Thank you for all the reviews! We broke a hundred! I am so thrilled!
Disclaimer: I must admit the world of Harry Potter is not my own creation. I'm just here on vacation.
Chapter 18
Witches Unite!
Over the weekend, Harry and Hermione met with the Historian, Mr. Hogswiddle who was very similar in temperament to their own librarian, Madame Pince. He seemed rather put out to step away from his own personal research to deal with students so they got his permission to research and hurriedly moved out of his way. Harry groaned at Hermione as she pulled book after enormous book from the shelves and piled them towering high in his arms. It was a wonderful clear day outside and after all the drama of the past few days, he was itching to hit the Pitch and fly. If Ron had been here the two of them would have ganged up on poor Hermione until she would have shoo'd them out just to get them out of her hair. Not a chance now, thought Harry.
She looked up at Harry with a soft smile then pulled open a book and started to read. His stomach would lurch and he would almost stop breathing when she looked at him that way. Her smile made him grin widely in response then he settled back into the chair to pretend he was reading all the while just sitting there and admiring her. He didn't get too many opportunities to watch her, and when he could get her to smile at him like that, he felt like a million galleons.
After three hours of Hermione working hard taking notes and Harry daydreaming, she broke up the study session and stretched. Hermione reached over and turned Harry's crumpled parchments so she could read what notes he had taken. He had barely covered the page with scribbles of questions with no answers. He had written, "Time…hole? Rift? …followed by a funny charmed sketch of Harry on his broom playing Quidditch where he kept falling off. She turned the page and laughed at his drawing of Ron and a spelled spider that kept falling on Ron's head and making the stick-figure Ron fall to pieces. She started to shake her head at him until the third page turned to reveal a very sweet drawing of Hermione herself studying. As a curl would fall over her cheek, she'd push it behind her ear, and wrinkle up her nose in concentration. It was surprisingly well done and she couldn't help but kiss his cheek making him blush.
"Come on, beautiful. Are you ready for some lunch? We have to go to the Tower to eat, and I'm starving." Harry tried to hide his reddened cheeks as he pulled her away from the table into a kiss. Harry didn't want everyone to know he was a hopeless romantic. He was just lucky Ron hadn't seen it. Well, couldn't see it because he hadn't even been born yet. Harry thought. Hermione smiled sweetly and leaned in for a soft kiss.
"Students will not fraternize in such a manner! Twenty points from Gryffindor for such ill-mannered behavior!" The historian was beside himself in red-faced anger. Harry and Hermione broke apart aghast at his loud reprimand and quickly fled the room.
"Some things never change, do they`Mione?" Harry snorted as they crossed the doorway into the Common Room.
"I guess they are a lot stricter with students these days. I suppose you'll just have to keep your hands to yourself, Mr. Potter." She giggled as she broke free from his grip and twirled away playfully.
"We can lose all the points they've got! I don't care if they lose the next five House Cups! We're not even born for over a century!" He leered at her menacingly then pounced over the couch to grab her in a giggling hug.
"Yes, Mr. Potter, but there are those of us who would turn you into a gibbering flower pot if you contrived to cost us this years' House Cup." Dumbledore had come in through the door quietly and was standing by the couch pretending not to notice them giggling on the floor.
"Urm. Sorry." Harry said muffled by Hermione's hair in his face.
"May I help you arise, Miss Granger?" Dumbledore held out his hand and pretended not to notice the other boy on the floor.
"You wouldn't turn me into a flower pot, would you, Buzzy?" Hermione smiled up at the young man through her lashes while giving him a sweet pout. Dumbledore turned a little pink in the face.
"Of course not, Miss Granger. How could you even think such a thing?" The Head boy blinked and smiled down at the girl who had reached up to take his hand. Harry snorted and pushed himself up from the floor on his own. He and Dumbledore were pretty equal in size and Harry stood back and frowned as he saw Hermione's hand in the other boy's. Who knew Hermione could flirt like that?
Dumbledore pulled Hermione's arm through his as he led her to the side chamber where their meal was already set. Harry harrumphed as he sat down and frowned again as he saw `Buzzy' pull out the chair and laid her napkin across her lap. Harry grabbed his own plate and started to fill it to overflowing.
Dumbledore leaned back in the chair after finishing a meal to rival Ron Weasley and leaned forward onto the table.
"Miss Granger, Hermione if I may, I'd love to have you tell me a little about, well…myself, if you would. The thought that you know me so well in the future has truly pushed all else from my mind. Can you give me just a few ideas of what kind of an old codger I have become?"
Harry grinned at the twinkle in Dumbledore's eye and couldn't help but think about how much this young man will lead the destiny of so many in the future. For Harry, Dumbledore had become more like family. An almost grandfather, if you will. To see such an esteemed figure lean his left elbow into a small boat of gravy made Harry feel just a little off-kilter.
