Chapter 1 - Meet the Parents
"Listen to me, Harry. It is too late, you understand me? You must see that Professor Snape's version of events is far more convincing than yours."
"He hates Sirius," Hermione said desperately. "All because of some "stupid trick Sirius played on him —"
"Sirius has not acted like an innocent man. The attack on the Fat Lady — entering Gryffindor Tower with a knife — without Pettigrew, alive or dead, we have no chance of overturning Sirius's sentence."
"But you believe us."
"Yes, I do," said Dumbledore quietly. "But I have no power to make other men see the truth, or to overrule the Minister of Magic. …"
Harry stared up into the grave face and felt as though the ground beneath him were falling sharply away. He had grown used to the idea that Dumbledore could solve anything. He had expected Dumbledore to pull some amazing solution out of the air. But no … their last hope was gone.
"What we need," said Dumbledore slowly, and his light blue eyes moved from Harry to Hermione, "is more time."
"But —" Hermione began. And then her eyes became very round. "OH!"
"Now, pay attention," said Dumbledore, speaking very low, and very clearly. "Sirius is locked in Professor Flitwick's office on the seventh floor. Thirteenth window from the right of the West Tower. If all goes well, you will be able to save more than one innocent life tonight. But remember this, both of you: you must not be seen. Miss Granger, you know the law — you know what is at stake. … You — must — not — be — seen."
Harry didn't have a clue what was going on. Dumbledore had turned on his heel and looked back as he reached the door. "I am going to lock you in. It is —" he consulted his watch, "five minutes to midnight. Miss Granger, three turns should do it. Good luck."
(Excerpt From Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban)
Thus had begun what was without doubt the strangest night of Harry Potter's life. With some of the weird shit he'd been involved in the last few years, that was really saying something. He and Hermione had managed to rescue Buckbeak, after traveling three hours back in time. Harry shook his head, even thinking about time travel hurt his brain. What was the point of knowing what was about to happen if you couldn't do anything to change it? Hermione was adamant though, they couldn't interfere with something they knew had already happened, and she was usually right about these kind of things.
His time travelling partner was currently in Hagrid's hut, staying out of sight while keeping an eye on a certain hippogriff. Harry had used the excuse of them needing to know what was going on, in order to organise and coordinate Sirius' rescue properly, to leave the hut and head for the lake.
He needed to know who had cast that patronus, especially if there was the slightest chance it could have been his father. Watching from behind a bush as the dementors overwhelmed Sirius, Hermione and the other him across the lake was hard to take. As a dementor lowered its hood in preparation of administering a soul sucking kiss to that version of himself, Harry thought this mystery caster was cutting it really fine.
Harry actually staggered back a few steps as it felt like something had snapped inside his head. A safe pair of arms were soon comforting him, though also urging her son to take action.
"You have to cast your patronus charm now, Harry. I know you can do it, you already have, I'm so proud of my boy."
That was a voice he knew well. His mother's physical contact and encouragement saw such a surge of positive energy coursing through his body, Harry was certain he would get it this time. Casting the charm resulting in a massive silver stag shooting across the lake and scattering dementors like they were no more than dry leaves in a strong wind.
Turning, Harry then returned the embrace of the one woman he truly and unconditionally loved. "I know it seems impossible but I thought I would meet my dad tonight. How is it possible for you to be here?"
They were interrupted by the sound of hooves, as Hermione appeared - dragging a reluctant Buckbeak behind her.
"What did you do? You were only supposed to keep a lookout..." Hermione's anger dried up, along with her words, as she took in the preposterous sight that greeted her.
"Hermione, I'd like you to meet my mum. Mum, this is one of my best friends, Hermione Granger. No, I don't know how this happened, Hermione, but I'm glad you're here to share it with me - and can hopefully convince me I'm not going mad."
"Hello Hermione. I know everything Harry knows about you dear, including you'll have dozens of questions running through your mind right now. I'll have to beg you to hold off asking them as we're very short of time - and using your time turner can't help us here. You both have about forty-five minutes to rescue Sirius and get back inside the infirmary. I have a lot less time than that, and so much to tell you."
Hermione's nod of acceptance saw Lily begin her explanation, though her arms remained wrapped around her son. "When Voldemort came to our cottage that night, he wasn't there to murder me or your dad. A prophecy foretold of a child being born with the power to defeat the Dark Lord. You are that child, Harry, and he didn't want you growing up to be a threat."
While running her fingers through her son's unruly black hair, Lily opened her other arm to Hermione. "Tie up Buckbeak and come over here. He needs his best friend too right now."
Hermione didn't need a second invitation. The rope she had been leading the hippogriff with was quickly wound around a branch of the bush and Hermione was soon hugging Harry for all she was worth. Only by being so close did she hear Harry's whispered question.
"Does Dumbledore know!"
Harry and Hermione then got to see the other side of the fiery redhead as only hugging both teens allowed Lily to contain her temper. It was close though.
"Yes that old bugger knew, and I wish I had time to call him out on it. Dumbledore is not your friend, Harry. He wants Voldemort defeated and will use anything or anyone to get the job done. Sending you two out here tonight was only his latest of a long list of escapades in stupidity I'd like to hit him for. He lied to you tonight, and then left children to deal with a problem of his making…"
Taking a deep breath, Lily offered some examples for her anti Dumbledore views. "I have no power to make other men see the truth, or to overrule the Minister of Magic. Remember he said that? Severus Snape escaped Azkaban purely on the word of Albus bloody Dumbledore, yet Sirius never even merited a trial. He wanted you placed with Petunia and knew Sirius would never stand for that, so he kept quiet. He also knew Voldemort wasn't really gone, and even bloody why, yet has done nothing about it. That old goat really makes my blood boil!"
Lily could see the questions piling up with both teens and knew she didn't have time to answer them all so cut straight to the chase. "Voldemort delved deep into the dark arts and discovered a procedure where he could split his soul, storing part of it in a container. All of those pieces would have to be traced and destroyed just to make him mortal again. The night he attacked you, your father and I had already undergone a ritual that saved your life, and should have ended Voldemort's. We didn't know about the horcruxes though, that's what you call a soul container. A part of his soul split off that night too and attached itself to the nearest host, my poor baby. Dumbledore knows this happened, yet his answer was to place you with that sister of mine in the hope living with my family would extend the protection on you. The old fool didn't know I was always with you, and you could have stayed anywhere. You are never going back to that…place."
