Return to Hogwarts
A/N: There aren't enough words to apologize for the huge delay in this chapter... I'm so sorry guys! Now that I'm on vacation I'll try to update faster! Thank you for all your lovely reviews; I hope you like this chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the plot. *sigh*
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Before she even had the time to say something else, professor McGonagall found herself being pointed at by three shaky wands, making her raise her eyebrows.
"What's the meaning of this?" she asked. "Didn't Nymphadora tell you that I'd be picking you up?" Hermione was the first to lower her wand, swallowing.
"We're sorry, professor... I guess we're a bit paranoid," she said. Their professor nodded.
"You'll tell me why when we're inside the grounds... Excuse me," she said, pushing Harry and Ron aside and walking towards the bushes. Eyeing whatever they had stunned critically, McGonagall stretched her hand and retrieved a limp Mrs. Norris from the mess of branches and leaves. The trio widened their eyes and looked at each other in mute horror. "Argus is not going to be happy about this," McGonagall commented.
"Please, professor-" Ron started, "we didn't know it was Mrs. Norris; we just heard a noise and, um, as Hermione said, we're, er, a bit paranoid, and-"
"Calm down, Weasley, it's not as if I'm going to murder you... I'll leave that task to Argus," McGonagall cut him off with a small smile. "We use Mrs. Norris as an alarm system. When someone approaches the school she warns Mr. Filch, who in turn lets us know," the professor explained. Hermione and Ron nodded, while Harry just stared at her in silence. "Well now, let's go in," McGonagall said as she opened the gate while carrying the unconscious cat.
The walk through the grounds was fairly quiet, except for Hermione's story of the cave and the attack. McGonagall listened attentively, absorbing every detail for she'd have to report this to the Order. Hermione had the sense to skip the part of Harry going berserker on the Death Eaters, and he was glad for it. He wanted to talk about that with the only person he was sure could guide him, even though he was now only a portrait hanging in an office.
"... And that was why we were paranoid," Hermione finally finished at the doorsteps of Hogwarts. The professor nodded thoughtfully and sighed as she opened the doors.
"Very interesting," she said. "I imagine that the Death Eaters saw you at the Three Broomsticks and alerted the others..."
"That's what I thought," Hermione replied. McGonagall placed Mrs. Norris on the floor and un-stunned her; the cat meowed loudly and glared at them before walking away, probably in the search of the caretaker.
"Professor," Harry spoke for the first time. "I- We need to talk to the Headmaster. Is that possible?" he seriously asked.
"Certainly," McGonagall replied, surprised by her student's formality. "Follow me."
As they walked through the Great Hall and reached the moving stairs, Harry looked around as if he had never seen the castle before. Each step told a story for him, every single portrait meant something; every crack in the wall seemed to tell him goodbye and at the same time represented home; a place he had always loved and had meant safety. Would he see Hogwarts again? Would he live to tell his kids about Norbert and Moaning Myrtle? He was aware of Ron's heavy steps at his right and Hermione's hurrying feet on his left; he could see his professor in front of them, and yet he felt in a dream like state-
"Are you okay?" Hermione murmured in his ear, breaking his train of thought. He looked up and found that they were reaching the head master's gargoyle. Had they really walked that much already?
"Yeah..." Harry trailed off.
"You sure?" Ron asked. Harry nodded as they stopped walking in front of the gargoyle leading to the office. McGonagall turned around and stared at them in silence, waiting. Hermione grabbed Harry's hand.
"Go ahead," Hermione told him. "We'll wait for you here."
"But... Don't you want to-?" Harry started to ask when Ron interrupted him.
"You'll tell us all about it, mate," he said, pushing his friend towards the gargoyle.
"Lemon drops," McGonagall said, and the gargoyle leapt aside to reveal the staircase. "You know the way, Harry," she added kindly. Harry nodded and sighed deeply, going up without a glance back. He couldn't remember when he had entered that office for the last time... Had he entered it after Dumbledore's death? After a short trip he entered the office, and he immediately noticed that the objects that usually released smoke and whistles were not moving anymore. Fawkes's perch was still empty... Harry swallowed the lump in his throat and walked towards the desk; he felt thousands of eyes on him as he moved. The headmasters in the portraits muttered among them; some even waved at him.
"Long time no see, Harry," a familiar voice startled him. He whipped around quickly and swallowed when he found himself staring at Dumbledore once more. Harry opened and closed his mouth a few times.
