A/N- Just a heads up, this is a long one. Also, there will be mature content in this chapter. I've marked it as I did previously.
Part 2- Hogwarts
Chapter 2
July 19th, 1995
Harry Potter sighed heavily, raking his fingers through his hair absently as he made his way down the stairs. He'd spent the last day and most of today sequestered in the room Sirius had prepared for him, barely seeing any of the other inhabitants of the house save for his godfather and the few stolen moments he'd shared with Hermione when she could sneak away. Despite the lack of time with her, Harry couldn't deny he'd been grateful for the time to think.
Think he had. So much had happened in the eleven days since Hermione and he had parted in Oxford, and he'd needed the time to process those events and to begin to plan their next steps. Of course, he would need time alone with Hermione to fully flesh out his ideas, but he knew her and how she thought, so he was fairly sure she would agree with him. At the very least, he needed to get moving again.
He still wasn't sure how he felt about what happened to his aunt, uncle and cousin. He had to admit, the fate that had found them had likely been just as or even more gruesome than what he'd imagined for them, but it didn't sit well with him that it had happened outside of their design. Death had warned them the timeline would change, and that problem had it had reared it's head once again.
The main concern was Dudley. It was unlikely that his mind would recover from the extensive exposure to so many dementors, but there was still a chance. And if he did, he could not only turn Harry in for using magic outside of school but also reveal that he and Hermione had been with each other. They would most certainly be outed. He wasn't concerned with being pursued by the ministry if it came to it. With the power he could now wield he was fairly certain only the old goat and the snake could beat him, but it would still make their mission that much more difficult.
He heard voices from the kitchen when he made it to the ground floor, a curious mixture of serious conversation and laughter. Steeling himself, Harry made his way into the lion's den.
Dinner seemed to have just ended, as everyone was still seated around the table. The familiarity of it shook him somewhat. Sirius and Remus sat near the head of the table, talking together in hushed voices. The twins were hunched over whatever ridiculous project they were working on for their business, while Ron and Ginny were laughing at Tonk's antics at the near end of the table. Bill and Mundungus were notably absent, as well as Mr. Weasley. It seemed not everything was meant to be the same after all.
His eyes finally found her at the middle of the table, seated across from Tonks. She was doing a passable job at splitting her attention between the book open on the table before her and laughing at Tonks pig nose. She was resting her head on her hand, leaned over onto the table, hair falling gently over one shoulder. Her right hand flicked a page absently before cover the quite yawn that she couldn't keep back. She looked positively enchanting to him in that moment, the light from the dim candles dancing on her face, and despite himself Harry stared.
She noticed him then, a brilliant smile lighting up her features.
"HARRY!" Sirius roared, rising from the table with a clatter and rushing over to him.
"Evening." Harry said lightly as his godfather dragged him into a bone crushing hug.
"Glad to see you up and about, pup." Sirius said he pulled away. He grinned and clapped him on the back heartily, a light in his eyes that Harry didn't remember in the past. "Come and sit." Sirius said, leading him to the empty chair to his left. Harry spared a glance at Hermione, who made no sign of stopping him. He would've preferred to sit down next to her, but he knew such a wish would likely go unfulfilled here. "Molly's left some stew out for you." His godfather told him as he sat. Almost as if in response to his words, a bowl floated down in front of him.
Despite the fact that it was likely loaded with love and compulsion potions, Harry eyed it hungrily. She may be a traitorous bitch, but Molly Weasley could cook with the best of them.
"How are you feeling?" Remus asked him, concern evident on his face.
"On the mend." Harry replied lightly as he began to eat. The ring on his finger, invisible to everyone but Hermione, grew icy cold at his first bite. It seemed he was correct about the potions. He continued eating despite that, resolute in his knowledge that the blossoming bond between them combined with their proximity to each other would be more than enough to negate the effects.
The group engaged in some light small talk while Harry ate, much along the same lines as it had gone in the past. Sirius and Remus explained to him that this was Sirius's family home, Grimmauld Place, and a brief explanation was given in regards to the identity of the Order of the Phoenix and that this was their headquarters.
When he'd finished eating Harry finally decided to dive into the heart of the evening.
"So, what's being done?" Harry asked, knowing the chaos that was about to come. Hermione closed her book and turned toward them, dropping the pretense of reading.
"About what, Harry?" Remus asked on cue.
"Voldemort."
Molly, who by this point had joined them at the table, visibly bristled but held her tongue.
Remus and Sirius shared a glance at one another.
"Why don't you tell us what happened the other night?" Tonks asked, turning to face him.
"And you are?" Harry asked. He'd barely remembered that he hadn't met Tonks in this timeline yet.
"Bloody hell, where are my manner?" Sirius said. "Harry this is Nymphadorra Tonks."
