FicWad

A roil of emotions gripped Harry as he left Dumbledore’s office with the Ring of Peverell in his hand. Stiffly, joints and muscles still aching from the morning’s workout with Mad Eye, he made his way through the drafty castle corridors arm in tail with Hermione.

He didn’t speak until they were near the school library where they were going to begin researching ways to deal with the creatures he might be facing in the Third Task.

“I dunno Hermione. I’m not sure about this ring. I could use it to talk to my parents--say goodbye properly. But... but I don't know if I’m ready for that.”

“Just keep it safe Harry,” Hermione responded, furry ears twitching sadly, “Maybe one day you will be...”

“Oi, Potter...” a voice calling from down the corridor startled Harry and Hermione both.

Harry eyed Blaise Zabini warily when the Slytherin approached him, but Hermione wasn’t bristling; she just appeared perplexed. Zabini glanced about the hallway nervously; seeing nobody else except for Harry and Hermione he relaxed.

“Er... I... I just wanted to say that what you did for Weasley yesterday...” Zabini cleared his throat, “I mean... you’re not even his mate anymore--but you still stuck by him. And well... er... everyone more or less knows he’s with Finnigan now... Not many other blokes would stick up for him--” Zabini paused.

“You’re alright Potter...” Zabini swallowed and held out his hand, “You’ve got a friend in Slytherin if you want one...”

Harry was floored. This was entirely unexpected. Harry glanced at Hermione and she nodded. Zabini was for real. Harry didn’t waste any more time gaping in amazement; he took Blaise’s hand and shook it.

“Er... alright! I’d like that... should I call you Blaise?”

The Slytherin grinned.

“Yeah, that’s cool Harry.... But maybe only in private. We’re not all scum like Draco in Slytherin--but too many are. I’m not sure it’s safe for me to... er... ‘come out’ as it were. Thanks for putting that knob in Azkaban... It was nauseating pretending to be that slimy lizard’s mate.”

~o0o~

Harry was surprised over the next few days by how many students quietly took him aside and thanked him--not for Ron’s sake--but for their own reasons, many vaguely defined. But in some cases it was obvious.

Ginny was by Neville’s side when he thanked Harry for giving McLaggen and Towler a well-deserved arse-kicking. They had been bullying Neville for months.

Ginny hugged Harry and tearfully thanked him again for hurting McLaggen. There was a slightly haunted look in Ginny’s eyes which suggested that there was more to the story of her profuse thanking of Harry at Ron’s bedside. Harry turned towards Hermione, his visage darkening as Ginny clutched Neville tightly and walked away.

“Hermione, I’m beginning to think I should have given McLaggen’s bollocks a few more kicks...”

“I think I agree Harry,” Hermione’s bushy tail flicked angrily, and she was now wishing that Harry had punched Cormac few times too, but she didn’t say so. The last thing she wanted was for Harry to have broken any of his own knuckles or got in trouble for excessive force.

“I’ll try and talk to Ginny again later in private...” Hermione muttered.

Colin Creevey thanked Harry too, and mentioned that McLaggen had broken his camera.

But then there were the few other boys from various houses who Harry had never met before who shyly approached Harry and shook his hand thankfully, furtively glancing around as Zabini had to make sure that nobody was looking.

~o0o~

The next few weeks passed; the pain of the workouts gradually lessened and the potions were put aside. Harry noticed that Hermione was going all out, putting everything she had into learning how to fight, and he began to feel a bit worried. A sudden horrible thought occurred to Harry, slamming him in the gut.

After everyone else had departed the Room of Requirement he shut the door and glared at Hermione, a vein throbbing in his temple.

“Er... what’s wrong Harry?” Hermione asked anxiously. She could tell that she had done something to really upset him, but she had no idea what.

“Stay out of that maze Hermione,” Harry warned hoarsely, “I don’t want you in there... you could get killed.”

Hermione flushed. So that was it. Harry had correctly discerned the reason for her increasing intensity during training sessions.

“And what about you?” Hermione retorted heatedly, her furry tail quivering crossly, “You could get killed too...”

“That’s just it... I don’t want you to die as well... I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you in there. You’ve still got your mum...”

“And what makes you think I can bear it any better Harry James Potter?” Hermione screamed, hot angry tears streaming down her face.“I’m not letting you face death alone. I can’t live without you. Don’t you understand?”

Harry was taken aback. He hadn’t realised how much he was hurting Hermione. He faltered, and tried another tack.

“I... look... you won’t even be able to get in there...”

“The wards are only keyed to Professors and Headmasters,” Hermione snapped, “The Commission won’t be expecting any students to enter of their own volition. We’re in this together Harry, and that’s final!” Hermione finished vehemently.

Harry discovered his own face wet with tears; he felt on the verge of a panic attack; he couldn’t breathe. Hermione could die and it would be all his fault.

