Chapter 1657 - Ch: 41-43

Chapter 41: Black Dog

"Richard, grab the camera!" Helen whispered urgently.

"What's so urgent?" Richard asked as he handed her the camera. It was early morning and they were packing to head back to England.

"Look at them," Helen beamed.

On the couch were Harry and Hermione still in the same spot they fell asleep the previous night.

"Shouldn't I be bothered by this?" Richard asked. "My daughter sleeping with a boy."

"She fell asleep on him, she's not sleeping with him," Helen said. "Harry's far too honorable to try anything."

"All the same, I'll still have a conversation."

"You can be a parent later," Helen said. "For now, I want to take a photo of this!"

Helen's heart warmed as she snapped the photo, once again faced with the harsh reality that her baby girl was growing rapidly. Yet for all her growing, it still offered incredible moments like this one.

Slowly she approached the kids and shook them awake.

"Wazzamatter?" Harry's sleep-addled brain asked.

"It's morning and we're about to head out to head home," Helen whispered.

Hermione's eyes shot open and she shot up. A little embarrassed at where she fell asleep, she also noticed just how restful the sleep was.

"Merlin's pants!" She exclaimed. "I haven't even packed and I need to shower and..."

Dobby popped in.

"If Miss Hermione will pardon," Dobby squeaked. "Dobby noticed she and Master Harry."

"Dobby," Harry cut in. "Just Harry, remember?"

"Dobby noticed Miss Hermione and Just Harry had not packed," Dobby smiled at his joke. "So Dobby packed for them, just in case."

"Thank you Dobby," Hermione thanked the elf and, to the surprise of everyone, kissed him on the top of the head. That was when they discovered that house elves can and do blush. "I'm going to go shower."

Without any further comment, Hermione skipped toward her room, leaving Harry behind. Helen laughed and followed her daughter.

"Did you sleep well?" Richard asked as he approached.

"Listen," Harry put up his hands to defend himself. "I didn't intend for Hermione and I to fall asleep together. She just fell asleep and I couldn't move her. I'm sorry if it seemed improper."

"Relax. I'll admit I wasn't the most pleased but I get it. However, I do want to stress this was a one-time thing. Your relationship is new and that's great. It's an exciting time for both of you, I'm sure. However, there is a danger to pushing things too far, too fast. Let your relationship grow, keep the core elements of what made you such good friends and build off that.

"Helen and I were once in much the same place as you both are now and we made sure to have our core tenants be honesty, communication and trust. Anything we have is built upon that and that is the foundation from which we grow.

"I like you kid and I'd like for you and Hermione to work but a relationship is just that: work. People won't see the work you put in but they will see the work payoff. Now go get cleaned up, we'll be leaving within the hour."

"Did you have a good talk?" Helen asked Richard as she walked by Harry.

"It's weird, parenting to the boy who is dating our daughter. Did you talk with Hermione?"

"Yes. She's embarrassed but also partly pleased. She's happy with the relationship and with the development but her head isn't going to let her heart lead the way here, that's just not how she is. That doesn't mean a big part of her didn't enjoy waking up next to him."

"As long as they're being safe, in all facets..." Richard let the end of that statement hang.

As sad as it was to end vacation, Harry was excited to get back. They still had their summer assignments to complete and review, Hermione wanted to work more on their occlumency and, with the help of Dobby, they could quickly access any book that they needed for the upcoming year. Settled on the flight, Hermione relished the opportunity to hold his hand to help settle her nerves.

Before they knew it, they were on the final approach to Heathrow. After they deplaned, as Helen hailed a cab, Harry mused that even with the sunny weather, it just wasn't the same as Nice. It wasn't long after that that a tired but refreshed group of four traipsed over the threshold of their house.

There's no place like home, Hermione said inside her head, subconsciously clicking her heels together as she said it.

Once they were settled at home, Harry pulled out his Occlumency book that Professor McGonagall had given them.

In it, it talked about meditating every night to find your mental center and to bring your magical core in line with it. Most wizards have a minor disconnect between their brain and their magical core. This is the opening that a Legilimens uses to enter the mind and extract information. By meditating and bringing both into harmony with one another, you could begin to build defenses. Ever since Christmas, Harry and Hermione had been meditating and they felt ready to start building their defenses.

"Are you ready?" Harry asked. It was morning, the Grangers were off to work, leaving the couple with a quiet house within which to begin the process. They were sitting cross-legged in the main room, facing one another, making sure everything was properly aligned.

"I think so," Hermione's eyes hardened whenever she was focusing on a new spell. On three, they closed their eyes. Harry could feel his core in its proper alignment and he started to build. It started simple with a wire frame and then he laid metal plates over it. He knew the structure he wanted but the key was the detail. Layer upon layer, he added more detail until finally he felt the design was perfect. Walking through the space, he started filling his mindspace with all his information. Every subject had its own area and you had know how to get to the area. Each area had its own access code and a failure to provide the code pushed the intruder back to the beginning.

"How are you doing?" Hermione's voice cut through his meditation. "Are you ready for me to test?"

One section on the book outlined the way to perform Legilimency to allow someone to test another's mindscape. Typical for Hermione, she had mastered that one too, or at least she felt that she had. Harry was learning as well but he felt a little block keeping him from doing it properly. Green met amber as they both opened their eyes.

"1, 2, 3, Legilimens" Hermione said. She had a sensation of falling and found herself on a high-tech circular platform, with Harry standing next to her. "Really, Harry? The Enterprise?"

"Enterprise-D, actually," Harry said with a satisfied smile. "I figured it was the best idea. How many wizards know A) popular culture and B) technology?"

"Where are we specifically?"

"Transporter room. That's where everyone enters. I'm actually working on making someone start outside the ship, forcing them to get through the shields before boarding the ship itself. From there you have to navigate the ship to find the information you want. Every part of the ship is devoted to a different subject. It's nice, actually. I feel I have better recall on memories and facts."

He led her passed the brig. Walking past the door, it opened for her. In a shock, Hermione realized this was a carbon copy of Privet Drive.

"This is where all my worst memories go," Harry said. "It opens for you because I trust you, otherwise you'll need a code."

"Impressive," Hermione really was shocked and amazed at his ingenuity and detail. "Well constructed, good defenses and wizards won't even know how to navigate it."

"What is your mindscape?" Harry inquired.

"It's a library," Hermione said. "But the books don't have titles and there's a cipher on each subject that you have to know the keyword to decode it. For more sensitive information, you have to enter through a door that's locked and only I know where the keys are placed. It's also a disguised labyrinth that the person won't realize they're lost until they're in the middle."

"Typical you," Harry laughed. "You'll let them in and let them move around to get lost."

"Whereas you will test people every step of the way, waiting for them to fail and get sent back to the beginning. As you said: typical."

For Harry, summer was still an adjustment. He had all this free time but he felt he should be working. He traded letters with Neville, Greg, Vinny, Daphne and Tracey, all of whom seemed to be having interesting summers. Daphne in particular wanted to meet to discuss something from her father, while Vinny's responses were disturbingly short. He wanted to reach out to Luna but she said she would be out of the country. Harry still felt like there was more that he needed to be doing. He tended the garden, tidied up his room but years of being worked to the bone made him restless when he had nothing to do.

The first week they were back from vacation, Harry got into a friendly but heated three-way argument.

"Harry cannot be cooking," Dobby crossed his arms. "He does so much, has done so much. Dobby cannot bear to see him take more on."

"You aren't expected to cook, Harry," Helen admonished with her hands on her hips. "Don't think you have to do."

"But I want to cook!" Harry pleaded. "It was the one chore I liked. I feel useless here, honestly."

Helen's face softened but Dobby's stance didn't.

"It is Dobby's job to cook," the elf stood resolute.

"You're already cleaning the house, doing the laundry on top of grabbing books for Hermione and me," Harry argued. "I don't want you to overexert yourself, my friend."

"It is Dobby's pleasure to serve his friend," Dobby emphasized that last word. "How Dobby can ever do that, Dobby will."

"But that doesn't mean you have to do it all the time," Helen saw an avenue for resolution and took it. "What if we took turns cooking? That way each of us gets to do something we like for the people we love?"

"That... seems fair," Harry accepted. "Would that be amenable, Dobby? And when I am cooking, you can help me prepare?"

"That would work," Dobby offered his hand for Harry take. Harry took it and Helen laid her hand on top.

"Now that that's settled," Hermione rolled her eyes. "Can we move on to cooking dinner? I'm starting to get hungry."

"Yes Miss Hermione," Dobby nodded and started popping around the kitchen.

That settled, Harry fell into a daily routine with Hermione. Every afternoon, he and Hermione would walk hand-in-hand to the park by the house. With Tonks disguised and watching over them, they'd lay by a tree and read until it got too warm. After a few walks, they noticed a shaggy black dog wandering around the park. Harry paid him no mind until the dog snuck up on him as he was reading and licked his face.

"Oi!" Harry tried to push the dog away but the dog was stronger than he looked. Hermione looked up from her book and laughed at Harry's predicament. "Geroff me!"

Harry finally pushed the hound away but that just seemed to communicate that he wanted to play. The dog crouched down and mimicked a pouncing pose, his tail wagging.

"Oh are you lonely, boy?" Harry asked. "Fine. Go fetch!"

