Alright it's that time again! It took a lot longer than expected. There was a lot of build up for later in the story in this chapter that i had to change due to changing how i wanted things to go instead. So that was fun, making sure i re read it so i didn't miss much, hopefully i did a good job. It was fun though, it's been a pleasure changing the story in a new direction and i can't wait to start implementing some things. Getting more characters in too but that might be a few more chapters. As i always say, i run off caffeine an attention and reviews are free. :)
To Harry's surprise Hermione didn't lead him to Madams Malkin's shop. But he didn't complain or say anything as Hermione led him through the busy alleyway. Finally when Hermione turned off onto a side alley Harry finally spoke up. "Where are we going, Hermione? I've never been over here before."
Hermione started to laugh as the crowd started to thin out quickly. "That's not a surprise Harry, this alley will lead to the clothing alley, and further back a lot of potion ingredient shops and book shops."
"It's not my fault I couldn't really explore the area. I was told where to go by Hagrid, shown around by the Weasley's and what not. Unlike you I couldn't go exploring with my family."
Hermione really didn't know what to say right away, so instead she just tightened her hold on his hand and kept on walking ahead. Finally when they were further down the street with little to no one around. Hermione stopped, stopping Harry with her and turned towards him."It's fine, your past sadly won't change. But you have a family now, with me." She looked him in his eyes making sure he's listening
Harry started to blush hard. "When did you get so bold?" Harry asked, finding it difficult to keep looking Hermione in the eyes but kept looking.
"Since I died and found out I have a second chance. Besides, it's exciting. We can change so many things. Like for instance, our third year." All the while Hermione was inching closer and closer to Harry.
Even though Harry was enjoying the feeling of Hermione being so close to him he did notice that they were making the small amount of people here to look at them a few of them even stopped to stare. "We caused a scene, Hermione." Harry said in a quiet tone, he was finally able to look down toward their feet.
Hermione sighed, "Now I understand why Ginny had to make the first move." Hermione said quietly so he was the only one that could hear her. She moved in and kissed his cheek before pulling away.
"Years of conditioning being quiet and in the back." Harry said as they started to move again. The small number of witches and wizards around them went back to their own business.
"Let's be bold together." Hermione said sternly but as Harry looked over at her she was grinning showing off her big white teeth.
Harry couldn't help but to smile as he started to follow her again.
Harry plopped down at a small table for two, with a groan. Hermione sat down across from him, rolling her eyes at his antics. An older man in a waiter robe approached the two. "Ev'ning young ones, what would you like from Florean Fortescue today?" He asked in a kind voice.
"One large sundae to share please." Hermione looked up at the man and smiled, being polite. The old man nodded and left the two alone. "So what are you thinking of doing now?" Hermione asked, looking at the tired out boy across from her.
"To never go shopping again." Harry said, finally straightening up in his chair.
"Oh come on it was fantastic, you looked so amazing in most of the clothes you tried on."
"It felt like I tried on most of those store's clothes, it's exhausting. How would you like it if I dragged you around forcing you to try on anything that catches my fancy?" He asked her without thinking about his words.
"Mmm, sounds like something we should do when we are older, you might enjoy it more when I can fill out clothes better." Hermione said, smirking, turning the situation against him. Which works as Harry blushed down to his neck.
"Well I got this sealed letter. Sharphook said it's a portkey." Harry said looking down at it sadly. "We can check out the Potter's house."
"We should go, but if you need time we can wait." Hermione said to Harry quietly but got interrupted by him.
"No, It's my home. Our home. My father grew up there Sirius did as well. And so many other Potters. You heard sharphook. Records of it go as far back as the Romans." Harry took a deep breath in. "It's my birthright, We should go, it'll be our base of operations sooner rather than later."
Hermione smiled at him. "Maybe I was wrong, you are bold every once and awhile." She said while a sundae floated over to them, cold air was still coming off of it. Hermione took one of the three cherries and ate it without waiting. Sticking her toung out at Harry.
