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┄┄ .•* 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟑 *•. ┄┄

𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔 𝒓𝒖𝒍𝒆𝒔

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Julie woke up on the last morning of summer with a lot of groaning and self-slaps to keep herself awake. One could say she wasn't a morning person. She would tell you she was resting for her next slumber.

That morning, however, she had to wake up earlier than usual, for two reasons:

One, she desperately needed to get used to this concept called waking up in the morning, in order not to skip all of her classes—which for this year were a lot. She still chose all of the subjects available—this way she could have the time-turner, besides, she really wanted to try all of them. 

Two, she needed to wake up early, because today was the day she would go to Diagon Alley with Harry and the Weasleys, and spend the night at the Leaky Cauldron, so they could go to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters the next day—which she could not wait for.

Hermione had a plan for this year. Fine. It wasn't really a plan. More of an outline, if you must. She decided to let the story play out close to the plotline. This way she knew the future events and could control things better. She would help Sirius—by sending him food, clothes, and whatnot. She would also get Crookshanks, even though Julie wasn't a cat person at all. Nevertheless, she figured the red-haired fur ball was important and wouldn't be much of a bother anyway. At least the cat was trying to kill the rat and if she could somehow speed up that process the better. Speaking of, during the remainder of her second year, Julie couldn't help but glare at the rat every time she saw it. That little shit, pissed her off, out of her mind. She wasn't a rat person already. But who was? And having a disgusting little bastard around them was repugnant to Hermione. That was why she couldn't wait for the end of the third year. One way or the other—whether the rat was imprisoned or escaped—she wouldn't have to see and live with it again.

Julie got dressed in the new clothes she bought over the summer. She put on some mom jeans, a white tank top, and a—slightly oversized—leather jacket—which she adored profoundly and would wear forever and ever—with some black and white converse. She got her hair in check and was done for the day. One thing both Julie and Hermione had in common was the lack of make-up they wore. If it was due to the fact that they sucked at it, or because they just wouldn't bother, go figure. But Julie didn't really wear makeup. Mainly now, as she was wearing a face that resembled Emma Watson which was awesome.

Another thing they now had in common, was that Hermione's body was visited by the Satan Tsunami. In other words, she got her period and had a really awkward talk with her mom. Luckily for her, Hermione didn't have much acne or anything like that. And her boobs also grew enough to be considered breasts, and not just swollen nipples—if that makes sense. Moving on...

Afterward, she went downstairs to have breakfast with her parents, as they weren't going to see each other for another year. Or at least until Christmas. Julie still didn't know whether she wanted to stay at Hogwarts or be with her new parents. . . . Once breakfast was over, she went back to her room, brushed her teeth and whatnot, and closed her trunk—during school the previous year, she had crammed her brain to learn how to cast an Undetectable Extension and Feather-light charm on it, so packing was considerably easy. She just threw inside her trunk whatever came to view. So if she appeared in Hogwarts with a lamp, it wasn't really her fault.

Speaking of, Hermione also made her mission to make memories and keep them. Hence why she bought a camera and some films. This way, she would be able to photograph relevant moments during the year—probably at the most inopportune moments. She'd then reveal the pictures when she returned home and maybe make some of them move. Maybe. Julie didn't actually like moving pictures. She felt like someone was watching her and was really crept outby them. Huh.

Later that morning, as her parents dropped her off in the Leaky Cauldron she met with the Weasleys at the shabby pub. Mrs. Weasley immediately embraced her in a bone-crushing hug and complimented her hair, to which Hermione laughed and thanked her. Then she hugged Mr. Weasley as well, and greeted all of Ron's brothers and Ron, hugging Ginny as well. Julie totally missed the surprise on everyone's face regarding her outfit or hair, and as well, some weird looks she got. She was just too happy. It was her first time in Diagon Alley, after all. And although after walking in, she couldn't help but think it was quite crowded—which was weird for her since she came from 2021, with a world pandemic—and not really hygienic at all, it was everything she had imagined, therefore, she totally blocked out the negative parts.

She and Ron bid goodbye to the latter's family and set out on a hunt for one Harry Potter, after having gotten their things. And unlike Hermione in the books, Julie made Ron go back with her to the Leaky Cauldron so she could put all of her books there—more like throw them in the trunk, but still. . . . Ron protested a tad but he went willingly after Hermione started pulling at his ear.

