Harry spent the next three months trunk time training to his limits. Just like Zux had said, Harry stopped getting sick after the first week. Zux was incredibly tough when he wanted to, and he wasn't afraid of hurting Harry if that was the best way to get the lesson across. At this point in his training, Harry was beginning to get that lean build that Zux had promised, and he was finally filling out his favorite black shirt nicely.
Learning basic goblin magic was harder than Harry had originally thought and Zux was once again correct when he said that Harry would be lucky to learn the basics. So far Harry had learned how to summon small objects with a wave of his hand, push an opponent back and he was working on goblin apparition. So far Harry could only apparate a couple of inches, but Zux was thrilled with his progress.
The goblin warrior had warmed up to Harry considerably and had even taken to calling him "newbie". He worked Harry to his limits, but he was always fair. Thanks to his training, Harry was growing stronger by the week.
On the weekends when Zux wasn't training him, Harry would sit in the library and pour over spell books and would practice them in the training room. Zux would help him when Harry practiced his spells by acting as a moving and fighting target, and there would be the occasional event when Harry's spell would actually connect with the goblin.
Having the forest-like pool had been the only thing keeping Harry sane after the first month of training. Apparently it was very easy to get cabin fever when you're surrounded by stone all day and couldn't leave. Harry never missed a chance to thank Dobby for the work he had put into it and the elf would hold his head up high.
Harry personally thought that the elves had gone through an even bigger transformation than he had. Winky had gained some weight and no longer looked like a faint breeze would blow her over. The kitchen had become her space and no one touched anything in there for fear of messing anything up. Winky used the watch Harry had given her and apparated to different elf-friendly markets to shop for food. It would have been weird to ring up the same elf over twenty times within an hour.
Winky had also done an amazing job on the uniforms that she made for her and Dobby. Because Harry didn't want them to look like slaves and neither elf wanted to be accused of being free, Winky had purchased pillow cases, towels, sheets and blankets to make their uniforms. She made a pair of breeches and a shirt for Dobby out of a couple of pillow cases and a blanket and she made him a jacket out of a wool blanket that she had bought. For herself, she made a simple dress out of a sheet and made herself a lot of different pattern aprons. Upon Harry's insistence, they both wore shoes that Zux had magiced to fit them. They were, as Dobby often put it, "The happiest and luckiest elves on earth". The elves even became comfortable having dinner with Harry and Zux. They always declined having lunch with them, saying that they still had work to do. But, the fact that they would have dinner with Harry was a big enough accomplishment for him.
There was one thing that continued to bother Harry during training. He had been in the trunk for three months so his body had matured three months as had Dobby, Winky and Zux. But, his egg had yet to hatch. He was confident that the egg was okay, he would talk to it before bed every night and the egg would respond, but he felt that it should have hatched by then.
"It's possible that your egg is waiting for the other three to hatch," Zux had told him, but that didn't help Harry's dying curiosity of what animal his true familiar was going to be.
Three months into training, Harry was becoming more and more skilled with the samurai sword. He still couldn't overpower Zux, but he was getting better each day. He was also getting better with the bow and daggers. Weapons' training was beginning to get more intense, but it was Harry's favorite part of training.
Harry and Zux were currently working on his aim with a bow. They were in the training room and Zux had conjured up some targets that varied in size and spread them apart. Harry's fingers had calluses, but Harry was glad for them because they meant that his fingers no longer bled onto the bowstring.
Harry drew back and launched the arrow, aiming for the closest target that was about ten feet in front of him. He grunted in frustration when the arrow hit the edge of the target. He fired three more arrows, but none of them were even close to the center.
"You aren't seeing the arrow's path," Zux said from behind him.
"I'm trying," Harry growled.
Zux chuckled and stepped up next to Harry. "You're hitting the target, but not the center. Your draw is perfect and your stance is as well. I can't tell you how to see the arrow's path; you will only get there with practice."
Harry groaned and continued firing arrows at the target. He continued this until Zux told him to stop so they could go over goblin language. With an irritated sigh, Harry collected the arrows and put them in the quiver on his back. He walked over to the wall where they hung all of the weapons that they worked with and placed the bow and quiver in their respective places before he walked over to his normal seat.
Zux had one of the goblin books placed to the side and had a blank piece of parchment with a quill and ink in the center of the table. "You know what to do."
Harry groaned and moved his egg, which sat in his chair whenever he was training. "Lines, why do we always start with lines?"
"Lines are what have helped you learn what you've learned newbie," Zux said with a smirk.
They went over some goblin grammar for an hour when Harry's egg began to vibrate violently.
"Are you hatching?" Harry asked it, alarmed. He dropped the quill he was holding and picked up the egg. "You've never moved like that before."
Zux frowned at the egg. "It's almost as if it's trembling," he muttered.
Harry opened his mouth to ask the egg what was wrong when Dobby 'popped' into the room looking terrified.
"Master Harry," he gasped. "Dobby was checking Master Harry's room for letters when he found this." He pulled out a small piece of paper and handed it to Harry. "Master Harry's owl was in his room screeching and trying to get into the trunk."
With trembling hands, Harry took the paper. In one word, Harry could feel the terror that his best friend was feeling and the danger she was in.
"'Help'," he muttered. He quickly stood up and put the egg back down on the seat. Next he ran over to the weapon's wall and grabbed his samurai sword. "Master my friend is in trouble. I have to help her!"
Zux was already strapping his sword to his belt. "I do not know where she lives; you will have to guide us."
Harry nodded and grabbed Zux's head. His stomach then dropped when he realized that he didn't know where she lived.
"I don't know where she lives," he yelled, furious with himself for not knowing where his best friend lived.
"Calm down," Zux snapped. "You care for her yes?" Harry nodded. "Then you will have to concentrate on her. It will take a higher level of concentration than you are used to, but you need to do it. We are unaware of the situation and she could be dying. Now focus!"
Harry took a deep breath and he closed his eyes. It was like calling forth a memory for a patronus, but he was concentrating solely on Hermione. He pictured her face in his mind. The way her chocolate brown eyes sparkled when she discovered something, the way her brown hair framed her face, the way the corner of her mouth twitched whenever she was annoyed…
While Harry was focusing on Hermione, Zux apparated them to Hermione's house, leaving a nervous Dobby and a trembling egg behind.
