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 12
Nora and Gregor looked at Dumbledore expectantly, waiting for him to begin asking questions about Harry. And they hoped to Merlin they would be convincing enough with their answers. They also had their Occlumency shields up just in case to keep the old coot out of their heads while he asked questions and listened to them speak.
Dumbledore took a sip of his tea before asking, "Harry, how has his childhood been since you took him in?"
"His childhood has been a good one, Albus," Nora answered. "He was a sweet, curious child growing up, and he still is even at eleven. He's also a very polite child, but he can get irritated when worked up enough. Other than that, he has the patience of a saint."
"Yes, I've noticed his tolerance is amazingly strong. What about his interests? What does he like?"
Gregor decided to answer this time saying, "Harry loves to read and learn new things. As my wife has said, he's a very curious child. He also is interested in sports, particularly Quidditch. He's very interested in the Seeker position and looking out for the Snitch."
That wasn't a lie. Harry had told Gregor that after watching his first Quidditch match at Hogwarts, he had excitedly told him how he had kept his eyes on Golden Snitch, watching it flit around in the air until it was eventually caught. He had told him that if he could do that already, he was bound to make a damn good Seeker should he try out for the Quidditch team in his Second Year.
Dumbledore nodded, thinking the boy liking Quidditch was his real father coming through him. At least that was one thing about him from James they couldn't take away. Looking at the Temples, he asked, "Why didn't you report finding him when you got him?"
Having been ready for this question, Nora looked at the old wizard and answered, "Because the moment I looked into his little face, in instantly fell in love with him. In that moment, Harry was my child."
"It was a bit of an adjustment, having a child in our home when we previously had none, but we made do," Gregor put in. "Harry was also very young, just a toddler, and he needed caring for. Of course, we didn't know that he was the Harry Potter until the news spread. Even so, Nora already loved the little lad, as did I, and we just couldn't give him up."
"He became our son from that moment on, and will continue to be our son," Nora said with a tone of finality.
Albus nodded in understanding to the Temples' statements. They weren't wrong, Harry was very small and needed caring for. And despite Hagrid's little mess up, it was fortunate he dropped into the hands of Minerva's in-laws. They would, and did, take good care of Harry. He still believed that Harry should be with his blood family, Lily's sister and family, but he couldn't think of a good reason to convince the Temples to give the child they had raised for the past ten years up. And knowing Nora, she wouldn't give a damn about any blood wards protecting him. That wouldn't convince her to give up the boy she called her own at all. That wouldn't stop him from trying, but their explanation for why they kept Harry was convincing enough. Still, he wasn't completely sold.
Deciding now was a good time to use Legilimency, he looked at the couple to determine which one he should use it on. Knowing Nora would know he was rifling around in her head—she had cursed him the last time he had attempted Legilimency on her—he chose her husband. Using Legilimency, he began to look through Gregor's mind, looking for any hint of deception to the validity of their story. Looking through the man's memories, all he could find were memories of Gregor spending time with and raising Harry, as well as their other son Andrew. He also found memories of the four of them spending time together as a family; nothing out of the ordinary and nothing he could use against them.
Slightly irritated from his fruitless find, he pulled out of the other wizard's brain and sighed before looking at Nora. "Is it alright for me to take a look at Harry's room? I'd lie to look at it if that's alright."
"Absolutely, Albus," Nora answered, leading the Headmaster out of the living room and up the stairs to the second floor.
As they did, Dumbledore looked around at the pictures hanging on the wall of Nora and Gregor together, them with Harry, them with Harry and Andrew, and of the boys together. Everything seemed legit, and he found it irritating, but he kept his face neutral. Eventually, they reached Harry's room, the Temples letting Dumbledore look around it, inspecting everything. They waited patiently for him to finish his inspection before he finally exited the room.
Dumbledore just couldn't believe it. There was no misleading evidence to counter what Nora, Gregor, or even Minerva had told him. It was like Harry really had grown up in this house his whole life after the death of Lily and James. He was really miffed that his suspicions seemed to be for naught. He was just about to bid the couple a 'goodnight', as well as thank them for answering his questions, when the sound of a door opening was heard and Andrew stepped out of his bedroom. He was on his way to the bathroom, only to stop and look at the three adults standing in the hallway, particularly the old man.
