New Guardian, New Life
By: Sheltie
I still don't Harry Potter
Chapter 10
"Is everyone set for Diagon Alley?" Harry asked.
Everyone nodded.
"Good, now if you get in trouble use the portkey that you have on you" Hermione said.
With that they went to use the floo.
"I hate the floo" Harry muttered as he landed on the floor of the Leaky Cauldron.
"But Harry, it such a fast way to travel" Hermione said sarcastically amused by her usually coordinated husband falling flat on his face.
Harry grumbled a bit more, but got off the floor.
"Come on, let's get shopping" Susan said taking Neville's arm.
The group had a good time shopping under the watchful eye of Emma and Dan Granger.
"Hey mate, how was your summer?" Ron called out.
Harry groaned.
"Hey Ron" Harry said as he forced a smile.
Ron came up and eyed Hermione with a lecherous eye while Ginny who was with him looked at them and smiled politely.
"Hello Harry, Hermione it's good to see you" Ginny said.
"Hello Ginny" Harry and Hermione said.
"Bloody hell" Ron shouted.
"Ron, language" Ginny said punching Ron in the arm.
Ron muttered something.
"So Neville, who's the girl on your arm?" Ginny asked curiously.
"This Susan Bones, she was in the DA with us" Neville said.
"Nice to meet you Susan, and I'm glad you finally bag yourself a Longbottom" Ginny said as she knew that Susan had a thing for Neville through the grapevine.
Neville blushed.
"Yeah, yeah, so why haven't you answered my letters?" Ron asked brushing Ginny away.
"What letters, Ron?" Harry asked.
"I wasn't talking to you, I was talking to Hermy" Ron said.
(A/N: I forgot to add earlier that Ron sent Hermione letters, but thanks to some clever wards and the fact that he addressed them as Hermione Granger they never got to her)
Harry could feel that Hermione was annoyed and a good guess that it was Ron's nickname for her. Ginny shook her head, could her brother be any dumber. She knew that Hermione hated when anyone shorten her name.
"What did you call me?" Hermione hissed.
"Hermy" Ron said clueless at what was about to happen.
Hermione moved in close to Ron making him think she was going to kiss him when he felt a sharp pain in his nether region. He crumpled to the ground holding his broken junk.
"Never ever call me that again" Hermione said glaring at the fallen redhead.
Luna knelt down.
"Ronald, I would advise you to not anger Hermione this year, as she is a lot more formidable" Luna said dreamily.
Ron's brain so clouded with pain and he was so thick that he never got Luna's warning.
"Come on, let's leave him be and get our stuff" Ginny said.
The others nodded.
"So Ginny, how was you summer?" Harry asked.
"It was alright, but mom is being held for attempt of using love potions on you and her trial will be a few days before we go back" Ginny said.
"Yes, Amelia told us" Hermione said.
"I hope you don't hate me for doing that to your mother" Harry said.
Ginny shook her head, "No I don't blame you unlike my prat of a brother."
"Good."
The rest of the day went by having a good time and forgetting what the future might bring.
/Scene Break/
The next was the day of Molly's trial and it was to be held in the same courtroom that Harry was in nearly a year ago. Harry wasn't very happy being back in that room even though he wouldn't be on trial. Hermione sense this and comforted him as much as possible.
"Order, order, the Wizengamot will come to order. Molly Weasley, you are charged with the attempted use of love potions on the last scion of the Potter house, how do you plead?" Dumbledore said.
"I plead not guilty" Molly said firmly.
Murmurs were heard around the courtroom.
Harry and Hermione were sitting watching along with their friends.
Amelia walked to the middle of the room.
"Members of the Wizengamot I like to present the evidence against the defendant" Amelia said.
She revealed the basket of food.
"This basket of food was sent to one Mr. Harry James Potter by one Molly Weasley, here is her note that went along with it. With a diagnostic spell we found that the food was laced with love potion, I further confirmed this in the auror department with the best potion detection magic possible and found that it was not any normal love potion, but a specially brewed one that has never been seen before" Amelia said.
Members of the Wizengamot and people in the courtroom glared at the redhead woman.
Arthur had his head down in shame. The whole family was gathered to be here for support, but instead they all were ashamed of the woman they called their mother.
