Chapter 16: Rescue me

Hermione Granger was not having a great summer break. The weather was nice, the pool was open and her parents had ordered out to her favorite Italian place. But her mind was not on the weather, the food, or anything except her best friend.

Dread blossomed in her soul as she thought about Harry getting dragged away by that… that… OAF! Harry's look to her replayed over and over in her mind. Something was not right and she knew it.

Two weeks, she thought, over and over. That's all that it is. He'll be fine. He'll be fine.

"Hermione," Helen laid a hand on her daughters. "Are you okay? You're not eating."

"I'm worried about Harry," Hermione said. "What if they do something to him? He can't do magic, he'll never be able to protect himself."

"There's nothing we can do," Richard said. "He only needs to stay there 13 more days and then we can go get him. I am sure he can last that long."

In all honesty, Richard was talking out of his ass. He didn't like the way Vernon had manhandled Harry. To hell with the fact he was supposed to hate any boy who came near his daughter, Richard liked Harry quite a lot. He had a wry sense of humor, a good heart and was as protective of Hermione as Richard himself. He saw too many of that kind of kid in the army. Richard knew he was abused and it chaffed him terribly that Harry had to go back there.

Richard had no bearing on whatever it was protected Harry. Still, after Hermione explained exactly how strong the protection was and how important it was to keep Harry safe, Richard decided to let it drop.

Meanwhile, Helen was watching her daughter closely. At 12 she knew it was still a little early for her to develop feelings but the way she gravitated toward Harry, she could see where things were heading. She resolved to have a conversation with her as soon as possible.

With enough prodding, Hermione finally dug in and ate her meal. Later that night, she was sitting on her bed when a knock sounded at her door.

"Do you have a moment?" Helen asked.

"Yea, mum," Hermione responded. "Come on in."

Helen entered the room with a bowl in each hand. It wasn't every day that dentist Helen Granger would allow her daughter this tasty treat. Bouncing off the bed, Hermione grabbed the bowl.

"What's the occasion?" She asked.

"I wanted to have a chat, just us girls," she said. "You've had quite the year, haven't you?"

"Yes, it has been quite fun," Hermione laughed. "Learning about magic, investigating the stone, the classes with Harry."

Hermione sighed, a smile on her face. Helen looked at her daughter. She remembered bringing her home, seeing her open her eyes for the first time, and seeing her husband's eyes in her daughter. Everything at that moment changed for Helen. She knew that she would give anything, everything to keep her safe, to keep her healthy and happy. Now, Hermione was no longer a baby. Her face was starting to lose its roundness and she had grown through the year. Hermione was beginning to transform into the woman she would one day be. A beautiful and bittersweet thought all at the same time.

"You mention Harry a lot..." Helen said. "I know you're starting to get to that age and Harry is your first friend… a boy…"

"Yes, mum, Harry is a boy," Hermione shook her head and rolled her eyes. "But he's so much more than that. He's kind and brave and noble. He always sees the best in people. You should have seen what he did to Greg and Vinny. Draco only saw them as bodyguards but now they're acting as individuals. He's made ties with almost every house, in different years…"

"And he's got those pretty eyes."

"And he's got those pretty eyes," Hermione repeated. "Wait, what?"

"Face it, Winter," Helen smiled. "You're attracted to your best friend."

Hermione gasped.

"I mean I had a crush for a while after he saved me from the troll but I wouldn't say attracted, per se."

"It's okay," Helen laid a hand on her shoulder. "I went through something similar at your age. It doesn't always mean anything but you are going to start going through some changes. Some to your body and some in other ways. You've started to notice, haven't you?"

Hermione nodded.

"You have always been mature for your age but please don't grow up too fast."

Helen wrapped Hermione up in a hug. After they parted, she slid a book across the bed.

"Because I know you," Helen chuckled. "Here is a book on everything that will happen to you in the next few years."

