HARRY POTTER AND THE STAFF OF MERLIN
CHAPTER 3


A/N Thanks to all of you for reviewing, and please, please keep it up. I would especially like to thank Zybenklazzshanta (SP?) and the Fifth Marauder for their advice. Oh, and Rufus, if you read this, please get the next part of And When the Dawn Begins up. I appreciate all reviews, but if you have any advice or criticisms then I would love to hear it.


"Where will I be staying, sir?"
"Well as you know, its not safe to stay in any magical place for too long other than Hogwarts, because of the, uh, situation. However, I still think that you will be pleased with the place we found for you. You will be staying with the Granger's until school begins." Harry was silent, thinking about this. He was excited. How could he have forgotten? Hermione was muggle born, so of course he could stay there. All he knew about Hermione's family was that they were muggles and both her parents were dentists. He had never really met them outside of Diagon Alley once and when they picked up Hermione at the end of the term.


"That will be satisfactory, I hope, Mr. Potter?"
"Of course, Professor. I would love to."
"I thought you would. Hermione's parents have already agreed to have you. You will go there in two days, when they get back from their vacation. During that time myself and other wizards will be putting up protecting charms on the house, and you will stay at Hogwarts. There is somebody there who will be glad to see you."
"Sirius?"
"That is correct. You will have two days to spend with Mr. Black before you head to Hermione's."


Harry was ecstatic. Not only would he be staying at Hermione's house, but also he would have two days of just him and Sirius. He packed all his stuff into his trunk, and using Floo Powder arrived at Hogwarts a few seconds later. His godfather, Sirius Black, helped him out of the fire. Sirius looked much different from when he had seen him last. He was clean-shaven, washed, and had his hair washed and combed. His face was no longer gaunt, but full now and filled with concern as he looked down at Harry.


"Harry, how are you? You had me so scared when you went off like that. I heard what the Dursley's did to you. I wanted to go right down there and show them a thing or two, but Dumbledore wouldn't let me."
"It's okay, I'm all right, really. It didn't hurt that much."
"It doesn't matter if it hurt, they shouldn't have done it."
"It's okay, really Sirius."
"I guess so. Anyway, I found a new passage to the kitchens from the Gryfindor common room that isn't on the Marauder's Map." With that, Sirius pulled Harry off towards the common room.


The next day was reminiscent of that, Sirius pulling Harry all over the castle, showing him all the new stuff he had discovered, raiding the kitchen, playing tricks on Peeves with the invisibility cloak, overall just having fun. By the time it was time for bed, Harry was so tired that he climbed up the tower to his room and fell right asleep. Sirius was going to be sleeping in the common room.


It was the second task. He was in the lake and swimming towards a single person tied up on the bottom of the lake. As he got closer, could see that it was Cedric. Cedric was calling to him: "Help Harry, you have to save me! I can't breathe, I can't breathe!"
Harry got to him, but couldn't untie the heavy ropes that were binding Cedric. He tried and tried, but just couldn't do it. Finally, he gave up and started back towards the top of the lake. He peered back, and Cedric was looking at him with pleading eyes and yelling, "No Harry, come back and save me!" But he continued to the top of the lake. He could hear Lugo Bagman's voice; "It's official folks; Harry Potter his killed Cedric Diggory! Harry Potter killed Cedric Diggory!"


With that, Harry awoke with a start. He was lying on the floor, twisted in blankets. He glanced up at the clock which read "Go back to sleep." With a sigh he got up, knowing that he could not go back to sleep tonight. He didn't even feel like doing homework, but not wanting to stay in his room until dawn, got up and put on some robes. Deciding to go to the library and read something, he walked out stealthily down the stairs and out of the common room without waking Sirius, and continued on to the library.


