Summer

Summer~ Chapter Four "Revenge Can Be Fun"

All three of them sank down on the chairs and couches, Harry still shaking his head in wonder. Whatever Hermione's mom had done was pretty powerful. But it couldn't be dark magic, he didn't know when he'd ever felt so.... light!

"I want to warn you, Harry, it's been lots of years since I practiced magic. I may have to re-treat them, but, oh, kids, it feels so good to be doing the work I love again! And to be able to do it for someone so important to all of us."

"What kind of magic is this?" Harry asked. "Do we get to learn this at Hogwarts? "

"No this is a branch of healing magic, you would have to be finished with Hogwarts, and passed the N.E.W.T.S. before studying this. The Ministry has to be quite certain you're not a part of the Dark side. Even then..... well, let's just say they've been mistaken before."

"So Madam Pomfrey can do this too? I would've asked her home with me if I'd known."

"No, Harry, Mom specialized in healing people's injuries in their minds and hearts. Madam Pomfrey does stuff in your body. They're two different things. But Mom knows more about body healing than the body healers do about her branch."

"Why? It seems you'd need both for either branch." Harry asked. This was all pretty weird, even for magic.

"To put it very simply, Harry, some people just don't have both in them. Poppy does fine at Hogwarts, because Albus Dumbledore is there. Surely you know that my magic is also one of his special gifts. One among many, of course."

Now that he thought about it, Harry did know. He thought about the feeling he always had that Dumbledore could fix anything, and the times he'd been there to guide him. Dumbledore always told Harry things would be revealed at the right time.

"So finding the box with my mom's letters, and the tape you gave me, are those part of healing magic?"

"Do you feel they are?" Ivy asked, looking closely at Harry.

"I do, really. Reading and listening I felt so much, stong and weak, really, really sad but so happy I could have flown without my broom. "

"All right you two, I can tell you've got things to talk about. Just two things- if anything troubling appears concerning Lily's bracelet, I want you to come straight to me, or if you're at school, to Professor Dumbledore. Don't try to handle it yourselves yet. There's a lot of power there, and it could go either way."

"Are you upset that I gave it to Hermione, Ivy. I don't want to put her in danger," Harry was a little frightened by Ivy's serious look and voice.

"No, Harry, I'm not upset and I'm not surprised. It's just that two people your ages don't usually have the combination of talent, power and background you have. Maybe not of any age. But I'm not afraid for you. I just want you to know you aren't alone, just the two of you and Ron. But that's enough of that for me. Dire warnings are not my style. Now the other thing- I need you to go out for me again and get a few things, then we thought we'd all go out tonight and hear some music. It should be interesting for you- Muggle music for a change."

"I never really, um, heard much music at my aunt's. Unless it was on TV, Dudley loves TV."

"Mom and Dad love music, Harry. You'll get used to it. They even...," She lowered her voice slightly, "DANCE! Wait till you see them!"

"All right, we aren't that ancient. See you when you get back."

"Somehow, I don't think your mom will ever seem ancient. Y'know, Hermione. I thought maybe she'd say you should give the bracelet back to me and say it wasn't a good idea for you to wear it. You're pretty lucky you know."

"I am, you're right.remember what we said yesterday? This is going to be the best summer ever. Now ready to go? You'll enjoy this, Harry. We're going to get food, I guess Mom figured we'd better stock up, with another teenager in the house," she looked at him shyly and said, "Maybe we'll have another midnight snack tonight?"

" Maybe we can start up where we left off in the closet? Great Wizards, Hermione- your family's going to send me home if we aren't careful."

"I'm tired of being careful and sensible, Harry. I want to have some fun. Don't you?" She moved closer and gave him a look that made him feel like his legs had lost a couple of bones, and his stomach gave a lurch that had nothing to do with hunger "Have you forgotten that I do everything well? "

Seeing his chance, and feeling a surge of bravery, Harry leaned down and kissed Hermione, softly but not quickly. When they broke apart and looked at each other, they both laughed.

