Chapter 8: The Will
When they were done eating Hermione spoke up. "I'm going to take a shower, let's see if you can clean all this up."
"Ok you're on Hermione"
Hermione got herself a change of clothes and headed into their bathroom. When she came out the room was clean. She exchanged smiles with Harry as he headed into the shower for his turn, this time he had remembered to bring a change of clothes. She opened her trunk and began unpacking in earnest. Her miniaturized collection of books went on the shelf with Harry's. She commandeered two of Harry's drawers in his dresser for her things and hung up everything else in his closet. She then fed Crookshanks and Hedwig. When Harry came out of the shower she was again sitting on the bed working the tangles out of her wet hair.
"Hermione do you know the spell to make a room bigger than it should be?" Harry asked.
"Yes Harry I know the spell but have never practiced it. Why is your cozy little room suddenly too small with me here?"
Harry looked shocked at her accusation. "NO Hermione, I don't feel uncomfortable with you being here, this is the best July of my life. I was just thinking we should have a couch and a better table and chairs if we are going to be studying in here as well. It's kind of a pain to have to keep transfiguring stuff."
"Oh, Ok Harry, I'll try it. How about umm ten feet wider and fifteen feet longer? That should give us room for several more bookshelves to accommodate all my books as well as the couch, table and chairs." Hermione stood up and pulled out her wand. She walked to the center of the room and said "expandere permanentis" moving her wand in a circle over her head. The room gave a lurch and suddenly was quite a bit bigger. "Well that's quite nice isn't it? Ok Harry you handle the furniture. Try conjuring it, practice you know." She said smiling at him.
"Ok, let's see I'm partial to the couches in the common room so let's have one like the big one in front of the fire shall we. Since we are used to the tables and chairs there I think those will do as well. Hmm on second thought a bit more padding to the chairs." He quickly conjured these, then added a pair of ceiling height bookshelves next to his one small one which he then transfigured to match them. "There is that enough shelf space for you Mione?"
"Well for what I have with me yes Harry, Well done. You have picked up conjuring very quickly."
"It seems quite easy really. I guess people would have trouble if they couldn't visualize the item in enough detail right?"
"Exactly Harry, since you pay attention to details you can conjure what you envision."
"Ok Hermione I know you probably have a study schedule all filled out. What's next on our agenda for today? Personally, I would like to get Snape's three scroll essay out of the way first."
"Actually Harry our study schedule doesn't start for another few days. Monday actually; I do however have several things we need to do before that." She took a deep breath before continuing. "The first item being Sirius and his will there on your desk."
Harry looked dumbstruck by this. He quickly sat down on their new couch and looked at the floor by his feet.
Hermione went and picked up the will and sat beside him. She began rubbing his back as she spoke soothingly. "Sirius is gone Harry. He wouldn't want you to spend the rest of your life denying it. He died trying to help you."
Harry stood up suddenly very angry. "HE IS NOT DEAD! NO ONE KNOWS THAT! I WILL NOT OPEN THAT WILL UNTIL I HAVE PROOF HE IS DEAD!"
Hermione stood up and walked slowly towards him, holding the will in front of her. "Harry James Potter, do you know one thing about Wizard wills? I don't think you do so I will tell you. These are enchanted to only I mean ONLY be delivered when the death of the individual is confirmed by the Wizengamot committee on death. Who by the way are the ones in charge of that veil thingy in the Department of Mysteries. So that means that SIRIUS IS DEAD!" Hermione finished her tirade standing less than a foot in front of him holding the will up to him like a talisman.
"No" he croaked out as he slumped to the floor covering his face, tears spilling around his hands.
Hermione sat down next to him and dropping the will, gathered him into a hug. "I am very sorry Harry; I know you loved Sirius like the father you never got to know. I will not allow you to ignore this any longer though. The world needs you to be strong Harry; you are the only hope in this battle against Voldemort. I need you to be strong Harry, so we can some day live our lives and not fear Voldemort attacking us all the time." She continued holding him as he cried; she tried to pour her love into him through her embrace. Some time later Harry seemed to collect himself, he sat up a little, no longer slumped into her.
"But now I am alone, utterly alone" he spoke not looking at her.
Hermione grabbed his shoulders and turned him to face her. "Look at me Harry!" she commanded.
Harry looked up, his eyes bloodshot from crying. He looked very fragile at that moment.
