Disclaimer: HP universe and characters still not mine and never will be mine.

A/N: Thanks for the favs and follows. Please review as well. Well after you go through the chapter. So here's the next one.

(I edited the last 4 chapters. Nothing major, just some minor changes. Just a head's-up.)

Gaunt Task and Magical Castles

Winter Holidays - School Days, 1988, Little Whinging, Surrey

The remaining days of Christmas holidays were spent with more practice in magic, potions, weapons training, Anna had also added Animagus training as promised to Harry.

"Wizards think that a person only has one form, which is true. But you could transform into any animal if you have an ability for it. Like you do. Remember the test we did in Gringotts. It had said you were an Animagus. Everyone could be one, as we all have an animal which represents us. Its called your spirit animal by some tribes. You would have to transform first in your spirit animal's form then you could try others." Anna had said to him at the start of the lessons.

"So what's your spirit animal?"

"Its a secret." Anna said with a laugh. "I will tell you when you find out yours." She added.

She had given him the choice of using the mandrake leaf or revealing potion to get in the trance.

"Why use the leaf when you could just use the potion?" Harry had asked.

"People consider the potion a cheat. 'You should take efforts to know your form'. Though there's not much effort in keeping the leaf in your mouth, you wouldn't be able to speak for a month and food will taste a little bitter, its a little irritating but not much effort. I think the concept behind it is that you learn to remain silent like the animals, but they can communicate with each other through their own ways. Or it could be to make you learn patience or to accept the animals diet, which differs vastly from ours. I don't know."

Harry decided to take the potion, which required a week to complete so Anna showed him the way to get in the trance through meditation for the time being.

"When you take the potion you should be prepared to go in the trance, meditation helps with it."

"Meditation helps with everything, huh?" Harry had replied.

She had taken him to see the vault and had asked Bloodaxe about any means to get to their ancestral homes. They had gotten portkey to the places, Summers Villa and the Potter Estate, but had decided to wait to go there.

The school started a few days after new year, along with the dojo and their schedule continued as before.

Harry had been able to take the potion on the Sunday after school started. And was excited after coming out of the trance.

"I was a big cat. A black panther, I think." He said grinning.

"Wow. Did you studied it properly, observed it carefully?" Anna asked.

"Yes. I did. It was awesome. I did as you asked studying the surroundings, the form." He described what he saw to her in detail.

"Well good job. You had come far in your meditation. You wouldn't have been able to focus that much otherwise. And congrats on finding your form." Anna said with a smile.

"You were going to tell me about your form when I found mine. So tell me now." Harry asked still excited.

"Or I could show you." She replied mischievously.

She took him to the playground, then into the trees. She transformed into her real form, a black panther as well. Harry had looked astonished then had laughed shaking his head. Then he had studied her form closely. She had head butted him when he came close and leaned in, chasing him as he ran. They returned to the house as it neared evening.

"Did you knew my form would be the same?" Harry asked frowning.

"No. I definitely didn't knew that. I guess its just a coincidence maybe." She shrugged back.

"But your form, it looked like a cub so would mine look the same?" He wondered aloud.

"Yes. Though the actual animals mature faster than us and have a different life span, our Animagus forms grow according to our real age." Anna replied mussing up his hair.

-x-

The weeks passed but there didn't seem to be any progress with Sirius's case. They had tried to find a way to discreetly meet Sirius but had been unable to do it. Azkaban was guarded closely and all visitors needed permission from the minister to visit a inmate. It was a slow going process.

It was nearing summer holidays when Harry asked Anna how she would be able to get in the other places the horcruxes were.

"Oh. I have searched out the next place already." Anna replied.

"And you didn't take me with you." Harry accused scowling.

"I traveled in the night like last time. The horcrux is in a shack on the outskirts of the town. I'll take you when we go to retrieve the horcrux. Don't get angry, Harry-chan. I had already checked out all its wards, and you could help me disable some of them. It requires a Parselmouth to deactivate. Or much more patience and breaking of wards that I don't want to do."

"I don't understand, how could I be a Parselmouth! I am not descended from Salazar Slytherin. And I don't even have the horcrux anymore or it could have been because of that." Harry mused lying back on the grass.

They were in the trees near the playground and had been practicing their magic in a clearing Anna had warded and which they use for their training. They were taking a break when Harry had asked the question.

