Forgotten Yesterday
Chapter 7: Journey to the Past
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any characters borrowed for use in this story.
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Harry walked beside Hermione the entire way to her house. He would have mentioned that he could have driven or apperated but he was almost too afraid to speak. Afraid he would break whatever spell had come over her and everything that had happened would disappear. Thankfully, it wasn't very far. She kept glancing back every few moments. He wasn't sure it if she was looking to see if he was keeping up or if he would leave her alone.
Soon, he stood in the center of the tiny front room of her house.
"Just wait here." she called over her shoulder, as she disappeared into the back of the house.
Harry awkwardly stood around a moment before feeling stupid and taking a seat on the sofa. It wasn't long before he spied a flash of a familiar ginger tail under a chair.
"Crookshanks?" He whispered. He couldn't believe it. That cat had been old when Hermione had gotten him as a pet third year. 'It can't be the same cat. Cats don't live that long.' he thought. "Crookshanks?" he called again a little louder.
Sure enough when the animal heard his name he turned and stared at the one who'd addressed him.
"Crooks, is that you? Come here, boy." Harry held out his hand and dropped to the floor to inch closer to the cat.
For his part Crookshanks came out slowly and casually, twitching his tail and generally acting cat like as he approached.
"Good kitty. Come here." Finally getting close enough Harry reached out and touch him he ran a hand down the cat's back. "See you remember me."
Suddenly the cat swung around and sunk its teeth into his hand before disappearing back under its chair.
"He obviously remembers you." Hermione leaned against the archway.
"It bit me!" Harry stumbled back in shock looking at the two perfect punctures that now trickled blood. "That sodding little bastard bit me!"
Hermione could barely contain the laughter as the lanky man backed hastily away from the cat. The cat looked thoroughly pleased with itself as it glared and flicked it's tail.
"Cat's often do that."
"That is not a cat." he pulled himself from the floor. "That is the spawn of hell. It used to like me."
"He never liked you Harry." Hermione pulled out her wand, "Now come here."
He held out his hand. She took it and slowly waved her wand over it muttering a small healing spell.
"There. Good as new." Hermione lightly ran her thumb over the newly healed skin.
"Thanks." He smiled a little. Meeting her eyes just for a moment.
Quickly she pulled away and looked around the room. "He's all I still need to get."
Harry was given the task of holding the cat's travel basket as his mistress cooed and called. Crookshanks came out from his hiding spot purring and rubbing his face against her fingers. He let Hermione lift him off the floor. When he sighted Harry holding his basket he gave an annoyed meow and began hissing.
"Oh, shush." Hermione dropped him in the basket and closed the lid. The unhappy cat sounds carried outside.
"Can I hex it?"
"No, Harry you can't."
"Are you sure?"
"Very."
"Are you ready to go?"
She gave a long look around the house. "As I'll ever be."
"Ok." Harry took a step toward her. "We'll apperated to the school gates. We'll have to walk from there."
"That's fine."
Harry placed a firm hand on Hermione's waist and pulled her against him. "You might want to close your eyes. Transcontinental apperation is a little longer than normal. It might make you a little sick."
She nodded and closed her eyes leaning into him for support.
They disappeared in the blink of an eye.
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They reappeared just outside the tall wrought iron gates of Hogwarts School. Hermione stared up at the crests that adorned the scrolled metal. The cold November wind whipped around them. She could feel the heat radiating off Harry's body. Absently he had pulled his cloak over her as she stood in his arms.
"I forgot how cold it gets." she whispered.
"It was warmer when I left or I would have said something." He pulled her a little closer. "Don't worry. Accio Firebolt" He called out.
In a moment the broom came to a stop in front of him. Harry mounted it quickly and waited for Hermione. "Well…"
"I refused to ride a broom with you when I liked you. What makes you think I will even consider riding with you now?"
He thought a moment. "Because it's a four mile hike to the school and it's just going to get colder."
"Damn you, Potter." Cautiously, Hermione mounted the broom in front of him.
They flew fairly slowly over the landscape. The forbidden forest loomed dark and foreboding over the grounds. As they flew over the lake there was a small ripple and a dark shadow under the water indicating the location of the giant squid. A small trail of smoke came from the tiny cottage near the edge of the forest, outside Hagrid's large form was visible chopping wood. The castle stood proud and majestic on the approaching horizon. It's towers and spires jutted into the sky highlighted by the setting sun behind them. Banners of all four houses waved in the frigid wind, coloring the darkening sky. Lights that shone from the windows seemed like a thousand candles reaching out to welcome them.
"Welcome home, Hermione." Harry whispered in her ear.
She closed her eyes tightly. For a moment she felt the same excitement she'd felt every year as she came to the school. She tried in vain to push it away as they landed near the huge doors.
"Miss Granger," A familiar voice drawled, "So nice of you to finally join us."
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