They arrived back at the house sooner than Harry would have liked, even though his sister was doing her best to soothe him throughout the car ride. Dudley was against one of the car doors, Harry was in the middle, and Hermione was next to him. His sister had said she didn't mind sitting in the middle but Harry had insisted that he be the one to sit next to their cousin.

He didn't want to tell her what had happened or what they argued about. They were family now, and he felt it was his duty to protect her from people like Dudley. It hadn't quite sank into the older boy's head just yet that they were family, so he had planned on letting this roll under the proverbial carpet. Dudley was as stupid as they came, he had always known that, so he wasn't all that surprised at the stupidity that spewed from the hole in his face that was his mouth. He was however extremely thankful that said stupid hole had stayed shut like he had told him to while the dementors were attacking them.

Harry knew he would have nightmares about the way the dementor was moving Dudley's arms. If it were anything other than the horrible act it that was to occur could have been mistaken for quite a romantic notion. He supposed that was part of why it was called a dementor's kiss…

Leeroy and Hermione had gotten out of the car simultaneously and Harry followed them. Leeroy had prepared himself for Dudley to practically fall out of the car and looked at Harry to give him a soundless cue. Abagail had turned off the car and made to stand to the side to watch the proceedings so she could herd them into the house.

Upon opening the door carefully, Leeroy waited until he was sure Harry had a solid grip on the other boy before opening the door fully. They then gathered the large teen between them and hobbled into the house with Abagail holding the door open and leading them, whilst Hermione was closing the car door and following them.

Leeroy and Harry had made it to the front door when Dudley slipped from their grips, leaned over and vomited on the doormat. Wringing their faces in disgust they waited for Dudley to stop being sick. Tentatively reaching out, Leeroy rubbed small soothing circles on his back, like he did when Abagail had been pregnant with Hermione. Harry decided that the Grangers could watch his cousin as he went and got the hose to clean up the foul mess.

Petunia was fretting in the hallway wringing her hands together, her eyes prickled with tears as she heard someone become ill in front of her house. She wanted to go see what was going on, but she knew Abagail was a capable woman and decided to trust her sister to handle this. Vernon however looked about ready to throw a punch of his own, but the assistance they were receiving was evident.

After Harry had cleaned the doormat, which took all of 30 seconds, before they had brought the large boy into the house and laid Dudley out on the couch where Leeroy once again took Dudley's vitals. Everyone was quiet for a moment so he was able to hear properly. A dentist he may be, however he still had to go through proper proceedings to get where he was. It helped that a majority of what they taught a person during a CPR certification course was practically the same in terms of vital monitoring.

"His heart rate has lowered, however he's still cold. He's stopped sweating, which is a good sign," Leeroy announced.

"He needs some chocolate," Harry said.

The Dursleys looked at him with something akin to accusation as Dudley was coming around.

"Chocolate always helps when it comes to dementors. Professor Lupin taught me that…" Harry said a bit lower than before.

"Chocolate – what's this codswallop?" Vernon asked, squinting his eyes as hard as he could.

"De – men – tors, two of them," Harry said slowly. Hermione stomped on his foot making him hiss and send looks of apologies at her.

"And what the ruddy hell are dementors!?"

"They guard the wizard prison, Azkaban," Petunia said.

A few seconds later Petunia brought her hands to her mouth as though she realized belatedly that she said something foul, like a curse. Vernon was gawking at his wife.

"How d'you know that?" he asked her, astonished.

Petunia looked at Vernon apologetically before plowing through, "I heard – that awful… well… not so awful now I suppose… that – boy – telling her years ago," she said jerkily, blushing a bit.

"So they actually exist? The demenwhat'sitthingies?" Vernon asked his wife kindly.

She nodded jerkily in confirmation, before getting up and rushing over to the kitchen.

Abagail rolled her eyes at her sister and her husband and quickly made her way back to the car. Both women returned to the living room at the same time each with a different chocolate bar in their hand. Abagail quirked her lips up at Petunia's choice of chocolate, milk chocolate, whereas hers was dark chocolate.

"He should eat this one, it has more cocoa in it than milk chocolate," she said.

"But he loves milk chocolate," Petunia insisted.

"Be that as it may this is for medical purposes, not pleasure, as delicious as it may be," Abagail replied.

