"Harry what the hell happened to you? Which one of these so called realities of yours did this?" Hermione asked heatedly. She was looking at every detail now trying to find even the slightest bit wrong with anything on him. Other than the bruising on his face and the deformation of his jaw and nose, Harry looked fine. Hermione crossed her arms and gave him a look that would have made even McGonagall back away in fear. The magical energy she was putting off was knocking pictures of Dudley and knick-knacks off shelves in the living room.
"Her-Her-Hermione I am fine. It w-w-was just a misunderstanding please let's just goes and get out of here before Vernon gets back." Harry stammered as though trying to explain something he had done wrong to Mrs. Weasley. He laughed in his head he would rather have Mrs. Weasley standing in front of him than the 5'8" witch that was standing in front of him ready to jinx anyone she seen other than Harry. He choose not to laugh out loud as that would have brought he fury onto himself and that wasn't what he wanted.
"Harry this is not right and we are going to St. Mungo's once we get back to my house to get you looked at, and we are contacting Dumbledore." Hermione replied rather forcefully. Harry gave a slight shudder to those words and the voice behind them. While he knew she wasn't angry at him she was still scary when she got that way.
Harry looked at her and almost wanted to laugh. He would have if he wouldn't have been jinxed then and there and left for his uncle to beat on him some more. What would they say at St. Mungo's when they saw Harry Potter, the chosen one, beaten by his muggle Uncle. Would they laugh at him for being simply enough to be beaten by a muggle or would they feel sorry for him. He guessed he would find out later as he knew there was no way to get out of this when Hermione set her mind to it. "Ok that is fine Hermione but now we have to hurry so we can get out of here before Uncle Vernon shows up and start a scene," Harry voice not shaking but was rather relaxed and calm.
After 15 minutes, they had all of Harry stuff to Hermione's parents SUV and Hermione had given Hedwig a note, that she had quickly scribbled, to take somewhere. Harry bid goodbye to both his aunt and his cousin. Harry figured Hermione had done filled her parents in on what had happened to Harry cause both of them were heatedly whispering about something as he opened the door. As he got in a comfortable position, he snapped his seat belt on and they were off. The trip to Hermione's house was rather uneventful and quite. He did catch a few words off what Hermione parents were talking about and decided that his uncle had made a bad first impression by using Harry as a punching bag. Harry spent most of his time looking out the window as they past towns and empty fields. When they finally pulled up to the house Harry took in this beautiful setting.
The house had beige siding and was a two-story house a lot like the Dursley's but it was inviting and friendly. The shrubs in the front yard looked as if the house had been built around them instead of them being planted around the house. The nearest house was about a mile down the road and beautiful trees that Harry could not identify surrounded the house. A large privacy fence kept wondering eyes from spying on the family. Harry stared in awe at the house. This was the type of house he envisioned that he would have grew up in if he parents were still alive.
"Ok Harry let's get your stuff inside and get ready to head off for St Mungo's. Hopefully they can fix you up and you don't have to look like this." Hermione's voice almost fades into nothing as she finished the last part. She seemed to have lost her steam from her earlier rage and was now calming down and becoming level headed again.
"Alright but Hermione I have one question. How are we supposed to get there other than driving?" Harry asked looking quizzically at Hermione. He figured she would have already thought this out. Her house had no floo powder and probably wasn't even connected to the floo network as it was. Neither of them could apperate yet and even if they could neither knew where St Mungo's was other than it was outside of London. Therefore, that also took out the idea of driving there so they would have to contact an Order member to take them.
"Well for you information Mr. Potter, I am here to apperate with you two to St Mungo's." Dumbledore's wise voice cracked in. Harry looked at the old and weathered faced man. He seen no twinkle in Dumbledore's eye but he did see something that looked like rage and disgust. Harry felt like it was himself that caused this look in Dumbledore's eyes. Finally Dumbledore spoke once more, "Harry don't ever think that I don't care about you or that you are a burden around me I have some more to tell you later but it can wait right now we have to get you looked at."
"Professor it's my fault if I hadn't have woke Vernon up none of this would happen," Harry looked down at the tops of his off brand sneakers. Tears swelled up in his eyes he felt that he had already failed if his uncle, who was a muggle, could do this to him how was he ever going to beat Tom Riddle. He felt as Hermione's small hand lay comfortably on his back and patted him a few time.
