A/N: Back from the nation's capital.  It was a great wedding, and we saw two famous people: Bruce Willis and Julie Andrews!

Thanks for all the great reviews.  Here's the next chapter.  Enjoy!

26. Revelations

Hermione awoke slowly, not sure if she had just had a good dream or a horrible nightmare.  She opened her eyes and saw she was in the hospital wing.  She groaned as her head ached, which caught the attention of Madam Pomfrey.

"Miss Granger, rest easy.  Here, take this," she said, handing Hermione a slap of chocolate.  Hermione accepted the chocolate, broke of a piece, and placed it in her mouth.

"What happened?" she asked after swallowing.  It made her feel better, so she ate another piece.

"You're suffering the effects of being so close to Dementers," Madam Pomfrey.  She shivered.  "I don't know how those things got into Hogsmeade, but a number of students were affected.  Fortunately, there are no permanent injuries."

Hermione nodded thoughtfully, nibbling on the second piece of chocolate.  "How did I get here?"

"Once we heard that the students were in danger, the professors and I rushed to Hogsmeade.  We were stationed in the town center, taking care of the wounded, when Mr. Harrington appeared and brought you and Mr. Weasley to us.  You were both unconscious, and we took you here."

Hermione nodded, then remembered.  Harry! She had seen Harry!  But was it just an effect of the Dementers, part of her memories of Harry leaving her last year, or was it really him?  She didn't know what to think.  Madam Pomfrey left to tend to the other students once she was assured Hermione was fine.  Hermione sat up in bed, finishing her chocolate, and thought of everything she knew about Sean Harrington.  Was Sean Harry?  The idea seemed preposterous!  Surely she would know Harry, no matter what he looked like, right?  But she could have sworn she saw his stag Patronus driving off the Dementers.  But she was so weak from the Dementers that maybe it was in her imagination, or maybe it was just a reflection of her deepest hopes.  But it would explain a lot; it would explain how familiar he seemed; how he seemed to know things he shouldn't; how quickly and easily he got along with the other Gryffindors; how he was so good a Seeker; and why he couldn't, or wouldn't, perform the Patronus charm in class.  A moan from the bed to her right caught her attention, and she happily saw that Ron was waking up.  Maybe he had seen the same thing she did.

"Ron!  Ron!  Wake up!" Hermione urged.  Ron made an unintelligible noise and looked around groggily.  "Wake up Ron!" Hermione said impatiently.  "Here, eat some chocolate."  Ron slowly reached for the chocolate by his bed and took a large bite.  Hermione waited until he seemed fully awakened.

"What happened?" he asked.

Hermione sighed, then said quickly, "The Dementers attacked us, remember?  They drove us into a dead end, and Sean saved us somehow.  They brought us here and we're safe now."

Ron looked at her with slightly glazed eyes, slowly remembering what happened. "Ah, OK."

"But Ron," Hermione said, "Do you remember what Sean did?  Do you remember his Patronus?"

Ron shook his head.  "Sean made a Patronus?  I thought he couldn't."

Hermione nodded.  "He can, and guess what?" she asked.  Without waiting for an answer, she said, "it's a stag Patronus."

"Huh? A stag?  You mean like Harry's?"

"Exactly like Harry's!" Hermione said excitedly.

"Waitaminute. What are you saying?"

"Think about it Ron.  He just appears this year out of nowhere at the same time that Dumbledore stops looking for Harry.  He seems so familiar, and he knows things about us that I certainly don't remember telling him.  He's a natural seeker, even on that old broom of his; he flies exactly like Harry!"

Ron looked thoughtful for a moment.  "But the scar…"

"Ok, I don't know how he did that, but change his eyes to green, and his hair to black.  Switch his glasses with Harry's old glasses, and doesn't he look just like him?"

"So what you're saying is that-"

"Yes!" she said breathlessly.  "Sean is Sean!"

Ron looked confused.  "Huh?"

Hermione realized what she said.  "I mean, Sean is Sean.  Wait, that's not what I meant to say.  I mean, Sean Harrington is Sean Harrington.  Argh!"

Ron laughed at her look of frustration.  "Easy there, Hermione.  I think you mean that Sean is actually Sean.  Whoa!"

They looked at each other, confused.  Hermione could say the words in her mind, but it wouldn't come out of her mouth.  "Sean is Sean," she whispered, confused.  At that moment, the door to the infirmary opened and the person in question entered.

Sean walked until he was in-between their beds, looking at his shoes.  He looked extremely anxious.  "Are you two ok?" he asked.

Hermione ignored the question.  "Sean?" she asked, and then growled in frustration.  Sean gave her a pained look.  Then he lowered his voice.

"I talked to Madam Pomfrey; you two should be out of here in an hour or so.  Meet me at the usual spot by the lake during dinner.  I'll bring the food," he whispered, then walked out of the room without giving them a chance to respond.

Hermione and Ron stared at him as he left, then looked at each other.  Things were strange indeed.

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Once they were released from the hospital wing, Ron and Hermione went looking for Sean, but they couldn't find him.  They discussed what happened in detail; they figured out something was preventing them from linking the words Sean and Harry together, and they were certain that Sean was Harry in disguise (or at least Hermione was certain), supported by the fact that he asked to meet them in the usual spot by the lake.  Ron brought up that Sean might just know Harry very well, but Hermione still believed it was Harry who saved them in Hogsmeade.

