Chapter three

'I don't see a problem with that, but I will need to speak with Severus about it. I could also ask about giving you a room close to mine if he allows you to stay.'

'But your room has class rooms near it.'

'You forget that four very powerful and talented witches and wizards built this castle. With just a few simple spells one of the classrooms will move further along and your room if it's allowed will be right beside mine.'

'It's still hard to believe what magic can do sometimes.'

'You might have spent years here as a student, but let's face it Harry, you were never a normal student or a normal boy. I was sometimes amazed with how good you did do in class considering what was going on. Now no more, I will speak with Severus, you go visit your friends.'

'Okay, can I mention us?'

'Yes, I would like it known now he is dead. Just like with you Harry, you are my only family, but I do hope you give me more, one day.'

Harry chuckled, 'Maybe I will, if I find the right man,' Harry leant over and kissed Minerva's cheek, 'I'll see you later Aunt Mini.'

'You know where I'll be nephew,' she smirked making Harry laugh.

Harry left the castle but decided to look around at houses for sale in Hogsmeade. He figured if he wanted to see his Aunt after leaving Hogwarts then living close to the castle made the most sense, but he also loved the small all magical town. He didn't enquire about any, he would do that another day but he did find a few that looked nice in the picture.

Harry arrived in the yard of the Burrow, knocked on the door then stepped inside. 'It's about time you visited Harry, how are you feeling?' Molly hugged him.

'I'm good Mrs. Weasley, how's the family?'

'We are all good Harry, even Fred is healing nicely.'

'That is good to hear, where are Hermione and Ron?'

'Upstairs, why don't you go visit before you join us for lunch?'

'I'd love to stay for lunch, thanks,' Harry grinned then hurried up the stairs. He gave the wall near Ron's door a knock to let his friends know someone was there in case they were snogging.

'Hey mate, wondering when we were going to see you.'

Harry smiled as he noticed his two friends clothing and hair seemed a bit messed up. 'I said I'd visit, so what have you two been up to?'

'Not a lot, I keep in contact with the muggle relations office to see how the search for my parents is going. Apart from that, Ron and I are spending most of our time alone.'

'So no major fights between you two?'

Hermione scowled, Ron shrugged, 'Nothing major.'

'You two are so different, just remember to talk and learn to compromise.'

'We've been discussing our differences, we know this relationship will take work. What have you been doing, have you found a home yet?' Hermione asked.

'I had a look at some houses before coming here, but I've got time. I haven't been doing a lot, mainly helping clean up around the castle,' Harry figured it might be time to explain about Minerva McGonagall.

'So you spend time with Hagrid?' Ron asked.

'Some, not as much as you probably think. I spend most of my time with,' Harry hesitated, 'um, Professor McGonagall.'

'Wow, you two never did before, why now?' Ron asked.

'Are you seeing her as a way of replacing Professor Dumbledore?' Hermione asked.

'You know I came to dislike that man Hermione, so no. I like talking to her about all sorts of things. Okay, I'll explain and we both said we would after all the funerals were over.'

'Explain what?' Ron asked.

'Do you remember when I said that she seemed to watch me a lot?'

'Yes, you said it was like she felt sorry for you,' Hermione said.

'I did, at first, even Fred and George said that. So I started to take more notice of her, when I could. One day I spoke with Dumbledore and he told me the truth, finally. He asked that I never repeat it, to no one in case it was heard by the wrong person.'

'We have no idea what you mean Harry, heard what?' Ron asked.

'Minerva McGonagall is my great aunt, sister to my grandmother,' Harry chuckled as Ron's mouth fell open, Hermione's eyes went as wide as they could go. He knew this news would shock everyone, especially his friends and seeing their reaction right now confirmed just how shocked everyone will be.

'Are you just going to sit and gape at me or are you going to say something?' Harry smirked.

'How, why?' Ron mumbled.

'Sirius never said anything, neither did Remus,' Hermione said.

'They didn't know, no one knew apart from Dumbledore. Aunt Mini said even my dad had no idea when he was a student. They kept it quiet because having a teacher related to a student might have caused problems, and if it is found that a student and teacher are related, closely related, then the teacher has to leave. My dad didn't remember his aunt, she was never around as he was growing up. With Voldemort around back then and starting to recruit, he even recruited students, Slytherin's mainly. So Dumbledore thought if Aunt Mini was just another teacher she might hear more, but if it was found out that she was related to a student it could make things dangerous for her and the student, my father. But after the prophecy, Dumbledore thought it was too dangerous for anyone to know that we were related. You two were in danger because we were best friends but we didn't know that when we first became friends. Imagine what they could have done if they found out I had an aunt.'

