Hello guys! I hope you're all having a nice day like me! It's a bit cloudy where I'm at with the occasional drizzle. In other words, perfect weather to curl up and catch up on my writing! If you like the story so far, then please consider leaving a review (I hear they help speed up content creation haha). I'd also like to thank Sigmar for his suggestion in regards to the phoenix's name. I might not have chosen it, but I ended up incorporating it into the story either way, so kudos to you mate. Anyway, here's the next chapter:
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all associated characters are the property of J.K. Rowling.
June 21, 1991; Friday 8:39 P.M – Naples, Italy
He was brought out of his musings as he saw some movement from the corner of his eye.
A small, bald head with big eyes and a small beak was sticking out of the top of the ash; it seemed to be some kind of bird, staring at Harry with unblinking eyes. That's when he knew where the foreign magical presence had come from.
Hungry. Confused. Sleepy.
"Hermione, what do you think it is?" he asked, unsure as to how he should react to their current situation. Out of all the possibilities he had come up with, hatching a chicken was not one of them.
"I'm not sure... Harry, do you feel that?" she asked cautiously.
"I was beginning to wonder whether you noticed it or not. I think it's communicating with us through aura projection, though it feels a bit unconventional compared to how we do it…" Harry closed his eyes and sank into a meditative state, reaching out with his aura and trying to get a feel for the small creature's magic. Meanwhile, Hermione stretched out her hand ever so slightly to lightly pet the bird's head.
Soothing. Guardian. Safe.
"Huh, seems to like whatever you're doing," he said with his eyes closed while Hermione kept petting the bird.
"What do you think should we name her?" Hermione, whose whole focus had been on the small creature a second ago, asked abruptly.
"Her? How do you know it's a 'her'?"
"I don't know, I guess I just do," she said with a small shrug.
"Okay… weirdo" he added under his breath.
"What was that?"
"Nothing! I was just, uh, saying how we could maybe name her Cassandra?"
"Is that a question?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. "You know what, whatever. And no, it's too long for my taste. I was thinking of something more meaningful. What's your opinion on Kaen? It's the Japanese word for flame, I think it would be cute."
"She doesn't really look like a Kaen in my opinion though, and we're not giving her that name just because you think it's cute! Honestly, you've been reading too much of Dan's manga collection.
Humph
After a few minutes of contemplation, Hermione spoke up again.
"What about Hestia?"
Harry considered the name while Hermione continued speaking in the background, gears already set on 'Oral Speaker' mode.
"I think it really suits her, not to mention the fact that Hestia plays a great, if not overly mentioned role in Greek mythology as the goddess of the hearth. It would give her name some symbolism and history! Not only that, but Hestia also represents some principles that you yourself might value more than the vast majority of people on this planet, things like family and home!
"Did you know, she was originally the firstborn child of the Titans Kronos and Rhea? That is until she was swallowed whole along with her siblings. Fun fact, being the first to be devoured by her father and the last to be yielded up again makes her both the eldest and the youngest of her godly siblings! Isn't that weird? Man, Greek mythology sure is fascinating! Did you know that it is speculated that she gave her seat in the Olympic council to Dionysus, the god of Wine -"
"Hermione, you're rambling about History again," Harry said nonchalantly while 'waking up' from his meditative state. The creature's aura had a curious feel to it. It emanated warmth and calmed his thoughts. He could feel the touch of fire within the creature, it was almost like a tiny, dark flame.
Hermione snapped her mouth shut as a small blush crept up her neck.
"But I actually do think it suits her. Hestia it is" he agreed, to which Hermione just let out a satisfied humph.
Harry turned towards the fragile creature and stared at her.
"You hear that girl? Do you like your new name?" he said while reaching out to gently run his finger down Hestia's back.
Happy. Satisfied. Sleepy.
They were interrupted by Dan yelling out from inside."Harry? Hermione? Are you guys ready?"
