-CHAPTER TWO-
Hermione's Discovery"Ah Harry, we've been expecting you… well some of us anyways," said Mr. Weasley, his smile fading into a frown as though the sound of Mrs. Weasley dropping a pot in the sink was like a knife in his back.
"Harry, as in the boy who is not to travel without an escort?" Came Mrs. Weasley's voice from the kitchen sink behind the door. She came around the door, now face-to-face with Harry and started on at Mr. Weasley, "what is wrong with your Arthur? How could you, your not an idiot, are you? Harry can't travel alone, you know that you-know-who is out there," Mrs. Weasley's voice had lowered from a shout to a whisper once she reached the part about 'you-know-who' although, Harry did not understand why, it's not like Voldemort, or anyone else for that matter could hear her.
"I'm fine Mrs. Weasley, really, I'm here all in one piece," Harry smirked, ready to share how, exactly, he had gotten there, "I Apparated."
"Bloody good job Harry, Fred and I never learned to apparate THAT quick," came George's voice from the breakfast table. Harry had just noticed that behind Mr. Weasleys sat Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, and Ginny all at the table just finishing off breakfast, "of course, it woulda' been easier had we stayed at Hogwarts and actually learned how to," Mrs. Weasley shot George a look that clearly expressed her disapproval.
"Well you're here, safe and sound, no point worrying now although, it would have been nice if I had known," Mrs. Weasley now shot the same look at Mr. Weasley who pretended not to notice and invited Harry to the table.
Harry was stuffing his face, clearly forgetting any table manners he had ever learned, which, Harry was pleased to see, didn't bother anyone. After about half an hour of straight eating Harry felt satisfied and turned his attention to Ron and Hermione who were the only two left sitting at the table at this point (Fred and George had gone outside to play some two-on-two Quidditch with Ginny and Mr. Weasley, and Mrs. Weasley had gone upstairs to fix a room for Harry to sleep in). Harry fought back a smile while Ron and Hermione looked as if they couldn't hold in what they wanted to say any longer, but Harry decided to humor himself a little longer by just watching them fidget and wait for him to ask about the news.
Finally Harry spoke up, "so, what's this about some 'great' news?"
Ron and Hermione both looked at each other and slowly raised their hands, holding each other, onto the table. Harry wasn't at all surprised but he couldn't hold back what he really wanted to say, "no offence, I'm happy for the two of you and everything but, THAT was the important news I apparated here for?"
Ron and Hermione both chuckled, obviously not taking any offence to what Harry had just said, "no of course not Harry," said Hermione; it was the first time Harry had heard her speak, which he missed even after only one week, "ya mate, this is great and all, but wait until you hear the real news." Ron's face brightened up at these words, which Harry also missed seeing, this in-turn raised Harry's spirits, he knew it, it had to be something big.
"So, what's the big news?" These words now brightened up Hermione's face, she reached down beside her chair and pulled out a huge purple leather-bound book which was held closed by an elegant silver clasp and was covered in matching silver details. Harry could make out the title of the book, though it was upside down, it stood out in glittering silver cursive writing on the purple leather and read, 'Luck, Potions, and Spells of the Irish' the bottom corner read, in the same print only slightly smaller, 'Bearchan Nolan'. Hermione opened the book about half way and began flipping enthusiastically through the pages mumbling the page numbers to herself, eyes getting wider and wider as she flipped on, "Aha, page 226, take a look Harry." Harry turned the book to face him and read the title aloud, "Lucky Clover Soup". Harry turned to Hermione and Ron with a look of disappointment on his face, neither of them seemed at all surprised at his reaction.
"You've got to be kidding me, some sort of good luck soup? If I wanted luck I could just attempted the Felix Felicis," Ron and Hermione still hadn't changed their expression, if anything, it seemed that Harry's confusion brought bigger smiles to their faces.
"Harry, watch this," Hermione pulled out her wand, waved it around and whispered, "Aparecium!" Immediately words began appearing around the page, "I found it when I was using Priori Incantato, it's to reveal previous spells cast by wand," Harry had tilted his head slightly to hopefully get an explanation from Hermione, "I used it to see if anyone had cursed any books in the library at Hogwarts. Oh, don't give me that look Ron, I'm a prefect, I'm supposed to check for things like that, someone could hex a book to attack someone passing buy and… honestly Ron, sometimes I wonder if anyone even knows you're a prefect. Anyways, Harry, while I was looking for any cursed books this one began to illuminate, so I took it to hopefully find something wrong with it."
"Yup, leave it to Hermione to search the library for books with mistakes in 'em," Ron laughed at himself and was silenced by Hermione with just one look, "uh, sorry, continue."
"I was searching the book for hours and this is what I found, it was written in invisible ink." Harry began to read the handwritten text:
You've found the secret, congrats to you,
But your not finished, no you're not through.
Though you've discovered it, this may be,
The choice to show you is still up to me.
A book, you may ask, will choose your way,
Well yes I will, but do not fray.
For if your soul is clean and pure,
The chance I will show you is for sure.
But try to continue with darkness in your vein,
And you will enter a world of pain.
