Authors Note: I must admit I was surprised by the negative comments of the last chapter. Sorry if I scared you but this chapter settles things down pretty well for the ships in this story. Eventually, Ron will get together with Luna, though that may be long in the future. I have always liked Luna's character and she has a lot of potential. She cannot be thought of on equal terms with Harry and he must have an equal partner to balance is recklessness. This is in my opinion why Ginny could not work as his mate. I had all of those points in the last chapter but I guess I bowled most of you over with the ending. Again, sorry, that was my attempt at a cliff hanger ending to the chapter. Once again my thanks go out to my beta The Scribbler for helping me with punctuation and such in this chapter.
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Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters. All characters are creations of Joanne K Rowling, © 2007, to whom I am deeply indebted.
Standard Disclaimer: This story may contain sexually graphic and explicit material and it is not suitable for minors. If you are a minor, please leave now, as it is illegal for you to be here. If it is illegal for you to read or view sexually explicit material in the community you view such material, please leave now. This story and characters are purely fictional and any resemblance to events or persons (living or dead) is purely coincidental. If you are offended by sexually explicit stories, please read no further. These stories are just that, stories, and may or may not reflect the opinions of the author.
Chapter 6
He grinned broadly and hugged them to him. A few minutes later he started to feel uncomfortable about holding Luna like this. Hermione felt natural so close to him. He didn't want to offend Luna so he let them both go and slowly sat up. "I wish we had a Pensieve."
Hermione sat up and flipped her hair behind her ears, "We could ask McGonagall if we could borrow Dumbledore's"
His glasses touched his open hand from Luna's direction and he heard her ask, "What do you need to see?"
Harry slipped his glasses on and looked over at her, "No I need to show the two of you things, lots of things. I just realized I have two of the smartest witches in the world to help me figure out what I need to do to kill Voldemort."
Hermione added, "Remember that prophecy from when we went after Sirius? Harry has heard it from Dumbledore. One of the lines says that he will have the power the dark lord knows not. Dumbledore seems, sorry, seemed to think that power was his capacity to love."
Harry chuckled, "Pity, it looks like we can rule out sex. Bloke would be dead three times over already."
Hermione put her hand on his shoulder and gave him that wicked smile, "We can keep trying."
He grinned back at her but then looked at Luna and dropped his smile.
Luna turned decidedly pink at that comment but remained quiet.
Harry continued, "Well anyway the thought I had was this. If I can share my memories with the two of you about everything I learned about Tom Riddle, Horcruxes, and each of our encounters. Maybe, just maybe something will occur to one of you to help me kill him. I keep running around in circles in my head and I don't think the answer is in here." He tapped his temple.
Luna finally sat up as well, "We could do something like that with Legimancy. I know just enough to get into someone's head and look for something specific, so long as they are not trying to block me."
Hermione said, "Well, I think that's a good place to start. I need to write a letter to my parents for Dobby to deliver. I think you should try to read some of his memories. That will serve several purposes. It will probably be faster than us trying to tell you everything from scratch."
Luna shook her head, "I'll have to cast Legilimens, and I'm under age until October. Maybe we could go somewhere they wouldn't notice, like a wizard house."
Harry and Hermione both said, "Grimmauld."
At Luna's raised eyebrow, Harry continued, "Grimmauld Place was Sirius Black's home. It's under a Fidelius and is Unplottable. We can safely do magic there and not be noticed."
"Well I suggest we find the secret keeper so I can go there, I assume you both can go inside?"
Harry's head fell, "Damn."
Hermione answered Luna's look, "Dumbledore was the secret keeper. We'll have to think of somewhere else we can practice."
Luna offered, "What about Hogwarts?"
Harry nodded, "We do need to go there and do some searching. Let's ask McGonagall if we can move into the Room of Requirement for a week or two."
Hermione stood, slipped her shoes on and went to her trunk, she put the Occlumency tome inside and shoved it closed then shrunk it. Harry had slipped from the bed and closed his trunk. She shrunk his as well. "Well let's go get your trunk Luna; I'll side along you then Harry to Hogsmeade. Should I go check us out of the hotel or keep the rooms?"
Luna climbed off the bed and retrieved her shoes from under the chair.
Harry said, "Keep them; we could apparated back here if we need to leave the school."
She nodded and followed Luna to the door. He heard Luna say, "I had Weepa seal the door you'll need to unlock it Hermione."
