Book Six. I will be updating every Thursday for the next... mm... 30 weeks or so.

"Nia unni…" Amalea poked her head in Hermione's room. "Dad says it's time for dinner."

"I'm not hungry."

The minute she got home, she had unpacked her things and curled up in bed to cry her eyes out. Yes, she had intended to leave Castelobruxo, but she also intended to return for her extended education after Hogwarts. She liked it there. She liked the people, the culture, the vibe. It was a slap in the face to be expelled, yet again. Or rather… it wasn't an official expulsion, she was just… being removed for her safety. Or whatever that man had said before revealing that the school board didn't want someone who shook things up like her.

Of course, that was part of it. There was a part of her that had hoped Cedric would be here. Hiding in his room and tearfully asking her to forgive him. She would of course, she made some pretty poor decisions under pressure and he was no different.

He wasn't there, not even a note, and that just made her heart break all over again.

For the first day home in Koloa, she feigned post final fatigue and hid away in her room. Her family wasn't fooled in the slightest, but they gave her space. She guessed by this point the uneaten plates were worrisome.

"You could at least sit at the table," said Amalea. "Keep us company. Maybe you'll feel hungry once you smell it. Dad made mushroom chicken."

"Mm… my stomach is upset."

Amalea sat down on the end of the bed and paused the boombox. "You've been listening to Runaway Train on repeat for, like, five hours."

"You like to listen to songs on repeat, too," Hermione pointed out, but didn't start the music back up.

"Yeah, but those are usually upbeat." Amalea fiddled with her bracelets. "So, what, you're going to spend two weeks holed up in your room?"

"Of course not. Bernice and Márcia are arriving the day after tomorrow." Hermione sat up, still hugging Cedric's picture to her chest. "I just don't know what to do without him. Even apart we always had our letters and he wouldn't even let us have that!"

Fresh tears burbled up and she slouched over letting them weigh her down. Amalea leaned against her and patted her head.

"I'll bring you up a bowl, okay? You should at least eat something. It's good for the soul. I'll tell Mom and Dad you need a bit more time."

"Thanks, Lea."

After her sister left, Hermione didn't feel like turning her music back on. She stayed where she was and Amalea returned with a bowl of steaming mushroom chicken on rice and a bottle of water.

"Dad said to hydrate," said Amalea. "If you feel like coming down after dinner, I'm going to try and teach him how to use the Playstation."

"I'll think about it." Hermione waited until she was gone before scarfing down the food.

It burned in her throat and she could still feel the heat in her chest. She didn't slow until the entire thing was gone. She set her bowl on her desk, hiccoughed, and changed into a different set of pyjamas. She tried wrangling her hair into a plait, but gave up halfway. She wouldn't be able to get those tangles out without a special conditioner.

Sighing through her nose, she used the loo and half-heartedly brushed her teeth. What would Mum and Dad say if she quit altogether?

Hermione looked at the door leading to the third bedroom and opened it. There wasn't much in here. Just the furniture. She crossed over to the open window and closed it, latching it securely. Just because they had wards against intruders didn't mean she liked getting bugs in the house. Though she could have sworn there was a screen there.

Hm… She crossed over to the closet and threw it open. Nothing. Except hangers and a sweater. She recognized it as Cedric's favorite yellow sweater. Why he had brought it last summer, she wasn't sure. She pulled it down and held it to her face, breathing deeply. It still smelled like him.

Tears constricted her throat. She brought the sweater back to her room and curled up in bed, tucking the sweater underneath her cheek.

When Hana came up to check on her, she pretended to be asleep in order to avoid questions. She nearly fell apart when her mom laid a blanket over her and tucked her in.

"I hope your dreams are happy," she said.

The spoon rattled around the bowl and the door clicked shut.

Hermione kept her eyes closed, though a tear spilled down her nose. Perhaps if she kept pretending she was asleep, she would actually fall asleep.

The next morning, Hermione went downstairs for breakfast. She would at least shower and change before picking up her friends tomorrow.

"Hey, kiddo," said Manuia. "Your mom and sister went to Kilokilo but they'll be back home early afternoon. How are you feeling?"

