Chapter 5 - Lions and Toads and Basilisks, oh my!
No one paid particular attention to two witches entering a girl's toilet, even though most of the witches in Hogwarts avoided this particular female student's convenience - unless they were absolutely in desperate need. Since one of the witches entering this toilet was loony Lovegood - enough said.
Hermione and Luna lucked out again since Myrtle must have been away bothering someone else at the moment. They approached the correct sink and Hermione then hissed at it. Even though they had studied Harry's memory of the entire event, both were still rather surprised to actually see the sinks disappearing and a shaft opening up in the floor.
Luna looked down into the darkness before emitting a sigh. "It's a pity we don't have a professor to throw down there first. I can think of a few I'd like to chuck down a dark hole."
"Harry suggests using the Minister of Magic, and then closing the sinks over. It's really hard to argue against that, especially since I would get to close the shaft on the prat. Ah well, no point in standing here hoping. We should have known it would be bad when Harry described it as filthy, boys have a different definition of that word from us." Hermione pulled the hood of her robes over her head, trying to protect her hair from the worst of the mess, before jumping in.
Luna heard the long wail Hermione made on her trip down before the silence that Luna hoped meant she'd safely reached the bottom. Her friend's voice then clearly traveled back up the shaft. "You must be a bad influence on me, Potter. I might have enjoyed that slide, if it had been cleaner. Luna, come on down." Both Hermione and Harry were silently chuckling at the muggle telly reference Luna wouldn't have a clue about.
Following Hermione's example, Luna tucked her hair in her hood and jumped into the hole. Landing amongst bones of long dead small animals was certainly not Luna's idea of enjoyment.
Hermione had her wand lit and decided to check their extraction method worked before they went any further into the tunnel.
Dobby arrived with a pop, mere seconds after Hermione called his name. "Well done, Dobby. We weren't sure you would be able to find us down here, that certainly takes a load off our minds."
"Would Miss Grangy like Dobby to come with them? Dobby doesn't like leaving Harry Potter's friends down here on their own."
Luna chipped in right away. "That's a brilliant idea, Dobby. I will certainly feel safer with you around. How's Winky doing this morning?"
"Winky is much better, Miss. Just knowing she is wanted again is helping Winky, as is the strong magic of her masters. Winky says she is ready to get to work today, Dobby told Winky better to rest until tomorrow. Dobby wasn't sure if Dobby should have asked Harry Potter's permission first before telling Winky that…"
This time it was Hermione who jumped in. "Harry asked you to look after Winky, that's exactly what you did. Harry is very happy with your actions, Dobby."
The little elf for once wasn't really listening. They'd just come to the shed basilisk skin and Dobby's large eyes were nearly popping out his head. As they approached the cave-in, a snap of Dobby's fingers had an arched pathway cleared for them to walk through.
"…and that is why it's a brilliant idea for you to be with us, Dobby. Hermione and I would have spent ages trying to clear a hole big enough for both of us to crawl through."
Dobby then noticed the state of their robes, another snap of those magic fingers had both girls' robes cleaned.
"Harry, I could get used to having elves around. Dobby, you are simply the best."
This left the little elf blushing at Hermione's praise. Working for the Malfoys, being praised for his work was not something Dobby had encountered before.
The massive round door that blocked their entrance to the chamber soon moved after being commanded in parseltongue to open, Hermione and Luna were left wishing it hadn't. The stench was unbelievable, it left them choking for breath and barely able to see because their eyes were watering so badly.
Hermione was struggling to cast a bubblehead charm on herself, a spell that was difficult enough to accomplish without her currently choking while trying to perform completed magic. When Harry mentioned asking Dobby for help, Hermione quickly followed his suggestion. "Dobby, can you do something about the foul air?"
Another snap of his fingers and she could breathe normally once more.
"I think I now know why wizards bind elves to them. Elves must be some of the most powerful magical users on the planet." Harry then showed Hermione the memory of Dobby throwing Lucius Malfoy about as if he was a rag doll, he also agreed wholeheartedly with his girlfriend's analysis.
As they walked toward the basilisk, that powerful little elf was reduced to tears. "Dobby saw Harry Potter just after he had defeated this creature, never did Dobby think it was such a size. That Harry Potter was able to free Dobby the very same day makes him a greater wizard than Dobby thought."
The idea that Dobby's hero worship would or could grow even larger was not something Harry was comfortable with, Hermione teasing him that Dobby had a point wasn't helping.
Luna was looking at the decomposing creature in dismay. "Hermione, we're going to need something like an axe to get those fangs out its head. I'm looking around but don't see anything we could transfigure into the tools we'll need."
Hermione too, was disgusted at what they were going to have to do. Dobby may have cleared the air but the source of the stench was still sitting there.
The basilisk's skin appeared unbroken but there were slight ripples of movement underneath it. Whether this was caused by the basilisk slowly decomposing or there was some other organism in there actually consuming the giant snake was not something Hermione was keen to discover. In Hermione's book, anything that could eat a basilisk was to be avoided at all costs. The loud wet sucking sound alarmed both girls, that was until they saw one of the biggest fangs rip free from the dead creature's mouth and float toward them. It was soon being followed by another as Dobby made a little pile of deadly fangs in front of the two witches.
After they had half a dozen fangs, Hermione stopped Dobby removing any more. Even dead, the basilisk was still incredibly resistant to magic. All three teens could see the effort Dobby was having to exert to magically remove the fangs.
While Hermione was letting Harry take control to personally thank Dobby for all his hard work, Luna wore her dragon hide gloves to carefully wrap the fangs so they would be safe until required.
It was only after they were back in the tunnel, with the giant round door once more closed, that the group could relax.
"That was absolutely disgusting. I can't wait to get in the shower and be clean again, bags first dibs on it."
"Hermione, there is no way I could hang about listening to all that lovely clean water running and not jump in too. Harry's just going to have to shut his eyes because that shower is easily big enough for two, and I can't wait to be clean either."
This had Hermione laughing. "Luna, I think you just broke Harry. He can face that monster in there with only a sword in his hand, the thought of the both of us in the shower has him totally helpless. Dobby, can you get us out of here?"
Seconds later, all three were in Myrtle's toilet. Both girls were down on their knees, hugging and kissing the elf on his now blushing cheeks. Dobby had made what could and should have been a disgusting, arduous and even dangerous task into a relatively simple one. As a delighted Dobby popped away to check on Winky, Hermione and Luna got ready to go and deal with a horcrux.
Knowing that having Harry with her would give Luna the best chance to deal with the horcrux, Hermione made the suggestion. "Luna, with your memories from Voldemort, you know more about this than me. I think you should take Harry and I'll watch your backs."
With Harry transferred to the blonde Ravenclaw, they made their way up to the seventh floor. The door that appeared in the wall this time was different from the one that led to the bedroom they now used.
Looking around the vast cavern, stuffed full of all kinds of magical bric-a-brac, Luna grabbed a gobsmacked Hermione by the arm. "We need to stay together, Hermione. Not counting the horcrux we're looking for, some of the stuff in here could also be very dangerous."
Using Voldemort's memories, Luna led them straight to Ravenclaw's diadem. When she stopped though, Hermione kept going. "Oh, that's beautiful..."
"Petrificus Totalus!" Luna caught Hermione before she could fall and leant her against a nearby cabinet.
"The diadem has a powerful compulsion charm placed on it, Hermione. It wants you to wear it, just like Ginny couldn't stop herself writing in his diary. Having Harry in my head is protecting me from it. I need to leave you in a body bind while I deal with this."
Luna put on her dragon hide gloves and then unwrapped one of the basilisk fangs, before lifting the diadem down and sitting it on the floor. Without any hesitation, she brought the fang down on the large jewel in the centre of the headpiece.
At first, Luna thought it hadn't worked, then the jewel cracked and green smoke began to leak from the fault in the gemstone. That the smoke began to form into a shape had Luna rushing to Hermione and ending her spell. They clung to each other, rooted to the spot, as that shape became recognisable as Voldemort. The gaseous version of the dark lord then emitted an unholy scream, setting both girls off screaming too.