And then, after a long search and not any Harrys, Ron insisted they got ice cream from Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. Which Julie wasn't one to refuse. She loved ice cream with all her being. It was some moments later when they saw the specky messy-haired boy pass and they started calling out to him.

"Harry! HARRY!!" They waved frantically—well, Ron did. Hermione was eating her ice cream without a care in the world.

"Finally!" Ron said, grinning at Harry as he sat down, while Hermione saluted him—still eating the ice cream. "We went to the Leaky Cauldron, but they said you'd left, and we went to Flourish and Blotts, and Madam Malkin's, and—"

"I got all my school stuff last week," Harry explained cutting the ginger off. "And how come you knew I'm staying at the Leaky Cauldron?"

"Dad," said Ron simply.

Mr. Weasley, who worked at the Ministry of Magic, would of course have heard the whole story of what had happened to Aunt Marge. Hermione, though, just knew. She knew everything, in fact.

"Did you really blow up your aunt, Harry?" Hermione said with an amused look as she laughed at the thought. More accurately at the image from the movie of a woman swelling and starting to float. Now that, was funny.

"I didn't mean to," said Harry, while Ron and Hermione roared with laughter, "I just — lost control."

"Well, lose control like that again and you could open a human-balloon business," said Hermione grinning and the others chuckled. "Honestly, I'm amazed you weren't expelled."

"So am I," admitted Harry with a frown. "Forget expelled, I thought I was going to be arrested."

He looked at Ron. 

"Your dad doesn't know why Fudge let me off, does he?"

"Probably 'cause it's you, isn't it?" shrugged Ron, still chuckling. "Famous Harry Potter and all that. I'd hate to see what the Ministry'd do to me if I blew up an aunt. Mind you, they'd have to dig me up first, because Mum would've killed me. Anyway, you can 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! Hermione's there as well!"

Hermione nodded, beaming as she finished up her ice cream. "I already have everything. My parents dropped me off this morning with the Weasleys."

"Excellent!" said Harry happily. "So, you got all your new books and stuff?"

"Look at this," said Ron, pulling a long thin box out of a bag and opening it. "Brand-new wand. Fourteen inches, willow, containing one unicorn tail-hair. Hermione also got a new one. Said hers wasn't working properly." 

That was in fact true. Hermione's wand did not work for Julie, after all, it was the wand that chose the wizard. Hence why Julie had to go through the awesome and exciting process of getting a new wand. 

"And we've got all our books — They're in the Leaky Cauldron" Ron continued to tell Harry, "What about those Monster Books, eh? The assistant nearly cried when we said we wanted two, but then Hermione told him to stroke the spine and the things calmed down. I swear it looked like the man could kiss 'Mione on the spot," Ron said making Harry burst into laughter and Hermione to scrunch up her nose at the thought. Blahg.

"I've still got ten Galleons," she said, checking her purse. "Mum and Dad gave me extra money so I could buy an early-birthday present."

"How about a nice book?" said Ron innocently and Hermione smiled sarcastically at him.

"Nah, I have loads of those," said Hermione shrugging. "I really want a pet. I mean you all have them and—"

"All I've got is Scabbers," said Ron as he pulled his pet rat out of his pocket, causing Julie to glare at him and calmly plan his murder in her head. She could just step on him and be done with it. "And I want to get him checked over," Rom added, placing Scabbers on the table in front of them. "I don't think Egypt agreed with him."

Scabbers was looking thinner than usual, and there was a definite droop to his whiskers. And Julie knew it was because the spineless cowardly bastard was afraid of Sirius. As he should be.

"There's a magical creature shop just over there," said Harry, who knew Diagon Alley very well by now. "You could see if they've got anything for Scabbers, and Hermione can get her pet."

So they paid for their ice cream and crossed the street to the Magical Menagerie.

There wasn't much room inside. There were cages everywhere and a shit load of animal noises and smells, which made Hermione grimaced. The witch behind the counter was busy so the trio started to look around the store.

Julie noticed all the weird animals and relatively normal animals and couldn't help but realize: she really wasn't an animal person. She loved animals, but,  in the wild. She would love to meet a hippogriff, for example, but she would hate to have him as a pet. Mainly because she wasn't responsible enough—or wanted to be—and they'd end up dying. She was only getting Crookshanks because it was a badarse cat and part of the Team Scabbers Sucks with her—as everyone should be—and could also fend from himself just fine.

