Chapter 18: Return to Hogwarts and Confrontations of the Hermione kind!
Harry looked around the group standing on the platform. Ron and Draco were hand in hand talking to Ginny and Daphne, Daphne holding Ginny's waist. He was standing with his parents, whose return to the Wizarding World had recently been announced, and hand in hand with Remus and Sirius, whose name had recently been cleared. The plans for that term had been changed. Dumbledore had begged Severus to remain as Potions Master and had even agreed to permit him to have an assistant. However, what Dumbledore didn't know is that, that assistant was Sirius. James and Lily had agreed to teach Defence against the Dark Arts that year, after many pleas, but had only agreed if Remus was permitted to live at Hogwarts too. What Dumbledore didn't know though was that, Remus's apartment would actually house Ron, Ginny, Draco, Daphne, Seamus, Parvati, Lavender, Luna, Neville and Dean, whilst Remus and Harry would live in Sirius's apartment. Severus had even agreed to put up Vince, Greg, Millie, Pansy, Theo and Blaise in his apartment. He had three large rooms he never used which would suitable for the six Slytherins. They would not be safe in Slytherin and although they were going to demand a resorting, the Inner Circle felt it was a wiser idea for them to live in Severus's apartment. Harry was jolted out of his musings by Remus.
"Harry love, its time to get aboard the train!"
"Yeah you're right. The others are all aboard aren't they?"
"Yes Harry they're all aboard and the rest of the Inner Circle are at the Shrieking Shack, where they will be joined by the remainder of the Army later. Kingsley of course has been given his own apartment at Hogwarts. Dumbledore could hardly refuse to let your personal advisor and bodyguard stay at Hogwarts with you. After all, how else could he protect you?" Remus said and smiled warmly at Harry who was still very tense about going back to Hogwarts. On the other side Sirius stood watching his young fiancée. He could see Harry standing very tense before him and was very worried about him. He quickly shifted into Padfoot and started chasing his tail. Harry laughed at him and bent down to give him a hug.
"Oh Padfoot, you always know how to make me feel better but Remy's right, its time to get on board." Harry said before leading his beloved fiancées to the train. Once aboard they went to the large compartment at the end of the train where the Hogwarts Inner Circle members were waiting for them. Ginny was curled up on the bench next to Daphne leaning on her shoulder. Ron and Draco were sitting together hand in hand and talking to Harry's parents.
"Hey Harry, mum was just telling me about her plans for 6th year defence."
"R-Ron? D-did you just call me mum? Don't get me wrong, I'd love to be your mum but are you sure your ready for this?"
"Yeah mum I am. We all talked about this, we chose to call you mum and dad because that is what you are to us now. You agreed to adopt us and have treated us as if we were your real kids as much as Harry. I can't think of anything I want more than to call you mum."
"Oh Ron, you may not be our own son but we love you as much as Harry because to us you are our son. Come here! You too Harry, Ginny, Seamus!" James said and pulled his wife and Ron into a strong hug, soon to be followed by Harry, Ginny and Seamus. When they broke apart Ron and Draco started playing wizard's chess, Daphne was reading through their new Defence book, Ginny was leaned against Daphne sleeping, James and Lily were talking with Remus about teaching defence, because both of them were quite nervous about it and Sirius was snoozing in the corner. Harry was staring listlessly out of the window when suddenly he was engulfed in the arms of his former best friend. Harry decided to play along for a while before telling Hermione he knew about the spying.
"Oh Harry I was so happy to hear about you parents being back. It's so wonderful for you but you know you should have stayed with the Dursley's. It's the only place you were safe." Harry looked around the compartment and saw Sirius, Ron, Ginny and his mum being restrained by his dad, Remus, Draco and Daphne. Harry was seething himself but rained in his anger. He knew he had to deal with Hermione in a cool and rational manner, no matter how hard it was.
"Hermione, the only people I was safe from at the Dursley's were Voldemort and his Death Eaters and that was only because of my mum's sacrifice, i.e. her blood. I wasn't safe from the Dursley's themselves. Now I'm safe from both. After all, who is better equipped to protect me with their blood than the mother who died for me? And another thing, how did you know about that stuff. I certainly never told you!"
"T-That's not important. What is is the fact that you are defying the Headmaster, even though he clearly knows what's best. Not to mention, you are still associating with those miscreants over there who betrayed you by consorting with Slytherins. I'm the only one who has done nothing wrong and yet I don't even get one letter all holiday?"
"Nothing wrong? Nothing wrong? You were spying on us for him Hermione! And don't you dare deny it! Ron and I have suspected it ever since 3rd year. Do you have any idea what it did to me to find my suspicions confirmed when Ron wrote to me. Oh and if you want to hate someone for consorting with Slytherins, you can hate me because I'm the one who set them up. And don't you dare say I should trust you more than him because I will never trust a rotten spy over my brother. From now on Hermione, stay away from my family and me. I don't want to see you unless I have to and I especially don't want to talk to you. Now get the hell out of my sight Hermione." Harry said.
He collapsed silently back onto his seat. He couldn't hold the feeling of betrayal in any longer and burst into devastated tears. Hermione looked at him, a vicious gleam in her eye. It was clear to the others she was planning on telling Dumbledore that Harry was close to breaking. Remus gave her a cold look before sweeping over to Harry and gathering him into his arms. Hermione stalked from the compartment just before Sirius turned into Padfoot and slinked over to Harry and Remus. He put his head on Harry leg and gazed up into his eyes lovingly. Harry stuck his hand out automatically and Sirius snuffled his nose into it. Harry immediately calmed and smiled tenderly down at the large dog. Sirius transformed back and gave both of his precious fiancées a long hug. The other went back to their former occupation and it was not long before Hogsmeade station appeared on the horizon. Harry was back at Hogwarts but this time he wasn't alone. He had his wonderful parents back, his fiancées, two brilliant brothers and an equally magnificent sister in attendance with him, not to mention he no longer had to hide his Slytherin best friends in the dark anymore. This was going to be one of the best years of his life at Hogwarts!