Chapter 27: After the Thrill is Gone
Harry woke up in the Hospital Wing and looked at the blurry shapes in front of him
"I am going to kill him," Harry groaned as his arm lay limp by his side. Someone, Harry guessed it was Hermione, put his glasses on.
"This is a hospital, not a morgue, Mr. Potter," Madam Pomfrey said as she bustled up. "Though I do hope whatever you do dissuades him from ever trying to heal another student.
"I can mend bones in a second," She started poring out a purple liquid. "Regrowing them is another thing altogether."
"Regrowing them is another thing altogether," Harry and Hermione echoed together.
"Surely you two can be serious," Pomfrey said.
"I am serious and don't call me Shirley," Harry couldn't help but smile.
"Enough," McGonagall said. Pomfrey was exasperated and the rest of Harry's teammates looked confused. "Don't torment your Healer."
"Excellent game, Harry!" Wood stepped up to congratulate Harry. "You and your Bludger really tore the Slytherin line apart. They had no idea how to deal with you."
"To be fair-,"
"To be fairrr," Hermione and Neviile sing-songed with him.
"-how many times do you practice 'crazed Seeker followed by a Rogue Bludger plays? I'm just glad we won."
"We didn't just win," Hermione smiled. "Draco was reamed by his team. You should have seen his housemates; they totally ignored him. I'd feel bad if it was anyone else."
"Do we know what happened with the Bludger?" Harry asked.
"Since Miss Granger disintegrated it," McGongall spoke from the corner and Hermione blushed in embarrassment. "We cannot be sure. It was clearly tampered with to track you and you alone. Excellent flying, by the way, to use that Bludger as a weapon against your opponents."
"Alright," Pomfrey cut in. "Visiting hours are officially over. Mr. Potter has a long, panful night ahead of him. Out!"
"Thanks again, Harry," Wood said. "You fired us up today when I couldn't. You got us ready to play."
"There's a celebration back in the tower whenever you're released."
"I said out!" Pomfrey waived them away.
Hermione gave the matron her best puppy dog eyes.
"You can stay," Pomfrey relented. "For ten minutes."
The matron came up and helped Harry drink his Skele-Grow and dreamless sleep, letting him settle down into his bed.
"I hope you're not mad," Harry said quietly.
"Why would I be mad?" Hermione was genuinely perplexed.
"I promised to never pull some of those maneuvers…"
"Looked like you had no choice. Given the circumstances, I think I can forgive you… this time," Hermione grabbed his left hand. "I was honestly terrified. You were so high. If something went wrong…"
"It's okay," Harry consoled her. "I could always hear it behind me and knew I was faster. I just didn't think it would keep going once the game ended. I do have to admit: it was satisfying seeing it hit Draco."
"I wonder how bad it is for him," Hermione, not entirely concerned with the blonde jerk.
As they were talking in the Hospital Wing, Draco was being derided within his own common room. The air was thick and heavy as Slytherin wasn't just beaten, they were embarrassed.
"What use is having the best broom if you don't use it, Malfoy?" Flint was hammering his point home. "Potter was a menace and you did nothing. He flew through our formations, destroying our plays and what did you do? You stood still and watched him. You might as well have been in the stands with the rest of your house. Potter dealt with Rogue Bludger tailing him and STILL outclassed you."
Slytherin was all about prestige, power and political scheming, something Draco had yet to master. He got through thanks to his father's reputation. However, his constant antagonization of Harry followed up with Harry outmaneuvering him only hurt him. Crabbe and Goyle split off, leaving Draco without the appearance of muscle to back him up. Malfoy seemed to think he was the Slytherin Prince and Flint needed to put him in his place. Not that Flint would say this aloud but he was quietly happy they lost. Malfoy's powerplay to buy his way on the team threatened his standing within the house. He didn't love the idea that with Lucius Malfoy buying Draco's spot on the team, he was also increasing the idiot's power within the house. As much as he hated the loss, it allowed him to regain influence in the Slytherin hierarchy.
"I don't care if your father bought the brooms," Flint stared down at the boy who was glaring up at him. "If you continue to perform like that, I will find someone to replace you."
While Flint was tearing into Draco, another blonde head of hair was penning a letter to her father.
Dear Father,
I know you are in negotiations with Lucius Malfoy for my betrothal to his son. I must express my concerns with this alliance as the younger Malfoy has none of his father's guile and cunning. I fear any alliance would reflect poorly on our family. Do not reject him outright. Instead, string him along until an opportunity comes to break off ties.
On another front, I can report the alliance with Potter is proving fruitful. He has forged relationships with the Houses Longbottom, Bones, Abbott and Diggory. Meanwhile, he has rebuffed the advances from House Malfoy. Any alliance with House Malfoy would put us at odds with Potter. I am not sure if he knows of the Great Alliance but it is clear that the Alliance is making its return in the near future. If we were able to form relationships with the parts of this alliance, it would benefit us far more than any alliance we could make with Malfoy. Draco has already lost the support of House Goyle and House Crabbe, thanks to Potter.
Do what you must and as a proud daughter of House Greengrass, I will work to advance its influence every day. I will keep you informed to further developments.
Your Daughter,
Daphne
Finishing the letter, Daphne sealed it and prepared to send it off the next morning. While she was finishing the letter, Hermione was escorted out of the Hospital Wing as Harry's Dreamless Sleep potion kicked in.
She made her way up to the tower and entered the common room to a subdued party. Apparently with their star seeker in the hospital.
"Hey Hermione," Neville called her over. "How's Harry?"
"He's regrowing the bones in his right arm," she spat. "Thanks to that incompetent jerk."
"He's going to recover, right?" Ron asked.
"What? So he can catch a stupid ball for the stupid team again?" Hermione responded venomously.
"That's not what I meant," Ron put his hands up in surrender. "I know Harry is important to you; he's important to everyone here."
"What Lockhart did was horrible," Lavender spoke up, laying a hand on Hermione's shoulder. "This was supposed to be a grand celebration for a huge victory but without Harry… we just don't much feel like celebrating."
"It's just…" Hermione growled in frustration before breaking down in tears. "I thought he was going to be killed, all because of a stupid game!"
Lavender wrapped her arm around Hermione's shoulder and let her cry out all the pent-up emotion from the day.
"I get it," Neville said. "Really I do. Just remember that it might be a stupid game to you but it is something that Harry enjoys."
"And he's truly great at it," Parvati added. "He won't do anything in Quidditch that would put his life truly at risk."
"I j-j-just wish he didn't have to do something so dangerous," Hermione tried to stop but with the dam broke, it all came tumbling out. "Sometimes I wish he didn't have to player."
"We don't," Katie Bell was standing in front of her, Angelina and Alicia flanking her. "We wouldn't have won today without him."
"Harry was incredible today," Angelina said. "Before the match, nobody knew what to do. We were nervous and even Wood couldn't figure out how to get us fired up. "Next thing we know Harry is firing us up, getting us ready. The only reason he was calm is because of what you said to him, Hermione. Never forget he carries a piece of you with him wherever he goes, especially on the pitch. I don't even have the words for what he said. It was…
"A kick in the ass," Fred had joined them. "He kicked us into gear and got us focused on what we needed to do while reassuring us about what we actually CAN do as a team."
"Quidditch can be dangerous, yes," Alicia knelt in front of Hermione. "But he isn't out there alone. We always watch over one another. If it weren't for Lockhart, everything would be fine."
"Ugh!" Hermione wiped her hands down her face in frustration. "Lockhart! That… that…"
"Don't worry about Lockhart," George said with a smile. "We've got something special planned for him. Don't you worry."
Slowly the party, such that it was, wound down and Hermione eventually headed up to bed. As her head hit the pillow, her thoughts remained with the green-eyed wizard who currently lay in the Hospital Wing.
At the same time, said wizard was becoming aware of a weight on his bed, specifically his knees. Cracking his eyes open, Harry immediately took note of a pair of tennis ball-sized eyes gazing at him.
"Dobby," Harry groaned. "I suppose I have you to thank for this."
Harry tried futilely to lift his arm, causing pain to shoot up his arm.
"Yes," Dobby pulled on his ears as he collapsed into a sitting position on the bed. "Dobby told Harry Potter not to come. Dobby told him that dark things were planned. Yet Harry Potter has returned. And now the Chamber is opened."
"What do you know about it?" Harry leaned forward, eager for information.
