A/N – Hi all, sorry for the delay, but I hit a bit of writer's block. Here's Chapter 15.
Chapter 15 – Meet the Parents
Tom and Severus had worked through the day on the potion to reintegrate the horcruxes. The work was exacting and the two of them lost themselves in the preparation only speaking to ensure that their tasks remained coordinated.
By late afternoon, the ingredients had been prepared which meant they could start brewing. Tom found himself in an unfamiliar role as he acceded the lead to Severus since the younger was a more adept Potions Master. They continued to work silently as the ingredients were added and checks were mad along the way to ensure that the mixture was being prepared correctly.
Finally the last of the ingredients was added and the two had a chance to relax. The potion still had to be watched and stirred at precise times over the next 48 hours, but it was for all intents and purposes complete.
At their request, the house elves had prepared some dinner for them. As they sat and ate, Severus' curiosity got the better of them and he got up the courage to do something he would not have even considered a week ago – he engaged Tom Riddle in conversation.
"Tom – you know it's still very strange for me to call you that – what do you make of all of this? I mean, I find it hard to believe that you are the same person who for the past few decades has gone by the name of Voldemort." He was visibly startled as Tom's eyes turned red and his voice became the Dark Lord's again.
"I am still here Severus. I still feel all the hate, and loathing that I have had for a long time. People will die by my hand as I seek retribution for what they have done to me," he said in a very calm manner which Snape was used to – it mad his skin crawl and for the first time in a few days he was once a again scared of the man in front of him.
Voldemort continued, "However now things have changed. Instead of subjecting the world in general to my wrath, I now have a focus for my hatred. The wizards who guided me down the path that resulted in who I am will pay." With that he relaxed his features and his eyes lost their red tones.
"Severus, I choose not to show myself as Voldemort right now because I have my new allies and it is for them that I am repressing my Dark Lord image. I find I have no anger towards those of us here and this allows me to be the person you see."
Severus relaxed and leaned forward again to continue his meal. He looked up to see Tom chuckling.
"It's still a strange sight to see you laughing in an amused sort of way. I'm only used to your evil laugh."
"Well, I'm thinking about my first two plans for payback. You remember I called Bellatrix and young Draco to me the day we left?" Severus nodded slowly.
"Well, I gave Draco a mission t redeem his family and earn is Dark Mark. I told him he had to kill Dumbledore."
Severus looked at the other man with a sense of shock. He slowly started smiling, "How did Draco take his assignment."
"Outwardly he took it very well but I read his emotions. He was scared shitless at the prospect of going up against Dumbledore. He also tried to bribe me."
"How so?"
"By telling me that he would swear the fealty of the House of Black to me when he became the Head." Tom went on to explain how Draco intended to make good his offer.
Severus tried to maintain a straight face but burst out laughing, "That arrogant fool. He's even more arrogant and stupid than Lucius."
Tom smiled an evil smile, "Exactly."
Severus managed to calm himself down after a few minutes and asked, "What about Bella?"
"I asked her to come up with a detailed plan on how to take over the Ministry with the express instructions to do it quietly and covertly."
Snape looked like he was about to explode again, "Quietly and covertly? Bella?"
"Exactly. And we both pretty much know what she'll end up doing."
With that answer Snape gave a good demonstration of what people in future years would describe as ROTFLOL.
/Scene Break/
Bellatrix LeStrange was bored and frustrated and every Death Eater knew that a bored and frustrated Bellatrix was a dangerous, psychotic Bellatrix. Well, actually Bellatrix was dangerous and psychotic most of the time but if she was bored and frustrated it was even worse.
Bellatrix was widely regarded by most Death Eaters, most non-Death Eaters and even herself as one of Voldemort's inner circle, which was true – to a point. Voldemort kept her close and under the illusion she was 'in the know' so that he could maintain some type of control over her. She was a weapon that he unleashed if he wanted to create widespread fear and destruction. This was in contrast to Lucius Malfoy and Severus Snape who were more strategic and were used where secrecy and precision were the order of the day.
Bellatrix had not been careful in her study of so-called Dark Magic and had lost her mind in the process. Voldemort, Snape and Malfoy knew that Bellatrix was massively unstable. That is why The Dark Lord only let her lead 'Scorched Earth' missions and also why Malfoy (and, by extension, his true leader Dumbledore) did not trust her enough to let her in on the conspiracy.