Hermione was reminded of the Wizard of Oz as the wicked wizard 'melted'. The green gas appeared to collapse in on itself and sink to the ground, leaving an oily looking black gunk behind on the floor beside the diadem.
Now it was over, Hermione managed to pull herself together but Luna was in bits. Luna was clinging to Hermione while sobbing her heart out.
"It's okay, Luna, it's over..."
"No it's not, Hermione. There's one of those disgusting things in Harry's head, and we still don't know how to get it out. I don't care whether we destroy the rest of them or not, all I care about is getting the one out of Harry - and he better be alive at the end of it. The ministry flung Harry in Azkaban and Dumbledore tried to get into your mind - screw all of them. I just want Harry cured, then the three of us can get out the country and leave them all to their own mess."
"Luna, that doesn't sound like you?"
This calmed her sobs, and even produced a strained smile. "Harry just said the same. You two are so in tune that sometimes it's scary. Hermione, my life changed the night I met Harry, and through him you. I couldn't go back to the way I was before, not now I've seen what's possible when I've got friends. That would be cruelty beyond measure..."
"Luna, I'm not going anywhere without you - and I'm willing to bet Harry has just told you the exact same. You said that thing's been inside Harry since he was a baby, that gives us time to figure this out."
The tears were streaming down Luna's cheeks as she looked forlornly at Hermione. "I don't think we have that amount of time, Hermione. That thing was woken in the graveyard, and seems to be getting stronger the longer Harry is kept in Azkaban. We need to get him out of there as quickly as possible, and get people who know a lot more than us working on this problem too."
Wrapping the crying Luna in a tight hug, Hermione tried to reassure both her and Harry. "We're out of here tomorrow, Sunday sees the best defence professor we ever had, a former auror and your father added to the team. We've also got you trying to wheedle the information we need out of Voldemort every night until we get Harry home. We can do this, Luna, you just have to believe that."
"I so want to believe, Hermione, I need to believe. The problem is I don't think that horcrux in Harry's head knows how to get itself out of there either. If it can't tell us, who can?"
"Voldemort was undoubtably a very clever wizard but no one can know everything, something Dumbledore has a tendency to forget. We'll find a clue, Luna, I know we will. Let's get out of here and turn this room back into your bedroom. After watching that, I'm even more desperate for a shower. I don't see any point in waiting on each other when Harry sees our memories anyway. Perhaps being in the shower with both of us will help him fight of those dementors later tonight."
Luna was wrapping up the diadem when she smiled and looked up to Hermione. "Harry's just recovered from that thought, he says seeing both of us in the shower will have him able to fight the dementors and Voldemort too."
-oOoOo-
Dumbledore currently had a fight on his hands, a fight he really couldn't win - since it was against three-quarters of Hogwarts. After the feast, he had to stand and announce the winners of the House Cup. Normally this would be greeted by cheering from the winning house, and polite applause from the other three. Tonight, announcing Slytherin were the winners was met with derision and loud booing from Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and even Hufflepuff. His peripheral vision caught sight of Minerva, Filius and Pomona leaving the hall in disgust. This acted as the catalyst for their three houses to stand and leave too, with only the rather smug Slytherins remaining in their seats.
Albus had no idea how many students this would eventually cost Hogwarts, for the greater good it was something the school was just going to have to accept. If these actions made one family take notice, leaving Britain for their safety, Albus thought it would be all worthwhile. After all, what was Slytherin winning the House Cup in comparison to children's lives being saved.
Until Fudge got his head out of Malfoy's arse, they were going to have to fight this war whatever way they could. Albus had called a meeting of the reformed Order of the Phoenix for tomorrow afternoon. While the children were heading to London on the express, the meeting would take place in the Hog's Head. Albus still didn't know what he was going to say to them, though one thing was certain. He wouldn't be mentioning that the person prophesied to have the power to beat the dark lord was currently locked up in Azkaban, or that same person was sure to leave the country as soon as he got out of prison.
He had of course noticed Miss Granger didn't grace tonight's feast with her presence, though Albus had hardly expected her to. He had made a grave error getting caught looking into her mind. Albus still believed he was right to make the attempt, the girl certainly had information he desperatly needed, it was only him getting caught making that attempt that he regretted.
This was not a view shared by Minerva or Amelia, something they wasted no time in forcefully telling him so. Amelia was particularly vociferous when explaining her views on the matter. She certainly recognised Miss Granger knew more than she was saying, but she also understood Albus Dumbledore had now made getting that information from the girl highly unlikely - if not impossible. There had obviously been an issue of mistrust between Miss Granger and the Hogwarts staff before this incident, Albus found it impossible to disagree that his actions had just massively reinforced that mistrust.
Like the rest of his staff, though Severus would probably never admit it, Albus recognised that Miss Granger was an exceptionally gifted young witch. Even he however was stumped at how she managed to pull off the stunt of getting Harry's letter out of Azkaban. They had cast spells on the handwriting, comparing it with some of his transfiguration essays. The high percentage of the match left no room for this to be anything other than written by the hand of Harry Potter. These spells had been developed to prevent cheating on exams, and as such were kept secret to deter anyone developing a way to overcome them. There was simply nowhere for Miss Granger to read about these spells, far less uncover a method to bypass the powerful magic involved.
He was forced to wait until Fudge let Harry out of Azkaban before being able to start working on those close to the boy, and once more hope to have some influence in his life. At the moment, the only people with influence over Harry still speaking to Albus were the Weasleys. Compared to Sirius, Remus and Miss Granger, that was like a row of pawns - with Ronald at best a knight - against a queen and two rooks.
Since the longer Harry spent in Azkaban, the more entrenched the views of those closest to him would become, Albus wanted the boy out of there as quickly as possible. His problem though was that Fudge had played, or should that be was being played, masterfully. Only his public approval rating taking a nosedive could sway the Minister from his chosen course of action. While Amelia's statement to the Prophet might have set a few alarm bells ringing, the ministry's control over that newspaper would prevent things getting anything like out of hand. Albus, Harry and the witches and wizards of Britain needed more, and quickly too.
He had no idea his wish was soon to be granted as Xeno Lovegood was about to let the genie out of the bottle in dramatic fashion.
-oOoOo-
After four years of sharing showers with her dorm-mates, Hermione was well used to the sights and sounds this communal activity produced. Today though, it had been very different. Knowing that every time Luna glanced in her direction, Harry would see exactly what their blonde friend saw made this shower decidedly and rather decadently different.
Initially, both she and Luna had been far more concerned with removing the grime of today, perceived and actual. After shampooing her hair for the third time however, Hermione had to admit to herself that she was obtaining a fair amount of guilty pleasure from knowing that Harry was watching her through Luna's eyes. This honesty was also a necessity because, when Harry joined her later, he would surely discover the truth.
She knew Luna held no issues whatsoever over Harry seeing and experiencing what she simply considered natural bodily functions. Hermione was beginning to see Luna's point but wasn't quite there yet. Her justification for this little show was a lot simpler. If seeing her in the shower helped Harry cope better with the time he was forced to spend in Azkaban, then it became a no-brainer for his girlfriend.
To help Harry face the horrors he was forced to deal with, Hermione Granger was prepared to go a lot further than let him see her take a shower if it helped her boyfriend. Those decisions could be made after she discovered from Harry if they really did help, or whether this was nothing more than a little guilty pleasure for both of them.
The one thing about sharing her mind with Harry was that there could be no secrets, and certainly no lies between them.
They exited the shower area to find fluffy white towels waiting on them, and their housecoats too. After getting dried and dressed, a pair of chairs and a table containing their meal then appeared. Dobby and Winky seemed determined to spoil them.
Since Luna was the one with Voldemort's memories, she would let Harry take control as they wrote the notes for Dumbledore. With both of them looking over those memories while writing, they should be able to log every detail available. This however resulted in Luna passing Harry over to Hermione so the couple could enjoy dinner together.
