Never Return

When morning arrived, Bernard left Grimmauld Place. Kreacher gave him breakfast and a box for lunch before he left. The first thing Bernard did was to go to Diagon Alley. He bought some sweets that he promised Tim. He even bought extras for Alfred. Bernard even bought some books for Tim. He knew Tim would like to learn more of the wizarding world and he already gave him about the American version. He was sure Tim would like to learn the British wizarding world too. Bernard bought a couple of snacks for himself and headed to Gringotts.

Then Bernard stopped at the Gringotts entrance. He glanced at his locator gem and saw it glow. It wasn't too bright, but it wasn't too dim. Which meant he was close to the horcrux. It will only shine brighter if he was close to a horcrux.

With a deep breath, Bernard went inside. The first thing Bernard saw were rows of desks and goblins doing their work. It was very similar to the Gringotts of America. He wasn't sure what other difference there was aside from different usage of money. When Bernard got to the front desk, he looked up. The goblin stopped what he was doing and looked at him. Licking his lips, Bernard cleared his throat.

"Good morning," Bernard greeted. "I am Curse-Breaker Bernard Dowd. I would like to gain permission to search of a vault that has a curse object."

The goblin nodded. "Ah yes. Let's talk in the back, Curse-Breaker Dowd-Potter. My name is Griphook."

"Yes sir."

With that, Bernard followed Griphook to the back. Bernard knew that any Gringotts around the world wouldn't mind curse-breakers, even the international ones asking to look into vaults for curse objects because it's their job. They are required to make sure there aren't any dangerous curse objects in any vaults if they are assigned to or the curse object they are assigned is connected to other curse objects. When a curse-breaker does get permission to enter a vault, the protection the vault has is lifted. If there was a curse-object in a vault, the goblins will deal with that themselves since the owner could get in trouble for it. For other authorities like aurors and ministers, they needed to get permission through a series of owls and rules that the bank wanted them to follow.

As soon as they got to the office, Griphook closed the door behind him. Bernard pretty much knew the routine in the back of his head. It was almost like second nature to him. He didn't mind though, since it was something he got used to.

"So, Curse-Breaker Dowd-Potter," Griphook said. "What brings you to Gringotts?"

"There is a curse created by Voldemort," Bernard explained. "It's a very dark one and I found out he made more than one of the same curse. I would like to search of the vaults. I do have a list of names that I think he entrusted his followers to keep hidden."

Griphook folded his hands. "I see. What do I get out of this, Curse-Breaker Dowd-Potter?"

Bernard smirked. "Two things, actually." he pulled out the real locket of Slytherin. "I have this and whatever the curse object is and after I removed the curse, you can have it. I have no intentions of keeping anything unless my boss told me to."

Griphook froze as he saw the locket in Bernard's hand. Bernard could tell right away that the goblin knew what he had was a real locket of Salazar Slytherin. He knew that goblins had a bargain whenever an international curse-breaker needs to go into a vault and getting a rare artifact from one of the Hogwart's houses is a rare one. 

"What is this curse that He-Who-Should-Not-Be-Named created?" Griphook asked.

"A horcrux," Bernard answered, bluntly.

Griphook's eyes widened. "I see. A very rare dark magic to do. I'm sure you had enough experience in the past."

"Tons of experiences, actually. I will give you the locket and the object after I'm done removing the curse."

Griphook pursed his lips. "Then you may look into the vaults. I will remove the protection barriers as well as our dragon. I would also like you to show one of our own curse-breakers how to destroy a horcrux if they ever come across it by chance."

"Thank you and I will, Griphook."

With that, Bernard followed Griphook out of his office. The goblin muttered something to the other goblin and walked away. As they got to one of the mine carts, Bernard saw a person who was a few years older than him with red hair and wearing a leather jacket. The redhead turned and his blue eyes widened when he saw Bernard. However, for Bernard, he knew who this was right away. This curse-breaker was famous in Egypt. Bernard had to admit, the redhead is handsome, but not as handsome as Tim, though.

"Curse-Breaker Weasley, this is Curse-Breaker Dowd-Potter," Griphook said.

Curse-Breaker Weasley nodded and held out his hand. "I'm William Weasley, but you can call me Bill. It's an honor to meet you."

Bernard smiled. "Likewise. My name is Bernard."

