13
"Do you forgive me?" Harry asked Ginny.
"After that dinner, Harry, I'd forgive you for anything," she replied.
"Well, the next time you send me a letter I promise I'll read it straight away," Harry told her.
"Okay," Ginny said, smiling. "So, Hermione, do you still need me to owl you each day with the highlights from the Daily Prophet?"
"Thanks, Ginny, but Mum and Dad have allowed me to go back to using magic. I'll owl the paper and get them to resume sending it to me."
"So THAT'S what Ginny was writing you about each day!" Harry said. "I assumed it was all secret girls' stuff."
"Some of it was," Hermione said, laughing.
"And on that score," Ginny said to Hermione, "I'll be expecting daily updates from YOU!" Both girls giggled, and even Gabrielle joined in. "Well, thanks for having us. We all had a great time," Ginny said, giving Hermione a hug.
"Thank you, Hermooney and `arry. Dinner was superb!" Gabrielle said, also hugging Hermione.
"Glad you enjoyed it, Gabrielle. Ron, are you sure I can't get you to stay and help me clean up?" Harry said teasingly.
"With or without magic?" Ron asked.
"Without!" Hermione told him smiling.
"Sorry, no," Ron decided. "Thanks for dinner."
Ginny and Gabrielle disappeared with a slight Crack! followed by Luna and then Ron, leaving Harry and Hermione alone.
***
Harry lay down on his bed and had turned himself so he could see the flowers. He didn't even hear Hermione as she looked in through the doorway. She looked slightly disappointed he had chosen his own room to sleep in but she wasn't going to say anything.
"Good night, Harry," she said. "You haven't forgotten which door is mine in case you need anything, have you?" she asked playfully.
Harry looked confused. Of course he knew which room was hers; he'd spent the last two nights there.
"No, why?" he asked.
"Nothing. Good night." Hermione left.
"Hermione?" he said just as she reached her room.
She came back with a smile. "Yes, Harry?"
Harry paused, not knowing what to say. "Are you scared of me?"
Hermione laughed. She wasn't scared of Harry in any way at all. In fact, she was whatever the opposite of scared was. "No, Harry, why?"
Harry looked thoughtful; he clearly had something on his mind.
"Should I be scared of you?" she asked, now sitting on his bed.
Harry paused again. "Probably," he said.
"Why?"
"I'm changing, and it's scaring me. I don't know who I am anymore."
Now Hermione started to look concerned. She edged closer to him and touched his arm. Harry reached his hand out and held hers. His hand was cold and clammy.
"What's wrong?"
"Remember back when I saw Arthur being attacked through the eyes of the snake?" he asked.
Hermione nodded, feeling a cold hand against her breast... her own.
"Hermione, I'm changing. My hearing has gotten really good, so has my eyesight. Something is happening. I'm scared I'm turning into him!"
"Harry," Hermione started. He sat up and hugged her, and she held him. She could feel his heart beating so fast.
"It's true. Remember how I could hear every word you and your mother said at the top of the stairs while I was in the kitchen after your father's accident?"
She nodded; she did remember. They had been practically whispering and Harry still heard them.
"And my eyes," he said.
"What about them?" Hermione asked.
He got up and walked to the door, closing it and turning out the light. Hermione could still see him due to the slight amount of moonlight that was creeping through his window. He walked to the bookshelf and ran his finger across the spines of books from left to right. Harry wasn't looking at the books, but at Hermione's questioning expression. "Say stop," Harry instructed her.
"Stop," Hermione said when he was about two-thirds the way along the shelf. He grabbed the book his finger was resting on and without looking at it he walked to the window and drew the blind.
Harry sat on the bed next to Hermione, who had shuffled over to make room. The room was now pitch black; Hermione couldn't see a thing. She could hear him ruffle through the pages of the paperback novel she had chosen. "Say stop," he instructed her again.
"Stop!" Hermione said, and Harry began reading.
"When he started talking on in this way the lawyer was quite tireless. He went through it all again every time K. went to see him. "
Harry put the book in Hermione's hands as he stood up and walked to the door, turning on the light. Hermione looked down to the book before her and saw that Harry had read the first sentence on the left hand page. Harry had read the book in almost complete darkness!
"Harry!"
"I know. If I didn't know better I'd have thought I was turning into a werewolf."
"Oh, my God, the dog!" Hermione looked to Harry's arm where the stiches were still in place.
"No, that was a dog. Even your dad saw it. Anyway, this started before that."
Hermione tried to think; she had no idea what was happening to him, but she could see he was clearly afraid.
"What does it mean? What am I going to do?"
"Come on" she said, and holding his hand she took him across the hall and to her room.
"Hermione?" he started to ask.
"What? Are you going to sleep properly after what you told me?"
"Probably not," he said sheepishly. He really preferred to be with her anyway, and now that Hermione had put on her bossy tone of voice, the whole thing had been decided.
"Good. Anyway - - ," Hermione said, giving him a queer look.
"Anyway what?"
Before Harry could think another thought, Hermione was in his arms, kissing him. He didn't need to be told twice. They kissed together for a long time, a very long time.
***
Hermione lay in her bed facing Harry. She was in a state of bliss! Harry was propped up on one elbow, watching her, and running the index finger of his free hand around the small of her back. Hermione could feel his finger through the fabric of her nightgown. Every now and then his finger explored up around both of her shoulders, as well as to her side where she was ticklish. She watched him, watching her, watching him, and Hermione knew she would give anything to be able to freeze this moment in time. She felt a shiver of ecstasy flow through her body as he touched her ticklish spot again. She wondered what he was thinking; she knew what he was thinking.
"You want to say it again, don't you?" she asked him.
Harry nodded, confirming her thoughts.
"Harry, you should - - ."
"Hermione, I love you," blurted from his lips and from his heart before Hermione could continue. He loved her, and she knew it.
"Harry, I - - ."
"I don't care, Hermione. You can give it back or make me take it back but it won't change a thing. I love you," he said, all the time still tracing lazy circles on her back with his finger.
