Chapter Ten: No News Is Good News

For the next few days the trio and Ginny helped Fred and George in the shop. They had been drafted in to help with the grand opening. Fred reasoned that having the three most famous people in the wizarding world would not harm their business. So that was precisely what they did. Fred and George had done a lot of restocking and making their products, as well as improving a few with Hermione's help. The trio were given a table at which to sit where they would sign autographs for the kids. Frankly, it was knackering, and Sirius could not help but enjoy the attention his godson was receiving from the fan-girls as it made him uncomfortable, but once he saw the look on Ginny's face he soon realised it was not all that funny.

Another piece of big news was the date of the trial for Severus Snape. It was to be held on the twentieth of June. But now that the trio's commitment to the twins was over, they were basking in sunlight as they sunbathed the days away.

It was one of those days when Kingsley suddenly turned up at Potter Manor, but he was not alone. He was joined by about twenty people carrying large sacks full of who knows what. Once they had all been brought into the house, Harry spoke.

'Not to be rude or anything, but what the hell is all this crap?'

Kingsley chuckled and said, 'This, Harry, is all your fan-mail. This is every single letter that was sent to you by children all over the world in response to when Voldemort was defeated in nineteen eighty-one.'

'No way, just what the bloody hell am I supposed to do with them?' said Harry.

'You could read them?' suggested Sirius.

'Why would I want to do that?' asked Harry.

'To reply, of course!' said Hermione.

'Hermione, there has to be at least ten thousand letters! Can't I just chuck them on a fire?' said Harry.

Ron snorted.

'No, you can't! All these children who wrote to you took the time to write to you!' said Hermione.

'Love, you realise that the letter writers are our age now?' said Ron.

'I suppose you do have a point, Ron, but, Harry, you should look through them for the ones from people you know …' Hermione suggested.

At this Ginny turned red and everyone noticed, but before anyone spoke she said, 'I agree, chuck them on a fire!'

'Excellent, an early bonfire night!' said Sirius.

That evening the letters were burnt on a bonfire that lasted all night as Sirius thought it would be a good idea to make a night of it as he broke out the Butterbeer and the Firewhiskey as Ron and Hermione cooked a barbecue.

The following day a more normal amount of mail arrived at the Potter Manor. There were letters addressed to Harry, Ron and Hermione.

Harry received a letter asking him to endorse a new broomstick made by Nimbus, as well as one made by Cleansweep, and one made the Firebolt Company. Ron received similar letters from all three companies too. However, it was a letter to Hermione that got everyone talking later on in the day.

Hermione's eyes got wider as she read it.

'"Dear Miss Granger,

It has come to our attention that you are the most famous witch on the planet right now, and we at Playwizard Magazine would like you to consent to an interview and to pose for our Magazine.

Please be aware that we have all the respect in the world for you and any photo-shoot would be very tastefully done. We also understand that you might not want to pose naked for our Magazine if you feel it would damage your reputation and credibility.

Please do not feel obligated to agree to our request in any way, if you would like to answer our request either way, please send an owl to accept or decline.

Yours,

Paul Screwer, Editor of Playwizard Magazine"'

Ron was the first to speak. 'Please tell me you're not going to do it.'

'I'm not, Ron, after all, I'm not nearly beautiful enough to be in that magazine,' said Hermione.

'Bollocks! You are the most beautiful girl I've ever seen!' exclaimed Ron.

Hermione gave him a big smile but said, 'I'm not doing it, I don't want anyone but you to see me naked.'

'Damn right!' said Ron.

'And now that that conversation is finally over, we can call off the men in white coats!' said Harry.

Ron and Hermione went red and went back to reading the rest of the mail.

That night when Ron and Hermione went to bed, they made love for three hours and when they were done, Hermione was draped over Ron in her usual position with her head on his chest listening to his heartbeat as he wrapped his arms around her.

'Hermione?' said Ron.

'Yeah?' she replied.

'Do you remember in fifth year when I borrowed Colin's camera to take a picture of the back of Harry's hand?'

'Yeah, why?' she asked.

'Well, do you remember that there was a full roll of film in it, and I asked you to pose for me?'

'Oh, yeah, I remember that. I told you I was too young to pose naked for you …'

'Yeah, but you are eighteen now, so …?'

'Ron, are you asking me to pose naked for you so you can take pictures of me?'

'Um, yeah,' he said.

She looked into his eyes and said, 'Why do you need to have naked pictures of me, you see me naked every single day.'