Harry picked up a stick and played fetch with the dog until the dog got tired and decided to lay next to Harry. Harry returned to reading, absent mindedly rubbing the dog's ears. Looking over, Hermione basked in the image.

"You're such a softie," she teased him. "And it's just so super adorable."

She leaned in to kiss him. As would happen every time, their kiss deepened and fireworks went off in her brain. Next thing she knew the dog gave a booming bark. Opening her eyes, she saw the dog wagging his tail.

"Seems fluffy here approves," Harry said as both of them started to laugh. Hermione dropped her head onto his chest, laughing at the ridiculousness of a dog approving of their relationship.

"That's good," Hermione said. "Though we should probably not call him Fluffy."

"Good point," Harry hesitated in thought. "How about we name him after one of your favorite characters growing up, why don't we call him Paddy?"

"Would you like that?" Hermione cooed at the dog. "Do you like Paddy?"

Wagging his tail, the newly-minted Paddy took to the idea.

"It's nice to meet you, Paddy," Harry held out his hand and Paddy held up his paw for Harry to shake it. "Maybe with someone big and strong like you, Sirius Black will think twice about coming near."

Paddy whined and laid down with his paws over his head.

"It's okay," Harry hugged the dog and scratched his ears. "He's not going to come around here. We'll be safe, I promise."

As they stood to walk home, Paddy followed them.

"Sorry, Paddy," Hermione said. "My parents don't like the idea of pets. I've been asking for years to get a cat. After Tybalt, I've got them at least considering the idea. I doubt they'd be keen on a stray dog invading their home."

She pat him on the head and rubbed behind his ears.

"We'll be back tomorrow," Hermione reassured him.

"And when we do," Harry added, noticing the malnourishment of the dog. "We'll bring you some leftovers. You're a little thin for my liking, Paddy. We'll see you tomorrow."

True to their word, they returned every day with a little food. Though he wasn't their dog, he became a constant companion in the park.

They only missed a single day at the end of July when Harry and Neville threw a joint birthday party. Keeping it small for both security and space, the party was a small one. Susan came with Amelia and they had brought Hannah along with them, a request by Neville. Lavender was also able to come, although Colin and Parvati were unable to attend. Luna was still out of town, as were Daphne and Tracey. Due to the suspect allegiances of their fathers, Harry opted not to send an invite to Greg and Vinny. Surprisingly, everyone looked thoroughly muggle in their dress, though Augusta still wore the stuffed vulture hat.

With the permission of the adults, the kids were all taken to an amusement park. Taking turns, Amelia, Neville's Gran, Tonks and Dobby apparated everyone to a safe point near the park.

"Are you okay?" Amelia asked Harry after apparating him and Hermione to the amusement park.

"Don't think I enjoyed that," Harry said. "I still feel like my intestines are squeezed together."

"Nobody likes it at first," Amelia said. "But they get used to it over time. There's really no safer way to travel once you learn how."

Once they were all safely gathered, the group exited the apparition point and made their way into the park.

"Is this safe?" Augusta asked as she looked up at the monstrosity that was the roller coaster, its wood frame rattling as the trains sped a host of screaming humans along the track.

"Perfectly safe, Augusta," Helen said. "Do you want to ride it?"

Augusta shook her head violently.

"I don't think so. I'll just sit on the bench over there."

"I'll join you," Hermione moved to follow but found herself held back by Harry.

"Oh no," Harry said with a smile. "You're coming with me."

"But..." Hermione gestured between the wooden monolith and the perfectly safe bench.

"Please?" Harry's eyes were pleading. He held out his hand. "Do you trust me?"

Hermione looked at him skeptically. He asked again.

"Do you trust me?"

"Leave it to you to quote Aladdin," Hermione huffed. "Okay, fine. But you owe me."

"Oh that looks fun!" Susan shrieked. "Let's go!"

Susan and Hannah pulled a thoroughly reluctant Neville with her. They wound their way through the queue and were astonished when I blonde head of hair was already in line.

"Took you long enough," Lavender joked. "I thought I'd have to ride this by myself."

"Not in your life," Harry smiled gleefully. As the line moved closer and closer to the loading house, Hermione started to shake in nervousness and, if she was being honest, a little bit of excitement too.

Harry saw her shaking and decided to grab her hand and pull her in closer, giving her cheek a quick kiss, as he often did to calm her down.

"Wait!" Lavender's voice cut through. "Are you two dating?"

Harry groaned as he had completely forgotten their audience in favor calming Hermione down.

"Yes," Hermione said, trying to sound sheepish even with a smile that was anything but. Lavender clapped her hands and screamed.

"I knew it!" She squealed. "Oh I was hoping he would wise up sooner than later. You're so, soooo cute together!"

"Congratulations," Susan's forced reply came.

"I'm sorry, Susan," Hermione reached toward the young redhead. "We wanted to tell you but someone obviously forgot."

"It's okay," Susan said as she stepped back from Hermione's attempt at physical contact. "I can't say I didn't have a hope but the two of you have a chemistry that's undeniable. I'll get over it, with a little time."

"So how did it happen?" Lavender's curious, gossipy nature couldn't be denied. Hermione looked to Harry who nodded. At his permission, she told them about their trip to Paris and how they almost kissed before finally admitting their feelings. "So your first kiss was in Paris? Oh girl that's so romantic!"

"Well done, mate," Neville clapped a blushing Harry on the shoulder. The girls were deep in conversation so they didn't hear. "Do you have any tips for the rest of us mortals?"

"Just be honest with how you feel and take your shot," Harry said, looking from Neville to Hannah. "It's never as perfect as it sounds but you'll remember it the rest of your life."

"Well not all of us can take the girl to France," Neville ribbed Harry. "But I'm sure I'll find something."

"But this is something we'd like to keep secret," Hermione's voice cut through. "Harry gets enough attention for his unfortunate celebrity. We'd like to enjoy being a couple without everyone butting in to give us their opinion."

"Can I at least tell Parvati?" Lavender pouted slightly, her blue eyes trying their best to be pleading. "We've been wondering when you would get together."

"Yes, you can tell Parvati," Hermione said. "We'll probably tell Luna and that's the extent of it."

"We would tell Greg, Vinny, Daphne and Tracey but we can't risk Malfoy finding out," Harry said.

They were so engrossed in their conversation, they never realized they were almost to the front of the line. They all divided into rows for the coaster. Since it was promised to be the milder ride, they chose to ride in the middle versus the front or the back. Neville and Hannah were the most forward with Harry and Hermione the row behind them. Lavender hooked her arm into Susan's and pulled her into the row with her. Harry looked around the loading station and noticed that in line behind them were Helen and Richard, as well as Tonks and...

"Auntie Amelia?" Susan asked, aghast at seeing her guardian right behind the Grangers.

"What?" Amelia gave her niece a rare smile. "You don't think your old aunt can handle it?"

"That's not... no," Susan turned away in embarrassment, prompting laughter to ring from the rest of the group.

The train rolled into the station, looking a little like a string of red bobsleds hooked to one another. Harry guided Hermione onto the ride. Hermione sat down with Harry and brought the seat belt around, cinching it as tight as possible. While she did that, Harry pulled down the padded lap bar.

"We're safe, Hermione," Harry took her hand once again to calm her breathing. The park workers came around to inspect every row and before they knew it, the train was departing the station, rolling around a bend before the chain lift took them up the hill. Harry looked out across the horizon as the coaster reached the apex.

"Look, Hermione!" Harry pointed to something but Hermione could only see her feet at the moment. "Here we goooo!"

Hermione screamed as the coaster dropped down the first hill before banking up and over the next. The train rocked and rumbled across the track and Hermione continued to scream, though what was initially screams of terror morphed in shouts of glee. Behind him, Harry could hear Lavender giggling, Richard laughing and, most amazing of all, he heard Amelia whooping through every banked turn while Tonks laughed her heart out. Winding its way through the last turns, the brakes slowed the coaster before rolling the train harmlessly into the station.

"What'd you think?" Harry tried to stifle his laughter as Hermione's hair was a wind-blown mess.

"That was... fun!" Hermione said as they stood up from the coaster. She sounded like she surprised herself with her answer. "Not my favorite thing but I liked it!"

"Atta girl!" Richard hugged his daughter. "I think your mum even had fun."

"Yeah but look at Tonks!" Helen called attention to the Metamorph whose hair was snow white and sticking out in all directions, making her look like a mad scientist. Tonks shook her head and let her hair return back to its usual pink.

"We're not going to get in trouble, are we?" Harry asked. "Muggles might notice the hair changing."

"I cast a notice-me-not on her before we entered the queue," Amelia said. "Just in case."

"Did you have fun, grandson?" Augusta stood up when she saw them walk out the exit. Neville was grinning like a loon as he supported a quiet Hannah.

"You okay, Hannah?" Susan asked.

"Yes," Hannah smiled. "That was... fun."

"Oh so you want to go again?" Lavender asked to which Hannah vehemently shook her head, making the Gryffindor blonde laugh. "Where to next?"

"Teacups!" Hermione exclaimed. This time, it was Harry's turn to hesitate. Noticing this, Hermione slid her arm around him and guided him toward the ride. "Come on, you dragged me onto a ride; now it is my turn."

Hermione, it turned out, was vicious when it came to teacups and she found a sorority of girls who shared her passion. Placed in a teacup with Hermione, Tonks, Susan and Lavender, Harry found out they could whip the cup around with enough speed to make him dizzy. A while later, Harry stumbled his way to the ride's exit while Hermione and Lavender laughed at his plight.

