Harry Potter and the Veil of Death

Chapter Two~~

Surprises

Why do you weep?

What are these tears upon your face?

Soon you will see

All of your fears will pass away

Safe in my Arms

You're only sleeping.

-Annie Lennox, Into the West, LOTR

~*~*~*~

What Dumbledore thought Harry would find interesting in the next day's Prophet was clear. The moment Harry opened it he went into a raucous peal of triumphant laughter.

'ARTHUR WEASLEY REPLACES FUDGE AS MINISTER OF MAGIC!'

'After denying all rumors that You-Know-Who was once again active in Britain and publicly denouncing Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter as close as two days before Fudge along with dozens of Aurors and MLE saw You-Know-Who with their own eyes in our Ministry, Fudge has finally been removed as Minister. After Albus Dumbledore declined the job, Arthur Weasley has finally been voted Minister of Magic. Throughout the past year, Arthur has stood firm behind Dumbledore and Potter, even with all the ridicule, as far as his own son, Percy Weasley, and the threats of being fired by Fudge, he stayed true to what he believed. When asked what he first plans to do about the War with You-Know-Who, he said, "As always, I will stand behind Albus and Harry. The Daily Prophet must stick to the truth, and envoys will be sent to all sorts of magical creatures. Discrimination against werewolves and centaurs will stop! The Fight against V-------- will begin!" It truly seems as though our ministry is taking a turn... a turn for the better. Mr. Weasley lives in Ottery St. Catchpole with his wife, Molly and seven children, Bill, Charlie, Fred, George, Ron, Harry Potter, honorary member of the Weasley family, and Ginny Weasley.'

Harry felt tears catch in his eyes, but he quickly brushed them away... honorary member... the Weasleys were too kind... he was so happy for them. Rest assured, Ron won't be complaining about being 'poor' this year!

~*~*~*~

About a week before Harry's birthday, he received two owls. The first had an official looking seal from the ministry on it, and he realized with a lurch that he was holding in his hands his OWL scores, that decided whether or not he could become an Auror. Damn Potions.... The second letter he recognized from Hermione, and he decided to open it first. She probably was telling him all about her OWL results, and he'd rather hear about hers than find out his. He opened her letter.

Dear Harry,

I just got my OWL results! I am so happy! I got an O in every subject! That means I got 16 OWLS! 16! A perfect score! Only Dumbledore has gotten that many! That's a whole 3 more then... TMR... if you get what I mean... scary, isn't it? Well, Ron got 9 OWLs, so his Mum is happy enough, after all, it's better than the twins' 3 each! You should be getting yours the day you get this letter, and I hope you did well, but... here's my surprise! The Order is going to let me come and visit you today! Harry's heart skipped a beat. Isn't it great? I'll be there at noon, and Tonks will be bringing me! I can't wait to see you! Oh, and guess what?! Dumbledore got me a Magic License and Apparation License too! Only, Ron didn't, so don't mention it to him, it's too soon to tell him. I assume they don't want people to think Mr. Weasley is giving his son special treatment... See you today!

Love,

Hermione

Harry looked at his watch. 11:38! He had less then thirty minutes to get ready to see Hermione!

He looked through his closet. He'd prefer to wear something that wasn't ripped, torn or ten sizes too big. There wasn't much... in fact, there was nothing. Harry decided to magically shrink an old (yet never worn) pair of Dudley's dress pants, and a shirt, again old, but never worn, of Dudley's.

Once he had finished, he looked at himself in the mirror. Gone was the boy that would have stared back at him just last summer. His muscles were now slightly defined, and his hair had slightly outgrown its messiness. It was just at the point of looking messy enough to be cute (atleast in Harry's opinion).

There was a knock at the front door. He sprinted down the stairs. He had already told Aunt Petunia that a friend would be arriving, and after being assured that she had been raised by muggles, and wouldn't cause a disturbance or look out of place, she agreed, as long as she was gone by the time his uncle got home.

He opened the door. There she was. Incredibly tan, and smiling, with her trademark bushy brown hair. She looked beautiful, as always.

"Harry! It's so good to see you!" she squealed. She flung her arms around him and hugged him tight, and he returned the favor.

