Author's Note: A heartfelt thank you to my beta, dennisud, who did an amazing job with this chapter. Three cheers for dennisud! "Hip Hip Huzzah! Hip Hip Huzzah! Hip Hip Huzzah!"

Chapter Three: His Hermione

Number Sixteen East Landing Court, 1317, 2 July, 1994

Robert Granger burst through his daughter's door, perhaps a little bit faster and harder than he might have actually done had he not been almost in a panic from the screams coming from his little girl within. The door gave way, along with most of the frame as he showed why he was the captain of his local rugby team.

Inside he saw the last thing in the world that he expected to see: Hermione's best friend curled up on the floor, clutching his ribs. There was blood on the floor from where he had obviously coughed it up. It only took one look to convince him that the boy was in a bad way.

"Jane!" he called out as he heard his wife bounding up the stairs. "Get the medical supplies! Hurry!" He knelt down and started checking Harry's vitals. He might not be a medical doctor, but orthodontic surgeons had to go through medical school too. He knew what he was looking for. He found that Harry's pulse was thready and weak, and that his respiration and heart rate were extremely elevated.

A quick glance showed that the lad's left forearm had suffered a compound fracture, and from what he could see from the hole torn in his shirt, it appeared that he had broken ribs, a gash in his side, and probably a punctured lung.

He looked up at his daughter and caught her worried look. He gave her a weak smile before he looked for his wife. She skidded around the corner with a case in her hands. He let out a breath he didn't realize that he had been holding. "Jane, I need a splint, bandages and a syringe filled with a broad range antibiotic. I've got to set his arm, and then if I can get him stabilized we can see about transporting him to the hospital." He took a moment to wipe the sweat off of his forehead. "Kitten, could you come down here and hold him? Just sort of cradle his head and keep him calm. This is really going to hurt him, and if he jerks too hard he could do more damage to himself."

He waited until Hermione was in place, and then in a quick, practiced motion, just like when he was in medical school, he set Harry's arm. Harry let out a dull moan when he did so, but otherwise stayed calm in Hermione's embrace. Robert looked at the pair of them, saw the expression on his little girl's face and suddenly realized that the pair were way too close for comfort, but for some reason it didn't seem to bother him the way he thought it would. He decided that he would think about it later. It was much more important to get Harry stabilized.

With efficiency of motion, he and Jane got Harry's arm bandaged, and then started to work on his ribs. He cut Harry's shirt off of him, and examined the wound. Something long, thin and heavy did this to the lad. The blows seemed to land in one spot, and then about one to two inches away something had torn through his skin and ripped his flesh. If he had to put money on it, he would guess that it was a fireplace poker. He was no forensic specialist, but he wasn't a stupid man either.

He helped Hermione hold Harry still while Jane injected him with the antibiotic. Being in the medical profession had taught Robert and Jane Granger the importance of being prepared.

After he finished working on Harry's ribs he sat back on his haunches. He wasn't sure if he could do any more with the boy. He hoped that he had done enough to stabilize him for the ride into the city proper. "Kitten, we need to get him to a hospital. He's got internal injuries, and I can't do any more for him."

"No, Dad," Hermione said softly. "I can help him. I just need to take a couple of precautions first. "Dobby!" she shouted. The excitable little elf popped in.

"What can Dobby do for Harry Potter's Grangy?" Dobby asked. Then he looked around and saw Harry lying in Hermione's arms, covered in blood and spittle. "MR. HARRY POTTER SIR!" he screeched.

"Dobby, Harry told me that you can make it so the Ministry can't detect magic if it's cast. Can you do that for me now? If you can then maybe I can help Harry." She looked at him and tried to pour all her need into her expression.

"Dobby can be doing it, Ms. Grangy!" he said as he started to move so fast he was a blur. A few seconds later and he was back. "Ms. Grangy can be helping Mr. Harry Potter now!" he squeaked.

"Thank you, Dobby," she told him. She pulled out her wand and started in with the diagnostic spells that Madame Pomfrey/Pomphery had taught her earlier in the year. When she was satisfied with the results she started to cast the healing spells that would help her best friend.

