Previously on 'The Vanishing Cabinet of Time'
"So when you came back in time, you were armed with quite a bit of knowledge," Remus said, "Ron and Dumbledore's betrayal, as well as the knowledge of future events. But I have to wonder... how did you know to go to Gringotts to speak with your Vault Keeper, Harry? Did you discover this before you came back in time?"
"Our initial reason to visit Gringotts wasn't because of my parents' Wills or Inheritance Tests," Harry said, "Actually I knew none of that until we arrived. We intended to go for an entirely different reason. Ron had informed Hermione of one more key piece of information. Something that the Goblins could help us with."
"And what was that?" Sirius asked.
Harry looked at Hermione, who nodded. He turned back to his audience.
"Sirius, Remus," he said, "Have you ever heard of Horcruxes?"
Sirius' peach complexion paled slightly, and his expression darkened. It was almost frightening for Harry to look upon his godfather's face. Remus' left eye twitched, but aside from that he gave no other indication that he knew of the term. He merely stared curiously in Harry and Hermione's direction.
"I'm not sure if you already know this about me," Sirius said, "Maybe I told you this in your future. I ran away from home when I was sixteen years old after a very bad experience with my so-called family. I went around your Dad's and grandparents, and they graciously took me in. Now for something I likely would have never told you without necessary reason to, such as now. Two weeks prior to my exile from my family, I was lounging in my bedroom when all of a sudden, my father storms in, dragging my brother, Regulus, behind him with one hand, and holding a book in the other. My father wasn't angry. In fact it was the only time in my life I had ever seen him frightened."
Sirius' nostrils flared as he inhaled and exhaled. It was obvious this was a painful memory for him.
"It turned out that my brother was in our family library," he continued, "and had come across an old book my parents had forgotten to remove from the shelves. There are even subjects that a child or teenager raised in the Dark Arts should never read about. My father was holding a book that had that type of subject. Apparently my brother had been caught reading through it. Father tossed my brother on my bed and stared at both of us, silently for a good thirty seconds... as I said, he looked frightened. Tired of the silence, Reg then asks him 'What are Horcruxes, Father?' My father replied 'Something you will never involve yourselves in or I will destroy you myself, then do the same when I meet you in Hell.' I never knew my father to believe in such a concept like Hell. It felt like too much of a Muggle term. For him to mention it, I knew that he truly meant it."
"Did he explain what Horcruxes were?" Harry asked.
"He did," Sirius said, "Only because he hoped it would scare us out of our wits. He succeeded. A Horcrux is the Darkest Curse in existence. Worse than the Killing Curse. To perform it literally requires you to tear your soul apart. And it is performed through the act of murder. It is used to give yourself an extended life through terrible means. When you tear your soul, you would store the piece in a separate container and hide it from the world. As long as your soul remained, you could never truly die."
"That is horrible!" Tonks said, her voice shuddering in fright; she hugged her arms around her as if the temperature had fallen several degrees..
"How exactly do you know that term, Harry?" Remus asked, quietly.
"During my sixth year," Harry said, "Dumbledore began to privately tutor me. It wasn't a weekly or even monthly class. Instead the meetings took place whenever he felt peckish. Now, a genius like Dumbledore, you might believe he might have trained me some advanced magic or dueling techniques, in order to help me survive. It was nothing like that. He wanted to teach me the history of Tom Riddle, also known as Lord Voldemort. Each session, we would spend time in his Pensieve, traveling through memories of Tom Riddle. The memories were acquired from various sources. I suppose I should mention that, in sixth year, Professor Snape achieved his career-long dream and had claimed the Defense Post. Professor Dumbledore hired Horace Slughorn to take up his old post as Potions Master."
"I remember him," Remus said, smiling, "An excellent Professor."
"You say that because he took you into his Slug Club," Sirius said with a snort; he looked at Harry, "Slughorn also invited your mother into the Club. The only two members of his Club then that didn't have a famous relative."
"If I recall, he did invite you," Remus said, "And you refused."