"Not only Slytherin could speak with snakes you know. There are various other countries where stories of people talking to snakes can be found. In Britain, Salazar was the most recognized Parselmouth but there are some others who didn't advertised their ability." Anna answered him.

"Do you know of any other Parselmouths?" Harry asked.

"Well I don't remember names, but there are some with that ability in Asia, India specifically I think. Then in African continent in Egypt, even in America there are tales of speakers in North American tribes. Here in Britain people keep quiet about their ability, like you should do, because it has the stigma of being evil attached to it."

"Evil? So you can talk to snakes. Big deal!" Harry scoffed.

"While I agree, imagine being killed in your sleep by the bite of a venomous snake, or getting paralyzed in front of your enemy by a snake biting you with stealth. You see what I'm saying?" Anna asked.

"Like any ability it could be used for bad purposes but they have deemed it evil because predominately dark wizards show it or flaunt it. Any ability could be misused, the non-magicals fear magicals because the magic can be used against them. And we should fear them because their innovations could be used against us." She finished.

"You think too much Anna." Harry said with a shake of head.

-x-

Summer Holidays, 1988, Godric's Hollow

At the start of summer holidays Anna took Harry to see his parents graves in Godric's Hollow. She was going to take him in the Christmas holidays but the weather had been bad so she decided to wait till summer. They had gone to London and had bought some saplings to plant near the graves, which wouldn't need care for their growth. The message engraved on the tombstone had Anna raising her brows.

'The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.'

She didn't know whether to cry or laugh at it. Though she did neither.

-x-

Summer Holidays, 1988, Little Hangleton - Gringotts - Hogwarts

They were going to Little Hangleton on Saturday since the dojo was still open and they had classes daily from Monday to Friday. Their Sensei had realized they practice with some weapons and so have offered to teach them proper way to use them. Though Anna knew the ways it was nice to learn under Sensei as he could correct their forms and provide more instructions.

'You never stop learning.' She had quoted to Harry.

They started early on Saturday. First they had breakfast in their usual cafe in London, then Anna apparated them to Little Hangleton near the small parting in the hedges for the path to the Gaunt Shack. She told him to stay close and alert, don't talk to the snakes he sees yet, but listen closely to what they say. He nodded and indicated her to lead on.

She kept his hand in hers as she walked along the path. He hadn't complained about it yet but she was sure he would start to soon.

The shack was as the name suggested just a shack, which looked on the verge of collapsing. The name suited it, Gaunt. Though it was because of the people, Gaunts, who lived there, it could apply for the condition of the shack. Anna had disabled as many of the wards as she could before, now she asked Harry to say the phrases required to disable the Parseltongue wards. Clever way to protect anything, Anna thought.

They hadn't met any snakes in their path to the house but she didn't need to conjure any for him to speak in snake tongue, as there was one now in front of them. It seemed to be kept there for protecting the horcrux.

Harry looked towards her inquisitive and she nodded her head, so he started talking with the snake. Anna was feeling quite curious and intrigued as she watched them converse.

After talking for a while Harry turned towards her and said, "The snake, a black mamba, her name is Nyx. She was ordered by Voldemort to guard the horcrux. I had convinced her that we were sent by him as she could smell him on you. I guess she's talking about the pendant you wear. She told me about the other traps you could have missed inside."

He told her about them, then disabled the wards outside with his Parseltongue. Then they moved towards the door after Anna made sure the wards were disabled. The inside was dark, and every surface was covered with a thick layer of dust and dirt. They could feel the horcrux was under a loose floorboard. Anna pried it open from a distance with her magic and then levitated the small ring box out. She kept it on the floor beside the hole. They checked for any traps activated after lifting the box. There seemed to none. They double checked it and Anna tested if they would have any difficulties taking the box out. When nothing seemed apparent, she asked Harry to levitate the box and pulled a protective shield around them.

Something did happen as they got out of the house. Anna had sent Harry outside first and as she was leaving the shack collapsed on her. Harry dropped the box and ran towards the place she had been. Dust has spread in the air as the shack fell, so he was coughing and couldn't see anything. But he heard her coughing and let out a sigh.

The air was cleared by Anna, then she waved at him sheepishly.

"I didn't realize that would happen. But no harm done so... Let's see what's inside the box."