"JUST Tonks." Tonks said through clenched teeth, her hair turning a fiery red color as she spoke.
"Right." Sirius said. "She's a distant cousin of mine and a member of the order. She's also an Auror."
"And a damned good one." Tonks said.
"I'd also like to know what happened." Remus added, trying to defuse the sudden tension.
Harry quickly gave the story he'd rehearsed over the last few days. He'd been out for a walk when he felt the cold coming on. He'd thought of dementors given his experience in third year, so he went home to make sure his relatives were safe. That's when he'd found the dementor attacking Petunia.
"I saw that I was too late. That'd she'd been kissed and… I just reacted." He said. "I cast the blasting curse without even thinking."
"You had to have known it wouldn't hurt it." Remus said.
"I know, but I had to do something. And I was just so angry…" Harry said.
"His temper has led us on more than a few adventures." Hermione said, breaking her silence. Ron snorted and Harry couldn't help but smile.
"Anyways, after I snapped out of it and saw the house, I realized Dudley wasn't home, so I went after him. I saw him being attacked and cast the patronus. I thought I'd gotten them all, but I was wrong. You know the rest." He said, looking to Hermione as he finished.
"We're just lucky they found you." Remus said, smiling warmly at him as he spoke.
"lucky Hermione is so bloody stubborn." Ron added, earning a few chuckles from the table.
"Remind me, Ronald," Hermione began, "How many times has my stubbornness saved your behind?"
"How many times has she kept you from failing your exams?" Fred and George added simultaneously. Ron's ears turned red.
"Alright, alright." He mumbled, bowing his head as his brothers laughed at him.
"So, what's happening with Voldemort?" Harry asked again, this time more forcefully. "I'm not convinced he wasn't behind the dementors in Little Whinging."
"We're not unconvinced of that either, Harry." Remus began. "But the evidence points to some kind of disgruntled Ministry insider."
"He's right." Tonks added. "It's like there's been a bloody inquisition on there. Anyone with access to Azkaban that wasn't accounted for that day has been or will be questioned." She said, grabbing a roll from the center of the table and picking at it as she spoke. "It's led to some rather awkward conversations those of us that are helping the Order. I've never been so glad to have been on desk duty in my life."
Sirius opened his mouth to speak but was cut short by Molly Weasley slamming her hand down on the table. It had the desired effect, as the entire group fell silent.
"RIGHT." She said, probably louder than she intended. "Best get these children to bed. Come on now, off with you." She said, waving to Ginny and the twins as she rose from her seat.
"I'm not going anywhere, Mrs. Weasley." Harry said quietly. For a moment, Molly gaped at him, her expression like she'd been slapped. Then her face reddened.
"This is NOT business for children who are still in school." She said through clenched teeth.
"I have a right to know what's going on." Harry said, keeping his tone measured. "We all do."
"No." Molly bit out. Harry opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by his godfather.
"He's right Molly. This child has done more with his own two hands than most adults, probably more than most of the order members these days. Not to mention he's the one who was there when Voldemort was resurrected." Sirius said, his tone hard.
"That doesn't mean he should be involved." Molly said. "Children have no place in this, and it's our job to make sure they stay out of it. let's not forget Dumbledore's instructions Sirius." She'd begun inching closer to Sirius as she spoke, and the unveiled threat hung between them.
Sirius glowered at her, rising from his own seat now and placing both hands on the table.
"Let's not forget whose home this is, Molly." Sirius said. "Dumbledore may be the head of the Order, but this is the Black family's home, and I am Harry's godfather. If he wants to know what's going on, I'll not keep anything from him."
"B-but…" Molly began, sputtering angrily.
"That's enough!" Remus said, standing and getting between them.
"Talk some sense into him Remus!" Molly said, panic evident on her features. In the past Harry might have taken Molly's interference for some kind of maternal concern, but now that he was fully aware of her true motivations, he knew she was only angry because she was losing control of the situation.
"There's no need." Sirius said, standing tall now. For a moment he looked every bit the imposing lord of his house, and Molly stepped back.
"She does have a point Sirius." Remus said, placing a hand on his old friend's shoulder. For a moment Sirius looked at him in shock before Remus continued. "I don't think it wise to reveal everything to him," he began, "but he deserves to know the general picture." He said, turning to face Molly now as he finished.
"HE IS A CHILD!" Molly roared.
"He is not YOUR child." Sirius growled back at her.
"HE. IS. NOT. JAMES!"
The room fell silent, nobody daring to breathe.
Instead of looking hurt and defeated like the last time, Sirius's eyes narrowed, and he fixed Molly with a deadly glare.
