Author Note: All characters, and the world are that of JK Rowling. I claim no ownership nor memory of writing this. Your milage may vary. No warrenties express, limited or implied apply.
Arriving at the Granger home Harry was impressed by how large and comfortable the house was. The Dursleys would have gone to any length to have a house like this. Hermione took him on the nickel tour while her parents prepared dinner.
"And this will be your room while you're here." Hermione said entering a nice room that was the size of the Dursley's bedroom.
"Wow, this is a nice house." Harry gushed excited. Plopping on the bed with his arms and legs spread.
Hermione chuckled, "Mum and dad like it."
Harry sat up, "So you didn't tell me your parents were rich."
"I wouldn't describe us as rich Harry." Emma said from the doorway, "Just comfortable."
Harry grinned bashfully at Hermione's mother, "Sorry. The Dursleys would probably sell me to the goblins to be this comfortable."
"From Hermione's letters they did not sound like very nice people." Emma said sympathetically.
"No. But they're behind me now. So there is that." Harry said.
"Alright well dinner will be in about twenty minutes." Emma said. "So if you want to get cleaned up you've got time."
"Thank you." Harry said.
Emma smiled again then with a nod left them alone.
Hermione came over to sit by Harry, "I think she was spying on us."
"Oh." Harry snickered slightly, "Afraid we were going to suddenly start snogging?"
Crossing her arms Hermione shook her head, "Laugh it up mister. Dad takes it very seriously." Then her face fell as she looked sad.
"What's wrong?"
"Oh. I just. Remembered after the war. How I had managed to mess things up with them." She said.
"Oh." Harry looked unsure what to do so merely held her hand. "Are you going to tell them about the memories?"
"I will. I just need to figure out how to explain it." Hermione said, "They're pretty open minded but this is still a bit much."
"Maybe." Harry shrugged, "I'll trust your opinion."
"Thanks."
…...
The next couple of days went very well. Hermione showed Harry around the neighborhood, all of her favorite spots, the library, the local bookstore, and the local park. Unfortunately the weather remained gray and cloudy with a sense of indecision if it would rain or snow so they did not spend a lot of time outside. They did do some last minute shopping though for their friends and family.
The day before Christmas Hermione bit her lip as they sat watching the last of the Star Wars trilogy that her father had insisted on when he found out Harry had never even heard of them.
When the final yub had been nubbed Daniel turned to Hermione and said, "Okay Princess whats the deep thinking expression for?"
Hermione stood up and used putting the tape into the rewinder to avoid answering quickly, "I have something to tell you guys."
Daniel looked suspiciously at Harry who suddenly understood exactly what a disturbance in the force felt like.
"No dad. Nothing like that. The most Harry and I have or will do for any time soon, is kiss and hold hands." Hermione reassured her father quickly, "This is about me. And something that's changed. Something magical."
Emma studied her daughter, "I have wondered why you've been acting a little bit differently since you came back. You've acted like you haven't seen everything in years."
Taking a deep breath Hermione said, "Probably because from a certain point of view I haven't."
"You want to explain that one Pumpkin?" Daniel asked in confusion.
Hermione nodded and with Harry's help told them everything that had been happening to them since the moment her future memories impacted her. Even explaining how certain people seemed to think that there was a soul bond between her and Harry, which required her explaining what that was to them.
"So they think that the two of you have some kind of bond? I sincerely hope they don't think its an excuse to pressure you into taking your relationship further than you should." Daniel grimly stated looking at Harry pointedly.
"No dad." Hermione paused, "Well most of the adults don't think that we need to rush into anything. I'm not entirely certain what Dumbledore thinks."
"So is there going to be any threat from him?" Emma asked with a bit of concern.
"I don't know. Madam Bones said she will have aurors patrolling the neighborhood." Hermione tried to sound reassuring and confident.
"Right. Okay. Well we will have to deal with it if anything happens. I don't suppose you got a special permit to do some serious Merlin level stuff did you?"
Hermione blushed, "Uh no. And even at my best I wasn't as powerful as Merlin."
Harry looked doubtfully at his girlfriend but didn't contradict her.
"Of course Merlin was real." Daniel sighed, "Just how much of our history has not been told as accurately as it should have been?"
Hermione looked at Harry who shrugged and rubbed the back of his neck, "Uh about half of it." Hermione answered.
"We will deal with that later. Tomorrow is Christmas so we need to get to bed." Emma declared, "So we will worry about if Shakespeare was a wizard or not later."
"Oh he wasn't one. He was married to one though so had a lot of access to the magical world." Hermione declared as her father mumbled something about headache powders.
…...
The next morning the Grangers came down to find Hermione setting out breakfast while Harry helped.
"Well don't the two of you look rather domesticated." Daniel said with a bleary grin.