"Curse-Breaker Dowd-Potter will be looking for a horcrux," Griphook said. "He will be showing you how it's done."

Bill blinked. "We have a horcrux here?!"

Griphook nodded. "Curse-Breaker Dowd-Potter will explain everything. Now if you two excuse me, I have a bank to run."

With that Griphook left, leaving Bernard with Bill. It wasn't the first time Bernard had taught some people. He even taught Tim about what he did in his job and everything about magic, so it wasn't new for him. Although, Bernard did find it interesting that he would be working with someone who is a distant relative. Very distant through blood, but related none of the less.

"So I'm sure you know about horcruxes?" Bernard guessed.

Bill nodded. "I do."

"Can you tell me how one destroys a horcrux?"

"Either by a Killing Curse, basilisk venom, or Fiendfyre."

Bernard nodded. He had a feeling that the information was passed on curse-breaker to curse-breaker since horcruxes were very rare. Bernard knew it was best for his fellow curse-breakers, no matter which country they are from, knew the information since it would help them to destroy them. Besides, Voldemort might be the only person in the whole wizarding world to make so many.

"Yes," Bernard said. "but there are other ways too. Like purification, blood magic, or the person who created the horcrux."

Bill's eyebrows raised. "Huh, I never knew there were other ways."

Bernard shrugged. "I had to learn it the hard way, but it's a learning experienced. The best we curse-breakers have the knowledge, the best we get rid of those crazy people messing with magic."

"No, kidding. So what do we do first?"

"Aside from the obvious." Bernard explained. "I already used a potion to create a locator and transfigured it into a gem. So the only thing I need to do is to go from vault to vault to see if it glows."

Bill gasped. "I think I know which potion you made. It's the one I learned at Hogwarts. The one where the darker the red, the better to find magical object, and it will only locate the object if it's used by the same spell, right?"

Bernard smirked. "That's the one." he took out the gem around his neck. "Let's go."

"Lead the way."

Then the two walked. While they were walking, Bill guided Bernard around the tunnels and see if the gem glowed brightly enough where they could find the horcrux. Every vault they went to, the gem didn't glow brighter. Instead, it dimmed. The vaults they went to were people who Bernard thought to be followers of Voldemort. Some were confirmed, while others were rumors, but even though those were rumors, Bernard still wanted to see if their vault has the horcrux.

As they were walking and driving on the mine carts, Bernard and Bill shared their adventure stories. Bill told some of his mummy curse, which made Bernard think of that one mummy movie. Bernard had to admit, he was a bit jealous since he never been to Egypt and the magic there was a bit different, but still similar. When Bill told Bernard he knew Egyptian magic, Bernard was over the moon. He heard it was tough to learn because everything was in Arabic and Bernard doesn't even know Arabic. Bill told him that he learned Arabic on his own than using magic for it because he wanted to expand his knowledge than use magic to help with everything, which Bernard had to give him credit when credit was due. Most wizards wouldn't want to learn another language and would use magic for it. They don't like it that way because it makes them feel like a no-maj

Then when they got to the Crabbe vault, Bernard held up the gem, which didn't glow at all. Sighing, Bernard crossed his arms, grumbling a bit. He knew this was going to take a while and he didn't know how many vaults he had left to look. They weren't going in alphabetical order, because Bernard didn't labeled them correctly. He only labeled the wealthy vaults, the upper middle class vaults, the middle class vaults, and the poor vaults. So far, he and Bill were still on the wealthy vaults.

"Let's look at the Black vault," Bernard said. "There might be something there."

Bernard doubt it, but he knew he needed to try. He wasn't sure if Voldemort knew the real reason Uncle Regulus died, but he knew that if Voldemort was able to use Kreacher for his own benefits, it wouldn't surprised him that Voldemort would use Uncle Regulus's vault.

It only took a minute or two to get to the Black vault. Bernard held up the gem, but no light came out. However, Bernard still opened it. After all, by blood he can enter the vault, but isn't allowed to take anything unless the head of the main family approved, a.k.a Uncle Sirius. When the vault opened, Bernard blinked. All of the money was gone. Frowning, Bernard looked at Bill, who also looked confused. Bernard knew Grandma Dorea's side of the family was wealthy, but what happened to the money? Did Uncle Sirius took all of his money and left after he escaped from Azkaban? Bernard thought he wouldn't had more questions to ask Uncle Sirius one day, but this was pushing it.

