When Harry Met Hermione

Chapter 4: The River Cherwell

AN: The Dursley portion of this chapter takes place in the same time frame as as Harry's part does, so I chose to write their parts interspersed with each other.

"Where in Hades is the freak?" asked a very drunk Vernon Dursley, seeing his wife, Petunia, enter their front door.

"The bastard's not going to be living with us, anymore," answered Petunia, pouring herself a large glass of brandy. "I took him to a dental clinic far away like you told me to, but the dentists running the dump thought we were abusing him and called their local constabulary. Their daughter must be a freak, too, because, when I grabbed the bastard and accused him of lying, the little bitch touched him and the next thing I knew I was laying in a heap on the floor with more freaks in the clinic."

"What happened to the freak, did the other freaks take him away?" further inquired Vernon.

"No, after the two little freaks attacked me for no good reason, the dentists running the dump said they'd take the bastard in, and this old freak tricked me into signing over custody of him," said Petunia after drinking her brandy and pouring herself another glass.

"That the best news I've heard since the freaks left the bastard on our doorstep," proclaimed Vernon.

"Hooray, no more freak, no more freak!" shouted their son Dudley, waddling around the sitting room.

"I'm afraid it's not all good news," Petunia sighed. "The old freak tricked me into giving up the thousand pounds we get each month for keeping the bastard, starting with the deposit scheduled for the day after tomorrow."

"Then, let's get in the car and go get the bloody bastard," Vernon responded, as their phone rang.

"Hello, Dursley residence..." said Petunia, picking up the phone. Handing the phone to Vernon, she uttered, "It's Marge, and she wants to speak with you straight away."

"Hello, what, he didn't," said Vernon into the phone. "All-right, we'll come by and bail you out, and then we're going to see the cretins to get the bastard back. Just wait until we get the ungrateful whelp back home, because I'm really gonna lay into him this time."

"Daddy, what happened to Aunty Marge?" asked Dudley.

"She saw the freak and those wasters who stole him from us in a mall near her place earlier this afternoon," Vernon explained. "Said the bastard accosted her for no good reason, and then he and those freaks lied to the local constabulary about the whole thing. Said some fool local magistrate set her bail at five hundred pounds and wants us to come by and bail her out, as well. Marge wants to go with us when we go get the bastard, to boot. Said, she wants a piece of his worthless arse, too."

"Goody, goody, gum drops, the freak's gonna get it, the freak's gonna get it" squealed Dudley, sounding like the pig he resembled.

****

"Harry, welcome to you new home," said Hermione, as they entered the Grangers' home, a large stately residence on the bank of the River Cherwell directly opposite from the business district housing their dental clinic. Beaming at her parents, she asked, "Can Harry's room be the bedroom in the corner right next to mine? That way we both could look out the window toward the river and the park and use the balcony, as well."

"If it's okay with Harry, he can," answered Ione. "Harry, would you like the bedroom in the corner next to Hermione's?"

"I'll sleep wherever you want me to," answered Harry quietly. "You don't have to go to a bother for me."

"Dear, it's no bother, you can have your choice of any of the empty bedrooms," Ione explained, smiling warmly at the shy eight-year-old.

"Please, Harry, say you'll take the room in the corner right next to mine," begged Hermione, holding his hand.

"I'll sleep wherever you want me to," repeated Harry timidly.

"It's settled, then, Harry may have the corner room next to Hermione," stated Herman. "Hermione, please help Harry take his things into his room and help him get settled."

"Okay, Daddy," replied Hermione.

****

"The lad's been subjected to the bloody rule those Dursleys for so long, that he's not used to making decisions for himself," Herman said quietly to Ione and Remus.

"Yes, and I foresee Hermione's going to be one who brings about the biggest change in young Harry," Remus remarked. "We only know a small portion of the horrors he's faced in his young life and having someone like your daughter to help him is a blessing."

"Harry's presence in our lives is going to be a blessing, most especially for our daughter, as well," commented Ione. "I have no idea how or why, but I believe that it was not merely coincidental that Harry's horrid aunt chose to bring him to our clinic. Herman and I have been hoping and praying that we could somehow find out the reason for Hermione's unique talents, and we're delighted to know there are others such as an you and Harry with these unique abilities, as well."

