Disclaimer:
All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners.
The original characters and plot are the property of the authors.
The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise.
No copyright infringement is intended.
I fixed some of the issues in chapter one
CH2
Family and Friends
Emma looked back through the rear view mirror and saw the kids asleep with Hermione's head resting on Harry's shoulder and his head resting atop hers. They looked so peaceful; it was hard to believe they could sleep after everything they had learned that day. Emma knew she wouldn't be sleeping well that night. There was nothing the Goblins could do they said. She understood they were limited in what they could do outside their bank and short of kidnapping the Dursleys which part of her would not mind too much, because they would just disappear from the muggle and wizarding worlds forever. That goblin said something about feeding dragons, were there such things as dragons and what did they mean feeding them? The sadistic side of Emma, the side she didn't know she had until she met that little boy in the back seat, hoped for the possibility of the Dursleys becoming dinner but she shook herself from that thought, it wasn't nice and she wouldn't be sure she could live with knowing if that happened.
Emma pulled into the drive and woke the kids. "Hermione why don't you go show Harry his room while I talk to your dad?"
"My room?" Harry asked surprised.
"Do you want to sleep in the car silly?" Hermione said grabbing his hand and dragging him into the house and up the stairs to a room that was nearly twice the size as his at privet drive it was even bigger then Dudley's it could even be bigger than his Aunt and Uncles, it even had its own bathroom.
"Wow but…"
"There are no buts Harry. We talked last night and unless the government takes you away you're staying here. Remember my mom told the Goblins that she was having Aunt Connie look into the Dursleys, they have to go to jail they just have too." Harry saw the tears start to slide down Hermione's cheek and did what he felt right and opened his arms and soon Hermione jumped at the chance for a hug that didn't let go until her tears stopped and a few minutes more and the only thing that stopped the hug then was being found by Mrs. Granger.
Harry hastily released Hermione while turning beet red while Hermione glared at her mother for the interruption. "It's OK Harry; hugs are more than welcome in this home." Mrs. Granger said with a smile as her daughter took Harry's hand and led him past her mother still glaring, to take Harry to meet her father, while Harry's embarrassment slowly left his face.
Two hours later there was a knock at the door and Aunt Connie was led into the dining room. When Harry stood to shake the solicitors hand she froze. "You're Harry Potter?" it was more a statement then a question.
Everyone froze except Harry, of course he was Harry but he knew something was off when everyone else froze including Hermione. "Yes, I'm Harry Potter, is that a problem."
Connie looked to the Grangers confused as to why or how that had a young wizard in their house, not to mention one that was probably the most famous one of all, and the Grangers, who had known Connie for fifteen years were wondering just the opposite, how their muggle friend could have ever learned of Harry's name, but Hermione was the one to ask. "How did you know his name?" then after a moment she went ahead and asked a more important question. "Are you a witch?"
Aunt Connie looked down at Hermione. "How do you know about witches?"
Hermione wasn't falling for that, "I asked you first." She said folding her arms determinedly.
Aunt Connie looked to her long time friend and saw she wanted to know the answer to that to so she sighed. "My grandma is a witch. And so is your Aunt Stacey?"
Hermione once again got over her been stunned first again and asked excitedly. "Aunt Stacey went to Hogwarts?"
Aunt Connie spun back to Hermione almost quick enough to hurt her neck. "How did you…. You're a witch…" she said sitting down abruptly. "I should have known, Stacey did a lot of the same things before she went off to Hogwarts. Oh my you're eleven?"
Hermione nodded. Aunt Connie jumped up and hugged her. "Oh you'll going to have so much fun..." but then she pulled away remembering why she was there. ", so why am I here?" she said looking at Harry.
Forgoing all the questions, they had for Aunt Connie the Grangers along with Harry sat down and explained about the Dursleys and everything that the Goblins had found concerning the health or lack thereof of Harry.
Connie listened and took notes but by the end she was shaking her head. "I don't think there is much I can do, Harry being magical takes our courts out of it, but…" the Grangers looked down sadly until she said the word "but". "Stacey is an Auror, I can call her, and I think she has today off." Connie didn't wait for permission she just grabbed the phone and soon had her sister on the line. "Hey sis, what is that boss of yours name?" "No not that one I mean the head lady Madam something?" "Yeah BONES." "I need you to bring her to the Emma and Dan's." "Yes them." "No you have to bring her, right to the living room." "No don't worry about that, just get her here." "Yes I know you'll kill me if you're fired, I accept but it won't happen, just get her here. Love you Bye!"
Connie put the phone down and sat back down at the table. "Stacey is going to bring the head of the DMLA Madam Bones here; she's the only one that can deal with someone like Harry."
Within ten minutes there was a small pop from the living room. Hermione was all set to jump into the arms of Aunt Stacey the younger of the two witches but the look of stern looking older one stopped her. "Please tell me why I'm in a muggle home, Auror Jones."
Before Auror Jones could explain she had no idea why her sister had her bring her to a muggle home Harry stood and turned around. "I think I'm the reason ma'am."
Madam Bones hadn't been stunned to many times in her life, her job forbade that kind of thing but here she was stunned to see Harry Potter in a muggle home, of course Dumbledore had hidden Mr. Potter away ten years ago, and a muggle home would be a perfect place to hide him from the Pureblood bigots that were Death Eaters.
