They got out of Britain without anything terrible happening. Hedwig is quite upset at being left behind, but at least Winky and Dobby will make her all the bacon she deserves. Crookshanks is a bit put out, but as he knows Hermione is coming back (though not til the end of this part), he's just wanting me to get on with this. So. Onward with part 3! (this one's kind of short... but it does what I want so :P)

~~ this is a scene break ~~

The next morning, the family was up early to travel to the town that had the Mayo clinic in it. Though they were travelling by portkey, they still had to settle the bill at their hotel, find the magical district in Minneapolis and register at the clinic.

It was both easier and faster than they'd assumed, and after settling themselves from the portkey travel, they made their way through registration and to an examination room. One of the porter elves took the elder Grangers' luggage to storage for the time being, though Harry and Hermione kept their travel rucksacks with them.

It was only a short wait until a swarthy young man entered the room, reading the chart that the Grangers had filled out and left in the door.

"My name is Healer Towns," He shook hands with both Jason and Bianca and addressed Hermione directly. "I understand you were injured magically in June? I'd recommend that you get a full magical diagnostic to see if there's anything else pressing magically that we should treat." He didn't add that her status as a muggleborn would mean that nothing would have been treated properly in Britain.

"Yes, I'd like a full diagnostic, but I want Harry to get one first," Hermione stated, to the surprise of everyone in the room.

Harry looked at her, confused. "I wasn't hurt at the ministry," he stated.

Pulling him to the side of the cubby while her parents talked to the healer about what a diagnostic entailed, she whispered frantically. "Think of everything that's happened to you. Just this term, you wrote with a blood quill for hours and fought off possession by Voldemort. You've had several issues in previous years, too, and you've only ever been seen by Madame Pomphrey. I just want to check. It doesn't hurt to check. Please?"

Harry took a deep breath then nodded. "Healer Towns, I'd like a diagnostic, also. Hermione reminds me I've also only ever seen a mediwitch and have had several serious incidents at our school."

The healer looked down at the paperwork that the teens had filled out. He had enough to do the diagnostic. The kid was head of his own family in Britain. However, the parents of the girl were of no relation to the boy. Their presence had allowed the no-maj travel but was superfluous in the magical world.

"I cannot do the diagnostic in front of the Grangers. We have strict privacy laws."

Harry nodded, appreciating that. It seemed like in Britain, there were no privacy laws that applied to their precious Boy Who Lived. "I'd like Hermione to stay with me, please."

The doctor looked into the eyes of this boy hero who was just a boy, and an obviously unhealthy boy at that. This girl had gotten him here, and she was contracted with him. It should be fine. He nodded.

The elder Grangers left the cubby to wait outside. The doctor had Harry lie down and began to chant over him, while ribbons of gold and silver magic wrapped around Harry and a self-inking quill filled out a parchment. After a few minutes the cords disappeared and the quill lifted from a very long parchment. The doctor picked it up and started reading through it, casting back-up diagnostic charms as he read.

He sighed before he began to summarize for the young Lord. His companion's already pale face grew paler with the telling, and he feared for the lad's hand as she was gripping it so tightly.

"Your diagnostic shows history of large amounts befuddlement and confundus potion exposure. Your last dose was about three months ago. More recently, about a month ago, you were administered apathy and attraction droughts in a smaller amount. You've had behavioral modification – looks like loyalty and submission? and tracking charms that have been in place for years, though some have been reapplied frequently. You must have a natural ability to overcome them. Your blood shows signs of basilisk venom and phoenix tears. There's still a large amount of dark magic in your curse scar from fifteen years ago. The scar on your hand was created by a blood quill, which is both dark and illegal for prolonged use by international treaty. I've found evidence of several obliviations… You have two magical bindings – a baby binding and another applied before two years of age. Either would have naturally dissipated over time, but they locked each other in place. Finally, someone has purposefully destroyed your natural mind magics." Though the healer was calm and professional, Harry could read the fury underneath his summary. He'd never had an adult outraged on his behalf before, and it was oddly comforting.

At this point, the Healer Towns knew he was out of his league. He called his superior and she came in, looking both calm and controlled. Reading the diagnostic, her only outward sign of emotion was a single quirked eyebrow.

