DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters. They are the property of J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros, etc. No money was made from the creation of this story.
Chapter Twenty-One: Number Two, Privet Drive
Harry opened his eyes after feeling a sharp jolt. He released a soft yawn as he looked out the window of the Hogwarts Express. He could see the outline of London slowly approaching and he knew that the train ride was almost over. He looked to his right and found Hermione, sleeping gently against him, his arm draped around her shoulder. He gave her a soft smile and kissed top of her head. She stirred gently, releasing a happy sigh, but didn't wake.
Harry looked down onto his lap and found Crookshanks sitting there, staring up at him. Harry gave him a peculiar look and realized that Hedwig was sleeping in her cage on the luggage rack above his head. He gave Crookshanks a disapproving look and he shook his head. The cat released a disappointed meow before curling into a ball and leaning against Harry's stomach. Harry lightly ran his fingers through the cat's fur, causing him to purr.
Harry looked over at the bench across from him and saw Nancy reading a small book with Ron resting against her shoulder, also sound asleep. Nancy didn't notice Harry's gaze, her eyes were focused on her book, her lips moving ever so slightly when she turned the page.
Harry grinned to himself as memories of the previous night flooded his mind. After their emotional conversation, the three ended up staying awake for the rest of the night, reminiscing over their previous five years at Hogwarts. They talked about the day they met on the Hogwarts Express and their first impressions of each other, and how they all changed throughout the years of their friendship. They also retold some of the funnier moments they shared together. The three could ever forget about the day in their Defense Against the Dark Arts class when Neville made a boggart, who took the shape of Professor Snape, wear his grandmother's dress.
Nancy looked up from her book and smiled at Harry. She placed a quill on the page she was reading and closed her book. She placed it on the bench and gently stretched her back, releasing a small yawn. "It's good to see that at least one of you is up. You all slept through the whole bloody train ride. I take that you all had trouble sleeping last night?"
"I'm really sorry," he replied with a soft voice, not wanting to wake Hermione. "It was mostly my fault."
"No, it's okay. I needed to catch up on my reading." Harry grinned at her, astounded at how similar she was with Hermione. "Are you excited about going home?" she asked as she watched his expression drop. She suddenly remembered Ron telling her about Harry's life away from Hogwarts, and she immediately regretted asking the question. "I mean…I'm sorry. I forgot about your Muggle family."
"I wouldn't really call them my family," he said as he looked out the window, staring into the cloudless sky, noticing the sun slowly setting behind the horizon. "They're only my family because my aunt was my mum's sister. Nothing else aside from that would make them my family. You guy's are my real family."
Nancy gave him a smile and they were silent for a few minutes. Harry's gaze remained on the sky, while Nancy moved hers to the floor. They listened to the soft scratchy noises that the train made with the railroad tracks and the gentle breathing of their sleeping friends. Harry released another soft yawn as looked over at his sleeping girlfriend and nudged her head lightly with his, causing Nancy to give him a wide grin.
"So…what are you going to do once we get back to London?" Harry asked.
"I'm not really sure," she answered as she looked out the window. "I know my family will be staying in London. We're going to help the Order as much as can. Dumbledore may already have a new assignment for me…but I hope he keeps me close to you, Ron, and Hermione."
"Yeah," he said with a smile as looked at his sleeping red-haired friend, whose mouth was hanging slightly open. "Can't have one our best friends vanish for the whole summer. It'll make Ron miserable, if he couldn't see you."
She gave Ron a warm smile as she wrapped her arm around his shoulder. He mumbled something in his sleep, causing her to giggle.
Harry gently shook his head as he turned his attention back to the beautiful girl lying against him. He carefully brushed the hair that had fallen onto her face and gently traced his finger across her cheek. Hermione slowly opened her eyes and looked into his, giving him her sweet smile.
"Hey," he whispered as he kissed her forehead. "Had a good nap?"
"A very good nap," she yawned as sat up, raising her arms over her head to stretch her back. She gently rested her head against the side of his chest as she wrapped her arms around his torso, releasing a soft sigh.
Crookshanks noticed this and gave her a soft meow as he hopped off Harry's lap and curled up on an unused portion of their bench.
"If you two…um…need some privacy…" Nancy grinned as she raised her eyebrows. "Ron and I can go."
"We could say the same to you," Hermione replied as she gave her a lopsided smile with a knowing look.
"What…what do you mean?" she asked as her face contorted to one of confusion.
Hermione looked at Harry and with a bright grin, he nodded to her.
"Oh…we were talking to Ron last night," Hermione said with an innocent voice as she looked at Ron. "He told us about the…hmmm…the library, the common room, the kitchen, Honeyduke's, the library again…"
Nancy looked at Hermione with a puzzled expression as she continued her list, wondering what all these locations meant. Her eyes suddenly widened as she looked to Ron. She realized that Hermione had been listing the locations where she and Ron had their private kisses. Harry noticed Nancy's burning expression as her face turned a deeper shade of red. He gently squeezed Hermione, and she stopped her list, giving Nancy an even brighter grin.
"I can't believe he told you all that," she said embarrassedly as she gave Ron a heated look. "And he was the one who wanted to keep everything quiet and not attract attention. Ha…oh…he's going to get it when he wakes up."
"Nancy, don't blame Ron," Hermione replied, worried about what Nancy was a going to do to him. "It was mostly our faults. We were teasing him about it last night."
"Besides, we weren't suppose to tell you that he told us," Harry added as something caught his attention. He looked out the window and he released a depressed sigh. They were about to pull into platform nine and three-quarters.
Hermione noticed Harry's disappointed expression and gently nudged his shoulder with her head.
"It's over…our sixth year is over," he sighed.
"Yeah…but in two months we'll be back again," Hermione replied softly as they felt the train slowly come to a halt at the platform. "We'll be back before you know it."
Ron released a loud yawn as he sat up and stretched his back. He opened his eyes and gave Nancy a confused look when he noticed that stern eyes greeted him. He quickly looked over at Hermione and Harry and saw that they were both staring out the window. He turned his attention back to Nancy, but before he had to chance to ask what was wrong, she shook her head gently and gave him a warm smile.
"Did you have a nice nap?" Nancy asked in a cheerful voice as she took a hold of his hand and gave him a painfully firm squeeze.
"Yeah," he replied as he gave her a shaky smile. She released her grip on his hand and it started to tingle as blood rushed back in.
The train soon started to fill with the sound of students rummaging for their trunks. The four took this as their cue to leave the train. Harry helped Hermione lower her trunk from the luggage rack and wasn't surprised when he felt that her trunk weighed almost twice as his. Filled with a ton of books, he figured. He gave an exasperated look as he reached up and took a hold of the handle of Hedwig's cage. She gave him a grateful smile and a quick kiss on his cheek.
"C'mon Ron," Ginny said as she pulled a silver trunk trolley that held her trunk to the door of their compartment. She had a warm smile on her face and Harry could tell that she was happy about going home for the summer. "Mum and dad are waiting for us on the other side. Best not keep them waiting for too long…you know how dad gets around Muggles."
