"Yes he did. He also mentioned Dobby's penchant for overly long names and to not be too surprised should he show up and start spouting off how Harry is the greatest thing since sliced bread."
"Muggle expression?"
Hermione nodded. "On a related note…" The girl adopted a stern, mildly frightening look as she leaned forward and fixed a stare on Shiva. "He also mentioned that you were finishing up the paperwork to become his legal guardian."
"Ah," Shiva leaned back into her chair. She met the young witch's gaze and nodded. "He told you that huh?"
"It came up when I tried to convince him to come to my parents' instead of the Dursleys."
"Yeah that would do it," Shiva said thoughtfully. "Thank you for offering by the way."
Hermione nodded never once letting go of Shiva's eyes. "Of course. I will protect that boy in every way I can. Bathsheda Babbling, aka Shiva, allow me to make myself perfectly clear." Hermione paused long enough for Shiva to nod. "I believe we care deeply about Harry in our own ways. I also know that Harry looks to you as the sister he never had. You have been good to and for him." Hermione took a moment to breathe in deep and intensify her glare calmly folding her hands into her lap. "I am not in the habit of threatening authority figures. But if you hurt him – if you dangle this in front of him and then rip it away – I will make your life a living hell. Professor Snape is an arse, Ronald Weasley is an idiot and Headmaster Dumbledore is foolish to an extreme, but you can hurt Harry in a way none of them can. You can cut him through the heart and that is not something I will allow. I may only be 13 and I may not be a fully accomplished or accredited witch, but if you hurt Harry make no mistake; I will end you."
Shiva gulped and nodded. She could see why Neville said Hermione was scary. Hermione Granger would be fearsome when she had received her full education, of that Shiva had zero doubt. "I'm getting him away from those people, Hermione. And short of dying on him, I'm going to try my best – for as long he'll have me – to keep him from getting hurt like that again. I doubt Harry can ever have a normal childhood but I can certainly try to at least make it more loving then it has been until now."
"Good." Hermione leaned back and let out a breath. Her demeanor instantly lightened and a smile spread across her face.
"You know, you two can both be scary as hell when you get all protective," Shiva mused.
"What? Harry? Harry's not any more protective of me than anyone else," Hermione said with a laugh.
Shiva just shook her head and grinned at the younger girl. "Hermione ask Neville sometime about how Harry went ballistic on nearly the entire senior staff when you were attacked then tell me he's not protective of you. And of course then there was the time when we were waltzing through the bones of the basilisk's victims and Harry calmly stated, in no uncertain terms, that he was going to kill the basilisk because it had the audacity to harm you."
Hermione gaped for a moment before replying, "Well, err, I'm sure he would've said that about any of his friends."
"You keep telling yourself that, girl."
"Yes, well, anyway, about next year's classes…"
Severus Snape sat in his office drinking. His bottle of firewhiskey was nearly half empty. It just wasn't fair. He wasn't supposed to be able to respect the boy. The Potter spawn looked nearly identical to James. How could he not be exactly like his father? Never mind the eyes. Never mind the genius he'd inherited from Lily. Harry Potter was the son of James Potter. That was all there was supposed to be to the matter. That was all the boy would ever be. Just some arrogant little shite that waltzed all over the school like he owned it. Like no one else mattered. A tiny little boy who only cared about his friends and would do things simply for the glory and the adulation. Harry Potter was nothing to be respected!
And yet…Harry Potter had saved two Slytherins' lives. Harry Potter had killed an ancient basilisk. Harry Potter had done this not for fame but because he wanted to protect an acquaintance. Harry Potter had earned the gratitude and protection of Daphne Greengrass, Ice Queen. And Harry Potter was actively rebelling against Albus Bloody Dumbledore.
Harry Potter was not James Potter. So…what did that make him?
Snape scowled and downed another glass of firewhiskey. That was not a thought train he wished to follow this night.
While Snape was draining his liqueur, an old man was sitting in his office chair thinking. Albus Dumbledore was staring at his phoenix but not seeing the small bird. He was lost in thought, his lemon drop bowl long since emptied of all sweets.
"Why did you go to him? Why would you take that initiative all on your own? Why take Flopsy?" Dumbledore turned to the Sorting Hat laying dormant on the shelf. He knew the Hat wasn't a fan of the name but as far as he knew there was no official designation for the relic. It wasn't even supposed to be truly active beyond the start of the year. That Fawkes had brought the Hat to Harry without any input was worrisome enough. That the Hat had then delivered the Sword of Gryffindor to the boy was…frankly frightening.
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