The Granger Son

Harry; Hermione; Dr. Grangerx2

Rated T

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or its characters from the franchise. That honor belongs to JK Rowling

The Granger Son

Chapter 9

Three weeks passed during Harry and Hermione's time at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and they had found that they had adapted rather well to not only the school, but their Houses. Hermione, as expected, proved that she was truly Ravenclaw through and through. Harry, though considered on the nice on the spectrum for Slytherin and not really cunning, was certainly ambitious and even displayed leadership qualities, even though he didn't see or believe it. Because of this and his friendship with Draco Malfoy who was rather forthcoming with his own ambition and cunning, it made the two some sort of leader duo among the Slytherin First Years. Hermione liked to allude them to a sort of 'good cop, bad cop', though she meant it all in good fun and the boys just laughed about it.

As far as friends went, Harry had befriended all the boys in his dormitory, though he had to say his closest were Draco and Blaise Zabini. He had already gotten close with Draco within the first day or two of classes, and liked hanging out with him. Though different in personality and background, they had similar interests and got along greatly. However, there were times when Harry would have to catch Draco on things he said and humble him nicely time to time. But other than that, their friendship worked. And as for Blaise, he was a rather comical fellow that liked to make things fun, though also very studious and serious about his work, determined to well on all his assignment. He was honestly the ideal study partner for his sister if Hermione was interested. As for Hermione, her two good friends were Daphne Greengrass and Padma Patil. Padma, being in Ravenclaw as well, was easy to talk to, just as studious, and just generally nice to be around. She never judged Hermione when some of the other Ravenclaws would about her smarts, calling her a swot despite that being a stigma of their House and her bringing in the most House Points for them. Yes, Padma was a good friend and not at all boy crazy like their fellow female peers seemed to be. Concerning Daphne, she was honestly surprised she had befriended the blonde girl from Slytherin so well, especially because they were so different. Daphne had a sort of confidence that Hermione only wished she could have, and though not above being confrontational and direct—damn near hurtful if her tongue held any bite—she was also very sweet and understanding. And despite her being a Pureblood, she never judged Hermione for her Muggleborn status, nor make her feel unwelcome, inviting her to sit with her and the other Slytherin girls during free period.

Yes, the two of them were really enjoying their time at Hogwarts, as well as enjoying their classes and learning the various subjects. However, they were a bit homesick. It had been a big adjustment, and they had gotten through it, but that didn't mean they didn't miss their mother and father. They did make sure to write when they could, but also be discrete so no one knew they were sending a letter together. Therefore, only one of them would travel to the owlery to send their letter off to ward off suspicion. Only Professor McGonagall knew they were truly siblings and living together, and it was better to keep it that way. And to help play to her narrative that Harry had been adopted by a family in Wales, McGonagall had taken the liberty of teaching the boy a bit of Welsh to help sell it should Dumbledore, for any reason, inquire more about with him about it. She held private tutoring sessions with him in her office every day during free period when she had the time, and every evening usually following dinner. Harry found the language hard to comprehend and felt he messed up more times than not in his speech, but he was doing much better than he thought he was. Harry was a fast and adept learner, so she would be surprised if he became fluent in Welsh by Yule. So far, the Headmaster hadn't questioned Harry's prior whereabouts, but that was soon to change.

One day during lunchtime, Professor Dumbledore was sitting up at the Head Table with the other professors, eating a delicious meal but not really enjoying it. The reason for this was that because his focus was elsewhere, specifically on the Slytherin Table. And his blue eyes were on one person in particular at said table, and that was Harry Potter. His eyes narrowed as he watched the boy interact and laugh with Draco Malfoy. It was obvious he had made friends with the blond boy, and Dumbledore did not like it. Then again, he didn't like the fact that Harry had been Sorted into Slytherin House to begin with. Harry should have been Sorted into Gryffindor, just like his parents. He should have made friends with boys like Ron Weasley and Neville Longbottom. After all, both boys had trauma to both of them due to Lord Voldemort. But no, the boy was in Slytherin and friends with Malfoy. Yes, he was also friends with that girl from Ravenclaw, Hermione Granger, but absolutely none in the House he truly belonged in. Perhaps this was due to the family he was raised by, and wondered if a re-Sorting could be arranged for him to be put into his correct Hogwarts House.

Turning to McGonagall who was conversing with Professor Flitwick, he said, "Minerva."

"Albus," Minerva responded, turning to face him and giving him her attention.

"Tell me, where did you say young Harry has been all this time again?"

McGonagall's eyes narrowed slightly before she fixed her face answering, "I've told you before Albus, Harry grew up in Wales with a family that adopted him when he was found after Hagrid dropped him."

