T
ime Again
By: broomstick flyer
Seventy one year old Harry Potter, Headmaster of Hogwarts is given the choice to once again save the world or to remain and see his entire world disapear. If he choses to save the world he will be sent back in time.
Rated: Fiction T - English - Romance - Harry P., Hermione G. - Chapters: 42 - Words: 115,157 - Reviews: 927 - Favs: 3,263 - Follows: 1,471 - Updated: Nov 5, 2008 - Published: Sep 30, 2008 - Status: Complete - id: 4567822
Chapter 1
Disclaimer…
Disclaimer….. All characters are the copyright of JK Rowling
Time Again
Harry James Potter Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry sat alone in his office trying to make out his annual report for the governors of the school. His entire life both personal and at the school was in turmoil as he tried to cope with the death of his best friend Hermione. He wondered how he was supposed to live on without his deputy head mistress and transfiguration teacher.
Hermione had died in a way he had once been told by his old friend Hagrid was not possible. She had died in a car crash while returning from a visit to her ex-husband, and Harry's one time friend, Ronald Weasley. She had apparently stood no chance, and died instantly when her car had been crushed by a truck that had raced straight out of a side street. Joy riding teenagers had stolen the truck, and had ploughed into her car on the driver's side.
All the joy-riders had escaped the Muggle law officers, but now just a day later they were being tracked by half the wizard Auror division. Hermione had been one of the most popular of all wizard kind. War hero, great and powerful witch, and respected teacher, there had almost been a riot when the Minister for magic had said it was out of their jurisdiction to investigate Muggle crimes. The outcry had forced him to protect his position by authorising an Auror to offer some help to the Muggles. Aurors from all over the country decided they would be the one to help.
Harry sat and wondered if he should still hold a Yule ball this year, it had after all been Hermione's idea to make it an annual event, and she had been the one to oversee it all. Finally deciding that though it would bring back enough memories to break his heart yet again, he decided he had to leave things as they were. He would assign one of his professors the task of making it into an annual memorial for the woman he had loved so deeply for the past sixty years.
The report was forgotten as his mind drifted back to their very first ball way back when they had been in their fourth year at the school. Hermione and Ron had both been his best friends at the time and yet it had been a disaster for all of them. It had been a disaster that had had far reaching effects on the rest of their lives. Hermione had divorced Ron after twenty five years of marriage, due mainly to Ron's temper outbursts and his stupid inability to forgive and forget. For years he had repeatedly brought up the subject of Viktor Krum, and Hermione's date with him to that first ball. Ron's attitude both to their marriage, and toward Harry had finally driven a wedge between them that Hermione had been unwilling to ignore.
Harry's friendship with Ron had ended within weeks of the end of the second wizard war with Voldemort, when he had once more deserted Harry and Hermione during the search for Hermione's parents in Australia. He had simply lost his temper over something trivial and walked out on them. Harry had been really surprised when only two years later Hermione and Ron were married. Harry himself had not been willing to resume the friendship or to accept the pathetic apology given by Ron, when Ron had been forced by Hermione to apologise some three months after he walked out on them.
He remembered the day well, he and Ginny had just returned to the Burrow after shopping in Diagon alley, when Hermione had called him into the sitting room. Ron had been sitting on the sofa looking down at his feet, he did not even look up when they entered, he then mumbled something that sounded like "Sorry ok."
"Ron, do it properly." Hermione had told him.
So he had stood, shouted "I'm sorry, is that loud enough." then stormed out into the garden. Both Hermione and Ginny had wanted him to follow Ron, and talk to him. But he walked into the kitchen poured himself a cup of tea and said "No, after the Triwizard, and the hunt, Ron has walked out on our friendship one time to many."
They had hardly ever spoken to each other from that day on. Hermione had forgiven Ron and they had married. Ron unchanging had walked out on Hermione several times during their marriage, but she had always taken him back. She had one day told Harry that the only reason she stayed with Ron was the children. She had finally left him the day after their last child left home to start at Hogwarts, and she took the position as Transfiguration teacher here at Hogwarts.
Harry remembered the day he had lost Ginny. He had returned home to find her lying dead in the kitchen. They had informed him at St Mungo's that she had died from a ruptured blood vessel in her brain. They had only been married for just over twenty years, and they had not been truly happy, they had discovered after just a few months that although they loved each other they were not in love, they had been pushed into a marriage they didn't really want but made the best off what they had. They had only been married for what was a very short time in the wizarding world. Harry had been his usual depressed self, blaming himself for her death of course, but with the help of the family, and Hermione he had gotten through this dark period of his life.
He and Ginny had had a fairly good marriage even though they had both discovered very early on that their love was not as deep as they had once thought. Most of their marriage was spent with them being something like best friends. Together they had made it work, neither of them were quitters and they did love each other enough to carry on. Neither of them would ever think of breaking their vows.
Tears flowed down Harry's slightly wrinkled face as he remembered the day he had realised to late, his deep and abiding love for Hermione; it was an indefinable sort of love. It went way past friendship; it was deep, pure, and eternal. A few days after she had taken her post as transfiguration teacher he had been talking to her in the staff room when he had suddenly thought that they should have been husband and wife.
The thought came to him out of the blue but would not leave him alone 'I am in love with Hermione'. He had spent the next few weeks remembering, and noticing all the things he loved about her. Then one day he had simply come out with it, and told her how he was feeling. Hermione had admitted that she had loved him from the day they first met. But as he had never shown any sign that he felt the same, she had gone on to live her life as best as she could taking what love she could get as his best friend.
They had become as close as it was possible to be during her teaching years at Hogwarts, and Harry always regretted how her bad marriage to Ron had been one of the only reasons she ever gave for saying no when he proposed to her. They had remained best friends even though Harry had always wanted a more loving relationship. But Hermione would not take the chance of being hurt again; she had lost her faith in love.
Harry cleared his desk and slowly walked into his quarters, he could not shake the feeling that with Hermione no longer by his side, he had wasted his seventy one years of life. All that he had done in his life no longer seemed to have any meaning. Heartbroken and tired he climbed into the same four-poster bed that his mentor Albus Dumbledore had used so many years ago. Knowing that tonight he would once more be dreaming of Hermione he fell asleep.
Harry wasn't sure if he was awake or dreaming, his room was still shrouded in darkness apart from the dim light in the corner where what looked like a rather old looking man was standing unrecognisable in the darkness. Not knowing why he knew, Harry knew the stranger in his bedroom was not a threat, but out of habit he had grabbed his wand and now had it pointed at his visitor.
"Who the heck are you and how did you get in here?" Harry asked without raising his voice.
"You've calmed down a little since last we met," came a voice Harry had only heard coming from a portrait for many years "you can put your wand down now Harry."
"Albus! Is that you, what are you doing in my dreams?" Harry gasped
"This is not a dream Harry; you can pinch yourself if you want," Albus Dumbledore chuckled softly. "I was asked to come to talk to you about a serious matter that will change your life and in fact change and save the life of the entire world both Wizard and Muggle."
Harry gave a quick wave of his wand "lumos," As the torches and candles around his room lit and cast a warm light about the room he placed his wand back on his nightstand. Rising from his bed Harry picked up his night robe and asked as he pushed his arms into it "Shall we move to the study? It would be a little more comfortable."
Together Harry and his old friend and mentor walked silently to the study. Harry poured himself a glass of water as he offered a seat to his visitor "So it's really you then?"
"Yes Harry it's really me, and as I said I was asked to come here to talk to you," Albus nodded as he spoke, his bright blue eyes twinkling in the torchlight.
Slightly unnerved by this rather unusual event, Harry slowly took a seat opposite his long dead friend Albus before asking "So who sent you, and what could be so important that they would send you back to Hogwarts?"
"Well I was asked by a Time Master. First though I would like to say I am proud of the way you have lived your life." Dumbledore steepled his fingers.
Harry knew by that simple movement, that whatever it was that had brought his old headmaster back, it was a whole lot worse than Dumbledore's attitude indicated.
"Ok I'm listening."
"Harry I will not mince words and will be as brief as I can. One rebellious Time Master thought he knew better than the Creator, so he took it on himself to change the time line. He covered his deed well and it had gone undiscovered by the Time Masters until one 'Hermione Jane Weasley' arrived amongst us. Now apart from the fact that she should not have joined us for a great many years yet, she should also, according to the book of soul-mates be named 'Hermione Jane Potter'." Albus paused.