They landed roughly in front of an average sized house in a more isolated neighborhood. While Zux quickly scanned the area to make sure that they hadn't been spotted, Harry sprinted towards the house that had the name 'Granger' on its mailbox. Without stopping to knock, Harry opened the door with his alder wand drawn.
The house was dark and quiet. Tentatively, Harry walked down the hall and scanned the downstairs while Zux motioned with his hand that he would take the upstairs. Harry walked into the living room and saw that there were signs of a struggle. The couch was overturned and there were broken pictures and scorch marks on the wall. Harry leaned over the couch and felt his breath catch in his throat when he saw that there lying on the ground was the body of Dan Granger, Hermione's father.
Harry cursed under his breath. He closed Dan Granger's glazed eyes and continued on his search. He made his way to the kitchen and found Crookshanks and Hermione's mom on the floor, dead. Harry felt like he was going to break down right there and then. They were too late and now Hermione and her family were dead.
"Newbie!" Zux's voice came from upstairs.
Harry glanced up alarmed and sprinted upstairs. He looked in every room until he found Zux standing in one of the smaller rooms.
"Are you crazy? There could have been Death Eaters here!" Harry snapped.
Zux didn't respond. His sword was sheathed and he was bent over a small figure. "We need to get her to your hospital now."
Harry let out a faint sound of despair and looked over Zux's shoulder. "Oh Mione'," he cried.
Hermione was lying on the floor of what Harry assumed was her bedroom. There were cuts and burns covering her whole body, but that wasn't the worst of it. Plunged into her side was a six-inch long knife.
Harry knelt down next to her and picked up her cold hand. "Wake up Mione'," he sobbed. "Please wake up."
Hermione suddenly took in a raspy breath and her eyes fluttered open. "H-Harry?"
"Hermione!" Harry cried in relief. "Don't worry; it's going to be okay. We're going to take you to St. Mungos now."
"No," Hermione whispered. "No St. Mungos or Madam Pomfrey," she choked out. "Corrupt."
Harry began rubbing her hand, trying to warm her back up. "What do you mean?"
Hermione stretched her free hand and grabbed a small cloth bundle. She pulled it closer to her and Harry realized that it was the familiar egg that she had gotten. "Death Eaters in hospital," she explained weakly. "And Madam Pomfrey can't be trusted…"
Her eyes began to flutter closed and Harry began to panic. Turning to Zux he begged, "Don't you know any healing? Can't you do anything?"
Zux shook his head and knelt down to pick up Hermione's egg in one hand and her arm in the other. "I am not skilled with healing, but Winky is. Before we started training she told me that she has powerful healing magic for an elf. We have to take her to the trunk. But, you will have to help me apparate her, I apparate the two of you at once."
Harry nodded and held onto Hermione's arm tightly. He gritted his teeth and focused on everything that Zux had taught him about goblin apparition, and felt the familiar sensation of goblin apparition.
They landed roughly in the training room and Hermione let out a cry of pain as the knife in her side was moved. Hearing the noise, Dobby and Winky came running in. Dobby froze in terror when he recognized Hermione and saw her blood beginning to pool around her on the cold stone floor.
"That's Master Harry's, Grangey," Dobby cried.
Winky was the first one to burst into action. She sprinted over to Hermione and began to inspect the wound. "Winky is going to take Master Harry's, Grangey to one of the spare rooms. Winky will be needing clean towels and hot water."
Without waiting to make sure her orders were followed, Winky apparated away, taking Hermione with her. Dobby immediately ran to get what Winky had requested, leaving Harry and Zux in the training room.
Harry was staring at the spot where Hermione had been seconds before. Her blood was slowly spreading and the sight made Harry sick. He quickly turned and emptied his stomach's contents right there on the stone floor. Once he couldn't bring anything else up, he collapsed on his knees and sobbed, adding his tears to the floor.
Zux stood behind him, offering quiet support. He was rubbing Hermione's egg and was glancing anxiously from the egg to the hall where the rooms were.
"Newbie, get up," he said gently.
"It's my fault," Harry sobbed. "They wouldn't have attacked her if they weren't after me."
Zux growled and walked over to where Harry's egg was shaking. He put Hermione's egg down next to it, and Harry's egg immediately shifted so that it was touching Hermione's and began warming it up.
"Newbie," Zux growled. "Stop wallowing in self-pity and go be with your friend."
Harry stared at Zux in shock for a moment before nodding. He wiped his eyes and got rid of the mess on the floor with a wave of his wand. Then he sprinted down the hall and stood outside of the door that was creaked open.
Inside he heard Winky moving around in a hurry and Dobby asking what else he could get, but Harry couldn't bring himself to go in. Instead he sat down on the cold floor right outside the door and tried to stretch out his magic like Zux had taught him. He felt his magic spread out and he sent it through the wall. It quickly found the dimming presence of Hermione's magic, and latched on. Harry didn't know how to channel his magic into another body yet, but right then Harry hoped that just feeling Harry's presence would be enough to comfort Hermione and help her hang on.
He didn't know how long he sat there until someone gently shook his arm. He opened his eyes and found himself staring into Winky's large, tired eyes.
"Is she okay?" he croaked.
Winky yawned and swayed on her feet a little. "Miss Grangey has lost a lot of blood and Winky does not have any blood replenishing potion. The knife is out and Winky repaired most of the damage, but could not heal all of it. Winky cleaned out all of Miss Grangey's cuts and put some medicine on the burns. Winky thinks Miss Grangey will take a long time to recover, but will be okay."
Harry couldn't stop himself from pulling Winky into a hug and crying into her dress. "Thank you so much Winky. I don't know what we would have done if you weren't so good at healing magic."
Winky smiled and patted Harry on the back. "Winky is going to send Dobby to buy some potions because Winky does not know how to make them. Master Harry can go and sit by Miss Grangey if he wants. Winky changed Miss Grangey out of her bloody clothes and gave her one of Master Harry's shirts."
