Chapter 4
The girl sat on a tree stump, armed with her sketchbook, in the middle of an idyllic Devonshire countryside setting. Between the babbling brook, beautiful bird song and the abundance, not to mention diversity, of wild flowers, the meadow was a feast for all the senses. The boy silently watching the scene before him though was only interested in the girl, how peaceful and 'right' she appeared in this setting. He was disturbed from his musings by the girl speaking to him. That he was currently invisible while Luna had her back to him made this action all the stranger.
"Are you here to say goodbye Harry, or are you just going to stand there and watch me all day?"
Harry made himself visible before answering his friend. "I could quite easily stand here all day and just watch you sketch Luna, that would be anything but a hardship. I definitely have no intention of saying goodbye. I don't have enough good friends that I can afford to say goodbye to them. You, Luna Lovegood, are certainly a good friend. I may be leaving Hogwarts and magic behind, my friends are more important than that. It might be hard to keep in touch for a while but I hope I'm worth the effort, I know you are."
Luna had now turned to face him, a lovely smile lighting up her face. "I'm glad to hear you say that Harry, very glad. I don't have many friends and can't afford to lose any of them. I seem to have gained one though, you wouldn't know why Cho Chang wrote to me? She apologised for her past behaviour and hoped we could be friends when I go back to Hogwarts."
Harry was pleased his idea had worked. "I wrote to her and apologised for our disaster of a date. I left her on Valentine's Day so I could meet with you and Hermione, I can't even remember if I told her Rita Skeeter was going to be there. No wonder she was pissed at us. I just wanted Cho to understand that you are one of my best friends and in no way responsible for what happened that day."
"Well I think she took it to heart so thank you. Cho did ask me a question though, what did you do to Snape and Dumbledore? Apparently the whole castle heard Snape scream your name in anger. Next time they were seen, Dumbledore had cut his hair while Snape had washed his."
Harry let out a loud whoop before grabbing Luna off her feet and dancing about the meadow in pure jubilation. "Both of them, I got both of them? Oh, that has so made my day, thank you Luna."
Luna found herself in Harry's arms, being twirled around in celebration with both feet off the ground. Not that she was complaining, Hermione was a lucky girl. Well, she was going to be soon.
"I'm glad you're happy Harry, perhaps you could tell me why?"
Harry was now embarrassed. "Well, have you ever had one of those urges that you knew was wrong but just couldn't resist?"
Luna was in Harry's arms, staring into his eyes from a distance of a few inches. By way of an answer, she closed the gap and kissed him. "Like that you mean? I'll tell myself that you're not Hermione's boyfriend yet, but I know it was still wrong."
Harry smiled at probably the only girl who could get away with that move on him. There was no malice or ulterior motive behind the kiss, she just wanted to kiss him and did it. "I would say exactly like that Luna. Even though I knew what I did was wrong, I still enjoyed it very much."
Harry then got to witness a new phenomenon, Luna was still smiling but now blushing like a Weasley. "Do you know what a pensieve is Luna?" Her nod allowed Harry to continue. "When I wrecked Dumbledore's office, I found his."
There then followed a lengthy pause, only being broken when Luna urged him to continue. "I had a pee in Dumbledore's pensieve!"
Harry still had his arms around Luna and it was probably just as well, she would have ended up on the grass as the laughter burst out of her. She was clinging to him as the laughter rolled off her. Just when he thought it might be under control, she would look at him and burst out laughing again. It took a while before both of them ended up sitting side by side in the spot where Harry had found her, her sketchpad lying on the grass.
Luna rested her head on Harry's shoulder, this was nice. Luna had a crush on Harry ever since she first met him, it soon became obvious though that those feelings weren't returned. Luna had the consolation of knowing that it was not because of her. Harry definitely liked her, might even love her, just not like that. Hermione was the one who owned his heart. Luna was ok with that, her friends deserved to be happy. At least she could say her first kiss was with Harry Potter, that meant a lot to her. That Harry appeared to understand her feelings helped enormously, it could have been very awkward if Harry had reacted differently. She'd taken a liberty and Harry had allowed it, as a friend. Luna liked the kiss, and sitting here now with him close, she would have to start looking for a boyfriend of her own. It was time to face why Harry was here.
"Harry, I understand what you said earlier but I'm worried. How can we stay friends if we don't see each other?"
Harry was also enjoying sitting here with Luna, her head on his shoulder and his arm around her. It was so peaceful, he almost didn't want to answer and break the spell. "I won't lie to you Luna and say it will be easy but, if it's something we both want, I think we'll manage. I have quite a lot going on at the moment and it will be later on in the summer before I know for definite what I'll be doing."
"Until you speak to Hermione?"
Harry didn't blush and answered his friend truthfully. "Yes Luna, that will play a big part. Can I ask you to contact Hermione and tell her that we spoke? I want to have all my ideas and options lined up before I speak to her, that's still a few weeks away."
"Is there anything specific you'd like me to tell her for you?"
Harry looked at his friend and remembered how she'd stood by him, fighting at his side. He knew more about Luna than she thought, it was again time to use his knowledge to help those he cared about. "If I know Hermione, she'll be worrying herself sick over me and won't stop until she can see I'm ok for herself. Tell her I'm not hiding away, grieving over Sirius. I'm trying to organise my life so I can live it in such a way as to make him proud of me. The people we love never truly leave us Luna, they watch over us and someday we'll get to see them again."
Luna was now gazing at her friend in wonder as he continued, she so hoped that Harry was right.
"Our mothers are watching over us Luna and are very happy with what they see. Please tell your dad that Sweden is a bust. Fair Isle, between Orkney and Shetland, is probably your best bet. Go with red onions to entice them out from their lairs, garlic is a tad on the strong side."
Luna's eyes were almost the size of Dobby's as she asked the question she really wanted the answer to. "Harry, did you cross over?"
"Only for an instant Luna, but what an instant. I was thinking of staying but my parents and godfather didn't want me there for at least another hundred years or so. My mum gave her life that I could live, neither of my parents regretted that decision. You sat with your mum as she died and it's tormented you ever since, blaming yourself for not helping her. Your mum was beyond help Luna but she got to spend her last moments having her hand held by the most precious thing in the world to her. You could do no more and it was more than enough."
Large tears were silently running down Luna's cheeks as the scene that had tortured her since that fateful day played over in her mind. Knowing that her mother didn't hold her to any blame lifted such a weight of her young shoulders. It was like being reborn.
"Luna, I plan on telling only one other person what happened to me. You needed to know so I could pass the message on from your mother. She wants her little girl to start living her life to the full."
Luna could barely speak and it took three attempts but Harry managed to figure it out. "You met my mum?"
"Maia is so like her daughter, very caring and very beautiful. She doesn't want you fretting for the rest of your life over something that was an unfortunate accident."
Luna held him tight for a moment before speaking. "Thank you Harry, you have no idea what this means to me."
He kissed her gently on the forehead, "Luna, I got to meet my mum and dad, I know exactly what this means to you. "Harry was thoughtful for a moment before continuing. "I think I might soon be the one getting labelled with the 'loony' tag when people discover I really am leaving magic behind. Please don't waste your time or energy trying to defend me. One thing magical Britain has taught me is that witches and wizards will believe whatever they want, regardless of what we say. I just hope that when that time comes, I don't need to be defended from anyone named Weasley. There's no way Ron will understand my decision, I can only hope he'll accept it."
