Chapter 3

Harry awoke a few days later to find a letter from Hermione waiting for him from Hedwig, fortunately Harry had convinced his dad to let him have an owl and he was determined that this would be his pet, he didn't understand how an owl could deliver mail from someone who was unaware of magic, his mum had the answer though.

"It's quite simple Harry, whenever a letter which is earmarked for a witch or wizard the ministry despatches it from their postal service, there are special charms in place which filter the mail from those who know about magic from those who don't"

Shaking his head from his thoughts he saw that the writing was written in the impeccable writing style of Hermione, 'even at 8 years old her writing is perfect'

Dear Harry,

I'm not 100% sure what to write either, truth be told you're the first person who has ever actually wrote to me.

Pen pals from what I have read are friends who don't see each other very often, is it too presumptuous to call you my friend? I don't have a lot of friends so I'm not sure how friendship works.

How did you know my name? Mum and Dad named me after a character from a Shakespeare play, do you read Shakespeare? I know were only young but I love reading, I've read hundreds of books, my mum used to read to me when I was a little girl and she thinks that I picked up the obsession from there. I don't think its obsession I think it's perfectly healthy to read after all it makes for a decent conversation doesn't you agree?

Oh look I'm rambling, sorry about that, I guess I just have a lot to talk about. What about you Harry? What sort of things are you interested in? Do you like reading? Oh that would be fantastic if you did, what school do you go to?

I'm going to end this letter now as I fear I may have rambled a bit too much and could scare you away before a friendship can even be formed.

Hermione Granger

p.s. My parents found it adorable as well

Harry couldn't help but smile, even at such a young age Hermione was so intuitive it was surreal, Harry knew Hermione had always been fascinated with books but at least this way Harry could help her ease the feeling of isolation that had to Hogwarts with. 'Just maybe I can break Hermione out of her shell' Harry stayed in thought as he replied to Hermione.

Dear Hermione,

I must admit that I found myself reading your letter with nothing less than a cheesy grin on my face, I haven't got many friends and well I'm always happy when I get to make a new friend, especially one such as intelligent as you.

Personally I don't think you were rambling, I find it quite sweet really, my mum is the same sometimes she starts on one thought then half an hour later she finds herself on a completely different subject, so I don't find it weird.

To answer your questions, yes I am a big fan of Shakespeare my mum reads it to me sometimes when I'm not feeling well, I don't know why but whenever I'm ill Shakespeare seems to make me feel better, I know that the name Hermione came from 'The Winter's Tale' but I haven't read that one yet, mum finished reading Hamlet with me the other day, I found that book completely outstanding don't get me wrong William Shakespeare was a genius without limits but to me it seemed he rushed the ending, I won't say the ending on the off chance that you haven't read that book yet.

I don't go to a public school, I used to but I didn't really fit in so my mum pulled me out and home schools me, she says that when I get to a certain age I'm going to be able to go to some private school.

How about you Hermione what school do you go to? Do you enjoy school? I bet you have lots of friends, I've only known you for a short while but yet I know already that I would like you as my friend.

I hope that you are well and say hello to your Mum and Dad for me

Harry

Harry sealed the letter and with a quick flick of her wand the letter to Hermione was on its way, the rest of Harry's day was spent helping his mother around the house and flying with his dad, regardless of any argument that Lily made James was determined to have his son becoming the youngest seeker of the century at Hogwarts.

'I guess some things really are fated' Harry mused to himself before kicking off the ground on his broom.

Hermione returned home from school the following day desperately trying to hold back the tears that were fighting to escape, her day had truly been terrible all thanks to that one person, she didn't know why he was determined to make her life a living hell but he wouldn't rest until he had broke her, it wasn't the name calling that bothered her, Hermione had been called worse geek and bookworm were nothing new to her, what bothered Hermione is that no one would help her. Everyone in the playground saw what was happening but none would intervene, he had found a way to scare everyone in the school into not helping her out of fear of what would be done to them.

Sighing to herself she ran up the stairs to her room to find the letter from Harry, she smiled as he embraced the conversation and she was equally impressed to find he was as big a fan of books as she was, she choked back a sob when she read the part about her having friends, and when she read that she was homeschooled she almost envied Harry, she put the letter down not sure how to reply. Should she lie about having friends or should she just bare it all, 'For some reason I cannot bring myself to lie to him' taking out a pen and her pad she wrote her reply.

Hi Harry,

Thank you for replying to me so quickly it's always nice to know that there is someone out there who wants to talk to you, oh and don't worry I read Hamlet a few months ago so I know what happens. I don't fully agree with your reasoning though, Shakespeare wrote Hamlet to convey the loss of his son Ham net, it wouldn't be worth while writing a play where everyone lives, after all Shakespeare was famous for his Tragedy plays.

