Knowledge is Power

Disclaimer/Plot/Author's Note: SEE FIRST CHAPTER

Dedication: I'd like to dedicate this story to my many good friends and loyal fans: my recommended reads are Saviour of Magic by Colt01, For Love of Magic by Noodlehammer, Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality by Less Wrong, Partially Kissed Hero by Perfect Lionheart, Harry Potter and the Daft Morons and Angry Harry and the Seven by Sinyk, Harry Potter and the Prince of Slytherin by The Sinister Man, Harry Potter and the Rune Stone Path by Temporal Knight, A Study in Magic and A Study in Magic: The Application by Books of Change, Dark and Light by Pleasedial123 and Harry Potter: My Life Is My Own by Sashian

Pairings: Eventual Harmony; Others TBD

Normal Speech

'Thoughts'

/Parseltongue/

Review Answers:

SLYNNR: I daresay those walls aren't quite broken down yet, but there are cracks starting to show;

SeanPennname: Well, I thought it was appropriate, especially with how Harrison just went off on one;

Alix33: As I'm sure any Harmony writer will tell you, they are definitely mensches…whatever that means;

"Crucible."

While Neville looked confused by the remark, Hermione's eyes widened when she seemed to get the point, which was only helped by Daniel nodding slowly, his eyes never leaving the spot where Harrison had vanished before, to her shock, he looked at Hermione with a stern, almost un-fatherly air about him as he addressed her once again;

"Never forget your promise, Hermione Jean Granger…because if I ever find out you have done, I will never forgive you…and neither will he."

Chapter 21: Who Are You and What Have You Done with Harry Potter?

When the Grangers, as well as Neville and Harrison awoke on Christmas Morning, the only one who seemed to be in a celebratory mood was Hermione as she immediately began helping her Mother prepare everything that would be needed to make Christmas Dinner.

At the same time, Daniel took a bit longer than he usually did in the shower while, in their shared room, Neville and Harrison seemed to be enjoying the silence of the room in their own ways.

For Harrison, this involved him sitting in absolute silence on his bed, with his legs folded in a lotus position, his hands linked together and his eyes closed. Neville, meanwhile, acknowledging Harrison's meditative stance for what it was, couldn't help but think about the events leading up to that very morning, especially in the case of what Hermione had said to him after Harrison's moment of revelation in the back garden.

Even as he looked at his friend, Neville felt an icy lump form in his throat as he remembered Hermione's explanation behind her Mother's one-word answer to Daniel's theory about Harrison's so-called crucible.

Flashback Start

"Sooner or later, everyone goes through a crucible at some point in their lives. I'm guessing, and Dad agrees, but I think Harrison's was living in this place and going through what the Muggles put him through. As Mum explained it: most people believe there are two types of people who go into a crucible; the ones who become stronger from the experience and survive it…and then there are the ones who die. But there's a third type: the ones who learn to love the fire and choose to stay in their crucible because it's easier to embrace the pain when it's all you know anymore." (1)

Flashback End

Since that moment, Neville had spent more than a few times wondering which one of the three types of people Harrison had become.

After all, it was obvious that he'd survived the experience, but, as far as being a child was concerned, Harrison had died on the inside, leaving the outside to show this cold, unsociable side of him.

But then there was the thought of the third type: one who loved the fire because it was all he knew: was that who Harrison was?

It certainly sounded like him; he'd been left alone, cast into the abyss from which he might never emerge and, now, as Neville and Hermione had seen, there were times Harrison preferred isolation.

He preferred to be alone and ignore everything around him, including how his words or actions affected others.

Just look at how he'd been in that first Potions lesson and when he'd been challenged by both Professor Snape and Hermione.

But then, Neville thought about what had happened with Malfoy: there was still no explanation for how it had happened, but now he'd heard about this crucible of Harrison's, he had to wonder if this was somehow a side-effect or even a result of that very crucible.

And, if so, what did it mean for the stoic young man with eyes like the Killing Curse?

Shivering at the thought, or perhaps at the cold that blew through the room from the wintry scene outside, Neville went to leave his bed, but as he did so, he was surprised to see Harrison open his eyes before he smiled as he said, "Merry Christmas, Neville."

"Uh…you too, Harrison," said Neville, a note of unease in his voice that was only augmented by Harrison's smile.

Since when did Harrison smile and look like he actually meant to smile?

"I suppose we should go down and make ourselves known," said Harrison, earning another speechless look from Neville as the emerald-eyed scion made his way out of the bedroom, pausing only once to look back as he asked, "Well? Are you coming?"

"Right behind you," replied Neville, though he still frowned as he made to follow Harrison to join their friend and hosts.

One thing was for sure; Neville doubted he would ever fully crack the code of Harrison Potter and his unusual way of things.