This cheered Harry up enough to laugh at her. "I will go with you Harry." Hermione says after she swallowed the cherry. "Like you said it's our house, would be weird if the lady of the house didn't accompany her lord." She said in a mock sophisticated voice.
"Good, because I feel like a house that old will have a Giant library. And I would need an eager wife to make sure it's put to good use."
With that Hermione beamed with happiness and started to dig into the sundae, Harry couldn't help but to chuckle at her reaction and join in enjoying the sundae with her.
Even though Hermione did not say a size for the sundae, it was large and the pair took longer than they would have liked to eat it as the time was now pressing on to two to three o'clock. Harry pulled out the sealed envelope looking at it like he was still contemplating not opening it. With a glance up at Hermione who was looking at him with a smile, he ripped it open. Revealing muggle paper inside.
He pulled it out carefully like it might turn to dust if he wasn't. He felt Hermione to his side, he glanced over and noticed that she pulled her chair over to him and pressed up to him her hand on his arm.
To our beautiful baby boy.
We hope we are reading this with you in the living room, laughing at our paranoia. But we couldn't take the chance that it would go our way. Your father and I turned out to be a match both in love and in combat. We have done too much damage to the dark lord, to not worry about a counter attack. We won't go into too much detail as that is what our wills are for.
There was a break in the writing and a change in handwriting.
If I'm not with you son, read my will to learn how to do even more damage!
Now onto why this letter is being written. It is an active portkey, just keep a hold of it and say the following words out loud. "Mummy and Daddy loves you."
It switched back to what he is assuming is his mothers handwriting. Bring the Longbottom matron, hopefully if we are dead Alice and Frank took you in, and if it's one of the others on our list we also trust them to go with you, they will be able to advise you in what you should do. We do love you Harry. We are sorry our actions have caused you grief but we had to help those who can not help themselves. You will understand those words eventually.
And with that the letter ends.
"Your parents would have been amazing to have met Harry." Hermione said quietly into his ear as he assumes she has been reading the letter too.
With a few deep breaths and closed eyes Harry nodded. "Keep a hold of me dear wife." He says quietly, not wanting to stay and possibly show his emotions to many people.
Hermione did as she was told, still holding onto Harry with her other hand.
"Mummy and Daddy loves you." Harry said quietly, trying to hold back the tears. And around them the world started to spin as they got sucked up into the portkey.
The world around them swirled in and out a few times. Finally it slowed down as they came down in front of an old manor with a mix of different styles. Right up front it looked like an old English manor yet the pillars were made out of stone and not wood. Different sections were made of different woods, some had stone bottoms, other bricks, and other cement. It was a complete disaster in the design aspect.
"Well, it… has character." Hermione said quietly not sure how to react to the old large building in front of the two. The sound of waves crashing onto the shore could be heard from the front steps but the noise was coming from behind the house.
Harry turned around wanting to see what was behind them. As he did he gasped, causing Hermione beside him to turn around as well. Her jaw was hanging low. For a few Kilometers to see a giant garden, lined with walls of thirty meter and taller trees on the perimeter. From what could be seen at the door, there were fountains and a maze of hedges, Flowers as tall as a man, trees with fruits and flowers on them. Sculptures strewn throughout, some as tall as the trees, some as long as double decker bus.
"That will take… A couple picnic dates to explore thoroughly." Hermione said to Harry in an awestruck voice.
"That looks more impressive than the house." Harry said back in an even awestruck voice. Taking her mentions of dates under thoughts.
"I really want to see what the library looks like now." Hermione said, taking a glance back at the house.
"What do you say, want to remodel it? I know wizards like weird designs, just look at the Burrow, I mean Sirius place was even better than this and it looked like a townhouse.
Hermione couldn't help but chuckle as she moved her arm around Harry's looping them together again. "Come on, lets see the inside before we talk about renovations." she said, pulling on Harry toward the front door.