Luna actually enjoyed watching her friend blush as Hermione and Harry were obviously having a conversation about what had just taken place. Both girls could see from Harry's memories that he'd led a pretty loveless life up until this point, even the only memories he could recall of his parents were horrific and dementor induced. Luna could actually feel the boost in confidence Harry received by Hermione deliberately demonstrating to him how much she loved him.
With Harry, actions would always speak louder than words and Luna was delighted by Hermione's actions. In that relationship, Hermione was always going to be the one who had to take the lead. Harry simply had no reference in his life to compare against how a loving relationship should unfold and progress. Those disgusting relatives of his were certainly not examples he would like to emulate. Luna thought it was fair to say that discovering from Hermione he would never have to go back there again was, up until their shared shower earlier, the highlight of Harry's entire life.
They had a lovely meal together before Luna and Harry would need to start the notes for the headmaster. They would also need to ensure there was space on the notes to add any more information Luna discovered tonight.
-oOoOo-
Luna's eyes sprang open and Hermione got to see a whole other side of her friend, Luna Lovegood was absolutely livid. Harry joined Hermione as they waited to discover what had gotten their normally so placid friend angrier than they had ever seen her.
"Hermione, Dumbledore is not our friend, and certainly not to be trusted. Harry is a child of prophecy, and I know from sharing Harry that Dumbledore has never mentioned that fact."
"Luna, neither Harry nor I have any idea what that means…"
"There was a prophecy made before Harry was born. It was made to Dumbledore by Trelawney, Snape heard it and then told Voldemort. That's why the Potters were hiding, and that's why Voldemort keeps coming after Harry. The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches ... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies …"
"Oh shit! Harry's even angrier than you are at that news. He asked Dumbledore at the end of our first year why Voldemort was after him, the headmaster refused to answer. Dumbledore didn't lie, the headmaster just refused to give Harry the information he really needed - and we all think entitled to know. Does Dumbledore know Snape overheard the prophecy, and that he told Voldemort?"
"Yes. After hearing that, Voldemort sent Snape to get close to Dumbledore and be his master's spy. Snape begged his master to spare Lily's life, that's why Voldemort asked her to step aside…"
"What! Did Snape really think Harry's mother was just going to step aside and let Voldemort kill her baby? That sick greasy pig has made Harry's life a misery since he set foot inside Hogwarts, and yet he was responsible for making Harry an orphan in the first place."
Hermione forced herself to take a couple of deep breaths and try to calm down, not something that was easy to do with a very angry Harry exploding inside her head. "Okay, this news takes the situation to an entirely different level, one that is way beyond us. We need Sirius, Remus and your dad involved in this as quickly as possible. What about the notes and fangs, do we still leave them for Dumbledore tomorrow?"
Luna thought for a moment before answering. "While Dumbledore might not be our friend, he's certainly Voldemort's enemy. I think we can trust him to do whatever is necessary to finish Voldemort off."
Hermione was nodding at that. "Harry agrees, however reluctantly. Did you find any more information on those horcruxes?"
"The cave is near where the orphanage used to take the children to the coast on day trips. Dumbledore visited the orphanage with Tom's Hogwarts letter, he should be able to track that information down. The Gaunt shack should also be easy for him to find, a visit to the ministry and that information will be there."
Getting Luna talking had certainly bled some of the edge off her anger, Hermione brought up another subject to keep her on that path. "How did Harry fare against the dementors and Voldemort this time?"
"Oh Hermione, he was fantastic. I could see Voldemort trying to alter Harry's happy memory but he totally failed. Not only that, Harry's feelings for you were hurting Voldemort. He's so full of hate that Harry's love for you acted like sunlight on a vampire. After his first few attacks failed to have any affect on Harry, Voldemort stayed well back and hid. In you, Harry has a potent weapon that we might be able to use to hurt that piece of Voldemort inside your boyfriend. That's why I was so angry."
"Eh, sorry Luna, you lost both of us again…"
"If Harry's love for you hurts that piece of Voldemort in his head then we now have a place to start looking for a method to get it out of there. There are love based rituals that are every bit as powerful as those dark ones Voldemort performed on himself, and these love based rituals are certainly something he wouldn't have considered. With you both being virgins, that will increase the power of those rituals substantially…"
Hermione knew Luna's views on things like this were decidedly more liberal than those of her or Harry, this suggestion however was taking things just too far for the listening couple. She couldn't help the shocked gasp that escaped her lips. "Luna!"
Her blonde friend just continued as if Hermione hadn't said anything. "…I saw us getting that thing out of Harry, and then all three of us heading out of Britain - leaving our problems behind. Now, with this stupid prophecy, Voldemort would simply follow us. That's why I said we should still leave the fangs and notes on Dumbledore's desk. He takes care of them while we take care of the one inside Harry. After accomplishing all that, we would need to see what came next."
She then noticed the shocked look on Hermione's face. "What?"
"Are you saying I should have sex with Harry in order to get that thing out his head?"
"No, Hermione." Hermione's relief was short lived as Luna continued. "I'm saying you and Harry should make love to each other as part of a ritual, that should get that thing out of Harry's head. I would help Harry in an instant, knowing it would be saving his life. It wouldn't work with me though. I know from sharing Harry that he likes me, that sharing also tells me who it is he really loves. It's that love that will hopefully drive Voldemort out Harry's head. Harry just having sex with someone won't get the job done."
Seeing she had shocked Hermione into silence, Luna told her friends a few home truths. "Harry will be fifteen next month, you will be sixteen about six weeks later. My birthday is in September too, I'll be the same age as Harry. I've certainly had thoughts about sex, from sharing Harry we both know he has too. I seriously doubt you're any different from us. This is simply an option, Hermione, we still need to get Harry out of Azkaban before anything else can even be considered. Before discovering your love could hurt Voldemort though, we had nothing. You keep Harry tonight. Knowing we've found this, added to getting out of here tomorrow and spending some of the summer with my friends, I'll be fine just snuggling in."
Luna proceeded to do just that, and Hermione found herself just wrapping the blonde in her arms. All her focus however was turned inward. She wanted to know what her boyfriend thought of this idea.
Sensing her insecurities resurfacing, Harry did his best to reassure his girlfriend. "You must know I love you, and also think you're beautiful. Hermione, never doubt for a second that I desire you."
"What about Luna's suggestion, do you believe it?"
"I trust Luna with my life, she certainly believes it. I think we have to do what she suggested...and wait until I get out of Azkaban before discussing it further."
The deliberate pause in Harry's thoughts took Hermione's breath away, until he added the second part. "You did that on purpose, but you're also right." Hearing Harry chuckling inside her head was lovely, Hermione wanted some revenge though.
"Just remember, you get to be the one who tells my parents about the love ritual."
It was Harry's turn to be shocked into silence, while Hermione chuckled and snuggled into Luna. Tomorrow would be a long day, they just had no idea how long.
-oOoOo-
Breakfast that morning saw Hermione and Luna down in the great hall early, as was Hedwig with a parcel delivery for Luna from her father. It was copies of the latest edition of the Quibbler, and they were explosive. While the Prophet might have informed the witches and wizards of Britain what was currently happening to Harry Potter, the Quibbler went into areas its competitor wouldn't even dare. This issue of the Quibbler informed its readers the reasons behind why Harry Potter had been flung into Azkaban.
Hermione gave Harry control as he surreptitiously signed a couple of copies, doing so on Hermione's knee so the table hid just what they were up to. Luna then left to ensure there would be at least two Quibblers on each of the four house tables. She even passed one up to Professor McGonagall, just to make sure that the staff table had access to a copy too. She then returned to Hermione's side.
As Ron sat down across from them, all his preprepared questions died in his throat as Hermione casually slid a copy of the Quibbler toward him. The headline really said it all, Harry Potter - in his own words. Ron could only let out a low whistle at what the girls had achieved. An excited Colin then joined them.
"My picture was accredited, I wasn't expecting that. Please thank your father for me, Luna."