"I think you may be right Harry, he does usually come around in the end. It might take Ginny and the twins hexing him for days but I'm sure he'll get there eventually."
Harry took out a small box and handed it to Luna. "This is a little present to remind you of our friendship."
Luna opened the box and stared at the gold chain and charm inside.
"It's a St Christopher Luna, the patron saint of travellers. It's to bring you luck and keep you safe." Harry didn't tell her there was enough magic infused into the necklace to offer protection from just about anything short of an unforgivable. He watched her place it around her neck and instantly felt better. Luna was now a target purely because she was a friend of his, at least he'd done something to protect her.
"Thank you Harry, it's beautiful and I'll never take it off. Can I offer you something in return?"
"Luna, there's no need..."
"It's just some advice Harry. Everyone around you and Hermione can see the situation for what it is but she's over-thinking it. Hermione needs to hear the words Harry, only then will she start to believe it's true."
This rocked Harry back on his heels for a moment before replying. "Thanks Luna, I thought I'd made my feelings quite clear in the limited time we had, I can see now that you're right. Hermione will be over-analysing everything, probably thinks she's not good enough for the 'chosen one'. She'd never believe quite the opposite is true. I didn't want to do this by letter but it's the only option I've got right now. When I see her next, I don't want it to be just for a stolen hour and then have to leave. I really miss her so much. Hermione will have far too many questions for that to work anyway."
"I'll take the knight bus over tomorrow and visit with her. I think I would be taking my life in my hands though if I told her I spent the afternoon with your arm around me."
This got Harry chucking, he never moved his arm though. He and Luna sat there and chatted for a while. It occurred to Harry that he was probably the first person in the world that Luna had told her hopes and dreams to. This made him feel very special. He felt as if he was witnessing his friend crawl from her cocoon and spread her wings as a beautiful butterfly was born. There is no way Harry would be giving up his friendship with Luna Lovegood.
-oOoOo-
The mood inside Hogwarts couldn't stay sombre for long. Harry Potter may be leaving but it was still the last week of term, exams were over and the summer holidays beckoned. The sudden hysterical laughter emanating from, of all places, the Ravenclaw table was still strange enough to stop conversation and have everyone looking around for the source.
From his raised position at the staff table, Severus Snape had already spotted the culprit. "Miss Chang, braying like a constipated donkey is not behaviour becoming of a young witch. Certainly not one who is a Hogwarts prefect! Clearly your association with Potter has had a detrimental effect on you."
As Severus expected, this silenced the hall. That was until the girl looked directly at him. If anything, her laughter intensified as she handed the letter she was reading to her friends. Soon they were in the same condition as Miss Chang. Severus turned to their head of house. "Professor Flitwick, Since I can no longer assign detentions to your house, and you undermined my authority the last time I removed points from the girl, can I assume you will deal with this matter?"
Filius made his way toward the Ravenclaw table, having no trouble following the progress of the offending letter. Those who had read it were all laughing like hyenas breathing nothing but nitrous oxide, the anticipation of those next in line was also unmistakable. Filius removed the note from a now hysterical Padma Patil.
The first thing that surprised him was that the note was from Miss Lovegood to Miss Chang. She was accepting the offer of friendship but was also offering some news she'd gotten from her recent meeting with Harry Potter. It was easy to see what part of the note had caused the commotion, Filius had to read it three times to confirm what his eyes were actually seeing.
It took every ounce of his self-control not to just collapse into laughter there and then, this was too good to be wasted like that. Filius never saw Padma heading toward the Gryffindor table to inform her sister of what the note said, he never even noticed he'd handed the note to Miss Bones of Hufflepuff by mistake. He was too busy wondering how to use this, oh Minerva would so be getting an owl from him today.
Word of mouth was faster than reading a letter, as such the news was spreading through the hall like a brush fire.
Filius sat down at the staff table and began to eat his breakfast slowly, he didn't want to choke when the laughter became impossible to hold back.
Severus could wait no longer as half the hall was now in stitches of laughter. "Well?"
"Oh sorry Severus, was there something you wanted?"
"I would like to know why this school is descending into chaos and you did nothing about it?"
"Oh that! It was just a note from Miss Lovegood to Miss Chang. She mentioned spending yesterday afternoon with Mr Potter."
This had everyone at the staff table hanging on his every word, time for Filius to deliver the blow. "Mr Potter just happened to tell her the reason you were so pissed off the other night, or should that be pissed on? Gives new meaning to the old axiom 'it's a wise man who doesn't eat yellow snow'. Give it a day or so and I'll bet there's a new one about golden memories. It would appear your rather jaundiced view of Mr Potter was returned to you tenfold."
Poppy had to explain what had happened to Hagrid and the gentle giant then gave new meaning to the phrase 'word of mouth'. The entire hall heard him.
"Peed in his pensieve? No wonder Snape washed his hair!"
The only people in the hall who were not laughing at Dumbledore and Snape were those who didn't know what a pensieve was, they would soon have this explained to them.
Snape stormed out the hall, even those blasted Weasley twins hadn't managed to turn him into a laughing stock.
Albus though was deep in thought, he'd have to increase the watchers around Weasley and Granger. Harry must be found, and soon.
-oOoOo-
Neville was working happily in his greenhouse when the voice saying his name startled him into action. He swung around and went into a crouch, his wand already in his hand, before recognition of the voice caught up with him.
"Wow Nev, new wand and a quick-release wrist holder? I'm guessing your gran liked the peace offering." Harry appeared from under his cloak.
"Harry! You just about scared the shit out of me." His new wand disappeared back up his sleeve as he then grabbed his friend in a one-armed hug. "Gran not only forgave me, she's taking the golden wand with her to St Mungo's so my mum and dad can see it." Neville tried to hide his embarrassment. "Gran refuses to give up on them, no matter what the healers' say."
This was the opening Harry was looking for, and he didn't even have to engineer it. "Neville, as you know, I can now heal people. I would like to try with your mum and dad but would hate to get your gran's hopes up in case it doesn't work."
Neville just stood there speechless, Harry understood exactly what he was offering his friend. The chance to actually talk to his parents was a treasure beyond measure. He casually waved his hand over Neville to transfigure his gardening clothes into something more appropriate for visiting a hospital. Harry then started to put his father's cloak back on.
"It's probably better if no one sees me."
This snapped Neville out of his stupor as the situation crashed home. He indicated his transfigured robes. "Harry, should I be insulted these don't say Potter on the back?"
This earned a chuckle from Harry before he was serious once more. "Nev, I can't make any promises here, other than to do my best."
"I can't ask for any more than that Harry. I would like to ask if this healing talent has anything to do with that arch thing in the ministry that killed your godfather?"
Harry was now worried, if Neville could figure this out then Dumbledore surly would. "Why do you ask Nev?"
"I'm pretty sure only Professor Lupin and me saw you run through that thing after your godfather. By the time he screamed 'stop' and everyone had turned around, you were racing after Lestrange. The look of terror on his face as you went through that arch told me that was not a good thing to do, he obviously didn't expect you to come out the other side. He also doesn't know you like the rest of us, Harry Potter doing the impossible is becoming commonplace." Neville could tell this was something his friend wasn't comfortable with, nor did he want anyone else to know. "Don't worry Harry, I won't say a word"
"Thanks Nev, Luna knows some of it and I plan on telling Hermione everything. I just don't know how our favourite redheads are going to take me leaving. Don't worry, I have no intentions of leaving my friends."
