Hermione, Harry, and Ron woke early the next morning and began getting ready to return to Hogwarts. After eating large breakfast Mrs. Weasley had prepared, the trio was ready to go. Hermione and Ron gave Harry a quick lesson on how to apparate. Ron was satisfied that Harry would do just fine, but Hermione was still scared that he still did not remember it all and would splinch himself.
"Stop being so paranoid Hermione," Ron said as Hermione continue to give Harry pointers.
"Just because you're not worried about him, doesn't mean I'm not Ron," she said and turned back to Harry.
"Hermione, he's apparated to the garden, the pitch, upstairs, and even into the village just fine. Let's go!"
Harry smiled down at Hermione. "I'll be fine," he said placed a chaste kiss on her lips.
"Maybe we should just take a portkey, I am sure Dumbledore can get us one," Hermione said nervously.
"Hermione!" Ron yelled and rolled his eyes. "Stop treating Harry like a baby, he will be fine, and if he's not you can be mad at me. Hex me into the next millennium or what ever you want. Let's just get going,"
Hermione gave Ron a stern look. "I'm going to hold you to that,"
"I'll go first," Ron said smiling at Hermione and Harry and with a loud pop he was gone.
Hermione let out a frustrated growl. "Sometimes I wonder why I am still friends with him,"
Harry laughed and kissed her firmly on the lips. "I think you would go nutters if you didn't have him to argue with," he said and with a loud pop he was gone too.
"Harry....!" Hermione yelled as she watched him vanish and she too disappeared with a loud pop, "...James Potter!" she finished yelled as she landed outside the gate of Hogwarts next to Harry and Ron. "How could you just leave without me giving you more instructions? What if something had happened to you?" she yelled.
"Then Ron would be in the next millennium," he said absently as he stared up at the huge castle before them.
"Hermione look at him, he's in one piece, and he's just fine," Ron said looking at Hermione.
"But what if something did happen?" she said frantically as her mind began to play possibilities of what could have happen.
"Stop worrying," Harry said and wrapped an arm around her waist. "I am fine. Now let's go find Dumbledore and see if we can find anything more about Cho,"
"I bet he's in his office," Ron said as the trio made their way back to the school where they had all became friends.
"I haven't been back since graduation," Hermione said softly as they got closer to the school.
"It hasn't changed much," Ron said looking around the grounds. "Snape still lurks around in the dungeon, Madame Prince still scowls at people from behind her desk, Dumbledore still knows all," he said with a sense of humor in his voice and their former headmaster appeared at the front entrance.
"It's so good to see you all again," Dumbledore says with that familiar twinkle in his eyes. "I have some very interesting news for you all,"
"Did you find some more information on Cho?" Hermione asked as the four walked into the castle and made their way to the headmaster's office.
Harry couldn't stop from turning his head back and forth in hopes to recapture the castle. He couldn't help but smile when he walked through the castle. He instantly felt comfortable when he stepped on to the grounds, but once he entered his old school he knew he was safe, and he knew that he was home.
Once the found had entered the all too familiar office Harry instantly noticed Fawkes sitting nobly on his perch. Harry instantly walked over the large bird. He tentatively stuck his hand out to stroke the bird's soft feathers. The birds cooed at the contact.
"Fawkes has an excellent memory," Dumbledore said from his chair. "He has always liked you,"
Harry smiled and walked to where Hermione and Ron had taken seats across from Dumbledore's desk.
"Now let us get down to business," he said looking at the three. "After I received the owl from Miss Granger, I looked at some old records we had about the battle. Now as you may recall we had a record of all the witches and wizard who fought for us, Cho Chang was not on this record,"
"How can that be? She died in the battle," Ron said.
"No, she didn't Ron," Hermione said.
"Miss Granger is right, she did not die in the battle, but we were made to believe she was,"
"Why?" Harry asked, even if he already subconsiously knew the answer.
"Cho and two others were part of a special group Voldemort made. They were given a special task to perform if something was to happen to him," he said looked directly at Harry.
"SHE DID THIS TO HIM?" Hermione yelled. "Because of her Harry was taken from us! I'm going to kill her!"
"It wasn't just her," Harry said quietly. "She didn't do very much; mostly she gave me food and water,"
"Harry, do you remember who else was there? We need to know who the others were,"
"I do," he said looking at Ron.