Hermione could feel her own tears of joy starting to well in her eyes, but she had nothing to say.
"I know I'm high maintenance - - ," Harry started to say.
"No you're not," she giggled. "You're adorable."
"I can't help it, Hermione. I know it might be going too fast and everything. It's just that, well, you've always been there with me and for me ever since we met. It's only now I realise how much you mean to me."
Hermione sighed; she wasn't sure if she was hearing Harry's heart talking or if he was just caught up in the moment. These feelings were also new to her and she hadn't yet fully explored them, though she knew what she wanted to say.
"Harry - - ."
Harry whipped out his free hand and grabbed his wand sitting on the bedside table near her. Her own wand was lying next to his. He lifted the wand up as high as he could. "Say stop!" he instructed her and released the wand, allowing gravity to take it.
"Stop!" Hermione said giggling when the wand was about halfway to the floor, but of course it didn't stop. It fell to the floor and could be heard bouncing.
"See?" Harry said. "I can't stop!"
Hermione needed no further word, but moved into him, and they kissed again. Harry put his arms around her, drawing her near, and Hermione did the same.
"Hermione," he said, breaking away for air. "I don't want too move to fast. I'm not ready for anything --."
"Harry, I have to tell you I'm not ready for more than this," she told him.
"Neither am I. But this is fine?" he asked.
She giggled and answered him in kiss.
The kiss broke eventually but only because neither of them were able to breathe through their ears.
"Besides, I don't want to spoil anything," he said.
"What do you mean?"
"Item number two," Harry said, bringing up the last remaining secret between them.
"Are you sure you want to discuss this?" she asked, examining his expression.
"I have to, for your sake as well as mine. Besides, it's the very last secret I have. The very last!"
"Okay, Harry, go ahead. Item number two."
"Riddle has been pushing more thoughts at me."
Hermione looked confused. She knew, or thought she knew, what topic number two was about, but she couldn't see how Riddle was involved.
"What thoughts?"
Harry started to blush, and then stopped himself. "He has been pushing thoughts of me - - and you - - , well - - ."
"Having sex?" Hermione asked with just the slightest trace of a smile.
Harry's face grew a sheepish grin and he nodded, almost reluctantly. "Yeah."
"How do you know they are coming from him?"
"There's something about them that feels the same as when he tried to trick me into thinking my mother was disappointed with me. I know it's him."
"Are you sure these thoughts aren't coming from your own mind?" she asked. Hermione hated to ask the question, but she had to be certain. And she knew her mother would ask the same question when Hermione discussed this with her tomorrow.
Harry shook his head, "They're his. Not that I - - but - - I - - well, I'm not ready for that, Hermione. I just want to be here with you forever and not spoil anything. I just want to love you forever."
Hermione nodded; that was agreeable to her. "I don't understand. Why would Riddle do that?"
The expression on Harry's face indicated his thoughts had turned inwards, though his finger continued drawing lazy circles on her back. "Who knows why he does anything? But I think I have an answer."
She waited for Harry to continue, but he didn't. He looked as if he was scared to say it. Hermione moved closer and kissed him again, lightly, on the lips.
"I think it's about blood," Harry told her. "The night of the buck's party, Mr. Weasley and Bill were talking to me about blood. I think Riddle thinks he can weaken me if I - - ."
Hermione's face started to take on an angry look. Without meaning to, Riddle, through Harry, had insulted her. At least she felt insulted.
"He thinks that if he can get us together he will weaken me. He's probably chosen to forget all about his own Muggle father and thinks he is the true heir of Slytherin, the true pure-blood heir of Slytherin."
Hermione thought about what Harry was saying. She knew he was not trying to sugar-coat his speculations for her. He was telling her everything he thought and he felt.
"My mother had Muggle parents, so you know blood doesn't mean anything to me," Harry said.
Hermione nodded. He seemed to still be battling with his Muggle vs. Magic inner demons, and she hoped to help him find some peace there later. But she also knew he hadn't tried to hide anything.
"So what DOES mean something to you?" Hermione asked.
"You do!" he replied, kissing her again.
"How does this dream make you feel?" she asked. The question struck Harry as amusing slightly, because for a fraction of a second he could easily imagine Emma asking him the exact same question in exactly the same way.
"Good," Harry replied, and he saw Hermione start to blush. For the first time he stopped drawing circles and placed his hand softly, comfortingly, on her shoulder. "Good, because if I'm right as to what Riddle is doing and why he is doing it, then he is making a big mistake. Probably the biggest mistake he has ever made."
Hermione's temporary embarrassment had faded away. "Why?"
"Because if he thinks my being around you is going to weaken me, he has no idea. Hermione, just you being here, with me, makes me stronger than I ever could be on my own. It's not just me he has to deal with now, it's me AND you."
***
Slowly edging out of the bed where Hermione still slept, Harry was satisfied he had managed not to wake her again. He looked down upon her and saw she was still asleep, her tangled, shoulder length hair all over the place. Harry could hear Emma and Dan talking softly to each other in the kitchen, so he went to his room and put on his dressing gown before going to them.
At seeing him, Emma smiled and Harry walked straight to her arms, hugging her and kissing her cheek.
"Thank you for the flowers," he whispered to her. "I don't know what to say."
"They were Dan's idea," she told him but still went on hugging him.
"I knew that," Harry said, and he then walked to Dan and hugged him too.
"I can't begin to say what they meant to me. I just stood there in the doorway looking at them. I couldn't even move to read the card. Hermione had to do that."
"You're very welcome, Harry," Dan said, returning the hug. "And I can't begin to tell you how happy Emma and I are to see you still here. In fact, we hope you'll stay right up until school goes back, before you make any decisions about your future."
"Yes," Emma agreed. "We are still here for you and we know how happy Hermione is for you still to be here."
"You mean that? That it's okay if I stay?"
"Of course we mean it," Dan said. "We want you to."
"Thank you, both of you," Harry said. "And I hope this news makes you happy as well, though if you tell me I shouldn't because you're worried about Hermione, then - - I'll - - ."