"Harry, I think I've proven that I'll follow you anywhere. If you can pull off another miracle today, I'll even put Potter on my back!"
Harry could only smile at his friend, "If Hermione gives me a knock-back I'll keep that in mind. I have to say though, Luna is ahead of you in the queue."
Neville theatrically wiped his brow in simulated relief, "Phew, no worries then!"
"There is one favour you could do for me though…"
Neville was always going to say yes. After hearing what Harry wanted, he couldn't wait.
Harry covered himself with his cloak and it was mere seconds later that Neville also disappeared from sight.
-oOoOo-
"Hermione! There's someone here to see you."
Her dad's shout had Hermione crashing down the stairs in record time, only to discover it wasn't Harry.
Luna couldn't miss the disappointment written all over her friend's face, it was time for Hermione to realise she was dealing with a different Luna now. The little blond marched straight up to her, took the brunette's head in her hands and kissed Hermione full on the lips. Hermione was totally shocked and ready to scream at Luna until her blond friend spoke. "That's from Harry!"
The change in Hermione was instantaneous. As far as she was concerned, Luna had just uttered the magic word. "Harry? You've seen him? Tell me when, tell me everything, now!"
Dan just stood there, he might be forgotten but he was every bit as shocked as his daughter at Luna's actions. The name Harry though had an entirely different effect on him. "Harry? Yes please tell us Luna how this boy can find time to visit you, yet my daughter is left moping about the house. Left with nothing more than a short note and a bloody flower."
"Oh, did you get flowers too Hermione? He sent some to Parvati and Cho, to apologise for being such a lousy date. Did you know when you asked Harry to meet us that Valentine's Day, he was actually on a date with Cho?"
Hermione's blushes were saved by her father's temper. "Parvati? Cho? Just how many girls is this Harry fellow stringing along? I suppose he brought you flowers too?"
"Oh no Mr Granger…"
"Well at least that's something!"
Luna continued with what she'd been saying before Dan interrupted. "Harry gave me this beautiful necklace. He also took flowers to Professor McGonagall in hospital, I don't think that counts though since he never took her on a date."
Hermione had caught the glint in Luna's eye. "Luna, please don't tease my father any more. He doesn't know you like I do." This was said more for her father's benefit as Hermione was quickly coming to realise she didn't know Luna Lovegood at all.
Her mother arrived to see what all the commotion was about, distracting her father long enough for Hermione to grab hold of Luna and drag her up the stairs to her room. When she had the door safely shut behind them, Hermione wanted answers.
"Luna, what the hell was that all about? Please don't play coy with me, you knew exactly what you were doing down there. I'm already getting more than enough grief without you adding to it. The house is being watched and dad wants to drag me off to France next week on holiday. I don't want to go in case I miss Harry and my dad is not happy at that."
"Is that what the problem is? I could feel the tension the second I entered your house. Don't worry Hermione, Harry will find you wherever you are, even if that's France."
Hermione sat on the bed beside Luna. "How come he could speak to you Luna and not me? And what the hell was that kissing business downstairs? In front of my father too!"
"Harry told me only what I needed to know. He intends to tell only one person everything and she's sitting right beside me. About the kissing thing? I kinda took advantage of Harry and was feeling really guilty about it. When I saw how disappointed you were that I wasn't Harry, passing the kiss on just seemed like the right thing to do."
"I'm sorry Luna, I really am pleased to see you but I'm desperate to see Harry. Do I want to know why you were kissing him?"
Luna pretended not to hear that last bit. "He asked me to tell you that he's fine and not to worry about him. He really looked better than fine to me, and promised to get in touch the moment he can tell you the full story. I got the impression that he has quite a lot going on at the moment though he appeared to have things under control."
"Harry's always saying he's fine, that doesn't mean that he is. Sirius being killed must have really affected him."
Luna had to smile at how well these two knew each other. "Hermione, Harry told me that our loved ones never really leave us. He really was fine and appeared more worried about you, I was asked to come over and convince you that he actually is ok." She tried to lighten the mood. "Harry also understands what not knowing everything must be doing to you."
It was now Hermione's turn to ignore the last remark. "I'll believe Harry's fine only when I see it for myself. Tell me everything he said Luna, word for word."
Luna figured the stuff about her mother was private but had no problems telling Hermione everything else. She half expected her friend to grab some parchment and start taking notes.
When Emma appeared an hour later, using tea and biscuits as her passport for entry into Hermione's room, Luna found herself telling the story all over again. This was her second afternoon spent chatting to friends and she was really beginning to enjoy it.
-oOoOo-
Augusta Longbottom was a witch on a mission, this was what happened when she cut her grandson some slack. He goes missing and then she gets an urgent summons to St Mungo's. Augusta was so busy fretting about Neville, she didn't realise her feet had taken her along the often trodden route to the room that held her son and daughter-in-law. She was surprised to see her grandson standing outside their door. He'd clearly been crying but wore a smile that illuminated the entire corridor. She intended to get to the bottom of this immediately.
"Neville!"
She never got to say anymore as he ran toward Augusta and swept her up in a bear hug. The prim and prudish grandmother found herself up in the air and being twirled around by her still crying grandson. Augusta had to use both hands to ensure she didn't lose her hat. "Neville, put me down this instant! What's the matter with you?"
Neville carefully put her down but that beaming smile was still there. "Nothing's the matter gran, everything in the world is just bloody wonderful!"
Augusta was beginning to think this was a delayed reaction to Neville fighting death eaters at the ministry, she'd always known he was too delicate and sensitive for that kind of thing. She allowed him to lead her into the unusually busy room, just about every healer in the hospital appeared to be there.
The Longbottom matriarch was about to start demanding answers when a voice Augusta never thought she would ever here again spoke to her. It was only two words and it was very faint but Augusta Longbottom thought it was easily the sweetest sound she'd ever heard.
"Hello mum!"
-oOoOo-
Dinner that evening in the Granger household was once more strained. Luna had returned home and now her dad was looking for answers, Hermione didn't have any answers to give him. The fruit salad was interrupted by a large bouquet of red and white roses arriving beside Hermione, there was also another note.
Dan was determined not to be impressed. "Flowers again? Perhaps he has shares in a florist's, he appears to hand them out willy-nilly."
Hermione was not going to sit there and let her father away with that. "Perhaps it's because Harry knows both my parents are dentists and would frown on him sending me chocolates. He doesn't know that my father actually frowns on everything. Anyway, they're for me and I happen to think they're beautiful!"
Dan reacted as if he'd been hit, that might have had something to do with Emma kicking him under the table.
Emma was now staring at him with an expression that clearly said 'shut it' before she spoke to their daughter. "Hermione, you may have heard the expression 'say it with flowers'. Harry is certainly sending his message across loud and clear. Since your father never buys me roses, he wouldn't know this. A single red rose means 'I love you!' That could have been a coincidence but there can be no mistake now. A mixture of red and white roses given together signifies just that, togetherness and unity. Even if he doesn't ask you to be his girlfriend in that note, the flowers are doing that for him."
"You're reading an awful lot into some flowers – ouch!" Dan was now rubbing his ankle.
"I never said anything because it could just have been a red rose. Red and white together tells me everything I need to know. A bouquet like that would have to be specially put together and any florist would know exactly what it meant. They would also make sure the customer sending them knew exactly what it meant too."
Dan was feeling sore, and not just from being kicked in the ankle. It was an unusual feeling for him to be the bad guy in the house and he didn't like it. "When we started going out, you said you hated flowers. You spent every weekend and holiday working in a florist to put yourself through university."
