A/N- As always, you guys are just so awesome. Thank you so much for continuing to show such amazing support for me and this story. I know this chapter wasn't out as fast as usual but real life is kicking my ass. Enrollment, school shopping, tags and taxes, upcoming surgery on my daughter's foot. Just one thing after another. Anyways, I'll shut up and get started. Thanks again.

Disclaimer: I don't own a thing except the personal plot twist in this story. I haven't made any money off this story or any others. My bank balance tells no lies.

Chapter 26

August 15, 1992

Harry laid awake in his camp bed in Ron's room and just luxuriated in the fact that he wasn't being forced to get up early and make breakfast. He didn't have a list of chores a mile long and he wasn't being physically or verbally abused if he did something wrong. It was heaven on earth, almost as good as being at Hogwarts.

Harry's summer had been eventful. He hadn't even heard of a house elf when one suddenly appeared in his room at 4 Privet Drive. His aunt and uncle were having an important business dinner and he had been ordered to his room and told not to show his face under any circumstances. The little creature had been loud even though Harry had warned him several times to be quiet, that he would get him in trouble.

Even though he was irritated with the elf, he went by the name of Dobby, he had listened to what he had come to say. Dobby hadn't been able to say who he belonged to or anything else really, but he had seen fit to warn Harry that if he returned to Hogwarts he would be in danger. Harry, who really wanted to scoff at the creature's warning, had instead tried to reason with the elf, telling him that he had to return because life at the Dursleys was terrible.

Dobby had become distraught and started banging his head on the furniture and wailing. Harry had tried to reason with him, but it wasn't going to happen. The elf burst out of his bedroom and had started for the kitchen where his aunt, uncle, and their guests were talking quietly. Dobby had levitated a jello salad into the air and caught Harry's eyes. He tried to get him to agree to stay away from Hogwarts, but Harry hadn't made that promise. The result was jello salad being dropped on the wife of Uncle Vernon's boss' head.

Harry had been blamed of course, his aunt and uncle had refused to believe that it was a tiny elf that came to warn him about his school. This had resulted in several knocks from Uncle Vernon and being confined to his room with no food or water for several days. The room had been outfitted with bars on the windows and a little kitty door that they eventually started to feed him gruel through.

Since Harry was locked inside his room, so was Hedwig. He couldn't send for help like he would have dared if he had had a way to do so. He felt terrible for his owl since she was suffering the same fate as he. Harry had finally resigned himself to living the rest of his summer in his bedroom when the Weasleys had made a daring rescue after they hadn't heard from him in almost two weeks.

Ron, Fred, and George had arrived in the middle of the night in a flying car. After seeing the bars on the windows, they had quickly tied them to the back of their car and ripped them from the house; Uncle Vernon was going to be furious, but Harry didn't care. He wanted out of 4 Privet Drive at any cost.

George had come through the window and picked the lock to his room, allowing them to get through the house to the cupboard under the stairs where his trunk and broom were locked away. George made quick work of that lock as well and they were quick to gather his things and make their way back up the stairs. While George shoved his things through the window to Ron, Harry gathered the belongings still in his room and threw them in an old rucksack of Dudley's. All his school books and homework, his clothes, and his parents photo album were shoved in unceremoniously while George grabbed Hedwig's cage and shoved it through the window.

They had almost been scot free when Fred, who was behind the wheel, floated the car a little too close to the house and bounced the fender off the siding. Harry heard his uncle let out a loud holler from his room and he knew that they were going to have to hurry to make their escape. George had jumped through the window and Ron helped him into the car. Harry had made it to the sill when his uncle had burst through and lunged for him. Uncle Vernon had caught his ankle but with George and Ron both tugging him further into the car, his uncle had let go. Harry had watched, trying his hardest not to laugh, as the portly man lost his balance and fell out of the window into the bushes below.