"It's great to see you as well Hermione! I've missed you so much!" replied Harry.

They walked upstairs. Dudley chose that moment to walk out of his room. He looked at Hermione, his eyes straying too long on parts of her that made Harry mad.

"Oh, hello," said Dudley his voice suddenly going deeper than normal. Hermione looked as though she was about to burst from laughter, at the way Harry was shooting daggers at his cousin, who was acting so moronic. She briefly wondered why this would make Harry react that way, she thought it was tremendously funny. Her mind lingered on one possibility, but she quickly pushed it out of her mind. No, there's no way he likes me too...

"Weren't you on your way out, Dudley?" Harry asked rather threateningly.

"Just to... um... have tea with my friends, but they can wait," said Dudley, his voice still deep. At this Harry smirked.

"Yeah, right, Dud, off to smoke on street corners and beat up eleven year olds, more like!" said Harry scathingly.

"Yeah, whatever, I'm not the one who goes to St. Brutus's, now am I?" he asked stupidly. Harry and Hermione realized Dudley didn't know that Hermione went to Hogwarts. Harry decided to have a little fun with that.

"Yeah, neither am I Dudley, remember? Perhaps I should introduce you to my friend. Dudley, this is Hermione Granger, a friend from school."

At this, Dudley paled visibly. "You... you wait 'til... 'til dad finds out... he'll kick you out... He'll...."

"Honestly, Dudley, maybe you haven't realized this, but I don't give a DAMN about 'dear ole Uncle Vernon'! I don't care what he threatens to do! Now, get the hell out of my way, before I have to curse you. And I promise you, it won't be pretty!" Harry shouted back.

Dudley snorted. "You can't pull that one over on me, Potter, I know you're not allowed to do magic outside of your... your... FREAK school!"

Harry's temper was wearing thin. "Oh, do you think so?" he snarled. "Want to try me? And I promise you, MY school is not the one that is a freak school!"

"Fine then," Dudley smirked, "Do it, who'll see who's laughing then!"

Harry smiled. "Alright then." He pointed his wand straight at Dudley. He paused for a moment.

"Ha! Don't have the balls to do it? Would you miss her too much?" He gestured at Hermione.

"Actually, just thinking of the best curse. And if it were at all relevant in this situation, yes, I am sure I would miss Hermione too much. Oh my god! Did I just say that... shit... oh well... Now, let me think... Ah!" his face lit up.

"Harry, what are you about to do?" muttered Hermione.

"Oh, nothing irreversible..."

He turned his wand back to Dudley. "Furnunculi!"

A jet a brown light shot out at Dudley. He was immediately covered in boils. He whimpered as they sprung up everywhere. Harry smiled triumphantly.

"Have fun out to tea, Dudders..."

"Harry...?" said Hermione.

"What?"

"You can't just leave him like that!"

"Aw, why not?" Harry did a pouty face her.

"Harry James Potter! Don't you give me that look! You can't leave him like that because it's WRONG! Not to mention if Mr. Weasley ever happened to find out..."

"Okay, okay, I'll fix it." He pointed his wand at Dudley. Dudley looked terrified.

"Reverso!" the boils instantly disappeared. Dudley made to leave.

"Oh, and Dudley, you tell anybody about this little 'incident' and you'll regret it. Got me? And please, next time, will you refrain from looking at my friends in that way?"

Dudley passed by Harry, and said, "Shove off, Potter, that owl kicking you out will be coming soon!" but from the look on his face that he understood Harry completely.