Still, at least Harrison seemed to be making an effort to reunite with their hosts.

Knowledge is Power

Before that day, Harrison had never really had a reason to enjoy Christmas, even if it was only pretending to do so.

At the Children's Home, Christmas was a small affair of meagre, cheap gifts, hopes and promises that nobody intended to keep and, more often than not, another vain attempt by the staff or even the other children to make new friends and ideas for the future.

Christmas with the Grangers, however, was a – dare he think it – fun affair: it started with everyone being allowed to pick one present from the neat and orderly piles in the lounge before, as one, they opened said gifts, said their thanks and made sure to show due respect to the others. After that, Daniel explained to Harry and Neville that the Granger tradition was to enjoy family time and then finish opening presents after dinner, where the big meal could be digested while everyone revelled in everyone else's happiness about the gifts they'd received.

It was an odd tradition, even Harrison admitted it.

Although, as much as he found the tradition an unusual one, he still agreed to play along and respect the cultural differences between his former experiences and the new ones he would have with the Grangers.

He might have all but bared his soul to everyone in hysteria, but he was still willing to honour their hosts.

First on the one-present train was Hermione and, when she pulled out one of her larger gifts, only Neville saw a curious smirk play on Harrison's lips when they saw her gift was wrapped in fine, Gryffindor-red wrappings and seemed to have been given the care and protective detail of the Crown Jewels themselves.

When Hermione eyed the tag that was looped through a beautiful, dark-blue ribbon, she gasped when she read, "To Hermione: from Harrison."

Even Neville looked stunned while Daniel and Emma gave the amused young man a searching glance.

When he saw their looks, Harrison shrugged once as he said, "I regret to inform you, Dr and Mrs Granger that I didn't have time to consider what might be a kind gift for the two of you, but I was still willing to make the effort for my friend."

A second gasp suddenly escaped Hermione while Neville had to hide the smile he had on his face behind a fake yawn.

Harrison had just willingly called Hermione a friend, which was something they'd both been trying and hoping he'd do since their first meeting on the Hogwarts Express back in September.

As he stared at his friend, Neville couldn't help but ask himself, 'Could the experiences of their first night in the Grangers' home really have affected Harrison so much that he actually acknowledges who we are at last?'

While Hermione took great care in opening the gift Harrison had gotten her, Neville's eyes darkened suddenly as he wondered, 'Or is this just for show? Is he just pretending so as not to disrespect the Grangers on Christmas Morning?'

Before he could speculate further, Neville gasped when he heard Hermione let out an awed gasp of her own as she revealed a copy of the same book they'd both seen Harrison reading from while they were in the Chamber of Pride: the Encyclopaedia Mystica.

"Harrison…"

"Look at it this way," said Harrison, almost as though he'd anticipated Hermione's reaction, "Now you don't have to come asking if you can borrow my copy, though if you want the updates I've been told about, you'll have to purchase those enchantments from Flourish and Blotts yourself. But for now, it's on the same level as mine, so it's still got quite the library in there."

"I…I…I honestly don't know what to say," whispered Hermione, a part of her wanting to hug her friend for the thoughtful gift, but given the fact she knew he didn't like to be touched, she had to rein in her urges.

Instead, she looked up at Harrison with wide eyes before she added, "Thank…thank you, Harrison."

"You're welcome," said Harrison, stretching up while he cracked his fingers over his head, stretching them out before he sighed deeply, looking to the others as he asked, "So, one down, four to go…who's next?"

"You," said Hermione before her parents could say anything.

While Harrison nodded slowly, he turned to the pile that he'd been surprised to find was his.

Admittedly, it wasn't as big or well-thought-out as Neville's, Hermione's or the Granger elders, but Harrison didn't bother caring.

Nor did he take much time in picking as he reached out blindly and plucked the first gift he got his hands on from the pile; it wasn't that big and it looked like it had been wrapped in a hurry, but as he held it, Harrison still took the liberty of eyeing the tag before he muttered, "To Harry…Merlin's beard, I hate being called Harry…from Hagrid; why would the groundskeeper be sending me a present?"

"I don't know," admitted Hermione, looking to Neville, who shook his head in response to her unspoken question while they both looked back when Harrison opened the wrappings.

When he did so, however, both Gryffindors saw the twitch in their friend's usually-blank-faced expression when he revealed a small book, which he opened almost immediately.

When he opened it, however, the twitch showed itself and yet, to Hermione's half-relief, Harrison didn't seem to hurry in getting rid of the book.

"What…what is it?" asked Neville curiously.

"It…" whispered Harrison, his voice edged by a note of emotion that neither of them had heard before as he looked from the book to his two friends as he explained, "It…it's a photo album…with pictures of…of my parents."

