Disclaimer: Still not mine. Sigh. Oh, well. If it were mine, then I'd know how it all ends, and I probably wouldn't be writing fanfiction.

A/N: Wow. I had to goggle in shock at my email in-box when it showed I had received roughly seventy reviews since I last updated. I'm nearing the 400 review mark. I never thought, back when the bunny for this one bit me, that this would be so popular. Thank you. You guys are why I keep on writing this one. As to my other fics, when I get my computer back online next week, the others will be updated, never fear!

This chapter is short, mainly because I only had a couple of hours of internet access in which to both write it and get it posted. Any mistakes are mine; I figured y'all would want an unbetaed chapter rather than none at all.

Also, I wanted to mention that I couldn't recall if I had mentioned Harry telling Hermione about the Dursleys at all, and didn't have time to re-read what I'd written thus far, so, if I've not, then assume that was one of the things they talked about during one of her visits before school started.

Chapter Fifteen: Dragon Tears?

Allen nearly choked on his toast. "Honey? Have you seen the paper?"

Jennifer looked up from the stove. "Not yet. Why?"

He handed the local paper to his wife, thankful Harry wasn't due for the kitchen for a few minutes, yet.

Jenn scanned the front page, "What am I looking… Oh, my…" She sat rather heavily on one of the kitchen chairs. The article was on the far right hand corner of the page; not major news, by any means.

Local Couple Implicated in Bribery, Embezzlement
Sean Fillips

Vernon Dursley (age 51) and his wife, Petunia Dursley (nee Evans, age 49) were arrested yesterday evening on charges including bribery of Social Services personnel (concerning an investigation regarding abuse allegations from their nephew.)

V. Dursley had been fired from his position of Vice President at Grunnings Drill Manufactory yesterday afternoon due to 'unethical practices,' though an unnamed informant within the company hinted towards embezzlement.

The Dursleys have a son, Dudley, age 17, who has been sent to live with Margorie Dursley, V. Dursley's sister. Their nephew, Harry Potter, who had lived with the family for the past sixteen years, is rumored to be living with friends, though he was unreachable for comment.

If found guilty of bribery, the Dursleys will face a minimum sentence of five years in prison. Should the rumor of embezzlement hold true, V. Dursley can look to add an additional 20 years, minimum.

As a resident of Little Whinging for the past thirty years, and having had the misfortune of actually meeting the Dursleys on more than one occasion, it is this humble reporter's opinion that this couldn't have happened to a more deserving family.

Just as Jenn was finishing the article, Harry emerged in the kitchen, followed closely by Remus. "I don't know, Remus. It just seems a bit too…" Harry trailed off. "What?" he asked Jenn and Allen, both of whom where staring at him. The doorbell sounded before they could answer.

"Here," Jenn handed Harry the paper, tapping the article in the corner, before going to see who was at the door.

Harry read the article, then smirked and handed the paper to Remus. Remus was finishing it when Jennifer returned, Tonks and Andie at her side. "Wotcher, Harry."

"Hey, Tonks. Whacha doing by this early?" Harry grinned at the metamorphamagus.

Jenn pointed towards the coffee pot on the counter, "There's coffee ready if you need any, Tonks. Feel free to help yourself."

Tonks grinned and made a B-line for the pot. "Sweet, sweet caffeine."

Andie just shook her head fondly, "Never change, hon."

"Why are you two here? This have anything to do with the article in this morning's paper?" Allen asked.

Andie nodded and sat at the table. "That's right. With both Petunia and Vernon currently sitting in jail – pending bail, of course – it was easier to get a judge to sign off on this," she pulled a stack of papers out of her jacket pocket and handed them to Harry.

"What are these?" Harry asked.

"Emancipation paperwork. You're officially your own ward."

"Excellent." Harry handed the papers to Remus, who tapped them with his wand, banishing them to the mess of Harry's other papers and financial documents that the werewolf was slowly helping the teen straighten out and organize.

Once she'd had some caffeine, Tonks brightened considerably, both figuratively and literally – as she woke up, her hair slowly brightened from dusky rose to neon pink, with eyes to match. Harry snickered at the sight. "If that's what caffeine does to you, I'd hate to see you try anything stronger. The rest of us would probably end up blind."

Tonks stuck her tongue out at Harry and went back to her coffee while the other occupants of the room giggled. "You know, you should be a tad more grateful, Harry."

"How so?"

Tonks smirked, "Because I was the one doing all the work, you know. To get you emancipated and whatnot."

"I know you were doing your job, Tonks, and I am grateful. Did you want more than a thank-you?" Harry's grin grew wider, "Hey, I know! Do you want a house? There's what… Eight of the damn things in that list you gave me, Remus?"

