Luna Lovegood was never alone.
The trio took her status as the future Mrs Potter very seriously.
Sirius had given Hermione and Susan a list of things to look out for. Hair ruffling, blushing, forgetting to finish sentences, drooling...all signs of the presence of the future Mrs Harry Potter.
Because, after all, a Potter always knew. Even an adopted one.
"I remember Charlus." He'd told them, grinning. "He was James' Dad. Great man. But he loved his wife to distraction. Even after almost thirty years of marriage he still blushed every time Dorea smiled at him. Worshipped the ground she walked on. He'd get this look on his face when she came into a room. Like someone had just slapped him in the face. The first time I saw it, I thought it looked familiar. Took me a while to realise that it was the look James got whenever he saw Lily. He'd known since the sorting ceremony in first year. Of course, he was a complete pillock about it. Acted like a right di... Anyway, my point is, if Harry says he knows, he knows."
So it wasn't unusual to find Hermione studying next to the tiny Ravenclaw in the Library or George wearing a wreath of flowers around his neck.
The girls who made fun of Luna often found themselves the victims of terribly similar pranks as the ones they'd pulled on the small blonde.
So when they woke up in the Great Hall that morning, it didn't come as much of a surprise that she'd gone to sleep across their feet.
"Goggles!" Hermione demanded, hair already plastered to her head as she ducked out from under the stands. "Now!"
Relieved that someone was doing something, the team handed over their Quidditch goggles and she applied water-repelling charms.
Wood beamed at her as he looked out through his now de-fogged goggles.
"I could kiss you, Hermione."
The Twins scowled.
"Don't,"
Oliver looked at their menacing expressions and kissed Angelina instead.
(Transcript sourced from the private collection of Lee Jordan)
"And it's a replacement for Gryffindor. Chaser Alicia Spinnet, lovely girl, makes way for replacement Hermione Granger. This is Granger's third year on the team, very good friends with the Weasley Twins and the seeker Harry Black. She is one of Hogwart's rare substitute players and a bit of a wild card. Never played in a match before, interesting to see how she copes in such adverse conditions.
And play resumes as Madam Hooch tosses the Quaffle. Quaffle goes to Johnson, Johnson passes to Bell, possession goes to Applebee who passes to Macovoy...and Granger's nabbed it from right under her arm. Ducks past Anthony Rickitt, around Macovoy, almost knocks Diggory from his broom on the way past, excellent bludger to the head there, by Beater Weasley-not sure which one- Will she...Yes, she does! Quaffle sails right past Hufflepuff Keeper Herbert Fleet and it's ten points to Gryffindor, bringing them back into the lead! Come on you gorgeous girl! I should say third years, Granger is single and...URK!"
"WEASLEY YOU CANNOT AIM AT THE COMMENTATOR!"
"Just a joke, no need to get possessive. And play resumes...Hang on has Diggory seen the snitch?!"
"Wotcher Hermione!"
Hermione frowned at the tall blonde standing in front of her.
"Tonks?" She asked.
The witch nodded and greeted the Twins and Harry.
"Madam Bones sent me. I'm here on personal protection again."
Fred and George scowled.
"And what are we? Garden furniture? We can look after Twist."
Tonks rolled her eyes and led the way to the town.
"When it comes to fighting an adult wizard, yeah, you are."
Hermione linked arms with the Twins to stop them storming off.
"Thank you for coming." Hermione sighed, glancing around the snowy white landscape. There was a north wind blowing and it went straight through her layers of clothing.
Tonks shrugged but kept scanning the surroundings.
"I'm sorry to ruin your visit but can we stick to the main shops and keep this as quick as possible?"
Hermione noticed the witch had her wand out and under her thick coat wore her Auror's armour. She spent almost the entire visit bundled between the four of them. Still, Christmas shopping somehow managed to get done. Sirius had given her some pocket money, which she hadn't expected.
If Hermione tried hard enough she could remember her father doing a similar thing. Every Saturday Hermione would be presented with a two-pound coin. Of course, she couldn't spend it on sweets like most children would, so she'd save up for books. She'd had a large jar under her bed, which she had been in the process of filling.
There had been a large book of fairy tales in the window of a nearby bookshop and she had been attracted to it because it was a proper book. All of her other books were new ones, bound in paper with glossy covers and modern pictures.
This one, however, was real. It had been covered in white leather and the title was embossed in gold, italic writing. There had been pictures of course. It was a book of fairy tales. But they were called plates, her mother had told her and were beautiful drawings of incredible detail, each protected with a layer of tracing paper. The pages had been heavy and dark with age.
Every child has a dream present and that book had been Hermione's.
Of course, that was all gone now.
Tonks led them through Hogsmead, occasionally pointing out the other Aurors. The village was doing a roaring trade and Hermione even managed to buy the Twins presents in secret.
There was screaming.
That was the first thing Fred was aware of.
The second was the acrid scent of smoke twisting under his nose.
The third was the amount of sheer terror pouring into his mind that didn't belong to him.
By the time the Twins got down to the Common Room, there were girls pouring down the staircase. Fred could hear several seventh years and Professor McGonagall shouting "Aguamenti"
"What happened?" He asked, grabbing the nearest girl by the shoulder. It happened to be third-year Parvati Patil, a fact he had vaguely registered as she had shared a room with Hermione.