Dumbledore couldn't believe that Molly and him had the same idea even if were for different reasons. He needed to keep Molly out of Azkaban because he had use of her.
"I would like the court sentence her for the minimum of five years in Azkaban" Amelia said.
Murmurs were once again heard throughout the courtroom.
"Why the sentence as this is the defendant's first offense?" Dumbledore asked.
"Albus, you of all people know that love potions are illegal, and according to our potion masters who dissected the potion told me that this creation would be like using the Imperius Curse on a person" Amelia said.
Gasps were heard.
Dumbledore frowned as he thought of a way salvage this.
"Why don't I take her under my personal watch and make sure she doesn't do anything like that again" Dumbledore said.
Amelia was about to object the motion, but it was swiftly carried out leaving her dumbfounded.
"Court is adjourned" Dumbledore said as he banged the gavel.
/Scene Break/
"I can't believe Molly got away with it" Hermione fumed.
"Dumbledore is up to something" Harry said.
Before Harry could elaborate on this they were interrupted.
"Harry, I want to apologize for Molly's behavior and know that I don't condone such behavior" Arthur said.
"It's not your fault Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley has had it in her head that I'm destined to be with Ginny, which is ridiculous since I only see her as a sister, plus I'm dating Hermione" Harry said as he took the bushy haired girl's hand.
"Yes, I see that and congratulations to you both I'm very happy for you two. I knew there was something between the two of you" Arthur said happily.
Sadly Ron heard about Harry and Hermione and burst through the crowd and slammed Harry to the floor with his fist.
"How dare you take what is mine Potter" Ron shouted.
Fred and George rushed and tried to restrain their brother as Hermione helped Harry up. Harry wiped the blood coming from his mouth.
"You hit like a girl Ronnie" Harry said.
This infuriated the redhead.
"I've lived with the Dursleys and know how to take a punch and what a punch is like so getting hit by you is weak in comparison" Harry said.
"You think you could take me Potter" Ron sneered.
Harry chuckled, "you're not even a match for Hermione."
"She just a filthy Mudblood, nothing special" Ron sneered.
Hermione's eyes narrowed as she moved in close to Ron, Fred and George moved away so they wouldn't be harmed as they saw the look the bushy haired witch was wearing and it terrified them. She moved quickly and before anyone knew it Ron was on the floor holding his smashed junk. Every male in the area winced when they heard the crunching sound.
"Dear me, it looks like Ronald has had another accident" Hermione said sweetly.
And with that Harry and Hermione left.
/Scene Break/
Back at the Burrow Ron was still nursing his crushed junk while the older Weasley brothers made note not to piss off Hermione Granger, ever. Ginny however wanted Hermione to teach her that maneuver so she could defend herself. Arthur was in his study as he didn't want to face his wife at all. Molly was stewing as she prepared dinner for the family. She was happy she was free, but she knew she was now under more scrutiny and everyone would be watching her every move. This made her plan more difficult, but not unattainable.
/Scene Break/
Back at Bones Manor there was mixed emotions about the verdict. Dan and Emma were not happy how Dumbledore was able get Molly off so easily and demanded Amelia to do something. But Amelia's hands were tied as she did all she could and had to wait for Molly to slip up again to get her back in court. Harry and Hermione knew that Dumbledore was up to something and that meant they had to be extra careful this year. Susan, Neville and Luna vowed to watch their backs this year.
/Scene Break/
Meanwhile an emergency meeting of the board of governors was called to discuss staff hiring's. Dumbledore was confused by this, but figured he could bullshit his way through like usual.
"Order, order I will now call this emergency meeting to order" Amelia said.
"What is the reason for this meeting?" Griselda Marchbanks asked.
"It has to do with the Defense of the Dark Art's teacher" Augusta said.
"But I have hired one, he is the former potions teacher Severus Snape" Dumbledore said.
"Yes we know, but due to some new information, I think we should take a closer look at him" Amelia said.
Dumbledore paled slightly at this, what information did they have.
"Well out with it Amelia what has the man done?" an aged wizard said.
"Well for starters he's a Death Eater" Augusta said.
There were gasps in the room.
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he could easily deflect this.
"Yes, Severus is a Death Eater, but a former one, he came to me during the last war and switched sides and became a spy and was very valuable to the light side" Dumbledore said.
