For most students, the first morning of school was completely normal. The Gryffindor seventh years were no exception, with Ron, Dean, Seamus, and Neville still sharing the same dormitory. For Harry, however, things were very different. As Head Boy, he had his own room, a common room which he shared with the Head Girl, his own bathroom, and privacy. Also, unknown to anyone except Hermione, he also shared another, private room. Without telling anyone, including Hermione, he arose several hours early this first day and went down the hallway to his favorite chair.
"Altervesco," he said quietly. The familiar rush came quickly and he found himself in their private room once again. Looking around, he saw that nothing had changed…everything was just as he had left it. The bed was made, the bookshelf was neat, with everything in its place. The only thing missing, he thought, was Hermione. He got up from the chair and walked to the window, allowing his mind first to wander and then to focus on his greatest fear. He knew that he could put it off no longer. Suddenly, behind him there was a rush of air, and he turned to find Hermione sitting in her chair, smiling broadly.
"I knew you'd be here," she said, rising and walking over to him. She snuggled next to him as he wrapped his arms around her. He knew this had to be the time; he had put it off all summer. Now he could do so no longer. Harry led her to the bed and then sat down beside her.
"Hermione, honey, we need to talk," he began. She knew he was serious; it was a voice she seldom heard but immediately recognized.
"What is it?"
"I'm worried about you, and your parents. Voldemort knows it would take a battle to get to me, especially here at Hogwarts. He will want to do something to bring me to him…like he did with the tournament…like he did with Sirius." Hermione nodded. She had given some thought to this idea.
Harry got up and started to pace the room. Then he stopped and sat on the windowsill, looking across the room at her. Slowly he gathered his resolve.
"The more known our relationship becomes, the more he's going to see you, and especially your parents as a tool to get to me. Maybe we should…" He paused as his eyes started to fill. Hermione cut him off.
"Harry, I have always known the risk of being with you, even as your friend. I wouldn't change one minute of our time together. You can't face his alone! I won't let you! We will work together to defeat him."
"What about your parents? They don't know. They didn't choose this danger. Are we being fair to them? What if he…" Harry couldn't finish the thought, although Hermione knew what he was going to say. For some time, neither of them spoke. They just stared. Finally, Hermione broke the silence.
"Let's talk to Dumbledore before we do anything. I'm sure he's thought about this too," she suggested, trying to avoid confronting the conflict between her love for Harry and her love for her parents. Nothing had changed, but they could each put away the problem for a while longer. Hermione raised her hand and wiggled her finger, beckoning Harry to join her. When he sat down, she put her arms around him and casually pointed at the clock, which indicated a couple hours before it was time to begin the day.
"There's nobody doing rounds this morning," she said smiling. "I happen to know that the Head Boy and Head Girl are both occupied. Why don't we hang out here for a while?"
Harry grinned in response and reached over to set the alarm. He didn't want to be late for his first day in a new job.
At breakfast, Harry and Hermione sat with all their old friends at the Gryffindor table, taking the abuse for having private rooms and being "too good" for the rest of he class. They could both sense there were many things being left unsaid, questions about their relationship, questions about Voldemort, and other things. At one point, Lavender started to ask Harry if he though they were all safe at Hogwarts, but Parvati gave her a significant nudge and she stopped in mid-sentence.
As breakfast drew to a close, Professor McGonagall walked along the table, handing out class schedules for the new year. When she reached Harry, she handed him his sheet and waited until he looked at it. It listed no classes for any day, but simply had a hand-written note:
Please come to my office after breakfast
Harry looked up at McGonagall, seeking some explanation. She smiled slightly and nodded. He wasn't sure what his was about, but it didn't seem threatening.
After breakfast was over, he waited until almost everyone had left and then got up. Hermione was also waiting, and she met him as they passed out of the Great Hall. Before he could say anything, she handed him her schedule, which consisted of exactly the same note. Wearing equally puzzled looks, they went to McGonagall's office and knocked. She immediately called them in and before they could sit down, told them they were all going to see Dumbledore. They walked directly to the Gargoyle and climbed the stairs to his office. He was sitting behind his desk, his fingers pressed together as they always were when he was deep in thought. He motioned to them to be seated, Harry and Hermione in front of his desk and McGonagall off to the side. Then he began.
"I do not believe that either of you would benefit significantly from attending regular classes this year. Hermione, you are probably more qualified to instruct many of the classes than the teachers I currently employ, and Harry, your time will be more profitably spent learning things specific to your individual needs. Also, I believe that Hermione can learn as much or more by helping you with your studies." They both looked at him in disbelief..
