A/N: I had a wonderful dream that I was worth billions of pounds because I owned the Harry Potter franchise, but then I woke up, and realized I own nothing. This isn't my park, I just play here.
Chapter 4: Darkening Skies
Summer between third and fourth year was even more fun than the previous year. The entire month of July saw Harry and Hermione enjoying a holiday on the Azure coast of France. Harry goggled at Hermione when they went to the beach, which no one had told Harry was topless. Mr. Granger was very protective of Hermione the first day. That night Harry overheard loud whispers coming from the Grangers' bedroom. The next day Mr. Granger was less protective, but obviously upset. Harry continued to enjoy the view, while trying to maintain his cool and keep his groin under control. Harry snickered to himself as he thought how much Ron would like to see Hermione now. Not in this lifetime, Harry thought.
The end of July saw things return to normal, with the now traditional Potter-Longbottom birthday bash sleepover. Sirius treated Harry, Hermione, and Neville to the Quidditch World Cup. There, they met Susan and her aunt with Hannah and Ernie in tow. Together the eight of them enjoyed the game. Sirius spent quite a bit of the game talking to Amelia Bones, who was about Sirius' age. Harry had never considered them as a possible couple, seeing as both had died before his seventh year in his previous life, but thought that they might make a good match if they gave it a try.
Harry and his friends all left after the game ended, thus missing the Death Eater parade, and the appearance of the Dark Mark. Harry read about it afterwards in the Daily Prophet. The story said that Ron Weasley's wand was used to cast the mark, but that it had obviously been stolen from him, as it would be beyond his abilities to cast it.
Harry sighed inwardly on the train ride back to Scotland, knowing he would probably have to die this year. He looked out the window as he patted his pocket. He could feel the copy of the Marauder's map that Sirius had made that summer. It was identical in every respect to the original.
Unlike the last go around, Moody was already at the staff table during the feast. Harry glanced at the copy of the Marauder's map in his lap. Crouch had succeeded. The real Professor Moody was locked away in his trunk in his office.
"What's wrong?" Hermione asked, looking at the map in his lap.
"Moody's not Moody," Harry replied, pointing at the head table on the map. Hermione gasped.
"Who's Bartemius Crouch, Jr.?" she asked.
"Dunno," Harry shrugged. "Barty Crouch, Sr. is the head of the Department of International Cooperation. He was at the World Cup, remember? Probably his son."
"Where's the real Moody?" Hermione asked.
"There," Harry replied, pointing out Moody's dot in his office. "Crouch must be keeping him imprisoned in his office."
"But why?" Hermione asked.
"Look at Crouch," Harry said. A few moments later, Crouch took a drink from his flask and shuddered. It was so minute an action that if they hadn't been looking at him, they would've missed it. "I'll bet you that that's not Moody's usual drink of choice in that flask. I'd bet you it's polyjuice potion." Hermione's eyes widened slightly and she nodded. They'd studied polyjuice potion previously, but never made any, or seen it used, until now.
"We have to tell McGonagall!" Hermione said excitedly.
"Let's tell her in private, after the feast," Harry cautioned. "That way she can contact the authorities without tipping off Crouch."
And that's what they did. The rest of the feast passed without incident, except for the announcement of the Triwizard Tournament. After the feast, they went to the Headmistress' Office and showed her the map.
"Great Merlin's Ghost!" McGonagall exclaimed. "Barty Crouch, Jr. is supposed to be dead! He was… is a Death Eater, and he was sent to Azkaban. There was an article in the paper that he'd died. It actually happened about the same time his mum died."
"I wonder how he escaped," Harry mused. "Maybe if the Aurors checked the visitor logs for Azkaban that might shed some light on the situation?"
"You think he had help?" McGonagall asked. She'd learned by now that Harry had what she called 'hunches' that usually turned out to be right.
