A/N:Sorry this chapter took an extra day as well, but it's quite long. Usually, my chapters are 5k, but this is like 8.3k.

I also want to respond to some reviews from an individual reviewer because my they're probably relevant at large.

The Reviews: "what i don't like is the fact that you keep adding oc children, I really can't give a fuck about them so I just skip whatevers related to them. I also disliked how long it took to clean the house, too much time wasted explaining small stuff that I don't care about. it feels like you're increasing the student and teacher numbers just so you can add a bunch of inconsequential oc's. I get the feeling you'll pair up madeline with sirius ._. Don't waste so much time on secondary characters, just a waste of time imo."

My Response: Well, Marcus's existence is actually canon. Marcus Fenwick and Marcus Hitchin both exist. I combined their names and came up with a backstory. If you only want a story about Harry, Hermione, and Ron then that's not going to be this story. Harry and Hermione will be best friends, but they're going to be in Ravenclaw, not Gryffindor, and most of their friends are going to be Ravenclaws. Ron isn't even going to be their friend. Cleaning wasn't exactly plot relevant besides needing to find the locket, but I honestly wanted to describe the house. I don't mind if you skip sections. As far as increasing the student body, JKR said there were 60k wizards in Britain. I'm only making Hogwarts reflect that, taking into account the average rate of homeschooling. As far as Sirius and Madeline, that's not going to happen. Madeline already remarried a muggle, Marcus's stepfather. Sirius's partner I haven't really decided yet. Either Remus or Amelia. Feel free to leave a comment with your opinion. I'm hopefully not wasting time on secondary characters, just introducing main characters you haven't met before.

Credit: These creatures were all designed on the Harry Potter Headcanon Blog, "The Monster Book of Monsters". I embellished the Forneus just a bit.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

Chapter 8: Plentiful Days

July 28th, 1991

12 Grimmauld Place

When I went down to the kitchen for breakfast, the day's Daily Prophet was waiting on the table. I wasn't expecting the headline so I scrambled over and starting reading immediately.

HARRY POTTER FREES GRINGOTTS DRAGONS!

by Rita Skeeter

Beginning early yesterday evening, Gringotts began to release the dragons that were legendarily protecting the deepest vaults with the most riches. The releases are continuing throughout the day. Many of us normal people had never seen the dragons in the tunnels beneath the bank, never having a reason to venture that low. We had only ever heard gossip of them. However, the privileged few did indeed have dragons guarding their vaults. Why were they released? Well, according to Gringotts Chief Goblin Ragnok (notorious for being unavailable to comment), "Harry Potter convinced us they were just for show. They were only a financial draw, and Gringotts and Harry didn't want to keep the dragons in their current state. Most of them are mostly blind due to being underground for so long. It's really a tragedy and we apologize to any concerned for the Dragons' wellbeing. The English, Scottish, Welsh, and Irish reserves have agreed to split the responsibility of housing and caring for the dragons, and Gringotts will be baring the cost of the relocations. They are quite excited about the new influx of population and the effect it will have on their breeding programs, even though our dragons are mostly blind. It really is all thanks to Harry Potter, though." The release has caused many esteemed families to be outraged. Lucius Malfoy, an advisor to the Minister of Magic, scolded the actions of the Goblins and our boy-hero with his comment, "We pay a vault management fee every month. Every month. Our family had had a vault guarded by a dragon for countless centuries! This seems like another case of muggle ideas permeating our society! The dragons should be returned to the vaults of the families who I argue, own them. They're blind, they have no life outside of the bank. Harry Potter hasn't been seen in a decade. What gives him the right to free my guard dragon?" Well witches and wizards, how do you see it? A case of animal abuse that has been rectified? A severe deterioration of magical traditions? An overstep by a mysterious young wizard hero? At what cost? At what gain? Harry Potter was unavailable by owl.

I found another article at the bottom of the front page.

BARTEMIUS CROUCH REPLACED AS HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

by A. Camwin

Bartemius Crouch, recently deposed of his position as the Head of The Department of Magical Cooperation due to involvement in locking up Sirius Black in Azkaban without a trial, has been replaced by the previous deputy head of the department, Oliver Rivers the Sixth, a pureblood of a long and noble line whose family recently sold their business. Wealthy, but not within the realms of the wealthiest families in Britain, the Rivers' family business dealt with the trade of foreign potion ingredients, uniquely suiting him for a role in the Department of International Magical Cooperation. After having sold the family business, he seeked further employment at the Ministry, landing the job as the Deputy Head of the Department. Having only been in that position a year, it will surely be a quick promotion. He has a wife Jessica Rivers, nee Prewett, a son, Oliver the Seventh, who will be starting Hogwarts this upcoming year, and lastly, a daughter, Heather. To fill his previous position as Deputy Head, he picked a wizard from outside the office, from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Arthur Weasley, the previous Head of The Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office, will fill the new role of Deputy Head. Because much of the inner-working of The Department of International Magical Cooperation relate to upholding the Statue of Secrecy from Muggles, as well as the trade of magical objects, Arthur Weasley is uniquely suited to compliment Oliver Rivers. Even if coming from a not well respected office, Arthur Weasley is a well respected man and father of seven children. That opened up a position in Arthur Weasley's previous role of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office. Because Arthur Weasley was the one leaving the position due to a promotion, he was granted the leave to fill it. He hired a recent Muggleborn Hogwarts Graduate, Ben Copper.

