A Much Needed Conversation

"We need to talk..." Harry said.

Hermione frowned, she grabbed her bookmark and set the book aside once her page was marked. "Harry? This seems serious, what's wrong?"

Harry heaved out a breath, "I- I.."

Harry was cut off as a door to the right suddenly burst open to reveal Hermione's parents, worried and frantic.

"Who is this boy, darling?" Hermione's mother questioned, eyes narrowing on the slightly familiar figure. " Hermione's dad stepped into the room with suspicious eyes, lifting up a fire iron rather threateningly. ("Dad!" Hermione protested in a mix of irritation and secondhand shame.)

"I'm Harry, Hermione's friend from school, I need her help with fi- something." He rushed, hands going up on either side of his head.

"And it couldn't wait until your next year?" He asked skeptically.

"I'm afraid I will lose any chance of finding my real family if I'd waited till the next year. Dumbledore would find a way to clear my memory of my new knowledge or something like that." He shared solemnly. It was more than he should have said, but there was no taking it back now.

His eyes softened and took on a hint of curiosity. "How are you so sure Hermione will be able to help you? How are you sure she even will help you?"

Harry held eye contact with his best friend's father, "If anyone can do it, it's Hogwarts' top student. And she'd do it because she's my best friend since first year."

Mr. Granger returned the fire iron to it's place. "You're Harry Potter, aren't you." He stated more than asked.

"Erm....sort of?" Harry tried before shaking his head and starting over. "I am who everyone thought was Harry Potter. You see, today's my birthday and since I've turned sixteen, I came into my Inheritance. A wizard always does so at sixteen. This is when wizards with creature blood can finally realize the prescience of their creatures and figure out exactly what creature they are. Anyway, during my Inheritance, I learned that the Potters weren't my real parents and that I was stolen from my birth parents by Dumbledore. Hermione sent me a book on creatures as a birthday present and she and Ron haven't trusted Dumbledore in a while..., which is what led me to believe I can go to her for help in this."

Hermione gasped. "You've finally figured it out, haven't you?" A slow grin spread across Harry's face at those words, "So you can help me?"

Hermione laughed, throwing herself at her friend and brought him into a tight embrace. "Of course! You won't believe what my Inheritance revealed to me about my family! Although..., I must warn you, neither Ron nor I know the whole truth. I mean, we only pieced together Dumbledore's true motives a few months ago."

She pulled away and frowned thoughtfully, she stood up and pulled Harry up with her. "Come on, let's compare our Inheritance papers, maybe we can piece together a little more of this puzzle."

As Hermione dragged harry towards her room, her mum (who's name Harry had shamefully forgotten) called after them, "Would the two of you like some snacks?"

Harry paused and turned, sending Hermione's mother a gentle smile, "That would be amazing, thanks!"

When they walked into Hermione's room, Harry took a minute to let his eyes roam around the pictures hung on the walls, the trinkets and trophies placed on the desk opposite the bed and the books that were placed on the large bookshelf. This was definitely Hermione's room.

His best friend - well, female best friend - seated herself on the bed, folding her legs and pulling out a roll of parchment from the bedside table. "My Inheritance papers." she provided, noting Harry's questioning look. Harry mouthed an 'Oh!' of understanding and nodded his head, eager to see the brunette's results.

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Name: Hermione Jean Granger

Gender: Female

Eye color: Brown (From Mother)

Hair: Brown (From Mother)

Height: 5 feet, 5 inches

Mother: Monica Granger

Mother's Maiden Name: Monica Saviesa

Father: Wilkins Granger

Creature: Fae

Heir To:

Mudrost (Mother)

Ravenclaw (Mother)

Spells cast:

Obedience Spell (Age 13) - Albus Dumbledore

Blocks on:

None

_____________

Harry's eyes paused at Hermione's parent's names. Oh, that's what their names were! He filed the information for later. It would be rather shameful if he forgot the names of his best friend's parents.

His eyes paused yet again at the names of the (Wizarding) families she was heir to. Ravenclaw?

Harry choked on his breath, "You know what, I'm not even surprised that you're related to Rowena Ravenclaw, of course you would be." Shaking his head, he exhaled a slightly hysterical laugh.

Hermione flushed, "What's that supposed to mean?" she asked, indignant and irritated.

Harry wasn't fazed, although an indignant and irritated Hermione Granger would have usually terrified him, "Your smarter than anyone else in school, Hermione. This," he said, pointing to "Ravenclaw" on the paper, "just proves it."