"Sorry dad., I wanted to make you and mum breakfast after dumping all of that information on you yesterday." Hermione said.
"When did you start drinking black coffee?" Emma asked noticing what was in her daughter's cup.
"Oh. The adult me started when she began working at the Ministry and I guess her like of it filtered back through. Although there was this coffee shop in the east end she really liked, but it won't exist for another twenty years or so." Hermione glumly said with a shrug.
"You know when my brother introduced me to some of his theater friends I thought that was as weird as life could get. I see I was wrong." Daniel said sitting down heavily.
"You're not upset are you dad?" Hermione worriedly asked.
"No. Just going to be wrapping my head around just how much things are going to be different. How much has been hidden from us. I don't know if I like that." Daniel said with a frown. "How did we handle this in the previous time?"
Hermione looked downcast at the table, "I didn't tell you everything and then due to the war I lost you."
Emma looked pointedly at her husband, "Well you are not going to lose us this time. And we are going to adjust, even if it is done by dragging and kicking one of us."
Daniel looked at his wife then his daughter, "Your mother is right. I will get used to it." he sighed, "One way or another. If it means we don't lose you."
Harry swallowed hard as he watched Hermione throw herself into a hug with her parents. After a moment Daniel stood up and walked over to him, with a smile he pulled Harry in for a hug as well.
"Sir?" Harry asked when he was released.
"Well we might as well welcome you into the family. Since you seem to be housebroken and rather polite." Daniel chuckled. "And call me Dan or dad."
Hermione smiled, "I do plan on keeping him."
Emma laughed, "I do hope you come to a bit of a balance dear."
"We will." Hermione grinned, "So let's finish breakfast so we can go check our presents out."
"You didn't peek did you?" Emma asked.
"You didn't remember what we got you did you?" Daniel asked glumly.
Hermione laughed, "No dad, and even if I did, I wouldn't be rude enough to at least not act surprised."
Daniel sighed wryly, "Well there is that."
…...
After breakfast, they retired to the drawing room to exchange their gifts from under the tree. Harry had gotten Hermione an advanced potions book and kit while she had gotten him a Quidditch goggles and gloves set. They had gotten the Grangers a set of eversharp kitchen knives and a history of the United Kingdoms from the magical perspective. The Grangers had gotten Harry a few T-shirts with movie posters on them and a book of Dr Who trivia while they got Hermione a writing set and some books she had been talking about.
Daniel pulled two packages from under the tree with a confused expression, "I thought you said your friends would be exchanging your gifts with them at the Longbottom's tomorrow?"
"They are. We didn't know exactly how you would react if they gave us something too magical." Hermione said with a frown as Daniel carefully set the two packages down, one wrapped in a crimson paper with a gold ribbon marked for Harry and one wrapped in dark blue with a green ribbon for Hermione. Hermione's was much smaller than Harry's though.
"I don't recognize the handwriting." Harry said.
Hermione frowned as she looked at the card with her name written in a neat curlicue script. "It looks familiar to me. I almost have it."
Harry rubbed her arm, "Well don't force it."
She sighed, "I know. So do you want to go first or should I?"
"Why not at the same time?" Emma suggested.
The two preteens shrugged and worked to open their packages carefully. Acting like they expected the gifts to explode in their faces.
Finally, Harry revealed a silvery silken cloak. He flipped it over and back noticing that one side allowed him to see the floor through where his arm should have been.
"Whoa! You got a Romulan Cloak!" Daniel exclaimed as Harry looked confused at him.
"A what?" Harry asked.
"Its an invisibility cloak." Hermione explained, "From one of his television programs."
Harry stood up and flung the item around him. The gasps from the three Grangers told him he must have vanished from view.
"There was a card with it." Hermione said picking it up, "Dear Harry this was your father's, I am sorry to say it was being borrowed for an important task when he passed. I now return it to you. Use it well."
Harry flipped the hood back looking puzzled, "My father's?
Hermione gasped, "Dumbledore. Dumbledore had it when your father could have used it the most. He kept it all these years because its one of them."
"One of what?" Harry asked sliding the cloak off and reverently folding it back up.
"One of the. The things, the, you know. The three of them. OH bother!" She huffed, "It was right there. It was something important."
"Relax it'll come to you." Harry said rubbing her arm as she scowled.
"Was it something harmful?" Daniel asked.
"No. Not to Harry. It was just." Hermione frowned harder, "Luna's involved in it. I don't know how, her and her father."
"Well, we will see them tomorrow so you can ask about it then." Emma reminded her. "I wonder what yours will be."
Hermione looked down at the box in her lap. "I'm a bit concerned." She said but gently slid the lid off of the box. A small, flat, leather bound, jewelry case was revealed. Gently lifting it out she carefully flipped the catch to find a small silver chain that had a small cameo hanging off of it. The cameo appeared to be made of ivory and had small pearls inset around it.
