Disclaimer all characters, settings, etc, are the copyright of JK Rowling and Bloomsbury Publishing
The Return
Chapter, nine,
Great Grandmother.
Harry was grateful that his three companions did not discus the revelation that Minerva McGonagall was his great grandmother; he was at the moment unsure about how he felt about this relationship; after all she had allowed him to grow up in the clutches of his awful and cruel aunt and uncle.
He decided to sleep on it and to reserve his judgment until he had talked to her, they all went to bed early with their minds full of thoughts on how to free the greatest wizard ever; they were to be leaving for Hogwarts in the morning having decided to use the knight bus rather than apparating.
Breakfast the next morning was served by Mya, who was still in a very happy mood. She thanked them for bringing out the secrets that she and her husband had wasted so long keeping.
She sat with them at the kitchen table and told them "I have removed the contraception spell, we are hoping to be able to have at least two children before I become to old. I thought I would never be able to be a mother, though I always wanted to have a child of my own."
Harry and Ron felt a little uncomfortable with the way the talk was heading so they finished eating and standing to leave the table they said that they would just pop out and see Hugh for a while before they left. An hour later they were promising to return for a holiday and hugging their new found friend's goodbye as they boarded the knight bus.
"Harry if we have a boy we are going to name him after you and Ron, if it's a girl we will name her Hermione, Luna after the girls" said Hugh as they left.
Then with a bang they were speeding away down the country roads on their way to Hogwarts.
By mid afternoon Harry, Ron, Hermione and Luna were waiting at the school gates for Hagrid to answer the huge bell that announced visitors.
It had taken him a while as he was in the middle of teaching a class of first years. Hagrid escorted them all to the headmistress's office and then went to inform her that she had visitors.
Harry was still not sure how he felt about being told that Minerva McGonagall was his great grandmother, he was still thinking about it when she arrived.
"Hello, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Luna, to what do I owe this pleasure?" Minerva greeted them.
Ron, Hermione and Luna said hello, while Harry thought of what to say and finally he said "Good afternoon grandma".
"I beg your pardon Harry?" said Minerva shocked.
"I said good afternoon grandma," repeated Harry.
Minerva was lost for words for a few minutes, she had always thought of Harry as a grandson but to hear him call her grandma gave her a pleasant feeling in her heart.
Harry could tell from her reaction she had no idea he knew she was his great grandmother, he got the impression she did not know it her self which took a lot of the uncertainty out of how he was feeling.
"We have just spent a few days with one of your ancestors Professor, his name is Merlin, I say is because he is still alive, trapped but alive," Harry told her.
"Merlin alive how can that be? That would make him a thousand years old," she looked at them all wanting further information.
"Its true Professor," Hermione said, as the others nodded in agreement.
"Anyway he sent a message for you, he said that the family legend is true, and he said that you are my great grandmother.
"Is it possible after all these years, but if the legend is true then it must be so, oh poor sweet Albus," Minerva was saying.
Needless to say none of the young ones had any idea what she was going on about. Ron, not only was he clueless about what was being said but he had decided that the news had made the Professor flip, she was obviously raving mad.
"Professor, excuse me but what exactly are you trying to say? You don't seem to be making any sense," Hermione sounded concerned as she asked.
"Oh I am sorry, so Harry you actually spoke to Merlin, and he said I was your great grandmother is that correct?" Minerva had tears forming in her eyes, "did he say anything else?"
Ron answered, glad to be getting back to some sort of intelligent conversation, "He said that this secret had, how did he put it, come to its end."
Harry was looking slightly puzzled, he had expected McGonagall to deny being any bodies' grandmother great or other wise, but here she was smiling at him with a tear running down her cheek.
He needed an answer, did he actually have a relative outside the Dursley family.
"I suppose you are all wondering whether I am Harry's Great grandmother? well if the family legend is true then I am, for the legend says that as long as Merlin's descendant's have children he will live, if however the line ends then he too will end, it was the only way he could leave his valley prison. Of course none of us ever thought for one moment it could be true."
"Does that mean that Harry is related to Merlin Professor?" Ron asked "and if so how?"
"I have never spoken of this to anyone but Dumbledore since I was a young teenager," Minerva said
"When I was a foolish young girl of sixteen I gave birth to a little girl. Albus and I were so happy we were to be parents. Though we were young we knew we would be in love forever. However just five hours after the birth my father took away my little girl and hard as we tried Albus and I could not find out where she had gone.
