Hermione Granger was buried in the Hogwarts library reading with a desperation she had not used before. She was searching for anything that could possibly be used to tame, control, dissuade, distract, charm, influence or defeat a dragon. She had heard Ron mention getting a letter from his brother Charlie, saying that he would be seeing him shortly. Since he worked with dragons, it was not a large leap to assume that the first task involved dealing with a dragon. Knowing Harry's luck, he would get the nastiest one.

Here was a spell that would grant some immunity to fire, not enough to protect you from a dragon, but it may make the difference between injured and permanently barbecued and with it there was a hardening potion that enhanced the body's density. It was important to use both at the same time as well as ensure that the mind was completely free from magical influence. The first part of the potion was the same as that for finding your animagus form as it connected your body to your intentions, and complications occurred when the mind/body combination did not match exactly. She wondered idly whether it would have an effect on memory charms etc. There were people who thought that every event that happened in a person's life was reflected in their body, retaining a physical memory of sorts. 'It is a good thing Harry spent so much time in the hospital wing, they would have found out had his memory been modified like that long ago,' she reasoned. She trusted the nurse to have done such detections at some point. Unfortunately she was also dead wrong.

"Here Harry, we need to make a test run to ensure it doesn't impair any other facilities." He looked at her balefully. She always thought there should be more behind those eyes, so again she looked deeply into his, searching for something but not seeing it.

"Sure Hermione, what have I got to lose. I am only going to battle a dragon using a broomstick and nothing else between me and fire hot enough to melt steel." He knocked back the potion as he had done a dozen times before. He had had a great deal of practice with medical potions.

Hermione had just finished casting the fire immunity spell when Harry collapsed on the ground thrashing wildly. His eyes rolled back in his head and he opened his mouth in a silent scream of agony. Then his back arched lifting his entire body off the ground and as suddenly as it started, it stopped. His eyes glazed over for a second then cleared, now staring at the ceiling of the empty classroom they had commandeered to test their potion. His eyes went through this a second time, then a third. After that she lost count, but each time she saw him relax just a little bit more. Finally it stopped and his gaze held her. It had something she didn't remember seeing before but somehow expected. It penetrated to her depths like he knew things it was impossible to even guess.

"Hermione," he reached out and touched her cheek, wiping away the tears of her worry in the most tender gesture she remembered receiving from anyone not her mother.

"I am fine, Hermione." He sat up and looked at her with a burning intensity. Without explanation he reached for her and unbuttoned the top two buttons of her shirt. As her modesty started to kick in, he stopped and ran one finger to the side to pull out the necklace she wore. She had never shown him nor had anyone outside the girl's bathroom this piece of private jewelry. She didn't remember getting it but it was a piece of petrified wood that had been notched to allow it to be tied. A dark blue string of some sort of embroidery thread was wrapped around it and it had a single light blue bead tied to the front. The rest made a crudely woven chain that she tied around her neck. It looked like a child's craft project.

"You got this years before you came to Hogwarts," he said with certainty, "when you were eight years old. It was given to you by the person who made it."

Her eyes grew wide. She never said anything to the two girls who had actually seen and sneered at the necklace she loved. She knew she was fond of it, but had never considered what it could be or where she had gotten it.

"Do you know the primary signs that someone has obliviated specific memories, Hermione?" He sounded just a bit like her in lecture mode.

"Gaps in sequential knowledge of time, overuse can cause scattered memory issues and even intelligence loss until the correct memories are either admitted absent in the subconscious or restored, which is difficult or impossible depending on the relative strengths of the wizards or witches involved in the casting." She said this and it was nearly verbatim from the book.

"You are forgetting the next paragraph," he smiled gently.

"Other signs include if you encounter items which have unaccounted for sentimentality especially ones that you have no significant memories of receiving." She paused for a long time, eyes wide, before they narrowed dangerously. "Someone has been messing with my mind!" she shrieked. For Hermione this was one of the worst things that could possibly happen to her. She valued her intellect, memory and logic above all other attributes and talents.

"But," he interrupted her, "I can get some or all of them back, I think."

"How?" She realized the answer almost as soon as she said it. He had just taken a potion that somehow interacted with his mind and removed his memory modifications.

"But how did you know about the necklace, did I tell you then forget?" His smile almost melted her for a second, but she steeled herself. She was not the girl for him, he deserved someone prettier, who liked the spotlight that would always be his life.