As soon as Harry put a hand on the doorknob it started to swing open for them. What greeted them was an entrance hall with a red carpet that went on for twelve meters or more. At the end split off in what looked like three ways, a grand stairwell going up, and left or right through identical doors. Along the walls were paintings of middle aged men and women, from where they stood Harry could only see six paintings clearly of five men and one woman from the age of twenty to forty. And finally five meters in front of the two young pair were three house elves. The two elves on the ends were dressed in red suits while the middle one was in a red dress.
The one on the left stepped forward. "Lord, and Lady Potter. We, Meany, Betsy, and Willy. Welcome home." Who they assumed was Meany said.
At this they also stood there surprised. Harry and Hermione unmoved mouths opened not expecting anyone to be here except old paintings, books, and cobwebs.
"It has been eleven years since Olds Lords and Ladys Potter left home. We are happy that we have not beens forgotten about after all these years." Meany said continuing on. Not realizing the shock in the two in front of them.
It was Hermione that came out of the shock that Harry's family has house elves first. "No, of course you haven't been forgotten about." Hermione said lying to the three house elves in front of them.
Harry came out of his shock, over the fact that he now will have to deal with three more house elves. "Yeah, you haven't been forgotten , there were just some problems getting back home." Harry said, partially lying to them as he flashes them his ring. All three elves bowed down deeply at this. "This is our first time here, obviously. Do you think one of you three can give us a tour of the house?" Harry asked, trying his best to do an assertive tone, but his voice cracked in the middle of the sentence.
Meany looked up at the two of them. "It would be my honor, Lord and Lady Potter. Should we start at the bottom or tops of the mansion?" Meany said, looking at the two in front of them.
"Well why don't you explain the lay out first so we know what we are getting into. I'm running out of time." Hermione said, nervously looking at a clock behind the elves.
"Certantly." Meany said while the other two elves popped out of sight. "The mansion itself is very big, having two kitchens meant for balls and parties, one kitchen meant for personal use. Both can be found on the main floor. The rest of the main floor includes restrooms, a library at the center of the building, four dining rooms of all different sizes, two ballrooms, multiple hallways and closets. Going up stairs we have over fourteen guest rooms, one lord's room, eight main bedrooms for children or other family members. Also a library. Going downstairs to the basement we have a potions lab, combat arena, library, roman bath house, exercise room, infirmary, and finally the ward room." Meany said in a rehearsed way, and without any elvish accent. Meany took a deep breath of and as he continued. "Outside the mansion we have a Quidditch pitch, wolf house, dog house, stables, green house, and various gardens and hedge mazes." Meany finished off saying his face looked flushed as if he didn't breath enough.
"I really hate rich people." Harry said lightly. Just groaning at the absurd amount of rooms the mansion has.
"Three libraries?!" Hermione practically squealed like a schoolgirl.
"Yes, buts it's really just ones Lady Potter." Meany said his accent back again. "They are all connected inside the rooms. Would yours like me to show you it first?"
"No."
"Yes."
Hermione and Harry both said together. The elf in front of them looked conflicted not sure who to listen to. His right arm started to twitch as it has been a very long time since something like this has happened.
"We both know that if you see the library you wouldn't want to leave. And then your parents would be more strict with you." Harry said, turning on Hermione, laying down a logical excuse.
"But it's the library. That goes back at least two thousand years." Hermione said almost whining as the library was about to be plucked from her grasp.
"No, you can come anytime you want. Hell you can come when you are supposed to be sleeping for all I care. But you need to get back to your parents when you have too." Harry said sternly not moving on this as Hermione started to pout at him.
"But Harry." Hermione whined.
At the mention of his name in that tone, a shiver went down Harry's spine. "No." Harry said a blush on his face as he started to realize that if she says that in a few years he will be in trouble. "We will take a tour of the place except the library. When you next come back we'll both go into the library together. So it will be our first time there. Will that make you happy?" Harry asked flustered.
