7. The prophesy and future accommodations.
Harry awoke slowly, trying to remember where he was. His eyes were still full of sleep. Good; memory returned. He was in the common room couch with Hermione, with his ear on her belly, facing the fire. Her hand had been in his hair, but must now have fallen off. They had been talking about his need to arrange his will, and he had talked about money. He was satisfied with this, he had dreaded that topic. If his riches became generally known, his fame would be still greater and he was afraid of that. His own fear of the future was only enhanced by articles in 'Teen Witch Weekly' of Harry as the most popular young bachelor. But Hermione had been sensible and told him that she was not likely to outlive him if the fight with Voldemort came to that end. He really needed to share his destiny with someone, and Hermione had always had a reassuring effect on him. She was dependable, in every sense of the word.
When Harry opened his eyes, the flames in the fireplace were not what he saw. Instead he looked straight into Crookshanks' luminous eyes. He was curled up on Hermione's feet. Crookshanks blinked once like approving Harry's thoughts. Harry had more than once thought that Crookshanks seemed to read minds. Harry blinked back but got no reaction other than to see Crookshanks close his eyes and begin to purr.
Harry rose for a trip to the bathroom. When he came back, Crookshanks had occupied Harry's earlier place on Hermione's belly. Hermione's hand had returned; stroking the fur. When Harry sat down on the couch, Hermione awoke to some degree. She murmured 'Harry' and began patting Crookshanks more intensely.
"Soft hair I've got," Harry said with a smile.
This comment got her entirely awake. She removed her hand and sat up.
"Did you have a nice dream?" asked Harry.
"Ye - es," she answered, "but I don't remember …"
"Well, you mumbled my name, I just wondered …" Harry said.
Hermione left for a while, returning with two glasses of water. "I got thirsty, do you want some?"
Harry took a large draught of the offered drink while Hermione sat down next to him. Now Crookshanks called attention to himself. He meowed while sitting next to the paper left on the floor. Hermione bent forward, fetched the paper and read the note:
Dear Harry and Hermione
I came to discuss some things with you but found you taking your afternoon nap. I had no heart to disturb your sleep. Instead I would like to have a chat with both of you after dinner tonight.
Minerva McGonagall
"What can she want?" Harry asked somewhat guiltily.
"Probably she is interested in your essay, and - she may want to tell us about those new rooms professor Dumbledore hinted at. The tone in the note is quite friendly. In fact, she has dropped her title. You don't have to feel awkward just because she is your teacher," answered Hermione wisely.
Harry let out a sound of relief and Hermione lay down. "This time, I listen to your stomach while you continue. You said there were a number of things to discuss. We have so far covered my bras and your wealth." She snuggled close to him with her head in his lap.
"I wonder what more topics of importance there is," she added with a smile.
"There are your parents," Harry began.
"My parents?"
"Mione. I've been thinking. We both share a muggle background. Although my parents were both magical, I've been brought up in a muggle family. I know how muggles react to magical things. They are afraid. I've to admit that the reason the Dursleys are so mean is that they are afraid."
"OK. That really doesn't excuse their …."
"No, but listen. You have also been raised in a muggle family. Think what a shock for them to hear that their little daughter was a witch! Since you were 11, you have been away for most of each year. In summer you have been leaving for The Burrows ahead of beginning of term. Last summer they must have realised that their little girl actually was a young woman. You must understand if they feel they have lost contact to a degree. That's what you have felt as well - Right?" Harry cupped her face in his hand and looked into her chocolate eyes. He saw confirmation when they began to fill with tears.
Hermione raised herself and sat in his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Harry, you know me better that I do myself. I've seen this happen, but what can I do about it? I don't have a bad relation with my parents. It's just that sometimes we don't talk about the same things. When, last summer, I tried to talk girl-talk to my mother - e.g. discuss boy problems, she started to relate what the boys in my old class were doing, and what she knew about their future plans. She even tried to arrange to meet my old class. When I explained that I wasn't interested, she was really disappointed."
"What other problems?"
"Well, I wanted to discuss my future, what to do after Hogwarts and such things. And - I think the name Harry was mentioned a few times." Hermione continued her look into Harry's eyes. She touched his nose with hers and smiled.
"Yeah, that's why I think this is important. We should get them involved. I've never had a family - a real family. And - and - uh - and, I think they have to know your boyfriend is a wizard," Harry finished lamely, blushing.