"I never saw a vault this empty," Bill said.

"Me too," Bernard muttered. "Usually if someone of the Black family, by name dies, the money goes to their children. If they don't have children, the money goes to the main head of House Black."

It was common in the wizarding world, no matter which country you're from. That way money won't go to waste. Bernard knew Grandma Dorea only got part of her inheritance because of Arcturus, it wasn't as much as her older siblings, but it was enough to make sure she was comfortable. Bernard knew that since Grandpa Charlus is a Potter, his family, along with Harry's still get royalties for the skele-grow because they're related to the person who made it. So in a way, Bernard is wealthy for wizard standards, but not as wealthy as the noble houses.

"Which vault should we go next?" Bill asked.

"The last wealthy ones are the Malfoys and the Lestrange," Bernard answered.

"Which one do you want to go first?"

"Which vault is the closest?"

"Malfoy's."

Bernard sighed. "Let's get it over with."

Bernard knew a hundred percent that there was no horcrux in the Malfoy vault. From the rumors he heard as a child, the Malfoys were big Voldemort supporters. It wasn't really a surprised since wealthy wizarding families only cared about blood purity and do tons of incest, which grossed Bernard out. He knew his cousin, Nymphadora Tonks is a metamorphmagus. He heard from Grandma Dorea that it was one of the traits of the Black family, but because of incest, no one was never a metamorphamgus after that, until Andromeda Black married Edward Tonks. Of course Bernard knew how weird genetics were and he knew that his great-grandmother, Grandma Dorea's mother isn't related to the Black family, which was a good thing. How Bernard didn't get any cool genetic traits from the Black family baffles him.

When they got to the Malfoy vault, Bernard held the gem and when it didn't glow, he put it back on. He didn't even waited. He knew if it would glow if they were close to the horcrux. That meant the only wealthy vault left was the Lestrange. Bernard shivered as he thought of that crazy lady, Bellatrix Lestrange. As much as he was glad he never met her, but from what Grandma Dorea told him, she wasn't a good person and that was being generous of when his grandmother described her.

"Were you at the Quidditch World Cup?" Bill asked.

Bernard nodded. "Yeah, I was. I was with my family and my boyfriend. I was hoping to see my cousin here or at least ran into him, but that didn't happened of course. Dark Mark and all."

"Well, I hope you do."

Bernard sighed. "Me too. It's just that I hadn't scene Harry since he was a baby."

Bill blinked. "Harry...as in...?"

Bernard raised a brow. "No offense, Bill, but I thought my second last name would ring a bell."

Bill's eyes widened. "You're Harry's cousin?! Harry has another cousin?!"

Slowly, Bernard nodded. He couldn't help and noticed how Bill seemed to be familiar with Harry, or at least know of him. Bill seemed to know that Harry has a cousin, but not more than one. Bernard did found that odd, but since Uncle Sirius was in Azkaban for thirteen years and Harry was being raised by another person, the only cousin that Harry would know would be Dudley Dursley. Bernard hated that there was a possibility that Harry would have no clue who he and his family was, but Bernard possibly knew who was behind the whole thing.

"I am," Bernard said casually. "My mom is Charlotte Potter she's both cousins of James Potter and Sirius Black. She didn't change her last name after she married my dad, twice. He's a muggle. That's why the goblins would call me Dowd-Potter."

"I'm sorry, married twice?"

"Long story short, they got a divorce because of job differences. I was eleven at the time. My dad got remarried when I was thirteen. I didn't like my step-mom that much. Then on my fifth year my dad divorced my step-mom and a year later after he rekindled the love he has with my mom, they got remarried on my sixth year. They're still together to this day."

However that was the short version of the story. Bernard's father and his step-mom put so much pressure on him in no-maj school to get good grades and to be noticed by the teachers, but that never happened. It was mostly his step-mom, though. Bernard found out that his father only married his step-mom because his step-mom was having financial issues. Bernard couldn't take the pressure and lived with Charlotte. He still went to no-maj school and Charlotte never pressured him into doing well since she always told him as long as he can perform the magic the professors asked, he should be fine. Bernard's father didn't realized how miserable he was until he realized he was spending more time in the wizarding community than the no-maj community. Bernard's father divorced his step-mom and apologized to Bernard. After Bernard started living with his father again so he could go to no-maj school, Charlotte started visiting and his parents slowly rekindled their romance. It turned out they still love each other.

