A/N: So, yes. This is quite late. Here's something for you to read while you down the remains of your Halloween candy (or, if you have kids, the remains of your children's candy). I do warn you that there's not a lot of Halloween in here, oddly enough. If it's a bit choppy, forgive me. It's what happens when you work in short bursts of time.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
"Bertie Botts, Chocolate Frogs, Licorice Wands, Droobles' Best Chewing Gum, Fizzing Whizbees, Sugar Quills… ouch!"
Katy and Yasmine exchanged smirks as Jack, lost in thought of the imaginary mountains of sweets awaiting them in Hogsmeade, managed to walk straight into the closet door.
"All right, there, mate?" Harry clapped Jack on the shoulder with a grin. Jack shrugged and muttered an embarrassed, "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine."
"I hope you realize that all three of you will be given a limited amount of money," Hermione said as she pulled Jackie's sweater over her head. She frowned. "Jackie, you'll have to let Oats go for a moment-he can't fit into the sweater with you."
Gently detaching Jackie's hand from the bear's paw, she tugged the sweater the rest of the way down. Jackie snatched Oats back as Hermione went on, "I won't have you spoiling your appetites-and teeth-with sugary snacks. Three Galleons each."
"That's al- ouch!"
Jack glared at the two girls, who had each stamped one of his feet simultaneously.
"Girls," Hermione chided absently, who obviously hadn't heard what Jack had almost said. This was partially due to the fact that Jackie was (rather plaintively) requesting a trip to the toilet, "Harry, what's the time?"
"Nearly four," Harry said, checking his watch, "We should be fine."
"Yes, well, it is Professor McGonagall; I should hate to keep her waiting," Hermione said, somewhat tersely, "Well, come along, Jackie-I suppose we're better off taking you now…"
"When were we supposed to get there?" Katy questioned as Harry motioned them toward the living room.
"About four fifteen," Harry said with a touch of exasperation, "We'll be fine. Hermione likes to worry."
Katy looked at Harry rather uncertainly; his expression suddenly seemed unusually worn. As Hermione hurried the rest of them to the Floo, she couldn't help but think that it was rather strange that Hermione wouldn't notice the look on Harry's face.
Although this worried her, it was soon lost in the flurry of activity that greeted her as she hurried out of the fireplace, joining the sooty group in the middle of Professor McGonagall's office.
"Well, Miss Granger," said the woman briskly (it was then that Katy was reminded forcibly of Hermione's similar manner when teaching lessons), "I want to congratulate you two in person."
"Thank you, Professor," Hermione said, a flush creeping across her cheeks, "Thank you very much."
"He's doing well, I hope you realize," McGonagall went on, as Katy stared at Harry, who hadn't spoken, "Excellent Transfiguration student, although I do wonder… the boy's a bit gullible-"
"Yes, Ben's very clever," Hermione said as she absently cleared the soot away from the children with a wave of her wand.
"Clever indeed, and well-behaved," McGonagall said with a significant look at the two of them. To Katy's immense relief, both Harry and Hermione laughed out loud. It comforted her to see them laughing together again-the way that they always did. Hermione's eyes turned toward Harry's face and Harry's eyes danced with merriment as he returned her gaze.
"If there was ever any trouble-" McGonagall began, her glasses quivering on the end of her nose, "I could always look for you two-and Ronald Weasley, of course-or the twins… the whole lot of you, the entire D. A."
"We did what we had to," Hermione said, and suddenly, Harry sobered again. There was an unusually tense pause; Hermione's eyes fell on Harry's face and darkened in worry. McGonagall gave them a single, significant look.
"Ben should be waiting down in the corridor right at the bottom of the staircase." McGonagall said abruptly, "You seven could go meet him."
"That sounds like a good idea," Hermione put in, and at the look on her face, Katy knew there was no use arguing. She and the others shuffled out the door down the staircase, past the gargoyles, and met an anxiously waiting Ben.
Of course after they told Ben what had happened, Jack and Yasmine immediately decided they ought to go back up and listen in.