"That was fun!" Tonks raucous laughter filled the air while Harry was walking like a drunken sailor.

"You guys are cruel," Harry said with a smile.

"But you love us," Susan bumped him.

"Just as we love you," Lavender added as she bumped him from the other side.

They rejoined the group when they all noticed themselves getting hungry. After a trip to a kiosk for food, Neville only had questions.

"What is this?" He asked about his meal on a stick.

"That's a corndog," Hermione said which, judging by Neville's face, explained nothing. "It is a hot dog covered in cornmeal and fried. Try it."

Hesitantly, Neville bit off a piece and absorbed the flavor. His eyes widened and he swallowed.

"This is amazing!" He exclaimed as he ravenously went in for another bite. "This whole day has been amazing. Thank you for thinking of it, Harry."

"You're welcome," Harry's eyes sparkled as he took in his friend. His sandy blonde hair was starting to grow out and the scrawny boy was being replaced by statuesque figure. He was already a head taller than Harry with a thicker frame around the shoulders. "Happy Birthday."

Once the kids had ridden all the rides and eaten their fill, culminating in everyone getting ice cream cones, they were popped back to the Granger home to exchange gifts.

For Neville, Harry had given him a rune stone he had found in Diagon Alley last year. Thanks to Dobby, he was able to pick it up in time for the party today.

"This will sense when the water levels in the soil are low and set off a low beep to let you know to water them or, if you have a sprinkler system, will link to that and start watering them."

"What's a sprinkler system?" Neville asked as he turned the stone over in his hand.

"It is a system that delivers water to an area on a schedule," Richard said. "Saving you the time of watering everything,"

"We could easily set one up at a house," Harry said. "You'd just need some pipes setup overhead with a sprinkler that would dispense the water."

"That sounds like fun!" Neville's brain whirred at the possibility this system offered. "Thank you, Harry."

"Happy Birthday, Neville," Harry beamed at his friends exuberance.

"This is from me," a blushing Hannah gave Neville a parcel. Hands shaking slightly, he opened it to find an expertly crafted, light blue tunic. "Mum and I found this in Switzerland. It's made of acromantulan silk, imbued with charms to make it impossible to stain. I thought the color would go with your eyes."

"Thank you, Hannah," Neville returned her blush.

From Hermione, Neville got a book on muggle gardening techniques, Susan gifted him a new pair of gardening gloves and Lavender gave both Harry and Neville a bottle of cologne.

"It's a special cologne. It will adapt its scent as it sinks in, crafting itself to each wearer individually."

"Thank you, Lavender." Harry sprayed a little on his wrist and let it set in. "What do you think, Hermione?"

Hermione sniffed Harry's wrist and sighed on her exhale.

"No. I should be thanking you, Lavender," Hermione's eyes dilated. "That's incredible."

"You're welcome. Happy birthday," Lavender didn't tell them it was something she had developed this summer.

Hedwig delivered his gifts from the Weasleys. Fred and George sent him a firework which they labeled "experimental, do not light off indoors." Setting it aside gently, Harry opened a gift from Ginny was a green shirt made of Egyptian silk. Last, Ron sent him a pocket Sneakoscope and at clipping that had their picture in the Daily Prophet. Harry noticed it also had the article about his relatives' murder, which inspired him to ask the question that he was afraid to ask.

"Do you know what happened to Dudley?" Harry asked Amelia.

"He was given custody to your Aunt Marge," Harry flinched at Marge's name. "Do you know her?"

"Unfortunately," Harry said. "She raises Pit Bulls and, in my experience, raises them to be nasty toward dark-haired boys wearing glasses. Hopefully Dudley enjoys his time with her."

"Marge will receive money for his care," Amelia concluded. "He will be fine. He's already talking about joining the military when he comes of age.

"Thank you," Harry told her and returned to his gifts, pocketing the Sneakoscope and set the article aside.

The real entertainment of the evening came with Hagrid's gift. Harry picked it up and felt like it was vibrating. Removing the wrapping paper, Harry saw the title Monster Book of Monsters before the book snapped open and nipped his finger.

"Ouch!" Harry exclaimed as he dropped the book. The other kids screamed as the book flipped up on its edge and charged for each of them. As it was heading for Hermione, Harry stomped on top of it and, as he went to pick it up, rubbed his hand over the binding. The book relaxed and splayed open. "Guess that's Hagrid idea of a good book?"

Everyone laughed at Harry's dark humor attempt while Harry read the note that the book would come in useful this year. He was wondering what that meant when the doorbell rang. Richard went to see who it was only to return with Professor McGonagall in tow.

"Good evening," she addressed the amassed group. "I just came to offer my birthday wishes and deliver this."

Hermione sprinted from her seat when she saw the Hogwarts letters for her and Harry.

"I apologize for not bringing the others. I did not realize you'd have so many of your yearmates here," she smiled warmly at the gathered teens. She withdrew a package and handed it to Harry. "Happy birthday, Harry. You too, Mr. Longbottom."

"Thank you, ma'am," they both said as Harry grabbed the parcel. Tearing into it, he found a wristwatch.

"This is a special watch," McGonagall said. "It is connected with one that I am wearing. If you should run into any trouble this year, just tap it twice and mine will heat up. Launch sparks and I will head over to assist you. Just in case Sirius Black or any other interested party decides to try anything. You can also say where you are and the words will show up on mine.

"Inside your letters, you will find permission slips to visit the village of Hogsmeade. Know that as long as your muggle guardians sign off, you will have my permission as well."

"Thank you, Professor," Harry hurriedly put the watch on, discovering that it automatically cinched itself to his wrist. She departed and the other guests did the same, noticing time was getting on. Harry thanked each guest for coming until it was just Neville, his Gran and the Grangers left.

"Thank you for sharing your birthday celebration," Harry embraced him as a brother. "And thank you for the Seeker armor."

"I don't know if it'll survive a Rogue Bludger but it should help," Neville said before hesitating to say what he really wanted to say. "You know, I always wanted to have a brother. Turns out, family isn't always blood."

"Here, here," Richard lifted a mock drink.

"I feel the same, Neville," Harry said. "We might not be blood brothers but we'll always be godbrothers."

"Such a good boy," Augusta moseyed up to her grandson. "You remind me so much of Frank and you've got a good bit of James in you too, Harry."

As they departed, Harry turned and saw three more gifts. Standing in front of them were Dobby, Hermione and the Granger parents.

"You guys didn't have to," Harry was starting to feel overwhelmed by the love and care he was receiving.

"It's your birthday," Hermione pointed out and the other three nodded.

Opening the smallest one first, he found a pair of socks with the Eiffel Tower stitched in. In the next one, he found a poster of France with the Tower, Seine and Notre Dame all readily noticeable.

"So you can always remember France," Helen said. "There's one more from us."

The next one was considerably smaller and turned out to be a photo book. Page upon page held a picture of their vacation, including a special one of Hermione and Harry silhouetted on the top level of the Tower with the city lit up below. They were in the process of leaning into one another.

"How did you do this?" Harry asked.

"We asked Dobby if he wouldn't mind taking the occasional picture," Richard explained. "He made a copy of this book for each of us."

"Thank you," Harry gently set the book aside for Hermione's gift. Noticing her nervousness, Harry took his time opening this one. The wrapping paper fell away and a leather satchel fell into his lap. It was a top-of-the-line broomstick servicing kit.

"Wow!" Harry's eyes roamed across every product inside. "This is incredible, Hermione! Thank you!"

"Happy Birthday, Harry," Hermione sat next to him. She leaned into him as he moved his arm around her shoulder.

"Thank you, Hermione," Harry leaned in to kiss her. "Thank you to all for all you did today."

"You deserve it, kid," Richard supported his wife who had silent tears of happiness falling down her face. As Harry lay down to sleep that night, his last thought was so this is what it is like, having a family. The happy feeling buzzing around his head, Harry dropped off into a peaceful slumber.

(A/N: I noticed in my editing of this chapter, I got the spelling wrong on Tybalt for the Granger's Owl. Wanted to keep the Shakespeare theme going for the Grangers but I never realized I spelled it Thibault. Wanted to clear any confusion there.)

Chapter 42: Cat People

A few weeks before term was supposed to start, Harry and Hermione were reading their new course books. Thanks to Dobby, they had all their books already, with a scheduled visit for Diagon Alley coming up this weekend. They were discussing the variable nature involved in the Cheering Charm when Helen and Richard knocked on the door.

"Hey kids, we have some bad news," Richard said. "We've had a conference come up. It was supposed to be in the middle of September but they've moved it up. We'll be gone for two weeks."

"So we'll need to find a place for you to stay for two weeks," Helen said. "Usually this isn't an issue as you are already at school. Amelia Bones suggested the Leaky Cauldron would be a good place."

"That makes sense," Harry nodded. "It's actually an inn, as well as a diner. We could rent a room there for the remaining time. We would have a lot of eyes watching us and the goblins wanted to take us to the castle so I can open the chamber for their rendering team."

"mmhmm," Richard nodded his head. "It would solve a bunch of issues. You'd be able to get all your supplies while remaining safe. Amelia has even arranged to have a few Ministry cars bring you King's Cross but there's only one more issue."

Hermione chewed her nails, wondering what issue her father might have.