Bellatrix herself was not aware of her limitations. So when her Lord gave her the task of planning a subtle take over of the Ministry she was honoured to get such an assignment. She initially thought of the team she would assemble, the plans they would draw up. She would then augment that with intelligence from their moles in the Ministry. She had seen Lucius and her Lord do this many times before. Her plan would be the best the Dark Lord had ever seen.
That was her original idea.
The problem was that Bella couldn't plan her way in or out of anywhere if the plan didn't include destroying everything in her path. After a few days of trying to come up with a plan, she had achieved four things:
All of the Death Eaters in the compound were very, very busy doing anything they could so that they didn't have time to help Bella. She had already gotten frustrated and killed the three who didn't know any better.
The Death Eater moles in the Ministry were all in silent mode. They passed word back to Bella that it was too dangerous to talk because all of them were suddenly under surveillance.
There were yards and yards of ruined parchment. Multiple plans started and abandoned.
Bella was getting more and more frustrated. The parts of her brain she was trying to exercise were completely out of shape and the anarchist part of her brain was screaming to go for a walk.
Bella let out a frustrated scream. This managed to clear out any part of the compound within 300 yards of her room.
She needed Lucius or Severus. The problem was that the latter was with her master and the former was a 'guest' of the Ministry aurors. However, the Dark Lord did not forbid her from freeing Lucius and the others. Bella's maniacal smile returned.
It was time for a jailbreak and it had to be done before the Dark Lord returned.
/Scene Break/
Draco Malfoy stared up at his ceiling for the second night in a row. He had received good news today. For some reason the Will reading for Sirius Black had been moved to Sunday. That meant he would be the new Lord Black within a few days. This gave him some hope; "Perhaps the Dark Lord will allow me to enlist help with my task once I swear the Black Family to his service."
With that slightly comforting thought, Draco tried to get some sleep, but his brain still would not let go of the thought, "I still have to kill Dumbledore."
/Scene Break/
Elsewhere a lone figure walked up to a small cottage. Arthur had come here hoping for some shelter and a sympathetic ear to talk to. As he knocked on the door, he was questioned and after he answered a pair of decidedly female arms enveloped him in a hug. He returned the hug and went inside.
/Scene Break/
Hermione's eyes went wide, "Mom! Dad! What are you doing here?"
The man and the woman recognized their daughter just before she enveloped them in a hug.
Dan and Jane were relieved to see their daughter. This was the first time they had experienced a mode of magical transportation and they had found it frightening and exhilarating at the same time.
Dan looked at his daughter with a newfound respect for her world. "We were just following your instructions." He was about to continue when he noticed the others looking at them.
Jane noticed his glances and said to her daughter, "Honey would you introduce us to your friends?"
Hermione just shook her head, "Where are my manners? Mom, Dad, please meet Fred and George Weasley," the twins bowed, "Luna Lovegood," Luna came and shook hands with the couple, "and our host and my boyfriend," – Hermione really enjoyed that last part – "Harry Potter. Everyone, these are my parents, Dan and Jane."
Harry came forward and went to shake Jane's hand. Much to his surprise his handshake was rebuffed and he found himself in a hug instead. He backed away and went to shake Dan's hand. He found a rather civil handshake and a piercing glare from Hermione's father. Dan did not say anything to him, but the look said, "We need to talk." Harry nodded to the man to let him know the message was received and then Tom said, "Thank you for welcoming us to your home."
Everyone crowded around the Grangers and started asking them questions. Before it got out of hand Harry spoke up, "Mr. and Mrs. Granger, we were just sitting down to a late dinner. Would you like to join us? We can talk over a good meal."
The Grangers nodded appreciatively. Jane answered, "Thank you. We were just preparing dinner when we had to leave rather suddenly. Oh, I think I speak for Dan when I say that you should please call us Dan and Jane. Mr. and Mrs. Granger is too formal for our daughter's friends."
Harry looked at Dan and realized that Dan wasn't ready to be on a first name basis with his daughter's boyfriend, but he nodded to the others as well.
They went into the kitchen and sat down for dinner. Jeeves had watched the encounter in the entrance hall and had already set an additional two places.
They all sat down and started eating dinner. After a bit of small talk Hermione looked at her parents and asked, "So… what happened?"
Jane looked around the table and started to tell the tale.
