"Haven't heard from Harry?"
"No"
"Oh. I reckon the Muggles are giving him a hard time again. It'll blow over, Hermione"
Hermione was staying at the Burrow with the Weasley's over the remaining few weeks of the summer break before they returned to Hogwarts. Bill and Charlie Weasley were staying over too. Hermione hadn't seen them since the beginning of last year. But that was the least of her worries. Hermione and the entire Weasley family had been writing to Harry for the entire summer, and they would just either get their own letter back, or the owls would come back, but frightened to death.
When Pigwigion had flown over to the Dursley's to deliver a letter to Harry, it returned, but extremely frightened and hopeless. Pigwigion would stay in the corner of his cage, jumping at all small movements. Hermione was beginning to get a bit worried, along with the rest of the Weasleys.
Dinner began early, as everyone was heading to Diagon ally for their school supplies. Ron kept telling Hermione that Harry must have been staying at the Leaky Caldron, and he blew his aunt up again. He found this hilarious, but Hermione along with Ginny didn't like this theory at all.
"I thought it was pretty funny," mumbled Ron, prodding his burnt meat with his fork. Apparently, Mrs. Weasley was just as nervous about Harry's disappearance as Hermione was.
"We just can't take any chances," she would say, "Who knows what Harry had stumbled into this time. Knowing him and you two," she pointed at Fred and George, "something horrible."
"Oh, come on, mum," said Fred, as Mrs. Weasley sat down beside Mr. Weasley, and picked up the paper of The Daily Prophet, "Let's not be harsh."
"Yeah, you'll thank us when Harry gets arrested by the ministry," said George, nudging Fred in the arm, "That will be our doing."
"Nonsense," said Mrs. Weasley, Reading the paper over her mug of tea, "The world will be taken over be dragons until Harry- AAAHHHHHHH! ARTHUR!"
Hermione gasped to see her suddenly leap up in the seat, and throw the paper at Mr. Weasley like it was a bomb about to explode.
"Mum- wha-" started Bill, standing up.
"H-H-HARRY!" Mrs. Weasley screeched, pointing at the new paper, gripping her hair in horror, "R-READ IT!"
"Mum, what's up?" asked Charlie, who had just came down the stairs, completely in the fog about what had happened. She continued to point at the paper with trembling fingers. Mr. Weasley cautiously picked up the paper, and read a few lines.
"GREAT WIZARDS!" he shouted, jumping ten feet into the air. He instantly vanished from the kitchen and down the hall.
"Um… huh?" asked Ron, raising his eyebrows. Fred and George, who had managed to read the paper, shoved it over to Hermione. They turned all clammy and pale as paper. Hermione grabbed the paper, and read the article on the front page, while Ron and Ginny read it curiously over her shoulder:
Disaster at Harry Potter's DomainA terrible event has happened this early morning with the famous Harry Potter. You-know-who personally visited Harry at his only living relatives home, the Dursleys, on a quest to murder Harry once and for all.
As told by Albus Dumbledore, Harry has been in you-know-who's line of fire ever since Harry had saved a young girl's life by the name of Ginny Weasley, Arthur Weasley's youngest and only daughter in their second year of school at Hogwarts, the same year Harry had discovered he could speak Parseltounge. Harry has duelled you-know-who before in the third task of the triwizard tournament, escaping on his first deadly battle. But Harry has meet better odds.
Harry Potter was found unconscious and terribly mangled on the front lawn of the Dursleys by some passer-bys. He was surrounded by Death Eaters, which he had successfully been able to stun by himself. All of those death eaters Harry has known for a while. Slithers MacNair, Luscious Malfoy, his son Draco Malfoy and an executer named Nott Parkinson where some of the many death eaters.
The Dursley's Muggle house was found completely ruined, and split into two halves, as the protections Dumbledore has set on the Muggle house did not hold for such powerful dark magic. Harry saved the Dursley's lives, and kept them of you-know-who's reach, while he duelled him.
Yet the strangest happening is the fact that Harry had stunned a familiar death eater for someone in particular. Peter Peddigrew was found unconscious three lots down from Harry. Harry was reported to stun Peter for Sirius's sake, as he hoped he would break free of the Dementors who are after him and clear his name.
Harry had known Sirius Black did not murder Peter, as he had met Peter a few years ago, but was forced to keep it to himself. He had also found out Sirius is Harry's godfather, and for that reason, they have been keeping in touch of each other ever since Harry's third year at Hogwarts.
Oddly enough, you-know-who has seen the best side of Harry Potter this duel. Harry had managed to get his wand from him, and snap it in half. You-know-who vanished just before Harry had slipped into unconsciousness. The ministry says you-know-who never abandons his enemies, but no wizard has ever been able to take his wand off of him with a powerful enough spell.
Harry Potter is not in any accusation testimony, as he was acting in the face of death, and he had saved many people from death. He has shown that everyone should take up his opinion about you-know-who, and think to themselves that you-know-who is not as powerful as he thinks he is.
