JK Rowling ended her story "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" at the end of the second war with Voldemort. She then followed up with an epilogue entitled "19 Years Later". This is the story of those 19 years in between. Please note that the information provided by "The Cursed Child" will not be taken into account for this fanfiction.

All characters are property of JK Rowling and I do not make a profit from this story.

Chapter Fifty-Nine: A New Era of Horcruxes

Harry Potter – Present Day

February 17, 2001

"Malfoy!" Harry said surprised, as he opened the door to his flat to see the pale-haired Slytherin standing there.

"Hey Potter," said Malfoy, letting himself in. "Sorry to just show up here, but it was important. Are we alone?"

Harry nodded. "Ginny is on shift for the Order right now; I was actually about to leave to start my own."

"Potter, I need a favor."

"What is it?"

Harry watched Draco hesitate. "Harry, I-I need to see her."

"I won't put her in danger, Malfoy."

"I'm not asking you to! Nobody will know that she's here and that won't break the vow with my mother. Please, Potter, I need to see her."

"I'm sorry, Malfoy, truly, but I can't. Not only because of that ridiculous agreement with your mother, but because she is wanted by the Ministry as well. I just can't put her in that kind of danger."

Malfoy sighed. "I understand. Could you maybe give her a letter for me?" When Harry nodded, Malfoy smiled. "Thanks, do you, uh, have some parchment?" Harry got a quill and some parchment and handed it over to Malfoy, then stood a few steps away waiting for the letter. "Potter, I, uh, might be awhile."

"Fine," Harry said, after a moment "Just leave the letter under here," he said, pointing to an ugly planter that Ginny demanded be put in their dining room. "I'll pick it up later and give it to Hermione."

"Thanks," said Draco, as he started writing. "And don't you read this either!"

"Trust me, I have no intentions!" Harry left Draco alone in his flat and headed off to St. Mungo's, where he was to relieve Neville of his shift.

"Hey, Harry," said Neville, panting as he met him at the front entrance of the hospital.

"What's wrong, Neville?"

"Two wizards have been brought in, both dead. Umbridge and a bunch of other Ministry officials are here; I think it was a murder."

"Stay on watch; who else is here?"

"Luna is upstairs."

"Galleon for back up; I want this place guarded." Harry quickly made his way to where he knew they kept the newly deceased, and was surprised to see Kingsley standing next to Umbridge and Yaxley.

"Minister," said Harry, joining the group. "Yaxley, Dolores. Why wasn't I owled immediately?"

"We were in the process of doing so, Mr. Potter," said Yaxley professionally, though Harry knew that it wasn't true.

"What happened?" Harry asked.

"Funny, we were about to ask you the same thing," said Umbridge.

"They were found like this, just north of Bristol," answered Yaxley.

Harry studied the situation for a moment. Lately, there have been killings all over the place, yet the Minister of Magic had never shown up to view those bodies. "Forgive me, Minister, but what are so special about these two wizards that required a visit from you?"

Harry thought Kingsley was going to lash out by the look on his face, but he must have had a change of heart, as instead he said, "look at their chests."

Harry made his way to the bodies and noticed that both wizards had large, black, gaping holes right where their hearts should have been. "What kind of spell can do that?" Harry asked the group.

"Well, you should ask Granger, shouldn't you? She seems to be the expert on this topic," replied Umbridge. "Harboring a fugitive and a murderer, Potter. We really should be bringing you in!"

Harry caught Kingsley's eye, and silently asked the Minister the question that he was dreading to ask. "The only spell that could cause damage like this, Mister Potter, is the spell that is used to create a horcrux."

Harry felt his stomach drop. So, the wizarding world had started to create the army that he feared they would, and there was already two horcruxes out there that Harry was now going to have to hunt.

Draco Malfoy – Present Day

February 21, 2001

"This better be worth my time, Malfoy," said Blaise, as he forced his way into Malfoy Manor, along with Theodore and Vincent.

