Chapter Fourteen – A brief respite
The Lady Hermione Jean Ravenclaw-Emrys-Potter suddenly looked up from the embrace she was currently in. Her mother and father had recently come back from Australia after the memory charm she had performed on them broke. They had been very annoyed with their only child (at the moment), and soon that annoyance moved to her new husband. However they had now reconciled as Hermione had explained why she had done what she had done and thus her current embrace. Something was wrong though, her husband was in emotional pain.
"What's the matter love?" Dan asked his daughter.
"Harry's in pain, he's upset. I must go to him." She stated.
"How do you know that love?" her mother asked her.
"Because we share a life essence, our souls are basically entwined and what he feels, I feel. Right now he is very sad, sad about hurting you both, sad about having no family of his own and most off all sad because you both rejected him!"The last statement was said with some anger at her parents.
"We rejected him? How?" Emma asked.
"Mum, you basically told me to leave him. How could you do that?"
"Well I'm sorry but your safety is off greater importance to us..." she would have continued but Hermione interrupted her. She told her parents a little of Harry's history, how he was treated by the Dursleys. She told them that when she hugged him for the first time; that it was the first ever hug he had ever received. She told them about his parents and the sacrifice they had both made for him and the Wizarding world. Lastly she told them about the encounters that they had both had with Voldemort and why they had to fight him. As she spoke both Emma and Dan grew more and more horrified and ashamed that they had dismissed Harry before learning the facts. Emma had tears running down her face and Dan was pale. When Hermione finally finished speaking, they both looked at each other with appalled expressions on their faces.
"Oh Hermione, I am so sorry. Harry sounds like a fantastic person and we both owe him an apology. Where is he?"
"He's sat outside on the stairs. Molly Weasley is with him." as she spoke she had stood and made her way to the door.
Harry was still sat with his head resting against Molly's ample chest. The tears had run their course and he had his eyes closed. Molly looked up as she heard the door open and saw Hermione moving towards them. With a smile she transferred her charge to his wife and stood to leave.
"Molly...thank you for been here for him. I know he really appreciated it." Hermione told the older woman.
Hermione now transferred her attention to Harry, who was worryingly quite.
"Harry? Harry are you okay? I could feel your distress." She asked him
Harry took a long while to answer her, he was trying to sort his thoughts out in his head, and he was a little embarrassed that he had broken down like he had. Finally he spoke.
"I'm fine Mione, it's just after your parents rejected me, I felt all the years of rejection bearing down on me and I needed to let it out. I feel better now. I will let you and your parents reconnect, and wait for you in the kitchen."
"Oh no you don't Mr Potter!" Emma stated as she watched the pair. Harry almost jumped to his feet when he heard Emma speak.
"Harry, I owe you an apology, a big apology. I was wrong to say what I did; you are the best thing that ever happened to our daughter. You brought her friendship when she had none, and now love, when she only had us. You are a fine young man, and I am honoured, very honoured to have you as a son-in-law."
Harry was amazed to hear the words coming from someone he thought had rejected him. He looked up at her and could see the sincerity in her voice. Dan was stood next to her with his arm around his wife, also looking rather contrite and ashamed of himself. Harry slowly disentangled himself from Hermione's hold and stood to face the older couple.
"Thank you Mrs Granger, that means a lot to me." He told her.
"Harry that will not do at all. It's Emma, now come here!" and she took him in a light embrace, before releasing him. Dan then stuck out his hand which Harry took.
"Welcome to the family, son!" he told him before briefly hugging him around the shoulders. Hermione was beaming as her parents finally accepted her husband.
"Shall we all go back to the lounge? We have a lot to speak about. And Mum, pregnant?"
As they walked back to the lounge, Hermione arm in arm with Harry, Emma laughed and blushed.