"Madam Bones, my name is Connie Jones, Stacey is my sister and I'm a muggle solicitor, I asked her to bring you here because we have a problem that involves Harry, and knowing what he means to both our worlds I thought that only you could handle it."
Not knowing what was going on but if it involved Harry Potter she wanted to be involved. Madam Bones did the only thing she could and nodded and after introductions the Grangers retold the story of the last two days. To say Madam Bones was incensed would have been an understatement and she agreed with everything Solicitor Jones said, this could not be handled in the muggle courts but handing it in the magical world would cause other problems and she told them so but she was willing to do what was necessary.
"What about the goblins?"
"Mother you can't feed them to the dragons, no matter how much I'd like too." Hermione said.
"No I don't think I could live with that either dear tempting as their offer was but maybe there is something else they could do? They seemed to take a liking to you two."
Madam Bones smiled, she liked this family but she was surprised about the Goblins interest. "I'm going to start a quiet investigation and I think talking to the Goblins will be part of that, if I can just get the Goblins name, hopefully he will talk to me."
After her mother had given Madam Bones the Goblins name Hermione had another suggestion "You can get in touch with Bill too."
"Bill?" Madam Bones asked confused, that wasn't a Goblin name.
"Bill Weasley he's leaving tomorrow to go back to Egypt." Hermione answered.
Over the years Madam Bones had learned to keep her face impassive no matter what information she received, most called her a cold hearted bitch but keeping your true feelings hidden was essential in her line of work. "Thank you I may just go see him."
As Harry gathered all his belonging which wasn't much into his trunk he looked around the dingy room in Privet Drive. The room was admittedly better then the cupboard but he was glad the Grangers were letting him stay with them. He couldn't believe that in two days his life had changed so much. He'd found a best friend in Hermione, caring adults in Mr. and Mrs. Granger and Bill, even Connie and Madam Bones and he couldn't forget the Goblins, with all their help he'd never set foot in this house again, never feel the pain of hunger or abuse again.
He sat down heavily on to his bed as the tears started to flow and continued to flow until he had no tears left, he left all the pain and hurt in that room with those tears. Harry popped back into the Grangers living room and found Emma and Connie kissing. Started Emma turned and even through the embarrassment she could see the redness from his tears. "Harry?"
Hearing Harry's pop Hermione flew into the living room and caught her mother's exclamation. Anger welled up in her thinking the Dursleys had hurt him. "What happened what they do?" She asked and hugged him.
Harry took a deep breath more to get air into his lungs after she tried to hug it out of him. "Nothing Hermione, the door was still locked they didn't even know I was gone."
Hermione stepped back. "Locked what do you mean locked?"
"Nothing Hermione it's nothing."
Harry knew immediately he had said the wrong thing as he was pushed back on to the couch with a very angry Hermione ending up startling his lap with her hands on his shoulders. "It's not, nothing Harry, please tell me?"
Harry had no intention telling her but he saw the first tear fall so Harry started to stand and the angry look in her eyes darkened. "Please." He said softly and she backed off the couch and when they were both standing Harry hugged her and they were both gone with a soft pop with an angry yell of "Hermione" from her mother following them.
"This was your room?" Hermione whispered looking around disgusted.
Harry nodded but wouldn't look at her so she came closer. "What, are you just embarrassed or is there something else?"
"I only slept here once; my room was the cupboard under the stairs in fact that's where my Hogwarts letter was addressed to."
Harry saw the explosion coming and pulled her into a hug. "Shhh!"
"But!"
"Shhh!" He buried her head into his neck to shut her up and then buried his into hers. "Please it's over; I'm never coming back here."
Before she could respond they heard heavy footstep coming up the stairs and much lighter footsteps following. "I haven't heard the boy in days." They heard Aunt Petunia say as she reached the top landing.
"So it's only been two days, the Freak will live, but if he left a mess in Dudley's room I'll only break his arm if he is lucky. Hear me Freak," There was a loud booming knock pounded on the door. "That room better be spotless, you remember when I broke your arm last time don't you?"
Harry kept Hermione in a tight hug as she tried to respond to the blowhard on the other side of the door. "Yes Uncle Vernon."
"You better! Let him out tomorrow, but he only gets one piece of toast, I'm going to bed." Vernon finished to his wife and Harry waited until the Dursleys bedroom door closed and popped them away silently as he could but not before Hermione looked towards the door and saw the dead bolts meant to keep Harry a prisoner.
Harry popped them back into the Granger Living room and into the middle of a hell storm that was a pissed off Mrs. Granger. As Harry released Hermione she was spun around by her mother. "Where did you go?"
After everything Hermione had seen and heard in that room she was speechless which wasn't going over to well with her mother and Harry saw the same kind of anger from Hermione just a few minutes ago. Harry pulled Hermione behind him. "Please it's my fault, please don't hurt her."
Mrs. Granger froze in shock but suddenly grabbed Harry in a breath stopping hug. "Oh Harry I would never hurt her, or you I promise, I was just worried, I've never had my daughter just disappear like that I was scared but let's sit down and discus everything as a family, is that OK?"
Harry was stunned at the family remark but Hermione pulled him back on to the couch beside her as her parents sat in the love seat across from them and Connie sat in the arm chair.
Hermione laid her head on Harry shoulder as she continued to cry. "Hermione why are you crying you know I wouldn't hurt you!"