"Unfortunately, when many non-magical people discover the magical world they have the same misguided view as Harry's aunt and uncle do," commented Remus. "I many times heard Harry mother, Lily, say her sister saw her as nothing more than a freak even though their parents accepted both Lily and Petunia for what they were."

"Harry's aunt is one of the most prejudicial people I've ever had the misfortune of meeting," added Ione. "I mean, the nerve of that horrid woman calling her own sister's son a bastard and a freak simply because he has gifts and abilities she herself did not share."

"The attitude of people such as Harry's relatives is one reason why we in the magical world seek to remain hidden from most of the non-magical world," Remus sighed. "Thank Merlin; we were able to get Harry away from such a life of misery."

"My wife and I abhor prejudice in any way or form," stated Herman. "Just because someone is different and unique does not mean they are of any less value. Not long after Hermione began to walk we realized there was something extraordinary about her and meeting other magical people such as you and Harry has enabled us to more realize just how special she really is."

****

"Welcome to your new room," said Hermione, helping Harry take his things into a large brightly colored bedroom with a large bay window overlooking the Grangers' spacious front garden. Grinning, she added, "Put your things on your bed, and let me show you what's through that other door."

"Hermione, wow, this view's the best," said Harry, looking out across the Grangers' front garden, as they stepped out onto a large balcony. "Just look at that park over there next to that river; it's the best I've ever seen."

"I just knew you'd like the view from here," said Hermione. "Right over there on the far bank of the river is Daddy's and Mum's clinic, and looking through my telescope you can see Magdalen College. It's widely regarded as one of the most beautiful of the Oxford colleges."

"Is that where your mum and dad went to school?" asked Harry.

"No, they went to Begbroke Business and Science Park for their undergraduate studies and after graduation they both went on to the School of Dental Surgery at the University of Liverpool," said Hermione. "They knew each other at Begbroke, but they didn't start dating until they got to dental school."

"Hermione, I think your house is loads better than anything the Dursleys have," said Harry. "They used to brag about how much time they spent on their garden to make it look so good, but it was me that did most of the work on it. Now that I'm not their bloody slave anymore, I hope the crabgrass, dandelions, and bugs take over the whole garden."

"Oh, Harry, I'm so glad we got you away from those horrid creatures," said Hermione with tears streaming down her face.

"Me, too," he replied. "You're the first real friend I've ever had, and I really hope I never see the Dursleys ever again."

"Other than Daddy and Mum, you're the first real friend I've ever had, as well," she responded. "I've always been home schooled, because Daddy and Mum were always afraid that I'd make odd things happen if I was around other children. Now, that I've met you and the Weasleys, I can be around other children my age and not have to worry."

"I know, other than getting away from the Dursleys, being with kids our own age that make funny things happen like we do is gonna be great," said Harry, grinning. Pointing he asked, "Is that other door to your room?"

"Yes, it is," she answered. "This balcony connects to both our rooms and these retractable ladders Daddy installed are fire escapes in case we need to evacuate the house. When it's warm outside, I like to sit out on the balcony and read. That, and because it connects to both our rooms is why I wanted us to have neighboring rooms."

"Do your Mum and Dad have fire escapes, too, or are these the only ones?" asked Harry.

"Daddy's and Mum's room opens out onto another balcony that overlooks the west garden, and their fire escape is that way," she explained. "There's another fire escape on the east side of the house facing the side street and one more facing the back garden. In case of a fire, Daddy and Mum say to use whatever fire escape is closest and we have at least one fire drill every month to practice getting out of the house quickly and safely. Daddy likes to spring one on us at the most inopportune times, too. About two weeks ago, Mum and I were folding laundry down in the basement, when Daddy yelled, 'Fire in the basement, and the steps leading upstairs are blocked.' Mum and I had to evacuate the basement using the outside entrance in the pouring rain. Daddy snapped our picture when we entered the side door of the garage, after we ran around the whole back of the house and along the side next to the garage. We were so mad, but Daddy kissed both of us, and said fires don't always come at the most opportune times. We got him back several days later, when Mum yelled, 'Fire, and the front fire escapes are all blocked,' while Daddy was taking a shower. He had to climb the back fire escape with shampoo in his hair and wearing just his dressing gown, and this time it was Mum and me who snapped his picture."

