Chapter 7 The "Dark" One and Others
Harry was nervous about being alone with Hermione. But the first night she slept with him in his bed nothing happened. It was just like back at #4 Privet Drive.
The next night again it was like it was over the summer. They went through the next day holding hands, talking, and went out on a warmer than normal day to sit under a tree and look across the lake. It was paradise for Harry. No one from Slytherin had stayed while only a few Hufflepuff and one Ravenclaw had stayed.
In the library they were reading when Harry remembered the time he caught Malfoy. "Wait a minute Hermione." She looked up wondering if something was happening. "Malfoy didn't have a date at the Yule Ball, Monica stayed in the Common Room with Ginny. Devin didn't have a date because Ginny said no so he was there. Is Ginny covering for Malfoy? Is that what you saw!? Malfoy and Monica? What the hell is wrong with her?" Hermione started to laugh.
"No no no not Malfoy you goof. Monica would never get with him. She is with someone we know but doesn't want people to know.
"Alright then what did you see? Who was she with?" Harry couldn't get his finger on it and it annoyed him. "Unless it is a Slytherin I don't get what the big deal it.
Hermione sighs in frustration. "It isn't any of your business." Hermione grabbed Harry's hand and took him back to the Gryffindor Common Room taking him up to his dorm room. "Hermione what are we doing?" Hermione pushed him on his bed.
"If you don't stop bugging me about Monica I'll distract you." She lies on top of him kissing him.
The two kiss and start doing more when Harry pushes her away. "Hermione we shouldn't do anything like, I mean, I don't…" She smiled.
"It's ok Harry there are many other things we can do without doing that." She continues to kiss him as her hands explore.
The two are oblivious to every thing around them when the voice warns Harry of an intruder. "A dangerous wizard is coming." Harry pushes Hermione off trying to find his wand.
"What was that for Harry!"
"Shut up Hermione a Death Eater is coming." Hearing Death Eater Hermione fixes her top and then gets her wand out. "Hide under my cloak. If he doesn't see you maybe you can hit him from behind." Harry went under his bed with his wand waiting for the Death Eater while Hermione got his cloak on. He waited for what seemed like an eternity when a large black dog walked in. "Dangerous? Sirius isn't really dangerous." Harry rolled out from under his bed. "What are you doing here Sirius? What if Snape caught you?" Sirius changed back into himself.
"Harry I am not the only wizard who becomes a black dog. What if I had been a Death Eater? By the way Hermione come on out." Hermione appeared from behind the cloak.
"Hi Sirius." She was blushing bright red.
"Don't worry about Snape he is of the same Order I am. He may not like me but he knows the truth now." Sirius motions to Hermione.
Hermione walka over next to Harry. "It is still dangerous. You are considered a criminal by just about everyone in the wizarding community."
"I am careful."
"I hope so. Why are you here?"
"Because I wanted to see Harry during the holiday. I'm sure he hasn't been with real family during the holidays for a long time."
"It is still dangerous. If you get caught there will be a lot of questions asked."
Sirius gets in her face. "I have some for you Hermione. Last year you were with Krum now you are with Harry. You think since Voldemort is back you better show Harry a good time before he dies? I heard you were friends before but you break up with one famous wizard for another."
Hermione couldn't stop herself pointing her wand at Sirius. "Shut up! It isn't any thing like that. I didn't even know about Harry until I met him on the train!" Sirius backs away.
"Well did I hit something there? I may not be his father but he is my son and I am going to protect him from Death Eaters and others."
"Sirius stop! She was my friend because she liked me not because I was famous. She never heard of me until she was eleven." Harry was enraged, how could Sirius talk about her like this? "She's right this is dangerous. What if the Ministry catches you?"
"And where will they put me? The Dementors went to Voldemort so Azkaban is no more. I'm sorry if you feel that I have stepped over some line but you are my son and I love you. I won't see you fall for the first girl to show you some attention."
"She isn't! She is probably one of the few who doesn't care I'm the Famous Harry Potter." Harry had his wand pointed inches away from his God Father's face. "Last year when I was Triwizard Tournament the only reason I had some one to go with to the Yule Ball was because I was famous. Hermione doesn't care though!"
