Harry Potter and the Triptych
By Vickles
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Author's Note: Okay, guys, here's chapter two. This was a bit difficult to write, mainly because a lot happens, but at the same time very little happens (though all of it is necessary). Anyway, I hope you enjoy, as always, and please take about 30 seconds and drop a review when you're done!
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Chapter 2: Advice, Consent, and Craziness
Harry waited a moment before opening his eyes. His first reaction was surprise at finding himself inside a rather large estate. "Is this your house?"
Hermione beamed, "Yes, isn't it beautiful?"
Harry found himself lacking an appropriate response. Indeed, from what Harry could see, the house appeared to have been professionally decorated. "It's so…so…" Harry struggled to find the word for what he was looking for.
"Big?" Hermione supplied. Harry laughed and nodded. Big was an understatement. "Yes, I know. My parents are among the best dentists in Europe. Plus, they love what they do and without me around can work as much as they like. My dad once inspected the teeth of Princess Diana before she married Prince Charles. He likes to say that he gave her that beautiful smile." Hermione smiled with obvious pride.
"Princess Diana?" Harry asked, not knowing whom this was.
Hermione seemed about to explain before changing her mind, "It's not important. Mom? Dad? I'm here!" She called out into the massive hallway.
Not a moment later two people who Harry recognized as the Grangers came walking in. "Hermione, dear! This is a surprise," Mrs. Granger said, embracing her. "Oh, and you must be Harry, am I right?" She asked, turning to him as her husband embraced Hermione.
Harry smiled politely and shook her hand, "Yes, I am. It's very nice to finally meet you, Mrs. Granger. Of course I've seen you in Diagon Alley before."
The middle-aged woman blushed and smiled, "Yes, I recall seeing you as well. You've grown up a lot, and my, such manners!"
Hermione's dad turned to Harry, clearly sizing him up, "It's nice to meet you, Harry."
Harry shook the man's hand firmly, "Likewise, Mr. Granger."
Hermione wasted no time getting to the point. "Mom…Dad…we need to talk."
Harry watched as the Grangers exchanged a panicked glance before Mrs. Granger spoke, "What is it, honey?"
Hermione smiled reassuringly and led them all into what Harry thought could only be called a sitting room, as it only contained a few couches and side tables and lighting, the couches facing each other so the occupants could carry on a conversation. Harry and Hermione sat on one couch and the Grangers sat on the one opposite of them. Hermione took a deep breath before speaking, "I'm not going back to Hogwarts this year."
The Grangers stared at her in shock for a moment, "You're…dropping out?" Hermione's father asked.
Hermione shook her head. "No, it's not like that at all," The Grangers became visibly relieved, "Do you remember all of those things I told you about Harry and V-Voldemort?" Harry inwardly applauded Hermione for using the name, something she had only done once or twice before. The Grangers nodded. "Well, Harry needs to face him eventually, you see, and when he does he has to be prepared. He has things that he needs to do before any of this happens, too. Ron and I want to help him. That is to say, we're going with him."
Mrs. Granger turned to Harry, no accusation in her eyes, but rather innocent wondering or curiosity, "Did you ask them to do this?"
Hermione answered for Harry, "No, we offered," she turned and glanced at Harry for a moment before turning back to her parents, "Harry would never ask us to do something like that. Besides," she went on, "Hogwarts may be closing anyway. I'd be much better off with Ron and Harry, and even if I wasn't, Harry needs us, and we need him."
The Grangers looked between the two of them before Hermione's father spoke hesitantly, "When are you leaving?"
Hermione looked down at her hands, "Now."
Harry looked up, hearing Hermione's mother emit a strangled sob. Something occurred to him in that moment. Going to Hogwarts was never a big deal to him, for he never left anything behind. His family, his true family, was at Hogwarts, in the wizarding world. The Weasley's didn't think much of it either, because this is how it had always been for them, they didn't know of anything different. For the Grangers, however, it was another thing entirely. Muggle families weren't accustomed to this. It was one thing to find out your daughter has magical powers. It's another thing entirely to find out that you may never see her for more than a month or two out of the year ever again.
Mr. Granger seemed to study Hermione for a moment, thinking, "We can't stop you… can we?" he finally asked in a defeated tone, "You've already decided."
Hermione nodded, "This is something that I have to do, Dad. Something that we all have to do." Harry could tell how difficult this was for her and gently laid his hand on hers, if nothing else than to remind her that he was there. She turned her head and smiled at him gratefully.
Mrs. Granger stood and walked over to her daughter, who stood as well, "Will you write?"
Hermione nodded, hugging her mother, "Whenever I can, I promise."
Mr. Granger stood and embraced his daughter as well. "Be safe," he told her. When they let go he turned to Harry, who was now standing as well, "Take care of my daughter, Harry."