~*~
"…worry too much," was the first thing Yasmine managed to hear Hermione say. She pressed herself even harder against the door and nearly knocked Adrian over. They were all layered rather uncomfortably against the door.
"That's rich, coming from you," Harry retorted in the angriest voice they had ever heard him use. Katy tugged on Yasmine's sleeve and they exchanged anxious looks.
"Potter," McGonagall said warningly, and there was suddenly a very loud scraping noise from within, as if Harry had been sitting and had shoved his chair away from the desk.
"It's a real threat, Professor, and I'm not going to risk it. We're not going to risk it."
"Don't try and make it sound like a collective decision, Harry," Hermione snapped, and Yasmine felt her heart sink. She had never heard them argue like this before. "We'll be safe. It's Hogsmede, for Merlin's sake. What could possibly-"
"Hermione, you're getting off track," Harry said rather shortly, "The fact of it is, I happen to have a better understanding of the severity of the situation-"
"This pessimistic, entirely unrealistic attitude was hardly attractive when we were in school, and it becomes you less and less as you get older, especially when you try to patronize me," Hermione said rather shortly, "And don't try to scare me with facts, Harry."
"I'm not trying to scare you!" Harry protested, and although the children could hear McGonagall clear her throat pointedly, he went on, "Hogsmede has been a location of consistent penetration, even since our third year, and I know that a group of those escaped Death Eaters-"
"…last sighted in South America-"
"…are apparently still after me-they think I'm still at Hogwarts, and they seem to be planning something for today-- "
"But you yourself told me you weren't sure," Hermione said irritably, "It's secondhand information. It's guesswork. It's unlikely."
"You don't trust me."
"Harry," Hermione said, her voice suddenly softer and sterner. There was another pause.
"Sorry," said Harry in a very low voice.
"Harry," Hermione said again, and Katy relaxed slightly at the tender tone of voice she used, "look at me."
Another pause ensued.
Then Katy heard Harry sigh, as if he were casting some great burden from his shoulders.
"You're right," he said at last, "I'm overreacting. We should… we should just have a fun Halloween. Together."
"You'll enjoy yourselves, I'm sure," McGonagall said crisply, "Obviously, you know it's a Hogsmeade weekend. So I expect it will be a bit more crowded than usual."
"I think I prefer it that way," Harry said, "Should we go get the others?"
Before any of the children could react, the doorknob turned, and soon all seven of them tumbled to the floor, with matching guilty expressions on their faces.
Harry looked down at them, shaking his head.
"You'd think we, of all people, would remember an anti-eavesdrop charm," he said wryly.
For a moment, Katy wondered if they were going to be scolded, but then Harry's look softened, and he smiled.
"Ready to go to Hogsmede?"
~*~
"Bit higher, Jack--"
"I can't go higher-" Jack snapped through his teeth, "Look, forget it-"
Yasmine stepped gingerly off Jack's back and looked up at the large raspberry chocolate bars waiting tantalizingly on the top shelf.
"That's what I get for trying to help you," she said, rather crossly, "Let's go the book store, everyone."
Adrian was rooting through the barrels of candy by the window.
"Cool," he said happily, peering at the label, "Weasley Wizarding Wheezes-they sell them here, too!"
"What… does that sort of sweet… do?" Katy said warily, peering over Adrian's shoulder. "Weasley's Sour Shocks-`You're in for a shocking surprise! Isn't that… dangerous?"
"Nah," said a voice behind them, "it's a really quick shock; it doesn't last long enough for it to really hurt you."
Katy turned. The boy who had spoken looked to be about her age, dark-haired and freckled with a wide face and friendly smile.
"My name's Jason," he said, sticking out a hand, "my brother's friends with your brother. He's in Hufflepuff."
"Ben, you mean?" Katy said, shaking, "I'm Katy."
"Yeah, him," Jason said, "Is that really Harry Potter over there?"
"Yes," Katy said, noticing that Jason was looking at Harry with an awed expression she found a bit odd, "and Ben isn't really my brother."
"Isn't he?" Jason said in surprise, "I thought… well, never mind that. Is that your mother?"
