Intervention
By FenrisWolf
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DISCLAIMER - Everything belongs to JK Rowling and her agents, nothing belongs to me - darn it!
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AUTHOR'S NOTE - Part One: ACK! I discovered a major chronological glitch involving the phases of the moon; seems the full moon falls on the same night as the slumber party in chapter nine. Fortunately it wasn't too hard to write around it, and when I load this chapter I'll delete and reload the others. You can go back and re-read it if you want, but it's no biggie.
Sorry this has taken so long to come out, but RL has been more annoying than usual lately; hopefully you won't be too disappointed with the results. I'm not 100% satisfied, but I don't want to hold off posting it any longer. Anyway, thanks again for your patience, and here goes nothing…
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Chapter Twelve - Understanding What's To Come
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The light shining down from the waning, gibbous moon awoke the couple from their doze, a light shiver running through their limbs from the chill that had crept into the night air. Harry pulled Hermione close to him, trying to share his warmth. "I guess we should think about heading back to the Burrow," he murmured after pressing a kiss into her hair.
"Mmmm," she replied, her tone inferring agreement, but made no move to disentangle herself from the embrace of her boyfriend. "I wish we could just stay here forever, don't you?" she continued, one of her hands stroking his muscular forearms where they wrapped around her bare waist. Her other hand she held out so she could admire the settings of her ring in the brilliant moonlight.
"We could, I suppose," he agreed, a touch of amusement in his voice. "We could probably get Dobby to sneak us food and drink from the Hogwarts kitchens. Of course we'd get kind of stinky after a while, but we'd be stinky together, so that's not so bad. In fact, I can see only one major obstacle."
He paused, and she twisted around and eyed him suspiciously. "And what obstacle is that, if I might ask?"
"Well, for one thing, if we stay here you won't get to see all the other girls turn absolutely green when they see your ring." he pointed out reasonable, and earning a poke in the ribs for his troubles. "Hey!" he objected.
"Serves you right," she huffed, pulling away from him a little but not yet ready to leave his arms. "You know very well I could care less what the other girls think. Their reactions are a matter of complete indifference to me," she finished haughtily.
"Oh, really?" Harry asked, amused doubt evident in his voice. "Then how about you look me in the eye and tell me that you're not looking forward to seeing the expression on, say, Cho Chang's face when you casually wave that under her nose."
To her credit, Hermione managed to control most of her reaction to Harry's teasing, but the heating of her ears gave her away to anyone who knew her. "Well, maybe just a little," she finally admitted.
"Good," Harry said firmly, "because I'm certainly going to be bragging about how bloody lucky I am to anyone who'll listen!"
"Harry Potter! Watch your language!" she scolded, though her smile took the sting out of it.
"Yes, mum," he chuckled, earning a swat on the arm.
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The next day was their last before returning to school, and from the moment he woke up to the sensation of Hermione's lips doing interesting things to his body, the time was spent making wonderful memories. They made slow, intimate love to one another, just savoring the reality that they were truly together. The afterglow was spent cuddling, with Hermione whispering soft endearments and gently wiping away the tears that were Harry's reply, understanding that there would always be times when the echoes of his years living in a cupboard would make it difficult for him to express his feelings.
Some time later, as they were exiting the shared morning shower that had become somewhat traditional, their movement towards the stairs was arrested by the opening of a beroom door ahead of them and the sound of giggles that accompanied it. Harry glanced down at his girlfriend, his eyes wide. "You don't think…?"
Hermione shushed him, and a moment later his question was answered as an extremely disheveled Ron exited his room with the arms of an even more rumpled Luna around his neck. He was too busy nibbling on her neck to notice his two friends watching him with almost identical smirks on their faces, but the blonde girl in his arms was under no such handicap. She giggled again as his lips found a particularly ticklish spot, and then in a calm tone of voice that was pure Lovegood, "Good morning, Harry, Hermione; did you sleep well?"
Ron's head snapped up as he flushed the trademark Weasley red. "Um, hi, guys," he mumbled.
Harry cocked an eyebrow. "So, you two finally…talk things over, then?" he asked, enjoying his friend's discomfiture.
"Uh, yeah," Ron started to reply, only to turn an even more brilliant shade of red as Luna interrupted, "We didn't talk terribly long, we were too busy having really great sex." She turned a quizzical eye at her boyfriend as a strangled sound escaped his lips. "Didn't you think so, Ronald? You certainly seemed to be enjoying yourself; but then, I did lose count after the fourth time."
Another voice joined the conversation as Ginny appeared in the door of her room. "Luna, you're one of my best friends, but I really don't need to hear the details of my brother's love life, at least not before breakfast."
Luna glanced back and forth between the youngest Weasley and her embarrassed boyfriend, her attention passing over the other couple snickering in the hall. "I suppose breakfast would be a good idea at that," she said cheerfully, slipping out of Ron's embrace and taking his hand. They do say it's the most important meal of the day, especially for one's stamina."
Hermione poked Harry in the ribs. "Hear that? No more picking at your food in the morning for you!"
Harry put on a look of mild affront. "I don't pick at my food," he declared. "It's just that next to Ron everyone looks like they have the appetite of a bird."
"Hey!"