Despite everything that had happened, Bernard was only average when it comes to no-maj studies. He only got B's, C's, and at times, A's, but for wizarding studies, he was really good at it. He got all O's on his O.W.L.S. and N.E.W.T.S. His grades weren't too bad in Gotham Academy for no-maj standards, but the school he went to was full of wealthy people. Yes, the Dowd family was wealthy too, but more like lower wealthy than high society of wealth.

"Woah," Bill awed. "I had no idea. I thought it was just a coincidence that your last name is Potter. The only cousin Harry mentioned would be the muggles he lives with."

"The Dursleys?" Bernard guessed. "The ones who hated magic?"

"That's the one."

Bernard froze. He hated to be right. Why did Dumbledore made Bernard and his family believed Harry was being raised by Sirius? Why hide the fact that Sirius was in Azkaban? Why put him with the people who Aunt Lily and Uncle James specifically didn't want custody of Harry?! Bernard knew that the Dursleys were aware of him and his family. They don't like his dad because they think he's a freak for falling in love with a witch. However, since the Dursleys hated magic, why didn't they contact Bernard and his family? Would it make sense to give Harry a relative not only is a half-blood like him, but is also a magical relative? Bernard had so many questions, but he knew he had to wait. It's almost Friday and Dumbledore would be at his little Wizengamont meeting.

"To be fair," Bernard said. "Harry was raised by people who hated magic. I would be surprised if they also kept it from him. So, you know Harry, Bill?"

Bill nodded. "My little brother, Ron is friends with Harry...or at least not anymore. I don't know why, though. I just know they had a falling out. It's too bad, though. I really like Harry. He was like another brother. My mum and dad were shock about it."

Bernard smiled. "What was Harry like?"

Bill laughed. "Harry is a bit quiet. He likes to mind his own business, but aside from that, Harry is very kind. He can be a bit snarky, but the kid has a good heart and a nasty temper. He can be a bit too forgiving. Harry loves Quidditch, though. He's really good at it. He is the youngest seeker in the century! Got into the Gryffindor Quidditch team as a first year."

"Wait! What?!" Bernard exclaimed.

Bill nodded. "He did. I don't know much about the details because I'm always in Egypt, but from what Ron told me, he got into a scuffle with Malfoy."

At least that's normal, Bernard thought...well normal for him. it was a good thing that Harry didn't get any trouble like the basilisk incident. Even though Bernard didn't know the full details of that year, but he would like to hear it from Harry. However, the way Bill described what Harry was like...Bernard was like he got to hear it. Bernard couldn't help and reminisced how similar Harry and Aunt Lily was, but he knew Harry was his own person and there were differences between mother and son. Bernard remembered how Aunt Lily never forgave anyone unless they deserved it. She was very outspoken, has a terrifying temper, and smart. She loves to hang out with everyone, but also likes the quietness around her. She was technically an ambivert. Uncle James, on the other hand was an extreme extrovert. He was very loud and wouldn't shut up. His uncle did a lot of pranking too. From what Uncle James told him, he did a lot of pranking, but did went too far and became a bully. Uncle James didn't realized that until his fifth year and was ashamed of himself of what he had become and wanted change. However, Bernard was glad Harry got his Quidditch talent from Uncle James.

"Anything else?" Bernard asked.

"From the letters," Bill answered. "In Harry's first year, something happened with You-Know-You, the second year was a basilisk, and the third year, were the dementors. Also Ron was attack by a dog. I don't know much details. Ron and my parents wouldn't say much."

Bernard just stared at Bill with wide eyes. Why did something happen to Harry every year? The more he wanted answers, the worst it got! What if something happened this year? a thought came into his head. Bernard shook his head. No, that couldn't happened, right? Then Bernard remembered about the Tri-Wizard Tournament letter he read in the New York Ghost and how he knew it would be easy for someone to pass the age line.

Did something happened to Harry this year?

Bernard didn't know, but he knew that Friday wasn't too far away. He will get his answers. He just hoped that when he does get to Hogwarts, Harry would tell him everything that had happened because if everything Bill was telling him was true...Bernard wouldn't hesitate to sue Dumbledore. After all, Bernard has connections and he wouldn't hesitate to use these connections too. However, going against Dumbledore...it will be difficult. Bernard knew he'll need someone in the Ministry of Magic on his side and a really good solicitor.

