HAPPY EASTER!

Chapter 22: Attack of the Heart

"Another attack was last night-"

"-Hogsmeade!"

"He's getting closer to the school!"

"If he hasn't attacked before why would he now?"

"Maybe he found a way to get in?"

Harry tightened his grip on the book he was carrying as he ignored all the chatter in the hallways as he made his way outside. He had no access to a newspaper (he would usually just read Hermione's copy if he wanted to see it) but what people were saying gave him enough clues. Voldemort was going to attack the school, but if he was so close then why didn't Harry feel anything? Normally he would be in the Hospital Wing or something in pain from his scar. He hadn't felt anything.

"No one is allowed outside, Mr. Hedwig. Don't you pay attention to the Daily Prophet?" One of the professors Harry didn't recognize told him. Obviously Dumbledore had told the staff about him so they wouldn't attack him or something odd like that. He almost wished he hadn't.

"With all due respect, Professor, you have no control over me." Harry replied coolly. He hated staying inside when it was such a beautiful day like it was today.

"But the Headmaster does, and I am sure he will not want you wandering around where it is dangerous either." The brown-haired man replied. "Now turn around." With a glare Harry turned around and headed for the library.

He didn't think he'd ever spent so much time in the library as he was today and yesterday. Hermione seemed to think he would be the only person to spend more time in there then her. Even Remus had commented on how he spent his time. And somehow, Harry had managed to avoid talking to them (except a few words to Remus) while they talked. He had a strong feeling that the next time they decided to 'consequently' see him in the library they would be together. Perhaps it was because they are some of the lesser affected in the war that they had changed so little.

"Bloody hell Hermione!" Ron said loudly that night in the Gryffindor common room. Harry was sitting at a small table in the corner of the room while his two best friends and Malfoy sat in the armchairs by the fire. It hurt, to see Malfoy there like they had just replaced him; but then Harry reminded himself that he didn't exist, that it wasn't their fault. They didn't know. But he knew.

"Oh shut up Ron!" Hermione yelled, a slamming sound was heard from where they were and Harry gave a wince. Even here Ron and Hermione fought. Hermione stormed over to where Harry sat and sat forcefully down next to him. "The nerve of him!" She said angrily. Apparently the burette hadn't quite realized who she was sitting with. "Oh Harry, I'm sorry. Were you doing something?" Harry shook his head and closed his book. As much as he hated talking to the witch when she didn't know him, he couldn't leave Hermione alone after a fight with Ron.

"What were you fighting about?" Harry said neutrally.

"He was making fun of me because I was working on homework again! He said I should be more worried about You-Know-Who then Slughorn's next test!" She said furiously. "I told him it wouldn't help anyone if I was worried about that because it's not like I could do anything! I would if I could, but its people like Professor Dumbledore that protect the school and fight You-Know-Who." There it was: the difference between this Hermione and the Hermione he knew.

"Why don't you call him Voldemort?" Harry asked quietly. Hermione gave him a look of utter surprise. She had clearly never thought of such an idea. "A very smart girl once told me that fear of the name only increases fear of the thing itself. That's what Voldemort wants, people's fear."

"That is quite a girl; I wish I could meet her." If only he could tell. Hermione seemed to calm down and Harry actually enjoyed himself as they spent the next two hours talking. The conversation was kept light, but it was still nice.

As it got later and Harry was about to go to bed for the night Hermione asked him a strange question: "Do you want to come to defense with me tomorrow?"

Harry gave her a look of surprise. "Huh?" His eyebrows rose into his long bangs.

"Oh, well, you don't seem to do much all day and even the Library can get boring after a while; I should know. We have Defense first, and if Ron doesn't apologize…. Oh but it's not like I just don't want to be alone!" She added quickly. "I feel something between us, like I knew you from somewhere." Harry looked down into his lap. "Bit that's not possible, is it?" Her eyes were bright with interest. She had leaned slightly over the table, so into the conversation. "I mean, I've never met you before, I would remember you. Harry, please say something." She said, her voice filled with concern.

"I-I don't remember meeting you anywhere either." He said finally, still not looking her in the eye. "And I would- I would- well it's not possible. I'm sorry Hermione; I'll go to class tomorrow with you. Meet me down here at eight thirty, I'm going to bed." With that Harry ran up to the dorm before Hermione could utter a word.

As he climbed into bed Harry wondered how long he would be able to keep this up. This strange world he was in really wasn't that different from his own. Hermione was exactly like she was when she had known him, and in some ways it scared him.

He had to talk to Dumbledore.

