Chapter 5:
A/N: Back by popular demand…
Gol
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Harry was leaning up against the wall, water up to his neck. Hermione was pressed against him, his arms tight about her waist, her arms locked around his neck. They were inches apart looking deeply into one another's eyes, still holding an all too private discussion. They were both surprised to hear her father's voice call to them from inside the house, "Dinner is ready, whenever you two can manage to untangle and come eat." They heard him chuckle and close the door again. Though they were surprised neither looked away, some things are just too important to be ended hastily.
She asked with a straight face, "Why is your wand in your swimming trunks?"
He answered her quite seriously, "Constant Vigilance you know."
He reflected that it was amazing how they were quickly adjusting to their new relationship. Well not new, just a shift in attitude really. He was surprised that he really felt nothing new towards her. He was just aware of them now. He smiled warmly, "Love, yes that feels right. You know I realized a long time ago that I wouldn't stay alive without you. Go back to the Devil's Snare in first year actually. I have always appreciated your help and support in everything. Thank you for, well for showing me how to live and, and how to love. Does this mean Rita was right?"
Hermione giggled, he really loved it when she did that, "Well she did call me a scarlet woman." She tapped his lightning bolt scar as she said that. "I have always found that extremely funny." He laughed when he realized what she meant.
They were silent for a few minutes, not the uncomfortable silence of those who are unsure what to do next but that of two who are perfectly comfortable with one another. "About that other secret, It's about what happened at the Department of Mysteries. Let's go eat then talk about it inside."
"Alright" She nodded then let go of his neck and pushed off from the wall. He trailed his hands down the sides of her legs as she slid away through the water. He sighed and slowly followed her. She got to the other side of the pool and quickly climbed out. She had already wrapped her long hair in a towel when he reached the side of the pool. She picked up another towel and wrapped it around herself, "C'mon Crookshanks, let's go."
Harry climbed out of the pool and Crookshanks left his post, staring after the fly that was too high up on the screen for him to reach. Hermione winked at Harry and went inside, Crookshanks on her heels. Harry quickly dried off and was about to go inside when he saw a flyswatter hanging next to the door. He picked it up and went to Crookshanks fly, that cat must have been after it for a reason. He half expected the fly to be some animagus when he swatted it, it died though. He shrugged his shoulders and hung the flyswatter back up. He picked up Hermione's discarded t-shirt before going inside. Constant Vigilance, I got that lesson Barty.
Two heaping plates of spaghetti were set out on the table, two small salads and a loaf of garlic bread beside them. Dan and Emma were talking quietly in the kitchen both were smiling infectiously. Emma turned to him, "Thanks for sending Hedwig so quickly this morning. We already got the refill on her tonic."
He tried to keep from sounding bewildered, "Oh, no problem. Do you mind if I leave her here? She would like it better."
"Sure, we'd be delighted to have her."
Dan walked closer to him, "Glad to see you two finally had that conversation. Guess everything's worked out now?'
Harry could feel his skin turning bright red, were they watching everything?
Emma quickly came to his defense, slapping Dan's shoulder, "Leave him be Daniel. You know how private these things are."
He turned to his wife then back to Harry, "I know, I know. I just want the best for my baby."
Harry summoned his Gryffindor courage and cleared his throat, "We did talk about uh, us. Everything is great yeah."
Emma looked at him crookedly, "Dear did you want to stay here for August? I mean when you can leave that place."
He was sure he looked just like a deer caught in the headlights this time, "Yes, I was going to ask you tonight. Are you sure you're a muggle?"
Emma giggled, that's where Hermione got it from, "Yep, Hermione had us both tested after her second year."
Dan came over and again put his hand lightly on Harry's shoulder, "It's just. Well we would expect you to want to and you have our permission. Look son, we know a lot about what you have been through and want to help as much as we can."
Harry stuttered, "You mean you. Uh you trust me alone here with her?"
Dan squeezed his shoulder comfortingly, "Son, you come here with the highest recommendation anyone could."
Emma continued for him, "She trusts you, therefore we trust you."
Harry swallowed hard, he was starting to get dizzy, "No one, besides Hermione, has ever been this honest with me."
Emma added warmly, "Look at it this way, we already consider you a part of our family. We want you to trust us."
Dan let go of his shoulder and stepped back with Emma, "We know there are things you can't tell us. Just remember we're here if you need us."
Hermione came around the corner from the living room. She had changed into blue jean shorts and a red tank top, her wand was clearly visible sticking out of her front pocket. She saw his bewildered expression and rounded on her parents, "I thought so. Giving my boyfriend a hard time already? Go get changed Harry, I'll cover for you."
He took that opportunity to quickly escape to his room. He tossed her t-shirt on the bed and quickly stripped, dried, and got dressed again. He pulled his broomstick servicing kit out and sat on his bed. He carefully dried his wand and polished it with some broomstick oil. When he was putting away the oil something caught his eye. The t-shirt Hermione had been wearing had the faded initial's DD on the inside of the collar. Dudley Dursley, she stole that shirt from me! Oh if Dudders had any idea where his old shirt had been. She called me her boyfriend, guess that makes it official. I wonder what everyone else will think about this. He found himself laughing out loud as he put away his kit.
His wand went into his pocket, he took his wet towel and suit to the bathroom and hung them up. He tossed Dudley's old shirt onto her bed and headed down to eat. Hermione's parents were no where to be found Hermione was again reading the prophet while she waited for him at the table. She was absently petting Crookshanks with one hand as he lay in her lap. She smiled when she saw him, "I sent them to their room."
He sat next to her, "No, you didn't!"
She nodded, "Yep I did. I know they mean well but we need some time alone. Did you want to talk now or after we eat?"
"After, I don't think either of us will want to eat later."
