Getting fitted for dress robes (or a tuxedo that had a robe instead of a jacket) was very uncomfortable for Harry. And for some reason that Seamus, Dean, Dan, and Dean's dad couldn't explain he wasn't permitted to see Hermione in her dress. Dan said if he tried Emma would hurt him and Mona would destroy what pieces remained when she was done. Harry wasn't sure if that was a joke or a warning; the two women were quite intimidating regarding him not seeing Hermione's dress robes (or, you know, dress that wizards called dress robes).
Magical tape measures spent a large amount of time measuring your inseam, Harry thought. Eventually it stopped and the boys and two men fled the shop. Harry and Mr. Thomas had given Mona the money for Harry and Dean's robes for her to pay once they'd finished with Hermione. "How long do you think that'll take?"
"Long enough that we can get ice cream at that shop," Dan grinned. "I love that place." Harry didn't think anyone would ever guess Dan was a dentist. The man loved his sweets. They sat outside Fortescue's eating ice cream, the boys telling the two non-magicals all about the game. It had been just yesterday that they had returned. Mr. Thomas and the Grangers had taken the day off of work to get their school things given how soon the school year would be arriving.
Hermione and the two women soon found them and Hermione smiled at him before leaning down to take a bite of his ice cream, "Not bad. Peppermint toad and chocolate frog?"
"Yeah," Harry nodded. "Your dad got toasted marshmallow and butterbeer. I think it's gross but he likes it."
Hermione wrinkled her nose, "And you didn't get your girlfriend an ice cream? For shame Harry."
Harry pouted before getting out of his seat and entering the shop to get her an ice cream. "You have him well-trained," Mona laughed.
"Harry likes to dramatize the situation," Hermione said. "He's not nearly as whipped as he pretends to be. He just knows these two think it's funny if he plays the role of henpecked husband."
"It is really funny," Dean nodded. "But not as funny as the lengths he goes to to get his way with her."
Hermione stuck her tongue out at Dean in response. Harry soon emerged with an ice cream, "For you my love oh wondrous goddess queen of my world love of my life," he said, bowing dramatically as she took the ice cream cone.
She rolled her eyes, "Harry I think my father is a bad influence on you." Emma laughed, Dan pouting and Harry chuckling as he settled into the chair with Hermione, who stood up to sit on his lap.
"I could have worse role models you know."
"I know," she nodded, "I just can't think of any at present." That made the whole group laugh.
Getting the rest of their supplies wasn't as exhausting as getting the dress robes, which Harry was quite thrilled with. Hermione had to be nearly dragged out of the bookstore but that was normal and he was able to do that. He had practice.
They only had about a week and a half of their summer left and it flew by, even his two nights of transformations. Hermione had found a book about potions for energy while they'd been in Diagon Alley and she brewed one before his transformation. The next morning she'd had him drink it. Harry had been able to function that day without looking or feeling tired. It was a godsend as far as they both were concerned.
The Dursleys had both been convicted of child abuse and shortly before they were to return to Hogwarts the sentence was given. Eight years each in prison. Dudley was sent to live with his Aunt Marge. For Harry it was just a relief that the whole situation was over, at least in the muggle world. The goblins were waiting for their chance at them according to Mona.
Dumbledore had gifted them a subscription to Worldwide Wizarding News, the newspaper he'd handed them at the World Cup. It was much more reliable than the Daily Prophet, and it was also far more informative. Draco Malfoy was placed with the Weasleys because Sirius didn't feel fit to be a guardian yet. The Malfoy fortune (or what was left of it when Gringotts and the Ministry had finished), was left in Gringotts as Draco was now a ward of the bank. Harry thought that the goblins were actually pretty smart. Distant relatives or even proper relatives who just wanted the money couldn't get it by claiming guardianship.
He wasn't sure about all the Weasleys but as he thought about his time in their home he was more and more suspicious of Molly Weasley. His first clue was a memory of Fred or George looking at the sweater she'd knit him and making the comment that she obviously put more effort in if you weren't family. Hermione had never been gifted a Weasley sweater but the Weasleys all called her Ron's friend. That was suspicious. Her daughter had been possessed by Voldemort but she didn't get her help. For a family so tightly allied to Dumbledore she certainly didn't take his advice or demands seriously.
The paper also talked about what had happened with the Death Eaters at the Cup. The ones Dumbledore and Mona had captured were all arrested. Fudge was keeping quiet but the DMLE wasn't. Amelia Bones had held a press conference detailing the crimes the people caught had previously bought their freedom for and the crimes they had committed that night. She made it very plain that there would be no buying their freedom this time and Harry was very impressed. Dan said it read like political suicide but having met Amelia, Harry didn't think she was one for politics.
The four teens who had helped save the muggle family that had been attacked that night were all mentioned but the paper didn't mention that Harry and Hermione had cast patronuses at the dementors. That suited Harry just fine. They didn't need more attention on them for casting that spell. Sam had played it off but Harry had seen the man was impressed with them. His only concern was that the Dementors hadn't been mentioned at all. He thought about Sam's words about how the Ministry always claimed to have control over the creatures but that those attacks, while not common, weren't exactly a rare occurrence.
Professor Dumbledore had been in the news quite a bit; most recently because he had caught convicted death eater Barty Crouch Jr. attempting to impersonate Mad-Eye Moody. The man had been interrogated by the headmaster, Rufus Scrimgeour, and Amelia Bones before he'd been kissed. The interrogation wasn't mentioned but what was mentioned was that his father had been fired from the ministry, arrested for helping Crouch Jr. escape, and sentenced to Azkaban himself. Harry was rather impressed; they'd wasted no time with that entire incident. It was also handled very well by the newspapers.
