Author's Note: First of all, wow I'm glad that bit I was worried about went over so well. It always bothers me when Authors basically turn normal things like that into catastrophe of one kind or another. Either something inappropriate and to be frowned on or something which is only erotic…Bah, I have no idea if I'm making sense right now. Point is, thank you for being so accepting of that bit, I really agonized over it. I considered pushing it farther, but I think what I decided on fit much more with where Hermione's at at this point in the story. On a somewhat related note…Come on Guys! I need feedback here, so I know whether or not I'm getting better at this stuff. Finally Bwahahaha! Cliffhangers! You know…it's funny that I didn't even notice I'd done that to you. At least I'm posting the next chapter only a day after eh? One last thing, I will remind you all this bundle of chapters is only five, or maybe six if were lucky, long. This is because I'm up to my eyeballs in renovations here and I am literally living in my basement on a leaky air mattress in the wood shop. This is not conducive to my work habits, but I'm doing my best.
Warnings: Language.
Hermione sighed irritably as she pushed to her feet at padded towards the door, it seemed visitors always came calling when one was busy to her way of thinking. She waved her mother back into her seat before continuing to the door and pulling it open.
She stared at the pair on the doorstep. The first, a very unwelcome headmaster had clearly turned his twinkling eye trick up to full burn in quiet defiance of the blistering glare he was eliciting from his companion. Sirius, the man in question was standing slightly back and giving the old man a look that should have burned a hole through steel.
She cocked a hip slightly, as she leaned against the door jamb, "You know I think there's a saying about speak of the devil and he shall appear?" She noted a touch coldly looking at the old man who had until recently held her unquestioning respect. "But that would be too generous, what do you want Headmaster?"
Sirius shot her a brief smile over the startled headmaster's shoulder. The old man gave her a wounded expression which in the wake of the last couple days she found hard to trust. "Miss Granger, I merely hoped to speak with with Harry for a time," He offered a touch reproachfully.
She pondered that for a moment before shooting a questioning look at Sirius, the aging marauder shrugged, "As far as I know that's the truth of it," He agreed.
Dumbledore sighed. "I also wish to apologize to Harry on a number of counts, however that is between me and him is it not?" He asked tiredly.
Hermione was uncertain how to proceed, her instincts still screamed for her to trust the old man, and Sirius had confirmed his intent, at least in part. But this was her home, and she was sheltering her best friend, one who no longer shared her trust of Dumbledore. She made a decision. "Stay here, I'll ask Harry if he wants to see you."
She padded back to the kitchen. "It's Dumbledore and Sirius Harry, I assume Sirius is here to check on you and Dumbledore claims to be here for the same reason, as well as to apologize," She explained carefully. She watched Harry closely. She knew Harry better than anyone, but of late he had become increasingly difficult to predict. It would seem like madness, but for the clear signs of strategic thinking behind his actions. Something she hadn't typically credited him with an abundance of. Harry usually preferred to charge in and deal with things as they happened. Somehow it worked for him, but it always left her nerves frayed.
He nodded thoughtfully as he finished washing a pan out and placed it back in its place. He appeared to consider that for a time, then nodded shortly, his eyes briefly flickering to her face. "I'm okay with meeting them, but it's your house Hermione," He said deferring the decision to her.
She nodded grimly and stalked back to the door, opening it wide and standing aside whilst waving them through. "They're that way, in the kitchen," she instructed and followed after them as they moved in the direction indicated.
Sirius was the first one to speak, ignoring the skeptical looks he, in all his raggedy glory, was receiving from her mother and father. "Hello Harry, how are you doing today, now that you've had a chance to recuperate eh?" he asked concerned.
Harry shrugged a shoulder and smiled a touch sadly, at least to Hermione's thinking, at his Godfather. "I'm okay, Sirius, or I will be," he said mildly.
Sirius looked unconvinced, but wasn't likely to argue with that statement considering. Dumbledore, somewhat true to form, failed to notice, or just outright ignored the silent conversation between Harry and his godfather.
"Harry my boy, I find myself needing to apologize to you. It seems that I have failed you in a number of ways and wish to seek you forgiveness." He said semi formally, a sad smile touching his lips. Harry just looked him over cautiously before nodding his head in silent but non-specific agreement. Dumbledore pressed on undaunted, "When I had placed you at your relative's house all those years ago, I had hoped they would care for you as their own. I had hoped that whatever qualities Lily Evans possessed would be present, at least in part, in her sister. It appears I was wrong. She and her Husband and son have been detained by the Aurors on charges of child abuse and negligence." he reported, and Harry couldn't help but feel a little smug, he knew this already thanks to Madam Bones. His relatives were likely having the worst day of their existences. He couldn't bring himself to feel sorry for them.
"I had also hoped the measures I had put in place would be sufficient to protects you from any harm, however it seems I was mistaken. Arabella Figg failed to notice the extent of your families neglect and the wards were not designed to protect against an assault from within…Which, in a roundabout way, brings me to the next case I feel I need to apologize for at this time," he said coughing somewhat apprehensively. He looked at his wrinkled old hands and sighed. "Harry, I entrusted those I believed best suited to the task with your care and have found that they have betrayed that trust. I confess I had hoped from the very beginning they would approach you. Molly has, under pressure from the DMLE interrogators, admitted to having taken it far beyond that. She prepared her children to meet you before you even arrived at Hogwarts. She was waiting for you at King's Cross and has pursued her goal ever since." He explained.
Harry thought about that and snorted. "You mean that whole spiel about not knowing what platform they were looking for?" He asked rhetorically "Looking back on it now it is odd a witch with multiple children at Hogwarts was on the muggle side of the platform asking which platform they needed. Of course at the time I was clueless." He noted darkly. Hermione was looking aghast at the level of duplicity that Molly had employed to get her way.
Dumbledore looked rueful. "She was rather ham fisted in her approach at that point wasn't she? It's a wonder we did not discover her manipulations sooner." He admitted. "Sadly it is often the things which stand right before us which escape our notice until far too late."
Harry tried to consider that objectively, it sounded like more of the old man's rhetorical nonsense, but he couldn't help but think of all the things which he should have realized from the get go. He'd basically been handed the truth on a silver platter but had failed to put it all together. Or perhaps it was just because he could look back on it as a whole now? After all what kind of child looks at the destroyed diary in his hand, the soul fragment writhing in agony above it and goes "Great Scot! I know what I have here! It's a Horcrux! This explains everything!"
He couldn't help but wonder to just what lengths Dumbledore had gone to keep him from figuring it out too early for his prepubescent brain to handle. "I don't think I like the idea of my first friend ever being basically persuaded to hangout with me." He noted sardonically.
Dumbledore winced at how at the realization of how that must feel, and Hermione got a panicked look on her face. "Harry, regardless of what's come to light with Ron, you have to know I am your friend because I like being around you. Nobody coerced me into it." She assured him.
Harry chuckled in response. "I know Hermione, or at least that was what I reckoned from the get go despite everything." She sagged in relief and smiled sheepishly at him.