I had gotten up late, so I only got a quick bite and a look at the front pages of the prophet before heading off to the Cauldron through the floo. Sirius and Remus had left me a note.

Taken Sirius to Hogwarts for Interview. Be back later. Have fun with Hagrid. Take Pobby.

-Remus

Hagrid and I agreed to meet at the Leaky Cauldron at noon today. I flooed directly there and there he was, sitting at the counter of the bar. I mean, who else could be so large they were spilling over into needing an extra stool? I walked up to him and it only took him a moment before recognizing me, "Harry! It's so good to see you. The last time I did, you were but a baby! Thanks for your letter. I've been at Gringotts all morning watching them release their dragons. Thank you for what you did, whatever it is you did, dragons are beautiful creatures."

"Of course, Hagrid. Good to meet you."

That's when Pobby popped in, having needed to stay behind for a moment to clean up my breakfast.

"Pobby, Hagrid. Hagrid, Pobby. This is my elf." I explained.

"Oh, er, uh, nice to meet ya, Pobby." Hagrid said, reaching out to the elf's tiny hand with his huge one.

"So I hope you don't need to go to Gringotts? I already been this morning." He said, tapping his chest where I could tell he was storing a small pouch or something. "I can't stand those carts."

"Nope. I have plenty on me." I said, glad that he had gotten the stone. "You know a lot about creatures right?" I asked.

"Yes." He said excitedly.

"Walk with me," I said, leading us out into the back room with the entrance to the Alley.

"I'm looking for something that's either a snake or a dragon or something in between or something snake-like or dragon-like. I know I can't have an actual dragon, of course, but I think I'd be able to handle any creature, so don't worry about temperament so much." I explained.

"Oh well, there's a lot of options under that description. I mean from Basilisk to Flobberworm, there must be hundreds of magical creatures fitting that bill." Hagrid said as I opened the door to the Alley.

"Well, Hagrid to be honest with you, I'd want an animal with a useful magical ability. Maybe invisibility or a stunning poison, or teleportation, or shrinking, or I don't know. Something useful."

"Something useful, eh? Hmm… well, you've got the Lamia, which can entrance people with a sort of Allure, kind of like Veela. Pretty easily domesticated."

"Hmm… what else?" I asked as we walked further into the Alley, letting Hagrid lead us to the most likely place of where I'd find the sort of animal I was looking for.

"The Magma Python can warm its body to extremely high temperatures. Could be useful up at Hogwarts? Hmm. Well, Steps have venom that can quickly liquefy a whole body, so dangerous, but their venom can also be used to clean dragon scales and dragon hide. I like your boots by the way." He explained, pointing down at them.

"Hmm," I said. "What else?"

"There's the Ichidara Cobra, they're from India. They can change their colors and size and if there's enough of them, can appear like a human and speak to humans. They also produce gems that take runic inscriptions very very well."

"Now that's interesting. What other species?" I asked as we kept walking deeper into the Alley.

"Hmm. There's the Forenus. They're really well liked by Parselmouths. Say, Harry are you one? Is that why you're asking me about this?" He asked.

"Hagrid. This needs to be kept secret. Can you do that?" I asked, with a suddenly serious tone in a hushed whisper.

"Of course, Harry!" He said. I didn't think this was the best idea: Hagrid had a loose mouth. But, can't help what you can't fix.

"The Forneus?" I asked.

"Oh well, they're very talkative. They also have a calming property. When making skin contact, they calm witches and wizards down. Very useful for de-escalation with other people, or to just calm yourself." He said. "Beautiful too. A black color that shines rainbow metallic in the light. Interested?" He asked.

"Maybe. I'd still like to hear what else you can think of, though."

"Botis Snakes can show glimpses of images of the future in their scales. Usually just reflections of the world, but sometimes of the future. Oh and then there's the Alchemist's snake, which was magically created. It's just a very magical snake that has a certain rune of one of the elements on the back of its head and can do small magic with that element. That's really the last snake I can think of that would be useful at the moment." Hagrid explained.

"Can most snakes produce Hybrids with other snake species?" I asked.

"Yes. But there might be a wait for the breeding if it's not common." He added.

"I think I might like a hybrid of a Forneus and an Alchemist's snake," I said.

