Harry Potter was currently sitting on a swing on a playground a few blocks from his home at Number 4 Privet Drive, enjoying an early summer afternoon. The weather was warm with no clouds in the sky, showing no hint of the sweltering heat wave that would encompass the area and much of England through much of summer. Young boys and girls, most of whom were under the age of ten, were playing and laughing and simply having fun while their parents, guardians and babysitters watched on.
Harry favored this park simply because the neighborhood was far enough from Privet Drive, that none of the lies and false rumors told about him by the Dursleys reached ears of the residents near the park. Nobody in the area thought he was a criminal, bully or ne'er-do-well. He was just another young lad enjoying the comforts of the park.
Harry pushed the swing back and forth, and let the momentum take him as his thoughts swam through his mind.
It had been one week since he had returned from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where he had just finished his fourth year at the school. It had been ten days since the Third Task of the Triwizard Tournament and the nightmarish aftermath, where he had been kidnapped via Portkey and taken to a graveyard. He had witnessed the death, the murder, of Cedric Diggory, a young man who he considered somewhat of a friend, since he got to know the boy during the Tournament. In the graveyard, he had also been forced to participate in a gruesome ritual, where his blood was forcefully taken and used to bring Voldemort, the most fearsome and powerful Dark Lord in several decades, back to full strength and a new body. Harry had barely escaped with his life, and he considered himself very lucky for it.
But Harry had not escaped unscathed. He had another scar on his body to join the many others he had been given, including the lightning-bolt shaped scar on his forehead that was well known across wizarding Britain. In addition to the physical marks, there were also the nightly-occurring nightmares. Nightmares of Cedric's death, nightmares where he relived the entire graveyard event over and over, nightmares where he had been killed that evening instead of barely escaping with his life, and one particularly unwelcome nightmare where instead of Cedric Diggory being murdered, it was his best friend Hermione Granger.
The latter nightmare had just occurred in the very early hours of that morning, and he hadn't gone back to sleep. He had barely resisted from writing a letter to Hermione and sending it to her with Hedwig, just to make sure she was okay. But he had realized he was being stupid. Hermione was safe and alive – he would have heard if that status had changed, right? He hadn't received any letters from his friends yet, but that was okay. It had only been a week since he had seen them.
Harry smiled as he thought of Hermione. He smiled as he thought of what her response to his letter would be if he had written to her about his most recent dream. While she might have thought him silly for writing to her simply because of a nightmare, he figured she might have also felt rather touched that he had checked in with her to make sure she was alright. She also probably would have reassured him that his mind was just playing tricks on him.
You're avoiding the real question you should be asking yourself, mate, the voice in the back of his head – his conscience – said. Why was Hermione Granger the star of your nightmare when Ron Weasley is the one you would "miss the most"?
Harry decided this was a good point. After a couple minutes pondering this, he realized the answer. Whoever had assigned the hostages was probably insane. Ron Weasley wasn't the one he would miss the most. No, definitely not, not after Ron's betrayal after Harry's name had come out of the Goblet of Fire. Harry still considered him a friend, though he felt he would have trouble completely trusting the boy - but he could no longer see him as his best friend. Hermione had taken that spot of the most important friend in his life.
Hermione never betrayed him. She stuck with him after his name was ejected from the Goblet, when everyone else called him a 'cheat'. She helped him with the first task, with the Summoning Charm when he needed it. She helped him research dragons. He would have failed the task – and maybe worse – if it wasn't for her.
No, Ron was simply a substitute for Hermione for his hostage in the second task. Hermione had been Viktor Krum's hostage, and now that he thought about that, he wondered why that was. She had simply been Viktor's date at the Yule Ball. They hadn't known each other that long by the time of the Second Task. Why wasn't one of Viktor's family members his hostage, like Fleur Delacour's sister? Why wasn't Hermione Harry's hostage? She was definitely who he'd miss the most. Why hadn't he asked Dumbledore, McGonagall or one of the other Professors, or Tournament handlers about this? Did Hermione know why she was Krum's hostage instead of his? He had never considered asking her that question.