Hermione paused thoughtfully, "Well, I can tell you that you are a powerful wizard, which of course you already know. I can say you have an idiotic sense of humor and an unusual requirement for sugar which is currently apparent by your eating three enormous helpings of pudding. I really don't know a huge amount about you personally, like if you married or have kids or anything, but I can tell you that you are kind, generous, and good. And you always lead against Evil and help those less fortunate than yourself." Hermione remembered his kindnesses to the house-elves and all the great things he had done for students muggle-born or not in the past.
"Thank you. That's a lot to live up to." Dumbledore leaned back quietly and studied Harry who was seated across the table.
"You however, have something against me, from what I can tell. Did I hurt you or cause you harm in some way in the future?" The older boy questioned seriously.
Harry didn't know what to say. Dumbledore was both father figure and confidant who in the end had failed somewhat with both. By keeping him at the Dursleys he broke Harry's faith and trust; and by keeping secrets Harry had learned to keep some of his own.
Harry looked at the young man very seriously. After a moments hesitation he looked him full in the eye and smiled slightly. "You have done nothing wrong other than possibly letting me get away with a few things. You have become someone I turn to in times of need. You are what the history books call a good man and a good wizard."
Dumbledore seemed humbled by his words and he stood up quickly to hide suspicious wetness around his eyes.
"You both need to get out of here today. It's beautiful outside." He spoke gruffly and left the room after bowing before Hermione.
"That truly is the measure of a man. To have lived for over a century and to be considered good. I wonder what will be said of us, Harry?" She smiled at her boyfriend who was quietly smiling to himself.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Monday after their first double class, Hermione in Etiquette and Harry in Design; they found themselves together both trudging up the stairs to have lunch in the tower. Harry looked overwhelmed with books stacked six deep in his arms while Hermione mumbled under her breath about, `can't you stand straighter, Miss Granger, and surely you can spell the table set Miss Granger…'
Harry grinned to finally see Hermione upset about a class. The last time she thought a class was bollocks she told off the Divination Professor and had stormed out. He didn't think that would work this day and age. Knowing what he knew now about Filch's family tree, he wouldn't suggest anything that required `detention' in this time.
"It's weird how much everything seems the same. You'd think after one hundred and fifty some-odd years more things would have evolved. Apparently `Design' class is your old style Arithmancy, Hermione. It's all about layering spells and creating new ones. The only cool thing I can think of about this class is maybe I already know a spell that they haven't thought of yet. Other than that, I'm getting eaten alive. How do you understand this rubbish?" Harry was panting as he carried the very heavy oversized books while shifting from one side to the other to give one arm a rest at a time. They were finally inside the tower and Harry dropped the books right on the floor rather than carry them one step further.
"I thought as much. The maths alone can eat a witch for breakfast. You're going to need my help with that one." Hermione sighed.
"And how was your class?" Harry hunched over and waited for his girlfriend to blow with the frustration she was feeling.
"Actually, I think it will be quite useful. I'm just not as…well…studied on the subject." The girl had that gleam in her eye like when she'd been told there was an extra long essay to do.
"Barmy. That's what you are." Harry grinned at her and hugged her from behind. "I'm glad you'll finally know how to curtsey to the Queen if she ever shows up. Hey, it's not the Queen right now is it? It's the King, King Something."
"Did you even go to school before you came to Hogwarts? I don't know how you learned to write your name before I came along. This is 1858 and it is the time of Queen Victoria as King Edward VII won't be crowned until 1901." Hermione had acquired her teaching airs and Harry was smirking as he listened.
"Fine, Queen Victoria. I bet you don't know who is Head Wizengamot now, do you?" Harry loved to wind Hermione up.
"Actually, Harry it would be Head Warlock, but since you don't know either I don't think you should push it. So, shove off!" She grinned back at him and play pushed him off the couch.
They ate lunch and then found they had Potions at the same time; however they could not sit together. They were in the same room just separated into girls and boys and by a wide pathway with desks on each side. The Professor was a wizened old man who looked as if all the moisture had been sucked from his body leaving him withered and wrinkled. The fluttering old man mumbled to himself as he billowed into the room with his dark blue robes flapping out behind him. He reminded Harry of an ancient black crow.
The class proceeded rather easily and Harry was surprised to find himself with a perfect potion by the end of class. Without Snape breathing down his neck, Harry could concentrate and actually enjoy the potion making. Hermione gave him a big smile from across the room as she returned her cauldron to its place on the wall. Class had been quick and painless much to Harry's delight.