Ten minutes later she collapsed in a heap. It always drained her to cast multiple spells in quick succession. She looked at Dobby and smiled. The little elf smiled back and quickly levitated Harry so that he was on the bed. He was unconscious, but Hermione knew that it was a good sign. His magical core was helping with the healing process, and the prognosis was excellent.

"Is he going to be alright, darling?" her mother asked. She shared an incredulous glance with her husband. Harry had clearly been hurt beyond their capabilities, and probably would have had to stay in the hospital for weeks, if not months in order to recover from his injuries.

"Yes Mum, I believe he will. His magic has induced a coma, and it should help him to heal quickly. He'll come out of it in a day or so." She bit her lip nervously, and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"What is it, Kitten," her father asked. He had a suspicion, but he kept it to himself.

"It's just that, well," she started, "I know this is going to sound foolish, but Harry always does better if I'm near."

Is this how it starts? Robert granger wondered to himself. Is this what it feels like to lose your baby girl to another man? They're so young, but I think they lost the innocence of youth long ago. He tried to subtly shake his head to clear his thoughts. His daughter and her, well, probably boyfriend needed his support right now, not his obstruction…

"So you want to stay here with him?" her mother asked.

"Yes, Mum," she said while trying to hide a blush. "He stayed next to me the every night when I was petrified, and I think that I felt that. I think it was the only thing that kept me sane through it." She looked her mother straight in the eyes. "I want to be there for him like he was for me."

"Are you sure this isn't just some sort of adolescent crush, Hermione?" Jane asked her daughter.

"No, Dearest, it isn't," Robert Granger interjected. Two heads turned towards him. "I don't know how I know, but this isn't a crush. In fact, if I had to hazard a guess, I'd say that it's much, much more than that." He looked at his daughter and had to catch himself before he laughed at her expression. Her eyes were wide and her mouth was wide open.

"It's alright, sweetheart," he cajoled. "Something about the two of you just feels right. I felt it at the station, and I feel it here. You two fit together like two pieces of a puzzle. Maybe I'm just a hopeless romantic, but I really think that you two have something special."

"Thanks, Daddy," Hermione said in a demure voice. She threw herself into a hug with her father. "I feel it too," she admitted to him. She let him go and turned to Dobby.

"You did very well, Dobby, but could I get you to go and get Harry's things from that wretched house? It would mean a lot to me."

With a smile that threatened to break his face, Dobby popped away.

She turned back to her father. "Dad, do you know our family tree? Do you have a genealogy that we could look at?"

"I could probably get one from your Gran, Kitten," Robert replied. "Why?"

"Just a hunch," Hermione answered as she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Just a hunch…"

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, 1315, 2 July, 1994

Albus Dumbledore came running as the sound of multiple alarms sprang from the devices on his desk. There could be only one thing that would cause those particular alarms to go off. Harry Potter was no longer residing at Number Four Privet Drive!

He checked the instruments closely. He would have to investigate this, but given the time of day, it would be difficult to disguise himself from the Muggles, and disillusionment was such a bother now. He would have to send someone that could blend in. He thought furiously for a few moments before snapping his fingers as he congratulated himself on his thoughtfulness.

He sent one of the school elves to fetch his Deputy Headmistress. She arrived with the elf shortly.

"What can I do for you, Albus?" Minerva McGonagall asked in her normally harsh tone.

"I need you to go to Harry's home in Little Whinging," he said, putting every bit of influence into his voice as he dared. "Something has happened to Harry, and we need to know what the situation is." He looked at her seriously. "And, I need you to stay undercover," he said softly.

"Of course, Albus," she replied. "I'll return as soon as I find anything out." She turned and fled the room.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, 1645, 2 July, 1994

"And so that's what I found when I visited the Dursleys," Minerva McGonagall said incredulously.

"You actually expect us to believe that they know nothing of what happened?" Severus Snape said in a condescending tone.

"I'm telling you that it was as if they had never even heard of Harry Potter," McGonagall spat out at him. "It was almost as if they had been both confounded and obliviated." She turned to Dumbledore. "It was very strange, indeed, Albus."

