Disclaimer: I don't own it; just having a go at fanfiction to see if I can em-provvvee my Eeng-lish.
Dreamer's Note: No, I won't call myself an author. Every half an hour before I sleep, I'll have some idea popped up in my mind before I drift away in my slumber. Sometimes, I wrote and deleted paragraphs after paragraphs just to suit my plot in the future of the story. I'm not very good at writing a poem or such thing, so mostly when witchcraft is mentioned in my story, I'll just say, some verses were chanted or the incantation was there, but not the thing itself. Bear with me.
The True Journey of Harry Potter
Chapter 8 – New friend
It has been four years since the day of the first gathering after the disbandment. Dr. Granger, a well-known dentist, was having his breakfast with his family. He had yet to tell his wife about the Squib Society. There were many matters need to consider first. He did not know how his wife would take the news about magic. Her family, Corners, was quite a strict Christian. Magic as such would be found as evil. He thought of breaking the news soon or it would end disastrous.
"Dan, back to earth," his wife called in his muse. "What's bothering you?"
He smiled and shook his head. Sipping his third cup of coffee, "nothing, dear. Where's my dear girl?"
Emmeline Granger, nee Corners, shook off her worry of her husband and turned to the living room connected to the kitchen area. "Watching the 'Discovery' channel," she replied with a frown. "I'd hope she would turn on the TV and watch 'Disney' cartoon channel instead, you know."
Daniel chuckled, "you know, dear. She's taking after you."
"At least, I know when to have fun, Dan. Do you know that I got a call from Mrs. Marvell yesterday? She said Hermione refused to join the other kids playing and get into a fight when one of the girls in her class threw a book down on the floor. I don't even know what to do. I know she loves books, but this'd gone too far. If that's not enough, Hermione not just refused to play with those kids; she set herself in the school's library all her free period."
"We'll find something, Emma," he reassured her. "Let's just leave it at that and see if nothing changes and I'll talk to her. Alright?"
Emma gave in and settled down. "Hermione, dear, breakfast's ready."
"Yes, mum," was a replied from the living room.
Once the girl was seated, her mother brought her plate of hams and eggs. What happened next caused Daniel to glee. While Emma was bringing the glass of milk for Hermione, the glass full of milk slipped from the older Granger's grasp and before it could crashed on the table right in front of their daughter, Hermione reacted, or should he say, her magic reacted. The glass hovered in the air and spilt milk was flying back into the glass. Emma watched with wide eyes, while Hermione was also shocked.
"Great God, what was that?" Emma exclaimed once the glass landed on the table. Hermione became anxious. The girl panicked beyond herself.
"It's quite alright, my dear wife and daughter," Daniel said. He was so happy. Magic granted his family with a magical child. Oh, what a wonderful news. He would love to just get up and called Mr. Dursley right now; if not that he had to reassure his family that Magic was real.
"Emma, sit down," he told his wife who was pacing muttering something like evil doings in her house. "Hermione?" he called his daughter who was having a distant look in her eyes.
Once the ladies of the house calmed down and seated. He got up and went to get his family's memoir. He had read it many times. There were magic mentioned, ways of witchcraft. However, as he did not have any instruction, he did not know that he could do it himself; always believed that only a magical one could do it. He even thought of asking some people in the society or Mr. Castor, the caretaker about it, but decided against it as the first order of his father before handing him the memoir was 'never let anyone outside the family see it'. It would seem to be the time he should ask.
"My dear wife and daughter, I have something to tell you." He said with a grim expression.
"What is it, Dan?" Emma looked at him with unreadable face. "Are you holding some secret that you should have told me?"
Hermione just sat there watching her parents. She was still wondering about the milk glass in front of her.
"Yes, a secret I have withhold," Dan said and rushed to correct it as soon as seeing his wife's angry face. "No, I'm not having affairs. Gee, give me some credit, my beautiful wife."
"So, what's it?" She asked narrowing her eyes.
"Emma, I hope you listen with open-mind. What I'm about to tell you is a secret of my family. Do you believe in Magic?"
Once the question was asked, Daniel had to take awhile to calm himself from snapping at his wife. She was laughing uncontrollably. His daughter though took it with calm, but with calculating look on her face.
"Are you saying that Magic is real?" Hermione asked her father, "and what just happened is magic?"
Daniel nodded and continued to explain his family's history. Emma was sober once he got to the part about Magic punishing the family. She knew this kind of knowledge was against her ideal of lives. But since she loved her husband and started to believe him not being crazy, she listened with interest.
In the end, Daniel had told her that they would take the day off and visited a friend's house who was also the councilor of the Squib Society.
-o0o-
A few miles away from the Granger's household, a green-eye, messy hair boy was getting ready for his morning routine. Aunt Petunia was feeling sick yesterday and he had told her to sleep in for the day. He would be the cook for breakfast his morning, though his uncle said it was not needed.
He moved into Dudley's toy rooms last two years when Aunt Marge bought him his own toys and they could not fit in the cupboard anymore. However, the cupboard was now reserved for his use only. The Dursley by blood could not understand why, but the Evans in the house, i.e. Petunia and Harry, told them that it was for Harry's magical practice and should leave it as that.