Dumbledore cleared his throat uncertainly. "It was never my intent that they should approach you in an underhanded manner." He pleaded. "Merely that they extend the hand of friendship to you in a time you would be feeling lonely.,"
Amelia who had been standing silently against the doorframe into the kitchen scowled at Albus. "This is all very fascinating to hear Chief Warlock, but you do understand that this barely even scrapes the surface of some of the sins that can be laid at your feet." She growled her arms tightly crossed over her chest. She began ticking off on her fingers. "The incidents at Hogwarts which went unreported, up to and including the events surrounding professor Quirrel's…disappearance? The flying car incident, the way you mishandled that whole murderous psychopath in the school, begging your pardon , not to mention the unreported colony of Acromantulas in the forest…" She said looking at him pointedly.
"Then there's the question of your staffing choices and your apparently lackadaisical attitude towards screening. I mean a basic cross reference with the DMLE would have told you Lockhart didn't really have an Order of Merlin let alone any teaching qualifications."
Harry had to pitch in here, interrupting casually. "Not to mention the Death Eater disguised as your long time friend, the ghost who only teaches about goblin rebellions, and nothing else, the divination teacher who's only qualification is occasional and very intermittent visions, and a nurse who failed to report signs of physical abuse, hint hint" He said pointedly. Dumbledore sighed and nodded that he'd make a point of talking to Pomfrey about it.
Amelia cut back in. "The only reason I have not hauled you in in chains for all this Albus, is that quite frankly the Ministry couldn't survive another scandal right now. It'd topple like a row of dominos and V-Voldemort would walk right in." She explained grudgingly. It ground against her sense of right and wrong not to nail him to the wall right now. "But I will tell you this, Legilmency is illegal, you and your staff would do best to remember that," She snarled and Dumbledore flinched visibly. "Now, because of this sorry state of affairs we find ourselves in I must, reluctantly, set aside my concerns for now. But be warned." She said pointing at him as she strode towards the door. "Clean up your house Albus, or we'll do it for you,"
Silently, within the confines of his own mind, Albus was near panicking. He knew that either being removed from the school itself or further alienating Harry, would at this time completely remove the boy from his influence. Not something which could be allowed to happen. The boy needed to be guided towards his ultimate destiny. For the greater good of all wizards everywhere.
He tilted his head deferentially to Amelia then to Harry, "Of course, I shall be glad to lend my assistance in this matter. When presented in such a fashion the situation becomes clearer, I need to turn my eyes more carefully to the workings of the school and the welfare of its students…" He said piously.
Harry rolled his eyes while sighing theatrically, "The thing is Headmaster you shouldn't need reminding. The situation should have been so patently obvious that you could not fail to see it. How is it that not only you but every adult in that castle failed to notice the warning signs?"
Albus had to admit that was a good question, but was sadly unable to find an answer that satisfied even him at this time. The teachers had all had complaints at one time or another, but strung out as they were, they had seemed to be isolated incidents.
Harry noted his thoughtful expression and pressed his advantage. "Look Dumbledore, at this point if either Amelia or I were of a mind to, we could crucify you. I don't think I need to remind you of some of the things I know now?" Harry noted, Dumbledore nodded a touch stiffly. "But she's right, it's not in the best interest of the magical community for you to be hauled up on charges right now. As things stand currently, you wouldn't stand a chance in front of a court. But if we hold off and let you clean up some of this…" Harry said.
Amelia nodded her head. "Precisely. The only person who could possibly benefit right now from the Ministry falling is You-Know-Who. Losing a chief Warlock at a time like this would inevitably result in the ministries collapse."
Sirius was apparently done with them coddling the old man, "Dumbledore, at this point you've got one option, admit you fucked up, and get to cleaning up your mess. I mean bloody hell, in four years of school Harry's run into more trouble than any decade of students put together. I mean, even the Marauders never had to deal with Voldemort directly at that time, he was a distant threat on the horizon for us. But Harry's had to face him three out of four years?"
Hermione decided to interject here, to her mind they were basically repeating themselves, and they needed direction of some kind. "Right, we know there's a mess, now what are we going to do about it." She looked expectantly at the group. "I mean, as satisfying as it would be to watch, we can't expect the Headmaster to fix all this mess by himself within the time required." She pointed out logically. "It took years for the system at Hogwarts to get as broken as it is, now how do we fix it."
"Honestly dear, why didn't you tell us it was so bad, we could have sent a complaint to the board of governors or something," Emma asked skeptically.
Hermione looked uncertain. "I honestly don't know mum, perhaps I was too involved in what was happening to see the big picture? But looking back it seems more than obvious."
Dumbledore was just sitting quietly watching the discussion whirl around him, Harry decided to get him involved again. "We can start dealing with this right here right now if you wish Headmaster, but I suspect it might…be more acceptable to your pride if you took time to begin moving on the issues as you know them by yourself. Perhaps you could come back in a few days once you've satisfied yourself that you've gotten a start on things, maybe bring a couple staff members. We could all sit down together, have a proper meeting and sort all this out?" He offered, extending the man a plainly declared olive branch.
What one was supposed to actually do with a physical olive branch when handed one in reality was something which seemed to have been lost to time, but the general rule of thumb was to accept it, which Dumbledore did gladly. "That sounds like a wonderful plan Harry, perhaps it would allow you and the inestimable Miss Granger to appropriately compile complaints and issues as you see them for address." He suggested in return. Harry nodded thoughtfully.
Sirius looked like he was loathe to say it but he did anyways. "Dumbledore, you're going to need support to push through the changes you need to make, so long as we discuss it each time before hand, I'd be willing to throw House Black's support in behind you once I've sorted out some house cleaning of my own." He growled.
"Should I ask? Or are you just referring to Grimmauld?" Harry said chuckling darkly.
Sirius shot him a look, "Sadly I have more things that need sorting beyond the state of the old family mansion." He said sardonically. "Not the least of which is the disposition of said family. All except one branch of the relatives are crazed psychopaths, and the one that isn't has been disowned." He pointed out. "If that doesn't scream, family counselling, I don't know what does."
Harry nodded, chuckling, Amelia was getting antsy though, "Well as lovely as all this is, I really must be going, I have matters to attend to. Harry, Dumbledore, I trust you will inform me of the date and time of this meeting you're planning?" She said sternly. Both nodded agreement, Harry more promptly than Dumbledore. "Good, then I'll be seeing you, good day all of you," She said as she stalked out.
"I believe it is coming time that I should make my departure as well," Dumbledore decided getting to his feet. The lot of them exchanged pleasantries until the old man left.
"Well that was…Awkward." Dan offered from the table.
Hermione made an uncomplimentary sound. "That Dad, is the maddening feeling of having spoken with Dumbledore. It always leaves you wondering what you missed." She said unhappily.
"And we all know how much Hermione Granger hates not knowing something," Sirius noted smiling rakishly.
"That was fun, but next time I think I'll sit out any meeting with Wrinklenuts in it," Kara said sounding disgruntled. "I mean really, what did he hope to accomplish here? He came he said sorry, a vastly insufficient sentiment by the way, and he left. Like a hit and run of confusion." She protested unhappily.