"I agree, Minerva," Dumbledore replied. He turned to the others gathered there. "Just a few days ago, Harry wrote a letter to me describing a bizarre dream he had about Voldemort. Severus, I want you to go to every Death Eater hideaway you can remember. Kingsley, check at the Burrow, see if Harry made his way there. If he isn't there, then start looking in on his other friends. See if he made it to any of them. I'd suggest Ms. Granger, but she's supposed to be on holiday, and her family always goes abroad." He twirled his beard in thought for few seconds. "Tonks, you check the Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Alley. Minerva, contact Sirius and see if he's heard anything from Harry."

"What about you, Albus?" Minerva asked.

"I am going to pay a couple of visits: to Malfoy Manor, and to Little Hangleton. Perhaps one of those shall turn up our missing boy." He gave a stern look to all present. "Let us be off," he said sharply. Fawkes swooped down and he grabbed the bird's tail. With a burst of flame they were off.

Number Sixteen East Landing Court, 0900, 4 July, 1994

Hermione Granger laid on the bed next to her best friend. How many times had she done this in the last three years? It seemed that it was way too many times for her peace of mind. She gently stroked his hair as she waited for him to wake.

How long she stayed like that she couldn't say, but it seemed that she must have dozed off. The next thing she knew the most beautiful voice in the world was saying her name!

"Harry!" she shrieked. She wrapped him in a tremendous hug.

"Hello, Hermione," he replied softly. "What's going on? Why am I here, in what appears to be your bed?"

"Oh, Harry, you just appeared next to me and you were hurt so badly! I didn't know what to do, so I yelled for my Dad. He and Mum helped you until I could get Dobby here. We got you fixed up, and you've been asleep ever since." She looked deeply into his eyes. "How are you feeling, Harry?"

"Surprisingly good, considering what you just told me." He paused in thought for a moment. "I vaguely remember Uncle Vernon being mad at me, and then my arm and ribs hurt so much, and then I woke up next to you; like you were my avenging angel. You've no idea how much I like waking up next to you," he said while his face turned crimson.

"Harry, you don't have to worry, Mum and Dad insisted that you stay. Oh, I was so scared, Harry. Please don't do that to me again." Her lip trembled and she fought back tears. She took handfuls of his shirt and drew him close. "I thought I was going to lose you Harry, I couldn't think straight. I was going to lose you and I never got to…" she trailed off.

"Didn't get to do what, Hermione?" Harry asked.

"To tell you how I feel about you," she whispered.

"Hermione," Harry said as he reached out and softly caressed her cheek. "Do you fancy me?" She nodded and turned her head, embarrassed. "Good," he stated, "Because I've been fancying you for quite a while now."

"Really, Harry?" she asked. "Your not just having me on, are you?"

"I'd never do that to you, Hermione. You mean way too much to me. You've always believed in me, and always looked out for me. You've always been there for me, Hermione. You're the one that I look to for everything I've ever needed. You're the one that makes me feel whole. You're the only one that sees me as just plain Harry, not the Boy-Who-Lived."

He used the hand on her cheek to guide her closer in towards him. He looked into her soft, brown eyes and knew that this was it. This was the moment he had been waiting for. He leaned in and brushed his lips against hers. With dual moans they both pressed together and deepened the kiss. While the kiss itself was rather innocent, the emotions flooding through both teens was intense enough to overwhelm both of them. Neither could resist the feelings coursing through them.

There was a loud sound, almost like a thunderclap, and a magical shockwave radiated outward from the pair, though both of them were completely oblivious to what was happening, only aware of each other.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, 0914, 4 July, 1994

Albus Dumbledore was a frustrated wizard. He was universally known as the most powerful wizard on the side of light, yet nothing he did revealed anything of the whereabouts of Harry Potter.

He was pondering his next move when the castle started to shake. Several portraits fell from the walls of his office, and he grabbed the arms of his chair to keep himself from falling out of it.

