When Harry is worked to the bone during the summer he returns to Hogwarts. But what happens when things begin to happen so fast. Not to mention how hard it is to keep your personal life and your new powers a secret, when every body can see you. (i'll start it again pending if i can find the first chapter somewhere, or if portkey has it somewhere still.) -- CHAPTER ERROR, PLS LEND A COPY SO THAT AUTHOR COULD REUPLOAD.
From the Unofficial Portkey Archive: https://portkey-archive.org/story/310/
Harry Potter and The Angel
Disclaimer: I don’t own harry or any of his friends, plus I don’t think J.K. Rowling would sell me the rights for 5. 73, which is all I have right now.
Harry lifted the box of drill bits up and put them in his uncle’s car, under his uncle’s watchful eye. Uncle Vernon didn’t dare treat Harry badly this summer because if Harry didn’t contact, Mad-eye Moody, Tonks, or Mr. Weasley, who knows what would happen to Vernon. The car sunk down on its shocks as the heavy box was placed gently in the trunk. Uncle Vernon’s face turned purple as Harry had lifted it and put it down with such ease. After Harry’s fifth year at Hogwarts, Uncle Vernon thought that Harry was old enough to do all the manual labor. Unfortunatly, at least from Vernon’s point of view, it didn’t have the effect that he had wanted. Instead making Harry too tired to try any of his magical threats, which he didn’t need to use anymore, it had in fact been the perfect time for Harry’s testosterone to kick in and his body to harden. While he was still fairly skinny, he was no longer weak. Harry had gotten a strong lean build over the summer mostly due to the fact that the Dursleys began to feed him more than just the usual meager rations. There was barely a week left until September the first, when he would gather his stuff and go to Kings Cross station for his train to Hogwarts.
Harry no longer minded the hard work that his Aunt and Uncle put him through, although he could not figure out how they ever could have survived without Harry to do all of the Dursley’s work. Harry, with all the work that he had been doing, had little time to feel sorry for himself, but that didn’t mean that his sleep was untroubled by the nightmares of the Tri-wizard tournament, Cedric’s death and most importantly, Sirius’ death. Harry’s mind could barely cope with the stress being placed on it. The only thing that seemed to help was the fact that Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia owed him their son’s life.
"Is this it Uncle Vernon?" asked Harry trying to sound as energetic as he could, so that his Uncle thought that this was easier for him than it really was.
"Yes, Yes that’s all for now." Grunted Vernon, was it just him, or did Harry just lift a hundred pound box with apparent ease? "Get inside, and help Petunia with dinner, and don’t forget to wash your hands."
"I won’t forget, I’m eating the food too now."
Harry went inside and walked into the kitchen washed his hands and began to help his aunt in silence. Just because they we forced into being ‘nice,’ and Harry used the term very loosely, it didn’t mean that the Dursley’s cared for him, and it didn’t mean that he cared for them either, they never showed any concern when he would get hurt doing their work.
Dinner was completed and eaten in complete silence on Harry’s part, Dudley tried to make conversation on his boxing with his father, but a quick glance at Harry told him it would be wiser to stay quiet. After dinner Harry walked up the stairs to his room.
When Harry got in his room, Hedwig hooted softly from her cage. Harry looked at her, sighed and stroked her feathers softly. Hedwig looked at him and gave him a few loving nips with her beak through the cage. Harry looked around then spoke softly to the snowy owl, "Listen I’ve been thinking on this for a while, going to Diagon alley would draw a lot of attention to me, so I need you to take a letter to Hermione. Here I’ll write a quick one."
Dear Hermione,
I have decided that after every thing that’s happened going to Diagon Alley would draw to much attention to myself and I would never be able to get anything done. Too many people would stop to ask me stupid questions, and just to gawk at my scar. And if this happens no one would be able to get anything done, so I need you to pick up my stuff for me; I have enclosed a copy of my vault key, feel free to use some to buy your own stuff as well for the trouble.
P.S. please take care of Hedwig until we get back to school, while the Dursleys have been nicer having an owl around has been driving them batty. While normally I’d keep Hedwig around to drive them more up the wall, but the house won’t be able to take it if Dudley goes up any higher.
Love, Harry
Hedwig was so excited she began flapping her wings and unbalanced her cage so that it fell off of Harry’s desk. Harry’s seeker reflexes were tested as he snatched the cage before it hit the ground. He then took Hedwig out of the cage and tied the letter to Hedwig’s leg and she took off out the window.
Harry looked at the things he still had to pick up; he grinned slightly and began throwing all his wizarding things back into his trunk. If he threw it and it missed a little he’d give it a mental tap so that it would fall into the trunk. Over the summer he had taken Hermione’s advice and began to practice occlumency.
Harry was still convinced that Snape was trying to weaken his mind against Voldemort’s mental assault. And it was only fair that Harry knew why Snape hated his dad so much, even though his mom had come in to help Snape after his dad and Sirius went off on him. Harry still had to say that Snape had deserved everything that happened to him.
Harry lay down on his bed, it was still early and he still needed to clear his mind and close it off. Voldemort may not be able to dwell inside of his mind for long because of the power that Dumbledore said he had, but that doesn’t mean that he wouldn’t try to read his mind and get what he was thinking.
Harry forced all aberrant thoughts from his mind and began his careful construction of his mental barriers. So soon he drifted off to sleep and safe in his dreams behind his mental wall, he thought about the thing that had been plaguing him for a long time now that wasn’t a nightmare, why did Hermione kiss him at the end of fourth year? And why did Hermione have such an odd reaction when he was simply telling the truth, that she was by no means ugly.
Harry woke up in the middle of the night and felt the exact spot where she had kissed him. Harry got up and walked over to his door as softly as he could, listening to the sleeping sounds of the Dursleys, he reached for door handle lightly and opened the door. Stepping out onto the upstairs hallway, the loud snores of Uncle Vernon drowning out the small creaks that the floor made, Harry made his way down the stairs and to the trash bin in the kitchen. He opened the lid slowly and caught a small piece of trash that fell out, his quick reflexes from seeker training made him incredibly fast. He knelt down silently and took a newspaper out of the trash bin, Harry smiled, the Dursleys got the muggle paper every day, and they never noticed Harry sneaking down in the middle of the night to check the previous day’s news.
Harry quickly read the paper, and seeing nothing of any interest finished with the newspaper and put it back in the trash bin. Then began back to his room walking past the closet under the stairs with a short shudder, and began to climb the stairs as quickly and quietly as he could. Making it to his door Harry stopped and listened. Vernon snorted Harry half-jumped through the door and began clearing his mind and setting up his mental defenses before he got to his bed and then fell into it, falling asleep almost instantly.
~o0o~
Harry woke up the morning of September the first with a heavy heart and an empty stomach. No one came to get him over the entire summer and he received only sparse letters from Ron and Hermione again this summer.
And during last nights excursion out of his room he heard Uncle Vernon talking in his sleep "heh heh stupid boy, lets see him get to the freak school of his without a ride. `Snort`."
Well Harry wasn’t going to take this lying down and it was a bit late to call any one for a ride so he had awoken earlier than he did most often and brought his trunk down stairs without a sound. He pulled out his Firebolt broomstick that his late godfather Sirius got for him and his Father’s magic cloak of invisibility. Tying his trunk to his broom he draped the cloak over himself and opened the front door without a sound. He thought that it was Tonks that said that an invisibility cloak wouldn’t work but he knew that he could get it. Once he had gotten out of the door he took a mighty kick off and sailed into the sky. With all the extra weight that he was subjecting his broom, it was very slow going just like last time when Tonks had his trunk. She must have used a lightening charm on it.
After two hours of wasting his energy on trying to keep his broom in the air, and battling the cold, Harry was nearing exhaustion. He was beginning to look around desperately for a car with a trunk like his in it. Looking around desperately for another half an hour, until he was too cold and tired and could no longer keep up his broom, he began to fall toward a bright green minivan with a trunk on top.
The last thing Harry remembered was a very bright white light before falling heavily on the top of the minivan.
~o0o~
Harry became dimly aware that his lungs were filling, without him doing anything. He tried to find out how this could be but the only thought that he could come up with is that he was dead. He didn’t feel half as bad as he should have after falling from God knows how high.
Harry tried to open his eyes but they were being uncooperative with his wishes. After a second he began to realize that there was someone next to him on what Harry thought was the ground.
Harry willed his eyes open, and saw a white light far behind, what he could only think of as the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
"I have to be dead." Said Harry out loud surprising him and the figure above him as she put her hand over her heart.
"And why do you say that?" asked the figure above him so innocently that Harry thought it must be an angel.