"I was raised attending bloody social parties that he imitated with his own parties and dinners," Sirius said, "I hated them. Did not want to echo those experiences."
"And yet you and James crashed at least one party," Remus said. "Christmas, fifth year..."
"Lily attended the party with the fifth year Ravenclaw prefect," Sirius said, "James wanted to break up their date before it became serious. I tagged along."
Remus rolled his eyes and turned back to Harry. "Please continue."
"The summer before sixth year," Harry said, "Dumbledore took me with him to visit Slughorn. He hoped I would help him lure Slughorn back into his job. I was to be part of his new collection."
"I have to give it to Dumbledore," Remus said, "Slughorn likely adored you. Would remind him of Lily. She was one of his favorite students. That, plus the fact that you are the Boy-Who-Lived would have had Slughorn begging to come back."
"Actually he was against it," Harry said, "But Dumbledore told me it was imperative that Slughorn return. In the end, it was my presence that made Slughorn agree to return to his post. I mention Slughorn, because he played a crucial role in my lessons with Dumbledore. What you may not know is that Slughorn taught Tom Riddle. Of course, Riddle was a part of the Slug Club."
Sirius shuddered. "Happy now, Remus? You share Slug Club alumni status with Voldemort!"
Remus grimaced. "Please continue, Harry."
"During one of the Slug Club meetings in that time period," Harry said, "Riddle stayed after one of the meetings to speak with Slughorn about a very touchy subject. Now, here is the kicker. The memory of the event came directly from Slughorn himself, and was given to Dumbledore. However, something was wrong with the memory. It was tainted."
"Slughorn modified his own memory?" Remus asked, "Why?"
"Exactly the question Dumbledore wanted me to answer," Harry said, "So I had to chum up to Slughorn. Get to know him better, in order to obtain the real memory. Earlier in the year, during one of the Potions lessons, I had won a small vial of Felix Felicis – Liquid Luck."
"Technically you cheated," Hermione muttered.
"Are you still angry about that?" Harry asked.
"No," Hermione said, with a straight face.
Harry rolled his eyes. "Anyway, after weeks and weeks of trying to figure out how to get the information, I dumbly remember that I still had Felix! So I used a few drops and in the end it paid off. I obtained the true memory. In the broken memory, we could not hear what Riddle was asking Slughorn. All we heard was silence, then Slughorn apparently yelling at him. In the true memory, Riddle mentions Horcruxes."
"Slughorn told him?" Remus asked, aghast.
"Indeed he did," Harry said, "You must understand – though I am sure you do know - that Riddle was, and is, quite manipulative. He easily made Slughorn believe that everything they discussed about Horcruxes was hypothetical. A simple lesson. The most interesting part of the lesson was this: Riddle wanted to know exactly how many times you could split your soul. For example, isn't seven the most powerful number?"
"Seven?!" Sirius growled. "Tearing your soul into two pieces is heinous as is!"
"Indeed it is," Harry said. "You see, it turned out that much of what Dumbledore had been teaching me had something to do with Horcruxes. Thinking back now, I am quite sure that Dumbledore knew that Voldemort was using Horcruxes. Basically what I am trying to say is the lessons were almost entirely a waste of my goddamn time."
"Harry!" Hermione admonished his language.
Harry simply continued. "All of these memories could have been viewed in a week's time. I wouldn't even have needed to obtain the true memory, because it appeared that Dumbledore had only heard everything he had already confirmed. We could have spent months training and hunting these things down. Instead I spent weeks at a time waiting for the next meeting, only to view another memory and get a bit of information. None of what he told me truly helped me after he was gone. He died, leaving me, along with Hermione and Ron who demanded to come along to hunt for these damned things with only bits of information."
"Voldemort created Horcruxes," Sirius said, barely above a whisper, "This is why nobody could kill him. Why he didn't die the night he killed James and Lily and attacked you. Exactly how many did he make? Wait!"
He stared at Harry with horrified eyes. "Don't tell me the damned psychopathic bastard made seven?!"
"Eight actually," Harry said, "The last which was in himself. Seven others out there."