From all the bad news he'd been hearing, here was something positive for Harry to latch onto - and he did. His mother was by no means finished however.
"The reason I'm able to be here with you tonight is I'm no longer needed to protect you, the ritual is finally complete. That dementor sucked out the part of Voldemort's soul that had attached itself to you, just before you chased them all away. I have always protected you from his influence and was able to help finally push him out tonight. What he left behind though were memories and knowledge, these will give you the knowledge needed to defeat him."
Looking into his mother's green eyes, Harry asked the question he already kinda knew the answer to. "Can I tell Dumbledore about this? I don't think I can do this on my own."
Moving his fringe, Lily kissed the rapidly disappearing lightning scar. She was about to reassure her son when Hermione beat her to it.
"You're not alone, Harry, and never will be."
It was a smiling Lily who spoke directly to the girl. "Hermione, Harry's had a very difficult life while living at Privet Drive. That sister of mine never showed him one scrap of kindness, far less any sort of love. If you want something to happen, you're going to have to be the instigator."
Having her suspicions confirmed saw Hermione give a thoughtful nod. Harry needed her, now more than ever, and Hermione was determined to let him know she wasn't going to be moved from his side. Her arms shifted from around him until she had her hands either side of his face. Turning him gently, Hermione gathered up all her courage and closed the gap between them to meet his lips with her own.
To say Harry was surprised would be an understatement, shocked didn't even begin to cover it. He was far from being an idiot though and did what came naturally when a pretty girl kissed you - Harry kissed Hermione back.
As their arms wound around each other, a delighted Lily couldn't have been happier. She didn't have any time to waste though. Her slight cough stopped the kiss, however both still clung to one another while trying to make sense of what just happened.
A bemused Harry uttered the first thing that came into his head. "What about Ron?"
An amused Hermione answered with a question of her own. "You'd rather be kissing Ron?"
"No, of course not. I just thought, you know, you and Ron?"
"The same Ron who argues with me all the time? That Ron? I would much rather be kissing you, but if you don't want me too…"
Harry ended that line of though by kissing any doubts Hermione had away.
It took a louder cough from Lily this time to get their attention back on her. "To answer your original question, that would be a no. Dumbledore certainly wants Voldemort dead, it's the almost nonchalant way he uses people to try and achieve his aim that worries me the most. Harry, we need a team of people around you to help with this task. It needs to be people you can trust implicitly though. Needless to say, your main supporter is right beside you. Your little elven friend would be a great addition too. He's desperate to help and would love nothing more than to be part of your family. It doesn't need saying that Sirius and Remus will have to be involved too. After tonight Remus will need a job, and Sirius a place to hide. Claim your head of house and you can easily do both."
The blank looks coming from both teens had Lily almost kicking herself. "Sorry, I forgot no one told you about that. Something you need to ask Remus about later. Raise your wand and repeat after me…"
One oath and flash of light later and Harry was wearing the ring signifying he was head of House Potter, much to the surprise of Hermione and the ring's new owner. Lily hated having to rush things like this but she could feel herself beginning to lose solidity, and was well aware her time here was growing shorter by the minute.
"Harry, you may have to leave Hogwarts…" That certainly got both their attention as Lily pushed on. "You're not learning what you need to here, and I'm beginning to think this is deliberate on Dumbledore's part. Just look at the two defence teachers you had before Remus, and don't even mention Severus!" The panic in Hermione's eyes at hearing this was clear for both Potters to see so Lily gave her a way she could leave too.
"Hermione, if you agree to be betrothed to Harry then you could leave with him. It gives you legal protection in the magical world while the only commitment demanded on your part is not to be with anyone else while betrothed to my son. Taking the ring off and returning it to Harry is all that's needed to end the betrothal, though you both know it could eventually lead to so much more."
They were clinging to each other once again as Hermione instantly reached her decision. "I said I wouldn't be parted from you, Harry, and I meant it. If this is what it takes then so be it. If you ask me I will say yes."
Lily's heart was breaking as she tried to hug both of them but couldn't, her arms passed right through them. This refocused both teens' attentions back on her. Harry was in floods of tears, and Hermione wasn't much better because of the pain her friend/boyfriend/betrothed was going through.
"Harry, I got to stay with my wonderful boy for many more years than we thought possible. This has to happen so don't cry, your father is waiting for me. Last bit of advice, before I need to leave. There's a special set of Potter betrothal rings that will not only let Hermione share the information Voldemort left in your head, they will protect you both from Dumbledore and Severus trying to read your thoughts. You will also see everything the other knows. You are both so young but have old souls, this is the best I can do for you, my wonderful son. Your father and I both love you so much, and never regretted our decision. Be the man we know you can be, and hold onto that girl at your side. Kiss him for me, Hermione…"
Those words had barely left Lily's now ghostly lips when the spirit of James Potter appeared at her side. Harry then got to hear his father speak, other than shouting at his mum to grab baby Harry and get away.
"Call for your little friend Dobby. He can get those rings for you tonight. You also have a god brother and god sister at Hogwarts, Nevile Longbottom and Luna Lovegood. Both are struggling in the castle so please try and help them too. Tell Sirius and Remus they better take care of my boy, or I'll set Lily on them. Great to meet you, Hermione, and love you always son." With that he took his wife's hand as they both faded away.
Hermione thought her arms wrapped around him were the only things holding Harry up as he sobbed into her chest. She slowly felt him gain control before he lifted his head and gazed into her eyes from mere inches away. Hermione was amazed to see a smile on his face until Harry spoke.
"I got to meet my mum and dad, Hermione - and they said they loved me. No one has ever said that to me before."
There was no holding back now, Hermione had to tell him. "I love you too, Harry."
Harry's grin widened. "I got to kiss you too, what a night. As my mum said, Privet Drive was not a good place for me. I'm not even sure what love is, but what I am sure of is that I don't want to learn about it with anyone but you. Hermione Granger, will you become my betrothed?"
Hermione's yes was somewhat garbled as they kissed again, before her practical side took over once more. "We have people to see, and a godfather to save. Call for Dobby."
