Hermione's Abduction
'Reginald Wheeler' was typing like mad on his computer. The stories he sold were actually written by his friend. He just helped with the commercial side of the business, and signed his name as the author. His friend didn't want to be known as the author. Meanwhile, A tall, lovely young woman with bushy brown hair came to Reginald's secretary.
"Hello, my name is- um, Harriet Granings. I need to see Mr. Wheeler. It's urgent,"
"I'm sorry, but he can't be disturbed. He's working on a new sales pitch for his best selling books and-"
"Did you hear me or not? I told you it's urgent. Shish, Muggles these days. Honestly, I think a lot of them are almost completely deaf!" 'Harriet' was obviously in a bad mood.
"What did you call me?"
"Nothing,"
"All right, I'll let you speak to him," The secretary turned on the intercom, "Mr. Wheeler, a Ms. Harriet Granings would like to speak with you,"
"I'm busy, Rachel, didn't I tell you this?"
"I know, sir, but she said it's important,"
'Harriet' distinctly heard a reluctant sigh from the other end of the line, "Send her in,"
'Harriet' burst through the door.
"Yes?" 'Reginald' looked up and didn't recognize his old best friend.
'Harriet' closed the door behind her, "Remember me, Ronald Weasley?" He stopped typing and squinted at the girl, "Hermione?" He said with surprise, "I thought you were Ministress of Magic,"
"I am, Ron," she had a stern look on her face, "And I can play the identity game, too,"
"Why are you… Oh,"
"I'm not here for the reason you think I am and I am risking my job to tell you this,"
"You used to risk a lot more then that when you were at Hogwarts," Ron smiled at those memories.
"We aren't kids any more, Ron, and you better get your act together. You're just lucky I found out about you before anyone else did,"
"Hermione, Hermione. You were always the smartest witch I knew,"
"STOP CHANGING THE SUBJECT, RON!" Hermione got so mad she pointed her wand at Ron and red sparks came out.
"Hey, watch it, Hermione!"
"Now, did you write those books about Harry?" Ron didn't answer, "Do you know how much you're risking writing about us in muggle books? What if people find out? There would be a world wide panic!" Hermione took a deep breath and calmed down, "I'm here to warn you. If you don't stop writing these books, you'll be sent to Azkaban for who knows how long!" again, Ron was silent. Hermione smiled for the first time in months and walked over to Ron's desk, leaned over it and kissed him on the cheek.
"I know what you're doing. You're covering up for someone. And, judging by the detail in these books," Hermione picked up a book on Ron's desk and flipped through it, "I'd say you were covering up for Harry," Ron, silent still, became very interested in a swallow out the window.
"I'm not going to turn you or Harry in. You know I'd never do that. But if the ministry finds out…" Hermione was about to leave when Ron said, "I know you wouldn't turn me in," Hermione left and Ron added, "You haven't sunk that low yet,"
Hermione Granger was now standing outside of a lovely home in Godric Hollow. She knocked on the door. She remembered when she graduated from Hogwarts, she, Ron, and Harry came to this house. It had belonged to Harry for a long time, it was a gift, but he hadn't been allowed to move in until he graduated. It had belonged to Sirius and, not having been lived in for a while, was covered in vines. The three had some time cleaning the old place up, but no matter how much hard work it was, they laughed and played together as teenagers do and they got the job done. Hermione, like Ron, missed those days, but she knew she could never go back to them. She was an adult now and had a responsibility. She was Ministress of Magic, and, said to be one of the best Ministers the ministry had known for a long time. When Fudge (the old Minister) started making some bad decisions at the end of Harry, Ron, and Hermione's fourth year at Hogwarts, his popularity had gone down hill. The first and only controversial thing Hermione did when she became Ministress was stopping the search for Sirius Black and letting him come out of hiding. What intrigued the people even more was Harry's reaction to this. As soon as he saw Black, he jumped up and hugged him. Everyone except Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Albus Dumbledore found this very odd because everyone except the people that have just been mentioned thought Black had killed Harry's parents. But of course the four knew who it really was. That was the only regret, Hermione had, not being able to put Wormtail and his master in Azkaban. No, worse, not being able to give either one the Dementor's Kiss. There was an unfortunate occurrence, after that. Albus Dumbledore had passed away. Of course that was another regret.
"Ministress! To what do I owe this pleasure!" Harry said, jokingly. Hermione snapped out of her thoughts and came back to reality.
