Harry Potter and the Triptych
Author: Vickles
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters or the rights to them, and I must admit that I have a bit of a writing affair going on with them. I keep begging them to leave JKR for me, but they get somewhat touchy, saying that "she created them" and other similar things. I know the truth, though… it's all about the money! They wont leave her for me because she's wealthy, that's all there is to it!
A/N: Sorry it took so long, please enjoy!
~*~
Chapter 13: Birthday Surprises
~*~
"Birthday?" Harry asked as he sat up and stretched his arms, giving Hermione a quick peck on the lips.
Hermione tilted her head, a bit surprised, "Harry, are you telling me that you forgot today was your birthday?"
Harry shrugged as he pulled on his glasses, "I knew it was coming soon, but I thought I had another week or so yet. What's in the envelope?" he asked, motioning to what she held in her hand.
Hermione looked down at the envelope and then back at him. "Do you remember at the beginning of the summer when your aunt wanted to speak to me and I could not tell you what it was about?"
Harry nodded slowly, "Yes…" Though he had tried not to think much about the occasion in the past month it had remained steadfast in the back of his mind. "Did she give you this then?"
"Mhmm. And this," Hermione added, pulling a small parcel out of her bathrobe pocket. "Dumbledore gave them to her to hold last year, saying that you weren't allowed to have them until your seventeenth birthday, which is why she gave them to me. You're supposed to read the letter first. Do you want to me leave and give you a moment?"
Harry took a moment to absorb the information as he stared at the parcel and envelope, which he now realized bore Professor Dumbledore's untidy scroll. He blinked and looked up at her, shaking himself out of his daze, "No, you can stay. I suppose I should look at it now, then?" he asked.
"You don't have to if you don't want to. I would understand perfectly," Hermione reassured him.
"No, I want to. Can I see the envelope?" He held out his hand and Hermione placed the envelope in it. As soon as the paper touched his skin, the envelope opened and the letter slid out, landing in Harry's other hand. Harry smiled, "Dumbledore did have style…"
Harry looked at the letter, surprised at how short it was, and read silently.
Harry,
I must apologize that I am not there to tell you these words in person. However, I know what fate shall be put upon me all too soon (the same fate that awaits all of us at one point or another, do not forget) and I am eternally sorry to those I shall soon be leaving behind. That said, it is not the purpose of the letter so I shall not speak of it until you receive your gift, which I hope you enjoy. Go ahead and open it.
The rest of the page was blank, so Harry turned to Hermione and asked for the parcel, no larger than ten centimeters cubed. He opened it up to find an ornamental motorcycle.
Hermione gasped, "Is that…"
"Is it what?" Harry asked.
"Look," Hermione said, pointing at the letter, "There's more."
Harry looked and Hermione was in fact correct. More of Dumbledore's writing had appeared on the letter.
If Miss Granger is in the room, I am more than certain that she has already figured out what this is. If you haven't however, I am pleased to tell you that in your hand you are holding Sirius' motorcycle, though shrunk down considerably so as not to alarm your relatives by the sheer size of it. A simple charm can get it back to normal size.
It is all I have to give you other that the room that I currently have Dobby working on. Use it wisely, and feel free to have some fun. Never forget, that in times of great darkness and stress, sometimes life's simplest pleasures can put that smile back on our face.
Before I end this letter, there is one last thing I must ask of you Harry (for we both know not enough was asked of you in my lifetime…). Should Severus Snape or Draco Malfoy ever come to you in need of aide, give it to them. There are things that you do not know now that may soon come to light. If you can get a hold on them, do not let them go, for they will help you in the end.
I fear that I have dampened that happiness of the gift I have given you, do enjoy it. Happy Birthday, Harry, for this one as well as all of the ones to come.
With love and sincerity,
Professor Albus Dumbledore
P.S. When you can, do remind Tonks and Remus that I have not forgotten our bet.
Harry looked up at Hermione, who had been reading over his shoulder. "Do you think I should listen to him?"
"About which part?" Hermione asked.
"The part about Snape and Malfoy."
Hermione shrugged her shoulders just barely. "I think it's clear that he knew he was going to die, and obviously at the hands of one of them by the sounds of it, which does go along with what you've told me about that night. He makes it pretty clear that he knows other things as well."
Harry nodded, biting his lip.
