Chapter 4: Recruiting Counsel
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.
A/N: I knew I said that I would probably post Monday morning, but I get anxious just watching it sit there, ready to be posted. Many of you will be happy to note that this chapter is roughly 1000 words longer than my previous posts. I almost decided to add the following chapter into the end of this one, but I felt that the end I had called for a break in the action so to speak. Anyhow, before I go rambling on and spoil something, I'll let you get to it. Please Read and Review. The reviews were probably the strongest factor in prompting me to post a little early.
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Albus Dumbledore looked up to his fireplace and spoke, "Good morning, Remus. What can I do for you?"
"Albus, I am concerned about Harry. May I come in?" Remus asked, his face shown of genuine concern.
"Certainly. I had a feeling that you would be in touch me sooner or later in that regard. I, as well as his friends, have similar concerns. Miss Granger has sent me an owl stating concerns almost identical to yours. Indeed, please come in." Remus Lupin entered the Headmaster's office though the Floo connection and sat down across the desk from the headmaster.
"Lemon drop?"
The former professor shook his head, declining the offer before speaking in a more exasperated yet forceful tone, "Albus, we've got to do something. It's obvious that Harry's not dealing well with Sir-Sirius… and with what happened at the ministry a few weeks ago. He's essentially been ignoring my correspondence, and when I saw him today, my heart nearly broke in half.
"From what Tonks told me, Arabella has yet to see him outside the house. For that matter, she says the Dursleys have abandoned him in the home since Harry's return from school. He shouldn't be alone. You need to talk to him, Albus."
"I am aware of this Remus, but I doubt that he would want to talk to me. The last time he left my office, you could say that thought of me in less than friendly terms. What would you suggest we do?"
Remus Lupin lowered his head briefly and thought about the question before answering thoughtfully. "I suppose I could go for a few more visits, but I really don't know how much good it would do. He did everything but throw me out of the house. He needs a companion. Someone close to him that could be with him for longer than a visit. With my condition and having errands to run for the Order, I don't think that would work. Do you suppose he could go to the Burrow with the Weasleys?"
"Unfortunately you know that's not an option, Remus. Harry must remain at Number 4 Privet Drive until at least his birthday for his own protection. In any case, I'm not sure if the boisterous environment of the Burrow would be helpful or harmful to Harry at this point. If he has chosen to isolate himself, radically changing his surroundings may cause him to isolate himself further."
"We could ask Molly and Arthur if they would allow Ron to stay with him for the time being…"
"I believe you are moving in the right direction, Remus, but in my opinion, Harry and Ron are indeed friends, but I don't think the two of them would talk enough to resolve Harry's feelings on the matter. I also have a strong inclination that Molly would not like the idea. My advice: I think Harry's closest friend would be a better choice," Dumbledore answered with a twinkle in his eye.
"Albus! You're not just suggesting what I think you are! Are you?" Albus Dumbledore nodded in reply. "But sir. That's… That would be improper. Sending a young lady to stay in Harry's home without an adult chaperone would be a bad, BAD idea."
"Normally I would agree, but we are not dealing with typical students. Both he and Hermione are both of strong moral character, and I have the utmost faith that they would conduct themselves in the manner befitting of upstanding young adults. I also believe that Harry's wellbeing outweighs any issues of impropriety. She has nothing but Harry's best interest at heart, and she is probably the one person to which Harry would open himself. Harry needs this to recover from what has happened to him, not just from this year but previous years as well. Remus, we owe him that much."
The former professor sighed in defeat, "I know, sir. But we're taking a big risk on this. If the press gets wind of this, they'll have a field day! Not to mention Molly Weasley, I don't envy you at all if she hears of it. She'll go absolutely ballistic!"
The headmaster gave slight chuckle at hearing the Weasley matron's possible reaction. "We'll deal with Molly if it becomes necessary to do so, but I won't fail Harry again. We cannot afford it. He needs this and intend to provide it to him."
Remus stood and walked toward the fireplace, "Very well, Albus. Do you want me to go the Grangers' this morning?"
"No, but thank you for offering. I think it would be best if I went personally. In the meantime, I do have another job for you. Come back later this afternoon. This will give me time to organize my thoughts on the matter"
"All right sir, expect me here for tea then," and with that the werewolf disappeared in flash of green flames.
