Chapter 25: Investments, a Shooting Star and a Trip to School

The next day the Potters phase to Diagon Alley near the entrance steps to Gringotts and proceed up them into the bank. The wizards in the alley notice the door guards bow to Harry and Hermione along with giving them a salute of sword across the chest or spear leaning out straight armed. The Potters nod to them as they pass the guards. Word has already reached Ragnok that the King and Queen have entered the bank and he rushes out to greet them.

He bows and says," Welcome to Gringotts My Lord and Lady. How may the bank serve you today?"

"We would like to talk about a couple of investments we want to make," Harry says.

"Let's retire to my office sire and we will discuss the matter," Ragnok says.

The wizards inside the bank heard the word sire and wondered what that was about along with being greeted by the leader of the goblin nation, who never interacts with wizards. Also the alley was filling with rumors as to why the guards acted like they did. The Potters must be very important people indeed to provoke that kind of response from the goblins.

Harry and Hermione followed Ragnok to his office where he sat behind his desk and conjured a couple of comfortable chairs for the couple.

"Tell me about these investments," He inquires.

"First I want to inform you that my relatives and I have reconciled. After Sirius Black escaped, I had to restore their memories and inform them of the situation in case he went over there looking for me. It turns out everything was okay anyway since I removed the hostility charms that were put on the house when I was left there," Harry explained.

"That's good news sire, it is always good to have family about you," Ragnock responded.

"Okay, the first investment is in my Aunt Marge Dursley. She has been raising bulldogs as a hobby for a while now and knows how to handle and train the dogs. She has always wanted to have a full time business raising and training the dogs. I have already assigned two elves to be her assistants and would like for you to arrange to have kennels built and supplied and have a vet on retainer to keep the dogs healthy. I told her since she was family we would be silent partners for ten percent of the profits. I know it won't be a large investment but it will make her happy." Harry says.

"That can be arranged easily My Lord," Ragnok says.

"The next investment has the potential for much more profit. I want you to buy up the rest of the stock in Grunnings Drills for us and I'm installing my Uncle, Vernon Dursley, as director of the company. He will get a huge promotion and Hermione's father can bring in a lot of business for the firm. I'm sure there is unlimited potential for growth in this business if we handle it right. With your help I believe it will work." Harry says.

"Very good, sire. It will be taken care of and I will owl you when the transactions are complete," Ragnok says.

Harry reaches out and shakes hands with the goblin to seal the deal. Then they get up and are escorted by Ragnok back to the lobby, where the goblin bows to them before they depart.

As they exit the bank, the guards salute them again which they acknowledge and then proceed on a leisurely stroll down the alley. There was a strong auror presence due to Black's escape.

"We might as well get our supplies while we are here. Third year offers more classes so I am adding Arithmancy and Ancient Runes to my core classes," Harry says, "that should give us ten, a full schedule. Muggle studies and Divination are not needed since we are not oracles and our regular education takes care of the other. Astronomy is not needed due to who we are. So that should leave us with History of Magic, Defense, Potions, Herbology, Care of Magical Creatures, Transfiguration and Charms."

"Sounds good to me Harry, "she says as they head over to the book store. When they arrive, they find a crowd around a large cage full of books. The store owner has a bat in his hands as he is trying to beat back the books so he could get one out for the next customer. The books are trying to bite the store owner and growling at him. Harry looks at the book title, "The Monster book of Monsters", and grins at the mayhem. Hermione thinks it's funny as well as they had gotten their book as birthday present from Hagrid on Harry's birthday.

He leans over to the store owner and whispers," You have to stroke the spine to calm the book down. It's like rubbing a cat's fur to get it to purr."

"Thanks for that. I've been fighting these things all day." He says. After that he levitates a book out, strokes it and calmly completes the sale. The potters gather all of their books together before taking them up to the counter and paying for them. They then shrink them down and put them in their pocket. When they go back out again the Weasley clan is out doing their shopping as well and the Potters meet up with them.

Hermione notices Scabbers looking a little peaked and tired and asks," what's wrong with your rat Ron?"

"I don't know. He's been like this since we got back from Egypt," Ron says, "I'm going to take him to the pet store to let them have a look at him."

"We'll come along as we need supplies for Hedwig and Hermione wants to look for a pet," Harry says.

The trio goes into Eeylops Emporium where Ron goes up to the front counter and puts Scabbers down for the clerk to examine.

"What's wrong with him," the clerk asks?

"He's been like this since we got back from Egypt. He won't eat and wants to sleep all the time," Ron says.

"How long have you had him," the clerk asks?

