Harry potter and the Powers of Old
Chapter 4: New pets, New relationships
With a THUMP! Harry landed hard on the dinning room floor of Grimmauld Place. Strong hands reached out to steady Harry before just he fell. After waiting a moment for the room to stop spinning, Harry looked up into the eyes of Remus Lupin, the last Marauder and Harry's last real link to his parents. "Did you have to land on top the TV?" Harry said grinning, at the thought of his recent escape from Privet Drive. "Now that, Harry," Remus said with a glint in his eye "was Tonks' idea," he added pointing at his feet.
Harry tried hard to suppress his laughter. Tonks lay in a heap on the floor; she was laughing hard and looked as if she was about to be sick. "Remind me never to do that again," Tonks said, trying to stand up, sending Harry and Remus into hysterics again. "Your own fault Tonks," Harry said as Remus snorted, "I'm no expert, but I'm not sure humans are supposed to be made Portkeys." They all collapsed in laughter. "Well, we had no time, and it was better that than your uncle beating me to a pulp," Tonks said, shrugging her shoulders.
The three of them sat down to catch their breath as the dinning room door flew opened. "Oh Harry!" Mrs Weasley exclaimed as she engulfed him in a tight hug. "Ok mum...he can't breathe," Ron, the youngest Weasley son, said as he entered the room. "You alright Harry?" he asked, cheerily patting him on the back as he was released from his mother's hug. "Yeah," Harry replied, still smiling. "It's good to be back."
After Harry had hugged or shook hands with all of the Order members that had hung around after the meeting, he made to follow Ron, bringing his trunk upstairs. "Wow," Harry said looking around as they exited the room. "Yeah. Great ain't it?" Ron said, nodding his head at the look of awe on Harry's face. "Dumbledore done it himself. Been working on it all summer, he has."
Mrs Black's painting was gone, and in its place was Phineas Nigellus's canvas. The elf heads were also gone and so were the serpent door handles. The floor was freshly carpeted and all the hallways were painted in a homey off-beige colour.
After dropping off his things Ron proceeded to give Harry a tour of the renovated house. "It's great!" Harry said after leaving Buckbeak's room, which was enchanted to look like a paddock. "Well Harry, drawing room's the last one left. After you," Ron said, giving Harry a mock bow. Harry swung the door open and his mouth fell open.
It seemed like a completely different room. The room was painted in the same off-beige colour of most the house, there were fresh curtains and some very comfy-looking leather armchairs and sofas. There was a large rug that covered most of the room, with various creatures decorating it that moved around from time to time.
"Its...it's..." Harry couldn't bring himself to speak; it was so different from the dark dirty drawing room that had been in use only a few months ago. "Yeah yeah, it brings tears to my eyes," Ron said sarcastically. "Just look up will you." Without arguing Harry looked up at the ceiling. It had been enchanted just like the one in the Great Hall at Hogwarts. "Does it show the sky outside?" Harry asked in awe. "Yeah, most times," Ron answered uninterestedly. "Anyway Harry, let's go downstairs, I think I heard Dumbledore." With that they left the room, talking merrily, and made their way downstairs.
"Ahh Harry. Good to see you," Professor Dumbledore said upon seeing Harry enter the kitchen. "I trust young Mr. Weasley has shown you your new decor, yes?"
"Oh eh...yes they're great um...thank you for that, Professor." "Oh nonsense Harry, it is after all the least I could do" Dumbledore said, smiling. "Do you think we could have a moment of privacy?" he asked, his eyes twinkling at Harry's bemused look. "Eh...yeah of course," Harry replied after a moment. With that he allowed himself to be led out of the kitchen and up to Buckbeak's room/paddock.
"So Harry, how was your birthday?" the Professor asked still smiling widely. "It was um...memorable..." Harry answered, smiling at the memory. Dumbledore seemed to suspect something too because he also was grinning.
"Anyway Harry, down to business" Dumbledore said in a more serious tone, though his eyes were still twinkling. "This Harry," Dumbledore said pulling an official looking document from his robes, "is a copy of Sirius's will". "What?" Harry exclaimed, startling Buckbeak. "I never knew he wrote a will."
"Well Harry, until very recently, neither did we. Here, read it..." Dumbledore said carefully, handing Harry the will.
Harry read through carefully, and re-read it to make sure his eyes hadn't deceived him. "He...he left me his house?" Harry said in a questioning tone. "Yes Harry, and his family's gold has been divided between you, Remus, and the Weasleys. He really did love you dearly, you know," the headmaster said, wiping a tear from his eyes.
