This chapter is dedicated to 'Pottergirlajg' with thanks for her enthusiastic reviews.
9. Harry's nightmare and a new war plan
Hermione awoke in the early morning because Harry was tossing about and mumbling agitatedly in his sleep. He seemed to have a bad dream. She sat up and watched him, pondering if it would be best to wake him up or not. Her curiosity then took over; she remembered his fears of the night before. Did this dream have something to do with Voldemort? She reached for her wand and muttered the incantation, "Legilimens".
She held her breath; she found herself in a dimly lit room in what appeared an old house in bad repair. A long slender woman was seen approaching a big chair before an empty fireplace. The woman was accompanied by a short figure - a child? No, the view shifted - the person through whose eyes she saw the scene must have moved closer, and now Hermione recognised - Kreacher! And the woman must be Bellatrix Lestrange!
Hermione had only met her once, in a short encounter in the Department of Mysteries, but Kreacher had been house elf in the Black family and Black had been Bellatrix' family name before her marriage. It all fit together, and Harry had been right in his mistrust of Kreacher.
The scene revolved further. Now the two stood in front of a hooded person in the big chair. Hermione did not catch any words of what was said, bet she sensed a strong mingled feeling of fear, despair and wish for revenge. Then a glimpse of the face of the hooded person showed - a white face with slanted red eyes. No surprise, it was Voldemort sitting in the chair.
Hermione still could make out no words, but it was evident that Voldemort had received information that pleased him. The sense of despair became stronger, but reality started to make itself remembered. Harry started to scream in pain, so Hermione broke the connection to the scene by raising the mental wall before their eyes. Actually she without thinking succeeded in breaking the connection for Harry as well.
Harry continued to be in pain though. Hermione threw herself on top of him: "Harry, wake up, you are having a nightmare!"
Harry woke up by degrees while Hermione hugged him and kissed him. "I had a nightmare. I saw … "
"I know what you saw. I was reading your mind, but I could not feel your pain or feel its source."
"Voldemort is happy; Kreacher has told him about our New Year celebration. - Oh, my head, it feels like split in halves!"
"Harry, think about something else. Enter my mind!"
Harry felt an onrush of love, tenderness and concern. He was pressed down by his naked girlfriend, kissing and wriggling her body against his. Her mind was open to his, which caused him to forget everything outside their bed, Voldemort or no Voldemort. In an instant their position was changed; she was under him with her legs around his waist, him inside her.
Both two felt an unbelievable impression, their bodies and nerves each told their exciting stories, simultaneously feeling the experience through the mind of the other, like a double exposure. The amplified sensation put them over the threshold in less than a minute leaving them spent, close to unconsciousness. This was giving the word 'we' a new significance.
---
"Harry. I think that dream was sent to you on purpose, to warn you. The scene was seen by a person other than Voldemort and I felt no evil design. Rather fear, maybe of being caught." Although they still enjoyed the warmth and togetherness of their bed, Hermione's mind had turned into its analytical mode. "Your feeling of Voldemort and his satisfaction and the pain in your head must come from some other link. I could not catch that feeling."
"I did a bit of thinking yesterday night - bits and pieces are falling together." Harry answered. "All details are not clear, but I think we must prepare a welcome for Voldemort that he will not survive. You know you said something like 'the best from two worlds', and you also got that mobile phone. I would like trying muggle warfare. - I want Voldemort in that house and then blowing up the whole thing."
"How will you do that?"
"I will need outside help. We must see Dumbledore first thing after breakfast."
"Harry, please tell me the outlines of your idea." Hermione coaxed him.
"Well, it's rather simple really. We start out having the party as planned. We can rely on Voldemort's attack to be planned for 12 pm sharp, because there will be a lot of muggle fireworks, so the light of a fight by magic won't attract any attention. The thing is that at that time the house will be empty. There will only be lights and music and movements from TV-projectors that are managed by remote control. That would be your mobile phone. And then some explosive also controlled remotely going off when Voldemort and his Death-Eaters enter. That's the idea, simple as that."
"You intend to blow up the entire house?"
"Yes, I hate it anyway."
"Harry, that's a play for high stakes. - But I see why you - or we - may come out on the winning side."
"Yes, it's a play with our strength against Voldemort's weakness."
"We'll hope Dumbledore see it so as well. You must convince him, Harry!"
"WE will convince him, Mione!"
"Yes, but we have only a few days to make all those things work. We must find people to help already today. Let's see - today it's the 28th - yes, we must definitely start today. - By the way - How's your head?"
