July 1st 1996
"Good morning Hermione," Her father said jovially the next morning. "What do you have planned for today?"
"I'll be going back to Harry's this morning," Hermione replied. "We might go see Luna and Neville today, but I thought maybe he could come over here this evening. Maybe we can study over here or just watch the telly or something."
A tapping at the window caught their attention before Richard could reply. A large owl sat on the window sill.
"What the blazes?" Richard Granger said as he strolled over and lifted the window.
"It's mail for me of course," Hermione replied. "But I don't recognize the owl so I wonder who it's from?" A thrill ran through her as she wondered if it was her new OWL results.
Mr. Granger took the envelope and winced slightly as he read the front of it. He handed it over to Hermione with a gruff. "For Hermione Potter."
Hermione snatched the envelope from her father's hand. An even larger thrill ran through her to see her married name appearing on an official envelope from the Ministry but she contained herself as she looked back at her father. "We did warn you that it would happen."
"I know, but…" Richard shrugged. He couldn't help but see the look of delight that spread across his daughter's face when she read her married name. A small sigh escaped his lips.
"Well if it makes you feel any better, my statements from the Building Society savings will still say Hermione Granger."
"There is that I suppose," Mr. Granger agreed. "Well what does your Ministry have to say?"
Hermione pulled the sheet of parchment from the envelope and read. Finally she looked up. "I have to be at the Ministry tomorrow morning for the trial of Delores Umbridge and be prepared to give testimony if required."
"She's that Professor who did all that stuff this year?"
"Yes," Hermione replied but then she seemed to concentrate and then looked back at her father. "Tonks just told Harry the same thing. He said to expect another owl for..." She was interrupted by another owl coming through the still open window.
Again Richard had to see his daughter's married name as he handed her the next envelope. "Not very efficient are they?" He asked.
"No, no one will ever accuse the Ministry of Magic of efficiency, but when you have magic, efficiency is one of the first things lost. Remember I use a quill to do my homework."
"So what was the second letter?"
"Tomorrow afternoon is Peter Pettigrew's trial. Same thing, I have to be there in case my testimony is required."
"You really can talk to Harry telepathically?"
"Yes. It was very unnerving to start with but now... it's the most wonderful thing."
"I'm still..." Richard stopped and nodded. "I'll take your word for it. Now this Pettigrew fellow, what did he do again?"
"He's the one who betrayed Harry's parents. Then he framed Sirius and hid as a rat until a couple of years ago. He... he was the one who brought back Voldemort."
"A rat? What do you mean he hid as a rat?"
"He was an animagus dad," Hermione explained. "An Animagus can change themselves into an animal shape. You remember Professor McGonagall? The witch who came here?"
"I'm not likely to forget her now am I?" Mr. Granger replied.
"Well she's one as well. She can turn into a cat. Harry's dad was one also. He could turn into a stag," Hermione thought of something and made a quick mental request of Harry.
Richard shook his head. "Will you be turning into an animal someday?"
Hermione shrugged. "It takes a long time to accomplish it, but Harry and I might try it sometime in the future. We have no plans of trying it at the moment."
"Let's go have some breakfast, shall we?" Richard asked trying not to think of two animals frolicking.
It was just as they finished breakfast that the doorbell rang.
As she expected, Hermione watched her father leave the table and answer the door. It wasn't long before she heard. "What? No...Stop! Get out!" A sound of feet on floor could be heard and then a large black dog entered dining room followed closely behind by Richard trying to stop it.
"No one was there but this dog. He…he got past me..." Richard said as he tried to get between his family and the dog.
The black dog dodged around him and quickly grabbed a piece of bacon off of a plate.
"Stop that…" Richard said and made another grab at the dog. Again the dog dodged and scampered under the table.
"Don't sit there laughing," Richard complained as he watched his daughter double over holding her ribs. "He doesn't have a collar so he might not have his shots."
"Padfoot..." Hermione gasped. "Bad doggie!"
....
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