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The Black Hole by Torsten
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The Black Hole

Torsten

13. Peace of Mind

Harry experienced two events simultaneously. One was that the pain and turmoil in his head had lifted like mist on a sunny morning. In an instant his mind was clear, leaving a feeling of peace. The other was the scene before his eyes. Every window of the house at Grimmauld Place was lit from within by an orange glow. At the same time the house seemed to grow as it took on a barrel form. The orange light, now with violet streaks, started to belch out of the windows illuminating several flying black forms.

Then the scene changed. The house and the fire within shrank as fast as it earlier had erupted, down into a tiny spot of fire on the ground, soon extinguished by a gust of wind.

And then there was the sound. It started as a roar "wWHAAOOoommp", but ended as a whisper in the night. Then it was utter silence for a while.

Hermione at his side was the first to speak. "What was that?"

Soon after, the shadows of people duelling with wands could be seen; more were apparating with pops into the scene. The lights from their wands could be mistaken for New Year firecrackers. Professor Moody rose behind Harry and Hermione, the portkey in his hand. "Now, here we go. Fast!" was his barked command.

Harry and Hermione obeyed, getting up from the ground quickly packing away their stuff and then taking the old broomstick in one hand. Moody whispered the incantation, and they experienced the now familiar sensation of a tug behind the navel and a rush through a winter hailstorm of a soot-black night. Soon they landed in the same inner yard of the Hogwarts castle and within a few minutes they entered professor Dumbledore's office. The cosy fire still burned in the fireplace.

They were met by silent questioning glances from Professor Dumbledore and McGonagall. Professor Snape had also joined them during their absence. Harry took Hermione's hand in his and they both gave a sigh, "Wow", as they both sat down in an empty chair. Harry noted that all figures in the portraits were present and awake.

The eyes of everyone now turned to Professor Moody who sat on a chair with an ashen face, holding his hands to his chest. "Bad news Alastor?" asked Professor Dumbledore, an anxious expression in his face. "No, probably quite good actually," was his slow response, "but I'm an old man, and this was a new experience for me". Madame Pomfrey came out of a corner, where she had kept a low profile. She gave Professor Moody what looked like a lump of black chocolate and a draught from a small flask. The potency of that medicine was by no means ordinary, because in an instant his cheeks had a rosy healthy appearance, and he continued in his usual strong voice:

"Actually, this could very well be the final defeat of Lord Voldemort, but you will have to investigate further yourself, Albus. The operation went so far as I understand according to plan, although the outcome maybe was even better than expected. Harry and Hermione have done a really great job. We left the scene immediately so an occasional remaining Death-Eater should not be tempted to take avenge on them. I think Remus and Tonks will be able to give a report soon."

The eyes were now turned towards Harry and Hermione as they sat together, Hermione still on Harry's knee. Hermione shot a quick glance at everyone present. She could see happy expectation in every face. What caught her attention though was the face of Professor Snape. She had not seen that type of smile on his face before. Could he feel happiness as well as the others? There even was a glint of a tear in his eyes. Harry began the narrative.

"We took shelter behind a bunch of bushes in the far end of the park as we had planned. Just before twelve o'clock two persons apparated before the empty space of nr 12. One of the dark figures resembled Bellatrix Lestrange, the other was Kreacher; I saw him clearly in my omniculars. He tapped the pavement twice and the house nr 12 appeared. Bellatrix proceeded immediately to the front door. It was opened by Kreacher at the same time as a swarm of Death-Eaters appeared, some flying outside the windows on the top floor. We were prepared and Hermione sent the code to shut down the illumination and the merry-making noises. Bellatrix sent a spell with a green light, went in and came quickly out when she had seen the dummy of myself. I could clearly sense her exhilaration, and in an instant Voldemort himself apparated outside the front door. She beckoned him to come inside too, which of course was what I wanted, but Voldemort hesitated. This is where this could have gone wrong but for Hermione."

It was now her turn to continue. "I was afraid that V-Voldemort could sense Harry's presence. I actually think I saw his red eyes turn our way. Harry and I had tried some exercises at Occlumency and Legilimency the last few days, so I touched him and tried to send some happy thoughts to him to close his mind. It has worked before and I think it worked now," she concluded in a blush.

"Impressive!" was professor McGonagall's first words this night.

"Well, now Voldemort walked into the house, and I could see down the hall where he stooped over the dummy. I then whispered to Hermione to enter the final code on the remote controller. She gave me the device so I could press the send button at the precise moment. Just then Voldemort must have understood he was fooled and recognised the dummy as a dummy, because I felt all his frustration in my head, making me loose my concentration. Again Hermione saved the situation, because I sensed her mind telling me to push the button. And I did". Harry turned his head and gave Hermione a long kiss on her mouth.

"Amazing!" The word was professor Snape's.

After a pause, professor Dumbledore asked: "Precisely, what happened when Harry pressed the button?"