You can ask, and if this is the case,
Just tap me thrice, and stand in place.
Ask me the question, you think should be said,
Now close your eyes and clear out your head.
Clear your mind, and clear your thoughts out,
Just wait for my answer, wait without a doubt.
I will warn you once more, make sure you are sure,
That the person who asks, has a heart that is pure.
Harry read through the writings three times and turned to Ron and Hermione, "well, what do I do," Harry looked for guidance.
"Just do what it says," replied an ecstatic Hermione, "I did it in to girls dormitory at school and I think you'll like the outcome." Harry looked at her to hopefully get it out of her but he could tell by her face that he wasn't getting any answers from her until he found out himself.
Harry looked over at Ron hoping for some help on the matter, "sorry, I would but Hermione wouldn't tell me either, I suppose she knew I'd tell you."
With no other way, Harry got to his feet, pulled the book towards himself, pulled out his wand and tapped the center of the page three times. On the third tap the once invisible ink began to glow an energetic green, "may I see your secret?" Harry closed his eyes and cleared his head, which was easy because the only thing in his head to clear out now was this strange book. Harry waited and after about a minute and a half of silence and nothingness in Harry's head a hollow voice spoke to Harry, "Yes." The answer echoed on in Harry's head and once it stopped he opened his eyes.
"Well, what happened," Ron asked Harry.
"Just wait," Hermione answered for Harry, "you'll see."
The three of them, now standing around the table, stared at the book and waited. Harry stared deep into the book concentrating when he was knocked back into his chair by his own reaction to the sudden flipping of pages. Ron had the same reaction as Harry but Hermione stood still, having already experienced this event. The book closed on it's own accord and did not move. It was only after few seconds that Harry realized that the old title was now replaced with 'Defense Against the Dark Arts; Counter-Curses, Antidotes, and Spells', Harry also noticed that the name in the corner had changed from 'Bearchan Nolan' to 'James Potter'.
"Hermione… why does this book say James Potter?" Harry looked up at Hermione whose eyes were now filled with tears of joy.
"Harry, it's your father, he wrote a book while in Hogwarts and disguised it as another," Ron was looking as dumfounded as Harry, "just wait until you see what's inside Harry!"
Harry's insides were tossing and turning but he wasn't sure why, was he happy he had found a way to relate to his father, or did this just bring back the sad memories of never being able to see or know his father? "I… I can't believe it Hermione, thank you so much, I don't know what to say."
"That's not all Harry, look at this," as Hermione turned the pages Harry noticed that all the neatly typed Irish spells were now replaced by his fathers hand written, spells, some of which he himself had probably created. Hermione stopped and looked at Harry, "look." Harry looked down to see the title 'Unselfish Rebirth'. Harry read the description:
This potion has the power to revive the dead, but proceed with caution for not all the dead wish to be disturbed. Though the potion may be simple, you may find it extremely hard to find your recipient once they have passed on. Not everyone can be revived by these means; it can only be used on an individual pure of heart. A man killed by a dark act may have another chance at life only if they have committed a loving act of unselfishness with their last breaths.
Harry also read this writing over three times and was forced to let the excluded Ron read to stop his bickering.
"Hermione," said Ron once he was sure his eyes were not deceiving him and what he was reading was correct, "your not talking about, you know, Dumbledore, are you? I mean really, what would people say, a dead man walking, the only other time anyone has seen someone like this they were an…"
"Inferi," Harry completed Ron's sentence, "Hermione, would Dumbledore be like an Inferi?"
Hermione gave a slight smile and said, "well that wouldn't be very useful now would it, rising a brain dead Inferi. Also this is your fathers book, for sure, no 'Half-Blood Prince' or any silly nick-name like that, its 'James Potter', clear as day."
Harry cringed at the mention of the Half-Blood Prince and finally realized why people do the same to the mention of Voldemort, "so what if it's his?"
"Harry," Ron spoke up now, "raising Inferi is dark magic, your father will never do that, and the book said something about an unselfish act or something, you wouldn't need to do that to come back as an Inferi I don't think."
Harry thought about it and knew it was possible because if anyone was pure at heart it was Dumbledore and he did risk his life to save Harry by stunning him before he died but, Harry couldn't stop thinking about what people would say, the students, teachers, the ministry and most important of all, what Dumbledore himself would say.
"Harry," Hermione broke the silence, "it's a really simple potion and everything."
"I know, I just need to think about it, you know?" Harry looked to Ron and Hermione for reassurance and got what he was looking for they both smiled, Ron closed the book and handed it to Harry.
"What ever you decide, we're goin' all out with you," Harry was glad to hear this from Ron and was glad to see that Hermione nodded in agreement.
"Well what are we doing in here then, lets grab some brooms and play some Quidditch!" Both Ron and Harry were stunned to hear this coming from Hermione but didn't hesitate when she through them the extra brooms from beside the front door, "now you two can show me what I've been missing out on."
They left the house and found Fred, George, Mr. Weasley, and Ginny still playing and were welcomed gratefully when they suggested to them a larger game.