"It's not that mom, Harry took me to his relatives it was horrible, there were three locks on his door to keep him in." Hermione sat up and looked at Harry. "When did he break your arm?"
Harry felt anger, not at the Dursleys but at Hermione and her incessant need for information. Harry bolted upstairs to the room the Grangers let him use, with a mumbled, "I'm sorry." as he went.
It was hours later and Harry still lay on the bed staring at the ceiling, he felt so ashamed after everything Hermione, and her parents had done for him. They're worried, she's worried and he just runs away like that. There was a knock at the door but Harry stayed silent there was another knock and then when he still didn't answer it opened a crack. Hermione stuck her head through the door. "I'm sorry!"
"No I'm sorry!" Harry whispered.
Hermione stepped up to the bed then to Harry surprise laid down facing him on the bed. They could both see they'd been crying. Harry swallowed he knew he had made her cry. "Please don't cry because of me."
"I'm not crying because of you, I was crying for you."
Harry pulled her to him and into a hug with her head on his chest. "I don't want you to cry at all Hermione, for me or because of me, it's the same thing. Not one single tear, I'm not worth it." Hermione stiffened and attempted the look at him but Harry held her tight. "No more questions, please, I can't take anymore tonight." Hermione relaxed and nodded into his chest, Harry still felt her tears but they slowly stopped as she fell asleep and he soon followed and the door quietly shut.
"We're going to leave them like that?" Dan asked not liking the idea all that much.
Emma nodded. "I think they need each other tonight, I think they're going to need each other for a long time to come."
The sunlight startled Harry awake. And he tried to jump out of bed, Aunt Petunia will be upset breakfast wasn't ready but he found a head on his chest. It took him a second to realize he wasn't at Privet Drive anymore, and it was Hermione's head that was on his chest, meaning she slept the entire night in bed with him. "Oh no, oh no!" Harry said as he tried to slip out from under her without waking her.
"What's wrong Harry?" Hermione asked sleepily, but there was worry in voice too.
"I'm going to be in so much trouble." He answered as he tried to free himself again but Hermione had taken hold of him.
"Why?"
"We slept together." He answered as if it the most logical thing.
Hermione giggled. "Harry, it wasn't like that."
"No, but your parents won't care." Harry's voice broke slightly.
Hermione giggled again. "I'm sure my parents know exactly where I am and if they haven't come in here yet they aren't going to."
Harry had to smile at that, she'd know better than he would, then Harry sighed he had decided to tell her everything. "If I wasn't cooking the meal's that I wasn't allowed to eat, cleaning the inside or doing the yard work I was locked in the cupboard, I had only stayed one night in that room before we met but yes as you heard it would have been the same thing except that the door had a cat flap for whatever food they planned to grace me with."
Harry felt the tears again as Hermione asked. "They really would have only given you one piece of toast?" Harry shrugged he could not tell her that how likely that really was, they had already said he had not been out of his room and that had not bothered them so why would only giving him one piece of toast.
Hermione did not like that answer but she did not push. "Well go take a shower my mom probably has breakfast ready," Harry's eyes widened in alarm as he sat up and Hermione was going to ask but then she realized what was wrong and pushed him back down. "NO Harry, you don't have to make breakfast every morning, you can talk to my mom about cooking once in a while but we are not going to make you cook. We talked last night and after breakfast we are taking you shopping." With his arms pinned to the bed all Harry could do was nod reluctantly and then watch her jump off the bed and head for the door turning to smile at him as she left.
At the breakfast table nothing was said as to their sleeping arrangements the previous night and Harry was not going to bring it up.
Harry never realized what all involved with shopping, having never gone and only carried in the loads of clothing bought back when Dudley was made to go. Who knew you needed to try on twenty different shirts, all different styles and colors, who knew there was so many of each, or trying on another twenty different pair of pants, he could understand the shoes after finding the first pair that actually fit him correctly but he really didn't think he needed three pairs of shoes, seven shirt and pants sets, one for each day of the week apparently. Harry figured he'd end up like Dudley and never wear half of it, but then he thought, no, he'd wear each and everything if for no other reason than Dudley wouldn't have, before he realized that mother and daughter had each day planned already and he wouldn't have a say in the matter anyway. Who knew it would take all day either, but Hermione got to do some shopping too so he got to watch from the other side and see Hermione come out of the dressing room a new person six or seven times before she picked two, the same two Harry had said he liked the best.
Harry was exhausted by the time they made it back home and Mr. Granger already had a pizza on the way by the time he helped with the packages. "You survived." Mr. Granger exclaimed when he saw Harry.
"Dad!" Hermione chastised making him laugh as he patted Harry on the back and took the packages from him.
After dinner the Grangers went looking for the kids, it was taking longer then necessary to put their clothes away and they had figured the two had fallen asleep but what they saw amazed them both even though Mrs. Granger had seen the two use magic before but not like this. Hermione had pulled down her childhood block set and Harry and her were building a tower but without their hands. All the pieces were orbiting around them and when the next piece was needed it floated down and placed so that the next one could be floated down and added until there were no more pieces in orbit around them.
"I thought they couldn't use magic outside of school." Mr. Granger asked quietly but Hermione had heard, as the blocks split apart to start their orbit again, and answered.
"We just can't use our wands dad. Harry was practicing putting his clothes away this way so now I'm learning." Hermione answered as the pieces slowed around her but continued to orbit until she focused back on them instead of her dad.
