Chapter 5: Seeing Harry
A/N: For all those that wanted longer chaps, this is the longest one yet. I wanted to say thank you to everyone for the great reviews. It makes me enjoy writing that much more. Now, on with the story.
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Helen Granger's eyes followed her daughter as she went up the stairs and her footsteps finally carried her out of earshot. Helen then pulled a napkin from the table and wiped the moisture from her face and took a second to compose herself before speaking. "Now that we're alone Albus, I still have some concerns and more than a few questions."
The old man replied, "I'll answer what I can."
"You mentioned some sort of blood protection earlier that surrounds Harry's house, but answer me this: With Harry's aunt not staying in the house, how safe is he really? If I'm going to allow Hermione to go there, I have to know."
Dumbledore seemed to ponder the question for a few moments before answering. "Before I answer your question directly, I think it best if we discuss some of the known theories regarding magic and magical beings.
"Magic is more than just waving a wand and saying a few words. Magic is a part of every living thing. It is in the plants we eat, it is in the ground we walk on and lives within our bodies—even yours. A person's magical power at their core is determined at the moment of their conception by multiple factors: blood and emotions among the most important."
Helen Granger's expression showed that she had been listening intently but was still somewhat confused. "But what does emotion have to do with a person's magical ability?"
The headmaster smiled and answered a question with another question, "Helen, how did you feel when you found out you were going to have Hermione?"
She seemed bewildered by the headmaster's inquiry but answered anyway, "Well, Robert and I were absolutely ecstatic. I mean, we had a wonderful relationship before, but we desperately wanted to have a baby. But there was a problem; my doctor had told me that I was infertile. Needless to say, we were more than a little surprised to hear the news that Hermione was coming. Why do you ask?"
The old man's blue eyes twinkled and he gave a smug smile, "Do you think it could it be possible, Mrs. Granger, that you were able to unconsciously tap into the dormant magic within your own body in a particularly passionate evening."
The woman didn't turn away from the headmaster's gaze, but her face took on a fire engine-red color as she thought back to the moments that she knew resulted in her daughter's creation. She and her husband had wanted to take a break and forget about the doctors and fertility treatments that she had been enduring. Robert had made meticulous plans all week to ensure that the last evening they spent on the beaches in the south of France was indeed a memorable one.
"I see your point, Albus."
"Indeed. Emotions play a very powerful role in a person's magic. For example, the love that you and your husband felt that night allowed both of you to give not only the building blocks of life to your daughter, but both of your magical essence. Furthermore, the love you and your husband felt for your daughter while she was developing in your womb only strengthened her bond with her own magic. Hence she is the very powerful witch she is today."
The girl's mother was dumbfounded at this statement and tented her hands over her mouth in shock. "Oh my goodness, you mean we gave our daughter her gift?" The couple had always thought their little girl's abilities were strictly by chance, some stroke of luck, or twist of fate.
"I could never say for certain, but that is the most plausible explanation. I've found that the most muggle-born witches or wizards come from families with deep emotional bonds. Heightened emotions are also the most common cause of accidental magic within any witch or wizard, as to which I'm sure you could testify.
"Blood is also a key component in magical ability. Not only because blood represents a common bond between children and their parents (heredity), but also because blood is also the sustainer of life. Therefore the life-sustaining blood in our bodies is the pure embodiment of magic and is the most magical component of our bodies. That is why blood magic is so very powerful.
"As to Harry's protections from his mother, the combination of her freely giving her own life and blood and her emotions of love and sacrifice resulted in a very strong protection for him. This protection remains strong as long as he resides in the home of any that carry her blood. I have no doubt that the protection would be strengthened at least two-fold if the Petunia and Harry shared in the bond of a loving family, but alas, I don't anticipate that ever happening.
"With Harry's aunt not currently residing in the home, the protections are slowly weakening. That is another reason I asked Hermione to go to Privet Drive. Hermione's presence in the home and Harry's bond of friendship to her should strengthen the wards significantly. Actually, it is in her own best interests to be there."
"I may not understand everything, but your logic seems sound, and I know Hermione trusts your judgment. I do have another concern though," the Granger matron responded.
The professor gestured for her to continue, "By all means."
Mrs. Granger knew this may be somewhat awkward, but she had to know that her daughter needed this question asked on her behalf. "Well, as I said earlier, I trust Hermione completely to look after herself, and I know that you have said that you have the highest faith in Harry's character. It still scares me to think that she will be alone with him in his house and as you have already said, he is in a highly emotional state. What's to say that they won't do something that they may regret in the heat of the moment? I know that she loves him and would do anything for him, and that's what scares me. I realize that it will be up to her to know when she ready, but she'll need protection—if you catch my meaning."
