A/N – Well everyone. Thanks to those who reviewed the last chapter. This chapter will be the build-up to the meeting on Wednesday night. Once we get to the meeting a lot of the suspense will be over and all of us will find out who He really is. The rest of the days won't be a busy as the first.
Chapter 7 – And Then There Were Three
Harry woke on Tuesday morning in his bed on Privet Drive. He had not slept very well quite frankly could do without the feeling of an elephant steeping on his brain. As he gazed around the room, he wondered if it had all been a dream. Only one way to find out, "Jeeves?"
The elf popped into his room right by the doorway as they had discussed so he would be hidden from view. "Yes Harry?"
Harry was overjoyed. If Jeeves was here then everything else must have happened as well. "Can you please ask the cooks if they could make me some breakfast and deliver it to the kitchen downstairs in about half an hour? I'm going to have a shower and get dressed in the meantime. I need to stay here for a few more hours. Also, can you deliver a message to Hermione around 9am? I'd like to meet at the Manor at 10 if possible."Jeeves nodded once and left immediately.
Harry showered and went back into his room to get dressed. He made sure he moped past the window every so often and looked wistfully outside. After a few more minutes he decided to go downstairs and wait for breakfast.
/Scene Break/
Hermione came down to breakfast with her parents in much the same way as she had almost every day since she turned three – with her nose in a book. This morning her focus was on the book she thought she knew by heart. So many things had been changed. She sighed, "This explains a lot. Why can't people just get along? Oh, hi mom, hi daddy!"
Dan looked at his daughter, "Alright, what's going on? Your mother has had a big-ass grin on her face since last night and she refuses to tell me anything about what you two talked about – she just said it's your story to tell. Now, will you tell me?"
Hermione started to speak but was interrupted by the sudden appearance of Jeeves. "Miss Granger, my Master wishes to meet you at the manor at 10am. Will that be acceptable?"
"Yes, Jeeves, will you be coming back for me? Wait a second I thought he told you not to call him Master?"
"The Master told me not to call him Master directly. He did not say anything about referring to him as my Master when speaking to others. Yes, I will be back at 10am." And with a snap of his fingers he was gone again.
She smiled and shook her head. What was it about Harry and house elves? Any elf that Harry had personal contact with would begin to develop an independent personality and become fanatically devoted to Harry. You just had to be around Dobby for about 5 minutes to see what years around Harry can do to an elf.
Her father looked at her, "What was that?"
"Oh, that was Jeeves. He's Harry's head house elf. In the magical world they act as the staff in larger houses. Hogwarts has several elves that do all the cooking and cleaning at the castle. I used to be against the whole idea until I saw that an elf's magical energy derives from the family or estate they are bonded to. Very few free house elves survive."
"Oh. And you say Jeeves is Harry's house elf. Is this the same Harry you write about from school?"
Hermione blushed, "The same one, Daddy."
"But I thought he lived with his aunt and uncle who really don't care for him. How can he have a house elf?"
"Well, Harry's godfather died in June."
"At the same time you were injured."
"Yes. Well, yesterday was the will reading." Hermione proceeded to tell him about the will reading and Harry's adoption, inheritance, emancipation and second inheritance. She managed to find a way to insinuate Harry had a new home that her parents could understand. Those wards were pretty tricky. Finally she told Dan about what Sirius had bequeathed to her.
"Two million galleons? What is that in Pounds?"
"Well the exchange rate fluctuates, but its roughly 10 million Pound."
Dan felt like he had just me the wrong end of a Cricket bat. He was stunned.
Hermione giggled again. She remembered her mother's reaction from last night.
/Flashback/
"Now what's this about being rich?"
"Well, Sirius – that's his name – left me a three things. There was the advice I told you about," her blush returned, "and he left me 2 million galleons and his entire family library. You should see all the books I have now! Most of them are quite rare and valuable. I didn't know where to start. Did you know…"
Her mother interrupted her, "Dear, you know I don't quite understand the wizard monetary system. Are 2 million galleons a lot? I mean, if the galleon was worth as much as say, an Italian Lira, you might have enough to pay for school this year."