This was not going how Sirius had planned it. He didn't think Harry would still be with Hermione, a girl he didn't really trust. Sure she helped him escape and kept his secret but Harry told him what she had done. She kept Harry from stopping Peter from escaping. Kept Peter free so he would still be on the run. How could she love Harry if she did something so horrible to Harry's God Father? "Fine you love her, she loves you, you're all one big happy couple for now." The two teen wizards lower their wands.. "I came here hoping I could talk to you but if you'd rather I leave."
"No Sirius don't leave just don't say anything else about Hermione."
"Truce. I came here because there is someone working for the Death Eaters at this school. Ginny wasn't the only student to be put under the Imperius Curse this year." Sirius sat down on an unused bed. "Miss Chang had been fighting the curse for the first part of the year. She tried to fight it and couldn't. She tried starving herself to make her body to weak to follow an order. That's when Ginny was used. They tried to send Cho on you and get her close to you but you rejected her. They had trouble controlling her even if she couldn't throw the spell off since she was so weak smart girl that Cho girl is." Hermione doesn't like the look Sirius sent Harry but keeps quiet.
"How come we didn't know until now?"
"Miss Chang had her memories manipulated. Her mother noticed some thing was wrong and sent her to St. Mungo's. That's when they discovered what had happened."
"That's terrible. Who knows who else could be under the Imperius Curse."
"Exactly Harry." Sirius puts a hand on Harry's shoulder. "So far all the ones put under this curse have been women." He glared at Hermione. "You can't trust any of them. Cho and Ginny weren't the only ones a Pansy Parkinson was cursed also but had not done anything to you. She said she was given strange orders we think was made to separate her from your enemy Draco. She might have been a fall back plan."
"Who's we?"
"The Order. We fight Voldemort with spies to disrupt attacks being planned. We also try to protect the targets of his wrath like you. As I said no woman can be trusted the Death Eaters are trying to use your hormones against you Harry. For all you know Hermione could be under the Curse even as we speak or be the Death Eater herself. Maybe Ron wasn't wrong." At this both Harry and Hermione had raise their wands again.
"Don't you dare speak to us about Ron. He is our friend and never wanted to hurt us!" They said in unison. "And Hermione isn't a Death Eater she doesn't have the Dark Mark." Sirius laughed sarcastically.
"Do you really think Voldemort is that stupid? Of course she wouldn't have it or she would be a suspect! She let Peter go! What if this was Voldemort's plan the whole time? We have spies near him but what if he has one near you? That would be why she let Peter go!" Sirius points at Hermione. "She could be using you for Voldemort!"
"I told you not to talk about Hermione that way, LEAVE!" Sirius turned to leave stopping to give Harry one last warning.
"I am telling you Harry she can't be trusted. If she was captured she would give you up in a heart beat. She doesn't love you she loves the Famous Harry Potter." Harry was going to hit Sirius with a Stupefy but Hermione held him back since Sirius was leaving.
Sitting back on Harry's bed Hermione tried to calm Harry down. "It's ok Harry he didn't mean it. He doesn't have any kids does he? You are all he has left from your mom and dad and he loves you more than anyone else alive. You are his son you heard him and he wants to protect you. What do you think would have happened if it was my dad who walked in on us?" Hermione thinking of her parents made her worry. She hadn't seen them since the attack .
"I guess. I don't know your father very well." Hermione chuckled.
"Exactly Harry parents are supposed to be protective of their children even when they aren't kids anymore. As my Mother always says, 'No matter how old you get I will always be your Mother.', and that is true." They laid down not doing anything else.
"Sirius shouldn't have talked about you that way."
"He doesn't trust me but I think he is letting stress get to him. He is seeing Death Eaters every where like Ron was."
"If any one accuses you of being a Death Eater they are dealing with a lot more than stress." The two snuggle together enjoying their alone time.
Harry awoke before dawn with a pain coming from his scar. He had seen Voldemort with something that glowed a deep dark blue. Harry looked at Hermione who was still asleep remembering what had happened the day before with Sirius. As much as he hated Sirius right then he was glad Sirius had showed up.
Lying there the sun started to come up casting a glow on Hermione making her skin shine more beautifully then he could imagine. He started to run his hand up and down her arm waking her up. "Good morning Honey I can't let you sleep all morning can I? We can go running in the Great Hall, a few laps there should help you wake up." She rolled over on top of him.
"I can think of another way to wake up." Harry started to protest but Hermione rolled off the other side. "Don't worry Harry I was just messing with you."
"Very funny." Harry felt uncomfortable with Hermione's joke.
