Chapter 14: A Reunion
"Hermione? My Hermione?" Harry whispered incredulously, unwilling to relinquish her from his grasp.
"Your Hermione?" she laughed softly "Well, I suppose I am in a way. I wouldn't have spent a year living in a tent for just anyone Harry." Hermione pulled back from the hug and looked affectionately at Harry. "I've missed you."
"I've missed you too."
"Errr… guys?" Susan hissed at the pair from the other side of the table. "You might want to continue your conversation a little later?"
Breaking eye contact Harry looked around the hall and was mortified to find that proceedings had ground to a halt while everyone gaped at the two first-year Hufflepuffs, many craning their necks to get a better view of the boy-who-lived and the young lady who had greeted him so warmly.
"Yes. Well, now Mr Black-Potter and Miss Granger have got that out of their system…" Professor McGonagall said sternly, "Hopkins, Wayne!"
"Meet me in the common room after everyone is asleep" whispered Hermione. "We've got lots to talk about."
Finally, the sorting was over. Neville had returned to Gryffindor while Ron Weasley had waited with the sorting hat on his head for several minutes before eventually being sent the same way, something that surprised many as the Weasley's were well known for their almost automatic presence in the Gryffindor tower.
"Now then," said Albus Dumbledore grandly, surveying the Great Hall from his position behind the large, golden owl lectern that stood in front of the head table. The students had all immediately fallen silent as he stood "I do have a few notices to give out but…" the Headmaster was interrupted by the sound of Ron Weasley's stomach growling loudly, "…as Mr Weasley has helpfully indicated, there are better times to do so. For now, I'll just say this. Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!" With that, he swept his arm across the hall and dishes piled high with all different kinds of food appeared in front of the children. Wasting no time they all began to dig in but once their immediate hunger was satisfied, the conversation began to flow between the students with Susan and Hannah taking the lead by introducing themselves to their classmates.
"Hi everyone - I'm Susan Bones," Susan spoke confidently to the others. "Hannah and I basically grew up together - my Auntie is Head of the DMLE so Hannah's parents helped to look after me when she got called away. We met Harry a couple of years ago through Neville Longbottom – he's over in Gryffindor – and we've been friends ever since." She beamed a smile round at the group.
Harry and Hermione hadn't really interacted with many of their new housemates originally, and as times had grown darker and more dangerous, many of them had been withdrawn from Hogwarts as their families left for safer climes. Justin and Ernie were familiar faces but Wayne Hopkins, Sophie Roper and Megan Jones were entirely new to the pair and they looked forward to making some new friends outside of the semi-insular society of Gryffindor.
Ernie hadn't yet developed the level of pomposity that he'd displayed in later years and once Harry had got past the formal introduction of himself as Lord Potter to the heir of the Macmillan family, he found he was able to chat quite freely with both the muggle-born and pureblood wizards.
Hermione however, found herself in an unfamiliar situation. Due to her acceptance by Harry on the train, Hannah and Susan had immediately included her in their conversations and seemed keen on adding her to their friendship group. After leaving Hogwarts Hermione had found that being one of the 'golden trio' and having helped saved the wizarding world wasn't particularly conducive to being approachable or creating new, genuine friendships, and she had often missed having people she could talk to that weren't colleagues or family. Spending seven years living with two of the largest gossips in Hogwarts also meant that she'd always been quite guarded but Susan and Hannah seemed determined to bring her out of her shell.
"So Hermione," Hannah began with a twinkle of amusement in her eye, "is there something you and Harry need to tell us?"
The pair blushed but Hermione recovered quickly. "Harry and I actually went to school together for years. We were really close friends but we lost touch..."
Harry took over smoothly. "I withdrew from the Muggle school I'd been attending when I moved in with my new guardians and couldn't contact anyone from my past. The people I'd been living with before didn't like me very much and I ended up leaving them in a hurry."
This statement was met with silence from the group. Harry had never spoken of his childhood so this was new to Susan and Hannah. Hermione had gripped Harry's hand tightly under the table and shot him a look that he knew meant they'd be talking about this further later on.