"No… But it will have to do." Hermione said, still pouting, her shoulders slumped and eyes down.
Harry grabbed her hand and looked toward Meany. "Let's start with the upstairs and move down, and move around the library please." Harry said to Meany.
"Certainly." Meany said and gave a deep bow to the two, then turned around and started to walk down the hallway. As they did to Harry and Hermione's surprise, the portraits on either side of them started to greet them two at a time. "Lord, and Lady Potter." They all said while giving them both a nod and then went back to a stoic pose.
Meany gave no mind to them. But Hermione's curiosity couldn't be suppressed by her depression of not seeing the library. "Who are these people, Meany?" Hermione perked up, as they reached the staircase.
"Thesey peoples are previous Lords and Ladys Potter. Lady Potter." Meany said without looking back. Harry looked back at the portraits, realizing they have only themselves to converse with for the past ten years, maybe more.
In the same moment that the portraits left his view he realized two things. That those were a lot of untapped sources of knowledge and that his father and mother should be here
Almost as if reading his thoughts Meany spoke up again. "Though Lord Charles requested to be in the Lord's studys, and Lordsy James." Meany coughed into his hand. "And Ladys Lilly should both be in one of the vaults with the angry short ones."
Both Harry and Hermione laughed at that as they went to the top of the stairs. In either direction are doors, but right in front of them is a set of dark red double doors. "Because of a defense ward the actual locations of the rooms moves. But the doors are always the same. The closest to the stairs are the guest bedrooms, on each of the corners are parlors where guests coulds chat." Meany continued.
He led them down the right hallway, this time there were actual paintings on the wall not of any lords or ladies, just of landscapes that range from planes of the midwest, mountain ranges and rivers. Some of the skylines of old London, older Rome, and New York. Finally after they turned the corner to the left. And walked down the entire hallway. Just to take another left. And about half way down there were now two sets of double doors. One on the left that Harry assumed was the library, and the one on the right was the Master bedroom.
Meany snapped his fingers, making the doors on the right swing open up with a slight whine from the hinges. Revealing a dark wood four poster double large king sized bed it seemed to curtains to the bed were the same Gryffindor red as the curtains to the windows that are behind the bed itself covering the window up and blocking out all sunlight from the outside. The walls were bare except for bookshelves that housed no books, two nightstands on either side of the bed. And two doors one on each side of the room.
Both Hermione and Harry Strood into the middle of the room looking around the room. "I hate rich people." Harry said as he looked at the bed. "I don't even think this is a normal sized bed." He said as he tried to measure out the meters in his head.
"There's so much room for books, it could be a library in itself." Hermione said but then her eyes landed on the bed. "With a big bed in it." She added. And like a child she ran forward and jumped through the curtains onto the bed. Landed with a big umph, and giggles.
Harry couldn't help but to laugh as well. But he turned toward Meany. "Why are there so many bookshelves if the library is right across the hall?" He asked skeptically, counting 4 tall bookshelves and 6 medium ones.
"The Potters have always been re… Re-sear-ching." Meany struggled on the word, saying it slowly.
At this Hermione's head popped out from the curtains still hiding her body, a smile across her face. "Wait, so Harry's ancestors were researchers? I wonder why you never got the smart genes." Hermione said poking fun at Harry.
"Hey I'm plenty smart. It's just hard to sit around reading all day. I'd much rather be doing something." Harry said, trying to defend himself.
Hermione just stuck out her tongue at Harry as she finally came off the giant bed. "So this is the closet?" Hermione asked as she moved for the door on the right. Opening it without hesitation. Though instead of a closet a white tiled bathroom came into view of the three.
"The Master Bathroom." Meany spoke up from behind the two.