Dumbledore wasn't quite sure he truly believed the witch but nodded and took her word for it. He trusted Minerva, as not just a colleague and Deputy Headmistress, but as an ally and old friend. She wouldn't lie to him, he knew that, and that was why he never found it prevalent to use Legilimency on her. Still, that seemed to answer his question a bit about why Harry was a Slytherin and not a Gryffindor. The family that adopted him had to have been an influence on why he was mis-Sorted. Therefore, Dumbledore decided to re-Sort Harry that night after dinner.

During this time, McGonagall was closely watching Albus's contemplative expression. He was obviously in deep thought, and she knew it had to do with Harry. She didn't know what it was, but she believed he was up to something. And whatever it was, she knew she needed to make sure that above all else, Dumbledore didn't find out Harry had been taken in and adopted by the Grangers and was Harry Grangers. She needed to make some moves, and as soon as possible.

After dinner that evening, Harry was followed his House Prefect Gemma Farley to the Headmaster's Office. He had been summoned by the Headmaster for some unknown reason and thus was going to meet him. He wished he knew why, as he was feeling anxious about meeting Professor Dumbledore alone. Harry had asked Gemma if he should have anything to worry about, but she just shrugged and told him that Dumbledore was strange and she couldn't tell him anything. Therefore, his nervousness and worries hadn't gone away.

Before long, they reached the entrance to the Headmaster's Office, Dumbledore waiting patiently outside of it. Nodding at them in greeting, he said, "Hello Harry. Thank you, for escorting Mr. Potter to me, Miss Farley."

"You're welcome, sir," Gemma replied before turning to head back to her station so she could begin her rounds for the night.

Once she was gone, Dumbledore beckoned Harry to follow him, giving the entrance to his office the password and Harry following him there. Entering the office, Harry looked around and found the room to be rather impressive. It looked more like a giant library room rather than an office, and there were several portraits on the walls. Those must be former Headmasters, Harry thought. The desk was almost in the middle of the room, but pushed towards the back, and there was a large, beautiful red bird sitting on a perch, the bird Harry recognizing as a phoenix. He was surprised to see such a mystical, creature, but then again, the magical world had a lot of things that one would believe to only find in fairytales. All in all, it was a very impressive office, but its uniqueness wasn't enough to get his mind of why Professor Dumbledore had summoned him specifically.

"Um, sir?" Harry said, getting the old man's attention. "Why did you call me alone? Am I in trouble of some sort?"

"No, you're not in trouble, Harry. I just wanted to tell you that I've been watching you, and I can see that you've turned into a rather excellent student here at Hogwarts,"

Harry ducked his head in embarrassment, mumbling 'thank you' to me, but not looking back up at the older wizard. Dumbledore chuckled at the boy's bashfulness, realizing that he had unintentionally embarrassed the boy with his praise. Clearing his throat, he continued speaking saying, "However, one thing that has bothered me since your arrival is your House placement. I understand that you were Sorted into Slytherin and may have even made friends and fit in there, but it is my utmost belief that you were wrongly placed. Therefore, I have decided to Sort you again and place you in the House you were truly meant to be in. Would you allow me to try again?"

What? Professor Dumbledore wanted to essentially re-Sort him? But…that didn't make any sense. Never in the history of Hogwarts that he had learned did he ever hear of anyone getting re-Sorted and placed in a different House than their initial one. Despite the fact he didn't understand why the old man wanted to do this, he decided to be polite and humor him with some reluctance. Harry watched as he walked over to a shelf and pluck the Sorting Hat from it, walking back over to him and asking him to take a seat. As he did, he couldn't help but think that this wasn't going to work.

Dumbledore attempted to re-Sort Harry over and over for the next hour, and each and every time, the Sorting Hat called out 'Slytherin'. By this point, Harry was tired and agitated, completely sick of the Headmaster placing and taking off the hat over and over again. By what felt like the hundredth time, Harry had become so fed up that he let out an annoyed huff and had the sudden urge to shove Dumbledore away or something. No sooner had that thought crossed his mind, his magic lashed out from his body and he ended up catching the Headmaster's robes on fire.

Jumping up from his seat as Dumbledore jumped back himself, using the Water-Making Spell on the flames, Harry shouted, "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, sir! I didn't mean to!"

Seeing that the flames were out, Professor Dumbledore looked at the boy saying, "It's alright Harry, it was an accident. But I suppose that is enough for the night. It is getting late and you still have to return to your Common Room. Here, let me write you a pass."

Going to his desk, Dumbledore got a piece of parchment and a quill, writing on it and signing it before handing it to Harry. Harry took it and said, "I'm really sorry, Professor. I'm not sure what happened."