"Well the exchange rate does fluctuate a bit, but it's basically 5 Pound to the galleon."
"That's, that's TEN MILLION POUND!" Jean had to steady herself. She felt faint.
She looked at her daughter. Her little girl was sitting there with a book acting as nothing had happened and in one day she got a boyfriend and was now independently wealthy in either world she chose to live in. And she was sitting there as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Jane did the only thing her brain let her do.
She fainted.
/End Flashback/
Dan hadn't fully recovered yet. He was still staring straight ahead.
Hermione saw the look. It was the look her mother had just before she fainted. She decided to say the next bit of news while he was out of it n hopes it might not register, "Daddy, I also have a boyfriend – it's Harry," she whispered.
Now the thing that Hermione hadn't counted on was the fact that every father of a teenage girl has certain words wired into alarm centres in his brain. "Boyfriend" is near the top of the list.
Hermione was shocked as her father turned towards her, "Boyfriend?" he asked.
"Um, yeah."
"Harry? The same boy you've written to us about? The same one who you just told me inherited two estates yesterday?"
"Yes, that's the one."
"Are you happy?"
"Incredibly."
"I figured when you started giggling and calling me Daddy." He smiled. "I want to meet him. Can you invite him over for dinner tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow's not a good day. We have to meet some people in the evening."
"How about Saturday?"
"I'll ask Harry this morning. It should be OK."
"I look forward to meeting him." Dan said this in a way that she was not sure exactly what he meant.
"I have to go get ready now. See you later Daddy!"
/Scene Break/
Harry was waiting in the sitting room for Hermione. He was going over what he wanted to get done in preparation for the meeting tomorrow. He went over the meeting he had last night. It went much better than he had expected. Harry had thought that it would take a lot more persuasion to get Him to take the oath.
The most important thing on his agenda today was to visit the fourth person they needed for tomorrow. "I wonder how she'll react?" he thought. "Does she even suspect anything?"
Harry was feeling a bit guilty as well; "I wish I didn't have to involve her in this. I already feel bad that Hermione is mixed up in this, but if what we suspect is true, she is critical to the prophecy. I hope she understands and is willing to help us."
His thoughts moved on to Hermione – his best friend who was now his girlfriend. "Wow, who would have seen this coming? Apparently everyone but us." He chuckled at the thought. He knew he was clueless when it came to girls.
He was interrupted from his thoughts by a small cough. He looked up and saw Hermione standing in the doorway smiling at him. He returned the look, and walked over to her and hugged her. "Good morning," he said, "have you had breakfast? The elves make a mean omelette."
"Thank you but I had breakfast with my parents." Hermione gave him a quick kiss. "Hmm I could get used to this."
"Me too." Harry moved back and smiled at her. "I need to tell you about what happened and what I learned last night."
She nodded, "I learned some stuff as well from the book. Someone has been tampering with history."
"It's such a nice morning. Let's go out for a walk and talk. Jeeves?"
The elf appeared, "Yes Harry?"
"Is there any place outside to walk on the grounds?"
"Oh yes. The manor is on about 200 hectares of land. There are a number of walkways through the trees that interconnect the Manor and the guest houses?"
"Guest houses?"
"Yes, your ancestors did not like the idea of one huge building dominating the property. They wanted the buildings to blend in with the forest and not dominate it. To that end, they built the more modest manor you are in now and five three-bedroom guest houses around the estate."
"Thank you Jeeves. Hermione and I will be going out for a walk. If we are not back by 1 pm, can you please come and get us? We'd like to have a light lunch for two at that time if it is no problem."
"Yes Harry. The cook is happy to have a new Lord Potter to cook for."
Harry smiled and headed out back with Hermione. They took a path at random and walked through the forest holding hands.
Harry told her about his evening with the trip to Hogsmeade and his message to Him, "That was a brilliant idea to use your patronus. I like the way you phrased the message as well to be sure to catch his attention. I'm a bit concerned that you went alone to the meeting though."
