-S.K.
Help is on the way
The morning of Harry's birthday, He awoke to a weight on his chest. He opened his eyes and they met soft brown ones. He was startled because they were so close. Hermione laughed. "Happy birthday Harry," she said standing again. The pressure on his chest turned out to be a package she placed on his chest. He picked it up questioningly. "It's from Hogwarts."
"What is it?" Harry asked sitting up.
Hermione sat on the ground with her back to the bed. "Curriculum. I've been made Head of Gryffindor House."
Harry opened the package and looked over his contents. "This is unbelievably strange."
"It is surreal isn't it?" Hermione responded. "So, what are you up to today?"
"Don't know... I thought I'd visit the house again, and maybe my parent's this time." It had been about three weeks since that last visit. Since then they had been going to St. Mungoes every day. They had spoken to Professor McGonagall to let her know of her their decision. They did not spend much time together, because they knew what it might lead to. They had promised themselves that they would not engage in that manner again. But both felt that they would break that promise given an opportunity.
"Alone?" She asked.
"I thought of maybe Inviting Remus, so we could discuss the theory." He said , stretching languidly. Hermione felt a little left out, but she figured that it would be easier to be faithful to Ron if she stayed away.
"I'm going to St. Mungoes today, then I guess I'll just..." she said
"Why don't you come with us, Maybe we can come up with a plan together." he said , "I wish Ron were here."
"Me too." Hermione said with a sigh. "He's going to die once he hears we're teachers at Hogwarts. He's supposed to be Head boy you know."
"Yeah? Who's Gryffindor Quidditch captain?" Harry asked standing and heading toward his trunk pulling out some clothes.
"Ginny." Hermione said hugging her legs to her. The room was silent as they thought of their friends in those hospital beds.
"I'm going to get cleaned up a bit, I'll go with you to St. Mungoes." Harry said heading out of the room.
"Good Morning Harry," Remus said coming out of the Bathroom. "Happy Birthday."
"Thank you." Harry said, then paused trying to think of what to say. "Remus, will you go to Godric's Hollow with me today, I want to talk to my parents, and I have something I would like to talk to you about."
"Certainly Harry." Remus said, hesitating only when he saw Tonks leave her room and head toward the stairs.
"Tonks is invited too of course, Hermione is coming. I just need to share a theory with you."
"Yes of course, of course." Remus agreed sincerely.
"Hermione and I are going to St. Mongoes first, then we are headed there." Harry added.
"I will see you there Harry." Remus said following Tonks downstairs.
Harry and Hermione walked into the fourth floor of St. Mungoes and headed first to Ron's room. He was conscious now, Mrs. Weasley had told them so when she had gotten home the night before. He was still having seizures but the witch doctors said that soon those would go away.
"Ron!" Harry exclaimed upon seeing his friend sitting up.
"Harry!" Ron said, "happy birthday." Hermione walked in a bit on the shy side. She had seen him the day before, but he was still unconscious. Now she could really talk to him. Hermione had stopped talking to him the longer he stayed under, therefore detaching herself from him. "'Mione." Ron said reaching out for her.
"Hi Ron." She said hugging him tightly. "We've missed you."
"Yes we have." Harry said sitting on one side of his bed Harmione sitting on the other.
"Mum said I was out for a month." Ron said looking at his friends. "What have I missed?"
Harry and Hermione looked at each other, The guilt of their encounters finally weighing in on their heads. Hermione was first to speak. "Harry found a Horcruxe."
"Where?" Ron asked looking at Harry.
"Godric's Hollow." Harry said
"Bloody hell, where did he stash it? No let me guess a teddy bear, or your mother's china. No wait those are too easy to break... I know, a kelidoball."
"How did you guess that?" Hermione said.
"Those are impossible to break. I've tried everything to break one before."
"Well now we have to figure out a way to destroy it." Harry said he looked at his friend. He was staring at Hermione. Ron held Hermione's hand and Harry could tell he wanted to be alone with his girlfriend. "I'm going to go see your sister. A while,then I have to meet Remus at Godric's Hollow. He is going to help us figure it out."
Harry waved good-bye to his friend and headed down the hall to Ginny's room. The view here was completely different. Ginny was still very lifeless. Mrs. Weasley left the room when he walked in so that he could talk to her quietly. Harry kissed her hand and sat quietly with her. He told himself that he would have to end it with her once she woke up, not because he did not like her, but because he didn't love her enough. After a few minutes of contemplation, Harry kissed his girlfriend good-bye. He had never done it before, as he had never been left alone with her before. He stepped away and walked out of the door. Hermione was standing outside the door and asked about her. "No change." Harry said, and they walked out to go to Godric's Hollow.
Harry and Hermione sat in wait, on the swing on the great oak. With a loud CRACK, Tonks and Lupin apparated Just outside the homes gate. They went out to greet them as Remus stared at the beautiful little house in awe. "What happened?" He asked
"I don't know, I touched the gate and it just did it. It goes back to being dilapidated when I leave though, I wish it would just stay like this." Harry answered.
"Fantastic. It never did anything like that when I came here last. I suppose only Potters can do that."
"Do you know where my parents are buried?" Harry asked.
Remus draped an arm over Harry's shoulder and guided him to the back gardens where a small gravesite had been arranged. It was savage with wild ragged grasses, and covered in dead leaves. Harry reached out and brushed dirt from the tombstones. Slowly the gravesite was cleared. Harry and Remus stood there staring at the headstones of Lily and James.
They stood next to each other staring at their toes. "I think I know how to get Sirius out from behind the veil." Harry said for both Remus, and his parent's benefits.
"How is that?" Remus asks.
"The Vanishing Cabinet." He explained about Molfoy, and where the Vanishing cabinets had been and his interest in acquiring the one in Borgin and Burkes.
"I don't know that it would still be there. But it could work. Maybe we should look into that."
Harry looked behind him. Tonks and Hermione were sitting on the swing deep in conversation. "Hermione thought it would work too. But she also says the plan has too many holes in it. Finding the offending cabinet is one of those holes."
"What else does she think?"
"How do we lure Sirius to the cabinet?" Harry said facing Remus.
"Ah... She has a point."
"Do you think it's worth pursuing?" Harry asked looking back down to his parents.
"Absolutely." Remus said draping an arm over Harry and walking back towards the swing. "I will do a little researching on where we could find it. We might be able to pull it off."
"Harry did you tell him about the kelidoball." Hermione said hearing the tail end of their conversation.
"Kelidoball?" Remus asked.
"It's a long story, Lets go inside." Harry said.
The four of them sat in the living room a while Harry explained the kelidoball. Then he had to explain what a Horcruxe was, since it was something so obscure Remus had not really known what it meant.
"How do you know that it's a Horcruxe?" Remus asked. Hermione went on to explain the logic of it. "Yes, but How to make sure... Harry I have to see this thing."
"It's in my vault." Harry said, "I'll get it for you tomorrow."
"Anyone Hungry?" Hermione asked pulling out her carryall. "Mrs. Weasley packed some things for us, so I know it's good." Harry smiled it was one of the best afternoons of his life. In his home, with his friends. Only Ron and Ginny were missing.