Placing a gentle hand on his shoulder, Hermione smiled and spoke again, "You don't have to worry about it right now. He didn't ask you to go looking for them, just that you'd help them if they came looking for you. How about we go get some lunch and decide on what you want to do for your birthday?" She grinned and began placing kisses along his collarbone and neckline.
Harry smiled, setting Dumbledore's letter and gift (a wonderful gift, indeed) on his table. "Well, we could go get lunch, or we could just stay here…" He was all for his idea, too, but then his stomach growled, causing Hermione to giggle and stop her heavenly kisses as she stood and took his hand, pulling him up with her.
"I'll go dress and get ready in the bathroom, and you go ahead and get changed out here," Hermione told him, tossing a set of already picked out clothes as she walked to the bathroom with her own bundle.
Harry sighed as she closed the door behind her. He walked over and sat on the bed, holding the miniature motorcycle in his hand. It really was a great present for Dumbledore to give him, almost like two gifts in one, really. Harry looked closely at the object, noticing that it held seats for two people. Definitely a good idea, Harry thought to himself before he realized that Hermione would hardly go flying with him, so his only company would be Ron. Still, it was as if the present had come from Sirius and Dumbledore. Now all he needed was a present from…
Harry set the motorcycle back on the table and changed his clothes, shaking off the sad thoughts on what was supposed to be a happy day. He had just pulled off his shirt and was about to pull on another one when Hermione walked out in jeans and a t-shirt and her hair pulled up in a clip.
Hermione came over as Harry was about to put on the fresh shirt, but Hermione stopped him, smirking. "You could just go without it, you know."
Harry laughed, "I hardly think Ron would enjoy that and you never know who might decide to stop by, since McGonagall said she's been working on getting the Order back into swing. Besides, what happened to taking things slow?"
Hermione shrugged and placed a hand on his sternum, smiling innocently, "Just because a girl doesn't want to make the purchase yet doesn't mean she can't admire the merchandise." She stood on her toes and kissed him.
"Merchandise?" Harry grinned, wrapping his arms around her waist, "Is that what I am to you?"
"Mm-hmm…" Hermione answered, tracing mindless shapes along his biceps, "That's it." She looked up and him with curiosity, "What are you doing still changing anyway? I was in the bathroom for at least ten minutes."
Harry bit his lip, "I was just thinking."
"About what?" Hermione asked, though she seemed to know already.
"Just about Dumbledore. And Sirius. And my parents."
Hermione nodded sympathetically as Harry let go of her to pull his shirt on, then took her hand again as they left the room. "You miss them a little more right now, don't you?"
"Yeah. Do you think we could go to Godric's Hollow today or tomorrow?" Harry asked as they walked down a flight of stairs.
"If that's what you want, we can go as soon as we get a chance. But first, let's get that stomach of yours to quit growling." She let go of his hand as they entered the kitchen.
Harry's brain was just registering that the kitchen seemed awfully crowded when suddenly a great yell of "Surprise!" nearly sent him back into Hermione. He blinked a couple of times to see all of his trainers, excluding Gretta, the entire Weasley family (including Fleur), Hagrid, and even Neville and Luna happily greeting him. As the shocked wore off, Harry found himself begin torn away from Hermione as he was sent around the room, receiving hugs from nearly everyone. Tonks made a point of complaining about the lack of an actual birthday suit as Remus tactfully distracted Mrs. Weasley, who was standing nearby, asking her if she would like some punch, the color of which very much resembled Harry and Hermione's faces.
Soon they all settled down around the additional tables, enjoying the pizza that Dobby had cooked up. Harry enjoyed his spot between Ron and Hermione, with Neville, Luna, Ginny and the twins sitting with them as well. Ginny and Hermione had gotten up at one point to put away their dishes, Ginny taking Hermione's seat next to Harry as she sat back down. When Hermione walked up and asked why Ginny had moved, Ginny, clearly surprised by Hermione's questioning, simply told her that she hadn't meant to and immediately moved back to her seat. Hermione smiled and sat back next to Harry. Harry, not failing to notice the interaction, took Hermione's hand under the table and squeezed it gently, careful not to act anything other than interested in the conversation he was having with Neville and Ron.
"Say, Harry, how about you open up your presents?" Fred asked as they finished up their food.