"Oh, that's actually not going to be too rare of a Hybrid. We could probably order one up today and get it soon: If you know where to look. Probably be a damn useful snake, Harry." Hagrid explained, as he lead me into a shop just a few shops into Knockturn Alley on the far side, where Diagon reconnected with it. The shop was a small, thin, purple shop that read Polly's Place.

When we walked in, there were just a few feet of space to stand, no products out at all. On the other side of the counter, there was a curtain, and a man yelled out from the other side of the curtain, "Who's that!?"

"It's Rubeus. Get yer ass out here Polly, it's legal today." Hagrid called back in a gruff voice.

An older man with wispy gray here came out from behind the curtain and dashed to the counter. "What can I do for you?" He asked. He then saw me behind the huge figure of Hagrid. "You didn't say you brought a child… and an elf." Polly said. "Nevertheless, I am Polly. How can I help?"

"We want to order a hybrid snake as a pet for young Mr. Potter." Hagrid said.

Polly dropped his hands and his jaw, "Harry Potter?...?.? In my shop... Very well. But please don't tell anyone it came from me, a few of my clients wouldn't like knowing I deal to Harry Potter. He caused quite a stir today with the Gringotts dragons, in addition to being the boy-who-lived. Well, what kind of snake?" Polly asked.

"A hybrid of a Forneus and an Alchemist's snake," Hagrid explained.

"Male or female? What kind of Alchemist's snake? I actually have here in my books," he said, pulling out a huge book from underneath the table, "that a litter in Brazil is coming up next week. However, you'll have to take part in the order of a whole litter. The way these snake litter works is that you buy a share of the litter, instead of an individual snake. There's one last available stake in the litter, and you should get about seven or eight snakes. You sadly can't buy just one. I'd recommend you keep two males and two females. One of each element. That way you have two breeding pairs, should you ever see the future need to have more." Polly explained.

I really hadn't thought about getting four snakes. "Hagrid, will Hogwarts even let me have four snakes?" I asked. "I actually have an owl, too."

"Well, normally no. But considering it's yer birthday in two days, and don't worry I didn't forget, I think I can make an exception." He said.

"You can? How can you?" I asked.

"I am the Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts. That isn't just a title. I take care of the castle's keys, yes, but more of my duties are about maintaining the school's creatures. Therefore, I have the authority to allow student's animals onto Hogwarts grounds and have the duty of regularly checking up on any maybe dangerous creatures. Yes, normally you'd need to go to the Deputy Headmistress, but it's perfectly within my jurisdiction as well. Now, consider this your birthday present, and try not to make too big of a deal about it at Hogwarts, because not many students have more than two pets."

"I just thought we were allowed an owl, a cat, or a toad? I thought I'd have to keep my snake a secret." I asked.

"For first years, yeah. We don't want students having too many responsibilities besides adjusting to school. But if someone wanted to, they'd just need to send a letter and as long as the second creature wasn't dangerous, they could bring it. In the other years, plenty of people start bringing two pets." Hagrid explained.

"Okay. Are you taking the stake in the litter or not?" Polly asked.

"Hagrid, could I get that permission in writing?" I asked.

"Well, of course. I'll get Minerva to send you a letter." He said.

"I'll take it then, I guess. But what will I do with the snakes I don't want? And how can I ensure I get a snake of each element? How long will I need to wait?" I asked Polly.

"Hmm. As far as the snakes you don't want, I could inquire if the other stakeholders wanted them, but I can't ensure that they will, and you'll have to take them all once you buy a stake. You could just simply kill the ones you don't want, but knowing Rubeus, he'd take the extras off your hand before letting any creature die."

"Of course, Harry. We could release them into the Forbidden Forest." Hagrid said.

"As far as ensuring one of each element, the stake purchase does stipulate everyone to at least one snake of each element. Well, they're going to be born next week, and you can take them then. I'll owl you the expected date." I then realized I didn't get any owls unless they were being carried by Hedwig.

"Hmm. That should work. Although, I think something is messing with my getting owls. I don't know what to do about that though."

"Go to the post office," Polly said. "They'll sort you out. Also, that'll be 160 Galleons."

"Wow! Snakes aren't cheap." I said.

"They're definitely not. See you soon." He said as I slipped him the galleons across the counter.

Hagrid briskly walked me out of the shop and back into Diagon Alley.

"Don't like spending more time there then I have too," he explained.

"Would you take me to the post office to see what's happening with my mail?" I asked.

"Of course, Harry. Also, now that we've got your pet sorted out, Professor Dumbledore wanted me to ask you something."

"Oh. Okay." I replied as we started heading back through the Alley to the Post Office.

"Well, he was wondering why you left the Dursleys?" Hagrid asked.

"Well, the day I got my letter, I left. I didn't know anything about the magical world and the Dursleys were abusive so I never had anywhere to escape to. I thought I was going to be trapped there until I was older. But, once I knew there was another world, I knew someone else might want me. Little did I know I was basically a celebrity and probably anyone would take me. There's a whole world of people who would have taken me, and I was given to abusive muggles. I don't understand why he put me there or never checked up on me, but he's going to have to answer for it. I suspect he may be the one behind my mail too."