Harry nodded and stood up on shaky legs. "You're amazing Winky, why don't you go sleep, you can barely stand."
"Winky is sleepy," she admitted. "But Master Harry needs to send for Winky if Miss Grangey wakes up or gets worse."
Harry agreed and entered the room. Hermione was fast asleep on the edge of the queen sized bed and Harry saw a stool next to the bed that Winky had stood on to treat her. Her chest was rising and falling with regular breathing patterns, but each breath sounded too shallow for Harry's comfort. He pulled up a chair and began rubbing Hermione's hand again. Her normally tan skin was very pale and was still cold to the touch.
He sat there in silence for what felt like an hour when Zux came in carrying the two eggs. Without a word, he climbed on the other side of the bed and tucked Hermione's egg under her arm and put Harry's egg next to it. He then jumped off of the bed and walked around to give his student a comforting pat on the back before leaving the room.
Dobby came by a little while later with three vials of potion for Hermione and a sandwich with pumpkin juice for Harry.
"Winky is still sleeping and Dobby is not a very good cook," he said. "Miss Grangey needs to take all three of these potions when she wakes up. One is a blood replenishing, one is a hydrating and the other is for pain."
"Thank you Dobby," Harry said quietly.
Dobby placed the tray on the nightstand and left with a bow.
Harry stared at Hermione intently for another hour as if he was afraid that she would vanish if he looked away. He nearly cried out in surprise when Hermione began mumbling under her breath.
"Hermione? Are you awake?"
Hermione mumbled again and moved her head towards Harry. Her eyes fluttered open and she gave Harry a weak smile. "Hi," she said in a tiny voice.
Harry laughed in relief and squeezed her hand. "Hi yourself. How are you feeling?"
Hermione's smile vanished and tears began spilling out of her eyes. "They wanted us to be found weeks later, that's why they didn't send up the Dark Mark. There were four of them; I didn't even have my wand on me. I was coming downstairs when they came in. Two of them went after my parents while the other two came after me. I ran to my room and locked the door. Then I wrote that note to Hedwig and sent her to get you."
She was sobbing now and Harry kept whispering comforting words to her.
"As soon as Hedwig was gone they burst through my door. They used the Cruciatus on me, and one of them talked about raping me, but the other one said that I was too filthy for that. That was when one of them saw the familiar egg on my bed." Hermione anxiously looked for her egg and relaxed when she saw it in her arm. "They didn't know what it was, but they saw that I cared for it so they dropped it on the ground. Is it okay?"
"It's hurt, but that's because you're hurt," Harry assured her. "As long as you're safe and healthy, nothing can break that shell."
Hermione nodded and sank further into her pillow. "After they dropped the egg one of them pulled out a knife. They told me that I was going to die slowly and alone. T-they stabbed me and left the knife in me. I started to black out from the pain when I heard the other two come upstairs and say that the muggles were dead. Are my parents dead Harry?"
Harry squeezed Hermione's hand again. "They are. I'm so sorry Hermione."
Hermione let out another sob and clutched onto Harry's arm for dear life. "One of them didn't want to leave me alive, they were afraid that I would be found and taken to St. Mungos. Then another one said that they had ways to kill a mudblood at the hospital. I don't remember anything else…"
"That's okay," Harry assured her quickly. He wiped Hermione's tears away and gently traced one of her cuts with her finger. "I need to go get Winky; she's the one who saved you."
"Winky? What's she doing here? And where am I exactly?" Hermione asked in confusion.
Harry smiled and stood up. "I've got a lot to tell you, but that can wait till you're stronger."
Winky woke up right away when Harry told her that Hermione was awake. She came to the room at a run and told Harry to wait outside while she checked on Hermione. She inspected Hermione's stab wound and changed the bandages while Harry waited right outside the door.
"Thank you for saving me Winky," Hermione whispered when Winky finished her inspection.
Winky smiled at Hermione and helped her move up slightly so she could swallow easier. "Even if Miss Grangey was not Master Harry's friend, Winky would remember how kind she was after Winky was given clothes."
Hermione smiled and drank the blood replenishing potion with a groan of disgust. "Are you Harry's house elf now?"
"Dobby is Master Harry's house elf too. Master Harry is very kind and Winky is happier with him then she was with Master Crouch."
"I'm glad," Hermione yawned while she took the last two potions. Her eyelids began to droop and before she fell asleep she was aware of Harry coming back into the room and taking her hand in his.
Winky took the tray and smiled when she saw how concerned Harry was for Hermione. Without a word, she slipped out of the room leaving the two friends alone.
"How is the girl?" Zux asked from behind her, nearly making Winky drop the tray. Zux was leaning against the wall next to the door and was looking at the door in concern.
"Miss Grangey is very hurt, but she will get better. Winky wishes that she could get a real healer in here though just to check to make sure that Winky didn't miss anything."
Zux turned away from the door and looked at Winky. "I can go get one of the Gringotts healers. They are sworn to Gringotts and will not be able to reveal anything about a client of two Ancient Houses. I'll go get one of the healers, but I'm sure that you got the worst of it."
Winky blushed slightly and nodded. "Thank you Master Zux. Winky will tell Master Harry what you're doing. Will the Gringotts healer need anything?"
"I don't know, but I'll be back shortly." With that Zux apparated away.
"Master Harry?" Winky called softly while poking her head in the room.
Harry tilted his head slightly to show he had heard, but he didn't take his eyes off of Hermione. "What is it Winky?"
"Winky wanted to tell Master Harry that Master Zux went to get a goblin healer to just give Miss Grangey a look over."
"Is something wrong?" Harry asked alarmed, turning to face Winky.
"Winky has strong healing magic, but Winky is not a healer. Master Zux agreed with Winky that a healer should check on Miss Grangey to make sure that Winky didn't miss anything."
Harry stiffened uncomfortably. He didn't like the idea of a stranger coming into his home. The trunk had become Harry's safe haven and he didn't want anyone who could corrupt the peace to set foot in the apartment.
"Miss Grangey needs a real healer," Winky said softly. "Miss Grangey is already getting better, but wouldn't Master Harry want to make sure that everything is okay?"