"Harry Potter? I'm Senior Healer Cartwright. I would recommend, if you can afford it, that we use the TCC - time compression chamber. You'll age – chronologically – a year before you come out, but just two weeks will pass on the outside. It's expensive, but it will save you great trouble in the end. If we try to heal all of these in normal time, we won't be able to get them finished before you're contracted to go back to Hogwarts. And if we don't finish before your next maturation, we will never be able to correct some of the issues."

"Won't he enter the maturation in the chamber?" Hermione asked.

"He shouldn't. The problem is that we need to do a six-month course of rehabilitation for the organ and bone issues. We can't do that in spurts and stages. If we wait until after his core matures, and he's an archmagus as this indicates, we may well not be able to overcome his magic to do the healing."

"I can afford it, Healer Cartwright," Harry interjected, thinking on the balance of his trust account. He'd never spent money as his parents had intended, and all of his shopping in the past had been done either in haste (Hagrid) or very frugally (Mrs. Weasley), so he had more than enough to put toward this cause.

"Good lad. If you have to mortgage your future, it's worth it. I don't honestly know how you've performed as a wizard at all with your body, magic, and psyche laboring under all this. If your power were any weaker, you wouldn't have. The biggest challenge will be keeping you occupied while we have all the healing regimens working on you."

"Can he register to take International OWLS?" Hermione interrupted. "After all, he was at a significant disadvantage when he was taking British ones."

Harry didn't roll his eyes or groan at the prospect. OWLS had been hard, but he'd not done nearly as well as he could if he hadn't had all that magic on him. And he had his mother's school books to learn from. He'd even be able to qualify for runes study, which would open up whole new areas to him after Hogwarts.

"I don't know, but I can find out. I have to report this level of malignant magic to our DMLE and child services, at any rate. They should know the answer. While Healer Towns reports that," she eyed her subordinate, who nodded and went to contact the right people, "I'll just get on with your diagnostic, shall I?" She turned to Hermione. Harry went out of the room to get the Grangers so they could hear the outcome of Hermione's tests.

Hermione's diagnostic, while not as horrifying as Harry's, was still very concerning. "Well, I see the remnants of the Breath of Life curse. Hmm. Several potions – loyalty, jealousy, antipathy, and attraction - small amounts on all of them, but it looks like we caught the beginning of a long-term behavior modification scheme on you, as well. Your mind shows signs of some obliviations also – which we should be able to reverse. You have some minor organ damage from long-term petrification and improper human to animal transfiguration. Those should have been treated as they could cause serious issues in the future. Also, you demonstrate long-term poisoning by time sands. Why were you using a time turner?"

Hermione and her parents were stunned at the list of crimes that had been perpetrated on Hermione. Harry answered, "Hermione's brilliant. In third year, the headmaster gave her a time turner so she could take extra classes. She ended up dropping two courses by year end, because they're useless, but she did use it our entire third year. Um... I also used it with her for two hours or so."

Cartwright turned her wand back to Harry, muttering and nodding. "You're clear. She's not. That time turner had some leakage." She turned back to Hermione. "I need to report to the DMLE all the details you know about the time turner. Its provenance needs to be checked because you have been harmed. Not irreparably at this point… but it should have been caught. Time sands damage based on length of exposure. We can treat this easily now, but as time went on, they would have significantly shortened your life expectancy. Especially in combination with the organ damage from the petrification and transfiguration." Hermione's parents gripped each other's hands. Here was someone who they truly believed they could trust. For the first time in years, they felt some hope about the magical world.

Child welfare arrived and documented what has been done to - and the medical treatment withheld from - these two minors. In the states, the guardians would certainly be up on charges; but in Britain? Well, who knew how that would go?

As Harry finished up his statement, the child welfare officer asked if either child had any questions.

"Can Harry retake OWLS?" Hermione asked again. The officer smiled at her.

"Yes, he certainly can. In fact, I would suggest that he should after getting a clean bill of health. International level is harder than local level, of course." He turned and addressed Harry directly, "You can take them when you come out. Seattle has a set going the last week of July, you should be out of the chamber and ready to be released by then, according to Senior Healer Cartwright. I'll bring the homeschool preparation packets. Do you need any other materials?" Harry, who had his mother's school things which included all class books and notes through NEWTS in all subjects he cared about, shook his head. "If there's a way to practice potions in there… otherwise, I think I'm good."

