Chapter 34 Arthur's first mission, The Fat Lady returns and Hermione's Easter

14th February 1994, department misuse of muggle artefacts, MoM

Arthur was working hard on his report for Amelia about the raid from the 9th. He worked on it before but he needed to know how the injured Aurors were doing. The raid had gone over and over in his mind the last few days with the plan and where it had gone wrong. Fortunately, there were no fatal casualties on the Aurors side while on the other side it was not sure yet. He needs to finish the report no later than tomorrow and deliver it to Amelia's office before he leaves tomorrow. He was recalling the events countless times in his head.

**flashback**

Arthur had just apparated nearby with a large force. The second and third groups had apparated not far away on either side of the building. The last side was water and he had some brooms ready for some of the Aurors and his Aurors to pursue. They used Cleansweep 7's only the Nimbus 2000, Nimbus2001 and the Firebolt could outfly the Cleansweeps. The Nimbus 2000 was a bit faster, the Nimbus 2001 was a little bit faster than the nimbus 2000 while the Firebolt was much more agile and was quite a bit faster than the Nimbus 2001. You need to be a very good flyer to use the Firebolts agility to good use though.

Arthur waited for a few minutes. When nothing happened he gave the order to put up the wards to prevent them from escaping. Amelia had used her clearance to check if there was a floo connection to the building but she didn't find anything.

Arthur gave the order to move forward and gave the signal to the other groups to also advance. Arthur's group contained himself, two Aurors, one Auror trainee and three of his Aurors. The other two groups contained one Auror with one Auror trainee and two of his Aurors.

He had changed the plan the evening after he had the meeting with Amelia. The building was as large as Gringotts (above ground) but was from normal brick. Arthur pointed out three places where they were going to break. With hand signals, he managed to make the entrance almost at the same time. They break and entered when the spellfire starts to fly around. Arthur was the last one to enter so he managed to duck behind the wall but on the outside. The first two from every group managed to make a shield. The shield was from his Aurors as that was one of the first spells they learned and most were proficient in it if they weren't before. The groups managed to close in. Arthur was also inside and he saw that it wasn't one person. They were evenly matched. Arthur was with fourteen others, but the other side had fifteen. Fortunately, the break and entering with the surprise that they couldn't escape by Apparating out they were able to take out five from the fifteen.

The other ten started to fire. When the shields hold they started to use stronger and darker curses. Some curses broke the shield or went through it, but the curses at least lost some power. Because the curses lost power the injuries weren't severe and the Aurors that were hit managed to continue the fight. As the curses became darker the Aurors (, Aurors trainees and Arthur Aurors) started to fire back stronger spells that seriously hurt some perpetrators. Some perpetrators managed to continue to fight.

Arthur was the only one that continues to cast non-lethal spells like Stupefy, Petrificus Totalus, Expelliarmus and Incarcerous. He hurt three perpetrators as his Stupefy and Expelliarmus smashed them to a wall before he binds them with Incarcerous.

The whole battle took less than 10 minutes but in the end, Arthur and his fourteen Aurors 6 were hurt that needed some attention while 4 had small injuries and Arthur had one small cut on in left arm and one small on his cheek but it was nothing a healing spell couldn't fix. After the healing spell, you couldn't see he was hurt.

Of the perpetrators, eight were almost uninjured. Three were not injured at all as they voluntary surrendered when they were the only ones left. The last four were heavily injured and two of them had life-threatening wounds. The rapid response unit from St. Mungo's came as they were on standby as they were always on standby when the Auror department had a raid or in this case Arthur's new department.

One of the healers, when he healed Arthur as he isn't good at healing spells, said that this was not a bad raid looking at the injured. It wasn't the best but not bad for the first time as Arthur said that it was the first raid he had led. He saw a familiar face but couldn't remember her name so he let her go, but he knew James and Lily knew her and was sure he talked with her before the attack. After James and Lily were killed he didn't talk to her anymore. It wasn't important.

**end flashback**

Arthur wrote anything until the healers arrived so Amelia wouldn't know of the Healer's comment or that he saw a recognizable face with ties to Harry and the Potter family. He was talking with Perkins about the raid when he was done with the report. Near the end of the workday, Perkins had read it and had some remarks to improve it. Arthur made them the next day before handing them in. He got a message later that Amelia was pleased as all the enchanted muggle artefacts were captured and dispelled before a squib sold them to the muggle world.