"You're cute!" Hermione caressed Harry's forehead, putting his hair away, looking deeply in his eyes. "You want a family and grandparents to spoil your kids. You don't have to be afraid of telling me. I will help you if I can - You know, I've always been there to help you." She wound her arms around his neck pressing him to her, and kissed him.
After a while, Hermione sat back on Harry's knee with a perplexed air on her face. "I've got a brainwave!!"
"Things are falling into place," she continued. "I was told a prophesy many years ago. You know - I don't believe much in those things, and I forgot about it. My family may not be magical, but my aunt - my mother's sister - maybe has some powers. Anyway, weird things happen to her sometimes but she cannot control them. She is interested in magic though, and when I was a kid, she brought me to a fortune-teller, an old woman she knew. When we came there she talked sweetly to me about everyday things like you do to a child, but suddenly I remember her voice changed and she told me I would meet a young man with a sign, we would get married, have kids, and would live happily many - very many - years. The thing is that my aunt thought that that was the fortune I was to be told and she made to pay the small fee, but the fortune-teller had no memory of what she had said, so she started laying out cards and speaking about dark persons with dangerous jobs - you know to ordinary trade. I remember though that my aunt whispered that she thought the first part was the real prophesy. I also remember that I had a vision of literally meeting someone carrying a placard on a pole. I may have been six or seven at the time."
"And now I sit on the knee of a very dear young man with a sign on his forehead." Hermione slightly followed the form of the lightning scar. "Do you think we will live together happily for very many years?" Hermione asked quietly.
"I wish it will come true," Harry said after a while. "Had you forgotten about that prophesy completely?"
"Yes. If I had remembered and thought it meant you, I'm not sure I would have dared think about it; not before now anyway."
"If it was to be true, that would mean no more Voldemort!" Harry thought aloud.
They sat close together on the couch for a couple of minutes. Then Harry gave a sigh.
"There is a prophesy about me as well," Harry began.
"The reason I was fooled to come to the department of mysteries where Sirius was killed was that Voldemort knew there was a prophesy about me and him. He had learned about the first part only and earlier attempts at stealing the entire prophesy had resulted in failure. Only the one referred to in the prophesy could claim it. The recording in the department of Mysteries is now destroyed but Dumbledore told me the contents."
"Why does he know?" Hermione asked.
"The prophesy was made during a meeting between him and Sybil Trelawney. Like your fortune-teller, her voice changed and she fell in trance or something. Dumbledore thinks it's genuine. Someone overheard the first part and spilled the beans to Voldemort. But the rest was told to Dumbledore alone. He recorded it in his pensieve and he let me listen to it. It felt rather spooky - and frightening."
"Do you remember …"
"Yes, wait. It consists of four parts, more or less. This is how it goes:"
"Oh!" was the only comment Hermione managed for a while. She then asked: "Did Dumbledore explain anything?"
"Well, according to Dumbledore, the first part could mean me or Neville, but Voldemort that didn't know the rest tried to kill me. That was his mistake, because he transferred a lot of power to me, making part two of the prophesy fulfilled. My scar is the mark mentioned."
"Neville … ?"
"Neville Longbottom; his parents also belonged to the order, you know."
"And the rest tells that either of you will win, but there is an advantage you may have."
Harry glanced at Hermione and saw a very solemn look on her face. She was thinking fast. Harry felt a pang in his heart and smiled a short smile when he saw her well-known fighting face biting her lower lip. She began: "We can count on V-Voldemort trying to attack again. Then it is up to us to put up a defence not only to ward him off, but powerful enough to end him. That means planning and also communication so we can gather our allies quickly. And also research into really powerful defence magic."
After a new silence where Harry squeezed her hand, she continued: "We must use your ability to sense his emotions, so we know when he is up to something, but we also must hinder him knowing we are prepared. I think we need to start Occlumency practise at once. - But really, what could that third part mean?"
"It said I would have powers Voldemort doesn't know. I don't know what that could be, but I have been thinking a lot on that lately. I've some ideas."
"Harry, one thing you do have is a sense for the feelings of other people - that's one reason why I love you. You can show love, compassion, mercy, loyalty, righteousness. You have downright a sense of honour."
"But I don't think …" Harry was interrupted.
