True Power

Disclaimer: I do not own any aspect of the Harry Potter franchise. I respect all ownership to J. K. Rowling and only wish to expand on my love for her stories. I own nothing of the Harry Potter series and especially none of the characters involved. I make no money from it.

Harry awoke the next morning, felling slightly splendid and well rested. He felt a bright light on his face, and took noticed that it was sunlight, quite uncharacteristic of the house of the Dursleys. With that he took a panicked glance around the room and the full weight of what happened the last night came crashing down on him again. Throwing his face into his hand he sobbed, crying seemed the only outlet for what had happened that night. He still couldn’t get his head around why he felt so bad about it all. He knew they were his family, and that it was only natural, but hadn’t they treated him badly his whole life. They had never treated him like a human being, and the only time they had ever treated him with any respect was when they believed him a threat because he could use magic. But as the news truly sank in he realized the two truths, One: he would never wish a death on any of them especially one facilitated by Death Eaters, and Two: He was now truly alone in life, no family at all.

A new wave of sadness clouded Harry’s vision bringing him to tears once again. But as he sobbed away silent footsteps had brought a hand to his back with only a caring touch. At first he didn’t realize the hand was there, but as the warm sensation preceded up his spine his urge to heave every drop of water up through is tear duct seemed to sway and he felt himself calming down. With this newfound control over his mind he remember the previous night and the hands and voice that had caught him as he had fallen. The same feeling had enveloped him then. Like being wrapped in a blanket and held in the arms of someone who cared for him more then anyone, and he could help of thinking of his mother. In fact, he conceded, that’s exactly what the sensation was. Like having his mother hold him, at least what he imagined it would have been like for his mother to hold him. In either case the last thing he wanted was for the sensation to stop, he longed for the touch and at the moment it kept him pinned to the his sanity instead of spinning away into the darkness of his situation.

“Are you alright Harry?” said a soft voice, “Do you need anything?”

Harry looked up for the first time and found himself immersed into a sea of brown, and he knew instantly whom his savior was, it was Hermione. It surprised him at first, he never thought that he would feel such love coming from her. Though he never she cared for him, as he did her, but the concern in her face indicated a much deeper caring then he would have ever imagine. The thoughts stumbled through his head as he became more confused.

“Harry?”, asked Hermione seeing the fresh tears start to trail “Harry what’s wrong? Come on Harry talk to me I’m here for you.”

Sobbing uncontrollably now Harry just pulled Hermione’s hand to his face and continued his crying. He couldn’t control it. He’d never thought it was possible but all the trials and tribulations, emotions and pains he had felt in the last 6 years came pouring out of him. It was like a dam that had broken open and had nothing to stop it save one women. Yet that it seemed was enough, after five minutes of crying Harry felt Hermione’s body shift and found himself buried in her shoulder with her arms around his back and head cradling him in a desperate embrace to comfort him, and it worked his body convulsed in reaction involuntarily calming down, and he knew that it was her that had given his control back.

He finally began speaking again after 15 minutes in the comforting arms of his best friend.

“I don’t know what came over me, I’m sorry Hermione, but thank you.” Said Harry

“Anything for you Harry, I don’t call myself your best friend for nothing after all.” Smiled Hermione “ But you know exactly why this happened and don’t give any of you closed crap you need to talk and you bloody well know it.”

It’s funny he’d never heard Hermione swear before, but he assumed if she felt serious enough to swear and leave open her rational side for poking that he should probably try not to go against what she told him to do. After all to quote Ron, “ Hell hath no fury like Hermione scorned.”

“Fine, but I’m really not comfortable talking about it Hermione, I really don’t know anymore then you do, after all you heard what Ginny said I didn’t even know half of it.” Said a very depressed Harry

“Yes, Harry I realize this isn’t fun but you still need to talk to someone about it, and you know I’ll always be there for ya” Hermione said with a very Hermioneish study face on. Harry couldn’t help but laugh at it, and much to Harry’s dismay Hermione didn’t much like that.

“HARRY JAMES POTTER, what are you laughing at? I was being completely serious!!!” scolded Hermione

“I know but you had your going to the library face on and I just couldn’t help it, please don’t be mad at me Hermione” Harry pleaded, pulling a puppy face.
Hermione groaned in defeat, “ Damn you and that look, you could melt an ice berg you bushy headed beast.”

Laughing Harry looked at Hermione with the most serious look he could muster, “Thanks for sitting through the worst of it with me Hermione, I don’t know what I would have done if you weren’t here this morning. You helped more then you know. Not to mention catching me last night, thanks for that too by the way.”

“ Don’t mention it Harry, how are you feeling by the way, good enough to get up, I know everyone is anxious to see the birthday boy, though you maybe want to get showered before you come down, you were sweating all night with what I assume were nightmares.” Said Hermione “And don’t think we’re not going to have a talk about this later on, but I’ll let you off today, after all your going to be seventeen today!!!” Harry couldn’t help notice the gleam in her eyes at the last part.

