The next day, Sirius found Harry looking at the portraits in the front hall.
"Are you looking for anyone in particular?" Sirius asked, trying not to glance at his mother's picture.
"Was Remus's hex on all the pictures or just your mother's?" Harry asked.
"Just my mother's," Sirius said.
Harry approached a picture of Phineas Black.
"Excuse me Professor Black," he said politely. "Would you be able to ask Dumbledore something for me?"
"I'm not your messenger," Phineas said.
"I know that," Harry said, "but knowing Professor Dumbledore, he probably asked you to keep an eye on me when I'm here."
"What's your message?" Phineas asked.
"Could you ask him where Gryffindor's sword is?"
Dumbledore came to their door a few minutes later.
"What do you need the sword for?" Dumbledore asked.
"To destroy the Horcruxes," Harry said.
"There are only two left," Dumbledore reminded him. "Neither one is ready to be destroyed yet. Besides, the sword can't destroy a horcrux."
"I used it on the basilisk," Harry said. "It has basilisk venom on it."
"You would have if you stuck to the original plan," Dumbledore reminded him. "You changed the future beyond recognition. You showed me that Voldermort could be destroyed without all the horcruxes being destroyed. You saved many lives. Don't worry about the two remaining horcruxes now."
After Dumbledore left, Harry turned to Sirius.
"What's the best way to contact Snape?" he asked.
"You could use the floo," Sirius said, "but don't fall in this time."
"That was Ron's fault," Harry said. "He was dancing around the kitchen and bumped into me. I can't see Snape dancing around his fireplace."
Harry stuck his head in the floo and asked Professor Snape if he knows where Grffindor's sword is.
"How would I know?" Snape asked him. "I'm a Slytherin not a Gryffindor."
"When you were headmaster, you gave it to me," Harry said.
"I'm not headmaster," Snape reminded him. "I have no connection to Gryffindor artifacts."
Harry reluctantly pulled his head out of the fireplace.
"Can I go visit Ron?" he asked Sirius. "I won't stay long or say anything inappropriate. I just want to let him know that I'm back to myself."
"Ask them first," Sirius told him.
Harry stuck his head back in the fireplace.
"Hi guys," he said.
"Come in, Harry dear," Mrs. Weasley said.
Harry went through the fireplace.
"Thanks for the present," he said cheerfully.
"So you're back to yourself again?" Ron asked cautiously, ignoring the reproachful look Ginny was giving him.
"Yes," Harry said. "I went to my parents' grave on Christmas Eve and spent yesterday talking to Sirius and Remus about my parents. I should have done that long ago. I don't know why I was so out of it the last few months."
"Welcome back," Ginny said cheerfully.
"Did you splinch yourself again?" Harry asked Ron.
"What's with you and splinching dreams?" Ron asked.
"I'm strange," Harry said. "Splinching is creepy."
"Do you want to play some quidditch?" Ron asked.
"I told Sirius I won't stay long," Harry said regretfully. "You know how he worries."
"I'm surprised he let you come here yourself," Ron said. "How does he know you're not in Knockturn Alley?"
Harry grinned, said goodbye to the Weasleys, and went home.
"Are there snatchers?" Harry asked Sirius.
"What are snatchers?" Sirius asked.
"Groups of people who snatch muggleborns and blood traitors," Harry said. "They get paid for each one they turn in to death eaters."
"I'm happy to say there aren't any," Sirius told him.
The next day, Harry asked Sirius if anything happens if you say Tom's last name.
"Are you referring to Riddle or Voldermort?" Sirius asked.
"Well I guess nothing happens if you're still here," Harry said. "But I was referring to the name he made up for himself."
"According to Professor Dumbledore, fearing a name increases the fear of the person," Sirius told Harry.
"That's because he didn't live through a time when saying the name caused all protective spells to vanish and alerted Snatchers to your location," Harry said.
"I'm happy I didn't live through that time," Sirius said.
"I wished you were still alive then," Harry said. "I lost too many people."
"I'm not dying this time," Sirius said, putting his arm around Harry's shoulders.
Harry rested his head on Sirius and closed his eyes, trying to organize his thoughts. Even though there was really no need to visit Xenophilius Lovegood, Harry decided that a visit to Luna with Ron and Hermione might be what he needs. He told Sirius that he wants to get together with friends tomorrow and asked what he thinks would be the fastest way to get in touch with Hermione.
"If you send Hedwig now, she should get there on time," Sirius said. "Who are you meeting and where?"
"I was thinking it would be me, Hermione, Ron, and Luna at Luna's house," Harry said.
"Did you ask Luna?" Sirius asked him.
"I guess I should before I invite Hermione over," Harry agreed. "I'll floo ask her now."
Harry stuck his head in the fireplace after announcing Luna's house.
"Hi," Luna said when she saw Harry's head.
"I was thinking it would great if some of us could get together tomorrow," Harry told her. "Are you interested?"
"Sure," Luna said. "Do you want to come here or go somewhere?"
"I would love to see your house," Harry told her. "Is it okay if I invite Hermione and Ron?"
"Yes," Luna said. "I look forward to seeing you tomorrow."
"Thanks," Harry said.
He removed his head from the fireplace and wrote to Hermione. After that, he used the floo to arrange with Ron to meet them tomorrow. Ginny asked if she could join them, and of course Harry agreed. He was wondering what the day would be like.