The Weasley situation was a different story. Throughout the 'scandal' (it was called such by the Daily Prophet) it had read as though Dumbledore was responsible for the situation being brought to light. That was perfectly acceptable for Harry. It deflected attention from him and it was obvious at the Cup that the headmaster had worked out that he and Hermione had been the anonymous sources. Protecting them from unnecessary spotlight was good. Especially when the Daily Prophet was eviscerating the headmaster for 'betraying' the Weasleys. The number of smear articles targeting him within the 'newspaper' had Hermione cancel her subscription. It boggled Harry's mind that such blatant lies could be published as fact. At least the headmaster could handle that. Harry wasn't sure that he or Hermione could handle being targeted like that.
But as they sat at King's Cross Station waiting for Seamus and Dean none of that was on Harry's mind. Harry's main concerns were working out how to leave and enter the school the nights he transformed without anyone's knowledge. He really didn't want to tell Dumbledore. It was too important to really trust anyone that he didn't know wouldn't betray him or try to influence him with supposed 'better judgment'. Dean and Seamus wouldn't and there was no way Hermione would. "Maybe we should think about finding a house elf," Harry said.
"It feels like slavery to me though," she said. "I know the Hogwarts ones are happy but individuals owning one…"
"We wouldn't hurt them Hermione," Harry pointed out. "And it could be really useful. I mean, we know they'd keep our secrets and with…you know…your stuff going on too…"
Harry had a point. An annoying point, but still a point. "Where do you even find a house elf?" Hermione asked.
"I only know of one. Do you think he would come if I called?"
"He worships you right?" Harry nodded. "Then I would imagine he'd come. You're his hero." Harry characteristically winced at the word hero. "Oh Harry you have to admit that you rescued him. He is of course going to see you as a hero just like I do."
"Yeah but you don't treat me like one," Harry said. "Dobby does."
Hermione squeezed his hand, "How about I talk to him? Explain that you don't like being called a hero."
That was a good idea. Harry nodded his agreement and leaned back on the bench. That morning the Granger parents had offered to stay with them but they'd chosen to wait alone. They needed time to work out some Hogwarts specific things. Hermione had slipped into a bookstore and bought a few dirty books her father would have called 'housewife porn' and Harry found a few magazines that offered plenty of articles about and tips for sex. They both were determined that the wolf and Veela not make their decisions for them, which meant reading up on how to do things properly.
Their plan, which was too loose for Hermione's liking, was to wait until she was fifteen when the Veela would emerge and go from there. There were distinct perks to being with a Veela; there was no pain the first time for Hermione and of course the infertility of Veela before they hit thirty. While Harry was excited for the latter the former was what had him happiest. He wasn't so sure he could handle causing Hermione pain even if it led to pleasure.
Hermione's problems with the plan stemmed from that fact that there was no way to know how lustful the Veela would be; the book from Apollo mentioned possible scenarios and how severe the emotions could become but there was nothing on exactly what would happen to her, just what happened for various Veela throughout time.
The books about werewolves had been filled with details but the book that the god himself had offered her, while incredibly informative, didn't have personalized information since Veela weren't all the same. It was frustrating for her but she tried to take it in stride. Harry's ability to just act without making a plan was a trait she envied. Hermione always had to have a plan. She could change her plans on a dime if need be but she always planned things out.
Harry gazed at his girlfriend before pulling her into a hug, "Hermione it will work out. I'm sure it will. Just relax."
"We don't have much of a plan."
"I didn't have any plan when I faced the basilisk and I won," he said. "I know it can be hard for you but a plan isn't always necessary or even useful. Sometimes you just have to fly by the seat of your pants."
"I know that it's just easier said than done for me," she sighed. She wrapped her arms around his neck, "Thanks for understanding me Harry." Harry smiled. Dan and Emma had both sat down with him once Hermione had told him about the level of her intellect to explain some of the things about Hermione that he might struggle with; particularly her rigid structure and constant need to plan. Harry had always thought those aspects of her were a bit odd and sometimes difficult to deal with but it had never occurred to him that she might actually be unable to do otherwise. That the way her brain functioned was so different from his or even her parents. That knowledge had him appreciating Hermione in a new light and far more understanding regarding what he'd seen as her stubbornness.
In total the two teens were alone in the station for about an hour before Seamus and Dean arrived. They pushed their carts through the barrier together and gazed at the busy platform. "Hey guys," Angelina Johnson waved at them. Alicia Spinnet smiled and waved at them too.
They waved back as they walked on along the train. They found an empty compartment and they got everything inside, settling into the benches. Hermione leaned into Harry and pulled out an Arithmancy book and flashcards she'd made up, "I think one last quiz before we get to Hogwarts. That way you're more confident when you go into your placement exam." Harry smiled and nodded.
The trip to Hogwarts was uneventful. Harry stepped off the train feeling quite calm, which surprised him. He was a werewolf with a Veela girlfriend entering a magical school with loads of people who were bigoted toward those two magical 'creatures'. People who feared one and dehumanized the other. He should be more afraid, both of reactions and how the wolf would respond to any threats regarding Hermione, but he wasn't. Despite all of the dangers he'd faced in its walls, Hogwarts projected a sense of safety. It always had for him. Part of him had thought that it was partly because it was the first place he'd felt safe and welcomed in, but then he'd been to the Granger home. That even after a wonderful summer in a wonderful home that he really saw as his home Harry still felt safe at Hogwarts…maybe there was some sort of enchantment on the castle so that students would feel welcomed and safe in order to avoid homesickness.