"Do you know what they are?" Remus asked, "Where they are?"
"Hold up," Sirius said, "Earlier you were talking about an object at Hogwarts – in the Lost and Found room or whatever - that you were trying to get before you were whisked back in time. Was that a Horcrux?"
"Yes," Harry said, "He had turned Ravenclaw's Lost Diadem into a Horcrux."
"Ravenclaw's Lost Diadem?" Remus asked, gobsmacked. "You found it?"
"Yes," Hermione said, "Sadly we recently had to destroy it."
"Recently?" Sirius echoed. "Are you trying to tell me you've destroyed these Horcruxes since you came back in time?"
"Of course we have!" Harry said, "We spent months and months hunting these things down in the future – some of the worst months of my life. You really think I am going to let them hang about?"
"Since we've come back in time," Hermione said, "Four have been destroyed as of today, and one was already destroyed as of about a year ago. That is five total destroyed. We know where one is, and another we believe has yet to be created, but will in the near future. And that is one reason we're telling you all of this, Sirius. We need your help to find one of the last Horcruxes."
"My help?" Sirius asked, "How?"
"We need passage into Number Twelve Grimmauld Place," Harry said.
"Why would you –?" Sirius began, then stopped as his jaw dropped. He narrowed his eyes. "Are you trying to tell me there is one of these Horcruxes in my old house?"
"Indeed," Harry said. "Sirius you need to know something. Regulus died a hero."
Sirius stared at Harry, his brow furrowed. He remained silent, and Harry took this as means to continue.
"During our hunt for the Horcruxes," Harry said, "We took shelter at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place for several weeks. By that time the Horcrux was no longer there. It had been stolen some months previously by a member of the Order."
"Another traitor?" Sirius asked.
"Nope," Harry said, "Just a ruddy sneak-thief."
"Mundungus Fletcher," Remus guessed, amused, "I am thoroughly surprised Dumbledore invited him back into the Order."
Sirius groaned. "When I meet Dumbledore, I will strangle him by his intestines!"
"You had past history with Dung?" Hermione asked.
"Like in your future, Dung was also part of the Order way back when," Remus said, "Even at the age of twenty, he was a sneak-thief. Back then he was our initial suspect as the traitor in the Order. Everyone in the Order thought he was the traitor. He was booted from the Order by a majority vote."
"Nearly an unanimous decision," Sirius said, "Two people voted for him to remain. Dumbledore was one, and the other – huh. Moony, my friend, we were quite oblivious back then!"
"Pettigrew," Harry muttered, "He voted for Dung to remain."
"Of course," Hermione said, "He hoped that the suspicions of the traitor would remain on Dung and not turn to him."
"So as you can see," Remus said, "Dung isn't exactly a friend. Continue with your story."
"Dung had stolen the Horcrux, which sent us on a dangerous mission to find it," Harry said, "Luckily it is still in Grimmauld Place at this point in time."
"You mentioned my brother was a – a hero," Sirius said, with a strained voice, "Please explain."
"When the Order came back, Grimmauld Place was used as Headquarters," Harry said, "A few of us had 'waged war' on the house – doing some major cleaning. We were throwing out a bunch of junk. Your old house-elf Kreacher kept trying to rescue some of that junk."
"Bloody hell, that damned elf is still around?" Sirius asked, "I could have lived another hundred years without knowing that!"
Harry grimaced, but continued. "During our hunt for the Horcruxes, whilst we – Hermione, Ron and I - were living at Grimmauld Place, we spoke to your house-elf Kreacher about the Horcrux, which turned out to be a locket. You see, when we were cleaning, Kreacher had rescued the locket, which later lead to Dung stealing it. Kreacher told us the story behind the locket... and what it had to do with your brother, Regulus."
Sirius looked quite confused as Harry began the same tale that Kreacher had told him. Then as the story progressed, Sirius' complexion turned pale again and his hands clenched into fists. By the time Harry had finished the story, Sirius' fists were pressed into the sofa cushion, and he seemed to be doing his best not to cry in front of everyone.
