Disclaimer: Owning Harry Potter is JKR's job. Too much publicity.

I'm trying to stay as canon as possible, except for the book, and I'm trying to stay in character. This probably won't stay in character for long.

A/N Sorry this took so long to upload! I've had so much work and essays in school, but here you go!

As students slowly filed into the Great Hall for the opening feast, the usual air of chatting, laughter, and merriment was gone, and ever present were the whisperings, mutterings, and forlorn faces worn in the cloud. All of the staff was dressed in dark, serious colors, and two chairs were notably empty. The large golden throne, usually decorated by an intelligent, brave, headmaster lay cold, abandoned, and empty. The seat to the right of Minerva McGonnagal was however, occupied by a greasy potions master known by the name of Severus Snape. He wore a dark look, glancing up every now and then.

Most of the students were decidedly avoiding the topic of the recent attack in Hogwarts, and careful to not stray on any delicate topics, most were talking about innocent things, such as the house points, or the Quidditch cup results.

McGonnagall tapped her glass. "Attention, attention."

The entire room quieted down instantly. She continued. "This year, has been a year of ups, and downs. For those who are curious, as of now, the headmaster for next year will be Severus Snape."

At this sentence, chaos reigned in the great hall. Protests spanned prominently from the Gryffindor table, yelling and screaming Hufflepuffs, enraged Ravenclaws, even a few miffed Slytherins. McGonnagall cast a Sonorous charm.

"Attention, attention. This year has been hectic, to say the least, and most prominently featured, is the sad death of our beloved headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. Not only was he a great teacher, but a thinker, a creator, a friend, a brother. On a brighter note, I would like to announce the final standings for our house cup. The standings are as follows. Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tie, at five hundred and sixteen points each. Next, comes Slytherin, with five hundred and twenty points. And finally, I present the winning house, with six hundred and fifty three points, Gryffindor!"

She quieted down, as a wave of cheering overcame the red and gold clad tables. The opposing three led in polite applause. Clearing her throat, she began again.

"With that, allow us to begin the End of Year festivities!" She waved her wand, and the usual plates upon plates of food occur.

Albus Dumbledore was tired. More tired than his 150 years should have shown. He sealed his letters with a tap of his wand, and also carefully sealed a small stick, glowing, and thin. He placed it under several imperturbable charms, and a stasis charm. Summoning Fawkes, he scratched him under the chin. "Fawkes, you know where you must send these. Thank you." He handed the large letter to Fawkes, who disappeared in a large flash of flame. Sighing, he limped his way over to the sofa, and promptly fell asleep.

Hermione was sitting with Harry and Ron, talking about inconspicuous things, when the topic came to summer. Harry began.

"I've told you already, but you guys know what Dumbledore wanted me to do. He wanted me to find the Horcruxes, and destroy all of them. Now, I was planning to stay over the summer in Grimmauld Place, and go through the library, maybe research some things. You know, you guys are welcome to stay with me."

Hermione asked: "I'm coming, if that's ok with you. I've heard that the Black Library is almost older than Hogwarts itself, and contains just as many books as the Hogwarts Library. Besides, where else could we to find information about Horcruxes than from one of the most expansive libraries in the world?"

Ron was silently flipping through the book. He turned to a page, and examined it closer. "Guys, from what I've heard, these Horcruxes basically contain one seventh of Voldemort's soul, correct? I mean like, having a soul inside a container?"

Harry nodded in confirmation. Ron continued.

"I've found an interesting thing here that might help us." He showed the pages to Harry and Hermione, who grabbed the book and began to read.

"The Animo ritual is designed to eliminate soul fragments. If used on a person, it kills them instantly, but leaves their body unharmed. When used upon an object with a soul sealed inside of it, such as a Horcrux, or a Tenes Animulus, and after the optimal ritual time, both the object and the soul will be destroyed."

Hermione paused for a second. "Wow, this is a complex ritual. Half of the materials for the portion are dark or illegal, and the other half is almost impossible to find."

Harry sighed. "It might n-"

Hermione interrupted: "And, the ritual takes four hours where we have to chant a phrase, and takes another 8 hours to destroy the entire soul. It was originally designed to destroy possessed objects, and to counter dark magicks, and it's use expanded."

Harry sighed again, harder. "Well, there goes that idea."

At that point, a large, majestic, red and gold tinted bird arrived in a flash of flames. All three of them flinched, and were reaching for their wands when they realized it was Fawkes. Harry stood up and went over to him.

"Hey Fawkes, what's up?"Harry murmured. He noticed the bundle of papers in his talons, and willingly accepted them when they were handed to him. Fawkes gave Harry a deep, longing look, then vanished again, leaving no trace of him ever being here. Grumbling, Harry plopped down into a chair and examined the bunch of papers. The one on top read:

Harry,

Use these well. I believe Ms. Granger would do well with them. Also, on the day of your 17th birthday, I request that you go into Gringotts to ask about your inheritance.

-Wulfric

Hermione began: "Harry, I don't know if this Wulfric guy is all that safe. He seems to know a lot about us."