"Oh. That's rather pretty." Emma observed softly.
"Yes. It is." Hermione said with a frown before she snapped the lid shut. "II want to see if Madam Bones or someone can check this out tomorrow."
Harry frowned at the box, "Do you think it has some kind of curse or something on it?"
"I'd rather not take the chance right now. Especially without knowing for certain if Dumbledore is involved in this." Hermione explained.
"Probably a good idea." Daniel agreed, "So shall we get on with the rest of our day?"
"A good idea." Emma said.
"So what are we going to do?" Harry asked.
"Well church services, then lunch with Paul and William." Daniel explained.
Harry nodded, "Oh. Okay. This ought to be interesting."
"It will be." Daniel said with a grin.
…...
Harry found the church services quite interesting. The Grangers were Church of England like the Dursleys but they seemed to actually be more interested in being part of the church congregation and not just because it was the 'normal' thing to do. Hermione had some friends that she introduced to Harry and once again showed her pleasant singing voice.
Afterwards they went back to the Granger home where a large black motorcycle was sitting in the walkpath with its kickstand down. A tall slender man with a pair of mirrored sunglasses, denim jacket, white T-shirt and thin mustache. His dark black hair was slicked back in a very late Freddie mercury sort of way.
He stood leaning against the front of the house while a tall red haired woman stood chatting with him.
Jumping out of the car Hermione grinning ran up, "UNCLE PAUL!"
"Hey there's my little snow queen." he said with a chuckle accepting her hug.
"You know this gentleman Miss Granger?" the red haired woman asked in an official sounding tone.
Paul looked at her sideways, "That tone suddenly sounded like a copper."
The woman pulled an official looking Id out of her pocket. It had a three-dimensional hologram of a badge floating next to a rotating representation of her head and face. "Auror Sergeant Monica Woods. Assigned as security detail for Miss Granger and Mr Potter."
"A magic copper then." Paul frowned, "Why do the kids need a copper protecting them?"
"Its a long story Paul." Daniel said moving towards the door, "Miss Woods maybe you can explain how a pair of packages got through your security into our house."
"Two packages? Excuse me?" She asked in a displeased tone.
"If you come in we can show you." Hermione said.
Paul looked at Harry and stuck his hand out, "So you're my niece's boyfriend eh?"
Harry shook his hand as he nodded, "Yeah."
"Well, treat her right kid. I'd hate to have to bury another one." he said with a calm expression.
Harry raised his eyebrow before Emma sighed, "Paul. Daniel already tried the intimidation thing. No need for you to pull the leg too."
Paul gave a half smile, "Just doing my duty as her favorite uncle."
Emma rolled her eyes, "So where's David?"
Paul gave a slight growl, "Him and Josie decided to go to Brighton."
Harry had no idea what was going on as he followed the adults inside. Although he did get the impression that the Dursleys would not have liked Paul. Which raised him several points in Harry's opinion.
…...
Madam Bones had arrived several minutes after AD Woods had examined the gifts. Harry was concerned she would take his cloak from him but it did not seem to be a threat. The aurors were far too focused on the necklace.
"Interesting." Madam Bones said lifting the necklace with her wand. "This has some very subtle charms work on it."
"What would it have done if I put it on?" Hermione asked. The muggle Grangers had been asked to step out of the dining room while they examined the gifts.
"It has a slight bust growth spell, a slight enhancement of your carnal desires and fertility. If you had put this on you would not have immediately fallen into bed with Mr Potter but you would have certainly been more inclined to do far more than hold hands." Madam Bones explained.
"That bastard Dumbledore." Hermione exclaimed slapping the kitchen counter.
"You took the words out of my mouth." Madam Bones growled angrily as she placed the necklace into a purple evidence bag. "I am going to hang him by his beard."
"My cloak is okay isn't it?" Harry asked worriedly.
"As far as I can tell it just seems to be a very high quality invisibility cloak. One that someone would have paid a great many galleons for to a custom designer." Madam Bones said.
"Wow." Harry said, "So my father paid a lot for this?"
"His very life." Hermione muttered under her breath but fortunately only Madam Bones heard her.
"So it would seem. I would take very good care of it if I were you." Amelia said.
"So what are we going to tell my parents. Paul is a bit hot-headed." Hermione explained, "So it might not be a good idea for him to know that someone was trying to get me to get into Harry's bed."
"We can just tell them that it had some malicious charms on it and that we will take it into evidence against the person." Madam Bones explained.
"Good."
AD Woods pulled a pocket compact out of her jacket and had a brief conversation with someone. "A car just pulled in. Tall man with a commando sweater on."
"Uncle Bill." Hermione grinned happily.