"Hermione is your soul-mate; she was created to be with you, just as you were created to be with her. When two soul-mates kiss they become, by heavenly and wizarding law, 'man and wife' for all eternity. You and Hermione should have kissed but you never did. The chaos that this time change and the repercussions of her marrying the wrong man, and dying before she should has caused is disrupting great swathes of the universe. Many, shall I call them 'deaths' are happening and that chaos is rapidly headed this way."
"Soul-mates, so that's why I feel my life was wasted. And I suppose there is something you want me to do about it. Though for the life of me I can't think what I could do," Harry muttered, he had done his bit. He had fulfilled the prophecy; he had done as fate had demanded of him.
"Harry there is something you can do, but first I must tell you that this world you live in will unravel and cease to exist if something is not done. I do however have to tell you that the choice is yours to make. So as I said, the time line was altered and sometime in your fourth year at school a new but unstable and dangerous timeline began. Your choice is to stay in this timeline where your soul-mate died before her time, and the fabric of time could come apart, or you can be sent back to your forth year, where you can help to put things right. It appears that many of the Time Masters wanted you to be sent back without your knowledge, but as always the Creator is allowing you a choice. I should remind you again that Miss Granger was your soul-mate."
Harry sat staring at his former professor as he let this information and its implications sink into his mind "What about our children, will they cease to exist if I go back?"
"I'm sorry Harry but now that this change has been discovered they will cease to exist and there will be no memory of them no matter what you do. The Creator will make a small concession for you in regard to them, he is willing to allow them to be reborn, though they will be different people they will be the same but with souls. In other words they will be allowed to live to their normal life span. Though I was not informed what was changed, I think that the change led to Hermione's untimely death. Had she been married to you as should have been the case, I think she would still be alive. I am only speculating you must understand, your being together should cause numerous changes. The time you have to make a decision is very short Harry; in fact it may be at this very moment that people of this world are fading from existence," Albus's twinkling blue eyes held Harry in their stare as Harry thought it all over.
"So Hermione's death has begun a sort of chain reaction then? You know that I love Hermione." Harry asked
"That is the way it should have been, it is not known exactly what the Time Master changed, perhaps a single word or gesture, maybe a single deed, but it is known when you should have joined with your soul-mate. So if you decide to once again save the world, then you will be sent back to that time," Albus smiled, he knew Harry and he knew he could not allow the world to end if it was in his power to prevent it.
Dumbledore sat back enjoying the return to his old study, very little had changed since he had occupied the post that was now Harry's.
"Will I retain my memories? Because if I don't remember how will I know that I am there to correct things?" Harry wanted to know.
Albus looked for a minute as though he was listening to someone speaking, "Yes Harry you will keep your memories."
"What about Ginny does she have to die so young, and what about the tournament and Voldemort will those things remain the same?"
"Ginny will live a much longer life when all is corrected. You know what it was that killed her and so you can see that it is corrected. Those other things are part of the prophecy and though it pains me to say it, you may once more have to do as you did before, although I am sure you will find a better way." Dumbledore answered
"Ok, if it is the only way, then Okay," Harry almost whispered.
"Then my job here is over, and I can return whence I came," Albus said as he rose from the chair.
Harry woke suddenly; even before he opened his eyes he remembered his strange dream, and the visit of his old friend Dumbledore. 'That has to be one of the weirdest yet most life like dreams I ever had,' he thought as he rolled to his right to check his clock for the time.
Harry had never moved quite so fast for many years when his eyes settled, not on his clock, but on a sleeping young Ron Weasley. Harry found his glasses and put them on as he blinked rapidly before turning and checking that he was actually where he thought he was.
"Strewth they did it," he whispered to himself as he saw Neville Longbottom then Seamus Finnegan, both like Ron were fast asleep. Getting up and taking a shower Harry studied his younger body, "scrawny little thing," he said addressing his reflection in the mirror and then he dressed. Back at his bed Harry racked his brain for the memory of where he had kept his time table all those years ago, 'years ago no longer,' he thought as he dragged his book bag from under his bed.
Having found the small parchment he was looking for. He called quietly for Dobby, seconds later his little elf friend stood in front of him. A quick conversation with Dobby gave Harry the information about the day and year, now he had the date he needed he knew what he would do. He was back in his forth year sometime shortly before the Yule ball. Harry spent some time remembering his life as a fourth year student.
He quietly left the dorm and made his way down to breakfast. Hermione was sitting alone at the large Gryffindor table, breakfast in front of her and a huge book propped up against a jug of pumpkin juice. Harry took the seat next to her and smiled. Memories of his years with her flooded through his mind like a water fall. Memories of the happy times and the sad, times when she had always been there for him. Having helped himself to a rather large breakfast he turned to talk to the girl he loved. The girl he should have married, the girl who would become a beautiful woman.
"Hermione, can I interrupt your studying for a moment?" he asked.
Hermione turned and flashed him a huge smile before closing her book. Harry's heart leapt in his chest as he watched her. "Yes Harry."
Harry had already decided how he was going to try to make things right, he did not know how Ron would react but he was not really concerned how Ron felt any longer.
"I want to ask you something, you don't have to answer my first question if you don't want too."
"Ok Harry what is it, you need some help with the tournament?" she asked sounding intrigued.
"This has nothing to with the triwizard, what I have to ask you is way more important to me," Harry paused and looked into her warm brown eyes and his bones seemed to melt "Do you still feel the same way about me as when we first met?"
Hermione looked puzzled "The way I feel is more important than the triwizard? Well I'm always going to feel the same way about you Harry," she replied, and as in his life before she gave no clue as to how she did feel about him.
The smile that appeared on his face looked like it was going to split his face in two. "Oh I am so glad, Hermione Jane Granger, if we were a few years older I would ask you to marry me."
Hermione blushed, and then for maybe the first time in his hearing she giggled, she had no idea he actually meant it. "Harry!" Was all she said.
Harry took a breath "Hermione will you be my girlfriend? I love you, and I don't want to be without you any more."
Hermione's blush vanished as she turned to face him "Harry! It's cruel to joke like that," She hissed, and then grabbing her book and book bag, she sniffed back a tear and glared at him. She stood and made to leave but Harry stood up as fast as she had, and in a quick fluid movement he wrapped his arms around her waist then in front of all those in the great hall eating breakfast, he kissed her full on her lips.
Hermione's blush was back at full power and her knees were shaking when Harry broke the kiss, "I was not joking," Harry declared taking her hand then shifting his grip around her waist to pull her closer, he helped her to sit before her legs gave out.
Hermione sat staring at him for a few seconds before she could speak "H-H-Harry you weren't joking. Oh yes Harry, yes, yes, yes I'd love to be your girlfriend."
Hermione was still shaking when she launched herself at him, flinging her arms around his neck and kissed him back. It was when they broke the kiss and a great cheer erupted from all around them that they remembered where they were.
Harry rose and pulled her up with him, accompanied by cheers from students and teachers, hand in hand they walked out of the great hall and out through the main door. Once they were outside Harry slipped his arm around her shoulder and Hermione's arm wrapped around his back her hand resting on his waist. They walked in silence for a while before Hermione spoke.
"How did you know how I felt about you? I thought I had kept it well hidden." she said
Harry stopped walking and kissed her again, "I only knew about it last night, and then someone pointed it out to me in a dream. I have known that I love you a lot more than as a friend for a long, long time. I also think that the reason we feel the way we do is because we are soul-mates. Two chosen by the Creator of all to be together for all time."
Hermione smiled as she rested her arms over his shoulder "Harry that's so romantic."
She had no idea that he meant every word, he had thought of telling her everything about his other time, but he decided against doing so knowing that she would never accept his story.
"What are we going to tell Ron?" she asked between kisses.
"Well considering he is not exactly in my best books at the moment, and the fact that I don't care a hoot about what anyone thinks, I think I'll just tell him you are now the future Mrs. Harry James Potter." Harry chuckled.
"So you meant it when you said you would ask me to marry you if we were old enough?" she asked.
"Of course I meant it, and I will ask as soon as we are old enough," He answered knowing that Hermione would do all she could to research soul-mates. Hand in hand they made their way back up to the common room where they separated each going to their own dorm to collect the things needed for the day's lessons.
Harry was still waiting for Hermione when Ron came in to the common room, "Hi Harry, give me a minute I'm just gonna get my books," he said as he rushed through the common room headed for the dorm.
