Disclaimer: JK Rowling is the rightful owner of all Harry Potter content, no matter what I like to tell myself as I write these things.

Chapter 8

Harry felt his body lurch forward, then settle back into his seat as the landscape outside of his window gradually began to move. He glanced over his shoulder to see Hogwarts castle inch out of sight, until the Hogwarts Express meandered away, towards Kings Cross train station.

The bespectacled wizard turned back towards his compartment. It was the same one he'd occupied in September, a lifetime ago. He was certain that Hermione had done it on purpose, grabbing him by the arm and dragging him to the front of the line of students boarding the scarlet train. He had stumbled along, dragging his trunk with Hedwig's cage perched precariously on top while Hermione ran as fast as she could. The pair had slipped into the compartment easily enough, storing their belongings on the overhead racks. Harry had been about to ask Hermione a flurry of questions before their compartment door had slid open. The duo whipped their heads around to see Seamus Finnegan and Dean Thomas hurry in, grinning. Seamus leaned his head out of the compartment and yelled something, and soon all eight first-year Gryffindors had crammed into the compartment.

The room was meant to seat eight, but the excited energy that flooded the compartment as Neville, Ron, Lavender, and Pavarti waltzed in made Harry feel cramped like a canned sardine. He quickly slid to the end of his bench, and Hermione moved from across from him to sit on his right almost instantly. As the train crept along, slowly but surely picking up speed, his classmates had launched into a range of eager conversations. Harry had been hoping for a peaceful ride back, but couldn't ignore how nice it felt to see that there were seven people who viewed him as a close enough friend share a compartment with him.

"Harry! Hey, Earth to Harry!" A voice called, and Harry lifted his head. Seamus Finnegan was grinning and holding a few cards out to him. "Fancy one last game of Exploding Snap?" Harry nodded, gingerly grabbing the cards. He quickly joined the rest of the boys in the game, with all kinds of excited shouts and laughter ringing throughout the compartment.

After his last card – a Manticore – spontaneously combusted, Harry couldn't help but grin sheepishly and laugh along with his friends. He leaned back in his seat, in a significantly better mood than when he'd boarded the train. He glanced to his right to ask Hermione how she was feeling, but she was laser-focused on a book in her lap.

"What are you reading?"

She turned her head, jumping slightly. Harry wondered to himself how she could be so focused on reading amongst the rambunctiousness that their compartment had become. She smiled, lifting the book to reveal the cover: Saucy Tricks for Tricky Sorts.

"Harnessing your inner prankster?" Harry laughed, and Hermione shrugged.

"Just a bit of light reading. You never know when you might need to use the…" She glanced at the page she was reading. "Tickling Charm?" She offered sheepishly. Harry snorted and Hermione stifled a giggle of her own.

"Well, I'm very much looking forward to using the Tickling Charm next time Malfoy tries to challenge me to a duel. I'm sure it'll work wonders against whatever he tries," Harry laughed, and Hermione squeaked in embarrassment. The two turned back to their friends, who were enveloped in swapping Chocolate Frog cards amongst themselves.

"Harry! You want this one? Heard he came to visit you in the Hospital Wing, after all!" Dean Thomas called out, lobbing a card in Harry's direction. Harry snatched it out of the air, earning some sarcastic ooohs from his peers at his Quidditch skills. Harry turned the card over, and felt his stomach plummet at the sight of Albus Dumbledore.

Harry had gotten Dumbledore's card a dozen times by now, and each time the Headmaster's blue eyes were twinkling almost mischievously, a small smile on his face. This time, Harry saw a glare icy enough to freeze an ocean. He glanced uneasily at Hermione, who had gone back to reading her book on bizarre spells.

He sighed, closing his eyes as he recalled the series of fortunate and unfortunate events that had occurred over the last few days.

After their emotional conversation on the Hogwarts grounds, Hermione had dragged Harry through the castle with a fierce determination, the setting sun illuminating the corridors in a pleasant orange glow. The pair reached the portrait hole, and Hermione spat out the password so fast the Fat Lady said "Gesundheit!" before letting them in, clearly upset they didn't find her joke funny.