Professor Moody answered. "I kept a continuous watch out, and I must say I think Harry and Hermione gave a good account of what happened so far. When Harry pressed that button on that muggle thing, the house started to blow up like hit by a combined incendio and engorgement spell, but then everything, the house, the fire and all that was in it just contracted and vanished. I had felt the presence of Lord Voldemort as well, and that feeling stopped at the same instant. Remus and Tonks must have called in the aurors we had alerted, because a fighting broke out between them and some death-eaters. That's when we left."

As on cue, Hermione's phone rang at this instant. Tonks was on the line, asking for professor Dumbledore. Hermione handed the phone to him. He took it gingerly in his hand, asking, "Where do I speak?" Hermione gestured to him and he said "Albus here" in a voice that might have carried on its own at least halfway to London. At least so it seemed to Harry and Hermione who exchanged a quick glance.

Professor Dumbledore finished by instructing Tonks "to see to it that the muggle authorities guard the area most effectively. Also arrange for an auror plainclothesman to help with the supervision. I will conduct an inspection tomorrow. I will also inform minister Fudge adequately. - Yes, welcome both of you. Bye."

"Remus and Tonks will be here soon." Professor Dumbledore beamed at everyone after his first telephone call ever. "I will go and meet them". He vanished behind a black veil at the far end of his office. Harry had seen the veil before, but somehow never felt a longing for exploring it.

The remaining party gathered in a whispering group where the centre was Harry, his arm around Hermione's waist. Most of the talk was sentences like "Well done" and "Could this really be true". Professor McGonagall summed up everything with "Even if we don't understand all details yet and we don't know the final outcome of this, clearly these events mean a great victory and a breakthrough in our fight with the dark side." Harry caught a glimpse of Professor Snape examining his arm, where Harry knew the dark mark should be visible. Obviously it was fading, because he could se a hint of a smile on the same lips that he was accustomed to see in a scornful smirk.

Soon professor Dumbledore returned followed by Remus Lupin and Tonks. Tonks went directly to Harry and gave him a great hug "Well done" and then Hermione got the same treatment. Professor Lupin followed shaking hands. Then Tonks cleared her throat and announced: "Friends, we have tonight seen number one and number two vanish together with the building on nr 12, Grimmauld Place. - To where we don't know. Number three, i.e. Lucius Malfoy, is on leave from his imprisonment to stay with his family, and we have ascertained that he really still is there. Some of the lesser fish we have reason to believe also vanished with the house, we don't know yet who. Others we have captured and brought to prison. Resistance was feeble; the shock at the loss of leadership must have been great. Some fled without a fight. Today was a great victory."

Then professor Dumbledore said: "I think now is the time to say Good Night, and let's not forget to wish for a Happy New Year. Hopefully, tomorrow will give us some answers to what really happened with number one, as Tonks so accurately labelled him. - Hermione may I use your telephone once more? Please help me …" he added as he beckoned her to follow him to the back of his desk.

Hermione helped him dial a number in his address book. She saw the name Cornelius Fudge next to it. She then went over to Harry that was encircled by all others in the room, happy smiles on every face. Only Harry had a faraway look in his eyes, despite the smile on his mouth. She joined the crowd next to Harry. After a few minutes, Professor Dumbledore made a sign to her, so she went back to him. "Thank you for the use of your phone - a miraculous device. And please take good care of Harry. I see he has got many thoughts in his head."

---

Harry and Hermione walked slowly through the corridors to Gryffindor tower. Hermione drew closer to him, asking: "What are you thinking about? You are not in a celebrating mood, are you?"

"I feel emptiness. Now that the war is over, there isn't more to do. It was too easy."

Hermione now understood what professor Dumbledore had meant. She knew what to do.

"Harry, just because you have won this match doesn't mean you have won the tournament. You heard what Tonks said. Number one and two are gone - maybe. That only means there will be a new number one, not so powerful perhaps, but there will be one. And there certainly will be a craving for revenge, only this time we don't know the time and place - right? So my action plan is still valid; new strategies, new defence, more exercise. But first some sleep - my bed this night again, OK?" she smiled at him.

They had just entered through the portrait hole. She had made it again. Some light had returned to Harry's eyes when he stopped and hugged her. "Yeah, I'm really tired and so are you. We need rest. Mione, I hope I said this clearly; without you, today had been a defeat."

"Not necessarily. Moody was still behind you, and you have managed before without my intervention. But, so what, we said we were in this together. Now let's go to bed. I took a shower only three hours ago, I'll skip it tonight."

They had entered Hermione's bedroom. In less than a minute they had discarded their clothes, extinguished the candle and huddled close together under the blankets. After a long kiss Harry whispered:

"Mione, you mean so much to me. Some minutes ago, I felt lost. My purpose seemed fulfilled, but you took me down to earth again. I feel like a little boy sometimes, needing a mummy. I haven't had a mother since I was a baby. You are my mother, my girlfriend, my lover, my teacher, my future wife, my friend, my everything. Mione, I need you. Please hold me tight."

