End of Happiness and Starting Anew

The Leaky Cauldron

    The onset of depression from the previous morning was entirely forgotten by August 1^st. Harry slid down the stairs into the kitchen. He had had a good day yesterday, and he wasn't about to let the Dursley's slaughter his up beat mood. Harry's smile was in no way infectious when he arrived at the table. Uncle Vernon was sitting in his chair reading the newspaper, and Dudley was trying to sneak more food while his mother was not looking. Harry slid into his chair at the table and started eating his food.

    "Boy," Vernon started. "You say that you're leaving today. What time." Vernon did not ask the question. He just stated a command.

    "The Port-Key activates at three this afternoon."

    "Good. Then you can stay away from us once noon hits," Vernon said, not even showing that he was conscious of talking to Harry. "We've decided that we will be going out at noon. You will stay in the house, Boy. Don't fool around with anything, y'hear?"

    Harry nodded, his mouth full of food. Vernon grunted and grabbed his glass of orange juice. He downed it in one gulp and continued reading the paper. Dudley had not succeeded at obtaining any food, and Harry was positively excited. He knew how important it was to stay in the house with the last of his blood relation, but it was sometimes a little too complicated living with Muggles. Harry sighed and got up, setting his plate in the sink. He would normally have started cleaning it, but he just walked up to his room, wanting to get away from the Dursley's as much as possible.

    Harry cleaned his room up, taking care of the assorted clothes and other objects and making the room look unused, except for the bed and trunk. The trunk would be going with Harry and so would Hedwig's cage. Hedwig still hadn't returned from sending Hermione's letter, and Dumbledore had not given Hedwig an immediate response. Harry suspected that Dumbledore would send him a letter when he arrived at the Leaky Cauldron.

    Harry absently picked up the Box. He held it in his hands, his fingers swept across the intricate workmanship of the design. It was a mahogany box, engraved with a creature that Harry knew he had seen before, but he couldn't place it. I'll just have to talk to Hagrid about it when term starts, Harry decided. Harry slowly opened the box and peered at the statuette inside. The box seemed to have adjusted itself to the statuette, and it fit perfectly along the edges, indents so that it was obvious that only one item could fit inside it. Harry wondered fleetingly if it was possible to change the item in the box, but the instructions heavily cautioned against changing the item. He pulled out the item gingerly, and marveled at its own intricacy. The Phoenix and Lion seemed to have changed places, however. Now, the Phoenix and Lion seemed to share a bond that could not be replicated by any other. At the same time, the Phoenix was protecting the Lion as the Lion was doing the same.

    Harry felt a shiver go through himself, and he quickly reposed the statuette back in the Box, closing it and putting it into his trunk. Harry sat in silence for the most of a minute, casually turning as he heard Hedwig tap lightly on his window. Harry walked to the window and let Hedwig in. Hedwig hooted softly and hopped onto his shoulder as Harry untied the letter on her leg. It was from Hermione. Harry opened it and read.

Harry-

    My summer is going just fine. Professors Lupin and McGonagall, you should really call him Professor now, Harry, both sent me letters as well. Of course we can go to Diagon Alley together. I was planning to go next week. I tried to get it so that the Weasleys could be there as well, but Ron says that they are going to be visiting Charlie back in Romania. I heard that Professor Moody was not happy to see Charlie leave.

    I guess he didn't have much of a choice there, so Charlie has gone. Meet me in front of Gringotts at noon on the 8th?

Love,

Hermione

    Harry realized that Hermione purposely ignored the bond they seemed to have acquired. Harry sighed and motioned for Hedwig to leave the room.

    "I'll be in the Leaky Cauldron. Go have a good flight." Hedwig hooted her thanks and soared off on the horizon. Harry grabbed his trunk and held the Port-Key in his hand. He felt a pull at his navel, and instead of appearing at the Leaky Cauldron, everything went black.

---

    Hermione gasped when she got an owl from Hagrid. He rarely owled her, and she instinctively knew that it was about Harry. He had either been very unemotional recently, or he was probably not conscious. She picked up the letter and read the sloppy handwriting with puffy eyes.

