Chapter 3
Someone slammed the door open, and it was none other than Uncle Vernon. He was purple in the face, and he looked so mad that he looked in danger of exploding. Hermione gasped and Harry silently slid in front of her. He couldn't seem to form any words.
Uncle Vernon was finally able to come to words and said, "What is that f-freak of your doing in my house? Without MY permission! Is this why I had to leave to Marge's house? If I had known one of your freaks would have shown up, then I would have never left! Good thing I had to come back to pick something up! Now, get out freak," He said pointing at Hermione and then turned on Harry, "And you, you get out right now! I will not stand for your disrespect and not following the rules! No, I most certainly will NOT!"
It was clear Hermione was too shocked to talk, so Harry decided it was best that he did. "Uncle Vernon, we aren't leaving. I don't think Mad-eye Mood would be happy with that."
Fear flashed over his face for a brief moment and then he said, "He can't do anything to me. Don't you worry about me. I would be worrying about you and your lil' freak friend. You are the ones leaving."
"We are NOT leaving! You can't make us! Just go back to where you were going! Back to that dreadful sister of your's house." As soon as Harry said that, he instantly regretted it. Vernon started towards Harry and grabbed him by the throat.
"I think, I'll have to teach you some respect now, BOY!" This snapped Hermione out of her state, and she started screaming.
"You put him down right now! You stupid muggle!" Hermione started screaming. Harry, meanwhile, was turning purple in the face. He dropped Harry and started kicking him. All Harry could think of was, 'I have to save Hermione.' He knew as soon as he was done beating on him, he would move onto Hermione.
"STOP IT NOW! LEAVE HIM ALONE! HE HASN'T DONE ANYTHING TO YOU!" Hermione replied at the top of her lungs, hoping maybe there was an Order member outside.
Vernon kept on, though, and said things like, "I'll teach you a lesson, talk about my family that way. I think not!" Vernon kept kicking Harry in the ribs and kicked him in the head.
Vernon then pulled out a pocket knife and stabbed Harry in the ribs. He then pulled the knife down to right above his pelvic bone and then yanked it out. He let go of Harry, and he fell to the ground. Harry glanced at Hermione with a frantic expression on his face. She saw the helplessness in his eyes. Vernon then advanced on Hermione and grabbed her by her arm.
"How DARE you come into my house! You freak!" He rared back his fist to stab Hermione, but at that instant Harry's eyes flashed red, his hair stood on end, and Uncle Vernon went flying across the room. Hermione stared at Harry, mouth slightly open, and Harry passed into unconsciousness. Lupin, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and Tonks bolted through the door all of the sudden. Hermione ran over to Harry and cradled his head.
"Someone help him! He's bleeding, he stabbed him!" Hermione said with a tremble in her voice. "It's going to be okay, Harry. I won't leave you." Lupin came running over grabbed Harry and Hermione and with a 'pop' they were gone.
They reappeared moments later in none other than the Kitchen of Grimmuald Place, the Order of the Phoenix Headquarters. Remus Lupin started shouting, "Someone get Madam Pomfrey now!" He added not as loud, but still in panic to Hermione. "Go get a towel so we can stop this bleeding." Hermione rushed up the stairs to fetch a towel.
Mrs. Weasley appeared seconds later, "Oh my goodness! What happened ¾ "
"Did someone call for Madam Pomfrey? Someone also needs to fetch Professor Dumbledore." Lupin added quickly, cutting Mrs. Weasley off mid-sentence. "Mrs. Weasley please go get Madam Pomfrey and Dumbledore, there's no time to explain right now.
"No need to get Madam Pomfrey or me. We are here." Professor Dumbledore said.
Madam Pomfrey immediately saw Harry and ran over to him, "Oh my goodness! What happened to him?!? Someone bring him to the bedroom! NOW!" Once in the bedroom, Madam Pomfrey began getting potions out of her bag she was carrying and started shooing everyone out. "Out! Out!"
