Hermione arrived later that day to a most disturbing scene. She had arrived just in time to see Harry's uncle throw him by the arm out through the front door.
"...AND I DON'T EVER WANT TO SEE YOU AROUND HERE AGAIN. IF YOU EVER COME NEAR MY FAMILY, I SWEAR, I WILL KILL YOU BOY!" Vernon then tossed Hedwig's cage and proceeded to kick his trunk down the stairs. He slammed the door shut afterwards.
Harry picked himself up of the ground after a few seconds of staring at the closed door. He righted the cage and opened the door to let Hedwig out.
Hermione stared at the scene in disbelief at seeing Harry thrown out of his house by his uncle. She then came to a few seconds later. "Um, Harry?"
Harry turned to see Hermione gaping at him. "Hello, Hermione. Um, would you mind helping get these in the car." He looked a bit sheepish that she had seen that. He had wanted to continue keeping his secret, but Hermione would ask now...
A few minutes later they had piled Harry's things in the trunk of the car. Hermione had turned 16 late on in their fifth year and her parents taken her to get her learner's permit. Since she had been learning to drive already and they had decided that she was responsible enough to drive the distance to Harry's house without getting into trouble.
"So... Harry. Want to tell what happened earlier? Not that it's any of my business." Hermione inquired. They had been driving on the highway for about thirty minutes without speaking.
"Hmm..." He fidgetted in to seat for second; he hadn't wanted to tell any of the Gryffindors... but, Hermione was different. "I don't really mind. As long as you promise not to anyone, including Ron. He would take it the wrong way." He had been staring out the window. "My uncle found out I was gay. Convienent timimng."
"I had no idea. Are you sure?" Since when Harry been gay? Last year he claimed to have a crush on Padma Patil. He would go on and on about "how smart she is", and how "her hair would shine when the sun hit it just right"... and so on.
"Yeah. He found a letter from this guy that I've been seeing for about half a year."
"What happened to Padma?"
"I was using her as a cover. Ron would never have forgiven me for who I'm really seeing."
"Are you going to tell me who it is?"
"Not yet. Do you promise not to tell him?" Harry pleaded with her. She nodded in response. "You're taking this pretty well."
"Yeah, well. My aunt has a girlfriend. They some and visit us every once in a while. I think that her ex-boyfriend was cheating on them with the other, then they found out, dumped him and got together themselves. But, yes, I promise. You know that you can trust me, Harry!"
He nodded, but then went quiet again. "It's Draco Malfoy." A short silence filled the car.
"Are you insane? Just answer me that one question."
"I know that he isn't the best person. But neither is he the worst. We have some common interest." Harry smirked for a second at a thought that had gone through his head.
"Such as?"
"We both love each other, want each other, and live for each other." He smiled and leaned back in the seat, finally relaxing for the first time during the drive."
"Good examples..." she retorted. Hermione seemed to let this sink in for a second. She really was in a bit of a shock, but wasn't put off of the thought of him and Malfoy too much. "Are you sure that he can be trusted, Harry? I'll leave him be about this if you tell me he can." /Malfoy had better not hurt him.../
"I would trust him with my life, but that's just me."
"Well, I'm glad for you. It makes me think of Ron, though. I'm guessing he told you that we're going out, now."
Harry nodded his head 'yes'.
"I like Ron, Harry, I really do... but I don't think it's going to last." She seemed sort of saddened for a moment.
Harry seemed to think for second. "Did something happen that he didn't tell me?"
"I don't think so, we haven't done anything. I just don't see myself staying with him for a long amout of time... He's a bit close minded. He sees things in black and white with no room for shades of gray. I need more excitement than that... I only decided to go out with him because I was tired of being alone. Do you realize that I'm 16 years old and have never had a boyfriend? It gets lonely."
"I know what you mean. Then I found out that Draco could love me."
"'Could love you;" you didn't know? He's always been a complete jerk when I was around."
"When we're alone everything is perfect. He's tender, yet exciting. He's loving, and has a sense of humor. Most people just don't get it. He's all that I could ask for. I can trust him. It just... took him a while before he actually told me he loved me, I think I knew before he did."
..."He sounds special to you."
"I told you. I love him."
"Would you mind if I listen to something." She was shuffling around under her seat for the case.
