Chapter 4: The Interview
The day of the first legal appointment Harry got up bright and early with a slight dilemma. How was he to leave the house? Dumbledore did not clarify on this. The spell that protected him from Voldemort ran through this house so he knew now that he had to return here for at least a month every year. However, a month has not passed yet. He was contemplating this when his uncle voice boomed from downstairs.
"Get down here NOW!"
If he was not mistaken, he could swear he heard his aunt reprimanding him, her soft hiss (in its unsurpassed evilness) even more menacing than Uncle Vernon's shouted threats.
"All right, all right. ...ahem ..PLEASE?"
Harry smiled. He loved to see them argue. Trotting down the stairs at a quick pace, he stood up in front of his uncle. Vernon did a double take as he faced him for the first time in over a year. He blinked a few times, but he still couldn't believe it. His bratty nephew was taller than him! Puffing himself up to add to his considerable bulk, he glared at Harry.
"For your information, we have received a shopping voucher at a Chavez (giving Petunia a wink, Chavez was very expensive and anyone who was anyone shopped there) and are going to claim or rewards," Vernon smiled smugly.
"So?"
"DON'T YOU DARE TAKE THAT TONE WITH ME! AFTER WE HAVE FED AND CLO-"
Clothed you and allow you to stay in our home...blah blah blah…
He paid close attention, (or rather reappeared to) and waited it out.
"…SO NOW YOU CAN GO BACK UPSTAIRS!"
"Thanks," he grinned, spinning around and ran back up just as quickly as he had run down. The Dursleys made their way out, Vernon fuming at the ears. No sooner had five minutes passed when Harry heard a crash downstairs in the kitchen.
"Gets easier every time," said a bored voice.
"Not again, Tonks!" said an exasperated voice.
"Sorry!" cried a female voice.
Harry came back down the stairs, almost expecting this. With a wide smile on his face and his long hair all in disarray (though it never was neat) he laughed. "You're a menace to my aunt's dishes, you know that?"
Tonks, in the middle of repairing whatever it is she broke looked up at Harry. Her eyes ran up his legs and the ratty jeans he wore . She also noticed that the white vest he slept in was a bit too small for him. "Whoa, he looks exactly like James now," she thought.
"All right Harry?" Remus Lupin said with a forced smile. Harry knew how he felt- it was hard to be upbeat, no matter how happy he was to see them. Remus had the same hollow look, except there was now a pain that lingered from his silent morning.
"Well you know why we're here Potter," Moody grumbled. "You've got some business in Chelsea, I hear."
Harry interrupted himself from shaking hands with Remus and Shacklebolt to talk directly to Moody, "Yeah. I was just wondering how I was getting there."
"Broomstick," Moody replied. "Come, get the pleasantries out of the way so we could get out of here." There was an escort of five. He shook Charlie Weasley's hand, his very rough calluses rubbing his just-healed cut so that he winced a little. Tonks, who was monitoring him closely, came forward and took his hand into hers.
"Cut yourself Harry?" She asked softly, tracing her finger in his palm.
"Er- yeah," he replied.
"How long did you get this? It's quite deep."
"A few days."
"Did you use magic to heal it?" she asked sternly.
"No- I can't, I'm not taking any chances..."
"Remus, look at this-" Tonks called him. Remus inspected the wound, and frowned slightly. Harry was quite confused, what was the problem?
"What is it? It's just a stupid glass cut."
"This cut would have needed stitches, yet it's already nearly healed…" Remus mused, prodding it slightly with his finger. Looking up, his eyes caught Harry's, who merely shrugged and retrieved his hand from heir scrutiny, feeling a bit uncomfortable.
"I better get my stuff," he nodded, and Tonks followed him up the stairs.
"Oh, I forgot something. Dumbledore asked me to give you this to wear," she handed him a package. As Harry took it, she magicked his belongings into the trunk while he went to the shower. "I'll be waiting outside."
After he had bathed, he opened the package. It was a set of fine duellist robes of a deep blue colour; and- if looked at the right angle, the magical patterns gave the impression of a moving ocean. It was sophisticated and mature and definitely was cool. He put it on and looked at himself in the mirror.
Looking sharp, Harry! Ron is gonna turn green when he sees this.
