DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and
owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to
Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros.,
Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is
intended.
((Alright everyone, here's a fairly long chapter. The Order finally sees Harry, and this chapter lacks the darkness of the others, a little break. Treasure the moment because it's all going away. Just kidding, I really hope you like this one. Anyhow, special thanks to the following: Psy_Girl: For reviewing on a regular basis. Siriusly obsessed: Thank you for that awesome review, glad to know you've been reading all along and those were some great suggestions. I think I sequel may be in order. if it happens you'll probably be one of the first to know. Adelphie: Thank you for that essay, very well rounded review, all points taken.. Ah hell, I've already told you all this so no more space shall be taken up writing to you except this: thanks again. Shadowgurl: I'm glad you're liking the fic, and I'll try to keep updating on a regular basis. Reader: Thank you for the encouragement. Mrs Osbournes Class: Glad you're enjoying it, and I'm still thinking about the sequels, but thinking harder now. Alright, on to the fic! FINALLY!))
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"Not all who wander are lost."
-J.R.R Tolkien
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When Harry entered the room where the Order of the Phoenix was gathered one might have thought Voldemort himself had just walked in carrying an olive branch. Everyone went pale with shock and the room was dead silent. Harry hated all the attention he'd been receiving, though it was expected, and he tried to appear nonchalant as he came into the room.
Everyone just gaped at him until Dumbledore finally rose, eyes brimmed with tears, and announced "Welcome back Mr. Potter."
The room erupted in cheers and greetings of all sorts. Everyone seemed to be thinking the same thing "our savior is here." The moral in the order was higher than ever, everyone, even Snape, had a grin on their faces. Mr. Weasley gave Harry an enthusiastic hug and slap on the back, and Mrs. Weasley nearly killed him with a tackling embrace. Ginny eyed Harry appreciatively from the her seat for a while, a fact which only Hermione noticed, and then got up to hug him as well. It took Dumbledore a great deal of effort to calm everyone down, and finally a lull came over the order.
"Now Harry, if you wouldn't mind, could you kindly explain to everyone where you've been the past 3 years?" A small murmur passed across the table as Harry nodded sternly and slowly rose to his feet. Clearing his throat, Harry commenced in speaking. He told everyone of his actions of the past three years and finally sat down to a very sobered audience.
"So, Harry, you say you spied in a death eater's club?" Dumbledore asked. Harry nodded the affirmative, and proceeded to give more detail.
Dumbledore's eyes sparkled with excitement as Harry explained. "Harry, what do you suppose an attack on this club would require?"
Harry did not look surprised by the question at all. "Quite a bit sir. You see, in order to get in in the first place, you need to have a death eater's mark. The only way I got in was by making friends with a high ranking death eaters who could get me in as a friend. Eventually they accepted my presence and let me in by myself. Now, there are a lot of death eaters in the main section of the club, I'd say several hundred. We'd need a small army to get them all. Even if we did, they aren't going to be very helpful when questioned because only members of the inner ring know what's going on, and getting to them is even harder. The room of inner circle members is high security, they let people in by appearance, if they don't recognize you, they don't let you in. I got in because I became one of Jacques Farrier's favorite gambling partners and a friend of his, and he has high influence with the death eaters so he could get me in. But you can't polyjuice your way in, they'll detect it."
Dumbledore bowed his head slightly. "Point taken Mr. Potter." He said quietly. "I wish we had another plan, but this is all we have. By making our way through the club, we may be able to get at Voldemort himself. We will need to research some very ancient magic for, and we will need specialty teams as well as several fighting troops. I have great doubt this will succeed, but it may be our last chance to make a stand."
"Before what?" Remus asked suddenly.
"Before they make a stand against us."
~
"This is lunacy!" Hermione shouted as soon as they got through the door to her and Ron's flat. "We couldn't do this if we had a year, never mind a month as Dumbledore said!"
"You heard him Hermione!" Ron argued back. "It's the last chance we have, and we're a lot better trying to take the offensive while we can than waiting to have to take the defensive. Besides, who knows how many Muggles You- Know- Who will have killed by then!"
"As true as that may be Ron, think about it this way. This is like a king in chess trying to take the offensive on a full set of opponents."
"Better than waiting until your opponents set has killed your king. At least that way you may be able to take some of their pieces down with you."
Silence filled the kitchen where they stood arguing. They both looked at Harry who had sat down and was now staring off into nothingness. "I'm tired of this war. I just want it over with."
Hermione snorted and yelled back angrily, "Is it this war you want over Harry, or is it your life?"
Silence filled the kitchen once more and Harry looked up at Hermione. "Maybe a bit of both."
Ron coughed loudly. "This conversation is getting a bit too depressing for me. Anyone want a sandwich?"
Neither Harry nor Hermione spoke, they just continued to stare at one another. Hermione then turned and went up the stairs to her room very calmly, saying nothing, Harry and Ron's eyes following her as she went.
Silence. "Well then." Ron said, not really sure what else to say. "Sandwich Harry?"
Harry nodded and turned away from the empty staircase and back to Ron. Ron began to busy himself around the kitchen, and Harry soon stood up to help him. "You know Ron, you really need to see Gryffindor Manor someday soon."
"I know mate, it sounds pretty awesome from what you described yesterday. Does it really have a room just for fencing in it?"
Harry nodded and chuckled a bit. "Sure does, but that's not even the best part. The yard in big enough for a Quidditch field! I plan on putting up the Quidditch posts after this war."
Ron suddenly got serious. "If you live until then."
"Not you too!" Harry said angrily, slamming the knife he was using down.
"Well, Hermione's not the only one thinking about it Harry! Hell, I don't think that there's a single person who in the order who isn't!"
"What does it matter Ron?! Can we just stay off this topic, despite how cheery it might be?!"
Ron just shrugged and took a bite of his sandwich.
~
Hermione went from angry, to sad, to panicked to angry again. She couldn't seem to get a grip on it all. In only a month potentially everyone could be dead. They were about to try to pull off something so big that she didn't see how it could be done. Harry would probably face Voldemort and his final fate would be determined. She, Ron, and all the other Weasleys, not to mention Remus and her other friends would be in the direct line of danger. She sucked in a deep breathe. This was 100 times worse than their mission against Jacques Farrier, there was no way they would make it out of this one with casualties. She slumped down on her bed when she heard a scratching on the window. She saw an owl there, and she let it in. She quickly unfolded the letter and read:
Dear Ms. Granger-
I request a visit from you at 6:00 this evening at my office. For our upcoming mission I have realized we will need someone whom you are acquainted with to help. I hope to see you then, and you may bring Mr. Weasley and Mr. Potter if you wish.