"Yeah, we found out a few weeks ago. I'm only four months and only just beginning to show. We weren't really trying but we are both very happy to be having a baby. After you were born, we did want another but with the dental practice just starting and then when you started to show your magic, even if at the time we didn't know what it was, we just decided not to try. When you removed our memories and we became then Wilkins, well things were different."
"Do you know what sex the baby is?" Hermione asked shyly.
"Yes, you are going to have a baby sister. I wonder if she will be a witch." Emma asked herself.
Hermione was delighted she was going to have a sister, even if the age difference was quite big. As she looked at her mother, she accessed some of her new Ravenclaw knowledge, and activated her new ability to see magical auras. Harry's was plain to see, a solid white, almost silver, second skin covering him. Her parents had auras as well, although they were much smaller and fainter. She guessed that even though they had no magic themselves; the genes they carried must be responsible for the auras. As she looked her mother's stomach was glowing a bright golden colour, it was small but very bright.
"Yes Mum, she will be magical, very powerful as well if I am reading this correctly."
"How? how do you know that?" Emma asked surprised, but pleased all the same.
"Well, as I told you, Harry and I are the heirs to the Founders of Hogwarts; we also have the knowledge of the Founders in our heads. I used some of that knowledge to allow me to see magical auras. Both Harry and I have a solid one, due to our immortality, but the baby has a golden one, meaning that she will be magical."
Dan had to ask at this point. "About this immortality thing, can you tell us more? I must admit to been a little confused and scared by it. Do you mean that you both will live forever?"
"Yes Dad, We cannot die, except by decapitation or the killing curse. Earlier today, Harry was killed by been burnt to death, his body was covered in burns and he was quite dead." The two Grangers were very shocked to hear this and had both looked at the young man sat calmly with their daughter.
"I felt him die, mum! It hurt like hell, but a few seconds later, his body healed and he was re-born, as good as new."
"My God! And neither of you will age?" Dan asked.
"Well I guess we may age until we reach our maturity and then we will stop."
"That's just amazing, but are you both aware of the downside, all your friends, family, children growing old and dying whilst you two carry on?"
"Yes Dad, we are aware of that, and if it was just me on my own, I'm not sure I could cope, but with Harry by my side, we will cope together. I guess it will be losing our children that will hurt the most, but that's not enough to stop us from wanting kids."
"That's good, I always wanted to be a grandmother, but not too soon you two, been a mother once more is enough for the moment."
"What are your plans now Mr and Mrs Granger?" Harry asked.
"Dan and Emma please, but were not sure. As I said earlier, I have grown to hate been a dentist over the years and I know that Dan feels the same."
"Mum, you cannot go home at the moment, it's not safe. We are attacked when we were at our house a few days ago, and I know that the Death Eaters are watching the house. That's why I had Dobby bring you here when you got home."
"Yes what was that little creature? He sure seemed a lively one." Dan asked, with a faint smile on his face.
"Dobby is my House Elf; he is bonded to me and his mate Winky is bonded to Mione. They are both very loyal and powerful in their own way. They will try to do anything for us."
"Bonded, as in slave?" Emma asked with an odd tone to her voice.
"No Mum, I used to think that, but it seems that House Elves need to be bonded to a witch or a wizard to stay alive. Winky was dying until she bonded with me. They are not slaves and we are paying them."
"Good, not sure I was keen on you two owning slaves."
"So mum, what are you going to do?" Hermione asked.
"Well, we still own the cafe in Aus, and we really liked our life out there. I think the Wilkins will be making a return to Australia I just wish it wasn't so far away from you two."
Harry looked over at Hermione and frowned. "Do you think..."
"Not sure..."
"It's a long ..."
"It sure is..."
"We know we have the power..."
"But can it be done?"
"What are you tow on about, and how come you keep talking like that?" Dan asked exasperated with the pair.
"Well Dan, Mione and I were just thinking if we could apparate to Australia with you both."
Dan gasped, "Hermione had told us about apperation, but I thought you could only apparate few hundred miles or so?" he asked.