"Come on," said Harry, and he pulled Hermione into his room. Harry was quite proud of his room now. He had magically painted two of the walls a scarlet color, and the other two, a gold color. He'd transfigured the rusty metal bed frame into a Mahogany frame. His old white bedclothes were now repaired and dyed scarlet. On the walls there were a few Gryffindor pennants and a poster of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. All of Harry's schoolbooks were lined up neatly on his desk and the letters he had received that summer were in a neat stack. Next to the desk, Harry had a magical bulletin board on the wall. Anything that was placed on it stayed until somebody removed them. Hanging on it was Harry's first Hogwarts letter, tons of pictures of Harry, Ron, and Hermione (presumably taken by Colin Creevey, who idolized Harry) and one of Harry on a broomstick holding the golden snitch triumphantly in the air. There was the paper that all the members of the DA had signed. (Hermione noticed that Marietta Edgecombe's name had been crossed through numerous times.) The article on Mr. Weasley replacing Fudge as Minister of Magic was hanging there as well. The edition of the Quibbler that had Harry's interview and Harry's Magic License were hanging down from the bottom. There was also, Hermione noted sadly, a picture of Sirius laughing, in the exact centre of the board. On the table next to Harry's bed there was a picture of Harry's mom and dad, along with an alarm clock. On a table next to the open (gold curtained) window, sat Hedwig's magically expanded cage. Hedwig must be off sending a letter... On top of Harry's dresser, there were a few knickknacks as well as a mirror hanging over it. Finally at the foot of the bed, was Harry's school trunk.

Hermione smiled. This room screamed Harry all over. Harry noticed Hermione's smile.

"Do you like it? It took me a day to finish it all, but that was mainly because I had to banish all of Dudley's broken things to the garbage without my uncle figuring it out."

"It's just so... you, Harry! I love it. I am glad you finally like some room in this house."

"Yeah, I do like it. Of course, Hogwarts will always beat this place, but it's nice to call someplace my own in this house. I also have silencing charms around the room, incase of any bad dreams, but I haven't had any lately, since I began practicing Occlumency. Also... watch this..." he placed his wand on his desk and walked across the room. "Accio wand!" Hermione watched in amazement as his wand zoomed into his hand. He went and put his wand back on his desk.

"Well done Harry!" she said. "Have you tried any other spells?"

"A few," he said. "Like... Colloportus!" he pointed his wand towards the door. It made that same weird squishing noise.

"Harry, this will be such a good weapon against Voldemort!"

"Even better Hermione, wandless magic can't be picked up by magic detecting wards because they can only identify concentrated magic, which is done by a wand! Of course," he said slyly, " I am sure you knew that already..."

"Yes, I did know it, Potter, but that doesn't mean I know everything!" said Hermione jokingly.

"Oh?" said Harry cheekily, "I thought it did!"

"Harry!" Hermione took a pillow off his bed and whacked him with it.

"Ouch!"

"Serves you right!" she hit him again.

"Ok, if that's how you want it to be...!" He took a pillow off the bed and swung at her. It caught her right in the stomach.

"Oomph! I'll get you Harry!"

They continued to whap each other with the pillows until Harry fell back on the bed, exhausted.

"Alright, alright! I surrender! You win, O Hermione, the Great One!"

"Damn right you are!" giggled Hermione, as she flopped onto the bed next to him. "Well, let's look at your OWL results!"

"Urgh... do I have to?" whined Harry.

"Yes! Now get them for me!" replied Hermione.

"Ok, Herm Erm..."

"You call me that again, and I will be forced to hex you!"

"Okay, how about Hermes?"

"No!"

"Hermit?"

"No!"

"Mione?"

"Hmm... I suppose that would be ok..."

"Righto Mione!" said Harry playfully, saluting her.

"Come on, just get your OWL results! I want to find out what you made!"

"Don't know what you're so excited about, I'm sure they're about as bad as Ron's... but... accio OWL results!"

An unopened envelope flew through the air. Harry caught it.

"Well, here goes nothing..."

He opened the envelope and pulled out the parchment. He slowly unfolded it. He read for a couple of seconds and paled visibly.

"Oh, come on, Harry, they can't be that bad!" said Hermione exasperated. "Let me see them!" She snatched for the parchment, but Harry held it out of her reach.

"No, Hermione," he croaked, "Listen..."

Dear Mr. Potter,

Contained are your OWL Results.

Charms

Theory- O

Practical- O-

Overall- O

Transfiguration

Theory- O

Practical- O

Overall- O

Herbology

Theory- O

Practical- O

Overall- O

DADA

Theory- O*

Practical- O**

Overall- O*

The star denotes that you received the highest scores of your year (and if I may add, the highest scores since Dumbledore himself!)

