~ represent non verbal mind speaking
We entered off Charing Cross Road into the Leaky Cauldron and made a right into the Apothecary. Dan and Emma were still in the dark over what was going on because we needed a few things before we broke the news of our engagement.
"Yes? Can I help you with something?" asked the short bald clerk.
"I have a list of potions that I would like to purchase but first I would like a description of what each potion does." I hoped none of them were lethal but was holding my breath for a description of the first potion on the list.
"Don't recognize the first potion but if you give me a minute I will look it up on our listings." The clerk returned with a large book five minutes later.
"Tricky customer this first potion, it will take a couple of days to brew. It's listed as a bonding potion but the ingredients show that it is most likely useless but not harmful. The second will take about four weeks to brew and is the standard animagi potion, also not harmful. So went the list of Potions we were going to purchase. Dippy would pick up most of them by the end of the week and the last batch in four weeks. I paid for it all and we headed to Gringotts.
When we left I had a large sack of galleons and Hermione had a nice engagement ring. Actually she had enough jewelry to choose from as the Potter vault was like an over stocked jewelry store. If it was classified as jewelry it was there by the hundreds for each item. Hermione did pick up a suitcase full of assorted jewelry but was really happy over the ring. We only just got out of the bank when her mother spied the ring. Her parents were not thrilled to say the least.
/Scene Break/
The Headmaster of Hogwarts office:
"Albus I have continually warned you of that Granger brat since he arrived." Snape sneered.
"Yes you have but he is not Harry Granger." Dumbledore replied.
"Then who is Harry Granger?"
"That I cannot tell as of yet but if he was Harry Granger he would have lost his magic by now." Dumbledore mused.
"Who do you think he is then?"
"My first guess would be Harry Potter but he does not fit the description. He has no scar, his eyes are blue." Dumbledore was staring off towards the portraits as he rambled on.
"So who are we going to grab for the lake and the second task." Snape seemed a bit happier.
"The ladies that accompanied the champions to the ball will be the hostages in the lake. Oh! And do grab Miss Granger as I still consider Harry a champion."
"Great, that will teach the brat a lesson."
/Scene Break/
We are back at school but are busy in every possible way. We wondered what could anyone do with all that money sitting in a our bank vaults? So we opened or funded a few charities like the Magic Orphanage. We started a research company full of squibs that were looked down on in the magical society. We were interested in matching muggle technology and magic. There were then the investments in Silicon Valley and oil shale. I even bought into large tracks of farm land and leased them out. Dan and Emma were slowly phasing into running our muggle businesses. Their dental practice was operated by others now so they had the time to assist in keeping the Goblins out of our muggle businesses. We could never get any of this done if it wasn't for the 'floe' in our trunks.
/Scene Break/
The Potions where in and we had put off taking any, but we really didn't have anymore excuses. So it was down-the-hatch with the bonding potion. There was nothing, no bright lights, no passing out, nothing. That night was like all others and we fell asleep and dreamed. We thought it was a dream until the next morning and found out it was the same dream. It was a nice dream of a picnic on the nude beach with giggling over the fat man with no clothes and his even fatter wife. We did chat in our dream about what we wanted to do when we finished school. We then fell asleep on the beach and woke in our bed the next morning. Mind talking didn't start until after we became animagi.
/Scene Break/
We were ready for the animagus potion so we had Hermione, Dan, and Emma standing by incase I turned into a dragon or something as dangerous. Again it was funny nothing happened except I had a dream in the middle of the day. I was in the middle of a lush jungle and my animal showed up and growled, then left. It was a black panther. Thinking I would wake in a second I got shocked when a fiery flash exploded in my face and a silver Phoenix landed on my shoulder. It gave a warble and flamed away. Hermione had the same experience she was a brown fox with a bushy tail and a white Phoenix.
We now have so many secrets that our secrets have secrets. It's hard to have a girlfriend and try to act like a brother in public. To be able to turn into an animal is great but where do you do that? So our first problem was to be a phoenix and learn to fly or flash. Then we could flash to a forest and be our other animal all secretly and unobserved. The Forbidden forest was forbidden and with giant spiders, Centaurs, Hagrid and his half-brother was more crowded than the Great Hall. If you think that flying or flashing just happens I have news for you, learning to fly is hard work and falling or running into things is common. Of course you have to be airborne to flash even if it's just a hop. At least we did some research on the Phoenix so we only burnt a few items before we gained control of the fire. See the Phoenix is a sun bird and the sun is flaming hot. When controled its heat and flames are neutral but can be turned up to roasting hot. We finally get the Phoenix flying and flashing to an acceptable level. We finally found a secluded forest so the panther and fox could run. Yea run, have you ever tried to run on all fours. Again face in the dirt until that is mastered.
~"Harry wait up, Harry! Stop right now!"
~"What? Dear."
~"I can't keep up, so this is no fun!"