"They have a point, Ron," his sister teased. "Even the house elves have to struggle to keep up with you," she finished, exaggerating only slightly.
"Can I help it if I have a…what did you call it, Hermione, a fast metal-bowl-sum?"
"Metabolism, Ron," Hermione clucked, her tone annoyed out of habit.
"Right, right, metabolism. Means I need to eat more, doesn't it?"
Hermione was about to make another biting comment when Harry spoke up. "Ron, remember Ludo Bagman?"
Ron looked puzzled at the change of subject. "Yeah, what about him?"
Harry smiled. "Just that he used to be just like you, foodwise; thin as a rail and eating everything in sight. Kept him playing professional Quidditch long after his schoolmates Then his metabolism slowed down, but his appetite didn't. I've seen the statistics, he went from 12 stone to 18 stone in less than a year, and his team cut him."
"So what's your point?" Ron grumbled, not liking the sudden focus on his eating habits.
"Just keep in mind that you won't be able to eat like this forever, and enjoy it while you can," Harry said with a shrug.
"Well, I would, if my friends would stop needling me about it," Ron huffed, his grumpy expression suddenly disappearing. "Luna!" he squeaked, jumping away from where she'd just pinched him on the arse.
"Don't worry, Ronald, I'll make sure you burn off any extra calories," she said dreamily.
Hermione glanced over and noted the somewhat wistful look on Ginny's face as she watched her brother's antics. Giving Harry's hand a squeeze she slipped over to where she was standing. "Are you okay with them, Gin?" she whispered, slipping an arm around her shoulders and giving the younger girl a hug.
"Hm?" Ginny replied a bit distractedly as she watched her brother and his girlfriend head downstairs. "Oh…yes, I'm happy for them, just like I am for you and Harry," she answered, trying to smile gamely. "I just wish there was someone who felt that way about me."
"I thought you were interested in Dean Thomas?" Hermione asked, remembering her comments on the train.
"Oh, I just said that to wind Ron up. Well, that, and he was looking like he was going to try and push me and Harry together. I figured I'd better scotch that before it got started." She looked up as Harry came over. "No offense, Harry, but I'd seen which way the wind was blowing in fourth year."
Harry cocked an eyebrow. "Was I really that blind?"
Ginny laughed as Hermione blushed. "Yeah, you were kind of dim, but that's okay, we girls pretty much expect that from you guys. That's why we're always reading those articles in Witch Weekly, looking for ways to strike a spark without being too obvious." Her smile turned wicked. "Of course, you were a special case; that's why we talked Hermione into throwing out subtle and going for a 'bludger to the head' approach."
"Ginny!" Hermione hissed, turning scarlet.
"What? It worked, didn't it? And I don't think Harry has any objections, do you, Harry?"
"Not a one," Harry confirmed, slipping his arms around Hermione's waist and kissing his blushing girlfriend on the top of the head. "Next time I'm being a blind prat, you feel free to be as obvious as you want, love," he said magnanimously.
Ginny's eyes went to where Hermione's hands had joined Harry's at her waist, and suddenly her eyes widened and she gasped as she caught the flash of facets on the third finger of Hermione's left hand. "OhmiGod! Hermione, let me see!" she squealed, reaching out and grabbing her sister's hand to get a better look. "Wow, that's some ring! Harry, did you pick this out yourself?"
Harry blushed a little and shrugged. "Nothing but the best for my Hermione," he said, earning a kiss from his fiancée.
"Well, you've got great taste," Ginny confirmed. "Did you go to Winton's for it? Aren't they fabulous?"
"Pretty amazing," Harry agreed. "Not only that, their heads are screwed on right."
"What do you mean, Harry?" Hermione asked, puzzled.
"I mean it takes more than a fancy name to impress them. While I was there I got to watch the Ferret being tossed out on his baby Death Eater arse for being obnoxious," Harry explained.
"Ooh, I wish I'd had a chance to see that," Hermione mused, missing it as Harry's expression briefly darkened.
"Trust me, be glad you didn't," he said. "And besides," he added a little more cheerfully, "if you'd been there, it would have spoiled the surprise."
"I suppose," she agreed, her voice colored with more than a touch of doubt.
Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of Molly Weasley's voice calling from below. "Ginny! Harry! Hermione! Come get your breakfast before someone here eats it all!"
"Mum, not you, too?" Ron's voice whinged from the kitchen.
Laughing, the three teens headed downstairs to rescue their sustenance from Ron's rapacious appetite.
Arriving in the kitchen, Ginny immediately returned to the previous topic. "Mum! Did you get to see it yet?" she asked, ignoring Hermione's shushing sounds.
"See what, dear?" Molly asked, turning from the stove in time to see Ginny grab and raise Hermione's left hand. "Oh, my! How exquisite!" She set the frying pan off the heat and bustled over, taking Hermione's hand and gently moving it until the sunlight from the kitchen windows sparked fire from the stones. "Goodness, what a beautiful ring!" She smiled approvingly at Harry. "I told you that Winton's would do you up proper, didn't I?" Turning to Hermione, she drew her into a warm hug. "Congratulations, dear, I'm sure the two of you will be very happy together."
"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione sniffed, and Molly's expression clouded over a bit.