"Regulus," Sirius gulped, hoarsely, "He – he -"
Remus gently clutched his friend's shoulder. "He died a hero, Padfoot. He died attempting to bring down Voldemort."
"If it wasn't for my father's lesson," Sirius said, "Regulus might have never known exactly what Voldemort was doing. He might –"
"Sirius, the Horcruxes were Voldemort's biggest, deepest secret," Hermione said, "Even if Regulus had escaped that cave, and knew nothing about Horcruxes, Voldemort might have killed him. Do you believe your brother was one of Voldemort's senior circle?"
Sirius shook his head. "Reg didn't have it in him to be considered. At least that is what I thought at the time. Why?"
"Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange, two of Voldemort's senior circle," Hermione said, "Each were guardians of two of his Horcruxes. Unless Regulus was one of the senior circle, Voldemort wouldn't have trusted him with the information of his quest. Voldemort would have likely killed him to protect the information."
"My brother was doomed from the start," Sirius said. "From the moment he even heard the Death Eaters were recruiting."
"I reckon he knew that, Sirius," Tonks said, "Which is why he wanted to redeem himself before he died."
Sirius nodded. "So... when do you reckon we should visit my old residence."
"I reckon the Locket will remain safe until after you officially obtain your freedom on Saturday," Harry said, "We can go after the fact."
"I believe that is a good idea," Remus said. "We already know the Ministry wants you to turn yourself in, Sirius. If you want to go to the Ministry and walk into that courtroom of your own accord...?"
"That is still the plan, Moony," Sirius said.
"Then I don't think you want to hang about Grimmauld Place," Remus said, "I would eat my wand if there aren't Aurors routinely stationed near your old house."
Sirius nodded again. "So after the Locket is destroyed, there is one last Horcrux then Voldemort is mortal again. What is this Horcrux?"
"We believe it will be Voldemort's familiar," Harry said, "A very large serpent that Voldemort always kept by his side."
"You believe?" Remus questioned, raising an eyebrow.
Harry grimaced. "Dumbledore was the one who theorized that the serpent was the Horcrux. Lately I've discredited most everything he ever told me. However, I don't think there is anything else it could be."
"Let us hope," Remus said, "When and where will this Horcrux be destroyed?"
"As I said, the snake remains close to Voldemort at all times," Harry said, "So I'll have to destroy her the next time I meet Voldemort – Almost a year from now in the Little Hangleton Graveyard. The very same night I destroy Voldemort... the night he attempts to return to Corporeal form."
Remus, Sirius and Tonks stared at Harry, looking rather horrified that he had said this.
"Why must it be you to defeat Voldemort, Harry?" Tonks asked.
"It was always meant to be me," Harry said.
Remus studied Harry for a moment. "You know the Prophecy?"
"You know the Prophecy?" Harry asked.
"Echo... echo... echo," Tonks joked. "What prophecy? What am I missing?"
Harry cleared his throat. "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies..."
Tonks' jaw dropped as she stared at Harry. Her eye twitched. "Yep. That pretty much sounds like you have to destroy him. Good luck, mate."
"I did ask you if you were sure you wanted to be my bodyguard," Harry said, with a smirk.
"At the time I thought you were a mostly-innocent thirteen-going-on-fourteen year old kid, Harry," Tonks said. "Now I know you're a thirteen-going-on-eighteen year old time traveler who knows more about me than I thought possible. Either way, I'm not quitting my job, bub."
Harry grinned and turned back to Remus. "How do you know the Prophecy?"
"During one of those rare excursions Sirius and I actually got to see James during the occasional Full Moon," Remus said, "Your parents were told the full Prophecy by Dumbledore. In turn James told Sirius and I. Wormtail never knew it. He didn't attend the Full Moon run that evening, and thankfully we never told him after the fact."
"Given what we know about Dumbledore," Hermione said, "Why would he have told Harry's parents about the Prophecy?"
"It gave them extra incentive to make sure I survived no matter what," Harry said, "Apparently I was destined to destroy Voldemort. If my parents failed to protect me, they would doom the world."