"This year," Helen began slowly. "We were going to do something special for your birthday."

"For years, you have been asking for something," Richard picked up the thread. "Ever year, you have asked for the same thing for your birthday. This year... we've decided to agree to it."

"You don't mean..." Hermione left off the end, looking from her dad to her mum, hoping her parents were saying what they thought they were saying.

"Yes... you may get yourself a cat," Richard sighed out and braced for the reaction.

He was not disappointed as Hermione squealed and slammed into her father at warp speed. Richard stumbled but caught his balance.

"Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!" Hermione was beside herself in joy.

"This was going to be your birthday present but, unfortunately, we won't be able to be there when you pick it out. There's a store in Diagon Alley where you can pick out a pet, right?" Hermione nodded vociferously. "Great. Hopefully you'll find a cat there that you bond with."

Harry mouthed a silent thank you to Hermione's parents. Harry had spent the last two weeks campaigning for them to allow her to get the cat she so desperately wanted.

That was what brought them to the Leaky Cauldron, waiting to speak to Tom about renting a couple rooms. As Hermione stepped up to book the rooms, Harry caught some motion out of the corner of his eye. Spotting two familiar faces, he walked up to the duo.

"Greg? Vinny?" Harry had to make sure it was them. When they turned, he saw a black eye on Vinny's right eye. "What are you doing here?"

"Potter," Vinny's lip was so swollen that it was hard for him to talk. "We're just trying to get away."

Vinny tried to turn away but Harry wouldn't let him. As someone who had previously suffered abuse, he was the best-equipped to see the signs.

"Your father?" Harry asked, Vinny nodded. "Come on. Let's talk."

Harry caught Hermione's eye. She was holding up two room keys. Harry nodded and tilted his head toward the two bigger boys. She nodded her understanding and took their bags up to the room.

"Tell me what happened." Harry addressed the boys.

"My father," Vinny grunted out. "He's been rather displeased with our siding with you over Draco. I told him that I wasn't going to cow-tow to a Malfoy the way that he did. Apparently Malfoy Senior is upset with this and has been imploring our fathers to get us to return to Malfoy's side."

"And I'm guessing you're opposed to the idea?" Harry asked.

"Draco treated us like bodyguards; you have treated us like equals," Goyle said. "There's just no going back."

"Once we got back, my father lit into me about abandoning Malfoy," Crabbe muttered. "He didn't do anything at first. He shouted and told me to make amends. When I refused, he taunted my about my mother who died giving birth to me. After a while that didn't even have the effect that he was hoping for, so he resorted to physical attacks."

"Been there," Harry said.

"Really?" Greg seemed flummoxed.

"The first ten years of my life, I lived with my aunt and uncle. My room was the cupboard underneath the stairs on a mattress meant for a big dog," Harry explained. "When I would have an outburst of magic, my uncle would beat me. I still have the scars to remind me of it. It all culminated in him nearly killing me last summer. If Hermione hadn't arrived when she did..."

Harry shuddered and left off.

"I got tired of it so I left to Goyle's place," Vinny said. "His father spends more time at brothels than he does at home. But when he came home..."

"He was drunk," Greg said. "He cursed us for being there and threw us out, told us to go away. He even threw us a bag of gold."

"So here we are," Vinny winced as he shifted.

"Well, Hermione and I are staying here as well," Harry said. "Had to find an alternative place to stay the last few weeks."

"Well don't expect us to shadow you and take away all your alone time, loverboy," Greg cracked the first smile.

"How? I was just about to tell you," Harry was taken aback. "How did you know?"

"You were standing closer to her than usual," Greg said. "It was only a matter of time, really, until you saw what everyone else saw."

"For a smart guy, you're really slow sometimes," Vinny smirked. "Congratulations."

"Well if you need anything," Harry offered.

"We'll be fine," Greg said. "Though we'll probably need some help on our homework at some point."

"Well if you ask nicely," Harry smiled as Hermione arrived back into the lobby. "I'm sure I know someone who'll look it over for you."

"We've taken up enough of your time," Vinny gave a slim smile, small enough that his split lip didn't hurt. "Go to her, loverboy."

Departing from the boys, Harry rejoined Hermione.

"Everything okay?" She asked

"It will be," Harry said. "Crabbe's dad has a lot in common with Vernon. That's all I'll say."

Looking to change the subject, Harry tapped the bricks leading into Diagon Alley and asked Hermione the all-important question of the day.

"Where to first?" He asked. "Bookshop? Or pet store?"

Hermione smiled brightly, grabbed his hand and pulled him down the Alley. Harry figured the bookstore would be first but was surprised when they sped by the store and arrived instead at Magical Menagerie. Hermione eagerly pulled the door open, its chime ringing brightly. As they crossed into the shop, the animals went wild. Every rat started doing backflips, the snakes all raised their heads and the cats started meowing. It was a cacophony, but Hermione never seemed to notice it as she went from cage to cage.

Each cat enclosure had a different feline; some black, others calico and a few tabby cats arrayed throughout the shop.

"Which one?" Harry asked as Hermione scanned the options for the third time.

"I don't know. I kind of figured the right animal would, I don't know, grab me. Maybe not literally but I thought I'd feel something but so far, I just... don't."

As she finished her soliloquy, she started to chew her nails, doubt and indecision written clearly on her face. When she paced back across the aisle, she felt something brush against her legs. Looking down, she spotted what either was a large cat or a small lion. Kneeling down to inspect the orange ball of fluff, she was awed when the ball turned and looked her in the face.

"Hello there," Hermione cooed. "What's your name?"

Hermione reached forward to try and pet the creature when out of nowhere the cat jumped into her outstretched arms, taking her, Harry and the shopowner completely by surprise.

"Well now isn't this a surprise," the shopowner said. "This is Crookshanks. He's a half kneazle, half British shorthair. He's been in the shop for ages but he didn't seem fond of people, nor did he like cages. Anytime I would corral him into one, he'd yowl until I let him out. Kneazles are very intelligent creatures and an excellent judge of character. I was honestly beginning to worry he'd be here the rest of his life."

"You were just waiting for the right person, weren't you Crookshanks," Hermione sing-songed like she was talking to a baby: her baby. Crookshanks responded by purring deeply and rubbing his head on Hermione's chest. "How much?"

"Since he's been here so long, I'll sell him for a Galleon plus the usual accoutrement."

"She'll take him," Harry said. Hermione's head snapped up as he spoke. "What? It's clear you're taken with him and he with you."

"He is really cute. Yes, I'll take him," Hermione nodded resolutely. "I'm going to set you down now while I pay, okay?"

Hermione set Crookshanks down and wandered up to the counter. She counted out coins for Crookshanks, a carrier and his food. While she did that Crookshanks wandered up to the only other human in the store. Hermione waited with baited breath as her new cat investigated her best friend. Unsure what would happen, she just tensed as the cat approached. Harry crouched down to greet her new pet.

"Crookshanks?" Harry held out his hand, palm down, for Crookshanks to sniff. Cautiously, the cat approached, sniffed his hand and meowed softly. Turning his head into Harry's hand, Crookshanks walked through Harry's hand, weaved between Harry's legs and wound his way through them before pouncing on Harry, forcing the young teenager to catch him. Lightly petting him on the cheek, Harry stood up with a now-purring cat relaxing in his arms.

"I don't believe it..." the shop keeper was positively stunned. "That settles it: he likes you and your boyfriend."

"But he's not my..." Hermione's brain whizzed to a stop. Is that what he is? She wondered. He's not dating anyone else and boyfriend does sound... rather nice.

"Yup. He's a keeper," Harry said while stroking the cat. He had also heard the honorific the lady threw out and decided it felt right.

"He certainly is," the owner said smiling at the duo. "Honey, whatever you do, don't let that one go."

"Oh I don't plan to," Hermione beamed as they exited the shop.

"Hey Hermione," Harry said as they walked back toward their rooms at the Cauldron. "About what the lady said: are you okay with that? I know we decided not to label this but that title... it sounded right, didn't it?"

"Yes, Harry," Hermione checked that they were alone, save for an older gentleman reading the paper. Stepping up on her tip-toes, she kissed Harry. "What would you like to do next, boyfriend?"

"Whatever you want, girlfriend," Harry kept the same distance, smiling as he leaned forward.

"Well we are alone," Hermione said with a devilish smile. "For now."

Dropping the carrier and food, Hermione slid her arms around him, one at the base of his head, the other around his back. Both smiling like loons, Hermione closed the remaining distance and kissed him deeply. They held the kiss for a while until, acting on instinct, Hermione opened her mouth and licked along his lips.

He responded in kind, leaning in further to press closer to his newly-minted girlfriend. Crookshanks purred as he was comfortably pressed between the two of them as they shared their first snog.

The old man smiled behind his paper and cast a notice-me-not on the pair. Tonks may not always love protection detail but she had to admit: this one was easy, fun and very, very sweet.

A while later, a very pleased couple waltzed through the Leaky Cauldron and up toward their rooms. Interested to see how she would react, Hermione wanted to introduce Crookshanks to Hedwig. Inside Harry's room, Hermione set the half-kneazle down. Hedwig chirped from her perch atop Harry's dresser and flew down to meet the new arrival.

"Hedwig," Harry began the introduction. "This is Crookshanks. He'll be living with Hermione from now on. Go on, say hi,"

Hedwig leveled the orange ball of fluff with her hardest gaze, her amber eyes boring into the cat. Crookshanks, to his credit, never wavered. He neither advanced nor retreated; he just stared right back.

