Chapter 8-The Unspoken Elephant
(Harry's POV)
After Mr. Granger and I have finished shopping for all my supplies including dress robes and cauldrons-not to mention more than a few Quidditch purchases. We find ourselves walking down the street in silence as the rest of the Diagon Alley's inhabitants bustle noisily around us.
The unmentioned elephant in the room walked with us too, and I was waiting for him to bring it up. He was going to, it was just a matter of time-and try as I might-I could not come up with an explanation for anything that had happened in the last few days; let alone the last year.
Finally, Mr. Granger breaks the uneasy silence, "I suppose that you know about the pictures in our home-the pictures of someone who will never return." He says in a hoarse voice.
Of all beginnings to this conversation I was not expecting him to bring up his dead son! "Yes, Hermione told me a few days ago about Geoffrey, I am sorry about your loss. I know how much he meant to her-and I can only imagine how much he meant to you." I respond with a detached voice.
I might have deceived myself, but perhaps he wiped a tear from his eye? "Geoffrey was the perfect son just as much as Hermione is the perfect daughter. After his loss-she meant twice as much to us as she had before. Death does that to people-makes them see those who survived differently. Would you not agree Harry?"
His words hit home, but I try not to show it, "Yes it does Mr. Granger. It most certainly does."
"I understand that you, Hermione and the rest of your friends nearly got yourselves killed last year at the Ministry of Magic." He says neutrally.
I nod quickly, not finding words to say.
He looks over at me, "Harry, you are sixteen. Hermione tells me by wizarding standards you will have achieved adulthood at seventeen. You are nearly an adult. I am going to talk to you as such, and hope you will respond in a like manner."
I nod again, slower this time.
"Hermione means a lot to me and her mother, but I understand what is at risk here. My son died in service to his country; my daughter may die as well for similar reasons. I have accepted that-"
"Mr. Granger sir, I hope you are not implying I would purposefully put your daughter-my best friend-in danger. That is the last thing I wanted to do last year…that is the last thing I'd ever want to do." I protest
He laughs sadly, "No, I understand perhaps better than you do what Hermione means to you, and I am not implying you would knowingly or willingly put her in danger."
"Then what are you implying?"
"Nothing, I would simply like to ask you some questions. For instance, what exactly did you see last night? Who do you think will die?"
"I told you I don't know." I respond sullenly avoiding his gaze.
"Come now Harry, I may be a muggle, and I may not strike you as the most trustworthy person in the world, and you probably don't even like me right now…but I am Hermione's father and I deserve to know the truth, to know what my daughter will be walking into next year." He argues
"I told you I can't tell you."
"By denying me the answer you are confirming my thoughts and suspicions on the matter Harry."
He WILL NOT KNOW that his daughter dies a painful death!
"You don't understand! You CAN'T! You may have lost a son-but you didn't lose your parents at the age of one, lived with sadistic relatives until eleven when you found out you were someone famous who had to save the world! Your parents weren't betrayed by their best friend! You didn't lose your godfather! You didn't get slandered by papers! You didn't nearly lose your best friend because of your own folly-" I clamp my hand over my mouth, "Oh Merlin!" I exclaim closing my eyes in shame.
He is silent for awhile, "You are right Harry, none of that stuff has ever happened to me. I cannot sympathize with what you've been through. But I can tell you a few things. First, I already knew Hermione practically died back at the Ministry-but I know it was because of you she was there. She has a deep connection with you Harry, and she'll do anything for you…even if you don't want her to. The other thing I wish to say is, you're drawing yourself away from your friends, both my daughter and Ron when you need them most. You think that by distancing yourself from them you can save them from harm."
He grabs me and shakes me much to my surprise, "You're trying to stop yourself from loving them. It won't work though…because you'll only love them more. A life without love Harry-is no life at all, for them or you. Let them in Harry, you need to talk about this, and trying to push them away only hurts everyone involved. You weren't meant to walk this road alone despite what you may think. You can't always save the world single-handedly." He says letting go of me.
I stare at him for the longest time saying nothing, "I'm only trying to protect them from Voldemort. You don't know what he's like; you don't know what you're asking of me. What you're asking me to expose your daughter to." I whisper softly
"This may sound somewhat selfish Harry, but I am also looking out for Hermione's happiness, not just yours. I think if you asked her, she would prefer two years-or even one year as best friends with you than a long and depressing life without you. Hermione lives her life on the edge; even though you may think that is completely unlike her. Hermione seems organized and calculating, but when it comes to risking her life or anything else for someone or thing she believes in-she'll be the first to sign up. She is emotionally very sensitive. For instance, when you weren't talking to her during third year because of the firebolt issue she came very close to committing suicide. She can't think straight when it comes to those she loves and cares about…Rather like you I believe." He finishes
His revelation shocks me so much I have stopped walking and lean on a nearby wall to steady myself, "How much else do I not know about Hermione? She lost a brother I did not know existed and she nearly committed suicide and tells neither me nor Ron about it."
"Hermione, like you Harry, has her own share of secrets, everyone does. Everyone except those who have found no need for them, like when two people share a special bond of love. Hermione is still insecure enough, not to have told you everything and you have not told her everything either. In time though, that may change."
"I cannot tell her everything, because I just can't." I stammer out.
"More likely you don't want to have to explain something to her, because you haven't figured it out yourself." He counters
Since when are dentists psychiatrists?
"That might be the case, and it just might be the fact that I'm trying to protect her."
"She clearly doesn't want it Harry, and your not trusting her is destroying her."
"She's not some super-woman or something. I don't know if she could survive Voldemort, because I can barely do it! I'm not about to take such a chance either, I can't afford to lose someone so close to me again!"
He stares into my eyes for a minute, "Do you think she can either?" he asks completely flooring me.
"I don't know! I don't know anything! I don't even know if I'm going to survive myself this next bloody year!" I respond turning away, had we not been in a public place I would have pounded the wall.
He puts his hand on my shoulder, "I'm sorry for upsetting you. Let's go somewhere else." He turns to leave, but I stop him.
"Mr. Granger, you were right, you deserve to know. I just don't want you telling anybody else right now. Especially Hermione. I saw her-saw her…" I break off overcome, and unable to finish as tears well up in my eyes and a lump comes into my throat.
"Was she the one who died?" he asks calmly, considering the circumstances.
I swallow hard, "I can't be sure, but the way I saw her-it was almost definite." looking away as I finish.
"She will be tortured then?"
How CAN he read my mind?
I look up, tears finally falling, "Why are you asking me if you think you know the answer?" I choke out.
"I want to know the worst." He states simply.
"Yes." I croak, "The worst type known to the wizarding world. It is one of the forbidden three-the Crucius curse."
A/N: Well three updates in a week! I'm doing well!
On another note. I am very disturbed that someone has decided to use my review box as a sound-off box against Islam. I will not reveal my personal views on aforesaid matter, because this is not the place. Sufficient to say I am not Muslim, however I have NOTHING against them.
The material that was typed up into these 'reviews' dealt with bestiality, sodomizing, and raping children. Since this was an anonymous reviewer on the two occasions I have deleted both, and hope to see no such further material in my review box. I have no problems with political debate, except in my review box when it has nothing to do with my story except for the reviewers penname.
If this reviewer(s) has(ve) a problem with this perhaps they will address it to this e-mail not mean to offend anyone, but leaving such material in my review-box seems to subject people to reading it-and I hardly wanted to finish it myself. Thus, I will not willingly subject anyone else to reading it.
