Sunlight streamed through the windows, bathing the castle in a golden summer glow. For the first time in his life, he was actually looking forward to it. Immediately after leaving Dumbledore's office, they had headed straight for the Room Of Requirement to tell Sirius the good news.
"Do you think we should have gone with him?" Harry asked. Sirius had gone to meet with Dumbledore and from there floo to the ministry. Now that he'd had his name successfully cleared, it was time to come out hiding.
"If he'd wanted us there he would have asked. Besides you need to rest," Hermione answered chidingly.
"I'm fine. Honestly!" He said fervently when she gave him a look of skepticism. "I'm all healed up, Madame Pomphrey gave me a clean bill of health and everything."
"I know. But I'm worried about your mental state. The wizarding world really ought to have some kind of therapy" She muttered critically.
"I'll add it the list of things we need to fix" He teased lightly. Hermione rolled her eyes at him.
"Speaking of things we need to fix, we only have a few days left until summer holidays. So we'll need to go down into the chamber and collect the basilisk venom before then." Harry paused to consider this.
"Let's go right then" He decided. We've wasted enough time as is."
"Harry" Hermione replied with exasperation.
"I'll be okay" He emphasized. "And believe me it'll be much easier to do without a basilisk staring me down. I'll be in and out like that. He snapped his fingers.
"All right, all right. Let's go then" She relented.
"Dobby" Harry called. There was a flash and the house elf appeared.
"It is good to be seeing your sir and miss" Dobby greeted.
"Thanks for giving me the gillyweed earlier. It was a big help."
"Anything for Harry Potter!"
"Listen we could use your help again if you're up for it."
"Yes of course sir! Dobby would love to help!"
"Great. Er could you by chance check Snape's stores for something that can contain basilisk venom."
"Dobby is at your service!" Another flash and the elf disappeared again. Fifteen to twenty minutes passed and he reappeared with a black circular container made of some kind of thick metal. "Here you are, sir! It was labeled as being able to hold any kind of poison" He explained proudly.
"This is perfect, Dobby. Thanks again!" Harry said, wishing he had a sock to give him in exchange.
"How's winky?" Hermione asked. Dobby's face fell.
"I'm afraid she is in very bad shape, miss. I think that if nothing changes, soon she will not go on living much longer."
"That's awful! Isn't there anything we can do?" She asked eyes brow knitting in concern.
"Winky needs a master or mistress. It is the only thing that can be of help."
"But she's finally free from her awful master! If she could just realize how lucky she is-"
"Winky is not like me. It is no good to be a free elf if it means you are also a dead elf."
Hermione gave Harry a look of distress. He turned to Dobby. "Do you think if I asked her to be my house elf, she would agree?"
"Harry, no! How could even think of doing such a thing!?" Hermione cried.
"I'm sorry Hermione, I know how you feel about it but there's nothing else we can do. If I don't do this she'll die!"
"No, there has to be another way!"
"There isn't time to come up with one. You know I'd treat her well, much better than the Crouch family did. Please, let me save her-"
Hermione looked so torn up inside at this, warring within herself as if about burst in two. Finally she hung head. "Do it." Harry hated how pained he was making her.
Dobby apparated Harry into the kitchens and he found Winky in terrible shape. She indeed looked close to death. "Winky" He said softly, voice breaking. She looked up at him with hollow, vacant eyes.
"Would you like to be my house elf?" Winky shook her head.
"Please, don't you want to have a master again?"
"Winky only wants to serve Master Crouch" She said weakly.
"I'm sorry. I can't offer you that. But I would love to have you as my house elf. Please Winky" He begged.
"Listen to Harry Potter" Dobby told her. "Dobby does not want to lose Winky."
"…Do you have a place that needs keeping?" The female elf finally said.
"Er yeah, a great big manor" He replied, thinking of Grimmauld place. "It's in very bad shape."
"Then Winky will be your elf." Harry felt a wave of relief hit him.
"Thank you!" He exclaimed. "So is that it? Do we have to do anything special or-"
"Winky swears her loyalty to Master Potter" There was a flash of light and suddenly the house elf looked better than he had ever seen her. "It is done."
"Dobby is so very happy for Winky!" Dobby hugged her. "Thank you Harry Potter. Dobby will never forget what you did for her."