Madam Bones nodded, "We do not know if he would try to impersonate your family members so AD Woods will remain here until they leave."
"Alright." Hermione agreed.
…...
When they exited the dining room into the living room Hermione grinned when she saw her uncle Bill standing there talking to the others. He was the oldest of the three Granger brothers and still kept himself rather fit.
When he looked up though the first name from his mouth was not Hermione's, "Amelia? What are you doing here?"
"You're her uncle Bill?" Amelia gasped in surprise.
"Yeah. Wow." The man said with an awkward lopsided grin.
"I take it the two of you have already been intro?" Daniel asked with a teasing tone.
"You could say that." Bill replied ambiguously.
"I was briefly embedded with the Special Boat Service to deal with a few incidents back in the late 80s. Where I encountered Major William Granger." Amelia stiffly explained.
"Yeah like that incident down in the Azores." He said with a wiggle of his eyebrows.
"Yes. Which remains classified by both of our governments." She sternly reminded him.
"Ahh. Yeah. So we should keep it under wraps?" He countered.
"Very much so." Amelia frostily declared as she stared at the former special forces operative.
"So. Are you going to be staying for dinner?" Emma asked to smooth over things. "That way you can help explain what is going on with the kids and the gifts and such."
"I would have to get back to my niece. I left her with some safe associates."
"Oh you can bring her over as well. We wouldn't mind." Hermione said.
"If your parents are certain."
"Considering how I want to know how two packages got in here past your people yes I am very certain." Daniel declared.
…...
Amelia had stepped out and brought Susan back a few minutes later. She was pleased to meet the Grangers.
While Daniel worked on the meal, with Harry observing politely the other gathered around the kitchen table.
"So how did these packages get in here?" Emma asked.
"I believe it might have been house elves. Dumbledore may have at least one or more elves working for him." Amelia stated.
"DOBBY!" Hermione exclaimed then shook her head, "No wait. He worked for Harry. Er. No Malfoys. He would be working for the Malfoys right now."
Harry looked confused for a brief moment but shrugged when everyone glanced at him.
"And what is a house elf?" Daniel asked.
"Think the Shoemaker and the elves fairy tale dad." Hermione quickly said causing her father to nod.
"Essentially correct. Their magic operates in a different manner and as this is a muggle house we did not have the detectors set for house elf magic." Amelia explained, "Although we will be rectifying that now."
"So what are you going to do about this Dumbledore guy?" Paul demanded.
"I have already issued an order for his arrest on muggle-baiting. Its the most I can do right now, the problem will be trying to locate him."
"Yeah but you got magic." Paul countered angrily.
"So does he uncle Paul." Hermione reminded him, "Dumbledore is a powerful and skilled wizard."
"Your niece is correct. He was also a resistance fighter in our previous war against the dark lord. So he has a great deal of other skills beside magical." Amelia frowned.
"Well if we can help in any way let us know." Bill said, "I may be retired, but I still have a few friends."
"Yeah and I can get some folks to help out." Paul said.
"Thank you for the offers. I may take you up on them at some point." Amelia said.
Emma got a unpleasant expression before rising quickly, "Excuse me. I'll be back."
"Is your wife alright Mr Granger?" Amelia asked as Emma hurried from the room.
"She's been having some stomach issues over the last week. She had an appointment with the GP but they said it was just the flu." Daniel explained.
"You don't think she's been poisoned or something do you?" Hermione worriedly asked.
"I doubt it was a poison but I can check for spells or other things." Amelia said reassuringly.
"Thank you. That would be helpful to my anxiety." Daniel stated. Hermione nodded her agreement.
Once Emma returned Hermione hugged her, "Mum could you stand over here. Madam Bones wants to check you for some spells or curses. Just in case its not the flu."
"Do you think that's likely?" Emma asked concerned.
"Its better to be safe than sorry given the way things have been going." Amelia tried to sound reassuring, "Given the muggle susceptibility to viruses and germs its likely just a flu or other bug."
"Oh thanks." Emma replied with a frown.
"Mum, it wasn't meant to sound insulting. Magic enhances our immune systems, and general health to be far more resistant to diseases and injuries." Hermione explained with a shrug, "Its just basic biology."
"It kinda sounds like the magic supremacists when you say it that way." Susan pointed out while her aunt cast several spells.
"Magic supremacists? You guys got bigots and racists too eh?" Paul huffed.
"Sadly just more proof that we are actually as human as anyone else." Auror Woods said with a glum expression.
"Well that's good to know." Daniel said watching as a small pink glowing ball of light floated over his wife's stomach. Hermione's sudden gasp made him feel some rising concern, "Uh is that a bad thing?"
Amelia smiled at Daniel, "No. I'm sorry if you were trying to keep it secret though."
"Keep what secret?" Emma asked.
"Your pregnancy." Amelia replied in confusion.
