Chapter 1 - Leaving Hogwarts
The Hogwarts Express steamed back to London. The end of their sixth year held a tragic end for a fellow student just a few days earlier. The close group of friends sitting in the train's compartment was comforting one of their own for the loss they all felt. He alone felt responsible for all the dead and especially her death.
"Harry, we all know who was to blame. It wasn't your fault."
"But it was because of me she's dead, they're all dead...."
"NO! It's because of V-V-Voldemort…" Ron still couldn't bring himself to say the name.
"He only picked her because he read my thoughts. If I hadn't blocked my thoughts that day, he would have come after Ginny. It's my fault she was murdered."
"We all knew people and friends would be hurt. She was picked out because of what he thought she meant to you, and he knew she was weaker then any of us."
"Hermione's right, Harry, as long as we all stick together, we can stand up to him, at least until help gets here."
"Harry," Ginny added, "I wouldn't be afraid of him if he did come after me. Besides, we all knew you had a crush on her years ago. You told me yourself you didn't have those feelings for me."
"Gin, you're still very important to me, you must know that." He leaned over and gave her a brotherly kiss on the cheek.
Tap… tap… tap…
A large red and gold bird, a Phoenix, was flying next to the train with a letter in his beak. Ron opened the window and Fawkes flew in with a message from Dumbledore. He flew directly to Harry and deposited a letter in his hands.
Harry,
With the events of the last week, it may not be safe for you and your friends to be alone. Even though the Order has the house on Privet Drive watched closely, this is no guarantee for your safety. The best solution is to have another stay with you at your home until we can safely bring you back to headquarters.
I have instructed Fawkes to deliver this message, and contact your companion and protector. This cannot be disclosed with anyone else, not even with your closest friends.
A.D.
Surprised, he looked at Fawkes and said, "I understand." And the letter he read, burst into dust leaving no trace. He wondered whom Dumbledore instructed to stay with him at Privet drive as his guardian; he began to think of those closest to him. Ron and Ginny were safe at the Burrow. Hermione must be safe too or she wouldn't be allowed to leave. Remus or another member from the Order seemed logical. Besides, he was going to need a fully trained wizard to help if there's trouble.
"Harry, what was that about?" Ron inquired.
"Sorry, it was a… message from Dumbledore offering his sympathies." He lied to conceal the true nature of the message, as he was instructed. Harry didn't want to worry his friends, and he knew that he had put them through enough. Too many around him had been hurt and killed.
While waiting for him to acknowledge the meaning of the message, the majestic bird sat patiently between Hermione and Harry. Fawkes cooed contentedly as he allowed the young witch to gently stroke his feathers. After Harry had acknowledged the message, Fawkes gave Hermione a light peck on the hand as if to say 'it's time', and flew off.
The remainder of the journey home had been quiet; no one had much to say. When the train pulled into King's Cross, the friends gave one another final good-byes for the summer months. Ron and Ginny were met at the platform by their parents. The friends all chatted as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley walked the group out through the barrier to the main gate where Hermione's father was waiting. Uncle Vernon was nowhere to be found, as usual.
"Arthur, how nice to see you again. How are things at the Ministry? Hermione's letters have told us of some of the goings on, I'm sure it's been exciting there these days."
"Alex, yes, things have been a bit dicey lately, but Harry and his friends here has really helped in those matters."
"Yes, Harry, so good to see you again, I hope your year was enjoyable."
"Looks like your uncle has no idea the danger you're in," Mr. Weasley commented and then added, "We're going to bring you to the Burrow. You should be with us now anyway."
"No, he can't." Hermione began. "He must stay at his aunt's house, for a while at least because of the wards protecting him. I heard them talking last year at Headquarters."
"Well then, we'll stay with him," her father concluded, "Until his uncle shows up, or WE'LL drive him there ourselves."
"Daddy, thank you…" she could feel the chill in her palm letting her know something had to be done quickly; he was beginning to feel his depression return. It was happening and she knew there was nothing she could do to stop the events about to unfold.
- - -
True to his word, her father drove Harry home to Privet drive. When they arrived, the three walked to the front door. As soon as Uncle Vernon opened the door, he squinted his eyes to look at the tall man standing in the doorway with Harry and the girl at his side.
