Around a week before Hermione's birthday, Professor Moody wanted to use the imperius curse on the students.
"Uh… Professor?" Lavender raised her hand.
"Yes, lass?" Moody growled.
"Why are you going to use that curse on us?" Lavender asked wearily.
"To see your defenses on it," Fake Moody said. "You need to have CONSTANT VIGILANCE around these curses."
Harry doubted that. It was probably a test to see how he deals with the curse so fake Moody can report it to Voldemort.
The class went on With Moody casting it on Ron first, making him act like a dog, much to the class's amusement. Next up was Seamus, which Moody made him dance the Irish jig very impressively. Dean did ballet, much to the shock or amusement of the class. After Moody lifted the curse, Dean looked so embarrassed it looked it he wanted the ground to swallow him whole. Soon enough, it was Harry's turn. He contemplated if he should let fake Moody do whatever he wanted but quickly shut that down. He already felt guilty leaving the real Moody locked in a trunk; he might as well stick it to Barty Crouch Jr.
"Imperio," Fake Moody said.
Harry felt nothing but calmness, no time travel to make him uneasy, not wondering what his feelings towards Hermione are. Nothing but calmness.
Hermione
"No!" Harry yelled before Moody gave him instructions, and he suddenly broke off the curse, forcefully, accidentally releasing a shockwave of magic in the class. He slumped to one knee, tired and shocked. He felt something running on his face but guessed it was a side effect.
"Harry!" He heard someone say as he felt a hand on his back and left shoulder.
Harry shook his head, still recovering from the accidental magic. He looked up and saw Hermione look at him with worried eyes. "Are you alright?"
"Is he alright?" Ron asked, amused, cutting off Harry's answer. "We should ask that to someone else."
"What?" Harry asked, confused. Ron pointed to Moody and saw him slumped against the teacher's table. "Oh," He said, standing up shakily even with the support of Hermione.
"That was bloody amazing!" Ron said excitedly. "It was like a rainbow of colors was just released from you," He said as Harry gave him a shaky smile. "How'd you do it?"
Hermione also seemed intrigued but stayed silent.
Harry shrugged. "I dunno," He said truthfully. "I don't recommend it, though. I feel like all my energy is gone."
"Obviously, Harry," Hermione said matter-of-factly, leading him to a nearby table. "You just released a small shockwave of magic. Stuff like that doesn't happen, you know."
Harry smiled at her and looked around the class, most of them looking shocked and some looking at him wearily. "Why does everyone look like I just told them I'm dropping out of Hogwarts?" Harry asked, trying to make a joke, it failed. "Seriously, what happened?" Even Malfoy looked stunned.
Surprisingly, Neville spoke up nervously. "As Ron said, a- a rainbow-looking thing shot out of you. But what he forgot to say is that the red was more - "
"Prominent," Hermione cut in thoughtfully.
"Y- yeah," Neville said. "Some red ran through your neck and face as well when you slumped on the floor."
So that's what that was. Harry thought.
A grunt ran through the classroom, and everyone whipped their head at Moody getting up. "Nice work, Potter," Was the first thing Moody said.
Harry blinked. He was not expecting that. "Thanks?" He said uncertainly. He didn't know how to feel being complemented by a death eater.
Moody grunted and turned to the classroom. "As all of you saw, Potter here had some CONSTANT VIGILANCE throwing off the curse. I expect all of you to have learned something today. Class dismissed."
Harry got off the table, still shaking as Hermione walked to him, carrying his bag on her shoulder.
"Need help there?" Hermione asked with a hint of teasing.
"Please," Harry said gratefully. Hermione wrapped an arm around his torso and led him to lunch.
As the pair reached the Great Hall, Harry got more stares than usual. Finally arriving at a seat, Harry smiled gratefully at Hermione. "Thank you."
"Of course," Hermione replied. "Now eat. You said you felt like you had no energy," She said in her bossy voice.
