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Harry embraced Hermione as tightly as he could, his own green eyes brimming with tears of humiliation, pain, and anger. He didn’t care that Uncle Vernon was going to jail. Harry was just ashamed that everybody now knew what a reject--what a freak he was. It had been bad enough that everybody in the wizarding world thought that Harry was either a saviour or a serpent, but now in the muggle world everybody would know him as a worthless--possibly dangerous--piece of rubbish.

Harry couldn’t bring himself to say a word to Hermione. It was worse for her. His parents had been gone a long, long time. And his tormentor, Uncle Vernon was gone now too. People already thought Harry was a freak. He was used to it. Harry put his own pain aside and silently held Hermione close as she sobbed through their whole first lesson.

Parvati grew anxious when she missed Harry and Hermione in Charms. She knew something was wrong. Hermione and Harry never missed a lesson if they could help it. And Hermione had seemed very agitated at breakfast time. As the rest of the Gryffindor second years made their way to Herbology, Parvati dashed in the opposite direction through the castle.

Silent tears dripped from the end of Harry’s nose and his cheeks, wetting Hermione’s trembling tail as she continued to sob in his arms. An urgent knocking at the door startled Harry. Angry at being disturbed, he lashed out.

“Go away. Leave us alone...” Harry shouted hoarsely. But just uttering the words after the lengthy silence was too much for Harry and the dam burst. Parvati’s stomach churned when she heard Harry wrenching huge sobs on the other side of the door. She performed an unlocking charm and burst into the sitting room.

“Oh No! Harry, Hermione... What’s wrong?” Parvati cried, her own eyes filling with tears.

She spotted the muggle newspaper and Hermione’s letter on the table. Parvati gasped in horror as she read the top article. Now she knew where Harry’s scars had come from. Why hadn’t he ever told anyone how awful his family was? He’d always made it sound like they were just selfish, bigoted, pushy gits--nothing as dreadful as all of the beatings his uncle had given him.

Then Parvati’s eyes lit upon Hermione’s letter and quickly digested the information. She came over dizzy and faint. Parvati’s knees collapsed, but gentle hands caught her and set her in a comfy chair. Luna peered with concern into Parvati’s tear-filled eyes.

“I’ll go and get Madam Pomfrey...” Luna said softly. “Wait here with them. I’ll be right back.”

Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall put the traumatised young couple to bed in their own room and gave them a sleeping draught. They left Luna and Parvati with instructions for one of them to remain with Harry and Hermione at all times until the next morning when Madam Pomfrey would look in on them again.

Poppy and Minerva shared a somber cup of tea in Madam Pomfrey’s office.

“I should have seen the signs...” Poppy wept. “The scars. I thought... I don’t know what I thought. I never suspected... Mr Potter never said...”

Poppy’s tears dripped into her tea. Minerva had a pinched expression, looking thoroughly distressed.

“There, there, Poppy...” she said comfortingly, “You couldn’t have known. But I know someone who could have, and mark my words, the Headmaster is going to get an earful tonight!” Minerva concluded angrily.

“And POOR Miss Granger...” sobbed Poppy, “It’s just dreadful! How could any parents send their child to be chopped into bits by butchers just because they look a bit different? And... and she’s so pretty too... That lovely tail...”

“That will NOT be happening...” Minerva said with authority. “I can assure you Poppy! I refuse to allow Miss Granger to be coerced by her parents into being mutilated.”

“Th... that’s good then. Thank you Minerva.” Poppy stopped crying and dabbed her cheeks. She knew that Minerva was as good as her word.

Luna spent the evening sitting in the comfy chair next to Harry and Hermione’s bed. She closed her copy of Through the Looking Glass when Parvati came to take over. They exchanged places and Parvati settled in the chair next to the bed.

“Look after them,” Luna whispered, before giving Parvati a kiss goodnight.

When morning came, Harry woke to find Parvati asleep on the bed with one arm around Hermione. Despite the dull ache of pain inside of him, he felt a sudden surge of affection for the two girls. He gave them both a kiss on the forehead, stirring them.

Hermione blinked sleepily at Harry, gave him a sad little smile and pulled him in for a real kiss. She then turned to Parvati who was rubbing the sleep out of her eyes and surprised her with a kiss on the lips.

“Thank you for being there Parvati. You’re the best friend that Harry and I have ever had,” Hermione said with utmost sincerity. She knew now just how true that was, and Harry didn’t contradict her.

Now awake, Parvati kissed Hermione back. Then Parvati leaned over Hermione and gave Harry a proper kiss, her long black lashes glistening slightly with tears.

“Why didn’t you tell anyone Harry?” Parvati asked.

Harry flushed, his eyes downcast.

“I... I dunno really. I... I know it’s not true in my head, but... but, it’s almost like I feel that if I told anyone, I would be admitting that I deserved it for being a freak. As long as I didn’t tell anyone, nobody would know what a weirdo and a loser I am.”

Both girls looked horrified.

“Oh, Harry that’s awful!” squeaked Hermione, her ears drooping as she hugged Harry. Parvati embraced Harry too.

“I love you so much Harry,” Hermione said. “You’re the nicest boy I’ve ever met. You’ve NEVER been a loser or a freak. You’re a Gryffindor.”

“I love you too Hermione!” Harry replied softly. Then his features and his voice hardened. “I love ALL of you. I don’t want you to get surgery Hermione. I love you just the way you are.”

Parvati started crying quietly as her heart melted for her two best friends.

