Cub, Wolf, and Dog

Chapter 7-Verdict and Muggle-borns!

"Guilty of child abuse and neglect we recommend him to be sentenced to a life time in Azkaban and possibly the Dementors kiss," finished the male juror.

There was uproar, people were actually cheering at the verdict. Then there was a rather loud shout from Minister Fudge to silence the room right down.

"Thank you," began Fudge, "Now does Mr. Vernon Dursley have any thing else to say before he is taken away?"

Vernon who had been sitting silently through the whole court proceedings looked up, before he stood up and turned towards Harry and tried to move towards the five year old.

"You deserved everything you got 'boy' you deserved every punishment I could dish out to you and you won't get away with this. You are all a bunch of freaks and deserve everything you can get!"

Several Aurors grabbed Vernon's arms and tried to restrain him, when that didn't work they resorted to using stunning spells. There was a loud resounding 'THUMP' on the stone floor, as the now unconscious Vernon Dursley fell.

Disgust written all over his face, Minister Fudge ordered, "Get him out of my court room," the Aurors dragged Vernon out, once the door was closed Fudge spoke again, "Everyone is free to leave and I'm extremely sorry that this case even ever entered this court room."

There was a mass scraping of chairs as everyone grabbed cloaks, hats and anything else they had brought with them, before they got to their feet and up and left.

Sirius picked up a slightly shaking Harry and also left the courtroom with Remus, Molly and Albus following them not far behind. They only managed to get to the atrium when they were stopped by Petunia, who had been watching them since they had left the courtroom.

Handing Harry over to Remus to hold for a minute, Sirius stalked over to Petunia and said, "You got your wish Vernon Dursley has been sentenced to Azkaban you can leave now,"

"I actually came to apologize to Harry," replied Petunia her voice an unusual calm despite what had not long happened.

"Apologize? You are not going anywhere near my godson," retorted Sirius, pointing a finger at her.

"I'll have you know I never laid a finger on the boy," snapped Petunia, her eyes flashing to the finger pointing at her.

"No but you let your husband hit him and you did nothing to stop him when you had the power to. Now leave us alone, Harry is no longer in your care and if you even dare to come anywhere near us again I will personally make sure you are sharing a cell with Vernon," growled Sirius angrily.

Petunia let out a high squeak at the threat, before she turned around and let herself be led from the building by the person who had sat with her in the court, returning to the Muggle World for hopefully a long, long time.

Letting out a sigh, Sirius turned around and saw Harry watching him with a wide-eyed and slightly scared look upon his face. Sighing again he strode back over to them and re-joined the group.

"I'm sorry if I scared you Harry," apologized Sirius softly.

Nodding his head slowly Harry replied, "S'Okay,"

"Good," agreed Sirius.

"I suggest you all go home and get some rest it has been an emotional day for all of us," commented Dumbledore, before he left the ministry with a 'crack'.

"Right, bye Albus," called Sirius as Dumbledore diasapparated.

"Molly we'll see you soon," put in Remus.

"Okay, bye Harry, Sirius, Remus," replied Molly.

"Bye, bye," responded Harry, as Molly diasapparated.

"Right come on let's get you home," added Sirius.

"Tired," admitted Harry quietly.

"Once we are home then you can go to bed," replied Remus.

Harry just nodded as he rested his head on Remus shoulder and closed his eyes as he felt sleep take over all his senses and he fell into its comforting arms of blackness for a short while.

"How are leaving, floo or apparate?" asked Sirius.

"I think apparate would be the best idea," answered Remus, as he heard Harry's breathing even out, indicating he was asleep.

"See you in a minute then," replied Sirius as he diasapparated with a 'crack'.

Holding Harry a little tighter, so as not to drop the young child, Remus also diasapparated with 'crack' reappearing in the living room a few seconds later. Remus took Harry upstairs and gently laid him on his bed; he removed the five year olds glasses and draped a woollen blanket over him to keep him warm. Leaving the bedroom Remus closed the door too and returned downstairs.

"Is he asleep?" asked Sirius, entering the room carrying two drinks.

"Fast asleep I think it emotionally upset him saying all that he did today," answered Remus taking a cup and sitting down, "thanks,"

"After today I think he will be glad for a little peace," replied Sirius.