"Won't hear me complaining," Harry mumbled as he dug into his meal.
"Look what we have here, Forge," George said with a smirk as the Weasley twins stopped by.
"Can it be?" Fred said in mock surprise.
"It can be my dear brother!" George said now with a grin on his face.
"The legendary Harry Potter!" The twins said simultaneously.
"The defeater of You-know-who -"
"Twice!"
"The slayer of Slytherin's monster -"
"And the breaker of the Imperius curse!" Fred finished with a grin on his face.
Normally Harry would despise what the twins just did, but as he saw Fred, he couldn't stop picturing his dead body laying on the floor in the very same room he was eating.
Harry had a nostalgic smile. "What'd you guys want?"
"Now that you ask," Started George.
"We want to -"
"Know how you -"
"A fourth-year -"
"Broke the Imperius curse, of course!" Finished George.
Harry exchanged a glance with Hermione, who only shook her head in exasperation. He noticed people were listening in and decided to try and give an answer.
"A lot of magic and energy," Harry said. "And maybe something or someone to keep you in reality, so to speak."
"As in a person or something telling you not to do it?" Hermione asked for clarification, and Harry nodded.
"Who was your somebody, Harry?" Fred asked with a smirk. Even more people were now invested in the conversation.
Harry felt his face warm up as he instinctively glanced at Hermione.
Fred and George were the only ones to catch it and gave Harry a knowing smile.
"We will bother you no longer," George said, and the twins began to leave.
Hermione perked up. "Wait!" She called out, and the twins turned around, confused written on their faces. "I've heard there are House-elves inside Hogwarts. I was wondering if you two know where they are. Considering how much food there are at the parties, you two would know," Hermione said.
"And why would we tell you where they are?" George asked.
Hermione gave him a death glare.
"Fair enough," Fred said. "Well, The kitchen is located directly under the Great Hall, down the staircase leading to the Hufflepuff Basement -" He said in a business-like tone.
"And you enter by tickling a pear on a painting of a bowl of fruit. The pear giggles and turns into a large green door handle, revealing the entrance to the Hogwarts kitchens!" George said. "We don't know why you want to know this, but we know better than to question Hermione Granger," He said, and the twins left to sit down by Lee further down the Gryffindor table.
Hermione turned around, beaming.
She really does have a nice smile. Harry thought.
"Can we go today and visit them?" Hermione asked with excitement.
"Today?" Harry repeated for no particular reason.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Yes, today."
"Sure, if I can walk without feeling the need to fall, I'll go," Harry said.
As Harry and Hermione were walking to the dungeons, Hermione spoke up. "It is a bit odd they put the common rooms in the dungeons, isn't it?"
Harry never thought about that. Why did Hufflepuff and Slytherin have their common rooms in the dungeons? "Yeah, I guess. Never thought about it much because, you know, something happens year after year."
Hermione frowned. "Nothing's happened yet," she offered.
"We're not a month in, Hermione," Harry responded.
"Do you want something to happen?" Hermione questioned.
"No!" Harry exclaimed. "I'm just saying."
As the two went to the dungeons, they looked for the pair. Harry remembered being in the kitchens in the last timeline but somehow couldn't find it now.
"Harry!" Hermione called out after some time passed by.
"You found it?" He asked. Hermione nodded and grabbed his hand to lead him to the kitchens.
Walking in, they both saw House-elves working for tomorrow's breakfast.
"Woah," Hermione said in awe.
The kitchen was a gigantic, high-ceilinged room with five tables identical to the ones in the Great Hall above; they were also in the exact same position. There were large quantities of pots and pans heaped around the stone walls, presumably on counter-tops or stoves, and a large brick fireplace at the other end of the hall from the door.
"Harry Potter! And a friend!" They heard a house-elf say. Harry thought it sounded familiar.
Turning around, he saw Dobby walking towards them, alive and breathing, not with a knife in his chest.
"Dobby?" Harry asked, his brain not fully processing it.
