Secrets of the Heart
Redux
It was a lovely clear afternoon for a day in England, a fact both the Grangers commented on as they watched their daughter and friend talk in quiet whispers while they dance in the backyard under the shade of a tree. They had finally met the shy boy properly at the end of the school year when Hermione had dragged them over to see him be belittled by his relatives. It was the sight of his uncle manhandling the boy into a car that made both of them agree that as soon as they could, they would get him out of there. It wasn't until after the two weeks he needed to stay there for that they rang up the Dursleys and proceeded to lie through their teeth to get him out of there. The next day, they left and collected him.
Now, half way through the holidays, they got to see a sight they hadn't seen for years; their daughter happy and relaxed. They knew of everything that was happening in her world and although they wished she wouldn't involve herself, they knew she would to help and protect the boy she was dancing with. Sighing, Mrs Granger brought her small cup to her mouth, taking a mouthful of the honey tea Harry had made for them. Smiling at the sweet gesture, she took another sip just as the doorbell rang. Looking at her husband, she rolled her eyes at the napping man and got up. As she was nearing the door, the bell rang again, but what followed made her frown. It sounded like someone was just slapped. Pulling open the door, she stared in confusion as the woman who had informed them about Hermione glared at them bearded man standing beside her. Seeing movement, she looked down and saw the man rubbing at his red hand. Looking back up, she smiled.
"Professor Dumbledore I assume." She said cheerfully, holding her hand out.
Smiling just as widely, the old wizard shook her hand. "Mrs Granger, a pleasure to meet you."
Turning to the reserved woman, she held out her hand again. "Professor McGonagall, wonderful to see you again."
The woman gave a small smile in return. "And you."
"May we speak to you and your husband Mrs Granger?" Dumbledore asked clasping his hands together.
"Of course, we've just been sitting on the veranda drinking some tea." She said, stepping aside to let them in. "Hermione and her friend are out the back too if you wish to see her as well."
Both magical beings looked at the other, a frown of confusion crossing Minerva's face as she remembered Hermione telling her once she had no friends in the muggle world. Following the retreating woman, they stepped out on to the veranda, only to be stopped by the hands of the woman they were following on their arms.
"It looks like that talk will have to wait for a few moments Professor." She whispered.
Following her line of sight, they saw Hermione dancing the waltz with Harry. Before either of them could say anything, the music changed to a slower song and the pair moved closer to each other. Hermione's pale arms wound around Harry's neck, while her head rested peacefully on his shoulder. Completing the look, Harry rested his cheek on top of Hermione's head and loosely wrapped his arms around her slender waist. As they slowly danced on the spot, the Professors noticed that both of them danced with their eyes closed, both trusting the other wouldn't lead them into anything.
The three adults stood there watching as the couple swayed to the music, but only one heard the whispered confession of the young lady.
"I love you."
Smiling sadly, Harry turned his head and kissed her lightly on her crown before looking over to the veranda, finally noticing their professors standing there. Catching McGonagall's eyes, he saw a flash of longing before it was covered with her steely mask. He sighed and closed his eyes once again, finishing the dance with his friend.
When the music stopped and no more followed, Hermione pulled back and opened her eyes, tears gathering the sight of the wrong shade of green. "I thought…" She whispered, the first of many tears to fall.
"I know." He whispered back, giving her a small smile and pulling her into a hug, "I know," He sighed. "We have guests."
Pulling back, he wiped away the tears and smiled at her brightly before turning serious. "You are a vonderful dancer, Herm-nin-y." He said, stomping his foot and giving a small bow.
Laughing, Hermione slapped him on the arm. "Don't be mean."
"Of course not." He laughed, holding his arm out for her to take. "Shall we adjourn to the veranda for some tea, my lady?"
Laughing even more, he brunette looped her arm through his and nodded. "We shall."
Together they turned to the veranda and it took everything for Hermione to keep the smile on her face when she saw the woman standing beside her mother. Swallowing around the lump in her throat, she gripped Harry's arm tighter and allowed him to walk her to the veranda, the sound of her mother clapping doing nothing to calm her racing heart.
"That was beautiful dear. And you Harry, where did you learn to dance?" Jean asked, smiling brightly.
"Oh, ahh, well Professor McGonagall taught me." He said, only to be cut off by the dry response of his head of house.
"I most certainly did not teach you that last one, Mr Potter."
"Yes but that was only because my arm was in a sling." He shot back, smirking. "But in all honesty I was following Hermione in that last one."
"Me?" Hermione asked, a frown forming, "I wasn't leading. You were."
Harry laughed. "Me? Hermione the last time I tried leading, you ended up using a cane for weeks."
"Yes, well." She said, turning away from him. "Why are you here Professors?"
"We're here to talk to you and your parents about recent developments in our world." Dumbledore said, smiling.
Harry and Hermione shared a look before sitting down and looking up at them with the same look of expectation on both their faces. Mrs Granger sat back down in her spot and pour out another two cups of tea for the Professors. As the two professors sat down, in the newly conjured chairs, Hermione leant across to snap her fingers in front of his nose to gain his attention. When he didn't move, both the Granger woman rolled their eyes.
Glancing back at Harry, she smirked. "Watch this." Turning back to her father, she sniffed. "Daddy, I failed my Transfiguration exam." She cried, sounding much like she was really crying.
Instantly the man sat up straight, eyes wide. "Oh sweetheart I'm so sorry. I know how much-" He stopped speaking, finally noticing the amused smile his daughter was giving him.
"That's not nice dear."
