Chapter 3: Yelling, Punching and Ball Kicking
It turned out the plan was to use the alley, still full of stunned thugs, and side along apparate to another alley near Grimmauld place. They walked the rest of the way in only stopping when they reached the small green space across the street from it. Harry looked over the buildings in question and nodded thoughtfully as he noted the missing number 12. "Fidelius charm?" He asked as Moody handed him a note. He dutifully read over the message and handed it off to Kara who was leaning heavily on him. When he looked back the number 12 it was there waiting for him as though it had never been missing. "Yeah, though maybe we should reconsider our security arrangements if a fifteen year old can figure it out." Moody grumbled, he was still unhappy after getting his head chewed off by an irate Amelia Bones.
"I'm old for my age." He said sighing tiredly, he tried to calculate exactly how old he was, but the resets, and time in limbo threw him off. He settle for "sort of an adult," or "Maybe seventeen" and left it at that. He marched across the road with the others, and waited while Kingsley unlocked the doors complicated bolts. To pass the time he looked at Kara and waggled his eyebrows a little making her snicker breaking the solemn atmosphere among the Advanced Guard.
The door swung open, and they all piled in. He looked around, and remembered how much the place had creeped him out the first time he'd been here. Dark wall paper, crumby gas lamps, shrunken elf heads on the wall, which caused Kara to shudder, and of course the disturbing shrouded portrait at the end of the hall where Mistress Black was waiting for her chance to start howling at someone. "Nice place huh?" He said sarcastically to Kara who nodded grimly, He heard rattling foot steps and Mrs. Weasley hurried in.
She looked thin at this time, probably from the excess worry of being part of the order. Harry had to school himself carefully to not immediately show his now profound distaste for the woman. "Harry, how good to see you. You look a bit, well actually you look better than I was expecting." She said surprised, and Harry was unsure whether or not she thought this was a good thing. Harder to force feed someone potions when they weren't hungry after all. "Are they feeding you well? We can get you fed up if you want?" She offered. Harry tried to ignore how sinister he felt such offers of sustenance were now.
"No thank you Mrs. Weasley," He said politely.
Molly nodded and turned to the others. "They're all in the kitchen, he just arrive a few minutes ago." She explained they nodded understanding and trooped off. Harry actually kept on their heel after leaning Kara safely against a wall. "Oh sorry dear, you really shouldn't, it's for Order members only," Harry ignored her but stopped at the kitchen door, and rapped a knuckle on the frame.
A few heads turned he nodded at those he recognized, like Professor McGonagall, and his godfather Sirius. "Hey sorry to bother you all, but i'd like a moment with you when you've finished up. I'll be around of course." Then he backed away.
Molly was looking a bit put out. "Oh, dear you really shouldn't have interrupted them…" She started. Harry just nodded absently.
"Well it's done now. No sense dwelling." He said and she conceded his point before heading for the kitchen herself she gave Kara a nod but otherwise ignored her. He waited until he was sure he and Kara, were alone in the entry way.
"In case it wasn't obvious, that was miss "Potion Queen" herself. Keep an eye out for red hair. The twins are trustworthy in their own way, and as you noted Ginny's good, but the rest?" He trailed off, and she nodded understanding.
"This place is depressing as hell." She muttered, her eyes flicking around.
"No kidding, just stick with me, and I'll keep you from running afoul of any of the curses and such around here. For example keep your voice down in this hall. That curtain there covers Mistress Black's portrait, she'll raise bloody hell if she's woken up." He explained. "The Blacks booby trapped this place all to hell too, crazy lot." He noted sourly. He heard some quiet shuffling, and saw Kreacher trying to spy on them. The crotchety old elf was still a nuisance at this point.
He made a zip gesture, and tilted his head towards the little guy. She nodded understanding. The elf ventured closer. "Whats an Angel of Death doing in Kreacher's house Mistress? Spying, killing, sneaking about?" He growled under his breath.
"It wouldn't be wise to be snooping on an Angels business, don't you think, Kreacher?" Harry very intentionally used the little monster's name, startling him. "They tend to go where they like. Spying on them? Getting in their way? That's a good way to get sped on to your final existence don't you think?" He threatened. To his surprise Kreacher actually bought it.
"Kreacher is sorry, Kreacher merely wishes to protect his mistresses home." He grovelled at Kara's feet.
"Then Kreacher had best allow the Reaper passage and ignore her presence. Should he not?" Kara snapped playing along. The elf nodded fervently, before scrambling away on his hands and knees.
They watched until they were certain he was gone. "We'll keep an eye on him." Harry muttered, then paused when he heard the rattling of the door behind him, he turned to see Tonks pulling his trunk over the door jam. He caught her when she almost tripped. She gave him a grateful smile in return. "Wotcher Harry." She greeted. She was trying desperately not to shake Hedwig's cage about too much.
"We've got 'yer stuff here. Where do you want it?" She asked.
"Just put it out of the way in the closet for the moment. I'll move it in a bit." He offered.
"Thanks" She spotted Kara, and got a devilish grin on her face. "So Harry, saw you room, very nice. Got only one bed though, looked a bit rumpled, have fun did you?" She teased. Harry laughed derisively, he knew from experience Tonks liked to get a rise out of people, though he noted Kara didn't realize that yet..
"Would appreciate keeping it on the down low." He asked, playing along, and Tonks nodded happily.
Kara was giving him a confused look, not understanding for a moment that she was joking and he was returning the favour. Once she did she rolled her eyes."Yes, it was awesome, he's an animal, you should give it a try…" Kara offered as her contribution and the woman barked a pleased laugh.
"Hey kid, if you don't realize Harry's a catch who am I to interfere?" Tonks teased wriggling her eyebrows suggestively.
"Oh, I know he's a catch, but alas it is not meant to be. He's just too much man for me to handle" Kara noted wryly after a moment winking at Tonks, who gave a snort and chortled a laugh.
"You got it. You can trust ol' Tonks. I'll keep mum. Beside can you imagine if Molly suspected? Hah!" She finished maneuvering the trunk into the closet. "Old bint would go up like a cottage before a dragon."