Harry let Hermione usher him over to their usual couch as she whipped out a roll of parchment and a quill. She leaned over the table and scribbled furiously, occasionally glancing at her best friend. Harry flashed her a small smile every time, feeling his mood lift gradually as Hermione's handwriting slowly filled the letter.

Even as his heart soared, Harry felt guilt welling up in his stomach. Hermione's parents – from the limited information he'd gathered from her – were perfectly nice, normal people. He'd spent ten years being an unwanted burden on two parents and their only child, and even the prospect of spending the summer with another family and being a walking inconvenience was nerve-wracking.

'I've never even met them…' he thought dejectedly to himself. He felt his palms sweat and urgently wiped them on his trousers, earning a worried glance from Hermione.

"Harry, please stop fretting." She urged. He nodded unenthusiastically and she threw down her quill, turning to face him. "Harry, this is a good thing. A great thing. You don't have to go back there. You'll get to spend the summer holidays with my parents and me. You're going to love them – they already love you from what I've told them!"

"They haven't even agreed yet…" Harry muttered.

"They will. Trust me, Harry."

Harry offered the best smile he could manage, but he couldn't hide his nervousness. Hermione sighed, then turned back to the table. Gingerly folding her parchment and placing it into an envelope, she stood up and held her hand out. Harry let out a sigh before allowing her to pull him to his feet.

"Hermione – oh!" He blurted as she threw her arms around him.

"Harry, everything is going to be alright." She whispered into his shoulder. Harry nodded, squeezing her back. The longer he stood in her arms, the more he felt his nervousness melt away. He inhaled, catching the scent of vanilla on her, and he smiled. A real smile. He stepped away from Hermione and met her eyes.

"Thank you, Hermione."

With that, the two marched out of the common room and towards the Owlery, Hermione clutching the letter in one hand and Harry's hand in the other.

"Hedwig really is an incredible creature, you know that Harry?" Hermione mused as a familiar snowy white owl fluttered into the Great Hall at breakfast the next day. "I suspect she's the only owl at Hogwarts who could go from here to my house and back in just one night!" Hedwig hooted quietly, her eyes lighting up as she nuzzled Hermione's hand.

"Keep up that flattery and she'll be going home with you no matter what that letter says." Harry muttered with a smile. Hermione quickly removed the letter tied to Hedwig's leg and ripped it open. Harry watched her eyes dart from left to right as she moved from line to line.

Harry felt his heart race as she kept reading. He tried to find something around him to be interested in, but he and Hermione were two of only a few students in the Great Hall. It was quite early, and considering there was no schoolwork to be done most of their friends were opting to sleep in as late as they pleased. Harry tried to focus on the stack of toast in front of him, but kept glancing back at his best friend.

"Harry, this is – "

"Mister Potter, Miss Granger." A stern voice spoke behind them, causing them both to jump. The two students turned around to see Professor McGonagall standing behind them, her lips pressed tightly together like always.

"Professor, is something wrong?" Harry asked.

"The Headmaster has asked to speak with the two of you in his office immediately." She responded curtly. Harry looked to the staff table and saw that Dumbledore's chair was uncharacteristically empty. "And he says you'd be wise to bring any Sugar Quills you might have." She added with a sigh. The two students nodded, then turned to each other. Harry was about to speak when they saw their head of house was still standing behind them.

"Professor?"

"I'd start walking now, Potter." She said, her eyes darkening with what appeared to be genuine concern. He nodded and pulled Hermione to her feet, and the pair hurried out of the Great Hall. Once they were out of sight of their peers, they began sprinting up the various staircases of Hogwarts, practically careening around corridors.

"Do you think we're in trouble?" Hermione gasped as they reached the gargoyle that guarded Dumbledore's office. Harry was too winded to speak right away, but just as he did Hermione groaned. "We should have grabbed some!" She lamented as her friend looked at her quizzically.

"Some what?"

"Sugar Quills! We forgot to –"

Suddenly, the gargoyle leapt aside, and the pair shared an amused look before taking the staircase to Dumbledore's study. Harry felt his heart hammering in his ribcage, but not from sprinting halfway around the castle. Gingerly stepping through the open door, the duo saw their Headmaster sitting pensively at his desk, drumming his fingers on the arms of his wooden chair.