"Pregnancy? Are you trying to say I'm pregnant?" Emma gasped in a rising voice, "That's impossible. I can't be."
"I assure you that when a woman and a man."
"I may be a dentist but I do know basic reproduction ma'am." Emma declared coldly staring at Amelia.
"My apologies. I was attempting to be light hearted." Amelia said clearing her through, "However the spell is rather infallible. We could take you to a healer to confirm it if you wish, though."
Daniel raised his hand, "Wait a second. My wife had complications from her second pregnancy. It tore her uterus somehow and they felt that it would be best to remove it. How could she get pregnant after that?"
"Dad. We have potions and spells that can regrow skeletal bones, regrowing internal organs is not a problem." Hermione swiftly said.
"Are you telling me that your doctors can give someone a pill and they can grow a new kidney?" Daniel demanded.
"Well its a potion and not a pill but yes." Amelia said with a nod.
Daniel took a long drink of his wine before looking at his wife, "You're pregnant."
Emma sat down looking shocked as her hand went to her abdomen. "Oh my."
"Maybe we should do the Familia Paternas." Hermione suggested.
"You think a cuckoo has been in the nest?" Paul asked.
"I have never had sex with anyone except my husband!" Emma protested.
"That you are aware of Mrs Granger. There are spells and potions that could have. We have to be make sure this was not a criminal event." Amelia said trying to remain polite.
"Please um, relax." Hermione said rubbing her mother's arm.
"Relax? I just got told I'm pregnant and could have been raped and not even remembered it." Emma vented angrily, "You want me to relax?"
"Emms. Please." Daniel said coming over to put his hand on his wife's shoulder, "We're with you. No matter what."
Emma took a deep breath, "Okay. Do whatever this Familia Paternas does."
"It is just a paternity test. Magically detecting the bloodline of the child so that we know the name of the father." Amelia said with a calm voice.
Emma nodded bracing herself as Amelia cast the spell. The name Michael Evans floated out in gold letters briefly.
"Michael Evans? Who is he?" Emma asked bewildered by this latest turn.
"My grandfather was named Michael." Harry said after everyone looked at each other trying to make sense of it.
"Excuse me?" Amelia asked looking at Harry.
"My aunt Petunia would say a lot of unkind things about her mum and dad, my grandparents. Because she claimed they loved my mum more than they did her." Harry explained.
"Are you trying to say your grandfather raped my wife?"
"That would be rather complicated as Mr Potter's grandparents were muggles and died in March of 1981." AD Woods said snapping her mirror shut.
"Wait. Wait. Wait. What is going on?" Daniel asked.
Amelia remembered Dumbledore's vague hints that it was important for Harry to remain with his blood family, that Petunia had said essentially the same thing. Looking at Emma Granger's abdomen there was essentially another member of Harry's family growing there now. Another member of his mother's blood family.
"Auntie?" Susan asked.
"I'm sorry. I was thinking. Woods, go get Poppy Pomfrey and bring her here. Tell her its an alpha 1 priority." Amelia ordered, "Mister Granger I believe your wife may have been implanted with either the clone of, or a de-aged version of Harry's aunt."
Everyone sat staring at her incredulously for long moments before Daniel laughed slightly hysterically, "My wife is carrying Harry's aunt?"
"Perhaps. It would be some rather powerful and rare magic involved in doing this. It would also be quite illegal with life in prison being the sentence for the perpetrator." Amelia explained.
"Oh lovely." Emma said. "This Pomfrey person?"
"She is the nurse at the school." Hermione explained quickly.
"She is also a highly experienced healer who took the matron position at the school to help children." Amelia said earnestly, "Now if you'll excuse me I need to go check on a few things."
The Grangers had wanted to ask something else but a pop of in-rushing air prevented that as Amelia apparated out from within their living room.
"Hermione, things went off script didn't they?" Harry asked worriedly.
"Uhhh. Just a bit." Hermione said smiling reassuringly at her mother who was sitting rubbing her stomach.
…...
Amelia arrived at the muggle prison that was holding Petunia Dursley. She and her husband had been convicted by the muggle courts of abuse and neglect. They would spend the next year in prison while their son went to foster parents. The muggles had sent Marge Dursley to prison for abuse, neglect, animal abuse, and business fraud. She would be a guest of the crown for three years overall.
Showing her special warrant card to the warden she was soon seated opposite a very unhappy Petunia Dursley.
"What do you want now?" The thin and haggard woman snarled.
"I was wanting to see if you could help me with an investigation." Amelia stated.
"The last time I helped a magical person I wound up with that freak in my home and look what that got me." Petunia growled.
