Thimi had seen to the spare room and had turned it into Harry's room. They wouldn't be staying at their home in London for long, more so since it would be more of a front during the war. However they needed to show that he lived there to the muggle government should they ask to see and he needed a place to sleep and call his own when they were there. It would bring it to the forefront of Harry's mind that this was real, and he had a real home.
Hermione had spoken with her parents and they agreed that Thimi should be kept a secret until they made the move to France before introducing them. Harry was kind and sweet, and entirely naïve when it came to certain information. He tended to share with people he felt that he could trust, however those on his trust list and those on Hermione's were different.
Hermione was not that fond of Ronald and his mother at the moment and should Ron find out, she was certain that Molly would as well. It wasn't something she was ready for yet. It would just be another explosive argument out of jealousy. She knew it was considered a prestige to own a house-elf, and Ron would somehow take it personal that she had a house-elf, and he didn't.
The curly haired witch knew that if she told her brother that she didn't trust Ron as much as he did it would probably cause a fight or some other disagreement. Thus far Ron's jealousy tended to get the best of him, even in situations where it was a life and death matter. She refused to put her family through that simply because Ronald had different aspirations. He was terrible at keeping their secrets when they were on outs (mostly because he would to complain about them to whoever would hear) and would let something drastic happen to them because he was slighted. The incident with the dragon at the TriWizard tournament was proof enough. She just knew that Molly would let all of the Weasleys know that Charlie was back from Romania, even if it was just for work. The fact that Ron didn't tell Harry made her mad enough to want to pull her hair.
So when they made it to the house Hermione left her brother with her parents and made her way to her room.
Walking into her room, Hermione easily spotted her familiar and owl tormenting the bug in the jar, which they knocked over on her desk.
"Crookshanks, Elara, I'm back. I see you've been keeping a close eye on our guest," she said smoothly.
Elara had been pecking the glass threateningly and Crookshanks kept a careful eye on the lid, occasionally batting at the jar himself.
Walking over she picked up the jar and sat in the wicker chair that was there.
"Hello, Rita. I see that you've met Crookshanks and Elara. They're gorgeous creatures, aren't they? They do however have what we would consider strange appetites," she smiled eerily, "For instance they both enjoy eating fish, frogs, mice, rats, and bugs. Crookshanks also enjoys just hunting things. Some I get as presents, some he eats, and some he just kills for the fun of it," she finished lightly.
Crookshanks took that moment to walk to the edge of the desk, lean over, and nuzzle his mistress with a purr.
"Thank you, Crooks. I missed you too. I'm glad you've been getting along with Elara," Hermione smiled at her cat, nuzzling back, knowing he appreciated it.
Elara watched from her place on the desk, turned her head and hooted cutely. Then she hopped a bit before flying over to her cage and fluffed up her feathers in a pleased manner. The witch smiled at her owl glad that she was settling in without problems.
"Now Skeeter, I know you're very keen on leaving this jar, but if Crookshanks ever loosens the lid you already know you're safer in there than out. Seeing that they tipped it over, I already know they tried to break it to get at you. So you see I'm really keeping you safe by making it unbreakable. Imagine being dropped and being stunned from the fall, you wouldn't have a chance to get your bearings before Elara or Crookshanks got to you," at that moment Crookshanks stuck out one of his paws and placed it on the glass as though telling his mistress that he wanted whatever was in it.
"No, no, no, Crooks. This is our guest. She's not food," Crookshanks pawed at the glass as though trying to convince Hermione that she should give him the bug anyways, "You see, Rita? Crookshanks already wants you for himself, even though I've told him no. He's half kneazle, so he's a lot more intelligent than your average cat. I know he's able to open jars on his own, as well as other things."
Crookshanks took his paw off the jar and paced the desk three times before laying down on one facing Hermione. The ginger cat blinked slowly as he tucked his front paws under his chest. The hazel eyed witch smiled and placed the jar back on the desk, about a hand's width away from her familiar.