Hermione gave an exasperated sigh, "I'm capable of taking care of myself, Dad."
Harry ignored her response and nodded his head, "I will, Sir."
Mr. Granger made a brave attempt at a smile, "Well, then, you two better get going. The world needs saving."
Hermione laughed, "Oh yes, duty awaits." She turned to Harry, "Where are we apparating to?"
"We should apparate to the Burrow," Harry said, "We can saying goodbye to everyone, and get Ron. I expect Mrs. Weasley will want to have a word with us, as well."
Hermione smiled and gave her parents one last hug and kiss goodbye. "Okay, let's go." Hermione waved to her parents as she and Harry disapparated.
Back at the Burrow, the reception had wound down quite a bit. Only the family was left, mingling with each other in the back yard. Upon noticing them, Ron ran up to Harry and Hermione. "You guys wouldn't believe Mum! She's mental I tell you! Absolutely…"
"Harry! Hermione!" The familiar voice of Mrs. Weasley greeted the teenagers' ears. "Ron, there you are! Where did you go? Never mind, could the three of you come with me for a moment?" The three friends exchanged a glance before following Mrs. Weasley into the kitchen.
"Yes, Mrs. Weasley?" Hermione asked when they were all inside and Mrs. Weasley had closed the door.
"Sit down, please," Mrs. Weasley said sweetly. They did as she said, sitting next to each other at the table, opposite of where she was standing. "Are any of you thirsty? Do you want something to drink?"
"No thank you, Mrs. Weasley," Harry replied.
Mrs. Weasley sighed, "Alright then, I suppose I should just get on with it. I just wanted to say to you three that I am very proud of you," she said quickly.
Harry and Hermione exchanged a shared look of shock before Ron muttered, "I told you, mental. She's gone totally bonkers."
"Oh hush," Mrs. Weasley gently swatted Ron on the shoulder, "Now, I don't exactly approve of you three going off on your own, Harry not even being age, but I don't have a hold on the two of you," She nodded to Hermione and Harry, "since I'm not your mother," she added sadly.
She went on, facing them with a stern expression, "I trust that you will ask for help if you need it, and write regularly so I don't worry. I'm letting you go, but that doesn't mean I don't care. Please don't make me regret this." She finished and swiped at her face, carefully concealing her bloodshot eyes.
Harry, without understanding why he was doing it or bothering to question it, stood and gave Mrs. Weasley a hug, and said, "We can't thank you enough, Mrs. Weasley, for everything. You've been a wonderful mother to Ron and a like a mother to Hermione and me." Harry pulled back and looked at her, facing down since he was now taller than her, "I think we can manage to send an owl once in awhile," Harry added with a smile.
Mrs. Weasley was positively bawling now, pulling Hermione and Ron into the next hug along with Harry. "I'm going to miss you three."
Hermione smiled, wiping a tear from her face as well, "We'll miss you, too."
After a moment the four of them turned to the door, facing the back yard, where the rest of the Weasleys were talking to each other animatedly about something or other. Mrs. Weasley nudged them, "Do you think you could tell them goodbye?"
They nodded and opened the door and entered the back yard, everyone looking up to see them.
"Hey, Harry!" Fred shouted, breaking the ice. "Are you guys leaving?"
"Yeah," Harry answered back a little quietly, "We just wanted to say goodbye."
"Leefing?" Fleur asked, "But ver are you going? Vy are you going?"
"Oh, you know the story," George said with a smile at the three friends, "The great trio is off to go fight evil, side by side."
Ginny looked up at Hermione, "Is this true?"
Hermione nodded with a weak smile, saying, "I suppose that's one way to put it."
Ginny stayed seated for a moment before abruptly jumping up and running to Hermione, pulling her into a friendly and bone-crushing hug. She then turned to Ron and hugged him the same way. When she came to Harry, she gave him a hug, though considerably lighter than the ones she gave Hermione and Ron. She looked up at him with an unreadable expression. She seemed to think about what she wanted to say for a moment before speaking, "Just…don't get yourself killed, okay?"
Harry nodded, frowning slightly since he was still trying to read her face, "Okay."
There was a brief pause before all of the Weasleys were rushing to them, giving them the same bone-crushing hugs and saying goodbyes. When it was all over, the three said one final goodbye to the group before apparating to the destination Harry had set.
Slowly they climbed out from inside the bushes, crossing the playground and beginning their walk down the path that seemed suddenly so familiar to Harry. The sun was setting, and as darkness began to cover the neighborhood, Harry moved closer to Hermione, who was between him and Ron. He wasn't scared, but he definitely felt better when he could almost feel her next to him. After several minutes, Ron spoke, "How much further mate?"
"It's this next one I think," Harry stopped and pointlessly checked the address on the house. Like he could forget which one it was. "Yeah, this is it." They turned and headed up the walkway, Harry lifting the silver brass knocker once they reached the door. They waited silently for a few moments before Harry lifted his hand back up, about to knock again. However it wasn't necessary, because at that moment the door was opened.