"Well he was my brother Percy's and then he was handed down to me. Let's see, about twelve years," Ron answers.

"Well, there's your problem. Most rats of this species only live about seven years. All I can do for you is sell you some tonic that might help pep him up some." The clerk says.

While Ron was at the front counter Hermione was looking around the store at the cats as she has always wanted one. Just then a large orange blur shot past them and tried to pounce on Scabbers who shot out of the store as fast as he could to get away.

"Crookshanks, no," the clerk said exasperated.

Ron ran outside looking for Scabbers and Harry followed to help. When Harry exited the store he discreetly waved his hand summoning the rat. He called out to Ron," here he is," and hands him back.

A few minutes later Hermione comes out of the store with a large orange cat with a squashed in face in her arms.

"You bought that thing," Ron says incredulously," it almost ate Scabbers," Who was hiding in Ron's pocket shaking.

"It's what cats do, Ron," Hermione says," Besides, Crookshanks is a kneazle, not a cat, and he is adorable, aren't you boy," as she snuggles up to him petting him making him purr like a cat. Crookshanks looks over at Harry, who offers a hand to sniff, and accepts him as Hermione's mate.

"Well keep him away from me and Scabbers, "Ron says and walks off to catch up to his family.

"He'll get over it," Harry says while rubbing Crookshanks fur," Let's finish our shopping and head home. They continue their shopping trip by getting potion supplies along with new quills and parchment. Then they walk over to the apparition point where an Auror nods at them. They phase back to the Grangers house, amazing the Auror by the fact there was no noise and that they could do it at all at such a young age. He waved his wand around the apparition point and could find no trace of an apparition. The Auror knew they were emancipated and thought they had a license but now he was not so sure. It didn't quite look like apparition either, more like they faded from view.

When they arrived home Hermione called out to her parents," we're home and I bought myself a kneazle."

Mr. and Mrs. Granger walks in and Mrs. Granger says," bless you, what did you say?"

"I didn't sneeze mum. I bought a kneazle, It's a highly intelligent form of magical cat. They can interbreed with regular cats and they can detect when a person is being dishonest," she says," His name is Crookshanks; I have a cage for him when traveling and he can pretty much take care of himself."

She sets him down on the floor where he goes over to the Grangers and rubs against them purring, knowing they were his new master's parents, then runs off exploring his new territory. Hermione conjures a cat door in the back entrance allowing Crookshanks outside to explore the yard and surrounding area. He comes across the scent of a field mouse and follows it, hoping for a quick meal.

"You are taking him to school with you aren't you," Mrs. Granger asks?

"Of course, mum. There is lots of room for him to run and lots of mice and rats for him to catch. He will have a jolly time at school; plus he will make a good companion."

"What about Hedwig," Mr. Granger asks?

"Hedwig is our familiar," Hermione says," Phoenix's are super intelligent and would rather be treated like an equal or a partner, which she is, but she is too large to curl up in my lap while I read a book or just want to cuddle.

"Okay, Hermione, we get the point. As long as you take care of him and he doesn't make a mess, we approve," Mrs. Granger says.

"Thanks mum," Hermione says, relieved she didn't get into trouble for not asking first.

"Harry, let's go check out our new books and study ahead a bit," Hermione says.

"Coming," Harry says obediently.

The Grangers just shake their heads while smiling at the studious nature of their children.

Harry and Hermione head up to their room where they set about studying ahead so they would be available for their patrols and to help other students as needed.

Later that afternoon the Potters were lying out by the pool when they saw a streak of light entering the atmosphere headed west.

"That doesn't look like a meteorite Hermione," Harry says," It looks more like a ship on re-entry; possibly in trouble."

"Yea, I see it too. It is definitely not a shuttle or any Earth ship. We better investigate," Hermione says.

Hermione yells," Mum, dad, we'll be back as soon as we can."

With that they morph into their Panteras personas, disillusion themselves and take off after the ship. As soon as they reach high altitude at just under mach one to keep from breaking any windows, they accelerate to speeds in excess of mach 7.5 in pursuit of the ship. The mundanes were also tracking the ship and now the two objects following it.

"We're going to have to speed up if we want to catch it," Huntress thinks to Hunter.

"I know," Hunter thinks back," Let's see if we can."

They speed up to near mach 12 as they cross the ocean towards America. They catch up to it about three fourths of the way across the Atlantic and see it is an arrow shaped ship with a round section in the middle with the leading edges red hot from atmospheric entry.

"Looks like a Kryptonian design," Hunter thinks to Huntress, after consulting his nano-probes.

"I wonder why they would send a ship here. It looks more like a life pod as I can sense only one life form inside," Huntress thinks back.