"Why - I don't feel a thing. How about you?"
"I feel super."
"That was a good medicine. Maybe we could do with some more - for prophylaxis." Harry turned towards her. Hermione giggling happily made feeble resistance.
---
When Harry and Hermione entered the great hall for breakfast, professor Dumbledore where enjoying his cup of tea together with a morning copy of The Daily Prophet. Hermione went directly up to his table: "Good morning, professor. Could we have a talk with you after breakfast, please? It's urgent."
At the questioning glance from professor Dumbledore, she added. "Harry has had a nightmare."
"I feared as much. Yes, of course. Come to my office when you have had your breakfast."
When Hermione joined Harry at the breakfast table, he asked: "Why did you go and talk to him at once?"
"Why not? I saw some empty plates on his table and him reading the newspaper. He usually is not here when we come down, so I concluded he would soon be leaving. So I stroke while the iron was hot. - He will see us immediately after breakfast."
Harry had no answer to this. During the rest of the meal, they discussed who was to say what, and in what order. It was important to them both that professor Dumbledore should like the idea behind the strategy. Without his support, the necessary help would be hard to find.
When they entered professor Dumbledore's office, they were warmly greeted and shown towards the sitting group close to the fire. "Harry had a nightmare, I understand." Professor Dumbledore let his gaze wander between them.
Hermione started: "Yes, Harry was very unruly and started mumbling in his sleep. I understood he had a dream. I considered for a while to wake him up, but decided against. Yesterday we had done a lot of practise with Legilimency, so I decided to enter his mind. - I knew he wouldn't object," she added.
"And what did you see?"
A saw a woman that I think I recognize as Bellatrix Lestrange and a house-elf that definitely was Kreacher. The surroundings were a room in a shabby old house. They advanced to a hooded figure in a big chair and told him something. I couldn't hear anything though."
"Did you sense any emotions?"
"Yes. The scene changed so the person whose eyes we were seeing through must have moved closer to the hooded figure. I saw a glimpse of a white face with slanted red eyes. I sensed fear, hatred and a wish for revenge. I felt no pain - but Harry did."
"So Harry, what was your experience?"
"I saw the same thing Hermione has told. I had an intense pain in my scar. That's what made me wake up. When Voldemort rejoiced at the news he was getting, the pain grew still worse."
"You have had similar dreams before, always combined with a severe headache. Did you sense the emotions Hermione mentioned?"
"No, only the pain."
"Professor!" Hermione began. "The scene was seen from another person than Lord Voldemort. I sensed the feelings of that person only. Harry must have experienced two simultaneous minds and the stronger emotions were the ones causing the pain."
"Yes, quite right. Very interesting. That has been something I couldn't understand with Harry's dreams before." Professor Dumbledore said. "Someone close to Voldemort acts as a traitor and is sending these dreams as warnings to Harry. My guess is that it is Peter Pettigrew. He was a smart boy though easily led and now he's likely to regret his association with Voldemort. Harry, you saved his life once. This might be his way of repaying you."
"Harry, you don't feel the pain now, do you?" Professor Dumbledore continued.
"No; I haven't felt the presence of Voldemort lately - only this morning that is. With Hermione around, occasions with awareness of Voldemort and his emotions has been less frequent."
"I see; you're a lucky young man, Harry - You know that, don't you," Professor Dumbledore said with twinkling eyes. "And I suppose you have a plan of what to do."
Both Harry and Professor Dumbledore looked at Hermione. "Actually, Harry has been planning for a while - We discussed the main ideas together with the prophesy. The details, he must describe. Important is however, that just now, we have some major advantages. One, we know the time - the attack will most certainly be at midnight when a lot of fireworks celebrating the New Year will allow the lights of a wizard fight go unnoticed. Secondly, we know the place, 12, Grimmauld Place. Thirdly, our opponent counts on a surprise attack, but we have been warned. Fourthly, we can be prepared and play on our strength against the weakness of the attacker. And that is where Harry's plan comes in."
Professor Dumbledore turned towards Harry. "And your plan doesn't include calling the party off, I gather."
"No," Harry started. "Our strength is that both Hermione and I have a muggle background. We have seen on numerous films on TV situations like this where you control light, sound or images from a hidden location. Then when our attackers, and only then, gains illegal access to the grounds, we let go e.g. an explosive. We may use mobile phones for speed of communication. Voldemort's weakness is his hate and ignorance of the muggle world. He will be prepared for a fight with magic weapons only. He might not even detect that the house is empty, and that what he see is muggle created illusions. We will want some help with the technical details though."
