Thanks for all the feedback, and for telling me I was limited to signed reviews, fixed that.
Now this is the complete chapter, apparently the upload shutdown isn't right now...
Grief, Deceptions, and Hope for Freedom
Part 9
Harry took a deep breath before opening the doors to the hospital wing. He wanted to go to sleep until he could wake up and pretend this was a dream caused by too many chocolate frogs. He had to keep pretending nothing was bothering him except Sirius' death, but even that he couldn't really show. At least living at the Dursley's had taught him how to hide his emotions, but he rather missed the freedom he took at Hogwarts before. As he shoved the doors open with just the right hint of a smile, he knew he should have been in Slytherin.
Ron was corralling the last of the scrambled eggs on his plate, while sipping at a straw stuck in a half-full glass of chocolate shake. Hermione's table tray was already set neatly to the side, the silverware crossed as her custom on the plate, and 3 books were open on her bed. Harry nearly sighed with relief that Neville wasn't present, as he knew the summer program issue had to be broached, carefully. "Good morning." Harry pulled the legal books out of his pocket, and after nearly dropping his wand as he pulled it from his sleeve, restored the books.
Hermione gave Harry a curious look, which Harry ignored, choosing to enjoy the sight of Ron laughing so hard it looked as if there was danger of shake coming out his nose. Harry laughed, and after a bit Hermione giggled too. "Ron, remind me to look for a wand holster."
The red head bobbed his head in response, gasping for breath, his face the same color as his locks. Hermione shook her head, a small smile on her lips.
Harry let his smile fade. "So what's up with the summer programs?"
Hermione gasped softly, "Who told you?"
Ron just looked confused, "What are you on, mate?"
"Dean and Seamus were discussing their summer plans. Dean's going to coach soccer. And I was wondering what the fifth years were originally planned to do these last couple weeks. And not only do I get told that the internships and exchange programs were presented to Gryffindor while I was at Occulmency, but that everyone was told Hermione was going to tell me about the programs." Harry worked hard at keeping his face calm, and put his clenched hands in his pockets.
"Harry, you couldn't participate. It wouldn't have been safe."
"Hermione, no one has the right to make decisions for me. I can't believe you would help them keep me in the dark."
"Professor Dumbledore told me it would be cruel to dangle it in front of you then tell you that you couldn't go." Hermione leaned forward, her face pleading for forgiveness, but Harry saw that set of her shoulders that she got when she felt morally superior and smarter than him.
Harry raised a hand, "Professor is a term used for a teacher. One who is supposed to impart knowledge and help protect students. He is not, and has never been my guardian. I am a student, it is his job to teach us and keep us safe in this school. This is the first year that my brushes with death didn't happen on school grounds. You are supposed to be my friend. How do you think I would feel when I found out? Did you think the starvation from the Durselys and Dudley trying to brain me would keep me too weak to get mad when everyone talked about their summers?"
Harry was proud that he kept his rant at a low volume, and wasn't moved at the tears leaking from Hermione's eyes. If she had any defense, she'd be ranting at him. Ron looked torn, and keep glancing back at forth at the two of them. "Hermione, you guys are supposed to be my best friends, my siblings that I never got to have. You're not my mother. And maybe it's my fault for needing a push to do my homework too often, but I need you as a friend, and I can't if you help Dumbledore hide things from me."
"Oh, Harry." She started crying harder, and at Ron's mouthed suggestion Harry gave her a bit of a hug and found himself an instant later nearly squeezed to death, with a wet shoulder.
Harry awkwardly patted her back. "Um, so Ron, anything good in that Quidditch book I grabbed for you?"
Ron laughed. "Yeah, mate. Seems you should have been practicing on a slower broom instead of your Firebolt to get the most out of it."
Ron had waxed on about the merits of practicing on slower brooms, finally getting to the point that he suggested buying Comet 180s for practice, as the school brooms weren't even that new. He was getting into a maneuver specific analysis of the braking charms when Hermione finally pulled away from Harry with a weak laugh, "If only he could break down potions like that."
Ron laughed, "If only there was a potions book with charts, and ingredient analysis."
"But there is!"
"Give me the title, and add it to my wish list." Ron shook his head, "I can't believe you never told us."
Hermione retorted firmly, "Ronald, you've used the book on many a report. It's not my fault that you never looked beyond the page I had the book open to."
Harry didn't want to go there again today. "I bet it's on all the Slytherin's required book lists. Put a copy for each of us on the wish list, Hermione."
She smiled. "Then we best get to these legal books so you can get a lawyer, and be able to buy some books."
"Need to make sure you can get that Comet before you come to my place, so hand over the books."
Harry looked down at the books, to hide his expression from Hermione. "Maybe this is one of the things I should be doing on my own, without asking you for help."
Ron snorted, but Hermione was the one to speak. "I know why you are asking us for help, Harry. It's not like homework at all. This is to remember Sirius, and to use as an excuse to buy us stuff."
Harry looked up, and with his best innocent smile said, "It's not an excuse. It's for Sirius. I think he means for us to squeeze out all the joy we can." He looked down at the floor, "Because who knows how many tomorrows we will have until Voldemort attacks again." With that Harry handed out the books.
Harry stayed until it was time for dinner. They had made great progress, winnowing the list to 5 likely candidates, after noting which lawyers seemed to get their cases done with promptly, and which had cases linger on for years. While he was in the hospital wing, he wrote a letter, which he then copied and addressed to each lawyer, requesting information about the state of their practices, and whether the attorney would be able to take on a new client. Harry had marked the book that had the trials involving the Evans and Potter families from 1981 and 1982. Apparently, he had some distant Potter cousins by the name of Garco in France who challenged his inheritance rights as a half-blood. Hermione had looked like she was about to start questioning him, as he read about the case, so he had to add it to his night-time reading.
AN: Harry is still 15. He has incomplete knowledge of the law, and is under Dumbledore's authority. He can't give much away, though he has given Hermione more than he should have in this chapter.