Harry was taken into the time chamber that very afternoon, and the three Grangers decided how they would handle Hermione's healing alone.

~~ this is a scene break ~~

As Hermione's healing process would be more intense and take longer than they originally thought, it would, of necessity, be more expensive. Harry had dealt with the fees for his own sessions and Hermione's basic care before he went into the chamber, but the cost had been quite a bit more than originally budgeted. Jason Granger was a proud man and wanted to pay difference back. He would not be one of the many who took advantage of that child.

And so, before Hermione went into isolation care for the next week, father and daughter floo'd back to Minneapolis and went to Gringotts (while Bianca first saw Harry safely into the TCC and then dealt with accommodations for herself and Jason the week) to attempt to exchange money in their long-term savings into galleons. At the teller's desk (and the Minneapolis branch of Gringotts was very much the same as the London branch, strangely), they were notified that an exchange of that size would require an account. They were directed to the accounts department.

In the office of Account Manager Stalker, Hermione watched in fascination as the process that Harry had described to her was completed. The identification and heritage processes were done efficiently and Stalker studied her with narrowed eyes.

"You wish to open a new account? You could access the Dagworth-Granger account instead, as this is for magical healing of the magical heir."

Jason looked down at the parchment, confused. The goblin recognized the signs of a memory cap. This human had his memories of the magical world suppressed. "Your father was a magical," the goblin explained, pointing to the heritage parchment. "Your daughter can take this account as the sole living magical member of the family over the age of fourteen. Records show she was informed of this when she first exchanged gold at age thirteen in the London branch." With that he turned a questioning gaze to Hermione.

"I apologize, Account Manager," Hermione stammered, "The healer at Mayo said I have some obliviations. I assume this is one of them. Why didn't I claim the account then?"

"As a minor, your father, who is not a squib but a wizard whose core was damaged, would have had to sign permission. This can be done now."

The Grangers looked at each other. Something very strange was going on.

"Does the vault hold anything besides the funds; is there any way to tell?" Hermione asked as her father signed the proper parchments.

The goblin turned to another parchment. "We have some paperwork, and yes, almost certainly there are other items as there is an heirloom vault as well as an investment vault. The Minneapolis branch only has access to the investment vault. You will want to look over the investments, though your own account manager – Custos – has managed the investments since the passing of Hector – your Grandfather."

Jason knew in his mind that his father – and he could picture the man! – had paid for his education and given him a decent account to start. He remembered his very real grief when his father died.

He had no recollection of his father being a wizard.

"We will take the payment from the Dagworth-Granger account. I suppose I should have the healers look over me to see why I cannot remember my own heritage. Thank you for your time, Account Manager Stalker."

Father and daughter made their way back to the clinic. Hermione applied to have her bill paid for out of her account and the money already put forward returned to Harry's account. She also asked a diagnostic be done on her father.

"We have your father listed as a no-maj, Miss Granger," the receptionist questioned.

Hermione nodded. "That's what we assumed. When I just went to Gringotts, we were informed otherwise. He's a wizard with a broken core," she whispered this, and the receptionist looked horrified. Swallowing heavily, he indicated the room where Healer Towns would begin her treatment and run a diagnostic on her father.

As Hermione donned the hospital gown (sadly, they were as bad on the magical side as they were on the no-maj side, but Hermione comforted herself that the bed had warming charms, the gown had privacy charms, and she was only here for a week or so. Poor Harry would be in one of these for a year!)

She exited the bath to find her father under the diagnostic spell of Healer Towns.

"Well, Dr. Granger, do you want me to raise a silencing charm?" the healer asked, looking at Hermione.

"No," Jason shook his head. "Hermione should hear this, also."

"Very well. You have what we call a mental cap on you. At one point you were completely aware of magic; a rather strong, specialized obliviation was used. This is often used here by DMLE when a no-maj-born has family that threaten the statute of secrecy. We've no indication of why it was used on you; it seems to date back to about twenty to twenty-five years. I also see remnants of a curse – the bachelor's curse. This was designed to make it so someone won't have an heir, and is often used by younger siblings or relatives not directly in line for an inheritance. You seem to have overcome this on your own." The healer finished.

