After Limbo
Chapter Two
"Get back to the portkey everybody, and stick together" Arthur commanded. He turned to the twins. "Fred, George... Ginny is your responsibility"
Some figures in pointed hoods carrying flaming torches were walking across the campsite chanting ominous noises. The crowd was panicked and rushing all over. Harry knew what was going to happen, and used his magic to keep him and Hermione from getting trampled. They got separated from Ron, but Harry could care less.
Harry stopped for breath under a tree. Hermione placed a hand on his cheek.
"For what it's worth, I believe you" She said quietly. Harry figured that now was his chance and he leaned in to kiss her. The kiss was slow and Hermione leaned into it.
"Oi!" An angry voice yelled. They turned to see Ron with his wand out. It was pointed at Harry. "I've been searching for you all over the place, and you've been snogging, behind my back?" Harry raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean, behind your back?" Hermione asked. "I didn't realize we had to answer to you" She snapped. Ron's face flushed and he was about to say something, when Harry hushed them both and pointed. The Dark mark was high above them. He cursed inwardly at having missed an opportunity to expose Barty Junior. Suddenly, they were fired on and all three children ducked.
"Stop! That's my son" Arthur and others approached them. "Ron, Harry, Hermione are you alright?"
"Which of you conjured this?" Barty Crouch Senior asked, waving his hand in the air.
"You can't possibly.." Arthur began.
"Do not lie! You have been discovered at the scene of the crime!" Barty shouted. Harry frowned.
"I'm sorry, but are you implying that Hermione and I are death eaters?" He asked. Arthur noticed that he made no mention of Ron, but decided not to mention it.
"Barty, they're just kids" Arthur said, exasperatedly. "This is Harry Potter" Barty's whole demeaner changed.
"My apologies Mr. Potter" He said. "Rest assured, we will catch whoever has done this"
As they made their way to where Fred, George and Ginny were waiting, Ron continued to glower at them. Ginny noticed this.
"What's eating you?" She asked her younger brother. He jerked his thumb in the direction of Harry and Hermione, who were holding hands. If he expected his three siblings to be angry, he was going to be disappointed. Ginny began squealing and jumping up and down. "Are you together now?" She asked. Hermione nodded and she was suddenly swamped in a four way hug as the twins and Ginny mobbed her. Fred turned to Harry and leveled him with a stare.
"You hurt our sister and you pay, Potter" He said, before cracking a smile. Harry grinned back and Hermione smiled at the fact that the Weasley twins thought of her as a sister. The fact that his family supported the union just made Ron angrier.
"He stole my girl!" Ron shouted, his wand pointed at Harry. "Reducto!" Fred saw it coming and pulled Harry out of the way of the small.
"Ronald Weasley!" Arthur bellowed, having witnessed the whole thing. "I cannot believe you have the audacity to use that spell on Harry"
"Don't worry about it Mr. Weasley" Harry said coldly. "Ron's already made his choice. I won't be coming back to the Burrow tonight. I'll stay at the Leaky Cauldron"
"Of course, Harry" Arthur said. "Molly and I will deal with this" Harry nodded and looked at Hermione who instantly took his hand. To the surprise of all the Weasleys, they apparated away. Smack! Ginny Weasley smacked her brother as hard as she could.
"What is the matter with you?" She cried. "I thought Harry was your friend" Ron said nothing, though the rage in his eyes said it all. He considered Hermione to be his, as if she were some sort of prize. The three Weasley siblings were disgusted and could only wonder what their mother would do to him.
Harry apparated Hermione and him to the back corner of the Leaky Cauldron. This was proof to Hermione that Harry had indeed been truthful about going back in time. He was still considered of age, even though he was now in the body of a 14 year old. Harry rented a room and when they were safely in the room with a silencing charm on the door, Harry spoke.
"Hermione, I've kept this a secret for a while now, because I didn't want things to change, but now I know that they have to" He held up a hand and undid a concealment charm to show a ring with the Gryffindor crest on it. "Before we left for the mission in my seventh year, I went to visit the Goblins. I am Lord Potter, a very wealthy person, with a spot on the Wizengamot and the heir to Gryffindor as my father is a direct descendant of Godric Gryffindor" Hermione's eyes widened.
"Harry, if that's true, from what I read in Wizarding law, you should have come into this inheritance on your eleventh birthday" Hermione said. Harry nodded.
"I know. It turns out that Dumbledore had all of my properties and inheritance sealed so I could only access my trust vault" Harry gave a wry grin. Even though this all happened three years from now, coming back in time with this ring on my finger, means I am still Lord Potter and I can access all my vaults and properties. The Dursley's and Dumbledore can't touch me now" Hermione flung her arms around her friend.
"So, are you prepared to do the tournament a second time, Harry?" She asked. Harry nodded.
"I know what all the tasks are, Hermione and I'll be well prepared to stop Voldemort in that graveyard. My one mistake was never telling you how I truly felt about you, I don't intend to make that mistake this time" He said. Hermione smiled.
"And how do you feel about me?" She asked, coyly. Harry smiled.
"You are my other half" He said simply. Tears filled her eyes and they kissed again.
It was soon time to be heading back to school and Hermione and Harry entered the train, full of trepidation until they saw Ginny and Neville waving at them from a compartment. After getting situated, they heard the trolley lady.
"Anything from the trolley? Anything from the trolley?" The lady appeared at their door. "Anything from the trolley dears?" Harry stood and went to the door. He spotted Cho and remembered a time when a smile from her made his heart race, but not anymore. He ordered some sweets and turned to see Hermione eyeing the prophet that Neville had with him.
"This is horrible, how can the ministry not know who conjured it. wasn't there any security?" She asked.
"Loads according to Dad, that's what worried them so much. Happened right under their noses" Ginny said.
"What happened to Ron?" Hermione asked.
"Mom was furious. She grounded him for the rest of the summer and he is on probation for using underage magic" Ginny eyed Harry. "How is it that you were able to apparate" Harry held up his hand and Ginny gasped.
"You're the head of the Potter family" She asked. Neville grinned as Harry nodded.
"I'm also apparently the heir of Gryffindor" He said. Ginny whistled.
"Hermione, you hit the jackpot" She said. All four friends laughed. It was good to be going back to Hogwarts.