After arriving back in Professor Dumbledore's office, Albus invited them through to his private Quarters, which were hidden behind a huge bookcase. "Minnie, take a seat and make yourself comfortable," suggested the headmaster. Albus then sat in a really large overstuffed winged back armchair, made from deer hide, while Minerva sat in the matching one opposite him. Albus then called the head house elf and asked for refreshments while they waited for Poppy to arrive from the Hogwarts hospital wing. A selection of sandwiches and cakes, along with a pitcher of Gillywater and bottle of Butterbeer, appeared on the coffee table. Minerva was just pouring herself a glass of the Gillywater when Poppy arrived in the headmaster's office; she made her way into where Albus and Minerva were seated, and took a seat.
"Here are the documents and scans itemising Harry's injuries," Poppy said as she handed them over to the headmaster.
"Thank you Poppy," Albus replied taking them and putting them in a pocket of his Robe.
"You're welcome Albus, I have some other information for you as well," Poppy said.
Minerva then poured a drink of Gillywater for Poppy while the Headmaster started to drink his Butterbeer.
Poppy picked up her glass, thanked Minerva, and after having a drink she looked at the others, and started telling them about what she had found, when she examined Harry Potter.
"The average wizard or witch has a magical core about one tenth of their physical size," explained Poppy. "Like muscles if you constantly exercise it, like you do Minnie, it will grow to about fifteen to twenty percent. Minnie yours is at twenty percent now and Albus yours sits at thirty five percent. As you are both adults, and are unlikely to increase the amount you exercise your magic, it will remain at that level."
Both the Headmaster and Minerva just nodded to Poppy in acknowledgement, but didn't interrupt her.
"On top of that, the amount of power you can access at any one time is also limited. The average wizard could for example, hold the patronus charm for about twenty minutes, before it would fail and they would need to rest. You I believe, Albus, could sustain it for about an hour; and after about four hours of constant magical use, you would be exhausted, requiring about twelve hours of sleep to fully recover."
"That sounds about right" commented the Headmaster.
"Harry Potter on the other hand, has a magical core that is about sixty percent of his physical size."
Both the headmaster and Minerva gasped at this statement.
"He could sustain a patronus for about 3 hours," continued Poppy, "and after nine hours of constant, and I do mean constant magical use, he would need to rest. In his case though he would only need to sleep for about five hours."
The others were looking at Poppy in total disbelief. "Are you sure about this Poppy," asked Albus. "That would make him the most powerful wizard since Merlin."
"I did the scans three times, so I'm absolutely positive Albus, not only that but it will only increase the more he uses it," answered Poppy.
They all remained quiet for a while, eating some of the food that was provided and finishing their drink. It also allowed them time to digest the information they had just received. Then it was Albus' turn to reveal what he had discovered.
"When Harry started school he didn't even know his name."
"How could he not know his name?" gasped Poppy, Minerva already knew this as she had seen it when she looked at his memories.
"When they called the roll for the first time," continued the headmaster, he didn't answer. The teacher then asked him why he hadn't answered his name, and he said he hadn't heard it yet. When she asked him what his name was, he answered," Albus paused and wiped tears from his eyes, "Freak."
It took quite some time before they could continue, as they were sobbing unashamedly. After they had recovered their composure Albus continued.
"Why the school never did anything about it I don't know, but that is something else we will need to address. Harry was beaten almost daily by his Aunt and Uncle, and whenever his uncle's sister visited them, she would set her dog onto him. They even had Harry's cousin Dudley, beat him."
"How could they do something like that?" asked Poppy, "he was their nephew for goodness sake!" she exclaimed.
"I know Poppy, I know. They also had Harry cook their food, clean the house and fetch and carry after his cousin. When he wasn't working for them he was locked in the cupboard under the stairs. They treated him worse than the Malfoy's treat their house elf."
"Disgusting people!" Minerva exclaimed.