"I did went to Hogwarts, though," Bill commented. "Dumbledore asked me to examined the Goblet of Fire."

"You did?" Bernard questioned. "Did you find anything?"

Bill nodded. "It was an adult who tampered with the Goblet of Fire. I found out Dumbledore used an age line for the goblet. Which is stupid because that's an easy way for a seventeen year old to put a student's name in."

"You use the spell to extract the magical signature and use a potion to identified the person, right?" Bernard asked. "If that's the case, the potion only takes a day to make and Dumbledore should've know who tampered with the goblet by now."

"I did," Bill answered. "I did find it strange that Dumbledore isn't letting the papers know. He seemed very tight lip when I was there. Also, isn't it weird that the students aren't saying anything too? Teens don't really keep anything quiet to their parents. Even on their letters. When Ron told me that he wasn't friends with Harry anymore, all he said it was because of how Harry wanted more fame. Which is bloody stupid because my whole family, Hermione, and I knew Harry hated his fame. I'm famous in Egypt and get bombarded all the time, but even I hate it. I'm glad it only Egypt, though. Ron didn't say anything else, though."

"Me too. It gets really annoying. Who's Hermione?"

"Hermione Granger. She's a muggle-born and Harry's friend...actually, best friend now, since Ron left the trio, but she's great!"

Bernard couldn't help and smile. He was glad Harry has a friend. Although, he felt bad that Harry lost a friend because of his fame. He hoped that when he does see Harry again, he'll ask him to meet Tim and his family. Bernard was sure that Harry would get alone with them. Damian, though...Bernard wasn't sure. They probably won't get along. However, Bernard would have to make sure that Bruce won't adopt Harry. After all, Harry has black hair and green eyes. Bernard was glad he dyed his hair when he was young and was happy when he turned seventeen. Using a simple nonpermanent transfiguration spell, Bernard always changed his hair color. It doesn't last long, but he can change it whenever he wanted. Besides, he had a feeling that if Bruce saw him with his original hair color, he would adopt him too.

"Do you think Dumbledore might be monitoring those letters?" Bernard asked.

Bill shrugged. "Not sure, but considering everything that had happened, I think so. I think someone got their name in the goblet without their consent."

The thought of that gave Bernard a shudder. He would hate to be that person who got into the tournament without his consent. He hoped Harry was fine at Hogwarts. Maybe after he gets rid of the horcrux in Hogwarts, he can ask Harry about it. Teens at Harry's age would make tons of rumors and stuff. Besides, Bernard was sure Harry knew what happened when the three champions was announced. After all, Bernard need to make sure he got all of his answers before he leaves Hogwarts anyway.

"I do have pictures," Bill said.

Before Bill could say anything, he took out a couple of photos from his robe pocket and handed it to him. Bernard took the picture and his eyes softened. One photo was Harry and the Weasleys in front of the tent of the Wizard World Cup and the other was at the Weasley's home. Harry still looked malnourished and small for his age. However, he did looked lively and happy without a care in the world. He was standing next to another redhead around his age, probably Ron and the other behind him was a bushy haired girl, who Bernard guessed that was Hermione. Harry didn't had tape on his glasses anymore, but his clothes were still too big on him.

"Thanks, Bill," Bernard handed the pictures back to him.

"Anytime," Bill grinned.

When Bill and Bernard got the Lestrange vault, Bernard held up the gem. It glowed brightly. Bernard's eyes widened. The horcrux was in here? Why the Lestrange vault? Then Bernard remembered Uncle Sirius telling him how Bellatrix was a huge Voldemort supporter and was a Death Eater too. How many Death Eaters in the Black Family side, Bernard doesn't know. He'll probably have to count the Malfoy's since he's related to them.

"Let's go," Bernard said.

Then the two went inside. Bernard gasped as he saw so much money in the vault. He knew the Lestrange's were wealthy, but this was a lot of money. This would rival the Black Family money. Bill and Bernard lit their wands as they look around. Bernard held out the gem, waiting to see if it would glow any brighter. When Bernard got to the mountain of money and treasures, he looked up and looked at the gem. He noticed the gem was glowing a bit brighter.

"I think it's up there," Bill pointed.

