Chapter Ten: Three Explosions
Hermione Granger returned home from her visit to Potter Manor on cloud nine. She was so happy that she could just float into the air. It all felt surreal. Who would have thought that Hermione Granger, bushy-haired bucktoothed know-it-all would get betrothed at twelve to the prince of the wizarding world, Harry Potter? She had a smile on her face as she recalled how Harry presented her with the engagement and Lady Potter rings. I can't believe it! That must have been a dream! She glanced at her left hand and saw the two gorgeous rings, the engagement ring with the princess-cut diamond set on a white gold band and the Lady Potter ring with the ruby gem and gold band embossed with the Potter family crest.
Hermione remembered the look on Harry's face when he knelt down in front of her and his bright smile when she agreed to be his girlfriend. Just one look at him when he was confessing his feelings made her heart flutter and the look in his eyes made her realize that he was serious. She didn't know why Harry felt that way about her despite just having met her recently, but there is something about Harry that made her say yes. Maybe it's because he is the same boy in his dreams, his gentle and caring nature, or she just feel so at ease with him. It's like she's known him all her life.
After they formalized the betrothal with their respective oaths and Harry placed the Lady Potter ring on her finger, one look at him and she knew that she would love no other boy but him. She may have known him recently but she knew with all her heart that she does love him. And that I will love him forever!
"Hermione, come on down sweetie! Time for dinner!", her mother called from outside her bedroom door.
"Coming mum!" Hermione went downstairs and joined her parents for dinner still with that big smile on her face. When she sat at the table and started to get food on her plate, her parents started talking to each other and she eagerly listened. She valued her time with her parents and listening to them talk was very interesting.
"Hermione, dear, could you please pass the gravy", her father called out. Hermione immediately complied but when she passed the gravy boat, her father's eyes were glued to the brilliant gems on her rings.
"Hermione! Where did you get those?", her father yelped while grabbing her hand making the gravy boat topple over.
"Dan! Be careful!", her mother admonished and went to get a rug to wipe the mess. Her mother returned with a rug and started cleaning the spilled gravy.
"Hermione, where did you get those rings?", her father calmly asked once her mother was finished cleaning up.
"Harry gave them to me."
"Can I see it darling?", her mother asked and she lifted her left hand while her mother scooted close to peruse the rings.
"Why did he give them to you?", her father prodded.
"Wow! These are genuine diamonds and rubies, Hermione. These rings caused a fortune!", exclaimed her mother still looking at her rings.
"Harry gave them to me awhile ago when he asked me to be his girlfriend. And I accepted!", she confessed.
"Girlfriend! What?", her father yelped.
"Hermione, you are only twelve years old. You're too young. We haven't even met this Harry. Besides, boys just don't give diamonds to girlfriends. There must be something more behind this", her mother was serious now.
"Well, Harry and I sort of took part in a magical betrothal ceremony when he gave me the ring", she whispered since she was afraid of their reaction.
"Betrothed? Hermione Granger, you have some serious explaining to do. Or else!", her father screamed, clearly mad now as he suddenly stood up from his chair.
"Dad, I can explain!", she started to defend herself.
"No! You explain tomorrow. And since it's a Sunday tomorrow, this Harry better be here. As well as his parents to explain all this", her father said in a voice filled with stern finality. Her father has never been seriously mad at her before for she was the perfectly obedient daughter. This time, she was sure that her father is about to explode.
"Yes, dad", Hermione whispered with a nod. I should've known everything was too easy and good to be true!
Harry Potter decided to further his plans as soon as his queen left Potter Manor. With them being betrothed and now that she's wearing the Lady Potter ring, which has always been rightfully hers, he knew it was time to go after the Gaunt ring. It's time to return the resurrection stone to D and to eliminate one more horcrux. Harry apparated to Little Hangleton and first made his way to Tom Riddle Sr.'s grave. Using his dark lord wand, he casted the same privacy charms that Hermione used during the horcrux hunt. Once satisfied that all the charms are in place, he magically dug a hole on the grave and levitated the remains. He dropped the remains beside hole and looked around for something to transfigure. He saw a thick broken branch when he was walking around so he picked it up and placed it beside the remains. Concentrating with all his might to ensure that the transfiguration was done perfectly, Harry created an exact replica of Tom Ridde Sr.'s remains. He then levitated the original remains back into the hole and once it was again buried six feet under the ground, he casted a fiendfyre to eliminate all traces of the remains. Good thing fiendfyre became my expertise during my reign as a dark lord! When all the remains were just ash, he put out the fiendfyre and levitated the replica into the hole. He them magically sealed the hole afterwards as if nothing was amiss. He then went to visit Riddle manor and once at the gate, he casted hominem revelio to make sure that no one was there. When it was a clear, he enlarged his trunk and planted the explosives all around the manor.
After one hour, when all the explosives are ready and in place, he casted the same privacy charms around the vicinity of Riddle manor and immediately left the scope of the area. Once outside, he activated the bombs. He waited for around thirty minutes to make sure that no muggle was able to notice the explosion. Seeing that no one came to check, he called Richy.
"Yes, Harry. How can I help?", the elf bowed in greeting.
"Richy, I need you to check if everything in Riddle manor is destroyed. But make sure to keep yourself safe. If everything is burned down, please check if you can find a ring. If you do, just bring the ring to me without touching it. The ring is laced with dark magic and poison, so don't you dare touch it. Understand?", he said in a gentle voice. The elf popped away to do his command and he waited. After some time, the elf appeared with a levitated ring, the one with the resurrection stone as its gem.
"Harry, everything is destroyed but I didn't cancel your privacy charms. I added an elf charm on it so that no one can remember the location so that they can't see it anymore. Here is the ring, the only ring I can find there", the elf dropped the ring on the ground.
