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Chapter 6

A True Friend

It was near six in the evening when Harry left The Leaky Cauldron and entered London. He had never bought clothes for himself with the exception of wizard robes for school, and felt rather lost. He walked a couple blocks to a nicer section of town and looked at the shops. Choosing a men's store that looked like it was geared toward his age, he entered, swiftly changed into his real looks, and glanced around for a sympathetic looking clerk.

A pretty young woman came up to him. "Can I help you?" she smiled, but Harry noticed she was eyeing his hand-me-downs rather dubiously.

He smiled pleasantly at her. Looking embarrassed, he said "Um yes, we just lost everything in a house fire, and a rather large neighbor was kind enough to give me some clothing until we could start replacing everything. I need an entire new wardrobe, and would appreciate any advice. I'm lousy at picking my own clothes." He gave her a 'helpless male' look that would melt the heart of the strongest maid.

"Yes sir!" She gushed sympathetically, and mothered him for the next two hours. Harry felt like she was playing dress-up doll with as her personal Ken, but he had to admit she had excellent taste.

He left the store with several huge shopping bags crammed with jeans, shirts, slacks, shoes, socks, and undergarments. He swiftly changed back to his 'Edward Evans' persona, and Harry found a close hotel and checked in, changed clothing and happily discarded Dudley's old rags. He left again, finding another store that was open late. One nice leather jacket later, he returned to the hotel and treated himself to lovely meal.

Returning to his hotel, Harry picked up the phone and dialed Hermione. He knew the Dursley's phones were not safe to use, but didn't think Dumbledore would bother with the Granger's. He was please when Hermione picked up the phone herself. "Hello?" he heard her say, and was surprised to find he had been holding his breath.

"Hermione? It's me, Harry!"

"Harry! What are you doing on the phone – will your relatives get you in trouble?"

"Listen, I'm not going to talk long. I ran into my cousin Edward Evans – he's coming to see you tomorrow. He should be there around 9 in the morning. OK? You remember him – the curly haired bloke from Suffolk."

"Oh, yeah!" Hermione caught on immediately, and Harry breathed with relief.

"OK – hope to see you soon! I hope Dumbledore will let me."

"Bye Harry, thanks for calling"

"Bye".

Harry hung up the phone, pleased with himself. If her phone was magically bugged, then he would have some explaining a non-existent cousin visiting his best friend, so he spent some time thinking up good excuses if needed.

He was knackered from a day of shopping and elation, so Harry retired to bed early. "Forgot pajamas" he muttered. "I'll get some tomorrow." He spent a short while emptying his mind the goblin manner, and drowsily realized he hadn't had a vision or nightmare since his training with Griphook had started in earnest. "I'll bet Dumbledore or Snape could have taught me something to help…" and he drifted off to a full night of blissful rest.

Harry woke up refreshed and pleased to see it was only 7 am. Happily he cut all the tags off his new clothing and placed them all in his satchel, neatly folded. He made sure the book and satchel for Hermione were in the top of everything, and went down stairs for breakfast before checking out.

Looking around the small café, Harry mused to himself how fun life could be when nobody knew you and you had a little money. He had never felt so alive, and couldn't remember a time he ever enjoyed himself more. Thanks to Griphook's training, he didn't even feel twinges from his link with Voldemort. With a small sigh of pleasure, he drank the last of his coffee, left a tip and checked out of the hotel.

Flagging down a taxi, he relaxed and enjoyed the ride to Hermione's house. He winced at the meter – yes he was rich, but he had spent his whole life being poor, and he didn't think he'd ever be able to throw away money like some celebrities. An hour later the taxi pulled in front of a nice looking home in a pleasant neighborhood. Harry paid the fare, and with a spring in his step walked up to the front door and rang the bell.

Hermione opened the door and squealed believably "Cousin Edward! Come in!" She grabbed his hand and yanked him in so hard Harry rubbed his shoulder. Once the door was shut, she looked at him quizzically and asked "Harry, is that really you?"

