I don't own Harry Potter. If I did I wouldn't have to hide the fact that I'm updating from everyone who assumes I'm asleep and then I would have all the chores to do instead of writing this for you guys. Hope you enjoy and if you don't… well keep it to yourself.

As Harry looked over the park he realized how much his life had changed over the last few weeks. He had lost the closest thing to a father figure he had and at the same time he strangely felt at peace. Soon he would be leaving this place. Leaving the Dursley's. He couldn't stay here. He knew that now. He was going to leave and go to the one person who he could trust more than anyone else. The one place Dumbledore had very little strength. He was going to Hermione's.

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Harry was once again zoning out. Lying around all summer could do that to you… not that he had been lying around the whole time. No. He had been busy. Very busy. He had gotten a muggle job helping deliver beer and liquor to bars and clubs. He couldn't drive but he could certainly move the boxes. He had definitely put some muscle on thanks to his job. He had grown at least a foot.

Needless to say he could look Ron in the face without a worry. Wouldn't surprise him if he even had to look down to Ron. And his arms? Well let's just say Dudley's weight system had finally been put to use. Harry knew he looked good. His confidence had soared. Girls and even grown women were throwing looks his way. But their looks and approval was not the one he was looking for. No. Harry had come to the realization that he was in love with his best friend. Hermione. She was the reason he was going to fight this war. She was the reason he was going to win.

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Harry busily finished up his packing shortly before his watch sounded, telling him that it was 10:00. Today was the day he was going to get out of this hellhole. Hermione was coming for him today. He grabbed a small object out of his trunk before closing it with a snap a carrying it downstairs.

He hadn't been downstairs more than a few moments when the doorbell rang. He let Dudley get it and just watched from the hall. The door swung open and there she was.

Hermione had grown up a lot this summer as well. She had gone home a schoolgirl and come back a woman in every way. Her hair had grown out and had some honey colored highlights in it. Her eyes were a melting chocolate that just amazed Harry. In the sun her tan face made her look like a model or some type of Greek goddess. Harry knew she was beautiful before but now she was… well certainly out of his league!! But before he could finish his assessment of his friend she turned her eyes on him and he got lost.

"Can I help you?" Dudley said trying to be smooth.

"Actually I'm looking for harry and there he is so if you don't mind I will just collect him and be on my way," she replied politely.

"Him? Why would you want the freak?" Dudley responded with contempt.

That was most definitely the wrong thing to say to Hermione. She got close up to Dudley's face and muttered a few lines under her breath and he went running to the front room. She stepped in, closed the door and turned to smile at Harry… think, Harry, think man…. What did she just say?

"Hi harry!!" she greeted brightly, "Harry?"

"Hey Mione! Sorry I zoned out there…" Harry's mouth finally seemed to catch up to his brain, "Had a good summer so far?"

"Oh yes," she replied happily. "My parents have been so happy since I told them I was going to be staying the entire summer. Why didn't you want to go the burrow this year anyways?"

"Just didn't want to deal with Ron and Ginny being in my face and Mrs. Weasley trying to marry me to her daughter," he told her laughingly even though he knew it wasn't really that funny.

"Why Harry… I thought I was the only one that noticed all those horribly put together schemes," she joked right back and with that she added a wink.

She knew that Harry had been picking up on the fact that for the last couple of summers he had always been paired with Ginny for the daily chores.

It had actually gotten to the point where him and Hermione were kept apart all day which was hard as the two were very close friends and they felt like they were being treated very unfairly. Plus Ron had gotten it into his head that Hermione and him were supposed to be snogging every time they went to do some work and Hermione had needed to invent several reasons and excuses to try and keep him off but he just never seemed to take the hint.

"But silly me. My mum and dad are waiting for us to tell them it's okay to come in," she informed him breathlessly. With that she swung the door back open and signaled her parents. They came hurrying up the walk and into the house.

"Hello Harry," a woman who looked remarkably like Hermione except her hair was a little darker greeted him, "My name is Jane. This is my husband Edward. Hermione has told us so much about you. Especially all those times you have saved her."

"Well Mrs. Granger I don't know what Hermione told you but I'm pretty sure she has saved me plenty of times as well," Harry answered her back while shooting Hermione a look. She knew he was put off by the fact she hadn't even mentioned the times she had saved him.

"Please dear. You're the first of Hermione's friends that we have met and your not to call me Mrs. Granger again. I think Jane will do fine thank you," Jane nicely reprimanded.

"Yes ma'am," Harry answered while smiling sheepishly.

"Oh what am I going to do with you? I can already tell you are going to be one of those horrible, polite good boys that I wish my daughter would marry, aren't you?" she joked with him.

"Yes ma'am I believe I am…although you would definitely not have to push me to marry your daughter. I would do it in a heart beat," harry answered truthfully.

"That's it. Hermione you're marrying this boy tomorrow," Jane said. Then she caught sight of her husbands face and couldn't control the laughter.

Harry caught the look and figured it was either now or never.

"Hello sir. It is very nice to finally meet you. Hermione has always talked very highly of you," Harry greeted the tall foreboding man who seemed to be struggling with whether he should strangle Harry or shake his hand. Harry was seriously hoping for the handshake.

"Hello Harry," the Edward said as he shook his hand, "There is no need for that sir stuff. Your not in any trouble…yet." This last bit was added as an after thought but it still carried the threat well.

"Oh Edward. Stop it. You will scare the poor boy away before we even get him home," Jane admonished her husband, "Now where are your relatives Harry? I'm sure they have a few questions for us about your stay and things."

Harry shot a glance at Hermione. He was wondering if she had told her parents anything about his Aunt and Uncle. She saw his glance and shook her head. She knew what his questioning glance had been.

"Um ma'a- Jane," Harry began but he changed when she started to give him a look, " My family really doesn't care. We can just leave."

"Nonsense Harry. I'm sure your family cares. They would probably be very worried if they found out you had just left without a goodbye. Now I must insist I have a few words with them," Jane told him.

Sharing another glance with Hermione, who nodded, he led them silently down the entry hall into the front room. His aunt and uncle were on the couch while Dudley was sprawled out on the floor with his hand held video game in his face.

"Hello. My name is Jane Granger. This is my husband Edward. I'm sure you have heard about Hermione from Harry. They go to school together. I don't know if harry has mentioned this but we would like to have him for the rest of this summer. I know today is his birthday but it's the most convenient time to pick him up. I'm sorry if you had plans," Jane said as politely as she could.

"Are you a freak too?" his uncle asked.

Harry didn't care if they called him a freak but they were not going to insult a nice woman lie that.

"No she isn't a freak as you so politely put it. However she is a very wealthy business owner in the muggle world so maybe you should shoe just a little bit of respect. Goodbye and I will see you next summer," Harry was quite angry. Not from the fact that they seemed to forget his birthday or they insulted Jane- although that did piss him off-but because he was so embarrassed by the fact he didn't have a family like normal kids.

With that said he grabbed his trunk and Hermione and him proceeded to lead the way to the car. After his stuff was arranged in the boot the car set off for the long drive home. As soon as he left the protective circle a phoenix in a school in the middle of Scotland let loose a trill and dropped a gold tipped feather on an old man's desk.

The man in the half moon spectacles picked up the feather and asked a question aloud that nobody could answer.

"Oh Harry… Where have you gone now?"

With that being said Dumbledore turned back to Fawkes and spoke, "It is time. Gather the Order. Inform them we have a dire situation. Harry has gone missing."

With a flash of fire the phoenix was gone. The old man took a seat behind the desk and twirled the feather around. Pondering on how he could use this event to his advantage this time.