Chapter 10

Friends united

Appearing without a sound Harry turned towards Madame Pomfrey's office, coughing slightly to get her attention. Harry started towards the bed he had found himself occupying many times during his stay at Hogwarts. Coming into the hospital wing from her office, Madame Pomfrey gave a shout as her eyes came down upon Harry gently placing Hermione on the bed, flames slowly abating from his shoulders. Harry turned to address Madame Pomfrey after explaining what happened to Hermione, Madame Pomfrey set to work on running her wand across Hermione's body chanting small spells to get rid of the bruises and scraped she encountered on her tests.

Suddenly the hospital wing doors came crashing open as Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick and Hagrid came rushing in. Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick had wands raised at the ready, Hagrid trailed behind with his huge crossbow strung.

"What is the meaning of this" came McGonagall's voice as she stormed in. She glanced over and saw Harry standing beside a bed with Miss Granger lying unconscious within its covers.

"Mister Potter, Dear Merlin you gave us an awful fright. Hogwarts wards kicked into high alert with an illegal, and might I say impossible apparation into the hospital wing." McGonagall stated shock evident on her face as she lowered her wand.

"Oye, 'arry. 'Ow'd ye apparate onto 'ogwarts" Hagrid bellowed as he strapped his crossbow once again onto his back.

Harry rose his head from the vision of Hermione's sleeping form. His eyes hadn't left her since he had relayed his story to Madame Pomfrey. Turning he regarded his old professors.

"Hermione needed help, Hogwarts was the closest, so I came here" he said non-chalant his eyes once again falling onto Hermione.

"But how Harry, apparating onto Hogwarts grounds…no one has been able to do that in over a thousand years. The amount of power to displace the wards, its just unheard of" Professor Flitwick stated staring at Harry with a sense of awe.

"There is much one can do when the few he cares about are in harms way" Harry stated. He turned and conjured a leather chair with the wave of his hand, raising the eyebrows of all the professors, he sat.

"Will she be alright Madame Pomfrey?" he asked his face finally cracking into a look of worry.

"She will be just fine Harry, she needs her rest" Madame Pomfrey replied softly seeing the pain in his green eyes.

Harry blew out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

"Hogsmeade was attacked" he stated his eyes still locked on Hermione's sleeping face. The same face that haunted his dreams, she looked even more beautiful than he remembered. Her hair had lightened slightly due to the hot summer sun. She had streaks of blond thru her chocolate brown locks. Her hair was more curly now than bushy. Her face….. So angelic that he couldn't drag his eyes from those amazing and graceful features. Butterfly's where swarming through his stomach. Yet his mind was confused, why was he feeling these feelings. Why couldn't he look away from her lovely face. He loved the way her slow and steady breathing relaxed him. He loved the way that watching her sleep blissfully instilled such calm throughout him. He loved…….her? What? Where did that come from?

"Mister Potter, please explain yourself. What do you mean Hogsmeade was attacked?" Professor McGonagall's voice cut through his thoughts.

"She called me, Her voice pleading in my mind for help" Harry stated in an emotionless voice. He continued to stare at his sleeping friend.

"Miss Granger did what? Potter your not making any sense"

Just then Professor Sprout came running through the Hospital wing doors.

"Headmistress, Headmistress, there has been an attack at Hogsmeade. Fifty death eaters dead. A few students were injured but thankfully none are dead. A strange man in armour appeared and………" she cut off as she finally noticed Harry sitting in a leather chair staring a Hermione's sleeping face.

"Mister Potter, that was you?" Her voice displaying her disbelief.

"They hurt Mione" he answered in just above a whisper.

"Mister Potter please, your talking very cryptic. Where have you been, how did you single handed beat fifty death eaters and what are you wearing?" Professor McGonagall asked as she took a step closer to Harry.

"I might be of some assistant's Minerva" Came a reply from just out side the Hospital Wing. All eyes except Harry's and Hermione's swung towards the doors to see who had made the last comment.

"Hello Arthurius" Harry said as he continued to stare at Hermione, transfixed, her silent protector.

"Arthurius……." Professor McGonagall sputtered as Arthurius came into view.

"It's been too long dear sister" Arthurius replied as he walked up too McGonagall. Slowly he reached out to embrace his only sibling, only to receive a stinging blow to the side of the face. His head was thrown to the side as a residing slap echoed around the room.

"Fifty years……. Fifty years you've been gone, and you have the gall to just walk in here. Into my school like you never left. I thought you were dead. I mourned for you, and you were alive this whole time." her voice rising with each word. Thoughts of Harry completely forgotten.

"Please Minerva let me explain" Arthurius declared rubbing his swollen cheek.

"If you weren't my brother, you would have been hexed to Hades and Back. You have one minute, make it count" was her reply as she levelled her wand at his face. With a silent command she sent a spell to numb and heal the bruise that was starting to show on his cheek.

"Thank you Minny" he whispered

"After the last war, I was recruited into the Brotherhood of the Mage. After watching what those bastards did to our dear baby brother. I couldn't stand by and watch another group of fanatical's try and destroy everything I grew to love. So I left to get the training that would help me reach my goal." he stated as he reached out and gently brushed aside a loose tentacle of hair that had worked itself free from her tight bun.

"But why didn't you write, floo, anything just contact me to tell me you were still alive." she whispered as she stepped closer to him.