"Sorry Harry I knew you would like that." She walks over to the door. "I've got to get changed for running."
"Same here." She leaves as Harry changes. The last thing he put on was his ring which immediately changed from blue to blue and red.
After running twenty laps they sat down to rest. "Harry I was trying to research these rings. Why they change colors like that and why we can sometimes hear each others thoughts."
"And?"
"Nothing Harry. In all the books I found these rings don't exist." Harry started rubbing his ring with his thumb.
"Hermione, think of Hermione, I love her."
"Harry? You just said 'Think of Hermione' using the ring right?" Harry noddedl. "Well they allow the owners to communicate I think. But not all of our thoughts. I think you were really trying to talk to me but you had to think about me hard to get that through."
"Yes, I have to think I love you and how great you are." Hermione tried to think back with no luck. "Honey rub the ring with your thumb when you do it." Hermione tried again rubbing her ring.
"I love you too Harry." She looked up at Harry.
"Yep you did it Honey. I wonder why that ghost told Monica to give me these and the gold or the book. Why me of all people?" Hermione shrugged her shoulders eating, rubbing her ring.
"I think Monica said something about death changing him. Maybe he was not a nice person when he was alive and decided to give it to the living person he thought deserved it most. Or maybe the person least like him." Harry could speak since he wasn't eating at the moment but he decided to stick with the ring.
"Salazar, that name sounds familiar but where though?"
"I don't know Harry the name sounds familiar to me too. I remember reading it somewhere. In fact I know of two wizards named Salazar but this one can't be either of them."
"Why?"
"Salazar Slytherin and Salazar McNire were dead years ago so they could be ghosts. But McNire died in Wales and Slytherin no one knows. He left the castle when he and the other 3 founders had an argument over Hogwarts." Harry and Hermione agreed to look it up later after they went back to Gryffindor Common Room for snogging and studying if their tongues got tired.
It was Christmas morning when Harry and Hermione woke up. Hermione found Harry "excited" and started to drive him crazy. "Hermione not now I have morning breath and need a shower." Hermione let go.
"Fine which Prefect bathroom do you want to go to?" Harry rolled over and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Me to mine and you to yours. We aren't showering together." Hermione smiled devilishly.
"Ok fine. I just thought it might be fun."
"It would be I'm sure but I'm really not sure we should be doing some thing like that."
"We don't have to do any thing serious Harry and you know it. I'm just curious if you really have a golden snitch tattooed on you."
Harry laughs. "If I get one you'll be the first to know."
Crack "Harry Potter Sir." Hermione and Harry jumped when they heard someone apparate into the room.
"Dobby? What do you want?!" Hermione was not pleased with the interruption.
"I got Harry Potter his Christmas gift and went to give it to him. Since this is where he was this is where I came." Harry reached out and grabbed the mis-matched socks.
"Thanks Dobby I got you something as well." Harry goes and grabs a red package with Dobby's name on it. Crack Dobby left them alone. "So Hermione I forgot to ask, in Hogwarts, A History it says you can't apparate yet as you saw Dobby just did it" Harry was amused that he had put Hermione on the spot.
"I don't know Harry the book says you can't but we just saw him do it. It must be because he is a House Elf. If wizards could do it imagine how quickly we could get a message to someone? Instead of them apparating in Hogsmeade and then coming here or vice versa Dobby could just apparate to them! Imagine the possibilities. If Voldemort attacked the castle and we needed back up it would be so much quicker to send a House Elf to the Ministry then an owl or going to Hogsmeade to apparate." Harry saw where Hermione was going with this and decided to stop her.
"Hermione stop thinking! This is our break, relax, enjoy it."
"Enjoy? Ok I think I will."
Leaving the bedroom with several bite marks on his body Harry had to admit he enjoyed himself. Hermione had just as many marks on her neck and shoulder. Getting down to the Gryffindor Common Room they sat down to open up some presents. Most of them were the usual presents. Weasly Sweater for Harry, books for Hermione, and sweets for both.
Hermione was looking at one package rather strangely. "Harry did you buy me something else? I swear you keep giving me all these things what can I do with you?" She smiled opening the package and the card fell out. She read it then looked at the book. "Thank you Harry!" She wrapped her arms around his neck kissing him deeply. When she had finished sucking the air out of his lungs she went back to the book. "Uh Harry, do you even know what this book is about?" Harry shook his head. "Well if you took Ancient Runes you would. This is an old book like one of the first. Not as old as your Necronomicon but old. Some of the passages were said to have been written by Merlin himself. How did you talk him into lowering the price?" Harry smiled not saying a word. "Damn it Harry this cost more then my other gifts combined! How could you spend that much on me? I don't deserve this." She threw the book at Harry who caught it easily as though it was a Snitch.