Dinnertime arrived, the main topic of conversation being the Dementer attack.  Although no one knew how the Dementers were repelled, they knew Lestrange had escaped again.  A few students, mostly younger ones, were still recovering in the hospital ward.  Ron and Hermione by-passed the Great Hall and left the Entrance Hall together.  It was a brisk winter day, but calm, and a layer of snow covered the ground.  The two students wore their thickest cloaks, scarves, and gloves, and Hermione conjured three bluebell flames (each in its own jar) that kept them warm.  They walked slowly to the lake, each lost in their own thoughts.  Hermione's were a jumble; she was incredibly nervous.  What if it really was Harry?  What would she say?  Was he still mad at them?  Was she mad at him?  She honestly had no idea how she would react when and if she saw Harry.  As they got nearer to their favorite spot, they saw a lone figure, facing towards the lake, away from them.  When they got to within a few meters of him, he turned around slowly.

"er, Hi," Sean said awkwardly.  Hermione and Ron just looked at him.  "Well," he continued, "I guess the best way is to just show you."  Sean scrunched up his face and seemed to concentrate.  In seconds, his blond hair became raven-black, and his blue eyes became emerald green.  His previously smooth forehead changed, and a lightning bolt-shaped scar appeared.  Sean Harrington is Harry Potter.  He looked at them expectantly, almost fearfully.

Once she was sure that he was Harry, Hermione gave in to her emotions.  She flung herself at Harry in a tight hug, holding on to him with everything she had.  Harry staggered backwards a bit, surprised for a moment, before putting his arms around her.  Tears began to fall from Hermione's eyes, but they were tears of happiness, not sadness.  After a long while, when there was no sign of Hermione letting go anytime soon, Ron gently untangled the two.  Then, he did something that surprised both Harry and Hermione: he grabbed Harry in a huge bear hug, lifting him off his feet and spinning him around.  After Ron released him, Harry motioned for them to sit, gesturing at the food and the blanket he had prepared.  No one had spoken yet, each of the three friends too choked up to talk. They sat down and for a moment just looked at each other.  Finally, Harry broke the silence.

"um, well, I guess I have a lot of explaining to do," he said hesitantly.  "But first, I want to say how sorry I am for everything.  For getting you two in this mess with Voldemort in the first place; for keeping you guys in my shadow while I was here, and for leaving you guys and making you worry about me.  I know you probably won't forgive me-"

"Harry Potter! What are you talking about?" Hermione interrupted.  "It's all our fault.  We should have been there for you before," she said tearfully.  "It's you who has to forgive us, not the other way around."

"She's right, mate," Ron said.  "I was absolutely dreadful to you last year.  I know I have a problem, but I think I've worked through it, with Hermione's help.  We'll always stand by you, no matter what."

Harry looked stunned.  He looked at Hermione, who nodded.  Harry got teary for a moment, before being enveloped into by his two friends in a group hug.  No words were needed, for the moment.

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"So, I talked to Dumbledore, and he helped plan this whole transfer student idea.  He's been giving me private lessons once a week too," Harry said as he polished off a chicken wing.  He had spent almost an hour telling Ron and Hermione about the events of the summer as they ate the food Dobby provided.  Hermione was amazed at the things he did on his own, impressed by his independence and how hard he worked.  She was also impressed that he actually read Hogwarts, A History, although Ron seemed dismayed ("Oy, now I'll have to listen to the both of you telling me to read it").  She was very relieved as well, for she had feared that Harry was off searching for Voldemort, encountering danger and fighting for his life every day.  Ron was equally impressed; the idea that anyone could live on their own at their age was incredible.  They were both amazed by some of the spells he learned, and Harry's robes fascinated Hermione.  She threw question after question about how it worked.  Ron was more interested in the ring that allowed Harry to do underage magic, saying how he wished he had one before he turned seventeen.  Harry also explained why they couldn't say his name.  While they were unconscious, Harry told them how he cast Dumbledore's spell on them, figuring that Hermione might figure out his secret.  He apologized for casting a spell on them, but they dismissed it.  Hermione was slightly miffed that he kept his secret from them for so long, but her happiness at his return and relief that Sean was Harry overrode any hurt feelings.

Although he never said so, Hermione could hear the loneliness in his voice as he told his story.  He never mentioned it directly, but Hermione picked up on the cues when he told them about some of his days spent practicing.   Hermione didn't wish to bring it up in front of Ron, but she wanted to somehow show Harry that they were they for him now, that he wasn't alone any longer.  Throughout his story, she made it a point to give him encouraging smiles and comments, touching him tenderly when she felt he needed it.  She smiled modestly when Harry mentioned how many times he wished she were there to explain something; but inside she felt that she should have been there with him.  She was happy to know that he still needed her, but she couldn't help but feel she let him down by not being in Boroughbridge with her.

Suddenly, Hermione gasped. "Oh no!" she groaned.  "I was so awful to you earlier this year Harry!  Forgive me?"

Harry chuckled.  "I'm just glad you changed your mind."

"So," Ron said.  "What will you do now?"

"What will we do now, you mean," Hermione corrected with a smile.

Harry chuckled.  "I want to keep my disguise; I don't want Voldemort to find out I'm back."  His friends nodded.  "Otherwise, I don't know.  Just continue the way things are, I guess."  Then he smiled, that smile that Hermione had missed so much.  "It'll be much better though, now that you two know the truth," he said earnestly.  That prompted another round of hugs, even from Ron, before they packed up the remains of their picnic and returned to the castle.