A REMINDER: DO NOT SET FOOT IN THE HOSPITAL IN LONDON. CORNILIUS FUDGE STRONLY SUGGESTS NOT TO VISIT HARRY POTTER, AS HE IS IN A BAD WAY.
A picture of the Dursley's house, split in half and burnt to a pile of dust, was at the up most top corner of the page. Hermione could feel tears silently trickle down her cheek. The loud sobbing in the hall from Mrs. Weasley brought her back to reality.
"Listen, you bunch," said Mr. Weasley loudly, skidding into the kitchen, and shoving on his burgundy jacket, Mrs. Weasley on his heels, "Bill and Charlie will stay here and watch you all. Where going to the ministry to gather Harry… if they'll let us. Now… just stay calm, Harry will be all right. We'll be back soon."
Will a small pop and a bit of black smoke, they vanished. The room was instantly filled with a dense nervousness and silence, inturupted by only the sniffs Ginny had been trying to hold in. Hermione suddenly broke down, and burst into tears.
"H-he saved those t-terrible muggles!" she shrieked, burring herself into her arms, "He saved there l-lives! H-Harry didn't need t-to! They d-didn't deserve I-it!"
"Whoa, Hermione," said Charlie, trying to sound strong, but failing badly, "Harry will be all right. I bet Fudge'll let dad take him fine."
Hermione looked around the room, and her heart sunk to it's lowest. Everyone looked as though someone had died… like Harry. She really wished Ginny would look away.
"I-I'm going to bed," Hermione mumbled, and leaped to her feet knocking down her chair. Without another word, she dashed up the crooked staircase and into Ron's room. The colour of bright orange beamed off the walls, almost blinding Hermione. Without a second glance around the room, she tucked herself into her sleeping bag on the ground, not bothering to change.
The noises from Pigwigon's cage were drowned out by the Weasley's thundering up the stairs, and into there separate rooms. Hermione could hear Ron, Fred, George and Ginny quietly step into the same room, and close the door behind them. Hermione sighed, and flipped over onto her stomach to hide her tear-strained face from them.
"Hermione?" asked Ron's voice above her. When he got no response from her, he sniffed, and climbed into his bed in the corner of him room.
"Harry will be all right… w-wont he?" asked Ginny quietly, as she slipped into her own bed. Hermione heard a deep sigh from Fred.
"Don't know, Ginny," whispered George, "Just go to bed."
With that, the room fell into darkness, and the twin's snores instantly filled the room.
…~'*'~…
Hermione couldn't sleep that night. Her face stung making her afraid to close her eyes. It sounded as though everyone else was asleep already. The ghoul upstairs was snoring so loudly, Hermione thought the ceiling might cave in. Instead, she just laid on her back with her arms under her head, thinking about what had happened.
So, Harry had duelling Voldemort again, and with better luck this time. 'Maybe he won't look as bad as last year,' thought Hermione. But buy the article she had read in the paper, it sounded like he would have. He had caught Peddigrew, for Sirius's sake, and his godfather is finally getting his name cleared. Only Harry would be that revengeful on someone. He has so many enemies to watch out for. Malfoy was one of them. 'And I thought that sneer was just because he was mean,' Hermione thought to herself, 'I mean, it didn't seem that obvious. Then again, his father is so deep in the dark arts.'
But her thoughts were cut off by a distant noise from downstairs. Hermione raised her head a bit to see a small beam of light from under the crack of the door. About two or three people were making there way up the stairs, clearly sounding like they didn't wish to be heard. Hermione nervously watched as the light grew brighter, and footsteps coming nearer. Then she heard hurried voices, all in which she knew well.
"You'll see him in the morning, dear," said the voice Hermione recognized as Mrs. Weasleys, then a voice that was unmistakably Mr. Weasley –"Ron's room, come on now."
"I-I think I'll manage now, Mrs. Weasley," said a strained voice that made Hermione gasped in surprise.
"Keep it quiet, "warned Mrs. Weasley, "Try and sleep well. See you in the morning."
Then, without any warning, Hermione heard the doorknob slowly turn, and the door opened. Hermione backed away so she was certain she could not be seen. Someone was framed in the doorway, and when that person stepped into the light, and explosion went off in her stomach. Harry was standing at the door, looking through the darkness. In the dim light, Hermione could see quite a few deep gashed and bruises flat on his face, and arms, yet he looked by far better than Hermione had thought.
"H-Harry?" she asked quietly. Hermione heard nothing for a long time, then a rustle in the corner of the room.
"Yeah, Hermione," whispered Harry from the darkness. Hermione jumped to her feet, and tried her best to sustain her excitement.
"Oh, Harry!" she wailed, quietly as possible, "I read the paper yesterday! I heard it all! I mean… It wasn't true, was it? You'd never been able to get you-know-who's wand off of him!"
