(A/N): Hey, I'm sorry I haven't updated in like an eternity! Here's Chapter 4! Happy 13th Bday Grace

Disclaimer: I wish I did own Harry Potter, but, sadly I don't. Trust me, if I did, Sirius would not be dead. But, then again, that's why I love fan fictions. I can make the story go any way I want. evil glint in eye Mwahaha! (Grace says Hi)

Chapter 4

Nobody's Home

"Now let's see.." Hermione said examining the small creature and its bloody appearance. She walked over to her shelf and picked up one of her innumerable books and flipped through the pages for what seemed an eternity. "The creature without a name… untitled I guess. Wizards never bothered naming them because they were constantly preyed upon and were even endangered. It's an animal famous and popular among many anamargi. They love these things because they're so darn cute but just about everything and its mother likes to eat them… I feel bad for them. Great house pet though."

Ron looked at the small creature, its abnormally huge eyes looking at him sorrowfully. Surprisingly, Ron felt somewhat sympathetic for the little guy. "Are you going to heal him?"

"Of course I am, silly," Hermione said exasperated, "As if I'd let the poor thing die."

"No comment," Ron replied earning a trademark glare from Hermione.

Hermione, trying to ignore Ron, pulled out her wand and began her healing spells. In their seventh year, Hermione had taken an apprenticeship with Madame Promphrey before she finally decided that her calling was writing. "There," Hermione said proudly gazing upon the fully healed magical creature, "all better now."

"You're amazing," Ron said softly before he could stop the words from coming out of his mouth.

"Thank you," she replied with a slight smile. She picked up the creature without a name and handed him to Ron, "I guess you'll be wanting him back."

"Actually," Ron replied handing her the small bundle of fur, "Consider it a gift from me to you."

Hermione tried to hide her enthusiasm. She was extremely curious about the small thing. In fact, she wanted to memorize every possible detail she could figure out about the small thing and store it away in the encyclopedia within her skull that wizards called a brain. "Really? You mean that?"

He nodded. "Anything for you," he said, his ears the color of tomatoes.

"Well then," Hermione said, "I believe a name is in order. I love his eyes, though. Don't you, Ron?"

Ron took the opportunity to move closer to Hermione, but gazed into the huge emerald orbs. "Beautiful," he whispered softly, "I have never seen eyes that green."

Hermione rolled her eyes, "And you called yourself Harry's best friend! His eyes were green. Honestly, you'd think after seven years of Hogwarts you'd remember that little aspect. Tell me, what color was his hair?"

"Sorry, 'Mione," Ron said, "It's just been a long time."

"Do you miss him?" Hermione asked Ron cautiously

He was silent for a moment. "Yeah," Ron said, "We've always been the best of friends. I just –"

"Wish things would've turned out differently?" she offered

Ron nodded silently.

"Welcome to my world" Hermione chuckled, tears streaming down her face.

"No, Herm, please don't cry anymore" Ron pleaded.

She wiped her tears and smiled. "Well," Hermione said happily, "I'm going to try my best to get Harry out of this pickle. He's my friend and that's what friends are for."

"Yeah," Ron mumbled, "But you guys always looked like more than friends."

"Don't be silly…"

"He's liked you since forever, 'Mione," Ron whined, "That's why I was upset around you half the time."

"Something Harry feels," Hermione said looking at him skeptically, "and you take it out on me."

"Because I wanted you," Ron said exasperated, "and because I was friends with Harry… I just couldn't… and eventually I told him and just as I thought he would, he told me to go for it. He said it wouldn't matter to him and that our friendship was the most important thing and that he wouldn't mind, that his feelings for you would eventually die off"

"Maybe they did by then, Ron," Hermione rolled her eyes. "Can't we just move on. Get over it? Is that so hard?"

Ron sighed and nodded. "Now… about that name…"

"Toki!" Hermione shouted somewhat excited

Ron looked at her incredulously, "Come again?"

"Toki," Hermione said simply, "I had a cat named Toki when I was little, but then my next door neighbor who didn't like me saw Toki playing in the street and he ran poor Toki over… turns out muggle cats don't have nine lives. But, Toki is short for Tokala, a Native American Indian name that means fox. This little guy looks kind of like a fox, and well Toki looked like a fox and sure acted like one. So I'm going to name him Toki."