"Well, that didn't hurt did it? If you want to have fun, Hermione, I'll be glad to provide all the fun I can. "

He hugged her, and they left the house laughing with relief that their first kiss had been far from a disaster.

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After a wonderful dinner that Harry and Hermione prepared, with lots of jokes and not too many mistakes, they went out to one of the parks Harry had never seen in London. Chris and Ivy had explained to Harry that they came to this park each week during the summer months.

"Each week there's a different type music," Chris told Harry. "This week's jazz, but it's never the same two weeks, and usually quite good."

They spread blankets on the ground, and put the cooler they'd brought along, full of drinks and snacks in the center.

"I've sure never done anything like this,"Harry remarked to Hermione. "The Dursleys would never think of doing anything this much fun. And if they did, I'd be home, lucky to be watching TV."

"Why don't you two walk around for a while," said Ivy, smiling at them. Harry was so relieved that she didn't seem upset that he and Hermione were enjoying a slightly different friendship. Nothing had been said, but he had seen her look at Hermione questioningly when they'd returned with the food, and the smile they'd exchanged.

He had never really imagined it would feel so great to be someplace where his likes and dislikes were given any attention. Hermione had been careful to ask if there were things he'd like. This wasn't a problem though. Never having been given a choice, he was eager to try whatever Hermione suggested.

Now, walking through the park with Hermione, he realized he felt full all over, but the happy full feeling was one he didn't think would disappear when his dinner did.

"Uncle Vernon is coming back to your parents' tomorrow isn't he? I guess I'll be back on Privet Drive tomorrow at this time," he tried not to sound sorry for himself, but knew he did. He smiled at Hermione and attempted to look cheerful. She wasn't fooled by his smile, he could tell.Hermione was too smart and she knew him too well. She put her arm through his and they walked along a little more closely.

"It won't be as bad as you think, Harry. Remember he won't be quite the same when Mom finishes, and you leave. I wouldn't be surprised if your night didn't turn out to be very funny. Maybe not exactly fun, but amusing at least."

"Do you know what she has planned? I'm not sure I can wait through the night for more surprises." Harry shook his head head, thinking about Dudley and his eagerness for Harry to come home with them.

"I don't know exactly, but I have a feeling your Uncle Vernon won't be treated as gently as Dudley. And as for your Aunt Petunia, Mum said she was only playing with her today."

Now Hermione shook her head and grinned at Harry. "I have a feeling you'll be able to pretty much do as you please there. And when I come over for dinner...." Harry saw Hermione's face look more mischievous than he'd ever seen it, as she continued. "We will really have some fun with them that night."

"OK, but I didn't want to hear from the Ministry again, are you sure we can keep them out of it?" Harry knew how determined Hermione could be when she'd made a plan. He couldn't help remembering how the Polyjuice Potion had gone wrong for her in their second year, which made him grin, but also gave his stomach another lurch. This wasn't the time he wanted to see her become an animal. He liked things the way they were more than he would have expected even a few days ago.

"Don't look so worried, Harry. Mom's doing the adjustments, remember. She's got permission from the Ministry, Dumbledore's approval, it's all fine. All we'll be doing will be making some suggestions to them. You've got some ideas on how life could be improved around there, don't you?"

"I sure do!" replied Harry." I've been making that list as long as I can remember. You've got a few too, don't you?"

"My list doesn't go back as far, just since we met the first year at Hogwarts. I think I have a few you'll enjoy, though."

Hermione had a real look of anticipation on her face, Harry thought. He wasn't sure whether to feel a little sympathy for the Dursley's, or maybe... kiss her again?

"We should get back to my parents now," Hermione said, breaking into the thoughts he was having. "Harry?! Are you OK? You have a strange look....."

" Yeah, I'm just, um, thinking too much, or too long." 'Too long, ' he thought to himself, but continued, "You're right. They'll think we found some mystery again."