A quick Alohmora from Hermione and they were out the door. Harry picked up the two shrunken chests and put them into the backpack. He wasn't sure if he should wait for them to come back or follow them. Before he could make up his mind; Hermione apparated into the room.
She asked, "Ready to go?"
He decided to tell Hermione how he was feeling about Luna while they were alone. "Um, just a minute. I want to talk to you about Luna."
Hermione looked at him sharply, "Go on."
He sighed, "Well I think its fine hugging her and such. I think she can certainly help us with Occlumency and maybe some other things."
Hermione stepped closer to him and put her arm around him, "But you don't want to have sex with her."
He nodded, "You mean too much to me to risk hurting you. I find her very similar, in many ways, to you, but no, I don't want to. At least, not now, I know your plan. I don't agree with it but this just doesn't feel right. What should we do?"
Surprisingly she looked relieved then she said, "We'll tell her the truth Harry. If we start lying to her, she will lie to us. I believe her that she is only trying to follow all possibilities related to her vision. But I think if you are not comfortable with it, then it's not meant to happen. Besides, you're mine!"
He smiled broadly at her, "I love it when you say that."
"Good, I'll do it more often then. You got the trunks?"
"Yes."
She moved her arm to his waist. Apparition took concentration so he dared not distract her with a kiss no matter how much he wanted to. He was greatly relieved that Hermione was not going to force him into anything with Luna. He really didn't think that with Hermione around it would be possible. Maybe that's what their agreement meant? Was Luna just supposed to hang around to keep him going if Hermione died? He vowed then and there to begin training in earnest for all possibilities; Occlumency, physical fitness and dueling practice. His thoughts were interrupted when he felt the now familiar squeeze and they were standing on the train platform in Hogsmeade. Luna was waiting on one of the benches. She stood when they arrived.
Harry started walking towards the gates of the castle, "So how do we get in?"
Hermione strode along with him and said, "Dobby!"
The little elf appeared beside them and started walking along with them towards the castle. "You called Mistress?"
"We're going to go talk to McGonagall and stay at the school for a little while. Can you tell her we're coming and let us into the grounds?"
Dobby nodded vigorously, "Yes Mistress." He popped away.
"Like that Harry."
He sighed dramatically, "It must be nice to have such a big brain."
She said in a very playful tone, "Git!"
He cringed, "Oy, not that. C'mon Granger is that the best you got?"
She laughed and shoved his shoulder. He stumbled dramatically but kept walking. She said, "That's Potter to you mister!"
He twisted to face her and gave her a sloppy salute, "Yes Ma'am!"
They kept a lite banter up for the rest of the twenty minutes it took to get to the gate. He was in a rather giddy mood by the time they got there. Dobby was standing there with two other elves, they were dressed in Hogwarts uniforms. When the elves saw them they touched the gates which swung open.
Harry said, "Thank you," as he walked through the gates. The two uniformed elves bowed slightly but remained silent. His mood changed dramatically as he walked through the gates and the walk to the front doors of the castle was in silence. The funeral was still very raw in his mind though he himself had proposed pretty convincingly that Dumbledore was still alive somewhere.
They reached the main doors and again Dobby was waiting, this time with Headmistress McGonagall. She greeted them as they came up the stairs. "Welcome, Harry, Hermione, and Miss Lovegood is that you?"
Harry jumped when she mentioned Luna; he had completely forgotten she was with them.
Luna answered smoothly, with no hint of her usual tone, "Yes Headmistress. I'm helping Harry."
McGonagall nodded thoughtfully, "Let's go talk in Firenze's classroom."
Harry said, "Sure," and headed inside towards the classroom.
When the four of them were seated in the pleasant forest, and Dobby had provided chilled pumpkin juice for everyone, Hermione spoke up. "We're on a mission from Dumbledore. Harry started it last year with him and we, along with Ron, Bill, and Fleur, are trying to finish it. Harry is going to tell you some secrets, we don't know if Dumbledore shared any of this with you but he and I decided you need to be brought up to speed on it."
