Chapter 3:
A/N: I'm skipping ahead one week.
Gol
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Mistress had woken in pain again. Crookshanks tried to comfort her but she needed Him. Why did He not come when she needed Him? She always went to help Him? An elder finally came, "you need more tonic?" A wimper was mistresses only reply. The elder returned quickly with a small steaming cup. Mistress quickly consumed it, though she disliked it immensely. Relief washed over mistress as the tonic worked its magic. The elder spoke again, "We will need to send for more, that was the last of it." Mistress found her breath and replied, "We need Hedwig, I'll ask Harry for her." The elder nodded and patted mistress's shoulder then left. This was something he could help with. He thought hard, We need you bird. I come. Came the distant reply.
The second Friday he was home from school was a pleasant day. Before sunrise Hedwig had suddenly demanded to be let out. He had guessed she was hungry but she had not yet returned. At precisely noon the bell rang. After the incident the previous Friday no one seemed eager to answer it. After it rang for the third time Vernon hesitantly opened the door. He was astonished to see a very tall black man. He was dressed immaculately in a very crisp gray suite and tie. He appeared to be an executive for some well to do company. "Good afternoon. I am here to enquire to the health and well-being of the boy in your care. Harry Potter."
Vernon stepped back into the house and whispered, "You mean you're one of… them?"
"Precisely, may I proceed?"
This man had put him totally off his usual track, he looked so, so normal. "Well at least you know how to dress normally. Go on, go on."
"Thank you." The stairs creaked under his weight as he ascended the stairs to Harry's room. He found Harry sitting in the only chair in the room. He was slowly looking through a large photo album that was on the desk. The room seemed completely bare, all of Harry's things, even his trunk, were out of sight somewhere. Only Dudley's cast off clothes were scattered about the room.
Harry looked up when he heard his door open, "Kingsley?"
The man in question closed the door then turned back to Harry smiling warmly. "Yep, Kingsley Shacklebolt, in the flesh."
"You make a good muggle."
He bowed, "Thank you, I am a professional you know. My duties often involve integrating into muggle society. It also helps that I grew up muggle, as yourself. By the way you look a lot better than Remus described."
Harry smiled cautiously, "Thanks, I've had a lot of help."
"Excellent! I have some news for you. Remus said to just tell you, he knows you best so here goes. You knew I was assigned to track down Sirius? Well I have been reassigned. Now I'm after Bellatrix Lestrange."
Harry's face twisted as he tried to control himself. He hissed out, "Kill her for me, for Sirius!"
Kingsley dropped to one knee, now he was on eye level with Harry. He sadly shook his head, "I can't do that. Not unless she gives me no choice. I am not an assassin Harry." Harry looked away in disgust. "Course Moody did tell me that if he found her first there would be nothing left to arrest." Harry looked back at him. "Mad-Eye has come out of retirement by the way. He took his old job back, just stalked in one day and threw the Exec Auror out of his office. When Fudge questioned him he said he had re-activated himself now that Tom Riddle is confirmed back among the living. He has the whole force on highest alert. He's lowered the requirements for applicants and started a massive Auror recruitment program. Fudge tried to stop him but he laughed and told Fudge to get out of his department, he was in charge again and he only answers to the Wizengamot and the Chief Warlock, Albus Dumbledore. You see Harry, the minister of magic has very little real power when the Wizengamot acts he must follow their decrees. They have approved all of Moody's demands by the way. His latest was to close Azkaban. Now that most of the Dementor's have gone over to Voldemort it's not much of a prison anymore."
"What is going to happen to the prisoners? They can't just turn them loose can they?"
"They will each face a new trial, if found guilty they will go through the veil. The old days have returned Harry. We are trying to make it as hard on Voldemort as we can this time. Two more weeks here, then you can leave. Try and stay safe, don't go looking for trouble, for all our sakes."
Harry nodded his head slowly, "I'm not looking for any trouble. I am expecting to be attacked at any moment though. I don't feel safe here, or anywhere really."
Kingsley smiled tightly, "You would make a good Auror you know, Constant Vigilance Harry. You, especially you, need to watch your back. Or have someone you trust doing that."
Harry answered very quietly, "She is."
Kingsley apparently didn't hear him. He stood and walked back to the door. "Take care Harry, I think Tonks will be coming next week."
"Alright, thanks for the information. I appreciate not being kept in the dark this summer."
Kingsley nodded and carefully put his hat back on then strode from the room calling for Vernon. When the door closed Harry quickly picked up his photo album where he had been holding it the entire time. Hermione looked back at him through the mirror. Which had been lying on the desk under his album, "Did you hear all that?"
She nodded and put down her quill. "That all sounds excellent really Harry. With Moody running the Auror's and the Wizengamot following Professor Dumbledore they should be able to shut down Voldemort pretty well." She looked off to the side, at something out of his view, "Where are you going after you're done there this summer?"
He answered without hesitation, "I want to come stay there. Do you think it would be alright?"
She looked back at him, "We can ask tonight."
He suddenly felt very warm as he answered, "Alright, I need to go mow the yard now. I will see you after dinner."
"Ok, if you come early enough we can go swimming in the pool."
"Um, ok. I will have to borrow a suit, I don't have one. See you later."
"Ok, later."
He picked up the mirror and slid it inside the album. Then closed the photo album and put it back under the loose floorboard. He wiped the grin from his face and headed outside to do the Dursley's yard work.
He made sure the Dursley's punished him with no dinner and sent him to his room. When Vernon locked the door he turned away grinning. It was only half past five, surely that was early enough to see Hermione in a bathing suit?
Damn hormones, he had to control them. They trusted him, he couldn't betray that, no matter how much he lusted. Did he just think that? Lusted, after his best friend? Damn, Damn, Damn.
The part of his mind that often spoke with Hermione's voice answered him, There have been plenty of hints that she feels the same towards you.
I know I may be stupid but I'm not blind! Maybe we should talk about it. Her voice asked, Are you brave enough to touch that subject?
Let's try the prophecy first alright? That sounds like a good compromise.
He agreed with himself, tonight he would tell her about Trelawney's prophecy and why Voldemort had tried to kill him.