"Hermione, dear…" she started, and then hesitated briefly before continuing. "I know I said some dreadful things to you, and while I know we've patched things up between us, I wouldn't blame you a bit if, deep down, you weren't still mad at me." She took a deep breath. "Even so, I would be deeply honored if you could bring yourself to…to call me Mum again."
Hermione's eyes teared up at Molly's words, and at the nervous expression on the older woman's face. "Are you sure, Mrs. Weasley?" she whispered. "Even after what I did, you still want me to call you Mum?"
"I've never been more certain of anything," Molly said firmly. "Besides, you know that as far as the Wizarding world is concerned, I am your mum in all but blood." An earnest look crossed her face as she continued, "I'm not trying to replace your real mother, dear; anyone who knows you can see that your parents did a wonderful job of raising you, but there will very likely be times when you need the advice of someone who grew up in the magical world. I would be so proud if you would think of me as that person, that is, if you can find it in your heart to forgive a foolish old woman her temper."
"You're not old…Mum," she replied as tears started down her cheeks, soon to be intermingled with Molly's as the Weasley matriarch drew her adopted daughter into her embrace. Over Hermione's shoulder she saw Harry mouthing "Thanks, Mum," to her, and then she focused her attention on the young woman in her arms.
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That evening an impromptu engagement party was held at the Burrow, with all the Weasley siblings (save one) putting in an appearance to wish their adopted kin well. On such short notice a great many people who would have liked to attend were unable to do so, but those that could more than made up the difference in boisterous gaiety, especially after Fred and George hauled out one of their Deluxe Gala Party Packs of Weasley's Whizbangs Fireworks. Huge colored starbursts, streamers, and comets illuminated the night sky over the Burrow in all the colors of the rainbow and a few extra that seemed have been invented especially for the occasion. For the finale the Twins persuaded Albus Dumbledore to set off an enormous rocket that turned into an incredibly lifelike Hungarian Horntail that swooped down over their heads, breathing sparks as if they were fire ("Got that idea from a Muggle fantasy novel," Fred explained). Bill showed up with Fleur Delacour in tow halfway through the display, and Charlie showed up just in time to compliment his brothers on the lifelike quality of their handiwork.
Remus and Tonks put in an appearance as well, the older werewolf still looking a little drawn from his most recent transformation. Tonks's squeal at the sight of Hermione's ring would have done justice to the giddiest residents of the Gryffindor's girl's dorm, and she spent a good part of the evening doing her best to make Remus squirm with deliberately over-the-top hints about how it was 'every woman's dream' to receive such a token from the man they loved. Unfortunately for her, she'd forgotten that she was keeping company with the last of the Marauders, and so was unprepared when he orchestrated a little surprise for her.
Tonks was sitting on the couch with Hermione, once again admiring her ring and loudly lamenting that in the risky profession of an Auror, it was unlikely she would live long enough to ever receive such a token from a man. No sooner had the words left her lips that Fred and George appeared before her, with matching grins that rapidly changed into looks of total adoration.
Fred was the first to move, dropping to one knee before the gobsmacked Auror. "Nymphadora, my love, make me the happiest man on earth!" he caroled, holding up before him a flashy monstrosity of a ring that was either a fake or was worth more than the famous Koh-I-Noor Diamond that was part of England's crown jewels.
Before she could speak George elbowed his brother out of the way. "Don't listen to him, my Nymph! Choose me, and I will shower you with riches!" he cried, holding up an exact duplicate of Fred's ring.
Tonks was clearly struggling to keep from exploding, whether from anger or laughter was anyone's guess, when Charlie Weasley, his dragonleathers freshly polished with scourgifying spells, dropped to his knee next to George, and in a voice roughened by the fumes from dragon's fire, said, "Tonks, beautiful Tonks, Aurora of the Aurors, ignore these callow youths and come away with me to the far mountains, where we will live in happiness and freedom!" A third copy of the same ring appeared in his hands.
The target of all these protestations of devotion was clearly losing the battle to maintain her composure when the final prong of the assault arrived. A slightly deeper Weasley voice joined the mix as Bill elbowed his was between Charlie and George. "Pay no attention to them, my purple-haired pixie of passion," he said in his most suave manner. "Be mine, and fill my nights with delight!" By now it was almost anticlimactic as a fourth copy of the ring appeared.
"What's this, what's this?" the mellow voice of Remus Lupin asked in mock affront as he appeared behind Tonks. "Is there something that perhaps I should know about, dear?"
The eccentric young auror (whose hair at the moment was, indeed, purple) grinned up at her lover and then, in a surprisingly sweet voice that surprised many of the people in the room, sang,
"So I want to warn you, laddies,
Tho' I know you're perfectly swell
That my heart belongs to Woofie!"
As the last word passed her lips Tonks reached behind her and snagged Remus's robes, eliciting a little yip of surprise from him as she yanked him over the back of the couch and tumbled him haphazardly into her arms. Before he could recover from his startlement her mouth was on his, and the whole room whistled, applauded and cheered as she proceeded to do her best to snog him senseless.