"I don't understand all the details, but I see the reasoning behind your four advantages." Professor Dumbledore thought for a while. "I will set up a meeting with Kingsley Shacklebolt and he will arrange some help through the Muggle Liaison Office. I will also send an owl to Remus and Tonks to explain matters."
"It is important that Kreacher remains convinced the party will take place as planned. They must proceed with the planning of the party," ventured Hermione.
"Professor," continued Harry, "I have been thinking about the prophesy. Could this thing about muggles be what it said about a power Voldemort doesn't know? I mean, the power doesn't have to be something in the Department of Mysteries, does it?"
"Harry, I don't know. Prophesies may be true or untrue. They seldom tell WHY things will happen. I somehow just think that this prophesy might have some truth in it, but I don't know for sure. And what is it that says that muggles are not a sufficiently great mystery to justify a chamber of their own in that department? - One thing is certain; we can't rely on a prophesy to solve our problems. We have to solve them ourselves. - And I have no better idea, so let's try your plan."
Professor Dumbledore fell silent. He then added: "Somehow I feel some confidence when I see you two. I think Tom Riddle is making a big mistake in focusing so much energy on you. That's the problem with hatred - doesn't allow one to see clearly. Harry, prepare some sort of memorandum about your plan. I think you will have to tell several persons about it and having a written account will make that easier. Be prepared to go to London after lunch. Floo powder, I think. - Hermione, you will have some research to do. I will contact you both. Will I find you in the library?"
Harry and Hermione nodded their assent. Without further words, they left their headmaster's office.
"What did he mean by Voldemort focusing too much on us?" Harry asked when they walked thoughtfully, close together along the corridors of Hogwarts.
"Maybe he should be able to achieve more power by working in the dark, than by open attacks? That's what Professor Dumbledore must have meant anyway."
"Yes, but why can't he see that himself?"
"Psychology, I think. His ego needs a victory. You, a young wizard, still going to school, has defied him, not once, but several times. His followers would doubt his power and greatness. That, he can't afford."
"Hum …. Mione, can't you come with me to London?
"I'd love to, but Dumbledore seems to have some tasks for me here."
"I feel rather awkward. Kingsley Shacklebolt - I don't know him very well."
"Harry; you should see yourself as others see you. You are not a little schoolboy any longer. You are a young man and a powerful and well-known wizard. You have astonished your teachers and friends by doing quite well in your exams. You are doing naughty things with your loving girlfriend. You have a great and innovative idea of how to fight the Dark Lord. Professor Dumbledore - and I - have faith in you. Of course you can do it."
Hermione's pep-talk was delivered standing outside the doors to the library. Harry stood looking down in Hermione's dark brown eyes. He felt he could drown in them. He hugged her tightly, breathing the scent of her hair. "I love you, Mione. I'll manage; I will not let you down. And I will prepare some notes before I go."
---
In fact, Harry had time not only to put down his ideas on paper, but also to revise them in a discussion with Hermione. Like the most natural thing in the world, Harry then continued to work on his Transfiguration essay. Hermione was amazed but didn't want to comment. Harry saw her looks and understood her thoughts.
"Actually, I like to sit here working together with you; especially since I've got such a good response at least until now. - What are you reading?"
"I'm looking for known dangers with Legilimency. I want to find if there are any precautions to think of." Harry didn't follow up his question.
Professor Dumbledore didn't show up before lunchtime, so Harry and Hermione left for lunch in the great hall. Close to the end of the meal he came to their table and sat down gingerly.
"Oh, these benches are hard for an old man like me. Harry, you are to meet Kingsley Shacklebolt in the Leaky Cauldron at two o'clock. You go by Floo powder from the fireplace in the end of the corridor outside the teacher's common room; here you have a small bag - it is long distance powder. It is more powerful than the usual stuff; if you are going short distances, use only a pinch, otherwise you might be beaten about cruelly. And you should be dressed in muggle clothes; you will mainly be going to muggle places. You might want a robe in the Leaky Cauldron though. You can wear it folded on the other occasions. I'm sure you'll manage. - Hermione, will I find you in the library? I will need a few words with you later this afternoon. Relax - nothing unpleasant," he added at her bewildered glance before he left.
"Well, I might as well get ready," Harry said.
"I'll keep you company."
Harry and Hermione walked hand in hand back to Gryffindor tower, where Harry changed into a pair of jeans, a sweater and an outdoor jacket. He folded his notes and put them into a pocket together with his wallet.
