Chapter 7
The Boy-Who-Loved
Author's Note: S.P.E.W (or House-Elf Liberation Front) is addressed in this chapter. Let's just say Hermione's had an eye-opening epiphany. Translation: I don't want to deal with SPEW! That section in this chapter is there for that reason alone!
Warning: Discussion of Rumors of Past Assault From A Professor, and aftermath of those rumors. Nothing bad. Actual assault didn't actually happen. Just something Hermione mentions to Harry.
(Saturday, December 12th, 1994)
"Harry?" Hermione asked.
"Hmm?" Harry replied, his lips an inch away from hers. "Not now. We're kissing."
He kissed her again. Hermione backed away after another minute of kissing and placed a finger on his lips, then looked into his eyes.
"I want to tell you something that might shock you," Hermione said.
When she dropped her finger, he kissed her again, then looked at her.
"As long as you aren't about to break up with me when we've been snogging for the past several minutes," Harry said, "You can tell me anything."
Harry and Hermione's classes on Friday had been mostly great, without Ronald in them anymore. Harry was actually able to stay awake in History, though he admittedly did it to try to impress Hermione. It had worked too! Hermione had given him a few kisses during the day, in the corridors and such, just because she was so proud of him about that and how he had a new interest in his classes now. Of course, the fact that they were also doing it to make sure the rest of the students knew they were now a dedicated and romantic couple, so it would look odd if they were suddenly not together anymore, went without saying.
Charms before lunch was also wonderful without Ron grumbling about how Harry and Hermione could do their work perfectly before he could do anything. Double Potions was always going to be bad for Harry and Hermione. However, Snape had mostly ignored the new couple, except for one single comment targeted at both of them.
"Now that the two of you are… together," Snape said, with his usual drawling, dronish tone, "and no longer have your… Third Wheel… attached to you, dragging you down to his poor standards, I hope to see an improvement from both of you in my class. I will be most displeased if Mr. Weasley wasn't responsible for your horrible past performance in here."
Snape had, of course, sneered at them when he mentioned them being 'together', but it was expected. The new couple had successfully completed their Potion, and Snape merely sneered at the pair when they brought him the vials of Potion for him to grade. Also expected. What was unexpected is that he allowed them to be partners for the day. They had thought he would split them up now that he knew they were a couple.
The night before, just before they had separated for the evening, Hermione asked him if he wanted to spend some private time with her on Saturday morning before breakfast. Harry had readily and happily agreed. So they had arranged to wake up at half-past six on Saturday Morning, using Alarm Clock Charms on their pillow, and meet in their Private Common Room.
So that is where they were now, and had been for nearly an hour. They had been kissing and snogging, and talking about random things. Until now, their conversations hadn't been so serious.
Hermione scowled at his response, and crossed her arms over her chest. Harry pouted at that movement. Since it was Saturday, the students weren't required to wear their School outfits. She was wearing a sweater that had showed off her curves very nicely. Harry was still astounded he had been so surprised about the fact that Hermione – his girlfriend! – had these great curves on her body. Great curves that his girlfriend was now hiding with her arms.
"I'm definitely not breaking up with you," Hermione said, "And I have no desire to do in the foreseeable future. So do not joke about that, Harry James."
"Sorry," Harry said, sincerely, "So what did you want to talk about?"
"I'm disbanding S.P.E.W," Hermione said, bluntly. "Or House Elf Liberation Front. Whatever it is called now."
"What? Really?" Harry asked, quite surprised at that statement. "How did this happen?"
"Before I went to bed last night," Hermione said, "I was relaxing in my sitting room going over the homework I had finished earlier in the evening. And my mind wandered about recent things. I started thinking about Mallory and Dobby, and everything they're doing for us. So I called for Mallory, and she appeared. Mallory and I had a very long talk about house-elves. Their history, their behavior, why they need to work. Did you know Dobby is looked down upon in the house-elf community because he is free?"
"Winky mentioned that at the Quidditch World Cup, I think," Harry said.
"Yes, I remember," Hermione said, with a sigh. "I asked Mallory why the house-elves don't like him if he is free. She it is because he is lying about his freedom. Dobby isn't free, Harry. Dobby bonded with you the day you freed him from Malfoy. Most Masters or Mistresses and Elves need to do a Bonding Ceremony to bond to each other. Dobby didn't with you, because you saved him apparently."
Harry's eyes widened. "Dobby!"
Dobby appeared, and it was instantly obvious he had been listening to their conversation while guarding them.
"I know you heard us talking, Dobby." Harry said, "Is it true you're bonded with me?"
"Yes, Harry Potter, it is true," Dobby said. "You assisted in Dobby's freedom. It was under the Great Harry Potter's influence that Bad Master Malfoy was able to free Dobby. Therefore, magic made Dobby Bond with the Great Harry Potter, without need of Bonding Ceremony. But Harry Potter was so happy about Dobby being free, that Dobby decided if Harry Potter wanted Dobby be free, then Dobby be acting he be free."