"Professor Dumbledore," he finally managed to say, forcing his legs to move closer to the portrait. This was so strange... Dumbledore's death still seemed so irrational. "How... How have you been?"
"I woke up a few days before your birthday," Dumbledore told him with a smile. "What about you?"
"We found a Horcrux," Harry ejaculated. "We destroyed it." he added, producing the real locket out of his pocket so he could show it to Dumbledore, who leaned over in his seat to get a better look at it.
"Amazing," he commented as his smile grew. "Where did you find it? How did you destroy it?"
"It was tucked away in Grimmauld Place," Harry started. "Hermione helped me find it, and then she came up with the way to destroy it. She proposed to use my blood, and, well... It worked." he finished somewhat lamely.
"I wouldn't expect less from Ms. Granger," Dumbledore retorted. "Congratulations," he told Harry, who looked away.
"I don't know what to do to find the cup," he said in a low voice. "I don't know where to start. What if I fail? What if I send Hermione and Ron to their deaths?" he continued, blushing. "I would have never found the locket if it wasn't for Hermione... If it weren't for Ron in that cave, I'd..." his voice died down at this.
"I surely must have told you before that my faith in you never faltered, Harry. I know you will make it." Dumbledore replied. "No one said it was easy."
"I know." A prolonged silence followed that last statement, only broken by the occasional owl hooting or the dimmed howls that came from the forest.
"Harry..." Dumbledore finally said. "You will need Godric's sword." At this words Harry frowned as he lifted his face.
"What for?" he couldn't help but to ask. Dumbledore stroked his bear thoughtfully.
"You pulled it out of the hat, and you killed the basilisk with that sword. Had Tom known about the existence of that weapon, he would have turned into a Horcrux, too..."
"But a sword won't help me kill Voldemort," Harry said.
"You never know, Harry. I must insist." Dumbledore said sternly. Harry opened his mouth to argue, until he wondered when Dumbledore's suggestions had failed to help him... Leaving aside the Horcrux incident. But if it had been the `real' locket, Dumbledore would have helped him get one step closer to vanquishing Voldemort.
"Fine," he finally agreed. "I'll take it." Dumbledore beamed at his answer and nodded towards the sword. Harry sighed and walked over to the glass case and removed the top lid, allowing him to clumsily retrieve the sword. When he had first held it, he hadn't noticed how heavy it was.
"We'll arrange for one or more of the professors to teach you how to wield it," Dumbledore told him from his portrait. Harry nodded, lifting the sword and walking towards his former headmaster. He felt like some sort of warrior carrying the sword. Dumbledore would be asking him to slay dragons next... he smiled at the memory of the first task. Before he could ask about the thing that was most bothering him, Dumbledore opened his mouth again. "If you wish, you, Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley can stay in the school until term starts."
"Until term starts?"
"Was I wrong in assuming you would not be returning to the school?" Dumbledore questioned, eyebrows raised.
"No, sir," Harry mumbled, a strange sense of shame washing over him.
"Yes... Minerva was quite disappointed at having to assign a new Head Girl," the headmaster replied with a smile. Harry agreed with his head and swallowed.
"One more thing, professor..." he trailed off. The old wizard slightly leaned over and waited for him to start. "We... We were attacked tonight, while we were hiding in the cave you discovered back in fourth year," Harry started. "The remaining Death Eater grabbed Hermione and she didn't have her wand... I told him to let her go," Harry had to stop, for his throat felt strangely dry. Dumbledore sported a slight frown, obviously listening to every word Harry was saying. "I was so angry and scared, sir... A few days ago another Death Eaters tried to kill Ron and now one of them had Hermione; I couldn't allow it; I was so frustrated! I didn't know what happened... I just..." he trailed off before breathing in deeply. "I think I cast the Crucio on him, but I hadn't realized it sir, I swear! I wasn't thinking straight, and-" Dumbledore lifted his hand and Harry closed his mouth, anxiously waiting for his response.
"Did you also perform wandless magic when Mr. Weasley was in danger?" he asked.
"No," he admitted barely above a whisper. Did this mean that he didn't care for Ron at all? Was he a bad friend for unleashing such massive power only because Hermione was in danger? Did it make Harry an ungrateful bastard?