"Yeah I would," Harry sighed. "Would you show the Gringotts healer in when he arrives?"
Winky nodded and left the room.
"We're getting a certified healer to give you a look over," he told the sleeping Hermione. "Maybe we should've taken you to Gringotts right away, but then the Death Eaters might've found out that you were still alive."
Harry talked to Hermione soothingly for almost three hours. He was just getting into talking about his training when there was a light knock on the door. Harry turned around and was surprised to see a goblin walking in the room. The goblin was dressed in a simple suit and was carrying a large bag. He walked right up to the side of the bed and practically pushed Harry out of the way so he could stand on the stool.
"Lord Potter-Black I must ask you to leave," the no-nonsense goblin said while he checked Hermione's pulse.
Harry felt his face grow hot. "I'm not leaving Hermione with you when she isn't aware of what's going on. Let me wake her up and let you know what you're doing, and then I'll give you some privacy."
The goblin nodded reluctantly and stepped aside to let Harry through.
"Hermione," Harry said gently while he shook her slightly. "Come on Mione', wake up."
Hermione whimpered slightly and turned her head towards Harry. Her eyes fluttered open weakly and she smiled slightly when she looked into Harry's emerald eyes. "What is it?"
Harry unconsciously began smoothing her bouncy, brown curls. "We have a goblin healer here to give you a thorough check over, just to make sure that Winky didn't miss anything. I'll be right outside the door while you're being looked over."
Hermione looked at the goblin who was glaring at her and turned back to Harry uneasily.
"I'm right outside the door," Harry repeated. "You're safe now."
Hermione nodded and Harry stepped back to let the healer look her over. He paused at the door and gave Hermione a reassuring smile before he walked out.
Zux was standing outside of the door when Harry stepped into the hall. He was staring at the door intently and only seemed to notice Harry walking out of the door until he knelt right in front of him.
"Master is something wrong?" Harry asked tiredly.
Zux sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "Ngek Sickdread is Gringotts' finest healer, and a big pain in my arse."
Harry let out a slight chuckle at his Master's crude language. "Why don't you like him Master?"
"He always struts his position around. You would think that he is the sole reason that goblins aren't yet extinct the way he goes on. I try to avoid injury in battle mainly to avoid him."
Harry laughed and leaned against the wall next to Zux. "Why did you bring him if you can't stand him?"
Zux coughed and looked away from the door. "If that girl in there is a true friend to you, I would hate for you to lose her. I brought you the best because I can tell that losing her would destroy you."
"Thank you Master," Harry said, touched.
"Besides," Zux chuckled. "I suppose that I had to see my brother again eventually. I haven't seen him in almost five years."
"He's your brother?" Harry asked, surprised. "Wow, one of you is Ragnok's finest warrior and the other is Ragnok's finest healer. You're quite a pair."
Zux growled and rolled his eyes. "I still don't like him. But your friend is in good hands. I will let you out of training tomorrow so you can spend the day with your friend. But, I expect you ready by 7 the day after. We only have four months left and there's still much to do."
Harry smiled and bowed. "Thank you so much Master."
Zux smirked and began walking towards the training room. "Send my dear brother to me after he is done, I will wish to hear what we will need to do to treat your friend. I hardly want to send for him every day."
"I'll do that Master," Harry chuckled.
He leaned against the wall for almost half an hour. Every now and then he heard Hermione yelp in pain, making Harry nearly burst through the door. Finally, the door opened and Zux's brother came out with his bag and a scowl on his face.
"The girl will live, but will take time to recover," he said bluntly. "Between the knife wound, the damage done by the Cruciatus and some traces from another violent curse, she's very lucky to be alive. Was she cursed before this attack?"
Harry flinched and nodded. "I don't know what curse it was. It was purple and it ended up breaking most of her ribs and it nearly killed her. Is she still suffering from it?"
"Her ribs are still bruised and cannot be healed with magic. Other than that the curse is no longer bothering her. I will not need to check up on her, your house elf performed some adequate healing. It was a sloppy job, but I managed to clean it up."
Harry was liking Ngek less and less. "Winky saved her life," he growled.
Ngek sneered and began walking towards the training room. "Your friend will be fine in a few weeks, so long as she remains in bed and doesn't overexert her magic. I'll leave the necessary potions with your elf. By the way," he said turning back to face Harry. "Have you ever thought of getting your eyes repaired? I never thought that glasses were practical on the battlefield."
Harry's eyes widened in surprise at the change of topic. "Yeah, I would love to not have to wear glasses anymore, but surely healers can't fix eyes otherwise no wizards would need glasses."
"Wizard healers cannot heal eyes," Ngek clarified. "Goblin healers on the other hand are capable of fixing another's eyesight. If you'd like I could offer this procedure to you. It's surprisingly simple and quick."
Harry was about to respond when Zux came storming up to Ngek, eyes blazing. "How dare you offer my pupil a procedure that will make him incapable of training for days? You know as well as I do that you must first run this by me!"
Ngek didn't cower under his brother's fury. "I thought that you would want to give your pupil every advantage he could get," he sneered.
"The best advantage that I could give him would for him to finish training," Zux roared.
The two goblins were glaring daggers at each other when Harry tentatively intervened. "What if Healer Ngek did the procedure on a weekend when we don't train?" he asked Zux. "If he did it after lessons on Friday, that would give me two days to recover. Will that be enough time?" he asked Ngek.
Ngek nodded and smugly looked at his brother. "Two days to recover would be perfect. Now, send your elf to me after you've finished training on Friday and I will come to do the procedure."
"Friday in the trunk will be like a minute to you," Harry warned.
Ngek shrugged. "Then I'll be done that much faster. Now where is your healing elf," he said 'healing' sarcastically and Harry nearly kicked him. "I will give the potions necessary for your friend's recovery."
After Ngek had given the necessary potions to Winky and explained their purposes and doses, Zux gladly apparated him back to Gringotts. As soon as they were gone, Harry headed back to Hermione's room.
She was still awake, but her skin was pale again and her eyes were red from crying. As soon as she saw Harry enter the room she smiled and tried to sit up.