Those who were more used to Dumbledore looked at her blankly. "Yeah? That's what it's always like dealing with him." Harry agreed dryly.
She rolled her eyes. "Fan-fuckin'-tastic" she growled.
—-
Deep in the Scottish Highlands, Dumbledore sat at his desk in his office, he could be said to be thinking, but that was too static a term for what he was doing. He was…ruminating. He really was concerned about Harry, for a myriad of reasons. Usually such concerns were confined to the question of the boys state of mind, in regards to the task ahead of him.
Lately however his concerns had taken on a different note entirely. How did Harry Potter know the things he did? Some of it had surely been revealed to him by his parent's will, of that Albus was certain. But how could the rest be attributed to his resultant research, and in such a short period of time?
The saying goes that knowledge is power, and until recently Dumbledore had controlled all the knowledge regarding what must be done. Now, quite suddenly, Harry, a boy of merely fifteen, had reversed this state so that he was now the one who knew things that others did not.
Control relies heavily upon power, or at least perceived power, and Dumbledore was now sorely lacking in that area. Especially where it concerned the boy in question. Even Harry's closest friend, Miss Granger, seemed at a loss while in his presence. Most vexing.
It also, quite frustratingly, left him with few options. In fact so few, that the only way he could see forward was the one pointed out by the boy himself. Fix the problems that plagued Hogwarts, and meet again so they may plan together.
Dumbledore did not like planning with others, the last time he had done such things truly in earnest had been a good portion of a century ago, and it had been as he engaged in war with the man he had previously trusted completely. The problem with planning with others, was that it required you to trust them. Something, that despite his protests to the contrary, he had trouble doing these days. After all, how could you trust people when you didn't control them?
—-
Harry spent some time busying himself around the kitchen, cleaning and straightening up following breakfast. His mind occupied by the conversation he had just experienced, he failed to notice Dan was still in the room for some time. The girls having long since evacuated the room in hopes of grabbing some shower time. The realization that that was what the women and girls were doing, conjured all sorts of images in his teenage, hormone addled mind. He shook his head firmly, trying to dislodge the images of a soaped up Hermione. It wasn't that he'd never had such images in his head before. He had, many times. But somehow dwelling on the thought of his feminine friends naked felt rather gauche to his more mature mind than it had last time round, especially considering he was sitting in the kitchen with one of said girl's fathers at the time.
Harry was just considering whether or not blunt force trauma delivered via frying pan might dislodge a particularly stubborn image, when his eyes fell on Dan. "Uh, sorry for ignoring you sir, my mind was elsewhere. I apologize, but we haven't had much of a chance to talk…" He ventured watching the stern man's eyes.
Dan chuckled "You don't need to call me sir, son. Dan will do."
Harry chuckled. "Just call me Harry then, I admit my habit comes from time spent with my relatives. They liked their airs just fine."
"Fair enough, what were you hoping to talk about?" Dan asked offering a thin half smile. The more he heard about these Dursleys, the more he wanted to hunt them down and beat the hell out of them. They sounded like an arrogant pack of sods to him.
Harry was apparently flummoxed by this question, having not given much thought beyond leaping from his current train of thought to safety. Eventually he caught grasp of something amongst the mess that often resulted from leaping from a moving train. "I was hoping to learn a little bit about you and …Dan." He said uncertainly. "I've heard bits and pieces about you from Hermione of course. You're dentists right?"
The older man nodded agreement, "Yes, our practice is just a few blocks that way," he jerked his head in indication.
Harry thought about that for a moment, "It occurs to me, that I don't actually know where we are…at all" He admitted a touch sheepishly.
"Belsize park, London."
Harry was uncertain what to say in the following silence, Dan appeared amused by his awkwardness. "So—er, have you always been a dentist?" He asked.
Dan smiled at him in good humour. "Dentists are trained not born, you know that right?" Harry chuckled a bit at his own expense, but otherwise just accepted the jab. Dan continued after a moment, this time more seriously. "Actually I was in the military for a while, served in the infantry. Met Emma about that time while she was working to raise money for school. Spent a few years in the middle east, only dropped out of the reserves a couple years after nine eleven."
Harry reflected on the fact that Dan likely knew a couple ways to kill Harry with his hands, which was to say nothing of guns…
Mr. Granger noted Harry's discomfort with a touch of dark fatherly glee, he had correctly interpreted the source of Harry's new found uncertainty and couldn't help but gloat a little. You know. It's really fun to put the fear of Dan into the young men in Hermione's life. I could get used to this. Maybe I should show him my gun collection? "So, Harry, I've been wanting to ask you…" He started smiling and standing up from his seat at the counter. "What do you think of my daughter?"
Harry suddenly felt like he was being stalked by death itself, a hunted feeling entering his soul. "Er—I think she's great sir. Very smart…And brave too! Loyal…" He ventured uncertainly.
Dan nodded sagely, "Yeah, that's all true, but not really what I was asking. I suppose being more direct is more the ticket. How do you feel about my daughter, what are your…intentions?"
Harry, had a feeling it was going to be a long day. He wondered if it was bad form to stun your friend's father and obliviate them…Purely in the interest of self preservation of course.
—-
Unbeknownst to the beleaguered youth downstairs, Hermione was in for a similar but not identical conversation elsewhere in the house.
She was, to Harry's blissful ignorance, standing at the mirror in her skivvies trying to get her hair to behave itself. Experience, had taught her that such an endeavour was futile, however she couldn't shake the feeling she should at least try when she was at home. Her mother, was standing next to her putting the finishing touches on the small modicum of makeup she used on a daily basis.
"So—That's the famous Harry Potter?" Her mother ventured, as she watched her daughter struggle against her hair.
Hermione finally gave up and threw down the brush in disgust, "Yes, though he really prefers not to be thought of that way." She noted absently, adjusting her bra slightly. She'd grown a bit since leaving school, she'd need a new one soon.
Her mother raised an eyebrow at her in the mirror, "Oh? Why is that? Most boys his age would love love that kind of thing," She noted. Hermione didn't know it but Emma was thinking back on some of the more popular and acclaimed teens she'd known growing up.
"Yes, and if Harry were anyone but Harry that might be the case. He's not like most boys." Hermione asserted firmly, pulling on a pair of jeans. Hiphuggers, unlike the kind she preferred at school. It was summer after all, and she wasn't languishing under the school's dress code. Not that Hermione was ever immodest in her dress in the first place.
Her mother shot her a knowing look. Not that she noticed, her head getting jammed for a moment in the sleeve of the T-shirt she was pulling over her head, before she corrected and got it on straight. She continued oblivious of her mother's expression. "Not once in all the time I've known him has Harry used his fame to get his way. If he wanted to he could have pretty much anything he wanted and be swimming in girls willing to give it all up for him, but as far as I know he's never even kissed one." She noted glancing briefly at her mum as she leaned against the counter. "He actually seems to hate his fame, not that I blame him, people call him The-Boy-Who-Lived, but they forget that for him to get that name his parents had to die protecting him,"
Her mother looked sympathetic and a touch chagrined. "I'm sorry Honey, I wasn't trying to insult him, I was just poking fun at you at bit, for how much you talk about him in your letters." She noted smiling sadly.