Harry gave a sigh and lowered himself into the bed to nuzzle Hermione's right breast, he found the nipple and began to kiss it. He made a contented sigh burrowing his nose between her breasts - and fell asleep.

Hermione lay awake with the sleeping Harry in her arms. She pressed him to her bosom. The world should know this. Tomorrow there will be great joy and merrymaking, the Dark Lord is gone - so we hope. And the young man, whose strategy was behind this, was he singing with his friends, celebrating? Was he boasting to everyone who wanted his account of the news?

No, he was like a baby, cradled in her arms for comfort. Yes, Harry was her task in life. She would make his life happy, if she could. With this thought, she also fell asleep.

---

Hermione awoke to a sharp knock on her door. She had just time to arrange the sheets of her bed before the door opened and Dobby put in his head.

"Excuse me Miss Granger. I am looking for Mr Potter. Professor Dumbledore wants to see him at 10 o'clock - it's in 25 minutes." Dobby's large eyes scanned the room, but the sheets on Hermione's bed covered Harry.

"Thank you, Dobby. I will see to it that Harry is there in time - at least, I'll try."

"Professor Dumbledore said he should be dressed in muggle clothes. I put a tray with breakfast downstairs."

"Thank you Dobby, that was very thoughtful of you. - I will find Harry and send him to Professor Dumbledore." Hermione added the last words, as Dobby remained looking around and flapping his big ears. Finally, after some not so thankful looks from Hermione, he left.

Hermione flipped off the sheets revealing Harry wide-awake taking in the sight before him. "Silly! Off you go! You are short of time. Use the girl's bathroom. I'll fetch some clothes for you in your room."

Harry made a show of leaving reluctantly and slowly. In fact, he was very curious about his errand to professor Dumbledore. He suspected they were going back to 12, Grimmauld Place, or what was left of it, to investigate. He rushed to the bathroom and a hot shower. When he was heading back to Hermione's room, she was on her way dressed in her dressing gown with his jeans, a t-shirt, a thick sweater and his bomber jacket. She continued directly down to the common room.

When Harry came down to the common room, Hermione had served him tea and made two toasts with marmalade, and was about to serve his bacon and eggs. He turned to go up to his own dormitory, but Hermione called him back: "Come here, this is for you. I know your boots are back in your room and I didn't find any clean socks in your mess. I'll get them for you. You start eating."

When Hermione came back, Harry was halfway through his breakfast. She said. "Here are your boots, and a made a cleaning spell on your socks. - Don't get any ideas, I will not serve you like this every morning!" She sat down to start her own breakfast.

With five minutes to go, Harry rose, leaned over the back of Hermione's chair and gave her a big hug. "Thank you partner, you're great. I'll tell you everything when I'm back."

"And don't forget any details!" Hermione felt a sudden pang of emptiness as she finished her breakfast alone.

---

Harry entered the stair behind the stone gargoyle exactly on time. When he saw Professor Dumbledore in what he clearly meant to be 'muggle clothes', Harry was hard put to keep a straight face. He somehow came to think of an old movie he had seen on TV during a summer. It had been in black and white and was about Sherlock Holmes and something with a snake through a ventilator. It was really horrible. The main character had worn the same type of chequered clothes as Professor Dumbledore now sported. He even had the same type of hard cap with peaks both front and back.

"Now Harry, I will let you in on one of the most well guarded secrets of Hogwarts; how to apparate from here. You've seen this black veil over here? Come along!"

Harry walked after Professor Dumbledore through the veil. He felt his insides jolt for a split second and had the distinct feeling the veil was double. He found himself in a small room with light filtering in through the crevices between the boards of the wall. Following his headmaster out through the door, he found himself outside the woodshed of the Shrieking Shack!

"From here it is quite possible to apparate, as you learnt the other day. The passage through the veil is well protected, as you can imagine. - Now, are you ready for Grimmauld Place? - Good. Off you go then."

A short moment after Harry had appeared in Grimmauld Place, he heard a soft pop behind him where Professor Dumbledore just appeared. They were both staring at the area between number 11 and number 13. It had turned into a shallow crater; fragments of glass were glinting in the sun; some wooden boards were strewn across the area. A rather large rectangular stone was found at the bottom on the border between the two neighbouring houses. The big flagstone in the pavement was still in place. A plastic ribbon fastened to a number of slender sticks enclosed the area.

An impressive bobby advanced to Professor Dumbledore and asked about their business. A second man in grey trench coat appeared from nowhere.

"Good morning Professor!" the man in grey said. He gave a friendly nod to Professor Dumbledore and Harry. "This is the first party coming to investigate, as we were told this morning," he explained to the policeman.

"Oh, Welcome then! Sorry if I sounded somewhat brusque. There have been quite a number of loiterers trying to examine the grounds."

"Someone in particular you would care to mention?" asked Professor Dumbledore.

