Chapter 13

During the summer, Hermione received a letter from Ron. She was worried about Harry since all of her correspondence to him remained unanswered. Hermione asked us to intervene, but it wasn't our place. The Dursleys didn't seem like the type of people to take advice from anyone in the magical community. She kept herself busy with homework to stay ahead of the class.

Carlos introduced Hermione and me to Julie a few weeks before school resumed in the fall. As expected, Julie and Hermione became fast friends. Julie was the female version of Carlos. Her long silky hair had the same sheen and softness as her father.

We were surprised that Ron, Fred and George Weasley had arrived in Little Whinging, Surrey, to retrieve Harry Potter on his birthday. "They flew an old turquoise Ford Anglia to pick up Harry. I hope they didn't get into trouble because Harry would have got in trouble too," Hermione explained. "I told Ron that we're going to be in Diagon Alley the Wednesday before school starts."

"That's fine, sweetie. We're going to be visiting Aunt Jean, Uncle Robert and grandpa Will. I'm not allowed to fly, so we'll be travelling by floo," I reminded her.

I was happy to see Aunt Jean and Uncle Robert. They loved Carlos the second they met. It was like old friends seeing each other again. We had spent a few days near Diagon Alley for her to meet with her friends. I met Molly and Arthur Weasley. They didn't know we were a witch and wizard because Hermione never shared the information with anyone. I hid my pregnancy behind baggy clothes.

If Molly noticed a baby bump when she hugged me, she never brought attention to it. I later discovered that Molly was flustered about the new Defence Against the Dark Arts instructor, professor Gilderoy Lockheart. He was a charismatic and attractive man, but I felt he was not who he claimed to be. Carlos stifled a laugh when Hermione and the other girls were starry-eyed. Most of the new books got written by the man.

A sign outside of Flourish and Blotts Bookseller announced that Gilderoy Lockhart was signing his new autobiography, Magical Me. I giggled when Molly pulled Ginny into the store. Carlos and I followed behind Hermione at a safe distance to prevent the horde of women from bumping into me.

Gilderoy noticed Harry enter the shop and drew attention to him. I could tell that Harry didn't like the attention. For a famous child, he was modest, kind, generous and caring. Harry was everything I wanted in a friend for Hermione. Ron got pushed behind a group of people so he couldn't accidentally get into the photograph that Gilderoy got taken with a protesting Harry.

"Ron doesn't look happy," I whispered to Carlos. He agreed with my assessment.

One of the student's fathers, Lucius Malloy, started a fight with the Weasley family. It was rude and uncalled for, given the situation. We noticed Harry Potter gave the signed Gilderoy Lockhart books to Ginny, saving the Weasley family money. I was going to pay for the books, but Harry had taken care of them. Harry would rather pay for new books than accept a handout from Lockhart.

Hermione returned to school in September. Carlos and I took her to King's Cross Station to catch her train to Hogwarts. She hugged us and promised to write frequently. I promised to let her know when the baby arrived. We didn't travel back to the states until our son was born. Hermione couldn't find Harry or Ron when she caught the train.

Her owl a few days later said they had arrived at Hogwarts in the flying Ford Anglia. Neither Harry nor Ron felt they deserved the punishment they had received. Ron got a Howler from his mother. Her scream reverberated throughout the Great Hall. Everyone heard his mother yell about flying the car and the father getting an inquiry at work. Arthur could potentially lose his job at the ministry. Hermione felt Ron had deserved the Howler.

"I don't understand why Harry didn't send an owl to the school," I told Carlos. "It would have made more sense. They could have arranged alternate transportation. Ron broke his wand and used spellotape to repair it."

"Ron probably wanted to show Harry that he was smart and brave. If his brothers could borrow the car without getting caught, then he could too. His parents were probably worried when they noticed the car had disappeared," Carlos wisely stated.

"I hope Ron's propensity to prove himself to others doesn't get the boys into more trouble," I added. "How much damage can you do with a broken wand?"

"More than the Weasley boy could handle," Carlos replied.

Mason Frances was born on September 12, as predicted. He was born in the same hospital as Hermione. My aunt and uncle helped us get him back to the states. We placed extra protection on the Manoso home in Newark. Maria Manoso was excited to help raise our amazing son. Hermione came home briefly to meet her brother.