"One more thing: I looked into it and there isn't any record of Harry's relatives taking custody of him," Helen saw Hermione's eyes widen in shock. "It gives us certain… opportunities. Would you have any issue if we were to claim guardianship over him?"

Hermione looked like a fish out of water for a second, moving her mouth without making a sound.

"Ye-ye-yes!" She finally sputtered out. "You'd be willing to do that? But you barely know him?"

"Thanks to your letters, we know him quite well and Christmas gave us a great insight to his character," Helen smiled.

"He's like gravity isn't he?" Hermione giggled. "Everyone just seems to be pulled toward him, huh?"

"Yes he does," Helen was openly laughing. "He's even won your father over. Just don't get pulled too close too soon, okay?"

Hermione nodded as Helen stood, collected the bowls and exited the room.

As the week drew on, Hermione's dread grew. She thought Harry would have sent him a letter by now but Hedwig had not been seen. Homework held no interest for her. She started to read every book in the library but lost focus two pages into every single one of them. A few times she went out back to dip in the pool but even that couldn't shake her feeling.

Something was wrong and she knew it.

Harry still has not contacted me, Hermione thought. He said he would write but I've never seen anything. Maybe he got busy? No, that wouldn't stop him from writing. Maybe he's actually just bored of me and needs space?

As the silence dragged on, Hermione's thoughts grew darker and darker. In one moment, Harry hated her and never wanted to speak to her again and in another, he was in trouble and needed her help.

"What's wrong, princess?" Richard looked across the breakfast table to see Hermione chewing her lip.

"Harry…" was all she got out. She started pacing in the kitchen. "What if he doesn't like me? What if it was all a lie?"

"I am sure that's not the case," Richard said.

"Then what's wrong? Why hasn't he contacted me!?" She screamed at the end.

"Well…" Richard tried to calm her down. "Don't you have a way to call him?"

"Call?" Hermione stopped dead in her tracks. "Daddy, you're a genius!"

She rushed to him, wrapped him in a tight hug and kissed him on the cheek. Running to the phone book, she opened it, rifling through page after page.

"What did he say their name was? Vernon and Petunia Durely?" She asked aloud. "Dirsley? Dudley? No that's his cousin's name. DURSLEY!"

There it was in the book: Dursley, Vernon and Petunia. Number 4, Privet Drive, Surrey

Running to the phone, she dialed the number. The phone rang… and rang… and rang until finally…

"Dursley residence, Vernon speaking," Hermione recognized the voice as the one she heard at the station.

"Hi, is Harry there?"

"Excuse me?" Vernon raised his voice.

"I'm calling for Harry Potter. Can I speak with him?" Hermione tried to keep her voice strong.

"NOBODY BY THAT NAME LIVES HERE!" The last thing Hermione heard was the phone slam down and the line went dead.

Collapsing onto her knees, Hermione cried. There was no more denying it: Harry was in trouble.

"I probably just made it worse," she sobbed. "Oh, Harry. What is going on over there?"

Arms wrapped around her from behind.

"It's okay, princess," Richard said. "Three more days and we'll head over to pick him up. He'll be fine, you see."

"But…" Hermione was hysterical.

"I know you're worried," Richard said. "I am too. I want to go over there, but you know he has to stay there for two weeks. He won't stay there a second longer than necessary. Understood?"

If he is hurt in any way, Richard thought, there'll be hell to pay.

Eventually, Hermione calmed herself down. The next two days passed excruciatingly slow until night fell. They had planned out the route to Surrey. Their new Land Rover was loaded and ready to roll first thing in the morning.

Hold on, Harry. Tomorrow we're coming.

Night had fallen and Hermione was once again trying to read when a frantic hammering sounded at the window. Looking up, Hermione saw her: Hedwig. Running to the window, Hermione threw it open and let the bird in. Immediately Hedwig flew to Hermione's shoulder. She started to rub on Hermione's cheek before screeching and pecking her cheek.