"Defiantly," agreed Remus.

Both of them knew it was highly unlikely that Harry would get that much peace, after all Voldemort was still out their somewhere biding his time and Harry was the boy-who-lived.

***

That month the full moon seemed far worse for Harry than the others, he had passed out as the intense pain had started to rip its way across his body and he had not regained consciousness until the Wednesday morning, two days after the full moon.

Ron knowing that Harry is a werewolf had stayed away for the week, but Hermione who had no idea about Harry's lycanthrope or the magical world had gone round to call for him, only to be told that he was 'unwell' and wouldn't be well again until the following week. Hermione had sent a get well card that had-surprisingly-no spelling mistake.

Waking on the first of November Harry shivered in the cold morning air, dragging himself out of the cosy bed he pulled on several thick tops, each one enchanted with a warming spell to keep him warm, before he went down for breakfast.

Today was going to be entertaining, Harry had told Ron about Hermione and he had seemed rather enthusiastic to meet her, having never met a Muggle before. It also would mean that Hermione would un-knowingly meet another wizard her own age, plus make a new friend.

Sitting down at the breakfast table Harry was greeted with the sight of black toast and strong tea.

Smothering his laughter with his hand, Harry asked, "Um... what happened to the toast?"

"Its best not to ask," answered Remus quietly.

Looking over to the oven Harry saw Sirius trying not to burn anything else, it was then Harry realized who had actually tried to make breakfast the muggle way; Sirius.

"Could I have cereal please?" asked Harry not wanting to touch the burnt toast that sat in front of him. He wrinkled his nose up, as he picked up a slice before putting it back down, shaking his head.

"Of course you can, but don't you want something else to go along with it?" queried Sirius, turning from the oven and acknowledging Harry's presence.

"No," replied Harry shaking his head.

Sighing Sirius responded, "Okay, but at least have some toast,"

"No!" exclaimed Harry adamantly.

"Alright it was only a suggestion," responded Sirius.

Giving Sirius an apologetic smile Harry turned his attention elsewhere glancing over to Remus Harry noticed that the elder werewolf was trying his hardest not to laugh. Harry felt his own laughter bubbling up from the bottom of his stomach and before he could stop himself he was laughing out loud.

"And just what is so funny?" asked Sirius sitting down in front of Harry and next to Remus

Harry just continued laughing, missing the confused look on his godfathers face, and the small chuckle that Remus did.

"Okay what are you two up to?" questioned Sirius suspiciously.

"Nothing Sirius it's just a joke that Harry told me," answered Remus.

"Hmmm... Harry is that true?" asked Sirius curiously, he didn't like being left out of the loop, especially if it was about a joke.

Nodding his head and wiping the tears that had formed at the corner of his eyes, Harry smiled and gasped out, "Yes."

Still keep his suspicions to himself Sirius went back to his own breakfast. Slowly Harry's laughter died down, to just the odd snigger here and there and the too bright smiles shared between both werewolf's.

Finally around ten o'clock once all the breakfast pots were cleared away and the house was tidied from anything that could be suspicious to a muggle, Harry was sitting on the sofa nearest the fireplace, waiting for Ron to turn up.

They had all decided it was best if Ron turned up first so they could explain to him, about some of the things he would not be allowed to mention whilst Hermione was in the house.

Finally the fireplace turned bright green and a second later Ron plummeted out, landing on his backside in the centre of the living room yet again.

"Hi Ron," greeted Harry, helping his friend up to his feet.

"Hiya Harry," replied Ron before looking around the room, "So where is she?" he asked, trying to peer up the stairs as though Hermione would be hiding up there.

"She isn't here yet, but you know that you can't say anything about magic in front of her," answered Harry, sitting back down, in his spot

"Not even Quidditch?" asked Ron, taking the seat besides his new best friend.

"No," answered Harry.

"Chocolate Frogs?"

"No,"

"Hogwarts?"

"No,"

"What about the Chudley Cannons?"

"No Ron!" exclaimed Harry shaking his head.

"Okay sorry Harry," apologized Ron sheepishly.

"That's okay," replied Harry.