“Almost like a real girl.” Harry thought laughing to himself but was brought out of his thought by a prompt removal of covers from his person leaving him rather exposed in his bed. He only then had noticed that he was only in an undershirt and his boxers and promptly covered up.

“Bloody Hell!!” screamed Harry “ I can do that myself ya know Hermione, I’m a big boy”

“Oh come off it Harry, who do you think took your clothes off. And anyways it’s not like I haven’t seen you in them before at school” laughed Hermione yanking Harry up by the arm and sending him into the shower while shoving a towel into his arms. “ NOW GET CLEANED UP MISTER, got to keep the birthday suit sparkling for today” Hermione giggled.

Harry couldn’t believe this series of events that had befell him today. He just didn’t get how they worked really. Most of all what confused him was his shifts in emotion. Last night he passed out over being overwhelmed with grief, this morning his grief had founds it’s way out but had subsided due to the presence of a girl who had become more important to him due to her steadfast devotion and loyalty as a friend. But still, the emotion had fled to quickly, WHY?, he really wanted to know why. He COULD NOT analyze it. He just didn’t know what it was and it was eating him up. Mind you he wasn’t a constant knowledge seeker but there were some things that he just had to know, and the reason why Hermione had affected him in this way really confused him. It was just so powerful. Happiness just seemed to flood through him like nothing, like it was just natural to be around her, and to be undeniably happy around her. As he took his clothes off to get in the shower his mind went over these thoughts again and again. But as the hot water coursed over his tired and emotion racked frame he relax and let himself be sucked into the motions of bathing. Enjoying the sensation of the water coursing over his body. Relaxing muscle after muscle, until he felt wonderful and refreshed and the only thoughts left to him were those of the upcoming party and throwing himself into it with all he had, to forget his recent, tribulations.

He began to dry himself off then and found his travel kit. Pulled out a razor and shaved as well as brushed his teeth, and went about finding a nice outfit for the party, something semi formal and hopeful striking though he didn’t know why he wanted something in that area.

He laughed at himself as he busily went through his close and noticed that he had absentmindedly separated them into the clothes he had been wearing at the Dursleys and the ones he had bought himself. The thought was not all together a happy one and he immediately threw the former back into the bag for safe keeping and looked at his more recent acquisitions. He settled on a pair of Black slacks with a Crimson silk shirt and black undershirt and a pair of black vineyard shoes. It really did look striking and it was the exact effect his was looking for, and with the addition of his seekers body it looked rather fetching.

After trying to straighten out his hair for a good twenty minutes without any success, Harry, conceded to his black mane and decided to spray on some LaCoste and leave it at that. Moving out of his room he was greeted to the sight of Ron coming up the stairs to come get him for lunch before the party.

“Hey ya Harry” said Ron surprised “We all thought I was going to have to pry you out of the bathroom. Took you long enough, though after looking at you I can see why, got your mind on impressing somebody special.”

Harry was slightly taken aback, he hadn’t really considered it, but now that he thought about it Ron had a point. Why get that dressed up with out an agenda. Problem was he didn’t have one and he had no idea why he did it. But before he could consider it further Ron interrupted with a typical Ron remark.

“ Oy Harry, you deaf or something, I asked you a question mate.” Ron remarked, looking rather put off

“ Sorry Ron, just considering” Harry laughed “ I don’t actually know why I got so dressed up to tell you the truth. I guess I just felt like it, and no I don’t have anyone in particular, so do not go getting any funny ideas about hooking your sister and I back up Ron.”

Ron laughed “Wouldn’t think of it mate! I’ve never been yelled at more in my life then when you and her were going out, I would pay you to not go out with her.” “OWWW!!!” Ron screamed grabbing his ass where a scalding charm had just been issued.

“ RON!!! You should talk about your sister that way. You know very well that she still has a thing for him, and she could here you if she wasn’t out side flying with her brothers right now.” Scolded Hermione from down stairs.

“ Yeah I know I know, sorry Hermione” said Ron mockingly rubbing his recently offended butt cheek. “ I swear Harry, women are nothing but trouble especially that bushy headed one.” “GOD DAMIT!!!” screamed Ron again now viciously rubbing both cheeks and fearing sitting down at the party.

“ SERVES YOU RIGHT RONALD!!!” Hermione stated stomping out of the room.

“ So I take it things aren’t going well between you two eh?” asked Harry

“ Yeah well she an I haven’t been together now for about 3 weeks.” Ron stated and seeing the surprised look on Harry’s face “Didn’t mean to keep you out of the loop but we figured it would only be bad news on an already bad summer with your famillieee………sorry Harry I forgot.” Said Ron scratching his head sheepishly.