"I want someone who can stand by me more." Her eyes snapped to his but he was already started to get up as if he hadn't said a word.

"Can you make another batch before the tri-wizard task?"

"Well," she went into planning mode, "I already planned on the one, but I won't be able to make both at the same time. We will just have to make do with waiting until after this task to fix my mind." Her heart sank as she said it. Every moment that she waited made her feel incomplete.

"No, Hermione. Having you intact is very important. Let's find a way to do this. We also may want… um I just thought of something. I don't know for sure who did this so we have to act now to prevent being in a worse place, in case the fox is guarding the henhouse. I need to know how to protect…" He looked at her and they both tensed for a second.

"Library," they said in unison laughing. The tension of the previous conversation eased. In a little more than an hour they were back in the empty classroom performing a charm that would help them prevent detection from their oppressors.

"Now we need something to make excuses for our aberrant behavior and I think I know how. One thing I want to make absolutely certain of, Hermione." She looked up intently at his suddenly serious mood.

"What I am asking now, although it may help with our plan, comes from me and the heart with everything I know."

She looked uncertain, but nodded.

"Will you go to Hogsmead with me, on a date?" She looked confused, but answered automatically. The next Hogsmead trip was a week away.

"Of course, but you don't have to." He stopped her with an annoyed glance and for a change she kept her thoughts to herself.

The next week they both dressed in nicer than average clothing and went on their first date. He was every bit the gentleman and she spent more time blushing than any other time with a boy in her memory. This seemed to be her reaction to a simple hand placed on her shoulder and countless other little reassurances that he was there 'with her.'

'I don't remember having a better time,' she thought to herself. The word 'remember' in her mind had her seething again about her loss of memory, that someone had invaded her head.

Seeing her tense up suddenly, and having a fair idea what type of thoughts were spoiling her day, he rubbed her back gently and leaned in close.

"There are better thoughts to dwell on, milady," he said in a quiet but not intimate voice.

"I know, but…"

"Yes. Let us live today. We will fix yesterday on some tomorrow if we can." He smirked at the philosophical sound of his comment.

"When did you get so smart?"

"Ah, milady, that is not the correct question." He looked at her again, his eyes boring into her mind willing it to function at peak capacity.

"So… when did you get not smart?" she finally realized. It was whenever the spells were cast on him. For some reason she had always expected him to be as smart as she was, or close, always to be slightly disappointed.

"That is the question, now that I am back. In addition, how do I keep it from happening again?"

"Occlumency," she said instantly.

"Pardon," he asked? She had still read much more than he had.

"Strengthening of the mind through rigorous training and defense. If you could throw off Professor Moody's imperious, you would likely be strong enough to block most memory charms. Too bad we don't have Lockhart to work with on this." She still blushed at how she had been taken in by his charming personality and looks a few years ago.

"Well, here we are." She looked at the fireplace and realized he intended to floo to another location. She nodded skeptically.

"The burrow," he flashed and was gone. She followed immediately.

Just as she stepped out into the living room he patiently moved her aside then stepped back in the floo, "6 Privette Drive," she heard as he floo'ed away again.

They were in a small suburban house when he instantly reactivated the foo, "Diagon Alley," he nearly shouted and she stopped finally, her head still spinning from three consecutive jumps.

"Hermione, is there a convenient way to carry more gold and other stuff? I mean this is a magical world. I have seen tents and cars that were bigger on the inside. Are there pouches and such that do the same thing?"

Without hesitation she turned into a shop in the alley. Shortly they were back with a pouch that had an extension that only they could get into and two trunks on order for when they got back from banking.

He made his way to Gringotts and presented his key. They went down to his vault and he took some money before they carefully travelled back. He enjoyed it immensely, as he loved the wild motion, but even more so because Hermione didn't like it and she was clinging to him for dear life.

Their next stop was the Ministry of Magic. They came in through the visitor's entrance, when asked he said they were there for. In a moment they both wore the badges that said 'unscheduled mischief.'

"Excuse me, I need Madam Bones office?" The auror he had stopped to ask for directions saw the badges and immediately grabbed them and headed to the head auror, Madam Bones herself.

"Madam, you have visitors, they say they are a Miss Granger and Mister Potter but they have no appointment." The weary DMLE head looked up suddenly. She was quite close to her niece, Susan, who was in the same year as the two students in her waiting area. Therefore she had heard stories about these students since first year.