-Albus Dumbledore
Hermione was confused. Who did she know that Dumbledore would want for their mission who he did not already know? She pondered this for a moment when she heard a knock on the door.
"Come in." She said, quickly drying her eyes.
"It's me Hermione" Harry said, slowly opening the door. "About earlier."
"No need to apologize Harry, I just over reacted I guess. It's just. well Harry, can you please promise me that you'll try your hardest to survive this mission, despite what happens?"
Harry stared her straight in the eye, and said, "I promise."
"Good- ah Harry, I just got a note from Dumbledore saying that he wants to see me this evening, and you can come to if you like. He says there's something he needs to discuss with me. Quite confusing actually." She handed the note to Harry and he glanced over it.
"Sure I'll go." He said shortly, and she smiled a bit at him before he helped her to her feet to go have a sandwich.
As they sat downstairs Harry glanced at her for a moment. He felt touched that she cared so much about him. It felt good for him to be cared about after years of loneliness. He recalled that she had always been there for him, she had always cared about him. He remembered how she'd told McGonagal about his Firebolt in case it was jinxed to be dangerous. He remembered how she'd always visited him in the infimary when he was hurt, how she'd make sure he'd done his homework, and about a million other small things. Here she was, after all these years, still looking out for him. He wanted to think he had done the same for her, but knew he hadn't. He wished he could tell her just how much her care and concern meant to him, but then Ron came bustling into the room.
"Which tie Hermione, the red one or the black one?" He asked holding each up in turn. She stared at him for a moment and then turned to Harry. "I don't know Harry, what do you think?"
"Hmm. definitely the black. It doesn't bring your hair out quite so much."
"Ha ha very funny. I would never have pictured the day when I'd be getting fashion advice from Harry Potter."
"Yep, there's a shocker for you Ron. Where are you going by the way?"
"Oh, I have a date with Cho tonight. I hope you don't mind."
Hermione was staring angrily at Ron. Apparently she was nervous that Harry still had feelings for Cho.
"Mind? No, of course not!" Harry said, trying to emphasize the fact that he wasn't concerned about it at all. "I have plans as it is anyways." He told Ron.
"Oh really? And what exactly are these plans Mr. Potter?" Ron asked, his voice teasing.
"It so happens that I have a date with a beautiful brunette witch and an old man with a long white beard."
Ron doubled over in laughter at this, and Hermione blushed. "Well you have a good time then Harry." Ron said. "You to Hermione." He added with a wink, which she replied to by rolling her eyes.
~
Harry and Hermione walked the path to Hogwarts from Hogsmede. Hermione leaned against Harry in the cold winter air, her arm linked through his. "Almost there" he announced as they turned the final bend revealing their childhood school. They set up the path to the doors chatting together, and headed for the Headmaster's office.
"Gum drops" Hermione announced as they arrived at the gargoyle. The stairs began to swivel upwards, and they both stepped on. The stairs lurched suddenly and Harry caught Hermione quickly before she fell. When the stairs arrived at their final destination, the two entered Dumbledore's office where they found him chatting with the framed pictures of old Headmasters and Headmistress'.
"Ah, Hermione, Harry, so good to see you both again." He smiled slightly, and indicated for them both to take a seat.
The two sat down and Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Now, Ms. Granger, I have called you here for a very important purpose. Earlier today Mr. Potter said that the death eater's club has heavy security, and you cannot enter without the dark mark. Correct?"
Harry nodded the affirmative. "Then I remembered you saying that you escaped by blasting the wall open. I came to the realization that the only way for us to enter the club is by blasting our way in."
"That kind of eliminates any element of surprise doesn't it?" Harry asked, perplexed.
"On the contrary Mr. Potter. When those death eaters hear a loud bang and troops come out of the dust they won't know what hit them."
Harry nodded slowly. "But you're missing something here. First of all, blasting those walls open will be no small task. It nearly drained me into unconsciousness. Second of all, the streets are patrolled by Muggle and wizard guards. We have to take all of them out, and taking out those Muggle guards will be difficult. We can't use magic against them, or we loose our magic powers. It's ancient magic principle. Even Voldemort knows that, that's why he's making a Muggle army as well, they can't harm wizards since we can deflect all bullets and weapons they possess out of self protection, but they can slow us down when it comes to hand to hand combat."
"Well there has to be some other way than hand to hand combat!" Hermione intervened. "Otherwise, Voldemort's plan to put all Muggles into prison camps is near impossible!"
"Not when he can use magic to disarm them all and the use Muggle weapons against them." Harry explained. "At any rate Dumbledore, I'm sure you understand the problem here. Too difficult to take out Muggle guards and impossible to blast walls open."
Dumbledore just smiled. "When it comes to the impossible I know of one man who does quite a good job at accomplishing the tasks set before him. He is 25 years old and a Muggle. His name is Raymond "Chrome" Granger."
Hermione stood up quickly knocking over her chair. "Not Chrome. Please tell me you didn't bring me here to talk about Chrome, that pain in the ass bastard!"
Harry was surprised by Hermione's sudden foul language, but Dumbledore just indicated for her to sit down. "Ms. Granger, I understand that Chrome may not be your favorite person, but he is your brother."
"Half brother." Hermione spat back. Oh how she hated Chrome. He was her father's son from his first marriage to an Irish woman who turned out to be a real pain. She managed to get custody over Chrome, and he only came to visit during the summers when she was very little, but his visits ceased because he ended up in reform school at a very young age. His stay was short, he was released for unknown reasons, and his life after that was far more wild from the sounds of it. Right now he was in prison.
Dumbledore took a deep breathe and began to speak. "Ms. Granger, despite your personal distaste for Chrome, he is needed. He has incredible skill with weaponry, and he also has helpful connections."
"Yes, if by connections you mean black markets, gangs and other illegal organizations."