"I'm sad."

He nodded. "Well, there's nothing like some fresh waffles for a sour face." He opened the iron and used a pair of tongs to take out the one that finished cooking. "A broken heart is tough so if you need to cry, precious, then you just cry. Okay?" He sighed. "Lord knows how many I've had."

Hermione mustered a smile.

"Thanks. I'm dehydrated right now, but I'll probably cry after breakfast." She grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge. "I thought you had to work today."

"Nah, Dave is covering for me," he said. "He knows I don't get a lot of time with you."

She hummed. "I was thinking about spending a month here and skipping D.R. this summer."

"Eh, you should at least spend a few days there before visiting Rog and Bea," he said. "Manola will want to talk to you about the horcrux thing."

Hermione had to concede that. She would need all the help she could get where that was concerned. Especially since the curse-breakers in her family wouldn't gossip about what was inside Harry.

"How is it you know about them?" she asked. "I'd never even heard of them until I read Regulus' diary."

He was quiet for a moment, pretending to focus on pouring the batter into the waffle iron with a measuring cup.

"You know about He-Who-Must -Be-Forgotten," he said.

"Yes, but— oh." The concepts clicked. She was so focused on what she knew about Tom Riddle that she didn't think about her own family history. "So Esperanza was supposed to…"

"Yeah. If you see her, don't tell her you kept the artifact. I get why you don't want it ruined, but she won't care about that." He glanced over at her. "I don't think you should keep it either."

"I'm not keeping it forever," said Hermione. "After Tom is defeated I fully intend to give it to Hogwarts so it can be displayed."

Manuia nodded. "Do you really feel you have to do this? I mean… the horcrux is destroyed. You can be done with it. Stay safe with your family. You're still a kid."

"Papá, he made more than just this one. So far, he made three, but it could be more."

"Auwī!" He stuck his burned hand under the faucet and looked at her in horror. "More than three?!"

"Yes. Two down. As far as I know, the last one is Harry, but there's potentially more."

"Harry was used for one or he is one?"

"He is a pseudo-horcrux I believe," said Hermione. "I think he spent so long unloved and alone, that the horcrux is only gaining strength now. Tom died before he could complete the ritual. I don't know all the details and I was going to ask Sirius about it. Get him involved because he won't tell Dumbledore what I know if I ask him not to."

"Why Dumbledore specifically?"

Hermione reluctantly explained that she was astral projecting into Hogwarts and the spell she found to give herself a physical form and how the fusion gave her knowledge she couldn't have found out otherwise, plus what Dumbledore told her and his plan for Harry along with the prophecy Cedric left her with. Recounting that almost sent her breaking down, but she held it together. Still, the quaver was obvious.

Manuia pressed his forehead into the cabinet and sighed. "You're too young for this."

"The adults aren't doing anything about it."

He drummed his fingers against the counter.

"Do you really feel you have to go back to Hogwarts to help with this?" he asked.

"Yes. I refuse to lose another friend to Dumbledore's schemes. I fear he might not wait for there to be another way and I have no clue when he plans to send Harry to die."

He worked his jaw and nodded. "Okay. You have my permission, but you'll have to convince Hana, Rog, and Bea on your own. If they ask my opinion, I'll tell them, but my vote is 'yea.' Okay?"

Hermione hugged him tightly. "Thank you."

She lifted her head, sensing the wards shift.

"Someone's here," she said. "Mom and Lea weren't supposed to be back until later, right?"

"Right."

A knock came at the door. Hermione felt her heart leap in her throat. Maybe it was Cedric! He saw sense and was going to let her hide him. She ran to the door and opened it, deflating instantly.

"Wow, I haven't seen such disappointment since I was assigned to Sasha Vaseva as a date for her debutante ball," said Viktor, eyes gleaming with amusement.

Hermione chuckled sheepishly and hugged him and Esperanza.

"Sorry," she said. "I thought it might have been… someone else."

"Nope. Just us, your local nobodies," said Esperanza, kissing her cheek.

"Who's at the door?" Manuia called.