"Don't you dare," Harry warned as he sprinted to the bed and firmly pressed down. "You have a stab wound and bruised ribs, not exactly the condition you want to be moving in."
"Thank you for doing all of this," Hermione sniffed.
Harry smiled and took her hand in his again. "I wasn't going to let you die Mione'. Is there anything that I can get you? Master gave me tomorrow off to be with you."
"Good, you'll be using that time to explain to me what the hell is going on. But..." she stopped, hesitant.
"What is it Hermione?" Harry pressed.
Hermione took in a shuddering breath and brushed a tear away from her eyes. "I need to take care of the funeral arrangements for my parents. There's so much to do, I've got to worry about the house, their practice and I don't know how to do it all."
Harry squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Would you like me to ask the goblins to take care of the house? They could do whatever you need done with it and your parent's practice. If you sell them both the goblins could put the money in your vault or whatever."
Hermione nodded and stifled another sob. "I can't believe they're gone," she whispered.
"I'm so sorry," Harry whispered back.
That night, Hermione Granger sobbed and clutched onto Harry while she considered her new life as an orphan, and what she would do to make sure that the bastards who killed her parents would pay.
chapter 6
She was in pain. That was the first thing that Hermione was aware of while she slowly woke up. She remembered being taken to the trunk and treated by a goblin called Ngek, but everything became a bit vague after that. Slowly, she opened her eyes and scanned the dark room tiredly. She felt someone tighten their grip on her hand and she felt panic begin to fill her whole body.
Let go of me, she screamed in her head. Let go of me!
Harry felt the abrupt change in Hermione's heart rate and woke up instantly. "Hermione, Hermione its okay," he tried to soothe her.
Hermione was looking at Harry wildly and didn't seem to recognize him. She tried to wrench her arm free of Harry's grasp and tried to roll away, but cried out in pain when her abdominal muscles stretched painfully.
"Hermione it's me, Harry!" Harry yelled.
The door opened and Zux ran in. He frowned when he saw Hermione thrashing on the bed. "Let go of her Newbie, you're frightening her!"
Harry instantly let go of Hermione's arm and she instantly relaxed and grabbed her egg and began sobbing.
"Hermione," Harry whispered gently. "You're safe now; I won't let anyone hurt you again."
Hermione began to calm down. She cried onto her egg for another minute before she timidly opened her eyes.
"Please don't hurt me," she said in a small voice.
Harry felt his heart drop at the tone of her voice. Slowly, he walked around the bed and crawled on it towards Hermione. Hermione flinched when he started to come towards her, but her egg kept her calm by steadily warming up. Harry moved his egg and gently pulled Hermione into an embrace.
Zux gave Harry a knowing smile before leaving the room and closing the door behind him.
"Do you remember where you are Hermione? You're in my trunk, you were attacked and I brought you here. Do you remember?"
Hermione began to relax and felt her heart slow down. "H-Harry? I'm sorry, I thought you were them."
Harry shook his head and began running his fingers through her hair again. "You have nothing to apologize for. You were attacked and you're scared, it's understandable."
Hermione began to tremble violently and she felt her heart begin to accelerate again. "They didn't rape me, but they touched me…I can still feel them."
Harry felt his blood boil and he had to restrain himself from leaping out of the bed to hunt down the sick bastards who did this to his best friend. "They will never touch you again," he growled. "I'll kill them if we ever find out who did this."
Hermione nodded and tried to calm her heart down. "I'm sorry that I'm so weak."
"You are not weak," Harry insisted angrily, causing Hermione to flinch. "I'm sorry," he said in a gentler tone. "You're one of the strongest people I know."
"I wasn't strong enough to save my family," Hermione said bitterly.
Harry felt his stomach clench when he remembered that he had thought the same thing not that long ago. "If you continue to think that it'll eat you up inside."
Hermione bit her lip and sighed. "I want to start working on their funeral arrangements. I can't stand thinking of them decomposing in the house."
"When you're stronger," Harry assured her.
"No," Hermione said firmly. "You don't get it, I can't focus on recovering until I say goodbye to them. Please Harry," she begged. "Let me say goodbye to them."
Harry hesitated for a moment before he sighed and nodded. "I'll have Dobby take you to Gringotts tomorrow. You can ask for Director Ragnok and tell him in private that Lord Potter-Black sent you."
"So I was right," Hermione said a little smugly. "You did claim the title of Lord. I figured that Sirius would give it to you and you would inherit the Potter title along with it."
"You have a lot of things to explain as well," Harry teased her. He wiped a stray tear away from her cheek. "Do you want me to go with you tomorrow? I could deactivate the time compression rune so that time won't fly by in the trunk."
Hermione immediately shook her head. "I've studied runes Harry, if you deactivate it, it will take time to recharge. And you can't miss whatever it is you're doing. I'll be okay."
Harry seemed to hesitate before nodding. "How long do you think you'll be gone?" Harry asked anxiously.
"I really don't want to be there long. I'll try my best to be back within the day."
Harry felt his stomach twinge again. "That means that I possibly won't see you for weeks. One day outside of the trunk is the equivalent to a month inside."
Hermione looked up at Harry with wide eyes. "Do you want me to wait?" she asked painfully.
Harry immediately shook his head. "I was just being selfish. The important thing is that you give your parents a proper burial. Will you come back here when everything is done?"
Hermione nodded and gave Harry a sad smile. "I won't have anywhere else to go."
"You'll live here," Harry said right away. "This will be your room. Dobby can pack up your stuff in your room and bring it here."
Hermione took in a shuddering breath. "I just can't believe that I'll never see them again…"
Harry didn't say anything. There was nothing that he could say. He sat there for the rest of the night holding Hermione while she cried. The next day was going to be hard on Hermione, and Harry couldn't be there for her. He just hoped that she was strong enough to take it.
Harry woke up at six out of habit. He was about to leap out of bed to get ready when he suddenly remembered where he was. Hermione had fallen asleep on his chest and his arms were still wrapped around her protectively. He didn't want to wake her, she needed all of the rest she could get, but he also knew that there was a small window of opportunity to get her to Gringotts.
"Winky," he whispered so he wouldn't wake Hermione.