"It's starting to descend. It must be programmed for a specific landing zone. Let's follow it down and make sure it doesn't hit anything." Hunter thinks.

They followed the ship towards the center plains of America where it ploughs into a corn field, just missing a couple in a pickup truck causing it to turn over. The hunters land and check on the couple in the truck. They reappear and crouch down, looking in the cab of the truck. See the occupants are okay but upside down Hunter says," Hold onto something and we'll turn you back over."

The couple in the truck grabs onto hand holds and hangs on while Hunter and Huntress turn the truck back on its wheels. When they are righted Hunter waves his hand and the damage is repaired.

"Are you two okay," Hunter asks?

"Yea, we weren't going that fast. I think the backwash from whatever that thing was turned us over," The man says," I'm Jonathan Kent and this is my wife Martha. You those aliens we saw on the news?"

"I suppose we are. My name is Hunter and this is my wife Huntress," Hunter says," We saw the ship enter the atmosphere over England and followed it here. We need to investigate it before the government gets here. The foursome walk along the trail left by the ship and when they arrive at the end of the furrow made by the ship a white beam of fan shaped light reaches out and scans them top to bottom. Satisfied it has landed at the right place; with the scans showing the Elders along with the persons it was looking for, the round section opens up to reveal a young boy of about two and a half years wrapped in a blue and red blanket.

"He's just a baby," Martha exclaims!

A female voice comes out of a speaker in Krytonian," Thank the Creator, please Elders, make sure that my son is protected from the local government and are adopted by the Kent's. Our sun went nova and we were not allowed to leave, so we smuggled our baby out in this modified life-pod just before the event. Due to time dilation and the distance traveled, he should appear to be about two and half Earth years old even though he will be nearer six. His birthdate on your calendar would be May 13, 1987. The ship will hide it self and become available for Kal-El when he turns eighteen, he will know what to do with it."

Huntress is translating for the Kent's as the voice comes from the speaker. Mr. and Mrs. Kent look at each other and then look at the Hunters and say," We'll take him, we've always wanted children, but Martha couldn't have any due to a riding accident when she was a child."

"Are you sure? That is a Kryptonian designed ship. If the child is from Krypton, he will have powers similar to ours. If you can handle teaching him how to control those powers and be discreet about it then I don't see a problem with it. He will have to discover these powers for himself. Just be there when he needs help," Huntress says while picking up the little boy and handing him over to Martha.

"Are you going to be my new mommy," he asks?

"I would like to be. Are you okay with that," Martha asks with tears in her eyes.

"Yes, my birth parents picked your farm for me to land on in the hopes you would find me," he says.

Martha and Jonathan look at each other amazed at his apparent intelligence.

"It appears he was educated while on his trip." Huntress says," We were the same when we were younger."

As soon as he is taken from the ship a green crystal pops out of a slot in the side of the ship landing on the ground. An envelope with birth records also falls out with it. The bubble closes and the ship lifts up off the ground, activates it cloaking device and speeds off north.

"A home crystal," Hunter exclaims when he sees the crystal on the ground.

Hunter bends over and picks it up, along with the envelope. "It's what Kryptonian's use to build their homes. Kal-El will know how to activate it when he comes of age. Keep it safely hidden until then. The envelope has birth records for you and the ship said it modified the computer records as it passed over, so you should be in the clear."

"You two go ahead and go home and we will repair the field. The government will have nothing to find when it gets here." Hunter says.

The Kent's retreat to their truck and after securing Kal-El in a conjured car seat given to them by Huntress they head home.

"They should make good parents," Huntress says," I scanned them to be sure before handing over Kal-el. He is mundane, like them, except he will develop powers that will allow him to fly like us and be strong."

"We will have to check up on him when he gets older," Hunter says.

"Yea," Huntress says," there was something about Martha though. When I scanned her I felt a connection like I should know her or something."

"We can always come back if you figure it out," Hunter says.

With that said they rise up and wave their hands, repairing the field back to its original rows of corn growing normally.

The Hunters then disillusion themselves and fly back toward England keeping it under mach one until they are out of the area then accelerate to mach 7 for the rest of the flight home.

Shortly after the Hunters leave, Army helicopters fly over the area looking for a crash site. Not finding anything, they conclude whatever it was must have burned up before it hit the ground and fly back to their base.

The Kent's drive home very happy with their new son. They stop along the way for clothes and furniture, necessary for a new addition to the family.

A while later the Hunters land in the Grangers back yard and morph back into Harry and Hermione and resume lounging in the backyard, looking up at the stars.

