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In Hogsmeade Heaven-Chapter 8

The first well-attended meeting of Dumbledore's Army was beginning with great success. There were unexpected but not unwelcome attendees. As they'd left the Gryffindor Common Room nearly half of the fifth, sixth and seventh year Gryffindor students joined Harry and Ron's caravan to the Room of Requirement. Thankfully, that's exactly what the room was. It would expand for them with such a good turnout. He realized that using the Marauder's Map as a way to avoid Snape's probing eyes was a waste of time now. There were simply too many people going the same way at the same time. All they could do was cross their fingers.

Hermione was waiting at the door. He looked in the room and found Luna, Parvati, Padma, and Neville already there. Hermione had found out just moments before Harry arrived from Parvati that there would be a huge crowd, but Hermione wanted Harry to find out for himself. It would be a more encouraging sign that things were going well.

"Okay, everyone, let's go over some of the rules. There aren't many. First, don't advertise that we're doing this. Second, do your best. Three, see rules one and two." Harry smiled and said, "I always wanted to say that." Everyone laughed.

Harry was glad that the Room of Requirement offered everything as it was needed.

"Okay, first thing we're going to learn is how to avoid being hit by a curse or charm." He explained what he knew about tumbling. For example, he taught them to roll over their shoulders, left or right, and to tuck their heads going forward. Most knew how to do this, but he offered a twist. "You want to come out in a position to use your wand in self-defense or to attack to prevent being attacked. Like this." He dove to his right springing up with his left knee and thigh parallel to the ground with his right knee and shin on the ground. He showed them the opposite for going left.

The entire group formed five lines and practiced each about 10 times. When they were finished more than one of his `soldiers' was dizzy and tuckered out. "Okay, that's all of that for tonight."

"Let's try the summoning charm. On the table, there are chalkboard erasers. Take a partner, each of you. One person will hold the eraser flat on their hand while the other will try to summon it to theirs. Line up on opposite walls. There was just enough room for everyone. "The command as we have learned is `Accio' and then the word for what you are calling. This charm can be used over great distances and for anything you can describe and locate accurately. Be careful of summoning a car or an elephant, it could ruin your day when it lands on you….disregarding the damage to the place it starts from and it isn't very stealthy." Harry looked to see if anyone was listening. When they realized he was kidding they laughed. "The main advantage is that you may be able to get a rock to throw that is just out of your grasp, recall your wand, or broom that could save your life." Every one nodded. "After we finish a few of these, we'll be done for the night."

Hermione looked over at her boyfriend proudly. He made believers out of everyone tonight. Ron had recruited and Harry had delivered a fun and useful `class.' She looked around as student after student caught an eraser or let one fly from their hand. "Harry, you did a great job tonight." She smiled at him again. While walking past him, she brushed his arm with her hand to acknowledge his efforts without looking unprofessional or drawing attention to her flirtatiousness.

At just about nine o'clock, Harry dismissed everyone with a word of advice and caution. "We will learn a lot of things that others in school won't be as proficient at. Don't give away your knowledge to show off. Be prepared so we can surprise our enemy when the time comes." Harry had no idea how prophetic and warrior-minded that was.

"Good show, mate," said Ron on his way out. "This was way better and more organized than last year." Harry noticed the familiar grin again. He was glad that at least some of the painful words between them had been reversed.

As everyone left, Hermione stayed behind to wait for Harry as he said good night to everyone. "Wow, was that a good turn-out or what?"

"Yes, I'm glad too. It made the time go by better and the energy was higher." Harry said as he put his hand to her waist and walked out the door with her.

"Now, all we have to do is get through tomorrow and we can go to Hogsmeade as a couple for the first time." Hermione said as they walked down the rotating staircase. She watched to see where they were going to end up so they could follow the correct one back to the Gryffindor Common Room. "Do you think it is warm enough to go to the Astronomy tower?" she asked.

"We can make it warm enough," Harry said as he leaned in to kiss her on the forehead.

She smiled, "If we live until we're old enough to be married, no one will see us for a month." She pinched his bum as they walked up the stairs.