Amelia had used her authority to have the camera turned off for this interview so felt comfortable standing up and drawing her wand. Petunia visibly paled and shrunk back into her chair. "Mrs Dursley, I have neither the time nor the inclination to be more polite than I already have. I need to run a few checks on you for an investigation. If you cooperate there will be no trouble, if you do not I am sure you are aware I can compel you to cooperate."
Petunia tried to summon some degree of affronted bravery and sneered, "Fine do what you will with me. Your kind always do. You never care about us normal people."
Amelia frowned but realized arguing with someone as lost to anger and bitterness as Petunia Dursley was pointless. Casting several spells on the woman did not make Amelia feel any better though.
"So? Satisfied with whatever your witchcraft needed?" Petunia spat out as Amelia stood quietly with her arms crossed staring at Petunia.
"To be honest no." Amelia admitted, "This just makes things more puzzling."
"Well too bad." Petunia snorted, "You and your kind using us, abusing us, throwing us away when we no longer serve your purposes. And you wonder why we might get rather upset about that. Resenting your meddling."
Amelia sighed, "Believe it or not there are some of us who do not like or agree with that either. I am sorry for whatever has happened to you Mrs Dursley but that is no excuse to take it out on the rest of the world."
Petunia looked like she had been slapped for a brief moment then her perpetual scowl returned.
"Now. Good day. I have several more stops to make before I can rest tonight." Amelia turned and walked to the door.
Petunia cleared her throat softly, Amelia paused to look at the woman. She seemed to be working up the nerve to ask something.
"You have a question Mrs Dursley?" Amelia asked politely.
Petunia frowned before swallowing her anger and asking, "What did you find out just now?"
Amelia considered what to tell the woman and finally decided that being honest might help heal some old wounds. "You are healthy, aside from being infertile. You've not had any magic used on you in the last several days and your mind seems to be clear of any compulsions or surface modifications. At least none that I can detect."
"So what were you hoping to find?" Petunia asked in confusion.
"Answers to a very troubling puzzle." Amelia frowned as she had a thought, "You haven't been visited by Albus Dumbledore recently have you?"
"No. I have not seen that old goat since our persecution. He's totally abandoned us." Petunia's lips got as thin as possible as she repressed her anger. "And I hope never to see him again."
Amelia nodded, "Well thank you."
"Don't mention it." Petunia sarcastically said, "Really. Please don't ever mention it again. I just want to be left alone by you folk."
Amelia nodded before leaving. She felt quite happy to leave Petunia to her own devices.
…...
Amelia returned to the DMLE offices. Almost deserted due to the holidays she was able to move to Shacklebolt's office. He had been assigned to monitor Dumbledore's whereabouts only had not been giving her as detailed reports as she had hoped. His evasiveness when she pressed him for reports had been grating on her, but Shacklebolt was supposedly a trustworthy and otherwise effective auror detective. She was going to do some checking though as this latest event was too unusual and involved Mr Potter to be ignored. Using her override key she was she was able to open his desk to go through his reports. She frowned as there were large gaps that should have been listing where Dumbledore was or what he was doing.
Sitting in his chair she looked through the rest of his cases. They all appeared to be in order, the only ones lacking details were those involving Dumbledore. Those had large gaps where it said nothing to report, or did not leave his home. No evidence of activities was another recurring phrase.
She put everything back the way she had found it, Kingsley had some serious explaining to do.
…...
Woods, and Madam Pomfrey had arrived while Amelia was still away.
"Ahh Miss Granger, Mrs Granger. Auror Woods tells me there is something strange afoot." Madam Pomfrey sad entering the house.
"Yes. Mum is pregnant." Hermione explained swiftly.
"Oh. Congratulations." Poppy exclaimed cheerfully.
"No. No. Not congratulations. I had a partial hysterectomy. There is no way I am supposed to be able to be pregnant." Emma exclaimed slightly excitedly. Dan rubbed her arm to try and reassure her.
Poppy did not look too surprised, "Well it would seem someone regrew your womb."
"Why would they do that?" Hermione asked with a frown.
"To get your mother pregnant for some reason." Poppy said with a shrug. "Now if you'll find a table to lay down on I can examine you for any other alterations or if there is a signature of who did this."
"Alright. We can go into the kitchen I suppose." Emma said.
Poppy nodded and taking her bag followed Emma. Daniel sat with the others around the dining room table.
"So you got your playing cards handy?" William asked with a grin.
"Yeah." Daniel sighed, "Pumpkin would you please?"
"Sure dad." Hermione said heading towards the library.
"So Harry you know how to play poker?" William inquired with a sly grin.
…...
Amelia apparated to the space just down from Kingsley's home in Lambeth. Walking up to the building she wondered how a member of the sacred 28 could integrate himself so deeply into the muggle world. It was rather unusual.
Finding his apartment on the 14th floor she knocked in the Ministry code. A moment later the man opened the door wearing a rather loud robe.