"Oh, they'll be fine. I thought you were upset?" Ron asked as he pulled out a silver trolley from under the bench. However before he could get an answer, she had already moved on. He shook his head and released an aggravated sigh. "I don't get her…she's first all depressed because she can't see Dean over the summer and now she all mental about leaving."
Harry, Hermione, and Nancy let out soft laugh as four strapped their trunks to their silver trunk trolleys. The four also took this opportunity to remove their robes, exposing their Muggle attires. They placed their robes into their trunks as Ron quickly looked into the center aisle to check if the path was clear. He gave them a nod and slowly pulled his trunk into the aisle way. Nancy and Hermione followed after him, Crookshanks drowsily after Hermione.
Harry took in a deep breath as he looked around the compartment to make sure they didn't leave anything behind. He looked out the window and watched several students walk by, a lot of them laughing a smiling. He then released a soft sigh as he grabbed the handle of his trunk trolley and pulled it out of the compartment.
Harry caught up with the group and gave them a quick smile as they slowly made their way towards the closest door. Within minutes, Ron, Nancy, and Hermione had exited the train, but has Harry was about to walk out the door, something rammed into the back of his trunk, nearly causing him to lose balance and drop Hedwig's cage. He steadied himself and looked behind him to find a black leather trunk being pushed by Draco Malfoy.
"Get a move on, Potter," he growled as he narrowed his eyes at him.
Harry clenched his teeth and took a deep breath through his nose; his grip on the handle of his trunk trolley was so tight that his knuckles turned white.
"C'mon Potty! Get a move on! Can't be that stupid? It's just one foot in front of the other."
"Ignore him, Harry," Harry heard Hermione say as she took her spot next to him. She had left her trunk and Crookshanks with Ron and Nancy, who were both glaring at Malfoy through the windows of the train. She took Hedwig's cage out his hand with her right hand and took his now free hand with her left. She gave Harry a warm smile a gently pulled on his arm.
Harry released a sigh and looked at Hermione's calm face. He gave her soft nod and proceeded to pull on his trunk trolley.
"Running off with your Mudblood girlfriend, huh? It amuses me to see such a `famous celebrity' saunter around with such filth," Malfoy laughed.
The comment made Harry's body stiffen and before Malfoy had time to react, Harry released the handle of his trunk trolley and pulled out his wand.
"What did I tell you about calling Hermione that?" Harry growled through gritted teeth as he slowly turned his head to face Malfoy, his wand aimed at his chest. "Please Malfoy…I dare you to say it again."
Crabbe and Goyle soon appeared behind Malfoy, ready to defend him, but were both completely stunned to see Harry threatening Malfoy. Malfoy stood his ground, his eyes narrowed, looking directly into Harry's. He knew that Harry wouldn't back down on his threat and he knew that he was in no position to pull out his wand.
"Leave him be, Harry," Hermione said in a calm voice, her grip on his hand tightening. "He's not worth the hassle. Let's go."
Harry lowered his wand, but his eyes were still locked on Malfoy's. Hermione gave his arm another gentle tug and he drew in a deep breath as he placed his wand back into the front pocket of his jeans. He gripped the handle of his trunk and proceeded to leave the train with Hermione. His awareness never left Malfoy, his attention somewhat drawn to Malfoy's right hand, which was slightly twitching.
Malfoy suddenly broke eye contact with Harry and his right hand immediately went for his wand. Harry was too quick for him. Harry had his wand aimed at Malfoy's chest before he even had the chance to pull his out of his pocket. Malfoy froze in his spot and once again, Harry had the upper hand. However, Malfoy wasn't going to stand for it second time and pulled out his wand.
"Compello contrundo!" Harry shouted.
The sparks hit Malfoy directly in the chest and launched him back towards Crabbe and Goyle. The two braced themselves to catch Malfoy, but were shocked by the force in which he was thrown, causing all two to stumble over their trunks with Malfoy in their arms.
Harry let out a satisfied grin as he watched the three Slytherins struggling to get back onto their feet. He placed his wand away and cautiously looked at Hermione, unsure of her reaction. She gave him a disapproving look, but a smile gently formed across her lips as she shook her head at him. He gripped the handle of his trunk and was finally able to leave the Hogwarts Express.
"You should done more than that, mate," Ron sighed as pushed two push trolleys towards the group. "You know Malfoy, of all people, deserves it."
"I know," Harry replied as he placed his and Hermione's trunks onto one of the trolleys.
Ron loaded his and Nancy's trunks onto the other and pointed towards the train when something caught his eye. Harry and others looked and couldn't hide their grins when they saw Malfoy and his cronies walk off the train with scowls on their faces. It seemed that several of the students had witnessed the event and some couldn't restrain their laughter as the three Slytherins walked by.
"Should of used a hex…turn them into lizards or something," Ron suggested with a soft chuckle as he started to push his and Nancy's trolley towards the barrier that led them back to King's Cross.
Hermione gently placed Hedwig's cage on top of Harry's trunk, and the owl hooted hysterically when her yellow eyes fell upon an interested Crookshanks.
"You leave her alone, okay," Hermione said with a stern voice as Harry started to push the trolley. Crookshanks gave her a soft hiss and proceeded to follow her with what seemed to be a discontent look on his face. "I'm sorry, she won't bother Hedwig."
"Oh no, it's okay," Harry replied as he wrapped his left arm around her waist, able to push and guide their trolley with his right hand. "Unless Crookshanks knows how to open the door on Hedwig's cage, I'm not worried." She gave him a bright smile and gave him a quick kiss on his lips.
The four gradually made their way towards the barrier and Harry's heart sank. He looked back at the Hogwarts Express and he couldn't wait to return to it on September 1st. He always disliked summer vacation. He was forced to return to the Dursleys, and he had the sinking feeling that the Order would be enforcing the same restrictions on him this summer as they did last year, which inevitably meant that he wouldn't be able to see Hermione or his friends until the last few days of the break.
"Well…see you on the other side," Ron said as he and Nancy walked through the barrier.
Harry sighed softly as he and Hermione stared at the barrier. He gave Hermione a weak smile and took a step forward; however, she didn't move. Harry stopped the trolley and looked at her. She had a serious expression on her face and he could tell that she was deep in thought.
"Is something wrong, Hermione?" Harry asked as he took his hand off the hand bar.
Without saying a word, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him firmly. Harry was surprised by this, but didn't fight her. He wrapped his arms around her back and gently pushed back against her lips, softly deepening their kiss. His heart was racing again, his sense dulling, his mind growing blank. All he wanted to do was concentrate on Hermione and the electricity that streamed between them when their lips met.
"What was that for?" Harry asked as he took a breath, ignoring the giggling and staring Hogwarts students that walked passed them. He noticed a bright flash and he could see Collin and his little brother from the corner of his eyes. Collin gave them bright grin before taking another picture and walking through the barrier with his little brother.
