Harry and Hermione joined Professor Dumbledore in his office as he had asked them to do. They wondered why he wanted to see them and were certain it had something to do with his request that Hermione's Muggle parents join them at Grimauld Place. Professors Snape and McGonagall were also in the room and Dumbledore seemed to be in the middle of relaying the story of Harry's confrontation with his uncle. Harry was surprised that Dumbledore would share that information with anyone. He had not even told Ron and Hermione what had happened yet. They were not aware that he had seen Vernon the day before.
Harry and Hermione both sat in armchairs that had not been there on Harry's last visit. Hermione made sure Harry was seated before she took her own seat. She was hesitant to let go of his arm since he insisted on walking to the office. She had taken every step with him and made him go very slowly down the stairs. She held Harry's arm in one hand and a long, narrow box in the other.
"We're doing this backward," Harry smiled as he sat before she did.
"Deal with it," she said in the bossy tone that was so very Hermione.
Professor McGonagall looked thoroughly smitten by their loving behavior, unlike Snape who wore and expression of repulsion.
"Welcome," Dumbledore said, smiling."How are you feeling, Harry?"
"Okay," he replied. He still got dizzy if he stood up too quickly, but was steady if he did not make sudden movements. The soreness in his chest had eased greatly. His head only hurt a bit when his latest dose of pain potion was wearing off.
Hermione placed the box on his desktop. "We got this for you in Atlantic City."
"For me?" he asked, sincerely surprised by the gift.
"It's not much," Harry said. The old man only looked at the gift. "Open it."
Dumbledore unwrapped the box and took off the lid to reveal many brightly colored pieces of salt water taffy wrapped in waxed paper.
"They sell it everyone on the boardwalk," Hermione explained. "Harry wanted to bring you cotton candy, but it wouldn't last and this would."
"Thank you very much," he smiled and he passed the box around for everyone to take a piece.
After they all had some taffy and Dumbledore explained that Severus was there due to his position in the Order and Minerva was there as head of their house, he said, "I know you two are wondering why I've asked to see you." He sat behind his desk and a grave countenance came over him. "Bad news, I'm afraid." He paused. "Or it could be good news if you consider that the plot has been uncovered." He nodded at Snape.
"Voldemort," Harry sighed.
"Yes," Dumbledore confirmed. "He has been studying ancient magic rituals and has found one that he believes would further his goals of achieving immortality and destroying you."
"Do you mean to say that immortality can really be obtained since the Philosopher's Stone has been destroyed?" Hermione asked skeptically.
"Tom seems to think so." Dumbledore answered.
"How?" Hermione quizzed.
"He is planning to perform an ancient sacrificial ritual," Dumbledore told them somberly.
"Sacrificial?" Harry repeated as the word sank in. Hermione was staring open-mouthed at the headmaster. "Do I need to ask what or who," he gulped, "that he plans to sacrifice?" He could feel himself going pale as he remembered the horrible ceremony he had witnessed after the Triwizard Tournament. It was among his most horrific memories. Wormtail's mutilation of his own body was forever burned in his memory; then there was that dagger and his own blood. He shivered. He had barely escaped that night alive.
"Harry, there are stipulations on the sacrifice," Dumbledore said. From what Severus has been able to uncover, we understand that he has to do this in seven steps. He must first sacrifice wheat or produce from the earth, then doves, an ewe, a ram, a calf, a bull, and finally..." his voice trailed off, but they knew what the next step was.
"That's disgusting!" Hermione cried.
"This must all be done under a full moon and prior to the human's twenty-first birthday and there are some other rather graphic details which I will leave out. The magic evoked is strongest if the human is an enemy and-Harry, Hermione, I do apologize for asking-but, the enemy wizard or witch also must be a virgin for the ritual to be effective. The success is dependent upon the purity of the offering. If his or her magic is bound to that of another, the sacrifice is futile because it would keep the victim's power from being usurped by the killer."
Harry was sure his face was the color of his Quiddich robes. It was bad enough that Dumbledore was asking him and Hermione this. Did he have to do it in front of Snape and McGonagall. He glanced at Hermione who was also very pink faced.
"Are you asking us to sleep together?" Hermione sputtered. She looked to Harry who appeared to want to melt into his chair.
