Author's Notes: Thanks to everyone who has read the story so far; I do hope the pace is not too slow for you. I had a lot of fun writing this chapter and looking forward to the next. I doubt I'll have it ready before the weekend but I'll try my best.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, or any other property as owned by JK Rowling, whom I and countless adults and children owe the love of reading and writing. This story is for my own enjoyment.

Chapter Three: Hermione's Secret

Harry discovered the following morning from Mrs. Figg that the Dursleys were away on holiday and would not return for another three days. This was good for two reasons; he had time to figure out an excuse for his earlier than expected return and would hopefully in that time convince Hermione to refrain from visiting once the Dursleys returned. Despite the little sleep he had managed, Harry found himself wide awake in anticipation for Hermione's promised arrival. He was nervous about Hermione traveling alone and was determined to convince her to at least have someone from the Order apparate with her. He also decided that he would apologize for keeping her in the dark about his summer months away from Hogwarts to balance his request.

It was just after nine when Harry heard the knock on the door that disrupted him from his thoughts. He opened the door and was surprised to see not only Hermione but Kingsley as well. Hermione was dressed very much like a muggle in a simple blue t-shirt and jeans, while Kingsley was not at all discreet and wore his usual purple robes. Hermione threw her arms around him and pulled him into a tight squeeze. Kingsley smiled and was the first to speak.

"Good morning, Harry," he said. "Might we intrude for a moment?" Harry invited them in.

"I wasn't expected you," said Harry looking at Kingsley once Hermione had released him.

"Well, Miss. Granger contacted the Order and told us what she wanted to do. We agreed it wouldn't be wise for her to apparate by herself given the destination in question. As it were, I have some things to discuss with you before we arrange for your final departure from this place." Harry nodded and invited them to sit at the kitchen table.

"I'm glad you told the Order before coming here on your own," said Harry, speaking to Hermione. "I still don't think it's a good idea, but I can at least relax a little knowing you're with someone from the Order."

"Harry, did you honestly think I wouldn't have a plan for this," asked Hermione. Harry was quick to pick up the sarcasm in her voice and felt slightly embarrassed for doubting her judgment.

"I know," he said quietly. "I was just worried is all."

"Harry," she said, taking his hand briefly, "all you do is worry." Kingsley gave a short chuckle before continuing on.

"Firstly, you'll be happy to know we have thoroughly checked over Grimmuald Place and re-established safe guards over the premises. As you know, Dumbledore was the secret keeper and the Fidelius Charm remains even after the caster dies, so no one other than Snape would be able to gain entry. We have taken steps to prevent this, and it is unlikely he will be able to regain entry." Kingsley paused here, perhaps knowing that Dumbledore's death was still very fresh in Harry's mind. Harry didn't comment on this, but nodded all the same.

"As such, the Order believes a new Fidelius Charm should be performed soon and we are all in agreement that charm should be performed by yourself as the rightful owner of Grimmuald Place."

"I've never performed that charm," said Harry quickly. "I'm not yet of age either, so I can't perform magic."

"The Order had your trace removed," said Kingsley. "I convinced the Minister of Magic the importance of such and took care of the liberty myself. It's too risky to wait until you're seventeen. You-Know-Who already has spies in the ministry and they could easily use the trace to get a more exact location of this house. As for performing the Fidelius Charm, it's simple enough and I'm sure Miss. Granger would be happy to assist you in learning it."

"So that means I can do magic now," asked Harry.

"It does, but our laws still apply, Harry," said Kingsley. "Magic in the presence of muggles apart from life and death situations is illegal." Harry smiled at Hermione and then noticed the package she had brought with her. Hermione answered his curious gaze.

"We'll get to it," she said simply.

"That leaves us with your extraction plan," said Kinglsey. "The Ministry does not expect us to move you until your birthday, and it is likely that You-Know-Who is expecting this as well. It would be extremely foolish to wait until that time so we will be moving you at the end of the week. I won't go into details at the moment as they are still being worked out. We've also made plans for relocating your relatives to a safe location, as the protection will cease and this house will no longer be safe. I trust these plans are to your liking?"