"I was told to get something, wasn't I?" said Draco rudely, not happy with what he had done.

"You have the cloak?" asked Vincent, shocked.

"Of course I do," said Draco, folding his arms.

"Well, where is it?" asked Blaise.

"You'll get it, once I know you'll help me."

"This is a waste, let's just kill him and go," said Blaise, turning to leave.

"You kill me and you'll never find it," said Draco, keeping his eye on Theodore. He knew that Theo was the smarter one of the bunch.

"Let's handle this like men, shall we?" asked Theo, sitting down on a nearby couch. "Draco, you have a plan to release our fathers?"

"I plan on blasting out one of the walls at Azkaban. It's what the Dark Lord did when he freed the Death Eaters."

"Yeah, but he had the Dementors on his side! If we try that, the Dementors will kiss all of us and our fathers," said Blaise.

"We can use the cloak to stay hidden," said Vincent.

"Dementors can't see, stupid!" said Blaise. "The cloak won't hide you from them; they sense you."

"We can make it work," said Draco, desperate to save his father.

"Sorry, Draco, but I'm not interested in risking my life or my fathers," said Theodore. "I'm going to go with our other plan, but I'll need that cloak."

"What other plan? Let me help!" Draco pleaded desperately.

"We don't need your help," spat Blaise.

"Then you aren't getting the cloak."

"Draco," sighed Theo. "We need that cloak, mate. We can get all of our fathers out; you need to trust us."

"I'll give you the cloak if I get certainty that my father is the first to come out."

"Fine," said Theo.

"Great, then Blaise can conduct our unbreakable vow."

"Vow for what?" questioned Blaise.

"You don't really think I'm going to hand over the cloak just on your word, do you?"

Draco watched Theo contemplate. "Fine," he finally said.

"What? Theo, no!" shouted Blaise.

"It's fine," responded Theo. "They are all being released anyway, so there is no harm in releasing Lucius first."

"But that only leaves two for the first round," whispered Vincent, loud enough for Draco to hear.

"The release is happening in sections?" Draco asked.

Both Theo and Blaise gave Vincent a horrible look. "Yes, the first break out will be three prisoners from Azkaban and one of those three will be your father. I will agree to the vow," Theo sighed "but on my terms. Lucius will be released among the first three, only if the escape is successful, and you must assist with the remaining break out attempts without any other conditions. Are we in agreement?"

Draco nodded. He knew what he was risking, but he had already gone as far as to steal Potter's cloak, he may as well continue down this path and save his father. Blaise had quickly casted the Unbreakable Vow ritual on Draco and Theo, and then Draco went and handed the cloak to Theo. "So, when is this happening?"

"Soon I would think," said Theo. "We will send word when it's time. Do not tell anyone!"

Draco nodded, and lead them out of his Manor. He took a deep breath and exhaled; with any luck, he may have his father to speak to very soon.

Hermione Granger – Present Day

February 28, 2001

Hermione,

It kills me to not be with you right now. I know that you trust Potter and I know that he will keep you safe, but it doesn't change how worried I am. I will solve this thing with my mother and I promise you that I will get out of this ritual knot with Astoria. We have been through worse and yet we always find our way back to each other. I have done some horrible things lately, but I feel like I've had no choice. I know that you'll understand one day and when all this is over, we will be together.

Draco

P.S. Destroy this letter.

Hermione read the letter that Harry had given her for probably the hundredth time. She frowned at the part where he stated that he had done some horrible things; what exactly could he have done that was so horrible? She knew that she needed to destroy the letter for both of their safety, but she wasn't able to just yet. There was something different about the way Draco had written it, and if Harry hadn't sworn that it was from Draco, then Hermione would have been certain that this was from an imposter.

"Still obsessing over that letter?" asked Harry, as he walked into her temporary hideout.

"It is his handwriting, I would recognize it anywhere, but it doesn't sound like him at all!"

"You could always write him back and ask. I don't mind bringing him a letter."