Two hours later, Madam Pomfrey emerged from Harry's bedroom and walked into the kitchen. The Weasleys, Remus Lupin, Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, Hermione, and Tonks was there. They all looked at Madam Pomfrey expectantly.
"He'll be fine," Everyone, including Professor Snape (Harry's least favorite Professor and Snape's least favorite student), sighed in relief. "But he's unconscious right now. He's suffering from a consussion, broken ribs, head trauma, and internal bleeding. He should be awake in a few days. When he does wake, though, he will be very weak. The good news is that you can all go up and see him right now."
Hermione, Ron, and Ginny were practically racing up the stairs to see Harry. Even if he was unconscious, they still wanted to be with him. Harry looked so pale and fragile, not the way he wanted anyone</I> to see him.
Hermione reached out and grabbed Harry's hand, "It's like ice." She then felt his face. "He's cold all over."
"He'll be okay Hermione, he always is." Ginny reassured herself, more than Hermione.
"He didn't deserve this! He didn't do anything! He only hurt him because I was there! I told Professor Dumbledore that they would hurt him one day!" Hermione screamed, tears now falling down her face.
"Hermione, Harry wouldn't want you to blame yourself." Ron jumped in.
"Ron, for once you are right." At this statement, Ron's mouth fell open slightly. "He would blame himself. He is going to feel guilty that I almost got hurt, and he already feels guilty for Sirius dying!" Ron's mouth shut instantly and his face started getting red.
"Oh of course! I should have known! Poor Harry! He takes all the blame for himself. Poor Harry! Having to live with those muggles, poor Harry, can't go a year without getting into trouble. Need I remind you, he only causes the troubles!?!"
"Ron! You are suppose to be his friend! This isn't Harry's fault! Do you know what he was doing when I was at his house?!? He was crying because he thinks</I> it's all his fault! We are suppose to be his friends and tell him otherwise!" Ron just rolled his eyes and walked out. Hermione let out a frustrated groan.
"He'll get over it. He just needs time." Ginny started to explain. "He is going through this 'jealousy' stage. Don't know where it came from, though. I guess he just got tired of being in people's shadows. Now, that the Daily Prophet has stopped ragging Harry, he's a hero again. I guess Ron was just pushed too far for the time being." Hermione shot Ginny a warning glance. "Not that it's Harry's fault or anything"
********
"Albus, why did they come home? I thought they were 'not to be worried about'." McGonagall began to question.
"No one is real sure, Minerva. Mr. Dursley can't remember a thing and Petunia and Dudley didn't know why they were going back to the house to begin with. Hermione said that he didn't say why he was there, he was just yelling at them."
"Why can't the idiot remember anything?" Fred asked. Mrs. Weasley would usually scold him for the name calling, but she thought it was well deserved today.
"Hermione said that when Mr. Dursley went to attack her, Harry's eyes flashed red and his hair was standing on end. It seems that this burst of energy caused Mr. Dursley to fly back into Harry's wall, knocking him unconscious. Also, causing him to loose his memory." Dumbledore explained.
"Serves the git right." George replied.
"Albus, what does this 'burst of energy' mean?" Mr. Weasley asked, ignoring George.
"It could be many things although I'm not quite sure yet. I do know that it requires a great deal of magical power to levitate someone and throw them halfway across the room without a wand."
******
A week later, Harry was still unconscious. He looked horrible, bruises and cuts all over him. There was only so much Madam Pomfrey could do why he was out. Hermione was by his side day and night until someone would make her leave. She could be found holding his hand and gently rubbing it. Sometimes she would talk to him.
"Harry, please wake up. You can't keep doing this to me. I'm worried out of my mind." Hermione said. Then, she laid her head on the edge of his bed and started to cry.
Harry heard someone crying and tried to say something, but he couldn't. His head was throbbing, and his eyes and body felt like it weighed a ton. He just had to find out who was so upset though. He fought hard for what seemed like 20 minutes to open his eyes, but he finally opened them. He couldn't see anything because he didn't have his glasses, but he could make out a mess of hair. He figured it was Hermione.
