldn't miss?"

Harry and Ginny looked at each other and smirked. Ginny answered, "Planning…what is this word you speak of?"

With twinkling eyes, Dumbledore said, "Good, good. Would I be correct in assuming you could spare an hour or two around noon? In the—" He stopped and looked at Ginny.

"Chamber?" she asked.

"Indeed," Dumbledore said, impressed. "I have some important information to discuss, that I feel you should be aware of." He turned and walked away from the young couple. "Until then…have fun."

And they did have fun. Ron and Hermione came down shortly after the headmaster's departure, and in the few short hours previous to others' awakenings, Ron, Hermione (who didn't look at each other much, but when they did, they blushed furiously and looked away), Ginny, and Harry enjoyed some nice free time together.

Soon, the common room began to fill and Professor McGonagall came to escort them to the path to Hogsmeade. So they left, and soon the four of them were setting out together.

Aparently, Malfoy had decided that the incident on the train was a fluke, and that Harry didn't have anything to threaten him with. So, as the four left the castle, the Slytherin began taunting them. Because it had been so long since the sleek-haired blond had been at it, Harry was having fun listening to the pitiful, repetitive insults as he went through the Weasley's lack of money, Hermione's mud-bloodedness, and Ginny's poor choice in men.

Harry was pleased to note that Malfoy became very upset and soon he stalked off with Pansy Parkinson. Harry decided to play a nice muggle trick on him, and as he walked away, Harry waved his wand, writing "Kick me" on the back of Malfoy's robes.

Ginny sighed. "That was so lame, Harry."

"Yea, I know…"

Ron interrupted Harry, however, saying, "No, wait…is that Hannah Abbott? What is she—no way! She actually kicked him in the shins!"

More gratifying than Malfoy's aggravation and sore shins, however, was the fact that Ron never took the bait. Although, he did have to be calmed quietly as Malfoy affronted Hermione.

Ron spoke aloud Harry's feeling. "I always thought there was something missing this year. Now I know that it was Malfoy's lame insults."

They all laughingly agreed as they walked into the Three Broomsticks, unfastening their robes from the break in the wind. After several butterbeers had been drunk, Harry and Ginny stood and made their departure. "Well, we are off. You two have fun," he said smiling widely at Ron's face, which was more and more quickly turning green.

Harry grabbed Ginny's hand as she winked at a nervous Hermione and exited the building, pulling their robes close, once more at the biting wind. "Ok, Harry, we still have thirty minutes to get somewhere that you can flame us to the Chamber, but let's just go early."

So, Harry took her along the path to the Shrieking Shack. When they reached the fence bordering the property leading to the 'haunted' shack, something stirred in Harry's mind. Both he and Ginny whirled around with their wands out as three curses came speeding after them.

In reality, only one curse was well-aimed. The other two missed so miserably that it didn't matter that Harry and Ginny cast shields worthy of stopping the Cruciatus Curse. Harry instantly knew the source and he and Ginny flat out sprinted to the nearby tree cover that would soon unveil…

"Malfoy, I know you are here! Come out and fight you coward!"

Ginny also yelled as they moved closer and closer to the hiding spot. "What's the matter? Three versus two isn't enough. You need you guerrilla tactics that badly? A true Death Eater, through and through."

"Shut up!"

Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle all stepped out from behind their respective trees, as there was no way anyone could hide behind a tree with Crabbe or Goyle. Harry lazily held his wand out as Malfoy again began taunting them. "What's the matter, Weasley? Are you sick of Potter always saving you? We all remember a certain incident a few years back."

Ginny sighed, dramatically. "Yes, we do. You know the story…Tom Marvolo Riddle was a good listener. I told him all about our little fling, Draco. I seem to recall in my last moments before passing out in the Chamber of Secrets him saying that present-day Voldemort would not be pleased with you. I am a blood traitor after all."

Malfoy had gone white. "Y-you said w-what?"