Harry knew it was Hermione's dream to not engage in sex until marriage. Harry respected the decision and actually agreed. Yet he had to often force the idea of tearing her clothes off and ravishing her out of his head. She was playful and sexy without going to that extent. He knew if he waited, the experience would be the most exhausting he'd ever experience. He based this on the dreams and the way he felt when they found somewhere to wrestle around unnoticed. Too often she had to stop him from ripping her clothes off and then tell him she hadn't wanted to stop. They avoided this as much as possible to preserve their pact.

The Astronomy tower was nippy that night, but the late October chill made the nearly full moon more enchanting as they huddled together tonight with their robes still on. "Sorry Harry, it's too chilly to be dropping the robe tonight." So she opened hers and his part-way while wrapping them around. She flattened her chest to his in an effort to tease him. He felt her close. He kissed her long, deep and wet. They knew this kind of passion wouldn't last forever, but it didn't hurt to try.

Saturday morning, the usual gathering in the courtyard to collect permission slips meant that Harry and Hermione would go to Hogsmeade. He had made sure to threaten Uncle Vernon sufficiently to get a note for this year's trips. He didn't like doing it that way but it proved successful. They looked over toward the other side of the crowd and there was Ron chatting-up Luna. They'd paired up for the Summoning Charm and had walked out together. Harry and Hermione left well enough alone, hoping that there was love in the air.

The walk to Hogsmeade was fun. They hadn't been able to really walk free since the night they'd run out into the fields near The Burrow. The fresh air and the rustle of blowing leaves provided a wonderful backdrop. "Harry, do you think I help you or distract you from being ready for You-Know-Who?" She was cautious out amongst the townspeople of Hogsmeade and out of the protective walls of Hogwarts.

"I know I'm happier and learning more from our classes because of it. That will help me learn more to be better prepared. But I do worry because you are so close to me all the time now. If I were pulled away by some magical force or attacked head-on, you might be injured or worse," he explained.

"Or worse, expelled. Remember when I said that. The funny thing is that at that moment that was what I meant. I look back at how Miss Goody-Two-Shoes and utterly stressed I was and laugh." Hermione laughed as she tightened her grip on Harry's belt loop.

"Ron and I were just blown away by that comment. You have no idea." Harry reminisced too about many of their adventures as they walked. They must have passed every establishment in town twice by the time they decided to go into Madame Rosemerta's for a malted milk shake.

They got one shake and two straws. For these past couple of hours they were just Hermione and Harry. No great expectations, no false hopes and for the most part no fear of impending doom. They rubbed noses and bumped foreheads several times as they drank their milk shake, giggling each time. They were sixteen and with the exception of their extreme sexual urges, felt like they were much younger at that moment, enjoying their first true love.

Afterwards they walked the length and breadth of the little village again. "Harry, do you want to marry me?" Hermione asked.

"Why would you ask that?" Harry said with a confused look.

"I mean, do you think that far ahead?" Hermione was asking a different question in Harry's mind.

"Hermione, I want to live forever with you and have children. Teach them Quidditch and how to be good people. That's what I want. Don't ever think that I am wishing for this confrontation with…," he paused. "….now. I know I would be better prepared if I were older…even my Dad's age, but you and I know it's not going to happen that way." Harry had stopped and sat down with her beside a tree on the path back to Hogwarts. "We have to be happy now. None of the physical stuff between us will make us love each other more or less. Not now, not ever. You already have me mind, body, and soul." Harry had never put it this way, even in his own private thoughts. He'd finally come to the realization that he wanted Hermione to be happy more than he cared about his own happiness. `If she always remembers me for loving her with my whole heart, body and soul….we'll never be apart,' he thought.

There were tears on her beautiful young face. Hermione's tears were because that had been the greatest single profession of love she'd heard from Harry. It didn't rely on a fatalistic sense of duty. It was about them and their love. Not whether he was destined to be murdered by Voldemort. They sat holding each other silently for a long while watching others hike their way back to Hogwarts.

To their surprise, Luna and Ron were walking together hand in hand on the far side of the path. Harry and Hermione were sure he was averting their gaze, but not hiding from them. Luna looked like she was telling one of her offbeat stories and Ron was listening intently. Harry smiled at Hermione and gave her a kiss, brief though it was, it spoke volumes.

