Hello readers,
I hope you have had a good week! Next week this fic will be caught up with Ao3, still I like to stick to the schedule so the next new chapter will be posted on Ao3 on Monday and here Friday. From that day on the schedule will be like Ao3, I'll post the first Monday of the month. Since the author's notes are part of the word count on I'll summarise it into a sentence, if you'd like a longer one please read the author's notes on Ao3. I'm starting grad school and would like to maintain the quality of the fic.
This chapter officially marks the end of the fourth year Arc. Everything will start picking up from here and I'm so excited for you to read what I got stored for you. Hope you like this chapter.
Love,
Liria
~OoO~
Dear Mione,
How have you been? I hope your new pet, Carlos, is adjusting to your house. Can you tell me how his first few days have been? Did the builder guy come to your house yet? Has your gran made a feast as you told me before? I hope Carlos is eating well. You said he was sickly before?
Have you heard from Harry yet? I know he doesn't have time but what if what happened in second year is happening now? I really hope Harry is alright. I begged mom to ask Dumbledore to bring him here. I don't know what he told her; but she now says that "Professor Dumbledore knows what he is doing". You know all of the Reina Miranda nonsense you mentioned before. I hope we get to see him before his birthday. I think he shouldn't be alone on his birthday. When is your grandma's birthday anyway?
Things here have been a little hectic. I hope everything is more peaceful at yours. Is the offer still standing? Mum said that you were just being polite and to ask again because she doesn't believe it.
Can't wait to see you again,
Ron
~OoO~
Dear Ron,
Honestly, Ronald! You really need to improve your penmanship! How unorganised is your letter! I bet Carlos' could make a better letter than you, and he's a dog! Speaking of Carlos, he has adapted quite well to the house. It seems his bed is to his liking and he has taken to his new dietician restrictions. Though I still catch him hiding away his food for a later time. Do you have some recommendations or suggestions for that?
Yes, he was still a little shaken. Poor thing, after all he's been through what a savage owner. I bloody swear to Merlin if I ever see those… those… individuals again you would have to hold me because I will launch myself at them and make them learn why you don't mess with my family. Of course, everyone at my house just fell in love with his cute eyes and little nose. It would be a queue with everyone here to give them a piece of our minds. He is so obedient and quiet it's lovely but at the same time it worries me. I haven't heard him bark, ever. I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing. He started to walk with me in the morning. So perhaps he'll open up with time. Do you think his father will show up? He was very protective over him. I don't think he would just abandon him! I hope he shows up in the next couple of days. I'm pretty sure Carlos' hiding about missing him.
I'm assuming by builder you mean construction worker, yes? If so, yes, he finished the addition to the house just before Carlos woke up. Which was good, because I don't really know how he'd react if he sees new people. As for abuela's cooking, it was delicious as always. I think you would really like her flancocho, which is a pudding-cake dessert.
I haven't heard from Harry, I'm starting to consider if I should call the Dursleys. But I'm afraid I'd just make it worse and that's the least he needs right now. I understand that Sirius is in serious (get it?) need of therapy but that doesn't mean he can't take care of Harry. There are much more insane parents who don't love their children even a tenth of how much Sirius loves his godson. He is his sworn godfather! Mr. and Mrs. Potter chose it that way! But then again what do I expect of a society who doesn't give trials to it's "convicts"? I swear everyday that passes I'm more disappointed in the wix world. How can you have magic and still be so dense with people's motives and pains?
You should do as your mom says, Ron. Dumbledore is a powerful wizard. As long as he's alive there's a way to defeat Voldermort. Though it does make me wonder… never mind, I'm probably just being paranoid and neurotic. You really don't remember about Reina Miranda Ronald? Really? You never listened to me do you? I swear I should just never mention or explain any muggle's stories ever again.
I really do hope to get a letter from Harry soon. Do you have a gift for his birthday yet? I really don't want to just give him chocolates. After the year he had, I want to give him something memorable. To remind him that even though everything is getting dark there is still light if not around us, inside of us three. Maybe when he sends us a letter we could plan when to meet up?
