A/N: Happy Holidays, everyone! Thanks for all that reviewed over Chapter 7! Only three chapters to go! Right now, I'm gonna answer the number one question I've been asked: Where do you get the idea for the things in your story? Answer: Almost everything in this story is based on reality, inspired by the sweet guys in my life and the sweet things they do. This story is for them.
Disclaimer: I don't own this, just the precious memories I put into the heart of this story.
Until you can see what I see, you cannot feel what I feel.
Chapter 8:
As the time for Hermione's test taking drew nearer and nearer, she began to study almost religiously. She took her books to study with her to work and thumbed through them every time she had the chance. The fact that she had both text books completely memorized cover-to-cover didn't matter to her--she always had to study for just one more minute, one more hour, one more night. The time that she and Harry spent together was diminished, but their love held strong.
One cold day after the turn of the year, Harry was sitting in Hermione's apartment at the kitchen table, across from his flustered girlfriend. She rapidly flipped pages while she reminded Harry in a high-pitched voice that she was taking the test in only three days. Harry laughed and patted her hand.
"Hermione, you're brilliant. You really needn't worry about this test. I'm sure you will pass with the highest score possible."
"You really think so?"
He smiled reassuringly. "I know so."
She sighed. "I hope you're right."
He took her hand in his and led her away from her worries and books. He held her in his arms and kissed her softly, melting her worries away. They went to the den and lay down on the couch like they had at Harry's house on Christmas Eve and fell soundly asleep.
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On the morning that Hermione was scheduled to take the entrance exam, Harry arrived at her house with a thermos of hot chocolate. He knew that she didn't have a lot of confidence, so he had drained the rest of his Felix Felicis in the steaming chocolate. She drank it quietly, and he knew she was reciting the textbook over again. He laughed and hugged her before escorting her to his car to take her to the testing facility.
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Hermione couldn't believe how easy the test was. As she took it, she was amazed at how easily the answers came to her. She turned her test in forty-five minutes before the time limit. The lady at the front gave her a note that said that they would call with the test results within three to five days, and Hermione couldn't help but smile as she walked outside to Harry's car.
"How did it go?"
"Absolutely splendidly! It was almost as though I had the whole textbook there the whole time!"
"I told you you could do it."
"I just hope I did good enough."
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Three days later, Harry awoke to a ferocious pounding on his door. He got out of bed groggily and went to the door. To his surprise, Hermione was standing outside, her face beaming. She jumped in as soon as the door was opened and hugged Harry as tight as she could.
"Oh, Harry! I'm in and I made the highest grade the school has ever seen!"
Harry couldn't have been prouder of her.
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Hermione's classes began two and a half weeks later. Harry had purchased all her textbooks despite her modest cries of stubbornness. She only had a year to go, but Harry knew he would miss seeing her as much as he normally did. During her first week of school, he faithfully got up every morning and drove her to school, savoring each moment of watching her finish getting ready in the car. After he dropped her off, though, his life took on the same monotony it used to have.
One day, about a month after Hermione started school, Harry was lounging around his house when something began to bother him. Some thought had occurred to him sometime around Christmas, and he could not remember what it was. He had the strange feeling that it had something to do with Hermione, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
His determination to remember his thoughts lasted up until after lunch. He had just eaten a bowl of macaroni and cheese and was walking through the main hall. He hadn't been in the main hall for several days since he normally parked his car in the back. On this particular day, though, something in the main hall caught his eye. The sun was unusually bright that morning, and the sunbeams reflected off something very large and shiny.
The shield.
Harry rushed towards the mounted shield and studied it carefully. It was the Hogwarts crest, there was no denying that, but how was that possible? Hermione had said that the shield had been her mother's. Did that mean her mother was a witch? If so, why had Hermione never told him? His hand shook as he slowly traced the crest with his forefinger. He could ask Hermione, but if his ideas were completely wrong, he would end up betraying the wizarding world. Ron would only make matters worse, but… Minerva.
Minerva was the headmistress at Hogwarts; she had been since Harry's seventh year. She'd know if there had been a Milea at Hogwarts-it wasn't a very common name. He rushed to his fireplace and pulled an ancient spittoon from the hearth. He grabbed some floo powder from it, shouted for McGonagal's office, and stuck his head in the fire. The warm sensation of the flames tickled his nostrils as his head swirled about, making him sneeze. A few moments later, his head flickered in the headmistress's fireplace.