"But you're Harry Potter!" Ernie spluttered. "You're the boy-who-lived! Surely things can't have been that bad?"
Harry visible flinched at the title he'd been saddled with. He'd avoided the general public over the last couple of years and had allowed himself to forget the veneration with which he was treated by the masses for something that had happened to him rather than had been done by him. Susan and Hannah immediately fixed Ernie with glares that made him visibly wilt but Harry interjected before the pair, who were generally very protective of their friend, could make their feelings known.
"Girls, it's fine." Harry turned to Ernie, "I'd prefer you don't call me that if you don't mind. I may have survived the killing curse that night but it's a constant reminder to me that my parents didn't."
Ernie stuttered an apology having never considered things from that perspective before, but Harry waved it away. "No harm done." He said with a smile.
At the conclusion of the feast, Dumbledore stood and gave the expected notices, including the warning that the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side was out of bounds. Harry found it oddly comforting to know that the changes he'd made since his return didn't appear to have affected matters to the extent where the school would not be hosting the Philosopher's Stone and let out a soft sigh that, once again, had Hermione squeezing his hand.
As the students rose to leave the Great Hall, Professor Sprout approached Harry. "Mr Black-Potter, the Headmaster has asked for a few minutes of your time. I will show you the way to the common room afterwards."
"Of course Professor." Harry nodded to Hermione, indicating that he had expected such a meeting. Typically Dumbledore hadn't allowed Harry an evening of rest before demanding his presence and it was with heavy legs that Harry followed the head of Hufflepuff out of the hall and up to the 7th Floor where she stopped in front of a stone gargoyle.
"Jelly Slugs" intoned Professor Sprout and the gargoyle moved aside to allow access to the winding staircase that led to the headmaster's office. She glanced at Harry, shrugged and simply said, "The Headmaster is rather fond of sweets." She knocked and waited for a response from within before opening the door and escorting Harry inside.
"Ah! Harry my boy. Thank you, Pomona that will be all." Dumbledore's eyes were already twinkling as he presented his best grandfatherly face to the youngster stood in front of him.
"Actually Headmaster, I'd prefer Professor Sprout stay if you don't mind. As I don't know why you've asked me here I'd feel better if my head of house was present too."
Harry's reasonably stated request wasn't something Dumbledore could deny but Harry saw the twinkle in his eyes falter for a moment at the fact that he wasn't immediately trusted by the boy.
"Of course! Of course!" Dumbledore waved his wand and conjured two comfy armchairs, indicating for his visitors to take a seat.
"Now Harry. I must say it was rather a shock to hear your name called as Black-Potter. I was hoping you would enlighten me as to why that is? I wasn't aware of a change in your guardianship?"
Harry ensured his occlumency walls were firm before responding. "Yes, Headmaster. I was adopted by my godfather just over a year ago. Officially I'm Harry Black-Potter but I only use Potter unless I have to."
"I see. I'll make sure the Professors are aware." Harry nodded his thanks. "I assume you are still living with your Aunt and Uncle?"
"Oh no, Sir!" Harry said with the enthusiasm that was expected of him, but not felt. "I haven't lived with them since I was 8 years old."
Dumbledore hid his shock and threw a surreptitious glance at the many trinkets that lined his shelves, wondering how he could have missed that information. "I really feel you should return to live with them again Harry. There are protections on that house that will keep you safe from any that would want to harm you."
Harry struggled not to snort with laughter, recalling the night he'd fled the property. "That would be difficult Sir. Firstly, I don't believe my godfather would allow that to happen as he has a house of his own, and secondly, my relatives no longer live there."
This time Dumbledore was unable to hide his surprise. "Do you know where they are?"
"Yes Sir." Harry knew where the headmaster was taking this before he'd even spoken.
"I really do believe it would be in your best interests to stay with them over the summer holidays."
"That won't be possible Sir." Harry remained calm while Professor Sprout's head turned back and forth as though she were watching a tennis match.