"More of your STRANGE people, Potter? Can't leave them behind for a minute?"
"Excuse me sir, I'm Dr. Granger, Hermione's father. I don't believe we've been introduced."
"I wish you weirdoes would just go to bloody hell. GET OUT, you freak, and take that tramp with you!" Uncle Vernon tried to shove Harry off the stoop, and shut the door, but Hermione's father held the door open.
"I do NOT appreciate your words in front of the children, sir and you owe my daughter an apology." Dr. Granger sneered at Harry's Uncle, giving the impression he would welcome taking a poke at the obese man.
"Daddy, leave him be, I need to talk to him in private."
Hermione pushed her way into the house, pulling Harry behind her, then dragged Vernon into the kitchen, no small feat for a young girl and a man of his girth.
After several minutes of an obvious heated discussion had passed, she returned alone and looked at Harry. "You're safe here. I told your uncle I'm staying here with you for a few days, I told him what's happened to Ch… umm what's happened at school…"
"Hermione, don't worry about me, I'll be fine." He said trying to convince himself more then her.
"No, you won't. Not if last year is an example of you being 'fine'. Now, Daddy, can you bring our things inside? I'm staying here with Harry."
Her father turned to the car and began to carry both their things into the house. She pulled Harry in, just out of earshot from the kitchen.
"What did you say to my uncle to get him to agree so fast?"
"All I did was to remind him what he was told by Moody last year, and that the restrictions applied only to wizards under the age of 17. So I told him that I turned 17 last year, and I have every right to defend you or myself. You should have seen how pale his face got! Harry, listen carefully. Dumbledore gave me instructions to stay here with you until someone else shows up. I don't know anymore about who she is, but he said it was vital that I stay here until an Order member shows up."
"An order member? And you can't figure out who 'she' it? Think, Hermione, it's gotta be Tonks. It can't be Professor McGonagall or Mrs. Weasley. So that leaves Tonks as the only witch left in the Order, unless you've joined and didn't tell anyone."
"All I know is Dumbledore said to watch out for a 'lost witch', whatever that means."
"'Lost witch'? Really does sound like Tonks now…" He grinned.
Her father waited at the front door for his daughter to finish talking to Harry. When she saw him standing alone at the door, she left her friend to send him home.
"Daddy, everything's fine. I'll be staying with Harry for a little while; I'll let you know how things are going."
"I'll be call in a few days to check on you, Bunny." He gave his daughter a kiss good-bye, then turned to leave.
"Bye daddy, I love you!!!" she cried out as she ran to give him one last hug.
Hearing the departure of her father, Vernon found his courage to leave the kitchen and try to reclaim his authority over Harry. "POTTER!! If she HAS to stay here, she can stay in the cupboard for all I care…"
Harry's anger at his uncle grew quickly at those few words, mostly because of the way he'd been treated by them for his entire life, but more so because those words were targeted at her. He wouldn't allow them to treat her that way.
"NO, she'll stay in the guest room. I WON'T have her in that dungy closet." And with that he gave Vernon a look as though he were looking at Voldemort himself, putting a fear into him that caused Dudley in his room upstairs to shiver. Uncle Vernon retreated back to the kitchen.
"Fine, just stay out of my way," he called over his shoulder, not giving Harry a chance for rebuttal.
The two teenagers left in the downstairs hall looked at each other. Hermione broke the uneasy silence first. "I think we should put our things away and get settled in, where's my room?"
"Upstairs, across the hall from my room," Harry said as he dragged her trunk up to the guest bedroom. He tried to avoid showing his room to her, as he was embarrassed at its size. "That's my room over there, and Dudley's is there, you might want to stay clear of it." They deposited her trunk in the spare room, and he left her to unpack.
A short time later, she walked across the hall to his room and knocked on his door. "Harry, you busy?"
"Nah, I just finished putting my things away."
"Can I come in?"
"Ummm… just a sec, I'll come out."
"Harry, I know your room is tiny, don't worry about being embarrassed. I'd like to see it, ok?"
"Well, alright, come in." He replied. He knew she would at some time see how he truly lived but was still embarrassed.