"Hello, Harry,"
"Ron sent me an owl and said you had been to see him. He said he was afraid you were coming to see me but he didn't say why…"
"Harry, are you writing those books about our adventures at Hogwarts for muggles?" Harry went silent just as Ron had done, "You did, didn't you? You don't have to worry, yet. I'm not going to turn you in. I'm just warning you. If you don't stop writing these books, Ron's going to Azkaban,"
"Ron? Why not me?"
"Because I'm going to tell them you had nothing to do with it. I can clear your name, but I can't clear his because his muggle name is signed as the author,"
"It takes a lot of courage for you to break the rules, even in Hogwarts. You haven't changed to me no matter what Ron says. You're still trying to help a friend,"
"What did Ron say?" Hermione asked, suspiciously.
"Nothing…"
"What did he say, Harry?"
"Well, he just said that all this Ministress of Magic thing had gone to your head," Hermione looked down, "I guess it has a little…"
"Hermione, don't say that,"
"Harry?" a voice called from Harry's living room.
"Cho's here isn't she?" Hermione asked, hopefully. Harry nodded, "Thinking of getting back together? Possibly even remarriage?"
"We're thinking about it… For the kids' sake,"
"They're sweethearts, Harry, you're lucky to have them,"
"Sirius said Niki looks like my mum,"
"And how's little Andy?"
"He's fine,"
"How does Cho feel about Sirius?"
"Believe it or not, she says she understands,"
"I should go, I have a lot of work to do," and with that, Hermione left. As she turned the corner into a back alley shortcut, she felt a wand at her back.
"Don't you dare move," an unfortunately familiar voice ordered.
"Rachel, I have to leave, now! It's sort of a, um, family emergency. Could you cover for me?" Ron was hastily putting on his coat.
"Sure, Mr. Wheeler," his secretary replied.
"You know what? Call me Ron, Rachel," he smiled, knowing his secretary didn't read the books despite what she said.
"Ron?" Rachel said, confused.
"It was a nickname my friends called me," Ron said, as truthful as possible. And without waiting for another word from his secretary, Ronald Weasley went out the door.
Ron met Harry in Diagon's Alley. They were both frantic.
"You were the last one to see her, where did she go?"
"I don't know, Ron, but the ministry have been sent an owl. The handwriting was unidentifiable even with the most powerful charms trying to find out who it belonged to,"
"What did it say?" Harry looked down, silent.
"It said that if the ministry executes Sirius Black, the ministress- Hermione, won't be hurt," Ron stared in disbelief then finally, "WHAT?! Why would they want Sirius?"
"I don't know, Ron, but the ministry jumped at the chance until I told them that Hermione would be very disappointed if they execute him for her,"
"We should tell them the truth about Sirius,"
"Nah we can't prove- Wait a minute, you're absolutely right!" Harry became suddenly excited, "We need one more person and a plan!" Harry ran off in the direction of Selina's house.
"Oh, so now that Hermione isn't here you decide to take her place and run off and leave me without a clue!" Ron said mostly to himself, shook his head, and walked after Harry.
"I've heard, come in. Elspeth's already here," Selina ushered Harry and Ron into the house.
"How do you know Elspeth? And I thought she went back to the future. How did you get her back?"
"Witches, wizards and muggles aren't the only ones who can farseek, you know,"
"Over time?"
"It's just another wonderful benefit of being a starling," Selina sighed. She didn't look a day older then the day when Harry, Ron, and Hermione first met her. Of course she wasn't really a fifteen-year-old witch, she was a three-hundred-year-old starling.
"Hello Harry, Ron," Elspeth, too, looked exactly the same age.
"I summoned her right after she returned from teaching you guys. Well, that is in her time. In our time it was about half an hour ago," Selina said.
"Elspeth, I-"
"Harry, do I have permission to enter your mind, rather then you explaining it too me?"
"Uh, well, yeah, OK," Harry felt a major headache when Elspeth entered his mind because she was too quick and he hadn't let down his shield yet.
"Oops, sorry, I'm just anxious to find out so we can leave as soon as possible," she sent.
"It's all right," Harry said aloud. He could feel Elspeth's mind going through his memories. He didn't mind this because she had shown him hers before. Elspeth withdrew and smiled.
"I see…"
"What?" Ron and Selina were clueless. Then, Selina was silent as Elspeth informed her of what she saw in Harry's mind by means of farseeking. Selina nodded, "Let's go!" and off they went out the door.
"How come I always have to be the only one who doesn't know what's going on? I don't like going into people's heads. The only time I do it is when I have to. Oh well, at least it can't get worse," Ron said.
"You want to know what's going on?" Ron spun around to face the back door.