Harry's thoughts traveled back to the Yule Ball, when he had watched Hermione walk down the stairs in her beautiful periwinkle blue dress. She had been breathtaking. It was as if he had seen her for the first time. He felt extremely guilty and foolish now. He should have asked Hermione to the Yule Ball, instead of pining after Cho Chang, who only had eyes for Cedric Diggory. He should have asked her the moment after Professor McGonagall had told him he needed a date for the Ball. Before Krum had the chance to meet with her in the library and ask her. If he had, he knew he would have had a much better time than he did when Parvati Patil was his date. He wondered what would have happened if Hermione had been his date. He definitely would have danced with her far more than just once. He would have been with her the entire night, and after the ball…
He smiled as his fantasy strengthened. Would he and Hermione have shared their first kiss? Would it be awkward, would it be wonderful? Would… would he have asked her if she wanted to be his girlfriend?
Whoa! Where did that come from? Did he want Hermione to be his girlfriend? Yes, she was his best friend. Yes, she was definitely who he would miss the most. Yes, she was beautiful and gorgeous, and, admittedly, not only when she dressed up for a special occasion.
Damn. Harry blinked, as this new revelation swept through him. How had he not seen it sooner?
He fancied Hermione Granger. He wasn't sure if he was in love with her yet, but he did fancy her.
The question was… did she fancy him? He frowned at that thought. He wasn't sure about that. After all hadn't she basically told Ron, after the Yule Ball, that he should ask her out next time there was an event like the Ball? Was it a hint to Ron? Or was she just making a point?
Why would Hermione fancy Ron Weasley? His conscience asked. They constantly argue and bicker enough to drive anyone around the twist. He was the reason she was in the bathroom when the troll attacked during your first year. He hates her cat! How would he act toward her parents if she introduced them to him as her boyfriend? He hardly knows any Muggles. You, on the other hand, know all about the Muggle world, and you never fight with her as much as Ron does. Think about it. Who would Hermione's parents favor more as a boyfriend? Ron… or you? Hermione's a smart girl, surely she has asked these questions to herself. She must have had some thoughts about romance with one of her two best male friends.
Harry's thoughts were broken by the squeaking sound of the swing next to him. He turned his head and looked at his neighbor. The occupant of the swing was a blonde-haired girl who might have been his age, or perhaps a year younger. She was not looking straight ahead as she swung back and forth. Instead she was staring at him. And she had not blinked once since he had looked at her. Her silvery-grey eyes were large and when she finally blinked, it was rather owlishly, reminding him of his owl, Hedwig.
As he looked at her, he had a feeling that she looked familiar to him, as if he had seen her before. He had never seen her around the neighborhood near the park, but maybe she was new to the neighborhood. But that wouldn't explain why she looked so familiar. He didn't recognize her as any girl who lived around Privet Drive. The only other place he would have recognized her from would be…
Hogwarts? Was she a Hogwarts student?
"Hello?" he said, "Er… do I know you?"
The girl slowed on her swing to a stop.
"We have never spoken to each other, Harry Potter," the girl said, "But we may have crossed paths."
"You're a Hogwarts student then?" Harry asked.
"I am in Ravenclaw, a year below you," the girl said, "My name is Luna Lovegood."
Lovegood. That named sounded familiar. He suddenly recalled where he had heard it before. The day he, Hermione and the Weasleys went to the Quidditch World Cup Campgrounds. Lovegood was one of the families who had been at the Campgrounds for days, so they did not meet up for the Portkey, the old boot, that brought them to the Campgrounds.
"The same Lovegoods who live around Ottery St. Catchpole?" Harry asked, "Near the Weasleys?"
"Yes," Luna said, "We live on the opposite side of town from the Burrow. Ginny Weasley and I used to be best friends when we were little."
"Oh," Harry said, "So… er… what are you doing here in Surrey? Did you move?"
"I am here because of you, Harry Potter," Luna said, smiling.
Harry stared at her. "Why because of me?"
"I suppose I do need to explain it better," Luna said, "You see, I am what is known as a Seer,"
"Like Professor Trelawney?" Harry asked.
"Sort of," Luna said, "Professor Trelawney hasn't truly discovered her abilities as a Seer. She can perform Prophecies, but she doesn't have other more important abilities. Such as seeing the future."
"So you can see the future?" Harry asked.
He wasn't sure whether he believed her or not, but he would continue the conversation with her. After all, it wasn't everyday he spoke to someone from the wizarding world whilst in Surrey.
"I can see thefutures of certain people," Luna said. "I cannot see my own future, however, I can sometimes see myself in the futures of these people. Out of everyone who I see the future of, you are the most common of whom I See."
"Why me?" Harry asked, "Because I am the Boy-Who-Lived?"
"Because Lady Fate has decided to make you her special plaything," Luna said, "Lady Fate is not a nice being. As a Seer, I have been given a gift of changing the fate of particular people."
