Hermione led Harry into their bedroom and led was the operative word; he had started going into shock almost as soon as they arrived home. He just stood there as she removed his clothes before placing him in bed; she then undressed and joined him before pulling her betrothed tightly into a hug.
He was unresponsive until speaking over the bond, 'Hermione how can you bare to touch me, didn't you see what I did to that defenceless man!'
Hermione spoke back to him, "Harry there no longer is me, I, or you – only we and us. Of course I saw what you did and the fact I made no attempt to stop you surely tells that I agreed with your decision. I saw the same vision as you and if Voldemort hadn't been stopped by baby Harry Potter that version of history would probably have come true."
'I thought I was loosing you again, I won't let that happen I swear I won't.'
"You could never loose me Harry, we're together for all time like your mum and dad."
This seemed to be the right thing to say as his arms slowly wrapped round Hermione as he sobbed holding the girl he loved more than life, slowly crying himself to sleep holding onto the one person in the world he relied on.
Harry awoke with a strange feeling until he remembered where he was and why his betrothed was wrapped in his embrace, after a while he gradually relaxed before finding his voice, "eh Hermione, did you know we were both lying here naked?"
She smiled at him, "Harry I can tell you the exact second you discovered it, I'm sorry but it's rude to point."
They both laughed before snuggling into each other, "Harry, your birthday is in twelve days but I really don't want to wait any longer." She started to kiss away any semblance of sense the boy had left.
"Well if you're sure…" no more words were used or needed.
Dobby was outside their bedroom door casting silencing and locking charms that Dumbledore would struggle to break, his charges were going to be given the time alone they needed to heal.
.....
Millie and Ron had left the trial soon after Harry and Hermione, making their way down Diagon Alley. She noted her betrothed was seemingly in another world and this really scared the large Slytherin, Millicent wasn't stupid and knew she had taken advantage of the handsome Gryffindor. Being betrothed to someone her own age was a bonus she didn't expect but the pureblood by her side was far beyond her wildest dreams and she was so happy she could burst.
Watching his reactions when he saw his friends had left her confused so Millicent asked the one question she really didn't want answered, unfortunately she was falling in love him and couldn't live without knowing the truth. "Ron, would you rather be with Hermione than me? Is that why you're so quiet?"
The question shocked Ron but not nearly as much as the answer did his betrothed, "are you serious? Did you see what they did in that courtroom, what he did! Hanging around with those two is a one-way ticket to an early grave; you wouldn't believe some of the shit they put me through. If it's a choice between them or you then I've made my decision and will gladly be sticking with you."
Ron's feet actually left the ground as an ecstatic Millie engulfed her betrothed and gave him the snog of his life in the middle of a busy Diagon Alley.
Ron's feet were still of the ground as he put his arms round his betrothed and started to return he kiss, the image of the back of that death eater's head being blown off was a startling reminder that there were a lot worse things in life than being betrothed to Millicent Bulstrode.
.....
It was late when the two finally left their bedroom and headed towards the terrace in search of some supper, they could easily have had something brought to their room but understood people would be worried about them. Harry was now more worried about Dan and Emma finding out that they hadn't waited till they were married than the group's reaction to his performance in court, this caused Hermione to smile as that was why she had pushed him earlier, well one of the reasons anyway.
They walked in and Harry was accosted by two blurs, one with long blond hair and the other red with black streaks as both began to kiss him all over his face. Hermione chuckled at Harry's discomfort, "should I be getting worried here girls?"
It was Luna who answered, "I just want Harry to know our feelings haven't changed because of today, I still love him." She gave him another kiss before holding him in a tight hug.
"Hey, I just thought it was a good excuse to get to kiss Harry!" Ginny Weasley would have meant those words but coming from Ginny Pomfrey her friends understood she was trying to lighten the mood.
Neville also kept it light, "sorry mate, you know I love you but I really prefer blonds so no kisses from me."
Harry was mortified though when Augusta came over and gave him a hug and kiss, "young man what you did today has set our world on a course that will eventually eradicate the evil that is Voldemort and his followers. The houses of Potter and Longbottom have been allies for generations and I for one hope this is a tradition that can be continued."
"Madam Longbottom, Neville is our brother in all but name and between us we hope to continue the tradition for a few more generations yet." Harry was tearing up and when he saw Emma approach him in the same condition they held each other and let them flow.
"Harry that man was pure evil, I was ready to shoot him myself."
"Mum when he was talking I started imagining you and dad with Hermione in the same position, I will not let anyone harm my family and if I have to become an outcast to achieve that then I'm willing to pay the price."
Dan had joined his wife in holding the young man who was now their son in every way that mattered, "I was imagining the same as you Harry, thinking of all the witches and wizards who never got the chance to discover who they were before being brutally murdered. These are not just statistics anymore, kids like the Creeveys, little Natalie MacDonald and even our Hermione wouldn't be alive today if you hadn't stopped him as a baby. I know what it cost you to do that today and I wish that I could have pulled the trigger in your place but Harry Potter doing it changed your world."