"I have them all in this notebook of mine." The policeman patted his breast pocket. "One of them came twice though. A very pale man with long white hair. The second time he came up to me and asked how the area would be treated. I answered according to instruction that it would be cleared off tomorrow, today being a holiday."

"Very good - Well done!" Professor Dumbledore answered him with a twinkle in his eyes that clearly made the policeman very warm inside. He straightened up and saluted.

"Now Harry, let's see what we can do before the rest arrives! - At all costs, don't touch that stone. How does it affect you?"

"It intrigues me. I would like to kneel down and look at it in detail. - I'm determined to resist though. There is a bad feeling about it."

"Good Harry. I start to think that we are close to the solution. Let's walk around a bit, keeping a distance to that stone." Professor Dumbledore climbed down into the crater. "Notice, we are making footprints in the soil, but there are none close to the stone. There has not been anyone near before us."

Harry saw to his amazement that things started to happen. Looking closely at Professor Dumbledore, Harry saw that he had his wand concealed in his hand. The odd wooden boards that lay strewn all across were subtly changing their forms so they all now seemed to belong to a crate that had been smashed on the ground. Streaks of white powder radiated out from the stone. Coming back onto the pavement, Harry clearly saw Professor Dumbledore direct his wand at the big flagstone before it silently split in several pieces. Somehow during their exploration, both the policeman and the plainclothesman had been busy admiring something far off at the other end of the park. Harry was fascinated. Much could be accomplished with small means. This was something he had to study.

After some further waiting, two big official-looking cars arrived. Harry recognised immediately the minister for magic, Cornelius Fudge in the first one. He seemed to be in his jovial mood and extended his hand to greet Professor Dumbledore and Harry.

"I was very happy to receive your call yesterday night, although it was rather late." His first comment was directed at Professor Dumbledore. He then turned to Harry. "I'm especially happy you went through the proper channels this time Harry. You made quite a good impression at the ministry. - My colleague, the muggle minister for air transport, has the official picture, viz. something was dropped from an aeroplane, as you suggested, Albus."

The muggle minister first of all shook hands with the official representative of the law, and then he came over to Harry and Professor Dumbledore and presented himself. He had an aide that he presented as the official investigator into the accident. After the formal handshaking, the investigator told that they had found a transport plane with an unfastened door to the cargo department, but no document related to a missing crate or box.

"Well, this crate was by no means an official transport, if you take my meaning," Professor Dumbledore said with a benevolent smile to the investigator.

"Ah, I understand. We will not inquire further, perhaps. If I put down 'hazardous material' in the report, that will do, don't you think? At any rate, there will be two heavy trucks and a wheel loader coming at any moment." The investigator had obviously been told in advance what he was going to investigate. The organisation was perfect. The two trucks and the wheel loader were already coming up the street.

One of the trucks was loaded with concrete. It backed up to the centre of the enclosed area and dumped half its load of concrete into the crater over the rectangular stone and the broken boards. The wheel loader then moved in, scraped up everything including the top inches of soil into a heap blending it with the concrete, and started loading the muck into the empty truck. The process was repeated, now including part of the pavement with the remains of the entrance flagstone. The now empty truck with the concrete was in turn to be loaded. The two trucks drove away. Total time was less than half an hour.

The inhabitant of number 11 made his appearance. He had obviously been sleeping until quite recently and demanded to be told what they were doing to his garden. He was told in official tones by the muggle minister that there had been an air-related accident and that they had been forced to clean away some debris from the sky. The garden should of course be restored. In fact the two trucks was expected back later with fresh soil.

Professor Dumbledore asked what type of plants he had been growing in his garden. He received rather vague answers. He then asked if some rhododendron bushes would do.

"If you can get such bushes to grow here, you are welcome to try," the neighbour answered.

"I can't, but I know one that can," Professor Dumbledore answered back. To Harry he said in an aside. "Professor Sprout will love this challenge."

Some minutes later, Harry and Professor Dumbledore were saying goodbye to the ministers, the investigator and the policeman.

"I hope this will be the end of this part of the affair," minister Fudge said.

"I expect Lucius will be in contact with you before this day is ended. Hopefully these two truckloads will be well covered before then." Professor Dumbledore answered.

"I understand they were destined to the municipal dump. It's in operation today in spite of the holyday. I hope they were doing as they were told. I don't want to draw too much attention to this, otherwise we could check. It was handled by Mr Smythe in my department. Usually he does things to perfection."

"Okay then. Bye."

Harry and Professor Dumbledore went back to Hogwarts for lunch.

---

After her breakfast, Hermione remained sitting in the common room. She felt emptiness. The last week she had spent every hour of the twenty-four together with Harry, save some miserable hours during his first meeting with Major Shout. What a name! Hermione smiled at the memory.

But what should she do today? Certainly, there were some things she ought to do with her laundry, and her toenails needed to be cut. But damned, even these silly things were more fun with Harry around. "I'll have to get dressed, to begin with," she told herself.