Dumbledore gave slight smile as the woman's check reddened slightly. "Ah, yes. I can see your concern, and I have given some thought to it. Hermione and I will be returning to Hogwarts briefly to pick up a few books and supplies to take to Harry's. While there, I have already arranged for our school healer, Madam Pomfrey, to instruct Hermione on how to cast the contraceptive charm in the event that it might be necessary. Since your daughter seems to have a strong disposition toward charms, I don't anticipate her having any difficulties.
"Also, there is at least one guard posted outside the house at all times. I will make sure that Hermione knows that she can contact them in the event of trouble or if your daughter is uncomfortable in any way. Secondly, Remus Lupin, a former professor at the school and someone that Harry and Hermione both trust fully will be making regular visits to the house to make sure that everything is in order. This not only allows for some supervision, but it also serves to give Harry the space he feels he needs at the moment. I know it's not the same as having someone there all the time, but Harry will need to feel comfortable. With visitors coming only at their appointed times, Harry knows when he can be himself. I'm hoping this will encourage Harry to slowly bring down the barriers he has placed around himself and let him work through his feelings, which is Hermione's main goal."
Helen nodded, "I understand. I may not be entirely comfortable with the situation, but there is an adequate safety net in place. If Hermione is willing to take this on, then I won't stand in her way."
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A short time later, an old man in deep purple robes and a brown-haired young woman carrying a backback and a large trunk arrived in the Headmaster's office, both holding onto a silver fork. Hermione looked around before being the first to speak.
"Why are we Hogwarts, sir?"
The man's eyes sparkled at her question, "Oh, I just came by to pick up a few things. In the meantime, you have an appointment with Madam Pomfrey. She'll be expecting you."
The teen's eyes betrayed her surprise at the request, but she proceeded to the door, en route to the hospital wing.
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"Ah good, you finally arrived Miss Granger. I was expecting you sooner, but the headmaster does tend to be long-winded at times." Finding truth in her statement, Hermione smiled. "Now please disrobe from the waist up and lie on the bed here so that I can check how you injuries are healing."
She did as she was told and the healer checked her over giving several indistinct moans, groans and grunts. "Hmm. You seem to be recovering well. How do you feel, my dear?"
"I'm feeling much better, but my bones and muscles seem to be a bit stiff yet. It hurts if I try to move too quickly."
"I'm afraid that will be the case for several more days. Potions and spells can only do so much. Your body just needs time to recover on its own. These symptoms should be gone within a week."
"May I get dressed now?"
"Not just yet." The healer's face shown in disapproval of what she was about to say. "The headmaster, in his infinite wisdom, has requested that I teach you how to cast the contraceptive charm."
"WHAT?!"
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As the headmaster was putting the last of a series books and various objects in a small trunk, his slammed open revealing a very red-faced and angry Hermione Granger.
"Hello, Miss Granger. I assume that assume that you are finished with Madam Pomfrey then?"
Her tone let him know that she was testing the limits of her liberties with the headmaster, "Yes, Albus. We are done." The man stifled a chuckle and allowed a grin to show his amusement as she began pacing the room. "And you can wipe that silly grin off your face, sir! A little chat about the birds and the bees with my school healer is the last thing I expected when going to see her. Do you think me to be some sort of scarlet woman?"
"Calm down, Hermione." The headmaster walked to her and grabbed her by the shoulders to stop her. "I certainly regard you as nothing of the sort. Your mother spoke to me briefly about her concerns. She knows you're in love with Harry and would do anything for him. And with his current state of mind and emotions running high, anything could happen. She wanted you to know that you will do things in your own time and knows that you will act only when you fell you are ready. She asked me to show you how to protect yourself, and I agreed."
Hermione calmed somewhat in hearing that her embarrassment wasn't a direct of the headmaster and took a deep breath. "Alright, just know going in that I have planned nothing of the sort."
A Cheshire cat-smile and sparkling eyes on a wrinkled face responded, "Absolutely not."
The two shared a gaze for a few seconds before the old man clapped his hands together and rubbed his palm together, "Now then, can you think of anything else you might require while you are away?"
Hermione proceeded to bring up several issues, and Dumbledore answered. He showed her the psychology books and several magical texts as well as filling her in on the guard posted around the house and Remus' scheduled visiting times to check up on them. The headmaster also gave several suggestions regarding Harry and how he might react to her coming there to stay.
"Now Hermione, don't arrive at the house thinking that Harry will be the same person that we knew last year. He has had multiple blows thrown against him over the past month, and he looks the part. Don't overreact. He thinks he's dealing with it, but he can't do so properly—being alone and such. Slowly encourage him to talk. He doesn't have to talk about his problems right away, but once he feels comfortable enough to talk to you, the events that happened at the end of last year will make their way to the surface." Hermione nodded her understanding. Albus picked up a piece of scrap parchment and waved his wand over it, "Portus. Okay, let's be off then."
