Disclaimer: I do not own anything other than the story line . All rights belong to J.K. Rowling

Chapter Four: Differences of Opinion

Number Sixteen East Landing Court, 0720, 6 July, 1994

The next morning Hermione convinced Harry to take a few moments and send an owl to Sirius. She felt, rightfully so, that they needed some help in the fight to keep Dumbledore at bay. It was only a matter of time before the vain wizard tried once more to do something that would jeopardize Harry's happiness, and possibly his life. It wasn't as if Dumbledore had ever really given a damn about either in Hermione's opinion.

So Harry diligently sat down and wrote a letter to his Godfather:

Dear Snuffles,

As you may or may not know, I have flown the coup, leaving the Dursleys behind for good. I can no longer live there, and I have finally found a place that feels like home. I have found a family that actually cares for me, and get this, they knew my Mum and Dad!

Of course, they didn't know this because the bearded goat took away their memories of it. I actually found proof of the knowledge in a piece of parchment from Mum.

Snuffles, I don't know what to do. I no longer trust the old fart to look out for my best interests. I think that he actually wants me to die trying to fight Moldyshorts… I really need your advice. I know that you need to stay hidden, but please find a way to get in touch. My bird and I cannot do this by ourselves.

Oh yes, I finally showed her how much she means to me. It took me a while, but at last I figured out that much at least. The last time you saw her you were riding off into the distance on our feathered friend. I know that most see her as a bookworm, a nag and a plain Jane, but she grows more beautiful to me each and every day. I've never known love before, but it feels incredible.

In the spirit of a true Marauder, I've enclosed the address away from prying eyes. I need you, Snuffles. I need my family close.

Harry

St. Mungo's Hospital, London, 0815, 6 July, 1994

Albus Dumbledore rushed through the corridors of St. Mungo's Hospital. He had received the summons in the middle of the night. It seemed that someone had brought in Emmeline Vance in, and with her not having any other point of contact, someone in charge had remembered seeing the two of them together at the Ministry.

As he got to the door behind which the younger witch lay, he took a moment to straighten out his robes and make sure that he looked presentable. A proper image was the most important thing after all. If he were to be perceived as old and past his prime then he would be much less effective because of it. But, if he were perceived as powerful and always in control, then he would always be seen that way. Yes, perception was his greatest ally. Unfortunately for him his perceived image would shortly be lower than a flobberworm in its death throes.

He strode into the room as if he owned the place, but even he, the great Albus Dumbledore, came up short. He stared as a team of wizards and witches struggled to remove what appeared to be Emmeline's own boot from her exposed posterior. Nothing that they tried seemed to have any effect and she feebly groaned in pain with each attempt that they made.

He waited until someone noticed him, and then motioned him over. As the young healer came over he leaned down to whisper in his ear. "What happened to her? She looks a wreck."

"Someone found her, discarded in a muggle dumpster in a back alley. She was covered in what appeared to be…" he looked down at a note that he had in his hand, "drywall dust and automotive oil." He looked back up at the Headmaster. "She had several contusions and broken bones. Her skull was fractured in four separate places, and she had dislocated her left shoulder. She is suffering from a severe concussion, and she seems to have had one of her own boots stuffed up her arse…"

"How could this have happened?" Dumbledore absentmindedly ran his fingers through his beard while he tried to wrap his mind around what had happened to his lackeys, er, friend.

"Well, she also appears to have taken a really nasty concussion hex to the sternum," the healer answered. "If I had to hazard a guess, I would say that someone hexed her through a wall and into a muggle car. As to what happened with her boot, I would say that it was a very pointed message to her and to whoever she was associated with… You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you Professor?" The Healer looked at the Old headmaster pointedly.

"What? No." he answered pointedly. "I'm simply here because the Ministry needed to be aware of what happened to one of their aurors, so I came in my official capacity as Chief Warlock." The healer's look of disbelief went unanswered.

"Well, she'll be here for at least another day, depending on if we manage to get the boot out of her rectum, and then there is the matter of healing her concussion. Can I contact you when she's feeling up to visitors?" He looked tiredly at the aged wizard.