"I don't know," Harry replied. "But since he was supposed to have died in Azkaban, but instead he's here, it would seem to point to him faking his own death. And you said that it happened about the same time his mum died. He's obviously using polyjuice now, so he could've used it then to escape. It wouldn't be too much of a stretch to assume he transfigured something to look like him, and used polyjuice to escape." Harry knew this wasn't exactly how it had happened, but a quick check of the Azkaban visitor's logs would show that Crouch's parents had visited him the day before he'd 'died.' It was also well known that Mrs. Crouch was also dying, and would die soon thereafter. It was also well known that there had been a closed casket funeral for Mrs. Crouch, despite not dying of anything contagious or violent, which was odd.
"I'll be looking into the matter," McGonagall promised, effectively dismissing them.
The next morning, all the talk was of the Triwizard Tournament, until breakfast was brought abruptly to the end by the arrival of Rufus Scrimgeour and two other Aurors. They strode right up to the head table.
"Bartemius Crouch, Jr.," Scrimgeour shouted. He didn't get any farther before pandemonium broke loose. Realizing the game was up when Scrimgeour said his name, Crouch pulled his wand and started firing. One of the Aurors went down hard, blown back into the students of the Hufflepuff table by a blasting hex. Suddenly, Crouch went down, stunned by Flitwick, who'd been sitting next to him.
"Thank you," Scrimgeour said, brushing off his robes. The other Auror immediately turned to care for the downed one. "Bartemius Crouch, Jr.," Scrimgeour began again to the stunned Crouch, who couldn't hear him. He walked around the table to get closer to him. "You're under arrest for kidnapping, impersonating a retired auror, fraud, escaping confinement, and Death Eater activities. I will review these charges and your rights with you when you're conscious." He quickly bound the stunned man, and levitated him out of the hall, with the other two Aurors following behind, the one helping the other.
"That was strange," Neville said, craning his neck to see the damage at the Hufflepuff table. He didn't need to ensure that Hannah was alright, though, as she was sitting next to him.
"If I may have your attention, please," McGonagall said. "It has been discovered that a criminal, Bartemius Crouch, Jr., a murderer who escaped from Azkaban some time ago, was impersonating Professor Moody. Professor Moody has been found safe, and is currently recuperating. Defense classes will be cancelled for the week. Professor Moody would like you to use the free time to read the first five chapters in your defense texts, prior to class next week. Thank you."
September, October, and November passed fairly uneventfully for Harry. Cedric became the only Hogwarts champion, and Harry happily cheered for him. Harry continued his dueling lessons with Flitwick, and organized an unofficial intramural quidditch league starting after the other schools arrived at Halloween. This informal league had eight teams, and weren't restricted by house or age, though first years still weren't allowed their own brooms at Hogwarts.
Harry's team was the same as his house team, though the keeper position was filled by Hufflepuff and close friend Ernie MacMillan. Only two teams were exclusive in their members: the Slytherin team and the Durmstrang team. The rest all had members of at least two houses. One team even had players from all four houses, and Beauxbatons. Even the Beauxbatons team had a Ravenclaw on it.
The quidditch league turned out to be a brilliant idea. There were matches every weekend, and they were rollicking unorganized affairs. Without house loyalty, people cheered for everyone. The only champion to play was Viktor Krum, which was unsurprising, as he was a professional quidditch star, and he wanted to stay up on his game. Harry's team, known informally as the Lions, was unsurprisingly good. Harry snagged the first victory of the year on the first weekend in November.
The first two weekends each saw a Saturday and a Sunday game. That Saturday, Harry's Lions beat a predominantly Hufflepuff team, the Badgers. The next day, the Slytherins trounced a mostly Ravenclaw team called the Ravens. The next weekend saw a mixed team going by the name of the Hogsmeade Harpies beat the mostly Beauxbaton team uninspiringly called the Beaux Dépliants, and the Durmstrang team beat a mixed team calling themselves Hogwarts' Revenge. The third weekend in November found Harry's team trouncing the Ravens. Harry found most of the teams' play uninspiring, but enjoyed watching Krum snag the snitch nonetheless.