"Well normally that's true, but Mione and I are much more powerful that most. I think we could do it. That means we can take you both home and keep in touch with you both. We can also come and visit you when the baby is born." Harry told them.
"Are you both sure?" Emma asked.
"Well sorta. The only problem we can come up with is that neither of us knows where in Australia you were living. We need to be able to see the location in our minds to be able to do this."
"Harry, what if Mum and Dad hold the image in their minds and we use that to apparate us there?" Hermione asked in an excited voice.
"That might work, Mione. When do you wish to try?"
"What about now?" Hermione said. "We can take them to Aus and then return to see to the rest. I would be happier with Mum and Dad safe in Australia. We can do the memory spell again..."
"OH NO! Going back to the cafe is one thing but we are not losing you both again. Not this time. Is there nothing else you can do to keep us and you safe?" Dan told them.
Hermione thought for a bit, pacing back and forth as she did so. Suddenly she looked up and smiled. She walked to her father and with a reassuring smile placed her hands on his head. She closed her eyes and concentrated, both father and daughter glowed for a brief second before she moved to her mother and repeated the procedure.
"What have you done now Hermione?" her mother asked.
"Well I have first taken the knowledge of the location of your home in Australia, and then I have shielded your minds from anyone trying to read them."
Everyone seemed pleased with Hermione's solution and quickly her parents had gathered up there few belongings. They had been so eager to get back to the UK that they had left nearly all of their other stuff back in Australia. Everyone linked hands ready for the trip. Harry and Hermione concentrated, Hermione held the image of their destination in her mind, and with a 'pop' they vanished.
Moments later they reappeared in a small but nice living room. It was early in the morning, and the sun was just coming over the horizon. The air was warm and the noise of the sea could be heard. Emma let go of the pair and opened the patio doors that led to a large patio area and garden.
"Welcome to Australia, and welcome to our home." Emma told them, pleased to be back in what she considered to be more her home than the UK was.
"Mum, it's lovely, but we cannot stay. We have work to do back home, but we will come by very soon, now that we know where you live. I want to see everything and have a meal at your cafe."
"Do you really have to go Pumpkin?" Dan asked.
"Pumpkin?" Harry mouthed to Hermione, a smile playing across his lips.
"Don't even think about it Potter!" Hermione warned before turning to her father. "Yes Dad, Harry and I have a great deal to do and now knowing you are both safe makes it a lot easier for me."
After a lot of embraces, kisses and some tears Harry and Hermione finally managed to apparate away; re-appearing back in the cottage. By now it was getting very late, and after sending a message to Griphook via Dobby asking for a meeting in the morning, the pair retired to bed.
I.Y. I.Y. I.Y.
Lord Voldemort was ecstatic, he was over the moon. In fact if could be said that he was happy, if he indeed knew what the alien emotion felt like. The reason for this good mood was he had finally finished questioning Snape about his run from Hogwarts. When Snape and the young Malfoy had arrived earlier the previous day, he had not spoken to either of them, but just placed them both under the Cruciatus curse. After all they had both failed him, so why not? It had taken Snape hours to recover from the torture, but he had finally been ready to speak. Voldemort had grown angry with the potion masters tale as he told his master of his failure at the school, but when Snape told him about Potter falling to his death from the Astronomy tower, that was the catalyst for the outpouring of emotion. As Snape described the sight of the crater with the broken body of his nemesis lying in the centre, Voldemort was so pleased that he even allowed Snape to leave with no further punishment. In fact when he leant that it was Draco who has cast the spell that flung the young Potter off the parapet he had magically restored the last of the Malfoy's tongue, allowing him to speak once more.
"It's done! Potter is dead, and I can rule the world as is my right." He said to himself, ignoring the pangs of worry regarding the recent demise of yet another of his Horcrux's. He knew that the remaining two were safe and out of reach of any of the dregs of Dumbledore's so called army of Light.