"Of course," Dumbledore answered easily. He would want to hear from her just what had happened anyway…

He peered at the healer's name tag. "Please keep me advised, Healer Watkins," he said in a commanding voice. "I need to pay a visit to an old friend anyway. Carry on my good man." He turned and left the disgruntled healer to get on with his job.

After reaching the hospital apparition point, he disappeared with a resounding crack.

The Burrow, Ottery St. Catchpole, 0830, 5 July, 1994

Albus Dumbledore reappeared in front of the Burrow, looking for the entire world like the most confident wizard in existence. He strode purposefully up to lane and knocked on the door. He was met there by Percy Weasley. It would be his luck that the worst Head Boy in the entire existence of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry hadn't yet kissed enough arse to get a job!

"Hello, Professor, do come in sir," Percy said as he opened the door.

"Thank you, Percy," Dumbledore answered as he stepped inside. "Would your mother be in?"

"I'm sorry Professor, she's out with the rest of the kids in Ottery St. Catchpole proper at the moment. I don't expect them back for at least three or four hours. Might I be of help?" He puffed up his chest proudly. He had been Head Boy after all. He had repeatedly shown how useful he could be in the past.

Dumbledore considered him critically. Admittedly the young wizard was the biggest kiss-arse that even Dumbledore had ever seen, and that was saying something, for Dumbledore had been dealing with the likes of Cornelius Fudge for a very long time. What a complete wanker! He leaned into the young ginger-haired wizard and whispered in his ear. "Actually, Percy, there is something you can be doing for me…"

Number Sixteen East Landing Court, 1005, 6 July, 1994

Hermione was just settling down to read one of her novels while Harry was busy taking a shower. She loved him, but she was thankful that he was thoughtful enough to allow her to have her own space and time.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. Wondering who it could be at this time, she went to the door and looked through the peep hole. She opened the door, surprised to see Percy Wealsey standing there. "Percy! How nice to see you? Do come in," she said as she held the door open for him.

"Thank you Miss Granger," he said formally as he stepped in. "Have you seen Harry Potter? It seems he's gone missing, and one of the witches who were out looking for him was assaulted. Professor Dumbledore fears the worst."

"Err, no," Hermione lied to the older wizard. "I haven't seen Harry this summer." She hoped that he wouldn't see through her, as she wasn't a good liar at all.

"I think that you might know something," he said suddenly as he grabbed her by her hair, yanking her towards him. She let out a shriek of pain. "I think that you know exactly where he is. You really shouldn't try to protect him. He needs to pay for assaulting Miss Vance." He tugged again on her hair, keeping her off balance.

"Now, tell me where he is!" he growled at her. As Percy wrenched her head he thought to himself, 'She'll learn who her betters were.' She was, after all, only a muggleborn, and he was a pureblood... He pulled her head up so that he could look her in the eyes. As he did so the look that he saw there wasn't one of pain or fear. It only held anger… anger and the promise of much pain to the one who had made her mad. He went to pull her again, to wipe the look off of her face when she exploded into motion.

Her knee rammed into his ribs with a sickening crack. He wheezed as the rib punched through something soft and squishy in his middle. He didn't have time to do anything, for as he folded like a sandwich her elbow came up and shattered the right side of his jaw. She then grabbed his ears and yanked down hard on them while she brought her knee up into his face, breaking both cheekbones and crushing his nose. As he toppled forwards her foot went up and over him, to slam into the back of his skull, driving him forehead first into the tile floor. His brain slammed first into the back of his skull then hard into the front of his skull, then bounced back, only to hit the back of his skull once more. He didn't move from where he landed.

She stood there panting as Harry came tearing down the stairs, clad only in a towel and his wand. He had heard her shriek and had come running. "Bloody Hell?" He hollered as he came around the corner, seeing Percy lying in a pool of his own blood. "Merlin, I think he's soiled himself," he said as he wrinkled his nose. "Is he alive?"

"I… I think so," Hermione replied softly. She was starting to shake now. Her Dad had warned her that it would be like this. She would react and then after the adrenaline rush was over she would get the shakes.