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Ding Dong
"Hermione! Could you get the door please? I'm kind of busy," a female voice called from the kitchen.
"I'll be right there," came the reply as a pair of feet tramped down the steps and walked toward the front door. "May I help y– Professor Dumbledore? What are you doing here? Is Harry okay?!"
"Good morning, Miss Granger. In answer to your last question, I assure you that Harry is in no immediate danger. May I come in?" Hermione body relaxed after hearing this and opened the door for the old man to come in.
"My mum's in the kitchen. We can talk there."
Hermione led her guest to the cooking room. Helen glanced at the door when it opened and her daughter entered. She face showed more than a little surprise when she saw her daughter's headmaster in tow. Helen Granger put her casserole in the oven and removed her oven gloves before approaching, "Headmaster Dumbledore, is everything okay?"
"Please, let's sit," he said, raising his arm toward the kitchen table, and they all sat down. The old man began the conversation by addressing the elder of the two Granger women, "Things are fine at the moment, but I do need to talk you both. It concerns your daughter's friend Harry. He doesn't know it, but he needs our help. But before we talk about that, I'd like to ask how you are recovering Miss Granger?"
"I'm doing much better, sir. I still feel a twinge of pain if I move my arms or shoulders too quickly, but Madame Pomfrey said that should pass in about a month. The scar around the burned area is also looking much better thanks to the skin-revitalizing potion she gave me. I just won't be going out in public in a swimsuit anytime soon.
Hermione decided, not so subtly, to refocus the conversation, "Anyhow, I'm fine. I want to talk about Harry."
"Hermione! Watch your tone!" her mother chastised.
"That's quite alright, Mrs. Granger. I find your daughter's direct approach refreshing, and she indeed has her priorities in order. We do need to talk about Harry." The headmaster then turned to his charge; "You sent me a letter last night, Hermione, to ask if Harry can stay with you and your parents over the summer, correct?" Hermione nodded her head in agreement. "Unfortunately, Harry cannot yet leave his relatives' Privet Drive home. It is for his own protection."
Hermione looked as if she'd been slapped, "But sir, he's anything BUT safe there! Even if his horrid relatives aren't abusing him, and he is physically protected—he is dying INSIDE! He is locking himself inside his own little prison, and we have to get him out of there!"
"HERMIONE!" her mother scolded again before looking at the headmaster. "I apologize for my daughter's behavior, headmaster, but she is right. Harry shouldn't be alone with his relatives in a time like this; he should be with someone he can take up counsel with. He should be somewhere that he feels he can talk openly. That's why I agreed to host him here."
The white-haired made an audible sigh, "I'm going to be quite candid with both you, so please, let's drop the formalities. Call me Albus, both of you, and I ask that this conversation go no further than the two of us with the exception being your husband, Helen." Helen nodded her agreement while Hermione looked somewhat shell-shocked. "Hermione, I agree with you in your assessment that it would be best for him to leave Privet Drive, but what you do not know is that a form of ancient magic provides protection for Harry while he is there. Harry's mother, Lily, gave him this protection when she sacrificed her life for him out of love. This protection is what caused Voldemort's Death Curse to rebound from Harry causing Voldemort's initial downfall all those years ago. That protection still works for him today as long as he spends at least one month a year in the home of his blood relatives. Petunia Dursley, although a muggle, is Lily's sister and Harry's last remaining blood relative; therefore, I must insist that he stays in Surrey."
Hermione seemed to ponder over the information then looked absolutely crestfallen. The headmaster cleared his throat; bringing Hermione out of her reverie. "There is, however, another alternative." Both Grangers' faces reflected a new hope. "It is a little unorthodox, and it would require your agreement, but I must first ask you, Hermione, what are your honest feelings for Harry?" Mother looked at daughter expectantly, and daughter looked as if this were the last question she wanted to answer.
The girl dropped her head slightly and her hair fell across the sides of her face, covering her flushed cheeks. She then brought her head up, cleared her throat, and spoke in a manner that left no doubt that this was coming straight from the heart. "Well, Harry was my first real friend and is no doubt my truest friend. He's been there for me when no one else was, and I love him dearly for that. He's saved my life more than once because I know it was because he genuinely cares for me, and I know I would do the same for him. I think that if there is someone that understands and knows me better than anyone, it's him. I also think he also sees the same in me.