"How dare you." He whispered, fists clenching at his sides. "I'm perfectly aware of who he is. And my responsibilities to him, Molly." Magic began to fill the air around them, and for a moment Harry wasn't sure if he would end up having to restrain Sirius or not. Molly looked like she was debating going for her wand.
"Both of you calm down." Remus ordered, his voice hard. "I agree with Sirius. Harry has earned the right to decide for himself. If he wishes to know we should tell him, if only partly."
"Fine." Molly bit out. "The rest of you. Bed. NOW."
The uproar that followed went in much the same way it had in the previous timeline. Nobody had spoken during the exchange between Sirius and Molly because they'd been too shocked, but once the command had been given, they'd all broken out in an outrage. It ended much the same also, and once Ginny had been led upstairs, kicking and screaming by her mother, the conversation followed much the same flow as it had before.
Before long, the impromptu meeting had adjourned and they went up to bed. Harry lingered behind as the others left, wanting a moment with his godfather.
"Thanks for that." Harry said once they were alone. They were standing by the fireplace now, and Sirius had just reached for the firewhiskey when Harry had come over.
"Not a problem, pup." Sirius said as he poured himself a glass. "Molly means well, but she seems to have forgotten that most of us started working with the Order around your age last time."
"She also seems to have forgotten that I'm not a Weasley." Harry added dryly. Sirius laughed darkly at that.
"Yes well, I'll likely be in some trouble with Dumbledore after that." Sirius said bitterly before draining his glass. He noticed the slightly alarmed look on Harry's face. "Don't worry. Nothing worth writing home about, just a scolding. He wants information to be kept close this time."
"Are they letting you help?" Harry asked him.
"Some." Sirius said. He didn't say more.
"Well, I'm glad you're here." Harry said.
Sirius placed a hand on Harry's shoulder.
"Me too pup." He said warmly. "You should be off to bed now. If those twins are worth their galleons, then the little read head will be out for a few hours. Should give you and a certain someone some time alone."
Harry looked at him wide eyed for a moment before laughing and shaking his head.
"Once a marauder." Harry mumbled. Sirius grinned into his firewhiskey before he drained another glass.
Thanks to Sirius he wasn't surprised to find her in his room when he got upstairs. She was sitting on his desk, legs crossed and one bare foot bobbing up and down as she waited. She'd been glancing out the window lazily but when he came in she turn to captured him with her brown orbs and smiled softly.
"You shouldn't keep a girl waiting." She said softly.
Harry grinned at her. He shut the door behind himself and wandlessly cast the privacy charm.
"Don't bother with the notice me not." Hermione said casually. "Only you and Sirius are up here, and Molly's already been giving him a wide berth."
'I can see that." Harry said, walking over and stopping just short of her. His posture was relaxed. "We need to talk."
"Yes we do." Hermione replied.
"Sirius did say we'd have a few hours." Harry mumbled, suddenly hyper aware of the fact that she was wearing a skirt and a top with a plunging neckline. His eyes raked over her, drinking her in. Her pale skin seemed to be glowing in the soft light from the rooms small window.
Hermione grinned at him, her eyes smoldering.
***Mature content warning***
Without waiting for another word Harry closed the remaining space between them and wrapped her in his arms, his lips crashing against hers. She kissed him desperately, like she'd never kissed him before and might not ever be able to do so again, groaning and gasping with need as their teeth and tongues gnashed together.
His hands fisted into her loose hair as he devoured her, his lips departing from hers to kiss a searing line down her jaw and up to her ear. She gasped eagerly, wrapping her legs around his waist and pulling him flush against her. A shiver a pleasure ran down her spine as one of his hands dipped down the smooth expanse of her neck, clearly heading for her chest.
"You know." She whispered breathily. "I'm still angry at you for being reckless."
"You don't seem angry." He whispered into her ear, making her shiver again.
"Well, a girl has her needs." She purred, grinding her hips against him. The angle had her grinding her core right up against him, and they both moaned at the contact.
Dimly Hermione was aware that the intense desire she felt for him right now was likely being spurred on by their bond's desire to be consummated, but she didn't care. She'd been aroused from the moment that Harry had so calmy told Molly Weasley to shove off, and she was too far gone to be shy now.
Her mind stopped functioning when his hand slid down into her top, cupping her breast and squeezing gently. She moaned into him, rewarding him with another grind of her hips as his lips followed his hand, pulling the shoulder of her top down to give him more access.
Soon his mouth closed on the top of her breast and Hermione gasped loudly, her hips now moving of their own accord. The hand that had been kneading her breast now made its way up her legs, stopping briefly to squeeze her toned calve and thigh before coming to rest between her legs and stopping suddenly.
Hermione blushed crimson but said nothing as Harry paused his ministrations on her nipple to glance up at her. She was bare under his fingers, and practically dripping for him.