Harry cleared his throat and pulled Slytherin's locket from his pocket. He held the locket up by its chain and said, "Horcruxes." He let the locket drop onto the grass. "Tom Riddle made six of them. Dumbledore destroyed one last year; that cracked ring he was wearing on his dead arm for a while. I destroyed one in second year; the diary of Tom Riddle. The night Dumbledore was killed he and I had gone to retrieve this one, unfortunately this one had been replaced with a fake one. Hermione and I found. Sorry; Dobby found this one for us today at Grimmauld Place. Dobby also informed me that there are two more here inside Hogwarts, one in the Ravenclaw common room and one in the trophy room. I have Bill searching Riddle manor for Helga's chalice."
He had ignored the shocked and stunned expression on Minerva's face as he forged through the full tale. She recovered slowly then said, "That's why he didn't die."
Harry nodded. "We need to stay here for a few days, maybe a week."
Minerva nodded so Harry kept going. "Professor Dumbledore had a pensieve and some stored memories about Tom Riddle. I need access to them. We will live in the Room of Requirement while here and will not take them off the grounds."
Hermione asked, "Are you alright Ma'am?"
Minerva looked at Hermione and shook her head, "This will take some time to absorb. I think I have it all though. Six Horcruxes in total, two have been destroyed, two still in the castle, one missing and one here. It was not even believed possible to create more than a single Horcrux. What are your plans while here?"
Again Hermione answered her favorite professor's question. "First we are going to search through Harry's memories about Tom Riddle and all of his encounters. Luna will be helping Harry and I learn Occlumency and the basics of Legimancy." She pointed at the locket in the grass, "We need to find out how to actually destroy one of those things. I am hoping to find something in the Room of Requirement, as that information will be one of the requirements of its summoning. I figure we will be here a fortnight or so."
The conversation with her favorite student seemed to have restored her ability to think. She stood up and said, "An unusual situation we find ourselves in. We have only three teachers here currently, Filius, myself, and Septima. I will have Dobby find Filius and we shall retrieve the other Horcruxes within the castle then join you at the Room of Requirement."
Harry stood and said, "Thank you for not trying to tell us we should go enjoy our summer."
"Mr. Potter those days have long passed. I have been attempting to get Albus to change things here for the last three years. There will be some serious reforms enacted by the governors before the next term begins. We have already had two meetings about re-structuring the entire school. I will fill you in over your stay here."
Hermione stepped closer to McGonagall, "May I-"
McGonagall held up her hand to stop Hermione, "I have presented your list of changes and currently all of them are still on the table Miss Granger."
Hermione smiled broadly and said, "Thank you. Please keep me informed; I could be present at one of your meetings to help answer questions if you like."
"I will see if that can be managed. Now go, I will rejoin you all soon." She shooed them towards the door.
The three of them began climbing the nearest stairs towards the seventh floor. Harry reached over and took Hermione's left hand, their fingers intertwined.
They finally reached the hallway and Hermione said, "Let me summon it to start with. I have been thinking about what we need a bit." Harry gave her hand a brief squeeze which she returned before slipping her hand free.
Harry and Luna stepped next to the tapestry of Barnabus the Barmy while Hermione began pacing. A moment later the door appeared and she went and opened it. She walked inside; Harry went through on her heels. The room was relatively small with four doors leading from it. Hermione was ignoring everything else to stride across the room to a bookshelf with about thirty books on it. This room looked like a comfortable meeting or study room. There were several tables with comfortable looking chairs and two sofa's along the walls. A small fireplace burned welcomingly in the corner near the books. The other rooms would be bedrooms and he really wasn't sure what else actually.
He was jerked from his thoughts by Luna speaking softly to him. "You are mad at me for some reason Harry."
Damn he had forgotten her again. "Sorry Luna. No I am not mad at you. I- um- let's go sit and talk over there." He pointed at a small sofa away from where Hermione was looking through the books.
She didn't say anything but went with him to the sofa.
Tell the truth Hermione had said. So he let it come out. "I don't want. No, skip that. I don't believe it is necessary, for us to have sex together. It could hurt my relationship with Hermione. I'm not willing to risk hurting her. I love her too much to ever do that."
She didn't even blink when he said that so he continued. "I am not mad at you nor did you do anything I have been offended by. I do not think your interpretation of your vision should be taken to this extreme - at least just for the sake of making sure all our options have been covered."
She finally blinked and looked down at her hands. Finally she looked back to his eyes, unshed tears threatened to fall down her cheeks. "She is a very lucky witch you know." She rubbed her eyes clear, "I have no idea what my place is with the two of you now though. I want to help. I can help with some things we know. And I will work as hard as I can to help you find a way to win."