My abuela's birthday is on the first of August. You should tell Mrs. Weasley that we don't joke around with hospitality. Puerto Ricans really do love to host parties and it's only fair that you stay at least a few days here. Since I stayed more than a month there, my parents hate taking advantage of generous people. Besides, you'd really be doing us a favour by coming here. I'm quite lonely here with my parents working and my abuela in her studio. We could even pay for your knight bus ticket. Really, I would love for you to come. I'm tired of being worried sick about Harry, you, and the mysterious silence of the ministry and Voldermort. At least if you are here I have one thing less to worry about. And you could do your summer assignments and even read ahead of time with me. We are going to our OWL year after all. Perhaps what you need is a new area that you aren't familiar with to study. You are always more focused in the library than any other place anyway. Please try to convince her, Ron. I Really hope to see you soon.
Love,
Hermione
~OoO~
Dear Ron,
Life in Durskaban has been terribly dull. All I do is chores and endure their long taunts and … well… you know. I really wish I could be with you and Mione right about now. I miss laying by the black lake skygazing while Hermione is reading a book. Hell! I'd take studying in the library or Mione scolding us for always leaving everything to the last minute right about now. I honestly vow to study hard this year, and consistently follow Hermione's studying spreadsheet that I know she has already finished for all of us and is dying to explain them with colour coding and everything.
Have you heard anything about Padfoot recently? He said he's searching for a place to stay and he would communicate soon but what if he has forgotten me? What if he finally realises that I'm not worth his time? That looking at me is too painful? No, don't answer those questions. It's just… being locked here is making me claustrophobic. I'm sick and tired of these people. I want to go home… Hogwarts, that's home, with you and Mione and people that depending on the month hate me or love me because at least there I'm not as humiliated as I am here, and that's saying something! Speaking of which, I don't think that Hedwig is safe here. I'm afraid they are planning on making a stew out of her! And honestly, I really don't put it past them. Can you take care of her while I'm here? I promise to pay back her treats as soon as I see you.
Has anything happened? I can't have the daily prophet sent here and there isn't any news that would make me suspect anything is going on? I've had dreams. I know he is planning something, something big. I'm worried, what is he planning? I remember Hermione saying something about how meditation can help recall dreams. So I've been giving it a shot. Though nothing about the dream has improved, I can stand Durskaban much better now. Please do say hi to Hermione for me and that I missed her, that I'm sorry I couldn't write her a letter and to not worry about me too much. Yeah? Please make sure she isn't worrying herself sick and don't send me any letters unless it's an emergency. I don't want to know what new and innovative ways those people have thought of to torture me. Hope to see you all before September.
Your Friend,
Harry
~OoO~
Dear Mione,
I'll have you know that I do know how to write a bloody letter. As you've said Carlos is a dog he can't write letters even if we do have magic. I'm glad he is getting used to your house. Maybe you should leave some food on his plate or perhaps spread treats around the house so he knows it's always accessible and he can eat it whenever he wants. Do remember to save me a spot when you are going to attack those "individuals". Hey, that he dares to go outside it's a massive improvement, don't let yourself down. No news on Carlos' father? He'll show up eventually, give that old dog a break. You know he was even more sick than Carlos himself. Maybe someone in the neighbourhood has been feeding him food.
Harry has sent me a letter, finally! It's not good Mione. It's not the worst but it definitely isn't good. He said he even misses your scouldings. Isn't there a way in that scary but brilliant mind of yours to take him out of Durskaban? He really misses Sirius but I haven't seen him or Lupin for that matter. Mione, he is locking himself up again! The isolation is not good for all that we work through is like one step forward and bloody five back.