"Elvses have told been told of it for generations," Dobby said. "Dark days those were. Ended with someone dying. Harry Potter can't be here! Harry Potter is too important."
Dobby was running his hands over his ears even faster
"Do you know who it is that's doing this?" Harry asked him.
"No no no!" Dobby shook his head. "But yous cannots be here for it. You's too important!"
"Dobby…" Harry tried to calm the hysterical creature down. "My best friend is a First Gen Witch. My friends are here. They're all in as much danger as I am. I can't leave them; I won't."
Dobby broke down in tears, muttering incoherently about "nobility" and "greatness" with "too important" thrown in. Using his pillowcase Dobby wiped his eyes.
"Why do you wear that thing?" Harry asked.
"Tis the mark of my enslavement, it is," Dobby said. "We elves can only use what master gives us the first time. From that time on, if master presents us clothes, it will frees us."
"So he doesn't have you do laundry?"
"He cans tell us to do it but he can not gives us clothes directly. If he does, wes being freed."
"What happens when you are freed?"
"Wes be looking for new work but a disgraced elf is finding it hard to finds work."
"And if you don't find work?"
"Wes die. Sometimes it takes months, other times it takes years but eventually, wes die."
"Can I help you in any way?" Harry asked, his anger giving way to concern.
"No, nosbody can helps Dobby," Dobby said, sadly. "Master won't free me so's my only escape is death."
"If you think of anything I can do to help," Harry reached out to lay his hand on Dobby's shoulder. "Let me know. Just stop trying to save me by doing things that put me in danger, okay?"
"Harry Potter is as great as they say," Dobby was opening weeping. "If he is sure he will not leave then Dobby will stop trying."
"Thank you, Dobby," Harry said. "If you can help us in any way, I would appreciate it."
"Just let me…" Harry stopped as the door to the ward slammed open. Dobby disappeared and Harry lay back to feign sleep. Through his squinted eyes, Harry saw Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape wheeling in a student. A student with blonde hair, holding a camera.
No! Harry screamed in his mind but his gasp announced that he was indeed awake.
"Ah, Harry," Dumbledore smiled sadly at him. "Do not worry. Young Mr. Creevey is not dead, merely petrified."
With an audible groan, Harry wrenched himself out of bed to stand next to the bed where they placed the young boy. He still had the camera to his eyes.
"He must have been trying to sneak down to visit you; we found him right outside the ward."
"Did he get a picture of his attacker?" McGonagall asked.
With immense effort, Snape wrenched the camera from Colins stony grasp. Opening the back, an acrid smoke filled the room as the black sludge that was the film fell down onto the floor.
"There's no doubt: the Chamber of Secrets has been reopened," Dumbledore said, sadly.
"What do you know of it?" Harry asked.
"What do you know it, Potter?" Snape asked. Harry looked over and again felt the pressure on his forehead. Still tired from regrowing his bones, Harry screamed in pain and pushed his magic, making Snape stumble backward.
"I warned you!" McGonagall scolded. "You are not to use Legilimency on my ward! Harry doesn't know anything about the Chamber."
"To answer your question," Dumbledore forestalled the argument. "The Chamber was opened 50 years ago. They did arrest someone but I have always doubted the real culprit was caught. The real question… is how they are doing it again."
"Are there any children with a relation to anyone who was at school at that time?" Harry asked.
"There are a few but none that I would suspect. The ones who would do this are far too young and, frankly, not clever enough to sneak around without raising suspicion."
"All the same," McGonagall spoke up. "We should tighten security. No students walking around alone, Make sure every student is accounted for each night before curfew."
"Wise precautions," Dumbledore agreed. "I will speak with the Head Boy and Head Girl about implementation. Now it is time for you to head back to bed, Harry."
"And Colin?" Harry asked, his eyes lingering on the boy.
"He will be fine. Thanks to the Mandrakes you and your classmates are working with, we will be able to brew a Restorative Draught that will restore young Mr. Creevey to health."
"How long will that take?"
"Once the Mandrakes mature, which should be sometime around March, we will be able to brew the potion. A day after that, they will be back up and about."
"March!? Is there any way we could purchase Mandrakes that are already mature?"
"Hmm," Dumbledore ran his hands through his beard. "It might be possible, though they are usually excessively expensive."
"I'll help in any way I can, sir," Harry said. "Colin shouldn't lose a year of his education because we didn't pay a little for mature Mandrakes."
"You make a good argument," Dumbledore smiled at him. "I will look in on the Mandrakes and let you know. Now I really must send you back to bed. I don't know how you're up; regrowing bones is immeasurably painful."
Dumbledore flicked his wand and Harry felt his feet leave the ground. The covers of the bed pulled themselves back. Harry was placed in the bed, the covers coming back up to tuck him in.
"Sweet dreams, Harry," Dumbledore smile genially. The three professors turned and exited the ward.
"He makes a great point, Albus," McGonagall said only for Snape to scoff.
"He must think we can waive our wands and make things happen. So naïve and arrogant, just like-"
"Oh don't start!" McGonagall shot back. "That boy is interested in getting his housemate-one who occasionally annoys him, by the way-back on his feet. You and I both knew his parents. Even you must admit that is something Lily Evans would have done."
"She is right, Severus," Albus added. "Finding unique solutions to problems for the betterment of all was something Lily was known for. And the next time I find you have used Legilimency on a minor without consent, you will be out of this castle, Severus. I have ignored and explained away concerns regarding your conduct for far too long. We both heard Minerva tear into us about it. I have learned my lesson; you have not"
Dumbledore started to move away before he turned his head back to offer a final comment.
"Remember what will happen should you no longer has my protection or the protection of this castle."
Snape looked torn between horror and abject rage at this conversation as Dumbledore and McGonagall walked away.
(A/N: The bit that Harry and Hermione do is from Airplane!
*To be faiiiirrrr is a Letterkenny reference
Next: Lockhart is on the receiving end of Fred and George's wrath.)
Chapter 28: Invisible Touch
The next morning was an awful one for Lockhart. All day, things were disappearing on Lockhart. Every time he reached for something with his right hand, it would disappear right as he touched it. This included his silverware, goblet and even his food at breakfast. Fred and George hired a couple of students to go up and ask for autographs throughout the day which resulted in the quill he reached for disappearing as well. In all, it took as long for the malady to wear off as it took for Harry to regrow the bones in his arm.
They were not yet done, it seemed, as once it wore off, they had the same students come up with a special quill. No matter what Lockhart tried to sign, it came out as Fool's GoldenBoy Lockfart. One of those was enlarged and attached to the plaque next to his classroom. Lockhart tried to take it down only to have his spell backfire and knock him down. Yet again he was slammed down hard on his stomach with his wand trapped beneath him, causing more chips to the wood of the wand. He looked up and the plaque had exploded into copies, one of them levitating above him, keeping pace as he fled through the school toward his office.
Unfortunately, what he thought was his office was actually a girl's bathroom, leading Lockhart to be thrown bodily by three very pissed off Slytherins. All in all, it was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day for the Defense professor.
"Remind me not to piss off the twins, would you?" Harry asked Hermione as they watched the idiot sprinting through the halls, trying to outrun the sign following him.
"Same," Hermione said. "Imagine once they get their joke shop up and running."
Harry shuddered, both in fear and excitement at the prospect. They stopped musing at the plight of Lockhart as Harry sat Hermione and Neville down to tell them everything he learned last night.
"Dobby was the one who tampered with the Bludger?" Hermione screeched. "You could have been killed!"
"I know," Harry groaned. "Hopefully our talk last night will keep him from interfering anymore. I would like to help him if possible."
"Help him?" Hermione was incredulous. "He tries to protect you by killing you and you want to help him!?"
"Dobby isn't right. He's been abused so thoroughly by his master that it is driving him mad. I'd like to find out a way to free him, if possible. Sure he might die but at least he might regain some sanity before he dies."
"He's right," Neville added. "If you abuse a house elf, they go mad. They can't properly discern what is right and what is wrong. They get driven insane and that insanity shortens their lifespan. What his master is doing is truly cruel."
"But Dobby and Dumbledore both said the Chamber had been opened before?" Hermione turned her attention toward the mysterious chamber.
"Maybe we should focus on the Heir of Slytherin," Harry thought aloud. "Maybe there's something in the library on Slytherin and his descendants. Perhaps we could follow that and find who could lay a claim to that title, assuming they are a direct descendant and not just simply using the name to stoke fear."