"Don't be angry with Dobby," Hermione said, "If he was free, Harry, he might very well be dead."
"What?!" Harry asked.
"Remember Winky, and how she was in the kitchens?" Hermione asked, "She was acting so drunk, and we thought it was due to butterbeer. It partially is, but in truth it is only making things worse. She's dying, Harry. She's dying because she's free. She does some work at Hogwarts, but she's not bonded to Hogwarts. Working at Hogwarts without a Master or Mistress will lead to her death. The House Elf Liberation Front would kill house-elves, Harry."
"What should we do about Winky?" Harry asked.
"I planned on going to the kitchens after breakfast and asking Winky to bond with me," Hermione said. "Mallory told me if I did this, then Winky will need a few days to heal. She'll slowly overcome the damage due to my bond with her. When Winky is healed, she'll replace Mallory in her service to me, and Mallory will return working for her Mistress."
Harry nodded, then looked at Dobby. "Is there anything I need to do as your Master?"
"Oh no, Great Harry Potter be doing everything he need to do," Dobby said, "There is some things Dobby can be doing now that Harry Potter acknowledge Dobby being Harry Potter's House-Elf."
"Like what?" Harry asked.
"Dobby can remove money from Harry Potter's Vault at Gringotts, if Harry Potter so wish it," Dobby said, "Dobby just be needing going to Gringotts to sort it out. Harry Potter be needing do nothing. The Goblins will recognize our Bond. Dobby simply be needing to talk with the proper Goblin."
"I tell you what," Harry said. "Tonight, while Hermione and I are having Dancing Lessons, how about you go to Gringotts and do whatever you need to there? If you are done before nine-o-clock, when we are still with Professor McGonagall in her classroom, you can meet us there, and let me know you're back, and tell me what you found out. We should be safe with Professor McGonagall and Mallory watching us while you do that duty."
"Dobby agrees with that, Great Harry Potter," Dobby said.
"What else can you do, Dobby?" Harry asked, "I'm sorry, I know very little about having a house-elf."
"Dobby be able to buy anything the Great Harry Potter desires when Dobby be having permission to get into Vault," Dobby said. "Great Harry Potter be needing no Owl-Order Service. Great Harry Potter now have Dobby-Order Service!"
"Oh, wow, that's handy!" Harry said, "Well, if I need you to buy anything, I'll certainly tell you. If there is anything else you believe you can do for me, all you need to do is ask. I do have one rule for you, Dobby. You will never punish yourself. If you believe you need to be punished, you tell me how we should resolve that."
"Dobby promises to do so," Dobby said.
"Great!" Harry said, "You're excused to go back to guard duty now."
"Dobby be sorry for keeping secret from Great Harry Potter," Dobby said. "How shall Dobby be punished?"
"You're forgiven, Dobby," Harry said. "Your punishment is to never keep secrets from me again as long as they concern me or Hermione."
"Dobby promises, Great Master Harry!" Dobby said.
"You're excused," Harry said.
Dobby smiled tearfully, right before he disappeared.
"He is so very happy to be your elf, Harry," Hermione gushed, "I can't believe I was trying to 'liberate' all the elves. If they aren't mistreated, they lead happy lives. They love to work. Working is their fun! I feel so bad for what I did."
"You just didn't have enough information about them," Harry said, "Which is so unlike you!"
"It wasn't my fault!" Hermione huffed, "Those authors who wrote those books were biased against elves, and wrote the books just for money! As a book lover, I feel betrayed and disgusted. I should have gone straight to the proper source from the start: the elves! I was a fool!"
"No, you trust books too much," Harry said.
"I… I do," Hermione said, "And that is so very hard to admit. Books have always been there for me. Characters in books – heroes, villains and normal characters who had little importance in stories – were my only friends when I was little. In fact, until I met you, I had a new best friend each time I started reading a new book. The main character was my new best friend. I do trust books too much. I need to learn better than that. Books are written by humans."
"And humans make mistakes and can sometimes be biased about information," Harry said. "Such as history books. History is written by the victor, isn't it?"
Hermione nodded. "It took me a very long time to realize that, Harry. In fact, sometimes I forget all that. Especially when I'm reading a book and not thinking about whether the information in it is the best available. I used to believe it was the best information available, because the book existed. It wasn't for a long time that I realized sometimes books are written because the author wants to make money. Or that the subject might not be entirely correct, because maybe an author is biased."
"And then there were all those books written by Lockhart," Harry said.
"That was an eye-opener," Hermione muttered, "I was at my worst when it came to books that year. Here I was, being taught by an author! I thought it was the greatest thing in the world."
