Hermione had spent the days following the destruction of the basilisk and the diadem planning between lessons. Minerva and Filius had decided to give the teens a break from their studies to recover from losing Charlus and the events that happened at Hogwarts. Three days after returning, Hermione walked into the library to find that it had been divided into two sections, one section had seven desks, and the other had two. Hermione asked Dorea about it when the older woman walked into the library.

"We decided to set up a teaching area here, everything except potions and herbology will be covered in the library. We'll use an area of the cellar for potions and the greenhouses outside for herbology. We've remodeled the cellar, Moony will still have plenty of room, but now there's two rooms down there, Moony's and the potions classroom."

Hermione nodded, "That makes sense actually, what's up with the other side of the library though?"

"Minerva and I decided to start teaching Lachy and Lottie a bit," Dorea replied. "Evelyn and Julia will be helping us with the muggle subjects, we're using Lachy and Lottie as an experiment, if it goes well, we're going to try on a larger scale at the orphanages."

"That's amazing!" Hermione replied. "Wouldn't you have to hire teachers though?"

"For the muggle students, yes. Ashley, Ophelia and I were hoping my family would help with the magical kids for a while."

Hermione smiled broadly. "Once the horcruxes are gone, I'm all yours!"

Filius decided to use the hunt for horcruxes as his Defense lessons. "Now, Regulus has told us that Voldemort used Kreacher to take him to the cave to deposit the locket. Regulus also told us Kreacher spoke about Inferi being used to guard the cave. What can we use as a defense against them?"

"Fiendfyre," Sirius answered.

"Technically, yes," Filius responded. "However, only one person we know can control it, and I'm afraid battling a horde of them will tire Minerva out quickly."

"What about treating them like zombies?" Lily asked. "In a movie Tuney and I watched, Night of the Living Dead, the only way to kill them was to destroy their brains."

"Precisely, Lily," the half-goblin said. "Inferi are inherently the same as a zombie. The only way to defeat them without using Fiendfyre is to either remove the head or irreparably damage the brain."

"How would that work in a horde though?" Sirius asked.

"Decollavit Mortuos," Regulus answered. "Essentially means "remove the head of the dead". It only targets inferi."

"How do you know about that spell?" Filius asked.

"It's a Black Family spell," Regulus replied. "Phineas Nigellus Black invented it after his grandfather was attacked by a horde of inferi that he created. Phineas' grandfather attempted to revive the entirety of the line that had passed, but instead created the spell that makes inferi rise from the dead."

"I never knew that," Sirius said, scowling.

"Walburga told me," Regulus said quietly. "After you left, she told me the entirely of the Black history. While most of the creations that family made are horrendous, there were still some brilliant people involved."

Filius nodded. "Hogwarts professors are taught the spell, it was made mandatory by Headmaster Black when he was at Hogwarts."

"So now we know how to kill the horde," Hermione said, trying to get the lesson back on track. "How do we empty the basin? We saw Kreacher's memory of it, he was forced to drink that horrid potion. I don't want to incapacitate any of us."

"I agree," Sirius said, glancing at Regulus, knowing that was almost his fate. "What if we made a hole in the basin? Let the potion drain out and take the locket that way?"

"That's brilliant!" Filius said, his voice squeaking. "I didn't even think of that."

"Robby!" James suddenly said.

The elf popped into the makeshift classroom.

"Can you check the muggle tools we have?" James asked the elf. "I need something that can cut through thick stone."

Robby popped away, coming back a few seconds later with a manual drill and a long drill bit. "Mister Charlus be using this to makes holes in the cellar for Moony's lights."

"That's perfect!" Hermione said. "We just need a way to move the handle really fast."

"A simple charm," Filius said, smiling.

The teens and Filius brought their solution to the next Horcrux to Dorea. She was amazed the basin puzzle was that easy to solve, and being in the cave, Minerva could easily cast Fiendfyre to destroy it.

"Where's the cave though?" Sirius grumbled.

"Near Wool's Orphanage," Hermione said, sighing. "That's all I remember."

"Did you say Wool's?" Dorea asked. "I know you mentioned it when we were talking about Riddle, but it didn't hit me until now. We started donating to that orphanage in the forties, when Charlus and I met. It was the worst-funded orphanage in the muggle and wizarding worlds combined, and Charlus wanted to rectify that. I know where it is."

Hermione summoned a map. "Show me! The cave where the horcrux is hidden is near the orphanage!"