"Come and see!"

He exited the kitchen and lit up.

"Hey, you two!" He hustled over and pressed his forehead to Esperanza's first, then did the same to Viktor, though the latter seemed surprised at the greeting. "I thought you were busy being famous. Do you know how popular the diner has gotten once it got out that the rising star Esperanza Sanchez liked spending her summers there? I think we'll be busy even on the off season."

"Oh, poor you getting more business," said Esperanza.

"Well, I was able to add fifty cents to the drinks so I can pay my employees more," he said and ushered them inside. "Come in, we're having breakfast. What cleared your schedule?"

"One of the theaters we were supposed to perform at got sued after the stage collapsed," she replied. "We're on pause until Miguel and our agent can make sure that the other places we're booked at won't kill us. New contracts. No brown M&Ms and all."

"My team is on hiatus," said Viktor.

"And then I got a message from the Department of Adaptation here in Kilokilo about hearing aids," Esperanza continued. "That way I don't have to work Merelin so hard and I can hear myself sing instead of just… hoping I sound good and finding out afterwards I was off-key." she inhaled and exhaled deeply. "That was an embarrassing show."

"Sounds like a good opportunity," said Manuia. "Quarters might be a little tight though. Nia's having a couple friends stay with us starting tomorrow."

"We'll manage," said Esperanza. "Where's Auntie and Amalea?"

"Hana's getting her shop ready for her new apprentice and Amalea went with. They went out for breakfast, but I made waffles. There's plenty if you two are hungry."

"I could eat," said Viktor. "Where should we put our luggage?"

"Well…" He returned to the waffle iron and tossed the burnt waffle into the bin. "I know you live together, but are you sharing a room?"

Viktor looked at Esperanza for the right answer.

"Most nights," she said.

"Okay. Then you two can take the guest bedroom down here," he said. "It's also the computer's room, but if you put a piece of tape over the light it shouldn't bother you."

Viktor tipped his head. "Computer?"

Esperanza took the luggage to the guest room. "Oh! This place looks so good. It was the Architects, che?"

"That's right. Though my favorite upgrade is this double oven."

He patted the appliance fondly.

"You love that double oven more than you love your family," Hermione teased.

"Not true," he said. "I love you equally."

Hermione snorted and set the sliced bananas on the table next to the stack of waffles. She fully intended to wallow in front of the TV after breakfast as a break from her room, but she could be social with Viktor and Esperanza. She hadn't talked with them in a while. Come to think of it, Viktor hadn't written her since April. She frowned and looked at him.

"What do you know?" she demanded.

He stiffened. "How did you find out?"

"Cedric told me his side and then broke up with me, but I don't know much about the aftermath. Had you been in the dark, you would have asked me wouldn't you?"

His face fell. "No! You can't break up! You're my favorite couple…"

"Well, find him and tell him that because it wasn't mutual. He dumped me. It was brutal." She sniffled and poked at her waffle. "Is he still wanted?"

"Yes," said Viktor, cringing. "The new minister did not overturn the order."

"Mm… what about Umbridge?"

"She is in Nuremgard," he said. "Cedric sent me proof of her crimes."

"Why didn't he send any to me? I could have done something!"

He nodded. "Yes, you could have. However, it was revealed that Umbridge had a way to send dementors after people. He was worried she would send them after you before you could do anything or that the Minister would find an excuse to send you to Azkaban or deport you with no hope of returning. I think he is right. Especially since you put her in place in court and made a fool of… whatshisface—Cocoa?"

"Fudge."

"Yes. Fudge was frightened of you. I could tell that even at World Cup."

"That's… not a terrible excuse, but… if they're gone then why can't he…" she sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. Her anger boiled up and she kicked the wall with the side of her foot. "Jerk!"

As soon as she made the movement, she was no longer angry, but sorrowful. She tore off a wedge of her waffle and dipped it in syrup.

"Why won't she let me hide him?" she asked, after stuffing the whole thing in her mouth. "It wouldn't have been forever. I'm a very good lawyer. I could get him acquitted. Excuse me, I think I need to obsess over the weight of life's problems."