"I was rather eager." She murmured. Harry's response was a satisfied growl as he renewed his assault on her chest. "Oh gods." Hermione panted as his fingers easily parted her folds. She moaned loudly as a digit sank deep into her, throwing her head back and holding onto his shoulder for dear life as her hips bucked into his hand. He added a second finger, and when his palm came to rest against her pearl, she rolled her hips to feel the friction against it, nearly screaming in pleasure.
Harry's face came into view, and Hermione dragged him down into a brutal kiss as he worked her, pumping his fingers in and out of her as she ground against him.
"Oh god, Harry I'm already…" but she never finished as the pressure in her abdomen released, her back arching as her fingers dug painfully into his shoulders. A broken version of his name passed from her followed by a low, keening moan as her legs shook with her release.
For several moments they stayed like that, both panting from the exertion. His fingers withdrew from her and she groaned at the loss.
"I love you." She whispered as she pulled his face to hers.
"I know." He said cheekily, grinning at her.
"I've never cum that hard and that fast before." She said shakily pulling him flush against her. It was then she realized that Harry was still dressed, and still very, very hard. That wouldn't do. Gently she pushed him back so she could stand, albeit shakily, only to turn him around and push him backwards so that his hips came to rest against the desk.
"What're you?" Harry began, but quickly he realized what was happening when Hermione got on her knees before him. She'd pushed her skirt down as she went, and now she was pulling her top off, revealing herself to him fully for the first time.
Moving quickly to fight her own nerves, Hermione pushed his shirt up and began working his belt loose. Harry removed his shirt just as she finished unzipping his jeans and began tugging them down, his boxers with them.
She took hold of him, and he hissed in pleasure above her. She pumped him a few times, marveling at how it could be so hard and yes so soft. Already there was liquid dripping from the tip. She glanced up at him, and without a word leaned in and took the tip of him into her mouth.
Harry moaned loudly, back arching at the sensation of her hot mouth around him. She swirled her tongue over him, and he groaned in pleasure, his hands coming to rest on her cheeks and then fisting into her hair. He didn't move her, but his hips did buck involuntarily, pushing him deeper into her mouth.
Hermione had never felt so in control or so sexy in her entire life. She glanced up to him and she saw his face contorted in pleasure, his eyes closed as she sucked him. She was the one who could make him feel this. She started to bob her head up and down his shaft, taking as much of him as she could and then sliding back to swirl her tongue over his tip before going back down again. Without realizing it she took her own breast into her hand, rolling her nipple and pinching it slightly. She closed her eyes and increased her pace on him, his hips now bucking with each movement.
She was suddenly filled with the intense desire to find her release with him, and knowing it would be soon she dipped a hand down between her legs. She moaned loudly despite her current position, and when she opened her eyes and looked up at him, she moaned again.
He was panting now, trying not to thrust into her mouth but slowly being overwhelmed by her. He glanced down her, needing to see her, and nearly passed out. She looked so wantonly beautiful in that moment. Her eyes were glued to his as she sucked him, one hand one her own breast and the other moving furiously between her legs.
Knowing she was close to her own release now, Hermione took him as deep as she could, forcing herself to ignore her gag reflex as she nearly made it to the base of him.
Harry's eyes rolled into the back of his head the moment he felt himself hitting the back of her throat. Unable to control himself, he pulled back before thrusting into her mouth, once, twice, and then on the third time he moaned her name and went rigid as his release found him. Hermione pulled back enough so that she wasn't choking on him as she felt him explode in her mouth. Her own orgasm found her then, crashing down on her like the weight of a mountain. Her legs shook once again, and she moaned around him. She pulled back, releasing him with a soft pop before she locked eyes with him. Without blinking, she swallowed, her lips parting with a gasp afterwards.
****end mature content****
Once they had both caught their breath, she pulled him over to the bed. Harry didn't resist and fell onto the soft, albeit squeaky mattress next to her. She pressed herself against him, wanting to be as close as she could. Harry reveled in the feel of her lithe form wrapping around him as she wrapped a leg around his waist. She kissed him then, long, and slow. He tasted himself on her tongue but didn't care. In that moment, all he cared about was that she was there with him. That they were both alive. His hands ghosted over the bare skin of her back and shoulders, raising goosebumps on her flesh.
Finally, she pulled back and rested her head in the crook of his shoulder, and the two weary lovers lay like that for some time. They didn't move until the night made its chill known and Hermione began to shiver lightly on top of him.
Hermione grumbled irritably when Harry rose, pulling his pants up as he went. Her frown turned to a sweet smile when he reached down to the end of the small bed and grabbed the thick blanket there, bringing it up and draping it over her gently.