Hermione had something that would please Colin even more. She handed the boy his own personalised issue. His eyes nearly popped out his head as Colin tried to understand.
"How did he manage this?"
"Colin, this is Harry we're talking about here. He really did appreciate your help with this."
The only way Harry was getting out of Azkaban was if the magical public rose up and demanded Fudge set Harry free. Getting the word out there that Voldemort had returned was certainly phase one of that plan. Having the witches and wizards of Britain thinking Harry is even more powerful than they thought was phase two. They would then think Harry even more capable of dealing with the newly returned bogyman - Voldemort. Anything learned in Hogwarts today would quickly be passed on to the parents when their sons and daughters got off the train in London. Hermione was sure Colin would certainly show everyone what she'd just handed him.
Colin looked again at his new most prized possession. An issue of a national newspaper with a photograph of his on the front page, made all the more special because it was signed 'to my friend, Colin' with Harry Potter's signature across the bottom.
A first year Hufflepuff then approached, a couple of her friends tagging along for moral support. "Hermione, Harry thanked my father in the paper. How did Harry know his name?"
"Abi, if Harry can get letters out of Azkaban, don't you think he could find out your father's name? He managed this too." Hermione handed over another signed copy of the Quibbler. "Harry also knows about the pictures on your wall, this one's for you."
The girl could hardly breathe as she noticed what was written there, she read it out to her friends. "To my friend, Abi. Thanks for all your help, love Harry. Did Harry really write this?"
She held it up to Hermione, desperate for proof positive, but it was Ron who answered. "That's definitely Harry's handwriting, you could never fake that."
Hearing that from Harry's best friend, while Harry's girlfriend nodded in agreement, saw Abi clutching her precious copy to her chest and making her way back over to Hufflepuff with her equally astonished friends.
The staff missed most of this byplay, they were too busy gathered around the copy of the Quibbler Luna had handed to Minerva. While aware Voldemort had returned, all were rather surprised at the eloquent way Harry had laid out the happenings of that evening. It was precise, detailed, yet there was nothing in there to distract from the narrative of the important events. Harry hadn't mentioned Pettigrew or any of the death eaters who were later summoned to the graveyard by name. Pettigrew was simply referred to as a known death eater who killed Cedric and played a critical role in his master's return.
It was Harry's summation that shocked the staff of Hogwarts, they could imagine it having the same affect on anyone who read this.
I did not enter myself into the Tri-Wizard tournament. I was informed by a ministry official I had to compete, or lose my magic. What kind of choice is that for anyone to make? I did not murder Cedric Diggory, yet the Minister of Magic himself ordered my arrest. I am only fourteen but have been placed in the high security wing of Azkaban, with the Minister's Under-Secretary ordering the prison governor to double the dementor guards on the wing. The laws of the land are being bent, if not outright broken, in an attempt to force my support for the stance Minister Fudge has taken on the Voldemort matter, something I will never do.
With Voldemort's return, and our Minister of Magic too frightened even to acknowledge that fact, magical Britain is no longer safe for a number of its subjects. My advice would be to do the same as I intend to, leave the country at the first opportunity. Since the Minister was nice enough to declare me a legal adult, a decision that magically cannot be overturned or reversed, I have now spent my last day in Hogwarts and will be leaving Britain when they eventually see sense and release me from Azkaban.
While the staff may have missed Colin and Abi receiving their signed copies of the Quibbler, it was impossible not to notice the loud altercation that was now taking place at the Gryffindor table. When Weasley tempers were involved, shouting became the new norm.
Hermione spotted the long red hair out the corner of her eye, this was something she'd hoped to avoid. Ginny though appeared angrier than even Ron had seen her, and hell bent on a confrontation with the source of that anger.
"You're taking Harry away from us." The accusation was loudly spat at Hermione.
"Ginny, I seem to remember it was the Minister of Magic who ordered a pair of aurors to drag Harry away. Since I was there, and you weren't, I fail to see how you reached that conclusion..."
"You know what I'm taking about, Granger. Harry wouldn't be leaving Hogwarts if you hadn't decided to attend Beauxbatons. He's had the entire castle not speaking to him a couple of times before, fought a basilisk to save me and outflew a dragon - yet never wanted to leave Hogwarts. We were actually glad you decided to bugger off to France, Harry might actually get a chance to meet someone without you always hanging around. Hermione Granger wouldn't stand for that however. No, she is so selfish that she has to take our Harry away from us..."
Ginny was standing there, fists clenched in fury, as Hermione now stood to face her accuser. Harry was at a loss to understand what was happening here but Hermione understood - jealousy. She asked Harry if he had any objections to what she planned to say, he had none.
"Okay, let's work our way through that. The Minister of Magic chucked Harry into Azkaban for telling the truth, there's no coming back from that. Unless this country decides to do something about corrupt officials who feel laws don't apply to them, magical Britain is on the road to ruin. Yes Harry fought a basilisk to save you, but Harry would have still fought that basilisk to save Millicent Bulstrode - that's just who Harry is. Don't go reading anymore into the situation than that, you just happened to be there."
This raised a few chuckles, though outnumbered by shouts of 'leave Bulstrode down there'. Hermione ignored everything but the redhead in front of her.
"Where were all these people wanting to meet Harry when they thought he was the heir of Slytherin, or a cheat who entered himself in the tournament? There is no 'our Harry', he asked me to be his girlfriend - not anyone else. You are his best mate's annoying little sister, someone who sits making cow-eyes at him and runs away blushing if Harry even looks in your direction. Going for your wand would be another poor decision, Ginevra..."
Fred and George thought so too, especially with McGonagall bearing down on them. They grabbed their sister and began dragging her away. Ginny resisted furiously, until she spotted McGonagall. Remembering the twins motto, 'don't get caught', she relented. This wasn't over though, there was still a train ride to London.
Seeing her mere presence had ended the altercation, Minerva turned her attention to Hermione. "Can I assume, Miss Granger, that you refuse to pass on any knowledge of how Mister Potter achieved this letter too?"
Hermione didn't back down an inch. "Can I assume the headmaster won't try and enter my mind again to take those answers for himself?" The gasps that produced around the great hall just confirmed what she and Harry already knew, everyone was listening to what was happening here. They decided to use that to their advantage.
"Professor, there is a rather famous quote from an Irish muggle that I think works here. All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. All of magical Britain is doing nothing while an innocent Harry lies in Azkaban, and this is the person who saved you all before. That is why both Harry and I will be leaving the country, no matter what anyone else says."
Hermione turned and walked away, leaving a stunned McGonagall behind. Luna quickly followed, as did Ron. He clearly had something to say but Luna got in first.
"Hermione, remember what happened when Madam Bones received her letter. I think someone else will be receiving visitors today."
"Oh hell, you're right. Ron, I'm gonna need your help on the train. Since we're leaving Hogwarts, I'll also be able to explain some of what is going on. Sorry about Ginny back there, she came looking for an argument and found one."
He just nodded his agreement to all of that. Keeping his mouth shut at the moment and not letting his own Weasley temper out was probably for the best. At least he would discover what was going on later.
-oOoOo-
Amelia didn't need to be a genius to discover what was going on here. Being summoned to the minister's office, and finding Dolores standing there with a copy of today's Quibbler in her hand.
"Madam Bones, I demand you take a squad of aurors and shut this publication down at once. We can't have people just making things up and passing it off as the truth."
"I'm sorry Minister, I can't do that." Before Dolores could butt in, Amelia cut the legs from under her. "I have already investigated this publication today. Xeno Lovegood received a letter from Harry Potter, laying everything out just as he reported it..."
"Impossible! Potter is in Azkaban..."
Again Amelia cut her off, this time by producing her own letter from Harry. "I received this from Mister Potter, while he was in Azkaban. I took it to Hogwarts and the handwriting was confirmed as his - as was the information contained in the letter."
Cornelius stared at the letter in shock, Amelia's version named all the death eaters who supposedly answered the dark lord's summons to the graveyard. "How is this possible, Amelia?"