"I am one of those people then?" Harry asked. "Let's say I believe you then. How long have you been able to see my future?"
Luna blinked. Harry was getting irrationally angry.
"How long?" he repeated, "Before I was sent to the graveyard? Before I was placed in the Tournament?"
"Before you received your first Hogwarts letter," Luna said.
"So you knew what would happen to me these last four years?" Harry asked, "You knew about the Philosopher's Stone and Quirrel? About the Chamber of Secrets, and Tom Riddle who was possessing your friend, Ginny? About my godfather and the traitor Pettigrew? About the World Cup? About the Triwizard Tournament and the graveyard?! You knew?"
"I did," Luna said.
"Then why didn't you tell me?!" Harry asked, angrily, "Why are you telling me now?!"
"I tried to, Harry," Luna said, "But then I realized I couldn't. Every time I tried, I was distracted or something happened to me. I tried sending you letters during your first year at Hogwarts, but the owls kept coming back to me. I tried going directly to Hogwarts, but my Daddy would either be sick or busy whenever I wanted to ask him to take me. My Floo didn't work when I tried. During your second year, my first, I tried to tell you, and I was, once again, distracted or found myself busy. I tried to confront Ginny about the diary, and I couldn't find the words to do so. After that I simply stopped trying."
"Why?" Harry asked.
"Because I realized the path you were taking had to happen," Luna said, "The path that led to Voldemort's resurrection."
Harry frowned. "So he had to come back before you could help me? Why?"
"Because before his resurrection, he was merely smoke and vapor," Luna said, "Now that he has a body, he can die. Well, maybe not right now, but now he is taking a path where he will eventually die."
"And if you had been able to warn me," Harry said, "Then he wouldn't have been able to get a body?"
"Probably not," Luna said.
"And now that he has a body, you can help me?" Harry asked. "You can tell me what you see now?"
"I think so, yes," Luna said, "When I get these visions of the future, I am actually dreaming. I dreamed of something happening to you this summer, and knew I had to try to interfere. Today I finally discovered I could interfere."
"What did you dream of?" Harry asked.
"Dementors," Luna said, shivering slightly, "Two of them. You're sitting on a swing in a park, and this fat boy and his gang of bullies -."
"My cousin, Dudley and his friends?" Harry asked.
"I think so, yes," Luna said, "Dudley, is it? I never knew his name. Dudley and his friends confront you, and taunt you. Dudley insults you, and you point your wand at him. Then the sky grows dark and the air goes cold, even though there is a heat wave, and suddenly two Dementors attack you. You and Dudley run, trying to flee, and you end up in a storm drain or something. The Dementors come, and you defend yourself and Dudley with a Patronus Charm. You cast it twice. Later when you get home, you receive a notice from the Ministry, expelling you from Hogwarts for using magic for breaking the Reasonable Restriction for Underage Wizardry.."
Harry swallowed. It did indeed sound plausible. "Is – is that going to happen today. Is that why you're here?"
"I thought it would happen today," Luna said, then looked around the park, "Then when I arrived, I realized we're in the wrong park. And there is no heatwave yet."
"So why are you here today?" Harry asked.
"Because I've dreamed of other things that haven't happened yet concerning people around you," Luna said, "But I've never dreamed of them before these dreams, so I believe what is happening in those dreams concern you in some way."
"What happens in these dreams?" Harry asked.
"Before I tell you that, I need to tell you about other things that happened to you that I wished I could stop," Luna said, "Not because they were troubling for you at that very moment, but because they were troublesome for you in the future."
"Like what?" Harry asked.
"Let's begin with your eleventh birthday," Luna said, "You met Hagrid, and he gave you your Hogwarts letter."
"What is so troubling about that?" Harry asked, "That was a great day."
"Hagrid is not responsible for introducing Muggleborn and Muggle-raised to the wizarding world," Luna said, "He was not a Professor, he was barely a part of the Hogwarts staff. Usually one of the four House Heads come to introduce you. Probably Professor McGonagall. Hagrid gave you a substandard introduction to the wizarding world. Did he give you an introduction packet usually given to Muggleborn and Muggle-raised?"
"Er… no," Harry said, frowning.
"The packet would have told you many things about the wizarding world," Luna said, "Some of which, even to this day, you are ignorant to. The packet would have told you exactly how to get onto Platform Nine and Three Quarters. Instead…"
"Instead Hagrid barely told me anything about the platform," Harry said, frowning.
