Johnny turned the metal knob on the door and slightly moved the door ajar. The door creaked as it opened to reveal a hallway. The house looked warm and inviting, the sun shone inside which caused the natural light to lighten up all the rooms considerably. The house was so quiet Johnny felt as if his own breath was deafening, but considering they were supposed to meet someone here it seemed too quiet.
Johnny tried to imagine growing up here, going down this hallway to catch the bus every day, but his mind turned up a blank.
"Hello? Mr. and Mrs. Potter?" Greg Winter called out into the big house from behind Johnny.
"Greg!"
"What?"
"The Principal at Johnny's old school said we were to meet one person here, what if they're divorced?"
"You're the brains of this outfit, I'm just pretty..." He whispered to his wife.
They stood there for a moment, then deciding not to stand out in the cold anymore they walked in and found their way to the living room.
"Johnny," Eve whispered, "There's no TV."
This seemed to be troubling the girl, and not the fact that they were in someone else's home while it seemed no one was home.
"I'm sure it's just in another room." Johnny said as they sat down.
They sat in silence for a while until the sound of footsteps startled them. All eyes were turned to the doorway, none of them speaking, as the noise got louder and louder.
A young girl, around Johnny's age, was walking across the doorway with a book in her hand. She dropped her book and gasped once she saw them.
"We're sorry, we were looking for the person that lives here, we were supposed to-"
"I live here..." She said never taking her eyes off Johnny.
Johnny didn't know what to do; this girl was burning holes through him with the intensity of her stare.
"We mean the adult." Greg said. He wanted to ask her who she was, but considering she lived here he guessed she was his son's sister. That thought made his heart sink into his stomach. His son was no longer his own, he was their son; he was never more jealous of anyone in his entire life.
"I'm the only one who lives here... Harry..." Her eyes began to water, and without any warning she practically ran and hugged him tightly.
"I know how weird this seems, but you were dead, and now you're here and I just have to." the girl said in-between sobs.
Johnny patted her back and tried to stop her from crying but it was all in vain. Her sobs slowly subsided and she backed away visually stopping herself from hugging him further.
"I hate to be the jerk here, but we were given very little information, just that this was Johnny's home and the person who lived her could help us."
"That's exactly what Professor Dumbledore would do. This is Harry's home, and I've been instructed that I am to help return his memory in any way I can, within reason of course."
"Within reason? Why don't I trust that? What do you mean 'within reason?'" Greg asked and was promptly kicked in the shin by his wife.
"Everyone has their secrets. I will not compromise what I know is best, for a curious mind," She said.
"Are you Johnny's sister?" Melissa asked sweetly.
The girl laughed and shook her head, "My name is Hermione Granger. Harry and I go to school together."
"So you're my friend?" Johnny asked.
"Best friend, yes."
"What's my best friend doing in my house? I'm sorry, I guess I just expected my mum or dad."
Hermione's eyes went to the floor.
"Of course you haven't been told... Harry, your parents are dead."
Johnny felt numb, "They're dead?"
"Yes, they died... Your guardian is in the hospital right now; he has a chronic illness... I'm so sorry Harry,"
"I feel really stupid, I always thought they were alive..."
"I can show you around if you like."
Johnny was floored by her. She didn't try to get him to talk about what was bothering him, but tried to give him a tour of his own house.
He had to admit he didn't want to talk about any of it, but did she know that was what he wanted?
After the tour they were assured they were allowed to go everywhere in the house save the basement and the library.
Johnny knocked lightly on the door and waited for a few seconds before it opened and Hermione smiled for him to come in.
"Hello." He said because he simply didn't know what else to say.
"Hi." she said as she sat on her bed and patted for him to join her.
"I'm not allowed to sit on a girl's bed unless it's my sisters." He said sheepishly.
"Your parents are great." She got up and sat on a chair near the fire and motioned for him to follow.
"That's not the response I would have thought..."
"Lilly and James Potter would have liked them, they would have liked them because they are able to give you something they can't anymore."
She paused and turned to face the fire, wiped something from her cheek and looked to him again.
"How did they die?"
"They were killed when you were one."
Johnny asked, "Who killed them?"
"A very bad man... An evil man. They died saving your life."
Johnny tried not to cry and rolled his eyes.
"Don't you dare think it wasn't worth it."
Her words startled him; he wondered how she could have known what he was thinking for the second time that day.
"Harry, I know all of this must be... exhausting, but I also know you, you wont rest until you know all you can."
"What about the stuff you aren't allowed to tell me, if you know I wont rest-"
"It's what's best for you."
"How would you know what's best for me?" Johnny felt the anger flair within him, "You don't know what it's like to feel like this!"
"I may not know how it feels, but I'm the only one in this house that knows you."
"I may not remember my past, but that doesn't mean I don't who I am inside."
"Harry," She said calmly which infuriated him further, "You ride a skateboard, right?"
"Yes." He said through gritted teeth.
"And when you're doing a trick or whatever they're called, and you're in the air you feel free, feel as if there is no world, just you and the wind... Am I right."
"Yes." He said still not unclenching his jaw.
"You may think you're aware of who you are but let me be the first to set things straight; you don't know anything, at this moment I know you better than you know yourself."
"I... I just want to learn everything I can, it's infuriating that you know exactly what I want to know and wont say a word."
Hermione smiled, "Welcome back Harry Potter."
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