Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related names and places are the legal property of J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury, and AOL Time Warner, and various others… and have been used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended.
A/N: I am completely determined to finish this story. It may take forever, but… I wasn't sure whether to continue since HBP came out since it's all completely AU now, but I figure what the heck. Though I completely love the book now, (it's overtaken PoA as my favorite book of the series…though just narrowly.) I've realized I can't get this story out of my head. I spent lots of long hours at work, staring at my computer, completely dazed and rewriting different parts in my head. I've re-written the ending at least a dozen times and have finally whittled my choices down to two. Not sure which I'll use, but they're both great so I may do one and then do an alternate ending…hmmm… Anyway, my schedule has calmed down a bit and maybe I can devote a lot more time and have this thing finished before the last book comes out….LOL!
It was a few days until his birthday, and Harry couldn't remember ever being so excited. He was flat on his stomach, halfway under his bed, fishing out any last minute items trying to escape the confines of his trunk. Pulling out two spare quills and a bag of owl treats, he stood up triumphantly.
He had yet to tell his family that he would be leaving for good sometime in the next few days. He wanted to see the looks on their faces, when he hauled everything he owned downstairs to await his guard. Not that he expected anything short of pure jubilation from them, but it would at least give him some satisfaction. As he threw the last remaining items in his trunk, Harry looked over at Hedwig. She sat watching him, tilting her head from one side to the other.
"Just think girl, soon you can come and go as you please. No more being locked up in your cage."
Hedwig gave what Harry assumed was a happy hoot, and gave herself a shake. Harry looked down into his trunk. There seemed to be more stuff when it was scattered about the room, but the trunk seemed still very empty. Shrugging it off, he began to check off his final packing list.
Dumbledore had never said exactly who was coming to fetch him or when they would arrive; he had simply given him instructions the night before to be packed and ready to go at a moments notice.
It was quite a shock when Harry entered his bedroom after dinner and found his headmaster sitting serenely on his bed looking as though visiting his students' bedrooms was perfectly natural.
Harry gave a frightened yell, and then clapped a hand over his mouth once he recognized Dumbledore.
"Good evening Harry. I hope you are well. Forgive me this intrusion, but I thought it best not to disturb your aunt and uncle for just a momentary meeting with you."
"It's okay, sir. I'm not sure they would have been very happy to see you."
Harry sat in the little chair placed at his desk and looked at Dumbledore.
"Well, I suppose we should press on to business then. Harry, you know that you will come of age in a certain number of days. And on that day the protection you have while residing with your aunt and uncle will expire."
Harry nodded, not taking his eyes from Dumbledore.
"Naturally this means you will have to be removed from this place and taken to a more secure location. All the details are being sorted out as we speak, but for cautions sake I cannot tell you about the finer details. I will ask that after this evening you have your belongings packed and ready to leave at a moments notice. I shall select the day and time for you to leave at random…" Dumbledore smiled widely at Harry's incredulous look. "Don't worry Harry; I'm sure it will be sooner than later. The fewer people who know our plans the better, I say."
Dumbledore stood and fastened his cloak. "I'm sorry I haven't more time to chat, Harry, but there is much to be done."
"Do we know anymore about Voldemort's plans, sir?" But seeing Dumbledore's smile, Harry knew he wouldn't get an answer. "I know, you can't tell me."
"You will know a great deal soon enough. I promised to never keep secrets from you again Harry. Moreover, I will honor that promise unless I see reason not to. Do not worry, Harry. I believe we will see more of each other in the coming year than in the past. We have a common goal, but a very different path. I am determined to help you on your journey as much as I can."
Harry nodded. "Sir, can I ask you something else?"
"I see no reason why not."
"Well, once I leave here; do I…well do I ever have to come back?"
Dumbledore looked at Harry without speaking. Harry stared back, but finally dropped his gaze to the floor. "No, Harry, you need never return to this house if you do not wish to." For the first time in a long while, Dumbledore's voice shook very slightly.