"You're not a bad person, Harry," Dumbledore's gentle voice broke through his train of thought. "Forgive me if this question seems impertinent, but are you and Ms. Granger dating?" Harry blushed and scratched the back of his neck as he nodded, not able to meet Dumbledore's gaze. "Do you love her?" Harry could feel the heat coming off his cheeks at this question, but he firmly met Dumbledore's eyes this time around.
"Yes," he stated. "But I also love Ron as a friend!" he insisted.
"Naturally," Dumbledore relented. "I hope that it won't happen, but if a situation in which Mr. Weasley is in extreme danger arises, you'll try to save him by all means necessary, even if it means having to resort to wandless magic."
"It's just..." Harry began, feeling the urge to explain himself, "It starts like... like a small electric shock... And then it grows, and it sorts of... guides me... It makes me more... powerful," he struggled to describe that feeling of being strong; of being able to get through whatever problem arose. "I think Hermione feels the same way, but I can't be sure..."
"I see," Dumbledore retorted thoughtfully. "When did this begin, Harry?"
"When I... er... when I kissed her," he mumbled. He thought that he knew what it was like to be deep in the claws of embarrassment and awkwardness, but he stood corrected. Dumbledore nodded, leaning back on his seat as he stroked his beard again.
"Interesting..." he only said. "Very interesting indeed." Harry shrugged.
"I guess..." he left the sentence hanging. Apparently, the conversation was over. "Well, professor, I'll be... um... leaving now. Is that okay?"
"Of course," Dumbledore replied. "When you leave, would you please ask Minerva if she can come?"
"Yes," Harry simply replied, hardening the grip around the handle of the sword as he walked towards the door of the room. He put his hand on the doorknob and turned it, opening the door... "Sir?" he called.
"Yes, Harry?" he heard Dumbledore's reply.
"I miss you," Harry confessed, and left before Dumbledore could utter a reply.
Harry quickly got down the stairs, the sword dangling in his hand, and the back of the gargoyle jumped aside so he could get out. Ron was sitting on the floor; Hermione looked nervous and stood next to professor McGonagall, who eyed the sword with her eyebrow up.
"Professor, Dumbledore was wondering if you could go to the office," Harry said, not wanting to talk about the sword. Dumbledore would tell her anyway, he presumed.
"Certainly. The password for the Gryffindor common room is the same one you had at the end of term; please go there at once," she ordered them sternly before disappearing up the staircase. The three of them waited until the gargoyle had jumped back into place before speaking.
"You were in there a long time," Ron was the first one to break the silence. "Why did he give you the sword?"
"He said I might need it," Harry responded. "We'll stay here until term starts," he added.
"Wonderful" Hermione exclaimed. "We can do some research on hexes, curses, charms... We can go over some transfiguration stuff and maybe Potions!"
"Potions?" Ron asked, pursing his lips in disgust.
"Yes, potions," Hermione calmly replied. "Learning how to prepare antidotes and such. Do you think they'll have something about Horcruxes in the library?"
"No," Harry immediately said. "It's a banned subject in Hogwarts."
"Well, it won't hurt to check," Hermione argued, making both boys smile. "Perhaps I could even send Viktor a letter, asking him about them-"
"You can't," Ron contradicted her this time. "It wouldn't be safe with everybody reading everybody's mail."
"You're right," Hermione agreed. "Mm... You know, Ron, I really like you when you make sense," she added. Ron frowned.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Ron retorted, already getting red.
"Nothing," Hermione told him innocently, hooking her arm around Harry's. "Let's go eat something... I'm starving."
"If you think you'll get out of this acting like me you're wrong," Ron huffed, making Harry laugh.
"You know, mate," he said to Ron, "you're digging up your own grave by making those comments..."
"Typical!" Ron exclaimed as they started to walk in direction of the kitchens. "Now that you're dating you are entitled to take your loved one's side and I'm the third wheel, right?" he ranted. "I should've seen this coming... What makes me like you two, I don't know!" he added dramatically.
"Pssst... You sound like your mother," Hermione hissed with a smile, elbowing Ron in the ribs.
"Oh stuff a sock in it, Hermione. When we enter the kitchens, I'll refuse to pay Dobby for his services. He's only a house elf after all," Ron said. Hermione's cheeks reddened and Harry only sighed, looking down at the sword in his hands. He didn't like how, in the dim lights of the hallways, the rubies shone like fresh blood.
After they a delicious dinner -and having paid Dobby- Harry, Hermione and Ron made their way to the Gryffindor common room, grateful and contented with the fact of sleeping on beds and returning to a place they knew secure. As Ron opened the portrait and climbed up, carrying Godric's sword, Harry grabbed Hermione's hand before she could follow their red headed friend.
