Wednesday, June 26th, 1994
An hour after Harry, Hermione and Tonks returned to the Granger house, Harry was in his bedroom reading Susan's response to his invitation – in which she heartily accepted – and preparing for bed when he heard a knock on the door. Hermione stepped into the room once invited. She left the door open and sat down on the bed beside him.
"We need to talk, Harry," Hermione said.
"If this is about Daphne kissing me on my cheek," Harry began.
"It isn't, Harry," Hermione cut in, "I don't mind if you're intimate with your other Betrothed. She could have kissed you on the lips, and I'd be fine with it. She's basically you're fiancee after all, as am I."
"Then what's this about?" Harry asked; then he realized exactly why she wanted to talk to him, "Is this about you asking Daphne if she'd be alright with me having more than four wives?"
"Yes," Hermione said, "I know you think you're trying to protect me, or keep me happy. But I'm well aware of your current infatuation outside your Betrothed. Harry, I know you fancy Tonks."
"So what if I do?" Harry asked, "She's what – nearly twenty? If you had forgotten, I'll once again be turning fourteen in about a month -"
"Mentally you're seventeen or eighteen," Hermione said, "She knows that. Also, starting sometime in August until June of next year she's going to be posing as a fourteen year old."
"So what?" Harry asked, "We both know it isn't going to go anywhere. She fancies Remus! They'll get married and have – why are you shaking your head?"
"I don't think it will work out that way, Harry," Hermione said, "That happened last time, and only because they fell in love while working together in the Order. She's beginning to fall in love with somebody else."
Harry stared at Hermione. It took half-a-minute for him to realize what she meant.
"She fancies me?" he asked.
"Yes, you oblivious idiot," Hermione said, rolling her eyes, "It is mostly your fault. Every time you take a shower, you walk out in naught but a towel and she's usually waiting for her turn. Lately she's done it just to catch you and take a peek. Also she was watching you at the swimming pool when you weren't watching her. She admitted that to me. At first she felt bad about it, and felt like sort of a creep, because she thought she fancied a young teen. Now she knows you're mentally older. Well, she's still confused about her feelings. I have a feeling it will be easier for her when she's posing as a fourteen year old, because that is sort of what you'll be doing, and she'll understand that. Look at me, Harry."
Harry had been staring off into space trying to wrap his mind around what Hermione had been telling him. He looked back at her.
"I'm not telling you to go downstairs right now and snog her until she can't breathe," Hermione said. "Nor am I telling you to do it tomorrow or in the near future. If I was in your position, I'd let things work naturally. I'm just telling you not to ignore your feelings. We both did that last time. We could have been a couple a long time ago if we hadn't ignored our feelings."
"Why are you okay with me being interested in Tonks?" Harry asked, "I'm Betrothed to you and three other girls. Isn't that enough?"
"I'd feel selfish if I was against it," Hermione said, "You need all the love you can get, and if you fancy her, good for you. What's one or two more witches when you're marrying four?"
"Less time for you to spend with me," Harry said.
"I doubt it," Hermione said, with an uncharacteristic snort, "You could easily have two or more girls in your bed at night. When you're older, of course."
Harry coughed and felt his cheeks go warm. Hermione giggled and leaned toward him and pecked him on the lips. He deepened the kiss and she grinned against his lips and returned it. She backed away nearly a minute later.
"As much as I would love to continue that right now," she said, "Mum or Daddy could walk in. On Saturday, that won't be a problem. I'm going to bed. Good night. I love you, Harry, and I'll love you even if you fall in love with other women, at least those whom I approve of. Please think about what I said."
"Okay," Harry said. "And I love you too. No matter what else happens."
Hermione smiled and pecked him on the lips again. She stood and walked out of the room. Harry turned off the lamp next to his bed, set his glasses on the bedside table, and was soon asleep. That night he dreamed of Hermione and the rest of his future wives. Somehow Tonks had made an appearance too.
The two days leading up to Saturday, when Harry and Hermione would be leaving the Granger House and going to Potter Manor, passed by rather quickly.
Harry was determined not to add any awkwardness to his friendship with Tonks, now that he knew she fancied him. He decided to take Hermione's advice and let things between him and Tonks progress naturally. Hermione had been right about him; he had been oblivious about Tonks. Now that he knew she was interested, he did notice her watching him. On Thursday, he had even volunteered for her to take a shower first and couldn't help but notice her slight disappointment. It made him chuckle when she was out of his sight or hearing range. He figured he would have a bit of fun before he worked up the courage to talk about things with her.