Ron and Luna were standing with their arms around each other's waists in the archway that led to the kitchen, watching the antics in the living room with smiles on their faces. The sound of someone clearing their throat caught their attention, and they turned to see Ron's mother looking at them with a happy smile on her face. She sniffled a little and then said, "I just wanted to tell you, Ron, and you, too, Luna dear, How very happy I am for the two of you. With everyone celebrating Harry and Hermione's Joining and engagement, well, I didn't want you two to think I was forgetting about you, and that yesterday was special for you as well."
Ron blushed the bright red of the Weasley complexion as Luna smiled widely, hugging her boyfriend closer to her. "Mum, you're not disappointed we didn't do the Bonding, too, are you? Because Luna and I, we're not…I mean, it's not that I don't, because I do, y'know, it's just…" He stumbled to halt as his girlfriend ended his rambling by kissing him on the cheek, and Molly smiled.
"No, dear, I'm not disappointed at all; I much prefer that my children take things one step at a time, so that they don't trip and make mistakes, rather than rush headlong into decisions that will change their lives." She sighed, her gaze wandering to the gardens where the newly affianced couple had gone for a walk to escape the Burrow's chaos for a while. "I would've wished that Harry and Hermione could have had that same chance, but their Joining is a special case." She shook her head. "Sometimes it seems that everything in Harry's life ends up somehow being a special case…"
Ron chuckled. "Well Mum, somehow I think this is one special case that Harry isn't going to be too upset about, if you know what I mean."
Luna's slightly hysterical giggles joined Molly's more mature laughter, with Ron swept up by the infectious nature of the sound, while out in the garden the objects of their happiness continued on, oblivious to everything but each other.
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Harry's arm was draped possessively around Hermione's shoulders as they wandered the paths of the Weasley's garden. "I can't believe we'll be headed back to school tomorrow," he murmured. "So much has changed in such a short time…in a good way," he added as he sensed the question she was hesitant to ask. "But it makes it seem like it's been years we've been away, not weeks, y'know?" He felt more than saw her nod and muttered, "I hate the idea that we have to give up sharing a room together; I've gotten rather used to waking up next to you…"
"We'll find some way to be together, Harry, " Hermione promised, trying to reassure her boyfriend. "I'm not sure just how, yet, but it'll work out, it has to." She hesitated, biting her lip. "And besides, you still have the Marauder's Map and your father's invisibility cloak, don't you?"
Harry stopped dead in his tracks and looked down at his girlfriend in mock surprise. "Why Miss Granger, you wouldn't be suggesting we break the rules, are you? And you a prefect? I'm shocked!"
"Only in a good cause, Mister Potter," she huffed, her voice assuming a haughty tone he could tell was false. "You do consider spending time with me to be a good cause, don't you?" she added teasingly, and at the same time far more seriously, as a touch of her old insecurities about their relationship crept into her voice.
"That's not a good cause for rule-breaking, that's the best cause," he replied, putting as much of his feelings for her into his voice as he could. Apparently she heard it, too, as she sighed and relaxed against him.
The last few weeks had been heaven, but she knew that their vacation from the problems that faced them was almost over. The same forces that had conspired to bring about Sirius's death were still out there, despite their silence over the summer. Voldemort was still out there; the loss of so many of his closest supporters might have temporarily crippled his plans, but it wouldn't have stopped them. There was no doubt in Hermione's mind that the Dark Lord would still consider Harry to be a major thorn in his side, even if he didn't know the full contents of the prophecy. Whatever else he had planned, Harry, and those close to him, would remain prime targets in his obsessive quest for power. The crippling burden that had been crushing Harry at the beginning of the summer still remained, the only difference was that now that she knew the truth, she could help him bear that burden.
Hermione also knew he wouldn't want her to risk herself for his sake, but Harry only thought he'd seen her stubborn streak in the past. If he thought she could be passionate about the lives and happiness of oppressed beings like the house elves, he would discover the order of magnitude difference that would surface when she displayed her passion for his life and happiness. He would emerge victorious over Voldemort, and she and he would go on to live a long and happy life together, one where he could finally heal from the wounds inflicted on his soul by being chosen by Fate to be the Boy Who Lived. No other outcome was acceptable.
Harry smiled as he felt her arms tighten around his waist. Sometimes he had a hard time remembering just what he had been going through a few short weeks before. Oh, the memories were intact, but the emotions, the great bleeding wounds that had been torn in his soul by Sirius's death and by what he felt was his responsibility for it, had begun to heal. There were scars, of course; new scars to add to the multitude that served as a roadmap to his past, from his earliest memories of going to sleep cold and hungry in the cupboard under the stairs to his feelings of anger and betrayal at Dumbledore when he finally told Harry the truth, but for the first time there was something to soothe those scars, to soothe the ache that rose in his heart when he thought about his life. The warm presence that was currently nestled against his side, and that had nestled herself within his heart. He still felt like a complete dunderhead when he thought of how oblivious he'd been to how much she meant to him, but at least he knew it now, and he would to whatever it took-whatever it took, to keep her safe. If that meant he had to find the way to rid the world of Tom Riddle once and for all, and throw every one of his surviving minions into the deepest pit in Azkaban prison, well, he hoped Tom had his last will and testament filled out and ready to go.