"What news?" Emma asked.
"I'm going back! I'm going back to Hogwarts. I'm not scared of Riddle or anyone, and I want to be there for my friends in case they need me, Or if I need them."
"Are you sure, Harry?" Dan asked.
"I'm sure. It's where I need to be."
Dan looked at Emma and she smiled. "You still have nearly three weeks, Harry. It's not necessary for you to make a decision today."
"Are you trying to talk him out of it, Dad?" Hermione asked from the doorway of the kitchen.
"No, dear," Dan replied and he walked over to her, kissing her forehead. Hermione hugged him, and then walked to her mother and into her arms. "It's just that we know what it means for him to say that."
"Harry knows what he's doing. And besides, if he stayed away it wouldn't stop anything," Hermione said.
Dan nodded. "What changed your mind, Harry?" he asked.
In answer, Harry said nothing but walked to Hermione, kissing her forehead and holding her close.
If Dan and Emma exchanged looks at this public embrace, neither Harry nor Hermione saw, but after just a minute of standing this close, Harry reluctantly let her go.
"Dad," Hermione said, "no golf today?"
"Not today. They forecasted rain for later this morning," Dan explained.
"I'm sorry," Harry said.
"There's always next week, Harry," Dan said. "Speaking of which, what do you say about coming out with me?"
Harry had never played or even seen a game of golf, except for the few minutes he watched on television with Dan last weekend. But as he saw the smile on Hermione's face, he knew there was only one answer he could give. "Sure, why not?"
Hermione hugged Harry again; she was so thrilled to have heard her father make the invitation that she simply couldn't control herself. Harry took the opportunity the hug gave him to whisper in her ear, "I think he just wants me to carry his clubs."
Hermione couldn't help but laugh, as did Dan when she told him what Harry had said.
"Gee, Harry," Dan said, "seeing you insist who am I to stop you? I was going to get a golf buggy, but if you'd rather caddie for me then - - ."
Emma hit Dan in the stomach before he could finish. "Dan's joking, Harry. You don't have to carry his clubs."
"Unless he wants to, Emm. If Harry wants - - ." Emma hit him again and he finally stopped teasing.
"Breakfast!" Hermione announced.
"Excellent idea," Harry said quickly. "Make mine cereal; two pieces of just brown toast ; and orange juice."
Hermione stood where she was; she wasn't offering to make Harry's breakfast, she was hungry herself.
"Sounds good, Hermione, make that two," Emma said, wearing a wide smile.
"Just toast for me, dear, marmalade, and seeing you are going to the trouble, why not put the kettle on and you can make a pot of tea," Dan said with a wink.
Hermione remained where she stood, though amused at the fact that she was the brunt of their joint joke. It looked very much as if she had inadvertently volunteered herself for breakfast duty today.
"Hermione?" Harry asked with a cheeky grin. In answer Hermione just smiled at him and he pointed to the kitchen. "That big white box over there? That's the refrigerator. That's where you'll find the orange juice."
"And the milk," added Emma.
"And the butter," added Dan.
Hermione couldn't contain herself anymore and burst out laughing, before going to the kitchen and making breakfast for everyone.
"Hermione, you know that holiday your father and I always planned but never got around to taking?" Emma asked.
"You've been talking about that for years. It will never happen."
Dan smiled and from nowhere pulled out some travel brochures. "Would you like to bet on that?" he asked teasingly.
Hermione smiled, but didn't look convinced. "You're kidding, right?"
Emma shook her head. "Wrong! Your father and I are going to book a cruise around the Mediterranean."
"Really?" Hermione asked. "That's great! You've been promising yourselves that cruise since before I went to Hogwarts."
"I know," Dan said, "and I thought it about time I made good my promise to your mother."
"So where are you off to?" Harry asked.
Dan read from the brochure and listed the itinerary. "We fly to Lisbon in Portugal where we embark aboard the Silvercloud cruise ship. The cruise lasts for fourteen days and takes us to Oporto, Cadiz and Valencia in Spain, Sete and Cannes in France, and then to Portofino and Genoa, Italy.
"I'm really looking forward to Genoa," Emma said. "It looks lovely."
"Where we just may decide to stay another couple of days so we can look around," Dan finished.
"Is Hermione going?" Harry asked.
"Hermione will be at school with you, Harry," Dan replied.
"And that sounds fine with me," Hermione added. She was looking forward to going back. Harry smiled as well.
"We were thinking of booking the first week you return," Emma told her daughter.
"But - - ," Harry started to say before Dan cut him off.
"But nothing, young man," he said mockingly. "I promised Emma this holiday too long ago."
"But - - ," he tried again.
"I know what you're going to say," Emma told him. "But we agree with Professor McGonagall. Why should we, or you for that matter, allow him or them to control our lives? We can't live scared all the time, or afraid to live at all."
Emma could see by Harry's expression that he hadn't read his Hogwarts letter, a fact confirmed by Hermione.
"Harry hasn't read the letter yet," Hermione told her parents. "Harry, Professor, now Headmistress McGonagall, said the Governors of the School decided it must remain open, otherwise Riddle would have won. We have to live our lives normally, and without the threat of fear.
Harry thought about it, and though perhaps not entirely convinced, he understood the sentiment behind the statement.
"Hermione?" he asked, "are you disappointed you aren't going on holiday with your parents?"
"That depends. Are you still going back to school?"
"Yep!"
"Then the answer is, nope!" They both laughed together. "Besides, who is to stop us from going on holidays ourselves when we finish school?"
Harry liked the sound of that. "Great idea." He turned to Emma and Dan. "Can you bring back lots of photos so we can decide if we go to the same places?"
"Of course," Emma said. "But you have to promise to go to Genoa. You'll love it!
"Okay," he agreed.
***
Harry was surprised to find his clothes and towels hadn't been removed while he was in the shower. He smiled as he thought that if Hermione had removed them again, he would have no choice but to do the same back to her. No doubt Hermione had some other prank planned against him, and he silently wondered how long it would be before she resorted to magic practical jokes now that she was once more allowed to use magic.