"It would explain why I had no interest in dating from my early twenties to my mid-thirties, though," Jason muttered angrily.

"I think Mum broke the spell," Hermione only half-teased, remembering the stories about how her mum chased her dad, sticking around 'til she wore him down' was the phrase Bianca used.

Jason smiled briefly, all the time wondering, 'Who would do this to me? More, why would they do it?'

Bianca arrived back at the hospital, just in time to see her daughter placed in her bed and plied with several foul-looking (and smelling) potions. The girl promptly fell asleep.

"We will keep your daughter in a magical coma while we do a cellular check for sands of time and the organ repair. She's in for a long thirty-six hours. If the two of you want to stay, you can, but I would suggest you get some sleep tonight, as you must still be quite jet-lagged.

The elder Grangers agreed and made their way back to the hotel. It was quite close and clean while reasonably priced. They found a restaurant and sat while Jason tried to process all he'd learned. Activating the privacy runes on the table – and wasn't that nifty? – he told Helen of all he'd learned. She was quietly outraged on his behalf, but there would be no way of knowing who had done this or why.

"Perhaps when we're back home, Hermione can take me through the family vault. There might be something in the will or a journal or something that gives some kind of clue," his voice fell off, as he wondered if he even wanted to know. He was powerless against magicals, and opening a can of worms might just cause more trouble than it was worth.

"Well, there's another big-ticket item we have to discuss. Jason, I want to stay with Harry until he's ready to come back to Britain. Hermione's set on him re-taking his OWLS, and she's explained why to me. Those potions in his system were designed to confuse him and make it hard for him to comprehend and remember. She had more reasons – other classes he wasn't allowed to take qualifiers in, torture they'd put him through – but the salient point is, for his future, he needs to retake them. I don't want him to be alone."

Jason nodded. They owed that boy quite a bit, and this would be part of balancing those scales.

"I'll go back with Hermione next week. I've a few surgeries scheduled in the interim while she's set to take her exams. We'll miss you, but I can keep the clinic running with the sub staff. Don and Emmaline are more than capable, and I think we might even want to think of selling to them completely. They've been looking for their own practice since they're both working full time now. We've enough set by that we don't need to make more, and I've a feeling we're going to need to be able to travel more readily in the near future."

Bianca nodded. "Hermione's world isn't safe, but at least with what you've said of the inheritance she has, we know she's financially set. And I'd like to spend more time with my handsome husband, drinking fancy drinks and dancing on beaches."

He smiled and warmth came into his eyes. He thanked fate every day for his Bianca. "I think that can be arranged," he reached for her hand and grasped it.

They ate their meal, discussing nebulous plans for the next weeks. Bianca thought she might go visit her sister, who was living near Los Angeles, while Harry was finishing up in the chamber. She'd not seen Mona or her daughter Cordelia in years. She'd not seen Lloyd Chase in years, either, but she didn't care about that. Mona's husband had tried to convince Jason to invest with him the last time they'd met… and the answer to that was a firm no. But he kept Mona in the style she was certain she was deserving of, so that was fine. Perhaps she could convince Mona to meet at a spa for a few days; that was something she and her sister could always agree on and enjoy together.

~~ this is a scene change ~~

Bianca was waiting for Harry when he exited the healing chamber in the late morning on that muggy July day. He was very glad that the adventurer kit clothing was self-sizing as Dudley's old clothes were now several inches too short (though they were still yards too wide). He blushed when Bianca smiled and told him how fantastic he looked. As they signed the final exit paperwork and Bianca took him to the hotel she'd been staying in for lunch and planning, she filled him in on all that had happened while he was being healed.

He took the discovery that Hermione's dad was actually a wizard very calmly. They sat at a privacy booth in the restaurant, just as the elder Grangers had done several weeks before.

"It makes a bit of sense, you know," Harry said, nodding as he pondered. "Dr. Granger is quite a bit older than you, right?"

"Jason," Bianca interrupted, "We'd really like you to call us Jason and Bianca, Harry,"

"Well," Harry paused, "Jason is a bit older than you?"

