Chapter 10

The house was three stories with a fully functioning basement that had been converted into extra living space. It was a nice dark red brick home. It had three fireplaces. One in the sitting room, one in each master suite. The house was set up with central heat and air. On the right side of the house it had two turrets. It had a large attached garage that could fit two vehicles and space for a good amount of storage. A matching garage was attached to the house.

The whole front yard was nice and clean cut with only a large oak in the front and a stone walkway to the front door. It had a small flower bed lining the front of the house with simple shrubbery that was low maintenance. A 13 foot high stone wall surrounded the house. The backyard was rather spacious with three large trees, a small pond, eating area and a small garden of low maintenance plants such as ivy.

The inside of the house was mainly an ivory colour. Each room was rather spacious which could house a long number of people. The basement had been used as an exercising and playroom. It still had a few items like a treadmill and weights. The house had six bedrooms, five bathrooms, a large study, library, sitting room, kitchen, dinning room, and few addition rooms for storage or and whatnot.

The over the week, they had their house furnished how they would like it and found that it fit perfectly with what they wanted.

"I still can't believe we have our own home" said Harry happily.

"Well believe it and what do you want to do now that we got it set up" asked Hermione.

"I don't know truly but how about we bring Stephanie and Steven here. They would like it" said Harry.

"Yeah, they are now out of the hospital and cancer free" said Hermione. They really had become attached to the children since they meet them.

"Okay lets go, we are not far from where they live at the moment" said Harry.

Before they could leave, they had a knock at the door.

"May we help you" asked Harry.

"We are the warders, Griphook sent." said a man. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a letter. "Here is a note from Griphook"

These are the warders you requested. They can be trusted as they have entered under binding contracts and can't disclose anything.

Griphook

They allowed the man access to the house and closed the door behind him.

"We were told that their were wards already up but you might want some new ones keyed into you two" said the man.

"Yes" said Harry.

"Well I can tell you have some good wards up at the moment. They allow muggle electricity and appliances to work. Basic security like anti-fire and pest. We can place wards up so muggles will not notice any magic you perform in your home or yard. I can make it were magicals can't notice magic being performed here as well. Wards that will take off tracking or honing spells, charms or potions. Wards that will take off compulsive and the such potions, spells or charms. On people, mail and owls. I can set up wards that will tell you who or what enters your home. One that will take off disguises such as polyjuice potion and the such. I can make were portkeys or apparation only works in a small area on the house for only one or two people at a time for emergency. I can set up a panic ward that lockdown the property not letting anyone in or out for a certain amount of time." said the man.

"We will take those and payment" asked Hermione.

"Griphook has already taken care of it" said the man.

"So how long will it take to set up" asked Harry.

"Two days" said the man.

"You can start and we will be back soon" said Hermione.

"Okay" said the man.

After leaving their home, they made their way over to the foster home that Stephanie and Steven were staying.

Knocking on the door, they waited a moment before it opened.

"Hermione and Harry, it is so nice to see you again" said Mrs. Vines.

"Same, we were wondering if we could take Stephanie and Steven out for the day or if they could spend the night with us. We just moved into the neighborhood" said Harry.

"That will be okay." said Mrs. Vines.

Hermione and Harry were upset that she didn't make much of a fuss over them taking Stephanie and Steven but was glad they could keep them.

"Hermione and Harry, we missed you" said the two three year olds who would be four in September.

"We miss you two a lot and guess what" said Hermione happily.

"What" asked Stephanie.

"You two will be spending all summer with us" said Hermione.

"Yeaaaaah" yelled both children.

"Now lets go pack your things and we can have fun" said Harry.

"Okay" they said.

It didn't take long to pack up the two children. Walking to their home, Hermione and Harry placed their belongings into the rooms they would be using before going back out with them. They took them to the local park and played with them until it was time to eat. They took them to a nice little restaurant that was perfect for young children before heading back home. Both Stephanie and Steve was exhausted from their day so they took them straight to bed before going looking for the warder.