Ron was gone before Harry had time to think, but as he stood there mouth open Hermione came rushing down from the girls dorm. The smile on her face made his heart flutter as she came running straight to him; she put her arms around his neck and kissed him. They were still kissing when Ron came rushing toward them bellowing "Harry! what the heck are you doing?"
Harry and Hermione broke the kiss; Harry looked at his extremely angry looking friend, "I happen to be kissing my future wife."
Ron's mouth fell open and he almost choked as he tried to speak, eventually he managed a few words "Hermione, you, me, we, I-."
Hermione frowned at him "Ron what is your problem? What do you mean you and me, there is no you and me, there never will be a you and me, did you ever ask me to be your girlfriend? No, and if you did I would never have said yes, why would I want to be with someone who is always upsetting and hurting me? Besides I have been in love with Harry since the first day we met."
Hand in hand Harry led Hermione through the portrait hole, leaving Ron gaping after them. That afternoon at the end of transfiguration, the last lesson of the day, Professor McGonagall informed them that there would be a Yule ball for all fourth years and above, "You may of course ask someone younger to be your partner."
McGonagall asked Harry to remain behind after class, Hermione wondering if Harry was again in trouble, waited just outside the door while the professor informed Harry that as a triwizard champion he would be expected to have a partner, and that they would have to dance the opening dance along with the other champions.
"Ok, no worries, I will be dancing with the most beautiful girl there professor," Harry told her as he turned to leave, spying Hermione listening he spoke a little louder as he finished with "I have the most beautiful girl in the wizarding world to go with."
Hermione standing outside the door heard every word that was said. As soon as Harry left the room he took Hermione's hand in his and asked if she would go to the ball with him. She was delighted that she had been the girl he had spoken of with her favourite professor, 'Harry thinks I'm beautiful' she thought, it was just a few seconds later that they were sharing a kiss once more.
The walk back to the Gryffindor common room was taken slowly, both arm in arm they discussed the upcoming ball and the first dance. Harry remembered how beautiful Hermione had looked at his previous fourth year Yule ball, how even the other girls had said it as she descended the stairs. She had looked so beautiful and graceful.
The following day remembering Malfoy casting a spell that made her teeth grow to a huge size Harry commented on Hermione's teeth, "You did a good job with madam Pomfrey when she fixed your teeth, they look perfect, but I loved you just as much before."
Hermione said thanks with a quick peck on his lips before asking him "Harry love, can you dance?"
"Yes, I took lessons so that one day I could dance with you," It was true, he had taken lessons so that he could dance with her and Ginny at Bill Weasleys' wedding, he had since then improved vastly. You don't live to be seventy one in the wizarding world with out learning to dance.
"Then I'm glad I took lessons," she said as they sat in a comfy armchair, Hermione sitting in Harry's lap.
"So," Harry asked "how's Ron taking it?"
"I don't know he isn't talking to me, I thought he would have said something to you, being your best friend and sleeping in the same room." Hermione replied.
"He's not my best friend anymore Hermione, not after the way he treated me when I was entered into this stupid triwizard. Anyway I have something important to talk to you about, so let's not worry about him for now, come on we need to go to the room of requirement." Harry whispered.
"Room of requirement, what's that?" Hermione wanted to know.
"Come on I'll show you, Dobby told me about it, he calls it the come and go room," Harry said dragging her toward the portrait hole. Minutes later they were standing opposite a picture of Barnabas the Barmy.
"This is it." Harry said as they both looked at the blank wall he was pointing at.
Hermione cocked an eyebrow at him as he leaned back against the picture.
"Choose what kind of place you would like to talk in, maybe a version of the common room or a café or maybe a sunny beach it doesn't matter what it is, then walk up and down past there and there thinking of the room you require." He told her.
Still looking a little disbelieving Hermione did as he had instructed her, on her third pass a large oak door appeared. Hermione looked on astonished as the door began to appear; moments later she opened it to find a small comfortable reading room. Harry joined her laughing as he realised what the room was. After Hermione recovered from her surprise that the room was real, together they sat on a small sofa in front of a warm glowing fire.
"Ok Harry what is it that is so important we need to have a secret room to discuss it in?" she asked as they got comfortable.
Chapter 2
Disclaimer….. All characters are the copyright of JK Rowling
Time Again
Sitting in front of the warm fire with Hermione held tight Harry worked out what he wanted to say. He took a deep breath "Right now I don't want any interruptions while I tell you. If you have to say something, which I am certain you will, then I ask you now to wait till I am finished," Harry took another deep breath then looked nervously at Hermione who nodded her head in agreement. Telling Hermione about the plot to portkey him straight to Voldemort waiting in a graveyard, left Harry with the problem of telling and yet not revealing his previous life, he knew it would make him sound crazy, so he changed the story to be the story of a vision.
Harry pulled her close and began "First I think I now know how to destroy Voldemort for good, I have a plan that will help us to capture both him and wormtail. I think we will need to go and see Dumbledore with it. I had this dream, no it was a vision. Professor Moody is not the real Madeye. He is trying to get me to win the triwizard because he has a port key ready to send me too Voldemort. I just wanted to see if you think I might be crazy or should I really tell Dumbledore."
Hermione studied him for a while before she asked "Is this something to do with your scar?"
'The perfect opening' he thought as he quickly answered "Yes."
"Well then we should tell the headmaster as soon as we can." She said decidedly
Then she took a breath before speaking again "Harry? You said something about soul-mates, what exactly is a soul-mate and what makes you think that's what we are?"
"Well I heard that some people who fall in love the first time they meet are soul-mates, like a marriage made in heaven as the Muggles say, and well I, you know."
"How do I find out, and what does being a soul-mate mean?" she wondered aloud.
Before Harry could answer a small book appeared on the sofa between them, its pages were opened. She picked it up and read the open page then she slowly closed the book and put it down beside her.
"We have to go see the headmaster Harry." She whispered.
"Ah Mr Potter, Miss Granger, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit," Asked headmaster Dumbledore as the two teenagers entered his office.
Hermione spoke first "Sir is there anyway to find out if a couple are soul-mates, and is it true that they become married when they kiss?"
Harry was still a little worried, would Hermione think he had tricked her into marriage, would she see their first kiss as a disaster. Albus answered her question with a slight look of worry "There is a simple method yes; there is a book at the ministry that registers soul-mate unions, along with the date of their marriage. Might I ask why you would need such information?"
"Sir," Asked Harry "Do you think a check could be made for us, and how long would it take?"
"I can do that for you right now," The headmaster said as he walked to his fireplace.
Five minutes later and Hermione had it confirmed that she was indeed Mrs. Harry James Potter, and had been since breakfast. Both Dumbledore and Hermione sat back in shock as the ministry wizard's head appeared in the fireplace and confirmed the entry in the book. Although Harry was inwardly rejoicing he tried hard to keep a shocked look on his face.
"How did you know Harry?" Albus questioned
"I'm not sure sir, I just kept thinking of Hermione as the one who would be my wife," He answered congratulating himself on his quick thinking.
Hermione however to Harry's great concern still had not said a word. It was a while before she spoke, her face a little paler than was usual but gave away nothing of her feelings. "Well then husband dear," she said emphasising the word husband, "You had best tell the headmaster what you told me, so that he can make any arrangements, oh and we will need to visit my parents so I can introduce my husband. I just hope my dad doesn't kill you Harry."
Harry was amazed at how calm Hermione seemed to be, but thought that maybe, just maybe Hermione had just had all her prayers answered and was in fact quite pleased. Harry then went on to tell the headmaster about Professor Moody being an impostor and where they could find the real Moody. He told him about Voldemort and Wormtail hiding out in little Hangleton. How they could be captured. He then went on to tell the headmaster he knew all about the Horcrux's and where they all were.
Then he realised the one that he had carried inside himself had been destroyed and probably could not return when he had been sent back in time, but thought that they should find a way to confirm this before doing anything about it. Then taking a chance he asked if a visit to Hermione's parents could be arranged for after the Yule ball.
Dumbledore readily agreed pointing out that as Hermione's parents were away on a Christmas break, he would rather like to visit with them and enjoy one or two days break from routine, so he would accompany them, and help explain things to Mr and Mrs Granger. Albus Dumbledore wanted to know how Harry knew so much, what had happened to allow this fourth year boy to know things well beyond his years. Harry simply informed them he had woken up that morning having dreamed or had a vision about Dumbledore taking him to the future and he remembered the vivid dream and all the things in it.