When he got there, he started looking for a book to read. Finally, he came across one that would keep him occupied for the next few hours, "1001 Incredibly Long and Complicated Quidditch Plays for the Top Players." Settling back into an easy chair, he began reading. After a few minutes, he heard footsteps outside the door and swiveled around to see who was there. Looking at him from across the room was Sirius.
"Harry, what are you doing here?"
"I couldn't sleep, that's all."
" No, that's not it. Remus told me you did the same thing at his house the other day. You have dark circles under your eyes, and I know that you haven't been sleeping for a while. Now, why are you not sleeping?"
"I have dreams."
"What kind of dreams?"
"Nightmares," Harry started slowly. "Nightmares about Cedric."
"How long have you had them?"
"Since I got out of the hospital wing at the end of the Tournament."
"Jeez, Harry, why didn't you tell anyone. It's been weeks since you had a good nights rest."
"I was going to tell you, I just forgot."
"Yeah, right. Come on, we'll break into Snape's office and steal some supplies to make you a sleeping potion. Plus we can leave him a little present…"


Half an hour and a package of Canary Creams later, Harry was back in his room with Sirius ready to take the sleeping potion.
"I made it light because it's already four in the morning, so you won't sleep too long. I'll be sleeping right over here in Ron's bed, if you need me. Goodnight." Harry drank the potion, which tasted horrible, and immediately felt relaxed. With a quick "goodnight" to Sirius, he lay back on his bed and fell asleep.


"Harry? Harry? Harry!"
With the last "Harry", Harry Potter was blown out of sleep, the first dreamless, full sleep that he had had since the day. The day. But wait. That was a female voice that had woken him up, not Sirius. Opening his eyes, he found himself staring into a pair of hazelnut eyes, a nice face, and a head full of bushy hair. Or, in other words, Hermione. "What are you doing here, Hermione? You weren't supposed to be here until tomorrow."
"You idiot, it is tomorrow. Sirius said that he might have mixed up the portions of the sleeping potion for a human with that of a buffalo, so you've been sleeping since yesterday morning."


Harry finally became fully alert. "No, that can't be. I still have another day to spend with Sirius. I have to spend another day with him."
"Sirius said that he was really sorry, and that he might visit us at my house."
"Well, I guess it's all right. Come on, I'm starved, lets go get some breakfast."
"It's five at night Harry."
"I don't really care, I'm starved. Go downstairs and tell them I'll be down in a minute."
"Okay. See you down there."


With that, Hermione jumped up and left. Harry threw off his robes and hopped in the shower. He finished as quickly as he could, then threw on some muggle clothes he hoped were clean and raced down the stairs. In the Gryffindor common room, he found Sirius, Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonall, Hermione, and two people who he assumed were Hermione's parents.
"Harry," started Hermione, "This is my Mom, Susan, and this is my Dad, Eric."
"So nice to finally meet you, Harry," said Hermione's mom. "Hermione is always talking about you."
"Yes, trust us, she just doesn't stop," said her dad. "You can call me Eric, okay."
"Okay, it's nice to finally meet you," Harry blushed as he said that. Hermione talked about him all the time?
"Oy, Harry, I need a word with you upstairs really quick," said Sirius.
"Okay, um, I'll be back down in a minute everybody. Nice to meet you."


Once Harry and Sirius were upstairs, Sirius motioned for him to sit on the bed.
"Okay Harry, this is going to be rather difficult, so lets get this over with quickly."
"Get what over with?"
"Dumbledore asked me to talk to you about something."
"About what?"
"I'm getting to it."
"Getting to what?"
"I'm trying to tell you."
"Okay."
"Okay."
"Okay."
"Dumbledore asked me to talk to you about…"
"What?"
"Well, you see, you're getting older now, and seeing as James isn't here, he asked me to talk to you about…"
"You're confusing me."
"Just hold on a minute."
"Okay."
"Now, you and Hermione have been friends for a long time."
"Yea?"
"And both of you are getting older now."
"I would think so."
"Now, sometimes when people get older and into their teens, friendships can change."
"What are you getting at?"
"Well, sometimes, er, they want to be more than friends with each other."
"Is this about sex?"
"Bingo. Now be quite so I can finish this."
"Hurry up."
"Okay, and sometimes they want to express what they feel for each other in, um, physical ways."
"Imagine that."
"So seeing as you are staying at Hermione's house, and you have been friends with her so long, you might want to express your love in a physical way."
"That's disgusting Sirius."
"Just remember that you both are only fourteen going on fifteen, so think before you act."
"You're talking about Hermione! She's my friend!"
"Yeah, well things change. Mentally and physically. You know about that too, right?"
"Yes I know!"
"All right, calm down. But if you do decide to express yourselves in a physical way, don't get caught, because her parents will kill you."
"Sirius!"
"There, all done. Now I remember why I didn't have kids," Sirius muttered.
"Lets just forget that little conversation, shall we?" asked Harry.
"You better not, because I'm not doing that again. Now come on, lets go downstairs."