"Only the dead can see the beautiful angels of heaven." Harry more felt the words than said them. The figure above him blushed and smiled at him, Harry for some reason really liked it when this beautiful woman smiled at him.
A second figure walked into Harry’s line of sight, this one was definitely a man and was considerably older than his angel. Harry blinked "Funny, I always pictured God as older than that." The angel next to him giggled.
Harry’s angel bent down close to his head and placed a kiss on his forehead. She then picked his head up and placed it in her lap. "I’m sorry to disappoint you Mr. Potter, but you’re not dead."
Harry sighed "Why am I not surprised, I didn’t manage to die before why should I start now. I never get a break." Harry was starting to feel everything that had happened to him all over and all at once, immediately as though it really was a physical weight his body trembled once. The pain was like being near a Dementor again, every happy memory he had was gone he could only recall the most horrible experiences of his life. But in his mind he saw a bright white light again and a man wearing armor and great white wings gave him one thing, it looked like a golden headband but thinner, like just a thin piece of gold string. The Armored man put this ring of glowing gold on Harry’s head, it just fell down to his forehead. And stopped right below his lightning bolt scar, this thing gave Harry one happy memory that seemed to lessen the pain. When Hermione had kissed him.
"Harry, why do you say that, surely you don’t want to die? His angel next to him asked him with a worried tone in her voice, that Harry didn’t catch, as his attention was on the angel again, and not the pain.
Harry replied the only way he knew how at the time. The way he felt, the only way he had been able to feel since Sirius died, since the Tri-wizard tournament, since Snape had ruined Sirius’s chance at being cleared, since every one was getting petrified, ever since his first day at the Dursleys.
"Some times I think that death is more than I deserve. Some one else has died because of me, Voldemort is back because of me, and my best friends are in danger just by being near me. I can’t even tell Hermione how much I love her because it would put her in more danger." Harry’s eyes swam out of focus, as his angel brought him up and hugged him. Harry faintly heard his angel say "Oh Harry" then the pain seemed to go away entirely as Harry saw only black.
Harry woke up to a loud bang and then a quick pop that had followed it. Harry found it much easier to open his eyes. Every thing was much clearer than before, the only trouble was, what was before? He couldn’t remember, the last thought that he had was hitting something hard. Well he wasn’t on something hard now that was for sure. It was really rather soft and pleasant, it smelled like cinnamon.
Harry’s eyes came into a clear focus, he could feel the weight of his glasses, but when had he been with out them?
Harry groaned, and spoke his mind about it. "What hit me, the last thing I remember is slamming into something."
"It’s about time you woke up." A familiar voice said to him. "And if you remember slamming into something then you hit it."
"Thanks Hermione, my head feels like it was run though a blender, and your correcting me on whether or not I hit it, or it hit me." Harry paused a moment "Wait a sec, how’d I get here?"
Hermione gave a quick glance at the drivers seat then replied, " Well, we saw the car that you crashed into, you were out cold until you woke up a second ago."
"What happened to the car I hit?"
The man in the Driver’s seat spoke up this time. "It got pretty banged up, you have a hard head Harry. But there was a dent the size of your body in the roof, and the imprint of your face will forever be remembered in that vehicles hood." Hermione glared at the driver, Harry didn’t see it though.
"Dad, how long until we reach the station?" Hermione questioned him, seemingly ending the current discussion of the thickness of Harry’s skull.
"We’ll be there in no time flat."
"Thank you, Mr. Granger for picking me up." As Harry said this he tried to sit up from Hermione’s lap, but was forcefully laid back down.
"Harry, you’ve been out for a while, and you probably have a concussion, you need a break." Was Hermione’s forceful reply, as Harry opened his mouth to object. Upon hearing this he quickly shut it again, and mumbled out "I think I would know if I had a concussion."
Harry soon found that he was glad Hermione hadn’t let him up, he was quite content just to relax for a moment and collect his thoughts. He remembered something but he couldn’t remember what. There was supposed to be something in between when he hit the car and when he woke up in Hermione’s, well it looked like it was a minivan.
"Hermione? Did I wake up before this, or say any thing in my sleep?
Hermione looked at her Dad, blushing deeply, then with a hurried reply said, "No, Harry that was the first time you woke up, you didn’t say anything in your sleep.
Harry distinctly got the impression that Hermione wasn’t telling him the whole truth, but he didn’t press the matter. About five minutes later Harry tried to sit up again, Hermione seemed a little apprehensive about him getting up, and showed it in her glare that she gave him.
"Oh come on Hermione. I’m a quick healer, I grew back all the bones in my right arm in a single night." Harry said this with as much confidence as he could muster. "Of course I wouldn’t have had to regrow them if some idiotic, fake, show boy of a professor hadn’t tried to show off and fix them himself when I had asked him not to."
"All right fine Harry, Professor Lockhart was a great prat. You’ve been waiting four years to hear me say that haven’t you Harry?" Hermione said this with a smirk on her face.
Harry smirked, "No, not really, but now that you agree with me. He’s become a much better person now that he erased his own memory. You saw him, he isn’t nearly as bad as before."
Hermione shook her head muttering something about boys and grudges.
"I do not hold grudges, he was gonna erase my memory. I’m sure if you were there, you wouldn’t have fancied him in the least, or sent him that Valentines Day card."
"For your information Harry, one I was petrified at the time. And two I only sent one person a card and it wasn’t Lockhart." Snapped Hermione.
"Well that’s good to know, being petrified was a bit beyond your control though, but you still managed to let me know that it was a basilisk. But look at the bright side at least you didn’t have a disgruntled dwarf wearing a diaper and gold wings sitting on your ankles singing. "His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad, His hair as dark as a blackboard. I wish he was mine, he’s really divine, the hero who conquered the Dark Lord." In the middle of the hall with all the first years, and Malfoy. But I do have to concede to point that it was a very clever poem."
"You really think so?"
"Yeah, Ginny did a good job. Thank God she’s over that crush she had on me."
Hermione had a questioning look on her face. "What makes you think that Ginny wrote that? And why are you so relived that she doesn’t have a crush on you any more?"
Harry sighed at the thought of explaining it but he gave it a shot. "Well I think she wrote it because of her reaction to what Malfoy said. She covered her face and ran into a classroom. And why I’m so thankful that she’s over that crush is because her crush was on some one else. Her crush was on the image of Harry Potter the boy who lived, not me." Harry threw out his arms to emphasize his point on the Harry Potter image part, then pointed his thumb to himself when he spoke about himself.
"Right so she had a crush on some other green eyed, raven haired, guy with a lightning bolt scar on his forehead named Harry Potter."
"Yeah that’s about it. You’re the only person who treats me like a normal person, Hermione."
Mr. Granger spoke up now, "OK we’re here." Hermione just stared at her dad for a moment with a look of disbelief on her face, before getting out and piling her things on a trolley. Crookshanks leapt from where he was sleeping in the back seat, and landed deftly on top of Hermione’s things.
Harry went around the back of the van and took his trunk out. He noticed that his broom and cloak were put back where they were supposed to be. Harry waited for a moment before letting out a shrill whistle, Hedwig poked her out from behind a seat hooted loudly, then with one powerful flap of her wings had landed gently on Harry’s shoulder. Hedwig immediately nipped Harry’s ear softly, and nuzzled her head against his.
"Yes, I missed you too Hedwig."
Hermione spoke up, "Oh Harry, I have your things from Diagon alley in my trunk here lets get them." She opened up her trunk and started pulling books from it. Harry leaned in close to help, and Hermione spoke in his ear so that only he could hear her.
"Harry, when Hedwig came to me she was pretty thin, she’s looking ok now, but Harry you can’t live with those awful Dursleys any more, what their doing is illegal to wizards and muggles. There has to be some thing else you can do, some where else you can go."
Harry cut her off there by looking into her beautiful brown eyes with his green eyes. Then softly as to not sound mean, or ungrateful for her concern, but firmly enough to stop the conversation said, "Not now Hermione, I’ll tell you later. When we can be alone."
Hermione broke his stare and looked at him. She looked at his shoulders that were broader than last time she saw him. To his arms that looked lean and tired to several small bruises that were partially covered by his shirt. To how much taller he was, he was taller by a few inches it looked like. Hermione nodded and wheeled her trolley to the gateway that led to the platform of 9 and three-quarters. Harry followed her carrying his own trunk with Hedwig still perched on his shoulder.
They walked though the barrier together, and found themselves among their own again. It was only a second before a very tall and athletic looking red head came running toward them yelling.
"HARRY, HERMIONE, WHAT ON EARTH HAPPENED?"
Harry looked at Hermione and shrugged. "Any clue what he’s on about?"
"None at all. Not like he ever made sense in the first place though."