Professor Dumbledore hooked up the Manoso home fireplace to the floo network for the weekend. When Hermione returned to school, the connection got removed. It wasn't wise to lead other witches or wizards to Mason's location.

Carlos and I cast spells to prevent anyone from talking about Mason. Grandma Mazur visited us after his birth. She had my dad drive her to Newark the day we arrived. It had become evident why our son was important. He was one of the few wizards with metamorphmagus. I had encountered a woman named Nymphadora Tonks while I learned more about Transfiguration. She visited Professor McGonagall a few times. I had been fascinated with the ability she was born to possess. Now my son, by some random form of magical lottery, was born with the rare ability. We'd have to talk to Tonks about what to expect.

Hermione wrote home many times. I couldn't help notice that she didn't say much about Harry or Ron. It was as though she purposely avoided talking about them to keep a secret. My daughter was fiercely loyal to her friends. I loved that quality in her, but I was worried something horrible was about to happen. She did mention that Ron got detention with Filch, polishing the silver in the trophy room. Harry got forced to answer fan mail with Professor Lockhart. Both boys thought they got the wrong end of punishments.

"Carlos, you must read Hermione's letter. She was upset that Ron suggested Lockhart didn't do the amazing things he wrote in the book. I must admit that I think Ron is right. Lockhart has a claim for fame, but I doubt he knows how to do everything he leads everyone to believe," I stated. "He's egocentric."

After he had read the letter, Carlos tipped his head back to laugh. "I agree. Lockhart is probably a master at memory charms and obliviate. He's only the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor because nobody else wanted the job." I had to agree with my husband.

"Wasn't his skin lighter before?" I asked Carlos as I fed Mason.

"It was," Carlos agreed. "His hair was red a few minutes ago."

Hermione wrote again when the school had their first Quidditch match. Her friend, Harry, got hit by a rogue bludger. It hit him in the elbow, shattering his arm. Professor Lockhart used the wrong spell, removing his bones. However, they won the match. "Ouch," I groaned. "Growing them back is going to be excruciating."

"Babe, we received an important owl from Hogwarts. They say the Chamber of Secrets got opened, and a student, Colin Creevey got petrified. Professor McGonagall assures us that the remaining students are safe," he read before passing me the parchment. "We can bring Hermione home."

"We'll leave her at the school. She'd want to be with her friends. Hermione is an intelligent girl. She will stay safe," I said, hoping my words rang true.

Unfortunately, another student, Justin Finch-Fletchley, got petrified. "What should we do, Carlos? I'm worried about Hermione and her friends," I said when we were alone in bed.

"I wrote to Hermione, but she doesn't want to come home. Her friends need her," Carlos stated. "Hermione is the bravest young witch I have ever met."

I laughed because what he said was true. Hermione truly was a brave young girl. "Have you read the owl from Professor Dumbledore? Why is Hermione brewing Polyjuice potion in the abandoned girl's washroom?" I asked.

"Probably to morph into a Slytherin to question who could have opened the Chamber," Carlos replied. He kissed me to distract my train of thought. It didn't take long for him to get me to forget about Hermione's shenanigans with her friends.

We discussed Hermione's blatant disregard for school rules. "I wanted her to relax her rigidity, not throw all caution to the wind," I told Carlos as we drove towards Trenton. We could have apparated, but we had to meet with a client before checking on Rangeman Trenton's progress.

Carlos laughed, "You should always be careful what you wish for. Dumbledore is monitoring their progress."

"Sometimes, I wonder if he gives them gentle pushes in the right direction," I stated.

"Of that, I have no doubt," he replied.

Hermione decided to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas, much to Carl's dismay. We had our court case during the winter holidays. I recognized the judge as a wizard I had worked with on a few occasions during the past year. He ruled against Carl, saying Hermione lived in the household best suited for her needs and development.

Carl got angry and stupidly said, "If Hermione refuses to live with me, then I will not see her at all." The judge got him to sign over his rights before granting Carlos the adoption. Everything happened so fast. I knew it wasn't following the procedure through nomag custody cases. The judge ruled in favour of what was best for Hermione.

