unleashed

The next day, Harry decided that after last night he was going to get some well deserved rest. This was, of course, after cooking and cleaning for the Dursley’s. After he finished, Harry headed back to his tiny prison cell to sleep off his worries. However, when he reached his room, Harry noticed a letter for him on his bed. Harry saw that it was from Hermione...he knew her handwriting from anywhere.

Harry,

I just wanted to say thanks for telling us about the prophecy. I know how hard that could have been for you to relive that night. I also know that you do not want to talk about Sirius, so I am not going to go into that....not now at least.

After last night, I sent a letter to Dumbledore and asked if it was alright to get you out of the hell hole soon. He told me that you cannot leave there for you are bound to be there. For your own safety, of course. But he said that if I wanted to, I could come and stay with you for a while. At least until your birthday which is two weeks away! Isn’t that exciting?!

Well, I know that your family is not very understanding of magic, so please ask them if it is alright and send me a note telling me their answer. If they say yes, I will be there tomorrow at noon. If they say no, I will still be there at noon. See you then.

Love from Hermione.

Hermione was coming here tomorrow?! Harry could hardly believe his luck to have someone that cares for him there. ‘This might not be so bad after all’ thought Harry. He folded up the note and went downstairs, all pretense of sleep gone.

When he reached the living room, Harry could see his uncle’s large form sitting in an armchair reading the local newspaper. Harry cleared his voice and went into the room.

“What do you want, boy?” asked Vernon, clearly irritated that he is being interrupted from his paper.

‘Might as well get this over with now.’ thought Harry. “My friend from my school is coming to visit me for two weeks until I leave here.” Harry blurted out.

“Over my dead body...or more like yours boy! I don’t want another freak in my house sponging off my family.”

“Well Vernon,” started Harry, losing all of his manners and his patience, “I was not asking. My headmaster said that she is allowed to be here to keep me under control. She will be here at noon and I expect nothing but respect for her while she is here.” After he finished he turned on his heel and left his uncle sitting in his chair with a look of pure fury. Harry went back into his room making it presentable for when Hermione arrived.

That night, as Harry was laying awake in bed, there was a knock on the door. As he opened it, he was shocked to see his Aunt on the other side.

“What do you want?” said Harry, not really wanting the company of his so-called family tonight.

“Don’t you dare take that tone with me. I just came up here to let you know that a large red bird left this letter in the kitchen.” She handed Harry the letter and left him alone.

Harry closed the door and sat on his bed wondering why Dumbledore has written to him. He opened the note and read:

Harry,

Again, I want to apologize for an old man’s mistake. Sirius died a hero’s death. I know that this is not something that you wanted to hear, but you saved him, Harry, it is not your fault. Without the help of you and your friends, Sirius would have died alone in Azkaban. Instead, he died with honor, respect from his fellow wizard and, most of all, he died with love for you and from you. A love that was so strong that no one could take away. So even though we cannot see his body, he is still in our hearts.

Now on to good news. It was brought to my attention that your living conditions have been atrocious. And seeing that your past summers have been hard on you, I decided that you could use a little company. At least until your birthday. So I have arranged for Ms. Granger to accompany you at your home until you are retrieved by someone from the Order. Be good, and I will see you soon.

A.P.W.B.D.

PS. I have also attached your O.W.L.s with this letter.

Harry folded the note and placed it onto his desk thinking about what Dumbledore said about him. ‘He didn’t die out of love, but out of my stupidity! What is Dumbledore playing at? If it wasn’t for me not studying Occlumency, then I would have never lured my friends to the Ministry and we never would have been in trouble, and I would have never saw him fall through the veil.’ thought Harry, with a heavy heart. Trying to get that memory out of his head, he turned to the second letter that Dumbledore sent.

Mr. Potter,

Below are your marks of the O.W.L. Examination that you took last year.

Herbology
Written: O
Practical: O
Average: O

Divination
Written: A
Practical: P
Average: P

Astronomy
Witten: A
Practical: N/A
Average: N/A

Care of Magical Creatures
Written: O
Practical: O
Average: O

Potions
Written: O
Practical: O
Average: O

Defense Against the Dark Arts
Written: O
Practical: O+
Average: O+

Charms
Written: O
Practical: E
Average: E

Transfiguration
Written: O
Practical: O
Average: O

History of Magic
Written: N/A
Practical: N/A
Average: N/A

Congratulations, Mr. Potter. You scored 6/8 O.W.L.s! The Astronomy O.W.L. was not applicable for unfortunate circumstances that took place during the examination. However, if you choose to, you may take the O.W.L. class. Also, as you may have noticed, you have scored an O+ for Defense Against the Dark Arts. That is one of the best scores for this particular O.W.L. One other person received this mark in your year.