They reached the arbor at the far side of the Weasleys' garden, the one that just coincidentally was positioned to give anyone sitting within it a bit of privacy from their surroundings. Hermione didn't have to tug very hard on Harry's hand to persuade his to sit for a bit as she settled into his lap. After a bit of tender kissing that never quite descended into full-blown snogging she leaned her head on his shoulder, enjoying the peace and quiet, the faint scent of night-blooming flowers, the slight chill of the evening air, and the comforting warmth radiating from the young man whose arms encircled her waist.
She stiffened slightly as a brief spike in the noise coming from the Burrow told her that a door had opened and closed, and shortly thereafter the sound of soft footsteps on the gravel path told the young lovers that someone was approaching. A moment later the figure of Albus Dumbledore came into sight around the corner of the hedge that helped shelter the arbor from prying eyes. "Ah, Harry, Hermione, there you are! I did hope to find you alone; might I interrupt your evening for a brief word?" He saw the brief look of irritation that crossed both his students' faces at his intrusion and smiled, his eyes twinkling merrily. "I promise you, it will be a welcome intrusion."
Harry glanced at his fiancée and, seeing the agreement in her eyes, nodded at the headmaster. "I suppose a few minutes won't matter," he said, his tone cool. His feelings towards Dumbledore were still wildly ambivalent, whipsawing at times between gratitude and resentment for all the old wizard had done. The rational, logical part of his mind, the part that most often spoke with Hermione's voice, accepted that everything the headmaster had done had been done with the best of intentions for the wizarding world at large. However, the voice of his emotions, the one that sounded like himself, and on occasion like Ron, was fond of pointing out which road was paved with good intentions, feeding the lingering resentment he felt for the perceived manipulation of his life. At the moment that voice was the louder of the two, and it was only the comforting presence of Hermione at his side that kept him from openly glowering at the wizard who was the closest thing to a grandfather he'd ever known.
The object of his mixed feelings led the way back towards the Burrow, and then surprised the young lovers by turning aside at the last moment and moving instead to Arthur Weasley's shed and its somewhat infamous collection of Muggle artifacts. Once inside the professor magically expanded the small bit of uncluttered floor space and then conjured several comfortable, overstuffed chairs before casting silencing and locking charms on the doors and walls. "Now then," he said amiably as he took one chair and Harry and Hermione shared another, "we can talk without fear of being disturbed or overheard.
"First of all, allow me to reiterate my earlier congratulations to you both on your engagement. I can tell that it has only strengthened and deepened the bond you share, one that is, frankly, remarkable even within the Wizarding world," he said with a smile as the young couple blushed. "Second, on a somewhat more serious note, I'm quite certain it will come as no surprise to either of you that the blood protections that protected Harry at his relatives' home have now completely collapsed, or perhaps it would be more accurate to say, have transferred and integrated themselves with the wards surrounding the Burrow."
A small frown appeared on Harry's face. "Does that mean the Dursleys are defenseless now? That the Death Eaters can just waltz in and kill them if they want?"
"Would that bother you, Harry?" Dumbledore asked, his expression unreadable as he answered Harry's question with one of his own. "Given their treatment of you in the past, very few people would blame you if you were indifferent to their fate."
Harry shrugged uncomfortably. "Just because I don't like someone doesn't mean I want them dead," he replied. "I mean, sure, Uncle Vernon and Dudley are about as unlikable as two people can get, and Aunt Petunia's no prize either…but she's still my mum's sister. So, yeah, it would bother me if they were killed just because they were related to me." The last words came out more bitter than he'd intended, but the dark expression on his face faded as Hermione squeezed his hand.
Dumbledore nodded, his expression more open and approving now that Harry had answered him. "You will be glad to know, then, that the Order has no intention of withdrawing its protections from your relatives, now or in the foreseeable future. The blood wards, of course, cannot be restored, nor would I suggest it even if it were possible, but the protections that guarded them while you were away at school each year will remain in place." He paused in thought, and then nodded. "And while I will not reveal any of the particulars involved, I will attempt to find some means to allow Tom's agents 'discover' that you have left your relatives' home for good. I believe that will be enough to ensure their ongoing safety, insofar as anyone can be deemed to be safe in these times."
Harry just nodded, and Hermione picked up the thread of the conversation. "Was that all you wanted to talk to us about, Professor?"
The headmaster's eyes twinkled a bit brighter as he shook his head. "No, Miss Granger, it is not…I wonder, would you mind terribly if I addressed you by your Christian name? It feels somewhat odd to do so for Harry and at the same time remain on such…formal terms where you are concerned."
"That would be fine, Professor," she replied, blushing a bit.
"Ah, thank you for the courtesy; I assure you, it is fully appreciated. To answer your question, Hermione, I have been able to ascertain some of the answers to the questions raised by the Weasley's family wards, and while much remains to be discovered, what I have learned, combined with the developments between yourself and Harry over the summer, made it imperative that I talk to the both of you before your return to Hogwarts."
Harry and Hermione both perked up at his words. They had both felt the power of the wards as the magic of the Heart Circle enveloped them, and Hermione at least had suspicions about some of the after-effects of being connected to such powerful and ancient enchantments. As for Harry, his awareness of the wards was far more instinctual in nature. The feeling of security and of acceptance that had always washed over him while staying at the Burrow had become far stronger after the Bonding Hermione had performed, and those feelings had only intensified when they had reaffirmed their commitment with the Joining.