Chipper waited at the Manoso home for us to return. He had a letter from Hermione. When I moved to remove the letter, Chipper nipped at me. "Did you get the note?" Carlos asked.

"No. I think it's for you. Chipper wouldn't let me take it," I replied

He quickly untied the parchment and read Hermione's words. Carlos tipped his head back and laughed. Before I got the chance to ask him what was funny, he gave me the letter. "Read it," he said through the laughter.

"Oh my goodness. That is too funny," I said, laughing. It seems my daughter had not paid attention to the sample she collected from Millicent Bulstrode. She got cat hair, and now she's a human version of a cat. "I hope Madam Pomfrey can reverse the effects."

"The hairballs must be horrible," Carlos laughed.

"It probably improved her… flexibility," I joked. "Seriously, Carlos. We need to send her an owl."

"Did she discover the monster in the chamber of secrets is a basilisk?" Carlos asked.

"I don't think so. It won't take long to riddle it through," I replied.

Several months later, Carlos and I got summoned to Hogwarts. Hermione and a Ravenclaw prefect, Penelope Clearwater, got petrified. "We found this in her hand," Professor McGonagall stated.

I took the circular mirror as a tear streamed down my cheek. "Any progress with the mandrakes?" I asked.

"Professor Sprout said they've reached their teenage years. They should be ready in a few months. It will take some time to brew the potion," McGonagall replied. "Don't worry, Stephanie. We'll get her back."

After sitting with Hermione for a few hours, we decided to go home to give her friends more time to visit. "Babe, there's nothing we can do until the potion is ready."

"I know, Carlos. When you gather a few hundred underaged witches and wizards into one building, accidents happen," I replied. "I never expected this."

Mason was growing like a weed. He had doubled his birth weight by the time June rolled around. Mama Manoso got thrilled by every change in Mason's appearance. I was still working undercover at E E Martin. I've handed the evidence I gathered to the ministry of magic and the FBI. It would take the FBI a while to build their case.

Hermione was still petrified, as were Colin, Justin, Penelope, nearly headless Nick and Filch's cat. McGonagall sent an owl to inform us that the mandrakes were ready to cut and stew for the potion. She reassured me that it would take a few droughts for the potion to work.

Carlos had to leave for another mission. He'd be gone for a few months. I stayed focused on work and helping Tank, Lester and Bobby with the new Rangeman building. My cousin, Vinnie, the owner of Plum Bail Bonds, lost his best BEA. Dad mentioned that my friends could work for him and earn more capital for Rangeman. Tank thought it was a brilliant idea.

I visited Hogwarts when they gave Hermione the Mandrake potion. Her skin felt warmer after the first drought. There was a commotion in the hallway outside the infirmary. Molly burst into the room and fell into my arms, seeking comfort. "What's wrong, Molly?" I asked.

"Ginny was taken into the chambers. I've waited so long to have a daughter. I'm afraid that she's dead," Molly cried.

"I don't believe that for one minute. Ginny's going to be fine, Molly. Wait and see," I said as I comforted my friend.

When Molly stopped crying, she asked, "Have you seen Ron or Harry?"

"No. I thought the boys would be here," I admitted.

Later in the evening, Harry, Ron and Ginny got brought into the infirmary. Molly pulled Ginny into her arms and cried. She was happy to get her daughter back. Harry got his arm impaled by a basilisk tooth, but the injury had already healed.

"Fawkes healed it already. I felt the poison go through my body. He had arrived in time to save my life," Harry explained.

Gilderoy Lockhart was sitting in the corner laughing. I tilted my head, wondering what had happened to him. Ron held out his broken wand. "He tried to cast Obliviate on Harry and me, but it backfired," Ron explained.

"Impaled by his own sword," McGonagall said before shooing us out of the room. "I'll call when she's awake. Off you go."

A few days later, I received an owl that Hermione was awake. She wanted me to stay home with Mason because she'd be home in a few weeks anyway. I was relieved that everyone was fine and healthy. Although, I wondered how Voldemort managed to possess Ginny Weasley. Eventually, we would have the answer. For now, nobody was talking.