Harry sighed as well. "Yes, she told me as well, right before Voldemort's resurrection. Then when old Tom asked me about you…I told him the truth. How you were alone and desperate at school, and had confided in young Ginny."

"But that's not true!"

Ginny opened her mouth and looked extremely hurt. "Draco! How could you say that!"

Crabbe and Goyle had begun looking at Draco in a confused and disbelieving manner. It slowly turned to confused disgust. Harry thought that they would never have a look of understanding. Confusion would forever be etched onto their faces. He had to stifle a laugh at the thought of them in their graves, looking confusedly at the people passing by to say their goodbyes.

"I don't know what they're on about," he said pointing to Harry and Ginny. "I'd much rather be with…Snape than her!" Of course, he had meant that he would rather be with anyone than Ginny, but…

Ginny looked delighted with this. "Did you get it, Harry?"

"I sure did," he answered merrily as he waved his wand and muttered, "Tracio."

Malfoy's voice rang out of the wand, saying, "I'd much rather be with…Snape."

Malfoy instantly yelled, "Fernunculus!"

"Protego," Harry said indolently. "Really, Malfoy, is that the best you can do?" He turned to Ginny and said, "Hey, Gin, have you ever thought about how many U's Fernunculus has. Well, now that I think about it, there are only three. But for that vowel, that is a lot of times to be used in one spell, don't you think?"

Ginny looked thoughtful for a moment. "I would have to agree. Arguably, the letter I is used three times as well in Conjunctivitis. However, you did say specifically for that vowel, so…"

"Also, I may be wrong of course, but Fernunculus can also be spelled with a U instead of an E. I seem to recall it being spelled those two ways in two different, highly acclaimed, books. If this is true, then the spell Furnunculus has four U's, which is quite scary, really." Harry looked up at the three Slytherins. "What say you?"

Again, the two body guards looked at Harry in confused confusion. This time, however, they were joined by a very startled, and quite scared, Malfoy. "Who are you?" he asked, simply.

Harry frowned sympathetically. "Poor Draco…oh, Gin, I feel so bad for him. What type of abuse did he take to the head to lose his memory like that?"

Ginny slowly walked over to the Slytherin, who began to shuffle backwards. "What are you doing…get away from me!"

She caught up to him and grabbed his shoulder and looked into his eyes. "It's me, Draco…please remember." He jerked out of her grasp and booked it down the hill, though the trees, and off in the distance. Ginny slowly turned to Harry and shook her head. "Pity."

Harry nodded his head solemnly before they both burst out laughing. "He'll be trying to figure that one out for a while."

So, finding themselves alone, Harry changed into a phoenix and transported himself and Ginny to the Chamber.

"Dumbledore should be here any minute," Harry said, and as if he had summoned the headmaster, the old man appeared through the emerald flames in the fireplace. "Or second."

"I'm glad you could make it," the man said, nodding at each student. He waved his hand at the sitting area while saying, "Shall we sit down?"

Harry nodded. "We shall." So they walked over to the sofas and Harry sat with Ginny, facing Dumbledore.

Dumbledore set the cup that Harry had found there in the vault down on the table in front of him. "Ok…let's start with The Order." Harry and Ginny both nodded, happy to feel trusted enough with the information.

"We have found headquarters. I wrestled with what to do all summer, but I have come to a decision. Sirius grew up in a…shall we just say a well-protected home. It is known as Grimmauld Place. We now hold meetings there, and many of the Order live there, as it is a large home."

He looked at Ginny and said, "You mother and father have relocated into Grimmauld Place and Molly is working on making the place look acceptable. Sirius obviously lives there and helps out.

"The Order is currently trying to keep recruiting of Death Eaters down and the Prophecy watched. There are no other major problems as Voldemort has yet to reveal himself and has not made any rash movements…which both worries and relaxes me. Our inside source," Harry rolled his eyes. As if Dumbledore didn't know Harry knew who the inside source was. Dumbledore continued after smiling at Harry, obviously knowing his thought process. "Professor Snape tells us that Voldemort has contacted the giants, as have we."

