"*I want you to help, instead of me doing it, if that's okay* … *Neville can survive on his own until we get to school.*"
Hermione didn't like how she'd been thinking when she told Harry that. Now that she felt more in control of her life, she changed her mind: both of them would help Neville, and now, not almost a year from now.
Then, as evidence that she really had changed, she wrote to Harry in the journal about what she'd decide in the journal.
"You are a nice girl, Hermione. You really think too much. Hope that doesn't make you mad. I will be happy to help Neville with you as you've done for me."
Somehow she knew Harry had been laughing when he read what she wrote.
"So what are his problems?"
"The one we can deal with is his wand. We'll simply get him one. I plan to bring you to Gringotts after I nose around first to make sure they don't tell people that would interfere with you. If it's not safe to bring you there, I will pay for things and you can pay me back when you get your letter. At that point, you can ask certain people for your key without becoming suspicious to them. And you can officially meet people like me and Neville and Luna when shopping. At any rate, we get Neville a new wand to use. However, having his father's wand isn't all bad. He should get used to both: having to use his father's wand will make him much stronger; using his own wand will give him confidence. Think about how you would have felt if you saw the two hundred or so rabbits you conjured.
You're too many steps ahead, Hermione. Harry's confidence was clearly growing. I guess Neville, my almost-brother, has his father's magic wand, and it doesn't suit him?
Yes, Hermione replied.
And you would prefer I bought it, because of the almost-brother thing. But me getting money from Gringotts would somehow alert people like the person who put me here?
Hermione agreed.
Why do I have money there?
It's your trust vault. Your parents set it up. One of the people I am trying to avoid gave the key to your trust vault to another person I am trying to avoid. But he's going to get it back to give it to someone else who is loyal to him, but will give you the key. Okay, this is another thing I have changed my mind about.
The person who had your key is Albus Dumbledore. He's a powerful mind reader, and he put you where you were, knowing full well how you'd be treated. He doesn't want you to have any freedom and when you get to school, he plans to subject you to increasingly dangerous situations. I don't know if it's to test you, harm you, strengthen you, or what. But it's definitely designed to make you more isolated and dependent. The woman he gave your key to is Molly Weasley. She's completely loyal to Albus Dumbledore, and unlike the person who will have your key later, she's not nice about how she obeys him. I now realise you should get any anger out of your system now. It's not likely he'll choose to visit the Dursleys before school starts. That was me panicking. By the time you start school, either we'll have learned to hide our thoughts, or you will have gotten your anger under control. We have to learn Occlumency, which helps with both.
That's a lot. And I see what you mean. We have almost a year for me not to think about blasting him. Who is he, in general? Besides the brother of the guy we met. And now I know why you two were talking about him so much.
He runs the school we'll go to. He also presides over the wizard's high court. And he's like the head of the UN, but with less power. He's Britain's representative to the Magical UN. He's famous and people admire him because when he was a teacher of Transfiguration, which is just a magical class, he went out and fought with an old friend of his, Gellert Grindlewald, and defeated him. He was trying to take over the wizarding world.
I should add that some of the information we have on Dumbledore is that that guy wasn't just his friend, but his boyfriend.
What?
If that were the only thing you'll have to get used to, you'd be lucky. It's definitely a scandal for Dumbledore. It's also a way to understand him. Harry, what if you went insane and tried to take over the world, and I was the only person brave enough to step up? It would be very hard, I promise you. It would probably take more courage to oppose you than just facing the danger.
And then, if I had to keep it a secret, because - I don't know, you were in a marriage contract from when you were a kid or something - I might resent the fact that no one would know what I was sacrificing. And that might make me more selfish and self-centred. It's also true that he was that way before, but no doubt it made him worse.
You are kind of like him, though, Hermione, already. I mean, you're kind of sneaky and secretive. It's not a bad thing, in fact, because I am just glad you are on my side.
Hermione paused at that. She could look at this two ways, but chose to focus on the fact that Harry clearly wasn't going to keep anything from her or walk on eggshells around her.
I suppose that's true in a minor way. I guess neither of us - nor you, once you're better informed - can be judged fairly. The person that killed your parents embedded himself in British wizarding society. The person who runs the board for our school was a murderer, he raped and tortured and stole. Whenever anyone got in his way, or he just wanted what they had, he worked with his fellow criminals under the person who killed your parents and got rid of them and took their money and their possessions and their businesses and their lands. He got away with it, and now he uses his stolen money to bribe the head of the wizard government. If we got rid of Dumbledore tomorrow, the next day part of the gang that killed your parents, and as good as killed Neville's parents would be running Hogwarts.
