Chapter 12 The Plot Thickens
"WHAT? Mom I just told you I have to finish my education!" Hermione exclaimed.
"And you will," Jane confirmed calmly, "but you are not doing it at Hogwarts. From what I understand, Voldemort hates anyone not magical or not of pure magical blood. That means that he is more likely to attack the family of a muggleborn since he would think we can't defend ourselves – which we can by the way – but why bother? Your Uncle Mac has been trying to convince us to move our practice and live in Port Charles. Jason has obviously found a good school for Harry to attend, and it's not even a boarding school so you could come home at night. I have no problem with you finishing your education, Hermione, but you are going to do it somewhere that is safe – and Hogwarts isn't safe."
Hermione's eyes widened in shock, "Are you serious?"
"Oh I'm very serious. I'm also still very angry with you for lying to your father and me. I understand that you loved Hogwarts, but it isn't worth your life." Jane continued sternly.
Hermione muttered something under her breath.
"What was that?" Jane asked.
"I said I only wanted to stay at Hogwarts so I could help Harry." Hermione spoke up.
Harry gasped, "Really?"
Hermione looked at the boy. "You're my best friend in the world Harry, and it seems like someone is always trying to hurt you. I couldn't let you face that alone."
Harry's eyes filled with tears, but he managed to keep them at bay. "Thank you. You're my best friend too and I wouldn't be alive without your help."
Jane smiled down at the two teens. "Thank you for having us over, but I think that Hermione and I need to get going. It's getting late and we still have to discuss her punishment for withholding information."
Harry gulped and looked at Hermione nervously. Seeing his expression, the girl smiled. "It's nothing bad like you used to have, Harry – I promise."
"Are you sure?" Harry asked softly.
"I'll probably be grounded or something. My parents would never hurt me." Hermione confirmed.
Jane looked shocked for a moment at the very thought before her expression softened and she knelt next to the teenage boy. "No one deserves what your relatives did to you Harry. Anyone who tried to hurt Hermione would have to kill me first."
Harry seemed to relax a bit at her words. "Okay."
"You are a very good friend Harry, and I want you to know that none of the events at Hogwarts were your fault. The teachers and headmaster should have been doing a much better job of protecting their students instead of sending them off to fight dragons and evil wizards. All of it is on their heads, and you better believe they will be getting an abrupt letter from me when I officially pull Hermione from that school. In fact, I might just write the papers as well." Jane declared with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
"Now you see why Janie was always my favorite." David chuckled. He didn't envy Dumbledore or any of the other professors. Jane Scorpio had always been feisty.
Jane grinned and winked at her brother. "Take us home David. Harry, Jason it was lovely of you to invite us. Thank you for a wonderful afternoon. Harry, thank you for telling me the truth."
Hermione chuckled as she gave her friend a hug goodbye. "You have always been rubbish at lying."
"I'm sorry." Harry apologized softly.
"Don't be. I get to go to school with you and my family will be safe from Voldemort. Any punishment is well worth it. I'll talk to you later." Hermione winked.
Jason stood next to Harry as they watched the trio leave.
"How are you feeling?" Jason asked softly.
"A little wrung out." Harry admitted. "I think it was harder to tell Hermione's mom because I knew it would upset her and get Hermione in trouble."
"You did the right thing." Jason assured him as the two moved into Harry's room and bathroom to get cleaned up.
"I hope so. At least Hermione and her family will be safe now." Harry shrugged.
"And that's the important thing." Jason agreed.
Meanwhile, as Jason and Harry were discussing their dinner plans, Wizarding England was in an uproar. Undersecretary Umbridge, who was supposed to be arrested on suspicion of illegally blocking The-Boy-Who-Lived's magic had been found dead of suicide in her cottage.
Then the Department of Mysteries got involved as a favor to David Scorpio.
Victor Straighthand sighed as he approached the crime scene. He just had this one last errand to do and then he could go home to his wife – who thought he was a clerk in the Ministry. He waved his wand and watched as a scroll appeared with the name of every magical signature that entered the cottage within the last week. Unsurprisingly, several aurors as well as ICW police members registered. Interestingly enough, so did Minister Fudge's head guard, John Dawlish.
Victor pocketed the scroll and continued into the cottage. He glanced around at the everyday objects in the room. The report that the Unspeakable had read said that dinner had been prepared but not eaten. That is what had thrown up several red flags within the Department of Mysteries as well as the ICW. If this had truly been a suicide, why would Umbridge take time to prepare a dinner she would never eat?
Waving his wand once more in a complicated motion, Victor began to chant rhythmically as he pulled out a small vial. When he finished chanting, he jerked his wand and inserted the very tip into the bottle. Quickly he placed a stopper on it and watched as a milky mist formed in the glass bottle. Satisfied, Victor left out the front door and back to his office to drop off the evidence before going home for the day.
David Scorpio sighed and frowned deeply as he read the report on the results of the Umbridge investigation. What had originally been thought to be a suicide had been ruled a murder. The chief suspect, John Dawlish had been brought in for questioning under Veritaserum and had declared that he had nothing to do with it. In fact, he had witnesses as he had been drinking with several upstanding aurors at the Leaky Cauldron when the murder occurred. It looked as if someone had been polyjuiced to commit the crime. Unfortunately, polyjuice potion also imitated the magical signature of the person being imitated, so there was no way to trace the culprit.
With a frustrated groan, David ran his hands through his hair. He wracked his brain trying to think who would want to restrict Harry from his magic. Minister Fudge was worried about the political power that Harry might wield, and had immediately agreed to allow what appeared to be a muggle adopt the Boy-Who-Lived. He might have suspected Voldemort, but the dark lord was more interested in killing Harry than rendering him powerless in order to regain the respect of several dark creatures like the vampires who the Department of Mysteries had been delighted to hear refused to side with any wizard too weak to defeat a one year old.