"Dan, that was nearly twenty years ago. Did it escape your attention I have a garden full of flowers and pick bunches for the house all summer?"
This was giving Hermione time to read her note, she was praying her mum was right. She was disappointed though, the note appeared to be some ramblings about things she already knew or that Luna had told her. She took some consolation I that he'd signed it 'Love Harry' but she was no further forward.
As she was sitting it down to inspect her flowers, some irregularities caught her eye. One of the sentences that had made no sense to Hermione appeared to have certain words highlighted. It was very subtle and it only appeared when she glanced at it from a certain angle. The twins were looking for some wartmap powder and he'd remembered passing some last summer in Sirius's house, could she get the word to the right people.
She had originally wondered what the hell he was talking about and assumed he'd spelt wartcap wrong, now it made perfect sense.
TWINS - MAP - PASS – WORD.
Mentioning Sirius in the same sentence sealed the deal for Hermione, there was a hidden message here that Harry didn't want anyone else to read. That, combined with her mother's interpretation of the flowers had her head spinning.
"What does it say darling?"
"Yes, are we going on holiday next week or not?" Dan had wisely moved his leg out of Emma's range, he got the distinct impression that he would be paying for it later though.
Hermione was desperate to get away and read the real note, she had also been told by Luna, and Harry, that he would find her anywhere. Time to cut her father a bit of slack. "Oh he says he's fine and will be in touch soon, France next week sounds lovely dad. Mum, can I get a vase to put these in my room."
Hermione made her way up to her room, carefully laying her flowers on her dresser before touching the note with her wand. "I solemnly swear I'm up to no good."
All the letters in the note rearranged themselves into a totally different message.
My dearest Hermione
I knew you would figure it out. Even with this security though, I still can't tell you what happened or what I'm doing now. That's a conversation that must be face to face. I had also intended to do this next bit face to face too but now realise it's wrong to leave you hanging like this. Hermione, when you got injured in the ministry, my heart stopped. Imagining, even for a few seconds, what my life would be like without you in it terrified me. It forced me to confront the depth of my feelings for you, I'm just sorry you had to get seriously injured for me to see that, thick or what?
I now realise I have feelings for you that go way beyond those of a best friend. The next step is to ask if you will please be my girlfriend, that's where the flowers come into play. If your answer is yes, place them in your bedroom window and you'll make me the happiest boy in the country. If your answer is no then please enjoy the flowers and I hope we can always remain best friends.
I realise I'm just adding to the conversation we will be having when my tasks are complete, I promise to tell you everything no matter what your answer is. I also promise to ask you again in person once you know the full story and what my hopes and plans are.
All my love Hermione and I'll be hoping to see flowers in your window soon.
Harry.
Hermione jumping up and down on her bed while shouting yes, yes, yes was the sight that greeted Emma as she entered the bedroom with a vase in her hand. "Can I assume there was more to that letter than you originally thought?"
Hermione grabbed the vase out her mother's hand, replacing it with the modified note. "Harry had a private code hidden in the note, I used it and got the real message. I'm just about to answer him."
Emma read the note and smiled as her daughter lovingly arranged her roses on her windowsill. Their little girl was all grown up but, more importantly, was clearly very, very happy.
-oOoOo-
There was a distinct lack of happiness at Hogwarts as Albus once more found his potions professor in the infirmary, Severus looked terrible. The children might have left yesterday but it was beginning to look as if they were in for a very long, hard summer.
"How are you Severus?"
"Alive, for now! There were three death eaters there last night who were not so fortunate. Whatever Potter did to the dark lord is resisting any and all attempts to heal it. That the Prophet had Potter healing the Longbottoms on its front page sent the dark lord into a fury like none of us had ever seen before, and hope never to see again."
Poppy had to help him drink the post cruciatus potion as his hands wouldn't stop shaking long enough for Severus to do it himself. "Every time something appears to be working, the results prove to be only temporary. That lightning bolt scar bursts open and begins bleeding all over again. The dark lord has destroyed more of his followers in the last few days than the entire auror corps managed in the last war."
Albus was totally helpless as his friend suffered, he'd been unable to find any mention of this curse in any of his many books. "Is this wound life-threatening Severus?"
"Yes, to everyone but the dark lord. He won't die from it but a lot of his followers might. If we don't find Potter soon, I might have to declare myself for the light. It really isn't safe to be anywhere near the dark lord at the moment. I have no intention of losing my life because Potter got a lucky hit in with an unknown curse. Add to that, the death eaters with children at Hogwarts now know about the pensieve incident and what that filthy brat did to us. We have to find him, even if it's just so I can kill him myself."
Albus had the kindly grandfather persona performing at full power. "Severus, you know you don't mean that. I'm having the Weasley and Granger properties watched. Sooner or later he's bound to turn up at one of them, then we'll get some answers."
Albus was imagining Harry back under his control and Severus even closer to Tom after he healed the wound.
"It has to be soon Albus, continued exposure to the cruciatus curse and being a potions master are activities that do not go together."
"Oh, it will be Severus, Harry will be back amongst us soon. It's his destiny and even Mr Potter can't escape destiny!"
Chapter 5
Ginny faked throwing right before changing direction and hurling the quaffle left, Ron had bought the dummy but recovered enough to almost save it. In Quidditch though, almost doesn't quite cut it. The quaffle grazed his grasping fingertips before passing through their improvised hoop. Ginny punched the air in celebration of her score before the sound of someone applauding had her spinning around. A full speed dash toward their previously unseen spectator followed a cry of 'Harry'. Ginny's enthusiasm saw her hit Harry so hard and fast that both ended up on the grass, rolling in a tangle of limbs and laughter.
Ron's voice cut through the laughter at their predicament. His tone wasn't completely in jest as he chided his best friend. "Hey Potter, keep those hands where I can see them."
This of course drew a retort from his sister. "Harry can put his hands wherever the hell he wants too! He's just far too much of a gentleman to take advantage of that fact, not like somebody I could mention."
Harry was still laughing, his mood buoyed by being at his favourite place. He was helping the little redhead to her feet. "I'll bite Ginny, tell the story. We all know you're dying to."
"Oh we were in Diagon Alley and getting some funny stares since our names were in the Prophet. We bumped into Lavender and she was all over Ron like a bad smell. Hero of the Ministry she called him before kissing the prat in thanks. Poor Pig is now knackered carrying letters between them at least twice every day."
Ron's face was bright red as he went all defensive. "Well, it's not like I had anyone else to talk to, my best friend buggered off and left us in the middle of a fight."
Ginny was now right in her brother's face, well as close as their height discrepancy allowed. "That's a load of tosh and you know it Ron. Harry would die before he would leave anyone behind in a fight, I should know. How can you possibly say that? Lavender's snogging must have sucked out what little brains you had."
Harry playfully hit his friend on the back. "Snogging Lavender? Way to go Ron, never figured you for being so quick off the mark."
"Oh he's not! It was all Lavender, Ron Ron was just along for the ride." It wasn't until after she'd said it, Ginny realised what a double entendre that was.
Harry raised a quizzical eyebrow as two Weasleys held a blushing contest before he cracked and just had to laugh. "Oh, you should see your faces."
This started Ginny giggling before Ron saw the funny side of the situation and laughed along with them. Soon they were all sitting on the grass, once more comfortable in each other's company. Ron got the ball rolling.