What he did not see was the glares of death that Hermione shot at Dumbledore. This was his fault mostly because Dumbledore forced Harry to go back there every summer this was bound to happen. Dumbledore could not see what those people did to Harry; all he could see was that Harry was safe from Death Eater and Voldemort. Then she seen Dumbledore start to shed silent tears and she felt she was wrong that it was not Dumbledore's fault that he had just thought Harry would be safe. He didn't figure the muggles would go this far against him.
"Harry grab my hand you need to go get looked at and healed," Dumbledore said while taking his glasses from his face and wiping his eyes. Harry grab for the old wrinkled hand that Dumbledore put out and then the disapperated as if they were never there. Harry felt like he was being sucked through one of those twisty straws.
As they appeared in St Mungo's Harry could tell the place was busy. Healers where running after each other as they went from patient to patient. Even with the beautiful design, the hospital had the horrid feeling of death about it. The woman at the desk looks like she had lack of sleep and was about on her fifth day working nonstop. She looked at Harry and asked, "Full name please?"
"Harry James Potter." Hermione's soprano voice answered for him. The women at the desk suddenly looked up trying to find the lightning bolt scar that was covered by the jet-black mess of hair on Harry forehead. Harry eyes dropped to the floor even after almost six years of this it still made him uncomfortable. Dumbledore stepped forward and cleared his throat.
"Right, Mr. Potter goes to room 314 down that hallway," the woman finally said pointing to the right of the somber trio. The group wondered down the hallway and after finally passing many rooms found 314. The room was rather colorless as all the walls were white and there was a gurney and two white armchairs. There was nothing very special about the room there was no painting on the wall not even something to keep the other entertained. Harry looked around wondering why these rooms were so boring and dull.
Harry sat on the bed while Dumbledore and Hermione filled in the two armchairs on the both sides of the bed. Harry could barely see though his swelled eyes as he felt Hermione grab his hand and squeeze it for support. "Harry listen you need to just stay calm and tell them what happened. I am sure Dumbledore and I can sure handle the Dursleys but I think it best the ministry take care of it unless they want to lock us up after we kill that fat pig you call your Uncle Vernon." Hermione voice was more soothing to him this time. Harry laughed in his head about the fat pig part but didn't say anything as he felt it wasn't the right place to say something.
Just then, a very young looking blond healer came in. She looked very intelligent as well as she looked like an actress just playing as a doctor. She gasped as she looked at the very beaten Harry Potter sitting in front of her. "Hello my name is Dr. Pettis. What happened to you sir," the young healer said shakily. She looked at the scar and began shaking slightly/
"My Uncle, who is a muggle, beat me with his fist," Harry felt like crying why it he could not use was magic to defend himself from his Uncle. Hermione grabbed his hand and squeezed it to show her support. Harry tried his best to give Hermione a smile but it was rather lopsided. The muscles in the other side of his face
"I am sorry sir please sit still while I go to work," Dr. Pettis replied more stable the before. She pulled her wand out. With a few words and a few flick of her wand, Harry felt much better than before. He could see clearly and felt no pain where he had before. Hermione pulled Harry into a big bear hug that Harry accepted and loved. His feeling for Hermione had changed during the last two years but he had kept them to himself since Voldemort's return.
They broke apart when Dumbledore's questioning voice broke through the air, "What are we supposed to do about the Uncle fill out a report or something along those lines." Dumbledore's eyes held no sign of a twinkle today. In these almost ice blue eyes, there was rage and hatred but no sign of the normal Dumbledore.
Dr. Pettis looked at the floor, her voice barely audible, and "The ministry doesn't deal with these types of affairs they stay away from them. All you can do is get the boy out of the home and keep him out if at all possible."
Hermione's voice almost woke every patient in the building, "WHAT YOU MEAN THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT HARRY BEING BEATEN BY HIS UNCLE EVEN THOUGH THAT MAN DESERVES IT." Harry could feel the magic around her spike. The lighting in the room flickered and her eyes were glowing a deep blue. The Doctor looks as if she was going to be killed by this 15-year-old girl standing in front of her. Harry wrapped his arms around Hermione and the magic force field began to die down.