"Good news, I was able to finish today as the previous owners had used keystones when setting up the wards. I was able to anchor all the wards and they should settle in by tomorrow this time" said the man.

"That is great" said Hermione before showing him out of their home.

"Now that we are done with the basic of our home we are set for the summer" said Harry.

"We will discuss it more tomorrow" said Hermione. They both said goodnight before heading off to bed.

Hermione found herself again in the dungeon room that haunted her dreams. It was dimly lit with blood stains covering the way. It had many instruments of torture scattered around the place. Slowly she found herself walking to the center of the room, where she saw a group of people congregated together.

When she got closer to see, she saw deatheaters torturing this young woman. She couldn't be older than twenty-five. Her hair sprayed out wildly and she was covered in sweat and blood was pouring out of her mouth and trailing down her front. Her eyes were glazed over but you could still she that their was life in them. In a way, she looked so beautiful in a morbid sense.

Walking over to her mother, Hermione asked "Mum, why are you hurting her". It was such a simple question that she was curious for it to be answered.

"Because she is filth and behind us now be quiet" said Bellatrix before turning back to her victim.

Hermione was going to say more when a hand touched her shoulder. She looked up and saw Fenrir. She liked him. He was always nice to her despite his threats to eat her on a daily basis.

He gave her a looked that told her to be quiet. Pushing herself back into his strong legs, she pulled on his warmed to drown out the screaming woman. She truly hated witnessing them torture people but at last she was powerless to do anything.

Hermione awoke from her dream feeling a chill. Many of her dreams were just things she experienced from her life before. Many memories were horrific or tainted in one way or another but not all. Before she had Fenrir, he was her friend, protector and confidante. He was her world and she missed him after all these years but she wasn't sure if he was even alive or even want her. Sometimes, she hoped he would find her but he never did. She was content with her life but she did miss her friend.

Realizing she wasn't going to be going back to sleep, Hermione got up. She took a shower and dressed for the day before heading downstairs. Looking the time, Hermione decided to start breakfast as everyone would be up soon. She fixed a breakfast consisting of cereal, fruit, sausages, tomatoes, toast and marmalade. By the time she was done, Harry was coming downstairs with Stephanie and Steven.

"It smells good" said Harry placing Steven in a sit while Hermione placed Stephanie in a chair near her.

"Thanks" said Hermione. Serving Stephanie and cutting her food up for her. "So what do you two little monsters want to do today"

"Zoo" said Stephanie.

"Yeah, I want to go to the zoo to. Then ice cream" said Steven.

"And the toy shop afterwards" said Harry.

"Yeah" said Steven.

"But first you have to eat up all your breakfast" said Hermione.

After a nice filling breakfast, they took a taxi to zoo. They bought the children ice pops at the entrance and enjoyed a walk zoo. Everything went alright until they reach the snakes when Stephanie and Steven did accidental magic to let them loose. During the chaos, Harry discovered he could understand and speak to snakes.

"We are sorry, don't be mad" was the phrases that Stephanie and Steven kept repeating.

"Listen we are not made at you as you can't control what you did" said Hermione.

"You're not" said Stephanie happily.

"We are not so lets go to the toy shop before heading home for a nap" said Hermione.

"No, Nap" said Steven.

"How about after the nap we go purchase two movies we can watch together. You two can pick them" said Harry.

"Yes" Stephanie.

"Lets go" said Hermione.

The toy shop was what any child would love. It was bright and color with toys of sorts from stuff bears to train sets. Stephanie got a princess costume and stuff Beast. Steven got a T-Rex and a book on dinosaurs. When they went to the movie shop, they purchased Beauty and the Beast for Stephanie and Roy the King T-Rex for Steven.

After getting them home, they were changed into their pajamas and given a meal consisting of sandwiches and milk before they went down for a nap. When they woke up, they made them snacks for the movies. When the movies were over, they took them back to their foster family.