"What's the matter, girl?" Hermione checked over the owl. Some of her feathers were ruffled and one of her wings seemed tender. Most disturbingly, she did not carry a letter. "What do you need?"

"Hermione," Richard went pale and pointed toward Hedwig's other leg. Clear on her talon, she could see red. Hedwig's talons were covered in blood.

Was it hers? Harrys? All manner of scenarios ran roughshod through her brain.

"Dad…" Hermione paled as well. Richard snapped to action.

"Helen, grab the first aid kit," he commanded. Helen sprinted to the kitchen for the nearest kit. "We leave in five."

Hermione sprinted to her room and scrawled a quick note.

"Hedwig," Hermione addressed the owl. "Find Professor McGonagall or Madam Pomfrey. We might need them."

Hedwig plucked the note in her beak and flew off at top speed as Hermione ran to the car. Richard peeled out of the garage, leaving rubber on the pavement as he pulled the car onto the road. Using all his driving experience from the army and a lot of adrenalin, the Grangers pulled up to Number 4 within 20 minutes.

Hermione was first out of the car. She ran up the walkway and started to hammer on the door. Richard and Helen formed up right behind her.

"I'm coming, I'm coming," they heard from inside.

The door opened a crack and Vernon's ugly head showed itself.

"Can I help you?" He gruffed.

"We're here to see Harry," Hermione leveled him with her hardest glare.

"You have the wrong…wait I know you!" Vernon shook his finger in her face. "You're the freak he was with at the station."

"Excuse me, sir," Richard tried to bring some calm to the situation. "We are here to pick up Harry and take him with us for the rest of the summer."

"The freak won't be going anywhere," Vernon said. "I won't be having any more nonsense in this house!"

"He's protecting you!" Hermione screamed. "From the people that killed his parents, that would kill you. He's protecting you and you are still just… VILE to him."

"What I am to my ward is of no concern to yours. Time to move along and find another freak."

Vernon waved her away and when he did, Hermione saw the talon marks on his arm. For the second time that night, Vernon was on the receiving end of a burst of accidental magic as Hermione screamed in horror and frustration. Vernon blew backward as the door blew off its hinges.

Stepping forward, Hermione trained her eyes on the frail dark haired woman. Eyes blazing with gold fire, Hermione advanced on Petunia. Afraid for her life, Petunia pointed toward the stairs. Like she was shot out of a cannon, Hermione sped up the stairs. Arriving at the first door on the right, at the top of the stairs, Hermione examined the door. Three separate locks were attached and there was a cat flap. There was even a window with bars installed. Peering through the window in the door, she screamed. Lying on the floor, his head and shoulders partially propped at the foot of the desk was Harry.

"Harry!" She screamed and placed her hands on her face. Responding to her screams, the door disappeared, turning instantly into dust and she ran to him.

"Please be okay, please be okay." She said over and over. She was joined by her mother and father.

"Help me move him," Richard said with practiced calm. Together, they moved Harry to lie fully on the ground where Richard got to work. Helen stood at the doorway, on the lookout for trouble.

"Broken nose, 1, 2, Jesus, 4 broken ribs. That's just what I can tell from here. I can't tell if he has any internal injuries. He also has severe injuries to the legs," Richard rummaged through his kit. "I know you won't like this, kid, but I need you awake. Cracking the smelling salts, he held it under Harry's nose.

Slowly, Harry's eyes cracked open.

"'Mione?" Even in the dark room, Harry knew that hair anywhere. "You came."

"I'm here," She cried in pain and in joy. "I'm here Harry. We need to get you to a hospital."

"I… I can't feel my legs," Harry widened his eyes.

"They're there, kid," Richard said. "Good to see you."

All of a sudden, pops rang out on the street.

"Aurors! Everyone get your hands up! We're coming in."

"You better go down and talk with them," Richard said. "Go. I'll try to stabilize Harry, here."

