Dawn finally came on Saturday morning. The sun's light began to stretch out over the Dursley home, along with the rest of the neighborhood. Harry awoke once the sunlight entered his room. He had wanted to get up early so that he would have plenty of time to get ready for when Hermione was to come pick him up. Excitement had overcome him. The thought of spending the last month away from the Dursley's was wonderful.
Harry looked at his clock as he quickly got out of bed. It was almost lunchtime, surprisingly. The rest of his "family" would be up already. Harry was quite surprised that his Aunt Petunia or his cousin Dudley hadn't banged on his door several times to wake him up. With a content sigh, Harry grabbed his crumpled bath towel that was at the foot of his bed. He quickly swung it onto his shoulder and left his room. Harry intended on taking a nice warm shower. He felt quite relieved when he reached the bathroom without encountering Dudley or his aunt or uncle. Harry secured the bathroom door by locking it, and proceeded to take his shower, coming out about 15 minutes later, all dressed and dry.
The first thing that Harry noticed was the awkward silence. Dudley's television set wasn't blaring loud. Aunt Petunia couldn't be heard making food in the kitchen. Plus, the Dursley's had never let him take that long of a shower before. Giving in to his suspicion, Harry searched the house, covering both floors. None of his relatives were home. He wasn't surprised at all as he walked into the kitchen. The Dursley's had left without informing him. Harry didn't think they could sink any lower, but he was obviously proven wrong.
As he entered the kitchen, his stomach had begun to growl. Harry quickly decided to eat something for breakfast. As he wrapped his hand around the refrigerator handle, Harry saw the yellow note sitting on the counter next to the stove. Reaching with his right hand, Harry grabbed the note and brought it closer to his face to read. He read the following:
Harry,
We have gone to London for the day.
Your aunt and I expect you to be gone
by tonight when we return home. The
house better be in one piece, or you
will regret it next summer.
Uncle Vernon
Harry crumpled the note and deposited it in the trash as he opened the refrigerator. Driven by hunger, Harry quickly made a turkey sandwich and had eaten it before 1:00 P.M. After he ate his lunch, Harry had gone into the living room to watch the television set. He flipped through channel after channel, watching many different shows. It seemed like hours to him, but once Harry looked at the clock above the Dursley fireplace, it was only 3:30. Harry let out a depressed sigh. "Where are you, Hermione?" he asked himself. He desperately wanted to leave the Dursley's, but he also wanted to see be able to sit down with Hermione, just to see her again, standing before him. He wanted to see her with her long brown, bushy hair and her hazel eyes looking back at him.
Harry had just turned back to the television when a knock sounded at the door of the Dursley's home. His heart jumped to his throat. Harry sprung up from his chair and ran to the door as fast as his legs could carry him. The door handle twisted in his hand as he pulled it open. There she stood. Hermione Granger stood before him in the doorway. Her hair had grown a bit longer, and it was surprisingly straighter and curlier. It was no longer bushy. He stared into her hazel eyes. "Hello Harry," she said slowly. She smiled as he smiled back at her.
"Hermione, how are you?" he asked, overcome with joy. Hermione smiled as she ran forward and threw herself into his arms, giving him a great big hug. Harry grinned as hugged her back. "How did you know where I lived, Hermione? I thought you would have asked the Weasley's to help you out with the Floo Powder connection," Harry said as he reluctantly let go of her. Hermione stepped backward one step, before Harry gave her room to walk into the hallway.
"Well Harry, seeing as my parents are dentists, I checked their child dental records. It seems that your cousin Dudley went to my parents for dental care when he was younger. The address was on the paper, so that is how we decided to come get you," Hermione explained thoroughly. Harry smiled, and then paused.
"Wait. What do you mean 'we'?" Harry asked.
"My parents and I. They're outside, waiting in the car. I said I was going to come in an help you get your things, and that they could wait in the car," Hermione said. Harry smiled lightly and then turned to walk towards the stairs, motioning for Hermione to follow. They both proceeded up the stairs. Harry then opened the door to his small room, letting Hermione walk in. "You really weren't kidding when you said you have a cramped room," she said lightly as Harry stuffed a few last things into his trunk. Stepping past him, Hermione approached Harry's desk, grabbing Hedwig's cage. It was in that moment that Harry noticed that she was taller, and that she was beginning to grow into a young woman. She was surprisingly only a few inches shorter than himself. Hermione's eyes then met Harry's. "Do you have everything?" she asked.