"And if I'm being entirely honest with myself, I think I see him as more than a friend, but as a partner, my other half. I'm pretty sure that I'm in love him. Correction. I know I'm in love with him. I've known since the end of fourth year."
Hermione closed her eyes and appeared to be bracing herself for a verbal onslaught, especially from her mother but was intrigued to see that both her mother and her headmaster were grinning from ear-to-ear, eyes twinkling merrily. The realization finally dawned on her.
"You knew, didn't you mum?"
"Yes, of course I knew. I saw it every time he was at the train station with you. I could see it in your eyes a mile away." This only caused Hermione to blush further. "And if I had to venture a guess, I'd say your headmaster could see it as well."
Professor Dumbledore nodded in response. "Yes, Hermione. I saw it also, but I also knew that this was something that you had to evaluate and come to terms with on your own. Any intervention on my part would have only created a chasm between your heart and your formidable mind." Hermione's blush didn't fade in the least in hearing the headmaster compliment her.
"My reason for asking is this; Harry needs someone to talk to in order to work out what he is feeling. But more than that, he needs love and support, not romantic love, but the unconditional love and support of a friend and confidant that knows him well. I believe myself to be completely accurate in saying that you are the only one who can fill that role. Therefore I would like to ask you to go to his home on Privet Drive and stay with him until the start of term."
If Hermione was shell-shocked at being allowed to call the Headmaster by his first name, her expression then didn't even hold a candle to the utter disbelief she was experiencing now.
Helen Granger was the next to speak, "Albus, are you sure this is wise. I mean, I trust Hermione completely, but what about Harry's relatives? What will they say?"
"There is much more information that you need to know before anyone goes to see Harry. The first concerns his current living arrangements—Remus visited his home today and reported to me this morning. He conveyed to me that he had received a few letters from Harry stating the same message that you reported to me, Hermione. I'm paraphrasing, but he said, 'the Dursleys had left him alone.' But what he didn't say is that it was true in more than one context. Harry has been left alone at Privet Drive—literally. His relatives were seen leaving the house the morning after Harry arrived and looked to be packed for an extended vacation. To my knowledge, no one has heard from them."
Helen and Hermione gasped in unison and Hermione looked faint. "Oh my God! I have to go to him! Please professor, take me there," Hermione begged.
"I'm afraid it will have to wait. There's more to tell."
"More?! Albus, you can't be serious," Helen interjected.
"Unfortunately, I am. Harry is also dealing with other issues outside of his godfather's death, and these issues are probably weighing just as heavily on his shoulders as his need to grieve. I'm afraid I can't say anything else on the matter, for it is his decision if or when he talks about it and whom he tells.
"Attempting to deal with these issues on his own appears to have sent Harry into a very deeply depressed state. He doesn't appear to care about his own welfare. Remus has relayed concerns that he seems to be taking on very little food or drink and doesn't appear to have showered since the day after he arrived. I hope in telling you, that it would reduce your initial shock in seeing him when we arrive there. When Remus departed, Harry told Remus, in no uncertain terms, to leave him be, and I'm afraid I would receive a similar reception. Which is why I am calling on you Hermione."
In hearing this last revelation, any internal debate that Helen Granger may have been pondering seemed to disappear completely from her face. "Hermione, you need to go pack. Your friend needs you. I'll deal with your father."
Hermione turned and hugged her mother fiercely as both women's eyes shed a torrent of tears. "Thank you, mum. He means the world to me, and I have to go to him."
Helen gave a woeful sniff and pushed her daughter back far enough to look into her eyes. "I know, dear. I know. Just care of yourself and be careful. Ok?"
"I will, mum."
"Now go upstairs and pack. You need to go." Hermione nodded and headed for the stairs.
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A/N: Don't expect Chapter 5 to be up for at least a couple of days. I have most of it straight in my head but I haven't started it on the keyboard yet. I'll work as much as I can on it, and reviews get me pumped up to write like nothing else. I've found my new fixer.