Of course, Mrs. Weasley had been livid when she had discovered that they had all sneaked out and stolen the car to retrieve Harry. Her fury had softened when they informed her that Harry had been locked in his room with bars on his windows, a small kitty door as the only access to his room. Mr. Weasley had laughed at his son's antics, that is, until Mrs. Weasley had smacked him in the back of his head, reminding him that he was supposed to be scolding his children.

This had happened two weeks ago and since then, life had been wonderful. The Weasleys were a loud and chaotic family, not even one of them was capable of sitting quietly and reading. Mrs. Weasley was always in the kitchen cooking something. Her food was unlike any that Harry had ever tasted, even better than Hogwarts' meals. Mr. Weasley was fascinated by muggles and collected all sorts of muggle items in the shed behind their house. Percy stayed to himself, usually in his room but he was always polite to Harry when they spoke. The twins were insane, but they always were. Harry couldn't even count how many times they had blown something up in their room and rocked the whole house. Ron was Ron, the same as he was at Hogwarts, maybe a bit more respectful than he was at school. He attributed that to the fact that Mrs. Weasley wasn't scared to take a spoon to her children if she thought they were being disrespectful or rude.

Their sister Ginny was the only one that could be described as even remotely quiet, but Harry noticed that it was just around him. At first, he had thought that she hated him, but Ron had finally told him that she had had a crush on Harry Potter since she was six. To finally meet him and see him in person was her dream come true. While he thought that Ginny was nice, her devotion to his image was disconcerting. He didn't like that people liked him for surviving the killing curse. He wanted them to like him for who he was. Therefore, he just avoided her when he could to keep the uncomfortable encounters to a minimum.

Life at the Burrow was amazing. Their days were spent playing quidditch in the orchard and swimming in the pond. Harry still worked on his extra homework and sent it to Professor McGonagall, though it wasn't completed as quickly as he had done at Privet Drive. When Ron found out, he had told Harry that he was crazy for asking for extra work but when Harry hadn't relented, Ron had buckled down and finally started his own holiday homework. It had taken him a week but since there was no whinging, Harry was going to call it a win.

Harry was excited since today they were all going to be going to Diagon Alley to get their school supplies. Their letters and lists had arrived the day before and Mrs. Weasley had insisted that her husband take the day off work to help her get all their children and supplies to and from Diagon Alley. He had happily agreed, citing that he had a few things that he needed to get himself.

Harry had read his book list several times over, trying to figure out why there were so many defense books needed and they all seemed to be written by the same bloke. Judging by the titles, it seemed like they were just stories, not anything instructive. After reading this, he was even happier that he was doing extra lessons and could only hope that they would continue once he got to school. Mrs. Weasley pulled him from his thoughts, shouting up the stairs that breakfast was ready and that she wasn't saving any back for those of her children that did not come down. Harry grinned as Ron didn't even stir. Harry went to his feet and shook his best mate's shoulder.

"Ron, it's time for breakfast. Your mum says she won't save any back if we don't get down there now." Ron sat up quickly and scrubbed his eyes before going to his feet.

"Well, come on. What are we waiting for?"

Harry laughed out loud and followed his friend out of their room and down to the kitchen. Nothing came between Ron and his food.

-O-

Hermione had finished her breakfast and had gone back up to her room to retrieve her book and supplies list. Draco had stayed at Malfoy Manor with his parents the night before and they would be flooing over this morning, so they could all go shopping in Diagon Alley together. They had done it last year and Hermione was glad that they were going to be making a tradition of it.

Her summer had gone well; she and Draco had started dueling and while Draco was very good, well, as good as to be expected, she was terrible. Her father, Uncle Sev, and Uncle Luci had all told her that her problem was that she over-thought her reactions; as much as she hated to admit it, she knew they were right. For a month now, she had only been able to use a list of ten spells and only take one second to decide which of them to use. It had been harder than anything she had done so far except for occlumency. However, under their tutelage, she had gotten better. She still wasn't as good as Draco, but her father and uncles assured her that she dueled better than most fifth years. Now that they knew what to do, she and Draco had promised each other that they would continue practicing once they returned to Hogwarts.