"What happened?" he asked as he took her in his arms. She started sobbing, and it took a while to get the story out of her. At that point he was both thankful that her father had taken the time to teach her whatever this Thai kick boxing was, and frightened almost to the point of wetting himself lest he ever do something to make her that upset with him. He assured her that she had done nothing wrong, and then set her down on the couch while he considered what to do with the redheaded pillock.

"Dobby," he called. The little elf appeared instantly.

"You called, Mr. Harry Potter, sir?" The elf was bouncing on his heels, looking adoringly at Harry.

"Dobby, I need you to take out the trash again, though this time, I think that you need to send him straight to St. Mungo's." He motioned towards Percy. With a snap of the little elf's fingers the ginger was gone.

"Did you's be needing anything else?" Dobby inquired while bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet; looking for all the world like a maniacal chipmunk tweaked out on an energy drink.

"No, Dobby, you did just fine. You can go back to whatever it was that you were doing before. Thank you." Harry shook his head as the little elf disappeared with a resounding crack.

He returned to Hermione and held her. "Sweetheart, I don't think that we can ever trust Professor Dumbledore again," he said softly. He felt a rush of emotion as she nodded in agreement into his chest.

Number Sixteen East Landing Court, 1735, 6 July, 1994

Harry had just finished explaining to Hermione's parents why she was in the state that she was in when they had arrived home. Robert had immediately set out to hunt down all the wizards he could think of and single-handedly thrash them. Thankfully Jane had other thoughts.

"Robert, calm down. From what Harry here tells us, he's lucky to be alive right now. Hermione really hurt him quite badly, and that's without using magic." She motioned them forward. "Why don't we all sit down and have a cool drink?" She led her enraged husband and the teens into the den. "I know that I could use a drink right now."

As they were sitting down Hedwig flew in and set down next to Harry. She held out her leg so that he could have the letter that was there.

Harry,

I've been thinking about what you wrote to me about. I think that you definitely need some help. I would come myself, but as you know, it isn't safe for me right now. I would suggest that you send your owl to Madam Amelia Bones at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Her niece is in your year, Susan Bones.

She's fair and experienced, Harry. She'll get to the bottom of things, and treat you with respect and courtesy. She's a good investigator, and you couldn't ask for a better witch to have at your side, except perhaps for the witch you already have there… *wink-wink*

Get her to visit you, Harry. You need to do something quickly, or Dumbledore will just keep trying to get you back with the Dursleys.

Love, your sexy female loving Dogfather,

Snuffles

Harry showed the note to the Grangers, and they agreed with Sirius' view of the situation. He took a few moments to write to Madam Bones while the Grangers comforted their daughter. Once he was finished he spent the rest of the evening chatting with the Grangers while he cuddled on the love seat with Hermione.

Number Sixteen East Landing Court, 1800, 8 July, 1994

There was a knock at the door, so Robert got up and went to answer it. As he opened the door, there were three individuals there, two women and a man. One of the women was obviously in charge. She was a tall woman, and she looked to be in her middle fifties. She had a monocle in one eye, and she held out her hand to Robert.

"Mr. Granger?" she asked as she shook his hand.

"Yes," he replied cautiously.

"I'm Amelia Bones, the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Might I and my colleagues come in?" she asked. He showed them in and took in the other two. The man appeared had an air of competence about him, a self-assuredness that went well with his short wiry grey hair. The woman had pink hair and appeared to be chewing on some bubble gum.

"This is Auror Dawlish, and Auror Tonks," she introduced them to him. "Would your daughter and Harry Potter be here? We're here to take a statement from them and to hopefully determine a course of action."

"Right this way," he led them into the den. Harry was there with Hermione. The two of them were playing a game of war with a deck of playing cards. "Kids, this is Madam Bones, and Aurors Dawlish and Tonks," he told them.

Harry stood quickly and shook each of their hands. "Thank you for coming. We've been having some difficulties with Professor Dumbledore, and some of his people. Frankly, we didn't know what to do, and a friend of ours thought that we should speak to you."

