Author's note

For Rachel with thanks for all her encouragement.

Polite request:

I really love all your reviews but there are some big plot twists in this story please don't give them away as a curtesy to other readers.

Prologue

Ash stained the snow like whispers of shadow. Fire had decimated the land, reducing the tall pines to blackened stumps. It was almost impossible for him to get his bearings. Why had he ever agreed to this? He would never find what he was looking for. Even if it hadn't been a fool's hope that he might find it, with the landmarks destroyed there was no hope at all. Hermione would never forgive him if he didn't find it, the risk he had asked her to take, the price she might have to pay were too high if he did not.

He dug around in the snow until his fingers were blue with cold. He found nothing; it was like sorting through grains of sand. Overcome with despair, frozen to his very core he stood. Merlin help them now it was a silent prayer to a long dead wizard that he didn't expect to be heard. Distracted by his thoughts he didn't hear the light footsteps as they crunched into the crisp snow until she was upon him.

"Had I wanted to I could have done you harm, even killed you, I am surprised that you were not more on your guard."

He studied the figure before him, her face in the shadow of the deep hood that sheltered her from the cold and bitter wind.

"You will not find what you seek here." She told him.

He would have recognized that imperious voice anywhere, the voice that had whispered a mother's plea in his ear. She had helped him in his darkest hour defied the most evil dark wizard of their time to help him. Had she come to help him now?

"How do you know what I seek?" he asked her. She didn't answer his question instead responding with her own.

"Can you be sure it will work?"

"No," he stated simply. Then he sighed, "but do you believe we have any other choice?"

"No," she replied, "then perhaps I should give you this."

She held out a small leather pouch.

"Make it count Harry Potter," she demanded of him, "make it count."

With a swirl of snow and a sweep of her expansive cape she turned and disapparated.

Harry clasped the small pouch tightly to his chest, knowing that lives depended upon it contents and disappeared.

Author's note

So who is the mystery woman? Too easy- come on you know! As always please review.