"I want to talk to you," Harry mumbled. "Can I?" Hermione, surprised, nodded.
"Are you guys coming?" Ron loudly asked them from inside the common room.
"Just a second," Hermione replied. "I think I can see him rolling his eyes from here," she told Harry with a smile as the portrait closed. At the sight of Harry's serious face, though, her smile faded. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing important," Harry said, staring at the floor. "It was something Dumbledore said... And it made me wonder..." Hermione patiently waited for him to finish his idea, confused. "Do you really want to skip this school year?" he finally asked.
"We've gone over this," Hermione told him firmly. "I'll skip this year and the next one too, if that's what it takes." Harry looked away.
"You knew that you were going to be Head Girl, and... You've always loved classes so much..." he said quietly.
"I don't care about that."
"But those are your dreams," Harry replied. Hermione crossed her arms.
"Why does it matter if they were? I want to help you; your future is more important than mine anyway-" Harry frowned at this.
"Don't ever do that again!" he cut her off. Hermione widened her eyes, startled by the tone and volume of his voice. "Don't you put yourself below me," he growled.
"Harry..."
"Don't. If that's where you place yourself in my life, Hermione, then I've been an ungrateful bastard after all," Harry bitterly said, recalling his talk with Dumbledore.
"I'm sorry," Hermione said in a small voice, making Harry grow more livid.
"Why are you apologizing? I should be the one doing that if that's the way you really feel," he barked, turning around.
"Going somewhere?" Hermione asked, now starting to sound annoyed.
"I need a walk," Harry snarled.
"Don't do that," Hermione snapped. "Running away from your feelings won't make anything better." At his lack of response, Hermione let out an exasperated sigh and went to stand in front of him with her hands on her hips. "Potter, look at me," she ordered. Harry glared at her. "Glaring at me won't take you anywhere, you know," she said with a very Malfoy- esque attitude.
"If you want to stay here at Hogwarts I won't mind," Harry lied venomously, but Hermione could see right through it.
"You're being stupid," she squarely told him.
"Gee, thanks."
"Stop acting like a three year old and listen to me!" Hermione finally exploded, stamping her foot on the floor. "I'm sorry for what I said, okay? You're not the only one who has issues here! You know you matter more to me than school, Harry. I'll tell you that everyday if that's what you want to hear- I love you more than a Head Girl badge!" Hermione finished. Harry blinked a few times and breathed in deeply, running his fingers through his hair.
"I'm sorry," he muttered.
"Good," Hermione seethed. "Now could we go to sleep?" Harry nodded and they both opened the portrait and climbed through the hole without talking. Ron wasn't in the common room; he probably was in the boy's dorms already. Harry and Hermione awkwardly wished each other goodnight and went on different directions without a glance back. When Harry reached their room he entered and closed the door by leaning on it heavily, releasing a long sigh.
"Big fight?" Ron asked from his bed. Harry grunted as a response and dragged his feet over to his bed, throwing himself on it. "I'll take it as a yes, then."
Fifteen minutes passed in complete silence before Harry and Ron heard someone knocking on the door.
"You get it," Harry grunted. Ron shook his head with a sigh and walked over to the door and opened it. As he had imagined, Hermione stared back at him, biting her lower lip. Ron sighed again and pointed at Harry's bed over his shoulder, but Hermione didn't move.
"Are you... Are you be okay with this?" she shyly asked him. Ron nodded and stepped aside, allowing her to pass, and closed the door after her. Ron walked to his bed and smiled when he heard Harry's `ooof!' as Hermione threw herself over him like a bag of potatoes, hugging him.
"I will only say this once," Ron suddenly spoke, making Harry and Hermione look at him in surprise. "If I hear even one moan, I'll kick one of you out!" he threatened, pointing his index finger accusingly at the couple. Harry and Hermione glanced at each other.
"Yes, Mrs. Weasley," both chanted as a response. Ron's face reddened as he cursed them under his breath, sitting on his bed and closing the curtains around it.
"I mean it!" he exclaimed one last time, and his statement did nothing but make Harry and Hermione burst in laughter.
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
A/N: There it is. Dammit, why do I like writing H/Hr fights so much?! I actually really enjoyed writing this chapter, so I hope that you'll find it worthwhile. Don't forget to review if you liked it... Thanks for reading!
-->