It fit reasonably well, considering that he was a bit underweight. The robe was meant to be used in conjunction with a belt, and the pants to go with it was black, and made of a strong material. To go with the outfit was some snazzy Horntail Dragon boots. When his ensemble was complete, it reminded him of those garments the Japanese Warlords wore, because it definitely wasn't of European design. After , he took up his wand and other personal items Tonks left behind (including his Firebolt), then went downstairs.
The broomstick trip to Chelsea was uneventful, unless you call Moody barking defensive strategies at the sight of anything mildly suspicious an event. For even more security Moody placed a Chameleon charm on all of them.
"Professor, I can still see all of us," Harry said, still confused. Moody grunted.
"Who're you calling 'Professor'?"
"Er… Mr. Moody?"
"Just Moody- and yeah- this is a slight modification on the Disillusionment Hex. It's used in the Elite to move silently as a team. We-" he indicated everyone, "Can see each other, we're the 'team'. But if someone else were to look in our direction, we'll appear to be figures moving a bit out of sync with the background. It's best used at night, or when staying still, remember that boy. You gotta know that it is rendered useless if were identified in any way- or if someone who sees us has the slightest inclination that anything is wrong, we'll be exposed. Constant Vigilance Potter, not only good guys know how to use this spell. Anything fishy, you stare hard at the spot- and the spell is broken."
"Okay," he replied.
That's a cool spell. Gotta ask him to show me how to do it sometime…
They stopped at a small, bland house, which if looked at a glance, seemed to be a very ordinary three bedroom flat. Making sure the coast was clear, they touched down on the deserted street.
"From here on you should be all right Harry," Lupin said with a smile. "Everything is going to be fine." Alastor Moody pulled him aside. With a grim look on his face he searched his pocket.
"You're a tough one, Potter." He handed him what seemed to be a medallion made of silver. "This is the Medallion of Courage, and it only responds to a call to arms. You needn't say anything or use your wand; it picks up on the adrenaline only combat brings about when the danger is great. If for some reason you need me just think hard and call."
Tonks was flabbergasted. "Moody, don't you think you're going a bit much? That was..."
Moody turned to look at her, both eyes boring directly into hers. He said so only she can hear: "Nymphadora, you fail to see the significance of this whole situation. In due time, in due time..." he muttered, sounding immensely wise. She nodded, looking at Harry with a weird expression. It was too early to judge, but somehow, she knew he would be a great wizard. Tonks smiled embarrassedly when she saw that he was watching them closely.
"Bye," she said airily and the escort took off, leaving Harry with his gear and broomstick on the pavement. As Harry made to grab his things, the door opened and stuffy- looking wizard came forward.
"Mr. Potter?" trying hard not to make it obvious that he was impressed. "Please let me help you with your things. Locomotor trunks! "
The trunk, Hedwig's cage, and his broomstick lifted half a foot of the ground and followed them inside the building. As he stepped inside the dimensions were completely different: he was in a very large corporate muggle building, complete with receptionists and people filing in and out of different offices and elevators. Paper notes zoomed through post openings like hummingbirds. He looked up. The ground floor was two storeys high, complete with magic chandeliers that needed no support and glowed brightly with numerous no-heat candles. As they presented themselves to the receptionist she did a double take at Harry, noticed his exquisite attire and his scar, smiled prettily and let them through. Harry returned her smile, but did not notice her flush slightly in response as he was already moving along.
"Excuse me, what is your name?" Harry asked his escort.
"Oh sorry bout that. I'm Jankins. Nice to meet you Harry," shaking his hand in a firm grip.
"I'm Har- wait, you know that already. So… which floor is the attorneys office?"
"Oh they are on the fourth floor, the top. There are other businesses here, but I've just started so I don't know all of them. This way," he led him to a free elevator. "Going up- Attorney's office."
"Yes sir," came a cool voice from out of nowhere. Harry did a double take, looking for a speaker box.
"You go on up, Harry."
Harry entered the elevator and after a few seconds the doors opened to let him out. He stepped out, just as a dark haired girl, her nose deep in a file folder, stepped in. They collided and her parchments dropped to the ground as she lost her balance and toppled backwards. Harry reflexively caught her around the waist and shoulders.
"HARRY!"