We change back to humans and Hermione came huffing and puffing up to me. Seems that a fox can't run at sixty miles an hour, also her nails are very sharp so hanging on my back is no fun for me. Hermione being the smart one figured if the clothes come and go when we change, that a special harness and pad put on the panther will disappear when I become human with clothes again. I've got to get Dan to take a picture of a black panther high-tailing it down the road with a brown fox riding on its back.
/Scene Break/
Our mind link is still a job under construction. We have imported a nice large bed in Hermione's trunk and made mine turned into a study/living room with books shelves on all the walls. Hermione is an avid reader.
The second task of the tournament is tomorrow and I am glad that I am not in this mess. We have just finished dinner when Susan and Hannah come to do a little girly chat with Hermione.
"See you later girls I'm headed to the common room, enjoy."
~"I'll be in the trunk when you're done love." I sent and headed for my trunk. While grumbling over a transfiguration essay for McGonagall…
~"Harry, help, Snape has grabbed me and has me around the waist, hurry Harry."
What the hell am I going to do, where? I almost panicked.
~"Hermione! Phoenix flame to me dear!" I shouted in my brain.
Hermione flamed into the trunk, changed in mid-flight crashing us to the floor while hugging and crying on me.
"Hermione get a hold of yourself, your safe and unhurt right? Now where is Snape at right now?"
"Sniffle, just outside the Headmasters office."
"I'll be right back." I flamed to that spot and found no one but the smell of burning flesh was clearly present.
I charged to the Hospital wing and found Madam Pomfrey cleaning up a mess.
"Madam Pomfrey have you seen Snape in the last few minutes?"
"Yes the Headmaster brought him in here a few minutes ago with severe burns; I had him sent directly to St. Mungo. Do you have any idea what happened?" Madam Pomfrey looked worried.
"Yes I do and might I use your 'floe' I wish to call the Aurors."
They came and ho-hummed the whole thing but at least I made the report. Snape would be dead when I saw him again. I returned to comfort Hermione.
/Scene Break/
They had bleachers set up to view the lake; we knew this would be thrilling to watch the lake for an hour. Neville used gillyweed, Krum got into half a shark and Delecour did a bubble head charm. Neville almost drowned as he took too long and never got his hostage. Krum got a trident in his side as the Merpeople concidered his arrival as an attack by a preditor fish. The Grindylow got Fleur. The mermen took umbridge at the attack and refused to return the hostages. It took Dumbledore with half the teachers and a dozen Aurors to rescue the hostages. Another stupendous trial in a stupid tournament but you could see how nobody survived the last tournament. As we walked back to the castle Dumbledore approached us.
"Mr. Granger! Would you have any idea how Professor Snape got injured last night?"
"Why yes, the stupid Git tried to kidnap my sister and when I see him again I will fry the rest of him!" I turned and returned to the castle. I was surprised at the non response from Dumbledore. I did however give the impression that I burnt him to start with. Potion classes were suspended to the joy of all the students. My response to Dumdledore was heard by someone and I was also praised as doing the school a favor. Creepy eye Moody suddenly had his eye on me more than normal which didn't sit right with me.
/Scene Break/
Our next potion was for speed and endurance. It was finished at the Apothecary but the book said to add Dandelion root, let it sit over night to make it attributes permanent. While we thought we felt different we didn't become "The Flash" of comic book fame. What I was noticing was that Hermione was filling out and becoming a very pretty girl. The vacation was a vacation but also a lot of things to get done. The bond was confirmed by Gringotts, wills were made out and business profits or losses were reviewed with Gringotts.
As a family we spent most the time in the apartment and the Jacuzzi as the weather in England is unpredictable. The Granger house was the muggle hub and had the pool in back. Either place was fine with me as I got to ogle Hermione's blossoming breasts. Our sleeping together was just that with a little cuddling but I figured that more was coming in the near future. While Hermione's parents were not happy with that there really wasn't much they could do.
Hermione was big into the study of Ancient Runes and Arithmancy so the Grangers house had some minor wards. There were anti-fire and notification of magical people approaching the house but they were still only simple wards. That was a great mistake on our part especially with me with the Potter Grimore.
/Scene Break/
Riddle Manor just outside Little Hangleton:
"Wormtail get your stupid tail in here before I feed you to Nagini!"
"Yes My Lord how can I serve you?" Wormtail replied.
"Tell Lucius that I want that idiot Fudge bribed, and make sure there are no Aurors in twenty-mile of here on that night."
"As you wish My Lord.", replied a kneeling Wormtail.
"I want additional people at my birthing; I don't think you can do two things without make a mistake on one of them."
"My Lord you wanted to keep this a secret for as long as possible."