'That's an excellent point, but I dunno, you are just so fucking sexy and beautiful, Hermione … just a few poses in your school uniform and out of it, please? Pretty please, love?'

Hermione snorted and said, 'I'm not saying no and I'm not saying yes either, Ron, now shut up and hold me, this is my favourite part; you holding me after some amazing and wonderful sex.'

'Yes, my Goddess,' he replied as he turned out the lights and them both falling asleep.

Then next morning the Daily Prophet had an enormous headline with a picture of Harry, Ron and Hermione.

HIGHEST HONOUR FOR THE HOGWARTS TRIO

Hermione picked up paper and began to read.

'"Last night it was announced that Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger are to be awarded the Order of Merlin, First Class.

'"The Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt confirmed that the Committee of Order of Merlin will honour everyone who fought at the Battle of Hogwarts, last month. Also, in addition, the many members of the Order of the Phoenix and members of an organisation known as Dumbledore's Army will also be recognised. For profiles on the Hogwarts trio, see pages 2, 3, and 4."'

'Wow the Order of Merlin …' said Hermione.

'First Class …' said Ron.

'Hermione, what do the profiles say?' asked Harry.

Hermione opened the newspaper and read aloud again.

'"Harry Potter aka The Boy Who Lived, The Chosen One

'"Harry James Potter was born in the village of Godric's Hollow on July 31st 1980 to James Charlus Potter and Lily Marie Potter nee Evans. Harry was the only survivor in an attack by You-Know-Who on Halloween 1981 and was marked by a lightening bolt shaped scar on his forehead. After living with his muggle family for ten years, he re-joined the wizarding world on the first of September 1991 upon his first day at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It was on the train to Hogwarts that he met his best friend, Ronald Weasley. It is thought that the pair bonded whilst sharing sweets.

'"Two months later, they became friends with Hermione Granger and their trio was complete. The incident that brought our three heroes together is that a troll had been let into the school and the boys had come to the aid of Hermione who had not known of the troll's presence in the school.

'"In Harry's first year the three of them saved the Philosopher's Stone from falling into the hands of one of You-Know-Who's supporters in order to resurrect him. Harry also made the Quidditch team as a Seeker.

'"Harry's second year saw him accused of using magic at home but as the incident was not properly investigated, his record was cleared of the incident. Harry also had to contend with the legend of the Chamber of Secrets. Due to Harry and his two friends, the school was saved from closure as Harry used the sword of Gryffindor to kill a Basilisk that had been attacking and petrifying students throughout the year, including Hermione Granger.

'"Just before the beginning of third year, Sirius Black escaped form Azkaban Prison, and it was thought he was out to kill Harry. However, Harry did not allow anything to stop him from winning the Quidditch Cup for Gryffindor and later on, confront Sirius Black. But with the help of his friends, Harry discovered that Sirius Black is innocent and was able to clear the name of his godfather.

'"Harry's fourth year saw him entered against his will into the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Harry skilfully flew past a dragon to retrieve a golden egg, used Gillyweed to retrieve his best friend from the Mer-people in the black lake, before taking the Tri-Wizard Cup with Cedric Diggory not knowing it was a Portkey before he watched on helplessly as Cedric Diggory was murdered and You-Know-Who was resurrected.

'"Harry's fifth year saw him and his name being dragged through the mud by the Ministry of Magic and Cornelius Fudge. Former Minister Fudge refused to believe Harry about the return of You-Know-Who, but Harry stuck to his story anyway. He was also accused of casting a Patronus Charm in Surrey by the Ministry, but Harry was already in a safe house by the time of the attack by two Dementors upon his cousin. Cornelius Fudge attempted to try Harry as an adult for underage magic but Harry's legal guardian and counsel, Sirius Black, was easily able to get the "case" thrown out of the Wizengamot. Harry also claimed his rightful place on the Wizengamot taking his family's Seat.

'"When he returned to school, he was unimpressed with the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, former Undersecretary Dolores Umbridge. So, Harry gave an unprecedented Press Conference in the Great Hall at Hogwarts. He spoke eloquently and truthfully about what had happened to him the night You-Know-Who returned. Harry's conflict with Umbridge earned him a detention, during which she attempted to make Harry write lines with a Blood Quill. Harry did not take this lying down and attempted to walk out of the detention. Umbridge attempted to curse Harry while his back was turned, but he easily disarmed her and snapped her wand in anger. He also reported Umbridge to the authorities and she was rightfully dismissed from teaching. But then by the end of the year, he and the late Albus Dumbledore were vindicated in their convictions and the world was finally alerted by the Ministry and a red-faced Cornelius Fudge that You-Know-Who was back, and yet, despite all this, Harry won the Quidditch Cup for a second time – despite playing only two of the three games.