Making sure that Hermione had all her belongings in tow and prepared herself as much as possible for seeing Harry, she touched the portkey.
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The odd couple landed just outside the front door of Number 4 Privet Drive. A chair on the far side of the porch fell over as they appeared revealing a pair of shoes
"What ya' think you doin' poppin' in like that, Albus?" called a startled Mundungus Fletcher from the floor. "Ya' nearly scare't me to an early grave."
"My apologies, Mundungus, but I thought it best to land outside to notify you of Miss Granger's arrival," Albus intoned while offering a hand to assist his fallen comrade.
"Fair 'nuff. I'll tell Tonks when she takes over."
"Has there been any change?"
"No, none that I could see. At last glance, he was upstairs in his room lookin' out the window."
Professor Dumbledore nodded and opened the door to the home. A quick survey of the lower floor revealed no one, as they expected. Hermione Granger and Albus Dumbledore made their way slowly up the stairs to the second floor. The only light in the house came from the outside windows, and the house was eerily quiet. The groaning of wood under their feet as each wrung bore their weight was easily heard in the stillness. They turned down the hall stopped at the first door on the right. What Hermione saw on the door took Hermione's tenuous grasp of her emotions and nearly threw them to the floor. The door had multiple heavy hasp and hook-and-eye style locks on the outside of the door and frame. The small tracks of holes on both the door and the frame indicated that more locks had been there at some point in time. But what she saw next tested her fortitude more than anything she had ever seen. A small wooden pet door with a fixed deadbolt lock on the outside was near the bottom of the door. Hermione's features flashed from red to white as her fists shook as tried to hold the fury she felt toward those revolting people. Then just as quickly, the look was gone replaced by an expression of horrible pity and understanding for her friend's living conditions.
'Oh for the love of Merlin, Harry. I knew that your relatives were horrid, but what you've told me pales in comparison to what you haven't said. If I had to venture a guess, I'd say this was probably only the beginning."
She pulled her eyes from the door up to the eyes of the man standing beside her. Both faces gave showed identical expressions of empathy, misunderstanding and apology. The man silently offered her a handkerchief. She looked puzzled at his gesture for a moment before the realization hit her that both of them had columns of tears running down their cheeks. She accepted the proffered piece of cloth, wiped her eyes, and took a deep breath.
"For Harry," she said and Dumbledore nodded. She turned the doorknob and opened the door slowly. The hinges groaned in resistance.
Harry was sitting at the window with his arms crossed on the sill and his chin resting on his forearms. He was wearing a dirty white undershirt that looked be two sizes too large and a pair of khaki corduroy pants that looked to fit him in length but were so large around the middle that the waist of them was bunched under the tied piece of box string that was trying to imitate a belt. His hair was still messy, but it seemed dull, lifeless, and flat.
After looking him over, she visually scanned the room in which he was staying. The floor was relatively clean but was covered with dust in most areas and a few dirty clothes littered the ground in various spots. Harry's trashcan held a cache of about twenty unopened letters and few dried out banana peels. His desk had a few empty drinking glasses and pair of plates on them with the stale remnants of half-eaten cold cut sandwiches. His poor excuse for a bed looked like it had been slept in, but the sheets were filthy and were turned and twisted. In a far corner, a broken chair sat upside-down with its legs protruding at funny angles and there were a few fist-sized holes in the plaster wall.
Hermione spotted Hedwig's cage on the wooden dresser. It appeared that the only thing that he had kept up with was the owl's cage. It was clean and had fresh food and water. When Hermione's eyes met those of the snowy owl, the owl hooted dolefully as if it were trying to voice concern for its master. The girl took a few moments to ponder her course of action, then walked to her friend and sat on the bed facing him, slightly behind him.
"Harry?"
He didn't move or even flinch. She reached her hand to his far cheek and pulled his face toward her.
"Harry, look at me."
She realized within the next few seconds that she had made a big mistake as she was desperately holding back the tears that were begging to come. Harry's turned his face turned slowly toward her with his eyes downcast. His skin was cold and clammy and was pale beyond anything that she had personally seen. He had lost enough weight that you could clearly make out his cheekbones. It took everything she had to choke down the bile that threatened as she examined his face. That was all forgotten when his eyes slowly came up to meet hers. When their eyes locked, Hermione's stomach fell to her feet. The vibrant emerald green eyes that she adored so much were as almost as gray as stone and looked as if death had already taken him.
She wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace and the tears that had been welling in her eyes came washing down. At first, the boy gave no response to her but then slowly wrapped his arms lightly around her as she rocked him gently.
"I'm here, Harry. I'm here to care of you."
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