"He didn't even get any respite at school, as his cousin would bully him even there, and he would also beat anyone who tried to make friends with Harry. That is when he reached out with his mind and found Hermione. She attended a private school in London and because she is extremely intelligent and driven, she was picked on and bullied by the other children. She reached out with her mind as well; two lonely children reached out and found each other. Now their minds appear to be linked.
By this time all of them were openly crying, and an extremely remorseful Albus was wishing he had never placed Harry with those despicable people.
After they had calmed down, Albus informed the others that, Minerva and he would be going to the Staines' Police Station, to sort out the Dursleys. He then suggested that they all get dressed into formal robes, as they would then proceed to the Granger's residence at 5:30 and asked Poppy if she would meet them there. She could then scan Hermione, to see if her magical core was like Harry's. They could also meet her parents and introduce them to the magical world, albeit a year earlier than normal.
They met up again about fifteen minutes later.
"What do you have in mind for the Dursleys?" asked Minerva.
"I will make the punishment fit the crime," replied Albus. "They will live everything that they put Harry through, for the rest of their miserable lives."
Minerva looked at him, and raising one eyebrow asked. "What about the boy?"
"Ozhar" Albus called out.
Ozhar the Hogwarts Head Elf popped in and bowing asked "What can Ozhar be doing for Headmaster?"
"We need you to change some one into a house elf for us Ozhar" said the Headmaster.
A rather startled Minerva looked at Albus. "They can change people into house elves?"
"Oh yes, the Marauders had him do it to Snape for a weekend once in their 5th year," Laughed Albus "and remember that rather obnoxious Defence against the Dark Arts (DADA) Professor that vanished that same year, well, they caught Ozhar changing him into an elf and promised they wouldn't say anything, providing of course, that he change Snape for them."
"I'm not even going to ask if the obnoxious prat of a professor is still down there," said Minerva, with a wicked glint in her eye and a smirk on her face.
"Will you do this for us?" asked Albus. "You can give him the toilets to clean."
"Yes master we could always use more help." Ozhar replied rather excitedly.
Albus then contacted Arabella Figg and let her know that Harry was going to be alright, and was in St Mungo's. He then put in a floo call to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement (DMLE), to let them know that he was going to be using magic in front of Muggles and that he would ensure that they didn't remember anything. Albus, Minerva, and Ozhar then apparated directly into the Staines' Police Station.
With the judicial application of a little magic, they picked up Dudley and went to the cells to meet with the three elder Dursley's.
"Good afternoon Vernon, Petunia and I take it that, that is Marge. You haven't been very nice to Harry have you?" said Albus in an ice cold voice. "Not a smart way to treat a Wizard you know."
The three adult Dursleys were cowering in the corner of their cells panic stricken, as they looked on the three magic folk before them. They started shaking uncontrollably, the noises and smells coming from the three of them was testament to the terror they were feeling.
Minerva looked on them in total disgust "what revolting people, let's get this over with, so we can get out of their presence."
"I, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, find you all guilty of torturing a minor in your care. I find you guilty of attempted murder of that minor. You are going to be punished for what you did to Harry Potter. You three, and your fat lump of a son here, treated him as a slave and beat him near to death," said an extremely angry Albus Dumbledore. His long hair was standing out and the magic rippling off of him was causing the lights to flicker and static was discharging from him, to the light fittings and iron bars of their cells. "Ozhar, change the boy and take him to Hogwarts, where he will be cleaning the toilets and doing any other dirty job for the rest of his life, he commanded."
Ozhar snapped his fingers, and Dudley Dursley started to shrink, his hair fell out, and the top of his head flattened. His eyes got larger, and sank more into his smaller face. His nose grew long and sharp and his ears became long and floppy, looking a bit like bat wings. His arms and legs became stick like and his skin became all wrinkled like old parchment. All through this process Dudley was shrieking, as it was a rather painful transmogrification. Dudley, now called Duddy, the house elf, stood there with his clothes around his knees, as they were much too big for him. He was now only 2 feet tall, and rather skinny. Ozhar handed Dudley a dirty tea towel and told him to put it on then clicked his fingers and they both vanished to Hogwarts.
