Chapter 12

More strange things happened at Hogwarts. Hermione carefully worded her letters in the off chance that our owl got intercepted. Since I knew her well, it was easy for me to decipher. She got increasingly curious what Fluffy was guarding through the trapdoor in the room on the forbidden third floor.

At first, I was worried her need to solve the mystery would affect her grades. Hermione was proud of herself when she discovered Nicolas Flamel was the creator of the Philosopher's stone. It was an object that extended the owner's life, provided you regularly drank the elixir. Another attribute was endless riches, not riches exactly. But you could turn base metals into gold. It was like Midas, without turning everything touched into the precious metal. I could understand why the stone would appeal to wizards and witches. Who wouldn't want to live forever?

"Why would you want to become dependant on the elixir?" I wondered aloud. "What happens if the potion runs out or gets tainted? I imagine the person drinking it would die." Surely it doesn't prevent your body from ageing. Witches and wizards are known to live twice the lifespan of typical nomags.

I replied to Hermione's note, asking her to be wise, and stay safe. As I wrote the words, I could see her rolling her eyes. Professor McGonagall wrote to tell me that Hermione Granger was the top student at Hogwarts this year. She was concerned about the number of points Gryffindor had lost and hoped their team would win the Quidditch match, placing their house in the first-place position. I laughed when she promised to help the kids get more points.

Carlos came home a few weeks into May. He'd been gone a long time. My abdomen had expanded significantly in his absence. I was able to hide the pregnancy at E E Martin. A simple Transfiguration spell made my bump seemingly disappear. "Babe," he growled when he entered the room.

"Carlos," I replied. He strutted towards me before he pounced. I squealed as he carried me to bed. Our clothes vanished the second we crossed the threshold. My sexy husband wasted no time pressing into my body. "Ah. Feels so good."

"I missed you, babe," he moaned. "Every time gets better." I moaned my agreement.

"Martin's receptionist was really Eliot in disguise. I'm glad I made myself invisible," I said, updating him on the progress of my mission at E E Martin.

"It explains why you couldn't catch him," Carlos stated.

"There's still something going on. I found records where they paid a mob boss for protection. It's a bit sketchy, though," I added.

"And you think that they are using the protection as a ruse to hide their true agenda?" Carlos asked.

"Yes. I hate my job in the company. Lingerie buyer is a joke. I mainly order granny panties," I complained.

"How much longer do you think it would take?"

"Too long," I replied.

Carlos and I worked together to open the Rangeman Trenton branch. We found a building, but it would take time to retrofit the space to accommodate the staff. The renovations had to get completed without the use of magic. Carlos didn't want to draw unnecessary attention to the building. "The contractor said it would take just over a year to get the permits, reinforce the structure and install the CCTV," Carlos announced.

"Tank mentioned you have other Rangeman branches. I know about the one in Miami. Where are the others?" I asked.

"Atlanta and Boston," he replied. "All of my apartments and offices are set up the same."

"So if I use the floo network, I have to state which Rangeman location I want?" I wondered.

"Babe, very few people are permitted into my office. Only your wand could grant access," Carlos explained. "You and I are the only ones permitted to apparate into my apartment. Hermione could travel with you. Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore are aware of our family situation. They know whom to contact in case of emergency."

"I sent Professor McGonagall an owl after we got married," I confessed.

"They know Hermione has permission to enter any of my residences through the floo network. I've asked them to contact me if you're unavailable. Did I overstep my boundary?"

"No, Batman. I had already informed them, but they needed your permission too," I replied.

Between my job and helping Carlos set up the new office, oh, and growing a baby, time flew. I received an urgent owl that Hermione got injured during an incident at the school. Carlos and I arrived at Hogwarts, travelling via floo network from the temporary fireplace inside my apartment.

"Mom, I'm fine," Hermione complained when I hugged her tightly. "I'm worried about Harry. He still hasn't woken up."

"Harry will be okay, Hermione. How's Ron?" I asked.

She shrugged. "Ron got hit in the head. Madam Pomfrey gave him a potion for the concussion. Ron's with his family. Would you like to meet them?" Hermione wondered.

"Sure, sweetie. I'd love to meet your friends," I replied. I held Carlos' hand as Hermione guided us to the infirmary. The area at the back got separated by screens. I assumed they were keeping Harry Potter hidden from view.

"What happened?" Carlos asked.

Professor McGonagall said Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger broke many school rules. They had gone into the forbidden third-floor corridor, got past the three-headed dog by playing the flute Hagrid gave Harry for Christmas. Hermione remembered how to get through the devil's snare. She illuminated her wand and escaped the tentacles. Harry Potter expertly flew his broom to capture the flying key to unlock the next door.

"I hate flying," Hermione mumbled. When they unlocked the door, they entered a room containing a human chessboard. Ron quickly realized they had to become chessmen. Ron realized, nearly too late, that Harry and Hermione were in danger. To win the game, he had to sacrifice himself. He proceeded to play the game and checkmate the king, permitting Harry and Hermione to continue without him.

Hermione and Harry got past the mountain troll too easily, since he got knocked out before they arrived. "The room had a foul odour. Harry and I were glad to get past the troll," Hermione added.

The room past the troll had a table with seven unlabelled bottles. A purple flame had erupted when they crossed the threshold. They couldn't exit the room without drinking a potion. Hermione loved working through logic problems. Her brain worked much the same way mine does. We can pick up the subtle clues to solve the puzzle. She gave Harry the bottle that contained the potion to move forward while she took the potion to get back to Ron.