Finding this sudden change in events interesting, Dumbledore smiled kindly down at Andrew and greeted him, politely introducing himself to him, and asking him questions about his big brother. While this was happening, Gregor and Nora looked at each other with slightly panicked expressions. What if Dumbledore attempted to use Legilimency on Andrew? He had already done it to Gregor, so what was to stop him from doing it to a eight year old? But he wouldn't do that to a child, right? He wouldn't invade their personal thoughts knowing they were defenseless.
Only Dumbledore would and was. He was attempting Legilimency on Andrew, only to suddenly slam into a mental wall, the mental wall shielding the boys thoughts and memories, keeping him from seeing anything. Unbeknownst to his parents, and unknowingly himself, Andrew seemed to be a natural Occlumens. And him keeping a stranger out of his head wasn't on purpose, he just couldn't help it at his age. And while that was fascinating to the old man, Dumbledore finally had to accept now that the Temples had nothing to hide, and that they and Minerva had been telling him the truth about Harry. Finishing his talk with Andrew, he thanked the Temples for their time and bid them 'goodnight', then turning and Disapparating on the spot, leaving them and their home behind.
The moment he was gone, Nora and Gregor let out a sigh of relief. The ruse had worked, they had pulled it off. Now maybe they and Harry would be left alone for a long while.
Hermione splashed cool water in her face from the sink in the bathroom, needing the cool water to begin to make the puffiness of her eyes and face recede. Gosh, she hated crying, and hated that that stupid Ron had made her cry. She was stronger than this! But she also supposed she wasn't immune to all cruel words towards her. Daphne handed her a nearby towel when she was done, watching as she patted her face dry. When she was done, she asked, "Feel better now?"
Nodding, Hermione replied, "Yes, I do. Thanks for being here for me, Daphne."
"No problem, Hermione. Besides, what Weasley said to you was completely uncalled for and false. He's such a foul git and he wants to bring you down; don't let him."
The brunette smiled before patted her face with her hands, then suggesting they head to the Great Hall. If they went now, they were bound to be able to eat a bit of something before it was time to retire. The two girls turned to leave the bathroom, only to stop at seeing the large, two toed foot of a creature. Slowly looking up, the two girls looked up the creature's leg and body, all the way up to its head; it was a Mountain Troll.
The girls stared up at the troll in fear, taking slow steps backward as the troll took a step further inside the bathroom. In a low voice, Hermione told Daphne without looking away from the troll, "Don't move. Don't make any sudden movements."
Daphne did not listen, and instead ran into one of the bathroom stalls. Hermione glared at the closed door of the stall before turning back to the troll, hearing it grunt. The troll raised its large club, swinging it forward towards the bathroom stall, completely destroying the stalls and making splinters flying everywhere. Daphne screamed at the demolished stalls crashed down on her, Hermione protecting her face with her arms from the flying wood yelling out, "Daphne!"
The troll then swung its club at Hermione, the brunette witch barely dodging it in time. The club crashed into the bathroom sinks, destroying them and causing water to spray everywhere, Hermione getting wet in the process. She scrambled to get up, afraid the troll would try to kill her again. As she slipped on the wet floor and fell back down, a call of her name caught her attention.
"Hermione!"
Rolling over, Hermione was so happy to see her brother between the troll's legs, Draco and Blaise with him. Looking back at Harry, she looked at him and yelled, "Help!"
"Hermione, move!" Harry yelled at her while the troll turned to look at the newcomers. While it was distracted, Harry saw his sister run towards the pile of rubble nearby, finding Daphne and helping her up. As she did that, he picked up a piece of the stall and began lobbing it at the troll. Looking back at his friends, he called out, "Help me take care of this thing!"
Draco began throwing objects at the troll, the troll beginning to bend down, as well as tighten its grip on its club. Blaise, who had been standing in amazement and fear of how close he was to an actual Mountain Troll, suddenly remembered something. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a Dungbomb that he had acquired from Crabbe. Seeing that it was Halloween, it wouldn't hurt to play a few harmless pranks on people. Now seemed about as good a time to use it; after all, Harry said to help him take care of the troll. Throwing the Dungbomb with all his might, he watched as it sailed through the air before hitting the troll right in its face. Upon impact, the Dungbomb burst, green smoke emitting from it and the foul stench began to immediately permeate the air, filling the bathroom with those rank fumes.