"Well Harry, I'm sorry if that really was the case. But Professor Dumbledore is a good man, whatever he did he probably thought was for the best. He's a busy man, he's the Head of the International Confederation of Wizards, the Wizengamot, and Hogwarts." Hagrid explained.

"Well, that's why he should have appointed someone else to make sure I was being taken care of. He's spread too thin." I said, before arriving and walking into the post office.

It was a white shop, with many rows of open windows where owls were entering or exiting. At the counter, there were actually two people working. I went up to one of them and said, "I think something is blocking me from getting mail that isn't from my own owl. I'd like help to rectify that." I said.

"Oh, hello. Well, of course. Just let me cast a few detection charms on you?" The young witch said. I nodded. She cast two charms and then said, "You have a simple mail redirection ward on you. I can remove that easily. As far as getting all the mail that's already been taken from you, I can file a form with the ministry. Sadly, it won't do much. I can cast a few charms to keep a mail redirection ward from being placed on you in the future. However, you're going to be receiving large quantities of mail, so it's best we set up a way to receive it before placing those charms." she said, staring at my scar, but keeping her composure.

"Okay. Could we redirect all the mail to my elf, and then he can sort through it for me?" I asked.

"That should work," she said. She began to cast around me, and then Pobby too, silently. Then she said, "All done. That'll be a galleon for those spells." She replied.

I slid one over the counter. I saw on a display the option to subscribe to wizarding periodicals and newspapers from here. I took out a flyer on the list of periodicals.

Periodicals Available for Subscription

British:

Daily Prophet, Newspaper, Daily, 7 Knuts Each

Rumours!, Tabloids, Weekly, 10 Knuts Each

Spella Weekly, Magazine, Weekly, 12 Knuts Each

The Quibbler, Magazine, Monthly, 12 Knuts Each

Which Wizard, Magazine, Monthly, 12 Knuts Each

Witch Weekly, Magazine, Weekly, 12 Knuts Each

International:

Alchemical Archive (British International), Scholarly Journal, Biannually, 2 Sickles Each

Annals of Arithmancy (British International), Scholarly Journal, Quarterly, 2 Sickles Each

Archiving the Ancient (British International), Scholarly Journal, Quarterly, 2 Sickles Each

Challenges in Charming (British International), Scholarly Journal, Quarterly, 2 Sickles Each

Duelist's Circle (British International), Magazine, Monthly, 14 Knuts Each

Foretelling the Future (British International), Scholarly Journal, Quarterly, 2 Sickles Each

Healing the Hopeless (British International), Scholarly Journal, Quarterly, 2 Sickles Each

Magizoology Monthly (British International), Scholarly Journal, Quarterly, 2 Sickles Each

Playwitch (American International), Magazine, Monthly, 3 Sickles

Playwizard (American International), Magazine, Monthly, 3 Sickles

Researching Runes (British International), Scholarly Journal, Quarterly, 2 Sickles Each

Searching the Sky (British International), Scholarly Journal, Biannually, 2 Sickles Each

Seeker Weekly (British International), Magazine, Weekly, 12 Knuts Each

The American Charmer (American), Magazine, Weekly, 12 Knuts Each

The Practical Potioneer (British International), Scholarly Journal, Quarterly, 2 Sickles Each

The Witch's Friend (American), Magazine, Weekly, 12 Knuts Each

The Wizard's Voice (American), Newspaper, Daily, 8 Knuts Each

The Wizarding World News (International), Newspaper, Daily, 8 Knuts Each

Transfiguration Monthly (British International), Scholarly Journal, Quarterly, 2 Sickles Each

U Hex A! (American), Magazine, Weekly, 12 Knuts Each

What Wand (American International), Scholarly Journal, Biannually, 2 Sickles Each

Which Broomstick (British International), Magazine, Quarterly, 16 Knuts Each

WitchChat (American), Magazine, Weekly, 12 Knuts Each

Witch Holiday (British International), Magazine, Monthly, 16 Knuts Each

Looking through it, I wanted a copy of almost everything besides the American domestic magazines. I signed up for them all, and paid a year in advance, totaling quite a hefty sum of galleons. The informed always had an advantage, though. Then, Pobby, Hagrid, and I were done with our business in the alley together. We stopped by Gringotts and saw them release a dragon, which just so happened to be the same one I had spoken to yesterday. In the light I could see it clearly, a large Ukrainian Ironbelly, with scales of a pale metallic grey, as it was brought out of the back of the bank, it yelled, "FINALLY" as it was escorted in chains by a couple dozen wizards from the back roof of the building. It seems like they were flying the dragon out by guiding them with wizards on broomsticks who had the dragon under the imperious curse. Once the dragon moved off into the distance, Hagrid and I parted ways. I needed to take my new objects to Angus Malone, from Bill's recommendation. It was actually near Polly's, just on the Diagon Alley side of the divide. Another long walk, I thought. I couldn't take Hagrid with me earlier though, when I was trying to keep these objects secret. The shop was a nice warm wooden shop with the sign proudly displaying the name "Malone Family Protective Enchantments." Walking in, it seemed like I was in a workshop. There were chains for sale and other bits and bobs, but it mostly seemed like a place to commission work.