Harry realized, sadly, that he had yet to visit Hagrid properly. Sure he saw him a few times a week in class, and spoke with him afterwards, but he felt a stab of guilt wash over him.

"And he has also made a deal with the Dementors. They are to stay where they are until they are told otherwise. Recently, Voldemort made an attempt to get the Prophecy. He didn't succeed, as he knew he wouldn't, which is why, I'm assuming, you haven't had any emotions pass through your scar."

Harry nodded. "That's right. I haven't felt or seen anything for a couple months."

"Again, a good and bad sign. It means nothing is causing him any strong emotion."

A silence filled the room as Dumbledore became lost in his thoughts. Bringing him out of his reverie, Harry said, "So, with this cup here, I assume there is more to this visit than news update."

Dumbledore shook his head and picked up the cup. "Indeed. Horcrux. And if my theory proves correct, there are four more of these out there. Tell me, what do you know about Tom Riddle."

"Greedy," Harry said. "So power hungry that he would do anything for it."

Ginny spoke up. "He was manipulative. He knew how to persuade you without you thinking you were being persuaded."

"Precisely. He manipulated every teacher in this school while he was here, and afterwards he put on a mask of innocence for years until he became Lord Voldemort."

Dumbledore checked his watch. "We only have a short time, so I will avoid the pensieve and give you the short version.

"Where did Tom Riddle come from? I was able to obtain a memory from a Mr. Ogden of a visit to a certain Marvolo Gaunt, last of the descendants of Salazar Slytherin.

The reason of his visit is not as important as what we learn about the House of Gaunt. On the old man's finger was a ring. No doubt a family heirloom. That is what we are after: the ring of Salazar Slytherin."

Again the professor checked the time and added. "We'll have time for a little longer history lesson. Merope Gaunt: Daughter of Marvolo, mother of Tom Marvolo. The House of Gaunt is located just outside of Little Hangleton. Merope fell in love with Tom Riddle.

"Being a witch, and not the most respectable, she had little to relate with the handsome prince of the town. However, when her father and brother were arrested and taken to Azkaban, she used her magic to…coax young Tom. Years later, she felt an enormous amount of guilt and told Tom. He left her pregnant and heart-broken.

"She wandered around London with no food and no money. She sold a locket, another heirloom, to a man in Knockturn Alley. He went by the name Caractacus Burke…of Borgin and Burke's. However, she lived only long enough to give her new baby a name and drop him at an orphanage. He lived there until I went and picked him up."

Another silence filled the room. Harry looked into Dumbledore's eyes and said, "Are we going, then?"

Eyes twinkling once again, Dumbledore nodded and dropped a memory into the pensieve. A house that was covered in weeds and vines appeared and its surrounding area appeared. "You two will make it there safely?"

Harry glanced at Ginny who was smiling. "Yes."

Dumbledore smiled, turned, and disapparated on the spot. Harry again turned to Ginny. "Ready?"

"Of course." And so, with that, Harry flamed them to their desired location.

Dumbledore stood outside of the house, near a door with a nail in it. Based on the blood stains on the door, Harry assumed something had been nailed to the door at one time. The bearded wizard turned to Harry as he transformed back into a human.

"Before we enter…I must ask something of you."

Harry and Ginny looked skeptical, but nodded for him to continue.

"I realize you are both very powerful magically, but I have several decades more experience than the both of you combined. I must ask you to obey me. Do as I tell you, no matter what."

Harry opened his mouth to protest. "Professor, you can't expect us to let you die or something like that."

"Do I have your word?"

Ginny spoke, "Sir, we understand you are more knowledgeable than us, but—"

"Your word?" Dumbledore interrupted.