Hermione blushed, causing her mother to chuckle. "He's my best friend mum, always has been. Bar none now that Ron's out."
Her mother hadn't meant to draw her back to sad thoughts, "Yes, and I'm sorry to hear about what happened between you three. Even as far a teenage crisis go, that's pretty extreme." She growled, thinking about wringing the little bastard's neck.
Hermione grimaced, she couldn't help but think of all the times "friends" had betrayed her throughout the years, it was only at Hogwarts that that trend had been bucked. Or so she'd thought. It was really depressing. She was basically one for…however many, as far as successful friendships went. And a nasty little voice in the back of her head was telling her that the problem likely wasn't with everyone else.
Her mother interrupted this morose line of thought. "At least Harry's a good one." She noted smiling wanly at her daughter.
Hermione jerked her head in a firm nod, squaring her shoulders, "Yes mum, the very best, I couldn't ask for better." She said fondly.
Her mother hesitated, "You ever think about trying for more with him?" she asked eventually.
Hermione looked away, embarrassment colouring her cheeks. "Mum I'm not exactly eager to talk about things like that, especially with my mother." She said hurriedly.
Emma huffed. "I don't see why not, who else are you going to talk about it with?" She asked. "Kara, Tonks, that Ginny girl?"
Hermione shook her head, "No, especially with Ginny, she's Ron's sister so it would just be awkward now." There was a small commotion outside, and they moved to the window and peered out. A large black dog Hermione recognized as Padfoot, was cavorting excitedly about the yard with a boot in his mouth, a one shoed Tonks chasing after him hollering.
"That's Harry's Godfather isn't it? I believe you wrote about him recently?" Her mother noted. "He's…exuberant, he seems to like being a dog as much as being a human,"
Hermione couldn't help but chuckle at that as Sirius started burying a despairing Tonks' boot in one of the flower beds.
Finally her mother turned to her leaning against the wall. "So seriously now, why not? Why don't you want to give it a try with Harry?" She asked her eye focused piercingly on her now squirming daughter.
"We're just friends mum," She said hopelessly.
Her mother scoffed, "So? Pretty much any couple I've heard of starts out that way."
"I don't feel that way about him," She tried.
"Pardon me honey, but Bull, try again," Emma cut her off sharply.
Hermione sighed in exasperation, and prayed she wasn't so transparent to the friend in question. "Fine, but I'm pretty sure he doesn't see me that way so it's a moot point,"
Her mother cocked her head at her, her expression almost taunting, "How do you know? Have you ever asked?" Hermione's expression was answer enough. "Come on what's the real reason?"
Hermione was forced to think about it, and struggled to put it into words. "Because we are friends, I don't want to ruin it okay?"
"Nothing venture, nothing gained sweetheart," her mother pointed out.
She rolled her eyes in response, "Yes, but nothing lost either,"
Her mother snorted, "Then you've created a self fulfilling prophecy haven't you? You won't have anything with him because you aren't willing to try," Hermione shifted uncomfortably. Her mother had a point.
"Besides, what's wrong with being friends and more?" Her mother asked airily.
Her daughter was confused. "What you mean like—that "friends with benefits" tosh?"
Her mother also rolled her eyes at that, "No—well…unless that's what works for you two, to each their own, your relationship needn't be a clone of your father's and mine." She argued.
Hermione was in a state of shock at what her mother was tacitly suggesting.
Emma sighed. "No, I meant, why can't you be dating, and be friends at the same time?" Hermione's forehead creased in confusion. "Honestly Hermione, I swear sometimes, for someone so bright you can be awfully thick. Maybe it's a function of being a teenager?" Her mother teased.
Her daughter couldn't help being more than a little offended by that, "Mum!"
Emma decided to spell it out for her "Look, Hermione, despite the way media likes to portray romance, relationships between two people who basically hate each other are exceedingly rare, and are never healthy." She explained exasperated. "Relationships that work are almost always between friends. And no I don't mean the "He occasionally makes me laugh whenever he's not making me cry" thing you and Ron had going. Honestly even before this latest upset I have no bloody clue why you put up with that cretin."
Perhaps it was instinct but Hermione almost sprung to Ron's defence. Thankfully her recent memories choked those words off before she even drew breath for them. She had a horrifying vision of the kind of future she and Ron would have had. A relationship filled with tears and children with chilli bowl haircuts called Hugo and other such nonsense. She shuddered at the mere thought of it.
Her mother patted her arm sympathetically, "And yet you were headed that way weren't you? You and Ron I mean."
Hermione nodded her head, a touch nauseous at the thought of it. "Yeah, I think we were,"
Emma shook her head in consternation, "Why?"
Hermione was uncertain, "Looking back at it now, I could easily say it must have been the Amortentia…"
Emma nodded thoughtfully. "I may not be an expert on such things but I assume that "Love" potions, don't create such things out of thin air? Perhaps they twist what affections are already there?"
Hermione had to concede that was an interesting question, one worth writing a paper on. "I honestly don't know, maybe?" she ventured.
"How did it make you feel, or think?" Emma asked, morbidly curious.
Hermione considered that, and sighed, "It made me think Ron wasn't so bad, like everything he'd done wrong had been years ago. I could swear it made his jokes funnier, because my sense of humour has never historically tended towards the moronic." She said scathingly, thinking of Ron's preferred sense of humour. It tended towards the spiteful or the anatomical. "In the end I think it fed the thought that it wasn't like I was going to find anyone better,"
Her mother nodded considering that, clearly love potion was an insidious little poison. But her daughters last statement stuck with her through it all. "That raises an interesting question. What do you consider better then? What would your ideal gent be like then?"
Hermione rolled her head slightly to ease the tension from her neck, it wasn't an easy question. There was no textbook answer after all. "An old world gentleman without the chauvinistic streak? Holds the door for me but not because he thinks I can't handle it?" She teased nervously. Her mother just gave her a look. "Fine—I guess I wan't someone who is honest with me. Brave, but kind and smart too. Honest in that he'll tell me what he is thinking, but not harsh. Brave in that he'll stand up for what he believes and wont let it fall by the wayside because it is easy. Kind in both big and little ways, generous and charitable, with his time and his effort. But he has to be smart too, I don't think I could stand someone who was constantly making the same stupid mistake, or had to have everything explained to them." She said slowly as though sounding it out. She shrugged. "I won't pretend that looks don't matter, at least a bit. I don't need or want a model, but I'd like him to at least look better than Crabbe or Goyle." She shuddered and her mother chuckled.
Emma nodded thoughtfully and then made a gesture encouraging her to go on. "And now ask yourself, who do you know who most closely embodies that ideal?" She instructed.
Hermione did, she ran through every young man and teenager within a one year range of herself and sigh coming up with only one or two answers. "Harry" She admitted.