Though he was ignored as they both moved into it, to find a modern shower in one corner and beside it a bathtub that more resembled a hot tub, right next to it. Which could easily fit four if ever wanted. And out of view of those in it's own little nook was a toilet, finally right next to the door is the double sink countertop, which is wider than normal where two people could easily do their morning and nightly rituals.
"You know, I thought I was going to be living in a studio, or a place like Godric Hollows. But I can get used to a place like this." Harry said quietly to Hermione.
"You're telling me. This is definitely a lot better than the tent, and the Burrow " Hermione said, her eyes on the Bathtub.
"So then this is the Closet?" Harry said leaving the bathroom, and moved to the other door. And opened it up with confidence. As the two expected it was a walk in closet.
Roughly five meters by five meters, on either side are bars going across with hangers on them. But no clothes are hanging on them. On either side are low, and long dressers. And the wall in front of them was entirely made of a mirror, like the room of requirements. And in the middle of it all was a slim pole from ceiling to the carpeted floor.
Hermione surged past him, and into the middle of the room. Because of the pole she grabbed onto it and swung around it to emphasize how big the closet is to her.
Harry couldn't help but to blush as he watched her. "Um… Mione." Harry called out, smiling slightly.
"Yeah, this walk in closet is amazing!" She said back as she was leaning away from the pole, while using the pole as support to not fall down.
"I'm pretty sure that's a stripper pole." Harry said grinning at her.
Hermione looked at the pole that she was holding onto in disbelief. "No." She said as she stood up straight and moved next to Harry. "It can't be." But after a minute of Harry suppressing his laughter and her looking at the pole. A blush took over Hermione's entire face. "Your parents are kinky." And just stood there beside Harry trying to control her blush, but Harry started to laugh louder making it hard to control.
"Come on, you don't have to stop on my account. You can keep practicing, you look like you were having fun." Harry told Hermione after controlling his laughter.
"Oh you prat!" Hermione said, punching Harry's shoulder lightly, her blush still covering her face. "I've never touched one before."
"Well then now you can have something else to study."
"Yeah, right after you use it too." Hermione shot back at him
"If it's for you I think I can try it." Harry said grinning at her. Loving this conversation and the ideas that brought to him.
At that Hermione scoffed at him. "If you get on that thing and dance for me, I'll do whatever you want." Hermione said, finally getting her embarrassment under control, but her blush was still present.
"I'm sorrys Lord, Lady Potters. But we are running out of time." Meany said, interrupting the flirting pair.
"Another time then." Harry told Hermione, smiling, as he grabbed her hand.
"Definitely" Hermione said, winking at Harry as they turned to go back toward the bedroom.
"The onlys other im-portant room on this floor is the Lord's studys." Meany said, guiding the two back out of the hall. He Moved them to the next door down, on the same side as the master bedroom. With another snap the door was opened.
Unlike the master bedroom this actually had things inside the room other than furniture. Right in front of the three were a big, wooden desk with stacks of paper on it, two chairs in front of the desk and one behind the desk. Behind the desk was a massive window, and under it were filing cabinets which the two thought can only be filled with documents. To the right of the room was a fire place, most likely for the floo network. And on the left was a portrait of an older man, who looked like Harry if he was seventy years old with grey hair, and had a thick mustache.
Though when they walked in he was talking to one of the house elves, Betsy who was popping throughout the office getting documents and organizing things at the same time. "Hurry Betsy, they are almost upon us."
By the second documents were added to the piles on the desk and at the same time some were taken away. Though Meany was the first to step forward.
He coughed into his hand to get the attention of the two in the room. "Greaty master Charles. I present Lordsy and Lady Potter." The elf said in an excited tone of voice, his careful way of speech was gone. He moved to stand below the portrait and looked at the young pair.
"Merlin's beard! You look just like James and Lily." Charles from the portrait said, finally turning his attention to the newly arrived.
Harry was looking at the portrait not sure what to say, but then he felt Hermione squeezed his hand in encouragement. "Thank you…. Grandfather? " He said, questioning what to call him. "We, at least I get that a lot."
