27 July 1996

Hermione was sitting at her desk furiously going over her Arithmancy notes hoping to figure out how she ended up with an E on her OWL's. Most would think that since it is the hardest subject at Hogwarts that an E would be great, but not Hermione. She was so immersed in her revision that she did not hear the post owl hooting to get her attention. Hermione did however feel the angry owl bit her finger. She pulled her finger back from the bird to avoid being bitten again while she stared at the bird. The owl just extended its leg to show her the leather pouch waiting for payment. Reaching into her pocket Hermione pulled out a bronze knut and placed it in the owl's pouch. With out hesitation the owl took flight, in doing so it flew close enough to slap her in the face with its wing. Hermione just sat there shocked as the bird disappeared over the horizon.

"How droll!" she said staring out the window.

Picking up the Daily Prophet left the irate bird she began to unroll it and read.. The head line made her shriek with surprise and drop the paper.

Boy-Who-Lived Captures A Dead Man

Article by Rita Skeeter

Earlier this week Harry Potter The Boy Who Lived single handedly captured one of our worlds greatest tragic hero's. Peter Pettigrew who all thought dead 15 years ago was seen three days ago on the knight bus. Unlucky for him Harry Potter also happened to catch the bus right after him. Once on the bus Mr. Potter cast a stunning spell on Pettigrew while he was sleeping. According to Stan Shunpike the Knight Bus' conductor Pettigrew didn't have a chance. "Poor chap he didn't do nothing to 'arry and 'ee still got it in 'is sleep."

Pettigrew who was thought killed by the now dead fugitive Sirius Black faked his own death fifteen years ago in order to escape Black. Pettigrew was believed to be trying to confront Black with the Potter's murder as it turns out Pettigrew was the one to blame for the Potter's death as well as the thirteen muggles that died in the same alley as Pettigrew was supposed to have.

After his capture of Pettigrew, Mr. Potter took him to the ministry of magick in order to have charges brought against his parent's former friend. Under the Vertiaserum potion Peter Pettigrew confessed to his involvement in all death eater activities including the rebirth of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named over a year ago. Pettigrew was also compelled to tell any information he might have had that pertained to You-Know-Who's current plans and whereabouts.

Amelia Bone head of the Magickal Law Enforcement Department is quoted "Today is a great day for those fighting on the side of light and we owe our thanks to Harry Potter. With out him we would have never been able to gain such knowledge of You-Know-Who." Pettigrew was apparently the dark lord's right hand man during this second rise to power.

Pettigrew has been formally charged, tried and convicted of the crimes mentioned above. He has been sentenced to the Dementor's Kiss as soon as he is taken to the island of Azkaban. All charges will be dropped against Sirius Black and his named cleared.

Through Percy Weasley recently appointed Senior Under-Secretary to the Minister of Magick, Cornelius Fudge has released this statement "I don't care what crimes Black has been cleared of. Black was still a known death eater and as such that will not be taken of his record as well as his escape from Azkaban was illegal whether his imprisonment was wrong or not."

This reporter was not able to get any further comment after the announcement, but Albus Dumbledore head of the International Confederation of Warlocks and the Supreme Mugwump of the Wizengamot has brought into question the minister's integrity involving Sirius Black's imprisonment with out trial for those twelve years. "Even though Mr. Fudge was not minister at the time, he did nothing to give Sirius a trial after he became the minister those eight years ago." Dumbledore stated in a press conference held yesterday.

Harry Potter is said to have received the Order of Merlin first class for his capture and service to the wizarding community, but did not show up to receive it personally. Pettigrew's own award has been stripped from him and had been the first person in history stricken from the record in disgrace.

(Continued on page 4)

Hermione didn't read anymore. She started jumping up and down all over her room laughing and having a good ole time. She didn't feel Ron's owl Pig slam into the back of her head.(AN/Hermione sure is having trouble with owls today) Hermione carried on for several minutes before her mother came rushing through the door.

"Hermione, what's wrong?" her mother asked panting for breath. Hermione stopped just long enough to toss her mother the paper and then resume her dancing.

Emma Granger read the front page and just stood there in shock. Sirius Black had been cleared of all charges and that the son of Lily Evans was the one to do it. Agreeing with the Bones woman this was a great day. Now the person who killed one of her closest friends and framed another friend was finally getting what he deserved. She looked up from the paper and gave her daughter a big smile and started to move to give her a hug.

Half way there she stepped on something that gave a small shrill of pain. Emma immediately lifted her foot so not to cause the little owl any more harm. Hermione picked up Pig and placed him on the desk. The little minute owl just laid there looking blankly at the ceiling. Realizing the owl was going to be ok with a little rest took the letter from him and tore into the envelope.

The letter was of course from Ron with all of his untidy scrawl.

Dear Hermione,

Hey, how's it going? Not much has happened here all summer. Ginny has been bugging me about homework all summer long. We don't even have any this summer. I keep reminding her, but she doesn't seem to listen.

Well I'm going to ask now since you are going to ask me later. How many OWL's did you get? I managed to scrape by with six. I even got one in potions. Thank you for the help last year, now I can study to be an auror. Thanks from the bottom of my heart.

Have you heard from Harry yet? I really hoped he would write by now. I've been really worried for him since that night and when we got off the Hogwarts Express. I hope the muggles are treating him well, the way his uncle looked after his talk with Moody, Tonks, and Moony I think they might to try and take it out on him. Mum says he's been writing every three days but that stopped the other day. She won't say anything else about it.