The rest of her summer had been just like the summer before. She had done her assignments from Madam Cambridge, worked on potions with Uncle Sev, who was staying with them this summer. She had read books with Uncle Luci, went riding with Aunt Cissy, and gone on who knew how many picnics with her father. She had even consented to go to the Ministry with him one day to watch him work.

Draco had spent a lot of time with Theo and Blaise, having them over and playing quidditch and other things. They always tried to include her, but she wasn't interested in flying on brooms. She had gone swimming with them several times in the lake at Malfoy Manor. Pansy and Daphne had sent her numerous invitations to go shopping with them, but she had always turned them down. She had consented to study with Daphne a few times but that was as far as her social activities went.

Her father had expressed worry that she was lonely. Hermione had wanted to laugh but when she saw that he was being genuine, she refrained. She had told him that she wasn't interested in shopping, that she only went with Aunt Cissy because it made her aunt happy. She didn't want to go with other girls her age that cared about nothing else. Hermione would have been happy to go riding with them if they had been interested but neither girl liked horses, quoting them as large beasts that would surely kill them if they were to ride astride them.

Hermione had invited the two girls to go swimming with her at Malfoy Manor. Both had accepted and since Draco had invited Theo and Blaise as well, it should have been fine. However, it ended up being awkward and she wasn't sure why. After it was over, and everyone had returned home except for Hermione and Draco, he had told her that the girls were likely nervous about being seen in their swimming outfits by boys. Hermione wasn't sure if he was right, but she supposed that it made sense. Pureblood girls were brought up to be modest and never show too much skin. Hermione hadn't worried because her aunt would never allow her to wear anything that wasn't proper.

Hermione has assured her father that she wasn't lonely, that when Draco was spending time with his friends, she would search out himself or her uncles, even Aunt Cissy. She had told him that her goals in life were much different than those of her female friends which made it hard for them to have anything in common. He had accepted her answer and dropped it.

Hermione had dressed carefully that morning. She knew that her Aunt Cissy would expect her to look the part of a proper pureblood girl. Her robes were an icy blue color that matched her eyes perfectly. Her hair was styled into a messy bun that had her wand shoved through it. Even though she couldn't use magic in Diagon Alley, she didn't want to be without her only protection now that Voldemort was confirmed to have returned, at least on the spectral plane. Her father had approved of her dress but had suggested that she cast a cooling charm on her robes since it was the middle of August.

Hermione gathered her list and made her way back down to the library where her father was waiting for her and the Malfoys. The Malfoys were already there, chatting quietly while they waited for her to arrive. Once they all realized that she had entered, her father, uncle, and cousin all rose to their feet, Uncle Luci holding his hand out to help Aunt Cissy to her feet. Her father came forward and offered her his arm, something that Draco usually did. She wasn't going to complain, however. She didn't get to see her father much anymore since she had started school and she only had a couple more weeks with him before she started her second year.

They all made their way to the floo and one by one, flooed from Black Moor to the Leaky Cauldron. Uncle Luci was on the other side to help Hermione and her aunt out of the fireplace. Her father came through last and waved at Tom the barman before he offered her his arm again. The adults led them out onto the Alley and through the streets. Her father smiled down at her, the sunshine highlighting just how thick his eyelashes really were.

"Where do you want to go first, poppet?" She rolled her eyes, unbelieving that he even had to ask. Draco broke in before she could answer.

"Absolutely not, we are not going to Flourish and Blotts first. We'll never get the rest of our supplies." Hermione glared at her cousin since her aunt had instilled in her that it wasn't ladylike to stick her tongue out at him.

"I'll have you know that I wasn't going to say Flourish and Blotts. I was going to say Magical Menagerie, so I could get more food and treats for Tenebris. I'm almost out." Draco snorted until his mother smacked him in the back of the head.

