By the time the goblins representing the wills walked into the room, Harry had calmed down, to the naked eye. To the most experienced one, however… well, that was a different matter altogether. He held on to Hermione's hand while she absentmindedly rubbed small circles on the back of his. "We're ready to begin." He said in a slightly strained voice.
"I'll read the Potter will first because some of what is in Professor Dumbledore's will may depend on it." at Harry's nod, the goblin continued, "We, James and Lily Potter, being of (mostly) sound mind and body, write this will in the event of our untimely demise. First; Godric's Hollow is to go to our son Harry; there is a library that he is to give to his future wife because if he's anything like James, she'll need it. Harry is to also go through the rest of the house and distribute what he doesn't want as he sees fit. The Head of Gryffindor House is to receive ten thousand galleons for use on the Quidditch team. The Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is to receive a hundred thousand galleons to start a muggle-born scholarship fund. Sirius Black and Remus Lupin are to get all of James' prank supplies and are not to show Harry until he's of age! All of the businesses are to go to Harry unless he deems someone else more suitable to run any of them. Any other funds left is for Harry to distribute where he deems necessary. After this will is read, he is to receive a letter from me, Lily, to be read by himself save anyone he wishes to be present." And an envelope appeared on the table. Then the goblin stepped down from the chair and all but Hermione left the room.
Harry handed the letter to her and said a single word, "Please", but she understood his request nonetheless.
Opening the letter, she read it out loud.
Dear Harry,
If you're reading this then Voldemort has succeeded in killing us. Please know that both your father and I love you very much.
Voldemort wants to kill you because of a prophecy that he has heard part of; which includes the both of you. If you haven't heard it yet, then go to Dumbledore, or the most senior Order member, whoever, just so long as you hear the prophecy in it's entirety. If you've heard it, then you understand the urgency behind that request. Please do what you can to stop him.
I'll leave you with this piece of advice: if there's anyone (and I stress this word) who you're feeling less-than-platonic feelings for, then don't hesitate! Act on them before it's too late!
Remember, we'll always be with you and love you no matter what.
Mum
Hermione was near tears by the time she finished the letter. Looking over the time-worn parchment once more, she gasped. "Harry, your mother wrote this the night before Halloween. The night he killed them." and that one single fact broke the barriers that both had been keeping up, if only for the other's sake. They held each other as they cried for James and Lily, for the muggle caretaker of the Riddle house, for Bertha Jorkins, for Cedric, for Sirius, for Dumbledore, but most of all for each other because they both felt that the other one should have never had to feel such pain and grief.
Once they were all cried out, Hermione got up and opened the door, then walked back to her seat. But she didn't sit in it this time. She passed it up and sat down in Harry's lap, resting her head in the crook of his neck as he wrapped his arms around her waist without a question because he knew they both needed the comfort that could only be from one another. "We're ready to continue." she said, not moving her head from it's resting position on his neck.
"Professor Dumbledore wished that only the parts of the will be read that pertained to those present, it shall be fairly short. To Harry Potter he, also, left a letter to be given after the reading. To Hermione Granger, he left his personal library of texts and documents 'to keep your loved ones safe'. Here is your letter, Mr. Potter; and Miss Granger, shall we deliver the library to your house or put them in a vault?" the goblin asked, handing Harry another piece of parchment.
"Send it to 12 Grimmauld Place's Library. We'll sort through it later. Thank you for meeting with us on such short notice. Is it possible to read the letter somewhere else, more comfortable?" She asked, knowing that Harry would prefer that greatly.
"Yes, we understand completely. Professor Dumbledore's death affected us all greatly. Please, if you ever need our help with anything, don't hesitate to ask. Few other witches or wizards have ever treated us so kindly as you have and not expected something in return." the goblin truthfully replied, shocking both teens as they'd always acted this way and never thought of how it affected others.
Ten minutes later, they were back at Grimmauld Place and explaining everything to Hermione's parents. Then Harry wordlessly handed the letter to Hermione, knowing she'd understand the request again. She shakily opened the newer-looking parchment and began to read, for the second time that day:
Dear Harry (and I suspect Miss Granger as well),
I know that no matter how I died (I'm using past because there is no other way for you to receive this letter) you probably feel as though it's all your fault. I'll say this now. It is not nor never will be your fault unless you, of your own free will, were the one to actually kill me. I'm off to the Next Great Adventure, now, joining your parents in watching over you as you live the rest of your life. Understand? Good. On to other matters of the moment.
I've been thinking about 'the power he knows not', and I believe it's a love Tom never got the chance to experience, not even in his time at Hogwarts like so many of his peers did. I also believe this power has been around since your First Year, so look that far back and find one constant in the past six years; that will be the power, I'm sure of it.
Hermione was crying again; as was Harry. She had crawled into his lap around the 'power he knows not' part. He just hugged her; as her parents left the room, forgotten and unheard. Harry picked the letter up to read the greatest wizard of all time's handwriting one last time. What he saw made him gasp, much like Hermione did when she discovered the date of Lily's letter. Dumbledore wrote this the very day they went to that cave! 'He knew he was going to die! But did he know Snape-- No! He couldn't of! Snape looked and was too cold-hearted that night!'
"Harry? What is it Harry? You'd best not be blaming yourself Harry James Potter!" Hermione said, breaking through his thoughts.
"I'm fine. Just remembering that night is all." He replied. He didn't want to burden her more with the thoughts he had about the killer of the greatest wizard in all of the Wizarding world.
"Who do you think is the 'power he knows not'?" she asked, steering the conversation away from Dumbledore.
"The only things that have been constant all six years has been Hedwig…and you."