/Flashback/
Jane and Dan were in their kitchen preparing dinner. All of a sudden both felt a strange tingling like a static charge just went through the whole house. They shrugged it off and went back to their preparations when they heard a knock at the door.
Thinking nothing of it, Dan went to the door and when he opened it, he was surprised to see the elderly witch from Hermione's school. She had come to them on Hermione's eleventh birthday and was the one who informed them Hermione was a witch and spent a few hours with them explaining everything and answering their questions. She had also informed the Granger's of their daughter's injuries after the fight in the Ministry the previous month.
"Good evening Mr. Granger. I was wondering if I could have a word with you, Mrs. Granger and Hermione."
Dan found his voice, "Professor, it is a pleasure to see you again. Won't you come in?" He led her to their sitting room. "Let me just go get Jane." He disappeared and returned a few moments later with Jane.
Jane hid her feeling of unease well, "Professor, it's nice to see you again. To what do we owe this visit?"
"I am here to talk to the two of you and your daughter on a matter of great importance. In fact, the Headmaster of Hogwarts will be here shortly as well." She glanced back towards the door.
Dan and Jane took the opportunity to share a glance as the elderly witch's attention was elsewhere. They were both thinking about the warning Hermione had given them. At that moment there was a knock at the door. Dan went to answer it and opened the door.
Before him stood a strange old man with a long white beard and bizarre looking robes, "Mr. Granger, " said the man with a twinkle in his eyes, "I am Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts."
Dan smiled politely, "Of course! Professor McGonagall mentioned you were on your way. Won't you please come in?"
He led the Headmaster into the sitting room and Albus took the seat next to Minerva.
Jane said, "Hermione is not here right now but we are expecting her home shortly. Would you like some tea while we wait?"
Dumbledore looked up at them with a twinkle in his eye and nodded gratefully, "Yes, some tea would be very nice right now thank you."
Jane motioned to Dan and the two of them went down toward the kitchen. Dan tapped her on the shoulder once and silently headed back toward the sitting room. He had been in the SAS in his 20s and still knew how to be completely silent.
He got close to the room and was able to hear the two professors talking quietly.
"Albus, do you think they suspect anything."
"What can they suspect? We are just here to visit Hermione."
"How are you going to keep her away from the Will reading?"
"I'm going to put them under the Imperious for a few days and then Obliviate their memory. I just can't risk having her at the reading. She's too close to the Boy and I can't control her."
That was all Dan needed to hear. He silently made his way back to the kitchen almost scaring Jane as he snuck in.
"We need to go now. I'm not sure what he was talking about, but it did not sound good for us or Hermione."
They quietly opened the door from the Kitchen to the back yard and activated the rings. They disappeared into the night just as the kettle started to boil.
/End Flashback/
As the Grangers finished their tale, everyone sat around the table lost in their own thoughts.
Hermione was seething and was the first to speak, "That meddling old bastard. Do you realize what he wanted to do?" Dan and Jane shook their heads slowly.
"First of all, that static charge you felt was most likely Dumbledore setting up wards," she saw their confusion, "think of it as a dampening or interference field to prevent all forms of magical travel. The only thing I know of that would go through those types of wards are these rings and necklaces which allow us to come here. So, in other words he was trying to trap us there."
"And the spells they were talking about! The Imperious curse is a form of mind control. Dumbledore is powerful enough that he would have had complete control over our actions for at least a couple of days. You probably guessed the Obliviate spell would allow him to modify our memories so that we would not know exactly what had happened while he tried to control us. In fact, he would not only have been able to erase any of our memories but also plant false ones instead." Her parents were shocked as they realized what sort of situation they had escaped.
Hermione was far from done with her rant, "What's even worse is that McGonagall was in on the whole thing and was a willing participant. I TRUSTED HER!! I always believed that she was on our side and looked out for her students. She was going to help Dumbledork do that to us?"
The shock of being betrayed by someone she trusted so implicitly was too much. She got up and ran out of the room crying. Jane and Luna quickly followed her. Harry got up to go after her as well, but sat right back down as his eyes met Dan's. The twins having seen a look like that once or twice before, quietly excused themselves with mischievous grins on their faces and bade everyone good night as they went to their rooms.
Harry looked at Dan.
Dan glared at Harry.
Harry gulped.