"Thanks, Harry, but with Draco, you need to question him I person, otherwise I am afraid he would be dishonest. Anyway, I don't know what I want to say just yet. But enough of that for now; any word on who created the horcruxes?"

Harry shook his head. "They identified the two wizards; one was just a regular wizard who frequented Diagon Alley quite often. The other one was Willaim Berth."

"William Berth?" questioned Hermione. "Isn't he the one who took over Florean Fortescue's ice cream parlor?"

Harry nodded. "They were both found in Diagon Alley near the parlor, actually; the other wizard was probably at the wrong place at the wrong time."

"What was his name?"

"Sam Wrigley, or something like that, I can't remember."

"You don't mean Wriggins, do you?"

"Yeah, that sounds familiar, actually. Why? Who is he?" Hermione didn't respond to Harry; instead, she went over to her towering pile of books and grabbed the top one. "Uh, Hermione?"

As Harry waited impatiently for Hermione to respond, Harry went over to the door and allowed Ron in, who had galleoned that he had just arrived. "What's going on?" he asked Harry, recognizing the look that Hermione had on her face.

"I think Hermione has a lead on the horcruxes, but I'm not sure because she's acting like I'm not here."

"Hermione?" Ron asked cautiously, knowing all to well that disrupting Hermione in the midst of a thought could have dire consequences.

"What?" she snapped, finally looking up at them.

"Uh, care to explain what you've figured out?"

Hermione returned to her book without responding. Finally, after what felt like hours, she yelled in triumph. "I knew it!" she squealed, pumping her fist into the air. "This makes total sense!"

"Care to explain?" Harry asked again, annoyed.

Hermione smiled. "You said that the man who died was named Wriggins, right?"

"Yeah," responded Harry. "So?"

"So," replied Hermione. "Albert Shafiq was the last male of his name, and since he only had one daughter, Annabelle, the Shafiq name ended, but the bloodline didn't."

"Shafiq is part of the Sacred Twenty-Eight," said Ron.

Hermione nodded. "Only now the Shafiq line are actually Wriggins, since Annabelle had married a man named Christopher Wriggins."

"Okay, but what does this have to do with the horcruxes?" asked a confused Harry.

"Because, Harry, Florean Fortescue's wife was named Barbara Wriggins."

"So, the two men weren't random, then," stated Harry, catching on.

"Exactly! So now we have our suspects!" Hermione said smiling.

"Hermione, you are brilliant! Come on, Ron, we need to get to the Ministry. Hopefully with this connection, we can find out who created the horcruxes and go from there."

"Find out whatever you can and let me know," Hermione told them as they headed out. "I'll see what else I can find out about the Wriggins."

Kingsley Shacklebolt – The Past

December 9, 1999

"Thank you, Minerva," Kinglsey said, as she left him alone in her office at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He looked around the office and took it in for probably the first time. Of course, he had been in the Headmistresses office on many occasions, under more than one Headmaster, but he never really appreciated everything that could be found within the room.

"Albus," Kingsley said quietly, staring up at the large portrait that sat directly behind the Headmistresses desk.

"Good day to you, Kingsley," replied the portrait of Albus Dumbledore, staring down at him from his half-moon spectacles.

"Albus, I need to speak with you," said Kingsley, staring only at the portrait of his oldest mentor.

"So speak," came a voice from the right.

"I was not speaking with you, Phineas," said Kingsley, staring at Albus, but speaking to the portrait that belonged to one of Hogwarts least popular Headmasters.

"Well, naturally, Mister Shacklebolt, you are speaking to all of us," said the portrait of Dilys Derwent.

"Perhaps," replied Kinglsey. "But it is the advise of Albus Dumbledore that I need."

"You do realize that the Albus Dumbledore is dead, right?" chuckled Phineas Nigellus.

"I do not need your humor at this time!" Kingsley said angrily.

"But he is right, Kingsley," said Everard, "as I told you before. Anyone in a portrait, including Albus, are simply imprints of the person they used to be. They may have the memories of their previous selves, but they are simply that; a memory."