Hedwig hooted once, ruffled her feathers and then bobbed her head. She flew back up to her perch and then shuffled on it to leave enough room for someone to join her. Crookshanks mewled and pounced up. Despite his size, he was quite nimble and a few quick pounces later, he was curled up next to Hedwig and fell fast asleep.

"This is the day for strange," Harry said. "Hedwig never shares unless she has to."

"Guess it's true what they say," Harry looked over at Hermione, skepticism written on his face. "You don't do normal."

Harry tried to glare at her but after a few seconds, broke into a wide smile, his booming laugh filling the room as he grabbed his stomach in pure, undiluted joy. Hedwig screeched at him and Crookshanks hissed.

"I think you upset them," Hermione giggled at the obvious pets-before-humans hierarchy that had been formed. "We should leave them be."

From there, the time flew by as the duo toured the Alley thoroughly, working to keep their relationship as secret as possible while also thoroughly enjoying their time together. After alerting the clerk at Flourish and Blotts the key to calming down the Monster Book of Monsters, she let them each pick out a small book as a thank you. Hermione picked up a supplemental reading on numerology while Harry picked up a special tome on dark and dangerous creatures. Every day, they'd find themselves at Florean Fortescue's for a sundae and every night they'd snag a table in the diner to review for the upcoming year, occasionally joined by Greg and Vinny.

Harry, as it turns out, was not half bad at math and took the principles rather quickly, though he had the annoying habit of trying to skip steps in the equations which would give him the incorrect answers.

All things considered, he felt ready for Arithmancy and the year overall. Even if Sirius Black was gunning for him and at least one werewolf out for his blood. To be safe, Hermione and Harry read the section of Harry's new book that covered werewolves, specifically how to deal with them should a wizard come across them. According to the book, werewolves were exceptionally fast and twice as strong as the average human. Because of this, they were spell-resistant and also healed at an advanced rate, meaning spells were of little use and weapons were the better choice of defense.

Silver was obviously the best, although since silver was an element that could not be conjured, that was less helpful. After learning that, Harry had the daggers he was having the goblins craft made from pure silver. It was expensive but also worthwhile, since goblin-forged silver was one of their specialties. It would be unbreakable and only imbibe that which made it stronger. For that reason, he was going to have them dip it into Basilisk venom. They'd have to learn how to wield the weapon but they were hoping Professor Flitwick might have a tip or two.

That would have to wait until the Basilisk was rendered down which the goblins suggested the first Saturday in September. After contacting Professor McGonagall to get her approval, they set the meeting for 9 am that Saturday.

The day before their trip back to Hogwarts, Harry and Hermione were sitting down with Crabbe and Goyle, debating uses of the water-making charm when the Weasleys entered the pub in their usual, boisterous fashion. Thanks to a few letters from Ginny and Ron, he knew they would be staying at the Cauldron the night before the train was going to depart.

"Heya Harry!" Ron slammed himself down into the chair next to Harry. "Did you have a good vacation? Hermione didn't bore you too much did he?"

Harry looked at Ron and noticed he was looking at Hermione differently. He even called her by her name instead of using his usual 'bookworm' or 'know-it-all' invective. If he was to guess, he was noticing- just as Harry had- how much she had grown and changed.

"We had a nice vacation," Harry said. "How was Egypt?"

"Oh it was great!" Ron extolled all the various pyramids they visited. As he prattled on about the different mummies, Ginny approached as well.

"Mind if I sit?" Ginny asked the group. Hermione nodded and pointed toward the chair next to her.

"And how did you like Egypt, Ginny?" Hermione asked.

"Oh it was fantastic!" Ginny smiled brightly. "Did you know the earliest Egyptian Wizards were the first one to develop magical rituals?"

"Really?" Hermione's brain, revved up from their conversation with Greg and Vinny, turned to the new topic.

"Oh yes," Ginny said. "Their temples are all ritual sites and they discovered the ley lines in Egypt which would channel the magic. They also were responsible for the early discoveries of magical numbers. The pyramids are the culmination of that. It is three sets of triangles, angled in a way to channel magic through the structure. Obviously, the most common is mummification where they used the four canopic jars placed at specific points to intersect with the heart, as it was the only organ they left."

"And five is a magical number. How fascinating!" Hermione said. "I know Greek wizards were the pioneers of Astronomy in learning when to conduct rituals and their research into magical creatures led to the creation of the first staffs."

"Wow," Greg said. They had discussed a little of Arithmancy and how it applied to magic overall but this topic was beyond their comprehension.

"Who are you?" Ron finally noticed who they were sitting with.

"You've met them, Ron," Harry said. "Or at least seen them. Gregory Goyle, Vincent Crabbe. Meet Ron Weasley and this is his sister, Ginny."

"Nice to meet you," Ginny shook their hands while Ron looked uncomfortable.

"Really?" Ron sneered. "You're talking with Slytherins outside of school now?"

"Why not?" Hermione shrugged. "Have you taken the opportunity to get to know them? Not all Slytherins are Malfoy and Parkinson. In fact, we were just having an intriguing discussion about the water-making charm we'll be learning this year. They theorize that you could heat or cool the water to make..."

"Yeah, yeah whatever," Ron waived away Hermione's comments. "I've got to go to the pet shop anyway. Scabbers has been ill ever since Egypt."

Ron banged the rat on the table, making Crabbe flinch at the noise. Greg saw this and reassured his friend.

"Why is he missing a toe?" Greg asked.

"He's always been like that," Ron said. "Ever since Percy got him as a pet."

"How old is he?" Harry asked.

"He's been in the family as long as I can remember," Ginny said. "Percy's had him since he was young, around 12 years, I think?"

"12 years?" Vinny asked, incredulously. "For a rat that would often live 3 or 4?"

"Yeah," Ginny explained as she furrowed her brow in thought. "Percy said he found him in the garden and took him in. He was rail-thin with a bunch of cuts and scratches scabbed over, hence why he's called Scabbers."

"He's probably just getting old, Ron," Hermione reasoned. "I'm not sure what the pet store will have for..."

The rest of what Hermione was going to say was lost as an orange blaze pounced on the table, making a beeline for the rat.

"Crookshanks, no!" Hermione shouted. Vinny was just fast enough, grabbing the rat before a cat claw arrived. As a reward, Scabbers sunk his teeth deep into his hand.

"Ow!" Crabbe winced in pain as he dropped the rat. Ron scrambled to pick the rat back up before he could scamper away. Hermione had Crookshanks in her arms, the cat glaring and hissing at the rat.

"You own that monster?" Ron shouted at a distraught-looking Hermione.

"His name is Crookshanks," Harry said, rubbing the cheek of the cat, calming him down.

"He's adorable," Ginny approached. Crookshanks sniffed her hand and pushed her hand away with his paw, not allowing Ginny to pet him.

"Adorable?" Ron held the squeaking Scabbers with both hands. "He's a menace is what he is. What about Scabbers?"

"He was fine with the other rats in the shop when we got him," Harry pointed out while he used his wand to heal the Crabbe's bite. Tonks let it slip in Europe that the Ministry can't detect who uses magic, just where it is used. Thus, in magic-heavy environments, they can get away with using magic if they're careful. "Don't know what his issue with Scabbers is."

"Sure, take her side," Ron brooded. "Like you always do."

"I'm just making an observation," Harry heatedly spat back. "Crookshanks was fine with the other animals in the shop. He was fine with Hedwig. The only thing I've noticed is he's a very proud cat and takes a while to warm up to people. See?"

After a few moments, Crookshanks relented and allowed Ginny to pet him, purring contentedly as she did.

"You could also thank Vinny for grabbing him when he did instead of antagonizing everyone around you," Harry started to lecture. "As long as you keep Scabbers in your dorm, he'll be fine. Maybe get a cage for him while you're at it."

"Yeah, yeah," Ron waived away Harry's comments before looking at the bigger Slytherin and muttering a hasty. "Thank you."

Ron scurried out of the Cauldron, leaving everyone behind.

"Well that was interesting," Harry lightened the mood. "Are you okay, Hermione?"

"I'm fine," she said stuffily. "He didn't have to be so mean."

"Well it's Ron," Ginny said as she kept petting the cat. "He's always been that way, especially with girls who intimidate him. Trust me, I know."

Hermione cocked her head in question.

"When we were young and I started learning things, I found I learned quickly and soon caught up to where he was," she explained. "How to read, how to write. I even learned to fly, at least when mum wasn't watching. It always followed by an angry outburst from Ron. I soon learned to do it away from him, especially as he became lazier and I started to pass him in different areas."

"I'm sorry, Ginny," Hermione said. "Don't feel you have to do that this year. Just come study with us like Luna does; we won't mind."

"Thank you, Hermione," Ginny spotted how close Harry was standing to her, nodded her head and turned away. "And thank you, Vinny, for saving Scabbers from this adorable guy."

"No problem," Vinny watched her as she strode away.

It's going to be an interesting year, Harry thought. Cats, rats and werewolves, oh my. Add in an escaped convict and it was pretty clear that any hopes Harry had of a normal year were slim to none.

(A/N: There's Crookshanks for those of you who were worried he wouldn't be showing up.)

Chapter 42: Wake me Up Before you Go-Go

Warning: The scene where the Dementors happen within this one and might be a little intense to read.