"Proper young men don't snort, Draco, especially not at a girl." Draco rubbed his head while Uncle Luci and her father exchanged amused looks.

"She's my cousin, she doesn't count." Now Uncle Luci smacked him in the back of the head.

"She counts more than anyone because she's your cousin. We taught you better, as did Madam Cambridge." Hermione recalled all the etiquette lessons that they both had to endure and wondered how Draco could have forgotten. Aunt Cissy smiled at her husband.

"Magical Menagerie, here we come."

The five of them started down the Alley towards Magical Menagerie, all of them going inside so Draco could get treats for his owl and her father could have some sent to Black Moor. Usually Candy took care of it but occasionally, he would surprise the pushy little elf and help her out. Once Hermione had enough food and treats to last her kneazle until Christmas, they left the pet store and consulted their list of supplies that they needed. Uncle Luci peered at Draco's as he spoke.

"Let's go to Slug and Jigger's Apothecary next. Both your potion's kits must be empty after brewing with Severus all summer long." Nobody had any complaints, so they stopped in just three shops down and ordered all the ingredients that were listed that they needed.

While Hermione never put much stock in having a lot of money and never judged a person if they didn't have as much money as her family did, she had to admit that it was much easier to shop when you were wealthy. They didn't have to worry about counting out money or anything of the sort. Her father would simply sign the bottom of the sales slip, authorizing for the money to be taken from their overflowing vaults. It was a luxury awarded to only the wealthiest.

Hermione had visited the family vaults just once before she started her first year at Hogwarts. It had never interested her before so when her father had insisted that she come she had become confused. It had turned into a conversation that she had never expected to have. Hermione knew that her father saw women and had relations with them; she wasn't stupid and while she could be described as naïve, it was difficult for her to deny it when he reeked of perfume when he came home late at night. He usually waited until she spent the night at Malfoy Manor, but it didn't always work out like that.

Hermione didn't mind that he sought physical release. Aunt Cissy had had a long talk with her just months before about sex, her cycle, her growing and changing body and all the attention that she was sure to garner from the boys not only because of her name and fortune but also because she was an exquisite girl, beautiful inside and out. Hermione had been horribly embarrassed, but Aunt Cissy had made the whole situation easier by telling her that Uncle Luci was talking to Draco about it as well.

Hermione understood about sex and that men thought they needed it often. Aunt Cissy had urged her to save herself for her husband, that he would appreciate her gift to him. Hermione had argued that it wasn't fair for a woman to save herself but not a man. Aunt Cissy had agreed but reminded her just what she thought her cousin would do if he thought that she was having sex with someone. Her aunt had lamented that the double standard wasn't fair, but it was how their world worked.

Draco had told her that his father had given him the talk as well. He didn't go into details but had made sure to tell her that he had been instructed that if he ever had sex with a girl before marriage that he was clear that there was never going to be anything serious between them and that he would only be marrying someone that he loved. It had made Hermione sick at the time but since she had no plans to sleep with anyone anytime soon, it was pointless to complain.

Her father had insisted that she visit the vaults because as his heir it was mandatory that she know the extent of their wealth and meet with their accounts manager, the same goblin that had bound her to her father through blood magic so long ago. Hermione had finally gathered the courage to ask him why he wouldn't have any of his own children and he had been very frank when he told her that by the time he was free to have a relationship, he would be too old to take care of a small child. She had felt sorry for him until he had reassured her that she was more than enough for him to be happy for the rest of her life, that when she did finally get married, her second son would take the last name of Black and carry on the name.

The sheer size of her family's vault was mind-blowing; Hermione had never seen something so enormous in her life. When her father saw her dumbfounded expression, he had laughed at her as he explained that the Malfoy family vaults were bigger but just by a little. She had been even more surprised when she learned that Harry's vault was just a little smaller than their own.

