Chapter Fifteen: Summer of Mixed Tidings
June 27th, 1993
The aftermath of the basilisk being slain was hectic for Hogwarts. Lockhart was fired due to incompetence and arrested for fraud because some of the people he'd obliviated remembered their stories. Defense class was taught by Kingsly Shacklebolt for the remainder of the term. The diary was given to the Unspeakables to disect and destroy, and Ginevra Weasley was sent to St. Mungo's to see a mind healer. Lucius Malfoy had somehow been linked to the diary winding up in Hogwarts and had been taken into ministry custody and his vault access revoked. Before he was dragged away, he freed Dobby in a fit of rage.
Harry visited Hermione every day until the petrifaction was cured a few days later. Luckily, she didn't have too much to catch up on when she got better. The basilisk carcass was sold and the victims were compensated with a reasonable cut of the profits with about 15% going to Hogwarts. During the Easter break, Amelia announced that she was pregnant and would be due sometime in January.
Harry and Hermione were once again top of the year when the grades for the exams came in, much to the dismay of many of the Ravenclaws. Before leaving for summer break, Harry signed up for his electives for next year: Runes, Arithmancy, and Care of Magical Creatures. He also managed to persuade Hermione to not take every elective, reasoning that three would be more than enough electives for anyone to take. During the first part of summer break, Harry had another checkup from the goblin healers to see if there was any progress in the condition of his scar. Much to his relief, the the fading of his scar really did mean that it's attachment to him was weaker than the last checkup. According to their new projections, the absolute latest he would still have the horcrux stuck in him was now his sixteenth birthday. The goblins were also studying the one they found in the Lestrange vault to see if they could engineer a way to remove a horcrux from an object without damaging it. The Potters left with a little more cheer that day.
July 31st, 1993
Harry was enjoying having all his friends over for his birthday party. Hermione had brought her little brother with her to the party to introduce to everyone. When asked why, she explained quite simply. "He recently had his eleventh birthday, so Yorric will be joining us at Hogwarts this year." The group of friends and family were enjoying the party until the Daily Prophet had a Special Edition essentially ruin the whole mood. The headline's few words spoke volumes to everyone in the room.
"Petegrew Escapes Azkaban!"
The article went on to say that the anti-animagus wards on his cell had fallen, making it possible for the rat to scurry away. The Dementors were out searching for Petegrew, but that Dumbledore was against having them stationed at Hogwarts. Harry had a strong nagging feeling that Dumbledore's objections would be ignored.
The only consolation was that Remus was going to be the Defense Professor and Sirius would cover for him on the days of the full moon. Both of them could cast a corporeal patronus, so they should be able to keep the Dementors in check. But if Harry felt the need to learn it himself, he would insist all his classmates at least try to learn it. Hopefully Petegrew would be caught before September, but Harry wasn't holding out much hope.
Author's Note: Alright, I'm back from hiatus. I hope to post at least once a month from now on. How do you like it being Peter that escaped Azkaban? Hopefully this is enough of a twist for third year.