Possible budding romances aside, Harry dedicated most of the last two days in the Granger House for the summer focusing on Hermione and her parents. He, Hermione and Dan spent four hours on both days in the basement practicing knife-throwing. By the time their training was finished on Friday, both Harry and Hermione had graduated from hay-bales to the mannequin and were even able to nail the mannequin from a short distance away in several locations. Dan was thrilled with their progress in such a short time and made them promise they would keep working on it at Potter Manor. It was easy for Harry to promise that; he wanted to make sure he was well-trained in knife-throwing at a mannequin before he began his assassination mission with Hermione and their group. After all, the skill would likely come in very useful.
Hermione spent a lot of time with her parents leading up to Saturday. Friday afternoon, during a brief session of Occlumency practice on the hammock in the backyard, Harry noticed Hermione was more quiet than usual. Harry thought it was because she was leaving home for the summer. So when he asked her about it, she admit to him that her mother had given her the Sex Talk earlier that afternoon after putting it off for the entire time they had been there.
"It was worse than last time," Hermione commented, under the privacy of a Muffliato Charm, "Mum knows I am going to be one of four wives – at least. Last time she merely talked to me about boys, and a woman's so-called 'duties' with them. This time she added a new topic into the conversation. She asked me if I planned on being intimate with any of my future sister-wives."
Harry blinked and stared at her. "And... what did you say?"
"I merely said it was a possibility," Hermione said, "I couldn't say 'no', then down the road it happens. We have a long future ahead of us with your other Betrothed. It could happen! Anyway, I learned something about my mother I never would have thought about her. She experimented with the same sex in secondary school. Now that I think about it, I shouldn't be surprised. She didn't seem offended when Tonks talked about her own experiences in the same thing."
"I had noticed that," Harry said, nodding.
"Overall," Hermione said, "Let's just say the conversation was more awkward and informational than the last time I had the talk with her."
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Harry asked.
"Both," Hermione said, "Definitely both. And that is all I'll comment on anything to do with me being intimate with girls for the immediate future."
"Yes, ma'am," Harry said, earning a peck on the lips, then an order to return to his Occlumency training.
On Friday evening, Emma fixed a big dinner as sort of a farewell party for Harry, Hermione and Tonks. The trio would be leaving early the following morning with Sirius and Remus. Emotions were high between all three Grangers. As far as Dan and Emma knew, this was the first time Hermione would be away from her parents for the majority of the summer.
Saturday, June 29th, 1994
Not even leaving the Granger House and Crawley deterred Tonks from insisting that Harry and Hermione join her on their traditional jog around the neighborhood. So early Saturday morning, Harry woke with the alarm and joined Hermione and Tonks as they went on their normal routine. After his shower, in which Harry once again found Tonks waiting in the upstairs corridor for him to finish, he made his way back into the guest bedroom and dressed into an outfit, mindful of what he would be doing that day.
After he dressed, he began packing his belongings into his Undetectable Extension Bag. By the time he finished, only his wand, pocket-knife – Dan had drilled him and Hermione into making sure they always had it on them - Invisibility Cloak, a basilisk fang, Hedwig's cage and the Portkey to Potter Manor – a large boot – was not packed. He would place Hedwig's cage in the bag before they left the Granger House. Hedwig would be flying to Northampton. Hopefully by the time she arrived, she would be able to find Potter Manor which would be lax of any alien enchantments upon Harry's arrival.
He brought the Undetectable Extension Bag to Hermione's room and found her sitting on her bed as she packed a box of clothes. He could see the mixed emotions on her face.
"You can stay here longer if you wish, Hermione," Harry said, "I'm not making you leave with me."
"And leave you to snog Tonks in my absence?" Hermione asked, grinning.
Harry blushed red and shrugged. "Only if I missed you too much."
"Prat!" Hermione retorted, chuckling. "You would miss me and I'd certainly miss you. I'm going with you, Harry. We have a lot to do this summer, and I can't do any of it stuck here with my parents."
"True," Harry said. "I was merely saying that I'd be okay with it if it were your choice to stay here longer. I knew what your choice would be, but I still mentioned it."
"Thank you," Hermione said, "That means a lot to me. Are you finished packing?"
"Everything but Hedwig's cage," Harry said, "Which I'll add before we leave. She's flying to Northampton."