After refilling their potion's kits, Aunt Cissy insisted that they stop at Twilfitt and Tattings before they stopped for lunch. Hermione groaned inwardly, as did Draco, but both had learned long ago to not complain, otherwise it took even longer. Agatha Tatting stepped away from the rest of the customers as soon as she saw them, insisting on measuring Hermione and Draco first. This was the kind of treatment that being wealthy that she hated. Draco didn't seem to mind but she wasn't surprised. Draco never liked waiting.

After Aunt Cissy had chosen the fabric for their uniforms and ordered several for each of them, they left the upscale clothing shop and started for a new restaurant that had opened in the Alley just the month before. They had ate there once before and had been impressed so they decided to give it another shot.

Once they stepped foot into the Wizard's Trap, a maître d' rushed forward to seat them at a table that Hermione could have sworn had a reserved sign on. They were handed menus, so she started to peruse her options. They served an array of different foods ranging from classic English dishes to fancy French ones, even a few American dishes that Hermione had never tried. Everyone chose carefully, hoping to enjoy their meal the second time around as well.

Hermione ended up choosing the coq au vin, her favorite French dish. Draco rolled his eyes at her but said nothing, probably for fear of angering his mother again. The meal passed quickly, everyone enjoying their food very much. Her father happily left a generous tip while Uncle Luci paid the bill. After lunch, Draco begged to his father to let him get a new broom, so he could try out for the quidditch team; her father was just as excited to go so Hermione and Aunt Cissy stayed outside on a bench while they waited for the boys to finish their shopping.

They discussed her upcoming year at school. Her aunt warned her that while the boys had been interested the year before, they were going to be even more so now. Hermione had started to grow breasts, just small little nubs at the moment, but noticeable through her robes. Her aunt had spent a small fortune buying her the finest lingerie that she could find in her fledgling size. When her father had discovered the purchases, Hermione knew her face had been burning with embarrassment. She couldn't remember being as happy as she was when the three boys appeared out of Quality Quidditch Supply, brand new broom in Draco's hand.

Draco was bragging about his new broom to Hermione, going on and on about how it was a Nimbus 2001 and he was going to fly fast enough to get on the team. While she did try to pay attention to him, her attention was riveted on Flourish and Blotts ahead. It was always her favorite stop and while everyone gave her a hard time about whiling away her day in the bookshop, she was well-aware that if they had visited there first, they would have had to drag her out kicking and screaming. Not really behavior she wanted to exhibit in front of her aunt.

As they neared the book shop, the crowd was larger than normal. Hermione remembered how many people had been in there last year when they had went shopping and the number was almost triple. When they reached the windows, it was clear why. Gilderoy Lockhart, the man who had wrote all the books they needed for their Defense class, was doing a book signing.

Hermione could admit that he was handsome. She had never read any of his books, so she had no idea if he was as brilliant as he was always claiming to be, his quotes were all over that rag Witch Weekly. She wasn't anywhere near as enamored as the rest of the witches in the store, all swooning and batting their eyes in his direction. Her uncle and father groaned when they saw just what they were going to have to brave inside.

Hermione didn't let them even get a chance at backing out. She took both their hands and dragged them inside, both protesting under their breath. Once they were all inside, Hermione rushed to get a basket, eager to find all her texts. Maybe she could talk her father into getting her the newest book on Arithmancy and Runes as well.

When she grabbed her basket, Hermione caught sight of the last person that she had anticipated seeing there. Harry Potter and the entire Weasley family. She knew that this situation had the potential to go very wrong, but she was going to do her best to make sure that that didn't happen. She hurried back to her family and pulled them in the opposite direction of the redheads. The mother seemed to be watching Lockhart closely, fanning herself when he looked in her direction. Her husband seemed to be oblivious next to her. Hermione frowned at the display. Even if Aunt Cissy had found the man handsome, she would never have demonstrated that she did, especially in front of Uncle Luci. She would have deemed it as disrespectful to her husband.