Ron slowed down to a halt right in front of them. "Harry, what on earth happened, the ministry’s in complete panic. Dad said there was a huge surge of magic, like there has never been before. Then you completely disappear, and every one thinks your dead."
"Well, I guess I should show them otherwise."
Ron looked at harry for a moment then said, "Yeah you really should, did you grow over the summer?"
"With the little the Dursleys feed me it’s a miracle that I didn’t shrink. But I’m a lot stronger than I look you know."
Ron grinned wide, "Oh yeah? Wanna try that theory, mate?"
Harry smirked. "Just for the record you started this."
Harry and Ron locked hands and pushed with all their strength, to make the other yield, Hermione’s eyes widened in shock at the strength they were putting against each other. It seemed as though Harry had gotten far stronger than he first let on. For a second it looked like Ron was getting the upper hand due to his size and weight advantage, but then Harry would push even more forcefully to get back to where he was.
Then out of nowhere Harry took a small step forward and Ron slid backward as he looked at Harry in shock. By this time it was drawing quite a crowd and several people were beginning to take bets on the winner.
"So, do you think that I’m stronger than I look Ron? Hard labor will do that to you, maybe you should try some."
"Shut up Harry."
Then Harry took another step forward and Ron slid back yet again, and Harry kept taking steps forward, faster as he gained momentum. Then as quickly as Harry had started he stopped just inches from pushing Ron off the edge of the platform.
"Aw, what’s the matter Harry, run out of steam?"
"You wish."
Harry and Ron were beginning to sweat from the exertion. But Harry could not push Ron any farther back and off the stone platform. Ron grunted and took a step forward himself, and Harry slid backward. Ron continued pushing until Harry was an inch away from falling off the platform.
"Come on Ron, do it. You know you want to."
Ron was finally going to get some recognition. He was going to beat Harry Potter in pure brute strength. Ron took a small step forward and Harry slid back so that his heels were off the platform. They looked in each other eyes and continued, they had seen the determination that burned bright in their eyes, they both wanted to win. Ron stepped forward, there was a bright flash of white light and then nothing. But Harry should have been completely off the platform now but he was still pushing, harder than ever. Ron took a few more steps and let out a yell, as there was no more ground beneath him and fell face first into the soft grass off the end of the platform.
Harry no longer had any resistance to push against and fell forward and did a summersault in mid-air and landed on his back on the platform. Then all he remembered was that he should have listened to Hermione about that concussion he had, cause right now his head hurt like hell, and every thing faded away to blackness.
Harry could tell he was still alive but he knew that he should be lying flat on his back at the platform, but again he was somewhere soft that smelled really good. He slowly opened his eyes and to his surprise was the friendly face of his angel that he had met before.
Harry looked into her eyes, they were beautiful brown eyes and had flecks of gold in them. She truly was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, and he had never been able to see so… so … clearly. Harry gathered his courage and spoke up.
"Angel?" Harry blinked, there was a bright light coming from behind her. The area under Harry’s head got firm all of a sudden then went soft again.
"Yes, Harry?"
"You have beautiful brown eyes."
There was a load snort across the way from Harry but he ignored it for the time being. The angel looked up at the source of the sound but didn’t say anything about it.
"Thank you Harry."
Harry then had an idea, it was rude of him to call her angel. Even angels have names, and he was determined to find out hers.
"I’m sorry, but the last time we met I didn’t get your name."
The angel smiled then told him, "Please call me Hermione."
"Hmmm, that’s a really pretty name. I have a friend named Hermione, I wish I could tell her how much I love her, but…" Harry couldn’t finish, he just couldn’t say that she might not feel the way he does.
"But, what?" a voice came from across the way. The same place where the snort had come from.
Harry turned his head and it looked like this man was bathed in a bright red light, Harry had no reason to not tell them, and it seemed like he could trust them.
"Its just I don’t know if she feels the same way, and if she doesn’t it might hurt our friendship. I’ll do anything for my friends, even if I have to stay away from them to keep them safe, I don’t know what I’d do if either one of them were hurt because Voldemort used them to get to me."
The fiery red man looked a little shocked and somber it seemed. Harry needed no help in guessing how Hermione, the angel who shared the same name as his friend, was feeling. She looked livid, and was angry about something that he had said.
"Harry James Potter, you will do no such thing, don’t you think that you should at least tell your friends about your concerns of their safety. Because I know for a fact that neither one of them is going to fall for that trick. And you should also come out with your feelings for her." The angel no longer looked angry but kind of sad and hopeful at the same time.
The fire red man, looked at Harry and chuckled, "Harry, she would be crazy not to like you back. You need to have more confidence in yourself. Every girl who knows who you are wants to bed you."
Harry blushed, "I don’t want any girl though, I want Hermione. Thank you though you sound a lot like my friend Ron."
The fire red man looked at him, then smirked. "Hey, you know what happened while you were having a contest with Ron."
Harry looked thoughtful for a moment then shook his head. "All I remember is a flash of really bright white light then feeling really light and happy. And I felt stronger, too strong, so I tried to hold back."
As soon as Harry had finished saying this the train shook and Harry was tossed from where he was laying on Hermione’s lap and fell onto the floor, seeing only the ground rushing towards him and the blackness rushing over his mind took him once more.
~o0o~
Harry woke up and was once again in Hermione’s lap. With a dull ache in the back of his head, Harry still had his mind reeling
"Hermione?"
"Yes Harry?"
"As much as I enjoy waking up to see my friend’s faces, we really need to stop doing this."
Hermione looked at him then smirked, "then I guess you should listen to me more often about when you’re hurt, I told you, you have a concussion. You need to take it easy or you’ll hurt yourself more than you already have."
Hermione took Harry in her arms and gave him a hug, while Ron just rolled his eyes. They looked so happy together, Ron continued to sit there until he just couldn’t take the sappiness of it any longer, which lasted only three seconds.
"Come on Hermione, as happy as I’m sure he is, Harry doesn’t need you to be his mother."
"Oh shut up Ron. It wouldn’t hurt for you to show a little concern, you saw them." Hermione said with much scorn in her voice.
Harry noticed something wrong with what Hermione said, "You saw them?" them what? Harry looked down he was in his Hogwarts robes now, then he remembered the bruises on his arms from working, he had a lot more on his body than the small ones on his arms. Then it hit him he was in muggle clothes before. What had they done? Were they that close to Hogwarts that they had to change his clothes? And if they had they would have seen a lot more than just bruises on his body.
Harry was getting more and more angry as he thought about it and it showed in his voice. "Hermione, what do you mean by `you saw them` them what? And how did I get into my Hogwarts robes?" Harry tried to get up and half succeeded he manage to come up off of Hermione’s lap, and support himself on his arm.
"Calm down Harry, we’re five minutes away from school, we had to change you into your robes." Ron spoke trying to calm Harry down.
"WE? What do you mean we?"
Hermione spoke slowly and calmly, hoping that this would calm Harry down as well. "Harry, Ron couldn’t hold you up and change you into your robes, so I had to help him."
Harry calmed down a little at least it was only Ron and Hermione, then again they could also be the ones he would least want them to know about the abusive work his Uncle put him through. Because they would go to an adult, Harry never considered the Dursley’s house his home, his home was always Hogwarts, but then again he had no where else to go for the summer. At least not yet, next summer he would be of age.
"And?" Was Harry’s reply to this, he knew what it was but he wanted them to bring it up.
"And what, Harry?" Ron sighed, exasperated.
"Hermione said ‘saw them.’ Them what?"
Ron now looked pretty pissed off, "you know bloody well right what we mean Harry, all the bruises, welts, cuts, and God knows what else you have hidden."
Harry couldn’t be angry any more, he only wished that they hadn’t seen what they saw, and hadn’t guessed that he was covering some of it up with a little magic. Harry was feeling guilty and ashamed that he tried to hide it from them and that they had found out so soon.
All Harry could do was to turn away from them and mumble out an "I’m fine."
Ron rolled his eyes and put his hand on Harry’s shoulder. "Harry, we never asked how you were doing."
Hermione put her hand on Harry’s other shoulder and turned him around. She looked Harry right in the eyes. Harry could see in Hermione’s eyes the real depth of concern that she had for him, which only made him even more not fine.
"Harry, whenever you say you’re fine, your not. And when you say you’re fine before we even ask means that you’re hurting. You’re stronger than any one I know Harry, you’ve battled you-know-who five times, and beat him and escaped with your life. You can endure a tremendous amount of pain, so much that it can drive adults insane." Harry couldn’t stand it any longer and began to tremble. "You’ve saved countless lives, Harry, mine included, but I know that emotionally you’re hurting a lot. Please Harry let us help you. We’re your friends, that’s what we’re here for."
