Chapter 3: The Grangers
Dan Granger was helping his wife Emma finish getting dinner ready. Suddenly he felt a strange urge; he needed to go open the front door! The feeling was strangely irresistible. Placing the last of the silverware upon the table he hastened to the door. Once there he immediately opened the door. There was an old man standing there as if he was expecting Dan to open the door at just that precise moment. The old man was dressed in a long flowing light blue robe. Half-moon spectacles glinted upon his nose. He seemed to embody wisdom and power.
"Good evening Mr. Granger. My name is Albus Dumbledore. I am the Headmaster of Hogwarts."
Dan felt his wife come up behind him in the hallway. He stood in awe; he doubted he could have spoken if he had tried. Fortunately Emma was not as speechless as he. "Please come in and join us for dinner sir" Dan heard Emma say. Emma grasped his left hand in her right and entwined her fingers with his. Dan, feeling the reassuring touch of his wife, quickly retreated making room for Dumbledore to enter his home.
"Why thank you, I would be most delighted to join you for dinner. I do however have a most important matter to discuss with the two of you first." Dumbledore walked past them and towards their living room.
Dan and Emma followed in his wake still grasping hands.
"Please sit and relax. I am here to ask a favor of you both. I feel I must explain a bit prior to that request so please bear with me for a moment. I assume that Hermione has mentioned one Harry Potter to you?" Dan and Emma both looked concerned at the mention of Harry's name. "Ahh yes I see she has well this concerns him. Harry has had a very hard life; his parents were murdered when he was only a year old. Since then he has lived with his aunt and uncle, they have barely managed to tolerate his presence in their house for the last few years. I know you have both accepted the fact that Hermione is a witch. Well to say that they have not accepted Harry is a wizard is an understatement. To them he is an abomination to be shunned. However due to the circumstances of his parents demise he must live with them for one month of each year. He is currently in his third day of that month."
He paused and let that settle in before continuing.
"Last week Voldemort lured Harry to the Ministry of Magic with dreams that Harry's godfather was being held there. Hermione as well as four other students accompanied Harry. They found instead that it was a trap for Harry. The students found themselves surrounded by a dozen Death Eaters, followers of Voldemort. A tremendous battle ensued, now you would think that six children against a dozen adults wouldn't be much of a battle but Oh it was. When we finally arrived the battle was down to a handful of Death Eaters against Harry and a boy named Neville. During the ensuing battle Harry's godfather Sirius Black was lost." At the mention of Sirius Black Dan and Emma exchanged a quick look of concern as Dumbledore continued. "All of the Death Eaters were captured except for Bellatrix, the one who killed Sirius. Fortunately none of the students were seriously harmed."
The Grangers looked at him, confusion written on their faces.
"Now as to why I am telling you this", Dumbledore smiled.
"As you may know already Harry has two true friends in this world; Ronald Weasley and Hermione. Together the three of them have been called the trio for several years now. This morning I received a letter from Hermione." He pulled out the letter and offered it to them.
Emma took it and quickly read her daughter's familiar handwriting.
Professor Dumbledore,
I am very concerned about Harry. He needs our help now! He cannot be allowed to stay alone at that house for four whole weeks. I think Harry needs a counselor, someone who he can trust with all these emotions he is keeping bottled up inside of him. Please send Remus to check on him immediately!
Thank you for your help in this.
Hermione Granger
"As your daughter suggests I concur, Harry needs someone whom he can trust and he needs them now. I believe the one soul, which Harry would welcome at this time, is Hermione. She has proven, even when Ronald has not, that she will stand with Harry no matter the cost. I would ask you to allow Hermione to leave with me tonight and stay with Harry at the Dursley's until he has worked through his grief." Dumbledore concluded.
Dan spoke up first, "You want to take our daughter to live with Harry at the Dursley's until Harry recovers? She is only fifteen years old, what can she do that a professional grief counselor cannot?"
When Dumbledore spoke it was with a gleam in his eye and awe in his voice. "Trust and Love, whether even she knows it or not. Hermione trusts and loves Harry with all her heart. Harry needs those in abundance right now. I believe that Hermione is sufficient to the task and would leap at this opportunity."
Emma whose eyes had become blurry with unshed tears suddenly stood up. "Well let's ask her. I will be back in a moment, please excuse me." With that Emma turned and went quietly upstairs.