Harry managed to pass along to Cedric that the first task was dragons two weeks before the task, claiming he'd flown over the dragons during a practice. Cedric thanked him, and managed to outperform Krum to claim the top spot, if only barely.
The first week of December brought the announcement of the Yule Ball. Harry glanced over at Krum, who was eyeing Hermione, and knew he'd have to make his move soon. He reasoned there was no time like the present. He leaned close to her.
"'Mione," he said quietly after clearing his throat. "Would you go to the Yule Ball with me?"
Hermione looked over at him without moving her head much as she processed his words. Her fork hung there, half a length to her face with some cake on it. Once she'd had a moment to comprehend what he'd asked, she blushed and smiled, trying not to grin like an idiot and failing. Eventually, she put her fork down, composed her face, and turned to him, replying, "Sure."
Then she realized what she'd said. "I mean…" she stammered. "Yes, I'd like that very much."
"Sure would do, 'Mione," Harry replied with a chuckle. "I'm not bloody Shakespeare over here myself." The two of them dissolved in laughter as the stress and anxiety of the moment ebbed. Harry realized there shouldn't have been much of that anyway. He'd seen her on a topless beach, for crying out loud. Still, it seemed momentous for him, asking her on a date. Then he realized that she might not have taken it like that. "Erm, 'Mione?" he asked, suddenly the anxiety back in spades.
"Yes?" she asked, after swallowing some cake.
"When I asked you to the ball just now?" Harry said unsure. "You do understand I mean like a date, right, and not as friends?" Hermione looked at him as though he were the daftest man on earth.
"I'd imagine so," she replied. "If you'd wanted to go as friends, I'd've expected you to ask me a few weeks from now."
"I just wanted to make sure," Harry allowed, sighing as the stress again flowed away. "I mean, I've seen Krum stealing glances at you, and I didn't want him to steal you away from me. You mean a lot to me, 'Mione, and it would kill me to see you fall for someone else."
"Oh, Harry," Hermione said sweetly, touching his cheek. "I fell for you years ago. I've been waiting for you to ask me out for a while."
"You have?" Harry asked. She nodded. "God, I've been so stupid."
"No you haven't," Hermione responded. "Well, not any more stupid than any of the other boys, and far less stupid than most."
"Congratulations, Harry," Hannah said from across the table. Then Harry remembered they weren't alone or being particularly quiet.
"Erm… Thanks?" Harry tried. "By the way… Neville, shouldn't you…"
"Oh, yeah," Neville said from next to Hannah. "Um… Hannah, d'you wanna go to the Yule Ball with me?"
"Took you long enough," Hannah said, slapping his shoulder.
"Suze," Ernie asked, nudging Susan. "You wanna?"
"You bet," Susan replied with a grin. Turning to the group she opined, "That's how you do things."
"Excuse me for being a gentleman about it," Harry defended himself while rolling his eyes. "I don't have the benefit of a pre-existing romantic relationship with my date."
"Well, now you will," Susan pointed out.
"Thanks, Suze," Harry replied. Under the table, he squeezed Hermione's hand. She beamed at him.
Two days later Harry and his friends were studying in the library when Viktor Krum approached.
"Excus' me," he said in his stilted English. "May I haf a vord vith you, Her-me-oh-nee?" She looked up at him, both surprised that he'd be brave enough to approach her when surrounded by friends, and having expected him to approach her at some point.
Harry watched as she rose and followed Krum over to a corner. She conversed with him briefly, before he nodded sadly. Then he glanced over at Harry before turning and leaving. Hermione watched him leave before rejoining her friends.
"Rejecting someone's really hard," she commented as she sat.
"Wait," Hannah gasped. "Krum asked you out?"
"To the ball," Hermione confirmed.
"Wow," Susan laughed quietly, "He's not very observant, is he?"
"More like, he's got tunnel vision where Hermione's concerned," Ernie added. "He can see her, but not the rest of us. To anyone paying attention, they'd know Hermione was totally hung up on Harry." Hermione gave Harry a smile, and his heart fluttered.