"Ah! Good if that's the case you were raised by wizards." Charles said happily, the portrait lightened up. "No one returned to the mansion and after my son and daughter died, the paper never mentioned anything about you. Almost as if you disappeared from wizarding society." Charles said to them.
Harry pulled Hermione into the middle of the room wanting her beside him while talking to his grandfather. They were now straight in front of the portrait. "I was with my Aunt, and Uncle."
This made the portrait freeze. "What!" the portrait yelled. "You were never supposed to go near those… Those vile creatures! It was in the will, everyone who needed to know knew! Black, Lupin, Dumbledor!" Charles finally stopped yelling but started to pace, moving in and out of the frame.
"I intend to make Dumbledor pay grandfather, he has done a lot to hurt our house, but for now I must cut our conversation short. There is a lot for me to learn but right now, I need to see my new home. And then rest. Meany if you wish to stay with my grandfather I can call on Willy to guide us around." Harry said back which got Charles to stop pacing and look at them.
"But I got all of this prepared. We have a lot to talk about, and even more for you to learn than you think." Charles started to protest.
"Later or tomorrow we can start. Either way, I have a guest that needs attending." Harry said, holding up Hermione's hand. The head of the house rings glinting as he does it, catching the portraits attention.
It looked like Charles wanted to protest but even dead he couldn't resist the head of house. "Certainly Lord Potter." Charles said, sitting down.
"Good, now I'll see you later. Meany?" Harry called out looking at the house elf now.
"I will finish the tour." The elf said, looking down at his feet in a sad way.
"You can come back after we are finished, I won't stop you." Harry said as he and Hermione turned to leave.
Hermione, not sure if she should say anything or not, just followed Harry's lead. Kind of liking how assertive he is being.
Meany led the pair around the rest of the top floor and the middle floor without any more delays or exciting meetings. Showing off the kitchens, ballrooms with short explanations which ones are for what. Along with the different kinds of dining tables.
Though it wasn't until a clock somewhere in the manor started to chime that they realized just how late it's been. So much has happened in such a small time. "I have to go home to my parents soon!" Hermione chimed in after the clock stopped.
"We'll finish the bottom quickly and get you going, don't worry." Harry assured her.
When they stepped into the basement the air was colder and the walls and floor were granet not like the rest of the house at all. The walls were lined with torches with no art to be seen.
"The next room is the potions lab. It was renovated just recently by Lily Potter, with the instructions of one Severus Snape. It was done in house with no help from the goblins or outside contractors." Meany said, as they got to a door on the right. Unlike upstairs this door is made of metal and is a sliding door that moves to the left.
Hermione was the one that pushed it open, it stopped with a shudder. What sight that greeted them was, Willy moving between four cauldrons each with a different color of smoke coming from the.
"Masters." Willy said in a monotone voice without looking back as he continued to work on the cauldrons, testing them to make sure they are still right.
"There are no Masters here Willy. Just your lord and lady." Hermione spoke up to the back of the elf, being nice to the small creature.
The elf only grumbled, still not turning back toward them. "Reminds me of Kreature." Harry said lightly, pulling Hermione back a little bit and pulling the door close.
"Willy is originally Doggie's elf. But accepted by the Potters' magic, when they came to live here with us." Meany said, while leading them further along the hallway.
"And Doggy is?" Hermione asked, having an idea who it was but didn't want to just say it.
"Serious Black. Though Lord Jamesy said we can call him whatever we want." Meany said smiling.
"It is appropriate." Harry chidded in smiling at the mention of his godfather.
"Though in return, they started to call me Meany." Meany continued on, not sad at the nickname. He turned around and looked up at the two. He lifted his hand to their right, "The bath house." then to their left, "The arena, exercise room, and infirmary."
The pair looked at each other having a silent conversation through their eyes. "The arena." They said together.
