Chapter 9: Insights from the Divine
With wetness coming to her eyes, brought about by the pure happiness she felt and the look in Harry's eyes, Hermione could only at first nod, but then she recovered herself. "Yes, I will be yours, Harry," as she put her arms around his neck. "I love you, Harry Potter."
"And I love you, Hermione Granger," Harry replied and once again their lips met as they melted into the emotions.
Neither of them noticed the smirk that was on the Goddess of Love's face.
Harry smiled at Hermione when the kiss ended. "I think that answers your question on do we have a future together."
"Yes, it most definitely does," Hermione agreed as she wiped the wetness from her eyes. "That only leaves whether we go back in time or back to our lives as they are."
"I'd like a chance to save Sirius and if that means facing Voldemort again, it'd be worth it," Harry declared. "Maybe we can settle this before Hogwarts itself is hurt. We can save Hedwig, Remus, Tonks and Dobby, and maybe even Dumbledore," He paused. "But what do you want to do?"
"Go back, see if we can make a difference," Hermione replied honestly. "But are you sure you want to take on Voldemort again?"
"Want to? Not really. Willing to, to save Sirius, Tonks and the others, yes."
"So, we go back to sometime in our fifth year?" Hermione's eyes lit up. "You know what that means? I can redo my OWLS. That Exceed Expectations on my Defense has always bugged me."
"For all things that change, some things stay the same," Harry remarked with a smirk as he stroked Hermione's cheek. "Yes, love, you can retake your OWLS."
"Do you really think Ron and Ginny gave us potions?" Hermione asked.
"Does it matter if we don't give them a chance this time?" Harry replied.
"I guess not. We can take a trust but verify attitude, though if you're my soul mate, Ginny better not try anything with you."
"Same with Ron and you."
In unison, they turned back to the Goddess of Love. "We decided we will go back and do what we can do," Harry told her.
"I'm glad. I think you will be happier to know you tried. Now before I send you back, I need to discuss Dumbledore with you," Miranda said.
"What about him?"
"You know he's been manipulating you all of your life, don't you?" Miranda said. "The Dursleys," The petite Goddess actually growled the name out "Talk about a family that needs some love in it. I know he sent you there until you went to Hogwarts, but why afterwards?"
"What do you mean; it was for my protection, wasn't it?"
"Why not have you stay at Hogwarts? Tom Riddle stayed there some summers. That's why he turned Hagrid in, remember?"
"Maybe he didn't think of it?" Harry suggested with a shrug.
"You don't believe that, now do you?" Miranda asked. "No; you were definitely there for protection, just not what you think."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked. "I was protected there, I mean those Death Eaters couldn't attack me until we left."
"Those wards protected number Four Privet Drive. So, yes, you were protected while you were locked away in your bedroom," Miranda explained, "but nowhere else. If they had protected you anywhere else, how did you get attacked by Dementors just a few blocks from there? Or how did you keep getting attacked at Hogwarts? And as you pointed out, those Death Eaters who were waiting that night of your escape were just above that property."
Harry and Hermione looked at each other, then back to the Goddess, "Then why?"
"Before I answer that, let me ask you one last question. Why even send you back there after your sixth year? Why not directly to the Weasleys? Or why until almost your birthday? And coinciding your departure with your relatives?" Miranda looked at Harry directly. "Albus made an oath as part of the agreement with Petunia taking you in, that he would protect them as well. So year after year, he used you to fulfill his oath. That's why his portrait made the particular horrible plan to rescue you. He needed the Dursleys out at the same time. Even in death, he was fulfilling his oath."
"WHAT?" Harry exclaimed. "No..."
"Think about it Harry," Miranda said. "In a time of war, Albus had always looked out for the Greater Good. Tell me, in your opinion, when fighting Voldemort, who was more valuable to the Greater Good, Mad-Eye Moody or the Dursleys? The potential for loss was even greater than just Alastor. George almost died, and so did Hagrid."
Harry just stared at the petite Goddess, "I hadn't thought of that."
"Just be careful when you go back. Keep a very open mind when it comes to Albus. You know he has a weakness for power, so do not give it to him. Knowledge of the future is power. Do not let him know your secrets, and for Heaven's sake, listen to your soul mate. Oh that reminds me. I need to give you your Occlumency and another gift. One I think you really need."
"What do we need?" Hermione asked.
"Something neither of you will like in the beginning, but something I think you each need to understand the other better," Miranda looked at the two soul mates in the eyes and each felt a wave of nausea sweep over them as memories poured into their minds. After what felt like an eternity, but really was only a few seconds, the onslaught ended and they were able to regain their focus.
"There," Miranda said with a tone of self-satisfaction, "You each have some of the memories of the others childhood in your brains.
"WHAT?" Harry yelled. "How could you do that?"
The Goddess of Love looked at Harry and shrugged, "How I did it was quite simple. I simply used my Deity powers and it was done. Now as your Soul Mate will tell you, the question should have been, WHY did I do it."
"Well, why did you do it then?"
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