The next morning before Harry went downstairs Harry whispered Dobby's name. The fanatic house elf appeared instantly.
"How can I help you Harry Potter Sir?" Dobby asked excitedly.
"I need you to do some big favors for me if you are willing." Harry began.
"Dobby will help Harry Potter as much as Dobby can!" Dobby said in the same excited voice.
"This cannot be revealed to anyone except Hermione okay?" Harry asked.
"Yes Harry Potter sir!" Dobby agreed.
Harry carefully grabbed the box of the latest issue of the Phoenix.
"Dobby, I need you to take these into the Room of Requirement. Think 'Phoenix's distribution center' to get into the right place. Then just look at the sheet and put them in the right slots. When your done there could you come back here? I need to talk to you about something important."
"Yes Harry Potter Sir!" Dobby saluted and popped away with the newest issue of the Phoenix.
The Phoenix
Only Truth is Immortal
After the events of the Triwizard Tournament two very different versions of what happened have emerged. They are simply divided into Dumbledore's and Harry Potter's version and the Ministry of Magic's version. The Ministry claims that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has not returned and that Harry Potter; the boy-who-lived and Albus Dumbledore, are just trying to draw attention to themselves. Mr.s' Potter and Dumbledore on the other hand claim that You-Know-Who has returned by means of a dark arts potion. In a time such as this one cannot make a mistake and choose the wrong side to join. Is the Ministry correct or are the two most respected wizards in England correct? Join us on yet another journey to discover the truth...
The Phoenix continued by logically pointing out the details on both sides neutrally. In the end however, it urged caution and pleaded with people to consider the ramifications of their action or inaction. Any logical person who read the Phoenix would be drawn towards Harry's side of the story.
With a slight smile Harry waited for Dobby to reappear.
When the House elf popped into existence near Harry he instantly began to offer the House elf a deal.
"Dobby, I need someone to take the Phoenix into the Room and distribute them there. You would be the ideal person do to so. So I guess I'm saying that I would like to hire you. You can work for Hogwarts during the school year and whenever I don't require your assistance. How does ten galleons a week and weekends off sound?" Harry asked.
"Oh no I couldn't-" Dobby began but was interrupted.
"-Then how about twenty galleons a week and weekends off sound?" Harry suggested.
"Harry Potter sir offers far too much to me. I likes money but I likes work more. Three galleons a week and one day off is the most I could accept sir ."
Harry nodded after pondering for a long moment.
"Very well. Solomon!" Harry called.
Solomon appeared with a pop.
"You called Harry?" Solomon asked respectfully.
"Yes I did, I have just hired Dobby and I need someone to show him around. Could you do that?" Harry asked.
"Yes of course." Solomon said as he walked over to Dobby.
Solomon looked at Dobby for a long moment.
"Dobby; that's a regular house elf name. I'm guessing that you were not educated either."
"No's sir." Dobby whispered.
"That can change." Solomon said cryptically as he grabbed Dobby's hand and popped away with Dobby.
A few moments later Harry shrugged; grabbed the copy of the Phoenix that he had kept (Mainly for the Grangers) and went down to get breakfast.
When Harry entered the Banquet Hall he saw the three Grangers talking quietly. However, Hermione looked furious. Harry fearfully drew closer. Before he made it though the volcano erupted.
"I am not going into hiding!" She shouted angrily.
"Hermione-" Elaine tried to protest.
"No mum! I'm not leaving Harry to face that madman without my help!" She growled.
"Hermione, we don't want to see-" Demetrius began.
Hermione interrupted him as well.
"No dad! I'm am not leaving Harry behind. He's been hurt too many times by those he cared about I'm not adding to that!" She growled furiously.
Harry walked over to his beloved and placed a hand on her shoulder gently.
"It isn't so simple. Voldemort won't let you run far enough. Like I said last night; if he wins here he will move on the rest of the world. He won't be satisfied with just England. He'll take the world if he gets the chance. The only way to make sure that he doesn't is by stopping him before he gets too much power." Harry said.
Harry set the Phoenix on the table in front of them. Afterwards he sat down at the table. Instantly a plate appeared and Harry took a bite.
"You might like to read this. It's called the Phoenix. Sure the Ministry of Magic has outlawed it but it covers the truth far better than the Daily Prophet does." Harry explained at their confused looks.
"Who would want to read the Daily Prophet? It's nothing more than a rag!" Hermione said scathingly.
"I agree." Sirius said as he entered the room.
They heard a tired yawn behind them.
"Are we having breakfast?" Draco asked groggily before he took a seat.