Harry and Ginny sighed. "Yes," they muttered together.

Dumbledore's beard twitched and he said brightly, "Good. Then let's be on our way. Voldemort's soul fragments won't destroy themselves."

Harry raised his eyebrows, amused, but followed the eccentric man into the house, holding Ginny's hand.

Harry's first impression was not what he expected at all. He couldn't feel any magic around him in any way. "Are you sure this is the place, Professor?"

Dumbledore smiled. "Oh, very sure."

"Why can't I feel any magic, then?"

Ginny interceded by saying, "Don't you find it odd that there is no magic? Even though we know wizards used to live here?"

Harry instantly understood. "So, Voldemort covered his tracks a little too well. There is no magic aura because he concealed it all. But we know there should be some magic here."

Dumbledore beamed happily at the two as they figured it out. "Precisely. Now, however we must find the entrance without the use of magical detection. Logic now comes into play."

They gazed around the small home. Four rooms: two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a kitchen were all that was present. "Well," Harry began. "We can never rule out a secret chamber underneath the home, as he had had experience in that sort of thing before."

Dumbledore appeared thoughtful for a moment. "Indeed. It would be incredibly difficult to hide magic as strong as a Horcrux if it were right here on this level. It would take weeks of wand work to obscure the magic emanating off of an object like that. It would make sense that he concealed only the wards protecting the entrance to a larger chamber."

"So, let's split up and find the entrance."

They did split up, and they scoured the separate rooms for any sign of openings. After just ten minutes, Ginny exclaimed, "How repetitive."

Dumbledore and Harry quickly arrived in the kitchen where Ginny was shaking her head at the sink. "I should have thought of this before." She pointed at the sink, and, sure enough, there were snakes carved into the handle.

Harry looked at Dumbledore, who nodded. "Open," Harry hissed at the snake, and they watched as the sink slid out of place, leaving a set of stairs. Dumbledore lit his wand, and stepped forward warily. Behind him, Harry and Ginny walked behind, taking in the scenery that unfolded.

Harry instantly thought of an old adventure movie he had seen Dudley watching. The cavern that opened up before him as he reached the bottom of the stairs was eerie. The air was very still as if it hadn't been touched for years, and the magic within the cave was dull, but ever-present and strong.

Harry found it hard to believe that just above him was a cold, brisk wind that went straight through you.

Harry once again gazed around Gaunt's Chamber. It did look just like a cave, with stalagmites and stalactites jutting out from the ground and ceiling. A flickering light from torches that were magicked to never extinguish. There was a crude pathway leading to a brighter light at the end. Harry immediately began feeling around for any dangers.

There were some rather pitiful curses that would require no Bill Weasley to break; however, Harry once again felt that dull throbbing in his head as he had when he found the cup in the Chamber of Secrets.

Dumbledore continued on, slowly, muttering words of another language under his breath. Harry recognized it as a revealing charm. Dumbledore suddenly stopped, whirled around, and shouted, "Look out!"

But Harry needed no warning, for he had felt it coming as well; however, the warning came far too late. He quickly dove at Ginny, landing on top of her as a boulder fell, seemingly out of no where, straight on the teenagers.

The giant boulder cracked down the middle, ever so slowly. Two halves separated, falling apart, revealing Harry Potter covering Ginny Weasley, each closing their eyes. A faint white glow surrounded the couple, and slowly, they both opened their lids, and looked around them apprehensively as the radiance disappeared.

Harry looked down at Ginny and they shared a nervous laugh. Slowly, Harry's heart stopped racing, and he rolled off of Ginny.

Harry and Ginny stood up, dusting themselves off. Harry looked up at Dumbledore, and, for the first time in his life, he saw fear behind the old man's eyes. However, as relief replaced the fright, Harry threw a questioning glance at Dumbledore. "What spell was that, professor?"

The relief that had taken residence in the usually twinkling eyes of the headmaster changed yet again to confusion. "You mean you didn't cast a shield?"