With that the two climbed. Bernard was so glad that Griphook was able to get rid of the curses in this vault. A perk of being a curse-breaker. He would hate to be that person who had to deal with this vault alone. Imagine trying to break into the Lestrange vault and you get cursed. That would be something.

Once Bernard got to the cup, he looked down, and stared at it. He held the gem to the cup and saw it was glowing very brightly, enough to blind him. The cup was in a golden yellow color and it had the Hufflepuff symbol crest. Bernard frowned. Was this...the cup of Helga Hufflepuff? How and why did Voldemort had this? This is a rare artifact.

Bernard checked for any curses that was on the cup. Luckily, there weren't any curses on the cup. Instead, he felt the same familiarity of the magic coming from the horcrux. From what Bernard knew, the precious artifacts of the four founders of Hogwarts was lost. It was common knowledge that the sword of Gryffindor was in Hogwarts, but the rest of the items were lost or passed down to the successors. Bernard wasn't sure how Voldemort obtained the cup, but the only way he did it was because he murdered someone for it.

"Bill!" Bernard called out. "I found it!"

Bill turned and gaped. "Is that...the Cup of Helga Hufflepuff?"

"It is. Do you know a place where we can get rid of the horcrux?"

"I do. Follow me."

Then the two hurried out of the vault. Bernard and Bill took the mine carts and drove it. When they finally for to their destination, Bill lead him to a room that was similar to Griphook's office. Bernard guessed this was the place where they would draw blood and look at people's ancestry and other documents that could be provided.

"Do you have any plans to get rid of it?" Bill asked.

Bernard scoffed. "Of course I do. Accio, vial!" then a vial with purple liquid came out. "I would usually do some purification or use blood magic, but I'm being a bit lazy today, so we can use this."

Bill frowned. "Is that...basilisk venom?"

"The one and only."

"Merlin, how did you got a hold of that?"

"I have ways."

Bill just gave him a look as if Bernard had run an underground black market just to get basilisk venom. If course Bernard knew how he got the venom. It was pretty simple...there were people in Bernard's life that owed him and he wanted basilisk venom. So they got it for him.

Then Bernard set the cup down. In the corner of his eyes, Bernard could see Bill was making a runic circle to trap the magical backlash if there was any. Bill activated the runic spells and Bernard could see a faint reflection of the barrier. Bernard gave Bill a quick nod, which the curse-breaker nodded back. With a deep breath, the two curse-breakers walked over to the cup. Bernard opened the bottle of basilisk venom. Licking his lips, Bernard held out the vial. Bernard and Bill use their wands to take out an extremely tiny drop of the venom as they levitate it onto the cup. Taking a few steps back, Bernard saw the cup was shaking as black smoke started to spew out. Bill gasped and the two pointed their wands at the cup.

The smoke screeched in parsaltounge as the smoke was in a form of a snake-like man. The smoke vanished. Bernard and Bill looked at each other and back at the cup. The two walked over to the cup and performed some spells to see if it was truly gone.

"It's gone," Bernard finally said. "It's only an artifact now. Tell Griphook we're done."

Bill nodded. "Expecto Patronum!" a silver pine marten appeared before them. "Bring Griphook here. The curse is gone."

The pine marten nodded and ran through the door, disappearing. It didn't took long for Griphook to get here. The goblin's eyes widened when he saw the cup. Bernard took out the locket, handing it to him.

"Here's the locket," Bernard said. "I use basilisk venom to get rid of the horcrux. I'm sure you have ways to get rid of the venom."

Griphook nodded. "I do. Is this the only horcrux in this bank?"

"Yes. The others are in other places, but I'll handle that."

"Then good luck to you, Curse-Breaker Dowd-Potter. Since you gave me two precious artifacts, what would you like to have in return?"

Bernard was going to refuse. He knew that goblins always want to do something if they get something out of it in the end. However, since Griphook did have two Hogwarts artifacts, it made sense that Bernard should have something in return than just destroying a horcrux. Since Friday was soon approaching, he didn't want to enter Hogwarts without permission. However, he had to deal with Dumbledore (if he does run into him) and explain why he was in the school.

"There is a horcrux in Hogwarts," Bernard said. "I would like to get permission from Dumbledore, but knowing him, he wouldn't let me. Is there a way you can send an owl of my arrival without Dumbledore knowing?"