"Show them in and say nothing of their visit," she almost barked, then stood and watched as the two teens entered with somber expressions and badges that said they were up to mischief.

"Well, I have heard about you two. Is Ron around?" her smile was genuine.

"Not on this mission ma'am." His turn of phrase twisted something in her mind and made her pay even more attention than before. What young teen called a visit to the head of law enforcement office a mission.

This is a summarized version of the conversation that took place.

"Perhaps you can elaborate on what you mean by 'mission.'"

"Before we begin, may we be sure of complete privacy?" Shocked that they should ask for this in the heart of the ministry, she paused a second, not hearing Harry mutter 'one' under his breath. She cast several muffling and anti-spying charms. After she was finished he began.

"Well for starters, I would like to file a complaint of attempted murder." Amelia was shocked again and even Hermione looked at him hard for a moment.

"Two," was whispered under Harry's breath as he kept track of the shocks they were bringing to the DMLE Head.

"Against whom?"

"The Ministry in general and Minister Fudge in specific. Without trial he has sentenced someone to receive the dementor's kiss on sight. That would constitute attempted murder. That the victim is the principle lord of a major house could also affect those charges."

"Well, House Potter isn't a major house."

"I wasn't under the impression it was, Ms. Bones."

"Then you are referring to?" she tried not to let her irritation show, she didn't like word games.

"Even the ministry should recognize that House Black is a major lord house." He looked at her expression and muttered 'three' under his breath.

"What is it here that I need to know?"

"This ministry has twice knowingly arrested and imprisoned people without trial. In one case holding the person for years with out even charging them with a crime. The case I am referring to is Sirius Black. I will pay court costs and any other pertinent fees to reopen the case. I am asking this since I know that the person he is accused of killing, at least the one in the magical world, is still alive. Both of us have personally met Peter Pettygrew in the last year." Catching on quickly, Hermione was watching the Head of the DMLE and unobtrusively held up four fingers, at seeing her expression at the mention of Peter.

"Four."

Hoping this was some elaborate hoax, she listened intently. After a short time she opened her door and called the auror who was still waiting and stationed her outside the door.

"I am not to be interrupted unless the ministry is in flames and my own door is actually on fire. You are to tell no one what I am doing or who you may believe is in my office, understand!" she snapped at the annoyed looking auror. Without waiting for an answer she turned back to listen attentively again.

"Now, the second case I would like to have at least filed is the imprisonment of Hagrid the Groundskeeper and Care of Magical Creatures instructor at Hogwarts.

"The first question I would like to ask is what evidence was there, but the more important question is 'for when was the trial scheduled?' Never mind that the stated reason for the arrest was because of a similar occurrence fifty years ago. The symptoms were students being petrified. Naturally Hagrid was accused again because he had kept an acrumantula as a pet at the time. It occurs to me to ask how an acrumantula can cause petrification. Their venom either kills or puts in a coma, certainly not the same thing."

"Five."

"Wait," Miss Bones said, "how do you know it was an acrumantula?"

"Oh, are you certain you want to know. I mean I sincerely doubt anyone would believe me." Harry looked steadily at her.

"Well, how much of this would you be willing to testify about under veritaserum?"

"All of it, I requested it after being entered in this dangerous tournament, but was denied."

"Six."

"How are you entered in the tournament? I thought I heard it was going to be restricted to adult students of seventeen years or older."

"The headmaster actually drew an age-line around the goblet requiring that to be true, but someone managed to enter my name anyway."

Hermione interrupted, "so instead of a tri-wizard tournament, we have a quad-wizard tournament."

"You mean after it was clear that someone had corrupted the magic involved you are still required to compete?" Hermione muttered a number under her breath.

"Seven."

"Yes, and the repercussions are worse this year than when we had to take down a basilisk."

"Eight."

"Who took down a basilisk, Harry?" Hermione interrupted, "tell the truth."

Amelia finally thought that she would see some exaggeration from the boy, 'I mean all boys do it,' she thought to herself.

"I meant when I killed the basilisk, sorry for the error," Harry corrected, "but I did have some help, especially the phoenix."

"Nine."

"$(*3$," Amelia swore. "You are telling me you killed a basilisk, and that it was what caused the petrifications? How did no one die, maybe I don't remember the details of my magical creatures class."