"The order's in the kitchen" Harry offered not really wanting the fun young Auror to leave, Tonks gave him a grateful nod sobering a touch, and tromped off. He watched her go. He started walking up the stairs but stopped when he noticed something start sneaking its way over the edge of the landing above him. One of Fred and George's extendable ears, one of their many brilliant inventions, unfortunately a bit of a nuisance as well considering his mission. Harry pointed to it, and put a finger over his mouth. And stepped into position over the thing before delivering a severing blow with his heel to the thing cutting it off at the ear. He heard a muffle yelp somewhere above them and the cord retracted swiftly out of sight. "Keep your eyes out for those, one of Fred and George's spying devices." He explained and Kara snickered a little, and they pressed on.
Hermione was in the guest library trying to convince, an as usual, lethargic Ronald to do his summer homework, when she heard a thump followed by snickering and murmurs. A moment later voices muttered closer to the door and it pushed open. She'd assumed, considering the snickers and general banging about, it would be the twins. But they usually preferred to apparate these days. Much to her, and everyone else's, general annoyance. But when the door opened a black haired youth strolled into the room. Trademark green eyes blinking as they adjusted to the dim light. It took only a moment for her lightning quick brain to identify her friend, and kick off all the appropriate chemicals in her body. In moments she was airborne and hugging her friend tightly, driving him to his knees.
"Harry!" She yelled joyously. "Ron, its him, Harry's here! We didn't hear you arrive! Oh, how are you? Are you all right? Have you been furious with us? I bet you have, I know our letters were useless — but we couldn't tell you anything, Dumbledore made us swear we wouldn't, oh we've got so much to tell you, and you've got things to tell us. — The Dementors! We heard, the ministry has called a hearing, Dumbledore had to talk to them. It just outrageous, they can't expel you, the just can't. I'm sure there's laws…" She rambled worriedly as she held and was held by her friend, she had been so certain he wouldn't want to have anything to do with her anymore. It felt good having his arms around her warm, solid and reassuring.
"She's a spitfire ain't she?" Drawled a foreign voice off to the side she didn't recognize. She looked about craning her neck to see the voices origin. A girl of about her height, curvy with black hair. She wore an amused and delighted smile on her face.
"Who's this then?" Ron drawled from the couch, eying the new comer appreciatively. She rolled her eyes, Ron was so predictable in some ways. Kara ignored the boy pointedly.
"Yeah, are you a new Order member?" Hermione asked, even though she was virtually certain this wasn't the case. The girl simply wasn't old enough to be a member of the Order.
The girl started up in one of the more obnoxious accents to ever come out of North America, "Nah, M'names, Kara Smith, 'm a transfah student from New Jersey Coven, been billeting with Harry for the last couple days. After he had to abandon ship at the Dursley's though didn't he? His relatives are pieces of shit." She said smiling at them. Hermione was virtually certain the accent was a put on, so she decided to play along, and went for the old catch all. Erudite interest.
"An American? Oh but i've wondered what it was like being a witch over there…" Hermione started, because she actually was curious about that topic, she hoped Kara would actually know something about that. She failed to note Harry's interested gaze upon her.
"Easy, there Hermione," Harry interrupted, smiling fondly, before she could get going. Then he turned to the other girl and smiled thinly, "Kara, be nice" he instructed throwing her a chiding look that he softened with the smile.
Kara made an amused face, and waved at him but dropped the accent for something more neutral "Come on Harry, I was just having fun." She then turned her startlingly blue eyes to Hermione, and smiled sincerely, but apologetically. "I'm sorry, I don't know a lot. New to magic by and large, they found me about a year ago, but education in our little coven was the pits, not too bad in the equipment area though, so they pitched in and got me a transfer to Hogwarts.
Harry agreed to help me out. We've heard of him over there…" She explained going over her history for them. She only got so far however because Ron made a rude noise behind them. Hermione felt herself getting angry. Really Ron this is where we're going right now, don't you ever learn?
"Figures," he muttered resentfully in a voice he probably thought wasn't loud enough to hear, but she could tell everyone did, by the way the skin around Harry's eyes tightened.
Hermione gave him a sharp look then turned back to her raven haired friend, and looked him over closely, and gave a start. Harry looked different, and frankly pretty beat up. He had filled out and shot up a bit, his jaw had squared slightly and he had proper stubble. But he had a bruised, tired look around his eyes, and he had tears, stains and what looked like scorch marks in his ill fitting clothing. "Harry what happened to you, you look…"
"Like hell?" Harry noted dryly, and she had to nod sadly, conceding he did in fact, sort of look like he'd just climbed his way out of the pit. "I'll tell you later," He said simply.
She noticed Kara glaring harshly at Ron, her friendly veneer dropping for a moment and being replaced by something Hermione had no doubt was deadly when provoked. But she forced whatever it was back down and continued. "Anyway's, as I was saying we'd heard rumours of him, so I figured I'd ask him for help. He seemed really eager to be getting mail, and broke quarantine to meet me at Diagon." She pointed out giving them knowing looks.
Hermione blanched, hard enough Harry noticed. Hermione whirled a worried expression on her face. "Oh, Harry, we wanted to send you more, but Dumbledore…" She started apologetically.
And She saw the look on Harry's face she'd been dreading. All the hurt and pain flashing to the front and settling in a grimace. He gave her a hard look. "Do you listen to Dumbledore all the time? What? He asks you to abandon a friend and you just do it?" He accused his voice going strange.
She felt his words like physical blows, this was much worse than she had expected. How could it not be, Harry had had to actually live through what she did at Dumbledore's behest?
"Oy, see here mate." Ron said angrily from the couch pointing a crooked finger at Harry. Oh no Ron, Shut up you'll make it worse. She thought, and the prediction almost immediately came true. Harry whirled away from her and blazed at Ron.