"Professor, I know we've caused some headaches throughout this school year, but we really haven't done anything if – " Harry sputtered, but Dumbledore cut him off by lifting a hand.

"Harry, the two of you are not in trouble." He said calmly, his eyes flickering between the two behind his half-moon spectacles.

'Oh, well that makes you feel loads better, doesn't it?' Harry's inner voice mocked as the Headmaster stood up.

"Harry. Since you've been made aware of your true heritage, as a Wizard, did you ever wonder why you lived with the Dursleys for the last ten years?" Dumbledore asked. There was no emotion in his words, as if the question had been uttered by a brick wall.

"They're the only family I've got left, right?" Harry half asked, half answered. Dumbledore nodded, walking around the edge of his desk very slowly.

"It is true, the last of your blood family is your Aunt Petunia Dursley. But do you truly believe there weren't others willing to take you in? Friends of your parents, friends of mine, even your friend Hagrid implored me to let him take you with him the night you arrived at Privet Drive ten years ago." Dumbledore sighed as he sat on the front edge of his desk, never taking his eyes off of Harry.

"Are you saying he could have lived somewhere else?" Hermione asked in a tense voice, her hands clenched into fists.

The elderly Wizard sighed again, but nodded. His eyes remained locked onto Harry's as he spoke again: "Yes, Miss Granger. It was possible, but not without subjecting Harry to great risk. I understand that those words may seem cruel to you, Harry, and for that I truly am sorry. And Miss Granger, even a casual observer can see that you care about Harry's well-being a great deal. I have no doubts that these words may sting for you as well."

Hermione made a strangled cry in her throat. Harry didn't even know how to react, his mind racing to try and unpack what his Headmaster had just told him.

"It was agonizing to leave you with the Dursleys, believe me, but doing so was in your best interest." Harry flinched at that sentence. "Living with the Dursleys, with your aunt, offered you a protection strong enough to ward off even the most sinister of enemies. Your aunt's blood runs the same as your mother's – the woman whose sacrifice kept you alive a decade ago when Lord Voldemort tried to kill you. It is an ancient magic that not even the most powerful of wizards can overcome, and that includes Lord Voldemort. Remaining close to your aunt offers you a fortification similar to your mother's protection against those who would wish you harm." Dumbledore continued. He slid off of his desk with a sigh and went back to his chair. Harry felt as if his heart had been ripped out of his chest and launched off the Astronomy Tower.

"Why are you telling me this now?" Harry managed, his face heating up.

"Because, my dear boy, that letter in your friend's hand reads that Miss Granger's parents have agreed to host you for the summer, until school resumes on the First of September. Is that correct, Miss Granger?"

"How did you – "

"I don't need a cloak to become invisible." He answered in a cryptic voice. "Am I correct, Miss Granger?" He repeated.

Hermione managed a small nod, but her eyes were still a deadly dark brown – the same shade they'd been yesterday when Harry confirmed her suspicions about the Dursleys, when she'd looked angry. He felt his heart soar with excitement, and he barely managed to subdue his grin. Hermione managed to stop glaring at Dumbledore and turned to Harry with a warm smile, her eyes immediately lighting up. She handed him the letter, but before Harry could read one word Dumbledore spoke again.

"I will not outright stop you, let me be clear. I would be lying if I told you that the guilt that I carry around for leaving young Harry in Little Whinging is nearly unbearable for me. I simply felt that it was best for you both to be aware of the risks that will come with Harry spending his holidays somewhere other than with his relatives."

Harry and Hermione turned to each other, confused. Harry wasn't sure how to feel – should he be angry? Upset? His eyes darted between Hermione and Dumbledore, hoping one of them would speak first to clarify what the Headmaster meant.

"What exactly are you trying to say?" Hermione asked. Dumbledore let out a pained sigh.

"It means," He said, "that this decision could be putting you and your family at risk, Miss Granger. Protections can be offered, but nothing as strong as those offered by Harry's aunt."

Hermione was glaring at Dumbledore with a glare that was completely and utterly frigid, enough to send shivers down Harry's spine. Harry opened his mouth to speak, mostly hoping to stop the most unnerving staring contest he'd ever witnessed, but Hermione beat him to it.