He explained the meeting to her. "So you see why I had to go alone? Besides, if we are going to have to work together we need to start building up trust. I figured the sooner I tested that the better. He even took an oath." Harry told her about the oath he took first and then the oath He freely gave.
Hermione was shocked, "He gave you his oath that easily? He must have really been intrigued by what you said."
"Well it wasn't as much as what I said rather what I showed him."
"What do you mean?"
Harry didn't know how she was going to take this next revelation, "Well, before I met him, I viewed one of the pensieve memories my mother left me. It was one that showed just how early the manipulation in his life started. I then lethiminmymindtoseeit."
Hermione took a moment to process the last bit and stopped. She turned Harry to face her, "uh-oh," the thought, "I've seen that look before."
"YOU WHAT? ARE YOU CRAZY? LETTING HIM IN TO YOU MIND AFTER WHAT HE DID TO YOU?"
"Hermione, I had to trust him. He only viewed that memory and left and he was very subtle the whole time. It wasn't like before. I think my mom's letter softened him up and when he saw the memory he started to believe me. I think that's why he gave the oath so easily – he wants to learn more."
"But Harry, you had no one there to help you. I could have lost you!" she hugged him with tears in her eyes."
He hugged her back, "I had to see if we could trust him. You would not have lost me that easily. Besides, I had to test the trust before I had him in the same room as you."
"OK, just promise me that you'll talk to me before you ever try a stunt like that again."
"I promise," he said and she kissed him.
They held hands again and walked for a little while in silence enjoying each other's company. Hermione started telling Harry about her night. "I finished the book this morning. There's a ton of information that's been changed for the current editions. Whoever did it really wanted people at each other's throats."
"We know who was behind it Hermione. Dumbledore may not have been the actual person who did it, but you can bet that he masterminded the whole thing."
"I know. It's just so much to take in. Oh, and Harry?"
"Yes?"
"My dad invited you for dinner on Saturday."
Harry froze, "Your father knows about us?"
"Well yeah. I told my mom about us last night – she had pretty much figured out it like everyone else has – and I told my father this morning after I told him about my inheritance."
Harry still hadn't moved, "I have to meet your parents?"
"Harry, you've met them before, remember?"
"I wasn't dating you at the time!"
"Are you nervous?"
"Nervous, no. Scared shitless, yes!"
Hermione enveloped Harry into a big hug. "Harry, you've faced Voldemort several times, fought a Basilisk, defeated a dragon and defeated several senior Death Eaters and you are scared of my dad? Don't worry, my mom likes the idea of us as a couple and she'll keep him in line."
Harry felt the warmth of her hug and the feeling of them together made him relax a bit, "Alright, I'll be there. I'll just have Griphook make sure my will is up to date."
She stepped back and took his hand again, "Thanks, love."
They continued walking, enjoying the morning and trading ideas back and forth. They had come to the conclusion that the best way to approach Her was directly and they decided to go after lunch.
As they walked they came up to one of the guesthouses. It looked like a little cottage nestled next to a pond. "Harry this is so beautiful. I can see why your family made this decision. You can have guests stay for longer periods of time and yet everyone has their independence and privacy. My parents have always talked about having a place like this when they retire."
Harry suddenly got and idea. "Hermione, why don't you bring your parents here on Saturday? Before you interrupt, please hear me out." She stopped what she was going to say and nodded.
"In two weeks what happened yesterday will start to get out into the wizarding world. It's only a matter of time before our relationship becomes common knowledge too. Once our enemies figure out what we are up to, we will become bigger targets than we are today and that will extend to friends and families. I'd like to grant your parents access to the estate and offer this cottage to your family as a refuge if you require it. I can get Jeeves to make up some emergency-use portkeys to bring you to this cottage if you are in danger."
"Hermione, launched herself at Harry and kissed him deeply, "There's another reason I love you. Thanks Harry. I'll tell my parents tonight when I get home."