"I don't know and, since I'm being blocked from speaking with Mister Potter, I have no way of finding out. The letter sent to the Quibbler is genuine, and Mister Potter insisted not a word of it be changed. That is why Xeno used the dark lord's name, rather than you-know-who. The Quibbler clearly states these are Mister Potter's own words, and they have the evidence to back all their claims up. There is absolutely nothing I could charge them with."
Amelia then found herself being dismissed and left the minister's office with a smile. It was hard not to as both Fudge and Umbridge appeared as if they were trying to lay ostrich sized eggs.
The door had hardly closed behind Amelia when Fudge pushed the panic button. "Dolores, you need to head for Azkaban immediately and discover what is going on. This is making us a laughing stock. We put him in our most secure facility yet Potter seems to have discovered a method of bypassing that security. Find out how he's doing this, and then put a stop to it. We need to get on top of this before all the owls start arriving demanding action."
Dolores stormed out Cornelius' office, promising under her breath to stop Potter - permanently if she needed to.
Chapter 6
An Open Door
Luna was practically dragging Hermione onto the express. "We need to hurry, Hermione. He's vulnerable at the moment."
"So will you be..."
"...but I've got you to watch over me."
"Not until the train is underway, Luna. We need to wait until it has at least left the station, it's just too dangerous otherwise."
Luna relented and they found an empty carriage. Ron followed them in, determined to hear this explanation.
The train was barely moving when Luna stretched out on the bench seat, her head resting in Hermione's lap as the blonde then closed her eyes. Hermione ran her fingers through that blonde hair while speaking to Ron.
"It will just be you and me for a while, Luna isn't with us at the moment…"
"Hermione, saying Luna isn't all there is hardly shocking news…"
"That's not what I said, Ron…"
Their argument was ended before it could begin by Ginny entering the carriage, her wand already in her hand. "We have unfinished business, Granger. What have you done to Luna?"
Ron stood to intercept his sister before a fight started, Hermione used that distraction to fire a stunner past him. She caught Ginny's now stunned body with a levicorpous spell and was moving her over to the opposite seat when Ron exploded.
"What do you think you're doing? That's my sister…"
"I know she's your sister, she's also the only person I know with a temper worse than yours. I told you Luna's not here, that means I have to protect her. There's no way I was allowing Ginny to start firing spells off in this compartment while Luna can't defend herself. Make it look as if Ginny's sleeping and then I'll tell you what's happening here."
Placing Ginny in the window corner of the seat across from Hermione and arranging his sister as if she'd just fallen asleep, Ron then quickly turned his attention back onto Hermione. "Okay now talk, and I'd better like what I hear."
"When I said Luna wasn't with us at the moment, I meant she was elsewhere. Luna can leave her body and rove, she's heading for Azkaban to see what the ministry's reaction is to that article in the Quibbler - and of course to contact Harry."
"You do know how insane that sounds, don't you?"
"Ron, I didn't believe it at first either but Luna was able to tell me things only Harry would know. I would be prepared to swear on my magic that Luna's heading toward Azkaban to help Harry. I can't and won't allow anything or anyone to interfere with that, even if their last name is Weasley."
"You really believe Luna that strongly?"
"I've spent each of the last few nights watching over Luna's body while she heads for Azkaban. She's helping Harry immensely as he fights the effects of the dementors, it also helps me knowing how he's coping. How do you think we've managed all of this?"
Hermione was holding back from telling Ron that Harry could rove too. At the moment they weren't trusting anyone with that news.
Ron could see he wasn't getting told the full story but again reckoned he couldn't betray what he didn't know. He also didn't think Luna was anywhere near smart enough to fool Hermione, few were.
"I need your help, Ron. As you can see, Luna is incredibly vulnerable while she's visiting Harry. If Malfoy and his goons show up for their usual visit, we need to protect her." She knew Ron was always going to back her up with that task, he still had a question though.
"…and what about Ginny?"
"I just don't have time to deal with her jealousies. My entire family are having to leave Britain because it's not safe for us any more. Harry's being forced into doing the same. Voldemort's back, and neither Hogwarts nor the ministry have a good record of protecting him. All Ginny sees though is her chances of dating the boy-who-lived disappearing, and not the danger Harry's in if he stays here. That's her problem, Ron, not mine. She came to me this morning looking for an argument, she then stepped into this carriage looking for a fight - her wand was already in her hand. So not happening, Ron, I have far more important things to deal with than your little sister's jealousy. Harry and Luna are both depending on me, there's no way I'm going to let them down."
Having watched Hermione face down Dumbledore and McGonagall that night in the infirmary, Ron could understand why Ginny would be nothing more than a minor irritation. When it came to defending Harry, Ron himself knew Hermione would plough right through him too in her efforts to achieve that goal. She would probably regret doing it but Hermione wouldn't hesitate. Looking at Ginny resting there, Ron thought it was probably for the best not to revive his sister. Hermione and Ginny firing curses at each other was never going to end well.
"So, is this the last time I'm going to see you?"
This change of tact had tears forming in the corners of Hermione's eyes. "I hope we'll see each other again, you know both Harry and I will write. We just don't know what's in front of us Ron."
This actually drew a chuckle from Ron. "We never have - the three of us just faced whatever came up together. Now you're heading to France and Harry's still stuck in Azkaban. I might be heading back to the Burrow as normal but we know this is anything but normal. Everything is changing and I don't know what to do about it."
There were students passing their compartment and looking in, seeing Hermione and Ron sitting chatting as normal dispelled any concerns about the two sleeping girls. Sleeping on a long train journey wasn't exactly an unusual occurrence. What might be regarded unusual though was Malfoy's non appearance.
Since there was already a groundswell of bad feeling against Slytherin from the other three houses, and Snape wasn't here to defend them if anything kicked off, the snakes were keeping a decidedly low profile on the train. There were a lot more students, other than Luna and Hermione, who wouldn't be returning to Hogwarts come September, disgusted as they received a glimpse over the last week of how things really were in Hogwarts. These students now had nothing to lose so taunting them any further could see an unwelcome backlash - unwelcome to anyone wearing Slytherin robes that is.
-oOoOo-
It was a thoroughly agitated Dolores who arrived in Azkaban, what she subsequently found there drove her temper to new heights.
"I told yeah, he just lays there all day in some kinda trance. He must wake up at night 'cause his food n' water are empty in the mornin'."
To say Dolores didn't take this news too well would have been a massive understatement. Potter was supposed to be a quivering wreck by now, not laying there sleeping as if he didn't have a care in the world. This was intended to be a severe punishment yet he seemed oblivious to his surroundings. How in the name of Merlin was this supposed to break him?
"Why didn't you inform me this was his reaction to being here? What's the point of doubling the number of dementors if he can just ignore them?"
"My job is to keep him here, nothin' else. He's here, ain't he? I wish more of the prisoners were like him, not one complaint 'bout anythin' has passed his lips."
"You moron, I want him to be complaining. I want him screaming for his dead mother twenty-four hours a day, not lying there sleeping. Wake him up."
This saw the governor of Azkaban shaking his head. "When he first did this, we tried. Nothing would wake him. After seein' he wasn't ill, we monitored the situation every couple o' hours and saw that he'd eaten and drank. After that, we just let him be."
"I didn't come all this way to watch the little shit lie there and sleep. Either you wake him or I will."
"You're making enough noise to waken the dead. Could you keep it down, some of us are trying to sleep here. I thought I wasn't allowed visitors? If I'd known you were coming I would have tidied my cell up a bit." Harry never opened his eyes, nor raised his voice above that of a conversational tone, the result though was electric.
Both his visitors reacted with a jolt, Dolores recovered first. "Now you're awake, I want to know how you got these lies out of Azkaban."
"I would like to know how someone like you ended up under the minister, it wasn't for your people skills. I would also like to be on a certain train with my friends, you denied me that. I learned early on we rarely get what we want in life, me being here just reinforces that lesson - so why should you be any different?"
