Chapter 9-New Game
After Dumbledore described the circumstances around the evening he heard the prophecy, he explained its consequences to everyone. It was not as if they did not understand what it meant, but the look on Hermione's face suggested disbelief. She refused to hear the possibility that Harry could be destroyed by Voldemort. Dumbledore and McGonagall knew how she felt. They had had the same reaction years ago. This was not an acceptable outcome for any of them. Harry nodded with approval, he least of all liked the idea. "Here, here. No death for Harry." He laughed nervously to break up the maudlin atmosphere. They all laughed a little, but Hermione laughed the least. She was still in shock.
"Professor Dumbledore, what can we do? I mean prophecies can be very ticklish things, can't they? I mean the fact that Harry has a scar or mark doesn't mean the rest will come true." She said this for her own benefit, knowing that it was wishful thinking.
"Hermione, dear, I do not wish to preach to you tonight. However, I must express to you the importance of having an equal perspective on this from both the relationship side and the logical side. I know you love Harry and don't want to accept any idea that puts him in danger. But you know as well as he that the danger really lies in becoming too comfortable and not acknowledging the danger. You must separate your love for Harry from the details of the prophecy or you will be guilty of the same mistake I have been guilty of. Do I make myself clear?" Dumbledore emphasized that he too loved Harry and Professor McGonagall had a tear in her eye at the mention of it. She had known all these years how much Dumbledore had anticipated Harry coming to Hogwarts.
Hermione looked at Dumbledore with a bit of sadness. No one knew for sure whether Dumbledore had children, but she thought probably not. Harry and other children like him were Dumbledore's children. She not only liked Dumbledore now for the wizard he was, but also for the man he was. She said, "Yes, sir, Professor Dumbledore."
"Harry, I can no longer be the kindly wizard-Headmaster to you. I must take on a new role as another one of your teachers and at times, taskmaster. As long as I breathe you will be given the best that I can offer. You must remember that it is for your good that I do this. You know that you have experienced and shall experience things that others will not understand nor will they be fully aware of. Hermione, you will also receive training in Occlumency so that what you may know about Harry cannot be used against him. But your role in this "new game" of sorts is to continue to be the friend and companion you have been. At times you will be given information I will not give Harry. This is to give you perspective if he is troubled and to enrich your knowledge of the Dark Arts to protect yourself. I realize this is a difficult time." Dumbledore was troubled but gave no indication of it to anyone. He liked having a kindly relationship with Harry. Ignoring him last year had been the wrong way to do things. The danger of the new way was greater, but the result would be greater knowledge for Harry and Hermione. He dismissed them with a wave of his hand toward the door saying, "Please enjoy your evening. We begin in the morning Harry."
Upon leaving the Headmaster's quarters, Harry hugged Hermione in the corridor harder than the night before. He kissed her with such loving kindness that they both knew that they had crossed a threshold of some sort. Harry could hear Hermione's thoughts, but shut them out. He would not intrude on her thoughts, because he never wanted to take her for granted. He gently pulled away, looked in her eyes and said, "Are we ready for this? Our destinies seem to be tied to one another more than we had imagined."
"Harry, I was fascinated by you the first time I read about the story in Hogwarts, A History. I have loved you since we met. That is almost half my life. You will never have to doubt my love for you. We may not agree, but never doubt me."
Harry said, "Ditto," with a grin. They had become at ease with each other, literally overnight.
They walked silently back to Gryffindor Tower exhausted. Outside in the corridor below the portrait, Ginny and Ron were discussing what to tell their parents. Apparently, they had arrived and could possibly be staying overnight. To everyone's surprise, Percy had also come to Hogwarts and wanted to meet with his family. Mr. Weasley had mentioned he was coming at the Ministry that morning sharing his fears for his children because of their link to Harry.
Harry and Hermione decided that it was Weasley business and they shouldn't interfere unless asked. They wanted to rest in the common room. Hermione suggested that they find a book on Occlumency and read it together. Harry said, "There's the Hermione I know and love. Nothing will get you romantic like an Occlumency book," he jested. She looked at him with a surprised look and belted him in the arm. Harry was shocked at how strong she was and decided that it wasn't a good idea to get her too mad.
"Harry, you insufferable…idiot…I just…," she paused. She grinned weakly because she knew that a sense of humor was probably the best medicine. She didn't like being the butt of the joke, even though she thought it was funny. Harry was still rubbing his arm with a look of triumph.