"Bella! Where are you?" he yelled
Bellatrix came in, now aware of her master's good mood. "Yes my lord?" she purred.
"Come in here and remove your clothes, I am in need of some entertainment" he said as he stood to disrobe.
I.Y. I.Y. I.Y.
Harry woke to the feeling of his beloved wife naked body resting on his. Despite their tiredness they had made passionate love the night before. It had only been the one time but, nevertheless it had been a fantastic experience. Never before had he felt such contentment as he had, when they both released there climaxes at the same time. He didn't think it was possible to love another as much as he loved Hermione. As he lay there he could sense his wife begin to waken. As she moved her hand moved south and grasped his morning wood. With a content sigh, Hermione began to move her hand up and down as she felt Harry's hand move to her moist core. As he began his ministrations she began to groan loudly as he also kissed her neck and jaw line. Before long they both climaxed, and with a quick Scourgify both were clean again.
"Morning love!" Hermione smiled at him.
"Morning...Pumpkin!" Harry said with a laugh.
"Oi! you cheeky..." she began as Harry moved to tickle her. "Harry, let go...Oi Potter!" she called as Harry sprung up and ran to the bathroom, naked. She leapt up and followed him conjuring a glass of cold water as she did.
"MIONE!" came the shout as she flung it at her husband, before they both entered the shower together.
It was a clean Harry and Hermione that finally made it down to breakfast. Molly and Ginny were cooking breakfast and Arthur and the twins were sat chatting.
"Morning you two, breakfast?" Molly asked them.
"Yes please." Harry replied for the two of them.
"Where are your parents Hermione, I would of thought they would have been up by now." She asked.
"Well, they may be but they will be going to bed soon. We took them back to Australia last night, as they wanted to live there."Hermione told her.
"What? How did you get them back, it's a long way to Australia" Molly said, Arthur also now paying attention to the conversation.
"We apparated them both, they were happy there and wanted to stay. This was we can visit them whenever we wish."
"You apparated them all the way around the world? That's impossible, no one can do that." Arthur stated.
"Er, not for us, we might if mentioned it but we a touch more powerful than we were before." Harry said
"How much of a touch?" Fred asked
"A lot more, if you must know; we both carry the knowledge of the four Founders as well as some of Merlin's." Harry said faintly.
"Wow, you are related to the Founders?" George asked.
"Yes, Harry to Gryffindor and Hufflepuff and me by Ravenclaw. We are both also related to Merlin." Hermione told him.
"What are your full names?" Arthur asked
"Harry is Lord Harry James Hufflepuff-Griffindor-Slytherin-Emrys-Potter and I am the Lady Hermione Jean Ravenclaw-Emrys-Potter." She said proudly.
"Slytherin? You didn't mention Harry been related to Slytherin." Fred said, looking a little worried.
"I'm not. But since I have beaten old Voldyshorts more than three times I am now the heir of Slytherin by conquest." Harry told him.
"Oh my! Does that mean you both own Hogwarts?" Molly asked as she put the names together.
"No, they don't, you cannot own a living thing, they are the guardians of the castle and the Lady Hogwarts thinks of them as her parents." came a new voice form the doorway.
"Luna! How are you this morning" Harry shouted at her, pleased to see her up and about.
"Well, thank you Harry. I'm a little confused as to how I got here though." came the reply.
"Well yesterday was a long day and at the end you made a prediction. You then fainted and we brought you back here." Harry told her.
"Oh, was it a good prediction?" Luna asked him.
"Well it told us where to go next, so I guess so. That reminds me...Dobby!" he shouted
With a pop with the faithful creature arrived, practically bouncing around the room. "Master calls Dobby, what can Dobby do for Master Harry?" he asked
"Dobby, please can we drop the Master bit, it's just Harry."
"Master wants Dobby to call Master 'Harry'? Can Dobby do that?" Dobby asked himself.