"Ahh Amelia. Welcome. What do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" He asked in his rich deep voice.
"We need to talk about whose side you are on." She declared in a low voice.
Kingsley looked like he was going to deny everything then sighed. With a nod he stepped back into the apartment and gestured for her to enter.
"So how did you find out?" When he had shut the door. His rich resonant voice holding no malice Amelia was glad to note.
"Today. I looked at your field notes. You have highly detailed and observant field notes for all of your cases except the one involving Dumbledore. I want to know Kingsley, whose payroll are you on?"
He walked past her to a framed picture sitting on a shelf. A younger version of himself was holding a beautiful ebony skinned nubian princess whose abdomen was swollen with new life. The two of them looked incredibly happy. "I am employed by the Ministry Amelia. My first loyalty is to justice as always."
"Then why are you protecting Albus?" Amelia asked in a disappointed tone.
"I am protecting him because he convinced me he was the only way to remove the threat the Death Eaters and You-know-who poses." Shacklebolt said clutching the frame of the picture so tightly his knuckles paled.
"Shack, I'm not convinced he isn't even worse than they are. Look at what he's been doing." Amelia relied earnestly, almost whispering, "Look at how he's acted. I think he did something very horrible to a muggle woman, two of them to be exact."
"The Granger woman." He replied jerkily.
"How did you know that?" Amelia demanded in a low barely restrained tone.
"Because I helped him. I helped get him into the Dursley cell. To get the, material, he needed. Then helped him get the Granger woman to the healer he wanted to use. Someone named Kovacs in Cairbannog. All without anyone else knowing." Shacklebolt explained without turning.
Amelia gasped in horror, "Shack. I should at the very least demand your badge for you know how many of our laws, of the muggle laws, you've broken with just that act. Much less anything else you have done for that man."
Shacklebolt turned with an angry scowl, "I know. Amelia. Trust me I know. But what else can I do? The ministry is infiltrated with them, our society riddled with their dogma of evil. How am I supposed to just do my job knowing that I don't make a difference doing so?"
Amelia looked down at the picture in his hands. She had no idea who the woman was but must have meant the world to him. She pursed her lips giving him time to calm down.
"I lost people I loved too Shack. I lost all but my niece. Only if we abandon our morals, if we abandon our ethics what do we have left? Lynch mobs and vigilantes? Star Chamber trials where the guilt is already determined? Where do we go from there? Once we've taken that step is it really such a big step to just abrogate all freedoms and rule by fiat?" she countered emotionally.
"Dumbledore doesn't want that." Shacklbolt swallowed, "I don't think at least."
"I don't know Shack. Look. I am one of the biggest defender of the laws, and I still recognize many of our laws are flawed, our government is not perfect. We are living in dark and troublesome times. This means we need to take extraordinary actions. We just have to be careful that we do not become the monsters we fight." Amelia argued.
Shacklebolt's nostrils flared but he did not say anything.
Amelia licked her lips trying to keep herself calm, "Do you even know why he did that to Mrs Granger?"
Shacklebolt frowned, "He said that if Harry Potter had to only live in a house where his mother's blood still flowed. That it was vitally important to Potter's safety and life itself. That if we didn't do this incredibly bad things would occur."
"Like what?" Amelia demanded in shock.
Shacklebolt did not stop frowning as he looked into Amelia's eyes. "He was not entirely clear although death or worse was suggested."
Amelia took a deep breath. She had worked with Shacklebolt for several years. They were in different departments as she had come up through the accusator office and he was a seasoned auror. She realized he was emotionally compromised and not doing this for nefarious reasons. Deciding to give him a second chance she said, "I'm not going to ask for your badge Shack. I am going to give Mrs Granger all of the information going on, I'll let her decide if she is going to press charges against you. But I want you to make a decision Shack. Either you work for me, or you work for Dumbledore. You need to choose, and choose now."
"I'm sorry Amelia. I don't know. We need to clean up the Ministry. We need to clean up our society and I don't think we can do it your way." Shacklebolt said. "I believe Dumbledore is doing the right thing."
Amelia pulled out her wand, tapping the brooch she wore she called for backup. "In that case Kingsley Shacklebolt I arrest you in the name of the Ministry."
Shacklebolt nodded as he restored the framed picture on the shelf, "I understand Amelia." He spun throwing a spell at the location she had been standing.
As soon as Shacklebolt had turned she expected him to attack her. She had side stepped quickly and was responding just as his spell passed through the space she had occupied. Her spell though hit the shelves behind him as he had processed she had moved within a moment of turning and ducked.
The two of them began to trade spells quickly, a hole was punched into the next apartment over causing the occupants to scream in terror. Amelia growled out, "Shack, you're just making it worse. Stand down and surrender!"
