Harry Potter and the Kid and the Tiger
Disclaimer: Same as Chs. 1 and 2. Calvin & Hobbes aren't in this story yet, I'm sorry. They will be and feature prominently in my two sequels. I have a great title for the second one, but I'm still working on my title for the third one. Also, as the story progresses, our favorite Voldie does a lot of conquering and such. I feel that some stories don't show just how much power Moldy Voldie has to gain before he can attack Hogwarts (which will happen in one of my three fics, but I'm not telling which one). This chapter will begin the plot! ::Homer impression:: Whoo-hoo!

Chapter Three-Bad Dream

When the SUV finally arrived at the Granger home, Harry didn't want to remove his arm from Hermione's shoulder, but he forced himself too, and grabbed his luggage. The Granger's lived in a gated community called Lillies of the Valley. The name gave Harry sort of a sad feeling as he remembered his mum, Lily Potter. The Grangers lived in a nice two-story white house with a small fountain in front, and a balcony in front of what Harry could assume was Hermione's room.
"Great house," he said politely to Mrs. Granger.
Mrs. Granger nodded and led them up the walkway to the house, and opened the door.
"Hermi," she said, "Show Harry around the place, and then you can watch some TV. What time does your friend Ron come?"
"5 o'clock Mum."
Hermione's mother nodded and they walked in. She then walked into the kitchen to, Harry presumed, fix dinner.
"So," Harry said smiling, "Show me around."
Hermione smiled and showed her beautiful teeth, "OK," she began straight in there," she pointed into a room with a wide-screen TV, two sofas, a fireplace, a bookcase, and some plants. "That's the living room, where you and Ron will be sleeping, over there," she pointed at a closed door, "is the bathroom, and you saw my mum go into the kitchen."
Harry nodded.
"Upstairs," Hermione continued, pointing upward, "Is where the bedrooms are and another bathroom, that enough of a tour?"
Harry shrugged, "Sure, where's your dad?"
"Still at work, Mum was able to get the day off so she could bring you here. Too bad that the Dursleys," she spat out the name Dursleys as though it was a swear word, "Don't approve of magic. Mum and Dad just got connected to the Floo Network, and have been itching to travel by Floo powder."
Harry grimaced, remembering the first time he had traveled by Floo powder at the Weasley's in his second year, he had ended up down Knockturn Alley. It was one of the more Dark places on the London Underground.
"Well," Hermione continued, "You want to watch some TV?"
Harry nodded and they walked into the living room. They sat down on the couches and Harry wondered if he should put his arm around her again. Harry decided that it would be OK, since Hermione had given him permission on the car ride. Lightly, he placed his arm around her. He was rewarded by another Hermione-smile.
"Harry-er, what do you want to watch?"
Harry shrugged, personally, he wouldn't mind just sitting there with his arm around her. Instead he reached for the remote control. Picking it up he turned it on, and was greeting by the theme song to a Whose Line is it Anyway? Marathon.
"That alright, 'Mione?"
Hermione nodded again, and they both turned their attention to the television screen.
Several hours later, Harry and Hermione were laughing as Ryan Stiles was pretending to be a wizard, and of course doing it entirely wrong, but hilarious nevertheless. Their laughter was broken by a Mrs. Granger's scream, a shattering sound as she dropped whatever she was holding and the familiar voice of Ron Weasley apologizing profusely, "I'm so sorry Mrs. Granger, very sorry."
Harry flicked off the TV and they stood as one and Harry dropped his arm off her shoulder. Harry offered her his hand and she took it, blushing slightly. They then walked over to the kitchen and both of them tried unsuccessfully to not laugh at the sight that greeted them.
Ron Weasley, now a little bit shorter then Harry, was standing there with a mixing bowl on his hand and some sort of batter sliding down his face.