Harry's mouth was half open. He could never have imagined that perfect Hermione could have a brother like this Chrome fellow. Then again, people couldn't help who they were related to, he certainly wouldn't want to think he was any reflection of the Dursleys.
"Those are exactly the sort of connections we need for this Ms. Granger."
Hermione looked extremely irritable. "Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but my dear brother is in prison right now."
"I know." Dumbledore said in a very matter-of-fact tone.
Hermione was now gaping along with Harry. "How do you know so much about my brother?"
Dumbledore took in a long breathe. "As you know, Chrome was in trouble with the law at a very young age. I met him one day when he was about 11 years old. I saw him in front of the Leaky Cauldron (which he could not see of course), and I thought he was a first year heading for Diagon Alley. Later I found out that he had just escaped from his confines, and was on the loose. When I went to stop him to speak to him, he flipped me onto my back on the ground." Dumbledore smiled fondly at the memory. "You see, Chrome is not your average Muggle. His mother was Irish and carried genes from the Celtic Warrior tribe. It skips about 100 years before it resurfaces, and I was very interested to learn the Chrome is in fact of that blood line. He is super strong, has lightening fast reflexes and the eyes of an eagle. All good warrior qualities."
"Great qualities for a criminal too." Hermione said sarcastically.
"Chrome was going to become a criminal no matter what I did or said. He's money hungry and power hungry. So, instead of stopping him, I gave him things to do."
Hermione yelped at this. "You told him to break the law?"
"I didn't tell him to break the law, it was just generally inferred. It was the tasks I had him do that are the point. They all helped fight dark wizards in one way or another. He became the eyes and ears for Aurors where Muggle crime syndicates are concerned and helped numerous times in dark arts exportations crack downs. All up until a year ago when he got caught with an Irish gang."
Hermione blinked hard. "I can't believe this. Why didn't you ever tell me?"
"Well Ms. Granger, it was illegal. I can't tell you about everything I do. Now, here's the deal. Ms. Granger, I want you to go to the prison and pick him up. I'm going to pull a few strings and have him released."
Hermione looked as though she had been told she was insane and Hogwarts had all actually been a dream. "Professor. I. I. I protest! We can't just get him released! He's a criminal!"
"Ms. Granger, how many times have you broken school rules for the overall good?"
"That's different! Chrome didn't know he was doing good, he just wanted whatever money he was being offered!"
"Ms. Granger, when's the last time you spoke with your brother? Personally, I don't think he's the terrible man you take him for. He's very talented at what he does, and he did know he was doing good. He could have gotten more money doing worse crimes, but he trusted me. And I suggest you trust me as well."
Hermione bowed her head slightly.
"Not everyone's as they seem on first glance. Now, this is where you can pick him up tommorow." Dumbledore handed Hermione a slip of parchment. "If it is okay, I would like to ask you to let him board with you."
"Well, I'm not sure we have enough room, but I guess we can work something out."
Dumbledore smiled warmly at her. "I know I'm asking a lot Ms. Granger, but I have great faith in your abilities. Thank- you."
~
Hermione kicked the wall hard as soon as they were back in Hogwart's hallways, which only resulted in her hopping about in pain. "Damnit." She cursed. It was all too much, the upcoming mission, having to deal with her intolerable brother Chrome, having Harry back so suddenly, being recently kidnapped- it was just an overload. Suddenly she felt Harry pulling her close and she buried her face in his chest as she fought back tears. She felt him kiss her on the forehead, and she felt her face turn up to his. And then she did it. She kissed him. She would have expected it to happen in a much more romantic situation, or at least something more dramatic, like the night before the big mission, but not here at such a random time. Hell, she would have at least hoped for it to be in privacy, not a hallway where any unknowing teacher or student could pass. And yet there it was. She was kissing him, and he was kissing her back.
Harry didn't know what had caused Hermione to kiss him, but he sure as hell wouldn't waste the moment. He wanted her to know how much she meant to him, how important she was, how beautiful she was, and- how much he loved her. It was more than just an appreciation of their friendship he felt towards her. He was in love with her. She was the only one who could really make him feel happy, the only one who understood him, and he needed her more than anyone else. He pulled her closer to him and she did not stop him. He finally pulled away to breathe and look her in the eyes.
They stood looking at each other, hearts racing, neither with a word to say. Hermione couldn't bear the pressure the silence posed on them. "I'm sorry." She finally said, and turned away to walk out of the castle.
"No wait Hermione!" Harry called, running after her. He grabbed her arm and spun her around, him kissing her this time.
"What is going on?" She asked leaning against him.
"I don't know, but I don't want it to stop do you?"
She stepped away slightly. "Harry, we need to get back to the flat. We haven't had dinner and." She trailed off as she walked away from him, leaving him standing there utterly confused.
"What did I do wrong?" He wondered, his mind racing at the possibilities. One minute she was kissing him eagerly, the next she was running away. It was all so bewildering. Maybe he still didn't understand girls, maybe she was just like Cho. he couldn't stand that thought. He liked Hermione far to much to deal with finding out that she would treat him just as Cho had, friendly one minute, running off or crying the next. He slowly walked behind her following this train of thought until they got to the flat. It was dark inside, and they stumbled in until Hermione got her wand out and turned on the lights.
Hermione went to the refrigerator and spent a long time just standing there with the door open.
"Looking for something?" Harry asked, breaking the silence and causing her to jump up in the air.
"Oh. ah. what do you want for dinner?"
The atmosphere was so tense Harry could have sworn he would implode from the pressure.
"Um.I'd like to take you out for dinner." He said bravely, afraid she might have some sort of unexpected violent reaction to his words.
Hermione looked as though she was feeling extremely awkward. "Oh well, Harry, about back at the castle, that was a mistake. A mistake with reasons behind it, but never the less, I hadn't meant for that to happen, and it shouldn't have."
"Why shouldn't it have happened?" Harry asked angrily, cutting short her rant. "Don't give me any of that, 'I was just caught up in the moment' or any of that 'We can't ruin our friendship' crap either."
Hermione looked angry now. "You want to honest reason Harry Potter?! The whole damned truth? The truth is that I'm in love with you, and I'm not having you going about toying with that just because you feel like it! How do you like that for a truth?!" She turned away and prepared to storm out of the flat when Harry spoke.