"Do it in the window seat," said Manuia. "You need your Vitamin D."

Hermione shambled into the living room and curled up on the window seat. A few minutes later, Viktor entered with a hot cup of tea. He handed the tea to her and sat down on the floor. He'd grown his hair out and had bulked up a lot.

"You used to be so skinny you could fall through a crack in the floor," she said. "What'd you do, eat the Rock?"

The corner of his mouth quirked up. "I started eating for enjoyment rather than fuel. I spot for Esperanza when she's home to work out and started a bit on my own. My garden has apple and peach tree, so I experiment with baking."

"That would do it." She sipped the tea and looked out at the ocean. "Are you going to give me advice on how to handle a broken heart? Everyone seems to have an opinion on how it's done."

"No. But it's easier to manage your hurt with some company. I didn't have anyone when Esperanza broke up with me the second time."

"Technically, she didn't break up with you after the article," said Hermione. "She avoided you so you couldn't break up with her."

"Same difference."

"What about your family?" Hermione asked.

"They are the reason she was scared to return to Bulgaria with me," he said with Luna-level serenity and bluntness. "They are dead to me. Well, my mother and sister, Melina, are not, but as they said nothing, they are on thin ice."

"Mm. Sounds like quite a story."

"Would you like to hear it?"

"Nah."

"That's okay. I don't like telling it." Viktor looked back into the kitchen where Esperanza was telling Manuia about her tour. He dropped his voice, "People do not think rationally when they are scared and it is difficult to convince them otherwise. I am no Seer, but I do not see you two being separated forever."

"What if I've completely moved on when that happens?"

"You will still have your friendship and that is just as important," he said. "Things are getting bad, Nia. Since You-Know-Who has been revealed, people have started going missing. You should enjoy the sun while you still have it. There's enough darkness."

"Mm. I can't help my feelings."

Viktor took her empty tea cup. "You know what might help?"

"Cookies and ice cream?"

"No. Well, yes, but also spending time with friends. You have two coming tomorrow, yes?"

"That's right."

Hermione sat up. Maybe it was time to quit wallowing. At the very least so people would stop talking to her about it. Esperanza entered the room and clucked her tongue.

"Nia, your hair is locking up."

"So? Maybe I want dreadlocks."

"Yes, but there's a way to go about it so they're strong, even, and won't break off."

"What if I decide to shave it off?"

"That'd look cute and Renata can still do the locs if she has to start from scratch. Do you want a new wardrobe, too?"

"Do you have time to make me a new wardrobe?"

"Please, I'm begging you to give me something more interesting," she said, clasping her hands together. "If I have to make another spangly outfit I'm going to yak."

"You like making spangly outfits."

"Not hundreds of designs that start to look the same. Also, you're the last family member that lets me play dress-up. Everyone has a style they like and clothes that will last for years. Come on. Give me a challenge. How do you want to dress?"

Hermione thought about it.

"I was thinking full-fledged goth might be cool. You know like to the point where No-Majs are all 'I think that chick is a Vampire.' I'm also fond of the whole 'might run a magical toy store or a demented candy factory' vibe. And I also like the idea of going full sporty like, 'that's a girl who plays baseball on Friday, Kick Boxes on Saturday, and volleyballs on Sunday.' Or Gonzo from the Muppets. Or even the look like I'm always on my way to a garden party. I've considered dressing like my dads. I'm also fond of the academic look, but like, dark academic. The mysterious librarian in the movie look. What do you think?"

"Yes, to all of it. I'll get my tools."

Hermione really didn't care about a new wardrobe, but maybe if she didn't look like herself she wouldn't look like the person Cedric claimed he fell for. Too much of her personality and attitude was wrapped up with his and she was sure the same was true for him. Could she reinvent herself over the summer and put on a mask for everyone else? They hadn't seen her in almost a year, she could totally claim it as influence from Castelobruxo.

After she was measured, she wandered over to the couch and fell over the back of it. She picked up the remote and turned on the TV. It was some telenovela. Hermione was sure the plotline had been going on for years, but mindless drivel was mindless drivel. Esperanza took the cushion by her feet and Viktor sat down on the floor, resting his cheek against his girlfriend's knee.