They heard Hagrid walking amongst the students still in the village telling them to be heading off toward the castle. So Harry and Hermione did the same. They arrived in the castle just in time for the evening meal and a good study period before they went to sleep.

Minerva McGonagall had returned that Friday with the results of her conversation with Pappy and Dumbledore wanted sometime to think about what she'd said before deciding what should be done. As Saturday evening fell, Dumbledore called in Professor McGonagall, Nymphodora Tonks, and Hagrid for a meeting to discuss the situation. He had considered bringing Snape into the meeting, but thought that people who were friendly with Harry and Hermione might be more useful at this point. The full moon made Lupin useless.

Dumbledore had to bring them up to speed on Pappy. Dumbledore explained the story of Nathaniel and Francine Moore:

When Harry told me about Pappy and mentioned the name, I did not immediately remember all the details. I have since spent time going over my memories of that time and with the help of Professor McGonagall I have remembered much more.

Nathaniel and Francine had been top of the class at Hogwarts and had done so only because they were considered weird by the rest of their community. They both had muggle parents and lived where doing the things they could do always drew negative attention. So Hogwarts had really been a punishment of sorts to keep the ridicule of their family to a minimum.

Since they'd learned to harness their magical abilities, they decided to return to the muggle life after Hogwarts and raise their children. They hated the pureblood Wizard and Witch Community with all their hearts. Unfortunately, they weren't able to have any children. It was so sad. They were such kind people.

So they took pride in collecting and restoring old pieces that no one wanted. They found many that were very valuable. They also inherited the old farm from Francine's father and sold it because they wanted someone who loved farming to have it. They were set for a long time. They bought the cottage as an investment.

Then the unforgivable happened, Francine was murdered. Nathaniel says it was in the explosion of the cottage where the Potters lived and the Ministry said it wasn't. He hated the way the townspeople talked of Francine when the rumors of magic and witchcraft went around. He moved. We never knew where until this summer. He showed up to be in Little Whinging, just blocks from Harry. Apparently, he's been watching him grow up.

I have never been able to confirm his story. The Ministry wouldn't budge even though he could prove it was his cottage.

Nathaniel, aka Pappy is like you Tonks. He can change his appearance. He would occasionally change into whatever form he need to do some of the things that a man typically didn't do in the 1950's and `60's to give Francine a break. He enjoyed the pranks he could pull on the townspeople without their knowledge and he was an incredibly gifted seer.

Francine had incredible powers that allowed her to enchant things permanently. Many think that she was one of the most talented witches of the last century and she wasted her talent on muggle artifacts such as watches and music boxes.

These items are what interest us now. A music box and a watch enchanted by Francine are in the possession of two of our Hogwarts students. Guess who they are?

Since Pappy, as he goes by now, says he isn't sure of their significance. He may be hiding something. In general, we have to find out what those powers are. He is convinced that they will help Harry and Hermione fight Voldemort. But I believe it is possible that these items have a dual purpose which is to bring about Voldemort's destruction without regard for the children's well-being. Pappy was a very powerful young wizard when he left Hogwarts and was nearly destroyed emotionally with the death of Francine. I hope I am wrong.

"Any questions?" Dumbledore stopped and listened. There were none at the moment.

"Minerva observed Pappy for one day prior to revealing herself to him. What was your perception, Minerva?" Dumbledore asked.

"I don't see any evidence of malice toward Harry or Hermione. Quite the contrary, I find that he genuinely loves Harry and is looking out for both he and Hermione to a certain extent." Minerva replied.

"Does it seem possible that he could've `idden `isself for that `mount of time so close to Harry if he'd had it in for `im?" Hagrid said.

"I don't think that Pappy is a Death Eater, actually I think he hates all pure blood wizards. I think that he doesn't believe in the Ministry's ability to get rid of Voldemort. And, as much as he might love Harry and Hermione, he might be willing to sacrifice them for the satisfaction of killing Voldemort." Dumbledore posed.