He jerked his chin in Hermione's direction. Hermione was paying for Jackie's box of licorice wands, chatting easily with the cashier. Katy guessed it was someone she knew fairly well.
"Well…"
"That's your sister, isn't it?" Jason scrutinized Jackie closely, "You look alike."
"We do?" Katy blurted out. Jason grinned.
"At least when people tell you that you look alike, it's a compliment," he smirked, "People tell me I look like my brother all the time. You're Katy's sister, then?"
Yasmine had successfully persuaded Dusty into coming to the book store with her, and stopped short when Jason addressed her.
"Well." Yasmine said slowly, "Well, yes."
She hesitated.
"We're adopted," Yasmine said in a rush, refusing to look at Jack, Dusty, Katy, and Adrian, who were all staring at her in silence. Fortunately Katy was accustomed to Yasmine's occasionally outrageous imaginings and was somewhat able to maintain a matter-of-fact, normal expression. Inwardly, she felt as though someone had just hit her over the head..
"Oh, so that's what you meant," Jason said, looking at Katy, "so he is your brother."
Katy managed a nod.
"Well, maybe I'll see you at Hogwarts next year," Jason said, "I have to go; my mum's calling me. See you!"
He smiled and dashed off, yelling, "I know, I know, I'm coming!"
As soon as he had gone, Katy turned to face Yasmine.
"Why did you lie?" she demanded, "What if he finds out the truth?"
"That is the truth," Yasmine said, looking rather pink and defiant, "Well, not yet, it isn't, but it is. Harry and Hermione are going to adopt us; they told me."
"You're lying," Jack said immediately. Yasmine went very red.
"I am not!" she said hotly, "You can ask them."
"I don't need to," Jack said furiously, "you just answered for all of us, then, is that it?"
"Well, I know what all of us want." Yasmine defended herself, "Even you."
"I don't want it," Jack snapped in a low voice.
"That's a lie and you know it! You're just afraid to care, that's all!" Yasmine said, not bothering to lower her voice, "Just because you never want anything to change doesn't mean the rest of us don't."
"Oh, come on," Jack said, turning and appealing to others. None of them spoke. "Dusty, Katy-"
They didn't speak.
"Fine, then. Go ahead; see if I care." Jack said, though Katy was appalled to see his eyes were suddenly filled with tears, "Don't complain to me when you hate it!"
He whipped around and stalked out of the shop.
"Oh, dear," Hermione said worriedly, letting go of Jackie's hand, "Dean, would you mind-"
"Not at all," said Dean, ringing up the remainder of Hermione's purchases and waving a friendly hand at Jackie, "I'll keep an eye on her. Oi! Harry! When's the next meeting?"
Before Hermione could move, she felt a hand on her arm. She looked down, and there Dusty stood, his scarf crooked around his neck and dark eyes fixed on hers.
"Let me," was all he said. "I won't get lost."
Hermione bit her lip. Dusty patted her arm and smiled slowly.
"He won't go far," he assured her.
She took a deep breath.
"Be careful. Don't be gone long," she cautioned.
Before she could say anything else, Dusty had gone.
~*~
Jack slumped down on a bench in front of Zonko's, his eyes swollen and hot.
This was stupid. Stupid, stupid. The whole thing. All of it.
He never cried.
He felt someone sit next to him and drew up his knees, hiding his eyes in his arms.
"It doesn't have to be the same," Dusty's voice said very quietly from beside him. Jack sniffed and pretended not to hear. But, uncharacteristically, Dusty continued to talk.
"Harry and Hermione are very good and very kind. And everyone's happy. It wouldn't change much, us being family."
"Yes it would." Jack muttered, "It would change everything, stupid."
He regretted the insult as soon as he heard himself say it, but he didn't move. The last thing he wanted to be right now was sorry.
"Family is just a word." Dusty said, "Like any other name. It's only a bad thing when you make it that way."
"It wasn't my fault!" Jack burst out, "It wasn't my fault that things went the way they did. I couldn't help it!"
"That's not what I meant," Dusty said, still very quietly, "I meant that just because it was bad once doesn't mean it has to be bad this time."