"Oh OK, but you're doing that all by yourself?" Mr. Granger said with a chuckle but was obviously impressed.
"Yes she is I can't pick up this many at one time."
"Yes you can, your stronger then I am you just don't have the focus to keep track of them all."
"That's one thing Hermione has lots of, is focus." Her mom entered the conversation for the first time.
"Well that's something you can work on, Harry." Her dad suggested as he pulled his wife away to let the kids continue uninterrupted. They had just sat down with a new cup a tea when they heard all the blocks suddenly hitting the floor. Racing up the stairs, they found all the blocks indeed scattered over the floor and Harry floating Hermione on to the bed. "What happened?"
"Too tired." Came Hermione's weak voice.
"She was trying to keep up with me but used too much magic." Harry said as he sat at the end of the bed looking at Hermione concerned.
"Hermione you know you tired yourself out at the alley the other day too." Her mom said sitting beside her daughter and feeling her head.
Hermione brushed her moms hand away. "I'm not sick mom, Harry's right I just really over did it, and I'll know for next time."
"I'm sorry I felt her getting weak but didn't stop her." Harry said guiltily looking down at the bed spread as he leaned on his arm.
Hermione grabbed his arm and he fell towards her and when he looked up she looked at him seriously. "It is not your fault, I was trying to do too much, I knew you are more powerful then I am, and always will be so I should have known better and will do know better now. You on the other hand were trying to get me to stop but I didn't so it's completely my fault for being so pig headed. I will let you know when it's your fault!" Harry looked shocked and confused towards her parents but Dan was backing away with his hands in the air in the sign surrender while her mom just smiled before turning to leave them alone.
Hermione watched as Harry effortlessly put the blocks away and then sit at the end of the bed again and looked at her worriedly. "What's wrong Harry?" she asked patting the bed beside her.
Harry scooted up and turned on his side so they faced each other. "I told you, so now tell me."
Hermione looked at him confused. "What Harry?"
"Your life before now, you haven't talked about your friends, I bet you'll miss them while you're at Hogwarts?"
Harry saw the tears as she turned away. "I don't have any friends Harry."
Harry wanted to question, he wanted to know like she wanted to know but he knew she'd tell him better in her own time. "So…" Harry frowned. ", we're not friends." Hermione looked horrified until Harry couldn't hold the frown going any longer and had to smile, earning him a smack on his arm.
It was two days later as Amelia Bones and Auror Jones watched as #4 Privet Drive was raided by none other there ten uniformed muggle police officers with their K9 counter parts. What they found was lots of evidence of abuse, especially in the cupboard under the stairs where the tip said blood and other evidence could be found. The officers found plenty, years worth in fact; they weren't too pleased by the locks and cat flap that made up the makeshift jail in the littlest bedroom upstairs either.
Amelia caught sight of a suspicious neighbor rushing back towards her house. Auror Jones quietly stunned her as she entered her house and then followed. After learning Mrs. Fig was a squab sent by Dumbledore to watch Harry so he could fix any problems that may come up Amelia wiped her memory of the raid and of course of their being there. Dumbledore would not know of the Dursleys plight until it was too late and they were charged with multiple accounts of abuse and possible murder charges when young Harry Potter was nowhere to be found because just hours before with the help of Connie Jones, a little magic and one small type-o, the Grangers received custody of one Harry Porter.
"Susan!"
"Yes Auntie."
"Come down, bring Hannah with you."
Harry and Hermione watched two young girls descend the curving stairs. Susan with her long dark red hair and the other was a dirty blonde. Both smiled at the new comers that were obviously their age, Susan's eyes widened as she noticed that each carried an overnight bag. "Susan this is Hermione and Harry, they are going to be spending the weekend, so show them up stairs. I'm hoping the four of you could get to know each other, but I have to get going. I'll see you tonight." Given Susan a kiss on the forehead Amelia left through the fireplace after throwing in some power and saying "ministry".
"So you're really Harry Potter?" Susan asked as they sat cross legged on her bedroom floor. At Harry's nod she continued. "I thought the scar would be bigger."
Harry shrugged. "I was till the other day but the Goblins fixed it."
Just to get the conversation off that blasted scar and Harry almost dying to get rid of it Hermione decided to change the subject. "So what sort of magic can you do?" Hermione eyes jumped between the two girls excitedly but they both looked shocked but it was Susan that answered.
"You can't do magic outside of school."
Hermione huffed and Harry put his hand on her arm to stop her from getting upset. "We thought that you just couldn't do magic with your wand?"
This time Susan was confused so it was Hannah that answered. "But that's the only kind of magic, for witches and wizards, that is."
Harry looked at Hermione and they smiled at each other as one of Susan's pillows from her bed behind her floated up and sailed lightly into the back of Susan's head. "Hey!" Susan said as she turned to find one of her own pillows had attacked her before turned back confused. "How'd you do that?"
Harry tried to look innocent. "Do want?"
Susan spun around intending to grab and throw the pillow back at him but found it back on her bed far out of her reach. She spun back just in time to be hit again with the pillow. This time Susan grabbed the pillow before it could attack again. "How did you do that?" She asked just as another pillow attacked Hannah.
