Disclaimer: I Don't Own Anything to Do With Harry Potter.
Chapter 7: Young Love and an Offer
Tuesday, January 4th, 1994
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Harry woke up and after getting ready for the day went down to the common room with Ron to meet Hermione. During the ride to Hogwarts on the express, Harry told Ron and Hermione everything that had happened during the holiday. Hermione was shocked to find out that Dumbledore had been replaced without anyone knowing for six months, but even more so when she found out that Harry agreed to meet with Grindelwald and Voldemort. She'd been ready to lay into him when the train pulled into the station. After the feast she was stopped again in the common room by Oliver Wood taking Harry and Ron to a Quidditch meeting before bed. Harry could see as they walked down the stairs that the hours that Hermione had to think about everything hadn't helped.
"We need to talk." said Hermione.
"I'll see the two of you in the Great Hall." said Ron quickly leaving the common room followed by several others.
"Now, Hermione…" started Harry.
"Harry, I know you think I'm mad and that I want to yell at you, but I don't. I am worried though. Grindelwald was unstoppable and everything we've heard about Voldemort says that he's worse and you carelessly agreed to a meeting with the two of them." said Hermione.
"I understand that, Hermione, but it's what I have to do." said Harry.
"Why?" asked Hermione.
"We've known for two years that Voldemort didn't die, but that's all we know. Why did he attack and kill my family? Why did I survive?" asked Harry.
"Do you honestly think Voldemort will answer your questions?" asked Hermione.
"Maybe, maybe not, but I think that this is the right thing to do." said Harry.
"You're going to meet with two of the most dangerous Dark Wizards the Wizarding World has ever known. You're going to get yourself killed." said Hermione crying.
Harry pulled Hermione into a hug.
"If Grindelwald wanted to kill me he could've easily done it at Sirus' house. Voldemort might be an issue, but if Grindelwald is serious about this meeting then I have a feeling I'll be under his protection." said Harry.
Hermione's stomach rumbled interrupting the conversation.
"Let's get some breakfast before Ron eats it all." said Hermione.
DL
After breakfast Remus stopped Harry.
"I know that Dumbledore convinced the Ministry to remove the Dementor's, but are you still interested in learning the Patronus Charm?" asked Remus.
"Definitely. I don't like the feeling that there is something out there that makes me that weak." said Harry.
"What did I tell you, Harry?" asked Remus.
"I know. I'm not weak." said Harry.
"Remember that always, Harry. Meet me in the DADA classroom after dinner." said Remus giving him a pass in case he was late to History.
DL
Harry returned to the common room after working with Remus. He managed to produce a shield and Remus told him to try and come up with a stronger memory for the next time they met. Ron was playing chess with Dean, but Hermione was sitting on one of the couches staring at the fire.
"What are you thinking about?" asked Harry sitting down next to her.
"Nothing really." said Hermione. Harry stared at her knowing that something was on her mind so she continued. "I was just thinking about how you said you have to have two wives."
"Anything in particular about it?" asked Harry.
"It's just not fair. I never thought I'd ever find anyone who wanted to be with me and when I do I find out that I'll have to share them." said Hermione.
"I know and I'm sorry…" started Harry.
"I know it's not your fault, Harry. It's just that I love you so much and I don't know how I'll handle not being your only one." said Hermione.
Harry was staring at Hermione eyes wide.
"You love me?" asked Harry quietly.
Hermione blushed realizing what she had said, but stayed silent.
"Hermione?" asked Harry.
"Can we just pretend that I didn't say that?" asked Hermione.
"I don't think I can, but I'll try if that's what you want." said Harry.
"What do you want, Harry?" asked Hermione.
"I want to know if you meant it." said Harry.
"I do. I love you, Harry. I have ever since first year." said Hermione.
"I love you too, Hermione." said Harry and Hermione grabbed him and kissed him.
"Well, Fred, look at the two lovebirds." said George.
"It's a shame to have to put a stop to their fun." said Fred.
"You better have a good excuse and it better not be Quidditch related." said Hermione threateningly.
"We had nothing to do with it, but Oliver wants to…, we'll tell him that Harry is busy." said George when Hermione pulled her wand out.
"Now where were we?" asked Hermione when Fred and George ran off.
"You know you can be scary sometimes." said Harry.
Hermione just responded by pulling Harry into another kiss.
Saturday, January 8th, 1994
Harry and Hermione decided to visit Sally after Harry's Quidditch practice. Harry was rubbing Sally's scales since she reminded him of how much he'd been neglecting her while Hermione was reading another of the journals from Slytherin's vault. Suddenly she came running out of the room.