"And he was handsome," Harry snarked.
"Okay, yes, he was handsome," Hermione admitted, "He was handsome on the outside, and ugly on the inside. You know there were rumors in third year after Lockhart's Obliviation talents were revealed the previous summer that Lockhart sexually abused female students and then Obliviated them?"
Harry's eyes widened. "Really? Did it really happen?"
"I think Professor McGonagall would have told me if there was evidence," Hermione said, "It certainly got me and a lot of other girls to go to Madam Pomfrey, and see if there was anything wrong with us – you know – in that way. Aside from my… feminine issues being out of whack because of me using the Time Turner, nothing was wrong with me when it came to my body. I don't know what any of the other girls discovered. Aside from Lavender and Parvati, who said there was nothing wrong.
"If Ginny was assaulted by him – well – she blacked out so many times that year because of the Diary, that it might be impossible to tell. If Lockhart had known about it, he could have taken advantage of such a thing. But… if McGonagall has never said anything about it, I doubt the rumors were true."
Harry had blushed when Hermione said "feminine issues". "Th-that's good… changing subjects now. When it comes to books, you've learned a valuable lesson today. I know that is one of your favorite things to do."
"Thank you, Harry," Hermione said, "You are just the greatest boyfriend, you know? Even if you blushed as red as the walls in here when I mentioned feminine issues."
"Can you blame me?" Harry asked, weakly.
Hermione giggled again and kissed him lightly on the lips. "God, you are such a boy. But you are my boy. How could you think I wanted to break up with you?"
"Because sometimes I feel this is a dream and I'm going to wake up," Harry said, "And you'll just be my best friend again. Why would I not be scared this is a dream? Having such a beautiful girl as my girlfriend. How does that happen to me?"
Hermione grinned, her cheeks quite pink, and kissed him again. "You're so sweet, Harry. Well, if you do wake up, ask me out again, okay? Let's just say this is your dream. If there is a real Hermione who isn't me, I am quite sure she feels the same about you as I do. So if you wake up, ask her.
"Until you 'wake up', let's just assume this is real. I'm going to be honest with you, Harry. I've had the same thought once after you asked me to the Ball, and I kissed you. Only once. Then my logical side returned and I decided it wasn't a dream. The boy I fancied asked me out, asked me to be his girlfriend. How does that happen to me?"
Harry smiled, goofily, just as he did when Hermione became his girlfriend.
You listen, Harry James," Hermione said, "I'm not breaking up with you for the foreseeable future. That future, at the moment, is going to last a very long time. Understand me?"
"Definitely," Harry said, "Does the greatest boyfriend get a snog? Because I was under the impression our little date in here this morning was going to mostly be snogging and random discussions that weren't so… life-changing."
Hermione giggled. "No more life-changing discussions during our little dates in there. That will be a new rule."
"I completely agree," Harry said. "In fact, if you start another life-changing discussion again while we are in here having these little dates, I'm going to occupy your mouth the best way I know how. Let me show you what I mean."
Hermione was quite happy to let him show her what he meant. Their mouths were well-occupied for the next several minutes, and no more discussion was had. Soon enough, unfortunately, they had to make their way to breakfast.
But both were eager to have these little dates again… very often in fact!
(Fifteen minutes later…)
When Harry and Hermione made their way into the Entrance Hall, they found Professor McGonagall waiting there. From the way she was looking in their direction, she was waiting for them. She was also holding what appeared to be two folded newspapers.
"Good morning, Mr. Potter, Miss Granger," McGonagall said.
"Good morning, Professor," Hermione said; Harry echoed her.
"Rita Skeeter has struck again," McGonagall said, "This time, she has written an article about the two of you getting together. I assume she heard it from a student here – or several. Whether they were in Gryffindor or another House, I do not know. They did, however, seem to witness both of your performances on Thursday, because they are described in the article.
"I was waiting for you here to warn you of this article, and what I expect to happen because of the article. I don't know if it will begin as early as today, or tomorrow. But I expect you're going to get some Howlers and maybe even dangerous hex-letters from people around Wizarding Great Britain as a result of Miss Skeeter's article. There may be some good letters in there amongst the rubbish. However, you will receive none of it right away. Dobby and Mallory will intercept every piece of mail that comes for both of you. They will dismantle the Howlers, letter-hexes and other dangers. House-Elves also have a way to detect letters written with negative intent in mind."
"How?" Hermione asked.
"They can sense from the letters the author's feelings while they were writing the letters," McGonagall said. "Well, I say feelings, I should say 'emotions'. For example, if they sense an angry emotion…"
"It will probably be a letter full of insults or something similar," Harry said.
"Indeed," McGonagall said, "This is so they can warn their Master if the letters are bad news."
"That is brilliant!" Hermione gushed.
