Chapter One He's Back
Hermione Granger quickly finished the paperwork on her desk and with a flick of her wand it was sent to her boss's office. As she grabbed her cloak she checked the time.
6:30 already?!? Damn, I'm late again!
She quickly left her office with a tall stack of files that her boss wanted her to check over before he presented it to the minister at the end of the week. Hermione loved her job. Finally she felt she was making a difference, even if her boss took all the credit. As she boarded the elevator she noticed that once again she was the last one to leave the office.
Hermione quickly approached one of the fireplaces and stepped in saying clearly "The Leaky Cauldron" before she vanished into the emerald flames. Hermione stepped out of the fireplace of the Leaky Cauldron and went behind the bar and up the stairs to the private quarters of the owners.
"Hannah? I'm sorry I'm late again. I lost track of time and had a tonne of paperwork that needed done. How was Teddy today?" Hermione looked over to her friend and saw her playing with a small boy. As soon as they heard Hermione enter the room the small child got up and ran over to her.
"Mommy!" the five year old child cried as Hermione bent down to embrace him.
"Hello sweetie. How are you? Did you have a good day with Aunt Hannah?" Hermione asked as she picked up the small boy. She sat down at the table with the small boy sitting on her lap as Hannah Abbott got up off the floor and sat across from her.
"Like an angel, as always. Do you want a cup of tea?" Hannah asked.
"Yes please Hannah." Hermione looked down at the child who was trying to get her attention and tell her all the things that he did that day. As he was telling her about how he and Aunt Hannah cleaned the bar she looked at him closely.
Everyday he was looking more and more like his father, with his natural sandy brown hair and amber eyes he was like a miniature Remus Lupin. He even had a mischievous sparkle in his eye that was a clear sign of a marauder in the making. However, like him mother, Ted is a metamorphmagus and so his hair at the moment was his favourite colour at the moment, sky blue. Also like Nymphadora Tonks, he was very clumsy and had a habit of knocking things over.
"Mommy, are we going home soon? I don't want to go yet! Aunt Hannah said that Uncle Neville was coming over and that we could stay for dinner. Can we mommy? Can we please?" Ted Lupin looked up at Hermione and had big puppy dog eyes, which he knew would make her do what ever he wanted.
"Well…if we're not intruding I guess it's ok." Hermione replied as she looked to Hannah for approval. Hannah nodded her head happy that her friend was going to stay.
"Of course you can! Neville hasn't seen you two in ages! I'll go start dinner now" Hannah walked into the kitchen and waved her wand about. Just as Hermione was setting the table and asking Ted to go and wash his hands Neville Longbottom entered the room.
"Uncle Neville!" Ted cried as he ran to Neville who picked him up and spun him around.
"Hey there little guy. Long time no see. How've you been? I hope that you've been taking good care of your mom for me." Neville asked the small boy jokingly.
"Of course Uncle Neville. I love my mommy very very much! Did you know that we're going to stay for dinner?"
"No I didn't, but I'm sure glad you are. I feel like I having seen you in ages!" Neville put Ted back down on the floor and he ran into the bathroom to wash his hands like his mommy told him to. Neville walked over to Hannah and kissed her before turning to Hermione and giving her a hug.
"Hermione, it's so good to see you." Neville said, as he looked at his fellow Gryffindor and notice that she seemed tired and very thin. "Have you been getting enough sleep?"
"Not really. I've got so much work and then Teddy but I'm fine." Hermione replied trying to laugh off his concern.
"If you say so. So what's new with you?"
"Not much, I'm trying to get my boss to rethink the werewolf laws that discriminate them so much."
Hannah came in and placed some hot soup in front of them and Teddy who was trying to get into his seat. Hermione noticed the struggle that her adoptive son was facing and so picked him up and placed him in the chair making sure that he could reach his food.
"Thank you mommy."
"Your welcome sweetheart."
As they ate dinner Neville was telling them about some of the staff changes made to Hogwarts while Hannah and Ted told them about their day visiting the park and cleaning the bar down stairs. Suddenly there was an insistent tapping at the window and they turned to see a ministry official owl. Hannah got up to let the owl in and once in, it went straight to Hermione and held out its leg. Hermione hesitantly united the letter and politely thanked the owl wondering why on earth the ministry would be contacting her so late.
Dear Miss Hermione Granger,
Please come to the Ministry of Magic immediately. A situation has arisen and we are in need of your assistance.
Yours Sincerely,
Kingsley Shacklebolt
Minister of Magic
Hermione looked up at Hannah and Neville both looking confused and slightly worried. Hermione got up and quickly fetched her cloak. She then turned to Hannah and Neville.
"I'm sorry but I've got to go. Could you please watch Teddy for me? I don't know how long this is going to take." Hermione asked them as she put on her cloak.
"Of course. Don't worry, you know we'll take good care of him. He's welcome to spend the night." Hannah said as she went to fetch some floo powder for Hermione to travel to the ministry. Hermione turned to Teddy and gave him a hug.
"Now you be good for Aunt Hannah and Uncle Neville ok? Maybe this weekend if you're very good we can go see Victoire ok?" Hermione asked the young boy as she gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Don't worry mommy. Tell Uncle Kingsley I said hi. I love you mommy." Teddy said as he embraced Hermione goodbye.
"I love you to honey." Hermione then turned to Hannah and took the floo powder from her and went to the fireplace in her sitting room. Hermione entered the fireplace and clearly called out "The Ministry of Magic" and was consumed by the emerald flames once more.
As Hermione stepped out of the fireplace in the ministry she knew something was not right. For the time of night it was there was too much activity as she approached the minister's office. Seeing that his secretary was nowhere in sight Hermione timidly knocked on the door before it magically opened.
"Hermione, thank you for coming so soon. Please take a seat." Kingsley Shacklebolt said as she entered the room. Next to him Hermione recognised one of the unspeakable workers.
"Sir, if you don't mind me asking, why am I here?" Hermione asked.
Kingsley turned to her and replied, "There was some activity tonight in the Department of Mysteries. I've tried contacting Harry but I still can't reach him."
At the mention of Harry's name Hermione visible stiffened and replied angrily, "Well we have been having trouble contacting him for the last four years. I don't see why tonight should be any different"
Kingsley looked at her sadly and replied, "Because Hermione right now, we need him."
Hermione looked at him and asked, "Why?"
Kingsley turned to look at the unspeakable that nodded their head before turning to her once more and answering, "Because he's back."
Hermione starred at Kingsley. "He? Whose back minister?"
"Sirius Hermione, at 8:16 tonight Sirius Black fell from the veil and has being asking for Harry Potter since."