There was silence for a moment. Sirius finally broke it.
"What?!" he exclaimed in astonishment. "But, but, it's been missing for a long time!"
"Of all things with black magic, it's Ravenclaw's diadem?" Melania asked, shocked.
"Bloody hell!" Regulus exclaimed.
"Language," Melania scolded Regulus.
"Well, we knew that the last Horcrux was somewhere in Hogwarts, but I never thought that it was in this room, though it doesn't surprise me," Arcturus commented. He paused. "Well, let's get this Horcrux destroyed," he continued, pulling out a box that contained the last basilisk fang they had collected from the basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets.
Lucretia took the basilisk fang, then paused. "I would hate to destroy an object like this, but I know it's necessary," she said sadly.
Arcturus looked thoughtful. "What about a protective charm on it?" he suggested.
"A protective charm? How will that help?" Lucretia asked, confused.
"There's a charm that can protect the object, even when a Horcrux is destroyed," Arcturus explained. "I did some research over the summer."
"Wow!" Regulus exclaimed.
"That would have been nice to know for Hufflepuff's Cup, and Slytherin's Locket," Sirius stated.
"Better late than never," Regulus pointed out.
"Alright, Father, can you cast the charm?" Lucretia asked. Arcturus nodded. He cast a charm that glowed blue briefly, which meant that it worked.
"There," Arcturus said. "Now you can stab the diadem, and it will not be destroyed. Only the Horcrux will be affected."
Lucretia raised the basilisk fang, and without hesitation, stabbed the diadem. There was a black mist, and a scream, then the mist disappeared. The diadem was still in one piece, without even a mark.
"Wow! It worked!" Sirius said, pleased.
"The Horcrux is gone, I can tell," Lucretia said. "But the diadem is still intact."
"Brilliant!" Regulus breathed.
"Yeah, 'cause Ravenclaws are brilliant," Sirius said, grinning.
"I am so glad," Melania added, clearly relieved. She picked up the diadem. "Wait until the school finds out that the diadem has been found at last." The others agreed.
The week passed quickly. Sirius and Regulus didn't get in trouble for disobeying their grandparents, due to the discovery they had made, so consequences felt wrong. Before they knew it, it was the first of September, and the students started arriving. Sirius and Regulus didn't take the train, since they were already at the school.
When the rest of the Marauders arrived, Capella threw her arms around Sirius and Regulus, as if she hadn't seen them in years.
"What have you two done for the past week?" she asked.
"Er, you know, just exploring," Regulus said with a shrug.
James perked up at that. "Exploring? What did you explore?" he asked curiously.
"It's called the Room of Requirement," Sirius explained. "It can become anything you want, like a Quidditch pitch, a study room, whatever you want it to become!"
"Wow!" James exclaimed. "We should go sometime!"
"Yeah, well, we'll have to wait on that, because it's time for the feast," Remus pointed out.
"Oh, alright, fine," James muttered. They entered the Great Hall, and started heading to their House tables. They had to sit with their house on the first night, due to the Sorting Ceremony. Before they separated, Capella stopped to speak.
"Oh, I'm so excited!" Capella exclaimed.
"About?" Severus asked.
"Look!" Capella urged them. She pointed to her sister, who was standing in line with the other first years.
"How could I have forgotten?" Sirius asked. "Lyanna's a first year now too!"
"That's right," Lily said. "I wonder which house she'll be sorted into."
"We're about to find out," Alice said, gesturing to Professor McGonagall, who was trying to get everyone's attention. The Marauders separated to go to their House tables.
"We will now start with the Sorting Ceremony for the first years," she announced. "When I call your name, you can come forth, and I shall place the Sorting Hat on your head, and it will sort you into your new house." As she started calling out names and students started being sorted, the Marauders waited.
"She'll be the next one," Mary whispered.
"Black, Lyanna!" McGonagall called out. Lyanna looked nervous as she walked up to the stool and sat down. McGonagall put the Sorting Hat on her head.
"Ah, yet another Black," the hat said. "How many more of you are there going to be?"
"You never know," Lyanna thought to the hat. "Probably many more."
"Well then, let's see where you belong. Ah, yes, your sister was sorted into Ravenclaw last year, and while you do have many of the same traits as her, I don't think Ravenclaw is quite right for you. No, no, that will not do. Now, where to put you."
"Just put me wherever I'll be accepted," Lyanna pleaded.
"Ah, yes, you're definitely more nervous than your sister. Your sister almost had a fight with me, she did. She almost landed herself in Gryffindor with the fiery temper she had."
"Could you by chance just sort me already?" Lyanna asked, already feeling tired of the hat's babbling.
"Ah, yes, of course. It'd better be… HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat shouted.
There was applause from the Hufflepuff table. A Black in Hufflepuff was a shock to many. Capella cheered from the Ravenclaw table.
Lyanna shared a smile with Melania, who nodded her head in approval.
After the sorting, Arcturus stood. "Welcome to Hogwarts, for those who are new. For those who are returning, welcome back! I would like to announce a change in staffing. Our Care of Magical Creatures teacher has decided to retire."
Regulus leaned over to Sirius and whispered, "Already? Is Hagrid really going to become the teacher this soon? I thought it wasn't until 1993."
Sirius shrugged. "You know Grandfather. He has changed a lot, so it wouldn't surprise me. Let's just hope that there will be steps taken to make sure that Hagrid doesn't introduce dangerous creatures."
"The new Care of Magical Creatures professor will be Rubeus Hagrid," Arcturus announced. There was a loud applause. Many people liked Hagrid. Hagrid stood up, and almost knocked the staff table over. He grinned at everyone.
"I knew it!" Regulus whispered.
"This will be interesting," Sirius stated.
Once the feast was over, everyone started heading to their common rooms. Lyanna in Hufflepuff, and now Hagrid as the Care of Magical Creatures professor, things were bound to be interesting this year.