(Harry Potter) Worthy of you: Chapter 7 - Talking while awake

Chapter 7 - Talking while awake

Summary: Truths are shared, bonds are tested, and a quiet moment changes everything.

Hermione laughed at Harry's expression, but before she could comment on it Remus came back and said mischievously, "Ah, so your 'friend' here is all good Harry?"

Harry shot Remus a quick glare at the way he said the word friend. Frowning slightly, Hermione tilted her head cautiously and asked with a guarded tone, "Who is this, Harry?"

Harry couldn't really blame her for doubting Remus, now could he. Harry would be the first one to admit he has the worst luck with meeting new people. Until recently that is.

Harry put a reassuring smile on his face to calm Hermione down before introducing them to each other, "Hermione, this is Remus Lupin; he was a friend of my parents. Remus, that's my best friend Hermione Granger, the brightest witch of her age."

Hermione's eyes widened and she blinked twice before asking unsurely, "Friends of your parents'?"

Remus stepped forward with a gentle smile on his face and said, "Actually I was more a friend of James', most of the time it looked like Lily was tolerating us."

Remus chuckled at his own joke, but it was cut short by another chuckle, this one was deeper. All three of them turned around to see the headmaster standing at the entrance to the medical wing with his usual grandfatherly smile on.

Harry did notice two things about the old man. The air around him was much less... lenient Harry supposed the right word would be. Maybe it was the effect of the lack of the half-moon glasses that usually adorn the old man's face.

Still, when Professor Dumbledore spoke his voice was warm and kind as ever, "I do recall you and your friends causing Ms. Evans a great amount of trouble in your first four years. It was during the fifth when you were appointed prefect along with her that she began to change her mind about you."

Remus's face flushed for a moment before he seemed to remember where he was and his usual gentle smile spread on his lips as he spoke, "James did have an obsession with her since the first year, and we were too immature at the time to do anything other than pranks."

Dumbledore's smile seemed to grow a little wistful as he said, "Ah, the foolishness of youth is always amusing to reminisce about." His eyes then moved to Hermione, "It's good to see you are back to good health Miss Granger."

Hermione immediately stood up straight to her full height, which was about the same as Harry's before saying with the most grateful tone, "Thank you headmaster."

Harry's eyes widened when the powerful wizard bowed his head and said gravely, "It is I who owe you an apology Ms. Granger."

Hermione squeaked, a look of horror passing through her face before she shook her head so fast her usually bushy hair was flying in every direction and covering her face while saying almost too fast to understand, "What? No! You don't owe me anything sir! I mean... I... Why would you..."

Harry smiled a little fondly. Hermione was always one to put figures of authority on a pedestal, especially the headmaster. In her eyes the old man could do nothing wrong, to be fair it seemed to be the common sentiment in the wizarding world.

Harry took a step closer and put a hand on her shoulder trying to ground her. She squealed again and looked at Harry, still with frantic eyes. Harry gave her a comforting smile, at least he hoped it was, and said, "Let's hear what he has to say."

The headmaster bowed his head again and said respectfully, "Thank you Mr. Potter. Ms. Granger, I do owe you an apology as I gave one to all the other victims. Your safety is my responsibility, and this year more so than the previous one I have failed miserably."

"That's not true Professor. You couldn't have known..."

Hermione began protesting, but her jaw clicked shut when Dumbledore raised his hand gently. The headmaster's smile dipped a little as he spoke, "None of us are infallible, not even me Ms. Granger. I made a great many mistakes in my long life, and it has been said that the greater the man the greater the mistake. I might have not known of the basilisk roaming around the school, but it was my duty to make sure I remain in the school to protect my students to the best of my ability. And then there is the matter Mr. Potter pointed out to me."

Hermione's eyes widened again, and she kept staring between Harry and Dumbledore. It took her a moment before she managed to ask, "Harry pointed something out to you?"

Harry tried not to get hurt by the shock in her tone. He couldn't really blame her, after all Harry spent the last two years relying on either what one of the teachers told him, or what Hermione managed to find herself in the library.

Dumbledore gave the bushy haired pre-teen a nod and added cheerfully, "I believe you will find yourself quite proud of Mr. Potter's growth during your absence." His cheerfulness faded into pure remorse as he informed, "Mr. Potter informed me earlier today there was a method that we could have used earlier in order to awaken all of the victims and in my blindness, I have missed it, and it cost you all greatly."

Hermione shuffled her feet a little and asked timidly, "Umm, sir, can I ask a question?"

The headmaster chuckled, "Of course, it is a school after all."

Harry felt a little bad for the old man trying to make a joke so he forced out a laugh, which seemed to actually cheer the professor up. Hermione's timidness gave way to her curiosity and she asked, "How could Harry find a solution you couldn't, sir?"

Harry frowned and noticed Remus biting his lips. He turned to Hermione and said with a little annoyance, "Oi. You know, you might be my best friend, but even for you that's rude."

Hermione blushed, finally noticing what she was saying and immediately began to apologize, "Oh Harry, I'm sorry I didn't mean it like that, it's just..."

Harry did wonder what she was about to say, but he would never know as Professor Dumbledore interrupted her, "Like I said, and it's important you remember, not even I am infallible. I have made the mistake of accepting bad advice without exploring any further and it cost my students dearly." His smile returned in full force as he said, "Thankfully even an old man like me can learn new things and change."

Harry frowned a little. Those last words seemed to be aimed at him. Was the headmaster trying to say something in regard to their conversation in his office? A glance toward Remus confirmed he was thinking the same.

Hermione was biting her lip, though Harry thought it had more to do with her wanting to ask more questions than anything else. Still, the way the Professor spoke about the matter seemed to indicate he wouldn't be saying anymore. Not that this would stop Harry from giving her the full details later.