"You have plenty of time. I suggest you go there and take a cup of tea or something. Waiting here will only make you nervous. - You look great by the way." Hermione gave him a reassuring hug and a kiss. They then walked back to the fireplace outside the teacher's common room. Harry was awarded a new hug. He threw a measure of the floo powder into the fire which rose into a roaring bluish green blast; he stepped into it and was gone.
---
Hermione was sitting alone at the dinner table. She had had an interesting afternoon, partly together with Professor Dumbledore and she was rather tired. She had got no news from Harry. This made her somewhat uneasy. She tried to think that no news is good news, but didn't succeed to convince herself.
Her thoughts wandered to the afternoon's exercise with Professor Dumbledore. She had been flattered when he suggested instructing her personally. "I'll teach you something you and Harry should learn. It will come later on this year in your ordinary curriculum, but it would be practical if you mastered it very soon. Could you meet me outside the Shrieking Shack at three o'clock?"
Before Professor Dumbledore left her in the library, he had given her enough to think about on her walk there. He had recommended her to read part of a certain book on Legilimency, and she had impressed him by showing him that very book on her desk. "I read that part this morning". He had been very pleased and it caused him to give her praise and career advice.
"Hermione, you have a rare gift as a researcher. There are a number of worthwhile topics to consider. I might mention magic-induced maladies for instance. You have seen some very tragic cases, I think. I know you have thought about auror training. That's very wise - You will find yourself a target for the followers of Voldemort for many years, regardless of the outcome of the present crisis. But your best talents are not for combat. - Harry on the other hand has very good prospects as an auror. His quidditch training is perfect also in combat and he has an instinct for justice. To become a quidditch professional, which might be the dream for a young man, would be a waste of talent, in my opinion."
"I - I have considered that option," Hermione answered, "but I don't know what it takes. I have thought that being a medi-witch like Madame Pomfrey would be very rewarding."
"Yes, Poppy is very clever and does a marvellous job. She has massed a lot of experience and knowledge in what silly accidents our pupils can meet with. And the results of some extra dangers some of our students seek on their own." Professor Dumbledore added this with a smile on his lips. He continued: "At St. Mungo's, however, you have the extra difficulty of determine what erroneous, misdirected or malicious spell could have caused a certain condition, and find out what an efficient counter spell might be. And it doesn't end with spells and hexes; you have also the big lore of potions to master. Few wizards or witches can cope with such a field of research, but I'm convinced you could."
A warm feeling spread in her chest at these memories, but her thoughts went back to Harry. "Why did he take so long to return?" Hermione found her appetite gone and sat with an uneaten helping of pumpkin pie with whipped cream staring into nothing. She didn't notice the other students starting to whisper and casting curious glances in her direction. "Had anyone seen Harry Potter?" "Why is Hermione looking so unhappy?" "Has their love ended already?"
Hermione remembered the accident some years before when Harry had erroneously ended up in Knockturn Alley. By luck, Hagrid had found him before anything untoward happened. She was lost in thought and her imagination raced further. A sudden dread gripped her. She didn't react until a hand was placed on her arm. She spun around.
She got up in such a hurry that she nearly tripped over the bench she was sitting on. Harry caught her in his arms; she gripping his clothes and leaning heavily on to him.
"Harry! Oh, Harry!"
Harry bent his head into Hermione's hair and whispered worriedly. "Mione dear, what's happened?"
"Nothing. I - I'm just a fool. I started to get worried because you were late, and started to imagine things. - Like floo'ing to the wrong fireplace and such."
"No - Everything went super - at least after a while. I made an extra errand to Diagon Alley, that's what took some extra time. - Sorry I kept you waiting." Harry had his arms wrapped around her; rocking her gently to and fro. After a minute Hermione gave a sigh and straightened up.
"I shouldn't behave like this. I'm grown up and should be able to keep calm. Harry, you must be hungry; sit down and I will tell the kitchen you have come back."
Harry sat down opposite to Hermione, but she didn't need to go to the kitchen. A platter with a large minute steak, cooked vegetables and French fries came zooming through the air accompanied by a tankard with pumpkin juice.
"Hey, why do you get such a meal?" Hermione protested good-humouredly. "Why does it pay off being late?"
"Probably because it is easy to prepare on short notice. I think I saw Dobby's eyes through the chink of a door when I came out of the fireplace just now. It is delicious though. I was starving."
While Harry was eating, Hermione started to tell him of her afternoon. To her description of Professor Dumbledore's advice, he just nodded approval.