"Indeed it is," McGonagall agreed. "Dobby and Mallory will give me all the mail you receive after their initial sweep. I promise not to read any letters they deem as neutral or positive. Any negative letters, you might not receive unless I decide the contents are not too bad. You will not be given the Howlers. And any dangerous letters will be given to the DMLE so they can investigate them."
"That's great!" Harry said, "Thank you, ma'am!"
"It is my job," McGonagall said, "In my opinion, Howlers should not be allowed here at Hogwarts, but the Headmaster never seems to agree with me. Anyway, I also have a second piece of news. A mutual friend of ours is coming to the castle today to lend me something for the Dancing Lessons. I believe they might be interested in speaking to the both of you. If this is so, I'll have Mallory contact you, and inform you of where to meet me and my guest. It will likely be sometime in the afternoon."
"We'll be there," Harry said, and Hermione agreed.
"Very good," McGonagall said, "You can sit at Ravenclaw Table again if you wish. I promise you none of the Staff will confront you for doing so. Also, you may wish to read the article out here so you can prepare for the… reactions inside."
"Good idea," Harry agreed.
"Enjoy the article… if you can," McGonagall said. "Any questions?"
"Yes, actually," Harry said, "Has any Gryffindor written us a letter yet as is their punishment?"
"None have turned any in," McGonagall said, "Those who truly wish to repent will give me their assignments in the next couple of days, I expect. The rest, if they do not wish for me to confront them again, will hand them to me by Saturday next, as it is due by then. Especially, since they can't go to the Ball otherwise, those in your year and above, and even those third years who might have dates to the Yule Ball."
"Alright," Harry said. "No more questions."
When Hermione replied the same, McGonagall spoke up again. "Perhaps I'll see you this afternoon, and I'll definitely be expecting you this evening for your 'detention' then. We can discuss the Weasley detention during one of those two occasions."
Harry and Hermione promised they would be there. McGonagall gave the couple the two copies of the Daily Prophet, then headed inside the Great Hall without another word. Harry and Hermione walked over to the stairs leading to the Grand Staircase, and sat on the bottom steps. Harry opened the Daily Prophet, and discovered the article was on the front page.
As he looked at the picture below the headline, he recognized the scene. It was a Colin Creevey picture, obviously, taken before they became a couple. They were walking on the Grounds, without Ron, and laughing about something. They weren't holding hands, but given the context of the article, it could be seen as them being together at that moment the picture was taken.
In fact… now that he looked at the picture… the depicted Hermione was looking at the version of him with an expression he only caught in the past couple of days now that they were a couple. How had he missed that… amorous, blushing expression on her face? Hermione was right: he had been very oblivious about her feelings toward him!
He began to read his copy, as Hermione did the same.
BOY-WHO-LIVED OR BOY-WHO-LOVED? HOGWARTS TRIWIZARD
CHAMPION NO LONGER BRITAIN'S MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELOR!
Written by Rita Skeeter, Daily Prophet Star Reporter
The Yule Ball, the biggest Christmas Event of the holiday season is
just around the corner, taking place at Hogwarts on Christmas Day!
Gossip has run rampant across Wizarding Britain and inside Hogwarts
Castle itself about which lucky witches – or wizard in the Beauxbatons
Champion's case – will be on the arm of the Champions at the Ball.
The youngest – and most popular? – Champion has already found the
lucky witch who he will be dancing the night away with at the Yule Ball.
That's right, readers, The Boy-Who-Lived is now the Boy-Who-Loved!
Harry Potter is no longer single, and has apparently an interest in older
witches! The Hogwarts Champion has found love with his Muggleborn
best friend and fellow Fourth Year, Harmony Granger, age fifteen.
Students were witnesses to two separate but intriguing events that took
place between the new couple on Thursday inside Hogwarts Castle. At
lunch, Harry Potter interrupted the students' mealtime by getting down
on one knee in front of Miss Granger and asking her to accompany him
to the Ball. There was apparently no hesitation at all when she accepted
to be his date. Was this a show put on for the students? Did Potter ask
his Muggleborn friend to the Ball earlier in the day in private? Is that why
accepted so quickly? Or was she afraid if she didn't accept immediately,
he might ask someone else? Someone better?
The second event was at dinnertime. Students' mealtime was once again
interrupted when the Boy-Who-Loved and Granger engaged in a stunning
five-minute long snog! Professors and Students alike were so enchanted
by the wonderful scene, that none of them spoke up interrupting the scene
for five minutes before the couple finished. Were there nefarious charms in
place, making everyone watch the scene, or was it simply wonderful magic,
sweet and innocent as it was, that caused everyone to mindlessly watch the
new couple without interference? Answers unknown at the current time.