"Fun summer, we have to keep remembering that," Hermione told him.

"OK, but you remember too, I don't look for stuff to happen around me. It just does!!"

They laughed a little nervously at this, then turned and moved back through through the crowd, which had gotten larger as they walked, to find Hermione's parents.

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When Harry came downstairs the following morning, he wasn't surprised to find Ivy and Hermione sitting at the breakfast table, laughing.

" You wouldn't happen to be talking about Uncle Vernon, would you?"

"You know us too well, Harry. Have something to eat and come help us with the plan," said Ivy. Harry made himself a plate of what he found on the stove and counter and came over to sit with them, grinning in anticipation.

" I can see you're ready to put this plan into action."

"I think I've spent most of my life waiting for this, if you want the truth. He has made my life miserable as long as I can remember."

Hermione had that look on her face again, he noticed, the one that was a cross between ready to cry and ready to really hurt someone.

"I hope you never have that look on your face when you're thinking about me, Hermione. You can save that one for the next time we run into a Dementor."

Hermione laughed, but also shuddered a little, "Don't remind me Harry. I still can remember that feeling, having them bending over us!"

Harry looked at Ivy then back at Hermione. He couldn't help wishing he had someone to feel the way about him that he could tell Ivy felt, thinking of the narrow escape her daughter had.

As he was thinking that, he felt Ivy put her hand on his back and he felt that feeling begin to recede and a happy anticipation for the day return. Nothing was said, but he could tell she knew he was okay again.

"I won't be hurting Vernon, Harry, but he won't be very comfortable either. Hermione has told you that tonight when you get back to their house, you should be able to make some changes?"

"He's still expecting an owl from the Ministry tonight Mom! You'll have to reassure him, too." Hermione said, laughing.

"There hasn't been a summer since I started Hogwarts when I didn't hear from them in some way. It'll be great if it doesn't happen this year." Even as he said this, Harry had his doubts. Maybe Hermione and Ivy wouldn't be in any trouble but it always found him.

About an hour later, Hermione and Harry were finishing some things in Chris's lab. Hermione had been showing Harry the way models of people's teeth were made.

"This could be done a lot easier if we could use magic," Harry told her as they washed all the utensils they'd used. "Do you think your mom will change the way she works now, all the time?"

"I don't know, Harry. She hasn't told me but I think it will depend on how things work out with your family. I really wonder how my dad is feeling. He probably never expected her to return to the wizarding world."

"Do you think it's a problem? Chris seemed fine at the Leaky Cauldron yesterday, and no one acted like he shouldn't be there. Maybe you're the one looking for trouble now, Hermione...... and maybe I shouldn't really be here. I'm the one who's causing things to change."

"No, I am looking for trouble, and I'm stopping right now ! This should be a lot of fun, if anyone ever needed to be changed, it's your Uncle Vernon. Mom is really looking forward to today!" Hermione looked cheerful and excited again as she said this, Harry was relieved to see. He really didn't want to leave the Granger's house, they had already made him so comfortable.

"I wonder what my room looks like at my aunt and uncle's house. If Dudley really did get his old, broken junk out, it's going to look pretty bare. I hope he didn't get into my trunk. Usually they lock it up as soon as I get back from Hogwarts for the summer." Harry had a sudden, horrible thought. " Hermione, I've forgotten Hedwig. She was away when I left."

Ivy walked into the room as Harry said this, and immediately made him feel a lot better.

"Hedwig is fine, Harry. In fact she's upstairs here now, you might want to go up soon. There are some other things there too."

Ivy was looking very happy, Harry noticed. Apparently Hermione did too.

" Mom, what have you been doing? You look pretty pleased about something," Hermione said, going up and hugging her mom.

"Harry will find out soon, but I may as well let you both know. I've been on a quick visit to the Dursley's. Things are pretty interesting there, Vernon doesn't know why Petunia and Dudley have become so pleasant, and it's nearly driving him mad. He's not going to be in a very good mood when he gets here, so I want you two well away from the room, until I let you know the Charm has worked."