Mentally reminding himself to ask Hermione just that question, they entered the Great Hall and sat down at the Gryffindor table. Up at the front table he was surprised to see Rufus Scrimgeour sitting next to Professor Vector. "What's Rufus doing here?" Harry asked.
Hermione looked before looking back at Harry, "Maybe he's the new DADA professor after that whole thing with Moody?"
Harry smiled. That sounded amazing. Rufus and Harry had written each other for most of the summer and for Harry it felt like he finally had an adult male role model in his life. Well, one that wasn't his girlfriend's father at least. He liked Dan Granger very much and received plenty of advice from him but there were certain things you just couldn't ask your girlfriend's father. Rufus filled that void.
Hermione smiled at Harry's delight. She knew he quite liked the gruff-looking auror. Personally, she felt better having Rufus around because with his presence Hogwarts would be much safer.
The sorting went quickly and then Albus Dumbledore stood, "There are some changes this year at Hogwarts," he said. "First as you might have heard a Death Eater escaped Azkaban with help from his father and attacked former-auror Alastor Moody. Alastor is a good friend of mine and had agreed to be the defense professor for the year. I immediately recognized that he wasn't himself and called the DMLE. Given what happened the real Alastor Moody is taking time to rest and recover from the ordeal. However, I think the idea of an auror working at the school teaching defense is a very good idea and so did the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Senior Auror Rufus Scrimgeour has accepted the role for the year and I can assure you that he is who he says he is. The Department of Magical Law Enforcement this summer did a sweep of the school and we found some dangerous dark arts objects within some rooms which have been removed and inspected by the goblins of Gringotts. However accessing the Chamber of Secrets is quite impossible without a Parselmouth and so I must ask Mr. Potter if perhaps he could open it for us using his unique ability?"
Harry felt all eyes on him. Some in wonder, others in surprise, and of course some in disgust. The hall was silent so he nodded, "Sure, sir."
"Excellent. And I have been asked by Gringotts, Mr. Potter, to inform you that the proceeds for the carcass of the basilisk by law belong to you since you killed the beast. You may do what you wish with the money, which I'm told is a small fortune."
Harry's eyes widened at that. Hermione took his hand and he squeezed hers. Dean and Seamus both smirked at him and Harry resisted the temptation to roll his eyes. Then an idea hit him and he looked at Hermione, "I know what to do with the money," he said.
"What?"
"I'll tell you later," he grinned. Hermione raised an eyebrow. That was Harry's scheming grin. She should probably be concerned.
Dumbledore continued on, "This year I have the distinct pleasure of announcing the return of the Tri-Wizard Tournament!" The hall was silent. Most of Gryffindor looked at Hermione for an explanation; if Harry had bothered to look around he'd know that most of their year group and the one above throughout the hall were all looking at his girlfriend. The headmaster's eyes twinkled, "I daresay no one else has fully read Hogwarts: A History then? Miss Granger if you would be so kind as to educate your fellow students I think you would be more concise than an old man who tends to ramble."
Hermione blushed and pulled out her wand, casting Sonorous to make herself easily heard, "The Tri-Wizard Tournament is a tournament in which a champion from one of three European schools- Durmstrang from Bulgaria, Beauxbatons from France and Hogwarts from the UK- is selected to participate in three tasks to earn points and ultimately win a trophy and prize purse. Like the World Cup, Quidditch World Cup, and the Olympics, it takes place every four years. It was discontinued several centuries ago because so many champions died before the third task and the trophy was destroyed because so many winners were declared after they had died in the third task."
"Quite right Miss Granger thank you," Dumbledore smiled at her, "the Tri-Wizard Tournament is to return this year, but it will be far safer than in past years. There are safeguards in place to protect those who lack enough magical knowledge to compete, including an age restriction that will be strongly enforced. The tasks will still be quite dangerous, and even under the best precautions it is still possible that they could be deadly. As such only those who are of age, seventeen years old, will be permitted to compete. At my request Professor Binns will be teaching each year group all about the Tri-Wizard Tournament so that those of you interested in participating are aware of just what awaits you." He looked at the staff table, "The method of choosing each participant is an artifact called the Goblet of Fire. Durmstrang and Beauxbatons will be arriving here shortly before Halloween. The actual drawing of the champions will happen on Halloween. More will be learned once the two schools arrive."
He sat back down in his chair, "And now I say welcome to you all and let's eat!"
Dinner was full of conversation about the tournament and Harry, Dean, and Seamus kept Gryffindor from trying to get more information out of Hermione. Harry was beginning to think that telling Dean and Seamus about Hermione being a Veela would be a good idea. She'd suggested it after his most recent transformations but he'd been hesitant. Being in Hogwarts though, Harry could see the merit in telling the boys. If Hermione accidentally blasted them they would probably understand but it was better to just be honest with them about it.
The food was as always great but Harry couldn't help but think that his summer observations held true. Most of Gryffindor moved off of conversation about the tournament and by the time they were in the Gryffindor common room Ron was the only one still going on about it. Specifically he complained that only girls would be competing. One of the twins spoke, "Ron the tournament is for anyone to compete. Not just girls."
Ron wrinkled his nose in disgust as he countered, "What boy wants to win a purse?"
Hermione barely held in her laughter. She had hoped that after everything that had happened with the Weasley family that summer and Harry no longer being friends with him Ron might cease in his constant efforts to mock her and try to make her out to be stupid. She didn't think he was stupid enough to actually think she'd meant a handbag women carried but his need to be superior to her and publicly mock her was apparently quite strong.
The twins stared at Ron incredulously. "Ron, a prize purse is money."
His ears turned red and he looked at Hermione, "Well why didn't you just say that?"