Dan was quite enjoying this. He spoke softly but firmly, "Now Harry, Hermione tells me the two of you are dating?"
Harry thought of how he should answer very carefully. He ran a number of scenarios through his mind and settled on strong and sincere, "Yes, we are."
"So is this something serious, or just a summer fling?"
"I have very strong feelings for her and she does for me. We have been best friends since first year and I'm not sure I would even be alive today without her help. I can tell you one thing for certain Mr. Granger, I would willingly give up my life for her and please believe me when I tell you, we've been in situations where I had to seriously consider that scenario."
"Do you love her?"
"I'm not sure. I think so, but you have to understand my background. I was orphaned when I was one year old and until I started at Hogwarts I lived in a household devoid of love. My family – if you can call them that – ensured that I was treated more as a servant than a child. Until I met Hermione and Ron, I had never had any friends. Any time I tried to make them, my cousin scared them off. In short, I'm not sure if I love Hermione because I am not sure of what love is and I hope to figure it out someday."
That was not the type of answer Dan was expecting. He saw the strength of character and will in the boy before him. This boy answered his questions directly and honestly. He could see why his daughter had fallen for him. There was much more to Harry Potter than met the eye.
"Harry, please call me Dan," he smiled warmly as the boy visibly relaxed, "let me tell you a story."
"Harry, our daughter was always a bit of a recluse. She always acted older than her age and was able to read by the time she was three. Her thirst for knowledge and overwhelming willingness to share that knowledge got her the reputation of being a know-it-all and the other kids her age either couldn't or didn't want to relate to her. She grew up very lonely and turned to her books for solace."
"When we got her Hogwarts letter and she found out she was a witch, she was the happiest I had ever seen her since she was a baby. She immediately begged us to get her as many books on the subject as we could so that she could fit in to the Magical world."
"When she started at Hogwarts she wrote to us often, but in those first few months we could see that she was as alone in the Wizarding world as she was in the non-magical one. We had hoped she would be able to start fresh and things would change for her."
"Then in November, she started writing about her new friends Harry and Ron – well, mostly Harry. Since then we have seen our brilliant shy girl grow up into a self-confident, brilliant young woman. Harry you don't know how happy we've been to see this change in our daughter. From what I understand, you are primarily responsible for this. Now that I've met you and talked to you I can begin to understand what she sees in you."
Harry thought about what Dan had said and relaxed some more with a slight knowing smile on his face, "Thank you Dan."
Dan got up from the table saying, "Let's go see where the women got themselves to."
Harry got up and led Dan to the Library where they found Hermione, Jane and Luna talking quietly. Harry went over and gave Hermione a hug, "Everything OK?"
She smiled as she hugged him back enjoying the feeling of security she felt, "Yeah, I mean some part of me knew it would come to this, just realizing it is a bit shocking."
Harry looked up, "You must all be quite tired. Dan, Jane you are welcome to stay in one of the guesthouses on the Manor grounds. Hermione picked one out for your family."
Jane sighed, "A good night's sleep is just what I need right now. But we didn't bring anything with us."
Harry summoned Jeeves. He addressed the Grangers, "With your sudden departure it may not be safe for you to return to your house for at least a few days. If you can give Jeeves a list of the things you need, with your permission he can take some elves to your house and quickly get them for you. The elves have their own magic that can't be detected by wizards."
The three Grangers gave the elf their lists and Jeeves disappeared immediately afterwards.
"Great! Now, I'll show you to your accommodations. Luna, do you want to come along for the walk?"
Luna shook her head. "No, I think I'll go home to Daddy. We'll see you tomorrow."
They all bade Luna a good night and she disappeared from the Manor. It was a warm moonlit night as they made their way to the guesthouse. Harry and Hermione were holding hands and Dan and Jane followed them. The two older Grangers looked on with the joy a parent feels seeing their child obviously quite happy. When they came to the cottage by the pond, Jane gasped.
"Harry, this is beautiful. We've always dreamt of a place like this."
"Hermione told me. I want the two of you to know that you are always welcome here. Please consider this cottage your home away from home."
Jane came over and hugged him and Dan shook his hand and clasped his shoulder.
The two of them headed over to the door of the cottage. As Jane was going inside, Dan turned around and said, "Hermione aren't you coming."
Before Hermione could answer, Jane pulled Dan into the guesthouse saying, "I think they want a few minutes alone."