Hermione huffed. "I wish Crookshanks could fly. He hated Grimmauld Place when we went there last time. Even if I do keep him in his carrier, which I will, he'll raise a fuss."
"We won't be there very long," Harry said, "We'll go in, get the locket, destroy it, and get out."
"We're destroying the locket there?" Hermione asked. "We're not just going to give it to Ragnok so he can do it safely?"
"I think Kreacher would like to see it get destroyed," Harry said, "It haunted him so much."
Hermione nodded. "Didn't think about that. Good idea."
Harry smiled and handed her the bag. He stayed with her as she packed to give her moral support. He could tell she was still emotional about leaving her parents.
Breakfast was a quiet and rather somber affair. Dan and Emma talked about returning to work on Monday, as well as plans for a romantic getaway for just the two of them later in the summer, commenting that it would be the first time on holiday without Hermione in several years`. Harry thought this might upset Hermione even more, but her mood improved as she listened. He could tell she was happy for her parents.
Shortly before breakfast ended, Sirius and Remus appeared. Emma offered them the extra leftovers, which they accepted happily. As Sirius and Remus ate breakfast, this gave Harry, Hermione and Tonks time to finish packing. Harry had offered to put Tonks' belongings in his bag, but it turned out she had a similar bag of her own.
Harry fed Hedwig a handful of owl treats, then allowed her to affectionately nip on his fingers.
"You have a long fly ahead of you, girl," Harry said, "You're going up to Northampton, to Potter Manor, our new home. I will try to be there by the time you arrive. If you're there before me, you might not be able to see Potter Manor, so just fly around until you... sense me, or whatever it is you do. Understand?"
Hedwig nodded her head. Harry smiled and stroked her feathers.
"I'll see you soon," he said, "Go on then. Safe travels. It is a cloudless day, so do try to stay out of sight of Muggles."
Hedwig hooted then took flight out the window and into the sky. Harry placed Hedwig's cage in the bag, and took one glance around the room to make sure he wasn't missing anything. When he found nothing, he placed his Cloak, the Basilisk Fang and Portkey in the pocket of his robes, then pocketed his wand and pocket-knife in his jeans, and made his way downstairs. Hermione, Tonks, Sirius, Remus and Hermione's parents were waiting for him. Hermione was hugging her parents with misty eyes. Dan extended a hand when he saw Harry. Harry immediately shook it.
"Before this summer, there was only one man whom I trusted with my daughter's life," Dan said, "You're looking at him. Now there are two. You've earned that spot. Don't make me regret that trust."
"I promise not to, sir," Harry said.
"Keep training with your knife," Dan said, "and you'll double the distance and speed in no time against a mannequin – hell, against a human being too if it ever had to come to that."
"I will, sir," Harry said.
"Now that I remember your father," Dan said, "I am happy to say you remind me of him. In appearance and a bunch of other good stuff. Those eyes are your mother's, however. Anyone ever tell you that?"
"Several people," Harry chuckled.
"Well, they're right," Dan said.
Harry smiled and turned to Emma. He was rather surprised when she enveloped him in a hug.
"Your parents would be so proud of you," she said, "Take care of my daughter, will you?"
"I promise," Harry said.
"Write to us this summer," Emma said, as she backed away from Harry, and looked at him and her daughter, "Both of you."
"We will, Mum," Hermione said. "And I promise to see you before I return to Hogwarts."
"Better get going then," Emma said. "We'll see you soon."
"Remember where Grimmauld Place is, cousin?" Sirius asked.
"Yep!" Tonks replied.
"You're in charge of taking Harry and Hermione there," Sirius said, "I'll take Crookshanks, Hermione. I know how to deal with rambunctious animals due to Apparation."
Hermione nodded and handed Crookshanks' carrier to Sirius.
"I'll go first," Remus said, "If I am not back in one minute, it is clear to go."
Remus vanished in front of them. As they waited, Harry and Hermione took Tonks' hands. A minute later, when Remus hadn't returned, they gave one last goodbye to the Grangers, before the entrance hall vanished around them. Soon they were standing in front of Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. Harry grimaced as he looked up at the large building. So many memories of this place. Not all of them good. Sirius appeared a few moments later.
"Have you been here since you left Azkaban?" Harry asked him.
"Nope," Sirius said, "I preferred to avoid the place."
"We better be careful then," Hermione said, "The place could be infested with Dark creatures."