"It was 'sheer dumb luck,' like professor McGonnagal said after the we knocked out the troll first year. Well actually Ron knocked it out with your excellent coaching Hermione, wait. That was the planted memory. The truth was killing it with the transfigured club into giant needle."

"Yes, and you just jumped on its back and distracted…. Harry, what did I say about understating everything? Is that one of my memories that was tampered with too?" Harry nodded. "Ron wasn't even there."

"Ten."

"So, back to the acrumantula," Amelia was almost in shock so she let the thought of eleven and twelve year old students taking on a troll fall by the wayside.

"Well," Harry continued after he had her attention again, "it was after Hagrid was arrested that Ron and I followed the fleeing spiders and talked to Aragog, the acromantula head spider. I am guessing it is a she. But Aragog said that it was what the spiders fear the most, but wouldn't say what it was. Well Aragog said that Hagrid had never opened the chamber of secrets the first time and by implications had not done so the second time. Since I met Aragog I researched what its venom would do and that is how I know that it won't petrify." Harry took a deep breath.

"Eleven."

"Well, the arresting of Hagrid was the next one. Now where are we on our list, Hermione?" She just stared at him for a moment.

"Oh, right. The main reason for us coming here. I want an exemption for harming or possibly killing a protected magical creature. I believe it is illegal to harm them but the tri-wizard tournament will likely have me in a spot on this one."

"What kind of magical creature? Wait, I am not going to like this am I?" Amelia looked at him narrowly. "You're not going to have to fight acrumantula, are you?"

"No Ma'am. I have already done that, fortunately after a few minutes we were rescued by an enchanted car. In any case, are you acquainted with Charlie Weasley? You are more likely to know Arthur, his father since he works here."

"Yes, I know him," She answered.

"I heard that Charlie would be visiting in a timeframe that coincidentally matches the first tri-wizard task."

"Dragons!" Amelia started.

"Twelve."

"Yes."

"They expect children to face dragons?" her voice rose and she looked over at Hermione as if for confirmation and seeing her nod.

"Technically, I am the only one who is a child."

"Yes, well at least you will have a good excuse for a nice long rest at home this summer," Amelia quipped.

"I'd rather try the dragons," Harry muttered under his breath. Hermione barely heard it but then saw how his posture had suddenly changed. He was back to the unsteady Harry of his first year. She instantly stood, drawing Amelia's gaze.

"Thirteen."

"Can we have a short break? It would be nice if we could find something to drink and I want a private word with Harry." Hermione's voice was brittle and Amelia flinched at the tone.

"Of course. I have to check with the auror outside and will bring back something. We have been at it for quite some time. There is a lavatory to the right down the hall." She glanced at the boy who had casually mentioned tackling a basilisk and troll. He looked deflated and broken. The girl stepped in front of him, blocking her gaze. The intent was obvious and Amelia stepped out to let her young visitors regain some of their comportment.

"Harry," her voice was just a whisper in his ear and she received no response. She finally sat down and wrapped her arms around him. After a minute he let out a small noise and slapped his knee and Hermione heard an echo throughout the building, even through the wards. He finally started to breath normally. After a bit the door opened and he jerked upright, his usual expression back on his face.

Amelia was bringing tea service back to her office when she was stopped by a senior auror.

"What is going on Amelia? I just registered a concussive shot off the scale from this floor."

"What do you mean? What was the damage?" she was concerned. She didn't think that either teen was that powerful.

"No damage, just a shockwave. It was through the entire foundation, though. It even rattled the basement. Did you piss off Dumbledore? Actually I don't know if he could have done this. What are you playing at?"

"Janis, cap it, my authority, until you hear from me. Talk to no one."

"Very well."

She went back to her office and they had a cup of tea and some biscuits without speaking. When they were done, she set the tray back outside her door, noting that Harry seemed to be back to his typical self.

"Well, that was nice, now I can get you the exemption for the creatures if you are facing them in the tournament. What else can I do for you two?" she kept her voice pleasant.

"Can you send that exemption to Susan and have her give it to Hermione? I would like to keep this out of sight as much as possible."

"Fourteen."

"I think we should save the serious discussions for later."

Amelia shook her head. At the end of hours, she just sat staring at these two children, the same age as her Susan, and wondered if there was anything normal about them. She thought to herself, 'it is going to be next to impossible to relax tonight.'