The double-ended newt wizard left, and Ron approached the counter.

"It's my rat," he told the witch. "He's been a bit off-color ever since I brought him back from Egypt."

"Bang him on the counter," said the witch, pulling a pair of heavy black spectacles out of her pocket. 

Hermione scowled when she saw Ron lift Scabbers out of his inside pocket and place him next to the cage of his fellow rats, and not actually banging him on the counter and sent him into premature death.

"Hm," said the witch, picking up Scabbers. "How old is this rat?"

"Dunno," said Ron. "Quite old. He used to belong to my brother." Hermione by now had planned on three different ways to drown the rat, in three different substances.

"What powers does he have?" said the witch, examining Scabbers closely.

"Er —" The truth was that Scabbers had never shown the faintest trace of interesting powers. Julie scoffed at that thought. The rat was a wizard, a fucking spineless and cowardly backstabbing wizard. The eyes of the witch behind the counter moved from Scabbers's tattered left ear to his front paw, which had a toe missing (because the fucking arsehole cut it off himself, Julie thought bitterly), and tutted loudly.

"He's been through the mill, this one," she said.

"He was like that when Percy gave him to me," said Ron defensively.

"An ordinary common or garden rat like this can't be expected to live longer than three years or so," said the witch. "Now, if you were looking for something a bit more hard-wearing, you might like one of these —"

She indicated the black rats, who promptly started skipping again. Ron muttered, "Show-offs."

"Well, if you don't want a replacement, you can try this rat tonic," said the witch, reaching under the counter and bringing out a small red bottle.

"Okay," said Ron. "How much — OUCH!"

Ron buckled as something huge and orange came soaring from the top of the highest cage, landed on his head, and then propelled itself, spitting madly, at Scabbers. At Crookshanks's appearance, Hermione grinned widely and prayed to God the rat was dead. Which he wasn't, unfortunately.

"NO, CROOKSHANKS, NO!" cried the witch, but Scabbers shot from between her hands like a bar of soap, landed splay-legged on the floor, and then scampered for the door.

"Scabbers!" Ron shouted, racing out of the shop after him; Harry followed and Hermione stayed in the store, happily buying the cat after having a talk with him about a certain dog it should help—"When you meet this really big arse black dog, don't go spitting at him. Black Dog, good. Rat, bad. Kill him if you can."—After their talk, Hermione got out of the store, her arms were clamped tightly around the enormous ginger cat, and a victorious smirk was carved into her features.

"You bought that monster?" said Ron, his mouth hanging open and Hermione grinned.

"Isn't he awesome?" said Hermione, glowing.

"Hermione, that thing nearly scalped me!" said Ron.

"Shame. It could have actually gotten to you," said Hermione, and Harry burst into peals of laughter as Ron scoffed.

"And what about Scabbers?" said Ron, pointing at the lump in his chest pocket. "He needs rest and relaxation! How's he going to get it with that thing around?"

"In all honesty, I could care less about the rat. That reminds me, you forgot your rat tonic," said Hermione coldly, slapping the small red bottle into Ron's hand, glaring at the rat. "And pull that stick out of your arse, Ron. Crooks will be in my dorm. Poor him, that witch said he'd been in there for ages; no one wanted him."

"Wonder why," said Ron sarcastically as they set off toward the Leaky Cauldron. They found Mr. Weasley sitting in the bar, reading the Daily Prophet.

"Harry!" he said, smiling as he looked up. "How are you?"

"Fine, thanks," said Harry as he, Ron, and Hermione joined Mr. Weasley.

Mr. Weasley put down his paper, and Hermione saw as Harry looked curiously at the picture of Sirius Black staring up at him.

"They still haven't caught him, then?" he asked.

"No," said Mr. Weasley, looking extremely grave. "They've pulled us all off our regular jobs at the Ministry to try and find him, but no luck so far."

"Would we get a reward if we caught him?" asked Ron. "It'd be good to get some more money —"

"Don't be ridiculous, Ron," said Mr. Weasley, who on closer inspection looked very strained. "Black's not going to be caught by a thirteen-year-old wizard. It's the Azkaban guards who'll get him back, you mark my words."