Setting it down Harry had no idea why she was upset. "What's wrong Mione? I try to make you happy and you get mad what did I do?"
"Mione? What happened to Honey?"
"Don't change the subject."
"I won't as soon as you tell me why you called me Mione."
"I said that because calling you Honey is stupid anyone can call their girl Honey only I can call you Mione. Now tell me why you are mad at me!" Hermione shrunk back when Harry yelled.
"I don't really get you any thing but you keep getting me more and more stuff." She started to take the ring off when Harry reached out and stopped her.
"Don't you dare Mione that is your ring." She had it at her second knuckle. "And that is some thing I didn't pay for."
Hermione laughs a little as she slides it back on. "So I'll take the necklace off." She starts to take it off.
"No you won't."
She hesitates. "But you give me all kinds of things and I never give you any thing in return. When I do try stuff with you you usually make me stop."
"Is that what this is about? I made you happy and that makes me happy so you don't need to return that Hermione. I gave you those items because I love you and while I love them when they are on you I hate them when they aren't. That you have them means you love me don't you dare take them off you deserve them and more." Harry went over and hugged Hermione. "It's ok Mione, I love you and you deserve everything I give you and you don't need to 'return' the gifts as long as you accept the love that is in them." She was crying why he didn't know.
"I'm sorry Harry I've never felt like this before. You mean so much to me. You are the sweetest person Harry. So many boys your age, well, you know about Dean and Pavarti. But you actually love me and you want to be with me. You are a rare man Harry someone who respects his girlfriend for who she is not what she is." She continued to cry as Harry patted her back.
"I'm just, I, I don't know what I'm doing. I know most people when they grow up have friends when they grow up. I didn't. I also didn't have any friends who were girls. I didn't grow up doing normal stuff."
"Because of those Dursley's." Hermione kisses Harry on the cheek.
"Yes but I don't know what I'm doing. I know the guy gets the girl presents like jewelry. Or pays for dinner. Just the stuff I saw on television and in movies."
"Besides Krum I've never had a boyfriend and he was more, physical." She realizes how this sounds. "I meant we wouldn't talk we'd go for walks. I'd show him the castle and the Black Lake. He liked doing things. Which didn't leave for much talking."
"So we're both doing some thing new." Harry holds her hand in his. "I'm actually still tired maybe we could go back to bed?"
"Sure." The two snuggle together and fall back asleep.
Waking up several hours later Harry was surprised Hermione wasn't there next to him. Grabbing the Marauder's Map from his trunk he finds Hermione is not on school grounds. Quickly putting it away he starts to rub his ring thinking of Hermione, trying to call out to her. "Mione, where are you? Can you hear me?" He looks at the ring to make sure it was half red and half blue to see if she was wearing it.
He continues rubbing the ring trying to find her getting more worried as more time passed. Crack "Harry Potter you are awake." Harry fell over when Dobby broke his concentration. "Miss Hermione Granger told me to tell you when you wake not to go looking for her Harry Potter. She will be back soon." Crack Dobby disappeared before Harry could say anything.
"Damn it Mione it isn't safe to go out alone. What if a Death Eater gets you?" She will be fine just dealing with the Dark Messenger. Harry ignores the voice picking himself off the floor Harry walks down to the Common Room to wait for Hermione.
Hermione was walking around Hogsmeade trying to find a store that would sell something that Harry would want. Surprisingly everything was open on Christmas and most were doing a lot of business.
She first thought of going to Zonko's but that was jokes not romantic. She wasn't going to the book store for she knew she wouldn't be able to leave without spending all her money on books for herself.
She started to walk down more roads trying to find something that would be perfect for Harry. He had given her everything she wanted and then some without her giving anything back. She thought about Quidditch supplies but that is something a friend would give and not a girlfriend.
She was getting frustrated not knowing what to get Harry. She thought about getting him something like a necklace but that is for girls not men. She was going out of her mind trying to find something that proved her love to Harry not thinking she already had. "Mione, where are you? Can you hear me?" She heard Harry calling for her, he was awake and knew she wasn't in Hogwarts. She thought about replying rubbing her ring but stopped not wanting to let Harry have the chance to yell at her for her stupidity. She knew this was dangerous Harry didn't have to tell her that, and she was busy finding him the perfect gift.