"Are your folks here?" he asked innocently? When Hermione shook her head, Harry cast some silencing charms, and she led him to the parlor. With a grin he changed his looks back and Hermione gasped with delight and gave him a heartfelt hug.

"Harry, we have some catching up to do. You missed the reading of Sirius' will, but I'll tell you all about it. And we need to talk about, "Hermione glanced nervously around the room, "Professor Dumbledore and others. But first, please tell me where you learned how to charm your looks like that! And aren't you afraid of getting caught by the Ministry?"

Harry laughed with enjoyment. The sun was hitting Hermione's hair, and he wondered why he had never noticed what a pretty shade of auburn it was. She wasn't the large-toothed bushy haired kid he met in first year any more – she was really pretty. He looked into her eyes while she was talking, and could see clearly her loyalty for him, and a growing distrust of Dumbledore and Ron, and discreetly backed out of her thoughts.

He gave her the quickest run down he could of his meeting with Griphook, minis the bit about being at Sirius' will reading. Hermione gasped with tears in her eyes when he told her about his parents will and how Dumbledore had betrayed him over the years. He brought out his notebook he had started on examples of Dumbledore's dealings, and she quickly added a few of her own.

"I wanted to tell you about Dumbledore so badly, but I had no way to get through to you. I had hoped you would figure out my reference to the goblin war of 1218, as I couldn't trust owls or phone." She looked down sadly. I knew he was keeping you from the reading of Sirius' will when I overhead a conversation between Professor Lupin and Tonks – did you know there is a portrait of Sirius?"

Harry smiled at her. "I was at the reading, Hermione".

"Oh!" She gasped with realization, "your cloak!"

"Nope!" Harry grinned. "More help from Griphook! I was actually one of the background wizards in that painting on the wall! And don't worry – I have Sirius' painting now, at Privet Drive this very moment".

The two of them spent a lovely time giggling about hiding in paintings and what it was like, and then discussing how revolting Ron acted at the reading.

"Um, Hermione," Harry turned beet red, "can I ask you about Ron? I know you fancied him for a long time, and, well, I was curious…"

Hermione twiddled her thumbs and looked down at them. She gazed at Harry and took a deep breath. "Please promise you will keep this to yourself, Harry. When I'm near him, I can't think of anything else, but when he's away, I really can't stand him. I don't trust him anymore – I haven't for a while, but seeing that he was your best mate, I didn't want to lose you as a friend. I don't know why I feel so strongly about him when he's near – he's not really nice or good looking or smart or brave. I'd think I was enchanted, but he's not clever enough to do that."

"No, he's not, but Dumbledore is" Harry growled. He rubbed his Potter family ring and saw the familiar blue glow of the loyalty charm coming from a locket she was wearing. "Where did you get that locket, Hermione? That is what has been spelled – to reinforce your feelings for Ron. He gave me a sneakoscope from Egypt with the same enchantment on it."

She removed the locket and glared at it. "What a dirtbag" she spat. "Ron gave it to me for Christmas. She watched as Harry removed the enchantment from the jewelry and handed it back.

"I'd keep wearing it at school so they don't suspect anything. We need to play along until we are strong enough to break away. I want you to finish school, but I might not – I've got a lot of training ahead of me, and at least two nasty wizards to take down." Harry sighed. "Let me tell you about the true prophecy now – not the lies that Dumbledore fed me." He pulled out the sphere with the goblin prophecy and played it for Hermione.

"Let me write down a copy of that" she said, grabbing a notebook and pen. "Hum", she said, chewing on the end of her pen. "You are obviously the child they are talking of, and it seems to refer to Voldemort, Dumbledore and Fudge, doesn't it? What about the three friends? Are they talking about the four founders?"

"I'm not sure, Hermione" Harry said, leaning back on the couch. "I kind of think it refers to me and three others. I think you are one, and I have an inkling that Neville and Luna are the other two. I won't know until I see them next."

"Who says it has to be all humans, Harry?" Hermione asked him with serious eyes. "Perhaps it makes more sense if it's you, Griphook, and two others – say a house-elf and Hagrid?"