For most of the summer, Stephanie and Steven spent with them. While they were at school during the day, Hermione & Harry were either at their job at the Ministry, Karate or weapons training or some other lessons or activities so their schedules were full.

When it was time to purchase school supplies, neither Hermione or Harry were not happy about the book choice. Most were written by Lockhart and were more story books than spell books. They didn't even bother purchasing them but instead purchased real spells books.

After securing a compartment near the Prefect compartment they locked it before exiting the train. Going through the barrier, they found a diner and ordered themselves a nice filling breakfast. They had a bit of small talk over breakfast. After breakfast, they went to a few shops and purchased some things they would need. Like food that would last him the six hour train ride and notebook paper and the like as it was easier to use than parchment and quills.

Getting back through the barrier, they headed to their compartment. The train ride had been on its way for an hour when they were bothered.

"Have you seen Jake" said some boy Harry vaguely remembered coming to his house.

"No" said Harry.

"Whatever" said the boy before leaving. Harry hated people always wanted to be around Jake because he is suppose to be so great for vanquishing Voldemort. He hated everyone for believing Jake did something that was him. It was him. He wanted to shout it out loud but kept his mouth.

Outside the barrier, Jake and Ron were having a hard time getting through.

"We can't get through and we are going to miss the train" complained Jake.

"We can use my dad's car. I could fly us there and no one will be the wiser" said Ron.

"Okay lets go do it because it is already after eleven" said Jake.

In a compartment a few other first years, the rude boy and his friends were complaining how the train couldn't leave without Jake.

"It shouldn't be long before we get there" said Ron bit nervously as the ride had been a little bumpy and he felt as if they should have already arrived but didn't want to look like a fool in front of Jake.

"I hope you are right because I am hungry" complained Jake yet again. He had went six hours without a meal and he was very grumpy about it.

Ron dropped below the clouds to take a look at where the train was and was glad to see it beneath them. It was winding its way past a snowcapped mountain. It was much darker beneath the clouds.

Ron put his foot on the accelerator and drove them upward again, but as he did the engine began to whine.

Both Ron and Jake became nervous at this.

"Everything is alright. It is just a little tired as this is the longest ride its been on. We will be there in no time" assured Ron but he felt quite the opposite. They both tried to annoy the whining that was growing in volume and becoming worst.

It was dark with only the stars providing a little light. Going under the clouds yet again, they noticed Hogwarts not far away but the car began to shudder and quickly losing speed.

"Come on you bucket of bolts" said Ron hitting the steering wheel a few times trying to make it act right. "We are almost there"

The engine groaned along with smoke coming out of its hood, then the car gave a violent jerk and the engine died. They were gliding over the lake, the pass huge stones and the green houses and losing altitude the whole time. Until they crashed into a tree.

They didn't get to say anything because moments after the crash something began pounding into the wrecked car.

"What's going on" said Ron.

But screamed when something looking like a tree branched slammed into the windshield. Tree branches was beating the car from all sides.

"We are done for it" screamed Jake when by some miracle the engine restarted and Ron put it in reverse and took them a safe distance from the tree before throwing them and their belongings out of the car. Then it backed up into the forest, disappearing from sight.

"I am so dead" moaned Ron.

"Whatever but we better get to the school as I don't want to miss my sorting" said Jake.

Both gathered up their things and headed toward the castle. They were all sore and battered but okay.

After the sorting was over Albus Dumbledore made an announcement.

"I have new teachers to induce. First your new Defence Against the Dark Art teacher Gilderoy Lockhart" said Dumbledore and the Great Hall filled with applause. "And finally your new Arithmancy teacher Lily Potter"

She received a lot of applause as well but you could tell she was worried at Jake.

"Now every dig in" said Albus which received applause from all the hungry students.

Making it to the castle they stared through a window and noticed that they sorting was over. Jake also noticed his mother and gulped in fear that he forgot that his mother was teaching. He was so in for it but he noticed that a chair was empty. He also noticed that it was Prof. Snape who was missing.