"Here," Dorea said, pointing to an area by the shore. "It's a gloomy and dismal place, even in the summer when Charlus and I visited."

"Filius, up for a field trip?" Minerva asked suddenly.

Filius didn't answer, just created a portkey to the orphanage using the coordinates on the map.

Dorea chose to go with the group this time, insisting the director of the orphanage was the same as when she had first visited with Charlus. "Orla has been there for fifty years, if there's a cave nearby, she'll know of it."

Sure enough, Orla did know about the cave. "Tom Riddle liked to try to lure younger children down the cliffside and scare them with the cave."

"Tom hid something in the cave that's incredibly dangerous," Dorea said, knowing this woman was a muggle, so she couldn't divulge too much. "My family has come to retrieve it and destroy it so he can't hurt anyone else."

Orla nodded, "There's a thin pathway that leads to the cave. Once inside, you need to use a boat. I remember when Tom came to visit the cave years ago. He told me about the old boat in there. I'm afraid it won't fit everyone."

"That's okay, Orla," Minerva said. "The rest of us will make sure Tom didn't hide anything else down there, then we'll be out of your hair."

The group proceeded down the thin and treacherous path to the cave, Hermione almost tripping more than once, with Sirius catching her every time. They finally made it to the entrance of the cave, where Filius, James, Minerva and Regulus entered the boat. Hermione, Dorea, Sirius and Remus would be firing off the inferi decapitation spell while the rest of the group retrieved and destroyed the locket.

"The inferi are waking," Hermione whispered, noticing the bodies moving closer to the surface as the boat glided to the small island in the cave. "Get ready."

As soon as the group in the boat landed at the island, the waters exploded with bodies. The group that didn't go in the boat fired off decapitation spells as quickly as they could. Hermione fired four curses in quick succession as she watched James and Filius drill a hole in the basin, the potion flowing from it. "We have the locket!" James yelled.

"Come back quickly!" Hermione screamed. "Minerva, as soon as they're over here, destroy that thing!"

Minerva nodded, moving into position as the boat came to rest at the entrance. James threw the locket down, and Minerva cast the curse. A black cloud erupted from the locket and fizzled out as soon as the fire hit it. Minerva directed the fire to take a trip around the cave, knocking out as many inferi as it could before she ended the curse quickly, for fear of losing control. Filius, Minerva and Dorea each grabbed the teens and apparated to the top of the cliff.

"Two down," Sirius gasped. "Just the cup, the ring and the diary now."

Dorea looked around as the teens got their bearings back from the sudden apparition. "Does it seem brighter to anyone else?"

The rest of the group looked around. "It is," Minerva whispered. "The locket and inferi were probably affecting the atmosphere."

Hermione and Dorea were planning for the next horcrux. "The diary was in the possession of Lucius Malfoy last time around."

"His home was searched when he was arrested," Dorea said. "Kings and Al are here to check on the wards, let's ask them if anything was confiscated."

Walking downstairs and out through the kitchen to the garden, Hermione saw the two aurors she had grown to deeply care for. "Hey guys," she said, waving her hand. "Can I bother you for a second?"

"Yeh are never a bother," Alastor said, sitting on one of the garden benches. "Wha's on yer mind?"

"Dorea told me that when Lucius Malfoy was arrested, Malfoy Manor was searched for dark objects," she began, sitting beside the auror. "I was wondering if the aurors confiscated a little black diary with the name Tom M. Riddle on it?"

"As a matter of fact, we did," Kings answered. "I was part of the search crew. That diary had some of the darkest magic I'd ever encountered attached to it. It's in the Department of Mysteries now."

"Kings, that diary is a horcrux," Hermione said, thankful she wouldn't have to go to the place she was tortured. "It needs to be destroyed. As long as it's undamaged, Voldemort can't be killed."

"I'll send a patronus to Unspeakable Croaker," he replied quickly. "They'll destroy it and send me confirmation when they do."

"Unspeakables can do that?" she asked.

"Aye," Al replied while Kings was sending his patronus. "They can track 'em as well. Any others we need to know about?"

"The Gaunt Ring," Hermione replied. "The band itself, actually. The stone is the resurrection stone of the Deathly Hallows. It's in the Gaunt home in Little Hangleton, near the Riddle Manor. The other is the Hufflepuff cup. I'm not sure of it's whereabouts, we found it in Bellatrix's vault in ninety-eight."