"Hello, Aunt Petunia," Harry said, not wasting any time. "As I already told you, we'll be staying the night. I assume our things are already here?" Harry asked and his aunt nodded.
"What time will you be leaving tomorrow?" She asked somewhat timidly, wrapping her night robe tighter around her.
Harry shrugged, and he was about to ask her why she cared when Hermione spoke, "Mrs. Dursley we will try not to disturb you and your husband and leave as soon as possible." Harry and Ron both turned to her in shock, but she merely shrugged in return.
Petunia seemed to study Hermione for a moment, "Okay, then. Come on in." She opened the door and ushered them in. Harry was about to lead his friends up the stairs, but to his surprise his aunt led them down the main hallway.
Harry had not gone down this hallway in a long time. There were only three things in this hallway. His aunt and uncle's master bedroom, Dudley's equally large bedroom, and Harry's old cupboard under the stairs. Just walking in this direction made Harry feel sick to his stomach. Hermione seemed to have noticed and sent him a curious glance, but then she noticed the door to under the stairs and gasped. "Is that…?" She began in a whisper and Harry nodded, not looking her in the eyes.
"Excuse me, Aunt Petunia, but why are we going this way. Surely you aren't planning to…" Harry couldn't fathom the thought that his relatives actually believed that three adolescents and their things could fit into that tiny cupboard for one whole night.
"You'll be staying in Dudders' room tonight," Petunia cut him off. When they reached the door she opened it and Harry nearly lost his breath for a moment when he saw what was inside.
Dudley's room had always been full of things. When he was a baby, it was full of stuffed animals, baby items, and expensive diapers. When he was a young boy, it had always been full of the priciest toys around, loads of them. There were toy guns, rocket launchers, army figures, dartboards, and other paraphernalia; more than enough to make Harry jealous as he sat in his cupboard and listened to his cousin playing. As a teenager the room was full of stereo equipment, a television, stolen items, a real gun, and mementos from some of his favorite victims (with a shudder Harry realized just how much his cousin was like Tom Riddle).
But now as Harry looked around the room he could scarcely tell that his cousin had ever lived in it. If it weren't for the stains on the carpet and scorch marks on the ceiling Harry wondered if he would have been able to tell if anyone had ever lived in this room. All that was in it now were three bedded cots and their luggage.
Harry couldn't help himself as curiosity flooded him, "Where's Dudley sleeping?"
Aunt Petunia didn't seem to want to answer this question, "Dudders…Dudley is staying with his Aunt Marge for a while until he… until things get better," the sad finality of her tone prevented Harry from asking any more questions.
Harry stepped into the room, selecting the middle cot and Hermione and Ron followed behind him. "Okay, well, thank you, I suppose." Harry said to his aunt, realizing that this may have been the most the two of them had spoken to each other in years. Petunia nodded in response and left the room, closing the door behind her. They each sat down on the cot they had chosen.
As soon as the three of them heard the door to the master bedroom close Ron rounded on Hermione, "What were you thinking?" He exclaimed quietly.
Hermione clearly didn't know what he was talking about, "What do you mean, what was I thinking?"
"Pretending to be polite to Harry's aunt! Did you inhale one of Fred and George's experiments and it made you loopy?"
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Yes, that must be it, Ron. I'm high on an experiment! Has it occurred to you that maybe a little politeness goes a long way? Besides, I wasn't pretending to be anything; maybe I'm just polite by nature." Ron snorted. "And what's that supposed to mean?"
Ron snorted again, much more obviously this time, "Just that, in the time I've known you, you have been anything but `naturally polite,' as you put it."
"Oh yeah, because you are so…"
"Stop it," Harry spoke at last. The pair looked at him as if shocked to see he was still there, which was stupid since he was right between them. "Look, I know you two have pent up…whatever, but please listen to me. I'm honored that you guys want to join me on my journey, but if you are going to bicker like this the whole time I'm sorry, you can't come."
Hermione seemed about to cry and Ron looked angry and hurt at the same time. "I'm not saying this to be mean," Harry continued before either of them could speak, "This is for your own good. What we're trying to do is going to be very dangerous, and none of us can afford to have any distractions."
Harry turned to Hermione, suddenly feeling very sad and guilty as she stared back at him, trying to keep the tears from escaping her eyes, "I promised your father that I would take care of you. If that means leaving you behind so that you and I will both be safe, I will do it, and I wont hesitate. Honestly, though, I really don't want to do that, because I need you with me, Hermione."
Harry turned to Ron, who looked less angry now, "And I need you, too. So please, can you two just learn to get along like the best friends you are?" Harry asked, looking between the two of them, each of them nodding weakly. "Good," Harry said, and then smiled. "Now how about we get some sleep, because I'm knackered."