"That bad?"
"Yep."
She just nodded and started on her spaghetti he quickly joined her. Twenty minutes later they were rinsing the dishes in the sink. She took his hand in hers. They had held hands on many occasions, usually during a crisis when they didn't want to break contact. This time their fingers intertwined, it changed the entire experience, this was a connection. A new avenue, this added another dimension to their silent communication. Crookshanks went and lay down in his chair by the fireplace while they sat in the couch. "You know what the prophecy said don't you?"
He decided he had better get used to this and quit being so surprised. "Yes, I do. It was made by Trelawney to Dumbledore. He showed me his memory of it in his pensive. I don't think I could forget it if I wanted to. Listen carefully:
The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches
Born to those who have thrice defied him, Born as the seventh moon dies
And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not
And either must die at the hands of the other for neither can live while the other survives
The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh moon dies"
She was watching him intently, obviously working on the prophecy as if it were a puzzle. "I want to write that down, later. I think I see what you mean though. So he decided you fit this and tried to kill you before you could kill him?"
"Well almost, apparently he only knows the first two lines. So all he knew is that someone who was born at the end of July from parents who had three times defied him would have the power to defeat him. Dumbledore said it could also apply to Neville."
She thought some more then nodded, "But Voldemort chose you and marked you as his equal right?"
"That's what I understand yes. I don't know what it really means by the power he knows not though."
"I need to know what else Professor Dumbledore told you Harry. Can you try and tell me everything you remember. Anything at all that might pertain to your history?"
He slapped his thigh in frustration, "I wish I had a pensive, I could just show you then. Did you miss the most important part?"
She looked at him sadly, "No Harry, I didn't miss it. You will have to kill him, with this power he knows not."
"I don't know if I can kill anyone, I mean I guess if I was mad enough. Back at the Ministry Voldemort possessed me. He was dueling Dumbledore at the time and seemed to be loosing. He tried to get Dumbledore to kill me and end my suffering. I thought of missing you and Ron and Voldemort left. I'm not sure if that is why he left me though, Dumbledore wasn't giving in to what he was trying. But that's not my point, what I'm trying to say is this. When I have faced Voldemort in the past I was always trying to get away, not actually going after him. The one time we did duel, in the cemetery after he came back. I was just trying to die on my feet, not cowering behind a gravestone. I know I can now block any spell Voldemort casts at me, even win a struggle of wills. But how do I kill him?"
She shook her head slowly, "I don't know Harry. I need more information, what else did Professor Dumbledore tell you about this?"
He ran his free hand through his wild hair, "It's all jumbled, I was rather traumatized at the time. We need a pensive or some way to sort it out better."
"Ok, let's owl Professor Dumbledore and ask him to help us with this. I'm not sure if using a pensive breaks the underage restriction on magic or not. I would think it would be like using the mirrors though. We'll see what he says alright?"
"Do you think that is a good idea?"
"We need help Harry, unless we are going to just run away somewhere and try to solve this on our own? Yes I think that is perfectly safe. If it's alright for us to use it then all we need to do is borrow it for a little while."
He gave in to her reasoning, "Ok, go ahead and write him. Your parents said it was ok for me to stay here by the way. Ask him if he has any objections to that as well. I think I can come here full time on August 1st, until then I must sleep there." He ended rather morosely.
She squeezed his hand he met her eyes, "Alright, I will send Hedwig later tonight. How late do you think you can stay tonight?"
He looked at the clock on the wall, it was only a quarter past seven. "Probably until ten or so, that should be safe. You know, like I'm visiting a friend's house and come home then go to bed."
She suddenly stood up and went into the kitchen. She came back a minute later. "I set the kitchen alarm to 10:00pm that gives us almost three hours, and what would my boyfriend like to do? Nothing serious allowed I want you to relax a bit."
There it was again, that magic word. "What do you think about just laying down with me here and talking?"
She thought about that briefly, still standing, "Does it involve holding?"
He kicked his shoes off and lay down length-wise on the couch. He held his arms out, beckoning her, "Of course."
Her mouth formed a silent Oh… She looked around and quickly hurried off. He leaned up on his elbow to see what she was doing. She dimmed the lights, made sure all the doors were locked then came back to him. He scooted himself back into the couch as far as he could, making room for her. She pulled off her shoes and lay down along side him. She wrapped her leg around his hip and rested her head on his arm. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her securely on the couch. Then she pulled the afghan from the back of the couch and covered them with it.
Just as they finished settling in her father's voice came drifting down from upstairs, "Are we going to get some snoggin tonight or what?"
Hermione jumped to her feet, ready to retort but her mother beat her to it. "DANIEL ALLEN GRANGER, GET INTO THIS ROOM AT ONCE!"
They heard his faint, "yes dear" and a door closed upstairs. Hermione started giggling again, Harry suddenly pulled her down on top of him on the couch.
He had caught both of her arms tightly between them. She couldn't move unless he let her. She struggled a moment then settled atop him, "So are we going to do any snoggin tonight?"
"You seem to have me at a disadvantage Mr. Potter. If that is what you would like to do I have no objections."
"None?"
"Nope, not at all."
"Then I think I would like that very much."
Crookshanks watched, amused as his mistress claimed masters lips. They seemed frozen for the longest time, only their lips moved. What did they find so fascinating about all that anyway? Did they? Came the question from upstairs, they have joined at the speaking orifice if that is what you mean. Excellent, about time too. Why is this important? They are bonding, becoming life-mates. Any creature can see how compatible their aura's are. They cannot see aura's, Kneazle. That's not my fault. Go to sleep silly cat. Sometimes bird, you bother me. A haughty hoot echoed in his head. They must have forgotten about the talking part. His final thought as he drifted off to sleep was that humans were so forgetful.