Harry Potter and the Sixth Year Secrets

Hermione had been improving little by little in the short period of time allowed. She really just tried not to think about it. She would still burst into tears on several occasions, and sometimes had to be left alone. She was also sort of grateful Harry's family was nothing like her own. There were fewer memories to bring up that way. She still missed her dad terribly so, but she was trying hard to live without him. It was just another task in her life that she would once again rival over.

When Hermione woke up the next morning at half past nine, the first thing she heard were voices downstairs. They sounded vaguely familiar, but her sleepy head didn't feel like processing it all right then. Shower first, thought Hermione, and then I'll go downstairs.

When Hermione finished getting dressed, casual but nice for the 'special' occasion that Harry had mentioned, she got up to walk downstairs. She did another check with her mirror to make sure she looked okay. She was caught up in the moment that she generally didn't care what she looked like inside of the house. Eventually the moment passed and she opened her door to continue making her way downstairs.

She found it odd that nobody was upstairs. Dudley, who could usually be heard talking or in his room, wasn't anywhere to be seen. She had tried to talk to him, but he would always grab his bottom and run. She would have to remember to have to ask Harry about that. Mr. and Mrs. Dursley weren't much better. Mrs. Dursley would only talk to her occasionally and Mr. Dursley tried to avoid her all together. He was working strangely long hours most nights. He often comes home smelling of whiskey, thought Hermione while walking down the stairs, but what she found was a surprise.

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Harry woke up and got ready the next morning by seven am. He was up early today even though they were skipping their morning run. He was up early to get ready for Hermione's surprise. He knew she thought it was going to be a fun surprise, but this was more of a necessary surprise. She needed this, even though she probably didn't know she needed it.

He went down and started cleaning up the house. Aunt Petunia and Dudley would be gone by nine because they were driving to town for the day. Luckily, that meant Harry and Hermione would have the house to themselves, till around dinner time, and they didn't have to intrude on Mrs. Figg.

He had the whole house cleaned at eight, and went to start fixing breakfast. Cleaning and cooking were things he had had to learn while living with the Dursleys. I'm glad it's not my life anymore, thought Harry, but being the savior of the wizarding world and trying to defeat the world's greatest evil isn't a picnic either.

He was just entering the kitchen when Dudley came down and informed him they were leaving early. The earlier the better, thought Harry, he wasn't sure exactly what time their guest would arrive.

He was busy putting on the kettle when the Durlsyes left, without as much as a goodbye. They had started letting him do more things around the house now that another wizard was here. It was their way of punishing him, without technically punishing him. He was expected to clean his room and fix his own meals now, but was still not made to do heavy work. It actually turned out better this way.

When he heard a car drive up, not even two minutes after the Aunt Petunia and Dudley had left, he figured they had forgotten something and came back. So he was just a little surprised when the door was knocked on.

He was even a little more surprised to find a little old lady standing before him.

"Am I supposed to just stand here?" demanded the old lady. "Honestly, young gentlemen like you should respect your elders." She turned to the woman behind her. "Come on in dear."

And before Harry could utter another word, the crazy old woman pushed herself inside, followed by a woman with just slightly large front teeth and a slightly large belly.

"Hello, Harry. It's nice to meet you again. Thank you very much for inviting me," said Jane Granger.

"Hello, Mrs. Granger," said Harry. "I'm fixing breakfast right now. The tea is ready though if you want some."

"Thank you. Is Hermione up yet?" she asked?

"Umm, she's not up yet. Actually, she doesn't even know your coming. It was supposed to be a surprise," Harry told her, while walking towards the kitchen.

"Yes, just ignore me. I'm old so it just doesn't matter, right?" asked the old woman.

"Oh, sorry," said Harry, "would you like some tea?"

"Of course I don't," she said. And with that she winked at him and opened and shut the door.

What in the world, thought Harry, who was that? But he was cut off by Mrs. Granger speaking.