"Where have you been Harry, why did it take you so long to contact us? I thought we would have been first on your list, not last."
"You're not last Ron, I've still to see Hermione. Everyone else also thought the same as you, that's why I had to knock-out two members of the order just to get a chance to talk with you."
Both Weasleys were instantly on their feet, outraged that they were being spied on, by their own side too! Harry led them over and they could see a pair of woman's feet sticking out from seemingly nothing. "Invisibility cloak, the other one was guarding the house in case I went there first. We only have a short time before they start to wake, I may need to leave immediately if their relief shows up."
Ron was heading for the house to see the other one before Harry stopped him. "I can't risk your mum or dad seeing me, I really don't want to deal with Dumbledore today."
The trio made their way back to where they had been sitting as Ron spoke. "Lavender told us what you did to Snape, that was just wicked. The twins laughed so hard, they couldn't get up off the floor. Considering that the greasy git already hated your guts, does this mean that you won't be going back to Hogwarts?"
This was the bit Harry wasn't looking forward too, with Ron, you just never knew how he was going to take things. "Ron, I'm transferring back into the muggle education system. I've spent the last five years trying to fit into the magical world and it's just not working. I'm either the saviour or some attention seeking nutcase, we both know I'm neither. I just want to be Harry but can't, and never will be, accepted as that."
Ron's temper began to surface. "Are you saying this was all a mistake? You're just going to walk away and forget about magic, forget about us? Why would anyone in their right mind want to give up magic?"
"I can't think of the last five years as a mistake. That's purely because I've made some great friends, friends I couldn't forget about and certainly don't want to."
"How's that going to work Harry? You'll be in one world and we'll be in another."
"Ron, it's the same bloody world! There are muggles living in Ottery St Catchpole alongside the Lovegoods and Weasleys."
"Yes, but we don't have anything to do with them."
"That's your choice Ron, I intend to keep in touch with my friends. Muggles account for over ninety nine percent of the population, all managing fine without magic. If you chose to turn your back on that, then it's your loss."
"What about Voldemort Harry, are you just going to walk away from him too?"
"Ron, I'll be sixteen in a couple of weeks. Why the hell should I be expected to deal with that psycho mass murderer?"
"He killed your parents!"
"Thanks for reminding me Ron, I'd actually forgotten that little detail! If my parents couldn't beat him, how the fuck am I supposed to do it? There is a ministry of magic whose responsibility it is to protect you, let them get up off their arse and deal with the situation. Dumbledore can get himself another Order of Merlin, shit they would probably rename it the Order of Dumbledore if he rid them of Voldemort too. I told the snake-faced bastard to leave my friends alone, if he doesn't then I'll go looking for him."
Ron couldn't miss that Harry was beginning to lose his temper, he wasn't one for backing down either. "But you're Harry Potter, the boy who lived. You can't just walk away and leave us. What about the prophecy?"
Harry was exasperated. "Trelawney made the prophecy Ron, she couldn't make a cup of tea! Look, I didn't come here to argue, I'd hoped to spend some time with my friends. I brought presents for both of you." Harry summoned the gifts from where he'd hidden them, two Firebolts flew into his hands. "The Gryffindor team will be unstoppable with two Weasleys flying on these."
Ginny's eyes nearly popped out her head at the gift Harry was giving her. She'd held her tongue during the argument, knowing this was something they both needed to deal with. She was in the position of being able to see both sides, having been on the receiving end of a tiny bit of the attention Harry got. Ginny didn't like the public attention at all. Her hands were trembling as she accepted what was still considered to be the best broom in the world, she at least managed to say thanks before grabbing him for a kiss.
It was only then Ginny noticed that Harry still had a broom in his hand. That Ron hadn't immediately stepped forward to take his gift alerted Ginny that this could be really bad. For her Quidditch obsessed brother not to snatch the offer of a free Firebolt could only mean one thing, an explosion was imminent. When it came, it was more deserving of being called a damp squib. It still contained the power to hurt all three of them though.
"I don't want a Firebolt Harry, I want my friend back. A broom is a poor substitute."
Ron was a picture of utter dejection as he slowly walked back to the house, leaving two very shocked and stunned people behind.
"Well, that could have gone better?"
"Oh Harry, we're all going to miss you, I think it's finally hitting Ron just how much. I can't think of anyone else he wouldn't gladly swap for a new Firebolt. That he rates your friendship higher than his dream broom is a massive compliment. He'll come around eventually, there were no punches or curses flying about so that actually went quite well."
Harry handed Ginny the other broom before leaning in and kissing her goodbye. "You're a great friend and sister Ginny, you can be sure I'll keep in touch somehow. Please don't hex him, Ron's hurting every bit as badly as we are, he just deals with it differently. Apologise to your mum and dad for me please, I don't have time to visit with Dumbledore chasing me."
Now that Harry was actually leaving, Ginny had tears in her eyes. "You've been a good friend to the Weasleys Harry, please don't forget about us!"
Harry gave her a wide grin. "Never going to happen Ginny, I fully intend to see my children visiting the Burrow to play with all their little Weasley cousins."
Ginny dropped both brooms and wrapped her arms around Harry, he'd just described her dream. Of course, in her dream, all the Potter children had red hair.
-oOoOo-
Albus Dumbledore was not receiving his usual warm welcome at the Burrow, this particular one was considerably warmer. Arthur Weasley was in a red hot rage.
"Would you care to explain why two members of the order were sneaking about the Burrow under invisibility cloaks? They certainly didn't have our permission to spy on the Weasley family."
Albus was unrepentant. "Harry must be found, I knew sooner or later he would come here."
It was a tearful Molly who appeared ready to remodel Dumbledore's new look by pulling his shortened whiskers out by the roots. "And now that poor boy thinks we participated in this trap, I never even got a chance to say goodbye!" The tears started flowing again as Arthur took over.
"You had no right to do this Albus. This is my home and my family, neither is yours to use as you please."
Albus brushed this argument off as inconsequential. "Nevertheless, I must speak with Ronald and Ginevra. It is imperative that I discover what Harry is up to before Voldemort can, Harry's safety should be our only concern here."
Albus thought that would have settled the matter but Ron's mood hadn't improved any from earlier.
"So you're not here because both Luna and Neville sent you away with a flea in your ear? What Harry said between us stays between us, we're telling you nothing because it's none of your business. Your constant poking of your nose into his life is probably the reason he's leaving, to get a bit of freedom and peace."
"That's a very unhelpful attitude Ronald, especially for a Hogwarts prefect."
Ron got up and stormed out the room, Albus turned his attention to Ginny.
"Don't even think about it! Sirius is dead because of the secrets you kept from Harry, now you expect us to tell you his? Not going to happen."
Albus was robbed of the right to a reply by Ron coming back into the room. He slapped a piece of metal into the headmaster's hand.
"Please inform Professor McGonagall that I can no longer be a Gryffindor prefect. Being expected to tell tales on your friends is far too high a price to pay for the privilege."
Dumbledore was unused to people telling him no, especially mere students. "And shall I tell her you are also resigning from the Gryffindor Quidditch team?"
Ron glanced at Ginny and got an instant nod of agreement from his sister. "I recently found out there are things a lot more important than Quidditch. Please inform Professor McGonagall we both resign."