"Listen I don't like it as much as you do but there is nothing I can do about it," The doctor nervously said as she walked out the door. Dumbledore looked shock but pleased with Hermione. Harry was still holding her hoping her angry would not be channeled at him. He felt her calm down as she relaxed in his arms.
Dumbledore had figured as much but knew he could control his temper a lot better than Hermione and Harry both. He almost cried when he seen the two teens that stood before him. Change the girl's hair and eye color to match Lily and the boy's eye color to match James and it would almost be that the two were standing before him once again. Dumbledore wanted to cry at the thought of his late son. "I think we pay Mr. Dursley's a visit at home and give him a slight warning," Dumbledore said trying very hard to hold back tears.
"Hermione I want you to promise me one thing you won't jinx Vernon on site or do any other magic to him to get you in trouble. I need you in school to help keep my arse out of trouble when I get into it and for homework reasons." Harry was looking dead into her eyes. He was hoping she would not fight this too much but then again who knew how angry she was.
"Fine, Harry, but you know once I become of age next year I am going to change him into a punching bag and give it to you for your birthday," Hermione giggled at this idea but was not by any means joking. Harry was stunned at how well this went and how easily he had diverted Hermione anger.
"Ok well then shall we go pay my dear relatives a nice visit," Harry said almost too merrily. With this Dumbledore extended, his hand and both teens grab it and they were gone. Harry felt a slight tug behind his naval though not as bad as using a port key. He took in the surroundings of Privet Drive. Something was different yet he could not quite place it. The moon was hanging in the sky and clouds past under it casting little light on the surrounding areas. Then his eye was glued to the green skull with the snake moving through the eyes. The dark mark was place neatly above the middle of Harry's aunt and uncle's home.
Harry reached for his wand while he looked around his dim surroundings looking for anything that stood out as odd. Once he seen his surrounding area was clear he moved quickly to the house. Inside the house was destroyed. Two large chucks of walls and the celling was lying in front of the kitchen doorway. Harry moved from the front door trailed by Hermione and Dumbledore covering his back. Harry was peeked around the corner pulling back quickly as he heard a deep voice cut through the air around him, "Listen Petunia we know the boy was here where did he go. You should know by now I am not going to wait all night and should I would hate to have to take you in front of the Dark Lord."
The next voice Harry knew was that of Bellatrix Legs Tran, "Why don't we just kill her now she is useless to us. I would not bring this filthy mud-blood in front of Master. Who knows where Potter is and who cares right now? We don't have long before the Order gets here and breaks up our fun."
This made Harry almost want to jump out and yell at his aunt she had been a witch but yet had always said she was a muggle. Harry nodded to Dumbledore and both of them jumped out from there cover. As both Death Eaters jumped and turned they heard twin voice almost scream out "Stupefy" before they could even get there wands to the two new targets that had just joined them. Both Death Eaters fell to the floor as the red streams of light him them in the middle of their chest.
"Harry I am going to apperate with your aunt to Grimauld Place and I need you and Hermione to bound the Death Eaters on the floor and make sure the area is clear." Dumbledore instructed hurriedly as his grad the limp witch on the floor and disappeared into thin air without sound. Harry nodded to Hermione and pointed to some rope lying on the table. Harry went and grabs a knife from the kitchen as Hermione grab the rope from the table. A few minutes later they had bound both Bellatrix and Dolahov sit back to back their heads still hung as if they were sleeping. Hermione kicked the bigger of the two and muttered something about "payback."
Harry walked away to look at the rest of the House in the living room his Uncle Vernon laid on the floor with his eyes and mouths wide open. Both sets of eyes were lifeless. Harry felt Vernon had deserved his fate but did feel he deserved it. As he and Hermione moved through the house room by room they found a few bodies of Death Eaters they looked the same as the one Dursley's lying in the living room floor. Harry thought maybe Aunt Petunia killed them and was trying to figure out where Dudley had run of to. It was not impossible thought now because he had just found out she was a muggle born. Why hadn't she told him about this and what his parents did she have to have known. He shook the thought out of his head as he heard 20 identical "pop" sounds from the kitchen of the once lively home. Harry grab Hermione's hand and led her back downstairs to see Order members looking around at the mess of this once spotless home. Harry noticed Bill, Charley, Mr., and Mrs. Weasley first because it wasn't hard to see fire red hair in the dark. Then he notice Tonks and Lupin holding hand but this did not shock Harry he somehow figured that they had been lovers for some time. Harry had never seen quite a few other Order members before.