He was just about spitting he was so mad. "No! You see here Ron, you should remember all the times our illustrious leader has screwed the effin pooch." Hermione couldn't help it she winced at the vile imprecation. Harry was normally so quiet spoken and easy going. For him to break that mold, told her he was truly furious. "Quirrel? The Chamber of Secrets? The thing with Sirius? The Tri-Wizard Tournament? Allowing Snape to walk all over us whenever he wants to? Allowing everyone to blame me when the basilisk was petrifying people, when my best friend was among those hurt?" He barked waving at Hermione, and she felt the blows rain down metaphorically again, as he included her obliquely in the argument. He advanced slowly on the red head. Shifting his shoulders and clenching and unclenching his hands in a way Hermione found ominous. "Allowing everyone, like you, to turn on me when my name came out of the goblet?" His rage burning brighter in remembrance. "And now, allowing me to be tacitly blamed for Cedric's death, and cutting me off from the wizarding world?" He shouted in the boys stunned face.
He whirled and saw Hermione was terrified, not just hurt at the accusations, where had her friend gone? He was nowhere to be seen in the boy before her. He looked hard at her. "But he tells you to drop me, and you do? Just like that? Does he not trust me? Do you not? Does he think i'm dangerous all of the sudden? He sure acts like it! I had watchers on me all summer." He belted out gesticulating wildly, a grim look on his face.
"Harry, it's not like that…" Hermione said trying to defend herself, calm him down and bring Harry back to her.
But he wasn't having it. His eyes were accusatory again, no mercy to be seen. "If it's not, then why is it that you, Hermione, the one who's been loyal through it all, decided to let him do it?" He asked quietly, the hurt etched on his face, and she felt like a monster for having done this to him. She couldn't hold it in, the weight of what she'd done in ignorance fell on her shoulders like a mountain and she wept covering her face.
"Harry, you son of a bitch. Look what you've done…" Ron said and she heard him try to push to his feet. Oh crap Ron, just shut up, it was bad the first time you pushed him! She thought in a panic. She looked up to Harry's face, catching a moment as his face was turned to her and not Ron. She saw regret, and then it was gone as he turned.
"And you, Ron!" He shouted pointing in the young mans face, causing the red head to step back despite himself. "I've just about had it with you. The constant resentful comments, the snide remarks, leaving me hanging when I need you and joining in with the crowd when they turned on me last year?" He yelled.
Kara spoke up for the first time in minutes, and her face held no pity for the red head. "Yeah, and then you go, and abandon him again over the summer?"
She saw Ron get an ugly look on his face, and he turned to her "Oy, Bitch, just who are you to…" He said, and to Hermione's horror raised a fist ever so slightly as he stepped towards her. Hermione didn't like to swear even inside her head. But she was thinking one right now. Oh Shit. Ron what are you doing…
She saw something almost imperceptible shift in Harry's eyes and then his muscles flowed like water, and he slammed a carefully drawn fist into the middle of Ron's face.
Ron staggered back with a shriek, but Harry had him by the throat the next moment. His knuckles white around Ron's trachea. "Harry!" She heard herself yelp as terror and surprise seized her guts.
Harry was terrifying to behold, where Ron's anger burn hot showing in his face, Harry's was utterly cold. "You, will not, speak to her like that" He instructed in a lethal voice. "She unlike you, has been nothing but decent to me since i've met her. You will not disrespect her in my presence. I have, to my infinite shame, put up with the way you've treated Hermione, but that won't continue. Say something like that again and i'll end you." He growled in a voice disturbingly lacking in emotion, that brooked no arguments in her mind. He hauled the red head by the throat and heaved him towards the door. Ron skidded to a stop not far from the dark haired girl.
Then it wen't even further down hill. And Hermione's mind descended into panicked gibbering as Ron opened his mouth, and sneered through the blood draining from his nose. He jerked his head at Kara as he tried to pass. "You whore, you must have been a wild ride if he's already this…" Hermione was beyond stunned by what Ron had just tried to say, Hermione's mind started a non stopped stream of panicked invectives as Harry started forward. But while Harry was fast he was farther away. Kara moved like lightning, one moment, her hands, resting almost companionably on Ron's shoulders and the next her knee slamming into his groin,
Hermione's mind was already categorizing the likely damage. He hit the floor with a bang. Kare strode forward and rolled him with her shoe and stepped on his neck. "Yup, you didn't just say that to me ginger. It ain't your place. It isn't anybody's place to say things like that." She said venom in her voice, she delivered a harsh kick to his side pushing him out the door.
Harry was on him the next moment. He had him by the throat again except this time he didn't let him keep his own feet under him, adrenaline fuelling his muscles he had the boy airborne, dangling from his fist against the wall across the hallway a second later. "You know what I think?" He demanded dangerously. "I don't need you, I don't need somebody at my back who wouldn't know loyalty if it bit him hard on the arse. I don't need somebody who treats friends like you do, who treats women like you do." He snapped, Ron's eyes bugged. "Congratulations Ron, no more free ride, no more leeching off me, you're out, get lost." He snarled out until the last part. He drove his fist into the boys gut, and dropped him hard on the floor, before closing the door.
Harry turned and his face, lit the moment before with the violence he'd wanted to visit on Ron, was now suddenly strange and empty except for something in his eyes. He stepped towards her, she couldn't help it, she saw that man from a minute ago and she flinched. And Hermione saw something even worse then the wrath and rage in his face…she saw pain, and hurt, shame and regret in his eyes.
His face had crumpled almost painfully. "Hermione, I'd never hurt you, never. Not even to save my life." He whispered pleadingly, she saw he wanted to extend his hands towards her but was now afraid to. And he spoke with feeling. "You've alway's been my friend, and never wavered. I wouldn't hurt you for anything." He was clearly regretting his words and actions now. But she couldn't quite shake the images of the unfamiliar boy quite yet.
"Harry," She moaned uncertain, wanting to believe her friend was really coming back "I know Ron can be difficult but…" She began worriedly. It's not like you to do this, what is going on?
He had an odd look in his eye but she noticed Kara get a knowing expression for a moment before she stifled it. "Hermione, its worse than you know, you just don't see it all." He groaned softly, seeing the lingering fear. "Hermione, I may be frustrated with you, It hurt that you'd listen to Dumbledore on this, the man is.…never mind. But I forgive you." He said and she saw with a jump in her heart, that he meant it. "I know You never did it to hurt me. Ron… That isn't the case with Ron." He murmured, and she wondered What has Ron done? Harry seems convinced he was trying to hurt him…
She tried to guess what Ron could have done but she was coming up empty. "Harry, i'm sure Ron just…" She began then stopped when he put a comforting hand on her shoulder. And she saw some of her friend reignite in his eyes when she let him.