Now dressed, he saw Hermione was sitting on her bed, reading. He wondered what he was going to do to amuse himself today. The forecast rain had arrived so that meant he couldn't even take Sam for a walk.
Emma walked up behind him and looked into Hermione's room.
"Mum?" Hermione said. "What do you say we do something about my hair?"
Emma seemed not to expect to hear Hermione say such a thing. "Your hair?" she asked with a quizzical expression.
"Why not? A change is as good as a holiday," Hermione replied.
Emma stood there for a fraction of a second as if to consider Hermione's suggestion. "Okay, let's do it!"
"Excellent," Dan said, now standing at Emma's side. "That will give Harry and I a chance to do something I haven't done before."
Now it was Harry's turn to give Dan a what-do-you-mean look .
"Chess!" Dan told him. "The girls gave me a commemorative Napoleon/Duke of Wellington chess set for Christmas and I haven't had a chance to use it. You play, don't you?"
"I guess. I mean the rules are the same as Wizard's Chess," Harry told him.
"Sound like a plan. Let's do it!" Dan decided, and Hermione could be heard giggling as they walked away.
Dan and Harry walked together towards Dan's study where the chess set was located. As they walked through the door, Harry was intrigued to see Dan closed it behind him.
Emma sat on Hermione's bed and looked at her daughter. She was so happy for Hermione, who had seemed happier herself the past week than any other time of her life. Hermione's smile was now a constant companion; such a change from the worried look she had when she told her mother about how Harry looked the day before the wedding.
"Changing your hair?" Emma asked.
"You've GOT to be kidding! I love it this way," Hermione said with a smile.
"I didn't think so. So then this talk is to be about - - ?"
"Love! Harry loves me! He told me," Hermione said, now happy that she had gotten the news out before she exploded.
Emma's obligatory `I see' did not eventuate. Instead, she hugged her daughter.
"I tried to tell him to think about it first, but he couldn't. He loves me, and I love him too."
Emma smiled; she knew or rather strongly suspected this moment would arrive at some point. Now it had, and now Emma couldn't be happier for her.
"Love! Love! Love, I'm in love and I don't care who knows it!" Hermione cried.
"Have you told Harry?" Emma asked. Hermione shook her head but her smile remained just as strong.
"No, I haven't. And before you ask, I'm not going to tell him either. Not yet, not until this is over."
Emma was about to say something but Hermione anticipated and cut her off first.
"I know. Life is short and all that stuff. Nobody knows what happens tomorrow. I can't tell him until Riddle is out of the picture and we can have a normal life."
"And then what happens?" Emma wanted to know.
"Then I tell him how I feel, and I don't care if we spend every day together."
Emma went silent; they both knew the dangers Tom Riddle represented. They had both SEEN some of them, thanks to Harry's Pensieve.
"Honey, - - ."
"I know. But Harry has to stop him. WE have to. Somehow, we will defeat him once and for all."
"We?" Emma asked. She knew what Hermione would say. She was just giving her a chance to put into voice what was running through her mind.
"We! We're a team. I will stand right alongside him as I have done already. I WON'T let Harry face Riddle alone. I WON'T! Besides, like you said at breakfast, we won't be bullied!"
If Hermione expected to hear Emma's objections, she was disappointed.
"I know, honey. I don't know what to say. I'm so far away from all this magical stuff. I understand a lot more about it now thanks to the Pensieve, but when it comes to decisions in your world I have to trust the abilities of the smartest witch of the age."
Hermione smiled; a tear could be seen on her cheek. She knew she would be risking her very life, and that her mother understood the risks. She also knew her mother couldn't talk her out of her decision. Emma wanted her to be safe, but she knew that even though she tried to sound brave this morning, Tom Riddle stood directly between Harry, Hermione, and happiness. If Riddle triumphs, there will be no happiness for anyone: wizard, witch, or Muggle.
Mother and daughter hugged again, for a long time. "I can't tell you how happy I am for you," Emma said. "And to hear Harry is going back to school with you."
"Thanks Mum. Harry thinks Riddle plans to attack back at Hogwarts, so that gives us a couple of weeks to put our heads together and come up with something," Hermione said.
"Heads together," Emma laughed. "Up till now, all I've heard about is lips being together."
Hermione laughed with her. "I know, I love it, and I love him! He stayed here again with me last night."
"I know, I checked on you both. You both looked so adorable together."
"Nothing happened, Mum. Harry even said that would be moving way too fast. For him as well as me."
"I'm happy to hear that. It sounds as if Harry is every bit as sensible as you are," Emma said proudly.
"Speaking of which, Harry told me about the dreams," Hermione told her, her mood now darker. Emma raised her eyebrows; the last she heard, these dreams were boyish fantasies.
"Not what you think, Mum. Harry said they were coming from Riddle. He thinks Riddle is trying to get Harry and I together and this will somehow weaken him."
Emma considered Hermione's words. "Weaken?"
"Harry thinks it's a blood thing. Sex with the mudblood will somehow take away from Harry's power."
Emma was going to say something but Hermione touched her chest and stopped her.
"That's what Harry thinks RIDDLE is planning. That's not what Harry thinks," Hermione said.
"What does Harry think?"
"Harry said he and I together are stronger than he is on his own. Mum, I love him and I want to spend every day and every night with him."
"Every night?" Emma asked with a tease.
"EVERY night! And if you or Dad says we - - ."
"Could I stop you?"
"No," Hermione said with a smile. "Mum," Hermione said with a new tone in her voice. "If something happens to me, I need you to know how happy I am."
Emma nodded; she had no words to say. She knew Hermione would say something like this, and had steeled herself for it. But even after expecting to hear it, it didn't make it any easier to hear.
"And I also want you know how much I love you and Dad."
"We know, honey," Emma said through her tears. "And we love you so much. And Harry too."
Holding each other for a long time, Emma knew what to say to lighten the mood.
"Dear, do you know what makes this moment really special?" Emma asked.