"I thought you would insist of being a Quidditch Player?"
"Yes - It would be great fun, for some time. But sooner or later I would have to do something else. Somehow, living in that London flat with a girl I happen to know sounds equally nice. I think most important is doing something you are good at, and I think I could be good as an auror. And surely I can play Quidditch just for the fun of it on an amateur team. - What did you do more?"
"Professor Dumbledore taught me to apparate."
"He did WHAT?"
"Taught me to apparate. He said we would need to travel much in the days to come, so he thought it would be practical to learn how to do that. He said it was rather easy, but because of the dangers, one should reach a certain maturity before one is allowed to do it. And we must swear not to try on our own until we are approved."
"But you can't do it here at Hogwarts! Where did you practise?"
"In the Shrieking Shack. I apparated from room to room and from floor to floor. As easy as that!"
"And you didn't get spliced?"
"Not a single time. You can see that; can't you? The trick is that you pull yourself to attention at the same time as you say the incantation - 'apparere'. And you shall have a picture of your destination in your mind. There is a more advanced form when you go to an unknown destination, but that is for later."
"You have to show me. - Better still, we can go there and I can try as well."
"No, Harry, Dumbledore was clear on that. An experienced teacher should be at hand when we try the first times. We shouldn't cheat on him. He is really doing this as an extra for us. - You're ready with your meal? No more dessert?"
"I'm satisfied. Let's go up to our couch. I'll thank Dobby first."
After a quick visit to the kitchen, whence Harry returned with a bowl of nuts and a pair of nutcrackers, Harry led Hermione by hand up to the Gryffindor tower and the common room. There was a good fire going already. Harry lay back on the couch. Hermione curled up in his arms.
"Mmm, Harry, hold me close." Harry tightened his hold of her, burying his nose in her hair, drawing in her scent. He gave a sigh. Peace and silence filled the room.
After a few minutes, Harry reached for the bowl of nuts he had placed close by and cracked a few of them. He shared them with Hermione, putting them one by one into her mouth.
---
Harry began his narrative of his afternoon in London. He told her of how he had arrived in the Leaky Cauldron and taken a seat in a booth with a good view of the entrance. Right after his tea had arrived, Kingsley Shacklebolt entered and came up to him, greeting him in a friendly manner. He had however given him a sign to remain silent, taking out a piece of paper.
"Kingsley wrote a few words on the paper and handed it to me. They said: 'Ask me to take you on a ride on the underground.' I noticed he made a sign with his head towards two men in the booth next to ours. I caught his intention so I rephrased the question and added: 'It has been several years since last time'. He seemed pleased and, seeing my cup empty, rose to his feet and we left. Just before the door closed behind us, I saw the two men rise."
Hermione shifted her position, putting an arm around Harry's neck and facing the fire. Harry continued his narrative. They had boarded a train, seeing just before the doors closed the two men entering the same car. The two men had taken seats in the opposite end. A few stations later, Kingsley Shacklebolt had made a sign to Harry to be ready. Just before the doors closed, they had swiftly got off the train.
"I saw their bewildered expressions through the corner of my eye when the train left the station. 'Amateurs!' was Shacklebolt's comment."
Harry was rewarded with a kiss on his cheek.
"We went back a few stations by a train on a different line. I was lost; I don't know where we were going. We got out on a crowded street, into a backyard and through a commonplace door. We walked along a narrow passage and then I saw where we were. Shacklebolt hastily stuck a visitor's badge on my breast and we entered a lift. We were at the Ministry of Magic!"
Kingsley Shacklebolt had emphasised that Harry's presence just now was quite unofficial. No one should know that he actually was there, but afterwards it was important to be able to show that he in fact had been there and that everything had gone through the official channels. Harry had found this hard to understand. "This is politics," Kingsley Shacklebolt had explained. He had been delighted by Harry's memo. He had taken a few copies and put a label 'Secret' on all of them. He had filled in a couple of forms and put them into three different folders. "Now we go to the Muggle Liaison Office," he had said after the third folder was locked up in his safe.
"We were greeted by a grey-haired witch in grey clothes. When she saw my name she said: 'Give my regards to Miss Granger', I didn't notice her name. I was too bewildered to ask. We were shown in to some sort of deputy minister or something. He and Shacklebolt didn't change many words; he just took one of the folders, put some papers into it and gave us a card each. Everything must have been prepared before. Then we left, this time through the main entrance. I returned my visitor's badge the normal way. So now, I've been to the Ministry of Magic officially."