Your homeschooled you say? That must be fascinating, I sometimes wish that I could be homeschooled, I go to a school in Surrey, and well it's not exactly the highlight of my life.

I'm not going to lie to you, given the choice I wouldn't go to school, not if it meant I could escape the boy there who torments me every day. He doesn't like that I wouldn't do his homework for him, so he made it his mission in life to make my life hell, worse he has the entire playground scared so none of them will stand up for me.

Have you ever felt like you're living a life that isn't what it meant to be and yet destiny seems to keep you on that path for some reason you can't explain, that's what it feels like being me at the moment.

I'm sorry for putting all this in a letter to you I mean you hardly know me and well I suppose I just needed to talk to someone who was subjective in the matter.

Again I'm sorry if this bums you out but trust me it's nothing compared to how I feel every time Dudley Dursley has something to say to me

Mum and Dad say hello and hope your well, tell your Mum and Dad I said hello as well.

Hermione

As Harry read the letter the next morning he flew into a world of confusion and anger, 'why is Dudley at the same school as Hermione?' he had to help Hermione, problem was how was he going to convince his parents to help her without telling them the truth?

"Screw it" he muttered to himself before running out of his room and calling his mum and dad, after they had sat down in the living room Harry began speaking.

"Ok Mum and Dad I know that you have noticed that I've been acting rather strangely these last few days ever since I started talking to my friend Hermione, I haven't been exactly honest with you... The truth is... I was sent back by the angel of death after I died for the 7th time to fix my life and live it the way I choose free of the manipulations of certain people" Harry rushed, his mum and dad sat there dumbstruck.

"Start from the beginning Harry" His dad sat as he gestured for Harry to sit in between them.

"Ok, well the angel of death, Meredith her name was, nice woman rather scary at times, she was angry because I had died six times already and I was messing up the natural order of things, in my first trip through my life you guys... you were dead, you had been killed by Voldemort and then he tried to kill me but the curse rebounded because you mum sacrificed yourself for me and you provided the ultimate protection. I was sent by Dumbledore to live with the Dursley's, who treated me as their house elf, I was subjugated to 18 hours of chores, forced to live off scraps and for the first 11 years of life my bedroom was a cupboard under the stairs. Anyway I went on living and went to Hogwarts but I was being manipulated by Professor Dumbledore, he planned my whole life as me being the perfect weapon for the war. Problem was that Voldemort made Horcruxes, pieces of his soul which left him anchored to the world, I'm certain he has them this time round as well. Anyway I was killed by Voldemort and I woke up in some strange office Meredith told me everything and said that I could pass a test and be allowed to return and live my life with my soul mate. My soul mate who is Hermione, she was well still is my best friend and she was with me throughout everything. She's a muggle born witch like you mum and she is almost as clever, that's how I knew her name mum Meredith told me that I would meet her earlier than what I did last time, but Meredith warned me that because she had convinced fate to spare you guys that history was going to be changed and now I know what has changed, Dudley doesn't spend his time bullying me or beating me up, he has made it personal mission to make Hermione's life a living hell. Mum, Dad, it's my fault that she is being forced to live such a horrible life, I can't bear the idea of Hermione being in pain, please, help me save her" Harry finished and wiped tears from his face. His mum and dad were still trying to process everything.

"Hold on a minute, why is Dudley bullying Hermione your fault?" James asked, Harry sighed

"Because in my last life I was the one who was beaten up by Dudley, I learnt how to deal with it after all Dudley was a large kid so I could easily get away from him in school anyway I had nowhere to run when I was living with him, Hermione shouldn't have to live with that" Harry replied

"Neither should you!" James replied a little more aggressive than what he had planned, his voice softened and he clasped his son's shoulder

"Harry no one should have to live a life which is filled with nothing but pain, if there is anyone here who should be blamed then it is Dumbledore! Not you Harry!" James finished, Harry smiled and turned to his mum

"Are you ok mum?" he asked softly lily was crying softly and embraced her son in a bone crushing hug

"Oh my boy, my brave boy, I can't believe that you went through all that and yet you still have more kindness and compassion than anyone I know"

"It's like Uncle Moony told me once Mum, my mother was an uncommonly kind woman who was able to see the good in anyone even if they didn't want to see it themselves, a trait which I like to think I inherited."

James wrapped his arms around both his wife and son and they all stayed that way for a few minutes, afterwards they pulled apart and Harry felt more loved in that moment than what he had ever felt in his entire being.

"Now then" James started wiping his eyes.

"Let's go figure out a way to rescue Miss Granger"

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