"OK, I'll have the portkeys ready then too."
Shortly after that, Jeeves arrived and announced lunch was ready. He took them back to the manor where they enjoyed and quiet lunch between the two of them.
After lunch, Harry added Dan Granger, Jean Granger and Her name to the manor book. Hermione grasped Harry's shoulder and with a touch or his ring, they were gone.
/Scene Break/
They appeared in a large field bathed in sunlight. They started to walk together towards the house when they heard someone behind them.
"Oh, hello you two, I hadn't expected you this soon. Harry, I found that I seemed to have knowledge of a certain Manor house a little while ago so I figured I should head back home. I have news for you two. You may not like it though."
Harry smiled and shook his head, "You never cease to surprise me Luna. Does that mean you know what the results would be if you cast the Ostendo Meus Prosapia spell?"
She nodded. "My mother showed me before she died. Not even my father knows."
"Do you think you could come back to the Manor with us? We have some things to show you."
"Sure, let me go tell my dad." She skipped away to the house and went inside.
Hermione looked at Harry. "How could she know these things?"
"Hermione, Luna is brilliant but she wants to keep people off guard. That's why she has the whole 'Loony' persona. I'm not sure how much of that we will see anymore though."
By this time Luna had returned and with a "Take me home" from Harry, they disappeared from the field.
/Scene Break/
The three friends arrived back at the manor and went directly to the sitting room.
Harry had just retrieved the letters and papers when a very agitated elf appeared.
"Master, professor Dumbledore has just arrived on Privet drive. You must go back NOW!"
Harry looked at the girls and touched his ring and was immediately transported to his room. He quickly sat down at the desk and started reading the first book he saw.
He heard someone coming up the stairs and glanced at his rings. "Oh shit. I wish I could make them disappear." To his amazement the rings faded from sight. He could still feel them, but they were invisible.
Just then the door burst open and Dumbledore and Remus came through.
Harry looked startled, "Professor? Moony? What are you doing here?"
Remus visibly relaxed and winked at Harry from behind the headmaster. Albus still looked tense.
"Harry, there was a disturbance near the Burrow today. Ginevra was coming to talk to Luna when she claims she saw you in a field not far from Luna's home. Before she could get close enough the person she thought was you apparently apparated away with two others. She could not discern who they were."
"Well professor. I'm right here. I don't know how to apparate and I'm pretty sure that you mentioned to me once that the wards around this house prevent people from apparating to or from the property. This disturbs me though. They could have been Death Eaters. Has anyone checked on Luna?"
"Luna's father told us that Luna went off to a friend's house for the day. He will let us know when she comes back. She is due back after dinner. Unfortunately he could not remember the friend's name."
"So who do you think they were?"
"I'm not sure. They may have been Death Eaters under a glamour charm to look like you."
"Or even polyjuice."
"Yes, it could have been polyjuice."
"This is weird. It feels funny knowing there are people going around looking like me. It's kind of creepy." He looked up at the headmaster with a nervous and scared look, "do you think you'll be able to find them? I wouldn't want someone looking like me getting at the Weasleys or any other of my friends. Maybe I can help?"
"Harry, I will have to Order look into this. It is far too dangerous for you to leave this house. Don't worry; we will deal with this new issue. If you will excuse me, I will leave you to your studies. Remus, I think we should be going."
The headmaster turned and headed out. Remus hesitated for a moment and smiled at Harry who returned a wink. Remus hurried to catch up with the Headmaster.
"What do you make of this professor?"
"I'm not sure Remus. The alarms I have on the wards would have alerted me to portkeys and apparition. And none of the guards saw Harry leave. Even if he had left, the Ministry would have been alerted if he tried to apparate. This is very curious."
"What was Ginny really doing there?"
"She had thought she spotted Luna outside the Burrow. Xenophilius assured us she left for her friend's house early in the morning. This is very curious indeed."
Both men passed the edge of the wards and apparated away.
Harry allowed himself to release a long breath. He was so glad that he had Jeeves arrange for a Potter elf to be in the house while he was out.