"You suggested as much in your letter to me," Madam Bones replied. "Susan has told me that you seem to be a very truthful young man, though very few people seem to believe you when you first say something. She says that you've always been right in the end though."

"Please thank her for me," Harry replied. He motioned for them to sit, and then the two children told them about what had been happening.

After a rather eventful hour's chat Amelia interrupted them. "Would it be easier if I just reviewed your memories?"

"You can do that?" Harry asked.

"I can," she replied. She reached into a pocket and took what appeared to be a small lens from inside it. She took her wand and enlarged it so that it was roughly half the size of the coffee table. She looked to the two aurors. "If you would both be so kind as to teach these two how to extract a memory?"

Shortly thereafter the group sat and watched the memories as the solicitor's pensieve played them as a sort of hologram over the lens. The teens had given her every relevant memory they could think of, including everything that had happened at the end of the school year with Sirius and Wormtail.

Amelia conjured a piece of parchment and started writing. She waved her wand over it and it glowed yellow for a moment. "Might I borrow your owl, Harry?" she asked. Harry nodded and looked at Hedwig. The snowy owl glided over to the elderly witch. She attached the parchment to his leg and told the owl to deliver it to Professor Dumbledore at Hogwarts as quickly as she could. She was not to wait for an answer.

With a hoot Hedwig was off into the night.

Amelia and the two aurors got up to leave. "Thank you, you two," she said to them. "You've given me much to ponder. I promise you that I'll see what I can do and get back to you shortly." She waved to the other two. "Come on you lot, we've got work to get on with." With that they left.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy, 0600, 9 July, 1994

Albus Dumbledore didn't know whether to be happy or not. On the 'not' side of things, he had just been woken from a fine dream involving a keg of firewhiskey, a delightfully dark haired young wizard, and a unicorn. On the 'happy' side, the owl that woke him he recognized as Harry's.

He took the parchment from the owl and it immediately took off. He unrolled it and took a look at it. It glowed yellow for a moment, enveloping him in its glow.

Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry,

You are hereby ordered to cease and desist all contact and/or activity concerning the Wizard Harry Potter immediately by order of the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. The only exception to this shall be the delivery of his school letter and book list in legal accordance with the Educational Communication Decree of 1823. So mote it be.

Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

'How dare she?' Albus thought. 'Why I'll go right now and set things straight with…' He looked down at his large desk where there were five tall stacks of parchments. 'Oh, look at all this paperwork I have to get done.' He disgruntledly settled in to get going on all of the holiday paperwork that he had been putting off.

The Ministry of Magic, Department of Magical Law Enforement, 0700, 9 July, 1994

Amelia Bones signed the paperwork and secretly filed it away. She nodded to Dawlish and Tonks as they passed by her office. The nodded back and she knew that things were now in motion. The super-secret black investigation into Albus Dumbledore and the situation with Sirius Black was now underway. She could legally keep it black for up to six months before she had to report it. Hopefully the two Aurors could unearth what she needed in that time frame.

She sighed and considered what she would do for the rest of the day.

Number Sixteen East Landing Court, 1800, 31 July, 1994

Harry and the Grangers had just returned from a very enjoyable dinner out, when Hermione dragged him into the living room. She plunked him down on the couch, and snuggled up next to him. It had been a rather quiet month after the first week, and Harry suspected that Madam Bones had somehow been responsible for it.

He took a few moments to cast the thought of Professor Dumbledore and his manipulations out of his head. He had just spent a very enjoyable birthday, his first happy one ever, with his new girlfriend and her delightful family. He had never felt this content before. He wrapped his arm around Hermione and pulled her in close. This was his idea of what Heaven must be like.

"Are you having a good birthday?" she asked, breaking him out of his reverie.

"You know that I am." He smiled at her before kissing her forehead.

"Good, because we have some things for you," she told him. "Close your eyes please."

He complied with her request, and when she allowed him to open them he was surprised with the stack of presents on the coffee table in front of him.

"Happy birthday, Harry," Jane Granger intoned. "We thought that you might enjoy getting some new things to wear. It isn't much, but I've found that a new wardrobe does wonders for one's self esteem."