"Oh, okay...," Harry said, stunned by this lady. "Oh, the tea, this way Mrs. Granger," Harry said after an uncomfortable silence.

As she followed him, Harry explained to her how Hermione had been crying in her room, and how it seemed she was afraid for someone to see her in a weak moment. Mrs. Granger told him that her husband was very close to Hermione. "He was a great man," she said at one moment, while crying silently.

"She just always seems so happy," Harry told her. "I wasn't happy at all when my godfather died right before the end of summer. I just don't understand why she thinks she needs to hide it."

I'm not sure why I thought this was a good idea, Harry thought while waiting for Mrs. Granger to answer, I'm only making her cry.

"It's probably a pride thing," Jane Granger explained to Harry. "The whole Granger side has it, and it's double for her. She's afraid that people will not take her seriously or respect her if she's weak. Being a muggle born probably makes it worse. She told us some people consider her a low life. She earned her respect the hard way, and is probably afraid to lose it."

"Oh," was all Harry said. It never occurred to me as a pride thing, he thought. I still think it's because she doesn't have someone to grieve properly with though.

"Harry, may I ask you something?" asked Mrs. Granger.

"I guess," answered Harry.

"And you promise to tell the truth?" she asked again.

"Sure," Harry told her.

"Okay, then," she started, "do you have any feelings for Hermione? You do seem to care for her greatly, and I just wanted to know."

"Wow, that question was sort of out of the blue. Well, it's complicated...," he began, before he was interrupted.

"It's a simple question Harry. Do you care for my daughter?" she asked again.

I have been thinking about this for the last couple of days, Harry admitted to himself, but the question still remains. Do I?

"Well," started Harry, "the truth is..."

"MUM!" yelled Hermione, standing on the staircase, "it's so great to see you!"

"Hermione, come give me a hug!" Mrs. Granger cried happily, while jumping out of her chair. "It does feel like a whole year has already passed what with, well...everything," Mrs. Granger said, while Hermione threw herself into her mother's arms.

As they were chattering away at the kitchen table Harry continued to fix breakfast. He obviously wasn't going to be missed.

About twenty minutes later, the pancakes, sausage, and the quarters of grapefruit were all ready. The coffee and milk was set on the table, and the plates were set. So they started to eat and talk.

Since Mrs. Granger and Harry hadn't ever had a real conversation before this morning, it was a little strained for awhile, but eventually everything was just fine. Harry thought Mrs. Granger was actually very nice. They talked for about an hour about things, until Harry excused himself. He claimed he needed to clean his room. He secretly wanted to give them some time alone. The whole point of Mrs. Granger's visit was to try and help them both get some closure. Sure enough when he checked back in on them an hour later, they were both crying. He knew one day of talking wasn't going to fix the problem, but it might help having someone to talk to that is going through the same thing. I lost Sirus, thought Harry, but that's nothing compared to losing a real father you have known for sixteen years, or your spouse.

He turned to walk back upstairs, but was stopped by a sudden thought. Why is Hermione's mum's stomach so big? Harry thought to himself. I never noticed it while we were sitting down, but now that I see her from the side...

That's going to be a big difference in age, if she is pregnant. She must be at least thirty six, Harry guessed. She didn't look that old after all, but he doubted a Granger would have a child before twenty.

These new thoughts carried Harry all the way to his room, where he found an owl perched on his bed. When he took off the letter from the strange owl, he didn't recognize the gold seal with the two wands crossed over a galleon. When he opened the letter, it turned out to be something he hadn't even thought he would receive; Sirius' will.

Dear Mr. Harry James Potter,

It is with deepest regret that we must send you this, but it is also our duty as guardians of your gold. With the death of Sirius Black, his will states that everything would pass to you. The exception is 1,000 galleons that would be willed to Remus Lupin. You are hereby entitled to the remaining 1,000,000 galleons that have accumulated over the Black's time. You are also entitled to the Black estates, which are located in London, America, and Australia. There is also a house elf, named Kreacher, who is your property. There has been no living family in the other two estates mentioned above. Your presence will be required on August 31^st for the transfer of money between the vaults, and for your signature on the deeds.

