"Love Almost Lost"
Chapter 9 Harry's Secret Plans Complete
A/N: The usual disclaimers apply, don't own it, never will. Now, for the more important stuff. My apologies for it being a bit long since I last updated. Life is busy and hectic, but, everybody knows that. Hopefully it won't be that long again. Since I did take so long to update, I'll put up two chapters. People seem to like that. As always, thanks to all who have read, and to all who have reviewed.
Harry stood by Hermione's bed and held her hand. It felt so nice and warm again. He leaned over and gently kissed it, then took up his usual spot in the chair by Hermione's bed and just sat there gazing at her. He was happily content to sit there, holding her warm, soft hand while leaning against the side of her bed. Eventually, he drifted off to sleep.
Harry was startled awake by someone rapping lightly on the door. He slowly sat up, rubbing his eyes. He wasn't sure how long he'd been sleeping. He saw Professor Dumbledore quietly slip into the room, he was grinning widely and his blue eyes were positively glowing.
"I trust things are doing better, Harry?" inquired the headmaster.
"Oh yes, Professor, they are doing much better!" exclaimed Harry.
"I thought they would be. I visited Professor Snape a few moments ago and he told me all that had gone on. He said Miss Granger should be good as a new in about a week," said Professor Dumbledore.
"Sir, did he say how long it would be before she wakes up?" asked Harry anxiously.
"Severus said she should regain consciousness in a couple of days," replied Dumbledore.
"Professor, do you think she will remember what happened?" enquired Harry.
"Hmmm, I don't think we will truly know that until she wakes up. But, regardless of how much she remembers, the death of her parents will be very hard on her. She will need a great deal of help to cope with her loss," said the headmaster.
"I know it will be difficult for her, but, I will do anything I can to help Hermione get through this," said Harry firmly.
"I have no doubt you will, Harry, and it will mean so much to her. Oh, by the way Harry, I have some news for you. All the arrangements for Miss Granger's parents are complete. I thought, with Hermione being on the mend, you might want to see how your plans turned out," said the headmaster.
"Yes, I would like that, Professor," said Harry.
He stood up and stretched, trying to limber up his tired, stiff muscles. He looked at Hermione, leaned over and gently kissed her on the cheek. She felt so alive and warm again, thought Harry, as he and Dumbledore left the room.
They walked down the long corridor to the waiting area. Luckily, it was empty. Dumbledore looked around and spotted a small, empty waste can. He picked it up and placed it on a nearby table. He drew his wand, pointed it at the can and said,
"Portus!"
The can glowed blue, vibrated for a moment, then returned to normal.
"Okay Harry, on three. One, two, three," said the headmaster.
They both touched the can and immediately Harry felt the familiar sensation of traveling by Port Key, but, the feeling of traveling quickly through space only lasted a few seconds before they reached their destination. They had arrived at Godric's Hollow, the place where his parents had lived, died, and been buried.
Harry never knew where his parents were buried until earlier this year when Dumbledore finally told him. The headmaster eventually brought Harry to see their final resting place, as he felt it was time for him to finally visit his parents. The site was located in a large, well landscaped, field located behind the house his parents had called home, before they were killed by Voldemort. The house was eventually rebuilt and used on occasion by the Order of the Phoenix.
Harry stood there for a moment looking at the house. It was a nice house, maybe a little on the plain side, but to look at it, no one could ever imagine what horrible events had taken place here so many lifetimes ago. This was where it had all started, the beginning of his quest to find and destroy Voldemort. He remembered when the headmaster had first brought him here. He had never experienced so many different emotions all at once at seeing the place where his parents had died. The same place Voldemort had tried to kill him, but failed, only managing to give him his now famous scar. But enough of this, thought Harry. All this was now history. It was done. It was over. He had finally obtained closure. They were here for something very important.
Harry and Professor Dumbledore walked around a huge stand of flowering shrubs, heading a bit further into the field located behind the house. They approached two bright white marble headstones, one for James, and one for Lilly. They lingered but a moment at the Potter grave site before continuing on. They traveled just a short distance, around a large collection of wild roses, to see the reason for their journey. As they neared the memorial, Harry was overwhelmed at how precisely they had executed his wishes.
Before them was a huge rectangular block of the blackest marble. On top of the block were two intertwined gold rings and on the marble block itself were the Granger's names, also in gold.
"Professor, that is perfect. It's just as I had pictured it," said Harry.
"I think Miss Granger will greatly appreciate what you have done. When she is ready, you can bring her here so she can properly pay her respects to her parents," said the headmaster.
They stood there in silence for several moments. Then, slowly, Harry walked over to the memorial and stood directly in front of it. He felt sad that he had never really gotten to know the Grangers very well. Because of this, whether they could hear him or not where ever they were, he was compelled to tell them how he felt. He slowly knelt down before the memorial.
"Mr. and Mrs. Granger, I regret that I never got to know you very well, however, spending all those years together with Hermione, and hearing her talk about you, I feel I know you well enough. The important thing is, I know you loved your daughter very much and that's why I feel I need to tell you my feelings and my intentions towards her. I am deeply in love with Hermione and she has the same feelings for me. I swear to you I will love her, protect her, and spend the rest of my life doing everything I can to make her happy. I know I can never ask you properly for your blessing, but I feel in my heart you would have given me and Hermione your blessing to be together the rest of our lives. You can rest assured that no one will ever try to hurt her again. I swear this to you on my life"
His green eyes glowed intensely for a moment after his last statement, as he thought back to what the Death Eaters had done to her and his rage flared for but a moment, then was gone. He slowly rose from the ground and rejoined the headmaster.
Finally, after wiping away a stray tear, Harry said, "Professor, I think we can head back to the hospital now."
They slowly made their way back to where they started from and took the Port Key back to the hospital.