That last chapter was something, I know. To be honest, IDK what I'm even writing.
This chapter is much less... Unexpected than the last.
Thanks to alix33 for all the gramatical suggestions, and I agree WTAF is right lol.
You all know the drill. Harry Potter doesn't belong to me blah blah blah...
Sorry this chapter took so long; I was on a trip and had to finish my INSANE pile of homework. School starts up again tormorrow, so I will have more time to write in my free periods.
Hermione:
Hermione Granger was sitting in her bedroom, her diary open on her lap. She was reading her last diary entry while waiting for Mrs. Weasley and Ginny arrive.
Dear Haon,
I am excited. I have waited for so long to finally see Harry, and today is the day! It's 1500 and I am to be picked up at 1600! I have been so worried about him. I have researched all I could about how to deal with abuse in friends, and I have memorized all I could, but I'm afraid the knowledge I'm looking for isn't in a book.
I have been talking with Professor McGonagall about how I should help my best friend and she has given me some pointers, but I'm still afraid I'll mess up and Harry will hate me forever!
I also think I found out what's wrong with Ron! I was reading a book the other day when I came across the Maius Potion! It makes one take their true feelings and magnify them by about 100. I tested all of Ron's food just in case, but the potion only needs to be administered every month. By my calculations, the potion must be given again on the 23rd. Mrs. Weasley is going to check all the food.
I really hope Ron is okay. His blood tested negative for potions, but this one is good at hiding. I know this isn't the real Ron, but it still hurts me to imagine him with these thoughts, and I'm sure it bothers Harry more.
Ginny, Professor McGonagall, Mrs. Weasley, and I are going to accompany Harry to the trial on the 22nd. He is understandably worried, but he won't have to do much at least. All he will have to do is listen as they will be administering Ventiserum.
Dumbledore will be at the trial too, which worries me. He obviously is not on good terms with anybody at the moment.
Hermione
Hermione read through her entry again, looking for things she missed or grammatical errors when an owl Hermione didn't recognize flew through the open window. "Hey, buddy. I'll go get you some owl treats okay?"
After feeding the barn owl, Hermione removed its burden. It turned out to be a letter from Susan Bones, a Hufflpuff in her year.
Hermione,
Hello, it's Susan Bones. I, as you likely know, live with my aunt, Amelia Bones. Auntie has been working lately on Harry's case as she is the head of the DMLE and I heard some things I'm sure you will find interesting if you are looking for some answers about how Harry was abused for so long.
Due to You-Know-Who being back, Auntie is hesitant to leave me alone in the house so I went to work with her this morning. What I learned there shocked me; Harry's relatives are terrible! I know you are aware about what Dumbledore pulled with returning Harry to the Durselys, but I don't think you know that was not the only thing he did to ensure Harry remained with his muggle realives.
I went to visit my best friend, Hannah Abbott, around midday after leaving Auntie's office. While there, I was in hysterics due to Harry's cousin attempting to rape me. He failed luckily, but I was still quite shaken. They asked me what caused my state and I explained about the case. No one had any idea who I was talking about until I said 'Dursleys.' I didn't think there would be any problems as no one knows where Harry lives but I was wrong; Mrs. Abbott knew who the Dursleys were and explained her background.
Right before the war started, Mrs. Abbott's mother got sick and she and her husband left. They remained there for several years, having two children, and returning just a bit after the war ended. Now, Mrs. Abbott was good friends with Mrs. Potter, Harry's mum. When she returned, Dumbledore insisted Mrs. Abbott was a death eater. Neither was able to prove anything so Mrs. Abbott wound up with a restraining order against Harry, Professor McGonagall, and Hagrid. Naturally, she assumed Harry lived with Minerva as she was named next in the will and the restraining order was against her. Mrs. Abbott did not know Hagrid, but assumed she was Professor McGonagall's lover based on the evidence.