"It is Dobby, Harry Potter sir!" Dobby responded.
Before Harry knew it, he had thrown his arms around the little elf. Dobby awkwardly patted Harry's arms.
Pulling away, he discreetly wiped tears that sprang to his ears. "How've you been?"
"Dobby has found a home at Hogwarts, Harry Potter sir," Dobby responded.
"Do you get paid, Dobby?" Hermione asked, biting her lip.
"One galleon every month," Dobby said proudly.
Hermione looked bewildered.
"What about sick days?" Harry asked as Hermione recovered.
"Two every month!"
"But- what- that's-" Hermione sputtered. She paused and took a deep breath. "Why so little?"
"It is not little, Harry Potter's miss!" Dobby responded, causing the two teens to blush. "Dobby is happy he has a job or else - " He quickly shut his mouth with his hands.
Harry looked at Dobby sharply. "Or else what?"
Dobby saw a fireplace and went to jump into it, but Harry caught him with his seeker reflexes.
"Dobby is sorry, Harry Potter, sir. Dobby forgets he is not with old masters anymore."
"It's fine, Dobby," Harry waved it off. There are more important issues.
"Dobby," Hermione spoke. "What did you mean by you were happy you found a job or else?"
The house-elf looked sheepishly at both of them. "Or else Dobby dies."
Harry blinked while Hermione had her mouth open.
"Wait for a second," Harry said. "Are you telling me being free was killing you?"
Dobby nodded.
"What? How?" Hermione asked.
"It is not known who did it. It was either muggles or wizards who did it to the house-elves. It was many years ago," Dobby started, and Harry had a bad feeling about this. "But it was Humans who forced my kind to do human work. Any house-elf who says no died. After many years my kind was dead or cleaning. We die slowly if we get clothes, Harry Potter, sir. Old masters told Dobby this many times, so Dobby never forgets."
Harry felt sick to his stomach. "So you have no choice? It's either do this or die?" He asked. Dobby nodded, his ears flapping.
"Oh my god," Hermione croaked out. "And here I thought -"
"No, Hermione," Harry said sharply. "You didn't know. In a way, it is slave labour." Hermione nodded, though she looked a bit green.
"Thank you, Dobby," Harry said, turning back to him. "We'll leave now. Don't want to get caught out during curfew."
As Harry and Hermione walked into the common room, they both collapsed on a sofa.
"I don't believe it," Hermione said after a moment of silence.
Harry hummed. As his brain caught up, he thought about how Dobby seemed so happy he got free. Was that an act to make me happy? Harry thought.
"How'd it go?" Ron asked.
"Disgusting," was Harry's answer.
"Sickening," Hermione responded.
The pair got up and walked to their dormitories, wanting to forget what they learned.
Maybe we should just stay here, Harry, grow old.
Harry Potter once again woke up with a gasp. He was starting to get annoyed with his Grim Reaper sending the memories, telling Harry how stupid he's been. Getting out of bed, he realized something; it was Hermione's birthday. In the last timeline, he or anyone else never celebrated Hermione's birthday, and he felt an overwhelming amount of guilt wash over him.
After taking a shower, he saw Hedwig by his bedside window, carrying a package from the Grangers. Harry had a last-minute idea to owl Hermione's parents a couple of days ago. "Thank you, girl. I'm sorry I don't have any food with me," Harry said to Hedwig, to which she nuzzled his hand, telling him it was ok. "You can go back to the owlery if you want," He said. Hedwig hooted softly and lifted off. He opened a drawer, revealing Hermione's second present; it was big enough to justify using two hands and wrapped the gifts, with magic, of course.
Harry carried the gift to the common room, hoping to surprise Hermione first but saw her curled up on an armchair. Putting his present softly on a table nearby, he walked to Hermione. "Happy Birthday, Hermione!" Harry shouted, putting his hands around his mouth. Hermione shrieked and dropped her book with a thud.
"Harry!" Hermione tried to scold, but her flustered look failed her.