The day of the trip back was chaos. Used to the Grangers' order and structure, watching the Weasleys run around with their hair metaphorically on fire was an event. The twins seemed to revel in the chaos as they bustled up and down the stairs.

If they weren't wrapped in the middle of the chaos, it would have been funny but today it was less so. Harry sipped his tea while Hermione tried to remain calm. To ensure security to the station, Amelia had provided Ministry cars to King's Cross for Harry, Hermione, Susan, and the Weasleys. At Harry's request, she made sure there was enough room for Greg and Vinny.

Ginny slumped into the seat next to Hermione.

"I hate my family," she groaned as she made herself some tea.

"No you don't," Harry said.

"On days like today, I do," she said. "It's always chaos trying to get everyone to get out the door on time."

"Well at least you're ready," Hermione indicated Ginny's trunk and day bag packed and ready to go. "That's more than I can say for Ron."

Harry snorted tea out his nose when he followed Hermione's gaze. Ron had one shoe on and one sock, neither of them on the same foot. His shirt was backward and his fly down.

"Ronald!" Mrs. Weasley hurried up to him with her wand drawn. "What am I to do with you?"

Waiving her wand in a complicated pattern, Ron's clothes righted themselves with his missing shoe walking down the stairs to put itself onto him.

"I can do it myself, mum," Ron whined.

"Is your trunk packed?"

"Err... mostly," Ron said. Harry knew that face enough to know "mostly" meant everything was going to get thrown in last minute. "I was hoping to get some breakfast."

"Well if you were hoping to get breakfast then you could have come down when I woke you an hour ago."

"But mummmm... it's a long trip and the feast won't be for hours."

"I packed you a sandwich already. Let that be a lesson: you can either eat or you can sleep. Choosing one means missing out on the other. Now up you get, finish your packing."

Ron stomped up the stairs and Mrs. Weasley rounded the rest of her kids together with practiced ease.

"Ginny!" She looked pleased with where she was sitting. "All packed? Ready to go?"

"Yes, mum" Ginny spoke clearly. "Packed last night."

"Excellent! Are you two packed as well? I don't see your trunks."

"Yes Mrs. Weasley," Harry tapped his pockets. "Dobby was kind enough to shrink them down for us until we're on the train, so we can travel lighter. Hermione only has her carrier for Crookshanks."

"That was nice of him," Mrs. Weasley responded stiffly as if she disapproved of Dobby's help. "Where's your owl, Hedwig right?"

"Oh she flies herself to Hogwarts nowadays," Harry said. "Ever since last year, she won't let me put her in a cage so I just let her fly."

"But what if she gets lost?"

"She hasn't yet," Harry said. "Besides, Auntie Amelia said having an owl in the station would draw the attention of potentially interested parties."

Suitable satisfied with their level of preparedness, Mrs. Weasley made her way up the stairs to check on Ron's progress. At that moment, Susan entered the pub. Like Harry, her trunk was shrunk with her owl making its trip up north like Hedwig was.

"Good morning," she greeted them, brightly. "Ready to head back to school?"

"When we get going," Ginny's sardonic reply came. "Oh, I'm Ginny Weasley, by the way."

"Susan," the other redhead introduced herself. "We ready to go?"

"We are," Harry indicated to the three of them. "The rest of the clan is... it's a work in progress."

As if called, the rest of the Weasleys appeared, Fred and George laughing, Percy scowling and Ron growling with Scabbers' tail hanging out of his pocket. Hanging back was Crabbe and Goyle who were obviously not morning people.

Seeing them ready to go, Percy walked toward them.

"Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, Miss Bones," Percy extended his hand toward them which they each shook in turn. "How do you do?"

"Well, Mr. Weasley," Harry returned his formal address. "I see you've been named Head Boy. Congratulations, I know you've been wanting that for a while now."

"Thank you, Mr. Potter. If only my brothers were as congratulatory as you."

"Oh come on, Percy," Ginny said. "Do you expect Fred and George to take anything seriously? Or for Ron to notice anything that isn't food?"

"I'm just saying it would be nice."

"Bill was very congratulatory, if you remember," Ginny pointed out. "Just take the victories where you can, Bighead Boy."

Percy looked down at his badge and scowled.

"Here, let me," Harry pulled out his wand and, keeping his wand out of Mrs. Weasley's line of sight, dispelled the twin's illusion.

"How did you do that?" Percy asked. "I've been trying to dispel that for a half hour now."

"I know the twins," Harry said. "They always layer an illusion with an imperturbable charm to prevent any spell from reaching their illusion."

"I will keep that in mind," Percy actually smiled for the first time Harry had known him.

"That's everyone," Mr. Weasley announced from the doorway. "The cars are ready so why don't we head out?"

For security, Mr. Weasley and an Auror Harry recognized as Kingsley did a perimeter sweep before motioning Harry's group to come out. Harry moved across the sidewalk and entered the car directly with Hermione and Susan hot on his heels. Ginny needed to stow her trunk in the boot but otherwise joined post haste. The rest of the family moved to the second car. Once they were settled, Kinglsey and Mr. Weasley entered Harry's car, facing backward with their wands drawn.

"How are you doing, Harry?" Kingsley asked. "Ready to head back to school?"

"I am, thank you," Harry returned the kind smile Kingsley gave him. "Thank you for your services this morning."

"Don't be surprised if you see me around the school. Until the threats posed by Black and the werewolves has passed, I'll be one of the Aurors dispatched to help guard the town."

Harry nodded, recalling the meeting he had with Amelia when she informed him of the Minister's decision to deploy Dementors along the border of the castle. She was aggrieved with the decision so she promised to have Aurors help guard the students.

Ten minutes later, the cars pulled up to the station and the group was escorted out. Crabbe and Goyle looked a little lost, having never experienced the muggle world before. Hermione helped Greg while Harry fell into step with Vinny.

"Alright, Vin," Harry was a little stressed by the mass of people in the station. "We're going to run straight toward the barrier. Together they stepped through the barrier where the scarlet engine sat gleaming in the station.

"Did you call me 'Vin'?" Crabbe asked with a smile.

"Guess I did," Harry replied. "Sorry about that, Vinny."

"Don't worry about it," Vinny slapped him on the shoulder. "I'll see you at school."

The two big Slytherins then proceeded to wind their way through the crowd toward the front of the train.

"Shall we grab a compartment?" Hermione stepped close to him. They scanned the train for some empty compartments when a noise attracted their attention.

"Harry! Hermione!" Lavender was leaning out the window, waving them toward their carriage. Throwing open the door as they approached, Harry saw Luna was already in their carriage.

"Thank you, " Hermione said as she pulled herself through the doorway. Harry was about to join her when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see a balding head of red hair.

"Harry," Mr. Weasley fidgeted with his hands. "I was wondering if I might have a word."

Even though he knew what this was about, Harry gave him a moment.

"First of all, thank you for saving Ginny," he said. "She's more lively than I've seen in some time. Egypt was good for her. Bill, George and Fred all spent a lot of time with her and that seemed to help. Second, I wanted to let you know about Sirius Black."

"I know he's after me," Harry tried not to get testy but the train was due to depart anytime now. "I also know he betrayed my parents."

"Good, good," Mr. Weasley was looking around distractedly. "I want to make sure you aren't planning on going after him. The last guy who did, Black blew up the street. They only recovered a finger from him."

"Only a finger?" Harry's curiosity was piqued. "Nothing else. No body parts, no blood?"

"No. Black utterly destroyed him."

"Was it the same with the other victims?"

"I'm not sure," the train whistle screeched. "Anyway, just be safe and keep your eyes out."

Harry nodded before sprinting for the doorway. Clambering up, Harry's thoughts were consumed with the mystery of Sirius Black.

"What did Mr. Weasley say to you?" Hermione asked once Harry arrived in the compartment. Absently, she let Crookshanks out of his carrier to greet the other occupants

"Same old," Harry said. "'Sirius Black is out to get me, be careful.' Although one thing doesn't make sense: Peter Pettigrew they only recovered a finger from him."

"Just a single finger?" Hermione reached the same issue he did. "No blood, nothing?"

"It could be that Black just vanished the remains he saw," Neville said. Harry felt bad for not recognizing Neville, Susan and Hannah had joined them. For some reason, the compartment was still cozy. Snug, but cozy.

"And he leaves a finger just for identification?" Harry asked. "Why? There's something we're missing here."

"All mysteries begin with an unanswered question," Luna said without looking up. "The bigger the question, the better the mystery. Congratulations on acknowledging your feelings, by the way."

"How..." Hermione never could understand how Luna's mind worked.

"The Nargles have almost entirely fled from both of you," Luna said. "They're now moving in a ring around the compartment. I've never seen that before. Don't worry, I won't let the Wrackspurts know what you have done."

"Thank you, Luna," Harry said after shaking his head. "I think."

"You are welcome," she said, serenely.

"I'm glad as well," Parvati said. "Lavender told me when she found out. We're both so happy for you."

"How was your summer?" Harry asked.

"Excellent!" Parvati brightened. "We both had independent breakthroughs, one which you're wearing."

"I was curious about that," Harry said. "I assume you're talking about the cologne?"

Lavender nodded and pulled out a full vial.

"It is an offshoot of amortentia."

"The love potion?" Hermione asked to which Lavender nodded.