"I told my parents that you are my boyfriend. My mum was thrilled, but my dad was very skeptical about it. He has always been overprotective of me," she replied as she moved one of her hands from his neck and playfully traced along his cheek, a soft yet embarrassed smile on her face. "I don't know if my dad is ready to see us kiss each other. It also doesn't help if Ron starts calling us indecent in front of him…I know he'll will get the wrong idea."
"Oh," Harry replied as he thought about what she said. He needed her parents' approval. Having her parents forbid her from being with him was the last thing he'd ever want, though he truly doubted Hermione would respect their wishes if they would ever said such a thing. He pushed the thoughts into the back of his mind and refocused on the adorable girl in front of him. "So you mean…we should have our goodbye kisses now."
"I don't want to think of them as goodbye kisses," she said as her finger traced over his lips. "I would like to think of them as more of a I'll-see-you-real-soon-but-if-I-can't-let's-snog kind of kisses."
"That makes logical sense," Harry teased as he gave her a wide grin.
Her cheeks turned a deep shade of pink and she tried to explain what she meant, but he didn't give her the opportunity. His lips covered hers tenderly and the two relaxed their bodies as they focused their energy on each other again. Harry didn't know when the next time he'd get to do this with her and he wished that he knew a spell that could stop time.
"What is taking you guys so…oh I should of figured," Ron said with an aggravated voice as he walked through the barrier. His head dropped and he covered his eyes with his hand as he grumbled something to himself.
Harry gently pulled his lips from Hermione's and looked at their impatient friend.
"We've been waiting for you for almost ten minutes," Ron said with a grin. "Can you both please walk through the barrier soon? Our parents are getting worried."
"Uh…sure," Harry reluctantly replied, his arms still around Hermione. "We'll be there in a minute."
Ron gave them a quick nod before disappearing through the wall again.
Hermione released a depressed sigh as she rested her head against his chest. "I guess we better go," she said in a weak voice, pulling herself out his arms and placing her hands on the hand bar of the trolley. "My dad may get suspicious if we make them wait much longer."
"Hermione…I need to…" he started, but she had begun to cross through the barrier. Harry closed his mouth and took a deep breath as his stomach started to churn. He had something he needed to tell her. He tried to on several occasions after they returned from their `mission', but the situation never seemed to be right. He wanted everything to be perfect, but he knew that if he waited any longer, he wouldn't be able to tell her until the next time he saw her, which could be ages. He looked down at his feet and saw Crookshanks looking at him intently. He gave the cat a weak smile and quickly walked through the barrier.
"Everyone is over there," Hermione said as she pointed towards the ticket booths.
Harry looked over and he could see Mrs. Weasley chatting with Ron, Nancy, and Ginny, while Mr. Weasley seemed to be interrogating the Grangers. Hermione gave him a soft smile and started to push the trolley forward when Harry placed his hand on the hand bar, preventing the trolley from moving any further.
She looked at him with a confused expression. "Harry, what are you doing?"
"Listen, Hermione," Harry said with a nervous voice. He took a deep breath, his face turning red. Hermione took her hands of the trolley and placed them at her sides. "I need to tell you something before you go. I've been…you know…thinking about us…a lot lately…and there is something…I need to say before you leave." Harry took in another deep breath realizing how awkward he must have sounded.
"What is it, Harry?" Hermione asked softly, she growing nervous as well.
Harry looked into her eyes and he could see that she was anticipating something. However the look in her eyes gave him the impression of fear and panic. He opened his mouth, but wasn't sure what he should say.
She lowered her head and her body started to shudder. "You don't think we're a mistake, do you?"
"What? No…no…no…no," Harry replied as he took her hands in his.
She looked back into his eyes and he was glad to see that her expression had lightened tremendously.
"I don't think that we're a mistake…the thought never crossed my mind."
"Then…what is it?" she asked, her voice almost pleading with him to say it.
"It's…just that…well…I…" Harry started to sweat, his breaths started getting short, his grip on Hermione's hands slowly getting tighter. "Hermione…I…well…I love you." He watched her mouth slowly open and he noticed a single tear trickle down her bright pink cheek. Her silence made him wonder if he might of said the wrong thing. "I mean…how could I not…you know…you've been through everything together…it's…"
"Harry, hurry up!" he heard Ron shout. "We don't got all day!"
Harry lifted his hand in the air and gestured that he needed another minute, never once taking his eyes off of Hermione. With a deep breath, he spoke with a tender voice, "I'm in love with you, Hermione…very much so."
Hermione took a step forward and kissed him softly. It wasn't as deep as their previous kisses, but it sent the same wonderful sensations through his body. He thought about deepening it, but he remembered that they were in clear view of Hermione's parents. He suddenly got apprehensive but he didn't want to pull his lips away from hers.
She broke the kiss and gave him a bright smile as she gently brushed her tear away. "I love you too…Harry Potter."
"Really?" Harry asked as he large smile grew on his face.
She gave him a nod, her deep brown eyes focused on his. Reality suddenly caught up with him and quickly glanced over the Grangers. While Hermione's father had a questionable look on his face, her mother looked incredibly pleased.
"What ever happened to not kissing in front of your dad?"
"Oh…well…he'll get over it. Besides it was just a soft kiss…I think he can handle that much. Though I know once he really meets you, he'll be okay," she replied as Harry placed his hands on the trolley and the two made their way towards the group.
Harry couldn't stop his muscles from tensing and his nervousness growing. He had briefly met her parents in Diagon Alley before they started their second year, but he never actually spoke to them. He wasn't entirely sure on how to act around them. He focused his attention on Hermione's mother and noticed how strongly Hermione resembled her. So that's who she got her hair from, he thought to himself.
"Hello there, Harry," Mr. Granger said as he gave Harry a fake smile.
Harry straightened his posture when he realized that Mr. Granger was looking him over.
"So…you fancy my daught…"
"Oh stop that," Mrs. Granger sighed as she gently slapped her husband's shoulder. She gave Harry a warm smile and a tight embrace, which completely took him by surprised. "It's so good to see you, Harry. Hermione has told us so much about you." She then looked at Hermione and gave her a devious smile. "Hermione…why didn't you tell us he's gotten so handsome."
"Mum!" Hermione gasped as she looked at Harry.
Harry and the others couldn't help but snicker, which caused Hermione's face to turn bright pink again. Harry gently took her hand in his as his eyes met Mr. Granger's. Mr. Granger gave Harry a suspicious look, but after a nudge from Mrs. Granger, he gently let out a sigh and gave Harry a warm smile.
"Nancy?" they heard a deep voice call from behind them.
They all looked and found an incredibly tall man made of bulging muscles standing behind them. Harry thought the man looked a lot like one of the action movie hero's that his cousin, Dudley, idolized.
A smile grew on the man's face when he saw Nancy and he swiftly made his way over to her. "Sorry about being late. Traffic is a bloody mess right now."
"Oh no, it's okay," she replied as she gave him a tight hug. "Everyone, this is my brother, Frank."