"Well done, Richy. Thank you! I just want to know, how long can you keep the elf charm in place?"
"I can keep the charm active for as long as you want, Harry. I just have to strengthen the charm every week."
"I don't want you to tire yourself Richy", he said gently.
"No, no. Richy be strong elf since Harry is powerful master", the elf insisted.
"But Richy, we haven't bonded yet", he stated with confusion.
"I know but living in Potter Manor and with Harry gives me extra strength. Your house and your power strengthens me", the elf said with glee.
"So, if we bonded, you and the other elves will be more powerful?", Harry asked with genuine curiosity.
"Yes, Harry. We's be most powerful elves!"
"I'll think about the bonding, Richy! Thank you for your help", Harry smiled at the elf and it popped away. Harry then stared at the resurrection stone and smirked. Time for you to return to D! Harry casted fiendfyre on the ring and when he saw a dark mist scream before dissipating, he controlled the fiendfyre until the ring was entirely destroyed. Once that's down, he cancelled the spell and apparated back to Potter Manor feeling satisfied. Three more horcruxes left…
Albus Dumbledore was desperate. He has to find Harry Potter and bring him back to the Dursleys. He needed the Dursleys to shape his weapon to be weak, docile, and obedient. He needed Harry Potter to be ready to give up his life to face Voldemort for the greater good. He can't have Harry get ideas on how to control his own life. He needed the boy ready to face his destiny. Seeing as he can't obliviate and manipulate the entire social services team to set the Dursleys free, he decided to explore other options. With that in mind, he went to visit Gringott's, maybe the goblins have an idea on where Harry Potter is and they might help me gain control of the boy.
"Well met, master goblin. I wish to see the Potter family account manager please!", he greeted the teller with respect.
"And who are you?", the goblin snarled.
"Albus Dumbledore", he said with pride.
"I know who you are. I want to know your relationship with the House of Potter!", the goblin looked at him with contempt.
"I'm Harry Potter's guardian", he said with confidence.
"As far as I know, Lord Potter is emancipated and no longer needs a guardian."
"There must be a mistake! Harry Potter is just eleven! He can't claim his lordship!", he screamed in agitation. Why are things going against my plans?
"If you won't quiet down, I will have to demand to make you leave!", the goblin screamed back.
"I demand to see the Potter family account manager!", he insisted.
"Only a member of House Potter in whatsoever form can see Barchoke. Since you are clearly not, then you may leave", the goblin stood his ground and crossed his arms around his chest. Left with no choice, he left Gringott's and decided to pay the Ministry of Magic a visit. As Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and Supreme Mugwump, he will surely get his way there. When he arrived at the ministry, he immediately visited the Department of the Improper Use of Magic hoping that Harry used his wand and he'll be able to get a location.
"Hello, Mafalda!"
"Albus! What can I do for you?"
"I was hoping to get information if any of my students have violated the underage use of magic law?", he discreetly inquired.
"There have been no reports on that Albus. The last violator was still last year. So far, everything is in place. Why do you ask?"
"I'm just curious that's all. Can't have Hogwarts students violating rules, can we?", he chuckled.
"Well, there have been no issues lately. The only thing special that occurred recently involving your students is at the book of records. It seems that there is a newly recorded soul bond", Mafalda Hopkirk smiled.
"May I inquire as to who?", he asked with curiosity.
"I can't say since only the people from the Department of Mysteries know. I just heard about it since the DOM has been gushing about it since the people involved in the soul bond are young, at Hogwarts age."
"Oh! Thank you Mafalda. I must leave you now", Dumbledore left her office and headed to the Department of Mysteries. He has a bad feeling about this. If Harry was the one to be part of a soul bond, my plans are ruined…
"Can I help you Professor?", one of the Unspeakables asked him.
"Yes! I'm wondering if you could give me information on the recently recorded soul bond. After all, there hasn't been a recorded bond in more than five hundred years and I heard that the bonded are young enough to be Hogwarts students. I hope to know so that should they be my students, I can provide for their needs when they return to Hogwarts", he said while perfecting the kind headmaster persona.
"Of course, Professor. I think you should really know about this. Come, I will take you to the office of our head", the unspeakable gestured for him to follow and so he did. He was brought into the office of the chief unspeakable and he immediately greeted him with respect.
"Professor Dumbledore! I am sure you are here to inquire about the soul bond? Such phenomenon hasn't been for so long", the chief greeted.
"Yes! And I heard that the bonded pair is just at Hogwarts age. I wish to help the couple by providing for their needs."
"Very well! The couple was bonded yesterday morning at around 11 AM. The couple is very unique indeed", the chief said with excitement.
"Why unique?"
"Why the female is a twelve year old muggle-born witch and the male is an eleven year old heir to an Ancient and Noble House!"
"May I ask the names, Chief Unspeakable? Surely, these students are just first years. I need to know so that I can help them", he smiled and twinkled his eyes.
"Of course! The recorded soul bond was between Hermione Jean Granger and Harry James Potter!"
"What? Harry Potter?!", he yelped.
"I can see your surprise, Professor. But apparently, Mr. Potter has already found his perfect match at such a young age. We can surely expect great things from the lad. Soul bonded couples are very special after all since it brings new forms of magical ability and strength", the chief was brimming with excitement.
"Do you plan to keep this a secret?", he asked in a resigned voice.
"Yes. After all, the couple is still too young."
Albus Dumbledore left the Ministry of Magic feeling distraught. He was to sort out his plans and form a new strategy. A soul bonded Harry is out of the question. He has to find a way to separate the couple. Hermione Jean Granger, muggleborn…Hmmmm…I think it's time to ask Minerva for Ms. Granger's address so that I could come visit.