"You haven't?" he pried.
"Well, of course we haven't!" Harry answered indignantly. "We're proper wizards, aren't we?"
"Since you were both raised by Muggles and influenced by Muggle culture, we had no way to know if you knew of wizard customs," McGonagall told them.
"Professor, Hermione knows more about wizard customs and life than most pure bloods," Harry said. "Haven't you ever read Hogwarts: a History?"
Hermione head snapped up at Harry's words. That was her line. She did not bother to correct him. Hogwarts: A History did not give details of customs.
"We did not mean to offend you," Dumbledore explained.
"Just because we were raised by Muggles doesn't mean we have Muggle values. I, for one, value nothing taught me by the Muggles I lived with."
"I understand that," Dumbledore said.
"Well, good. Don't be mistaken in thinking that Hermione is anything less that a model of virtue."
Hermione's heart was warmed by this. Harry was defending her honor! His reaction was not about being embarrassed. It was about her. He wanted them to know that she was everything a witch should be, Muggle-born or not. "It takes two to be virtuous," she said softly.
"Your virtue could get you killed at this stage," Snape broke into the conversation for the first time.
Harry and Hermione turned to one another. She was overwhelmed with the idea of loosing him. "But if Voldemort knows we've slept together, it throws his whole plan out the window?" she asked.
"Completely," Snape answered. "And months of planning and research goes out with it."
"So we sleep together," Hermione concluded. It was simple. Harry's life was at stake. She loved him. He loved her. They would just act like Muggle teenagers instead of wizards.
"No," Harry responded.
"Oh, don't be stupid, Harry," Hermione argued. "I'd rather have you alive than adhering to ancient customs. It's not like we'd be the only ones who were not following the old ways."
"No," he said again. "We are not going to jump in the sack because Snape told us to."
"It's for your own good you arrogant little--"
"Severus!" McGonagall interrupted.
"I will not disrespect you like that, Hermione."
"It's not disrespecting me if I want it!" She cried, exasperated. Harry had to know that his life meant more to her than anything else.
"And is it what you want?" he asked. "You want to so easily put aside what you believe is right?"
"He's going to kill you, Harry!"
"Do you think that if we just hop in the sack, he'll automatically know and give up on this insanity? How will he find out anyway? He's not going to be spying through my mind anymore," Harry insisted.
Hermione was listening now rather than arguing.
"First of all, I am not going to dishonor you." There was such sincerity in his eyes that she saw a glimpse how much he did value her. "Secondly, we have to outsmart him."
"So, what are you suggesting?" Hermione asked.
Harry glanced around the room. "Well, I didn't plan to ask you this for a while and certainly not with an audience." He got out of his seat carefully and kneeled in front of her. "I love you. You're my best friend." He smiled at her.
Hermione's eyes widened with shock as Harry moved to one knee in front of her. He couldn't be...
"I'm nothing without you, Hermione. You're my constant, my balance, my heart. Will you marry me?"
"Of course I will!" she exclaimed. Soon they were both on their knees on the floor, hugging.
Hermione was crying again and Harry thought he might start too. "I'm sorry," he told her.
"Why?" she asked, pulling away from their embrace. He had just made her the happiest person in the world and he was apologizing?
"This craziness. My life. Making you part of my crazy life, endangering you, asking you to be a teenage bride because some psychopath--"
She cut him off with a kiss, then said to him, "Harry, we would get married someday. We know that. We're just moving the date up a bit. That's all."
"Brilliant, thinking, Harry," Dumbledore interrupted, bringing the two back to the reality that there were other people in the room.
"What?" he asked, as he took his seat again with Hermione's help.
"If you are married, there will be no doubt in Voldemort's mind that his plans have been thwarted. He'll still want to kill you, of course, but he will know that it will not gain him immortality. I was just thinking," he said, one long finger touching his chin pensively. "If he got word that you were getting married, he might try to stop the wedding."
"And we could trap him," Harry completed the sentence.
"If you were, of course, already secretly married, then even if he could stop the wedding, the ritual would still be ineffective."
"You knew," Harry said accusingly.
"Knew what?" Dumbledore asked.