Ron sighed, "He's yours now."

Hermione placed him on the ground. "Are you hungry, Toki?"

Toki nodded in reply, leaving Ron open-mouth. "Did you see—"

"Don't think too much about it, Ron," Hermione said, "Toki's a magical creature that wizards don't know so much about."

Ron nodded, still dumbfounded, following Hermione to her kitchen. He watched from a distance as she reached into her refrigerator and grabbed some left over chicken.

"Toki likes chicken, doesn't he?" she asked Toki with a smile.

Ron smiled in amusement. Girls, he thought with a smile.

"Yes he does," Hermione continued as the small creature gobbled up the meat. "He's so cute, Ron"

"Very cute," Ron said exasperated, "That thing almost got me killed. Luring big animals into Hogsmeade isn't very 'cute'".

"Oh shut up," Hermione rolled her eyes. "You really are impossible, you know that?"

"That's what makes life all the more fun," Ron defended himself.

"More like that's what makes life all the more complicated."

"Come on, Hermy," Ron said smiling

"Don't you call me that!" Hermione's eyes were wide and her nostrils flared.

"Still a little touchy over everyone's favorite pet name for you?" Ron began laughing.

"Jerk" Hermione muttered under her breath as she continued to feed Toki her left over table scraps

"Know-it-all" Ron chuckled

"Idiot"

"Perfectionist"

"Narcissist"

"Not that I know what that means… but…" Ron was at a loss for insults. "Know-it-all"

"Freckles"

"Bush Head"

"Tomato Face"

"Buck tooth!" Ron was desperately trying to keep up.

"My teeth have been perfect since fourth year at Hogwarts. You know that, Imbecile." Hermione was smiling triumphantly.

"You are impossible."

"That's what makes life all the more fun," she mimicked

"That's what makes life all the more complicated," Ron mimicked

"See?"

"See what?"

"It's annoying, isn't it?"

"No, actually, this is kind of fun." Ron smiled

Hermione rolled her eyes, finding that she was out of commentary and leftovers. "Come on, Toki," Hermione said affectionately, "Let's go buy you a little bed. Just incase you don't like mine, you'll always have your own."

"Sounds like fun" Ron said, "Let's go"

"Who invited you?" Hermione asked

"May I accompany you in shopping for Toki?" Ron asked

"Wow," Hermione said with a smile

"What?"

"I didn't know that you could use such a big word like 'accompany'".

Ron scowled.

"I'm joking." Hermione laughed

"Well," Ron said, "It's not very funny."

"Don't' be so sour, Ron!" Hermione chucked. "I would be honored if you would accompany me in shopping for Toki."

Ron smiled proudly. "Is that a date?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "If you want to call it a date, be my guest."

Ron offered his hand. "Then a date it is mon petit chou," he said softly

"Now foreign words," Hermione asked as she took his hand. "How much more will you surprise me before the end of the day?"

Ron smiled knowing that he had impressed her as he led her out the door.

Hermione was all smiles as she walked back home with Ron, Toki in one hand, and a shopping bag in the other. Ron was carrying another shopping bag that belonged to her. The truth was: she was genuinely having a good time with Ron. But, then again, it made sense. They had spent so much of their childhood together as friends.

"So, Ron," Hermione asked after a few moments of tranquil silence, "What'd you do after graduation?"

Ron smiled. "Well, first I went to visit Charlie. Back then, I always wanted to work with him in Romania. You remember, don't you?

Hermione nodded.

"I guess it just wasn't my thing. After a few days, I got a letter from the ministry. They wanted me to train to be an auror. On Harry's recommendation, of course" Ron sighed, "I mean, who were they to deny a recommendation from the boy-who-lived?"

Toki looked up at him.

"I wonder if he regrets that recommendation now. You know, now that I have to be constantly on the look out for him."

Toki whimpered.

"Seeing that he's innocent," Hermione said, "I don't think so."

Ron shrugged, "I'm not a lawyer or a judge. My job is to hunt them down, Herm."