She moved Harry back along with her, away from the box, then levitated the lid, inside was a ring. It had a compulsion charm on it, to compel the victim to wear it, which would cause a curse to be released on them. She disabled both spells and checked for more. But there wasn't any. She then put the ring inside the pouch they had brought along to keep the horcrux in.

"Well that went well." Anna said.

"Don't jinx it. And it didn't go all well. You could have been buried in the debris there, if you hadn't moved fast." Harry said glowering at her.

"Hey, hey. Chill, Harry-Chan, nothing happened to me. Not even a scratch. And you are alright. So let's get out of here." Anna said placating him.

"But what about Nyx?" Harry asked.

"What about her?" Anna replied.

"Well we couldn't just leave her here. She has no purpose now. What will she do?" Harry said frowning.

"Survive, I mean live in the wild like she's supposed to do. Snakes are great survivors you know. And she did live here alone before." Anna said.

"But she will be lonely." Harry said.

"Snakes don't feel lonely. Don't worry." Anna said trying to close the topic.

"Please Onēchan, can't we keep her." Harry pleaded.

"She's a Black Mamba Harry, not your regular garden snake. She's said to be lethally venomous." Anna said, now trying to make him understand.

"She won't bite us. I will make sure of it." Harry said still pleading.

"But where would you keep her? The Dursleys would be scared of her. And I'm not a big fan of snakes. She's beautiful actually, but I'm scared of ants so I have the right to be scared of snakes too." Anna said trying to think of some more reasons.

"It doesn't add up. Why would being scared of ants, make it alright to be scared of snakes? And who's actually scared of ants?" Harry said rolling his eyes.

"I am scared of ants. And I'm just saying if I could be scared of so small insects, I could also be scared of such long reptiles. She's at least 13 ft. long Harry. And looks like she would grow more." Anna said in a last ditch effort.

"Come on, Anna. Please. I don't ask you for anything ever. Please?" Harry pleaded again.

"Don't plead Harry. Does she even wants to come with you? Us, I mean. And are you sure she would listen to you? What if she does bite someone? We could get in a lot of trouble, if she was discovered with us." Anna asked frowning.

Harry turned to the snake, who was watching the exchange silently and spoke with it. After he was done talking he turned to her with a smile and Anna knew she had lost.

"She would like to come with us. And she would listen to me. She won't bite anyone, other than to protect herself or me. She says she could become my familiar. Isn't that cool?" Harry said excitedly.

"Great." Anna tried to sound enthusiastic but failed.

Harry hesitated on seeing her reaction, "If you are really scared of her we could leave her somewhere safe..."

"No Harry-Chan, I am not scared of her. Intimidated, yes. But not scared. Don't get your smile down. You could keep her. Though where...?" Anna trailed off questioning.

"She could stay in my room and leave through the window when she wants to go out. It isn't much higher from ground. Dursleys can't enter my room so they don't even need to know about her. But I will tell them about her so they don't attack her on seeing her in garden or somewhere else. She will behave Anna." Harry promised on Nyx's behalf.

"Alright." Anna said with a sigh but gave him a genuine smile.

Before they could leave Anna asked Harry to ask the snake, Nyx, she should start using the name, if she would mind if they would get some spells applied on her. Like a safeguard so she didn't kill someone when she bites them accidentally.

"Her venom won't be affected but the spell will make sure she wouldn't be able to kill someone accidentally. Like if she was startled by someone stepping on her, which may happen you know." She explained.

Harry nodded at her after he had translated it for Nyx. Then he picked her up putting her around his shoulders. Anna took his hand, asked him to hold Nyx firmly with other then apparated to a side street in Diagon Alley. They went to Gringotts first, Anna had applied a notice me not charm on Nyx so that they don't get a hysterical crowd on their hands. In Bloodaxe's office they gave him the ring, he had looked at the snake around Harry's shoulders blankly, but looked intrigued by the ring. Anna guessed it maybe because of the sign of the Deathly Hallows on it, it is obvious to those who know about it.

Anna wiggled her eyebrows at him when be looked back up after examining the ring, he rolled his eyes back.

Harry was looking at Anna with a brow raised so she said, "You remember the book, The Tales of Beedle the Bard. The story in it about Death and the three brothers."