"It would be a good place to start," Hermione said. "It must be a creature that is doing this, however. There's no spell I know of that would petrify someone like that."
Changing subjects, Harry asked about the Restorative Draught.
"Do you have any Mandrakes at home?" Harry asked Neville. "Or would your Gran know how to procure them?"
"Either she or Amelia will," Neville said. "They are hard to acquire but not impossible."
As if summoned, Amelia rounded the corner with Professor McGonagall, obviously looking for something. She had Tonks and Kingsley flanking her.
"Ah Harry," Amelia said with a smile. "I am glad to finally have found you. Susan wrote me about the Chamber business. I wanted to follow up on your letter and the picture you sent as well."
"It's good to see you, Auntie Amelia," Harry replied. Neville split off to spend some time with Hannah while Harry and Hermione showed her to the spot where they found Mrs. Norris.
"I've seen the photo but what else did you see at the scene?"
"There was a lot of water on the floor," Hermione closed her eyes and brought the memory back.
"Did you see any blood streaks or smears?"
"No. Not that I noticed anyway," Harry said.
"That means the cat wasn't killed at a different location," Tonks was writing as Amelia talked. "Did you smell anything?"
"Now that I think of it," Harry recalled the memory of that night. "I caught the faint scent that smelled a little… floral?"
"Interesting… did you hear anything?" Amelia finally asked.
"Do you promise secrecy on this?" Harry asked her seriously.
"We would not reveal any information regarding an ongoing investigation, Harry," Amelia comforted the boy.
"I… heard a voice," Harry said hesitantly. "It said it was hungry and that it wanted to kill. I followed it and found Mrs. Norris."
"Did you hear it?" Amelia asked Hermione.
"No, ma'am," Hermione said. "All I heard was a faint hissing like water running through pipes."
"Something to investigate for sure," Amelia ran some scans on the scene. They also visited the scene where Colin was discovered but it was too clean to offer anything new. "Well I'm not sure what would or even could do this but we will try to think of something. If you discover anything, please let me know and do NOT go after any suspects on your own.
"Augusta and I are working on importing mature Mandrakes to create the Restorative Draught. Hopefully we can get Mr. Creevey awake again and he will be able to tell us who or what did this."
Harry and Hermione nodded.
"Keep taking care of one another," Tonks piped up for the first time. "He's just getting cuter every day, isn't he?"
Hermione blushed and Tonks laughed before walking away, ruffling Harry's hair as she did.
"I know you are training with Flitwick," Kingsley spoke in his deep voice. "If you need any tips or tricks, let me know. I was the only one in the school who could stand toe-to-toe with him in a duel."
"One last thing," Amelia said as she was about to walk away. "I think I finally have the evidence together and need to do a few more follow-up interviews but sometime this summer, your aunt and uncle will be standing trial."
"Will you need to follow up with me at all?" Harry asked, not exactly keen to revisit the traumas of his past yet again.
"I think we have everything we need from the both of you," Amelia watched Harry's shoulders relax considerably as they parted ways.
Soon, Neville's gran came through and a host of mature Mandrakes arrived at the castle. That was when Harry mustered up the courage to do something he wasn't sure would work. Standing up straight, Harry took a deep breath and knocked on the dungeon door in front of him.
"Enter," the dour voice drawled.
Harry entered Snape's workspace where the professor was bent over a cauldron.
"How can I help the Boy-Who-Lived?" Snape rolled his eyes as Harry entered the room.
"I actually came to see if there was anything I could do for you," Harry said. "I know we haven't gotten off on the best foot and that my father was cruel to you. I also think, or at least suspect, you were friends with my mother in school. I was hoping we could move beyond the past. I also know you are working on the Restorative Draught."
Snape let out a breath he had been holding, probably since '79 and spoke.
"Mr. Potter," Harry tensed on reflex. "You are correct. I was friends with your mother for a time. Minerva is also right, you are very much like her. Especially the eyes. If you are up to it, I am brewing the potion. Pull up a stool and see if you are up to the challenge of brewing it."
For the next hour, Harry helped Snape brew the potion, following his every instruction to the letter and afterward the potion was the perfect shade of sage green it was supposed to be.
"Apparently you have some of your mother's talent after all," Snape actually smiled. It was small but it was a smile. "Apparently you can take some guidance after all."
"Growing up with Aunt Petunia, I got very used to doing what adults said, unless I wanted to face the consequences."
"Ah yes, Tuney. I met her a couple of times growing up. She always had a rather high opinion or herself, that one. Felt she was perfectly 'normal' and looked down on anyone less than normal."
"Probably called them freaks, I'd imagine."
"So you did live with her then," Snape grimaced.
"She always loved to take shots at mum," Harry said sadly. "Vernon was better at physical attacks but hers… hers hurt the worst."
Snape had to change the subject. He was coming dangerously close to bonding with the boy.
"Well the potion has finished stewing. Let's bottle this and get Mr. Creevey back on his feet. Take one bottle up to the Wing and I will keep three extra bottles here under stasis, just in case."
Snape hesitated as if he had swallowed something sour.
"You did well today, Mr. Potter. I expect this level of work from you every class, understood?"
"Yes, Professor," Harry said. "Thank you for letting me help and guiding me along every step. I certainly learned a lot."
With haste, Harry ran to the Wing to administer the draught to Colin.
"Madam Pomfrey!" Harry gasped out, winded from the run, he skidded to a stop. There on one of the beds lay Cho Chang, her hand raised.
"I am afraid there has been another attack," Pomfrey said. "Miss Chang and Miss Edgecombe here were walking from the Charms classroom."
"Cho pulled out her compact to check her makeup as I bent down to tie my shoe and then she just went rigid and pale." Marietta said, hysterically. "I caught her before she fell. By the time I turned around, there wasn't see anything behind. Maybe Potter has his father's invisibility cloak. My mother said Potter was known to have one."
"Well I have the Restorative Draught here," Harry held it out to her. "We can get bring her back around."
"Don't do that!" Marietta Edgecombe said. "You're the one behind this. That's probably poison. It will kill her, I'm sure of it!"
"I just came from Professor Snape," Harry spoke over her, "We just finished brewing it. There's three more of these under stasis. To prove that it is on the up-and-up, I would like to administer it to Colin first."
"Bring it here," Pomfrey gestured, ignoring the dumbfounded look on Marietta's face. With Harry's help to get Colin to swallow, the draught was administered and the boy's cheeks grew rosy once again as the boy opened his eyes.
"Harry!" Colin tried to sit up but was laid back down by Pomfrey.
"Easy, Mr. Creevey. I need to take some scans. How do you feel?"
"Stiff," Colin said trying to flex all his extremities. "What's going on?"
"You have been petrified for the last two weeks," Harry said. "What's the last thing you remember?"
"I was sneaking down to make sure you were okay. I heard something moving behind me. I turned to take a picture and the next thing I know; I am in the Hospital Wing and you're staring at me."
"Did you hear any sounds? Smell anything?"
"Well I didn't hear footsteps. It was more like something sliding along the floor and there was a smell, almost septic but there was something floral about it too."
"Thank you, Colin," Harry smiled down at the boy. "It is good to have you back."
"What happened to my camera?" Colin looked at it sitting on his bedside table.
"Whatever petrified you fried your camera," Pomfrey said. "We kept it in case you were able to repair it."
"Oh… okay," Colin looked downcast, holding the camera in his hands.
After giving the boy a forlorn look, Harry moved on toward Cho, Marietta sitting beside her.
"Can we administer the potion now?" Pomfrey asked with a little annoyance in her voice.
"Fine," Marietta huffed. "But you and not Potter."
"Do you know the swallowing charm?" Pomfrey asked Marietta who nodded. "Alright then, on three."
The potion dripped down her throat and Cho's skin regained her natural radiance. She dropped her hand and screamed.
"Cho! Cho!" Marietta grabbed both of her hands. "What happened?"
"I was finishing my meeting with Professor Flitwick. I was going to head to Geneva to see if I could run in to Cedric. I used my compact to make sure I still looked good-"
(Harry rolled his eyes a little)
"-and the next thing I know I'm waking up in the Hospital."
"You were petrified," Pomfrey explained. "Do you remember hearing anything?"
"No there was nothing that I recall," Cho said before looking at Harry. "What are you doing here?"
"He brought the potion that restored you, helped brew it if I am guessing?" Harry nodded at Pomfrey.
"And you let him potentially poison me?" Cho screeched.