Harry, who was holding Hermione's hand, frowned. He'd known Hermione didn't like Ron but he'd not realized how much Ron seemed to enjoy targeting her. He looked around the room, "Did anyone else in here not know that when Hermione said the winner gets a prize purse she meant money?"
No one else raised their hand. Ron's cheeks began to turn red. Harry though, was feeling far angrier than Ron appeared. He'd always presumed most purebloods were like Ron, thus excusing the redhead's behavior around Harry and Hermione. Learning otherwise just made him angry at himself and at the redhead. "I don't care to know why you constantly feel the need to target my girlfriend to bully her and attempt to belittle her and her intellect when said intellect has saved the lives of you and your sister before. I don't even want to know why I didn't see how just like my bully of a cousin you are. But what I do know is that you're stupidly targeting the girlfriend of the boy who's defeated a troll, a basilisk, and Voldemort three times. Think about that Ron. Three times I've taken on the bastard who everyone who grew up in the magical world, including yourself, is so afraid of you can't even say his name. Three times I've been victorious. Do you really want to take on a wizard who can face Voldemort as a one year old, an eleven year old, and a twelve year old and each time succeed?"
Throughout his monologue Hermione had noticed that Harry seemed to radiate magical power and Ron was quite obviously wilting under Harry's gaze. When Harry had reached the point of Voldemort Ron had shuddered at each mention of the name (not that he was alone in that, most of Gryffindor did) and he had paled. Ron vigorously shook his head no and backed away from Harry, whose aura calmed when Hermione's arms wrapped around him.
The common room seemed to decide at once it was a good time to go to bed and began to head up to their dorms. Hermione pushed Harry onto the sofa and sat next to him, snuggling into him to try and calm him down. "You could do better than me," Harry whispered.
"No I couldn't," she kissed his cheek, "you focus too much on your own flaws Harry. You miss the wonderful side of you as a result."
"Thanks," he smiled. "You're really good at reading my emotions."
"It's a talent," she winked. Harry chuckled. "Are you okay to go to bed?"
"I think so," he nodded. "I'm sorry I didn't always defend you."
"You've always defended me when I've really needed it save for a basilisk incident. That's what matters," Hermione stood and pulled him upright. They walked to the stairwell and she hugged him, "Good night Harry. I love you."
He kissed her, "I love you too. Sleep well."
Up in his dorm Ron was behind his curtains refusing to emerge. Neville's bed was between Ron and Harry's beds and that suited Harry just fine. He couldn't handle dealing with Ron so close to him for a year. If the wolf didn't kill him then Harry might all on his own. Hopefully their exchange that night, and the twins, would make Ron behave. Hermione was far better at controlling her emotions, which Harry envied. His temper was better with the Occlumency but the wolf's short temper plus his own wasn't exactly the best combination. He said good night to Dean and Seamus after he'd used the bathroom and changed into his pajamas before he pulled the curtains around his bed closed and fell asleep.
Chapter 5
The next morning Harry woke early and went downstairs to see his girlfriend up and sitting on a sofa waiting for him. No matter how early he rose, Hermione always rose earlier. "Good morning beautiful," he said, kissing her before sitting down next to her.
"Good morning," she smiled. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah. Hey I was wondering. I really think of your house as home and despite my anxiety about coming back here I felt really calm and rather happy about coming back. Are there spells on the castle to make you feel that way?"
Hermione nodded, "For my advanced Ancient Runes course Professor Vector showed me the runes that create the wards on the school. I had to decipher them. There's one ward Professor Vector says they call the homesickness ward. It encourages affectionate feelings for the school so that young students aren't afraid."
"That's pretty smart but kind of…I don't know, creepy?"
"I agree," she said, "it is obviously a good idea but it's kind of disturbing that there's a rune in place to control our emotions." Harry nodded. She summarized his problems with it quite well. "I called for Dobby last night. He came to me and I told him what we wanted and how you felt and he was pretty understanding. He's a bit hyperactive but he understood and he promises to calm down a bit about how 'great' you are."
Harry chuckled. "And he wants to work for us?"
"Yes he does. He won't accept payment but he agreed to a galleon a week allowance. And," she leaned close to whisper, "he can get you out of and into the school through some secret passages no one knows about but the house elves. He came to work here after he left the Malfoys." That all sounded fantastic to Harry.
"I guess that means we have a house elf then," Harry smiled.
A crack was heard, followed by a familiar voice, "Harry Potter sir wants Dobby to be his elf? Dobby is so delighted Dobby is!"
Harry gazed at the elf standing on the floor, "Hi Dobby. How have you been?"
"Dobby is very happy now. Dobby was hoping Mr. Harry Potter sir would take Dobby as his elf because Harry Potter sir is saving Dobby from bad masterses and is so great but Dobby did not want to asks so Dobby is looking for work but Dobby is wanting wages and no humans is wanting to pays house elf so Dobby is coming to Hogwarts and Mr. Dumbledydore is saying Dobby can works here and he is paying Dobby too! Dobby is happy because he can sort of takes care of Mr. Harry Potter sir but is wanting so badly to be his elf so he is not too happy. But then Mistress Miney callses and tells Dobby youse is needing house elf and Dobby becomes youses elf so Dobby is very happy now!"
"Sit down Dobby," Harry said. Dobby looked at Harry in awe and Harry realized there was a learning curve to house elves and he definitely needed to learn fast. Dobby looked at Hermione, who nodded encouragingly. Dobby climbed up onto a chair near them, "Do you know about us both?"
"Oh yes and Dobby can helps youse," Dobby nodded eagerly.
"What about working at Hogwarts?"
"Dobby and I decided that could be his cover," Hermione said, winking at Harry.
