Chapter 3
Amazing Turn-a-rounds and owl-post.
"Dearest Hermione"
'You won't believe what has happened here at the Dursley's. Luna came over to visit and found a cursed vase on the mantel-piece. It was large, gaudy and very ugly looking but the pattern was strange, and the vase had an extremely strong hate compulsion charm on it. Luna cast the Finite Charm but is still concerned that the vase is cursed. She also said that she felt like someone was watching her. I need some sort of confirmation of the type of curse and if somehow my powers have been repressed or blocked. Some days I can barely cast a summoning charm but other days, my accidental magic explodes the windows which are quickly repaired. I look forward to hearing about the progress you have made with your research and any new discoveries that you have made."
Now I know that this is a long shot and what I am about to request is to the extreme but can you possibly apologise to Professor Snape on my behalf and ask him if he would be willing to resume my occlumency lessons. I will work so hard and do better this time. Please? this is important. I was very rude when I went into the professor's pensive and saw his memories of my dad's merciless bullying of his person. Please also tell him that I will never tell another living soul of what I saw. After I saw those memories, I quickly contacted Remus and Sirius, I was so angry with them and reamed them out for a good half an hour. I told them both to swear on their magic that they would never call him that horrible name again and that they would never bring up the fact that Professor Snape was alive and that my mother and father were dead. You know me so well Hermione and you know that the one thing I cannot stand is bullying thugs. My cousin is a bully and even though the compulsion charm has been banished from the Dursley's, he still calls me a freak!"
Yours sincerely, Harry x
Hermione put down the letter and found herself smiling. "Merlin, I think you have finally grown up, my friend."
It was true that Harry hadn't had the best start to his life for the first eleven years, but Hermione and Severus had made a promise that they would protect Harry from the machinations and many manipulations of Dumbledore. First Hermione started making a list of things that had stunted Harry's education and his chance to be 'just Harry' instead of that ridiculous moniker "the boy who lived". Hermione was surprised that Harry had not had a nervous breakdown by now.
'Things that don't add up'
Harry doesn't know he is famous and is introduced to the wizarding world by Hagrid (Really!)
Ronald Weasley is constantly steering Harry away from Slytherins and other potential allies to House Potter (Our first meeting was convenient enough? Set up?) from his first year.
On Halloween, 1st year, there is a test of Harry's loyalty to the light side by letting a troll into the castle. (The Philosophers stone? Another set-up?)
Was the Forbidden forest necessary for a detention? Firenze conveniently tells Harry about the stone immediately after rescuing him.
The fluttering keys, the chess game, the potions. Were they were meant to protect us from finding the stone or test us to our limits.
The extra points should not have been awarded at the end of term feast, it was encouraging Harry to do his 'saving people' thing every year after and every year at Hogwarts has placed Harry in more danger.
The Basilisk, Ginny was placed in danger and almost died because they could not shut the school. Was this encouraged by Dumbledore or did he nearly kill a young girl to get Harry to rescue her?
Our 3rd year we discovered that Sirius was innocent and Dumbledore did not want Sirius getting custody of Harry so he sends him away but the stubborn grim refuses to stay away from Harry so eventually Dumbledore has to "off" Sirius but he doesn't want to dirty his own hands, so he casts the imperious on Bellatrix to get her to murder her own cousin in cold-blood.
Our 4th Year is worse. Triwizard tournament a set-up (another test of Harry's resolve to fight for the light.)
Our 5th year is blighted by Umbridge and her hatred for muggle raised Witches and wizards. Dumbledore knew Harry was being tortured. He obliviated several staff members to not notice the scars on Harry's hand. He knew? Possible Memory wipe of Harry when he was stuck in Dumbledore's office after Sirius died?
Sent back to the Dursleys after he has lost his godfather and left to his own devices. Harry left ignorant of his own wealth and inheritance. Possible motives for why, Dumbledore is after the vast Potter fortunes!
