Chapter 2
Dumbledore was angry—no—furious, that Mary had not only let two known Death Eaters into her house, but also aided them and done as they asked.
“I helped you with those wards for a reason,” he told her, pacing back and forth in the stronghold he’d called them to.
“And yet they still managed to get through them,” Mary replied, folding her arms over her chest. Then, she furrowed her brows and turned to the boys. They both looked much better, the rest had done them well, but Regulus was still pale and weak as he leaned against the wall. “How did you guys do that?”
“Wards are washy,” Evan said. “Besides, your relationship with Reg made it easier to get past them.”
Dumbledore hardly reacted to this news, and she didn’t know if she’s annoyed or not. The old man would know about her and Regulus, wouldn’t he? How many times had the two of them been caught separately out past curfew? It really didn’t take a genius.
“Former relationship,” she corrected, and Regulus’ hair falls further over his face as he momentarily ducked his head. “But remind me to fix that.”
“Probably won’t.”
Mary sighed. “Yeah, should've seen that coming.”
“Why have you called me here?” Dumbledore asked, redirecting the conversation to the topic at hand.
Regulus finally pushed himself from the wall. “Professor, I know you have no reason to trust me, but during my last months of Hogwarts, I’d started to research ways to terminate Lord Voldemort’s immortality. And I managed to find out how. He’s put pieces of his soul into four objects so far, and I’m sure he plans to place more. I’ve discovered one, this locket, here,” he hands the professor the locket, and Dumbledore turns it over in examination.
“Horcruxes,” he murmurs. “Yes, that explains it. The Order has been facing attack after attack, and our forces have taken the burden of it. Nothing seems to get to Voldemort.”
“So you didn't know about them?” Evan asks, then he snorts. “Called it.”
“How can you be sure there are only four?” Dumbledore asks, peering at Regulus, and ignoring Evan.
“It is just an assumption,” he says. “I know Lord Voldemort had given Lucius Malfoy a notebook for safekeeping, and I can’t imagine why else he would be so secretive about something as simple as a book. He also had my cousin, Bellatrix, visit Gringotts ages ago to place something there for him. Voldemort hardly cares about gold or anything that holds any sort of value the way we do. I’m sure there’s a horcrux there, too. I’m also aware of a ring that he used to obtain, it was a family heirloom that he says you, sir, have possession of.”
“Yes,” Dumbledore nods his head, his long beard moving with it. “I ventured to the Gaunts’, searching for any sort of clues on how to destroy Voldemort. The ring is in my desk at Hogwarts, though I had no idea it was a Horcrux. You believe there are only four, Mr. Black?”
“Those are all of the leads I have now, sir,” Regulus admitted. “There may be more. He may be crafting more as we speak, but I can only imagine he would go up to seven.”
“The most magical number,” Mary mused, brows furrowed. “Professor, you know what horcruxes are. Do you have any idea on how to destroy them?”
“You would need a very powerful relic,” he says, pursing his lips as Regulus steps backward, tangling the string of the locket and returning it into his pocket. “Something with ancient magic, strong enough to destroy all traces of dark matter.”
“Basilisk venom,” Mary suggested, though she wasn’t entirely sure if that was the correct answer. “It’s one of the most lethal and poisonous things in the entire wizarding world.”
“Miss Evans has been a good influence on you, I see,” Dumbledore mused.
“How the hell are we meant to find a basilisk?”
“The Chamber of Secrets,” Evan said, much to Mary’s confusion. At her look, he shrugged. “What?”
“I thought that place was a myth.”
“Not even close,” Regulus said. “It’s where Voldemort did all of his bidding in school. But nobody has ever been able to find its location.”
“I mean, it’s a start, right?” Mary asked. “We could question some of the ghosts. Didn’t he murder Moaning Myrtle? We could ask her first. She might know more than the others.”
“Very good observation, Miss Macdonald,” Dumbledore says. “Perhaps it shall work. I have my hands tied with the war, but this is entirely more urgent. I’m entrusting the three of you with this task. I’ll have Alastor Moody and myself searching to find if there are any remaining horcruxes Mr. Black may have missed.”
“Us three?” Evan echoed. “You want us to do it for you?”
“I’m afraid I don’t understand either, sir,” Regulus agreed. “You have no reason to trust anyone here other than Mary.”
“Miss Macdonald is the reason why I am placing my faith into you,” Dumbledore said, and Mary blinked in surprise. “She’s been a huge help to the Order, and anyone she finds trustworthy is deemable in my books. In any case, Mr. Black,” he returned his gaze to Regulus, his eyes glinting as if he’d just discovered something. “Your intentions are incredibly clear. I have no reason to doubt you.”
Maybe Mary imagined it, but she swore she saw Regulus' cheeks colour, just a little. “Right,” he cleared his throat, awkwardly.
“Send me a patronus with any updates,” he told Mary, nodding to her. “I’ll talk to Professor Mcgonnagoll about opening the school wards to the three of you. I'm sure she’ll have no reluctance on allowing former students back inside, especially ones as bright as you. Well, perhaps she’ll hesitate for you, Mr. Rosier.”
Evan didn’t seem offended, he just shrugged.
“Talk soon,” Dumbledore said, and they watched him apparate.
Mary pursed her lips. “I suppose I should let St. Mungos know I will not be showing up for my next few shifts.”
They ventured out of the stronghold, stepping out onto the street (if that’s what you call it, it was a cobblestone road overtaken with grass and weeds, and the only other building standing was one that was caught on fire years prior) to figure out where to next.
“Hogwarts first, then?”
“Yes,” Regulus nodded. “Yes, that’s definitely where we should start.”
“Two Death Eaters and a muggleborn,” Evan stated as they began to walk along the gravel and broken stone. “We’re the horcrux hunting crew of the century.”