"No, what?"
"The knowledge that right now, Dan is upstairs giving Harry THE talk. I can't wait to see his face in a few hours."
"Hours?" Hermione laughed. "What is Dad going to tell him?"
"Everything!"
***
Harry laughed. He moved his knight knowing it was going to be taken, but he didn't care; he was having too much fun. He had already lost the first game and was well on his way to losing the second, but he still didn't care.
"Do girls know? I mean what you just told me?" he asked.
"No. And more importantly they don't know that WE know. That's possibly the only advantage we have over the fairer sex."
"How come I never heard this before, Dan?" Harry asked.
"I guess because up to now you've only been hanging around boys. I didn't know myself when I was your age. I was in my twenties before anyone clued me in."
"But if they don't know, then why do they - - ?"
"Spend so much time hiding their emotions, Harry? That one I haven't worked out. It could be because love scares them."
"Why would it scare them? Isn't that what they want?"
"Yes, it is. It's what they want, and need, and give back to us guys many, many times over. That special look you get sometimes, a whisper at night, a stolen kiss or even a long kiss - these are the things we guys would give our right arms for. But on some level I suspect they are scared at what would happen to them if that love dies."
"Or if something happens to us," Harry added.
Dan nodded, taking the knight with his queen. "You didn't see, but Emma was a real mess after she got home from shopping and I told her about the accident."
"She was upset, but didn't look like she was a mess."
"She was, so was Hermione - on the inside. But because girls think we can't handle the more sensitive emotions, they hide themselves from themselves. They have to play being the strong one. It's a coping mechanism."
"Even though they both needed to be weak?" Harry asked, using Dan's earlier comments.
Dan nodded. "My father was first mate on container ship. He was at sea for months at a time. Mum, Georgia and I had to make up what we were missing from within. I know I was overprotective of Georgia, but something told me I had to be the man of the family."
"Is that why you're overprotective of Hermione. I mean - - ."
"That's okay, Harry, you're allowed to say that, and you probably have a point," Dan smiled. "To you Harry, Hermione can do anything, that's how Emma sees her too. To me she'll always be my little girl, no matter how old she is.
"Georgia was four years younger and depended on me to look after her. And I did. I was big brother; only brother; and surrogate father for her up until the time she was married. She's a nurse over in Dover now with three little ones of her own.
"The first time I saw Hermione I was struck at how much of Georgia she had in her. So as you point out, yes I acknowledge that sometimes I am overprotective of her. Emma on the other hand had four brothers, two older and two younger. They made her play rugby with her and she was constantly standing up for herself against them. She told me once that if one of her brothers were getting bullied it would be her that put a stop to it by standing up to the bully."
"Malfoy!"
Dan nodded and smiled. "You should have seen her face when she saw Hermione hit Malfoy. She said it brought tons of memories flooding back. To Emma, Hermione is strong, hardworking, capable. And woe betide anyone who tries to push her around."
"And - - ," Harry said, deliberately pausing for effect.
"And?" Dan asked.
"And, I love her." Harry said to Dan. Dan smiled, nodded his head (he already knew) and picked up the Black Queen he had already taken, placing it on its starting square.
"You already took my Queen," Harry said.
"I know, but anyone who loves my daughter deserves to get their Queen back."
Harry grinned; he was sure there were no secrets anymore.
"Does Hermione know?" Dan asked.
"She knows. Is a hundred times enough to hear it?"
"No. A hundred times a day perhaps."
"I only told her for the first time today. I love her, and I love how that feels."
Dan smiled at him, happy to see Harry himself so happy.
Harry grinned again, and moved his regained Queen to check the White King.
***
Two hours later, Harry and Dan finally emerged from the study. Harry had lost nine consecutive games but he had gained much, much more. Dan was laughing at Harry's last comment and Harry laughed back. To Emma and Hermione they looked an odd sight; Dan with his arm around Harry's shoulder, both laughing, especially after Harry had to endure THE talk for the second time in two days. It was such a contrast to the look he had when Emma finished with him the day before.
Hermione waited for Harry to say something, she needed to know what was discussed.
"Hermione, you should have been there. Talking with your dad was great - he is SO cool!"
Hermione didn't know what to say, she was expecting to see the same look on his face he wore yesterday.
"Did you know your dad knew heaps of stuff about military history?" Harry asked her.
"Er, yes, I did. Is THAT what you talked about?"
"A little, but mostly about stuff you're not allowed to know about," he said with a knowing smile.
"I'm not?" Hermione was amused that Harry, after giving up all his secrets to her, was going to create a new one. A secret she was going to enjoy getting from him.
"No! Secret men's business." Harry laughed again at whatever the private joke was between him and Hermione's father. Emma looked at Harry, Hermione, and then to Dan. Dan winked to Emma, and she decided she was going to INSIST on hearing everything he and Harry had discussed. In fact, she couldn't wait.
"Dear, can I have a word with you?" Emma asked Dan.
"Sure." Dan winked at Harry and they walked in the direction of Emma's study.
Harry saw it first, from the top of the stairs. Hermione saw Harry's reaction and turned to see what he was looking at. Harry was looking at the fireplace. The fireplace that stood where Dan's mother's cabinet used to be in the lounge-room. The fireplace they didn't have; the fireplace that wasn't supposed to be there.
"Mum?" Hermione asked, surprise sounding in her voice.
Dan and Emma were just at the door of her study when they turned to see Hermione, and followed Harry's gaze before they also saw the fireplace. Now they all stood still, looking at it.
"Floo!" Harry said simply. Hermione nodded, understanding. Dan and Emma didn't.
"I don't remember that being there this morning," Dan said playfully. The playful mood disappeared as he saw Harry's ashen face. Sweat had developed on Harry's brow and his hand reached out for Hermione's.
"What is it?" Emma asked.
Hermione tried to turn to answer her mother, but she couldn't take her eyes off the fireplace. "In the magical world they use fireplaces as a means of travel. It's called the Floo Network."