"I like that truth a lot, because it just so happens that I'm in love with you too."
Out of all the responses Harry could have expected, it was not what he'd thought it'd be.
"No you're not."
His jaw dropped wide open. "What do you mean?"
"I mean that you aren't in love with me. Maybe you're just saying you are, or maybe you just think you are, but I can tell you that you aren't. It just isn't fathomable."
Harry laughed a little and walked over to her. "You are just too stubborn for your own good, and for a girl who's able to fathom quite a lot, you are being quite shallow." He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. "Because, I am in fact very much in love with you."
~
Ron was having a lovely dinner with Cho, except for the fact that he kept wanting to burst out "Harry's alive! He's not dead Cho, and he's living with me!" He knew he wasn't allowed to though, and so that also ruled out taking her back to his flat after dinner. He supposed they'd just go back to hers instead. He liked her flat better anyhow. It was bigger and more comfortable, and had far less books.
"So what's Hermione up to tonight?" Cho asked innocently as she always did. She was truly concerned about the girl as Ron always had the same response, "At home reading, or studying." She never seemed to get out.
Ron considered his answer for a moment. Cho knew that he and Hermione were part of a resistance group, few others did however. Hermione was a part time student at a medi wizard university, and most thought that that was all she did. Ron worked part time at his brother's joke shop, and that was his cover. Although Cho knew about the resistance group, she didn't know that they were planning the big bust on the death eater's club since that was top secret. Thus he couldn't tell her about Hermione visiting Dumbledore. He also couldn't tell her about Harry being with her. Hence he chose the same thing he always told her, at home reading (studying would sound suspicious since the university was on break for the holidays).
"Poor thing" said Cho. "Doesn't she ever go out? When's the last time she's had a date?"
"Uh. I think it was with me." Ron answered slowly.
"Ron, that was a year ago! She's been all trapped up since then, don't you ever think she gets lonely?"
"Not really" Ron replied honestly. "I think she's fine by herself, besides, she has me as her friend, and sometimes she visits Ginny when she's not in school, and she hangs out with Fred and George, once in a while she even gets back together with her old dorm mates Lavender and Pavarti."
"Yes but what I mean Ron, is maybe she gets lonely from not having a boyfriend. Maybe we should set her up on a date!"
Ron shook his head. "I don't think so. Besides, there's nobody she really likes."
Cho suddenly looked very downcast. "Do you think she liked Harry Ron?"
Ron nearly spit his butter beer all over. "What? Hermione like Harry? Why would you say that?"
"Well, first of all she was always with him and always looking out for him, and he certainly seemed very fond of her. I remember when I went out with Harry for that short period in fifth year, Harry was always on about her. Then after he. left, Hermione went out with you, but that never worked out, and since then she's had no one else. No offense Ron, but maybe she's just been yearning for Harry all those years."
That was a thought Ron had never come up with. It had always seemed logical that if anyone of the trio ended up together, it would be him and Hermione, Harry and Hermione as a couple seemed almost as distant a chance as himself and Harry, a thought which he quickly strayed away from for fear of losing his appetite. He then remembered that the two of them were together at the very moment. He wondered if Cho's theory would prove correct.
Cho mistook Ron's silent ponderings for sadness, and suddenly said, "Oh Ron, I'm so sorry for bringing Harry up at the dinner table. That was so stupid of me."
Ron shook his head in disagreement. "No, that's quite alright. Ah, looks like dinner's coming, and just in time! I am starving. Anyhow, I heard a certain seeker in the Pro Quidditch League had an amazing catch just the other day to win the European Quidditch Cup and end the season. I didn't catch the name though."
Cho giggled at Ron's little tease. "Well, the catch wasn't all that spectacular."
"I beg to differ Ms. Chang." He said softly, leaning over the table to kiss her.
~
After dinner Ron and Cho took a walk in a nearby park, only several other occupants about all being mindful of the blissful peace that was in the beautiful summer night.
"Ron, I've been thinking." Cho began, suddenly breaking the silence.
"Uh oh!" He joked.
"I'm being serious now. I want to ask you to move in with me."
Ron stopped dead in his tracks. "Move in with you? Well, that'll be a big change."
"Yes I know, but Ron. you know I really love you, and I think this could be a great step forward in our relationship. I know you may be nervous about leaving Hermione alone, but it may be good for her in the long run. I want us to be together more often, I don't feel like I see you enough."
Ron stood silent for a moment. Suddenly he said, "When can I move in?"
~
If someone had told him that at 9:00 PM Harry would be preparing for a date with Hermione Granger he would have told them to get off whatever drugs they were on. He told her he was going to take her to a fancy Muggle restaurant, and know they were both getting ready. Harry flooed back to Gryffindor Manor and found the clothes he wanted to wear and began to clean up. He used a quick spell to trim his hair and put on a bit on concealing makeup to hide his scar in the off chance they saw someone they knew. He had taken a quick shower and wished he had some good smelling cologne to put on, but he'd never needed any in the past. He put on a black blouse and a green tie which many girls had said brought out his eyes, which he hoped was a good thing. A black sports coat went over the blouse and with his black slacks he hoped he wasn't wearing too much black. He picked out his best shoes, got a wad of Muggle money and headed back to Hermione's flat.
When he got there she wasn't quite ready yet and he began to feel extremely anxious as he waited.
Little did he know that she was feeling just as anxious as she got ready. He'd told her what a fancy place it was he was taking her and she ran about trying to throw together a suitable ensemble.
When she finally walked into the kitchen ready to go, she was glad she'd chosen to wear a black dress when she saw that Harry was outfitted in black as well. She hoped that she helped in making a lovely pair because there was no concern with looks coming from his department. She was quite sure she'd never seen him look so handsome, his green eyes sparkled at her and he looked youthful and healthy.
All he could do was gape at her. He remembered thinking how beautiful she'd looked at the Yule Ball in fifth year, but now she looked even more beautiful to him because she was his and not someone he had to gawk at from a distance. As she drew closer he took her hand in his and said, "You look absolutely outstanding."
She blushed slightly but smiled and said, "So do you. Shall we?"
Together they headed out, first grabbing their jackets. As they passed outside into the cold they immediately became the aim point of everyone's jealousy, a beautiful young couple out on a beautiful young night.