When Hermione glanced over at Draco, she realized that he was watching the same scene that she was. His lip was curled upwards in disgust, obviously unimpressed with the woman's display. She quickly averted her eye when her father reached out and handed her one of the books on her list. He must have seen the Weasleys were with Harry because there was a sharp intake of air. His hand fell to her shoulder as he whispered in her ear.

"There's Harry, sweetness, Merlin, look how he's grown. He's so much bigger than he was last year when I saw him." She laid her hand over his and squeezed his fingers.

"I know, Daddy. He's obviously staying with the Weasleys. It's too bad that you can't say anything to him." Before he could respond, Lockhart realized that Harry Potter was there buying his books.

Hermione watched with extreme distaste as the blond man pulled Harry over to his table of books and threw an arm around him, claiming that he was giving him all his books for free since he was going to be their new Defense professor. She was happy to see that there was a disgusted look on his face. After being forcibly held to the man's side for a series of photos, Sirius started towards the table. Hermione rushed after him, scared that he was going to get into a fight with the man. Her father was known for his volatile temper.

Uncle Luci, however, wasn't above acting like the Slytherin he was. He drew his wand and cast at her father's back, freezing him on the spot. Since he was so close to the table, however, he was still able to see Harry and the scene before him unfold. Her aunt and uncle approached together, Draco and Hermione staying only a few steps behind. Lockhart caught sight of Aunt Cissy and removed his arm from around Harry's shoulders, so he could come forward and catch her aunt's hand in his. He bent over it to press a kiss to her knuckles before he spoke.

"My biggest fan has come to get my autograph today. You, my dear, are as lovely as a spring day." There was clear disgust on her aunt's hand and she could hear Draco growling next to her. She laid a hand on his arm, calming him. Aunt Cissy jerked her hand out of his while Uncle Luci spoke, his voice low and dangerous. Most people assumed that Uncle Luci never got angry because he never yelled. The truth of the matter was that the angrier he got, the quieter his voice got.

"I would advise you to never touch my wife again, Lockhart. I don't believe in sharing." Hermione knew in this moment that Lockhart was a blithering idiot. Even people that didn't know her uncle were backing away.

"Nonsense, it's just being friendly. Perhaps she would like a signed photo of myself and Mr. Potter?" Lucius stepped further into the man's space which caused him to back away.

"I suggest that you release Mr. Potter. I've been watching this whole time and he doesn't look most pleased at being your next claim to fame." Lockhart was just now realizing that her uncle was serious. He quickly backed away from Harry as well. Since it was clear that the confrontation was over, Aunt Cissy reached behind her and waved her wand, releasing her father from his spell. Hermione heard him growl angrily but lost it in the shouting that was now taking place between Ronald Weasley and her cousin.

"Why would Death Eater scum like you and your family care about Harry? What do you want him for? You're trying to get him to trust you." Draco stepped forward, angry sneer on his face.

"You don't get to talk about my family like that. You are only bringing shame to your family, you ignorant lout." Arthur Weasley stepped forward and clamped down on his son's shoulder.

"Ronald, shut the hell up. You have no idea what you're doing." Ronald glared at his father but remained silent. The elder Weasley turned to Uncle Luci and looked like he was about to swallow something highly unpleasant.

"I apologize, Lucius, it won't happen again." Draco snorted next to her but remained silent as well. Her father was standing behind both of them, hands on both their shoulders, while Aunt Cissy was watching with the hardest expression Hermione had ever seen on her face. Lucius' voice was dripping with disdain.

"See that it doesn't. You might invest in an etiquette tutor. His manners are atrocious. If he continues to insult my niece, he won't like what happens. I have no problems allowing my son to defend her honor. The traditional way, of course. From what I hear of your son's school work, the duel wouldn't last long." Hermione cringed. Her uncle always sounded pompous when things like this happened; she knew for a fact that it was going to infuriate the Weasley family. While she didn't care about most of them, she could see the twins glaring at her uncle.