The little elf appeared, quivering in anticipation. "Dobby has been listening, just in case his friend Harry Potter be needing Dobby. Nothing would make Dobby happier than being Harry Potter's elf."
"What do I need to do…" Harry had a tearful elf wrapped around him before feeling their magic interact.
A smiling Hermione could only shake her head. "It would appear Dobby wasn't taking any chances of you changing your mind. Dobby, can you go to Gringotts…"
Harry actually cut her off there. "Dobby, we need those rings but we also need Gringotts to keep the change in our status quiet. We only have a week of school left and want to get through it without anyone knowing things have changed."
As Dobby popped away, Harry untied Buckbeak. He noticed a change in Hermione and didn't think it was because of her fear of flying. "Hermione, I intend to tell the entire world you are my girlfriend. I think we should keep other matters to ourselves, especially that we're even considering leaving Hogwarts. I also don't want Dumbledore looking at my summer arrangements, arrangements we've yet to make."
Climbing onto Buckbeak's back, Harry held his hand out for Hermione to join him. She took his hand without hesitation and was soon cuddling into his back.
"Harry, what do we do about Ron?"
"Anything we tell him, Dumbledore will soon know about. He will either pull it from Ron's thoughts or Molly will have it out of him two minutes after he returns to the Burrow. We both know Molly thinks Dumbledore farts rainbows so would instantly be flooing the old man with anything she learned. I know we have to make plans, but that's as far as my planning has gotten."
"If we leave Hogwarts, I got the distinct feeling your dad wanted us to take Neville and Luna with us."
"We know Neville, and that Snape and his Slytherins bully him mercilessly, but I've never heard of this Luna."
"She's the year below us, in Ravenclaw, and rather strange…" Hermione was surprised they were now actually outside the right window. Holding onto Harry and chatting had her almost forgetting they were sitting on a creature that could fly - and currently seven stories up.
-oOoOo-
Sirius was sure he'd been in worse situations than this, he just couldn't remember any of them at the moment. He had a broken wooden leg in his hand, all that was left of the chair he'd tried to smash the window with. The window though had powerful charms protecting it, charms that proved to be a lot stronger than the now wrecked chair. Jumping to your death from whatever height they were holding him at was certainly a lot more preferable than sitting here waiting on a dementor to finish you off. Sirius Black's last kiss should be with a beautiful woman, not some tall, dark and ugly Azkaban guard.
He was debating with himself whether it would be better to attack whoever opened the door with the chair leg, or turn into Padfoot and try to bite the bastards. He was picturing sticking that broken chair leg up Dumbledore's crooked nose when the window shimmered with magic before opening.
Sirius was thinking those dementors had really done a number on him, otherwise he would have to believe his godson and his godson's friend were hovering outside his window on a hippogriff. Harry's "Hippogriff for Black" soon brought him back to reality. The Marauder was immensely proud that he was still able to joke at a time like this.
"Why a hippogriff, Harry? Didn't you like the Firebolt I got you?"
Hermione had to release her death grip on Harry to cast the charms that opened the window, and this also saw her vertigo return with a vengeance. "Sirius Black, get your arse on this hippogriff now! We're on a tight schedule here."
Grinning like a madman, Sirius squeezed himself out the window before leaping from the ledge and landing squarely behind Hermione. Her squeal of alarm had Harry joking too.
"Hey godfather, find your own girl. That's my betrothed."
Hermione had the window closed and charmed locked again before she could once more hold onto Harry the way she needed to. Sirius was laughing like a maniac behind her but she wasn't letting go of Harry to hit the fool with a silencing charm. "You are both nuts. Harry, if you ever want me to kiss you again, get my feet back on soil ground as quickly as possible"
This stopped Sirius laughing, though not shouting questions. "Kissing? Betrothed? What did I miss?"
It was Harry's turn to laugh as he answered his godfather. "Quite a lot, Sirius, quite a lot. Because of some prophecy, I've got to face Voldemort - and my mum says you and Professor Lupin are to train us. My dad said if you don't look after me, he'll set mum on both of you."
Hearing that left Sirius lost for words as Buckbeak landed on top of the astronomy tower. Hermione shot off the hippogriff's back and pulled Harry off too. He wasn't complaining though as Hermione was thanking him for her no longer being in mid air with only a hippogriff between her and certain death.
The couple were quickly interrupted by Sirius. "I really need to know what's going on here…"
Calling for Dobby, Harry asked his little friend a quick question. "Dobby, would you be able to find Sirius if we needed you to?"
"He is our family, Dobby will always be able to find our family."
That certainly helped Harry make a decision. "Sirius, you need to leave and go into hiding. Trust only the people you see here, and Lupin. After we talk to Professor Lupin tomorrow we will have more of an idea of what we're doing next. We'll send word with Dobby. Avoid everyone else, even Dumbledore. My mum thought he was playing his own game here, and he didn't have any of our best interests at heart. We'll contact you tomorrow, day after at latest."
Diving off Buckbeak, Sirius pulled both of them into a needy hug. "Harry, I was there that night, after your parents were murdered. Hagrid already had you in his arms, and was under orders from Dumbledore to take you somewhere. You're my godson and my heir, and I let you down that night. I won't let you down again."
Needing to get Sirius on his way, Hermione thought a little humour might be the best way to break up this touching moment. "Harry, dear, you forgot to tell your godfather he needs to find somewhere he can hide and have a wash too."
It was a laughing Sirius who climbed back onto the hippogriff. "Oh I like her, Harry, I'm certainly leaving you in better hands this time. I'll be good doggie and wait on you contacting me."
"Dobby could bring Harry Potter's godfather food, and some clean clothes."
All three looked at the little elf before Harry made his night. "Dobby, that's a wonderful idea. Sirius - go already, and call for Dobby when you're somewhere safe."
Watching as Buckbeak carried Sirius into the night, Harry felt Dobby pulling his trouser leg. The elf then handed over an elaborately carved ring box that focused both teens' attention.
Opening the box, Harry showed the contents to Hermione. "You ready for this?"
A wide smile and a nod of consent was more than enough for Harry. He removed the smaller of the rings and slipped it onto the appropriate finger on Hermione's left hand as she said the required oath. "While I wear this ring, I will consider no other."