The cupboard was now cleared out with only a rug on the floor. There were shelves of books on the wall. Dudley once walked in and found it boring with nothing interested him.
Harry's room, as the toys room was now called, had as many things as Dudley's. The different was just depended on the boys' personalities. While Dudley enjoyed computer games and various game devices, basically all technological, which Harry often joined to play with his cousin, Harry's room though could be called a boring room for Dudley. There were only a study desk and chair, a television closet with the set of video player, a small bookcase and a wardrobe. Harry did have his own game devices but had them all moved to Dudley's as he said it was out of place in his ordinary room, therefore, saving his family from buying double as most things would end up with Dudley anyway. The cousins got along well, much the reliefs of the elders. While Dudley was a loud funny boy, Harry was quiet one with more maturity. Dudley listened to Harry's words by heart, though sometimes argued with him, but would end up following his cousin's reasoning.
Harry could not thank his faith enough. He was happy with his life; the blood ward was now stronger than the first few years of his life living in the house and as strong as it could be. His aunt and uncle raised him as same as Dudley. You could say, the boys were spoiled, but not in the wrong way. Aunt Petunia and Marge, who visited often, were the ones that would hold them down when they became too out of line. They learnt of the proper way of high-society etiquette. Dudley once whined that it was no use and not needed. Though, his Aunt Marge said that, though it was true in the muggle world where they would not be joining the high-society, but in the magical world where they would re-settle in soon, this was required as a pure-blood. Also, who knew what future would bring. Maybe, someday, they would need it in the muggle world too as Harry's position as a Potter.
Harry had learnt about finance and they had contacted the goblins at Gringotts for their financial issues in a secret manner not to tip off suspicions from the people in the wizarding world especially Dumbledore. Harry found that while the Evans' treasure was not huge, just enough for him and his family to spend in normalcy for a great many years. The Potter's fortune was grand and came along with title and with his rank of nobility in the magical world. It could be said the same for the Evans, but since the family left the wizarding for such a long time, their names and titles were lost in history. Nowadays, though the nobility was not an issue in the wizarding world anymore, the title of 'Lord' as being the Head of the ancient and noble House of Potter had some powers in the eyes of those aristocrats. It had also got his interest that the Potter had their names in the muggle's high-society as well. It seemed various Potters had spent their times in both worlds and carried on their title of 'Baron'. They might not practice the title openly, but the royal family would recognize them if they showed up. Harry and his family had been pending to make decision to introduce himself to Her Majesty the Queen. They would have to decide once Harry turned ten as a legal age of inheritance. Director Ragnok the eleventh, Prince of the Goblins Nation, had come to visit them personally a few months ago to talk about their decisions. Harry was dragged aside to talk with him privately in the cupboard. It seemed the prince knew of the sacred place where Harry and Petunia would practice their magic. Prince Ragnok said that Harry should get the recognition, albeit secretly from the royalty. In the end of the meeting that day, the prince bent down to whisper in Harry's ear that the GoM had suggested it. Even though Harry had not met with his grandparents in years, they were still in touch via letters brought by Felix and sometimes there would be packages delivered through muggle post under the logo of GoM full of books and various items both magical and non-magical.
When his family heard about the suggestions, they all went hysterical. Aunt Marge had to be given a calming draught to stop her from ranting and raving along the line of their unworthiness to dare doing such and that Harry was too young and so on. Dudley was the one of conscious that day. He said about the pros and cons of being recognized and their future plans. So, they all agreed to think about it and made the decision later.
"RRRRRRRRRR" the phone rang through his thought. Harry ran downstairs to get it. His uncle was still in the bathroom, Dudley would sleep through the noise, while his aunt might hear it and woke up, but she wouldn't have enough energy to get downstairs.
"Hello, Dursley's residence," Harry answered the call.
"Good morning," a man's voice replied in the line. "May I speak to Mr. Dursley, please?"
"Of course, sir. May I have your name, please?"
"It's Daniel Granger."
"A moment, sir," Harry told the man and placed the phone on hold.
His uncle was on the stairs as he looked up. "Who's it, Harry?" Vernon asked walking to his nephew. Harry gave him the answer and walked to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.
Once Vernon finished his phone call, the man smiled widely and told Harry to prepare more for lunch today. He announced that he had taken a day off work and they would have guests today.
Harry did not mind cooking for more. It was a deal he made with his aunt that he would do it willingly no matter how many times she told him not to. He enjoyed cooking and brewing potions with her. Their cellar was partitioned into two; one for their magical practice and another for the normal household such as a laundry, cleaning supplies and storage.
"Who's coming?" Harry asked absentmindedly peeling potatoes. Harry had decided to prepare launch after finish preparing breakfast so he could take some times later brewing wit-sharpening potion for Dudley as he had promised his cousin. Dudley, while not dumb, was having problem learning. Sometimes he even forgot what he was reading just few minutes later. Harry did not know why, but he had read about the potion and suggested to Dudley and they have decided to try it out.
"A dentist," was Vernon's reply.