"Yes," Bianca smiled, sipping her drink, "He's a decade older than I am, though you'd never know it."

"You wouldn't, if he's magical. We age more slowly."

Bianca put her cup down slowly. She'd been 32 when she had Hermione. She was now in the last years of her forties, while Jason was rapidly approaching sixty. But he looked thirty.

"I hadn't put that together. Does that mean he's likely to live much longer than I? I'd always consigned myself to growing old alone," she wondered aloud.

"Well, do you know if you have any connection to magic yourself? I mean, Hermione's a brilliant and powerful witch – much stronger than most no-maj families produce. My own mum was actually born from two squibs."

"Aside from the weird names, my dad's family did seem to live a long time. My Bardley grandparents lived to be centenarians. They died of the flu when I was almost 30. They didn't have my dad – Oberon – until they were in their mid-forties, and my dad was 40 when I was born, 45 when Desdemona was born. He was killed in an accident when he was seventy, but he could have passed for forty."

"I'm sorry, I have to ask. Oberon? Desdemona?"

Bianca laughed, feeling a bit lighter. "The family legend is that so many people thought our name was Bradley that my ancestors started using names from Shakespeare – the Bard – to emphasize the difference."

"And that's why… Hermione!"

She smiled. "Exactly."

Harry stirred his drink. "Does your sister have any connection with magic?"

"Half-sister, and doubtful," she frowned. "Mona married an investment banker. I just had a spa week with her while you were in your time compression and Hermione and Jason were back in Merry Olde. There's nothing magical in her life, that I'm aware of."

Harry smiled, "And of course she knows all about Hermione and Hogwarts?"

"Touché," she laughed. "So, young man, are you going to follow Hermione's commands and retake your qualifying exams?"

Harry nodded as he wiped his mouth with a napkin. "Yes. The child welfare representative who met with me today set up the appointment. I just have to portkey to Seattle and find accommodations there."

"We. We just have to portkey. I'll be right there with you," Bianca assured. Harry was touched. Hermione's parents were just the best.

When he and Bianca had settled in a magical hotel in downtown Seattle, recovering from their long-distance portkey, he opened his journal to write to Hermione. It was 10pm on the west coast of the states, which made it (very) early morning in Britain. He wasn't surprised to see her replying almost before he finished his first volley.

Your mum is probably calling your dad right now, but I wanted to let you know that I'm fine, everything went well… scratch that. It went spectacularly. They even fixed my eyesight! And I'm following your advice. We're in Seattle and I'm scheduled to take International OWLS these next two weeks. Your mum is just awesome. I mean, I knew your parents had to be pretty great because…well, you. But I feel like someone – an adult - actually gives a toss about me.

It's wonderful that you're finally healthy. I feel guilty that I never noticed before how much you weren't.

No one noticed, Hermione. I did my best to hide it because I was ashamed. According to the mind healer I talked with, that's common. But it's water under the bridge. How's are you? Your mum says you're completely healthy, but how do you feel? How is Hedwig?

Hedwig's wonderful. Gave me a bit of business when we first got back – so did Crooks, actually. But she's queen of the roost here at the Grange and she's loving it. I am fine too, perfectly well even if I'm a bit disillusioned with British magicals, just now. Thanks for asking about me first, by the way. I know how much Hedwig means to you.

Hermione, Hedwig was my first friend, but you're my best friend. Don't tell her I said that.

Hermione laughed as she read that. He referred to Ron the same way, and that made her really laugh, but she didn't point it out.

But seriously, I'm really proud of you, Harry. Taking OWLS again, though you probably don't have to. You're going to do so well, I just know it. Oh, I'm just reading what you wrote at the end of your first message. You know that Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall care for you. And Sirius cared.

The good professors left me on Petunia and Vernon's doorstep and never looked back. Sirius probably did, but he was not there, you know? Azkaban... it ruined him. Your mum, though. Sorry you're missing time with her, but I'm really glad she's with me.

I'm glad she's with you, too. I have so much to tell you. So, so much. I don't even know where to begin, or if I want it written in a journal that someone could read.