"It worked just fine on Mr. Creevey," Pomfrey was really starting to get annoyed. "If I can keep you here another few minutes to run some scans. Mr. Potter? Why don't you take Mr. Creevey back to Gryffindor tower?"
Colin was greeted in the common room to raucous applause from all the Gryffindors. As the Gryffs were welcome their smallest member back, Harry was walking around the periphery, talking with different students. A few days later, Alicia- the prefect who had taken a shine to the boy- surprised the boy with a new camera. After Harry told them his was lost in the attack, Gryffindor pulled some money together and got him a new one.
"Thank you," Colin said with tears. "I had no idea how I was going to afford a new one. It took me two summers' working chores to be able to afford my first one."
"You're welcome, Colin," Alicia said with a smile. "Welcome back to the Den."
For the next few weeks, the populace was buoyed by the recovery of Colin and the upcoming holidays. Whispers still followed Harry wherever he went, as rumors of his alleged involvement in the attacks but Harry largely ignored them.
One night, he was with Flitwick and Hermione tinkering with the blue flames. He held the conjured flame in his hand while playing around with making it bigger and smaller. The bigger he made it, the more it affected a wider area while the smaller he made it, the flame became more intense.
Hermione conjured a target for him and had him shoot toward it, focusing on his accuracy. Using one of the bigger flame balls was easy to hit the target but right now he was trying to work with the smaller ones.
"Hit it again," Hermione called out. "You're still a little too much on the perimeter. Hit the center."
Frustrated, Harry threw three balls toward the targets, missing wildly each time.
"You have lost focus, Mr. Potter," Flitwick was reclining in a chair with a book in hand, nonchalantly observing. "Take a deep breath, clear your mind and focus your core."
Harry closed his eyes and took three deep breaths. Opening them, he focused on the target, conjured the balls. Focusing on the target, Harry sent one ball after another, burning a small hole through the target.
"You did it!" Hermione cheered. "I knew you could do it."
"Your turn," Harry smiled at her sudden pause.
"But those are your specialty…"
"I want you to try this," Harry said. "It's a useful spell to know."
Hermione furrowed her brow in concentration and next thing Harry knew she had three orange fireballs.
"Had to make it at least a little different," Hermione smirked. "Though they're not as hot as yours."
"Orange is more your energy anyway," Harry said as he conjured a target for her. He barely stepped aside before Hermione sent three flames right through the center.
"Yikes!" Harry screamed as he dodged out of the way. "Give me a chance to get away first, okay?"
"After Rogue Bludgers, great balls of fire should be nothing, Boy Wonder," Hermione ribbed him.
"Boy Wonder?" Harry cocked an eyebrow at her nickname for him. "I guess if that's how you want it, deadshot."
"Oh you're on!" Hermione grinned as they bowed and immediately started firing stunners at the other.
A half hour later, Harry swerved out of the path of three stunners and yelled "Stupefy!"
Harry's red beam of light shattered Hermione's fledgling shield and hit its mark. Running to revive her, Harry then offered his hand to help her back up.
"I thought I had you," Hermione said through a wide smile. "I didn't expect you to dodge my triple stunner.
"I almost didn't," Harry smiled along with her. "Your accuracy is deadly."
"Excellent job you two!" Flitwick had put his book aside and was clapping. "You have come so, so far. Don't get too soft on me over the holiday, okay?"
Tomorrow was the last day of term and Harry was looking forward to spending some more time with the Grangers and a break from all the whispers following him. There was only so much he could take before he would break altogether.
For a while, they had thought about staying once they heard Draco Malfoy would be staying for the holidays. He was their chief suspect in the attacks. Hermione even showed Harry a page in the Potions book he got her that talked about something called Polyjuice Potion. She was planning on raiding Snape's stores to get the ingredients but a conversation with the Slytherin Four forestalled that.
"You could probably impersonate one of us but you wouldn't get anything from Draco," Daphne said. "Slytherin is a different animal. You would have no idea how to act in the common room; you'd be found out for sure. Not by Draco; he's truly dumb but another Slytherin would figure it out."
"Draco is not behind the attacks," Vinny said. "He's too much bluster and not enough guile. We've even heard him wonder who it is. He is wondering if the Heir will take requests."
Since then, Harry and Hermione had regular meetings with the Four, Susan, Hannah and Cedric where they shared any information they knew. They had to be careful to not be overheard but that was not a big issue, thanks to the privacy spells Susan knew from Amelia.
Thus far, nobody had any actionable intelligence. Digging through the Wizarding Families of Brittain, they traced Slytherin's lineage for a while. Some houses had a minor connection to it, though the only house with a real claim to be direct descendants died out around 70 years ago. Harry shared the name Gaunt to the others. None of them had heard of the name before. Susan and Daphne were going to ask their respective families over the break to see if they knew anything.
That was all on Harry's mind as the train sped away from Hogwarts, toward London. It was one of the colder Decembers in recent memory so Harry conjured his signature blue fireballs in their compartment, much to the appreciation of Lavender and Parvati. They huddled close together, trying to stay as warm as possible. The train was old and was not great at keeping out the cold. Even with the flames, Hermione pressed into Harry's side.
"For warmth," she said, though whether she was trying harder to convince Harry or herself was uncertain. Hannah did the same with Neville. Not to be left out, Susan huddled closer to Harry. Meanwhile, Luna just hummed a tune as she sat contentedly on the bench.
"Good lord it is cold," Harry said. They were bundled in layers with an open flame hovering near them and still it rose the temperature to simply cold from frigid. "How are you not bothered by this, Luna?"
"I'm used to spending nights in Sweden," Luna said. "In winter, it can get this cold or colder. I just learned to accept the cold and not let it bother me."
Hermione shook her head and burrowed further into Harry. As it was too cold to sleep, they passed the time chatting about their holidays.
"I'm excited to see mum again," Lavender said. "She's been working hard, traveling, developing new fashions for the Wizarding World. She's tired of bland robes, she wants something a little more modern but she's trying to do it in a way that won't offend the pureblood traditionalists."
"How are you and Parvati doing with the cosmetics?" Harry asked.
"It's… slow going," Parvati answered. "We just can't seem to find a way to make cosmetic that will wear off after a time. Either it works too long or doesn't work at all. The stronger ones we have tested are really hard to remove."
"Have you talked to the twins?" Harry suggested. "They are developing some products that only last a specific time. As a lot of their products have a basis in potions, they could be a good option to help you through any issues."
"You should also look into Herbology," Hermione said to which Neville nodded. "Some of the plants might help in ways you can't even imagine."
Before long, the train was pulling into the station. Pulling their bags from the top rack, Harry lead Hermione off the train, toward her smiling parents. As with last year, Hermione dropped her bag to run and wrap her mother up in a hug. Smiling at the sight, Harry bent to pick up the bag and walked over to join the Grangers.
"Harry!" Richard gave Harry a hug in greeting. "Ice to see you!"
Not even the cold could stifle the man's humor.
"Hey you need to chill out," Harry replied, making the Granger women groan. They stepped through the barrier and were going to head toward the car when Harry felt a tug on his sleeve.
Turning, he saw Colin standing there with what must have been his family.
"Can I help you, Colin?" Harry asked the boy.
"I wanted to introduce you to my parents," Colin said. Harry held out and shook his hand with Colin's dad, a short blonde man and his mum, a stout brunette. Harry was shocked when his mum embraced him.
"Good to meet you Mrs. Creevey," Harry said.
"Sarah," she said. "Thank you for bringing my son back. It would have been hard to have a holiday without him."
"And this must be Dennis," Harry finally spotted a tiny boy hiding behind her. "Colin speaks of you often… and quite fondly."
"Good to meet you," Dennis said sheepishly.
Chuckling, Harry wished the Creevey's a good holiday, turned and exited the station with Grangers.
(A/N: To the guest, Alex2038, who asked how to follow along with fictions as they update, I recommend creating an account on the site which you can use to favorite and follow stories and authors that you enjoy
As always, thank you all for all the follows, favorites and comments, and for helping to guide this story along the way.)
Chapter 29: Home for the Holidays
The ride home was a quiet one, mostly so Richard could focus on the getting there in one piece. Driving through ice-covered roads, they eventually pulled up to the house. There was snow on the ground and the Grangers had put up Christmas lights, making the house look like the a Christmas Card.