That week the Badgers lost a close game to Slytherin. The next week Dumstrang completely humiliated the Beaux Dépliants. It wasn't even close, with a final score of 510 to 20. Most of the school was looking forward to the upcoming holiday and the Yule Ball.
The night of the Yule Ball, Harry was waiting in the Gryffindor common room with Dean and Seamus, who were taking Parvati and Lavender respectively. Fay Dunbar had already come down, looking radiant, to find her Ravenclaw date in the entry hall escorted by Neville, who was going to meet up with Hannah. Sally-Anne Perks wouldn't be coming down, Harry knew, as she'd returned home the weekend before.
Parvati and Lavender came down together. Parvati was in a pink sari and Lavender in a pale grey gown. They both looked beautiful, and Dean and Seamus both grinned like they'd won the jackpot.
They were in the middle of greeting their dates when Hermione appeared. Harry was stunned. She was gorgeous and elegant in a light blue gown, with her hair worn up with light makeup and gold earrings and necklace sparkling with diamonds. Harry had known about the earrings and necklace, as they'd come from the Potter vaults, but the rest was a surprise. Everyone in the common room paused as she came down the stairs. Had Harry looked, he would've seen dropped jaws on every male and a disbelieving stare in every girl's eyes save Parvati and Lavender's. They, of course, had helped her.
"There aren't words, 'Mione," Harry said, awed, as she came near. She looked even better than she had the last time he'd seen her come down to the Yule Ball. "You look amazing." He kissed her cheek before he finally spared a look elsewhere. "Everyone's jealous. The girls because they're not you, and the boys because they're not with you."
"I'm sure they're just jealous they're not with you, handsome," she replied. Then she looked around too, and the remaining stares made her uncomfortable. "Can we go? The stares are starting to creep me out."
"Sure," Harry replied. Without another word, he led her out the portrait hole and down to the entry hall, where they met Neville and Hannah, and Ernie and Susan. The other girls gushed at Hermione's outfit. In Harry's opinion, she was far and away the most beautiful girl there. He saw Ron Weasley, alone, drooling over Hermione from afar. Harry shot him an unkind look, which Ron didn't respond to.
Harry was happy to see Ginny there on the arm of Michael Corner. She looked happy, and was in the middle of a group of Gryffindor and Ravenclaw third and fourth years. Apparently, the diary had isolated her in the old time stream. Without that isolation, she'd managed to make quite a few friends, and was actually popular. Harry spotted Fay and her date with them.
The doors to the Great Hall opened, and Harry led Hermione inside. They selected a table with their friends, and watched as the champions opened the ball. Harry ended up dancing with a few girls from his year, including a few he wouldn't have anticipated. While Hermione held first bill most of the night, he also danced a few dances with Hannah and Susan. Katie Bell, Mandy Brocklehurst, Tracey Davis, Fay Dunbar, Daphne Greengrass, Morag MacDougal, Padma Patil, and Parvati Patil all claimed dances as well. Harry ended up having a great time. He wasn't even mad when Krum asked to dance with Hermione.
At the end of the night, Harry and Hermione returned to Gryffindor tower, changed, and met again in the common room, trunks in hand. Together, they made their way to the Headmistress' Office, and with her permission, flooed to Grimmauld Place.
"Hey, pup," Sirius said from the couch after he arrived. "Did you have a good time?" The floo flashed again and Hermione emerged. "Judging by the smile on her face, it looks like you did."
"Yeah," Harry allowed. "It was a pretty good time."
"You know where your room is," Sirius said easily. "Put Hermione next to you." Harry nodded.
"G'night, Sirius," he said, as he led Hermione up the stairs. At the top he led Hermione down the hall. "Your room's there," he said, pointing to the next room down. "Thanks for going with me. I had a great time."
"Me too," Hermione replied with a smile. She leaned in and kissed him hard. He wrapped her up, and her tongue invaded his mouth. They kissed for what felt like hours, but was really only minutes. At last, they came up for air.
"Wow," Harry said, panting. "Would you like to go out again sometime?"
