Chapter Three
All of those gathered at the table stared at Professor Dumbledore in shock. The first to speak was Molly Weasley. "But Albus, how...how could he have possibly done this?"
"Yes," added Professor McGonnagal, "and what exactly is this Potter Factor?" Albus stroked his beard and said, "Well, the How he did what he did is simple enough. He was able to do it because he believed that he could, or rather, he had never been told that he could not. Which is, in and of itself, the definition of the Potter Factor."
"Albus, you're speaking in riddles again," said Arthur Weasley. "What exactly did you mean by that?"
"The Potter Factor, a phrase coined by Miss Lovegood here by the way, is an event or an occurrence that takes place because of Harry's infallible belief in the power of magic, and the fact that unless Harry is specifically told that something is impossible, he will be able to do it. Let me give you some examples."
"When Harry was but a toddler and was attacked by Lord Voldemort, he didn't know that it was impossible to survive the Killing Curse, so he did. He also didn't know that it was impossible for an fifteen month old child to cast the Killing Curse at the creature that had just murdered his mother in front of him, so he did."
"Wait a minute," interrupted Molly. "I thought you told Harry that it was his mother's sacrifice that allowed him to survive back in 1981?"
"I did. However, it wasn't true. I mean, really Molly. If the death of poor Lily was enough to deflect the Killing Curse, there would be hundreds, if not thousands of people that would have survived it, not just Harry. Yes, I did tell him that, it is true, but I did so to help deflect the pain and anguish he would have felt for causing the death of Professor Quirrel. Causing the death of another human being can lay tremendous guilt upon a person's soul, especially in one so young as Harry was at the time. For right or wrong, I told him that story about his mother to take away some of that guilt. He had already had a very difficult life up to that point and I had no wish to add to the burdens he already carried. That guilt and responsibility is, and should be I might add, mine and mine alone. I would not have a young child suffer for it." he said, quite firmly.
"Anyway, back to the examples I was giving you. Harry didn't know that it was impossible for two first year students, with only about eight weeks of magical training, to not only survive but kill a fully grown Mountain Troll, so he did. He didn't know that it was impossible for him to defeat and kill, in self defense," he added, "an adult, fully trained wizard, possessed by the most feared Dark Lord of all time. So he did it. He didn't know that it was impossible for a twelve year old boy to kill one of the single most powerful creatures in the world with nothing but a sword, so he did it. He didn't know that it was impossible to survive the venom of a Basilisk bite, even with Pheonix tears, so he did it."
"Harry didn't know that it was impossible for a thirteen year old boy to successfully cast a fully corporal Patronus, so he did. He also didn't know that it was impossible to drive off over one hundred Dementors in the middle of a feeding frenzy with that Patronus, so he did. Harry didn't know that it was impossible to out fly a Dragon, even using the fastest broomstick made, so he did. He didn't know that it was impossible for a fourteen year old boy to survive a dual with Lord Voldemort, or to force the Dark Lord's own wand to submit to his, so he did it. He didn't know that it was impossible for six school children to go up against twelve of the Dark Lord's best fighters and win, so he did it. He has done the impossible, again and again, all because he believed that he could."
Neville looked at the Headmaster and asked, "So in a nutshell, if Harry believes it can be done, he can?"
"Exactly, " Dumbledore replied. "In fact, I myself tested this theory not two months ago here at Hogwarts. I placed Harry in an unused classroom and secretly warded the room against the House Elves and any type of summoning charms and the such. I then challenged him to magically conjure some lunch for us. Of course, this is quite impossible, as it violates the first of the five Principal Exceptions to Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration. Using illusion, I appeared to conjure some sweets and ate them, all while encouraging Harry to do the same. I left Harry alone for a few moments, as Miss Granger was knocking on the door. I stepped out into the hall to speak to her, as I was afraid she would inadvertently disrupt my experiment. While I was explaining things to her, we heard Harry cry out in triumph from the classroom. When we went in, he was still in his chair at the table, eating a hamburger and chips. When he saw us there, he casually waved his hand and conjured two more meals for us. I have to say, it was one of the best burgers I have ever had." he said with a chuckle.