Still in shock, Harry looked down at the parchment in his hands again. "I really miss him," Harry said rather matter-of-factly. "I know Harry. We all know," Dumbledore comforted, putting a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Now Harry, how about I show you that present I got you, hmmm?" Dumbledore asked, smiling again. "You mean the one that was 'too big to send'?" Harry badgered. "Now now, Harry," Dumbledore said. "It's not exactly too big...yet." With that, an overly excited Dumbledore led the way up another staircase which Harry had never been up before.
"Um...where are we going?" Harry asked curiously, tugging on the headmasters robes. "What...you mean Ron hasn't showed you the library?" Dumbledore asked surprised. "Figures," he said grinning.
At the top of the stairs was a narrow hallway that led to a single door. "Welcome Harry," Dumbledore said imitating the voice of a tour guide, "to the Black, no, Potter, Library!" With that, he swung the door open to reveal the marvellous library. "Wow," Harry whispered. "It's bigger than the one at Hogwarts."
"And more well-stocked, I might add," Professor Dumbledore said. "Anyway Harry, what I have for you is over here in the care of Miss Granger".
Leading Harry through a labyrinth of bookshelves and racks, they soon found their way to what seemed to be a study area. There were cushioned chairs and desks in one corner, and another bigger desk in the other with a pile of parchment on top. In the middle there was a squishy looking sofa, lying on top was a sleeping Hermione hugging some kind of cushion.
'Damn...she sure looks innocent when she sleeps,' Harry said to himself. Tearing his eyes away from Hermione, he looked up at Professor Dumbledore, who was smiling a knowing smile. "What was it you wanted to show me Professor?" Harry asked slightly unnerved. "Ahh, now that Harry, I'll leave for Miss Granger to tell you. I believe she has been researching it extensively. Oh don't look so put out Harry!" Dumbledore continued, laughing. "I believe she is waking."
Sure enough, Hermione was slowly awaking from her slumber. "Well, I'll leave you to it Harry," Dumbledore said before retracing his steps out of the library. Turning back to the sofa, Harry saw that Hermione was watching him intently.
"Eh...hi Hermione," Harry stammered, looking down at his feet. "I eh...guess you want to eh...talk" he added, trying to regain his composure. "Oh...um...not yet Harry," Hermione said trying to keep an even tone. "I think Professor Dumbledore wants me to give you this," she indicated to the ball of fur she was hugging while she slept.
Harry was just about to question her as to what it was when it shuddered. "Whoa!" Harry jumped back in surprise. "What is that thing?" Hermione giggled. "'That thing,' Harry, is your new pet griffin. Come, sit down," Hermione said, moving aside and patting the spot between her and the griffin. "I'll tell you all about it".
"So...they found him on an Order mission, and both his parents were killed?" Harry asked while stroking his newborn griffin. "Yes that's right," Hermione answered him, "and as far as I remember, this is the first time he's stayed awake for longer than five minutes".
For a while Harry just stroked his griffin, which seemed to be enjoying it immensely. After a few minutes Harry broke the silence. "You've been researching griffins haven't you?" he stated rather than asked. "Well...yes, of course. It's surprising how little is actually known about them," Hermione replied. "All I know for sure is that they are very intelligent creatures, and can communicate with humans and animals of any language or species."
Hermione took a breath ad made to continue, but stopped at a raised hand from Harry. The griffin, which not to long ago was contented curled up into a ball on Harry's chest was now sitting up and looking alert.
"Wow..." Hermione whispered, "he's hasn't looked this alert before. I wonder if he's ready to-...Harry say something to him!" she commanded quietly. "Okay, um...hi. I'm Harry, your err...new friend," Hermione beamed at him. The griffin snapped its slightly feathered head around to look Harry in the eye.
The griffin's eyes were its normal golden colour but with an emerald tinge, while Harry's were his normal emerald green but with a slight golden tinge to them. Hermione, having been watching for this, was absolutely ecstatic. "Harry! Don't break eye contact!" she ordered excitedly.
Harry, having heard Hermione's command, tried his best not to look away. His eyes automatically felt dry, and he badly wanted to blink, but he didn't want to break eye contact. 'What's going on here?' Harry said to himself as he felt another presence in his mind. It felt like when Snape had used the Legilimens spell on him last year, but this time it was different, almost pleasant. It felt like he had found a part of himself that wasn't there before. Almost as quick as it had started, the feeling passed and his eyes returned to their former bright emerald green state.
Chancing to look away from the griffin, Harry looked up at Hermione, who was smiling widely at him. "What was all that about?" Harry asked, confused, while he massaged his temples. "That Harry, was called 'Transfusion,'" Hermione answered, still smiling. "You and your griffin have just bonded; you are part of each other now," she continued confidently. "You should be able to mentally speak with him, share your thoughts, and your Legilmency as well as Occulmency should improve greatly. I wouldn't even be surprised if you pick up a few of his traits," Hermione informed him while checking off her fingers. "It's all in that book over there," she said, pointing to the book.