Frank waved at the group and they waved back, entirely stunned to see that the two looked nothing alike, Nancy being a petite girl while her brother was an absolute behemoth.
"Oh…this is Ginny Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Harry Potter," Nancy said as she directed her brother's attention towards each of them.
"It's an honor," Frank smiled as he bowed his head to Hermione and Ginny. His attention, however, was focused on Harry and Harry was able to see a glint of admiration in his expression. Frank gave him a bright grin and took his hand in both of his, shaking it uncontrollably. "It's a great, great honor to finally meet you, Mr. Potter! I take my sister did a good job in watching over you."
"She did a very good job," Harry replied with a weak smile, somewhat flattered to see a man of Frank's stature be so enthusiastic about meeting him. However, his mind mainly concentrated on his hand, which was currently being crushed by his vice-like grip. "Nancy is a very good friend."
"Frank…" Nancy quickly spoke, realizing the Harry's need for help. She then walked over to Ron and took a hold of his hand. "This is Ron Weasley. The boy I've been writing to you about."
Frank released Harry's hand and his eyes fell upon Ron. Ron gulped and straightened his posture as Frank approached him. Mrs. Weasley, feeling that the man's expression looked harmful, slowly took a step forward and stood by her son.
"So you're Ron Weasley," Frank said as he raised an eyebrow. "I hear from my sister that you've been really nice to her and very welcoming. I also hear that she's quite taken with you." Frank looked at Nancy and he noticed the caring looking that she was giving Ron. He smiled at him and gave him a firm pat on his shoulder. "You'll treat my sister right?"
"Of course," Ron replied shakily, totally intimidated by his presence. "Never dream of hurting her."
"Well then," he said as he gave his sister a firm nod. "I trust my sister's judgment. It was a pleasure to meet you."
"You too," Ron squeaked as he watched Frank easily lift Nancy's trunk over his shoulder. He gave Ron a smirk, and Ron finally took a breath, his body relaxing.
"Well, I need to go," Nancy sighed as she looked at Ron and the others. She gave them all a weak smile and they all took turns giving her a hug.
"Oh before you go, how about all the kids stand together for a photo?" Mrs. Granger suggested as she pulled out a camera from her purse.
The five students agreed and they stood next to each other, Ron in the center with Nancy and Ginny on his left and Harry and Hermione on his right. They all smiled brightly as Mrs. Granger took the photo.
"This picture will be perfect for the mantle," Mrs. Granger said as she lowered her camera.
"Well, I reckon that we should be going too," Mrs. Weasley said she placed her hands on Ginny's shoulders.
Mr. Weasley gently nodded in agreement, but his attention was focused on Mrs. Granger's camera. He'd never seen a Muggle camera before and was always intrigued of why they only took still photographs.
"Oh yes," Mr. Granger added as he looked at his watch. "The traffic is just going to get worse. Best we should leave before it gets too bad. We don't want to be stuck in the car all evening."
Harry released a depressed sigh as he watched his friends gather their trunks. Nancy gave Ron a soft kiss on his cheek before leaving with her brother. This action caused Ron's parents to begin their interrogation of his relationship with Nancy, which he had conveniently failed to mention to them in his last few letters. Ron slowly stuttered through his answers, glad to see that his parents were simmering down about the subject.
Before the Weasleys started off, Mrs. Weasley gave Harry a warm hug and hoped that he would be able to visit over the summer. Harry shook Ron's hand and the two gave each other bright smiles.
"I'll see you later then, mate. Dad will talk with Dumbledore about having you over at the burrow. I'm sure he'll let you, so don't worry too much over the summer," Ron smiled as he gripped the hand bar of his trolley. He then turned to Hermione and gave her his sarcastic grin. "And you…don't study too much over the summer."
"I was going to suggest the exact opposite for you, Ron," she replied with a grin.
He shook his head at her and gave Harry a comforting nod before he made his way towards his family.
Harry sighed softly as he watched the Weasleys make on their way out of the King's Cross, preparing for the long journey back to the burrow. He turned his attention back on Hermione and gave her a weak smile as she gently leaned against him, wrapping her arm around his waist.
"Harry, you're uncle coming to get you?" Mr. Granger asked as he strapped Hermione's trunk on a small trunk trolley. "We can offer you a ride, if you'd like."
"Believe me sir, I would gladly accept it, but my uncle is already here. I'll be okay," Harry answered with a grateful smile. His eyes move onto a very irritated and stout man, wearing a brown hat and menacing look on his face. Uncle Vernon had been sitting on a bench by the ticket booths for the past fifteen minutes, waiting for Harry. However, Harry didn't care.
"Well then, Harry," Mrs. Granger said with a soft smile as she placed her hand on his shoulder. "It was really nice seeing you again. Now, you don't be a stranger. You are more than welcome to visit Hermione and us at our house when you can."
Harry gave her a bright smile and nodded, despite the fact he knew that the Order would never allow him to leave the Dursleys. Mrs. Granger moved her hand off his shoulder and opened her arms to Crookshanks. The cat let out a soft meow as it graciously jumped into her arms and curled up into a ball. She gave Harry another warm smile before she looked at her husband, who was staring intently at his watch.
"Mum…dad, you both go on ahead," Hermione said as she noticed her dad was growing impatient. "I'll catch up."
Mr. Granger gave Hermione a questionable look and was about to suggest that they could wait, but before he had an opportunity to say it, he felt his wife take him by the hand. Mr. Granger looked at her, and Harry could tell that they were silently debating about the topic. In the end, Mr. Granger lost and the two slowly made their way towards the front exit of the train station.
"Well…then," Hermione said as she gave Harry a soft smile. "I'll be sure to write to you everyday, like I did last summer. Two months isn't that long…I'm sure it'll pass by quickly."
Harry could tell that she was trying to be strong, but he knew that deep down, she was as torn apart as he was. Harry pulled her into a tight hug and gently rested his head against hers. He quickly glanced towards the Grangers and he was happy to see that they were at a great enough distance away where they wouldn't be able to get a clear view of them. With that in mind, he gently rubbed her cheek with his hand and gave her a soft kiss.
"I'm going to miss you," he whispered as he unwillingly pulled his lips away from hers.
"I'm going to miss you too," she replied as she softly sniffled, her eyes beginning to water. "It's going to be weird not seeing able to see you everyday."
"Yeah," he said quietly.
Harry heard Hedwig hoot in her cage, causing him to glance at her. She hopped inside her cage and started to hoot again, her gaze focused on something. Harry turned his head in the direction Hedwig was looking, and he could see that the Grangers had reached the front exit of King's Cross and were waiting patiently for Hermione. He released a soft sigh and returned his focus on Hermione.
"You're parents are waiting for you."
"I guess I should go then," she groaned as she pulled herself out of Harry's warm embrace. "Don't want to make my dad angry."
"Yeah," he nodded as he placed his hands in his pockets.
She gave him a weak smile before she leaned up on her tiptoes and gave him one last quick kiss.
