Where's Aunt Money

The Burrow looked peaceful and serene. Hermione felt a comfort here. Not quite home, but a close second. She passed through the wards, then went into the kitchen. Harry was still excited from the Apparation.

"Do again. Do again."

"Later. Harry."

"Hermione, dear. What a wonderful surprise. I hope my sons are treating you well." Mrs. Weasley came in with assortment of laundry and missed Harry.

"Oh, yes, great. I need a..."

"You lie!" Ron Weasley entered. "You are their slave. You have become their house-elf. I've been thinking of starting S.O.K. Save our Know-It-All." He grabbed her in a huge hug. "I missed you," he whispered just for her.

"Oh, thank Merlin, a fellow girl. I'm going out of my mind. And, Ron, it's my turn." Ginny poked her brother in the ribs and grabbed Hermione in a hug that rivaled any of the male Weasleys.

"I missed you both too. Though I did just see you the day before yesterday, Ron. Now, Mrs...." At that point, Harry made his presence known by screaming at the top of his lungs and hiding behind Hermione's legs.

"Um, Hermione. Do you have something you want to tell me? Like why is there a baby that looks like Harry with you?" Ron said.

"It is Harry." Hermione was too frazzled to be gentle.

"What!" This was from Mrs. Weasley. "What happened?"

"Long story short, Brent contaminated a supply of Breath-Effects, and this was the result." Hermione waved her hand in Harry's direction.

"Nice summary, 'Mione," Ron said.

"Ron, you know I hate that nickname."

"You prefer Hermy?"

Hermione gave him one mean look. "Mrs. Weasley, I was hoping you would watch him while I help figure out this mess. The twins didn't even know Latenbra."

"I would be happy to, Hermione. As for the latter problem, that is something only advanced wizards generally use. I don't even know it. Bill does because of his work."

"Oh. I didn't realize it was rare. I mean I read about it and ..." She stopped herself. She couldn't tell Mrs. Weasley the reason she had learned the spell.

Ron covered. Though it may not have been intentional. "Proving you know everything in the world." He placed an arm around her waist in a side-ways hug.

Harry ran from behind Hermione and began screaming and crying. Hermione knelt to the scared boy. "Harry, you are being rude. What is wrong with you?" Harry, of course, continued. Mrs. Weasley smiled at Hermione. "I must say I never thought to try reasoning. I usually resorted to bribes or threats of punishments."

Hermione reached into her pockets for one of the twins' faux wands. She waved to make it emit sparkles. Harry was distracted, and Hermione gathered him up. She began to pass him to Mrs. Weasley.

"No. I want to stay with you. No, Aunt Money. No!"

"Well, that is impossible. I have to fix you."

Harry laughed. "Me not broken."

"Maybe you should keep him with you. I'm sure the twins can figure things out. Plus I'll get the Order on it."

"Um, let's keep it to the top members. I don't think Voldemort..." winces went around the room, "getting wind of this is a good idea."

Mrs. Weasley realized for this first time the dilemma they were in. "Yes. You should go back to Grimmauld Place and stay there. I'll alert Minerva."

"Maybe I can come with you?" Ron offered and came closer to Hermione.

Harry did not care for this. "No. Aunt Money, I want Aunt Money."

Hermione looked to Ron. "Sorry, but I'm in no mood for a cranky kid. You can go help the twins."

"Hermione, you are the reason I managed Potions. But I will do what I can."

"Hermione..." Ginny began.

"Don't worry. I understand this is awkward for you."

Hermione left and Apparated to outside the Black house. It was as gloomy as ever from the outside. Once inside, Hermione was very happy about the changes. She was happy Remus had figured out how to silence Mrs. Black. The charm worked for regular noise levels. She was still a pest for louder volumes. It was beginning to look passable. Harry wanted to get down.

"Well, I guess I should feed you. What would you like?"

"Cheese," Harry stated with a grin.

"Okay. That's simple enough." Hermione went to the magically cooled cupboard and removed a block of cheddar cheese. She decided it best to cut into cubes. After plating it, she put the cubes in front of Harry. She added a cup of pumpkin juice.

"This not cheese. I want cheese, Aunt Money." Harry looked at the cubes sadly.

Hermione was clearly confused. "Harry, that is cheese."

"No. I want cheese. Where is Mummy? She can make cheese."

Hermione didn't know how to answer that. She sat down next to Harry and pulled him to her lap. "Harry, your mum is gone. I'm sorry."

The house was soon filled with Mrs. Black's screams, and the front door had banged opened and something heavy had been dropped in the entry way.

"Damn!" Hermione heard Remus exclaim. Mrs. Black went quiet mid-sentence, and footsteps came toward the kitchen. When Remus was barely through the door, Harry jumped from the chair and ran to him. "Moony," was his excited cry.

Remus, for his part, was nonplussed. He looked to Hermione for answers.

"There was an accident at Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes. Harry's about two now. The twins are working on the reversal. At least I hope they are. Harry, for some reason, doesn't like Ron, so I couldn't leave him at the Burrow."

"Ron's tall," Remus said softly and sat with Harry in his lap.

"You are observant. Ron is over six feet. I would say that makes him tall." Hermione's statement was laced with sarcasm.

Remus smiled slightly. "I'm sorry. I was explaining why Harry was uncomfortable with him. He didn't like overly tall people when he first met them. They had to grow on him a bit." He noticed the plate of cheese on the table.

Hermione followed his line of sight. "He said he wanted cheese, but then didn't."

"He meant Macaroni and Cheese." Remus stood and put Harry in the chair. He took the cheese to the counter and, using a few spells, had made the requested dish in no time. He placed it before the hungry Harry, who happily ate.

Hermione gave Remus a grateful smile. "Thanks. I've never been very good with children."

"It looks like you are doing fine."

"You should see me with my cousin Rosalyn. She usually just screams. She also eats paste and crayons."

"I'm guessing she's young. Maybe hoping."

"Three. I have problems with my peers. I'm lost when it comes to those younger than me."

"Well, Harry seems to be similar to his younger self, so he should be pretty easy. We may have a problem with him wanting to eat only this one dish."

"Why don't you stay with him, and I'll check the twins' progress."

"Sure. I hope it goes well."

Hermione stood to leave.

"Bye, Aunt Money."

"Bye, Harry." She ruffled his hair and earned a smile. She left the house and Apparated to Diagon Alley. The short walk from the Apparation point to Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes took no time because the alley was deserted with dusk approaching. The times were dangerous after all.

She entered the shop with her password since the twins had closed early. She found them in the lab area with three cauldrons brewing to break down the ingredients that had contaminated the Breath-Effects.

"Any luck?" Hermione's voice held little hope.

"Sorry, Hermione, but it looks like it's hopeless." Fred gave her a sad and tired look.

"There could be a chance it wears off." George shared his brother's look.

"I don't think that will happen. I've never been that lucky. Let me see what you have so far."

For the next few hours, Hermione looked over the twins' notes and added some herself, but her efforts ended in frustration with twins sleeping. She dropped her book on the table and got some minor joy when they both jerked awake.

"I say we call it a night. I'm going to Grimmauld Place. I'll check in with you both tomorrow."

She headed to the Apparation point. As she walked, she kept her hand in her pocket on her wand the whole time. Once or twice she started at a few sounds. Each time proved to be a rat or nothing at all. She Apparated to the spot in front of the house. She hadn't taken a step when a hand was clasped over her mouth and she was Disapparated.

A/N: As always thanks to RR for her Beta reading. Trust me, she deserves the praise.