"So, that's what you're doing? Treating him like he's an animal" Hermione said to him, squinting her eyes slightly. "I thought he was your best friend," she quickly added, looking away

"Think of it more like hide-and-go-seek. Except, if the seeker finds the hider, its more of an Azkaban issue rather than a who's it issue," Ron sighed

"I have faith in Harry," Hermione said

"You have the freedom to have faith in him." Ron said in a barely audible voice

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked

"In a couple weeks," Ron paused

"What?"

"They're determined to find him, Herm."

"They've always been."

"No, I mean, they're really determined," Ron looked around, "You remember how desperate they were to find Voldemort?"

Hermione nodded.

"And how none of that mattered because he's still about…"

She nodded again.

"They don't want that to happen with Harry."

"And… so…"

"So, they're even more desperate."

"I don't get what you're trying to tell me."

Ron looked around. "In a couple of weeks, they're passing a new law… especially regarding Harry… in fact, so especially regarding Harry that every time they mention his name it reads: Harry Potter aka the boy-who-lived, the one who survived the killing curse from the Dark Lord."

"Wow," Hermione said, "specific much?"

"That's not all, Hermione…" Ron said softly

"What else is there?"

"Well, the minister has said and I quote 'this so called boy-who-lived has even managed to outdo the heinous acts of the Dark Lord himself and therefore shall receive no less than the punishment he deserves'. He said it directly to me… in my very office."

Hermione blinked several times, "What does he mean exactly by 'no less than he deserves'?"

"Well," Ron said, "the ultimate punishment""

"Dementor's kiss without a trial?" Hermione asked a fearful look on her face

"Worse" Ron said grimly

"What do you mean worse?" Hermione asked her voice shaking

"This law brings back a punishment that was outlawed about a century ago," Ron said his expression not changing.

"They wouldn't…"

"Execution without a trial" Ron whispered

"But, that's inhumane!" Hermione looked at him, trying to read Ron's expression, "No trial?"

"There's too much evidence against him. They want him gone." Ron responded

Hermione bit her lip. "And there's nothing you can do?"

"No," Ron said, "I could lose my job for one. And, according to the law, anyone supporting him will automatically be assumed either in alliance with Harry or to have knowledge of his whereabouts. Which would result in punishment."

"What kind of punishment?" Hermione asked

"Either torture until they get the information out of the person… or the same fate Harry will face."

Tears began to roll down Hermione's face. "I'm too late then."

"What do you mean?" Ron asked

"I've had a plan to prove him innocent forever. I was just waiting for the right time." Hermione whispered, "Now I'm too late."

"That would depend on whether you could prove him innocent before the law is passed… and if not, his only hope is turning himself in before the law's passed. Then, he at least gets a trial."

Hermione stopped suddenly. "Then I'm going to do everything in my power to prove him innocent." She looked determinedly at Ron, waiting for him to respond.

"I'm afraid…" Ron said softly

"Afraid to lose your job?" Hermione asked. "You wouldn't do that for Harry after all he gave up for you?"

"I'm afraid for you." Ron grimaced. "I know how determined you can be sometimes. I also know that the Ministry has put their foot down on this one. I don't want them to hurt you."

"If I have to endure a little pain here and there, that's nothing."

"Easy for you to say when you don't know exactly what's a little pain here and there."

"Well, then, don't tell me." Hermione said, "But, even if you do, you know you can't convince me out of it."

"I know. I'm half glad I can't"

"Why?" Hermione cocked her head.

"Someone's got to stand up for Harry," Ron said softly, "Especially since not everyone can."

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked him

"You don't have any siblings. Your parents died in the war. You don't have anyone to protect. And believe me, the Ministry will go to any lengths to get what they want. I've experienced all of this first hand."

There was a silence between them that seemed it would last until they got to her house. But, alas, it didn't last. When they reached Hermione's house, there was caution tape around the perimeter. There were ministry officials everywhere. Two of them jumped out of the bushes at Hermione and Ron.

"Miss Granger?" one of them asked

Hermione nodded.

"I'm afraid a murderer was spotted near your home," the other one spoke up

Ron watched as the color drained from Hermione's face, and suddenly found himself worried as well.