Hermione shifted in place. it was odd to be back in modern clothes after spending so long in witches' robes. She was telling her parents more about her time at Hogwarts. They were both dentists and didn’t understand everything even if they tried to be supportive of her. She had already told them all about the castle and how classes were. But there was one topic Hermione wasn’t sure how to bring up.

Harry and everything that happened to him.

“Hermione, what is it?” Her dad said as she went silent for a moment, “These classes in magic sound very exciting, but you seem distracted. What about friends? How are you fitting in?”

Hermione hesitated. But she had always told her parents everything. So she started telling them about Harry and everything that had happened to him. Their faces went through a wide range of emotions as she talked, and Hermione almost stopped at several points. But they urged her to continue. So she did. Finally, she reached into her pocket and took the letter that had been bothering her ever since she left Hogwarts.

“...and his Aunt and Uncle are so cruel! They said he wasn’t welcome home for Christmas. I mean, read the letter they sent him.”

Her dad grabbed it. “Why do you have his mail, Hermione? You shouldn’t…”

Hermione interrupted. “I asked if I could keep it, and he said I could. He has a perfect memory, so he has it memorized anyway.”

He grumbled, “Well, alright. Still doesn’t feel right…”

He read the letter and his eyebrows shot up. “You’re right. I can’t imagine how he must feel receiving something like this.”

He handed it to Hermione’s mom who also seemed surprised at that line calling Harry a freak.

“What horrible people!” She said, “To dismiss him so coldly…”

Hermione sighed. “I know! I’ve been thinking about it all day. After everything he’s gone through, why did they have to do that? And he’s always so calm so it's hard to tell how he feels about it. But he really didn’t want to spend the holidays alone, I just feel bad for him.”

Her dad hummed to himself. “Well, I guess you'll just have to cheer him up when everyone goes back. I'm sure these kind of people wouldn't exactly be the most welcoming to your friend in any case."

“Thanks, Dad. You're right, I’ll just have to think of something when I get back," She agreed, “Actually, I’ll have plenty of time when I’m reading him his Christmas present. Maybe that will help him cheer up.”

Her mom’s eyebrows rose again. “Reading to him? What’s this present?”

Hermione shifted, “Er, well you know how I said he got cursed so he can’t read or write properly?”

Her parents nodded.

“I got him a book of spells, but he can’t exactly use it since he can’t read. So for my gift, I’m going to read it to him out loud! With his memory, he won’t ever need the book again after I finish reading it to him. I thought the book would be interesting anyways so I don’t mind it too much. I wanted to read it too when I saw it.”

Her mom smiled. “That’s a very thoughtful gift, Hermione. I know you could never make it if you had that curse.”

Hermione shuddered. “Ugh, don’t remind me. So horrible…”

Her dad stood. “Well, why don’t we go out for lunch? That diner has all day breakfast if anyone’s interested.”

Hermione cheered up a little. “Oh, that sounds good. Let’s go!”

Her dad went off to put his shoes on. “Alright, let’s go. Last one to the car is a slowpoke.”

— — —

Breakfast/Lunch was nice. Hermione got pancakes and bacon. It reminded her of Harry’s massive appetite, which she told her parents about as they ate. They were shooting weird looks at each other, but Hermione wasn’t sure why. But the food was very good, and she felt stuffed as they got back in the car and drove home. The food at this diner was great.

— — —

It was a few days later, on Christmas Eve day. Things had been quiet until suddenly Hermione’s parents called her over and sat her down on the couch. Her parents exchanged a look.

“Hermione…” Her dad said, “Have you considered going to another school? I don’t like the sound of what’s been happening there. First, your friend is directly attacked then has to run away from some monster… It doesn’t sound safe for you, or your friend.”

Hermione jolted up. Going to another school where she would be all alone and isolated again? No way!

“It’s fine! I mean, the guy who attacked Harry was a psycho. Turns out he was a murderer too, there’s a whole trial and everything. Him and his father did it together and are going to Azkaban, the wizard's prison. For forever. And I can’t leave Harry there all alone, who knows what will happen to him next!”

“He was a murderer! Hermione, surely you see our concerns. We just want you to be safe,” her mom said.

Oh, she probably shouldn’t have said that.

“But Harry made it out okay," Hermione quickly said, "And if I don’t learn magic properly then I can’t defend myself either. The wizard government’s investigating, they won’t let anything else happen. And the closest school is France, I don’t want to go all the way there.”

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

Her dad was surprised. “What? Hogwarts is the only option in Britain? Are you sure?”

Hermione nodded. “I looked it up after the thing with the troll. But Hogwarts is it. Unless you want me to go to another country, I can only go to Hogwarts to learn magic. Or private tutors, but those are way too expensive in wizard's money for us to ever afford it.”

Her parents were silent. They didn’t look very comfortable with her staying at Hogwarts. Her dad spoke again,

“Really? There’s no other option?”

“No. There’s not enough wizards to support another whole school of Hogwarts' size in Britain.”

“Oh.”

To make things short, the topic continued to be discussed on and off for the rest of the holidays. But Hermione was going back to school. However, she resolved that maybe she would water things down next time she talked to her parents about Hogwarts. She didn’t want to scare them after all.

— — —

Neville wondered how Harry was doing right now as he was surrounded by his various aunts, uncles, and cousins. His parents' return wasn’t without conflict. Apparently, they had been the somewhat black sheep among the cousins and in-laws. Even now, Neville could see his dad arguing with one of his more irritating uncles.