After the morning shower, and with the increase of blood-sugar from the breakfast, her spirits had risen above freezing point at least. She decided she was to give that instruction booklet a try, the one they got from Remus and Tonks the other day. She saw Dobby cleaning away the breakfast. She had an idea.

"Dobby, could you please find me a wooden peg - no make it two - about this in diameter and, let's see - one should be three inches, the other two and a half." Dobby bowed and flapped his ears and vanished.

Hermione sat down by the common room fire and began leafing through the small book. She found that the wand should be held by the thumb and index finger and the wand movements consisted of turns of the wand, clockwise or anti-clockwise, combined with letting the other tip of the wand touch the palm in various positions. Of course, she thought, this will need some time for practise, but it will be something similar to playing the flute. When you have had enough practise, it will be second nature.

Dobby returned with the two pieces of wood. With some magic Hermione thought, she would make them into close copies of her own and Harry's new wands. She fetched the two holsters, picked up her book and the two pegs and made for the library. In the library, she was at ease being alone.

Hermione got an idea. Had Harry remembered to bring his mobile phone? Had he got it back from Tonks last night? The idea was to use it in situations like this - to be able to keep in touch. No one could take offence if she made him a call, could they? Hermione made the call.

Harry answered after a number of signals. A few comments had given her the reassurance she sought - the investigation was running smoothly and Harry and Professor Dumbledore were in no difficulties. They would probably return by lunch.

Now, completely assured, she set about doing what she had come to do. With some carefully applied magic spells, she succeeded in making the wooden pegs into two in form close copies of her and Harry's new combat wands. Having achieved this, her spirits rose further and she began methodically to learn the new combination of spells and their wand movements. In the peaceful atmosphere of the library the time went fast and she found that the first pangs of hunger were justified. It was indeed lunch time.

---

Returning to the great hall, she was met by a great hullabaloo. The few students left over the holydays succeeded in making a noise of several hundred. A few owls were sweeping around under the ceiling in search of their addressees. Owls leaving with a new message were replaced by new arrivals. Obviously rumours had started to circulate. Professor McGonagall tried in vain to make herself heard.

Hermione was soon spotted. "Hermione! Is I true that You-Know-Who has duelled with Harry and that Harry won?" - "I've heard that someone like Harry was seen at St. Mungo's!" - "Lots of people are said to be missing" - "Miss Granger! Why is the hospital wing locked?" The last question was asked in a shrill voice by a little first year boy. Hermione shot a questioning glance at her teacher. Professor McGonagall gave her a reassuring nod. Hermione raised her hand for silence.

"At present, no one knows exactly what happened. I know on the other hand a lot of things that didn't happen, so some rumours can - and should - be stopped. Let me start from the beginning." Hermione had gotten the full attention from everyone in the hall. Even the owls had calmed down and found places to sit.

"Yesterday there was a New Year's party in a house close to London. Among those present were friends of Harry's godfather who was killed last summer, some teachers at Hogwarts, and Harry and me. As you know, Harry can sense the activities of the murderer of his parents, Lord Voldemort. There was pain in his scar. So he suspected a surprise attack and made sure we were prepared. Thus, the attackers who attempted to catch us in a trap were themselves trapped. Some were captured, some fled. It will take some time to sort out who is in hiding somewhere and who actually was killed and lost." When Hermione finished there was a minute of silence. "Now please ask your questions one by one, and I will try to answer. Let's start with a few I caught before."

"No, Harry is not in any hospital. I talked to him an hour ago, and he was all right."

"The easiest explanation why the Hospital Wing is locked is because it is empty and Madame Pomfrey has taken a day off."

"Why would You-Know-Who attack in the first place?"

"Try to use his name!" Hermione suggested.

"Ok. Lord V-V-Voldemort."

"His true name when he went to school here at Hogwarts was Tom Riddle. He lost his mother when he was a baby, and was raised by his father, an ordinary muggle. He blamed every setback on his father and dreamed of what his talented magical mother might have done for him, if she had lived. To compensate for his childhood, he dreamed of being the most powerful wizard known, and he hated muggles.

There are a lot of people from families with a great history, but with a not so glorious present or future that are willing to buy in on that dream - to restore their own greatness at the expense of others. That's where you recruit Lord Voldemort's followers - the Death Eaters.

There were people who didn't believe in the justice of such policies - among others Harry's parents. Lord Voldemort didn't hesitate at hideous things to achieve his goals - so he murdered them, and tried to kill Harry at the same time. We know that he failed utterly, instead transferring some of his powers to Harry. That's why Harry has been his number one target ever since. Lord Voldemort had trouble living with that nearly sixteen year old failure. You know, he had failed in killing a defenceless baby. Not good for the image of the mightiest wizard of the world."

"Who would you say is the mightiest wizard then?"

"Professor Dumbledore, without question."

"Why?"

"To be great, you must be able to enrol followers, not by fear, but out of loyalty, respect and love. That, beside his wisdom, is what makes Professor Dumbledore greatest."