"I suppose you want to know what shocking news you missed out on at the trials," she said looking at the bug in the jar, "You could have been there yourself, had you stuck to facts instead of writing lies. But even when you write facts, you write them in such a scathing way, that it hurts people. Poor Hagrid almost resigned because of the hate mail he was receiving from your fans. He couldn't pick his parents any more than you could. Then there were the rabid harpies who sent me hate mail for your bullshit story about that love triangle. Did you know one of them sent me undiluted bubotuber pus? Imagine that a first year had touched it?" she sighed lightly.
"Your words have power and meaning… and you know it. Words and actions have consequences, Skeeter. I had told you before to stop, but you didn't listen. Instead you wrote that bullshit story, because that's what it was, Rita, and you know it. One that would sic witches at me for 'messing with Harry Potter's emotions'. I gave you a chance, and you blew it," she hissed, "I'm not a witch who forgives easily, Rita. This isn't about me though, whatever you may be thinking. No. You used Harry. You used my brother's name for your own personal gains. Regardless of what you might think, you used my brother against his will. That is entirely unforgivable. Even when The Dark Lord used the imperius on him, he had a fighting chance. What you did though…" she growled glaring at the bug in the jar.
Her anger was so profound the glamour flickered as her magic danced through her hair in blue sparks. She flashed her teeth threateningly without conscious though.
"You're mine until I feel you've learned your lesson," she said dangerously low.
Rita stared at the witch, extremely glad that she was in her animagus form or else she knew she'd have pissed herself and be shaking with how weak her legs felt. She was held captive by Harry Potter's sister? The Potter's only had one child, so what the fuck was she talking about sister? Hermione Granger was a muggleborn. What clue was she missing? None of her classmates said anything about them being related!
It was true that she didn't think that she used Potter per se, just his name, but how the teenage witch compared it to You-Know-Who, she internally winced. As a writer she was used to embellishing the truth from time to time, knowing how to pull heartstrings, and she did so with no regrets. The journalist was extremely well seasoned and slept easy at night regardless of whose life she shook up. It was all in a day's work after all.
Although being stuck in a jar being watched constantly by two predators was nerve wracking. She spent a majority of the time cursing the witch in front of her, but was keeping watch hoping the witch's spell was as shoddy as hers was when she was a fourth year. Thus far, no luck.
The more she thought however the more she felt secure. What was a fourth… well fifth year muggleborn going to do to her anyways? Shake her in the jar? She had a hard exoskeleton, so she'd be fine, she'd weathered worse.
Hermione saw her antennae twitch furiously before it calmed down and twitched twice. Even though bugs didn't have expressive faces, they did have antennae. Rita had gone from scared to calm. The trash journalist obviously had written her off as a threat, which enraged the already angry witch.
The curly haired witch took out her wand and muttered a spell, producing her favored blue bell flames. Moving her wand carefully she compacted the 3 bells into one and placed it in front of her. With the same care she cupped the blue bell with her left hand, with the other she used her wand to levitate Rita's jar over the flame.
"Let's see how well a beetle can sweat, shall we Skeeter?" she said menacingly.
Crookshanks watched his mistress and flapped his tail, purring as he watched his witch work her magic. He was a proud nightmare in the Magical Menagerie, he waited for a witch or wizard who was just as smart and fierce as he was. The ginger menace knew he made the perfect choice in choosing her. Harry, he knew, was her brother and she was protecting what was hers in what he thought was a superb manner. Personally he would have just maimed her, but he knew his mistress had laws to follow and avoid, which she was doing most splendidly.
Hermione decided to use the blue bell flames because she knew it would be hot enough to bothersome, but not hot enough to kill Rita, even as a beetle.
Barty Crouch Jr was sitting in his holding cell waiting for his trial and meet his fate. He had been placed in a high profile cell, so he was magically cuffed, but they adjusted the chains enough for him to be able to use the loo on his own. The door was fortified silver with a small window.