Harry made his way to Dumbledore and told him the house was clear. Dumbledore cleared his throat and everyone attention immediately turned their attention towards him. "Listen this attack was planned to find out where Harry is staying. Now we need to find Dudley Dursley and move him to Grimauld Place with his mother. Harry will still stay with the Grangers but I need at least four members to guard the house at all times. Is this understood?" Dumbledore finished and much to his approval he seen all 20 people nod their head. " Ok with that out of the way I think it is time that I take Harry and Hermione back to her house before her parents withdraw her from Hogwarts," Dumbledore looked around the room to any objections. None came and just as if they had never been standing there, they were gone.
When Harry's feet finally hit the ground, he stumbles and almost fell because of how tired he was. Harry, Hermione, and Dumbledore went through the events of the night with Hermione's parents. It took almost half an hour to go thought everything that happened. Harry had expected them to say that he could not stay and that he could not be near their daughter.
"Ok well both of you two need to get a good night of sleep after what happened today," Mrs. Granger smiled looking at the two teens. Harry wanting to call her crazy but either the lack of sleep wasn't letting him say much or the fact that shock had hit him square in the face he couldn't say a word. With that, both teens climb the stairs and Hermione departed him two doors down from the guest bedroom. She gave him a kiss on the lips and pulled back when she realized where she was kissing Harry blushing. Hermione quickly ran in her room and closed her door.
Harry stood there in shock for a few minutes before lazily slouching his way to his own bed. After closing the door and putting on some sleep pants, Harry allowed himself to fall upon the bed. After getting under the covers and his head found the right place on the pillows, he drifted into a deep sleep.
Hermione's Room just a few seconds before
Hermione Granger fell onto her queen size bed tired but not able to sleep. Today was supposed to be a good day. She would finally get to spend the day with Harry and not have Ron always butting in when she was trying to talk to Harry. Now she looked back at the ruined day's events. She had found Harry in a worse condition she had seen him in other than that time in their 2nd year when Lockhart had tried to heal Harry's broken arm and had made even born broken or not in his arm vanish. Then there was that time in 4th year after Voldemort came back and he and Harry had dueled. Also just a few months before when Harry, her, and their friend had went into the ministry. Yet this was worse than she had ever seen him. Harry had been grieving Sirius, was starved, and was beaten. It was almost more than she could take. As Hermione thought about some more of what happened she heard Harry scream, "No Tom you can kill her. You cannot I love her. Hermione wake up. Hermione!"
The brunette teen got out of her bed and ran down the hall. If she had not grabbed the door handle, she would have slid past the door. After opening the door and seeing Harry was having a nightmare she took a relaxing breath. A few seconds later, her parents were standing beside her panting. They had been worried with the screaming. Mrs. Granger was the first to speak, "What should we do." She was worried she had not seen anyone have nightmares like this.
"Mum, Dad, just go back to bed I will take care of him," Hermione said her dark brown eye worried as she had only heard about how bad Harry's nightmares had been. Both her parents left after bidding her goodnight. Hermione closed the door as she seen them turn the corner down the hall and then heard their bedroom door shut. As Hermione was walking over to comfort Harry, he sat straight up out of bed looking around sweat glistening off his forehead just below the visible lightning bolt scar. That damn scar is the cause of most of his trouble I wish he did not have to be a part of any of this but then again I guess faith had other plans for him, Hermione thought to her. "Harry it just me Hermione I heard you from my bed room and wanted to make sure you're ok," Hermione called out in her soprano voice.
"Thank you Hermione and I are sorry that you had to hear that. I guess I am just not the great, brave leader everyone thinks I am," Harry replied sheepishly. He looked down noticing that he was only clad in a pair of oversized athletic shorts and blushed slightly.
"Harry James Potter, I don't ever want to hear you talk like that again. Being brave isn't about not having fears but over coming those fears to protect the ones you love," Hermione finished crossly and in the dimly lit room could see Harry just nod his head to keep from further arguing.
"Hermione, can you sleep next to me tonight? That might keep from having nightmares." Harry asked tiredness in his voice. He had felt safe in her embrace and only wished that he would sleep quietly next to her.