"The Hallows are real?" Kingsley asked. "I thought it was just a made up story."

"No, it's not," Hermione replied, remembering the events at the Lovegood's home in her previous life. "The three Peverell brothers, Ignotus, Cadmus, and Antioch were the three brothers of the story. The Gaunts were descendants of Cadmus Peverell, the second brother. Antioch, the first brother, was killed before he started a family."

"What about the third brother, Hermione?" Dorea asked, entranced by the story. "Who's related to him?"

"Ignotus Peverell's six times great granddaughter married Fleamont Potter," she said, smiling. "The Peverell line died out with Euphemia Potter's uncle, who never had children. The cloak of invisibility that death gifted Ignotus has been passed down from father to son, mother to daughter since then. Fleamont gifted it to Charlus, who then gifted it to James. James will, in turn, gift it to Harry."

James chose that moment to enter the garden with Lily. "Wait, you're telling me that the cloak dad gave me is the cloak from the Tale of Three Brothers?"

"I am," Hermione replied. "I've seen that cloak countless times, and have used it even more."

"So, the Gaunts ended up with the stone, the Potters have the cloak," James said thoughtfully. "So, who has the wand?"

"The last time the wand changed hands was in nineteen forty-five," Hermione said, waiting for someone to realize who the current owner of the Elder Wand was.

"Dumbledore defeated Grindelwald that year," Kingsley said, his eyes wide. "Are you telling me that Dumbledore won the Elder Wand from Grindelwald?"

Hermione nodded. "As long as we have the Hallows protected and the horcruxes destroyed, we'll be able to defeat Voldemort. Voldemort was obsessed with getting the Elder Wand in my previous timeline."

Kingsley's eyes widened. "Does Dumbledore know?"

"I'm working under the assumption he does," Hermione said finally. "I don't know if he'll take my warning seriously though."

"I'll talk to 'em," Alastor said, rising. "I'll disarm 'em meself if I 'ave to."

"But that'll make you the master of the wand, Al," Dorea said, gasping.

"Aye," the auror replied. "Unlike Albus and Tom, I don' need a fancy wand. I'll just disarm 'em and give it back."

"That's actually brilliant," Hermione said suddenly. "Oh, and Al, stay hyper aware of your surroundings. In my fourth year, someone kidnaps you and uses polyjuice potion to pretend to be you for an entire year."

The auror nodded, apparating to Hogwarts.

Alastor returned at the same moment Kingsley received a patronus from Croaker. "As agreed, we have located all three artifacts. The dark magic has been removed from them and returned to where they were, with the exception of the ring, we have created a replica and placed it in the Gaunt shack. No one except those that came into contact with the artifacts before we decontaminated them or their creator will know they no longer hold the soul fragments. Please Floo my office to retrieve the stone." Kingsley immediately went to the fireplace and Floo called Croaker, returning to the room with a fabric satchel containing the stone.

"According to my research, one visit will not hurt either the soul passed on or the soul calling them forward," Hermione muttered, placing the satchel on the table. "Anyone wishing to use it may do so in the next twenty-four hours. After that, I will hide the stone away."

Dorea took the satchel and called her sons to the room. "Boys, Hermione thinks we can use the Resurrection Stone one time only without harming ourselves or the spirit. I wanted to give you three the option of joining me, we all know the same person will show up for us."

All three instantly nodded.

"Let's go to the sitting room," Dorea said quickly before her nerves got the better of her. Once in the room, the boys all hugged her as she turned the stone in her hand three times, and her beloved husband stood in front of them.

"Hello, love," Charlus said lovingly.

"Oh, Charlus, I miss you!" Dorea cried.

"And I miss you," the spirit replied. "Where is the little girl you adopted?"

"You know of her?" Regulus asked. "How?"

"I see everything your mum does, son," Charlus replied. "And I'm honored and humbled she has taken my mother's name as her middle name."

"I'm here, daddy," a little voice said from behind James. "I'm sorry mummy, but I heard you say my brothers could talk to daddy and I wanted to see my daddy too."

"Oh, my sweet Lottie," Dorea said picking the girl up. "Lottie, this is your daddy, Charlus. I want you to know, even after we let go of the stone, he will always be watching over you."

"Yes, my sweet daughter," Charlus said, smiling. "I will always be watching over you and your brothers, no matter what. I love you all, however I feel our time is coming to a close. Death gave me a brief respite from his grasp to come see you."