Hermione,

    Sorry for the short letter. Dumbledore asked me to tell you Harry can't be found. He never made it to the Leaky Cauldron. We're searchin' for him right now. I'll owl you when we know where he is.

Hagrid

    Virtually seconds later, Hermione did not even have a chance to start crying, another owl flew through the window. She took the letter off of its leg, and read the letter.

Hermione,

    We've found him. Yeah, I know I just sent you a letter, but Dumbledore just informed me of his status. He's in room 35A at St. Mungos. We don't know what happened. Should be a Port-key there for you. Just put it on your left pointer finger, and you'll appear outside of Mungos.

Hagrid

    Hermione reached inside of the envelope and found a small band of platinum. She ran up to her room, grabbed her wand, Just in case, she thought, and put the band on her pointer finger.

---

    "Mum! Why can't I see Harry!" Ron was almost screaming at his mother. His face's colour was that of his hair. His breathing was heavy and there was a flame of rage in his eyes. His mother just ignored him, continuing on Gilderoy Lockhart's Guide to Daisies, Rhododendrons, and Other Household Plants.

    At the exact same time that Fred and George rushed through the door, Hermione appeared in the lobby, in the exact state in which Harry was. Ron stared at her body, lying on the cold tiles, crumpled in a virtually impossible posture. Fred froze, and George tackled him accidentally, and they both fell on the ground next to Hermione, getting some pretty good kisses from the ground. Mr. Weasley looked at Hermione weirdly, wondering from where she was coming and why she wasn't moving. Mrs. Weasley looked up late, noticing the overall silence of the room, and hearing the flop as Hermione hit the ground, Mrs. Weasley was the first to move towards Hermione, not including the incapacitated twins.

    "Hermione?" Mrs. Weasley asked tentatively. After she realized that Hermione was not up to speaking, or breathing, for that matter, Mrs. Weasley attempted to stay calm and shook Hermione softly, but roughly. Hermione did not budge, except when she was shaking because Mrs. Weasley was making her. Ginny happened to walk in the door at that exact moment and, when she saw Hermione, she screamed. Ron, the farthest from Ginny, caught her, and held her as much as for comfort as to keep her from getting to his mother.

    Mrs. Weasley slowly walked up to the counter with Hermione's sagging body in her arms.

    "Excuse me," she said in a commanding, but teary and soft voice, "you have another patient with the exact symptoms as Mr. Potter."

    "Oh?" asked the receptionist. "And how would you kn-" She stopped short as she saw Hermione. "Put her on the bed next to Mr. Potter's, would you?"

    Mrs. Weasley nodded shallowly and brought Hermione into the room. She walked slowly to the bed touching Harry's and softly placed Hermione down, never taking her eyes off of her almost, but not quite, adopted son. She let go of Hermione and quickly slid out of the room, not noticing Hermione's arm brush against Harry's.

    Ron looked at his mother as she walked out of the room with tears falling to the floor, making spots on the ground. He could tell she was sad; it wasn't exactly obvious that she liked Harry. Except when you consider how many times Harry has been released from one of her hugs virtually suffocated. She walked back to her chair slowly, and then started as Ron gasped audibly.

    "M- mum?" he asked tentatively. "What happened in there?"

---

    It was dark and Harry could see nothing. He tried to open his eyes, but he couldn't. They seemed to be shut closed, seemed as if he couldn't control his body. As he waited, he did not know how long he sat, waiting, he felt someone approach him, an aura he knew.

    Hermione? he tried to say slowly, as he thought it. He realized that he wasn't to be heard, and he mentally hit himself in frustration.

    Harry? Wha- what happened? Where are we? Why are we here? How d'you-

    YOU HEARD ME?!

    Harry... that hurt.

    Oh... sorry, Harry would have blushed as red as Ron's hair, but seeing as he did not have much in the way of cheeks to blush with, he didn't. I- I don't know how we got here... I just remember taking the Port-key to... the Leaky Cauldron... Harry's thoughts trailed off.

    Port-key? Hermione thought skeptically. But that's what I used... oh.

    Harry felt a jolt, as if someone was lightly brushing his arm, and all of a sudden his eyes popped open. He gave an audible gasp and sat straight up. He felt someone move on his left and realized that Hermione was sitting next to him, rubbing her eyes. She hadn't seen Harry yet.

