A/N.-Hello!!! Here's one a bit delayed, calmer chapter for you. It took a little longer than usual thanks to all my final projects and the few final exams I've presented...lucky for me there's only one week of exams left for me before I get 3 looooong months of summer break, so I expect I'll be updating regularly by then, now please enjoy this.
Disclaimer: You know what goes here.
Chapter 21.- Release and Return
Harry woke up next day sitting in the same chair by Hermione's bedside, just to find her still lying unconscious. He got up, whispered that he was sorry, kissed her forehead and went to check on the smaller girl. She was in her bed, fully awake.
"Hello Lily" Harry greeted the small girl with a kiss on the cheek.
"Hello Harry" The little girl replied "How's Minnie?"
"Still in bed, but don't worry, she'll be alright" He assured, trying to convince himself of that on the process. A couple of minutes later, Healer Assayya entered their ward to check on them.
"Good morning Mr. Potter"
"Morning Mr. Assayya"
"How are you both?"
"Fine" Both replied in unison, Lily in a shy voice.
"How's Hermione?"
"Still unconscious"
"I see…mind if I check her?" He asked Harry
"It's your job" Was his reply. When he was checking her, a question burst in Harry's mind "Umm…Mr. Assayya" He called and the healer turned to him "Is it OK if Lily and I leave the hospital for a moment?"
"Sure…as long as you come back"
With that Harry lifted Lily and left the room. They walked towards a fireplace and he instructed Lily to cover her face and not look until he told her it was safe to do so. The girl buried her face on his neck as he took a pinch of Floo powder, threw it in the fireplace, stepped in and said clearly "Weasley's Wizard Wheezes". He then appeared in the twins' office, startling both redheads.
"Harry!" They both said at the same time. "You scared us mate, anyway, what do we owe the pleasure?" Fred continued
"Well, I came to check on you guys…seems you repaired the shop quickly."
"Yeah, it wasn't as beaten up as the shops closer to the Cauldron" One of the twins said.
"Who's the little princess?" The other one asked
"Umm…Lil, it's safe to look now" Harry said, and the girl uncovered her face to look at the twin redheads. "Fred, George, this is Lily Rose Granger, Hermione's younger sister"
"Hello" The twins replied in unison "Nice to meet you" One of them continued.
"Umm…nice to meet you too" Lily replied shyly.
"Hey guys, we really need to go, gotta get some muggle money at Gringotts" Harry said and then left the shop. Several of the shops were still in ruins, but Harry turned right into the bank. In the atrium he located Griphook and called him.
"Hello Mr. Potter, what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?"
"Griphook, I need you to convert 500 galleons into muggle Pounds"
Griphook led them to a counter where they performed the transaction, handing Harry 2500 pounds in different value notes. Then they headed for the twins' shop again to use their fireplace to floo to the hospital. They checked on Hermione to find out she was recovering steadily, and left the hospital through the guest entrance to find a phone booth, on the way…
"Lily, are you OK? You've been very quiet lately" Harry asked concerned
"I'm fine, just a little scared."
"It's OK to be scared" Harry replied "One person told me that it's for fools not to be afraid" He continued, remembering Lupin's words back in third year.
Lily chuckled "Harry…why did that baddie throw a light at me that bounced back at him?" She asked curiously.
"Well, let me be honest…he tried to hurt you" Lily gasped "But I really don't know why did it bounce back when you outstretched you hand. I'd say you made a magical shield, but I don't feel any magic in you" Harry added, frowning. "Well, here we are" He added when they reached the booth. "Lily, do you know any of your parents' cell phone number?" The small girl nodded as Harry dropped a few coins into the phone, and then he dialed the number the small girl told him. He waited and several waiting tones later, he heard Gerard Granger's voice.
"Hello?"
"Mr. Granger? Thank God, it's Harry here"
"Harry?! Good to hear you, what's going on"
Harry tried to explain the incident to Mr. Granger, but then decided that they should meet at a cafeteria close to the hospital, since they were on their way back and were precisely in London. Half an hour later, Mr. and Mrs. Granger, Lily and himself were sitting at a table in said café with the first two listening at Harry, both crying.
"Where's my Hermione?" Mr. Granger asked some time later.
"See the out of business clothes boutique right across the street?" Harry asked, the elders nodded. "It is a disguise…that is actually St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, that's where Hermione is"
"Can you take us there?" Mrs. Granger asked with a look of hope.
"I guess…I mean Lily was with me inside it, so I guess you can get in too" He replied, shrugging. Then the four crossed the street and Harry recalled Tonks talking to a manikin two years ago. He approached it and said clearly "We are here to see Hermione Jane Granger" The other three were confused by this, since they had never seen anyone do that before, but Harry motioned them across the wall, and soon they were at the hospital's atrium. He then walked them towards the ward where Hermione was. They then rushed towards the bedside to check on their daughter, and Harry left them alone. When he was in the hallway, a nurse spoke to him.