"We had fire drills at the school I went to in Little Whinging," said Harry. "One time we were going down a fire escape, when my fat cousin tried to push down the steps, but he missed and knocked this little girl down the steps instead of me. Then, he made the other kids behind us all tell the teacher I did it, and I got sent to the headmaster's office even though another teacher said she saw Dudley do it. When I go home, the ogre beat me with his belt so bad that I couldn't walk right for about a week after. Then, they locked me in my cupboard for a week, only fed me bread and water, and only let me out to do chores and use the loo."

"I hope those foul creatures burn forever in Hades," cried the weeping Hermione, clinging tightly to Harry.

"So do I, but please don't cry," said Harry, wiping tears from her eyes. "I'm rid of those gormless wasters, and I want us both to be happy for it. Let's go back into my room and put my things away and see if we can come up with a good name for our new owl."

"Okay," she replied, as they reentered his room. "Maybe we can come up with a name that fits both of us in one of the books we bought."

"Hermione, do you hear that funny buzzing noise?" Harry asked, as they put his belongings away.

"It's coming from this little mirror I found with our books," said Hermione, showing him the mirror.

"Let's show it to Remus," suggested Harry. "I bet he knows all about things like this."

****

"Petunia, my love, which slip road did you get off at when you brought the freak to get his teeth fixed?" asked Vernon, approaching Oxford on the M40 motorway.

"I don't remember exactly, but I remember seeing a BP petrol station next to an "M& S" when I pulled off the motorway," she answered.

"That bloody well doesn't help us much," blabbed Marge from the back seat. "There are BP's and M& S stores all over Oxford. Do you remember the name of the dump you took the ungrateful whelp to? If you do, we could stop and Vernon could look up the name and address of the bloody dive."

"I don't recall the cretin's names, but I do remember their dump was on the bank of a river with a play park on the opposite bank," answered Petunia. "I remember passing this horrid looking college with a lot of very old buildings, as well. Anyway, I was too worried about someone spotting the freak in the back seat, so, when we got to Oxford, I stopped at the first dental clinic I saw."

"Vernon, the River Cherwell goes by University of Oxford and a few other schools, to boot," said Marge, wiping drool from her mouth. "I'd say that's the college Petunia saw."

"Petunia, dear, I'll swing by the U of O and see if it helps you remember more," said Vernon. "With all the time and petrol this trip is taking, the freak's really gonna get a thrashing, this time."

****

"Remus, this mirror we found amongst Harry's things is making a noise," said Hermione, as she and Harry exited his bedroom.

"That's my communications mirror, and it has been charmed to function much the same as a mobile does," answered Remus. "It was in the same pocket that I put your books into, and I must have misplaced it when I unloaded my pockets in your car. Please pardon me while I answer." Speaking into his mirror, he answered, "Lupin speaking."

"Hello, Remus," Harry, Hermione, and Remus heard Albus Dumbledore reply. "I have secured Sirius Black's complete and total acquittal and after he procures a new wand for himself and cleans up a bit we shall be coming to your location. Let's say in about one hour more or less."

"That's great news," replied Lupin. "Can you tell us what happened to Pettigrew?"

"I'll tell you all about what transpired when Sirius and I arrive at your location," replied Dumbledore. "Take care and we'll see you shortly."

"Ooh, Harry, I'm so excited for you!" exclaimed Hermione, hugging him robustly. Just then, the two eight-year-olds' stomachs both growled vociferously, and she asked, "Mum, may Harry and I heat up some of that fabulous soup we had left over from dinner last night?"

"Yes, dear, you may," said the beaming Ione. "I'll go down to the kitchen with you and fix us up some peanut butter sandwiches, so Remus, your father, and I can have some, as well."

"Remus and I will be down in a few minutes," said Herman.

"No problem, Daddy," came Hermione's reply. Grabbing Harry's hand, she added, "Come on, Harry; let's go down to the kitchen. Last night, Mum made this fabulous homemade chicken noodle soup, and I know you're going to like it, too."

"Hermione, your mum's soup really smells great," said Harry, stirring the soup being heated on the stove. "Are the noodles in it homemade?"

"Yes, they are," she answered, setting the kitchen table. "Mum always makes her own noodles from scratch. I helped her make them last night, and they're really delicious."