Picking the remaining ring out of the box, she repeated the process with Harry. As Harry said the required oath, a spark of magic jumped between both rings. It was such a headrush that the teens had to cling to each other until the magic settled.
Harry could feel Hermione's presence, it wasn't only her arms that were surrounding him with love, and it felt wonderful. Kissing was even better as their emotions appeared to bleed over into the other partner. They were again interrupted by a cough, though this time by a nervous Dobby.
"Dobby is thinking both of you have forgotten time?"
A quick glance at her watch confirmed for Hermione that Dobby was right. "Look at the time. we've no chance of making it back to the infirmary before Dumbledore locks that door."
Holding out Harry's Firebolt, Dobby was once more using his initiative. "Dobby was also thinking you didn't need to enter by the door."
"Dobby, you're the best."
"Harry, will you be able to find the right window?"
"Hermione, I've lain and stared out that window so often I could find it with my eyes closed."
"Not with me on the broom you won't"
Climbing on behind her newly betrothed, Hermione found Harry's love of flying swamping her own terror of the activity. When he pushed off, she just cuddled into his back and tried to enjoy the ride.
-oOoOo-
Albus stood outside the hospital door for as long as he dared, waiting to let the time travellers back in. When he could delay no longer, Albus reluctantly sealed the door. As the headmaster walked toward the room Sirius was currently being held in, his thoughts were all about what could have happened to the two teens.
Running through his head were the worse case scenarios that could see tonight ending very badly. They could have been seen and set off a paradox, kissed by dementors or bitten by a werewolf. Albus knew it was a risk sending them out there but he really couldn't just sit back and do nothing. The portraits reported that Sybill had made another prophecy, to Harry of all people. Albus needed the lad to trust him above all others. The look of devastation on Harry's face at the mere thought the great Albus Dumbledore couldn't help his godfather forced his hand. He was now regretting that decision.
Approaching the door behind which Sirius waited for death, Albus also couldn't help but examine the motives of the motley crew who were waiting there for his arrival. Walden Macnair couldn't contain his excitement, his eyes were sparkling with anticipation. He may have missed out on murdering an innocent hippogriff tonight but this would more than make up for it for the Ministry's executioner. Albus thought Macnair was as dark as the creature who stood beside him, waiting to administer its deadly kiss to Black.
The Minister's motives were almost innocuous - certainly not personal. Sirius Black was a problem Cornelius wanted to go away. While those motives might not be personal, a dementor would ensure Sirius never bothered anyone again.
Albus could see that for Severus, this was intensely personal. His clearly expressed anticipation was radiating off the potions Professor like some inner glow. It was disturbing for Albus to see someone he trusted so eager to witness the demise of another wizard. Severus was standing, wand ready, poised as if to get one more curse off at his enemy before the dementor did its job.
Even Cornelius noticed Severus' disturbing disposition with some alarm. Here was a wizard the Ministry was hoping to portray as the hero of tonight's fiasco acting more like a pantomime villain. That suggested Order of Merlin was looking more doubtful by the minute. As Albus opened the door, that Order of Merlin went out the window quicker than Sirius had.
Severus dived right into the room, a curse already on his lips. When it became obvious Sirius was no longer there, his scream of frustration rang throughout Hogwarts. It was soon followed by Snape screaming out the name of the person who he was positive had personally denied him his vengeance tonight. "POTTER!"
-oOoOo-
As the infirmary window was already open it was a piece of cake for Harry to get them there mere seconds after Dumbledore had locked the door. Their feet had barely touched the floor when Dobby appeared to take Harry's Firebolt away. Those actions proved to be not a moment too soon as Madam Pomfrey bustled in to reclaim ownership of her domain.
"Right, now that they have gone, I can get on with my job. Potter, Granger, get up on those beds so I can carry out the scans that should have been done when you first came around."
Even if they had wanted to argue, it would have been physically impossible for the teens. While she had been remonstrating with them, Madam Pomfrey had broken large chunks off what looked like a boulder of chocolate and practically force fed those chunks to the young couple's mouths. All three heads were raised though at the scream reverberating around the castle. As that scream became a cry of "POTTER!", both Harry and Hermione were left wearing wide chocolate smiles.
Chapter 2 - Dreaming of You
Harry was behind the privacy screens Madam Pomfrey had positioned around his bed. He was currently changing into the pyjamas she had also provided when a loud commotion hit the infirmary. Harry heard Hermione's shocked squeal and was out of there like a bullet fired from a gun. Snape had rushed into the infirmary and pulled back the wrong screen, the ones behind which Hermione was also getting changed.
She had her nightgown already on and had been reaching for her housecoat when Snape burst in, said housecoat was currently draped in front of her like a protective shield. Harry pushed right past Snape and soon inserted himself between the pair, Hermione's arms going around him from behind as he faced the greasy-haired git.
While Harry's sudden appearance was like waving a red rag to Snape's enraged bull, their new rings allowed Hermione to feel that Harry's anger at their potions professor was totally off the scale.
She actually received glimpses of a memory from Voldemort that must have been released with Snape's appearance, causing Hermione to tighten her grip on her betrothed. The memory was of a much younger Snape kneeling in front of Voldemort, enthusiastically telling his master of having overheard a prophecy about a child to be born who could defeat the Dark Lord. It was no surprise then that Harry was three streets past livid at the man standing in front of them.
"What the fuck are you playing at, Snape?" The venom Harry put into those words rocked Snape back on his heels for an instant, before he came right back at the boy in front of him.
"Don't you dare speak to me like that, Potter. I know you were behind these shenanigans tonight, and I'll prove it…"
Harry didn't back down an inch. Hermione was sure only her tight grip of him prevented her betrothed attacking their now even more hated potions professor. "You - you're going to prove nothing! You're so incompetent, you can't even work out what screen I'm behind - or did you deliberately burst in on my betrothed as she was getting dressed?"
It seemed all about to kick off as Snape began reaching for his wand. "Why you insolent…"
Snape never got to finish what he intended to say, nor manage drawing his wand, another wand positioned mere inches from his hooked nose stopped the enraged professor dead on both counts. The angry person holding that wand brooked no argument either, her orders would be obeyed - or else.