Walking down one road she thought she heard a familiar voice but wasn't sure. "Monica?" A girl wearing the large parka turned around.
"Hermione! What are you doing here?" Monica ran from the front yard hugging Hermione knocking her to the ground.
"Whoa Monica get off of me." Hermione pushed Monica off forcefully and stepped away from her. "What are you doing here? I saw you get on the Hogwarts Express.?"
"I did Devin and I went to America to see our dad then came back last night."
"So your mother has a house right here in Hogsmeade? Must be nice to live in such a place." Monica shook herself knocking the snow off her.
"Not really since no one else lives here. You are the first person from school I've seen since I left. Been trying to cheer Devin up but all I do is get hit with his abilities and feel like shit." Monica walked towards Hermione who kept backing away. "What Hermione? You hate me now don't you? I can't help who I love and if you don't like it then too bad!" Monica started to walk back towards her house.
Hermione wanted to say something, anything. "Wait Monica!" Hermione started to catch up to Monica who turned around.
"Why Hermione? My mother knows I am like that and she says I have a 'problem'. It isn't!" She turned back walking away. Hermione ran this time grabbing Monica by her arm.
"I don't hate you Monica it's just I don't know what to think. They are my friend too and seeing you with them like that just made me feel awkward." Monica yanked her arm away from Hermione tearing her parka.
"Listen Hermione thanks for your 'concern' but I don't care. Just don't tell any one I don't want others finding out."
"Find out? I won't tell any one." Monica grabbed the torn sleeve trying to keep it together since it was really cold out.
"Oh come on Hermione you told Harry and he will tell his friends and they will tell theirs and by the time we go back to Hogwarts everyone will know." Hermione was getting mad first at herself and now at Monica.
"Why would I tell him? You obviously don't want people to know so I didn't tell him." Hermione tried to get Monica to listen seeing her aura turn from a red to black.
Monica lashes out at Hermione. "Why should I believe you"
"Because Monica I didn't tell him! I swear to you Monica I didn't tell him. I still consider you a friend, I still want to be friends with you why wouldn't I?"
"Because every one here seems to have a problem with stuff that shouldn't matter. Back home it wasn't as big a deal but here in England you still live in the Dark Ages."
"I didn't know what to think at first. But trust me I won't tell any one. You didn't tell anyone about me and Harry so how could I tell anyone about you? I trusted you to keep me and Harry a secret so please trust me to keep your secret Monica because I will keep it until you are ready to tell everyone about it."
"Hermione if I get back and anyone even blinks at me different I will hurt you. At home it wasn't that big a deal like I said but here you people seem to live in the Dark Ages when it comes to that." Hermione saw the aura become even darker when Monica threatened to hurt her.
"Who cares how they treat you? Look at Harry everyone treats him differently. Or Luna everyone calls her 'Loony Lovegood' yet she doesn't care. I know it is different from you but still Monica."
"Oh this isn't about me Hermione. They can call me whatever they want it doesn't bother me it's Devin. Could you imagine what he would do? Just think of Draco calling me a name and then see Devin. We'd be lucky if Devin didn't kill half of the students in Hogwarts."
Hermione saw it now. The aura closing in on Monica becoming a light gray. "I see what you mean Monica. You need to know Monica that I don't think you have a problem or anything. I know some might think it is but love is love right? If you really love them and they love you then I want you to be happy. I won't tell Harry even though he wouldn't tell anyone." Monica raised an eyebrow looking at her skeptically. "He wouldn't tell anyone Monica mainly because he doesn't have anyone else to tell. Ron was his best friend and I was too but now Ron is away and I already know. Neville or Dean aren't really his friends he just knows them. Don't worry Monica I won't tell him even though I trust him." Monica hugged Hermione making both feel better.
"Don't worry Hermione I trust you and if you want to tell Harry go ahead." Letting go Monica walked back into her house leaving Hermione out on the front lawn.
"Damn it I still need to get Harry a gift he deserves. This is taking too much time I am supposed to be back before he wakes up." She went down the road looking for the right store, the right gift.
The sun was just starting to set over the horizon when Harry saw Hermione return on the Marauders Map. "She went to Hogsmeade using one of the tunnels doesn't she know how dangerous that is?"