Winky immediately popped into the room and bowed. "What can Winky get Master Harry? Miss Grangey needs to take her potions when she wakes up, but Master Ngek told Winky to let Miss Grangey sleep."
"I need to know what time it is outside the trunk. Hermione wants to go to Gringotts to make arrangements, and she doesn't want to wait any longer than she has to."
Winky looked at the watch on her wrist. "It is 1 in the afternoon Master Harry. If Master Harry wakes Miss Grangey up now, Winky can get Miss Grangey's potions and make breakfast."
Harry nodded and Winky ran out of the room to make breakfast. "Hermione," he said gently. "You need to wake up."
Hermione moaned and opened her eyes. She panicked for a moment before she remembered where she was and calmed down. "What is it?"
"It's 1 in the afternoon outside of the trunk, if you want to talk to Ragnok today, you'll have to go now."
Hermione suddenly felt very scared. Outside of the trunk was where the Death Eaters who hurt her were. Outside of the trunk Harry couldn't protect her. Outside of the trunk everything would become real.
Harry sensed her fear and gave her a small hug. "You don't have to go," he said.
Hermione shook her head stubbornly and tried to move without causing herself too much pain. "I do have to go," she said through gritted teeth.
Harry instantly sensed she was in pain and tried to get her to lie back down. "How are you going to do all of that when you can barely move?"
Hermione bit her lip and looked around. She rested her eyes on a leather armchair that was tucked away in the corner. "I'll make a wheelchair. Did you bring my wand when you took me here?"
"Sorry I was a little more concerned with the knife in your gut," Harry said sarcastically. He got out of bed and walked over to the chair. With a flick of his alder wand, the legs transformed into wheels. "Will this be okay?"
"Harry that was skilled Transfiguration," Hermione said, surprised. "When did you learn that?"
Harry shrugged. "I've been training in here for three months Mione'. And not just goblin training."
After Hermione had breakfast and took her potions, Winky helped her clean up and dressed Hermione in some of Harry's clothes. After Hermione stopped grumbling about wearing a pair of loose jeans and a shirt that fit her like a tent, Winky helped Hermione sit in the 'wheelchair'. Hermione only cried out in pain twice while getting ready, but she wasn't going to let pain stop her from doing what she had to do.
Before Dobby took Hermione to Gringotts, Harry put Hermione's egg in his egg pouch and gave it to her. "If you leave it here it will go weeks without seeing you," he said. Harry gave Hermione another hug and Dobby apparated the two of them away.
As soon as they were gone Harry began to feel alone again. He sighed and walked out of the room towards the pool where Zux liked to spend his morning meditation. His assumptions were right on the dime. Sitting underneath the waterfall on a stone that Dobby had conjured for him, was Zux in deep meditation. The goblin was only wearing his breeches, showing his toned chest that was covered with scars.
"Good morning Master," Harry said as he bowed.
Zux immediately opened one eye and he smirked. "What are you doing here Newbie? I told you to spend today with your friend."
Harry smiled sadly. "She went to Gringotts to take care of everything. I wanted her to wait, but she said that she couldn't rest until everything was done."
"And you didn't go with her," Zux said bluntly.
"I need to finish training with you," Harry said somewhat guiltily. "Hermione wants to get strong too, and I can't help her unless I'm strong myself. Do you think that I'm heartless? I've pretty much just sent her to bury her parents by herself."
Zux jumped to the bank and began drying himself off with the towel that he had brought. "We are at war," he said carefully. "And you need to be strong for it. I do not think you are heartless Newbie, but I'm hardly a good judge. All you can do is be there for her when she returns."
Harry thought about it for a moment before nodding. "Do you think we could train today? I know that you gave me today off, but I want to keep busy."
"If you want Newbie," Zux smirked. He began walking out of the pool room. "Training room by 7," he called over his shoulder.
"Yes Master," Harry said with a bow. He ran to his room to change. At this point he would do anything to get his mind off of Hermione. But, the entire day through training he could only think of how rightit felt to have her sleep in his arms.
Hermione sat anxiously in her transfigured wheelchair. Dobby had apparated her right into an empty conference room, and she was now waiting for Ragnok to show up. The eager house elf stood in the corner of the room, unsure of whether or not he was welcome in there.
"Dobby please sit with me," Hermione begged. "I could use the company."
Dobby seemed unsure for a minute before he came over running. He stood next to Hermione's chair and stood proudly with his hands clasped behind his back.
Hermione flinched as she shifted in her seat. Even though the stab wound had been healed almost completely, she was still fragile and she hated it.
"Is Miss Grangey in pain?" Dobby asked in concern. "Dobby can go find Master Ngek if Miss Grangey needs it."
"I'm okay Dobby," Hermione assured him. "I'm just sore. There's no need to get Ngek."
Dobby opened his mouth to say something, when the large doors opened up behind them. Ragnok strolled in the room confidently with an armful of papers and sat in his chair behind the desk. His eyes darted to the pouch on her side and he smiled.
"Greetings Miss Granger," Ragnok said politely. "Your house elf told me that you were sent here by Lord Potter-Black, and judging by that pouch hanging by your side I'd say that you received one of the familiar eggs."
"Yes Director," Hermione said quietly. "I'm here because I need to take care of everything for my parents. They're…"
Director Ragnok looked at Hermione sympathetically. "Dobby informed me of the situation Miss Granger. I have already sent a goblin team over to your house to recover your parents' bodies and a team to appraise the value of your house and your parents' practice. Are you sure that you want to take care of everything so suddenly? There's nothing wrong with taking some time."
Hermione clenched her fists. "I don't have time to waste," she muttered. "I'm going to train and make those bastards who did this pay. I won't be able to focus on training if I know that these things aren't taken care of."
"But you're talking about selling everything that your parents worked for," Ragnok objected gently. "I don't want you to regret this decision later."
"Don't you understand?" Hermione cried. "I don't want to be reminded of how I failed them! I won't ever be able to live in the house where they were killed, I won't have anything to gain from their practice and I just want them to find peace. They were killed because of me! The least I owe them is to make sure that they have the quiet funeral that they would have wanted! They wouldn't have wanted me to stretch this process out. They would have wanted me to take care of myself first." Hermione began sobbing and Dobby patted her leg sympathetically.