"Harry, that is rather harsh," Hermione said.
"And it is exactly what Dumbledore would have told James and Lily," Sirius said, "in order to assure that they would protect him. I must question whether Dumbledore had a role to play in James and Lily's murders."
Remus grimaced. "Potter Manor was far more protected than Godric's Hollow. We both know that. If James and Lily had remained there with Harry, they could have had plenty of time to escape Voldemort's attack as soon as they realized he was at their ward boundaries. I don't know how he was able to convince them to move."
"Just another question to ask the old bastard before I strangle him with his intestines," Sirius growled; then he sighed audibly, deeply and looked at Harry. "Alright, kid. Say you have my support in the idea that it must be you who defeats the psychopath. What exactly happens that night? I imagine Voldemort would make his return some kind of sadistic party. So I imagine he is going to invite the Death Eaters which are currently not serving time in Azkaban?"
"Indeed," Harry said.
"Okay," Sirius said, "Say that you're going to be able to kill this serpent. Then you destroy the psychopath. What are you going to do about the Death Eaters who will likely do their best to stop you?"
Harry looked at Hermione, who frowned and nodded. He then turned back to Sirius.
"Oh, they'll be dead long before the night Voldemort returns," Harry said with a grin.
"How?" Sirius asked.
"I am pleased you asked," Harry said. "You see, that is another reason we revealed these secrets to you. I realized recently that even if I destroy Voldemort a year from now, the wizarding world might have to deal with the surviving Death Eaters who may wish to retaliate after the death of their Dark Lord. Unless... we do something about it first. So I convinced Hermione -"
"You haven't completely convinced me, Harry," Hermione said, "But I'll likely go along with it anyway."
"As I was saying," Harry said, "I explained to Hermione that the Death Eaters need to be stopped. This summer, in fact. I am planning on assassinating each and every one of those bastards who are out and about."
"Are you serious?" Remus said.
"No, I am!" Sirius said, with a laugh as he straightened and grinned at Harry, "And I for one entirely agree with this plan! What say you, cousin?"
"No comment... for now," Tonks said.
"You're no fun," Sirius said, "Either of you – you and Remus."
Remus sighed audibly as he glared at Sirius. Then he cleared his throat and looked back at Harry.
"Say that I might come to agreement with this mad plan of yours, Harry," Remus said, "Exactly how will you accomplish this?"
"Well, it could be a bit more complicated if Tonks doesn't want to join us," Harry said.
"Why?" Tonks asked.
"You're the only one at the moment who has access into certain departments in the Ministry," Harry said, "You see, to even begin with the plan, we have to find out where the Death Eaters live. I would also like to get hold of some blueprints of the houses that the Death Eaters live in. I imagine the Ministry has that information."
"Residential information may be in public records," Remus said, "But the blueprints? Quite unlikely."
"Yes, but there is a problem," Harry said, "If we were to ask for the residential information, then suddenly said residents end up brutally murdered, we're going to be the ones who get blamed. Such information has to be stolen."
"Which is why you need an insider to steal it," Sirius said.
"An insider who is a Metamorphmagus and won't be identified if someone happens to catch sight of her," Harry said, "An insider who wouldn't even have to be part of the assassinations -"
"The hell I wouldn't be!" Tonks huffed, "I'm the only one here who is anywhere near legally qualified to be an Auror."
"So you're in?" Harry asked, with a smirk.
"I didn't say that," Tonks said.
"Some bodyguard you are," Harry huffed.
Tonks rolled her eyes.
"Harry?" Remus asked, "When do you expect these assassinations to take place?"
"Anytime before the twenty-fifth of August," Harry said.
"Why that exact date?" Remus asked.
"The finals of the Quidditch World Cup takes place," Harry said, "During the late night hours after the match, Death Eaters will attack the campground. Unless we do something about it first. The larger number of dead Death Eaters, the less that will be there to attack. Also, the less that will be in the graveyard the night I destroy Voldemort."