Harry smiled and nodded his head as he picked up his trunk into his arms. It was a lot heavier than he thought it was. Harry and Hermione then carefully walked down the stairs, not wanting Harry to drop his trunk. He almost dropped it when they reached the front door as Harry tried to lock it. Thankfully, Hermione came to his rescue, locking the door. Her hand had lightly brushed against his, almost causing him to drop the trunk again. Within minutes, the front door was shut and locked, and Hermione and Harry were standing close to the car. Mr. and Mrs. Granger stood next to each other, smiling brightly as Harry and Hermione walked over to them.
"Harry, it is so nice to see you again," Mr. And Mrs. Granger said simultaneously. Harry greeted them both back as Mr. Granger carefully putt Harry's trunk and bird cage in the trunk of their car. As Harry and Hermione opened their car doors and sat in the back seat, Mrs. Granger turned around and looked at them both and said, "I hope you don't mind a long drive, Harry. The traffic coming through London this morning was horrible." She then turned back around, facing the windshield.
"I don't mind, Mrs. Granger. It will give Hermione and I time to catch up," he said back as he put his seat belt on. Harry liked their car very much. It was quite spacious and the paint on the outside was scarlet and gold. Gryffindor colors. It reminded Harry of how much he missed the castle at Hogwarts. Harry glanced over at Hermione, who was pushing a small button, causing a glass window to slide up in between the front and back seat area. It was just like the window in limousines, except bigger.
"I thought I would do that so we would have more freedom to talk instead of having awkward silence with them listening. I'm really glad you could come stay, Harry. We're going to have so much fun," Hermione said. Harry smiled at Hermione, and she smiled back. "By the way, Harry. Hedwig not only arrived with your answer back to me last night, but she came with our lists of books and supplies for our upcoming year. Here is yours," she said, handing him a small brown envelope.
"Thanks, Hermione," Harry said. His hand lightly brushed hers as he took the envelope. He carefully tore it open, pulling the parchment out. It seemed that Hermione had also had hers with her, since she unfolded hers after she pulled it from her pocket. Harry's emerald eyes scanned over the paper, reading the following:
Dear Mr. Potter,
- For your Fifth year at Hogwarts, you will need new supplies. Enclosed is a list of the new books and materials you will need. Also, seeing as Oliver Wood graduated year before last, you will need to meet with the rest of your Quidditch team to decide on new Quidditch players and a new Quidditch captain for Gryffindor.
Professor Minerva McGonagall
"Who do you think will get to be the Quidditch captain, Harry?" Hermione asked. She had obviously read the letter over his shoulder. Harry shrugged slowly. "Well, I hope it's you," she then stated. Harry felt his face turn red.
"Why? Why do you hope I become Quidditch captain?" Harry asked. He looked over at her. For once, Hermione looked like she was lost for words. Hermione was, in fact, speechless. Harry thought he saw her face turn a little red as she looked out the window. Harry watched as they turned off of Privet Drive, and with one last look at the Dursley's home, Harry turned back to Hermione. She was now looking back at him with her hazel brown eyes.
"I meant that you are a good Quidditch player, Harry. You know you are. You always win every match for Gryffindor, and the only time you lost was because of those dementors. Don't deny it. Harry, you should be Gryffindor's new Quidditch captain. You deserve it," she explained. Harry smiled lightly as Hermione took his list of new materials he needed. Before she could look at it, Harry quickly grabbed it back. "Harry! Why can't I read it?" Hermione cried. Harry grinned as he looked at her beautifully stunned face.
" I wrote to Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore earlier this summer. I had a special request. I wanted to drop Divination ("Who wouldn't?" Hermione remarked.) and pick up a different class. Unfortunately, I was put in the advanced class that you would only take if you had taken the first year of it. So I will have to learn everything from the beginning up to this second year. Luckily, I get an excellent tutor to help me catch up," Harry said as he smiled at her. Hermione eagerly snatched the paper and read the attached note that confirmed what she was thinking.
"Harry! You're going to take Arithmancy with me!" Hermione cried. He was quite surprised when Hermione threw her arms around his neck, hugging him once again. "It's going to be so much fun. In the next four weeks before returning to school, I can catch you up on the first year of Arithmancy. I just hope Ron will be able to catch up too," Hermione said. Harry paused as he digested what she said.
"What are you talking about, Hermione? I thought Ron signed up for Divination last year?" Harry asked.
"He did. Let me ask you something. Did you write to him and tell him that you were switching classes?" Hermione asked. Harry nodded, then began to laugh. Hermione grinned, watching him double over with laughter. "Then he must have wanted to switch also. No wonder he didn't ask for me to help him. You had already asked Dumbledore. That's why he asked if I knew anyone else in my class who could tutor him instead," Hermione explained.
After finally composing himself after laughing, Harry looked to Hermione. "He must have been very disappointed. You are the smartest in the school," he said, causing Hermione's face to flush slightly red.