"Are you asking me to be your girlfriend?" Hermione asked, grinning.
"Yes," Harry confirmed firmly. "Yes. That's what I'm doing." Hermione replied by kissing him hungrily again. Several minutes later Harry finally asked, "So is that a yes?"
"That is a definite yes," Hermione replied.
"Great," Harry said. "There's just one problem now."
"What's that?" Hermione asked.
"I don't want to let you go," he informed her.
"Me either," Hermione replied. "But I have to put my trunk away."
"Alright," Harry said reluctantly. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Silly," she laughed. "It's after midnight. You'll see me later today."
"Fine," Harry said. "Later." With that, Hermione disappeared into her room. Harry entered his, and readied for bed. He'd just turned out the light when the door opened. "'Mione!?" he asked shocked. "What are you doing?"
"Coming to bed," she reasoned. "What did Sirius tell you?"
"Um…" he paused, thinking.
"He said..." she said, sliding next to him and pulling him close. "To put me next to you." He laughed quietly. "I told you I'd see you later today."
"So, um… What do…" Harry stammered when he'd stopped grinning, and realized he was in bed with his girlfriend.
"Sleep," Hermione said. "I just want to sleep. And maybe snog a little. I'm only fifteen, Harry. We've got years yet."
"Ok," Harry agreed, not really sad. "Sleep. G'night." He kissed her once, and closed his eyes.
He awoke later than usual the next day. He could feel the heat from Hermione next to him; the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. He was spooning her, his right arm wrapped around her, hand palming her breast. He didn't want to get up, ever. He was cognizant of the fact that he shouldn't be groping Hermione, at least not yet. And he didn't want her to think that he was taking advantage of her, and their new status as a couple.
Gently, he started moving his hand. He'd almost cleared her breast when Hermione's hand shot up and placed it back. She snuggled into his big spoon and gave a satisfied moan.
"Good morning," she said. "Sleep well?"
"Very," he allowed. Now fully aware of what was going on he relaxed, allowing his morning wood to press into her rear.
"I can tell," Hermione laughed. "Me too. Waking up like this is something I could definitely get used to."
There was a sudden knock on the door. Both teens gasped, and Harry's hand moved quickly into safer territory, despite already being out of sight under the cover. Then the door opened, revealing a beaming Sirius.
"Morning, you two," he said. "You need to learn to whisper quieter. I'm not going to pry," he continued. "It looks like you're more of a couple today than you were the last time I saw you." The two blushed at that. "It's ok," Sirius laughed. "It looks like you two are being more responsible than I would've been at your age."
"Oh?" Hermione asked, curious.
"Well, you do still have your pajamas on," he pointed out. "If I'd gotten a bird in bed when I was fourteen, I would've vanished her clothes. 'Course, that didn't happen until I was sixteen, and it got me slapped. So, good on you, Harry." The three of them laughed at that.
"Well, we were taking your instructions to heart," Harry said. "You did say that Hermione was to be next to me. You didn't say how close."
"Check out the balls on this one," Sirius crowed.
"That's not all he's been hiding," Hermione informed him with a smile, grinding her rear into Harry's crotch.
"And that's my cue to exit," Sirius said as Harry blushed furiously. "Brunch is on. Don't spend too much time in bed. Keep the clothes on in each other's presence for today at least. Showers are to be separate and in your own bathrooms."
"He didn't say anything about hands staying on top of clothing," Hermione observed after Sirius had closed the door.
"Oh for the love of…" Sirius said through the door. "Act like adults." Then he left.
Hermione promptly put Harry's hand back on her breast.
"Um…" Harry sputtered. "What…"
"I'm acting like an adult," Hermione said. "Adults do things like this. They lay in bed with the person they love, and snog and snuggle. Now, why is your hand still on top of my nightie? Honestly, Harry. It's like you're not even paying attention."
"Wow," Harry replied, quickly moving his hand under her nightie and caressing her breast. "I… I love you too, 'Mione."
"What?" Hermione asked, turning suddenly, so she could look Harry in the eyes.