"Write me when you get home," she said as she slowly started to take small steps away from him. "I love you, Harry."
"I love you too, Hermione" Harry replied.
She wiped her eyes and gave him a sweet smile. He returned her smile with a bright grin, which caused her to giggle slightly. She waved at him and quickly turned to face her parents, Harry captivated by how her hair flowed as she turned.
Harry released a heavy sigh as he watched Hermione make her way towards the front exit. Mrs. Granger wrapped her arm around her shoulder and the Grangers vanished into the crowd of Muggle travelers. Harry walked over to his trolley and gave Hedwig a weak smile. He stuck his fingers through her cage and affectionately stroked her head. He then placed his hands on the hand bar of the trolley and started to push it towards Uncle Vernon.
"Took you long enough!" Uncle Vernon growled as he rose from the bench and glared at Harry. "Such horrid behavior in public…don't you have any courtesy…people were staring. I thought we raised you better than that…oh but what can I expect…nothing more than a bunch freaks."
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Uncle Vernon," Harry said through gritted his teeth, his hand right hand aching to pull out his wand. He saw his uncle's face turning into its usual shade of purple, knowing that his answer didn't satisfy him. He was ready to start an argument, but his heart and mind weren't into the idea. "Best we go…I hear that traffic is going to be horrible."
"That's right…traffic is going to be bloody horrible," his uncle replied with a disgusted tone. "You should be thankful I came out here to get you, boy! I should be at home with your aunt and Dudley, preparing for Aunt Marge's visit, but instead I have to come all the way out here to pick up you. What did I do to deserve such punishment?"
"Aunt Marge is coming?" Harry asked, his mouth hanging open. "Why is she coming over?"
"That is none of your business," Uncle Vernon retorted as they walked out of the train station and towards the parking lot.
Before Harry started his third year of Hogwarts, he had accidentally blown Aunt Marge into a large balloon. She insulted his parents by comparing them to dogs and how Harry was nothing more than a bad seed. She had provoked him to a level no one had ever pushed him before. Not even Draco Malfoy had wandered into search dangerous territory during their squabbles. Harry unfortunately lost control of his anger and unwilling unleashed his magic on her.
He was happy to know that the Ministry of Magic handled the situation delicately and erased Aunt Marge's memory of the event. However, to his horrible dismay, the Dursleys' memories weren't altered.
"Now boy…" Uncle Vernon started as he took a firm hold of Harry's arm, and pulled him over towards his car. He looked around the parking lot and only continued once no other person was in sight. "If you decide to use your ma…your ma…your voodoo on her…anything at all, I do not care the consequences that my sweet family will suffer, you will be on the streets!"
"I won't do anything to her," Harry replied through clenched teeth as he placed his trunk into the backseat of the car. Harry would of gladly done anything to leave number four, Privet Drive; however, knowing his current situation with Voldemort on the loose and the Order's restrictions, he had no choice but to stay with the Dursleys.
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
The car ride home was a painful experience. The traffic was truly horrible and Harry constantly received nasty glares from his uncle. He did his best to ignore him, his attention mostly focused on the starless sky above. His thoughts started to wander and he felt his stomach tightening when his thoughts focused on Keung.
"Oh, the new neighbor has moved in," Uncle Vernon said with a somewhat satisfied voice as the car pulled into the driveway of number four, Privet drive. "Any neighbor is better than the McNamaras…very ruddy bunch if you ask me. I'm glad to see that they have left the neighborhood."
Harry looked over at the house next door and noticed a large moving van parked in front of it. He didn't really know the McNamaras and wasn't the least bit interested in acknowledging Uncle Vernon's statements. He carefully pulled his trunk out of the backseat of the car, making sure that he didn't scratch the seat. The last thing he needed at the moment was to give his uncle a reason to scream at him. Once the trunk was out of the car, he placed Hedwig's cage on it and gripped the side handles securely.
"Will you look at that," Uncle Vernon gasped as he walked to the front door of the house, his eyes focused on a shiny black car parked in the next driveway. "Well I'll be…it's the new Mercedes…this neighbor must be very important to own a vehicle like that. We must have them over for dinner later."
Harry rolled his eyes at the comment as he lifted his trunk and made his way into the house. The searing eyes of Aunt Petunia and Dudley greeted him, but he didn't think much of it. The two followed Uncle Vernon into the kitchen and Harry could hear them chatting about their new neighbor. He released a soft sigh as he started ascend the staircase.
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
The following night, Harry collapsed onto his bed and muffled his screams with his pillow. Aunt Marge was her usual self and since she had no recollection of the consequences of insulting Harry's parents, she decided to make them the topic of that evening's discussion, throwing every curse and slur she could muster at them. Harry was happy that his self-control had greatly improved since her last visit, but he would have gladly given up an arm or a leg to blast her with another spell.
Harry looked over at Hedwig's perch and grumbled to himself when he saw that she wasn't there. He had written to Hermione that morning about how horrible the summer was going to be and how much he had already missed her. He stared up at his ceiling and took in heavy breaths, trying to ignore the loud bursts of laughter that came from the living room.
He closed his eyes and released another sigh. It was only eight o'clock, but he wanted sleep to wash over him. Aunt Marge was planning to stay with them for a week and he wanted the first day to end as fast as it could, so he could properly prepare himself for the following six.
Despite his frustration, he slowly felt himself drifting to sleep when he heard something flutter through his window. He opened his eyes and a large smile formed on his face when he realized that it was Hedwig with an envelope attached to her leg. With one swift motion, Harry leapt out of his bed and approached his owl. He gently ran his fingers through the feathers on her back as he took the letter from her leg.
Hedwig gave him an affectionate hoot before flying out of the window again. Harry watched his owl fly through the trees along the sidewalk, and knew that Hedwig had been anxious to do some hunting upon returning to the Muggle world. He wished her the best of luck and quickly opened the enveloped, his smile growing when he recognized Hermione's light blue stationery. He noticed something else in the envelope and he pulled it out. It was a photograph that he and his friends had taken before leaving King's Cross. A bright smile formed on his face as he turned his attention towards the letter.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Harry,
I miss you! You can't believe how much I do. I spent the majority of the day working at the clinic with my parents. They actually hired me, so I'm going to receive a paycheck and everything. I'm somewhat excited about it. I spent most of my time reading through the magazines in the front office and talking to their patients, but I really couldn't concentrate on anything. I hope you're satisfied. The reason I couldn't concentrate on anything today was because I was thinking about you. I can't stop thinking about you. You better be smiling after reading this.
I'm really sorry to hear about your Aunt Marge coming over for a visit. That is really rotten luck. I know that it will be hard, but you can handle it. You've been through worse before and everything always turned out okay in the end. Just don't blow her up into a balloon again. That would be to good for her. If you want to punish her properly, be sure to use a proper hex. I'm sure the smile is on your face just grew larger, but I'm only joking. The last thing I want is to get you expelled from Hogwarts.