Hermione's cheeks had turned a rosy colour during her speech. The colour was not lessened when she followed the gaze of several in her audience. Harry and Professor Dumbledore had entered. They must have heard at least the last of her remarks.

Harry quickly moved up to her and hugged her. "Hey. You surely know how to talk to people and make them listen! And I distinctly saw a tear in his eye!" Harry nodded towards their headmaster. "Lunch?"

They had difficulty getting to their places at the Gryffindor table, so they accepted an offer to sit down at the same table as Professor McGonagall. Professor Dumbledore prepared a small speech.

"I understand that there have been numerous questions and rumours, and that they have been cleverly answered by Miss Granger. I also thank her for her kind assessment at the end." He wiped at his eye with a large handkerchief.

"It seems that the great menace of Lord Voldemort has been averted. Exactly in what way and for how long, we can't say yet. We can look at the future with careful optimism, but much inquiry still remains to be done. Let's also bear in mind that like in all great events, there may be some innocent individuals that are hit with sorrow and loss."

During the lunch, Professor Dumbledore gave his accounts of the morning to Professor McGonagall and the other teachers. Hermione listened with interest, but longed for Harry's own tale. She would like his first hand description of his feeling at the now empty nr 12, Grimmauld Place.

---

After the lunch was over, Harry and Hermione decided to take a walk in the nice winter weather. They dressed in their now dry outdoor robes and started the tour around the lake. They walked slowly, enjoying each other's company.

"We've walked this tour around the lake thousands of times before, but it feels different now that we're together. I feel this is Harry, and he's mine. It's a reassuring feeling, sort of." Hermione said. "I know I can get kissed, if I want to," she added.

"Funny you should say that, because that was exactly what I had in mind," Harry answered and bent forward. Some seconds later, he continued, "Have I told you before that you are pretty?"

"Yes, but please tell me again!"

"You are pretty."

"Flatterer." Hermione took Harry under his arm and straightened their steps. "Now you tell me of your trip with Professor Dumbledore."

"OK. First of all, Professor Dumbledore was dressed into what he thought looked like muggle clothes. He resembled Sherlock Holmes as I saw him in a TV-movie last summer."

"Oh, I see. Basil Rathbone."

"Who's Basil Rathbone?"

"The actor playing Sherlock Holmes. Continue!"

"Anyhow; we apparated to Grimmauld Place. Of course no house was to be seen. We were greeted by a police officer rather brusquely, asking about our business. There was also an auror plainclothesman, which recognised Dumbledore. So we were allowed to have a look around. There was a hole in the earth with some boards lying about, glass splinters in the soil, and above all, a large rectangular stone. The stone seemed to be sending a message, 'come touch me'. It had an ugly feeling about it, so I was not even tempted."

"OK, so instead of the Black House there was the Black Hole. What did Professor Dumbledore say?"

"He told me not to touch the stone. It seemed to give him some idea of an explanation, though. He seemed rather pleased about it."

"What about if someone else had touched it, what would have happened?"

"He didn't tell. Professor Dumbledore asked the policeman about previous visitors. No one had been allowed. He mentioned someone that must've been Lucius Malfoy. - Anyway, there were no footmarks close to the stone. The funny thing was though, that while we were walking around the stone, the boards began shifting form. After a while, they all seemed to belong to a wooden box or crate, and there were streaks of white powder spreading over and from the stone. Obviously Professor Dumbledore was building some sort of story. The weirdest thing was though; that all the time we were walking around down in that crater inside the roped-off area, the policeman stood looking intently in the other direction."

"He pretended he didn't see anything."

"No, rather it seemed time was standing still for him. When we came up to him, he came back into action like someone had released the pause button. I can't say if it was Dumbledore or the auror that did it. I whish I knew how to do it."

"I can see many reasons why such a spell isn't in the ordinary courses."

"It would be handy though. Imagine Malfoy racing for the snitch. I just press his pause button, and he races past - I catch the snitch and release the button. He simply can't understand how he missed. - It would be very close to the reality of the last few years, though. No one would see the difference." Harry was dreaming. "Or you meet Filch in the corridor at night. You just switch him into pause mode - pass him fine and serenely - and release him again. He hasn't noticed anything. No problem to either party."

"Or you walk into the girl's bathroom, cast your pause spell, and you can investigate at your leisure. - No, I wouldn't teach you that spell unconditionally."

"What a pity! There are more ways how to handle people that I would like to know more about. We had a visit by Minister Fudge, his muggle colleague for air transport and a special investigator. Minister Fudge must have been told what to do by somebody, Professor Dumbledore likely. The muggle minister was of no consequence. He had brought an expert investigator who was a great joke, though. Those parts of the phoney story he hadn't already learnt by heart, Professor Dumbledore told him. He didn't put a single question. Expert investigator - my ass."

"Sounds reassuring. What did they do to the stone?"