Meany nodded and headed down that way, with the two in tow. "At first it was just a dueling area, but as more and more Potters kept getting in fighties. They mo-die-fied the roomy to fit what's they needed." Meany said again, going slowly on one word as they approached another sliding metal door.
This time it was Harry who slid it open, Though what greeted them was another wall with another metal sliding door, ten meters in front of them. To the left were cots, about twenty spread out evenly on one side of the wall, with cabinets on the other side of them most likely filled with potions, and other medical supplies.
To the right were muggle exercise equipment, free weights, stretching machines, weight lifting machines, and punching bags.
But Meany went straight for the door snapping his fingers for the door to slide open. Inside was nothing but a poorly lit room the size of a freight warehouse. "This is the arena." With another snap of his fingers the door closed and he indicated a circle to the right of the door. "This is a rune circle. The inner-mosty ones are areas to choose from," He motioned to six symbols. A house, castle, an alleyway, a P, trees, and their ministry symbol. " The middle ones determine what it's like…. Weatherly." Meany said not too confidently.
But as the two investigated it. There were symbols to indicate night, day, morning, and then some that looked like weather. But they couldn't be sure until they tried. And surrounding that were roman numerals going from one to one hundred.
"And finallys, the last circle is difficulty." Meany said, pushing his way between the two and the runes. He pushed the castle, day with no others, and the roman numeral for ten. And then snapped his fingers when all glowed green.
This time when the doors opened they were looking into the entrance hall of Hogwarts to the right were the doors to the great hall. And in front of them were stairs leading to the grand staircase.
"I love magic." Harry said, looking inside, not sure what it was for certain. But then two death eaters strolled out of the great hall toward the grand staircase. Not paying them any mind.
"Huh…" Hermione said, still looking at the runes. "These are prisms, very complicated runes." She tried to press the castle rune again but it wouldn't budge.
"If the door is open or someone is inside you can't change anything." Meany said looking toward Hermione, but then snapped his finger closing the door in front of Harry. The runes stayed glowing green, but Hermione pressed the castle again. It went in like a button but nothing changed.
Hermione pulled out her wand and started to caste a diagnostic charm on the runes, but was interrupted by Harry. "Mione, I don't think we have time to do that." He said as his stomach growled lightly.
She sighed heavily, stopping the spell, and stood up. "You really know how to ruin a girl's fun."
Harry couldn't help but grin at her little joke. "I like to think I can give a girl a lot of fun... I've read some books." He said quietly
"Oh!? You've read books on how to have fun with a girl?" Hermione asked in a sarcastic tone.
This causes Harry to blush deep red. "What? I can read." Harry said as he can feel the heat spread across his face and to his neck.
Hermione scoffed at this as she started to move to the door finally following Meany back the way they came. "I know you can read. I just shouldn't be surprised that you spend that ability to read dirty books."
"They weren't all dirty. Besides, you spent all that time in the library and you're telling me, you never read a dirty book." Harry asked moving beside her as they started down the corridor with Meany ahead of them, silently leading them.
"I have, but a lot less than you. I assume." Hermione shot back at him, controlling her emotions through what little occlumency she knows.
"I assume." Harry said, mocking her in a know-it-all voice.
"Oh shove it. I can probably list off all the books you've read. And I'll tell you this, it's all on the Hogwarts reading list."
"Hey! I did a lot of reading for the quad wizard tournament." Harry shot back, as they passed the turn off to go upstairs. It was a short hallway to a thick red door.
Humidity was coming from the door, along with fumes of oil and flowers.
"So an extra five or so books. Probably four of them were DADA books." Hermione said back. "And yet you still used expelliarmus all the time."
"It's not my fault that the others are confusing." Harry argued back as he pushed the door open. As he did, a blast of hot misting air rushed past them.
In the middle of the large room, was a large pool that reminded them of the prefect's bathroom. Around the rectangular pool/bath, there were six columns supporting the ceiling.