"Severus Snape, how dare you disturb my patients - while they're undressing too! I don't know what you think Mr Potter has done but he hasn't been out of either mine or the headmaster's sight since he recovered consciousness - after being attacked by those abominations some idiot placed around a school."
Poppy's glance shifted for an instant to the Minister of Magic, leaving no one in any doubt who she had just referred to as an idiot. Her wand though never wavered, nor did her determination to end these outsider interruptions in her infirmary. "You will leave at once, or you'll be staying the night in one of these beds - while being treated for the spell damage I'm about to inflict on you - the choice is yours to make."
Faced with the utter certainty she would carry out her threat, and that Albus had no intention of seeing Poppy's ire switch to him by interfering on his behalf, Severus was left with no option but to flounce out of the infirmary with his tail between his legs.
Only then did Hermione release Harry from the somewhat death grip she had held him in. While she appreciated his desire to attack Snape, they needed a lot of training before the outcome of that particular action would swing in their favour. Harry needed an outlet for his anger though, and impressed the hell out of Hermione by using his ire constructively.
Bowing to the healer, he surprised everyone there. "Madam Pomfrey, the houses of Potter and Black thank you for the care you have always shown me and mine. The list of adults in magical Britain I can say that about is extremely short. In truth, yours is the only name on it."
After leaving Madam Pomfrey blushing at his gratitude, Harry then turned his attention to the two remaining adults present. "Minister Fudge, earlier tonight you listened to that thing that just left - instead of us - and were about to end a man's life because of it."
While Albus tried to intercede on Severus' behalf, and deride Harry on his treatment of a professor, he was summarily ignored by the teens as they waited on the Minister's response.
"Harry, my boy, Black's guilt was established years ago…"
The Minister of Magic wasn't used to being interrupted. After the night he'd just had, Harry was way beyond caring about petty little things like social niceties.
"Nothing was established, Minister, nothing at all. Using emergency powers, the ministry of the day flung my godfather into Azkaban - without a trial - and forgot about him."
Turning his attention onto Dumbledore, Harry wanted to know his part in this farce. "Is it true Snape only escaped going to Azkaban because you vouched for him?"
Hearing that Harry had somehow become head of House Potter, and noticing the rings both he and the Granger girl were wearing, Albus was trying to figure out how he was going to deal with these developments when he was suddenly faced with the Snape question. Since the Minister of Magic was standing there, Albus felt he was left with no other option but to answer honestly. "Yes, I vouched that Severus was not a Death Eater…"
Harry interrupted again. "Well, you were wrong. Did you also know it was your precious Snape who sent his master after me - causing my parents to be murdered trying to protect their baby son? Why didn't you vouch for Sirius, or at least see he got a fair trial?"
While this certainly shocked Poppy and Cornelius, Albus reaction couldn't have been any more dramatic if he'd been kicked in the stones by a centaur. All trace of the kindly grandfather act was gone as he grabbed Harry by either shoulder and shouted at him. "Where did you hear that? I demand you tell me?"
Harry knocked both his hands away before getting right in Dumbledore's face. "Demand all you like, I don't care. Your involvement in my life is over - I'm making my own decisions from now on."
"You can't do that. You must tell me what you heard - and from who?"
Turning his back on Dumbledore, Harry faced a now shocked Cornelius Fudge. "Minister, we're in a position to help each other here. You don't want to have 'Mass Murderer Escapes Again' all over tomorrow's Prophet, and I want my godfather to get a fair trial. If Sirius is guilty of betraying my parents, and murdering all those muggles, I'll stand beside you as you pass sentence on him. 'Case being further investigated as dramatic new evidence comes to light' is a far better headline for all of us."
Standing there being ignored, inside Hogwarts too, was not something Albus was used to. It was bad enough that Harry seemed determined to slip from his control but sensing Cornelius was seriously considering Harry's suggestion lent a whole different degree of urgency to the situation. Although he hated doing things in haste, Albus felt there was no other option left open to him but to act at once. it was imperative for his plans that Albus stop this information leaving the room, and discover just who else knew about his secrets. In a matter of seconds he had obliviated Cornelius of the last few minutes, spelled him into a deep sleep while levitating his body onto one of the spare hospital beds.
Pomfrey was shocked into silence but - for Harry and Hermione - this behaviour only confirmed what Lily Potter had told them earlier, this Albus Dumbledore was certainly not their friend.
Hermione just had to comment, her almost religious deference to figures of authority had crashed and burned tonight. "So much for not being able to overrule the Minister of Magic! You really are a lying old bastard."
"Needs must, Miss Granger, and I need to know where you heard what is effectively a state secret. It's so secret, the state doesn't even know about it - and that's the way we will be keeping it. One way or another, I will know that information tonight - and you won't remember any of it." His wand flicked again and a now sleeping Poppy was soon lying on one of her own beds. Seeing nothing but defiance coming from both the teens facing him, Albus let out a sigh of disappointment.
"Very well, we shall do this the hard way. Ligilimens."
Harry and Hermione felt as if something was trying to invade what they'd so recently discovered and shared, though both already cherished. The young couple reacted instantly and in perfect synchronisation to protect that precious connection to each other, trying their hardest to push the unwelcome intruder out. Powerful blasts of magic shot from both of their left hands, hitting a totally unprepared Dumbledore. Since he was only a matter of feet away from both teens, there simply wasn't time for Albus to defend himself against their unexpected and powerful magical retaliation. The old wizard was blasted across the room and slammed into the infirmary wall, sliding down unconscious to the floor.
"Hermione, what just happened?"
"I don't know, Harry. It felt as if I had my wand in my left hand, but it's sitting on top of the bedside cabinet."
Thinking about it, Harry agreed. "I just wanted to blast him away, and that's what happened. I wonder if these rings have a magical core in them?"
"Well, considering what they do for us, I wouldn't be surprised. I thought for a moment we'd both just performed wandless magic but using our rings to focus our magic instead of our wands makes more sense. This is something we'll need to test and practice…"
"Hermione, we need to deal with this situation first."
She lifted her wand and revived Madam Pomfrey. The healer hadn't been obliviated, though Poppy certainly didn't believe her memories would have survived the night. Her anger was mighty. "We need to contact the aurors, get the old fraud charged with what he did here tonight."