Harry still had his eyes closed so missed the look of hatred and determination that Dolores now wore. He also missed seeing her take a small bottle out of her pocket. "Oh, you will tell me everything I want to know - I guarantee it…"
She was interrupted by the governor. "If you're plannin' on usin' truth serum, I'll need written orders. You'll also need to have a healer present. Veritaserum is a controlled substance for a reason, it's not somethin' that just anyone can mess 'bout with."
Dolores pinned the man with her beady stare. "The Minister of Magic placed me in charge of this investigation, not you. That makes Potter mine to do whatever I want with. Can I suggest you go and sit in that office of yours. I'm sure there must be something you could be doing right now, rather than standing here with me."
Harry opened his eyes to see an expression of pity for him on the governor's face, the man still left him with Umbridge. She though had a parting comment, or should that be threat. "Oh, and Governor, should I discover anyone in Azkaban helped Potter get this information out, they and you will be having a close and long look at the inside of one of these cells."
"Today's the first time any o' us have heard a peep out o' the lad since you threw him in there. It wasn't any o' my people helpin' this lad tell the whole country the truth. There was you and the minister goin' to all that bother o' lockin' him away too, and all for nowt - such a pity that."
A livid Dolores then focused her attention on the teen lying on the bed. "Right, Potter, now you're mine."
Placing Harry in a body bind allowed Dolores to force the required amount of truth serum passed his lips. "Soon you'll be telling me everything I want to know, and exactly what you and Dumbledore are up to with these you-know-who is back lies."
-oOoOo-
Dumbledore had no idea what to do next, after walking into his office and discovering a treasure trove sitting atop his desk. He was now sitting at that same desk, surrounded by the 'presents' that had somehow appeared there - of course this was long after the express had left Hogsmeade.
He called the Grey Lady to his office, she tearfully confirmed that was indeed her mother's diadem - and that it was now missing the disgusting taint Tom Riddle had placed on it. Albus was left with no option but to believe the rest of the notes, and the presence of basilisk fangs confirmed beyond the handwriting that Harry simply had to be involved. No one else could enter the chamber and gain access to them.
He would search the old Gaunt place tomorrow, that was certainly the easiest horcrux to get to and should prove beyond any doubt that the information was correct. Since this tied in perfectly with Albus' own theories on Voldemort, he was already sure this was all true.
What was leaving him flummoxed was how Harry came to be in possession of all this information, and how it ended up on his desk with Harry in Azkaban. The cold hand of fear then ran their fingers down Albus' spine. If Harry knew all this, what else did he know? Miss Granger, Sirius and Remus had already lost their trust in him. If Harry knew more of Albus' secrets, he would surely lose the boy's trust too.
Albus would need to think about that later, he had a meeting to attend in his brother's establishment - with still no idea what he was going to say to those members of the order who would be turning up. Molly was sure to harangue him over Harry still being in Azkaban, it wasn't as if he wasn't trying to get the boy out. He couldn't even get near the boy, which just made Harry being able to contact him - from Azkaban directly to the Headmaster's office, and via a visit to the chamber of secrets - all the more unbelievable.
-oOoOo-
With a deep breath, Luna shot off Hermione's lap and sat upright - practically scaring the life out of Ron. That Luna was in floods of tears was having a similar affect on Hermione, that was until she felt Harry enter her. Hermione's arms then shot out to hold the sobbing and shaking girl.
"It was horrible, Hermione. It was that Umbridge witch, she has to be a death eater. She cast the cruciatus curse on Harry!"
As Hermione was getting the story from Harry, it was left to Ron to interrupt.
"What? Are you sure?"
It was now Hermione's turn to jump in, letting Luna know just how much information she had passed on to Ron.
"Ron knows you can leave your body, Luna, and that you've been visiting Harry in Azkaban."
Luna was clinging to Hermione, trying to reboot her brain yet her concern for Harry was swamping everything. His spirit may be currently inside Hermione but should anything kill his body in Azkaban, Harry would simply fade away.
"I got there just in time, Umbridge cleared the wing of all other guards and then gave Harry the truth serum. She kept asking him all these ridiculous questions about Dumbledore and conspiracies, she was also determined to discover how Harry got news out of Azkaban. I was able to help him fight off the potion's effects though, Harry just kept repeating Voldemort was back. Asking why she didn't believe him, since she herself had given him the truth serum saw Umbridge really lose her temper."
Hermione was watching the scene from Harry's perspective as Umbridge decided the ends justified the means. She needed that information and Harry was going to give it to her. It was the gleam of satisfaction in her eyes that was really scary as Umbridge withdrew her wand, almost as if she was delighted to have this excuse and opportunity to torture Harry.
"She used the cruciatus on him, Hermione, and the cracks were getting wider."
Ron just took that last remark to be more of Luna's weirdness but both Harry and Hermione were alarmed by that news. The express was about an hour out from London so they would need to wait until tonight before being able to return and check on Harry's body.
Luna was now becoming more aware of her surroundings and just had to ask. "Hermione, why is Ginny sleeping in the corner?"
-oOoOo-
Voldemort was not a happy dark lord, something someone was soon going to pay for. He was sure the matter of his return had been contained, only for it then to be broadcast, in great and embarrassingly accurate detail, the length and breadth of Britain by that rag, The Quibbler.
Lucius had been dispatched post haste to discover just what was going on at the ministry. Since the article made them look like fools too, Voldemort was waiting to learn what action they intended to take - before taking any of his own. Seeing his servant return and kneel before him, he impatiently waved his hand for Lucius to speak.
"Master, Potter somehow got a letter out of Azkaban. He sent it to the Quibbler, knowing the Prophet wouldn't be allowed to print such a thing. He also managed to send a letter to Bones. In this one he named every follower who answered your summons that night in the graveyard."
"And just how did Potter manage this?"
"No one knows, yet. Fudge is panicking, and sent Umbridge off to Azkaban to interrogate the brat. We will hopefully know more later, after she returns."
Voldemort sat in silence for a few moments, figuring out his next move. That this silence played on the nerves of his followers was also a bonus, it kept his death eaters on their toes.
"Go, collect your son, Lucius. Gauge how this news has been perceived on the platform and I will speak to your son later. I'm anxious to hear how Hogwarts reacted to this news, and whether Draco's version matches Severus'."
Lucius was up and out of there as quickly as manners allowed. Delivering bad news to the dark lord rarely saw anyone escape his master's wrath. To leave without being cursed was a welcome bonus the Malfoy patriarch was certainly not expecting.
-oOoOo-
A tearful Hermione had Ron wrapped in a hug as the express pulled into Kings Cross. The friends were saying their goodbyes here - rather than on the platform. He was going to wait until Hermione and Luna had left before reviving Ginny. If his firebrand of a sister wanted to pick a fight on the platform, in front of all the parents, Ron was certain Ginny would quickly be stopped.
Ron was also fighting back the tears. This felt like he was saying goodbye to someone who, over the last four years, had become as important to Ron as the rest of his family. If Harry had been here too, Ron was certain the entire trio would be blubbering by now.
"This is not goodbye, Ron, like we'll never see each other again. We'll keep in touch and who knows, a visit to France might soon be in your future too. You'll be able to spend some of the holidays with us at least, instead of Harry and I heading for the Burrow. I will not lose one of the best friends I've ever had, and you know what I'm like when I put my mind to something."
This had Ron chuckling, until Hermione kissed him on the cheek. His face became as red as his hair and Ron could then barely mumble 'bye'.
As Hermione left the carriage with Luna, Harry confirmed his girlfriend was right.
"Ron almost passed out because you kissed him on the cheek. You kissing him on the lips to transfer me would have blown his mind, he'd never be able to accept you were just friends after doing that."
"I know Harry and I feel terrible… Not about the kissing part, I'm saving those for you. It's more Ron knows I'm not telling him everything but I simply can't. Molly just has to look at Ron and she could get everything he knows out of him - without even having to enter his mind."