Remus chuckled at Tonks' gobsmacked expression. "No, there's nine. You're forgetting the cottage in Canada."

Tonks shook her head, forcibly reminding herself that the Potters were a very wealthy family. "In any case, no. I'm not looking for anything more than maybe a compliment or two. I'm actually over because I heard the most interesting rumor about my cousin."

"Second-cousin, dear. He's my cousin." Andie chided.

"Whatever, he was still my favorite relative." Tonks made a waving motion with her hand and promptly knocked her mug to the floor.

With a long-suffering sigh, Andie had her wand out and uttered a reparo charm before anyone could react.

"Sirius bought the house you were staying in, Tonks. I'm sure you will find your way without any issues. The boys and I should be going; we're almost late as it is." Allen nodded to both Tonks and her mother before preceding Harry and Remus out of the house.

November 30, 1997
Dear Hermione,

Guess what! I've been declared emancipated from the Dursleys! They're in jail right now, apparently they had been bribing Social Services… There was even an article in the paper.

Looking forward to seeing you and Ron soon,

Harry

December 1, 1997
Harry,

That's fantastic!

Oh, and I found a copy of a book you should read. It's called The Magic of Muggles; it explains why normal electronics don't work in magical areas. It also has a more detailed description through which the Wizarding Wireless sets work. Once you've read it, we really should talk. I have some ideas on how to adapt the microwarding used in isolation of the transistor circuitry for use in computer-based technology.

Hermione

"As you seem to have the basics well in hand, Potter, we will begin on slightly more complicated potions this afternoon." Snape greeted Harry in his customary manner, brusque and to the point. He handed Harry a slip of parchment. "Just from the ingredients, what should this potion do?"

Harry scanned down the list, "Hmm… Aconite, yarrow, hibiscus, hippogriff feather… Dragon tears? Do they mean actual dragons or the little glass beads with the twirly thing in them?"

Snape quirked an eyebrow, "Glass beads, Potter?"

Harry nodded, "Yeah, they're used… Oh, in aquariums, for game-pieces, decoration. They're not quite circular and look kind of squashed. I don't know what else they're called; I've only ever heard them referred to as dragon tears."

Snape was lost in thought. He had given that particular list to Harry as a test. Though dragons were real enough, they didn't cry, so the potion would be impossible to make. However, the book he'd pulled it from – a journal of the potions master he'd apprenticed to – had insisted the recipe was possible. Glass is magically inert, though… Didn't Potter say something about a 'twirly thing' in the center of the bead? But they're muggle-made. How could a muggle item harbor any sort of magical connection?

"Sir?"

Snape dragged his attention back to the teen before him. "Show me these 'dragon tears' of yours, Potter."

Harry led the way to Allen's den. A small aquarium stood in the corner, currently empty of both fish and water. Lining the bottom of the glass box, though, were two inches of glass pebbles with a small, blue twist of material in their centers. He reached in and pulled out a handful of the manufactured stones. "Here you go. Dragon tears."

Snape picked up one of the stones. "Actual dragons, Potter, are like any other lizard. They do not cry."

"Ah. And since you didn't know what I was talking about, that list of ingredients wouldn't have made anything. Are these magical at all?"

Snape pulled out his wand. "We shall see." He murmured something Harry didn't quite catch all of, but knew to be a part of the Revealo-series of spells. The room was suddenly blanketed in a flash of blue light.

After blinking several times to clear the after-image of the flash of light out of his eyes, Harry chuckled, "I think that answers that question. Isn't cobalt a magic-capacitor? At least, that's what it said in that book about magic and electronics that Hermione recommended I read."

Snape nodded slowly, "I take it that is what the muggles use to create the 'twirly thing,' as you so aptly put it?"

"Usually, yeah. I have seen some that had yellow or red twirlies, but most are blue."

"Even so, it should not have reacted so strongly. Even cobalt has to be charmed to act as a capacitor."

Harry looked more closely at one of the dragon tears. "Not necessarily, Professor Snape. Take a closer look at the tear. It's the same general shape as a magnifying glass, and the little twirly has five points." Harry laughed, "Though completely accidental, they managed to come up with the same design as the capacitors used in a wireless set. Because of the shape of the glass and configuration of the points of the twirly, it attracts and magnifies ambient magical energy."

"What book was this found in?" Though he would never deign to show it, Snape was impressed.

"Magic of Muggles. Like I said, Hermione suggested I read it. I'm trying to figure out a way to get you a copy of that program."

Snape arched an eyebrow. "Indeed?"

A/N2: And that's all I had time for today. I still plan on having another update on Friday or Saturday. Thanks again for reading!

Reviews are sugar, guys.

So, with that said:

Come on and pour some sugar on me…

Damnit. Now I've got that song stuck in my head…