The three older Dursleys were crying hysterically, and begging to be given another chance.
"As for you three miserable excuses for human beings," growled Albus. You are going to be given the memories of every bad thing you ever did to Harry, and you will re-live them, over and over again, for the rest of your lives. You will feel all his pain, as if it was happening to you in the present." Albus then took a large bottle of memories from his robe, dipping his wand into it, he extracted the memories and pointing his wand commanded, "Vivete Memorias Sentite Dolorem," (live memories think of pain) a sickly green light then engulfed the three Dursley and they collapsed to the floor.
The two wizards watched for several seconds as the Dursleys screamed and writhed in agony on the floor of their cell.
Albus and Minerva then turned, and went back to the reception area, where they met up with DCI Davies. Albus handed him the documents that they had received from St Mungo's, they then thanked him for his help and left.
Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall pulled up outside 10 Sibella Rd in Lambeth in a Black Limousine, which they had organised through the Ministry of Magic. They had just gotten out of the car when there was a loud bang and the knight bus pulled up behind them and Madame Pomfrey staggered out.
"Subtle entrance there Poppy," chuckled the headmaster.
"You certainly know how to enter with a bang," said a smirking Minerva.
"That's the last time I'm going on that, that stupid contraption. Do you know they have tables on it, with tea and scones? The damn stuff goes flying everywhere when they turn or stop," huffed the Hogwarts Medi-Witch, "and I'll treat your comments with the contempt they deserve," said Poppy not quite able to hide her smile.
The three of them then proceeded along the path through the beautiful front garden; there were shrubs and small trees on both sides, giving the house a shaded and secluded aspect. It was exactly 5:30pm, when Albus knocked on the door of the mid Victorian detached house, which was Hermione's home.
A very attractive thirty three year old Mrs Granger answered the door. She was wearing a nice pair of dark blue tailored slacks, with a cornflower blue v necked sweater, she had just a hint of cleavage showing. Her shoulder length chocolate brown hair was swept back off her face and she had delicate pearl drop earrings to finish the effect.
"Good afternoon, may I help you," she enquired politely, as she looked upon three of the most bizarrely dressed people she had ever seen.
Professor Dumbledore was wearing a royal blue robe, with silver stars and golden moons all over it. His long white beard was tied up in a hair tie. Professor McGonagall had on a long black dress with a black professorial robe over the top, but what really caught the eye was the black witches' hat she was wearing. The good Dr's outfit was the same as Professor McGonagall''s only crimson.
"Good afternoon, I am Professor Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This is Professor Minerva McGonagall the Deputy Headmistress and Madame Poppy Pomfrey, our Medi-Witch. Could we come in and have a moment of your time please."
"Mum, Mum, these are the people I was telling you about. Let them in mum it's about Harry, please mum let them in," said a very excited Hermione as she bounced up and down, tugging on her mother's arm.
"Hermione, calm down, of course I'll let them in," said Emma Granger in a calming voice. "Now why don't you go and fetch your father, while I show these good people into the drawing room."
Hermione raced of shouting, "Dad, Dad, come quick the witches from Hogwarts are here, Dad, Dad, where are you."
"I'm coming Hermione, I'm coming, hold your horses girl," chuckled Dan Granger.
Emma lead the three visitors, into the tastefully decorated drawing room, it had a polished Canadian maple floor, with off white walls. There was a huge fire place, in the middle of the wall, directly opposite the entrance, where a large ornate gold framed mirror hung over the mantelpiece. To the right of the door was a grand piano, and in front of the fire was a conversation area with four, extremely comfortable looking arm chairs, arranged around a mahogany coffee table. On either side of the fire place were floor to ceiling book shelves, filled with a countless variety of what appeared to be very well read books.