"Be there in a minute!" they called out in unison.
Harry turned back to Hermione to see that she was sporting a little frown.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't think we've realized the full extent to what we are committing to, the responsibility that we will undertake. We're going to be responsible for Hestia's life! I mean, how do we even get her back to Britain? I'm pretty sure this would be considered Wildlife Smuggling, not to mention how many weird experiments the government would do if they got their hands on her! And what if we get caught? We can't just tell Mom and Dad about her, they would never let us keep her!" she said with worry.
"Right. Well, I for one think you're overreacting. Hermione, we can do this together! If it consoles your conscience, Hestia is a magical creature, so the laws don't really apply to her now, do they?" he said matter-of-factly.
"Anyway, there's nothing to worry about, I have it all figured out," he said with a mischievous smile.
Hermione just stared at Harry with an unamused expression, knowing that he already had some crazy plan to get Hestia back home.
June 23, 1991 – Sunday, 10:30 A.M. Back at home.
Harry and Hermione were walking down their driveway towards the car, excited for the day ahead of them. They had convinced their parents to take them to the Zoo, hoping to find some clue there as to what sort of creature Hestia was. Not that Dan and Emma were privy to this information. As a matter of fact, due to no small amount of luck (or in their case, magic), they were able to smuggle Hestia to Britain in the side pocket of Harry's shorts, with Dan and Emma being none the wiser. To be honest, Hermione was surprised that Harry's ingenious 'plan' had worked at all. Given the circumstances, it had all been worth it. They got Hestia home safe and sound, immediately getting her settled in Harry's room, right under his bed. Not much of a hiding place, but they were pretty confident Dan and Emma wouldn't invade their privacy like that. She was already starting to show beautiful, dark purple plumage. She slept most of the day
Speaking of whom, she let out a small chirp as if to signal her dissatisfaction at being kept in such a small restricting space, not unlike the one she had traveled in on her way to Britain.
Dark. Confining. Irritated.
Harry reached into the front pocket of his jacket and scratched the top of her head.
"Don't worry girl, this is only temporary" he murmured while projecting an aura of promise. He knew how much Hestia disliked being put in small spaces, but until they had a better solution, she would just have to endure it. The small nuts that he fed her helped alleviate some of her irritation.
After a grueling 20 minute drive, they finally arrived at the Zoo. Dan paid the admission fees and let them be on their way, knowing that they liked to watch the animals at their own pace. He and Emma usually just stayed behind and let them do as they pleased, knowing that they would not wander off from their sight.
When Harry and Hermione were a bit further away, he opened up the small pocket so that Hestia could stick her head out, which she did in an overly dramatic fashion while letting out an irritated chirp, as if to say 'finally'.
"Honestly Hestia, you're such a drama queen," he chuckled.
"Come on Harry, you can't really blame her, can you? She's just a baby after all" she said while reaching out to pet the small bird.
Pleased. Smug. Satisfied.
"This is why she's like this 'Mione, you just keep on spoiling her," he said rolling his eyes.
"Whatever Potter. Come on; let's hurry up so we can explore the aviary."
12:30 A.M.
Hermione was currently pacing around the Reptile House waiting for Harry to come back, not necessarily looking at any particular animal. They had found nothing worth mentioning at the aviary, not like they had had high expectations in the first place. He had excused himself to go look for the little boy's room almost 10 minutes ago, which seemed to be a bit too long in her opinion. Their parents were waiting outside, not wanting to go in the herpetarium because of the stench, so she was basically alone. Except for Hestia, Harry had given her a little while ago since they were taking turns on watching over her.
"I wonder what's taking Harry so long," she said to the small purse at her side in which Hestia was resting on a small pillow. She let out a small chirp and drifted back to sleep.
"What's that in your bag?" someone said close to her.
Hermione stopped pacing and looked up to where the voice had come from, seeing the two boys that had been yelling and tapping on the glass of the enclosures since she had first set foot in the building.