"I was wrong," he sighed, for he was facing a fully-grown, greasy blonde haired Draco Malfoy, "Hello, Malfoy. Tell me. Where's Hermione?"
"Why should I tell you unless you give me something I want? Besides, mudbloods like her don't deserve to be Minister of Magic," Ron's face became angry.
"What do you want!?"
"I'll tell you what I want. I want you to kill Sirius Black,"
"WHAT? I'd never-"
"IMPERIO!" declared Malfoy. Ron fell silent.
"Not only Starlings can control people, you know," He laughed a hideous laugh, "When it's done, bring him to me here,"
"I would like to state that Hermione Granger, Ministress of Magic, will certainly die even if you kill one Sirius Black, falsely accused of murder!" Harry said before the court. They gasped.
"Does anyone second this motion?"
"Yes, I, Ron Weasley, second the motion," Ron stood up.
"I third it," Selina declared.
"I will not have a Starling in my court unless she is here for evidence," the judge said.
"Oh, but I am," she said and pulled down the collar of her robes to reveal a red handprint burned into her neck forever, "This print belongs to a live Voldemorte that still lives today with his accomplice, Peter Petigrew!"
"Nonsense. Yes, it has been proven that You-Know-Who is still here, but Sirius Black killed Peter Petigrew and betrayed his best friend,"
"Wrong! Peter Petigrew killed my parents! Sirius made him the secret keeper at the last minute not knowing he was in league with Voldemorte," Harry announced.
"I am afraid you are mistaken. Black was in league with You–Know-Who, not Petigrew,"
"It's surprising that even today everyone but Starlings and Harry Potter never bother to call him by his real name. Voldemorte, my dear judge," The whole court turned in their seats and fell silent as they saw Albus Dumbledore enter the room for everyone thought he was dead.
"Dumbledore, which side do you support in this matter?" the judge finally broke the tense silence
"I am afraid I have to take Harry's side. If you don't believe me, ask Harry's granddaughter," now the court was really astonished by this case for no one had guessed that Elspeth Gordie was Harry Potter's great granddaughter.
"Miss Gordie, what do you have to say?" Elspeth closed her eyes and after a while, opened them.
"The boy speaks the truth!" now the court began to murmur to one another.
"That is no proof! That girl is a biased farseeker! She is a relative," the judge declared. They murmured again.
"You want proof?"
"Harry, no!" Selina said.
"I'll give you proof!" Harry pulled out some hardcover books, "I, Harry Potter have written my life at Hogwarts in these books! None of it, and I repeat, none of it is fiction!"
"YOU!" The judge screamed, "You're the one writing the books for muggles! Wait, you're the one writing the books for muggles?"
Harry bowed his head, "Yes, sir, I am. But we are not discussing me,"
"Harry is right, we are discussing Sirius Black, Peter Petigrew, and Hermione Granger," Ron had been silent for a long time, "Black had been framed. When he heard what Petigrew had done he went after him and we all know their encounter in the street. Petigrew lied, blew off his finger and turned into a rat. He's an animgus,"
"If he is innocent then what do you propose we do?"
"Find her,"
"How?"
"You'll see…" Harry smiled. Ron gave an even larger, scarier smile.
"Harry, the first thing we should do is find Sirius," Ron said.
"What? Why? There's no reason to drag him into this just yet,"
"Yes there is, I'll explain on the way," they were at Harry's house now and as Ron was heading out the door, Niki tugged at his robes, "Where awe you going, Uncle Won?"
"Get out of my way, brat!" and he left. Harry and Elspeth looked at each other and Elspeth said, "I'll farseek him,"
On the way to Sirius's house (they took brooms), Ron didn't explain a thing despite what he had promised at Harry's house. This gave Elspeth time to farseek him.
"Ron, what are you up to?"
"Get out of my mind!" and he sent a powerful mind block to her that forced her to hold her head. She tried again, but this time, didn't speak directly to him. She tried to go through his mind but she couldn't. It was as if Ron wasn't there anymore. It was as if there was another mind there instead. But she still tried. She broke through the wall to Ron's true mind.
"Help me, Elspeth!" he sent, panicky.
"Don't worry, Ron. Tell me, what happened?" as Ron explained to her they had approached Sirius's house. Elspeth hadn't noticed. Ron got off his broom, followed closely by Harry and Selina. Ron knocked on the door. Sirius answered and Ron drew out his wand. Elspeth, who had learned all she needed, ran to the door screaming, "No! Sirius, get out of the way!" Harry pulled Sirius out onto the patio just as Ron spoke those horrible words Harry never wanted to hear again in his life.
