=== July 31 1995 ===
The Granger dinning room never felt so full before, a total of 6 Hogwarts students sat around the table along with Richard, Helen and Claire. The twins lay in nearby bassinets. A delicious looking home-cooked meal sits on the table.
"Before we start I'd like to say something." Richard announces. "Today marks Harry and Hermione's first anniversary. They say that the first year is the toughest as there is a lot of adjustment. If that's true these two shouldn't have any problems from here on out." Everyone chuckles as Richard sits.
Harry stands up. "I want to thank everyone for everything you've done for us. Richard and Helen you have been nothing but supportive of us, which can not be easy."
"You've got two daughters, so you'll find out eventually." Richard says.
"I'll be locking them up until they're 30." Hermione jokes.
Everyone laughs. "I honestly expected that from Harry, not you." Amanda says.
"He'll just make any potential suitors duel him." Draco says.
"That's my plan if I have daughters." Ginny says.
"I've seen your wand work." Luna says, "I feel sorry for the suitors."
"What about you Draco?" Harry asks.
"Betrothal agreement at 14." Draco answers.
"I don't know about that." Amanda says.
"It's not all bad." Hermione says. "Obviously it worked out for us."
"And Neville and Hannah went into one willingly." Harry adds.
"They do seem pretty happy together." Amanda admits. "We'll have to wait and see."
"You know, we should wish you two a happy anniversary too." Hermione says.
"You two had your own set of difficulties." Harry says.
Amanda nods. "Nothing like you two."
"I'm more worried about this year." Hermione admits. "This is our O.W.L. year, and we have twins."
Harry takes Hermione's hand. "We'll be fine Dear, just wait and see."
#####
That night their Hogwarts letters arrive. Draco opens his. "Oh look, I'm a prefect."
Amanda chuckles. "So am I!"
"Wait!" Draco exclaims. "Professor McGonagall picked you over Hermione?"
"First off, prefects are supposed to be examples for the other students to follow." Hermione says. "I don't think a teen mum, even a married one, sets the best example. Second, when would I have the time to do patrols and such?"
"I didn't think of it that way." Draco says.
"We both did, and asked Professor McGonagall to leave us out of the running for prefect."
=== August 1 1995 ===
Harry and Hermione enter Diagon Alley followed by Amanda, Draco, Ginny and Luna at the end. They look around and see all the usual shops are open. They can all feel the new wards in place. Some shops have so many that they make an audible buzz, a sound that makes them all cringe, they avoid those shops whenever possible.
They all enter Gringotts, Harry and Hermione head for one of the tellers when a familiar voice calls out. "Potters!"
They turn and see Sharptooth. "Morning Sharptooth," Harry says as they walk over to him. "How can we help you?"
"I figured you came to see our progress." Sharptooth says.
"No, we came to get money to do our shopping for the upcoming year." Hermione says.
"However, if you want to share your progress," Harry chuckles. "Since you brought it up."
Sharptooth nods and leads them down a hall to a small room. "Privacy spell, if you will."
Hermione casts the spell the Sharptooth speaks again. "We have managed to retrieve 2 of the items you were looking for. We believe that there are 3 more out there."
"You believe?" Hermione asks
"We're having a hard time pinpointing them." Sharptooth admits. "We have 2 that move together. We believe one is the original soul, and the other he keeps near him. Then another two that only show up for a second or two. We're trying to figure out why."
"How have you been locating them?" Hermione asks.
"We devised a locator, similar to muggle radar. It's attuned to the soul's energy. " Sharptooth answers.
"Can you tell us where they were?" Hermione asks.
"One was in a heavily protected shack, the other," Sharptooth sighs. "Was in one of our vaults."
Harry and Hermione stare at each other for a moment letting the unasked question hang there. Finally, after an awkward minute of silence Harry speaks. "What have you done with the ones you found?" Harry asks.
"We have managed to move the soul fragments to phylacteries." Sharptooth answers.
"May we see the items?" Hermione asks.
Sharptooth nods. "I had a feeling you would want to." He presses his hand against a wall and a panel opens up, from the panel he pulls out two items, a ring and a cup. "These are them."
"I recognize that cup, it belonged to Helga Hufflepuff!" Hermione says.
"Aye, it did." Sharptooth says. "The ring belonged to the Gaunt family, from which the Dark Lord is descended."
"Are you planning on returning the cup to Heir Hufflepuff?" Hermione asks.
Sharptooth nods. "We are."
"We'll tell her to come get it then." Harry says.
Sharptooth nods. "Of course."
"So, how much do we owe you at this time?" Harry asks.
Sharptooth shakes his head. "We don't charge until a job is done, and to be honest we're having trouble destroying them."
"If it helps any, I've seen a horcrux get destroyed." Harry says.
"You have?" Sharptooth asks.
Hermione reaches into her bag and pulls out Riddle's diary, then hands it to Sharptooth. "During our second-year that book almost gave life to a part of Riddle. Severus Snape stabbed it with a basilisk fang and it bled."
"It was a fresh fang, yes?" Sharptooth asks.
"I'd say," Harry chuckles. "From the basilisk, into my arm, then into the book."
"Definitely fresh." Sharptooth says. "The venom probably destroyed the soul fragment as it can destroy almost anything."