Harry shrugged and followed everyone into the living room. He took a seat in the middle of the small couch next to Hermione, the rest of his friends on the other one.
The presents were better than anything Harry could have thought to ask for. There was an assortment of gifts relating to Quidditch and flying which he enjoyed immensely. Tonks and Remus gave him a Dueling Board; which was designed to be hung up on a wall, sending various curses and jinxes, ranging in danger and difficulty at the person practicing with it. Hermione was fascinated with it, telling Harry that she would like to watch as he practiced with it.
Harry finally got down to Hermione's gift, one that he had been intentionally saving for last. Hermione handed the rectangular box to him carefully, keeping it upright. Harry tore off the paper and removed the lid, pulling out what resembled a clear glass perfume bottle, full of pink liquid and held shut with a cork. Harry looked up at Hermione to see her smiling with anticipation. "What is it?" he asked curiously.
"It's a potion," Hermione told him, "I've been working on it since just before last Christmas. It's designed to protect you from basic curses and jinxes for 48 hours. It took awhile, but I've also adapted it to only react to your specific DNA, so even if someone else gets a hold of it they won't be able to use it." Harry looked at her in shock, unable to speak, and Hermione took it the wrong way, rambling on, "I know it's not great, but I thought it could be useful for you to use, and I completely forgot to give you a card, I know…"
Harry cut her off, "It's a great gift. Thank you." He gave her a friendly hug, though he desperately longed to give her more to show his gratitude.
Hermione smiled, relieved, "I'll go get you your birthday cake. Ron keeps looking at the stairwell like a starving puppy."
Harry got up, "I'll help."
"Nonsense!" Mrs. Weasley called from across the room, "It's your birthday, Harry! Relax!"
Ron came to Harry's rescue, "Aw, just let him, Mum. It's his nature to constantly stress himself out. If he ever started relaxing he'd have nothing to complain about." The room laughed good-naturedly as Harry followed Hermione down the stairs into the kitchen.
Checking to make sure that the door was closed and no one had followed him, Harry pressed Hermione against the ice box, kissing her with everything he had in him. His tongue danced with hers and he felt her grin. "So does this mean you like the present?"
Harry smiled and kissed her on the forehead, and then her nose, and her cheeks, cradling her face in his hands, "Only you could spend months making something just to protect me and then say it's not that great."
Hermione shrugged, "Ginny's gift was better."
Harry rolled his eyes and kissed her again, "You're absolutely right, hon. Why on Earth would I be pleased with an innovative potion that even Snape would envy when I could have cologne?"
She giggled as he wrapped his arms around her, "First Ron gives me perfume and then Ginny gives you cologne. Do you think there's something that they are trying to tell us?"
Harry pretended to be shocked, "By Merlin, I think you're right!"
Hermione laughed and gently moved away from Harry, "We should get back up there before anyone gets suspicious." She pulled the large cake out of the ice box, candles already in place. Harry grabbed the knife and paper plates and held open the door open for her as she carried it up the stairs back to the living room.
When they arrived, Harry noticed that Ginny and Ron were nowhere to be seen. "Where'd they go?" he asked the rest of the room, motioning to their vacant seats.
George shrugged, "Ron had to talk to Ginny about something."
"When he knew that cake was coming?" Hermione asked, shocked. "Surely you are joking." Just then, the brother and sister came back in, Ginny looking suitably irritated. Ron sent Harry a glance that clearly meant he would talk to him about it later, so Harry shrugged and moved back to his seat next to Hermione, who was lighting the candles.
They sang the birthday song (an unusual thing for Harry, he realized) and he blew out the candles and the guests mingled as they ate their cake. Just as people began leaving, Bill gathered everyone's attention.
"Just before you all start leaving," he smiled, "Fleur and I have an announcement to make."
Fleur beamed at Bill, then turned to everyone's expectant faces, "Vee are going to haff a baby!"
Their was a collective gasp followed by various happy squeals from the women in the room, Hermione and Tonks included, which surprised Harry a bit. Everyone gathered and gave the happy couple congratulatory words before bidding each other farewell. Before Harry knew it the house was back to its usual empty self, excluding himself, Ron, and Hermione.