There were nine pillows in Susan's room and soon they were all flying back and forth, at times if Hannah or Susan took too long in grabbing a downed pillow it would land back in either Hermione's or Harry's hand to be thrown back at the others girls. "OK I give you win." Hannah said sitting down out of breath, Susan lasted a few minutes longer but she gave in to when the pillows she'd thrown started to stop in midair only to come back and attack her and in some cases chase her across the room.
Susan finally sat breathless. "OK how are you two doing that?"
Harry and Hermione looked at each other. "Magic!" They intoned simultaneously before falling into a heap laughing.
Amelia found Hannah and her niece in the center of a pillow storm, with pillows floating in an orbit around them as if that was the most normal thing in the world with Harry and Hermione watching with grins from the bed. Amelia was about to yell for the use of magic expecting a reprimand from the Ministry any moment when she realized neither girl had her wand. "How...how are you doing that?" Both Susan and Hannah jumped and all the pillows fell to the ground.
"Auntie!" Susan yelled in frustration. "You made us drop them."
Harry stood and beamed. "That was great but your both getting too tired anyway Susan, maybe before bed we can try again." Amelia watched as first a grinning Susan and then equally grinning Hannah hugged Harry and then Hermione before the four followed her down to dinner.
"OK I think I understand and yes the law states wand, the ministry can't regulate wandless magic, but I don't understand how you can all do it. It's said only the most powerful can and it takes them half a lifetime to learn."
Hermione smiled at Harry and he stood and taking his desert fork which hadn't been used yet with him and placed it on the table in front of Amelia. "Lay your hand flat one inch from the fork." After she had done that Harry continued. "Now think of your magic, think of it as a light inside you, imagine it, see it within you." After a few minutes of concentration from Amelia she nodded. "OK now make that light flow towards your arm slowly all the way to your finger tips. Imagine the light as being warm making your arm warm as it travels until it reaches your finger tips." After another few minutes Amelia finally nodded. "OK now, think of that light moving out from your body to touch the fork." Again after a few moments Amelia nodded. "Now use that light to push the fork."
Suddenly the fork moved just a little but it did. "I felt it." Amelia exclaimed as she saw the fork really had moved but then she frowned. "I swear it took a lot to move it though, I mean I'm tired now."
It was Hermione who answered. "It gets easier; I think you've been painting yourself into a corner only using your wand.
Harry woke up to the sound of two giggling girls. "Umm what time is it?"
"6:00" the two said in unison.
"And why are you giggling?"
Susan blushed. "There's never been a boy here before."
Harry slipped out of bed and both girls gasped. Harry looked down. "What?"
"We can see you under ware." Hannah said with a gulp but her stare was intense.
Harry laughed. "There just my boxers."
Susan and Hannah gasped again. "She's seen them?"
Susan and Hannah spun around at the laugh from the door. "Of course I've seen them I picked them, and it's kind of hard not to see him in them when I fell asleep with him the other night." Hermione had to laugh again at the looks of shock. "I was exhausted from all the magic and we were talking, all I know is we woke up together, he is a nice pillow though." All the girls turned to Harry who was now beat red.
Susan and Hannah were enamored with Hedwig at breakfast when she dropped off a letter from Ginny just before an eagle owl landed with another letter from Daphne.
"You found me girl." Harry praised the snowy white owl and petted her just below the neck. Hedwig head butted his hand and glared as if to say off course I found you, you can't hide from me. Harry laughed and gave her some bacon as he opened Ginny's letter while Hermione took the Daphne's.
"Ginny says she's bored, she's stuck in her room."
"No' did she get in trouble?" Hermione asked not looking up from Daphne's letter.
"No she doesn't want her bothers to know she's doing magic, I don't think I'd want her mom to know either."
"I met Mr. Weasley a few times he's nice, but I thought they only had boys?" Susan asked.
Hermione shook her head as she laid her letter down. "No but I doubt she is ever far from her mother. Daphne says the same; she's bored but she is showing her little sister. She says her parents won't even try to learn." Hermione said with a frown.
After breakfast a sad Susan said her Aunt Amelia always went to work early, Harry was hit with a pillow, in his guest room, hard enough to knock him down. He chased after a giggling Susan into her room where he heard a splash from her bathroom. Harry slowed but seeing the door wade opened he entered cautiously. The large tub was full of bubbles and he could see the waves of where someone had jumped in. Harry slowly closed in on the tub expecting Susan who had to be hiding within the bubbles to jump out at him but suddenly from behind he heard a noise and when he turned he found the girls including Susan racing towards him. He was stuck between a full tub and three girl's intent on making him end up in said tub but as they pushed, he made sure that if he were going in he wouldn't be alone and grabbed any of the limbs that came near. All four ended up laughing and sputtering in the warm soapy tub.
"This thing's the size of a hot tub." Hermione said when she was finally able to speak. Standing up the water went to her stomach. Her thin night clothes clung wetly to her skin.
"Thanks guys!" Harry said with a laugh as he splashed the three of them. The water fight started three against one but ended up a free for all.
"Well we're all clean." Hermione stated as she sat back and looked down at herself.
Susan giggled. "Yeah I'll say, but what's a hot tub?" As Hermione started to explain what a hot tub was she shrugged to herself and unbuttoned her top. "Hermione!" Susan yelled drawing Harry attention that having seen commercials for Hot Tubs wasn't paying attention to what Hermione was saying or doing.