The squib gave half to the DMLE after it converted into wizarding currency. It was quite hefty. It would go to the new department from Arthur if needed otherwise it would go to the DMLE. Amelia was considering giving the participants including Perkins a part of the money as a bonus, but if it was found out she would have a hard time in the wizengamot although it is far from illegal. It was however highly uncommon that she only got it once when she grabbed a Death Eater with her squad in the first war that had a bounty on his head, these perpetrators did not.

13th March 1994, Hogwarts

It was Sunday and Professor McGonagall entered the Gryffindor Common Room. Professor McGonagall did want to come earlier but she didn't want to face Sir Cadogan, especially with the way he acted and talked. The Fat Lady was back and she was more than happy with it. The Fat Lady wanted added protection though. Dumbledore promised extra patrols, but the Fat Lady wasn't happy with just that. Professor Flitwick taught the oak front doors to recognise Sirius Black to not grant him access.

When Professor McGonagall told the Fat Lady that and said that the seven years prefects from Gryffindor and Ravenclaw including the head-boy and head-girl while making extra rounds she was almost reassured. Professor Dumbledore was convinced by three Heads of House (minus Snape) to add one more protection. Especially Professor McGonagall was adamant about that and Professor Flitwick was at least as adamant while Professor Sprout agreed although it was not as firm as Professor McGonagall.

Professor Dumbledore relented. Professor McGonagall asked for guard trolls. Professor Dumbledore wasn't certain about adding trolls until an idea came up and he agreed to add two trolls near the Fat Lady in the giant staircase.

Professor McGonagall called everyone down. She stood for almost the whole Gryffindor house as some were in the library, with friends from other houses or outside trying to get some of the weather as it was starting to clear. Those that were outside wouldn't stay outside for too long mostly because they were afraid of the Dementors.

Professor McGonagall said "I am here for two things. The first thing is that the Fat Lady has returned to her portrait. As she was hesitant to return we have placed two-guard trolls on either side of the entrance. Do not provoke the Trolls as they do not attack you unless you provoke them too much as they know who to look out for."

"The second is as Easter is fast approaching for the next week there will be a list I put here on the wall so if you decide to stay at Hogwarts during Easter put your name on the list. The train will leave on the 26th at 2 pm sharp. You will reach London at 5 pm. The train ride back is on April 10th. The train will leave London at noon sharp and you arrive here at 5 pm."

Most nodded and she left just when the guard Trolls arrive. The handlers were making sure the Trolls knew who to look out for. Professor McGonagall asks one of the handlers "Sir make sure they understand to not attack any student."

The handler nodded and said, "of course Professor McGonagall."

Professor McGonagall suddenly remembers the voice and that makes her remember his name. She says his name before thanking him. She just needed to be sure so her cubs would be safe especially Harry as with his luck it wouldn't be too weird for him to be attacked by the Trolls as he took one out in his first year that was sheer luck even though she was doubting herself as last year he defeated the monster from the chamber of secrets and that monster should be much more dangerous than a Troll or Trolls.

24th March 1994, Professor McGonagall's office, Hogwarts 5th floor

It was after dinner when there was a knock on the door. Professor McGonagall said "enter."

The door opens and Hermione walks in. Hermione asked, "you wanted to see me, Professor McGonagall?"

Professor McGonagall gave a thin smile and said "yes Miss Granger. I don't see your name on this sheet so I expect you to go home for the Easter holiday?"

Hermione nodded. Professor McGonagall said "okay Miss Granger. I want to tell you that even though I am not taking your time-turner you are not allowed to use it during the holiday even if you tell your parents. I do not forbid you to tell your parents as that is your own decision, but despite that, you can not use the time-turner. That comes immediately to my second point I asked you here. I heard for your eruption so to speak at Divination earlier today."

"Miss Granger if I understand Professor Trelawney correctly you stormed out of the class when she said you didn't have the Second Sight and have a hopelessly mundane mind. I understand your feelings about the subject as I told you before. However, your disrespect for divination and its Professor is something I would never expect from you, Miss Granger."