Harry actually stood in front of the healer as she was heading for the fireplace to floo for help.
"Madam Pomfrey, Dumbledore will spin some story and none of us will be believed - just like earlier tonight. The Minister has already been obliviated and won't remember what we spoke about."
"We can't let him get away with this. Watching how familiar the old goat was with the process, and how quick he was to implement it, you can bet this wasn't the first time he's done something like this."
"I'm suggesting we play him at his own game. Obliviate the knowledge of tonight from Dumbledore and dump him in his own bed. He'll wake up in the morning and not know anything - let's see how he likes it. Obliviate the knowledge that Hermione and I are betrothed from him, give us time to hide our rings."
This answered something that had bothered Hermione. "I wondered why you had mentioned that, after deciding we were going to keep it quiet. The only problem is that Snape knows…'
"We say he must have been the victim of a Confundus Charm?"
Hermione loved the irony of that, she just didn't relish being in the man's class again. There was no way Snape wouldn't seek retribution, he was simply too petty to let the matter go. Madam Pomfrey quickly solved their problem.
"There's only a week of term left. Any time you have potions I want you here instead - so I can check if there has been any lasting damage over tonight's events…"
A loud snore cut through what the healer was saying, and also chopped to little pieces the tension that had been building in the room. Harry actually laughed at Ron's ability to sleep through anything.
After healing the large bump on the back of Dumbledore's head, Poppy cast the oblivate charm on him while Harry called for Dobby to put the headmaster into his own bed. The little elf swore it would be easy to change the headmaster into his own nightclothes too. That should really have the old bugger wondering what had happened when he woke in the morning.
Harry and Hermione kissed goodnight, retreating to their own beds before Madam Pomfrey woke the Minister. She berated him, as only a healer can, about working too hard. Cornelius left Hogwarts, thinking he'd taken a 'funny turn' from overworking. He would really need to start delegating more.
-oOoOo-
Harry thought he was having the most vivid dream ever, until he felt a familiar presence beside him. "Harry, what are you doing? Why are you watching this? I really don't want to be reminded of this day again."
The candles on the cake told Harry this was Hermione's sixth birthday and an excited little girl was almost bouncing off the walls at what would be her first ever party. That excitement slowly drained away, being replaced by despair, as the hands on the clock slowly travelled well past the appointed time - and still none of the children she'd invited had turned up. Harry was enraged as her parents casually started packing all the food away, so it wouldn't waste, while Hermione was in floods of silent tears as she removed her party dress and curled up in her bed. Her mother at least checked on her later, though Hermione was pretending to be asleep.
Harry tried to comfort Hermione over the incident, which was extremely hard to do since neither of them were physically here - wherever here was. It was at least more than her parents had done at the time. Hermione though had other things on her mind.
"I know your mum was rushed tonight when trying to give us the information she thought we needed but this was a hell of a big thing to leave out. We're sharing thoughts and now memories, can cast with our rings - I suppose my main worry is what else didn't she have time to tell us."
"Whatever it is, we'll face it together. As strange as it might seem, this is still the best night of my life. Oh shit! Not this - please not this..."
The scene in front of them had now changed. It was still a sixth birthday party though this cake was at least twice the size of the one little Hermione had. She could feel the anxiety pouring off Harry's presence as he watched his younger self scurry about helping to make sure everything was perfect for the invited guests arriving.
"Mum, the freak will spoil everything…"
"What! Don't be silly Diddums - he won't be here when all your friends arrive. You hear that Freak? Get to your room, and don't make a sound. I'll let you out later and you can clean up the mess from the party."
Hermione only thought she was angry as the skinny little boy walked away without arguing. When he opened the cupboard door and climbed in, her confusion soon turned to utter rage as Harry spent the next few hours sitting in his 'room' - peeking out through the door vent at all the children their age enjoying themselves.
She had thought her birthday experience was bad but Harry's was much harder to take - and then it got even worse. She could actually feel the small boy's hunger as he silently sat there watching the other children stuff their faces. When the party was over and everyone had left, Harry was let out to clean up from the party he had so cruelly been excluded from.
When the starving child understandably snuck a few morsels of leftovers into his mouth, while he tidied up, the resulting slap from his Aunt was a total shock to the watching Hermione. The harridan then stood over Harry and ensured all the leftovers were scraped into the waste bin, smirking in satisfaction as she did so. After Harry had done all the washing up, he was sent back to his cupboard with something that Hermione supposed technicality qualified as a sandwich. Two skinny pieces of bread and a little clump of wilted salad certainly wouldn't stave off the boy's hunger. After eating every crumb of this meagre meal, the younger Harry warily moved some of the contents of the cupboard to reveal a pitiful stash of food.
Her Harry spoke his first words since the memory began playing. "Dudley and Uncle Vernon were always helping themselves to food when Aunt Petunia wasn't looking. That was the second birthday cake she had to buy, they ate the other one the day before. I was able to snag a piece of it while Aunt Petunia was moaning at them about having to go shopping again. She wasn't really angry though, not like she would get at me. She never hit Dudley, and certainly never with her frying pan."
The scene switched from Hermione being bullied at school to her dad sitting down with her that night and discussing the matter with her. While Harry never even had that, it was the lack of affection coming from the parent that shocked him most. He knew his Hermione liked her hugs, yet it would seem hugs were a commodity that were severely lacking at home. It was almost as if her father was dealing with an upset young patient in his dentist chair - rather than his own daughter.
Hermione had already sussed they seemed far more accepting about what happened to their younger selves, while becoming enraged at the treatment of their betrothed. She spoke up in defence of her parents.
"Harry, my mum and dad aren't very demonstrative people. As I got older I wondered how I was even born, since they never seem to kiss or hug - they sleep in separate beds too. When you are younger, you just accept these things as normal. It's only as you grow up and look around you…"
She stopped as the scene they were now witnessing was 'Harry hunting', and Hermione knew for certain where Harry's mother's rage had come from. Hermione was also ready to take on all comers to ensure Harry never returned to those people again.
Harry was very interested in McGonagall's talk with the Grangers, explaining that magic was real and what Hermione could expect from Hogwarts. Compared to his own induction - 'yer a wizard, Harry' - Hagrid had apparently left out rather a lot.
