Chapter 4: Letters, Plans, and Revelations

Granger Household – Morning

The morning sun crept slowly into the Granger kitchen, casting a warm golden light across the neatly arranged breakfast table. Dan Granger was casually flipping through the morning post, his half-empty cup of tea cooling beside him. The familiar smell of frying eggs and buttered toast wafted from the stove, where his wife Emma hummed softly to herself, preparing their usual breakfast.

As Dan sifted through the usual stack of bills and advertisements, a white envelope caught his eye. The address was written in neat, precise handwriting, immediately recognizable to him as their daughter's.

"Hermione's written to us," Dan said aloud, a hint of surprise in his voice as he set down the other letters.

Emma turned from the stove, her expression brightening. "Oh? Let's see what she has to say," she said, coming over to join him at the table.

Dan carefully opened the envelope, smoothing out the letter before reading aloud:

"Dear Mum and Dad,"

"I hope you're both doing well! I'm writing because I need your help with something important. You know my friend Harry? He really needs to get away from his relatives this summer. I can't explain everything in this letter, but it's important. There are some things I need to help him with, but I can't tell you what they are right now."

"I know this is sudden, but could Harry stay with us for the summer? Please trust me when I say it's for his own good. I miss you both very much and hope to hear back from you soon!"

"Love, Hermione."

Dan set the letter down on the table, scratching his chin thoughtfully as Emma sat beside him, folding her arms.

"Well, that's quite the request," Dan said, raising an eyebrow. "It sounds like there's a lot going on that we don't know about."

Emma nodded slowly, re-reading the letter in her hands. "She's definitely not telling us everything, but if Hermione says it's important, then I trust her."

Dan sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Yeah, I trust her too, but... she wants to bring Harry here? For the whole summer?" His voice carried a note of unease. "We barely know the boy."

Emma chuckled softly, giving him a playful nudge. "Dan, you're not worried about Harry, are you? I've seen how fond Hermione is of him. He's a good kid."

Dan grinned sheepishly, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, yeah, I know. It's just—well, you know, we'll have to give him 'the talk' if he's staying here all summer." He smirked mischievously. "You know—the 'boyfriend talk.'"

Emma rolled her eyes, giving him a look of mild exasperation. "Dan, if you so much as mention 'the talk' to Harry, I will make sure you're sleeping on the couch for the rest of the summer. Understood?"

Dan laughed nervously, raising his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright, I'll behave. But you have to admit, it's a little... sudden. Do you think something's wrong?"

Emma's expression softened as she looked down at the letter. "It could be, but I don't think Hermione would keep secrets from us unless she had a good reason. She's always been responsible."

Dan nodded thoughtfully, then sighed. "You're right, of course. And if she thinks Harry needs our help, then we should trust her."

Emma smiled warmly and leaned over, placing a hand on his. "Exactly. And honestly, I think it'll be good for Harry. He could use some proper family time, don't you think?"

Dan relaxed, his earlier tension dissipating. "Yeah, poor kid's been through more than enough. Alright, we'll do it."

Emma's eyes sparkled with approval as she kissed him on the cheek. "Good. Now finish your tea. I'll reply to her once breakfast is ready."

12 Grimmauld Place – Later That Morning

At the same time, far from the peaceful Granger household, the atmosphere was decidedly more somber. Sirius Black stood in the entrance hall of 12 Grimmauld Place, gazing around at the dark, foreboding walls of his ancestral home. It had been a long time since he'd last set foot inside these oppressive halls, and despite his newfound freedom, the weight of the Black family's history hung over him like a storm cloud.

Taking a deep breath, Sirius called out into the empty house, his voice echoing through the corridors. "Kreacher!"

A moment later, the sound of shuffling footsteps grew louder, and a small, hunched figure appeared from the shadows. Kreacher, the Black family's house-elf, glared up at Sirius with a mixture of contempt and reluctant obedience.