In your case the second star on your practical denotes the extra effort put into it. Well done, Mr. Potter!

Potions

Theory- O

Practical- O

Overall- O

Care of Magical Creatures

Theory- O

Practical- O

Overall- O

Astronomy

Theory- O

Practical*- O-

Overall- O

*Due to the unfortunate events that took place during this exam, please note that this is a weighted grade, and is taken by using the highest score achieved (in this case, an O+) all the other scores are rounded up accordingly.

Divination

Practical- A

Overall- A

History of Magic

Theory*- Incomplete

*Due to the problems you encountered, you have qualified to retake/make up this test. Please send us your reply no later then August the 1^st. You will then be notified of the date and location.

Congratulations, Mr. Potter! You have achieved 14 OWLS, and you are ranked at 2^nd in your class. This qualifies you for any class you wish to take. From our records, we understand you had expressed interest in being an Auror. We are pleased to inform you that your Outstanding scores have made this become possible. Your necessary classes, if you still wish to pursue this as a career, are: Advanced DADA, Advanced Transfiguration, Advanced Charms, Advanced Potions, and 6^th year healing. With your schedule open for eight classes, you may choose 3 more classes, to take, though it is optional.

Sincerely,

Madam Griselda Marchbanks

Head of OWL testing instructors

"Harry, that wonderful!" Hermione squealed. "Fourteen! That's great! And second in our class! Harry, you scored one more OWL than Voldemort!"

Harry was still sitting there with his mouth open. "Fourteen!" he said weakly, "Fourteen! I don't believe it!"

"I'm so proud of you Harry!" said Hermione, hugging him again. "Just think! If you do well this year you'll be first in running for Headboy!"

"And of course, you'll be Headgirl, that's a given... but I don't think I would be Headboy, Dumbledore didn't make me a prefect..."

"Harry, didn't Sirius say that your dad wasn't a prefect? Yet he was Headboy, wasn't he?"

"Yeah, but... they hardly ever have the Heads from the same houses..."

"Harry, are you daft?!?"

"What?"

"Your Mum and Dad were head boy and girl, and they were both in Gryffindor!"

"I know, but... bloody hell, this is scary! I could be Headboy next year!"

"Harry, you did so well! I am so proud of you!"

"Thanks Hermione, I am proud of you too! After all you're first in the year, and your OWL scores match only Dumbledore's!"

Hermione blushed. "Thanks Harry." She looked at the clock. "Oh, gosh, it's five 'til five, and my portkey leaves at five! Now, Dumbledore asked me to tell you this. He said 'Remus Lupin has the other mirror. This is your way of communicating with the Order. Use it when you feel you have to tell us something. When you are back at Headquarters for the Order, we'll also turn it into an emergency Portkey.' I assume you know what he's talking about?"

"Yeah..." said Harry absently, "yeah, I do."

"Well, Harry, I have to get ready to leave. I'll see you sometime around your birthday!"

"Bye Mione..." Harry watched as Hermione started to fade. "I love you..."

And then, she was gone.

~*~*~*~

Hermione landed in the newly renovated kitchen of Grimmauld Place. Her head was spinning, but only partly because of the portkey. Had she heard Harry correctly? Did he really say that he loved her? Could it be possible? Did he really like her too? All she wanted was Harry... he was her missing half. Practical as she was, some nights she found herself crying herself to sleep, because of the impossibility of it all... It felt as if together, they could take on the whole world together. Who gave a damn a Voldemort. If she had Harry, that would be enough for her.

Ginny walked into the kitchen.

"Hey Hermione, how was Harry's? Hermione! What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost!"

"Come on," said Hermione, visibly shaking, pulling Ginny out of the kitchen. "I have loads to tell you..."

~*~*~*~

Harry flopped down on his bed. He wondered if Hermione had heard him. Part of him wished she did, but the other part shuddered at the thought. He was looking forward to his birthday, when he could finally get out of Privet Drive, and he could see Hermione again. He inwardly groaned. How was he going to act around her now? Oh well, what comes, comes. I think I'll write Ron about my OWL scores...