When Harry and Sirius returned downstairs, Hermione pulled Harry over to one side and asked him what that had been about, with Harry replying that she didn't want to hear it.
"Hey, Hermione, I'm hungry, let's go get something to eat. We can go see Dobby while we're at it."
"Okay, and after that I want to stop in at the library after. I have to look up something for my Runes homework."
"Works for me." Harry turned to Professor Dumbledore. "Professor, is it all right if we go get something to eat and go to the library?"
"Certainly. We are going to head up to my office, so when you are done head on up there."
"Thank you, Professor." With that, Hermione and Harry turned and went out of the common room. On the way down to the kitchens, Hermione talked about her vacation. She had gone to Algeria, and while she was there she had studied all the famous Moorish and Punic magical sites, returning with the knowledge of all the former wizards and witches, which she was now relating to Harry piecemeal. Harry was only half listening, and it continued like that until they reached the picture with the fruit basket on it. After tickling the pear, they went into the bustling kitchens. He was surprised it was so busy, seeing as it was the summer.


Suddenly, a fast flying object hurdled at Harry, and attached itself around his torso. As he looked down, he saw a very happy-looking Dobby giving him a hug.
"Ah, Harry Potter has come to visit Dobby. And he brought his Herm-o-ninny! Where is Harry's Weasel?"
"Hi Dobby. Ron is at home, and couldn't come to see you. You don't happen to have any extra food around here, do you?"
"Of course we do. Dobby always has food for Harry Potter and his friends." With that Dobby handed him a gigantic tray full of sandwiches and a pitcher of pumpkin juice.
"Where's Winky, Dobby?" asked Hermione.
"Ah, Winky is up cleaning the rooms with some others. Don't worry about her, she's doing much better now."
"I'd love to stay and chat Dobby, but we have to get to the library and then to Dumbledore right away," Harry cut in.
"Of course! Dobby is very sorry for holding you up, Mista Potter and Herm-o-ninny. You can just leave the tray and pitchers in the library and Dobby will be along to pick them up later."
"Thanks Dobby. We'll see you when school starts again in a few months, okay."
"Bye now." Harry handed Hermione the pitcher of pumpkin juice and they started out of the kitchens, not easy for Harry because of the size of the tray he was carrying.


When they reached the library, Hermione put the pitcher down on a table and ran off to get the book she needed. Harry, not having eaten for a day, dug right into the sandwiches and poured himself a goblet of pumpkin juice. He sat in silence for a few minutes, then Hermione returned.
"Did you find it?"
"Yea, I found it. I only needed an ancient rune that wasn't on our charts."
"Sounds like fun. Makes me feel sorry I never took runes. Right."
"You be quiet. Runes is a very interesting class." "I'll have to take your word for it, because I'm not going to find out."
"Hey, what were you talking to Sirius about back there?"
"Hermione, you don't want to know. Trust me."
"Fine, if you don't want to tell me. I just thought that we were friends that could share everything. I never keep anything from you."
"Time-turner."
"I didn't have a choice."
"If you really want to know, Sirius told me to not have sex with you and if I did to not have your parents catch us!"
"WHAT!"
"I told you you didn't want to know."
"He said that!"
"I don't know why he did."
"He thinks that we…"
"I don't know," said Harry. "He just said it. That's what you get for not trusting me."
"Sorry. Eeeeeeeeeewwwwwww. Now he got me thinking about that."
"Hey, I'm not that bad."
"Eeeeewwwww."
"Okay, cut it out."
"Fine."
"Not my fault I'm dead sexy."
"Shut up Harry," was Hermione's reply to that, along with a pillow thrown at him.