Deciding to tease him a bit as he moved, Hermione turned onto her back and stretched out her legs, giving him his first full view of her bare body. Harry froze, and his eyes raked over her for what felt like an eternity, committing every inch of her to his memory. Her legs were long and well-toned, her breasts small but round and full, and her flat stomach that plunged down to the light dusting of hair above her core. She blushed under his scrutiny, and Harry begin to feel his pants tightening.
"My god you're beautiful." Harry finally said, his voice thick with emotion. He bent down and kissed her deeply. Hermione was taken aback by the intensity of the kiss, moaning into his lips. It took only a moment before she felt the warmth beginning to return in her center, so she pulled back, gasping. It amazed her that he could make her melt with just a heated look and a kiss.
"Down boy." She whispered playfully, smiling at him.
"As you command." Harry said softly. He moved to rise from the bed, but she grabbed his hand, stopping him.
"Soon, Harry." She told him, her eyes earnest and loving. She was blushing slightly, and he couldn't help but follow the rise and fall of her barely concealed chest.
He smiled at her then, his expression tender as he seated himself in the chair that accompanied his desk. She propped herself up with her left arm, her right holding the blanket up to cover her chest as she turned towards him.
"About that talk."
Harry laughed softly. He'd known they would get there eventually.
"I suppose we should spend some of the time Sirius granted us strategizing." Harry said, chuckling as he leaned back into the chair. He glanced over to her. "He's different this time." He said. "More assertive and less… broken?"
Hermione swallowed thickly, dragging her focus away from Harry's toned chest and abdomen.
"I agree." She said. "He doesn't seem to be as badly affected by his time in Azkaban this go around."
"Maybe that's not it." Harry murmured.
"What do you mean?"
"Maybe it's because we're here earlier than last time. A certain someone hasn't had to chance to make him more docile."
Hermione pondered that for a long moment.
"It would explain a few things. He's been acting more like I remembered him from third and fourth years. Less submissive, certainly. As you saw earlier, he and Molly are not seeing eye to eye about most things, and he hasn't been quiet about it."
"I'm glad." Harry said softly, his eyes falling to his knees. "I hated how miserable he was before. I know he felt useless."
Hermione reached over and placed a hand on his thigh, squeezing softly.
"Look at me, Harry." She whispered. He did as she asked, and when green met brown she was looking at his with an expression of tender determination. "I swear Harry." She began, "No matter what happens, we'll save him. I know what he means to you. I promise you that we'll keep him alive."
Harry's throat clenched as his eyes filled with tears. He'd been thinking as much from the moment he'd woken in the hospital to find his godfather standing there with him, but hearing her voice it, committing to it with every fiber of her being made his heart swell in his chest. He didn't deserve this woman.
Hermione gave him a moment to compose himself before she continued.
"He's made it clear where he lands, as far as we are concerned." She said after a while. Harry met her gaze again, an eyebrow raised in question. "He told me to fight for you. And he's been defending me against the Weasleys."
Harry's eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean, defending?" He asked, his tone suddenly hard.
"Just the usual name calling and general rudeness that happens when you're not around, Harry." She said. "It doesn't matter." She added, waving her hand dismissively. "I'm used to them being callous to me or ignoring me, but Sirius seems to have taken some offense to it."
"It seems we're in agreement on that point." Harry murmured. Several very painful possibilities for the Weasleys began to take shape in his mind.
"Tell me about the graveyard." Hermione said suddenly, catching him off guard. She'd intentionally not mentioned it since the other night, opting to enjoy the moments they'd had since he'd come to Grimmauld, but the hippogriff in the room needed to be addressed.
Harry groaned, but conceded to her. He gave her the full accounting of the days that had passed since they parted, up until the night she'd saved him from the dementor. She'd not interrupted him, but her neutral expression had turned into a frown, that then deepened into a scowl. Harry had left nothing out of his account of his battles, including the power he'd drawn on to defeat the dementors. When he finished, she was quiet for a while, her gaze cast down as her powerful mind went over what she'd been told. She was chewing her lip slightly as she thought, which Harry found quite distracting.
When she finally looked back to him, her expression was hard.
"You are the most ridiculously irritating and reckless man I've ever met!" She growled out at him. "How could you be so completely foolish? Of course Voldemort would have set a trap! And then you fought it! Without knowing anything about it! Without ME!" Her tone was rising as she spoke. Harry knew she was angry, so he remained quite as she vented her frustrations. "And then you go on and consider making a deal with a shade, all while taking on dementors? You know he was manipulating you and using the situation to his advantage? He would've possessed you eventually. You can't coexist with a shade, as you very well know, since there was one in your BLOODY SCAR! HONESTLY!"
Harry reached over and took her hand, squeezing it gently.