Harry blinked. He felt a familiar sensation building somewhere low in his stomach. It was Cho, and she was as gorgeous as ever. How could he have forgotten that the lawyer he was supposed to meet last name was Chang? Odds are that she and Cho would be related. But he did not expect to find her here.
"Cho?" Harry said lamely.
"Oh it's so good to see you!" she hugged him tightly.
I can't believe it, I'm holding her in my arms at this very moment, and she smells like heaven
"I heard a rumour at the last few days of school that you and some other Hogwarts students actually fought some death eaters and saw.. .saw..You-know-who-! Is that true?"
Yeah -priorities, we're here to do business...plus aren't you over her?
"Er- yeah, well only me and Dumbledore actually saw Vol-"
"SHHHH! Harry!"
"Oh yeah, sorry about that," he looked about cautiously; trying not to notice that she was still in his arms, very close indeed.
Cho seem to have been thinking along those same lines, she was in his arms and that they were making quite the scene, appearing to be love-struck teenagers puting on a show. She stepped out of his arms and asked briskly, "What are you doing here?"
" I - ummm..," looking around, stalling for time. But he needn't worry, for a familiar deep voice came up behind him.
"He is with me, Miss Chang," Albus Dumbledore said regally. Harry let out a breath,once again, just in the nick of time.
"Professor Dumbledore! How are you?" She beamed at him.
"Fit as a fiddle. I assume you are well? Harry and I have an appointment with your mother for 10 o'clock, am I correct?"
She looked down at the scattered parchments on the floor, and stooped quickly to pick them up.
"Allow me," Dumbledore said, flicking his wand twice and the pages reshuffled themselves into the correct order and jumped back in her file folder.
"Thank you," she smiled again, looked at the top page and confirmed his appointment. Harry thought she had a beautiful smile; too bad he was the fortunate one to only see the tears. Cho only saw Dumbledore's name on her appointment list, but wisely, did not comment on the noticeable absence of Harry's name. She raised an eyebrow at him.
"Is there something wrong with my outfit?"
Harry was caught off guard- a bit taken back by seeing Cho in sleek and stylish work robes. He had only seen her in Hogwarts' uniform before. "No- nothing! Honest!"
"Okay..well..I was starting to wonder…" she trailed off. There was a flicker of something in her eyes as they touched his, but then it was gone. Harry looked away.
Potter, you're an idiot. Were you blind? Where did Cho hide all that?
"Ahem," Dumbledore cleared his throat. " I believe we should be going, Harry?"
Harry mentally kicked himself for letting his hormones take over so easily. "Yes. Right. Well see you around Cho."
She nodded, smiling back at him. He did look handsome today, for once. His ' I don't care' look did not really take to her, but now that he was dressed up, he really was a catch. Cho drove the thought from her mind as she remembered what happened in Hogsmeade only a few months ago. The prat.
"Bye Harry," said Cho. "Nice seeing you," she said as an afterthought. Harry waved to show that he had heard her, and walked away. They strode past the empty receptionist desk, knocked on the door, then entered. Maureen Chang looked up, smiled at them and invited them to sit down. She was a beautiful woman; it was obvious that in her prime she had many wizards wanting her favour.
"Well let's get right down to it. Mr Potter, you have two court sessions on the 27th, which is 2 weeks from now. The first one in the morning is simply put, you confirming that the persons on charge were in the Ministry of magic and that they assaulted you and some schoolmates. That one is in the bag. Basically it is just a formality before they lock them up for good. The real trick is getting them to understand what you were doing in there in the first place. Professor Dumbledore has given me a basic run down, but I still need to hear the details. So when you are ready, please begin." She put the tip of her quill in her mouth and stood it on edge of the parchment.
Harry hesitated. He thought about it all the time, how reckless it seemed in hindsight. But at the time, his whole being was convinced that Sirius was in trouble and he needed to be there to help him. He harboured his regret for a while now, only talking to Dumbledore soon after the tragic events. The images that flashed before him as he started to speak were etched into his mind, especially how the Death eaters began picking off his comrades, one by one. Ron, covered in brain tentacles, laughing hysterically. Ginny, breaking her ankle then stunned in her face. How Neville got his nose broken in and soon after put under the Cruciatus Curse. Hermione- rendered unconscious as Antolin Dolohov cursed her, putting her in the hospital for days after. She was reduced to taking numerous medicines, unable to talk for any length of time. Out of all who were involved, she was the one who was rational at the time, yet, like the fool he was, he chastised her lack of action. Even so, she was the most loyal, and saved him when he was in grave danger, yet suffered the most. Worst of all, he lost Sirius forever. It was a disaster. If it was not for the man sitting next to him, all of them may be dead already.