When they finished eating, they left the tray, pitcher, and cups on the table and went up to Dumbledore's office. Everybody was up there already, and Harry's trunk was in the middle of the room. Also, the owl cage was there with Hedwig residing inside.
"Ah, I see that your owl has found its way back to you. I must say I was a little anxious when I received it. You were lucky to meet Mundungus and Remus when you did," said Dumbledore.
"Huh?" asked Hermione.
"Don't worry, I'll tell you what happened later," whispered Harry to the side. "Do you have any information on what Voldemort is up to, Professor?"
"Unfortunately, no. We believe that Voldemort is using his time to gain new supporters and consolidate the newfound power he has. If I hear anything of importance, I will owl it to you immediately."
"Thank you, sir."
"I do believe that you should be off now, Mr. Potter. Are you all set, Susan and Eric?"
"Yes Albus, I do believe that we'll be fine," replied Susan.
"Okay then. You can travel using my fireplace. You will need to say "Granger Manor" to reach your destination. Harry and Hermione can go first. Good-bye everybody." Harry and Hermione stepped into the fire, shouted Granger Manor, and were off.


When they came down, Harry could see that they were in a large, fancy sitting room with very expensive furniture. The fireplace was gigantic, and he could stand up in it without hitting his head. As he walked out into the middle of the room, he could see more of the walls. They were covered with paintings of rich looking men in suits, some looking like they dated back to the renaissance. As he spun around taking in his new surroundings, Hermione stood of to one side smiling at him.
"So, do you like it?"
"Wow, Hermione, I had no idea…"
"We had rich ancestors with holding in the sugar colonies and seats in the House of Lords. And when your parents are both very successful dentists that own their own business, you have a bit of money."
Just then, Hermione's parents popped into the fireplace with Hedwig and Harry's trunk.
"So, Harry," Susan began, "How do you like our home?"
"It's amazing!"
"I hoped you would like it. Hermi, why don't you give Harry the grand tour?"
"Mom, don't call me that!"
"Fine, whatever Hermi, just show Harry around."


Hermione set off to show Harry the house. It was a very large manor home, Hermione said, constructed in the 1700s and remodeled many times. It had so many rooms that Harry couldn't remember half of them, plus a large estate that had a huge swimming pool, stables, and tennis courts. As Harry stood gawking at the enormity of it all, Hermione stood there laughing at him. He couldn't believe that this was Hermione's home. She was rich. She was richer than anyone he had ever known. If only Ron was here to see this, he thought. But she didn't act rich at all. She acted like any other person, like him and Ron. He had to give that to her, the other rich people he knew were horrible, like Malfoy.


"Harry. Harry. Harry!"
"Huh, what?"
"Wake up! I was just asking you if you had ever been swimming before?"
"Besides the second task, nope. And that was the gillyweed then, not me swimming. I think Dudley tried to drown me once, but that's it."
"Stupid muggles. Don't worry, we can go for a swim tomorrow and I can show you how."
"Um, I don't exactly have anything to swim in."
"Don't worry about it, we have extras."
"Hermione. I don't know what to say. Maybe thanks?"
"Don't say 'thanks', you're my friend and you needed somewhere to stay. It took a little convincing on my dad's part, but your fine here. It was getting to boring anyway. Come on; let's go in, it's getting late. I'll show you your room."
"Yea, I should probably tell Ron that I'm here so he doesn't worry."
Hermione walked in silence for a bit, then said "Harry, please don't tell Ron about my family. It just doesn't seem right."
"Sure, don't worry. I won't mention a thing, I promise."
"Thanks Harry. You're a good friend."
"You too."
"Come on, this is getting too sentimental for me. Last one in the house gets a beating from a pillow!" Hermione took off, leaving Harry gaping behind her, then, without another word, took off after her.


Harry was in his room. It was enormous, with a desk, a closet, a television, and a four-poster bed. It was just past midnight, and he had just said goodnight to Hermione before going into his room. He got out of his muggle clothes and lay on the bed, thinking. He heard scratches at the window, and when Harry opened it he found a letter from Sirius and a goblet with an anti-spill spell on it.


"Dear Harry,
Just thought that you might like some sleeping potion. I'll send the ingredients to make an entire batch tomorrow, and Hermione can help you mix it. Take this for tonight, and don't worry because I think I got it right this time. Hope you're having fun, -Sirius.


Good ole' Sirius to the rescue, thought Harry. Now he could sleep normally. He hoped that Sirius got it right this time, though. He drank the potion, then lay back on the bed and quickly drifted off to sleep.


A/N Please keep reviewing! I'll try to get the next one up as soon as possible. Finally, if anyone knows how to get HTML to work, please email me at simplefan00@hotmail.com