Arthur had quite enough of this, his wife in tears and his children being bullied, not if he had anything to say about it. "If I discover my children are being disadvantaged in any way at Hogwarts, you have my assurance I shall be taking the matter to the school board. This is their summer holidays and discussions with their friend falls under the 'none of your business' category. Kindly leave, and take any hidden members of the order with you. Should I discover any more watchers, I shall consider them hostile and cast first, asking any questions later."
Albus flooed back to his office, once more returning without any useful information on Harry. Ronald had been quite correct in his assumption that he had indeed got nothing from their other two friends Harry had visited. Miss Lovegood simply said no and point-blank refused to answer any of his questions. Mr Longbottom was, if anything, worse. He refused even to be in the same room as his headmaster. With Frank and Alice now back in the land of the living, not one word would be tolerated against the name Potter at Longbottom Manor. Augusta didn't quite toss Albus out on his ear, it was close though.
Albus was at a loss, couldn't these people see that Harry needed to be brought back under his control? Harry had to confront Voldemort, there was no other option. With the Weasleys no longer cooperating, his only chance now was the Grangers. Unfortunately, they were muggles and currently on holiday in France. This seriously compromised the order's ability to keep watch, there would be hell to play with the French Ministry if they were exposed like Harry had managed to do at the Burrow. That it was in a muggle area too compounded the problem. Albus felt he could explain away one person as a guard for Harry Potter's best friend, any more would see questions asked he really didn't want to answer.
After experiencing the reactions of the Lovegood girl, the Longbottoms and the Weasleys, he wasn't hopeful of any answers being forthcoming from the remaining member of their group. Albus knew Voldemort would retire from the terror business and become a hair stylist before Miss Granger would willingly betray Harry Potter.
-oOoOo-
Hermione was lying reading on a sun lounger, tanning beside the pool of their lovely rented villa. She was actually enjoying her holiday, helped greatly by the note and flowers that arrived her first night here. Not only did the flowers indicate Harry knew exactly where she was, the note said he had almost completed his tasks and hoped to see her soon. That the flowers had appeared in her bedroom upset her father greatly but Hermione wasn't caring, she was going to see Harry shortly and couldn't wait to greet her boyfriend the way she'd dreamed of.
She was so engrossed in her book, Hermione didn't notice the beautiful horned owl that had landed on the table. The bark-like sound it emitted got her attention and Hermione could have sworn the bird was laughing at her, it held its leg out to have the message removed.
"Hello handsome, what have you got for me?
Emma was lying in the shade but had noticed the bird flying silently onto the table. "Is that from Luna dear, she said she would write."
The excitement in Hermione's voice was unmistakable. "No mum, it's from Harry! I'd know his chicken scratch anywhere."
Before Hermione could even open it, there was a rustle of an invisibility cloak being removed and a witch she didn't know snatched it out her hand. She heard the witch say 'about bloody time' as Hermione sprang for her wand, unfortunately the witch had apparated away before the young brunette could get a spell off. Hermione went from elation to being devastated in an instant. She sank to her knees, screaming 'Bastard!' at the spot where the witch had been a second ago.
Emma was heading at pace to comfort her daughter when witnessing the impossible stopped the concerned mother in her tracks. The beautiful owl fluttered off the table and transformed into a handsome young man right before her eyes. He was dressed smart, but casual in a pair of khaki shorts and a dark green polo shirt while smiling down at the kneeling Hermione.
"I'm gone for a few weeks and you start using language like that?"
The young man was behind Hermione but she apparently didn't need to turn around to know who he was. Emma wondered if Hermione had undergone some form of transformation herself, it was certainly magical the way she went from on her knees in utter despair to wrapped around this young man in a split-second. Her daughter's cry of 'Harry' told Emma who this was, she didn't recognise the boy from their previous meetings. There was a whole different air of confidence about this young man, the new glasses and smart clothes helped too. He was apparently quite the catch and Emma couldn't help but think Hermione wasn't for letting him go anytime soon.
Dan had been inside when he heard his daughter's anguished cry, he raced to get to Hermione's aid only to experience being stopped in his tracks by the sight he was faced with. Unlike Emma though, this was not a pleasant experience for Dan Granger. His wife and daughter had been lying in bikinis, enjoying the sunshine. Hermione now had her legs and arms around this boy while attempting to suck his face off as her mother stood and did nothing about it. This was just too much for the father as he shouted at them. "What the fuck is going on here?"
Harry was also very conscious of all the bare flesh wrapped around him, he was holding Hermione just as tightly and matching her enthusiasm in their kiss. That his hand was on her bum was purely to stop her falling.
When her father shouted, Hermione reluctantly stopped the kiss she'd been dreaming about for years. She stayed exactly where she was though, Harry was never getting away from her again. Hermione didn't even look around but introduced her boyfriend while staring into his eyes from a distance of about four inches. "Mum, dad, this is my Harry."
Harry had no intention of looking around either, the view he currently had was one he would never tire of. "Hi Mr and Mrs Granger. Hermione, we need to get the hell out of here now."
Dan had quite enough of this young punk. "Listen to me son, I really don't give a shit who you are. You are not leaving here with my daughter."
Harry lowered Hermione gently to her feet but both kept an arm tightly around each other before turning to face her parents. Harry had to straighten his new glasses before he spoke. "Mr Granger, I fooled the guard into revealing herself and leaving. They'll be back soon, probably with reinforcements. They will then attempt to take me by force, I have no intention of going quietly!"
Hermione was standing at his side, one arm wrapped around Harry with her wand clutched in her other hand. No further words were needed for the Granger parents. If they came for Harry, Hermione would fight at his side while they would then be relegated to the roles of mere bystanders, if not liabilities.
Emma tried to fill her husband in on the action he'd missed. "Dan, a woman appeared out of nowhere, stole Hermione's letter before disappearing with it. Then the owl turned into Harry and you just about saw the rest."
Harry didn't have to look to know Hermione was staring at him questioningly. "Put it on the list for later Hermione, we don't have time now."
Dan Granger considered himself good under pressure, problem solving was something he excelled at. "Ok, you two obviously need to leave, but we're coming with you!"
Harry broke into a grin, "Fine with me sir, but it has to be now. We're talking being minutes away from having to fight a battle."
Both Granger ladies had wraps sitting beside their loungers that they grabbed, Dan was in similar attire to Harry. It was Dan who asked the practical question. "How are we getting to wherever it is we're going?"
Harry's answer had them thinking until he explained his reasoning. "By car. If you're gone and it's still parked outside, that will let them know I'm involved. If the car's gone too, they won't be sure. It always pays to keep your enemy guessing."
They were all piling into the hire car before Emma asked a question. "I thought we were safe Harry but you just called them the enemy?"
"They're Dumbledore's people and certainly my enemies. They want to capture me, drag me back to Britain and force me to be a good little puppet and do what I'm supposed to do."
Dan was having trouble listening to this. "And you know better than everyone else about this?"
"As unusual as that sounds, in this case I do sir. I know things that they don't, it's this and not arrogance that makes me say I know better. Dumbledore is in possession of some information that he's determined means I must act a certain way. Please excuse my language but fuck that!"
Emma was trying to play peacemaker here as they headed to this new location, Hermione was too busy holding on to Harry as if to reassure herself her young man was real. "What does Dumbledore want you to do that's so bad Harry?"
Harry paused for a second before answering. "He expects me to take one for the team and die!"
Hermione's scream almost caused Dan to crash the car. Harry was attempting to soothe her nerves while passing Dan directions to their destination. It wasn't long before they pulled into another villa that was further up the hill, and quite a bit more expensive than the one the Grangers had been staying in. Harry asked Dan to park in the garage, explaining he didn't want the car to be recognised. The four entered the house where Hermione was greeted by an excited Winky and Dobby.
