CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

HERMIONE'S SECRET

Hermione took the book and looked at the next chapter with a wince.

"Chapter 21, Hermione's Secret" she read.

"Now we finally get to see why Hermione went bonkers that year." Ginny said at the edge of her seat.

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"Number one clue something was wrong with the minister." Fred whispered to his twin.

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"Name one 13 year old boy who isn't" Ginny challenged.

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"Trial by vertiaserum would have been the logical route." Bill said.

"One problem. The one with the authority to call it is a politician and they are NEVER logical" Charlie said.

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"Yeah, don't mess with the nurse" Charlie chuckled remembering all of his Quidditch related injuries.

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"Don't even" Hermione said pointing to the twins who looked ready to say something to the Potions professor.

"How is it she runs off with Ron and Harry…"

…Yet knows US so well?"

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"That's a yes if I ever heard one" Tonks said.

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"Too true" Moody said.

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"Okay. Here's the plan" Tonks said. "Arthur will send a number of bills to Fudge about something he is bound to sign and in one of the bills slip in an article of enforcing trials by veritaserum as well as giving the head of the Wizengamot authority. With that, add in the provision that Dumbledore is back as head."

"Or go back to giving the monarch more authority than the Minister." Moody said sarcastically.

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"Him and the rest of us" the twins chorused.

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"Turns?" Molly asked confused.

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Snape glared at Dumbledore.

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"We had to get out from the open" Hermione added glaring at the twins who were grinning since the mention of the broom closet.

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"I did wonder" Sirius said.

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"We've GOT to get us one of those" George said to Fred.

"NO!" McGonagall, Sprout, Flitwick, Snape, and even Molly, Bill, Charlie, Ron, and Hermione chorused.

"Two of you is bad enough." Ginny explained. "Four of you…"

She shuddered as those that hadn't freaked out laughed.

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"So THAT'S how Buckbeak's here when we read about his killing" Charlie realized.

"But…wouldn't the time traveling have created a paradox?" Tonks asked.

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"And that's saying something" Ron agreed.

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"But if you kill your past self, then your future self wouldn't exist and then there would be nobody to kill you" Fred pointed out.

Everyone blinked at the logic.

"And that is why I never worked in the Department of Mysteries." Sirius said.

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"Did you know?" McGonagall asked.

"I might have suspected at the time that Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, and Miss. Granger were probably doing something to prevent the injustice." Dumbledore hinted.

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"Hagrid was crying out of joy" Ginny realized. "There wasn't much of a paradox because in the end, the same events happened, but for different reasons."

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"Wouldn't put it past him." Sirius muttered.

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"Oh it wouldn't have been that bad." Ginny said. "I mean, it was just a drunk Hagrid. Harry could have said 'wind blew off my cloak and told the others to go on.'"

"It wasn't that windy that day" Harry argued.

"Hagrid was drunk. He would have thought nothing of it."

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"Happened in the past." Harry said noticing Snape glaring at him.

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"That's impossible" Arthur said.

"Oh come on." Moody said with an eye roll. "It's so obvious."

"It is?" Bill asked.

"Who does Potter look like?" Moody hinted.

"So much for 'don't be seen'" Fred chuckled catching the hint.

"Now we know what Hermione meant by wizards gone mad" George added.

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"I saw his body the night he died" Sirius told Harry. "And besides, Wormtail was able to get away because he's so small in his size. And nobody will think twice of a dog and those that think I'm too big as a dog either believe I'm a grim or some genetic thing. But a stag running around a suburb would have drawn attention."

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"HE HAS A BRAIN!" the twins cheered.

"If only our magic could work…" Ginny growled as she had been sitting with them and the cheer came unexpectedly.

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"That was some VERY impressive charms work" Flitwick praised.

"Thanks Professor" Harry said with a small blush.

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"No" the Weasley kids chorused.

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"You've never been one for flying?" Ginny asked.

Hermione shook her head.

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"Your expression was priceless" Harry told his godfather.

"Well, when you think your godson is unconscious in the hospital wing and then you find him on the back of a hippogriff outside your window…" Sirius argued.

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"So I was right" Snape said smugly.

"And because it's the past, we don't get in trouble" Ron said.

"Seems like what happened to nearly get you that Order of Merlin came back to bite you in the arse." Moody chuckled.

"Who's next? This is the last chapter." Hermione asked to prevent an argument.

"I will Miss. Granger." Sprout said.

Hermione reached over and handed the professor the book.

A/N: Reason this one is so short is because there wasn't as many interruptions