Disclaimer: Any characters you recognize from the first 6 books in the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling belong to the aforementioned J. K. Rowling. I am simply playing with them for my amusement, and to see what kind of reaction I can get.
I may from this point onward borrow a few places and names from the fabled 7th book by J. K. Rowling including but not limited to the given name of Luna's Father. I do this for convienience and not as a Spoiler or an indication that I agree in any way with that book's outcome.
The next chapter will Have a proper announcement in the "New/Updated" listing page.
37 - Delores Demise
Hermione had expected to find Jeannette in the library and from the sound of it she had been right in her guess. Jeannette liked books almost as much as Hermione, but boys distracted her easily. Since there were no boys around here this time of year, other than Harry, it would be books.
"Thank you Dobby," Hermione said, "We'll take it from here … Madam Pince, may we use the Restricted Section?"
"Of course dear, the Headmistress has given you free access to it.
"Thank you." Said Harry.
The seven of them made their way to the back with Hermione in the lead. As she approached the gate, the bolt slid aside and the gates opened wide allowing the group to continue through without stopping. When Hermione was half way down the aisle she spoke again, "Follow me and stay clear of the shelves, some of those books have been known to attack careless students." Jeannette, who was about to reach out to an interesting looking book pulled her hand back just in time as the book lunged and snapped at her. Hermione heard the shuffling noise followed by the snap, "The Monster Book of Monsters," Hermione quipped, "Third year text for Care of Magical Creatures." They continued down the aisle and around the corner. When they had all gathered around Rowena's portrait, Hermione stepped closer and moved her hand across it, everyone felt a breeze and it raised a small amount of dust into the air.
As Hermione stepped back Rowena woke up and a moment later stepped out of the portrait. She looked between Jeannette and Hermione for a moment before smiling. She then looked up at the two women and smiled even more. "Hermione dear," Said Rowena, "Thank you for bringing your family, from one daughter, we now have four, please come in … we'll have some tea and chat." Needless to say Jeannette and the four adults were a little mystified at the reference to four daughters, but they all followed Rowena and Hermione through the portrait. As they were ushered to their seats Rowena snapped her fingers and the tea cart slowly came to life and rolled over to their table. Hermione had started to explain that Rowena had referred to her as her daughter when they first met and she had apparently inherited control of this castle, something she had discussed with Rowena before she had the first of several meetings with the Board of Governors.
Many topics and a few hours later Harry had convinced them that Diagon Alley would probably be mostly closed down for repairs and they could, since it was now near supper time, make their way to the Patil's restaurant. They could all flash near there from Hogwarts by Phoenix.
- - - - - - - -
Upon entering the restaurant they were greeted by Mr. Patil who remembered them, except for the Lamondes of course, whom he had not seen before. Hermione requested a private room and they were led back to the same room they had been in for Harry's birthday dinner, almost a month before. Padma, who was cleaning another table at the time, waved to them as they passed nearby.
Parvati followed them in, and as the last person was seating, she closed the curtain behind her. "Hermione?" she said as if it were a question, then when Hermione looked at her, Parvati pointed her finger and flicked her wrist as if casting a spell.
"Yes, it's alright, everyone knows." Hermione said. Padma entered from the kitchen side at that moment and Parvati pulled her wand and cast several spells on the curtain to keep Muggles out and their conversations private.
Jeannette had caught the drift of the shorthand conversation and the flick of the wrist, she assumed that at least the twin girls were Witches because this definitely appeared to be a Muggle restaurant to her.
Introductions were made over the next few minutes and Harry suggested that since none of them really understood the menu, that the twins should make the selections for them. Padma asked, "The first … and last time you were here, the food you got was not spicy at all, I won't suggest that you try it the way we like it … but … some spices enhance the flavour and experience." There were no objections and the twins left to arrange the food selections.