((Alright everyone, here's a fairly long chapter. The Order finally sees Harry, and this chapter lacks the darkness of the others, a little break. Treasure the moment because it's all going away. Just kidding, I really hope you like this one. Anyhow, special thanks to the following: Psy_Girl: For reviewing on a regular basis. Siriusly obsessed: Thank you for that awesome review, glad to know you've been reading all along and those were some great suggestions. I think I sequel may be in order. if it happens you'll probably be one of the first to know. Adelphie: Thank you for that essay, very well rounded review, all points taken.. Ah hell, I've already told you all this so no more space shall be taken up writing to you except this: thanks again. Shadowgurl: I'm glad you're liking the fic, and I'll try to keep updating on a regular basis. Reader: Thank you for the encouragement. Mrs Osbournes Class: Glad you're enjoying it, and I'm still thinking about the sequels, but thinking harder now. Alright, on to the fic! FINALLY!))
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"Not all who wander are lost."
-J.R.R Tolkien
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When Harry entered the room where the Order of the Phoenix was gathered one might have thought Voldemort himself had just walked in carrying an olive branch. Everyone went pale with shock and the room was dead silent. Harry hated all the attention he'd been receiving, though it was expected, and he tried to appear nonchalant as he came into the room.
Everyone just gaped at him until Dumbledore finally rose, eyes brimmed with tears, and announced "Welcome back Mr. Potter."
The room erupted in cheers and greetings of all sorts. Everyone seemed to be thinking the same thing "our savior is here." The moral in the order was higher than ever, everyone, even Snape, had a grin on their faces. Mr. Weasley gave Harry an enthusiastic hug and slap on the back, and Mrs. Weasley nearly killed him with a tackling embrace. Ginny eyed Harry appreciatively from the her seat for a while, a fact which only Hermione noticed, and then got up to hug him as well. It took Dumbledore a great deal of effort to calm everyone down, and finally a lull came over the order.
"Now Harry, if you wouldn't mind, could you kindly explain to everyone where you've been the past 3 years?" A small murmur passed across the table as Harry nodded sternly and slowly rose to his feet. Clearing his throat, Harry commenced in speaking. He told everyone of his actions of the past three years and finally sat down to a very sobered audience.
"So, Harry, you say you spied in a death eater's club?" Dumbledore asked. Harry nodded the affirmative, and proceeded to give more detail.
Dumbledore's eyes sparkled with excitement as Harry explained. "Harry, what do you suppose an attack on this club would require?"
Harry did not look surprised by the question at all. "Quite a bit sir. You see, in order to get in in the first place, you need to have a death eater's mark. The only way I got in was by making friends with a high ranking death eaters who could get me in as a friend. Eventually they accepted my presence and let me in by myself. Now, there are a lot of death eaters in the main section of the club, I'd say several hundred. We'd need a small army to get them all. Even if we did, they aren't going to be very helpful when questioned because only members of the inner ring know what's going on, and getting to them is even harder. The room of inner circle members is high security, they let people in by appearance, if they don't recognize you, they don't let you in. I got in because I became one of Jacques Farrier's favorite gambling partners and a friend of his, and he has high influence with the death eaters so he could get me in. But you can't polyjuice your way in, they'll detect it."
Dumbledore bowed his head slightly. "Point taken Mr. Potter." He said quietly. "I wish we had another plan, but this is all we have. By making our way through the club, we may be able to get at Voldemort himself. We will need to research some very ancient magic for, and we will need specialty teams as well as several fighting troops. I have great doubt this will succeed, but it may be our last chance to make a stand."
"Before what?" Remus asked suddenly.
"Before they make a stand against us."
~
"This is lunacy!" Hermione shouted as soon as they got through the door to her and Ron's flat. "We couldn't do this if we had a year, never mind a month as Dumbledore said!"
"You heard him Hermione!" Ron argued back. "It's the last chance we have, and we're a lot better trying to take the offensive while we can than waiting to have to take the defensive. Besides, who knows how many Muggles You- Know- Who will have killed by then!"
"As true as that may be Ron, think about it this way. This is like a king in chess trying to take the offensive on a full set of opponents."
"Better than waiting until your opponents set has killed your king. At least that way you may be able to take some of their pieces down with you."
Silence filled the kitchen where they stood arguing. They both looked at Harry who had sat down and was now staring off into nothingness. "I'm tired of this war. I just want it over with."
Hermione snorted and yelled back angrily, "Is it this war you want over Harry, or is it your life?"
Silence filled the kitchen once more and Harry looked up at Hermione. "Maybe a bit of both."
Ron coughed loudly. "This conversation is getting a bit too depressing for me. Anyone want a sandwich?"
Neither Harry nor Hermione spoke, they just continued to stare at one another. Hermione then turned and went up the stairs to her room very calmly, saying nothing, Harry and Ron's eyes following her as she went.
Silence. "Well then." Ron said, not really sure what else to say. "Sandwich Harry?"
Harry nodded and turned away from the empty staircase and back to Ron. Ron began to busy himself around the kitchen, and Harry soon stood up to help him. "You know Ron, you really need to see Gryffindor Manor someday soon."
"I know mate, it sounds pretty awesome from what you described yesterday. Does it really have a room just for fencing in it?"
Harry nodded and chuckled a bit. "Sure does, but that's not even the best part. The yard in big enough for a Quidditch field! I plan on putting up the Quidditch posts after this war."
Ron suddenly got serious. "If you live until then."
"Not you too!" Harry said angrily, slamming the knife he was using down.
"Well, Hermione's not the only one thinking about it Harry! Hell, I don't think that there's a single person who in the order who isn't!"
"What does it matter Ron?! Can we just stay off this topic, despite how cheery it might be?!"
Ron just shrugged and took a bite of his sandwich.
~
Hermione went from angry, to sad, to panicked to angry again. She couldn't seem to get a grip on it all. In only a month potentially everyone could be dead. They were about to try to pull off something so big that she didn't see how it could be done. Harry would probably face Voldemort and his final fate would be determined. She, Ron, and all the other Weasleys, not to mention Remus and her other friends would be in the direct line of danger. She sucked in a deep breathe. This was 100 times worse than their mission against Jacques Farrier, there was no way they would make it out of this one with casualties. She slumped down on her bed when she heard a scratching on the window. She saw an owl there, and she let it in. She quickly unfolded the letter and read:
Dear Ms. Granger-
I request a visit from you at 6:00 this evening at my office. For our upcoming mission I have realized we will need someone whom you are acquainted with to help. I hope to see you then, and you may bring Mr. Weasley and Mr. Potter if you wish.