Unfortunately there are no pictures of either of the events at this time, but
this reporter is eagerly waiting for them from the very generous photographer
who took the picture seen above! When this reporter gets those pictures,
you will get them soon after!
There is no word on who the other Champions are taking to the Yule Ball, but
one thing is certain: the Boy-Who-Loved will be having a very Happy Christmas
indeed, as he dances the night away with his new witch! Who is this Harmony
Granger who has stolen the heart of the Boy-Who-Loved? And what does it mean
for other witches who might be hoping to have a chance at romance in the future
with the Hogwarts Champion? Time will tell, and I, Rita Skeeter, will be here to
give you the scoop!
The Story of the Boy-Who-Lived-and-Loved, Page 2.
Who is Harmony Granger? All we know! Page 2
Tomorrow's Exclusive! Is Azkaban Fugitive Sirius Black Planning
To Break-Up New Couple As A New Plot of Revenge?
Harry laughed at that last line. He could imagine Sirius' face when his godfather read the article.
"Harmony Granger, huh?" Harry asked Hermione, as his girlfriend finished the article.
Hermione snorted. "She probably heard my name and translated it wrong. Wouldn't be the first time, and Harmony actually sounds nice. I could see using it for… my daughter's name."
Hermione grinned at Harry when Harry's eyes glazed over at that last part.
"Earth to Boy-Who-Loved," Hermione snarked; Harry snapped out of his fantasy of a beautiful green-eyed, bushy-haired little girl named Harmony, who looked like their mother, "There you are. Anyway, I think I'm going to read that article about me during breakfast and see what she has to say."
"Hopefully it isn't too bad," Harry said.
"You should write to Sirius about us, you know," Hermione said, "He'll probably have a chance to read this article before you tell him. He'll be upset to hear it from Skeeter first."
"I know," Harry said, frowning then grinned, "He'll get a laugh out of tomorrow's apparent 'exclusive' though. I'll write to him after you get done with Winky. This article was actually better than I expected. I wish we had a five minute long snog that night without interruption. However, I wish she set her sights elsewhere. I know! How about the fact that Ginny Weasley, at thirteen years old – not even thirteen and a half - isn't apparently a virgin?"
"Harry!" Hermione scolded him.
"You were the one who implied that, you know," Harry said.
"I know that," Hermione said, with a frown. "I don't know why I said all that to her. I know I was mad at her. But… those insults… I don't normally do that, Harry. I felt really bad about it afterward, actually."
Harry shrugged. "She certainly didn't correct you, did she? Maybe you were more correct than you think with what you implied."
"Either way," Hermione said, "It isn't proper to talk about, no matter whether we like her or not. Alright?"
"Then we won't discuss it anymore," Harry said, "Sorry for my bad joke."
"Apology accepted," Hermione said, and leaned toward him and pecked him on the lips. "We could have pulled off a five-minute snog that night if Dumbledore hadn't interrupted us. You'd have earned it, and you proved you could pull it off this morning."
Harry chuckled. "Maybe we can snog for five minutes if Dumbledore or Snape isn't in the Great Hall in the future. Just to prove it to everyone else we can accomplish it."
"I'll consider it," Hermione said, blushing; she closed the newspaper, and folded it up. "Come on, let's get inside and face the music. Ravenclaw Table again with Padma and Luna?"
"Sure," Harry agreed as he folded his newspaper.
Since they were avoiding Gryffindor Table at the moment – at least until those letters were delivered - they had decided to sit at Ravenclaw Table for a while. Fortunately they found a wonderful pair of girls to sit with, the previous day at lunch: Parvati Patil's sister, Padma, and her friend, a wonderfully odd and quirky third year named Luna Lovegood.
They had been surprised to learn that Luna used to be childhood friends with Ginny Weasley, having lived on the other side of Ottery St. Catchpole, a few miles from the Burrow. Ginny stopped being her friend, after Luna's mother died in a tragic accident at the Lovegood home. Apparently Molly Weasley had prevented Ginny from visiting her friend, in case there were any more accidents at the Lovegood House, and she never invited Luna to the Burrow after Pandora Lovegood's death.
Padma Patil's family were Allies with the Lovegoods and a few other families, including the Longbottoms, Neville's family! Padma was oddly silent about this Alliance, however. Harry shrugged it off as House Secrets between families. None of his business.
Harry and Hermione walked into the Great Hall, hand-in-hand, and ignored the stares coming their way as they made their way toward Ravenclaw Table. The Gryffindors frowned as they realized the couple wasn't going to sit with them again. Things had changed ever since the Gryffindor Meeting, and none of it was good yet. Only a few Gryffindors were lucky enough to be able to speak to Harry and Hermione. The couple ignored the rest of them, even Dean – who looked the most regretful over what he'd done – during class, and would probably do so until they received the letters the Gryffindors had been assigned.