Harry and Hermione held hands facing each other. "You sure you're OK?" Harry asked.
"Never better." With that both of them grinned stupidly at each other and giggled.
"What did my father want to say to you?"
"He just wanted to make sure his daughter was with someone who cared about her. I convinced him I do. I don't think there is anyone I care about more in this world."
He tried to say something else but all other attempts at talking were stifled by the pair of exquisite lips that met his. Harry lost himself in the kiss and the arms that had wrapped around him like a boa constrictor. When they finally broke apart for air they were both flushed and breathing heavily.
Hermione hugged him tightly once more and whispered "Good night my love," into his ear before she skipped down to the cottage to join her parents.
Harry just stood there stunned. First the kiss and embrace that felt like she was trying to fuse them into one being. Then there were her parting words – "my love". "She loves me?" he thought. No one had ever said that to him.
"She Loves Me!"
And what was that skipping all about? He had never seen Hermione skip. He'd ask her about it in the morning.
/Scene Break/
Albus Dumbledore was not in a good mood. The Grangers had disappeared out the back of their house and a search of the neighbourhood turned up nothing. Albus and Minerva had investigated the kitchen when the kettle kept whistling. They had turned off the stove and noticed the open door.
Minerva had thought perhaps that Death Eaters had taken the couple but Dumbledore thought this unlikely. He had erected the wards around the property and they would have alerted him to any magical presence. Besides, there was no way portkeys or apparition could have been used and the Granger residence was not part of the floo network.
No, they had to have run out. He posted a 24hr watch on the house for when they returned. He needed to get control of Hermione.
He knew that she was loyal to Harry and it would not do to have her at the Will reading. There was no telling how she would react and he could not afford her to learn information that might get back to Harry. Dumbledore was sure of the wards around Privet Drive, but he had to admit that if anyone could find away around them that damn mudblood would be at the top of the list.
Dumbledore thought about the extra wards he had erected around the Granger house, the surveillance and the teams he had out looking for them. "They can't hide forever," he thought.
/Scene Break/
Back at the Burrow the two youngest Weasleys were having a hard time sleeping.
Ginny had her eyes closed and was picturing her storybook wedding to Harry Potter. She had already picked out the dress she would wear and what her five bridesmaids and maid of honour would be wearing too. She even had the many important details sorted like where all the reporters and press cameras would be situated to capture her in all her glory as she married the boy-who-lived. It was perfect. She had planned everything out and in a few days she would be betrothed. Nothing escaped her planning – right down to the dress she would wear to his funeral.
Ron was thinking about Hermione. She might be a mudblood, but damn she was good looking. His mother, Headmaster and him had even planned out which potions he would slip her next year. There was the love potion of course, but there were also the potions that would dampen her magic and her mind. After all, his mudblood girlfriend couldn't be seen as better than him.
/Scene Break/
Harry didn't feel like sleeping so he decided to check in on Severus and Tom.
He knocked on the door of their guesthouse and Severus answered and invited him inside.
"Harry, we expected you much sooner," Tom said as he looked up from the potion.
Harry sat down with them and told them about the day and their multiple surprise visitors. When he finished telling them the Granger's story Tom told him, "There's nothing to worry about. Albus may get suspicious but when he finds out about your inheritance on Sunday he will just realize that they are with you. There is nothing yet to make him suspect anything else."
"Yeah, I guess you're right. There's just so many things happening and I don't want to play our hand too soon."
Harry asked them how the potions was coming along and was delighted to hear it was almost completed. By this time his exhaustion was catching up to him and he bid them a good night and used his ring to transport him back to the Manor house.
/Scene Break/
Remus Lupin was having a sleepless night. This wasn't due to any worries for himself or anyone else. No, the cause of his sleepless night was the young metamorph currently sharing his bed. It was going to be a long, enjoyable night.
Remus thought wistfully, "It's a good thing I have the stamina of a werewolf."
A/N – Well, what do you think? Please keep the reviews coming. There are so many things going on in the story. Right now I'm not sure who else will be joining the heirs of the founders. Neville and his Gran are already givens and probably Luna's dad as well. Arthur's and the rest of the Weasleys' stories are still evolving.
A few people have mentioned Hagrid. Yes, he is a mixed blood, but he is blindly loyal to Dumbles. I'm not sure how or when he will fit in. Any ideas?