They had Astronomy in the evening so they were free for the rest of the late afternoon. The couple walked slowly out to the lake enjoying the chill wind and leaves blowing up and over the lake. Apparently the squid was no where to be found and several students were foot bathing even though the water had to be absolutely freezing. They wandered for a while pointing out known places that were still the same without saying a word. They held hands and Harry kept stealing admiring glances at Hermione whose face was chilled with bright apple cheeks and curls floating about her face.
Several shouts erupted from over the hill. Suddenly the ground shook and a great billow of smoke and debris could be seen floating above Hogsmede Village. Hermione and Harry's wands were both poised and ready in seconds. The front of the school exploded with students and teachers running outside or half hanging from windows to see what had happened. Harry's stomach dropped when he saw the Dark Mark shoot high into the air with an enormous blast. The floating signal drifted and started to fade like dripping blood, mixing sinisterly with the smoke and ash.
Harry watched as older students and teachers disappeared when they apparated over to the site of the terrible noise and destruction. Harry and Hermione hadn't yet taken their tests, but they had studied the spell and felt confident they wouldn't get splinched, so with a nod to each other they disappeared, reappearing instantly in High Street just before the bookshop that had been there for centuries.
The smoke and ash was stifling giving them little ability to see clearly into the thickness. Shouting and the sounds of blasting spells could be made out just ahead of where they were. It was a battle zone and Harry felt his body react to the situation and his focus narrowed. His body clenched and he scanned as much of the area as quickly as he could. Harry grabbed his girlfriend's hand and led her through the dirty haze to crouch down together behind a display of discount magic books. Several books on Witch Cooking had fallen from the makeshift trolley and were shouting out ideas for lunch recipes so loudly that Hermione had to shove them closed so they could hear what was going on.
They could see Dumbledore fighting furiously shooting spells with both his wand and his raised hand at different attackers. Hermione squeezed Harry's hand in hers and they both jumped out at the same time yelling `Expelliarmus" at the two menacing figures attacking the young man. The attackers fell back as the spell blew their wands out of their hands and were thrown extremely hard against the outside wall of the side of a building. Standing back to back next to Dumbledore, the three continued to shoot spells blasting and disarming the invaders. Fire was spitting out the windows of the bookstore as thousands of spellbooks erupted into flame. A hex caught Harry across the shoulder knocking him hard against Hermione and whipping him around and flipped down to the ground. Hermione crouched over him to help him up all the while sending sparks and blasts from her wand. Headmaster Nigellus had come across them and was creating a powerful protection spell that surrounded the three and several students who had come up to crouch behind him.
Apparently the ones who had attacked had accomplished their goal of arson and the popping sound of black robed figures disapparating filled the roadway. The dust started to settle and the Headmaster set several students to magically stop the burning of the bookstore. When it was determined that the spells weren't working, a chain of water buckets were set up to at least wet down the buildings on either side of the store. It kept the fire from spreading, but the owner, a slender brown-haired middle-aged witch sobbed openly in the Headmaster's arms. He awkwardly patted the woman on the shoulder and quickly handed her over to a group of shopkeepers who seemed to know her.
The bookstore was standing as it was made from local quarried stone, but the interior had quickly simmered into shards of melted glass and ash. There was nothing left to do but scourgify the insides and eventually rebuild and restock. Harry could hear several people whispering about the owner's family as being part muggle. He sighed softly to himself as he dropped down on the edge of the pavement to catch his breath. Apparently it didn't matter what time he was in, hate seemed to be something he'd always have to fight.
The three students were covered in soot and sweat and still breathing heavily. Dumbledore hadn't even taken stock of who had fought with him and his eyes widened when he saw Hermione next to Harry.
"Miss Granger! I can't believe Mr. Potter allowed you to be put into such extreme danger! You might have been hurt!" Buzzy looked scandalized to see the young witch.
Harry snorted. There would have been no way he could have kept Hermione from doing anything she felt she needed to do. He had learned that early on. She was just as capable if not more so in some situations and he had come to rely on her skills and fast thinking. He could also see her eyes narrow at `Buzzy' and he knew the young man was in for a scathing lecture.
"Albus Dumbledore. I am as competent as any wizard in this school. There is no reason I should be forced to sit and wring my hands when I am able to fight like any other student. While I realize you are a product of your generation, I will have you know I am a product of mine. I will not tolerate being thought less than or unequal to any wizard around and if you persist in this archaic thinking you will soon find yourself shunned by every witch in this school. I have been discussing the idea of Witch's Rights with the other girls and almost every one is willing to prove themselves and take a stand against those who try to hurt us and those we love. So, either start realizing we as witches are just as able or be prepared for the consequences."