"Don't blame Hagrid for that, Harry," Luna said, "He was only doing what he was told to."
"Told to by whom?" Harry asked.
"By his boss, of course," Luna said.
"… Dumbledore?" Harry asked. "Are you trying to tell me Dumbledore didn't want me to get onto the Platform?"
"No," Luna said, "What happened to you was exactly what he wanted to happen."
"I… I met the Weasleys that day," Harry said.
"Think about how that happened, Harry," Luna said, "I dreamed of that moment, and that was another thing I wanted to change."
"Why?" Harry asked.
"I repeat," Luna said, "Think about what happened."
Harry thought back to the day he met the Weasleys, and then it suddenly hit him like a ton of bricks.
"She spoke of Muggles," he said, "Rather loudly too. In the middle of a crowd of Muggles. But that means she…"
"She could have broken the Statute of Secrecy," Luna said, nodding. "If you would have gotten the introduction packet, you would have known that, that day. You might have even become suspicious of her. Instead, you didn't know anything was wrong. But something else happened in that moment. Something more important."
Harry considered what happened next. Mrs. Weasley asking her children which Platform it was. Wait… why had he never questioned that moment before?
"Er… Luna?" Harry asked. "Did the Platform debut that year or something?"
"No," Luna said, shaking her head, "It has been there for a very long time. Certainly long enough for Molly Weasley, not to mention her – at that time – five children, to have used the Hogwarts Express many times."
"She knew where the Platform was," Harry said, "She spoke loudly of Muggles, and about the Platform number. Why?"
"What a silly question, Harry Potter," Luna said, "You know why."
"Because she was looking for me," Harry said. "But how did she know I'd be looking for the Platform?"
"How indeed?" Luna asked. "Consider this. Albus Dumbledore and the Weasley family have been allies for many years."
"Dumbledore wanted Hagrid to keep me uninformed of the Platform so I'd… meet the Weasleys," Harry said.
"He wanted you to meet his friends, why?" Luna asked. "Consider this, two out of the past three summers, you spent time with the Weasley family. Before your third year, the Weasleys just happen to show up to the Leaky Cauldron when you were there."
"He… wanted them to keep an eye on me, didn't he?" Harry asked, "Whenever I was away from the Dursleys, and not at Hogwarts."
"Yes," Luna said, "But something else important happened concerning the Weasleys that day. Think about how you met Ron on the train. He opened your carriage door, without knocking. Quite rude of him. Then what did he say?"
Harry thought back to that moment on the train when he met Ron. What had Ron said?
"'Can I sit here? Everywhere else… is… full'," Harry muttered, his eyebrows raising after each word, then he groaned, "Oh Merlin. There were empty carriages, weren't there?"
"There were, and even if there weren't, his older brothers would have let him sit with them," Luna said, "Why wouldn't they? He's their brother."
"He was… directed to meet me?" Harry asked, "Why?"
Luna shrugged. "I can't say for certain. Maybe you should ask him the next time you see him. Why am I specifically mentioning these two events? Because if I told you what I saw in a dream, you wouldn't believe me."
"What did you see?" Harry asked, afraid he didn't want to know.
"I saw Mrs. Weasley brewing Potions in the Burrow," Luna said, "I saw Ron and Ginny standing near her, watching her. I saw her injecting the potion into Treacle Tart and Cauldron Cakes. I saw Ron and Ginny looking very, very happy about it."
Harry swallowed. "Treacle Tart is my favorite dessert, and Cauldron Cakes…"
"Are one of the only sweets Hermione Granger favors because it wouldn't offend her dentist parents," Luna said.
"Luna," Harry said, "What were those Potions?"
Luna frowned. "Love Potion keyed to Ginny for you, and Ron for Hermione. Loyalty Potions keyed to Molly, Ron, Ginny and Dumbledore. Revulsion Potions for you keyed to Hermione, and the same for her."
Harry's bottom lip wobbled. His eyes stung. He felt utterly betrayed. Ron hadn't just betrayed him during the Triwizard Tournament. The betrayal went back to the very first day he had met Ron. Was Ron ever really his friend? Then another realization struck him.
"They know how I feel about Hermione, don't they?" Harry asked.
"Harry, many people at Hogwarts think that you and Hermione are already a couple," Luna said. "It was rumored you and Hermione would go to the Yule Ball together. But it didn't happen, of course. Rita Skeeter's articles about a Love Triangle with you two and Viktor Krum happened, and suddenly people were talking. Why do you think Hermione got such a tiny Easter Egg from Mrs. Weasley?"