Crap
"N-nothing, why do you ask?"
"I saw you talking to it just now. So what's in the bag?" he said pointing at it.
"I already told you. And even if there was, I don't see how that's any of your business," Hermione said with a small huff.
"Come on, just show us, we promise not to tell anyone!"
"I said no, now leave me alone!" she exclaimed.
"Ah-hah! So there is something there. Give it here!" The kid took a step forward her and grabbed onto her. "Now show me what you have there before I push you to the ground and take it myself!" Hermione was really frightened right now; she didn't know what to do. All she knew was that she could not risk provoking these kids, there was no telling what sort of idiocy they were capable of.
"Let me go! I'm going to tell your parents what you're doing!" she said as a last resort. The kid just laughed at her mockingly.
"You hear that Gordon? She's going to tell on me! Ha-ha!" He then turned back to Hermione and grabbed her by the shirt. "Listen here kid, I'm starting to run out of patience, so what's it gonna be?" he asked.
"How about you pick on someone your own size, Diddykins?" said a recognizable voice. The boy let go of Hermione and turned towards the uninvited guest, ready to pound his head silly for the insult. Only his mom could call him that! He stopped on his tracks the moment he got a closer look at the familiar emerald green eyes and the lightning-shaped scar.
"Is that- Freak?! I thought we had gotten rid of you for good. What are you doing here?" he said with a sneer.
"I don't think that concerns you in any way. What you should be worried about is that you just tried to hurt Hermione, who, to be quite frank, I'm really protective of" Harry responded menacingly. He didn't know why, but the moment he had set his eyes on Dudley, he had been overwhelmed by feelings he thought were long gone. Buried and forgotten in the deepest corners of his mind. Sadness, anger, and resentment resurfaced, boiling with hatred for all those years of torment. A cold, bottomless pit of rage swelled within Harry. He was going to hurt Hermione. He had taken his eyes off her for ten minutes!
Taking a deep breath, he focused on Hermione and Hestia, their presence helping dissipate his anger. Two beautiful souls anchoring him to the reality that was his life. There was warmth emanating from them, a warmth that helped soothe his ice-cold rage. Determined on a course of action, he gave Hermione a look that only she could decipher and turned back towards his cousin. Hermione stepped back out of sight, forgotten by the boys after Harry's sudden appearance.
Harry focused his turmoiling feelings and his will to protect Hermione and directed it at the glass window behind Dudley and his friend. Almost immediately, the window that had previously separated the snake enclosure and the visitors of the zoo vanished. The same window that Dudley and Gordon had been furiously banging on a few minutes prior to the encounter.
Hermione and Gordon were the first to notice the snake that had slithered out of its enclosure, which proceeded to menacingly hiss at Dudley's friend. Something Dudley was completely oblivious to.
"Eh, Dudley?" Gordon said in a small voice.
"Why don't you come and do something about it then? I bet you're scared, aren't you, Freak?"
"Dudley?!" Gordon exclaimed a bit louder, holding on to his arm with a tight grip, afraid to make any sudden movements in fear of aggravating the snake.
"Hold on Gordon, can't you see I'm busy at the moment?" he said while not taking his eyes off Harry.
"Me? Oh, I'm not going to do anything. That snaked behind you looks pretty irritated though. A small tip for the future, you shouldn't tap on the glass of the confinements, it really agitates the animals" he said, crossing his arms.
"DUDLEY!" Gordon yelled, finally snapping Dudley out of his temporary confusion.
"WHAT?—" He finally noticed the boa constrictor coiled on the floor, ready to strike the humans that had taunted it so disrespectfully on the other side of the invisible wall. Harry turned his attention to the snaked which he had let out and hissed.
Give the fat kid and hiss friend a sscare. That iss my price for your freedom. Do not hurt them. Do that and I'll conssider your debt paid .
The boa looked at Harry with something akin to surprise before nodding its head in admission and hissing back.
