Borgin & Burkes
Few days ago my curiosity took me to the little village of Little Hangleton, where Tom Riddle's family dwelled for some years. Curiously, among the ruins I had the fortune of finding one of the objects you are searching: a ring.
Surely I know about advanced dark magic, so I looked for something that might be useful for its destruction in order to help you in your fight against Voldemort, but I did not. In case you haven't found something to destroy those which you already have, I recommend an object made by goblins, or something so poisonous that detains the objects from recovering.
I send you the ring I found so you can destroy it.
Merry Christmas, and I wait you at Hogwarts for the next semester.
Albus Dumbledore
Dumbledore's letter arrived the next morning after Christmas, and Harry read it aloud to everyone surrounding Lily's cauldron. However excited by the arrival of a newhorcrux (which James and Harry destroyed to avoid any mess), everyone went silent when Sirius and Marlene arrived.
"Good Morning." Marlene greeted, and Harry saw that no words were needed. Sirius and she clearly didn't sleep, and the boys couldn't blame them.
"Lene, come here." Lily called, and she nested among the girls.
"I thought you understood, mate." James whispered as Sirius leaned on the wall.
"I did, James." Marlene whispered. "But I feel bad for mum. My father is a nice man, and she said she liked him. But if the Blacks has let Oreon decide…"
"You and Sirius would be siblings?" Frank asked bewildered.
"Probably." Sirius muttered, and then sighed. "It's a nice story and all, but after my father told me, it looked like he saw me in his place…"
"And wanted you to live for him?" Hermione suggested, filling some bottles with potion.
"Yes, but I dunno if I want to."
"Forget it." Ginny nestled Marlene with the others. "These are old stories. Sirius, your father just feels guilty for not having looked at you for such a long time and wants to get redemption by telling his stories to you."
"What about my mum, Gin?" Marlene crawled to Sirius.
"Put yourself in her place, Marlene." Hermione said. "She got nostalgic, that's all. They don't want to talk about this anymore. Will you still go? The potion is ready."
"Just a second." Sirius took Marlene out of the room, but when they opened the door, Dorcas stared at them.
"Hey! I think I missed some things…"
"Where were you?"
"Remus isn't very well…"
Behind her, a vomiting sound came from the bathroom, and Dorcas giggled.
"I knew last night's excitement was false! It was you, Sirius?"
"James helped." Sirius laughed.
"Well, thank you, then. I had so much fun! But Remus didn't like that much…"
"Later I talk to him."
"Fine. So, I'll go inside to update."
She went in and Sirius took Marlene to a closer room, where he sat her on a bed.
"Marlene." Sirius approached, kissing her mouth. "I love you. I don't care if my dad loved your mum; I don't care if your father hates mine or whatsoever. I loved you before I knew that and I love you know that I know."
"What's going to happen, Sirius?" Marlene leaned on his chest.
"With us? Nothing, I don't care about this story. For me we forget all about this and search for this horcrux or whatever it is called. Agreed?"
Marlene stared at her boyfriend's face, rarely serious, and kissed him.
"I'll try. Are you going to live with him?"
"Yes, or else Regulus will never forget me for not trying to get along with him now that mum's gone."
"She's going to kill you."
"Maybe, but she's so mad that soon she'll forget our existence. Talking about him, it's time for potion."
Marlene sprung up with Sirius, and they entered the room, making the humbug that was going around them stop.
"Later we take a nap. Lily, where is it?"
Surprised with the change, Lily handled the bottles and each one drank it. As he grew older, Sirius gazed around.
"Where's Regulus?"
"He's with Amelie on the garden." Emmeline laughed. "They're so cute together that I couldn't call them."
Sirius rolled his eyes, making James, Frank and Peter laugh out loud.
"What?"
"Mate, you did just like your dad last night." Ron laughed. "The disguise is perfect."
Beside him Marlene tied her hair up tightly like Walburga.
"Do you think I can deceive?" She asked. Sirius took a good look at her.
"Yes, just change your expression. That's better, she has a dung face."
Laughing, they held hands and said goodbye.
"If you find anything with Hogwarts' symbol, bring it." Harry advised before they departed, heading to the Knockturn Alley.
When the place appeared before them and the horrible suffocating feeling vanished, Marlene glanced at Sirius and they started walking, astonished by the number of strange people who bowed at them.
"Are we lost?" she asked some minutes later, but Sirius denied with his head and pointed to Borgin & Burkes' showcase.
The two opened the door and sneaked into. Marlene gazed at the shelves and Sirius walked to the counter when a man appeared and scared them.
"Hello, Mr. Black." He whispered. "Are you looking for something?"
Sirius gazed at the man, trying to remember how his father would act. In a cold voice, he sounded as indifferent as possible.
"I'm looking for a relic to a relative, and thought you could have…"'
"Relic? What kind of relic?"
"He's a collector, and it is fascinated for Hogwarts… I was wondering if you might have what he liked…"
The man widened his eyes with greed.
"I think I know what you are looking for…Well; if your friend is not interested in the origin I have a valuable cup here. Found it hidden on the basement!"
"Bring the cup." Marlene ordered in Walburga's dry voice. Anxious, the man ran inside, and Sirius breathed relieved.
"Do you think it's the one?"
"Don't know, but he'll ask a fortune."
"No problem, Mrs. Potter said we can use her gold."
"Really?"
"Yes, she said that if it's for Voldemort's defeat, she'll help."
"You said-"
"Screw the name. Here he comes…"
Borgin appeared behind the counter, holding a shinny cup in his hands.
"Here, Sir, look! It's Hufflepuff's arms. Real, of course, we don't sell fake here."
Sirius grabbed it and analyzed for a moment. Then, he picked a piece of paper and wrote the number.
"Ask for gold in this vault, Borgin. No abuse, or else I will be rather… disappointed."
The man bowed rather exuberantly and held it.
"Oh, Yes, Yes... a good day for you."
Tense, they kept the cup and left. When they got together to apparated, Sirius kissed Marlene's hand.
"Great team, we are."
"I think someone charmed you, Sirius." Marlene smiled.
The marauder just laughed, and they disappeared.
"Where is it?" Ron asked as soon as they arrived. Everyone was united in the living room (Sirius giggled when he saw Regulus and Amelie hugging on the couch) and when he showed the cup, they cheered.
"You made it!" Hermione yelled happily. "You really made it!"
Neville and Frank ran with a tooth, and Luna intervened before they attacked:
"Neville, move the wrackpurts from your head before you destroy-"
Ignoring her remark the two Longbottons killed the horcrux, and a scream was heard followed by a flash of light. When they could see again, the cup was parted in two. Harry fell relieved in a chair.
"Now there're only two left. Thanks to Dumbledore… and you. Thank you."
"Oh, we're doing that for us too." Lily smiled. "We can be saving our own lives!"
"Yes, who knows what this maniac will do to us?" James hugged Lily, and for a moment Harry wanted to forget responsibility and hug them, but stopped.
"Yeah, you can be saved by this, James. Surely."