I walked up to the counter where a man was working in the workshop in the back. When he saw me, he stopped what he was doing and walked forward.

"Angus Malone." the older man introduced himself, with white balding hair. "How may I help you?" He asked, extending his hand across the counter for a shake.

"Harry Potter." I replied.

"It's an honor to meet you." He replied.

"Well, I have a couple objects I need to protect. However, do you offer secrecy contracts?" I asked.

"Of course. Different prices for different contracts of course. How severe?" He asked.

"May I see the options?" I asked. He ducked below the counters and grabbed a set of papers, different contracts. Letting me look over them, I could see the punishments of breaking secrecy ranged from a simple 20 galleon fine to 2,000 galleons and a month in Azkaban. The lowest secrecy contract cost a galleon to buy, whereas the most stringent required a fee of 150.

"Hmm," I replied. "Will they cover both objects with one plan, or do they need separate plans?" I asked.

"You can choose to use one separate contract for both, or one for each, which would increase the punishment if I broke both of the contracts, which I won't. I have a reputation to uphold." He responded.

"Well, in that case, I'll take the 150 galleon contract option for each object separately," I said, pulling out the galleons for payment. He seemed intrigued and concerned.

"Wow, this must be really secret." He said, signing the contract after looking over the amount of galleons I was placing onto the table. After a minute the signing was done and he had collected all of the galleons.

I asked, "Can you lock down the shop and check for any listening charms?"

"Of course." He said, flicking his wand towards the door and window, which sealed up, and casting in circles around the room. "We're clear." He said.

I pulled off the locket and took the cup out of my bag. I also set my bookbag down on the counter, wanting some charms for it too. I had started storing my money bag in my bookbag, so I wouldn't need separate protective enchantments for that. I had emptied my bag of the trunk, which was at Grimmauld Place.

"My, my, my… what do we have here?" He asked, first picking up Hufflepuff's cup.

"Well, I'll just say these are both very precious heirlooms. I need a way to prevent them from being stolen from me, detected, or seen by anyone else. I honestly need as much protection for these objects as you can give me, and I don't foresee the need to share these objects, in all honesty."

"Alright. Just let me wonder. Hmm. Well, the locket can be more easily done than the cup because I can inscribe the protective runes onto the chain, and won't be touching the locket itself. The cup, however, I wouldn't want to damage the integrity of it." He took a closer look. "Well, I don't even see any runes. Does this even have any magical properties?" He asked me.

"Would that make a difference in how you were able to protect it?" I asked back.

"Well, if it's not runic in nature somehow disguised, then my runes shouldn't mess with the magical properties. If it's extremely valuable though, which I assume it is, I wouldn't want to take that risk unless I had a team of curse breakers check it over and tell me the properties were not runic in nature."

Good thing that had happened, then. "Well, go ahead. I'm certain if it had magical properties, they wouldn't be runic in nature."

"Glad we got that hypothetical situation out of the way," he chuckled. "Well, what I can do for the locket is disguise its appearance to everyone but you, prevent it from ever being taken off your neck or prevent it from being taken off by any hands but yours, prevent it from leaving a radius of three meters from you, place a tracking Runescape on it and provide you with a locator, place a subtle notice-me-not Runescape to not draw attention to it, and place an incapacitating Runescape on it if anyone but you touches it for more than five seconds. Practically all the same things for the cup except of course no neck removal Runescape, and I'll increase the distance to seven meters? These distance charms will summon the objects to you if they reach that distance from you. You'll have to keep this cup on you, or I can supply you instead with a box that acts as a portkey to you whenever you say a certain word while holding a certain other object. I could even link that up to the chain of the locket, so you could summon the cup via portkey from anywhere. Or, hmm. I could see what's inside the locket and we could possibly store the cup inside there with an extended space Runescape. So many options!" He said, in just a few excitable breaths.

"Go ahead and look inside," I said. He opened it up, took his magnifying glass, and peered around.

"Hmm. Most of the internal space is occupied by Runescapes, however, the frame of the octagon that the clasp is on to lock the sides of the locket together is not. It's a small space, but I can make an extendable space charm for the inside. The only problem is that I won't have much space to control the locking mechanism to keep people from opening it. I can do a simple password lock, but any curse breaker worth their pay can break that in five minutes. However, by still placing the charms on the cup for distance and tracking, I think you'll still have a good set of protective enchantments." He said with finality.