"So what happened at the 'inistry?" asked Ron.

Turning a nice shade of white, Harry answered thickly, "I don't want to talk about it."

Just as Ron was going to apologize again a knock sounded on the front door making both of the boys jump.

"That will be 'Ermione," commented Harry, he had practised saying her name, and although it still wasn't completely correct, it was the closet he was going to get to pronouncing the name.

They both got up and headed to the door, they were just going to open it up, when a rather large black dog came bounding in and skidded to a halt at the door in front of the two five year olds, before he transformed back into Sirius.

"What have I told you about opening the front door?" remarked Sirius, giving Harry one of his looks, that clearly said 'you're-not-in-trouble-but-you-will-be-if-it-happens-again'.

"Not to unless you or Moony are with me," answered Harry gently.

"Correct, now step back so I can open the door," replied Sirius.

The two five year olds moved to stand behind Sirius and waited. Doing a quick check that everything was, as muggle like as possible Sirius pulled open the door to reveal Hermione and her mother Jane.

"Good Morning," greeted Sirius pleasantly.

"Morning Mr Black," replied Jane.

"Please call me Sirius, come on in," responded Sirius.

Stepping aside to let them in Sirius wait until they had entered before he closed the door. Jane and Hermione smiled at the two young boys that were standing near the stairs whispering quietly to each other.

"Jane, Hermione you already know Harry and the red head next to him is Ron Weasley," introduced Sirius.

"Hello Ron, this is Hermione," replied Jane, guiding her daughter and only child over to the new boy.

"Hi," mumbled Ron, the top of his ears turning red.

"Hello Ron," greeted Hermione shyly.

Harry watched in amusement if his memory served him right then the last time he had spoken to Hermione she hadn't been shy at all then.

"Right well I have to go-got work in an hour-Hermione you be good and enjoy yourself," advised Jane.

"I will mum," replied Hermione, giving her mum a quick peck on the cheek.

Jane waved goodbye to the two boys, before the stepped out of the door and headed down the street to catch the bus to go to work. Sirius wait until the woman was gone, before he smiled at three five year olds and decided to leave them on there own.

"Harry are you better now?" asked Hermione, breaking the silence, which had lingered a little too long.

"Loads better, nothing wrong with me anymore," answered Harry.

"But Harry I thought you were a wmph!" replied Ron the last word becoming muffled as he suddenly found his mouth covered up by Harry's hand

"Where a what? What are you hiding?" questioned Hermione curiously.

"Nothing 'Ermione, Ron was on about the game we played," answered Harry sending a warning look at Ron, his hand still covering the other boys mouth.

"Wom lmh meh gomph nomph," mumbled Ron.

"What did he say?" asked Hermione.

"I dunno," answered Harry.

"WOM LMH MEH GOMPH NOMPH!" exclaimed Ron.

Giggling Hermione replied, "Um... Harry you can let him go now,"

"Oh right," responded Harry, dropping his hand and wiping it on his jumper, "Now what did you say Ron?"

"You can let me go now," answered Ron glaring at Harry, before wiping his mouth with the back of his sleeve

"Oops sorry," apologized Harry.

The boy's antics had sent Hermione into even more giggles, which in turn made the two boys smile at her. It seemed they were getting along like a house on fire now.

"Oh shut up you," smirked Ron, picking up a nearby pillow and throwing it at her.

The pillow hit Hermione Square on the head, which caused her to stop giggling and just stare at Ron before her own mischievous smile spread across her face. Picking up the pillow that had hit her, she threw it at Ron before quickly picking up another pillow of the sofa and threw it at Harry. Within ten minute the trio were in a full-blown pillow fight, they were laughing so hard that they had tears streaming down their faces and their sides hurt.

It wasn't until one of the pillows that Harry hit Ron with burst and the stuffing inside ended up going every where, did the three of them stop and take a look around the room. There were pillows strewn everywhere from where they had been thrown, there was also bits of stuffing falling from the air to land on the sofa, their heads and faces, from the burst pillow.

"Uh oh," whispered Hermione, looking around the room.

"'Uh oh' indeed, what has been going on in here?" came Sirius' voice from the top of the stairs.