Harry and Ginny looked at each other, both shaking their heads, and then back to Dumbledore. Harry always found relief when he saw the professor's eyes alight and dancing, for it meant nothing bad was happening, and that he enjoyed it thoroughly. So, when Harry saw the familiar shine in Dumbledore's eyes, he relaxed.

"Ok, Professor, what happened," Harry said in a bored voice.

Dumbledore's beard twitched and he said, "Oh, time will tell everything, of course. We must not get ahead of ourselves. We just narrowly avoided a catastrophe."

Harry rolled his eyes at the subject change, but decided it didn't matter at the time. "Alright. Voldemort obviously thought to allow only one person through here. We have to be extra careful."

Dumbledore nearly nodded and turned on his heel to continue the trek through the cave. Ginny and Harry shared a confused look and a shrug before following closely behind Dumbledore.

Nothing else happened until they reached the end of the crude pathway. Just in front of them was an endless abyss except for one spot. Across the vast emptiness, quite a ways away, Harry saw a dim light coming from what looked like a floating cave.

"No flying," Ginny said, frowning. "The brooms would fall halfway through that chasm."

Harry stretched his mind, and sure enough, halfway through the opening, a ward blocking flight was up. I can fly, though, Harry thought.

As he was about to tell them this information, Dumbledore muttered, "No, apparation, either."

Again, Harry felt the apparation wards that prevented Dumbledore from traveling across. But I can teleport, Harry smiled as he thought this.

Harry cleared his throat. Neither companion turned to ask what he had in mind. Instead Ginny said, "There may be an invisible walkway that Voldemort knows about so it wouldn't be a problem for him."

"Hem, hem," Harry coughed, mimicking Umbridge. In hindsight, it wasn't a great attention grabber as Ginny had long since been completely ignoring anything Umbridge said or did, and Dumbledore also tended to turn the other way when the toad entered or spoke.

Dumbledore nodded at Ginny. "Indeed, but it would have to be excellently concealed. Again, it would take much time to conceal something that long," he said as he stretched his hand out for effect.

Harry began coughing very loudly, but still neither turned to look at him. Then, he actually got himself starting coughing, and he couldn't stop, so Ginny patted him on the back. Unfortunately, as she wasn't really paying any attention to him, she hit him a little too enthusiastically and he went toppling over the edge into the deep gorge.

Of course, this would be the easiest way to show them his plan, merely fall off, getting their attention, then turn into a phoenix and fly in front of them.

So he did.

As he flapped in front of them, Dumbledore frowned and shook his head, and Ginny glared at him before grinning. Harry grabbed each of their shoulders easily in his talons, and flew across the great gap.

Soon, they reached the levitating grotto and Harry let them down in the cave before turning back into the raven-haired boy with a lightning-shaped scar.

They gazed ahead of them, and there, on a pedestal with a dim light surrounding it, the ring of Gaunt lay. They guardedly made their way forward, feeling sharply with their mind for any more traps.

All seemed well.

The three of them reached the dais holding the Horcrux, and Dumbledore began waving his wand, casting charms in several different languages. Harry was able to track the majority of the spells the wise man was chanting, and had nothing to add when Dumbledore exclaimed, "It's safe.

"Having said that…we know how brilliant Lord Voldemort is. He may have found a way to mask the curse he has put on this. When I grab this Horcrux, I may have something happen to me. If I am unable to make a decision about my well-being, and you are unable to immediately determine what has happened," Dumbledore looked hard into Harry's eyes. "Take me to Professor Snape immediately."

Had Dumbledore's piercing, blue eyes not been so intensely boring into Harry's eyes, he would have objected. However, Harry knew he would get no where in this argument, so he merely nodded. Ginny, too, nodded her agreement.

"Good," Dumbledore said, and he instantly turned around and snatched the ring up.