"Alright then. I'll take it! So, I can remove the locket only with my hands, the extended space inside the locket, and how about a five-meter radius on the locket? I'll take the tracking on both objects, I'll take the subtle notice me not on both, I'll take the incapacitating Runescape on both, and then for the cup, I'll take the seven-meter radius. How long and how much?" I asked.

"This will take a bit of time. Rush order? A few days. Carving tiny runes into precious objects requires precision and perfection." He said.

"A few days? Wow, I didn't know it would take that much time." I said.

"If you want to keep people from taking things, yeah, it takes time." He responded.

"Well, if Bill Weasley didn't recommend you I'd be scared to trust you with them for that long. I'm still hesitant, but alright." I said.

"Bill sent you? Well, I'll take five percent off then. Altogether, it'll be 70 galleons." He responded.

"So more for the secrecy than the objects?" I joked.

"That's the way the cookie crumbled." He chuckled. "So, you'll be going to Hogwarts this year?" He asked.

"Yes, I will! A first year. My guardian Remus Lupin just got a job as a professor there, teaching Ancient Runes." I replied.

"Always has been my favorite subject." He lovingly said.

"Yeah, he's actually teaching me and a few others who are going into first year both the first and second year of the ancient runes curriculum this summer. We're starting in two days." I said excitedly.

"I actually have a grandson, who lives in Australia, Roger, who is going into his first year at Hogwarts too. I'd love for him to get that exposure to Runes. My son and his wife, his parents, are mazigoologists. I'm going to need someone to take over the family business one day, though. It's a good business! So how about this Harry, my wife sometimes works with me, and usually she just works for friends, but she's still very good. Working together, we could get these done by tomorrow morning. Let's say if we do that for you, you take Roger into these lessons your guardian is having? He can international floo. He has an unrestricted permit to floo to us all the time, and can floo from here to where your lessons are. I'd really love for him to have that exposure to Runes early because he's been around animals for so long he actually is one." Angus laughed. I thought for a second.

"That sounds like a great deal. I don't think anyone would mind. He'll just need to let Hogwarts know about his accelerated courses. He is smart, right? I mean, the rest of us are for sure Ravenclaws." I said.

"Oh, of course. The boy's already an animagus! That what I meant by being an animal, mostly." Angus chuckled. "He's gifted, for sure. He'll be a Ravenclaw, just like his family. He's already signed up to take practically everything." His grandfather boasted.

"Well, that's good to hear. But already an animagus? That's hard to believe." I said.

"Yes. I thought so too. But his parents have been animagi for years and always said they were going to train their children early. It allows them to view animals in the wild much less intrusively. Yes, Roger is a Sifaka Lemur, with his blue eyes." His grandfather proudly elaborated.

"Well, I'll leave these two objects with you overnight, then. Do you mind if I leave my elf with you to watch over them? I'm just very worried about their security. The lessons start on the 30th, 9am to 4pm. 12 Grimmauld Place."

"Unorthodox, but alright with me. You may leave your elf. I'll have Roger there on time. He'll be excited, I'm sure. The lessons will probably take up the rest of summer, won't they?"

"Yes. They will. Thanks." I said. I turned to Pobby, standing beside me, "Let him and his wife work on them. Don't let them be stolen. Get them back to me at all costs if for some reason they seem in danger. When they're done, you can bring them to me." I instructed Pobby. He nodded.

"Alright. Can I have a sample of your blood?" Angus Malone asked.

"Yes." I said, extending my hand. He pricked my finger with a knife, but then healed the cut with his wand.

"Since I'm working on these protective runes separately from you, I'll charm them to come into effect at noon tomorrow. That works for you? What password do you want, seven words long?" He said.

"Works perfectly. Hmm…" I said, thinking. I had a good idea. "Stone, Chamber, Azkaban, Fire, Phoenix, Prince, Hallows." I said, writing it down with a quill and paper from my bag. He gave me a look of interest at my choice but didn't question it.

"And the bag?" He asked.

"I'd like it to be password protected, maybe just three words? I'd also like it to be summonable to me via portkey? Could you work that into the locket chain? I could just call for it whenever I needed it? Will the portkey be reusable?" I asked.

"Yes, the password I can do. As far as the portkey, I will have to apply for a permit, but it'll be approved within a couple days. I can install the ability to portkey, but you can't actually use the portkey feature of it until you've gotten a receipt from the ministry of their approval of it being an approved portkey. It will be reusable, you'll just need to recharge the Runescape after you use the feature, so it can be ported again." He explained, asking for another ten galleons as the price. I paid before I made my way out of the shop, happy at my accomplishments today.

Later that Day, Dinner, July 28th, 1991

Grimmauld Place

At the dinner table, Sirius excitedly told Remus and I, "I got the job!"