"Mr. Potter" She called, and when the teen turned to look at her she continued "Minister Scrimegour wishes to see you right now"
"So I'm important enough to be seen by him personally, but he gives a shit about a muggleborn huh? Tell Scrimegour he can go to hell for all I care" Harry still despised the minister.
"Well" A deep voice said behind him "He heard you" Harry turned around to see the Minister for Magic standing before him.
"Well, sir, what do I own the pleasure of you stopping by?" He asked coldly.
"Well, I was here intending to check on you and Miss Granger and to have Auror Tonks here make you a few questions"
"Where is she?" Harry asked
"I'm here Harry" She replied, coming down the hallway with Lupin beside her.
"Hey Tonks, Moony" He greeted shaking their hands in turn "Care to join me in the tea room?" He proposed, and the other two nodded, following him out of Scrimegour's sight. When they reached the room, they sat on a table where Tonks proceeded with the standard witness questioning and Harry helped. When she told him they were off the record now, Lupin asked him.
"Now, what did really happen cub? That hole in Lucius Malfoy's head was no spell product"
"No, it wasn't, he was killed by Muggle weaponry" Harry replied, unsheathing leadstag and briefing them on what he knew about handguns. He then proceeded to tell them where he had gotten the gun after they swore to tell no one.
"But wasn't it supposed to be a surprise for Voldemort?" Lupin asked "Now he will know you have one"
"Doubt it, his Death Eaters attacked a muggle household, so it was probably there by chance" Harry replied, feeling his scar burn, and after flinching, he smirked. "That idiot forgot to use Occlumency and just let me know he found out about his failure, and is not the least bit happy about it…he'd kill Lucius if he wasn't already dead"
"You sometimes freak me out cub…" Lupin replied to this new information.
"Umm…Moony…Tonks, I got a favor to ask you"
"Whatever you need Harry" Tonks replied.
"D'you think you could help me repair what they did at the Grangers' house?" At their surprised expressions he added "The worst things are a little blood on the floor and the blasted front door, they only fired stunners"
After they relaxed a bit they agreed, and left to inform the Grangers, giving them more time to be with their daughters.
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When they returned an hour later, the Grangers were on the waiting room, since visiting hours were now over. When they saw him arrive, Jane went straight to hold Harry in a tight hug.
"Thank you Harry" She said, slightly crying. "Thanks for saving my daughter"
When they pulled away, Harry was puzzled "Wait, you're thanking me after I destroyed part of your house and exposed your two daughters to danger?"
"Yes we are Harry, because you tried to protect them" Gerard intervened "And, even if our Hermione is injured, she's alive thanks to you, and so is Lily" He motioned at the small girl, who had her arms wrapped around Harry's waist. "You are a responsible man, and despite the danger this represents, I am glad to consent your engagement…even if that is just a formality nowadays" He said, catching Harry in a manly embrace.
"Thank you sir" He replied.
"Call me Gerard"
"Umm…OK…Gerard, thank you"
Seconds later a Healer came out of the ward and asked Harry to go inside, since Hermione had woken up and wanted to see him. When he entered, he saw Hermione sitting on the bed, smiling. He couldn't stop the tears from leaking as he approached the bed and held her hand.
"I'm sorry Hermione" Was the first thing he said, but just as she had done at the house, she placed a finger in front of his lips and said
"I know, you told me so back there" She said weakly "And you have nothing to be sorry for, I chose to help you, and if someone is to blame for my being here, it is me…"
"No, no it's not, it was Malfoy" Harry said "But it doesn't matter, he's gone now"
"Harry" She said, and as soon as he was about to say something, she caught his lips with hers in a meaningful kiss "Thank you love, you saved me, and that's what matters here"
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Hermione was cleared two days and several visits (Mainly from the Weasleys) later and they were back in the now repaired house shortly afterwards. They came through the front door, and everything inside seemed like there never was a battle there. Jane went straight to making lunch in the kitchen, while Hermione, Lily and Harry went to their respective rooms, and Harry started packing the few things he had unpacked. Hermione caught him doing so, and she asked
"What are you doing Harry?"
"Packing" Harry replied and then added "I'm going to Grimmauld Place, I don't want to expose you and your family anymore" He said sadly. He didn't really want to leave Hermione, but he felt he should do so. Hermione walked towards him and wrapped her arms around him from behind.
"You're doing no such thing you idiot" She said firmly "My parents want you here, so does Lily, and so do I"
"But…" He began.
"No buts Harry, you're going nowhere" She replied. Harry could see the determination in her eyes, so he decided not to argue further.
"Fine, I'll stay; besides, it's just a couple of days before we have to go back to Hogwarts anyway." He admitted shrugging.
After two uneventful days, the couple was on the train back to Hogwarts, along with several students that had passed the last week with their families, including Ron, Ginny, Neville and Luna. They found a compartment to themselves, and after locking it and adding the usual privacy charms (muffliato, silencio, Imperturbability and several others) they started discussing what they should do for the DA (the sub-group from the OOtP, not the defense group).