The headmaster then turned to Remus and passed him a piece of parchment. Remus, confused, took the parchment and unfolded it. Harry watched as Remus's eyes widened and his gaze snapped to Dumbledore, and he asked in a bewildered tone, "What is this?"

The headmaster kept his smile as he answered, "Exactly what it reads. I have transferred my position as Mr. Potter's magical guardian to you."

Hermione's eyes somehow managed to grow even wider, almost popping out of their sockets. Even Harry was surprised and just had to ask, "Why?"

The old man's face twitched a little and his eyes were filled with sadness and pain as he said, "I have wronged you for far too long regarding this position Mr. Potter. I have no right to call myself a guardian, and now that Remus here is back I feel I could trust him to do what is best for you."

Harry was touched. He still wasn't ready to completely forgive and forget all the pain and abuse he had to suffer because of the old man, but it was clear to see the powerful wizard took what he said to heart and was trying to do better.

Remus sighed as he said sadly, "As much as I would like to believe it, I don't have the money, or even a house, as you know Albus."

The smile on the aged wizard's face didn't falter as he said, "Might I suggest a visit to Gringotts after the ride on the express?"

Remus eyed the headmaster for a moment before letting out a sigh, "Fine." He then turned to Harry and with his gentle smile and said, "I guess I will see you in a couple of days at the station. Until then try to stay out of trouble." He ended teasingly, then he turned his sharp eyes to Hermione and said, "I hope we will meet again soon Ms. Granger."

Hermione startled a little and said politely, "Oh, so do I Mr. Lupin."

The headmaster clapped his hands once and said, "Splendid. Mr. Potter, Ms. Granger, I shall see you both in tomorrow's ceremony. Remus allow me to walk you to the gates, I have a matter I wish to discuss with you."

Remus shrugged, "Of course Albus." He shot one last smile at Harry and Hermione before leaving with Dumbledore.

Hermione turned to Harry with a raised eyebrow, "It seems I still missed a lot, especially when it comes to you."

Harry rubbed the back of his neck while chuckling nervously. Of course, in that moment Madam Pomfrey came out of her office and asked sternly, "You are still here? Out with the two of you."

Without a moment's hesitation both of them replied as one, "Yes ma'am," and quickly walked out of the infirmary.

As they walked down the halls of Hogwarts back toward their common room Hermione turned to Harry and demanded, "Spill it Potter."

Harry sighed and asked aloud, "Where should I begin?"

Hermione put a finger under her chin and said her thoughts aloud, "I'm still curious about what the headmaster missed that you found."

Harry shrugged, that really was the lesser of all evils to talk about. "Oh, I found out Hogwarts could have purchased already made potions to counter the effects of the Basilisk. But Snape..." Harry put as much venom as possible into the name, "told the headmaster he is the only one capable of creating a guaranteed potion in such short amount of time."

Hermione looked uncomfortable. Probably her heart is torn between her blind belief in authority figures and the price of Snape's arrogance to her. Eventually she did speak in a small voice, "Well he isn't wrong I guess."

Harry snorted before saying, "Of course not. He just didn't mention that there is an already made solution. I will bet my broom that if one of his snakes was in those beds he would demand from the headmaster to buy the potion."

Hermione sighed, but didn't say anything else, instead she changed the subject, "And what was it with the headmaster and Mr. Lupin?"

Harry knew this was coming. He took a deep breath and began to tell her about starting to spend more time in the library, about learning more of his parents and their friends through the records. How he read about the headmaster's past.

Hermione was delighted to hear about her friend's new habits of studying, he could see the gears in her eyes were already turning and planning a lot of trips to the library for the both of them. Not that Harry minded, to have some private time with Hermione would always be a win.

Her delight was quickly turned into dread when she heard about the conversation he had at the Headmaster's office earlier today.

"Have you lost your mind Harry?! What if the headmaster would have expelled you?" Hermione shrieked.

Harry shrugged, "I wouldn't have to stop whatever it is that tries to kill me the next year." Hermione shot him a withering glare and Harry raised his hands in a placating manner and said, "I would of course make sure to stay in touch with my best friend, can't let you have all the magical fun."

Harry smiled at his own confidence boost. A couple of months ago he would never say something like that. Not even to Hermione, but now...

"Harry." Harry stopped when he heard Hermione's small voice calling out to him.

He turned to see her standing a few steps back, her head bowed and her hair shadowing her eyes. He took a few steps closer and asked carefully, "Hermione."

She raised her vulnerable eyes to lock with his and she asked, "You keep calling me your best friend, but isn't it Ron?"

Harry smiled at her and said, his voice full of conviction, "When I finally opened my eyes, I saw more than books in a new light, I saw my whole life. And the truth is, you always were my best friend Hermione, and you always will."

"Oh, Harry!" After hearing it he had no time to react before Hermione was wrapped tightly around him, giving him one of her tight hugs. Harry could feel his robe getting wet, before he could ask Hermione spoke again, her voice filled with happiness, "You are my best friend too Harry."

Harry couldn't stop the wild smile that spread across his lips as he hugged her back.

After a long moment Harry was startled when Hermione jumped out of his arms and exclaimed, "Oh Merlin, I completely forgot. I must have a mountain of homework to catch up on." She began to walk faster toward the common room while calling over her shoulder, "I will need your notes Harry."

Harry's smile thinned a bit, while his study did improve it didn't happen until recently, and even then he spent most of that improvement on his trips to the library. He had a strong feeling Hermione was going to give him a long lecture in the near future.

With a small amount of apprehension he began following Hermione.