The headmaster left shortly, reminding Harry to be ready to leave at any moment. Harry hadn't been able to sleep. He kept getting up and adding more things to his list, and checking that everything was in order. Finding everything had been more difficult than he thought, and he began to worry that he wouldn't have it all before he had to leave. At three in the morning, when he'd knocked over the bookshelf and woke Vernon (who roared for twenty minutes) Harry finally decided to get some sleep. He slept for about two fitful hours before beginning his packing again.
"Get down here for breakfast, this instant!" Petunia yelled up the stairs.
Harry smiled to himself. "Coming!" He had ignored the first three times she'd yelled. He wanted to be packed and haul everything down with him. Breakfast seemed to be the perfect moment to spring the news on them. Maybe Dudley would choke on his grapefruit…
Hermione yawned widely and looked out her window. It seemed awfully bright… Taking the clock from her bedside table, she gave a squeak. Never in her life had she slept past seven o'clock!
Just as she pulled her dressing gown on, someone knocked at her door.
"Come in."
Ron, smiling shyly, pushed open her door. He was bearing a tray of eggs, sausages, toast and coffee. "You missed breakfast, but Mum saved you this. Ginny said you were still asleep, so we decided not to wake you."
Hermione sat back down on her bed and frowned. "I'm sorry, Ron. You know you don't have to keep saving me breakfast, or letting me oversleep."
Sitting beside her, Ron pushed her curls back from her face. "You deserve the rest. It was long night."
Hermione dropped her gaze. Last night had been bad. It had started out fine; she, Ron, and Ginny had played Exploding Snap for a while. Eventually Hermione retired to the sofa and watched Ginny try to beat her brother at chess. She didn't remember falling asleep, but when the dreams came she wanted desperately to wake up.
She saw that night again. Hermione watched her father trying to protect her mother, saw the flashes of light, heard the screams. She stepped in front of her parents, trying to hold them off.
"Dad! Take Mum and go! You can't fight them; you won't stand a chance! I already called for help! Get out of here!"
Her screams had eventually woken her, and she found herself clinging to Ron. Shaking, she pressed her face to his shoulder and sobbed even harder. Ginny smoothed her hair and breathed soothing words into her ear. It was the same every time; Ginny and Ron would spend hours holding her and trying to calm her fears.
Hermione looked around at Ron, who was studying her. "I'm fine…really. Today feels like a good day."
Giving her a smile, he ran a hand through his hair. "Well, you'd better eat up. Mum's already had Ginny and me working, and you're certainly not going to get away with hiding out up here much longer."
At that exact second, Molly shouted up the stairs. "Ron, is Hermione up yet?"
"Yes, Mrs. Weasley! I'm up and I'll be down in a bit!"
"Oh well, dear, no hurry. Ron, I want you downstairs and back to cleaning up around that pond!"
Ron sighed as he heard the back door slam behind his mother. "She's gone completely over the edge. This wedding is going to drive us all mad. Harry's lucky that he gets out of this whole cleaning thing."
"Does anyone know when he's coming?" Hermione asked as she took a bite of toast.
"If they do, they aren't telling. I don't even think Mum and Dad know." Ron nicked a piece of sausage from Hermione's plate and crossed to the door. "Better hurry up or all the decent jobs will be taken. Ginny's up to her elbows in dirt, trying to clear out the flower beds. If you aren't careful, she'll mange to get you pulled down with her."
Hermione sat, exhausted and covered in dirt, at the base of the old tree. Night was falling, and Mrs. Weasley would soon be calling her for dinner. She wanted just a few more minutes of peace and quiet. Ron and Ginny had already retreated to the house to wash up, but Hermione had lingered behind. She leaned back onto the cool bark and let the soft wind play across her face.
She was exhausted; not as much physically but mentally. When she'd first arrived here, she'd had the horrible dreams every night. Molly had eventually set her to drinking a specially brewed tea that, Hermione had correctly guessed, was laced with a dreamless sleeping draught. Hermione tried not to drink it too often, she hated depending on a potion just to be normal. She felt awful for keeping everyone up at night. Every time she finally awoke from these dreams to find Ron cradling her, with Ginny smoothing her hair down and whispering to her. She couldn't figure out why this seemed to calm her down above anything else, but it did. In the beginning Molly had tried to calm her, but Hermione only found herself crying harder and yelling louder. She guessed it had something to do with the fact that Molly was more of a mother figure towards her, and it was her mother she missed more than anything at those moments. So eventually, Ron and Ginny took up the task of calming her, while Molly brewed the tea and tucked her in when it was all over.