After a few cleaning charms performed by Hermione and Dobby, everything was back in place. Harry looked down at his watch to see that it was already six o'clock in the evening. Hermione walked over and wrapped her arms around him and he let himself melt into her embraced, the stress from being around so many people ebbing away as his thoughts revolved around only her.
Ron walked in, having left to get a drink, and cleared his throat after a moment. "Harry? Could I talk to you for a few moments?"
Hermione smiled and gave Harry a quick peck on the lips, "I'm going to go take a bath. Will you come up when you're done?" Harry nodded and kissed her softly on the forehead before letting her leave the room.
Harry sighed and turned to Ron as they sat across form each other on the sofa, "This is about Ginny, then?"
Ron nodded, "You know how she told you that she was dating Dean?"
"Yeah, but then we saw him at Diagon Alley not too long ago, so we know that's a lie."
"Exactly," Ron replied, "But that's not something Ginny usually does. I asked her about it tonight and she got really defensive before I finally got her to tell me the truth."
"Which is…" Harry prompted.
"She's still crazy about you," Ron admitted, "And believe me, I mean crazy in both senses of the word."
Harry closed his eyes and leaned his head against the back of the couch, "What do you want me to do, Ron? I'm with Hermione, now."
"I know that, and I know that the chances of you two breaking up are about as good as the chances of Millicent Bulstrode being my soul mate. It's just… no matter what kinds of dumb things she does, she's still my little sister. I think that you should talk to her. You don't have to tell her about Hermione if you don't want to; just let her know that she doesn't have a chance anymore, so she can move on."
"I'll think about it," Harry told Ron, thoughts of Hermione in his bathtub fluttering in the back of his mind. "Is that all?"
Ron shrugged, "Yeah, I guess. You going upstairs?"
Harry nodded, "See you in the morning." He ascended the stairs and entered his room, quietly shutting the door behind him. He padded over to the bathroom door and knocked gently. "It's me," he told her.
"It's unlocked," Hermione called softly. Harry turned the doorknob and entered, greeted with the sight of Hermione beneath a thick layer of frothy bubbles in his rather large bathtub. He swallowed, his throat dry, and Hermione grinned, motioning with a bubbly arm for him to come over. Upon closer inspection, Harry noticed that she was wearing what seemed to be a bikini, which both relieved him and disappointed him a bit. Harry looked at her questioningly, wondering why she would need to wear anything in the bathtub. "I thought that you might like to join me," Hermione told him, answering his unspoken question, "You trunks are on our bed."
Our bed. Harry's mind was suddenly reeling as he nodded and quickly left to change. As soon as he was, he walked back in to see Hermione resting her head on an inflated pillow, her eyes closed. Harry closed and locked the door behind him before settling into the hot water across from her. Hermione's eyes slowly opened and she looked at him in a way that made Harry forget to breathe for a few seconds, her eyes boring into his soul as she told him everything he could ever want to hear without uttering a single soft syllable.
Hermione moved to his side of the tub, sitting on his left and resting her head on his chest as he hesitantly placed his hand on the small of her back, reveling in the feeling of her bare skin. Hermione turned, straddling him as she began to place kisses on his neck and shoulders and chest before returning to his lips. Her fingers ran through his hair as his hands roamed her back under the water, beneath the bubbles. His heart ached with desire as he kissed her neck, her earlobe, even being so bold as to kiss a few inches below her neck, not far from where the bikini fabric covered her wet skin. Hermione did not seem to mind as she ran her hands over his chest, kissing his shoulders. She then wrapped her arms around his neck and held him close, her head resting next to his, as he continued to place kisses everywhere he could.
"Harry," she whispered his name in his ear, causing him to pause. He gently pushed her back so he could look at her properly, and what he saw was Hermione, completely vulnerable and unguarded, looking at him in a way that she hadn't even on that night up on the roof.
Harry memorized everything in that moment, storing it tightly in the back of his mind to keep with him forever. He wanted to say something, anything, to let her know what he was feeling, but lacked appropriate words to describe it justly. As Harry pulled Hermione close, he knew that if such a thing as soul mates did in fact exist, than surely she was his. He felt Hermione shake just slightly and looked at her to see tears in her eyes. His brows furrowed with concern, "What's wrong?"
Hermione simply shook her head and smiled as a few choked sobs escaped from her throat. She beamed as him through her bloodshot eyes, "I'm just so happy, that's all." She kissed him softly on the lips. "There's no where else I would rather be right in this moment." She turned and settled back to her original position next to him with her head on his chest.