Hermione looks ashamed and said "I am very sorry Professor McGonagall I didn't mean to but as she predicted Harry's dead again and a very painful one at that even though he was not in the class. She based it on signs that aren't even in the books and only saw a barely and weirdly shaped lighting bolt or at least Professor Trelawney saw there a little lightning bolt in and associate it with Harry. I saw it more as a letter S which also is not a sign. If I must say which sign was closest to the sign we saw in the tea leaves as Professor Trelawney was going over it again for the fifth time. The sign in the leaves that I saw was a crooked wand and the sign of strength. But also a combined sign of friendship and …. love. As the wand was crooked it means something is going to happen with magic. It will be close to me because of the friendship sign."

Professor McGonagall thought 'close to Hermione that can only be Harry. Not mention the love sign not that I really believe this kind of predication, but with Harry's luck who knows.'

Professor McGonagall "but as I understand it you dropped the class?"

Hermione reluctantly nodded even though she found divination woolly and a lot of guesswork it was still a class. Her thirst for knowledge was making her decision to drop divination quite difficult, but as she didn't have Harry or Neville in the class it made the decision easier.

Professor McGonagall saw the nod and said "okay Miss Granger I think you should do it, it will give you more time for your other homework that was a bit sloppy although your grade was still O. It will also decrease the time you need to use your time turner which can only be good for you. Then one more thing the last few weeks I got told by our sixth-year prefect Miss (Vanessa) Sallow that sometimes you work in the night I suppose with dropping divination that won't be a problem anymore."

Hermione nodded rather enthusiastically but inside she knew she was lying. Divination was maybe the most she read although she already did that before her year when she got her books, the homework was done within an hour or maybe an hour at most. It will decrease her time using the time tuner and maybe need less time to work at night but it wouldn't stop the homework she needed to do at night as she didn't have enough time before although with the end of the year coming up homework would soon increase after Easter.

25th march 1994, Gryffindor Common Room, Hogwarts

Harry, Neville and Ron were sitting at one of the tables. Harry and Neville were reading while Ron was trying to get them to play a game of exploding snaps as the holiday had begun. Hermione was in the library trying to read as much as she could before the holiday would start and she didn't have access to the library for her own pleasure or her homework.

Harry was done reading and asked, "Neville don't you need to pack your stuff?"

Neville asked, "why Harry?"

Harry said, "as you go home like every year."

Neville said, "but I am not going home this year for Easter."

Harry was confused about why wouldn't Neville go. If his family liked him he would love to go home but the Dursleys aren't like that and never will.

Harry again asked, "why?"

Neville said, "I asked my Grandmother if I could stay to stay with one of my good friends, you."

Ron didn't hear anything as he managed to badger an older year to have a chess match that he was clearly winning.

Neville didn't say that besides calling Harry his best friend he also used the alliance house Longbottom and house Potter have. He wanted to stay as a Longbottom always stands beside a Potter. He wasn't sure he could help Harry if Sirius Black attacked him but he didn't say that to his Grandmother.

As Harry never about the alliance Neville used that to get his grandmother to approve and she reluctantly did as she was proud of the Alliance between House Longbottom and House Potter as she was friends with Harry's grandparents and parents just like Frank and Alice were friends of James and Lily and James parents and at least liked Lily's parents the one time they met before they were killed (by Death Eaters).

3rd April 1994, Heathgate, Hampstead

Hermione was home and she had done all her homework the first week without using the time turner. It was a bit of a weird feeling like the last few weeks she did multiple times. It was the same as when she didn't use it during Yule holiday well she did but not as much during a normal school week now she didn't use it at all.

Her parents had no appointment for the second week as they couldn't spend time with Hermione during Yule they made time for her. To make sure they had some extra time they had only very few appointments in the first week not more than three appointments a day all in the morning. They spend some time in the afternoon but Hermione was mostly busy with homework and already rereading theory for the end of the year exams.

Emma and Dan had been talking the last months and concluded Hermione didn't tell them everything. Amelia knew more but from the few letters, they sent her that she answered their questions but never told her anything about what happens at Hogwarts as she claimed she didn't know but they knew better. The cunning questions were obviously discovered as Amelia answered them but never gave them new information. Dan said that they needed to ask Hermione and wouldn't let her go without the truth. Fortunately, her parents knew when she lied or at least did not tell the whole truth.

Emma called Hermione down for a talk. Hermione was wondering what they wanted to talk about as she already has gotten THE talk.

Hermione walks into the kitchen and when she sees her father her mind begins to try to find the answer to why they needed to talk to her. She took a seat where she normally sits as it was clear she needed to sit there.