"Happy Birthday," Harry repeated more softly.
"Thank you, Harry," Hermione said quietly.
"Here's your present," Harry said, getting the present and handing it to her.
"You didn't ha -"
"I already planned it when we went to visit Hedwig," Harry interrupted. Hermione looked at him as if she was trying to solve a puzzle. Harry wondered if he was doing too much.
"Thank you, Harry," Hermione said gratefully after a moment.
Harry scratched his neck. "Yeah, no problem," He said awkwardly. "Sorry for not getting you a gift years before. There's no excuse, really, aside from being a git. I hope I'm not too late?" He asked hopefully.
Hermione gave a watery laugh. "No, it's not too late, but I'm not going to lie. It stung a little when my birthday has passed with no comment from anyone," Harry felt even more guilty somehow. "But, this is nice," She said, smiling.
Hermione rattled the box a little. "Books?" She asked with an eyebrow raised.
Harry smiled. "You have to open it."
Hermione rolled her eyes and opened it, revealing a photo album of Hermione and her parents. "You didn't, Harry," She said in a breathless whisper.
Harry remembered how Hermione obliviated both her parents to keep them safe during the war. She made herself an orphan to fight along with Harry. He knew the war was more than him vs. Voldemort but at the very core of the war is just that. The-Boy-Who-Lived vs. Lord Voldemort. He would never forget Hermione's sacrifice.
"I did," Harry said softly. "I don't think it's fair you don't see your parents for nine months," He said, shrugging.
Hermione smiled at the present before putting it down and hugging Harry so tightly he had trouble breathing. He weakly patted her back.
"Thank you," Hermione whispered, pulling away, and Harry took a deep breath as he remembered how tightly she hugged him when he first went inside Grimmauld place.
"Yeah, no problem," Harry said, his chest feeling warm, replacing the guilt.
"I miss them all the time," Hermione started, looking at the photos. "Sometimes I get homesick and want to hug them tightly. Especially last year," Harry felt so much guilt it overrode any other emotion. "I wanted them to tell me everything was fine, that everything was going to work out," She said. "That my first friends weren't going to leave me forever," Hermione said so quietly Harry had to strain his ears. Hermione tried to wipe her tears discreetly, but Harry saw them. "Sorry, I didn't mean to guilt-trip you."
Harry said nothing as he led her to a sofa and hugged her tightly. He felt his shirt get wet as she cried out the months of being alone. After a while, Harry began to stroke her hair, and he seriously hoped she didn't mind. The two didn't know how long time passed, but Hermione stopped crying, reducing into sniffles. She pulled away, staring at her lap.
"Sorry," Hermione whispered.
"Don't be," Harry responded. "I'm surprised you don't hate me or something after thi- last year."
Hermione chuckled. "It all worked out in the end, didn't it?"
"Yeah, I guess so. I'm still sorry about last year." Harry apologized again. "Obviously, you still feel something towards it, and I'm one of the main causes. As I said, I don't have a reason for what I did except for being a stupid git," Harry said, causing Hermione to laugh a little. "Do you forgive me?"
"You were forgiven the second we were talking again."
"I want to hear you say it," Harry responded.
Hermione sighed. "Harry James Potter, you are forgiven."
"Thank you," Harry said with a smile.
The two forgot there was a second present.
Weeks went by, and Harry saw happiness radiate from Hermione ever since her birthday, making Harry happy.
As the two sat in charms class studying the summoning charm, which Harry had a small smile, he noticed Professor Flitwick looking somewhat tense. "Do you know why Professor Flitwick looks a little tense?" Harry asked Hermione.
"Study, Harry," She mumbled.
Harry rolled his eyes. "Accio Quill," He said, and an unused quill flew to his hand, leaving a shocked Hermione and Flitwick.
"Ten points to Gryffindor!" Flitwick finally squeaked with excitement.
Harry turned to the shocked Hermione. "I do read ahead sometimes, you know."