Hermione couldn't stay mad, she smiled at him, "Thank you, Harry. Now, why don't you show me your papers, Harry." It wasn't a question, although it was phrased like one.

Harry pulled the papers from the trunk that he'd dragged up the stairs with him. He placed it on the bed, right next to Hermione's papers and opened it up. He waited patiently as Hermione scanned the, rather long, scroll. As she kept reading, her eyes had grown flintier and radiating more anger, her teeth were gritted and her lips were pulled into the phantom of a snarl.

"HOW DARE HE?!!" Hermione screeched at the top of her lungs. Harry winced and rubbed at his ears. The doors swung open and Hermione's parents rushed inside in a panic. Hermione took no notice of it, her anger had consumed her.

"HOW DARE HE, HARRY?! HE PRACTICALLY TOOK AWAY A PART OF YOU, HE STOLE YOUR LIFE, YOUR FUTURE!!! HE'S PLAYING GOD, HARRY! HOW DARE HE??!!!!" Hermione growled, her eyes flaming with anger.

Harry sighed and placed a hand on Hermione's shoulder. "Yes you're right, he did all of that and he won't get away with it, but I need you to calm down right now so that we can find the truth, please." Harry pleaded gently.

The anger didn't leave her, but the tension creeped out of her body, she took calming breaths and her eyes were visibly less flinty. "Fine" she hissed, "but I'm going to make him pay when we expose him. That's a promise."

Harry nodded, an angry Hermione is a scary Hermione, besides, he needed to do something for himself for the first time in his life, right? Why not start here, with the person who wronged him the most. Merlin knows Dumbledore deserves it.

Harry turned towards Mr. and Mrs. Granger, who were standing at the door wide-eyed and a little worried. Harry chuckled nervously, "Umm..... Hermione? You might have any to look at the doorway."

As soon as she spotted her parents by the door, Hermione's anger melted into a sheepish look. "Sorry? I-um-.......sorry...." That was the most awkward Harry had ever seen his know-it-all friend be and it took all his power not to burst out laughing. Despite his great efforts, he couldn't help the slight cough that escaped and the twitch of his lips. Reeling his emotions back in, he cleared his throat and started collecting the papers that had drifted to the floor during Hermione's great fit of rage.

When he turned back, the two adults had disappeared from the doorframe, only to come back with a plate heaped full of sandwiches. Harry brightened, "Thanks Mrs. Granger, they look delicious!"

Mrs. Granger smiled in response and ruffled his hair after she'd settled the food onto the table. "It was no trouble dear, I'll be back with two glasses of water."

Hermione, now considerably calmed down, settled in the bed, her eyes fixing on something in Harry's Inheritance paper. "I suppose we should start with the one thing we have in common on these papers: the founders."

Harry whimpered as five bulky books were placed onto the table, briefly wondering why Hermione hadn't been placed in Slytherin. Hermione smirked knowingly at him, "We have some reading to do!"

- - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - -

Two hours later, Harry was drifting between sleep and consciousness. He was so tired, it's been a long day, he could do with a few hours of sleep, right? No! Stay awake, Harry! You can't sleep yet, you have to finish this book! That's right, he was reading a book, which part was he on now? Something about a lion, snake, badger and eagle? Or was it a lion and a wardrobe?

"HARRY!!" Someone yelled, straight into his ear. Harry yelped and straightened, in a fit of panic, he yelled the first thing on his mind, "NARNIA!"

There was silence, Harry stared at Hermione and Hermione stared at Harry, suddenly the silence was broken. Hermione was laughing. So hard, in fact, she almost fell of her chair, tears streamed down her face in her mirth "Y-You...." another giggle, "You've r-read 'T-The Chr-Chronicles Of N-Narnia'? More giggles. Harry felt his face warm and he hid his face in his hands.

"I had nothing else to do" He mumbled into his fingers. Hermione wasn't sure if he was embarrassed for reading the book or yelling 'Narnia' when he woke up. Harry pouted as Hermione kept laughing and continued doing so even after she'd stopped, which didn't help Hermione's efforts to hold back.

"S-Sorry, It's just hard to believe you actually read. You, who practically withers at the sight of a book!" Hermione said, chuckling here and there.

Harry's pout held up and he turned towards the book to distract himself, yet his face warmed yet again as he saw what made him think about Narnia. It was a sketch of Godric Gryffindor, facing a boggart hiding in his cupboard. Great, just great!

Harry attempted to read on, but gave up, groaning in annoyance and slamming his head down on the book, "Can we do something else? My head is exploding from boredom!" Harry was aware he was whining and he was aware he sounded like a five-year old, he also didn't care.