"Good question. Shows sense for the essentials. There were two trucks and a wheel-loader. One of the trucks dumped concrete over the stone. The wheel-loader scraped up the top soil, blended it with the concrete, and put everything into the two trucks truck. After half an hour they were off to a landfill area. The idea being that the stone will be buried in the middle of a huge lump of hard concrete in some forgotten area of the municipal dump. - Finito Voldemort."

"Do you think Voldemort was alive inside that stone?"

"I don't know. I guess Professor Dumbledore will tell us his view of the matter. One thing is clear. That stone was not innocent."

---

They continued their walk mostly in silence. There were many thoughts to process. They held on to each other for reassurance, exchanging only half sentences for conformation of an idea, a conclusion, or to put a question without waiting for an answer. Hermione was the first to change the subject.

"Harry, we are followed. By Remus and Tonks, I think. They have kept the same distance the last two turns around the lake."

"Maybe they are our body-guards."

"Harry, are you serious?"

"Yes, actually more so than I intended. Coming to think about it, there must be some very frustrated Death-Eaters out there somewhere. You told me so yourself last night, remember?"

"Why can't we just be allowed to be happy? "

"But Mione; we can be happy. We have each other; we don't need to go anywhere where we can't be guarded. There are a lot of people that are anxious to help us if we need. We have our exercises. I look forward to that combat training. - By the way, you haven't told me what you did this morning."

"Initially, I was at a loss what to do. Then I decided I should have a go at that instruction book we got the other day. That's when I got this bright idea. Dobby was taking out our breakfast tray."

"Let me guess. So you … ?"

"No. I had Dobby fetch two wooden pegs, which I then formed like this!" Hermione showed the copy of Harry's new wand she had made. Harry took the smooth peg in his hand.

"OK. It's similar to my new wand. Let's see - You made it to practise the wand movements. Clever. And now I have to try to find some time to keep up with you. Of course, you know the entire book by heart already."

"Actually; not the ENTIRE book. I did not learn how to configure the wand. But I learned some useful sequences." Hermione turned around suddenly and said: "Stun - Expelliarmus - Shield - Skip - Jelly legs." She pointed her right index finger at in turn Remus and Tonks while she kept twisting her wooden wand copy in her left hand.

Harry and Hermione stood waiting for the two aurors to come up to them. Harry explained.

"Hermione has been studying. She just demonstrated how to handle some evildoers that tried to sneak up behind us."

"I had no wand. I just showed Harry this little copy I made to practise and memorize some wand sequences. I hope my mock attack didn't offend you."

"Well, I can't complain when our students take their lessons seriously, but in general, you shouldn't use other people as targets for fake attacks. We use dummies for that purpose. - You know, we could have been nervous and returned the attack, but for real!" Remus answered with a bit of seriousness in his voice.

"We have been walking around the lake, having a good time in the sun. It's getting colder now though. Are you going in?" asked Tonks.

"Yeah, it's about time. The sun is setting," answered Harry.

"Yes we will. I have planned to show something to Harry first." Hermione indicated a path towards the back of the castle.

---

Harry and Hermione walked for a couple of minutes until they reached the snowman they had built some ten days before. It had endured both sun, rain, winds and heavy snowfall since then. Hermione went up to him with her arm around Harry.

"You know, it was when we were building this snowman I finally realized I wanted to live with you for the rest of my life. My mood was at a low then but you knew how to help me. I will have ups and downs also in the future but I know I can rely on you to help without being false or making a nuisance of yourself. I think you know me better than I do myself. Harry, I love you and I need you." Hermione took hold in Harry's clothes and buried her face in his muffler. Harry held her tight and bent down to kiss her head.

"I thought the crucial moment was when we were caught in that snow slide over there. I felt great when we ended up lying together in our own little world of snow. I was so angry with myself for being embarrassed when I had the girl of my dreams so close. I wanted that moment to last."

"Yes, I felt the same. That's what I was thinking the rest of that evening. I mean when we started kissing and snogging. Although I was afraid of what we were heading to, I was equally afraid of stopping, because I thought that if we did, we might have to wait an eternity for that magic moment to come back."

Harry and Hermione had been looking down the slope where their new life had started. Without words, they started walking towards the back door into the castle.

"Remus and Tonks must be rather cold by now," Harry observed.

"Didn't they go inside when we parted from them?"

"No, they have been watching us from that door niche over there. See, two shadows are leaving right now."

"Harry, I think you will have to warm me. All that talk has made me feel cold by standing still. Do you know what we could do about that?"

"Maybe some hot cocoa from the kitchen?"

"Are you getting senile?"

Harry chuckled. "No. Let's see what we can do."

---

Harry and Hermione came down to dinner satisfied from an agreeable afternoon. The end had not been the less enjoyable part. Fresh from a hot shower and with clean clothes their minds were now intent on satisfying a different hunger, the hunger for food. The atmosphere in the great hall was joyful on most hands. Everyone seemed to have received reassuring messages from friends, parents or relatives. Harry and Hermione ate their dinner alone at the Gryffindor table. An almost reverent silence surrounded them.