Amelia grinned knowing she threw Albus a soft ball before hitting him with a hard one.
"Yes, but I have more. He has tortured many students over his tenure as potion teacher and when I looked at the exam results over the past year since he became potions professor I found a decline of students taking N.E.W.T. potions, which his required for many good jobs. The number of potion masters, aurors, and other jobs that require a N.E.W.T. in potions have fallen ever since Severus Snape became potions professor" Amelia said.
Murmurs were made this time.
Dumbledore paled slightly and wondered where Amelia got her information as he tried to bury those numbers.
"Severus is a hard teacher and it isn't his fault that the students don't apply themselves" Dumbledore said trying make a reasonable argument.
You think I've done my worst well you haven't see anything yet Amelia thought.
"Really Albus, because I've talked to professors Flitwick, McGonagall, and Sprout and they all tell me students want to go into these fields, but don't want to take professor Snape's class because he's biased" Augusta said now joining the fray.
"I have not idea what you are talking about" Dumbledore said acting like he hadn't known.
"Well then, I'll shall enlighten you with a few memories from certain students" Amelia said pulling out a Pensieve.
"Now Amelia, you know that it easy to fake a memory" Dumbledore said chiding the head of the DMLE.
"Of course I do Albus, but I've verified these memories and will do so again for the sake of everyone here" Amelia said.
She handed the vials to her right and Madam Marchbanks tested the memories and it turned out to be genuine as they glowed blue.
"Now that they have been tested by a third party shall we take a look" Amelia said smiling slightly.
What happened next was quite shocking as Amelia, Augusta and Harry picked out the worst of the bunch. It first showed Harry's first potion lesson and how Snape singled Harry out by asking him questions out of text from each year and then when Harry couldn't answered them he took points away and humiliated him by pretty much calling him an idiot. This was the pattern of each memory from blaming him for sabotage that he didn't commit to taking away points for idiotic things like breathing too loud, but what was the icing on the cake was Snape teaching Harry Occlumency and how the man really was just torturing the boy.
"He's a terror, I can't believe he's a teacher" Madam Marchbanks said outraged.
"There is more these are from Hermione Granger, I believe she has had the highest number of O.W.L's ever seen" Amelia said.
These showed that Snape did the same kind of treatment and even called Hermione a know-it-all, but the one that took the cake on this time was fourth year when Hermione was hit with a curse that caused her teeth grow and Snape told the students that he saw no difference and didn't punish Malfoy for using the curse though he punished Harry for hexing Crabbe.
"That's utterly terrible and a despicable display" another aged wizard said.
There were murmurs of agreement.
Dumbledore had his head down.
Amelia then showed them memories from Susan Bones and Luna Lovegood to show that he didn't just do it to Gryffindors and she also pointed out how took points away from students of other houses for sabotaging a potion of a Slytherin even when the student wasn't anywhere near and taking points off for meaningless things also for giving points to Slytherin for no reason at all.
"Severus has to keep up an appearance to please the Death Eaters who have children in school" Dumbledore reasoned.
"Bullshit Albus, he is blatantly using his authority to bullying students from the other houses" Augusta said loudly.
"My dear Augusta, I think you are letting your emotions get the best of you" Dumbledore said.
"Albus, I'm very clear and this man has to be sacked for the good of the school" Augusta said.
There were murmurs of agreement.
"Severus is a very accomplished potion master and-" Dumbledore was cut off.
"He may be a potion master Albus, but that doesn't mean he is qualified to be a teacher" Amelia said.
"Yes, but-" again he was interrupted.
"Albus, he has done nothing, but hurt the school in every way possible, I heard that because of his biased attitude Slytherin has won the cup the past year until Mr. Potter put a stop to it in his first year" Augusta said.
"You mean to tell me that the time honored point system was made a mockery" another aged wizard said shocked.
"That is what I am saying, Mr. Goldburd" Augusta said.
"That settles it, all who thinks Severus Snape should be removed from his post at Hogwarts permanently say aye" Madam Marchbanks said.
The whole board rose their hands and said 'aye'.
"All oppose?" Madam Marchbanks said.
No one raised their hands.
"Motion granted, Severus Snape is to remove his personal belongs from Hogwarts, and now we shall have to find a new defense professor" Madam Marchbanks said with a sigh.