Minerva looked up from her desk with a start. She ran towards the fire at the sight of Harry's floating head.
"Why, Mr. Potter! What brings you here today in my fireplace?"
"Professor, would you mind if I came up there fully in about half an hour? I need to talk to you about something important."
"Of course. Why didn't you just come immediately? You know you don't have to ask to visit Hogwarts."
"I'm waiting to pick Hermione up from school. After I take her home, I'll be back!"
"Oh, all right. The password is `honeysuckle'."
"Thanks! Good-bye, Professor." His head popped out of the flames, leaving the headmistress baffled.
"Who in Merlin's name is Hermione?"
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Harry picked Hermione up right as the final bell rang. She got into the car and he drove off almost before she could close her door.
"Goodness, Harry! What's wrong?"
Harry turned to her at the stoplight and touched her face softly. "Hermione, love, I'm sorry but something really important came up back at my old school, and I have to get up there as soon as I can."
"Why do you have to go?"
"I'm, uh, on the board of directors." As he said this, he looked briefly to his left and immediately to the right. Hermione grabbed his hand.
"Harry, looking to the left is a sign that you're lying, and looking to the right shows that you're worried about something of the past. What are you really doing?"
Harry looked at her goggle-eyed. "How do you know this stuff?"
"I read. Really, Harry. Please trust me."
"Hermione, I promise you that after today I will never lie to you again, but what I'm doing is incredibly confidential and I can not tell you right now. I promise I'll tell you as soon as I possibly can. I'm sorry, but I don't want to hurt you. Are you okay with that?"
She looked at him for a moment before sighing. "Okay, Harry. I really shouldn't, but I will trust you this once."
"Thank you, love." He leaned over and kissed her softly, holding her hand the whole way to her apartment.
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True to his word, Harry arrived at the huge entrance to Hogwarts exactly thirty minutes later. Classes were in session, so there were no students around to goggle at him. After all, he was their hero and savior of their world. He walked down the abandoned corridors, waving to a few ghosts, until he reached the headmistress's office. He gave the gargoyle the password and went up the moving staircase. When he entered the office, McGonagal was sitting at the desk with her arms crossed in front of her.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Potter. I must say, I have been wondering as to the urgency of our meeting."
"Oh, yes, Professor. I was wondering, well, I was wondering if I could ask a favor of you?"
"Certainly, you have a right, saving us all in the Great Battle." Harry blushed. "What can I do for you?"
"I need to know if there was ever a student named Milea at Hogwarts. She would be about the age of my parents, if they were alive, and her last name after marriage is Granger."
"Does this have anything to do with, uh, Hermione?"
"Well, yes."
"Pray tell, who is Hermione?"
"She's my girlfriend. She's also a muggle with an uncanny knowledge of magical happenings. For Christmas, she gave me a shield that her mother owned that had the Hogwarts crest on it, and I was wondering if, well, hoping-"
"That she was a witch so that your beloved may be able to find a place in the wizarding world for your future."
"Something like that."
"Well, I remember teaching more than one Mileas, but let me see what I can do." She walked over to a room off her office and Harry slowly followed. He gasped as he saw the sheer size of the room. It was at least two stories tall and covered wall to wall in cabinets and books.
"What is this place?"
"This," she held her arm out towards all the papers, "Is the official library of Hogwarts's records. We have every student ever to be taught here on file. For instance," She flicked her wand towards a newer stack of cabinets. A file flew out into her outstretched arm. "Harry James Potter. Education: Completed. Job: None/ Millionaire. Highest Accomplishment: Defeating You-Know-Who in the Final Battle. There you are, if this Milea ever attended Hogwarts, all her records and history will be here." She motioned for him to begin to search. He waved his wand and muttered Milea's name. To his surprise, seven files flew at him. Minerva looked at him and gave him a rare smile. "There you are, Potter. Look through these all you want." She turned and went back to her office, leaving Harry in peace.
Two of the files were from the early 1500's; Harry put those far off to the side. The remaining five were more modern, and Harry settled down to read. The first Milea had died from a faulty spell right out of Hogwarts-that wasn't what he was looking for. The next two were still living and worked for small muggle shops selling coffee mugs. No, that was not it, either. The next one was still attending Hogwarts.
Harry sighed and looked at the pile of misses. Hopefully, after reading this last file, he would finally discover the truth. He touched the parchment of the last file and his fingers tingled in excitement. If Milea had been a witch, Hermione might be one, too, and then he wouldn't ever worry again about spilling in front of her.