Petunia frowned a little, but nodded. Placing her chocolate bar on the table, she turned around to see Abagail already unwrapping her chocolate and handing it to Dudley.

"Don't eat it just yet, Dudley. Petunia, could you please get him a glass of water? He needs to rinse his mouth with it so the acid doesn't damage his teeth," she stated.

Petunia rushed to do as she was asked, wanting to take the best of care of her son. She was sure it had something to do with the boy, but since Abagail was here there wasn't anything they could do that they normally would. Vernon was already trying to keep himself in check as much as he could. They were sure it was his fault, but after the tournament, she couldn't help buy have her doubts.

Harry stood in the corner of the room, wanting to leave as soon as possible, however he knew that wasn't possible.

"How do we know he didn't use his… thing?" Vernon said, red in the face, trying to control his temper.

Abagail huffed at her short tempered brother-in-law, "We know because Hermione had hers out too. We, as muggles, can't see them, but we can feel them. Vernon I assure you it's… more than extremely unpleasant. Why they were so far away from their… home, if you can call it that, is beyond us. Never you mind though, we'll get to the bottom of it. A case like this falls under endangerment of muggles, with Harry being there to cast a patronus charm, it'll save him and you'll be compensated for this travesty."

Vernon nodded, knowing what it was like to be on the business end of the Duchess. If she said she could do it, he didn't doubt she would.

"So they were really there?" Petunia asked.

Abagail nodded solemnly.

Just then a screeching owl swooped in through the kitchen window, almost skinning the top of Vernon's head, dropping its letter at Harry's feet before making its getaway.

"OWLS! MORE OWLS IN MY HOUSE!?" Vernon shouted, unable to control himself.

Bulldozing himself into the kitchen he slammed the windows shut.

"I'LL NOT BE HAVING ANY MORE OWLS IN MY HOUSE! TWO IS ENOUGH!"

Abagail arched an eyebrow at him, while Harry was opening the letter, Hermione looking over his shoulder.

Dear Mr. Potter,

We have received intelligence that you performed the Patronus Charm at twenty-three minutes past nine this evening in a Muggle-inhabited area and in the presence of a Muggle.

The severity of this breach of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underaged Sorcery has resulted in your expulsion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Ministry representatives will be calling at your place of residence shortly to destroy your wand.

As you have already received an official warning for a previous offence under section 13 of the International Confederation of Wizards' Statue of Secrecy, we regret to inform you that your presence is required at a disciplinary hearing at the Ministry of Magic at 9am on July 1st.

Hoping you are well,

Yours sincerely,

Mafalda Hopkirk

Improper Use of Magic Office

Ministry of Magic

Harry stood numb and cold staring at the letter. His sister however had no compunctions heating up, snatching the letter out of his hands.

"How dare they! They can't just send someone to snap your wand and then say you are to attend a hearing, that's not how it works! Whoever sent you this, it was not this Hopkirk lady," Hermione growled.

Abagail swiftly took the letter from her daughter, to read it for herself.

"Harry, whatever you do, don't give them your wand. This is a political movement all on its own. They could have at least tried to wait a few more weeks to be subtle about it though. How droll," she said nonchalantly.

Suddenly there was a loud bang and a thud against the kitchen window.

"MORE BLOODY OWLS!?"

Hermione looked closely, "Oh poor, Errol. Why they don't just retire him is beyond me," she tutted as she opened the window and let the bird in, ignoring her uncle.

She handed the letter to Harry, sticking close by to read it with him, Abagail was looking over his other shoulder, though barely touching him.

Harry –

Dumbledore's just arrived at the Ministry, and he's trying to sort it all out. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR AUNT AND UNCLE'S HOUSE. DO NOT DO ANY MORE MAGIC. DO NOT SURRENDER YOUR WAND.

Arthur Weasley

"What - WHO are all these OWLS from!?" Vernon demanded.

"The first one was from the Ministry of Magic, expelling me," he said calmly, keeping an ear out for Ministry workers, "The other was from my friend Ron's dad, he works at the Ministry."

"Ministry of Magic?" Vernon bellowed before Leeroy cuffed up.

"Honestly, man. You don't want your neighbors to know about what is happening, but you're the only one yelling about it. You saw the Minister of Magic at the tournament, did you not?"