"Sure. I wouldn't mind, I hope it's good. I haven't heard anything decent for a while. Dudley has a strange fascination with boy bands. I would think he was gay, except that all he can talk about are the girls he can't get to go out with him. Sad, really. He wouldn't look so bad if he would just loose about 100 pounds."
"I feel sorry for you. One of my cousins bought me this for my birthday. I rarely go anywhere without it." She popped it in the CD player, turned the volume up and turned to what was apparently her favorite song. One Step Closer by Linkin Park blasted over the speakers.
Harry was surprised to say the least. He would never have thought that Hermione would listen to this. "I never pegged you for one to listen to hard rock, Hermione. Maybe you and Draco might get along pretty well after all."
"This song just speaks to me for some reason. It speaks the truth."
They both sat back and listened to the hypnotic lyrics of the song. They realized that maybe there was more to each other that they thought.
-,---, -,---, -,---, -,---,
I cannot take this anymore
I'm saying everything I've said before
all these words, they make no sense
I found bliss in ignorance
less I hear, the less you say
you'll find that out anyway
life and the answers aren't so clear
wish I could find a way to disappear
all these thoughts they make no sense
I've found bliss in ignorance
nothing seems to go away
over and over again
just like before
like before
everything you say to me
and I'm about to break
I need a little room to breath
I'm about to break
everything you say to me
and I'm about to break
I need a little room to breath
and I'm about to
break
these are the places where I can't feel
torn from my body, my flesh it heals
during this night we can fall apart
waiting alone, I can not resist
feeling this hate, I have never missed
These are the memories
The reason to rip off my......face
fighting and roaring,
and pouring and pouring
shut up when I'm talking to you
shut up
blood is pouring
shut up
blood is pouring...
shut up, I'm about to break
everything you say to me
and I'm about to break
I need a little room to breath
I'm about to break
everything you say to me
and I'm about to break
I need a little room to breath
and I'm about to
everything you say to me
takes me one step closer to the edge
and I'm about to break
I need a little room to breath
cause I'm one step closer to the edge
and I'm about to break
everything you say to me
takes me one step closer to the edge
and I'm about to break
I need a little room to breath
cause I'm one step closer to the edge
and I'm about to
-Linkin Park
-,---, -,---, -,---, -,---,
They arrived at Hermione's place at little before seven p.m. Her family was just setting out dinner and her mother met the at the door.
"Harry. We are so glad to meet you after all this time. Do come in!"
"Yes ma'am." For having spent his first eleven years in the muggle world he realized he knew very little about them. This made him slightly uncomfortable in their house.
"We were just about to eat. Come join us. Then Hermione will show you where your room is."
The meal had been delicious, although there were several uncomfortable silences in the conversation.
"Are you ok, Harry?" Hermione had noticed his discomfort. He had chosen to sit beside her since she was the only person he knew.
"Oh. Yeah. I'm just not sure about what to say here. I usually had my meals in my room at the Dursley's." They were able to talk without being heard because her parents where apparently deep in conversation at the moment.
"Ok. Let's go ahead and go upstairs."
He nodded his agreement.
"Mum, dad. We're going to go ahead and go upstairs, 'k?"
"Ok. But, no fooling around after bedtime." Her father winked.
She knew that her father was just teasing them but she couldn't resist. "Oh! Didn't I tell you? Harry's gay!" With that she jumped up and grabbed Harry's hand and flew upstairs.
"Hermione. What were you thinking!? I don't want everyone to know that!" How could she have told her parents, right after she had promised to tell no-one.
"Oh, Yes. They'll be fine. I had to say something or they would have worried about us being up here alone. They know I'm responsible, but they have to be careful, since I'm their daughter." Hermione smiled brightly back at him. She had actually done it to see the look on his face. As she said, she knew that her parents trusted her.
"I do like girls too, you know!" He sulked. It was a blatant lie.
"Fine, fine. You... 'bi' then?" She teased him. This was proving to be rather fun.
"..."
She laughed at the look on Harry's face. "Don't worry about it! Everything's fine. Now, what are we going to do with all this time?" She knew that there had to be something Harry wanted to do. Especially after being locked away at the Dursley's for all these years; there had to be something. She was willing to bet he had never been to a muggle shop just to get things for himself ever. It was evident in the clothes he wore. Harry was always complaining about having to wear hand-me-downs. Hand-me-downs that were about five sizes to big. Harry was still as skinny as ever.
"I don't know.... We can just go into town or something."