"Yes Harry I will maybe it will keep us both from having nightmares." Hermione said before crawling under the covers with Harry. Harry had missed the part about her nightmares or else he would have asked. Harry too tired to do anything else rolled his back to her. Hermione laid her back to his and both of them fell asleep too tired to do anything else.
The next morning 6:30 A.M.
Mrs. Granger opened her daughter's door to find her bed empty. She did not panic but was slightly worried. She briskly swept down the door of the guest bedroom to find her daughter being held tightly in the arms of a scrawny looking boy. Jane Granger smiled as the sight of Hermione lying sleeping in Harry's arms reminded her of her teenage years laying in the arms of her now husband. Just then, a familiar pair of arm wrapped around her waist and a set of lips kissed the back of her head tenderly. "You think we should wake them and look pissed off or just let them sleep and get to work," Mr. Granger tried hard not to laugh, as it would wake the two sleeping teens.
"Let's just go to work. It is not like we weren't like that at their age. They make a cute couple if only they had the guts to admit it to each other," Mrs. Granger mussed at the pair of adolescents sleeping together as if it was the only peaceful place on Earth. She only got a soft chuckle in response from her husband as the adults made their way to the front door and to the car.
"You know that boy in there will one day be our son-in-law if our daughter has anything to say about," Mr. Granger said seriously, as he quietly closed his door and gently started the mid-sized SUV. He buckled his seatbelt and slide the key in the ignition.
"I know. I know," Mrs. Granger beamed at her husband giving him a slight kiss before they began their commute to work.
8:30 Granger house hold guest bedroom
Harry woke up with the sound of pecking filling his ears. Forgetting where he was for a second, he began to kick out of bed before he noticed that bushy brown hair was tickling his nose. He opened his eyes to see a peaceful Hermione sleeping soundly on his shoulder. He smiled as he thought she is so cute even with that bit of drool on my shoulder. You know after I defeat Voldemort I might as her out on a date if it is not too late. I want to tell her how I feel now but that would only put her in danger.
Harry did not move for the next hour until Hermione began to stir. First, she buried her head deeper into Harry's shoulder and then she looked to see his eyes staring at her she blushed and sat up quickly. How long had he been awake watching her she wondered to herself blushing even more when she felt the little bit of drool still running down her chin? Harry laughed to himself, as her checks were redder than Ron's hair. After she had sat up Harry went over to the window and took the four envelopes from the owl that had been sitting patiently at the window for the last hour. Two letters we addressed to him one with the Hogwarts emblem with wax on the back and the other with the Ministry seal on the back. The two teens decided to get dressed out of their nightclothes. After Hermione returned into the room in Jeans and a tight fitting tee shirt. Harry could not help but stare at the beauty of Hermione she didn't look like the same book worm that he had been friends with for the last 5 years. Finally, Harry snapped out of it and tossed her the two letters addressed to Hermione.
Dear Mr. Harry James Potter,
Here are the results from you OWL this last year I hope that they are reaching your expectations. If you have, any questions ask me, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Minerva McGonagall. If you need a change in occupation, please speak with the Headmaster or myself. Your grades have pleased both the Headmaster and me. Here they are.
Defense against the Dark Arts.
Written O
Practical O+
Average O+
Transfiguration Charms Potions
Written O
Practical O
Average O
Written O
Practical O
Average O
Written O
Practical O
Average O
Care of Magical Creatures Herbology Divination History of Magic Astronomy
Written O
Practical O
Average O
Written O
Practical O
Average O
Written E
Practical A
Average E
Written A
Practical-none
Average -A
Written E
Practical -N/A: all practical results were declared null and void due to unforeseen circumstances
Average E
Congratulations, Mr. Potter you have passed the entire required OWL to become an Aurora and I believe that you still wish to be that. Unless that has changed, I hope you are happy with your exam results. Also only three people in the world have gotten an O+ in Defense against the Dark Arts
Harry about fainted he looked at Hermione who was frowning slightly. "There is no reason I should have gotten an E in History of Magic. Well you did faint while I was taking my exam." Hermione sulkily said.
"You got passed all your classes and are upset about having an E in history of Magic," Harry said astonished that she was upset about that.