She wiped the sleeve of her nightgown across her face. She was tear-stained and soot streaked, her hair in disarray.
"Peter Pettigrew..." She gasped out. "He was in our room...and he set fire to the bed...He ran away when Lavender screamed."
George gulped and shoved Fred out of the way.
"Whose bed?" He demanded.
The tears started again.
"Hermione's!"
They got the fires out quickly enough. Fred and George were reduced to pacing at the foot of the girls' staircase, waiting for Hermione to appear. She'd calmed somewhat but that wasn't much comfort.
The seventh years emerged, shaken and damp from splashing water. Dumbledore and the other Heads of Houses had already arrived, as had the House Elves who were handing out hot chocolate and blankets.
Minerva appeared, at last, looking both scared and furious, followed by a very quiet Hermione.
She was wrapped in a spare blanket, but what little they could see of her pyjamas were scorched and burnt. Her hair was singed, the ringlets falling unevenly around her face, which was the sort of red Fred suspected was more burn than flush. George grabbed her as soon as she was in reach and bundled her in his arms, tucking her close to his body. She had grown recently, Fred realised absently. He moved in front of them, protecting her from the view of the rest of Gryffindor Tower.
"What happened Minerva?" Dumbledore asked calmly.
Minerva, after checking Hermione was safe with the Twins, glowered at the Headmaster.
"Peter Pettigrew happened. He got into the girls' dormitory and set Miss Granger's bed curtains alight."
There was a gasp from the assembled students and George sat down in a nearby chair, pulling Hermione into his lap. She tucked her head into the crook of his neck and he could feel her panicked breathing against his skin. Fred stroked her hair, trying not to lose control of his emotions.
"I cannot let this go on any longer Dumbledore. A girl nearly died tonight. Had the House Elves not come to fetch me she would have! Either you improve the security around the school or I will send the students home, by myself if I have to."
"You won't be on your own." Sprout declared, folding her arms. The short Hufflepuff scowled at Dumbledore and moved to stand supportively by McGonagall, who nodded in appreciation.
"Furthermore," Minerva continued. "I'm sure Amelia Bones would be very interested to know that a mad escapee has managed to break into a supposedly safe school containing her niece and step-son!"
"Perhaps this conversation would be better served in my office?" Dumbledore said, blue eyes twinkling.
Minerva's gaze was flinty.
"Perhaps. Miss Granger needs to go to the Hospital Wing." She smiled at the Charms professor. "Filius, if you would...?"
"Of course."
George stood up at that point, still holding Hermione, who just curled closer to him.
"You two had better come as well," Flitwick added, leading the way.
Dumbledore watched them go, frowning slightly.
Flitwick led them through the halls to the sealed Hospital Wing. They were ushered inside by a pale Madam Pomfrey who was rattled enough not to shoo the Twins away as she flicked Hermione with diagnostic spells.
"Mild smoke inhalation, burns..." She muttered, summoning a small jar of ointment.
Hermione winced as the witch smoothed ointment over her face and arms. The alarming red glow faded from her skin, leaving her her usual pale white, freckles standing out in sharp relief. The Twins left only to let her get changed before they settled back on either side of her.
"This is a sleep potion," Pomfrey said, waving the cup in front of Hermione, who watched it dully. "I want you to drink it. You've been through a terrible ordeal and you need to rest." The matron waited until Hermione had drained the potion before leaving.
Understandably she didn't close the curtains behind her.
"Are you all right?" George whispered as they both lay on their sides, looking at her.
It was like she was surrounded by a mirror image.
Hermione's eyes were already closing but they sharpened slightly at his question.
"I can remember." She breathed, hollowly. Her eyes closed. "I remember how he killed them."
Neither twin slept that night.
I remember the aftermath of that night well. Whilst Hermione, Fred and George recuperated in the Hospital Wing, the staff were summoned to the Headmaster's office.
We relocated the third-year girls to the Ravenclaw dormitories for the night as they were closest and provided them with extra beds. Dumbledore was sitting down behind his desk, doing his best to ignore the truly glacial stares, Minerva, Pomona, Remus and myself were all sending him. Remus was almost beside himself that he'd been so close to Pettigrew and he'd slipped right by him.
"This cannot go on." Minerva stepped forward, folding her arms."The lives of the children in our care are at risk."
"I am aware Minerva but what exactly do you suggest I do? Pettigrew shouldn't have been able to get inside the Common Room let alone up the girls' staircase."
"I believe I may have an answer for that, Professor." Professor Snape raked a hand through his hair. "I interrogated the painting, to make sure that it truly was Pettigrew. Apparently he had that week's passwords. Some idiot and I suspect Longbottom, had written them down on a piece of paper."
There was a knock at the door and Amelia Bones stepped through, flanked by several of her Aurors, many of whom I recognised as ex-pupils.
"Dumbledore. Pettigrew was here?"
Dumbledore nodded.
"Right. Kingsley and Dawlish search the corridors, towers, hidden passageways. You two search the grounds. If he's still here I want him found. You know what to look for." The Aurors left and Amelia turned back to Dumbledore. "What exactly happened?"