"Crucio"
/Scene Break/
I was snuggled up really nice to my favorite snuggle bunny. I thought I would see how far I got before I got a "stop" order. I pulled my hand across Hermione"s toned stomach and up until I reached the curve of Hermione's breast. This was it... trouble or pleasure? I then cupped her breast and kneaded it lightly before…beep,beep,beep echoed through out the house.
~"Shit!" Came from Hermione.
We sprang from the bed and threw on some clothes for the public and her parents. We had magical company approaching the house. A peak out the window showed at least five men sneaking on this side of the building, their clothing gave them away as Deatheaters.
~"Let's flame behind them on the other side of the shed and then sneak up on them."
~"No heroics Harry take them out or run."
~"Yes dear."
The house shook at that time as a curse hit it, it was followed by some incendiary curses, but the wards took care of them. I flamed behind the shed and changed into my panther and charged at the closest idiot. Being that a panther doesn't make much noise I was able get within ten feet and change back. I fired a 'Confringo' at the first guy blowing parts all over the yard. I got off a 'Diffindo' at another before they had curses coming at me. I easily stepped out of the way and hit the third guy with a 'reducto' and jumped and rolled. Hermione got one with an 'impedimenta' causing the last to spin around and go after Hermione. It was his last mistake.
Boom…. Boom…. Boom…. was heard from within the house. I changed into my panther and felt the fox leap on my back. I raced around to the front of the house which was partly gone. I charged in where the door used to be and leaped when I saw two more thugs. I also saw my foxy little Hermione fly over my head into the face of one of the thugs I got the other. It took a half second to snap his neck and I turned to help foxy. She had mauled his face very well; I changed back and stunned him. Hermione changed and shouted "Mom, Dad?"
"We are in the bedroom and fine, are you ok?"
"Yes Dad were fine and you can come out its safe so far." Dan entered the room toting his 9mm Beretta.
Then the state of affairs struck, we were going to receive the police any second and we had no way of notifying the Aurors. How are we going to explain all the cut up meat all over the lawn and the mauled corpses or stunned thugs? Shit!
"AURORs throw down you wands and come out with your hands over your head" I smiled and told Dan to put the gun in a drawer and come with us, "Hurry up Emma we have company." I yelled.
I then got officially introduced to Amelia Bones head of the DMLE. I also got pissed as she was going to arrest us for being unregistered animagi.
"That tears it Madam, is the entire Ministry so inept that you have to go after us for defending ourselves while I report attempted mind rape and kidnapping and its ho-hum let the bad guy off."
"What are you talking about?" She was getting mad now.
Just what I said, Snape tried to enter my mind while I was a student at Hogwarts and just the other day he attempted to kidnap my wife…woops"
~"Nice slip there Love, what's for the encore?"
~"I hope she doesn't ask for your real name, damn!"
"You're married to your sister?" Amelia was definitely on the wrong track.
"Madam Bones could we talk to you in private, there are things that we cannot be made public."
"How illegal are they?"
"Err, not illegal just misleading, shit, let's go somewhere private and we will fill you in on everything. We are going to have to trust you with the information or start lying to law enforcement." I gave up.
We went into the den and she put up privacy wards and almost fainted when I said, "All of this can be confirmed with Ragnok at Gringotts, anyhow, I am Lord Harry James Potter, Heir to the Ancient and Noble Houses of Potter and Gryffindor. This is my bonded wife Lady Hermione Jean Potter", we both showed her our rings at that time.
"Why are you hiding, people have been looking for you for years?"
"In a condensed version it was because of and still is, because of Albus 'to many names' Dumbledore. He is trying to manipulate me in some game he is playing and when I disappeared he substituted Neville Longbottom in my stead. He somehow snatched me up when my parents died and put me in a magic hating muggle house. I was rescued from there and put in the Grangers care. All those books that have been written about me, well the only way they could get that information was from Dumbledore. I carry the physical scars from the muggle beatings but if you notice I do not have the forehead scar. I think he never wanted that removed because he had some use for that Horicrux…" I was cut off by Amelia's "WHAT!"
"Confirm it with the Goblins. I overheard him rigging the Tri-wizard tournament by insuring Neville was entered, I believe he also tried to get me in it but the Goblet spit out the wrong name. Now since the first day at Hogwarts there have been mind reading attempts in general in the Great Hall and I was personally attacked. I am not part of this tournament but Snape attempted to kidnap my wife. I believe Dumbledore had some plans to involve me. Would you like to hear about the magical blocks on my core, the blood wards on me and where I was put or the blood tracking spells?"
"Why didn't you report these mind readings or the kidnapping?"
"Sorry but I made an official Auror report on each incident."
"I may ask for a memory later but first I want to see where your reports went. Also you can forget about having to register, you and your wife are exempt as Head of Ancient House. I'll keep quiet on most of what you have told me unless I have to legally use the information."
All I was determined to do was get serious with the Potter family Grimoire. The Potter's have been known through history as warders and I had done a poor job on the Granger's home.