She stayed awake holding her crushed boyfriend all night. As the sun began to rise, Hermione noticed something in the sky coming towards them.
"Hedwig!" Hermione shouted. Harry started in her arms. She looked down at him, "Look, Harry, Hedwig's okay!" For a moment, he looked as though he thought she was playing a cruel joke on him. Then Hedwig landed on his shoulder.
Hermione couldn't help but notice the difference it made to him; a look of absolute wonder crossed his face. Unfortunately, it didn't last long; he still blamed himself for the Dursleys deaths. He did, however, seem much happier than before.
After a few minutes of Harry petting Hedwig, he stood up, grabbed Hermione, and pulled her into a kiss, putting everything he had into it to express how grateful he was. "Thank you, Hermione," Harry whispered after they broke apart. Hermione just hugged him in response.
"Harry, we have to fix this before any muggles start the day and see it," Hermione said. Harry nodded, and took out his wand, looking hesitant. Hermione whispered to him, "You can do it."
Harry nodded, taking a deep breath. "Reparo," he said. The rubble shifted a little, but nothing else. Harry frowned. "Reparo!" He said much more forcefully. The rubble shook, looking like it was trying to resist, and eventually turned back into the house. Harry returned his wand to his pocket, looking pale; it took a lot of magic to repair an entire house.
Hermione gently took his arm and led him into the house, thanking every god she could think of (which was a lot), that the muggles had not noticed the wreckage and couldn't see the Mark. She led him to the living room, and went to make them breakfast. Harry grabbed her arm and shook his head. "I'll do it. I need something to keep myself busy, and you need to rest." Seeing the logic in that, she acquiesced.
A short while later, Harry was in the living room with her as they ate eggs and bacon in a gloomy silence. Afterwards, Harry held Hermione as she slept, cursing his ability to get people hurt. He knew Hermione didn't blame him, but he realized that she wasn't always right. And people were constantly getting hurt around him.
He looked down at the sleeping beauty, wishing that they had had more time to date. He was very tempted to simply give in and remain her boyfriend, as he knew she would insist. No, Harry thought angrily to himself, I will not put her in danger! He was soon in a restless sleep.
A few hours later, Harry was instantly woken when Hermione began to stir. He gently placed her on the couch beside him as she woke up. He sighed, trying to think of how he was going to say this, and ran his fingers through his-as usual-unruly hair.
Hermione, however, knew exactly what he was going to do, and was having none of it. "Harry James Potter, this is not your fault, and don't even think of trying to break up with me!" Less than a week ago, Harry trying to break up with her would have confirmed all her insecurities, but now she knew how he really felt.
Harry closed his eyes. "Hermione, you know how I feel," Harry began, unconsciously echoing her previous thoughts, "and-"
"Yes, Harry, I know exactly how you feel," she interrupted. "You feel like people are getting hurt and dying because you're near them. And you feel like breaking up with me will protect me. It won't!" She said vehemently. Hedwig, who was still on Harry's shoulder, hooted in what sounded like agreement, causing Hermione to smirk, and Harry to look a bit hurt. "People already know I'm important to you-since we've been friends for five years-and I'm a Mudblood." She raised a hand to stop his protests. "Harry, I don't care about the word, it's simple ignorance on the part of stupid gits like Malfoy. The point I'm trying to make is that I'm already a target; us dating won't make me any safer. Just think about it," she pleaded.
Harry sighed and did as requested. He knew that everything she said was true, and was simply trying to find a way around it. After a few minutes that felt like eternity to the two of them, Harry admitted defeat. "I'm sorry I place you in danger," Harry said.
Hermione gave an exasperated sigh. She had known his insecurities would come back, one moment in her mind was not going to override a lifetime of abuse, after all. But this was ridiculous! "Harry, this isn't your fault!" She snapped, a bit more harshly than she had intended.
Harry didn't seem upset about it. He just whispered, "Yes, it is. I may not be the one casting the curse, but Voldemort is going after you because of me."