"It is tailored to match the wearer to bring out their natural scent," Lavender explained. "You'll know you're truly attracted to the person if you have a strong reaction to the scent. The stronger the reaction, the stronger the attraction."

"And I was able to make a special lipstick," Parvati pulled out a tube. "It's got an imperturbable charm on it."

"Fred and George?" Harry's eyes glinted with mirth

"Yes. They helped me design the spells to work with it. The trick was getting it off but eventually, I figured out a way to dispel the charm safely. I'm hoping to find a way to make it quicker. Hopefully, Ancient Runes will give me the solution."

"Anything else you're working on?" Hermione asked.

"We're really close on a color-changing eye shadow but we need to research the color-changing spell and a shampoo and conditioner for difficult hair."

"Now when you say difficult," Hermione asked.

"Yes we're designing with you in mind," Lavender said with a smile. "We just need to be sure to get it correct so you don't go bald after using it."

"I mean we did arrive at a solution," Parvati said. "The hair we tried it on wasn't an issue anymore."

"Yeah but that's only because there wasn't any hair left," Lavender said. "Poor Bunny. I had to feed him a vial of Harrison's Hair Raising Hare Product before it grew back."

"Alright, I'm convinced," Harry said.

"Here we go," Hermione rolled her eyes, congenially.

"Was only a matter of time, "Neville added.

"What?" Lavender stared, wide-eyed between the two.

"Harry's about to invest in what you're doing," Hermione explained.

"You're kidding," Parvati was between hopeful and incredulous. Her parents, while wealthy, had dismissed their ambitions and refused to fund their operation.

"I'll just need to have a word with the goblins," Harry said. "They've helped me back the twins and their prank items- I need to check in with them on that, now that I think of it. You both are close enough to some real breakthroughs that I can get the goblins on board now."

"Really!?" Both girls squealed in unison.

"He is," Hermione said. "Harry's mum gave the goblins a few tips in investing in the muggle world. It has inspired him to do the same whenever he sees a good idea."

"But... why?" Lavender asked the question gnawing at her.

"For the first 11 years of my life, I had nothing," Harry explained. "Then Hagrid takes literally knocks down the door and shows me to this bank where I have more money than I could ever spend.

"Since then, I've only wanted to be the gateway for others to experience the same thing. It's a family trait. My grandfather was one of the people to help turn Diagon Alley into what it is today. Half the shops got their opening loans from him."

"Thank you, Harry," Parvati said. "We've been trying to convince our parents but they don't seem to think we're worth investing in like this is a fleeting fancy."

"Once you get some product off the ground, I'm sure they'll come around," Harry said. "Same deal with Fred and George. I'll set you up with an operating fund. Once you're ready to roll, we'll work out the contract for continued investment with a reasonable return for myself and the goblins."

"Good lord, Harry," Susan said. "You really don't do normal."

"Normal is overrated," Luna said. "It invites the Florbot Humperdingers to nest with Shumbat Fluzbangs. After that happens, nothing interesting will ever happen in life."

New to her ramblings, Parvati and Lavender gaped at the smaller blonde like fish. Even as Luna was a fellow Gryffindor, they had yet to have a real conversation with her.

"I think you broke them, Luna," Hannah said. That started off a chain reaction and soon the compartment was filled with laughter, brightest of all them being Luna whose giggle fit threatened to topple her from the bench altogether. That was before the door slammed open.

"Figured I'd find you surrounded by your freaks, Potter," Draco drawled. Flanking him were Theo Nott and Pansy Parkinson.

"Least I'm surrounded by friends, Mr. Malfoy," Harry returned. "Good afternoon, Mr. Nott, Miss Parkinson."

"Can it, Potter," Theo spat. "Your tactics may work on simpletons like Crabbe and Goyle but not here."

"Got to say, I'm surprised you're here," Draco sneered. "Thought you'd be out hunting Sirius Black."

"I'm not about to go hunting for a mass murder, no matter what he did, Mr. Malfoy," Harry said.

"Just going to hide behind the adults like a coward then? Let Black come and get you himself?"

"Like a third year would stand a chance. The only thing that would achieve would be to make me very, very dead and I'd rather that not happen," Harry tried his best to look nonchalant as possible. "Who's to say he's after me?"

"What?" Malfoy said. "Heard he was deranged enough, muttering 'he's at Hogwarts' over and over again."

"Yeah, and who's to say he's after me?" Harry realized for the first time this might be true and filed it away for future thought. "Who's to say he's not after you, Malfoy?"

"Why would he be after me?"

"He's just spent 12 years behind bars while your father has been free to do whatever he pleases, including giving books to little girls, the philanthropist he is."

"Yeah? What's that do with anything?"

"Your mom is Narcissa Malfoy, formerly Narcissa Black, correct?" Harry said, bringing Draco up short. "That would probably make you next in line for the head of the Black family, yes? Either you or me, it's not certain who has the better claim at this point.

"Do you think the head of House Black, deranged as he is, would love that the family is going to pass to a sniveling little ferret like you? While he rotted in prison, your father was able to-shall we say- sidestep, the allegations against him. To Sirius Black and the other loyal followers who preferred Azkaban over renouncing their lord, that would appear as nothing more than Lucius Malfoy abandoning their lord to keep his cozy lifestyle. How do you think that would make him feel?

"Add in the Heir to the Malfoy line could also be the heir to the Black line, it would make you an ideal target to strike back at someone who he thinks betrayed Lord Voldemort. So tell me, Draco, which of us is he coming for again?"

At his point, Draco's pale cheeks had lost all color and his eyes widened. He physically shook him and returned to his haughty state.

"Good try, Potter," Malfoy said. "Too much of a coward to do anything. I see it all clear now."

Malfoy bade a quick retreat with Nott and Parkinson remaining long enough to sneer at everyone in the compartment.

"Harry," Hermione said in a voice just above a whisper. Harry let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding, he looked across the compartment to see everyone staring at him wide-eyed.

"I'm sorry, that was..." Harry started to say.

"Bloody brilliant," Neville said, breaking the tension. "Did you see how terrified Draco was? I've known him all my life and nobody got to him the way you just did."

"Hopefully, he doesn't run and tell daddy what I said," Harry said, not wanting to provoke a response from Lucius after the end of last year.

"Hopefully he does," Susan said. "You made a very compelling case. This could throw good old Lucy off his game. I'll have to write Auntie to let her know. I know she's hoping Lucy will mess up and she can nail his ass to the wall."

"You took a bully's point and turned it back on him," Hermione said. "He came here looking to provoke a fight and you made him retreat in fear. Are you sure you're not supposed to be in Slytherin?"

"Please," Luna said. "Like a Slytherin would fight a snake with a sword. If anything, that was a Ravenclaw solution; brains not bravado."

"In any case, I want to remember that look for the rest of my life," Neville said. At that moment, the train skidded to a sudden stop and Luna was truly dislodged from the bench.

"What was that?" Lavender asked before the lights winked out.

"I don't know," Hermione said. "Luna are you okay?"

"I am fine, Hermione," Luna said, picking herself up from the floor. "What happened to the lights?"

"It looks like someone is coming aboard," Hannah said. As she said that the door opened and Hermione yelped as someone stepped on her foot.

"Hermione?" Harry heard Ginny's voice. "What's going on? Have you seen Ron?"

"No, he was sharing a compartment with Dean and Seamus last I saw," Hermione explained. "Perhaps we should-"

"-Quiet," a new voice said from the corridor. Harry, tired of the dark, cast an orb of light to hover near the top of the compartment, bathing the benches in a creepy-ethereal glow. "Stay here. I'll check up front."

"Who was that?" Harry asked.

"Professor Lupin, I think," Ginny said. "He's been sleeping the whole way up here."

"Have you been alone all this time?" Hermione asked.

"No one wanted me to sit with them. They're afraid I'm going to attack them, I think and your compartment looked full."

"I think we could have fit you," Hermione said. "Last I checked, these compartments are big enough for 6 but there's 8 in here now with plenty of room. My guess is the compartments magically expand themselves."

Any further discussion halted when the air inside the train became frigid, in the pale light, the window began to ice over. Shivering in the cold, the group turned as the door slowly slid open.

In the doorway stood a tall creature whose face was obscured by a large, grey hood. Inhaling a raspy breath, the temperature of the compartment descended into frigid territory. A grey hand, cold and scabbed over, emerged from the cloak, reaching out for Harry. It touched the light Harry conjured and crushed it in its hand, removing all light from the train.

At this point, Harry's brain was in a fog, his vision faltering. Instead of the compartment, he was seeing flashes of a room. He was being placed within a crib by someone he couldn't quite see.

The door slammed open and Harry heard a voice mutter something to which his protector screamed, "not Harry. Please, I beg you. Not Harry."

The person shielded Harry with her body.

"Step aside, foolish girl," a new voice hissed out. "I'm only here for your son; you don't need to die like your husband."

"No!" The woman sobbed, still covering Harry with her body. "Take me instead. Just leave Harry alone; he's just a baby."

"Enough of this," the voice said with finality. "Avada Kedavra."

Harry watched, helplessly as a green light struck the woman and she fell down in front of the crib. Harry cried, wishing his mum would rise.

"Harry Potter," the now-visible Voldemort said. "Immortality here I come."

The last thing Harry remembered was cackling laughter and a bright green light before he lost consciousness.