"Harry! You saw Dobby serving breakfast yesterday; he's calling you sir - that's not because he's bound to you, that's because you have been kind to him. Ron and I love you and will do anything for your safety, that's not because of your beautiful eyes. Dumbledore, McGonagall, the entire Order will back you up. That's not because you're their last hope but because you are worth it, because the person you are!" Hermione shouted at him, her eyes filled with tears.
Harry leaned over and hugged her tenderly. "Hermione, what you say makes me blush and feel bewildered. Dumbledore hinted at the same thing - He actually said there was a sealed chamber in the Department of Mystery dedicated to the power I had and Voldemort had not. But my mind boggles at what to find in a chamber showing love and compassion. I don't see how that will win a war with Voldemort. That's one argument. Another is that if I presume I show love and compassion, Voldemort will show hatred, cruelty and contempt. Those are feelings of the same kind, only with opposite signs."
"Yes, but ..." Hermione put in. "What I mean is we back you up because we believe in you, the Death-Eaters are bound to Voldemort by fear."
"Hem. What I have been thinking is something other," Harry continued, now with more self-assuredness. "What I have - what we have, you and I - is knowledge and some understanding of the muggle society. Voldemort on the other hand despises anything muggle. He probably would know a loaded gun as a muggle weapon, but there sure are sophisticated weapons a muggle child would immediately recognise while Voldemort wouldn't have an inkling of its nature. That could surely be called a power he doesn't know."
"What does Dumbledore say about that?"
"I haven't discussed it - yet. I began thinking along those lines recently. Your mobile phone was one piece in my thought puzzle."
"That would be the ultimate end of the Death Eaters - their lord and master killed by a muggle weapon. But what will a shield charm do to a bullet or a bomb?"
"I don't know," answered Harry, "but he can't walk around within a shield all the time. The thing is he wouldn't recognise the threat because of his ignorance and thus be unprepared. We have to prepare ourselves though. "
Hermione was silent for some time. "I need to think. I will take a shower and prepare for dinner. You might do the same. Come to my room when you are ready." She gave him a smile.
"It's plenty of time before dinner," he answered. He got only another smile as reply, and she was gone upstairs. Harry remained for a couple of minutes. He had shared his thoughts and his destiny with his best friend of many years and the girl he loved since - when. Well, since nearly as long. He felt calm and secure. If he needed to face Voldemort, he couldn't find anyone he rather would have by his side than Hermione.
If only that prophesy of hers could come true. He should ask professor Dumbledore discreetly. He remained seated for a while before he also went upstairs.
---
Hermione was alone in the girl's bathroom. Her head was full of new thoughts and ideas. So much had happened the last few days. She had seen a glimpse of her destiny, both a prospect of wealth and happiness and a possibility of death and sorrow. Surely the first alternative could not come into existence by just waiting for it. It was worth fighting for. "I will start on that planning list," she thought with expectation.
Another new thing was that she had got a boyfriend. "I, Hermione Granger, have a boyfriend." The taste of that sentence in her mouth was fantastic. Not only a boyfriend, a lover, and the boy of her secret dreams at that. Hermione shot a glance at the mirror when she was towelling herself after the shower. She had shown herself naked to him, at least short glimpses, and she had been together with him in bed more than once. Hermione knew the other girls talked about sex, but few actually had much experience. How come she had beaten many of them to it? She knew that neither Lavender nor Parvati, her roommates, had actual experience so far, in spite of much talk and interest.
Hermione thought of Lavender's curvy body with her big bosom and broad hips, and Parvati's slender figure with her raven hair down to her waist. She pressed critically her breasts upward and released them; they didn't sag much. They certainly were not Lavender's size, but at least the size of Parvati's, she thought. She continued critically examining her image in the mirror. "The idiots in the street at home did whistle after me when I had those new jeans this last summer," she thought. "There is no extra fat, I think"; she pinched her hips and thighs critically.
With a small smile Hermione watched her curly bush. This had been a rather successful bit of magic. She had come across a spell to remove unwanted hair, and she had applied it - carefully - to the hair of her groin. The hair itched in the elastic of her knickers and, worst of all; it could show at the side of her bikini bottoms. Lavender had noticed and asked how it was done and she had told her. Lavender had removed all hair though.
She sat down and struggled with her hair brush. She had problems with her hair - it always got tangled up. "Maybe I should try something - holding it together somehow. Afraid I will look too old though, like Aunt Marge with her hair in a bun at the top of her neck".