I wrote to the Order today, asking them if I could have permission to have you visit me. I had Hedwig deliver the letter, so that was why it took her so long to get my letter back to you. I hope I didn't worry you. Lupin was able to write back to me. He said that the Order wouldn't mind letting you stay with me for a couple of days, but they need to make the necessary arrangements to make sure that everything would be safe. That's incredibly good news! So don't you think for one minute that you'll be alone for the whole summer. Also, if they are willing to let you stay with me, I know they'll allow you to stay with Ron too.
Well, I'm going to end this letter. I want you to get it before it gets too late. Be sure to give Hedwig a good rest, she's been flying around all day. My mum loves her to death. She even set up a perch next to my window, so she has a place to land when she flies into my room. You have a good night, Harry. Get some sleep; I know you'll feel better in the morning. I love you, very much. Write back when you can.
With lots of love,
Hermione
P.S. I hope you like the photo. It's funny looking at pictures that don't move, isn't it? I hope you had a wonderful day and I can't wait to hear from you. I love you.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harry let out a happy sigh as he read through Hermione's letter again, his heart especially racing when he read through the part that said that he would be able to visit her and Ron. He couldn't wait to visit and be with them again. He placed the letter and the photo back into the envelope and opened his desk drawer, pulling out a small calendar. He quickly skimmed through the months of July and August, randomly thinking about when the Order would permit him to visit them.
He noticed Hedwig fly through the window and land gracefully on her perch. He didn't look up from his calendar, running his fingers over the last few weeks of July. Hedwig hooted several times at him, her wings outstretched. Harry figured that she wanted to show him her most recent catch, but his mind was too occupied at the moment. He then heard something hard fall on his table and his eyes widened when they focused on the object. It was a golden snitch.
"Where did you get this Hedwig?" Harry asked as he picked up the snitch. He examined it carefully and his mouth dropped when he saw an inscription on the ball. He suddenly recognized it; it was the snitch that Hermione had given him for his birthday. He held the ball tightly in his hand as he looked up at Hedwig, her yellow eyes staring attentively out the window. "Hedwig, how did you get this?"
Hedwig released another hoot, causing Harry quickly to rise from his chair and look out his window. He didn't see anything outside, but he had a feeling that someone was waiting for him. He pulled his wand out of his drawer and bolted out his room and down the stairs, startling the Dursleys and enraging Aunt Marge. He could hear his Uncle's cries echoing in the back of his mind, but without any thought of hesitation, he ran out of the house.
Harry slammed the door behind him and ran through the front yard, his eyes moving around erratically. Once he reached the sidewalk, he stopped and took several deep breaths, his heart racing. His grip tightened on his wand as he patiently waited for someone to appear. However, when no one did after almost ten minutes, he felt his heart sink and his anger flared. He looked at the golden snitch in his hand and gave it a tight squeeze. Is this some kind of joke? Who would do this' his mind screamed to him as he slowly made his way towards the house.
He stopped before he reached the door, noticing the Dursleys staring at him from the windows with fearful expressions on their faces. He didn't want to go inside. He knew that he was breaking a restriction that the Order had set for him, but he didn't care, his rage was boiling. A snide comment from Aunt Marge or Uncle Vernon would have easily pushed him over the edge, and he'd gladly hex everyone inside the house.
He placed his wand and the snitch into his pocket and decided to pace in front of the bushes along the walkway that led towards the front door of the house. Unfortunately, pacing didn't calm his nerves. The more he thought about the situation, the more infuriated he became. His eyes focused on a large rock that sat in between to shrubs and without thinking, he kicked it.
"Just my luck!" he groaned to himself as felt a sharp pain in his foot. He gritted his teeth and started to shake his aching foot, cursing himself under his breath.
"You know, Harry," a voice came from behind him. "I'd rather you kick trees than rocks. I mean...you have a greater chance of uprooting a tree than you do at cracking a rock, but in either case I'm sure you're foot will break first."
Harry spun himself around and a weak smile formed on his face. Keung was standing on the sidewalk, wearing casual Muggle clothing and a lopsided grin on his face. He had his hands in his pockets and he gave Harry a comforting nod. Harry rubbed his eyes with the sleeves of his shirt and shook his head gently, but he didn't disappear. He even pinched himself to ensure that he wasn't dreaming.
"I…" Harry started as he slowly made his way towards Keung, still unsure if he was hallucinating. "I thought…the mountain…"
"Hold on…" Keung said as he pulled his hands out of his pockets and crossed his arms. He raised an eyebrow and gave Harry a stunned look. "You mean to say that after everything…saving your life countless number of times…going through the Forbidden Chambers with you…defeating Magnolia Reins…accepting abuse from Willard Cross to save you. You mean to say that even though I survived all of those things…you thought a bunch of falling rocks did me in?" He gave Harry a large grin. "I'm quite offended by that assumption."
Harry released a soft laugh as he stopped in front of Keung. "But, how did you get out?"
"With this," he answered as he took out a pocket watch and opened it.
Harry examined the watch and realized that it was the same watch that Lupin had used to save Hermione and him during their outing the previous year.
"Reins and I survived the cave in, though because we were trapped and didn't have our wands, we thought that things were hopeless. I had enough strength to apparate, but she didn't…and as I said earlier, I wasn't going to leave her and let her die in that mountain. We were starting to lose hope when something happened that I still couldn't explain. Fawkes found us and gave me this watch. It took us a while to figure out what it did, but the next thing we knew, we were transported to Hogsmeade…" Keung stopped and gave Harry a concerned look. "You okay, Harry?"
Harry choked back his emotions as he opened his arms and gave Keung a warm hug. He wasn't losing his mind; Keung was really there. Keung wrapped his arms around him, gently patting his back. "Everything is okay, Harry. I'm fine…I have been fine for a while now."
"Wait a second," Harry said as ended their embrace. He was incredibly happy to see that Keung was alive and well, but several pertinent questions rushed into his head. He crossed his arms and gave Keung a confused look. "If you've been fine all this time, why didn't you return to Hogwarts? Why did you only show up now?"
"I'll answer those questions, but how about we get inside first," Keung suggested as he placed the watch back into his pocket. "It's not a good idea to have this conversation outside. To tell you the truth, I shouldn't of told you so much out here. But, no one's around, so I think it'll be okay."
"I don't know if my uncle would allow you to enter the house," Harry said with an embarrassed tone as he turned and looked towards the windows. The Dursleys were still there, staring at him with expressions of utter confusion and disgust. "My uncle isn't very welcoming to my friends from school…actually he doesn't like anything that involves magic."
"I know," Keung replied as his eyes focused on Uncle Vernon. He shook his head and pointed towards the house next to the Dursleys. "I know everything about your Muggle family. I can't believe that your mum is related to your aunt, it's beyond me to know how that happened. I meant if you would like to come over to my new place."
"Hold on…you moved into number two, Privet Drive?"
"Yeah…don't worry, I will explain everything," Keung said with a reassured nod as he made his way towards the house, Harry following close behind him.