"You said you loved me," Harry said. "I said I loved you too." Hermione's eyes got big.
"I did say that, didn't I," Hermione observed. "Though I bolloxed it up right and proper." She hugged him as best she could in the bed. "I love you, Harry Potter, with everything that I am. I'm so happy to have you for a boyfriend." She sealed the declaration with a kiss.
They lay in bed for a few more minutes before Harry's stomach rumbled.
"I think it's time to get up, much as I don't want to," he admitted. "I'm starving and I need to use the loo."
"Plus, Neville will be over soon," Hermione agreed. "Alright. Pooh." Slowly, the two got up and performed their morning routines. After about fifteen minutes, they stumbled down the stairs to find Sirius in the kitchen eating waffles and sausage.
"So you're dating now, are you?" Sirius asked by way of greeting.
"Yup," Harry replied, grabbing two plates. "Asked her last night. We had a great time."
"Well, I suppose congratulations are in order," Sirius allowed.
"Probably for Neville and Hannah too," Hermione added. "If they're not a couple this morning I'll owe you a galleon."
"No bet," Harry said. "He told me he'd asked her last night."
"When?" Hermione asked.
"When I went up to get my trunk," Harry informed her.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Hermione asked.
"It didn't seem important at the time," Harry replied. "I guess I was distracted by you. You didn't let your hair down until after we got home."
"Aww," Hermione cooed, taking the plate Harry offered her.
"No tomatoes," Harry pointed out. "She doesn't like them."
"Too bloody right, I don't," Hermione agreed. And the day started.
Harry had one thing to clear up with Hermione before Neville arrived. He took her into the library. Hermione was momentarily distracted by the books. Harry grabbed the Black family grimoire off the shelf and opened it.
"Harry, why are you showing me a blank book?" she asked.
"It's important to the story," he replied. "Do you know why it appears blank to you?" She shook her head. "This is the Black family grimoire. It can only be read by family members. Since you're not a family member, you can't read it."
"But you can," Hermione observed. "How?"
"Besides the fact that I'm distantly a Black by blood, I'm also a Black by adoption, as well as being the heir to the head of house," Harry explained. "It's not important right now. The important thing is what you can't see."
"What can't I see?" Hermione asked.
"There's a spell on this page," Harry told her. "It's a spell to send a person's consciousness back in time. Do you understand what that means?"
"It means you can't send the person back in time, but you can send your mind back in time into a younger version of you?" she guessed after puzzling it for a bit.
"That's it exactly," Harry agreed. "It should tip you off to what I need to tell you."
"You've done this spell before," Hermione reasoned, glancing between the empty page and his face.
"I have," Harry nodded. "Before you get mad, can I explain myself?"
"I'd hope so," Hermione said, not yet mad, but prepared to be.
"I did this spell in 2005," Harry began. Hermione raised an eyebrow. "I was not in a good place mentally. When I performed the spell, Sirius had been dead for nine years. Remus Lupin, Fred Weasley, and Lavender Brown had been dead for seven years. I'd just found out my wife was only my wife because she'd been feeding me love potions, and that she'd been cheating on me the entire time we'd been together."
"Who was she?" Hermione asked, eyes narrowed.
"Ginny Weasley," Harry said.
"That bitch!" Hermione cried.
"It wasn't her," Harry allowed. "I mean, not really. Dumbledore had convinced her mum that she could marry me, and they'd end up with my money and Ginny could be famous and live the good life. Her mum brewed the potions for her and for Ron."
"Who'd Ron dose then?" Hermione asked.
"You," Harry replied. "You never found out. I only found out when a random potion test at work caught a loyalty potion. They retested me for everything and found the love potion too. Once Ginny was arrested, it all came out. She was cheating with Dean Thomas who she really loved. Ron had been dosing you. They were looking for Mrs. Weasley and Ron, and told me to go home. I came here, and was extremely mad. I found the spell and did it."
"How far back did you go?" Hermione wanted to know.