Hermione's lips twitched and she rolled her eyes at his antics, sighing, she closed her book. "Come on then, Mr. Narnia, let's go take a walk. Maybe the fresh air will help you feel better."

Harry perked up at that and shot off his seat, "Well, come one, what are we waiting for, fresh air awaits!"

Gaping for a minute, Hermione shook her head, Harry's mood changes are starting to give her whiplash. She huffed in amusement and strode out of the door her friend just skipped out of.

"Hey Mum, Dad, Harry and I were thinking of going for a walk, is that ok?" Hermione asked. Her parents were always very protective of her - it's why she never gives them the full details of everything that goes down in Hogwarts. They would have pulled her out of the school before she could say "Leviosa".

"Of course, honey, just be home in about half an hour, it'll be getting dark soon." Hermione's dad smiled at her softly. Hermione returned the smile and waved before bounding out the front door and screeching to a stop when she realized she'd already passed her friend. She turned quickly and opened her mouth to beckon him when suddenly he was bouncing around next to her shoulder.

Hermione blinked. Yes, he was definitely going to give her whiplash one way or another.

"Harry! Stop bouncing, calm down, we're going." She chastised.

Harry looked sheepish. "Sorry 'Mione, it's just, ever since my inheritance, I feel like running, feeling the wind on my face, and I feel like I could do it forever."

Hermione's eyes lit up, "Harry! Do you think that could be the vampire in you?"

"Hmm.... You might be onto something 'Mione, vampires have super-speed, right? They must love to run." Harry looked thoughtful. "Oh well, enough talking, let's go!" He dragged out the "o" in a rather whiny way and Hermione couldn't't help it, she giggled.

"Alright, alright, let's go." She said. She and Harry walked alongside each other, although she knew her friend was itching to take off into a run.

Harry let out a relaxed sigh, "This is a beautiful neighborhood."

Hermione smiled, "I know right, it's so peaceful."

For the next ten minutes, they walked in relatively peaceful silence. A crash suddenly broke the peaceful air. A blonde head poked out from the general vicinity of the noise. Blue eyes locked with their's. The man cringed.

"Sorry, that was an accident." His accent sounded rather posh, Hermione noted.

"No problem, we weren't too startled." Hermione lied.

The man sent her a kind smile, "Sorry to disturb your walk, but you kids should be getting home soon, it's starting to get dark."

Harry's eyes widened and his head swiveled towards the red and orange hues that were starting to paint the skies, when had it gotten so late?

"Of course! Thank you, we didn't realize how late it got, have a good evening Mr....." Harry trailed off.

"Arthur....just Arthur, call me Arthur." the man replied promptly. Not a second later, someone from inside the house called to the man - Arthur. He waved at them, wishing them a good evening before turning back to his house and making for it.

Harry and Hermione turned around and started the walk back to her house at a brisk pace, the man - Arthur - was right, they couldn't be wandering out in the dark, dangerous people have a tendency to seek Harry out when it got dark. Harry's mind flitted towards the Dark Lord Voldemort for a second. Was he really evil? He tried to kill him as a baby right?

A smile invaded his thoughts, a wide smile, so wide that it was almost ear-to-ear. No, he couldn't be evil, that couldn't have been Harry's father when he was 11 or every time after. Harry's father loved him, he had to. Harry's train of thoughts was interrupted when he found himself face to face with his best friend's house.

When Harry and Hermione walked into the house, Mr. and Mrs. Granger were in the kitchen. Harry turned to Hermione, "I need to get going now 'Mione."

Hermione looked like she was going to protest, but Harry stopped her, "I'll book a room at the Leaky Cauldron. Really 'Mione, it's fine, maybe we can meet up with Ron there tomorrow? And this way we'll have a room to discuss without people eavesdropping."

Hermione huffed, she knew Harry, when he made a decision, there was no convincing him. "Fine, but we need more information, all we know is that we can't trust Dumbledore"

Harry nodded, "Tell your parents I said goodbye." He said, giving Hermione a hug before making for his belongings that were still by the fireplace.

He threw the green powder into the flames and stepped in, with a yelled "Leaky Cauldron" and another fistful of powder, Harry was swirling away to the pub where it all began.

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Hey guys! I'm so sorry I haven't updated in so long. I can't promise I will be quicker from now on, in fact, I might not write this week seeing as my birthday is this Sunday (August 1! 😁). BUT! I can promise to try and that I will not be ending this book or anything. So with that, have a great evening and thanks for reading!

Word Count - 2557