He slowly opened the file and pulled out the parchment inside. He closed his eyes tightly and made a wish before reading the words across the page.
Milea Jane Powers (Granger)
His heart leaped. He had found her! He placed his hand over his heart before reading the file.
Daughter of Aegina and Nicholas Powers (both muggles)
Education: Completion of Hogwarts
History: Milea was both prefect and Head Girl while at Hogwarts. She achieved top honors in her classes and was known for her incredible transformation skills. She married a muggle, Stephen, right out of Hogwarts. One year later, their only child was born, a daughter. Milea told Stephen about the wizarding world and he left her for a muggle in the performing arts. Times were dark, and Milea left the only world she knew to protect her daughter. Her daughter was raised in ignorance of the wizarding world. She has shown no particular magical talent, although she is unusually bright. Milea worked as a waitress to support her small family, swearing to block out all magic. Sixteen years after her daughter was born, she contracted the muggle disease of leukemia. She died two years later after refusing to take any wizard remedies. She is remembered for her beauty and grace, her intelligence, and the loving sacrifice she made for her daughter to protect her from evil.
Harry read the file in amazement. Milea had been a witch, but Hermione wasn't. It was as simple as that. He was glad that he had found her history, but something inside him hurt a little bit with the realization that Hermione would never fully experience everything he did. If anyone deserved a little magic in their lives, it was Hermione. He gathered the file up and walked slowly back into Minerva's office. He walked in and put the file in front of her.
"Well?"
"Milea was a witch, but Hermione's not."
She looked at him sympathetically before thumbing through the file. "Of course, Milea Powers! Oh, she was one of the best students I've ever taught."
"Isn't there something I could do?"
"What do you mean?"
He stood up angrily. "How can she have no magic in her if her mother was one of the brightest witches ever? If anyone deserved magic, it's Hermione, and no matter what happens in our life together, she'll never fully experience everything I will." He sat back down, frustrated with the world. McGonagal leaned across the desk and patted his hand gently.
"She does have magic in her blood, everyone who's related to a witch or wizard does."
"Then why can she not see what I see or feel what I feel?"
"Sometimes, people who possess magic never have enough magic to find the power to bring that magic to life. However, well…"
"What?"
"You'd have to talk with the Minister of Magic, Arthur Weasley, but, I may have a way to bring that magic in Hermione out, but it may take a sacrifice on your part."
"I'll do anything for her!"
"Alright then. Here's what we'll have to do. Note that it may not work, but…"
"What do I have to do?"
Minerva advanced to tell Harry her plan, unsure of how he'd take it. When she finished, the beam on his face told her that he loved the idea.
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Two days later, Harry drove silently to Hermione's apartment, trying to summon the courage to finally tell her the truth. As the car stopped, he carefully fingered the package in his pocket. He walked to her door and knocked twice. She opened it and smiled at him, making his heart pound harder.
"Oh, Harry! You're back! I missed you so much!"
"I missed you, too. I really need to talk to you about some stuff. Do you think we could go to the park?"
"Sure! Let me get my coat."
Hermione was beautiful to Harry. He knew that his sacrifice would be worth it, but what if she refused? Thinking about it as he stood at her threshold, he began to wonder if Minerva's idea was so great after all.
As they drove to the park, Hermione chattered on about her classes. Harry was glad that she filled the silence. He was waiting to talk until they reached the park and was scared of what to say.
They got to the park and Harry opened Hermione's door as always. He took her by the hand and he led her to a park bench in the middle of the park. Hermione smiled softly as she realized that this was the place where they had first met. Harry motioned for her to sit, and she sat beside him, leaning against him for warmth. They sat in each other's presence for a moment before Harry spoke.
"Hermione, I love you so much."
"Yes. I love you, too."
"Do you believe in magic?"
She gave him an odd look, wondering where his random question had come from.
"Yes, I suppose. I would like to think that there is magic out there. Yet sometimes, things are so horrid that it's hard to believe. Why do you ask?"
"I swore that I would never lie to you again; now I have to tell you my huge secret. I know you may not believe this, but your mother was a true-to-life witch."
Hermione looked furious. "Why I-" She pushed away from Harry.
"No, no, please listen. It's not an insult, because, well you see, I'm a-I'm a-a"
"A what?" She said, her voice edging on hysterics.