"You're welcome."
"What is Master Potter's first order for Winky?" Winky looked at him eagerly.
"Oh you don't have to do anything" Harry was quick to assure her but the elf looked down sadly. "Alright I guess you can er—go up to gryffindor tower and start packing my things?" He figured that was a small enough task for her though he felt guilty doing it.
"Right away Master!" And with a pop Winky was gone.
Harry found Hermione sobbing in an empty classroom. He rushed to her side. "Oh Hermione, I'm so sorry." He'd hurt her a lot by what he'd done and he didn't know how he was going to make it up to her.
She looked up at him, face red and puffy before turning away again without a word. "You should've seen her, it was as bad as Dobby said. I really don't think would have lived much longer. But once I accepted her as my elf, she looked better than I've ever seen her. I know you're hurt that it had to come this, but really seems to have worked out well for her."
Hermione made no response to this. Harry figured it was pretty bad if she couldn't even talk to him. After a few more minutes of trying to get her to answer him to no avail he decided to give her some space.
I love you, Mione and I'll be there whenever you're ready to talk. He stood up with the intention of leaving only to be stopped as Hermione's hand shot out and grabbed his, pulling him in. She buried her face in his chest, drenching his robes with her tears.
Stay, Was her only response. So he did.
"Ready?"
"Ready."
Fortunately, it hadn't taken long to make up once they'd gotten started, and Harry was glad things were back to normal between them.
Harry made a hissing sound that was parselmouth for, "open" and the entrance revealed itself. He then helped Hermione onto his firebolt and together they flew down into the Chamber Of Secrets.
Hermione clung to him tightly the whole way down with an, "I don't like this, oh I really don't like this." Harry only wished there were a more convenient way to get there.
They walked hand in hand down the tunnel and Harry opened the second entrance with more parseltongue. When the doors slid open, Hermione shrieked upon first spotting the dead carcass of the basilisk.
"Harry that thing is huge!" She exclaimed. "I can't believe you actually killed it all by yourself."
"Well mostly by myself, Fawkes did help some" He replied sheepishly.
"Still" She remarked looking around in awe. "You really are amazing."
"All I could think about at the time was you lying in that hospital bed, as if carved out of stone" Harry admitted. Hermione's eyes softened and she kissed him.
Harry then pulled out the container and very carefully scooped at much venom as he could into it, being very careful not to let the venom touch his skin
Suddenly there a loud hissing sound and Harry saw something swoosh past him out of the corner of his eye.
"Harry!" Hermione tugged fearfully on his arm. And then he saw it, a basilisk slithering towards them.
"Impossible!" He exclaimed in awe. How could there be another one? Surely he would have met with it when he came down here the first time.
"Kiiiiillll!" The basilisk hissed in parseltongue.
"Don't look it in the eyes!" Harry warned Hermione.
"I know, I know! Or I'll be petrified again" He felt her body shudder at the memory of it.
"Where did you come from?" He asked the basilisk in parseltongue.
"I was born here. I am the keeper of the chamber as my mother before me. You must diiie!"
It was then that Harry spotted it, a strange kind of nest with a broken egg in hidden away in the corner of the vast chamber. So the basilisk he killed had laid an egg sometime before its death. And now two years later the egg had hatched and a new basilisk had been born, already having grown to full size by this point.
"We'll leave" He assured it.
"Kill must kill!" It charged at them. Harry pointed his wand at it, wracking his brain for the right spell but it was hard to think under such pressure. Then he had an idea.
"I command you in the name of Salazar Slytherin, cease your attack!"
"You have no power over meee!"
"Well it was worth a shot" Harry muttered. He thrust his wand out. "Accio firebolt!" He and Hermione jumped onto the broom then zoomed toward the entrance but were soon blocked by the serpent.
He first cast a shield charm around him and Hermione, then though he had promised to never use the dark curse again, shout out,
"Sectumsempra!"
It proved to be even more effective than the sword of gryffindor. Blood and venom rained down as the serpent collapsed, slowly dying from the loss of so much blood. They then flew up and out of the chamber, and back into the castle proper.
Harry helped Hermione push her trunk into the empty compartment of the train and then they sat together, feeling grateful for a calm quiet moment alone for a change.