He had done what he could to fulfil his promise to his friend, he did his part to bring down the Dark Lord. The straw haired wizard sighed, staring into space wondering if he would be forced into a cell or be given the kiss, either way he'd be seeing the dementors soon.
"I don't CARE! I want to see the death eater!" a familiar voice screamed.
There was shuffling going around, he could hear running outside of his cell. Barty stayed seated despite his curiosity. He wouldn't give them the satisfaction or allow himself the chance to be disappointed in something.
There was a loud bang on the door and the young wizard looked at his cell door. It swung open revealing the grizzled auror he impersonated for almost a year. Barty had to bite his tongue to prevent a smile spreading on his face and kept his face impassive.
"Bartemius Crouch Junior. Ye performed an unforgivable on me! But ye didn't make me do anything, ye didn't force me to do anything harmful to myself or others. Ye kept me well fed and tried to keep me comfortable, even in shit conditions. Ye were wrongfully imprisoned the first time, simply for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But ye did some of your time. This time I want ye to know, I'll be witness to yer trial." He growled, with what looked like a greenhorn auror behind him.
Barty's eyes turned red from holding back tears.
"Thank you, sir," he said quietly, nodding in deference.
"Arg," Moody said before nodding and turning around, leaving the new auror to close the holding cell behind him.
Alastor Moody knew the plan, but he couldn't in good conscious let the boy suffer the worst the wizarding world had to throw at him. He was doing it all for a good cause, much like Snape, but Snape had Albus backing him. He was hoping he still had enough clout to pull the boy from certain death. He would be speaking with Bartemius Crouch Sr, an impromptu meeting you could say.
At the end of the first war he tried to show that he had no favoritism even to his own family, so he gave Barty a harsh punishment. It was no secret though that he didn't have much love for his only son, he was rather indifferent to his heir. He never spoke kindly or bragged about his child much like a normal parent. People from the Weasleys all the way to the Malfoys bragged about their children. There was no shame in loving your children, but Bartemius never once mentioned his son in any light other than a grunt of acknowledgement, before redirecting the conversation.
The retired auror found Bartemius's office before barging in without knocking, knowing he had a second door to go through before finding the wizard he was looking for.
"Mr. Moody, we are not expecting you, you don't have an appointment," Weasley said pompously.
"I don't need an appointment, Weasley," the grizzled auror said, walking to the other door.
"Mr. Moody, I'm afraid I can't allow you to see Mr. Crouch!" the redhead said, standing up, running to interfere with Moody's path.
"Mr. Crouch is still recovering from his inhumane treatment and isn't fit to see company!"
"He was transfigured into an owl with a broken wing. He was fine. Crouch Jr could have simply killed him," he growled staring into the young Weasley unblinkingly with his mad eye, "He was warm, fed, had a decent place to sleep. The school nurse saw to him, as did the healers at St Mungos. So tell me, what has he to recover from, Weasley? Or is it Weaslebee now?" Alastor said, getting closer, their noses almost touching.
Percy backed up, his head lightly bumping into the door behind him, his arms spreading across the surface. He was merely doing his job, he wasn't prepared to stand up to one of Britian's best aurors. Usually if he sounded as professional as possible and actually stood up to do something witches and wizards were deterred enough to leave the office.
Staring into the magical prosthetic electric blue eye, his chest constricted with a different type of unease. Everything Moody was saying was the truth.
'What do I do? He's not taking no for an answer, and I'm not trying to lose my job…'
"It's still Weasley, Mr. Moody. I still must insist that you desist. You don't have an appointment with Mr. Crouch. I would be more than willing to set one up for you! It wouldn't take more than a few seconds to quill you in," Percy said lightly, hoping to reason with the seasoned auror.
"You'll do yourself a favor to let me see Crouch, now, Weasley. I'd have no problems wiping the floor with ye!" The auror growled, narrowing his eye.
Percy's legs started to shake as he turned around and knocked on the door.
"Mr. Crouch, Mr. Moody is here to see you, sir," Percy said, his voice cracking, making his face turn red.