Now I'm sure you have found what I'm trying to say as you're Hermione, but I'll explain anyway. Mrs. Abbott, James Potter, and Snape, Lily's best friend while she was at school, were the only ones who knew Petunia Dursley. Snape had lost contact with Lily before she died, and had no interest, as you likely see in class, in Harry, who he dubbed 'James' son'. James Potter was dead so he could warn no one obviously. By not allowing Mrs. Abbott to speak with Hagrid or Professor McGonagall, she had no reason to believe Harry lived with Petunia Dursley.
Susan Bones
This letter made Hermione angrier for obvious reasons. Dumbledore really had a restraining order against Mrs. Abbott? He wanted Harry with his blood relatives that much?
Hermione didn't think it mattered how convenient it would be for 'the greater good' if it resulted in one being abused.
Hermione sat there for a long while thinking before she heard a yell from downstairs, signaling Mrs. Weasley and Ginny had arrived.
Hermione skipped downstairs happily. "Hello Mrs. Weasley, Ginny!" She greeted cheerfully.
"Someone's happy." Mrs. Wealsey said.
"I get to see Harry!" Hermione exclaimed. "Why wouldn't I be happy?"
Mrs. Weasley just smiled sadly and motioned for Hermione to grab her arm.
The two teens took it and Mrs. Weasley turned on the spot.
"How difficult is it to apparate?" Hermione asked Mrs. Weasley.
The witch looked at her consideringly for a moment. "Well I had to take the test thrice because I was wider, but the skinnier people could likely pass the test on the first try."
Hermione nodded and the three witches knocked on the door to a small cottage and waited for a moment for Professor McGonagall to open the door.
"Hello, girls." Professor McGonagall said as she opened the door about twenty seconds after the knock. She looked tired and kind of upset, but otherwise the same transfiguration teacher Hermione remembered.
"Hi, Professor!" Ginny exclaimed, "Can we see Harry?"
Professor McGonagall shut the door so she was outside and lowered her voice. "Harry is not in the best state mentally right now; He is still the same Harry, but he is more delicate than any of us realized." She warned sternly. "He is happy to see you though, so I will not stop you."
The three guests nodded solemnly and entered the house after Professor McGonagall.
"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed.
Ginny ran up and hugged the boy. "Harry! I missed you so much!" She exclaimed,
Harry patted her head awkwardly. "It hasn't even been three weeks since I last saw you." He said with a hint of amusement in his voice.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "It wasn't the length of time, genius. It was the worry about if you were okay." She explained to the idiot in front of her.
Harry smiled sheepishly. "Thank you for worrying about me."
Both girls raised their eyebrows at the wizard and he laughed nervously before turning to Mrs. Wealsey. "Hello, Mrs. Weasley! You okay? Any luck with Ron?"
Mrs. Wealsey nodded at the boy. "I am good. I think Hermioen has made a breakthrough on Ron." She turned to the girl.
Hermione smiled and nodded. "I think he is under the potion Maius. It magnifies one's feelings by about one hundred."
Ginny gasped. "But that means Ron really does feel that way!" She exclaimed.
Hermione nodded sadly. "Ron has always been a jealous prat. I wouldn't even be friends with him if not for Harry."
Harry nodded reluctantly. "He can be jealous, yes, and after our fights he never apologizes." The young wizard agreed.
"He believes himself to be abused?" Professor McGonagall said disbelievingly.
Mrs. Weasley shook her head. "Not really, it is just a thought that crossed his mind when I punished him for listening to our conversation."
"Oh, that makes sense." Professor McGonagall said. "It is still an absurd conclusion though, Molly is a wonderful mother." The professor smiled at Mrs. Weasley as Ginny hugged her.
Mrs. Weasley smiled sadly. "Thank you, Minerva."
Hermione was able to restrain herself until she, Harry, and Ginny were tucked into Harry's room, but as soon as the door was shut, she lost it. "Oh, Harry. I am so sorry; to think it happened again. I am going to kill Dumbledore."
"Professor Dumbledore, Hermione." Harry corrected her with a smirk.
Hermione slapped him playfully on the arm, expecting him to laugh it off. What she didn't imagine was for him to flinch back violently and close his eyes, as if expecting heavy impact.
"Sorry," Harry said sheepishly, his red face looking down at his trainers. "I didn't mean to."