Harry grabbed his bag and walked in the house. The first thing he saw was the owl perch with Thibault and Hedwig perched next to one another. The Grangers already had their tree up and decorated. There was garland on the mantle over the fireplace. It was absolutely perfect.
Smiling inwardly, Harry moved up to drop his bag off in the guest room. Opening the door, he stopped dead. The walls were painted a light gold and his bed had a crimson blanket over it.
"Do you like it?" Harry hadn't even noticed Helen follow him. "We decided that this isn't the guest room anymore; it is your room. We wanted to make it look as such."
"Thank you, Helen," Harry hugged her from the side. "Not just for this but also for taking me in and everything you've done for me. I truly appreciate it."
"You're family, Harry," she said. "Family takes care of one another. You've taken care of Hermione while at school and you've taken care to protect us as well. Richard and I are overjoyed that Hermione decided to walk up to you at the station."
"Me too," Harry said. "It changed my entire life,"
Harry set his bag inside his room and returned to the main room just as the doorbell rang. He moved toward the door when Richard called out.
"I've got it!" He opened the door for what turned out to be the pizza delivery man. He gave to boy the payment plus a healthy tip. "Here you go. Figured it would be easiest since we didn't know how long it would take us to get home."
Sitting in the Grangers dining room with fresh pizza, Harry let the stress of Hogwarts wash off him as they updated the elder Grangers on their term.
"So someone is going around attacking children?" Richard asked. "Do you have any leads? Are you two safe?"
"We are as safe as we can be," Harry answered seriously, resting his chin on his hands. "Aside from Mrs. Norris, the other victims have recovered well enough but they don't remember anything helpful. At least Colin was a little bit helpful. Marietta and Cho don't pay enough attention to their surroundings to give us anything. Though Marietta would probably be a great resource. I'm not sure how she escaped and also didn't see or hear anything helpful."
"We are trying to track down who might have opened it the last time and who the Heir of Slytherin might be," Hermione said. "Hoping that might be a way for us to track the person down. The last family with a direct descendancy went extinct 70 years ago."
"Who was that?" Helen asked. She was always interested by a good mystery.
"The family was called the Gaunts," Harry said. "We saw records of a Marvolo Gaunt who had a son, Morfin and a daughter, Merope. There isn't anything about either of the kids. Susan is going to talk to Auntie Amelia to see if she has any information.
"I would ask the goblins in our meeting but they are understandably reticent to share anything about other families and accounts they oversee."
"Well you have two weeks with nothing to do," Richard leaned. "Do you have anything you would like to do?"
"Honestly, I'd like to relax," Harry said to which Hermione nodded vigorously. "Between classes, Potions Club, the D.A., and Flitwick's sessions, I am a little tired. That's before you factor in this Chamber business and everyone suspecting me as the culprit."
"Which is ridiculous, honestly," Hermione huffed. "the Heir of Slytherin best friends with a mudblood- sorry Harry but you know that's how the Heir would see me- is just ludicrous."
"I am sure the culprit will be caught before long," Helen soothed. "Your letters mentioned something about Professor Lockhart?"
"Oh well that's the highlight," Hermione giggled. "The entire school has been merciless. Now that it's cold, his colorful robes are all colored a dull gray. (S/T Earth Guardian 28) Someone even made his hair color match. Meanwhile, another person has given him a severe case of bad breath."
"And they have two weeks to devise new ways to torment," Harry started to laugh. "I think someone wants to take credit for the claim that they drove him from the castle, honestly."
"What else have they done?" Helen usually abhorred pranks but after Hermione wrote them about the dunce vanishing the bones in Harry's arm, she thought it was a fitting punishment.
The rest of the night, the kids regaled the parents in perfect detail the pranks pulled on Lockhart.
"So he's walking down the hall, trying to make his pink robes turn back to lilac which he slips on a banana peel on a greased floor. Someone set up bowling pins at the end of the hall. Lockhart slams into them and the word "Strike!" flashes on the wall."
Richard was doubled over in laughter, wheezing in breaths at the stories while Helen, usually more reserved of the two, was leaning on him to remain in her chair.
"Okay," Richard wiped tears from his eyes. "That's enough for one night. Poor Lockhart doesn't have any idea the hornet's nest he kicked up."
Harry gathered their plates and took them to the sink before taking care of the empty boxes. Still chuckling at the memories of the everything the student body was doing to that one professor's body, Harry went upstairs, crawled into bed and promptly fell asleep.
Waking early the next morning, Harry moved quietly down the stairs. Richard was seated comfortably on the couch watching what Harry recognized as Dragon Ball Z.
"Mind if I join you?" Harry asked, excitedly. He has still not forgotten the pleasure of watching the program last holiday. With everything that happened during the summer, Harry never got a chance to sit down and watch it.
"Of course, Harry," Richard made room for him to sit next to him on the couch.
"What's happening?" Harry inquired as he sat down.
"Goku is about to face off against Frieza," Richard pointed out the silver and purple creature across from the heroic Saiyan.
"Is that Vegeta? Is he one of the good guys now?" Harry was trying to catch up.
"More like 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' situation," Richard said. "They're on Namek, Piccolo's homeworld, looking for that planet's Dragon Balls. They're hoping to wish those who died against Vegeta and company back. Vegeta wants to become immortal but they both just want to keep them out of the hands of Frieza."
"Wow!" Harry sat and once again was pulled in to the storyline. Even in Japanese with subtitles, it was an incredible experience.
"I can't wait until they release some of the dubbed versions," Richard smiled at Harry's excitement. While he was overjoyed at being a father to Hermione, a part of him always wanted a son.
"This is brilliant," Harry never took his eyes off the screen.
"Are you boys having fun?" Helen asked as she descended the stairs. Seeing what they were watching she shook her head. "I see my dear husband is corrupting you, Harry."
"I'll have you know I am incorruptible," Harry put his hand over his heart, trying to look austere. "It's what makes me the Boy-Who-Lived, after all."
"Uh huh," Helen had none it. "I'll make sure to tell that to Hermione when she wakes up. I'm sure she'll corroborate that statement."
"Oh that's not necessary," Harry's grew wide. "I think we should let her sleep."
"Mmhmm," Harry noticed Helens satisfied smirk was the same as her daughter. "Star Wars, Dragon Ball. Next thing I know you'll be introducing him to comics."
"What are comics?" Harry turned to Richard who was positively glowing.
"This one is your fault, I think," Richard teased his wife.
"I shouldn't have said that," Helen said as she walked into the kitchen. After cooking herself breakfast and making coffee, she reemerged into the living room to see Harry crouched over a few comic books.
"What have I done?" she asked but seeing the wonder in his eyes, she relaxed. She ruffled his hair and then walked back upstairs.
While Harry was digging in to the comics, Hermione was just leaving her room. It was obvious from her hair that she had just woken up.
"Do I want to know what they're getting up to?" she asked her mother, groggily.
"Probably not," Helen sighed and replied. "After claiming he was 'incorruptible,' Harry then got turned on to comic books. Why did I have to marry a man-child?"
"Because you needed someone who could get you to not be so serious all the time," Hermione answered honestly. "I'm glad, though. It's been nice to see Harry bond with daddy. Harry's father figures have been so lacking to this point, it's nice to see him forge a relationship."
"That doesn't bother you?" Helen asked her daughter seriously. "I see the way you look at the boy; your father and I both do."
"Yes, mum," Hermione rolled her eyes. "I have a crush on my best friend. He's only 12 and is a typical oblivious male. Perhaps one day we will be more but if we are, I like the idea that a potential boyfriend already gets along with my parents. I know teenagers are supposed to be rebellious and hate their parents but I don't. I love you guys and… I miss you during the school year."
"Oh, Winter," Helen wrapped her daughter in a tight hug. "We miss you too. The house is so quiet when you're not around. We also love having Harry around. I think if Richard and I could have had a son, we would have wanted him to be just like Harry, not that Richard would admit that aloud.
"Enough about your best friend, how are classes this term?"
"They're really good. Professor McGonagall is teaching us how to conjure items out of thin air, Professor Flitwick keeps pushing Harry and me. Herbology is just as fascinating. Even Professor Snape seems to be letting up. If it wasn't for Defense, I would be over the moon."
"Your last letter mentioned you get to pick electives for next year?"
"Yes you can choose up to three from Care of Magical Creatures, Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, Divination and Muggle Studies."
"Do you know which ones you want to choose?"