Harry fell down to his knees, Ron and Hermione followed him down. "Voldemort will try to use you to get to me. I don’t know what I’d do if either of you were hurt because of me. I’ve already lost Sirius, I’m not going to lose any one else."
"Harry, we’re not going to leave you if that’s what you’re trying to do." Hermione told him softly in his ear.
"How did you??- You guys are the best." Harry stammered.
Ron looked at Harry thoughtfully then said, "Harry if you don’t cheer up right now, I’m going to cast the mother of all cheering charms on you."
Harry looked at Ron and Ron looked at Harry, then they both reached for their wands.
They both yelled out "laeto." Ron jumped backward as the pink jets of sparks flew out of their wands and hit mid air combining into a pink ball and exploding with white and pink sparks. Harry moved with incredible speed using his arms to try and shield Hermione and himself, but only making sure that both of them were caught in the blast.
Harry looked at Hermione grabbed her in his arms and gave her a kiss on the cheek, then they both fell over laughing still holding each other in their arms. All the while Ron looked at them both and smirked.
Ron looked at them both laughing hysterically, he’d never heard of a magic effect like that before, "maybe I was a bit too enthusiastic about that charm."
Hermione was still giggling, "I think you both were a little too enthusiastic about that charm."
Harry laughed lightly, "Well I don’t know about you guys but I’ve never had magic combine like that before, spells usually just deflect, or one other unusual magic effect happens." Harry meant the Priori Incantatem spells effect, but that only happens in rare cases like his and Voldemort's. However, Harry had never revealed this information to any one, and he wasn’t about to do it now.
Hermione got up still a little giggly and helped Harry to his feet. With the effect of the cheering charm still on him Harry had no choice but to be happy until the spell wore off, and hopefully by that time he will have forgotten about what was troubling him.
The scarlet train, the Hogwarts Express, slowed down and shuddered to a standstill at the station in the all wizard village of Hogsmeade. Harry, Hermione, and Ron all got off the train in high spirits, Ron mostly because he saw Harry and Hermione so giggly, and flirtatious with each other that it was entirely contagious and was spreading out to him and some of the other Hogwarts students. While Harry and Hermione were still under the over enthusiastic effects of the cheering charm and were having a grand time about it.
Harry looked around him as he got off the train, then he quickly saw the huge form of his half giant friend Hagrid, and waved vigorously calling his name until the massive man turned and waved back.
"How ye doin’ Harry? I’ll talk wit’ ya later." Boomed back Hagrid as he herded all the first years into the boats to take them across the lake into the Hogwarts area proper.
Harry walked over to the formerly horse-less carriages now that Harry could see the Thestrals, noticing that the sun was close to setting. The cool air, the soft crunch of the gravel beneath his feet, he was home now. Then stepping up to one of the carriages he stopped, then stepped aside to help Hermione up into the carriage, then got in himself followed by Ron who was still grinning like a maniac.
Harry finally noticed Ron’s odd grin and decided to ask him about it. "Ron? Why on God’s green earth are you grinning like a prat? You weren’t hit by the cheering charm."
Ron looked as though he would burst soon if he didn’t tell some one what was going on but all he said was, "I’ll tell you once we get back to the dorms."
"What, you can’t tell Harry while I’m around Ron?" Hermione would have been angry had she not been forced to be so happy.
Ron’s maniacal grin if possible got bigger and broader at this comment, and responded with an answer that would have started a huge row between them, "It’s guy stuff."
"If I wasn’t in such a good mood Ron I’d throw you out of this carriage."
The carriage jerked to the side as it hit a bump in the dirt and gravel road, and threw Hermione across Harry’s lap. Harry didn’t notice her blush furiously as he held her and asked if she was all right.
Ron began laughing hysterically, then in between laughs managed to blurt out, "Of course she’s ok Harry. She’s in the one place that all witches want to be, in the arms of," Ron paused for a moment to add in some dramatics as he waved his arms around no one and lowered his voice down an octave, "The Famous Harry Potter, THE BOY WHO LIVED."
"Shut it Ron." Both Harry and Hermione yelled at him.
The rest of the ten-minute ride went uneventful and silent except for when Ron caught Harry’s hand on Hermione’s and he let out a soft snort, and began to grin like a maniac again.
When the carriage came to stop Ron jumped out, and was followed by Harry. He turned around and helped Hermione down. And they began the short walk up to the castle, past the old whomping willow, and into the Entrance Hall.
A hoarse yell echoed in the entrance hall. "Weasley, Potter."
Harry and Ron looked over toward the sound and soon a silver blonde flanked by two massive, hairy, dull, bodyguards. It was Draco Malfoy, and his brutish bodyguard friends Crabbe, and Goyle.
Ron looked over at Malfoy and the grin that he had been wearing grew even broader. "Malfoy, what an unexpected and pleasant surprise to see you so soon in the year. I’m glad you decided to grace us with your presence." Ron spoke to Malfoy in what was unmistakably a very happy tone of voice.
Harry looked at Ron for one moment then his own features hardened when Malfoy drew nearer, with a look of barely restrained rage on his face.
"Weasley, I’ll get the three of you for what you did to my father. And it starts now." Malfoy looked like he was about to explode with anger as he had his wand trained on Ron’s face and made a motion with his left hand that sent Crabbe and Goyle looming forward.
Ron looked at Malfoy straight in the eyes, then spoke with calmness and with great clarity, "Why Malfoy, are you upset about the ministry finding out about that secret chamber of dark arts stuff under your drawing room floor?"
And Harry added in, "Or are you still mad about me showing every one that your Dad was a dirty, death eater."
Harry needn’t have had to look at Malfoy’s face to see the anger that was burning in his eyes, Harry was in a half smile now but still had his eyes on Crabbe and Goyle.
Just as Malfoy had started to say the spell he would have cast in Ron’s face, Ron had bated the wand away with his left hand and punched him in the face with his right. Harry didn’t have enough time to grab his own wand before the two hulking angry forms of Crabbe and Goyle ran at Ron. Harry thrust himself in front of them and held his hands out saying the first spell that came to his mind that would stop them.
"Impedimenta" Harry could feel the magic running through his body, into his arms and out of his hands, then just as they had touched his hands, they froze in place slowed to a standstill.
Ron took Draco to the ground but froze as he saw what Harry did, Malfoy also stopped. Harry looked at them both then simply said, "It was kind of redundant to slow them down, huh?"
"Stupefy." Ron looked down from on top of Malfoy, he was stunned. Ron just got up and looked at Harry.
Ron and Hermione stared at him, Harry felt just a little uncomfortable under their stare. "Did you use your wand for that Harry?"
"Well, I used my wand when I stunned Malfoy, but not when I stopped his flunkies."
Ron shrugged, "And I still wanted to beat the hell out of him. Oh well, lets hurry and shove them in the broom closet." Ron grabbed Draco by his robes and threw him none too gently into the closet that Hermione had opened for them, while Harry dragged Crabbe and Goyle into the closet, where it was quickly locked in place by conjured ropes.
Harry walked into the Great hall followed by his friends. Harry sat down at the long Gryffindor table, Ron sat down to his left and Hermione sat to his right. Ginny and Neville walked in after they did and sat down directly across from them.
Ginny looked at Ron and Neville and nodded once with a firm look of determination on her face. Ron looked at her gave a full smile and an approving nod, Neville too looked determined and nodded. Harry gave them all an odd questioning look, until the huge wooden doors of the Great Hall burst open and Hagrid came walking in followed by the first years. They all looked frightened of what might happen, and before Professor McGonagall, could explain what was about to happen to them, the two Weasley’s and Neville made their move. All three got up at the same moment and spoke loud enough for the entire hall to hear.
"Attention first years, we have a very important announcement that we must make before you are sorted into your houses."
McGonagall looked at Dumbledore pleading him to intervene, but he just had that same twinkle in his eyes and waved her to let them continue. She looked very angry until Ron winked at her and mouthed to her it was ‘alright’.
"We three, of Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry, would like to tell you a tale that begins 15 years ago." Ron spoke with mild amusement and a lot of enthusiasm.
Ginny spoke up and continued where Ron had left off, "Of a man who has fought You-know-who, not once, not twice, not even three times, not four, but yes five times. Has fought and defeated the dreaded dark lord."
Harry was horrified he couldn’t believe that Ron was doing this to him, and began to blush furiously. While Hermione refused to look at him, but continued to stare at Ginny, Ron and Neville as they continued their "announcement."
Neville this time caught on and began telling the story, "fourteen years ago, the first battle took place when he was just but a baby, one year of age. The Dark Lord knew of his incredible magical power, and tried to be rid of him when he was too young to defend himself."
