James and Albus left the front door of the school together, Albus turned left to go to the front gates and James turned right to return some broomsticks to the quidditch pitch. After putting the brooms away James walked towards Hagrid's hut. He meandered for a bit then he moved off the path and went to the whomping willow. He froze it and slipped away down the tunnel. The three met in the back room of Abe's bar and disapparated to Little Hangleton. They found the Gaunt's house in a state of ruin.

"You told me that there were several very nasty curses protecting the house and ring but none as bad as when you actually put on the ring. That's what hurt you the summer before my sixth year. The curse was contained in your hand by our potions professor but it would start killing you in about one year's time." Harry grimaced as he remembered the blackened dead hand, "It was going to be very bad. Instead you were killed a little before the curse would have started to take you."

One of the things Harry had been learning from James was dark magic detection. So Harry started and told them what he had found the others ran similar spells and they all concurred. Harry knew how to disarm the spell and did it despite the strength of it. They did this time and time again until all that was left was the ring.

James reached out to touch it when Harry stopped him, "Don't he said the worse one that was killing him was on the ring."

Harry surrounded it with a protection spell and levitated it carefully into the bag James held. He left the protective barrier around it as they apparated back to Abe's bar. They split up with the agreement to meet back in the Headmasters office.

When Harry got back, Sirius was just sitting in his chair, "How you doing prongslett?"

"Fine, how are you doing you old mutt?" Harry grinned, Albus chuckled because Sirius had stuck out his tongue just as he and James walked in.

"What did you find?" Albus asked.

"When I asked at Gringotts they said Regulus had not been in contact for nine years and eleven months." Sirius was suddenly subdued, "At the end of ten years he would be declared dead everything would revert to me because he has no known children." James and Harry each put a hand on one of Sirius' shoulders. He sighed, "I didn't want him to be dead. I wanted a lot of things to happen but not him being dead."

Harry had an idea, "Call Kreacher." Sirius looked at him like he was crazy, "Really call Kreacher, if he answers it's because he knows Regulus is dead, if he doesn't then Regulus is alive."

"Brilliant, Mr. Jameson." Albus smiled, "Try Sirius at least you'll know."

"Kreacher." Sirius called. The elf popped into the office and Sirius groaned.

"Oh, it's the mistress' bad child who disgraced the family name. What is you wanting Master."

"Hello Kreacher." The elf ignored Harry, "Kreacher will ignore the half blood brat of Potter, maybe he will go away."

Harry grinned, that was Kreacher but he would change soon, "Sirius, please tell Kreacher he has to listen to me."

"Kreacher listen to him." Sirius whispered.

Kreacher turned around slowly not wanting to listen but being forced to. Harry said, "Tell me about the events leading up to and night Regulus died please."

The elf stared wide eyed at Harry. He was shaking when he started to relate the story of how Master Regulus had asked him to go with the Dark Lord and then to return home when he was finished. He told how he had gone and all that had transpired on the trip. How he returned very ill and Regulus took care of him. Regulus left home after Kreacher was better only to return and ask Kreacher to take him back to the cave. And all that happened that left the elf with a magical object that he could not destroy.

Sirius was much shaken but asked the elf, "Would you bring me the locket so that I can finish what Regulus started." Kreacher nodded and left with a pop. Sirius looked at Harry, "Is that the same story you knew?" Harry nodded, and Sirius continued, "At least I know he turned good at the end. I don't know if it matters to anyone or anything else but I feel better."

"It matters." Harry said. Just then Kreacher popped back into the office and gave the locket to Sirius who just held it looking at it. Harry said to Kreacher, "We can't destroy it today, there are too many children here but I'll make sure Sirius lets you know when it is done. "

Kreacher nodded and silently stood by Sirius. Albus asked, "Can I see it please Sirius?" Sirius nodded but otherwise didn't move. Harry picked up the locket and handed it to Albus who locked it away. James helped Sirius stand and they left followed by Kreacher.

"Ok, we have the diary, the Diadem, the ring and the locket." Albus said, "We need the cup and then if he has the snake here we need it. Otherwise we have to figure out the last one, if he made another. The cup at Gringotts will just have to wait. The last thing we want is the Goblins to tell him what we're after. How did you get it in your world?"

"Hermione, Ron and I broke into Gringotts and stole it then escaped on a dragon." Harry smiled.

"But no one has ever done that before." Albus laughed.

"Yes I know. We have a lot of that in our group." Harry said, "No one ever escaped from Azkaban before and no one ever lived through the killing curse before. "

"I don't think anyone has traveled between universes before." Albus smiled.

Harry returned to his dorm and spent the next month going to lessons and working on his animagus form. He was also spending time with his friends. Even though Harry had tried to keep separate from them Hermione, Ron and Ginny had become his friends again. One afternoon before Christmas break Harry had a break through with his animagus training; he was finally able to fully transform into a Phoenix. Fawkes showed up to congratulate him and he taught Harry about Phoenix's.

After a while Harry transformed back and was surprised by a hug from Professor McGonagall, "I have never seen anyone transform is such a short time. Usually it takes years and you've only been at it for three months. Transforming into a magical animal is astounding. Now I know why you wouldn't reveal your form to me before. Truly outstanding Mr. Jameson, twenty points to Ravenclaw."

