AN: Hi all! I adore you for the reviews. A lot of people began to ask about Hermione being a witch. It's not really a real big reason as to why she wasn't at Hogwarts. It was just something I always wondered about. So here is the next chapter!
Disclaimer: There's no way I own Harry Potter when I'm still trying to get my $70 SXU parking permit (these damn tickets).
Recap:
Wait she looks like…
"Hermione?"
"Harry?"
Chapter 3: Reintroductions & Shocking Conversations
Harry had no idea how long they were standing there staring at each other taking in the changes in their appearance. Wow, milk really does a body good! They both thought at the same time. To the average person Harry looked like a scrawny twelve year old boy and Hermione a buck toothed nerd, which in all honesty may have been true; but after seeing someone that you've haven't seen for five years one tends to notice even the smallest changes.
"Well…. humph" Before Harry could put together a coherent sentence, he was tackled in a bear hug by Hermione. Not that Harry would complain about having a girl on top of him, but what if someone saw? The other important factor was oxygen. "Her…Hermione? I can't breath."
"Oh, sorry Harry. I've just missed you so much" Hermione stood up and dusted herself off. Then held out a hand to help Harry get on his feet. "What were you doing Harry? You scared me senseless."
"Well, my uncle said that we had new neighbors and they were going to introduce her to Dudley so maybe he can have a girlfriend. I was back here and heard a noise go I peaked in to see this mystery girl and I tripped and fell over a twig" Harry said the last part sheepishly.
"Ugh, I don't want to be introduced to Dudley. That fat pig is horrendous. Remember when I told him you and I would always be friends? He got so mad, he tried to beat me up! I mean really! I'm a girl! But he didn't care." When she realized she was drifting into her memory of how much she hated Dudley, she decided to change the subject. "What were you doing out this late?"
"Well my Aunt Marge is here and she really made me mad and it's hard to sleep" Harry shuddered thinking of that damn hippo as Marge. "It's nice to have my own quiet time anyway. I was thinking about my new school"
"Oh. So… Do you have a new best friend?" Harry saw the hurt in her eyes, but she quickly tried to cover it up. "Not that it's a bad thing. I was gone for five years. You were bound to have a bunch of friends anyway. You're a nice guy Harry so… um yeah" She finished lamely.
"Well, I know this may sound stupid, but I've only made one friend since you've left. He's nice and all, but I always thought we would be best friends forever like we promised."
"No! It's not stupid at all. I haven't made any new friends. None at all. It didn't bother me because I knew you'd always be my friend. We can even pick up where we left off. You know, catch up. Tell our deepest secrets that we can't share with others like old times… I know I sound a little pushy or a bit desperate but it's been horrible not having any real friends Harry. I only get my tutor as company and she's an old lady, not that I don't respect her, but it's not the same." After seeing Harry give a nod of understanding she perked back up, "So, should you start or me?"
Harry was trying to figure out if he should tell Hermione the whole truth. She would freak out if she found out I was a wizard and what I went through with Voldemort this past year. But she is my best friend. I should be honest with her. Oh, Merlin this is gonna end horribly. "Hermione, I think I should start. I want you to believe me with everything I say. I would never lie about the thing I'm going to tell you and I don't want you to think I'm a freak"
"Harry. I'd never call you a freak. I think you're…" Harry abruptly cut her off.
"No. let me tell you everything before you say that. Ok. From the beginning everything with the Dursley's are the same. They are just as horrible now, than they were when I was younger. But last year on my birthday I got a letter saying I was accepted in a school called Hogwarts. It's a school for witches and wizards. You know, people with magic in them somewhere. Where? I wouldn't know. But it's definitely there. I found out I'm a celebrity because I survived the killing curse from the most powerful dark wizard of the time named Voldemort. It bounced back and killed him. Now everyone loves me because I'm the Boy-who-lived. I didn't have any friends because they only liked me for my fame. At least I didn't until Halloween. I saved a boy from a troll and we stayed friends after that. I never forgot you. I kept comparing him to you when it came to how close we were. I really missed you. You're the only one who likes me for me. Or I hope you still do" Oh no. she looks shocked. Well of course she's shocked you dope! I messed everything up. Why did I have to open my big mouth!?
"Harry. I'm a little shocked about everything but it's believable." It's believable? I wouldn't have believed it if Hagrid hadn't given Dudley a tail.
"Actually, I'm more shocked that I never heard of you. Let me start from the beginning. When I was forced to move I went into a shell." She looked a little embarrassed that she actually admitted that to him.
"I eventually got out of it but school was always harder with no friends so I buried myself in my studies. Last year, when I was eleven, I got a letter saying I was accepted to Hogwarts. I never went though. My parents and I thought it was some kind of joke. I mean honestly, witches and wizards? What person would openly believe that? So I stayed in my regular school for a month, until October when Albus Dumbledore came to my house with a hat. He called it the Sorting Hat. He sat it on my head and it put me in Gryffindor. It really wanted to put me in Ravenclaw but it changed last minute." Harry thought it was odd when the hat was undecided with him; now he wonders why it happened with Hermione too.
"I've been getting tutored by my head of house, Professor McGonagall. I wasn't allowed to go to school because I never responded to the first letter, and technically since there was no response, there wasn't any official acceptance. In short I wasn't accepted that year because it was past the deadline. But since I was tutored I can go this year. She says I'm the smartest witch of my age. I read a lot of magical books but I've only seen the name Boy-Who-Lived or H. Potter. Ugh, I feel so stupid. It crossed my mind once or twice, but what are the odds that I personally knew H. Potter. I never even knew you were him Harry."
To say Harry was shocked would be the understatement of the century. His best friend can now relate to him more than he thought possible. She was a witch! They sat down under 'Harry's Tree' as they liked to call it and talked all night. Filling in everything else that happened over the years. It was getting really late (or early, depending on how you look at it) because the sun was coming up. "I gotta go Harry. I'll tell my dad that the wind blew the fence down. It was old anyway. He always liked you, and I don't want to spoil it by saying you were peeping on his only daughter." They chuckled at her last statement.
As Hermione walked to her door Harry stopped her. "Um, Hermione? Don't let my uncle know you're a witch. He thinks we are freaks. That's the reason he never liked me in the first place. He hates all things magical, including the word magic."
"Don't worry Harry. I'll talk to my parents; we'll have a cover up by….well, today. I'll meet you for the first time in five years again tomorrow" After the laugh they shared, they walked in their respective homes.
Harry fell asleep with thoughts of his best friend and how Hogwarts was going to be great this year.