In The Fight To Survive (Golden Trio Era) {4}

Where To Begin

The measures Ron and Hermione have taken to protect their families made Harry realise, more than anything else could have done, that they really were going to come with him and that they knew exactly how dangerous that would be. The plans Mikayla has curated for the future, showed that she knew what exactly it meant to be his smokescreen, and she was willing to do it all alone, rather than put anyone else in danger. He wanted to tell them what it all meant to him, but he simply could not find words important enough.

Through the silence came the muffled sounds of Mrs. Weasley shouting from two floors below. "Ginny's probably left a speck of dust on a poxy napkin ring," Ron explained away the ruckus, "honestly, I dunno why the Delacours have got to come two days before the wedding." He added as he moved to start cleaning out from under his own bed, after Mikayla gestured for him to do so. "Fleur's sister's a bridesmaid, she needs to be here for the rehearsal, and she's too young to come on her own," Hermione answered as she pored indecisively over Break with a Banshee.

"Well, guests aren't going to help Mum's stress levels," Ron pointed out, before letting out a yelp of glee of finding one of his rare Chocolate Frog cards. Mikayla noticed Hermione irresolute and decided to lend a helping hand by taking matters in her own hands. The blonde magically seized the book with a flick of her wand, before placing it on top of the discard pile. "None of that fraud's work is going to help you lot." Hermione frowned, but ultimately proclaimed her agreement by placing the rest of Lockhart's works into the discard pile.

"What we really need to decide," Hermione began, disturbing the quiet tranquillity the foursome have fell into once Harry had stopped trying to fight his friends' help, "is where we're going after we leave here. I know you said you wanted to go to Godric's Hollow first, Harry, and I understand why, but, well... shouldn't we make the Horcruxes our priority?" Hermione queried as she tossed her copy of Defensive Magical Theory straight into the bin without a second glance and picked up An Appraisal of Magical Education in Europe. The conversation pulled Mikayla up, so that she was sitting on the camp bed. "If we knew where any of the Horcruxes were, I'd agree with you," Harry replied almost instantly.

"Well I think there's a high possibility that Voldemort's keeping a watch on Godric's Hollow, because he might expect you to go back and visit your parents' graves once you're free to go wherever you like?" This clearly had not occurred to Harry, considering how much he seemed to struggle to find a counterargument. Instead Ron, who evidently was following his own train of thoughts, spoke up, "this R.A.B. person. You know, the one who stole the real locket?" Hermione nodded. "He said in his note he was going to destroy it, didn't he?"

Harry dragged his rucksack toward him and pulled out the fake Horcrux in which R.A.B.'s note was still folded. "'I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can.'" Harry read out. "Well, what if he did finish it off?" Ron wondered aloud, "or she." Hermione interposed, "whichever, it'd be one less for us to do!" Ron chimed enthusiastically, "yes, but we're still going to have to try and trace the real locket, aren't we? to find out whether or not it's destroyed." Hermione countered immediately, wiping the smile from Ron's face. "Yeah, we can't just assume that R.A.B was successful. We'll need proof of it's destruction, can't risk missing one when the fight comes." Mikayla added.

"So where do we start then? If not Godric's Hollow." Ron questioned Hermione, as she was the one that brought the subject up. Hermione nervously looked over at Mikayla, as if she was afraid in how the blonde would react to what she was about to say. "Well we know because of Mikayla's abilities that R.A.B has some tie to Grimmauld Place, we just don't know the how..." Mikayla sighed as she knew where the conversation was heading. "You want me to try and see more while holding the actual locket to see if it gives me any more information." Hermione slowly nodded, making the blonde sigh.