"I have one to suggest" Amelia said.
"And who do you propose it be?" Dumbledore asked.
"Remus Lupin, he was the defense teacher one year" Amelia said.
"Mr. Lupin was found out to be a werewolf" an aged witch said.
"Yes, but I have a solution for that. I have an auror that could take his spot when he is indisposed" Amelia said.
And who do you suggest?" the old witch asked.
"Nymphadora Tonks" Amelia said.
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled at this as he saw this as having two of his Order at school to spy on Harry.
"Tonks? She's Andromeda's daughter isn't she?" Madam Marchbanks asked.
"Yes, and she is more than qualified for the position and I also thought since the threat of You-Know-Who out there then we need a trained auror to teach our children" Amelia said.
The governors nodded in agreement.
"All in favor for Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks as the new Defense against the Dark Arts teachers say aye" Madam Marchbanks said.
The entire board raised their hands and said 'aye'.
"All opposed?" Madam Marchbanks said.
No hands rose.
"So it is decided, Mr. Lupin and Miss Tonks are the new Defense teachers, meetings adjourned" Madam Marchbanks said.
And with that Amelia was smiling as she got all what Harry wanted with little fuss. Now it was Harry's turn.
/Scene Break/
As all of that was going on Harry called Lupin and Tonks over for a 'friendly' chat.
"So Remus, how have you been?" Harry asked.
"Fine right now pup" Remus said.
"That's good" Harry said.
"Okay spill it Harry, why are we here in my boss' house?" Tonks asked not able to hold on to her patience.
"Why Tonks what makes you think I'm up to something?" Harry asked smirking.
Remus knew that smirk it was the same smirk that James had when he had an idea for a prank.
"Okay Harry, who are you pranking?" Remus asked.
"Remus, what are thinking, my Harry would never prank anyone" Hermione said.
"Hermione, Harry is smirking the same way James does when he has a pranking idea" Remus said.
Hermione was about respond when she felt her pocket vibrate, which made her grin wide. Harry felt this and knew everything went according to plan.
"So Remus, what are you doing for work?" Harry asked suddenly changing topic.
"Nothing pup, since the Ministry has cracked down on werewolves" Remus said sighing.
"Well what would you say if you had your old job back?" Harry asked.
"What are you talking about Harry?" Remus asked.
"Welcome back professor Lupin" Hermione said smiling.
"Professor? Hermione, I think you have to remember that I'm not you professor anymore" Remus said.
"Au contraire my dear friend, we sacked Snape, you've got your teaching spot back" Harry said.
Remus was shocked so Tonks had to speak.
"Cor blimey how did you pull that off?" Tonks asked.
"It was easy, we showed some memories of Snape's treatment of students in class" Hermione said.
Remus shook his head, "but Harry what am I going to do when I have my 'furry little problem'?"
"That's covered since professor Tonks will cover for you when that happens" Hermione said answering for Harry.
Tonks fell over at this.
"You think I can teach kids?" Tonks shouted.
"Come on Nym, you are a nice person and can relate to us better since your closer to our age" Hermione said.
Remus then noticed something.
"There's something different about the two of you?" Remus said eyeing the two teens.
"Why Remus what makes you say that?" Hermione asked now wearing a familiar smirk.
It was Tonks that did the honors.
"You're together, I'm so happy for you, I knew you'd get together" Tonks said as she jumped out of her seat and gave the two teens the biggest hug they ever had.
"Actually there's more, but we need to ask you if you know Occlumency first" Hermione said after she could breath again.
"I do, it's standard for an auror" Tonks said.
"Not many people want to enter a mind that has a werewolf creeping about, so I'm safe" Remus said.
"Good because what we have to tell you is something you can't tell anyone else" Hermione said seriously.
Both Tonks and Remus knew that this was top secret and wouldn't breath it to another living soul.
"We're married."
End of chapter
A/N: Well how'd you like my little cliffhanger. The next chap will have the rest of this conversation. Next stop Hogwarts also and I may get back to Malfoy's dilemma too, but again no promises. Also I have some feedback on what I should do with Luna and I want thank you for your input, but I haven't decided on what to do with her exactly and hopefully what I do eventually will be a surprise. Thanks for reading and please press that review button to let me know what you think.