"The soup's ready, so everyone have a seat, and I'll make sure everyone is served" said Ione about five minutes later, seeing Herman and Remus enter the kitchen.

"Thank-you, Ione," said Harry, accepting a bowl of soup and a sandwich from Ione. Tasting the soup and sandwich, he added, "This is the best chicken noodle soup and peanut butter sandwich I've ever had."

"I told you, you'd like Mum's soup," said Hermione before slurping noodles through the spot where she lost a tooth a few days earlier. "Mum makes her own soup, peanut butter, and bread from scratch, as well."

"Hermione, don't slurp your noodles like that," admonished Ione. "That's not a very lady-like thing to do."

"But, Mum, Daddy told me all kids are supposed to slurp noodles like that when their baby teeth fall out," explained the grinning Hermione. After blowing air through the opening in her teeth, she added, "He taught me how to whistle through the spot where my tooth was, as well."

"He did, did he?" asked Ione, looking at her husband. "And, did he tell you why he taught you to do these things?"

"He said he did it to make me smile and help me understand that loosing my baby teeth was just a part of growing up," said the giggling Hermione. "Maybe I can teach Harry how to do things like that when he loses his baby teeth."

"If he did it to make you happy, then I guess I'll let it be this time," giggled Ione. Noticing Harry had eaten his soup and sandwich, she asked, "Harry, would you like some more?"

"No thank-you, I'm fine," he replied timidly, as his stomach once more growled.

"Harry, please have some more soup and another sandwich," said Ione. "You couldn't have had much of a breakfast with broken teeth, and it's been over six hours since we had lunch. Hermione's getting more soup and another sandwich, and it would please us very much if you'd eat more, as well."

"Thank-you," Harry answered with tears falling down his cheeks.

"Harry, what's wrong?" asked Hermione, grabbing a napkin to wipe the tears from his eyes.

"Nobody's ever offered me a second helping before," he answered quietly.

"Well, here, you can have all the second helpings you want," said Herman.

"I'm quite sure Molly will make sure he gets plenty to eat when he's in her home, as well," said Remus.

"Let's go into the sitting room, and I'll play some soothing music on our stereo," Herman instructed a bit later, as Ione, Harry, and Hermione had finished loading their dishwasher.

"The rest of you go ahead, and I'll brew us some tea, so we can have some with biscuits when our guests arrive," said Ione.

Hearing a knock at the front door a few minutes later, Remus said, taking out his wand, "Please remain seated, and I'll see who's at the door."

"Ah, Brahms' Lullaby; excellent choice," remarked Dumbledore about a minute later, stepping into the sitting room with Remus and Sirius Black. "I have often said that the magic of music is often underestimated."

"I'll say," added Ione, walking into the room with a tray of tea and biscuits. "It put Hermione and Harry right to sleep, and if you gentlemen know what's good for you, you won't awaken them, either."

"It is often said, that it is most unwise to cross a mother protecting her young," said the beaming Sirius softly. "Lily was much the same with Harry when he was a baby, and Remus and I remember first hand what it's like to face the wrath of a mother whose sleeping child has been awakened. Anyway, I am Harry Potter's godfather, Sirius Black."

"Nice to meet you, Sirius," said Herman, rising to shake Sirius's hand. "My name is Dr. Herman Granger and this lovely lady is my wife the Dr. Ione Granger. The sleeping lass on the left end of the sofa is our daughter Hermione and the sleeping lad at the other end is..."

****

"There's the college I was telling you about, because over there is one of the horrid looking buildings I saw when I drove by here with the freak," said Petunia, pointing at Magdalen College, which, as Hermione had stated, is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful of the Oxford colleges.

****

"Is your godson, Harry James Potter," Albus interjected. "Sorry to interrupt you, Dr. Granger, but, had I, as Harry's secret keeper, not revealed his identity to Sirius, all he would have heard was the name Evan Hanson. Now, if I may, I will cast a silencing charm around these two sleeping youngsters, so that we may continue our conversation without waking Harry and/or Hermione."

"Thank-you, Mr. Dumbledore," said Ione. "Would you gentlemen please help me lay them on the sofa? Sleeping in awkward positions such as they are is not good for their postures, and I'd be exceedingly grateful if you'd assist me."