Ron took over once more and led on the speech, "You know that he is the only person to have ever survived the killing curse cast by the dark lord, and when the curse hit him, it transferred magical power from the dark lord and to him. Giving him even more power, and new skills."
Ginny began again and spoke quicker as she glanced at Harry and saw him glare darkly at her. "But alas it was too late for his parents, but he the great man that he is made You-know-who pay for it dearly with his body. Because in truth Voldemort could not be killed so easily, because of the dark magic he used, Voldemort was only reduced to a shadow, he wasn’t alive but he wasn’t dead either."
Ron took on a more melodramatic approach as he continued to tell Harry’s life story, "Then after ten years of living with Muggles that treat him horribly, he got to come to Hogwarts, where he first found out that he was, well him. And in that first year he came to the knowledge that some one was going to steal the powerful Sorcerer’s stone. And it turns out that his Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher had been possessed by the Dark Lord, but our hero in all his purity and goodness, went to go stop him, with the help of his two best friends, myself and the talented Hermione. Once he got there, the Dark Lord could not stand against his pure touch, and was burned to cinders."
Ron grinned at the dark blush that was coming to Harry’s face, and did kind of feel sorry for him that he had to go through this. But Ron continued on even more fervently than before. "Then in our second year, a time when every one should be ashamed of themselves for the way they treated him."
Every student in the great hall except for the Gryffindors and Slytherins looked down at this, remembering how poorly they had treated Harry. "When one of Harry’s skills came into light, he was a Parselmouth, meaning that he could talk to snakes. But this year we were plagued by petrification, and again he rose up and killed a basilisk that was being controlled by a powerful dark item, this item was a diary that had been enchanted by the Dark Lord when he was sixteen. This book tricked my sister, and began to feed on her life, but again the wizarding world was saved by its hero."
Surprisingly Luna stood up and kept going in the set pattern and began about Harry’s third year. "Then in Harry’s third year here at this wonderful school of witchcraft and wizardry, he fought off scores of Dementors, by using a spell so powerful that most adult wizards are not able to cast it. But all in all it was a pretty boring year for him." Luna visibly winced after she chanced a quick glance at Harry just in time to see him slam his head on the hard wooden table.
Ginny spoke meaningfully with great sobriety, "and fourth year he was chosen to be the fourth Tri-wizard champion, and did very well on all three tasks, and he tied with Cedric Diggory, who shortly afterward died at the hands of the Dark lord. But once more the hero of the wizarding world was forced into battle with the Dark lord, after having been used as a means of the Dark Lord’s resurrection, however he was able to defeat the Dark Lord, and return home with Cedric’s body."
All of them now stood together near Harry, who still had his head on the table and was blushing furiously. And Harry didn’t notice but Hermione had gotten up and stood with them as well.
"Every muggle on Earth owes him their life and they don’t even know it." Said Ron with a kind of silent pride in his friend.
"He is our hero and our savior, he is the one and the only HARRY POTTER." The friends said it perfectly in time with one another and even managed to say Harry Potter in a three-part harmony, as Hermione grabbed Harry and lifted him up out of his seat until he was standing so that every one could see him.
Hermione took this time to add something herself, while Dumbledore looked at the scene with a lot of interest. "Harry Potter the man so modest, that this has him blushing redder than Ron’s hair."
"HEY." Both Ron and Harry yelled in indignation, Harry mostly because he could feel that he really wasn’t blushing all THAT badly.
Harry then continued, and took a long look at Hermione then glanced at Ron’s hair. "There is no way I could ever blush THAT much."
Harry could hear Ron’s groan at his attempt to get the spotlight off of himself and onto someone else, and Harry began laughing just letting go and even Ron began to laugh with him so did every one else. But he could also hear the light hearted laughter of every one in the Great Hall, all the students laughing blissfully with them, even the teachers. Hagrid’s booming laugh, Dumbledore’s light but deep chuckle, even Professor Snape couldn’t help it and laughed, it seemed as though the entire great hall had forgotten every bad thing that had happened the year before, and just let themselves go into one blissful moment. Then after a little while the laughter had died down, and every one seemed to have forgotten the impromptu announcement, and was still in a very good mood, Snape didn’t look quite as irritated as he did before though he did have more of an evil look to his smile.
Hermione ignored all this and continued, "But this should have you blushing worse than anyone has ever seen."
Harry looked at Hermione as she came closer to him, she came at him quickly so that he didn’t have any time to prepare himself but it felt as though it was all going in slow motion as she kissed him full on the lips. To Harry it felt like blissful heaven forever, and was surprised when the kiss deepened.
A soft, white glow began to emanate from Harry’s body, and white flames began to flow and twist around both Harry and Hermione until they were both surrounded by it. A swirl of large white feathers, burst into appearance amid the pearl white flames of magical energy raging around the two. The Great Hall was silent except for the sound of the energy rushing around, but both Harry and Hermione seemed completely oblivious to it.
Ron stared in awed disbelief that Hermione finally did it and the result of that union. Ron took a quick look around the Great Hall, McGonagall looked at them in what seemed to be fear. Dumbledore had a similar look to his face except that the twinkle in his eyes was still there and he had a slight smile to his lips.
Harry had his eyes closed and just melted into the kiss from the beginning, he felt warm, whole, and complete. He could feel everything going on around him, the candles floating up in the air on puffs of magic, the candles themselves burning and producing light but never consuming themselves. The heartbeats of students around him, some of them quick, others more slowly, Harry could feel these things around him. Lastly he could feel his own heartbeat, no, that wasn’t right there were two heartbeats, his own and Hermione’s. Their hearts were beating together as one. Then he felt it, both of them, needed to go down from the heaven that they were at to breathe.
The kiss ended and Harry looked into Hermione’s eyes, the soft glow of candle light all around them, a single white feather dropped down to the ground and disappeared into tiny glowing points of light, that soon disappeared into nothing.
"Harry, if you’re quite done with Ms. Granger, and if the Weasleys, Mr. Longbottom, and Miss Lovegood are done with their surprise announcement, we’ll continue on with the sorting." Said Dumbledore with barely restrained laughter, as he saw Harry go bright red and begin to sit down. "Oh, Harry before I forget, I need to see you and Ms. Granger in my office right after the feast."
Harry nodded solemnly, just knowing that he was in trouble for this, and he didn’t have anything to do with it. But he still thought that it was more than worth it, besides the worst they’d do to him is give him a detention and a warning about doing anything like that again. They would never try to expel him again or Hermione.
The sorting happened while Harry was lost in thought, and wasn’t paying attention, but it seemed as though a lot of first years came over to the Gryffindor table than any other. Then the food appeared in front of them and dug in to it.
Not a word was said between them and Harry had a feeling why, they thought that he was mad at them, not really though even if Snape was going to be even more of a pain than usual. But Harry was just hungry, as his loudly rumbling stomach kept reminding him as he ate faster than Ron could have. Chicken legs would go missing everywhere around him, rolls of bread were quickly devoured, bowls of several different soups would drain themselves in his presence, and goblets of pumpkin juice would be choked down.
Ron raised an eyebrow at the amount of food Harry was eating, it was pretty unusual for Harry to eat so much. Ron shrugged and put it off as Harry having a growth spurt, the Dursleys didn’t feed him as much as he needed so maybe his body was making up for it now. The amount of food that Harry was stuffing down his throat was beyond belief, he ate nearly a quarter of the food on the table by himself. If he kept this up he’d eat half of it by himself by the time the feast was over. Finally after downing three additional cups of pumpkin juice Harry leaned back and said, "That’s much better, I do wish there was another roll though."
Hermione stared at Harry as she continued to butter her roll, the last one. She glanced at her roll then took a bite out of it just loud enough for Harry to hear.
"Hermione, I wasn’t going to take yours, give me a break will you." Harry was just slightly resentful of her thinking he would steal from her.
Hermione smirked and smoothly said, "If I remember correctly I just gave you a break a little while ago."
Harry blushed a little and mumbled out, "If that’s what its like to get a break, I need to get one more often."
Ron over hearing this burst out laughing a sprayed food all over Neville.
Hermione glared at Ron, "That is so disgusting, Ron." She then took out her wand and muttered a cleaning spell, effectively cleaning him off.
Just a few minutes later the feast had ended, and Dumbledore was wishing them all a good night, and had called Harry and Hermione up to his office after they were done saying that he had something he needed to tell them. Harry looked at Hermione nervously, he knew that they were in trouble because of the little show that they had put on, well the show the Weasleys and the rest of them had put on. He got dragged in with the public kiss.
Ron had said goodbye to them both, a bit over dramatized that as punishment for their very public display of affection, that they would be tortured severely, and if they were lucky put to death afterward.