Harry greeted his little friends. "Hi guys, can we have lunch for four out by the pool? I think it'll be four for dinner as well, give Dobby a chance to show off his barbequing skills."
Two very happy elves popped away as Harry led his guests out to the pool area. They had travelled up the hill by twisty roads but all three Grangers could see their villa down the hill, about half a mile away.
When Dan spied the telescope, mounted on a tripod and pointing toward their villa, he lost it. "Why you dirty little shit! You've been spying on us?"
He raised his hands and lunged toward Harry, only to find this time he was physically unable to move.
Hermione and Emma were both about to intervene but now just turned to stare at Harry.
He sighed before calling for Dobby, Harry got down on one knee to speak with his little friend better. "Dobby, why did you do that to Mr Granger?"
"He was going to attack Harry Potter sir."
Harry shook his head. "No Dobby, he's Hermione's father. He would only hit me if I harmed his daughter."
Dobby was outraged. "Harry Potter sir would never harm his Grangy!"
Harry closed his eyes, took a deep breath while slowly and silently counting to five. Sometimes this was the only way to deal with Dobby's enthusiasm. He also had to be very careful as Dobby took everything so literal. "Yes Dobby, and that's the misunderstanding. You see, while we know that, Hermione's father doesn't. It's his job to protect his daughter from any harm, that's all he was trying to do. He doesn't know we want the exact same thing and have been guarding Hermione around the clock."
"Dobby is so sorry Harry Potter sir. We wanted to impress our first ever guests and now Dobby has spoiled it. Dobby will go and iron his ears as punishment."
Harry smiled but was also very firm. "You will do no such thing Dobby, that will never be allowed in any house of mine, even one we're only renting. Your punishment will be to cook Mr Granger the best steak he's ever eaten for dinner tonight."
Dobby now had a look of concentration on his little face as he nodded in acceptance, snapping his fingers to release Dan before popping away.
"Sorry about that Mr Granger, they're both very protective of me. They've also spent weeks making sure Hermione here was as safe as she could be. Dobby will now spend hours preparing to serve you the best steak you've ever eaten, please compliment him on it or you'll break his little heart."
Dan could only nod, that little creature had him totally helpless and now Emma had a tight grip on his arm. She led him over to the seating area as Harry explained the situation further.
"Yes I have been keeping a close eye on your family. There has been an invisible watcher there constantly since the moment you set foot on the property, they've also been following you around everywhere you went. At your home in Crawley, there were three of them. I had to wait and make sure it wasn't a trap before making a move. Since I spoke to Ron and Ginny, they knew Hermione would be my next point of contact. I was worried they would get desperate and arrange some kind of kidnapping to draw me out. Dumbledore has no problem with setting someone up as bait, he did it to me with that bloody tournament."
Dan was forced to take the boy's word for it, he had no evidence or experience to disprove what he was saying.
Lunch appeared on the table and looked just the ticket to change the conversation, and hopefully avoid a confrontation. A mixture of cold meats, cheeses, breads, biscuits and side salads covered the rather large table. There was also a large pitcher of some fruity concoction that was delicious. Conversation was light during the meal as they all appreciated Harry's tale would be the main course.
Harry could sense Hermione's mental gears engaging hyper drive and knew it was time. "Where would you like me to start Hermione?"
His girlfriend's smile was predatory. "As long as you tell me everything Harry, I'll let you decide. It's your story after all."
Harry struggled with that answer, where the hell do you begin to tell a story like this? "Well, to give you some idea of how serious the situation is, I'll tell you one of the biggest and darkest secrets of the magical world. Voldemort didn't die the night he cursed me because, in his obsession to be immortal, he created abominations called horcruxes. In simple terms, he detached bits of his soul and hid them inside objects. While one of them survived, Voldemort could not be killed."
Hermione was shocked. "I'm assuming this is not something you simply do after a night down the pub. Have a few pints and then decide to make a horcrux when you're half-drunk?"
"No Hermione, you have to undergo a dark ritual and then murder someone in cold blood. Dumbledore knew this and never intended to tell me."
Watching these two together was enraging Dan, they were practically completing each other's sentences. This boy was a bigger threat than he thought and the father in him was having trouble accepting it. He also saw Harry Potter as someone who was putting his family in danger, Dan wasn't about to let that last comment go unchallenged. "Why should the headmaster be expected to tell a fifteen year old boy something like that?"
"Well Mr Granger, perhaps because the fifteen year old boy had been walking around with a horcrux in his head since he was one year old."
If ever there was a conversation stopper, that was it. Hermione reached over and tenderly caressed his scar. "I thought your scar appeared fainter. To be perfectly honest, I was so glad to see you that I might not have noticed if you were bald! I'm assuming that's why Dumbledore thinks you have to die, Voldemort would live while that piece was in your head? It is gone though?"
Harry leaned over and, with the same amount of tenderness, softly kissed her lips. "Beautiful and brilliant, how could I possibly resist? Yes its gone but I'm getting ahead of myself here, we need to go back to that night in the ministry. When Sirius fell through the veil of death, I ran through it after him."
Hermione could only nod for him to go on, she didn't want to trust whether her voice would work at the moment.
"Luna described it best when she asked me if I'd crossed over. She needed to know some of the details for the information I had to pass to her. I quickly caught up with Sirius and found him talking with two people, those two people were my parents."
Emma was now enthralled, here was a story from someone who'd been to the other side. She noticed Hermione never let go of his hand for a second as Harry told his tale.
Harry's wide smile was not the reaction Hermione expected to this revelation, Harry noticed and read exactly what had confused her. "I was granted my greatest wish Hermione, I got to spend time with my mum and dad. Because I had a piece of Voldemort's soul in my head, that was considered acceptable payment. That I'd already destroyed another piece a few years ago also helped my case, I was allowed to return with the hope I would finish the job."
Hermione had already worked it out. "The diary that possessed Ginny? Dumbledore knew and still didn't tell you?"
"Nothing new there, what was different though was I had everything I'd dreamed of since a little boy was locked in his cupboard. I was in no hurry at all to leave and then discovered time has no meaning there. I got to stay with my parents and godfather."
Harry's new confidence and skills were beginning to make sense to Hermione now. "How long were you there for Harry?"
"It's impossible to put a figure on Hermione, there was no cycle of days, far less seasons. Best guess would be a good number of years. We were in a room that reminded me of the room of requirements at Hogwarts, it changed to meet whatever our needs were. I got the chance to do everything I missed while growing up, even played Quidditch with my dad and Sirius. My mum proved to be about as good as you on a broom."
Hermione had never seen her boyfriend look so at ease with himself. "Can I assume that there was at least some studying involved?"
Again he gave her the smile that did funny things to her insides.
"Hermione, we didn't need to stop for sleep, or even food. There was years worth of studying done. With that bit of Voldemort out of my head, my power and concentration levels were also greatly increased. Bloody thing was parasitical, feeding off me to survive. Having three very clever people training me certainly helped. Even dead though, Harry Potter had to be different."
This drew a chuckle out of Harry and a surprised glance from Hermione."Oh, I just heard my mum say that I was always special to her."
That comment worried Emma, talking to the dead was not a good sign even if he'd been 'dead' himself. She had to find out more about this. "Can you really hear your mother's voice Harry?"