"Nothing worse than the house-elf," Sirius muttered.
"Sirius!" Hermione reprimanded, "Please don't be mean to him. Between the locket haunting the house, your mother corrupting him, and years of solitude, it has played with his head. Treat him right, please. You're the Head of the Blacks. Let him know it."
"I'm not sure you're correct, but alright," Sirius said.
"We need to let him know why we're here," Harry said, "Once he realizes were going to do the one thing he hasn't been able to do, and wanted to, I think he'll behave."
"Fine," Sirius muttered, "Let's just get this over with."
Sirius led the group toward the house, and they made their way up the stairs to the front door. Sirius revealed his Black Family Signet ring, and tapped it against the doorknob. A mechanical sound was heard, as the door unlocked. Sirius opened the door took a slow step inside, then another. He nodded quietly to the others, who followed him inside. Tonks closed the door… which shut rather loudly. Harry cursed silently, knowing what was probably coming next.
He was right.
"WHO DARES DISTURB THE NOBLE AND MOST ANCIENT HOUSE OF BLACK!"a voice shrieked loudly down the hallway.
"Shit," Harry cursed, "I was hoping we could keep her quiet.. Come on!"
"Harry, wait!" Sirius said, as Harry and Hermione hurried forward toward the stairs, "That sounds like – it can't be – it sounds like… Mum."
For Sirius had seen what Harry and Hermione were now looking at too. Walburga Black's portrait was curtain-less at the moment, and she was standing up in her portrait, her bloodshot eyes wide.
"YOOOU!" Mrs. Black shrieked when she saw Sirius, "YOU FILTHY BLOOD-TRAITOR! ABOMINATION OF MY WOMB! YOU DARE RETURN TO THE NOBLE HOUSE OF BLACK!"
"Hullo, Mum," Sirius said, "You look well… for a dead person."
"Hello, Auntie Walburga," Tonks said, her hair turning from black to pink.
Mrs. Black's eyes widened as she looked at Tonks. "YOU! YOU HALF-BLOOD WHORE OF A BLOOD TRAITOR -"
"SHUT UP!" Sirius growled. "You will not talk to her like that. Mother, I am the Head of the Blacks now. I command you to be silent!"
Mrs. Black looked as if she was going to yell again. Harry sighed and waved his wand toward the portrait. A brass rod appeared at the top of the portrait, and thick black curtains hung on each side. Harry slammed them shut and Mrs. Black went silent.
"I should have known she would have placed a portrait in here," Sirius said, with a sigh, "I bet it is placed with a Permanent Sticking Charm, isn't –?"
"Why were you screaming, my Mistress?" a gravelly, deep voice croaked from down the hall, "Was it those damned doxies again? I'm sorry, Mistress, they are pests."
"Speaking of pest," Sirius muttered, stepping down into the corridor.
Harry looked down the corridor as the ancient house-elf Kreacher stared back, his droopy, blood-shot eyes wide as they looked at Sirius.
"Hello, Kreacher," Sirius said, "Long time, no see."
"Master Sirius has returned to the Noble and Ancient House of Black," Kreacher muttered, "The blood-traitor has returned. Oh, my poor Mistress, Kreacher knows now why she screamed. Master Sirius is not alone. Is this the one they call Harry Potter?"
"Kreacher," Sirius said, before the elf could insult anyone else. "It seems you have been putting off your duties your Masters and Mistresses have set upon you. This house is filthy."
"Mistress ordered Kreacher to keep it so," Kreacher said. "Ordered Kreacher to keep it so in case the blood-traitor brats of the Black Family ever wished to return. Mistress ordered Kreacher to keep the doxies and boggarts and quintapeds at bay but alive –"
"My dear mother set me up a homecoming present!" Sirius laughed, then shook his head, "This could be a problem. All right, Harry, where is this – err –"
He looked at Kreacher; apparently Sirius didn't want to speak of the locket with Kreacher nearby.
"Where is this object we are looking for?" he asked.
"Kreacher wonders what this object Master speaks of," Kreacher grunted, "Mistress would not like the blood-traitor brat stealing her valuables. No, she would not like that at all –"
"We're here for the locket, Kreacher," Harry said.
Kreacher's eyes widened into saucers before they narrowed.
"How does the brat know about Master Regulus' locket?" he asked.
"We know all about it Kreacher," Harry said, "I'm here to destroy it. I know exactly how to do it."
