Chapter 7: A Year with the Grangers

Harry sat on his perch, wondering what he was going to talk about for a year with someone he never met before. He had been taken into her home and he was in her bedroom on a brand new perch and he had food and water. Then she had left him and he presumed she gone downstairs to have dinner after about an hour, he heard someone approaching the room as if they were in a hurry, he hoped that she not changed her mind.

Hermione rushed back up to her room after her parents had told she was different and she was supposed to be witch. She thought the worst until her dad had explained where the Granger family had come from. They said they could not be sure if she was magical or not, yes she had experienced bursts of what her parents had called accidental magic, but when the phoenix had landed on her shoulder and formed the bond, her parents knew she was magical.

Hermione loved to know new things and she wanted to know why the phoenix had known she was magical, and why he formed the bond with her, she had a thousand questions, she wanted to know everything about the magical world, she wanted to know if the phoenix was going to stay, or was it going to leave.

Once Hermione reached her room she shut the door and went straight over to Harry and proceeded to ask question after question at an incredible pace. Harry was dazed, all he was hearing were parts of a question and then hearing another he heard to keep up it was driving him insane.

"WAITTTTTTTTTTT " screamed Harry.

Hermione stopped dead in her tracks, she knew she was asking loads of questions and she knew she was asking question after question without waiting for an answer. However, when she heard Harry scream she was scared, she thought he was going to be upset. She was silently hoping that she had not ruined her chance to get to know Harry.

"Now Hermione, before you start to ask a lot of questions, let me explain a few things to you and when I am finished you may ask me questions, now how does that sound?"

"That sounds great Harry, and I am sorry for rushing off at a million miles a minute, I'm just so excited to find out what I actually am."

"No need to apologise Hermione, and now would you mind if I refer to you as youngling?"

"I am curious to why you would ask to call me that, but that is fine by me, now you were saying, you were going to tell me a story."

So for the next few hours Harry explained, that he could not remember anything that happened before his fifth birthday, and proceeded to tell her events leading up till this day. He did not tell her he was actually a wizard, or his rescue of Sirius. He had to wait until they both arrived at Hogwarts before he could reveal his true identity, he could not risk the wrong people finding out. He did not know who he could trust at this moment.

Hermione then went to bed while Harry went out to hunt. She could not believe his story so far he was so young and her logical mind was telling her that this Harry was about ten months younger than she; so how could be so intelligent at his age. She knew Harry was keeping something from her but she had no idea as to what. All he had said is that you will find out when the time is right, whatever that was supposed to mean. Hermione also noticed that since the phoenix had bonded to her, she felt strong and could feel something warm running through her veins and whatever is was made her feel good. She was also happy she had made her first friend, even if it was a magical bird.

The first month passed with daily chats, and Harry and Hermione getting to know each other. Mr. and Mrs. Granger welcomed Harry and would talk to him for hours on end when Harry was sitting on the back sofa just watching telly. They were surprised that bird had so much interest in what was on the telly, he even complained if they changed a channel he was watching.

Harry was in his thought process, he had been taken in by this lovely family and he had finally seen what his life should have been like before he turned five. Hermione did not get everything she wanted and from Harry could tell she relied too much on books and looked up to people in authority. This he would have to change, she could still have a thirst for knowledge but she needed to know how to then use that knowledge to the best of her ability. He could also feel the bond strengthen by day, but he still not feel complete, he guessed that would change once he found the other.

3 Months Later

Mrs. Granger was still in shock, not only was there a magical world, but her only daughter was a witch, she thought back to the day where her husband informed her of his heritage.

*FLASHBACK*

"Hunni, could you please join me in the living room, there is something we need to discuss" said Mr. Granger.

"Sure give me five minutes to get cleaned up in here and I will be with you."

So she had joined her husband in the living room not knowing what to expect, it must be serious if her husband wanted to chat about, she just hoped nothing bad had happened.

"What I am about to tell hunni will seem like its impossible and you know I would never lie to you , so please hear me out before you ask questions, will that be ok?"

She now felt nervous; she had a feeling that this would change her life as she knew it, she was brought out of her thinking , by the sound of her husband's voice.