Hermione made her way down the stairs and was almost at the door when two more pops sounded in the night.

"Hands up!" One of the voices said. "Identify yourselves!"

"Minerva McGonagall and Poppy Pomfrey," Hermione heard the voice of her favorite teacher. "We were told someone might be hurt."

At this, Hermione made herself visible in the doorway with her hands up. Hermione saw three individuals with purple robes standing with their wands out. One, probably the leader, had red hair. The two behind her were younger. One was a tall, strong black man, and the other a smaller woman with pink hair.

"Who are you?" the leader said.

"Hermione?" McGonagall was not expecting to see her there. "Poppy and I were visiting a friend in London when Hedwig flew to us with your note. How she found us, I'll never know."

"My name is Hermione Granger," she addressed the Aurors evenly, aware there were four wands trained on her. "There is a wizard upstairs who is seriously hurt. He needs help immediately."

"Go, Poppy," McGonagall nodded to her colleague. "I will help here."

Madam Pomfrey bolted for the house.

"Upstairs, first door on the right," Hermione said. "You'll find my father with Harry."

"Amelia," McGonagall addressed the leader. "Why are you here?"

"We detected several incidents of magic at the premises this evening and came to investigate."

"What incidents?" Hermione said.

"We had a hover charm used today at 9:30, followed by a burst of magic a half hour later," Amelia read from a piece of parchment. "Then another two bursts of magic not ten minutes ago."

"I am not sure what the first two were but the last two were probably me," Hermione said, sheepishly.

"Perhaps you should start from the top," Amelia said.

"Before I do," Hermione examined the three Aurors behind her. "Can you vouch for every Auror behind you? This is sensitive information that can't get to certain individuals."

"If this is who I think it is," Amelia caught the names Harry and Hermione. She heard Susan mention Hermione before, always with the name Harry Potter. "You can be assured this will remain Top Secret. Hermione Granger?"

Hermione nodded.

"I've heard a lot about you from my niece, Susan," Amelia said. "Behind me are Kingsley Shacklebolt and Nymphadora (the girl with pink hair rolled her eyes) Tonks. Tell me what happened here."

"I can only tell you what happened when I arrived," Hermione went on to explain how they were planning to collect Harry tomorrow but had not heard anything from him, which was uncharacteristic of him.

"And then Hedwig, his owl, came to our house. She was upset, wouldn't calm down. We saw she had blood on her talons and thought the worst. We arrived at the house and Vernon Dursley wouldn't let us in. I saw marks on his arm and I think my magic pushed him back. Petunia Dursley told me Harry was upstairs. When I went up, I saw him collapsed on the floor behind a door with three locks and a cat flap.

"I screamed when I saw him and the door disintegrated. My father and I tried to help him. We had just gotten him conscious again when you arrived."

"Well that explains two of the incidents," Amelia said. "Let's go check on Mr. Potter. Tonks! Shacklebolt! You have the perimeter. Nobody in or out unless I say so. Got it?"

Getting nods from her deputies, Amelia moved into the house. Taking note of the large man who was sitting up, his wife tending to him, she moved up the stairs and gasped when she turned the corner.

The Hogwarts matron was waving her wand over Harry's broken body. Amelia had seen her share of injuries but never so many on someone so young. A quill was transcribing everything for Pomfrey as Hermione sprinted to his side, tears once again falling freely.

"How is he?" Amelia asked.

"He's in bad shape," Pomfrey said.

Sweat poured off Pomfrey's face as she frantically worked.

"I have fixed four broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder, broken nose, two broken patella and torn ligaments in his elbows and knees. He's lucky he didn't puncture a lung. He also has a broken thoracic vertebra that's pinching a nerve in his spinal cord. I need to be extremely careful. I can fix it but if I do this wrong, he will be paralyzed."