Meanwhile, Ron and Ginny made their way to the main entrance to meet their parents. Ron hadn't told them about Luna yet and wasn't sure he would. After all, he had just told Ginny and she was still making "kissy faces" at him and having him on. They were wondering what the reunion with Percy would be like. What were his intentions?
There they were sitting in the salon near the entrance to the school patiently waiting. They seemed to be having a conversation with someone else in the room. When Ron and Ginny arrived they realized that Percy had already arrived. Mrs. Weasley ran to her children and hugged them hard enough to cause them to groan. She stepped back and inspected them too. They hugged their father also, but were slow to acknowledge Percy. Mr. Weasley spoke first.
"Ron and Ginny, Percy came to see me first thing this morning with a relieved look on his face. He told me you were alright and what happened. We talked for a very long time. Your brother has something to say to both of you.
"I never realized until this morning how much I missed the family when the reality of the death of one of your classmates occurred on school grounds. I love all of you and should be proud to be a member of his family. Ron and Ginny, can you forgive me for being an insufferable git? I will still work at the ministry but I will be sure to look out for our interests and not only my own." He had choked through some of this with so much emotion that Ron nearly choked up too. He loved his brothers and sister even though they had been unmerciful growing up. His attitude about a lot of things had changed, just the same as Percy's had.
"Of course, Percy, you are family." Both Ron and Ginny hugged their brother for the first time in a very long time. Death had a way of bringing the reality of life to people. Life is short and sometimes cruel as it had been to Crabbe.
"Well, let's all celebrate by going to London where we will meet George and Fred for dinner. Do you want to invite someone, Ron? Do you, Ginny? Asked Mr. Weasley.
Ron thought for a second and decided he did. He knew it might be awkward, but it seemed a time of change in the Weasley family and who was he to stop the trend. "Yes, I have a girlfriend. Can Luna Lovegood come with us?" Ginny nearly fell over with surprise that Ron had mentioned it. She looked at him in a whole new light. She respected him because he respected his girlfriend enough to introduce her to the family. While it was a shock to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, they were thankful that he had not been hurt by the revelation of Harry and Hermione's relationship.
Mrs. Weasley answered, "Of course, Ron, run along and go fetch her. Don't take no for an answer." Mrs. Weasley wasn't thrilled that Mr. Lovegood owned and published the Quibbler, but she owed Ron to at least hold judgment of her youngest son's first official girlfriend.
The Weasley family enjoyed themselves perhaps more than they had in a very long time. Luna was a little loony but mostly very funny and infectious with her laugh. They saw why Ron liked her. You knew what you were getting and you also knew what you were not getting. You were not getting a phony. But more than anything else, Percy had returned to them. The Percy they remembered before being prefect or Head Boy. Confident and a bit arrogant, Percy was respectful and funny once again. He seemed to not take himself so seriously.
After dinner, George and Fred provided the family one of the greatest fireworks shows they could remember. Everyone was delighted to have a night together. Secretly Mr. Weasley and Percy were a little less excited. Not because they didn't enjoy the evening, but because they had discussed the possibility that what had happened might not be an isolated instance. Percy had told his father of a report of a muggle car just outside Hogwarts the night before. Arthur Weasley checked it with the muggle police and it had been stolen. They had shared this with the investigators this morning. No one had been seen near the car and no one saw it leave. But it was gone. Until the car had been reported, Harry and Hermione were going to be taken to the ministry for questioning. No one knew this but them and the investigators.
The trip back to Hogwarts proved exhausting. Ron, Luna, and Ginny had to be up for class. Classes would recommence tomorrow. They arrived late and headed off to bed. After saying good night to Percy and her parents, Ginny hugged Ron in front of Luna and said, "Ron, I admire you for what you did tonight. You were proud of Luna and it showed. Luna, my brother isn't the no good prat, I told you he was." She laughed and kissed Ron on the cheek.
"I know, I'm pretty proud of him too," Luna beamed. Ron felt privileged to be kissed by two girls in one night. Okay, one was his sister, but the other wasn't his Mum. That was a new record. He laughed and realized he was really lucky with Luna, Ginny and Hermione for friends.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley apparated as soon as they had left school grounds. Mr. Weasley had a hard time sleeping that night, because he knew that something very evil was in the works. He had used his inside contacts to get more of the facts than even Percy was privy to. He worried not only for Ron and Ginny, but for Harry too. He could sense that this was heading toward another confrontation with Voldemort. He hoped that his family, Harry, Hermione and Luna would all be safe. He knew that the more intertwined their lives were the more danger there was. He finally drifted off into a restless sleep.