"Alright, so why on earth do you not want him?" Emma asked skeptically. She considered that, "You know what I think Hermione? More than just the questions of whether or not you see each other that way, I think it comes down to fear." She saw her daughter's uncertain look and cast about for a way to explain it in a way that would stick. Finally she struck on it. "Tantalus," She said triumphantly, drawing a startled look from her daughter. She explained. "Tantalus was cursed to exist in the underworld with food and water constantly beyond his reach, I think the reason you are afraid to pursue this is that you are afraid, that just when it is within your grasp what you seek most will be slip away." She explained.
Hermione grimaced then nodded in agreement, she was having a hard time arguing against that, even in her own mind. "I guess I could see that,"
Emma smiled and lightly elbowed her in the ribs. "So knowing that, how do you make him see you the way you want him to?"
Hermione really didn't want to continue along this line and for once attempted to deflect with humour. "I don't know, Lavender always swears by flashing them, then getting them in the broom closet." She joked weakly. "I've always sworn by mud wrestling."
Her mother groaned at the bad joke. "Fine, whatever, but you need to have a plan, I can help you do that much, but the rest—" Her mother said sternly. "Will be up to you."
—
Tonks was once again chasing about the boot thief the next morning when Harry stumbled out of the house, still a touch blurry eyed. She had been setting up the basic wards the Order had authorized, but her cousin seemed to be unusually cunning in his canine form, and somehow managed to get her boot off her foot after tripping her up. She was pouring dirt out of the recaptured boot and glaring darkly at Padfoot, when Harry reached her.
"Wotcher Tonks, what are you doing?" He asked yawning a bit and shaking some life into his limbs.
"Wards," She said, grunting slightly as she struggled to pull on her boot after a scourgify. "Specifically muggle repelling wards, and visual and auditory occlusion wards. I was putting up the tripwire alarms when cousin dearest here, interrupted me." She said smirking at the dog-man.
Harry nodded, smiling fondly at his dogfather. "Would you two be willing to put up some duelling shields and practice with me?" He asked after a moment. "I'm always out of practice when I return to school in september…and I'd like to be warmed up when I return," he explained.
Sirius shifted back. "Sure Pup, who do you want to try your luck against first?"
Harry considered that, "I think I'd like to try Tonks, as much fun as it would be duelling you Sirius, I'm pretty sure I'd spend more time getting levitated by my ankle than actually learning anything." He noted slyly, and his godfather grinned broadly.
Tonks nodded hesitantly, unsure where duelling fell into her orders to bodyguard Harry, "Okay, but we need some ground rules I think, just so Amelia doesn't fire my arse." She said thoughtfully. "No blasting or explosive spells, nothing that can't be cleared up or countered quickly, and nothing that does permanent or semipermanent bodily harm." She knew Harry had a rep when it came to fighting, she didn't want to end up with either of them in Saint Mungo's.
Harry, counter to her internal predictions turned serious, he nodded quickly, and a focus entered his eyes as she noticed the house's other residents gathering on the porch. Sirius was already starting casting on the duelling wards. Hermione eagerly got down to help him when he called. Kara was sticking close and quiet to the Grangers, she nodded stoically to Harry. Sometimes she worried him, he reflected as Sirius worked. At times that girl was down right flamboyant, and yet she seemed to be able to turn her personality on and off like a switch. right now she was all business. This was the reaper he was seeing even if she hid behind her human visage.
"Alright Harry, what do you want me to try and teach you? Formal or just one two three and have at you?" Tonks asked as the last ward went up.
Harry snorted. "As fun as it is to watch, formal duelling doesn't really interest me, after all Death Eaters don't go in for the bowing and such…well unless they're toying with you, in which case you've got much bigger issues." He noted sourly.
She nodded agreement. In the quiet of her own mind, she reflected on something troubling. Harry had, despite his youth encountered and survived a fight with some of the most feared terrorists in the magical world. She herself, had fought any number of thugs, criminals, drunks, soldiers and terrorists in her time in law enforcement, but never a Death Eater in the flesh at this point. She comforted herself that she had training and experience on her side, where Harry didn't. "Sounds good Harry, take up position at the far side of the yard and we can see about getting started."
Harry nodded and marched over to his mark. Hermione who had retaken her position on the porch beside her parents looked uncertain. Dan was the one who spoke up though. "Hey before you get going, exactly what are you doing?" he asked curious.
Harry called over. "Practice duel, just looking to keep my skills sharp and see if I can learn a trick or two." He assured him. "We've set up wards so we don't blow up your back yard." Dan didn't look entirely reassured by that comment. Harry turned back to Tonks. "One last thing before we go eh?" He suggested, and she inclined her head. "Don't go easy on me? I'd rather get my arse handed to me the first time and have to dial it back." He explained, and was mildly disappointed when Tonks looked doubtful.
They stood and took positions. Tonks began the count off. "One—Two—Three!" She shouted that last and flicked her wand into her hand, hoping to catch him with the help of her quick release holster. She belted out a pair of stunners.
Harry was faster than she'd given him credit for though, he flowed out of the way of the twin bolts of red energy, drawing from a wrist holster himself and returned a pair of spells at her. To her shock both were cast silently. Only the wand motion and colour giving away what they were, a disarming spell and an impediment jinx. She had to roll to escape them. She fired off a trio of stinging hexes and pair of body binders. But she was still holding back despite his words, and she could see his frustration. So she amped it up a touch.
This somewhat lame dance continued for a couple minutes, Tonks and Harry trading spells dutifully, Tonks only grudgingly upping the ante as he handled each volley. Finally Harry got impatient.
He suddenly started moving, no longer standing in one place to line up his shots, instead preferring to keep moving and increasing the power and frequency of his spells almost exponentially for a time. Tonks attempted to adapt, but it was too late, she had been treating him with kid gloves. But now it was serious.
Tonks dodged what she thought for a moment was a blasting hex, something which could have really hurt her had it connected. She only recognized a moment later that she'd been duped when the strobe ball spell flipped in her vision as the levitation hex she'd dodged into caught her. She had only a moment to realize her mistake before a jabbing hex caught her and flung her into the Granger's pool. She came up sputtering.
Harry was looking frustrated and a touch sullen when she reached the edge of the pool. "Thought that was a blasting hex for a moment," She commented grumpily.
"Strobe ball," Harry confirmed, casting something at his feet, "And that was kind of the point, I told you I need somebody willing to push me Tonks, I was hoping to spur you into it, I guess my dirty little trick worked a bit better than expected though," he admitted ruefully as he offered her his hand. "Don't bother pulling me in, I put sticking charms on my feet," He noted dryly as she grabbed hold.
Tonks flushed as she heard Emma ask Dan who was guarding who again. Harry wasn't looking at her too closely, clearly trying to avoid noticing how the water made her clothes stick to her body as he stepped away after removing the spells on his feet. He looked to her briefly. "Please Tonks, I need you to press me to be better, the Death Eaters won't hold back just because I'm young or famous." He argued in despairing irritation.
She nodded, embarrassed. That was basically the byline of one of the more important lessons she'd been taught at the academy. "Don't hold back in a fight for your life." She resolved to do better in their next bout. Her mentor Moody would be livid, "Constant Vigilance!"