Dumbledore stood there taking the diatribe with his usual polite interest and aplomb. When she finished, he smiled lightly at her, wiped his sooty hand on his pants then offered his arm to lead her back to the school. Harry was watching the obvious battle of wills with a smirk on his face. The lads of 1858 won't know what coming. Harry thought to himself.
Hermione stared at Dumbledore then crossed her arms in front of her then promptly disappeared. Dumbledore seemed to be surprised and looked questioningly at Harry.
"Yeah, isn't she brilliant?" Harry had an enormous grin on his face that made Dumbledore roll his eyes and snort.
"She's going to cause a riot at this school, you know. I don't know how different your generation may be but things are done a certain way now and…" Harry cut him off with an arm around the other boy's shoulders.
"Its going to take you a while, mate, but you will get used to the idea. You might as well start now because you have to realize that witches ultimately control every wizard anyway. It's a fact of life. Now that Hermione has shown all the other girls what they were missing, your little world is going to start to change. I suggest you let them do what they want because sooner or later, you'll be hexed into oblivion if you don't. Believe me, I know." Harry grinned widely at Dumbledore's consternation and laughed when the man threw up his hands and shrugged.
They apparated back to the school to find students subdued and silent. At least six seventh year students had been viciously hurt with one student in extremely critical condition. The Head boy nodded at Harry then ran to the infirmary to check on his classmates.
It all seemed so familiar to Harry. The attack was so reminiscent of the Death Eaters fight in Hogsmede just a few months earlier. He knew that Voldemort wasn't even around yet, but the feeling of dread he had been lately living unconsciously without suddenly flooded back leaving his heart in his throat. What had happened? Who was attacking now? Harry shoved his hands hard into his pockets and stormed up the stairs to the Gryffindor Tower.
Hermione had joined the girls in the infirmary and was helping in any way that she could. The other witches were much better versed in healing spells so she held back and merely handed them what they needed to try to heal the hurting students. The witches were brilliant as they took orders from the Head Doctor and hurriedly put every wounded student into beds and started stasis spells until the Doctor could determine treatment. Several older girls were healing wounds and canceling very difficult hexes to Hermione's great admiration. Dumbledore tumbled into the dungeon infirmary out of breath and scanning for friends and classmates in danger. Hermione came to stand beside him.
"I think everyone is out of the woods except for the seventh year boy Alvis Elledge. He is still dangerously wounded. I don't know what they can do to help him at this point. The Doctor has him in stasis until he can find a way to remove all the curses without causing more harm. Some things even a wizard can't heal." She had tears in her eyes and she looked very pale. Dumbledore merely nodded that he heard her then turned away to leave the way he had come.
It was hours later when Hermione slowly reached the Common Room to find Harry and Dumbledore at separate sides of the couch both staring off into space. They were both filthy with soot and sweat. She leaned tiredly over the couch and put her hand on the back of each of their shoulders.
"Go get cleaned up. There's nothing else to be done." Both boys looked up at her blankly then robotically stood up and went to their rooms. She had used a cleaning spell to rid herself of dirt so no one's open wounds in the infirmary would be made dirty from her, but her clothes still felt scratchy and no matter how clean the spell made her, she felt she was still disgustingly covered in filth. She leaned against the couch, then went around and took the corner where Harry had been seated just moments before. She was tired. More than just physically, she was mentally tired of dealing with such Evil that would attack and kill children.
The strain was too much. Her head lowered and tears started to fall silently through her hands and into her lap as her body clenched and her legs drew up. Arms suddenly grasped her and pulled her into a soft hug. Harry had come back to check on her and seeing her dismay, his heart couldn't stand to see her hurting so much. He drew her into his lap and rocked her like a small child. They both comforted each other until Hermione pulled back and hiccupped, surprising herself.
Harry laughed softly then pushed back a stray curl that kept falling into her eyes. They had entwined their fingers together with one hand and wrapped the other arm tightly around each other. She was small and soft and fit perfectly under Harry's chin. They sat there rocking until slowly the common room started to fill back up with loud students and the common noises of children. Then Harry put her feet on the ground,
and led her to her room kissing her softly on the nose.
"Sorry, I've made you all sooty again. I should have cleaned up before touching you in all my dirt." Harry brushed at her nose to rub off a dark smudge.
She smiled sweetly at him. "It's that you came back and held me that's important. A little bit of dirt is fine."
"I'll go now." He whispered still not moving.
"I should clean up as well." She whispered back not taking her eyes off of his.
"Well, you're dirtying up the hallway, the both of you, so get a move on." Dumbledore had come down from his shower and was standing there behind them with no shoes and his hair still wet.
They both turned and smiled at him and then Hermione slipped through the door leaving a bemused Harry and a smirking Dumbledore.
1
-->