Hermione was the first to speak, voicing the question that was paramount in both her and Harry's minds. "Are the wards at the Burrow going to be strong enough to replace the protections he had with the Dursleys, Professor?"
"I believe there is very little doubt that they will perform in that manner admirably," the headmaster confirmed. "However, as I suspected, there is far more involved in the Weasley family wards than mere protection. I am quite certain, Hermione, that you will find that whether by chance or intuition, what you accomplished with the Bonding will have far-reaching ramifications for both you and Harry."
Steepling his fingers under his chin, the professor elaborated, "I believe I mentioned at our earlier meeting that the Weasley bloodline's occupation of the Burrow's environs stretched back to Anglo-Saxon times, well over 1500 years ago, and it was in part this unbroken line that accounted for the strength and complexity of the wards surrounding their lands?" He paused long enough for Harry and Hermione to nod, and then continued. "I have since learned that my supposition was not entirely accurate. The Anglo-Saxon lineage of the Weasleys does indeed extend to those times, but they did not simply take over abandoned or empty land, nor did they usurp it from its rightful owners. Rather they married into the family that already lived here, one whose oral traditions spoke of a bloodline reaching back to the Beaker people and beyond, to the witches and wizards who raised the great stone circles such as Avebury and Stonehenge."
"Mrs. Weasley never mentioned that," Hermione interjected. "She told me that the wards on the land were very old, but I just assumed that the family found the Heart Circle when they moved here and used it as the focus when they set up their own wards."
"No doubt that is the case with a great many Pureblood families," Dumbledore agreed, still smiling. "For example, the Malfoys only arrived in this country as part of the Norman forces of William the Conqueror, and I seriously doubt that the Saxon family whose lands they stole ever welcomed them into the fold. However, between what Arthur was able to tell me and what the wards would allow me as a non-Weasley to determine, I would estimate that the lineage extends back at least 4000 years, quite remarkable, really," he concluded in a truly magnificent example of the art of understatement.
Something about the way Dumbledore worded his explanation caught Harry's attention. "Professor? It sounds like, uh, from the way you're wording it, that the wards are, well, alive," he finished lamely, somewhat embarrassed when he realized just how crazy he sounded.
His embarrassment vanished, however, when the professor nodded his head. "That is quite correct, Harry, though perhaps the term should be aware rather than alive. Any magical construct that exists for a great enough length of time tends to become 'aware' as the magic with which it is imbued evolves. You've both experienced the Sorting Hat of Hogwarts, and I'm sure, felt the presence that resides within the fabric of Hogwarts itself. The Room of Requirement is just one of the ways the school demonstrates its awareness of the needs of its inhabitants."
The headmaster frowned slightly. "Unfortunately, the school also suffers from a certain amount of…ambiguity as to purpose at times. The Founders each had their own vision as to what the school should be to its inhabitants, hence the four houses. Most of the time the differences between the houses complement one another, much like a team-of-four pulling a carriage. But occasionally the intentions of the Founders become at cross purposes to one another, and until some external force tips the balance, the school, for the lack of a better term…dithers. It is at those times that the school's inhabitants are most vulnerable to corruption and divisiveness, if not outright attack. Until such time as those of us who are part of Hogwarts are able to re-establish a consensus, the school's metaphorical hands are tied."
"That's how that woman was able to gain control, wasn't it?" Hermione asked, making the connection while at the same time continuing her habit of never uttering Umbridge's name. "Tom's actions as the Heir of Slytherin must have strained the Founders' alliance; that's why the Sorting Hat keeps singing about restoring unity between the houses. It's speaking for the school!"
"Very good, Hermione," Dumbledore twinkled as she blushed. "If we were at Hogwarts I would say take 20 points for Gryffindor, but as we are not, my approbation will have to suffice." He leaned back into his chair, his expression a bit more serious though the twinkle that was almost his trademark did not fade. "Now with that as a basis, I believe I can explain some of what has happened as far as the Burrow's wards are concerned.
"As you have both suspected, the wards at the Burrow are indeed aware of their charges, and what is more, aware of their purpose, or perhaps I should say, purposes." He nodded as Hermione's attention perked up at his choice of wording. "The witches and wizards who cast the original wards were exceedingly clever, and since the line has remained unbroken, and each generation has enforced and enhanced them, the original intent has remained in place."
He paused again, and Harry round himself growing irritated at the professor's continuing procrastination. Besides, five years of being forced to listen to Professor Binns' mind-numbing lectures had left him more than a little impatient with anything that smacked of pedantic long-windedness. "Professor, please, what exactly do the wards do?"
"Quite right, Harry; I tend to forget that not everyone shares my passion for the intricacies of ancient enchantments. One final bit of history behind how the wards came to be, and then I will explain what I have gleaned of their construction.
"At the time the Weasley's Heart Circle was erected and the wards were created, the island that was to become Great Britain was the home of numerous different, and often antagonistic, ethnic groups, those that Muggle archaeologists would identify by names such as Picts, Celts, Aryans, Beaker people, Paleolithic hunter-gatherers and Neolithic farmers, all competing for land and resources, and in the midst of it all ,the ancestors of out own Wizarding world who were almost as culturally divided as the Muggles were.
