I'm back, baby dolls. The super high speed internet is in! And during my exile my muse exploded and I wrote 42 (handwritten) pages. These now have to converted into an electronic form. :) I hope you enjoy. Thanks for reading.

Chapter 16

Hours later four sweaty boys landed on the back lawn. Despite being unable to fly a broom himself, Dudley could be a passenger. And by using a cricket bat American style he launched training snitch into the air for Draco, Theo, and Harry to chase. They found Hermione and Tracey sunning themselves on the back terrace in muggle lawn recliners. Winky sat on a smaller version. When she saw the boys approach she jumped up and popped off to get refreshments. Dudley plopped down on the ground between the girls. "I love flying." he declared.

"I'm happy for you." Hermione informed him.

"You should come flying with us."

Harry laughed and sat on the edge of Hermione's recliner. "Hermione doesn't like to fly, she's bad at it." He dodged when she swatted at him.

"Being good or bad at it does not change the fact that I do not enjoy flying." She sniffed. "I do well enough to pass flying class. Thank Merlin those can be over this year."

Harry started to tease his best friend further, but changed his mind. "You know, I just remembered, you lot had a pool party without me on my birthday!"

Hermione raised an eyebrow, "And?"

"I want to have a pool party. Come on!" Harry leapt to his feet, dragging Hermione with him. The others followed to spend another evening in the pool.

The loud violent bang of the Knight Bus shattered the idyllic summer morning silence. Harry and Dudley stumbled from the bus onto the long gravel drive of Malfoy Manor. Harry summoned house elves to help transport them into the manor.

Both Hermione and Narcissa raced into the front hall to discover the cause of the commotion. Harry supported the nearly comatose Dudley as best he could while shaking uncontrollable himself.

"What happened?" cried Narcissa.

"An officer took us to Privet Drive to collect some more belongings. Dementors came out of nowhere. They attacked us. The officer told us to run. I think they kissed him. They chased us, and tried to kiss Dudley. I summoned the Knight Bus, but had to drive off the dementors with a patronus spell."

"Hermione, have Winky get calming draughts. Nix, assist the boys into the blue parlor. I'll summon Siri and a healer."

Hermione instructed Winky to get the potions then hurried into the blue parlor. She picked up a mason jar on an end table. "The elves are going to release you. You are going to take a year long sabbatical to think about your life choices. After that you will not publish one word about my family, or myself, without my expressed permission. If you break this agreement I will tell everyone everything I know." She handed the jar to an elf. "You know where to take this." The elf popped off.

Sirius arrived as a large brown bar owl swooped in. It delivered an envelope to Harry and departed. Harry scanned the contents of the letter before exploding. "Are you kidding me?" Everyone looked at him curiously. "Dementors attack and the only thing the Ministry is concerned with is that I used underage magic. I'm being expelled and my wand snapped."

"Like hell you are." Sirius yelled. He summoned his patronus. "Tonks, meet me at Malfoy Manor. Now." The large spectral grim ran off. "You're allowed to use magic to defend yourself. And the 'first' offense was actually a house elf."

A second barn owl flew in delivering a letter declaring there would be a hearing into the matter. Harry looked at Sirius, "Dumbledore, you think?"

"Probably. Let him help, pup. He's been a git, but don't cut off your nose to spite your face."

Tonks arrived at the Manor at the same time as the healer. Healer Mattil began scanning the boys and treating Dudley while Tonks spoke quietly with Sirius. "I'll go investigate and help the muggle officer if I can. Get me a copy of the healer's report, will you?"

"Will do. Thanks, Tonks."

"All in a day's work."

Sirius next procured Harry representation for the hearing. Valerianus Nowell immediately began instructing Sirius to collect the boys' memories of the events and Dobby's actions before. He also asked for Harry's memory of Dobby's confession of using magic to implicate Harry. He requested copies of the healer's report and anything official Tonks filed, along with her unofficial impressions and opinions.

The family sat down to dinner just as Tonks returned. Narcissa invited her to join them. The pink haired auror hesitated until she noticed Sirius moving down one so she could sit between himself and Hermione, across from Harry. "Thank you, Mrs Malfoy."

"Aunt Cissy, dear. I intend to reach out to your mother soon. Ask her to consider accepting my owl, if you would. I miss her very much."