Dan said "Hermione ever since last summer we had been wondering if you may have withheld something that you didn't want to tell of didn't found it worth mentioning. Madam Bones was asking about different things and with the letters, we have exchanged your mother and I think you owe us the truth or at least some answers. Don't you agree?"

Hermione almost visibly paled. She hoped this would never come up or at least not until she was older. She was right she owned them the truth but there was a big chance they would not let her return. She could not lose Harry and Ginny her first-ever female friend. She blushed a bit about not losing Harry which made her think about what she really wanted, but before she could dwell on it Emma gets her attention.

Emma said, "dear we love you and accept you but I think just like your father you need to know you can tell us the truth even if it may be weird at first for us to understand."

Hermione get her blush under control and asked: "I understand what do you want to know?"

Dan and Emma looked at each other and Emma nodded. Dan said "well we like to know how you and Harry became friends exactly. You just told us that something happened but you never told us what only that it was important."

Hermione dreaded this question but if this was just the first question this afternoon didn't look good. She decided the best course of action was, to tell the truth, if she didn't her parents would get angrier than they were after the questions. She said, "I will answer but please let me finish and the same for the other questions."

Dan and Emma nodded. Hermione took a deep breath "on Halloween day we have a feast. Earlier on that day, we had charms and I was the first one to be able to perform the charm. The charm was to levitate something and we started with a feather. I showed Ronald and after the class, he ridiculed me by the boys from Gryffindor in our year. It was before I was friends with Harry but they didn't go against so I thought they agreed with him, but I was wrong especially about Harry and in the second year Neville admitted he also didn't agree. The other boys I don't know but seem nice now even Ronald is a bit less than a git."

"I was crying and wanted to go home. I was just like my earlier childhood being unable to make friends. I hoped it was different from primary school but it wasn't. That afternoon I decided to skip class as I couldn't stop crying and didn't talk to my dormmates or more like didn't want to. I used a lavatory to cry and hide mostly. What I didn't know was that somehow a large mountain troll had managed to enter Hogwarts. It was close to where I was. When I wasn't crying anymore I left the stall I was in and was planning to go to the common room."

"I saw the Troll that has entered the lavatory and was blocking the only exit. I thought this was going to be my death when I suddenly saw Harry and Ronald behind the Troll. I managed to evade the large club the Troll had and Harry tried to get the Trolls' attention he succeeded. However, he didn't think it through. I screamed as the Troll pushed Harry hard to the wall but he managed to evade the club. Unfortunately, the scream made the Troll focus on me again. Then Harry did the most heroic thing I had ever witnessed but it was also the stupidest thing. He jumped on the back of the Troll to get the focus off me which worked."

"Harry was on his back and the Troll didn't know how to get him off. I was below a sink trying to hide but couldn't move by shock and fear. Harry asked Ronald to do something but he didn't know what. I tried to mouth to him the levitation charm. Harry had stuck his wand inside the Trolls nose to keep his attention. Ronald had finally seen me and used the charm which worked and used the club from the Troll to knock him out. Ronald may have knocked the Troll out but Harry was my hero, the hero. Because of Harry, I didn't get hurt or worse killed."

Hermione decided to not tell them she slept in his arms that night even though it was completely innocent and she just needed her hero (although she already saw Harry as just Harry) to hold her to keep the nightmares away.

Dan was looking red from anger. A very small bit for Hermione not telling this but also as Professor McGonagall almost guaranteed that Hogwarts was safe… almost one of the safest places in magical Britain.

Emma was shocked but understands Hermione's feelings for Harry more. She managed to stop Dan from exploding by putting her hand on his arm and squeezing it. Dan looked at her and her glare made his anger dissipate. Emma has most of the same feelings as Dan but Amelia hinted at Hermione's second year not her first.

Emma said, "is that the only thing we need to know about your first year?"

Hermione thought and said "for me yes. For Harry not but this is a story about me."

Emma, however, was curious and said: "what about Harry then?"