"How convenient." Harry says. "I happen to have some basilisk venom locked up"
Sharptooth grins. "Why do I have a feeling you'll be changing us for venom exactly what we're charging you."
"Seems fair to me." Harry grins.
"I really like working with you, Mister Potter." Sharptooth laughs.
"The feeling is mutual." Harry says.
#####
They continue their shopping, both of them enjoying the rare opportunity to do so without their children. Helen has insisted that she watch them so they could do their school shopping and have a little date.
Harry stops in front of Quality Quidditch Supplies. He watches people go in and out for a few minutes. "Do you need new gear?" Hermione asks.
Harry shakes his head. "I was actually wondering if Ginny does. She's going to try for my place on the team."
"You're thinking about buying her a broom, aren't you?" Hermione asks.
"Her birthday is right around the corner." Harry smiles.
Hermione shakes her head as she chuckles. "Get her a Firebolt. I know that's what you're thinking."
"That obvious huh?" Harry asks.
Hermione kisses him lightly. "I wouldn't want you any other way."
#####
Later that evening Harry, Hermione, Amanda and Draco are all portkeyed to number 12.
"Welcome to my home." Sirius says.
They all look around the rundown manor. "Nice place you have here." Harry says.
"Nobody asked you!" A female portrait yells.
Harry walks up to the portrait. "Who are you?"
"I am Walburga Black, and this is my house!"
"Mother, " Sirius says. "We've been over this, it's my house now."
"That doesn't give you the right to bring these mudbloods here!" Walburga yells.
Hermione summons Rowena's grimoire and then taps the portrait. "There."
The portrait keeps ranting but thanks to Hermione it isn't heard. "Thank you," Sirius says. "Now if I could just get her off the wall."
Harry summons his sword. "Why not just remove the wall?" He walks towards the wall. Walburga is clearly yelling at him.
"I honestly hadn't thought of that." Sirius admits.
Once Harry reaches the wall he looks back at them. Hermione nods. "Do it!"
Harry spins and goes to plunge his sword into the wall when an old house elf appears. 'Wait!"
"Kreacher!" Sirius yells, "what do you think you are doing?"
"I wish to save the Mistress's portrait." Kreacher answers.
"You can have it." Sirius says. "As long as you put it somewhere it doesn't bother us.
Kreacher snaps his fingers and the portrait comes off the wall. "Thank you, Master." He vanishes into the house.
Harry shrugs. "I guess that takes care of that."
"Good, now let me introduce you to the rest of the Order." Sirius says as he leads them into another room.
There are people scattered throughout the large room. Hermione immediately spots a few people they know, along with a couple they don't. "Who is that pink-haired woman talking with Remus and Professor McGonagall?" Hermione asks.
"That is my cousin Nymphadora Tonks, I believe you know her father Ted." Sirius answers.
"That's Dora?" Harry asks. "Ted said she was an auror."
"Aye, she is, and a fierce one at that." Sirius says. "Though a piece of advice: call her Tonks or you'll be on her bad side."
"Noted." Harry says.
Sirius takes them around and has them meet Kingsley Shacklebolt, head auror, and Mundungus Fletcher, a man who deals with the criminal underworld just enough that he made Hermione's skin crawl. They see Neville and Hannah with Augusta chatting.
They find Malachi standing in a corner and Sirius leaves them with him. "I see you decided to join." Harry says.
"I figured I'd see what it's all about." Malachi says.
"That makes sense." Hermione says.
"Sirius told me you both would be here," Malachi says. "So I have something for you." He reaches into his robes and pulls out a bag. "Inside you'll find a pair of bracers for each of you. As they're made from dragon scale they should be able to take any spell that directly hits them. There's also a new collar for Loki, I think she'll like it."
Hermione takes the bag. "Thank you."
Arthur Weasley walks in with Ron beside him. Dumbledore follows behind. "Everyone, let's get this meeting started." Dumbledore says.
The meeting felt like more of a review of what they knew then anything else to Hermione. Though to be honest she wasn't expecting much better. Once the initial meeting was over the 5 students were asked to leave, and that was fine with her.
"I can't believe they kicked us out right as they were about to get to the actual planning." Ron says.
"I'm surprised they let us hear as much as we did." Amanda says.
"They were being careful, none of them trust new people easily." Hermione says.
"It's not like we didn't do the same thing." Harry says.
"I noticed you two never mentioned the soul fragments" Draco says.
"The proper term is Horcrux." Hermione says. "I found it while doing research." Everyone nods accepting the term. "McGonagall knows they exist, so she'll bring it up if necessary."
"Any idea of what Riddle's next step is?" Harry asks Draco.
"I don't think he trusts me yet." Draco admits. "Doesn't help that I refused to get his mark. Even if he did agree that it makes me a better spy."
Harry nods. "I don't like knowing he's out there and we're letting him sit."
"We talked about this." Hermione says. "As long as he's in hiding it's worth the risk to let him hide. At least until we can find the Horcruxes."
"Come on, let's all head home and go to bed." Neville says.
"Good idea." Hannah yawns.
"Oh, Hannah, almost forgot to tell you that the goblins have something that belongs to you." Harry says.
"I'll have to go collect it." Hannah says.