Harry fought back the tears that were threatening to fall. "Thank you," he managed to whisper. He spent the next half hour unwrapping a bunch of packages of different types of clothing. "It'll seem strange to have clothes that actually fit me," he murmured.

"We have one other thing for you, son," Robert Granger said as he laid a hand on Harry's shoulder. He gestured towards the open between the living room and the foyer as Hermione wheeled in a new bicycle. Harry's eyes went wide as he saw it. He had always been somewhat jealous of all the bikes that Dudley kept getting each year. His extreme girth always meant that the thin, poorly constructed things would buckle shortly after he got them.

"Hermione explained to us how much you like flying, but we know that you already have a world class broom. Plus, you can't actually ride your broom here so we thought that you could get some of the feeling you get on your broom on this." Robert looked at Harry hopefully.

Harry didn't know how to respond. He stood there trembling slightly until Hermione came and wrapped him in a big hug. He calmed visibly in her embrace and her mother smiled at the sight.

"I think you should start teaching him tomorrow, Hermione," she said softly to her daughter. Hermione beamed and nodded enthusiastically. It would indeed be the best summer of Harry's young life.

Number Sixteen East Landing Court, 1000, 30 August, 1994

The pair sat on the couch, waiting patiently for Mr. Weasley to arrive. They didn't really know how he would show up, but they were rather curious. At precisely ten in the morning the fire turned green and disgorged Arthur Weasley gracefully into the living room.

"Good morning Harry and Grangers," Mr. Weasley called out merrily. Greetings were given all around. "Are the two of you ready? Do you have your things packed? Remember, we're going to go to King's Cross Station the day after the World Cup."

"Yes Mr. Wealsey," the teens said together. They pointed to their trunks, and Mr. Weasley promptly shrunk them and placed them in his pocket.

"Well, then," he started as he shook the Granger's hands and promised them that the pair would be fine in his family's care. "Best be off with you. Remember to enunciate clearly when you say 'the Burrow'. I'll be right behind you."

Harry followed Hermione into the fire. She spun out of sight as he called out "the Burrow!" He spun around and started to get dizzy when all of a sudden he was thrust out of the floo and flat on his face in front of Hermione and Ron, who was now laughing hysterically.

Harry glared at his friend. "I bet when we learn to apparate, you'll leave behind something, like an eyebrow or your nose," he muttered under his breath. He waited for Mr. Weasley to arrive and then collected his trunk. He lugged it upstairs to give himself time to cool down.

The Burrow, 1930, 30 August, 1994

Any dinner cooked by Mrs. Weasley was a treat, even if she did tend to push way too much towards Harry. Sometimes he wondered if she saw him as a Christmas goose that was in need of a good fattening just a few weeks before the holiday.

Hermione looked pointedly at him as they sat side by side. He swallowed and returned her gaze shakily. She gave him a tiny nod and he gulped. "Erm… I'd like to take a moment and let all of you in on something." The group of redheads all stopped eating, well most of them anyways. Ron stuffed the rest of his sausage in his mouth and chewed happily as he watched Harry.

"Hermione and I have started dating, and we wanted you to find out from us. We didn't want to hide it from anyone. I'm proud that she's agreed to be my girlfriend."

Ron looked like he had swallowed the rest of his mouthful and was choking on it, he turned so red. He gave Harry a death glare and pushed away from the table. "Bastard!" he hissed as he threw his dirty napkin at Harry.

Harry looked at him with a stunned expression on his face. He looked at Hermione and then back at Ron, confusion clearly written in his look.

"You just couldn't let me have anything could you?" Ron waved his fist in Harry's direction. "You come here showing off your brand new clothes, with your brand new girlfriend and you have to wave it under my nose!" Spittle splattered across Harry's face and he reached up a hand to wipe it off.

"Traitor!" Ron screamed at him and then he turned around and ran from the room, his heavy footsteps up the stairs echoing plainly through the house.