Wincing at the tone, Harry turned around to face his godfather, and smiled hoping it would work before answering, "Nothing Padfoot,"

"Nothing! Right you, Hermione and Ron are going to tidy this mess up immediately, no excuses Harry," instructed Sirius, gesturing to the mess on the floor and the still falling bits of stuffing, before he turned around and went back up the stairs, muttering about five year olds and not knowing when to quit.

Letting out three identical groans, the three of them knelt on the floor and began picking up the bits of stuffing and the pillows. The trio worked in silence, for a short while, none of them wanting to speak, before Ron broke the silence.

"Well done 'Ermione," snapped Ron quietly.

Glaring at the red head, Hermione retorted, "Me! You threw the first pillow,"

"But you threw them back at me and Harry," retorted Ron.

Throwing down the bit of stuffing she had in her hand, Hermione crossed her arms and snapped, "Well if you hadn't thrown the first pillow at me then none of this would have happened at all!"

Gesturing her hand over the room, she was shocked to watch as all the pillows put themselves back together and placed themselves back in their original position. Both Harry and Ron looked from the now tidy room, to each other before looking at Hermione in shock.

Hermione scrambled away from the two boys and pulled her knees to her chest before she let the tears slide down her face, leaving a wet track on her reddened cheeks. It was happening again she had done something in explainable and now she would have to move again with her family.

"She's muggle-born," whispered Ron, to Harry, as he continued to stare at the crying girl.

"Muggle-born?" asked Harry quietly confused.

"A witch or wizard who has muggles for parents," explained Ron, his eyes never leaving the brunette.

"Oh right. What do you think we should do?" asked Harry nervously, he didn't like his new friend crying and was at a loss as to how to help her.

Shrugging Ron answered, "I dunno, call Sirius and Remus,"

"SIRIUS, REMUS!" shouted Harry making Ron jump, Harry just smiled in apology at the other boy.

Not five seconds later and Remus and Sirius were standing in the living room taking in the scene. The pillow was repaired, the boys were standing looking shocked and concerned and Hermione was sitting on the floor near the chair, knees curled up to her chest and big fat tears rolling down her face.

Remus, turned to the two five year olds, who would answer his question better than what Hermione probably could at the moment. Keeping his tone soft and low, he asked, "Harry, Ron what happened? Why is Hermione crying?"

"'Ermione and Ron were arguing, 'Ermione got angry and said 'all this mess wasn't just her fault', but whilst she said it she made a waving mo'ion with her hand, and the pillow repaired itself and the room tidied itself up," explained Harry, struggling with one of the words.

"But why is Hermione crying?" queried Sirius, as he turned his attention to his godson

"We dunno after the pillow thing, she backed away and began crying," answered Ron, with a shrug of his shoulders.

Going over to Hermione, Remus crouched in front of her and placed a comforting arm on her the side of her arm, making small rubbing motions to help calm the obviously very distraught girl down.

"Hermione its okay, no one is angry with you," comforted Remus.

"I... didn't...mean...too..." sobbed out Hermione, continuing to cry into her knees.

"Come on lets get you a warm drink and you can calm down," replied Remus, as he helped the sniffling five year old to her feet and led her to the kitchen leaving the boys in the living room.

"Sirius what happened, how come she did magic?" asked Harry curiously.

"You remember me explaining about 'accidental magic' when you first arrived, that is what happened. Hermione obviously got upset at what you boys said to her, which caused her to use magic without meaning to," explained Sirius.

"Will she be alright?" asked Harry, glancing at the kitchen door.

Nodding his head, Sirius answered, "Yes she maybe a little shaken up, even scared of what she did, but she should be fine."

Sirius led the two boys into the kitchen, knowing they would want to know how there friend was doing. Hermione was sat at the table, a dirty tissue in front of her, and a sweet cup of tea in her hands. She was still admitting the odd sniffle, but seemed pretty calm for now. Harry and Ron took the two seats either side of her, Harry placed a hand on her shoulder, and whispered an apology whilst Ron nodded his head in agreement.

"Do you feel better now Hermione?" asked Sirius, as he took a seat next to Remus at the table.

"Yes, thank you," thanked Hermione.

"I think we should explain a few things to you," replied Remus.