We are deeply sorry for your loss,

Griphook

Head of Wizard's Wills Transfers (WWT)

Harry just sat there in shock. A will had certainly not even occurred to him. He also had no idea Sirius had that much money or that many houses. He really wasn't sure what he could do with them. Maybe they could be useful to the Order he thought. They probably have the same protections as Grimmauld Place.

Harry never realized tears were flowing down his face, as once again he relived the night at the Hall of Prophecy. He never realized when Hermione came into his room and came and sat by him. He never even realized the tears falling down her face until she hugged him. They sat there for over an hour just hugging and crying silently, both from fathers lost. They needed this, needed each other to help them through this. It was comforting to show weakness, and yet still be protected. They had both been unwilling to let go. Harry had thought he had dealt with everything, but he had only suppressed it. He had needed someone just as badly as he thought Hermione did. Today was their first big step of recovery they would take together.

When their cries finally subsided, they gave each other one final huge hug, and Hermione left for her room. They were both going to lie down for a while. They both needed time to think.

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It was about two o'clock when Hermione finally got up. She was a little surprised to find Harry was taking a walk. She figured he was walking around the park, because Tonks wasn't off duty tomorrow. Fridays are supposed to be fun, Hermione thought to herself. Today was a good day though, just really different. It was so sweet to have mum come over. And once again the question that had been plaguing her mind came back to her: And what about me and Harry? Something does seem different, but what? Do I like him...?

But as it always seems, her thoughts were interrupted as she saw Harry.

"I just want to thank you for today Harry. There really wasn't any reason for you to do that, and yet you still did it. You have no idea how much this means to me," Hermione told Harry.

"Course there was," he laughed, "your one of my best friends and you needed it. I want to thank you for earlier too. I guess I didn't realize I needed it also."

It became a comfortable silence after that. All things needed to be said were said, and they fell into an easy walk around the park. They would occasionally speak, and Hermione filled him in on her mum leaving early. She was sort of vague on the details. She mentioned a doctor once, but pretty much left it at that.

As it was steadily getting darker, the two headed back to the house to eat supper. When they reached the house and walked into the kitchen, nothing was there, so they went to the garage and neither car was back yet.

"They probably met up with Uncle Vernon for a fancy supper," Harry told Hermione.

"They probably didn't want to risk coming back and having to take us with them. They have been gone more than usual now that we can do magic and you're here."

"Well, I'm not going to take it anymore!" exclaimed Hermione. "I am sick and tired of having them ignore me these last two weeks. I will show them that it is courteous to be nice to your guests. I really don't know how you deal with them, but I have had enough!"

And with that she stormed up into her room and slammed the door.

It's only like seven o'clock, thought Harry. Maybe her emotions are just a little mixed up after today, but for some reason I think she meant it.

Harry was extremely bored after Hermione's departure, so he got out his Firebolt and decided to polish it. It had been another one of Hermione's great gifts. Most of them were good, except maybe the homework planner, he thought. She really did outdo herself this yeah though, now I have to find something really exceptional for her also. Maybe I should ask Tonks to look around for me when she goes to buy our books and stuff. Or to bring back some order forms from some shops and I could mail-order it. I should ask her tomorrow. Come to think of it, I'm a little tired to, I think I will just take a nap.

As Harry changed and got ready for bed, he heard the Dursley's car drive up, and then them entering the house. Even if he wasn't sure by that point if that was actually them, he heard the voices drifting up the stairs. They were being extremely loud actually. It sounded like an argument. Maybe Dudley got caught smoking again, thought Harry. That was the topic of the argument during the first week of summer break. He blocked everything out while getting into bed but it still took him over an hour to get to sleep.

As Harry was dreaming, he thought he heard a voice shout Silencio! But when he awoke everything was quiet. They probably went to bed, thought Harry. Merlin knows they need to. And he laid his head back down and was asleep before it hit the pillow.

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