Irritation began to show in Dumbledore's tone. "And why not?"
"Well Sir, my Aunt and Uncle are currently guests of Her Majesty at Wormwood Scrubs." Harry now stood from his chair, an action swiftly mirrored by Professor Sprout. "It turns out the muggles aren't fond of people that keep their nephews in a cupboard under the stairs for 8 years whilst beating them almost to death. They were both sentenced to 15 years in prison for their crimes." Harry was now trembling with anger and knew he had to get out of the room before he said something that would get him in serious trouble. "Now if you don't mind Headmaster, that's dragged up memories I'd rather forget. I've had a long day so I'd like to see my friends and the place I'll call home for the next seven years."
Harry now turned and stormed from the room without waiting to be dismissed. Professor Sprout glared at Dumbledore than strode after her new Badger, leaving the headmaster sitting in a stunned silence behind his desk.
On descending the stairs, Professor Sprout found Harry leaning with his head pressed against the cold stone castle wall. "I'm sorry Professor, that wasn't very respectful of me. It just brought up some memories I would have preferred to have left buried."
"I think it was quite understandable Mr Potter." She reached out and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "If you ever need to talk I'm always willing to listen. As long as I'm not currently teaching a class I'll be happy to take some time with you." She smiled at Harry who was surprised – he'd always felt McGonagall was too busy to deal with individual student issues and after being brushed off about the Philosopher's Stone the first time around, he'd not really bothered to seek her out again, instead preferring to deal with things himself.
"Now! Time to head to the common room. We'll go back to the Great Hall first and set out from there so you know how to find your way for breakfast tomorrow."
Professor Sprout led Harry down a route he'd been very well acquainted with previously. Once they reached the corridor that housed the Hogwarts kitchens, they proceeded past the entrance to a shadowy recess set into the right-hand side of the passageway. A pile of large barrels were stacked inside and Harry stopped just in front of them, looking quizzically at his head of House.
"Pay attention here Mr Potter. Do you see the barrel in the middle row, two from the bottom? To access the common room you simply have to tap out the rhythm of the name 'Helga Hufflepuff' on this barrel."
"What happens if you use the wrong barrel or rhythm?" Harry asked curiously.
Professor Sprout smiled warmly, "All the other barrels are filled with vinegar and one of them will burst open, so do make sure you pick the right one, won't you? Now, watch carefully."
Professor Sprout tapped out the correct rhythm and the front of the barrel swung open to reveal a sloping, earthy passage that led gently upwards. The pair followed the path until they came to the round, low-ceilinged common room, decorated in the Hufflepuff colours of yellow and black and filled with colourful plants and flowers. A large portrait hung on one of the walls showing Helga Hufflepuff holding what Harry instantly recognised as the cup Voldemort had turned into a Horcrux. He was looking forward to the Goblins cleansing the items so they could be returned to their rightful homes at Hogwarts.
Embedded into the walls were round doors that to the various dormitories, and small round windows that were just level with the ground at the foot of the castle. So low that you'd only be able to see people's feet as they walked past but large enough that Harry knew the room would be flooded with sunlight during the day. Harry turned slowly on the spot, taking it all in.
"So what do you think of your new home?" Professor Sprout asked.
"It's fantastic!" As much as Harry loved the Gryffindor tower he could already tell he'd enjoy many cosy nights here, talking and laughing with his friends.
"Right! Off to bed. First-year boys are through that door over there." she said pointing at one of the doors. "There will be a house meeting at the end of the week to make sure everyone if settling in OK so if you have any questions that you've not had answered in the meantime, you can ask them then."
"Thank you, Professor."
"You're very welcome Mr Potter," she said with a smile "and welcome to Hogwarts."
Harry grinned in return and entered the dormitory to find large wooden bedsteads covered in patchwork quilts. He didn't think he'd been out particularly long but the slow, soft breathing from his dorm mates indicated they must have fallen asleep almost as soon as they'd got into bed. He quickly opened his trunk and extracted his sleep things before heading to the adjoining bathroom to change and brush his teeth.