The last few days of school had been hectic. Everywhere they went, whispers and rumors had followed them. It seemed the ministry had already done a good job convincing the public that Harry was, once again, an attention seeking liar. That his story of what really happened during the third task, that Voldemort had returned, wasn't true. Harry began to worry that fifth year was going end up much the same as last time.
Fortunately in spite of the ministry, many people were already skeptical. They had seen Harry come back with a death eater disguised as an animagus, had watched Dumbledore turn the rat back into Peter Pettigrew. And Sirius Black had been cleared of all crimes the next day. Even though none of them had a full picture of all that went on there, one thing was clear, it had lent quite a bit of credibility to Harry's story.
Luna had been the first to say she believed Harry, and that her daddy would be more than happy to interview him again for the full story.
Next came the twins and Neville, also assuring him that they knew he was telling the truth. This warmed Harry to his core and gave him a tiny bit of hope that things were still turning out better than last time.
"Quite the year we've had, eh?" Hermione asked once they'd gotten settled in their compartment.
"Much better than last time though" He replied smiling.
"Oh much better" She agreed. "Last time I'd all but given up on you. And now" There was no need to finish, they both looked at each other lovingly.
They sat together in silence for some time, just enjoying being in one another's company, when suddenly the compartment door slid open.
"Hello Harry, Hello Hermione" Luna greeted them. "Mind if I come in?"
"Not at all" They replied in unison.
"See, I told you we wouldn't be bothering them" She said as Neville peeked his head around the door shyly.
"Hi, Neville!" Hermione greeted.
"Come sit down both of you" Harry told them. Luna and Neville obliged, looking very happy at the invitation.
"Neville thought you'd be snogging or we would've joined you sooner" Luna said bluntly.
"Luna!" Neville exclaimed at this betrayal, blushing furiously.
"Well we were but don't worry, we'll get it in later" Harry replied impishly.
"Not in front of my parents we won't" Hermione protested when she picked up on the thought he was having. He grinned at her and winked. She playfully shoved him in response.
"I wish I had a boyfriend to snog" Luna said wistfully and Harry could have sworn her eyes darted over to Neville for half a second. Neville seemed to pick up on this too and coughed awkwardly, then changed the subject.
"Is it true Sirius Black is your godfather, Harry?"
"Yeah he is. In fact we're hoping to spend a lot of time with him this summer, now that he's free" Harry answered.
"I always knew Stubby Boardman was innocent" Luna said.
"Who?" Neville turned to her confused.
"Sirius Black of course" She replied and began explaining the crazy conspiracy from The Quibbler she believed in.
Er…right" Was all the poor boy could respond with, shooting Harry a nervous look that clearly said, help me. Harry and Hermione burst into laughter at the same time.
Having only briefly met Hermione's parents once before, Harry wasn't quite sure what to expect. Mr. and Mrs. Granger were both very plain looking and polite. Their daughter gave them a big hug and then reintroduced them to him.
"Good to see you again" Mr. Granger shook his hand firmly.
"We're so happy to have you come and stay with us" Mrs. Granger said with a kind smile.
The ride to Hermione's house was very quiet and awkward. It was so unlike being with the Weasleys and Harry wasn't sure how to act.
Just be yourself, they already know all about you from my letters over the years, Hermione advised him telepathically.
Do they know we're married? Came his cheeky response, lightening the tension Harry had been feeling.
Hermione's face reddened. Well no. But they don't know about the troll either, or my being petrified in second year.
Why not?
I don't want to worry them or risk them pulling me out of Hogwarts.
They would do that? He asked in astonishment.
They might so please don't bring any of it up.
Hermione's parents made small talk with Harry the rest of the way there and before they knew it, they had arrived.
Hermione's parents made small talk with Harry the rest of the way there and before they knew it, they had arrived.
The house was a nice size, not too small, not too big and much like her parents, very plain and simple. It was well furnished, everything neat and clean.
Hermione had a little skip in her step as she gave him a tour of her home. "There's the kitchen, the dining room, we have three bathrooms, my bedroom is right over there and yours is the guest room, the one across from mine" She pointed out, chattering away happily. Harry wheeled his trunk into the room and looked it over. The queen size bed was made nicely with soft blue sheets and pillows. There was a dresser of dark wood and a mirror, along with a tiny closet.