"No," he said turning red.
"What?" Hermione asked.
"That bastard! Ginny should have finished him off when she had the chance. I'm going to kill him!" Ron said turning bright red and clinching his hands into first.
"Percy? He did this too," Hermione asked looking at Ron.
"Yeah, so did Blaise Zabini,"
"No surprise there," Ron said trying to calm the anger that was about to come bursting out of him. . "We all knew he would become a Death Eater,"
"Harry, are you sure these are the three who did this to you?"
"Positive," he said as he grabbed Hermione's hand. She was crying silently next to him. "I bet we could put it in a Pensive and take it to the Auror headquarters, or wherever and get a search started on them,"
"They are already out looking for Miss Chang, but I don't think it would hurt to add your memories that you have from that time in a Pensive," Dumbledore said getting up from his desk and began gathering what he needed to the Pensive. Soon Dumbledore was extracting what memories Harry had from his time being tortured and adding it into the Pensive.
Harry, Hermione, and Ron left Dumbledore's office soon after Harry had given him all the memories for the Pensive. All four had watched the memories to confirm what Harry had said. Hermione was now crying openly. Ron was still very red and not saying anything. The trio walked through the quiet corridors of their old school. Harry was still looking around frantically, trying to remember anything about his days at school.
"How can you be so calm about all of this?" Ron asked quietly "How can you walk through the halls with the brother of the person who hurt you,"
"You are not your brother Ron. You are my best mate and I know you had nothing to do with what he did. I don't blame you or anyone in your family. Percy made his own choices and I know that he will be punished for them," he said calmly as he squeezed Hermione hand gently. He smiled down at her; she gave him a faint smile and pulled her body close to his. "I don't want to talk about this anymore, Ron. What he did to me is done with,"
"It's not 'done with' Harry! What he did to you will always be with you," Ron said and stormed off in the other direction.
Harry and Hermione continued to walk down the corridors, he could tell they were heading somewhere he knew, but could not remember where. Hermione guided Harry to their old dorm room. They stopped in front of the portrait of the three small children.
"Harry's back!" one child yelled in delight.
Harry looked at Hermione; she smiled slightly then turned back to the portrait. "Can you let us in please? I am afraid I do not know the password,"
The small children danced in delight at the question. They were happy to have occupants of the room again. The portrait door slowly opened.
"Thank you," Hermione said and stepped into her old dorm room.
"Thanks," Harry said and quickly followed Hermione in.
Harry stopped just inside the doorway and watched as Hermione walked slowly around the room. She was pleased to see that it was still as they had left it almost two years ago. "This is where we use to stay when we went to school here," she said softly as she ran her hands over the now empty book shelf. "The last two years of our schooling," she said as she eyed the door to the bedroom they used to share.
"It all seems familiar," Harry said stepping farther in to the room. Harry let his eyes scan over the room. His gaze soon fell on Hermione. She was standing infront of the door way, with her hand on the doorframe. Harry walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her small waist. "This was our room," he said resting his head on her shoulder.
"I used to love this room, and then I hated it," She said softly. "We had a lot of good memories in this room. I also had a lot of bad ones, mostly right after you were taken away. I hated being in here alone,"
"Hermione..," Harry whispered into her ear and placed a gentle kiss on her shoulder. "I know that me being gone hurt you. I didn't know how much until Ron told me. I'm sorry I hurt you,"
Hermione pressed her body against Harry's. "You being gone hurt me, but it wasn't your fault Harry. The three that took you are the ones who caused me so much pain. Let's just hope that I don't ever see them again,"
Harry wrapped his arms around her tighter. "Let's not worry about them. I am done with them; I never want to see them again. I am going to let the Aurors worry about them,"
Hermione turned so she was now facing him. She smiled up at him. "That's not the Harry I know. He would never just let something like this go,"
Harry smiled down at her and brushed a few stray hairs out of her face. "That was the old Harry," he said and kissed the tip of her nose. "The new doesn't want to risk his life for something like that. He wants to spend his days with the woman he loves and not have to worry about if there is a bad guy hiding around the next corner," he said and reached around Hermione and opened the door.