"Of course, Aunt Cissy." She seated herself and placed the napkin over her lap. "So there is plenty of evidence dementors attacked Privet Drive. They kissed the officer, no soul left. The only mercy there is he has no magic to sustain his body, so he'll fade fairly fast." She grimaced. "The energy traces show they chased someone for a good distance. Witnesses stated they saw something chasing two boys matching Harry and Dudley's descriptions. And that the things attacked the officer when he tried to defend them." Tonks pause to eat a few bites. "Madam Bones is out for blood. She can't find where they came from, or where they went. And if they came from Azkaban she can't find any paperwork authorizing it. She doesn't think this was a rogue attack, meaning someone is hiding something."

"Harry's barrister wants a copy of your reports, and any observations you want to throw in. Thanks, Tonks."

The morning of Harry's hearing Nowell insisted on being early. So early, they arrived before most of the Ministry's staff. Not wanting him to have to wait alone, Hermione joined Dudley at the Cottage. They did their regular water aerobics and played a few games of Life. Both admitted their efforts into the games to be half-hearted. Their thoughts were elsewhere with Harry.

The floo roaring to life announced Harry and Sirius's return. Both Hermione and Dudley ran into the room. In answer to their questioning faces, Harry held up his wand. With a cry of joy, Hermione launched herself at him, hugging her best friend tightly. She squealed when Harry lifted her off her feet and spun her around laughing.

"Nowell was brilliant! The Ministry moved up the hearing up to try and make me miss it- and we still arrived before they did. He had a counter to every argument they made. He got them to sponge my record, since Dobby did the magic second year."

"Expunge." Hermione corrected. "That's great, Harry." He released her and she stepped back.

Dudley pounded him on the back, "So great, mate."

"We need to celebrate." Sirius declared.

"I know!" yelled Dudley, "An arcade party, like Mum and Dad used to throw me."

Harry's eyes lit up, then his face fell. "That wouldn't be weird for you?"

"Nah, different arcade, different friends."

"Oh," cried Hermione, "let's go to that big one in London."

"Yeah!" agreed Dudley.

Hedwig, Cerridwyn, and Horus; Harry, Hermione, and Sirius's owls flew off with invitations for that night. Arrangements were made with the arcade for use of a party room. Since the guests lived in the wizarding world, they planned to meet at the Leaky Cauldron.

Neville arrived first, accompanied by this grandmother. "Good evening, Lady Longbottom."

"Good evening, Scion Black." Mrs Longbottom sniffed disdainfully, "I do hope more adult supervision has been arranged."

"Sirius smiled charmingly, "Remus Lupin will be with us."

"I was addressing Miss Malfoy. You two hooligans barely count as one adult when combined."

"My cousin who is an auror will also be coming with us."

"Very good. Neville, have a good time. I will see you when you return home."

Neville nodded, "Yes, Gran."

Angelina, Alicia, and Katie arrived together. Moments later Dean Thomas bounced up to the group, clearly excited for the outing. "When are we leaving?"

Harry grinned at him, "We're waiting for a few more people. Here comes some of them, now." Tracey Davis, Blaise Zabini, and Theo Nott joined approached the group. Jaws dropped when Theo greeted Hermione with a kiss and clapped Dudley on the back. Fay and Sally-Anne hurried over to Tracey to compare gossip.

The arrival of the Weasleys helped break the tension. "Ah! I'm blind, Gred, blind. Our little Hermione snogging in public."

"I know, Forge. I know. Who told her she could have a boyfriend?"

"I did. And that's all the permission I need." Hermione glared at them.

"Now, Mione, we're just concerned about you."

"Want to make sure Nott here's treating you right."

Hermione turned to her boyfriend. "Do not eat or drink anything you didn't see prepared yourself. Don't consume anything they give you."

"She doesn't trust us, George!" Fred wailed, clutching his chest.

"Of course not, I know you." She gave them a mock glare, then broke out laughing. Her laughter faltered at the sight of Ginny making a sour face in her direction. "Still, Theo, be wary of them."

"I don't think anyone past their first year isn't."

Harry greeted Ginny to change the subject. "Hey, Gin. Did Ron decide not to come?"

"Yeah, Charlie's in town. They all ready had plans to go see the Cannons."

"Good for them, I guess. That's everyone then. Seamus couldn't make it, he's visiting his muggle grandmother.

Remus exited the bar and summoned the Knight Bus for the group. In the press to pile on, Harry managed to separate himself from Ginny. Ever since Hermione told him about her marital ambitions, he felt uncomfortable around the the redhead. He worried she wanted him for his fame and fortune, not for himself.