"Well", Harry leaned back, pondering, "I think that's the other part. I think the four Wizards will be joined by goblins or whomever. For now I'm just going to keep on with my private training and keep my knowledge from Dumbledore and anyone I'm not positive about. I can't face Voldemort yet, but I must soon, and Griphook's help has given me a serious advantage already. I know I can trust you and Fred and George, but I need to find out about Remus and Tonks."

He took a deep breath. "Anyway, Hermione, I really need to apologize. I'm so sorry you got hurt at the Ministry. I should have listened to you, I should have been more cautious, and I should never have put my friends in danger."

Hermione looked at him calmly. "Harry – you've got to stop blaming yourself for everything. We knew it was a risk. We all went willingly. I'm all healed and there is nothing to forgive. Please try to work through your grief and move on."

With that, Harry reached into his satchel. "Well, then, time for late birthday presents!" and he tossed her copy of 'Hogwarts: A History' with a grin.

Hermione squealed like he had hoped she would. She thumbed through the book, cooing over the revision number and added chapters, and Harry found himself watching her with intense joy. He mused to himself how Ron and he had always teased Hermione about her book addiction, and then relied on her hard work and research to carry them through school, and how he had never truly appreciated her for her talents and drive.

"Well, here's something to put it in" Harry smiled and tossed her the satchel he bought for her. This gift went over just as well – the charms were hugely appreciated, and she really liked the honey colored leather.

They would have gone out to eat, but Harry felt it was too dangerous for Hermione to leave her house, even disguised. He conjured up lunch for the two of them as they chatted away.

"What are your plans now?" Hermione asked Harry as they finished the last of their meal. She looked him over critically. "This summer has been good to you, Harry. You aren't half starved and beaten like other years."

Harry blushed. "Well, I should leave in a few. I promised Sirius I'd be back home today, and I don't want him to worry, even if it's not the real him. I have an idea I really think you will like. The goblins reached out to me to give me help in defeating Voldemort, but in the long range, I think they want me to help in unifying the magical world. I know this is up your alley. I'm going to contact Dobby and see if I can determine if he is loyal to me, or Dumbledore first. If it's me, then I'm going to learn all I can about the house-elves and what they truly need and want, and see if I can get some training in their magic. They are really good at apparating and conjuring over long distances."

Hermione's grin was from ear to ear. "Harry, that's wonderful! Maybe they will finally fight for their independence too!"

Harry blushed again, and looked down at his feet. "Don't get your hopes up for that, Hermione. Humans want freedom and independence, but I really don't think house-elves do. They really do seem to live to serve. But they should never have to put up with an evil master or be treated like slaves. They should be part of a family, not a belonging. I'm going to find out all I can about their history and their honest needs. Were they always servants? Do they have a leader or a government? How do they meet other elves and marry? We don't know anything about them, but Dobby sure has some power – you should have seen him throw Lucius Malfoy across that passage way our second year! And Malfoy didn't dare fight back."

She smiled at her friend. "I'll drop S.P.E.W., I promise. I probably wouldn't have kept on about it as long as I had, if it hadn't worked Ron up so much. You are right – they are different from us. If I can help, and I'd love to, let me know. Perhaps I need to work for the better treatment of house-elves instead of freedom as we see it."

"I think it's time for me to go" Harry said sadly. I'd like to see your folks, but the fewer people who know I can get around, the better." As a last thing before leaving, Harry made a forth hand on his new watch, to keep track of Hermione's safety.

Hermione gave him a hug, and Harry was surprised to find it didn't embarrass him for once – it actually felt good. He returned it briefly with a smile, and was gratified to see her cheeks had flushed a pretty shade of pink.

"Don't you have to change back to your Edward look?" Hermione asked him with concern.

"Nope –now that I know where you live, I can apparate directly here from now on. When do your folks work so I know when it's clear?"

"Tuesday through Saturday, Harry. You are welcome any time to visit! I miss you. Thanks for the great gifts, too."

Harry gave her a smile and a wave and disappeared back to Privet Drive.

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