Hermione gasped and held Harry's hand as Pomfrey started to work her wand in an intricate pattern. Ear-splitting cracks sounded through the room, followed by blood-curdling screams from Harry.

"I am aware how much this hurts, Mr. Potter," Pomfrey said. "I wish I could immobilize you but I cannot for this. Please try to remain as still as possible."

Excruciating minutes later, Harry stopped screaming and Madam Pomfrey slumped over.

"Poppy?" McGonagall's voice came from the doorway. I am going to have words with Albus after this, she thought. I warned him and still, he placed Harry here.

"I was successful," she heaved a sigh. "He will have to rest for a while and it will be a long path to recovery but he will recover."

"Can I talk to him?" Amelia asked.

"Keep it brief," Pomfrey said. "I don't know how long he will remain conscious. He's extremely exhausted."

"Mr. Potter," Amelia was amazed when Harry actually sat up. With help from Richard and Hermione, Harry sat gingerly on the bed. Even without his glasses, he tried to look in her direction. "Can you tell me what happened here?"

Noticing this, Amelia reached down, repaired his glasses and handed them to him. Slowly, Harry started to speak.

Harry told her about Dobby and his warning about Hogwarts.

"And then Dobby popped away. A short while later, I heard a scream from downstairs but I couldn't get there because the door was locked."

"Your door was locked!?" Amelia asked.

"Yes, ma'am," Harry said, keeping his eyes on her. "When I came home, they locked me and my owl away and told me I wouldn't be going back to Hogwarts. They thought, like they always thought, that if they starved me and beat me, it would make my freakiness- what they call my magic- go away.

"Anyway, after the scream, Vernon stormed upstairs and blamed me for whatever happened. He told me 'you ruined my dinner and my deal! I have had it with your freakishness. I have tried to squash it out of you but apparently, I have to try harder.' He pushed me up against the desk and punched me in the face, snapping my glasses. From there, it is all fuzzy. He was raining blow after blow on me. Hedwig tried to escape her cage as I tried to protect myself."

Helen held firm to Richard as Harry told his story, tears falling for the boy. McGonagall looked ready to set the house on fire and Pomfrey was planning where to hide the bodies. Hermione held Harry's hand, crying tears of rage.

"I felt some sort of magic in the room, it felt thick like ozone in the air. Suddenly, the air lit up with magic. I heard Hedwig's cage burst open and Vernon was blasted backward. The window blew out and Hedwig flew at him. She must have clawed him because he screamed and threw her away. I saw her fly away and I was happy she was safe. Vernon renewed his assault on me. He threw me on the desk and then stomped on each of my knees. I was scared because I never felt his attacks on my legs. Vernon then walked out of the door and reset the locks. I must have blacked out because the next time I woke up, Hermione and Richard were kneeling over me."

"Well, Mr. Potter," Amelia worked to keep her composure. "It seems there's no sense in expelling you-

"Expelling him!" Hermione shrieked.

"-for using magic in front of muggles. The first charm we can reasonably prove was not you, if I can run a test on your wand. The magic that followed we will chalk up to accidental magic- both of you- in the name of protecting yourself or another.

"Madam Pomfrey, may I get a copy of what your diagnostic charms revealed? I will be prosecuting Vernon Dursley for assault, child neglect and child abuse and that will be evidence in it. In the meantime, I am going to sign a restraining order on your behalf. To keep you close to these… people… threatens the Statute of Secrecy.

"That's all from the legal side. As someone who was a personal friend of your parents, I am disgusted at your story. You will not be coming back here. I give you my word."

"Professor Dumbledore told me I need to come back every year to renew the protection my mother left me," Harry said, gravitating between the hope of never seeing them again and fear of losing protection.

"There is nothing that protects you from the inhabitants of this place," Amelia said. "I cannot in good conscience send you back here."

"And I will be having words with Albus," McGonagall said. "I told him this was a bad idea. I don't care if you are safe from Voldemort-"

Amelia and Poppy flinched.