"It appears Pettigrew got into the Gryffindor dormitories and set a third-year girl's bed alight. The girl survived, I'm told she wasn't badly injured." He assured her.
"Wasn't badly injured? She shouldn't have been at risk at all!" Amelia breathed in deeply through her nose to calm herself. "The girl, was it Hermione Granger?"
"How did you..."
Amelia snarled.
"I told Fudge to tell you! I told him. But apparently my recommendations mean very little. You read the report when we arrested Peter?" Dumbledore nodded, many of the staff looking on in confusion. "Hermione Granger is the muggleborn whose house he had broken into that night. He's targeting her in particular. I'm stationing Aurors around the castle and I'm cancelling all access to Hogsmead. All mail will be screened prior to arrival. As well as that I am requesting," Her voice grew hard. "That you close the wards. Seal the school. All students are escorted to and from classes. Any sign of a rat and you capture it. We are dealing with an animagus, that'll be how he got past the warding on the girls' staircase. Finally, you get rid of that bloody painting before I destroy it myself!"
"With all due respect Madam Bones, this is not your school..."
"Dumbledore how do you think the parents will feel when they find out about this. Malfoy will be furious. Longbottom will have your head. Her grandson was in that tower. What if that fire hadn't gone out? There are a lot of important people out there trusting you with their children. They are going to want to see solutions. Not complacency. So you let me do my job and I'll let you do yours." She turned to Minerva. "Professor if I could have the help of the staff in combing the school I would be most grateful."
Minerva nodded.
"Of course."
I suspect Dumbledore spent a long time staring at nothing that night.
"Poor little Loony Lovegood. How long is it until they drag your pathetic father to St Mungo's?"
The girl tightened her grip on her knees, bringing them closer to her, muttering under her breath.
"OI! MALFOY!"
Harry and Hermione strode down the corridor, glaring at the blonde Slytherin. Luna scrambled to her feet, moving to hide behind Harry.
Malfoy grinned, delighted.
"Ah, mudblood Granger. I suppose Loony would be your friend. The best you can get isn't it? Honestly Black why do you associate with this scum? I guess my cousin just doesn't know any better."
Hermione advanced on him, wand raised. Crab and Goyle backed off slightly, proving they weren't actually as stupid as they looked.
"Scum?" She laughed. "Is that the best you could come up with Malfoy? Luna is twice the witch you'll ever be. So why don't you leave her alone and I won't hex you?"
"As if you could." Malfoy sneered at her. "Run along little mudblood."
Harry only just caught the near-silent sticking charm Luna sent at Malfoy's shoes. No one else seemed to notice.
"Malfoy unless you wish the entire school to know how much of an inbred twerp you really are, I wouldn't even try it with me." She turned her back on him.
"Off you go. It's not like you even have any real friends." Malfoy taunted. "Those twins must keep you around for something though. Oh, I've got it." He smirked. "You're their whore!"
Hermione spun on her heel and punched Malfoy straight on the nose. The blonde's head snapped back and cracked off the stone wall behind him. The sticking charm caused him to topple over and he stared up at her, blood streaming down his face.
Hermione arched an eyebrow at him.
"Told you not to try it."
"Did you really punch Malfoy?" Fred demanded.
Hermione looked up from her table in the Common Room, conscious of the excited buzz spreading across the crowded room.
"Yes." She whispered, looking slightly ashamed.
The Twins stared down at her, amazed.
"How...?"
"Why...?"
Harry scowled.
"You should have heard what he said to her. If she hadn't punched him I would have."
Hermione's quill caught fire as she narrowed her eyes, evidently thinking back to that afternoon. She cursed and dropped it, George stamping on it to put it out.
Fred and George exchanged a glance.
"We need to go see Flitwick," Fred muttered.
Hermione glanced at them.
"It's just accidental magic. It's nothing serious." She frowned at them. "Isn't it?"
George tugged her to her feet.
"In first year, yeah maybe. But you're a third-year and this is still happening. Please Amazon?" He pleaded.
Hermione begrudgingly followed the Twins out of the portrait, leaving Harry staring at his homework.
"It's all very well being the Boy-Who-Lived " He mumbled, staring despondently at his potions essay. "but will anyone ever help you with your potions essay? Noooo..."
There were many times during their stay at Hogwarts when they turned up outside my door. This wouldn't be the last.
It wasn't the strangest visit either.
Hermione followed the Twins into Flitwick's office, hoping they couldn't see how nervous she really was.
"How can I help you?" The diminutive professor asked.
Fred gave a long sigh.
"Hermione can't control her magic."
She scowled. That made it sound like she had no control over anything.
"What he means," George amended, slightly more in tune to the flair of irritation he felt through the bond. "Is that Hermione keeps having bouts of accidental magic. And we can't go to the Hospital Wing because of the Bond."
Flitwick frowned.
"Do these bouts accompany flairs in emotion? Or are they truly uncontrollable?"
Hermione sighed and gave up.
"When I get irritated or annoyed or angry things...break. It's been nothing unusual Professor."
He nodded slightly, gesturing for them to sit.