"I will ask Harry what he thinks," she resolved. "I hope he likes the look of me - he does like fooling around with his hands anyway." She was astonished that the mere thought sent a tickle between her legs and her nipples got hard. With a flush on her cheeks, she went to her room.
Hermione put on her bra and knickers and a pair of socks. Then she laid out her frock and a suitable robe. There was still plenty of time before dinner, so she lay down in her bed, pulling the blankets up for warmth. Her mind started to roam again and soon she was asleep.
---
When Harry came up after a quick shower and a hasty change of clothes, he found Hermione asleep. She lay facing the door; had she been waiting for him? He sat on the edge of her bed and looked in her face; it was so still and at peace. When he bent down and kissed her forehead, she awoke. "What time is it?" she asked. He answered her question.
"Still some time before we have to go down for dinner. I put on the alarm; just to be sure we don't miss dinner. Take off your shoes and your robe and come here." Hermione held open her bed for him to lie down. His breath caught in his chest. He had to exercise his best self-control to just lie down and hug her to him.
"Oh, Mione, you are so good, I could eat you. Like candy."
She hugged him back and gave him a kiss. "Actually, I was going to ask you some questions. Maybe you answered one of them already - or was it just hormones? Anyway, I would like some more detailed answers, with words," she added.
"What question?" he asked.
"What do you think of my looks, I mean am I cute, pretty or just passable. Please compare with e.g. Lavender or Parvati - or maybe with Cho. Should I do something with my hair? You had ideas about my clothes."
"Mione, I didn't mean to criticise you or make you miserable", Harry's voice got a pleading tone and his hand stroked her arm.
"Harry, I don't think so and I'm not miserable. I just started to think in the bathroom. I saw myself in a new light so to say. I haven't been much interested in my looks and I want a relatively honest opinion. I do feel you love me. I just would like to know why? Would you like me regardless of my looks? Probably not. So - How do I look on a scale 1 to 10?"
Harry now felt more at ease. This was maybe Hermione's scientific mind rather than uncertainty or jealousy that was at play. He began rather tentatively: "You can't put such a thing on a single scale. There are so many words and they don't mean exactly the same thing. Beautiful, cute, pretty, sexy, attractive - you definitely are very attractive in my opinion, but maybe not in everyone's. Lavender for instance has great curves, everything moves on her when she moves. She's definitely very womanly with a nice face to look at and, I think, smooth and silky hair. I understand that Ron is rather attracted by her; she resembles Molly, Ron's mother I think. Only the colour of her hair is different."
"Parvati on the other hand has a slender body and moves very gracefully. In that way she's very feminine. She has got a beautiful face with that long hair of hers and she has got a nice voice. She would make a great hostess in a home with distinguished guests."
"Maybe she would suit you fine in that great country house of yours," Hermione said with a hint of bitterness in her voice.
"Yes, she would," Harry said, "but I don't know what to talk to her about. We don't have the same interests. She's more interested in mysticism than magic. I've never seen her eyes fix on anything near." Hermione now let a giggle escape. "And for Lavenders' eyes," Harry continued, "The lights are on, but there is nobody at home."
"That was mean," Hermione said, "but true."
"Really", Harry said, "Lavender is OK and she will be a good mother to her children, but she is no genius. And that's what leads us up to you!"
Harry bent down and kissed Hermione and looked her into her eyes. "What are most amazing with you are your eyes. They are the mirror of your soul. When I look you into the eyes, I know your feelings. Your eyes smile when you are happy, they show sorrow, compassion, interest, determination, curiosity, comprehension, sauciness, knowledge, everything. Don't ask me if your nose is big or small, I simply don't know."
"Thank you Harry that was the greatest compliment you could give me!" Hermione rolled him over on his back, she on top, and kissed him. At the same time the alarm went off. "Oh, we must hurry."
On their way down the corridors, Harry added: "About what you asked about looks. There is absolutely nothing you lack. The thing is that you don't bother to show that you are a girl at all times. Parvati is a girl at all times by nature. But I know you're my girl, and that's what counts to me." He took her hand and squeezed it when they entered the great hall. He got a squeeze back.
---
They both were invited to the teachers' table by professor McGonagall who beckoned to them to come and sit near her and Professor Dumbledore.
"In fact, I had two errands when I looked you up earlier today," started Professor McGonagall after some small talk during the dinner. "One was to hear if you had made any progress with the essay assignment you have Mr Potter, the other was to show you both how we intend to arrange extended accommodation facilities in the Gryffindor tower. However, I found you two happily snoring before the fire, so I left a note."