Harry stroked her hair and smiled, "There's no where else I'd rather be, either."
Hermione sighed contently, "Happy Birthday, Harry."
Harry kissed her on her forehead. Happy Birthday, indeed.
~*~
Ron just couldn't bring himself to do it.
He stood watching his friends from the foot of the bed as they slept, stifling the chuckles that he held in his chest. It was not like the scene he had a seen a few weeks ago when Harry's arms had been wrapped protectively around Hermione. Harry was still facing Hermione, who faced the door as she always seemed to, but they were at least two feet apart on the vast bed. Ron assumed that they must have gotten cold during the chilly night, for Hermione had pulled the entire comforter around herself in search of warmth, leaving poor Harry with nothing but a thin bed sheet. This explained why Harry was curled up in a tight position while Hermione seemed very relaxed, making "sleeping sounds," as Harry had taken to calling them. Ron preferred to call it light snoring, with an occasional, rather unattractive, snort, making him pleased with his decision (okay, it had been her decision) not to be with Hermione.
Hermione had told him the day before that Harry wanted to go to Godric's Hollow and to wake them up by eight thirty if they were not already conscious. He had been standing in the same place, watching, for fifteen minutes, and still could not bring himself to wake them from their sleep.
Deciding that it would be best to take his mate out of his misery, he grinned and threw a pillow at Harry's head. Harry blinked as he stirred, sitting up and squinting at Ron with his lack of glasses. "You," Harry told him with a yawn, "Are either Ron or a very masculine looking Ginny Weasley." He reached over and put on his glasses. "Well, that's a relief, I suppose. You should get Hermione to cut your hair, too, you know. Even with my glasses on it's hard to tell the difference."
Ron crossed his arms, "Quit being a wanker and wake up your girlfriend, then meet me downstairs for breakfast."
Harry did as Ron instructed, and thirty minutes later, they met him down for breakfast.
"So Ron, Harry tells me that you're needing a haircut," Hermione said with a grin as she sat down at the table.
Ron sent an annoyed glare at Harry, "No, that's quite alright, thank you. And you know, mate, I'll be sure to tell my sister that she thinks she looks like a flat-chested bloke."
Harry shrugged as he poured syrup on his pancakes, "Maybe if you did she'd be mad at me and I wouldn't have to talk to her."
Hermione looked at the two of them, clueless, "Why do you need to talk to Ginny?"
"She's in love with Harry," Ron told her simply.
"She is?" Hermione asked Harry, who simply shrugged again.
"Don't ask me, I heard it from Ron."
"But why would she be in love with you?" Hermione asked.
Harry looked up from his food and swallowed as he stared at Hermione. "Is there something wrong with me that makes me unlovable?" he asked with his eyebrow raised.
Hermione waved away his question with her hand, "Oh, you know I didn't mean it that way. I mean, I know that she's always been a bit hung up on you; I simply assumed that after you two had for fling this past year she would grow out of it. Similar to Ron and I."
Ron snorted, "We had a fling? Hmph. Must have missed that. I feel rather gypped now. Seems unfair that they got to have a fling and we didn't."
"Well, it's a bit late now, Ron," Hermione said, rolling her eyes, "So what are you going to tell her, Harry?"
"I have no idea. I suppose I could just tell her about us, but Ginny can be rather vengeful when she sets her mind to it, and might tell the papers just out of spite, or much worse." Harry added as an afterthought.
"I'd go with `much worse,' if I was you mate," Ron told him, "Ginny's damn near frightening when she sets her mind to it." Harry sighed and Hermione rubbed his shoulder softly.
They finished their breakfast quietly, Hermione giving them the highlights from the Daily Prophet. As they cleared their dishes, Hermione turned to Harry. "Do you still want to go to Godric's Hollow?" she asked.
Harry nodded, "Can we go now?"
"Sure, that's why I had Ron get us up earlier." With that being said, they fetched their cloaks, Apparating to the same shed as last time and walking to the now familiar house.
Just as they reached the door, Harry paused, turning to Ron and Hermione, "Would it be okay with you two if I went in alone first? You could come in fifteen minutes from now."
They nodded and let him go in, going around to the back yard. Ron shivered slightly despite the warm weather. "What is it?" Hermione asked.