Hermione read her list and felt thoroughly sick. The whole thing was about getting Harry to sacrifice his life just so some of the Weasley's and Dumbledore could get their hands on his inheritance.
'Has Ginny been subjected to continuous use of Amorentia or a brain-washing technique?' Hermione put a question mark beside this as she could not jump to conclusions.
-Line Break-
'Dear Harry'
First thing's first! you are not to blame for my injuries sustained in the Department of Mysteries. I cried for days about Sirius once I got home and Mum was so alarmed that she forced me to tell her the truth. The one thing you have to remember is that Sirius loved you like a son and he would not like it if you were blaming yourself for his death. As I cried, Mum put her arms around me and let me cry. But although I felt wrung out like a damp cloth and exhausted. I felt better and lighter. Sometimes I wonder if you haven't had a good cry.
As for Gringotts, I have a good plan to get you there.
'Harry, while I was staying with the Weasley's, I heard Ronald Weasley say some awful things about you and Ginny got so mad that she cast the Bat Bogey Hex and I packed my things straightaway. Ronald tried to stop me from leaving and Molly was screeching something awful. I had to stupefy them both.'
I will be there at the Victoria Underground Entrance at the allotted time and day with no problems.
Your Friend Hermione x
Harry crushed the letter to him in happiness and then he ran downstairs to tell his Aunt Petunia. Dudley was sitting at the table as his father yelled at him for bullying Harry. "It doesn't matter that you have stopped beating Harry up! I want you to realise that the word "Freak" is no longer allowed in this house!" Dudley was rubbing his eyes as Vernon shouted at him. "Uncle Vernon, I appreciate the fact that you are trying to stand up for me but Dudley can't learn anything from you shouting loudly at him. He has been your son longer than I have been your nephew. It's okay, just calm down and for heavens sake, don't give yourself a stroke or heart attack!" Vernon sat down and let Harry have the floor. "Dudley, I have always wanted us to be more like brothers, can't we try and be friends. I have forgiven you for your bullying in the past. I saved you from the Dementors, you would have been in a vegetative state for the rest of your life had I not cast the Patronus charm."
Dudley opened then shut his mouth. "I am scared, alright! You have so many enemies, Harry and I don't want my parents to die like yours did at the whim of a madman, okay!" Dudley shouted.
Harry took a deep breath and sat down beside his cousin "Why didn't you say all this beforehand, we could have had a good relationship. You chased most of my primary school friends away, Edward, Teddy, Briony. They were my only friends and you bullied them out of jealousy!"
Dudley stood up and stormed out to the back garden where he thumped the fence until his knuckles were bloody. An hour later he came back in and stood in front of Harry and said the words clearly "You were right Harry, right about everything. I am jealous of you and I have no right to your forgiveness, I want to earn it in the proper way. I am very sorry for the way I treated you in the past and for bullying your only friends."
Harry breathed a sigh of relief "Can we at least try to build a semi-decent friendship?"
Dudley grinned "No problem"
"Are you serious about this though, this means dealing with wizards in your home a lot more. I know this is going to be difficult but I am reconsidering my options and my choice to go to Hogwarts for my sixth year?"
"Why, Harry?" Petunia asked. Harry thought for a moment of what answer he would give but came up with the right answer.
"Because every year I have gone to Hogwarts, it has been dangerous for me. My DADA teacher tried to murder me, I had to face a vampire! A troll and a three headed drooling beast! The philosophers stone! I nearly died in my first year and I have gaps in my memory that I can't explain." Petunia, Vernon and Dudley sat there aghast at all the danger their nephew and cousin had been in.
"In fact, I have already made my decision, I have passed my owls with flying colours and I want to retake my GCSE's privately at the education centre. And then my A-levels. I want to do all the normal things, grow up get married to Luna, have three kids and eventually be a professor of the Sciences." Harry paused and took a breath "I want to be "Just Harry" and get away from that meddling old fool"
Petunia smiled and so did Vernon "Harry, may we hug you now?"
"Anytime, Aunt Petunia" Harry grinned