As always, I'm only playing with JK Rowling's toys.
All credit goes to JK Rowling, her publisher and all the other people involved in bringing her work to life.
#
It was a couple of weeks after the meeting with Director Bones when Harry received word about the lack of trial for Sirius. Its wasn't news to Harry, but it confirmed some things for him.
He knew that the last administration was, ill-prepared for a positive outcome of the last war; the fact that they were weeks away from capitulating to the Death Eaters proved this fact.
All they wanted to do was sweep everything under the carpet and forget all that had happened, this included Sirius Black, he became an easy scapegoat for all the ills of the Wizarding World, and a simple thing like the due process wouldn't stand in the way of the healing process.
Susan Bones tentatively approached Harry after Herbology; she was not normally a shy girl when it came to talking; however, this was Harry Potter she had to speak with, and, that was an entirely different thing.
'Erm, Harry could... could I talk with you for a moment?' Susan asked nervously,
'Sure.' Said Harry and he beaconed Hermione to join him. Ron's demeanour grew a little dark at the sight of Harry extending his hand towards Hermione.
'Hey Nev, you think Sue is the girl Harry was talking about on the train?' asked Ron
'What? No, I don't. I have a good idea who it might be, and Susan isn't her.' he replied
'Why not, she's got a couple of big things going for her. I certainly wouldn't mind a shot' mused Ron
'You're a fucking idiot Ron; I honestly have no idea why those two are friends with you, you're a fucking embarrassment.' Neville spat at the redhead before calling out 'Hannah, wait up.'
Susan was unnerved by Ron's comments; she saw in Harry's eyes that he was very angry at his loud-mouthed antics.
'I'm sorry that you had to hear that Susan, not all guys are like him. I'll have words with him later.' Harry told Susan to try and ease her concerns.
'Harry' Susan looked at Hermione 'I have something for you from my aunt; she said I was to give it to you in private.'
'Hermione knows she was in the meeting with your aunt. I completely trust her.'
As Susan reached into her robes to give Harry the missive from her aunt, a commotion broke out behind them.
'poor, poor Weasel breath. It's so sad to see such a prominent pureblood family is such a bad way. You know what, I think the rest of the sacred twenty-eight should start a charity, we'll call it "Weasle-Aid"' Draco and his bookends had rounded in on Ron.
'Piss off Malfoy.' Ron spat back at him.
'No, no, no Weasel breath, you're supposed to grovel and kiss the hem of my robe and said "you are too kind, saviour Malfoy"' Malfoy sneered, and his bookends sniggered before the trio turned on their heels and walked away past Harry, Susan and Hermione.
'Harry, ladies' said Malfoy with a subtle nod in their direction.
'Draco, boys' replied Harry with a similar nod in towards the Slytherin trio.
The girls stood dumfounded at the exchange, Ron fumed at the slight and the lack of support from his friend.
'What the fuck was that Harry?' yelled Ron
'What was what?' asked Harry as he smiled innocently.
Ron walked over to Harry and shoved his shoulder 'Where was the back up against Neville and Malfoy?'
Susan and Hermione stepped back against the corridor wall out of the way.
'Neville, rightly, called you out for being a chauvinistic prick and not before time.
And secondly Draco and I have reached an agreement, he doesn't use certain offensive terms when speaking about my friends and I don't post bits of him back to daddy.' Harry stepped past Ron and took a step towards the girls before he stopped and turned to Ron.
'You speak about another girl like that again, and Draco will be the least of your worries.'
He turned to the girls 'let's go somewhere more private to talk; perhaps Professor Sprout will let us use her class.' The three of left the corridor without so much as a look at Ron, who was standing with his fists clenched and his knuckles white as bone.
#
"Dear Mr Potter,
I have personally checked the archives for the court transcripts of your Godfathers trial. You can imagine how shocked I was to find that not only did they not exist, but there is nor record of charged files against Lord Black. I am greatly concerned about this. However, I will get to the bottom of this.
I understand that since your return to our world, a great many things have happened that have eroded your trust in authority figures. I hope that you can come to trust me.
Should you have any concerns about Lord Black or any of the "other" things we spoke of, Susan has agreed to ask as a go-between to keep things as secure as possible.
Yours
Lady Regent Amelia Susan Bones,
Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement
'Are you sure that you are ok with this, Susan?' Asked Harry
'My aunt trusts you, and she doesn't trust easily. I am ok with this, besides its the least that I can do after the way you spoke with Weasley out there.'
Hermione asked 'What's the deal with you and Malfoy?'
Harry grinned 'That would be the little chat we had on the express. Things in Hogwarts will get a little less hostile between the majority of Gryffindor and Slytherin.'
#
Harry wrote to Sirius explaining his concerns for the tournament, the vision he had and his meeting with Director Bones. He went on to explain that he would send a weekly report with Dobby as Hedwig was far too recognisable to send on frequent trips, but now and then she would deliver to him on route to delivering mail to Hermione's parents.
As September changed to October, the atmosphere in Gryffindor Tower slowly began to chill, relations between Ron and Harry had plateaued. For a time things fluctuated between downright frosty and their friendship of first and second year before settling on mildly civil.
Ginny had withdrawn from Harry's company completely, although she still pined for him and hoped that whoever it was that he had given his heart to, would come down with an incurable case of falling from the astronomy tower with a knife in their back. Harry could sense this, but he didn't care, Hermione knew how he felt about her and if it had needed reinforcing then the gift she received from him for her Birthday soon re-established the fact that she was the love of his life.