Hermione turned around and looked into the dark room. Harry wrapped his arms tightly around her waist and began to move forward, making Hermione walk as well.
Harry muttered a charm and the room suddenly had a soft glow to it, letting them both see their old room.
"You're getting really good," Hermione said with a smile.
Harry kissed the top of her head. "That's because I had a great teacher,"
Hermione blushed and looked around the room. "It seems so different," She said moving away from Harry's embrace. "It feels like we haven't been in here in so long, but it's only been two years,"
Harry yawned and sat down on the edge of the bed. "It all feels familiar, but I don't remember anything that has happen here, or at school,"
Hermione moved cross the room and stood in front of him, she gently placed her hands on the side of his face. "You will remember someday, and even if you don't, it won't matter to me. I will still be with you until we are both old and gray," she said with a smile and bent down and kissed him.
Harry wrapped his arms around her and pulled her on top of him as he lay back on the bed. They began a long snogging session, letting their hands roam each other bodies. Hermione let out a small moan as fHarry's mouth attacked the very sensitive spot on her neck. Harry let out a growl frustration and pleasure as Hermione's small hands found the hem of his shirt and moved under it, letting her hands feel his well toned chest.
Harry rolled them both over so that he was now on top of her. He pulled away from her and was taken back by her beauty. Her mouth was slightly open, her lips were red and swollen, her face was flushed, and her brown curls were laid out on the pillow beneath her.
"Merlin, you're so beautiful," he said and pressed his lips firmly against hers.
The two were so engrossed in each other that they did not hear the loud pop when the small large eyed creature entered their room, nor did they hear his squeal of delight when he saw them on the bed. The two still did not know there was someone else in the room until they felt the bed moving.
Harry pulled away from Hermione and turned around to see a house elf jumping up and down on the bed.
"Harry Potter has returned!" The house elf said in delight over and over as he continued to jump on the bed.
Harry turned back to Hermione, "Who and what is that?" He asked wishing desperately that Hermione had not pulled his shirt off a few minutes ago.
Hermione moved under Harry and managed to get into a sitting position, she smiled slightly when she saw the overly excited house elf. "Hello Dobby,"
"Hermione Granger is back as well!" the elf said and continued to jump up and down.
Harry looked back at Hermione. "What is he?"
"A house elf; Dobby pretty much worships the ground you walk on! You set him free in your second year," she said with a smile. "Dobby, can you please stop jumping on the bed?"
"Yes ma'am," he said and immediately stopped jumping. "Is Harry Potter really back?" the house elf asked. "He has been gone so long,"
Harry ran his hand through his hair in frustration. He was happy to met someone else from his past, but did it have to be right when he and Hermione where in the middle of something? "I am back, Dobby," he said. Before all the words were out, the small house elf launched himself to Harry and clung to his neck.
"Dobby has missed Harry Potter. Dobby cried for months after you left, but Dobby always knew he would come back. Harry Potter would not leave us,"
Harry smiled slightly as he pried the small creature from his neck. "Was there something you needed Dobby?" Hermione asked trying not to laugh.
Harry set Dobby on the ground beside the bed. "Dumbledore told me we had guests who where staying here, he asked me to tell the guests dinner is ready. The guests are to join the remaining staff in the Great Hall,"
"Tell Dumbledore we will be right down," Hermione said
"Dobby must go now! Dobby must tell Winky and the others that Harry Potter is back!" he said, and with a loud pop he was gone.
Harry turned and looked at Hermione. Her lips were still swollen and her checks were still flushed. He smiled wickedly at her and pulled her to him. "So beautiful," he murmured and traced a finger over her lips.
Hermione blushed again and smiled at him. "We have to go down to dinner. The staff is waiting for us,"
"Tell them to sod off, we were in the middle of something,"
Hermione scrambled out of his grasp. "We can continue later," she said and walked out of the room.
Harry let out a growl of frustration, pulled his shirt back on and Hermione and Harry made their way down to the Great Hall for dinner.
Hermione and Harry entered the Great Hall to find one large table in the middle of the room. They where greeted by the few staff members that remained there during the summer holiday. Hermione instantly became uncomfortable.
"This was a bad idea, what if someone tells that you are back,"
"Then we will deal with it," Harry said and ushered her to the remaining empty seats. They were surprised to see Ron sitting across from them.