After his statement, Maureen was entranced. "Harry, how old are you?
"Sixteen come the end of July."
"Merlin's beard," her mouth hung for a second."Now listen carefully Harry, you need to emphasise that Bellatrix attacked you first. This is very important. Only a handful of highly ranked Aurors are allowed to use any of the Unforgivables on a criminal. I will try to find the loopholes to clear you off from that offence but it must seem to be that you genuinely were in a fit of retaliation. Do You Understand?"
"Yes. Absolutely."
"Right. Well once that settled, we can move along. As it's your first offence..."
Harry started. He looked sharply at her, then an inquisitive look at Dumbledore. Mrs Chang straightened, sensing something amiss. She raised her eyebrows slightly.
"Ummm..." Harry stalled.
"What is it?"
"Well you see..." he squirmed a bit in his chair, feeling uncomfortable.
Dumbledore cleared his throat again. "What Harry is trying to say, Maureen, is that this is not his first day in court. I believe you have the folder I sent you?" She spotted it on her desk under her current pile of files. "Harry has been accused and pardoned last year for producing a Patronus charm to defend himself and his cousin Dudley from two Dementors, right near his home in Little Winging."
" A Patronus charm? Professor Dumbledore, you have not given me all the facts here! It isn't much of a consequence to this particular case but having to defend yourself for use of two extremely powerful spells- at such a ridiculous age- does not speak much in his favour. It may appear that he is a loose cannon! How in blazes does he know to do all of this?" She questioned in rapid fire bursts, her voice rising a little louder after each statement.
"Harry has be-..." Albus started.
"No, professor. I will tell her."
"Very well."
"Obviously you know about my past. It's funny actually, in a way. It seems that I have been literally and figuratively marked as a target. Throughout each year at school I have been either attacked, ostracised, hated, made out to be some nutter, a liar, a dark wizard, whatever else comes to mind and then some. I've grown accustomed to it. Voldemort (she stared in amazement ) has been slowly reviving and so far, has tried more than once to kill me. Professor Lupin, my Defence against the dark arts teacher, taught the Patronus charm to me. The dementors have a very strong effect on me and I needed to protect myself."
She nodded understandingly. "But what about the Cruciatus curse?"
"Bartemus Crouch taught me that one."
"The former Ministry official?"
"No er- not him exactly. His son. He was never dead. He impersonated Auror Moody and showed it to the whole class…" He paused. "But, to tell you the truth, I- um, kinda learnt it first hand.."
" 'First hand'? What do you mean?" she was leaning far over her desk now.
He braced himself. "Voldemort captured me and used it on me."
She screamed. Harry started. Dumbledore rose immediately to placate her while at the same moment someone burst in through the door.
"Mom! What's wrong!" Cho had burst in.
Maureen composed herself, taking a glass of water from a pitcher nearby. Flustered and drinking it too fast, she nearly choked. Coughing a bit, she fought to get back in control, her eyes watering from choking on the water.
"Oh nothing dear, I was just startled. Everything's okay now- no need to worry. I'm all right."
She's babbling. Now Cho would be more determined than ever to find out what's wrong
Cho looked at the concern on Dumbledore's face and the stony look on Harry's; who did not look at her even once since she entered. She stood there for a second, nodded, then let herself out quickly.
Maureen trembled slightly. "My god Harry, I didn't know. I was hearing all these awful stories about you in the Prophet, not that I believed in them because Cho thought you were not what that idiot Rita Skeeter made you out to be. I never knew you went through all of this."
"Yeah well, I didn't want everyone to know that' famous Harry Potter' was tortured by Vo-" Dumbledore placed a palm on his shoulder as a gentle reminder "Er- You-know-who. Imagine if everyone who heard that reacted in the same manner."
"I see what you mean. Umm, I think that would be all. I will schedule another appointment with you, Professor Dumbledore. We'll continue with this then, Harry."