Ragnok looked at her with unreadable eyes. Finally he sighed and began pulling papers out of the pile. "Because you are a friend of Lord Potter-Black, I can offer you Gringotts' complete attention on this case."
Hermione looked alarmed for a second. "This must stay quiet," she insisted.
"Why Miss Granger? Surely people will want to come to your parents' funeral. Why the secrecy?"
Hermione sighed and began rubbing her side. "If Dumbledore finds out that I'm an orphan, he'll try to manipulate me and he'll take me away from Harry. Can you keep everything quiet and let people know last notice about the funeral?"
Ragnok considered this for a moment before nodding. "I'll see it done. You will see that goblins work rather quickly for clients such as Lord Potter-Black. I can have the paperwork done within the hour and I can have a goblin team pack up your belongings. I shall have your belongings sent to your vault so that you can go through them at any time. The money that you receive for your house and your parents' practice shall also be exchanged into wizard currency and put in the vault."
Dobby cleared his throat politely. "Dobby has been told to collect Miss Grangey's belongings from her room. If Master Ragnok and Miss Grangey will be talking for a while, Dobby can take care of that now."
Ragnok nodded and Dobby apparated away after giving Hermione his assurance that he would be right back.
Hermione spent the next half hour going over paperwork and last minute funeral arrangements. She had been surprised when Ragnok told her that the funeral could be done within a matter of hours, and she began to ramble about how there was just too much to get done.
"We're magical Miss Granger," Ragnok said while he added his own signature to some of the forms. "At this moment I have goblins sending out letters to everyone that your parents were close with. The muggles who receive the letters will be confounded to believe that they've known about the funeral for days the second that the letter is read. And once the letter is read it will disappear and the muggles will not know the wiser. I also have a goblin taking care of the muggle records. They are putting down that your parents died in a car accident."
Hermione took in a shuddering breath and nodded. "You guys do work fast. I can't thank you enough for the attention that you're putting into this."
Ragnok smiled and began sorting the paperwork into their respective folders. "You are Harry's friend; therefore I will give you my attention. But, I am truly sorry for your loss. No child should be doing what you're doing at your age."
"Thanks," Hermione whispered.
Dobby apparated back a moment later looking a little tired, but rather pleased. "Dobby has collected Miss Grangey's things and taken them to her room in Master Harry's trunk. Master Harry has also requested that Miss Grangey receive a second wand and has provided the money needed for it."
"Why would I need a second wand?" Hermione asked, confused.
"A wand that isn't registered with the ministry and doesn't have the Trace is very useful for underage magic," Ragnok chuckled.
Hermione frowned. "So they're illegal."
"They are. But they are powerful. I can have a goblin take you there right now if you wish; there are two hours until the funeral."
"Okay, I'll get one. But I want to pay for it; I don't want to take advantage of Harry's gold."
Dobby smiled slightly and shook his head. "Master Harry said that Miss Grangey would say that, so Master Harry told Dobby to say that if Miss Grangey refuses his offer he will be forced to deny Miss Grangey access from the library."
Hermione's dull eyes got a spark back. "Harry has a library? How big is it? How many books?"
"Dobby believes that Master Harry said that the collection is twice the size of the one that Hogwarts has."
Hermione was sold. "Okay, I'll get the wand." She turned back to Ragnok and gave him a sad smile. "Is there anything else that we need to do?"
Ragnok shook his head and collected the folders. "I'm afraid that the only thing that you need to do is attend your parents' funeral. I'll have a goblin stay with you and take you to the funeral site in the graveyard that you specified. I'm sorry that we couldn't meet on happier terms Miss Granger."
Ragnok walked around the desk and shook Hermione's hand. Hermione was crying softly and she nodded stiffly. Without another word, Ragnok left Hermione and Dobby. They weren't alone long, about five seconds later a younger goblin came in and scowled slightly at them.
"Greetings," he said coolly. "I am to be your goblin guide for the next two hours. Director Ragnok instructed me to take you to the wand maker. Are you ready now?"
"We are," Hermione said in an equally cool tone.
The goblin nodded and put one hand on the wheelchair armrest and grabbed Dobby with the other. They apparated to a dark alley and Hermione instantly felt intimidated by her surroundings.
"Where are we?" she asked fearfully.
"Knockturn Alley, where else would you expect to purchase an illegal wand?" the goblin snapped rudely while he walked in the store that they were standing outside of.
Dobby began to push Hermione into the store. "Would Miss Grangey like Dobby to remind this goblin whose friend you are?"
Hermione chuckled and shook her head. "Its fine Dobby, I just want to get through this day."
Dobby nodded sadly and pushed Hermione up to the desk where the same old wizard who made Harry's wand was sitting polishing a gem.
"You are Harry Potter's friend, yes?" he asked abruptly, barely sparing her a glance.
Hermione shifted uncomfortably. "Y-yes, I am. I was told that you could make me a more powerful wand."
Eric smiled and immediately went into the back room to collect the necessary materials. He came back and briefly explained the process. Hermione ended up being chosen by a piece of ash wood which was good for intelligence and curiosity. Hermione wasn't surprised by the choice. Her core however did surprise her. She was chosen by a Hippocampus hair. A Hippocampus is a water horse, and their hairs were incredibly rare and powerful for wand cores. The Hippocampus hair proved that Hermione was a very emotional person who felt strongly for others.
"A good core for healers," Eric told her.
When it came to the gemstone, Eric recommended that Hermione get a ruby. Rubies not only helped with intelligence, they also helped the wielder obtain some peace of mind. Hermione didn't need to ask to know that Eric knew about the attack and how her parents were dead.
Eric went into the back and came back in ten minutes with Hermione's new wand. Hermione let out a startled yelp when she felt the rush of power when she cast a spell with her wand, but she also felt comforted by it. The wand felt like it was capable of doing both great damage to those who wished to harm her, and great good to those who Hermione wished to save.
"It's beautiful," Hermione whispered.