- - - - - - - -
Meanwhile back in Little Hangleton, at Riddle Manor, Voldemort was in a towering rage, he couldn't understand how Dolohov and Pettigrew could manage to loose almost two dozen new recruits on a simple training mission to harass shoppers and merchants in Diagon Alley. The two senior Death Eaters had seen to the first batch of recruits and got them started terrorizing the merchants and shoppers then went back for more recruits. By the time they had returned the nearly forty trainees were locked in a deadly battle with a witch and Wizard too far away to identify. Dolohov cast a focussed bludgeoning curse that ricocheted off a shop window and hit the Witch. Moments later a third more of the trainees fell injured and bleeding to the pavement in one fell swoop. Dolohov then ordered all his trainees to use their emergency portkeys to return to Riddle Manor, leaving over twenty, by rough count, dead or badly injured trainees behind. "crucio … crucio … crucio," Voldemort repeatedly cast the torture curse at Dolohov and Pettigrew until they were unconscious and could feel no further pain. He still had no idea who his recruits had fought against, he assumed they must have been Aurors or Hit-Wizards, maybe his contacts inside the Ministry could find out.
- - - - - - - -
They all had an exciting day and sleep came quickly, unfortunately so did Harry's nightmares. Twice during the early part of the night Hermione rolled over towards Jeannette and snaked an arm and leg over her only to be woken up by a shocked Jeannette. Hermione ended up having to explain her typical sleeping arrangements with Harry, shocking her cousin. It was a while before Jeannette was settled enough to go back to sleep.
- - - - - - - -
Wed Aug 27th
Sometime around three in the morning Hermione became restless and started lashing out with her arms and legs as if she were in a fight with someone. Jeannette, after being hit and kicked several times, finally woke Hermione up. A split second later, and without explanation, Hermione apparated out of there. Jeannette thought she might have heard a second fainter pop from downstairs somewhere … she got out of bed, grabbed her wand and Hermione's, and hobbled downstairs, Hermione had managed to give her shins a couple of solid kicks before being awakened.
Before Jeannette got to the bottom of the stairs she could see a faint flickering light from the living room … a few steps further she saw the candle floating above Harry. He was twisting and turning, wrapped up in the white sheet so tightly he could have passed for an Egyptian Mummy … had he been lying still. Harry appeared to be calming as Hermione knelt down on the floor next to him and flicked her hand towards Harry. The wet white sheet disappeared leaving a soaking wet Harry clad only in the pyjamas that stuck to him like they were vacuum formed around him. Hermione took his right hand in her left as her right hand moved to a position above Harry's feet. When Harry finally calmed down she siphoned the sweat off his body from his feet to the top of his head, her right hand slowly traversed above him. Jeannette let out a faint gasp after she entered the room. Her eyes had followed Hermione's hand up Harry's legs to his crotch and couldn't help but notice the bulge that defined what she assumed was Harry's currently dormant equipment.
Hermione looked up to see Jeannette watching … a flick of her head told Jeannette she should go back upstairs. Jeannette was confused, how did her cousin know he needed her. In Jeannette's hand was both of their wands, yet her cousin was doing some fairly advanced magic to dry out her boyfriend and make him comfortable. She just stood there, mouth gaping open and confused … true, Hermione was a few years older than she, but even so, none of her teachers or even her Headmistress ever used wandless magic … that she knew of. Then there was Hermione … not even concerned that she didn't have her wand in hand … and yesterday … she and Harry taking on a battle they could easily have walked away from … forty or more against two.
Jeannette came closer, putting Hermione's wand down on the small table at the end of the sofa and placed it lying beside Harry's wand. She was fairly certain now that the pair of them had only been using their wands because she was around and they wanted to appear normal … for a Witch and Wizard. This was after all the boy … the man … that won the Tri-Wizard Tournament, the best young Wizard that Hogwarts had to offer, and he certainly wouldn't pick a squib for a girlfriend, or so she assumed. As Jeannette was heading back to bed and before she was out of their sight, she turned to see Harry tucked into a freshly transfigured king size, four poster bed complete with a red quilt that sported a pair of golden Lions. The hangings around the bed were also red with gold fringing around the edges. Hermione had just climbed in beside him and with a flick of her wrist the pair were closeted away. Jeannette heard a faint 'night love' before the light from the candle went out and the room was quiet.
Jeannette hobbled back upstairs and made her way to the bathroom. She took some pain killers that she found in the medicine cabinet and once they started to help she went back to bed. While she was waiting for the medication to take full effect she couldn't help but be amazed at how easily her cousin, unconcernedly, climbed into bed with Harry and wondered what would happen in the morning.