" How did you get there and back so.....," Harry broke into a big grin. "I guess you enjoyed Apparating again!"

"I'd forgotten how convenient things can be, going back to magic. In a way though, I'm pretty proud of being able to having done things the hard way for the past years. I really appreciate what I learned at Hogwarts and after more than ever. Your trunk is there too Harry. You may want to check to see that nothing has been disturbed."

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Harry and Hermione went through Harry's trunk, carefully and found that nothing had been disturbed. Even his Pocket Sneakoscope was there, and his broomstick care kit. As they went downstairs, Harry couldn't help wondering how this day would end. It had been a lot of fun staying there with the Grangers, and watching Hermione becoming more..... well, she was really pretty now. He looked over at her, and felt a strange lurch in his stomach. Would they wind up in that dark X-ray room again. He shook his head, and made himself focus on the outcome of the afternoon.

Hermione looked at him and grinned. " I don't know which of us is looking forward to this most, but I'm sure you'll be happiest if things turn out well."

They wandered into the area where Ivy and Chris were and found them working on a strange chair. They were both smiling, especially Ivy.

"Where did that come from?" Hermione asked, walking around it and looking at it from all angles.

" I just finished putting it together." said Chris. "We took parts of several older chairs and made this one. Don't touch it though, we haven't completely stabilized it." He bent down and tapped the bottom of the chair, where some bolts were sticking out. Harry was amazed they'd go to so much trouble to make things more pleasant for him on Privet Drive, even if he didn't want to go back there. Then he grinned, remembering that Uncle Vernon had probably made a pretty obnoxious impression on the Grangers before he'd been around. He seemed to make a habit of infuriating people who had any sense or decency.

"What do you think Harry? Can you tell what we're going to do?' asked Ivy with a twinkle in her eyes.

"No, not really but I can tell it won't be very comfortable, and that's enough for me. It's shaped like an X though isn't it?" answered Harry, looking at the narrow seat, and picturing Vernon's fat bottom hanging off. He couldn't even see how he'd manage to stay on the seat, and laughed aloud at the picture it brought to his mind.

"It's an X and when I've finished with Vernon Dursley, all four ends of the X will have been used. Oh, you'll see some changes and he isn't going to like them. But he'll have no choice in the matter!" Ivy said this with a laugh and a look of great satisfaction.

" And not only that, you're going to make him pay you for all the misery the changes are going to cause, right Mom?" Hermione chuckled. "If he only knew what he's going to find when he gets here, I guess he'd be leaving the country right now. But... how are you going to make him get into the chair to start with?"

"Oh that's no problem, Hermione, your mother has gone into her old Potions textbooks." Chris said, looking at Ivy proudly. Harry couldn't help wondering if his dad had looked at his mom that way, but remembering the tape he had, and the letters he'd read, he felt sure his dad had been very proud of both of them. He could hear it in his voice. He felt Ivy's eyes on him and he nodded. Apparently she noticed he was having a lot of emotions to deal with and didn't intend for any of them to cause him any more pain than absolutely necessary. He felt a strange shiver go through him and realized he felt really safe, in a way he never felt unless he was talking to Dumbledore. Could this really be happening to him? Then he felt a hand on his arm and looked to see Hermione smiling at him. " Why don't we go start doing some things in another part of the office. I know Mom, and she's going to feel a lot better if we're nowhere within hearing distance."

"Right!" said Harry although a bit regretfully. He would have liked to see his uncle when Ivy gave him that potion. He bet Vernon wouldn't like it nearly as much as that wine he was so fond of.

"If things go as well as I anticipate, I'll be calling you in soon. I can work the charm while you're in here, in fact you'll need to be here so that we don't miss anything," Ivy told them. "Now, disappear for a while., there's lots for you to do. And the time will go quickly if you're busy."