"Avada Kedavera," the green light blew away Sirius's back wall.
Harry jumped on Ron and knocked him to the floor, "WHAT THE HECK DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!"
"It's not him, Harry, it's Malfoy,"
"HUH?"
"He cast the imperious curse on Ron," Harry now, turned Ron on his back.
"Fight it, Ron, you can do it! All you have to do is say no!" Harry said. Elspeth had entered his mind again.
"Can you hear that, Ron?"
"Yes,"
"Then fight it. He's talking to you!"
"I can't it's too powerful,"
"Don't give me that you wimp! Did I spend all that time teaching you to farseek for nothing? Come on, boy, you're one of the strongest people I've met!" Ron's mind went silent with shock at how forceful Elspeth's probe became. Ron began to fight it. He blinked.
"Harry?" he said.
Harry gave him a huge hug, "I knew you'd pull through, friend,"
"What was all that about?" Sirius asked completely lost.
"As you may not of heard since the Ministry is trying to keep it quiet especially from the media, Hermione has been kidnapped and Ron was put under one of the unforgivable curses to kill you," Harry felt that he owed it to Sirius to explain.
Sirius assumed a position of thought, "Draco Malfoy put Ron under a curse and Hermione Granger, Ministress of Magic has been kidnapped… Let's see, we have a starling and two farseekers on our side not to mention an incredible young man and an ex-convict I think we have the advantage here,"
"Wait a minute, I think I have a plan here," Ron said.
"Did you do it?" Malfoy asked. Ron nodded and lifted up a limp Sirius. Malfoy smiled a crooked smile. He took off the curse. Ron blinked a few times then looked down at his arms. A look of horror crossed his face. He looked up at Malfoy, shocked and full of hatred.
"You… You… Why did you do this? Where's Hermione?"
"Oh now, she'll be killed," Malfoy said, capriciously. Ron's anger grew, but he controlled it while he farsent Malfoy. Malfoy was not mind-sensitive so he couldn't feel Ron's probe. Ron didn't need to look far to find Hermione's whereabouts. He pretended to leave in anger but he was really feeling quite good. When he got outside the house he met with Harry, Elspeth, Selina, and Sirius. In Ron's hands, he held a double of Sirius. It disappeared now that its job had been fulfilled. The four looked at Ron expectantly.
"She's in an old abandoned store in a deserted corner of Knockturn Alley. But careful, it's covered in curses," Ron said. They all nodded and apperated to Knockturn Alley.
"You bastard!" Hermione screamed.
"Temper, temper, young lady," Petigrew was looking at Hermione who was chained to the wall.
"Why do you want to kill Sirius?"
"Because he is a threat to my master. As long as people think I'm dead, no one will come looking for me,"
"He's not a threat to your master, he's a threat to you! Otherwise, why didn't you kill him yourself to get a reward,"
"Because young Malfoy wanted in on the deal. You know he hates you. He thought the idea of killing Sirius was wonderful and torturing you was even better,"
"You son of a -"
"Language, young lady, language. Now, there's something else I want from you. I want your first born child,"
"What are you, Rumpelstiltskin?"
"Who?"
"UGH! You idiot! Why do you want my child? I'm not even married!"
"But the mistress says you will be. And when you are, your child will be vital to her plan!"
"What?"
"Just give me your kid!"
"NO!"
"HERMIONE!" Ron shouted.
"HARRY! RON! Selina? Elspeth?" Hermione looked confused at Ron and Harry's companions.
"How did you get passed those curses?" Petigrew asked.
"Elspeth. She could sense if a curse was near and clear the way for us. You could have been useful in the Triwizard Tournament," Harry said.
"What is all this noise- Ah, if it isn't Harry Potter. Hello, Harry, nice to see you again,"
"Hello, Krista," Harry said.
"So, tell me, how are those stupid step-sisters of mine?" Krista asked. She had grown into a lovely witch with her long brown hair and enchanting smile.
"No time for small talk, Harry, we have to get Hermione out of here," Harry shook his head as if something was in his hair.
"You're right, Ron," He pointed his wand at Hermione's binds and muttered the incantation. The chains snapped open.
"NO!" Krista screamed as they all disapperated to Harry's house.
"So, why does he want your fist born child?" Ron asked.
"He said that it was 'vital to his plans.' It was strange…" Stella had left and Elspeth had gone back to her own time.
"Well I'm just glad she's all right and believe me, Sirius is, too," Harry smiled at Hermione.