He had managed to retreat to the bedroom door and shaking his head yelled back, "I'm sorry Amelia. I really am."
He fired a spell into the ceiling dropping the room above into this apartment. Amelia dove under the dining room table as debris rained down on her. It had only been a few seconds since they had begun to duel and her rapid response team would arrive in a minute at best.
Once the debris had stopped raining she looked up to see a large hole into the room above. She was glad that it had been unoccupied at least. This was still gong to be a real mess to clean up.
…...
Emma walked out of the kitchen with Poppy after several minuntes. She hugged Daniel when he stood up looking worried.
"So is everything okay?" He asked quickly.
"Oh yes. Your wife is a perfectly healthy normal human female. She is around six weeks pregnant and carrying a healthy girl. There is no idea if the girl is magical or not as its too early but the child seems normal to all of my spells. So you can relax as shes not an alien or mutant and will not burst out of her in anything other than the usual way in a few months." Poppy explained.
"Oh good." Daniel said in relief, "And Emma's okay?"
"I'm fine dear. I just am pregnant, again." Emma laughed nervously.
"I hope we get whomever did this and nail them to the wall." Daniel angrily growled.
"I know dear. But that's what the law is for." Emma patted his chest.
"Auntie will do her best. I'm sure she will." Susan declared earnestly.
"Okay. Well thank you for coming Mrs Pomfrey." Daniel said, "Do you want to have anything to eat or drink? Or do we owe you anything?"
"I do believe I would like some eggnog if you have any but otherwise I'm just glad I could assuage any fears." Poppy said looking pleased.
"Yes certainly." Emma said. "Harry are you okay?"
Harry was looking at Emma with an odd expression, "Technically this baby is my aunt, but will be Hermione's sister because you're giving birth to her?"
Hermione shook her head, "And we thought pure-bloods had a complicated family tree."
…...
Harry laid in the bed at the Grangers thinking. Susan was on a folding cot the Grangers kept for camping in Hermione's room. Her mum and dad had gone to bed in their room. Quietly discussing the child she was carrying.
Amelia had arrived late informing the Grangers that she had been investigating the situation. She had asked Mr and Mrs Granger what their plans were and they had immediately said she was going to keep the child and raise it. Which the adults all nodded and agreed. Emma signed some documents to press charges against the people involved.
Hermione had remembered something when Amelia said the name Kingsley Shacklebolt. She remembered the Order of the Phoenix and that Shacklebolt had worked for Dumbledore as part of the organization. It was his resistance group, only in her memories the group had not done very much to resist anything.
Amelia had left assuring the Grangers and Harry that she would do all she could to find Dumbledore and Shacklebolt to bring them to justice. She also reminded Harry, Hermione and her niece that the magic detectors on the house would be going active again and even set to detect house elves and other magic so to refrain from casting anything.
Hermione had agreed and understood the seriousness of the threat. So had Susan when she asked her aunt and the Grangers if she could stay the night since they would be going to Longbottom estate in the morning. He hoped that party would be a lot calmer.
…...
Review Responses
Arjayess: I suppose downloading your entire memories into an earlier version of yourself is not a perfect process resulting in young Hermione having some swiss cheese scrambling of her memories. I purposely chose to have her not remember everythign all at once for dramatic purposes and to prevent her basically becoming unable to have a meaningful relationship with Harry. That was 12 year old Hermione is still essentially her, only with a bit more knowledge and maturity due to the memories she develops from future self.
As for the twins they will develop in their own path now. I never really liked them in the canon books, and liked them even less in the movies.
Herart: Yes I do Not everyone has a problem with that and some people have grumped when I pull gross or other triggers. So they happen. Thank you for reading.
Josamen1: Some very interesting observations. And oh yeah Susan and Draco are definitely going to have a very long feud.
Denie1943: Sorry. The plot is moving as best I can. And as for my writing life has a funny way of making things happen. So its going about as fast as I can make it happen.
Dogger807: That is an interesting idea about the twins. They do have some distinct personality types. And are not quite as connected as others portray them. Thanks for reading. I'm trying to make this one different.
Gryffindorforever4242: Thank you. Glad you are enjoying
Coffeedragon63: Yes it is. Next episode we see the delivery of that. Hopefully the reunion will be quite emotional. The twins are going to reappear at some point. I just need to figure out how to involve them in things without making it forced.
Yaw613: I'm writing as fast as I can. I canna go any faster without causing the word core to overheat...lol. Thanks for reading and glad you enjoy.
Kgfinkel: The Red Thistle is one of those gangs that take care of the people in their neighborhood and while they are criminals, technically they are more of the robin hood kind than the sons of anarchy kind. So things will get interesting when we run into them again. I have some loose ideas I need to solidify first though. Oh yes. Fred is going to be quite the problem child. As for tackers yes that was a mistake. Rectified of course.