Harry stood up shook hands with Mrs. Chang and left with Dumbledore, leaving an eerie silence in his wake as the office was dead silent, numerous pairs of eyes following them to the elevator. As they exited the elevators to the lobby Dumbledore leaned over and said quietly, "Harry, things are going to be fine. She is the best there is. We have two weeks to iron out the wrinkles which is more than adequate time." Harry nodded, swallowing. It did not seem fine. It felt as if it was going horribly wrong. Speaking of bad omens, what about the police incident?
"Professor, what do you know about the police men killings a week ago?
"Bad business Harry. Voldemort seems to have openly killed muggles in front of witnesses. They couldn't see the spell being cast, however, they do see the effects. He used the Imperious curse to force the guards to free the prisoner, then he killed them. The puzzle is, why would he free a muggle? We have yet to discover what crimes he has committed and why he is so important to Voldemort. There is something more than meets the eye here. At the moment, Tonks and Shacklebolt are investigating."
Harry collected his stuff, and both of them left the building. Standing in the broad daylight, Dumbledore seemed totally out of place. His dark purple robes to sparkled as if stars from galaxies far away were embedded into it. Pulling out a golden timepiece on a long chain, he surveyed the time. He smiled, looking up at the sky, and the clouds that drifted across on a gentle breeze.
"Harry, I believe it is time to visit your friend, Miss Granger."
"Hermione? Why?" Harry knew that she might be extremely peeved that his letter was so late. Ron was right; he could picture Hermione storming his Uncle's house, demanding an explanation. He really did not want to talk about himself or the past couple weeks. It was only because Ron was talking about quidditch he wrote back to him, but in truth, he did not feel like corresponding with either of them.
"Her family has agreed to be your gracious hosts for the rest of the summer, of course!" Dumbledore beamed at him.
"What!" he asked in astonishment.
Oh no…now I'm really going to get it…
"But why do..." he cut himself short. It made sense. His lawyer appointments were here in Chelsea, his tryouts were also here in Chelsea, and the Ministry of Magic was closer here than at his uncle's house.
This doesn't sounds like such a bad idea. Hopefully Hermione won't nag him whole summer to study
"Why didn't you tell me before?"
"Ah," explained Dumbledore, "Because I am their secret keeper, and I could not have told you about it prior, or I would prematurely break the charm. Even now I cannot give you the location. That is why I have this." He pulled out an old converse sneaker, a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
"A shoe"? Where the hell did that come from?"
"Portus!" The shoe hummed, shook a little, then was still. "When you are inside their house you would be in on the secret. Ready?"
Harry reached forward and touched the vase. Immediately, his belly button was pulled by a super strong magnet, then the next instant, they were inside a large foyer in a beautiful house. Harry stumbled over his trunk, tripped and fell, breaking the bridge of his round glasses once again.
"Dammit," he murmured, helping himself up. Dumbledore was standing in the centre of the room, looking utterly relaxed. He raised his gaze to the two people coming down one half of the twin staircase.
"Ah, so good to see you again Mr. and Mrs. Granger. I believe you have met Harry?"
"Professor! Er- yes we've seen him many times at the station but have never really talked to him. Hullo Harry! I am Roger Granger, and this is my wife Jane. Welcome welcome!"
Harry squinted; his glasses were cracked on the right.
"Roger, sorry to hit and run, but there is urgent business for me to attend to. You know how to contact me and I will also be in touch. I apologize for my rudeness but I must be off. Please give my best to young miss Granger. Farewell.." And with that word, he disapparated with a crack. Harry straightened himself out and shook both of the Grangers' hands.
"Plea- pleased to meet you. Thanks for having me."
"Not a problem! I'm sure you and Hermione have some catching up to do. Honey, is there some tea in the kitchen we can offer Harry? I am going to look for Hermione."
They both went in opposite directions. His gaze wandered around the foyer and the living area. It was large, spacious and very modern. He squinted as he tried to look at a picture on the mantle at the distance, his eyes straining to focus. Light, hurried footsteps come down the staircase, signalling Hermione's arrival.
Before Harry could fully turn around he started to apologize, " I'm sorr- " He did not get a chance to finish. Hermione had wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.
"Oh Harry, I was so worried! " Harry was dumbstruck. He awkwardly patted her back and she held on even tighter. He felt the warmth of her hug and it did make him feel much better. He was not accustomed to this sort of affection from anyone. so he put his arms around her awkwardly and said, "Hermione, I'm okay. Everything is fine, see?" She let go of him slowly, looking up into his face.