Ron smiled in return now, and Hermione laughed a little, speaking, "Okay, I'm going to use the closet to change, and you two can change out here." Harry and Ron shrugged and nodded as Hermione pulled her nightclothes out of her trunk and walked into the closet.
Harry and Ron quickly changed into their pajamas and got into their cots, Hermione coming out after a moment and turning off the light, then getting into her cot as well. "Good night," Hermione said.
"Good night," Harry answered.
"'Night," Ron replied.
The three of them became very quiet, which made sense since they were supposed to be trying to sleep. Harry however was wide-awake. He stared up at the ceiling for many minutes, attempting to count the amount of little dots in the paint. Once many minutes had passed and he still couldn't sleep, Harry sighed loudly, annoyed.
"Harry?" a voice whispered and Harry froze, mentally slapping himself for his stupidity.
"Sorry, Hermione, did I wake you up?" Harry asked, turning on his side to face her.
Hermione, who was already facing him, shook her head, "No. Are you having trouble sleeping, too?" Harry nodded, and Hermione strained her neck to see over him, "Ron? Are you still awake?" Hermione asked. Ron, however, simply replied with a light snore.
Harry laughed, "Figures. I think Ron could sleep through and earthquake if he wanted to."
Hermione chuckled softly, "You're probably right. Why are you still up?"
Harry shrugged, "I don't know, I just don't feel very tired. Why are you still up?"
Hermione sighed, "I miss my parents. I'm also a little nervous about all of this, to be honest."
"Oh, Hermione, you could have said…" Harry felt guilty for not even checking to make sure his friends were still okay.
"I know, Harry. I'll be fine, don't worry. It's just; I know that what we're doing is dangerous this time. Every other time I was just vaguely aware that it could be dangerous. This time it's definitely dangerous, and there's a very real chance of not coming out of it alive."
"No there isn't," Harry replied before thinking about it.
"How can you even say that?" Hermione asked, "We're going up against one of the greatest dark wizards of all time, Harry. A person doesn't get a title like that for no reason."
"It doesn't matter." Harry replied.
"What do you mean?" Hermione responded.
Harry looked her in the eyes now, "Because it doesn't matter who it is. I'm not letting them hurt you, Hermione, or Ron, for that matter. Besides, I'm not ready to die, so you shouldn't be, either."
Hermione sighed, "I'm not ready to die, Harry. I'm just trying to look at the reality of the situation. And you better do like Ginny said and keep yourself from getting killed. What?" Hermione asked as Harry's expression changed. "What is it, Harry?"
Harry turned on his back and faced the ceiling again, "She broke up with me earlier, when we were dancing."
Hermione remained silent for a moment, "But I thought that you were already broken up."
"We were. I broke up with her at Dumbledore's funeral. But today, she got to have her say. She made it final."
"What did she say?"
Harry shrugged, "A lot of things. She pretty much told me that she had always had a crush on The Boy Who Lived, and had no interest dating Harry, and that we're only friends. She said that real couple talk more than we did, and that I talk to you more than her, which I thought made sense since you and I are best friends," Harry stopped and thought for a moment, "Oh, and she said I was a good kisser," Harry added as an afterthought.
Hermione suddenly got up and sat next to Harry on his cot, looking down at him as he laid there, "You did understand what that was, right?"
Harry looked up at Hermione and her flannel pajamas, "Um…no?"
Hermione exhaled sharply, "She's in denial!"
Harry sat up, "You think so?"
"Definitely," Hermione replied, "Plus, if I know Ginny, she felt it was unfair that you got to break up with her. It's that Weasley personality," Hermione rolled her eyes with a glance over at Ron's cot, "She probably felt the need to get you back and have her say." She got up and got back into her bed, lying down, Harry doing the same.
"You're probably right, Hermione. Thanks," Harry said, stifling a yawn.
"You welcome. Good night, Harry," Hermione replied.
"Good night, Hermione," Harry whispered, and a few minutes later both of them were fast asleep.
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A/N: Okay, hopefully you all enjoyed that. Don't worry, this is Portkey, and it's a H/Hr story. Just give it time. Please Review!!! (And if you don't like the chapter title blame my awesome beta, Dedi, lol.)
Also, I want to get this out of the way right now. I've read a lot of stories where the author is constantly giving excuses for not posting as often as the readers would like. I'll just tell you now, I will always get the chapter to you as quick as possible and I will never abandon this, so don't worry. I promise that if it takes me a little longer to get a chapter out I have a good reason. Sometimes I wont have a lot of time, but I will use the time I do have to write, and you also have to remember that sometimes Dedi may be busy and it may take her a day or two to get back to me with her edits. Anyway, I just thought I'd get that over with right now so you don't have to worry later!
More to come soon! :)
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