'"It is not widely known what the Hogwarts trio were doing in either their sixth year or meant to be seventh year. But we do know that Harry began seeing Ginny Weasley, and won the Quidditch Cup again, this time as Captain and sweeping all the competition without dropping a single point. Harry also witnessed the death of Albus Dumbledore. We also know that Harry and his friends broke into the Ministry of Magic and freed several Muggle-borns, he successfully broke into Gringotts, and managed to enter Hogwarts without detection and fought in the Battle of Hogwarts before defeating You-Know-Who, for good.

'"Harry's Quidditch record is 10-1. His only loss was due to being attacked by over a hundred Dementors. It should also be noted that he missed the final match in his first year due to injuries sustained in saving the Philosopher's Stone, the Quidditch season being cancelled in the middle of Harry's second year, the Quidditch Cup not taking place in his fourth year. Harry is the youngest Seeker in over a century to play for a house team at Hogwarts.

'"Harry's favourite food is Treacle Tart, and he enjoys spending time with his friends."'

'Looks like they did their homework, doesn't it?' said Harry coolly.

'I'd say so, mate, so what does it say about me?' said Ron.

Hermione turned to look at the page and began to read once more.

'"Ron Weasley aka Harry Potter's Right Hand Man, Harry Potter's Strategist and Co-planner

'"Ronald Bilius Weasley was born at the Burrow close to the village of Ottery St Catchpole, near Devon on March 1st 1980 to Arthur Septimus Weasley and Molly Weasley nee Prewett, and is the second youngest of seven siblings. Ron met Harry Potter on the train to Hogwarts on September 1st 1991 and the pair became friends over sweets they shared and two months later he became friends with Hermione Granger after the troll incident mentioned on page 2.

'"Ron played an instrumental role in Harry being able to save the Philosopher's Stone by sacrificing himself in a life-size game of wizard's chess. He was awarded fifty points by Albus Dumbledore for his part in saving the Stone.

'"Ron also went down to the Chamber of Secrets alongside Harry despite not having a fully functioning wand, he helped Harry to rescue his sister, Ginny, from the Chamber of Secrets during his second year.

'"During Ron's third year he began a relationship with his long-time girlfriend and co-member of the Hogwarts trio, Hermione Granger, the pair have been together ever since and speculation is rife that the pair might have eloped in the last year. Ron was instrumental in the clearing of Sirius Black's name.

'"In his fourth year, Ron helped Harry through the tasks as best as he and Hermione Granger could. He attended the Yule Ball at Hogwarts with Hermione Granger and the pair danced the entire night away as if they were the only two people in the room.

'"Before his fifth year, Ron was named as his father's Regent on the Wizengamot, and stood by Harry as the Ministry continued to smear him. Ron was also named a Prefect alongside Hermione Granger, and contributed to the Order of the Phoenix with a few secret plans as he and Hermione fell deeper in love with one another throughout the year. Ron also joined the Gryffindor Quidditch team as 'Keeper and helped to win the Quidditch Cup by playing in the last two games conceding only one goal. Ron and Hermione were injured in a fight with Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries, but both made full recoveries. Ron passed his O.W.L. Examinations with high marks.

'"Just like with Harry, Ron's activities are not well known outside the trio for his sixth year and what was supposed to be his seventh year. (See page 2). We do know that he won his second successive Quidditch Cup for Gryffindor and in doing so, his points against him record for that year was zero. Ron also maintained his status of Prefect for his sixth year, again alongside Hermione Granger. Ron's Quidditch record is a perfect 5-0 with only one goal against him.

'"During the Battle of Hogwarts, Ron defeated Bellatrix Lestrange, before she was killed by Severus Snape.

'"Ron is a huge fan of Quidditch and supports the Chudley Cannons, he is a chess master and he is known to have even defeated Albus Dumbledore. He has no specific favourite food but enjoys cooking and is completely devoted to his relationship with Hermione Granger."'

'Fucking hell, you're right, they did do their homework,' said Ron as he beamed at Hermione, 'pass me the paper, Hermione, I'll read your profile.'

Hermione passed the Daily sideways to Ron and he turned to page four before starting to read.