"Ron?" Hermione said "I thought you went back to The Burrow,"
"I did, I told mum about Percy. I couldn't stay there, she was crying, and then Ginny was crying. Then Dumbledore owled me and said he wanted me to be at school until the new term starts. He wants to me to get started on my lesson plan,"
"Lesson plan? Are you teaching here?" Harry asked and the silver platters in front of them filled with food.
"I'm the new Quidditch instructor," Ron said as he began to fill him plate full of food.
"Ron, that's wonderful!" Hermione said beaming at her best friend.
"I'm glad you think so Miss Granger," Dumbledore said from a few seats down. "We are still looking for a new librarian," he said with that familiar twinkle in his eyes, "As well as a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, and a new Healer,"
Hermione smiled. "I appreciate the offer, as I have the last time you offered it to me, but I will have to decline again,"
"Why?" Harry asked. "It's a great opportunity,"
"Because you are back, you need my help,"
"I don't want you to put your life on hold for me. If you want to take the job you should,"
"My life has been on hold from the moment you where taken from me, I just got it back,"
"Like I said before, we are also looking for a DADA teacher," Dumbledore said looking at Harry.
"Me? You want me to teach here too?"
"You would be perfect for the job," Ron said "You practicably taught us from fifth year on! And who else better to teach then the guy who defeated Voldemort?"
"I don't think that's such a good idea," Harry said looking at Dumbledore. "At least not now, I can't even transfigure Remus's shoes to the right size, how am I supposed to teach kids?"
"Magic runs through your blood Harry" Dumbledore said.
"And you always had no trouble in my class Mr. Potter," McGonagall said. "You and Miss Granger would be an excellent addition to our staff,"
"I believe that this is something that Hermione and I will have to talk about," Harry said getting up from the table. "I think that Hermione and I will return to our dorm, we have some unfinished business to do," he said winking at Hermione, she instantly turned the color of Ron's hair. "And some things to discuss,"
Harry and Hermione exited the Great Hall and slowly made their way back to their dorm. As soon as they entered, Harry sat down on the couch in front of the fire.
"Do you want to work here?" he asked Hermione.
"I never thought about it until Dumbledore first asked me. I never thought I would want to work here,"
"So you do?" He asked talking her hand in his.
"It's bad timing to start a new job. I will be busy with that and I won't have much time for you,"
"It doesn't matter, if you want the job I think you should take it,"
"What about you? Would you want to teach here?"
"I don't know,"
"You would be wonderful at it, I always thought you would end up teaching here,"
"I can't make that decision until I get my memory back," he said as Hermione lay down on the couch, resting her head on Harry's legs. Harry ran his hands through her hair and closed his eyes. "I don't want you to not take the job because of me,"
Hermione yawned. "Why don't we talk about this in the morning? Let's go to bed Harry," She said looking up him to see he had already fallen asleep.
Dream
Harry was standing in a darkend room. He couldn't see much, but from what he did see, he could tell the place was old and run down. He walked around the room. He could see holes and scratches in the wall, chairs turned over, and a small bed in the corner that had seen better days. He heard the floor creak across the room and spun around to see a dark shadow walking towards him,
"Whose there?" he asked looking around to find some kind of weapon.
"Don't you recognize me?" The voice asked.
Harry squinted in the direction the voice came from, he knew that voice. It was a voice from his past, but who was it?
The shadow kept moving towards Harry. "Come on boy, you know who I am. Think," the voice said with a hint of laughter. "We didn't know each other long, just a few years, but the time we did have together were some of my best,"
"I don't know what you want from me, I don't have anything, just leave me alone," Harry said backing up slowly.
The voice laughed, Harry knew that laugh. He had only heard it a few times in his life, but he knew it. "I'm not going to hurt you boy. I am here to help you. Just like your mum and dad did years ago,"
"My parents are dead,"
"I know. They have a message for you,"
"Didn't you hear me? I said they are dead!"
"They said they love you very much,"
"STOP!" Harry yelled. "They couldn't have told you that! They are dead!"
"I know they are Harry, so am I," the man said and stepped out of the shadows.