"I just hope she's here, and gets a hold of Ginny fast. The ministry would fall all over themselves trying to charge you with using magic underage, even just defending yourself on the platform wouldn't stop them bringing charges."
"It will be okay…" Hermione only realised she'd spoken that last part out loud when Luna's hand slipped into hers.
"Who are you trying to reassure Hermione, me, you or Harry?"
"All three of us Luna - aw shit! Look who's standing beside my mum and dad."
"I've never met your mum and dad, but I'm assuming you mean the couple talking to Dumbledore?"
"Yes, the last bloody person I wanted to see anywhere near them. Potter, you're having an affect on my language too. I used to shout at you and Ron for using words like that."
With Harry inside her head and Luna holding her hand, both could tell that last part was Hermione's poor attempt at humour, trying not to lose her temper at Dumbledore's interference with her family. Hermione was leaving Britain and Hogwarts in her attempts to keep her parents safe, Albus Dumbledore standing next to them was not a welcoming sight.
Hermione's view was soon blocked by her mother rushing toward her, a grade one Granger hug followed as they collided.
"Oh my, Hermione. You've grown so much. Professor Dumbledore was kind enough to bring us onto the platform, since this will be your last time leaving the train."
"Professor Dumbledore isn't kind, mum. He only does things like that when it suits him. He's probably spent the time pumping you for information while getting his side of the story across. Did you look inside my parents' minds too, Professor, or is that something you reserve for students supposedly in your care?"
Putting on his best caring grandfather expression, Albus easily managed to appear hurt by those words. "Do you mistrust me so much, Miss Granger, that you could think that of me? I just wanted to ensure your parents received the information that Harry had been locked in Azkaban unjustly. I didn't want them thinking your boyfriend was a murderer."
That appeared to be the opening her father had been waiting on. "…and why are we hearing from your headmaster that our daughter has a boyfriend? This isn't even the same boy you went to that ball with at Christmas. Just what is going on, Hermione?"
"Dad, Harry has been my best friend since first year. We were going to get together after Harry completed the final task. We didn't get the chance since he was arrested by the minister of Magic right out of his hospital bed that night - and Dumbledore stood there with his hands in his pockets. Trust me, had that not happened, you and mum would have heard all about my wonderful boyfriend before now. We didn't even manage to have our first kiss before Harry was dragged away."
That last sentence calmed Dan Granger immensely, he was now hugging his daughter as Dumbledore switched targets.
"Miss Lovegood, I didn't know you were such good friends with Miss Granger?"
The blonde ex-Hogwarts student wasn't phased in the slightest by this. "Since I attended your school for three years and this is the first time you've ever spoken to me, I don't think it's surprising that you didn't know Hermione and Harry are my two best friends."
"You know Harry too?"
"Well enough to know he's very angry at you. Harry asked you a question at the end of his first year and you refused to answer, was protecting Professor Snape really worth losing the prophesied child?"
Albus had come here hoping for some answers, Miss Lovegood had just confirmed his worst fears. Although he still had no idea where Harry was finding this information, far less how he was getting it out of Azkaban, there was no longer any doubt the lad knew about the prophecy - and apparently how Voldemort discovered the details too.
As Miss Granger was introducing her friend to her parents, Albus was at a loss to understand how he moved on from here. Harry had every right to be angry at him for withholding that information, saying he was too young at the time wouldn't win Albus any points with the boy. His only consolation was that Harry still trusted him to deal with Voldemort's horcruxes. It wasn't much, especially when compared against Harry leaving Britain, but at the moment it was all Albus had.
The sneering voice coming from next to him pulled Albus from his thoughts.
"Seriously, Dumbledore, muggles on our side of the platform? That's a step too far, even for you. We're not prepared to accept this filth in our world anymore..."
Watching Hermione's shocked expression at Lucius Malfoy's vile words against her parents saw Luna fire a verbal retort at the blond wizard. "You already tried to cleanse the filth from Hogwarts with your basilisk ploy, and Harry stopped you in your tracks. Have you told your master what happened to his diary yet? Discovering Harry Potter punched a hole right through it, with a fang from the basilisk he just killed will really piss Voldemort off. I would hate to be in your shoes then."
Albus Dumbledore standing on platform nine and three quarters was always going to attract attention, Lucius had played on this when he had rather loudly lambasted the old coot. That attention from the parents and students was now multiplied and decidedly unwelcome. Lucius was so shocked by these revelations being made public, he had no answer for the young girl. He was far too busy glancing around to see if there was anyone on the platform who would take that news back to their master. Stabbing a fellow death eater in the back to advance your own position was all part of the game, Lucius had certainly done it often enough.
Draco was about to mouth off in his father's defence when Hermione hit him with a pre-emptive strike. "Hey ferret, you seemed to enjoy your time down the front of Crabbe's trousers. Is there anything you want to tell us?"
The sniggering and chuckling this caused had both Malfoys now red faced. Luna though had more to say on the matter. "It must really hurt that it was a death eater who stopped you cursing Harry in the back. Then again, it's the ministry who chucked Harry in Azkaban - and they call me loony!"
Dumbledore looked on in admiration as these two young witches verbally destroyed both the Malfoy patriarch and heir in public. That this was also the last time Albus would see both these witches was distressing, that Harry Potter would surely follow these two witches out of Britain was a disaster - a disaster he currently had no idea how to avert.
As the Malfoys sulked away with their tails between their legs, the Granger party found themselves being approached by Amelia Bones. "Very well done there, you two. Too many people are influenced by Malfoy's wealth so let him do whatever he wants. Even although I know you are determined to leave us, Miss Granger, my offer of help is still there."
"Hermione?" The plea in her voice was nothing compared to the one Luna was broadcasting with her eyes. Knowing they were really out of their depth with this, Hermione nodded to her blonde friend.
"Mum, dad, this is Madam Bones. She is Head of the Magical Law Enforcement Department at the ministry. Would you mind if I took a couple of minutes to speak with her - privately." Hermione left no one in any doubt her last comment was aimed at Dumbledore.
Her parents were clever people and recognised that they too were way out of their depth in this situation. They hardly recognised their daughter, she'd grown in more ways than physically. Hermione had just slapped down her headmaster and a man they last saw fighting with Arthur Weasley. They gave their permission, on the understanding Hermione didn't leave their sight.
Moving to the back of the platform, Amelia had no sooner erected a privacy charm when the information from this young witch blew her mind.
"Madam Bones, Umbridge is currently in Azkaban torturing Harry. When she couldn't get the information she wanted using veritaserum, she started using the cruciatus curse on him. Please, Harry never asked to be a child of prophecy. He needs help and we have no one else to turn to."
Getting her brain back into gear, Amelia asked a question she really needed to know the answer to. After the earlier letter revelations, Amelia believed this witch. She felt though that there was a more pressing question than how they were getting that information from someone locked in the high security wing of Azkaban.
"Can you tell me why you don't trust Dumbledore to help you with this?"
"Oh, we would be here all day, and that's time Harry might not have -that woman Umbridge is psychotic. Dumbledore knew Harry was involved in this prophecy concerning Voldemort, it's why he was attacked as a baby. He moves Harry about like a chess piece, even used him as bait in that tournament, and also withholds vital information. Did you know Voldemort had created horcruxes? That's why he didn't die, and Dumbledore has at least suspected that fact since the Halloween the Potters were murdered. Will you help Harry, help us?"
Taking a deep breath to counter the shocks that just kept coming, Amelia made a decision. "Miss Granger, if I help Mister Potter I want to know exactly what's going on here." The relief was clearly there for Amelia to see, as were the tears this brave young witch was fighting to hold back.
"Madam Bones, you help Harry out of that place and we'll tell you anything you want to know. You'll have to hurry though, that Umbridge would kill Harry and not lose any sleep over it."
Amelia didn't exactly have a high opinion of Dolores, and was aware she possessed a vicious streak against those who crossed her. She would see Susan home and then take action.
Dumbledore had made his excuses and left by the time Hermione rejoined her parents, the four headed off the platform to the muggle side.