Dobby stood up straighter at that, "Yes Dobby is spy! Dobby will be very best spy Harry Potter sir. Dobby promises."
"Professor Dumbledore pays him a galleon a month so Dobby will continue to accept that and we'll just pay for the other weeks," Hermione explained.
Dobby smiled and nodded again before growing serious. "Mistress Miney? Dobby is thinking it be best for cover to explain why he is around Mr. Harry Potter sir and Mistress Miney so much. Dobby has a friend who is needing family because hers was bad Barty Crouch and bad dad Barty Crouch. She is alones and is needings family and Mistress Miney and Mr. Harry Potter sir is good family. Dobby can tells. She is good at keepings secretses too," Dobby added, looking at them both hopefully.
Harry and Hermione exchanged a look. Harry had no idea what was going on so he gave a small shrug to Hermione, who turned pensive, "Would she accept wages Dobby?"
"Winky is not wanting wages. Winky is wanting family. She no thinks house elveses deserves pay. Winky thinks she is bad elf because bad Barty Crouch attacked pirate man and stuffed him in trunk to come to Hoggywarts to hurt Mr. Harry Potter sir but Mr. Dumbledydore is stopping bad Barty Crouch and bad dad Barty Crouch. Winky is upsets because she thinks she is bad elf. Winky is not bad elf Mistress Miney," Dobby added, looking worried he'd spoken ill of his friend.
Harry pressed his face into Hermione's shoulder to hide the laugh that was threatening to escape. Dobby was just too entertaining to watch. Hermione held herself together much better and she spoke, "Will Winky accept an allowance?"
Dobby tilted his head in thought for a moment before speaking, "Dobby can explains to her like youse is explaining to me Mistress," Dobby said. "Can Dobby go tell Winky she is hired?"
Hermione smiled, "Well I think if we can help a friend of yours and keep your cover we should do it. Harry?"
Harry took a deep breath and pulled away, "Absolutely. But the same allowance as you Dobby. She gets a galleon a week." Dobby nodded and hugged Harry's leg, then Hermione's, before he vanished on the spot. "Well he didn't call me great."
"I told him 'the great Harry Potter sir' is a very humble man who gets embarrassed when he's called great or a hero. He took to that immediately," Hermione said.
Harry wasn't sure whether to laugh or sigh. He was amazed Hermione could have a long conversation with Dobby. The little elf was great but hearing him speak was a bit difficult sometimes. Dobby was just so animated and excited it was kind of like talking to a little child; hard to put the whole story together because of their rambling. "So I think we should tell Dean and Seamus," he said.
She blinked in surprise, "Really?"
"Yeah," Harry nodded. "I know we can trust them. And I know you don't like to think about it but I like knowing they can protect you if I can't."
"Harry…"
"You mean too much to me to not worry about your safety," he said. "Consider it a flaw of mine."
Hermione rolled her eyes and leaned into him, "That's not how flaws work Harry."
"Being overprotective isn't a flaw?"
"Being overprotective is a flaw but you're not overprotective," she said. "You're just paranoid and possessive."
Harry gazed at her, "Are you mad at me or upset about an impending birthday?"
"I'm not upset," she frowned.
Harry might not understand all of his own emotions but he definitely knew when his mate wasn't happy. He stood up, "Come on."
Not giving Hermione a chance to object he nearly dragged her out of the common room and all the way down the hall to a broom closet. Once inside he warded it shut and cast spells to prevent their conversation from being overheard, "What is it Hermione?"
Hermione wasn't one to share her innermost fears and worries with Harry, and she knew he knew that. Hermione bit her lip before taking a deep breath and confessing what she saw as a weakness, "I'm scared Harry." Those three words burst the dam she'd built to keep her emotions at bay and she buried her head in his shirt as the tears poured forth.
Harry wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her reassuringly, "Of the Veela?"
"I was always telling you to not be afraid of your wolf and that it wouldn't be so bad and here I am…" Her voice broke.
Realizing her problem Harry kissed the top of her head, "Hermione if you hadn't told me that all the time I think I'd have forced myself into seclusion or gone crazy. Your constant presence and reassurance had me ready to face my wolf directly. You're not being a hypocrite by being scared and you're definitely not weak," he pulled back enough to look her in the eye, "I just wish you'd talk to me about your feelings. Hermione the Veela isn't an evil thing out to destroy you. Being a Veela is a good thing. You were personally chosen by Apollo out of billions of others to be Veela. A god literally blessed you. That's really cool. You're beautiful now, you'll be beautiful still in seventeen days." He wiped her tears away with his thumbs, "You'll get some cool new powers. Maybe if Voldemort tries anything you can blast him with that allure. It'd buy us some time at the very least. Hell, it might even kill him. The bastard couldn't handle the love my mother had for me imagine him getting hit by my girlfriend's allure. Probably be a weird death by erection or something."
She laughed at that and Harry knew he'd won the battle. She cast a spell to vanish the evidence of her tears and then cast a spell to dry his uniform. Once her wand was away she kissed him, "You're a great boyfriend Harry," she said, hugging him properly.
Harry smiled, "It's normal to be scared. But the wolf, for all my worrying before I turned, is pretty cool. We've got an understanding despite not being able to really speak. He protects my mind and I take care of my body. We both get possessive about you but he knows that nothing is going to come between us."
"But he's excited for the Veela," Hermione said.
Harry nodded, "He is. I can see his point. Veela can be as lustful as werewolves and the urge to physically mate with you has been getting stronger. That there's no pregnancy risk and no pain for you just adds to the appeal for him."
"Or for you?" She asked. There was no accusation in her eyes. Just sincere curiosity.