Since she and Ron had made the agreement to "be normal" a few days earlier, things seemed better. Last night had been the first nightmare in a week. Perhaps, not hearing about death and destruction was a good thing for her. When Ginny had heard about their idea, she decided to join along.
"I've had enough horrible news. Besides, think of all the things we could be doing instead of lurking around trying to hear what the Order's up to."
So they had stopped listening at key holes, lurking behind doors and furniture, and Hermione had even given up her subscription to the Daily Prophet. Their time was now spent teaching Hermione to play Quidditch (which she was fantastically horrible at), lounging in the yard, and occasionally swimming in the pond.
Laughter came easily now, and Hermione could finally enjoy being in love. She smiled as she thought about it. Being in love with Ron was unlike anything else she had done in her life. It was more exhilarating than getting perfect marks on her OWL's, but more frightening than taking on a group of Deatheaters. She was amazed that she could feel so many different things all at once. Ron's words from years previous came back to her
"One person can't feel all that at once; they'd explode."
Of course, Hermione had come back with a snappish retort, but now she wondered if he wasn't right. There were times when she was with Ron, that she felt like she was about to burst with emotions. The world felt right, perfect; then she would feel ashamed for being so happy, she should be mourning her parents not happily kissing her boyfriend. Then guilt at having these thoughts would take over, and then joy would overtake her again. It was madness, really!
"There you are, dear! Didn't you hear me calling you?"
Hermione gave a jump as she heard Molly's voice. She looked up to see the older woman standing above her; hand on one hip, but smiling all the same.
"Sorry, have you been calling me for very long?"
"Not really. Ron and Ginny told you would be out here." To Hermione's amazement Mrs. Weasley sat down on the ground next to her. "Are you alright, dear? I told you, you don't really have to muck about in the garden. You could help me inside where it's much cooler."
"No, no, I'm fine. I sleep better when I tire myself out during the day."
"There's something else bothering you, isn't there?"
Hermione smiled slightly. There was no way around it; this woman was not one to give up easily. "I'm just feeling…well…I'm not sure what I'm feeling exactly."
"Are you unhappy here, dear? Would you rather make an early start to Hogwarts? Dumbledore's offer still stands."
Hermione remembered Dumbledore's offer to come and spend the rest of the summer at school. She would be able to get a head start in her studies, and she would have free run of the library day and night.
"No, I'd much rather be here." And seeing Molly's raised eyebrows, she said, "And not just because of Ron. It's hard to explain."
"Well, why don't you try?"
"I feel like this is where I belong." Hermione's gaze drifted out over the pond. "With everything that's happened, I just feel that as long as I'm here; I'll be alright. I feel safe, but it's not just that. There are times I feel guilty for being here and feeling that way."
"Why, dear?"
"It's like I'm betraying them by being happy." There, the thought was now out in the open. Hermione had struggled with it since her arrival here. "Sometimes I feel like I'm enjoying my time here too much. Other times I realize that they died so I could live; it's a never ending circle. I feel guilty for being happy, and then I feel awful for feeling guilty…"
Hermione broke off as her voice began to tremble. Tears were burning the corners of her eyes. She felt a warm arm, slip around her shoulders. Molly pulled her close against her chest.
"Dear child, I can't begin to imagine how you're feeling. I know there isn't anything I can say to make things seem better. I'll say this to you, though. From the first day I met you, I've loved you as much as one of my own; you and Harry both. Arthur and I would never dream of trying to replace your parents. That is a place in your heart that no one can ever fill, but I want you to always know that you're forever welcome here. You should never feel guilty for being happy. You know that they wanted you to live your life; you said so yourself. Your parents died so that you could live; don't squander their gift, Hermione."
They were the most touching words Hermione had ever heard. For the first time in months, she felt truly at peace with herself. She couldn't explain why, but she knew then that whatever the future held, she could face it.