"Please, make yourselves comfortable, while Dan gets an extra chair," said Emma as she indicated for them to be seated.
"Don't go to any trouble on our account," said Albus who, with a quick flick of his wand, which just seemed to appear in his hand, conjured two more chairs, exact replicas of the others. There now we can all take a seat.
Emma and Dan Granger just flopped dumbfounded into their seats, while Hermione bounced up and down in excitement. "Do some more, do some more," she squealed, as her hair stood out on end and the lights started to flicker, as magic rippled off of her.
Poppy looked at the Mr and Mrs Granger and asked. "Do you mind if I do a quick diagnostic check on Hermione please, it won't hurt her in the least?"
The three Grangers shared a look, and then Dan nodded his approval.
Poppy took out her wand, and while muttering something under her breath, she moved it in a complex pattern. Then looking over to Albus and Minerva she said, with a calm that belied the excitement she was feeling, "if I was to hazard a guess, her magical core is an exact match to Harry's."
Dan Granger looked at the three witches opposite and asked, "What does that mean for Hermione?"
"It means Mr Granger, that Hermione is a very powerful witch, replied Albus. If I was to be honest, Hermione and Harry are the most powerful magicals since the last Merlin, over seven hundred years ago. They might even be the most powerful since the first Merlin, nearly two thousand years ago, as they still have a lot of growing to do."
Hermione looked at the adults and asked, "Does that mean I can go to Hogwarts?"
"It means you will get an invitation, yes, but as to whether you can go or not, that is a question best asked of your parents," Minerva replied. "As you are only 10, you won't get your invitation until next year."
Hermione looked to her parents and raised an eyebrow in silent question.
Emma recovering quicker than her husband confirmed that she could indeed go, providing that the school checked out properly.
Once Minerva and Poppy had finished the Headmaster spoke up. "Did Hermione speak to you about what happened earlier today?"
"She did mention something about some boy who was beaten and is in hospital somewhere," Dan answered. "We just thought it was her imaginary friend which she always talks about."
"His name is Harry Potter and I'm afraid he is not imaginary" Albus explained. "He is currently in St Mungo's Hospital, where he is recovering from a severe beating. He had multiple broken bones as well as internal injuries; it was so severe in fact that he nearly died. Harry is an orphan; his parents were murdered by a dark Lord about eight and a half years ago. He was placed with his mother's sister and her family, as they were his only known relatives. Unfortunately they are the ones that beat him and they have since been arrested."
Hermione's parents looked at her and apologised for not believing that Harry was real, after she gave both of them a hug, she then went and sat on her dad's lap, she always liked to sit with him and have cuddles.
"We have a method of looking at people's memories," continued the Headmaster, "while I was viewing Harry's, I saw Hermione there in his mind. To say I was surprised would be an understatement. I asked her if it would be alright for me to check her memories today, so I could compare them to Harry's. She agreed so now I am asking your permission. Would you mind if I look at Hermione's memories of Harry?
Providing that you don't hurt her, then that will be alright," Emma stipulated and Dan agreed.
"Thank you and I assure you that it will not hurt her in the slightest." Albus then turned to Hermione, "look into my eyes Hermione," and he then flicked his wand and commanded, "Legilimens".
Hermione felt a slight pressure behind the eyes as professor Dumbledore entered her mind.
This time professor Dumbledore was not surprised to see another presence and said "hello Harry how are you feeling."
"Not to bad professor and how are you."
"I am well Harry; I have just come to have a look to see if Hermione's memories of your meeting of the minds are the same as yours. We might bring Hermione and her parents to see you tonight if they agree Harry. Would you like that?
"Yes please professor, I would love to meet her," Harry said excitedly.
"In that case I'll ask them when I finish with this." The headmaster then looked through Hermione's memories and noticed that for all intents and purposes they were the same, just from a different perspective. Albus then withdrew from Hermione's mind.
