I don't own Harry Potter, or any related characters, and I'm not making any money off this.
A/N: I once again once to thank everyone for their favorites and reviews. It's all of you that make it so I want to keep writing.
I once again do not have a beta so all mistakes are my own.
9 Lives
By: Time Keeper
Chapter 3: One Thing Leads to Another
=== November 1, 1994 ===
Remus steps through the floo into Dumbledore's office accompanied by the large black form of Padfoot. "Headmaster Lupin, right on time!" Dumbledore says drawing the attention of the other heads.
"So this is the Headmaster of our fourth school?" Karkaroff asks as he approaches Remus.
Padfoot growls as he gets between Remus and Karkaroff. "Snuffles!" Remus yells and Padfoot looks back at him. "Down!" Padfoot comes back and sits at Remus' feet. "I apologize, my familiar is very territorial."
"Your familiar is a grim?" Maxime asks.
"Yes, I am a werewolf, no other animal would do." Remus answers.
"You're a werewolf?" Maxime asks, shocked.
"You don't need to worry." Remus says. "Missus Potter assures me if she can not make the wolfsbane potion she will pay Hogwarts' Potion Master to do so."
"I'm not worried, Headmaster Lupin." Maxime says. "On the contrary, I've heard the rumors of how werewolves are treated here and am surprised that any chose to remain."
"What do you mean?" Remus asks.
"Werewolves live peacefully amongst us in our country." Maxime answers. "Our ministry provides the potion to them, and has places that they can lock themselves up if they wish."
"You imprison them?" Remus asks.
"You misunderstand." Maxime replies. ""Some are just still afraid that they'll hurt someone during the change. We have places they can lock themselves up if they wish, the key is made of silver so that once they change they can't let themselves out in their werewolf form. Once they're human again they can let themselves out and rejoin society."
"How do they get the potion?" Remus asks.
"We ask them to register themselves so that they can receive the potion, and other support, including paid leave during the full moon." Maxime explains.
"That sounds too good to be true." Remus says. "Here, werewolves are forced to register so they can track us, then we are restricted one everything form what homes we can own,and jobs we can holds to people we're allowed to date."
"Even we treat werewolves better than that." Karkaroff says. "We send them to specialists that help them learn how to deal with their condition. The majority of them learn to fully control their altered bodies, even to the point of being able to transform at will. Once they have control they are usually offered jobs in which their heightened abilities are useful. Our army has a division that is all werewolves, along with our police force. Some take more ordinary jobs such as tracker or building security".
"That does indeed sound better." Remus says.
"It's not perfect, the areas that they are sent to to learn are not much better than prisons."
"Now, that the introductions are done, shall we discuss the tournament?" Dumbledore asks.
"Yes, I'd like to know what the plan is to keep my charges alive." Remus says.
"Why are we focused on YOUR charges, when we all have contestants in the tournament?" Karkaroff asks.
"Unlike the rest of the champions my charges did not enter themselves, yet are forced to compete." Remus answers.
"He does have a point." Maxime says.
Karkaroff sighs. "Very well, what do you suggest?"
"I don't know." Remus admits. "What even are the tasks?"
"For the first task the champions must retrieve a golden egg from inside the nest of a nesting dragon." Dumbledore answers.
Remus pales, and one of the others quickly pulls a chair up for him and he sits. After a moment Remus finally speaks. "You are going to have students battle dragons?"
"There's no need for them to battle the dragons." Dumbledore answers. "They need only get the egg from their nest."
Remus sighs in exasperation. "What dragons are you going to use?"
"I contacted the dragon handlers and they gave me a list of dragons whom will have nests at the time, I had initially picked three from the list: A chinese fireball; a welsh green; and a swedish short-snout." Dumbledore answers.
Remus nods, all three dragons were dangerous, but not exceptionally so. It wouldn't be unreasonable to ask a seventh-year student to sneak past one of these three. "What are the others?"
"A Hungarian horntail, which is my first thought on which one to ask them to bring now that we have a fourth champion." Dumbledore answers.
"A horntail?" Remus asks, jumping out of his chair "Are you insane!? I'd hesitate to ask a trained dragon handler to cross a horntail!"
"I know, but the only other choice is a young Norwegian ridgeback that will be nesting for the first time." Dumbledore says. "That one seems unfair, as she wouldn't be as prepared to defend her nest as the more experienced dragons."
"How are the champions matched with their dragons?" Remus asks.
"They will pull a magical model out of a bag." Dumbledore answers.
"Mister Krum and Mister Diggory consider themselves gentlemen and would insist that a lady go first?" Remus asks.