"Ugh, Blaise!" Draco exclaimed, covering his nose as he glared at his friend who just shrugged.
No one liked the smell; it was so terrible. However, they weren't the only ones who hated this turn of events. The troll grunted in disgust and let out some sort of scream before it began swinging its club in all directions, completely violent as it did. After swinging it and neatly getting hit by the troll again, both Daphne and Hermione couldn't help but call out for help once again, the two of them cornered and trapped by the troll's presence.
Blaise ran towards the girls while the troll was distracted, helping them from where they were and back over to their friends. Harry, not knowing what else to do, noticed the rubble that Daphne, Hermione, and Blaise were running from, and thought of an idea. Pointing his wand at the broken wood, he incanted, "Incendio!"
"Harry, no!" Hermione cried too late, as her brother's spell was successful and the flames hit the wood. The wood began to burn instantly, the flames taking over the rubble and irritating the troll further. Hermione gave Harry an exasperated look, letting him know that that hadn't been a smart move.
The troll raised its club again, prepared to swing it down on the five students and end their lives. Draco, being quicker, swished and flicked his wand incanting, "Wingardium Leviosa!"
The club stayed in the air as the troll swung its arm, completely perplexed at no longer having its weapon in its hand. Taking this chance, Harry pointed his wand at the troll, trying a different spell to stop the large creature.
"Petrificus Totalus!"
The Full Body-Bind Curse hit the troll, but it wasn't effective as it did not petrify the troll. Hermione took her wand and pointed it at the troll as well, incanting the Full Body-Bind Curse when Harry did it again. Both of their spells hit the troll and this time, the troll locked up, slowly falling forward to the ground and towards them. The five of them quickly backed away from the falling troll, watching as it landed on its face completely still. Draco, canceling the Levitation Charm, then dropped the giant club on top of the troll, the troll grunting as it hit him.
They all stared at the still form of the troll before Hermione threw herself at her brother in a hug, holding him tightly as he too returned her hug just as close. In a concerned voice he asked, "Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm okay. Thank you for saving me," Hermione replied softly.
Just then, the sound of running footsteps entered the bathroom, those footsteps belonging to Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, Professor Quirrell, and Mr. Filch. McGonagall stared in shock at the sight before her, Snape putting out the burning fire with a wave of his wand. After taking it all in, she whirled to look at the five First Years and demanded, "Someone tell me what happened here right now."
Daphne, who seemed to have fully recovered from being nearly killed, spoke up saying, "Hermione and I were leaving the bathroom to go to dinner, only the troll had entered and cornered us. It had swung its club trying to kill us. If Harry, Draco, and Blaise hadn't found us, we would surely be dead. They are the heroes here."
Professor Quirrell's eyes widened considerably before stuttering out, "Y-You m-mean y-you three s-stopped this t-troll?"
"I believe that is exactly what Miss Greengrass has just said, Quirrell," Snape said curtly, looking at the stuttering professor in annoyance.
McGonagall nodded and said, "Well, it isn't every day that students take on a fully grown Mountain Troll to save their friends, and live to tell the tale. Therefore, I'm awarding thirty points to Slytherin, ten points for each boy, for their bravery and determination to save their friends."
She then turned to Professor Snape. "Severus, please escort the children to their Common Rooms, and please have a plate of food sent to Miss Granger and Miss Greengrass since they missed dinner."
Snape nodded and beckoned the five students to follow him out of the bathroom. Once they were gone, Professor McGonagall turned to Quirrell and said, "Please attempt to remove the troll if you can. If not, I'll alert the Ministry of Magic."
"I-I can, b-but get the M-Ministry j-just in case," Professor Quirrell replied.
Nodding, McGonagall then turned towards Mr. Filch. "And Mr. Filch, clean this place up, if you please."
Turning around, she strode out of the bathroom to head to the Headmaster's Office, hoping that Albus has returned from the Temples. Of course, he needed him to help with the troll situation, but she also hoped that the Temples had been convincing enough for Albus to leave them and Harry be for a few years at best. And if so, then she believed that they would all be able to rest a bit easier and Harry could stay with his family for as long as possible.