Harry shrugged: "I guess it's a little sketchy, but he hasn't tried to hurt us yet. I mean, if he was planning to hurt us, wouldn't he just charm the paper so that it would explode when we touch it?"

Hermione admitted that it was true.

Harry picked up the stack of papers, and rifled through them. Deeming nothing understandable, or of interest, he casually handed the stack of papers to Hermione.

Hermione shuffled the papers, and began to flip through, scanning quickly. Ron leaned over her right shoulder, as Harry looked on from his nearby vantage point.

Hermione's head suddenly shot up, as she began to rifle through the rest of the envelope. She triumphantly pulled out a glowing strand of material.

"What is that?" Both boys gazed at the glowing strand in wonder.

"If these notes are right," Hermione scanned the notes again, "This is a synthetic version of the core of an Elder wand."

Ron began to chuckle. "Hermione, the Elder wand doesn't exist."

Harry looked over. "What are you two talking about?

Ron scrunched up his eyebrows, apparently in thought, and said: "The Elder wand was in a story called The Three Brothers, I think it was something like death's wand."

Now it was Hermione's turn to chuckle. "Ron, Death has a wand as much as he can bring people back to life."

Ron stared at her and exclaimed: "Hermione, you've read it too? Do you remember it?"

Hermione sighed, and said: "I haven't heard the story Ron, and as much as I want to know, I won't ask. I bet we could find a copy in the library."

A few minutes later, they were in the library. It was completely empty, as they only had about an hour left until the train came. Hermione instantly sprang towards a few dusty bookcases, and after a few seconds, she spotted the book.

Plunking down into a large chair, she began to flip through the pages. Harry and Ron walked over, and took the chairs to either side. She began to read.

"There were once three brothers who were travelling along a lonely, winding road at twilight. In time, the brothers reached a river, too deep to wade through, and too dangerous to swim across. However, these brothers were learned in the magical arts, and so they simply waved their wands, and made a bridge appear across the treacherous water. They were halfway across it, when they found their path blocked by a hooded figure, and Death spoke to them. He was angry that he had been cheated out of three new victims, for travelers usually drowned in the river. But Death was cunning. He pretended to congratulate the three brothers upon their magic, and said that each had earned a prize for being clever enough to evade him.

"So, the oldest brother, who was a combative man, asked for a wand more powerful than any in existence. A wand that must always win battles for its owner. A wand worthy of a wizard who had conquered Death. So, Death had crossed to an Elder Tree on the banks of the river, fashioned a wand from a branch that had hung there, and gave it to the oldest brother.

"Then the second brother, who was an arrogant man, decided that he wanted to humiliate Death still further, and asked for the power to recall others from Death. So, Death picked up a stone from the riverbank and gave it to the second brother, and told him that the stone would have the power to bring back the dead.

"Finally, Death turned to the third brother. A humble man, he asked for something that would enable him to go forth from that place without being followed by Death. And so it was that Death reluctantly handed over his own Cloak of Invisibility.

"In due course, the brothers separated, each for his own destination. The first brother travelled for a week or more, and, reaching a distant village, sought out a fellow wizard, with whom he had a quarrel. Naturally with the Elder Wand as his weapon, he could not fail to win the duel that followed. Leaving his enemy dead upon the floor, the oldest brother proceeded to an inn, where he boasted of the powerful wand which he had snatched from Death himself and of how it made him invincible. That very night, another wizard crept upon the oldest brother as he lay wine-sodden upon his bed. The thief took the wand, and, for good measure, slit the oldest brother's throat. And so, Death took the first brother for his own.

"Meanwhile, the second brother journeyed to his own home, where he lived alone. Here, he took out the stone which had the power to recall the dead, and turned it thrice in his hand. To his amazement and delight, the figure of the girl he had once hoped to marry, before her untimely death, appeared at once before him. Yet she was sad and cold, separated from him as though by a veil. Though she had returned to the mortal world, she did not truly belong there, and suffered. Finally, the second brother, driven mad by hopeless longing, killed himself, so as to truly join her. And so, Death took the second brother for his own.

"But though Death searched for the third brother for many years, he was never able to find him. It was only when he had attained a great age that the youngest brother finally took of the Cloak of Invisibility, and gave it to his son. And then, he greeted Death as an old friend, went with him gladly, and, as equals, they departed this life."

Hermione finished with a clap of the book shutting, and turned to Ron.

"Obviously, this is a book of fairy tales. But, I'll do some more research over the summer about this."

Harry broke in. "About the summer, I was planning to stay at Grimmauld place. After all, it is mine legally now. If you want, you two can join me."

Hermione pondered for a few moments, then said: "I'll ask my parents. Does it have a library for studying?"

Harry answered: "I think so. Sirius did mention going to throw out cursed books once, so I assume there is a library somewhere."

Ron said: "I could ask my mum, and I guess she would agree, even though it's just three sixteen year olds staying there."

Harry thought for a moment, then said: "It's a plan, then."

Things get more action during and after summer.