"It is alright, my dear boy. Accidental magic occurs usually in response to a child's emotions, and in some ways as a means to protect them. I suppose your magic thought that my attempts to re-Sort you were me attacking you, so it lashed out. I don't blame you, so don't worry. Anyway, you'd best be on now. Good night, Harry."

"Goodnight, sir." Harry turned and left the office, not noticing the frown Dumbledore had on his face as he left.

The moment Harry was gone, Albus turned to the Sorting Hat that was on his desk and asked, "Why did you not put him into Gryffindor? You know he belongs there."

The Sorting Hat looked at the old man before saying, "Mr. Potter contains attributes of every House, Gryffindor and Slytherin too. But my placing him in Slytherin is to help him pull out attributes within himself that he does not display or believe he has. He's a brave and courageous child, no doubt about it, and would fit greatly in Gryffindor, but there is no need to place him where he cannot grow. My decision stands and is final, Albus."

Albus huffed and began to pace the floor. He could not believe that his own Sorting Hat was against him. Harry belonged in Gryffindor, damn it! For him to be in Slytherin, it had to do with the family he was adopted by, he just knew it. But he wondered what family was the one that found him.

McGonagall's feet hit the ground on a random street in Wales that night, having Apparated there from outside of Hogwarts's wards. She looked around briefly before she began walking, a look of determination on her face. She was on a mission, and she was determined to do it tonight. Turning a corner, she stopped briefly to look at the stone house five yards away before continuing her walk towards it. Reaching the house, she lifted her fist and knocked on the door, waiting for it to be answered. A few moments later, the door opened to reveal a woman with hazel green eyes and dark blonde hair.

The woman looked at her in surprise before saying, "Minerva, it has been a while."

"Good evening, Nora," McGonagall greeted. "May I come in? I have something to discuss with you."

Nora nodded and allowed the older witch inside. She wondered what brought her sister-in-law to her doorstep. She was Minerva's late husband Elphinstone Urquart's half-sister, on their mother's side. She was much younger than he was (by twenty years), and a result of an affair on their mother's part. She hadn't been close to Elphinstone, but she was fond of Minerva and Minerva of her, and their relationship brought her brother and her close, but only a short time before his death.

"Is this a social visit?" Nora asked.

"No, I'm afraid not, Nora. I would like to talk with you and your husband about something," McGonagall replied.

Nora nodded and sent her Patronus up the stairs to retrieve her husband Gregor. A few seconds later, they could hear footsteps descending the stairs. It wasn't long before Gregor appeared, greeting McGonagall with a nod. Walking to stand by his wife, he asked, "What is going on? I had just put Andrew to sleep when your Patronus came down the hall."

McGonagall decided to just cut to the chase. "I won't keep you long then. I am here to ask you both a favor. You see, Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts finally, and Albus is rather suspicious about where his whereabouts had been all this time. Harry had been adopted by a Muggle family who have a Muggleborn daughter, and they love him dearly and him them. However, he was supposed to end up with his wretched Muggle relatives, but due to a mishap by Hagrid, he was able to end up where he was. My fear is that Albus will try to get Harry to his relatives, and if he finds out he's been adopted by Muggles, he'll find a way to take him from them and place them with the boy's mother's sister and her family."

"But if they adopted him, he can't do that, can he?" Gregor asked.

"Albus has never truly played by the rules. He always has an ulterior motive for something. Trust me, I've known him long enough to know that. Anyway, for the time being, I've told him that Harry had been adopted by a family in Wales, and have even taken the liberty to teach him Welsh. Albus is satisfied for now, but I'm afraid he'll go snooping around eventually. So, the reason that I am here is to ask if you both will be willing to pose as Harry's adoptive parents here in Wales. I understand this is a lot I am dropping on you, nor do you know the boy, but his parents are afraid Albus will take him from them, so that is why we are doing such an elaborate scheme. If not, it is alright."

Nora and Gregor looked at the woman before looking at each other, a silent conversation flowing between them. Nora, she felt sympathy for Harry. To have all one has ever known and love potentially taken from them because someone believes something rather than letting one be happy; it was cruel, and Harry was just a boy. Minerva was right, it was a lot to ask of them, but she was fond of Minerva. That, and she also didn't want to let Dumbledore rip this boy away from his real family. Therefore, if she and her husband had to pose as his fake parents to help sell the narrative her sister-in-law had given, then they would do it.

Seeing her husband had come to the same agreement, Nora turned to Minerva and said, "Alright, we'll do it. And let us also have a chance to meet his parents. A deep discussion of this whole thing is in order, after all."