"We have guests dear. " Mrs Granger chuckled, drawing her husband's attention to the two visitors to her left.
Smiling at the woman he recognised from her first visit five years ago, Hugo stretched across the table. "Professor McGonagall, lovely to see you again."
"And you." Minerva said, bowing her head slightly, although her focus was still on the two smiling teens across from her.
Turning towards the older wizard, he shook his hand. "You must be Hermione's Headmaster, Professor Dumbledore. Pleasure to finally meet you."
"You as well Mr Granger."
Sitting back down, he leant back in his chair and looked at the magical folk seriously. "Now what is it that you've come to speak to us about?"
"Well Mr Granger," Professor McGonagall started, seeing that Dumbledore was too busy watching the young man across from him, "There have been some…serious developments in our world that have us concerned about your daughters safety." She said, not wanting to give too much away, as both the professors had planned on only talking to the parents and not the fifth year.
"Is it to do with this Voldemort fellow?"
The only person to react to the name was McGonagall; she barely had the chance to recover from her sharp flinch when Dumbledore leant forward, a frown marring his usually calm face.
"How do you know about him?"
"Professor Dumbledore," Jean said, turning serious, "Hermione does not keep secrets from us, especially serious ones like a mad man wanting to kill Harry and take over the wizarding world."
Half way through the other woman's short rant, Minerva saw something she hadn't seen in five years, guilt crossing Miss Grangers blank expression. Seeing this, she realized the girl had not told her parents everything, but what they were she did not know. And it seemed that she wasn't the only one to see it either as Harry reached across and took hold of her hand. Forcing down her irrational jealousy, she turned back to the adults.
"Yes well," The bearded man cleared his throat, "What with Miss Grangers close connection to Harry, she has become a target of Voldemort and his followers."
Settling her cup down on the table, Hermione frowned. "That's not entirely correct Professor."
Every eye turned to face her.
"Pardon dear girl?"
"You say I'm a target because of my friendship with Harry, but that is incorrect. You see, Voldemort, while a half-blood himself, is a Purest, and as such, anyone who holds the status of anything else is a target. By that alone, I am a target." She explained, looking blanking into the empty blue eyes of her Headmaster. "Not because of Harry."
An uneasy silence fell over the table. What Hermione said was true, and they all knew it.
"Yes, you are correct my dear girl, I apologize."
Nodding her head in acceptance, she picked her cup back up; ignoring the amused smile Harry gave her.
"Back to the reason we are here, with Hermione being a target of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, we have come to discuss the idea of moving her to a safer location." McGonagall started, her clipped tones breaking everyone from their thoughts. "And as young Mr Potter is here as well, he would be moved as well."
"Is it really necessary Professors?" Hermione asked, looking between them.
"There have been some…incidents, Miss Granger." Minerva said.
"You mean the disappearances of Muggles. Yes we know about those, we have been reading the news, or what's passing as news." She mumbled the last bit into her cup, remembering some of the less kind articles about her friend.
Again an uneasy silence fell over the group. And again it was broken by McGonagall.
"Yes Miss Granger, we believe it is necessary."
"Very well, Harry and I will go and pack while you fill in Mum and Dad." Without giving either of her Professors a chance to speak, Hermione stood up and walked into the house.
Shaking his head, Harry stood up as well. "Always practical." He joked, looking at the amused couple.
"That she is my boy." Mr Granger sighed, "That she is."
Following his friend inside, he walked up the stairs to her room, he had been living out of his trunk since he came home with her and as such, had very little that needed to be packed. Leaning against the door, he watched as his friend pulled out some of her casual clothes and packed them neatly into her trunk which was almost full from her school supplies.
"Are you okay Hermione?" He asked softly, not wanting anyone else overhearing their conversation.
"Fine."
Sighing, he walked into the room and helped her with folding her clothes. "You barely looked at her since you saw her."
"I said I'm fine."
"You're not." He sighed, turning to look at her. "You haven't been since third year."
Continuing with her task, Hermione turned her back to him. "Drop it Harry."
"You should tell her."
"What?" Hermione asked, freezing in her spot.
"You should tell her."
"Why?"
"Because I think she returns your feelings Hermione. I really do."
The young brunette looked at her friend for a moment before turning back to her trunk. "You need to pack."
Sighing, Harry pushed himself off the bed and left the room, calling over his shoulder. "Think about it."
Not long later, they were gathered up by Professor McGonagall who shrunk their cases and lead them down stairs to say good bye. Walking over to stand by the door and the Headmaster, she watched as both teens hugged Jean tightly, promising to be careful and to write before moving onto her husband. As expected, Hermione hugged him, repeating her promises, but what surprised both the Professors was seeing Harry hug the man, promising to keep Hermione safe.
"I will do my best Sir."
Nodding, he clapped the boy on the back. "Good man."
Stepping back, Hermione and Harry looked at their Professor as they shok hands with the Grangers one last time before turning to them.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes." The chorused.
"We'll be apparating." Dumbledore said holding his arm out. "Miss Granger?"
Taking his arm, Hermione waved to her parents. "We'll be home soon." And with that she was gone.
Being the last two, Minerva held her arm out for Harry. When he didn't take it, she frowned. "Something wrong Mr Potter?"
Looking up, Harry felt is cheeks heat up. "It's not like the Floo is it Professor?"
A look of understanding made its way across the strong features of his Professor. "No Mr Potter, it is not."
Relaxing, he took hold of her velvet clad arm before looking back at his friends parents. "I'll protect her as much as I can."
Nodding to the couple once more, Minerva turned on the spot and disapparated.