Percy's Adam's apple bobbed as he waited for his boss to answer the door.
The wizard was more than thankful when the door opened revealing his boss.
"Weaslebee! I told you I didn't want to be seen this week!" Crouch yelled at his shaking assistant.
"I know, sir. I tried to tell him you needed time to recover bu-"
"I'll not be havin' an assistant tell me who I can n' can't see, Crouch! I need to speak with you about private matters, now," the auror said, his eye working overtime checking to see if the room was had listening spells or not.
He shoved Percy to the side and stepped close to Crouch, making the man back up into his own office. To try to show some semblance of control, Crouch walked to the other side of his desk and sat down.
"Weaslebee, as you were," he called out calmly.
Alastor shut the door behind him, making sure he threw up a silencing spell so no one would be able to listen in.
"Crouch, we have to talk," Alastor said as he made his way to one of the chairs in front of Bartemius's desk.
Bartemius cleared his throat before asking, "What about, Alastor?"
"Your son," he said simply.
"What about him? He'll be going back to Azkaban where he belongs or be given the kiss," he said nonchalantly, "Surely that's enough for you?"
"Enough? ENOUGH!?" Alastor banged his fist hard against the desk, "The lad won't make it! He almost died the first time! Which was yer fault for giving him the harshest punishment available for his crime. The lad was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He didn' cast a single crucio!"
"What does it matter to you!? He's my son!"
"Yer sure don't act like the lad's father, Crouch! Yer wife was of the righ' mind, he's a good lad, he don't deserve to be kissed," Alastor sneered.
"A good lad? You must be out of your mind! He put you under the imperious! He impersonated you! He transfigured me into an owl!"
"He turned Malfoy's boy into a ferret. The boy survived and so did you! All he told me was to 'stay still'. He could have done anything else, but instead of letting me wear m'self out 'stay still'. Does that sound like evil to yeh, Crouch?"
A quick look of fondness passed through Crouch's eyes before he replied, "It doesn't matter. An unforgivable is an unforgivable, Alastor. Leave it alone. I tried to help him the first time and the ingrate went and almost exposed himself by casting that blasted mark with Potter's wand of all people."
"Putting the lad under the imperius for years isn't help, Crouch. It's worse than caging him. If anything had you not messed around with Jorkin's memory she wouldn't have given him away. Take credit for yer own actions, it might make ye a better man. Yer son is doin' it all on his own. Must've learned it from 'is mother," he growled before leaving the stunned wizard behind him, slamming the door closed and removing the silencing spell.
Abagail laid in bed, being spooned by Leeroy, thinking about their future. There was a war that was starting and they would be moving abroad to avoid most of it. The kids would still be attending Hogwarts, Hermione would work harder at being Harry's bodyguard. She would probably be apprentice to her potions professor, a bond as close as being married. She would be protected and in more danger at the same time.
Abagail read about him, he was a spy for the Order of the Phoenix, meaning he would be back in constant danger. However Hermione would have more protection, the purebloods knew about such a bond, if the apprentice died, so did the master. She would have to become a master herself before their bond was complete, but usually they kept in contact with their masters. The dark wizard would be in her little girl's life forever.
Leeroy had a good feeling about him, and Abagail was putting faith in her husband's feelings about the man. They would be meeting with Sirius Black tomorrow for ice cream to celebrate, and Leeroy already didn't like Harry's godfather.
Not that she blamed him, calling their daughter 'Kitten' of all things, she scoffed in her mind. The evening prophet announced his verdict and it was all over the muggle news that it was a case of mistaken identity. He was an auror, so she supposed that was something beneficial to her children…
Harry loved him, she just hoped that Sirius wouldn't disappoint her son. It was easier to love someone for their image and what they imagined them to be. She had been told that Sirius and Harry's father were practically brothers, and Harry was nearly a spitting image of his father. Harry was Harry, he couldn't be his father too. She hoped Sirius would remember that…
The next day Severus sat in his kitchen reading the Daily Prophet, sneering here and there at the community's stupidity. Thankfully it didn't take genius to reproduce he was sure the wizarding world would have long been extinct.