~o0o~

Rather than mope, the next morning after Madam Pomfrey came to see them, Harry and Hermione chose to return to classes. Neither one of them said a thing all day until after the last class ended. They sat on the bit of bluff overlooking the soggy quidditch pitch and watched some Hufflepuffs training.

Hermione broke the silence with a small steady voice, her eyes downcast as she idly put a finger in her mouth and chewed a nail.

“I’m not going to have the surgery Harry. I promise. I don’t know what I’m going to do, or where I’m going to go at the end of the term." Hermione took her finger out of her mouth. "But I’m NOT going to let my parents bully me because they don’t like the way I look.”

“I... I don’t understand what’s wrong with them. I never knew...” Hermione’s voice broke as tears rolled down her cheeks, but she continued with determination and a spark of anger seemed to flare. “I never knew they could be like that. I can’t live with someone who hates who I am, who thinks they have the right to force me to get cut open--even if they are my parents--especially if they’re my parents. Dumbledore says I’m a grown-up now. So I suppose I’ll just have to work out how to live in the wizard world...”

“You won’t be alone Hermione,” Harry responded quietly. “Come with me to the Dursleys, and then we’ll figure out the next bit together.”

~o0o~

Harry and Hermione stared at Snape, not certain whether to be angry or anxious. Professor Snape had requested to speak to Harry after class at the end of potions on Friday, and he had been extremely annoyed when Hermione had insisted that she was staying to hear whatever the professor had to say to Harry.

Uncharacteristically, Snape had relented. His stomach churned. He wasn’t used to trying to be pleasant. He stared back, his face inscrutable. Finally, as if it hurt, Snape spoke,

“Potter... Harry... your work this week has been exemplary. It would appear that I have misjudged you--harshly. Left to your own devices, you have demonstrated an aptitude for potions which I haven’t seen in some... years.”

Professor Snape picked up an old battered Potions textbook from the bookshelf behind his desk and handed it to Harry.

“This is my old potions book Harry. It is well above your current year, but with your... talent, I expect you to grasp most of it by the end of third year.”

Hermione’s tail stood on end. Her ears pricked, her eyes widened, and her jaw dropped. Snape was right. Harry and she had both had top marks together in every Potions class this week. She flushed with a thrill of pride in her boyfriend. Harry was too confounded to think of anything at all. Snape continued.

“But please be careful Harry, some of the annotations contain spells which could potentially be dangerous. Do not attempt them without first testing the effects on inanimate or transfigured objects--or better yet, ask me first. In the meantime, I think you are ready for tutoring in advanced potions.” Snape gave a sniff and peered at Hermione, distracted briefly by her twitching ears and tail.

“I suppose Miss Granger qualifies too... Her marks are always exceptional,” he said with a slight sneer, much more like his old self. But something seemed to catch in his eye, and he gave Hermione a look of silent apology.

“I knew your mother Harry. She was brilliant in potions... the brightest witch in her year. You and Miss Granger should do well... together,” Snape finished in a whisper. Then his face hardened and he stood up.

“Potter, Granger, Wednesday evenings, 7 sharp. Don’t be late.”

Harry was gobsmacked, and he didn’t speak until they reached their private chambers.

“What was THAT all about Hermione? Snape was almost nice to me,” Harry gasped as he flopped on the settee.

Hermione’s wide eyes shone brightly.

“Harry... you don’t understand. Snape is considered the top in his field. He’s supposed to be a Genius... That means... he’s not just being nice Harry. Snape must think you’re brilliant too.”

Harry couldn’t think of anything else to say except,

“Well, I suppose that means you’re a genius too Hermione. But I always knew that,” he concluded with a grin.

Hermione beamed at the compliment and began purring. She sat on Harry’s lap, curling her fluffy tail tightly around his waist and as they kissed, the pain of the last few days began to melt away. Every touch, every kiss, was a flame filling each other with warmth.

Harry lay back on the settee, his head on an armrest, one arm around Hermione who curled inside it with her head under Harry’s chin. With his other hand, Harry gently stroked Hermione’s silky ears as she purred, her tail giving happy little flicks, and they drifted off into a sound sleep.

~o0o~

Saturday, Harry and Hermione found out why DADA classes had been canceled all week. Dumbledore invited them both to his office again. Two men--both a bit pale and gaunt--were already seated and waiting when they arrived. The two young wizards sat on the chairs directly in front of the headmaster’s desk, Hermione’s tail swished nervously.

One of the men lit up when Harry entered the room and began to stand, but the other tapped him lightly on the shoulder, and he remained seated.

“Harry, Miss Granger, I believe introductions are in order,” began Dumbledore. “But first, I must thank Harry immensely for bringing the grotesquely inappropriate behaviour of Professor Lockhart towards Miss Granger during class to my attention. The subsequent investigation of his activities has determined that he has also been abusing his authority to engage in sexual relations with students and then wiping their memories with magic. He will be in Azkaban for a very, very long time.”

“This of course necessitated procuring a new DADA professor. Harry, Miss Granger, may I introduce Professor Remus J Lupin. He was a close friend of your father’s Harry, and he will be your new DADA instructor. And this, Harry...”

“...is my Godfather, Sirius Black. I saw the pictures,” Harry finished for Dumbledore. His heart felt like it was thumping in his throat. His mouth was dry, and his palms were sweaty. The man before him was the closest he had to a proper family, and Harry had never once met him in his memory.