"Yes, thank you," said Harry.

"Very well," said Kinglsey. "That is all I have for you at the moment. We have a few Order members in the vicinity, so you need not worry while you are inside. Any activity will be acted upon quickly. All the same, keep your wands ready and be mindful. I'll return just after five to fetch Miss. Granger." Kinglsey bid them farewell as we walked onto the street and was gone on the turn of his heel.

"So what's inside the package," asked Harry.

"I'll explain shortly, but let's go to your room first," said Hermione. "It's best not to be out in the open." Together they walked up the stairs and into Harry's bedroom. Hermione quickly cast a silencing spell and a few others he'd never seen before.

"I'm always amazed by the number of spells you know," said Harry. "I don't know how you have time to learn them all when you spend so much time looking after me." Hermione smiled.

"Someone has to learn them to protect you," she said. "It may as well be me."

"Hermione, I'm, um, well – I'm sorry I didn't tell you, you know, about the Dursleys."

"It's alright," admitted Hermione. "I was a bit over-emotional last night and I shouldn't have hit you like I did. I'm sorry, but you can be awfully stubborn and infuriating."

"Hermione, why didn't you bring Ron along?"

"You'll see Ron in a week, Harry; you'll both survive that long. Besides, I have work for you to do and you won't be nearly as attentive with him here." He had to admit Hermione was right.

"So what's in the package?" Hermione smiled as she removed the loose wrappings and revealed the Pensieve. Harry could hardly believe it. It was not as large as Dumbledore's had been but it was still more than a large dinner plate and glistened in the same reflective silver.

"Hermione, where did you get that?"

"I'm not sure where to start," said Hermione. "I can still hardly believe it at all. You should sit down, Harry." Harry did what he was told, his confusion increasing with each passing moment. Hermione placed the Pensieve on Harry's desk and sat down beside him on the bed.

"This arrived at my house last night," said Hermione slowly. "When we got home last night my parents wanted to know everything about you, Harry." She paused and considered him for a moment intently before continuing. "I told them as much as I could, everything that was important to me." Harry felt his heart stop.

"You told them about the prophecy," asked Harry, alarmed.

"Not in any detail, no," answered Hermione. "They don't know anything except that it's you who has to beat him. I've told them nothing that isn't in the prophet. It's everything Voldemort already knows. Like I said; I told them everything that was important to me."

"But, Hermione, they're in danger now," said Harry vehemently.

"They're in no more danger than they were before, Harry," said Hermione matter-of-factly. "They helped me understand that last night. They're in danger simply by being my parents. Just like you, there are Order members watching my house too. So please, Harry, save some worry for yourself."

"What did you tell them, then?"

Hermione gave him a quick summary of her conversation with her parents. Everything from the troll of Halloween night to Department of Mysteries and more.

"I can't believe they're letting you come here knowing how much danger I've put you in," said Harry. He was astounded by everything she had shared with her parents; it reminded him just how much danger he had placed her in.

"I put myself in danger, Harry," Hermione argued. "Not you. I choose to follow you. I wanted to follow you. You need to stop blaming yourself. You're my friend and I'll follow you to the end." Harry felt very conscious in that moment, distinctly aware that he was close to shedding a few tears. He quickly dried his eyes, knowing Hermione would see and found it didn't seem to bother him as much as he thought it might.

"You still haven't explained how you got the Pensieve."

"I was getting there," said Hermione. She pulled out a piece of folded parchment from the front pocket of her jeans. She hesitated a moment as though reconsidering her decision but handed Harry the folded parchment a second later. Harry unfolded the parchment and could not believe what he read. A few parts had been difficult to discern as it appeared the parchment had been wet in several places. He suspected they were Hermione's dried tears. Harry had to fight back his own tears as he read several times over the line where Dumbledore acknowledged Harry as a grandson. He let the letter fall to his bed as the headmaster's words washed over him. Before he realized it Hermione had wrapped her arms around him. They stayed that way for several minutes.