She took up position as she finished waving a drying charm over herself, and they began again. Hermione watched as the two of them this time fought in earnest, at least as much as was possible within the restrictions they had agreed upon. Tonks was…much better than she had presented in the first match. She was quick, flexible and creative in her spell work. But despite the clear learning opportunities presented by watching an Auror fight, Hermione wasn't watching her. Her eyes were on Harry.
Harry was—different, there was no question of that now. And she wasn't sure how much she could chalk up to the PTSD or the events of the tournament. He was more focused in a lot of ways, it showed particularly at times like this. The look in his eyes was a touch frightening if she were honest with herself. He was displaying an odd rogue streak and a sort of gallows humour she wasn't really familiar with too. And she'd already seen him use three spells she'd never seen before in his first fight with Tonks. She was sure more were to follow. She couldn't help but be frustrated at being ignorant of something Harry was not. Or at least something which wasn't to do with flying.
Tonks and Harry fought each other to standstills twice before they stopped. And this only because something distracted them, the thump of downy wings, the owls were arriving.
—
"Crucio!" Voldemort snarled and Pettigrew writhed on the floor. He allowed this to continue for couple seconds before breaking off the spell, allowing the man to collapse to the ground in relief. "I am not happy," he told those gathered somewhat unnecessarily. It would no doubt have been more obvious were it not for his unfortunate habit of using this spell on people whenever the mood struck him. "Where the wizarding world should be already trembling at our coming, instead they prepare." He explained irritably. "Lucius' capture and numerous failures have resulted in us losing access to his families wealth. Not only that the Ministry now sits poised to bring itself up to war footing. Without that bungling fool Fudge in charge, there is the risk that they might actually elect someone with a spine." He ranted.
Those gathered, stood still and silent, none wishing to draw his attention at such a time. Pettigrew, Snape, Nott, Crabbe, Goyle, the Averys, The Carrow twins, Rowle, Gibbon, Macnair, Selwyn, Flint, and Yaxley were all gathered. It had been through considerable effort that so many of his inner circle were withheld from Ministry custody. A testament to the chaos which had followed the trial.
Many more were in prison at Azkaban, most of them from the previous war. Faithfuls like the Lestranges, Jugson, Travers, Mulciber, Scabior, Dolohov, and Rookwood still resided there. Lucius would undoubtedly join them soon.
"We are, by sheer dint of circumstance forced to accelerate our schedule. Where I would have preferred us to maneuver for a time in anonymity we are forced into the open." He hissed. "Were it not for Lucius' failure Malfoy Manor and his family would still be available to us. However for the time being this is not the case. We shall relocate and prepare, however…" he turned as Pettigrew, cringing, carefully pushed to his feet. "We shall need a distraction to allow us time to do what we must."
He had been considering his course for some time. "Nott, Avery, Rowle and Flint, I wish you to prepare plans to take a cadre, perhaps fifteen, of your lesser brethren and plan some raids to sow a touch of discord. I believe it would be beneficial if say…Two Oaks were razed. Plan not to tarry or play with your prey, the ministry is not yet so hamstrung that they cannot respond promptly." He instructed sternly. He turned to others. "As for the rest of you, gather what loyalists still exist, look to your families for our new vanguard, and begin recruiting among our enemies ranks where you can. Yaxley, you in particular shall be useful for this task. I believe you know of a number of potential, sympathizers? Burke, Murdock, and young miss Blackwood? Perhaps it is time they felt a little pressure?" He suggested. The man nodded hurriedly. "Good." Voldemort said in satisfaction. He turned to Snape. "Severus, what news do you bear from the enemy camp?"
Snape was quiet for a moment as he considered his words. "Surprisingly little my Lord, at least beside that which you have already spoken of. Our enemy prepares for war. The Order of the Phoenix is likely to begin recruiting soon, however there is one point of interest in that area." he explained slowly, cautiously. "It appears corruption had taken hold in the hearts of two of the Order's members" He ventured. Voldemort inclined his head in interest. "Molly Weasley, formerly of the Prewetts and her youngest son, attempted to potion Potter into a marriage arrangement with the family's sole daughter. Their duplicity has been discovered and their arrest has shaken the Order to its foundations." Snape explained. "This comes with a…worrisome note or two I'm afraid."
"Oh?" the Dark Lord asked idly swirling his hands while he watched…something.
"I have had the chance to…examine the records produced by the scans at Saint Mungo's. First is the revelation that the Boy's shelter with his relatives was not so secure as believed. It…appears their was no love lost between he and they, he was assaulted most vigorously by them. As such he will no longer be sheltering with them. His current residence is unknown to me." Voldemort regarded him silently. "The second point of note is this, Potter's condition thanks in part to the potioning, and his treatment by his relatives, likely…hampered his abilities in the past. The dosings alone reducing his magical effectiveness and his mental acuity by a startling margin." Snape explained.
"Ah," Voldemort, murmured thoughtfully, "Perhaps it will be that he will prove a more impressive challenge in future?" He asked almost hopefully. Potter was a foe he would enjoy killing above almost all others, for him to be more skilled and potent would make the victory that much more satisfying. Snape offered no opinion on that statement. Voldemort considered, pacing, never breaking step as Nagini wove between his feet. "I must admit the temptation to strike at his relatives, unprotected as they doubtless now are, is great. However a tangle with the DMLE over three wayward muggles is sadly not worth the costs as yet."
Snape hesitated. "Indeed milord, it should also perhaps be noted that these muggles are not so dear to Potter as first supposed, slaying them, while good sport, would sadly lack the psychological impact we might have hoped for in past."
Voldemort nodded. "It is true, so perhaps we shall have to look elsewhere should we hope to strike at the boy?" he suggested, then sighed. "Tell me of the candidates, but do not trouble yourself should you miss some now, we have time while we tend to other matters."
Snape considered, in his mind going over what he had been told was acceptable to risk should such a topic come up with the Dark Lord. In a word, everything. Still as much as he loathed the boy he hesitated. "Potter is fond of many of the fringe elements he has encountered at Hogwarts. You already know of the Mudblood he allows to accompany him, she disappeared when he did however. I would have suggested the Weasley Boy, but as I have explained things are not as they were between them. There are other friends of course…" he hedged vaguely.
"Indeed, make note of them, we shall revisit this at a later time," Voldemort agreed staring into the firelight. "Tell me one last thing Severus, how has Dumbledore reacted to the…rumours of soul anchors the boy spouts?" He asked seemingly carelessly.
"He says nothing on the matter my lord, I believe he fears drawing more attention to them should you decide to remove and resecret them elsewhere. Were they to exist of course." Voldemort had made it painfully clear such things were falsehoods spun by the boy to stir up the public against them
Voldemort nodded. It was a sound strategy on Dumbledore's part, or it would be, had the damage not already been done. The threat to his Horcruxes pressed on his mind, even if, as all evidence suggested, the destruction of the other was mere happenstance. Accidental. He would need to think on it.