His heart went out to her again; she seemed like a slightly younger Hermione: smart, loving, and loyal. He gently, and affectionately, brushed his lips against her cheek. Then he hugged her and she gave him a painfully hard hug in reply. As he held her, he felt her crying on his shoulder. He looked at Hermione; she had stood and started towards them. Harry shook his head once and Hermione made a detour to see what was behind the four doors in the room.
When she had quieted he said, "Look, Luna. I honestly like you quite a lot. I respect you and feel you will be an important addition to our team. This is as far as I want to take our relationship, though - or at least right now or in the near future. For now we really must limit ourselves. Hugging and crying are perfectly acceptable."
She nodded, her face buried in his shirt. A little later she sniffed and pulled back from him. "If I had not been hiding behind Loony; do you think it would have been different for us?"
"Maybe, though I doubt it. Hermione feels like a part of me. Now that I know that feeling is, love, I realize it's been there for a long time. I just didn't understand what it was."
She sat back and dropped her arms to her lap, "Thanks for being honest with me. I'm not trying to come between you guys, but I am serious about Hermione's oath."
"I think I have sussed that out and I have no intention of ever letting anything happen to her to cause you to fulfill your side of it."
She smiled at him, "I would expect nothing less from you. I will be here if there is anything you want or need me to do though. I will not allow you to send me away as my vision specified I needed to be with you. When Voldemort is gone we can go our separate ways or not, as we then choose."
"Ok Luna, I can accept that."
Hermione came from the fourth door, nearest them and joined them. "Have we reached a stable group dynamic yet?"
Harry looked at her, confused.
Luna laughed, "Nearing stability though not quite there yet. Which of these is my room?"
Hermione pointed at the one she had just looked inside then moved sequentially around the room. "Yours with in suite facilities, common facilities for guests, exercise room, our bedroom also with in suite facilities."
Luna stood, "I'm going to unpack in my room and take a quick shower. I'll be back out shortly."
Harry said, "I am thinking we need to go check out of the hotel. We may be here until my birthday."
Hermione said, "Quite possible. We have them for several more days and need to check out of Luna's room tomorrow."
"After we talk with McGonagall again we should go do that tonight. I'm going to go expand the trunks in our room. You want to settle down and write that letter to your parents? Remember Dobby said it might take him a while to find them."
"Yes, I'll do that now, thanks for reminding me."
"Anytime love, anytime."
She went and sat at one of the smaller tables that had quills, ink, and parchment standing ready.
He went into the room on the far left of the door back to the seventh floor corridor. It wasn't a large room; the bed was a four poster slightly larger than the one in his dorm. He grinned; they wouldn't have room to sprawl on that. There was an open spot to either side of the bed, just big enough for an open trunk so he put one on either side and expanded them. He pulled the Occlumency tome from Hermione's trunk and went back into the main room. Hermione was writing furiously away so he sat on the couch near the fireplace and found his page in the tome.
He finished chapter four and had just started chapter five when he heard Hermione stop writing. She called for Dobby a moment later. Harry looked up.
Dobby appeared next to Hermione. "You called, Mistress?"
"Yes Dobby, sorry it took me so long but I finally found time to write that letter to my parents. Can you take this to them please? I know you said it would take you a while to find them but it is very important."
Dobby nodded vigorously and several of his hats fell off. He scooped them up and said, "Dobby knows where they are Mistress, he went and found them lastnight for you."
Hermione gave the excited elf a quick hug. "You just earned a bonus. Thank you for putting in extra work for me."
Dobby blushed furiously but Harry noticed he didn't complain about getting paid more.
Hermione continued, "Here is the letter, you need to stay out of sight of anyone but them please and wait for their reply please."
"Yes Mistress." He took the folded letter in both hands and vanished.
Someone knocked on the door; Harry put the tome on the nearest table and went to open it. He saw Luna come out of her room, her hair was wet but she had her wand out. Hermione stood and also drew her wand. He opened the door. Standing at the threshold were the professors, Minerva McGonagall and Filius Flitwick. The biggest surprise was that Minerva was carrying the sorting hat and it's stool. Behind Flitwick hovered a large trunk.
The hat said, "We need to talk Potter, all of us."
Minerva asked, "May we come inside?"
Harry stepped back and motioned them inside.