"I'm sorry you had to see this, Hermione," said Harry. "Being my friend hasn't been easy, has it?"

"I wouldn't trade it for a moment," said Hermione seriously.

"Can I ask you something, Hermione?"

"Of course you can."

"Why didn't you ever leave me?" Harry was surprised at how easy the question came, but even more surprised at how much it hurt just imagining if she had. Hermione smiled.

"Let me show you," said Hermione. She led him to the Pensieve and flicked her wand over its glassy surface. She then held her wand to her temple, just as Dumbledore had often done in front of him, pulled away a silver substance that clung to the tip of her wand and flicked the memory into the Pensieve. She had of course mastered non-verbal spells during the last school term and Harry could not help but remember he was in the presence of the most brilliant witch he'd ever known. She then tapped the Pensieve with her wand and it doubled in size.

"I didn't know you could perform an engorgement charm on an item like this," said Harry.

"Dumbledore did the same with his," answered Hermione. "He told me in the instructions he provided. I'll teach you how to use it when we've finished." Harry nodded.

"Are you sure, Hermione," asked Harry looking at the Pensive a bit nervously. "These are your memories."

"Yes, now let's go," she said, grabbing his hand. Together they plunged their faces into the liquid surface.

They were in a corridor at Hogwarts; that much was immediately clear. Before Harry had time to take in his exact location they were overran by a large crowd of young Gryffindors all making their way towards the Great Hall.

"This way, Harry," said Hermione as she guided him by the hand. "Look." She pointed to a first year Harry and Ron. It dawned on Harry just what he was about to see.

"It's no wonder no one can stand her," said the young Ron, his expression quite terrible. "She's a nightmare, honestly." Harry found himself squeezing Hermione's hand. Guilt stabbed at his chest; why hadn't he said anything? He knew what it was like to not have friends.

Sure enough Hermione had barreled straight between them with tears in her eyes.

"I think she heard you," said the young Harry. Harry wanted to punch himself as much as the younger Harry.

"So," had been Ron's response. "She must've noticed she's got no friends."

Harry knew this memory well; they had gone to their next class and thereafter gone to the Great Hall and ate dinner without worrying in the slightest where Hermione had run off too. But as this was Hermione's memory, Harry followed the young Hermione down a separate corridor until she disappeared into the girl's bathroom. Hermione led him to the bathroom door as she made to follow her younger self.

"Um, Hermione, there might be other girls in here," Harry quickly protested.

"Were there any other girls in here when you and Ron came to find me?" Harry shook his head. There hadn't been. So he followed Hermione into the girl's lavatory and heard for the first time the cries of young Hermione. They were terrible. Harry's heart sank. Harry wanted to leave and tried to do so but Hermione gripped his hand more firmly.

"I need you to watch this, Harry," she said. "This is a painful memory for me but also a happy one." It was difficult to listen to the young Hermione as the minutes passed. Of course Harry knew it had been hours back then. Gradually the crying subsided into abrupt sniffles.

"I'm so stupid," came the young Hermione's voice from behind the bathroom stall. "I'll never have any friends because I can't keep my big fat mouth shut. I'm not surprised about Ronald Weasley – he can't handle a girl being better than him. But Harry Potter – he's no better. He just lets them do it."

Harry felt the bottom of his stomach give way under an immense pressure. Just as Harry turned to apologize to Hermione the bathroom door opened and the mountain troll had stumbled in, his club upsetting its already terrible balance. Harry's instincts kicked in and he quickly grabbed Hermione and pushed her out of the way.

"Harry, we're not in danger; it's a memory."