Hermione felt Harry faint next to him as she was lost in a memory of her own. She recognized her own scream as she blew the obese man back from the door and her scream of terror when she saw the small boy lying, broken, within the room upstairs. Yet when she felt Harry slide onto the floor, it brought her out of her memory. Spurred into action, she drew her wand.

"Incendio," she cast and a gust of flame burst toward the wraith. Instead of moving, the wraith just exhaled and turned the flame to ice before it reached its target. Hermione started to panic as the creature once again reached for Harry. Hermione sat on the floor with Harry's back propped up against her. Valiantly, she wrapped her arms and legs around her boyfriend to protect him from the wraith.

Meanwhile, Neville wasn't fairing any better. His vision went dark and all he could hear were screams he had spent his entire life trying to forget.

"Where is your son!? Where is Potter? You're part of the Great Alliance, he must be here! Tell me where you hid them and the pain will stop," the male voice said while a female just laughed maliciously.

Neville cried and cried while his mother's screams permeated the entire house. He didn't know where his dad was as he gave his mother time to hide Neville in a wardrobe that was then disillusioned and silenced. He cried and cried, wishing they would stop hurting his mom but the woman continued to laugh, reveling in the pain of Alice Longbottom.

"Ah what's the matter, Alice," the woman Neville knew to be Bellatrix said as his mom's screams halted. "Are you done playing? It's no fun if you don't scream. Maybe I should finish you."

It was at that point that Neville passed out, forcing Hannah to catch him before he hit the deck that Harry currently occupied.

Across the compartment, Luna was entering her mother's study. She always loved to see her mum work. As she entered, she knew something was wrong. A purple light was flashing through the study.

"Luna!" her mother turned toward her, her long straw-colored hair whipping around her long face. Luna's eyes widened as the spell headed toward her. The next thing she knew, her mother stepped in front of the spell. The room went dark as her mother collapsed in front of her.

"Mummy!" Luna collapsed onto her knees to shake her mum's still figure. "Mummy, wake up! You've got to wake up."

That was how Luna's father found her hours later, collapsed, sobbing over her mother's corpse.

"Moonbeam," Xeno asked. "What happened?"

"The Wrackspurts came for me," Luna wailed. "Mum stood in the way. I had too many Nargles and wasn't paying enough attention..."

The scene dissolved as Luna curled up in a ball on the bench. Hermione was sobbing, trying to keep the floating creature away from her boyfriend. Undeterred, the creature grabbed onto Harry's arm and started to drag his limp form away. She could hear his skin cracking as if freezing on contact. With no idea what to do, she called upon all her strength to keep Harry with her, crying hysterically as she was losing ground.

"Expecto Patronum," she heard twin shouts and the entire train was filled with light and a four-legged creature constructed of blue-white light entered the compartment in the shape of a jack rabbit. Taking a defensive position, it drove the creature back, forcing it to release Harry. Once outside, a second light drove the wraith back and off the train. It was then Hermione noticed the second form to be a wolf. Interestingly, both turned toward one another. They paced around one another in a circle before dissolving.

The lights of the train popped back on as the Hogwarts Express continued on toward its destination. A man popped his head into the compartment.

"Is everyone okay?" He asked before noticing the state of Luna, as well as the passed-out Harry and Neville.

"Who are you?" A voice Hermione recognized as Tonks spoke up. From over the man's shoulder, Hermione could just barely make out her pink locks with her wand drawn.

"Remus Lupin," the man said. He had a young-looking face that looked weathered through some very tough years. He had a significant stubble and his eyes looked tired. His robes had patches over them as if they were the only ones he had. "I am the new Defense teacher. Dumbledore asked me to ride up with the students, just in case of such an event."

"Auror Tonks," she lowered her wand. "Madam Bones dispatched me for the same reason. I'm assuming the second Patronus was yours?"

"Yes ma'am," Tonks bristled at being addressed as ma'am by a man her senior but she also reveled in being addressed as a professional. "What's the situation."

"We've got a compartment of people with acute exposure, two unconscious," Lupin said. Tonks breezed past him to kneel next to Harry. Unfortunately, her infamous penchant for clumsiness struck and she tripped on the door into the compartment, collapsing onto Lavender and Parvati.

"Sorry," Tonks mumbled and rolled off. She took up her place next to Harry with Hermione on his other side. Lupin, noticing the situation was well in hand, departed for the front of the train.

"Reneverate," she cast said, waiving the wand over his nose, as if administering smelling salts. Harry bolted awake, Hermione's hands the only thing keeping him from sprinting out of the corridor.

"Hermione! Tonks!" Harry's eyes flicked around the entire compartment. "What happened? Who screamed?"

"Nobody screamed, Harry," Hermione said as Tonks moved toward Neville to do the same. He also started awake, his blonde hair an unkempt mess.

"I know who was screaming," Neville said, morosely. "I've been working my entire life to block out those screams."

At the unspoken question, he said "my mother. It's my worst nightmare, hearing Bellatrix torture her."

"I think it was my mum," Harry communicated his sudden realization as he slowly stood. Hermione gasped and enfolded him into one of her trademark hugs. "I think I relived the moments before her death. I think I remembered watching her die."

"That's horrible," Lavender was crying tears of sympathy. "I can't even begin to imagine..."

"That's what Dementors do," Tonks said. "They feed on fear and make us relive our worst memories. Considering the trauma the both of you endured at such a young age, I'm not surprised at your reaction."

"Here," Lupin returned with four bars of chocolate. Breaking them up and distributing them. "Chocolate helps with Dementor exposure. What happened there?"

Lupin pointed to Harry's arm where a blackened mark of a hand lay imprinted.

"That's where a Dementor grabbed him," Hermione said, making Tonks and Lupin gasp. "It was dragging him away. I tried as hard as I could to keep him here. If those lights hadn't arrived..."

Hermione shuddered and sobbed, fearing the worst would have happened to Harry.

"A Dementor touched a student," Tonks' hair went from pink to fire-red. "I have to let Madam Bones know immediately,"

"And I Dumbledore," Lupin said. "He's going to be furious."

"I'd hate the be the Minister right about now. He's going to get it from both sides," Tonks pulled out a camera from her robes. "Mind if I document this?"

Harry nodded, allowing her to take a picture of his arm.

"We'll need to get that looked at, once you get up to the castle," Lupin said. "I'll send word with the conductor. Eat the chocolate. I swear it helps."

"I'll stay close, just in case," Tonks said. "Then I'll head back to make my report."

"Thank you, Tonks, Professor Lupin," Harry said.

As Tonks moved to exit into the hallway, she stumbled yet again. With a yelp of surprise, she started to fall. Lupin spun at her sound to catch her before she could fall.

"Thanks," Tonks' cheeks and hair turned red as the older professor returned her to an upright position. Collecting herself, Tonks and Lupin went their separate ways, each looking back at the other as they parted.

Harry watched them go with an amused expression. He looked around the stone-silent compartment and spotted Luna with a faraway expression on her face. Harry leaned down so he could look up into her eyes. "What's wrong, Luna?"

"I saw my mum... the day she died," the serene, oddball Luna was gone and in her place was a nine-year-old girl who just wanted her mum. Harry didn't hesitate. He brought both of his arms around and pulled her into a hug, letting the small girl mold herself into him. He held her as she shook from a fresh bout of sobs.

"It's okay," Harry rubbed small circles on her back. "You're okay. I know it hurts but I know your mum would be very, very proud of her little girl."

"Thank you, Harry," she sighed out. Harry tried to rise but she wouldn't let go. Instead, he deferred to sliding backward onto the bench, bringing Luna with him. Hermione couldn't help but smile. Harry had just passed out and his first concern was the other people. With a ways to go to the castle, everyone relaxed into a companionable silence. Neville leaned heavily into Hannah. Hermione also noticed Parvati and Lavender sitting close to one another while Susan was busy writing something.

Finishing up, she called out for their family elf and gave them a letter.

"Auntie needs to know about this earlier than Tonks can report in," she said. "She's been spitting mad since Fudge decide to deploy the Dementors. It was like she was waiting for something like this to happen."

When the voice on the intercom announced they were a half hour from the station, Harry and Neville collected their uniforms and headed across the hall to Lupin's former compartment.

"You okay?" Neville asked. Harry was still shaken from experiencing his mother's last moments.

"I'll get there," Harry said. "You?"

"Same," Neville actually smiled. "I've blocked so much of that night out but reliving it, just now it made me remember everything those monsters said. They weren't there for my parents; they were there for us. Me and you both. Why? What was so important that they would torture my parents into insanity?"

"I think I know," Harry said, heavily. "I'll tell you tonight but it all has to do with the reason Voldemort came for me, the reason both our families were in hiding. Tonight, in the common room. I'll tell you."

Neville nodded. They finished dressing just as the train pulled into the station. Reuniting with the girls, Harry stepped off the train into a steady rain pounding the station. Harry conjured a large umbrella for Luna, Hermione, and him. Rusty as his conjuration skills were, it was still serviceable. Luna walked silently next to Harry, her hand sliding into his. Hermione fell into step on Luna's other side and together, they headed toward the carriages. Harry helped the girls up and followed in behind. Neville, Hannah and Susan joined them.

With Luna's arms around his middle, squeezing the life out of him and Hermione's firm grip on his hand, he readied himself for everything that the year had in store. Year three here we come, Harry thought as the carriage moved up toward the castle.