"Congratulations, Sirius," I said to him. "How did your interview go?"

"It went well, although Dumbledore was there and he asked me why we had you. I told him about the Dursley situation, and he apologized to me for not being more thorough checking up on you. Seems like they didn't get too many qualified applicants for the open Defense positions, and being an ex-auror, they thought I was very well qualified."

"Did his apology seem sincere?" I asked.

"Yes. Yes, of course. Dumbledore isn't a bad man. Maybe just has way too much on his plate and made a mistake." Sirius responded.

"Well, Bill Weasley, who I met in the Alley, is going to be showing me what he does as a curse breaker tomorrow, I hope that's alright?" I said.

"The Weasleys are good people. They fought for the Order in the last war. Have fun. I hope you're reading your textbooks, though, Harry. You've been doing quite a lot." Remus said.

"I have been. I've read through my Ancient Runes textbook, the first and second and third year Arithmancy textbooks, and the first year's History textbook. I'm working through the Charms textbook now! Also... we have one more student for our Runes lessons, Remus, I hope that's okay." I told them.

"Oh really, how did that happen?" Remus asked.

"Well, I was getting Angus Malone to put some protective enchantments on my bookbag so it couldn't be stolen, and he explained he'd love for his Australian grandson Roger Malone, who's going to be coming to Hogwarts, to have the lessons as well. His parents are apparently magizoologists and they're all animagi! He's an animagus at 11! Sirius, I think that means you should teach me next summer. Can we do it in the summer?"

"Wow. That's amazing, will he floo here from Australia for every lesson?" Remus asked.

"Yeah, Angus said so," I replied.

"Pup. I think so, it's basically a drawn out ritual. It takes at a minimum just over a month but depends on the weather. There's a lot of restrictions and it is difficult, but we could do it." Sirius said.

"Coo,." I replied, and then they decided to show me what they had accomplished with the cleaning of the upper floors.

Sirius and Remus had finally finished cleaning the upper floors of bedrooms over the past few days and had bought the furniture for the downstairs floors in the colors I had requested. The layout of the drawing room stayed the same, just with more modern furniture. The classroom had a table for seven, where Remus and his six students could sit and learn. The bedroom on that floor, the first floor, became a guest room because it was near the floo. The dining room furniture stayed the same because it was for formal dining anyway. The library furniture was just replaced with the modern green pieces, although it was only two loveseats and three armchairs. The kitchen table stayed the same, but the chairs were replaced to be more comfy. Pobby's room in the basement was outfitted and furnished so he could stay there comfortably. Kreacher had come home, healthy enough to be of sound mind to help with the cleaning of the upper floors, and his room got a little revamp as well. The second floor had four bedrooms, all guest rooms, and shared two Jack and Jill bathrooms. The third floor contained the Master Suite, which I requested, and two guest bedrooms which each had an ensuite bath. I actually received the Master because Remus and Sirius decided to take the top floor together. The top floor was where Sirius had his old bedroom and Regulus, his brother, had his. Remus took Regulus's room and did a complete remodel, and Sirius took his old room and just redecorated. Those rooms were mirrors of each other, with ensuite baths, small balconies, and small studies. The master suite I occupied had a large ensuite bath and large closet as well as a small sitting room and a large balcony. It had no study because Sirius's father used the one two stories down which we had converted into a classroom. I planned to decorate in Blue and Platinum, the Ravenclaw colors. Apparently, the bronze of the books was wrong, and the silver of the movies was actually platinum.

The Next Morning, July 29th, 1991

Grimmauld Place

At breakfast, Hedwig returned with three letters, one from Marcus, one from Hermione, and one from Hogwarts. I didn't receive any of my mail from Pobby, because he was still guarding my objects at Angus Malone's. I opened Hogwarts' letter first.

Dear Mr. Potter,

We have placed you in first-year Advanced Alchemy, Advanced Ancient Studies, Advanced Beastiology and Being Studies, Advanced Elemental Studies, Advanced Astronomy, Composition Preparatory, Introduction to The Wizarding World, and Languages. We have placed you into second-year History of Magic with notification from your tutor of his approval. We have placed you into third-year Ancient Runes with notification from your tutor of his approval. We have placed you into fourth-year Arithmancy with notification from your tutor of his approval.

I also have received an in-writing notice from Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts approving your ownership of four half-Forneus and half-Alchemist snakes in addition to an owl at Hogwarts. While I may not have approved it, I consider his approval just as valid and binding. If you wish to ever bring any additional pets to Hogwarts, please bring them through the proper channels, Mr. Potter.

I will see you on September First,

Minerva McGonagall

I opened Hermione's next.