"Obviously I am not making myself clear enough to get through that thick head of yours. I have told you I am here to help you and I have told you I am never letting you out of my sight. In case you missed it the first thing I told you when I got here lastnight was 'you're not alone anymore Harry. You'll never be alone again.' I meant it Harry. You are the reason I push so hard to learn everything. I am trying to help you prepare to face Voldemort. I need to prepare myself to be worthy of standing beside you and to help you in any way I can in the final battle with Voldemort. Because in the end Harry if you die fighting Voldemort then there is no reason for me to continue living. I LOVE YOU HARRY, You are my Life!" She was unable to hold that inside her any longer. She had poured her strength into her words as she refused to let him look away from her.
Revelation mixed with deep concern ran rampant across his face. "No you can't love me. Voldemort will kill you just to make me suffer if he ever hears that. No I can't let you suffer for me. No we will have to stage some scene where you announce that you hate me." He spoke in a very passionate voice as though his life depended on it.
"No Harry! I am going to stand with you and you will not stop me. My life is mine to do with as I please. I have chosen to tie it to yours. We live or die together Harry Potter. I have no intention of ever letting you stand alone. I have spent the last five years of my life trying to be what you needed when you needed it. Who solved the devils snare? Who solved the potion riddle? Who discovered the basilisk was the monster in the Chamber of Secrets? Who discovered how the basilisk was getting around unseen? Who helped you face Sirius Black when we thought he was a madman and a murderer? Who believed you when you said you had not put your name into the Goblet of Fire? Who taught you how to summon your broom? Who went with you to the Department of Mysteries when she knew it was a trap? Who fell when she was stupid and silenced her opponent instead of stunning him? Who stood by you when NO one else did? WHO HARRY? WHO?" Hermione was now the one crying. She let the tears stream down her cheeks unchecked. She felt cleansed, no more secrets from Harry. She had let it all out. There was nothing left but to see how he reacted. She stared at him waiting.
Finally Harry reached out and hugged her to him tightly. He held her close to him and cried she felt his tears landing on her head. Her arms went around his chest, hugging him back, as she sat in his lap. "You Hermione, you, it has always been you. You are the one person I can always count on to be there for me. You do not look at me and see the Boy Who Lived. You see me, the boy who doesn't want to do his homework and the boy who wants to play Quidditch. I do not know how I can possibly live up to your expectations of me but I will do the best I can. For you Hermione Anything, you ask it and I will do it. Want me to study twenty hours a day I will. As long as you are there with me I will do whatever it takes to make you happy. I can't possibly deserve to be loved by you but I will try."
They sat there crying in each others arms. When they had both begun to calm down Harry turned her head towards him and could resist no longer. He kissed her. She immediately wrapped her arms around his neck and grabbed onto his hair. She crushed his face into hers, their tongues met and they tasted each other for the first time. A long minute later they pulled away to catch their breath. Harry spoke in between his gasping for breath. "I Love You Hermione Granger. Will you marry me?"
Hermione was stunned then answered with the only answer that she could possibly give. "Yes Harry Yes. Shouldn't we date first though?"
Harry smiled "Well dating is for getting to know someone and we have spent the last five years doing that. I doubt there is anything you do not know about me. Though I am sure there are things I do not know about you I will certainly not change my mind on this. You want to spend every day with me from now on? I cannot imagine my life without you in it. You are the source of my strength Hermione. I need you; more than anything I need you."
"Well then when do you want to set the date for the ceremony then Harry? Tomorrow wouldn't be soon enough for me."
"Hmmm well I was thinking after we graduate really." Harry admitted.
"No Harry. We could both be dead by then. I want to live every minute from this moment on as your wife. You can stop calling me Hermione Granger; from now on I am Hermione Potter."
"Ok well how about some time next month then? I really want to get out of here first. We need to get you a ring, find a place for the wedding, and send out invitations." Harry was determined to have a proper wedding.
Hermione could see he was not going to avoid the wedding entirely so she gave in. "Ok Harry we will have a proper wedding as soon as it can be arranged ok?"
"Hermione? I just thought of a problem here."
"What Harry?"
"Well neither of us is of age to get married?" Harry looked concerned as he thought then continued. "Hermione, with Sirius dead who do I talk to? Sirius was my guardian."
"Oh my, that could be a problem. Well I can talk to my parents and I guess we will need to talk to Dumbledore about your status." She hugged him again then kissed him soundly before struggling to her feet. She reached down to help him up and saw the will lying on the floor. "Harry we need to open the Will and see what Sirius had to say."