"You know that I'm going to make you get more clothes if we go into town, whether you want to or not." He smiled at her. Most of the time he just put up with the clothes. Half the time he managed to forget that he was drowning in them. "I don't care what you say, tell everyone I kidnapped you, but you're going. And this time we don't have to listen to Ron whining under his breath that we're spending too much money." Both of Hermione's parents were dentist, so therefore she had plenty of extra money to spend. Plus she saved, mostly, during the school year.
"Fine. I am almost glad Ron isn't here. He was upset for a week that time I spent only ten galleons on that book."
"What was it for anyway? I doubt that you where buying 'Useful Uses for the Unforgivable Curses' for yourself."
"You're right, though I have borrowed it several times. I bought it for Draco as a Yule and present."
Hermione seemed to think a second before she remembered. "Pagan holiday?"
"Yeah. His mother's family are pagan. He practices, occasionally, although not often. He's told me that the circles are very exciting. I haven't been to one before; I wouldn't mind trying with him though." He looked a bit sad, at this.
"Anything wrong Harry?"
"No. I just miss him. I can't wait until school starts."
"What would he do about me, know that I know."
"I doubt that he'll mind." /especially since his friends already know.../
"He seems to have changed more than I had noticed. Is he going join You-Kn-"
"Hermione! Just say it. I tired of everyone finding ways around saying his name." He glared at her.
"Sorry. Do you think he's going to join Voldemort?"
"No. While he agrees with some of his philosophies, he doesn't agree with how he's carrying them out. That's enough about Draco. Anything else, you'll have to persuade him to talk. Which isn't as hard as it sound after you get to know him."
"But would he ever be willing to get to know me?" Her and Malfoy had never been friends. Could they be now?
"I'll talk him into it. He already has some respect for you. You stood up to him. He also realizes that you're smart. That's where his problem with Ron comes in. There is no way that he would give Draco a chance, so Draco doesn't even bother being decent to him."
Hermione looked at the clock. It was about midnight. "We had better go to bed now, if we want to wake up early enough to stop at Gringotts first." They had agreed that they had to stop and get some of Harry's money traded. Hermione had said that they should buy their books later in the summer when Ron came back from Romania.
Harry made his way across the hall where they had put his things, after saying goodnight.
...what are you doing...
"Hey, Harry!"
Harry woke to see Hermione jumping on his bed.
"Arg. Down Hermione!" She got off of to allow him to sit up.
"It's time for breakfast!"
..."Are you always this annoyingly perky first thing in the morning? Or is this a new development?"
She just continued the give him that strange smile.
"What time is it anyway?" He yawned after all this.
"It's ten am. I'm just excited about today. It's rare that I have a friend around during summer. Come on! Get dressed; I'll meet you downstairs." With this she left the room and made her way back to her room so that she, herself, could get dressed.
Harry quickly dressed himself and turned when there was a tap on the glass. Hedwig was back. He had written a letter to Draco about what he would be doing that day.
Dear Harry,
I'm glad that you're finally going to get rid
of those old clothes. Maybe now you won't have to
borrow mine when we go out. Though, I have to
admit you looked good in them. Also about
Hermione. If she's going to start hanging out with us
time to time, she has to know the rules. Just
because you're the exception doesn't mean that I'm
going to let her get away with anything. And, Harry,
since you've started telling your friends about us,
remember to keep quiet around Weasel.
Though, I'm mad, to say the least, about
what those muggles did. I'm happy that you most
likely won't have to see them again. Who knows,
maybe we'll be able to see each other next summer.
I know that you'll what to check that with that idiot
Dumbledore first. What do you see in him anyway?
Your love,
Draco Malfoy
Harry smiled at receiving his letter so soon. He put it in his pocket and made his way downstairs.
The rest of Hermione's family was already there.
"Harry. What took you so long?"
"I had to read this first!" He dug the letter back out of his pocket and handed it over to the waiting hand. Harry then took his seat beside her.
"So, Harry. Did you sleep well?" Hermione's mother inquired.
"Yes ma'am. Better than I have all summer." Which was the truth. The Dursley's would never let him get enough sleep.
"What are your plans for today?"
Harry took his fork out of his mouth to answer to question. "We were just going to go around town. To make a quick stop in Diagon Alley, for a money transfer."
"We hope you two have fun."
"So what was this Hermione had said about being gay? She never mentioned this before," Mr. Granger asked curiously.