"Are you alright Hermione?" the headmaster asked after withdrawing from her mind.
"Yes thank you professor," she responded.
"Hermione is Harry always there or did you just call him after we arrived?" Albus asked.
"We don't have to keep it open all the time professor but it is more convenient, so we only tend to shut it down when we need privacy, for bathing etc."
"Thanks Hermione that is very interesting, this is the first case of a telepathic link that I have heard of in all my one hundred and fifty years." Albus thought for a bit then added, "Though it seems much deeper than mere telepathy. Do you only hear each other's thoughts?" He asked.
"No professor we see, hear, smell, taste and feel what the other does. Sort of like when you are walking and thinking of something else, you know how you can see what you are thinking about but still see what you are looking at."
"Let me get this straight," said Hermione's Mum. "You felt the pain when Harry was beaten."
"It was more like the echo of the pain, than actually feeling it but anyway Harry would always break the link so I wouldn't get too upset."
"He could do that, even though he was being beaten? He would still think to protect you?" Her father asked.
"Yes dad, Harry would never hurt me."
"Mr and Mrs Granger, I was wondering if you would like to come to St Mungo's Hospital and meet Harry?" The headmaster asked. "It would also enable Hermione and Harry to meet face to face." He added.
Dan & Emma looked at each other and the hopeful look on Hermione's face.
"We would love to meet him," agreed Emma and Dan together.
"Um... professor," Hermione said "did you say you were one hundred and fifty years old?" she asked.
"Yes Hermione I was born on the Forth of August 1837 so I will be one hundred and fifty three in just a few days," he answered. "Witches and wizards tend to live a lot longer than the average non magical person."
Albus then took a piece of cord out of his pocket, tapped it with his wand and said "Portus." He asked them to all hang on to the cord and not let go. He placed one of his hands over Hermione's so she couldn't let go accidentally, they all felt a pull behind their navels and vanished from the Grangers home to appear in the foyer of St Mungo's.
"That was so cool," Hermione said "and much faster than having to drive," she added.
"And fun too," chuckled her father.
The trio from Hogwarts smiled at this and then professor Dumbledore led them to Harry's room.
Hermione rushed up to Harry and hugged him. "Harry it's so good to finally meet you face to face," she said.
"Hi Hermione, you look pretty," Harry said with a big grin on his face, while hugging her back.
"This is my mum and dad Harry; mum, dad this is my Harry," Hermione said, she then blushed as she realised what she had said.
"Hello Mr and Mrs Granger," Harry said holding out his hand.
"Hello Harry," Mr and Mrs Granger replied, taking his hand and giving it a gentle shake.
Minerva McGonagall looked at Harry's bed and asked. "Who changed your bed for you Harry?"
"I did," Harry said, "I saw how professor Dumbledore did it so I tried as my bed was hard and making my bum sore."
Then Hermione moved her hand and conjured five chairs, "now we can all sit down," she said as she climbed on the bed and sat with Harry.
The adults just stood there with their mouths literally hanging open, doing fish imitations.
"Her...Hermione," Professor Dumbledore stuttered, "how did you do that?"
"I just copied you professor, like Harry did with the bed."
"But how did you know what to do? How did you do it without a wand?"
"When you were in our minds professor, we saw how you did it. You just concentrated on you magic and what you wanted and it happened. We just did the same thing. We concentrated on our magic and on what we wanted and sort of pushed and it happened."
The two children then just sat on the bed holding hands and had silent conversations, while the adults just looked on in amazement.
"Professor Dumbledore?" Harry asked.
"Yes Harry."
"Why do the people in the other beds keep asking to be let out?"
"What do you mean Harry? Professor Dumbledore asked, he looked around at the other patients in the ward, only to realise that they were his old friends Frank and Alice Longbottom.
While he was doing this he noticed Augusta and her grandson Neville enter, he motioned them to stop and be quiet.