"Many years ago, my family was known as a magical family and been that way for many generations, seven, to be precise. Back then a child was born into the family and even though he had magical parents, he did not have any magic and was known as a squib. This chain has continued through the ages and the Grangers have not had any magical children, that is up till now. As you are aware, Hermione has had some strange things happen around her and these incidents are called accidental magic, in other words something happens with just a thought from the child. Now today you saw something that has not been seen in the magical world for over one thousand years. That phoenix is a king, I know this because I have read on my magical history and kept in touch with it even though I am what is known as a squib. But back to the phoenix, he is a king of the realm and will have power beyond belief, Hermione will now have a friend for life, and the phoenix will protect her life with his own, but he will be reborn from the ashes, a phoenix cannot die, until the phoenix decides that it is time to move on. Are you following me so far?"

She sat in silence at what she has just been told, her daughter was a witch and the bird that she saw land on her daughters shoulder, had now made a bond meaning that it would protect her for her entire life. She was confused.

"I am shocked to be honest, I always thought our daughter was special and this confirms it, I may not understand the concept of her being a witch, but I will look to you to help guide me."

" That is fine my dear."

Then for the remainder of the evening Mr. Granger told her all about the magical world and how they were now a part of it, and what it would mean for their daughter later on in life.

*** END FLASHBACK ***

She was brought out of her thoughts by a knock at the door…

Headmasters Office

Albus Dumbledore was not a happy man, Harry Potter had disappeared somewhere and he had no idea who could have found him, the wards he placed when he placed Harry there would have masked all magical signature and he had also placed a block on harry, to stop him from becoming too powerful, after all he could not be allowed to be more powerful than himself.

He looked around his office and saw one his magical instruments twirling like mad, he knew he set this one up to watch over all magical signatures in Britain, in case someone became more powerful than him. The last time this went off when young Harry was born, that was why he had set them up to be murdered by Lord Voldemort, he also knew Sirius was innocent as he cast the charm that placed Peter Pettigrew as the Potter's secret keeper.

He walked over to the device and got the information of where this magical presence was coming from, and he was not happy it was a muggleborn witch, this could not be allowed, no muggleborn would ever be more powerful than him, he knew the subject was only 6 years old so easily controllable, he quickly decided he would place a block on her power and use her as bait, for some crazy mission later in life, where she could be sacrificed for the greater good. He no longer had his phoenix to transport him, so he made his way out to the front gates and apperated to a street close by.

On arrival he looked around to see if anyone had noticed him, there was not a soul in sight and he made his way to the next street, found the address and then knocked on the door.

Grangers Home, Surrey

Mrs. Granger wondered who this could be, her husband was out and her daughter was upstairs chatting away to the phoenix, she could swear that bird was human. So she went and answered the door and what she saw was the strangest sight she ever seen. A man wearing a robe that was brightly coloured and looked like it was sparkling in the sunlight and he also wore a pointed hat and had amazing twinkling eyes.

"Can I help you sir?"

"Yes you can, I was wondering if I could see you and your family, it would be best if I could come in and I will explain what is happening."

Mrs. Granger felt uneasy with this man and she did not know why, she guessed he was a wizard and that he was here to talk about Hermione. There was just something about him that made her skin crawl.

"Yes please come in, would you like some tea? "

"No thank you, I was wondering if you could you get your daughter and husband to join us, as some things I have to explain might come as a shock to you all."

"Hermione, could you please come to kitchen there is someone hear to see you."

A couple of minutes later Hermione came down the stairs and joined her mum in the kitchen where this strange man was sitting.

"Yes mum you wanted to see me? "

As Hermione was addressing her mum, Albus could feel the power coming from the young lady, he knew he had to block it, so sent a silent spell at Hermione to block her power, he felt her magic decrease, to the point of where most six year olds were at. Now it was time to put phase two of his plan into action.

He then explained to Hermione and her mum that Hermione was witch and that she was magical and all that this would entail for the future. Albus could not understand their reactions, it looked like they knew about magic already, how could this be, this is a muggle family there is no way they could know about magic. They looked completely at ease with everything and just seemed to be going through the motions. Albus decided to probe Hermione's mind and that was his biggest mistake.