    Harry felt for his glasses, and they were sitting on his face. Hermione looked right at Harry and her eyes locked with Harry's emerald green ones.

    Harry broke the long stare and ferociously hugged Hermione. Hermione jumped in shock and then proceeded to hug Harry back.

    "Harry... what happened?"

    Harry looked at her sheepishly. "The Port-key incident?"

    Hermione looked hesitant, then shook her head.

    "It can probably wait then... I have a feeling that the sooner I get out of this room, the less likely I am to be back in here," he said, stopping Hermione from responding, and also placing a smile on her face as she figured that Mrs. Weasley would be the first one to get to Harry.

    Harry was the first to the door, and he heard Ron gasp from behind his mother.

    "M- mum?" he asked tentatively. "What happened in there?"

    Mrs. Weasley straightened at his comment, then turned around. She saw Harry and Hermione standing at the door. Hermione was slightly behind Harry and she was blushing slightly. Only Ginny noticed, but she was too teary eyed to be positive that she saw Hermione blushing or not.

    "HARRY!!!" Mrs. Weasley screamed and tackled Harry with a bear hug, which Hermione was caught in, but Mrs. Weasley couldn't tell. "Are you all right? What happened?" Mrs. Weasley ran off questions faster than Harry could keep up with and he just smiled weakly at her. Then her onslaught slowed and she saw Hermione. Hermione was in a bear hug, which, inadvertently and not to break tradition, happened to have Harry in as well.

    "HERMIONE!!!" Mrs. Weasley screamed. She then proceeded to rapid fire off the exact same questions she had asked Harry, and let go of both of them. Ron slowly walked over to Harry and looked at him.

    "Harry... did you really grow that much over the summer?" he asked, looking up, yes up, at Harry. Harry shrugged and smiled slightly. Ron didn't bother to ask Harry if he was alright, he figured his mother had overused the question. He hesitated for a second before pulling Harry and Hermione into a huge bear hug. Hermione looked at Ron, fully two inches shorter than his 5'9" frame(I don't know the metric, I would appreciate a translation, maybe?). She smiled and looked to Ginny, who was lost for words as she watched Hermione pull her into a hug.

    "Hermione?" the shorter girl asked, looking up at the face of her friend. Hermione smiled and let go of Ginny. She grabbed Ginny's arm and pulled her over to Ron and Harry. Harry smiled at her slightly and made a gesture not much unlike a wave. "But... what... what happened?"Both Harry and Hermione shrugged and smiled larger.

    "We don't know Ginny," Harry said, speaking for the first time. He looked like he was going to say more, but jumped at the sound of his voice. Hermione looked at him curiously, and Ginny was thoroughly entranced by the sing-songyness of his voice. Mrs. Weasley was also affected, but the rest of the Weasley family did not react.

    "Harry, what ha-" Hermione stopped short, hearing her own voice, and hearing the same quality in it. She gasped and put her hands on her mouth as Ron and all the Weasley men present became as entranced with her voice as Ginny and Mrs. Weasley were with Harry's. Harry, however, just looked at Hermione, slightly amused.

    "Well, Hermione," he said with a small laugh. "Now I'm truly curious as to what happened..." Hermione looked at Harry and nodded her agreement. Her hand slipped unconsciously into Harry's hand, her fingers intertwining with his fingers. Harry's only reaction was to raise his eyebrow's at Hermione, and she blushed, realizing what she had done.

    "Her- Hermione?" Ron asked cautiously.

    There was a pop and Dumbledore appeared in the room. He gave Harry and Hermione a smug-like smile.

    "Well, it looks as if the latest prophecy of Sybill has come true, or part of it at least." Dumbledore smiled, not missing a beat. Harry and Hermione looked at him curiously. "Part of it, at least. It seems that the entire prophecy has yet to come forth. Please inform me if things do begin to change, will you?" Harry and Hermione nodded, confused. "Good. I shall see you at the beginning of the term then. Goodbye." And with a loud pop he was gone, and the receptionist did not even notice him.

