Vater

"Rennervate!"

Harry opened his eyes and blinked at the tip of Ron's wand pointed at him. Ron lowered his arm and sat down on the bed. Hermione was already seated in a chair close to the bed.

"What happened?" Harry asked them.

"You got this," Hermione waved the letter at him. "We left you to read it, and then we heard loud sounds from here, and we came back to find you unconscious and sporting a broken, bleeding hand."

It all came crashing back to Harry. The letter...the truth about his parentage...had his friends found out?

"Did you read the letter?" he asked.

Hermione shook her head.

"We decided that we had no right to look into your personal mail without your permission," she said.

Harry felt very grateful.

"Thanks..."

"What happened, Harry? You can tell us, you know," Ron said softly.

Harry closed his eyes and shuddered. When he reopened them, there was so much pain in his eyes that Ron and Hermione exchanged a very concerned glance.

"Read the letter," he said flatly.

There were several cries of dismay and anger as they read it. Ron was very white when they finished, and Hermione's hands were shaking badly.

"Oh, Harry!" she cried and threw her arms around him.

"Tough luck, mate," Ron said quietly, but his voice was firm and determined; to show Harry that he would not be deserted because of his parentage. Harry looked up gratefully, warmth spreading through him.

"Don't worry, Harry," said Hermione, wiping her eyes and dabbing a tissue at his face as well. Harry hadn't realized until then that he was crying, too. "It doesn't change anything - you're still you - and you'll always be."

Harry nodded, not trusting himself to speak.

"Would you - would you like to open your presents?" Ron asked after a few silent minutes.

Harry nodded and they brought over all his presents.

Harry was in a much better mood when he left the Dursleys with his friends in the morning, glad that he never had to go back there again. They took the Knight Bus to the Ministry and took the Apparition test. Both Ron and Harry passed easily, and were grinning by the time they came up to Hermione, licenses in hand.

Hermione dragged them to a Muggle restaurant, where they had a fantastic meal as well as a birthday cake. Since the restaurant had small coupes, no one disturbed them.

"You know, Harry, we should try to become Animagi," Hermione said quietly. "It is one thing Voldemort wouldn't expect, and Snape wouldn't, either, and it will help us escape if we are in serious trouble."

Harry thought about it for some time, then nodded.

"We'll have to go to Diagon Alley to get the things," Ron said.

"Let's go, then."

Hermione soon found the correct book and the necessary supplies. Harry insisted on buying a set of robes and cloaks for Ron and Hermione when he got a set for himself, and they ended up with similar form-fitting battle robes that were charmed to protect them from minor hexes, curses and jinxes - Ron's in dark red, Harry's in dark green, and Hermione's in dark blue.

"We need somewhere to work on this," Ron said. Hermione nodded.

"We'll have to go to Headquarters, then." Harry sighed. He didn't want to go there; it would mean missing Sirius all over again...but he didn't have anywhere else to go. He could go to Hogwarts, but the idea of reliving Dumbledore's death made him ill.

"You're the new Secret Keeper, aren't you?" Hermione asked.

Harry nodded.

"They asked me just after the funeral...I agreed."

"I thought so...I mean, you are the most powerful wizard after Dumbledore on our side."

"Of course not. I don't even know half the things you do, Hermione."

"Power's not limited to magical potential or knowledge, Harry, even though they are important aspects of it. Power also includes control over people, which you certainly have - you issue a verdict against the ministry now and Scrimgeour will be chucked out...you're the Chosen One, after all...and that gives you power. You're the best at Defence and flying, too," Ron explained.

"And you think on your feet...where most people would panic and lose their heads, you can think and get out of the situation. You'd be good at studies if you made the effort, Harry - but I can't really blame you for that; you've been too busy. You're adaptive and courageous. And you're magically powerful, too - and you have what Voldemort doesn't - the power of love," Hermione continued.

Harry reddened. "Enough," he said.

"And it helps that you have the best friends in the world," Ron said, smirking, making them dissolve in peals of laughter.

They Apparated to Grimmauld Place and made room for themselves in the attic, where they knew no one would visit. They warded the space heavily, for Harry did not want anyone to know that they were there.

"How long will it take?" Harry asked.

"Done properly, a week. Do you want to start right now? Or should we visit the orphanage first?" Hermione skimmed through the book.

"Er...orphanage, I think. Maybe Ron and I could go, and you could remain behind and do the potions?"

Hermione glared at him.

"The potions don't need me, Harry; they need to stand for a long time. If you give me an hour and help with the ingredients - both of you, Ron! - we can finish the potions by midnight - and start with the Transfiguration part tomorrow. And we can visit the orphanage today as well."

"Very well."

Potion brewing complete, Hermione placed them carefully in particular positions and put Imperturbable Charms on them. Then they proceeded to the orphanage.

The orphanage seemed rather different from what it had been in the Pensieve. They marched in, asking for the caretaker, who turned out to be a Mrs. Mince.

"Good morning," she said sourly. "Are you here to adopt a child?"

"No," Hermione said smoothly. "We would like to look through certain old records here, and find out about a few old residents."

"Are you relatives? Will you make a donation in their name?"

"Yes," Harry lied. "I am the grandson of one of yours; he was called Tom Riddle and he lived here fifty years ago. If we can find out some information about him, we will set up a Fund in his name. But we will need your co-operation."

A greedy look flashed across the woman's face.

"Yes, yes, of course," she said and led them to a room full of files.

"These are all the records we have," she said. "You're sure to find something about your grandfather here. Is he still alive?" she asked curiously.

"Yes," Harry said. "But not for long."

"Oh, I'm sorry," she muttered, not sounding sorry in the least. "Should I send in some children to help you?"

"No, thank you," Harry said.

"But if there is anyone around here who knew Tom Riddle, we would like to meet them," Ron put in. Mrs. Mince nodded and went away.