"Harry, your glasses.." she reached into the back pocket of her pants and took out her wand. " Occulus reparo!" The glasses were good as new, but still a bit crooked across his nose. She straightened them, lightly moving away some hair that fell into his eyes. At that moment, images of him at the very beginning of his first and second years came flashing through his mind as if coming from someone directly facing him. His glasses were broken in there as well. Somehow, he was seeing Hermione's thoughts! He drew back his head, trying to clear his mind. Hermione's face fell a little, then softened once more. She stepped back and smiled at him.
"Come on! Mum is waiting with some tea in the kitchen." She took his hand into hers as if it was the most natural thing to do and led him into the kitchen. He noticed that Hermione was wearing short pants and a large t-shirt. She had cute little feet and some shapely walking sticks. She had what?
This is Hermione. HERMIONE - you dumbass...what are you thinking?
"Harry, dear, how do you take it?" her mom asked.
"Take what?" Harry was still a bit off rocker.
"Your tea," whispered Hermione, sitting down at the table.
"Er, plenty cream plenty sugar, thanks." He also took his seat, locked his fingers, and nervously began twiddling his thumbs.
"Harry? What's wrong?" Hermione asked so only he could hear.
He shook his head, as if to say that it was something trivial. Hermione opened her mouth to say something again, paused, and then closed it again. Her mom brought the tray with the tea.
"So how was the interview with Mrs. Chang?" Harry looked up quickly, obviously startled.
How did she know her name? I did not put it into the mail I sent Hermione….unless...
"Dumbledore mailed you and told you about it, Mrs Granger?" Harry asked politely.
"Why yes! He told us about a little over a week ago."
A week -that meant Hermione knew all this while, and was quietly accepting that he and Ron corresponded while he did not write her as yet. This made him feel even worse and he avoided Hermione's eye.
"Oh it was fine," Harry lied.
He frowned. He has been lying and dodging truths far too frequently recently. He did not like how his secrets were now changing him.
"Actually no. Let me take that back. It was a disaster." He slumped back in his chair, letting his teaspoon drop with a cling! and wiped his face with his other hand. The Granger women frowned and peered directly into his eyes, virtually the same expression of "it can't be that bad" on their faces. It was uncanny; Hermione took more from her father in looks but was a spitting image of worriment alongside her mother. He only met her mother a few minutes and it already felt as if Hermione had doubled herself.
"What's wrong? What did she say?" Mrs Granger enquired.
"Well first of all she did not know I was accused of a crime before. This seemed to be a bad factor. I'm guessing that if it was the first time things may have gone over smoother. Secondly, she seemed to have freaked out when I told her that I knew how to do two very powerful spells. I'm nearly sixteen, so it kinda looked bad to be capable of doing them. Thirdly, she actually screamed when I told her Voldemort tortured me. This whole thing may turn out to be one huge media fiasco if that information leaked somehow."
"Tortured? Did you say tortured? My god Harry!"
"You see what I mean? That's a watered down reaction of what happened in the office. And you don't know the half of it. Just the mention of Voldemort's name causes wizards to cringe. The unforgivable curses are punishable by life imprisonment in Azkaban, and that is what I'm being charged with using, along with some other ministry decrees. I lost control…..Sirius, Sirius… had just been killed."
That was the first time he admitted it to himself, it felt as if a lock had just been opened wide and he couldn't bear the scrutiny anymore.
"Excuse me," he said hoarsely, and silently exited the kitchen. The two women were at a loss for words. Hermione was stunned, sitting there watching the kitchen door oscillate slightly. Her mother looked at her a worried expression, for both Harry and her daughter's reaction.
"Go to him, Hermione. He needs someone," she said softly. Hermione jumped up and raced out the door after him. She saw him marching away from the kitchen down the long corridor, looking like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. She paused, knowing full well that his temper was a force to be reckoned with. However, the Sorting Hat was not mistaken in saying that only the truly brave belonged in Gryffindor. She ran down the hall on her bare feet, calling out to him.
"Harry!" she pleaded.