At Harry's nod she continued, "Its real. The stone in the ring can bring back the spirits of dead. But not really, it will be like a manifestation of your imagination. If you want to believe in it, it would make a likeness appear, but not the real deal. Say I imagine about seeing Merlin, he would appear as a cunning but powerful, resourceful, great wizard. He was a Slytherin you know. But you didn't knew that before, did you? Most don't. So he will appear to you and them as a benevolent, light, great wizard. See the difference, imagination and knowledge. Nothing real. But real enough for those who believe in it. Your cloak, the invisibility cloak, it is said to hide you from even Death. Though still Moody's magical eye is able to see through it and an animal could smell you when you put it on. So how does it hide you from death? It actually could absorb most of the spells cast on you and does make you really, actually invisible unlike the disillusionment charm as Cato had told us. It doesn't show the distorted air when you move unlike it does for the charm. So there. Hides you from a normal death in a duel with a average wizard definitely. But you could be sensed under it by powerful wizards. The last but not the least, the elder wand. The death stick, the unbeatable wand. It had got many names through history. The Hallow most believe is real. Grindelwald had stolen it from Gregorovitch. A famous wand maker." She added to clear his confusion.

"And so now it is with..." Anna indicated them to answer.

Harry looked thoughtful, but Bloodaxe kept his face blank.

Finally Harry shrugged so Bloodaxe tried to hint him. "Grindelwald was a Dark Lord who was second only to Voldemort. He was defeated by bum- Dumbledore."

"I had told you about him Harry-kun. You probably forgot. Its alright. So yes, the wand is now with Bumblebee."

"You mean Dumbledore has the elder wand? But wouldn't it be widely known?" Harry asked.

"No one knew Grindelwald had it. So no one knew Dumblydore has it now." Anna said with a shrug.

"And how do you know all this?" Bloodaxe asked.

"I just know things." Anna answered back.

"So the elder wand. I don't know much about it. Even if it is supposed to be unbeatable, it had been passed through so many hands. Most of the time killing the previous owner. Though since Grindelwald didn't killed Gregorovitch and still had its allegiance so you don't need to kill for it. It may be a powerful tool, but we don't actually need a wand to use magic, so what use is it for us? Though most wizards would 'kill for it', we don't need a wand at all. Look at the goblins, house-elves, centaurs. Wizards had stopped them from getting any knowledge on wand lore but still they could do magic and are better at it than wizards. So you see how the conditions of wizards is falling? I am getting off the topic again, right? So the Deathly Hallows. Tada!" She said indicating the ring grandly.

"Wow. Thank god I'm intelligent, anyone else's brain would have fried from all the information Anna." Harry exclaimed taking a deep breath and letting it out.

"Sorry. I always forget you are just a 7 year old. Maybe we could go on a trip somewhere to relax for a while, what do you say? Enjoy the summer holidays." Anna said.

"First, I'm going to turn 8 soon. And second, where would we go? We can't travel as kids, and I don't want to travel taking aging potions all the time. Or even only you taking them all the time." Harry replied frowning.

"We could go to your ancestors home or mine. I said we would wait, but we could go now, see if they are maintained or need to be renovated like Grimmauld Place. Stay there for a few weeks." Anna suggested.

"And what about the wards on the Dursleys house? Wouldn't Bumblebee get informed about me not being there?" Harry wondered.

"You leave the wards to me. I will work something out. Maybe make them all go on a loop. But Mrs. Figg will realize you aren't there. It was difficult enough to keep all the magic from her and just let her think everything was as it was with only a few minor exceptions." Anna let out a sigh.

"Or you could, for a price, get the wards altered by us. We are after all proficient in making wards." Bloodaxe said with a shake of his head.

"Sorry for ignoring you Bloodaxe. I need to concentrate on my people skills." Anna said sheepishly, berating herself.

"And we could ask the Dursleys to go on a trip for the same time. Let Mrs. Figg think you and I had gone with them." Harry said.

"I'm hopeless. I can't even find simple solutions to anything." Anna said dramatically.

Both Bloodaxe and Harry shook their head simultaneously, and Anna laughed at their gesture. At which both cracked a smile.

They discussed the arrangements needed to be made for the task of warding, fixing a date when the goblins would send someone to alter the wards.

"Discretion, Bloodaxe. Remember discretion." Anna said as they moved to get up.