"I know I want to do Arithmancy. It is closely related to math which I always liked in primary school. Ancient Runes seems fascinating and learning about different magical creatures would be useful. Divination is all about fortune telling and doesn't hold a lot of interest and Muggle Studies would be fun to see how wizards look at the muggle world. After looking at the course books I don't think that's much for me. The program is too outdated to be worthwhile."
"Sounds like you've made up your mind then?" Helen prodded further.
"I think so but sometimes I just think it would be fun to find a way to do all of them," Hermione nodded, acknowledging her fledgling desire. "But with the D.A. added to everything we did last year, I'm already being pushed for time. Doing five extra classes would just be exhausting. I wouldn't have any time for anything but classes."
"Good," Hermione looked at her mom in shock. "When you were in primary school, you didn't have any interests beyond school. I am glad that you are expanding beyond your schooling, making friends and learning how important it is to relax."
"That's probably got something to do with Harry," Hermione said, thoughtfully. "He's a good student but there's a limit to how much studying he can do. He keeps me from studying too much."
"Meanwhile you get him to focus on schoolwork," Helen finished with a nod. "Sounds rather harmonious."
"That's a good description for it," Hermione's thoughts were punctuated by laughter from downstairs.
"I better go make sure my darling husband isn't corrupting your hard work." Helen said. "And you need a shower. Wouldn't want Harry to see you like this."
"Mum!" Hermione yelped before sprinting to the bathroom.
Good to know I can still give her a hard time, Helen thought as she leaned into the doorframe of her daughter's room. She's growing so, so fast. My little girl is on the path to womanhood. Wiping a latent tear from her she changed into her day clothes and returned back to the living room.
"So Thor's brother turned him into a frog?" Harry was wiping tears from his eyes.
"Behold!" Richard stood and raised his voice. "The mighty Throg!"
"Looks like we have a fan," Helen startled both males. "Heaven help the rest of the world."
"You're just jealous," Richard chided, playfully. "Living in a world with the impossible things: Magic hammers, aliens who fight for Truth, Justice and the Amercian Way, suits of armor, aggressive Canadians with metal claws. I mean have you even met an aggressive Canadian who wasn't wearing skates at the time?"
"Well we have our meeting with the goblins here shortly," Helen reminded them. "You best be getting ready."
Harry yelped, not noticing the time. He sprinted up the stairs to get ready at the exact time that Hermione was exiting the bathroom, wrapped just in a towel. Hermione let out a quick "eep" and sprinted to her room as Harry quickly turned away muttering "sorry."
Once he got over his embarrassment, Harry admitted to himself that it wasn't altogether unpleasant to see Hermione in just a towel, though he couldn't quite figure out why. Filing it into a corner of his brain for further investigation later, he hurriedly got ready for the trip to Diagon.
A short ride later, the group stood in front of the white building a Gringotts.
"May your enemies be buried beneath your horde," Harry bowed to the teller.
"How may I help you, Wizard?" The teller set down his ledger and gave Harry his full attention.
"We are here for a meeting with Gripclaw," Harry answered.
"Yes you are expected," the teller said. "He has a new office. I will show you the way."
Instead of moving along the path they usually took, the teller lead them straight back to an office with double doors and a gold plaque that said "Gripclaw" on it.
"In through here," the teller said.
"Thank you," Harry said as he and Grangers knocked on the door.
"Enter!" they heard and opened the door. Gripclaw's new office was huge and lined with filing cabinets.
"If it isn't my best clients," Gripclaw gave them his best smile. "Your suggestions at investments, Mr. and Mrs. Granger, have paid off immensely. I've been promoted and given a bigger office. Director Ragnok is particularly pleased with your suggestion of the company Microsoft."
"I am glad to hear it," Harry smiled. "It's a shame more wizards don't spend time in the muggle world. How are the repairs on the manor going?"
"They are moving on schedule. We have just about completed the exterior structure and are about to move on to the individual rooms. It should be ready at the end of next summer."
"Excellent to hear!" Harry smiled at the thought that his family was healing from the wounds of the war. Even though it was just him for now, it was a start at a rebuild. "What else do you need of us?"
"As long as they," he pointed toward the Grangers. "Continue to give us companies that allow our horde to grow, there's nothing much else we require. Do you require anything more from me?"
"Some gold for holiday shopping is all," Harry said. Gripclaw reached into his desk and withdrew a money bag, handing it to Harry.
Their pockets heavier with the coins, the quartet embarked down the street. Quietly, Harry tugged on Richard's sleeve. Locking eyes with the man, Harry motioned toward a shop and then toward Hermione.
"Hey," Richard spoke up. "Why don't you and Hermione check out some of the fashion shops. We'll meet you at the bookstore?"
Helen and Richard had a special conversation that only the best couples can have. In a few seconds, they traded a look that communicated everything. Helen nodded and pulled Hermione down the street.
"Now," Richard turned to Harry. "What is it that you wanted to do?"
"I would like to do something special for Hermione but I have no idea what she would like," Harry said while staring at his feet. "I was hoping you could help me."
"What are you thinking?" Richard asked, intrigued at where this boy's head was.
"I was talking to Neville and he said that women liked jewelry," Harry's eyes became unfocused as he stared off into the distance. "I'd like to get Hermione something but I don't want something too gaudy. I'd like something that suits her."
"Let's go in there," Richard pointed toward the jewelry shop Harry nodded toward. Entering together, Harry browsed through the shop before something caught his eye. Gesturing, he brought Richard over. "Oh that'll do."
Richard laughed as Harry purchased the item with a blush on his face. He's starting to figure out what everyone else has, Richard laughed inwardly. Good.
A few days later, Harry felt his hands shaking as he presented Hermione with his gift. Hermione looked up from the book on Occlumency that Professor McGonagall had given them both. She looked at her friend and smiled tenderly, noticing just how nervous he was. Richard prodded Helen, pointing his teacup toward the two as Hermione took the parcel and felt the weight in her hands. It was small, wrapped in red paper with gold ribbon. With gentle care, she removed the ribbon and unwrapped the paper. That's when a black velvet box the size of her palm fell into her hands.
"What did you do?" Hermione said breathlessly as she rotated the box around to have the opening face her.
Taking a deep breath, she opened the box. Inside, on a bed of red silk sat a gold locket necklace with HJ engraved on both sides, with the H in the style of the Hogwarts crest. Opening it, she saw their picture on one side and picture of the castle on the other.
"I wanted you to carry Hogwarts wherever you go," Harry said. "And I also wanted you to carry me with you wherever you go as well."
Tears blossomed in her eyes as she ran her fingers over the locket, memorizing the feel of it in her hands. Noticing her tears, Harry was confused.
"Did I do something wrong?" Harry asked with mild panic. "I thought you'd like it."
"No." she said she wiped the tears away. "You've done something very right. It's perfect. Can you help me put it on."
As Harry worked the clasp and Hermione lifted her mane of hair, Helen turned and kissed her husband deeply.
"I assume you helped?" She asked.
"Not really," Richard kept his eyes on scene in front of them. "The kid wanted to get her something but didn't want anything too extravagant. He did all the picking, I just added my opinion when I knew he had found it."
"So nice of you," Helen smiled. "Helping the boy who has turned your daughter's head buy jewelry for her. Who knew you were such a softie?"
"Me?" Richard said in fake affront. "Soft? Never."
Helen laughed and kissed him again.
"That's okay; I know you're not soft all the time," she leaned in to whisper in his ear. "And I like that also."
Richard was mid-sip of his tea and started a coughing fit.
"Are you okay, dad?" Richard waived the question away as Helen laughed. He had momentarily forgotten his daughter and Harry were in the same room.
"Just went down the wrong pipe," he wheezed out.
Richard was saved from any further inquiry when an owl flew in with a package. Curiosity piqued, Harry moved toward the bird. He released the burden from the bird and saw a present wrapped in gold paper.
"To Harry, from Colin," Harry read aloud. "Wonder what this is all about?"
"Open it!" Hermione demanded excitedly, her curiosity positively raging.
Tearing off the paper, Harry saw a photo album titled Harry vs. the Rogue Bludger. Taking it to the couch, everyone else gathered around as Harry turned the first page which showed Harry lining up for the start of the match. Page after page featured Harry outflying the Bludger.
"I never realized I looked like this," Harry said in amazement. "I can imagine why you're tense when I play."
"You're really good, though," Hermione said as she watched the picture of Harry wrecking the Slytherin formation played over and over.