"The man in the next bed and the woman in the bed next to him, professor they keep asking to be let out," Harry answered.
"I can hear them too," Hermione added.
Poppy stood up and went over to Harry and Hermione. "Do you think you can reach out to them with your mind and talk to them? She asked. The man is Frank Longbottom and the lady is his wife, Alice."
Harry decided that he would reach out to Mr Longbottom, and Hermione would reach out to Mrs Longbottom.
********** Harry's POV **********
Harry reached out with his mind and saw Frank Longbottom in a gold cage. "Mr Longbottom can I help you?" Harry asked.
"Can you get me out of this cage please?" He answered.
"I will try," said Harry, he then concentrated on his magic and on making the cage disappear and pushed, nothing much seemed to happen, it just sort of dimmed a little. He concentrated on his magic and on making the cage disappear again then pushed harder, there was a bright white flash of light and the cage vanished. "There you go sir, the cage is gone," Harry said. Harry then withdrew his mind from Frank Longbottom's mind.
******* Hermione's POV *******
Hermione saw what Harry did and reached out with her mind and entered Alice's. "Mrs Longbottom, I'm Hermione Granger and I've come to help," she said as she looked upon the gold cage that Alice was trapped in. She then concentrated on her magic and on making the cage disappear, she then pushed and there was a blinding flash of white light, the cage disappeared and she gave Mrs Longbottom a mental hug, then withdrew from her mind.
************* End POV ****************
The two children then looked at the others and told them what had happened.
Madame Pomfrey then went over to examine the Longbottoms, They're awake she said and pushed the emergency call button. Augusta and Neville came rushing to Frank and Alice's beds, where Neville burst out crying and hugged his mum and Augusta stroked her son Frank's hair and with tears rolling down her cheeks said, "Welcome back son, it's been a long time." She looked over at Harry and Hermione and said "Thank you for bringing my family back. What are your names?"
"I'm Harry Potter and this is Hermione Granger," answered Harry.
Augusta Longbottom then raised her wand and said "The Longbottom family is now aligned with the Potter and Granger families; we also acknowledge a life debt to both Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. Thank you again," she said then focused her attention back on her son and daughter in law.
Nurse Amanda Coldfingers rushed into the ward to see what the problem was, upon seeing that the Longbottoms were awake she gave them a quick scan to make sure they were stable and then went to get the Night shift Dr.
Madame Pomfrey gave Harry and Hermione a scan to make sure they were alright. She then scanned Harry's magical core, she pulled an image of it up and hung it in the air and she then did the same to Hermione and superimposed her image over top of Harry's. Harry, the Grangers and both professors looked on as she explained what they were seeing.
"As you can see, both magical cores are exactly the same, except for the colour of the border. Harry's is blue while Hermione's is pink but that's just the difference in their sex. Bear in mind though Harry has been suffering from malnutrition, and his growth has been stunted as a result. I would expect that as he grows his core would grow to be a little larger than Hermione's.
Albus stood up and said to the others. "I think it's time we left, so that Harry can get some sleep. Unfortunately Minerva and I will be unable to accompany you home, so I will make you a reusable portkey, that way you can come back and visit Harry. I'll set it for 6:30pm; all you will have to do is hold it and it will bring you here. If you hold it at 7:30pm it will take you home again. Would it be alright for Minerva and I come over on Saturday, at about 3:00pm?" He asked.
"Thank you headmaster for everything you have done and yes, we will look forward to seeing you on Saturday," Dan replied.
Poppy told them that she would stay and explain to the healer, what had happened with the Longbottoms.
Hermione gave Harry a hug and a peck on the cheek, "see you tomorrow Harry."
"Ok Hermione, see you tomorrow and thanks for coming."
She then followed the others out of the room, waving goodbye as she left.
A/N Thank you for all the reviews, please keep sending them in. Raven Spotter.