During your career advice last year, you showed some interest in becoming an Auror when you have finished school. I am proud to say that you have passed all of the classes needed to qualify for Auror training when you are finished, that is if you choose to continue on that career path.

Enjoy the rest of your holiday,

Head of Examinations,
Professor Marchbanks

Harry couldn’t believe it, he got six O.W.L.S! ‘Mione is going to flip when she see this!’ thought Harry. He went to bed that night in a lighter mood dreaming of how life was going to be as an Auror.
***********

Harry awoke the next morning with the anticipation of spending two weeks with his best friend. There will someone there that will understand him and someone that he could work on his holiday homework with. He got out of the bed and showered so that he will be presentable when Hermione arrived.

At 11:30, Harry sat on his bed and made a pact with himself. ‘I will not do anything that is going to show how much I like her. It is too dangerous for her to be with me. Besides, she is just a friend....a friend that happened to kiss me....her lips were so soft. NO!!! I cannot think about that right now.’ thought Harry. Just as he was finishing his thoughts the doorbell rang.

Harry jumped off of his bed and headed for the door. He opened it and found, not Hermione, but Dumbledore.

“Hello Harry.” said Dumbledore, smiling with that unforgettable twinkle in his eye. “I escorted Ms. Granger here today. I also wanted to speak with your family before I left her here, if you don’t mind?”

“No, professor I do not mind.” said Harry stepping to the side and letting him through. As Dumbledore stepped in, Harry noticed that Hermione was standing behind the professor. She looked amazing. Her legs looked longer since she was wearing very short jean shorts. She wore a light green tank top. Her skin looked as if she did a bit of tanning over the holiday. This was not the same girl he went to the same school with for five years. He looked up to her face, she was smiling.

“So are you going to let me in or am I sleeping on the porch this evening?” she asked with the faint hint of a laugh in her voice.

“Um, yeah sure ‘Mione. Why don’t we take your things upstairs. I don’t really want to listen to what Dumbledore has to say to them.” He bent down and grabbed her luggage to take upstairs. She followed him up. ‘He looks good coming as well as going’ thought Hermione with a small smile on her face.

When they reached Harry’s room, he placed her things inside of his wardrobe. Hermione, however, walked to his desk seeing the two letters that Dumbledore had sent.

“Harry, you received your O.W.L.s. How did you do?” she asked.

“Open it and find out, I am sure that you want to read the note anyway.” said Harry sitting on the bed.

She shot him a stare and opened the letter and read. “Harry, six passing grades is fantastic!” exclaimed Hermione. “And that O+ is wonderful....I got an O+ as well! I got all O’s too, except for astronomy. But I am still going to take the class next year.”

“Slow down ‘Mione! Yeah, I am surprised that I got that many O’s too. Especially in Snape’s class. Snape will have a heart attack when he sees that I am in his class for another two years!” he said.

For the next couple of hours, they talked about school and their holidays so far. After they had finished she glanced at the clock on the night stand.

“So what are we going to do for the rest of the day?” she asked.

“Well we can go to town and have dinner then com back at maybe do some homework. I still have to finish that potions essay. And I have a few questions to ask you about that transfiguration homework too.” Hermione’s eyes lit up at the sound of homework.

After they changed their clothes, they headed to town. They stopped at a couple places to buy books (Hermione’s idea of course) and went to Antonio’s, a small Italian café. After they finished dinner, they headed back to Privet Drive. That night, they sat down to do some homework. After a couple of hours of working, Hermione yawned and looked at the clock.

“ Harry, it is going on 10:30 p.m., maybe we should stop here and go to bed.” she said while packing up her work.

They got up, she grabbed some pajamas and went to the restroom the change while Harry changed in the bedroom. When she came back, Harry noticed that she was wearing yellow pajama shorts and a watching tank top. Her hair was pulled into a loose ponytail. She looked amazing, no matter what she was wearing. Hermione also noticed Harry wearing dark green sleep pants, that matched his eyes perfectly, and an undershirt. She saw that he was no long the scrawny boy from first year, but a well-toned man. Quidditch had done his body some good. He didn’t have to flex to show off his muscles. ‘Yummy’ thought Hermione.

“Harry, I brought a sleeping bag so I will sleep on the floor.” said Hermione coming out of her drifting mind.

“Nonsense.” said Harry shaking his head. “You are my guest, so I will take the floor and you can have my bed. Besides, this floor is crazy hard and can get a bit cold late at night.”

“Well, if you are sure.” she said while walking to the bed. She climbed in and rested her head on the pillow taking in the scent of his shampoo. It smelled faintly of cinnamon and pine. It was heavenly.

“Good-night, ‘Mione.” said Harry with a yawn.

“Night, Harry.” she said and turned off the bedroom light. Ten minutes later she drifted off to sleep with the aroma of Harry filling her senses.