Dumbledore gave us the OK to get him on the first so we are going to get him as soon as the clock strikes twelve midnight. We don't want him there any longer than he has too. If you want to your invited to come along with us to get him then stay with us for the rest of the summer.

Send Pig back with a response and I'll see you in two days at eleven, we'll be going to Snuffle's house.

Your friend

Ron

"Mom, Ron wants me to come stay at his house this summer if its alright." Hermione asked. She really couldn't wait to see her friends again, especially Harry.

Emma frowned before she answered. "Sorry 'Mione, but your father and I were planning a trip for the whole of next month and we really think you should join us. Don't worry you'll be back in plenty of time to get to school."

Hermione responded disheartened "But Mum, Harry will be there and I haven't been able to talk to him since we got off the train. I'm really worried about him, and…and" Hermione couldn't finish because she was at complete loss of words.

"Harry's going to be there? You told me he couldn't leave his house until sometime in August" Emma asked with and expression of fear and shock.

"Professor Dumbledore said we could get him on the first. So Ron was going to come and get me then we were going to go fetch him together. Please Mum, they're my best friends and I need to see them before we have to go back to school." Hermione almost started to sob as she finished. She did have a lone tear streaking down her cheek.

"Why are they getting him so soon? If they do that we won't be able to finish what we started!" Emma yelled

Hermione stared at her mother trying to comprehend what her mother just said. "Mum, what are you talking about?"

"No time Hermione. Go get in the car."

Hermione made no move to move

"Move!" her mother yelled.

Hermione made a bee line for the door while her mother scribbled a note for her husband and left making sure the door was locked. Emma jumped into the driver seat started the engine and sped off. Hermione was scared stiff as her mother swerved in and out of traffic.

Three hours later they pulled into a suburb and much to Hermione's relief her mother finally slowed down, Taking stock of were they were she realized they were somewhere she had never been before.

"Mum, where are we?"

"We're here!" Emma exclaimed as she pulled in to the car park of a small two floor house that resembled a box rather than a house.

Looking around the neighborhood Hermione took notice that all the houses looked the same as the one they were parked at. She followed her mother out of the car and up the stone walkway to the front door. The big brass number four shined brightly in the mid afternoon sunlight. Then it clicked they were standing outside Harry's house.

Emma didn't hesitate and rapt hard on the door. A minute later the door opened and the sight they were greeted with made Hermione do a double take. Standing there with his wand raised was Harry's cousin. She didn't remember his name but she recognized him from all the times she's seen him waiting at King's Cross to pick up Harry.

"Hello we're here to see Harry" Emma called to Dudley.

"Who are you?" Dudley asked.

"I'm a friend from school" Hermione spoke up.

Dudley turned his head back to inside and yelled for Harry to com to the door.

Hermione was shocked by the look of him. Harry had grown a couple of inches in the last month. He now stood 3 inches over her. Still skinny as ever, but he looked rested and peaceful. As soon she saw him Hermione rushed past Dudley and gave Harry a bone crushing hug.

"Hermione what are you doing here?" Harry gasped out. "You're a little early aren't you?"

Hermione pulled back and stared at him. "You knew we were coming?"

"Of course but I thought I still had another two day before I saw you?" Harry asked a little confused.

"Had a change of plans I'm afraid" Emma spoke to him. "We had to come early. Dumbledore deviated from our plans" she said ominously.

"Oh OK" Harry said. "Well I'm all packed so whenever you're ready."

"That's good." Emma responded "Is this Petunia's Son?"

"Yes Mam, this is my cousin Dudley"

"Hi" Dudley greeted them.

"Well You are a handsome one. Your grandmother would be proud" Emma said measuring Dudley with her stare.

"You knew my gran'?" Dudley and Harry asked at the same time.

"OH yes, very lovely woman indeed. As a matter of fact you look like your grandfather did. Well Harry if your ready I think we should be headed off don't you think?"

"Um sure thing. I have a question though would it be possible if Dudley come with us I don't think he should be left alone in this house"

"Why would he be alone Harry? Where is your aunt and uncle?" Hermione asked.

"They haven't been here for more than a week and they won't come back till I'm gone."

"Well just call them and tell them you're leaving" Hermione said in her lecture voice.

Harry thought for a second "well you see Dudley had a little break through with his conscience and they disowned him. Plus He'll be going to Hogwarts this year and you know how they are with wizards"

"I don't see a problem with it. He can join us on our little vacation and then go off to school." Emma said. "Go and get your trunks and we'll be off then."

Harry and Dudley ran back into the house to grab there things. Hermione decided to grill her mother about what was going on.

"Mum what's going on?"

"Not now Hermione. I'll tell you as soon as we get home"

Dudley and Harry came back to the door carrying there trunks together stacked on top of each other along with two owl cages sitting on top. "Let's go!" Dudley exclaimed

Emma led them to the car and helped them pack the boot. As they finished Harry saw someone appear right behind them.

"Where are you going Potter?" Moody said with his gruff voice.

"On Vacation Professor. If you'll excuse us, we will be on our way."

With out another word they all got in the car and Mrs. Granger sped off into the sunset.

With a long swig from his hip flask Moody disapperated with a loud crack.

-Sorry about the long wait. Been busy at work. Tell Me what you think. Just to let you know I hate the word Warlock. I have left a clue as to why all through out this story. If you can tell me what the clue is and why I chose that one I will give you a cookie-