"You and Mister Potter are unique," Eric chuckled. "I have never used the cores that reside in your two wands before. You will never be displeased with it."
Eric got Hermione a wand holster like the one that Harry had. Hermione thanked him and paid him for the wand and said goodbye while Dobby pushed her out of the store with the grumpy goblin in tow.
"Where do you want to go now," the goblin asked rudely. "You still have over an hour until the funeral."
Hermione scowled at the goblin and attached her wand holster to the jeans she was wearing. "I don't know…I don't want to go to my house yet and I don't want to spend the next hour in the cemetery."
Dobby sensed that Hermione was about to cry again and ran in front of her and gripped her hands comfortingly. "What if Dobby and goblin guide took Miss Grangey to the bookstore? Master Harry told Dobby that Miss Grangey likes books."
Hermione gave a small smile and nodded. "That would be nice."
The goblin scoffed and apparated them to Flourish and Botts. He scowled in the corner while Dobby pushed Hermione through the bookshelves, grabbing a book for her every now and then. Hermione had a small sad smile on her face, and all things considered she was keeping herself together pretty well.
They were in the bookstore for almost an hour. Hermione had managed to avoid the manager and any questions about why she was in a wheelchair by reading in the corner. She was just finishing with a book on Occlumency when she saw a flash of red out of the corner of her eye. Her heart dropped when she saw Ron and Ginny Weasley walking into the store. They didn't see her yet, but Hermione couldn't get out of there by herself and it wouldn't take long until they saw her.
"Dobby," she whispered intensely.
Dobby immediately came running up to her. "Is Miss Grangey okay?"
Hermione shook her head. "Ron and Ginny are here. If they see me they'll know something happened and they'll tell Dumbledore. Dumbledore will take me away from Harry!"
Dobby scowled. "No one will take Master Harry's, Grangey away. Goblin guide," he called. The goblin came running over. "Take Dobby and Miss Grangey to the funeral now," he ordered.
The goblin glared at Dobby not liking being ordered around by an elf. But, he didn't say anything as he apparated them away. Just as they popped away Ginny turned towards their direction and could've sworn that she saw Hermione's unmistakable mane of hair.
They landed just outside of the cemetery where Hermione's parents were being buried. Hermione clutched something and looked down alarmed to find that she had stolen the book on Occlumency that she had been reading.
"Oh no," she cried. "Dobby I took the book with me! We have to go back to the store and explain to the manager. I can't believe that I stole a book!"
Dobby smiled and put his hand on her knee reassuringly. "Don't worry Miss Grangey. Dobby paid for the book before goblin guide took us away. Miss Grangey seemed to like the book so much that Dobby thought that she would like it. Master Harry asked Dobby to take care of Miss Grangey and try to make her happy."
Hermione smiled at Harry's thoughtfulness and clutched the book tighter. "Thank you Dobby. I guess all there's left to do is bury my parents."
Dobby nodded sadly and pushed Hermione after the goblin towards the location of where the funeral was to take place.
Harry fired an arrow to a target that was over twenty feet away. He felt a grim satisfaction when the arrow landed dead center, but it wasn't too surprising. It had been over a week since Hermione had left, and Harry couldn't help but feel anxious. Dobby had apparated to the trunk a few days ago and put Hermione's stuff away, and hadn't stayed long enough for Harry to ask how she was doing. But he did get a chance to tell Dobby to take care of her and to have Ragnok take her to Eric to get an illegal wand.
Harry shot every arrow in his quiver without even realizing it. He sighed and went to collect all of the arrows he had shot.
Zux watched Harry train with a knowing look on his face. Ever since Hermione had left, Harry had been distracted. Even though Harry was still excelling at training, there was still that look in his eye that told Zux that his mind wasn't all there.
"You're quite a shot Newbie," Zux said, pleased. "You've come a long way."
"Thanks Master," Harry said distractedly.
They went on to continue weapons training when they heard a 'pop' down the hall followed by sobbing. Harry immediately dropped the bow and quiver, grabbed his egg and ran down the hall.
"Hermione!" he called worriedly.
Without knocking, he burst through the door to Hermione's room. Dobby had helped her into bed and she was clutching her egg for dear life while she sobbed.
Harry was instantly by her side. He gave Dobby a grateful nod and pulled Hermione into a hug.
"It's okay Mione'," he whispered.
Hermione shook her head and grabbed Harry's sweaty shirt. "They're underground Harry," she sobbed. "They're not fine."
"It feels completely overwhelming now, but I promise it gets easier. You just have to let it."
He consoled Hermione for a while before he heard her stomach growl. Chuckling, he pulled back. "Winky is out getting some things for you. I'll have Dobby make you something to eat."
Hermione immediately shook her head and scowled at Harry. "Dobby is exhausted. Let him rest, I'll live without food for a while."
Harry scowled lightly in return. "Hermione you're still recovering from a stab wound. You need to eat to regain your strength. I'll make you something."
Before Hermione could complain, he put his egg in her lap and ran to the kitchen. He made her a quick sandwich and rummaged through the cupboards for something else he could give her.
He was pulling out a bag of rice cakes when he heard her scream.
"Harry!"
Harry immediately dropped the plate he was carrying and sprinted to Hermione's room. He passed Zux along the way who was laughing softly much to Harry's irritation. He burst into Hermione's room for the second time that day.
"Are you okay?" he asked urgently while he ran up to her bed.
Hermione was staring at her lap looking perplexed and excited. She handed Harry his egg before holding her own in front of her face.
"Our familiar eggs are hatching!"
Harry looked down at his egg, stunned. "How can you be sure?"
Hermione gave a little 'tut' of annoyance and pointed to her egg's shell. The egg was shaking on occasion and seemed to have something poking out of it. "I don't know why mine is hatching with yours; I figured that my familiar would need to recover with me first."
"Maybe it knew that you needed company," Harry offered.
The two friends watched their eggs continue to shake and poke at the shell. Harry was beginning to feel his curiosity begin to overflow again and was about to open the egg himself when his familiar finally broke through the shell.
Harry looked into the tiny hole that his familiar had made. Staring back at him was a small, brilliant emerald eye.