Greece
After breaking down and deciding to visit every museum in Albania, Harry and Ginny apparated.
"I have to admit," Harry told his fiancée, "between the two years teaching and the eight months of activities, doing just what Ron would call a 'Boring Museum Trip' was pretty relaxing"
"Now we can pick the pace back up" Ginny said before looking like she had an idea
"Gin?" he asked carefully.
"I JUST remembered hearing about this museum…" she said
Harry groaned. Truthfully, he was all museumed out
"It's actually more of what muggles call a zoo" she explained "But for magical creatures that had its origins in Greece which is quite a large number"
"We can get some souvenirs for Hagrid!" Harry realized "Let's go"
The two apparated to the museum and then put on their disguises. After Harry paid the 12 galleons each to get in and the signed some wavers that said that the museum wasn't responsible of the creatures maimed you, they went in.
"I get it now" Harry said as he and Ginny walked along the exhibits to see either the wax or the creatures that underwent taxidermy statues. "Good thing they don't use real creatures like Muggle zoos use"
"Hermione would come and murder the CEO's" Ginny laughed. "Though, from what I recall reading, 30 years ago, they DID use real creatures. And they do have a few real creatures, but those are mainly the endangered ones brought in for public awareness"
"Ginny!" Harry exclaimed as he saw a book that was in an empty exhibit.
"What is it Harry?" Ginny asked
Harry picked up the tablet that was used as the book that had the words carved in it.
"'This exhibit had once belonged to werewolves as legend goes, King Lycoan of Arcadia had angered a wizard, though the muggles say it was the God Zeus, and was turned into a wolf-human hybrid thus becoming the first werewolf. Werewolfism is highly contagious, though it can only be passed on when a werewolf bites a human, wizard or muggle. For hundreds of years, there had been no cure and werewolves until the 1980's when a Wolfsbane potion was created. The potion allowed the wolf, during the time of the full moon, to keep its human mind. However, in 1996, Sara Montgomery-Newton, Potions Mistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Britain, managed to come up with a cure. The potion was tested on werewolf Remus Lupin who is now living a normal life with his wife Melissa and their son Colin'." Harry read
Ginny took the tablet and read it for herself. She then flipped the page over and smirked
"What?" Harry asked
"'Other than being the first werewolf cured of Lycanthropy, Remus Lupin is also known for being a good friend of James Potter, father of Harry Potter, the boy-who-lived'" Ginny added
Harry walked over to the marble wall and started whacking his head on it
"Come on Dear. There's plenty of other creatures" Ginny said
The two spent the next hour looking and learning about Centaurs, Chimeras, hippocampi, Maticore, sirens, and even got to see a real Griffin.
"I can see Hagrid having one" Harry said as they watched the Griffin being fed.
The two then left the window that overlooked the habitat and went to the next room
"AGH!" Ginny shrieked a bit as she clung to Harry. Even Harry jumped a bit before relaxing upon realizing that the creature that scared them wasn't real
"It's not real" Harry assured her before turning to a worker. "Excuse me"
"Yes Sir?" the man asked
"Mind telling us about this?" Harry asked pointing to the monster
"Ah. The basilisk" the employee said "It was created by Herpo the Foul. In fact, legend goes that it was Herpo that cursed King Lycoan. What all do you know about the king of the serpents?"
"Deadly glare unless you look at the reflection which just petrifies you, spiders are scared to death of it, the cry of the rooster is fatal to it, phoenixes are immune to the glare…and did I mention the poisonous fangs which if the poison gets into you the ONLY cure is phoenix tears? Oh. And it is also the familiar of Salazar Slytherin, one of the founders of Hogwarts."
"You know your basilisks" the worker said impressed but then decided to ask "Do you know who is the only known wizard who faced against a basilisk and LIVED?"
"Harry Potter?" they asked knowingly
"How in the world…?" the worker asked
"I have my ways" Harry said glad for the disguise though a little disturbed that THAT story had made it to Greece.
Ginny suddenly noticed something and walked up to the stuffed monster.
It was missing a fang and there was a hole in the roof of its mouth.
"It can't be" Ginny gasped
"Love?" Harry asked
"I've seen that basilisk before" Ginny told her fiancé.
Harry walked up to it. He had to admit that there WAS something familiar about it.
"The only way how that's possible is if you've been down to the Chamber of Secrets at Hogwarts" the worker said before pointing to the stuffed snake "That is the basilisk that Harry Potter killed at the age of 12 using the sword of Godric Gryffindor"
Ginny waved her hand forcing Harry's metamophmagus abilities to revert back to his real look.
"That would explain it" the worker said. "Mr. Potter. It's an honor to meet you. Might I ask how you did it"
"I had help from a phoenix" Harry said.