As Harry sat down at the Ravenclaw Table with Hermione, across from Padma Patil and Luna Lovegood, he noticed Luna was one of the very few who wasn't reading the Daily Prophet. She did look… deliriously happy, however, for some reason.
"You're looking cheerful today, Luna," Hermione said.
Padma giggled at Luna's big smile. "Neville Longbottom asked her to the Yule Ball a few minutes ago."
Hermione gasped. "That's great, Luna. What did you say?"
"Yes, of course," Luna said, smiling. "I was a little surprised, but happy. We were best friends as children. So it wasn't too big of a surprise. He was on my list of boys I would accept to the Ball if they asked me. Mostly it was him and Harry. No offense, Hermione."
"None taken, Luna," Hermione said.
"But… I didn't know you before yesterday!" Harry said.
"Perhaps not," Luna agreed, "But you were on my list anyway. Actually you did meet me once before. Did you know?"
"Uh… no," Harry said, "When was this?"
"You probably wouldn't have remembered," Luna said. "I certainly wouldn't have if my Mummy and Daddy didn't tell me on a few occasions. I wasn't even a day old when you met me. You see, my mother was one of your mother's best friends. Your mother was my godmother until she died, and then Neville's Gran became my godmother. You were there in St. Mungo's on the day I was born. Apparently your mother introduced you to me. Mummy called you my new godbrother, and your mother was shocked, but happy to accept."
Hermione squeezed Harry's hand under the table. She had misty eyes. So did Harry.
"Thank you for telling me this, Luna," Harry said, "You've given me a gift, a story about my mother. So… if my parents lived, I would have known you?"
"We'd have grown up together, I think," Luna said, "Visiting each other from time to time."
"I'd have liked that, I think," Harry said, "Sorry I never approached you until yesterday."
"You met me when you needed to," Luna said, cryptically.
"I suppose so," Harry said, "I am so sorry about your mother's death. I would have loved to have meet one of my mother's friends."
"I think she knew she was going to die, you know," Luna said. "She mentioned you a couple days before her death. 'Get to know Lily's son, my love,' she said. 'Do not see him as the Boy-Who-Lived, for he is not. He is simply a wonderful young man who might be a very good friend to you. You will meet him a time he will need you the most. I wish I could have met him.' I didn't really understand that until now."
For telling such a tragic story, Luna was serenely calm.
"That is… so sad, Luna," Hermione whimpered, "I am so sorry."
"I was sad, of course," Luna said, "But we both said our goodbyes to each other. The… night before she died, she spent the whole night in my bed. I didn't know why I was saying goodbye or why she was. Not until after she died. Then I knew."
"Why didn't she prevent her death?" Hermione asked, "If she knew?"
"It was her time," Luna said. "If she lived, things might have changed in ways that should not have happened. Maybe the Potion she was making when she died would have been an unknown poison. Maybe she would have tested it on me or Daddy, and we might have died instead. Whatever it was, it was meant to explode, and unfortunately, she was there when it happened. She sacrificed herself for me and Daddy. I miss her, but I love her more than ever now."
Hermione was sniffling. "That is one of the saddest things I've ever heard. I am sure she was a wonderful mother to you, and wonderful woman. I would have loved to have gotten to know her. I am sorry for your loss."
Luna merely smiled and shrugged as she continued her breakfast.
"Luna?" Harry said, "What did your mother mean? When she said you'd meet me at a time I needed you the most?"
"Maybe she knew you would need a friend," Luna said. "Maybe I will give you opportunities you might not have had before you met me."
"I would very much like to be your friend," Harry said.
"Me too," Hermione said.
"It is nice having friends," Luna said, "I had almost forgotten that until I met Padma. We became friends, after I told her about the fall of the Mermaid Kingdom, Atlantis. Legends say the Mermaids made a horrible shrieking sound when they witnessed the Veela destroy their Kingdom. The war between the two happened because a Veela had fallen in love with a Mermaid Prince, and had stolen him from their Kingdom.
"The legends are misinterpreted, however. The Mermaids were not shrieking. They were cursing the Veela in their own language. You see, a Mermaid's voice translates into shrieking above water. Below water, it translates into the language of whoever is listening to it."
Harry stared at Luna, as, in his mind, he heard the shrieking wail from the Golden Egg.
"Harry," Hermione said, "The Egg…"
"Yeah, I just thought of that," Harry said, "Luna my Golden Egg clue. When I opened it, it made this horrible, ear-piecing shrieking sound."
"Those horrible people!" Luna gasped, "Did they trap a Mermaid inside your Golden Egg?!"
"I think, Luna, they copied a Mermaid's Voice and recorded it into the Egg," Padma said.
"Ooh, that makes much better sense," Luna said, nodding.
"So… is that the secret of the Egg?" Harry asked. "It is a Mermaid's Voice?"