"So you, or someone else, can place some sort of protections on my house?"

"Yes," the old man sighed, "but I once again am asking you to consider the potential consequences of this decision. I strongly urge you to – "

"Duly noted." Even Harry flinched at Hermione's sharp tone. "Have a good holiday, Professor." She added curtly before grabbing Harry by the arm and dragging him to the door. He turned his head just before the door closed to see Dumbledore looking down at the floor of his office.

Harry quickly turned the Chocolate Frog card over, desperate to put that conversation out of his mind. He ran a hand through his hair as he stifled a yawn, slowly returning to the present day. All eight of his classmates were still in the compartment, but it was much quieter now – much to Harry's delight. Seamus and Dean were debating Quidditch versus football, Neville was snoring, Ron was flipping through some Chocolate Frog cards, and Lavender and Pavarti were quietly discussing…something. Harry suddenly found it very difficult to focus on their hushed conversation when he noticed the weight on his right side.

He turned to look, only for his mouth and nose to be swallowed by a mane of bushy brown hair. He quickly turned back, fighting the urge to snort, as he saw that Hermione had fallen asleep on his shoulder. Harry smiled to himself and remained very still, moving only to close the open book that lay in his best friend's lap.

He sat in a content silence for the better part of an hour as the landscape that whisked by. Every few minutes Hermione would make a small noise in her throat as she dozed, eliciting a smile from the boy wizard. As mountains, rivers, farms, and villages flew in and out of sight as Harry gazed out the window, he suddenly remembered a line from their conversation with Dumbledore, and his heart slowed to a near standstill. After a few moments of an intense internal debate between letting his friend sleep and having a very important conversation, he gently shrugged his shoulder.

Hermione's lips – parted slightly for the duration of her snooze – closed as she curled them into a shy smile as her eyes fluttered open to meet Harry's. She scrunched her nose a bit and rubbed her neck as she sat up straight.

"Good morning." Harry smirked as Hermione yawned.

"Are we close?" She asked, glancing out the window.

"No idea," he answered, his palms starting to sweat, "but there's something I need to ask you."

"What's wrong?" It was a perfectly casual tone, but he felt her tense up beside him. He let out a shaky breath before he spoke.

"Do you…do you think Dumbledore had a point? About me putting you and your family in danger?" He managed, averting his eyes. He heard Hermione's breath hitch, and an uncomfortable silence enveloped them.

"Honestly, Harry, that's a contender for the stupidest thing I've ever heard you say." Hermione finally said, turning to him. Harry gaped, anticipating a much different reaction. She smirked and shook her head as if disappointed in him. "How many times could I have ditched you this year because it was too dangerous? How many?" She asked, nudging him with her elbow.

"Too many. But this is – "

"Harry Potter, if you tell me that this is different, I'm going to throw you out the window." Harry threw up his hands in surrender, cracking a smile at his friend's threat. "It's a risk worth taking. For you." She added for good measure, and Harry felt his heart rate quicken. The two shared a smile before turning back to their friends, who'd been trading snacks and candies for the duration of their conversation.

A half-hour later, the Hogwarts Express was pulling into King's Cross Station. One by one, the Gryffindor crew departed from their compartment, with everyone wishing each other a good holiday and everyone promising to write to one another. Harry and Hermione waited until the other six had exited before grabbing their belongings and disembarking from the train.

Harry and Hermione waited until each of their friends had left the compartment before disembarking with their belongings. The latter dragged the former straight to the muggle exit. Once they stepped through the brick wall, Hermione surveyed the area for her parents, while Harry tried to not draw attention to himself and Hedwig, who was hooting softly.

"Harry, do you see them?" Hermione asked, her eyes darting all around the platform.

"Hermione, I don't even know what your parents look like, how could I – "

"Oh, hush!" She hissed. Harry shrugged, scanning their surroundings. Now that he was on the platform, moments away from meeting Hermione's parents, he felt his nerves return and suddenly it was very difficult to stand upright. His legs wobbled uncertainly and he felt his stomach turning somersaults. He took in a few shaky breaths and tried to calm himself down.