“ Don’t worry about it I’m used to it some what, plus somebody had to slip up eventually and it really isn’t a day to tiptoe right.” Laughed Harry “ Still I’m surprised, what happened to make you guys split up?”

“Eh, I’m not really at liberty to say, just ask her would you, it really isn’t something I feel like being crucified over again. In either case we’re friends so you don’t have to worry, but mate all I have to say is I feel bad for you.” Laughed Ron “ She’s been worried sick about you all summer. In fact that all she ever talks about, your going to be getting plenty of attention, especially with the display last night but I’m not criticizing after what you’ve been through I completely understand. But anyway we should be getting downstairs I’m sure my dad and mum want to see ya.”

“ Yeah I suppose your right.” Harry said, feeling slightly jovial with the news that Hermione was concerned about him over the summer and at the news that Ron and her had split up had literally made his stomach do what felt like a back flip.

Upon moving down stairs Harry found himself surrounded by streamers and balloons and noise makers and other odd wizard devices for birthdays he just didn’t’ recognize. Knowing however that the twins were present gave him no recourse but to stay away from what he thought may in fact be their products. Still he had never seen so many interesting things before, and was ecstatic when he was greeted by the surprise of his life as a pod of wizards including; Bill, Fleur, Charlie, Seamus, Dean, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Granger, The Red Headed Duo, Remus, Tonks and Ginny as well as Hermione jump out and scream “Surprise!!!” coupled with Happy Birthdays up and down the board.

Harry had never experienced such a thing in his life, he was in a whole didn’t dimension as far as he was concerned. Nothing like this had ever happened to him and he had been damn certain up until a few seconds ago that it was destined to be that way forever. But as the wonder of Mrs. Weasley’s cooking became apparent and the hard work of his surrogate family he was nearly brought to tears. But as his daze was starting to give away he was dragged into hug after hug, and handed drinks of Butterbeer and Firewhisky by Ron and his twin brothers. He had an unbelievably fun day of it. They feasted on sandwiches with turkey and roast beef, kettle chips and a thing of very large interest to the wizards who were born as such at the party “Popcorn”, Hermione and Harry just laughed as the wizards starred in amazement as it popped over the fire.

As the afternoon was drawing to a close and the nights fun was approaching Ginny came up to Harry very shyly with an apologetic look on her face but before she could speak Harry interrupted her.

“ I know what your going to say Ginny and you don’t have to. I know you didn’t know, and that you wouldn’t have said anything to me if you had. Don’t worry I’m not mad, how could I be?” laughed Harry “ Thanks for all your hard work on the party by the way, it truly is exquisite, I haven’t had such a good time in a long long time.

“ Your welcome Harry” Ginny beamed at him “Thanks for not being mad, I felt horrible since last night and I just didn’t know what to say to you today. But you made it a lot easier.”

“ Don’t mention it besides we’re friends right, how could I stay made at you.” Harry stated

“ Ya know I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that friends aspect. I don’t suppose there’s any chance?” Ginny asked

Harry sighed, he knew this had been coming, truthfully he didn’t know how to react so he did what came naturally; he stuck to his previous decision.

“ No, there’s no chance I’m afraid Ginny, I do love you Ginny I really do, but if this time apart has taught me anything is that your more like a sister to me then anything else. I know it’s not what you want to hear but I just can’t see it going any farther then this.” Stated Harry

“ I figured you’d say something like that. I just had to ask. Anyway, it’s a weight off my chest. I can’t say I’m not disappointed but I understand. I’m gonna get back to the party. I guess I’ll talk to you later.” Said Ginny looking slightly hurt

“ Sure Ginny, Have fun ok!” smiled Harry, it had gone a lot better then he had hoped. He knew she was hurt but at least she had taken it as he had meant it.

The rest of the night was a rather large blurr. But Harry was rather distracted. As Remus had told him Professor or rather Head Mistress McGonagall would be coming around later on in the day to tell him what really happened at his house or at least as much information as she had about the event.

It was about the time that Harry was getting his most anxious about it that he she had decided to show up. It was actually pretty unexpected really. He had decided to go cool off away from the house and look at the stars and she just appeared in front of him.

“I’ve been waiting for you to get away from the blooming party, didn’t Remus tell you that was the plan so we could talk?” asked McGonagall

“No actually, sorry he said nothing of the sort.” Stated Harry

“humph, figures the wolf wouldn’t.” chuckled McGonagall “Either way I suppose you wouldn’t mind knowing at least some of the facts around what had happened at the Privet house would you…


I realize I’m leaving it at a rather serious cross roads here but the fact is that it’s 3:30 in the morning and I just had a major fight with my Girlfriend and I’m writing to ease stress so I’m leaving the more important bit till later on. The Forth chapter should be up around Tuesday or Wednesday. Maybe sooner if I get time but it will be up then. Hope this chapter meets with yalls approval. As far as reviews go be gentle ok.


Reviews are welcome.