"You knew that Hermione and I would decide to get married to ward against this threat. That's why you asked her parents to come, so they could give permission." He turned to her suddenly realizing that they would have to get permission. "Do you think they will?"
"I know they'll be shocked, but once we explain things..."
"They'll be thrilled that their son-in-law is in consistent mortal danger, thus their daughter is as well." Harry sighed. "What about the Dursleys? They wouldn't give me permission to go to Hogsmeade. They'll never give me permission to get married. And Sirius isn't here," he added sadly.
"The Dursleys are a non-issue," Dumbledore replied. "I have spoken with the Grangers about their opinions of Hermione's relationship with you, and I feel sure they can be persuaded to give permission."
"So," Hermione recapped, "You want us to get secretly married, then plan a wedding as a trap for Voldemort?"
"But that would put others in danger," Harry said. "I mean, if we plan a wedding, people will expect to be invited, and..."
"We'll be thoroughly prepared."
"What about Professor Snape?" Harry asked.
"What about me?" Severus piped up.
"Won't Voldemort know that he leaked the plan? Won't planning a wedding put him in danger?"
Snape was taken aback that Harry actually considered his safety. "He has no idea I know of his plans. I haven't found out from him. That bumbling Pettigrew has been spouting off to various Death Eaters and did not know I overheard him. What I did not overhear, I found out with my other talents." He knew that Harry knew exactly what talents he meant.
Harry nodded. "So, where do we go from here?" He could not help but be irritated that the joy of his and Hermione's engagement had to be so quickly set aside to focus on something else.
"First, we have to take care of some legal matters including Sirius's will and your guardianship, Harry." Dumbledore pulled the paper that Vernon had signed out of a compartment in his desk.
Harry read it aloud:
I hereby relinquish all rights of guardianship of Harry James Potter, along with the responsibilities, compensation, and protections included. Vernon Durlsey.
"Compensation?" Harry asked.
"Yes, Harry. Did you not know that the Dursleys were paid from a trust set up for your care?" Dumbledore asked. "There was money for your needs as well as an allowance for you."
Harry was silent. Of course he did not know. He was under the impression that he was a financial burden. He did remember that he was given some money when he was little, but it had been very little and they had stopped giving him pocket money years ago.
"I can't say I'm surprised that you were unaware of that."
"Did they also know they were being protected for taking care of me?"
"Of course they did," Dumbledore answered. "And I do believe your uncle was quite unhappy to realize that he would be given no protection after he signed that. I also informed him that he would probably see a drastic change in matters of livelihood. He left under the impression that he would now be cursed."
"You cursed him?" Minerva asked, shocked. That was not something Albus Dumbledore would do.
"No. But he thinks so. I believe that's all that matters."
Hermione grinned. "By thinking he's cursed, he'll inevitably make decisions that destroy himself," she said. "He's so afraid of magic that he'll wind up hurting himself."
"That is possible," Dumbledore answered, lightly. "What is important here is that we need to establish new guardianship for Harry. Sirius himself had some suggestions."
"Can't I just be independent since I'm already sixteen?" Harry asked. "Don't get me wrong, I would love to be part of a family that was not the Dursleys, but if anyone takes on that responsibility, then they will be in danger from Voldemort."
"No, I'm afraid that is not a possibility. You are not of legal age so you can not legally make decisions of such magnitude as marriage. The only way for you to marry Hermione with a legal bond is for a guardian to give permission."
Harry sighed. He was not sure anyone would happily volunteer to be his guardian, not as long as Voldemort was after him. It would be dangerous, stupid even.
"We should bring in the Grangers. Severus, will you ask them to join us. You and Minerva are dismissed for now. Minerva, would you retrieve that item from my office at Hogwarts. Please wait for us in the kitchen."
The two professors left.
"Your parents are coming!" Harry exclaimed. "What do we tell them? Do you think they'll be okay with this? What if your dad hates me when he finds out the truth about Voldemort?"
"Harry, calm down," Hermione told him. "We can do this. You've faced Voldemort 4 times and lived to tell. I think you can handle a conversation with my parents!" she laughed.
"I never had to ask Voldemort if I could marry his underage daughter because I really need to have sex." Harry snorted.
"Harry, they like you. My dad probably thought we were sleeping together anyway before you told him about our customs," she patted his hand.