Harry's smile was wiped from his face in an instant. "Oh, well the will now concerns you as much as me so I will do a deal with you. I will open it if you read it to me. I want you to hear it with me and I don't think I could read it out loud."
"Ok, deal." She answered quickly.
Harry picked up the will and went to sit on the couch. Hermione conjured two large glasses of chilled pumpkin juice then joined him there. He met her gaze then took the glass from her. They both drank deeply then placed both glasses on the floor. Harry looked at the thick envelope and opened it. He pulled out several thick folded sheets of parchment; opening them he handed them to Hermione and let his left hand fall to his lap with the envelope. She took them and smoothed them out before starting to read.
"I Sirius Black being of sound mind (shut up Remus) and body do declare before these two witnesses this to be my last will and testament.
Well Harry I must first apologize to you for not being around anymore to help you grow up. I have been your legal guardian for the last fifteen years. I deeply regret spending twelve of those years in Azkaban.
Please understand I have loved you like a son. Lily and James would be immensely pleased with how you have grown up. You have inherited the best traits of both your parents. Lily was always fair and willing to help others James was fun and outgoing. Both of them were above all honest.
I have chosen to make Dan and Emma Granger your legal guardians"
Hermione stopped reading at that. "Harry, My Parents are your legal guardians! Well that solves that other problem doesn't it?"
"But I have barely met them before. I was thinking it might be Remus. Oh I hope your parents like me Hermione" Harry was obviously thinking out loud.
"Of course my parents will like you Harry. It's not like I haven't been talking about you all summer long for the last five years." Hermione looked back to the will and picked up where she left off.
"I have chosen to make Dan and Emma Granger your new legal guardians. You will find with this will a sealed letter for them."
"Harry look inside the envelope."
Harry did and sure enough there was another envelope inside. When Harry pulled it out an elaborate silver key fell into his lap. "I wonder what this is for." Harry picked up the key and walked over to his desk. He put the key on the desk and went to Hedwig. "Take this letter to Hermione's parent's girl. Wait to see if they have a reply ok?"
Hedwig gave him an affectionate nip then took up the letter. Harry opened the window for her and with an immense flap of her wings she was off.
Hermione started reading again.
"I discussed this with them last year while you were in school so it will not be a shock to them. Hermione didn't know about this Harry. Please send the envelope to them as soon as possible, they will need to sign the paperwork inside and return it to my solicitor at Gringotts. Anything that you need parental consent for they can now handle. They will need to sign your Hogsmeade permission slip this year. I hope you can find some comfort in my choice of them as your guardians. I know there is no more important person in your life than Hermione. In fact I would be very surprised if she was not reading this to you now. Hello Hermione. Take care of Harry please; He needs you, now more than ever."
Hermione spoke "I will Sirius, I will."
"I must also apologize for not taking you to your parent's graves. I was hoping to do that this summer after your stay at the Dursley's was over. Please ask Albus or Remus to take you there when you are ready. I think you need to do this soon Harry.
Ok now on to the inheritance part. I have held in trust your parents' estate of Godric's Hollow. That is now yours. The ruins of their house can be found there along with their graves. Albus collected many of your parents personal belonging's after they were killed. My Gringott's solicitor has this box with specific directions to give it only to you.
I know this will be of no comfort to you but your vault at Gringotts has probably now doubled in size. The Black fortune is now yours. It amounts to about what you originally inherited from your parents. Please feel free to distribute money to your friends in my name.
The Black family mansion at 12 Grimauld place is now yours. Unfortunately this also includes Kreacher, maybe Hermione can reform him, but I think he is beyond that. I ask you to allow the Order to continue using it as their headquarters. Otherwise you are more than welcome to gut the whole place and start over.
Please accept my apology for not being there for you any longer. You are a wonderful person and will certainly make a good husband to that witch you so rely on.
Love from Eternity
Sirius Black
Witnessed by
Albus Dumbledore
Remus Lupin
Harry and Hermione sat there for almost an hour. Just holding each other as they thought of Sirius and his will. This would certainly change their lives immensely.
A/N Whew that chapter was hard to write. The cat is truly out of the bag now. I hope you all like the direction I am taking this. I am trying to write it as true as I can. I do really see Harry as Hermione's motivation. When you really look at her motivations she is much more concerned about Harry than school. Anyway please Read and Review.
Gol