"Having spent time thinking it all over I decided the dream was a sort of vision. I just know it was all real." Harry told him.
Both Dumbledore and Hermione accepted that, as the part about being soul-mates was true they believed the rest of his hastily thought up explanation.
Harry felt awful about having to lie but he knew they would not accept the real truth; his revelation about the Horcrux's and the prophecy fully convinced the headmaster. Having explained to Hermione what a Horcrux was, and all about the prophecy made about himself and Voldemort, plans having been made to leave Hogwarts for France by portkey the morning after the ball. Harry led the way out of the headmaster's office and down the spiral stair way.
Hermione did a most unladylike jump thumping her fist into the air and yelled "Yes!" as soon as they reached the corridor leading away from the gargoyles guarding the spiral stair to the heads office. Harry could not resist asking what that was all about.
"You're my husband, I am your wife, what more could I want in life?" she answered.
"Maybe eleven or twelve OWLs and just as many NEWTs." Harry laughed.
Hermione threw her arms around his neck and kissed him with more passion than either of them had shared in their earlier kisses. That night in the common room Neville looked up from his game of chess and asked
"How come you two look so happy?"
"Mainly because we are married," Hermione answered laughing and leaving a huge smile on her face.
The night of the ball Harry walked so proudly down the great staircase toward the great hall, he could see all the eyes on him and Hermione, the looks of surprise on the faces of their fellow fourth years had him smiling. The looks of admiration Hermione was getting reminded him of just how beautiful she looked in her gown. The first dance began and Harry and Hermione seemed to float around the dance floor, there were several comments made about how well they danced together. Harry thought he had never enjoyed dancing so much before.
"Harry you are an absolutely excellent dancer," Hermione told him as they waltzed past Ron.
"You are brilliant too my love," he replied as he sent her into a spin.
Harry danced with McGonagall and Ginny while Hermione took a rest. The remaining dances they danced together. Half way through the evening Malfoy approached and insulted Hermione once again. Harry had almost forgotten just how nasty Malfoy was till then.
"Hey Potter wouldn't a garden gnome have been a better looking dance partner." Malfoy sneered.
Harry in his anger forgot where he was and used wandless magic to turn Malfoys head back to front then he hung him in mid air over the dance floor,
"No little piece of a Death Eaters sexual accident is getting away with insulting my wife," Harry growled before sending Malfoy around the great hall spinning like a top fifteen feet in the air. Total silence was heard as everyone in the dance hall looked up and watched Malfoy as he cart wheeled around in the air. It took Flitwick, Dumbledore and Snape, an hour and a half to break the spell holding Malfoy in the air as he spun his way around the great hall; it took them two days to talk Harry into performing the unknown to them, counter spell that would put a very hungry Draco Malfoys head back the right way around. Harry threatened Malfoy that the next time he heard him insult anyone especially Hermione he would remove both his tongue and voice completely before turning his head inside out. A very frightened Malfoy remained in the hospital wing for several days. At the end of the ball Harry and Hermione took a moonlight stroll outside and watched the snow fall, "Merry Christmas Mrs Potter." Harry said as he kissed her tenderly.
"Merry Christmas Mr Potter." She replied with a dreamy look in her eye.
'I am going to really enjoy this new life' Harry thought as they walked slowly back inside, his arm around her shoulders, her arm around his waist.
Hermione thanked Harry for standing up for her against Malfoy "And in front of every one you told them I'm your wife," She said with a proud gleam in her eye.
"There isn't a man alive in the universe that could be as proud of his wife as I am." Harry declared.
A huge smile came over Hermione as she looked at the boy who was her husband. The thought of Harry being her soul-mate filled her with pleasure, causing a small tingle in her stomach. He was a wizard to be proud of and she had no doubt she was exceedingly proud to be Mrs Harry Potter.
"Harry how did you perform those wandless spells? I've never seen you do that sort of thing before," She asked as they walked up the main staircase.
Harry thought fast then said "I'm not sure; I think it could have been like accidental magic, I was so angry I just didn't think what I was doing."
"That's what I thought, but if you could do that with out the anger just think how useful that would be," Hermione whispered in her thinking voice.
Harry knew that his wife would soon have him practising wandless magic. "That makes me think, I should try a lot harder in class now, I mean being married to the brightest witch of the age I should at least be half as good as my wife don't you think."
Hermione laughed and tapped him on the shoulder, "Harry you will be the greatest wizard since Merlin, I know you will."
Their conversation fell off as they shared a few kisses while they walked back to their common room. Ron was pacing in front of the fire when they entered the room; he started with his angry tirade as soon as he saw them.
"What the hell do you mean Potter? First you steal my girlfriend then you call her your wife in front of everyone in the great hall, just what do you think you are up to?"
Harry was about to answer him when Hermione hissed at Ron "Soul-mates you moron, we are married, and I was never your girlfriend, I would never even have considered you as a boyfriend unless there was absolutely no chance to be with Harry or anyone else, so don't you ever say I was your girlfriend."
Harry placed his hand gently on her shoulder knowing how angry she was, Ron always said something extra stupid that would make things worse. "Come on love, he can't help it."
"What the hell is wrong with you two? People don't treat their best friends like this." Ron yelled at them.
"Oh no, no, no. You Ronald Weasley are not my best friend, a best friend would not have treated me the way you did, even Neville and Seamus believed in me, but you wouldn't accept that someone entered me in the triwizard to get me killed. So don't give me your stupid brain dead rubbish." Harry said fuming with anger at Ron once again.
"Harry's right Ron, while he was facing being killed by a dragon you refused to talk to him, so shut up, and leave my husband and me alone till you have something sensible to say." Hermione shouted with exasperation.
Ron with a blazing expression on his face was about to yell again when half the people in the common room stood up and rounded on him, they were all pushing toward him about to say something when Neville beat them all to it.
"Ron why don't you just take your stupidity and go find a troll to play with, every one here is heartily sick of your stupid arguing with Hermione. As if some one as clever as she is could even think of some one as thick as you as a boyfriend, If you stopped for a moment to remember that she happens to be the cleverest student in the school, then maybe you would realise you must be wrong most of the time, so go be a dumb ass somewhere else."
A great cheer rose from those listening "Bout time someone told him." yelled Seamus.
"Hey Ron, don't bother looking for a troll, it'll be to clever for you," Parvati Patel shouted above the noise
Harry looked around at his fellow Gryffindor's and wondered if they had always thought of Ron in that way. Seeing all the nods and hearing the agreeing comments he had to conclude that in his other life he had been wrong to let Ron and Hermione go on at each other. Ron angry as usual stormed from the room clambering through the portrait hole with his fellow students commenting if he found a troll he should get it to teach him some manners, and quite a few comments that were not quite as nice. Quiet fell on the room as students went back to their seats. All that is, except Neville and Ginny who sat with Harry and Hermione.
"So how come you said you were married Harry?" Neville asked
"We are soul-mates; the ministry has us registered as married." Hermione answered proudly.
"Whoa, that's a shock," Ginny said as she stared at them.
"Well how do you think Hermione's parents are going to react when they find out?" Harry said with a slightly worried look.
"Oh boy! You are in deep water yet again Harry," Neville said with a small gasp.
"They don't know yet then?" Ginny said looking slightly worried.
"Well we get to go and see them tomorrow; Dumbledore says he will be there to help explain it all to them." Harry mumbled.
Seven thirty the next morning Harry joined Hermione in the common room, they were to meet Dumbledore in his office at eight. Hand in hand they walked down for breakfast. Harry still felt somewhat worried about what Mr and Mrs Granger might say, even though he knew that their marriage had been ordained. Hermione like him was still an under age teenager and could be removed from the school by her parents. Hermione was unusually quiet. This in it self had Harry a little more worried.
"You don't regret our being married do you?" he asked.
Hermione looked at him in shock "Harry, I have been waiting and dreaming since we first met, nothing will make me regret my dreams coming true."
Harry released a small sigh; at least she was happy about being his wife, even though he was not quite fifteen years old yet. At Hermione's parents things were not going well. Neither her father or her mother were happy about their daughter being married in what to them seemed an arranged or forced marriage. It took Dumbledore quite some time to get them to agree that they did actually believe in the old Muggle theory about marriages made in heaven. Then he pointed out that soul-mates were just that, 'marriages made in heaven' it was just that in the wizarding world they had a way to record such events leading to the couple being recognised as legally married. It took almost three hours to get the Grangers to accept that their little Hermione was no longer a little girl; Harry thought it had helped when Hermione assured them that there would be nothing of a sexual nature until they were both old enough and mature enough to take that step as husband and wife. Harry was thanking the stars above for his wife's intelligence when they finally left the Grangers. As their son in law both the Grangers had invited Harry to visit their home any time he felt like visiting.