Now that he was out of danger he summoned the elf back and thanked him.
Harry willed his rings to become visible again and went back to the Manor.
/Scene Break/
When he got back to the Manor he heard Hermione and Luna talking in the sitting room. Hermione wrapped her arms around him when he came in. "I was so worried. How did it go?"
Before he could answer he heard a small "It's about time."
Both of them looked at Luna, "Not you too?"
"Me, there's been a raffle on at school since the end of your third year about when you two would get together. Crap, I had the first week of August this year too. Well someone is about 75 Galleons richer."
Harry looked at Hermione, "are we the only ones who didn't see it?"
Luna continued, "In fact only Ron and Ginny bet that you would never get together."
Harry grimaced at the thought.
Hermione looked at him again, "So what happened?"
Harry told them both about Dumbledore's visit and that Ginny had seen them but only recognized him. He also told Luna that her father had covered for them.
"Daddy never got along with Dumbledore. In fact he's warned me about the headmaster before."
"So what did you two do while I was gone?"
Hermione said, "I tried to get Luna to read the papers but you had not yet given her permission to read them"
"But I did get some ideas about Neville's and my relationship. I told Hermione, he asked me over to meet his Gran."
Harry grinned, "That's great Luna." He was happy for her and Neville, but he wasn't sure that the boy knew quite what he was getting into.
"Thanks. I did read the letter from your mother. She was a very smart witch herself. I suppose you've contacted Him? How will we be safe?"
"Yes, we met last night. He will be coming here tomorrow evening so the four of us can meet. As for safety, he and I have already taken oaths. I will need the same oaths from you." He told them the oaths given last night.
Hermione and Luna raised their wands and said together, "I swear on my magic that I will not actively cause harm nor seek to cause harm to any of the other three people at the meeting should it come to pass." They were bathed in the golden glow that he saw last night.
"Thanks. Tomorrow morning I will send him a message and add him to the allowed visitors list. I hereby give Luna Lovegood permission to read the papers given to me by Sirius Black. Now you should be able to the real words. But before you get into that, what was the news you had for us?"
"Well, Ron and Ginny have been acting strange towards us since the battle at the DoM. After Neville's comments on the train, I thought I would keep an eye on the Burrow to see if I could get any clues. Ginny and I have been friends for years and I would not be out of place there. "
"Well, I was going to go see Ginny today and when I got close by I saw Ginny, Ron and Molly talking to Dumbledore out behind the Burrow. I got as close as I could and used one of those extendable ears. I'm sorry to say this to you two, but it looks like there will be a plot when we get back to Hogwarts to separate you too. The plan is for Ron to date Hermione and Ginny to date Harry. That way if Harry dies when he fights Voldemort, three Weasleys and Albus will divide the estate. Harry if you do defeat Voldemort and live, Albus will discredit you and have you thrown in Azkaban as a powerful dark wizard."
Harry and Hermione shook their heads sadly. "Hermione, we'll have to be on guard for love potions. Luna, read the rest of the papers. It will start to make more sense."
The afternoon wore on as the three discussed the ancient prophecy and the situation they found themselves in. Hopefully He would decide to join them after the meeting tomorrow. They were saving the pensieve memories so that the four of them could experience them together. It would be an interesting evening.
Harry invited them both to spend the night tomorrow and instructed the elves to prepare the guest rooms in the Manor.
The three at dinner together and then Harry took Luna home first (appearing about a kilometer away from her house), and then returned to the Manor. He and Hermione spent another hour together cuddling and kissing until Harry took her home as well.
He then went back to the Manor and then returned to Privet drive for the evening. He turned in early – tomorrow would be an important day.
A/N – Wow this turned out to be the longest chapter so far. I'll start work on the next chapter since that one will answer a lot of the questions. But I'm out of town all week so I'm not sure how much time I'll get to write. It will be out before the weekend though. In the meantime I hope you enjoyed this chapter and that Luna is the mysterious She.