"So it is specifically negative emotions?"
Hermione shrugged.
"I don't know. As far as I'm aware."
He summoned a small packet of seeds from a bookcase.
"I'm just going to try a small experiment, Miss Granger. If you could open your hand?"
Hermione did so and stared at the small brown seeds he dropped into her palm.
"Wonderful. Now I want you to close your hand around them and focus."
"On?"
"Things that make you happy. Memories, sights, sounds, places..." he faltered slightly and glanced at Fred and George. "Friendships."
Hermione nodded and closed her eyes.
Things that made her happy...
The Library, it reminded her of home.
Her parent's surgery.
Spending the summer with Harry and Susan.
Sugar Quills.
New parchment.
She focused on that near-permanent tug in her mind. The two tiny slices of Fred and George which she could usually block out. They were both worried, slight undercurrents of tension running through the Bond.
The Twins made her happy. They were her best friends, the first people who she had met properly in the magical world. The first people who had ever gone out of their way to get to know her. They'd stuck with her through the bonding and her temper and exams and everything else. She didn't know what she would do without them.
She loved them.
Hermione blushed slightly as she felt the bond twitch and the feeling of worry lessened somewhat, replaced with genuine happiness.
Fred leaned closer into her side as George wrapped an arm around the back of her chair.
She opened her eyes.
"May I?" Flitwick asked.
Hermione emptied the seeds into the saucer he held out. The charms professor smiled happily.
"Look at what you did."
Hermione leaned closer and saw that each of the seeds had sprouted, tiny green shoots reaching for the ceiling.
"That lays something to rest in my mind. I think I have a possible explanation." He set the saucer down on his desk and returned to his chair. "Were it that these outbursts focused solely on negative emotions I would say that you had a highly charged if unstable magical core."
"But it isn't..."
"Is it?"
Flitwick sighed.
"Well...not exactly. My closest estimation is that is a by-product of two magical bonds." He frowned at their confused expressions. "Let me explain. Your bonds create magic. They make wizards more powerful, which is why they're so sought after. Now Miss Granger is the epicentre of two bonds, both of which are flowing into her, but not perhaps, flowing back. When the bond is complete this will be shared out much more evenly, but at the moment she is left with more magic than she can effectively channel."
"Is there anything I can do?" she asked.
"Use it up," George suggested quietly. He winced when they looked at him. "Well, it's like you said. She has excess magic. If she uses it up it won't be able to escape."
"That's a very interesting suggestion." Flitwick got to his feet and pulled a book from one of the lower shelves in his office. It was leather-bound and heavy. Hermione almost dropped it when he handed it to her.
"These spells are extremely advanced. I don't expect you to be able to do them. In all honesty, I don't expect many people to be able to do them. However, attempting to do them is exhausting. My suggestion would be to perhaps make one attempt a week." He fixed the Twins with a glare. "I am relying on you two to make sure she doesn't do anything dangerous. Make sure she runs all spells by you first. You'll have a better judge of what might be too dangerous." He paused, "Perhaps the Patronus Charm might be a suitable first attempt."
They made to leave.
"One more thing Professor?" Hermione asked. "You said when the bond is complete. Why isn't it complete just now?"
Flitwick sighed.
"I...don't know." Fred and George frowned. "I may know more about this area than Minerva but my knowledge is finite." He smiled up at them. "If that is all, I had better escort the three of you back to your Common Room. Can't be too careful."
Fred and George looked at each other, well aware that Hermione wouldn't be surfacing to talk to them for some time, so engrossed was she in her new book.
"Why do you think he lied?" Fred asked quietly.
His twin shrugged.
"I don't know. What's there to lie about?"
"Where's Hermione?" George asked, dumping his bag at the foot of his bed. He rubbed his shoulder, where he'd caught it on a desk that morning.
"Meeting with Trelawny. Some first-year gave her a note." Fred said, not really paying attention. He sucked on the tip of his quill. "Do you know when to pick Burbleberries?"
"Three-quarters moon." He paused.
"Hey, Fred?"
"Yeah?" Fred screwed the top onto his inkwell and grinned triumphantly at his finished Herbology revision sheet. Their last OWL was tomorrow and one of them had to pass. Fred had drawn the short straw.
"Hermione didn't take Divination."
Fred paled.
"Accio Map!" He shouted. The map flew out from under George's pillow and into his hand.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." He muttered, scanning the spreading ink lines for any sign of her.
"There!"
Two small labels were heading along the rarely used passageway which led from the fourth floor to the grounds.
"Here." George shoved the Map at Fred. "You go get Lupin. Follow after me."
"OI PETTIGREW!"
As battle cries went, it wasn't great. Pettigrew dropped the unconscious Hermione, who he'd been dragging and flicked the no doubt stolen wand.
"Imperio!"
Everything went cloudy for George.
It was hard to connect this...man with the boy who had supposedly gone to Hogwarts with Sirius and Remus. He was short and emaciated, with bald patches scattered across his head. What little hair he had was matted and filthy.
The most distinguishing feature was the scars though. It looked as though his skin had melted and Hermione watched in nauseated fascination as the light shifted over them.
Amelia thought she had done that?