A short while later he slipped back out into the common room where he found Hermione waiting in a familiar position - curled up in a chair with a book in her lap. Harry paused, not wanting to disturb the scene in front of him. It had been years since he last saw Hermione this way and he felt his heartache that there hadn't been more opportunities to do so. He watched her as the flickering light from the fire danced off her unmanageable, bushy brown hair and she was so absorbed in her book that she didn't notice he was there until he placed his hand on her shoulder.
Barely stifling a scream at the unexpected contact she leapt out of her seat and spun around to face him before launching herself into his arms. "Harry! You scared the life out of me!"
"Sorry Hermione," he said sheepishly, returning her hug. "You were so wrapped up in your book I didn't want to disturb you."
Hermione eventually released Harry and led him over to a large squashy sofa in front of the fire. "What did Dumbledore want?" she asked as, even after all these years, they instinctively resumed the positions they used to occupy in the Gryffindor common room – Harry at one end, Hermione at the other with her feet in his lap. Harry briefly filled her in on his meeting and was secretly pleased to see the look of triumph on her face when he told her about the fate of the Dursleys.
"So when did you arrive back?" Hermione asked. "You must have been back for a while for the number of changes you seem to have made."
"Yeah, if only they'd all been intentional," Harry sighed. "This whole 'fixing the future' thing is harder than it seems."
Hermione gave a short laugh as Harry launched into a condensed version of everything that had happened since his return. When he had finished she looked at him thoughtfully and with a hint of approval. "That's a lot of people that know you're from the future but I can't really fault you when it comes to who you've told. Having the Goblins and the head of the DMLE on our side is massive but convincing Snape?"
"I know. I was as surprised as you are but he helped me get healthy again and he's been absurdly supportive. If I'd known I just needed him to see me at death's door to get him to change…"
"Don't even joke about that Harry James Potter!" Hermione snapped suddenly. "There's too much for us to do and I've only just got you back."
Harry blushed at the mumbled an apology. He'd been going for humour and had apparently missed by quite a margin. Hermione sighed and pulled her feet from his lap so she could twist and lean up against him instead. "I'm sorry – I just thought I was going to be alone in this so to have you here with me is more than I could have hoped for."
"When did you know I'd come back?" Harry wondered.
"I was suspicious on the train – the way you were acting and the things you were saying were just so different from the Harry I met before. Plus I saw you and Sirius on the platform…" Hermione trailed off into silence before abruptly picking up the conversation again. "Did you really not know I'd returned until I hugged you?"
"I thought something was off on the train as well but had pretty much dismissed it. You were much calmer than last time." He grinned at Hermione and softly bumped her shoulder with his.
"Now I know it was you in the bookshop I'm surprised you didn't start suspecting me from then." Harry looked questioningly at Hermione. "Oh come on Harry. 'I've been browsing for a while and I've read about you in all these books…' – as if I'd have had time to specifically look for you in amongst all those books. I was waiting for you to call me out on it there and then but you just let it pass by."
Harry smacked himself in the forehead with the palm of his hand, causing Hermione to laugh. "You're so used to my reading habits that you didn't even consider I wasn't telling the truth, did you?" Harry merely groaned in response causing her to laugh again.
"So what about you Hermione, when did you come back?" said Harry, desperately attempting to deflect the discussion away from his error.
"I returned just before my 11th birthday. My parents both know..." she stopped speaking and just stared into the flames that blazed in the fireplace. Hermione had travelled to Australia after the war and attempted to restore her parent's memories but hadn't been successful. They couldn't remember their daughter, they didn't see her get married and never met their grandchildren. "When I got back I just broke down into tears. I cried and cried, begging for their forgiveness for something that hadn't happened yet. I told them everything, all about the things I'd kept from them before for fear that they'd pull me out of school. They understood and forgave me but I still felt so guilty. It took the best part of the year before I managed to forgive myself." Hermione paused and Harry slipped an arm around her, pulling her close in an attempt to provide comfort. "Anyway, whilst I've not been as busy as you, I've made a couple of changes myself."
