CHAPTER 8: -- HERMY RETURNS

Meanwhile, Hermione and Ron were at the Burrow. After telling Mrs. Weasley that they had a great time, the two teens went upstairs to unpack. Later that evening, they got their letters.

Just like with Harry's, their letters also had a private note from Dumbledore.

"…Ron, please be careful. Your brother's candies are all over and though you may be you again, their candy probably has not really worn off you completely. The Snidget has an instinct for sugar, so make sure you don't eat your brothers' sugar. It may be disastrous! Sincerely yours, Professor Dumbledore…"

But Hermione was a little more surprised then Ron. Her letter scared her a bit.

"…Hermione. Do you know what being a "close friend" means to a house elf? It is sort of like marriage, except without being mates. The two house elves become forever bonded. If one is hurt, the other one appears at his side almost immediately… without any prior knowledge…the magic of this relationship pulls them to each other, and the hurt elf draws healing magic from the other elf. Now, because you have shared this relationship with Dobby, you are subject to it's rewards.

Also, because you have accepted this responsibility, know that the candy's spell will never truly wear off. You now have, permanently, the finger of a house elf. The finger Dobby has from you also is permanently a house elf finger. Due to the fact that it is now part of you, you will easily become Hermy again. This is much like the werewolf curse upon Professor Lupin. You can't remove it. You should be forewarned, however, that it will come and go in a cycle. You will have to make arrangements to study alone at times when the cycle is in during the school year, for as a house elf you won't be able to fight off the instinct that you shouldn't be in the classroom. Please remember this, and come speak with me after the opening feast. Sincerely, Professor Dumbledore…"

"Does that mean mommy can be a house elf again?" Shirley asked.

"Yep!" Ron smirked at his wife. Hermione gave him an evil glare.

"Daddy can be a Snidget again, too." She replied, ever so calmly.

Ron's smirk disappeared.

"Ooooo."

Later that week, on the same night as Harry and Dumbledore were discussing how they were going to fix things, proof of Hermione's relationship with Dobby as a "close friend" came about.

Dobby was attempting to cook a meal for the people at 4 Privet Drive. However, he was unused to the muggle equipment. He put a foil-wrapped pound of ground beef into the microwave—without removing the foil. It no sooner had begun to cook and then suddenly, BOOM! The microwave exploded in Dobby's face. (He had just begun to peer intently into the microwave with curiosity.

Instantly, Hermy appeared next to him, while Dumbledore and Harry charged into the kitchen to find out what exploded. Back in the Burrow, Mrs. Weasley was becoming ecstatic.

"Where did she go? She can't apparate yet! What happened?"

"She's probably at Harry's, Mum," Ron replied.

"Why do you say that?"

"Because of Dumbledore's letter to her, and what happened last week. Come on, lets go over there."

The two Weasleys arrived in time to find Hermy and Dobby surrounded by a pale green light. "What is going on?" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed.

Dumbledore stopped her when she started to go towards Hermy and Dobby.

"Leave them be, Molly. She is healing him."

"Who is she?"

"Hermy, Mum, Hermione."

Molly gave her son such a bewildered look that he had trouble not laughing.

He looked at Dumbledore, and then turned around to find the Quiliadis plant, with a small egg still nestled in amongst its foliage.

"I think this is something you should see, Mum," he said, pointing out the Snidget egg. As they looked at it, the egg began to shake and crack. Within two minutes, a tiny baby Snidget emerged. Dumbledore pushed Ron towards it.

"Let it see you. You're its parent."

At this, Molly fainted. Ron looked at his mother and then at the baby bird.

"He's a boy, Professor." Ron carefully took a leaf form the Quiliadis and squeezed some of the juice from its leaves in to the baby bird's beak. Then, he went and got some water to revive his mother. At about this time, Harry helped Hermy and Dobby up off the floor.

After a few minutes, Ron succeeded at reviving his mother. "Mum, there's been a lot going on at this house this summer. Maybe you should see Harry and the rest of this crazy crew together; which Hermione and I are part of, really. Dumbledore, here, is trying to help fix all of this."

Molly only nodded and subjected herself to be led to the living room.

"First, Molly, you must realize that hardly anyone that has been staying in this house this summer is their normal selves," Dumbledore started. "Since I would like to begin solving this problem, I'll go get everyone together. However, be warned Molly, this might be a bit unexpected."

"What's Dumbledore up to, Harry?" Tricia wanted to know.

"He's working on what he and I were discussing. Reversing all the candy spells Fred and George had placed upon us with their candies."

"What about Molly?"

"Well, she's just had the shock of her life, so they are letting her watch Dumbledore begin the process of spell reversal on the entire crew."

"O."

About three hours later, all the present residents of 4 Privet drive had awaken and were getting ready for dinner. Each person was taking things differently. Dudley was sulking in a corner, Petunia was sitting in her high chair, glaring at any one who came near.

Hermy was sitting on the kitchen floor, still, with Dobby, and Ron was, well, once again a Snidget. No one knew when he turned back in to a snidget, but there he was, and he was feeding the baby snidget nectar from the Quiliadis flowers.

Molly, Dumbledore, and Harry were all sitting in the living room with the Weasley twins flying about, pacing really, in front of them.

"Well, boys, well, young man, well…whatever, you know what I mean; what do you have to say for yourself? Haven't I always told you that you shouldn't mess around with magic you don't understand? Haven't I kept constantly telling you to stop making such concoctions? WELL?" Molly started to screech at them.

"Calm down, Molly. Everything will be alright! Have no fear. I think your boys have learned their lesson." Dumbledore said quietly, putting his hand on her shoulder.

"Yes, mum, we have!"

"Honest we have!"

the two heads of the fairy floating before her looked so forlorn that she couldn't help but want to give them a hug. Only problem was that they were so small that she couldn't and she sat down heavily, with tears streaming down her face.

"What am I going to do with you? O what am I ever going to do with you?" the fairy floated over to her and both Fred and George gave her a kiss on the check.

"How is everything going to be fixed?"

"Well, Celeste, I really am not sure how it was fixed, but I can tell you the rest of it, as I understood it, alright?"

"Ok!" The little girl's face was so filled with innocence that he could hardly believe she understood any of it. However, she saw him watching her and smiled, "What's next?"

Harry quickly resumed his tale….

Just then, Virginia came out and told them dinner was ready.

"Alright, then, we'll be there in a minute, Virginia," Harry said, without thinking about it. Virginia stopped in her tracks and turned around, glaring at the unfortunate man, "My name is not Virginia!" she said through gritted teeth, "It's Vernon."

With that said, she turned around and marched into the kitchen. Harry threw his arms into the air in exasperation, "Sorry!"

Everyone quickly gathered around the table while the two house elves set everything out. After everything was quiet again, Dumbledore stood up and cleared his throat.

"I presume that all of you would like things to be reverted to normal, correct?" he paused to let the acknowledgements come forth and depart. "Then," he said, while reaching behind him and picking up a small silver bag, "you will each want one of these."

He handed the bag to Harold, who looked in.

"Surely you don' want us to eat more of the twin's candies?"

"Oh, but I do. Those candies there will fix everything."

Although hesitant, Harry reached into the bag and pulled out a piece and passed on the bag. The others followed suit.

After a brief silence and the bag was returned to Dumbledore, he shooed them all with his hands, "Well, eat them, and eat your dinners!"

After receiving some blank stares, he repeated, "well, come on, eat up!"