Hermione, why don't we just leave?
That's a very good question. Can we agree that we will plan for that as well as all the other stuff we have to do? I didn't want to say before, but first of all, you are very famous for killing the guy who killed your parents. You were only a year and a quarter old, but maybe you were just really powerful. We don't know. But the fact is, he did a magic ritual so when he died, he became a wraith. It's a kind of ghost that can possess people and can even have a new body if some other rituals are done.
Hermione, I like you and I really respect what you have done, but we're ten-and-eleven-year-olds. I'm really poor and have been kept ignorant. And if you could go to the magical police about all this, you would have, so you're probably not much better off than I am. If you wonder what I want, I want us to work on leaving. I will go with you, so you will have your boyfriend, at least. And we can bring Luna and Neville, too.
I really believe my knowledge gives us an edge. Yes, we have to keep our heads down for a year or two. I am spending my time making sure we can do that, and enlisting people on "our" side. It's basically three sides now. Ours, Dumbledore's, and Tom Riddle's. Tom Riddle killed your parents, and he calls himself Lord Voldemort. It's a French name that means flight from death, but he uses it to mean he's escaped death with his ritual. As bad as Dumbledore is, and as much as he feels like he can do whatever he wants to whomever he wants, because the alternative is Voldemort's gang? Well, the same goes for us. We just have to make it obvious he's helping Voldemort's people by harming us. If he looks bad, he'll stop whatever he's doing.
Okay, fine. I still really have no idea what a boyfriend is, but I think it means you want to keep me happy?
Well, happy, but also safe.
That's good, because being able to leave somewhere would do both.
Is it good enough I have agreed to work on that? It will take more work than you think. And we still have to discuss Neville Longbottom.
Are you sure? You know him without meeting him, and I don't know him at all, so you will basically decide most of what we do, right?
Maybe, Harry, but mostly how do we sneak a letter to him, how do we keep his grandmother from telling anyone, and so on.
If he doesn't know you, and if he's not being raised by bad people like I am, I don't know how you do that. I guess, tell the truth. Say bad people will harm you if he blabs.
Harm YOU. But okay, I agree.
Fine. I will write him a letter, and you can figure out how to get it to him. What should I say?
Say your mother was his godmother and his mother was yours? I think.
You think?
My sources say that's a strong guess. They think Lily and Alice were best friends in school. And they and their husbands were all in a group under Dumbledore.
I think that's enough. I will say our mothers were friends, and I will ask Neville to ask his grandmother if he had a godmother or godfather. Anything more than that, and I think it's basically lying.
Unfortunately, Harry had a point. She couldn't fully remember how she'd drawn that conclusion.
Sorry, you're right. Okay, just say you're reaching out to him because you were told you were connected? And emphasise that it's somewhat dangerous to talk about it. You can say someone was told by the wand-maker in Diagon Alley that you have to have them pick a wand that suits you.
Why not just send a short note with the wand?
This is really tricky. It may be we have to work this out the same way we did with Percy and his rat. I hate to lean on the Lovegoods so much, but they may be the only hope to find out when we can meet up with Neville. He probably doesn't leave their house a lot.
Maybe you can toss it into his yard with a note. And maybe some sort of sheath to wear to hide it. Then it's his choice if he wants to tell his grandmother.
We can't get his wand for him, but fine about the note.
I just had a thought. Harry, it is dangerous if Neville tells anyone you are talking to him or writing to him.
Why are you repeating something I already know?
Now you can say you were told that.
Are all girls like this?
Maybe. The girls that want to get things done probably are. So the plan is for you to meet him and try to talk him into letting you buy him a wand. I will make sure you have plenty of money.
Aren't you already borrowing too much money from your mother and father?
Well, yes. But this could be the last time, and they realise I am investing in my safety. It's kind of gone beyond allowances at this point. And it's very possible we can get money for you from Gringotts. I think I will ask the Lovegoods about Neville, you'll tell me when the next time you can get away is,
That won't work. We'll be in school by the time we match up.
Okay, I ask the Lovegoods to help manoeuvre Neville to Diagon Alley, and we sneak you out no matter what.
And I get really punished.
Yes, you probably do. But it's for a good cause.