"Allow me to assist you," said Dumbledore. Again pointing his wand, he said, "Wingardium Leviosa," gently levitated the sleeping pair from the sofa, laying them head-to-head on to the sofa after Ione had placed two of her puffs on the sofa to rest their heads upon.

"He doesn't even resemble the Harry I remember as a baby," said Sirius. "You wouldn't have him under a camouflaging charm, would you?"

"Why, yes, I do," said Dumbledore. "I commend you on your keen powers of observation."

Pointing his wand at Harry, Dumbledore removed the charm, and Sirius commented, "Now, that's the Harry I remember. Other than his eyes, which look like Lily's, he's the spitting image of James."

"Yes, yes, I quite agree," said Dumbledore. "Would anyone like a lemon drop?" he then asked before popping one into his mouth.

"Did you see that?" said Remus, pointing at the sleeping pair. "While sleeping, they just reached out and grasped each other's hand. They've been encased in their shield, as well."

"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it possible," said Herman. "I still can't see this shield of theirs, but I did see them reach out to hold each other's hand."

"I say we need to get them to bed," said Ione. "I know Sirius really wants to meet his godson and our daughter, but I am not going to let you awaken them to do so."

"Nor do I want to upset you by doing so," said Sirius, chuckling. "I learned my lesson after Lily hexed me good for waking Harry as a baby."

"Sirius and Remus, why don't the two of you spend the night in our home, that way you can see these two in the morning," said Herman. "We have plenty of room and would be delighted to have you stay the night."

"I'll stay for sure," said Sirius.

"As will I," said Remus.

"Very interesting, due to their magical shield, we cannot separate their hands," said Dumbledore, passing his wand over the slumbering children. "And I do not believe we could awaken them if we wanted to. It is my conclusion that they are in a very deep enchanted sleep, and, as a precautionary measure, I believe I'll call on Poppy to have her check them over."

"Is there something wrong with them?" asked the very concerned Ione.

"I do not think so, but I would like Poppy to check them over to make sure," said Albus.

"I find nothing wrong with these two, other than they are both extremely exhausted, especially Harry," said Poppy after examining the sleeping pair. "Albus, I believe you are correct in surmising these two are in an enchanted slumber, and they should awake tomorrow morning feeling quite refreshed. However, I would like someone in their bedroom with them at all times Today's events have been rather much to say the least, and they may well be rather disoriented whenever they awaken."

"I can conjure a bed for myself and sleep in their room this evening," said Remus. "They already know me, so my presence in their room should not alarm them. Additionally, I am a very light sleeper, and this will enable me to get my rest, as well as ensuring someone is in their room in case they awaken."

"I volunteer to stay in their room, as well," said Sirius. "However, I do not require a bed, as I can sleep in my canine form. Moreover, I am more accustomed to sleeping this way because sleeping this way in Azkaban allowed me to sleep free of the Dementors' influence."

"We accept your offer, but I demand one of you come to awaken Herman and me, if even one of them awakens in the night," said Ione.

"If one of them awakens in the night, we promise to awaken you," said Remus. Then, smiling, he added, "Sirius, you used to sleep in your canine form in Harry's room when he was a baby, did you not."

"Yes, I did indeed, Moony," said Sirius with a hearty laugh. "After he started to walk, the little bugger used climb out of his crib and I'd find him sleeping on the floor right next to me the next morning. Never could figure out how he did it without waking me in the process."

"Additionally, I would like Harry to be given a flagon of this special nutrient and restoration potion once every seven days for the next two months," instructed Poppy, as she prepared to leave. "This potion has done wonders for wizards and witches all over Britain, and with the sound nutrition I'm positive he'll get from these good people, I'm sure we can undo much of the damage he received at the hands of those immoral cretins Albus sought fit to leave him with."

"I see you have everything under control, so Poppy and I shall take our leave of you for the evening," said Dumbledore with a twinkle in his eye. "Please let me know when these two extraordinary youngsters awaken, and I'll see you fine people sometime in the morning."

"Oops, sorry," said Herman after inadvertently knocking his tea cup and saucer to the floor, as he rose to show them to the door.

"I didn't do it, Uncle Vernon, I swear I didn't," pleaded the frightened Harry, as he rose with a start, losing hand contact with and waking Hermione. "Please don't beat me."