"Not that many people know. She saw my uncle kick me out of the house with a death treat, so I had to tell her."
"Oh! Are you ok?" Hermione's mother's eyes had sympathy in them. The same had happened for her sister and she hadn't taken it well.
"I'm glad, actually. I get to get away from those few problems in my life."
"Harry? What did he mean by rules?" Hermione had finished the letter. She handed it back.
"What's that?" Her father asked.
"It's a letter from my boyfriend." He turned back to Hermione. "He was only joking."
"Sure." She then returned to her plate to finish what was left. "I'm done! Are you ready to go?"
"Yeah, we need to go before it gets to late." With that they made their good-byes and left.
It was about twelve when they made it through the barrier that separated Diagon Alley from muggle London. They then made their way to Gringotts to trade Harry's money and left.
First the went to a get Harry some new glasses.
"Hey. Try these on!" Hermione held up a pair glasses with huge lenses in them, the kind you would imagine on your grandfather.
"Please tell me you're kidding me."
"I didn't say get them. Fine." She put glasses back on their hook and they went back to browsing.
"What about these." Harry turned around to see what silly choice she had made this time. He was surprised when she was holding up a pair of small, slightly rounded glasses with thin black rims.
He took off his old pair and studied himself in the mirror. "They're great."
"Yes. You should get those."
They waited on the optometrist to size his lenses to the new frames. Harry then paid for them and slipped the old ones into his pocket.
"Why are you holding on to those? The new lenses look great."
"Sentimental value."
Next they stopped for lunch since it was about 2:30.
"What did he mean by the rules?" She had been wondering about this all day. Now she had the chance to ask.
"He was joking. He hates my cousins clothes and threatened to burn down my relatives house for making me wear them. Draco say that the only reason he still hangs around me is that I don't really have a choice. He's also rather protective, in a sweetway though. Not the 'I'll kill you for talking to someone else' way. He did kick someone out of his dorm room for wearing a neon pink shirt, though."
"Strange guy."
Harry shrugs, grinning.
"He's lucky that I was planning on this anyway, otherwise it would have been to bad for him." She tipped her nose in the air, trying to imitate a snobbish attitude. "You're not the only who feels that they must have an intire new wardrobe!"
"What's been stopping you?"
Hermione stopped the act. "It isn't exactly exciting doing this alone. And Ron Isn't the one you would want to pick out clothes with. So that leaves you. And before you ask me, and my mother don't have the same styles. She's still trying to get used to the new additions to my music collection."
"Well now's our chance to shine. What's first?"
"We'll I wouldn't mind getting my hair done. My parents used to think that I was too young to have anything done with it. But now I'm sixteen and it's my choice."
"I wonder what Ron would think of all this. I mean I'm getting new glasses and new clothes, and you're getting your hair done and new clothes." Harry wondered out loud.
"He would probably say that we're being vain and leave in a huff."
..."Are we?"
"Are we what?"
"Vain?" Harry was beginning to worry about if they should do all of this now.
"No. We would only be vain if this was all we cared about. It's ok to indulge every once in a while as long as you don't make a habit out of it." She nodded reasuringly, before grabbing Harry's arm and started walikng.
Harry obediently followed her to the cashier's... not that he had a choice. "You're awfully sure about this. Been thinking about this for a while?"
"And you haven't? You agreed to this!"
"Ok. Now who's going to pay?"
"Maybe we should split the bill."
They paid for the meal and made their way to the nearest beauty parlor.
Harry was ecstatic when Hermione was finished. He had been sitting there for about an hour in a freezing cold building, fending off the staff, who just couldn't figure out that he wasn't interested.
"It's about time, Hermione," he almost yelled.
"Sorry about the wait. I told you, Harry, that you could take a walk if you wanted to! I told you it would be cold in there. So do you like it?" Hermione hadn't really gotten it styled; she had just gotten it straightened a bit. It now flowed down, without being in a tangled mass.
"Love it. Now let's get out of here." Another hairdresser was currently making her way towards him, with scissors in hand.
"No-one can resist those looks of yours Harry. With those deep green eyes of a forest god and jet black hair that most girls would kill for. I would chase you around too, except that I'm smart enough to know not to. You're my friend. Not to mention the fact that you have someone right now."
"Hermione, you're scaring me."
"It's true! Now let's get going." With that she grabbed his arm and they made their way to store.
Prologue
Chapter 2