Hermione sighed and said "he managed to stop the dark wizard that he defeated when he was a child to come back by the philosopher stone that can make the elixir of life that can extend your life indefinitely or in other words, you are immortal as long as you take the elixir of life. The stone can also turn every metal into gold. We got detention that took Ronald, Malfoy, Harry and I into the Forbidden Forest where Harry almost got attacked if he was not saved by a centaur. Ronald, Harry and I needed to pass some tests to save the philosopher stone. They were not really dangerous if you knew how to pass them. Ronald sacrificed himself on a giant chessboard to win that game. The other was a plant if you resist kills you, flying keys that Harry could complete as he is a wonderful seeker, a troll that was already knocked if not dead and a logical puzzle with potions that if you choose wrong could kill you or at least could not advance. I managed to solve that one…. Oh before I forget a large three-headed dog, a Cerberus, from Hagrid that called the dog Fluffy. The dog was the first protection, but he falls asleep when you play music."

Emma nodded and said, "could you tell us what you meant earlier this year when you said because of all the things happening last year?"

Hermione knew that would come up and again decided to say the truth "from the 13th March I was kind of preoccupied."

Emma wouldn't let Hermione getaway which such an answer "preoccupied how?"

Hermione didn't answer. Emma looked at her and knew this was bad. Dan while being mad still saw this was hard for Hermione and knew just like Emma this wasn't good. Both Emma and Dan knew she loved the new world. They also learned a few things. They couldn't learn everything but their talk with Amelia gave them new information that was very wonderful. Dan and Emma needed to know what has happened but how worse can it get. Hermione talked about the Troll with little to no problem. Dan had promised Emma that he would try to not get mad as his military training and discipline had learned him (as it could cloud your mind and judgement).

Emma said "dear please tell us. We know something happened and even if you were busy with studying you would send us a letter and I did notice that this summer even in France you worked hard on studying with notes that weren't your own until we stayed in the south-east of France and near the Mediterranean Sea."

Hermione nodded and said, "they were Harry's."

Emma said, "They looked good but you would never use anyone's other notes and I am sure you just didn't use them to please Harry or something similar."

Hermione nodded again and said "you are right but they were really good for what I needed to know and as I didn't have them it really helped me. I would say that they are very close to how my notes are."

Dan asked "why didn't you have them? You never missed a class not even in primary school. You even went to the school when you were slightly sick only because you really wanted to although your mother cancelled all of her appointments so at a moment's notice she could pick you up what wasn't needed."

Hermione stared at her mother for a second before she felt her father looking at her. She looked at her father and saw a look almost demanding her to tell them what they wanted to know. Hermione sighed and hoped that they would listen to her plea to stay at Hogwarts stay with her Harry. As she was too focused on remaining in school she didn't notice her thinking her Harry.

Hermione said, "okay I will tell you but please don't interrupt me."

Dan and Emma agreed to not interrupt her.

Hermione said "it started at Halloween. A message was drawn on a wall that talked about the heir of Slytherin and the chamber of secrets. The chamber of secrets is supposed to be a legend, a myth as many people searched for it but were never found even Professor Dumbledore looked for it. Malfoy saw it with many other students and said that we mudbloods are next."

Dan and Emma looked confused. Hermione said "many in the wizarding world believe in the purity of blood. They think they are best and better than the others like half-bloods and muggleborns, although not all so-called purebloods are like that, many are. Malfoy is always arrogant and loudest about being from pureblood. Mudblood is the curse word for muggleborns. He called me that more times, but I didn't mind after talking with Hagrid and Harry. Harry wanted to cast a curse but Katie Bell, one of our house chasers from the Quidditch team only one year older managed to pull Harry back or he would have gotten detention knowing Malfoy but it could also prevent him from playing Quidditch."

"Anyway, that was before Halloween. So on Halloween was a message and the cat from the caretaker was petrified. The caretaker is Mr. Filch and the cat is called Mrs. Norris. Not long after that, the first attack on a human occurred and Colin Creevey a Gryffindor one year younger than I was attacked. He was petrified by something. We didn't know what at that time. Harry saw them Colin Creevey bringing in as he was at in the hospital wing that night as he got there because of the fraud Gilderoy Lockhart."

"And yes I know Lockhart is a fraud he told Harry and Ronald himself. Harry told me. We tried to find out who and what was attacking students. Our first idea was Malfoy as he hates Muggleborns as most Slytherins do. I read some contradictions in different books about Salazar Slytherin himself. Malfoy would never tell us anything so mostly I was looking for a plan to make Malfoy talk to us. After almost a month I found a potion that could help. It was called the Polyjuice potion. It makes the person who takes it change into another person for one hour, but you need something like one hair or something. It was difficult to make as it is far above NEWT level and actually illegal. It took a month to make. I told Harry but as Ronald was doing weird we didn't tell him."