…

"That was a very interesting lesson, don't you think so Harry?" Hermione said as they left the classroom. A few people behind them Malfoy and Ron were glaring at him, he could feel it. He hated that Ron hated him; he was supposed to be Harry's best friend.

"Yeah it wasn't too bad." They hadn't done much in the class, only learned about a few dark creatures, some of which Harry had already learned about. "I'm sorry, but I have to go talk to the Headmaster. I'll see you later?"

"Oh, alright then." Hermione said, downcast. "I have potions now, but after that I'm free. I'll see you then?" Harry nodded and waved goodbye to his old friend as he turned the corner.

"You could be putting Miss Granger in danger, surely you know that?" Harry sighed. He had just told Dumbledore that he wanted to tell Hermione who he really was and what had really happened. He hadn't really thought about what it would do to Hermione.

"But if I don't tell her I'm going to burst!" He cried, throwing his arms into the air. "Remus knows something's up as well, Hermione could help me to steer him away." Harry added for a good reason.

Dumbledore sighed. "You are old enough to be able to decide what to do in situations like these. If you want to tell her I will not stop you, I only ask that you take responsibility for the actions that you take."

"I would never let anything happen to Hermione." Harry said as he stood up."

"You can not always control everything that happens Harry, just remember that." Dumbledore reminded him as Harry left his office.

"Hermione, let's go down to the kitchens, I need to talk to you." Harry said, pulling the burette's arm. He had come into the common room not long after the start of Hermione's time off only to find the girl doing what she always did, reading. He didn't see Malfoy or Ron in the common room so he couldn't be sure if they had made up or not.

"Harry, calm down," Hermione said, even as she stood up. "I'm not really that hungry, it's not that late."

"It's really important Hermione, please." Harry begged.

A small smile graced her lips. "I suppose we could go down."

They walked slowly down the halls; the excitement Harry had felt a few minutes ago was gone, replaced with worry and nervousness. He hadn't really thought about what Hermione would say. She was a rational person; would she think he was crazy? Or would she know he was telling the truth? He had Dumbledore on his side, but the old man could never fully fit into the 'sane' category. He was going to be doomed.

"So…Harry, you said you needed to tell me something?" Hermione seemed almost as nervous as Harry did, but he couldn't figure out why.

He took a deep sigh and then started talking. "James is my dad." Hermione gasped and her eyes grew wide. "He came from the past, and –well, it's kind of complicated. They came and one of my friends found them, but that was in the beginning of the school year."

"But Harry, that doesn't make any sense. They came here when you said, but you weren't here-"

"That's exactly what I mean; Dumbledore told me there was a shift in the timeline because they've been in this time for too long, so I don't seem to exist anymore."

"Oh-oh Harry," Hermione said, her hands covering her mouth.

"It's ok, really, but that's why I was avoiding you for so long, because we're really best friends. You, Ron, and I."

"What about Draco? You don't seem to like him much, but I guess that explains why you called him Malfoy."

Harry nodded. "Malfoys are usually Slytherins, you know that." Hermione nodded as well. "We don't get along, at all."

Suddenly, Hermione threw her arms around Harry and buried her face into his shoulder. "I was so worried, Harry! Ron and Draco- we talked in potions- they thought you were some dark wizard. James and Sirius agree with them, they say that's why you look like James and why you seem to know so much about us! I'm so glad to know you're not a dark wizard, I was scared."

"But I don't understand, if they all though I was some dark wizard then why were you hanging out with me? I could have hurt you if I had been! You're smart Hermione, and that was dumb." Harry said sternly.

"But I knew, somehow I knew you weren't. I could just feel it, I can't explain it." She said weakly. "I'm sorry about all of this, I really am. Ron and the others would never believe you, but I do. I'll stay with you whenever I can, Ron and Draco can stay mad a me if they want!" Harry laughed a bit.

"Thanks Hermione." He said as they broke apart and headed to the kitchens.

…

Harry ran his index finger along the books in the restricted section of the library. He was skimming the titles for something interesting to read, and figured it might as well be where he usually couldn't go. Harry paused as he read the title: 'The Tale of Debelto', it had no author. Feeling compelled by the book, Harry took it from the shelf and opened it slowly.

He was about to read when the ground started to shake. He didn't think earthquakes could happen at Hogwarts, but apparently they did. Harry gripped the book tightly and took out his wand. The books around his started to fall, he tried to dodge them, but one large book from a higher shelf came down and knocked him on the head. Harry collapsed on the floor, the book and his wand still in his arms.