He had thought long and hard about the Granger women. He admitted to himself that Miss Granger was brilliant and if it weren't for her muggleborn status, starting next year she would be getting plenty of owls from masters wanting to apprentice her. He had no issues with her blood status, and some master's didn't care about blood more so than image. It was still unseemly to honor muggleborns with such prestige, but with Miss Granger being a Lady, he was sure they would overlook her blood status.
Being a master would give him a certain prestige as well, he would benefit from having an apprentice as much as she would benefit being his apprentice. It would peeve off Albus as well, not having sanctioned such an important decision of his life.
The Dark Lord could go either way. He would either be furious or extremely pleased. He liked when his Death Eaters elevated themselves in society, he praised them for bettering their lives. However he was a spy, he had to devote his time to the cause, he had other responsibilities that his brothers in arms did not. If he put a spin on it though, such as her closeness with Potter, it could be overlooked or some such, but only if he was angry.
He would love to divulge secrets and tips to a brilliant mind that would soak it all up like a sponge. He was to take her on as an assistant anyways, it wouldn't be that much different in the beginning. He would be able to teach someone who was more than willing to learn what he had to teach, it would be a pleasant change…
He would ask Miss Granger in person during their first occlumency lesson. With that the potions master got up to go write the girl a letter announcing today's lesson at one.
Hermione woke up later than usual, looking over at her blue bell flames that were still hovering under Skeeter's jar. Skeeter herself was as close to the lid without touching it, knowing that it was possible that it would be scorching hot to touch. Crookshanks was also staring at the lid.
She grabbed her wand and got out of bed canceling the spell.
"Good morning, Rita. I trust you didn't sleep well," she said with a lazy smile, "You'll get off lucky today, you'll be watched by Elara and Crookshanks though. They do have a strong interest in you, I suppose you look more attractive as a bug than a woman. Also, your plants may be warm, but they're still edible."
With that she flounced away from the jar and started to get ready for the day.
The morning flew by quickly, Harry was very excited to see Sirius. It would be a novel experience for him to see his godfather in public without worrying about him being sent to Azkaban. Leeroy seemed to sulk a little bit, but kept it to himself. Abagail made sure that her family was ready for their outing and dressed decently.
They were going out for ice cream, but she felt with their statuses being revealed they should at least dress semi-formally when going out as a family. Either that or in wizarding robes. She reassured Harry and Hermione they could dress in their muggle clothes should they wish while they were at Hogwarts. However they now had to dress for the public. It was annoying, but it was something they had to do until the novelty wore off.
Harry and Hermione immediately decided to wear their robes whereas their parents opted for semi-formal. Abagail's dress however seemed as though it could pass for robes, it was a shimmery light blue and looked smashing on her. She paired it off with nude open toe shoes.
Harry was forced to wear formal shoes and Hermione decided to compromise and wore flats. After exaggeratedly huffing, Hermione and Leeroy agreed they were more than ready to go out for ice cream. Harry gathered it was best to follow Hermione's example, but tried to keep himself from laughing when she huffed much like their housemates did when she talked about homework.
Walking into the Leaky Cauldron, they were greeted with the sight of one Sirius Black.
He had taken advantage of his morning and had his appearance taken care of.
His hair was now black silky waves, no dead ends to be seen. His facial hair was trimmed perfectly, his high cheekbones were more prominent in his sallow face, but his eyes glittered with happiness.
That wasn't what gave the Duke and Duchess a moment pause it was what he was dressed in.
Sirius was dressed in muggle clothes. He was wearing faded black jeans, an old Black Sabbath t-shirt, what looked like combat boots, and a clean worn in black leather jacket.
That was when they remembered once upon a time the man had a motorcycle. This must have been his usual dress before he was incarcerated. Abagail took a deep breath before puffing it out. She knew because of Harry he would be in their lives for as long as they lived, so she might as well get over it now.