'Reginald Wheeler' was typing like mad on his computer. The stories he sold were actually written by his friend. He just helped with the commercial side of the business, and signed his name as the author. His friend didn't want to be known as the author. Meanwhile, A tall, lovely young woman with bushy brown hair came to Reginald's secretary.
"Hello, my name is- um, Harriet Granings. I need to see Mr. Wheeler. It's urgent,"
"I'm sorry, but he can't be disturbed. He's working on a new sales pitch for his best selling books and-"
"Did you hear me or not? I told you it's urgent. Shish, Muggles these days. Honestly, I think a lot of them are almost completely deaf!" 'Harriet' was obviously in a bad mood.
"What did you call me?"
"Nothing,"
"All right, I'll let you speak to him," The secretary turned on the intercom, "Mr. Wheeler, a Ms. Harriet Granings would like to speak with you,"
"I'm busy, Rachel, didn't I tell you this?"
"I know, sir, but she said it's important,"
'Harriet' distinctly heard a reluctant sigh from the other end of the line, "Send her in,"
'Harriet' burst through the door.
"Yes?" 'Reginald' looked up and didn't recognize his old best friend.
'Harriet' closed the door behind her, "Remember me, Ronald Weasley?" He stopped typing and squinted at the girl, "Hermione?" He said with surprise, "I thought you were Ministress of Magic,"
"I am, Ron," she had a stern look on her face, "And I can play the identity game, too,"
"Why are you… Oh,"
"I'm not here for the reason you think I am and I am risking my job to tell you this,"
"You used to risk a lot more then that when you were at Hogwarts," Ron smiled at those memories.
"We aren't kids any more, Ron, and you better get your act together. You're just lucky I found out about you before anyone else did,"
"Hermione, Hermione. You were always the smartest witch I knew,"
"STOP CHANGING THE SUBJECT, RON!" Hermione got so mad she pointed her wand at Ron and red sparks came out.
"Hey, watch it, Hermione!"
"Now, did you write those books about Harry?" Ron didn't answer, "Do you know how much you're risking writing about us in muggle books? What if people find out? There would be a world wide panic!" Hermione took a deep breath and calmed down, "I'm here to warn you. If you don't stop writing these books, you'll be sent to Azkaban for who knows how long!" again, Ron was silent. Hermione smiled for the first time in months and walked over to Ron's desk, leaned over it and kissed him on the cheek.
"I know what you're doing. You're covering up for someone. And, judging by the detail in these books," Hermione picked up a book on Ron's desk and flipped through it, "I'd say you were covering up for Harry," Ron, silent still, became very interested in a swallow out the window.
"I'm not going to turn you or Harry in. You know I'd never do that. But if the ministry finds out…" Hermione was about to leave when Ron said, "I know you wouldn't turn me in," Hermione left and Ron added, "You haven't sunk that low yet,"
Hermione Granger was now standing outside of a lovely home in Godric Hollow. She knocked on the door. She remembered when she graduated from Hogwarts, she, Ron, and Harry came to this house. It had belonged to Harry for a long time, it was a gift, but he hadn't been allowed to move in until he graduated. It had belonged to Sirius and, not having been lived in for a while, was covered in vines. The three had some time cleaning the old place up, but no matter how much hard work it was, they laughed and played together as teenagers do and they got the job done. Hermione, like Ron, missed those days, but she knew she could never go back to them. She was an adult now and had a responsibility. She was Ministress of Magic, and, said to be one of the best Ministers the ministry had known for a long time. When Fudge (the old Minister) started making some bad decisions at the end of Harry, Ron, and Hermione's fourth year at Hogwarts, his popularity had gone down hill. The first and only controversial thing Hermione did when she became Ministress was stopping the search for Sirius Black and letting him come out of hiding. What intrigued the people even more was Harry's reaction to this. As soon as he saw Black, he jumped up and hugged him. Everyone except Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Albus Dumbledore found this very odd because everyone except the people that have just been mentioned thought Black had killed Harry's parents. But of course the four knew who it really was. That was the only regret, Hermione had, not being able to put Wormtail and his master in Azkaban. No, worse, not being able to give either one the Dementor's Kiss. There was an unfortunate occurrence, after that. Albus Dumbledore had passed away. Of course that was another regret.
"Ministress! To what do I owe this pleasure!" Harry said, jokingly. Hermione snapped out of her thoughts and came back to reality.