"Right," said Harry. He moved beside Hermione and placed an arm around her and watched the memory play out. Just moments after the troll had entered as if on cue, young Harry, followed by young Ron, scrambled into the bathroom and began their ridiculous attack on the troll. Harry had to admit he remembered the event much differently. From his new perspective he had to admit they had been quite foolhardy and extremely lucky. He had to admit he had no idea what the younger Harry hoped to accomplish by jumping on to the back of a creature three times his height. They watched as Ron performed the levitation spell that had ultimately knocked the troll out.

"Hermione, what is it you want me to see," asked Harry. "I know this is where we became friends, but I doubt you brought me in here for a simple stroll down memory lane." Hermione pointed to her younger self. Young Hermione stared at young Harry, her eyes still red from the hours of crying. He watched as the young witch's expression turned from sadness to admiration and for one brief moment Harry thought he saw a flicker of affection.

"I don't remember you looking like that," admitted Harry as the memory began to change.

"That's the day Harry Potter became my friend," said Hermione. They were now beneath the trapdoor of the third floor corridor. They were standing around an unconscious Ron after the chess battle.

"But Harry – what if You-Know-Who's with him," the young Hermione asked.

"Well—I was lucky once, wasn't I," said young Harry, pointing to his scar. "I might get lucky again." Harry watched as the young witch's lip trembled and threw her arms around the younger him. He had to admit it had often been this way, just the two of them before the final plunge.

"Harry – you're a great wizard, you know," said young Hermione.

"I'm not as good as you," said the young Harry.

"Me! Books! And cleverness! There are more important things—friendship and bravery and –oh Harry—be careful!" The younger Harry swallowed his potion and walked through the flames into the last chamber, but Harry hadn't bothered to watch his younger self go. He had his eyes on young Hermione, who despite her best efforts could not keep the tears at bay.

Again the memory changed: This time a much older Hermione stood before him in one of the rooms at Grimmauld Place. Harry was quick to recognize she was quite upset and even angry. Dumbledore was also in the room, his expression quite stern.

"You can't keep him in the dark," shouted Hermione. "You've no right!"

"Miss. Granger, I assure you it is for his safety," countered the headmaster. "There are circumstances of which you are not aware and Harry is safer where he is."

"When has keeping him in the dark ever kept him safe," she retorted. Harry was beside himself. Never in his wildest dreams could Hermione have ever done this to a professor, much less the headmaster. "Need I remind you of third year? Harry went looking for Sirius because no one gave him answers and he found out in the most horrid way."

"This is nothing like that, I assure you," continued the headmaster. "And I must insist you not write to him in case the owls might be intercepted."

"You can't stop me from writing," said Hermione. "Have you forgotten second year as well? Did you know that Ron and his brothers had to pull bars of his window to get him away from that horrid place? And that whole time he thought Ron and I had abandoned him. I won't do it."

Harry had never known Dumbledore to relent; indeed his past experiences where that when Dumbledore made up his mind he was rather like an impenetrable fortress, the once exception having been the night he had shared the prophecy with Harry. It turned out that Hermione had managed some success in convincing the old wizard.

"Very well, Miss. Granger, you have made your point," said Dumbledore. "You may write to Harry, but you cannot inform him of anything happening here at headquarters. That is my final word. And I shall know if you have." He turned on his heels with his robes swishing slightly as he made his way to the door. Before he left however, he turned again to face a still fuming Hermione.

"I'm glad that Harry has a friend like you," he said as the stern face lightened and the familiar benign smile returned with the twinkling of his eyes behind his spectacles. Again the room swirled and another memory sprang up. This memory was recent. He was standing atop the stairs overlooking Hermione and himself as they sat at the bottom stair. Hermione's charmed birds flew whimsically around her. Harry had his arm around her. He didn't pay attention to the conversation as he knew it quite well. He watched as Ron and Lavender stumbled in upon them and as Hermione had charged her birds to attack Ron as he fled from the corridor.

Gradually the memory faded and Harry felt the familiar feeling of weightlessness as he was pulled from the Pensieve. Nothing was said immediately. Hermione simply smiled at him though there were a few tears lingering in her eyes. He grabbed her with both arms and held her tight.