McGonagall placed the hat's stool next to the largest table then placed the hat upon it. She then sat beside it in a chair. Professor Flitwick gestured with his wand as he walked inside and the trunk flew open its contents spewing out. Godric's sword, Dumbledore's pensieve, Tom Riddle's plaque of special service rendered to the school, a large brooch, and a wooden rack containing a bunch of stopped glass vials with smoke inside. Harry held his breath as all of the precious objects, several very fragile, came to rest in an orderly fashion on the table. He let out his breath finally. Hermione had moved to sit opposite the sorting hat. Professor Flitwick sat in the chair beside McGonagall and a flick of his wand brought the chair up so he sat at the correct height to the table. Luna sat opposite her head of house. Harry closed the door and walked around the table to sit between Hermione and Luna, opposite McGonagall.
The Sorting hat said, "I've been waiting for you Potters to arrive, good you brought Lovegood as well."
Professor McGonagall looked sharply at the hat and asked, "Potters?"
Professor Flitwick let out a surprised squeak.
The hat continued, "Come, come. I'm a thinking cap which can read thoughts in your noggins. They are wed in all but the material trappings. Hmm - Lovegood, an interesting addition, your brain is a little foggy from here but I can see it's stuffed with lots of fluff. You have done well with your choice of Ravenclaw."
McGonagall said, "But-"
She was cut off by the Sorting hat again, "But you're not used to me spouting my thoughts so freely. Now is not the time for secrets. As I have said for the last two years in my song, we must work together. No Mrs. Potter, I am not a Horcrux of Godric. I am as close as could be managed though. Godric would never have committed cold blooded murder to create one. Not that he wouldn't kill someone, he killed many, all were in battle though, with his or anothers' life on the line. I hold many secrets and a good few more objects. Sorry Mr. Potter for dropping the sword on your noggin down in the chamber but you asked for help and it seemed the appropriate thing to do. Yes Mrs. Lovegood, I am like the portraits now in abundance around the school I hold all of Godric's memories and his personality, along with the added ability to reach into minds. Since you all seem to be getting a bit upset by my answering your questions before they are ansked I shall be quiet until addressed."
Hermione leaned forward and asked, "Do you know-"
"No Mrs. Potter, I do not know how to destroy a Horcrux. Such was never in Godric's head and I have not since read it from the surface thoughts of anyone within my range."
Hermione sat back in her chair and glanced at the bookshelf behind her.
Harry put his hands on the table and sat forward, "Professor Flitwick, What do you know of all this so far?"
"That you are trying to destroy Voldemort for good this time and I assume these Horcruxes belong to him. I would like to assist in the conflict ahead."
Harry asked, "Were you really a dueling champion as Lockhart said?"
Flitwick nodded, "Yes, when I was younger. I held the International Grand Champions wand for twenty years before I retired and came to teach here."
Luna added, "Undefeated in 265 professional duels. 6 defeats, 93 wins, and 1 draw in his amateur years."
Flitwick blushed at the praise but confirmed, "Yes I believe those are the correct statistics."
Harry looked at the diminutive professor with new respect, "That sounds like information and training we all could benefit from. I have to reach Voldemort to fight him and those with me I want to keep alive."
Flitwick looked back at him sadly, "I can no longer move as I once did while younger. I can instruct you, and those you choose to include, in the techniques involved."
Harry and Hermione said as one, "Thanks professor."
Minerva said, "So you must destroy these and then reach Tom Riddle to finish him off."
Hermione nodded, "Correct. Once we also figure out how Harry is going to actually kill him. Dumbledore seemed to be convinced that it was somehow related to his ability to love." She paused for a breath. "I am now the focus of that love and I can tell you it is an almost physical thing. When he thinks about me, I feel my heart swell in reply." She grew silent as Harry met her eyes. They were locked together, oblivious to those around them. Finally she looked away and said, "Sorry, my point is that there may be some magical force there that if we learn how to can be directed to do that."
Luna was the first to recover after that statement, "Like a killing thought?"
Hermione shrugged, "I hadn't gotten that far in my speculation really."
Harry tapped his scar and said, "I do have this, a link to him. Maybe I could use it to attack him. He has used it to send me visions and when he gets excited I sometimes see through his eyes. Like when I saw Arthur attacked by Nagini."
Professor Flitwick stood in his chair. "Would you like to see a demonstration of my dueling technique?"
Harry nodded vigorously. "Certainly, Hermione said one of these doors was an exercise room, we could do it in there."