Hermione looked at Ginny and saw her barely holding in tears. Both girls sat next to Harry on the bed and Hermione wrapped her shaking arms around her crush. "No. Don't apologize. I shouldn't have done that."
Harry shook his head, his eyes glassy. "No. I am broken, it's not your fault."
Hermione swallowed. "Harry. You are not brok-"
Hermione was cut off by Harry's insane laugh. "Not broken? You don't know half of what happened to me, Hermione. I flinch when someone moves to close. Not broken my ass."
It was Ginny who spoke this time. "After your relatives are in jail and you get some help you will be okay. " She blinked back a few tears and continued. "What those muggles did was illegal. They will be punished."
Harry laughed nervously. "Imagine that. I escaped Voldemort four times, but I can't defend myself against three lousy muggles."
Hermione felt a tear run down her cheek. "What could you have done? You were not allowed your wand."
Harry shrugged. "I only had my wand the fourth time with Voldemort."
Hermione rolled her eyes and refrained from flinching at He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's name. "Your mom saved you the first time, you had her protection the second time, and you had a sword the third."
Harry looked into Hermione's eyes, there was an unidentified emotion there. Trust? Love? Whatever it was, it was good and Hermione wanted it to stay. "You ready for the trial?"
Harry nodded. "As ready as I can be; Professor McGonagall said I was only going to answer questions, and I could skip one if I didn't want to answer.
Ginny nodded and picked a letter off Harry's desk.
Hermione leaned over the younger girl's shoulder to read it.
Hey Harry,
It's Susan Bones. I want to tell you something Auntie and I am going to add to the Dursley case. I want to let you know ahead of time that we are both okay and hope to see those despicable muggles in Azkaban soon.
I went with Auntie to work today and we encountered the Dursleys. They attempted something terrible to Auntie and me, something we can add to the case.
It all started while Dudley Dursley asked Auntie Amelia why the conversation taking place mattered so much. She explained how severe abuse was, and your cousin and uncle didn't take that so well. Your cousin attempted to rape me, and your uncle attempted the same to my aunt. It was quite scary, but we were able to get away.
Unfourtunatly, in the wizarding world, attempted rape it not severe as long as both people are either over or under age. It is something many, including Aunie Amelia, have been fighting, but to no avail. However, during the struggle, your uncle broke my Aunt's wand and held us both against our will. Both of which are crimes here.
We think that this event will put the Dursley's in a worse light as they abused both the head of the DMLE and her niece, not just 'The-Boy-Who-Lied' (Don't worry, both Aunt Amelia and I believe you and are ready to kill both Dumbledore and You-Know-Who.
Susan Bones
Hermione already knew of the struggle, but Ginny evidently was unaware. "They are terrible people." The witch said quietly. "Attempted rape?"
Both Hermione and Harry nodded glumly. "It really is terrible what those muggles did." Hermione said solemnly.
Ginny nodded. "What do you think will happen to the Dursleys?"
It was Harry who answered. "Professor McGonagall thinks that My Uncle will get life in Azkaban." Harry said. "She also reckons my Au-"
"Harry, why do you look guilty?" Ginny cut him off.
Harry avoided both girls' eyes in favor of tracing a pattern on his bed sheets. "Well, it is my fault my uncle will never get to see anybody again." He answered.
Hermione felt another tear on her cheek, but she let it fall. "Harry, he deserves it. He almost killed you."
Harry shook his head, but otherwise acted as if he didn't hear Hermione. "My Aunt will likely get about twenty years in Azkaban, and Dudley will likley be a trustee for a year or two."
"What's a trustee?" Hermione asked.
Harry looked up at her again, but his beautiful eyes were swimming with tears. "Kind of like community service for wizards. He wouldn't be in Azkaban, but he would move supplies to the prision via broom." The wizard explained.
Hermione nodded, but she privately thought he boy deserved more than that.
The two witches and Harry sat for a while longer, talking of other topics, until Mrs. Weasley returned and told them they would see Harry again in two day's time at the trial.
Both girls left after that saddened by Harry's mental state, but Hermione still had a weight lifted off her chest as she said goodbye to her best friend.