"He-r-mione?" Harry croaked out. She lifted her head off of his bed. Thinking she was hearing things again, but she could have sworn she heard someone call her. Hermione saw Harry squinting.
"Oh my goodness! Harry your awake! How do you feel??" Hermione questioned as she got up and got his glasses. She gently slid them on his face.
"I'm fine…" Harry lied, but happy he could see now.
"Harry, you know I can read you like a book. Who would be okay after that? You had me so worried! You were out for a week!"
"Hermione….one thing at a time please." He was finally starting to move his head and arms although it hurt like he was getting stabbed all over again. He didn't care, though, he just wanted to sit up. He was making a little process.
"Oh, sorry." Hermione turned slightly red at this. Harry continued to try and sit up. As he did this, his head started to spin and his vision started to blur. He started to cough, and he couldn't stop.
"H-Harry are you okay?" Hermione asked. Then Harry started throwing up and spitting out blood. "Oh my gosh!" Hermione ran to the door and threw it open. "Someone come here! Something is wrong with Harry!" A minute later Dumbledore, Ron, Ginny, Lupin, Snape, Mrs. Weasley, and most importantly Madam Pomfrey were in the room.
"Out of my way!" Ron couldn't help but think this was the only thing that women could say. Harry was still retching all over the floor, blood mixed in it.
Hermione had tears falling freely down her face, "He just woke up. He started to talk to me. He was in pain, but besides that he was f-fine! Then, he started coughing and d-do-ing t-that!" Lupin grabbed Hermione in a warm hug while she cried her heart out all over again.
"Severus, I'll need those potions I told you to brew. Are they ready?" Madam Pomfrey .
"Yes, they are. I'll be right back."
"He's loosing a lot of blood. When he tried moving, reopened his not completely healed internal wounds. We'll have to put the potions into this needle injection since he is vomiting so bad. He wouldn't be able to keep it down." A few minutes later Snape returned with the potions in hand. Harry had stopped vomiting for the moment. Madam Pomfrey waved her wand and the potions were now ready to be injected into Harry. "Remus, Severus, and Mr. Weasley hold Harry still while I inject these needles."
"Why don't you let me clean the mess first?" Dumbledore insisted and with a wave of his wand the mess was gone. Madam Pomfrey motioned for the men to hold Harry now. She got the first of the five injections ready. Slowly, she injected the needle, and Harry jumped slightly. The men were able to hold him down, though. Madam Pomfrey, finally, injected all the needles, and Harry seemed a lot more 'alive' now. He had color in face again. He was now asleep, though not unconscious, according to Madam Pomfrey.
Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were now sitting in Harry's room waiting for him to wake up, again. They were under strict instruction to tell Dumbledore when he awoke again. Two hours later, Harry started to stir.
Ginny saw Harry wake first and asked, "Feeling better Sleepy Head?" Ginny loved teasing him.
"Much." Harry responded, this time truthfully. Although he was still feeling some pain, it was nothing like before.
"Good," Hermione replied. "Because Professor Dumbledore wanted to talk with us when you were awake." Ron and Ginny left to go get Dumbledore.
Once Ron and Ginny were out of the room Hermione looked Harry straight in the eye, "Now, how are you really feeling. And don't give me that 'fine' crap. I see straight through that fake façade of yours."
"I really do feel better, but yes, I am still very sore."
"How many times are you going to scare me like that? Do you know how worried I have been this summer! There's a wonder I have any hair left!"
Harry looked down at the bed. "I'm sorry Hermione. I really am." Hermione saw a tear trickle down his face.
"Oh, Harry, I'm sorry! I wasn't thinking! I worried because I really care for you." Hermione wiped away Harry's lone tear and gave him a gentle hug.
