Born From Madness (Harry Potter Fanfic)

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Upon Fudge's return, he proceeded to give Hermione and Harry both stern talking to about staying in Diagon Alley and not to be wandering off into Muggle London and to be back before dark each night and that Tom was going to keep an eye on them for Fudge. Then Harry attempted to get Fudge to sign his permission form for Hogsmeade, but he insisted that it would be better for Harry to stay at Hogwarts and even for Hermione to do so to. 

He also gave a stern talking to Grandma Elka about keeping a better eye on Hermione and Harry and that she shouldn't be going around with the kids to places that would be considered dangerous. As he left them, Grandma Elka gave him a flick of the finger before they headed to their rooms. Hermione and Grandma Elka shared one and Harry had a room right beside theirs. She hanged with Harry for a while as she proceeded to explain to Harry about her Grandma's theory about Black and how he was close to his own parents. 

"But who does she think is really behind the murder?" Harry suggested. Hermione shook her head as she mumbled she didn't know. 

Harry and Hermione spend the few weeks hanging out with each other around both the Leaky Cauldron or someone in Diagon Alley. They would eat breakfast each morning at the Leaky Cauldron as they watched the other guests coming in and out. Once they were done with breakfast, they would go into Diagon Alley, exploring the shops and eating under the brightly colored umbrellas outside cafes and watched as the other people around talking and also where they proceeded  to do their homework at Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor where Florean Fortescue, himself, helping them with writing their essay about medieval witch burnings and gave them free sundaes every half an hour. 

Harry and Hermione visits Gringotts where they refiled their money bags with galleons, sickles, and knuts. Hermione had to help Harry have self-control in not buying random things, which was hard when it came to the Firebolt Harry really, really wanted to get. Hermione and Harry proceeded to get the things they did need. They replenish their potions ingredients, refitted their robes, then proceeded to buy their new books for Care of Magical Creatures and Divination. 

Hermione was taken aback when they saw the hundred copies The Monster Book of Monsters, which were living books that had torn pages flying everywhere and they grappled with each other. She was upset to find Harry had already gotten his book as she had to deal with the books. 

"Hogwarts?" the manager called out to them, before Hermione could answer, he hurried over with a pair of thick gloves and picked up a large walking stick. However, just as Hermione approach the books they seem to calm down as their eyes landed right on her. She took a deep breath as she reach and grabbed one in its cages. 

"I've never seen that before... they always wanted to take a bit out of me.. do you mind helping me to hand them out..." the manager pleaded to her. Hermione had to politely declined as they proceeded to grab hold of the rest of their books. But as they were grabbing hold of Division books, Harry paused as he spotted a book about death omens. Hermione lightly brushed his shoulder and pulled him away from them. 

They finished their shopping as they were making their way back to the Leaky Cauldron where Harry proceeded to explain about the black dog he had saw right before he got on the Knight Bus. 

"It probably was just a stray dog... you have nothing to worry about, Harry." Hermione assured him while he proceed to make his hair lie flat. 

"You're fighting a losing battle there, dear," said his mirror in a wheezy voice. 

As days passed them by, Hermione and Harry proceeded to keep a lookout for Ron and his family. Suddenly on their final day, Hermione got dressed and went as she hurried downstairs and down Diagon Alley...

"Harry! Hermione!" 

They turned to find Ron was at the Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. 

"Finally! I went down to the Leaky Cauldron but they said you two left and we went around looking for you two--"

"We got all our school stuff last week," Harry explained to Ron, "But how did you know we were staying at the Leaky Cauldron?" 

"Dad," Ron told them, "So Harry, did you really blow up your aunt?" 

"I didn't mean to! I just-- lost control." Harry stated to Ron, who was laughing his head off. 

"It's not funny, Ron," said Hermione sharply, "He's lucky he wasn't expelled! Or worse, he could have been arrested." 

"Does your dad know why Fudge let me off," 

"Probably cause it's you, isn't it?" Ron shrugged, still chuckling, "Famous Harry Potter and all that. Why don't you ask Dad yourself this evening? We're staying at the Leaky Cauldron tonight too! So you can come to King's Cross with us tomorrow!" 

"Excellent! So, have you got all your new books and stuff?" Hermione said to them. 

"Look at this," Ron said, pulling a long thin box out of a bag and opening it, "Brand-new wand. Fourteen inches, willow, containing one unicorn tail-hair. And we've got all our books-- and what about those Monster Books, eh? The assistant nearly cried when we said we wanted two... what's all that?" 

"Yeah and I'm taking more new subjects than you both. Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, Ancient Runes--" 

"Are you planning to eat or sleep at all this year, Hermione?" Ron asked, staring at her in disbelief, "I need to stop by the pet shop where I need to get something for Scabbers. He's been looking off-color." 

The three of them paid for their ice cream as they headed to Magical Menagerie. They slipped through the shelves passing the many animals living there. Hermione could feel their eyes on her the moment she stepped through the front door. Ron hurried and set his rat on the counter top while Hermione went through looking at the other animals. 

"Hmm... how old is the rat?" she asked him. 

"Dunno... quite old. He used to belong to my brother?" 

"What powers does he have?" 

"Er--"

"He's been through the mill, this one," 

"He was like that when Percy gave him to me." 

"An ordinary common or garden rat like this can't be expected to live longer than three years or so. Now if you were looking for something a bit more--" The witch started when Ron shook his head, "well, if you don't want a replacement, you can try this rat tonic..." 

They had made their way to the Leaky Cauldron when a blur of orange ran across the her vision where Ron was knocked over. 

"Hermione control that stupid cat! Bloody hell! This is like the millionth time that cat has been trying to kill Scabbers," Ron growled as he struggled to keep hold of Scabbers while pushing Crookshanks off. Hermione grabbed hold of Crookshanks and kept him pressed against her chest while Harry helped Ron up to his feet. 

"Blimey! Hermione something is clearly wrong with that cat of yours! I swear, it has a vendetta out for Scabbers." Ron shouted at her.