"We keep our client information confidential and of course are always discreet. No worries Anna." Bloodaxe replied.

Anna and Harry smiled back. They left Gringotts then, bidding farewell to Bloodaxe.

It was lunch time so they went to the restaurant they had gone to last time in Reg alley. After meal they took Nyx to a shop selling pet animals, and asked the owner to perform the necessary spells on her. Anna and Harry both watched carefully as he performed the spells and he explained what he was doing to them. They thanked him and paid him for his service after he was done.

As they were wandering in Diagon Alley Harry asked if they could see Hogwarts. Anna raised a brow, but shrugged and took him to a little side alley, there she first disguised him more. Adding glamour so that he couldn't be recognized in any way. She changed her appearance accordingly so that they looked like siblings. Then she took his hand and stepped into the wizarding village, Hogsmeade.

They appeared in a deserted alley near Shrieking Shack. She told him about it having the reputation of being most frightening place in Britain.

"That for one ghost when they have so many inside the castle." Anna said with a roll of her eyes.

She took him towards Hogsmeade station.

"Traditionally children are supposed to get its first view when they came here for the first time for their first year. Are you sure you don't want to wait for the experience?" Anna asked.

"You mean to tell me nobody sees it before their 11th birthday. Its illogical. Wouldn't younger children wish more to see it? I definitely don't mind seeing it now. I'm excited." He said smiling.

"Yes. Younger children would be even more excited but no parents bring them to see the place. And you get to see it in the night so the sight's even more impressive then. Maybe we should come back later, at least give you a more genuine experience." Anna said, stopping mid-step as she said that.

Harry was outraged.

'So close' He thought.

But Anna was adamant that he would at least have a little authentic experience.

"But there are no students now right? No students inside the castle Anna. Wouldn't it be less impressive with all the lights off?" Harry tried to convince her.

"Well I think if we came at a reasonable time, we could watch it as it is on a normal school day. They can't keep all the lights off in the evening Harry. The castle will look quite haunted then. The house-elves probably turn off the lights after dinner or something." Anna reasoned.

When she saw Nyx was getting agitated at Harry's sullen mood she said, "Hey, hey Harry-kun, don't lose the smile. I'm trying to give you the authentic experience. I would even take you inside the castle tonight. I promise. Come on. Calm Nyx down. Then we could go get some sweets and candies from Honeydukes."

"You promise?"

"Yes. Of course. I would take you inside Hogwarts. Tell you what, we will check out the secret passage now. Come on."

With that they moved back towards the village. Anna indicated the various shops to Harry, then they put on the cloak and she took him to Honeydukes. They slipped in as the door opened when someone came out. He seemed to be just a resident of the village. Anna led Harry to the cellar and then searched for the trap-door which would open to the secret passage. They moved some boxes around and found it. They opened it and got inside the passageway. Anna lit a small ball of light to light their way and they moved forward slowly checking for wards and traps.

"How do you knew about this?!" Harry asked astonished.

"Wait let me guess. You know things." He answered himself sarcastically.

"What else do you want to hear? Do you want me to make a story to tell you. I don't want to lie and maybe I will tell you most things when I do talk to you about my task." Anna said.

"And about that. When are-" Harry started but Anna said, "Soon, don't worry." And left it at that.

Harry created his own light ball so Anna let hers fade and concentrated more on the wards. She found some as they neared the school and camouflaged their magic to pass it without the ward registering them. No other ward was present in the passage and they reached the end of the passage. They observed the entrance and worked out a way to open it and enter. Then they left back the way they came.

At Honeydukes they went back to the main shop and after confirming no one was watching pulled off the cloak. They browsed through the aisle casually as if they were there the whole time and then bought some sweets. They left the shop sucking on a sugar quill and then wandered around the village more.

As the twilight neared they went back to Diagon Alley then Leaky Cauldron and had an early dinner. Then back to Privet Drive. There Anna told Harry she would come for him soon and left him.

After making sure nobody would disturb them in the night, they made their way back to Hogsmeade.

Anna stepped to the station directly and then led him towards the lake and around the bend. She watched his face lit up in awe on seeing the castle. And thought he was right, younger children would appreciate the view even more. It was an amazing view she could agree and made her miss the place.

'The home of the orphans', Harry Potter had called it in her last life.