"Does that mean we don't have to hide anymore?" questioned Harry looking up at his guardians.

Smiling softly Remus answered, "Something's we will have to keep secret until it is time for her to know. But yes we won't have to hide anymore,"

"Excuse me but what are you on about?" asked Hermione, her upset forgotten, for the time being.

"Magic," answered Sirius simply.

"Magic? But that is just fairy tale's, not real," countered Hermione.

"Well then, tell us what you know of magic," replied Remus.

Hmmm...thought Hermione, before answering, "Magic is witches on broomsticks with black cats, things that are unexplainable and Merlin,"

"Only two of them are complete truths and one we aren't to sure of," explained Sirius.

"You are right about Merlin; he was the greatest wizard of his time. The unexplainable things happen when young witches and wizards have spurts of what we call 'accidental magic', this happens when they are either scared or angry," added Remus.

Hermione just blinked once, twice, three times before it all sank in. It all kind of made sense to her now, the unexplainable things she had done, all the weird looks she get for doing something the other children her age couldn't.

"But what about witches on broomstick with black cats?" asked Harry, he knew of broomsticks, knew they were real, but he hadn't seen the black cats.

"That's a bit of a myth. But in seventh year, for Halloween, your mum and several of her friends, did get toy cats and placed them on the end of their brooms. Your dad thought it was funny, and poked fun at them for the evening," answered Sirius, smiling at the happy memory.

The three five year olds began giggling at the story and then the tension was broken. Hermione had completely calmed down now and felt more relaxed than she had done, in a long time, she was happy to know that she wasn't the only one that made odd things happen around her.

"But why am I magical and my parents aren't?" asked Hermione.

"Now that is a little bit more complicated to explain," began Remus, noticing he had all of the children's attention, he carried on trying to make it as simple as possible for them to understand, "Now the world is made up of magical and muggles-non magical people-but there is all different categories that people can and will put themselves into. There is Pureblood witches or wizards with all their ancestors of magical descent. There is Half-Blood, which is a witch or wizard with parents that are magic. Muggle-borns are witches or wizards born to non-magical parents,"

"Is that it?" asked Ron intrigued, he knew he was a pureblood but he was curious by the other aspects of the wizarding world, the other aspects that he didn't get to hear about often.

Shaking his head Remus answered, "No there is also, Squib a person born to a Pure-blooded family who has no magical powers at all. Then there is what people will call Half-breeds,"

"Half-breed?" asked Hermione confused.

"Remus you don't have to answer or explain anything else to them," advised Sirius, knowing it hurt his friend to think of himself as a half-breed.

"No its alright," responded Remus, "What I mean when I say Half-breed is a werewolf, vampire, things like that,"

"Vampire. As in Count Dracula?" questioned Hermione; she had read many books on the myth of Dracula.

"I met him once not a very nice chap," interjected Sirius, absently.

"When did you meet him?" asked Remus curiously looking at his friend.

"On one of the missions Dumbledore sent me on," answered Sirius not wanting to elaborate, at least not in front of the children.

"But they aren't real. I mean it can't be. What about werewolves do they really walk around under the full moon?" replied Hermione incredulously.

"I'm afraid so Hermione, when Harry and me was ill that time it was a full moon," answered Remus, gesturing to Harry at her side.

"Are you saying you're a werewolf?" challenged Hermione.

"I am," piped up Harry, "Look," he pulled up his jumper and t-shirt, shivering at the cool air that hit his hot flesh, to reveal a circular pink scar on his side.

Hermione gaped in shock, at the circular scar that was on Harry's side, before she jumped into a concern friend.

"Oh my! Are you okay?" asked Hermione.

"Fine," answered Harry, pulling his t-shirt and jumper down.

"Right now that, that is all cleared up, why don't you all go back and play for a little while longer?" suggested Sirius.

"Okay," agreed Harry, as the other two nodded in agreement.

The three of them got down from their chairs and went back into the living room. Harry and Ron spent the rest of the afternoon explaining things about the wizarding world, from chocolate frogs, to Quidditch. In the end the two boys made Hermione promise not to tell anything about what she had learnt to her parents, just until she received her Hogwarts letter.