"First of all, I guess we should enhance the galleons, so not only I can send messages" Harry suggested, and Hermione said she'd look into it.
"Yeah, and have some sort of code-talk or something that only we understand" Ron suggested
"Ron…we're not MI-6" Harry replied with the usual response question from Ron, which Hermione imitated with her lips "What's MI-6?"
"MI-6 is one of the Muggle British Intelligence Agencies" Hermione explained to her muggle-ignorant friend "and it has been highly criticized because of its frequent use of code-talks and passwords…especially since James Bond"
(Guess what Ron's next question was…pretty sure you DID guess this one…) "Who's James Bond?" He asked with now both Harry and Hermione mimicking him
"Ron Weasley…you're a lost cause" Hermione said and sighed
"Hey don't blame him…" Ginny started
"Yeah, neither of us…" Neville continued, pointing at himself, Ginny and Luna "know who James Bond is either"
Hermione gave an exasperated sigh and Harry explained "James Bond is a British muggle fiction character created by Ian Fleming in the early fifties, and is supposed to be one of the top agents from MI-6."
"He is so popular that even nowadays they keep making muggle movies about him…the last one to be released two years ago was called 'Casino Royale', and it was pretty good, actually…"
"OK, OK, I get it now…no code-talk" Ron concluded, not understanding anything from the point where Hermione started talking about the movies
"That's too bad…I wanted to be our own James Bond" Harry said, pretending a disappointed look on his face.
"You wish Potter…" Hermione replied, pretty sure he wanted it just because of Bond's 'ability' to handle women, but decided not to mention that, or Ron would make sure the train ride was covered by a full Inquisition questioning session about the 007.
"Ok, ok, where were we?" Ginny asked, trying to get them back in track
"I believe we were talking about the DA" Luna reminded them.
"Yeah, but I guess we can't do much before we receive a briefing from 'M'" Harry said, in allusion to 007's boss, and hastily added "'M' is the codename of Bond's female boss…come to think about it, we could refer to McGonagall like that when talking about the Order, since McGonagall casually begins with an 'M'"
Hermione realized that as well, and agreed to it, just as Ron replied angrily "I thought there was going to be no code-talk" The couple shrugged. "Oh, well, whatever".
After debriefing others about their own weeks, it was turn for Harry and Hermione to retell for the umpteenth time the Death Eater attack at Hermione's house. When Harry reached the point of Malfoy's death, another fully expected question came from Ron…yet again mimicked by Hermione "What's a handgun?"
"This" Harry simply said, unsheathing leadstag. Everyone's eyes went wide at the sight of the revolver, as Harry explained exactly how it worked.
"Well…since I didn't understand a thing…" Ginny began "Why don't you show us exactly how it works" She finally proposed.
"Cover your ears" Was the only thing Harry instructed them before standing and aiming it at his own seat; when he pulled the trigger everyone was startled by both the explosion and the hole in the seat, immediately repaired by Hermione after extracting the bullet from it.
"Bloody hell Harry…don't do that again"
"Don't worry, I hope to not have to use it, except on Voldyshorts" Everyone laughed at the Dark Lord's nickname.
"But how will you make sure you don't miss?" Neville asked "I mean, I guess it's not the same as aiming a curse"
"No, it's not, besides this one is trickier, if you don't twist your elbow after you fire, it hurts, because of the power of the explosion" That was another thing he remembered from Metal Gear. "I suppose I'll have to practice aiming and use this when the time comes" He said extracting the box of bewitched silver bullets from his trunk. "These 6 here are bewitched to zero on the biggest source of Dark Magic that is in the direction they're shot"
"Besides, they could also be useful against something else" Luna added, when everybody had asked what that was she simply said "Werewolves"
It finally dawned in Hermione and she gasped "Of course! Harry…they're silver!" Harry remembered now that silver was effective against werewolves
"You're right, good thinking Luna" He said, hugging the girl in a friendly way, making her blush a bit.
"Hey we're almost there" Ginny announced.
They stepped out on the Hogsmeade station several minutes later, and proceeded towards the castle to meet their final semester in Hogwarts, the hardest of them all, since they'd hold N.E.W.T.s in June.
A/N.-That was all for now...told you it'd be calmer, I mean...after killing 2 death eaters and knocking out another two, they deserved a bit of rest right?
In other news...In case anyone of you bothered to notice, Hermione said that the last 007 movie to be released was Casino Royale and that came out last year (2006). I KNOW that the trio's years at Hogwarts are 1991-1998, but since I've mentioned Metal Gear Solid 3 videogame several times, and that was released in 2004, I just decided to override that canon fact, although I'm completely aware of it.
Now...before you go and review as the nice and supportive readers you are, I'd like to make an ad here.
If you like both Harry Potter and FullMetal Alchemist, look for a crossover story by myself and my pal Ferchoumaru called (guess how...) Harry Potter and the FullMetal Alchemist, please read and review that one as well...onegai!!
Now, all this said, you know what to do. Ibris out.