-Albus Dumbledore
Hermione was confused. Who did she know that Dumbledore would want for their mission who he did not already know? She pondered this for a moment when she heard a knock on the door.
"Come in." She said, quickly drying her eyes.
"It's me Hermione" Harry said, slowly opening the door. "About earlier."
"No need to apologize Harry, I just over reacted I guess. It's just. well Harry, can you please promise me that you'll try your hardest to survive this mission, despite what happens?"
Harry stared her straight in the eye, and said, "I promise."
"Good- ah Harry, I just got a note from Dumbledore saying that he wants to see me this evening, and you can come to if you like. He says there's something he needs to discuss with me. Quite confusing actually." She handed the note to Harry and he glanced over it.
"Sure I'll go." He said shortly, and she smiled a bit at him before he helped her to her feet to go have a sandwich.
As they sat downstairs Harry glanced at her for a moment. He felt touched that she cared so much about him. It felt good for him to be cared about after years of loneliness. He recalled that she had always been there for him, she had always cared about him. He remembered how she'd told McGonagal about his Firebolt in case it was jinxed to be dangerous. He remembered how she'd always visited him in the infimary when he was hurt, how she'd make sure he'd done his homework, and about a million other small things. Here she was, after all these years, still looking out for him. He wanted to think he had done the same for her, but knew he hadn't. He wished he could tell her just how much her care and concern meant to him, but then Ron came bustling into the room.
"Which tie Hermione, the red one or the black one?" He asked holding each up in turn. She stared at him for a moment and then turned to Harry. "I don't know Harry, what do you think?"
"Hmm. definitely the black. It doesn't bring your hair out quite so much."
"Ha ha very funny. I would never have pictured the day when I'd be getting fashion advice from Harry Potter."
"Yep, there's a shocker for you Ron. Where are you going by the way?"
"Oh, I have a date with Cho tonight. I hope you don't mind."
Hermione was staring angrily at Ron. Apparently she was nervous that Harry still had feelings for Cho.
"Mind? No, of course not!" Harry said, trying to emphasize the fact that he wasn't concerned about it at all. "I have plans as it is anyways." He told Ron.
"Oh really? And what exactly are these plans Mr. Potter?" Ron asked, his voice teasing.
"It so happens that I have a date with a beautiful brunette witch and an old man with a long white beard."
Ron doubled over in laughter at this, and Hermione blushed. "Well you have a good time then Harry." Ron said. "You to Hermione." He added with a wink, which she replied to by rolling her eyes.
~
Harry and Hermione walked the path to Hogwarts from Hogsmede. Hermione leaned against Harry in the cold winter air, her arm linked through his. "Almost there" he announced as they turned the final bend revealing their childhood school. They set up the path to the doors chatting together, and headed for the Headmaster's office.
"Gum drops" Hermione announced as they arrived at the gargoyle. The stairs began to swivel upwards, and they both stepped on. The stairs lurched suddenly and Harry caught Hermione quickly before she fell. When the stairs arrived at their final destination, the two entered Dumbledore's office where they found him chatting with the framed pictures of old Headmasters and Headmistress'.
"Ah, Hermione, Harry, so good to see you both again." He smiled slightly, and indicated for them both to take a seat.
The two sat down and Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Now, Ms. Granger, I have called you here for a very important purpose. Earlier today Mr. Potter said that the death eater's club has heavy security, and you cannot enter without the dark mark. Correct?"
Harry nodded the affirmative. "Then I remembered you saying that you escaped by blasting the wall open. I came to the realization that the only way for us to enter the club is by blasting our way in."
"That kind of eliminates any element of surprise doesn't it?" Harry asked, perplexed.
"On the contrary Mr. Potter. When those death eaters hear a loud bang and troops come out of the dust they won't know what hit them."
Harry nodded slowly. "But you're missing something here. First of all, blasting those walls open will be no small task. It nearly drained me into unconsciousness. Second of all, the streets are patrolled by Muggle and wizard guards. We have to take all of them out, and taking out those Muggle guards will be difficult. We can't use magic against them, or we loose our magic powers. It's ancient magic principle. Even Voldemort knows that, that's why he's making a Muggle army as well, they can't harm wizards since we can deflect all bullets and weapons they possess out of self protection, but they can slow us down when it comes to hand to hand combat."
"Well there has to be some other way than hand to hand combat!" Hermione intervened. "Otherwise, Voldemort's plan to put all Muggles into prison camps is near impossible!"
"Not when he can use magic to disarm them all and the use Muggle weapons against them." Harry explained. "At any rate Dumbledore, I'm sure you understand the problem here. Too difficult to take out Muggle guards and impossible to blast walls open."
Dumbledore just smiled. "When it comes to the impossible I know of one man who does quite a good job at accomplishing the tasks set before him. He is 25 years old and a Muggle. His name is Raymond "Chrome" Granger."
Hermione stood up quickly knocking over her chair. "Not Chrome. Please tell me you didn't bring me here to talk about Chrome, that pain in the ass bastard!"
Harry was surprised by Hermione's sudden foul language, but Dumbledore just indicated for her to sit down. "Ms. Granger, I understand that Chrome may not be your favorite person, but he is your brother."
"Half brother." Hermione spat back. Oh how she hated Chrome. He was her father's son from his first marriage to an Irish woman who turned out to be a real pain. She managed to get custody over Chrome, and he only came to visit during the summers when she was very little, but his visits ceased because he ended up in reform school at a very young age. His stay was short, he was released for unknown reasons, and his life after that was far more wild from the sounds of it. Right now he was in prison.
Dumbledore took a deep breathe and began to speak. "Ms. Granger, despite your personal distaste for Chrome, he is needed. He has incredible skill with weaponry, and he also has helpful connections."
"Yes, if by connections you mean black markets, gangs and other illegal organizations."