"Just this place," Ron told her, "The way it's peaceful and pretty and perfect. Merlin, it must kill Harry to come here, see what could have been his."
Hermione nodded, looked at the weeping willow that housed the Potter's tombstone. "I'm going to…well…you know…" she motioned at the tree and Ron nodded.
"Want me to come get you in fifteen minutes if you aren't done?"
"Sure," Hermione turned and headed through the drooping branches. Once inside the shade, Hermione looked at the encasement, small beads of light finding a way through the thick dome. Hesitating slightly, Hermione approached the tombstone, sitting in front of it.
"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Potter; James and Lily. I'm Hermione, Harry's girlfriend." Hermione could not help but smile as she spoke the words. "Don't be offended that he didn't tell you last time he was he, this is a new development. I hope he told you about me at least a little; that is, if he said anything at all.
"It's funny, the way that you two exist in our lives. You've almost become these mythical beings to us. I wonder if you watch us from where you are. Maybe you can't even hear what I'm saying right now. Just to let you know, I'm not really in the habit of talking to graves.
"Being with Harry in the way that I am isn't always easy. I haven't told him yet, but I love him, just like I know he loves me. He isn't ready to say it yet, so I will wait. I understand that love's a new concept for him.
"There isn't really much I have to say. I just wanted you to know that I will take care of him. Ron, too. Harry needs that. He has the whole Wizarding World behind him, but never has he had someone to take care of him since that night."
Hermione bit her lip, "I suppose I'm lucky, I don't have to worry about meeting my boyfriend's parents!" She tried to laugh, but failed, "I'm sorry, that was a bad joke. I think it's about time for me to go join Ron and Harry, so I am just going to go, then." She got up, brushed off her jeans, and headed through the branches. Ron stood there waiting, putting a comforting arm around her shoulders as they headed around the house. Hermione smiled at her friend and leaned against him. "What would Harry and I ever do without you, Ron?"
Ron simply shrugged and kissed her on the forehead, which required bending a bit since he was so much taller than her, "You two would be colossally screwed, that's what. And you wouldn't smile as much," he added as an afterthought.
Hermione laughed as a single tear rolled down her cheek, "We would definitely smile less. Don't ever leave us, okay?"
"You've got it. I'll stick around so long that you'll get sick of me."
Hermione smiled and gave him a hug as they reached the front door.
Harry sat in the middle of his former bedroom, something they had missed during their last visit, and held a small stuffed panda in his hands. So many blurry pictures, words, memories ran through his head, but he couldn't remember almost any of them. On the walls were pictures of him playing, but he could not remember receiving the toys. There were pictures of his parents dancing with him, but he could not remember how it felt to be held in their arms. Faces smiled from the figures, but he could not remember smiling during his childhood.
He looked up as Ron and Hermione tentatively entered the room. Ron walked around and looked at the hanging pictures while Hermione crouched down in front of him, looking at the panda. "What is that?" she asked curiously and gently.
"His name is Bandit," Harry told her as he handed her the small bear. "He was my first stuffed animal."
Hermione's eyes widened, "Did you remember that?"
"No," Harry shook his head as he stood and stuffed his hands in his pockets, "I don't remember any of this. It was in that scrapbook over there."
Hermione nodded, then stood and wrapped her arms around his neck, resting a head on his shoulder. "Is it too soon for us to begin looking for clues?" she asked.
Harry shrugged, "We can look. I figured that you'd want to go through the library. Almost all of the books in there have my mum's notes in the margins or slips of paper stuck inside of them. Some of it might be useful. While you look in there Ron can look in the office and I can look in my parents' room."
"Okay," Hermione answered and Ron nodded in the agreement. The three of them headed their separate ways.
Harry got distracted and began reading the book that had been on his mother's nightstand when Hermione called to him from downstairs. Harry entered the library, where Ron and Hermione were already waiting for him. "Bloody hell," he heard Ron say as he looked at the book that Hermione held in her hands.
"What? What is it?" Harry asked. Did it have something to do with Voldemort? The Horcruxes?
"Close," Hermione answered and Harry realized that she had been using Legilimency again, but decided not to distract her. "It's Lily's diary."
Hermione handed Harry the leather book. As he turned it in his hands he saw a cursive L and E etched on the front.