"Hello, Harry,"
"Ron sent me an owl and said you had been to see him. He said he was afraid you were coming to see me but he didn't say why…"
"Harry, are you writing those books about our adventures at Hogwarts for muggles?" Harry went silent just as Ron had done, "You did, didn't you? You don't have to worry, yet. I'm not going to turn you in. I'm just warning you. If you don't stop writing these books, Ron's going to Azkaban,"
"Ron? Why not me?"
"Because I'm going to tell them you had nothing to do with it. I can clear your name, but I can't clear his because his muggle name is signed as the author,"
"It takes a lot of courage for you to break the rules, even in Hogwarts. You haven't changed to me no matter what Ron says. You're still trying to help a friend,"
"What did Ron say?" Hermione asked, suspiciously.
"Nothing…"
"What did he say, Harry?"
"Well, he just said that all this Ministress of Magic thing had gone to your head," Hermione looked down, "I guess it has a little…"
"Hermione, don't say that,"
"Harry?" a voice called from Harry's living room.
"Cho's here isn't she?" Hermione asked, hopefully. Harry nodded, "Thinking of getting back together? Possibly even remarriage?"
"We're thinking about it… For the kids' sake,"
"They're sweethearts, Harry, you're lucky to have them,"
"Sirius said Niki looks like my mum,"
"And how's little Andy?"
"He's fine,"
"How does Cho feel about Sirius?"
"Believe it or not, she says she understands,"
"I should go, I have a lot of work to do," and with that, Hermione left. As she turned the corner into a back alley shortcut, she felt a wand at her back.
"Don't you dare move," an unfortunately familiar voice ordered.
"Rachel, I have to leave, now! It's sort of a, um, family emergency. Could you cover for me?" Ron was hastily putting on his coat.
"Sure, Mr. Wheeler," his secretary replied.
"You know what? Call me Ron, Rachel," he smiled, knowing his secretary didn't read the books despite what she said.
"Ron?" Rachel said, confused.
"It was a nickname my friends called me," Ron said, as truthful as possible. And without waiting for another word from his secretary, Ronald Weasley went out the door.
Ron met Harry in Diagon's Alley. They were both frantic.
"You were the last one to see her, where did she go?"
"I don't know, Ron, but the ministry have been sent an owl. The handwriting was unidentifiable even with the most powerful charms trying to find out who it belonged to,"
"What did it say?" Harry looked down, silent.
"It said that if the ministry executes Sirius Black, the ministress- Hermione, won't be hurt," Ron stared in disbelief then finally, "WHAT?! Why would they want Sirius?"
"I don't know, Ron, but the ministry jumped at the chance until I told them that Hermione would be very disappointed if they execute him for her,"
"We should tell them the truth about Sirius,"
"Nah we can't prove- Wait a minute, you're absolutely right!" Harry became suddenly excited, "We need one more person and a plan!" Harry ran off in the direction of Selina's house.
"Oh, so now that Hermione isn't here you decide to take her place and run off and leave me without a clue!" Ron said mostly to himself, shook his head, and walked after Harry.
"I've heard, come in. Elspeth's already here," Selina ushered Harry and Ron into the house.
"How do you know Elspeth? And I thought she went back to the future. How did you get her back?"
"Witches, wizards and muggles aren't the only ones who can farseek, you know,"
"Over time?"
"It's just another wonderful benefit of being a starling," Selina sighed. She didn't look a day older then the day when Harry, Ron, and Hermione first met her. Of course she wasn't really a fifteen-year-old witch, she was a three-hundred-year-old starling.
"Hello Harry, Ron," Elspeth, too, looked exactly the same age.
"I summoned her right after she returned from teaching you guys. Well, that is in her time. In our time it was about half an hour ago," Selina said.
"Elspeth, I-"
"Harry, do I have permission to enter your mind, rather then you explaining it too me?"
"Uh, well, yeah, OK," Harry felt a major headache when Elspeth entered his mind because she was too quick and he hadn't let down his shield yet.
"Oops, sorry, I'm just anxious to find out so we can leave as soon as possible," she sent.
"It's all right," Harry said aloud. He could feel Elspeth's mind going through his memories. He didn't mind this because she had shown him hers before. Elspeth withdrew and smiled.
"I see…"
"What?" Ron and Selina were clueless. Then, Selina was silent as Elspeth informed her of what she saw in Harry's mind by means of farseeking. Selina nodded, "Let's go!" and off they went out the door.
"How come I always have to be the only one who doesn't know what's going on? I don't like going into people's heads. The only time I do it is when I have to. Oh well, at least it can't get worse," Ron said.
"You want to know what's going on?" Ron spun around to face the back door.