Dumbledore set in motion the plan to capture the creature that was Voldemort. The real moody was released, his substitute was returned to Azkaban, and with help from Harry, Wormtail and Voldemort were quickly apprehended. Further revelations from Harry caused a huge purge of the corrupt members of the Wizengamont. Harry was able to tell Dumbledore where evidence could be found. Madam Bones replaced Fudge as Minister and she found evidence linking Fudge and Mr Malfoy to various crimes of corruption and assisting known Death Eaters, both were given lengthy terms in Azkaban.
Harry told Dumbledore where the Horcruxes could be found. Within a very short time all the evil bits of Voldemort's split soul were collected by members of the Order of the Phoenix. Then destroyed using Basilisk venom taken from the one Harry had killed; even Nagini the snake was destroyed leaving Harry just one small problem. How to find out if he had a piece of Voldemort inside him attached to his own soul. It was Hermione who found the way to do it, using one of the instruments that Dumbledore had used to watch Harry with. It was known as a soul reader; normally it was used to define just how evil someone's soul was. The shadowy green mist from the small instrument had always taken the shape of a pair of serpents in previous tests on Harry, during the latest test the mist that emerged was red and gold, this time it took on the misty form of a phoenix. Dumbledore declared Harry free of any piece of Voldemort. The creature that housed all that was left of Voldemort was delivered to the Ministries department of mysteries by Harry and Albus. Harry signed over the vile child sized thing to the wizard in charge. They were informed just a few days later that the creature had died as they did not know what to use to sustain it. The body of the thing was to be studied by the untouchables.
After their slightly extended holidays were over Harry and Hermione were back doing their classes. Harry with his sixty years experience as a wizard, forty three as the greatest wizard alive, had to hold back some of his ability in class. He allowed himself to slowly catch up with Hermione; after all he still did not want anyone knowing the things he knew, especially about him and what had happened at the beginning of his new life in this timeline. Albus was very suspicious but try as he might he could never get Harry to reveal anything. After their visit to Hermione's parents Harry and Hermione were inseparable. What ever they did, they did together.
The following weeks Harry tried hard to get Dumbledore to take him out of the final task of the triwizard tournament but with no success, the headmaster would not accept a Hogwarts champion pulling out because of a vision, "unless you have something to tell me Harry," he would say each time Harry mentioned pulling out. Hermione surprised him when she told him that even if he had done the task before; he should do it again, insisting that the task would be different now he did not have Moody removing obstacles for him. She was right in all she said apart from the end when Harry and Cedric took the cup together and hence the title together, just as they should have done the first time.
Hermione decided that they should use the room of requirement for practising wandless magic and within a week Harry had begun to teach her how to do it. Being Hermione she was quite proficient at it in a short time. Both Harry and Hermione did well on their end of term exams, the rest of their school year was spent either kissing and cuddling or practising their wandless magic. By the end of the year they were both able to do any spell or charm without their wand, they kept the wandless magic secret after Hermione discovered from one of her many books that it was a rare ability that even Dumbledore did not have mastered
Harry found that his life in this new timeline was much better and happier than his previous one had been. With Hermione's agreement he handed his prize winnings over to the Weasley twins, hoping they could still manage to open a shop on only half the money he gave them before.
After several weeks of not talking to them Ron joined them in the compartment on the train ride home for the summer holidays. After looking at them rather guiltily for nearly an hour he finally spoke
"Harry, Hermione, I'd like to apologise for my behaviour this year. I am not expecting you to forget what a prat I have been, I'd just like to think that you could forgive me. Maybe even give me another chance at being a friend. The thought of spending the entire summer without you two visiting the Burrow is not exactly pleasant."
"You don't have to worry about us visiting the Burrow we were invited by Ginny, who has become one of our closest friends. As for forgiving you, well I can't speak for my husband Harry on this matter, no doubt my husband Harry, will want to make his own mind up, I on the other hand can forgive you. I don't like to hold a grudge. However I shall never forget how you treated my husband Harry, and just in case your slow mind did not pick it up 'Harry is my husband'." Hermione said looking quite serious.
Harry could see her lips twitching at the corners as she repeatedly emphasised the fact that he was her husband, so he decided he would join her in her little dig at his one time best friend.
"Well thank you Hermione my dear wife for not trying to sway me on this one. Ron I can no longer give you the trust it takes to be best friends. Besides my dear wife Hermione and me we have already found two new friends, one of them is now my dear wife's and my best friend, your sister Ginny has earned that friendship. I will forgive you for your treatment because as you know I always forgive, but like my wife Hermione I will not forget. We can never get back what was lost but I'm quite sure that we can be friends. If you ever repeat the mistakes you made this year I am afraid that no matter what my wife Hermione asks it will be the end," Harry looked sideways at Hermione to see that she had buried her head in a book but he could see her shoulders shaking and he knew she was desperately trying not to laugh out loud.
"Ok you two I get it, you are married, Hermione is your wife, and Harry is your husband. I won't forget," Ron said finally making Hermione loose the last of her self control.
Hermione burst out laughing and almost dropped her book as she curled up on the seat holding her stomach. Harry lost his control just a few seconds after she did, moments later they were both laughing hysterically at a rather sheepish looking Ron. Though Harry and Hermione forgave Ron, they treated him no different than they did Fred or George. Quite often he was left out of things when Harry, Hermione, and Ginny were plotting a prank or talking about wandless magic. Ginny was taught by both Harry and Hermione.
Harry stood on the platform looking around for sign of his relatives, it did not take him long to realise they were not there to collect him. Kissing Hermione and shaking hands with his in laws he wished them goodbye promising Hermione that he would send her an owl daily even if nothing happened. Harry stood and watched as the Grangers and his wife left the station and headed into the evening crowds. He waited until everyone was long gone before he decided that he would have to catch the knight bus to take him to Privet Drive.
The Dursleys refused to allow him to stay with them now that the threat that had hung over them was gone, so Harry found himself putting his hand out for the knight bus less than half an hour from his last ride on it. Harry arrived in the leaky cauldron and booked a room for the night, then wrote Hermione to tell her where he was. And why he was there. The following morning Harry made his way to number twelve Grimmauld place, the look of surprise on his godfather Sirius's face warmed Harry's heart. Since Wormtail had been caught and sentenced to death for the crimes Sirius had been locked away for, Sirius had become a free and happy man.
"Hi Snuffles, any room for a lodger?" Harry said smirking
Sirius had Harry in a bear hug almost as he stopped speaking. Tears were in Sirius's eyes as he helped Harry carry his trunk into the dark old house.
Harry's first surprise for his godfather was to cast a wandless spell that made the portrait of Mrs Black vanish. His second surprise was when he told Sirius about being married, when Harry told him that Hermione was his wife Sirius was overjoyed that the two people who had freed him only a year before were now his family. Sirius's next surprise came when Harry convinced him to give the old house elf Kreacher an old locket and tell the little elf it had belonged to Regulus and was now Kreacher's. The attitude of the old elf changed overnight and by midday the next day he was busy cleaning the house.
Harry and Sirius sat late into the night as Harry told about the events since the Yule ball. When Harry told Sirius about his life with the Dursleys Sirius was fuming and threatening to pay them a visit. Harry sent another owl to Hermione who turned up at the door of number twelve just an hour and a half later, she and her father had been on their way to pick Harry up from the Leaky Cauldron. Mr Granger insisted that Harry had to accompany them to their home, saying he would not dare to return with out his son-in-law thus defying Mrs Granger's order of 'fetch Harry'.
Hermione verified that her mother had indeed ordered them out of the house instructing them in no uncertain terms that they were to 'fetch Harry'.
Harry having met his mother-in-law, told Sirius that he would have to leave with his wife but that he would be back following his stay at the Granger's, "That is if you want me."