Ass you wissh, sspeaker.
The boa turned back and struck at the air between the two humans, making Dudley and Gordon jump and turn on the spot, running out of the building screaming with a boa constrictor hot on their tail. High on adrenaline for standing up to his long-time bully, Harry failed to realize that he had just given orders to a snake, and it had actually obeyed him.
"Run piggy, run!" he said with a small chuckle. Man, revenge sure was sweet.
"Harry, you just set a boa constrictor on that boy and his friend!" Hermione spoke out of nowhere, dragging his attention back to the present.
"Not only was that foolish, but it could also be potentially dangerous! What if it bites them? And why was he calling you a freak? Where do you know each other from?"
"Don't worry, I told it not to.. hurt… them." Harry and Hermione finally realized what had happened.
He had spoken to a snake.
He had spoken to a snake.
He didn't know whether to be happy or scared.
"I-I just spoke to a snake… I just spoke to a snake. Did I really just speak to a snake?" he asked Hermione with uncertainty.
Hermione nodded, her previous questions forgotten due to the discovery of Harry's new ability. Harry just stared at Hermione with widened eyes, shocked. A couple of moments of silence followed before Harry hugged her and spoke up.
"I get a magic chicken and can speak to snakes? Magic is awesome!"
Hermione just shook her head in exasperation as an unamused chirp sounded from the bag. It was shortly after that moment that a worried Daniel and Emma Granger barged into the Reptile House, having witnessed a fat boy being chased out of the building by a large snake, and somehow knowing that their charges had something to do with it.
July 31, 1991 - Harry's Birthday; Wednesday, 8:37 a.m
"Come on Hestia, you can do it!" Hermione called to Hestia who was perched on Harry's arm, sending waves of encouragement towards Harry's familiar.
They could be found in Harry's room standing 5 feet apart facing each other, arms stretched out to the side in an attempt to teach Hestia how to fly. She was already around 25 centimeters tall. Her plumage had developed beautifully, and decorated Hestia's body with purple feathers so dark, they could almost be considered black.
A little over a month old, Hestia displayed a cunning intellect they didn't think possible. She was of an adamant nature with a protective streak over her Guardians, occasionally showing a playful side. She also had a soft spot for the Grangers, thought that was mostly due to the fact that her Guardians were so fond of them. They were interrupted by a knock on the door, followed by Emma peeking her head in.
"Hey, guys, what's all the commotion about? Still trying to teach Hestia how to fly?" she asked proceeding to enter the room and open the curtains, letting the room flood in sunlight, making Hestia glow like a purple flame.
It turned out that hiding Hestia was easier said than done, a much harder task than they had originally thought. They had not taken into account that Harry's room had thin walls and was right next to Dan and Emma's. They lasted exactly 10 days before they were caught. Turns out, when you've been woken up in the middle of the night the last five nights by loud chirping, you're going to ask questions.
And so they had come clean and explained how they came to have her in their possession and what she meant to them. It was a close call but in the end, Dan and Emma had agreed to let them keep Hestia, on the condition that they take full responsibility for raising her. They had even gone so far as to register her as a black goshawk.
"Yeah but she's being stubborn about it and won't even give it a try," Harry commented, giving Hestia a small glare to which she replied by smacking him with her wing.
"Hey, that was totally uncalled for!" he said, rubbing his head with the hand currently not supporting Hestia. Hermione and Emma giggled while Hestia took the opportunity to spread her wings and jump towards Hermione, gracefully landing on her outstretched arm.
"Aw, look at her, she's so beautiful!" exclaimed Emma and proceeded to run her fingers down her back, Hestia cooing in satisfaction.
"Anyway, I just came up to ask if you wanted anything specific for breakfast? You're only 11 once after all!" she said with a quick ruffling of his hair.