Harry looked confused until Sirius led the group over to the table so they could get some much needed food into them before he would explain, "when you left it was a pretty pissed Amelia Bones who rounded on the Wizengamot and Merlin did she get some changes made. You can now legally be asked by anyone to lift up your sleeve and prove you don't have the dark mark, if you do then it's straight to trial with Veritaserum and the guilty are sentenced to death. I don't see you becoming an outcast any time soon."
Dobby popped in and actually looked embarrassed, "Minister Bones would like to speak with you, she's been asking for hours but I told her you were unavailable at the moment."
Hermione could feel Harry's apprehension; he actually expected to be arrested. "You did the right thing Dobby, could you fetch her now please?" It was a smiling Dobby who popped away to obey his mistress's command.
"Dobby told us the same thing, just what were you up to?" The smirk on Sirius's face grew wider the redder Harry got but he hadn't reckoned with Hermione.
"I'm sorry Sirius but we can't tell you, it would be considered cruelty to dumb animals to make an old dog jealous."
If anything Harry's face got redder at the accompanying laughter but he calmed down a fair bit noticing that Dan and Emma were joining in and not trying to murder him, Hermione had both arms around him with her head on his shoulder when Amelia arrived with Dobby.
The Grangers and Sirius followed their charges as they escorted the minister into their study for a meeting as Dobby served tea while they waited to see what the minister of magic wanted, the fact that Shack and Tonks weren't here let Harry relax on the arrest issue.
As usual Amelia wasn't one for small talk and got straight down to business, "Lord Potter you will face no charges for what transpired today as I and many others believe you did the magical world a very big favour by giving it a kick up the arse. All the death eaters that you and Miss Granger exposed today have been tried, sentenced and executed under the new wizarding law your actions allowed to be formed."
Harry was visibly relieved that he wasn't going to be facing any charges and once again Hermione had her arms round him with her head on his shoulder, their actions this afternoon seemed to have done the almost impossible task off making them even closer.
"On a more personal note I would like to thank you both for saving my life today in more ways than you know," Amelia opened her robes and lifted her jumper showing a dragon hide vest. "The money you gifted the auror department will mean that all our operatives will have one of these as standard issue in a matter of days. Poppy told me some of the splinters that impacted into my back would have done serious damage but for this vest. We have also tripled our intake of recruits this year and next leaving me a lot more confident about our future than I was a few months ago."
Harry and Hermione were pleased that things were working out so well but felt Amelia hadn't got to the real reason for her visit yet though thought that would soon change, they weren't wrong.
"Now we come to the problem I have and the real reason for my visit, it's plain to me that you have an incredibly accurate source of information that I don't. All six members you stunned after the attack were death eaters and I found myself asking how you could know when all my entire department had was a few unsubstantiated rumours. There is not a shred of doubt in my mind that we're on the same side but as minister there must be things we can work on together to resolve this with as little loss to our side as possible."
The all understood Amelia wasn't asking for any political or personal gain, she felt every auror loss personally and was willing to do anything to eradicate those visits where you had to tell somebody their loved one had been killed in the line of duty.
"Minister we have a plan that hopefully will meet that criteria and we will gladly accept your help when the time is right, recent events may have put those plans beyond salvage at which point we will certainly bring you into our full confidence as we try to end this. Our generation has known relative peace and we hope to finish off Voldemort so the peace will extend to our children and beyond, at the moment only Hermione and I know the plan and that's the way it's got to stay for now but that doesn't mean we can't work together or share information."
They had been discussing it over their bond just what they could tell the only person in the ministry they trusted, "minister the horcruxes that you became aware of have been found and destroyed bar one, Voldemort has a very large snake as a familiar that he's made a horcrux. The snake is always with him but can be killed like any other animal, which will leave him mortal. Before you start organising search parties there's a very important fact that you need to be aware of, it's been prophesised that he can only die by Harry's hand." Hermione's words had Amelia's head whipping round to face Harry for confirmation.
He nodded and Hermione continued, "if your aurors come into contact with him they need to get out of there as quick as possible, take a shot at the snake if they get the chance but don't engage Voldemort in a fight they can't win."
Amelia found herself lost for words for one of the few times in her life, to anyone else that would be a death sentence but his friends and family had all rallied behind this extraordinary young man and she actually believed he could pull it off. She was trying very hard not to imagine Susan in the same predicament; even with her as minister it was very doubtful they would get a positive outcome.
"Lord Potter I can only wish you well and reiterate my offer that I will swing the whole weight of the ministry behind you, all that's required is to ask and if it's within my power it's yours."
"How would you like to capture a death eater whose escape from Azkaban was masterminded and carried out by a high ranking ministry official?" Harry's question had Amelia on the edge of her seat, eyes burning with righteous indignation.
"Please tell me more Lord Potter."
.....
When Roy MacDonald had confirmed Natalie was going to be attending Potter Institute he had politely asked the young lord if there was anything he could do to repay his generosity. The answer had Roy chuckling and he was still laughing as he gladly granted Harry's request, the form in front of him was Natalie's acceptance letter for Hogwarts. He had ticked the box to indicate his daughter would not be attending and in the space provided to give a reason he wrote 'taking the PISS'. He placed the form into the envelope provided for muggle parents and wished he could see the face of the person who opened it.
....
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