"July 31, 1991," Harry said. "My eleventh birthday."
"You meeting me in Richmond Green wasn't an accident, was it?" Hermione asked, putting the puzzle pieces together rather quickly.
"No," Harry revealed. "I was missing my best friend. The only person I knew who hadn't hurt me ever. In the other timeline I met you and Ron on the Hogwarts Express. You two were my first two friends. Ron would hate me sometimes and come back, but you were always there. You were always my friend."
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Hermione asked, tears forming.
"I wanted to," Harry allowed. "But I couldn't just walk up to you in the park and say, 'Hi, I'm a twenty-five year old in an eleven year old's body, and you've been my best friend for fourteen years now. Wanna grab a curry?' I wanted to tell you so many times, but when's the right time for a conversation where I admit to basically lying to you for as long as you've known me? I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't. I knew it would hurt you whenever I did, but I just couldn't wait any longer. I told Sirius a while ago. I'm planning on telling Neville later today."
"Why now?" Hermione wanted to know.
"Because I can't keep it from you anymore," Harry explained. "I can't keep something this big from my girlfriend; from the love of my life. If it hadn't been for Ginny poisoning me with love potion, there would've been no one but you. I realize that now."
"So you're twenty-nine, now?" Hermione asked.
"Well, I have twenty-nine years of experience," Harry replied. "But I'm just fourteen."
"Ok," Hermione said, setting herself. "What time's Neville getting here?"
"One," Harry informed her.
"Ok," Hermione nodded. "You have…" she checked the clock, "three hours. I want to know everything. Go." So Harry told her everything he could. He went through each year from first to what would've been his seventh, describing the events in as much detail as he could remember. He told her about meeting her first year, the troll, and Quirrell. He told her about the diary and the chamber of Secrets, and her getting petrified. He told her about Sirius' escape from Azkaban and the manhunt third year, and how they rescued Buckbeak. He told her about the Triwizard Tournament, and the return of Voldemort. He told her about learning occlumency from Snape, Umbridge, and the Battle of the Ministry. He told her about Dumbledore dying, and the attack on Hogwarts. He told her about escaping and fleeing with her and Ron, living in the forest hunting horcruxes, and the final battle. Finally, he told her about her relationship with Ron, and his with Ginny, and how everything seemed to be great until that day. "I see," she said at last. "And how is it this go around?"
"Well, I've managed to deal with most of the problems I knew about, and a few I didn't," Harry replied. "The horcruxes are gone except for Nagini and I. Sirius is in the clear. Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, and Ron are safely marginalized. Snape is cowed. Voldemort is greatly reduced."
"What do you mean about the problems you didn't know about?" Hermione asked, curious.
"I didn't know until I came back that my parents had a will," Harry revealed. "It clearly laid out who was responsible for their protection, and stated what was to happen to me in the event of their deaths. Long story short, Dumbledore not only cast the fidelius on my parents' house, tying Peter to the charm, he witnessed my parents' will, so he knew the contents. He had the will sealed, had Sirius thrown in Azkaban, and made himself my guardian so he could steal from me and control me."
"Was that it?" Hermione asked.
"Pretty much," Harry shrugged. He looked at her sadly. "I'm really sorry, Hermione. And I totally understand if you want nothing to do with me now."
"Hey," she said, glaring at him. "I think I get to make that decision, not you. Your arguments for not telling me were well reasoned, and I can't think of a time better than now you could've shared this with me. Of course I'm upset with you, but if you think I'm throwing away four years of hard work on you over something as trivial as a bit of magic, you've gone round the twist, Mr. Potter. Now, I'm going to deal with this massive shock, and you're going to support me by giving me whatever additional information I require. Now, I believe a hug is appropriate, as I've just learned some rather devastating news." Though her tone was reprimanding, a smile tugged at the edges of her mouth. She held out her arms. Harry wasn't so stupid as to not fill them, grasping her into a tight hug.
"Thank God," he whispered. "I was sure I'd lose you."
"Not in this lifetime, Harry," she whispered back.