"Runes are confusing, arithmancy is confusing, the reason why your parents and their parents are rich as hell are confusing. Other spells like bombarda, protego, petrificus totalus, and the list goes on." Hermione said to Harry, taking a deep breath in through her nose.
"This is a place of healing, and relaxing." Meany spoke up still in front of them. "It is not meant for cleaning."
Hermione took a deep breath through her nose. "It smells nice here."
"That's all the herbys." Meany said happy to be in the conversation again.
"I think I may be allergic." Harry said beside them. His face is paler now, even with the blush still present. "I'm… I'm getting weak." Harry said as the room started to spin, his knees starting to bend. He grabbed onto Hermione's arm but his grip was weak as his arms started to hurt.
Hermione was looking at Harry shocked, and a bit scared as he was visibly getting weaker. Without thinking she apparated out of the bathhouse up to the master bedroom.
Instantly color returned to his face, and his grip on her arm got stronger. "Merlin fucking balls!" Harry exclaimed. "It felt like my body was moving, my bones and my skin…" Harry looked up at Hermione with worry in his eyes. "Didn't you feel anything?"
"No, my knight I didn't." She said quietly back to him as a small pop sounded behind them. But Hermione only led Harry to the bed, pushing him onto it.
Harry didn't resist getting pushed onto the bed as he felt sore from whatever happened to him. But he didn't let go of Hermione when he fell down.
She let out a yelp as she felt herself falling down with him. She landed on top of him, one of her knees between his legs, and the other on the other side of him. One of her arms against his chest as the other is beside his head.
"Harry. As much as I like this, we don't have time." She looked him in the eyes, worry still present in her voice and eyes. "And you just almost passed out, in a bath house, from just fumes." She pushes herself off of him, standing up beside the bed. She turns toward Meany. "Get him some food and water. I gotta get going. My parents are probably worried sick and i don't know if I can coral them down"
Harry slowly sits up on the bed, grabbing Hermione's hand. "When can I see you again?"
She looks back at him smiling. "Tomorrow hopefully. We still got that library to check out."
"Oh? Only here for my books I see?" Harry said, smiling up at her.
"Say that when you are older and I'll show you why I'm here." Hermione said, smirking at the young man in front of her.
"Remind me that when I'm older then." Harry retorted back.
"Are you going to give me a hug goodbye, or are you just going to let me leave with nothing?" Hermione asked, looking down still.
"I was planning on doing more but you have a time limit." Harry said grinning up at her.
Hermione just rolled her eyes scoffing at him. "If you didn't almost die I would be impressed with your boldness." She leaned down and wrapped her arms around Harry.
Harry returned the hug but when she moved to pull away, he gave her a quick kiss on her cheek. "I didn't almost die, like i said it just felt like my body was moving." Harry said, smiling slightly. As he noticed that she was blushing.
"Merlin's beard. I don't want to leave you. Especially not after you almost passed out like you did." Hermione said looking torn as she looked down at Harry, his color returning but he still seemed bunched up, like he's trying not to move at all to not hurt.
"Your parents might call the police or get too worried. I'll be alright. I have Meany and the others to help me if need be." His voice betrays the look on his face. He sounded like that's what he wanted but his eyes were pleading with her to stay.
"Gods Harry you're to damn nobel." She said, closing her eyes as she decided her course. She turned toward Meany. "Find out what happened to him and make sure he eats please. Every bite, don't let him push you around when it comes to food and medicine, that is one of my few orders for you." Hermione said to the small elf.
"Agreed." Harry croaked out as he layed back down on the bed.
"You gots it, Lady Potter." Meany said to her, smiling and nodding.
Hermione looked back at Harry and sighed. "I'll be back as soon as I can leave tomorrow morning, I promise."
"I trust you Hermione." He said, looking at her smiling. And with that she apparated with a pop out of the building. And he dropped his head back to the bed, with a groan.