"Of course." Karkaroff answers and Dumbeldore nods.
Remus grins. "And as for Miss Delacour, if Missus Potter were the one that was going to compete, would she insist on the younger witch picking first?"
"Most likely." Maxime answers.
"Then we get the ridgeback and rig the bag so that it's picked first." Remus says. "Missus Potter, being a younger student, gets a very slight advantage by facing off against a younger dragon. An advantage that only we and the dragon handlers know,"
"If the task isn't changed in any other way I'm for that." Maxime says.
"As am I." Karkaroff says.
Dumbledore nods. "Very well. I'll arrange it."
"Should we discuss the second task now?" Remus asks
"Let's wait to make sure everyone makes it through the first task." Karkaroff says.
"I agree." Maxime says.
Remus nods. "Anything else?"
"The judges for the tournament were meant to be the three heads, Ludo Bagman and a representative from the ministry of magic." Dumbledore answers.
"I take it you are going to change that to include myself?" Remus asks.
Dumbledore nods. "That is the plan."
"I will do my best." Remus says.
#####
Hermione is sitting at a small conjured desk in their sitting room writing when someone knocks at their door. "Who is it?" She asks as she puts her writing up.
"Moony and Padfoot." Remus answers from the otherside of the door.
Hermione opens the door, wand pointed at them. "No plan.."
"Survives first contact with the enemy." Remus finishes.
Hermione puts her wand down, then moves to the side. "Come on in, I'll send a patronus to Harry." She casually flicks her wrist, summoning her patronus, expecting her usual otter; she's more than a little surprised when a large tiger-like form appears before her.
"A diretiger?" Sirius asks, as he takes his human form.
"Diretiger?" Hermione asks as she examines her patronus, the tiger-like form is nearly as tall as she is, while its legs are long, and well-muscled in spite of being slender.
"A type of magical cat." Sirius explains."The Black library had mentions and drawings of them, but I never thought I'd see one."
"Somehow I'm not surprised." Hermione mutters as she sends the patronus off.
#####
"Interesting repercussion." Harry says as he enters the sitting room.
"Have you tried summoning Prongs?" Hermione asks.
Harry shakes his head. "I already know he's gone, my patronus will match yours.'
"Harry, I'm so sorry." Hermione says as she gets up and hugs him. "I know how important Prongs was to you."
Harry hugs her back. "I'll be fine, I can handle this sacrifice." He holds Hermione against him. "So, how goes the plan?"
"The other heads responded exactly like the two of you thought." Remus answers.
"Good, things are going exactly as planned." Hermione says.
===November 5, 1994===
Harry and Hermione walk around Hogsmeade hand in hand. "You know, technically this is our first date." Hermione says.
"I suppose it is." Harry says as he leans over and kisses her cheek.
"You're supposed to wait until the end of the date to kiss." Hermione teases.
"And what about sex?" Harry grins.
Hermione grins as she thinks about just how useful having a private room has already been. "Point made."
"There's Colin." Harry says.
Hermione looks and sees Colin walking just behind a group of students, the others all appear to be on dates. "I feel bad for him." Hermione says. "He's the only one in the group without a date."
"You could ask Ginny to go on a date with him." Harry says as they start walking towards the group.
"That's actually not a bad idea." Hermione says. "They share a common interest after all." She pauses until Harry looks at her curiously. "You." She laughs.
Harry chuckles as they approach the group from the side. Colin sees them and stops, his eyes light up as he's about to yell to them, Harry puts his index finger over his lips and motions for Colin to come over to them. Colin looks at the group he had been with, they had continued to move along without noticing him. He quickly goes over to Harry and Hermione.
"Hey Colin," Harry says.
"Hi Harry, Hermione. Do you want something? You want me to take a wedding picture?" Colin asks, excitedly.
"Breath, Colin." Hermione says.
"Sorry, I can't help myself." Colin admits.
"It's okay Colin." Harry says. "The truth is we do need your help."
"Of course, anything you need." Colin says.
"Good to hear." Harry says as he places a hand on Colin's shoulder. "You're going to get to pretend to be me." Colin passes out. Then Harry looks at Hermione. "Too much?"
===November 6, 1994===
Snape is working on a potion in his private potion area when a knock comes on the door. "Come in." He says, then hears the door open and shut. "Don't touch anything, state your business."
"Professor Snape, I'm hoping you have a potion I require." Hermione says.
"Miss Granger," Snape says. "Forgive me, Missus Potter, I'm surprised to see you here."
"I don't know why, I was one of your better students, sir." Hermione says.