"You worthless piece of shit." He screamed at her. George was slumped, unconscious next to her. He'd stolen their wands and left her at the foot of the wall. "How dare you defile the Dark Lord's school?"
Hermione flinched, shifting back so she was closer to the wall. She could only pray that Fred was on his way.
"I should have killed you first. You dared to show off the magic you had stolen."
"What?" She whispered.
Pettigrew gave a feral grin.
"You don't remember? I saw you through the window. You were using your magic." He cackled. "I showed your parents what happens to those who encourage freakishness!" His eyes narrowed. "I think it's time you pained the same price. Frangere!"
Hermione screamed as a jet of white light hit her wand arm and a loud crack echoed around the room.
Pettigrew laughed.
"Let's see you levitate books like that." He spat and raised his wand again. "Sectum sempre!". This spell caught her left leg, open a gash across her calf. She screamed again, sobbing into her robes. She cradled her broken arm to her chest.
Pettigrew snorted in disgust.
"Pathetic. A real wizard wouldn't cry."
The real wizard left just as George began to stir next to her.
"This your idea of a rescue party?" Hermione whispered, careful not to bring Pettigrew back. She swallowed back another bout of tears.
George almost smiled.
"Sorry, Amazon."
She was white and there were tear tracks down the side of her face. George wrapped himself around her as much as he could without jarring her injuries. His head was too woozy to do much more.
"Fred's on his way," George muttered. "I sent him to get Lupin. Where are we?"
They watched the tree flail.
"How do we get into the tunnel?" Fred, looking wide-eyed for something he had missed in his last five years of schooling.
Lupin took a deep breath.
"Like this."
He took several steps back and then ran full pelt at the tree. Just as Fred thought he would run into the flying branches, he dropped into a crouch and slid the last six feet on the wet grass, coming to rest next to the trunk. Very deliberately he pressed a knot on the tree and the branches froze.
"Come on!" Lupin called.
Fred didn't need telling twice.
"Oh, you're awake." Pettigrew grinned at George. "It's a pity you're a blood traitor." He pressed the tip of his stolen wand to George's cheek and used it to cut open his cheek. "Such pure blood." He added dreamily, watching as it bled. "Don't know why you're with this mudblood?"
"Because she's my friend." George snarled.
Pettigrew kicked him and then paused, staring.
"Aren't there usually two of you?"
"Stupify!"
Remus' charm hit it's target and Pettigrew slumped.
"Incarserous." He added, binding the criminal. Fred ran straight for George and Hermione.
"You two okay?" He asked, pulling George to his feet.
"I'm fine. 'Mione's not."
Hermione gave a short scream as Fred grabbed her broken arm. He let go very quickly.
"Broken." She gasped out.
"That leg doesn't look too good either," Remus muttered. "Ferula." Thick white bandages wrapped themselves around her arm and leg. "Episkey." George's cheek sealed up.
"We need to get out of here." Carefully Fred and George got Hermione to their feet, supporting her between them.
"He killed them." She said, staring at the bound fugitive. "He killed them because of me. Because he saw me!"
Remus flinched.
"We always wondered why he was in that house, that night."
The fear was leaving and in its wake was anger.
"That bastard killed them because he saw me doing magic through the window."
Fred wrapped his arms around her middle, stopping her from lunging at Pettigrew.
"What about him?" Fred asked, nodding towards Pettigrew.
"We take him to the Aurors," Remus said, levitating him. "They'll know what to do with him."
Hermione had known Remus was a werewolf. Sirius and Amelia had explained it to her that summer and told her not worry about it. So it just became background information, Remus Lupin, likes chocolate, turns into a wolf once a month.
But she'd never expected to be running away from him on the full moon, panting desperately to keep up with George.
Pettigrew had long since wriggled free of his chains and all they could do now was run.
There was a bust of wand light and a whimper. Professor Snape stepped between them and Remus and raised his wand.
"Leave Lupin." Remus sniffed at him and visibly recoiled. There was a loud scuffle as something nearby moved in the forbidden forest and Remus bounded after it. Snape didn't say anything, just shepherded them up to the castle.
"You complete and utter fools." He hissed. "How stupid are you to go outside when there is someone like Pettigrew on the loose. The arrogance of Gryffindor's astounds me."
Hermione swayed on her feet as the adrenaline wore off. Fred caught her and held her up.
"That's fifty points from Gryffindor, each..."
"Professor!" George pleaded.
"Detention until the end of term..."
"PROFESSOR!" Fred bellowed.
Snape swelled.
"How dare you speak to a teacher like that?"
Fred spoke right over him.
"It was Pettigrew."
"What?" Snape frowned at Hermione and George, both of whom were bloodstained, and bandaged.
"What happened to Granger?" he said, as though he'd just noticed.
Fred rolled his eyes.
"I've been trying to tell you. Pettigrew kidnapped Hermione. We went after him and took Professor Lupin with us. He saved their lives."
"And where's Pettigrew now?" Snape asked, glaring at them.
"He escaped, Professor," Hermione muttered.
"We're going to see the Headmaster."
Hermione was terribly aware of the holes in their story. They couldn't tell Dumbledore about the Map or about the Bond. Luckily they took Hermione's injuries at face value and sent all three of them to the Hospital Wing, whilst the Aurors were called.