Hermione thought so too - including vital information like how to get on the bloody platform. Watching with fresh eyes and a different perspective, the entire 'meet the Weasleys' incident seemed very contrived. Neither suspected Ron of any wrongdoing, he was a terrible liar and up there with Hagrid in the secret keeping department. Both though could easily imagine Dumbledore manipulating Molly so Harry would meet a family the old wizard approved of.
Seeing the troll incident from Hermione's perspective was a real eye-opener for Harry. All he could remember was hanging on for dear life.
"I'm sorry I never stuck up for you after what Ron said."
"You came to that bathroom and rescued me, that's the most important thing. We both know Ron has a temper - I hate to think what he'll say after finding out we're together…"
Watching their friend sacrifice himself at the giant chess set halted any further talk - until first year Hermione hugged her counterpart in the potions puzzle room. "I almost said the word 'love' you know. In such a short space of time, you had become the most important person in my life. I just didn't know how to deal with that… Or an eleven year old you."
There was a loud 'Eewwwee' noise from Hermione as Quirrell unwound his turban to reveal the guest who was living there. Harry certainly didn't want to watch this again and tried to ease the building tension.
"It smelled disgusting too!"
As Harry defeated the possessed professor, Hermione couldn't help herself. "I have never wanted to hug anyone so bad in my entire life. I just wish I could hug you right now."
Dumbledore telling Harry he was too young to know the answer to his question sealed it for him too. "So do I, Hermione. We'll just have to make up for it when we wake."
Hermione exploded at the next memory, her shouts and curses would turn the air blue - and have the Dursleys scurrying for cover. As a ration of food was passed through the newly installed cat flap, and Harry shared it with Hedwig, Hermione was then reduced to tears at their suffering. "Dumbledore keeps sending you back to this? Never again, Harry, never again." Those tears turned to cheers as Ron, Fred and George turned up in their father's flying car to rescue their friend. Ron's embarrassment when showing Harry into his home was clear to see, as was Harry's utter delight to be staying there.
Hermione's view of him playing quidditch was a revelation for Harry, especially when Dobby enchanted one of the bludgers to do him harm. She was terrified, there was no other word for it. After the school discovered Harry was a parselmouth, Hermione's unwavering support was appreciated once again.
Seeing herself lying in bed petrified was a strange experience, though not all bad as Harry sat beside her stiff self and held her hand. Watching as that fraud Lockhart tried to obliviate both Harry and Ron had Hermione thinking poetic justice had been served. She couldn't help but scream at her first sight of the basilisk though, nor could she drag her eyes away from the bravest thing Hermione had ever seen.
It looked like one of those old movies where cavemen fought against dinosaurs, only this was very real. Even after killing the beast with a sword and sitting there dying, Harry still wouldn't admit defeat. Stabbing that diary with the fang he'd pulled out his own arm left Hermione staring in awe at the boy she loved. She got to see their hug in the great hall from Harry's perspective before another Dursley - Marge - was added to her growing shit list. Watching as Harry blew her up had Hermione giggling…
She woke with a large smile on her face, lying with her arms wrapped around Harry certainly helped keep it there.
"I'm so glad we both woke before I got to see what an arse I made of myself over a broomstick…"
"We're where we are now Harry. That's in the past, and so is you staying at Privet Drive."
"I don't think I would be welcomed at your house, your parents barely acknowledge you…"
"I accepted the way they are years ago, and doubt they'll change now. Are we going to be okay about this?"
"I don't know if it's these rings amplifying my feelings but anyone wanting to harm you is going to find an angry Harry Potter waiting on them…"
A kiss from Hermione was broken up as Madam Pomfrey moved the privacy curtains from around what they were sure was the bed Harry had gone to sleep in.
"Oh, you are both finally awake. That was a form of enchanted sleep that you both fell into, certainly a sleep that I've never seen the likes of before. Your vital signs synchronised, and Miss Granger somehow ended up in your bed - no matter how many times I moved her back to her own. You just kept vanishing and reappearing in Mister Potter's arms."
"I thought you couldn't apparate inside Hogwarts, and I can't apparate anyway."
"I don't know what it was, but I ruled out apparition very quickly. It's not something you can do in your sleep, for obvious reasons, and you were both in a very deep slumber. How are you feeling?"
Harry was about to give his stock answer of 'fine' when he realised something. "Madam Pomfrey, I don't think I've ever felt better. The first thing I do every morning in life is reach for my glasses, yet I can see both of you fine without them."
"Harry, your scar is so much fainter too. Like Harry, I also feel great this morning…"
Madam Pomfrey had her wand out, ready to run some diagnostics. She had a grin on her face though as she answered Hermione. "That might have something to do with where you woke up. Both of you were in far too deep a sleep for anything inappropriate to happen so, after moving Miss Granger for the third time and being thwarted again, I just let you be. I also left the screens around your empty bed and have yet to hear from anyone about last night. Your friend has already left for breakfast, you slept right through it. After looking at these results, we should be able to have both of you out of here in time for lunch."
Hermione skipped back to her own bed to get changed, while Harry did the same after both she and Madam Pomfrey noticed his clothes had been cleaned and pressed, the reason for that silently popped beside Harry. Dobby though was pulling his ears in worry.
"Did Dobby do wrong? Dobby could see Harry Potter needs his mate beside him, so Dobby moved her over."
Harry settled all the elf's worries with a wide smile. "You did great, Dobby. Thank you so much for looking after us. This is going to take some getting used to, having people who look out for me. I suppose this is what having family is like, and you are now an important part of that family, Dobby."
The little elf went from anxiety to ecstasy in a matter of moments, only Hermione asking through the privacy screens if Harry was ready yet that saw Dobby relinquish his hold on his new master. Dobby watched through a gap between the screens as Harry and Hermione cast charms on their rings, Harry's glasses had their lenses transfigured to clear glass too, before the couple left the infirmary hand in hand.
-oOoOo-
'Just one more week to go' This was Luna's mantra that she kept repeating to herself. One more week and she could go home, leaving the bullying behind again until September. That mantra certainly gave her something to look forward to but did nothing to relieve the pain of having to wear odd shoes - and both of them being for her left foot.