"You're still growing, you need to eat," said Manuia, placing popcorn and sliced mango on the table. "At least graze."

The four of them sat in silence. Viktor was staring at the screen in confusion while Hermione was completely invested. Esperanza didn't really like watching TV since sound effects and jokes didn't really land the same in parseltongue and was focused on drawing up designs in her bedazzled sketchbook.

What if you forget about me?" a beautiful dark-haired woman asked.

"Impossible," the beautiful dark-haired man replied. "As long as you carry that locket, a part of us will always be together. When you look at it, you will remember how much I love you."

"LIAR!" Hermione yelled. Her elbow hit the controller and the channel changed to some show. She sighed and rested her cheek back against the arm of the couch.

"Today, on Unsolved Mysteries," said the announcer. "Where we look into cold cases around the world. At the end of this segment, we will be taking live calls for questions or even anonymous tips for anyone who might have information."

"I bet they had another show cancelled and need to fill the gap," said Manuia.

"London, England. January 8th, 1984," the announcer continued over an aerial shot of the Thames. "It was an unusually icy winter and construction on a new barrier had halted, leaving only a flimsy barricade until the workers could continue in better conditions. This ice proved treacherous and a rising star in the world of photography, Nachelle Sanchez, was killed after her car was t-boned by a truck that couldn't brake in time on the perilous streets. Sitting in the backseat was her four-year-old daughter, Herminia Lotulelei-Sanchez, who was often featured in the photos Nachelle took."

They showed a series of photos that Hermione was featured prominently in.

"While Nachelle's body was recovered from the wreckage, her child was missing. The entire river was searched, but no body of the child had turned up. Witnesses at the scene say they saw the child alive, but when asked of her whereabouts, none of them could answer or even remember if anyone was with her. Even the officers at the scene could not recall processing her at the station or even talking to her. It was as if she disappeared in thin air. Were it not for the children's clothing in the car and the stuffed rabbit at the scene, investigators might have questioned her being there at all."

"I wondered what happened to my rabbit," said Hermione, looking at Manuia. "Did we actually tell authorities that you found me?"

"It wasn't exactly my first thought," he said.

"Her father, Manny Lotulelei, was grief-stricken."

They played a clip. Manuia was sitting on the old couch in his apartment, cradling new-born Amalea in his arms. His face was twisted up like he might break down at any moment, his eyes red and puffy from grief and exhaustion. Hana was next to him with her head on his shoulder, and curled up on his other side was a shell-shocked Esperanza. Hermione's heart broke at seeing her cousin like that. Frail, terrified.

Viktor rested his hand on Esperanza's leg. She flipped to the next page in her sketchbook, clearly avoiding looking at the television.

"Mr. Lotulelei, do you really think it's possible for Herminia to be alive?" asked the interviewer from the time the footage took place.

"I remember that lolo," Manuia muttered.

"Of course she's alive," the TV Manuia croaked, looking distressed at the implication. "I would know if she wasn't. We're looking. Her aunt has a head start searching hospitals, but as soon as I'm able to I'm flying over there and looking everywhere I possibly can. I'll look anywhere I have to."

Baby Amalea started crying and waving her fat little baby arms.

"Excuse me," he said and stood up to tend to her needs.

"Anything to comment, young lady?" the interviewer asked, sticking the microphone in her face.

Esperanza bit his finger and ran off while his curses were bleeped out. The Esperanza next to Hermione smiled to herself.

"Look," said Hana, getting between the interviewer and Esperanza. "If anyone, anywhere has any information on where we can find Herminia, we would be eternally grateful. Please, bring our little girl home."

The interview ended.

"To this day, twelve years later, Herminia Lotulelei-Sanchez has not been found. There have been no records of her and the police have presumed her dead." They cut to a live recording of the announcer. "For the next forty minutes, we'll be taking both questions as well as tips for this and any other cold case we discussed during our program. You're welcome to leave them anonymously if you wish and we'll get our detectives on the case. Remember, some of these cases have rewards, donated by communities."