He interrupted gently as he could. Explaining what the other boy had been doing. "Ron, has been systematically tearing me down for years, but I put up with it because he was the first friend I managed to make at Hogwarts. The way he talks when he thinks I don't hear. The way he gossips about you, and other women when it's just guys around, it's sick. I don't know why I put up with it." Harry felt bad because he didn't stop Ron when he was talking about her and other's like he'd talked to Kara? That…That was actually very like the Harry she knew. Not likely to stand up on his own account, but always ready to do so on the behalf of others. And suddenly she understood where the person she'd thought wasn't her Harry had come from, his anger against Ron.
Kara stepped in, standing as his support again, which Hermione was suddenly very grateful for. "Hermione, we've just seen what Ron's really like haven't we? He just proved he's really like how Harry said he was. The way he moved to strike me, what he called me?" Kara pointed out and patted Harry on the shoulder to buoy him up.
Harry was extremely gentle when he held her as though afraid she'd tear away from him at a moments notice. "Here, i'm sorry, okay? I shouldn't have allowed that to blow up just now." And she believed it was him, she realized even now he was more concerned about her, and how she felt, than about himself. "I swear, I've already forgiven you for the letter thing. I'm not angry at you." He clutched her, and she felt warm and comfortable in his grasp. "But most of all I'm sorry I scared you. I'm sorrier than I can ever express." His voice had suddenly gone ragged and she was surprised again.
Hermione looked up into his face startled beyond measure to see his tears. "Harry…" She realized with a sickening start that her fear of him was tearing him up, that she didn't trust him not to hurt her was the worst possible thing she could have done to him.
"I was so scared i'd lost you when you guys stopped messaging." He explained honestly and her heart constricted. "To think I could have scared you away forever now…by doing what I did, by saying what I said…" His voice was fading fast as he tried explain, and she was amazed to find out what her friendship meant to him.
She instinctively cupped his face for a moment, and stared into his eyes seeing he meant it. Her heart leapt again. "Oh Harry, you could never scare me away." She said smiling through tears that were welling again and hugged him tighter tears tickling her cheeks as they fell from her eyes. They just held each other for a time, and it felt wonderful, but as with all things, it eventually ended. In this case because a knock sounded at the door.
Kara who had been standing to the side smiling to herself, crossed to it, and opened it a crack. She peered out for a moment before turning back a smirk on her face. "Hey Harry, Three extra gingers. Two tall skinny ones who look like twins, and a short girly one. They okay to come in?"
Harry smiled, and she was blown away by how happy she was to see it. Then laughed as the girl's dry humour sunk in. "They're good." Harry said nodding, the others filed in looking concerned.
"Hey Harry…" Said Fred, at least, she thought it was Fred…
"How's it going Mate?" Finished George, maybe…
"Harry what happened?" Ginny asked as she hurried through the door and over to them, her tone serious. Harry was happy to see them, and smiled a little in welcome.
Harry explained "Ronald, got in my face about something. Kara tried to step in on my behalf and he called her a bitch, I hit him for it, and he called her a whore and… other stuff on his way out the door. That's how he got the one in the bollux." Hermione didn't see the other reactions while she rubbed idly at the tears that were left.
"Ron…" Ginny sighed grumpily "What are we gonna do with you? You okay Hermione?" She asked, and Hermione gave a start at being addressed.
Hermione nodded earnestly. "Just a little surprised. Everyone was so angry." She admitted and inhaled sharply to clear some of the stuffiness. Of all the side effects of crying it was her least favourite.
"Ron's a pillock." Fred said sympathetically.
"Yeah sorry for our idiot brother," George said nodding deferentially to Kara who smiled her thanks.
"No prob' i've dealt with far worse from better," She noted. Making Hermione wonder just who she'd met. Where ever she was from, Hermione didn't want to go there if that kind of nastiness was commonplace there. She gave yet another nervous jerk when the other girl yelped "Harry your hand!"
Hermione stared at the blood all over his hand, and realized some of it was his, not Ron's "Huh, didn't notice." He said sounding confused, and bending his fingers experimentally. She knew he could be actually damaging them worse by doing that and winced.
Hermione grabbed his hand as gently as she could, holding it flat in her own, and groaned. "Oh no, Harry i'm so sorry. And…What are these scabs?" I should have reined Ron in sooner…
Harry looked perplexed, as if he honestly couldn't understand why she was chastising herself. "Why? I'm the one who lost my temper, and punched a guy in the face." He said smiling chagrined, He stopped and stared at her hands for a moment and plucked carefully at the bandages she'd forgotten about on her fingers and palm.
"Oh, sodding hell, Hermione" He gasped and she saw grief in his eyes. He flipped her hand into his and examined it. "I forgot about Hedwig. I'm sorry. I should never have said that to her. I just wanted to hear from someone so bad." He's sorry? But we were the ones who didn't write him…I mean sure it stung a bit when she nipped at my fingers but i've forgotten about it already…
"It's okay Harry, we've been over this now. I think you're right, we should have just sent a message, and hung the consequences." She murmured trying to reassure him, moving to look up into his eyes.
"I'll go get the First aid kit." Ginny resolved, and ran out of the room, she was back within a minute but he heard the start of a ruckus downstairs. Hermione had cleaned his first knuckle before things boiled up to the door.
Molly, the harridan of the Weasleys, sweeping into the room like a tornado. "What in the world is going on?" She bellowed, causing Hermione to quail a little. There was nothing like a Molly force cyclone to make you feel fear. Ron was at her shoulder, with a smug look on his face. The friggin' moron.
"Mom, don't worry about it…" Ginny said trying to calm her.
"Quiet young lady. Harry, you and Ron are friends, he was just following orders but you set on him like some muggle." The woman said getting rolling. Hermione didn't like the casual way most Pure blood families talked about Muggles. They acted like they were the barbarians. As though they themselves didn't live in the dark ages of civil rights and gender equality. It made her so mad sometimes. Harry ever so slowly got to his feet. He moved circumspectly and Hermione realized it was with an eye to not frightening her again, before he walked confidently up until he was almost toe to toe with the large woman. For the first time ever, as far as Hermione knew, the ginger catastrophe balked, stepping back. Lord knew what she saw in his eyes.