Hermione looked down again and shrugged. "It's soaked and already see through, besides the bubbles keep him from seeing anything else." She said finishing with her top and to everyone disbelief her bottoms were next.
Harry was red but she was right he couldn't see anything, the bubble covered her top and what was left was underwater. Soon it was just Harry left with any clothes and Hermione stalked to him. "Come one Harry."
Harry shook his head and looked from Hermione to Susan to Hannah and finally back to Hermione with fear in his eyes. "No!" he said as he started to back up.
Suddenly Hermione was straddling his waist with her arms around his neck both of the other girls were shocked at her position but her eyes were blazing. "Harry they are trusting you enough to be naked in a tub with you can trust them to see your scars, "trust" me."
Slowly Harry nodded and Hermione started to lift his t-shirt off before backing up and standing pulling him with her. Once he was standing she looked down worriedly, realizing what she was planning to do before taking a deep breath and grabbing his boxers and starting to slide them down.
Within moments Harry was naked and his boxers had joined the other discarded clothing.
"Wha…what scars?" Susan asked, the fact that a naked boy was so close even if she couldn't see anything made her blush.
Hermione looked at him and gave a small nod before he turned around to show the scars from the years of abuse from his uncle. There were gasps from both girls and then a light hand was touching one on his shoulder and then another hand traced another. "Harry why?" Hannah breathed out softly her voice shaky with emotion.
Harry turned and found all three crying. Harry could only shrug as his own tears started to fall. Hermione wrapped her arms around him and buried her head into his shoulder Susan followed and then Hannah joined. They were pressed close but he didn't notice at first. "It's Ok, it'll never happen again." He just managed to say.
Hermione broke off and took the soap and started to slowly wash his back, wishing she could rub the scars away. Soon she was joined by Hannah on the other side, before long everyone was washing another regardless of sex, six pairs of hands roamed freely where they never had before.
It just ten o'clock when a gong was heard throughout the house. "Aunties home." Susan said as her six pillows came crashing to the ground. Susan left to meet her and came back a few minutes later with two twin girls. "Guy's this is Padma and Pavarti Patel, their father is in an hour meeting with Minister Fudge so it will last another four or five hours."
"We were supposed to go shopping." Pavarti whined but soon she forgot all about shopping as she learned to float pillows without a wand. It was hours later when the final girl gave up trying to keep up with Harry and his magic, the others lays exhausted until Hermione sat down.
Harry beamed at her, she'd gotten so much stronger over the last few days and her concentration was unsurpassed. Suddenly Susan rolled over on to her tummy and looked up at the rest. "We should have a sleepover."
Hermione huffed. "Aren't we on a sleepover?"
"You Harry and I are but Pavarti and Padma aren't and we could get your two friends also, Ginny and Daphne also." Hannah pointed out, it had always been just Susan and her, never anyone else, they'd always lots of fun but it was so much better with others.
Once no one had a complaint Susan jumped up to floo call her Aunt. Twenty minutes later she found everyone in their same places, with the girls debating finding out how ticklish Harry was and Harry inching his way back away without them knowing so he could make a hasty retreat if need be. "Auntie says that's a great idea, she'll see about those Delacour girls you talked about if they are still in town, the Weasleys and the Greengrass'. Mr. Weasley will be easy he works at the Ministry and she'll talk to your dad," she said turning to the twins ", as soon as she see's your dad she'll ask him also but the Minister still has him captive." Susan giggled sympathetically and the twins just looked at each other and shrugged. They certainly didn't mind being here.
At 6:00 on the dot t floo activated and Ginny strolled out and headed straight to Harry. "Harry!" she yelled before engulfing him in a hug. But then she jumped back. "Oh no! I shouldn't have said that."
"Oh no it's OK everyone knows who I am here, well maybe not her." Harry said looking at the blond headed girl with strawberries as earrings that had followed Ginny through the fireplace.
"Ohh." Ginny exclaimed and she ran back to the girl. "This is Luna, were sort of neighbors, Madam Bones said the more the merrier." She looked kind of sheepish but before anyone could tell her it was a great idea the floo roared to life and out stepped Daphne and right behind her a much younger girl that was obviously her younger sister.
Daphne stopped obviously surprised by all the people. "Umm Hello, there's one more." She said as the green flames blazed and another blond haired girl stepped out. "This is Tracy."
As everyone exchanged names the floo activated for the last time that night and Amelia stepped through with the Delacour sisters. "Did everyone make it through?" Once it was clear everyone had, Amelia continued. "Good let's get this party started."
Between getting chased, prodded and tickled to within an inch of his life Harry woke up late, but this time it wasn't to giggling. Harry started looking for the girls in Hermione's and Ginny's guest room but it was empty, the next room was too, but the bed had been slept in, finally Harry came to Susan's room and heard talking coming from the bathroom. The door was again wide open so Harry leery of what happened the last time glanced in and found the tub full of girls, all the girls. He turned quickly before he was seen but it was too late, he felt himself being pulled towards the bathroom. "Aren't you coming in Harry?" Hermione asked she'd been waiting for Harry to show.
"In?" A chorus followed Hermione question from everyone but Susan and Hannah, they just giggled.