"Harry dear, please don't worry, we know it wasn't you," said Ione, reaching to hug him, only to have him leap from the sofa and run cowering behind nearby potted plant.

"No, Uncle Vernon, please stop, I didn't do anything!" shouted Harry, starting to cry, as he curled into the fetal position.

"Harry, it's all-right, the Dursleys aren't here," said Herman.

"Dad, if that's you, please tell me why no one loves me," said the weeping Harry. "The Dursleys blame for everything that goes wrong. Uncle Vernon even says it's my fault when his company's going bad, and he beats me worse every time something doesn't go his way at work."

"What's wrong with Harry?" asked the petrified Hermione.

"Harry is having a rather traumatic flashback triggered when your father's cup and saucer hit the floor," said Dumbledore. "Apparently, whenever something bad happened to the Dursleys, they placed the blame and him and quite often beat him because of it. Because of my ineptness, Harry feels quite unloved, as well."

"Oh, Harry," wailed Hermione, running to hug him. "I love you and so does everybody else in this room."

"Hermione, it's really you," said the delighted Harry, opening his eyes. "It wasn't just another good dream. You, your mum, your dad, and a real strange looking lot really did take me away from the Dursleys. And, your lot really does love me, too."

"Yes, Harry, we really love you and want you here with us," said Hermione.

"Hermione's right, Harry dear," said Ione, embracing him warmly. "We all love you, and we promise we'll never send you back to those awful relatives of yours."

"Pronglet, I..." said Sirius.

"You're the dogman!" Harry blurted out, seeing Sirius. "In my dreams I remember you changing from a man into a big black dog and then licking me in the face, but I always thought you were just somebody I made up."

"Harry, is this the dog you remember from your dreams?" asked Sirius, before he transfigured himself into his Animagus form and proceeded to lick Harry in the face.

"You really are him, you're really the dogman," said Harry, hugging Sirius, as he transfigured back into his human form.

"Yes, Pronglet, I'm the dogman from your dreams but please call me Sirius," said Sirius, returning Harry's hug.

"Sirius, why are you calling me Pronglet?" asked Harry.

"Pronglet is the nickname your dad, Remus, and I had for you as a baby," said Sirius, kneeling before the two eight-year-olds. "Your dad's nickname was Prongs, so we decided to call you Pronglet."

"Did you, Remus, and Mum have nicknames, too?" asked Harry.

"Yes, we did," said Sirius. "Your mum was Firestorm, Remus was Moony, and I was Padfoot."

****

"There's the park I told you about, and there on the other side of the river is the dump where they took the freak away from me!" Petunia blurted out suddenly.

"What, where?" asked Vernon turning to look.

"Daddy/Vernon, watch out for the Lorry!" yelled Marge and Dudley from the back seat.

Swerving to avoid the lorry, Vernon struck and killed a young man pushing a baby carriage while out for an evening stroll with his wife and baby daughter, narrowly missing his wife and the baby carriage that the husband had pushed out of harm's way. Careening down a hill across the intersection from the Grangers' home, the Dursleys' Mercedes plowed into a large Oak tree on the edge of the river and burst into flame, sending all four Dursleys to early graves.

"THAT CAR JUST HIT SOMEBODY AT THE CORNER AND WENT DOWN THE HILL TOWARDS THE RIVER," shouted Hermione, looking out a side window next to Sirius.

"THERE'S A BABY IN THAT CARRIAGE ROLLING DOWN THE STREET, WE NEED TO STOP IT," shouted Harry, holding hands with Hermione before they both disappeared.

"WHERE DID THEY GO?" shouted Herman, as through the open window they heard the sobs of the injured young mother helplessly watching her baby's carriage roll down the street.

"My baby, somebody please help my baby," the young mother screamed, holding her broken left ankle, as the baby in the carriage went rolling down the street in front of the Grangers' house directly towards a road leading in5to the park on the river bank. .

"How did that happen?" said Harry and Hermione in unison, appearing a few feet from the carriage. Seeing the carriage, they quickly grabbed it before it and the baby went rolling down the road toward a boat ramp.

"Harry, how did we get out here?" asked Hermione, as they began to push the baby in her carriage back to her mother.