He did not stop, nor acknowledge that he heard anything. She continued after him, and when she was about ten feet away from him she felt something strange, as if the air was alive. The light hair on her forearms started to tingle, feeling as if it was standing on edge. She rounded on him, blocking his path, an immense amount of energy permeating from him. It ran coursing through her, flushing her face. He did not look at her directly, but stopped when she was blocking his next step.
"Step out of the way, Hermione." His voice was a bit deeper than before. She looked into his eyes; they were moist, almost on the brink of tears.
"No." He stared at her now, his gaze boring deep into her, and she felt quite uneasy. She raised her hand tentatively and smoothed away a lock of hair that fell over his eyes. That slight contact made her feel supercharged with magic. It was strange, how he was so still. Her hand tucked his hair behind his ear tenderly- tut tutting under her breath.
"It's so long now," she thought to herself. She held unto him, resting her head against his chest, feeling that power ebbing away slowly. His heartbeat was strong and true, and she felt what must be a tear roll down her cheek.
"Don't blame yourself. I believe in you Harry," she said softly.
He allowed himself to be held for only a second more, then reluctantly released himself from her grip.
"Tell that to Sirius," he replied. Turning his back on her, he stalked outside, alone.
Two hours later Harry still sat on the backyard bench. It was past lunchtime and his belly reminded him, but he couldn't eat. His depression came on in waves now.
It seems that just that just knowing me causes people so much pain. I can't allow the people around me to be targeted for just being my friend... Hermione, I'm sorry. I should have listened to you when you warned me about the visions. Look at the mess I'm in now.
He gazed up into the sky wishing he wasn't so damn hot-headed. He got up with much effort, clenched his fists a few times, then headed back inside. Hermione came downstairs when she heard the back door close in. She watched Harry approach her silently, a grim look on his face. He came up to her and said automatically, "I'm sorry."
"It's all right Harry. You don't need to apologize. I'm accustomed to it," she sounded oh so know-it-all again. Harry smiled. He could deal with this Hermione, not the sympathetic girly- girl she was earlier."If you want to change, your room is down the hall after the bathroom, opposite to mine. By the way, this is some exquisite robe you have on. The Japanese Potions' masters wore that style and cut. The locals never knew that they were really wizards though. You see how easily muggles are fooled? It looks really good on you, where did you get them?"
"Dumbledore sent them with Tonks," he flushed, a bit embarrassed that he had no clothes that he could call his own except his Hogwarts robes. All the rest were hand-me-downs. "Uh ..Hermione?"
"Yes?"
"Can you do me a favour?"
"Anything," she replied instantly. Harry was taken back. Usually she was sceptical of Harry and Ron's ideas. This rapid change of attitude was very unusual.
"You don't even know what I was going to ask you!"
"Well, we're friends right Harry? And I trust you." She smiled sweetly.
"Well okay," Harry said. "Er- I need to buy some clothes. Uh- normal clothes, and some robes. You see I have, um, tryouts the day after tomorrow and I can't show up wearing rags."
"I'm sure we can arrange something with Dad or mum. That's no big deal. Oh, you've never been shopping have you?"
He shook his head. It hurt, knowing that he was something less than scum in his aunt's house.
"It's gonna be fun!" She practically jumped up and down. Her good spirits seem to placate Harry, and his mood brightened. "You should change though. We're going out for lunch in about half an hour. I was just about to call you."
He nodded, and left to go to his room. As he looked out the window he saw Hedwig sitting in the tree. She spotted him, and zoomed into the window, landing on his shoulder. He petted her, and she cooed in gratitude. "I've got to change now," he told her. "Did Ron write back?" She stared at him coolly. Harry took that as a 'no'. He changed quickly into his best hand me downs, tried to tame his hair, then went downstairs.
"Ready, Harry?" Roger called as he came into view. His family was checking to see they had everything, from keys to cellular phones and makeup tucked all away into their handbags. Harry nodded and followed them into the car. The drive to the restaurant was uneventful. Idle chatter passed the time in traffic, Harry answering some friendly questions and asking some in return. They did not touch on the subject of the court case. As they stepped out of the car, Harry saw in the corner of his eye a trio exiting a posh store across the street. They crossed the road in a huff, clearly indicating that they wanted to eat at the same place that the Grangers were going to.
It couldn't be: how bad is my luck lately?
They were the Dursleys.