"Kreacher hears his master," the elf muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing. "What does the master want from poor Kreacher now? Kreacher serves, though Kreacher's heart is heavy with shame…"

Sirius rolled his eyes, already used to Kreacher's endless grumbling. "I don't care about your heart, Kreacher. We're going to have guests this summer. I need this place cleaned up and ready to go."

Kreacher scowled, his muttering growing louder. "Guests... filthy blood traitors and their friends... Kreacher cleans for them, oh yes... Kreacher is ashamed, Kreacher despises this disgrace..."

Sirius resisted the urge to snap at the elf, instead forcing a tight smile. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Just get it done, Kreacher. And stop muttering. It's annoying."

With a final, resentful glare, Kreacher shuffled off down the hallway, still grumbling darkly to himself.

As Kreacher disappeared into the shadows, Sirius sighed deeply, running a hand through his messy hair. He hated being back in this house. It was a place full of bad memories, of pure-blood fanaticism and family betrayal. But with no other safe place to go, 12 Grimmauld Place would have to do for now.

At least he had something to look forward to—Harry would be coming here soon, and with any luck, the house might feel a little less like a tomb once it was filled with people again.

Hogwarts - Hospital Wing

Meanwhile, back at Hogwarts, Harry was finally being released from the hospital wing after a night of recovery. The familiar scent of antiseptic potions and clean linen filled the air as he sat on the edge of his bed, feeling much stronger than he had in days.

Madam Pomfrey stood by the door, her stern expression softened by a hint of relief. "I don't want to see you back here until Christmas, Mr. Potter," she said firmly, though there was a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

Harry smiled back, sheepish. "I'll do my best, Madam Pomfrey. No more near-death experiences, I promise."

Behind him, Ron was still lying in his hospital bed, grumbling loudly about his confinement. "I don't get it, Harry! You get to leave, and I'm stuck here, slowly starving. I haven't had a decent meal in days! Madam Pomfrey barely feeds us anything!"

Madam Pomfrey, hearing this, rolled her eyes and approached Ron's bed. She gave his leg a playful but firm smack. "You're not starving, Mr. Weasley. This is a hospital, not a banquet hall. You'll get more than enough food once you're out of here."

Ron winced but grinned at the same time. "Right, right. I just don't want to waste away, you know? You wouldn't want me turning into a skeleton."

Harry chuckled, adjusting his bag. "Don't worry, Ron. I'll sneak you something from the Great Hall."

Ron's eyes lit up. "Thanks, mate. You're a lifesaver."

With a final wave, Harry stepped out of the hospital wing and into the bright corridor, feeling a sense of lightness as he left behind the confines of the ward. It felt good to be back on his feet, and despite everything that had happened, he couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of hope.

Gryffindor Common Room

Later that evening, Harry and Hermione sat together in the Gryffindor common room, the warm glow of the fireplace casting flickering shadows across the room. The two of them were seated side by side on one of the comfortable sofas, each lost in their thoughts but enjoying the quiet companionship. Their arms were touching, though neither seemed to notice or mind.

The common room was filled with the usual chatter and laughter of students winding down after a long day. Nearby, a small group of second-year girls were practicing charms, while a few older students lounged around, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.

Oliver Wood, the outgoing Gryffindor Quidditch captain, sat proudly in an armchair across the room, the gleaming Quidditch Cup prominently displayed on the table in front of him. He was leaning back, looking as though he had just won the lottery, which, in his mind, was probably not far from the truth.

Katie Bell, one of Harry's Quidditch teammates, plopped down into a chair beside him, grinning broadly. "So, Harry," she said, her eyes twinkling, "are you still going to play next year? Now that Oliver's graduated, we'll need you more than ever."

Before Harry could respond, Oliver, sitting across the room with a triumphant grin, interrupted loudly. "Graduated? I'm not gone yet!" he called out, raising his arms in mock protest.

The room erupted into laughter at Oliver's dramatic declaration, and Harry couldn't help but smile at his captain's antics. Harry chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, I'm still going to play. I'm not quitting Quidditch."