Harry looked around the table, unable to voice what he was feeling. Dejection hung heavily on him… The twins looked startled but happy for him. Arthur looked pleased for them. Ginny looked somewhat sad, but gave him a small smile. She got up and walked over to him and wrapped him a gentle hug. "Take care of her," she whispered to him.

He looked at Mrs. Weasley. It was clear that she thought the two of them much too young to be in a serious relationship, but one look from Arthur silenced whatever comment she had on her lips.

"I think that I'll just sleep on the couch tonight, Mrs. Weasley," Harry said. When she looked scandalized he continued. "I wouldn't want to upset him any more tonight. We'll be off for the World Cup tomorrow, and in the excitement there maybe he'll get over his jealousy."

"Perhaps you're right, Harry dear," she answered. "I'll just go and get it made up for you," she said sadly.

The Burrow, 0500, 30 August, 1994

Harry awoke to a kiss on the cheek from Hermione. "Come on, sleepyhead, you need to get up and eat. We're leaving in an hour." Harry scrambled from the couch and hurried to the bathroom for his morning ablutions.

An hour later found the group trekking through Ottery St. Catchpole and up a long hill. Harry had a stitch in his side, and Hermione didn't look much better when they reached the top. They were met there by the Diggorys, and though Mr. Diggory seemed somewhat rude in his trying to subtly put down Harry to make Cedric sound more important, things went well.

After arriving at the event site, and having a somewhat entertaining encounter with a Mr. Roberts, the group eventually made it to their campsite. Harry and Hermione both assisted Mr. Weasley as he set up the tent. In reality, both of them had practiced this in Hermione's back garden, so they did most of the work, though Arthur really seemed to truly enjoy using the rubber mallet. His giggles were infectious as he smacked the pins into the ground.

After they were finished they went to where the twins and Ron had set up a fire. There were two open chairs, but Hermione settled herself down in Harry's lap.

"Oh, you just had to sit there didn't you! What's the matter Hermione, our chairs aren't to your liking?" Ron spit out.

"Actually, Ronald," she replied through clenched teeth, "I thought that Ginny might like to join us," she motioned to the girl who was approaching. "So, I figured she could have that chair."

"Just shut up!" Ron had jumped up and was bending down threateningly as he hissed at her.

Hermione suddenly found herself lifted up and gently placed off to the side so quickly she wasn't sure how it had happened. Just as quickly Ron found himself flat on his back with his legs tangled up in the chair he had landed on as a large bruise started to form where Harry had slugged him in the jaw. Harry stormed off, and Hermione could feel the magic flowing off of him in waves.

"Bloody pillock!" Ron yelled as he tried to scramble to his feet. He managed to get up just in time to block Hermione from following Harry. "Well, at least he left us alone to get comfy," he said with a smirk in Harry's direction. He turned to Hermione. "Wanna snog?" Her foot sinking in up to the calf in his bollocks convinced him that she didn't as he toppled over with a high pitched whine.

She had always counted Ron as a friend before, but right at this moment he seemed to be as much of an arse as Malfoy had ever been. Bloody Hell! That hurt more than she thought possible. She wasn't sure what to do about it, but right now her biggest worry was catching up with Harry!

Hermione sprinted in the direction that Harry had disappeared in. It didn't actually take time to find him. He was shaking with rage and pacing back and forth trying to calm down. Hermione quickly had him in a hug. She pulled him down to the grass and started running her fingers through his messy hair. As he started to calm down they looked up and saw a pair of people walking towards them.

It appeared to be a father and daughter. Both had platinum blond hair, thought the father's was much more unkempt than the daughters, and slightly shorter as well. Upon closer inspection he appeared to be somewhat cross eyed. The daughter was skipping merrily next to her father, and she had what looked like a cork necklace and radish earrings. Then, their mismatched gaudy colored clothes seem to be even more outlandish even for magicals. When she saw the couple she smiled and waved at them. She started pulling her father towards them…

Author's Note: Once again, a great big thank you goes out to my beta: Dennisud. I don't know what I'd do without you on this one buddy!

So here we go again, I hope that you've enjoyed it. Up next: the historic meeting of Hermione and Luna! Yay!