The Grangers come out and Mr. Granger asks," Where did you go that you had to leave in such a hurry?"

"We saw a ship enter the atmosphere just above us headed west and decided to follow it to make sure it didn't do any damage or hit anything on impact," Hermione says.

"A ship," Mrs. Granger asks?

"Yes, at first we thought it was a big meteorite but we used our special vision and saw it had an arrow shape with a round bubble section in the middle," Harry says," when we caught up to it, it looked like a small life-pod as we only sensed one life-form inside. We followed it down to a cornfield, in Kansas, I think."

Hermione nods to confirm that was where they were," That's not all; the ship had a young boy in it. The ship spoke to us and called us elders and asked us to make sure the young man was safe, so we gave him to a couple that witnessed the landing, during which their vehicle was turned over by the backwash from the ship. I scanned the couple and they were suitable to raise him as one of us. We think he is from Krypton and will have similar powers to ours. He is also mundane, meaning no magic, which is why we didn't bring him with us."

"Wow, that's some story. You went all the way to the middle of America and back in less than three hours. You two never cease to amaze me." Mr. Granger says.

Jeeves then calls out the back door," dinner is served."

Everyone goes in and enjoys one of Jeeves home cooked meals.

On September first Jeeves drives the family to Kings Cross where after hugs and kisses all around they board the train for the trip to school. The couple wandered down the aisle looking for an empty compartment and found one near the end of the train with one person in it, apparently asleep. They went in and expanded the compartment and sat down to wait on their friends.

"I hope he doesn't mind company," Harry says," everywhere else is full."

"I'm sure he won't mind if we keep the noise level down," Hermione says.

The person that was in the compartment with them felt the magic of the room expansion and nearly opened his eyes in surprise. Even though he appeared to be asleep, he was really watching through nearly closed eyelids and recognized Harry right away and knew he was his new employer. He didn't understand the situation at Hogwarts all that well since he had been out of the country for several years but jumped on the job when it was offered. Soon the compartment was full and Harry and Hermione took over handing out assignments for the study group. Each person had a subject that they were particularly good at and would help the group as a whole.

"Who's the new person," Ron asks?

"Professor R.J. Lupin," Hermione responds, "Harry and I approved his employment as our new Defense instructor. We know from his background that he at least has his masters in the subject, unlike our last one, who couldn't master anything but his smile."

As they were talking everyone noticed it was getting colder and colder. The windows started to frost over when the train suddenly lurched to a stop throwing a couple of the students from their seats with Ginny having sprained her wrist. The lurch woke up the professor who observed as Harry took Ginny's wrist in his hand and with a soft glow healed the sprain.

She moves it about, feeling no pain says," Thanks Harry."

"No problem Ginny, glad I could help," Harry responded, "I wonder what's going on?"

Just then a large eerie looking creature, about seven feet tall, with skeletal hands and a cowl covering its face opened the compartment door. It floated in, pulling its hood back revealing a skeletal face with a round hollow tube like protrusion where its mouth would be and with a sucking sound like indrawn breath started pulling the emotions from Susan, causing her to scream. Professor Lupin pulled his wand and yelled," Expecto Patronum" and a white wolf formed and chased out the creature. Harry and Hermione picked up on the spell right away and added their own, a larger than life stag and doe, which chased the creatures from the train.

"Was that a dementor," Harry asks, in disgust?

Lupin nods," yes it was, it shouldn't be here. They are the primary guards for Azkaban. Their sole purpose in life is to suck out any happiness you might have and they can suck out your soul as well. It is a form of death sentence which leaves your body alive, but a soulless body won't live long. They are the worst beings on the planet, they should be eliminated on principle, but no one knows if they can be killed."

"What are dementors doing here?" Hermione asked, "Black is not on the train or we would have known."

Professor Lupin passed around chocolate to everyone to help them feel better and then asked, "Why would you say that."

"Everyone has a unique magical signature which Harry and I can detect, we would have known if an unknown wizard or witch had come aboard," Hermione says," The first years and other younger students have immature cores and are easy to tell from older students and adults."

The train starts to move again and Hermione says," Come on Harry, let's patrol around the train to make sure none of those creatures come back." He agrees and they step out the back door of the train and take off flying around the train. The students inside could occasionally see their patronuses flash out chasing the dementors further from the train.

After a while the pair comes back in and says," The area is clear, I think they got the message to leave the train alone."

"You two are amazing," Professor Lupin says," you are going to be a pleasure to teach."

The rest of the trip went smoothly with no interruptions and when they arrived at Hogsmead, everyone departed the train and rode the carriages and boats to the school.