Dear Harry,

I'm glad to hear Sirius is recovering quickly. I can't wait to see the locations of our lessons. I've never been in a wizarding house before. My parents are okay with that plan, they enjoyed Pobby at dinner the other night. My parents said no to the floo connection, they just said they couldn't do it in a Muggle house because they may have guests over. However, they did say I could get an owl! It was after I begged them for four hours, but they said I could. We'll get one for me sometime before Hogwarts, I suppose. I'm thinking of getting an eagle owl, because they're very large, and then mum and dad could send packages to me. We'll have to go to Diagon Alley anyway, to pick up second and third year Runes books. The trunk I got is a lifesaver, storing all my books. I'll be able to bring my whole library with me, everywhere I go. I'm excited to hear Lily and Oliver are joining us, and I can't wait to meet them. They're Remus's students? I didn't learn the cleaning spell, you'll have to show it to me on the Express! I can teach you the spells I've learned to, if you want. Speaking of which, I AM OUTRAGED! THAT'S RACIST AGAINST MUGGLEBORNS! I CAN'T BELIEVE THE BACKWARDS VIEWS OF SOME WITCHES AND WIZARDS IN THIS COUNTRY! I'm glad to get to practice magic at your house harry, but it's just so unfair. Think of how many muggleborns are put at a disadvantage because of the lass that only affect them. I should sue.

Sincerely,

Hermione

Marcus's was less angry, but actually equally as emotional, in a different way.

Dear Harry,

I can't wait to meet him. Seems like fun, but maybe too much fun. My mother has shown me a few spells when she's had the time, and it all looks simple enough to me. We have some basic wards in her house, but nothing to block detection, so I haven't been able to practice anything. The really good thing is, my parents listened. They realized they didn't want to put a barrier up between Mason and I, so we sat down and told him everything. He's excited of course, although a little sad he'll have to wait a year. They're going to bring him to the Express, though, so you can meet him! We actually live really close, like four streets away, so we'll just walk to your house.

See you soon,

Marcus Fenwick-Hitchin

I decided not to write them back because they'd be here tomorrow. After breakfast, Pobby caught me before I flooed away, and gave me the locket, cup, and my bookbag. Putting the backpack on, the locket around my neck, and the cup in the locket, I left for Gringotts.

Arriving at Gringotts, Bill greeted me, "Hey, Harry!" and led me into Ragnok's Office. All the wizards and witches and goblins from two days earlier were there.

"Well, all the Dragons are freed. The Diggory Family Dragon Reserves in England and Wales ended up taking the majority of them, just because of the ease and their willingness. So now, where are we headed for this final Horcrux?" Ragnok explained and asked.

"The Gaunt Family Home, in the village of Little Hangleton. I was able to pinpoint the location from the information I had and the books in the Black Family Library. Underneath a floorboard." My explanation was a lie, I just remembered from the books where it was, but I did check over my information with the books I found in the Black Library.

The Goblins, Wizards, and Witches took out books of maps, pinpointing where we were going. We would have to floo to the nearest available location, which happened to be a couple of villages away. We would floo there, and then ride brooms to our destination.

An hour later, July 29th, 1991

The Gaunt Shack

When we finally got there, the shack looked dilapidated, like it was hundreds of years old. Vines had taken over, and snakes were plentiful everywhere. The curse breakers told me to stand back and they began to cast detection charms. They realized there were no wards, and so proceeded with caution into the shack. They began to cast more detection spells, finding the floorboard with the box. They levitated the box out and cast more spells upon it before cutting it open with a spell. Then the ring fell onto the floor and they cast spells around it, surrounding it in blue light. Then they began their ritual of moving the soul piece into a book, and it went just like it had with the cup. Then, they turned their attention to the ring and noticed another curse on it. It wasn't easy to take care of, needing a little bit of experimental arithmancy to break apart from the ring. Then, as they began to try and run tests I called out, "No!" and walked forward into the shack.

"Don't test this one." I said. "The soul piece is removed, so it is mine now. Alright?" I said.

The curse breakers were only more intrigued, but backed off. They hadn't gotten a close look at it, I didn't think, because they had been working from a distance of a few meters to be safely away from any spell effects.

"Is it safe?" I asked.

"Yes. Definitely." Bill replied. I picked up the ring, and called Pobby. He popped to my side. I wasn't going to try it first. "Pobby, they say this is safe, but I don't want to try it first. Will you?" I asked. "Of course, sir." He said, taking the ring and slipping it on. Nothing happened. I still felt bad about having him try the ring, it was like a cruel form of animal testing, but with a sentient mind. "I'm sorry, Pobby. I shouldn't have asked that of you." I apologized.

"I would do anything for you, Master Harry." He said, as he gave me back the ring. I slipped it onto my right hand pointer finger, where it fit best. Then taking it off, I stored it inside my locket by using my password to unlock it, "Stone, Chamber, Azkaban, Fire, Phoenix, Prince, Hallows." I whispered the password when the curse breakers were talking amongst themselves elsewhere.

We soon made it back onto our brooms and back to Gringotts where I flooed to my new fully clean home, 12 Grimmauld Place.