"How many days before Ron and the rest will be back?" Harry commented.

"Those returning by train will be here in five days. Maybe some will be here before that."

"We haven't heard anything about those new rooms. Not any work either - of course it's holiday."

"What worries me is when the news reporters will start demand interviews. They are bound to, you know."

As if to answer Hermione's assumption, Tonks came to their table.

"Professor Dumbledore will give short information to the teachers and to you two immediately after dinner. That will be now if you both have finished."

When Harry and Hermione entered Professor Dumbledore's office, most of the school staff was already there.

"As I said earlier today, we really have reason to be joyful and thankful for the outcome of this business. But in the short term, we will be required to deal with less pleasant things. I have received preliminary reports to the effect that some parents to pupils at our school are reported missing, possibly dead. Some are kept in custody as are actually a few pupils of ours. We certainly will have to expel some of them, in other cases a severe warning might do. We will have to await the official reports."

"Tomorrow at eleven, there will be an unofficial hearing at the request of Lucius Malfoy. It will take place here at Hogwarts. Minister Fudge will also be present. Of course, everyone at the party at Grimmauld Place should be present. You two, Harry and Hermione, will be required to explain our preparations."

"Harry, you and I will have a chat tomorrow after breakfast, let's say at nine. We should decide what type of information we are willing to disclose at this stage. Hermione, you will accompany Tonks to St. Mungo's. It seems they have a patient attached to a door handle, and no one has figured out how to separate the two."

A lot of giggles were heard among those assembled. Also Hermione let a small giggle escape her. She knew directly why no one had been able to undo the charm.

"Hermione will find not only pleasure in this task. The patient in question tried to kill her half a year ago," Professor Dumbledore added, and directly to Hermione he said.

"I understand if you find it awkward to meet him again, but it will be still worse for him, being finally defeated in a not very glorious way."

"Finally, my friends, there will be a press conference at three in the afternoon. At the strong request of minister Fudge, it will be held at the ministry in London. Of course, he will take as much credit as possible for himself and for his administration, but on the whole, I think it will be for the best. Hogwarts should remain a school, not the centre of a continuous war against evil."

The meeting dissolved, and Harry and Hermione walked slowly back to the Gryffindor tower, pausing at the kitchen for some provisions for the evening.

---

Harry and Hermione were sitting before the fire in the common room.

Harry was reading the instruction booklet, his wooden wand copy in his left hand. Now and then, he let his gaze lift from the book. Imagining a combat situation, he repeated the movements with both hands, pointing at various places with his right hand, handling the wooden copy with his left. After a while, he seemed to get an idea. He thought intently and flipped through the pages of his book.

"Look, there are a couple of spells you can do without a wand in your right hand. I will exercise them specially."

"Why. What do you mean?"

"Well, suppose you are taken by surprise. You can always start with the shield charm before you pick up the ordinary wand. Or your opponent succeeds in disarming you. You can put up the shield, skip away and accio the wand."

"Oh, you are preparing for different scenarios. I knew you would. You will be a great auror. Thinking in advance." Hermione said.

"Didn't you do like that?"

"No, not that detailed. I learnt the spells and wand movements mainly. That's a difference between us. You have other talents than I have; some great ones. You know that, don't you?"

Harry gave Hermione a look. She had just given him a compliment worth millions. Just like that, seemingly without thinking what a gift she gave him. Hermione kept reading her book, a smile on her lips.

"What are you reading?"

"A muggle book my daddy lent me this summer. He said it was his favourite a long time ago. I started to read it, but forgot it when term started and I had my studies. It's called 'The Long Ships' by a Swedish author; F.G.Bengtsson. It's about the Viking era. Interesting and funny. A bad guy just got his head chopped off in a sword fight. It bounced into a butt of ale."

After another half an hour of reading, Hermione felt sleepy. She put her book aside, and lay down on the couch with her head in Harry's lap. After looking into the fire for a while, she fell asleep.

Harry picked up her book and began leafing through it, reading a passage here and there. 'I would like to read this when she's done with it', he thought to himself. 'What a luxury, reading a book by the fire, together with the best friend and prettiest girl in the world - and no Voldemort to worry about'. Harry absently combed his fingers through her hair. He suddenly was aware of a blissful happiness he hadn't felt anytime before. He continued gazing into the fire. He was awoken from his reverie when Hermione stirred. He found her looking up into his face.

"Harry, take me to bed," she said in a husky voice.

Harry picked her up and started up the stairs to his room. Hermione had her arms around his neck, kissing him deeply. Things began to be urgent, and before they reached his bed, their clothes were half off, their hands groping for the feel of skin.

In an instant, Hermione was on the bed with her legs in the air. Harry positioned himself with a newfound self-assurance and entered.

"I can't get enough of this, Harry."

"Be comforted. There is no lack of interest from my part."

A peaceful silence soon enclosed the rhythmic movements in the bed, until finally stillness reigned for the rest of the night.