Honesty seemed like the best option, "I love you Hermione. And I've been having inappropriate dreams about you for quite some time now. I want our first time to be our decision, not the decision of the wolf and the Veela. But it'd be silly to deny that their lust and desire will probably help us both through our first encounters as we work out what we like and how to pleasure each other. In a way we have it easier than most of our peers because they don't have the perks we do."
Hearing Harry call the Veela and wolf perks had her smile. "I want us to make the decision too, not our counterparts. You make a great deal of sense Harry James Potter."
"Shocking isn't it?" Harry grinned.
She rolled her eyes, "Hardly. You're wiser than people might expect. I love you Harry," she added, kissing him. "Ready for your exam?"
"Do I still get that celebratory snog for passing?"
"Yes," she answered, resting her forehead against his.
"Then I'm very ready," he said. "Let's go earn me that snog."
Harry's placement exam was before breakfast, so they headed to Septima Vector's office instead of the Great Hall after exiting the closet. Hermione read a book while Harry took the test, which wasn't very long. It only took him twenty minutes. Vector looked over the test, "Mr. Potter, welcome to Fourth Year Arithmancy. I presume you already have the book?"
"Yes ma'am," Harry nodded.
"Well then I won't keep you two from heading to breakfast. I will see you in class. Congratulations Mr. Potter."
"Thank you Professor Vector," Harry said. He offered Hermione his hand, "Do I get my reward now?"
"At least wait until we're out of Professor Vector's office," Hermione rolled her eyes. "Boys." Harry laughed as they exited.
One snog in a broom closet later and they were on their way to breakfast. Hermione sat down at the table and Harry sat next to her, kissing her on the cheek. "I wonder what our schedules will be this year," she said.
"I wonder how you do it all," Harry said.
She blushed and smiled, "I fly through our school work so quickly I'm able to spend the rest of my studying time on the projects I'm given. It's not as difficult as people might imagine it could be." Harry nodded. She did always have their homework done quickly. That made sense. "The extra tutoring happens mostly on the weekends. That way the professors aren't too busy. A few classes would be in the afternoon when you've thought I've been in the library." Harry smiled and they put food on their plates and started to eat.
Rufus stopped by their table when he entered the Great Hall, "Harry, Hermione," he smiled.
"Hi Rufus," Harry said. Hermione elbowed him and he cleared his throat, "uh, Professor Scrimgeour, good morning."
Rufus chuckled, "We're not in class, you can call me Rufus. How was the train ride?"
"Dementor free for a change," Harry said. "Other than that it was quiet and nice."
"No problems with the Weasleys?"
"We haven't heard a peep out of the twins. Ron tried to pick on Hermione but I went all Scrimgeour on him," Harry said.
Rufus rolled his eyes, "I should never have told you how Amelia coined the phrase 'going all Scrimgeour'. An oversight of mine."
"A pretty big one," Hermione nodded. "Are you looking forward to teaching?"
"Having supervised and mentored aurors for so many years I can handle some students. And given the activities of the past few years I think it is best that an auror be here. Especially with the tournament going on. Now about that basilisk. This weekend Amelia wants to come in and enter the chamber. Is that acceptable to you?"
"That's fine," Harry nodded. "Can Hermione come with?"
"I don't see why not," Rufus said. "I'll see you two in class. And feel free to visit me Harry."
"Sure Rufus," Harry smiled, the auror heading up to the head table. "I like him."
"He's pretty nice," Hermione nodded. "I feel safer knowing he's here."
The twins sat down opposite Harry and Hermione for breakfast, "We really want to apologize for our family," George began.
"Ron's clueless. We'll make him stay away from you two," Fred promised. "As for Ginny…well to be honest George and I think she had more to do with the basilisk thing than most people seem to think. She's the most like our mum and our mum is not someone to emulate."
"Sirius came from a family of Voldemort worshippers," Harry said. "My aunt is an abusive monster but my mum by all accounts was a kind, sweet woman. Sometimes families are full of opposing personalities."
Hermione smiled at her boyfriend, "Harry's right. You two aren't responsible for your family."
The twins visibly relaxed. "So how was the World Cup? We didn't get to go. Dad got tickets but then Ginny got arrested so mum decided no one could go."
"Ron was furious when the Prophet mentioned you two had been there," George smirked, "that was fun."
"The game was pretty good," Harry said. "But the events leading up to it were the most fun I think. We met the two teams and Hermione led us to victory in a quidditch knowledge trivia game." Harry spent breakfast recounting the Cup to the Weasley twins, who were quite intrigued. When Dean and Seamus arrived they offered up details as well, Hermione content to just eat as the boys talked about that summer.
The first school day was always exciting at Hogwarts, and that day was no different. They had Transfiguration, Charms, and double Defense Against the Dark Arts so for Harry it was a very good day and he was excited to get to see Rufus teach for the first time. They entered the classroom after lunch and Rufus was seen leaning against the desk. "Take your seats please."
Harry glanced at Malfoy. He was with his goons as usual but he seemed quiet. He didn't even glare at Harry like he usually did. Maybe his parents being arrested had at least forced him to stop being a bully without his father's name to intimidate people for him.
Dean and Seamus sat behind Harry and Hermione. Dean nudged Hermione and his eyes moved to the right. Hermione glanced out the corner of her eye to see that Ron was continuing to sit with Neville like he'd done at the end previous year. Once everyone was seated Rufus got up off of the desk, "I had a long talk with Professor Dumbledore and we've decided it is best to show your year group and those above it the three Unforgivables. As an auror I long ago took an oath to never use them, so instead of me casting them on rats or spiders we'll be delving into memories. Who here knows what a pensieve is?"
Only two people in the class raised their hands. Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger. Rufus looked between the two, "Mr. Malfoy if you could explain it to the class I would appreciate it."