"You are smart too, Harry," she whispered gently.
"Not as smart as you," Harry said back. Hermione smiled gently before she began to read her own list of supplies.
Hermione and Harry continued to talk about many things. Hermione even went into exact details about her trip to Italy, unfortunately for Harry, but he listened with interest. According to Hermione, the streets of Rome that were filled with water were created by witches and wizards. They had used magic to carve the canals before letting the water flow from the ocean and into the paths. That part fascinated Hermione, because she wanted to know what spell they used to do it, since the incantation was not written in the records she had observed.
They then proceeded to talk about their upcoming year. Whenever they started to talk about Quidditch, Harry felt slightly depressed. He wasn't depressed about playing it. He was depressed because of the memory of the person who died last year that played Quidditch. At the end of term last year, Cedric Diggory and Harry had grabbed the TriWizard Cup at the same time during the Third Task. Unfortunately, the cup had been turned into a Portkey, which teleported Cedric and Harry directly to Voldemort's supporters. Cedric was then killed. Harry would have died, but he barely escaped with his life and Cedric's body. Harry was still alive, yes, but Voldemort was once again alive. That thought alone had replaced his fear of dementors. Harry has just begun to think about the dark hooded dementors when Hermione's voice interrupted him. "Harry? Are you alright?" Hermione asked.
Harry blinked quickly as he left his thoughts and focused back on Hermione. "I'm alright, Hermione," Harry said. Despite what Harry had said, Hermione suspected he wasn't okay. Although she wanted to make him feel better, she decided not to pry.
**********************************************************
Day had soon turned into night, and the Grangers and Harry were still driving. They had, however, stopped in London for dinner, since they were all getting hungry. According to Mr. Granger, they were not too far from Hermione's home. Harry glanced over at Hermione. Her head was leaning against the window on her side of the car. Reaching carefully so he wouldn't wake her, Harry slowly slid a small pillow that was in the car under her head to let her rest easier. Mrs. Granger smiled as she watched this without Harry knowing. She then turned to her husband and whispered so only he could hear, hopefully. "Now I know why our daughter talks about him so much. He cares for her so much. She is very lucky to have a such a great friend. I know he seems happy, but he must be so traumatized from what Hermione told us happened to him last year at that school," she said softly. Her husband nodded in silent agreement.
"Finally. We are home," Mr. Granger said a few moments later. The car slowly pulled into the driveway of an elegant two story home. From what Harry could tell, it was made out of brick, and it looked a lot better than the Dursley's home, seeing as it was also a lot bigger. Seeing as everyone was tired, Harry carried Hermione to her bedroom and put her in bed as Mr. Granger carried harry's trunk into the guest bedroom across the hall from Hermione's room. After tucking Hermione in, Harry slowly walked into the guest room. Mrs. Granger was pulling down the bed sheets for Harry. "Thank you, Harry, for carrying Hermione to her room for me," Mr. Granger said softly, patting him on the shoulder.
Harry blushed lightly. "You are welcome, Mr. Granger. It was nothing," he said. Mr. Granger then left the room after saying goodnight to Harry. Mrs. Granger then followed suit, stopping to give him a big hug before exiting the guest room. After shutting the door behind them, Harry crossed to the other side of the large room and looked out the window. It was completely dark outside, and the moon shined bright above. The porch lights below were on, casting light on the front yard of the Granger household.
Harry couldn't wait to be given a full tour of the house and neighborhood by Hermione the next day. He then glanced back at the window. Harry was almost relieved, and yet surprised, that no Death Eater or even Voldemort himself had tried to attack him all summer. Slowly, Harry turned around and looked at the rest of the guest room. The white color of the walls and the royal blue carpet clashed well together and it made Harry relax. Yawning, he then walked over to his trunk, pulling out a pair of boxers shorts and a t-shirt. Within minutes, Harry had changed and crawled quickly into bed before he got too cold from being out in the air. He then reached up his left arm and turned off the bedroom light.
The room went dark. The only thing that partially added light was the moon outside in the night sky. Harry yawned again slowly. 'So Mr. And Mrs. Granger know,' Harry thought to himself, 'because Hermione told them. That's why she was acting so cheerful today.' She didn't want to upset or get Harry depressed by thinking of Voldemort and Cedric's death. Currently, Harry wasn't depressed. He was filled with happiness that he was around his friend once again. 'To be truthful, the beginning of the summer was the only time I was feeling horrible and scared, because of the nightmares,' Harry thought again to himself. With a small sigh, Harry pulled his covers and blankets up closer around himself. He instantly began to get warmer. Just before he fell asleep, he began to think of Hermione, and how good it felt to see her again. Harry smiled as he rolled over on to his side, letting sleep claim him.