Hermione laughed dryly at Ron’s poor acting abilities, and continued walking to Dumbledore’s office with Harry just barely able to keep up with her.
They had arrived at Dumbledore’s office, with the Gargoyle that stood in the entranceway. Harry having been here several times before knew the kinds of passwords that Dumbledore liked to use, and rattled off a quick string of candies both wizard and muggle.
"Dumbledore sure loves candy, you’ve said almost every one except for canary cream."
"Yeah, but there’s one more, Fred and George’s Ton tongue toffee’s."
When Harry had said this, the Gargoyle jumped to the side allowing them entrance, to the spinning staircase that would bring them to his door. Once up the stairs and through Dumbledore’s office door, they saw his pet Phoenix, Fawkes, leap up and stand on Harry’s right shoulder.
"Well at least now I know who to leave Fawkes with when I’m gone." Said the headmaster with a hint of amusement in his voice. "It’s a good thing that you learned how to pick the password to my office."
"Sorry Professor, but you weren’t there to open the door."
Dumbledore laughed a bit, "Don’t worry about it Harry, I should just tell you what the password is any way, but that’s not why I called you here."
Harry audibly gulped, it was the beginning of the year and already he was costing Gryffindor house points.
Dumbledore seemed to pick up on Harry’s unease and decided to end the poor boys fears, "Don’t worry Harry your not in trouble, well at least not from me or any of the teachers." Dumbledore seemed to be having a hard time not smiling as he looked at Harry and his confused expression. "I wanted you to come here so that I could give you some news that I could not give you over the summer due to unforeseen circumstances. I would like to inform you that along with Ms. Granger you have been made a sixth year prefect."
Harry just blinked a few times, and then seemed to find his voice again, sounding surer than he really felt. "You’re kidding right? I’ve broken more school rules than anyone else in my class, there is just no way. And what about Ron?"
Dumbledore looked at Harry and smiled, while giving Hermione a knowing look, while she smirked. "No Harry I’m not kidding. Harry as far as I know, you have only broken rules when you thought it best to help others. You should have several awards to the school plaques by now, I must simply talk to Severus why we never got them. But back to the point now is that you are a leader Harry, your classmates respect you and admire you for your bravery, that is why the teachers and I have made you a prefect even with your record. And I’m sure you already knew that Miss Granger would be a prefect again. But Mr. Weasley seemed to ignore his responsibilities as prefect."
"Well yes of course I figured Hermione would be a prefect again, she follows the rules. But now that you made me one I will have to because I’m supposed to be an example to them." Harry’s response sounded weak and halfhearted even to himself.
Hermione rolled her eyes and huffed but remained silent seemingly waiting for Harry to say something.
Dumbledore locked eye contact with Harry for a moment and pointedly looked at Hermione.
Harry cocked his head for a moment in confusion but caught on and finally asked Hermione, "Okay Hermione, what is it?"
"What is what Harry?"
"You only huff at me when you know something that I don’t and you feel it’s blatantly obvious, and every one should know it."
"Yes, so what’s your point?"
Harry thought, is it just me or is Hermione flirting with me? "My point is that you huffed at me, so out with it. Out with whatever piece of knowledge that you gained from reading Hogwarts: A History several times over.
"Harry I didn’t read it out of Hogwarts: A History, if you must know Dumbledore told me. Prefects have benefits, like being exempt from some of the rules, as long as we’re doing our prefect duties."
Being a prefect didn’t really appeal to Harry much, even though he’d be able to get away with some things. Harry didn’t like the idea of those prefect meetings and said as much. Bringing a light chuckle from the headmaster and causing Hermione to whip out her wand and threaten to hex him if he didn’t. Harry quickly agreed, causing the old Headmaster even more mirthful laughter as he pinned on his prefect badge. Hermione pinned hers on as well as they got up to leave as Dumbledore dismissed them.
"Oh, Harry, your occlumency lessons will be on Wednesdays, and here is something else for you Harry," Dumbledore handed Harry a small envelope that Harry quickly put into his cloak pocket, "Hermione, before I forget the password to your common room is, "Conspiracy."
Harry turned around and gave the old wizard an analyzing look before turning to Hermione and muttering, "You planed this didn’t you?"
Hermione’s only reply was a smile so sweet that it could almost give you a stomachache. She turned and walked out of the headmaster’s office and started up the steps that lead to the Gryffindor common room with Harry following closely behind her.
Harry continued to follow Hermione up the several staircases, which lead to the towers and most importantly Gryffindor tower. He noticed that Hermione didn't seem to want to talk any, and was walking a lot faster than usual. As they rounded a corner right before the portrait of the Fat lady, Harry understood why she was walking so fast.
A great deal of new students where locked out of their own common room, Harry continued to follow Hermione through the midst of the students until she came to an abrupt stop in front of the large painting. Hermione spoke with a commanding voice that was a little different than the one she used with Harry other times, “Everyone the password to get in the common room is, conspiracy, you needn't worry about it. It is simply an inside joke that some of the older Gryffindors have with Harry.” She pointed him out, as he was now standing right next to her.
Harry instantly felt the stares they gave him, and one first year asked Hermione if he was really the Harry Potter.
Harry just looked at her with a tired expression “did you really have to mention me?”
Hermione seemed to have ignored Harry's question and answered the first year, like she would a child. “Yes, he is the Harry Potter, he even has the scar to prove it. Go ahead and look.”
The small first year girl looked like she had just been told that she had her pick of a candy store. She walked up to Harry with an apparent sense of awe, as she ceremoniously moved Harry's uncontrollable hair out of the way so that they could indeed see his lightning bolt scar on his forehead. As soon as his scar was in sight Harry heard a collective gasp and that sudden murmurs came, “he's the boy who lived.” “He survived you-know-who.” “He's the guy in all the books.” “He's in the newspapers.”
Harry was feeling more than a little uncomfortable, being the subject of their conversations. And he quietly told the fat lady the password to the common room, and stepped inside vowing that he was going to have a talk with Hermione about this later.
He was greeted with the warm red and gold Gryffindor colors, when he noticed two red forms making themselves known to him.
“Hey, Harry what have you been up to?” Asked Ron while grinning madly.
“Nothing much, why?” Harry was still a little wary of them since their great hall demonstration.
“Umm, Harry, you aren't mad at us for that… display, are you?” Ginny asked with pleading eyes that were over exaggerated.
“No, I'm not mad-
“Good cause we have a surprise for you.”
Harry rolled his eyes, he'd just been set up perfectly and he fell for it. Ron and Ginny lead Harry through the common room over to a corner where Jack Sloper, Andrew Kirke, and Katie Bell were standing talking in hushed tones and whispers. Harry couldn't discern what they were saying but Harry knew the two beaters that replaced Fred and George Weasley on the team. Harry was able to relax, if only a little. Though he did chance a quick glance at the portrait hole to see if Hermione had made it in yet. Evidently she was still explaining things to the first years.
Jack looked up first and saw Ron and Ginny, leading Harry over to them and quickly alerted the other players of this new development.
“Hey Harry, guess what?” Grinned Jack
Harry had just about enough surprises for one day, first there was the run in with a mini van, Hermione saving him, even if he did have to admit he didn't remember how Hermione had gotten him. Then there was the whole Weasley performance, and Hermione giving him that kiss, that was by far the best surprise that he had gotten in his life. Being made a prefect was definitely better than being punished, if only by a little.
Harry just looked questioningly at Jack waiting for a response.
“Come on Harry you have to at lest try to guess.” Prodded Andrew.
“We need a new chaser?” Harry tried to sound enthused but was still being cautious.
Ron nudged him forward from behind, and said, “yeah that too but there's still one more thing we need to do first.”
“And what would that be, because if its another performance you guys have planned, count me out.” Harry was getting tired of this, too much was happening at once. To tell the truth it was driving him to distraction.
“No, its not another performance, Harry.” Katie said glaring at Ron and Ginny, though mostly at Ron
“I give up then, what is it?” Harry said before they had a chance to defend themselves.
Ginny looked like she was about to burst from excitement, and blurted out, “Harry, you're the new Gryffindor Quidditch Captain.”
Harry turned towards Ginny with his mouth open, words trying to escape but failing miserably. After a few moments of shock Harry managed a feeble, “What?”
Ron took a light hold on Harry's arm to keep him from falling, and explained, “Harry while you were in Dumbledore's office the rest of us took a vote, we decided that you're the new captain.”
Harry just let it all soak in for a minute, it seems as though they had voted him as captain unanimously. “Do I have any say in the matter?”
Ginny spoke quite offhand like they had expected it, and replied, “No, it would be five against, one. You'd still lose Harry.”