"Whoever settled on this land realized this, and was wise enough to recognize that it was likely that some of these groups would intermarry, bringing their differing cultures in close proximity and possible conflict. So they set up an additional function to those portions of the wards that were concerned with admitting new members into the 'family'" The professor paused, his piercing gaze fixing on the young woman before him as he continued.
"Hermione, when you performed the Bonding, you triggered that function. Unions such as yours and Harry's were often intended to cement alliances, but with magical couples, friction between the handfasted couple could degrade, even fracture the wards. So the wards encourage understanding between the Bonded couple, by making the Bond an empathic one as well as a magical one."
Harry had to think for a minute before the term clicked in his head. Not surprisingly, it was something that Hermione had said about understanding the plight of the house elves that he remembered. "So, it's supposed to make it easier to understand what your partner is feeling?" he asked. "Seems kind of trivial…"
Professor Dumbledore opened his mouth to answer, but was interrupted by a tsking sound from Hermione. "Harry, think about it; suppose, say, for some reason the Weasleys and a family like the Malfoys had to form an alliance. Can you imagine what would happen if Draco and Ginny were forced to marry?"
"You mean before or after Ginny performed a double orchidectomy on the Ferret?" Harry snickered.
Hermione gave him a quick slap on the shoulder. "I'm serious! Without some common ground, they'd be miserable at best, always at each other's throat….not a very promising start for any marriage, but for one with the pressures of a family alliance as well? It really is a clever idea, at least on the surface." Her own face took on a doubtful look. "I'm just not sure why this would be so important to us; we understand each other pretty well, not like it would be if I'd Bonded with, say, Ron…" she shuddered and the professor took the opportunity to seize the helm of the conversation.
"Once again, there seems to be a great many hidden layers to the wards, many of which refuse to reveal themselves to someone not of the family, but from what I am able to determine, the bond forged by and with the wards will, I suppose the best term is, encourage you to enhance each other's strengths, as well as draw from one another to overcome your own weaknesses."
Hermione bristled slightly at the veiled suggestion behind Dumbledore's words, but before she could respond Harry asked her question for her. "Can you give us some examples of what you're talking about?"
"I believe so, Harry," Dumbledore nodded. "These are extremely broad generalizations, of course, but they should convey my meaning. You, Harry, are a powerful wizard whose instinctive grasp of complex magics is, quite frankly, remarkable. You were able to learn how to conjure a corporeal Patronus in your third year, a skill whose necessity in the upcoming war can hardly be overstated. Not only that, but you have been able to impart your knowledge to fellow students. What you may not realize is just how rare a skill that is; only a fraction of fully trained Aurors ever masters it, certainly a lower percentage than you achieved in the DA. Yet you find yourself struggling with the simplest spells most First or Second Year students learn quite easily. Only by availing yourself of Hermione's discipline were you able to master those basic charms that have more than once saved your life."
Harry found himself nodding as well; on more than one occasion he'd been frustrated by the difficulty he had performing simple charms and spells, especially when compared with the ease others came to him, especially in life-or-death situations. 'Nothing like having the most evil wizard in the world trying to kill you to sharpen your skills,' he thought with a certain amount of irony. To Dumbledore he said, "Do you have any idea why that is, sir?"
"I have my suspicions, but they are not relevant to our current conversation," the headmaster replied. "However, I would be greatly surprised if one of the side effects of the empathic nature of the Bonding was not a marked increase in your ability to focus on your academic efforts, without the need of this young lady to, what was it Mr. Weasley said, 'browbeat' you into applying yourself to your work." He chuckled as the young couple blushed before laughing themselves.
"That explains what I get out of it," Harry said after their laughter died down, "But it seems kind of one-sided; I don't see how Hermione gets anything in return." He shrugged depreciatingly as his girlfriend tried to voice her objections. "Let's face it, Hermione, I'm nowhere near as smart as you; I probably wouldn't have even managed an 'A' on half my OWLs if not for your help."
"Now you listen to me, Harry Potter!" Hermione answered him sternly. "What I told you our first year is just a true today as it was then; there's more to being a great wizard than books and cleverness; you're a far greater wizard than I'll ever be, and I don't want to hear you putting yourself down again, do you hear me?"
Harry started to shake his head doubtfully, but was interrupted by Dumbledore clearing his throat. "I would listen to what your fiancée has to say, Harry; while I hesitate to say anything critical of her accomplishments, Hermione does suffer the vices of her virtues, as do we all. Certainly there is much she can gain from being joined with you." When Harry continued to look unconvinced, he continued, his attention shifting to the young woman at Harry side. "You already seem to be aware of some of this, Hermione; a tendency, perhaps, to be at times too sure of your convictions?"
Hermione blushed as she nodded before turning her gaze back to her fiancé. "It's true, Harry, you know it is; I do have strong convictions, and am not afraid to back them up with actions. I'm not ashamed of that, but sometimes I forget that other people can have equally strong beliefs that are just as valid as mine, even if I'm too stubborn to admit it." Harry frowned and started to open his mouth before she shushed him. "When you saw how Dobby was being treated, you didn't make up buttons or petitions, or come up with wild, impractical plans to change the face of the world overnight, you just found a way to free him from the Malfoys. You did what needed to be done, right then, to help someone you cared about." She shook her head and blushed a little. "If it had been me, he'd probably still be their slave, not because I cared any less, but because I would've just charged ahead, full of righteous indignation, and not accomplished a thing."