'They would have taken her in exchange for you,' Hermione said.

'Yeah, they would have. Aunt Mini said they always planned to tell me but I figured out something was different with her so Dumbledore confirmed it as long as I kept it to myself. Now he's dead we said we'd let everyone know. For now though I just wanted you two to know, she doesn't need the extra attention or cursed letters asking why she let me be raised by muggles when I had family in the magical world.'

'But it was for your protection, you had to stay with your mother's sister,' Hermione said.

'Yeah, but not everyone knows that, only you lot and the order knew that. Voldemort didn't know where I was living, well he knew but not the exact spot because of the protection living with her gave me. If he found out about this blood protection he might have killed Petunia when she was out shopping or something.'

'I never thought about that, they would have if they found out,' Ron said.

'Do you know if their back?' Hermione asked.

'I don't really care one way or another, but Hestia sent word to aunt Mini that their back. Anyway, about your parents Hermione, how long do they think it will take to find them?'

'They can't say as so many people arrived in Australia from here at the same time. I found out that I wasn't the only person to send muggle relatives away for their safety. From what the people at the muggle relations office said that thousands all left around that time but to all different countries. It started from the time he returned, but six months before he had control they had a surge of muggles leaving, not just muggles, but muggleborns as well. Again like what I did, some changed their names, their magical relatives made them fake documents to make it harder to trace. Since I gave them the names my parents are using and the fact I removed their memories, they know where to start and what it will take to fix their memories, return them to who they really are. I only have one concern when they do remember who they are?'

'That they'll be angry about what you did?' Harry asked.

'No, I think I can explain so they will understand my reasons. What I'm concerned about is they might want to stay there, that means I will have to move over there with them.'

'Why would you have to Hermione? You're an adult now, surely you could live away from home.'

'It's not that Harry, how am I supposed to live? My parents did give me money for my school supplies and a bit of spending money, but I had to make sure all theirs was with them in case they needed it.'

'Listen, it's up to you if you want to, let me give you some money if you want to stay. Enough to keep you going through your last year at Hogwarts and enough to get a flat or something. You know once you finish you'll get any job you want, with your brains, they'd be crazy to say no to you.'

'But Harry you'll need that yourself, to buy your own place and to live until you get work.'

'Hermione, don't you realise how much Sirius left me? The Black family were seriously rich, I know Grimmauld place didn't show it, but they were loaded.'

'When did you find this out?'

'When I went to Gringotts, I decided to go into Sirius' vault to see if he left me a letter or anything. To be honest, the moment the goblin opened the door I almost fainted. Like what we saw in Bellatrix' vault, Sirius had similar stuff not to mention all the blasted money. That's why I went on a big buying spree with the clothes, shoes and personal products like hair and bathroom stuff. So you see Hermione, I can afford it, so it's up to you if you want to stay or go with your parents. I know you'll want to visit them, but an international port key doesn't cost that much.'

'Well, if I agree to this if my parents decide to stay, I will pay it back. It just might take a while.'

'That's fine even though I don't want it back, but I know you will so don't break yourself, a little at a time after you start work. Now you're good with numbers and figures, how much do you think it will take to keep you going until you finish Hogwarts along with the price to buy a flat somewhere?'

'Let me do some research, but you don't have to buy a flat Harry, I can rent one.'

'Buying makes more sense, when you're working and get your own house or whatever I'll either sell it or rent it to someone, maybe Ron might want it once he's working.'

'That might work mate as long as you take the money for the rent.'

Harry laughed, 'Okay, but it'll be really cheap, I can't have my best mate pay too much, how would that look?'

'Then if you help Hermione out with money for the year at Hogwarts, she can stay here until she's finished. Mum has already given her Percy's old room so she doesn't have to share with Ginny anymore.'

'Whatever Hermione wants to do, but I bet she spends more time in here then there,' Harry gave a cheeky grin.

'We're not saying,' Ron said but nodded enthusiastically making Harry laugh and Hermione slap Ron's arm. The three friends ended up laughing because they realised that they were having normal conversations, about where to live and how to pay for things, and that had never happened to the friends before. The more they talked or thought about what they were saying, they more they laughed because they finally felt like normal teenagers.