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Disclaimer: It’s J.K Rowling’s stable of characters, settings, and ideas; not mine. I’ve never profited from my writings and frankly never plan to.

Vernon Dursley eyed Harry as he walked away from a group of normal looking people, for once curious as to the distinctions of magical people. Vernon noticed that Harry was wearing nicer clothes than normal and made a mental note to ask the boy about how much money he actually had to see if he could charge rent.

Harry approached dragging his trunk and carrying Hedwig’s cage with a slight grimace on his face preparing for the worst from Vernon. Harry reached his uncle and with a slight frown asked, “Is it just you here this year Uncle Vernon?”

Vernon snorted and narrowed his eyes on Harry before he said, “Boy, where did you get the money for those clothes?”

Harry sighed as he eyed his transfigured clothes and replied, “Its magic Uncle Vernon. My girlfriend wanted me to make a good impression upon her parents. Those are the people I was just talking to.”

Vernon began walking back to his car and gruffly asked, “Why did they look so normal if they are freaks like the rest of them?”

Harry’s temper began to boil over but he controlled it and ground out through clenched teeth, “They aren’t magical people. They are muggles and my girlfriend is a muggleborn witch.”

Vernon stopped in his tracks and with a greedy grin asked, “Oh is that so? What kind of jobs do these parents of your freak girlfriend have?”

Harry arched his eyebrow and replied, “They’re rather successful dentists. I don’t know exactly where their practice is, but I’m sure I’ll find out sometime this summer.”

Vernon’s grin became absolutely feral and he pondered aloud, “Hmm, perhaps we can invite them over for dinner sometimes and talk about making a deal for some drills.”

Harry shook his head and loaded his trunk content to let Vernon think whatever he wanted to, because he was quite sure the Granger’s wouldn’t do business with the man after Hermione spoke with them. On the long drive back to Little Whinging, Harry began to make a short mental list of the things he needed to do for the summer. If nothing else, it gave him a needed distraction from the persistent thoughts of Cedric’s lifeless eyes staring back at him accusingly.

Vernon’s peculiar behavior continued as he asked, “Harry my boy, what is the last name of your little girlfriend?”

Harry frowned and replied, “Why do you want to know Uncle Vernon? It’s not like you’ve ever cared about any of my friends before.”

Vernon’s face purpled slightly and he managed to speak in a strained tone, “You best rethink your attitude boy or you’ll be back in your original room and I imagine it will be a bit more squeezed this time around.”

Harry bit off a retort, refusing to play Vernon’s game any more and he simply said, “My girlfriend’s name is Hermione Granger.”

Vernon’s face appeared to lose its purple complexion as he relaxed and said, “That’s right boy. You scratch my back I’ll scratch yours. I imagine you’d prefer to let your bird out and to have your trunk in your room, wouldn’t you?”

Harry nodded hesitantly and asked, “Yes Uncle Vernon I would.”

Vernon smiled and replied, “If you invite your girlfriend’s parents over for dinner sometime this summer, you can have all of your freakish stuff in your room for the summer.”

Harry began to think of a way he could turn the situation into his favor and he had to suppress a smile before he resignedly replied, “Yes Uncle Vernon. Hermione told me they wanted to visit sometime before my birthday. I’ll write her a letter tonight and try to find out when.” Vernon smirked and returned to his driving, occasionally complaining freaks, but keeping a rather mild tone compared to his normal behavior.

They arrived at the Dursley residence at around 8 pm and as Harry dragged his trunk into the house Dudley came out prepared to push him over. However, Dudley was surprised when Vernon grunted and said, “Leave the boy alone. We came to an agreement of sorts, and if the deal goes through we’ll be able to build the addition on to the house for your training room.” Dudley gaped a couple of times before he nodded dumbly, that is to say as he normally nodded, and held the door as Harry dragged his trunk and Hedwig into the house.

Harry was unpacking his books and notes from his trunk when Petunia snuck her head into his room, and uncharacteristically asked, “Harry, how was your year at school?”

Harry turned at his aunt and disbelievingly asked, “I’m sorry Aunt Petunia, but may I ask why you even care?”

Petunia narrowed her eyes for a moment before she replied, “I received a letter from your headmaster and he informed me of certain events that happened this year and I just wanted to see if you were ok.”

