Harry opened his eyes and saw that he was back in his bedroom. He looked around and saw Ron and Hermione. Both looked very white and as though they might pass out. Ron had marks across his neck where the tree roots grabbed him and scratches all up his arms. The gash in his leg was still bleeding. Hermione had pieces of rock all through her hair and scratches all over her face and arms. Harry knew he probably didn't look much better. Hermione flicked her wand and 3 plush armchairs appeared. They all sat down.
"Was it the right one?" Hermione asked Harry quietly
Harry pulled the small golden cup from his satchel and turned it over, and looked into the eyes of a badger.
"Yup, this cup once belonged to Helga Hufflepuff."
Hermione gasped and took the cup from Harry turning it over and over to get a decent look at it.
"Well, how do we destroy His soul?" Ron asked weakly
"I actually have no idea, Dumbledore never told me before he... yeah." Harry finished
"Pass me the books I gave you, ill look over them soon." Hermione said
Harry passed Hermione the heavy books and sat back down deep in thought. He was so caught up in what he was thinking he never noticed Ron getting the pieces of rock gently from Hermiones hair while she fixed his bleeding leg.

Harry looked at his alarm clock and saw that Ginny would still be on the train to Hogwarts. He took the mirror out of his satchel, placed his wand on it and said 'Ginny'. The mirror grew hot, then it went black. This confused Harry, then he saw something whip across it and Ginny's face came into view.
"Sorry about the wait. I had the mirror in my pocket. What's happened?" Ginny said cheerfully
"Oh, umm, where are you?" Harry asked
"Im in a carriage with Neville and Luna. What's happened to your face?" She replied
"Ok. I was attacked by a tree. When the sorting is over, come and talk to me ok, we have something important to tell you." Harry said hurriedly
"Ok, see you later then." Ginny said
Harry placed his wand back on the mirror and muttered 'Harry'. He suddenly felt a lot better about what had happened. Ron had decided he could smell something good cooking in the kitchen so the 3 cleaned themselves up and went down to see.

In the kitchen Mrs Weasley was cooking dinner.
"Oh, you 3 gave me such a fright. When did you get back? I didn't expect you home so soon?" Mrs Weasley exclaimed
"Oh yes, well, we found what we wanted, got it and came back for a good nights rest before heading off properly tomorrow." Hermione informed her
"Well! Sit, sit, let me get you some dinner!" Mrs Weasley replied happily
Harry, Ron and Hermione sat down, still half in shock, and attempted a conversation with Mrs Weasley.
"Hows Lupins progress with the werewolves?" Harry asked
"He has a few on our side, but most of them are scared. Scared of Greyback and what he can do. A few however have started enjoying the taste of human flesh as much as Greyback" Mrs Weasley answered gravely
"Has the Order found Snape yet?" Ron asked bitterly
"No. And even if we had I would not be telling you 3." Mrs Weasley replied defensively
"What about Draco Malfoy?" Hermione asked cautiously
"No."
She put a huge plate of dinner before each of them, including herself and they ate in almost silence. Mrs Weasley was listening to the wizard wireless. When they had finished Harry and Hermione volunteered to do the dishes and Ron made his mum a pot of tea. Crookshankes jumped on the bench and tried batting the bubbles from the dishes but stopped when he successfully fell in the sink.

There was a knock at the door and Harry went to answer it
"Who is it?"
"Its Petunia Dursley."
Harry opened the door and she quickly walked in.
"Dudley got to school safely and Vernon is back at work with a new assistant, Sturgis Podmore." Aunt Petunia told Harry.
"Ok, that's fine." Harry replied
"Now if you'll excuse me, Im going to go upstairs." Petunia said curtly
Harry moved aside and petunia went upstairs to her room.