"I'm sorry, Mione." He said, meeting her gaze. Her anger broke as she looked at him, her eyes suddenly sparkling with unshed tears.
"I was so scared Harry." She whispered. "When I felt the ring, and then again in that alley. I can't do that again. No more acting on our own. Promise me?"
"I promise, Hermione. We started this together, and we'll finish it together." Harry said firmly.
Hermione pulled back her hand, wiping her eyes with it.
"The idea does have some merit." She said after a while.
"What does?"
"Learning what you can from Riddle's shade."
Harry gaped at her.
"Sorry, didn't you just tell me I was an idiot for considering it?"
"Yes I did, because it was foolish to consider making a deal with a disembodied spirit determined to possess you, especially in that situation. But if we were able to control the terms, and we take care to make sure he can't take control of you, it may be worth the risk to learn what he could teach us about offensive magic and horcruxes." She told him. "I'll have to do some thinking, and some research before we could even begin to consider it, but I can't deny that it's an avenue we shouldn't dismiss outright."
Harry sighed heavily. He hadn't expected that.
"Well, we have time to decide. The ring is with the loadstone back at the Manor." He told her. "We likely won't get a chance to go back there for a while, so we won't be seeing them any time soon. I ordered Dobby to make sure they were locked in the box." He said, adding that last part in response to her concerned expression.
"Good." She said. "We don't need that shade having free run of the place while we're gone." She chewed her lip for a moment, her universal sign of deep thought. "I think you are right about Dudley. We need to do something about him."
"I don't know if I can kill him." Harry said quickly.
"I suppose that is an option, in the worst case, but that's not what I had in mind."
"Do tell."
"I'm working out the details, but we should probably modify his memory. If my hypothesis is correct, memory modification while the mind is already damaged will prevent him from recovering, thereby protecting us."
"I'm not sure if I want to leave him as an empty shell either."
"I'll leave the decision up to you then." Hermione said softly. She knew the subject of his relatives was a delicate one as of now, and while she wanted to ensure their safety, she didn't want to force him.
"I know we're here to get revenge, as well as complete our mission, but I think losing his parents might be enough for him." Harry said. "Let him experience a bit of the pain that I've lived with my whole life."
"If that's what you want, Harry." She told him. "Dudley aside, we do need to come up with some way to hide our identity when we take direct action from now on."
"I agree." He said, grateful for the change in subject. "Any ideas?"
"A few." Hermione said. Harry smiled at her. She'd probably come up with all of them in the last few moments. Ron had been right when he'd said that she was brilliant, but scary.
"I suppose it was Death that intervened with the Dementors." He said, changing gears.
"It had to have been. The glowing red eyes you saw notwithstanding, I can't think of anyone else that could've given you that kind of knowledge. Up until this point it was thought that Dementors were indestructible."
"I'm curious how I wounded it the first time, as well." Harry said aloud.
"Likely it has something to do with the changes in our magical signature. We are using the powers of a literal god. It's possible that we're able to interact with the natural world in ways that normal witches and wizards can't now."
"You know, I heard another voice that night." Harry began, taking her hand. "I heard you. Urging me on."
"That was me, Harry." She told him. Harry looked at her confused for a moment before she explained. "When Sirius and I got close to that alley, I started to be able to sense you. Not just the traces of your magic, like others can, but I could actually sense your presence. I knew where you were before I saw you. And I could feel your pain."
"The bond?" He asked her. She nodded.
"The more our bond grows, the more connected we'll be. When I got close to you, I was able to communicate directly with you through the bond. At first it was just general feelings and flashes of words, but then I felt like you could hear my words directly. I believe once we've… consummated the bond completely, we'll be able to do more."
They talked for a while longer, discussing a number of things further. Once she was sure they had a general idea of what they intended to do next, Hermione announced that it was time for bed. She rose and stood before him. She met his curious gaze with a heated look of her own as she let the blanket fall from her hands.
She reached out to him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and pulling his head into her chest. She held him there for a while, shivering delightedly when his arms wrapped around her as her hands raked through his messy hair. She pulled back and tilted his head up, capturing his lips in a needy kiss. She groaned as his hands found their way to her backside, kneading the flesh there and pulling her close.
"I suppose I have a few more minutes to spare before bed." She said breathily. Harry met her gaze and both of them grinned wickedly as she reached back and took one of his hands, guiding it back around her front to her aching center.
The next morning Harry was making his way down the stairs for breakfast, a lazy and satisfied smile on his face when was all but tackled by one Ginerva Weasley. She must have been waiting for him on the landing, and when he hadn't noticed her, she feigned a trip into him. Having not noticed her Harry caught her, and she latched onto him by the arms. The moment he saw the mane of red hair he stiffened and stood her up straight, pulling back enough that she had to release him, but the closer of her two hands remained on his bicep.