"I don't know, Hermione," replied Harry. "I'm just glad we were able to stop the carriage before it and the baby ended up in the river. And, just look, the baby's asleep."

"Yeah, you're right," said Hermione. "She just slept through the whole thing."

"Hermione, how do you know she's a girl?" asked Harry.

"Because she's wearing pink," answered Hermione. "Mothers dress girl babies in pink and boy babies in blue."

"Really," he answered. "I wonder if Mum dressed me in blue."

"Harry, Hermione, there you are," said the beaming Dumbledore, looking up and down the street with Herman and Ione, as they saw them walking up the road pushing the baby carriage.

.

"What happened to you two?" asked Herman, as he and Ione sprinted to their side.

"We don't know," said Harry.

"That's right," added Hermione. "We had just seen this baby and her carriage rolling down the street after that car hit someone on the corner and the next thing we knew we found ourselves right next to the carriage, so we stopped from it going into the river and started pushing it back up the hill."

"You saved her, you saved her," screamed the weeping young mother, who was being attended to by Sirius. "You wonderful children, you just saved my little girl." Seeing Dumbledore, the young mother gasped, "You're Professor Dumbledore!"

"Yes, dear child, I am Professor Albus Dumbledore," he answered. "What is your name, the name of your daughter, and please tell me how you know of me?"

"My name is Wendy See, and this is my daughter Amber," answered Wendy, as she held her daughter tightly in her arms. "I am a squib, and I recognized you from a photo in my mother's Hogwarts photo album. Her name maiden name was Christina Hurlbert, and she graduated from Hogwarts in 1960. Amber, my husband Andrew, and I just moved into the little white house next door earlier today and now... " she added, before her grief overwhelmed her.

"My dear, I remember your mother well, and if you are in any need of assistance please don't hesitate to ask," said Dumbledore, placing a cheering charm on Wendy.

"Thank-you, sir," she replied, calming instantly. Spotting Harry and Hermione again, she said, "You saved my baby, please tell me your names."

"My name is Hermione Granger and he's my best friend Evan Hanson," Hermione answered. "Next to us are my parents Herman and Ione Granger and our friend Sirius Black..."

"The convicted murderer," Wendy said, clutching Amber tightly.

"Wendy, Sirius is an innocent man and was cleared of all charges earlier today," explained Dumbledore.

"Please forgive me, Mr. Black," said Wendy. "It's just that..."

"That's quite all-right, Wendy,' said Sirius. "If there's anything you need, please don't hesitate to ask any of us."

"Sirius and Mr. Dumbledore, please bring Wendy and Amber inside, while we wait on the police," said Ione.

Meanwhile, Remus, using his werewolf enhanced speed and agility, had raced across the street and down the embankment to the inferno encasing the Dursleys' car. Looking around to make sure no one was watching, he extinguished the flames with his wand, and taking out his mirror, he said, "Albus, it was the Dursleys in that car. From the looks of things, the four Dursleys all perished when their car crashed into a tree and burst into flame."

"Thank-you for your report, Remus," said Dumbledore, entering the Grangers' home. "Please return to the Grangers' home before the Muggle authorities arrive to investigate this tragedy."

"Evan, Hermione, Sirius, and Herman, please follow me into the kitchen," instructed Dumbledore. After casting a silencing charm on the room, he continued, "I'm afraid I have more bad news. Remus tells me it was the Dursleys in the car that just struck and killed Wendy's husband, and that all four Dursleys perished when their car struck a large tree and burst into flames."

"Oh no, we killed them and sent them to Hades!" cried Harry and Hermione, holding on to each other and sinking to the floor as they began to sob.

"Harry and Hermione, please listen to me; you didn't kill anyone," said Dumbledore, attempting and failing to put a calming charm on the sobbing pair, as once more their shield appeared.

"Yes, we did," Hermione answered. "I told Harry I hoped they burned in Hades for what they did to him."

"And, I agreed with her," wailed Harry. "Why did they have to come after me? I just wanted to get away from them, but they had to come after me and Hermione and me made them die. Now, Wendy doesn't have a husband and little Amber doesn't have a father."

"And, it's all our bloody fault, too..." cried Hermione.

"Oh, no you don't, Hermione and Pronglet," said Sirius, pulling the two eight-year-olds into a tight embrace. "It was not in any way, shape, or form your fault the Dursleys drove through this neighborhood. We may never find out why they were in this neighborhood, but, I can assure you, none of what happened tonight was your fault."