Monday the nineteenth of September started with the usual hive of activity that a Monday morning brings to a school. Blind panic for some, resignation for others, while one or two other pupils it brought a smile. Hermione awoke and got ready as normal, although with an extra spring in her step. She was the first from her dorm to be up and ready, but this was usual for her. When she got to the common room, she expected to find her usual chair vacant. This morning an interloper has invaded her sovereign territory.
'And what is the meaning of this uncalled-for invasion, Mr Potter? She playfully demanded as she stood over him with her hands placed on her hips.
'Ah, Ms Granger, the very lady I need. I wonder, would you consent to be escorted to breakfast by my good self?' Asked Harry in his most put on Victorian London accent.
'Why would a lady, such as I, consent to be escorted by a scoundrel such as you?' she replied haughtily.
'Well you see Mia, I have spoken with Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall, and I have permission to take you to spend the day with your parents. It's all arranged, so I suggest you toddle back up to your dorm and get your civvies on, because you and me baby, we're out of here in T-minus ten minutes.'
Hermione was stunned into silence. Not something that happened regularly, so she turned and slowly walked up to the dorm. Harry called after her.
'Mia, Tempus fugit. Tick tock.' The realisation that this was not a dream hit her, and she squealed and ran the rest of the way to her room.
On the chair beside him was his gift to her. Something had niggled in his thoughts about what he should get for her; he knew a book would be treasured. But it would have to be as rare and unique as she was. He smiled softly to himself.
A few short moments later, she emerged from her dorm dressed in light blue jeans. With a white v-neck Aran knit cashmere jumper, and a striped shirt underneath and her hair in a messy bun. It took his breath away.
'Mia, could you look any more beautiful?' he asked her with a huge smile on his face.
She blushed sweetly at the praise.
They left the tower and made their way to the entrance hall where Professor McGonagall was waiting.
'Mr Potter and Ms Granger, you are exactly on time. I will escort both to Ms Granger's house as agreed, and I will return to collect you at nine o'clock this evening. I trust that this will be sufficient time to celebrate?' the aged professor asked.
'Yes, Professor that will be ample time. Thank you.' replied Harry
'Well if there is nothing further, our carriage awaits.' Minerva gestured towards the door and the carriage at the foot of the steps. Hermione was still in shock that Harry, her best friend, had arranged for all of this to happen for her birthday. She was a little bit in awe at how he had managed to pull this off.
They journeyed in silence to the school gate, when they had alighted from the carriage, Minerva said 'Please both of you take my arm. I am going to Apparate the three of us to your front garden, Hermione. Normally I would only do this in emergencies as it can be very taxing.' Before the youths had a chance to protest, Minerva had spun on her heel and squeezed them through a garden hose with a faint pop, arriving safely on the front lawn of the Granger residence.
'Remember, I will return to collect you both at nine this evening, so make sure that you use the time wisely. Enjoy yourselves; Merlin knows that you both deserve it.' said the professor before she Apparated away.
'Harry, how did you manage to arrange all of this?' Hermione asked as she hugged him.
'I just wanted this to be a special day for you, Mia; I want to make all your birthdays special for you.' Harry said in a small voice.
'Well, I could get used to being treated like this, Harry.' she replied.
'Are you two gonna stand there mooning at each other all day?' Hermione's Dad asked from the front door.
'DAD, we were not mooning, we were having a friendly embrace and discussion, which you rudely interrupted.' Admonished Hermione.
'You were mooning.'
'Not mooning.'
'Mooning'
'Mum, dad's bing a prat' Hermione was calling in the big guns now.
'What is he doing down?' Emma Granger asked as Hermione and Harry walked into the living room.
'Dad said we were mooning at each other. I was thanking Harry for arranging this and giving him a hug.' Hermione said.
'Sounds a lot like mooning to me' teased her mother.
'MUUUUM!'
Harry stood, smiling at the exchanges.
'Mai, before we do anything more, can I give you my present now?' Harry asked.
She smiled at him and nodded.
The sat on the couch, and Harry handed her the package.
She gently removed the wrapping paper before gasping in shock. Her parents rushed to her side.
'Harry I can't accept this, it's too much' she whispered.
'Mia, please. I wanted to give you something as special and rare as you are to me, this was the only thing that I could find that came close, and even this falls woefully short.' Explained Harry.
Mrs Granger asked 'What's the problem, honey?'
'Mum the problem is that this is the first edition of Robert Burns Kilmarnock edition. There are only twelve copies left in existence.' Said Hermione.
The Grangers all looked at Harry. Emma considered him with an appraising air, and she was very impressed with what she saw. Dan looked at Harry as a father would look at any suitor. He wanted to dislike the lad, but he felt that after all the effort he had gone to to make sure that they could spend the day with their daughter, he could give the boy a chance. Hermione looked at her friend in awe. If she needed proof that he was deeply in love with her, then this was it. Arranging all of this and god knows whatever else as well as giving her one of the rarest books you could find.
She would need to speak with her mum for some advice.
Harry said 'Mia, this copy has been in my family since it came to print in 1786. I cannot think of anyone more fitting to have as a custiodian of one of the finest works of poetry ever to be put on paper, than you. Please accept it. It would mean so much to me.'
Hermione looked from her parents to Harry before sighing.
'only if you're sure.' She said. Harry beamed at her before engulfing her in a huge hug.
'See I told you, Mooning.' Said Dan.