- - - - - - - -
Janet and Emma were first downstairs in the morning and marvelled at the four poster bed with bright red hangings that they found in the living room. They could hear nothing from beyond the hangings nor could they open them. Emma suspected that she didn't really want to open them, especially with her sister present, she would have to explain too much about allowing the kids to do what they wanted. Technically they were of age and equivalent to being married in their magical world. She was sure that her daughter would have the sense to appear from upstairs. Emma had intentionally steered her sister away from looking into the girl's bedroom upstairs, just in case there was only one of them in Hermione's bed … or one too many. Emma was sure that Hermione had … what was the term … transfigured … the missing sofa into a four poster bed. The telltale evidence was the fringing on the bottom edges of the hangings, a finishing touch that Hermione favoured on that kind of thing.
Janet was no one's fool, she had also noticed the fringing and the other ornate details in the bed itself, and what other reason would there be for the hangings to be magically sealed. Janet knew she shouldn't say anything, but she also knew that Emma steered her away from the girl's room and this was probably why. "How long have they been sleeping together?"
Harry and Hermione had both been awakened by the creaking of the bottom stair and were watching each other guiltily. Hermione now wished she hadn't given herself away with the details in the bed. The thoughts of how her Mother could possibly answer that question and make it sound reasonable, and worry about what Aunt Janet would think of her now, were circling through her mind. Harry gave her a gentle, reassuring squeeze and a mental nudge to apparate upstairs.
Emma sighed, "Since earlier this summer," she responded to Janet, then continued before her sister could speak, "When Harry turned seventeen he inherited the title of Lord Gryffindor and that same day Hermione became Lady Gryffindor. It's supposed to be a secret for now, they plan to have a proper wedding after graduation." Emma had prepared that story as soon as she knew that her sister was coming. It was entirely the truth, though it did leave out some details.
Janet looked at her sister, a shocked expression on her face, then blurted, "Lord and Lady?"
Emma nodded her head, "And they have the passports and credit cards to go along with it." She sighed. Just then rustling could be heard within the bed and the sounds of the hangings opening on the far side.
Harry rolled out and stood facing the bed, watching it make itself … perfectly. Hermione had, half a minute before, changed into Caledfwlch and nibbled his ear before flashing upstairs to her bedroom. The rest of the hangings were then thrown open by Harry and he acknowledged the Mothers, saying, "Good Morning ladies." After picking up his and Hermione's wands he gave them a casual flick over his shoulder then nodded his head as he headed for the downstairs bathroom.
Janet watched him and watched the four poster return to a sofa … thought for a moment, then said to Emma, "He's not normal is he?" Then quickly she added, "I mean … shouldn't he have needed to point his wand properly to do that? That's what Jeannette told us …"
"He and Hermione have been doing some incredible magic all summer," responded Emma, "Since they came back from school … I think he taught her some of it … or they taught each other." Emma thought for a moment then continued, "It had something to do with not being caught doing underage magic and not being able to use magic at Harry's home … we can ask at breakfast."
Janet and Emma started organizing breakfast. Harry arrived in the kitchen before it was really underway and offered to help. In reality he more or less took over with Janet and Emma watching in amazement. While he used real food, the pots, pans, fires and whatnot were conjured out of thin air. By the time Hermione arrived, the kitchen looked similar to Harry's birthday morning.
A soft tapping sound became apparent at the kitchen door, Hermione made her way to the door and was looking out through the window when a tiny Scoops Owl that resembled Pigwidgeon, popped into view. Hermione opened the door a few inches and the little guy dashed inside fluttering around madly and just out of reach. Hermione noticed the note tied to its leg but couldn't catch him. Pig flew near Harry, probably hoping for some bacon to eat. Harry watched and waited patiently then when Pig flew over, he jumped up and snatched the little owl from flight, and handed him to Hermione before turning back to breakfast.