Just as he thought that surely the walls were going to come down, everything stopped. He breathed a sigh of relief and made to stand when a veritable tsunami/wall of magical energy ripped him off of his feet and threw him back into a wall. As he crumpled to the floor, he noted that every one of his magically tuned instruments exploded around the office, He didn't know what to make of it, but the pain in the back of his skull made him not really care, so, blissfully, he passed out.

Number Sixteen East Landing Court, 1000, 4 July, 1994

Harry Potter decided that being in love with his best friend was the most incredible thing he had ever experienced in his short life. To think that she loved him too, well that was like a double helping of treacle tart.

As much as he enjoyed snogging with Hermione, he suddenly sat straight up as he remembered something. Despite her soft protests, he made his way to his trunk that Dobby had brought to the Granger residence. Opening it, he rummaged around until he brought out a piece of parchment. He held it triumphantly and presented it to his new girlfriend.

"What's this, Harry?" Hermione asked. He nodded at her to read it. When she had finished she had a puzzled look on her face. "Our parents knew each other?" she asked him.

"It would seem so," Harry answered. "And, there was another little girl present," he pointed out. He paced for a moment. "Don't take this the wrong way, Hermione, but as much as you make me feel whole, doesn't it feel like there could be another missing piece to this puzzle?" he said, unknowingly repeating what Hermione's father had said.

"Yes, Harry, it does feel something like that. I can't really explain it, but you might have a valid point. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what comes our way. After all, something good came from all of this, didn't it?" she said with a huge smile on her face.

"Very good," Harry agreed. "Though, I wish I could explain why we never knew that our parents knew each other."

Hermione thought furiously. She stayed like that for several minutes. "I think that someone must have done something to their memories, Harry," she stated.

"Lockhart was really good with memory charms," Harry muttered.

"That must be it, Harry. Someone must have obliviated them," Hermione said sharply. "Oh Harry, who would have done such a thing?"

Harry wrapped her in a hug. "I don't know, Hermione, but it must have been someone very powerful. After all, to erase someone's memories of their close friends? That has to take a lot of power." He stroked her back as he sat and thought for a while.

"Hermione, I think we need to get your parents here and discuss this," he said firmly.

"I agree, Harry. I'll ring them." She got up and padded softly out of the room to use the telly.

Number Sixteen East Landing Court, 1230, 4 July, 1994

"What is it that you needed us to come home early for?" Robert Granger asked his only child. She was sitting on the couch, very close to Harry Potter. Robert smirked as he saw that they had entwined their fingers together.

"Daddy, Mum, have you ever met Harry's parents?" Hermione asked.

"No, I don't believe we have," Jane Granger said. "Why?"

"Because I have a note that seems to say that you did know my parents," Harry said as he passed the piece of parchment over to the Grangers. The two adults read the note and stood there, gob-smacked.

"Huh," Robert Granger said articulately…

"Indeed," Jane Granger responded to her husband's grunt. She looked up and locked eyes with Harry. With a dizzying swirl Harry was suddenly inside her head!

"How could something like this happen, Dumbledore?" Robert asked rather loudly.

"Sadly, the Dark Lord decided that he wanted to take care of the irritation that was James and Lilly," Albus Dumbledore replied.

"But they were supposed to be safe!" Robert bellowed. "They were protected! They told us that they had the strongest spell know to protect them! We had to be told by their secret keeper! How could this happen?"

"Alas, I don't know. They must have been betrayed… Maybe Sirius was secretly an agent of…"

"Bollocks!" yelled Jane. "Sirius was James' best friend. He loved them! Besides, he wasn't their secret keeper."

"What do you mean?" Dumbledore asked.

"It was that little Peter Pettigrew that they had keep their secret. He was the one that told us where they were," Jane replied.

"Really?" Dumbledore mused.

"Yes, really," Jane said harshly. She looked up to see Albus Dumbledore with his wand out and pointed at them.

"I'm sorry Jane, Robert, but it's really for the greater good…" He twisted his wand and pointed it at them… "Obliviate."