"Such as?" Harry asked softly.
"Luna's mother – she's still alive. I sent an anonymous message to Luna and her father claiming to be a seer. I insisted that I'd foreseen a terrible accident and that they needed to take precautions. A few weeks later there was an open letter in the Quibbler thanking the mystery seer for saving their family."
Harry berated himself inwardly for not considering that he himself could have made a change that would have had such a terrific impact on his friend's life. Hermione knew exactly what was going on in his head though "Hey! Stop that right now! It's not a problem and it certainly wouldn't have been your fault if things hadn't changed – all that matters is that she's alive and Luna will be happier for it. You can't go down the path of taking the blame for everything that happens. We're both here now and we'll do everything we can to save as many innocent lives as possible – OK?"
Harry nodded, choosing to take Hermione's lead and accentuate the positive in the situation.
"Is there anything else you wish you'd done?" she asked.
"It's a small point in the scheme of things but I wish I'd gotten to Eeylops sooner in Diagon… when I finally got round to it Hedwig was already gone," said Harry sadly. He glanced up to see a guilty expression on Hermione's face. "What is it?"
"The day you saw me in Diagon… I popped in to the shop to see if Hedwig was there and I overheard a couple of people talking about buying her…"
"Right…?"
"Oh, Harry! I couldn't let that happen – you were so close to her, it would have broken my heart to have let her go so I bought her instead! She's up in the Owlery right now. I was going to try and find a way to gift her to you…" Hermione was unable to finish her sentence as Harry engulfed her in the largest and tightest hug she'd ever received from her best friend.
"Thank you Hermione… thank you so much," Harry whispered in her ear, amazed by the depth of her friendship. Eventually, and reluctantly, Harry released his hold on her and looked awkwardly at the floor rather than meet her eyes.
"I need to apologise to you for driving Ron away on the train. He was the father of your children and of course, I'll support you if you want to be with him again. I'll try to put aside my feelings about Molly and be friendlier with him starting tomorrow."
Hermione sighed. "Before what happened on the platform… we'd not had a chance to catch up properly for a few months had we?" She studied Harry, biting lightly on her bottom lip. "Harry, Ron and I were in the process of getting a divorce. We'd been putting on a front for the children but the constant bickering was just too much. I'd fundamentally changed who I was as a person to fit my life around him and frankly, I resented it. I love my children with every part of me and I miss them every day, but I can't be with Ron again. I won't do it to myself. Especially not when I know about Molly's interference."
"I'm sorry I had to tell you that Hermione." Harry took Hermione's hands in his. "I struggled to understand with my relationship with Ginny after I found out but I've chosen the same as you. I think of my kids every day but I won't go down that path again with her. There's enough attempted manipulation in my life already without not being able to understand if I've fallen in love, or if it's been forced upon me."
"Harry – I already knew about Molly before you told me. You weren't the only one that visited that version of Kings Cross Station."
"Really?" Harry studied Hermione who suddenly looked nervous about discussing this topic. "What were you told while you were there?"
"Can we please not talk about this just now?" Hermione begged. "I promise, we'll talk about it one day, I'm just not ready at the moment." She looked pleadingly at Harry who searched her eyes for any clue as to why she was so distressed. "Please," she whispered.
"Of course Hermione, when you're ready." He helped her to her feet then pulled her into another hug.
"Thanks, Harry." she gave him one final squeeze then stepped out of his embrace and smiled up at him. "We should really get to bed now – classes in the morning." She stretched up on her tiptoes and placed a gentle kiss on Harry's cheek.
Harry stood there in shock, one hand drifting up to touch the place her lips had fallen. Just as she was about to enter her dormitory Harry spoke once more.
"Hermione? Can I ask just one thing…?"
Hermione nodded.
"Who did you meet at that station?"
"It was your mum Harry. It was Lily Potter."
She paused, awaiting a response from Harry. When none came she said softly, "Good night Harry." She was just about to close the door when she heard a quiet reply.
"Sweet dreams Hermione."