"What about our N.E.W.T.s," Hermione asked.
"I have spoken with Griselda Marchbanks. She understands the situation and completely agrees. You will need to take some exams, but they will be specific for you. Both she and I agreed that your success in other venues would provide a more accurate measure of your education and knowledge. At the end of the year, you will receive appropriate marks in all of the subjects which you have studied. If the situation with Voldemort is resolved, you may return to a more conventional curriculum."
"What are we supposed to do if we're not going to classes?" Harry asked.
"When we last talked, Harry, you wanted to learn more about the coming fight, how to attack and defend yourself, what you should do. That is your assignment for this year. You asked if it was possible to block Avada Kedavra. I want you to find out, and if possible, learn how."
"You will each have several special conditions attached to your studies. First, you have unlimited access to the library, including the restricted section. Second, all of the instructors are available to you whenever you need them, including myself. And lastly, if you need to contact others who may have experience or knowledge, you may leave the school at any time to do so. You will, of course, need to let me know before going to insure your safety."
Dumbledore sat back and allowed them to absorb what he had just told them. Harry remembered several conversations with Dumbledore last year where the tone was decidedly more adult. Now he was telling them both that they were adults, ready to make their own decisions and guide their own lives. Hermione looked over at McGonagall, who smiled and nodded her approval of all that had been said, Harry also was looking, and as Hermione turned back, she looked at him, silently communicating her thoughts.
"Professor, we have a concern which we need to discus with you," Harry said as he looked at Hermione. She nodded slightly and he continued, turning to face Dumbledore. "As you know, we have been dating for almost a year." Dumbledore smiled as if very happy with their relationship. Harry continued.
"We have decided that…that we want to get married when we leave school." Dumbledore looked slightly surprised, and then very happy. They could hear McGonagall gasp behind them.
"I'm am very happy for both of you," he responded.
"We…well, I am concerned that Voldemort will try to use Hermione to get to me." He looked over at her and then continued. "We are concerned that he might try to use Hermione's parents too." Dumbledore's expression turned more serious. "We haven't said anything to anyone about our plans, but many of the students know we are together, and I'm sure that the word will get around. Hermione says she's willing to take the risk, and obviously she can be protected just as I am. She has chosen to accept the danger. But what can be done about her parents?"
Dumbledore looked very thoughtful, and said nothing for several moments.
"I believe that we need to think about our options. Obviously we could hide them for a while and keep them safe, but they would need to be told why. And they have their own lives to live." He turned to Hermione, and looked like he was going to say something and then stopped and started again. "Hermione, I will not allow this fight to affect your parents. We will find some way to protect them. We may need to tell them something, but probably not everything."
Hermione had said nothing during all of this, willing to let Harry take the lead in speaking for both of them. Now she spoke up. "Professor, I know the risks that I am taking. I want to help Harry and I love him very much. I also know that he is right and my parents will become a target. I don't want to tell them about us yet, but if that becomes necessary, we can." She was going to continue, but started to tear, as the danger seemed to grow more real. Harry reached out and took her hand. Dumbledore spoke again.
"You both realize, perhaps more than even the older generations, that the end of this war is coming soon. Voldemort can not continue waiting much longer. He knows that Harry's skills are growing every day, and he is unlikely to gather many more followers. Most people have either taken sides, or are waiting to see what happens. You two, together, are the hope for our future, Harry because you were chosen, and Hermione because…well…because you were probably chosen too." He turned to speak directly to her. "Hermione, I have come to believe that Sybill would have mentioned you in the prophecy also, except that she could not have seen your muggle birth."
"We know there will be other victims, and we can protect those whom we identify first. Hermione, I will find a way to protect your parents, even if I have to bring them to this office to provide a hiding place. In the meantime, you two need to plan your year of studies. When you are done, see Professor McGonagall and she will make the necessary arrangements." They all turned to look at her, finding her face a multitude of expressions: joy, fear, and concern.
"Tonight, I will announce to the rest of the school that we are starting an experiment where selected seventh year students may request an independent course of study. I will explain that you both will be testing the idea to see if we should continue it in the future. That should minimize the rumors about your not being in regular classes."
They rose and left the office, neither speaking as they headed for their common room, each alone in their thoughts. When they arrived, Hermione turned and locked the door, and then looked at Harry. He was expecting some reaction, possibly even tears, but she provided her silly grin instead.
"What?" he asked.
"I just came up with a great idea for independent study," she answered, and began to unbutton his shirt.