"He found them!" yelled Hermione.
"Found who?" asked Harry.
"He found the Potter's. It's all right here. There was an attack in the village that Salazar was staying in and he fought with the villagers to save several burning homes. One of the families that he helped ended up being Potter's and they introduced him to others in the family. He mentions that even though only a few were actually bonded to a Dragon that everyone had some of the abilities that he'd heard about. Unfortunately he wasn't able to find out how the abilities worked and says nothing about how the Potter's are able to access this power. He hypothesized that the skill was taught from Potter to Potter and that the only ones who truly understood were the ones actually bonded to a Dragon." said Hermione.
"Well at least I know it can be done, but how will I ever be able to learn? It's not like I can just run into a Dragon and there are no Potter's to teach me." said Harry.
"I'm sorry, Harry. I promise we'll figure it out eventually." said Hermione.
Sunday, February 13th, 1994
After the disaster that was Gilderoy Lockhart, Harry knew that there wouldn't be anything special done for Valentine's Day by Hogwarts so he needed to come up with something for Hermione. He tried talking to Ron about it, but he might as well have been talking to the wall.
Walking around the castle wasn't helping so Harry decided to get some fresh air and headed out towards the Black Lake. Lost in his thoughts he didn't realize someone was following him until they were right next to him. He pulled his wand and turned.
"Harry, Harry, Harry. You do realize that if I wanted to harm you I would've done so by now. Also I think saving you during that Quidditch match should earn me some points." said Bellatrix.
"You saved me? Why?" asked Harry not lowering his wand.
"Several reasons. I'm not a bad person, Harry. I've done bad things, but they were things I was forced to do." said Bellatrix.
"You joined Voldemort and did terrible things for him. Surely you had a choice." said Harry.
"You would think so, but ever since being forced to marry Rodolphus Lestrange I was under his and his brother's control. They used the Imperius Curse along with other curses to keep me under their power. They were already in with Voldemort and I was forced to be a part of his Death Eater's, but I was never marked as one of his." said Bellatrix.
"I read in the paper that you have his mark." said Harry.
Bellatrix showed her arm.
"I do have a tattoo of the Dark Mark, but that's all it is. You can't take the mark unwillingly and since I was under the Lestrange's control my choice wasn't my own. Voldemort painfully branded the mark into my skin himself." said Bellatrix.
"So everyone who claimed that they were forced to join Voldemort by the Imperius Curse is lying?" asked Harry.
"Yes, but that's not what I came to talk to you about. You are in danger, Harry." said Bellatrix.
"Tell me something I don't know." said Harry.
"It's not just Voldemort that you have to worry about. Grindelwald can give all the oaths he wants to assure you that you'll come to no harm, but he's not a friend to you. If you don't do as he wishes he will dispose of you as he has many others. You are oath bound to attend this meeting whenever it happens, but take everything that is said with a grain of salt. You are not ready for the war that is to come. I honestly don't know who is more dangerous, but if you are to survive you need to become just as deadly." said Bellatrix.
"I won't be like them." said Harry.
"I'm not saying for you to be like them, but you need to learn what they have learned otherwise you are dead. Think about it. If you decide that you want to live send a letter with your Owl to Black Beauty." said Bellatrix before turning to walk away.
"Why do you want to help me?" asked Harry stopping her.
"I grew up hearing stories from my Grandfather about the war with Grindelwald and you already know stories of what happened during Voldemort's attacks leading up to your defeat of him in Godric's Hollow. The Wizarding World has still not been able to recover and I think the best hope for us to flourish is with you. If you accept my help I'll teach you everything you need to know. If not then I believe the end of the Wizarding World is near." said Bellatrix.
Harry let her walk away this time and started back for the castle. He needed to speak to Dumbledore.
Not far from the Black Lake at the edge of the Dark Forrest a man disappeared into the shadows.
'I guess Bellatrix has chosen her side. Let's see how this plays out.' he thought.
Author's Note: I intended for this chapter to be longer, but this seemed like a good place to stop. I feel that the smaller chapters flow a little better and the long chapters I've written in other stories seem forced to keep going. Well I'm back and as I said in my update to Death Changes Everything updates will be intermittent. I have had some personal issues and I am hopefully starting a new job next week, but I will not abandon any of my stories. Thank you for everyone who continues to read and who has stayed with me. Review if you want.