The pair stood up and started back to the house. They walked in silence for awhile.
"I've been meaning to ask you something, dear."
"Yes?"
"Why have the three of you suddenly stopped sneaking around and listening at keyholes? We've had three briefings with the Order this week and you lot weren't behind any of the furniture. Trust me, I checked."
Hermione snorted with laughter. "We've decided to give up the detective work for the rest of the summer. It's our last chance to just be normal, so we figured that we shouldn't waste it."
"A very good idea, dear. Let's hope that Harry can do the same when he arrives. Goodness knows the whole lot of you deserve it."
"Yes, I think we do."
To say that Harry was annoyed would be an understatement. He had awoken that morning expecting the house to be full of members of the Order, ready to rush him away from the Dursleys. It was now closing in on noon and there hadn't been the slightest sign of any attempt to remove him. Perhaps Dumbledore was waiting for the cover of night. Or maybe the plans had to be changed. What if the arrangements Dumbledore made had been discovered? Had there been an attack?
Harry grabbed the Daily Prophet from his bedside table and began to peruse it for the third time that morning. Maybe he had missed something; some small detail that would explain why no one was coming for him. But, there was nothing. Voldemort and his Deatheaters were being unusually quiet. Was that it? Did Dumbledore know something was about to happen and needed all the Order members to prevent it? If so, wouldn't Harry need to be removed even faster?
Dumbledore had said the protection would end at midnight tonight. Harry would be totally at Voldemort's mercy. He had the sudden image of Voldemort hiding in the hydrangea bush just outside the window, counting down the hours until midnight.
"Ridiculous," Harry muttered to himself. They were coming for him and they would be here before they day was out. He just had to be patient. Of course, that was easier said than done.
Harry was forcibly reminded of the summer before his fourth year, when he anxiously waited for the Weasleys to come and fetch him for the World Cup. This was worse, though. Something had stopped him from telling the Dursleys that he was leaving for good. He wasn't sure why, but he wanted to keep that information to the very last second. He didn't think he could stand the constant stream of "How much longer? When are they coming?" No, he would wait until the guard appeared, haul his belongings down, and bid them goodbye after 16 years of hell.
A sudden crash and several loud screams shook him roughly from his thoughts. Instinctively, Harry grabbed his wand and shot out of his bedroom door. He ran smack into Mr. Weasley at the middle of the staircase. He teetered on the step before he got his foothold back.
"Well, there you are Harry. Come on, let's get your things. We've only got a ten minute window before the portkey expires."
Harry looked at him skeptically. He raised his wand, pointing it directly at the man's heart. "How do I know you are who you say you are?"
Mr. Weasley look momentarily stunned, but then smiled widely. "Smart boy, Harry, good for you! You gave me fuse wire and screwdrivers for Christmas in St. Mungo's and my daughter used to stick her elbow in the butter every time you looked at her."
Harry smiled and lowered his wand. He knew a Deatheater wouldn't know such mundane, ordinary things. "Nice to see you Mr. Weasley."
They shook hands briefly. "Come on, let's get your things."
Less than five minutes later they were standing at the foot of the stairs; the Dursley's were standing huddled together, far away from the wizards. Harry saw that Tonks and Mr. Weasley were the only ones that had come.
Harry approached his aunt and uncle, trying to keep his temper at bay. Part of him wanted to hex them to bits, but the other part was simply ready to be away from them forever. He took a deep breath. "Right, this is where it ends. Once I leave today, I'll never come near this house again. Not that any of you will give a damn; rid of me at last aren't you?"
"For good you say? Well, don't let us keep you waiting. I've waited too long for this moment; go on get out!" Vernon turned on his heel and pushed Dudley out into the hallway in front of him. Harry heard them going out the backdoor.
Petunia stood scowling, chewing her lip. Mr. Weasley and Tonks began to fiddle with Harry's things; apparently sending them on to their final destination. They were obviously uncomfortable with the conversation.
Harry turned to get in place for the portkey, when he heard a small, trembling voice.
"Harry?" It was barely a whisper.