Hermione broke. Her features softened and she flung her arms and furry tail around Harry, sobbing. Harry returned Hermione’s embrace and clutched her tightly, her warmth filling him, her scent calming.

“I’m sorry Hermione... I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just want you to live.”

“Whatever happens in there is whatever happens Harry,” Hermione sniffled quietly into his shoulder, “You don’t have to suffer all alone anymore Harry... never again...”

“Look at me Hermione... please!?”

Hermione lifted her bushy head and Harry cupped her chin, wiping her tears gently with the forefinger of his other hand.

“I love you Hermione,” Harry uttered softly, melting into her golden-brown eyes. “I don’t know what I’d do without you. You’re right... I promised you that whatever happened, we’d always be in it together. I’m really, really sorry for letting my stupid old feelings get the better of me...”

Hermione shut Harry up with a tender, wet kiss, pulled back and gazed into Harry’s pooling green eyes, biting her lip in consternation, feeling bad for screaming at him.

“Don’t be sorry Harry. They’re not stupid feelings--I know how hard it is for you to not feel guilty about other people being in danger... I can’t expect you to stop having them altogether. I...I just want you to know that no matter what, I’m never letting them come between us.”

As they continued their embrace, it suddenly struck Harry, Easter Sunday was only a week and a half away.

“Hermione, I promised you a proper wedding dress on our anniversary, but Easter Sunday is a week or so before it this year, and your Mum will be here. Maybe we should renew our vows then... for her.”

“Oh Harry,” Hermione responded tearfully, “As beautiful as that sounds, I think you’ve got enough to be getting on with, without having to fuss over something formal like that. And really... I’d rather just have a quiet peaceful day with you and Mum and our friends...”

~o0o~

Ginny was still keeping whatever had happened to herself, but she seemed much more cheerful by Easter Sunday. She and Dean kept Seamus and Ron on their toes while Harry and Viktor flew rings around Fred and George, and Hermione filled her mum in about the Triwizard tournament on the lawn below.

Neville sighed contentedly as he lay back in the carpet of grass inhaling the fragrance of Spring and soaking up the sun, watching his girlfriend flying above him while Angelina sat beside him and heckled the Twins.

Jean Granger was delighted to see Luna and Parvati again, and thrilled to meet Daphne and Fleur, Hermione’s newest friends. They all seemed so close, and if Jean suspected there was something much deeper, she didn’t speak of it, unwilling to question her daughter finding so much happiness in her life after being friendless for so many years.

And as the girls told it, they all owed everything to Harry Potter. Jean was horrified by the stories, and proud of her son-in-law, and moved to tears more than once. Daphne’s story was heartbreaking. But there was too much joy to be sad for too long; Mrs Granger could feel the strength of their bonds of affection.

Jean could read between the lines however, and she grew unsettled, wondering how safe it would be for non-magic people in the coming months. Hermione had mentioned the new Minister for Magic a few times and how she had risen to power after the assassination of the previous Minister.

But Jean Granger’s daughter seemed to be holding something back about the possible connection between the new Minister and the assassination, and about the Minister’s connection to the dangers which Harry was facing in the tournament. Mrs Granger was no fool. When Harry had finished flying, he flopped sweatily next to Hermione on the blanket covering the lawn.

Jean confronted Harry point blank.

“Harry, this new Minister, the one which came to power after the last one emancipated you two last year. She’s like the terrorist Voldemort, and that Mr Malfoy, isn’t she!? Someone who hates ‘muggles’ and ‘halfbreeds’... And she’s instigated this tournament as a means to get at you and Hermione, hasn’t she...?”

Tightness clenched Harry’s chest; he glanced anxiously at Hermione, and all of the girls froze.

“Yes...” Harry responded truthfully and quietly, “I don’t think it’s safe for us in the muggle world though Mrs Granger. The Ministry has some connections with the muggle government apparently. That’s why I asked Hermione to invite you here for Easter, instead of us coming to visit you. I didn’t want to put you in danger. At least there are a lot of wizards looking out for us here.” Harry paused as another chilling thought occurred to him.

“Mrs Granger, I don’t think it’s very safe for you in the muggle world at the moment either,” Harry continued, his heart thumping rapidly, “I have a home in London. It’s protected and secure. The Ministry doesn't know where it is--nobody can find it or get into it unless I tell them how myself. I’d really like it if you lived there for now. If you want to, you can bring your sister and her baby...”

Harry peered at Jean Granger's bewildered features hopefully, and swallowed. Hermione was speechless, shock all over her face.

Thinking of how he felt about his wife's mother, growing to feel as if Jean were his own, Harry was reminded of someone else who may not be protected from the Minister. There was no way that he and Hermione could return to Number 4 Privet Drive--assuming that they survived the Third Task. Petunia and Dudley could be in danger too, and Harry resolved to find a way to get them to Number 12 as soon as possible as well.