"I was wrong," he sighed, for he was facing a fully-grown, greasy blonde haired Draco Malfoy, "Hello, Malfoy. Tell me. Where's Hermione?"
"Why should I tell you unless you give me something I want? Besides, mudbloods like her don't deserve to be Minister of Magic," Ron's face became angry.
"What do you want!?"
"I'll tell you what I want. I want you to kill Sirius Black,"
"WHAT? I'd never-"
"IMPERIO!" declared Malfoy. Ron fell silent.
"Not only Starlings can control people, you know," He laughed a hideous laugh, "When it's done, bring him to me here,"
"I would like to state that Hermione Granger, Ministress of Magic, will certainly die even if you kill one Sirius Black, falsely accused of murder!" Harry said before the court. They gasped.
"Does anyone second this motion?"
"Yes, I, Ron Weasley, second the motion," Ron stood up.
"I third it," Selina declared.
"I will not have a Starling in my court unless she is here for evidence," the judge said.
"Oh, but I am," she said and pulled down the collar of her robes to reveal a red handprint burned into her neck forever, "This print belongs to a live Voldemorte that still lives today with his accomplice, Peter Petigrew!"
"Nonsense. Yes, it has been proven that You-Know-Who is still here, but Sirius Black killed Peter Petigrew and betrayed his best friend,"
"Wrong! Peter Petigrew killed my parents! Sirius made him the secret keeper at the last minute not knowing he was in league with Voldemorte," Harry announced.
"I am afraid you are mistaken. Black was in league with You–Know-Who, not Petigrew,"
"It's surprising that even today everyone but Starlings and Harry Potter never bother to call him by his real name. Voldemorte, my dear judge," The whole court turned in their seats and fell silent as they saw Albus Dumbledore enter the room for everyone thought he was dead.
"Dumbledore, which side do you support in this matter?" the judge finally broke the tense silence
"I am afraid I have to take Harry's side. If you don't believe me, ask Harry's granddaughter," now the court was really astonished by this case for no one had guessed that Elspeth Gordie was Harry Potter's great granddaughter.
"Miss Gordie, what do you have to say?" Elspeth closed her eyes and after a while, opened them.
"The boy speaks the truth!" now the court began to murmur to one another.
"That is no proof! That girl is a biased farseeker! She is a relative," the judge declared. They murmured again.
"You want proof?"
"Harry, no!" Selina said.
"I'll give you proof!" Harry pulled out some hardcover books, "I, Harry Potter have written my life at Hogwarts in these books! None of it, and I repeat, none of it is fiction!"
"YOU!" The judge screamed, "You're the one writing the books for muggles! Wait, you're the one writing the books for muggles?"
Harry bowed his head, "Yes, sir, I am. But we are not discussing me,"
"Harry is right, we are discussing Sirius Black, Peter Petigrew, and Hermione Granger," Ron had been silent for a long time, "Black had been framed. When he heard what Petigrew had done he went after him and we all know their encounter in the street. Petigrew lied, blew off his finger and turned into a rat. He's an animgus,"
"If he is innocent then what do you propose we do?"
"Find her,"
"How?"
"You'll see…" Harry smiled. Ron gave an even larger, scarier smile.
"Harry, the first thing we should do is find Sirius," Ron said.
"What? Why? There's no reason to drag him into this just yet,"
"Yes there is, I'll explain on the way," they were at Harry's house now and as Ron was heading out the door, Niki tugged at his robes, "Where awe you going, Uncle Won?"
"Get out of my way, brat!" and he left. Harry and Elspeth looked at each other and Elspeth said, "I'll farseek him,"
On the way to Sirius's house (they took brooms), Ron didn't explain a thing despite what he had promised at Harry's house. This gave Elspeth time to farseek him.
"Ron, what are you up to?"
"Get out of my mind!" and he sent a powerful mind block to her that forced her to hold her head. She tried again, but this time, didn't speak directly to him. She tried to go through his mind but she couldn't. It was as if Ron wasn't there anymore. It was as if there was another mind there instead. But she still tried. She broke through the wall to Ron's true mind.
"Help me, Elspeth!" he sent, panicky.
"Don't worry, Ron. Tell me, what happened?" as Ron explained to her they had approached Sirius's house. Elspeth hadn't noticed. Ron got off his broom, followed closely by Harry and Selina. Ron knocked on the door. Sirius answered and Ron drew out his wand. Elspeth, who had learned all she needed, ran to the door screaming, "No! Sirius, get out of the way!" Harry pulled Sirius out onto the patio just as Ron spoke those horrible words Harry never wanted to hear again in his life.