"I'm a wizard."
She looked at him incredulously.
"The school that your mum went to, Hogwarts? That's where I went to school, that's where Ron went to school, that's where Ginny and Neville and Lavender and Seamus and Luna went. Hogwarts is a school for witchcraft and wizardry. All of us are wizards."
"I don't believe you."
"What?"
"If my mother was a--a witch why did she never tell me? If she could do magic tricks, why did she die from leukemia?!?"
"Because, well, here!" He pulled his hair up and revealed his scar. "There was a really bad wizard named Voldemort and he murdered a bunch of very good magical folk! Times were dark and your mum left the wizarding world to protect you! Then Voldemort murdered my parents and he tried to kill me, but he didn't succeed! More bad stuff happened until I killed him when I was eighteen! Yes, I killed him, but by doing so I rid the wizarding world of the evil that your mother left to protect you from! Where do you think she got all those stories about firewhisky, mediwitches, and all that other stuff? It's not a fairy tale, it's all reality."
Hermione looked at him, her shining face now pale. She glared at Harry and he could see her shaking.
"'Mione, I promise you…"
"Don't call me `Mione. I can't believe you, Harry Potter. I trusted you, I even told you about mum! And you, you used all the stories I told you to try to make a fool of me!" She viciously pulled the promise ring off of her finger and threw it at Harry. "I thought you were better than all the other men, but I see now I was wrong." She walked away in the cold, leaving Harry alone and stunned on the park bench. She was so angry that she couldn't see straight and hot tears began to flow from her eyes. She ran as quickly as she could to her house and ran inside, locking the door behind her and locking the door to her heart once again.
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Harry went back to his mansion feeling lower than dirt. He had blown it, and had lost the best thing that had ever happened to him as a result. He walked into the library and lit the fire with a wave of his wand and instantly felt energy drained from his body. He slumped over on the couch as tears filled his eyes. He had sacrificed so much and was feeling lonelier than ever in his huge stone castle, and even though Hermione had hurt him, he couldn't stop loving her; he'd never stop loving her.
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That night, Hermione lit a lamp and headed for her attic storage area. After she got home, she had cried and eaten a whole pint of ice cream. As she sat in her big squishy chair, Harry's words rang in her ears.
I'm a wizard.
It couldn't be.
Your mother was a true-to-life witch.
It did explain her stories, but no!
It just simply wasn't possible.
There was her mother's school trunk, though.
Hermione had quickly changed into pajamas for comfort and headed for the attic. She had found the shield in a box by the trunk, but she had never actually looked in the trunk itself. If Harry's words were true, there would be proof in the trunk. If he had lied, she could stop hating herself for what she said and never trust another man as long as she lived.
As she reached the tiny attic storage, a soft rain began to fall on the window.
Appropriate.
She sat the lamp down on an old roll top desk and knelt beside the huge, black trunk. She blew the dust off the top and read the inscription.
This trunk belongs to Milea Jane Powers, Ravenclaw House.
Hermione undid the locks and pulled the trunk open. The top was littered with papers and notes. All of them were notes to and from friends who had apparently gone to school with Milea, talking about muggles, love potions, and giant squids. Below the notes were carefully organized folders. Hermione took the one farthest to the left and read the title: Herbology, Year 7. Her heart pounded as she took the next folder and saw its title of "Transfiguration, Year 4." All the folders had strange names like "Potions" and "Care of Magical Creatures." Hermione thumbed through them all, reading essays in her mother's writing over "The Unnecessary Witch Burnings of Salem" and "How to Transfigure Beetles into Buttons."
As Hermione read, she began to cry. This was her mother's world, the mystery behind her smile. Harry's words were real, and she had called him a liar and left him. She could never go back now and tell him that she had been wrong-he was probably so mad at her that he'd just turn away. She reached into the trunk again and pulled out a long, slender box. She opened it to reveal a long, magic wand made of oak. She pulled it out and swished it around foolishly. Nothing happened, and she cried harder as the rain fell faster, hugging the wand to her heart and hating herself for all that she had said and done.
A/N: Oh, I am evil! So now Hermione knows Harry's secret! Oh, oh! How will they get back together?!? What was Harry's sacrifice?!? Will our favorite couple be able to withstand this new drawback?!? Well, I know the answer to all this and more, but you'll have to wait to find out! Heehee
KatieBug
P.S. The more reviews I have, the more willing I will be to update!
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