Hermione rescued the note from Pig and fed him a piece of bacon after she let it cool. The note, when she unfolded it, simply said 'backdoor'. She made eye contact with Harry before she, with Jeannette following made their way to the back door. Flying around the bushes, trees and other obstacles, a little over a meter from the ground were an Eagle Owl and a Griffin, they appeared to be playing tag. Jeannette watched the pair in amazement as Hermione looked around. Suddenly there was a popping sound from behind the garden shed. She spotted a slightly tattered, rolled up newspaper on a chair near the door. Hermione picked up the paper and sat on the wicker chair. It turned out to be today's Daily Prophet with a picture of Delores Umbridge on the front page. The headline read 'Umbridge off to Azkaban - this time not for a visit'. The story below it in part read:
The former aid and Undersecretary to Ministers Fudge and Scrimgeour was found guilty of all charges in a session of the Wizengamot court that lasted late into the evening yesterday. The charges ranged from the illegal use of a 'Blood Quill' on students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where she was the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor for nearly a year, also becoming the High Inquisitor and eventually the Headmistress when she forced Albus Dumbledore to hastily depart. Other charges included two attempted murders of Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived, first by sending Dementors from Azkaban, after him and secondly by attempting to destroy the house he was living in. She was also charged with death eater activities for indirectly passing information to and receiving instructions from 'He Who Must Not Be Named'. Under Veritaserum she admitted using of the Imperius curse several times and specifically on the Aurors accompanying her to kill Mr. Potter. She also admitted to attempting to use the Cruciatus curse on Mr. Potter while at Hogwarts School. Delores Umbridge, the last of her family line, was sentenced to life in prison in Azkaban. When it was determined that she was acting of her own accord in these matters, the contents of her family vault, that she no longer needs, was split up to cover the cost of her accommodations in Azkaban and as repayment to the students and staff of Hogwarts that she specifically mistreated.
Hermione had scanned the article quickly while Jeannette watched the game of tag end abruptly with the appearance of a tabby cat. Pigwidgeon, knowing when it was best to be scarce, and having finished all the bacon he could eat, zoomed out of the open back door and away into the sky as the owl and the pussy cat came to rest on the porch, looking up at Hermione. The Griffin stayed back a few meters, unsure of the unknown girl in the open doorway.
Hermione wondered for a moment why her friends did not change back to their human forms then realized they didn't know her cousin. She quickly sent a mental image of the scene to Harry before making introductions. "Relax everyone, this is Jeannette Lamonde, my cousin from France, she is about to start her second year at Beauxbatons and she's friends with Fleur's sister Gabrielle, her parents are inside and Harry is making breakfast, you're welcome to stay and eat.
Jeannette had never seen an Animagus transform before, she knew they existed. She stood there in stunned amazement when the three animals transformed back to their human forms. Hermione was watching Jeannette's reaction and snickered to herself. The stern looking older woman that had been a tabby cat spoke next, "Good morning Miss Lamonde, a pleasure to meet you, I am Professor McGonagall, the Headmistress of Hogwarts School." She turned her head momentarily to make sure Neville was still there before continuing, "Behind me, the Eagle Owl, is Mr. Neville Longbottom, boyfriend to the Griffin, Miss Ginerva Weasley who prefers to be called Ginny."
Jeannette was still in shock, Animagi were very rare and yet there they were standing right in front of her. She managed to mumble, "Three Animagi …"
Minerva attempted to correct her by saying, "Five if you count Harry and your cousin."
Jeannette looked at Hermione in total awe for a moment before Hermione spoke, "No … only me Professor, I make four." Apparently Tonks had been true to her word and hadn't said anything … even to Minerva. She knew it wouldn't take the Headmistress long to at least suspect, that Harry was a Metamorphmagus.
Harry had been listening in through Hermione's mind and suggested that she not say anything about him. Since she let the kneazle out of the bag anyway, he would morph into Neville because he could do that quickly, before they could make their way back to the kitchen. "What about Harry?" asked Minerva. Fortunately Minerva wasn't looking at the clown like grin on Tonks face. Neville and Ginny were also confused, they had arrived back home as Luna and Ron were leaving for two weeks with Luna's father. No more than the briefest of pleasantries were exchanged amongst the four.
"You'll see in a minute, let's go inside and have breakfast." Said Hermione as she turned her cousin around and marched her into the kitchen. The others followed. On the way in Minerva had been speculating to herself about the meaning behind Hermione's correction to four from five. She had just about come to the unlikely conclusion that Harry might be like Tonks, a Metamorphmagus and was considering all the havoc that Tonks had created with her Metamorphmagus abilities.