in the Gryffindor common room surrounded by books on anything and everything involving dark magic. Although her alliance with Regulus was broken, that did not stop her from using his information to her advantage.

Slughorn's Christmas party was happening at this very moment, and despite being asked by several people, Flo declined every last invitation. The Gryffindor common room would be empty, for once, which meant peace and quiet. The scallops wrapped in bacon would find her eventually.

On the initial train ride back to Hogwarts this year, Regulus had explained to Florence what his house elf, Kreacher, had seen when You Know Who requested to use him. For the next few weeks, the two chose to put their intelligence together and try to understand why the most powerful wizard in the world right now was choosing to hide Slytherin's locket in a cave, surrounded by inferi. What was so special about it?

Of course, it was Salazar Slytherin's locket, but there had to be more. There was something more meaningful behind it, or else he wouldn't have left Kreacher there, the only witness, to die.

"That locket means something to him, it's got to be a key in defeating him." Regulus had told Flo.

But how?

How on earth would Slytherin's locket play a role in defeating You Know Who?

Florence and Regulus had read countless books searching for answers, though no answers were coming to surface. Flo couldn't help but wonder every so often if Regulus had been making as little progress as she had.

Time ticked on, 10 p.m. was approaching when loud pounding was heard from outside the Gryffindor common room, startling Flo.

"Flo! Crown! Florence! Let me in, I've- I've got it!" Regulus Black shouts from just outside the common room entrance.

Flo scrambled to stand up, knocking over books and tripping over them in response as she stumbled to the entrance, swinging open the portrait of the Fat Lady as Regulus charges inside.

"I've figured it out! Well - Slughorn really was the key to it, but it all makes sense now. Why the Dark Lord had to hide the locket, why we can't find the answer in books-"

"What the bloody hell are you talking about, Black?" Florence shouts, cutting him off.

Regulus turns to face Flo, grabbing a hold of the sides of her arms and leaning in close.

"Horcrux. The Dark Lord made a Horcrux, and we're gonna be the ones to destroy it."