"Yes Dobby you can, and please stop bouncing around, you're making me dizzy." Harry said with a smile. "Dobby, what did Griphook say?"
"Griphook says to meet him this morning at eleven, they are looking forward to your visit Ma...Harry, sir" Dobby told him.
"Good, can you also go to see Professor McGonagall? We need to go to visit this afternoon, I promised that I would go and speak to Charlotte and Mione needs to speak to Helena."
"Dobby will go Harry Sir!" and with a pop he was gone.
"Well, at least he's dropped the 'Master' bit love." Hermione said with a smile. Everyone was smiling as Luna took her place and started to eat her breakfast. As they all ate, Xeno made an appearance and was given breakfast. Luna was happy to see her father, and for a while the two talked about animals and creatures that no one else had heard off.
As they ate, there was another 'pop' as Winky arrived. However she wasn't alone; in her arms she was carrying a large ginger ball of fur that was hissing and spitting.
"Crookshanks!" Hermione shouted. As soon as the half Kneazle heard his mistress voice, he shot out of the arms of Winky and repositioned himself on Hermione's lap. She began to pet him and soon the room was filled with the loud sound of purring.
"Crooks, where have you been? You were supposed to stay at Hogwarts until I could come back." She told the cat.
"I is finding the cat wandering around the forest outside the cottage. He was looking for you, but couldn't get past the wards Ma'am" Winky told her.
"Thank you Winky. Did lovely little Crooks miss his mistress then?" she asked the cat in a silly voice. Crookshanks continued to purr, even if he did look a little affronted by the tone Hermione was taking. After a while he jumped down, walked past Harry, rubbing himself against his legs as he did and then looked at Winky with an expectant look.
"Ok cat, come on then, let's find you some food" Winky stated and the two wandered off to the kitchen. Breakfast continued and then everyone left the dining room to get ready for the day. Harry and Hermione were going to apparate to Diagon Alley, near to the bank. Luna stated that she wished to come with them. The Weasleys were going to Hogwarts to see Professor McGonagall about re-enrolling Ginny for the remainder of the years now that the school was safer than before.
Soon Harry and Hermione were stood in the main entrance hall waiting for Luna to get ready.
"Where is she? It's nearly eleven already." Harry grumbled.
"Stop moaning, one thing you will have to learn is that it takes women a little longer to get ready than you blokes. You're lucky that I am a morning person or else you would be waiting for two of us." As she spoke they saw Luna coming down the stairs. She was wearing a nice dress under her robes, and her hair was in a French plat, running down her back.
"Sorry you two, but Dad needed me to chase away some Wrackspurts that were infesting his room." She said with a small smile.
"Wrackspurts? Never mind, come on lets go otherwise we will be late, and keeping Goblins waiting is not a good idea." Harry said, extending his hand for Luna. She took it and Hermione took the other one, and they blinked away.
I.Y. I.Y. I.Y.
Deep in the part of Romania better known as Transylvania the creature known as Ron was creeping through the forests. It was early morning and Ron was hungry. His last meal was a couple of walkers he had chanced across as he flew through the forests a few days ago. He's landed the broomstick and captured the pair. Feeding on the woman first he had repeated the actions that had now become his trademark. Raping her whilst her partner watched and then slitting her throat. This time however he had also cut open her belly and ripped out her innards before the light left her eyes. Laughing he then killed the man, but he was still hungry. As he crept through the dense forest he sent out his mind, looking for prey but all he could sense back was the dead creatures that inhabited this part of the forest. Never mind, when he found the lair he would kill his brethren and take the cup. Then he could control Voldemort and force him to help conquer the world for him.
As he crept, he was unaware that he was been watched by some of the creatures. As soon as he was spotted entering their territory, word was sent to the Lord and Lady that company was coming.
I.Y. I.Y. I.Y.