Harry snorted in disgust and gave her a look like he wanted to spit in her face. "No, I didn't set on him "like a muggle" Hermione was gratified to see Harry wasn't blind to Molly's distasteful remarks. Unless…Was he just sticking up for her? No, he didn't appear happy either way. "Not because he was following Dumbledore's orders at least. I punched the burke because he had the gall to get in my face, after leaving me high and dry for months, and then called Kara, that's the girl you didn't bother to find out the name of by the way, a bitch for standing up for me." Molly actually blanched and Hermione felt like cheering him on, it was an impressive accomplishment. "He got the knee from Kara herself actually, when he called her a whore, and suggested she must have been a good lay if I liked her enough I would defend her over him." He reported spelling out the boys offences in no uncertain terms.
Hermione heard Ginny inhale angrily, and Fred and George rumbled like thunder, in some ways their wrath could be worse than their mother's, but Hermione couldn't find it in herself to feel too sorry for him. "Would you like to hear some of the demeaning names he's called women when they're not around?" Harry asked conversationally. And Hermione said to herself that no she really didn't. She could imagine already though.
Molly gaped at him for a moment then looked to Hermione, who had witnessed it all and was for all intents and purposes a neutral witness. "Is this true?" She asked curtly.
She hesitated a moment, afraid of causing more trouble, then nodded her agreement that it was, it was after all the truth. Ron gave her an angry look, and she was sure he was about to say something vile. "Ronald Weasley!" Molly roared, seizing his ear and dragging him from the room. "You know better than that!" Hermione heard before the door shut behind her.
Ginny, Fred and George were practically doing a standing ovation. "Cheers Harry, never seen…" started Fred (maybe). "Anyone, set mum, back on her heels like that." George (also maybe) finished with dark glee.
"Sorry you guys had to be here for that." Harry said sounding honestly regretful, as though that weren't the best thing they'd seen in months.
He tried to start them in a different direction. "So, who else is all here?" he asked. "Seen Tonks, McGonagall, Kingsley, your mom, Moody, and Remus, heard about Mundungus Fletcher, Met Deadalus Diggle, Jones and Vance. Heard Dumbledore might be in the building." He reported.
"Tonks is fun isn't she?" Ginny asked mirroring Hermione's own opinion of the woman. Harry nodded agreement, smiling slightly. "Mom and dad of course. Bill's here sometimes, as is Charlie." Fred (possibly) started. Ginny was pulling facial contortions off to the side at Fred's mention of Bill. Harry looked askance at the Twins.
"Unfortunately for our dear Ginny here, Fluer Delacour is here as well, and she sometime has to share a room with her." George (likely) teased.
"I take it she and Bill are friendly?" Harry noted, the twins nodded with clearly male satisfaction. He turned to the Ginny and patted her on the shoulder "Don't let her get to you Ginny, she's a little tactless sometimes, but her hearts always in the right place." He said consolingly.
"I know, I know, but does she have to be so superior? And seriously what is it with boys and defending her?" She accused. "Just because she's hot, and has fantastic…" Hermione agreed, the French girl could be intolerable, and she was excruciatingly damaging to ones own self image. The woman had no business having curves like that and boobs that nice. It wasn't fair, Hermione told herself.
"Hey, I didn't mention her looks did I?" Harry actually looked honestly offended. "Besides she's not my type." He explained waving Ginny off. She's not? Hermione wondered surprised. What kind of girl is then? She was honestly confused. She'd though every guy drooled over thoughts of Fluer. More specifically over thought of her naked, and writhing in bed with them, she noted disdainfully.
"Fluer Delacour isn't your type?" Fred (kinda?) asked skeptical.
"What are you gay?" asked George (sorta?) laughing. Hermione stiffened a little at that. Homosexual rights was another area the Wizarding world lagged behind the muggle. She loved her "Aunt" Stephanie. She had admittedly been shocked to find out she had at one time been her mother's lover. But she still loved her. Heck, even dad, who couldn't help but be a touch jealous, loved her to bits.
Harry reddened a little at that jab, Hermione wasn't mad though, nobody liked being filed in a box they didn't belong in. She was well aware he was straight. He made no secret of it. "No, I just like different kinds of girls. And no i'm not telling you which ones." He said to ward off further inquisition.
"Come on Harry, you can't leave us like that" Fred (maybe) argued. "You gotta give us something." George (probably) insisted.
"No I don't" Harry was vexed, "What kind of logic is that?"
"It's not logic at all," Hermione said proud of him for realizing the fallacy of their argument, she wrapped his fingers carefully.
Ginny, bless her heart, had to get in on the teasing too. "Perhaps, you fancy a little Asian cuisine?" Hermione winced a little, she didn't like Cho Chang that much, and she wasn't positive Harry did any more either. "If I remember right you were staring after Cho Chang for a while there."
Harry, confirmed her suspicion when he shook his head. "Cho was a passing fancy, i'm over that. Geez she was with Cedric. Can you imagine?" He asked shaking his head..
"Then how about a short ginger?" George (probably) said throwing his erstwhile feminine ally to the sharks.
Harry actually looked sorry when he looked at the other girl, and surprised Hermione with what he said next. "Sorry Gin, but you're just a little too similar to my mum. That would squick me out big time. Besides you're my friends younger sister." Well when you put it like that. Ewwwwwww! Hermione agreed wholeheartedly.
"Ew…" Ginny was apparently grudgingly willing to grant him the victory based on that. It was clearly too incestuous in her mind. "Can't have you going out with a momma potter clone. That just won't do. Ick" She said sadly. She was understandably disappointed though. Harry, proving what a decent sort he was, put a hand on her shoulder as thanks for her understanding, he gave it a squeeze in thanks.
"Perhaps a little punk then?" Fred (oh forget it, I can't tell) pointing the sharks at Kara.
She waved urgently. "Hey don't bring me into this" she said blushing like crazy. Now that caught Hermione's attention. Holy crap, did she and Harry? No, no I don't thinks so, but she may not be adverse to the idea? Hermione speculated trying to read the girls body language.