"Lead us to the locket, Kreacher," Sirius said, "Now."
Kreacher muttered under his breath and turned around. He led the group through the corridor until they reached the sitting room. Harry immediately spotted the glass case and found Slytherin's Locket inside, along with several other items."
"Are there any defenses set in this room to guard the locket?" Harry asked.
"Answer him, Kreacher," Sirius said.
"Kreacher placed several defenses when he couldn't destroy the locket," Kreacher said.
"Disable them," Sirius said, "All of them. Now."
Kreacher walked around the room and snapped his fingers several times.
"Kreacher has disabled all the defenses," he said.
"Are we destroying the locket here?" Sirius asked.
"Yeah," Harry said.
"Kreacher, please retrieve the locket and set it on the center of the floor," Sirius said.
Kreacher did as was told. Harry watched as the elf gingerly retrieved the locket from the cabinet, then turned and walked over to the center of the room. He set it on the floor, and backed away from it. Harry retrieved the Basilisk fang from his pocket and cleared his throat.
"Okay," Harry said, "I have to use Parseltongue to open the locket. I have to be concentrating on that, so I won't be able to focus on destroying the Locket. Someone else needs to do it."
"I will," Sirius said, immediately. "For Regulus."
"Okay," Harry said, "Listen to me very clearly. When the locket opens, stab it. Immediately. You don't want to let it use its defenses. No matter what you see, or hear, in front of you, or in your head. Once you stab it, back away quickly. Understand?"
"Got it, kid," Sirius said. "Stab it straight away. Don't waste time. Ignore all voices in my head but my own. Get the hell out of there. Got it."
Harry handed the fang to Sirius. Sirius cleared his throat and walked over to the locket, then knelt down in front of it. Sirius held the butt of the fang with both hands above the locket. He looked at Harry, and nodded quietly.
Harry cleared his throat again, and closed his eyes, concentrating. Then he opened them and stared at the locket, picturing the jeweled snake as a real serpent.
§I command you to open§ Harry hissed, staring only at the locket.
The locket's tiny door opened, revealing its innards. It could only vibrate against the floor for a mere moment, before Sirius slammed the fang into its innards. Harry and Sirius backed away from the locket, as across the room, Hermione, Tonks and Remus each summoned a shield; one that blocked Harry, one that blocked Sirius, and one that blocked them from anything the locket might do. The locket emitted a piercing shriek, bringing Harry back to his senses in time to see the black ooze seeping from it.
"Is the cursed thing destroyed?" Sirius asked.
"Yeah," Harry said, "Just the snake and Voldemort left. Good job. Everyone. Great teamwork."
Kreacher chose that moment to sink to the floor and start sobbing.
"Kreacher thanks you, Master Sirius, Harry Potter," Kreacher croaked, "You did what Kreacher failed to do. Kreacher hopes that Master Regulus forgives Kreacher."
"I am sure he does, Kreacher," Sirius said.
"Would you like to keep the Locket, Kreacher?" Harry asked, "The curse inside it is gone."
"No, Harry Potter," Kreacher said, "Remove the vile object from the home of my Masters and Mistress."
"Okay," Harry said.
"Kreacher," Sirius said, "I want you to clean this house completely. Make it look respectable again. I do not know when I will return. But when I do, I wish to come back to a home a Black can be proud of. Scratch that, a home I can be proud of."
"Yes, Master Sirius," Kreacher said, "Kreacher does as his Master obeys."
"And please remove my mother's portrait from the entrance hall," Sirius said, "Place it in the Corridor with the other portraits where she can converse with the Blacks who went before her."
"Yes, Master Sirius," Kreacher said.
"We are leaving now, Kreacher," Sirius said. "Before you begin your chores, can you please charm this room so that it won't be destroyed when we Portkey and Apparate from it?"
Kreacher snapped his fingers. "It is done, Master Sirius."
"You may go," Sirius said, then sighed, "Kreacher? Thank you for what you did today."
Kreacher bowed, then vanished from the room. Harry walked over to the locket, gingerly picked it up and pocketed it. Then he removed the Portkey from his pocket.
"Time to go home," Harry said.
Hermione, Sirius, Tonks and Remus made their way over to him, and each placed a finger on the boot that was the Portkey.
"Everyone ready?" Harry asked; they all nodded, "Three, two, one. To Potter Manor!"
Harry felt the familiar tug on his navel, as Grimmauld Place vanished around him.