It was true, however they were treated by the people inside, the castle had always felt warm. That is what had brought her back to it, when she have wanted to leave it all behind. That and the threat to bound her magic if she doesn't complete her education.

She shook her head then looked at Harry again, who was now watching it with a contemplative look.

"What?" Anna asked.

"Oh. Nothing. Its wonderful, ain't it? Thank you for showing it to me this early." Harry said.

"You're welcome. Now tell me what were you thinking?" Anna asked.

"Just...about the other magical children who have to wait some more to see this. The muggles who won't even get to see such a sight ever." Harry sighed in frustration maybe or sadness.

"Always thinking about others eh, Harry-Chan?" She ruffled his hair.

"Hey!" Harry exclaimed as he ducked.

"The other magical children will see it though, even if its after some years wait. And the non-magicals have other places for them, hmm...like the Disneyland. Its a magical place, they say right?" Anna said.

"You have an answer for everything." Harry said wryly.

"Not everything. I don't remember the square root of pi most times, couldn't find simple solutions today and most other times too and do everything convoluted. So no, don't have answer for everything, but most things."

Harry just shook his head. They decided to wait till the lights are turned off in most parts of castle then go through the passage. They waited in silence, watching the castle and finally after most lights were off, they ventured towards Honeydukes. Anna disabled the wards on the shop and they entered it, keeping the cloak on, silencing the sound of their steps. They got in the passage, and traveled through it like they did before.

On reaching the end they levitated themselves up and out of the opening, closing it behind them. From there it was going to be difficult to wander in the castle without alerting everyone. They swept the floor searching for Tom's magic. It took long to search the entire floor, the castle being so large, they didn't found anything there so they decided to go up.

On the next floor they were deciding to split up searching for the horcrux. Anna was thinking about the places inside Hogwarts where Tom could have hidden it. They wouldn't be able to search the castle in a night like this. She stopped Harry from splitting up and then led him to another secret passage behind a mirror on that floor.

After she had warded the area she said, "We can't search for the horcrux like this. It would take more than one night for that. We are lucky we hadn't met any ghost yet. The portraits I could subdue, but not them. Its already nearing 2 in the morning. We need to find another way."

She stood silent thinking about the places. The chamber of secrets could be one but the basilisk was still alive.

"We shouldn't have come unprepared." Anna exclaimed throwing up her hands.

"We are searching for something, I mean the horcrux, he 'hid' here right? Could we find it in the room of hidden things. You had said it gives you what you want. Its also called room of requirement right? We could just ask for the horcrux from it!" Harry, who had been silently thinking about all Anna had told him about Hogwarts, exclaimed.

"You think it would work? It does provide you with the books from even the restricted section. So maybe it would show it. Alright come on. No noise, alright?"

Harry nodded, excited.

They covered themselves back with the cloak and spelled other protections on themselves then Anna took down the wards and they left the passage. They remained still whenever they encountered a ghost, letting it pass by and finally reached the 7th floor taking shortcuts Anna knew. Opposite the tapestry of the infamous wizard and the trolls they walked pass the wall three times and a door appeared on the third pass.

They both looked at each other excited and entered inside.

They were shocked to see the room.

"What did you ask for?" Anna asked.

"To give us the hidden horcrux and you?" Harry replied.

"To show the horcrux." Anna said with a shrug.

"So why does the room is showing us junk?" Harry asked.

The room was full of items-"Wait a minute. This items seemed to be hidden in the room. This is the room of hidden things. So maybe he too hid his horcrux in this room." Anna exclaimed.

"Very careless way to hide it though." Harry said with a frown.

"Not much students know about this room now a days, I think. Only a few. Which is a peculiar thing as so many seemed to have hide their things in it before." Anna said.

They started searching the junk and found a few things which had his magic on it, a watch which restricted the supply of blood to your hand, a strangling chain.

"Did he put the curses on it or is it because they are very old, the things are behaving like that?" Harry asked.

They hadn't put anything on but a check of the items was enough to tell them what they did.

Anna just shrugged back.

"This is cool." Harry said when he found a book with his handwritten notes.

"What is?" Anna asked curiously.

The book didn't seem dangerous just had Parseltongue password to open it.

"Its about how you could fly without the broom as most wizards do. I'm gonna try it when we go the Potter house. Look even a recipe to make a long lasting aging potion and polyjuice potion. He is brilliant, I concede. But stupid if he thinks no one would be able to find it here."