So Harry and Hermione went into another area at the back of the house, and Hermione began again to sort out the instruments her parent used, organizing them in a a way that was a mystery to him. Knowing Hermione though, she had probably memorized all of her parents' medical books before she was seven years old. He found that he was smiling in a way that would have made Ron laugh until he cried.

Somehow a lot of those things he and Ron had always found annoying and sometimes obnoxious about Hermione seemed perfectly normal and right. Maybe even a little...... time to get to work, he told himself ! He turned back to the boxes on the floor and continued to unpack them, so that he could place the various things on the counters. Harry was sure he would have to ask Hermione to tell him where to put things, but if he could judge by the smile on her face, he didn't think she'd mind.

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Just as Harry had expected, Hermione did have to remind him where to put some of the supplies on the counter, but he could tell she was distracted too.

"Oh, Harry, we might as well give up. I'm not able to keep my mind on what has to be done," said Hermione, in a frustrated voice.

"No?" he asked, putting down the spray bottles he was putting away. "Then I guess there's no hope for me. What should we do now?"

" I have an idea! Let's see what we can find in the computer?"

"I'm sorry, Hermione, I'm not following too well. What does Uncle Vernon have to do with the computer?" Harry was thinking, 'What's she going to do now? Is this when I hear from the Ministry again?'

" Hold on, I'll show you." Harry watched as Hermione quickly went through some lists of names and printed a few pages. "There! We now have a way to test how well Mom's Charm worked right away."

"What are those names for, and the letters and numbers?" Harry asked, peering over her shoulder.

" My parents have always kept a special list of people, mostly children, who need to have their teeth worked on. Then they find ways to help them when they can," Hermione said with a grin.

Harry shook his head, "No, Hermione , this won't work. I don't even think Uncle Vernon could help any of these kids. He told us money is a problem for him now."

"We won't know till we try it, Harry," Hermione said, with that stubborn look he knew so well. He shrugged his shoulders, and picked up the papers, as she continued, " Just one kid could make a difference."

Just then Chris came into the room and motioned for them to follow. As they did, Harry noticed Chris' shoulders were shaking with laughter, and he walked faster. They walked into the room where Ivy and Uncle Vernon were and immediately Harry had to put his hands over his mouth to keep from shouting with laughter.

There was Vernon, and as he had anticipated, he looked as if it was a very uncomfortable fit on the chair. Next he noticed his uncle's bushy mustache was gone! He now looked more like Aunt Marge than ever, except that he now looked like the more feminine of the two.

"I can see why he's kept that thing all these years," he whispered to Hermione. "Look at that mouth- like a little rosebud in all that mass of face."

Hermione was also shaking with silent laughter, and pointing at the chair, which was beginning to rotate in a circle. Harry's uncle appeared unable to speak or move, but he had a look of confusion and terror on his face. When he had turned so that his head was down and his feet were up, Ivy went to him and tapped each of his feet three times, muttered, "Amiiablius," and snapped her fingers three times. The chair rotated again, bringing Vernon back to an upright position. Expecting to see a look of fury on his uncle's face, Harry was surprised to see the look of terror still there, and his eyes were now darting between Ivy, Chris, Hermione and himself. Ivy was the first to speak and Uncle Vernon seemed to relax slightly when she spoke.

"Chris why don't you take Mr. Dursley back to the office. I'll be in to check with you after I've helped Hermione and Harry a bit." Vernon stood up a bit unsteadily and looked at Harry as if he'd never really looked at him before, then followed Chris out of the room.

" Wow! What happened to him? Besides being upside down, and losing his mustache. Oh, he loved that thing!" Harry could hardly speak, he was now laughing so hard.

" I performed the Amiable Charm, Harry, " said Ivy."To put it simply, I've exchanged avarice for benevolence, and hostility for tolerance. The only thing is, he's so confused, he may need to be led around for a while. He won't like his new impulses, but if the Charm worked, and I believe it has, Vernon Dursley won't have much say in things."