"On the 17th December, we got a duelling club. Well, it was barely a club we only got one meeting. Lockhart and Snape were first having a duel but after one spell cast by Snape, it was already over. Lockhart wanted to let two students show more. Lockhart wanted Harry and Ronald, but as Ronald's wand was already broken Snape let Malfoy against Harry. They both hit each other when Malfoy cast a charm that made a snake come out of his wand. That was the moment it was known Harry got a very rare gift. Harry can talk to snakes in the snake language. Those who can are called Parselmouth or Parseltongue and the language is Parseltongue."

"It looked like Harry was talking to the snake to urge the snake to attack someone. Harry said he didn't after that and said he knew he was a Parseltongue but not that it very rare was, that You-Know-Who and Salazar Slytherin were one or that it is associated with bad wizards, but Harry isn't. He talked to a boa constrictor before he knew he was a wizard. Later that day he found Justin Finch-Fletchley, who he was seen to urge the snake to attack but actually stopped the snake before Snape removed the snake, petrified just like the house ghost from Gryffindor Nearly Headless Nick.

"From that moment on Ronald really started to avoid us and spend less time with us. Neville, on the other hand, didn't and even managed more time with us or it just looked like that. The Polyjuice Potion was done and Harry suggested Neville join him to get answers from Malfoy. I got a hair and Harry with Neville got two other hairs when I got two muffins with sleep potion to Crabbe and Goyle Malfoy's sidekicks or better said goons while the girl I had the hair from was running around Hogwarts and would at least be gone for an hour."

"Something went wrong. My hair was not from her but her cat and I became a half-cat. The change took much longer than an hour to change back and like you probably have noticed I kept a few things cat-like. One obvious sign is that I like milk and cream, a lot more and almost crave them. It has slightly dissipated but when it is the time of the month I really crave it and crave it slightly less two weeks after the time of the month has started than during but still much more than normal. At least I don't crave it every day and more than only during mealtime like I had the weeks and months after the accident."

"Harry and Neville found out the chamber was opened before, however, Malfoy but he or his family wasn't it. The rest isn't important until March 13th when the second Quidditch match from Gryffindor against Hufflepuff. Before the match, I was in the library trying to find what the creature was. I finally found the creature. It was a Basilisk. The Basilisk can become very large and live for hundreds of years. The Basilisk in the chamber was almost a thousand years old."

"The Basilisk can kill if you look directly into his eyes and if you get bite you are so good as death ( A/N #1) as there is no known cure or antidote as the Basilisk has one of the most potent poisons in the world. If you look into his eyes through a reflection you would get petrified. I was thinking about how a large Basilisk could move through the castle without being seen. I with pain in my heart pulled the page out of the book and wrote pipes on it as I didn't have another explanation as it couldn't become invisible. When I knew that I wanted to go to the Quidditch pitch so I could tell Harry after the match or before depended on when I reached him."

"I used a hand mirror to make sure I wouldn't die. I met Penelope Clearwater a muggleborn like me on the way to the Quidditch Pitch. She was also going towards the Quidditch Pitch. She asked me why I wasn't there already. I didn't tell her that I looked for the monster but just did some research as she was. I used my mirror and she asked why. I said so we aren't surprised if we face the monster. Penelope agreed. We had a fun talk but it didn't last long as only a few corridors away from the library the Basilisk found us. Fortunately, the Basilisk was around a corner. With my hand mirror, I could look around the corner. Penelope and I saw in the reflection the Basilisk and the yellow eyes. I was petrified as was Penelope."

"I couldn't move but I heard almost everything Harry said as he was with me many times. Some of the time he was chased away by Madam Pomfrey and there were times he sneaked back after curfew and sit by my bed. He doesn't know I could hear most of him although only if he talked loud enough near me. I still had the page in my hand but it took until the end of May to get the paper out of my hand as he sometimes held my other hand (Hermione blushes). That evening he was with Ronald and Neville. Ronald took the seat Harry normally used which make Harry stand on the other side. He grabbed my hand again but the other one as he was on the other side. He almost immediately left when I heard him say what was on the page and my thought on moving through the pipes."

