Chapter 7

A few days had passed since his birthday and there had been a lot of tension in the air. Uncle Vernon wasn't happy when he got home, especially when he found out about Harry's party. He screamed at Petunia about doing anything for the little freak and on his way to bed he threw Harry's door open and told him that he was going to make him pay for making his Petunia be nice to him. Harry laid in bed afraid of what Vernon would do to him, but thankfully Petunia yelled at him and told him to get out and leave. At first he wouldn't until she threated to call the police and tell them about his threat to Harry. He left after threats of retalliation and slammed the front door. Afterwards his aunt came in his room and told him not to worry, that she would keep him safe. It took him awhile that night but he finally fell asleep. He was plagued with nightmares of his uncle hurting him and his aunt. He had trouble sleeping for the next few days.

A couple days later his aunt contacted a solicitor to look into filing for a divorce after Vernon showed up at the house and tried to force his way in. She had to call the police on him because she was afraid of what he would do to them, especially Harry. She had the solicitor also getting protective orders for her, Harry, and Dudley. She wasn't afraid that he would hurt Dudley, but that he would take him. Dudley was afraid of Vernon cause he saw the way he was when he tried to get in the house. She didn't like the decision she was making but she had to keep the boys safe. Emma Granger had been a big help in all this, even if it was just someone to listen. She told her about how things had been, including her own actions toward Harry through the years. She told how she was ashamed of how she had treated him and how she had swore to do things differently and to raise Harry the way she should have been doing from the begining. Emma had told her that she couldn't go back and change the past, only work hard in the present and continue forward into the future.

Harry and Hermoine had spent a lot of time reading through his mom's old books, Harry had even found some of his mom's journals detailing her years through Hogwarts. They were both appalled at the actions of what his mom called purebloods. They treated muggleborns horribly, like calling them mudbloods. Hermoine was scared about being bullied if they went there until Harry looked her in the eyes and told her that he would never allow anyone to treat her like that. She just smiled at him and they kept on reading. Emma had heard some of these things from the kids, but Petunia had also told her of the things her sister had talked about when they were kids. She wondered if it was like that in the magical world period or if it was just Britain that was like that. She worried about Hermoine going to Hogwarts and being treated like that. Hermoine hadn't made friends very easily and then came Harry. His moving in was like a grace from heaven. She had been woriied about her daughter and how she would be if she had to grow up without any friends. This school year will be a lot easier for her since she will have Harry with her.

"Harry," Hermoine called out excitedly, "look at this."

Harry looked away from the potions book he was reading and looked down at the book she had in her hand.

"What did you find," he asked her?

"I found this spell called the fidelius charm," she told him, "it is a spell that can magically hide the location of a place within the mind of someone called a secret-keeper."

"Thats cool and all but why point it out to me," he asked?

"Isn't that what your mom's journal said they were doing," she asked looking up at him, "hiding under that charm."

"Yea," he said frowning.

He thought about it for a second until he realized something.

"If thats the case how did someone find them," he asked.

"Well," she started nervously, "the secret-keeper would have had to tell someone."

Harry's eyes got wide at that as he put two and two together.

"Whoever it was gave them up," he said with tears in his eyes.

Hermoine pulled him into a hug and let him cry on her shoulder. It took a few minutes, but he finally calmed down enough to talk again so she released him.

"Are you okay," she asked him with concern?

"I'm fine now," he replied, "thanks."

"Your welcome," she said blushing.

Harry was blushing too so they both looked away for a moment. Harry looked at his watch and told her that he had to head home and he would see her later. She watched him walk away and smile at her first real friend.