Harry softened his voice some. "Sir, I don't want to do that. That monster killed my parents and I want him dead. I don't want to be looking over my shoulder the rest of my life. I just want you to understand that I am not going to be controlled. I want to work with you, but are you willing to work with me? If not, then it's your war and I'll go sit it out," He paused for a few seconds before remembering something Dumbledore had said at one time. "Sir, last year when Cedric died, you said a person can do what is right or what is easy. I think it's time for you to decide what you are doing," Harry rose from his chair and took Hermione's hand. Dumbledore's eyes fell upon the ring that adorned her left hand.
"Am I to presume from the ring that adorns Miss Granger's finger that you two are together now?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes sir," Harry replied. "You can say that we finally realized what we meant to each other."
"That will make her a tempting target for Riddle," Dumbledore said.
"She was already a target sir. But now that you've mentioned it, I can presume you'll ensure her parents' home is warded?"
Dumbledore realized that refusing would destroy any chance of building a relationship with the young man. "Of course. I'll see to it personally. Will you send an owl to them to let them know to expect me Miss Granger?"
"Yes sir, thank you sir," Hermione replied.
"I presume I will need to upgrade the Burrow's wards as well?"
Harry shrugged. "Though I still respect the Weasleys, Ron had a problem with Hermione and me getting together. We had a falling out with him that I'm not trying to repair. But you can check to make sure the Longbottoms' and Lovegoods' wards can be improved," Harry remembered what Miranda had said about the Weasleys at Kings Cross. "Sir why did you have Mrs. Weasley find me at King's Cross my first year?"
"That too?" Dumbledore asked.
Both Harry and Hermione recognized what he was asking. "It was pretty obvious when Harry described it. Mrs. Weasley had been sending children to Hogwarts for many years," Hermione replied. "She would not likely forget what platform the train leaves from, especially since it's the only one there."
"They were a family I could trust who had a son your age," Dumbledore explained wearily. "Was I wrong to think you might have wanted a friend who could tell you how things worked in the magical world? I do know that Mrs. Weasley cares for you greatly and considers you one of her own sons."
"As much as I appreciate that sir, she has to understand she's not my mother," Harry replied. He turned to leave and then looked back, "I hope you decide soon on whether you'll share what you know with me."
Dumbledore nodded.
"Will you unlock the door now? I really need to get some sleep."
A click and the door swung open.
"Thank you sir."
As much as they wanted to sleep together, they knew people would come looking for them when the story broke. The two of them ended up in their own beds after a passionate good sleep kiss they shared in a broom closet on the way back to Gryffindor Tower.
As Harry stumbled into the dorm, he could see Neville stretched out on his bed, still fully clothed sounds asleep.
.....
Voldemort looked down upon the sobbing broken form of Lucius Malfoy. The blond Death Eater lay curled in a ball on the floor with most of his extremities twitching uncontrollably. Blood pooled around the man's mouth where he'd obviously bitten off his own tongue. The Dark Lord hadn't meant to break the man, but while he had been punishing Malfoy, Goyle had returned from Diagon Alley. He'd been sent to capture Ollivander so Voldemort could find out what was happening with his and Potter's wand. When Goyle had delivered the message that Ollivander's store was closed and he hadn't been seen in two weeks, Riddle had let his frustration and rage pour into the Cruciatus Curse. He didn't realize what he was doing until the screams from his follower had ceased. A quick scan of Lucius's mind confirmed that all coherent thought was gone.
"Drop him in front of his own home Goyle," Riddle said dismissively. "Let it be a warning to all that I will not accept failure."
"Yes...yes my Lord," Goyle replied and rushed to obey his master.
Narcissa Malfoy found her bloodied and broken husband later that day. Though she kept insisting the Healers at St. Mungos keep working on him, it was to no avail. Though by offering more and more galleons they kept trying different treatments on her husband, in the end she found herself sitting beside her husband's bed in the Janus Thickey permanent care ward.
"Would you like an autograph?" Gilderoy Lockhart asked her from his bed as she sat weeping. "I can do joined writing now."
....
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