"It was decided that the Brotherhood would become invisible, unknown to anyone outside the guild. This way when a new threat presented itself, we would have the advantage of surprise." He responded as he embraced his sister.

"I've missed you, little brother" she answered as she returned the embrace.

"So what has brought you out of hiding" she have joked as they pulled apart.

"Him" Arthurius stated as he pointed his index finger at Harry.

"Why do you want Mister Potter?'' she asked dumbfounded. Yet even as the words left her mouth comprehension started to settle in as she assessed both men's attire.

''You…. He was with you these last ten months?'' she asked anger tipping her last words.

"Actually Minny, I've been training him for almost two years. There is a training charm placed on WestHaven, our base of operations. It allows us to get more time in for the study of war. Time moves faster there, but we age at the same rate as everyone else.'' Arthurius stated as he stepped out from behind Professor McGonagall. Starting his way towards Harry. With a wave of his hand, another leather chair joined Harry's, allowing him something comfortable to sit in as he addressed his pupil.

"So this is the great Hermione, is it? I see she is all right, I take it you made it in time" he said in a soft voice after he had settled himself into his leather chair.

"I can't go back with you Arthurius, not now, maybe not ever." Harry replied in a soft voice, regret filling every word.

"I haven't come to ask that of you Harry. After you had left, I held an inquisition on your behalf. It was unanimous that with your higher power, you could easily pass any test we could through at you. So it was decided that you be indoctoraeted into the ranks of the Brotherhood."

"I personally think the only reason half of those old buggers agreed to this was they would rather fight beside you, than against you." he added with a chuckle.

Harry's head shot up during Arthurius's rant. His vision finally leaving Hermione's sleeping form.

"So…..so I'm now a Brotherhood Mage?" Harry asked, shock evident on his face.

"That is right Harry, I am sorry to inform you though that even with you being accepted into the Brotherhood. Most are still not ready to participate in this new war. So your on your own. The high counsel of the Mage does wish to inform you that you are welcome to use Westhaven and all it's training.Bloody idiots" Arthurius whispered out the last two words. It was apparent that Arthurius did not agree with the high counsel on it's decision to not participate in the war against Voldemort.

"Am I to stay out of this war, as well?" Harry asked. His vision resting on Hermione once again.

"No Harry, you are given permission to carry on the quest that has been given to you." Arthurius replied resting a hand on Harry's shoulder.

"Now I'll leave you two alone." He stated standing up and turning towards the silent professors.

"Minny, would you like to accompany me for a cup of tea. I'll explain all the little details, you can fill me in on the last fifty years." He chuckled as he made his way out the Hospital wing doors, the group of professor's trailing behind.

Over an hour later a mop of red hair made it's way into the Hospital wing, his right arm field bandaged from the battle at Hogsmeade.

"Bloody hell……. Harry what are you doing here? Is that Hermione, is she all right" Ron asked a stunned look on his face as he took in the changes Harry had overtook in the last ten months.

"Hello Ron….." was as far as Harry got as an angry red head punched him hard in the face. He could have easily avoided the hit, but he didn't want to hurt Ron.

"What the Bloody hell Ron" Harry sputtered as Blood started to trail down his face from his nose.

"Bloody mother of Merlin that hurt" Ron bellowed. He had inavertanly used his wounded arm to punch Harry, in his haze of anger.

They both stopped splurting every profanity they could think of and turned to take in one another. Harry gripping his face, Ron gripping his arm. It was as if someone had flipped a switch both boys started to laugh uncontrollably, Harry almost drounding on his blood and Ron almost Passing out from the pain in his Arm. This is how Madame Pomfrey discovered them as she walked back into the Hospital wing.

"I don't want to even know" she stated as she quickly healed both boys. She gave Harry a blood replenishing potion to drink and quickly made her way into her office.

"Merlin I've missed you Ron" Harry stated as he once again sat in his leather chair. Ron quickly sat, occupying Arthurius's old chair.

"Like wise Mate." Ron replied

"You've missed yourself Ron" Harry said with a smile creeping it's way onto his face.

"What no……. ahhhh you and Hermione both will be the death of me" he responded his face and ears growing a bright shade of red.

They sat for a few hours just talking. Harry explaing why he'd left and where he'd been. Ron told Harry of his kiss with Hermione, also his new interest in a certain blonde Ravenclaw.

He had also explained that he had stayed behind to help with the clean up at Hogsmeade.

"Harry……" came a weak voice.

Both boys stoped and turned to see Hermione slowly opening her eyes, she blinked a few times until both boys came into focus.

"There are those beautiful eyes I've waited all night to see" Harry sent over the link, for some reason he didn't want Ron to hear.

"Harry.. Are you really here?" she asked as she tried to sit up. Both boys jumped to her side to assist.

"Yes Mione, I'm here" he responded in a soft voice.

Before either boy could react she had both of them in a group hug, her famous Bear hugs coming into play. Once she released them she went into rapid question mode. Harry and Ron tried continually to keep up with the fast pace but alas this was Hermione J. Granger and both boys combined were no match for her linguistic skills.

After a few hours they finally sat in comfortable silence.

"What now, mate" Ron asked spliting the silent air with his question.

"We go Horcruxes hunting" he responded with a lopsided grin, causing his two best friends to burst into laughter.