Destination Unknown

Chapter 10

Halloween, 2013

"Harry?" said Hermione faintly as the white phoenix appeared. The beautiful bird winked at her and landed on her shoulder.

"Potter? Is it you?" asked Snape, his face the colour of sour milk.

"How is it possible? Harry must be in Hospital Wing right now!" Ron exclaimed.

Draco was as white as a sheet. Ginny and McGonagall were even whiter. Only Dumbledore remained impassive.

"Welcome back, Harry," he said calmly.

The phoenix leapt off Hermione's shoulder and changed to his human form.

"Hello, everyone," he said softly. He looked the same as he had just before he had gone to fight the final battle. He was even wearing the same robes. Hermione resisted the urge to rush into his arms and kiss him and then slap him hard.

"What the hell is this?" asked Draco suddenly. Hermione glanced at her husband worriedly. Draco swore very rarely.

"Are you alive, Harry?" wondered Ginny.

Harry motioned for everyone to resume their seats while he paced.

"This was not the reception I was expecting, I confess," he said, looking around, "I daresay I'd expected a few hugs...but that's another matter. Professor Snape, it is I, indeed. And Ron, Harry is in the Hospital Wing at present, don't worry. Thank you, Professor Dumbledore, for welcoming me. This isn't anything in hell, Draco. And Ginny, I hate to disappoint you, but I am not alive."

"What are you?" asked Hermione, touching his hand, "You are solid!"

"I am a memory, Hermione...something I had saved before I went to fight Voldemort the last time...I knew that after I killed Voldemort, the essence of Tom Riddle would remain...he was but a boy, and I didn't want him to become another Dark Lord. So I decided to play with time...I decided to make him a baby - to give him a second chance...but this required a price...I had to become an infant, too...so I did. I also thought that if I were a baby, too, one of my friends might take us both in as their own, and then there would be no chance of the child growing up to be the Dark Lord...I thought there might be some problems in the future; the boys might start receiving our memories...so I saved this form of myself to come to help you all out whenever required."

"How come you never came before?" Draco asked.

"But I did...I went to Ollivander to give him my feathers for the boys..." Harry said.

"Why? Why did you have to do this, Harry? Do you even realise the pain you put us through?" cried Hermione, tears shining in her eyes.

Harry's eyes brimmed as he enveloped her in a hug.

"I'm sorry, Hermione...I didn't have a choice...Tom Riddle was not evil...Voldemort was...I killed the Dark Lord, fulfilling the prophecy, but I didn't want Riddle to die...Professor Dumbledore once told me that he was the most brilliant student Hogwarts had ever seen...imagine if he had been on our side...imagine if he had had a loving home...parents who really cared...and I was quite sure you would take us in, Hermione..."

"You - you planned all this and you never even bothered to tell me?" Hermione whispered.

"I couldn't...it would have been too painful...I love you too much, Hermione..."

Hermione closed her eyes and tears fell. Draco handed her his handkerchief. She wiped her eyes and blew her nose before turning to Harry.

"What do we do with my sons? I don't want them to suffer."

"You can't do anything. The memories will come, and they'll learn the truth by the time they leave Hogwarts. But give them these-" he held out two pendants in the shape of lightning bolts, "and they will not faint or suffer any kind of physical harm. The past will just breeze through as spare thoughts."

"When do we have to tell them?" Draco asked.

"When they ask you if they are Harry Potter and Tom Riddle. Don't start worrying yet, Draco. You have quite a few years ahead of you. And I'll keep appearing when I'm needed."

"Thank you, Harry," said Hermione, pulling him into a hug and whispered, "I love you, too," in his ear, which no one noticed. Harry planted a kiss on her forehead and they broke apart. He hugged Ginny, thumped Ron, shook hands with the three professors and turned to Draco.

"Thank you, Draco," he said softly, "for taking care of Hermione...and me."

Draco clapped a hand on his shoulder.

"You're welcome, my friend," said Draco, his voice strained as if he was trying to hold back tears.

"I guess this is goodbye, then," said Harry.

"Would you like to see them?" Hermione asked. Harry nodded eagerly and waved his hand. His appearance changed completely. Raven hair became auburn and long enough to be tied into a ponytail. Green eyes turned pale blue. His nose grew longer.

"I am Henry Jade, your friend from Australia," he said, and all of them went to the Hospital Wing.

Harry and Cory looked up from their homework when they heard a lot of people walking towards the Hospital Wing. Sylvia and Doug, who were with them, also stared at the door curiously. They were quite surprised to see three of their teachers walk in, followed by the Malfoys. With them was a strange man they had never seen before. When they saw who came up in the rear, Sylvia and Doug jumped out of their seats.

"Mum!" cried Doug and ran to hug Ginny. His cousin ran to her father with an equally loud, "Dad!"

"Hello, children," said Dumbledore, his voice as calm as ever.

"Good evening, sir," the four children intoned together. The Professors smiled at the kids and left. Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Draco and Henry Jade pulled up chairs and sat near Harry's bed.

"How are you, Harry?" Draco asked.

"Fine, Dad."

"Harry, Cory, meet Mr. Henry Jade, from Australia," said Hermione.

"Hello, Mr. Jade," said the four kids simultaneously.

"Hey children. Call me Henry. Pleased to meet you all," said Harry Potter cheerfully. They all chatted amicably for some time. Finally Hermione stood up and said they ought to leave. The adults stood up, wished the children goodbye and left the room. Once outside, Hermione pulled Harry aside. Ron, Ginny and Draco understood their need for privacy and left. Hermione turned to Harry.

"You should have told me, Harry."

Harry hung his head.

"Maybe. But if I had, Hermione, would you have let go?"

Hermione remained silent.

"What is past is past, Hermione. We cannot change that. It was all for the better. Draco makes you a much better husband than I ever would have."

"You knew that he loved me?"

Harry nodded guiltily.

"I just couldn't leave you alone, could I? I had to make sure that there would be someone willing to love you as much as I did. Draco was perfect."

"You are a great manipulator, Harry Potter. Congratulations, your plan worked perfectly," said Hermione coldly. Harry winced.

"Hermione...I did what I thought was best...I...I thought...I..." he broke off, eyes shining with tears.

Hermione could not remain angry at the man she had loved, still loved, so much. She gave him a hug and said softly, "I know. I can understand. But you needn't have borne it alone. I would have been there for you."

Harry nodded.

"Thank you for looking after me and Cory. You are a wonderful mother...he's so happy...thank you, my love, and goodbye, for now. Take care of Draco."

He gave her a kiss on the forehead and disappeared. Hermione returned home and found Draco waiting for her. He shot her a questioning glance when she entered the room. She stood gazing at him for a whole minute before running into his arms and breaking down into tears. Draco held her for a long time, comforting her with soothing words. She pulled apart when she finally stopped crying and wiped her eyes.

"Thank you, Draco," she said simply. Draco nodded, fully understanding. He felt a great weight lift from his shoulders. The fear and pang of jealousy he had felt on Harry's return abated. Hermione was his wife.