I'm not sure you're the best girlfriend in the world, you know. But I kind of get it. At least this time I am suffering for a good reason.
I really do care about you. Neville will be a good friend to have in the long run. If we can pull this off, he'll owe you. Are you mad at me?
There was a very long pause with nothing written.
I am getting a funny feeling like it's more important than I think to answer you carefully. Or something. No, I am not mad at you. It feels like you're keeping more secrets, but also telling me more secrets. Maybe I am even glad I am not you, because we're too young to be thinking about all this stuff. Are you trying to be like the Dursleys? I mean, they are why I can't be a normal kid, but you are kind of being weird and mean to yourself. So, if you want to listen to your "boyfriend," can you maybe try being a happy kid? You have great parents and plenty of food and nice clothes and stuff, but you borrow trouble, kind of. Can you promise me you'll take a day off sometimes from all this danger and sad stuff?
I've created a monster, Hermione thought. When she had fantasised about saving Harry, it had been a lot nicer than having to deal with a real, independent Harry that didn't always agree with her vision of how things would be.
I'm not sure, if I have to be honest. I mean, if I tried to relax, I would just be upset over what I wasn't doing.
I'm not trying to be mean, Hermione. But you do sort of have a bit of a saving-everybody thing!
That reminded her of something, but it stayed just out of reach when she tried to recall it.
The rest of their conversation was lighter. Harry obviously wanted her to cheer up, and she didn't want their interaction to end on a low note. They took turns asking each other twenty questions about their preferences in life. When Hermione signed off with "XXX" and "OOO", she had to explain the 'X's were kisses and the 'O's were hugs. When Harry asked, she admitted those were important things to girls. Harry told her good night and sweet dreams, and said she should still take a day off now and then.
Luckily, simply asking the Lovegoods was enough, as Xenophilius knew Augusta somewhat. He sent her a letter saying they were concerned about using a family wand for Luna and were going to take it (and her) to Ollivander's wandmaker's to have it tested. Meanwhile, Pandora, who was related to Ollivander, would explain to him that Augusta would insist Neville use her son Frank's wand, that Harry Potter would buy Neville whichever wand suited him, and that Neville could use his father's wand to build up his magical strength. Augusta would come in at a set time, Ollivander would compare Frank Longbottom's wand to others "to examine it," and then Harry and Hermione would meet Neville, after Ollivander suggested he wait outside while he discussed the wand with his grandmother.
Hermione managed to animate a dummy just by waving a stick and thinking about it, a dummy wearing Harry's clothes, after Petunia sent him to work in the garden. They took the Knight Bus to Diagon Alley. Ollivander slipped out for a second while Augusta and Neville discussed his legacy wand. Ollivander slipped Harry Neville's new wand and a sheathe or holster for it, and Harry slipped him the money for it.
Finally, Neville was sent out, and they met him.
Harry was convinced by looking at him that Neville's grandmother was bullying him, but Hermione told him it was just that he had a tough life for a kid, and his grandmother was doing her best. Harry had thought he saw the signs of a life like his, and in a way, he had. Neville seemed really shocked to be meeting the Boy-Who-Lived, and then further shocked when Harry told him the girl there was his "girlfriend," Hermione. Harry guessed that Neville probably didn't even know what that meant. It would probably be funny if he asked his grandmother. Also, he'd probably be really impressed at a ten-year-old having one when he got an explanation.
Then, of course, came the biggest shock of all when the Boy-Who-Lived gave him a wand and a carrier for it, and swore him to secrecy. He looked Neville in the eye and said, using a serious voice, "I have been told that it's really dangerous for me if you blab about meeting me."
Neville looked surprised, and perhaps a bit proud, to have a secret. Hermione was fairly convinced of her "you can't detect magic in Diagon Alley" theory by now. She taught Neville the Lumos and Nox charms, just to prove to him that he could cast spells with his new wand. If worst came to worst, Neville could hide the wand and have them check Frank's wand.
When Neville went back in, presumably to pick up Frank's "examined" wand, they grabbed the Knight bus. When they got back to Privet Drive, there were no signs that the Dursleys had discovered the dummy in the garden wasn't Harry. For various reasons, Harry was feeling a little guilty, so when Hermione kissed him on the cheek, he returned the favour.
It had been, on balance, a great day, Hermione decided. She would have to reflect on it for a while, in fact. But when she got home, her parents had a letter for her from Luna.