"We love you, daddy," Lottie said for the Potter children. "We'll see you again one day!"

"And I love you, my children," he said, his spirit fading. "I love you, my Dorea."

"I love you Charlus!" Dorea cried and she watched her husband slowly disappeared, and she dropped the stone, with Regulus putting it back into the satchel and leaving the room in search of Hermione.

He found her in the library, of course. "Thank you, Hermione. Mum and Dad got a proper goodbye, and Lottie met him as well. I have to give this to you though, I'm afraid my brothers will try to call dad back again."

"It's my pleasure, Reggie," she said, taking the satchel and placing it in her pocket. "Thank you for helping me research the stone."

"No problem at all, my friend."

Remus and Hope were the next to ask Hermione to use the stone.

"Mum never got to say goodbye to Gran," Remus whispered as he and Hope left the room with the satchel. "We won't be long, mum and gran didn't really get along, but mum and I need the closure."

"Of course, Remy," she said. "I'll be right outside the door in case either of you can't handle it."

Remus nodded and followed his mum. Barely five minutes later, Hermione was bursting through the door and prying Hope's fingers open, making the distraught witch drop the stone.

"She blamed me for Remus, for getting divorced, for everything!" the woman cried. "Thank you, Hermione. I know now that I shouldn't have felt guilty for staying away from her. I'll allow you to have the stone back, I can't bear to touch it again."

Hermione nodded, watching the Lupins leave. "I guess it's my turn," the witch sighed, not noticing Sirius standing in the doorway behind her as she turned the stone three times in her hand.

"Oh, Harry!" she cried, falling to her knees. "God, I miss you so much!"

As he wasn't touching Hermione when she turned the stone, Sirius couldn't see or hear Harry, so he only heard Hermione's side of the conversation.

"Hey, he's different this time, Harry," she said, chuckling. "This Sirius and that Sirius are different people. Jamie approves."

"Yes, Jamie," she said, her tone indicating she was rolling her eyes. "It's almost like you're here with me when I'm near Jamie. Siri and Remi are different people. And Siri and Reggie get along this time. Oh! And we've destroyed all the horcruxes, and we're going to plan on how to kill him before you're born so you don't have to deal with him!"

"Oh! I don't want to hurt you anymore than I have Harry, I have to let go of the stone soon. But don't worry, I'll see you in a few years! I can't believe I get to see baby Harry!"

"Lily is my best female friend here, Harry James Potter! If that means I'll be changing your dirty nappies, so be it!"

"I love you too, Harry. I'll see you in a few years!" she said finally, as she let the stone roll out of her hand.

"Are you ok, love?" Sirius finally asked.

"I'm great, love," she said, smiling brightly. "Harry wasn't too happy about us, until he realized you've never been to Azkaban, or been forced to live in a home you hated. He was more upset that I may be changing his diapers in a few years."

Sirius laughed. "That was his main concern?"

She nodded. "He's happy knowing that he won't be the one to deal with Riddle though."

The rest of the inhabitants of Potter Manor turned down the chance to speak to their loved ones that had passed. Minerva was afraid of not being able to let go of the stone, the Tonks family didn't want to harm their relatives, and the aurors and Filius were content with their pasts, not wanting to reopen old wounds. Hermione called Robby, and asked him to bury the stone in the wooded area of the property, and made the elf promise to never reveal the location unless he felt it would help with Voldemort's defeat.

As soon as Robby returned, Patty popped into the room as well. "Master James, the wards is being attacked. Tilly and Mipsy bes preparing bags for Miss Lottie and Mister Lachy to travel to Hoggywarts with Miss Minnie to bes safe."

James nodded solemnly. "Tell the other elves to remain in Minerva's quarters until Hermione or myself call for you. Take mum, the Evans family, the Tonks family and Julia with you. Make sure Julia grabs Crookshanks as well. I'm counting on you to protect my family at Hogwarts, Patty. I'll protect our family here."

The elf nodded once and popped away. Alastor and Kingsley came tumbling through the Floo.

"Our alarms indicate one strong Death Eater and a handful of weaker Death Eaters trying to get access to the manor," Kingsley said. "Only those who are fighting need to remain."

"Robby and Patty just took the small children, the elves, Lily's family, the Tonks family, mum, Minerva, Julia and Crookshanks to Hogwarts," Hermione replied. "Let's end this bastard."