=== July 31 1996 ===
Early in the morning, Harry goes out to the kitchen and finds Ginny putting ingredients on the table. "You're up early." Harry says.
"Not early enough, apparently." Ginny says with a pout.
"What's the matter?" Harry asks.
"I was trying to have breakfast ready for your birthday." Ginny admits.
"I appreciate the thought." Harry says. "Let me help."
#####
The alarm goes off waking Richard and Helen up. They both sit up and smell breakfast cooking. "Smells like Ginny is up again." Helen says.
"She keeps spoiling us like this we're not going to want to let her move out." Richard says.
"Maybe we should expand the place again so she won't." Helen suggests.
"That's not a bad idea." Richard says.
Richard and Helen come down to the kitchen, dressed for work. They find Harry, Hermione and the twins sitting eating, both toddlers feeding themselves using their little sporks. Plates of food sit on the counter for them. "Hey," Richard says as he grabs his food and sits.
"Poppy!" Iris says happily.
"Where's Ginny?" Helen asks as she sits with her food.
"She went to call Colin." Harry answers.
"I should have figured." Helen says.
They eat quietly until an owl drops letters in front of Harry and Hermione. They both stop eating as they stare at the Hogwarts seal on the letters.
"Mama?" Rose says breaking the silence.
Hermione smiles at Rose. "What is it, Rose?" Rose goes back to eating like nothing was said.
"Well, are you going to open them or not?" Richard asks.
"I'll go first." Harry says as he opens it and reads the contents:
O.W.L. Results
Harry James Potter
Ancient Runes: O
Astronomy: E
Care for Magical Creatures: E
Charms: O
Defense Against the Dark Arts: O+
Herbology: E
History of Magic: A
Potions: E
Transfiguration: E
"Well, so much for being a healer." Harry says as he passes his results to Hermione and reads hers:
O.W.L. Results
Hermione Jean Potter
Ancient Runes: O
Astronomy: O
Care for Magical Creatures: O
Charms: E+
Defense Against the Dark Arts: E+
Herbology: O
History of Magic: O
Potions: O
Transfiguration: O
"They clearly penalized me for hesitating during the Charms practical." Hermione says.
Harry nods. "You must have done it in Defense too."
"I didn't think it was as bad, it was the second day. By the third day I felt normal." Hermione admits.
"We need to find out if Professor McGonagall still has that box." Harry says.
Hermione nods. "Not a bad idea. I'll leave it during class, maybe my Newts won't suffer. I want it otherwise, I won't risk losing you because I don't have it." Hermione says.
"Fair enough." Harry says.
"Since you didn't get the O in potions are you going to focus on becoming a Professor?"
Harry nods. "Seems like Defense would be my best option, but I'll take other classes as well."
Hermione gets up and hugs Harry. "Trying to set a good example?"
"Of course." Harry says before kissing her lightly.
"How did you get an O+?" Hermione asks
"Patronus charm." Harry answers.
"Of course!" Hermione groans. "I remember now! The instructions said it was worth bonus, I was so focused on what was necessary I forgot!"
"Happens to the best of us." Harry says with a smile.
"Are you two going to go to Diagon Alley and get your books and supplies?" Richard asks.
"Sounds like a good idea to me." Harry says.
#####
Since Colin couldn't go until the weekend, Ginny volunteered to watch the twins leaving Harry and Hermione child free for the trip.
As usual the first stop was Gringotts. They step up to the counter. "Harry and Hermione Potter, here to access our vaults." Harry says to the counter goblin.
"Please wait, just a moment." The goblin says as he heads to the back.
Grimlok comes out. "Lord and Lady Potter, nice to see you."
"Good to see you as well, Grimlok." Hermione says.
"Let me escort you to your vaults." Grimlok says.
"We appreciate it, but we do know the way by now." Harry says as the follow him anyway.
"The truth is the curse breakers want to see you." Grimlok says now that they're in the tunnels. "There were too many people in the lobby to say that."
"Oh, thank you." Harry says.
Grimlok leads them to a room where Sharptooth waits. "Finally!" Sharptooth says.