Katie nodded in approval. "Good to hear. Though, you know, Angelina's going to be captain now. She's got some tough plans for next year."

Harry grinned. "I'll be ready. As long as she doesn't make us do anything too crazy."

They chatted a little more about the upcoming season, with Oliver chiming in from time to time, proudly reminding everyone that he had led Gryffindor to victory in his final year. The atmosphere was lighthearted, and for a brief moment, it felt as though the weight of the world had lifted off Harry's shoulders.

The Great Hall – Breakfast

The following morning, the Great Hall was filled with the usual sounds of clinking cutlery, students talking, and the smell of freshly baked bread and sizzling bacon. Harry and Hermione sat together at the Gryffindor table, eating their breakfast in companionable silence. Ron, still confined to the hospital wing, was noticeably absent.

As Harry reached for a piece of toast, Hedwig swooped down gracefully, landing on the table in front of Hermione with a letter tied to her leg. Hermione's eyes lit up with excitement as she untied the letter, recognizing her parents' handwriting.

"It's from my parents!" she exclaimed, her voice full of hope as she tore open the envelope.

Harry watched as she quickly read through the letter, her face breaking into a broad smile. Without warning, she threw her arms around him in a tight hug, nearly knocking over his juice in the process.

"They said yes!" she squealed, hugging him even tighter. "You can stay with us this summer!"

Harry's heart leaped with relief and joy, and he returned the hug, feeling a warmth spread through him. "That's amazing! Thanks, Hermione."

As Hermione pulled back, still beaming, she didn't notice the pair of icy blue eyes watching them from across the room. Several Slytherins were sitting together, whispering among themselves, but one of them—the sharp-eyed, observant girl—seemed particularly interested in the interaction between Harry and Hermione.

Before they could dwell on the hug any longer, a sharp voice cut through the chatter of the Great Hall.

"I am finished making Wolfsbane for Lupin, Albus. Don't ask me to do it again."

It was Professor Snape, standing at the staff table, his arms crossed as he addressed Headmaster Dumbledore. His voice carried throughout the hall, and students turned to stare, many of them freezing mid-bite as they processed his words.

"Did... did he just say Lupin?" one student whispered.

"Wolfsbane... isn't that for werewolves?" another asked, eyes wide with shock.

A ripple of murmurs and gasps spread through the hall as realization dawned on the students. Lupin was a werewolf.

"This isn't good," Hermione whispered, her voice tight with worry. "People are going to start talking."

Harry clenched his fists under the table, his jaw set. "Yeah, and once it gets out, it's going to be everywhere. Poor Lupin."

Several students had already begun to stand up, rushing out of the hall to owl their parents about the revelation. The news would spread like wildfire.

As Harry and Hermione finished their breakfast, Hermione's earlier excitement was dulled by the weight of the new gossip. She reached over and squeezed Harry's hand briefly, giving him a small, encouraging smile before they stood to leave.

"We should go visit Ron. Maybe we can figure out what to do next," Hermione suggested softly.

Harry nodded, his thoughts heavy. "Yeah. Let's go."

As they left the Great Hall together, neither of them noticed the icy blue eyes still watching their every move, nor did they hear the whispers and gossip that followed them out the door. The revelation about Professor Lupin had set off a chain of events that neither of them could fully understand yet, and the consequences were just beginning to unfold.

AN: Thank you guys so much for reading! Here is a couple of responses to reviews:

To Hamiltonds1991: I'm glad you've enjoyed the story so far. Lupin might not forgive himself for infecting his friend's son but he might learn to live with it if Lupin sees that Harry is happy as a werewolf.

To decadenceofmysoul: Thank you! It's a fun story to write. I haven't seen a lot of werewolf stories that I like, so I'm enjoying writing my own.

To bruins35: Firstly, if you are asking if this is a crossover fic, then it is not. This story will only feature characters from the Harry Potter universe. Except for Illura, she is an oc from my D campaign that I decided to throw in. Secondly, I am working on making each chapter longer. Right now I am doing shorter but faster to make more chapters for you guys to enjoy.