Snape did not return the points to Gryffindor.
"What do you think will happen to Pettigrew?" Fred asked. George had already been healed, so they were just waiting for Hermione to be given the all-clear.
Hermione snorted.
"He's escaped so far. I think Remus scared him though."
"Do you reckon he'll come back?"
Hermione shrugged.
"He's mad. He could do anything."
Fred sighed.
"Never a quiet year with you around is it?"
"Makes you wish you didn't know me, doesn't it?" Hermione teased.
"Nah." They smiled. "Not really."
Snape glared at Sirius with all the loathing and hatred of an arch-nemesis and crossed the hall, robes billowing.
"What are you doing here?" His carefully enunciated speech made it sound as though Sirius' presence was an intended slight against his person. Idly Hermione wondered if it was possible for a person to inject more venom into such an innocent sentence. If the professor's reaction to Lupin had been bad this was nothing compared to how he obviously felt about her adoptive father.
"I helping Moony move, Sevy Wevy." Sirius once again proved he was as mature as a nine-year-old. "It seems a certain member of staff couldn't keep their mouths shut."
Snape smirked.
"Well we can't have dangerous animals running around, now can we? This is a school after all. Although you may not have been aware of it during your time here. But we have children to keep..." He shot Lupin a disgusted smirk. "safe."
"Oh is that the reason?" Sirius' voice was deceptively light. "I thought it was a petty jab at old grudges." Hermione saw his fists clench. "Something a grown man should have let go." Lupin reached out and grabbed Sirius' elbow.
"Don't Padfoot." He murmured.
"Oh, indeed Black. Let your guard dog hold you back."
This could have escalated very quickly had Harry not arrived at that precise moment, flanked by the Twins who took up their customary positions on either side of Hermione. Fred, sensing the worry coming through the bond, placed a hand on her shoulder and rubbed it gently.
"Hey, Dad. Professor Lupin." Harry paused, "Professor Snape." He acknowledged grudgingly.
A curtain of black hair whirled as Snape broke off his staring match with Sirius to glare at Harry.
"What did you say?" He hissed.
Harry blinked in uncertainty and glanced at Hermione who shrugged in confusion.
"Um, I said hello to my dad and.."
But Snape cut him off and returned his glare to Sirius.
"He's yours?"
"He's mine," Sirius claimed confidently, but Hermione could see a certain hint of apprehension to his features.
Professor Snape seemed to be trying to match Harry's features to Sirius'. And then Harry glanced up and met his gaze and the potions master flinched.
"Her eyes." He breathed. "I thought it was just a coincidence but he's got her eyes."
Sirius cursed.
"Look we can explain..." Remus stated but Snape wasn't for listening. He laughed. It wasn't a pleasant sound and sent chills down Hermione's back, Fred and George tugging her nearer, away from Snape.
"Did Potter know?" He sneered. "Did Potter know that she was cheating on him with his best friend? His self professed brother. Did pathetic Potter know his wife, precious Evans was a whore?"
"DON'T YOU TALK ABOUT MY PARENTS LIKE THAT!" Harry bellowed, emerald eyes blazing. Hermione had never seen him so angry. Oliver's chaser training kicked in and she only just managed to grab the back of his robes and stop him from charging the professor.
"Harry no..." She pleaded.
She looked to the others for support but no one was paying any attention to the raging teenager. The silence from his words spread around the crowded Entrance Hall like wildfire, leaving stunned faces and disbelieving glances.
Sirius and Remus swore in perfect tandem, effectively breaking the silence. They each grabbed a shoulder, pulling Harry back and began to steer him towards the exit, Harry fighting desperately to get to Snape.
"Come on Harry. He's not worth it. We need to go." Sirius cast a disgusted look at the potions master.
"In her memory, I'm furious that a man she defended up until the day she died, her oldest friend, could believe such a thing of her. Lily Evans was a good woman and she always will be. I won't allow you to sully that." He turned to Hermione. "Can you pack Harry's stuff?"
Hermione just nodded.
"Thank you, sweetheart."
With a crash, the oak doors closed and the fragile silence that had held the students in its sway was broken. Whispers began to break out. Hermione clutched the Twins hands, the trio standing in shock as they watched a decade of secrecy fall down around them.
"Is he?"
"Does that mean..."
"Potter?"
"Potter."
"Harry Potter!"
Without a word spoken Hermione, Fred and George turned on their heels and left for the relative privacy of Gryffindor tower.
Hermione boarded the train a day later armed with two trunks and her Twins. Minerva had already told her she'd be spending the holidays with Sirius and Hermione could only assume that this hadn't changed as her Head of House had been run ragged around the castle.
Dumbledore had cornered them earlier that morning and demanded to know whether they'd been aware of the truth. They had, of course, denied it, but Hermione wasn't sure that he believed them. Luckily Minerva had arrived and sent them off before he could question them further.
They found an empty compartment and got settled, Hermione sitting on the bench across from Fred and George. It was unusual for such happy people to seem so solemn and it unsettled her.
"What's going to happen now?" George asked, fingers fiddling with his wand.