"Look Snape is gone" said Jake.

"Maybe he quit" said Ron hopefully.

"Or maybe," said a cold voice behind them, "he's waiting to here why you two didn't arrive on the school train."

Turning around quickly, they inwardly gulped at the frightening sight that Severus made. He looked like one of those murders you see in a horror flick. It took a lot of control for them not to wet themselves.

"Follow me," said Severus.

They followed him and both praying they wouldn't be expelled for this. Instead of leading them into the Great Hall, he took them to the dungeons. And to his office. It was filled with glasses jars that contained many disgusting things inside.

"So, the train wasn't good for you. Famous Jake Potter and his lap dog wanted to arrive with a bang, did we now" said Severus in a low tone that sent shivers down their spines.

"No, sir, it was just we couldn't get through the barrier to the Platform-"

"Silence! Now what did you two do with the car" said Severus.

"What car" said Jake.

Severus didn't saw anything but unrolled today's issue of the Daily Profit. The headline read: FLYING FORD ANGLIA MYSTIFIES MUGGLES. "You two idiots were seen" he spat. Then he began to read aloud: "Two muggles in London, convinced they saw an old car flying over the Post Office tower... another above her home,...eight muggles in all say the car. I believe your father works in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office?"

"Yes" said Ron.

"I believe he will be in a bit of hot water after the stunt you two pulled along with him being stupid enough to enchant a car in the first place" said Severus. "I noticed that a tree on the school property sustained much damage from the car that crashed into it. That Whomping Willow is very valuable"

"That tree did more damage to us than we to it" blurted out Jake.

"Be quiet" snapped Severus. "It is unfortunate you are not in my house or I will expel you for such a stunt but sit tight and I will be back"

Severus came back with the headmaster, Prof. McGonagall and a very angry Lily Potter.

"What were you two thinking. You could have been killed and you exposed magic to muggles. How could you" said Lily angrily.

"I am sorry mum but we couldn't get through the barrier and didn't want to miss coming to Hogwarts" said Jake.

"Then you should have waited for an adult to come through and assist you" said Severus.

"Now Severus, you know things like this happen and the two were very resourceful. Lets get them to the Great Hall where they can be feed" said Dumbledore in a manner that other two adults couldn't argue with. The two children stayed close to Dumbledore as they felt they needed the protection from the fuming adults.

They were led into the Great Hall and the entire student body watch them.

The next morning, Hermione woke up early and got dressed before waking Harry.

"Wake up!" Hermione said shaking Harry.

"Leave me alone," mumbled Harry into his pillow.

"Not going to happen. We're at Hogwarts and today is our first day of lessons, remember."

"Hogwarts?" Harry asked sleepily. Then he remembered what had happened.

"Yes, princess- Hogwarts," Hermione said.

"Shut up" growled Harry.

"Well wake up or I will drench you in cold water" stated Hermione with an evil grin.

"I hate you" said Harry getting up.

"I love you too" said Hermione who ducked when Harry threw a pillow at her.

When they reach the Great Hall, they heard that Gryffindor had received 150 points for resourcefulnes. It was referring to Jake and Ron flying a car to school that was seen by muggles.

"They should have been expelled" said Hermione.

"Well the boy-who-lived and his lap dog can't be as they are too special" spat Harry.

"And to reward them points for such a stunt that could have exposed our world was stupid. What is Dumbledore thinking. Does he want children to do such things" said Hermione.

"No but it is okay as long as you are a Gryffindor. If anybody from another house did that, they would be in Azkaban before you could say Quidditch" said Harry.

"Well look at the bright side. We have Lockhart this morning and maybe he will do something that will hurt himself" said Hermione.

"That would be funny." said Harry.

Before breakfast was over something interesting happen when Ron received a howler from his mum. Harry felt a little bad for him but only a little. He thought no good could come from Howlers as they seem like a form of verbal abuse in his opinion but only Hermione seemed to care about his opinion.