"We know it must be pretty old, since it has her original initials," Ron said, "I'd reckon it's one of those enchanted ones that never runs out of room. Ginny's got one, except hers is kept shut with a lock. This one is kept shut, but we're not exactly sure how to open it. I mean, there's no hole for a key."
Harry held it gingerly in his palms before finally handing it back to Hermione. "We can take it home and maybe one of us will think of something. Did either of you find anything else?" They shook their heads in response. "I think we should head back, then." Hermione and Ron both nodded and in moments they were all back at Grimmauld Place.
"I'm going to go put this somewhere safe," Hermione said before ascending the stairs. Harry walked into the living room and sighed as he sat on the couch, closing his eyes.
"What is it?" Ron asked, walking over and sitting in the coffee table in front of him.
"Shouldn't we be doing something?" Harry asked.
Ron shrugged, "Depends what you mean. You're going to have to be a bit more specific."
"Voldemort," Harry said and Ron nodded knowingly, as if he had expected this, which Harry supposed he might have felt it coming or something weird like that. The connection between the three of them had been getting more unexplainable by the day it seemed. "I mean, we're training and improving our skills and powers, but what good does it do if we're not out there doing something?"
Ron studied Harry for a moment, "Well, I'm not sure. Maybe we're all a bit hesitant because we know that once we get this… whatever it is, started, there's no going back. Of course, I'm assuming that you're about ready to get started if you are asking me this, and maybe even have an idea rolling around in your head?"
Harry grinned slightly at Ron, who was returning the gesture. "I was thinking that Borgin and Burkes might be a good place to get started. There seems to be a lot of important dealing that goes on there, and even if there's no Horcrux that we know of there…I don't know, but there might be something. What do you think?"
Ron's grin grew to a full-out smirk, "I say let's go."
"Go where?" Hermione's voice reached their ears as she entered the room, sitting on the couch and resting a head against Harry's chest as he habitually draped an arm over her shoulders.
"Borgin and Burkes," Ron answered.
"Why?" Hermione asked suspiciously, looking at Harry even thought his eyes were closed.
Harry smiled, "We're starting."
Hermione simply nodded. She stood and looked at them expectantly, "Well then what are we waiting for? Grab your invisibility cloak and let's go!"
Minutes later they found themselves in front of the store display window. The Boys had let Hermione use the invisibility cloak while they Disillusioned themselves. "Why is it closed?" Hermione whispered impatiently.
"Who cares?" Ron asked, "Let's break in. We can get a good look around without the store owner noticing anything."
"Good idea," Harry said sarcastically, "Except for the fact that there's still quite enough people around that they'd see a store shop opening and no one going through it."
"Fine," Ron said. "So much for jumping right into adventure. This was a colossal waste of time."
"I'm not so sure," Hermione said, a bit breathless. Harry's eyes went to Hermione's shaky finger, just peeking out of the cloak for a second, pointing at the window. "Do either of you recognize that?" she whispered.
"No," they whispered in return as they looked at a golden charm bracelet with a single heart-shaped charm hanging from it. There appeared to be intricate carvings on the heart, but Harry didn't have much time to study it.
Not wasting a moment, Hermione blindly grabbed each of their arms and Disapparated them. When Harry opened his eyes, they were in what would have been his sister's room at Godric's Hollow. "Hermione, why did you bring us here?" Harry asked as he folded up his invisibility cloak.
"Look!" Hermione exclaimed, pulling them over to the single picture that hung on the walls. Harry looked at it, watching as what had been his family dance happily around the room at the thought of a new sibling, a new child.
"Hermione, what am I supposed to see?" Harry asked.
"On her wrist, do you see it?" Harry looked again. This time he saw just what Hermione had seen. On Lily's arm hung a gold bracelet, exactly like the one from Borgin and Burkes.
~*~
A/N: Ah, yes, I hear your collective words: "Finally! Some action!" (<You people are like Lady Starlight, then…) or "What? How dare you end the chapter there?" Well, to keep myself alive (self preservation is usually a good thing, you know) I decided to give you what I have despite the extensive mulling I spent on this chapter. Please Review. As always, even though I don't reply to every single review I greatly appreciate every single one, and you all really give me great ideas, or sometimes just the inspiration I need to finish up the next chapter, so thank you very much. :)
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