His smile never faltered as he answered Emma. "Before crossing over, the only memory I had of my mother was begging Voldemort to spare me and kill her instead. Now I have year upon year of wonderful memories to support me for the rest of my life. Can I ask you something Mrs Granger, did your mother have a favourite saying? Something she would use all the time?"
Emma was instantly transported to another time as she smiled and answered Harry. "She used to always tell me that if you stood for nothing, you would fall for anything."
Harry nodded. "And when you think of that saying, whose voice do you hear it in?"
Her smile was now a wide one of understanding. "My mother's!"
Harry nodded again, "I know for a fact my mum, dad and godfather are watching over me. Occasionally, I know exactly what they'll say about a given situation. I'm trying to cut down speaking to them out loud but it's not something I'm particularly ashamed of."
Hermione squeezed his hand in understanding before asking a question. "Cupboard Harry?"
"Discussion for another time Hermione, that's behind me now and I'm sure you'd much rather hear this next bit. I don't know how it happened but word spread that I would be returning to the living, people started contacting me with offers of help. That curse I hit Voldemort with was created by Godric Gryffindor, I modified it slightly to leave a lightning bolt shaped scar on the forehead."
Hermione was astonished. "You met Godric Gryffindor?"
"Yeah, and he wasn't too pleased at what a certain old wizard is doing to his school. Godric is a great believer in giving people a second chance, but just the one. Godric called it his judgement curse, the magic used to cast it knows exactly why it was cast. If the recipient truly is sorry and changes their ways, the curse will heal and fade over time. If not, it will defy all forms of treatment and never close. If he came up against someone he'd already marked, that was it for them. When people discover that saying sorry is a universal cure-all, we end up in the state we're in at the moment."
"Surely you don't expect Voldemort to change his ways?"
"Expect? No! I made a promise though to give him a chance, you know I always keep my promises Hermione. Even Helga Hufflepuff couldn't overcome the magic enough to heal someone hit with this, and she was just amazing!"
Harry knew he was jumping from place to place but this story didn't need to be linear. He was also desperate to tell Hermione his most important piece of news. It had sounded fine when he'd spent many hours discussing and refining his plans with his parents and Sirius, this was the acid test though. "Meeting Helga changed my life. She was the one who discovered, minus my lump of Voldemort, I had a natural affinity with healing. This then became her mission and she spent what must have been years teaching me all she could."
Harry turned to face his girlfriend, here was the crucial part. "I now had the sword and a healing staff as my main attributes, it was time to choose a path. What you said to me that last day in Hogwarts had been reverberating through my mind, I was forced to admit you were right. Hermione Granger being right is hardly a shocking revelation, discovering I had a saving people thing though was a shock to me."
Hermione tried to apologise but Harry brushed it away. "I thought of the people who had a saving Harry thing, I could only come up with two names. Hermione Granger and Poppy Pomfrey, my decision was easy after that. The auror lost out to the healer but I couldn't imagine myself working at St Mungos. My celebrity status would make a mockery of that, there would be people queuing up just to be 'treated' by Harry Potter. I've decided to become a muggle doctor."
He gave this a moment to sink in before continuing. "I will sit my muggle exams in Scotland and then apply to Glasgow, Edinburgh and St Andrews universities. I've already bought a town house in Glasgow and it's entirely muggle, apart from the elf accommodation."
Emma knew Harry was explaining this purely for Hermione's benefit but something was troubling her, she decided just to ask the young man. "Harry, couldn't you achieve more by keeping your magic? Leaving it behind seems rather a lot to give up."
"Mrs Granger, I'm leaving magical society behind, not my magic. Hermione and I are magical beings, to remove that magic would probably kill us. I will live as a muggle, study as a muggle and hopefully one day practice medicine as a muggle. If the odd bit of magic finds its way into healing a patient or three, no one needs to be any the wiser. I chose Glasgow because I have good memories of Scotland, it's also far enough away from London and the ministry to suit me."
Hermione's voice was unnaturally quiet as she asked him her most important question. "What about me Harry?"
This was where Harry had to show that old hat put him in Gryffindor for a reason. "Hermione, I hope to have you right by my side, helping us to decide just what we do with our lives. I hope I'm not being overconfident here but to me this is a serious relationship, a relationship that will hopefully one day progress into an engagement and then marriage."
This took her breath away, neither noticed her parents weren't breathing too well either at this turn of events. "Harry, are you asking me to marry you?"
"Not yet Hermione, I'm having a big impact here on the lives of you and your family. I'm merely trying to let everyone know where I want this to go. I can understand all your fears, this is life-changing stuff and you haven't had the time to talk it over that I've had."
Hermione leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on Harry's lips, her eyes shining with happiness. "Anytime, any place, my answer will always be the same Harry. You'll get a big yes from me."
Harry was now ready to float away, his greatest fear vanquished, the glare from her father kept him grounded and talking. "If we remained in the magical community it would be just as bad for you, Hermione Potter would be forever known as the wife of the boy-who-lived or some other such rubbish. In the muggle world we're just another two students and free to be whatever we want."
Things may be moving too fast for Emma but she liked what she was hearing now. There had been a growing feeling between her and Dan that they were slowly losing their daughter to a world they didn't understand. What the hell did they know about transfiguration? Going to university was something they not only understood, but could be of help with. These two literally could have the best of both worlds.
Hermione was considering her educational options until Harry said Hermione Potter, she was then ready to agree to anything. He then sweetened the deal even further. "I probably have as much knowledge as most of the professors at Hogwarts and could easily teach you to at least NEWT level. At my new house, there's a room set aside to become a library. We can fill it with whatever books we want! Dobby and Winky have been helping me move around the country so distance is no object either."
Emma just had to say something. "Harry, that sounds wonderful, and certainly something you should consider Hermione." She was beginning to notice just how well these two were suited for each other and there was already talk of a wedding.
Hermione didn't disagree. "I have already resigned myself that I'll return to Hogwarts until my birthday. After that, I can legally walk away from the school with my head held high. I think that's a decision I'll keep quiet about until the proper time, about five minutes before I leave the castle."
This cheered everyone up but Hermione had one more vital question for Harry. "What about Voldemort Harry? He apparently can't be killed and has always come after you in the past."
"Hermione, my message to Luna was that our mothers always watch over us. When I was on the other side, I met a young mother who will have a dramatic effect on all our lives. Her name was Merope Gaunt."
Emma was sure she was the only one who heard Dan's muttered response. "Even when he was dead, he was still attracting women." She would be having some severe words with her husband soon.
-oOoOo-
Albus was staring at the words on the parchment in front of him, attempting to make some sense of them
The colours of a rainbow, so pretty in the sky
Are also in the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
They're really saying I love you
I hear babies cry, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll ever know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world.
The old wizard had tried every code translation spell he'd ever learned, and more than a few he'd since researched in his extensive private library. He'd gotten nothing. Severus had been of no help whatsoever, dismissing the entire thing as the hormonal ranting of a teenage boy. This was his only contribution before being summoned by Voldemort.
It wasn't until Alastor arrived in France for his evening shift watching the Grangers that Albus finally understood the purpose of the message. He'd spent hours attempting to unlock the undecipherable, meanwhile the Grangers had vanished without trace. Matilda had returned to France and assumed they'd gone out since the car was missing. Alastor was able to see that the house had been swept clean of any sign of the Grangers.
Things were really going from bad to worse when muggles were now pulling the wool over the eyes of his order!