The contact made his skin crawl.
"Oh my! I'm so sorry Harry." She said, her voice sickly sweet. "I was just coming up to get you for breakfast." She squeezed his arm appreciatively, humming as she did so. "My, my, seems someone's been getting in shape."
The more she spoke, the more uncomfortable he became. She'd shifted subtly, blocking his way just enough that he'd have to shoulder past her to keep going.
"Right, well. Time for breakfast." He said quickly. Attempting to move past her but failing as she shifted again.
"You know Harry." She said, her voice dropping to what she must've thought was a seductive purr. "If you need someone to talk to, I'm here for you." As she spoke she'd inched closer to him until she was far closer than he was comfortable with. She was wearing a v neck shirt that she'd obviously pulled down, and judging by the hard point sticking out, she wasn't wearing a bra.
"Uh, thanks." Harry managed to bite out, now desperately wishing for a way out of this that didn't involve hexing her. For all of her attempts to seduce him, she was only succeeding in raising his ire. "Really now Gin, I think we need to go downstairs."
She pouted, obviously disappointed in his reaction but trying not to let her own irritation show.
"I understand." She said after a moment, smiling again. "You're still recuperating. Just remember, I'm here for… whatever you need." She told him, her voice dropping to a whisper as she sauntered past him, heading back up the stairs to her room.
Just then, Ron rounded the bottom of the stairs.
"Morning mate." He called up to him. "Fancy some chess with breakfast?"
Harry was so grateful for the fool's arrival that he agreed readily, hurrying down the stairs and into the kitchen behind him.
Ginny hurried to her room, knowing better than to let any of her brothers or merlin forbid, her mother from catching her braless in a house full of teenage boys. Thankfully, the mudblood bitch was gone when she came in.
She had just about reached her limit tolerating the brunette. Harry had only been here for a few days, and he'd barely paid attention to her at all. Every time he entered the room, his eyes went straight to her. And the little smiles they'd shared when he'd come down for dinner yesterday! Ginny growled in frustration.
There was a small voice in the back of her mind, one that had begun whispering when Hermione had first arrived, that told her there was more to those smiles. Much more. But there couldn't be. Her mother was supposed to be making sure of that. She'd been confident in her position in the weeks leading up to Harry's arrival. Then her confidence had been shaken in St. Mungo's when he'd ignored her, and again when he'd arrived here and all but ignored her. Still, she wasn't terribly worried. At least, not until last night.
When she'd gone to bed she'd been livid, both at being separated from him, and at being left out of the discussion regarding the Order. She'd intended to stay up to try to sneak into his room, had even putting on her school robe with just her skimpiest underwear on for him, but she'd fallen asleep. When she'd awoken, it was after midnight, and she'd almost just went back to sleep if it hadn't been for the mudblood coming into the room.
Ginny assumed that they'd been talking that long for a moment, but when she didn't hear the sound of other feet on the stairs or voices in the halls from outside, she grew angry.
"Where the hell have you been?" She hissed.
Hermione had the good sense to not jump or look caught when the viper had spoken, merely glancing at her as she entered the room.
"In the library." She answered casually. "I needed some time to unwind after all that. Sorry if I woke you."
"Only you would go to the library to unwind."
Hermione gave her an appraising look, noticing what she was wearing. Ginny didn't care if the mudblood saw her dressed like this. She preened under the attention, stretching out suggestively.
"Seems like you had plans to unwind yourself."
"Jealous, are we?" Ginny replied. For a second, she saw a flash of anger pass over the bookworm's eyes, but she recovered quickly. "I'd intended to give him a bit of my special attention tonight, but it's not like it matters anymore. Mr. Gloomy has probably gone up to bed by now, and he won't let me near my Harry."
Hermione appeared to be ignoring her now as she changed into a long t-shirt that served as her sleepwear in the warmer months. This was their usual state of communication. Ginny rolled over with a grunt, intent on going sleep. At the last moment she glanced back over at the bookwork and noticed two things she suspected she wasn't meant to see.
Firstly, Hermione was wearing a skirt. She hadn't noticed it before in the darkness of the room, but she was certain that she'd been wearing jeans at dinner. Second, as the older girl had bent down to slide the skirt off, Ginny caught a flash of skin for a brief moment before the t-shirt fell into place. She rolled over quickly, screwing her eyes shut and hoping she was wrong. She couldn't be positive with how dark the room was and the briefness of her glimpse, but she was almost certain that Hermione wasn't wearing any knickers.
Her mind returning to the present, Ginny dressed quickly and made her way downstairs. Perhaps she'd been a bit too forward with Harry this morning, but she had to do something. She'd even forgone any underwear at all, not that he'd noticed her lower half. And he didn't seem to be interested. Her blood was boiling now, but she suppressed her anger, opting to form a new plan.