"What makes you think that? I almost died doing it, "said Harry's voice in disgust, "Sorry and all that, but it was true this time."
Hermione felt another sleeping bag land beside hers in the dark. Then Harry himself plopped down on it, exhausted. Hermione felt around, and when she touched his shirt, she wailed, and lunged at him.
"You saved everyone's life, Harry," she mumbled, "You don't know how great it is for the whole world to know you think you-know-who is nothing but a coward. It lets people off a bit. It makes them less scared of him. A-and…everyone would have thought you would die…I did, and now I know I shouldn't have."
They stayed silent for a while, with Hermione clinging to Harry like he was her last chance for survival, and he doing his best to comfort her.
"You're not the only one," he told her, "I thought I was going to die…so did Voldemort," Hermione flinched, "Sirius thinks I would never be murdered by Voldemort, because I know my own strength, and he doesn't. It's like Voldemort's always on a killing streak, or something, but he's only after one person."
Hermione looked up.
"You," she whispered. She could feel Harry's bright green eyes penetrate hers, like they were turning back time.
"I just realized how important you are in my life," Hermione admitted, "You and Ron were the only ones to not look at the brainy side of me. But you were the one to think of me as a friend the first time we met on the train."
Harry said nothing. Hermione felt him squeeze her hand comfortingly in the dark.
"And you were the one who suggested to look for me when the troll got in the castle, because Ron was still mad at me," she continued, "Ron told me after it happened. And you went and stuck your wand up that trolls nose."
"Oh, how courageous," muttered Harry sarcastically, "Sticking my wand up it's nose…I should have stayed on the ground."
"If you did, I would have ended up dead," Hermione pointed out, "It would have killed me. My parents wouldn't have liked that, now, would they?"
All though Hermione couldn't see it, she could tell Harry had the smallest of smiles on his face. It warmed her insides.
"I'm just really tired now," sighed Harry despairingly, "I don't see why I had to come in here to sleep, waking you up."
Hermione felt a sudden prang of emotion, something she had never felt before. Was this the unexpected spurt of courage she needed, or was it just uneasy butterflies? No, she didn't feel nervous, or anything of the sort. She couldn't remember feeling this way… ever. It was the best feeling in the world.
"No, not at all. I'm glad you came here," she said, her voice just above a whisper. She didn't know what made her do it, but she reached up and cautiously felt what was before her.
It seemed Harry knew what she was trying to do. He shifted forwards, his breathing deep but level. Then, Hermione felt warmth start from her fingertips to her upper body, then her heart. She felt something warm and soft. She moved her hand up, trailing her fingertips up to whatever it was. Her hand began to tremble- she felt a few strands of hair.
Hermione gave out a small squeak of surprise as a hand clamped securely over her wrist. But she quickly subsided, feeling more warmth reaching her. She let her hand be guided by these warm yet powerful hands until her fingertips rested on a surface, and the hand let go and disappeared into the dark. She moved her fingers to the side. She felt a cut. Or was it a cut?
It was Harry's scar. It felt magnificent, almost like it was feeding her strength, letting her explore its surface. Hermione closed her eyes. She ran her index finger down this jagged engraved shape, her heart skipping beats. Her breathing became heavy. Her cheeks were burning. Her spirit was soaring.
Hermione was no longer aware that she was in her nightdress at her friend's house or the reality that Fred and George were snoring noisily in the corner. She didn't take heed that the ghoul in the attic was crashing pipes against the wall from lack of noise or that it was an unlit night. That didn't seem important to her anymore. Her affection was yearning for the figure before her. It was pulling her in, luring her in by the passion it possessed.
Hermione gradually dropped her hand, tilting her head to the heavens. She breathed in as Harry's fingertips trailed her shoulder, and reached her face. He stroked her cheek with his thumb. Hermione dared not open her eyes, afraid something would tear her away from this. She felt a pair of arms reach out for her and draw her in. Her insides couldn't resist. She buried her face into the crook of his neck, feeling his arms envelop around her like a tight blanket.
"All the promises we make," murmured Harry, his voice very close to her ear, "From the cradle to the grave…"
Hermione's eyes fluttered open, his hand delicately brushing a few strands of her curls away from her face.
"…When all I want is you."
Hermione tilted her head up, eyes glistening with tears and Harry's breath penetrating her neck. She found his lips.
There, under the golden moon, a stunning scene was erupting from the depths of the shadows. Two figures shared their first kiss. A kiss that had more significance than friendship. It was meant for something. It was unique. It was retained for them.
That night, two lives were mended from the horrors of each individual's past and defended by the power of two lively hearts. It wasn't friendship or familial importance. It was love.
"EyEs iN a MooN of BlinDesS,
a RivEr in a TiMe oF DryNeSS,
A MeAdow OF floWers At ITs FinEst,
when all I want is you." -U2