At this moment Dumbledore walked in, he couldn't help, but smile at this. "Ah, Harry, nice to see you are awake." Dumbledore said making Harry and Hermione jump apart. He had to try and hide a smile, but his twinkle in his eyes deceived him.
They both blushed. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm a little sore, but I'll be okay." Harry responded after receiving a warning glance from Hermione first.
"That's good to hear. Now, if you can, I'd appreciate it if you could tell me all you can on what went on at your uncle's house." Harry told Dumbledore all he could remember with Hermione jumping in when necessary.
"Then I saw him advance on Hermione, and all I remember thinking is 'I have to save her, I can't let someone else get hurt because of me.' Then, something weird happened and I felt all kind of magical energy surround me and Uncle V went flying across the room. That's all I can remember." Harry finished, a little hesitant at this part. It sounded so much like a muggle movie.
"Well Harry, according to Ms. Granger, she saw your eyes turn red and your hair stand on end, then Mr. Dursley went 'flying across the room.' I don't know what it means, but I will let you know when I figure it out." Dumbledore answered Harry's question before he could even ask it. "Now, I'll leave and let you two talk about what you missed." With that, Dumbledore left. Dumbledore turned to leave, but turned back around and said, "Oh, and here is both of your O.W.L scores. I wanted to deliver them to you personally." With that Dumbledore left.
"Okay, let's open them, Harry! Oh, I'm so nervous! You open mine! No, never mind I will."
"Why don't we open them at the same time?" Harry asked.
"Okay, 1.…2.…3.…," They both went to opening up their scores.
Harry read his and saw:
Dear Mr. Potter,
Enclosed are your Ordinary Wizarding Level scores. If there are any questions, please send an owl to Professor Dumbledore or myself, Minerva McGonagall.
Defense Against the Dark Arts: Outstanding*
Transfiguration: Outstanding
Charms: Outstanding
Potions: Outstanding
Care of Magical Creatures: Outstanding
Herbology: Exceeds Expectations
Divination: Acceptable
History of Magic: Poor
Astronomy: Exceeds Expectations
*=You got all possible points on the practical and written. You have tied for the highest grade in this O.W.L ever, this record was made this year. You will receive a special award for this.
Congratulations, you have received 7/9 possible O.W.L.s!
Minerva McGonagall
Hermione was staring at her O.W.L.s, so Harry decided to be brave and ask her about it, "Hermione? You okay?" She handed him her O.W.L.s and she took his. Harry looked at hers.
Enclosed are your Ordinary Wizarding Level scores. If there are any questions, please send an owl to Professor Dumbledore or myself, Minerva McGonagall.
Defense Against the Dark Arts: Outstanding*
Transfiguration: Outstanding
Charms: Outstanding
Potions: Outstanding
Care of Magical Creatures: Outstanding
Herbology: Outstanding
Arthimancy: Outstanding
Ancient Runes: Outstanding
History of Magic: Exceeds Expectations
Astronomy: Outstanding
*=You got all possible points on the practical and written. You have tied for the highest grade in this O.W.L ever, this record was made this year. You will receive a special award for this.
Congratulations, you have received 10/10 possible O.W.L.s!
Minerva McGonagall
"That's great Hermione!" Harry nearly screamed. "You tied with me for the highest Defense Against the Dark Arts! You did awesome."
"You didn't do so bad yourself! Congratulations, Harry!" She went to kiss him on the cheek, but at the same time he went to do the same. There lips met. At first they were shocked, but it felt so right. It intensified. A few minutes later, they were both gasping for air. They both avoided contact for a moment.
"Sorry about that." Harry said. "It just felt so right."
"I know what you mean." Hermione replied. "Where do we go from here, though?"
"I don't know. I really do like you, but what about Ron?"
"I don't know about Ron, but I know I like you too. I can't deny any more, especially since I know you're a great kisser." Hermione said with a smirk. Harry grabbed her face and kissed her again. They were so caught up in the moment, they didn't realize someone walked in.
"What the heck do you think you are doing!?!" Ron asked, red in the face.