"BOY YOU BETTER GET THESE RUDDY OWLS OUT OF HERE QUICK!"

Harry poked his head sleepily out of the corner to see three porky owls the size of Dudley zoom over Uncle Vernon's head and around. It had been the summer before the last and final year of Hogwarts…that is, if he was ever going to go back.

Harry quickly untied the rolled up parchment from the owl's talons before Vernon got his gun. Shooing the fat owls away, he tucked the letters into his jean pocket before his uncle could interrogate him and take them away.

"What were those ruddy owls doing in our house?" Vernon bellowed.

"Vernon, sweetie, what's going on?" Petunia came around the corner, her horselike teeth flashing every time she spoke.

"That…that boy's lot has been sending him letters!"

"Again?" Petunia immediately backed away from Harry, as if was the host of a deadly disease. "Is it from…from that Black guy? His godfather?"

"Don't be silly, Sirius is dead," snapped Harry angrily. Before they said another word, he quickly retired to his small room. All of his possessions were scattered across the floor as always. Unrolling the first letter, he read…

Harry,

Hey Harry! It's Ron, mate. Listen, I know that you want to leave Hogwarts to find the last Horcrux, but remember! You have to come around our place for Bill and Fleur's wedding! I saw some of their plans, and it seems fantastic! But you might want to stop by Madame Malkin's place to get some dress robes first.

We'll come pick you up this Saturday at five, how about? The wedding will be Sunday at 11:00 AM. Ask your Muggles if they'll let you. Heck, you don't have to ask at all 'cause we'll take you anyways!

Your friend,

Ron

Harry smiled. He almost forgot about Bill and Fleur's wedding He read the second letter…

Dear Harry,

Hi Harry! It's me, Hermione! Mum and Dad finally decided to get me an owl so I can write to you and Ron! Her name's Mercury! You know, the Roman messenger of the gods? Crookshanks always wants to get him, but Mercury's cage is high up on my cupboard.

So how are you, Harry? Are you truly, positively sure you're not going to Hogwarts again? I'm just afraid that you won't know enough to destroy the very ast Horcrux. Oh! I'm not saying you're bad at magic, but Dumbledore even got hurt when he destroyed the ring…I'm sorry! I shouldn't have mentioned Dumbledore! Oh…

Are you going to Bill and Fleur's wedding? I am! Ron's picking me up around Saturday, and Mum and Dad say I'm allowed to go. What about you and your aunt and uncle? Are they treating you right?

Sincerely,

Hermione

Harry chuckled slightly. Good old Hermione, so worrisome. He turned to the last letter. Who could it be from? Sirius was dead, Dumbledore was dead (his innards wrenched tightly when he thought this and quickly pushed the thought away), so could it be Hagrid?

He opened the letter only to find out it was not in fact from Hagrid, but actually from Professor McGongal.

Dear Mr. Potter,

It was not too long ago that I had accidentally (Harry noticed that the world 'accidentally' was someone scrawled more messier than the rest of the letter. He supposed that whatever she said was not at all accidental) tripped into Albus Dumbledore's pensieve and discovered that he put some of his lesson's memories into it. Knowing you for 16 years, I know you would have it in you to destroy the last Horcrux and never return to Hogwarts. However, I must plead to you not to skip your final and most important year in magical education. In our seventh year, you would learn so much extraordinarily powerful magic from the Defense Against the Dark Arts that I positively know you would need for your journey.

I will not take no for an answer. You need the last bit of education you need to know how to destroy the Horcrux. It even challenges a powerful wizard in order to destroy a magical property like a Horcrux. I have arranged it that very powerful mages (mages? Harry thought that Hogwarts was a wizard and witch school) to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Attached to this letter is a list of items you'll need for your last year.

Sincerely,

Professor Minerva McGongal

Harry frowned. McGongal was practically forcing him to attend Hogwarts again! She wasn't serious, was she? Harry immediately scribbled on two parchments at the same time, responding to both Ron and Hermione.

Hey guys,

McGongal is forcing me back to Hogwarts! Is she doing the same to you guys?

Yeah, I'm going to the wedding. Not that I asked my uncle and aunt…I just want to go anyways.

Harry

Harry beckoned Hedwig to come. The albino owl fluttered by as Harry tied the letters on her leg.

"Get these to Ron and Hermione," he told her. Hedwig blinked her amber eyes and hooted. "Fly safely."

Hedwig fluttered his wings in agreement and soared out the window. Harry smiled, watching the pearly owl fly into the depths of night.

((((MEANWHILE))))

"My lord…"

Wormtail keeled over a stuffed armchair. Voldemort said nothing, his long fingers caressing the dead body of Nagini. He hissed and hurled the dead snake into the undying fire.

"What a waste," he commented lightly. "Harry Potter has taken down all my Horcruxes, and now I am as vulnerable as the next." He looked down at Peter Pettigrew, who was kissing the hems of Voldemort's black robes.

"What will we do, My Lord?" Wormtail's voice quavered.

"Why, make a last Horcrux, my servant," hissed Voldemort. "Don't you remember? I only have six Horcruxes. I myself am not a Horcrux. Don't you know, Wormtail, that seven, the maximum number of Horcruxes a wizard can make, is the most powerful?" Wormtail bolted up, his eyes fearful. Voldemort raised his wand.

"Avada Kedavra," he whispered. Wormtail yelped as the emerald light hit him squarely on the neck. He flumped to the ground limply, his foggy eyes opened. Voldemort blew the smoke away from his wand.

"Now, where to put my last part of the soul…" Voldemort contemplated, vanishing Peter's corpse. "Ah, yes…" His thin lips smiled. "I know exactly where to put it…"

DUM DUM DUMMMMM

Muahaha