“Ok then, practice is after classes tomorrow.
The Weasleys gave a military style salute yelling, “Sir, Yes sir.” Then marched out of the common room. The two Beaters and Katie did a somewhat subdued imitation of the brother and sister Weasleys, but still had a lot of enthusiasm, and marched from the common room following them.
Harry was almost by himself in the common room, he took another glance at the Portrait hole to see if Hermione had come in yet. She hadn't.
Harry looked outside it was getting dark out, but there was a bright moon that you could see by. Harry walked up the stairs to his dorm, the old wooden door oddly enough didn't make any noise when Harry opened it. No one was in the fifth year dorm room, no Seamus, no Neville, no Dean or Ron.
The noise and confusion of Hogwarts seemed to have just disappeared. Harry found the silence soothing for some reason, it left time for reflection on things that have happened. But the restraints of the earth would never allow for such freedom of reflection. Harry needed to be where he belonged, in the air flying. He half ran toward his trunk and pulled it open taking out his Firebolt. With his broom in hand, Harry walked over to the window by his bed and opened it allowing the cool night air into the warm room. With one swift jump Harry had rocketed out of the window and into the night sky.
So many things were happening so fast, he'd blacked out twice in one day, if Madam Pomfrey ever heard about that she'd have a fit. Not to mention if she ever got wind of what Uncle Vernon did to him. Hell if anybody found out, but Hermione and Ron both know about that now. Why hadn't Hermione told Dumbledore while they were there? Or did she tell him already? No, no one had brought it up again, could they have forgotten perhaps? No, again that's a big thing to forget about and it is out of character for them both, well not so much for Ron, but very much so for Hermione.
During his thought process he'd dropped several dozen feet and was skimming the top of the Forbidden Forest. Harry pulled up to correct for the lack of concentration, slamming into a car was bad enough, slamming into a tree would be worse.
Now that he was safely in the air again Harry began to think about it all again. Every one was acting strangely, well except for Ron, he was always like that. But Hermione had gotten in on their prank and had kissed him full on the lips in front of everyone. Not that he didn't like it, no, just the opposite Harry had quite enjoyed himself. But that still doesn't answer why she did it. And why she pointed him out to all those first years. He just didn't understand it, the minds of women were a mystery to him. Women? Woman? Since when did Hermione become one of those?
“Since you admitted to yourself that you fell in love with your best girl friend.” Harry laughed softly to himself, talking to yourself was normal, it was answering yourself that was an indication of insanity. Yeah right, if people knew half of what he did, they'd worry more about their own sanity than the sanity of others.
A Prefect, it was perfectly natural for Hermione to be a Prefect but him, Harry Potter, a Prefect. Why did Dumbledore want one of the schools biggest rule breakers, to become a prefect, an enforcer of the rules that he so often broke. Yet one more thing that needs to be sorted with. Harry hoped that he might accidentally over hear a conversation that involved him and why some of these things were happening.
A team captain, now that wasn't unexpected, even though he had thought that it would have been in seventh year when he was voted in to be team captain when all the other veteran members had all graduated the year before.
By the time Harry had finished the moon had risen high in the sky, meaning that it was now really late at night, or really early in the morning. It was high time to be heading back to the dorm.
Harry was now far out over the Forbidden Forest, and could see the castle far off in the distance, one or two lights still on in a tower. Harry turned around toward the castle and took off as fast as he could. With his thoughts in order Harry could really concentrate on the sensations, he tried to feel the broom using magic to propel him forward. At first all there was, was the wind pushing against him. Harry tried to sense the magic itself, in his own body. Dumbledore seemed to be able to sense magic, he knew everything that went on inside of Hogwarts.
That's it. Harry felt the magic in him, it's ebb and flow, through every part of him, and it just seemed to radiate out. The magic flowing through the broom and out of the bristles, pushing him forward and keeping him aloft. Harry realized he had closed his eyes, and quickly opened them narrowly missing an unusually tall oak tree. Harry attempted to feel the magic again, focusing his thoughts, concentrating. Nothing, Harry couldn't feel any thing, he'd lost it. Harry would have to ask Dumbledore about it the next time he saw him.
The forest underneath him began to thin out and the stone castle walls began to loom up before him. Going into a sharp dive to build speed, Harry pulled up hard and went into a loop and shot straight up. Dark empty windows shot down past Harry as he rose higher and higher up the tower. The window with the light was coming closer fast, but was the window open? Harry couldn't see whether the window was open, but pulled up on his broom doing another loop and sliding through the luckily open window.
Setting his broom down silently on the Gryffindor common room floor, Harry began walking up the boy's dorm stairs when he heard a soft murmur behind him in front of the fireplace. Harry wheeled around on his heel to see who it was. Seeing no one in plain sight Harry walked slowly toward the fire to try to find who made the noise.
The light steps Harry used at the Dursleys to sneak around was coming in handy, in the stone walls of Hogwarts where even the softest sound echoed and could be heard from farther away. Harry looked over the edge of the couch to see Hermione sleeping soundly on the couch cushions in front of the fire. Harry sighed and rolled his eyes, she was so beautiful, and serene, seemingly more so while she was asleep.
“She's beautiful whether she's awake or asleep, though she's much quieter when she's asleep.”
Hermione murmured softly in her sleep. Prompting a smile and a soft laugh from Harry.
“Well on second thought maybe she's not that quiet in her sleep either. Wonder what she's dreaming about to make her talk in her sleep?”
Harry walked softly over to the side of the couch, and kneeled down carefully. Hermione smiled in her sleep, and rolled over onto her side giving Harry a better view of her new and developing curves. Harry swallowed hard but didn't dare clear his throat. “Hermione,” Harry let out as a hoarse whisper, “Hermione, what are you dreaming of?”
Hermione murmured out a soft, “Harry.”
“What about Harry?”
“He's such a great friend.”
Harry blushed a little, and began to feel bad for taking advantage of the situation like this. “And he thinks you're a great friend too, Hermione.”
“I know.”
Harry put his hand on her cheek she felt very cold. He was going to have to wake her up there was no way he could get her to her dorm room with out that damn alarm going off.
“Hermione its time to get up.” Harry shook her softly to rouse her.
Hermione sighed and opened her eyes, “Mmm, Harry?”
“You fell asleep on the couch in the common room.”
Hermione seemed to have woken up completely now, “yes, I wanted to know what was in the letter that Dumbledore gave to you. Because I just know that you forgot about it.”
“What letter?” Dumbledore had already given Harry the prefect badge, why would he need the letter also?
“Oh Honestly Harry.” Hermione reached into his robe pocket and pulled out a stuffed envelope. “This letter.” She had a beautiful smirk on her face. Did she always have that smirk or was it just when she had out smarted him again? “Well don't just stand there open it.”
“Fine, fine. I'll open the stupid thing.” Harry opened the large envelope and two letters fell to the floor, the top one read “O.W.Ls.” Picking it up he began to unfold the parchment and read the contents.
Dear Mr. Potter,
We are delighted to give you the results to the O.W.L examination, you have received the following grades in each of your classes.
An Outstanding was received in Defense Against the Dark Arts. “Your examiner wanted to give you a Beyond Powerful, and was adamant about making it a higher grade than Outstanding but we are unable to do that so he had to settle for an Outstanding.”
An Outstanding was received in Potions.
An Exceeds Expectations was received in Transfiguration.
An Outstanding was received in Charms.
An Outstanding was received in Divination.
An Acceptable was received in Astronomy.
An Exceeds Expectations was received in Care of Magical Creatures.
Your O.W.L results brought to you by “The O.W.L Testing Committee.”
Harry looked at the letter and read and reread it several times. Some of the facts not quiet sinking in, until Harry grinned and murmured, “Heh, the slimy git is out to get me.”
Hermione seemed to finally get tired of waiting for him to say what it was and snatched the letter from Harry's fingers, and began to read it. After only a moment of reading it, Hermione threw herself at Harry with obvious excitement on her face.
“Harry you did great, much better than I thought you would do.”
Harry listened to this and felt something wasn't exactly right about it. “Much better than you thought I would do? Damn it, Hermione. Give me a break, I had a lot of things on my mind at the time.” Harry covered his face with his right hand in exasperation.
“Harry, what is that on your hand?” Hermione's tone seemed concerned, and just slightly evasive.
Harry looked at the back of his hand, and his lips shrunk down to a thin line. “I must not tell lies. Thanks to that bitch Umbridge, I'll have that scar on the back of my hand until I die.”
Hermione wasn't sure how to respond to that, she had never heard Harry swear before. She quickly looked around for a new topic, finding one on the floor near Harry's feet. She bent down and picked up the letter that was on the floor and gave it to Harry, “Here you dropped this one.”