"I didn't know I meant that much to you," said Harry. "I've never been very good at seeing it, but I never should have doubted it. I'm so sorry, Hermione." Hermione held him just as tightly.

"I'm sorry I tried to push you away too," said Harry. "You have no idea what you mean to me. What Ron means to me."

"Show me," said Hermione.

"I don't know that I'm ready too, Hermione."

"I suppose not," said Hermione. "I didn't think you would be. Can I make a request?"

"Sure."

"Can I see the memory of when you walked through those flames our first year?"

"I dunno, Hermione," said Harry. "I'm not exactly proud of what happened then."

"Harry, you're being ridiculous," said Hermione. "You stopped Voldemort from returning to power, you saved the Sorcerer's stone, you—"

"I'm not talking about that," said Harry quickly. "I'm not proud of what I almost did. And now I see a little of how you see me, and I'm afraid I'd disappoint you."

"Please, Harry," said Hermione. "I will never think less of you." Trembling, he lowered his head and mumbled.

"Okay."

"Thank you, Harry," she said. "Take out your wand," she instructed. "Hold the tip to your temple, concentrate on the memory, and say the incantation: subsidium memoria

Harry did as he was told and no sooner felt the oddest sensation in his brain.

"Good, Harry," coached Hermione. "Now, slowly pull your wand away from your head, concentrating on the specific memory. As Harry did this the sensation grew more acute to that of tickling his brain. Finally, the memory clung to the tip of his wand.

"Now just a slight wrist movement like so," she said demonstrating a very small flicking motion. Harry copied her and the memory fell into the Pensieve.

"Shall we," she asked, taking his hand again. For the second time they descended into memory. They were standing behind the young Harry, surprised it had not been Snape trying to steal the stone. They watched as the Voldemort's voice echoed the chamber, his command to use Harry to get the stone. They watched the young and fearful Harry look into the Mirror of Erised, as he lied to Quirrell about what he'd seen.

"Can you see it," Harry asked Hermione, pointing to the young Harry's pocket. It was suddenly a little fuller than before.

"See," said Hermione playfully. "You are a great wizard." They continue to watch as Voldemort appeared at the back of Quirrell's head. Hermione gasped; this was the first time she had ever seen Voldemort. They watched as Voldemort tempted Harry with bringing back his parents if he were to hand over the stone. Hermione looked from the Harry beside her and the young Harry facing Voldemort. Both wizards had the same wishful longing look. She watched as the young Harry briefly brought the stone from his pocket. It had only lasted a moment, before young Harry shouted in defiance.

"Never!"

Harry closed his eyes; he did not need to relive his memories. But he did wait; the memory was clearly important to Hermione so he struggled through the screaming of both his and Quirell's agony when Quirrell had tried to kill him. He knew that Quirrell would die as a result of attempting to carry out Voldemort's command. Eventually the memory faded and again they were pulled from the Pensieve.

"Oh Harry," shrieked Hermione, throwing her arms around him again as Harry's room came into focus again, "Harry, I don't think any less of you, not one bit," she sobbed. "That was a cruel thing what he did, to tempt you like that."

"I should have known better," said Harry. Hermione took both hands and placed them on either side of Harry's face, locking themselves eye to eye. "Why can't you see what I see? You didn't give in. All I saw was the greatest, bravest wizard in the world."

Author's Notes: I'll admit it – I took the movie version of Sorcerer's Stone because I thought it would indeed make Harry more human to see the temptation of having his parents brought back. In general, I plan to keep with book cannon though. You'll notice I did use a few verbatim quotes from Sorcerer's Stone with the troll memory. That is Rowling's work and I would never dream of taking credit for it.

I also thought a confrontation between Dumbledore and Hermione would be a lot of fun. I don't think such a confrontation would be out of her character. Now, allowing Ron Weasley to slide back into her romantic life after his little tantrum and abandonment – I'm not convinced.

Please review, and if you should find any typos, please let me know. I try to catch them all but I'm also trying to get some story up.