Harry spent the next couple of weeks perfecting his transformation. Ron and Ginny had invited Harry to come home with them for Christmas but Harry had other plans so he was not able to go. Which was just as well, he didn't know how he would react to seeing Fred and George. Before the students were able to leave Harry was called into a meeting with Professor Dumbledore. Draco Malfoy was already in the room but this didn't concern Harry very much. What did concern him was the state of his classmate. He still looked as dreadful as he had on Halloween.

"Mr. Jameson we have a bit of an issue I want you to hear about." Albus smiled, "Please Mr. Malfoy tell us again what is going on."

Draco took a deep breath and said, "My father wants me to join the death eaters on New Year's Eve. They are holding an induction ceremony, we have to pass a test then swear our allegiance to Voldemort. On top of all that my father has ordered me to find out what has happened to the diary he passed to Ginny Weasley. It was supposed to open the Chamber of Secrets then the muggleborns would be killed. I didn't know about this until the chamber was opened and I didn't know who had it until this morning when I got his order by letter. But Voldemort is wondering why muggleborns aren't dying. The chamber was opened but no one has been hurt yet. I'm afraid they are going to do something."

Harry thought a moment, "Back in November, Ginny was in detention with Professor McGonagall, correct?" Albus nodded so Harry went on, "She was caught writing in her diary instead of doing the detention and McGonagall took it away and will give it back to her in time for Christmas Break."

"Great, now how can I get out of becoming a death eater?" Draco asked, "My Dad won't turn but I don't want to lose my Mum."

"If she is a death eater now will she leave?" Harry asked.

"She isn't but I'm not sure she'll leave my Dad." Draco said, "She's more scared than I am."

"If she is willing to leave I will hide you both so thoroughly that he could walk by you on the street and not know you." Albus said, "But regardless if your Mum leaves or not, you will have to or become a death eater. Meet me in the back of the Hogs Head the Wednesday between Christmas and New Year. If you want to meet before just go to the same place and the owner will contact me and hide you until I can come."

Draco nodded and expressed his thanks then left to pack for break. Before Harry could follow Albus asked him to stay, "I am going to have an order meeting tonight and I want you to attend. I am going to try to flush out some spies tonight."

"Yes, I'll be there." Harry agreed, "How will you spot them, put Veritaserum in the drinks and ask who is a spy? Or is there a better way? What if they aren't a spy but are under the imperious curse?"

"Well thought out." Albus grinned, "You make a good Ravenclaw. Veritaserum is a good idea we may be able to work with that of course Lily, James, Sirius, you and I will have to refrain from drinking. We have too many secrets that are important to keep. As for the imperious, only someone who can throw it off can detect it in others."

"That explains a lot." Harry nodded, "In my fourth year the fake Moody showed us the three unforgivable curses. He used them on giant spiders. But then later in class he used the imperious curse on each of us with the excuse that we needed to know how it felt and try to learn to throw it off. The first time he used it on me I fell because I tried to do it and throw it at the same time. He worked with me the rest of class until I could throw it off immediately."

Albus was astounded, "And I allowed it?" Harry nodded. Albus shook his head just when he thought the surprises were over he was thrown for another loop, "Moody isn't going to believe this he's going to want to test you."

"I wouldn't expect less of Moody." Harry agreed, "You don't even need to tell me when he is testing me."

Later at the meeting Harry sat next to Albus with Lily on his other side. James and the rest of the marauders were on the other side of Albus. Harry observed each person as he was introduced and was able to detect the imperious curse on two order members. Albus pulled Moody aside and told him what he had found and asked him to help him stun them. Moody was a bit reluctant.

"Albus how can you say that, you know as well as I do that the only people who can detect an imperious is one who can throw it." he stated.

"Yes and Harry meets that qualification." Albus pointed out.

"I know he's powerful, but this is really pushing it. I want to test him out first." Albus indicated that he could proceed. So very carefully Moody aimed his wand at Harry. He said the spell and ordered Harry to get up and walk toward Albus. Harry didn't move, so he did it again with more force and Harry still didn't move. The last time he shouted it gaining everyone's attention and Harry threw it off again this time he used a little of his own force and knocked Moody back a step or two.

Harry grinned and asked, "Did I pass?"

Moody growled, "More surprises than Christmas this one." Then he proceeded to stun the two members Harry had indicated.

"Both of them were imperiused." Albus explained, "Harry can detect it because he can throw it off, as you have seen from Alastor's test here in these last couple of minutes. We were aware something was going on because some of our plans have been leaked. I'm just glad we found it was imperious curse and not spies. Now please relax and have some refreshments while I take care of them."

He then called a house elf and instructed him on the care to be given the two men and where to keep them. During this time the veritaserum was administered to the rest of the group and the questions started. A few proven supporters were questioning groups trying to locate spies. Just a few minutes in Sirius reach up and punched Peter knocking him out.

James put his hand on Sirius' arm and whispered, "Calm down, we're trying to not attract attention."

Sirius nodded and helped Peter to a chair, none to gently and he didn't bother to wake him up.