"Put the egg in a body of water, Harry," Luna said, "Like a bathtub! Take a bath with your egg! Funny… I'd never taken baths with eggs. I'll have to try it. It sounds fun! Probably have to use chicken eggs. I don't have a Dragon Egg on hand. Maybe Professor Hagrid does? I'll ask him. Maybe we can all take a bath together with our eggs!"
Harry blushed and Hermione looked as if she was trying to hold back a giggle at the look on Harry's face.
"Put your head underwater with the egg," Padma continued for her distracted friend, not even phased by her last sentence, "You'll hear whatever the Mermaid's voice is saying."
"Thank you!" Harry said, "Both of you! This means so much to me! I don't think I'd have figured it out."
"I… might have gotten it eventually," Hermione said, in a small voice. "I didn't even think of that."
"Hermione, you only heard the Mermaid shrieking once," Harry reminded his girlfriend, "I don't blame you. Besides, you did just say 'The Egg!' when Luna finished her story. If I hadn't have connected the pieces, you would have been a big help with that. Now… you can help me after I figure out what the Mermaid is saying. Because I'm going to take a bath in a little while with the Egg."
Hermione smiled. "Thank you, Harry. I'll be happy to help. Luna and Padma, you are welcome to help too if you wish."
"I'll be happy to help my new friends," Luna said.
"What she said," Padma said, "I don't know what my sister did to the two of you, along with the rest of your house-mates, but she ain't talking. So I'm going to prove to be the better one between the two of us. I won't do whatever she did. I know what it is like to be bullied, and to see people being bullied. I…"
She sighed and looked at Luna, who was humming as she was eating breakfast. Harry and Hermione got the silent message. Padma and Luna became friends after Padma helped her with bullies.
"We understand," Hermione said, "Thank you, Padma. This is between you and your sister, but if she won't tell you what she did to us, you can ask us and we'll be happy to tell you."
"I will," Padma said, "Simply because she… she should have known better! My father is going to be very unhappy with her! Especially since it could have…"
She blushed and frowned. "Let's just say my father would be very unhappy about how my sister treated you, Harry. The Potters have been there for my family for many years. Parvati spat on all of that."
"When you want to tell me what my family did for yours," Harry said, "I will be happy to listen."
"Thank you, Harry," Padma said. "I will ask my father permission to tell you. Otherwise, I cannot say."
"I understand," Harry said.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Harry and Hermione, along with the rest of the students, turned their heads toward the Head Table. McGonagall stood up.
"Please may I have your attention," McGonagall said. "I am sure most of you have seen the… interesting… article penned by Rita Skeeter in today's edition of the Daily Prophet."
She cleared her throat loudly when some students looked in Harry and Hermione's direction. They almost immediately looked back at her.
"Some of you may not know this," McGonagall said, "Rita Skeeter was banned from the Hogwarts Grounds a few days after the First Task, after a scathing article about the Champions. Yet, somehow, she was able to write an article describing the events that translated on Thursday, between a couple of students here. While it wasn't accurate, due to her going rather overboard on the article, it does prove one of two things.
"The first, she has somehow found her way on the Grounds without permission. This is a security risk. If any of you see her, please inform a Professor. The second: one or more of you students have been writing letters to Rita Skeeter or other journalists at news outlets, and giving them information about the goings on of student's personal lives that the readers of the Daily Prophet do not need to know. If I discover any of you have done this, I will be very displeased.
"I already have proof some of the Gryffindors have done something like this. I've discussed this with them, and if they listened, they have stopped. So, to those students in the other three Houses, if you have written anything to a journalist like Rita Skeeter, or if you speak to her or another journalist, about the goings on of students' private lives, I will find out and you will be punished severely. That is all."
McGonagall sat down, as whispers and chatter started again around the Hall. If Harry and Hermione looked around the Hall, they might have seen a few guilty looks directed their way.
Aside from students from all four tables staring at the new couple from time to time especially after reading the article - though most of it did stop after McGonagall's announcement - nothing else much happened during breakfast. Harry thought Ron and Ginny Weasley might do something, but they were surprisingly avoiding looking at him and Hermione. Harry didn't know whether this meant they were up to something or not, but he didn't care at the moment. He was simply happy to spend time talking to Hermione, Padma and Luna.
He was sure the two Ravenclaws would prove to be good friends in the future. After all, he had only known them – more than fellow students – for less than a day, and they had already helped him with his Golden Egg clue, and would help him more if needed! He'd have to find some way to repay them for that wonderful assistance.
The two Ravenclaws were already far better friends than Ron and Ginny ever were. Neither were staring at his scar, or enchanted by the whole Boy-Who-Lived thing. Neither of them seemed jealous – even though Luna already said he was a choice for her to go to the Ball with – that he and Hermione were a couple. And when he asked Ron if he had any ideas about the Egg, all that bastard had said was 'bet you could sell it for a load of Galleons!' His only reaction to the Egg's wailing, was to compare it to Percy's singing! How did that help?