"It's rather entertaining," Richard was enamored by the moving photographs. "Colin really does a great job of telling the story. I need to have a copy of these ones."
Replaying over and over was Harry snagging the Snitch while inverted over Draco. The next photo showed the Bludger knocking Draco off his broom.
"That doesn't get less funny with subsequent views," Hermione giggled. "Say what you want about Draco but he had it coming."
"If Colin wanted," Helen flipped through the pages again. "He could probably make some money selling these. They're really, really good."
On the last page was a note from Colin.
"Thank you for making my first Quidditch game a memorable one," Colin said. "I didn't mean for these photos to tell a story but I loved the way they turned out. I was coming to tell you this when I was petrified. Thank you for getting the school to import the products to get me back to my family this holiday. Merry Christmas, Harry."
"Wow…" Harry read his note again and again.
Later that night, Harry was in his room, putting away his gifts when someone knocked on his door.
"Yes Hermione?" Even without looking, he knew her knock.
"I wanted to thank you again," Hermione was holding on to the locket hanging from her neck. "This was so sweet and thoughtful and then Colin gave you the photo book. What did I give you? A bloody book!"
"Language," Harry chided the way she would everyone else. He picked up the copy of The Lord of the Rings that Hermione had given him. "This book? the one Vernon took away from me? The one I never got to finish? Nobody would know that but you.
"Before last year, I never had someone celebrate Christmas with me. Nobody knew me; nobody cared to. You cared, Hermione; you always have. While your gift may not be as shiny, it is no less special."
"But my rose… the photo… breakfast for my birthday," Hermione was lightly crying. "Why do you have to be the more thoughtful one?"
"It's not a competition, Hermione," Harry admonished with a small smile. "Remember that you surprised me with my first birthday party. You also did this."
Reaching into his pocket, he withdrew a needle.
"Courage, Bravery and Love."
He handed it to her and she slid her hands over the engraving.
"You made this," Harry said. "This wasn't something you bought, you made it. To remind me of what's important. I carry it with me at all times so I don't ever forget. I wanted to do something for this Christmas that's half as good as what you did for me.
"I had a teacher once in primary, Miss Blumenthal. She was one of the few I actually liked. She told me that it's the little things we remember the most. It can be a sight, a smell that transports us back to that memory.
"This needle always transports me back to you. To the station where we first met. To our train ride. The bathroom with the troll, Quirrell even. All our adventures. But what I remember most is that bushy head of hair, those brown eyes with specks of golden amber flickering through them and the smile of my best friend."
"Thank you, Harry. I was being stupid."
"As you often tell me: you're really special, to a lot of people," Hermione wrapped her arm around Harry as he spoke, leaning her head on his shoulder. "I am glad you like the locket. I was so nervous that you wouldn't like it."
Hermione giggled, leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.
"Merry Christmas, Harry," She smiled as she headed toward the door.
"Merry Christmas, Hermione," Harry said, vacantly as he watched her go.
Harry sighed, contently, relaxed and ready for whatever the next term could throw at him.
(A/N: Just a response to a few people thinking Harry apologized to Snape for his father: he didn't. He just stated the fact that his father was brutal to him; he did not say whether or not it was justified. That scene wasn't Harry apologizing, that was Harry doing something uncomfortable to help Colin. On the other side, Snape is a character who is always out for himself, what will be the best for him. With McGonagall putting pressure on him and Dumbledore shifting, he should be feeling a little exposed, which has shifted his behavior, at least outwardly.)
Chapter 30: Concerning Hobbits
Back at school, Hermione found herself thrust back into the thick of things. Classes resumed as normal, teachers gave them homework, the D.A. was thriving, Potions Club was still going strong and she and Harry had regular training classes with Flitwick.
Everything was moving along at a nice pace until Potions came around. Snape had relaxed a little since November but he was still biased toward his own house and cruel to others. They were working on a shrinking solution when, out of the corner of her eye, Hermione saw Harry reach his hand out. Something dropped into her cauldron.
The solution started to roil and bubble. Harry threw himself in front of her just as the potion exploded. Harry's back was covered in the solution, causing his robes to shrink but a little got into the last place you wanted a potion: her eyes.
Snape was on them in an instant. She could hear him waving his wand, muttering different spells but, most disturbingly, she could not see anything. She heard him reach into the cauldron and pull something out.
"Who did this!?" Snape demanded of the class. Hermione didn't hear anyone reply but soon it was clear a culprit had been found. "Mr. Malfoy! That was reckless, stupid and caused injury to another student.30 points from Slytherin and detention tonight.
"Potter!" Hermione heard his voice get louder. "Take Miss Granger to the Hospital Wing at once. Tell Madam Pomfrey that Hermione got some shrinking solution in her eyes. I countered the effects but she will need the antidote."
"Yessir," Harry sounded furious.
Next thing Hermione knew, Harry hefted her up and guided her toward the Wing.
"How are you?" Harry said concern laced through his voice.
"I can't see!" Hermione said. "What if Madam Pomfrey can't reverse this! What if…"
"Shhh," Harry soothed her. He took her hand and put it through the crook of his elbow, onto his forearm. "We'll get you right. Just follow my lead. We're coming up on some steps."
On Harry led her, letting her know when they were at staircases. Before long, Hermione heard the usual chime and she knew they entered the ward of the Hospital Wing.
"Please state the nature of the medical emergency," Pomfrey said. "Back again are we?"
"It isn't me this time, Madam Pomfrey," Harry said. "We were in Potions. Professor Snape told me to tell you Hermione got a little shrinking solution in her eyes. He said he stopped the reaction but she will need the antidote."
"On the bed you go," Pomfrey said and had Harry led her toward one of the beds. "I have the antidote. It will need time to work. It is good that Professor Snape acted as quickly as he did. Any potion that gets into soft tissue is incredibly serious. This one could have shrunk your optical nerve, rendering you functionally blind."
Hermione gasped at this. Wizards didn't have any books in braille and it would be impossible for her to continue learning magic, to stay with Harry.
"Luckily, the antidote appears to be working," Pomfrey soothed. "It will take about a week but your vision will return. There will be a daily regimen for your eyes and you will soon start to see light. After a while, that light will soften and you will be able to see properly again."
Hermione heard the matron walk away. She felt very alone until she felt Harry grab her hand.
"Snape was furious," Harry said. "I've never seen him like that. I'm glad he acted so quickly."
"Are you okay?" Hermione asked. "I know you blocked a lot of that explosion with your body."
"I am fine, Hermione," she could hear his smile. "My robes caught it all. They shrunk to the point where they would fit Dobby but otherwise, I am unharmed.
"What can I do for you?" Harry asked.
"I don't know…" Hermione was flummoxed as to what to do. She was still on edge and usually, she read to calm herself down. "Could you read to me?"
"Of course," Harry almost sounded like he knew that's what she would ask. "What would you like me to read?"
"I don't know…" Hermione was so used to just reading herself that she didn't know what to pick.
"I know!" the chair Harry was sitting on creaked as he sat up quickly. "I will be back shortly."
Hermione heard his footsteps move away, leaving her in a cold, soundless black void. She wrapped her arms around herself, gently rocking herself on the bed, trying to keep herself under control. Freaking out won't help anyone, she said. Even though she couldn't see, she closed her eyes and focused on her breathing. As her heart rate calmed, she heard footsteps approach. A chair creaked. She heard a book open and pages turn. Then she heard Harry's voice.
"When Mr. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End announced that he would shortly be celebrating his eleventy-first birthday with a party of special magnificence, there was much talk and excitement in Hobbiton."
On and on, Harry read the Lord of the Rings, complete with different voices for different characters and when he reached the end of chapter one, Hermione spoke.
"Would you like to come up on the bed?" Hermione asked. "I'm sure it'd be more comfortable."
"I don't think Madam Pomfrey…" Harry started to say before she looked in his direction.
"Pleeeease?" Hermione said. "It's weird just hearing you read. I think I'd like to know exactly where you are."
"Merlin," Harry sighed. "Even when blind, your doe eyes are still irresistible."
Hermione smiled triumphantly as she moved to allow Harry space to sit on the bed. Harry climbed up and got comfortable as Hermione cuddled into him like he was a gigantic teddy bear.
On and on Harry read to her. He read until it got dark and Madam Pomfrey sent him away. Then, the next morning, Harry would be there bright and early. Because she couldn't see, Harry was given the duty of feeding her breakfast, lunch and dinner.