Draco cleared his throat, "A pensieve is a runic bowl into which you place memories."
"Very good. Five points to Slytherin," Rufus nodded, "now to be fair Miss Granger do you know how they work?"
Hermione nodded, "Once the memory is placed into the bowl you can enter the memory by placing your face inside of it."
"Correct. Five points to Gryffindor. I explained the problem regarding the size of this class to my boss Madame Bones and she procured for our use a special bowl used by the DMLE to show testimony before the Wizengamot. It is substantially larger than the bowl Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy have undoubtedly learned about and it is also able to be used via projection or by individuals simply dipping a single finger into it. This way the entire class may go at once."
Rufus's face grew very serious, "The Unforgivables are called such because of just how severe they are. Who here can give me the name of one?" Roughly half the class raised their hands. Rufus gazed around the room, "Miss Bones I'm sure you've heard of a few of them."
"Yes sir," Susan said, "one of them is the Imperius curse."
"Five points to Hufflepuff. The Imperius is a curse that removes the victim's free will, making them a human puppet for the caster. It's also the first memory I'll be showing you. Now, these memories can cause many emotions. Madame Pomfrey will be on hand with chocolate and calming draughts should they be needed. If you don't wish to view the memories that is perfectly understandable and I certainly won't force you."
Terry Boot raised his hand and Rufus nodded at him, "Are the memories violent?"
"There's violence in each one. The curses are called Unforgivables for a reason. I can promise you that these memories can't harm you. These curses aren't funny, they're not games. They're painful, dangerous, and highly illegal. Showing you a human having it cast on them shows you what we're talking about."
Rufus placed a large bowl on the desk and pulled out a phial, "Inside of this is the memory of a young auror who was placed under the curse."
He poured the memory into the bowl, "Now then, does anyone object to viewing this memory?"
Harry glanced around the classroom. Some people looked a bit nervous. Then he saw Madame Pomfrey, "Hello Madame Pomfrey."
"Mr. Potter," she nodded, "I must say it's a delight to see you and have our encounter not be in the hospital wing." There were some snickers around the room at her words.
"The feeling is mutual ma'am," Harry smiled. He looked back at Rufus, "Professor can we first look at a happier memory? Just to understand how this pensieve thing works?"
"Yes I suppose that's a good idea," Rufus nodded, spelling the memory back into the phial. "I have just the memory. Auror graduation. I think a few of you might recognize some people." Rufus tapped his wand to his head and extracted a silvery thread, "This is a memory. Or at least, a copy of one." He dropped it into the bowl, "Everyone gather around this desk then."
Everyone gathered around the desk, shoulders pressed against each other. "Place a finger in the bowl on the count of three. 1…2…3!"
Entering the memory was similar to the falling sensation of traveling with the portkey. Harry didn't land in a heap though. Nor did he have to jump. He looked around. His whole class was there. And so were a whole mob of people. Rufus led them to a small area and they all looked around. No one spoke but the crowd of people were. Then they heard a throat clear. Harry looked to see Barty Crouch Sr. (younger than the picture in the newspaper) with a scroll in his hand. "You all have done well and passed your training. Welcome to the Auror Corps. I have no doubt you'll serve it well. When I read your name come forward to claim your badge and diploma," with that he unfurled the scroll, "Sirius Black!"
Harry watched a young, healthy Sirius Black high-five a man with black hair and wink at a woman with red hair and walked up to a younger Rufus Scrimgeour, who handed the man his badge and diploma. The next several names Harry didn't recognized, but there was one that he did. The last name, specifically. "Frank Longbottom!"
Harry glanced at Neville, who was staring wide-eyed as the man who Harry assumed was his father took to the stage. He was shortly followed by a woman named Alice Longbottom. Neville's lip quivered and Harry knew they were his parents. And they had undoubtedly met a bad end given the emotion on Neville's face. Hannah Abbott, standing next to Neville, seemed to see the emotion and she hugged him.
Harry focused on the stage just in time to hear, "James Potter!"
Hermione squeezed Harry's hand as Harry watched his dad walk up to the stage. Harry was in awe as his dad accepted his badge and then walked off the stage. He headed straight for the redhead Harry'd seen Sirius wink at and kissed her, "Are you proud of me Lily?"
"Very proud of you," she smiled. "Our son will be too." Harry stared as his mother stood and turned. She was visibly pregnant. He felt his lip quiver and Hermione wrap him in a hug and he returned it, his eyes filling with tears at the sight before him.
When they exited the memory Harry bent and wiped his eyes. He'd heard his parents' voices for the very first time. It couldn't get cooler than that. Hermione squeezed his hand and he returned the affection. "You okay Harry?" Seamus asked.
"I've never heard their voices before," Harry answered quietly. Given their proximity the entire class heard Harry's answer. Hermione tightened her grip and Harry took a deep breath to calm himself down. He looked up at Rufus, "Thank you sir."
"You're welcome Mr. Potter," Rufus said, smiling at him. "Now then, shall we begin the lesson?"
Everyone in the class thought that they were going to witness the curse being cast. Rufus had shown them that, but in a different way. They witnessed Mad-Eye Moody casting the spell on Rufus himself when Rufus was a trainee auror. They witnessed Rufus struggling to not harm his partner, Amelia Bones. Felt how strong the voice telling him to hurt her was and the mental toll it took on him. When they exited the memory everyone returned to their seats. Rufus returned the memory to the vial, "Who has questions?"
"Is that part of auror training?" Harry asked.
"It is," Rufus nodded, "it is the only unforgivable that is in auror training and it is only cast by someone with special permission from the Ministry, Wizengamot, and DMLE."