"Let me go Hermione." Harry said trying to fight the pull as he turned to see where he was going even if Hermione's plan was obvious. Harry was going to get wet if he couldn't break free and try he did but he still found himself slowly being magically dragged towards the tub while Hermione, Hannah and Susan stood proudly as the others watched in trepidation with just their heads above water all except little Gabrielle that is who clapped excitedly from her sisters arms. With just feet to go Harry was able to stop the advance and he smiled. He knew she couldn't keep it up and he'd win.
That had occurred the Hermione she had hoped to do it on her own but she had a plan just for that. "Girls, a little help?"
Harry lost the battle against the three and sailed into the center of the tub to a chorus of. "He's a boy!"
Hermione and the girls ignored the others as they unceremoniously stripped Harry of his clothes. The others quieted as they realized that, that boy they were just complaining about was now naked. Which mostly made them forget that they were also naked but that didn't stop them from arranging the bubbles strategically about themselves.
Later a game of hide and seek was formed through out the manor. However somehow Harry always won. "How do you keep finding us Harry, Susan asked after being found for the third time." It was her manor she should know it better then any of them but she never had a chance against him. He always found Hermione first and she seemed to expect it but how was he finding her, this last time it would have been hard for her house elf to find her.
Harry looked down, "I always know where you are Susan."
"And how is that?" Susan wasn't sure if she like someone knowing whee she was all the time.
Harry shrugged. "Your Magic!"
"What?" Susan and Hermione asked as one.
"Well everyone's magic is different and when I'm close I can find any of yours." Harry said to them all.
Hermione's eyes when wide. "That's how you know when I've overdone it."
"It's a Little different but yes, I can feel you magic and how strong it is, it's taken a while to learn the differences in your magic to tell you apart, but I can feel anyone's magic even if I don't know who they are."
"Can you teach us?" Hermione asked with her puppy dog eyes.
"I can try."
Amelia came home early for dinner and then to take the girls to their respective homes, she found everyone in Susan room in a circle. She watched silently as they clasped hands around the circle. "What are you guys doing now?" Amelia asked amused.
"We wanted to know what it felt like to have Harry's power so Harry is going to try to share his magic with us." Susan answered before closing her eyes again.
Amelia gave a soft laugh. "I don't think that's possible, but what am I saying, most of what Harry and you guys do shouldn't be possible." Amazingly Amelia watched as first Harry started to glow, at first it was dim but it grew and then spread to Hermione on his right and Susan on his left. Then as they started to glow brightly, the glow flowed to Ginny on Hermione's side and Hannah on Susan's, the glow seemed to move faster thru them and move even faster on to Luna and Tracy before moving on to Daphne and Astoria and finally finishing with the Delacour sisters. There was a great pulse of magic and they all collapsed unconscious, Amelia moved quickly to Susan but as she touched the girl she was thrown backward as if struck.
"Aunty? Aunty?" Susan yelled louder.
"Susan?" Amelia asked as she opened her eyes and regretted it, her head hurt. Something wasn't right, felt different, but she couldn't put her finger on it. She'd figure it out latter, she had more important things to deal with. "Are...are you alright?"
"Yes Aunty but I'm not the one on the floor beside the bed. Are you OK? What happened?"
"I fine." she answered as she started to get up. "You all started to glow and then you collapsed. I went to you but…" Amelia sat on the bed and looked around. "I guess I ended up over here, how are you?"
Susan closed her eyes. "Guys…" she looked over her shoulder. "Stop talking to me all at one time, I got this."
Amelia looked at her niece concerned. "Honey they weren't talking, in fact they are being very quiet."
Susan smiled. "No Aunty they were all talking to me in here," Susan tapped the side of her head. ", each telling me I need to do something different." Susan looked over her shoulder. "And they were giving me a headache." Susan closed her eyes again. "Guys talk out loud if you want my Aunty to hear you, remember she obviously can't hear you."
Amelia got a chorus of "Sorry Amelia."
Amelia was standing now. "Wait. Wait. Wait. You can all hear each other."
Hermione stepped forward. "We seemed to be linked, we've come to a consensus that we seemed to have passed out from information overload when all of our memories transferred to each of us our brains needed to reboot if you will. I guess we'll have to figure out new rules for Hide and Seek not that our magic feels the same, maybe finding one particular person. Oh well we will figure something out but oh no that wont work we cant play Hide and Seek anymore we know everything about each other now including where everyone would be hiding." Each of the kids blushed deeply Harry the most but followed closely by her niece.
Amelia could understand why Harry would be embarrassed, he'd know things no eleven year old boy should know about a girl and he'd know that about every one of them here, she could even understand Susan's embarrassment, Hannah and she had become very close over this summer. Amelia was about to ask about this feeling everyone magic when she stopped.
Suddenly the girls turned to Harry who was looking out the window. Hermione wrapped her arms around him. "Don't block us Harry, it's done, we already know everything they did."
"I don't want you to know." Harry whispered.
Amelia couldn't hear what he said but she could guess. "Harry they can't hurt you anymore, they are in a muggle jail, awaiting trial."
Amelia turned to Susan who was crying. "You know what they did?" everyone turned to face Amelia as Susan answered for them all.
Susan nodded. "We all saw it; felt it as if it was happening to us. We know when and how each of those scars those monsters caused." Susan turned and looked at Hermione. "We also all saw Hermione bullied because she was smarter than them." Susan spun around. "Harry you are not going to have a talk with those bullies, Hermione's coming to Hogwarts with us she is never going to see them again."