Harry left the Common Room and went down to meet her halfway to make sure she was alright and let her know how he felt about her leaving.
Hermione was cold and tired and mad at herself. She spent all day in Hogsmeade and couldn't find anything for Harry. She gave up when the sun was starting to set in the west. She kept walking slowly not wanting to see Harry until she absolutely had to in the Common Room.
Harry was following the path he had taken several times his third year when he wasn't allowed to go to Hogwarts getting closer to Hermione.
Hermione was almost halfway when she heard footsteps coming. "Filch is coming." Looking around for a place to hide she saw none and prepared to get in trouble.
Harry walked around the corner and saw Hermione looking at her feet. "There you are Mione what were you thinking going to Hogsmeade? I was so worried." He wrapped his arms around Hermione hugging her tightly. "I was so worried you were hurt or that I hurt your feelings and you were mad at me." She starts crying. "Don't do that Mione, don't do that." He whispered into her ear as the weight came off his shoulders knowing she was safe.
"I'm sorry Harry I was going to be back before you woke up but I couldn't find anything perfect for you." She hugged him back as they rocked back and forth almost as though they were dancing.
"You are the perfect thing for me Mione." He held her feeling her cold skin against his warm body. "You're cold Mione, let's go back to the Common Room and warm up in front of the fireplace." Holding her to him they walked back both relieved that the other was ok.
In front of the fire she warmed up quickly. "This is nice Harry too bad the next term starts soon. I will miss this being alone together with no one watching." She started kissing his neck getting the response she wanted. Harry put one hand on her back and the other under a leg to carry her over to the couch while she continued kissing on his neck.
"Mine, all mine." Harry buried his face into her neck.
Hermione put her hands under his shirt moving it up and broke contact with his neck long enough to get the shirt off. Hermione breathing heavily replied with a deep kiss breathing Harry in.
The two kiss passionately in front of the fire with their hands exploring each other.
A face appears in the fireplace and sees the two. "Stop that Harry!" Sirius's voice came in from the fireplace.
Hermione screams in surprise as Harry grabs his shirt.
"What are you doing Sirius?" Harry gets his shirt back on.
"Being a good God Father and warning you about what happened earlier today. The Dursley's were attacked by Death Eaters. The Aurors there fought back when more Death Eaters apparated behind them. More Aurors came and the battle ended with the Death Eaters, the Dursley's, and three Aurors dead. It appears this was not the main attack as several other attacks happened around the country. I wanted to tell you before you read the Daily Prophet tomorrow." Harry was stunned the Dursley's were dead?
"But where will I go now? Next summer where am I suppose to live?" Hermione was holding Harry feeling his skin go cold.
"With me Harry. I am still a fugitive but with the Dursley's gone there is no other choice." Harry tried to cry. He should be crying the Dursley's were dead his last blood relatives.
"Ok Sirius." Harry tried to push the tears out but none would come?
Hermione sees the pained look on Harry's face. "It's ok to cry."
"I can't."
Hermione thinks she knows the problem. "Harry you don't need to cry you are hurting inside you don't need to show it. Besides they don't deserve them." Hermione kissed him on the cheek.
Sirius yells getting their attention. "Harry I forbid you from going anywhere from now on. I know I signed the permission slip for you to go to Hogsmeade but I void it. You will go from Hogwarts to my home when summer comes. You are not allowed to go to the Burrow, Diagon Alley, or any other places. If you like your friends can visit you but you are not allowed to go anywhere it is too dangerous. If you die your parents will hate me and I don't want them mad at me when I die."
Harry nodded not wanting to argue. "Of course Sirius."
Sirius continues. "If you want you may bring Hermione or Ron when he is better by the time school is over. The Granger's are still on the run and sorry to say this Hermione but your house was one of the targets. They burnt it to the ground. No one was home so no one died. I have been making plans with Dumbledore to move them here if need be. Grimmauld Place is large enough to house you and them and some of the Weasly's if we need to. Be Safe Harry." Sirius's head disappeared from the fire.
Hermione and Harry were both stunned to the core. Her parents were still on the run, Harry's family was dead, and her house was gone. "What are we going to do Harry?"
"I don't know Mione I guess go to Sirius's house when we leave Hogwarts. It's all we can do really. I'm sorry about your house."
"I'm sorry about the Dursley's. I know they were horrible to you but they were still family." Harry felt bad about the Dursley's and even worse that he didn't feel bad enough.