“Right, forgot about that one.” Harry's voice still had an edge to it, but it wasn't as hard as before.
Harry opened the letter and saw the opening line, his heart sank as he read it.
The last Will and Testament of Sirius Black
Harry if your reading this that means that I'm no longer among the living, and I long ago decided to not become a ghost, I don't want that kind of existence, and I would never be able to help you the way I could while alive.
But at least I can do one last thing for you. Everything that has the Black name on it is yours: the vault, the house (yes that includes Kreacher too, it would be too hard to try and separate him from the house, and he can't really leave it anyway, just let the Order use it still), everything. It's all yours to do with as you please. Harry you are the sole survivor of two families now, the last of the Potter family and the heir to the Black family. Please make the name Black something I can be proud of Harry.
Harry lowered his head and closed his eyes against the tears that threatened to come forth. “I will Sirius, I will,” Harry said this so quietly that it was inaudible even to himself. Surprisingly enough Harry managed to keep his breathing regular, and quickly began to fight the tears mentally rather than physically as he very slowly started to clear his mind of thoughts of the emotions he was feeling. He knew that they would come back later stronger than ever but by then he would be alone and could handle the situation better, besides if he showed any signs of weakness Hermione would worry about him.
Harry opened his eyes and looked up to Hermione's expecting face. A beautiful face that hid one of the most brilliant minds the world had ever seen behind her eyes, a mind that was expecting to know what was in the letter. He couldn't talk, if he did he would lose what fragile control he had gained with the occlumency. Harry handed the letter to Hermione and sat down on the couch putting his face in his hands, still slowly trying to regain his control.
Hermione read that letter for a full five minutes, and Harry used every second of it to calm the flood of emotions that assaulted him, though a small voice in the back of his mind said quietly, “Hermione, now is not the time for s.p.e.w.”
Hermione looked close to tears, and gave Harry a firm comforting hug seemingly trying to say, “Don't worry Harry it will be alright, I'm here for you.”
“You need to go to sleep now Harry you'll feel better in the morning.”
Harry let out an exasperated sigh, which may have been his body's failed attempt at a sob. He got up quietly thanked Hermione for always being there for him as his careful control ebbed away and his mind began to sink into a thoughtless depression, while an emerald green flame seemed to awaken in his eyes.
He walked up the steps to his dorm room and went though his nightly procedure mindlessly, and falling to sleep as soon as his head hit the pillow and strangely enough while he slept he didn't suffer from any nightmares, natural or otherwise.
The next day Harry woke up refreshed and with clarity of mind that surprised him. It seemed only a little earlier than when he normally got up, but he hurried anyway to shower and to get dressed in his robes. He had a feeling something was going to surprise him, so he wanted to find out what it was before it could. For once Harry actually wanted to have the sight so that he could see what lay ahead for him.
Walking quietly down into the entrance hall Harry noticed that the broom closet they had shoved Malfoy and his flunkies into was slightly ajar. Evidently they had gotten out sometime during the night, and McGonagall hadn't come in so no one knew about it yet. Harry decided that it was unsafe and foolish to go and check the closet in case Malfoy had trapped it.
Walking past the closet and into the Great Hall. No one was here yet, so Harry just sat down where he usually did and waited. In fifteen minutes a Hufflepuff that Harry didn't know came in and then seeing him alone walked over and asked, “Is what Rita Skeeter said true, Harry?”
The question itself rather surprised Harry, he had never thought about it. Let alone that some one would have the courage to ask him something like that. Even with so many thoughts running through his mind Harry still answered with a question of, “Which article do you mean she's written several.”
“Well the ones about Hagrid, and the love triangle, and you… well, not being right in the head.” The young Hufflepuff boy said still seeming to be embarrassed about the whole thing.
“Well the one about Hagrid is mostly true, he is a half-giant. Who his mum is I don't know, but Hagrid wouldn't hurt anything. In fact he picked me up after Voldemort attacked me the first time, and brought me to Dumbledore. As for that love triangle nonsense, there was never any shape of any sort involved. Trust me if I was going out with any one it probably wouldn't be a secret for any more than a day, am I right?”
The young boy looked down and said, “Yeah your right.”
Harry continued on to the last one and was going to set things straight. “And as for me not being right in the head, Rita Skeeter really wouldn't be a good impartial judge of sanity. It's true that I have prophetic dreams when concerning Voldemort, and my scar burns when he's close, so in that sense I'm an alarm for every one because I can sense him before I can see him. So does that answer your questions?”
The boy nodded his head, “Yes, but what really happened at the Department of Mysteries?”
Harry looked up a little startled at the question, but still thought that it might be good to let someone know what had happened, get the information off of his chest, besides Harry was getting a good feeling from this kid. So Harry began to tell the story of the Department of Mysteries. The spinning room, the room filled with energy that they couldn't get in, the hall of prophecies, the brain room and what happened to Ron in that room, and the battle in the room of the veil, and then Dumbledore fighting Voldemort. When he looked up he noticed that there were several people that had come in and began to listen to his story, there were at least a dozen and most were first years of his own house.
When they realized that that was the end they all began to sit down at their tables and wait for the rest of their houses to come before everyone began eating. It was almost seven o'clock now, and more people began rushing in so that they could eat. Hermione soon came down and two minutes later so did Ron.
“Harry, why did you get up so early? You usually come in just as the food is served.” Hermione looked curious, and strangely excited at the same time.
Harry really didn't know why but he couldn't just say that he couldn't sleep, because it wasn't that, and Hermione would get all worried thinking he had another scar dream. So Harry relied on his old fall back, he told the truth as best he was able, “I just had a funny feeling that's all.”
“Are you sure it wasn't another nightmare, Harry?” Hermione replied worriedly.
“I'm sure it wasn't, Mione.” Harry wasn't sure why he said Mione instead of her full name, but he just decided that it was because he was trying to reassure her that he was fine.
The teachers began to file in and sit down while the heads of houses gave out their students' courses and sit back down at the head table. The food promptly appeared in front of every one and they began eating.
Ron was the first to ask Hermione what their schedules were, “Hey, Hermione, what classes do we have first?”
“Why don't you go get your schedule?”
Ron didn't answer, it looked like he was really considering the question.
Harry spoke up, so that the unavoidable argument could be avoided, “Well Hermione, as soon as you tell me where the schedules are I'll go and get them.”
Hermione just looked at Harry wide eyed a complete look of shock on her face. “ Harry you're a prefect. You should know these things.”
“You forced me to.”
“I did not.”
Harry shook his head, “fine, I'll get them any way. Accio, accio, accio.”
Three slips a parchment flew toward Harry so he could snatch them out of the air. His friends just looked at him again.
Hermione spoke first, “Harry you do know that you just did wand less magic again.”
Harry didn't answer, right now it just hit him that he hasn't eaten anything since dinner last night. Harry's stomach rumbled loudly in agreement. They only thing on his mind was `I am so hungry,' he must have voiced this as well because he could hear Ron's loud laughter, and Hermione giggling. Since when did Hermione giggle?
These thoughts were soon erased when he began eating only hearing a few things on the side. Harry ate his eggs scrambled, sunny side up, fried and over easy. While the several pieces of toast soaked up the yoke, before he ate them. The sausage, bacon and ham were all excellent, along with the huge platefuls of hash browns, and the 6 pancakes were some of the best he ever tasted, though his own years of cooking experience would in fact have let him get close to the pancakes wonderful taste. Harry after helping himself to several goblets full of milk and orange juice finally finished his meal.
Harry getting up from the table looked at his class schedule quickly scanning it for his first class of the day. Lucky for him it was Defense Against the Dark Arts and quickly glancing to his left and right confirmed that Ron and Hermione would be there with him. Harry grinned to himself, it would be good to know who the new DADA teacher was.
Ron and Hermione having finished their breakfast before Harry, got up and followed him out of the bustle of the Great Hall, and began walking up the flights of stairs to the DADA class room, where hopefully they would find out who their teacher was.
After the entire class had sat down and had waited for what seemed to be an hour, a tall wizard with graying hair and grungy robes that looked like they might have been a deep purple at one time. “Well class I'm Aberforth, you will address me as Aberforth for the year because I simply despise being called sir or professor, besides you already have one Professor Dumbledore no sense in having two now. That would simply be redundant.”
After hearing this Harry tried very hard not to think about goats and for the most part he succeeded. He looked to his right and saw Hermione lower her head, possibly trying to do the same thing. While Ron seemed to be trying his best not to start laughing and fall on the floor.
Harry had the distinct feeling that this year was going to be exceptionally strange, but at least Aberforth wouldn't be as bad as Umbridge.