Rather than come back with a retort, Arthur lunged at Uncle Luci, his fist swinging and catching him off-guard. His fist hit her uncle in the nose, which exploded in blood that poured down his chin and stained his robes. It was clear that her uncle was going to try to spin this as badly as possible for Arthur Weasley, but it wasn't possible when the red-haired man started for him again. This time, Lucius wasn't caught unaware. He caught Weasley's fist and threw his own, knocking Weasley to the ground. It would have worked out great if it hadn't been for the fact that Arthur had grabbed the front of her uncle's robes and dragged him down with him.

Hermione lunged forward, worried that her uncle was seriously injured since they were now rolling on the ground. Aunt Cissy grabbed the back of her robes and held fast, refusing to let her go. Her father stepped forward and pulled his friend off Weasley, throwing him behind him so he could attempt to stem the blood still flowing from his nose. Hermione flew from her aunt's grasp, so she could hug her uncle close before instructing him to pinch his nose shut to stop the bleeding. Her father was now glaring at Weasley, but the red-haired man didn't seem to be quailing in the least.

"You don't fuck with my family and your family has done nothing but. The only honorable ones among you are your twins." Arthur stepped forward proudly, head held high, so he could make sure that everyone heard his words.

"It's rich that someone who serves You-Know-Who and turns his best friend over to him is lecturing me and my family about honor. The only reason you aren't rotting in prison is because you were lucky enough to have your brother die off, so you could adopt his child. Trust me, one day she'll realize that you're just lying to her and that you and your friend hiding behind you are nothing but murderers and rapists. Then where will you be?" Mrs. Weasley came forward and started pulling on her husband, doing her best to rally her children at the same time.

Hermione left her uncle to rush into her father's arms, uncaring that it wasn't seemly or ladylike in the least. He held her close and kissed the top of her head while Aunt Cissy started waving her wand at Uncle Luci, getting the blood to stop. People were no longer staring since the Weasleys had just departed. Hermione saw Harry cast a long glance behind him, almost like he wasn't sure what he had just seen. She met his gaze for just a moment before Ron grabbed ahold of his arm and pulled him out of the shop.

Aunt Cissy decided that they were all to head back home to Black Moor while she finished shopping for their books. Her father led her out of Flourish and Blotts as regally as he could; they were Blacks after all. Draco and Lucius followed, Lucius trying to remove the blood stains from his robes. Deciding that they didn't want to walk the Alley all the way back to the Leaky Cauldron, her father grabbed her, and Uncle Luci grabbed Draco. They apparated just outside the door, landing in the entrance hall of Black Moor.

-O-

Sirius couldn't believe that this had happened. Not only had he finally seen Harry clearly for the first time since he was a year old, Lockhart had used him to further his career. While he always hated admitting that Lucius was right, he would be the first to thank his friend for his actions today. The last thing that he wanted to do was frighten his godson and make him think that he was coming after him for unsavory reasons.

What surprised Sirius the most was the reaction of Arthur Weasley. The man had always been the most laid-back person he knew aside from Remus, so his reaction was just over the top. Of course, the fact that it was Lucius was probably the reason; the feud between their families was legendary.

Sirius would never doubt his daughter or cousin when they told him how horrid the Weasley boy was. It was clear that the boy hadn't been raised with manners; if he had, none of the knowledge had stuck. After remembering that the twins had apologized in the formal manner, it was clear that they had been taught; the boy just didn't employ the knowledge bestowed upon him. Sirius had been nasty when he was a child, that much was certain, but at that point in time, he hadn't cared about manners and making enemies.

Lucius had already been tended by Candy and shed his robes, so Dot could clean them. Hermione was seated next to him, clearly still worried that he was hurt. Sirius chuckled to himself; his daughter always worried even if it was clear that it wasn't necessary. Finally, Lucius shooed her away good-naturedly, so she came and sat down on his lap. Her head was laid on his shoulder when she finally spoke.