The moment he tried to enter her mind he was thrown back out of her mind and then the next thing he saw was this amazing white Phoenix he had been searching for once again perched on his shoulder and he once again paralysed.

"HOW DARE YOU! TRY AND ENTER MY HUMANS MIND. I WARNED YOU BEFORE OLD MAN DO NOT DO ANYTHING THAT YOU WILL REGRET. THIS IS YOUR FINAL WARNING ANY MORE OUT OF YOU AND I WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE A LIVING HELL. NOW LEAVE HERE BEFORE YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO LEAVE WITHOUT AID!"

Albus was shocked beyond belief, once again this phoenix had paralysed him and he was only just able to move. Hermione and her mum were shocked beyond belief, and Hermione had heard every single word that had been said to this man and she vowed form that day she never wanted to be on her phoenixs' bad side. Hermione told her mum that he had tried to enter her mind and that is why Harry came and dealt with it. Mrs Granger was livid, not only had this man come here under the pretence of informing us about magic, but also tried to find out all Hermione's secrets.

"OUTTTTTTTTTT " Mrs Granger screamed.

Albus knew he had out stayed his welcome, he got up to leave but as he did he turned to the family and apologised for his actions and wished them good day. Albus knew he had achieved what he came he came to do, he had bound the child's magic to an acceptable level.

Harry was livid he informed Hermione that, that was the old man that had bound Fawkes to him, against his will and also the one he had to rescue Fawkes from once again. He also told Hermione not to trust that man. Hermione agreed she never did like to go against her elders, but she trust Harry more than that man any day. She felt like she could trust her life with Harry, after all phoenix's were extremely wise creatures.

Once everything had calmed down, Harry was sitting on Hermione's shoulder and he felt the bond getting weaker between him and Hermione, he could not work out to why there was a sudden drop in the bond. He thought back to when the bond had started to fade, it was when Mrs. Granger called Hermione down to see a visitor. He now knew what had happened, he cursed the old man for doing it and now he had to change it, if the bond broke it could kill Hermione, and he could not have that.

Harry waited until Hermione had fallen asleep, once she had fallen asleep Harry landed on her stomach and made a small cut in her skin as not wake her up, He then cried into the wound and pushed his magic into his tears, he could the feel the curse Dumbledore had put on Hermione, fighting for dominance. After about ten minutes Harry was getting tired, he gave it one final push hoping he could overcome the spell, but, he was getting too tired now and did not know how much longer he could push it. Then there was a sudden burst of fire and Fawkes had arrived to help Harry this was the push that was needed to kill the curse. Harry felt it was gone and the bond reaffirmed itself and with that thought he collapsed on the bed.

Fawkes saw this and picked Harry up and placed him on the floor, flashed away and within minutes he was back with potions to help Harry recover. Hermione sat up with a start, when she went to bed she felt really tired and she knew the bond was weak, she did not say anything because she just thought it was because she was tired. That was when she spotted Fawkes giving Harry something to drink and Harry slowly coming around. She did not what happened but was glad to have warm feeling of the bond back.

Once Harry had recovered Fawkes flashed away and left Harry to explain to Hermione what had happened and why it needed to be done. To say Hermione was angry was an understatement, she vowed from that forward she would never trust the old man again.

The rest of the year passed with Harry and Hermione getting to know each other, Hermione knew the time was nearly up with Harry, but Harry promised to keep watching over her and he was only a call away. He explained how to call him but due to the bond, Harry would know when she was in trouble. The day finally came for Harry to depart, it was a tearful goodbye from Hermione but Harry assured her he would always be watching and reminded to her to try and keep her magic under control as much as possible. With a final trill Harry flashed away to meet his next bond mate.

Ottery St Catchpole The Burrow

The Weasley family were sitting down for lunch and everyone was tucking into their dinner, then all of a sudden there was a massive white flash and once the mist cleared there was a brilliant white Phoenix sitting on Ginny Weasley's shoulder. Once the mist had cleared there was a flash of gold light surrounding the phoenix and Ginny, everyone know knew the Ginny had just bonded with the phoenix.