"Mum, dad, I know you must have hundreds of questions - thanks for not demanding answers right now. I promise we will sit down and you'll soon know everything."
Emma could see both Hermione and her friend were clearly worried about something, the mother would go as far as to say they were frightened. "Can I at least ask where Crookshanks and your trunks are?"
"Oh a friend will be bringing them by later..."
"Hermione, Dumbledore left far too easily. He didn't come all this way for nothing, all he learned was that I know about the prophecy. There has to be something else, something we're missing..."
"I agree, but what?"
"Well, he already knows your address..."
"...but not where we're moving to - since we don't know ourselves yet."
"Dad, this is gonna seem strange but could you drive about randomly and then stop somewhere we can get a bit of privacy?"
"We should just let your mum drive, she does that naturally - it's called getting lost."
Hermione almost smiled at that as they climbed into her father's beloved Range Rover, a car all three of the Grangers knew he wouldn't let anyone else drive.
Rather than becoming upset at being the butt of the family joke, Emma watched Hermione explain seat belts to Luna before asking another question. "Do you think we might be followed dear?"
"Not like some wizard jumping in a taxi and shouting 'follow that Range Rover', there are other ways we could be tracked though."
Not liking what he was hearing, Dan had to speak up. "Hermione, if we're in danger then our little talk has to happen right this minute."
"I'll know better when we stop, dad. I'll do whatever is necessary to keep you and mum safe."
A worried look passed between the parents before Dan attempted a poor joke. "Emma, I thought we were supposed to be the ones keeping the girls safe?"
Hermione was deadly serious as she answered both her parents. "Not with this, you don't even know what we need protecting from."
They had barely escaped the station when Dan pulled into a small deserted car park of a now closed shop. "Okay, Hermione, time for some answers."
She got out the car while speaking to her parents. "I need to call a friend first. Dobby."
The little elf appeared with a pop. "Harry Potter's Grangy is calling Dobby, but Dobby does not think she wants her things brought here."
Hoping her parents didn't pick up on the 'Harry Potter's Grangy' bit, and knowing they missed nothing, Hermione told the little guy why she needed him. "Can you check if we are being tracked?"
Waving his hands saw all four of them light up, Dan and Emma were practically glowing. "Yous all have tracking charms on yous, will Dobby remove them?"
On hearing that, Dan got out the car. "These tracking charms, is that like being bugged?"
Dobby had no idea what that meant but Hermione confirmed her father was correct, as well as introducing Dobby to her parents.
The little elf bowed. "You is Dobby's family, Dobby and Winky are proud to serve such a wonderful family."
Hermione shaking her head at her father stopped all those extra questions - for now. Pointing to the cars and occasional bus passing on the road behind them, Dan then voiced his idea. "Instead of just removing those charms, could they be placed elsewhere?"
The cackle of laughter that came from the little elf was pure evil henchman in origin. Had Dobby been rubbing his hands together or twirling a waxed moustache, generations of cinema goers would have recognised his character at once. Since Dobby was certainly one of the good guys, it further highlighted just how mixed up wizarding society was.
"Dobby likes that idea, Dobby loves his sneaky new family."
One by one, the charms left those who'd been tagged and hit a different passing vehicle, both witches could see the tiny balls of light shoot from behind the Range Rover and attach themselves to vehicles that could be traveling anywhere in the country.
"If they were prepared to put multiple tracking charms on all four of you, whether it's death eaters or Dumbledore, they could still find your address. Going there isn't safe..."
Hermione agreed with Harry and had an idea. "Dad, do you still have gran's cottage?"
"We still own it but haven't been there in years. We were going to sell it before moving to France, the land it sits on is probably worth more than the cottage now. Are you saying we can't go home?"
"Dad, I'm saying we shouldn't go home. Malfoy would think nothing of turning up at our house with his death eater buddies and killing all of us. Luna, mum and I wouldn't get quick deaths, and they would probably make you watch. By their pureblood philosophy, we don't have the breeding to be allowed to live. Luna does but they'll class her as a blood traitor and kill her anyway. Malfoy is using his money to control the minister so don't expect any help from there either. This is why we need to leave Britain, we are literally fleeing for our lives."
This was Emma's cue to become involved. "If things are that bad, I vote we miss Newhaven altogether and head straight for Dover..."
"...with no luggage and, more importantly, no passports? We need to go home to at least pack."
"No dad, Dobby and Winky can take care of all that. More importantly, they can easily get out if the house is attacked while they're there." Hermione knelt to speak with the little elf.
"Dobby, can you find my grandmother's old cottage?"
"Dobby can find all his family's houses."
Hermione felt Harry take over to have a quiet word with the elf. "Move whatever the Grangers need out of their Crawley house for them. Take anything you need out the vault, the cottage has to be liveable and safe by the time we get there."
"Dobby and Winky will have house clean and dinner waiting on their family."
"You two are the best, see you soon."
With that, Dobby popped away to begin work while her parents stared at Hermione. "It's way past time we had some answers. You can start now, since we seem to have a longer drive in front of us."
Again Emma butted in, wanting her question answered first. "What was that little man, and when did he join our family?"
Hermione now sat beside Luna and thought this was going to be a long trip.
-oOoOo-
Dolores hated the long boat trip. For security though, it was the only way on and off Azkaban. The powerful wards redirected every other vessel, other than this little craft, away from the craggy island. She may not have gotten the information she had originally travelled to Azkaban for but Dolores was consoled by the fact that Harry Potter was no longer a problem.
After the brat somehow managed to negate the truth serum, she'd used a different method. His screams had been music to her ears but it became an incredibly short symphony. In moments, he'd entered that trance-like state again. This greatly reduced the effect of the cruciatus but Dolores was nothing if not persistent. She'd cursed Potter until his eyes glowed red, then left him lying helpless on the bed. Dolores had also left the cell door open, something she was sure the dementors would soon discover as she released them back into the high security wing.
The boat trip might be tedious but at least she had some pleasant memories to revisit on the homeward leg. The little craft had just touched the dock when four aurors, a healer and Amelia Bones jumped onboard. Dolores was instantly alarmed, five wands pointing at her meant she certainly had cause to be.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"I'll have your wand, Umbridge..."
"...and I'll have your badge, Bones. The minister himself sent me to Azkaban on a mission, you have no right to interfere..."
Amelia cast the disarming spell and snatched Umbridge's wand from the air.
"Casting that curse will see you finished at the ministry..." Dolores was so sure of herself.
Amelia meanwhile cast prior incantato on Umbridge's wand, discovering the last curse cast was the unforgiveable, cruciatus.
"...and casting that curse means you stay on this boat. We're heading back to Azkaban and you might be staying there - permanently."
"I'm Under-Secretary to the Minister of Magic, by what authority do you threaten me?"
"By my authority as Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. I'm enforcing the law you clearly broke. That you used such a curse on a fourteen year old boy will ensure your ticket to Azkaban is one way."
"Cornelius will never allow that to happen, he gave me total control of this case."
"That just means Fudge is smarter than you. He has someone to take the blame, you don't. Tag this wand as evidence and cuff her. Sorry Salty but we need you to take us straight back to Azkaban."
Just seeing this bitch get hers meant Salty had a smile on his face as they cast off. He was well aware who the only fourteen year old boy in Azkaban was. For this piece of shit to use the torture curse on Harry Potter meant the only way she would be leaving Azkaban was by swimming. They could sack him if they liked, Umbridge wouldn't be setting foot in his boat again after he delivered her to Azkaban.
Listening to Umbridge rabbit on all the way to Azkaban about what a career ending mistake they were making was not something they were prepared to endure, she was silenced after five minutes of her drivel. As they were approaching the tiny island harbour, Amelia's alarm bells were ringing after spotting the governor practically running down the path to greet the boat.
"Madam Bones, really pleased to see you. There's been a calamity at the prison, and it's a' her fault." None of them missed his finger was pointing straight at Umbridge. Everyone was left hoping they had all misheard his next sentence though.
"Harry Potter's been kissed by a dementor."