"Yes, I've heard you make the best use of your holiday!" Professor Dumbledore put in with twinkling eyes.
"We were really doing good work in the library before lunch!" Hermione said defensively.
"And after lunch, I had some things I felt I had to tell Hermione," Harry added, receiving benign smiles from the two professors.
"Yes, and I would like to discuss a few things with you, if you can spare me the time," Hermione asked professor Dumbledore.
"I will be very pleased to talk to you, Miss Granger. Let's do it right after dinner, while Minerva looks over Harry's papers in the library. And by the way, I usually call Harry with his first name in informal situations like this. May I do so with you as well, Hermione? - Thank you," he added at her small "Yes, of course."
---
Thus, after dinner, Harry walked with Professor McGonagall up to the library to show her his work so far. He started with his hypothesis:
"To get a grip on 'Transfiguration through the ages', I started reading some references mentioned in our textbooks. I then found that they seemed to focus on different targets depending on their age. My problem then was how I could show this without reading all books in the library dealing with transfiguration."
At this point a smile flickered across professor McGonagall's face. "Your observation is very good. It is a good starting point. What was your next idea, Mr Potter?"
"I discussed this with Hermione, and she told me that books that had been used as textbooks here at Hogwarts were marked in a special way in the registry. By doing a survey of just the textbooks, I thought I would get a good indication of the fashion of each period."
"Yes, I see. That was an interesting idea," Professor McGonagall said.
"Yeah," continued Harry, now with more confidence. "And then Hermione showed me how to work with the registry. Madame Pince had taught her how to put a spell that gathered the relevant registry cards together, and also put forward the corresponding books. And here they are." Harry indicated the stack of books on his desk.
"Really? That is the most extraordinary thing I've heard lately. Madame Pince allowing a student to handle her registry. I don't think that has happened before. Miss Granger is a very talented and gifted young lady; you know that, don't you?"
"Yes, I know," Harry said, not aware of the smile that revealed his love. "Anyway, I started to count the transfiguration targets in each book according to category, entering the numbers in this big table. I've still some hour's work left to scan through all books, but then I will be ready to write down my conclusions."
"I must congratulate you, Mr. Potter, I think your essay can be much more interesting than I had hoped for. The fact that there are fashions in the transfiguration practise is well known, and it is what I had hoped for you to discover for yourself. I've never seen anyone being able to put figures on it though, so that will give you a name in wizarding history, if you can write down your findings properly." McGonagall beamed at him, benevolently. "Let's go and wait for Miss Granger in the great hall."
When Hermione was done with her talk to Professor Dumbledore, she found Harry and Professor McGonagall chatting friendly before the big fireplace.
---
When Harry left with professor McGonagall for the library, Hermione was invited to the headmaster's office. When they arrived there, Professor Dumbledore indicated a chair before the fireplace: "Pray, take a seat, Hermione."
"Professor, today Harry told me about his prophesy, and we discussed the meaning of it. I understand that you give some credit to it, maybe based on the fact that it was pronounced under some special influence." Professor Dumbledore had a benign smile on his lips, but let Hermione continue without comment.
"I then recalled that when I was a kid, my aunt Marge took me to a seeress, and I had the same type of experience. My aunt is interested in what my parents call supernatural things, and funny things do happen to her but she has no control. Anyway, she believes in this neighbour of hers. When the séance started, this seeress got like a fit and told a few sentences in a croaking voice, then she recovered and without seeming to remember what she had said, she laid her cards. I then got my "destiny" told in the same manner that we are taught in divination class here in Hogwarts. I've decided against taking those classes, as you may know."
"What did she tell you?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"That I should meet a dark man with a dangerous job and have many kids. I think the dark man was the Jack of Spades."
"No, I mean, what did she tell you in that other voice of hers?"
"Oh, sorry. What I recall is that I should meet a man with a sign and marry him and lead a long and happy life. I was young and rather literal minded so I saw in my vision a man carrying a placard or something. I've never given it much thought before today's afternoon. It struck me it might refer to Harry's scar." Hermione felt her ears go rather hot at her last words.
"Indeed!" was professor Dumbledore's comment. He continued: "I've noticed your mutual affection for quite some time, and I am very happy you two now have come to realise it and can show it to each other and the world. - Do you come to me to ask what I think about prophesies?"