Dumbledore was not prepared to reveal the prophecy to them. He felt that even Pappy knowing the prophecy was a reason to fear for Harry and Hermione. "Pappy has arranged that the destinies of these young people be merged inextricably with his through these gifts."

"Professor, he told me each of their gifts had a role that was to remind them of their love for one another." Minerva said. "He also acted very strangely when I asked him to tell me more. He would not. He just said, `the terror will come to pass soon.' And, `Tell Dumbledore the danger is closing in again.'"

"Tonks, can you watch Pappy and pop in on him over the next few days," Dumbledore asked? "You and he are Metamorphagi. You can alter your appearance enough to gather some information through several encounters. He is inherently a truthful man. He will not lie unless his heart has started toward the dark side from years of vengeance on his soul. And, maybe if I'm wrong, he won't lie at all? You are about the age of his wife when they were trying to conceive. Can you transform yourself into a pregnant woman?"

"I can do anything that doesn't involve changing the plumbing," Tonks said with a laugh. "I can look like a man, but surprise, surprise to anyone who spies in the loo," she trailed off as she continued to laugh.

Hagrid looked at Tonks with a perplexed look. "What she talking about, Professor?"

"Never mind, Hagrid. I need you to get them to show you the gifts they bought each other. I may have to have Lupin here ready to look at them." Dumbledore said absent-mindedly. "Well, we don't know what's going on, but Pappy seems to think it's happening soon. So I will make my decisions accordingly. I have nothing further unless you have questions."

"What about Harry and Hermione? Shouldn't they know something's coming?" Hagrid asked.

"I will try to prepare Harry and Hermione without causing alarm. There are things they need to know and others they don't. Don't reveal what you know with out checking with me first." Dumbledore cautioned.

Tonks and Hagrid left Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore discussing some private matters by his desk. As Hagrid was leaving the castle, he saw Professor McGonagall depart Dumbledore's chambers with a ruffled look on her face. Hagrid had to find a way to get them to bring their gifts to him or to go see them himself.

Classes seemed to fly by for both Harry and Hermione this year. If they were together, they excelled because they pushed each other. If they were apart, they excelled so that they could take a break and be together. Nothing was more satisfying to Harry and Hermione than to watch Snape have to grade Harry's work with top marks. They kept each other quiet in class and out of his angry sight. That alone made this year simpler than any other. "Hey great meeting last night Harry." Ron said in the hall one afternoon.

"Yeah, great job, Harry." Luna said as she took Ron's arm and marched off.

Harry looked at the two of them. He'd remembered Luna as being very strange, but these days she dressed differently, her hair had started to look well-kept, and she had experienced much of the same growth as Hermione. Harry had to admit, Ron was doing okay for himself. "Hey, sweetheart. You aren't thinking of trying to steal Luna from Ron now are you?" Hermione had just crossed the hall and watched the brief exchange. "Either, you were deep in thought about Ron or you were checking out Luna. Which was it?"

Harry was caught and he knew it. "Well, kinda both really. I mean you wanted the truth didn't you." Harry looked into Hermione's surprised face. "If I'd have lied you'd have punched me right away or I'd have had to find a better lie or go without you speaking to me for hours. Come on, you can't be mad at me." Harry was in trouble and he knew it.

"Harry, one thing you'll learn is that men are attractive when they have a wife or girlfriend, but they are not attractive if they're lusting after women in public." Hermione looked at him with her big brown eyes. "Case in point right here: You're busted for the later and the jury's still out if you still fall in the former category." She held back her smile. She'd just checked out how much more attractive Ron was when he smiled and walked with Luna. He no longer wore ratty runners on his feet or jeans with holes in them.

Harry's head sagged as he awaited the silent treatment. "I was just thinking how good they looked together and in the process I was admiring Luna and how she's changed. You can't really believe I'd lust after Luna if you were in the same country do you? You'd kill me and chop me up for potion ingredients. Is it that terrible that I found her more attractive than I remembered?" He was pleading for forgiveness.

Hermione felt bad. She had to tell him, "I was doing the same thing, but I was admiring how put together Ron looks now. She's got him all inspired. Don't worry about it. Just don't start admiring every sixth and seventh year." She tickled him. "There is one you can admire right now if you'd like." She smiled.