"And Luna," Ginny spoke up wrapping the small blond girl in a hug from behind, ", you are no longer alone, none of us will ever be alone again." Ginny said thinking a little about herself as being the only girl in a family of boys how lonely she had gotten sometimes.
Amelia just stared gob smacked. Some sort of bond had happened between them all. "Your parents have to be told." All the kids looked at Amelia horrified.
Amelia quietly climbed the stairs followed closely by the parents of the girls. She led them to Susan's room where all the kids were. They watched in fascination as pillows and stuffed animals floated through the air, in and around the children.
As they watched as Harry did something happened that neither the Grangers or Amelia had seen him do before. "That was a wandless Protego, Fleur must have learned that at her school, I wander if they will..." Amelia as cut off when the other girls started their own Protego. As they watched it was obvious that Fleur was teaching them all, because once everyone learned the Protego spell they moved on to stupefy.
It was amazing to see a red beam of magic form just inches from their hands to streak across the room to harmlessly strike a pillow. It only took five minutes to learn a spell before they moved on to the next even the youngest of them Gabby, her parents were most surprised that that. Amelia was sure that with their bond they knew all the theory that Fleur knew for each of those spells before they moved to the next spell. Amelia and the other magical parents were sure they would each from the youngest to the oldest would have third year educations before the 1st of September.
Little did she know that between Hermione's organization and Fleur's knowledge and advanced books they would be closer to fifth year by then. Wanded magic would have to be brought in though, if only to add a little normalcy to their upcoming school lives and they are going to need all the normalcy that they can get.
"Arthur, Molly, Lionel with your permission I would like to talk to Minerva about the possibility of Ginny and Luna joining Hogwarts a year early."
Molly and Arthur nodded but Molly added. "Our Ron will not like that, but I can see no alternative," she sighed once she finished. She had hoped to have one year of mother daughter time, which always have several boy's around didn't allow. ", as long as Lionel agrees, that is, we wouldn't want either girl left behind."
Lionel nodded his agreement, his daughter needed friends badly, friends that wouldn't tease and bully her, and her new bonded would never allow such a thing to happen.
With Lionel's agreement Molly continued turning to the Delacour's. "But what of your youngest, Gabriele, isn't she much too young to go to school with her sister?"
"Ohh, we agree, she is much to young so we will hire a tutor for Gabby, the tutor will just be there to provide a safe environment to her to practice what she will be learning from the others."
"Then we are agreed then?" Once all the parents agreed Amelia added a another topic. "Good then there is one more thing I thing you should all know."
The parents turned to her, they heard the seriousness in her voice, they've had to deal with a lot so far that night, now what would they have to deal with and will it be too much.
"When I told you about being blasted across the room when I touched Susan I didn't tell you everything. It became apparent after my headache died down that I had partial bond with Susan. While I can't hear any of the others I can hear her if she wishes me to hear her, just her voice though. It's like an echo from across a long hallway but I can hear her, though I cant talk to he, it seems to be one way. Susan tells me she has to focus hard for me to hear her, harder then her focus on her wandless magic."
Minerva was at a loss as she prepared to go to Bones Manor. Was something wrong with Susan? No. She'd call for Poppy or take her to St Mungo's.
So why was she being summoned?
Did Susan not want to Hogwarts? No that was ludicrous, Hogwarts was the best magical school anywhere. Their was a few students from families she didn't want to see at Hogwarts, but she would never say such a thing.
If she didn't know better she'd think things were getting worse between the houses and students, then even the height of the war, but Albus said no it was just her imagination.
Maybe she was getting to old to teach, she did have a lot responsibilities. However, Albus was nearly twice her age, but then again he didn't have to deal with the whole student body she she did. The student body was worse than any Wizengamot. It was sad really, they acted like children most of the time but her students did all the time. Albus was really more of a figure head no days anyway, she did most of his school related duties, he came in to sign a few forms, she wasn't even sure if he read them anymore.
Minerva was shocked when she saw Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Mr. Lovegood along side their daughters as Madam Bones crossed to welcome her to her home. Where was Susan? She thought as she was led to a seat and Madam Bones sat in her own.
"Let me get this started, I asked you here to see if it was possible for these two girls to start their first year early?" Amelia sat back and waited.
"I'm sorry but there had never been an exception to that rule any student must be eleven years old to start their educations." she answered sadly before turning to the girls parents. "I am sorry there have been a few over the years who I wished Albus would have allowed but he has always been firm and I don't think asking in your case would change his mind. It just has never been done." If she was expecting sadness from the parents or children she was mistaken they were smiling.
"Would you like some tea, Professor?" Miss Weasley asked politely.
"Um yes Miss Weasley, I don't think I would ever turn down a cup of tea."
Miss Weasley smiled brightly as out of the corner of her eye the Professor saw the tea pot move and pour a cup of tea. She turned expecting a House Elf but found none. "Would you like sugar or cream, Professor?" Turning back to Miss Lovegood
answered yes and a sugar cube and a splash of cream was added to her cup before it floated to her outstretched hand.
Minerva tried to find the house elf while trying to not look like that was what she was doing. "You won't find my house elf or anyone pointing their wand at the tea service, it's all the girls."
Minerva turned to the girls skeptically. "What else can you do?" She'd catch them cheating she was sure of it.
Two hours later Minerva would have two new if a little young students, Albus would never know, well not before they were sorted and then it would be too late for him to stop it