He turned and moved towards the doorway into the chamber, only to pause at the threshold. "It should be made a priority among you, to speak with whomever you may, to find a way into Azkaban, I believe it is time to have our siblings returned to us. These meetings feel so…empty without Bella threatening to disembowel someone do you no think?" He asked fading into the shadows beyond the door.
—-
"What is this!" Hermione shrieked holding up an envelope in front of Harry's face, far too close for his eyes to focus on it and read the writing on its face. He took a startled step back, not expecting a verbal assault out of clear blue skies.
He looked at her confused trying to push back the letter to look at it. "A letter?" He ventured uncertain as others came running to see what the commotion was.
If any look could be called scathing, it was the one Hermione was directing at him. "No, you think?" She said sarcastically. "It's a receipt Harry! From Gringotts, for a full set of wards on my family's house." She spat.
Harry was confused, he had just opened such a receipt from the Goblins himself, "Oh they sent you one too?" He asked.
"Harry!" She shrilled. "We can't afford these!"
Harry nodded stupidly as he backed up and she followed. "Yes, I know, but I can,"
She just stared at him for a few moments in shock. Then started shaking, or possibly trembling "Harry, these wards cost upwards of two million pounds. A place could hardly be more protected if it were built in the heart of Hogwarts or in the lobby of Gringotts!" She snapped.
Harry was uncertain, what was going on, "Yeah I know, it's expensive but I can afford it." The crowd was watching with varying types of interest. Tonks appeared to be considering drawing on Hermione for his protection.
"Harry, do you have any idea how long it will take me to pay you back for something like this? I don't even have a job, and even if I did, many people never see this kind of money. I could literally work away my entire life and never pay you back!" She said sounding panicky at the notion of that much work in her future.
"Why would you need to pay me back?" He asked befuddled.
She stabbed her finger at a line in bold text on the paper. "You see this here, NON-RE-FUND-A-BLE!" She howled. "That means you can't just cancel the order, that means that I have to pay you back. Because of course I have to make something like this up to you." She snarled.
"I don't want you pay it back" Harry said trying to reassure her.
"Harry it's over two million BLOODY POUNDS!" she shouted.
"So?" Harry said uncertainly.
"So? So!—" Her fury appeared to have reached the level where she was having trouble forming words. "I can't just let an expenditure of this magnitude stand Harry, I have an obligation to you now. Whether you want me to or not, Why? Because thats how these things work Harry. Whether you intended to or not, I'm still indebted to you! And I can't have you take it back! How the HELL am I supposed to cover this kind of debt Harry?"
She watched as he stuttered and gawped at her for a moment, clearly uncertain how to answer such a question. "Harry you can't just go doing something like this for someone, least of all me." She said quieting abruptly and massaging her forehead, trying to alleviate her sudden migraine.
He appeared honestly confused. "Why not?"
She shook her head at him, "Because there is no way I am worth two million pounds!" She said exasperated.
Now it was his turn to glare, appearing mortally offended. "Of course you are." He said sounding certain. The others were gawking at him in morbid fascination.
"Harry, you know I can't pay this back" she said slapping the paper. "I can't possibly come up with the money for this, so I've incurred an honour debt to you, you remember those?" She asked sarcastically as he paled slightly. "So how do I do it Harry? How do I pay you back? I'm good with magic, and know a lot, but even if I taught you everything I know it wouldn't be a patch on this. Besides you seem to know plenty of things I don't lately." She said pacing in agitation. "I'm good with numbers, but how's that going to help, you already have an accounts manager at Gringotts." She stopped and got a funny look on her face. Maybe it was the stress, or the recent incident with Ron, or maybe she just had a brief brush with insanity, but the conclusion which popped into her head had her in a white hot fury again. Her reaction and conclusion far outside what would be considered rational by anyone let alone her. "Harry James Potter!" She shrilled. "If you expect me to sleep with you to pay you back. I will skin your lily white ass and feed the results to you!"
There was a thunderous silence which followed that. Harry's face went through a number of contortions as he figured out what it was she was saying. It would have been comical had it not been for the accusation which had proceeded it. Suddenly his face went that blank cold she'd seen a couple times recently, and whether she knew it or not Harry's cold rage was far, far worse than her white hot one. "Hermione," He said cooly, "When have I ever done something that could make you think I would do something so unbelievably vile as that?" He asked his voice shaking and she blanched, her mistake just now starting to glimmer in her mind. But he wasn't about to back off just yet and accept it as a misunderstanding. "Do you realize what you just accused me of?" He spat clearly irate. "You accused me of attempting to coerce you into having sex with me. Basically into allowing me, to what is in effect rape you." He said in a deadly tone. "How can you—How can you possibly…believe I would do something like that to you?" He asked finally allowing the horror of that question to enter his voice.
She slumped as the tension left her shoulders all at once. Shaking her head. "Harry, I'm sorry, I should never have said that, I don't know what I was thinking when I asked that. Maybe I— I don't know. I have no idea where that came from," she admitted. He calmed a bit at her retreat, and let out a stiff nod. "I just—I let the enormity of the situation get one over on me, and I assumed the worst, well the worst considering what just happened with Ron…" She speculated wringing her hands a bit.
He sighed and this time it was him rubbing at his suddenly pounding forehead. "Hermione, why can't it just be enough that you're my friend and I want to do this for you?" He asked tiredly.
She laughed weakly. "Honestly Harry? Nobody just drops two million pounds in high end security wards for a friend." She said sardonically.
For the first time in the conversation someone else voiced an opinion. "Apparently Harry does," Tonks said looking a touch shell shocked.
Hermione scowled at the metamorph "Tonks, you're not helping,"
Harry sat beside her on the railing of the balcony considering everything she'd said, avoiding as best he could thinking of her panicked accusation. Hermione felt the need to pay him back, nothing he said would dissuade her from it. So how did he get two million pounds worth of value from something Hermione did. To him it was simple, almost anything Hermione did would be more than repayment enough. Just smiling at him made him feel like a million pounds lately, because it reassured him that he hadn't yet failed, that she still lived. But he knew she wouldn't see it that way, even if he explained, and would be offended if he tried. Possibly enough that she'd allow it to create a divide between them. "Hang on, let me think okay?" He said tiredly and proceeded to think, casting about for a solution. Eventually he landed on one, "What about some knowledge and research?" He asked. "I know you don't think it's enough, but I assure you it's worth it to me," he said hurriedly when she opened her mouth to protest.
She considered the solemn expression on his face. "What are you thinking?" She asked.
Harry let out a relieved sigh they were moving beyond the shouting portion of the argument, now they seemed to be in the end stages of the negotiation phase. "First, I want you to teach me some basic Arithmancy, not a lot, just enough to figure out what you or anyone else is on about when they talk about it in passing." he said firmly. "Second, I want you to bring me up to snuff on Ancient Runes, I'm going to switch to it from Divination this year." He revealed and she got a startled but pleased look on her face. "Finally I need you to look up soul magic, whatever you can find in the Black and Hogwarts libraries on it. No rush we have time for what I need it for, but I want you to look into ways of extracting foreign soul fragments from a living host." He explained and her eyes lit with understanding and she nodded eagerly. This was a subject which could easily fascinate her. He grabbed her hand and squeezed lightly. "Try and do those things and we'll consider it services rendered in return for the wards. Honestly Hermione, I only hoped to protect you, not saddle you with yet another burden." He said gently.