Hermione sighed, but a knock interrupted her. She waved for Susan to join her and the red-haired witch settled onto the bench next to her.
"Hey, Susie. Have you heard anything?"
Susan sighed.
"Sort of. I got a letter from Aunt Amelia this morning before we left the castle. She's picking us up from the station by the way. Apparently the press has camped outside of Bones Manor."
"Why are they there?" Fred asked.
"Well, officially that's where she and Sirius live. They couldn't really put down our house could they if it's a secret? So they shouldn't be a bother for us unless of course, they turn up at the station looking for us."
"Why would they be looking for us? We're nobody." Hermione argued.
"Speak for yourself." George countered.
"Imagined fame does not count."
Susan sighed. "You three are the best friends of Harry Potter. I am the adopted cousin of Harry Potter and if we're being technical Hermione is the adopted sister of Harry Potter. They might think we're important. Not to mention we're being picked up by Aunt Amelia."
"And they'd be after her why?"
"Well her wedding wasn't exactly quiet, was it? And anyone who goes looking for Harry's adoption certificate will find Amy as the secondary guardian."
Hermione frowned.
"Do you think that they'll call her up about this at work?"
Susan shrugged.
"I seriously doubt it. For one thing, if you're being technical she didn't do anything illegal. She was very careful not to. If a guardian makes a certain choice about their charge there is little anyone, including Dumbledore, can do to change it." She giggled at Hermione's impressed expression. "What? All Auntie talks about is the law. You should listen more at the dinner table."
Hermione chuckled.
"That's true. Last summer I learned the thirty-seven ways to incapacitate a wizard, without a weapon, over a curry. I've never see Sirius look so pale."
Susan shuddered.
"I still can't look at a naan bread without hearing Auntie ranting on about testicles."
Fred and George winced.
"Quickly changing the subject..."
"Will Harry be okay? What will happen to him?"
The two girls looked at each other.
"He's going to get a lot more famous." Hermione nodded.
"And popular. The papers will gossip and harp. Everyone will expect him to be this..."
"Chosen one." Susan supplied.
"Thanks. Chosen one. Anyone who bears a grudge against the Boy-Who-Lived will be after him. And to everyone, he'll be Harry Potter, the legend who defeated Lord Voldemort..." Susan winced. "Get over it, Susan. But really he's just..."
"He's just Harry." Fred finished. He sighed and rubbed his eyes. "Mum's going to go ballistic. So will Ginny for that matter." He froze as an unsettling thought occurred to him. Hermione glanced up as his distress rebounded through the bond. "What about Twist?"
"What about me?"
"Don't glare at me it's a valid question. She's Harry's sister..."
"Adopted."
"Whatever. Won't they come after her to attack him?"
"I doubt it," Hermione smirked at him. "Sirius is only my secondary guardian. Unless they dig as they will with Harry's then they shouldn't find it."
"Hmm."
"Added to that, Minnie knows the witch who deals with the paperwork, apparently she's an ex-Gryffindor prefect. She promised to bury the paperwork so deep a nargle couldn't find it."
"Oh." Point proved Hermione retrieved a book from her bag and blocked them out.
"So..." Susan asked, guessing correctly that Hermione wouldn't surface for hours at least, "Are you two going to the Quidditch World Cup?"
Fred grinned.
"Wouldn't you like to know?"
"Yes." Susan, ever the Hufflepuff, frowned. "That's why I asked."
George sighed.
"One day Bones, we'll find your sense of humour."
"Be nice to my little sister." Hermione murmured as she turned a page.
Fred chuckled and threw a deck of exploding snap cards at her.
They arrived in King's Cross Station late that evening, the train having been held up by an emergency Auror check. The twins helped carry the trunks and Hermione was barely off the train before she was swept into a bone-crushing hug. She was sure her feet were dangling comically in the air, as Mrs Weasley clutched her close.
"Hermione dear, how are you?"
"Fine Mrs Weasley." She gasped as she was set back on the ground, trying to surreptitiously rub some feeling back into her bruised ribs. The twins scowled with comic fierceness from either side of her.
"Oh yes. Thank you, mother."
"Here we are..."
"Her own flesh and blood..."
"And she passes us over for our very attractive best friend." Fred and George spun on the spot and refused to look at her.
Molly Weasley simply rolled her eyes.
"Yes yes hello dears. Have you seen Ron? Or Ginny?"
"We shan't tell you."
"Hmmm. Hermione, dear, how are you getting home? I won't have you walking across London on your own."
"That would be where I come in." Amelia Black strode up to them, Susan close behind her. She waved at Hermione.
"The Ministry decided, what with Pettigrew still on the loose that Miss Granger could use an official escort home. As I was picking up Susan anyway, I volunteered."
Mrs Weasley looked like she wanted to argue but Amelia's stern gaze convinced her otherwise.
"Very well. Have a good summer dear. I hope we'll see you soon. Say goodbye, boys."
"No."
"We refuse."
Hermione glared up at them, tapping one foot.
"And why not?"
"You'll just have to wait and see, won't you Granger." Fred kissed the top of her head as George hugged her.
"See you Amazon."
They grabbed their trunks and strode off.