Apparently, Mrs. Granger had thrown it in the air when Ron had arrived by Portkey. Meanwhile, he was trying hard to keep his balance as he was slipping on some sort of thick liquid that was on the floor, as he was attempting to pick up glass shards. Ron turned at the sound of their laughter and smiled sheepishly. A few minutes later, still sniggering, Harry and Hermione helped out Ron and Mrs. Granger and then washed out Ron's face. Finally, they pulled Ron into the living room.
"Hey Ron," Harry said, still smiling.
"Hey there Harry, what have you and Hermione been up too?" Ron said with a gleam in his eye.
Both Harry and Hermione blushed, and Harry answered Ron's question, "Just watching some TV."
"Are you sure you weren't doing anything else? Like snogging?" Ron said mischievously.
Hermione cut in, "For Heaven's sake Ron! No! He had his arm around me, that's it!"
"Oh," it was now Ron's turn to be embarrassed, and he hastily changed the subject, "So, what do you want to do?"
"Study for the O.W.L.S.," Hermione said immediately.
Harry sighed. Ron rolled his eyes.
"What?" Hermione said innocently, looking at them, "Studying is important, your fifth year is the major step towards becoming a fully-trained wizard!"
Ron mimicked Hermione, "It's a beautiful day outside, perfect for flying, talking a walk, or doing something fun! Instead let's just study!"
Harry tried to hide his snigger, and Hermione looked daggers at both of them.
"Sorry Herms," Harry said, "It was just funny."
To his surprise Hermione Granger smiled that smile that made Harry feel as though he was floating in air. Ron seemed to notice Harry's look, and rolled his eyes again, he looked at Hermione and noticed she was looking at Harry in the same way.
"When your done giving each other moon eyes," Ron said, "Could we possibly do something?"
Harry tore his eyes off of Hermione and nodded at Ron, "What do you want to do?"
Hermione looked at Ron, "You ever heard of a computer?"
A puzzled look appeared on Ron's face, "A pomcumpter? Sure. A meelivision set with a tapboard right?"
It was now Harry and Hermione's turn to snigger. And snigger they did.
"No, Ron," Hermione said through her laughter, "It's a computer, a monitor, it looks like a TV screen, and a keyboard, come on, I'll show you some cool stuff. Up in my room." Then Hermione called out to her mum, "Mum! We're going on-line! Don't use the telephone, OK?"
Ron looked strangely at Hermione, "Don't you mean fellytone?"
Harry and Hermione exploded into gales of laughter as they ran up into Hermione's room.
Hermione's room wasn't that great, pink walls, pink bed, a bookcase, that took up an entire wall by itself, a large writer's desk, and on the desk, a fairly new computer, complete with monitor, tower, and a keyboard.
"Feel free to borrow some books while I boot-up the computer."
Harry nodded and despite that it was against his nature, Harry looked at Hermione's bookshelf, surprisingly, most of the books were wizard fictions rather then schoolbooks, but he noticed an entire portion of Hermione's shelf was dedicated to...Quidditch books? Maybe Hermione was finally becoming interested in things outside of textbooks. Harry looked at a few of the titles, Winning With the Wanderers, Fly Like an Falcon (The Story of the Falmouth Falcons), Which Broomstick, and Quidditch Through the Ages.
Hermione's voice rang out, "There, come over here Ron...Harry."
Harry and Ron sauntered over to the computer and Harry watched amused as Hermione attempted to lecture Ron about the Internet,
"Now, here, Ron, this is an e-mail, it's actually faster then sending owls, rumor has it the Ministry might be using some e-mails for quick communication. I'll bet your Dad'll love that! Now this, see, is an icon, you click on an icon to stop a page from loading, reload a page, get your e-mail, etcetera. Got that?"
To Harry's amusement, Ron somehow managed to bungle up the names of every term, to Ron Weasley an icon was a "piecon", e-mail was "seamall", and Internet was "Tinderbet." Despite Hermione and occasionally Harry's help, Ron was making little progress by the time Mrs. Granger's voice rang out, "Log off, dear! Your father's home!"
After racing down the stairs, Harry, Hermione and Ron, met the Grangers and ate a fantastic shepard's pie with baked Alaska for dessert. After the meal, Harry and Ron changed into their pyjamas, and went into the living room to sleep on the couches. Harry quickly drifted off into sleep.
Lord Voldemort smiled. The Death Eaters nearby drew back in fear. When the Dark Lord smiled, something was going to happen. Bad.
"Lucius!" Voldemort called out. Hurrying, Lucius Malfoy rushed up and bowed before his lord. "Get up, Lucius," Voldemort said lazily. Quickly, Lucius got up.
"What is it my Lord?"
Voldemort smiled cruelly, "I have chosen you for my attack on the Minister."
Mr. Malfoy bowed his head, "It is an honor, my Lord."
"You will of course, capture him while he is on a goodwill mission to Beauxbatons in France. The good Minister may not believe I have returned," at this Voldemort smiled ruefully, "But he still respects Dumbledore's opinion, he'll attempt to unite the wizards, if not the dementors or giants. If we act now, we may put the Ministry in such a disarray that only a junior offical will run it."
"My Lord," Lucius Malfoy began, "Should we not expose ourselves so soon?"
Voldemort drew out his wand, Malfoy tensed as he knew what was going to happen. "
Crucio!" Lucius Malfoy yelped in pain as he writhed on the ground. Voldemort laughed. Suddenly, he drew his wand back, and Lucius Malfoy slowly got up trembling. "Why doubt me Lucius? Fudge will go to Beauxbatons will many high-ranking members of the Ministry! He thinks all of then will help "protect" him. We will prove him wrong!"
Meanwhile, quite incoinadently, Harry Potter woke up screaming and clutching his scar in the living room of the Granger household.