The arcade teemed with teenagers and young adults playing the brightly lit video games. Sirius collected the game tokens and distributed them amongst the group. "We'll have pizza upstairs at eight thirty. Until then, off you pop. Go, run amok!" Laughing the teens scattered.

While Ginny, and to a lesser extent Alicia, stuck near him, Harry found himself partnering with Tracey often. She enjoyed the dance games and Harry happily indulged her. Together, they set several high scores. Seeing Ginny moving in for the kill, he grabbed Tracey's hand. "Come play air hockey?"

"Air hockey?"

"Yeah, we each get a little paddle and use it to try to knock the puck into a slot. The puck floats on a thin layer of air. The first person to seven or twelve wins."

"Okay." Tracey smiled shyly as she followed Harry to the table. She tried to ignore Ginny Weasley's attempts to make her head explode with her mind. Focusing on the game she found herself laughing at Harry's antics. He kept trying to perform fancy trick shots. They all failed miserably.

Alicia popped up towards the end of their game. "I play winner." she declared as Tracey sent the winning shot sailing across the table.

Harry winked at Tracey and turned to Alicia. "Your paddle, madame." He handed her the red plastic handle. He bowed to Tracey, "I yield to your superior skills, my lady." Then he escaped. Gryffindor courage be damned, Harry hunting hadn't improved just because the hunters had gotten prettier.

Once they exhausted their tokens, Hermione led Theo upstairs. The party room overlooked the play floor. Hermione looked down from one of the windows. She chewed on her bottom lip as she thought. "Knut for your thoughts." Theo offered, pulling her bottom lip free.

"I used magic in Knockturn Alley a few weeks ago. Why didn't I get a letter?"

"The Trace doesn't actually pick up who cast the spell, just that magic was used. They depend on wizard parents to enforce the rule. In magical areas they assume adults are performing the magic. It's how we get away with magic at Hogesmeade."

"That is such bollocks. You've been able to practice magic for years, and I couldn't even maintain my abilities over the summer."

"And yet, you are the top student in our year, and the years ahead of us." He wrapped his arms around her from behind. He lightly pressed a kiss to her temple.

"Yes, well, still."

Theo laughed at her. "Did I just manage to win a debate?"

"Don't let it swell your head too much." She turned in his arms. "Might make cuddling difficult, and I would miss it." She backed him into a chair, perching on his lap. She kissed him, softly teasing. He groaned and moved one hand to support her back. His other hand caressed her upper thighs. She deepened the kiss, granting his tongue entrance. She allowed him to take the lead, granting him permission to dominate the kiss. His hand moved further up her leg, disappearing under the hem of her skirt. His fingertips grazed her knicker cover center, sending a thrill through her. Moaning into his mouth, Hermione spread her legs, granting Theo better access. One arm wrapped around his back to keep her upright. The other she ran up and down his chest.

BANG! The door to the room crashed open. Draco and Blaise calmly strolled in. "Oh, there you are." Draco stated coldly. "Could you not paw at my sister in front of me?"

"Go away again and I won't be." Theo responded hotly. He tried to stop Hermione from slipping off his lap. "I'll remember this, Malfoy." He glared at his friend.

"Be grateful, the rest are on their way up."

Hermione rolled her eyes, "Please, Sirius is far more likely to offer pointers than be upset." All three Slytherins looked simultaneously horrified and intrigued by the idea.

"If you weren't actively snogging the bird at the time..." Blaise trailed off.

"Yeah." agreed Draco.

The rest of the group piled into the room ending the conversation. Arcade staff members served pizza from the snack bar below. Harry very carefully situated himself between Tracey and Dudley, across from Fay and Hermione. The Slytherin boys took seats near around Hermione and Tracey.

Ginny pouted. If she wanted to sit near Harry she would have to sit near Hermione and her pet snakes. Though she could admit they were good looking, and rich to boot, none of them were worth dealing with Ron's tantrums, yet. A year or two post Hogwarts it would be a different story entirely. For now Harry remained her prime target: good looking, wealthy, humble, a hero, and from the right Hogwarts house. He represented the whole package. His only flaw was his blood status, not that she really cared. And if someone did care, well, being a lord of the realm made up from any deficiency there. She just needed to get him away from Hermione. Give her and Ron enough time to get friendly with Harry again, or at least give HER time. Why couldn't the bushy headed know-it-all have stayed grateful for any attention Ginny deigned to grant her? She needed a plan.