Hearing this, Hermione's hands flew to her mouth while Daniel's eyes narrowed; Emma, meanwhile, seemed as torn between conflicting emotions as her daughter had been as she watched Harrison turn the pages so slowly and carefully, he might as well have been holding the rarest tome ever in his hands.

As for Neville, he gulped before he told Harrison, "Do…do you want to be alone?"

"N…no…" said Harrison, again sounding as emotional as before as he told Neville, "This…this is a princely gift…I mean, I never knew them, not really, but…but because I never forget anything, I…I often used to remember…voices…whispers and…and…"

"Sorry Harrison," said Hermione suddenly before, as Harrison looked up to question her, his body visibly flinched when she moved to hug him, her head resting on his shoulder while, in his shock, Harrison dropped the journal onto the floor, allowing the Granger elders and Neville to see one of the pictures in the book.

It was a picture of a beautiful red-haired lady with green eyes that were the same colour as Harrison's as well as a handsome, if roguish-looking male with dark hair and dark eyes; both of them were sat together on an ordinary-looking bench while there, in their arms, was a sleeping infant dressed in a Gryffindor-red Babygro.

Due to the magical nature of the picture, Daniel and Emma also saw the redhead gently rocking the child in her arms into his slumber while the male smiled down at the infant with a proud smile as he gently teased the belly area of the Babygro, almost like he was tickling or soothing the infant at the same time the female was rocking him to sleep.

"Is…is that…" Emma began, looking to Neville, who nodded softly, though he had to move quickly to wipe a tear from his eyes.

"Lily and James Potter," said Neville, his voice hoarse from emotion while he looked to the Grangers as he added, "Harrison's parents…"

"My real family…" added Harrison, earning looks from Daniel, Emma and Neville when they saw he hadn't moved from where he was sat, though Daniel's expression softened slightly when he heard his daughter sniffling even as she hugged Harrison.

The aforementioned boy was still, but not as tense or firm as he had been the other day; if anything, he looked like he'd been shocked into an absolute state of unwilling relaxation as he looked at the picture, his green eyes glistening with tears he seemed to refuse to shed.

"The…the only family I…I had who…who loved me…cared for me and…and my growth…and they were taken from me."

"By You-Know-Who," finished Neville, but Harrison shook his head.

"By Voldemort!" hissed Harrison, earning the obligatory flinch from Neville at the name many wizards feared to speak, before Harrison surprised him, as well as the Grangers, when the usually-stoic boy moved his arm and put it around Hermione, his voice soft and calm as he told her, "Don't cry, Hermione; trust me: whether I want to or not, seeing this…seeing how they loved me. It makes me feel, but like I said, I never forget anything."

"I…I'm sorry," whispered Hermione, pulling herself back from Harrison's side as she wiped her eyes, trying and failing to show a content, if friendly air about her while she told him, "I just…all these weeks…ever since we first met, you…you've never shown any hint of knowing…or caring about them. You…you didn't even seem too concerned…about Halloween or…or what happened ten years ago…"

"Well, let's be honest, I did have something more important to focus on that night," drawled Harrison, earning a surprised look from his friends.

First acknowledging emotions and now Harrison had made a joke!

"Maybe," said Hermione, hoping her current condition didn't betray the shock she felt as she went on, "But…but you never said a word about them…I mean, except for what happened with Professor Snape, you didn't even appear to acknowledge what happened that night at all."

"Because I didn't need to," said Harrison, bending forwards as he picked up the journal again, though not before he closed it, setting it down next to him while he told Hermione, "I never tell you a lot of things about me, Hermione, but only because, as I said before, my life's not some open story that I'll tell to just anyone. However, as for Professor Snape's first-lesson challenge, that's something a little more personal to me, but the reason I don't seem to acknowledge who they were…it's because I decided a long time ago I wasn't coming to Hogwarts to be their shadow. Or to let the shadow of their deaths hang over me for seven years, but, while I don't do that, I do feel them…I feel the pain of losing them every damn day and that pain is something I have etched into me ever since…ever since that night."

"Then how come you never tried talking about it?" asked Neville suddenly, earning a faint smirk from Harrison as he looked to his friend.

"Because I have a reminder of their care by my side, Neville," said Harrison, earning a confused look from Neville before his eyes widened with the next words that left his friend's lips.

"Come on, why do you think I was always willing to call you my companion and now, my friend? I told you, I never forgot a thing from before that night or what happened that night: such as the playdates that…that Mum and Dad used to have with Frank and Alice Longbottom before…before we had to disappear from the world."

As Neville stared in abject disbelief, Hermione's eyes widened as she looked from Harrison to Neville before, returning her gaze to Harrison, she filled in the blank.

"You…you remember him as a baby and how you two played together back then: that's why you trusted him without needing the proof like…like you did with me."