"Oh, two more things," she groaned. Each 'one more thing' they mentioned had landed a pile of work and worry on her and her office.

"Yes," she grimaced as she said it and noticed an adult type of reassuring smile from Hermione.

"How do I hear the prophecy that has my name on it?" Harry's voice had that edge to it again. He was definitely not pleased with someone.

"I will get back to you on that, next."

"What does it take to hear my own parent's will? I don't know what it said," another shocked look from Madam Bones. "One would think it was automatic."

"Fifteen," Hermione said under her breath, counting the number of times Amelia Bones had completely lost her composure over their life so far.

"Agreed," he muttered.

"You are the heir, there should be no issue with you hearing it anytime you see fit."

"I would like to do so, now." He rose as if he expected her to immediately drop everything and take him to the department of records right now. Then again, since he had waited all these years, it was probably the right thing to do.

It was a very tired and happy couple that came back from their first date. A few people noticed how close they were, but with all the other couples and the sea drama of that was the tri-wizard tournament, it didn't make a big splash.

The next evening, after a miserable potions class where Harry did and said nothing but do his work, he walked up to the front of the classroom.

"Professor Snape," Harry put as much respect and humility as he could into his voice. They had feuded for far too long. "May I have a word with you privately. This isn't about school work."

Professor Snape looked around the room, "what are you all standing around here for? Five points Mister Weasley for loitering and eavesdropping."

After the door closed, Harry swallowed and began. Severus Snape had never heard this tone from Potter before. Either he was in deep trouble or something drastic had changed, in which case he was probably in even worse trouble than he knew.

"First, Professor Snape," Harry stood as tall as he could, shoulders back, as if facing a firing squad, "I, Harry Potter, heir and Head of Family Potter do formally apologize and offer to make amends and restitution as possible to Professor Severus Snape for injury and grievous insult done to said party by any and all members of House Potter including myself but especially James Potter. I offer restitution with a thousand galleons to be given in recompense to the injured party or to a charity should the party refuse, as a token of good faith. So swear I."

To say that Severus Snape was a bit surprised would be like saying the stars are a bit far away.

"In addition, I would like to turn over the legacy of Lily Evans Potter, recommended in her will, to Severus Snape, whom she still considered a friend, if an estranged one, until her dying day." He held out a box that Snape automatically opened. There was a letter, sealed only to him, and next to it was a small yellow flower preserved by magic.

In barely a whisper he said, "get out."

Harry fled, casting silencing and locking charms on the door as he did, so no one else intruded on a sobbing Professor Snape. He wiped his own tears back, not knowing the extent of the relationship between Severus Snape and Lilly Evans, but obviously they had been quite close at one time. The note in the will to him had been bad enough, he couldn't fathom the content of the more personal note just for Professor Snape. Harry hadn't realized that his father could be such a prat at times.

With no explanation given, potions were cancelled the next day and Professor Snape was not seen. After this announcement at breakfast, Ron Weasley stood, having just listened to something Seamus said, and walked over to Harry. He had noticed that Hermione was very close to Harry, even if he hadn't seen that his male friend was clearly upset by something.

"So the tournament wasn't enough was it?" He nodded toward Hermione holding onto Harry's hand. "You had to use the 'pity me I am poor famous rich Harry Potter' to get her sympathy just so you could get into her…"

Harry interrupted by barking aloud, "Fred! George! Please explain to your brother that he is coming dangerously close to making a lifetime mistake, letting his mouth override other more important considerations. Should he insist on insulting Hermione in this fashion…" he didn't finish the statement, not wanting to make specific threats.

"Hermione," Harry said in a soothing tone while he looked at her. She watched with dull eyes as Ron's brothers literally dragged him out of the Great Hall, trailed by Ginny playing rear guard who simply said in a firm voice, "family matter," to the table. The look in her eye made it clear that she would hex anyone who interfered.

"Now that the cat is out of the bag, can I ask you one more thing, just to make sure I know where we stand?" He looked nervous, she thought.

"Say what you want to say, Harry." She smiled reassuringly.

"Would you be my official girlfriend? I wanted to wait until we get that final potion project done, but things are getting messy and I want to know where we stand with each other, if romance or friendship. So, what will it be, friend or girlfriend?" Their voices had drifted into quieter tones that couldn't be heard a few feet away.

"Yes Harry," she smile again and kissed him on the cheek. "We can at least give it a try." She laughed at the look of relief on his face.