"Sounds interesting," Harry said truthfully. "We'll have to wait till he wakes up, though." "Oh...yeah," Hermione looked put out at not being able to test her theories straight away. "So um...do you wanna talk about, erm...what I wrote in my letter?" Hermione said, looking at the carpet and playing with a strand of her hair. "Only if you want to that is...I mean if you don't want to...I shouldn't have said it...what was I thinking...I'm so sorry...I feel so silly." "Hermione!... I want you to be my girlfriend, okay!" Harry blurted out, he felt himself blushing as he realised what he just said.
Hermione was no longer rambling, she looked up and met Harry's gaze. "Of course I will Harry," she said firmly. She looked as if she was fighting back tears, but she was doing a good job of it. After a moment Harry edged a little closer to her, and he chanced putting his arm around her, but almost immediately made to pull it away before Hermione held it in place.
Relaxing into the embrace, he let his chin rest on the top of her head and gave a satisfactory sigh. They held each other like that for quite a while, and in the end it was Harry that spoke first. "Are we going to tell anyone?" he asked curiously. Hermione was silent for a few moments before replying. "Well yes...but not just yet. I want you to myself for a little while at least." Harry let out a sigh of relief "Actually Hermione, I'm not to keen on telling Ron yet," he confessed.
"Why not?" Hermione asked, looking up at Harry. "I thought he'd be the first person you would tell." "Well yes, he will be, but I'm not sure if you noticed, but I think he has some feelings for you as well," Harry answered her. "What gives you that idea?" Hermione asked him quizzically. "Well everybody could tell. Look how he was acting at the Yule Ball, and last year," Harry answered her fretfully.
"Oh..."Hermione said beginning to giggle, "don't worry, I know for a fact that Ron has no err...serious feelings for me." "What's so funny?" Harry asked her, raising his eyebrow. "Oh its nothing Harry. I spoke to Ron at the end of forth year; he knows there's nothing between us." "Oh...good," Harry said brightening up. "But what's so funny, seriously?" he asked Hermione again. "Look, lets jus say he err...got an eyeful one day," she answered him. "Remind me to tell you about in some time," she said before snuggling back into Harry's arms.
"Hermione?" Harry asked softly. "Hmmm?" she responded. "Tell me about that time where Ron got an eyeful?" he asked jokingly. She made to hit him playfully, but stopped abruptly when the griffin which had been curled up asleep in Harry's lap suddenly jerked awake with its few teeth bared. Is this female attempting to harm you, human guardian? Harry heard a new but familiar voice ask in his head. He looked at the griffin in shock.
"Did you hear that Hermione?" Harry asked in disbelief. "Hear what? Oh did he just speak to you? Try thinking something to him Harry. It's supposed to be easy," Hermione responded excitedly. "Okay erm..." No. She's my, err...girlfriend; we were just playing Harry said and then thought-spoke to the griffin. He looked up at Hermione for confirmation; she nodded and whispered to him "Carry on." Harry turned to look down at the griffin, who was surveying the room guardedly. My name is Harry. I'm your new friend, err...guardian Harry thought to the griffin. It is an honour, young Harry. Please forgive me, girlfriend of Harry; I was not aware of your loyalties. The griffin thought to Harry out loud so that Hermione could hear.
Hermione was shocked at being addressed by the griffin, but quickly regained her composure. "That's okay, I'm Hermione. Do you um...have a name?" she asked it. I have not yet been given a name. Is it not customary for my guardian to appoint me one? the griffin asked out loud again. "Oh, err...of course," Hermione responded. "That would be Harry." I'll have to think about one, but for now I think we'd better introduce you to everybody else Harry thought.
"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed sounding shocked. "I heard you...in my head...that's great!" she continued standing up and rushing over to a book. "Hermione," Harry said making sure he spoke this time, "let's leave the books for a while. I'm sure everybody will be wanting to meet, err...the griffin," Harry said, standing up and picking up the griffin, who was not very sturdy on its feet.
Hermione gave one last look at her books before making her way over to Harry. She stood up on tip-toes and gave him a brief kiss on the cheek. "Come," she said. "Remember, let's not tell them yet." "I know Hermione, besides...I'm not ready to share you yet," he responded matter-of-factly. They looked at each other for a moment, and then made their way through the labyrinth of book shelves back towards the door. They paused for a moment, in which Harry planted a quick tantalising kiss on Hermione's forehead, before they began to descend down the stairs.