She had no ill will towards him, hell she even dated a few bikers, it was just something they hadn't seen when they made trips to the wizarding community. She tugged her husband closer so they could be seated with their children.
"Sirius," Harry grinned brightly.
"Hey pup, glad you could make it. So, what do you think?" He said cheerfully, holding his arms up spinning around slowly for them.
"I love it," Harry said.
"Very you," Hermione said with a quirky smile.
"Love the jacket," Abagail said, Leeroy just nodded.
"What are you going to do now that you're free?" Harry asked.
"Well like I said, I'm going to start my job back up. Probably look for another motorcycle to tinker with, and I'm not sure what else just yet," he said his grinning back at his godson, "Maybe when it's all settled you could move in!"
Harry's grin faltered, "About that Sirius…"
"What is it, pup?"
"The Grangers here, they adopted me. I was planning on staying with them with all they've gone through to help me," he said quietly, scratching the back of his head.
"Wouldn't it be better to live in the wizarding world though, like you were meant to?" Sirius said, his grin dimming to a smile.
"My parents know more about the wizarding world than you'd think, Sirius," Hermione piped in.
"Yeah?" Sirius asked, a little skeptical.
"Yeah, they're amazing, Sirius!" Harry said with another grin, "They helped me win my case, they hired a lawyer and everything. That and I mean, they had, Hermione. Mum is just as brilliantly scary."
"Mum? Lily is your mum, Harry," Sirius said, his smile dimming more.
"I know, but she's my other mother. Hermione and I are blood bond siblings, and they accepted and acknowledged our bond, so they're my parents too," he said with a smile, "Mum even blood bonded with Aunt Petunia, just in case I still needed the blood ward protections. It was before she knew we blood bonded, but it just makes us closer as a family cause she has my birth mum's blood in her too."
Sirius looked at Hermione's mother in a new light. Blood bonds were serious business, he had one with James, so he knew what Harry was talking about. They adopted Harry in all the ways they could, and anyone who did that earned his respect.
"Anyone who would go to such lengths for you Harry, is freakin' fantastic in my books. I'm sad you can't live with me, but they've gone above and beyond," he said grinning at them, "I remember Lee, I never caught your name the other day though, you already know mine."
"How rude of me," Hermione scolded herself, "These are my parents, Abagail and Leeroy Granger," she finished with a grin.
"Lee, Abby, I think we're gonna get along splendidly," she said with a smile.
Abagail giggled, he might have been about her age, but he was clearly still of a younger mindset. She couldn't find it in her to begrudge him of it. Better cheerful than bitter, he could be drinking himself away, but here he was trying to spend time with his godson.
"Shall we? We came for ice cream, did we not?"
"That we did, madam, that we did," with that he turned around and walked with what could only be a natural strut to the back of the bar.
He quickly tapped the wall which opened for them and they made their way straight to the ice cream parlour, ignoring the looks they were receiving.
Abagail wasn't sure if it was them, Harry, or Sirius. Whoever it was, they were bound to catch attention anyways. Just as they were about to enter, an owl headed straight towards Hermione.
"Hermione, dear, you've got a letter," Abagail said, looking at the owl.
The curly haired witch lifted up her arm for the owl to land on before taking the letter from him. As soon as she retrieved it, the owl took flight again.
Dear Miss Granger,
Our first lesson will begin today at 1pm, your house.
I will see you there.
Sincerely,
S. Snape
Hermione's heart beat increase.
"I have to be home for one, I have my first lesson today," she said casually, a small smile on her lips.
The Grangers nodded, while Harry frowned.
"Lesson?" Sirius asked, "It's summer break. What are you doing this summer that couldn't be done during school?"
"Occlumency," Hermione answered nonchalantly.
Sirius paused, looking at Hermione as she walked past him.
She was a force to be reckoned with when she was a third year. She hadn't even started her fifth year and she was already learning obscure magic. Harry was right, she was brilliantly scary.