"That long-bearded-secrecy-loving-lying-sack-of-a-wanker!" Harry yelled when he snapped out of it. Jane reeled as the memory was released. Hermione wrapped her arms around him and gently rubbed his back.

"He did it, Hermione… Dumbledore obliviated your parents. He just callously took their memories. The arsehole said it was for the greater good," Harry fumed.

"Oh, Harry," Hermione said as she embraced her boyfriend. "Let's think for a moment, Harry."

"What do you mean, Hermione?" he asked.

"We can't just go and storm the gates of Hogwarts and beat up Professor Dumbledore, Harry. He'd wipe the floor with us right now. We're just going into our fourth year, and he's, well, he's Dumbledore. We have to be smart about this."

"You're right, of course," Harry said as he started to calm down. "What can we do about it?" He saw in her eyes the gears of her mind working. He couldn't help but smile.

"First, we're going to need some help," Hermione replied. "Dobby!" she yelled. With a loud crack Dobby appeared.

"Ms. Grangy called Dobby?" he asked.

"Yes, Dobby, I was thinking that maybe we could hire you to work for us." She proceeded to outline what she wanted. As she did so Dobby got more and more dejected.

"What's wrong Dobby?" Harry asked.

"Mr. Harry Potter, sir, Dobby is thinking that if he was to being working for you, that maybe Dumbydore would be making him tell Harry Potter's secrets. Dobby is thinking that the only way that he would be sure of keeping Harry Potter's secrets is if Dobby is being bonded to Mr. Harry Potter, sir…"

"What?" Harry stammered. He knew what that meant.

"Harry, he has a point," Hermione told him.

"But…"

"Harry, we need his help. I've been reading about house elves since you first told me about Dobby. Most of them are happiest when they are bound to a wizard family. I don't understand how anyone could be happy being a slave, but Daddy always told me not to judge how anyone lives, but to see if they are truly happy. Isn't that right, Daddy?" Hermione smiled at her father.

"That's right, Kitten," Robert Granger replied. "Harry, I think it might be a good idea. I mean, if Hermione believes it is, well, I trust her judgment."

"So do I," Jane Granger chipped in.

"Alright," Harry responded. "Dobby, what has to be done?"

Number Sixteen East Landing Court, 1920, 5 July, 1994

There was a knock on the door, so Robert got up to answer it.

"Yes?" he asked, facing a small, brown haired woman who was twirling a wand in her left hand.

"Mr. Granger? My name is Emmeline Vance and I wonder if I might come in? I'm looking for Harry Potter," she said, in a rather pleasant contralto.

"Err, I'd rather you didn't," Robert replied.

"I must insist," Vance said, pointer her wand at his chest. Robert backed away from her and she stepped into the foyer.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," a small voice said. Emmeline whipped her head around and spotted Harry and Hermione, their wands trained on her. She laughed deeply at the sight.

"Do you really think that the two of you could really hope to stop me from taking you away from here, Harry?" she asked. She cocked her head to the side as a rolling clap of thunder boomed nearby. She could have sworn that it was dry as a bone outside. Rain started pelting the rooftop…

"You shall not hurt Master Harry Potter," a shrill voice intoned. Dobby stepped in front of Emmeline and waved his hand at the petite witch. She was blown off of her feet and straight through the foyer wall! She landed about thirty feet away and skidded under Robert Granger's old lorry. Her clothes were in tatters, and she appeared to be unconscious. One of her boots was still standing in the foyer where she was standing just moments before

Dobby looked up at Harry. "Excuse me Master Harry," Dobby said to him. "Dobby must be taking out the trash." With a pop both he and unconscious witch disappeared. A few seconds later, Dobby popped back in and grabbed the lone boot only to disappear once again!

Author's note: I have a recommendation for you all: I've been reading a fic I just found called "Ghost of You" by blacktag189. It's a 33 chapter, in work Harry/Ginny story, but be forewarned, it's almost 400,000 words! I've only gotten a few chapters in, but it is really one of the finest Harry/Ginny fics I've read in a long time. If you have a chance, and you enjoy the pairing, check it out. It's a worthwhile read thus far.