For a moment, Harrison was surprised that Hermione had figured it out so quickly, but as he looked to her, he nodded before he said, "You know, I don't care what anyone else has to say about you, Hermione; you are the brightest witch of our age."

A blush rose up Hermione's cheeks, though before she could say anything, Daniel cleared his throat before he spoke up, "Harrison…it seems that we all owe you an apology."

"Why? You're not going to hug me too, are you?" drawled Harrison, earning a scoff from Daniel while Emma and Hermione both chuckled.

"No," said Daniel, looking to his daughter before he returned his attention to Harrison as he explained, "When…when you bared your soul to us out the back, I thought you needed the protective detail of someone who could be there to keep your secrets, so I gave Hermione a stern warning about abandoning you. But now, and I'm extending that apology to you as well, sweetheart, but now I see I was wrong to assume that about you, so I'd like to apologise."

"No need," said Harrison, smirking in amusement while he nodded to Hermione as he added, "I now understand where your daughter got her way with assuming things without concrete evidence from, Daniel, but I thank you for trying to make Hermione and, obviously, Neville stay true to their loyalties and friendship with me."

"Maybe," agreed Daniel, before he swallowed hard as he looked to Emma, who nodded once before, looking back to Harrison, he added, "But I had no right in trying to force you to do or be anything you didn't choose to be or do. I'm also sorry that our house brought back such terrible memories for you; what you said about the people…and I use the term very loosely, who lived here before us, I'd always wondered about what happened to them, but I never would have guessed anything like what you told me."

As Harrison shrugged, Daniel cleared his throat before he went on, "Now, this is a bit of a break from tradition, but…well, if you'd let us, I'd like to give you a gift now, Harrison."

"You want to open your home to me."

Not for the first time were the Grangers or Neville surprised by Harrison's matter-of-fact tone, let alone the way he seemed to fill in the blank himself as he sniffed once before he explained, "In that case, I have another confession to make: since the summer, I've been trying to find the best way to get myself emancipated in the magical world, so then I won't have to go back to the orphanage. I had hoped to get it done by the year's end, but my schedule was constantly changed by petty squabbles and egotistical idiots…and my own personal demons."

Running a hand through his dark hair, Harrison smirked before he looked to the Grangers as he told them, "However, if you're offering this to me, Daniel, I'd be honoured to accept…even if it does mean coming back to a place I never wanted to see for as long as I might live."

"They can always adopt you," suggested Hermione, earning a scoff from Harrison.

"No need for that, Hermione," replied the emerald-eyed scion, though as he did so, he looked to the Grangers as he explained, "But it is a gift I'm humbled to accept…and I don't say that to just anyone. So, as long as you respect that I'm not like any other kid and you don't try and warp me like they did, then…then I can have a few words in the right ears and get the official business taken care of."

"Of…of course," said Daniel, swallowing hard before he looked to Hermione as he asked, "Are…are you all right with this too, Hermione?"

"Yes," said Hermione, looking to Harrison as she told him, "And, for the record, no matter what Dad's intentions were in getting Neville and I to swear never to abandon you, even if he hadn't done, we won't, Harrison…just please, don't stop being…this!"

"You just indicated to all of me," muttered Harrison, earning a laugh from Hermione as she had done just that before he added, "No promises…"

Even Neville seemed surprised, but also relieved that Harrison might have found a way to turn the crack of humanity in him into something more, though he also had to laugh along with the others when Harrison looked up before he went on;

"Now, if we're all done spoiling a guest, I think it's someone else's turn for presents."

Chapter 21 – yes, we're back, baby! – and it looks like Harrison might be showing a side of himself even he didn't believe he could, but now things finally seem to be going his way, can the crack become more?

Also, what will our favourite lovable oaf have to say about the gift that seems to have pierced even Harrison's dragon-scale-hard armour and what will this mean for the future of our hero and his now-officially-recognised friends?

Keep Reading to Find Out

Next Chapter: With spirits lifted and the holidays as a time for change in our heroes, Harrison, Neville and Hermione return to Hogwarts where Harrison confronts benefactors, questions allies and makes an interesting discovery that only fuels whatever regeneration he seems to be going through;

Please Read and Review

AN: Harrison's Regeneration

So, before anyone has a dig – not that I care anymore cause, at the end of the day, this is turning into one of my more-successful stories, but I digress – let me just say that Harrison's weird personality change is not just an act, nor is it just for the sake of being able to resume this amazing adventure.

Let's just say letting his demons out as he did in the last chapter has had a much greater effect on him than we think…but all things take time, hence why I decided to use a favourite trope with the Grangers and try and steer the story back to where I want it to go;

AN (1)

So, some people might recognise this as being similar to the speech on crucibles from the Arrow series; I knew what I wanted to write when I put it in, so I hope you agree when I say it fits the scenario in question;