"She… thought we were dating," Harry said, "Oh my god. Why? Why does she not want it to happen? She wants me to date Ginny? She wants Hermione to…"
"She wants Ginny to be Mrs. Potter," Luna said, "In fact it has been her goal since Ginny was little. Ginny always bragged about how you would be her husband in the future. As for Hermione, she simply wants Hermione to be unavailable for you. Tell me, Harry. You're considering asking Hermione to be your girlfriend, yes?"
"Er… yeah, kind of," Harry said, blushing.
"But something is stopping you," Luna said, smiling knowingly, "What?"
"I… am afraid she might consider Ron boyfriend material instead of me," Harry said.
"She does not," Luna said, "And Molly, Ron and Ginny know this. That is why they want to give her these Potions so you would think she considers him boyfriend material instead of you, and therefore, you would never ask her. Voila, Weasleys succeed with their plan."
"But now, we're forewarned," Harry said, "I… I need to write to Hermione! I need to tell her!"
"I am afraid that wouldn't be a good idea," Luna said, then clarified, "Writing her, I mean."
"Why?" Harry asked.
"Because Dumbledore's minions – er – allies – are watching you and Hermione," Luna said, "I'm sure they have instructions to intercept any owl post, and only those letters Dumbledore approve of would find you."
"Meaning… none of Hermione's," Harry said, frowning, "Meaning…"
"Meaning you would think she is ignoring you this summer," Luna said, "Making you angry at her…"
"And if I am angry at her, I wouldn't consider her girlfriend material," Harry said.
"Very good," Luna said, smiling.
"Wait… did you say Dumbledore's allies are watching me?" Harry asked.
"Yes," Luna said.
Harry growled. People were spying on him, watching him without his knowledge.
"Where are they?" Harry asked, "Who are they?"
"Don't worry, Harry," Luna said, "There was one person watching you. I already incapacitated them before I met with you. They are under an invisibility cloak which I can see under - another gift of mine. I can't see under your Cloak though. That is rather strange. Or maybe it isn't."
"How did you incapacitate them?" Harry asked.
"I put a sleeping charm on them, of course," Luna said. "They'll wake up in a couple hours, and when you're gone, they'll think you left before they woke up."
"But the Underage Wizardry laws," Harry said.
"Yeah, that is a grey area when it comes to purebloods like me," Luna said, "You see, the wands we buy from Ollivander's have what is called the Trace on them. But there is a law that Heirs and Heiresses of Noble, or Ancient and Noble Houses can buy a second wand that doesn't have the Trace on it, so we can practice our magic at home during the summers. Basically that law exists because the Lords and Ladies of the Wizengamot want their Heirs to do better at school than the students who they consider below their own children."
Luna then looked at Harry's face then at his hand. "Why are you not wearing your ring, Harry Potter?"
"Er… what ring?" Harry asked.
"Either your Heirship or Lordship ring," Luna said, "Or both. Oh, I see… Dumbledore."
"Dumbledore?" Harry asked.
"Dumbledore," Luna repeated. "You should have had your Heirship ring after your first visit at Gringotts."
My first visit did seem pretty rushed, Harry mused. Now that I think about it, I should have met with my account manager. Why didn't… oh, Hagrid. We were basically in and out of the bank. And Griphook was likely a Vault Runner, and not an Account Manager.
"… your Lordship last November," Luna was saying.
"What?" Harry asked.
"You should have gotten your Lordship last November," Luna said, "After all, the Goblet of Fire recognized you as a legal adult, when it put you in a tournament meant for seventeen year old students and older."
"So it looks like I have some things I need to do at Gringotts," Harry said.
"Yes, indeed," Luna said, "But first we should stop by Hermione's house."
"I don't know where she lives," Harry said, "Why have I never asked her where she lives? She's my best friend, and I've never even officially met her parents. I could have gone to her house instead of the Leaky Cauldron two summers ago. Merlin, it is like I'm being pushed away from Hermione!"
"You were, Harry," Luna said, "But you can change that now. Luckily for both of us, I know where she lives. Did you bring your invisibility cloak?"
Harry was about to ask how she knew about the cloak or Hermione's address, when he decided he didn't want to know.
"Yes, I did," Harry said.
"We'll take the Knight Bus to Hermione's house," Luna said, "Then we'll convince Hermione to come with us to Diagon Alley."
Luna jumped off of the swing, and Harry stood and followed her out of the park.