"Where do you think you're going?" Uncle Vernon shouted as he pushed the front door open. "You know that you are not to leave this house!"
"Don't worry about him, Mr. Dursley," Keung replied in such respectful tone that it surprised Harry. "Harry will return shortly."
"I forbid him to go!" Uncle Vernon retorted as he slowly stepped out of the house and gave Keung a menacing look. "He is not to leave this house! I do not want him running amok and causing trouble!"
Keung took in a deep breath as he rubbed his eyes with his hand. He gestured to Harry to wait as he turned towards the approaching Dursley. Keung placed his hands in his pocket and made his way towards Uncle Vernon, meeting him in the center of the front lawn.
Harry tried to listen to what they were saying, but they were talking too quietly. Harry was only able to see Uncle Vernon's red face turn to a shade of purple as their conversation continued. However after several minutes, Uncle Vernon's expression suddenly changed to one of complete joy. This utterly confused Harry for Uncle Vernon had never enjoyed conversing with anyone he believed wasn't normal. Keung stuck out his hand and Uncle Vernon graciously shook it with both of his, before turning around and literally skipping towards the house.
"What was that all about?" Harry asked as Keung walked back to him. "I've never seen him that happy before."
"Again Harry," Keung smiled, patting him on the shoulder, "I will answer everything once we get inside."
Harry followed Keung towards the front door of number two, Privet Drive. Harry stopped a moment and examined the black car that Keung had parked in his driveway. Keung snickered when he noticed this. "Don't look at it too hard, it's only an illusion to fool the Muggles. I figured that if you had to have to fake car, might as well make it a good one."
Harry laughed at his comment as the two entered Keung's new home. The design of the house was exactly to that of Dursleys, but Harry was in absolute awe. Unlike the Dursleys, who had somewhat tacky furniture and pictures of Dudley plastered across the walls, the living room greatly resembled that of the Gryffindor common room. There were two large bookshelves filled with both Muggle and Wizarding books, two large armchairs and a long couch were positioned by the fireplace, candlelight lanterns were hung throughout the room, and several portraits of witches and wizards he didn't recognize hung on the walls, each bowing his or her head to him as he walked by.
"This place is brilliant," Harry said as he noticed a framed picture of him, Hermione, and Ron on the mantle above the fireplace. He walked towards the picture and soon realized that all of the pictures on the mantle were of he and his friends. A large grin formed on his face as he looked at each picture, amazed at how much they have grown through the years. He then heard a high pitch cry from behind him that nearly made him jump.
"Dobby is so happy to see Harry Potter sir!" the bouncy house-elf squealed as he ran over to Harry and gave his right leg a tight hug. "Dobby is going to be your neighbor Harry Potter sir!"
"It's good to see you too, Dobby" Harry replied, somewhat startled to see the house-elf. He gently patted him on his back and watched Keung take a seat in one of the large armchairs. "Keung…what's going on?"
"Hold on one second, Harry. Dobby," Keung said, causing the house-elf to release Harry's leg and look at him. "Would you please make us some tea?"
"It would be Dobby's pleasure sir," Dobby replied as he saluted him.
Keung gave him a bright smile and the cheerful house-elf quickly made his way towards the kitchen.
"Well Harry," Keung continued as Harry took a seat on the couch that was next to Keung's armchair. "I guess you want some answers from me."
"Yeah…loads of answers," Harry said. "What's going on? Are you going to stay here?"
"I am going to be staying here," Keung said with a grin and a firm nod. "As for the reason of why I'm here…it's because of you.
"For the past few years Dumbledore has been searching for a way for you to be safe and not return to the Dursleys during the summer break. He knew that you hated returning to them, but he valued your safety more than anything else, especially when he wasn't able to watch over you himself. And since nothing could protect you better than the blood that ran through your aunt's veins, you always had to return to them.
"So once he discovered that your next door neighbors were moving, he set this plan into motion. The reason I wasn't able to see you until now was because I had to stay in the Muggle world and go through the whole painful process of purchasing this house. And let me tell you, this other Muggle family was also interested in it and they were relentless. I begged Dumbledore allow me to use magic and help push things in my favor…but he wouldn't have it. Though in the end, they gave up on it."
"Exactly what is this plan?" Harry asked, his heart starting to race. A large smile formed on his face. "Am I going to live with you?"
"Unfortunately Harry, you cannot live here with me," Keung answered sadly, causing Harry's face to sink. "To this day, Dumbledore hasn't been able to find a spell or charm that would protect you better than your aunt's blood. Therefore, the Dursleys' house must always remain as your home. So, the plan is for you to have this house as a haven."
"A haven?" Harry replied, somewhat confused. "What do you mean?"
"By having this place as a haven, you are allowed to stay here as long as you like, only under the condition that you still return to your aunt's house to sleep," Keung said with a smile. "As long as you keep this house as a place you visit and your aunt's house as your home, Voldemort can't find you. So if you really want to think about it…you do sort of live here, your bed just happens to be next door. Dumbledore wished he could do more, but this was the best solution that he could think of."
"I think it's brilliant," Harry smiled as a warm feeling washed over him. He was somewhat disappointed to know that he still had to return to the Dursleys, but his overall happiness of being able to spend the majority of his day away from them, easily over powered his sadness. "So I can spend as much time as I want here, just as long I don't sleep here?"
"Pretty much," Keung replied. "Though, no matter what, you must spend some time at your aunt's house, hence the reason why it was suggested that you sleep there. I've just now talked with your Uncle about this and he seemed to find the idea to be…what exactly did he say…oh…ecstatically wonderful."
"That explains the reason he was smiling like that," Harry said with a soft snicker. It amused him that the only way for Uncle Vernon to truly be happy is to not see him. Harry wasn't offended be this, because he felt the exact same way towards the entire Dursley family.
"Your uncle is surely a strange one," Keung commented as he rose from his armchair and stretched his back. "You can use the spare bedroom upstairs as your study. Though don't worry about it now, I'll help you move all your stuff tomorrow morning." Keung then pulled the pocket watch and tossed it to Harry. "You can use that to ease your commute. The number four has been configured to take to your room in number four, Privet Drive, and the number two has been configured to take you to your study. That way, you can keep all your stuff here and not worry about walking back and forth between the houses."
"And if I time everything just right…" Harry grinned as he studied the watch in his hand. "Despite the fact that I will be at the Dursleys to sleep, I still wouldn't really have to see them."
"Exactly," Keung nodded. "So once you wake up in the morning, all you need to do is push the number two to appear back here, and you can start your day. Leave it up to Dumbledore to think of everything."
"And you'll always be the here, right?" Harry asked timidly. "You're not going to disappear."
"Yes, I'll be here," Keung replied as he held his hand out to Harry. Harry took it and Keung pulled him to his feet. "Dumbledore asked me to join the Order and I gladly accepted. He feels that after everything you and I have been through together, that I am the most qualified person to watch over you…saying of course, you don't have a problem with me being your guardian."