Hermione jumped to her feet and ran into the kitchen to grab the phone. She dialed the number and stretched the cord into the living room.

"Unsolved Mysteries, is this a question or a tip?" asked the attendant.

"A tip," said Hermione. "About the Herminia Lotulelei-Sanchez case."

"Name, please?"

"Herminia Lotulelei-Sanchez."

"Young lady, we don't have time for pranks."

"I can prove it. What the announcer neglected to mention was that the back window of the car was completely missing. If it was just broken from the impact there would have been pieces but it was like it vanished, right? And there was no evidence that the door had been pried open, yes?"

"I… yes. O-okay, keep near the TV, we'll patch you in to Mr. McKay after the commercial. We'll need to prep him to interview you."

"Okay."

"I guess this is the way to tell everyone you were found," said Manuia.

"Or we can say Viktor found me and get that reward money," said Hermione.

"Nia!"

"Sorry. Bad joke."

Hermione waited patiently, tapping her feet to the hold muzak. After a very loud man tried to sell a cleaning product, the program returned and a recap was mentioned for people just tuning in.

"And now we have a young woman on the line who claims to be the missing Herminia," said Mr. McKay. "Herminia, you're on the air."

"Hello, sir," she said. "How are you?"

"I'm alright," he replied. "Tell me, what took you so long to come forward?"

"Well, you see, I was abducted from the scene, but was determined to be more trouble than I was worth. My name was misheard, so I was put into the system as Hermione Esposito. Actually, I ended up having amnesia from the whole ordeal and couldn't have told anyone that I had an aunt waiting at the airport to take me home to my Papá. Though… even if I had remembered, I doubt I would have been able to do anything. See, the group home I was placed in was run by a woman named Mrs. Smith who hated me for my skin color and stammer and autism and she blocked all attempts of me being found. When my aunt finally forced her way in, I wasn't there and my family kept looking elsewhere."

"Wow… so you've been in the system all this time?"

"Well, no. See, a couple ended up strong-arming Mrs. Smith into allowing them to adopt me and I was well cared for by them."

"Tell them we found you," said Manuia. "I don't want a media circus right now."

Hermione nodded. "Once my memories resurfaced a couple summers ago, Roger and Beatrice made sure I was reunited with my family, and now I'm lucky to have four wonderful parents who love me. I was actually reunited with them two years ago."

"Really?"

"Yes. You should probably hire a fact checker for your show."

He laughed. "Well, why didn't anyone mention you were found?"

"Right, your long-lost daughter turns up after being missing for ten years and the first thing you do is call a news network."

"I see your point. Herminia, would you be interested in coming out to Los Angeles for an interview? We'd pay for your flight out."

"I don't think so. I mostly wanted to set the record straight. Can you imagine how awkward it would be if I went into town to get more ice cream and pick up the next season of Xena: Warrior Princess for someone to think that they found a missing child and got all up in my business?"

"That's too bad."

"Yeah, but look, I'll send in a picture of me with my family and you can count this one as solved."

"That's much appreciated," said Mr. McKay. "Thank you Herminia for letting us know and we look forward to that picture. Now, there is a reward fund that has been raised for your safe return. What would you like us to do with it?"

"Can I have it for my university fund?" she asked.

Or to pay for a private tutor if Hogwarts wouldn't take her back.

"Absolutely," he said. "You can give one of our attendants the information so we can send it to you."

"Thank you very much. I wish you good luck with the rest of those cases."

"Thank you. And you're sure you won't come for an interview?"

"Maybe one day. I'm dealing with teenage drama, I don't want to go on air looking like I do."

"Understandable. Feel free to contact us when you're ready."

She was sent back to the attendant line where she gave the information for the check to be sent. She hung up and returned to the living room.

"The whole island is going to be talking about that," Manuia sighed.

"Eh." Hermione went over to the VHS tapes. "Let's watch the Muppets."

"What is a muppet?" asked Viktor.

"It defies description."

Shortly after the first two episodes, Amalea and Hana returned.

"Howzit?" Hermione called. "We have guests."