Harry, Ron and Hermione decided to camp out in the forest tonight. Hermione didn't want to sleep on her own, and Mrs Weasley didn't want Hermione in the boys room. Harry was nearly asleep when he felt something grow hot under his pillow. Harry pulled the mirror out and was looking at Ginny.
"Hey Harry." Ginny said worriedly
"Hey Ginny, how was the sorting?" Harry asked
"Oh, it was good, the hat sang about uniting again. Professor Vector, the arithmancy teacher, is the new head of Gryffindor. What happened today?"
"Where are you?"
"In the Room of Requirement."
"Good. Today we went to Godrics Hollow and we found one. Part of Voldemorts soul. We were attacked by dragons and violent tree roots, but we are all fine now. We found the cup. Did Scrimgeour talk to you." Harry explained
"What! You found one! That's really good! Isn't it?" Ginny asked
"Yes, its great, but now we have to destroy it. Has Scrimgeour spoken to you today?"
"Yes. He came to me after the feast. He asked where you 3 were, especially you. I told him that if he wants to ask you himself he can send you an owl, because I had no idea where you were."
Harry laughed "I bet he didn't like that!"
"No. He actually got quite rude. But I told him I had no idea where you guys were and I would be sending you an owl sometime and I suggested that he do the same. Then I got up and bumped into McGonagall. She wanted to know where you 3 were aswell. She took me up to her office and sat me down. I told her I had no idea where you were, but all I knew is that you were safe. She didn't look to happy either. But guess what, Dumbledore's portrait is up in her office. He told McGonagall not to worry and that she would know soon enough."
"Dumbledore's portrait is talking?" Harry asked excitedly
"Yes, he congratulated me on my OWLs and told me not to worry about not been a prefect because if I was I would be to distracted for other things."
"Hmm, well, I should go, thanks for well, umm calling. Ill talk to you when we have more news ok, goodnight." Harry replied
"Goodnight."
Harry saw the mirror go back to normal and saw his own tired reflection.
"What was that about?" Ron asked
"Couldn't you hear Ginny?" Harry asked curiously
"No, we could only hear you. What did she say?" Hermione asked
Harry was mildly shocked that they could not here what she was saying, but relieved all the same, because if Ginny didn't mention specifics then Harry could tell her anything and no one would hear him. Harry told Ron and Hermione everything Ginny had said
"Dumbledore's portrait spoke?" Hermione asked
"Yes." Harry answered
"Scrimgeour wants to know where we are?" Ron asked
"Yes."
"And McGonagall?"
"Yes. Are you alright Hermione?" Harry asked
"Oh yes, Im fine." She replied with a pained sort of look on her face. Ron looked at Hermione anxiously. No one spoke for a while, each lost in their own thoughts.

"We need to get into McGonagall's office." Hermione finally said quietly
"What? and let her know what we are doing, no." Ron said
"No, listen. Ginny said Dumbledore's portrait is speaking. Harry, you said that Dumbledore's hand died when he destroyed the ring. We need to talk to Dumbledore and ask him how he did it." Hermione said
Harry was shocked, 'how come I hadn't thought of that' he thought to himself
"How do we get in? It's not like we can walk up to the gates and shack them and yell until someone lets us in, and even if we get inside the grounds how are we going to get into her office to talk to him? Fly through her window on a broom?" Ron asked, getting slightly hysterical now.
"No, of course not, don't be thick. Im not sure how we are going to get in but we have to." Hermione retorted
"Yes, good theory, I know, lets go to Hogwarts, where SCRIMGEOUR is and just walk in and say 'Hi, sorry we were late, we just didn't feel like coming to school the day it started' that is insane!" Ron yelled back
"Just because..." Hermione begun
"Guys, stop it for a second. We will ask Hagrid to let us in, and he will go up to McGonagalls office and ask if it is alright if he can teach about some creature to the OWL students. We will be under my dads cloak, and follow him up and stay in his office. Hagrid will take McGonagall down to the forest, we will stay behind and talk to Dumbledore." Harry interupted
"What, oh, umm, how are we going to contact Hagrid?" Hermione asked
"We can't send any owls, because no doubt they are been searched and im sure the floo system is been searched." Ron said
"Ill send him a patronus. Tomorrow Tonks is coming around isn't she? Ill ask her how to send a patronus message. We'll meet Hagrid tomorrow afternoon." Harry said
Now that they were all content, or as content as they could be, they went to sleep.

Harry woke up the next morning and saw that Ron and Hermione were sleeping a lot closer together then they were before they went to sleep.
'I wonder if they know how close they are sleeping together' Harry thought to himself and laughed. This made Hermione stir. She sat up, looked at Ron who was slightly drooling, laughed and lay back down.
"Morning Harry."
"Morning Hermione."
Harry left the forest and wondered what had happened between Ron and Hermione at the wedding. In the kitchen Harry found Mrs Weasley and Tonks talking.
"Morning." Harry said
"Wotcher Harry." replied Tonks
"Good Morning dear." Mrs Weasley said, conjuring up a plate of sausages and toast for Harry's breakfast. She got up and left the room.
"Tonks, how do you send a message with a patronus?" Harry asked
"Oh, its easy, all you have to do is... Who are you messaging?" Tonks asked brightly
"Hagrid. I don't want him to worry about Ron, Hermione and I not been at school."
"Ok. All you need to do is think of what you want sent and then say Expecto Patronum and your message is in the patronus. Oh and the most important part is to think of who it is been sent to." Tonks told Harry
"Thanks." Harry said just as Mrs Weasley walked into the kitchen looking very pleased followed by a very red Ron and Hermione. Harry held back a laugh, because he had a good enough guess of what Mrs Weasley had walked in on.

After breakfast Harry sent a patronus to Hagrid to meet him at 1 o'clock at the school gates. Ron and Hermione were acting normal again, which Harry was thankful for. At a few minutes to 1 Harry, Ron and Hermione disapperated to meet Hagrid.