/Disclaimer: I don't own Harry potter or anything etc... \
/Post OOTP don't read if you haven't read it!\
/Chapter three\
/CHANGING FEELINGS\
Harry pulled away from the kiss and said,
"I think we need to talk Hermione" She nodded and without saying another word, Harry turned to Griphook and said, "Lead the way."
As Harry was walking out the room the bubble of time they had been in gave a pop and Albus Dumbledore came over to Harry and Hermione with a twinkle in his eye and said to Harry
"Congratulations Lord Black I expect that you will want to live at one of you new properties?"
"Err… I suppose so if I can but what about the ancient magic that is protecting me at the Dursley's?" Harry asked.
"Ah well Harry as you are an adult now the wards and things that I placed around the house are no longer effective in the same way, they are still effective but now you have the freedom of an adult this protection spell will cover you where ever you live!" At this Harry
looked happy but he had one more question.
Dumbledore looked at him over his half moon glasses and there was the familiar twinkle in his eyes as he said,
"You wish to know why you own number 4 Privet Drive hey Harry?" Harry looked at Dumbledore and said,
"I really need to learn occulmency this year professor!" He said.
"Yes Harry I do believe that would be most wise as you are an open book at the moment." Dumbledore said and Harry went red as a hot poker. However Dumbledore ignored this and gave the reason as to why Harry owned number 4 privet drive.
"Apparently before Lily and James got married, they gave Vernon and Petunia Dursley the house as their wedding present. Although they never said thanks to Lily and James as far as I know but as a result the deeds are in the potters name. And as you are the last of the potters you have the deeds transferred to you as of today to do with as you see fit. But Harry I warn you don't do anything to hasty as your family may be useful to you in the future!" And without another word there was a small pop and Dumbledore had apperated away leaving just Harry & Hermione and also Griphook standing in the door way looking out into the main bar area of the Leaky Cauldron. Harry grabbed Hermione's hand and told Griphook to lead the way to Diagon Alley and Gringotts bank.
Harry and Hermione were sitting next to each other in a cart underneath the city of London going to the new vault that Harry had inherited. The cart was traveling extremely fast. So fast so that Hermione was gripping Harry's hand so tight that it was going white from lack of blood, Harry thought they should have been there ten minutes ago but the vault was apparently one of the biggest at Gringotts, or so Griphook had told them.
Suddenly the cart started to decelerate and Harry pried his hand from Hermione's and shook it to get the blood flowing again. He looked up and ahead of him was of all things a dragon. But it wasn't any normal dragon; this one was lying in front of a huge door and was reading a copy of the Daily Prophet (the wizarding newspaper). Hermione screamed as they got nearer and the dragon at this point looked up and stared at Harry then Hermione and then SPOKE. At this Harry choked as he had breathed and swallowed at the same time with shock.
In a very English gentlemanly way, the dragon said,
"I am Althalus the keeper of this vault state your name at once." Harry said,
"HARRY POTTER" at this the dragon stood up and for a moment looked very menacing and then went into an unmistakable bow, Harry clutched Hermione and waited for Althalus to speak again,
"Lord Black you are allowed to pass but anyone whom you don't tell me can pass will be burned to a crisp. At once Harry bowed and said,
"Great and kind dragon, I wish it for Hermione Granger to pass with me into the vault, but no others unless I state it." The dragon looked at Hermione with a piercing stare and then said,
"Very well Lord Black you and miss granger may pass." With that Althalus stood to one side to let them pass and Harry and
Hermione walked gingerly past to the door. As they passed Harry noticed that Griphook had also been let past. The goblin noticed his questioning look and said,
"We goblins of Gringotts are all magically linked to the service of the owner of the vaults, a bit like the house elf is to their master. So we are unable to tell anyone who has not been given permission where the vault is or what's inside so it's perfectly safe my lord." Griphook reached out to the door of the vault and from the top in the center down to the bottom he ran his finger. At the same time Harry could hear great huge bolts and locks opening up. Finally Griphook got to the bottom and stood back as the door opened up. What Harry and Hermione saw next was so overwhelming Harry had to sit down. He barely noticed that two chairs had appeared for them to sit on.
Griphook walked over to Harry with a tray and on it were three letters. He took them and Griphook disappeared into thin air. Harry looked at Hermione and said,
"We need to talk about earlier, in the Leaky Cauldron." Said Harry, at this Hermione leaned forward and kissed Harry. She pulled back and smiled softly.
"Harry" Hermione said, "I think I am in love with you and always have been since I met you on the Hogwarts Express all those years ago. I never realized it until you grabbed my hand at home before you dragged me off to the Leaky Cauldron I wanted you to kiss me. When you did, it was the happiest moment of my life. I hope you feel the same." she said, looking into Harry's green eyes.
"I do Hermione when I got to your house and landed on you, sorry, by the way." He said with a small blush again. "I looked up at you and saw you in a totally different way than I have before. I think over the past few months since Sirius died," Harry said with a lump in his throat, "I have realized that my friends and the ones I love and at this point he looked directly at Hermione. "Are what is going to get me through those times ahead that will be full of darkness. I want you to be right there with me Hermione I do really love you even if you will have a go about me having 200 elves in my service."
At this Hermione laughed and play thumped Harry an the arm, then said,
"Does this men you and I are an item then as Ron is going to be hurt badly." Harry looked up in surprise at her words.
"How did you know Ron fancied you Hermione?" Asked Harry.
"Well I am not blind Harry, no matter if you didn't notice me till this morning. I know Ron has since third year." Harry just laughed and said,
"Yeah it was the time you punched Malfoy that did it, he was hooked from then on." They both had a good laugh at this and then Harry said,
"Ron we will deal with later, but first I'm hungry and I have to open these letters. I wish there were some way to get a sandwich and butter beer down here!"
No sooner had he said it had an elf apperated in front of Harry & Hermione an elf whom Harry knew well indeed,
"Dobby!"
"Yes master Black I am one of your elves professors Dumbledore made me chief elf of the Black/Potter estates sir!" Dobby squeaked, "What is it you would like master Harry?"
"Well for a start you can call me just Harry, please. And secondly," Harry said looking quickly in Hermione's direction. "Are you being paid for this service?"
"Why yes sir I am sorry, yes Harry." Dobby said, "All house elves are being paid one galleon a month and have two days off If they want." Dobby said with a glance a Hermione.
"Very well, Dobby, can you fetch a butter beer and a ham sandwich for Hermione and I?" Instantly as Harry said it Dobby was back with the food and drink and a table appeared when dobby snapped his fingers. Dobby inquired,
"Will there be anything else ma... Harry?" Harry thought about this and said,
"Yes there is can you tell my Uncle and Aunt that I won't be living there anymore and that I will be in touch when I need them. Also can you go to the Burrow and ask the Weasley family if they would like to dine at the house of Lord Black at Hogsmead. Tell them to floo over to Black manor at seven thirty but don't tell them I am
Lord Black! Okay? Also, Dobby, is the manor ready at Hogsmead, for dinner?" He asked.
"Why yes Harry we have awaited your arrival for a number of weeks now. We had to wait for the legal formalities to be completed." Dobby said.
"That's it for now, Dobby, thank you." With a pop, Dobby vanished and left Harry alone with Hermione once again.
Please read and review I have a great idea for this story so please let
me know what you think