After meals, Harry would return to the book and continue reading.
"Three rings for the Elven Kings, under the sky;
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men Doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his Throne
In the land of Mordor, where the Shadows lie
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to Bring them all and in the darkness bind them"
On and on Harry read with Hermione burrowed into his side. She received a few visits from Neville, Parvati and Lavender but when they left, Harry stayed. On Sunday afternoon, Professor McGonagall stopped by and she was about to say something when Madam Pomfrey laid a hand on her shoulder. Minerva turned as Poppy put a finger to her lips, a smile gracing her face.
"Frodo woke to find himself lying in bed.," Harry recited the passage to an enraptured Hermione. "At first, he thought that he had slept late, after a long, unpleasant memory that still hovered on the edge of memory."
McGonagall couldn't help but smile at the sight.
"You got your bet in, right Minerva?" Poppy asked, seriously.
"I might have to double it," McGonagall answered. "Never have I seen something so tragically sweet. If only James and Lily were alive to see this."
"Mr. Creevey was here earlier to surreptitiously take a picture of them," Pomfrey said. "I don't often ask for pictures of my patients but this one I will want a copy of."
"I might have to ask the same. Why did you let them stay like this?"
"Maybe I'm going soft as I get older," Pomfrey said before turning serious. "She also needs it. She's so used to being in control of her environment. Right now, that's been upset and she needs as much security as she can get.
"When he leaves, I can see the terror set in. She needs him right now, more than she is willing to admit."
"In the house of Elrond," Harry said in a deep, serene voice not too dissimilar from Dumbledore's. "and it is ten o'clock in the morning. It is the morning of October the twenty-fourth, if you want to know."
"Gandalf!" Harry made his voice raise an octave and a half.
A smile blossomed on Hermione's face and a tear appeared in the corner of her eyes. She tried to blink it away but she couldn't. Suddenly more joined and tears fell freely down her cheeks.
"Hermione!" Harry said, suddenly worried. "Are you okay? Can I get you anything?"
"I am fine, Harry," Hermione said as she wiped her eyes.
"Then why are you crying?" Harry asked, perplexed.
"I am having flashbacks," Hermione said. "My dad used to read me this book whenever I was sick. He'd do different voices and everything. It made me feel safe, like I was escaping to another world."
"I know," Harry smiled down at her. "You told me when on the train ride up when we first met. I thought reading Lord of the Rings might be a nice way to pass the time."
"A very good choice," Hermione wiped fresh tears out of her eyes. "Thank you, Harry."
Harry wrapped his arm around her and brought her in closer. She wrapped her arms around this middle and somehow found a way to snuggle in closer. Without her eyes, she drank in everything with her other senses. She memorized his unique scent: the Eucalyptus of his shampoo, the broom varnish and something she couldn't label as anything but Harry. She felt his chest rise and fall as he breathed and memorized the sound of his voice, the voice that puberty was starting to deepen. While reading, it would crack occasionally.
"Well, it's good to see your eyes are healing," Madam Pomfrey bustled up, startling both kids. "You are producing tears normally. How is your vision?"
"I'm still just seeing white everywhere," Hermione said. "But it's getting darker and I'm starting to see some shapes."
"An impressive recovery," Pomfrey sounded impressed. "You should be cleared to leave by Saturday if this continues on pace. As you were."
Hermione relaxed and snuggled back into Harry when McGonagall spoke up.
"I spoke with Professor Snape," McGonagall said. "I wanted to follow up with you two as well."
"Ironic, considering my current condition," Hermione said. "I didn't see much. I saw Harry's hand move and then he dove in front of me."
"I only saw something heading toward her cauldron," Harry said. "I tried to knock it away but I couldn't react in time. I could not even tell you what it was, to be honest. I was more concerned about protecting Hermione."
"Thank you," McGonagall said. "This matches up with what Professor Snape told me. Draco Malfoy has been given a further four detentions and we made the point deduction an even hundred. That is all immaterial to me; I am just glad that you will recover, Miss Granger."
"Thank you, Professor," Hermione looked in her general direction, at least she hoped so. While she was starting to make out shapes, she couldn't be certain if the shape was her professor or a coat rack.
"That is all," McGonagall gave Harry a rare smile. "Well back to it. You don't want to leave your audience hanging, do you?"
With the approval of their head of house, Harry dug back in and kept reading. It was almost curfew and Harry was determined to finish the first book.
"'Coming Mr. Frodo! Coming!' called Sam and flung himself from the bank, clutching at the departing boat. With a cry and a splash, he fell face downward into deep swift water. Gurgling, he went under and the River closed over his curly head."
Hermione zoned out as Harry kept reading, her eyes growing heavy. As Harry finished the last passage with Frodo and Sam seeking a path over Emyn Muil, down into the Land of Shadow, Hermione fell fast asleep.
Quietly, Harry closed the book and gently lay Hermione down to sleep. He tucked her in and leaned down. For the first time, he returned the favor and kissed Hermione gently on the cheek.
"Sleep well, Hermione," Harry said, placing the book on the bedside table and walked out of the ward.
As she slept, Hermione dreamt of Middle Earth. She pictured herself flying on an eagle, walking across the picturesque landscape and battling the forces of Mordor.
She was on one of the eagles, being flown around the different locations of Middle Earth. She looked down on Minas Tirith and felt scared of the height. That was when a pair of arms wrapped around her. She didn't have to look back to know it was Harry.
"I've got you," he soothed as she relaxed back into him. "You're safe with me."
Hermione didn't have to question it; she knew that to be true.
That morning, Hermione woke with Harry by her side. He wanted to visit before classes started and every night that week, he came and read a little more from the book, crossing through the first book and moving deep into the second yet still he sat there, reading to her.
"At Helm's Gate, before the mouth of the Deep, there was a heel of rock thrust outward by the northern cliff. There upon its spur stood high walls of ancient stone, and within them was a lofty tower."
On and on Harry read, his eyes occasionally flicking to hers to ensure she was still enjoying it. She wasn't being read a story; she was being transported. She was back in her room at home and simultaneously she was watching Aragorn, Theoden and the Rohan army defend the gates of Helm's Deep.
"'Come!' said Aragorn. 'This is the hour when we draw swords together!'" Harry kept on reading.
Soon it was Friday and Hermione opened her eyes. She could see again. Shapes were still a little blurry still but she could easily make them out. With gleeful cheer, she hopped out of bed and ran to the restroom, easily able to return to her morning routine.
"Well it looks like you're feeling better," Madam Pomfrey exited her office. "Sit back on the bed and let me run a few tests."
Like every other test she had ever taken, Hermione passed with flying colors.
"I still want to keep you until Monday evening just to be extra certain but I do not foresee any issues or setbacks."
Hermione was so happy she squealed in joy.
"Guess you don't need me to read to you anymore," a voice said from the doorway. She turned and saw Harry standing there, a huge smile on his face. After not seeing him for a week, she drank in the sight of her best friend. She noticed there was something, sadness maybe, in his eyes that she couldn't quite make out.
"I am glad you are recovering quickly," he said.
"Well…" Hermione said as she picked up the book. "My vision is a little blurry still. Would you mind…"
"Yes I will read to you again today," Harry might have sounded hesitant but his voice could not hide his joy. "But only because you're sick."
For the rest of the day, Harry read to her except this time she got the experience of watching him read. She got to focus on how his facial expressions changed with the characters and could see how he re-enacted the scenes on the page. Her eyes got misty again as she watched her best friend replay one of her favorite books. It was a memory she would cherish for the rest of her life.
The next thing she knew, Harry was closing the book, having finished the Two Towers.
"It's too bad I'm getting released tomorrow," Hermione said. "It would have been nice to finish the trilogy."
"Maybe someday we just might have to do that," Harry nudged her with his elbow. "If you're REALLY good."
The following day, Hermione was released but she would forever remember this week when Harry became more than a best friend. This week, he became a kindred spirit, a friend she could not bear to live without. And hopefully, she thought he'd be more than just a friend one day.
Looking back at the bed she occupied, she turned away morosely and walked out, ready to return to her normal life.
(A/N: This scene is based on one referenced in Lowten's "Best Laid Plans," wherein Harry reads to Hermione which brings them closer and is the catalyst into them becoming a couple. I always loved the idea of that and wanted to explore what that scene might look like.
If you haven't read "Best Laid Plans," I highly suggest it. A fun, endearing and unique fiction that is a joy to read and re-read.)