"It isn't supposed to be there," Harry said. "It CAN'T be there, it just CAN'T!"
"It is there, Harry," Dan said, now at Harry's side. "The question is how did it get there and why?"
Hermione looked to Harry, who clearly had no answer. Hermione took a step towards the stairs but Harry remained in place, like a rock. He was scared and afraid of what the fireplace meant, and who put it there.
"Harry?" Hermione said. His face was now drained of blood and was starting to turn white. The hand that held her own was cold. "Come on, whatever it is, we'll deal with it together."
Harry wasn't surprised Hermione wasn't scared. She hadn't been with him when Kingsley gave him the tour of the Ministry of Magic. She hadn't talked to the people in charge of the Floo Network Authority. She didn't know.
Reluctantly, Harry let her lead him down the stairs and they stood in front of the fireplace. It was an old-style fireplace made from large fire-stained bricks. It was bare; no fire was burning. Had Harry looked, he would have seen no brass container containing Floo powder attached. Harry couldn't take his eyes off the centre of the fireplace where the fire, if there were one, would be.
"How long do we have to wait?" Emma asked. Harry was the only one that was afraid.
"Not long," Harry told them.
"How do you know, Harry?" Hermione asked.
"There is only one person who has the power to put a Floo portal into a Mugg- - non magical home. Not even the head of the F.N.A. can do that."
"F.N.A.?" Emma asked.
"Floo Network Authority. Only the Minister can do it," Harry said.
"The Minister of Magic?" Dan asked and Harry answered by nodding.
"The Minster? Here?" Hermione asked, slowly understanding the importance of the newly installed Floo portal in her home.
Harry nodded again.
"Why?" Dan asked, and he was a little surprised to see this question wasn't answered. Nobody had an answer to give.
A minute passed, followed by another and another one after that. Nobody spoke or moved. Suddenly, a fire burst forth from the previously empty centre of the fireplace. All but Harry jumped back sharply. He alone remained in place; He alone wasn't scared of the fire, but of what must have happened for the Minister to have taken this unprecedented action.
From the centre of the fire the smiling face of Kingsley Shacklebolt could be seen. He looked about quickly and saw Harry standing just in front of him.
"Hello, Harry, how are you?" Kingsley asked.
Harry could only nod in answer. He didn't know exactly what had happened, but knew without any doubt that HE must be behind it. He had to be!
"I'm sorry to pop in on you unannounced," Kingsley said, "but it is vital that the Minister see you, immediately."
Harry slowly turned his head and looked towards Dan and Emma standing behind him. Hermione had moved forward again after being scared by the fire and now stood at Harry's side again, holding his hand.
Dan looked to Emma, who had no answer for him. "I guess that will be okay. What do we have to do?"
"Nothing, Mr. Granger," Kingsley said and then looked at Harry as if asking for confirmation as to Dan's identity; Harry gave it by nodding. "The Minister will be with you shortly." Kingsley's face disappeared and the fire went back to looking like a fire does.
At this last remark, Harry snorted a small laugh.
"What?" Hermione asked, thankful Harry's look of terror had abated.
"Typical bureaucracy," Harry remarked. "The Minister goes to the trouble of putting a Floo portal in a Muggle home, probably for the very first time EVER, and yet we still have to go through `the Minister will be with you shortly' routine."
"What does it mean though?" Emma asked nobody in particular.
"There's only one thing it CAN mean," Harry answered. "Him!"
The fire roared again as a grim looking Rufus Scrimgeour, Minister of Magic, stepped from the flames, followed by a still-smiling Kingsley Shacklebolt. The Minister looked about, seeing Harry and Hermione, and politely nodded. He walked over to Dan and Emma and stood before them. "Mr. and Mrs. Granger, I am sorry to have taken this step but there was simply no other way. We had to get a message to Harry."
"You couldn't have owled?" Hermione asked.
"I had to make sure this message got through. There was simply no other way." The Minister turned and faced Harry directly. "Harry, something has come up. I feel dreadful to have to pass this message on but you'll appreciate my hands are tied."
"Him?" Harry asked.
Rufus nodded; he was not surprised to see Harry had quickly realised the importance of his visit and the message. Harry stood his ground, looking slightly scared but, Rufus couldn't help but think in just a minute he would look even more scared.
"Harry," the Minister began. "He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named has sent a message to the Ministry. His instructions were that it had to be delivered to you. Delivered to you, by my hand."
Harry thought about this, and wondered why his scar was not burning.
"What does Riddle want?" Harry asked. Rufus noted the name Harry used to refer to him. Previously, Harry had called him Voldemort; now it was Riddle. Not for the first time Rufus wondered why he himself wasn't able to use You-Know-Who's name.
Rufus handed an envelope over to Harry, who took it. Looking at the envelope, he saw that it was unsealed and had been addressed to him care of the Grangers' residence. That fact scared him more than anything inside the envelope possibly could. He took the single sheet of parchment out of the envelope and read it. It didn't take long, perhaps only half as long as Ron's last letter took.
Harry didn't need to read it twice, now he knew what Riddle wanted, the question was - why? Hermione put her hand out for the letter, to read for herself. She was not expecting to see him pass the letter directly to her mother.
For a fraction of a second Hermione looked strangely at Harry, as if he was keeping another secret from her. Emma read the note and passed it on to Dan. Hermione had only a brief instant to think that now she alone did not know what it had said when Harry moved to her, almost absorbing her in a hug. His hug was gentle and tender; she knew something was wrong.
"Hermione," he whispered into her ear, "I have to go."
"What do you mean go? Go where?"
"To him. I have to face him. I have to!"
Now she understood what the letter said, what it meant, what it meant for them. She was losing Harry!
"NO! You CAN'T!" she started to cry but Harry immediately started to calm her.
"I have to. It's okay. I have to go, but it will be okay."
"NO!" she cried again. "I won't let you!"