"Did you checked it for curses and all?" Harry nodded at her then put it inside his bag.

"He is arrogant. Very arrogant. Probably thought no one but him could ever find the room. Which, I know, is stupid. Since so many people had hidden things in it." Anna shook her head.

They found a trunk full of more books which were about dark arts Anna guessed, for him to hide it there. She shrunk it down and put it in her bag.

They finally found the horcrux, the diadem, "Ravenclaw's diadem."

It was nearing dawn when they found the horcrux.

"It gives you wisdom, huh?" Harry said.

"Well I don't know much about it. I think it affects your brain, making your thoughts clear. Thus granting you wisdom. If you think clearly, you could solve any problem." Anna said.

She levitated it in the pouch and then put it in her bag.

"Wow. That was fast, it only took 2 hours to find, its just 4.30. Now we just need to trek back to the third floor."

As Anna said that the room changed and a door formed at the nearest wall. They covered themselves with the cloak and opened the door. The door opened in the corridor with the secret passage. They smiled at each other under the cloak and got out, closing the door behind them. The door disappeared as they closed it.

They were smiling at their success but when they reached the statue of the witch, that's when their troubles started.

Mrs. Norris, Filch's cat was sniffing around the statue. They remained still as she passed the corridor sniffing along the way. Anna was hoping she wouldn't be able to smell them but realized she hadn't applied the spells again. The cat was too smart for her own good. They had taken care not to leave their smell behind before, then how did she still sniffed them Anna didn't understand. As she looked around for a place to hide, Harry tugged at her sleeve and indicted towards the corridor where two pair of boots could be seen imprinted in the dust. Anna bit her lip, she had been so sure she had been careful. The place was dusty since the corridor wasn't used much, and it was the holidays on top.

As Mrs. Norris came up to them, she mewled in confusion as they couldn't be seen by her but definitely could be smelled. She prowled up and down the corridor still making sounds so they backed away from the place. She didn't follow them but she could bring someone else around with her noise. Before leaving the corridor Anna cleared it of their smell and magic and other signs, then tried to cover as many places as she could from before.

"It was stupid for you to forget it." Harry said in a whisper after they had cleared the magic from everywhere they went before.

Anna shushed him and then moved in front of the wall in front of the tapestry again asking for a way out of Hogwarts. The door appeared and they went inside, Anna clearing the signs of their presence in the corridor before entering.

She collided with Harry's back when she did.

"What..." She trailed off looking around.

"Yeah. We are back in the same room again. How will anything here help us get out of Hogwarts. The broken brooms? Or is there even a flying carpet hidden here somewhere?" Harry said angrily.

"Hush now, Harry-kun. No worries. If we ask nicely maybe the room may tell us how this will help."

Nothing happened.

"Could we please understand why we are in this room?" Anna tried asking clearly.

A book appeared on a desk cluttered with miscellaneous junk near them. She checked it for curses and then opened it.

"Portals! Is there a portal from here to somewhere out?" Anna asked.

No response.

"Look Anna, Vanishing Cabinets. But you had said they were illegal." Harry said, as he found it while leafing through the book.

"It must be an old one. Not removed or something. Okay so we need to search for a cabinet. Its going to be tough to find it in all this clutter and distinguish it from all this other cabinets." Anna said, looking around harried.

"There's a picture of them in the book." Harry said helpfully.

"Alright, we should split up. Remember don't touch anything." Anna warned.

"Yes, mom." Harry replied sarcastically.

"Hey I am the older among us. I had to look after my otouto. Though I am probably the worst caretaker you would see. Taking a 7 year old on a heist." Anna said acting despairing.

"Vanishing Cabinet. Go. Now." Harry said indicating her to hurry up.

They split and searched the place.

"Found it." Harry shouted form the aisle on her right. She found a gap amongst the junk and went into the aisle.

"Look." Harry showed it to her with a grand gesture. Anna had seen the cabinet in her last life. It was located in an empty class room in the castle somewhere. It seems the room summoned it for them. Though why it would make them search for it and not just show it is a mystery. It probably did it as mischief. Anna rolled her eyes.

"Let's test it first. We don't know if it works properly." She conjured a rat and put it inside the cabinet. They waited then opened it again. The rat was gone. They closed it again then opened it, it was back.