Harry felt a bit of worry in the pit of his stomach. He knew that Hermione didn't really need him or the betrothal agreement anymore. Maybe she was looking for a way to tell him nicely? Well, he'd have none of that. She'd sacrificed enough for him.

Your mum told me about how you're really Hermione Dagworth-Granger. You have your own house… I mean, you don't really need me anymore.

She was replying before he could write more.

Harry. You are my best friend. Of course, I need you!

But the betrothal thing, if you want to end it…

Do you?

The idea made his stomach freeze.

No! No. I mean. I don't want to take advantage of you.

No more than I want to take advantage of you. Even if I am in my own family, I could still be put in contracts like you were with the tournament.

So you're okay with keeping the contract?

Of course I am, Harry. I mean, have you met me? If I don't like something, I'll let you know.

It was Harry's turn to chuckle, but his was more in relief than humor.

Good. Good then. Your mum said that you were completely 100%. They really healed you?

I don't even have a scar. I feel better, honestly, than I have since second year. It's really a crime that they don't heal muggleborn.

Maybe we're supposed to have someone watching for us but the system is broken at Hogwarts? I mean, every other system there seems to be broken.

What, no argument?

Harry, I can't argue when I agree. Hogwarts is seriously broken. What can we do? Our school contracts pre-date our betrothal. We're stuck until we're 17, unless we can prove they broke the contract first.

Well, I am seventeen, or will be next week. Time chamber, yeah?

I hadn't thought of that. But even if you leave, where will you go? Our best courses happen in upper years. There are no other good schools, as bad as Hogwarts can be, in the British Isles.

If OWLS are anything to go by, we're good in most all of the subjects except potions, history and DADA. I pretty much sailed through transfigurations, charms, astronomy... all the rest. Had to get special dispensation because you're supposed to finish OWLS before majority. And they're letting me take my apparition and portkey creation licensing tests next week, too.

You know how to apparate?

Yep. Learned in the TCC. I've only theoretically practiced portkeys, but since I'm head of House Potter and House Black, I'm allowed to get a license. Bet you can get one, too.

Those are pretty serious magics. Why…

I want us to be able to get away if we have to. You know how dangerous Hogwarts is.

I do. I wish I didn't, but I do.

I'm just surprised you're not trying to fix it.

I don't know that it can be fixed. I think I just need to survive it and decide if it's worth coming back to later.

If anyone can fix it, you can.

We can. We make a great team. Wait! You won't be able to apparate in Hogwarts. Or make portkeys, either!

I can.

I'm sure you're good at it, Harry, and that you're magically able. But the wards of Hogwarts are made to prevent people from being able to do that!

Anyone but the headmaster… and me. I actually inherited the Gryffindor house from my Mum.

You're Earl Gryffindor? Do you know what that means?

Yeah. It doesn't mean much. But I'm a ward master there – it's why we were able to go after the stone with a simple alohamora. No ward in that castle will keep me out. And I can keep personal elves – no other student can, even if they are of majority.

You know, that explains a lot. I was beginning to think that Headmaster Dumbledore was seriously going loopy having a Cerberus just behind a locked door.

Well, I'm going to talk it over with a ward master I'm corresponding with, but I think some of the dark magic wards – like the creature ward – have to be in a state of disrepair for what's happened these last five years.

Hermione's sigh came through in her writing. Hogwarts is so seriously broken. But I guess it is up to us to fix it.

Harry smiled as he read her words and saw the us part. Yeah. Listen, I'm knackered. Talk again tomorrow night… err… morning for you?

Same time, same station.

Hermione closed her book and thought deeply about what she'd felt when he offered to end the contract. She'd had such a crush on Lockhart, dandy that he'd been. But she was 13. Viktor stirred her up, no doubt. He was good looking in a brusque way, and his earnest looks and accent… but he'd been kind of dumb, in the end. He was nice enough and a bit of eye candy, but between the long distance and age and intelligence differences, there'd not really been a chance for anything there.

Boys at school were either intimidated by her bookishness and enthusiasm or by her best friend. Not that Harry was intimidating, really. But still.

She wanted to talk to him, to look in his eyes. He had the most gorgeous eyes, and they were so expressive. They had the journals, and they were great… but she missed him. She just missed him.