'"Hermione Granger aka The Brightest Witch of the Age, Harry Potter's Co-planner

'"Hermione Jean Granger was born in Ashford, Kent, to Richard and Helen Granger, on September 19th 1979, making her the eldest member of the trio. She became friends with Harry Potter and Ron Weasley two months into her first year at Hogwarts to complete their trio. Hermione Granger brought brains and logic to the two boys and she kept them both on the straight and narrow. At the end of her first year, she played her part in saving the Philosopher's Stone by setting fire to Devil's Snare as it tried to choke her two best friends, and solved a highly difficult riddle full of logic to enable Harry to save the Stone itself.

'"In her second year, Hermione managed to solve the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets by identifying the monster attacking students as a Basilisk. However, before she could relay her new information to Harry and Ron, she was attacked and petrified. Eventually Harry and Ron managed to find the page she had torn out of a book in haste and were able to save the school from closure.

'"In Hermione's third year, she took the entire syllabus of classes using a Time-Turner. Unfortunately she had to keep it a secret form Harry and Ron, not to mention the extra workload was detrimental to her health according to some sources. Near the end of the third year, Hermione began a relationship with Ron Weasley, and as stated on page 3 the pair have been together ever since. She was also instrumental in clearing the name of Sirius Black. At the end of the year, Hermione dropped Muggle Studies and Divination to have a normal timetable again before handing in her Time-Turner, and being allowed to finally tell her friends about it.

'"In her fourth year, Hermione helped Harry through the Tri-Wizard Tournament tasks as much as possible. She attended the Yule Ball with her boyfriend Ron Weasley as she fell even more in love with him.

'"In her fifth year, Hermione was named a Prefect alongside her boyfriend, Ron Weasley, and co-created the organisation known as Dumbledore's Army alongside Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. The idea was born that if the You-Know-Who can build an army, so can Hogwarts. This was a group of students who decided that they could not be left on the side-lines as their older friends and their parents fought a war. It is believed that if this group had not been founded, that many more of the younger fighters at the Battle of Hogwarts would have perished. Hermione was injured in a battle in the Department of Mysteries but made a full recovery. Hermione also passed her O.W.L. Examinations achieving eleven Outstanding's grades.

'"Once again, it is not widely known what Hermione did alongside her two best friends during her sixth year and what was meant to be her seventh year. We do know that she was named a Prefect for her sixth year and remained devoted to her relationship with Ron Weasley. Both she and Ron were with Harry as they broke into the Ministry to free Muggle-borns, Gringotts, for reasons unknown, and Hogwarts to fight in the Battle of Hogwarts. It is known that she saved the life of classmate, Lavender Brown, in the fight.

'"Hermione enjoys reading, spending time with her friends and family, and remains deeply in love with Ron Weasley."'

'They're three for three then,' said Harry.

'Yeah – wait, hang on, there's one more note,' said Ron before he went back to reading the paper aloud.

'"It is not known what the Hogwarts trio plan to do next. We do know that all three of them have been offered any job in the Ministry they want by new Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and they have been offered the chance to finish their Hogwarts education and to take their N.E.W.T. Examinations at the end of the school year. You have to find it ironic that a war about blood purity was brought to an end by a Half-blood, a Muggle-born, and a Pure-blood working together. Whatever they decide to do, we at the Daily Prophet wish them the best of luck with all their future endeavours, and if Ron and Hermione have eloped in the last year, we at the Daily Prophet, would like to offer our heartfelt congratulations to you both."'

'Well, thank you very much!' said Ron cheerfully as he pulled Hermione onto his lap.

'So, now that everyone knows that I'm with Ginny, either all the fan-girls will leave me alone, or they might target Ginny,' said Harry.

'I can look after myself, you know, Harry,' said Ginny.

'I know, I never said that you couldn't,' said Harry.

'You worry,' said Ginny.

'Yeah, it's what I do, I suppose,' said Harry.

'Well, I, for one, could not more proud of the three of you if you were my own,' said Sirius.

'Thanks, Sirius,' said Harry.

'Thank you, Sirius,' said Hermione.

'Cheers, mate!' said Ron cheerfully as he and Hermione stood up and Ron then scooped Hermione up into his arms and carried her back to their suite to make love for a few hours until lunch.

'Fucking hell, do they do anything else but shag?' said Sirius chuckling.

'Please, Sirius, I don't want to think about my brother doing that!' said Ginny.

'No more do I want to think about Hermione doing that either!' said Harry, which made Sirius laugh even more.

'Oh, and Harry, what did that article mean about you being injured?' asked Sirius seriously.

Harry groaned before explaining to Sirius what happened, as upstairs, Ron and Hermione were shagging again.