"Harry, you're not making him come after you! He's just an evil bloody bastard who fucks with you!" Harry looked extremely shocked at Hermione swearing; indeed, Hermione was shocked as well. He did, however, seem a bit less depressed. Seeing that, Hermione decided to change the subject. "Dobby?"
The little house-elf appeared, and Harry looked shocked; with the shock of everything, he had completely forgotten about the house-elves he had hired. "Mr. Harry Potter's Miss Grangy is callings Dobby?"
Hermione smiled a bit, not minding in the slightest that she belonged to Harry; after all, he belonged to her, too! "Yes, Dobby. Would you please contact Professor Dumbledore to see if he can meet with us as soon as possible?"
Dobby nodded vigorously and disappeared. Mere moments later, he was back with Dumbledore. If either of the teens were surprised at how quickly he appeared, they hid it well. As usual, Dumbledore asked if they would like a lemon drop, as he ate one himself.
"I understand that the two of you wished to speak to me," Dumbledore said as they got done to business. The two teens nodded. "What is it you would like to see me about?" He asked, though the teens suspected he already knew.
They glanced at each other, and Harry gave a slight nod for Hermione to speak. "You see, sir, Harry looked over the wills of Sirius and his parents, and they both wanted him to become an adult. It wasn't until after he was emancipated-"
"Until what?" Dumbledore asked, appearing a bit angry, and no longer like the grandfatherly man they had known. "Didn't you know that that would bring the wards down?"
Hermione, now equally angry, stood up to face Dumbledore. Harry found himself wondering what happened to the girl who obeyed authority without question, until he realized it could be an effect of seeing the "authority" Harry lived with. "No, we didn't!" Hermione angrily responded to him. "Because you decided to hide the contents of the wills without explaining anything!"
Dumbledore looked shocked for a moment, before his expression turned pensive. He nodded slowly, and sighed. "Perhaps you are right, Ms. Granger." He turned to Harry. "I apologize for not explaining why I did not have you emancipated as soon as possible." Hermione looked a little less angry as she sat back down and hugged Harry. The gesture was not missed by Dumbledore, whose lips twitched a little as he hid a small smile before he went and sat in Vernon Dursley's chair. After shifting comfortably, he motioned Hermione to continue.
"As I was saying," Hermione continued, much less angry now that she was hugging Harry, "it wasn't until after he was emancipated that we considered the possible ramifications." Harry smiled a little at the we, knowing it was Hermione who considered it. "Many hours later, we came back to the house to find it destroyed and with the Dark Mark over it. Thankfully, it either happened at night and no muggles heard it, or the Obliviators already got to them. I doubt it was the Obliviators, though, since the Dark Mark is still over the house, and Harry was the one who had to repair it"
Dumbledore had a thoughtful frown on his face the entire time Hermione had been speaking again. His expression only changed twice; when he heard that Harry had repaired the house, and at the end, when Dumbledore appeared startled for a moment, and looked up, as though he could see the Dark Mark. Perhaps he can, Harry thought. Dumbledore raised is wand to the ceiling, and a barely noticeable beam of light flew up and through the ceiling. Dumbledore nodded, satisfied. "The Dark Mark is now gone, Ms. Granger." Hermione simply nodded. "Now, I believe it is time to discuss living arrangements. I feel you should live at Grimmauld Place, Harry."
Hermione was instantly on her feet, shouting, "Are you crazy? After what happened, you want him to go there?"
Dumbledore was very surprised that Hermione would stand up to him; very few would, and all of them were either adults or Harry. Hermione, however, had always been one to go along with authority. "What would you propose, Ms. Granger?" He asked, hiding his impatience with politeness.
"My parents' house," she replied instantly-though still with anger. "They already offered, and I'm sure you can set up the wards you put around Grimmauld Place."
Dumbledore considered for a moment, barely noticing when Harry gently pulled Hermione onto his lap. It really wasn't a bad idea. Harry would get to spend the summer with good people and still be safe. Admittedly, he wouldn't be as safe, but as safe as he could be with his relatives dead and the blood wards gone.
Hermione was slightly surprised when Dumbledore nodded his head. "I can see your point, Ms. Granger," he considered slowly. "Who would you suggest to be Secret Keeper?"