Harry's eyes grew wide at the man standing in front of him. He knew who he was, only because Hermione has shown him his pictures. It was his Godfather; Sirius Black. "What... how... why..," was all Harry could manage to say.
Sirius smiled. "That doesn't matter Harry. I've come to see my Godson and to tell you out,"
Harry looked at the man in front of him. He looked different from the pictures he had seen, but he knew it was him. Harry snapped out of his state of shock "Help me? How can you help me? You're dead,"
"Yes, I know I am dead," Sirius said sitting down on the bed. "That doesn't mean I can't help you,"
"How can you help me? There is nothing you can do for me,"
Sirius laughed again. "So you like walking about not remembering anything?"
"No," Harry said looking at the man. "But how can you help me?"
Sirius smiled. "Stop being scared Harry. Your memories aren't going to hurt you,"
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't be scared. If you keep blocking your memories out, we will never remember,"
"You're crazy,"
"That's not the first time I've been told that," he said laughing. "But this is not the time or the place for that conversation. You have to stop being scared Harry. Don't let what happen to you keep you from living your life,"
"I don't care about what happens to me," Harry said getting angry. "It's done with. I just want to move on with my life,"
"If you don't care then why are you getting mad?" he asked looking up at his godson. It pained Sirius to see Harry struggling so much. He wished he could just wave his wand and make everything better, but he couldn't. He did know that soon his life would be good. Soon he wouldn't have to struggle so much to be happy. Soon he could live the life he was meant to live.
Harry glared at his Godfather. He was right. He was scared to remember. He was scared that he would find out about his life, he was scared to feel the pain that he had to go through, but mostly he was scared to that he would find out that Hermione didn't love him, or that he didn't love her. "I do want to move on," he said sinking to the ground.
"I know you do. You have to let it all go. They will catch the people who did this to you very soon,"
"Can you see into the future?"
"No, but I did to see what could happen if you don't let this all go. I can't tell you what could happen, but it's not good," Harry ran his hands through his hair in frustration as Sirius continued. "You are putting to much pressure on yourself Harry, you may not realize it but you are. You're also scared for the wrong reason, instead of being scared about what will happen when you get your memory back, whereas you should be scared about what will happen if you don't,"
"I don't want to relive all the bad stuff,"
"What about all the good things?" He asked. "Do you remember the first time you rode a broom? The first time you played Quidditch? The first time you cast a spell correctly? The first time you met Ron? Or the rest of the Weasleys'? The first time you saw a picture of your parents? The time you and Hermione rescued me?" Harry shook his head 'no' to all these questions.
"What about Hermione? Do you remember the first time you saw her? The first time she hugged you? The first time you held hands? The first time you saw her as more than a friend? The first time she kissed you? The time you danced? Do you remember when you proposed to her? Do you remember the night her father was killed and you stayed with her the whole time? Do you remember the first time you woke up next to her? The first time you said you loved her? What about the first time she said it to you? Do you remember any of that Harry?"
"No," he said softly. "I want to remember,"
"Don't be scared," Sirius said getting up from the bed. "My time is up Harry. I have to go back,"
"Not yet, I still don't remember everything, you have to help me," he said standing up from the floor.
"I've done what I came to do,"
"No you haven't. You are supposed to help me remember,"
Sirius smiled. "I have," He said and pulled his Godson into a bear hug. "Don't be scared," he said. "Everything will be fine if you stop being so scared. You're a Gryffindor; use all the courage you have,"
"Don't go yet," he said and Sirius pulled out of the hug.
"I have to. Tell Moony I said hi and that he did a fine job picking out a woman," he said stepping back slowly into the shadows. "I love you Harry, so do your parents. We are all proud of you,"
"Wait!" Harry yelled running towards the shadow where Sirius had disappeared from.
"Don't be scared Harry,"
Harry awoke with a smile on his face. He looked down to see Hermione sleeping peacefully. He ran his hands through her hair. "Everything is going to be just fine now ''Mione," he whispered and bent down and kissed her softly. "I'm back!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
There you all go! You know who did it, and he remebers everything again. Just one more chapter and an epilouge and this one is done with. I know some of you will be sad, but all things must come to an end. I will be working on some new stuff in the future.
Thank you all for your reviews! I love them all so much! Thanks to my beta too, your awesome!!