She sighed and smiled at him, a small pretty little quirk of the lips, but a smile none the less. She leaned forward and kissed him quickly on the cheek. "I know Harry, and I'm sorry I reacted so strongly," she said soothingly as his insides fluttered slightly. "I just panicked when I saw the size of the debt, can you imagine finding out you owed that much with no way to repay someone? I nearly had a coronary." She said chuckling weakly.
The others began to wander off as the crisis finally ended and the two of them sat in each others company for a time on the edge of the balcony. She noticed an unopened letter still in his hand. Crinkled somewhat from a tight grip he had adopted at some point during their argument. "What's that?" She asked nodding to it.
Harry gave a start looking at the forgotten missive in consternation. He examined it for a couple moments and opened it. Then gave a pleased nod. "It's the results of some surveys I ordered at Gringotts" He explained.
She blinked surprise. "Surveys?"
He smiled a bit tiredly. "Yeah, the assessed status and value of some old family assets and properties." He agreed. He pulled out a highly detailed line drawing of Caer Whitewall and looked it over. The small craggy island was girded by a crumbling wall about it's shoreline, an equally dilapidated quay outside a small gatehouse. The fortress, what was left of it stood low but solid on the upper peak of the island. Harry could tell from the sketch that at one point its walls had indeed once been white.
Hermione gave a sort of strangled laugh. "You own a castle?" She asked.
He couldn't help it in the face of the slightly skeptical tone in her voice. "It's a very broken down castle. Look the only intact structure is this little hut here." he said pointing defensively.
Hermione shook her head smiling. Only Harry could assume learning your friend owned a castle, broken down or not, was a bad thing. "It's still a castle Harry," she chuckled.
He shrugged, "Well yeah, but what am I going to do with it? What am I going to do with any of it?" He asked uncertainly handing over the envelope. Hermione felt the inclination to whistle in appreciation of some of the photos and things he had handed her, but she refrained. "Well I guess that depends on what you see yourself using someday." She noted handing it back after quickly flipping through the pile. "You could at the very least get some use out of those boats. I'm sure someone would pay to rent their use." He looked doubtful but a thought occurred to her. Neurones firing off rapidly as she had a brainwave. "For example, there is an initiative which uses older cruise ships and converts them into mobile hospitals which travel the coast of Africa, they stop in ports and treat people for free and then move on to the next city, they have crews made up of volunteers. I'm sure you could modify or simply provide your boats for groups like those," she suggested a touch shyly. She always had had a weak spot for humanitarian causes. What did one call humanitarian aid for elves? She wondered.
Harry to her pleasure, didn't scoff, in fact he looked intrigued. He peered at the ships in his fleet, one was far to small for anything like that, being a good sized yacht, and one was a mid size freight ship, but the third was a sort of livestock vessel, with some extensive modifications he could see it looking a bit like a floating hospital. He wondered how much it would cost to make such a modification. If it was too much even for him, surely he could get some others to pitch in? "That sounds brilliant actually," he agreed, and the smile she sent him lit up the back yard. "See this is why I need you around, you always show me the right way forward. I can never go wrong if I keep listening to you," he teased lightly. She blushed slightly but smiled again.
"Thanks Harry, that's nice of you to say," She leaned forward again and pecked him on the cheek again before pushing to her feet. She didn't notice his stunned expression following the little kiss, nor the sad expression as she got up. "Now I better head inside and talk with mum and dad, I need to explain all that hullabaloo." She said ruefully.
Harry watched her go, for some reason, he'd never truly appreciated just how wonderful Hermione could be. When she wasn't terrifying him that was. He remembered she'd kissed him on the cheek once before is his previous life. It had been at the end of forth year if he remembered correctly. He'd forgotten just how good it felt. He had also forgotten the times when he'd stirred out of his seemingly unending funk long enough to notice Hermione wasn't bad looking. Like right now, he loved her smile, and the mischievous flash of her eyes. Some things he was noticing now for the first time. Like how lovely the shape of her hips was, and how much he liked the slight sway that they had when she walked. He cursed his previous younger self. He'd been damned blind, in more ways than one. He should have at least noticed things like that. He'd never even truly appreciated the most glaringly obvious of her positive features. She was loyal and brave yes, bloody hellfire when riled, as she had been just a few minutes before. But also kind, and caring, gentle and at times sweet. She had a dry wit which his previous more sophomoric self had failed to notice. Some criticized her for her crusade for Elven rights. Harry had too, if he was honest. Now looking at it, even if it was obvious the scope needed refining and redirection it spoke to just how selfless Hermione was. She saw a race of beings who were for all intents and purposes enslaved and immediately knew she had to do something about it. Her, not anyone else. Now she may have overshot the mark a bit, but that could be remedied, and he'd be happy to help her do so.
He never appreciated just how much he should have enjoyed assisting her in her various endeavours. She was always helping him with his, but whenever she asked for his help with hers, he'd been reluctant at best. Now however, things like that seemed like a wonderful way to spend the time, when not fighting insane magical psychopaths that was. Maybe something worth looking into doing on a more permanent basis once it was over? He could see him and Hermione working together for years to come, always on some new grand adventure, righting the worlds wrongs, hopefully not at the point of a wand. Funny wasn't it? Harry's adventures almost always resulted in spell fire. He much preferred Hermione's dreams in some ways, debates and legislation might be a touch boring at times, but at least people rarely died from them first hand.
A thought occurred to him that snuffed his smile. His adventures had cost the world a woman like Hermione. He remembered seeing her lying still in that manor house, eyes no longer twinkling or sparking. Just quiet and empty. Once again he remembered his conversation with himself upon his return to the land of the living. It didn't matter whether or not he made it, if he could only manage to make sure Hermione was safe? It would all be worth it. The world could afford to lose another warrior, it couldn't afford to lose its peacekeepers and humanitarians. Their weren't enough to go around as it was.
Authors Notes: Whoo! So I know that one reaction from Hermione will likely have you scratching your heads a little, but let me put it like this…Don't tell me you've never behaved out of character, or irrationally when you were under stress, doing and saying things that were not really you? That's what this was all about. Hermione was stressed and therefore reacted badly after drawing an insane conclusion.
This wasn't the intention when I wrote that section but I just thought of it now. There really is an organization which runs hospital ships off Africa and such, if you're interested I'm sure they're easy to look up. I believe the ships are called the "Mercy of Africa" or whatever the area they're working in is. If you want to donate to something like that I imagine they'd be grateful. And hey you never know maybe your future lies in volunteer work aboard one of those ships? Could be an adventure right?
Otherwise? All I can think of is to remind you all reviews are important, they fuel my cyber hamster heart. Which is to say my confidence and creativity. So please by all means Rate, Review, Comment, Message, send naughty photos (I'm kidding). But also please make predictions, discuss what you want to happen and why, ask questions! I love seeing that stuff.