Harry lost his cool at that. "Ouch!" he exclaimed having cut his finger. Vernon looked at the boy worriedly and got assured from Harry that he's fine by seeing the boy showed his woundless finger. How wonderful magic had become in the household. Vernon even let Harry helped using magic with his stuff; they was almost considered charming the car to run magically with our fuel, but had decided against it as this would seem as an abusing of Magic.
"You're not going to have me and Dudley testing our teeth, are you, Uncle?" Harry asked threatening.
What's it with dentists and children? Vernon mused. "No, my boy. Mr. Granger is coming over with his wife and daughter. They found out she's magical."
Harry's eyes sparked up. "Really? A witch?"
Vernon nodded. "I'm calling Dudley's school later. He'd want to meet another kid with magic, so he doesn't feel left out."
"A very good thinking, Uncle Vernon. I'm about to suggest that," Harry said. "How's Aunt Petunia? I've some porridge for her here."
"She's still weak, but the fever's gone." Vernon answered while reading the newspaper. "Wake up your cousin, will you?"
"Yes, sir," Harry replied holding a tray of porridge, orange juice and water for his aunt and walked upstairs.
Exactly at eleven, the bell rang. Dudley, who was briefed about the visit, went to greet their guests. Aunt Petunia, after a pepper-up potion, was setting the table in the kitchen with Harry and Marge Dursley talking quietly there. Vernon had called his sister and she came through the fireplace, which was connected legally but secretly a few years ago. They could now floo to the Gathering Hall from the house. The children were introduced to the society, but were not allowed joining in the meeting yet according the rule that the children should not be told until they were in the age of fifteen. Although Harry was mature enough in his mind and knowledge, they have decided to keep it a secret. What would happen if the people in the Squib Society knew of the whereabouts of the Boy-Who-Lived? After a few investigations, they found that Dumbledore was very tight-lip about Harry's life from the majority of the wizarding world.
The Grangers were brought to the kitchen and introductions were made. Harry and Dudley eyed the bushy haired girl with interest. While Dudley was having a second thought about befriending the girl (Girls have cooties, he thought), Harry was feeling his magic started to react to the girl. He could feel ambient magic shifted in the air. He would have to talk with his grandparents about this. The adults shooed the kids out to the back garden while they talked.
They stood awkwardly eyeing each others. Harry made the first move though, "err… hello, Hermione."
"Hi," she replied shyly. "You're Harry?"
"Yup," Harry smiled, "and the big oaf here is Dudley."
"Hey! I resent that," Dudley cried out. "I'm not an oaf and not that big, you skinny snake."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"Am not"
"Are too"
Hermione watched them arguing with wide eyes. She thought they were quarreling. Truth be told, the cousin were just insulting each other playfully. Seeing her look, the cousins laughed. "Sorry, Hermione, we didn't scare you, did we?" Harry asked.
"No, no, you didn't. But what's that about? Why Dudley called you snake and why you called him oaf?" her curiosity kicked in.
"Well," Dudley said airily, "Mr. Harry Potter in front of you can talk to snakes, so he's nicknamed a snake."
"And Mr. Dudley Dursley there is having his intelligence issue, thus an oaf." Harry quipped in.
"Isn't that an insult?" the girl asked feeling somewhat insulted herself.
"Nah," Dudley waved off, "I do have the problem with my brain and we are trying to solve that with magic. Oops…" Dudley startled at his slip. His parents told him not to mention about magic to anyone outside of the house.
"It's alright, Dud," Harry told him. "She's here 'coz she's magical, too. Remember?"
"Oh, right. I forget about that again. See? I sometimes forget just what I was told," Dudley said with sheepish face.
Hermione could not help herself and started to giggle, soon joined by Harry and Dudley. Once they all calmed down, Harry talked with her about magic she could do and Dudley piped in with his comments here and there.
In the end, Harry held out his hand, "friends?"
Hermione took his hand, "friends."
Dudley's hand joined them, "friends forever."
When the children were called for lunch, the adults were happy to see that their children got along well. Hermione was ecstatic to find a friend whom she could talk with ease in Harry as he was bright and intelligent as much as her, while Dudley was a funny friend worth talking to.
After lunch, they had come to an agreement to let the children meet once in a while, as often as every day as Hermione quipped in. Daniel had his family's memoir with him and showed it to Vernon. It was not unlike Dursley's own journal, so they compared and found out their families were actually once very close and had a long relationship back since the 15th century. Seeing that the Granger had no idea about witchcraft, Marge volunteered to teach them. Daniel, being too old and having to run his practice, refused to do it, but asked if Hermione could be the one learning. So, Hermione would join Harry in witchcraft study. Harry, as a senior, would be teaching her at the beginning along with Marge, who would teach more practical ones about witches.
In witchcraft, the students were classified in levels. The beginners were called juniors. Those who learnt more advance would be called senior. Above that was the one Harry could not do as he was a wizard. Witchcraft was called for a reason; only witches could master their ways. Those who had achieved the level were called masters.
-o0o-
Ending Dreamer's Note: I know it's rather silly making the kids friends this fast and with Dud's final phrase 'friend forever'. However, I recalled myself making friends and used those words in the first time we met and we're still friends. Thinking back, we have a laugh about it too.