Harry masterfully evaded inquisitive glances from the girls, and to her grudging admiration avoided the chance to boast to the boys, falsely or not. The judges in her head gave him a ten for simple decency.
"Tonks maybe? Bet you she's pretty exciting to date." Fred suggested thoughtfully.
"That she might be, but first she's an adult and I'm not?" Harry noted astutely "She's a rebel, not a criminal. And second I doubt she's interested." He noted dryly.
"Not into criminals? I understand that, then what about an intellectual?" George taunted putting on a funny demeanour.
She felt bad for Harry, they were just slinging verbal grenades at him left and right….Hey wait a minute. Isn't the intellectual me? She realized belatedly but she'd missed Harry's reaction. Damn, that could have been fun to tease him about. She noted sadly.
"Aw, well, we'll just have to figure it out later." Fred said pretending a broken heart.
"You guys suck you know that?" Harry accused his eyes wishing them a swift death. "Let's change topic away from prospective love lives. What about Percy, is he here?" He said throwing the verbal equivalent of a WMD into the room. Hermione metaphorically dove for cover to watch the kindling fly.
Swears and groans echoed around the room. "That tit!" Spat Fred, his usual amiability gone. "He and dad had a row." He griped. "Seems he feels associating with anyone who's pro Dumbledore or you…"
"Is against the Ministry, the burke really likes the daily prophet version, he does." George said equally angry.
Harry said "Yeah, I saw those articles." He was clearly hurt by the news' treatment of him, but he hid it well.
"They're accusing you of everything under the sun. And this latest mess isn't gonna help." Ginny said unhappily.
"I'm surprised you guys found out so quick. It was only an hour ago." He noted looking at the scabbing on his hand and arm. He looked back up at shocked faces. "You got attacked again?" George said, shaking his head.
Harry nodded seriously. "Yeah just a few blocks from the Tower," He agreed. "Wasn't just Dementors this time either" Hermione almost gave herself whiplash at that turning her eyes to Harry concerned. "Whoever sent them sent a goon squad as well. So i'll be tagged for assaulting and killing fellow humans as well, I imagine. Managed to get through thanks to having Kara at my back. Too many of them to handle alone" He said, upset at having his friend, and possibly lover, Hermione reflected, put in danger. She was inordinately grateful for Kara though, being there for him like that. She was going to leave the question of killing to later, though it made her chest constrict to think of it.
"Goons?" Hermione yelped. Then cleared her throat and tried for a more normal tone. "Death Eaters?" She asked afraid, thinking of the masked people from the world cup.
Harry was already shaking his head, and digging through a pocket in his hoodie, a welcome, though now damaged, change to his wardrobe. "Nope, at least I hope not, one of them was carrying a badge and I.D reading DMC. No skull masks either." He added as Hermione felt her eyes widen as she realized what he'd just put on the table.
"Department of Magical Corrections?" Hermione said shocked. "But they're the ones guarding Azkaban." She yelped appalled. Law enforcement officers being used like hit men? It implied it was the politicians who were behind this.
"I think somebody wanted me kissed, or drug away and lost today. I messed up their plans when I wiped the floor with em though. As I said though, Kara helped." Hermione felt horror thinking of how close her friend had been to getting his soul eaten by a monster. A monster her government was supposed to keep away from people.
Kara was modest. "I mostly just hunkered behind a shield and tossed the occasional stunner up until I caught that curse in the back. You should'a seen Harry though, even after he got tagged he was like a gunslinger from an old spaghetti western." She said proud of her new friend, and mimicked drawing, shooting and holstering guns.
The Weasleys were, as always, ignorant of all things Muggle "A what?"
"An old time muggle master duelist,"Hermione was impressed, Harry was clearly improving with experience, she realized he was basically a Veteran at this point. "How many were there?" she wondered, for purely scientific purposes of course.
Harry's eyes tilted up while he considered then he shrugged "Ten Dementors" and waggled his hand a little "Twelve thugs maybe fourteen, a couple bolted." He admitted he wasn't positive.
Hermione stared at him. She already knew he knew how to handle Dementors, she'd seen him do it, but the wizards? Those odds were horrific. Gunslinger indeed, "Fourteen?" How'd you not…And you got tagged?" Hermione remembered Kara's words worriedly.
Harry shrugged unconcerned "Bleeder hex, my left arm's still a little numb"
That was also typical Harry. "Let me see. I swear Harry, you'd make a pinprick from a stab wound. Come on." Hermione said settling into what she thought of as her doctor voice, she waved irritably at him when he didn't immediately comply. "Come on" she urged.
He shook his head looking amused. "Hermione you already saw, the scabs on my hand remember?" He said fending her off. He looked to something over her shoulder. "Thanks for healing that by the way Tonks," He said tilting his head deferentially to the pink haired woman in the door.
"No problem. Heard about the ruckus you're causing…" She noted leaning on the door frame. "As for your comment about me not being a criminal, you are right." She said winking at him, causing him to laugh.
"Ah, listening in were you? See we've just met and I already know you," He said faux smugly.
She faked a leer at him. "Oh I don't know, once you're of age I might be convinced to try for a younger guy." She said teasing theatrically. Then grew serious. "I would love to keep trading jabs, but I took long enough as it is listening in. Why don't you follow me, the old man wants to talk with you…" She said jerking a thumb over her shoulder, while she hitched another on her belt.
He tilted his head considering. "What's he want to talk with me about?" wondering if it was simply answering his declaration he wished to speak with them, or if it was something else.
"Wants to talk with you about the incident in the alley and now your scuffle with Ron." She said seriously.
Harry laughed darkly. "Figures those two would try something like that. Try and call in the big dogs to force me into seeing things there way," He noted annoyed. "Fine, they wanna play it like that? Ante up, Hermione and Kara are coming with me. They're witnesses." He said firmly. Tonks nodded thoughtfully.
"Fine, but only them, It'll be messy enough as is with the whole stinkin' Order acting as the peanut gallery." She said putting her foot down. "I don't care if you tell these lot all about it after, but they're not gettin' in, understood?"