Sirius bid them goodbye at the door then turned to Harry and told him his room would be ready when he came home. The word home meant a great deal to Harry because he had spent a long time in Grimmauld Place in his other life and it was like a home to him. The last few days of the holiday Harry and Hermione spent with the Weasley's at the Burrow. On the second day of their stay Harry drew Mr Weasley to one side and told him he had another vision about Ginny and that she needed to visit St Mungo's to have a faulty blood vessel in her head checked. Mr Weasley being a member of the Order of the Phoenix knew of Harry's other supposed visions and took Ginny to the hospital that same day. They arrived back three hours later and declared that a weak blood vessel had indeed been found and corrected by the healers; Ginny would not succumb to a brain haemorrhage now.
Chapter 3
Disclaimer….. All characters are the copyright of JK Rowling
Time again
A/N Well here it is another chapter in the story, written I might add under the threat of the younger females of my family, who promised or is that threatened to drive me crazy if I did not continue with this story. I hope you all enjoy it as much as the girls seem to have done. There may well be more of this to come.
Although they were officially legally married, Mrs. Weasley had placed Harry and Hermione into separate bedrooms, Harry had been given his old cot in Ron's room and yet again Hermione was sharing with Ginny.
Hermione had complained about the length of time they had been married and kept separate. Even her parents had put Harry in to the guest bedroom, and it was now annoying Hermione that it seemed they were not trusted. Not being treated fairly.
"It's not that I want to start a sexual relationship Harry we're to young for that. It's just we're married we should be sleeping together like other married couples. They should trust us and leave us alone," She complained as they made their way to bed.
Ginny giggled and pushed Hermione gently in the back "How you could possibly get into bed with a hunk like Harry and keep your hands off him, I don't know?"
"I never said I was going to keep my hands off him," Hermione laughed as Harry looked at her and mouthed "Hunk, me?"
Two a m, something woke Harry from his troubled sleep, he was not exactly sure what it was that was troubling him but try as he might he could not get back to sleep. At three a m, he decided a nice cup of hot chocolate might just be the thing to help him sleep. Quietly he made his way down the crooked stairway that led to the Burrow kitchen. He had just finished making his drink when he sensed someone behind him, turning quickly Harry came face to face with a most unexpected yet happily welcomed visitor.
"Mum?" he gasped almost soundlessly, "Mum is it really you?" Harry looked in shock as his mother took a seat at the large scrubbed white table.
"Yes sweetheart it's me, Albus is not dead yet so here I am, I volunteered as soon as I heard," Lily Potter answered in a rich musical voice.
Harry was just about to step forward and give his mother a hug when Hermione entered the kitchen, both Lily and Harry spun to look in her direction when they heard her gasp.
Hermione was staring at Lily in shock her eyes as wide as Dobby's.
"I take it you can see me?" Lily said as Hermione made her way stepping sideways to Harry's side.
"I, I, that is- Harry is that your Mum?" Hermione stuttered
"Well I never thought I was so bad looking that I would scare my daughter in law," Lily chuckled "looks like I got something wrong." She said, then after tilting her head as though listening to someone she continued "oh no it seems as your soul-mate she sees the things you can Harry."
Both Harry and Hermione seemed to be stuck to the spot they were standing on as neither of them moved, both staring at Lily.
"Harry dear come give your mother a hug, you should be used to this after Albus's visit," Lily almost whispered in what sounded a rather disappointed tone.
Snapping out of his surprise induced stupor Harry rushed around the table and took his mother into a bone crunching hug. Somewhere in his mind he realised that his mum felt and smelt just like a normal living person. Tears fell down his face as he held onto his mother as though his life depended on it, never saying a word he just held her. It was a couple of minutes later when Hermione placed her hand gently on his shoulder, and gave him a little tug to remind him that she was there.
The hug between mother and son was broken gently as Lily kissed him on his forehead. "Now Harry let me say hello to your beautiful young wife." She said as he pulled away a little.
Lily gave Hermione a gentle hug and welcomed her into the family. "Your waking up has complicated things a little, young lady," Lily said with a huge grin on her face "but no doubt we'll get around the problems as Harry trusts you with his heart and soul."
"I woke up feeling Harry needed me, that's why I came looking for him," Hermione explained.
Lily nodded then looked at Harry "Right Harry, first I should tell you that as Albus is not dead this time I have been sent to replace him. The reason this second visit is needed is to remind you about the Hallows, Albus now has the stone and the wand, and he is tempted as he was before, this time though he does not have Voldemort or a war to distract him. Both of these items rightfully belong to you, so you need to correct this part of the time line, you do of course have till you are seventeen as you did before, but the sooner you sort things out the safer the timeline will be," Lily looked at Hermione "I imagine you will be explaining things to Hermione, I feel sure she will once more be a great help to you."
Harry felt a jolt of panic, how could he tell Hermione without revealing he had known when he kissed her she would become his wife for all time. then inside his head he heard a rather pleasant voice which he was not sure if it was either male or female 'It's ok Harry you don't need to tell her how old you were or about the bonding, you'll know what to tell her when the time comes', Harry looked at Hermione and realised she had not heard the voice.
Through all this Hermione remained standing next to Harry, her hand still resting on his shoulder, "Harry, what are the Hallows, what exactly is going on?" she asked
Lily smiled at Hermione "I'm so glad he did it right this time Hermione, it almost broke my heart to watch him suffer so much losing you."
Hermione looked even more puzzled now than she had been just a minute before, she was about to ask Harry once again what was going on, when Harry reached up and took hold of her hand and pulling it gently to his lips he kissed her knuckles.
"Shall we go into the living room? We have less chance of being disturbed there," Harry voiced to the two women.
Hermione sat on the right of the large comfortable sofa, Harry in the middle, and his mother on his left, with a quick flick of her hand Hermione relit the fire in front of them then settled back to hear what all this was about.
"I don't know where to begin," Harry said as he ran a hand through his hair "I suppose it all started at the first Yule ball," He looked at his wife "I did not ask you to that one, I think that's when I knew I loved you, but I did nothing about it, then a few years later we took the last year off from school, you me and Ron,"
Harry went on to tell Hermione all that happened in his previous life up to where he finished Voldemort in the last battle. He told her about the Hallows and the power they were supposed to hold, I dropped the stone in the forbidden forest and the elder wand I placed in Dumbledore's tomb so they could never be used again.
"Then I did the most stupid thing and let you Marry Ron, it broke my heart, hurt so much I wanted to die, but I thought you loved him, so as I wanted you to be happy I kept my mouth shut and suffered in silence. But you weren't happy being married to him, in fact you were so unhappy it led to you dying in a road accident, many years before your time I was devastated my heart broken again. You being married to the wrong man damaged the time line, Then Dumbledore came to me just like mum has, he offered me the chance to come back to correct the mistakes I had made thanks to some deranged Time Master. Mistakes that had caused huge catastrophes, I just could not pass up the chance to be with you once more, when you died I felt like my entire life had been a waste, nothing I had done meant a single thing and it had all been futile."
Hermione had a tear in her eye as she took his hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. Having heard Lily say that Harry had till he was seventeen Hermione somehow thought that most all the events had happened to them around that age and Harry decided it was for the best if he let her continue along those lines.
"Right Harry first we need to take the headmasters wand off him," Hermione began as she wiped a tear from her eye. 'So that's why he said he would ask me to marry him, Harry had come back in time after all he had been through, he was willing to go through the same war, fight the same fight just to save me, to love me' she was elated that he had loved her so much. These thoughts ran through her head even as she worked out a way for Harry to complete the task brought to him by his mother.
Within a few minutes she had it all worked out, it was then up to Harry to carry her plans out and to put right what ever was wrong with the timeline.
Harry sat holding his mothers hand in one hand and in his other the hand of his wife the woman he loved so much, thinking 'it must be like this in heaven', Hermione cocked an eyebrow and Lily gave his hand a squeeze, Harry realised he had said his thought out loud. "Well I'm surrounded by love, what could be more heavenly."
Both women laughed before wrapping Harry in their arms and both planting a kiss on one of his cheek's
"Oh the bliss," Harry sighed
Albus Dumbledore sat behind his desk as he inspected the small stone he had removed from Marvolo's ring, 'could this little stone really call back my sister from the dead' he thought. 'Later, after the sorting' he told himself as he heard the spiral staircase moving.
A minute later Harry and Hermione Potter entered the office "You wanted to see us Headmaster," Harry said politely.
"Yes indeed, indeed, I needed to talk to you before the feast began, please take a seat."
Harry had warned Hermione that she was not to look the professor in the eye; he explained how the headmaster used a form of mind reading on the pupils to keep track of what was going on.