"I don't even remember it," Jack said with bitter honesty, "Most of it, anyway. It was the magic that did it, I think, but I was small then."
Dusty didn't say anything then. Jack sniffled and wiped his nose on his sleeve.
"Hermione's waiting at Honeyduke's," was all he said. "Maybe we should go."
Jack rubbed his eyes.
"What do you want, Dusty?" he blurted out. Dusty looked at him with his dark eyes, and Jack knew the answer before he even spoke.
"I want a picture full of people I love," he said simply, "But this time, I want to be in it."
~*~
"Cherry for cream-filled," Adrian coaxed, "Come on, Jackie, they taste good."
Jackie stuck out her lip and shook her head. As she thought, they could hear Molly bustling around in the Burrow's kitchen.
"I like the cream-filled ones."
"Come on-please?" Adrian pleaded, as Harry and Hermione sank onto the couch in front of the fire, "Just one. The cherry ones have loads of the filling, the cream ones don't!"
"No," Jackie said stubbornly, "Don't want it."
Hermione shook her head as Adrian continued to bargain.
"I don't think I've ever come back from a Hogsmeade visit so exhausted." She yawned, and Harry laughed, kissing her on the forehead.
"Still, I'm glad that we decided to go," Harry said, as Hermione rested her head on his shoulder. She raised an eyebrow and he grinned sheepishly.
"I mean to say," he amended, "I'm glad you talked me in to it."
"That's right," she said smugly, yawning again, "You're welcome."
He rested his nose in her hair and closed his eyes.
"Thank you," he whispered, "how long have we got now?"
When she didn't reply, he opened his eyes and smiled. Hermione had dozed off, her head on his shoulder and fingers entwined with his.
"Seven months," he whispered, as Jackie and Adrian hurried out of the living room and into the kitchen. He pressed his free hand to her cheek softly. "Seven more months, Hermione."
He paused.
"It's been eight years, Hermione," he said, watching the fire die down slowly, "Eight years ago, I saved your life and you entered mine. Fair trade off, wasn't it? Or not quite. I'm not sure I deserved that."
He traced an absent pattern on her cheek with his fingertips.
"Saving your life is probably the smartest thing I'll ever do, save marrying you. I hope you didn't think you were marrying an intellectual."
He sighed and rubbed her engagement ring with his thumb.
"It took a troll for me to notice you, didn't it?"
It took him a moment for him to realize that she was laughing.
"Oh, Harry," she said, shaking her head and laughing, "I love you."
"I think I know that one," he quipped. She twisted around slightly, tilting her head back and letting him kiss her gently.
"Happy Halloween, Harry."
~*~
"'Mione!"
Hermione was jerked rather abruptly awake. Jackie was bouncing eagerly on her bed.
"Come see, come see!"
Hermione raised a hand to her head sleepily, running her fingers through her hair. "What? What is it? Jackie, it's early!"
"Come see!" Jackie pulled at her hand persistently until Hermione stumbled out of the bed, still in her pajamas, blinking rapidly to adjust to the early morning light. The whole house was still slumbering, save for the grandfather clock. Hermione hid a groan when she saw the time.
"Jackie, dear, it's only four o-"
"Out here!" Jackie interrupted, dancing about her. She pushed the porch door open a fraction, and frosty air hit the already shivering Hermione almost immediately.
"Jackie-"
"Please, `Mione," Jackie begged, pulling insistently at her hand, "otherwise he might leave."
"He?" Hermione repeated warily, still rubbing her forehead, and shivering the frosty air. "Jackie, I'm not sure this is a good ide-ouch!"
A very wet, furry, matted something flew at her as Jackie flung the door wide open, and Hermione stumbled backwards, her arms flying up over her face. Something warm, wet, and rather smelly was whipping at her cheeks as she fell to her knees in the kitchen floor.
"He likes you!" Jackie declared hopefully, "Good boy!"
Hermione drew backwards with difficulty and found herself staring at a big sensitive brown nose, now sniffing her rather tangled hair.