"No, or maybe yes. What I really mean is that you can't just sit back and wait for a prophesy to come true, can you. The reason why this prophesy might be valid is because Harry is the person he is, and maybe because I am the person I am. That is we are persons who act; sometimes without much consideration or regard for his own safety on Harry's part, or after some research and planning on my part. We have had some arguing in the past as you can imagine."
"Precisely!" was professor Dumbledore's reply. "Did you have something specific in mind?"
"Yes. I have understood that Harry had some training in Occlumency together with professor Snape. Now, neither of those two stands each other very much - Harry was really frustrated after each session - and I don't think he ever mastered the topic. My idea was that I should try and learn the technique together with Harry; I've seen some books on the subject in the library. If you think that is OK, professor?"
"Hermione; that would be very good; Harry needs to learn that art - and I'm sure you will master it. There is a risk though; Occlumency is as you know coupled with Legilimency - reading of the mind. It may be wonderful for two as close as you two, but it can also prove catastrophic. Dreams are sacred, Hermione. You have really to be strong to allow another person to be able to read your inner thoughts. Be aware of that risk."
"I will," Hermione said thoughtfully.
"I thought you were going to ask about that power Harry has, and that Voldemort has not."
"No, Harry has some ideas about that, but I think it best he describes them himself. What I'm more anxious about is to teach Harry and have him practise a really powerful defence, a defence that actually is dangerous to attack. I've seen references to shield charms of a different nature to those we have practised so far. But I don't know how to try them out safely. Also I know there are short-cut incantations meant for battle. I understand those things come into auror training, but Harry could be attacked anytime. I must confess I'm somewhat scared of the future, regardless of the one or other prophesy."
"There is limited time, Hermione." Professor Dumbledore sighed heavily. "There are so many subjects that are required of a young wizard nowadays."
"Excuse me, professor. The problem is that Harry just now is an easy prey, as soon as he is out of school grounds. As long as V-Voldemort is still around, he is a deadly threat. And if Harry survives him, there will be some death-eaters left that will try to have their revenge." Hermione's devotion was now showing. "Harry has to be the best wizard in magical defence there is, and that has to be before he leaves school, not some years after. - And there are two of us; I can do History of Magic for the both of us, which will give Harry some hours left."
"You are right, Hermione, of course. I will give this some thought. I think something can be arranged. Let me think about it for a day or two." Professor Dumbledore rose from his chair and put out his hand as Hermione also stood up.
"Thank you for coming to me with your concerns - and take care of Harry and yourself for us all." He gave her shoulder a short hug as he escorted her to the door.
"He feels so old," she thought when she left the staircase through the gargoyle.
---
Hermione found Harry and professor McGonagall friendly chatting before the fire in the great hall. She was astonished to find Harry well at ease. He usually found their head of the Gryffindor house a strict and exacting teacher, although one of the best.
When Hermione came up to them, professor McGonagall rose with a friendly nod and led the way back to the corridor outside the teacher's common room. Next to it, she remained standing outside a plain door. I will show you something. "You two have been around in most of the corridors of Hogwarts, haven't you? Undoubtedly, you have found them long and time-consuming. Please enter!"
They came into a small dimly lit room. On one wall, there were a lot of symbols. Professor McGonagall closed the door and took out her wand and tapped it on a square with the Gryffindor lion. After a slight uneasiness that lasted a split second she opened the door again. She stepped out into what was now a high ceiling corridor with large portraits. Right opposite, Harry and Hermione recognised the portrait of the fat lady! The Professor stepped up to the portrait, spoke the password and entered the common room.
"We have some modern conveniences here at Hogwarts as well!" she said.
Harry's mouth was ajar. "But we are in a quite different part of the castle!"
"I know the muggle type of lifts that go just up and down," professor McGonagall said, "but this type is much more convenient, isn't it?"
"This lift is installed for security reasons. It was installed the year after we had the experience with suspected assassins roaming the corridors. You understand it is to remain a secret, don't you?" Saying so, the professor fetched a big and intricately carved key out of her robes. She inserted it into the lock of a door in a big oaken portal at one side of the common room. The purpose of that door had been an unanswered question to an entire generation of Gryffindor students. Only Harry had been able to see on his Marauder's Map that beyond the door, there would be a staircase down to a corridor below the common room. He had never been there though. Harry felt Hermione's hand reach out for his in anticipation when the big door swung open.