Harry nodded and Draco smiled faintly.
"Great." Draco said as before he began to quickly eat.
Unlike Ron however he ate using etiquette.
Harry then turned his attention to the Dr's.
"I know you are worried about your daughter; so am I to be frank. But to be forced to live in hiding all of your life is a type of death unto itself. I don't want that for Hermione, or anyone for that matter. Sirius here has to live here thanks to our ministry but it is taking it's toll on him I can see it in his eyes. He's a prisoner. In a fine prison to be certain but a prison nevertheless. Humans aren't meant to be caged. If Voldemort gets his way everyone will be caged. We have to make a stand. I don't want her on the front lines."
Hermione took over.
"But, I'm standing beside Harry all the way. Even when he faces Voldemort I'll be beside him." She declared.
Elaine smiled sadly.
"You've already decided haven't you?" It wasn't a question.
"I have." Hermione said.
Demetrius sighed.
"I see. I hate to see my little girl become involved in a battle but she's made up her mind." Demetrius sighed sadly.
Hermione reached across the table and took his hand.
"I don't enjoy the idea of going to war but I can't abandon Harry." She explained.
Hermione drank some orange juice from her goblet as her parents looked at each other.
Demetrius nodded sadly before he turned to Harry.
"Now, Mr. Potter what are you plans towards my daughter?" Demetrius asked.
Harry smiled.
"Well, David I was beginning to wonder when you were going to ask that question. I love your daughter. She means everything to me. I know that we are young but I can't imagine life without Hermione. She means so much to me. She give me hope and she completes me. She's turned me into a better person and she's helped heal wounds that couldn't have been healed without her. I know that I don't deserve her. She's a far better person than I could ever hope to be."
"Harry, you strengthen me as well. Don't ever think otherwise." Hermione said as she pulled her chair closer to Harry and snuggled into his left side.
Harry wrapped his left arm around her shoulders mechanically.
Draco spoke a second later.
"They changed the path my life was taking, and for the better. You see I was turning into one of those pure blood bigots but these two opened my eyes and showed me that I didn't have to follow my father's path. Harry was born to one of the most ancient and noble lines. Descended from heroes of old and extremely wealthy. Yet he fell for a muggleborn whom had always done better than me in class. Plus they had always treated me kindly. I didn't deserve it. I've watched them for a long time now. They make each other better. Without Harry she would have had her nose stuck in a book all day. Harry without her would have probably gotten himself killed when he tried to save the stone in our first year. Thanks to her though he still lives."
Harry and Hermione blushed at the praise.
"Did you two really help him?" The Elaine asked curiously.
Harry and Hermione nodded.
"According-"
"-To him." Hermione finished.
The two doctors looked at each other in awe.
"I'm beginning to wonder if you two aren't twins that were separated at birth from the way you talk." Demetrius noted.
"No-" Harry began.
"-We have just-"
"-become really-"
"-close so-"
"-we can understand what-"
"the other is going-"
"-to say." Harry finished.
Draco looked at them with a slight awestruck expression.
"That can only happen under one situation in the magical world." Draco whispered reverently.
"What is that?" Elaine asked.
"I should probably tell them first." Draco replied simply.
Draco look at Harry and Hermione; silently telling them to talk to him privately.
Harry finished his toast and took a long draft from his goblet of orange juice. A second later he sighed and spoke.
"Feel free to wander the castle Mr and Mrs Granger. When you want to leave please just call for Solomon and ask him to tell me." Harry said as he stood.
Hermione stood at the same time, never once leaving Harry's side.
Draco looked at his now empty plate mournfully for a second before getting up and following Harry and Hermione who were leaving the Banquet Hall.
An: Ron/Hermione stories leave a very, very bitter taste in my mouth (And can even lead to upset stomach feelings too) ... In particular if they don't WARN you beforehand and just label it as 'humor' or something else. It drives me up the wall... I got a nasty surprise when I was reading a humor fic that ended up having RHr. Then I read one that was seemingly uninterested in Harry's and Ron's romantic life until the last chapters and them Boom! R/Hr. I HATE when that happens! I'm not fond of Harry/Ginny parings either to be honest... If HP cannon was a place it would be a prime nuclear warhead testing area. (When it comes to parings at least) DIE CANNON DIE!!
The choice about Ron is still in the air but your opinions have given me direction and have given me some ideas. If Ron dies; like I said a while ago it'll be nobly. The 'Poll' is still open and it will hopefully give me more ideas but I don't really want to post numbers this time. (Maybe Next chapter...)