He even asked me to keep Hedwig, Mione! Keep Hedwig! I don't like this one bit Mione. He's having dreams again and has started to meditate. He said it makes it more bearable. He also says hello, that he misses you and quotes "I'm sorry I couldn't write her a letter and to not worry about me too much." Also, don't write him a letter unless it's an emergency and that he hopes that he will see us before September. The meeting up part with Harry isn't going to happen any time soon. I understand what you are saying about a memorable and meaningful gift but I don't have a lot of sickle. Is there something muggle and not that expensive that you think he would like? I could probably go to Aunt Muriel's and do some chores for her.
Mom said yes, by the way! But she said that I better come home with all of my summer assignments done or she would never allow this again. Also that the knight bus isn't necessary since the twins are taking me there. I'll arrive Sunday, 30th around noon.
See you soon,
Ron
~OoO~
Harry Potter was having the best summer of his young and unfortunate life. And yes, he knew that it's only been three days but not seeing the Dursleys gave him peace of mind. The Granger's are great people. As soon as they got to the car Dan started asking him about Quidditch and other activities to do while the doctors were at work. When they got to the house Hermione's grandma, Hermila, had just finished cooking. She asks him to call her abuela. And Harry had to concur with Hermione on this one. Abuela is a great cook! He wouldn't dare start the debate of which was the better cook between her and Mrs. Weasley until Ron was there and with no adults in the vicinity.
He found amusing Ron and Hermione writing letters about him as a dog. It was more simple than Hermione's usual MO but that's why it was so brilliant. Hermione explained that since "the wix don't have an ounce of logic" they won't remember that she has Crookshanks. And the name Carlos is Charles in Spanish. Which really, it was simple, but the English wixen are xenophobes so they could care less about other cultures especially one as "ordinary" as Spanish.
Currently both siblings are in the dining room researching their summer assignments. Harry found that he enjoyed studying this summer. It's easier to do homework with the textbooks as reference for the essays for once. The Dursley's didn't let him take out of his trunk anything that had magic, as if somehow not seeing it meant that it wasn't there at all. As the youngest of the siblings raised his head to rest his eyes the doorbell rang. The teenagers shared a look and Harry took off running up the stairs searching for his invisibility cloak. When he arrived back in the dining room Hermione signalled him to put on while she opened the door.
"Hello, how may I help y… Sirius?! Please come in, I didn't know you were going to pay a visit, you should have called beforehand!" Harry watched as his 161cm sister took a fistful of his 181cm godfather's leather jacket and pulled him in. "Where the hell have you been?" huffed Hermione.
"Why hello Hermione, I've been having a lovely time as a free man until I went to bloody Little Whinging, Surrey to fetch my extraordinary godson only to find Petunia bloody Dursley saying she doesn't know where he is." Sirius Black's voice went chilly, the last and only time Harry heard it was last year back in the Shrieking Shack. He looked agitated and about to start screaming anytime soon. "So Hermione Granger, so help me Merlin, where is Harry? I know you did this. This has your scheming all over it"
"Padfoot I'm here, please calm down!" Screamed Harry taking off his invisibility cloak and running to hug his godfather. "I'm here! Mia was just protecting me. Please don't scream. I've been having the most brilliant summer."
"How about we move to the drawing room, and have a more in depth discussion about this. Yes, Sirius? Would you like some tea and biscuits as well?" stated Hermione as the host not leaving room to argument and following the teenager to said room.
~OoO~
"You are telling me you told Dumbledore off and don't trust him so you decided that even though Voldermort is at large, took Harry under his nose, disregarding the safety concern of this little plan of yours?" asked the older wizard incredulously. He had arrived at the Granger's looking for answers, however he hadn't expected these answers.
"Yes, yes, yes and of course not. After a few modifications Harry is safer here than he ever was at the Dursleys. I wouldn't put Harry's life in jeopardy just to spite Dumbledore. After some research we found a way to pass that house's wards into this one and we hire goblins for more warding in the house. We are communicating with Ron through owl and in code and Harry told everyone to not write to him in the summer because of his relatives. Besides it's not like you weren't about to do the exact same thing." accused Hermione knowing that the black hair man had a temper that could rival both of her brother's.