She opened the door to the smallest room in the house to find him sitting on his equally small bed with his photo album open on his lap. She walked over to his bed and sat next to him. He was obviously feeling sorry for himself again, thumbing through the photos of his parents. He didn't look up when she entered.
"Come on, let's go get some dinner. I'm dying for a BigMac, I thought I saw a restaurant on the way here."
"Maybe tomorrow. I'm sure my aunt has something for dinner."
"From what I've seen of them, I wouldn't count on much. Ohhh, sorry, that was rude. They are your family."
"No, they're not really, they treat stray dogs better. And you're quite right, there won't be much, I'm afraid you'll probably have to share my portions."
"You think Hedwig would be willing to share her catch with us tonight?" she said with a grin.
Harry cocked his head and furrowed his brow, 'Did she really try to make a joke?'
"I'm sure a couple field mice would be more than your aunt is going to save for us anyway. But come on, put the book down and let's go eat, I'm starved."
"Ummm, excuse me, exactly who are you? First you make a joke, although a bit lame, and NOW you tell me to put a book down? You CAN'T be Hermione Jane Granger; you must be an imposter."
"No, silly, it's me, no one else." She slapped him on the shoulder.
"Owww! With a weak shot like that, you must be Ron in disguise. Hermione's got a wicked right hook." He joked back.
"A wicked right hook? I'll show you a real punch." She pulled her arm back and let loose a shot to his mid-section, doubling him over, catching him by surprise.
"OWW! OH, HARRY, I'm SO sorry. Are you ok?"
"Oooff… Oh sure, just go ahead and slug me… Maybe you should save that for Voldemort… Who taught you to fight like that anyway? No, don't tell me, you read it in a book…"
"Well, actually, it was Ginny. You forget, she's got six, older brothers, ahh, seven, sorry I keep forgetting."
"At least you learned something that's not in a book." He said with a sly smirk on his face.
His last comment earned him yet another shot to the arm.
"Owww! Stop that if you want to grab some food. Come on then."
She grabbed his hand to help pull him up to his feet. They stood there eye to eye; she still had his hand in hers.
"Uh, can I have that back?"
"Oh, sorry." She stepped away from him, letting go of his hand, feeling a rush of heat to her face. "I, umm, we should go downstairs."
He grinned at her, and with a swishing wave and half bow, he said, "After you, my dear."
She turned quickly in an attempt to hide the flushed look. 'Stop thinking about him, you're not here for that,' she scolded herself. They left his room and made their way to the kitchen, where the remains of dinner waited for him to clean up. They consumed the few leftovers Dudley missed as she helped him clean up the mess.
That night was the first time Harry ever welcomed staying in that house. He was so shocked that she, of ALL of his friends, WANTED to stay here in this house that he never really thought of it as his home. And she was sleeping in his house! Sleeping in his house, it sounded so strange, but somehow very comforting.
Still, he worried about her being in danger. He kept thinking how much he'd already lost, and how much losing her would hurt him.
He lay there staring at the bare light bulb over his bed as his memories flooded his brain. 'Sirius, why? Just when I found hope, it was taken from me. Cedric… you didn't deserve your fate. Padma, Hannah, Cho, why? Hermione, please stay, I can't lose you…' And his eyes began to close…
- - -
In a room across the hall, a young seventeen-year-old girl, reminisced of a past meeting only a few hours ago, and the revelation of a prophecy that had changed her life, and possibly the lives of others. A prophecy that was known by only one other person.
As the one the Darklord fears most comes of age
He will be rejected and forgotten by his own blood;
One will come to his aid in time of need
Joined by a witch who shines above all others
Her intellect will give him direction and counsel to the wisest
She will ease his pain and help find his life's bond with the lost witch.
Ties to old blood will be forever lost;
Their blood to be joined with that of a past foe
Not of this world will the two be three
And the three shall wield the ultimate force as one.
She knew the first part. His family had rejected him all his life. Earlier, her own father had brought him to the house that nobody could call a home. Harry had needed help, and he got it. That last part, for some reason, sent a chill through her, and she refused to think through the rest. She wrote it in her diary so she could remember it and re-read it. With a tired hand, she replaced her secrecy spells on the book and hid it in her usual spot. She crawled into the unfamiliar bed and tried very hard to not think of the boy she loved.