The three Weasleys in room didn't look happy, but Harry nodded agreement. "Then Lead the way oh Lady Black," He teased. Tonks gave a start. He explained, smiling crookedly. "Recognized your name, the only Tonkses I've heard of are Andromeda, Ted and their Daughter." He noted.
She snorted a laugh. "Yes, and thank you for not using my first name, I'm not a Black heir, not like Sirius, I'm female for one, and half-blood, my entire family's been disowned." She said seriously, scowling slightly.
Harry smiled following her out into the hall, "I know, I just figured it might be fun to needle you a little." He confessed and Hermione laughed behind him. It was fun watching Tonks catch it back a bit. She wasn't aware Harry knew about the Black bloodlines, perhaps he'd read up on it since getting Sirius back in his life? They quieted as they approached the kitchen, and Tonks took the lead.
"Albus? Harry insisted on bringing in witnesses," She said dryly, and plunked into a seat at the table. Harry and the girls filed into the room.
Ron had been toiling in the corner with a drink for a while, he carefully made his way over to Harry and plunked the pumpkin juice down on the table in front of him. His face contorted in a pathetic approximation of an apology, Hermione glowered at him, he moved back to the counter and started on another. Hermione felt Kara slide up to her, and leaned in and whispered in her ear. "Whatever you do, don't drink, or eat, anything Ron or molly give you." Hermione gave her a startled look. "Harry will explain later." Kara promised, but looked dead serious. So Hermione took her at her word.
Harry stood in the centre of the room and cocked his head at Dumbledore who was giving the boy a decidedly chastising look. "What did you want to speak about Dumbledore?" He asked politely.
Dumbledore sighed. "Harry your behaviour of late has been…irregular to say the least if not outright unacceptable…" He began.
Harry barked a laugh. "I don't really know what else you were expecting, locking up a boy who'd just witnessed a fellow student die, been tortured by a psychopath, and then used to perform a dark ritual." He said disdainfully. "I did not need quiet contemplation, I needed my friends, I needed people telling me it would be alright. Instead you ordered them to abandon me, in some cases against their will." He said tiredly.
Dumbledore nodded. "And perhaps I'd be willing to accept that, that was a mistake. That however does not excuse your behaviour. Harry, you were placed at the Dursleys for your protection, the wards there…" he began.
Harry interrupted, getting offended looks from some of the more conservative members of the room, Hermione noticed. "Are non existent, sir."
Albus looked exasperated, "Harry, I set the wards myself, I assure you…"
Harry interrupted again. Dumbledore was looking surprised and a little annoyed now, Hermione was worried. "It's not a question of craftsmanship Dumbledore, you bound those wards so that they worked so long as I should be loved and consider that place home, neither of those requirements are being met at Number 4 Privet Drive." Harry said simply. "I neither call the place home, nor am I loved there. Therefore the wards do not work, their reputation alone is all that protects that place, a thin and suicidally inadequate defence to rely upon don't you think?" He asked sarcastically.
Dumbledore looked contemplative, "Never the less, next summer you shall be returning to…" Harry was already shaking his head.
"No." He said. Dumbledore was looking thoroughly exasperated now. "I'm an emancipated minor now in the eyes of the law," He said drawing something out of his pocket and showing it to the old man who's eyes widened. "You have no authority to force me to go their against my will." Hermione looked closer the object was a ring. Harry explained to the whole room. "My family ring, the Potter head of house ring, which I inherited just the other day in fact." He noted false jovial. "I am in fact now Lord Harry James Potter of the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter, Last Descendants of the Peverell line, which brings me to my next point. I found this all out when I read my parents will." He said, no longer pretending affability. Dumbledore actually cringed a little. "Yeah, I though that might be your reaction. I was never supposed to go to the Dursleys. I was supposed to go to Sirius, or if not him Lupin, and if he too should have fallen or been proven unsuitable, the Tonkses" He said and nodded seriously to Nymphadora, who blinked surprise, "Then to Amelia Bones, Then and only then was I to be passed to my blood relatives, according to my Parents express orders…" He turned to those he had just mentioned. "By the way you lot are all several hundred thousand galleons richer thanks to the bequest, enjoy it in good health, come talk to me later" He said sincerely and turned back to Dumbledore. "So as I was saying Dumbledore, No, I will not be returning to Privet Drive. Ever…" He said finally and slipped the ring on his finger.
Sirius was the first to speak in the silence that followed. "Damn it Dumbledore, you kept the boys inheritance from him?" He asked skeptical.
"More importantly I think, than anything else, is the fact the will outs Peter as their secret keeper." Harry said, and Sirius goggled at him. "I'll present it to the right authorities when I get that chance, assuming the hearing they've called goes right. When is that by the way?" He asked curious.
Dumbledore coughed, suffering under the glares of several of the order members. "Tomorrow Harry, after today's incident it was moved up to tomorrow." He admitted.
Harry rolled his eyes at the ministry in general, what a pack of idiots. "And i'm betting it's being turned into a full trial?" He guessed, Dumbledore nodded and Hermione looked much more worried.
"Alright, I'll head in early tomorrow see if I can't lay some groundwork. Now, what else did you want to talk about? You were nattering on about my abysmal behaviour or something." He said irritably.
Dumbledore grimaced, "Harry, you physically assaulted your friend." He chided. "He was simply following my directions, whether they were in error or not." He argued.
Harry snorted and glared at Ron who was having trouble not looking smug. "You just don't learn do you, idiot?" He turned to Dumbledore. "He didn't give you the whole story, just as he didn't his mother. But thats no excuse for you not knowing it now, after all I have already told her the whole story now too, and had it corroborated by witnesses." He said. Dumbledore suddenly looked less certain. "Ron verbally assaulted my friend Kara here, and then threatened to physically assault her. He called her a whore and a bitch, he raised a fist as he approached her, he repeated the slurs and then implied the only reason I'd like her was that she was sexually talented." He said glaring at the two Weasleys. "I believe his exact words were, "You whore, you must have been a wild ride if he's already this…" and then Kara kneed him in the groin. You can ask Kara and Hermione if you want this account confirmed." Harry relayed.
Dumbledore sighed and looked chastisingly to Molly and Ron, "I would caution against attempting to mislead me with half truths in the future you two," He noted to their guilty faces. "But Harry, physical violence…" He said shaking his head.