Harry watched as his mentor blanched and swirled around saying, "Harry, revierto heriontus."

Harry's eyes widened as Dumbledore instantly began moving his wand quickly, pointing it at his hand. Having no need to get out his wand, Harry began to move both of his arms, casting the spell twice as fast.

As he cast the spell over and over again with Dumbledore, Harry spoke to Ginny. "Three jabs, clockwise loop—about six inch diameter—and a flick. Say revierto heriontus at the flick."

Ginny nodded, and also began casting the spell, working her wand as Harry had directed her, but not before she noticed a gravelly, blackness creeping slowly up Dumbledore's pinky, deteriorating the skin.

The deterioration of his pinky started slowly, and as Ginny joined in, moved to a complete stop at Dumbledore's first knuckle. They continued the spell until Dumbledore sighed in relief and stopped. "Thank you."

He picked up the now empty-of-curses ring and sighed at his pinky. "It's a pity…but I'm sure it would've claimed my entire hand had I not had your help. It is a minor setback to destroying another seventh of Voldemort's soul.

"We are now three down, and three to go before Voldemort shall reach his demise."

Harry suddenly froze. Normally he was fine with the prophecy. He had accepted it easily, for he had known since his first year, deep down, that he would be the one to stop Voldemort. However, when Dumbledore put it so easily, as if Harry wouldn't have to even try to finish him off, it made Harry wonder, What if I don't do it?

Dumbledore had walked to the edge of the floating cave they were in and was gazing amazedly out at the strange world Voldemort had constructed. He was completely unaware of Harry's sudden mood change, but Ginny had been right next to him, and she instantly took his hand.

"Hey, it's going to be alright, ok?"

Harry felt warmth instantly shoot through his being and he grinned down at her and nodded. "Everything will be great, yea."

After several moments of watching Dumbledore wave his wand some more at the emptiness, Harry walked over to him. "Find out what it is?"

Dumbledore nodded. "He really was a brilliant man. It is unfortunate to have such a waste of talent. He was able to place this cave, which is really a part of that cave," he said, pointing to where they initially came from. "He was able to put it in this alternate zone. He placed countless wards in the zone, and I doubt anyone but him, a phoenix, and someone who had an extent of knowledge about dimensional transfiguration could have gotten here.

"Fortunately, you are a phoenix, and had you not been, and had I not been able to call upon Fawkes to help me, I could have transfigured this alternate dimension back to its original state, eliminating all of the wards around it."

Harry pursed his lips together and then said, "Should we destroy the ring here, or go back to the Chamber?"

"I will take the ring to my office, and over the next couple days, I should have it destroyed."

"But…Ginny and I destroyed the other Horcrux quite easily last time. Why aren't we—"

Dumbledore interrupted, and looked as if he was choosing his words carefully. "Ok, Harry, Ginny. You two are both very smart, I'm sure you've noticed something is different with…." He trailed off, letting the question dangle in the air.

Harry looked at Ginny and smiled. Of course he knew it wasn't normal. So many odd things had happened with them, and such amazing feelings that he was sure most didn't feel until they met the person there were going to marry. He knew they were different, although, for once, he was glad to be abnormal.

"Yes, Professor," Ginny said. "We know something is up."

"Ok," he said warily. "So, I will state this simply. You will find out soon enough what is different…having said that, I want you to learn about it for yourselves, so I won't answer any questions. Now…you two destroyed the last Horcrux because you didn't know how, and you just did what felt right."

"Right…"

"Now that you know you can do it, you won't be able to do it until you know how you did it."

Harry raised an eyebrow, very unsure the old man's state.

Dumbledore again looked hard at both Harry and Ginny. "Just trust me on this one for now." And, having ended that particular conversation, he said, "We are done here, and Harry, if you would be so kind as to flame us back to the Chamber?"

Harry sighed, and after squeezing Ginny's hand again, he changed into his phoenix form and transported them to the Training Chamber.