"One of these days, Harry will know the truth and it will be everyone else that he's angry at for lying to him. I know it sucks but just keep telling yourself that it won't be forever." Sirius smiled above her before he kissed her hairline.

"I know, sweetness. I'm being patient. You be patient as well." She chuckled softly before she spoke again.

"I don't care about being his friend anymore. I'll be nice to him and protect him if I need to, but I've given up on being his friend. It doesn't do to dwell on the impossible. I don't want to be friends with someone that can be nice one second and then say the worst things imaginable the next. I don't like feeling how he makes me feel." Sirius wasn't sure what to say to that. He was quite certain that his daughter had a small crush on his godson but had never voiced it. The last thing he wanted to do was embarrass her about something like that. He understood why his words had hurt his daughter so deeply. She had grown up hearing about how great of a person he would be, how much Sirius loved him, how powerful he was going to be when he was grown. He had always wondered if she hadn't been just a little bit jealous.

After that thought, Sirius held his daughter tighter, trying to show her that she was important to him. He was just getting ready to tell her so when the floo activated and Cissa entered the library. Her face was a thundercloud of fury and her back was ramrod straight. Sirius sighed.

This was going to be a long night for himself and Lucius.

-O-

Harry laid in bed that night, considering what had happened that day in Flourish and Blotts. The new Defense professor seemed like a total ponce. He wasn't sure that the man even knew how to hold his wand, let alone cast with it. He had been unimpressed at best.

Harry couldn't hide his surprise when Malfoy's father had stepped forward and told the idiot man to back off him. Most everyone talked about how evil the man was and there he was trying to protect Harry. Of course, he supposed that it could be that the man was just trying to gain favor but that wasn't how it had seemed at the time.

Sirius Black had taken his breath away and not in a good way. He had been surprised to see the man, even more surprised that he hadn't approached him, especially after how hard Hermione had tried to be his friend last year at school. The only time the man had spoken was when Mr. Weasley had attacked Lucius Malfoy. Harry supposed that the traitor had reacted as normal people would, protecting those they considered family. That was what Mr. Weasley had been doing though even Harry had to admit that while Malfoy hadn't made the problem better with his comment, Ron had started it by opening his fat trap.

Harry had seen first hand Hermione's care for her uncle; she had ran into his arms once Sirius Black had separated Mr. Weasley and Malfoy. He had been cold and hard to everyone else, even kept that expression on his face when his son had spoken, but with Hermione, he was all hugs, kisses on her head, and soft words. She had gone to her father next, who hugged her close and kissed her head as well. It was clear that the girl was adored.

Harry was jealous of that; he wanted a family that loved him like that. He hated that he only had the Dursleys, who treated him no better than a slave. He remembered Hermione's words to him the night that he had been completely horrid to her.

You would have been my brother and we would have loved you like we love Draco.

Harry shoved the thought from his mind; these were dangerous waters. Dumbledore had been clear when he told him the story of his parent's deaths and how Hermione Black was involved. He had to stay strong and not focus on the Slytherin girl. The last thing he needed now that he was finally getting extra lessons was a distraction, especially a distraction that he wasn't supposed to have.

Harry rolled over and tried not to pay attention to Mrs. Weasley screaming at her husband downstairs. Ron was already snoring so there was no hope of conversation. Deciding that he was going to put effort into falling asleep, he closed his eyes and focused on the future.

In just two weeks' time they would be heading back to Hogwarts. Life would be good once again.

A/N- Boom, another chapter down, y'all. Thanks for reading and reviewing, you guys are the bomb. I love the support you guys show me, it keeps me motivated! Anyways, leave me a message and tell me what you think. Reviews make me smile.

Next chapter, everyone returns to Hogwarts for their second year.

Love,

Alicia