"Is not something I will apologize for in the case," Harry growled and Dumbledore blinked surprise at being flatly rebuffed. "Next topic, Dumbledore,"
Dumbledore was silent as he extended a probe towards Harry's mind, not so much to truly read it as to determine its general shape and mood. Instead of finding such things he found, as perhaps he should have expected given Nymphadora's account, a thin and rudimentary, but never-the-less present highly charged mental shield. He retreated before he could risk tripping it and alerting the boy. "Very well, the final and perhaps most serious issue, Harry, you have killed, today in your battle with those who assaulted you, you fatally wounded many of your attackers. Harry you murdered…"
Harry shouted over that, "Oh please, it was self defence, even in the wizarding world, the law isn't moronic enough to categorize self defence as murder. I was being attacked with lethal force and I believed my ally had been critically wounded…"
Dumbledore tried to rally under the verbal onslaught. "Harry, a life is still a life, however it is taken…"
"Bullshit," Harry bit out. "And if you really believe that, it explains your asinine strategy of using nonlethal force against foes, who would gladly slaughter everyone they encountered who did not agree with them, I think I can safely lay some of the blame for the death of my parents, and the insanity of the Longbottom's at the feet of that idiocy," He snapped. Hermione blinked owlishly at her friend, who was usually so respectful toward Dumbledore.
"Harry," Chastised the Headmaster.
"Again, you want me to apologize for something I shouldn't have to, to what? Submit to the bonds of some moral system you arbitrarily decided on?" Harry argued. "At least with the law they can impose a moral code by virtue of the collective consensus of the people. You? You have your opinion and personal feelings on the matter, you are one man…Do not be arrogant enough to suppose you have the right to dictate how I should feel on the matter." He said getting to his feet and looking about at the crowd. "Now then, unless there's anything else, I'm going to get out of here. Sirius, Tonks, Lupin…Snape, whenever you have a moment, I'd like to talk with each of you about something. No rush, no obligation, just drop by if you feel like it." He assured them. He nodded to Dumbledore curtly. "I'm out of patience for your machinations Dumbledore, they have done nothing but cost me, have a nice day." He said and moved to walk out. But the door was magically sealed by Dumbledore. "Do you really wish to test me on this Dumbledore?" He snapped.
Dumbledore considered him for a time then released the enchantment on the door, allowing him to leave and his two female friends to follow him.
The room was silent for a while, "Well, that went well," Sirius said caustically getting to his own feet. "I think I've had enough for today." He said and left the room as well. Tonks nodded curtly and followed him out as well. The rest appeared highly uncertain in the wake of that mess.
Dumbledore waved irritably. "Very well I believe that concludes our business," he said and the others hurried to vacate the room. He sombrely glared at his hands. "Well that went well Albus, what else would you like to do today?…Bugger." He had some thinking to do.
Harry and the girls made their way up into the room they had been occupying prior to the summons. They listened cautiously to sound of the Weasley clan leaving, apparently getting out of dodge for a while to give Harry a chance to cool down at them, waiting for the sound of the door closing behind them before they started speaking. "Well, that was a fantastic mess." Harry grumbled pacing a little and rubbing the back of his neck.
Hermione was uncertain. "Harry, what's going on? That was…strange." She said struggling to find the right words. "I thought I had it figured out, but after that downstairs? I don't know what's going on." She said worried and frustrated. Harry was looking to her with curiosity so she explained. "Harry you've always been respectful of Dumbledore—and somethings going on with the Weasleys I don't know about yet—And what's this about you being a Lord?" She said irritably, she hated questions she couldn't answer on her own.
Harry chuckled and stopped pacing and considered her thoughtfully. "My family is titled Hermione, I only found out yesterday or was it the day before? Yesterday I think." He wondered "Regardless it was transferred to me thanks to the will. I am now a Lord in the eyes of the law. No need to use the title by the way," He said smiling ruefully, and she chuckled.
"As if you could force me," She shot back smiling a touch.
"As for the question of the Weasley's," He said darkening, "Seriously don't eat anything made or provided by them for you, at least until I can prove or disprove what's happened." He said urgently. "I think its best I keep silent about what I suspect until then." He said. "Can you do that please, for me?" She nodded hesitantly in response.
"As for the Old Man?" He said tiredly. "I respect his intents, but intentionally or not, the man has climbed over a pile of dead friends to get where he is. My parents were among them. Nevilles were…well, they were driven insane. I refuse to let myself be led to slaughter because I trusted Dumbledore like they did." He said shaking his head.
Hermione nodded but was still uncertain. "Harry, I don't understand okay? I feel like I'm missing some crucial context in all this…" She said frustrated.
Harry paused, then shook his head, "I'm sorry hermione it's not something I can talk about right now, perhaps someday, but not today. I'm sorry," He turned and paced out of the room.
Hermione found herself lying in bed staring at the ceiling while a very exhausted and sore Kara snored quietly in her own bed. There was no escaping it, something was wrong with Harry, something serious he both did and didn't want to talk about judging by his hesitation when called on it. He was different, not just physically, which she had noticed. He wasn't as gangly as he'd been last year, he had more muscle and had filled out pleasantly, she didn't really see Harry that way but she wasn't blind to it either. Where before he had been cute, now he was handsome.
As for the mental side of things, he was different depending the person, he indulged in teasing and light flirtation with Tonks, he was more focused and determined overall, down right violent with Ron and combative with Dumbledore, while remaining gentle and thoughtful, and in some ways a little sweet with herself. For her, he was the same old Harry, in all the ways that mattered, but for everyone else he was matured and harder…darker.
She wondered what caused this change, was it really just the incident at the end of the Triwizard Tournament, and the following isolation? Or had something else happened to her friend? Would whatever it was that was affecting her friend pass? Surely it would…
But what if it didn't? What if he continued to struggle against whatever it was that faced him? She didn't need to consider that last question long, the answer was, at least to her, simple. She'd help him resolve it, and help Harry find peace, now. Because he was her friend, and she knew without a question in her mind, that he needed her.
Author's Note: As always, comment, review, message, and maybe tell me what you think is coming.