Amalea spotted Esperanza and Viktor and started screaming, which Hermione didn't care for. Not wanting to dampen the mood, she excused herself to go upstairs to get dressed. She did change into shorts and a t-shirt, but she must've taken too long because Esperanza entered her room.

"Don't you knock?" Hermione demanded.

"No."

"Oh. You might want to look into that."

"Eh." Esperanza looked around the room with interest. "This suits you well. I can see why you want to hide in here."

"I'm not hiding, I'm just… gathering my scrapbooking supplies. I was going to make personalized ones for all my friends. It'll take time for the braille and 3D spells for Cássia's."

"Mm…" Esperanza closed the door and took a seat on the bed. "Noa told me about the horcrux."

"Oh… Papí said you'd be mad about it."

"Well, I'm not thrilled. Harry… he is one or was supposed to be made into one?"

"How would I know?"

"Well… does he have this branded on his body?" Esperanza partially removed her shirt, turned around, and gathered her hair over her shoulder.

Hermione could have thrown up. Scarred, no, branded on her cousin's back was the circle from the book she read. It was discolored and so deep sections were pink rather than the rich, dark brown of her skin. It looked… fresh.

"Does that hurt?"

She put her shirt back to rights.

"All the time. But does Harry have this?"

"No. I don't… I don't think Voldemort made it that far. My leading theory is that because he was halfway through the process, the spell that protected Harry just split it the rest of the way, one section being killed for good and the other attaching itself to the closest living thing being Harry."

"Hm… Can I see the one you have?"

Hermione opened her trunk and took out her horcrux hunting box. She handed the locket to her cousin.

"It belonged to Slytherin," she said. "The wearer can understand parseltongue, though I'm not sure if it allows you to speak it without the right spell."

Esperanza took it and studied it. She tapped it with her wand to see the magic it was imbued with and hummed.

"You'll get murdered in your sleep if you walk around with this," she said. "Do you want me to make it look like something else?"

"Well, after Voldemort is defeated, I fully intend to give it to the school to be displayed since it has historical value."

Esperanza hissed and the locket opened. She worked her nail beneath the Helga Hufflepuff photo and it flipped open. She peered at the inside and hissed again. The locket shifted and morphed until it was a beautiful gold comb, the 'S' shape in the emeralds much more subtle. There was an inscription on the opposite side but it did not look like any human language. Esperanza hissed again and touched it to Hermione's hair. The comb twisted around the loc to three clasps and a long chain embedded with emeralds.

"Huh…"

"It wasn't uncommon for wizards in ancient times to have special items transform into something less… noticeable," said Esperanza. "All the way up to the 1800s, most magical artifacts could turn into something small. This one is really powerful to be able to conform to your type of hair. I'll teach you the phrase to turn it back and forth."

"Thanks."

"I don't think you should have to fight these things," said Esperanza. "And I wish my sisters didn't have to." She hugged herself. "You know… sometimes I think he's still out there. My… donor. Waiting to finish using me to bring himself back. Do you have a plan to destroy… whatever that guy's name is?"

"Well, I have troll-grown stones and basilisk venom, so I'm hoping to make a weapon of some sorts."

"You should get a goblin-crafted one. They're the only masons that can forge metal strong enough to contain magic. Well, them and cyclopes, but the cyclopes live in the ocean."

Hermione hummed and sat down. "Any chance there's goblins around here?"

"No. Goblins are native to Europe. The banks here are run by wizards and vampires. Can't you commission? If it's money, I'll sponsor you."

"No, it's just…" Hermione explained the Godric Gryffindor and Goblin feud about the Sword of Gryffindor.

"Well, you'll just have to make them an offer they can't refuse or learn how to wield fiendfyre."

"How long does that take?"

"Years."

"I'll think about it."

"Until then, I'll make you a super fabulous outfit to fight and train in."

Hermione chuckled. "Well, if you want to use basilisk skin I have an in on the cihuacoatl community in South Brazil."

Esperanza hugged her tightly. "Don't take too long gathering scrapbook supplies, okay?"

"I won't."