Harry sighed and looked down at his feet for a moment before he replied, “It wasn’t a very good year Aunt Petunia. I was forced into a tournament with older wizards where the tasks placed us in pretty lethal situations. At the end of the last task one of the other competitors and the same wizard that killed my mum and dad caught me in a trap. They killed the other boy simply because he was there, and made me watch as he regained his body and called his other followers. After he gloated for a few minutes he forced me to duel him and he tried to kill me. I cast a spell, our wands locked up, and the shadows of the people he killed with his wand came out and helped me.”

Harry took a deep shaky breath and continued, “My mum and dad came out of his wand and they told me they loved me and to take the portkey back to Hogwarts. I grabbed the other boy’s body and disappeared before he could kill me.”

Harry looked up from his feet and was surprised to see Petunia dabbing at her eyes. She walked over to Harry and gave him a quick hug before she pulled away and said, “I’ll make Dudders do some of your chores this summer Harry.” After a moment to allow that to sink in she added, “I know we haven’t always been nice to you in the past, but I promise that starting this summer it will get better, ok?”

Harry smiled slightly feeling strangely grateful to his aunt and he answered, “Thank you Aunt Petunia that means a lot to me.”

Petunia flashed Harry a small sad smile and said, “Vernon and Dudley are already downstairs eating but I’ll make you some sandwiches and bring them up later, ok?”

Harry smiled his thanks and said, “That would be nice, thanks.” Petunia nodded and walked out the door closing it behind her. However, unlike in the past, she didn’t bother to lock the door and that meant more to Harry than anything else. It was a show of trust, and that would go a long way to making this summer the best of his life.

Watching the door for a moment Harry finally broke from his thoughts and pulled out a blank piece of parchment and began to make a list of things he wanted to accomplish for the summer. Harry’s list was a simple one and included:

Harry looked down at his list, and looked long and hard at the last item on his list. He clearly remembered Hermione’s reaction to the revelation that he had no clothes that fit, and he figured that she would understand how he was feeling and felt about both things better than anyone else would.

Harry sat the list down on the small desk in the corner and pulled out the cell phone that Hermione’s mother had given him. After a few minutes of paging through the options on the phone Harry found what he was looking for as he turned the ringer for the phone off and letting the phone vibrate when he actually had a call.

Harry put the phone under the edge of his bed and sat down on the floor to do some pushups and sit ups to begin his daily exercise regime. After working up a healthy sweat as his arms were burning from exertion, Harry stood up and walked over to his desk making sure to grab the phone and his charms book and some parchment to work on the beginning of his summer homework.

After about a half an hour there was a knock on the door and Aunt Petunia was standing outside the door with a plate of sandwiches and a glass of milk. She smiled and said, “Here’s your dinner Harry. Remember to take care of your dishes and clean them before you go to bed ok?”

Harry nodded and then inspiration hit and he asked, “Aunt Petunia, most nights I need to work on pronouncing my spells properly for my summer homework. If I promise to keep it quiet do you think Uncle Vernon would mind?” Petunia shook her head to indicate he wouldn’t and shut the door behind her, once again not locking the door.

Harry sat down at his desk and began to eat his sandwiches as he pulled out his phone and sat it next to his book. After he finished his first sandwich he reached down and took a drink of his milk. Just as he sat the glass down the phone began to vibrate.

Harry excitedly grabbed the phone and pressed the button to answer it before he quietly said, “Hello?”

Hermione was on the other end and she replied, “Hi Harry, how was the ride home?”

Harry sighed and replied, “Well, it had its good moments and its bad I suppose.”

Hermione snorted and asked, “What exactly does that mean Harry?”

Harry smiled wanly and replied, “Well, Vernon threatened to put me back in my cupboard if I didn’t tell him your last name. I think he wants to propose a business deal to your mum and dad or something.”

Harry could tell Hermione was thinking about something for a moment before she said, “Harry, can you send Hedwig over to my house tonight. I need to send a letter to the headmaster and then when I get his reply I’ll send her back along with your book and a charger for the phone.”

Harry thought for a moment before he asked, “Hermione, why are you writing a letter to Dumbledore?”

Hermione giggled and replied, “I have an idea that might get you out of the Dursleys a little bit earlier this summer, and every other summer until your old enough to leave for good.”

Harry nodded to himself and said, “Actually my Aunt Petunia has been pretty decent to me since I got back. A bit strange really, but I guess I can’t really complain about her being nice to me, can I?”

Hermione sighed audibly and replied, “No I guess you can‘t.” After a moment of Hermione mumbling something to herself she thoughtfully said, “Actually Harry, I think this will make things easier for us. I promise I’ll tell you if the headmaster agrees with me.”