"Oh, my," was all she could manage, "it's a-"
"…puppy!" Jackie cried gleefully, "I came down to get a drink and there he was at the door!"
"A puppy," Hermione repeated blankly, realizing her cheeks were now covered in saliva. The only alert part of her mind was blaring dire predictions-this spells trouble topped off with soiled floors and spoiled shoes and all that fur!
"May I get him some food? May I?" Jackie was positively exuberant as she gathered the squirming creature in her arms, "I think I'll name him-"
"Jackie," Hermione said hastily (after the creature was named, there would be no taking the dog away), "this puppy might belong to someone else."
"No, he doesn't; he hasn't got a collar," Jackie indicated this by tickling the puppy on his neck. (Hermione was now painfully aware that her kitchen smelled distinctly of wet dog fur.)
She made her way to the fridge and opened it. "What should I feed him?"
"Well," Hermione hedged, "I… well-"
"Maybe this?" Jackie raised a bag of some leftover chicken; the dog's tail lashed the air happily as he nipped at the bag with sharp, slightly yellowed teeth.
"Oh… well-" Hermione was desperately attempting to find a way out of this; there simply had to be a way to convince Jackie to let the puppy go. "I… well, all right-best remove the bones-but don't feed them to him in here! Jackie, did you hear what I-"
She groaned. Jackie had already pulled some chicken off the bone and dropped it into the puppy's mouth.
Hermione cringed as the puppy managed to pry the chicken from Jackie's hand.
A dog. No, she simply couldn't handle a dog. At least cats had some level of self-sufficiency, but dogs needed attention. And they were twice as big-this one was clearly some sort of Labrador-and the noise!
"Is that a dog?"
"Look, Katy, it's a puppy!"
"He's my puppy, and his name is-"
"Now, wait a moment," Hermione began desperately, as the rest of the children crowded around Jackie. It was going to be enough trying to detach Jackie from the dog, even without a name-
"…Gulliver!" Jackie announced triumphantly.
"Gulliver," Hermione repeated weakly, as the dog bounded about the kitchen, leaving muddy paw-prints on the tile.
Jackie rolled about on the tile, laughing as the dog planted his paws on her stomach and lapped happily at her face.
Well, there was no use arguing, Hermione thought, shaking her head. It was easy enough to take a nameless dog to a pound, but to do so to a dog with a name... that was a different matter altogether.
"May I keep him?" Jackie said, presenting her with the wet, panting puppy. Gingerly taking the squirming creature in her arms, Hermione looked into the puppy's big, liquid eyes and managed a smile.
"If you'll take care of him-"
"I will!" Jackie said eagerly, turning her blue eyes to hers. Hermione sighed.
"Then we'll give him a chance." Gulliver gifted Hermione with another big, sloppy kiss. With a rueful laugh, Hermione set the puppy down on the tile and cleaned the mud from the puppy's coat with a sweep of her wand.
Jackie threw her arms around Hermione's waist. "I love you!"
Suddenly the older five went very quiet; Hermione, however, pretended not to notice, and bent to kiss Jackie's head.
"I love you, too, Jackie."
Jackie beamed. "Can he sleep in my room?"
"I think he'd better sleep in the bathroom, actually, just in case," Hermione said gently, "All of you should go back to sleep."
But when she straightened expectantly, only Jackie hurried out of the room with Gulliver in her arms. The older five stood in the kitchen in silence.
"Is something wrong?" Hermione said with as much of a casual tone as she could manage. They looked around at each other significantly.
"Nothing," they said in unison, and together, they trooped upstairs.
Hermione sighed and rubbed her forehead wearily.
This was one of the worst parts of being an adult. Suddenly, children decide that you simply can't understand.
And so you never know.
At least, Hermione thought ruefully, as she returned to her room, that's what it felt like.
A/N: Much as I would like to believe that Harry could get over his `he must be after me' complex, I do think it would take longer than what's been written. Up until this point, however, he's managed to keep his work away from the old house. His worries, unfortunately, are not entirely unfounded. So… yes. There is my little teaser/defense/apology. Please let me know what you thought!
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