Harry's Grief - 8

"Fred has a point," George said, kicking his foot against the table. "I mean…Voldemort does tend to come after Harry. Look at the lengths he went to get him into that graveyard."

Aunt Petunia flinched, cocking her head to the side. Harry could see she was curious, despite the fact that Harry was the subject. He again wondered how much she really knew about the Wizarding world.

"Yeah, and that place wasn't far from where he'd been hiding at the time," Ron said. "Most people don't know that."

Harry suddenly sat up straighter, the conversation droning in his ears, and Aunt Petunia forgotten. Ron was right. Why hadn't he thought of it before? Voldemort had been hiding in the Riddle House. That vision Harry had of him murdering an old man took place in the Riddle House. The home of Voldemort's father and grandparents who he had killed right inside.

Harry knew Tom had hidden Marvolo's ring in the Gaunt house after killing them, but there was no reason he couldn't have made two Horcruxes at the time. He'd committed three murders that day. Why couldn't he have left something behind in the Riddle House, as well?

He shakily got to his feet. "Ron, Ginny, Hermione," he said. "We need to go talk to Professor Dumbledore's portrait."

"Now?" Ron asked, blinking rapidly.

"Now," Harry replied. "I think I might have an idea where we have to go next." 24: Echoes in Time

Harry led the way as the four teens grimly walked down the corridor toward Professor McGonagall's office. He watched dust motes dance in the sunlight that streamed in from the windows, wondering how his thoughts could feel so dark on such a bright day. When they were far enough away from the common room, Hermione grabbed his arm and stopped their progress. He'd been aware that she'd barely been containing her curiosity since he'd dragged her from the common room.

"Harry, what's going on? What did you remember?" she asked, her eyes narrowing.

"I want to talk to Professor Dumbledore – I think it's time," he said, taking a deep breath.

Ginny snaked her fingers through his own, and he gave them a quick, reassuring squeeze.

Hermione smiled, obviously pleased. "Well, I've been saying you should do that since we arrived here. I'm glad you're finally listening, Harry."

Ignoring her reproach, Harry said, "Ron reminded me about the Riddle House. I don't know why I didn't think of it sooner. I want to go to Little Hangleton with the Spell Detector after we see the portrait."

"But I thought Voldemort hid a Horcrux at the Gaunt's old house after he killed the Riddles," Hermione said, furrowing her brow.

Harry nodded. "He did. Professor Dumbledore found the ring there, but there were three murders committed that day, and Voldemort was drawn to the place enough to return while he waited to capture me during the Triwizard Tournament. I think it's worth a look."

"He's right, and it'll feel good to go out and accomplish something instead of reading old books all day," Ron said, unaware of Hermione's scowl.

Hoping to avoid a row, Harry began walking again, keeping Ginny's hand tucked firmly within his own. "We have to try and speed up the search before Voldemort is able to sink his claws too deeply into the Ministry. At the rate he's killing people and others are fleeing, there'll be no one left to save."

"And we still have to talk about what we're going to do about the Seventh Horcrux," Hermione said, glancing uneasily at Harry.