"You can't stop me," Harry whispered. His words, spoken so calmly, shook her. He hadn't been rude, but the a matter-of-fact manner of his voice told her, TOLD HER, that he was giving her no choice. Hermione now knew why Harry was so deathly afraid at the top of the stairs when he first saw the fireplace. He must've had an inkling of what was going to happen. Harry had to face him. He had to, and she couldn't stop him. She had lost him!
Hermione's tears fell like rain as she fell into Harry's embrace. For his part Harry held her, now standing slightly more upright. He no longer looked or felt afraid... on the outside. He was being strong, being strong for her. "No," she said again, but with no effort.
"I have to," Harry said again, not explaining why.
"Honey," Emma said, now comforting her daughter. "The letter says Vold - Riddle gives his personal guarantee Harry won't be harmed."
This did nothing to allay Hermione's fears; she felt as if he was already gone. "No! I don't trust him. I won't let Harry go!"
"I have to Hermione. He says he will kill every member of the Ministry of Magic if I don't accept his offer to meet with him before his deadline."
Now she knew why he couldn't refuse. Harry could never live with himself if others come to harm through his inaction. Harry was boxed into a corner, and she realised he didn't want to leave her any more than she wanted to let him go. But she had to let him go. She had lost him!
"He'll kill you!" she sobbed into his shoulder.
"He says he won't. He says we will meet under a flag of truce."
Emma handed the letter to Hermione who let go of Harry. She read it; it confirmed what Harry, her mother, and the Minister were saying.
"Why?" Hermione asked.
Harry shrugged. "Who knows? If his word can be trusted, all I have to do is go to him, hear what he has to say, and get out of there."
"He's lying! He'll kill you. He's only threatening to kill others to get you in his hands. It's a trap!"
Harry shrugged again; Hermione may well be right, but he couldn't take the chance.
"The letter also contained this," Rufus said, holding several pieces of paper. Harry took it, and handed it to Emma without reading it. He went on hugging Hermione.
Emma and Dan looked through the list; it was a list of names, many, many names. She looked up at the Minister with a questioning look, asking for explanation.
"The names of every person working within the Ministry. Every single one! It took my staff a whole day to confirm the list - he missed no one."
"So if Harry refuses to meet with him you will die?" Dan asked.
"Me, Kingsley, and every other staff member. All of us will be targeted by him and his followers. After that I suspect he'll still come after Harry, so if he refused to meet him, it wouldn't make any difference," Rufus told them.
"Okay," Harry said. "When and where?"
Hermione was still crying and Emma gently took her and allowed her to cry against her, leaving Harry free but looking on sadly.
"The deadline says 18:00 GMT."
"What's GMT?" Harry asked.
"Harry, it means Greenwich Mean Time," Dan said. "London time, 6PM."
Harry nodded, understanding. "When?" he asked again.
"Today," the minister said simply. Harry nodded again and placed an arm around Hermione trying to comfort her as she began crying even more.
"Minister, can someone go with Harry?" Dan asked. "I don't like the idea of him going alone."
Rufus removed a small square box from beneath his cloak and held it out for Harry to see. Lifting the lid, Harry saw a small gold ring, similar to the one he had seen Frodo carry in the movie he had watched with Hermione yesterday. "Harry is to place the ring on his finger and it will take him to Vold - where he is."
"Portkey?" Harry asked.
"Similar, Harry," Kingsley said. "It will work the same way as a Portkey but instead of just touching it, you have to be wearing the ring."
Harry nodded again, and took the box, placing it in his pocket.
"How long have you known?" Dan asked.
Rufus looked at Kingsley, and then back to Dan. This was the question he was hoping not to have to deal with, but now it was obvious that he did.
"About a week," he said simply.
"A WEEK!" Hermione yelled at the Minister. "You've known for a WEEK and you haven't told Harry?!"
"Hermione," Harry said trying to console her. "What difference would it have made?"
"We would have had a week to - - ." She couldn't continue.
"To work something out?" Harry asked. Now it was Hermione's turn to nod.
"So we could spend time together?" he asked again. Hermione nodded again.
"Haven't we done that? Hermione, I'm coming back. I'm coming back - trust me - believe me! There is no way he can stop me coming back to you. I'll hear what he has to say and then I'm coming back."
She fell into him again and he moved his lips to her ear. "I love you. I'm coming back!"
She looked at him through her tears and saw he was determined. Harry would come back to her, or he would be dead. She had to let him go. Hermione started crying again, sobbing against Harry's chest.
Rufus looked slightly embarrassed to be a silent witness to the two, and he looked away, catching the eye of Dan Granger. Dan was worried for what lay ahead for Harry, as well as his daughter.
"A week?" he asked, his face demanding an answer.
The Minister started to speak but was uncharacteristically interrupted by Kingsley. "Mr. Granger, it would be an understatement to say Voldemort's message wasn't expected. It took us more than a day to ensure there were no curses or charms attached to the message."
"How did you receive it?" Emma wanted to know.
"By owl, a small package direct to the Ministry," Kingsley answered.
"Which he shouldn't have been able to do," Rufus added. "Only authorised persons can communicate with the Ministry. After it was received and we had ascertained who it had been sent by, we had to hold a series of meetings and discussion groups before we could reach the stage you see here today."
Harry looked at the Minister; he had been listening to every word while he was comforting Hermione. "What was there to decide? It was either bring the message to me or risk everyone in the Ministry," Harry said, his voice emotionless.
"Yes," the Minister replied. "I didn't want to meet you like this, Harry, over this. I simply had no choice."
Harry nodded in agreement. "And that's why I have to go." Now it was the Minister's turn to nod. They both understood each other perfectly.
Harry wanted to say something to Rufus. He wanted to tell him that Dumbledore had faith in him and that he had told Harry that Rufus Scrimgeour had been battling Dark Lords for longer than anyone else. Emma, reading the note again for the third or fourth time asked, "Does this mean you have a spy in the Ministry of Magic?"
"Almost certainly," Rufus agreed. "Or someone is acting under the Imperious Curse. Another reason why we couldn't bring this straight to you, Harry, when we realised what it meant. We have been using every resource at our disposal to uncover who the person or persons are."