At that moment Mrs. Weasley entered the bar, laden with shopping bags and followed by the twins, Fred and George, who were about to start their fifth year at Hogwarts; the newly elected Head Boy, Percy; and the Weasleys' only girl, Ginny.

Julie watched in amusement as Percy held out his hand solemnly, as though he and Harry had never met, and said, "Harry. How nice to see you."

"Hello, Percy," said Harry, trying not to laugh—even more so because Hermione had snorted beside him and covered it up with a cough.

"I hope you're well?" said Percy pompously, shaking hands. It was rather like being introduced to the mayor and Hermione was having a hard time keeping her face straight.

"Very well, thanks —"

"Harry!" said Fred, elbowing Percy out of the way and bowing deeply. "Simply splendid to see you, old boy —"

"Marvelous," said George, pushing Fred aside and seizing Harry's hand in turn. "Absolutely spiffing." He said while Percy scowled.

"That's enough, now," said Mrs. Weasley.

"Mum!" said Fred, as though he'd only just spotted her and seizing her hand, too. "How really corking to see you —"

"I said, that's enough," said Mrs. Weasley, depositing her shopping in an empty chair. "Hello, Harry, dear. I suppose you've heard our exciting news?" She pointed to the brand-new silver badge on Percy's chest. "Second Head Boy in the family!" she said, swelling with pride.

"And last," Fred muttered under his breath and Hermione chuckled quietly, which caught Fred's attention and he winked in her direction. Julie just smirked in response and continued to pay attention to the conversation.

"I don't doubt that," said Mrs. Weasley, frowning suddenly. "I notice they haven't made you two prefects."

"What do we want to be prefects for?" said George, looking revolted at the very idea. "It'd take all the fun out of life."

Ginny giggled.

"You want to set a better example for your sister!" snapped Mrs. Weasley.

"Ginny's got other brothers to set her an example, Mother," said Percy loftily. "I'm going up to change for dinner..."

He disappeared and George heaved a sigh.

"We tried to shut him in a pyramid," he told them. "But Mum spotted us."

"Shame. He would give a great mummy," Hermione sighed dramatically and they laughed.

Dinner that night was really fun and Julie was fangirling at the scene she once read. Tom, the innkeeper, put three tables together in the parlor, and the seven Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione ate their way through five delicious courses.

"How're we getting to King's Cross tomorrow, Dad?" asked Fred as they dug into a sumptuous chocolate pudding.

"The Ministry's providing a couple of cars," said Mr. Weasley.

Everyone looked up at him. 

"Why?" Percy said curiously.

"It's because of you, Perce," said George seriously. "And there'll be little flags on the hoods, with HB on them—"

"— for Humongous Bighead," said Fred.

Everyone except Percy and Mrs. Weasley snorted into their pudding. Well, Hermione chuckled trying to suppress peals of laughter.

"Why is the Ministry providing cars, Father?" Percy asked again, in a dignified voice.

"Well, as we haven't got one anymore," said Mr. Weasley, "and as I work there, they're doing me a favor..."

"Good thing, too," said Mrs. Weasley briskly. "Do you realize how much luggage you've all got between you? A nice sight you'd be on the Muggle Underground... You are all packed, aren't you?"

"Ron hasn't put all his new things in his trunk yet," said Percy, in a long-suffering voice. "He's dumped them on my bed."

"You'd better go and pack properly, Ron, because we won't have much time in the morning," Mrs. Weasley called down the table. Ron scowled at Percy.

After dinner, everyone felt very full and sleepy. One by one, they made their way upstairs to their rooms to check their things for the next day. Hermione made her way through her room but was stopped by the twins before she could get in—their room was next to hers.

"What happened to you, Granger?" They asked in unison making Julie frown.

"Depends on what exactly you're asking." She said.

"Well, we've noticed—"

"— you're different."

"Different?" Hermione frowned, "Good or bad?"

"Just different," they both said.

"Ah well. Let's just say I'm a new person," Hermione smirked and flipped her hair back as she entered her room living the twins with frowns on their faces.

Hermione took off her leather jacket and threw it on a chair. Afterward, she stripped, put on her pajamas, and got ready for bed. That night she fell asleep dreaming with rats being killed by giant orange lions and weird humans with big heads bumping into each other while waving little banners.

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