"Alright. He seems healthy. Let's do this. Just remember not to make any noise. We don't know where we will get out." Anna said after she checked the cabinet one last time.

She covered them both with the cloak, spelled them thoroughly then stepped inside leading Harry in. They closed the door carefully, making sure it was fully closed then waited a few seconds and opened it again. They had traveled out of Hogwarts alright. They checked for any signs of traps or wards or anyone being around then stepped out. They were inside Borgin and Burkes, Anna realized. It was going to be tough getting out of here, she thought. They moved towards the door leading out and Anna checked it for wards. As she had thought it was warded thoroughly. But there was a flaw in the wards it prevented anyone from entering but not exiting. So after making sure nothing would happen and freezing the bell on the door they got out, erasing their signs as they left.

Harry asked in a whisper, "Are we in Knockturn alley?"

Anna just nodded her head in reply.

"Wicked."

They passed through the alley silently, staying far away from the creeps. There were hookers in front of a bar, drunks wandering around, even a vampire it seemed in the shadows. Though nobody saw or smelled them this time.

When they reached the end of alley connecting it to Diagon, Anna let out a breath. She indicated towards Gringotts to Harry and he nodded sleepily to her. She smiled mischievously and took him piggy back on her back. He was taller than her slightly but it wasn't much so she could carry him easily. They had both grown since they first met, with Harry now looking like a healthy 8 year old, though he still had few weeks till his birthday. Even his messy hair he had grown long and they have settled better because of it.

She entered Gringotts and saw that Bloodaxe's place was occupied by his partner Swordedge. He works at night. She hadn't met him last time when she came to enter Harry's vault because Bloodaxe was working then. Now she signaled him and he nodded at her, getting up from his seat. They went to his office and she gave him the diadem.

"Two items in a day. Good job, Miss Summers and you too Mr. Potter." Swordedge said, looking dubiously at Harry.

"Call me Anna, Swordedge. And him Harry. And please pardon him. We were working most of the night to find the horcrux in Hogwarts and had a busy day, yesterday. So he's tired."

Harry was nodding off in the seat where Anna had deposited him.

Swordedge just nodded his head.

"So we will see you next week when you come to change the wards, right?"

"Yes. You will see me on next Saturday. When are you leaving?" He asked.

"Probably on Sunday if we can convince Sensei to give us leave earlier than decided."

Swordedge nodded again and said, "We will be there on Saturday. Bloodaxe will be there too."

Anna smiled back saying, "We will take your leave then. Sayonara, Swordedge."

She waved at him and took Harry back on her back covering them with the cloak. She stepped near Dursley's house as soon as she got out of the bank. The sun was rising now, so she took him to his room, tucked him in and left a note to sleep late and not worry about practice on the desk. Then she went out of the house and stepped in her room in the orphanage.

She slept late in the morning but the matron didn't said anything as most kids slept a little late in the holidays. After she got ready she left to see Harry and realized he was still sleeping. She decided to let him be and worked on a potion in the room warding his bed to keep the noise out.

Nyx was lazing in the sun coming through the window, on the table below it.

He woke sometime in the middle of her preparation.

"Hey, sleepyhead. Had a good sleep?" She asked cheerfully.

"Don't you know the meaning of privacy Anna?" He replied.

"Aw. I thought I was invited here always. I will leave, don't be angry Harry-kun."

But she didn't showed any signs of leaving so he asked, "I thought you were leaving?"

"I was just kidding. You really want me to leave? Seriously?" Anna asked.

Harry shook his head with an aborted eye roll and got out of the room to go to the bathroom.

After he came back he asked, "So what are we doing today?"

"Nothing. Just lazing around. You must be tired from yesterday. We could do whatever you want. But we should have a breakfast first. Or I guess a brunch. Where would you like to go?" Anna asked.

He just shrugged so she took him to the local diner. After that they lazed around the room, Anna had completed her potion and was reading the books she found in the room in Hogwarts while Harry was watching a movie on the TV, stroking Nyx scales. They spent the day relaxing.

-x-

A/N: What do you think of the chapter and the story so far? Anything you want to comment on, feel free to do so. Review and voice your opinion on the story. Constructive criticism appreciated. Please fav, follow and review. See you on the next update, Novarkek.