Vernon blushed madly, and looked away mumbling, "I s'pose so."

Abagail sighed loudly, in an extremely girlish manner, looking much like Harry's classmates when they were disappointed by something.

"What is it, luv?" Leeroy asked.

"Plan B," she said with another sigh.

"Plan B?" Harry asked.

Abagail had opened her mouth to answer when there was another owl soaring in to deliver its letter. Vernon's face turned red once the bird was in his sight.

Harry picked it up and opened it with both Granger women looking over his shoulders again.

Dear Mr. Potter,

Further to our letter of approximately twenty-two minutes ago, the Ministry of Magic has revised its decision to destroy your wand forthwith. You may retain your wand until your disciplinary hearing on July 1st, at which time an official decision will be taken.

Following discussion with the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Ministry has agreed that the question of your expulsion will also be decided at that time. You should therefore consider yourself suspended from the school pending further inquiries.

With Best Wishes,

Yours sincerely,

Mafalda Hopkirk

"I'll give it to him, he works fast," Abagail muttered.

"Plan B is that we explain, with our lawyer, that you are no longer considered a minor in the wizarding world, due to the fine and binding print of the Goblet of Fire. As only witches and wizards of age were able to participate this time around, you are therefore considered an adult wizard. Since the goblet was final and binding, lest you lose your magic and possibly die, it legally emancipated you," she said kindly, "I'm not sure if it would work in the muggle world, so we'll be proceeding as we were here. Magic is already done though, we're family, I'm not only your aunt's sister, therefore your mother's sister, but also your sister's mother, and I've accepted your bond, making me your other mother. Magic wise, you're mine anyways."

Leeroy smiled at his wife before kissing her on the forehead.

Harry looked at her then at Hermione, the resemblance was uncanny, if brilliantly scary.

"Wicked," he said under his breath.

"Indeed," she said smugly.

"Now I know our plans were to take you tonight, however it appear a wrench has been thrown into our plans. Dumbledore will most likely collect you from here, if not send someone else to do this for him."

"Whereas I was given instructions to have private lessons with Professor Snape over the holiday," Hermione piped in, "I think we'd be going to the same place."

"Be that as it may, we have different plans from Dumbledore. You'll be staying overnight in a hotel with us," Abagail decided with finality, "I'll contact Charity and let her know the situation. Petunia I'm borrowing your telephone."

With that she sashayed into the kitchen and grabbed the cordless to call their lawyer.

Petunia moved over to clean up her son from the mess her made on himself. She noticed it earlier but was too preoccupied with making sure he was alive rather than clean.

"Dudley, be sure to finish that chocolate bar. It'll make you feel better. Harry has had close dealings with them before, myself thankfully only twice," she said, "So be sure to get some rest."

Vernon was fussing with his pockets, finally dressed in respectable normal clothing, but more so to make a better impression on the judge. They agreed to sign the boy over, and he was thrilled, however Petunia seemed to be borderline tearful. Still due to their eagerness to sign the boy over, they didn't hire a lawyer for this matter, and decided to represent themselves.

The Grangers had already arrived, Hermione having smiled upon seeing them, Dudley was looking and feeling better than last night, he nodded at them. Petunia wanted him to stay home, but Dudley insisted that he go with. He made it known that he wanted to go to the boy's other hearing that was to take place after this meeting. While Petunia and he had their reservations, they agreed that it would probably speak more in the favor of the boy than to just take his word for it. Had it not been for the Grangers they would have jumped down the boy's throat with their own accusations, he would have at least anyways.

"All rise," they all stood silently as the magistrates walked into the courtroom and sat down, "The proceedings are about to begin."

The three magistrates on the panel took their time looking at the paperwork before them.

"This is case number 5489 Grangers versus Dursleys custody of Harry Potter. From what we could see there is a mutual agreement in the case of Potter's custody. Is there anything you feel that we should know that we might have missed in the paperwork concerning Mr. Potter?"

"No, Your Honor," Chalice said.

"So we are here merely on the formality and legality of his guardianship, due to the hasty nature considering his next of kin?"

"Yes, Your Honor."

"Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, are there reasons why you have not come before us before this?"

Petunia stood up shakily, "No other reason than for our peace of mind, Your Honor. We love and trust the Grangers as though they were our family and know he will have a good home with them. We just wanted them to be sure they were ready."