Griphook smirked. "Actually, I do. Minvera McGonagall, the Deputy Headmistress, I'll sent her a private letter. I'll only let her know that a curse-breaker is in a search of a cursed object and will be here when Dumbledore leaves for the Wizengamont meeting. I'll even make sure she'll be tight lip about it. She'll be able to meet you when you're done. How does that sound?"

"That sounds great!"

With a nod, Griphook turned to Bill. "Curse-Breaker Weasley, please escort Curse-Breaker Dowd-Potter out. I'm sure he has other things to do."

Bill nodded. "Yes, Griphook."

At once, Bill did as he was told and escorted Bernard out of the room and through the bank. Bernard knew he needed to prepare to get the ring at the Gaunt Shack tonight, specifically, pass midnight. It was the only specific location that is guarded and has some curses. Which one, Bernard didn't know, so it was best to prepare and get a few hours of sleep. When they got out of Gringotts, Bill turned to him and smiled.

"It was nice working with you," Bill said. "I learned a lot."

Bernard smiled. "No problem. It's a learning experienced when you have to deal with horcruxes. So are you going back to Egypt soon?"

Bill shook his head. "No, I asked for a some assignments here. I want to take a desk job here too, but I'm not sure if it's the right choice. I love Egypt, but I wanted to be closer to my family."

"Ah, I see," Bernard nodded. "Well, all I could say is that you decide what feels right. Try out the desk job and see if it's for your liking. If not go to Egypt or other places in the world. If you're working full time, then you have twenty curse-breaking assignments. If you're doing part time, then they gave you ten assignments. Try those out too. Don't be like me. I'm doing fifty curse-breaking assignments."

Bill looked at him as if he was insane. Yes, Bernard knew he was doing too much curse-breaking assignments and it's practically almost working overtime, but Rulock didn't mind...although he was a bit concern, but Bernard did got all of his assignments done before the end of the year, every time, so Rulock wasn't complaining. Besides, Bernard remembered when he told Tim about that detailed, he thought Bernard was crazy enough to take that many clients.

"I'll keep that in mind," then Bill gasp. "We should keep contact, if you want to."

Bernard chuckled. "I don't mind. I'll let you know when I'm in town. Besides, I'm planning to take my boyfriend here anyway. He's a muggle and he enjoys learning about the wizarding world. He already knows about the American wizarding community. He'll be over the moon to learn about the British one."

"Then I'll be the best tour guide he has. I'll probably bring my dad too. He loves everything muggle! He thinks they're fascinating. I did tried to explain some things to him, but I think it's best if he talks to anyone with muggle relations."

"Those two will probably get along."

Bernard knew that some people in the wizarding community weren't up to date with the no-maj trends. Even when dating a no-maj. No-maj borns, half-bloods, and anyone who is no-maj raised don't need to worry about trying to blend in with the no-majes because they already knew how. Of course wizards would learn this in school in no-maj studies or their jobs. From what Bernard was told when his mother, Charlotte was in Hogwarts, she told him that the muggle studies class wasn't up to date with the current no-majes and had to get help from her no-maj born friends. Even when she dated dad too. Bernard knew in Ilvermorny, they're updated on the no-maj trends because the professor is a no-maj and has a no-maj born sibling. Actually, now he thought about it, every wizarding school he visited all of their no-maj professors are no-majes. Hogwarts was the only school where they don't have a no-maj as their professor.

However for curse-breakers, they needed to keep update on no-maj trends and find new ways to pass as a nonmagical person. Anyone who is a half-blood and a no-maj born had no problem since they're part of the society. Anyone who was wizard-raised would had to learn about the no-maj society in school. If someone who is wizard-raised wanted to be a curse-breaker, even if they already did took no-maj classes, the goblins still wanted to prepare their curse-breakers. It was the only thing goblins would train curse-breakers in. Even if the wizard is a  half-blood and a no-maj, they're still being trained on the no-maj society just in case.

"Anyway, it was nice meeting you, Bill," Bernard said. "I'll owl you soon!"

"Yeah, me too!" Bill smiled.

Then Bernard apparated. It didn't took him long to get to Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. Bernard smiled and went inside. It was nice to get another curse-breaker friend. Of course Bernard was still in contact with his friends from Ilvermorny, but his friends has their own lives. They're either busy with having their own families or jobs. Besides, Bernard does meet up with them at least three times a month. Of course he owls them too and sometimes use no-maj technology because it's easier.