Hermione sat looking at her feet while the headmaster looked at Harry, once again Albus failed to enter Harry's mind and wondered yet again how this young man knew so much he was able to perform Occlumency.
"Mr and Mrs Potter, you may not know this but this school has accommodation for married couples, for some centuries it was the custom for Wizards to take a wife at a very young age, even now you will no doubt know, that marriage between seventeen year olds is still a very common thing in our society, we have as yet not followed the Muggle example where marriage is concerned. Now to my point, we on the staff can see no reason that you should not be given quarters suitable to your position, if it is your wish to live as man and wife. It is in fact a right you could demand, as the rule that covers these circumstances remains unchanged these last five hundred years. So the choice is yours." Dumbledore told them with a rather large grin on his face. He loved to spring these sort of surprises on his charges.
Harry and Hermione huddled together and decided it was the best idea they had yet heard, "Once this is sorted Harry it would be the perfect opportunity to carry out our plan," Hermione whispered.
Harry sat up straight and straightened his shoulders "Married quarters would be excellent sir," He told the headmaster.
Dumbledore reached over and pulled on an old cord hanging to the side of his chair. Just a few seconds later Dobby appeared.
"Ah Dobby, would you consent to being Mr and Mrs Potters helper," Dumbledore said smiling.
Dobby could hardly hold back his glee at the offered position and agreed readily, "Good that settled then would you see to it that their trunks are delivered to their new quarters, then after the feast perhaps you would be good enough to escort them to their chambers."
Dobby nodded then with a smile at Harry he vanished with a crack. Dumbledore informed the two teens about the rules governing their new position before bidding them fare well. Hermione turned to leave and Harry made to follow while he surreptitiously cast a wandless spell at the headmaster, the same spell that had been used against him the day Dumbledore had died.
"Sorry Sir," Harry said as he took the headmasters' wand from his waist band, then he Accio'd the stone. "Wait here love and explain to professor Dumbledore, I'll be back as soon as I can."
Hermione told the head master that Harry could not allow him to reunite the Hallows, and that he was doing this for a very good reason. A few minutes later Harry returned and freed Albus from the spell.
"The elder wand is now mine sir," Harry said "I took it from you just as an enemy would," Harry then cautiously handed it back to the headmaster saying "I offer this to you and ask that you to take it for safe keeping, I hope you can forgive me for this but the Hallows are too dangerous to be in the possession of one wizard, oh the stone is gone I flew up several hundred feet above the forest and dropped it I have no idea where it ended up, oh and I should tell you that if the stone is used then the soul brought back is in torment while it is here,"
Albus Dumbledore stood and for the first time in a very long time he was speechless, mouth open he gaped at the two teens in front of him. Several long silent seconds went by before he found his voice
"Harry, that spell, it has been a long time since I was held by such a spell, and wandless too. Tell me Harry how did you know about the Hallows, and how did you know how to render the wand harmless,"
Harry grinned "The wand is not harmless; it is just an ordinary wand now I have handed it to you, but no wand is harmless. As for the spell let us just say it is the power he knows not,"
"Well Harry I must admit I was tempted, but I am glad you have done this, you are quite right the Hallows are to dangerous in the hands of one man, though I suspect you already know you have the other one in your possession" Dumbledore said with a small sigh.
"You would not have wanted to torment your sister Albus," Harry said as he saw the sad expression in his mentor's eye.
"No Harry you are probably right again, though how you know these things is beyond my understanding, well we should go down for the start of term feast, don't you think." Albus said quietly.
All three walked together to the great hall where the headmaster took his seat and wondered at the power possessed by his pupil.
Chapter four
At the start of term feast Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts and head of the Wizengamont, the supposed most powerful wizard of the age, pondered over his student Harry Potter, and his wife Hermione, the boy not yet fifteen had used the Petrificus Totalus spell on him in his own office. This feat alone was sufficient to cause Albus some concern, the fact that he had not been able to break free of the spell, pointed to the great amount of power wielded by the young man. That he was also able to do it without a wand was to say the least, amazing, such wandless magic was rarely accomplished, even by the most powerful. The last wizard to posses such power had been Merlin himself. It had not missed his notice that the young man also did it without saying a word, yet another amazing accomplishment for one so young.
Albus felt he needed to know more, he would have to keep an eye on the young Potter couple, a very close eye indeed. The thought that young Mr Malfoy might anger Harry flitted through his mind, but then he thought Harry was too good a person to cause any lasting harm on the Slytherin bully.
Harry for all the years he had lived in his other life, was feeling about as nervous as he ever had, it dawned on him that in this life he had only lived for close on fifteen years, he was in fact no longer an old man, he was still a teenage boy and he prayed that his raging teenage hormones could be kept under control while he shared married quarters with his wife.
Dobby was leading them toward the same corridor that contained the entrance to the headmaster's office and the staff quarters. Half way down the corridor, a passage on the left appeared and Dobby led them down it, stopping at the third door "Your Quarters Harry Potter sir," the little elf bowed as he held open the door. "Harry Potter sir will have to place a password on the door,"
Harry entered the room followed by Hermione, who was closely followed by Dobby. As Harry and Hermione looked around the small room they both realised at the same time that it was rather like a smaller version of the Gryffindor common room that they had spent so many happy days in.
"Dobby hopes that Mrs Harry Potter sir is happy with the room," the little elf mumbled nervously.
"This is brilliant Dobby," Harry and Hermione replied in unison, Hermione gave Harry an odd little look before asking about the rest of the quarters.
Dobby took just a few minutes to show them that there was a small kitchen, a bathroom, and two bedrooms. In one bedroom there was all the usual bedroom furniture and one rather large double bed, walking around the room Hermione was welcomed by the large mirror above what was obviously a woman's dresser. "Welcome home mistress," it said in a rather slow Scottish accent.
Harry left Hermione looking at the main bedroom while he checked out the other room; it contained two small four poster beds not unlike those in their usual dormitories. It did not take long before Hermione was placing her books on the bookshelves, already having sorted her other belongings and placed them in or on the dresser, in what she now called their bedroom. It took her a lot less time to unpack and put away all Harry's belongings.
Having finished in the bedroom Hermione decided that they should make their living room more homely than the common room had been. It needed just a little something.
"Harry love, could you come in here a moment," she called toward the second bedroom.
Harry popped his head around the door "Yes love?"
"We need a more personal touch in here, any ideas?" she asked smiling at the nervous look Harry gave her.
"Well apart from turning it into a small cupboard under the stairs I have no idea," Harry exclaimed, slightly alarmed to be asked about making the place more personal. After all he was a man and men didn't do such things.
Hermione frowned and made a mental note to ask Harry what he meant later. Meanwhile she began to move a few things around and transforming the décor to be a little brighter.
"Harry what colour would you like?" she asked as she looked at the largest wall.
'Hermione love any colour you wear is ok by me' Harry thought as he pictured Hermione in a lot less clothes.
"Harry! Honestly, is that all you boy's think of," Hermione said looking at him and blushing, "by the way they happen to be white."
Harry gasped; he had not just said that out loud had he. 'How the heck could I have been so dumb' he thought as he shifted uncomfortably. He made the decision that he just had to calm down, after all he was married to the woman he had always loved, he had always wanted, so he should not be so nervous, he had his Hermione.
Looking up Harry saw Hermione bent over as she moved the small rug in front of the fire, he stared at her small but shapely behind for a few seconds then thought, 'Merlin Hermione how's a bloke to control his hormones if you do that in front of him' as he watched her skirt hitch a little higher and reveal more thigh.
"Harry behave yourself in front of Dobby, and you can control your hormones just fine," Hermione said as she straightened her back, pushing out her chest as she did so.
'Hermione your killing me here' Harry thought as his blood began to journey south rather rapidly.
"What do you mean I'm killing you?" she asked smiling as she saw Harry trying to hide his obvious joy at seeing her stretch.
"Er- Hermione did you hear me?"
"Of course I heard you Harry; you're standing right there,"
'Er- Hermione could you just look at me' Harry thought.
Hermione turned to look at her husband with a look of curiosity on her face, "Harry you look like you saw a ghost," she said as she noticed the colour draining from his face.
'Hermione can you hear me now' Harry thought, hoping he was wrong.
"Yes I can obvious… Harry you said that without moving your lips," she gasped, 'my husband is a ventriloquist' she thought smiling to her self, 'is there no end to his talents'.