Harry finished his tale by describing the new ride by underground, a longer one this time. They had come to a great military building set in its own grounds and with a strong fence around. They had shown their cards to the guard and been accompanied by a soldier into the office of an elderly grey-haired man. Harry could have sworn he had seen him before, but no names were given. The man had read through Harry's paper, nodded and said:
"This is a damned good plan! Good luck!"
They had left him and were again accompanied through long corridors to the office of a Major Shout. This had been a rather young man who had greeted them in a friendly and somewhat inquisitive fashion. He had been intrigued when reading Harry's memo and had put several detailed questions of his own.
"I must confess I'm very fascinated by this magic business, though I've not seen much of it so far. I hope you understand these are lethal weapons we are talking about. I mean, people will get killed if they are caught in that trap of yours."
"If so, we have accomplished something we have been trying to do for a long time," was the answer of Kingsley Shacklebolt.
After agreeing on a meeting at nr 12, Grimmauld Place at noon the next day, they had left the major, who had said he needed the morning for preparations. Then he would inspect the place of operation in order to design the final preparations. Kingsley Shacklebolt had left Harry in Diagon Alley from where he should be able to return on his own.
"Why Diagon Alley? And what about those guys following you earlier?" Hermione asked.
"I had a minor errand I wanted to do. And before Shacklebolt left he added: 'If you think you are being shadowed, you are. It is a bodyguard. Don't be afraid.' So I just did my errand and came straight home."
"I'm glad you came back." Hermione said, drawing up her knees so she ended in something like a foetal position, her head on Harry's chest. She spoke in a low voice.
"I haven't told you the entire truth, Harry. For several years I have thought about the time after Hogwarts. First I dreamed that we all three should have a flat together, but maybe a year ago I realised that that wouldn't work - someone would be left out eventually. Since then I have always thought of you and I living together. It seemed like the natural thing to do. We have always been the best of friends. I may have been naïve, but regarding sex, I thought that would just come naturally - I couldn't think of anyone else but you to do such things with. Then this autumn it dawned upon me that you might choose differently. I didn't care about Cho or Luna; I honestly didn't think it would last. But my confidence in the future started to fail."
Hermione grabbed Harry's clothes and whispered into his chest. "The last few days have brought so much. My wildest dreams have been more than fulfilled. But I feel more vulnerable, Harry. Before, there was not much to lose. Now, there is an entire future at stake. That's one reason I lost my nerves when you were late, I think."
Harry held her tightly. "Mione, I noticed on the underground, many people had mobile phones, talking a lot about where they were and where they were going and such. Next time in town, I will buy one so I can let you know if I'm late or something, right?"
"Yes, good idea. But really, I will try to be rational. I will not give in to dark fantasies any more. I think I will really know in my heart if something happened to you. If I don't feel anything, I will know you are OK."
With that very rational thought, Hermione gave a sigh, and fell asleep in Harry's arms.
Harry remained sitting with Hermione in his arms for a long time. His mind boggled with this almost unbelievable fact; He and Hermione were together in that very special sense - loved each other, depended on one another, needed each other and hoped and planned for this to last. His mind told him: "Harry; this is it! Hermione is yours to care for, cherish and enjoy." His fingers played carefully with her soft hair. His hand brushed her chin and caressed her shoulders. Harry was for some minutes lost in eternity.
When back to reality, he had just decided he should carry her up to bed, when the portrait hole opened and Professor Dumbledore entered. He smiled when he saw Hermione sleeping. He made a sign, not to wake her up. He talked in a whisper:
"I would like to have you two doing a last exercise tomorrow directly after breakfast. You no doubt have heard about our efforts towards efficient transportation today." Professor Dumbledore gave Harry a smile. He continued: "Remus and Tonks will expect you at 10.30 am at Grimmauld Place. You will make plans for the party and see to it that Kreacher is involved. He is making difficulties, and you Harry actually is his master. You may have to make that clear to him. Then I hear you will have a visit by that military man. Kingsley reported you made a very good impression this afternoon; like I knew you would, Harry. Finally Tonks will take you to Diagon Alley. The reason will be a surprise to you. You will need these two envelopes. Do not forget them."
The old man's eyes lingered on the sleeping form: "You have a very precious burden there Harry. Handle with care!" Before he left, he added: "Maybe you should take her to bed!"
This suggestion from a Hogwarts headmaster to a male student regarding a female one could easily be regarded as one of the more surprising in the entire history of the school.