Bernard looked at the clock and saw it was only one in the afternoon. That meant he has time to eat his lunch and get some sleep until then. Bernard went into the kitchen and saw Kreacher preparing for tonight's dinner. Kreacher turned and despite the house elf's old age, Bernard could see his eyes lit up with life.

"Master Bernard, welcome home!" Kreacher greeted. "Did anything went well?"

Bernard nodded. "It did. I thought I was going to be there longer, but I have time to have lunch here. Please sit and eat with me, Kreacher."

Right away, Kreacher got his plate out of the fridge and sat across from Bernard. Opening his lunch box, Bernard use a heating charm and warmed up their food. As they ate, Bernard couldn't help and wondered why every time he finds out more about Harry, the more concern he got. it's like as if trouble was finding him and Dumbledore wasn't doing anything about it. It worried him that if he find out more, the worst it got.

"What will Master Bernard do?" Kreacher asked.

"I'll need to hunt the other three horcruxes here," Bernard answered. "The last one...it's somewhere in Gotham. That's where I live."

"Will Kreacher stay here?"

Bernard smiled. "If you want to. I don't want to force you to be in a different environment. I want you to be comfortable, Kreacher."

Kreacher nodded. "Kreacher would like to follow Master Bernard to Gotham. Kreacher knows how to hide if anything happens."

"Then, I'll take you with me. I do have two homes. One where I live with my parents and my mansion. I don't mind which one you stayed at. It's for you to decide which one you feel comfortable with. Also if you do feel homesick, let me know and we can visit Grimmauld Place."

Kreacher sniffed as tears formed in his eyes. "Thank you, Master Bernard."

Bernard leaned over and patted Kreacher's head. "You're family Kreacher, not just a servant. I want to make sure you are comfortable with the arrangements."

Then the two continued to eat their lunch. Bernard had to admit. He never thought Kreacher would get this emotional. Bernard was thinking to use Grimmauld Place as a holiday house for now. He wasn't sure if he needed it for anything else. Besides, if Harry was really endangered, Bernard would use his own mansion as a safehouse and an HQ. Using Grimmauld Place would be too obvious because Uncle Sirius is Harry's godfather. Sure, not everyone knows, but from the resistant side that Uncle James and Aunt Lily were from...it was obvious. Also the Malfoys and the Lestrange would probably know and they would know about Grimmauld Place. It was best to use Bernard's home instead. From what his mother and Uncle Sirius told him, the Malfoys and the Lestranges are aware of him, but don't know who he is by name. Bernard wouldn't be surprised if they knew who he is now, since his name was always in the papers.

When Bernard and Kreacher finished their lunch, the two did the dishes. However, Kreacher did tried to hide his displeasure that Bernard was helping him with the dishes, but Bernard would have to make sure that Kreacher would get used to it because when he does live with him. After all, Bernard will be helping around the house.

"Kreacher, I'm going to take a Sleeping Draught," Bernard said. "Wake me up somewhere around ten or eleven. You can prepare dinner however you like."

Kreacher nodded. "What does Master Bernard want Kreacher to do?"

Bernard glanced around. He didn't realized that Grimmauld Place was beginning to look clean. Now he thought about it, Uncle Regulus's room was clean. The kitchen was clean and even the living room. Wow, he didn't even noticed.

"Not sure," Bernard sniffed. "My allergies are acting up for some reason. It's probably the dusk."

"Kreacher will take care of it!"

Before Bernard could say anything else, Kreacher ran into the halls. Bernard chuckled and shook his head. It was a little white lie, but it wouldn't cause any harm. Besides, this house needed some cleaning anyway. As much as Bernard would love to help Kreacher clean, but he has a curse-breaking job to do. Besides, he couldn't wait to Kreacher to meet Tim. Hopefully, the two would get along. Also he just hoped that Tim wouldn't use Kreacher to make him coffee all the time.

As Bernard got to Uncle Regulus's room, he changed into his pajamas. Bernard waved his wand and the bottle of a Sleeping Draught was in his hands. With that, Bernard drank the potion. He made sure he drank enough where he won't overslept. After he drank the potion, Bernard yawned and laid on the bed and closed his eyes.