"What about his mustache, Mum? How did that get involved?" Hermione finally stopped laughing long enough to ask.

" Oh, that was just an impulse. He's always been so fussy about that mustache on his visits here. As if he thought I was planning to shave it off. But, guess what kids! It's not shaved, it's gone for good, it won't grow back, now matter what he does. And did you notice how the hair in his nose and ears suddenly looks so frizzy? Oh he's going to be thrilled when he looks in the mirror!"

She and Hermione and Harry all sat down on the chairs, and laughed until tears rolled down their faces.

Finally Ivy gasped, and said, "I'd better go rescue those two from each other. Chris may have Vernon financing a Dental Clinic in Haiti by now! And Harry, you'll be going back with Vernon so you and Hermione make sure you're prepared, just take a few things for tonight. We may have you back tomorrow."

This had the effect of sobering Harry and Hermione immediately. Even though he knew Privet Drive wouldn't be the same, Harry couldn't help dreading leaving the Grangers'. He wasn't sure what was the cause of this, but he was still feeling a little disappointment that he and Hermione hadn't wound up in that dark room for at least a few minutes.

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The next morning, when Harry was dropped off at the Grangers', he found Hermione outside, watering the geraniums in the window boxes. When she saw Harry get out, and Uncle Vernon drive off, she set down the watering can, and ran down the steps to greet him.

Harry grinned to himself as he thought 'she hasn't changed that much, she still doesn't mind showing she's glad to see me!,' while another part of him couldn't help noticing that her short red shorts and white tank top made her tan look.......

"What happened, Harry? How did they act? Was your aunt still that sweet? Did Dudley really share the game?" As ususal, when Hermione was excited, her words came out in out in one big rush. When she stopped for breath, Harry put his hand on her arm and pulled her down to sit on one of the steps beside him.

He leaned back on his elbows and tried to look serious, until he noticed a worried expression cross her face. "Harry it didn't.....?" she began, but he interrupted her with a shout of laughter.

"I can't do it! I was going to tell you none of the Charms worked after they got home, but I can't. Wow, Hermione, your mom must have been at the top of her class at Hogwarts too! You won't believe the way my relatives acted."

"Don't think Mom had any problems passing her N.E.W.T.S.," Hermione replied with a smug look." What did your room look like? Did your aunt really make Dudley clean it?"

"The room was very bare,." said Harry, laughter still in his voice. " I'm s'posed to tell her tonight what color I'd like the room to be painted. She even made Dudley polish the floor, he was still sweating when I got there."

"What about your aunt and uncle?" Hermione asked in a slightly muffled voice, since she now had her head in her hands, laughing at the picture in her mind of Dudley polishing a floor.

"Oh, Uncle Vernon had quite a surprise when he got home and Petunia screamed when she saw him." Harry shook his head, still in disbelief at what had taken place.

"On the way home, he still had that confused look on his face, and he was looking at me out of the corner of his eye. He seemed to want to accuse me of something, but he couldn't because he didn't know what had happened."

"I'm surprised your aunt and everyone else hasn't always screamed when they saw him. So when you aunt screamed, what did he do?" asked Hermione.

" He ran straight to the bathroom and roared for a while, and Aunt Petunia cried," Harry replied with satisfaction in his voice." But the best thing happened after supper. I was feeling pretty good, they had let me eat all I wanted for a change. Dudley was washing dishes, and I was watching something on TV that I had picked, also another first."

"I'm glad they finally let you eat enough," Hermione said. "Mum will be glad too. And Dudley washing dishes, that must have made you feel good. Did he know how?"

"Not at first. Aunt Petunia had to yell at him a couple of times, and she made him start over once. Then she left the kitchen, and came back with the biggest block of wax I've ever seen. It looked like one of Madam Pomfrey's blocks of chocolate."

TO BE CONTINUED...