Remus, Sirius, and Tonks exchanged glances, each with pale faces.
"Are you in or out?" Harry asked, "Either way, I will be doing this."
"I'm in, Harry," Hermione said, clutching Harry's hand.
"I already said I am in!" Sirius said.
"What kind of bodyguard would I be if I wasn't there to help you?" Tonks asked; obviously her mind had quickly changed after she realized the immediate impact of not going through with the plan, "I might keep my promise to kill you before my job is over though."
Harry smiled wryly, then looked at Remus. Remus glanced around at the four individuals in the room.
"Ah, hell," Remus huffed, "I'm in."
"Knew you'd get there in the end, Moony!" Sirius barked.
"I am in," Remus said, "But with reservation. If I feel that you're not prepared for this, I reserve the right to cancel it."
Harry sighed and glanced at Hermione.
"He's right, Harry," Hermione said, "If we're not completely prepared, it might not work."
"Fine," Harry said, "I agree."
"Excellent!" Sirius said, "When do we begin said preparations?"
"I am staying at Hermione's house until a week from this Saturday," Harry said, "Any time after that."
"I'm okay with that," Tonks said, "Should give me enough time to figure exactly how I am going to steal the needed information from the Ministry."
Remus and Sirius agreed as well.
"As for where you'll be living after you leave Hermione's house?" Sirius asked, "Any plans, kid?"
"As I said in one of my letters to you," Harry said, "Potter Manor sounds like a proper permanent residence, but I would like to visit the beach house in La Rochelle, France too. Hermione and I thought we could go to the beach house the week of my birthday."
"Excellent," Sirius said, again, "I certainly agree with that. One problem though. I can't exactly remember where your properties are."
"Hmm... me neither," Remus said.
"Fidelius Charm?" Hermione asked.
"Perhaps," Remus said, nodding, "Which means they were placed sometime after James and Lily's deaths."
"Then who –?" Harry started, then he growled in realization. "Dumbledore! How the hell am I supposed to access the properties then?"
"Harry, you are forgetting," Remus said, "They are Potter properties. They legally and magically belong to you, as a Potter. I imagine there are Portkeys to the locations in your Family Vault. You say you took your Inheritance Test? So you have your family ring?"
Harry summoned his ring to his hand and revealed it.
"There you go then," Remus said, "Once on the properties, you can simply command your ring to speak to the property and remove all alien charms, curses and what-not – charms that were not set by Potters – and the Fidelius Charm should be removed."
"Thank Merlin," Harry sighed in relief.
"So, kid," Sirius said, "Aside from the long story of your future events you promised to tell us sometime, do you have anymore dramatic secrets to reveal to us."
"Hmm," Harry said, thinking, "Just one more. This one Tonks is well aware of. I am betrothed to three ladies."
Remus raised his eyebrows as an amused smile crossed his lips. Sirius barked a loud laugh.
"You lucky boy!" Sirius exclaimed; he then looked from Harry to Hermione, "How do you feel about this, Hermione? I assume the two of you are – er – involved. You haven't stopped holding hands since you walked in here."
"We're a couple if that is what you are inquiring," Hermione said. "As for your question – I am slowly getting used to the fact that Harry will be married to a three additional women in a few years."
"Additional?" Sirius asked, "Is there something you want to tell us, kids?"
"Nothing is official, we're too young, of course," Hermione said. "But – well, look at it from my position. In my mind, I feel like I should be eighteen years old. Any of my peers are some years younger than me if you take that into consideration. Also, I can't see myself with anyone besides Harry. So, as far as I can see, I need to put up with Harry having additional wives, because more than likely, I'll be one of them."
Sirius chuckled. "You are like your father, Harry, when it comes to choice in women. Hermione may not be a ginger with green eyes, but she reminds me so much of your mother. Feisty and knows how to speak her mind. So... who are the lucky ladies?"
"Daphne Greengrass, Susan Bones and Luna Lovegood," Harry said.
Sirius raised his eyebrows and grinned. "Children of the Great Alliance. Your father actually went through with his ideas."