    "I'll call in the doctor," she drawled, "and he can assess your conditions and decide if you can leave." Mrs. Weasley thanked her and turned to Ron.

    "Ron," she started. "I would like to talk to you privately." Ron grumbled, but obediently walked over to his mother. Mrs. Weasley pulled him aside and started talking to him.

    Harry pulled Hermione over to the side and started whispering in her ear.

    "So, what did you want to talk about before?"

    "Harry... uhh... I think I've been having a bad dream for the past few weeks... else that or I'm not dreaming," she stuttered softly, hoping that Harry wouldn't think her crazy. Instead, he smiled.

    "What, this?" he asked, an Hermione felt a rush of excitement, tinged with something that she couldn't identify. Then all of a sudden it was gone, and Harry's cheeks turned fierce red. Hermione looked at him, confused. "Sorry, that got slightly out of hand."

    "Its OK," she said, then realized exactly what that tinge was. She blushed as fiercely as Harry did and he put his hand on her shoulder.

    "Thanks," he responded. "I can, I think, stop it, y'know, if you want."

    "Stop what?"

    "This... emotion thing."

    "No," she said, smiling. "Its not that bad."

    Harry smiled back and hugged her softly, then let go. He looked toward Ron and Mrs. Weasley, but they were still deep in conversation. Ginny was looking at Harry and Hermione with a hurt, but unsurprised gaze.

    "I'd better go talk to her," Hermione sighed. Harry smiled, and looked around the room.

    "I think I should leave now, Hermione," Harry said. Hermione turned to look at him. "Still meet in Diagon Alley?" Hermione smiled and nodded.

    No one but Ginny saw Harry leave the room.

---

    Harry arrived at the Leaky Cauldron half an hour later. He walked in and the man at the bar smiled at him.

    "Harry Potter?" he asked in a gruff voice.

    Harry nodded.

    "Yer stuff's in yer room. Here's the key."

    Harry took the key and looked at the number on it. 548. He was in room 548. Harry walked up the stairs and to the Floo transporter. He grabbed some of the powder and threw it in the fire. He walked into the flames and shouted his room number. He rolled out of the fireplace in his room and silently stood up. He stood there for a couple seconds, wondering when and how he learned how to fall out of the fireplace, then recovered and settled in for the night.

---

    Hermione sat in bed, pondering the events of the past few days. Only tomorrow she would be going to Diagon Alley to see Harry again. Every time she though of his eyes, she suppressed a shudder, which took its course down her spine. She'd always imagined what it would be like to look into someone's eyes, and see the love that was in Harry's eyes. She focused on his emotions, and sensed that he was asleep, sleeping peacefully. Then she felt the same tinge again in his emotions, and she grew very curious as to what he was dreaming.

    She sighed and her mind grew still, as sleep overtook her. The day had been draining, and she was needing the rest for the next day.

    On her driveway, a cat prowled. It walked back and forth, waiting for something. It had markings around its eyes like glasses. A second later, an old looking man appeared and walked over to the cat. He pulled out a lighter like object and clicked it a couple of times, enough so that all the lights mysteriously turned off.

    "It's nice to see you, Minerva."

    The cat stole a glance at Dumbledore, then Minerva McGonagall appeared in the cat's place.

    "She seems to be asleep, Albus. How is Harry?"

    "Harry has been asleep for some time now. It looks like Sybill isn't as bad a Seer as we thought. She's just awfully sporadic," Dumbledore chuckled.

    Minerva glared at him. "So, what will happen to them?" she asked in a softer tone. "I mean, their lives won't be the same anymore. They're different from the rest of us."

    "Harry's used to it," Dumbledore said, looking thoughtful. "Think about his entire life. He's always been different."

    "Yes, but, Hermione hasn't. Not until she got the letter..." Minerva's voice trailed off, and she sighed.

    "Just keep watch on her, and I'll watch Harry, alright?"

    Minerva nodded her head slowly. The meeting ended exactly as it had outside of 4 Privet Drive, so long ago, when Harry was only one.

    Hermione stirred in her sleep. She'd always imagined what it would be like to look into someone's eyes and see love. She'd just never been able to identify how hard it would be to love that person as well.