Kingsley looked to Dan and Emma and explained. "The Imperious Curse is one of the Unforgivable Curses. If it is performed by someone powerful enough, the subject under its effect is made to do the bidding of whoever cast it. It is almost impossible to stop yourself from doing what they want."
Nobody spoke. Harry held Hermione, Dan and Emma looked at the Minister and Kingsley not knowing what to say, and the Minister looked quite uncomfortable standing in the middle of a Muggle home.
"Can I offer you a cup of tea?" Emma asked Rufus, not knowing if this was acceptable for wizards.
"Thank you, but no. I must be getting back," Rufus replied politely.
"I might stay if that is all right, Minister. Just to make sure Harry is all right," Kingsley said to Rufus. The Minister had expected his assistant to follow him like a shadow, as Percy Weasley had consistently trailed Fudge. As if by reflex, Rufus Scrimgeour quickly turned the last statement around so that it looked like it was his idea.
"Good, Kingsley. Yes, please stay with Harry, would you? See if there is anything he needs, or that we can do for him."
"Yes, Minister," Kingsley replied with no hint of a smile.
Rufus removed a container of Floo powder from one of his coat pockets, took a handful, and handed the container to Kingsley. He turned towards the fire and announced his destination, "Ministry of Magic!" Throwing the Floo powder into the fire caused the fire to roar. Rufus stepped into the green flames and disappeared.
Kingsley, noticing the Grangers' reaction to the Minister's disappearance explained. "The Floo network is made up of fireplaces that have to be inspected and authorised by the Ministry. We could have Apparated but that would have been rude."
Dan nodded, almost understanding.
"Of course," Kingsley continued, "under normal situations using the Floo would be our least preferred method of travel. You can never be sure who is watching the Floo Network. But as Vold - he knew we would be coming here anyway - - ."
Dan nodded again. Emma looked stunned and Hermione was still crying against Harry.
***
Harry's pacing served no purpose at all. He couldn't work out what if anything Riddle hoped to gain, except of course for killing him. Riddle had tricked him into going to the graveyard after he and Cedric touched the Tri-wizard cup and only luck had allowed him to escape. So why this now? Why tell Harry he wanted to meet with him if NOT to kill him? What could Riddle want?
Harry wondered where Emma and Dan had gotten to. They had left him alone with his thoughts an hour ago. Hermione watched him from the lounge she was sitting on. She was surrounded by books looking for something, anything, not even knowing what. Unless there was a book entitled Ways of Defeating Dark Lords, Harry thought nothing that Hermione came up with in the next two hours was going to help.
As hard as it was going to be for him to leave her, he knew it would be harder for her. She would remain at home with her parents, worried the whole time Harry was away. She would endure every minute as a year; she would agonise over whether or not she would see him again.
Typical, Harry thought. Of course this had to come up. Now, when I was the happiest I had ever been, Riddle comes in and everything falls down like a house of cards. He went over and over it again in his mind, looking for the answer that wasn't there:
The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…
Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies…
and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have the power the Dark Lord knows not…
and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…
The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies…
Harry turned to pace back towards the lounge where he knew he would about-face once again to repeat the process. He saw Hermione still sitting, reading. Both wands, his and her own, lying at her side. Harry looked at his wand, wondering if he had strength to use it. He didn't think he could. After all he couldn't even use Snape's curse against him. He certainly couldn't use one of the Unforgivables. Harry was sure he was going to die and sighed again. Nothing he or anyone could do would be of use.
Hermione met his eyes again and saw he couldn't even offer her a weak smile.
***
She held him tighter, her eyes now red and puffy from crying. This was a hell of a way to have to say goodbye. Five minutes, no four. Harry had told her he would leave with one minute to go. He didn't want to, but would.
Emma and Dan had left minutes before; there was nothing left that any of them could say.
"I'm coming back!" he told himself, the words breaking the drawn out silence. Hermione held him tighter.
"What are you going to do about Snape?" she asked.
Harry shrugged. He knew nothing about anything. Exactly which side WAS Snape on?
She handed him his wand which he finally took. It felt strange in his hand; he hadn't held it for over a week except briefly when he had dropped it on the floor of Hermione's room the day before. A world before.
"You're coming back, Harry. Back HERE."
He nodded; this was their agreement. "As soon as I can." They stood together, time counting down. "There are some letters on my trunk - - ," Harry started but Hermione's squeeze stopped him.
"No!"
"But you won't need to see them," he told her. "Except the top one." She looked at him, wondering what made it so special.
"It's to you. It's from Hogwarts. Kingsley thought you'd like it if I was the one that gave it to you."
"What is it?"
"Remember the D.A. Galleons?" he asked her. She nodded. Harry could only see the top of her head as she was so close to him.
"I mentioned it to Kingsley and he said the Minister and the Board of Governors have decided to incorporate it into the Defence Against the Dark Arts course."
She looked up at Harry, puzzled.
"But it was just a - - ."
"I know, but it's the way you used it that impressed them. Books and cleverness aren't the only things we are supposed to be learning."
"I don't care," Hermione decided. "Just make sure you come back."
"I will. And there is also a present to you from me - - ."
"It can wait for Christmas!" she said firmly.
"It's not for Christmas. It's not for anything. I saw it when Tonks took me shopping and thought you would like it."
Hermione sniffed again and looked up at him, this time with half a smile. "You bought me a present and waited a week before you gave it to me?"
"No magic, remember?" Harry grinned.
"Then you can give it to me yourself when you come back."
He nodded, looking at the clock and saw that the time had come. He had no words, nothing that they hadn't already said. This WASN'T goodbye, he decided.
He took the box and opened it. Nothing left to say or do. He kissed her and their eyes met.
Placing the ring on his finger, he disappeared without a sound.
A/N
One of the advantages FF has over normal fiction is that when read in instalments, the reader doesn't know exactly when the end comes along. It can sort of spring up on you and if done right the climax can be amazing - gee did I really say that?
Anyway, if you're worried about endings, this isn't it - yet!
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