"Yes Mr. Potter I wished that I could have had all O but I guess I am not allowed that," Hermione replied, in a tone that would have made Mrs. Weasley cry of how good it sounded, looking over the letter from Hogwarts.
Harry opened his Hogwarts letter and began reading rather that push his luck any father with the beautiful witch.
Dear Harry Potter,
Hello Harry I hope you are excited for your 6th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Now I am sorry to inform you that I can't make you perfect this year seeing as I already have two fine ones from your year and house but seeing as you are president and leader of the club Dumbledore's Army, nice name I might add, that you should be like a perfect but also have the burden of caring for the security measure of the students on the train and at the school. I also wish to inform you that your quidditch ban has been lifted and you have been placed as Gryffindor's team captain. In addition, I will be giving you private lessons we shall talk more about these on the day after you return to Hogwarts. Now I hope you enjoy the rest of you break with Miss Granger. Oh, I almost forgot a list of the school books needed are attached to the back of this letter. The weekend before you are to board the train on platform 9 and ¾ some Order members will escort Miss Granger and yourself to Dagon Alley on August 22 to buy you books and whatever else you need to be ready for your school year.
You're Headmaster,
Albas Dumbledore
Harry was shocked to say the least. Why would Dumbledore do this for me now? Last year he thought it would be an over load for me. While Harry was thinking, Hermione was sitting on the bed trying to figure out what he was thinking. She thought to herself "What has Dumbledore done now? Why can't anyone just give Harry a break he deserves it, does he not? Wait a minute he is smiling meaning Dumbledore didn't do something that is going to upset him thank god." Finally Hermione broke the silence in the room, "What is it Harry?"
Harry just remembered she was in the room as her voice hit his ears. "Well Dumbledore made me something like a prefect but I have more duties than you or Ron does. I am in charge of setting up security details. Oh by the way, why are the Weasley's busy this summer?" he asked the question he had been meaning to.
"Well after the battle at the ministry Fudge was sacked quicker that anyone could say He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. After Fudge was sacked, Dumbledore used some of his influence to get Arthur as minister. That was one of the best things that could happen but I hear it's took Arthur and Molly by surprise because everyone expected Dumbledore to become minister," Hermione said.
"Well that's good I bet Ron is excited about it," Harry smiled as things had taken a turn for the better even in these dark times.
Hermione's face fell at the thought of Ron. A week before she went to get Harry her and Ron got into an argument about it. Somehow, Ron thought that Harry and Hermione had something going on other than just being friends, while Ron felt that he and Hermione were meant to be. Hermione had feeling for Harry and thought of Ron as a brother but would take that to her grave. "I wouldn't know Ron and me aren't on speaking terms because of an argument we had," Hermione stated not looking up from the floor.
"That's just great what it was about now. Well I had better not push the issue to much I know Ron likes Hermione but she does not feel that way with him. Wait how would I know that? I mean I always thought that maybe after this war me and her might have a date or take a shot at being a couple. I should not be thinking that if Ron has feelings for her. Ron is my best mate. But then again if she doesn't have feelings for me why did she sleep in the same bed as me last night?" Harry thought to himself in his head. He started rubbing the bridge of his nose as he began to have a headache. "Well you two will eventually become friends again. It can't be any worse that it was in any of your last arguments." Harry chucked a bit trying to get her in a better mood. Hermione still had not looked up from the floor and had forced out the few giggles she let out. When she finally looked into his eyes, he could see that she was not smiling but had sadness in her beautiful chocolate eyes. "Hermione if I don't see one of those smiles that you use to get me in a better mood in a few minutes, I guess I am going to have to tickle it out of you," Harry said trying to sound serious. It was hard not smiling with the expression that came across her face.
With her best McGonagall glare she replied, "Mr. Potter unless you want to jinxed into next week I wouldn't dare try it." She had to force herself to keep the glare because he was laughing so hard he fell on the floor. Finally, after a few seconds longer Harry leaped from the floor and pouched out her tickling any place he could. Instantly she began laughing and finding it hard to fight away from him. She began to feel her sides cramping for the constant laughter. Harry was smiling as he finally stopped. His head was only a few centimeters away from hers. Her chocolate eyes were locked into his jade green ones and vice versa. She began creeping close as she closed her eyes ready to kiss his sweet lips.