Harry's mouth was half open. He could never have imagined that perfect Hermione could have a brother like this Chrome fellow. Then again, people couldn't help who they were related to, he certainly wouldn't want to think he was any reflection of the Dursleys.
"Those are exactly the sort of connections we need for this Ms. Granger."
Hermione looked extremely irritable. "Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but my dear brother is in prison right now."
"I know." Dumbledore said in a very matter-of-fact tone.
Hermione was now gaping along with Harry. "How do you know so much about my brother?"
Dumbledore took in a long breathe. "As you know, Chrome was in trouble with the law at a very young age. I met him one day when he was about 11 years old. I saw him in front of the Leaky Cauldron (which he could not see of course), and I thought he was a first year heading for Diagon Alley. Later I found out that he had just escaped from his confines, and was on the loose. When I went to stop him to speak to him, he flipped me onto my back on the ground." Dumbledore smiled fondly at the memory. "You see, Chrome is not your average Muggle. His mother was Irish and carried genes from the Celtic Warrior tribe. It skips about 100 years before it resurfaces, and I was very interested to learn the Chrome is in fact of that blood line. He is super strong, has lightening fast reflexes and the eyes of an eagle. All good warrior qualities."
"Great qualities for a criminal too." Hermione said sarcastically.
"Chrome was going to become a criminal no matter what I did or said. He's money hungry and power hungry. So, instead of stopping him, I gave him things to do."
Hermione yelped at this. "You told him to break the law?"
"I didn't tell him to break the law, it was just generally inferred. It was the tasks I had him do that are the point. They all helped fight dark wizards in one way or another. He became the eyes and ears for Aurors where Muggle crime syndicates are concerned and helped numerous times in dark arts exportations crack downs. All up until a year ago when he got caught with an Irish gang."
Hermione blinked hard. "I can't believe this. Why didn't you ever tell me?"
"Well Ms. Granger, it was illegal. I can't tell you about everything I do. Now, here's the deal. Ms. Granger, I want you to go to the prison and pick him up. I'm going to pull a few strings and have him released."
Hermione looked as though she had been told she was insane and Hogwarts had all actually been a dream. "Professor. I. I. I protest! We can't just get him released! He's a criminal!"
"Ms. Granger, how many times have you broken school rules for the overall good?"
"That's different! Chrome didn't know he was doing good, he just wanted whatever money he was being offered!"
"Ms. Granger, when's the last time you spoke with your brother? Personally, I don't think he's the terrible man you take him for. He's very talented at what he does, and he did know he was doing good. He could have gotten more money doing worse crimes, but he trusted me. And I suggest you trust me as well."
Hermione bowed her head slightly.
"Not everyone's as they seem on first glance. Now, this is where you can pick him up tommorow." Dumbledore handed Hermione a slip of parchment. "If it is okay, I would like to ask you to let him board with you."
"Well, I'm not sure we have enough room, but I guess we can work something out."
Dumbledore smiled warmly at her. "I know I'm asking a lot Ms. Granger, but I have great faith in your abilities. Thank- you."
~
Hermione kicked the wall hard as soon as they were back in Hogwart's hallways, which only resulted in her hopping about in pain. "Damnit." She cursed. It was all too much, the upcoming mission, having to deal with her intolerable brother Chrome, having Harry back so suddenly, being recently kidnapped- it was just an overload. Suddenly she felt Harry pulling her close and she buried her face in his chest as she fought back tears. She felt him kiss her on the forehead, and she felt her face turn up to his. And then she did it. She kissed him. She would have expected it to happen in a much more romantic situation, or at least something more dramatic, like the night before the big mission, but not here at such a random time. Hell, she would have at least hoped for it to be in privacy, not a hallway where any unknowing teacher or student could pass. And yet there it was. She was kissing him, and he was kissing her back.
Harry didn't know what had caused Hermione to kiss him, but he sure as hell wouldn't waste the moment. He wanted her to know how much she meant to him, how important she was, how beautiful she was, and- how much he loved her. It was more than just an appreciation of their friendship he felt towards her. He was in love with her. She was the only one who could really make him feel happy, the only one who understood him, and he needed her more than anyone else. He pulled her closer to him and she did not stop him. He finally pulled away to breathe and look her in the eyes.
They stood looking at each other, hearts racing, neither with a word to say. Hermione couldn't bear the pressure the silence posed on them. "I'm sorry." She finally said, and turned away to walk out of the castle.
"No wait Hermione!" Harry called, running after her. He grabbed her arm and spun her around, him kissing her this time.
"What is going on?" She asked leaning against him.
"I don't know, but I don't want it to stop do you?"
She stepped away slightly. "Harry, we need to get back to the flat. We haven't had dinner and." She trailed off as she walked away from him, leaving him standing there utterly confused.
"What did I do wrong?" He wondered, his mind racing at the possibilities. One minute she was kissing him eagerly, the next she was running away. It was all so bewildering. Maybe he still didn't understand girls, maybe she was just like Cho. he couldn't stand that thought. He liked Hermione far to much to deal with finding out that she would treat him just as Cho had, friendly one minute, running off or crying the next. He slowly walked behind her following this train of thought until they got to the flat. It was dark inside, and they stumbled in until Hermione got her wand out and turned on the lights.
Hermione went to the refrigerator and spent a long time just standing there with the door open.
"Looking for something?" Harry asked, breaking the silence and causing her to jump up in the air.
"Oh. ah. what do you want for dinner?"
The atmosphere was so tense Harry could have sworn he would implode from the pressure.
"Um.I'd like to take you out for dinner." He said bravely, afraid she might have some sort of unexpected violent reaction to his words.
Hermione looked as though she was feeling extremely awkward. "Oh well, Harry, about back at the castle, that was a mistake. A mistake with reasons behind it, but never the less, I hadn't meant for that to happen, and it shouldn't have."
"Why shouldn't it have happened?" Harry asked angrily, cutting short her rant. "Don't give me any of that, 'I was just caught up in the moment' or any of that 'We can't ruin our friendship' crap either."
Hermione looked angry now. "You want to honest reason Harry Potter?! The whole damned truth? The truth is that I'm in love with you, and I'm not having you going about toying with that just because you feel like it! How do you like that for a truth?!" She turned away and prepared to storm out of the flat when Harry spoke.