"Avada Kedavera," the green light blew away Sirius's back wall.
Harry jumped on Ron and knocked him to the floor, "WHAT THE HECK DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!"
"It's not him, Harry, it's Malfoy,"
"HUH?"
"He cast the imperious curse on Ron," Harry now, turned Ron on his back.
"Fight it, Ron, you can do it! All you have to do is say no!" Harry said. Elspeth had entered his mind again.
"Can you hear that, Ron?"
"Yes,"
"Then fight it. He's talking to you!"
"I can't it's too powerful,"
"Don't give me that you wimp! Did I spend all that time teaching you to farseek for nothing? Come on, boy, you're one of the strongest people I've met!" Ron's mind went silent with shock at how forceful Elspeth's probe became. Ron began to fight it. He blinked.
"Harry?" he said.
Harry gave him a huge hug, "I knew you'd pull through, friend,"
"What was all that about?" Sirius asked completely lost.
"As you may not of heard since the Ministry is trying to keep it quiet especially from the media, Hermione has been kidnapped and Ron was put under one of the unforgivable curses to kill you," Harry felt that he owed it to Sirius to explain.
Sirius assumed a position of thought, "Draco Malfoy put Ron under a curse and Hermione Granger, Ministress of Magic has been kidnapped… Let's see, we have a starling and two farseekers on our side not to mention an incredible young man and an ex-convict I think we have the advantage here,"
"Wait a minute, I think I have a plan here," Ron said.
"Did you do it?" Malfoy asked. Ron nodded and lifted up a limp Sirius. Malfoy smiled a crooked smile. He took off the curse. Ron blinked a few times then looked down at his arms. A look of horror crossed his face. He looked up at Malfoy, shocked and full of hatred.
"You… You… Why did you do this? Where's Hermione?"
"Oh now, she'll be killed," Malfoy said, capriciously. Ron's anger grew, but he controlled it while he farsent Malfoy. Malfoy was not mind-sensitive so he couldn't feel Ron's probe. Ron didn't need to look far to find Hermione's whereabouts. He pretended to leave in anger but he was really feeling quite good. When he got outside the house he met with Harry, Elspeth, Selina, and Sirius. In Ron's hands, he held a double of Sirius. It disappeared now that its job had been fulfilled. The four looked at Ron expectantly.
"She's in an old abandoned store in a deserted corner of Knockturn Alley. But careful, it's covered in curses," Ron said. They all nodded and apperated to Knockturn Alley.
"You bastard!" Hermione screamed.
"Temper, temper, young lady," Petigrew was looking at Hermione who was chained to the wall.
"Why do you want to kill Sirius?"
"Because he is a threat to my master. As long as people think I'm dead, no one will come looking for me,"
"He's not a threat to your master, he's a threat to you! Otherwise, why didn't you kill him yourself to get a reward,"
"Because young Malfoy wanted in on the deal. You know he hates you. He thought the idea of killing Sirius was wonderful and torturing you was even better,"
"You son of a -"
"Language, young lady, language. Now, there's something else I want from you. I want your first born child,"
"What are you, Rumpelstiltskin?"
"Who?"
"UGH! You idiot! Why do you want my child? I'm not even married!"
"But the mistress says you will be. And when you are, your child will be vital to her plan!"
"What?"
"Just give me your kid!"
"NO!"
"HERMIONE!" Ron shouted.
"HARRY! RON! Selina? Elspeth?" Hermione looked confused at Ron and Harry's companions.
"How did you get passed those curses?" Petigrew asked.
"Elspeth. She could sense if a curse was near and clear the way for us. You could have been useful in the Triwizard Tournament," Harry said.
"What is all this noise- Ah, if it isn't Harry Potter. Hello, Harry, nice to see you again,"
"Hello, Krista," Harry said.
"So, tell me, how are those stupid step-sisters of mine?" Krista asked. She had grown into a lovely witch with her long brown hair and enchanting smile.
"No time for small talk, Harry, we have to get Hermione out of here," Harry shook his head as if something was in his hair.
"You're right, Ron," He pointed his wand at Hermione's binds and muttered the incantation. The chains snapped open.
"NO!" Krista screamed as they all disapperated to Harry's house.
"So, why does he want your fist born child?" Ron asked.
"He said that it was 'vital to his plans.' It was strange…" Stella had left and Elspeth had gone back to her own time.
"Well I'm just glad she's all right and believe me, Sirius is, too," Harry smiled at Hermione.