"Do you have to throw it off to become an auror?" Justin Finch-Fletchley asked.
"You do. It's not easy and requires strong mental discipline. Aurors also have to be accomplished occlumens." Harry was impressed. He knew Occlumency was hard, but throwing off the Imperius seemed really hard. No wonder becoming an auror was such a big deal. Rufus sat down on the desk, "As you all saw, and felt, the curse is difficult to overpower. Imagine having it cast on you, being unable to throw it off, and being told to murder your family. Your parents, your children, your spouse. Imagine living the rest of your days knowing that you murdered them with your own hands, even if it was by someone else's will."
Harry squeezed Hermione's hand and she returned it. She raised her hand and Rufus called on her, "Can werewolves, vampires, and Veela be placed under the Imperius?"
"An excellent question," Rufus nodded. "While I'm afraid I know little about Veela so I can't comment on that, werewolves are nearly impervious to mind-magic. They are master occlumens and cannot be put under the Imperius curse. Vampires are master mesmerizers, so they too are not able to be controlled under the curse."
Harry was in part relieved. For all the problems he faced as a werewolf, there were definite perks. Rufus looked around the room, "What are the other two Unforgivables?" A few hands shot up, "Miss Li."
The Ravenclaw answered, "The Cruciatus, also known as the torture curse, and the Killing Curse."
"Ten points to Ravenclaw," Rufus nodded. "That's correct. The Killing Curse requires intense hatred to cast. Consequently it's very rarely cast. It has one goal, to kill you. It is highly efficient at that."
Draco Malfoy raised his hand. Rufus called on him, "It wasn't outlawed until 1717. Why?"
"Bureaucracy, idiocy, arrogance," Rufus listed, shrugging, "take your pick." At the blank looks Rufus looked at Hermione, "Who here in this class would call Miss Granger the most intelligent student in this room?"
Harry watched as everyone raised their hand. Even the Slytherin students. Harry was surprised at that action. Rufus nodded. "I've taken looks at everyone's records to determine the difficulty level of this course and I would quite agree with all of you. However back in the 1700s the majority of wizarding culture believed that muggleborn students not only shouldn't be admitted to Hogwarts but that they couldn't possibly be as intelligent as purebloods. Purebloods were pure in blood and thus intellectually superior to people who were from the non-magical world. And if these non-pure wizards and witches weren't as intelligent or powerful then they certainly couldn't kill or even harm a pureblood. So why create a law to stop something that couldn't happen?"
Dean frowned, "Then why was the law passed?"
"A Dark Lord ran rampant killing people and nothing could legally be done to stop him. He wasn't technically breaking any laws murdering people in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade as he never murdered a pureblood, just half-bloods, squibs, and muggleborns. People stopped going to the stores and sales plummeted. The government needed little encouragement to write the law facing an economic crisis."
Rufus next pulled up the Killing Curse memory. It was an old memory from the ministry archives and while disturbing just how you had it cast at you and you died, it wasn't traumatic. When they exited Harry found the attention on him. "Isn't that the curse that Harry survived?" Seamus asked.
"It is," Rufus nodded. "He is the only known survivor of the curse."
"But how?" Seamus asked.
"That is unknown. There are plenty of theories but no one knows for certain what could have stopped it. I don't think we ever could know for certain what caused it. Maybe the dark lord miscast the spell. Maybe his wand malfunctioned. Maybe something happened to Harry that night. A special ward or something his mother had discovered. The headmaster, the Ministry, the goblins have long sought answers and the theories are just impossible to be tested."
Harry thought about how turning into a werewolf had harmed his scar. Hermione had said the scar probably harmed him and so whatever caused all those negative feelings had been forced out. Rufus seemed to have confirmed it.
The final curse to show them was the torture curse. "This next one will be violent. I cannot show you this curse and not show you violence. If you do not wish to see it, I can certainly understand that. You will not be judged for not viewing it. I merely want to showcase to you the danger of these curses and just how vile they truly are. We often talk about the darkness but I think it best to see just what we've been up against in the past to know how to protect yourselves in the future."
Neville looked visibly nervous as he stood with everyone else. Hannah Abbott stood next to him and put a hand on his back, again to Harry's surprise. He wasn't incredibly close to Neville but he knew the lad got tongue-tied even asking Hermione for homework help. He could only blush if Lavender or Parvati sat next to him in class. To see him so calm with a girl was…well, weird. "This is not a recent memory. This is from the time of Grindelwald," Rufus said.
It didn't matter how old the memory was. During it Harry had his arms full of Hermione and more than once Harry wished he could cover his ears and offer some comfort to his girlfriend at the same time. Harry glanced around their group to see Pansy had her head buried in Draco's robes and he looked as horrified as Seamus and Dean did. Neville was visibly shaking and Hannah seemed to be holding him up all on her own.
One thing Harry was certain of as they exited the memory. That was horrifying. Madame Pomfrey passed out chocolate to the class when they exited but Neville required a calming draught. Rufus pulled out some butterbeer from his desk, passing bottles out to the students. "I know how difficult that was for all of you. It's not easy at any age to witness that unless you're a sadist." He put the memory away, "I of course don't want any of you to leave with such a disturbing memory so I arranged for a bit of help. Headmaster Dumbledore has offered to me his memory of the World Cup game this summer. I'm quite grateful as while I'm sure some of you attended, I could not as I was on-call along with Madame Bones. The game should actually fit in the time remaining quite nicely. Any objections?"
That was quite possibly the most unnecessary question Rufus could have asked. Viewing the World Cup through a projected memory sounded fantastic. With their chocolate and butterbeer the entire class sat and watched the World Cup.