"I can't believe they are dead. They died because they were related to me."
"No they didn't! They died because Voldemort is evil and is trying to hurt you." She hugged Harry hard crying for him since he couldn't.
"I hated it there. They kept me in a cupboard for the first 10 years there even when I was a baby. Dudley would have toys and parties and friends while they literally kicked me out of the way if I cried too much because I had gone in my diaper. I hated them so much Mione but they are dead I should feel bad about it they were human."
"No they weren't Harry!" Hermione was angrier then she had ever been before. "I lived with them for over a month and they were that evil? Harry if I had known I would have done some thing to them!" She punched the couch several times.
"Don't say that Mione they are dead and should be mourned. Even the Death Eaters should, they are human even if they are evil." Hermione punched the couch some more tears flowing down her cheeks.
"Damn you Harry how can you be so nice? They tortured you and you still want to mourn them? How can you be that nice?" Harry shrugged his shoulders not really thinking it was being nice just human.
Hermione was enraged with this. "Dumbledore left you with them he had to know how they treated you. How can you consider them human?" Harry shrugged again.
"They were human just like Death Eaters are human. I hated them but they were my family! I hated the way they treated me but they were my family." Harry tried to cry but still couldn't.
"What about their funeral? Are you going to it Harry? If you are I will go with you…" Harry shook his head.
"No. I mourn them but I still hate them and Sirius said I can't go anywhere. I would gladly give all the gold in my vault for them to be alive but I can't. Now that they are dead I lost my last connection to my Mother…" Why couldn't he cry? "I would give up everything I owned I would give up my magic if I could just make it so no one else had to die because of the Death Eaters and Voldemort." He shook his head slowly. "No there is one thing I would never give up." He put a hand on Hermione's head kissing her on the forehead.
"Don't say that Harry it doesn't help anything. Only with Voldemort falling can we end these deaths. Nothing can bring the dead back not gold or magic nothing. How can you expect yourself to cry or mourn and to want anything more then a party for their deaths? You are free of them you can now live with Sirius like he asked you to in our 3rd year. How can you be so selfless?" Hermione rubbed her eyes trying not to cry more for Harry and what had happened to him growing up.
Harry held her close to him, allowing her to literally have a shoulder to cry on. "Because they were human that's how. All life is precious and should be mourned when it leaves. I guess the only comfort I have about Voldemort is that he isn't human. He isn't alive so if I had to protect you or Sirius or even Malfoy I could do it." Hermione continued trying to stop herself from crying.
"But how Harry? I always knew you were a nice person but how? Those evil vile muggles hurt you physically and emotionally. How can you even want to mourn them? Yes they were living creatures but human they were definitely not!" Harry started to rock her back and forth.
"It's ok Mione. They kept me alive all these years. They didn't have to but they did. Dumbledore might have done some thing if I died but they knew he wouldn't kill them. They were my last connection to my mother and now they're gone." He finally feels tears in his eyes. "My mother's family is gone except for me. So is my father's family. I'm all that's left."
Harry and Hermione hugged each other on the couch. Hermione cried a little more falling asleep exhausting herself from crying. Harry was just starting to fade into a dream when he heard someone call him "brother" waking him up instantly. His scar hurt badly and he had to suppress his screams of pain to keep from waking Hermione.
The rest of the night she lay next to him sleeping while his scar hurt him hearing that one word. "Brother". It was starting to torment him not knowing who she was. She looked like him but was a girl almost like a sister. But he was an only child. His mother and father never had any kids until he was born and his mother was killed before she could have had more. "Who are you?" He whispered to himself holding onto Hermione for support. A trick I'm afraid. Harry ignores the voice.
The day after Christmas was uneventful. Harry felt horrible from lack of sleep but didn't want Hermione to see it.
She still couldn't believe that Harry wanted to mourn the Dursley's after all they had done to him. He just kept telling her "They were human and any human life ending early should be mourned."
The next day he felt better when he had gotten almost five hours of sleep before the girl called out to him. Hermione finally stopped asking him about what else happened with the Dursley's when Harry started to cry of the memories from years of abuse and torture.
The next day he got more sleep but he had to take a nap to get back to normal. It was their last day to be alone before everyone came in that night. Sleeping next to Hermione helped him relax when they weren't making each other "happy".