After breakfast, Harry and Hermione headed down to the kitchens. When they arrived at the portrait of a bowl of fruit, Hermione tickled the pear. It wiggled, and the portrait opened to reveal a doorway. Harry and Hermione stepped into the kitchens, where House-Elves bustled around as they cleaned, washed and dried dishes by magic.
Dobby appeared out of thin air and looked at Harry and Hermione. "Great Harry Potter and his Hermy, Winky be over there."
Dobby pointed at a large pile of towels. He snapped his fingers and the towels vanished and reappeared inside a basket. Where the towels used to be was a sleeping house-elf known as Winky. She was snoring very loudly, and also hiccupping in her sleep.
"Winky, you be waking up now," Dobby said, "You be having a new Mistress today."
"Winky a bad girl," Winky said, as she opened her eyes and sat up, "Winky – hic! – don't deserve a new – hic – Mistress!"
"Of course you do, Winky," Hermione said, soothingly; she walked over to Winky and knelt in front of her.
"You – hic! – be Winky's – hic! – new Mistress?" Winky asked, "Winky don't be needing – hic! – bushy-hair as Mistress. Winky already – hic! - free. Bushy-hair be wanting to – hic! – free House-elves. House-elves should – hic! – not – hic! – be free!"
"Winky, I've learned a lot about house-elves recently," Hermione said, "I was very wrong before. You are dying, Winky. Wasting away because you need a Master or Mistress. Be my house-elf, Winky. Bond with me. I will save you."
Winky's droopy eyes widened as she stared at Hermione. "Bushy-hair – hic! – mean it? Bushy-hair not be – hic! - joking?"
"Harry Potter's Hermy is Hermy, not Bushy-hair!" Dobby said, "Hermy be Winky's new Mistress!"
"Winky be wanting Hermy as Mistress, then," Winky said, forgetting to hiccup because she was so happy.
"Then bond with me, Winky," Hermione said.
"Winky be remembering when Hermy be upset about Bad Older Master Crouch freeing Winky," Winky said, "Winky be bonding with Mistress Hermy."
Hermione smiled, then gently took Winky's hand. The new Mistress and the house-elf performed the Bonding Ceremony.
"Winky, your first command is to go with Dobby and get better," Hermione said, "No more drinking, Winky. No punishing yourself either. When you are your proper self again, you can come serve me. Okay?"
"Wink be accepting new Mistress Hermy's orders," Winky said.
"Dobby will return soon, Great Harry Potter," Dobby said, "Mallory will watch Great Harry Potter and his Hermy while Dobby helps Winky settle in."
"Take as much time as you need, Dobby," Harry said.
Dobby bowed and walked over to Winky. He took her hand and they vanished with a pop!
"You did a good thing, Hermione," Harry said.
"I know," Hermione said, "Let's go to the Owlery, so you can write Sirius. I bet Hedwig misses you. Then you can take that bath with your Egg."
"Speaking of missing a friend," Harry said, "We really should speak to Neville sometime. We haven't said much to him since we singled him out as the lone fourth year we trusted."
"Good idea," Hermione said, "We can find him when we have free time today."
Harry agreed, took Hermione's hand and made their way out of the Kitchens. It was a fine beginning to what would prove to be an interesting day.
I seriously thought about ending this with a cliffhanger with the "mutual" friend (it isn't Sirius) showing up. Can you guess who it is? It isn't the Healer friend either by the way.
If you've read some of my previous stories, you might know what is going on with Padma. I'll give you a hint. It is a political thing.
I will say it again, just in case people need a reminder. This is simply a Harry/Hermione story. It will not be a Harry/Multi. If a Betrothal Contract happens, it will be created between Harry and Hermione, but it will be new, not an existing one. Padma and Luna are Harry's friends, and that is all they will be. Neville/Luna could probably be an endgame ship though. Luna's 'bath' talk was Luna being Luna.
That whole discussion about Lockhart was… I almost didn't put it in. It just seemed like something Hermione might bring up to her boyfriend when Lockhart was mentioned. Something she wanted him to know, since she had kept it from him before. While such a storyline has happened in other stories, it didn't happen in this story's universe. The Obliviation thing just caused a really bad scare.
Sorry folks, Rita's "exclusive" about Sirius won't be shown. I added it for a laugh. So don't ask!
Next Chapter: Harry and Hermione talk to Neville. Harry writes a letter to Sirius and takes a bath with his Egg. And… well… Harry is not happy with what he hears. Let's just say Dancing Lessons will not happen next chapter. Too much is happening next chapter. It will happen in two chapters. This time I promise!