With an almost silent 'pop' the trio arrived in a darkened corner of Diagon Alley. Once more the sense of fear and anxiety permeated the air, and the trio quickly walked to the white steps leading to the bank, heads bowed and hoods up. As they mounted the steps, Harry briefly raised his head and moved the hood back, exposing his face. The guards snapped to attention and saluted.
"Lord Potter, Griphook told us to expect you." One said politely, well as polite as a Goblin ever is. The other opened the door and the trio rushed into the bank. As soon as they were inside they removed there hoods and looked around. Silverfang was rushing towards them.
"Lord Potter, Lady Potter, Miss Lovegood, my father is expecting you; If you would like to follow me." He asked them. He led them to an ornate looking office that contained a desk and three chairs. On the desk was a tray of drinks and Griphook was sat at the other side.
"Harry! Come in, good to see you. You too Hermione. Miss Lovegood, I'm not sure if we have met. Senior accountant Griphook at your service. It is a pleasure to meet you."
Luna greeted the Goblin and they all took their seats. Griphook took out a large folder of paper and looked at the trio.
"Now, Harry. We have located where the witch Bellatrix took the cup. It's not good news I'm afraid." He said with a grimace.
"Why, where did she take it?" Harry asked in a worried voice.
"Well she took it to a forest in central Romania and left it there with some allies of Riddle." Griphook told them.
"That doesn't sound so bad, why the worried look Griphook?"
"Well, the area of Romania that she took it too used to be called Transylvania. But the main problem is who Lestrange left it with. She left it with two creatures that people call the Lord and Lady and that is the problem. You see the Lord and Lady are Vampires, but not just any vampires, they are the King and Queen of all the vampires." He said in a gloomy voice.
"Shit!" Harry said.
"Yes quite, it won't be an easy job to retrieve the item from them."
"Okay, we will have to go and get it, but I think this will need some planning first. Was there anything else Griphook?" Harry asked
At this Griphook showed his teeth, a sure sign to tell that a Goblin is smiling. "Well yes, and this is slightly better news. We heard of the death of the wand-smith Ollivander. His replacement has already been to see us, a distant nephew, and had claimed his inheritance from us. However Ollivander updated his will recently, using magic whilst staying at your cottage. Both you and Lady Potter were mentioned. He left you Lady Hermione, the wand that rested on the purple cushion in the shop front. It has been there for centuries and everyone thought it was a fake, but we have had it tested. It turns out that it was the wand of your ancestor, Rowena Ravenclaw." As he spoke he pulled out an old looking wand and handed it to Hermione. As soon as she touched the wand, sparks flew out of the end and both she and the wand glowed briefly.
"Wow, that's a very powerful wand, and it recognises me as its true owner. This is an amazing gift, I will treasure it." She said.
"And for you Harry, he left a staff. We do not know how he came into its possession but it seems genuine." He pulled out a gnarled looking staff with a large crystal on one end. As soon as Harry took it he gasped and his eyes rolled back into his head. He fell back into the chair and began to shake. After a few seconds he opened his eyes and they were glowing a golden colour before they faded to their normal green.
"Are you okay Harry?" Hermione asked in a concerned voice.
"Yes, that was a bit of a rush. I not sure if I believe it, but this staff belonged to none other than Merlin. It wants you to touch it Mione."
With a cautious look at Harry she tentatively reached across and touched her ancestor's staff. Once more her eyes glowed gold and her hair whipped around in an invisible wind. After a few seconds the wind faded and her eyes returned to their normal colour. She looked at Harry in awe.
#Harry, that was amazing!#
#I know Mione, and have you noticed, we are talking without moving our lips. In fact I think we are talking in our heads.#
#Oh sweet Merlin, how is this possible?#
#Well I'm not certain, but I think it's the staff that did it.#
Luna was looking at the pair with a grin on her face. This was just as she had predicted, the pair had become even closer and the time was approaching for her fate.
With a few final words the trio left the bank and quickly apparated to the gates of Hogwarts.