It was nice and yet it along with the rest of the house felt so…lonely. It was pretty lonely, Hermione admitted softly, picking up on his thoughts. I didn't have any friends before coming to Hogwarts. Her eyes glistened with tears but she smiled. You were my first real friend, Harry.
And you were mine too, though I didn't realize it at the time. His thoughts drifted to a person he hadn't thought of in months. I'm sorry I didn't become your friend right away. I was so concerned with following Ron's lead, that I let him treat you horribly.
Shhh, Harry it's ok. I understand why you did what you did. I never held it against you so don't go blaming yourself.
She reached up and caressed his cheek then pulled his face to hers and pressed her lips against his. Harry kissed her back passionately, wrapping his arms around her, practically sinking into her. Her tongue slipped into his mouth and intertwined with his. He moaned softly. Hermione pulled him onto the bed, sitting on his lap, kissing him harder and harder.
Suddenly there was a loud, "Ahem!" And they broke apart instantly, faces red. Mr. Granger was standing in the doorway looking cross. "Come into the living room, we need to have a talk" He said sternly. Harry gulped nervously. He and Hermione scrambled to untangle themselves from each other.
As soon as they were seated on the sofa, Mr. Granger began. "Ever since you told me you were dating, I worried this was going to be a problem. So let's lay down some ground rules. I want the bedroom door open at all times when you're in there together and no sitting in the bed."
"Dad!" Hermione protested indignantly.
"Hermione darling please, you're only fifteen. Please try to understand that I don't make these rules as a punishment."
"I know that but you can trust me. We're not going to do anything, we're hardly ready for that." Harry's whole body felt like it was on fire with embarrassment when she said that last part.
"It can be very easy to get carried away as I saw you doing just a moment ago."
"We're very sorry, sir!" Harry apologized but Hermione looked unrepentant and angry.
"I'm a witch, Dad. Don't you think I've been prepared for that? Our world has potions to prevent any surprises. And they have 100% efficiency unlike the muggle equivalents."
"Truly?" Mr. Granger asked in astonishment then quickly recovered. "That's besides the point. What happened to wanting to wait til marriage? You've always said that you would." Hermione blushed.
"That hasn't changed" She whispered.
"What?" Her father wore a look of confusion now.
Harry, I think we should tell them.
What? Are you sure?
Yes, I don't want to keep this from them.
I don't think your dad's going take it well.
I know but ever since I saw them at the train station I can't stop thinking about how I wiped their memories in the previous timeline. We want to change things this time around and I think I'd like to include my parents in that.
Well they're your parents and I trust your judgement. But expect me to have a red face the whole rest of our stay here.
Hermione giggled. Then turned to her father. "Please go find mom, there's something we have to tell you both."
Suffice it to say neither of them took it well. Mr. Granger was angry. Mrs. Granger was worried.
"How can they just take your autonomy away like that? One kiss and your stuck with each other for life? That's preposterous!"
"I don't know, dear" Mrs. Granger cut in. "It's kind of sweet in a way."
"Sweet?! It's barbaric! What if this had happened when they were even younger? Would they still become married?"
Harry and Hermione exchanged a look, they had never thought of that.
"For a society with magic it sure is backwards!" Mr. Granger ranted for a good half over, not letting anyone get word in until at last Mrs. Granger stepped in.
"Are you happy?" She asked, eyes soft.
"Yes" Harry answered at the same time as Hermione who said, "More than I've ever been in my life."
"That's all I want to hear." She then dragged her husband from the room who wasn't so ready to accept it.
Dinner was awkward, no one spoke much, especially Mr. Granger who was still fuming while Mrs. Granger tried to make small talk with the two of them.
It was strange to sleep in an unfamiliar room but Harry figured he would get used to it in time. That is if Mr. Granger didn't kick him out at some point.
Harry was awoken in the middle of the night, surprised to find that Hermione had slipped into bed with him.
"Don't worry" She whispered softly. "I'll be gone before my parents wake up in the morning." It wasn't often that Hermione acted rebelliously and it always made him smile. He wrapped his arms around her and they settled down to sleep.