'Hermione I did not say that without moving my lips, in fact I didn't say anything just as I am not actually saying these words' Harry thought wide eyed
"Harry don't be so silly, of course you're saying it how else could I hear you,"
'Hermione just humour me, think of a question you can ask me'Harry was suddenly seeing some very useful but also very worrying implications in what was happening.
Hermione looked at him as though a bludger had just loosened his brain, 'Ok Harry what did you mean when you said that about a cupboard under the stairs'
'That's because that's where I slept till I was eleven' Harry thought sadly
Hermione stared at Harry almost as wide eyed as he had been "Harry how did you do that?" she asked shock sounding in her voice.
'You started it, listening to a blokes thoughts about his sexy wife'Harry thought then instantly thought 'oh sugar'
Hermione turned a little red as she remembered she had taken a sneaky look at the effect she had on him. 'We can talk to each other, without speaking, heck Harry what's going on?'
Together they worked out that they mostly only heard thoughts directed at each other or involving something that related to them or their conversation. Harry was a little less apprehensive an hour later when he knew for certain that they could not read each others minds fully, as in delve into memories and that sort of thing.
Bed time and Harry was pacing up and down in front of the living room fire, looking rather worried. "Whats wrong love?" Hermione asked a tender note to her voice.
"We have to go to bed," Harry answered as though he had explained every thing on his mind.
Hermione smiled "Yes love we have to go to bed."
Harry finally made what for him in his current state was a major decision, it was obvious he had to get used to sleeping with his wife, he knew if he refused to sleep with her she would either get angry with him or she would feel rejected, neither option was good.
"Hermione love, now I know you are fifteen and nearly a year older than me but you have control over your self to a degree that I find impossible to emulate. The truth is sweetheart; you are a very beautiful and desirable woman, even if you don't think so.
You know how much I love you, you know I came back in time for the chance to be with you, therefore you should know that my mind is older than this fifteen year old boy I have become. I have wanted you for a long time Hermione, emotionally and physically, I still feel those desires, I just don't know how well I can control them. Anyway you might have to get used to seeing the results of my sleeping with you, in the same bed," Harry gulped and finished red in the face.
"Harry love, there are things we can do without going all the way, and I know you love me, and because you love me I know I can trust you. Besides I already saw what I do to you, now stop worrying about it, it'll only make things worse. Besides a wife should know what her husband looks like naked. Come on lets go to bed, I'll keep my knickers on if it'll help," she giggled at the last bit.
Hermione insisted that they prepare for bed with all the lights on "We have to get used to each other Harry, it'll just get harder if we try to hide from each other," she told him as she removed her clothes.
Harry found that though she had a more exquisite body than he had ever imagined and most of his blood ran to a point south of his stomach, he was able to control his urges admirably, even if he could not control the physical result of being in bed with a naked Hermione.
Hermione how ever was not as strong willed as he had thought, and within minutes of their getting into the bed she had begun to play with his swollen embarrassment; with as far as Harry was concerned much too gentle and warm hands. Harry found that a lot of kissing and slightly heavy petting followed by some extremely deep breathing helped him to hold back on his base animal instincts, and finally they fell asleep in each others arms.
The following morning Hermione woke Harry with a gentle shake and a kiss then placed a fresh cup of tea on his bedside table. "I noticed little Harry was awake before you this morning," she laughed "is that a normal state and something for me to look forward too or is it being in bed with me?"
Harry pushed himself in to a sitting position "Sorry to inform you love but it's about par for the course," he replied laughing at her early morning suggestiveness. "You know it took me ages to get to sleep last night."
Throughout the day Harry found it immensely useful to be able to talk to his wife telepathically, several times he had told her how she was making incorrect wand movements, he also allowed Hermione to correct him quite a few times more in order to conceal his true abilities, not yet quite prepared to tell her every thing about himself. Though if she asked he would not lie or keep anything back, he knew he would eventually tell her all about his previous life and hope she did not decide to hold it against him.
Dobby served their evening meal in their small kitchen saving them the bother of having to walk to the great hall, Hermione sat looking thoughtful as they ate, and Harry knew she had a question for him but was trying to work out the best way to ask.
"Ok what is it?" he enquired as he pushed his plate away.
"I was thinking, if you came back in time and you were older than you are now, you must have done your N.E.W.T's, so you must know all the spells we are doing in class, if that's the case why are you holding back on your magic and even letting me help you?" Hermione asked thoughtfully.
"Hermione love, there's only you and me that know I was sent back, I don't want anyone else to know, so I hold back a little, as for why I let you help, well some of the spells we never get to use once we have learned them so I don't really remember them, and sometimes it's nice not to change things too much." Harry replied smiling.
The two Potter's spent their evening practising wandless magic, "It really is handy have our own quarters." Hermione commented as she tried to conjure a patronus.
Harry feeling that all was well with the wizarding world settled back to enjoy his new life with his new wife, so many lives seemed to have been saved by the change in the time line, so much darkness had been removed from his life that he began to wonder if he had actually lived another life or if it had in fact all been a dream, a vision of how things could have been.
Apart from the no sex till we are both ready arrangement, a rather difficult task when a rather randy hormone driven young man had to sleep with his naked wife. Married life with Hermione suited Harry well, he grew taller and stronger than he had before, and he knew for sure that it was Hermione's intervention with Dumbledore when it came to sending Harry back to the Dursleys that meant he no longer had to suffer at the hands of his awful relatives. And he would not be left stranded if they refused to take him in again.
Harry had told Hermione all about his life as the Dursley slave, and the cruelty as well as being Dudley's punch bag and in a raging temper she had cornered Dumbledore in the great hall one day just after breakfast. After politely asking where Harry was to spend his holidays and hearing Dumbledore say number four, she had torn into the headmaster and even threatened to hex off his privates if he so much as entertained the thought. Dumbledore had changed his mind by the time Hermione had finished her not so calm description of what she thought the headmaster was for placing Harry in such an evil environment, that and he was not sure just how much like her husband she was when it came to her magical power, she ended by saying that she was quite surprised that Voldemort had not sent thank you messages to him and congratulated him on his cruelty.
Harry had stood red faced and prayed that no body ever told Hermione that Dumbledore knew all about the sort of life he had with the Dursleys. 'Just like Ron said, brilliant but bloody scary' he thought as they left the hall, leaving behind a rather flustered headmaster.
Dumbledore made arrangements to have Harry's guardianship changed over to his godfather Sirius. The arrangement suited both Sirius and Harry perfectly, Harry was fed and clothed properly and he was as happy as he could be while separated from Hermione during the holidays. Sirius got to have someone living in his old house with him, his godson no less. His pride in Harry was ever evident when they went out together.
Harry was sitting in the kitchen playing chess with Sirius the day before his fifteenth birthday, his mind as usual drifted to Hermione. 'I'll be the same age as she is for the next one month and nineteen days' drifted through his mind which in turn made him think of her as she prepared for bed, he loved the fact that she always slept in the nude, and had done so for as long as she could remember, she had not changed her habits because she was married.
'Oh Hermione love I wish I could spend my birthday in your arms'he thought as Sirius beat him yet again, Harry sat up as though he had been stung when he heard Hermione in his head
'Harry was that you or was it just me missing you?'
'Hermione sweetheart can you hear me, where are you?' Harry thought concentrating on Hermione.
'I'm in the bath Harry, I never thought we could do this over such a distance, I miss you Harry, you have no idea how much' Hermione told him.
'I'm missing you too love, Sirius is ok but it's not like having my wife around' Harry thought sadly
'I'm going to ask dad to come pick you up in the morning so we can spend some time together' Hermione told him sounding excited.
"Harry! Harry, are you ok Harry?" Sirius asked looking a little worried.
"Yeah I'm fine, I was just talking to Hermione, she's going to ask her dad to come fetch me in the morning," Harry answered without thinking.
"Er, Harry, Hermione is at home somewhere in Kent, or some such place, what do you mean you were talking to her?" Sirius asked with a look of suspicion.
"I, I er well, I meant," Harry paused he did not want to tell lies to his godfather but they had wanted to keep their ability a secret.
"You were weren't you; you were talking to your wife. You've got the gift. I've heard about it but I thought it was a myth, no one since Merlin has had the gift. Ask Hermione if she can get me an invite too, what's she doing?" Sirius seemed elated that his godson had 'the gift' but Harry lost track of all his questions as Hermione interrupted his thoughts when she almost seemed to excitedly shout
'Eleven Harry, we'll pick you up at eleven in the morning'.