"And as I said to you, Everard, it is Albus' memory that I require!"

"How can I help you, Kingsley?" Dumbledore asked quietly.

"Albus, Grindelwald is back!"

"So I have heard," replied the portrait of Albus Dumbledore.

"How?" asked Kingsley.

"Not very intelligent this one, is he?" laughed Fortescue. "We can travel to our other portrait locations and as such, know what is going on in the world."

"Albus, the Ministry cannot fall again; you and I both know this," Kingsley said to Dumbledore, ignoring the other portraits.

"I do agree, Kingsley. Luckily, you are the Minister of Magic and a member of the Order of the Phoenix. It seems to me that based on that, the Ministry will not fall. Unless of course, that there is something that you aren't telling us."

"Of course not!" said Kingsley. "But anything can happen! Should I be murdered, we need a plan! I am sure that the Ministry is being infiltrated as we speak!"

"And yet you are here, speaking to a bunch of portraits instead of protecting the country! Everard, go to your other portrait and find a better candidate for Minister, will you?"

"Oh, cut it out, Phineas! If the current Minister needs our help, then we will do our best to help him. Albus, any suggestions?" asked Dilys.

"I am not Minister, my dear Dilys; these decisions are not up to me."

"Albus, this is getting ridiculous. Just tell the man what he needs to know so he can leave. He is clearly incompetent and can't figure it out for himself," came the low voice of Severus Snape's portrait.

The portrait of Albus Dumbledore sighed. "Your focus needs to be on the safety of your country, Kingsley. If you do that, then you should succeed."

"And should I fall?"

"Then you should have a successor already appointed," responded Dumbledore plainly.

"Albus, you can fix this. Why are you not providing me with the knowledge that I need?" Kingsley shouted angrily.

"Albus was never one to share his secrets," Fortescue chuckled.

"Well, that is the truth!" agreed Everard.

"It is not wise for others to know what you know," said Albus. "I believe there is an old muggle saying, don't show all your cards at once."

"And why not share what you know now then, when we have the privacy to discuss it all!"

"Privacy? There are hundreds of portraits on this wall," Dumbledore said calmly.

"Give it up, Shacklebolt, he only spills his secrets to Potter," came the voice of Phineas Nigellus.

"Potter, it's always about Potter," mumbled Kingsley.

"Harry Potter is the one you should be speaking to, Kingsley," said Albus, with a stern look on his face. "Do not make the same mistake that almost every man has made; do not underestimate Harry. Now if you'll excuse me, I believe I will visit my other portrait." Before Kingsley could say anything else, Albus Dumbledore turned to his left and walked out the side of his portrait and disappeared.

"Trust the boy," said Snape, before he, too, turned and left.

Author's Notes: Hello everyone! I know that it has been a very long time. I won't go into much details but I will say that there has been a lot going on and that is the reason that there has been a long absence. I sincerely apologize but it is what it is. I do mean what I have said many times, which is that I am 100% committed to this story. It may take longer than I would have liked, but it will be seen through until the end.

Now, onto the story! There's a big scene coming up that is going to change the direction of this story quite a bit. I read some of my most recent reviews and just to comment a bit: Daisy is not the woman in the heels working with Grindelwald. Also, Hermione is a very intelligent witch; I am not sure what you were referring to when you stated that she was not, but if you meant to the scene with Dennis Creevey, the reason there was chaos was because of the rules of Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. Because the house is hidden, they could not have a line formed outside of the house. Instead, everyone had to wait in the entrance (which we all know isn't very large) and receive their secrecy charms before they could enter. Hermione was trying to organize as best as she could, with the help of others, but if you remember when Hermione tried to get the attention of the DA in OOTP, she is very soft spoken and sometimes cannot be heard. Finally, I obviously needed to create a loophole for Dennis to be able to pass on information to Grindelwald for my story to continue.

I hope you all can understand my position, and I look forward to continuing my story with all of you!