Her tormentors obviously knew there was only one week left of term too, and seemed determined to get as many 'pranks' in before their time ran out. Her heart sank when she heard a girl's voice behind her, experience from her two years in Hogwarts had taught Luna things like this did not end well. She then found herself confronted by the last two people she expected to see.
After Hermione pointed out the young girl in the corridor, Harry wasted no time in approaching the little blonde.
"Hello Luna. I'm Harry Potter, and this is my girlfriend - Hermione Granger."
Waiting on the hammer to drop, Luna said nothing - just stared at the last two people she would have expected to join in with her tormentors.
Sensing something was wrong here, Harry tried his best to put the rather oddly dressed young girl at ease. "I don't know what you've heard about me - there are all these strange stories going around - but I'm not a bad guy. I just found out you are my godsister and wanted to introduce myself. Listen Luna, if you need anything - anything at all - you come see me."
Luna was almost in tears at the first bit of kindness she'd received since entering Hogwarts. Harry looked ready to walk away and give Luna her space but Hermione wasn't having that. Something was badly wrong here and she wanted to get to the bottom of it.
"Luna, why are you wearing two left shoes?"
Luna's answer was barely above a whisper. "I can only wear what's left in my trunk. Things keep going missing. I hope they turn up before I go home - they did last year…"
The young blonde then got to see another side of Harry, though Hermione's arm slipping around her shoulders reassured Luna that his anger wasn't directed at her.
Having so recently witnessed Hermione's memories of her younger self being bullied may have affected Harry's response to hearing that, but he wasn't sure. He would like to think the fear and vulnerability displayed in Luna's oh so expressive eyes would have gotten a similar reaction out of anyone. Both he and Hermione hated bullies, and were no longer prepared to stand back and let it happen if they could possibly help. "People are taking your stuff? What are the prefects doing about it? Surely Flitwick is dealing with them?"
Hermione was trying to comfort Luna and keep Harry calm at the same time. "Harry, what has McGonagall ever done for us? You don't see our prefects stoping Fred and George pulling pranks, they just don't want to be pranked themselves."
Nodding in agreement, Harry reached a decision. "Dobby." The little elf was there in an instant, and Harry knew exactly what he wanted to do. "Dobby, this is Luna Lovegood. She is my godsister, and a member of our family. People have been taking her things, leaving her standing here in two odd shoes. Could you find Luna's stuff for her?"
Dobby stared at the girl, studying Luna intently before nodding and popping away. Luna was about to protest that Harry didn't have to do this when Dobby popped back with a right shoe for her. The relief at having the proper footwear, and being able to remove the painful shoe that was never meant to be worn on that foot, saw Luna hug Dobby - and make a friend for life.
"We were just about to head down to lunch, would you like to join us?"
Hermione's offer had Luna's jaw hanging open, though Harry misread her reaction as reluctance. "I'll understand if you don't, things tend to be a bit crazy around us."
That was too much for Luna, bullying she was learning to handle but kindness started the tears. Hermione was advising Harry to hug the young girl, something he was happy to do. Their communication over the bond the rings gave them was improving all the time, and both were having to hide their anger at what the bullies had done to this vulnerable young girl. Hermione took Luna from Harry and hugged her too.
"I always want a sister, as Harry's godsister you're the closest I can manage - if that's okay with you?"
Luna's wide smile answered that question. Luna was smiling a whole week earlier than she thought she would be as the three of them made their way to the great hall for lunch. Hermione once more was holding Harry's hand at the little blonde chatted away at great speed, probably because Luna hadn't had anyone else to talk to all year.
"I remember my mum telling me about my godmother, and how she died just after I was born. She used to talk about her friends Lily and Alice, I never put it together that my godmother was actually Lily Potter. I suppose she wold have told me in time, we just never got the time. Daddy says the Blibbering Humdingers took mummy away but I was there, I know what happened. I think daddy does too, it's just easier for him to say that. He started to say a lot of stuff that doesn't make sense after mummy went away…"
Hating to ask but needing to know, Hermione took Luna's hand as she made her enquiry. "What age were you when your mummy left?"
Luna was back to answering in a whisper. "I was seven. The photo of my mother I brought to Hogwarts back in September went missing too…"
Harry's anger didn't explode all over the corridor for one simple reason, he felt a photo frame being pressed into the hand Hermione wasn't holding. A whispered 'Dobby, you're the best' was followed by him handing the picture to a delighted Luna.
She hugged the picture to her chest and squeezed Hermione's hand in thanks. "We've just met and already this is my best day in years. Thank you both so much - and you too Dobby."
Squeezing her hand right back, a smiling Hermione was struggling to hold in the tears as she thought about some of the 'Loony Lovegood' stories she had heard. She then heard Harry in her head, saying that his dad's comments about Luna and Neville now made perfect sense. Hermione wholeheartedly agreed, leading to her making their offer to the girl. "We're not going anywhere, Luna, at least not without taking you with us. That is, if you wanted to come too?"
Luna was at heart a trusting soul, that her tormentors had used that trait against her probably hurt the most. If she couldn't trust these two though, and they were currently playing the cruelest of pranks on her, then Luna didn't know what she would do. She simply had to trust them. Holding her precious picture close to her chest, Luna managed a fair impression of Dobby as her head nodded madly - just so there could be no misunderstanding - that she would be willing to go anywhere with the first people to show her genuine kindness after spending two years in this castle - she was hardly likely to miss Hogwarts.
"You may have noticed Hogwarts hasn't been the safest place for Hermione and me to go to school, but at the moment we're only looking at what our alternatives could be. We're also keeping that quiet, Luna."
"Harry, you may not have noticed but nobody speaks to me - and they wouldn't believe anything I said anyway. I'm just happy to know you would even think of taking me with you if you do leave. There's nothing about Hogwarts I would miss. You are the only friends I've made in two years."
Clutching her precious photograph in one hand, the other was still being held by Hermione, Luna was smiling as they entered the great hall for lunch. The shit-storm they walked into may have put a dent in her smile but not her determination to stick with her new friends. Given any sort of choice, Luna would take their offered friendship over the dreadful loneliness that her life had become. What was listening to an enraged professor scream at them when compared to the awful alternative - nothing she couldn't handle.