Petunia shot Abagail a fearful look in the corner of her eye after she sat down. They hadn't mentioned the other evidence concerning the boy's neglect and abuse. Abby had soothed her nerves and told her that it would be for their best interest to cooperate. Being in the court made her nervous all over again. Even Vernon was sweating from nerves. Keeping evidence of the boy's abuse under wraps was surprising, it would make the whole process easier and keep Dudley secure in their care.

All that being said, she did still have the binder in her lap with said evidence.

Overall the proceedings went better than expected. The Grangers were given custody of Harry, no mention of abuse was brought up about him, the Dursleys were complacent and got to keep custody of Dudley due to their willingness to give up Harry. There was a lot of legal jargon and such, they did have to meet with Harry, who expressed his desire to go with the Grangers and how Hermione was already like his sister. The Duke and Duchess were able to provide proof that they could care and afford to care for him, not that they really needed it.

They all left the court together, the Dursleys with nervous smiles. From one courtroom to another, they were making their way to the Ministry of Magic to go to Harry's hearing there, then off to Sirius's trial if they could make it. Chalice was thankfully leading them the way there, as it wasn't that far off from the building they were currently just at.

She was explaining how to get into the ministry from the telephone booth, or even the toilets. She discreetly pointed out the long line that was to the toilets and just a lever away from the ministry. The simple process was because they had to think of a way for squibs to enter the ministry, as they had no magic of their own. They agreed that the Dursleys would go into the booth with her, and they would wait for the Grangers and Potter. It was a simple process.

"62442" Hermione dialed.

"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business," came a cool woman's voice.

"Duke Leeroy Granger, Duchess Abagail Granger, Lady Hermione Granger, Lord Harry Potter, we're here to attend Potter's trial" Leeroy said firmly.

"Thank you," said the detached voice, "Visitors please take the badges and attach them to the front of your robes."

Badges popped out where the change would have, and they placed them over their left breast.

"Visitor of the Ministry, you are required to submit to a search and present your wand for registration at the security desk, which is located at the far end of the Atrium."

"Very well," Leeroy said, "We shall do just that, thank you."

Suddenly the floor of the telephone box moved and the pavement was over their heads, signaling that they were going down. A darkness surrounded them for a few seconds before a beam of golden light hit their feet and surrounded them when the doors opened, like an elevator.

They stepped out together, the Grangers with perfect poise, and Harry as best as he could. He was surprised at the transformation, they reminded him of Malfoy, and he knew he wasn't hearing things when Leeroy announced them as… royal family. That was news to him.

Chalice was waiting with a grin for them however and lead them straight over to the atrium to have their wands registered. Once they were at the security desk Burming's smile turned frosty, as did Abagail's when Hermione handed over her wand.

The ministry worker on duty was quick about it, feeling like a bleeding fish in a shark tank. The Duchess may be muggle, but she was wicked scary. That and he was a bit star struck. A Duke, a Duchess, a Lady, AND The Boy Who Lived. He couldn't wait to tell his wife about this later. He was quick to handle Potter's wand as well, Burming was keeping a careful eye on it and thus him. He wanted the damn things out of his possession as soon as possible.

A memo flew by Chalice and fluttered until she caught it and opened it. She read it quickly before tutting to herself.

"Follow me then, they've tried to change the times and location and we haven't a moment to spare," she said coolly, walking briskly, "We'll take the elevator then we have to walk the rest of the way. If I didn't know all the courtrooms like the back of my hand…"

They kept up as fast as they could, managing to secure an elevator to themselves. They all followed Chalice's example and reached up holding onto the straps that were hanging from the ceiling. Once they reached the Department of Mysteries, they got out and followed the brisk-paced woman.

After they went down the flight of stairs they were in a long corridor that reminded Harry and Hermione about the dungeons at Hogwarts. They passed by a few doors that were heavy and wooden with large iron bolts and keyholes.

"Courtroom 10. Duke, Duchess, you in first, Harry and Hermione in the middle, you lot behind them, and I'll file in back. C'mon now, first impressions are important," she said lowly, even though it was quiet enough that they could all hear her clearly.

Harry's heartbeat seemed to speed up, he could feel it all over, but when Hermione brushes her shoulder against him he felt like he could handle it – they could handle it.