"What potion are you looking for?" Snape asks.
"Polyjuice."
"Make it yourself, you've done it before." Snape snaps.
"I started it, but I need the potion before my batch will finish." Hermione says.
"I'll give you two doses now, in exchange for the entire batch you're making when it's ready." Snape offers.
"Deal." Hermione says.
"Cabinet on the south wall." Snape says, never taking his eyes off his potion.
Hermione walks over to the cabinet and opens it, she gasps as she sees the potions inside. "You have veritaserum?" She asks as she carefully pulls two vials of polyjuice out of the cabinet.
"Unless you want me to use it on you, I suggest you pretend you never saw that." Snape threatens.
"Professor, surely you didn't just threaten a student from a visiting school now, did you?" Hermione says, sweetly.
Snape growls, having forgotten she wasn't technically a Hogwarts student. "What do you want?"
"Just your silence." Hermione answers. "If anyone asks, tell them I came to ask about the wolfsbane potion."
"That just happens to be what I'm working on." Snape says, then waits for Hermione to leave before muttering: "Blasted Potters are going to be the death of me."
#####
Hermione walks into her and Harry's room. "Got the potion."
"Good." Harry says. "Are you ready for what's next?"
Hermione sighs. "No, but we've delayed this long enough."
Harry nods as he takes her hand. "Come on then." They walk to Dumbledore's office and find the stairway open so they walk on up.
"Mister and Missus Potter, to what do I owe this visit?" Dumbledore asks.
"We were hoping you would help facilitate a trip home so we can tell my parents everything that has happened." Hermione answers.
"If you go to the kitchens and ask, one of the elves could take you better than I could." Dumbledore informs them.
"We hadn't considered that." Harry says.
"Thank you for the information." Hermione says.
Dumbledore nods. "Have a good day."
They quickly leave the office and walk towards the kitchens. They barely step inside the kitchens when Dobby finds them. "The great Harry Potter has come to visit us!" Dobby exclaims.
"Dobby.." Harry says at the sight of the elf. "You're alive."
Hermione clears her throat. "You mean he's here." Hermione says.
"Right, right, of course." Harry says.
"Harry Potter brought his Grangie with him." Dobby says.
"Actually she's my wife." Harry says.
"She is?" Dobby asks.
"I am." Hermione says. "We came here to see if you would want to come work for us."
"You want Dobby to come work for you?"
Hermione nods. "We could really use your help."
"We'll match what Hogwarts is paying you, but I want you to wear something else. Perhaps a uniform of some sort?" Harry suggests.
"Would you bind Dobby to you?"
"Only if you wanted it, but even if we did I would insist upon paying you and the uniform." Harry says.
"Can Dobby bring Winky?"
"Who's Winky?" Hermione asks as if she didn't know.
"Winky was given clothes and hasn't taken to freedom like Dobby has. She misses her family."
"I'd like to meet her." Hermione says.
Elated Dobby rushes off, gone for mere moments before returning with Winky leaning against him. "Who dis?" Winky asks with a drunken slur.
"This is the Great Harry Potter and his miss. They want to hire me, I thought they might want to hire you."
"Don't want hired," Winky shoves Dobby away. "Want family."
"We can be your family and your employer." Hermione offers.
"Would you bond Winky?" She asks.
"Is that what you want?" Hermione asks and Winky nods. "Only if there's a way to have you wear clothes and not break the bond."
"That's easy." Harry says. "We have elf clothing made and tell her the clothing is ours, but we want her to wear it."
"Would that work?" Hermione asks.
"As long as you never GIVE her the clothing it should." Harry answers.
"What do you say Winky?" Hermione asks.
"Sounds fine," she slurs. "Winky wear what you tell her."
"Very well, how do I bond you?" Hermione asks.
"Winky write it down, later." Winky passes out.
"Go put Winky in our rooms then return." Harry says.
Dobby nods and vanishes, returns a second later. "Dobby ready to serve."
"Can you apparate us outside of Hogwarts wards?" Hermione asks.
Dubby nods, takes their hands and apparates them away. "Here work?"
Hermione nods. "Hold on." She apparates the three of them to an alley. Wordlessly she and Harry take off their robes. Hermione is wearing a tasteful black dress while Harry is in black slacks and a gray button down shirt. Hermione hands the robes to Dobby. "Hold on to these, we'll call you when we need you."
Dobby takes the robes and vanishes. Harry reaches out and takes Hermione's hand. "I'm here."