The name Albus Dumbledore flittered through his mind, but David quickly discounted him as well. Dumbledore was more interested in using Harry as a weapon. Removing his magic would render the old man's plans useless.
David ran his hands over his face and sighed tiredly. He glanced at the clock and noticed it was three in the morning. He had been looking over the reports for a few hours now. He should head to bed soon. Seven in the morning was going to come very soon. The wizard gathered all of his paperwork and shoved it into a folder before heading to bed. Tomorrow was another busy day in the new life of Harry Morgan. David chuckled. Who knew a fourteen year old kid could make life so interesting?
It was seven thirty and Harry was sitting at the kitchen table with his father eating breakfast when there was a knock on the door and Francis leaned in to announce Elizabeth Webber. A smile lit up the teen's face and he shared a delighted look with his father. Jason stood up and together the two Morgan men went into the living room to greet their guest.
Elizabeth was standing in the middle of the room with an uncertain expression. She relaxed a bit when Jason and Harry both smiled at her. Harry stared interestedly at the large flat package Elizabeth was holding.
"What's that?" Harry asked curiously.
Elizabeth grinned. "I just thought it was time for me to return a gift that Jason left with me a few years ago."
Jason's eyes lit up in recognition as the artist turned the familiar painting around so they could see it. "You didn't have to do this." He pointed out.
Elizabeth shrugged. "I don't feel right about keeping it, and Harry was complaining the other day that he hated the art over the fireplace."
Jason glanced over at his son, who was staring down at the floor sheepishly. "You could have said something."
"I know." Harry replied softly, "But I didn't know if you had picked out that painting and I didn't want to offend you."
Jason sighed. "You have a right to your opinion Harry. If you don't like something tell me. I'm not going to get offended."
Harry nodded. "Okay. Dad, I really hate the artwork over the fireplace."
Jason chuckled and shook his head as Elizabeth laughed at the teen's antics. It was always heartbreaking to see how hesitant Harry was. Jason was so patient and loving with him that it made Elizabeth remember all the reasons she had fallen in love with the man in the first place.
Jason looked up to catch Elizabeth staring at him with a soft look. The respect and approval in her sapphire eyes made his heart skip and he stood a little taller. She was looking at him like he was the most wonderful person in the world and he couldn't help but want to see her give him that look more often. This was the Elizabeth that he had fallen in love with. This was the woman who accepted him as he was and never tried to change him to suit her own ideals. Jason smiled at the beautiful woman and then took the painting from her petite hands before pulling her into his arms.
"Thank you for the painting." He said softly into her ear.
Elizabeth grinned and relished the feeling of being in his arms once again. "You're welcome."
Jason fought to control his body's natural reactions to the feel of her breath against his neck. Elizabeth was so soft and petite, but he knew that there was tempered steel behind those soft curves and it was this combination of compassion and determination that drew him to her.
Harry smiled happily at the sight of his father and Elizabeth. He had taken an immediate liking to the young waitress and he had been thrilled when he learned that she was back in Jason's life. Now his dad wouldn't be lonely. Jason had made Harry's life a million times better, and Harry was glad to see his father experience something so wonderful as being with the woman he loved. The fact that Elizabeth liked Harry as well was just a bonus as far as the young wizard was concerned.
"Would you like some breakfast?" Jason asked, stepping back.
"Normally I'd say yes, but I have to be at the hospital in about twenty minutes." Elizabeth declined reluctantly.
Jason looked down at her with concern. "Are you okay?"
Elizabeth chuckled. "I'm fine. I signed up for some advanced first aid classes and they start today."
"Are you interested in medicine?" Jason asked trying to figure out the sudden interest.
"Not really, but I wanted to be able to help you guys if the bad guys came after Harry and he needed medical attention before a doctor could get to you." Elizabeth explained with a shrug. "I can't do magic, but I can do this."
Jason stared down at his girlfriend in shock. It amazed him that Elizabeth was willing to study something that she really had no interest in just so that she could help him and his son. A sniffle from behind him broke his train of thought. He turned to see Harry looking up at Elizabeth in awe. The teen's emerald eyes were filled with unshed tears.
"Harry?" Jason asked anxiously when he saw the devastated look on his son's face.
"No one's ever… I can't believe… I'm not worth…You don't even know me that well." Harry stammered through his tears.
Elizabeth stepped around Jason and came to kneel next to the boy. "I know that you're a great kid who has experienced some horrible things, but despite that you offer your friendship and loyalty to someone who should have been beneath your radar – like a lowly waitress."
"There's nothing lowly about you Elizabeth." Harry whispered.
"Thank you, but not everyone would feel the same. That is something you have in common with your father. You don't care about social standings when you make your friends." Elizabeth grinned before placing a gentle kiss on the teen's cheek and standing back up. "I'm sorry, but I really do need to get going if I don't want to be late."
Jason walked her to the door and kissed her lips lingeringly. "Thank you for what you said to Harry." He whispered so that only Elizabeth could hear him.
"I only told him the truth. He's a great kid Jason, and you're the perfect father for him. I'll see you later." Elizabeth smiled, lovingly running her fingers along his cheek before letting herself out the door.
Once the brunette had left, Jason turned to his son. "Harry, why don't you finish breakfast while I make a quick phone call?"
"Sure." Harry shrugged as he wheeled back into the kitchen.
Jason pulled out his phone and quickly dialed.
TBC…