The group stood on the cobbled path leading to a dilapidated house in Godric's Hollow. The air was thick with tension, the weight of history pressing down on them. Harry's emerald eyes scanned the house's faded timbers and cracked windows. It looked as though it had been forgotten by time, but Harry could feel the magic lingering in the air, like static before a storm.
"This is it," Harry said, his voice steady.
Fleur stepped closer, her wand drawn, her silver hair glinting in the moonlight. "It feels… wrong," she said softly.
"Dark magic," Daphne confirmed, her own wand held ready. "There's something here."
Hermione and Tracey flanked the group, their faces grim but determined.
Harry took a deep breath and pushed open the door, its hinges creaking in protest. Dust motes danced in the pale light filtering through the shattered windows. The air inside was heavy and still, as though it were holding its breath.
Before Harry could take a step further, a hissing sound erupted from the shadows. His reflexes screamed at him to move, and he ducked just as a massive, scaled form lunged at him—Nagini, Voldemort's monstrous snake, her fangs gleaming like ivory daggers.
The others reacted instantly, their wands raised, but Harry moved faster. With a sharp motion, he unleashed a torrent of fire from his wand. "Fiendfyre!"
A serpentine roar echoed through the room as the cursed flames sprang to life, writhing and twisting like living creatures. They consumed Nagini before she could even strike again, her body convulsing as the fire devoured her entirely.
"Harry!" Hermione cried, her eyes wide.
"I'm fine," Harry said, his voice firm, though his wand hand trembled slightly. The flames receded as quickly as they had come, leaving behind only ash and a faint, acrid smell. "That's another Horcrux down."
Fleur stepped forward, her expression both impressed and concerned. "Zat was reckless," she said, placing a hand on his arm. "But effective."
Tracey whistled low. "You've got a real knack for drama, Harry."
Harry allowed himself a small smirk. "Nagini wasn't going to give us time for subtlety."
With Nagini destroyed, the group moved methodically through the house, searching for any other traces of Voldemort's magic. But it was clear that the snake had been the house's only dark inhabitant.
"I think this was more of a staging ground than a hideout," Hermione said, frowning as she examined the runes etched into the walls. "There's no sign of anything else here."
"Good riddance," Daphne muttered, casting a cleansing spell to rid the room of the lingering malevolence.
The group expanded their search to the surrounding village, checking the graveyard, the ruins of the Potter house, and even the statue commemorating Harry and his parents. But nothing turned up.
"This was it," Harry concluded as they regrouped near the village center. "Nagini was the Horcrux here."
As they prepared to leave Godric's Hollow, Harry's mind quickly went through the tally of Horcruxes.
The Diary: Destroyed in the Chamber of Secrets during his second year.
The Locket of Slytherin: Destroyed during a previous mission.
Nagini: Reduced to ashes by Fiendfyre moments ago.
The Gaunt Ring: Safely stored in his vault at Potter Manor, the Resurrection Stone already removed but the he'll check if the Horcrux wasn't removed yet, he was young when he got the thing after all.
That left only two Horcruxes: Ravenclaw's Diadem and Hufflepuff's Cup, both rumored to be hidden somewhere in Hogwarts.
"We've done well so far," Hermione said as they walked back to their Portkey. "But the last two are going to be the hardest. If they're in Hogwarts, Voldemort's going to make it nearly impossible to get to them."
"Good thing we've got Harry," Tracey said with a wink.
Harry grinned, but his mind was elsewhere. They had the momentum, but he wasn't content to simply wait for the final battle.
"I've been thinking," Harry said as the Portkey activated, pulling them away from Godric's Hollow and back to the Delacour estate. "I don't think I want to spend my last year at Hogwarts. There's nothing left for me to learn there. If we can destroy these Horcruxes quickly, I want to use the rest of the year to learn as much magic as I can—beyond what Hogwarts teaches."
Daphne raised a brow. "You're planning to skip your final year?"
"Not skip," Harry clarified. "Just… do something more meaningful with it. Dumbledore left us this mission, and I don't want to waste time sitting in classes I've already mastered."
Fleur nodded thoughtfully. "It is ambitious. But if anyone can do it, it is you."
Hermione looked torn but eventually sighed. "If it means ending Voldemort faster, I'm with you. But we'll have to be careful. The Ministry isn't going to like the idea of you leaving school."
"I'm not asking for permission," Harry said, his voice steely.
Later that evening, the group sat on the Delacour estate's terrace, watching the sun set over the rolling hills. Harry looked at the women around him—Fleur, Daphne, Tracey, and Hermione—and felt a deep sense of gratitude.
"We've got a lot ahead of us," he said, his voice soft. "But I couldn't ask for a better team."
Fleur leaned against him, her silver hair glowing in the fading light. "We'll see zis through, mon amour. Together."
As the stars began to appear in the night sky, Harry's resolve hardened. They were closer than ever to ending Voldemort's reign of terror. The journey was far from over, but for the first time, Harry felt a spark of hope.
It was time to finish what they had started.
AN: I currently am sick and posting chapters takes its toll on me, so expect some delay from now on. I will get healthy and we'll catch up real fast. I hope y'all are having a fantastic Winter and Christmas Time.
A little Help in the guise of Power Stones will not help me get healthy but it sure will warm my heart. Thanks for the Support.