'They're Hermione's parents. They raised Hermione! How bad can they be if they raised a daughter like Hermione?' He thought to himself, and gradually he steadied himself.

Of course, Harry had additional worries. Not only were these strangers taking him in, but they were also taking him in to spend the summer with their daughter. He'd caught glimpses of movies and TV shows at the Dursleys where parents – especially the father – were rather hostile towards the young men that their daughter spent time with. The boy wizard shuddered at the thought of giving Hermione's parents the wrong impression.

"Mum! Dad!" Hermione suddenly cried out. Harry gulped and quickly looked to where she was waving. A man and a woman were approaching them with grins plastered on their faces. Hermione suddenly raced forward and threw her arms around both of them.

Harry watched, feeling a bit awkward, as her parents reciprocated the hug. Each leaned in to give Hermione a kiss on the cheek, and Harry found himself averting his eyes absentmindedly. He managed a smile as Hermione turned back to him and dragged her parents over to him.

"You must be Harry!" Hermione's mother beamed, and Harry nodded sheepishly. The woman suddenly leaned in and wrapped him up in a hug, much to Harry's shock. He felt his nervous system practically short-circuit, and he stiffened in surprise, dropping Hedwig's cage – much to the owl's vexation. Hermione's mother quickly pulled away, her smile replaced with a look of genuine concern. "Oh dear…" she whispered to herself, but Harry just barely heard her.

"Well, sweetheart, aren't you going to introduce us before your mother sends the man running?" Hermione's father grinned, and both Hermione and her mother blushed.

"Harry, these are my parents. Mum, Dad, this is Harry Potter." She said matter-of-factly. Harry managed to pull himself together enough to recite the line he'd mentally practiced for the last half-hour on the train.

"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Granger," he said, extending his hand. Hermione's father smiled in surprise and shook it. Harry turned to his wife. "Mrs. Granger." He said, and the woman smiled once again.

"Call me Jean, Harry." She offered.

"I'm Dan, but keep calling me Mr. Granger." Hermione's father said with a wink, and the four of them broke into laughter at that, even Harry, who felt his nervousness slowly ebbing away.

"Well, we're so glad to finally meet you. Hermione's been telling us all about you for the past ten months in all her letters." Jean winked at her daughter.

"Mum!" Hermione gasped, her cheeks flushing as her parents smirked.

"Well, I suppose we ought to get out of here before traffic gets too bad. May I, Harry?" Mr. Granger asked politely, leaning down to grab Harry's trunk.

"Oh, that's alright sir, I can manage." Harry stammered, quickly picking up his trunk. Mr. Granger stepped back a bit but shook his head.

"Harry, it's the least I can do. How about you carry that nice owl of yours?" He insisted. Harry looked into his eyes, 'Hermione's eyes' he thought to himself, and saw that they were genuine. Harry managed a nod, and Mr. Granger flashed him a meaningful smile. "This way I don't have to carry Hermione's – she's got an entire library in there." He whispered with a wink, and Harry couldn't help but grin.

If Harry had any doubts that the Grangers were nice people, they had vanished entirely as the four of them made their way across the platform. Harry picked up Hedwig's cage in one hand and felt a familiar warmth slip into his other hand. He turned to see a beaming Hermione, and the pair followed her parents to the exit, sporting giant smiles.

All was well.

A/N: Hi everyone! I know I usually post chapters earlier in the day, but I had a ton of schoolwork (and actual work at my job) so I ran into some unexpected delays. That said, this chapter was almost entirely written sprint-style. I figured a chapter like this should be written from the heart, so that's what I did to the best of my ability.

Harry is going to have a happy summer! Yay! Dumbledore was honest but not a manipulative prick! Yay! The Grangers are nice! Yay! Hopefully you guys smiled while reading this chapter as much as I did while writing it. I have a totally free schedule tomorrow, so expect an update earlier in the day than this one.

Once again, I cannot thank my reviewers, followers, and favorite-rs enough for doing what they do. All of your kind words mean the world to me, I'm so glad I created something to make your day just a little bit better. That's what it's all about! Please do drop a review/follow/fave if you are enjoying this story, and more than anything: Stay safe!