"You could have mailed us a letter if you had wanted us here sooner." Hermione says.
"Curse breakers don't work like that." Sharptooth says."Now I have some good news and some bad news."
"Get on with it." Harry says.
"We've managed to pinpoint where two more of the items are, and using a form of scrying we know what they are." Sharptooth says.
"I assume that's the good news." Hermione says.
"It is, we can't enter the properties because of the spells, but you two can." Sharptooth says.
"So a silver lining, where are they?" Harry asks.
"There's a locket somewhere in your new property." Sharptooth says.
"Number 12?" Harry asks, incredulously.
Sharptooth nods. "Indeed."
"Narcissa said the Blacks were long mired in dark magic." Hermione says.
Harry nods. "The others?"
"Some sort of crown, somewhere in Hogwarts." Sharptooth answers
Hermione groans. "We're going to have to search every bit of Hogwarts."
"Not quite," Sharptooth pulls out the phylactery they had originally given them. "If you hold this in your hand and say the words: calidum aut frigidum* it will heat up as you get closer to other soul pieces."
Hermione carefully takes the gem and places it in her bag as Harry asks. "Can you teach us how to move the soul piece?"
"I'm sorry, the way we do it wouldn't work for you." Sharptooth replies. "If you can bring them to us we will do it for you."
"We'll keep that in mind." Hermione says.
"Anything else that could help?" Harry asks.
"The basilisk venom destroyed the ones we had, like theorized." Sharptooth says.
"Good to know.' Harry says.
#####
Harry and Hermione appear in the foyer of Grimmauld Place. "Kreacher!" Harry calls out.
The elf appears. "How can I help you?"
"We're looking for a cursed necklace, we know it's here." Hermione explains. "Would you happen to know where it is?"
"What are you going to do with it?" Kreacher asks.
"Destroy it." Harry answers.
"You think you two are stronger than my former master?" Kreacher asks, not hiding the contempt in his voice.
"If we fail I'll give you to Dowager Malfoy." Harry says.
Kreacher vanishes. "I'll take that as an agreement." Hermione says.
The elf returns holding the necklace. "Is this what you're looking for?" He asks.
Hermione pulls the phylactery out of her bag. "It's hot and I haven't even cast the spell." She quickly puts the gem away.
"This is it then." Harry says then pulls out his wand, and conjures a table. "Place it on the table." Kreacher does as instructed.
They both examine the necklace. "Look," Hermione says. "That's Slytherin's symbol."
Harry nods. "I see a catch on the side as well, it's a locket."
"What are you thinking?" Hermione asks.
"I'd like to attempt to destroy it ourselves, I see no reason to save the locket." Harry answers.
"I agree, did you bring basilisk venom?" Hermione asks.
Harry nods. "I'd like to try with my sword first, as it gains something from what it kills."
"You think it gained the venom's destructive capabilities?" Hermione asks.
Harry nods. "I believe it's why I was able to destroy the dementors, while your blades only wounded them."
"That's a reasonable hypothesis, and this seems like a reasonable time to test it." Hermione says.
"You might want to back away." Harry says as summons his sword.
Hermione and Kreacher back away. "Do it."
Harry swings his sword down, cutting the locket clean in half. He immediately dismisses his sword as he backs away. "Did it work?"
A scream comes from the locket. Hermione reacts quickly, summoning the grimoire and placing the locket and table in a containment spell. An explosion rocks the spell, filling in with black smoke. Hermione's eyes glow as the pages of the grimoire turn, soon the smoke clears leaving the locket sitting in the spell. "I think it's safe." Hermione says as she dismisses the spell.
Kreacher catches the locket. "You did it." He says in awe. "Thank you." He teleports away.
"Well, we know you can destroy one." Hermione says as she dismisses the grimoire.
Harry nods. "Think you could do it without the grimoire?"
Hermione shakes her head. "No, in fact it's getting hard to dismiss it. Like a part of me doesn't want to."
"We'll talk to Helena when we get back to Hogwarts." Harry says.
Hermione nods. "Good idea."