"Harry and Hermione, Sirius is right," said Herman, embracing them when Sirius let them go. "If anyone caused this tragedy, it was the Dursleys."

"Harry and Hermione, please listen to us," added Dumbledore, casting a cheering charm on the downtrodden eight-year-olds, as their shield dissipated. "The only things that can be linked to you this day were the release of an innocent man from Azkaban and the rescue of a baby in a runaway carriage."

"But, why did anybody have to die?" asked Harry.

"Harry and Hermione, the only explanation I can give you is that, more times than we like, bad things happen to good people," said Dumbledore.

"The Muggle authorities have just arrived to investigate this evening's tragedy," said Remus, entering the kitchen.

With a wave of their wands, Dumbledore, Sirius, and Remus transfigured themselves to look like Muggles, and Albus said, leading them into the sitting room, "Let us go meet with the authorities and hopefully we'll not have to use Memory Charms on anyone. If we are lucky, no one will have seen Harry and Hermione suddenly appear next to Amber's carriage."

"Sir, why can't we just say Evan and I were on our way back home from playing in the park, when we saw Amber's carriage and managed to stop it," said Hermione, as Poppy cleared the tear stains from the children's faces.

"I'll be the witness to the accident," said Wendy. "However, Professor Dumbledore, you need to undo the Cheering Charm you placed on me..."

"I understand and will do as you ask," said Dumbledore sadly.

"Remus Lupin, is that really you!" exclaimed the constable, investigating the accident, as he stepped into the Grangers' sitting room.

"Adam Harrison, it's good to see you again," replied Remus, shaking the constable's hand. "Although, I wish the circumstances were different."

"As do I," said Adam. Smiling, he explained, "I am a squib and my twin brother Aaron was a wizard in Remus's year at Hogwarts and was quite good friends with him, Sirius Black, the Potters, the Prewett boys, and the Longbottoms. Seeing you here, I must assume there are others of the magical world here, as well"

"Yes, my friend," said Remus. Pointing to Sirius and Dumbledore, he continued, "These gentlemen are Professor Albus Dumbledore and the recently exonerated Sirius Black. We were here visiting our new friends, the Grangers, when the accident occurred."

"Adam, whatever happened to your brother?" asked Sirius.

"He married an American witch he met at Hogwarts, and they now live in Bismarck, North Dakota," answered Adam softly.

"Aaron married Sioux, didn't he?" asked Sirius, quietly.

"Yes, he did," whispered Adam.

"It's all-right, my friend," Sirius replied. "Aaron's a great guy, and I'm sure he's done right by Sioux."

"Thank-you, you're a good man as well, Sirius Black," said Adam. "Now, could you explain what happened here, this evening, in a manner I can relay to my superiors?"

"From the looks of things, I'd say alcohol may have been at the cause of this tragedy, and I'll have the hearse take the bodies of the deceased to the county morgue for processing and autopsies," said Adam after hearing what had transpired that evening.

"What a senseless tragedy," said Herman, shaking his head. "A young mother and her child have lost a husband and father, and an entire family may have been lost all because someone was driving under the influence of alcohol. Never again will such a foul vice enter my home or cross my lips."

"I accept this vow, as well," said Sirius.

"As do I," added Remus.

"I see Pronglet and Hermione have gone to sleep holding each other's hand once more," commented Sirius. "Remus, my friend, let us levitate them up to their room and put them to bed."

"Yes, my friend, I agree,: said Remus. "I see they've again raised their shield, as well. Drs. Granger, if you don't mind Sirius and I would like to renew the agreement we made with you earlier this night."

"By all means, gentlemen," said Ione. "Wendy, would you and Amber like to spend the night in our home, as well?"

"No thank-you," replied Wendy, watching Adam and the hearse driving away. "However, Professor Dumbledore, could you please come with me to my home and help me contact my parents and Andrew's parents? Amber needs feeding and changing, and I have a lot of people I need to get in touch with. I want you to wait there with us until Daddy and Mum come to stay with us for at least tonight, as well."

"Of course, dear child," said Dumbledore, putting an arm around the grieving Wendy, as he walked her next door to her home.