"What do you think Hestia, are you up for some pancakes?" Hestia flew over to Harry's shoulder as if in agreement. "I think that's a yes from us"
"I bet you knew how to fly all along, huh girl?" he said fondly, scratching the back of her head as she liked.
"Alright, I'll go ahead and get started then," Emma said, exiting Harry's room and quietly closing the door behind her.
"Come on, let's get dressed for the day and head downstairs too."
9:10 a.m
The whole family was enjoying breakfast in the dining room, talking amiably, and enjoying the blueberry pancakes they were so fond of. Their meal was cut off by a tapping sound coming from the window. There was an owl perched on the window sill, with what seemed to be letters tied to its leg, pecking away at the glass pane to gain the family's attention.
"Harry, Hermione? What are your kids up to this time? I hope you haven't adopted another bird" Emma asked with a speculative look, crossing her hands.
"What? Why do you assume it's us in the first place?"
"Need I remind you of the snake incident at the zoo?" she said with a raised eyebrow.
"Fair point, though I don't see why you guys have to bring it up all the time..." he said in a murmur.
"Just let the owl in, it's going to draw attention" sighed Dan over the day's paper, taking a sip of his hot coffee. Harry got up from the table and unlocked the window, pushing it up to let the animal get through. It flew in right away and landed on the back of an empty chair, next to Hermione's seat, and stuck out its leg as if this were the most normal thing in the world. Hermione untied the letter's from the bird's foot and gave it a piece of her pancakes, which it gladly accepted before flying back out the window.
"Well, that was something" commented Harry, leaning over Hermione's shoulder to get a better look at the mysterious letters.
"Weird, they're addressed to Harry and me," said Hermione, handing them over to her father.
"Huh, they have our address and everything on them, how peculiar. Honey, have you by any chance heard of the term 'Hogwarts'?" Dan asked his wife.
"Not that I recall, no" Emma replied.
"Guess we'll have to open them and see for ourselves." Dan tore off the wax seal from one of the envelopes and took out the letters from within, quickly scanning them over.
"Emma, could you come here for a second?" he asked, a dawning look making its way onto his face. Harry and Hermione sat in silence, waiting for their parents to reveal what was in the letter. They read it over several times, wanting to make sure that they weren't misinterpreting its contents.
"So what does it say?" asked Harry, unable to wait any longer. Dan looked up at his wife, who had just finished reading the letter one last time.
"Just show them the letters, I don't see any harm in doing so."
Dan hesitated before handing over the letters just as the doorbell rang.
"This day is going to be full of surprises, isn't it?" he said to Emma with resignation, getting up and heading towards the door with her to greet their uninvited guest.
Harry and Hermione meanwhile quickly got to reading:
Dear Miss Granger,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on 1. of September. A Professor will be by to answer any questions you might have.
Yours sincerely,
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
Hogwarts Headmaster
Harry and Hermione looked up at each other and smiled, hardly able to believe their eyes."Hermione, do you know what this means? We're not alone! There are other people out there, just like us!" he said quickly hugging her.
"Harry, Hermione, could you come to the living room?" Emma called.
"That must be the Professor mentioned in the letter" Hermione commented.
"Well then, what are we waiting for?" Harry asked already getting up. They walked into the living room and set their eyes on the stranger dressed in those peculiar dark robes.
"Good morning children, I am the Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I trust you've read the contents of your Hogwarts letters?" she asked.
Harry and Hermione nodded and McGonagall turned back towards their parents. "Well then, Mr. and Mrs. Granger, I advise that you and your family take a seat for the moment, this is going to take a little time to explain.
"I'll make some refreshments," Emma said, putting her hand on her husband's shoulder in reassurance.
There it is! I had originally posted this chapter on Friday, but reread it and figured it was too short and could do with some chiseling. I ended up adding around 2k words, haha. I'll try to make the next chapter by next weekend. I think I might just get started on it today. Please leave a review or follow the story if you like it so far, I would really appreciate it! Until next time!