"Don't even ask," Hermione said to Amelia, who'd opened her mouth.
"Wouldn't dream of it." She shrank down their trunks.
"How's Harry doing?" Susan asked, as soon as they left the station.
Amelia pursed her lips.
"Harry has locked himself in his room and refuses to leave. My husband has done the same thing and Remus is wallowing in guilt and eating an impossible amount of chocolate." She rubbed her temples. "I myself, am one reporter away from casting an unforgivable. How was school?"
Hermione shrugged and let Susan ramble on. They walked briskly into a side street and Amelia unlocked the large black car, which was parked in a never-in-a-million-years-can-you-park-here zone, that were so commonly ignored in London. Strangely none of the patrolling traffic wardens seemed to have noticed it.
"We're driving," Amelia announced, unnecessarily.
There was enough room in the front for all three of them, and what should have been a long and arduous car journey, was actually quite short. Although the only thing on the radio was Celestina Warbeck.
They arrived in front of Potter Manor and piled out of the car. Amelia stretched happily, basking in the early evening sunlight.
"Come on." She led them into the house and Hermione and Susan headed for their rooms.
After dumping her trunk at the foot of her bed, she changed out of her school robes. Somehow she'd managed to bring home not one but two old Quidditch jerseys, with WEASLEY embroidered on the back. She slipped one over her head and changed into jeans. Barefoot she padded down the hall to and pounded on Harry's door.
"Open up!"
"No."
Hermione scowled and stepped back before leaping, shoulder first, at the door. It opened before she got there and she collided with a very surprised looking Boy-Who-Lived.
"Ouch." She muttered.
They disentangled themselves and Hermione pushed her hair out of her face.
"Aunt Amy says you're being silly."
Harry glared at her.
"I have a good reason."
She snorted and crossed to Harry's bed, sitting on the edge of it, folding her legs beneath her.
"Do you?"
Harry's glare only got fiercer.
"Hermione, I told Professor Snape, who I was, in a room full of people, in the most gossipy school in Europe. I broke a secret Sirius has kept for almost eleven years, and all because some git was taunting me." He sighed and sat next to her. "I should have let him send me to Durmstrang."
Hermione wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
"I'd say that's a fairly good reason. You lost your temper defending your mother's honour. If you can't defend that then what can you defend?" Hermione paused. "Besides a secret that big couldn't be kept forever. We've been on shaky ground since first year. It's a miracle no ones seen your scar yet."
Harry grunted.
"As for telling Snape who you are, well he already knew that."
Harry peered at her curiously.
"What do you mean?"
Hermione smiled gently.
"Harry you are the same person you were last week. A different surname doesn't change that. I didn't become a different person when McGonagall adopted me. Changing your name doesn't change who you are. And neither..." She tapped the scar on his forehead. "Does that."
She waited quietly.
"When did you get so wise?" Harry murmured.
She shrugged.
"My best friends are you, Fred and George. Someone had to have some sense in them or we'd have fallen apart years ago."
Harry laughed.
"Want to go get some dinner?" He asked, getting to his feet.
"Yes. I'm starving. It's just us and Susan. Amelia had to go back to work."
They retrieved Susan, who'd been writing a long letter to Ernie McMillian, which she wouldn't talk about, and headed for the kitchens.
The House Elves were only too happy to provide the teenagers with more food than they could possibly eat, although Harry made a decent attempt. They collapsed in their study and curled up on the sofas.
It was about ten o clock when the owl arrived, fluffed up against the cool night air.
"Hello, Athena." Hermione greeted.
Dear Hermione,
I hope you arrived at Sirius' all right. Amelia said she'd meet you at the station. I'll come around when I can but Dumbledore wants the staff at the school to make arrangements for next year. I'll be there for the Quidditch World Cup and to escort you to Diagon Alley.
My best to Black and Bones,
Minerva.
Hermione sighed and passed the note to Harry.
"She's still in professor mode." He pointed out and passed it to Susan.
"Doesn't say anything about the Potter Fiasco."
Harry blanched.
"Please tell me you haven't named that."
Susan gave a grin that was remarkably evil for a Hufflepuff.
"Would I do that?"
"Yes." Hermione and Harry said.
There was a loud crashing from the hallway and they scrambled to their feet, struggling to pass through the doorway at the same time.
It was Remus, standing beside the shattered remains of a tea tray, clutching the evening edition of the Prophet.
"What is it?" Susan asked cautiously.
Wordlessly he turned the paper so they could read the front page.
POTTER REVEALED!
The Boy-Who-Lived, Harry James Potter, had been living under our noses all along. Previously thought to be living in France, Mr Potter's whereabouts were revealed at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Astonishingly Mr Potter is none other than Harry Black, love child and only heir to Sirius Black. Mr Black, who recently married the head of the DMLE, Madam Bones, has yet to give a statement but...(cont on pg 2)
Harry groaned and banged his head off the wall.
"You three had better go to bed," Remus said, hollowly. "It's late."
"I'm sorry, Remus."
The wizard shrugged.
"It's not your fault Harry."
Harry looked like he wanted to argue, but turned and left. Helpless Hermione and Susan followed his lead, leaving the dejected werewolf in the hallway.
Updated 2020