Hermione's face went pink with embarrassment. "You've always had trouble with the theory part," She mumbled.
"True. I'm a little surprised I got it on my first attempt," Harry lied. He suddenly had an idea, smiling mischievously. "Think you can do the spell?" He teased. Hermione's eyes narrowed, and her eyes darkened with determination.
Harry levitated the quill across the room. He smirked at Hermione and nodded.
"Accio Quill!" Hermione said, and the quill zoomed to her hand, faster than Harry's spell. She smirked at Harry, who in return smiled back.
"I got it first," He said.
Hermione rolled her eyes, making Harry laugh. "Prat," She said, making Harry laugh even more. Hermione levitated the quill again and raised a challenging eyebrow. "Prove it wasn't a hoax."
"As you wish," Harry said, smirking. "Accio Quill!" He said, and the quill raced to his hand.
The two repeated the motion until class ended, oblivious to the whispers and looks they were getting.
As Harry, Hermione and Ron reached the entrance hall. They saw a large sign erected at the foot of the marble staircase. Ron, being the tallest, read what was on the board.
TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT, THE DELEGATIONS FROM BEAUXBATONS AND DURMSTRANG WILL BE ARRIVING AT 6 O'CLOCK ON FRIDAY THE 30TH OF OCTOBER. LESSONS WILL END HALF AN HOUR EARLY. STUDENTS WILL RETURN THEIR BAGS AND BOOKS TO THEIR DORMITORIES AND ASSEMBLE IN FRONT OF THE CASTLE TO GREET OUR GUESTS BEFORE THE WELCOMING FEAST.
"Only a week away!" said Ernie Macmillan of Hufflepuff, emerging from the crowd, his eyes gleaming. "I wonder if Cedric knows? I think I'll go and tell him."
"Kill the spare."
"Avada Kedavra!"
"NO, CEDRIC!"
"Harry?" A hand was waving across his face.
"Uh?" Harry said dumbly.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Hermione asked with concern.
"Yeah," Harry said weakly. "Just tired," Harry said as he thought how he had little to no chance of keeping this a secret from Hermione. I wonder if I could ask my Grim Reaper if it was possible to tell her. Harry thought as the trio pushed through the crowd to get to the Great Hall for lunch.
"You reckon this is what Malfoy was talking about?" Ron asked.
"Obviously," Hermione drawled, causing Harry to snort into his pumpkin juice. Ron's ears went pink, and he went back to eating.
Harry sighed. He's happy right now. For the past two months, it's been nothing but peace. But with the Tri-Wizard tournament coming up, Ron's going to leave, and the whole school is going to hate him. Harry wasn't sure he would accept Ron back without a proper apology. At least I'll Hermione to stand next to me again…. I hope. Harry thought as his mind went wild. What if she doesn't believe me this time because we're closer than last time? What if she sees it as a betrayal? What if -
"Harry, won't it be nice being a Tri-Wizard champion?" Ron asked with a look in his eye Harry couldn't quite recognize. The people who overheard Ron agreed with him.
"No," Harry said before he could process it. Ron and the other Gryffindors were shocked. Harry decided it was best to explain why. "I prefer something like this, something peaceful. Not being in some tournament."
"But- but- Think about the money! The fame!" Ron countered, making Harry sigh. He was in no mood to have a row, especially in the middle of everyone.
"Sure, Ron," Harry said flatly.
Hermione looked between the two. She has noticed Harry keeping Ron at arm's length this year. It wasn't exactly hard to see. Almost everyone has noticed this change between the two.
Harry sighed again, rubbing his forehead. Only a week away before it's time to fight for the legacy of Hogwarts again.
Hello There!
No, I am not making Harry Op in this fic. If he could do a Patronus at thirteen, why not have him create a small shockwave of magic?
Hogwarts Legacy reference in here. You literally can't miss it. I can't wait for that game.
Anyway, Thank you guys for the support. I lob you people.