Before they could become deeper involved in their discussion, Dumbledore interrupted. "In time I am sure the two of you will find a great many ways in which you complement each other. That is the way in which it works in all solid relationships. However, there is one other facet that should be addressed, one that is unique to your situation." He looked at Harry expectantly.
Harry's cheerful demeanor darkened immediately. "Voldemort," he said, his tone flat and bitter.
"Precisely, Harry; one of the greatest concerns facing you has been the connection that was forged between the two of you the night he gave you that scar, and Tom's ability to use that connection to exert influence over you. I cannot tell you how relieved I was when you demonstrated that the Bond formed between you and Hermione is providing you with some protection, but I wished to determine as much as possible about that protection's nature before discussing any further plans with you. Fortunately Arthur was able to shed some light on the matter, and with his cooperation I was able to discern even more from the wards themselves.
"As Hermione suspected, the wards do indeed act to protect you from Tom's efforts to manipulate you. My first belief was that it was a simple matter of protection against one more form of attack, but it seems there is more to it than that. From their reactions to my own investigations, I would say that the wards are inclined to resent any attempts by those they do not recognize as part of the family to intrude on their charges. Only the benign nature of my investigations prevented them from responding more forcibly to my own inquiries, and I daresay that Tom would fare even more poorly should he once again try to control you, especially while you are within the family wards."
Harry considered the professor's words for a moment. "Does that mean I don't have to study Occlumency any more?" he asked, seeing a possible escape from the punishing sessions inflicted on him by the potions master, but to his disappointment Dumbledore shook his head.
"While I believe the Bonding will continue to provide you some protection from the link that was forged between yourself and Tom, the nature of your role in the upcoming struggle makes your mastering of Occlumency a continuing priority," the professor replied, and then smiled. "However, I do believe it will now be possible to take up your education myself, so long as the link between yourself and Hermione continues to shield you from Tom's efforts. Which brings us at last to the real reason I asked to have this chat with you." Dumbledore paused in a manner recognizable to those familiar with his penchant for the dramatic. "Have you and Hermione given any thought to your living arrangements upon your return to Hogwarts?"
The young couple glanced at each other and blushed; they'd enjoyed sharing a room (and a bed) at the Burrow, but had already resigned themselves to being separated on their return to school. The last thing they had expected was for the headmaster to so bluntly discuss such a delicate matter with them. "We figured we'd be back in our dorms as usual," Harry admitted after a moment. "We know the only students who get private quarters are the Head Boy and Girl, and even they have separate rooms," Hermione added.
"That is essentially, but not absolutely, correct," Dumbledore replied. "Hogwarts has existed for many hundreds of years and while customs have changed over the centuries, the rules governing the school have not." At his students' puzzled looks he continued, "There was a time when Bonded, handfasted and married couples were a far more common occurrence among the later year students than they are now. And while it has been some eighty years since the last such couple attended the school, the rules have never changed. Students in a formalized relationship are granted accommodations commensurate with their status. In your case, the fact that you share the same House simplifies matters immensely. I have already instructed the house elves to make the necessary changes, and you will find the accommodations waiting for you after the Sorting Feast."
"Huh?" Harry said, puzzled, before his attention was distracted by Hermione's happy squeal. He watched in amazement as she jumped up and hugged the headmaster, and for the first time he could remember saw the old wizard actually look flustered when she kissed him on the cheek.
"Thank you, thank you, Professor!" she cried before turning and flinging her arms around Harry's neck. "Don't you understand, Harry? We get out own chambers! We don't have to be separated!"
Harry's expression was decidedly stunned as he unconsciously settled Hermione in his lap. He'd already resigned himself to prolonged periods when he and Hermione would be unable to be together, so to have all his hopes on the matter suddenly granted was more than a little bit of a shock. "Are you sure about this, Professor? The Board of Regents or the Ministry won't kick up a fuss?"
"Whether they do or not, and the likelihood at his time is definitely not, the opinions of the Regents or the Ministry are irrelevant on this matter. Hogwarts policy on such unions is set down in the school's charter, and is binding on all official representatives of the school." He smiled as Harry's expression transformed into one that matched his fiancée's for pure happiness. "In this, at least, you will not have to worry. Concentrate on exploring and strengthening the Bond that joins you together, and as you do so, know that Hogwarts will support and defend your right to do so."
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FIN
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AUTHOR'S NOTE - Part Two: There you have it, the conclusion to 'Intervention', a long way from the 5000 or so words I originally envisioned for this work. This, however, is only Part One. Part Two will continue after I take a hopefully short hiatus from posting to work out some plot elements. It took me close to 80,000 words to cover the last few weeks of summer, the gods alone know what'll happen if I don't frame the next part out better beforehand.
Thanks again to everyone who has reviewed, from the insightful to the just plain flattering. It's the reviews from appreciate readers that are the real lifeblood of fanfic.
~Fenris~
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AUTHOR'S NOTE - Part Two
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