"Hmm?" Harry asked.
"The first few weeks after your birth," Remus said, "James kept bringing up ideas, planning your future out for you. Some of these ideas he kept from Lily. At least for a while. I assume she learned about them before she died. Anyway, James was saying that he needed to get off his butt and do something about his father's political alliance. He wanted to make sure the Alliance survived. He talked about meeting with various members of the Alliance, and writing up Betrothal Contracts. After a few months, he never brought up the topics again. We just assumed Lily had talked him out of the idea. But now it appears he was successful, and wanted to keep such things secret."
"We knew there was a spy in the Order," Sirius said, "I reckon he just kept silent about the contracts so he wouldn't risk endangering you or those in the Alliance. Like Remus said, he never brought it up again, so we never spoke about it again."
"Have you spoken to any of your Betrothed's parents or guardians yet?" Remus asked, "They may know more about what James had planned."
"We spoke to Amelia Bones about it," Harry said; he noticed that a curious smile had crossed Sirius' face at the mention of Amelia, "Luna's father and Daphne's parents want you to be present during such meetings to discuss the contracts, Sirius. Even though I am Emancipated, they would like a legal adult guardian on both sides of the discussion."
Sirius blinked out of his reverie. "That is my job as your godfather. I'll be there. I may have some knowledge of Betrothal Contracts swimming somewhere around my slowly-healing memory. So I am sure I'll be of some assistance."
"Great," Harry said, "Mr. Lovegood and Luna wish to meet with us after your trial – which I am sure will go smoothly – so that we can discuss a date to go through with the Betrothal. They've also invited Hermione and her parents to the meeting, though I don't understand why. Aside from the fact that Xenophilius wants to meet Hermione and her parents. But I know Xenophilius a bit. He is rather strange. He has something up his sleeve. I just don't know what."
"I am sure it is nothing aside from the fact that he wishes to meet me and my parents, Harry," Hermione said. "Luna must know how close we are. She probably believes we'll all soon be family, and that is what she told her father."
"I guess so," Harry said. "Well, that is roughly everything we wanted to reveal today. Any questions you particularly want to know?"
"Romance!" Sirius said, immediately, "I am sure you could tell us who our respective loved ones were in the future! Make it easier on us."
Harry did his best not to glance at Remus and Tonks. As much as he would love to have his godson Teddy again, he wasn't sure whether or not they would become a couple again. As for Sirius, well, he didn't exactly want to reveal his godfather's fate just yet, especially since there was no chance of it happening again.
"Sorry, I cannot answer that," Harry said, "It might ruin the future."
"You're already messing with the future, kid!" Sirius said.
"Romance is not a life and death situation," Harry said.
Sirius huffed. "Fine."
"Anyone else?" Harry asked.
Remus opened his mouth, then changed his mind and shook his head.
"I have a question not relating to the future," Tonks said. "When are you going to tell your parents about your secret, Hermione?"
Hermione frowned. "Definitely not until after Voldemort is defeated. I'm not looking forward to it."
"Alright," Tonks said, "I will do my best to keep silent about such things around them."
"Perhaps we should take an Honor Vow regarding such things," Remus suggested. "We're dealing with some pretty risky information."
"Wands are necessary for such things, Moony," Sirius said, "Mine is currently in Ministry custody."
"I completely trust everyone in here," Harry said, "Honor Vows are unnecessary. But if you still feel the same way after Saturday, then we can take the Vow."
It was mutually agreed.
"Have any of you had lunch yet?" Sirius asked.
"We came straight here from Gringotts," Harry said, "So no."
"Then we shall go to the Leaky Cauldron," Sirius said, "My treat!"
"Er... Sirius?" Hermione said, "You're not proclaimed innocent yet, and I don't think the Leaky Cauldron welcomes dogs."
"Tom knows what is going on," Sirius said, "We will get a private room."
"Well, if you're sure," Harry said,
Sirius' grin assured him that he was. So the group made their way out of the flat, and headed for the Leaky Cauldron, ready for good food and far more innocent conversation.