"Yeah, and that was when he started to like me!"
She sighed. "No it wasn't."
"But you have to admit it made him like me a whole lot more."
Hermione and Dumbledore both laughed.
"Harry, I assure you, the Grangers think you are perfect for their daughter. I spoke with them a great deal when you were recovering. I told them of your history with Voldemort. They know that he is plotting to kill you again, though they do not know the details, and they said they would do anything to help keep you safe."
"But you didn't tell them what anything was, did you?" Harry asked.
As if on cue, the Grangers entered the office. "Mr. Snape said you wanted to see us," John said. He and his wife took the chairs that had been left by the professors.
"Yes," Dumbledore started. "I'm sure you recall what I have told you about Voldemort and Harry."
They nodded. It was the first time they had had a chance to talk to Harry since they found out the truth. "Harry, I can't believe you've been through so much," Jane said. "You are such a brave and heroic boy."
"Hermione has enabled me to do what I needed to do," he told them.
"Yes, we understand that you're quite the little rule breaker," John laughed, turning to his daughter.
"I had to do what I had to do!" she replied.
"I'm proud of you, honey," John told her. He knew instantly that she felt she had to defend herself.
"Harry, Hermione, Ron, and, to a lesser extent, some of their friends have done more for the preservation of good in our society than anyone could have expected or imagined," Dumbledore told them. "They've been thrust into situations that most full grown wizards would have been unable to handle. They, especially Harry and Hermione, are skilled beyond their years."
"We wouldn't expect any less from our girl," Jane smiled, exercising her right as a mother to be proud.
"I have told them about Voldemort's latest plot and it is time you two learned what it was as well since thrwarting it rests in your hands."
"Us?" John asked, stunned. "How can we be of any help?"
Dumbledore then explained the ritual, leaving out the more graphic parts just as he had with the teenagers.
Jane was very pale when he finished. "That's insane!" she shrieked, holding her hand over her mouth as if she thought she might be sick.
"I can't believe anyone could even think of doing such a thing," John shuddered. "Disgusting," he shook his head, pondering what had been told to him. "But what can we do to help? We have no magical abilities."
Dumbledore then explained the stipulations of the ritual's success.
"Oh," John said softly as he thought over what he had just been told. He turned to the teenagers. "How do you both feel about this?"
"Sir," Harry began, summoning his courage. "I can't imagine my life without Hermione. Though I never thought we would be considering this so soon, I asked her to marry me."
"Dad, Harry and I would get married someday anyway. It's just that we need to speed things up for his safety. You understand, don't you?" she plead. "Please say it's okay."
"I understand if you don't want to give permission," Harry told them. "You have to realize that being my wife will put Hermione in danger."
"Wife or not, I'm in danger, Harry. Every decent witch and wizard is in danger as long as Voldemort has his power. He wants to kill anyone who does not agree with him. And I'm Muggle-born, so he wants me dead anyway, regardless of my relationship with you. Harry, even my parents are in danger as long as he has power. Mom, Dad, did you know that he and his Death Eaters kill Muggles just for the fun of it? This monster has to be stopped! And Harry's the only one who can do it!"
"What do you mean?" Jane asked. "Why do you say Harry is the only one who can do it?"
"There was a prophecy made prior to Harry's birth," Dumbledore interjected and he recited it for them. "He marked Harry as his equal."
The Grangers were quiet while thinking over everything they had been told in the past twenty-four hours. "That's so much responsibility," Jane sighed. It was astonishing that the sixteen year old boy in front of her, her daughter's boyfriend, was the "equal" of the most powerful evil wizard who had ever lived.
"We four are the only ones who know the full prophecy," Dumbledore told them. "You have to keep that information to yourselves. The less Voldemort knows, the better."
"I understand," John told them. It was a stretch, really. This was difficult to understand. A few years ago witches and wizards were simply the basis of stories told to him by his great-grandmother. He did not believe they were real until his own daughter was revealed to be a witch.
"Mom, Dad, you have to give me permission to marry Harry. All our lives are at stake here," Hermione told them desperately.
"I'm not thrilled with the idea of you marrying at 15," John told her.
"I'll be sixteen in September," Hermione reminded them.