If the mudblood was having a go at him, she would just have to up her own game. Soon, Harry would forget all about that frumpy bitch.
Harry had wandered into said library not long after breakfast. He found Hermione curled up on one of the couches between the shelves in the back, apparently lost in whatever she was reading.
"It's amazing how much information is in here." She said as he closed the distance between him, proving him wrong.
"Isn't it?" Harry said quietly, seating himself on the floor in front of her. Close enough to be near her, but not overtly romantic to any observers. Noticing this, Hermione quickly cast the privacy charm with a flick of her wrist.
"What's wrong?" she asked him, suddenly worried.
"I can't say for sure, but I think Ginny might be on to us." Harry told her, turning to he could face her.
"Oh, that. Of course she is." Hermione said, returning to her reading like she hadn't just dropped a bombshell on him.
"Sorry, what?" Harry asked her, confusion evident in his tone. Hermione glanced back up at him, huffing and closing her book at his expectant look.
"Of course she knows." She said to him. "Ginerva Weasley is many things, but a fool isn't one of them. If she doesn't at least suspect something is going on between us, then she's nowhere near as clever as I'd thought she is. Besides, it's to our benefit that she suspects us."
"How in the name of Merlin does that help us?" Harry asked her.
"Come now Harry." Hermione said. "Think it through. If Ginny suspects that I'm competing with her for you then she'll dial up her attempts to seduce you. The more you reject her, the more desperate she'll be. Then we just have to wait for her to make a mistake, and we've got her."
"I don't know Hermione. Ginny is a lot more vindictive that you're giving her credit for. This could be a dangerous game."
"It's dangerous either way. Even if we can make it awhile before our relationship goes public, she'll likely come after me once it does. Better to rile her up to it now, before we're dealing with that fallout too."
Harry was silent for a while before he nodded.
"I suppose you're right." He told her. Hermione snorted haughtily.
"Of course I am. But what made you bring it up?"
"She just cornered me on the stairs and tried to seduce me."
"Did it work?" She asked him lightly. Harry grinned at her.
"Not in the slightest. I've never been more grateful to have Ron show up in my life." He stood then, holding a hand out to her. "We should get going. Molly sent me to find you. Seems she wants us all for cleaning duty."
Hermione huffed as she took his proffered hand and rose to follow him.
"Wonderful. Another day of her telling me I'm doing things wrong and getting the worst jobs."
"I doubt that." Harry said. Hermione beamed at him as he walked ahead of her. It made her happy to know he was so protective of her, even in these trivial matters. "By the way, how did you know that Ginny might be on to us already?"
"Oh, that?" She asked him, raising an eyebrow as she passed him and the door to the library. She stopped for a moment, leaning in close to him. "I might've let her get a glimpse of me changing last night."
Harry opened his mouth to ask why that would matter, then closed it comically as he remembered what she hadn't been wearing the night before.
"Oh, that's just cruel." He told her with a grin.
They ran into the twins at the landing, both practically bouncing out of the shoes.
"Good day there, fine sir." Fred said.
"And lady." George added.
"We just."
"Wanted to let you know."
"That there's seems to be a gathering of official looking folks downstairs."
"Probably Ministry."
"Definitely Ministry."
Harry and Hermione shared a look.
"The inquiry?" he said aloud.
"Must be." She replied. "I was wondering when they would turn up."
Harry sighed heavily but steeled himself none the less.
"Let's get on with it then."
They thanked the twins for the warning and waved them on as they headed off to continue their chores for the day, before turning and heading down and into the kitchen. They'd discussed their approach to this inevitable confrontation the night before, so both felt confident.
As they crossed the threshold into the dark kitchen, that confidence vanished. In no small part thanks to the presence of the person that was seated at the head of the Black family's long table, and the way his eyes seemed to twinkly icily.
"Harry, my boy." He said in greeting.
"Good morning, Professor." Harry said, hoping his voice didn't betray the icy fear he felt going down his spine. Beside him, Hermione had gone rigid.
From the head of the table, lounging in the chair as if it were a throne and looking down at them from behind his half-moon spectacles, Albus Dumbledore smiled.
"Please, come and join us."
A/N- Here we are again, everyone. Longer chapter but I'd intended that. I still love writing Sirius. This chapter was meant to reunite our two time travelers and address most of the fallout of the end of part one. And now the old goat has finally made his appearance. I'd almost brought him in last chapter, but I'd decided to stave him off a bit longer. How will they handle this little twist, I wonder? As always, thanks for all of the love and reviews. Knowing how much people are enjoying this story keeps me inspired. Next chapter, the Headmaster and the inquiry.