With a flick of her wand a dim light came on and professor McGonagall started down the dusty steps. "I will show you this, because tomorrow morning, work will start down here. I thought it best to prepare you for some possibly loud noises."
The stairs led to a landing at one side of a long corridor closed in the further end by a wooden wall with a big door. Several doors could be seen on either side of the corridor. The near end was considerable shorter with only one ordinary sized door at its end.
"We plan to modernize these rooms to be ready when the new term starts. There will be girl's rooms on this side, with windows to the outside, and boy's rooms on the other side with windows to the inner courtyard. There will be a modern bathroom on either side. That's what will take most of the building effort. The prefects will have the job to maintain decency. Having boys and girls in the same corridor is a new policy here at Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall said through thin lips. Clearly all of this was not a decision of her own.
"What students …?" Hermione started. The professor anticipated her question because she had already the answer on her lips. "Miss Patil and Brown and some other of the older girls, and Mr Weasly, Finnegan and some older boys. Others will remain in the old dormitories, but also those that are left will have more space. This summer some furniture will be changed in the old rooms as well."
"You two will live here," professor McGonagall continued. She went to the door in the short end of the corridor. "Here you have a small common room. This fireplace is connected to the same smoke stack as the big one in the common room upstairs." The last comment was directed to Harry whose eyes clearly were measuring distances and angles along the walls.
"There is a bathroom in here, and there are two bedrooms. Albus wanted me to say that if you choose to put both beds in one room, you should use this as the bedroom and this as your study. This part is in the Gryffindor tower itself as you can se by the thickness of the walls."
"These are the only windows," she indicated as they had entered what Harry and Hermione already regarded as their study. "This is for security reasons. That is also what will require some hard work and create those noises. Walls are always stonewalls here at Hogwarts. Other building work can be done by magic and will be ready very fast. This small closet over here close to the entrance door will by Albus' surprise. He said he wanted to do something special to make up for the lack of windows."
Professor McGonagall stood in the middle of the floor in what would be their common room with an enigmatic smile on her lips. Harry and Hermione stood speechless looking around the walls. They were having a home of their own! After a while the naked stone walls with cobwebs in the corners and an air of mildew and decay made their first happiness give way for a hint of uncertainty. Could this really be made warm and cosy in a couple of days? Their old teacher must have understood their hesitation. "Mr Mason is a most competent craftsman. You two will have a very nice home together. You may invite me to a cup of tea when you have settled."
They went up the stairs and professor McGonagall closed the big door securely. "You should not go down there again until the work is done. It could be dangerous to be in the way of a building wizard. You could be glued to a wall by magic along with the wallpaper. Good night and happy dreams." She went out through the portrait hole. Harry and Hermione sat down in front of the roaring fire in the fireplace. It had been a day with many revelations. After a short while, although it was only evening, Hermione yawned. When she left, Harry followed her without a word.
---
Hermione made a stop in the bathroom where she found her toothbrush in a small cupboard and started cleaning her teeth. Harry made a movement towards the door. "Stwop. Youw cn uwse mine!" Hermione said.
"Ugh," said Harry silently. Hermione was now done.
"Silly! You are going to kiss me, aren't you, and maybe other things. What is so dangerous with a toothbrush with toothpaste?"
"Nothing, if you think about it. - It's rather intimate though and I'm not quite used to it yet."
When they reached Hermione's dorm, they both quickly discarded their clothes and dived for warmth in her bed. Hermione put out the light.
Harry reached out in the darkness and his hand found her hair and neck. He pulled her face closer to his. Her arm came out and hugged his shoulder. Harry felt the heat radiating from her body under the cool sheets. Her voice asked softly:
"What did professor McGonagall think of your work?"
"She seemed positively interested. She said no one had been able to put numbers on those fashions before. She was also very impressed by your ability to handle the library on your own. She said no student had hitherto been allowed to do what you did. - What did Dumbledore say?"
Harry had begun to get accustomed to the dark. He could see Hermione's eyes and face clearly in the moon light from the window. She moved closer. Her body now touched his in several places. Her answer was not heard; her mouth was covered by Harry's and her concentration was soon lost.
Their actions were now controlled by an ancient and primitive part of their brains. What professor Dumbledore had said or thought didn't matter just now. What mattered was the old instinct to satisfy and to be satisfied, to give and take and to be one as close as possible. When their heart rate finally slowed down again, they drifted off to sleep.