Hermione said, "Left middle, the right one is the loo."
They all stood and walked into the exercise room. It was a large room, about the same size as the great hall. A large padded area was in front of them, off to the left was a long rectangular swimming pool, to the right was a collection of free weights and across the back of the room were many exercise machines. Harry stepped to the side, pulling Hermione with him. "Wow, I think this will do just fine dear."
She giggled. When had Hermione learned to giggle? Merlin he liked it though.
She said, "You won't be telling me that after our first two days of exercise."
Just then Flitwick walked in, "Oh my, an excellent room." He started walking out into the center of the large mat. "Harry, Hermione and Luna come out here. Minerva has seen me duel before."
Harry looked at Luna; he was her head of house. But if she knew anything she wasn't giving away any hints.
He shrugged and walked after the small man. They stopped in a loose line about three paces away from him. "When I dueled professionally, from '43 - '63, There were very few formal rules; the main one being not to kill or permanently maim your opponent. Otherwise everything was on the table. This is what I am about to demonstrate. Wands out!"
Harry whipped his wand free and pointed it at him, Hermione and Luna did the same, all three went into a crouched position. Flitwick grinned and vanished, Harry threw a stunner at the place he had been in case he had gone invisible. Then he heard a very light pop behind them, Luna had begun to spin to look behind them but she suddenly stiffened and fell to the floor. Harry dove to the ground and twisted around but he could only see McGonagall standing by the door with the Sorting hat on its stool beside her. He sat up and spun. He saw Flitwick apparate behind Hermione and immediately cast another stunner towards him, it was wide of its mark though. He saw Flitwick grin and felt his glasses fly from his face. He heard Hermione cast Petrificus Totalus and then felt her fall to the floor, stunned or petrified. He dropped his wand and put his hand on her. "I yield; I'm useless without my glasses."
He felt his glasses land gently in his hand and quickly put them on. To his great relief Hermione and Luna were stirring from where they lay on the matt. Flitwick was standing several feet away, "I retired because they enacted reforms, as they called them, to make the duels more challenging. Stunners only and you had to verbalize your casting, oh and no apparition allowed."
Hermione looked very confused, "But you can't apparated in Hogwarts."
Flitwick looked at her as though he knew a secret she did not, "We are not within Hogwarts currently though are we the Room of Requirement is not subject to the restrictions on the rest of the school. Only if the room was summoned with that restriction specified in place would it apply. Now mind you we cannot apparate from here to Hogsmeade but within the room certainly." The professor began pacing and spoke passionately, "First rule of a duel is: Know your environment and the restrictions it places upon you. Second, never verbalize your casting and cast spells as rapidly as possible. Third, keep moving, either through apparation or dodging. You did well there Mr. Potter until I handicapped you. Now Harry, tell me why did you not Accio your glasses back to you? They were hovering a few meters above your head and I was distracted by Hermione's well timed Petrificus Totalus. You had nearly thirty seconds to retrieve your glasses while I reflected the spell back upon her to act."
He shrugged, "I didn't think of it. I had never thought that they were a weakness that could be exploited in a duel."
"You must know all of your own weaknesses so that you will not present them as opportunities to your opponents. You must either have another pair of glasses on your person or use a sticking charm to prevent them from coming off of your head. They should also be protected from being broken or covered with darkness; a simple Impervious would do the trick. I will give you something to practice which will help with your speed of casting spells. It's a little rhyme I learned ages ago. She sells seashells by the seashore. What you need to do is speak it in your head as fast and as clearly as possible. When you can do it flawlessly, you will have greatly improved your casting speed. Again it's she sells seashells by the seashore. Once you have that down try Winguardium Leviosa and levitating a row of six objects as quickly as you can, silently of course. When you can do them all in fewer than six seconds, I will duel you again."
Minerva said, "We will expect you all down for dinner at the staff table in one hour." She picked up the sorting hat and its stool. Professor Flitwick began walking towards the door.
Dobby appeared in front of Hermione and handed her a letter. The professors stopped and turned around. Hermione said, "Thank you Dobby." Then she opened the letter, something fell out. She snatched it from the ground and held it up. It was a diamond ring.
Harry said, "Um, Hermione what's that?"
She looked at him, "My mother's ring." She slipped it onto the ring finger of her left hand and stood. "We're official now Harry, Kiss me."
He grinned and did as he was told.