He turned to see his aunt; he gaped at her. She was standing, pale faced and nervously wringing her hands. Tears were actually swimming in her eyes. Before Harry knew what was happening, her arms were thrown around his neck.
"Please, please be careful and take care of yourself." She whispered in his ear.
As quickly as it had happened, it was over. She was disappearing through the hallway door. Harry made to follow her, but Tonks pulled him back. "We've got less than a minute, Harry. Let's go." He reached out a hand and touched the portkey. His mind was reeling so much; he barely felt the tug behind his navel.
Ginny was buried elbow deep in weeds and dirt. Cursing her mother slightly, she yanked at the offending plants. "Stupid bloody wedding! Stupid bloody Percy! Stupid bloody weeds!"
She heard a shout from inside the house. "Why didn't you tell me that we were coming here? I really get to stay here until the start of term?"
"Yes, Harry, now go on up and get settled, you're in Ron's room. Tonks and I have to get back to work. I'll go and let Molly know you're here first."
Ginny's heart leapt. He was here; he was really here! She couldn't believe it, he was only feet from her at his very minute. She stayed quite still; half sitting, half kneeling in the dirt. Should she go in? What would she say? What would he do? What if her mother caught her abandoning her chores?
In an instant, she threw down the trowel in her hand and left the flowers beside it. Once inside, she could hear footsteps and the unmistakable sound of a trunk being dragged up the stairs. Hurrying to the mirror over the mantle, she checked her reflection. She'd begun to burn in the scorching sun, so her cheeks and nose had turned a fair shade of pink. Ginny removed the clip, shook out her hair, and dashed to the kitchen to wash away the garden stains on her skin.
Climbing the stairs two at a time, she brushed the dirt from her t-shirt and convulsively straightened her shorts. Once she reached the top landing, she tiptoed up to Ron's open bedroom door. There was no talking, so he was definitely alone. She peeked around the door frame to see Harry bent over his open trunk, fishing something out. Biting her lip, she slipped silently into the room.
Suddenly, she wondered why on earth she'd come up here. All the words she'd come up with to say to him were gone. Her mouth didn't seem to work, and her brain was betraying her at this crucial moment. Any minute he would turn around and she would be standing there gaping at him like a goldfish. Finally her stupid brain came to life again, and a sentence formed in her mouth. Before she could get her tongue properly wrapped around it though, it tumbled over her lips.
"Didn'tthinkyou'dgethereever, Harry."
"What in the name of Godric Gryffindor was that?" she thought wildly.
Harry spun around and looked at her. They stood staring at each other for what seemed hours before he finally spoke. "Sorry, didn't catch that."
Suddenly, he began to laugh. The smug bastard was actually standing there, bold as brass, laughing at her. She took a deep breath, determined to get her composure and control of the situation.
"I said, we didn't think you'd ever get here. Hearing gone bad, has it?"
He'd stopped laughing and his cheek reddened. HA! She'd just made him blush. Then, Ginny noticed that he wasn't looking at her the way he usually did. The color in his cheeks deepened as her studied her. His eyes looked different; they had never been that deep of a green; had they?
Suddenly, Ginny felt her own cheeks grow warm. Was he thinking the same thing she was? The same thing she thought about when things were quiet at night; that day at King's Cross. Without realizing it she was walking toward him, just as he was crossing the room toward her. Now, they were very close together. Very, very close…
"GINNNY WEASLEY! WHERE HAVE YOU GONE?"
With that, the moment was broken. Ginny let out the breath she had been holding. Harry gave a shaky laugh.
"Sounds like you're in trouble."
"Humph! I have been all summer. You think she would go a bit easier on me after…" She closed her eyes, angry with herself. Why, oh, why did she say that?
Harry seemed not to have noticed, or maybe he was pretending. "What have you been doing; wrestling with gnomes?" he asked, taking in her dirt covered clothes.
"No, just trying to make those brown patches around the house look like proper flower gardens. Mum wants the place perfect for tomorrow."
"What's happening tomorrow?"
"You don't know?"
"GINEVRA WEASLEY, DON'T MAKE ME SHOUT AT YOU AGAIN!"