We swore we would not marry till we found her, fifteen years we searched without result. That is why we both became teachers here at Hogwarts; there was always the chance that we would find her. We were being silly of course as we had no idea what she looked like, the closest we came to finding her was when your mother arrived Harry. She looked a lot like my own mother, but she came from a Muggle family. So though for a short time Albus was convinced he had found our granddaughter we were unable to find out the truth," Minerva was in tears.
"So you and Dumbledore are my great grandparents?" Harry was suddenly delighted; he finally knew where he had come from. He had found his grand parents, parents, albeit one was now dead.
Harry and Minerva spent the next two days getting to know each other properly, the way family should. It was at tea time on the second day since their arrival at Hogwarts that Ron cast a little shadow over the happiness that had entered the life of his ex Professor and his best friend, as he took more cake from the table he looked up at Minerva and said
"How come some one so nice, has that horrible woman Petunia as a grand daughter?"
Harry remembered his previous thoughts on why he had been left with the Dursley family, the Professor assured them that had it been known that Harry was their great grandson he would have spent his young life living at Hogwarts with herself and Dumbledore.
When Luna and Hermione began to tell about the way Harry had been treated, Minerva was horrified; no one it seemed had bothered to tell her of all the cruelty inflicted on Harry. She left them that evening saying she was going to visit her new found granddaughter and she was not in a pleasant mood when she left. She never said what had happened at that meeting with Petunia and Vernon Dursley.
Five days they stayed at Hogwarts with Minerva, before deciding it was time to return to the Burrow, Harry had asked Hermione if she would marry him, she was ecstatic and instantly answered yes and wanted to begin making arrangements for her and Harry's wedding. They would leave on the Monday morning and once more would use the knight bus.
On Sunday however, as the four friends sat having a cup of tea in Minerva's quarters they heard a voice coming from over by the fire. Harry recognised Merlin's voice straight away and rushed over to the huge mirror that hung over the fire.
"Ah Harry I see you are getting to know your family, how are you all?" Merlin asked politely.
"We are fine sir we were just discussing wedding plans, I wish you could be there," Harry said truly meaning what he said.
Minerva stood behind Harry, a look of awe on her face.
Merlin stared at her for a while then told her that she looked a lot like his mother had. "It seems the good looks run in the family," he said with a chuckle as he watched her blush.
"So it's all really true, you really are still alive? Albus would be fascinated," Minerva said, "is there no way we can free you from this curse, can we not find a way to counter it."
"I have tried for a thousand years, many of the family have tried as well but my beautiful Morgana was the greatest witch I have ever known.
Once she had tricked me into this place she left only two ways out, one you know about. When the last family member dies then I too will die. The other way is now no longer possible; for she would have to forgive me and as she died so many centuries ago I don't think she will," Merlin sighed "it's a long time to spend in one small place."
Ron stepped forward "I think that the greatest witch of all time, might be able to find an answer," he said looking at Hermione.
"So Ron, you think you know the greatest witch of all time, tell me what makes you think that?" Merlin was intrigued.
"Well my best friend your descendant Harry just happens to be getting ready to be married to her, but that's not the reason, every one says it and when we went to the realm of death to free Harry, we were 'told' that she was," Ron said, astonished that anyone could doubt his best friends skill.
Luna joined in "It's quite true, we were told by the Maker that Hermione is the greatest witch of all time, but we already knew that anyway."
Hermione stood blushing a really bright red that seemed to get deeper as Minerva joined the consensus of opinion. Harry turned to Hermione "Maybe this is what will prove to you the truth of our belief in you Mione."
Hermione promised that if there was a way to free Merlin she would find it.
They all spent the next hour talking with Merlin and listening to what he knew of the curse that held him. He told them of Morgana and their love story and how it had all ended. He had let the creation and upkeep of Camelot push her from his life and she had turned against him and Arthur in the end.
Hermione got permission from Minerva for her and Luna to stay at Hogwarts, and to use the head mistresses private library. Harry and Ron went to the Burrow where they began to make arrangements for the wedding. It was decided to hold it on the fourteenth of august, mainly because that seemed to be the only day that all the people they had invited were all free.
Molly was having the time of her life, she had waited years to see Hermione get married, and to see her engaged to the one man she would have chosen for the girl her self made her so happy.
With only two weeks till the wedding day, Ron still had not found any thing to wear in the wizarding shops. He also told Harry that he was hopeless at choosing wedding dresses and if Hermione wanted to look, as she put it 'nice' for him on the big day, she was going to have to stop reading and leave Hogwarts and do her own shopping.