"I have no problem with that," Harry smiled as the two walked into the kitchen and found Dobby pouring tea into two teacups.
The two settle themselves around a large oak dining table. Harry looked over towards the kitchen and was surprised to see that it had been completely remodeled. The stove had been removed and in its place was a small brick fireplace. And rather than having the pots and pans sitting in tall cupboards, they were hung along the wall.
"Oh, whatever happened to Magnolia Reins?" Harry asked as he turned his attention back to Keung.
"Tea is ready, sir," Dobby announced before Keung had a chance to answer. Dobby placed the two saucers on the table, followed by two teacups. He stood diligently by Keung and gave him another salute. "Is there anymore Dobby can do, sir?"
"No thank you Dobby. If you'd like, you can unpack you things," Keung replied as he took a sip of his tea and gave Dobby a very satisfied look.
Dobby gave the two a large smile before making his way out of the kitchen.
Keung released a soft snicker as he returned his attention back on Harry's question. "Right now, Reins is in the dungeons at the Ministry of Magic. After we both appeared in Hogsmeade, we were arrested by Aurors and sent to the Ministry for interrogation. Dumbledore came a couple of days later and he was able to straighten everything out with Fudge."
That explains the urgent message Dumbledore received from Fudge, Harry thought to himself as he placed both his hands around the cup, allowing the hot tea to warm his fingers. "So, you've been cleared of everything?"
"Cleared of everything," Keung answered. "Reins confessed to everything about Veronica's murder, so my name has been cleared. She is going to stand trial the day after tomorrow for the murder and being a Death Eater. Dumbledore and I are going to stand by her during her trial."
"You're really going to help defend her after everything she's done?" Harry asked, shocked by Keung's statement, though deep down, he knew that it was coming. "I thought you really hated her?"
"I'm not saying that she wouldn't punished for what's she's done," Keung said as his eyes moved towards the white curtains that covered the back windows. He pushed his hand into his pocket, searching for something, before he continued. "And it's true, I don't like her very much, but the Flame did corrupt her heart and she's doing her best to recover from it. Harry, everybody in this world deserves a second chance at life…not just the good people, but also the bad. Dumbledore and I are going to see if we can help reduce her sentence."
"To fifty years instead of life," Harry suggested as he raised an eyebrow. He didn't completely agree with what Keung had said, but he wasn't in the proper mindset to begin a debate over it.
"No," Keung replied with a soft snicker. His hand found what he was looking for and he pulled out a small piece of paper. "Dumbledore and I have been thinking more along the lines of twenty to twenty-five years. The trick is going to convince Fudge of this…but you know Dumbledore, he'll think of something."
Keung slid the small piece of paper towards Harry. Harry examined it and saw a phone number written on it. Keung gripped the handle of his cup and rose from the table. "That is Hermione Granger's telephone number. I found it in the telephone directory just before I met you tonight. Did you know that there are over five hundred Grangers listed in that bloody directory? I had to use a charm to find her number."
Harry looked at Keung with a joyful yet confused expression on his face. Keung gave him a soft smile as sipped his tea. "Harry, you can have Hermione, Ron, and Nancy over as much as you like. Who am I to stand in the way of love and true friendship, right? You can use the pocket watch to help transport yourselves. The number seven will take you to Hermione's home, number eight will take you to the Ron's, and the number nine for Nancy."
"I don't know what to say?" Harry gave Keung a grateful smile. "How could I ever thank you for all of this?"
"Harry, don't worry about it. As I've said before, it was my pleasure," Keung replied with cheerful expression. Though upon finishing that statement, his expression changed to one of seriousness. "Though being here isn't going to just be fun and games. Dumbledore told me everything about your prophecy and the task you must perform. You are a great wizard, Harry, but you have a lot more to learn. It's going to be our duty to make sure that you're ready when that day comes."
"You mean…you're going to train me?" Harry asked, his eyes lightening at the thought.
"I'll do as much as I can," Keung grinned as he made his way over towards the white curtains. "I know Moody definitely wants to have a go with you." He laughed to himself when he saw Harry's expression drop at the sound of Moody's name. "But don't worry about it now. We've got the whole summer…so just relax."
Harry nodded and took another sip of his tea. His eyes soon moved towards the telephone and he immediately looked at the paper that had Hermione's number. He placed the pocket watch into his pocket and rose from his chair. "Would you mind, if I used your…"
"Telephone?" Keung finished as he grinned at Harry, causing him to nod excitedly. "You don't have to ask for permission…it's technically your phone too."
Harry picked up the black cordless phone and started to dial Hermione's number. He placed the listening receiver against his ear and his heart began to race when he heard the ring tone. He turned his attention to Keung and watched him grab the corner of the white curtain, pulling it aside to expose the night sky.
"It's another beautiful starry night," Keung said with a sigh as he gazed at the twinkling stars, taking a large gulp of his tea.
Harry walked over to him and also looked out the window, astonished at how grand the sky looked. His attention returned to the phone when he heard a click followed a soft voice; a bright smile grew on his face. "Hey Hermione, it's me…Harry…really, it's me! You can never guess what just happened…"
For the first time in his life, Harry didn't mind not being at Hogwarts. He knew that the futures of he and his friends were blanketed with mystery and danger; however, a new form of hope and courage enveloped him. For the first time in his life, Harry Potter was ready to meet the peril ahead of him. With a soft smile on his face, he gazed at the stars above and listened to the melodic voice of Hermione; Harry Potter had accepted the prophecy; his destiny and allowed fate to take its course.
~FIN~
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A/N: Thank you very much for reading! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did writing it. I have made plans on writing a sequel, but I'm still in the process of planning out the plot and such. Though I have enough stuff planned to write a little blurb about it.
The next story is going to be called, Harry Potter and the Crest of Eternity.
Legend states that over a thousand years ago, an evil sorcerer tried to take over the world by using the mystical powers of the Crest of Eternity. The Crest granted the sorcerer immortal life along with other awesome abilities such as stealing memories and dissolving all magical barriers. Godric Gryffindor, sworn enemy of the dark sorcerer, sought the aide of Salazar Slytherin, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Helga Hufflepuff, and the four banded together and defeated the powerful sorcerer.
After the gruesome battle, the four believed that none of them had the right to claim the Crest of Eternity as their own and instead, severed the one awesome crest into four identical and smaller crests. This marked the creation of the Crest of Gryffindor, the Crest of Slytherin, the Crest of Ravenclaw, and the Crest of Hufflepuff. Each crest took the shape of the owner's seal and each possessed its own specific power. The four vowed to protect their crests with their lives, never to allow anyone to assemble them together to reform the Crest of Eternity.
The story takes place during Harry's seventh and final year of Hogwarts. The Order of the Phoenix learns that Voldemort and his Death Eaters have started a campaign to locate and seize the four crests. And after several tragic events, Harry and his friends set out a quest to gather as many as the crests as they can, in hopes to prevent Voldemort from reforming the Crest of Eternity.