He put his arms around her waist, pulled her close and kissed her deeply. He didn't care who saw. She put her arms over his shoulders and returned his kiss. They didn't have any sense of time when they kissed like this. So being in public made it incredibly exciting for both of them. "Hey, get a room!" Seamus yelled as he walked by. "You two should be careful of the example you set for the younger kids." He laughed.

When they let go of each other and came back to reality, Hermione said, "I'm glad for Ron. Luna's got a different agenda. She's really kind of her own person." From Hermione that was a compliment.

Earlier that week, Harry and Hermione agreed that they needed to get more rest than they'd been getting, so they were spending less late nights on the tower and more time studying. Harry was satisfied with this arrangement as long as Hermione was with him. Their study had gone well today, even though Hermione didn't believe much in Divination as subject. She listened to Harry talk about the history of those who'd been famous for their prophecies. He explained that true prophecies with people talking in cryptic voices were relatively rare and that it was freakish that it occurred like it had when Trelawney predicted the escape of Wormtail. He knew she'd done it before, but thought better of telling Hermione.

"Most wizards or witches who see the future, see it in everyday objects and crystal balls. Others have prophesies they get from their dreams; they have an unusual capacity to see them for their truth and implications." Harry explained.

"Harry, I know that. I just think some who profess to see the fate of another or omens in every teacup are full of it. I've read the books. It's been a hundred years since there was a true clairvoyant at Hogwarts." Hermione reminded Harry.

"What if I told you some of what Pappy said seemed rather clairvoyant to me? He told me that I would go to Ron's in the second week of August after I clearly told him I'd go at the end of the month. What about that?" Harry said. "You've heard the other things."

"Harry, you said he was a muggle. Remember what Dumbledore said. He is a nice old man who heard a story and put himself in it to deal with his grief. Don't make it more than it is, Harry." Hermione intoned.

They studied for a while longer. Harry thought about Hermione's reasoning and looked long and hard at her. She was probably part right, but she didn't know about the prophecy. He knew of twice where reasonable prophecies were given by Professor Trelawney, but was it just a coincidence? He wasn't ready to agree totally. "Well, are you tired yet? I'm tired."

"Yea, I guess so. You still don't buy my explanation, do you?" Hermione asked with interest.

"I don't know. Pappy told me about how my life is here. You know, being different because everyone knows me by the scar. He looked at it once and understood its significance to me. I can't hide from those who know the story. It makes me a target. That's all I know. I don't want to try to convince you. It just seems more possible to me than you." Harry said with a consciously agreeable smile.

"I can accept that better than the hooey we got from Trelawney, the old fraud." Hermione said as she stood up.

They stood up at the table. Harry walked around it and took Hermione by the elbows and pulled her to him. Her hands fit his hips perfectly. He looked in her eyes. "I had a good time tonight, even if we didn't agree all the time." He smiled and kissed her softly three times and then one for the road-deep and passionate. He moved his hand to the nape of her neck and caressed it. He felt her relax.

"That was nice," Hermione said. "Maybe I'll hire you as a masseur." She smiled, grabbed her book bag, turned and rubbed her hand across his chest as he watched her leave.

Hermione was glad she had her jeans on. She was going to give him a show on the stairs. She knew he was watching.

He watched as he saw her jeans tighten to the form of her hips at each step. She looked back from the top. He blew her a kiss. She returned it.

He ran up the stairs and prepared for bed. He liked getting to sleep earlier, because Ron wasn't already making noises like a timber mill. He faded off into sweet oblivion after he checked the pocket watch to see Hermione's beautiful smile.

Ron returned to the dorm after everyone was asleep. He looked at Harry. He had never seen Harry asleep this early, this many times in a row. He looked at Harry's trunk and thought `I wonder if I could nick the Marauder's Map for a couple of days. Luna and I could find a place to be alone for awhile.' He opened the trunk quietly and nicked the map, sticking it in his book bag.

Ron crawled into bed after doing his nightly routine and fell asleep almost immediately. He was unaware of the danger in which he'd just put himself and his best friends.

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