Harry had entered the seventh room alone. He faced professor Quirrell who had given a piece of Lord Voldemort permission to possess his body. Unfortunately, Quirrell had died from his encounter with Harry, and Lord Voldemort's barely earthbound fraction of his soul escaped.

I shivered at the thought of the man returning to full power. Voldemort was an evil wizard. He had surpassed Grindelwald for the most dangerous wizards to date. A crew of men that he called Deatheaters were his minions. It was this band of creeps that kept Carlos and his men busy.

Like my aunt and other witches and wizards, I didn't believe that Voldemort died when he tried to kill Harry Potter. I had heard that dangerous dark magic books got removed from the school libraries. The goal was to prevent people, namely children, from performing soul-damaging charms.

When we returned to Trenton, Hermione told Carl about the incident at the school when he came to my apartment. Carl was furious and demanded that Hermione withdraw from Hogwarts. "She doesn't need your permission to attend, Carl. I want her to attend Hogwarts with her friends. Our daughter is a brilliant witch. It would be a shame to remove her from the best school in the world," I stated.

"Carl, you're only my father through blood. You had never tried to contact mom after she had left. Every decision you have ever made was selfish, serving whatever purpose suited you best. Your precious ego got bruised when I didn't come here for spring break. I have your letter. Shall I read it?" Hermione asked.

"I'm curious to know what he wrote," Carlos stated. From the disgusted look on Hermione's face, I knew the letter was not going to be pleasant.

Hermione cleared her throat before reading, "Dearest Hermione, I think you should reconsider staying at your school for spring break. Come home to spend time with your family. I do not doubt in my mind that your mother influenced your decision to stay abroad. How am I supposed to get to know you if you're so far away? Move in with me and attend a local school. You don't need to know magic and all of that nonsense. I'm contacting my lawyer to get custody. Love always, your father, Carl Costanza."

I was furious. Carl wanted three weeks during the summer to visit with Hermione and a few days during school holidays and breaks. Hermione was vibrating from anger. She never mentioned the letter from Carl. I wondered why she had never mentioned him past January.

Fortunately for Hermione, I never listed a father on the birth certificate. If Carl contested custody, he'd need to get a paternity test. I couldn't see Hermione agreeing to his request. Carlos pulled Hermione aside to ask her a few questions and her thoughts on the situation. Hermione looked over her shoulder, narrowing her eyes at Carl before nodding her head. Carlos left the room to make a call.

He could have sent a message through magical means, but we avoided using magic around nomags as much as possible. Carlos kept his end of the conversation to one or two-word sentences. I could see Hermione listening closely to his words. She smiled, smoothed her top with her shaky hands before walking to Carlos. He wrapped his arm across her shoulders, and she leaned into his chest.

My husband loved Hermione as much as he loved his daughter, Julie. We talked about getting the two girls together during the summer. Julie should meet her step-sister and learn about her half-brother. Carlos assured me that Julie would keep our secret regarding the boy. The OB confirmed we are expecting a son. We couldn't be happier.

Carl left the apartment in a foul mood. He didn't acknowledge Hermione before he had left. Hermione snuffled as she buried her face into Carlos' chest. Carlos rubbed her back in comforting circles. "My lawyer will get his colleague to represent Hermione. Dax Malcolm will be in contact with you," Carlos stated.

A few hours after Carl left, someone knocked on the door. I used a charm to see through the door and groaned. Officer Robin Russell was standing on the other side. "Hello, Robin. To what do I owe this pleasure?" I joked.

"I'm here to serve papers, Stephanie. Carl Costanza has filed for sole custody of Hermione Granger," she said, handing me the documents.

"Thank you," I said, taking the documents. "Have a good day." I was pissed off and didn't want to accidentally use magic in front of her.

Robin prevented me from closing the door. "He doesn't have a case, Stephanie. I researched her birth records and received a long-form from Britain. There is no father on record. Carl could sue for custody of your daughter through proof of paid child support, assuming financial responsibility or a paternity result. As I discovered, your husband, Mr. Manoso, had assumed all responsibility for Hermione from the date of your marriage," Robin explained.

I attempted to raise an eyebrow but both brows raised towards my hairline. "I paid Hermione's tuition," Carlos explained. Hogwarts should have removed the money from Gringotts in January. I donated funds to Hogwarts to pay the tuition for children without means of support. My family covered part of the tuition for the Weasley family. They had no idea we offered assistance for their children.

"Are you offering us legal advice?" I asked Robin.

"No. Just providing information that anyone can gather. I must say I was surprised you married Manoso. The marriage appeared in the records a few months ago. Hermione's birth got registered in Britain. A verbal claim of paternity doesn't hold in a court of law. In my opinion, have Manoso legally adopt Hermione. It would be the best way to protect her," she replied.

I looked into Robin's eyes. "Are you a witch?" I thought. She disappeared from school when she turned eleven. I never put much thought into why she was gone. Her parents had moved from the Burg. Robin was a few years younger than me.

As though she heard my thought, without moving her lips, she replied, "Yes." Aloud, she said, "I got a letter delivered from the headmaster at Ilvermorny when I was eleven. The other Burg mothers refused to send their children to magic school. I heard they were trying to stomp out the magic. My parents moved when I accepted the offer."

"Are we going to have a problem with you?" I wondered.

"No. Take my advice or not. To protect Hermione, have Carlos adopt her as soon as possible," she replied. "I like you, Stephanie. I only want to protect the girl who's best friends with Harry Potter."