"Myself," she replied without hesitation. "I already planned on learning Occlumency, and I'll be safe there and at Hogwarts for the most part until I learn it."
"Excellent suggestion," Dumbledore agreed. "Knowing you, Ms. Granger, you'll have it in no time." He stood. "Now, shall I gather your stuff so we can head to your house and explain?" Hermione nodded, biting her lip nervously, and Harry nodded as well, also looking nervous. Dumbledore raised his wand, and everything the two of them owned was neatly packed away in their trunks, which were waiting by the door. The three of them went to them, and Harry shrunk them, much to the surprise of Dumbledore. Without saying a word, he gently took their arms, and apparated into the living room of the Grangers.
Unsurprisingly, the Grangers weren't home, as they had work. Hermione walked over to the phone as soon as she stopped feeling ready to throw up and dialed her parents' work phone number. Harry sat on the couch and Hermione joined him as she waited for her parents to pick up the phone. Without thinking, he wrapped his arms around her, pulled her into his lap, and laid his shin on the shoulder opposite the one the phone was.
A few moments later, they heard a startled Emma Granger pick up the phone, wondering who was calling from her house. Hermione explained the situation as best she could, about his dead relatives, the wards, and the Fidelius charm, explaining that she would have to call them back to tell them where they lived. It only took a few more minutes-and the promise of more detail later-before they agreed.
As soon as Hermione was done, Dumbledore got to work on the wards. In truth, it was basically a complex Fidelius charm that allowed people to know the address only if they had given the information of the Secret Keeper's free will. Hermione was very curious about this, but held it at bay, sure they could find something in the ward book they had.
After he finished setting the wards, an exhausted Dumbledore hooked them to Hermione, making her the Secret Keeper. He immediately forgot where they were, but knew it was because he had cast a Fidelius charm, and remained calm. Until Harry asked why he still knew where they were. How can he know where we are? Dumbledore thought. Hermione hasn't said anything yet, so it shouldn't be possible! He considered any instances in which someone who wasn't the Secret Keeper already knew the secret, and his eyes widened in shock. I'll have to check this, he thought to himself.
Hermione didn't respond, she just went to the phone and dialed her parents again. "Hi Mum, can you get Dad please?" A moments pause. "Hi Daddy, I just want to tell you our address. It's 14 Pine Rd." Another pause, a little longer this time. "You're welcome, goodbye, and I love you guys, too." She hung up the phone. Turning back to Dumbledore, she said, "Could you please set up a ward so that the Ministry can't detect magic? I know that Harry can do it legally, but I am going to help him practice," she said fiercely.
Dumbledore chuckled, and raised his hands in a conciliatory way. "Peace, Ms. Granger, I believe you! And yes, I can, though it is restricted. However, as Head of the Wizengamot, I can allow one."
"Good," Hermione responded simply. Dumbledore was a bit puzzled; Hermione had always been one of the politest students he had met, but there was no hint of her possibly saying thanks. He couldn't help but wonder why as he cast the-thankfully simple-ward. He was too drained to do anything more than that. Although the normal Fidelius was a simple spell, the complex required an extreme amount of power, and even Dumbledore only barely had enough; he wasn't even sure if Riddle could do it. After that, he bowed his head to the students, and apparated to the Hog's Head; he may not get along great with his brother, but they were still brothers.
Almost as soon as the Headmaster had apparated, the teens were laying on the couch, Harry with his back to the cushions, and Hermione with her back to Harry. "Hermione," Harry started, "why were you so mad at Dumbledore?"
Hermione sighed. She should have known he would notice. "He placed with those evil people for your 'protection', but never checked to make sure you were protected from them. There's no excuse for that in my book!"
Harry smiled a bit and, deciding to tease her, said, "Which book, exactly?"
She giggled and hit his arm, saying in a mock whine, "Harry!"
He just smiled, and wrapped his arms more tightly around her. She grabbed the remote, turned on the tv, and snuggled into him as they watched. It wasn't long before they were asleep.
That was how Dan and Emma found them when they got home.