"Last year Professor Sprout was growing Mandrake's. Mandrakes are plants that cry went you pull them out of the ground. We used young Mandrake's. Fully grown can kill people with their cries but as we had young ones they couldn't kill us but could make us go unconscious for a little while. In the end, they were fully grown and together with 'professor' Snape they managed to make the Mandrake Restorative Draught that cured everyone that was petrified including me. I needed to take the exams the last week. I didn't see Harry until the last day."

Hermione blushed and said "I run up to him in the Great Hall and hugged him. I barely managed to slow myself down or I would have tackled him to the ground."

Emma and Dan gave a small laugh at that before their face became shocked again. Dan was the first to respond and said: "you are not going back there, Hermione."

Hermione immediately got teary eyes and said "please Daddy. Please let me go. I like it there and I can't lose my friends and my best friend, Harry."

Emma thought the same as Dan but as she saw Hermione's eyes she was wondering if it was the best plan. Sure she wanted Hermione safe but she also wanted Hermione happy.

Emma said with a gently smile "Hermione why don't you go to your room and read into your books or maybe take a nap. I can understand it was probably hard to talk about it."

Emma stood up and went to her refrigerator. She poured Hermione a glass of milk and sent her upstairs. Dan and Emma waited until they heard Hermione's bedroom door open and close. Emma hoped that the milk will soothe her while she talked with Dan. She understands Dan, but for Hermione's sake, she will try to make him see what Hermione wants it is at least as important as her safety.

Dan said "Emma we can't let her go back. She could have died last year not to mention her first year."

Emma said "I do agree with you Dan, but would that be best for Hermione? She loves going not to mention Harry."

Dan groaned and said, "I know what you said about Hermione and Harry but can we first talk about her life before talking about her love life with Harry."

Emma managed not to giggle although she really wanted to. Emma said, "Dan you know what I said she loves Harry even though she would probably deny it."

Dan said, "Emma please."

"Okay first about her life then. I think against our better judgement we should let her continue Hogwarts, Dan. I know she was in danger but as we have met Harry and I trust she knows better now I think she would watch out from being hurt."

"I don't know Emma. If she really likes Harry what would stop her from following him into danger?"

Emma thought for a moment but Dan said thoughtfully: "maybe her better judgement though?"

Emma laughed and said "you maybe didn't see the look but I did. I am almost sure that her better judgement flies out of the window when Harry is involved."

"Isn't it better if we stop her from going to Hogwarts then?"

"No that wouldn't help as that would make her hate us as we took her away from Harry, her best friend and the other friends she makes or made. We know it is difficult for her to make friends. Do you remember what we saw when she was in primary school although she didn't want it to show? Don't you remember how her first few years went when nobody showed up at her birthday parties how sad she was and cried? We cannot take away her friends. It took two years but this year she finally told about more friends in her letters like some of her dormmates Parvati and Fay even Lavender she did not always like Lavender but she is not calling her names. They just talk less as they have different interests but still talk a bit more than last year."

Dan was seriously considering letting Hermione continue going to Hogwarts. Even if Harry would become Hermione's boyfriend and steal his little girl and only child away he would protect her with his life as he already shows when he barely knew her in their first year. Dan said "let me think about it for a bit. If I agree there is one thing she must promise. She needs to tell if something has happened to her or Harry this year so far. If there is something that can cause a problem. If Sirius Black is really after Harry and tells us in the summer or Holiday what has happened in that year until then. She must promise that she wouldn't withhold things from us."

Emma nodded and said, "okay Dan, but don't only think about her life but also her happiness."

Dan reluctantly nodded but knowing Hermione is smart and Harry would protect her hopefully with his life so she would be safe so her happiness was important and Hermione would probably only be happy at Hogwarts, with Harry and she also talked more about Ginny the little sister of Ronald Harry's 'good' friend not best as that is Hermione. Harry clearly said that when they made up in front of Amelia.

It was just before dinner when Dan said: "Emma do you really think Hermione wouldn't be happy if we sent her to one of the other magical schools? She can see us more."

Emma nodded and said "yes especially as Hogwarts is seen as the best magical school in Britain. She would want to work in the magical world when she is done then shouldn't we offer her the best school we can."

Dan nodded and said "okay I trust your opinion about Harry although I hoped it would take years for Hermione to lose her better judgement when a boy is involved if that would have ever happened. I will allow her to go back but she cannot withhold anything that endangered her as I don't want to know about who she snogged and not."