"I think Hermione had the right idea, a Muggle wedding dress would make her look stunning," he said to his mother over lunch.
Molly agreed with him "I must admit she should look beautiful on the day."
Harry came up with a simple solution "Why don't I get some money from Gringotts and then I can take the three of you beautiful ladies to shop in London." Molly blushed a little.
Early the next morning Harry sent an owl to Hermione asking her to meet them at the leaky cauldron at one pm. He Ron and his mother knew next to nothing about Muggle shops and would need some help, he also sent a letter to the Grangers asking them to be there too. Harry, Ron and Molly left Gringotts with fifteen minutes to spare; they took a slow walk to the pub that lead to the Muggle world where they met up with the Grangers.
Harry had withdrawn a large amount of cash he did not intend for Hermione to have to think about the cost. Hermione was waiting at the leaky cauldron, sitting at a table with Luna.
Luna was sitting having something to eat, while Hermione had her nose stuck in a book. Neither of them noticed Harry and the two Weasleys enter, it was not till they sat down at the table that Luna looked up from her food and said "Harry, Ron, Mum, Hermione won't be a minute, we just have to get that book from her, oh and hi."
Hermione pulled her face at Luna but put her book away, she did not seem too happy about not finishing what she had been reading.
"What's wrong Hermione dear?" Mrs Weasley asked.
"I just don't seem able to find out how to free Merlin; I have checked nearly all the books in Hogwarts but found nothing."
"She's been spending up to fourteen hours a day reading those ancient manuals," Luna said as she finished her meal.
"You're bound to find something Hermione, and if you don't I'm sure you will think of something," Harry smiled at her; he had hoped that Merlin would be able to be there at the wedding.
An hour later they entered the shop where Hermione's mum had bought her wedding dress. The three men, Harry, Ron and Mr Granger were told to wait by the window, where they sat on the ledge and watched the world outside pass by. Several dresses and a lot of time later, Helen Hermione's mum decided it was time for her to take control; she walked over to Harry and said,
"Harry, I don't know how much money you have to spare are you sure we can't help, and how much are we to spend?"
"It doesn't matter what the price is, I want Hermione to be happy is all," he answered.
Helen picking up a dress as she passed a rack of exclusives went back to the girls who were still trying to find the right dress; she had the dress in her arms and gave it to Hermione with instructions to try it on.
Luna and Molly both gasped when Hermione came out of the changing room, she looked stunning. The dress was a full length one with a figure hugging bodice that flared into a billowing skirt just above the hips down to the floor where the back was a little longer than the front. The bodice was covered in randomly placed tiny little silver beads shaped as roses, the lower part of the dress had a number of petticoats under it that made Hermione look like a fairy tale princess.
Helen took a look, walked around Hermione scrutinising the dress and finally said, "That's the one dear, now you just go take it off and we can get it wrapped before the men get a look at it."
As Hermione went back to the changing room she suddenly stopped and put a hand to her mouth, she walked over to the mirror and gently called
"Merlin, are you there, Merlin?"
A few seconds later Merlin appeared in the mirror.
"Did you call me Hermione? Sorry it took me a moment, some lady in that room must have been inappropriately dressed another of Morgana's little twists she made sure the reflections could not reveal a female who was not fully clothed."
"Merlin I remember you telling Harry he could travel through any mirror?"
"That is correct my dear, one of the special traits of a fully powerful wizard." He answered.
"So it doesn't have to be a magical one then? Do you have a mirror there? I don't recall seeing one when we were with you." Hermione was getting excited.
"No all I have is the pond, if I should need to see my own reflection?" Merlin answered.
"Right, I have to go now but I will talk to you later," said Hermione as she rushed into the changing room, as soon as she came out she called over to Harry and Ron. "We have to buy a full length Muggle mirror, the biggest we can find," she told Harry.
"A what?" Ron said, looking decidedly baffled "why would we want a Muggle mirror?"
Harry looked as puzzled as Ron "Where do you go to buy a mirror?" he ask as he had no idea. Though he had grown up with his Muggle relatives, they had never taken him shopping; they much preferred to leave him behind locked in the cupboard under the stairs.
The rest of the day was spent with the women leading the men from one shop to the next as they bought all the required extras to complete Hermione's wedding outfit. They then did some shopping in Diagon Alley where they bought new robes for Molly and Luna, by late evening having said goodbye to the Grangers three very happy women and two very tired men went back to the Burrow.