"Incredible," whisperd McGonnagal. "Albus, just exactly how powerful is Harry?" she asked.
"Well, the Hammerstein Magical Index goes from one to one thousand. As you know, all students magical cores are tested at the beginning of each school year. The results are private, but I don't believe Harry would mind me reveilling to you that his last score was 989, nearly one hundred fifty points above my own. After the incident at the Department of Mysteries though..." Dumbledore waved his wand at Harry and above the lad's head appeared, instead of a number, a symbol. An oddly shaped figure eight, laying on its side, inside of a golden circle.
"Astounding," whispered the old man.
Looking at the now fading symbol, Sabrina Granger said, "Professor Dumbledore, that's the symbol for Infinity. Does that mean that Harry's magical core has infinite power?"
"Yes, Dr. Granger. That's exactly what that means."
Ron Weasley looked slightly puzzled. After all, he had shared a room with Harry for years and considered him his brother. To Ron, he was just his mate Harry. He was having trouble comprehending just how powerful Harry had become. "But, Professor," he asked, "are you saying that Harry is almost like Merlin?"
"No, Ronald. What I'm saying is that Harry is to Merlin, like Merlin was to a common muggle." This pronouncement drew a gasp of astonishment from the group sitting at the table. "And to think," Albus said, "even with all of that power, reversing the flow of time nearly killed him."
Molly wiped a tear from her eye and said, "The things that dear boy has done for our world."
At hearing this, Ginny Weasley exclaimed, "He didn't do it for our world, he did it for her!"
"Ginny, what do you mean?" her father asked.
"What I mean is that Harry could care less for the magical world. One day they treat him like crap and the next day they think he's the second coming of Merlin. He will do almost anything for his friends and those people he considers his family, like those of us here, but he would storm the gates of Hell for her and not think twice about it."
Charles Granger was out of his depth and he knew it. He almost had a stroke when he heard his only child had been killed. It was only the fact that she was up, around and perfectly healthy that kept him from dropping like he had been slapped with a wet fish. However, hearing this from the young red headed girl at the table seemed to frighten him more than anything else. "Are, are you...are you saying that..."
"Oi! I've got this!" Everyone at the table looked in surprise at Ron Weasley. Luna placed her hand on his shoulder and said, "Ronald, maybe..."
Ron looked at her mildly offended and said, "Hey! Harry and Herms are my best friends! I know them better than anyone else. If anyone can explain this, it's me!"
With that, he scooted back his chair and leaned forward, placing his forearms on his knees. He looked at the inquisitive Mrs. Granger and the frightened Mr. Granger and said, "You see, it's like this. At Hogwarts, there are certain things that are just accepted as truth and that no one questions. Like, for example, how Snape hates all students that aren't Slytheryn."
"Professor Snape, Mr. Weasley," Professor Dumbledore gently admonished.
"Yes, him. And like how Professor Dumbledore here will always wear the most outrageous robes anyone has ever seen."
"RONALD WEASLEY! HOW DARE YOU DISRESPECT THE HEADMASTER LIKE THAT!" exclaimed his mother. Professor Dumbledore laughed out loud and said, "Ten points to Gryffindor for your great courage, Mr. Weasley!"
Ron smirked at his mother, while Charles Granger was saying, "And...And..."
Ron looked back at the two Grangers and said, "And you see, Mr. And Mrs. Granger, the fact is...Harry Potter loves Hermione Granger beyond all reason."
Sabrina Granger looked at the rest of the table and could see the truth of the statement in their eyes. Reaching a decision, she turned to her husband, who was staring at Ron in horror. "Well," she said. "It looks like I have a wedding to plan. Close your mouth, dear, you look like a fool. I assume that I can have the help of all of you here, as I've never seen, much less planned a magical wedding?" At this, all the ladies at the table smiled and began making plans right then and there.
Charles Granger, still in shock, slowly turned to look back at his daughter, only to find her under the covers, snuggled up to Harry, fast asleep. Harry himself was awake, looking in adoration at Hermione's face while stroking her hair. The only thing that Charles could grasp onto at this point was what Ron Weasley had said to him and his wife. "Harry Potter loves Hermione Granger beyond all reason."
The end.