"I'm not thrilled with the idea of you being married at 16 either," he said dryly.
"But Dad!" she was cut off as he held up her hand to quiet her.
"I do realize that you're not an ordinary young girl, and Harry is certainly no ordinary young man." He was still astounded by the things Harry had been through and lived to tell about. He also valued that Harry had told them that he understood if they did not want their daughter to marry him.
"There's much more to marriage than just sleeping together," Jane told them. "I know you think that you'll be together forever, but what if things change in a few years?"
"We've already been through more than most people could imagine," Hermione said.
"We don't have that option," Harry told her. "Change, I mean. Once we're married, that's it. It's for life."
"Are you really ready to make that commitment?" Jane asked.
"Yes." Harry answered without trepidation. "I realized a while back how much I loved Hermione. There will never be anyone else for me."
"Mom, we were meant to be. It's like fate put us together for a reason. We bring out the best in each other. He's my best friend and I love him more than I could ever tell you."
"I don't doubt your love for one another," Jane said. "But what about school? What about your future?"
"They will, of course, be allowed to continue their schooling. I've arranged with Minerva McGonagall, their head of house, for a private room to be provided for them. This is not something they would do casually and the marriage of students is not something we would so easily allow at Hogwarts. This truly is a matter of life and death in the battle between good and evil," Dumbledore explained. The arrangement of a room for them confirmed to Harry that Dumbledore had known this news would lead to their marriage. "They will be allowed to finish their schoolwork and stay in Gryffindor with other students. But they will be afforded the privacy due newlyweds. It is unconventional, but it is for the best."
"We really don't have a choice in this, do we?" John asked.
"Yes, you do," Harry answered, though it seemed he was the only one that thought they had a choice. "Hermione and I love each other and we're willing to make this kind of commitment and do it now. But you are her parents and we will respect your decision."
"Mom, Dad, if we're married, then Voldemort will know that these plans are useless. Otherwise, he will continue to plot and eventually he will try to kidnap Harry and brutally murder him. You have no idea how powerful this man is. He has covert followers who are more than willing to help him take Harry. Please, please, don't give him reason to attempt this insanity. Don't let Harry die!" she plead.
"How will he find out that you're married?" John asked.
Hermione looked to Dumbledore. "I'm not sure. Will our spy relay that information?" she asked, careful to not reveal who the spy was.
"We'll work out those details later," he answered.
"Let me talk to your mother privately," John said. He stood up and took his wife's hand to lead her from the room. "We'll be back momentarily."
Hermione exhaled tensely. "They have to say it's all right. They have to," she fretted.
"They just want what's best for you," Harry said. He wished Hermione could see how lucky she was to have parents who cared about her best interests. He was not convinced that marriage to him was truly what was best for her, despite how much he loved her.
"What's best for me is keeping you alive and safe," she told him.
"Still, it's a lot for them to take in at once," said Dumbledore. "Give them time to digest it."
A strained silence fell over the three of them as they waited for the Granger's return. After what seemed an eternity, but was really just a few minutes, they came back into the room.
They did not sit down. "Hermione, Harry," John started, "We've decided to grant our permission."
Hermione jumped up to hug her father. "Thank you, Daddy! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she squealed as tears of joy came to her eyes.
Harry eased himself to a standing position, "Thank you," he told them. "I'll do everything in my power to protect your daughter. I love her with all my being." He shook John's hand and was pulled into a hug with Hermione and both her parents.
"I'm sure you will," John responded, exchanging a concerned and accepting look with his wife. They both knew now that when Harry Potter said he would do everything in his power, that was more than a casual expression. His power was a force to be reckoned with.
"Wonderful!" Dumbledore exclaimed, clapping his hands together. "It seems we have a lot to take care of, not the least of which is a wedding to plan."
A/N: Thanks again for the reviews. Knowing people enjoy this inspires me to keep going! I've done research to give a loose historical base to the sacrificial ideas. I purposely left this chapter less detailed than what JKR wrote in Goblet of Fire so that I can keep the rating PG-13. You'll just have to use your imagination for the details Dumbledore is leaving out. Believe me, you probably don't want to know anyway. The point is now Harry and Hermione have to get married and The Big Bad Guy is not going to be happy about it.