Ginny jumped and dashed to the open window. She stuck her head out, looking down on her mother. "I'm just showing Harry where he's sleeping!"
"Don't give me that lie, young lady! Harry knows perfectly well where Ron's room is. Get down here and finish that garden this instant!"
She gave her mother a wave and stood back up. "Sorry about that. I'd forgotten that they weren't telling you anything. Not that this is important or anything," she added as an afterthought. "Percy's getting married here tomorrow."
"What? Who's he marrying?"
"Penelope, of course. I wrote you last Christmas that he'd proposed."
"I'd forgotten about that! They're really going through with it then?"
"Seems like it. I think she's mental personally. Apparently, she sees something in him the rest of us don't."
"What's that?
"Dunno, maybe a human heart."
Both of them burst out laughing at that. Ginny marveled at how easy their conversation was, but it had always been that way when they were talking about other people. It was discussing each other that was the problem. Suddenly, Ginny realized just how close they were again. Then she realized that Harry had reached out and touched her arm. A warm sensation traveled up and down her body, radiating from the spot where their skin made contact. She instinctively leaned into him; he was bending his head down toward hers.
"GINEVRA MOLLY WEASLEY! YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO GET DOWN HERE OR I'M COMING UP AFTER YOU!"
"Bloody hell and damnation!" Once again, the moment had been ruined. "Sorry, Harry, but I'd better get down there. She'll be thundering up those steps any minute." With one last look, she hurtled out of the room and down the stairs.
"Damn it all!" she thought as she twisted her hair back up on the back of her head. They had come so close twice! "You've got the rest of the summer. Don't rush it."
Smiling smugly to herself, she went back to planting the vibrant colored flowers in the places where she had ripped up the ugly weeds. Yes, they had the rest of the summer.
"Harry!"
Harry quickly found himself being attacked by something that looked vaguely like Hermione. It couldn't be her, though. She looked thinner than he'd ever remembered; her brown curls seemed to have lost their wildness, and hung limply down her back. He was taken aback when he looked down to see dark circles under her eyes. She looked terribly ill.
Looking over Hermione's shoulder, he saw Ron watching him. Harry opened his mouth, but Ron had obviously sensed his question and shook his head slightly.
"When did you get here?" Hermione pulled away from him. Her smile spread wide, but it didn't show in her eyes the way it normally did.
"Just…just now." It took him a moment to get over the shock of her. He had only seen her look this unhealthy twice. Once, when she had the Time Turner and then just after last Christmas. He swiftly fixed a smile on his face when he saw Ron's look. "You look great Hermione. How have things been going?"
"Harry, give it up. I look horrible and I know you're only saying that because Ron is giving you one of those looks. Don't worry though; I'm getting better. I promise." She turned and smiled at Ron, who looked dumbfounded.
After a pause, the three laughed. "Ginny's told me about the wedding. What have you two gotten bullied into doing?"
Ron screwed up his face, looking murderous. "We've got to clean around the pond. No one will even be over here, but Mum wants everything perfect for her 'Darling Percy'. It's disgusting."
"Oh, for heavens sake, Ron. Percy is her first son to get married; she has the right to want everything perfect."
Harry stood, watching them bicker, smiling. If two people ever deserved to be together, it was Ron and Hermione.
"What are you looking so smug about?" Ron snapped at him, suddenly.
"Oh, just that you two are made for each other." Harry enjoyed watching Hermione blush crimson and Ron smile shyly.
"You sound as bad as Mum and Dad."
Hermione, however, folded her arms and fixed Harry with a superior look. "If you only just got here, how did you have time to talk to Ginny about the wedding?" She looked awfully pleased with herself; it was revolting.
Ron looked at him with narrowed eyes. "Yeah, when did you see her?"
Harry stood, mouth open, looking between the two.
"Lunch time! I've got sandwiches and lemonade!"
"Finally," Harry thought. "She's finally interrupted at the perfect moment."
"Time for lunch," he said brightly and turned to head back to the house, leaving his best friends to stare after him.
A/N: I really hadn't planned to stop there, but it just seemed right. R/R please!