-I am not having you return to this place."

"I would reach out to the goblins," Amelia said. "They are expensive but their protective wards are no joke. They could set something up wherever you stay to keep you safe."

She looked at the Grangers.

"Am I to assume you'll be taking care of him the rest of the summer?"

Helen and Richard nodded.

"Good, that's one less thing for me to take care of," Amelia actually smiled. "I may call upon you in the summer for more information regarding our case."

Poppy stepped up to the Grangers, a clutch of potions in her hand.

"I will be visiting as well," she said. "For now, give him these potions. I will write out what he needs and when. Most importantly, he needs to stay in bed for at least the next three days. His spine is still healing and will need to be fully healed before he can start rehabilitation.

"Everything else has been fixed but it will take time for the bones to handle any form of stress. I will be checking in every week."

After Poppy finished, she exited the room. Amelia conjured a new door since there was no repairing the disintegration of the old one. She checked Harry's wand for any spells and moved down the stairs.

Richard wrapped his arm around Harry and helped him walk out of the room and down the stairs.

"Easy there, kid," Richard said. "You scared us all a good bit."

"I'm sorry sir, it was not my intent."

"Still not knighted, kid. It's okay, it wasn't your fault. Now we just have to make sure you recover, okay?"

"You got it, Richard," Harry smiled for the first time. They really care, he thought. The thought almost brought him to tears.

Once down the stairs, they saw Amelia holding court with the Dursleys. Kingsley and Tonks had stepped into the sitting room and handed the Dursleys pieces of parchment.

"… for the assault on an 11-year-old boy. You are also being charged with child neglect and child abuse of one Harry James Potter. You may speak in your defense though anything you say may be used in your trial. You have a right to an attorney but if you cannot afford one, one can be provided."

"Where are you taking my property!" Vernon moved to get to Harry.

"You are being served a restraining order from one Harry James Potter," Amelia continued on, louder to speak over him. "You may not go within 30 meters of him at any time. You cannot contact him and will not harass him in any way.

"Shut up, freak!" Vernon continued on. "That's my property and you can't have him."

"Harry is being remanded into the custody of the Grangers, here. He has not and will never be your property. That is all."

As the group moved toward the door, a piece of paper caught McGonagall's eye. Noticing the unique handwriting of the headmaster, she picked it up. Reading the note, her eyes narrowed. I am going make him choke on a lemon drop, she thought as she pocketed the parchment.

"I never properly introduced myself," Amelia said once they were outside. "Amelia Bones, head of the DMLE."

"You're Susan's aunt," Harry said. "She speaks highly of you."

"She speaks highly of the two of you as well," Amelia said. "I hope it doesn't take a full bout of accidental magic for us to meet again. I would like to get to know James and Lily's child."

"I would like that as well," Harry said. He tried to shake her hand, though his grip lacked any strength. "Thank you for helping me today and for not pressing charges."

"Just see that it won't happen again."

"We will make sure of that," Richard offered his left hand since his right was still holding Harry up. "I am Richard Granger, that is my wife Helen. We will be taking care of Harry until further notice."

"If you need anything," Helen shook Amelia's hand and gave her a piece of paper. "Please don't hesitate to reach out. That is our address."

Richard turned and walked Harry to the Land Rover. Opening the door, he laid Harry across the back seat while Hermione got in the other side and held his head in her lap.

As the car engine roared to life, Harry started a little.

"It's okay, Harry," Hermione pushed him back down. "Everything is fine. You're safe now. We're going to take care of you."

Focusing on the radio, he listened to the song that played, letting it soothe him.

Don't you buy the Queen of Diamonds
She'll beat you if she's able
And the Queen of Hearts
Is your best bet

Relaxing at the subtle melody, Harry reveled at the tender touch of Hermione's hands running through his hair as he slipped into a deep sleep.

(A/N: The lyrics are from 'Desperado' by the Eagles.)