Harry sighed and said, “I understand Hermione, I just wish you wouldn’t feel the need to hide things from me.”

When Hermione finally spoke she sounded stung and replied, “I’m sorry Harry. I guess we both need to learn how to trust each other more don’t we?”

Harry looked up at the ceiling in his room trying to think of a good way he could answer and finally said, “I told you on the train, that I felt that I trusted you enough to tell you some things this summer that I’ve never told anyone else before. What do I have to do to get the same amount of trust from you?”

Hermione sniffed on the phone and replied, “You already have my trust Harry. You’ve had it since you saved me on Halloween our first year. It’s just that I guess I’m so used to doing things like this on my own, that I don’t even think about relying on someone else.”

Harry frowned in thought before he asked, “What kind of things are you talking about?”

Hermione quietly replied, “Things like the time turner and my research on the basilisk. I saw just how much you and Ron liked doing research on the philosopher’s stone, and I guess I figured that was more of my thing than yours.”

Harry smiled his understanding and then replied, “Things are going to change now Hermione.” Harry rubbed at his eyes as his emotions betrayed him and he sadly continued, “After seeing a friend die simply because he was in the way, I need to stop being so churlish and start taking accountability for my life.”

Hermione sniffed and said, “Cedric’s death wasn't your fault. It was Wormtail, Voldemort, Crouch Jr., and even Dumbledore’s fault, but it wasn’t your fault. You were forced into the tournament and only won because Crouch forced you to. Dumbledore could have stopped the tournament if he really wanted to, but something tells me he was testing you this year. Wormtail cast the spell and Voldemort ordered him to. There is not a single reason to think that it was your fault.”

Harry cleared his throat as his emotions became even stronger and he couldn’t help a tear slide down his cheek before he said, “I told him to share the cup with me Hermione. If I hadn’t done that he’d still be alive.”

Hermione sighed sadly and replied, “But Harry, don’t you see? You never would have been forced into that situation if you hadn’t been wrongfully placed in the tournament or helped along. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t feel guilt because that is a perfectly normal thing to feel after seeing someone killed in front of you. I’ve done a fair bit of reading on the topic to try to help you and what you are experiencing is survivor’s guilt. There are plenty of people to blame Harry, but you aren’t one of them. In hindsight, I can't help but feel that Dumbledore almost used you as bait this year. First, when you were placed in the tournament and then after when he let the fake Moody take you after you got back from the graveyard.”

Hermione’s voice became thoughtful as though something was suddenly becoming apparent to her and she continued, “In fact, ever since you’ve gotten to Hogwarts he has taken a rather healthy interest beyond his duties to ensure that. It makes me wonder why this year of all times he’d suddenly let these things pass unless he had a reason for it.“ Harry could almost hear her biting her lower lip before she added, “I think Dumbledore has been keeping something very important from you Harry.”

Harry thoughtfully replied, “Why would he use me as bait Hermione? I mean I am the bloody boy-who-lived.”

Hermione snorted and replied, “Anyone who knows you Harry, realizes that the boy-who-lived is an idealized version of you. Dumbledore could care less about such trivial matters as celebrity. No, I think he has some vested interest in you and simply hasn’t revealed his motives yet.”

Harry chuckled after a moment of silence and said, “I think I might have an idea about what Dumbledore’s hiding love.”

Hermione huffed and asked, “And what would that be Harry?”

Harry replied, “Remember in our first year after we saved the philosopher’s stone?” Hermione hummed her affirmative and Harry continued, “ Well after I woke up in the hospital wing I asked him why Voldemort knew so much about me, and why he tried to kill me. He simply told me I was too young to know the truth or some such rubbish.”

Hermione asked almost fearfully, “You think that Voldemort has an ulterior motive in trying to kill you?”

Harry snorted and replied exasperatedly, “I mean it makes sense doesn’t it? Three times in four years and four times in me life he has tried to kill me. Dark wizards don’t take such an unhealthy obsession in underage wizards do they?”

Hermione took a couple of deep breaths before she asked, “Has your scar been bothering you lately Harry?”

Harry thoughtfully replied, “No its felt fine ever since the graveyard.”

Hermione spoke after a comfortable silence, primarily spent with both in deep thought, “I think we need to look into ways that you can somehow close your link with Voldemort. I’ll do some research on it this summer and I’ll tell you if I come up with anything.”

After a moment Harry said, “What do you think we should do about Dumbledore?”