Harry was starting to feel comfortable around Hermione when she gets in the mood for more then snogging. Hermione was feeling better than ever now. He only allowed hands and she wasn't sure if she wanted to try more. She learned as much as she could from books. She couldn't learn love or happiness from them that she had to learn from experience.
"Harry I was wondering…." He looked up from the DADA book he had been using to teach the others.
"Yes Mione?"
"I was thinking about us and how much we love each other."
"And?"
"I will miss sleeping together. During the summer we might be at Sirius' but if my parent's are there I don't think they would like us sleeping in the bed together."
"Then we'll just have to sneak off alone some times. From the sound of it his house is rather large." The two start kissing.
That evening before dinner the Hogwarts Express pulled in letting forth the students filling Hogwarts again with noise and life. Hermione and Harry greeted their friends as they got off the platform. Harry was glad Hermione and Monica seemed to have made up over the break.
Getting into the Great Hall for the Welcome Back dinner everyone seemed to have had a good break. Hermione was eating when Ginny saw the ring on her finger. "You have got to be kidding me he proposed already?" Hermione dropped the sandwich.
"What?" Ginny pointed to the ring. "No he didn't propose he gave it to me as a gift. What made you think he proposed? We are too young for that I'm only 16 and he's only 15." Ginny didn't believe her looking at the ring some more.
"Come on Hermione he proposed to you and you said yes! It is really beautiful how much did it cost? Come on we are friends tell me the details!"
"You are my friend but he didn't propose it was a gift. I swear he has given me other jewelry this is just more to added on to it." Ginny gave up.
"Fine but you know it looks like an engagement ring." Ginny touches the ring. "Or are you not telling me because we aren't friends?"
"We're still friends. The Imperius Curse wasn't your fault." Harry leaned over hearing the two talking.
Back in the Common Room Hermione was starting to get annoyed. Everyone thought her and Harry were engaged because of the ring she wore. "Alright! Sonorus. Harry did not propose this is not an engagement ring it is just a gift! Leave me alone you bloody gits." Canceling the spell her voice went back to normal level. "Sorry Harry but it is getting annoying. Ginny said she thought it was an engagement ring too. I can't believe all these people." Harry leaned in.
"I know, like my engagement ring to you wouldn't have a diamond the size of a Snitch. Something like that? Never." She nudged him in the ribs hitting the same spot.
"Shut up Harry we are too young for that."
"We won't always be too young." She giggled pushing Harry away when he started to tease her with kisses. "Nice to see you love me too." Harry laughed pulling her into him.
"I do love you Harry." They hugged in front of the fire for awhile while others stared. Their actions made it hard for the others not to believe they weren't engaged. Going back to the dorms Hermione started to follow Harry.
"Wait Mione you can't come up with me tonight. I know I will miss you and you better miss me but everyone is back." She frowned but went to her dorm room falling asleep in a bed she hadn't seen for over a week.
Harry laid in his bed staring at the ceiling while he rubbed his ring. Devin sees it and comments on it. "It is the same as the one Hermione has isn't it?"
"Yes." Harry sits up and gives Devin a better view of the ring. "It connects us to each other. If I rub it and think about her I can talk to her through it."
"That's different. Where did you get it?"
"From a ghost."
"If you don't want me knowing just say so."
"No really it came from a ghost. Your sister told us a ghost gave her a bag and inside was some gold, a book, and the rings."
"She always trusts them. For all she knew those rings could have been cursed to kill any one who put them on."
"So she's gotten gifts from ghosts before?"
"Back home she was always showing up with weird things. Usually a lost heirloom the ghost wanted their family to have but had been lost."
"That seems nice of her."
"Yeah until one day she finds some dark wizard's cursed necklace of cursing and gives it to some one they hated."
"If it hasn't happened yet then maybe she can't see the bad ones?"
Devin shrugs his shoulders. "She understands her powers better than I do. I just don't think she should trust every ghost she meets." Devin turns in his bed so he can go to sleep.
Harry continues rubbing his ring as he tries to fall asleep. With out Hermione there he felt alone even with several students snoring lightly around him.
A/N I think this might be the chapter I've changed the most so far. I've come to realize I made them swear a lot more than they ever have. They might have said one or two here and there but not like I had them. And toned down some of the other things here and there to make it more like the originals. As much as fanfiction can be about making any thing happen I do want to try and keep it like the original books I and many others love.
Thank you to all who are reading this much improved version of my original book and I hope some may find the time to review!