“Feeling alright, Neville?”

Neville’s mom sat down next to him and gave him a quick side hug. It still felt strange to Neville. His grandmother had always been stern and almost never hugged him like this. It was a big adjustment to the more physical affection his parents were giving him ever since they had come back.

“I’m okay, Mom. Just thinking about Harry.”

Her grip on him tightened for a moment. “Yes, I don’t like it either. But we’ll make it up to him over the summer, right? Show him some real hospitality without all the cousins and relatives kicking around. It might be for the best that he isn’t here right now. Your uncle Barnby hasn’t gotten any easier to deal with than he was a decade ago…”

Neville grimaced. Uncle Barnby was the worst. Back before Neville manifested his magic he was always the one calling Neville a squib. Someone born to a wizarding household without the ability to use magic.

He had always taunted and prodded Neville to try to get his magic to manifest. It was known that people manifested magic earlier when under stress. So Uncle Barnby had done his best to make that happen. Needless to say, it was very unpleasant. Even now that Neville was confirmed as a wizard he kept talking about the Longbottom name and how Neville had to excel to not disappoint his relatives.

Luckily his parents didn’t seem to care about that kind of stuff too much. Altogether, his mom was right. It was best if Harry didn’t have to deal with all of these people.

“Yeah— yeah, mom. Maybe you’re right. I just hope he doesn’t have to fight another troll while his friends are gone.”

“Don’t you worry, Dumbledore promised he would be safe. If Harry isn’t after that, then I will have words with him.” Neville’s mom said with a sharper tone.

He glanced at her. She looked annoyed for a moment before her expression stilled again. She looked at him and smiled. “Now, no use of thinking about it any more. Why don’t we do some mother-son bonding? Want to help me make some cookies?”

“Su– Sure. Sou– sounds good.” Neville said.

“Alright, then let’s go.”

She pulled him to his feet and led him into the kitchen. Time to make some cookies.

— — —

Ron briefly thought about his friend, but the Weasley household was much too chaotic for him to sit down and consider things deeply for too long. Ron was surprised that his dad didn’t know that Harry was involved with the whole thing with the troll. Ron had thought that Harry had said he had to talk to an Auror about it. The papers had kept the student chased by the troll unidentified, but Ron still thought that his dad would know somehow.

The snake that had attacked Harry was going to Azkaban along with his father for murdering a bunch of muggles. His dad had commented that the dark faction had not opposed it as much as he had thought they would. Even Lucius Malfoy was outspoken against the pair, which surprised everyone in the Ministry.

Ron nearly told his dad that Draco was involved right there, but he couldn’t do it. Harry should have just turned in Draco immediately, but Ron could see why he didn’t. The Slytherins all hated Harry already, so having a warning from Draco would be really helpful for him in the future. But Ron still didn’t like it.

At the same time, if Harry didn’t want to out Draco’s role in the attack then Ron definitely had no right to. No matter how tempted by it he was.

Scabbers had begun looking unhealthy in Hogwarts as he always ran away from Harry under the bed. The rat had been eating a lot and gaining back his weight over the holidays. Ron looked down at the rat sitting in his lap, and he looked back up at Ron, his nose twitching.

“What do you think, Scabbers? Should I tell them?” Ron said.

The rat went back to sniffing Ron’s leg after a moment's staring contest.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right," Ron said, "A Gryffindor wouldn’t rat out a friend like that. Especially someone as honest as Harry. Thanks, Scabbers.”

Ron picked the rat up off his leg, put his pet back down on the bed, and then walked out of his room. His mom was shouting something in the kitchen again, and there was an explosion like from fireworks outside. Fred and George were probably at it again.

His younger sister ran up and practically jumped on him. “Hey, Ron! Ron! What’s Harry Potter like? Isn’t he super famous? How did you manage to be his friend? You didn’t say hardly anything about him yesterday.”

“Hey! What’s that supposed to mean? Getoff!” Ron said.

Ron pushed Ginny lightly and she stumbled back.

“Tell me, or I’ll tell Mom you just shoved me!” Ginny said accusingly.

Ginny stomped her bare foot onto the floor and her face scrunched up in an exaggerated pout.

“Ugh, fine," Ron conceded, "Maybe I can get you an autograph if you’re such a fangirl or… er, maybe not. Might take too long. But anyways, Harry is…”

Ron talked about Harry and how they first met and Ginny looked confused. It seems Ron’s words didn’t match the mental image she had of Harry. She waited for a moment after Ron was done before replying.

“Really? You believed Fred and George when they said that you had to fight a troll?” She said.

“Seriously?" Ron replied, "After all of that, that’s what you get out of it?”

Ginny grinned. “Of course. Harry sounds funny," she said, "I can just imagine your face when he said you’d get your blood on the floor. I bet you almost peed your pants! I’m going to go tell Fred and George, I can't believe you were so gullible.”

“Wait, no!” Ron shouted desperately.

But Ginny was already gone, running quickly outside to track down Fred and George before Ron could stop her.

Ron groaned before running after her. She was such a pest! Fred and George wouldn’t let him hear the end of it if Ginny told them.

Ron was right. He didn’t stop her in time, and Fred and George didn’t let up the entire rest of Christmas. At least Harry’s gift for Ron was pretty cool. Even Fred and George were jealous after Ron had the little enchanted figurine do a few quidditch plays he had heard about. But eventually, vacation was over, and Ron was back in his school robes.

Time to go back to school.