Hermione nods and leads the way out of the alley. They walk for a short time until they stop outside a two-story house, where a nice automobile is parked in front of the house. "This is it." Hermione says as they walk up to the front door and she knocks.
The door is opened by a woman that is obviously Hermione's mother, she had the same riotous curls in her hair, and even though there's gray in it the color is the same, but her eyes are hazel. "Hermione?" She asks.
"Hi, mom." Hermione replies, blushing slightly.
"And who might this be?"
"Harry Potter, Ma'am."
"Helen Granger." She says then moves out of the doorway. "Please, come in, make yourselves comfortable. I'll get my husband, he'll want to hear this."
"Thank you." Hermione says as she and Harry go into the living room and sit together on the couch."
A few minutes later Richard walks in and looks at them as if accessing them. The fact that he has the same chocolate brown eyes as Hermione cues Harry that this must be her father. He's tall, and wiry, and his movements deliberate, Harry guesses that he played a sport at some point. He takes a seat across from them, Helen sits next to him. "So, you two are here in the middle of the school year huh?" He asks. "Are you pregnant?"
"Why does everyone ask that?" Hermione asks, agitated.
"It's a logical jump." Helen states.
"I'm not pregnant!" Hermione yells, angrily.
"We're sorry," Helen says. "Though you have to understand, with you coming to visit in the middle of the year like this we know something is up."
"Yes, you are correct." Hermione says. "The truth is we're here to tell you that we're married."
"You mean you're engaged to get married, right?" Helen asks, meanwhile if looks could kill Harry would be dead from the stare Richard is giving him.
"No," Hermione says. "Magic declared us married."
"Magic just declared you married?" Richard asks.
"A certain activity may have proceeded that." Hermione answers, blushing causing Harry to blush.
"So you two had sex and ended up married, huh?" Richard asks, trying not to laugh.
"That's right." Harry answers.
Richard starts laughing. "Are you sure you're not pregnant?"
Harry stands up and draws his wand in a split-second. "You may be her parents, but I will not sit idle while you insult my wife."
"Put that down," Richard says as he gets up. "I know you can't use that outside of school."
"Actually, since we're married we're considered of age." Hermione says. "So Dad, I would sit back down if I were you."
Richard growls and Harry casts a stinging charm. "That's your warning." Harry says.
Richard puts his hands up and sits back down. "Now, apologize to her."
"I'm sorry I doubted you." Richard says.
Hermione sighs. "It's okay, and Harry, you know I don't need you to stand up for me, right?'
Harry nods. "I know you can take care of yourself, but thank you for letting me take care of you this time." He puts his wand away and sits back down beside Hermione.
"You two are obviously happy with this turn of events." Helen says.
"We are." Hermione says, grasping Harry's hand firmly.
"Personally I would've liked to have done the whole thing properly." Harry says.
"What do you mean?" Richard asks.
"Dating, getting to know you two, then one day asking for your blessing to ask her to marry me and then whatever wedding Hermione wanted." Harry answers.
"You would have asked my dad for his blessing?" Hermione asks.
"Of course." Harry answers.
"If it makes a difference, I think I would have given it." Richard says. "Standing up to me couldn't have been easy for you."
"You know, that gives me an idea!" Helen exclaims. "Why don't you have a regular wedding this summer?"
Harry looks at Hermione. "What do you think?"
"I'd like that." Hermione answers with a smile.
"Then plan it out." Harry says.
Hermione kisses Harry passionately. "You're the best!"
#####
Several hours later Harry and Hermione leave her parents house, Hermione leaning on Harry. "Do you feel better now?' Harry asks.
Hermione nods. "I was so afraid I'd never see them again after I memory charmed them."
"That hasn't happened yet, and we're working on making sure it doesn't need to." Harry says.
They duck into the alley. "Dobby!" Hermione calls out once they're out of sight. The elf appears wearing a red tunic emblazoned with a golden "P".
"You summoned Dobby, mistress?"
"Dobby, what are you wearing?" Harry asks.
"You said you wanted Dobby to wear a uniform, Dobby created a uniform."
"I approve of it. Very good use of the Potter crest." Hermione says and Dobby smiles excitedly. "Now will you please take us back to Hogwarts."
Dobby takes their hands and apparates them back to their rooms in Hogwarts. When they arrive they find Winky wearing a red dress to match Dobby's tunic. "Winky wrote down the instructions." She says handing Hermione some parchment.
Hermione takes the parchment, opens it and reads. "I, Hermione, Mistress of House Potter, ask Winky the house elf to bond with me and become part of our family."
"Winky accepts this bond." She says, then glows for a moment. "Our bond is sealed."