Hermione quickly replied, “I think we should keep all of our secrets if he intends on continuing to keep his. I can’t think of any reason why he would hide something potentially this important from you.”

Harry sighed and said, “Why don’t we ask him the next time we see him? I mean he won’t have any excuses if we confront him and ask him then, will he?”

Hermione reluctantly agreed and said, “I’ll ask him to talk to you in person some time this summer in the letter. I imagine with what else I am going to mention in the letter, he’ll be forced to do that at the very least.”

Harry quietly asked, “What else are you going to talk to him about in the letter Hermione?”

After a moment Hermione replied, “I am going to tell him that unless he finds a way to get you out of the Dursleys quicker every summer, then I will anonymously report claims of neglect and abuse of you at the hands of the Dursleys. The mere fact that Dumbledore placed you there illegally should be enough to motivate him into getting you out earlier every year.”

Harry frowned and asked, “Are you sure that is the best idea?”

Hermione simply replied, “Whether or not your aunt has had a change of heart after thirteen years is rather irrelevant, isn’t it Harry? I mean it is rather obvious now that I know, that you’ve been both underfed and neglected in the past. I highly doubt your parents wanted you placed with people like them. I mean after all, it is quite apparent that they loathe magic. If Dumbledore circumnavigated your parent’s wishes in their will, then even the wizarding world would punish him for that.”

Harry pondered aloud, “Wouldn’t my parent’s will have that information in it?”

Hermione’s voice lit up with recognition and she said, “Oh of course. If you sent a letter to Gringott’s I’m sure they could get you the necessary paperwork to find out.” After a moment of silence she said, “I think you should send a letter to Gringott’s inquiring about that. I’ll hold off on my letter to the headmaster until we know for sure.”

Appeased Harry said, “Enough of this heavy stuff for the night. Did your mum and dad say anything about me?”

Hermione giggled and replied, “Well, my mum was rather pleased to see you finally asked me out. She has been bugging me about sending you some signals after I told her I fancied you before third year.”

Harry couched and hoarsely said, “T-third year?”

Hermione laughed heartily and replied, “Oh come now Harry. I don’t blame you for not noticing considering what the Dursleys put you through. But, to most of the girls in the school they knew I had a big crush on you.” After a moment she added sadly, “Although it appears Ginny wasn’t aware of that fact.”

Harry furrowed his brow and asked, “Not to get off-topic here or anything, but did your dad threaten to kill me or castrate me on the ride home?”

Hermione’s sad tone disappeared and she giggled which strangely made Harry feel quite happy before she said, “Oh Harry, thank you for that. For the record, my dad was very impressed with you at the station. But thank you, for taking my mind off of the other thing.”

Harry smiled into the phone and replied, “I think we both need to laugh a little bit more after this past year. I know I’ll never tire of hearing you laugh.”

Hermione made a happy little noise and said, “That was very sweet Harry. If you keep that up you’ll be due a serious snogging session when I see you next time.”

Harry’s smile nearly touched his ears before he added, “I’ve also been working on my summer homework tonight too. Does that get me any more snog points?”

Hermione laughed throatily and said, “You’re picking up this game rather quickly Mr. Potter.”

If Hermione could have seen Harry at that moment she probably would have blushed herself as he had flushed red and gotten goose bumps simply by the tone of her voice. Eventually Harry choked out, “I will certainly be trying my hardest milady.”

Hermione giggled and replied, “Are there any other surprises you have in store for the summer that I should know of?”

Harry hummed in to the phone and replied, “Well, after I finish my summer homework I am going to start my OWL review.”

Hermione excitedly said, “Oh Harry that’s wonderful news. You are definitely getting a snog now.”

Harry chuckled and said, “Then my nefarious plan has worked.”

Hermione made a mock shocked sound and said, “Oh you evil, evil boy. Taking advantage of little old me and my soft spot for boys who do their studies.”

Harry simply smiled and said, “You really are something special Hermione.”

Hermione simply beamed before she said, “So are you Harry Potter. Now get some sleep tonight and dream about me ok?”

Harry cheekily replied, “You know I will. But will your dreams consist of the black haired green-eyed variety?”

Hermione giggled and replied, “If only you knew love. Good night.” Hermione hung up and Harry turned his phone off for the remainder of the night with a smile on his face that he wore after he finally settled in to bed for the night. Life as Hermione’s boyfriend was going to be very good indeed.

A/N: By popular demand I’ve moved this story up the queue list a bit. I’ll be updating each of my series once a week for awhile so I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and please review and tell me what you thought of it.