"I like that truth a lot, because it just so happens that I'm in love with you too."
Out of all the responses Harry could have expected, it was not what he'd thought it'd be.
"No you're not."
His jaw dropped wide open. "What do you mean?"
"I mean that you aren't in love with me. Maybe you're just saying you are, or maybe you just think you are, but I can tell you that you aren't. It just isn't fathomable."
Harry laughed a little and walked over to her. "You are just too stubborn for your own good, and for a girl who's able to fathom quite a lot, you are being quite shallow." He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. "Because, I am in fact very much in love with you."
~
Ron was having a lovely dinner with Cho, except for the fact that he kept wanting to burst out "Harry's alive! He's not dead Cho, and he's living with me!" He knew he wasn't allowed to though, and so that also ruled out taking her back to his flat after dinner. He supposed they'd just go back to hers instead. He liked her flat better anyhow. It was bigger and more comfortable, and had far less books.
"So what's Hermione up to tonight?" Cho asked innocently as she always did. She was truly concerned about the girl as Ron always had the same response, "At home reading, or studying." She never seemed to get out.
Ron considered his answer for a moment. Cho knew that he and Hermione were part of a resistance group, few others did however. Hermione was a part time student at a medi wizard university, and most thought that that was all she did. Ron worked part time at his brother's joke shop, and that was his cover. Although Cho knew about the resistance group, she didn't know that they were planning the big bust on the death eater's club since that was top secret. Thus he couldn't tell her about Hermione visiting Dumbledore. He also couldn't tell her about Harry being with her. Hence he chose the same thing he always told her, at home reading (studying would sound suspicious since the university was on break for the holidays).
"Poor thing" said Cho. "Doesn't she ever go out? When's the last time she's had a date?"
"Uh. I think it was with me." Ron answered slowly.
"Ron, that was a year ago! She's been all trapped up since then, don't you ever think she gets lonely?"
"Not really" Ron replied honestly. "I think she's fine by herself, besides, she has me as her friend, and sometimes she visits Ginny when she's not in school, and she hangs out with Fred and George, once in a while she even gets back together with her old dorm mates Lavender and Pavarti."
"Yes but what I mean Ron, is maybe she gets lonely from not having a boyfriend. Maybe we should set her up on a date!"
Ron shook his head. "I don't think so. Besides, there's nobody she really likes."
Cho suddenly looked very downcast. "Do you think she liked Harry Ron?"
Ron nearly spit his butter beer all over. "What? Hermione like Harry? Why would you say that?"
"Well, first of all she was always with him and always looking out for him, and he certainly seemed very fond of her. I remember when I went out with Harry for that short period in fifth year, Harry was always on about her. Then after he. left, Hermione went out with you, but that never worked out, and since then she's had no one else. No offense Ron, but maybe she's just been yearning for Harry all those years."
That was a thought Ron had never come up with. It had always seemed logical that if anyone of the trio ended up together, it would be him and Hermione, Harry and Hermione as a couple seemed almost as distant a chance as himself and Harry, a thought which he quickly strayed away from for fear of losing his appetite. He then remembered that the two of them were together at the very moment. He wondered if Cho's theory would prove correct.
Cho mistook Ron's silent ponderings for sadness, and suddenly said, "Oh Ron, I'm so sorry for bringing Harry up at the dinner table. That was so stupid of me."
Ron shook his head in disagreement. "No, that's quite alright. Ah, looks like dinner's coming, and just in time! I am starving. Anyhow, I heard a certain seeker in the Pro Quidditch League had an amazing catch just the other day to win the European Quidditch Cup and end the season. I didn't catch the name though."
Cho giggled at Ron's little tease. "Well, the catch wasn't all that spectacular."
"I beg to differ Ms. Chang." He said softly, leaning over the table to kiss her.
~
After dinner Ron and Cho took a walk in a nearby park, only several other occupants about all being mindful of the blissful peace that was in the beautiful summer night.
"Ron, I've been thinking." Cho began, suddenly breaking the silence.
"Uh oh!" He joked.
"I'm being serious now. I want to ask you to move in with me."
Ron stopped dead in his tracks. "Move in with you? Well, that'll be a big change."
"Yes I know, but Ron. you know I really love you, and I think this could be a great step forward in our relationship. I know you may be nervous about leaving Hermione alone, but it may be good for her in the long run. I want us to be together more often, I don't feel like I see you enough."
Ron stood silent for a moment. Suddenly he said, "When can I move in?"
~
If someone had told him that at 9:00 PM Harry would be preparing for a date with Hermione Granger he would have told them to get off whatever drugs they were on. He told her he was going to take her to a fancy Muggle restaurant, and know they were both getting ready. Harry flooed back to Gryffindor Manor and found the clothes he wanted to wear and began to clean up. He used a quick spell to trim his hair and put on a bit on concealing makeup to hide his scar in the off chance they saw someone they knew. He had taken a quick shower and wished he had some good smelling cologne to put on, but he'd never needed any in the past. He put on a black blouse and a green tie which many girls had said brought out his eyes, which he hoped was a good thing. A black sports coat went over the blouse and with his black slacks he hoped he wasn't wearing too much black. He picked out his best shoes, got a wad of Muggle money and headed back to Hermione's flat.
When he got there she wasn't quite ready yet and he began to feel extremely anxious as he waited.
Little did he know that she was feeling just as anxious as she got ready. He'd told her what a fancy place it was he was taking her and she ran about trying to throw together a suitable ensemble.
When she finally walked into the kitchen ready to go, she was glad she'd chosen to wear a black dress when she saw that Harry was outfitted in black as well. She hoped that she helped in making a lovely pair because there was no concern with looks coming from his department. She was quite sure she'd never seen him look so handsome, his green eyes sparkled at her and he looked youthful and healthy.
All he could do was gape at her. He remembered thinking how beautiful she'd looked at the Yule Ball in fifth year, but now she looked even more beautiful to him because she was his and not someone he had to gawk at from a distance. As she drew closer he took her hand in his and said, "You look absolutely outstanding."
She blushed slightly but smiled and said, "So do you. Shall we?"
Together they headed out, first grabbing their jackets. As they passed outside into the cold they immediately became the aim point of everyone's jealousy, a beautiful young couple out on a beautiful young night.