Emma said with a smile "she would be pleased and she can happily talk about her electives she already did a bit but I think we need to be ready to expect everything especially if Sirius Black is after Harry. Also, we already know who she would snog with if she gets the chance and she hopes that will be her husband."

Dan knew the answer but needed to be certain "Harry?"

Emma said "yes Harry. He may not see it yet but he will if Hermione does try to get his attention although she already has a bit. Hermione told him about the nudity beaches where we did go topless he is a boy after all so he stared at her for a bit."

Dan shouted, "he did what…."

Emma glared and said "sit down. You cannot tell me you didn't and don't think I forget when you saw me for the first time you also stared at me or better said my breasts."

Dan said "okay you are right I shouldn't be surprised. Do you think Harry will start to notice her?"

Emma thought for a bit and said "he will if Hermione doesn't try to hide her body this much. She can show a bit more and still be respectful but I will not tell her that until I think she is ready or I think Harry is at least ready for a girlfriend. Hermione can get Harry's attention without much difficulty she just needs to take the first step or steps."

Dan was having enough and said "Emma I didn't need all the information. Just when you said Harry was enough. He looks nice enough and makes Hermione happy and safe that is all that matters don't you agree?"

Emma said, "you are right."

Dan said "and for your information, I only starred as you were beautiful and I have almost spent 9 months in army camp without seeing a woman and then an angel appeared in front of me in the form of you. Your face attracted me first and then when you saw me I tried to look down but your breasts were too good to not stare."

Emma blushed, slapped and then snogged him until she heard a cough behind her and saw Hermione standing in the door opening. Emma said, "oh Hermione I was just planning to wake you up."

Hermione said a bit cheeky "It would have been difficult with daddy kissing you."

Emma laughed and even Dan smiled. Dan said, "Hermione don't let me reverse our decision."

Hermione gave a small smile. She was cheeky so if her father wanted to reverse meant that the original answer was what she wanted.

Dan saw the smile and was happy he listened to Emma. Dan said "Hermione after long consideration almost the entire afternoon we have decided we don't pull you out of Hogwarts despite the danger you were in, but I must say that the mirror was a good idea. There are however two conditions."

Hermione smiled very happily and almost jumped up and down. She wanted to say anything but at the last moment, she thought which are. She asked, "Which are?"

Dan said "you don't withhold anything especially if it endangered your life and in return, we try to keep an open mind and not pull you out of school without a very good cause. The second condition is that please try to stay out of life endangering moments and if needed convince Harry to do so as it looks like he attracts the wrong kind of trouble. You want to help in any way, follow him and care for him so please."

Hermione hugged Dan and said "I agree with you, Daddy. Although I wonder if I can really convince Harry to be careful he is quite impulsive, a typical Gryffindor."

Hermione hugged Emma and Emma said "I agree with your father at least try. I am sure if you just talk to Harry he would at least listen to you."

Hermione nodded and said, "he mostly will I think but when it is important he wouldn't bulge and in life-threatening situations, I can't easily talk to Harry and Harry mostly have the best 'plan' if you can call his impulsive, made-up and just devised plan a plan."

Dan laughed as Emma just smiled. Dan said "okay sweetheart then only one thing remains. You will tell us everything that happened to you or Harry from the moment you stayed at the Leaky Cauldron as we needed to leave for a symposium in Geneva."

Hermione told everything from the dementor on the train to the attack during Quidditch but also Malfoy insulted Buckbeak and Harry threw himself between Susan and Daphne. Told more about the girls she was friends with from the other houses including Luna as she had briefly met Luna and thought she was nice for the short time she met her although Luna didn't say a thing and only smiled.

Let's end here for now. I didn't want to make the chapter too long so I end it here. In the next chapter, we go back to Hogwarts and more importantly to Buckbeak's faith. The last Quidditch match and the last Hogsmeade visit if the words count allows it.

How will Harry and Neville react when they hear that Hermione had dropped Divination while they had the study of Ancient Runes at the same time. Will they figure it out? Will they confront her?

Let's find out in the next chapter.

Please read and review. PM is also apricated and you would get a sooner response as I only answer reviews when I update the story.

A/N #1 Hermione doesn't know Harry was bitten as Harry didn't want to worry that is able that would lead back to his bad childhood with the Dursleys and bad memories.