"Touchè kitten, you didn't need to show your claws. I get where you are coming from." Sirius raises his hand in a signal of coming from peace. "But couldn't you have told me so i didn't panic not knowing where Harry was."
"Sorry pads, that's my fault we didn't want to risk it, there was no time to tell you and… and not offence, but we didn't know who would just go behind our backs and tell Dumbledore. Only Ron, Hermione and I were in on the plan." said Harry sheepishly.
"Only the three of you?" The man raises his right brow in question. "Then how did you manage to deceive your parents, Hermione? Because I've met them and they are scarily smart and strict."
"I just asked them if Harry could stay the summer because his aunt and uncle neglected him." whispered Hermione, studying her brother carefully.
Though in the past couple of months they have worked with Harry's trauma at the Dursleys'. Harry, naturally, couldn't admit that what he lived through was abused. Harry just maintained his head looking at the floor. Hermione put her hands on Harry's shoulders hoping to bring him some comfort. The boy raised his head to share a small smile with his sister, his gaze telling far more than any words could've ever done.
"How did you manage to transfer Privet Drive's wards to here? Better yet, not that I'm questioning your brilliance Hermione, but how dis you know what those wards are? Dumbledore said that he grounded them with Lily's blood. Therefore the only people who can carry that ward are Harry's aunt and cousin." interrogated Sirius suspiciously. Hermione seemed to shrinked on herself.
"We did the Blood-Loyalty Familia Ritual." she whispered softly, remembering all the possible dangers of the ritual.
"I'm sorry, what?! Mind repeating that, 'cause I'm sure I didn't hear you correctly. I didn't just hear the Blood-Loyalty Familia Ritual coming out of your bloody mouth Hermione Granger!" The man stood up from the sofa and started to wear down the carpet mumbling. Harry thought of correcting his godfather by stating that her name was in fact Hermione Potter-Granger but thought better of it. Padfoot didn't seem like he could take a joke at the moment.
Hermione suspected that man's nervous habit had to do with his animagus form. It wouldn't surprise her if in the next couple of minutes a grim like dog would appear in her parents' drawing room. The three wix in the room knew that the oldest of them was in denial. The only way Lily Potter's protection could have been transferred anywhere is through a ritual of that calibre or worse. Not that the grey eyed man wanted it to be a worse ritual. It was, however, the implications of the blood-loyalty familia ritual that was drawing him into the edge. The man stopped abruptly to face the teens.
"Who else knows you did this ritual? Should've known you'd done something, the two of you look like twins." Sirius let out a sight and sat back down looking at the siblings. "No matter, you've just changed my plans for the better. I think Dumbledore will bring back the Order and I have no plan in joining again. That's what got the lot of them killed." The mercury eyed man muttered darkly.
"You and Myrtle. What were your plans, anyway? Take me away and do what? When Dumbledore noticed I was missing?" said Harry, putting aside his godfather's comment.
"I was hoping that he wouldn't notice the device going off in his office while he is at an Order meeting. Then take you to Gringotts to access Potter Manor for the two of us to start living there within the impenetrable protections of the manor. By the next Wizengamot meeting, state that Dumbledore doesn't have your best interest in mind so I could officially gain your custody and adopt you." As the plan came out of his godfather's mouth Harry looked at his sister. After the ritual and the encounter with the Olympians (as they had decided to call that bizarre, even for them, event) they had agreed for Hermione to be in charge of their living arrangements, while Ron had the strategies and Harry was in charge of training.
"Well I can assure you Sirius, he is safer here than anywhere else. But let's go to Gringotts and make the arrangements for Potter Manor. We need you to be the most valid person for our magical guardianship. The more stable you appear to be the easier it will be to escape Dumbledore's machinations. And if we play our cards well we can arrange for you to also have Ron's too." Hermione states with finality.