HPV61-

Harry Potter Veela's Embrace Ch. 61 "Hermione's Breakthrough"11 hours ago

Hermione and Fleur looked at Harry, "You don't have to do that Harry," Hermione thought. "We already told you it's not just your responsibility."

"But isn't it better to have the Galleons and not need them, than need them and not have them?" Harry asked. "Besides we can give it to charity of the House-Elf cause if we don't need it," Harry smiled at Hermione before he turned to Fleur. "What do you think Fleur? Take him up on the offer?"

"What would 'appen to the money if you didn't take it?" Fleur asked.

"Good question," Harry replied and turning to Dumbledore, "What would happen to the money if I didn't take it sir?"

"The school board or the Ministry would end up with it," Dumbledore replied. "Presume most of it would be embezzled by certain influential members and the rest squandered on some pet project."

"Definitely take ze galleons 'Arry," Fleur said. "You've earned it."

"Fine sir, if there is money made from the remains, please have the Galleons put in a vault in mine, Hermione, Fleur and Gabrielle's names," Harry replied to the Headmaster. "Also I will want some of it to go to the Weasley's or at least Ron and Ginny."

A mixture of surprise and shock poured over the bond. Harry smiled at being able to get some surprise in on them.

"Non 'Arry," Fleur said, "It's your money."

"Harry, what was that?" Hermione asked. "I can't take your money."

"Ladies, you are all my family. What is mine is yours, including this money," Harry responded firmly. "I'm not changing my mind."

Professor Dumbledore looked at Harry, "Very well. I have an associate who can make arrangements to sell the remains. He'll of course want a cut of the profits."

"That's fine Professor," Harry responded. "I'm sure whatever you think is fair will work."

"I'll contact Mundungus immediately. He specializes in finding buyers for unusual objects," Dumbledore said. "Of course if people are down here rendering the beast down, you'll need to stay out of the way Sirius. Look around and see if you can find places to hide."

"It'll give me something to do." Sirius said as he looked around the cave. "I'll map out this whole chamber. See if I can brighten it up some."

"Okay, since that is settled," Dumbledore started. "We need to get the rest of you to a dinner. I am sure the ladies' parents are wondering what the emergency was. Now as we are leaving, we should have someone test the portkey… not you Harry." As he saw Harry getting ready to volunteer, "We might need your Parseltongue abilities."

"Is there any risk Professor?" Harry asked.

"No there should be no risks with it. It will either take the person to the bathroom upstairs or it will not work."

"I'll do it Professor," Hermione spoke up.

"Excellent, just tap the rock with your wand and say bathroom."

A few seconds later Hermione disappeared.

"Harry, you can tell Professor Dumbledore it worked. I'm in the bathroom," Hermione told Harry.

"Sir, it worked, she's there," Harry relayed.

"Excellent," Dumbledore "I was worried when Dobby didn't come that portkeys wouldn't work either," He thought for a few seconds. "House-elves were around at the time of the founders, but portkeys have only been around for the last three hundred years. I would guess Salazar configured the Chamber to block house-elves from the Chamber. They would not be worthy of entering his hallowed grounds," He reached down and picked up another rock and with a "Portus" another portkey was created. He handed it to Sirius. "This will get you out of here if there is an emergency," Then turning to Harry, Fleur and Gabrielle, we could portkey out, but I want to walk back the way we came to make sure there isn't a problem getting out on foot."

Harry turned to Sirius, "We'll bring that food down in just a couple of hours. Once we finish the dinner with the parents."

"That's fine pup, I'll start doing a little exploring and see if there is any place to put a bed," Sirius replied.

"Harry, I want to try something while I'm up here," Hermione said over the bond. "Could you remember yourself asking this wall to open?"

"I guess but why?"

"Just do it Harry. I want to see it."

Harry brought up the memory she wanted.

"Thanks," Hermione said and a few seconds later. "I did it. I actually did it."

"Did what love?"

"I opened the wall," Hermione replied.

"How?"

"Do you remember when you cast your Patronus against the Dementors, you said you knew you could do it, because you had already done it?"

"Yeah?"

"Well this was similar, I have your memory of it, and I could feel what you did. So I just did the same," Hermione explained. "I can't speak parseltongue, but I can mimic what you've done using it."

"But how? I can't even tell if I'm speaking it or not," Harry asked.

"That's because you can speak parseltongue, so the words come natural to you," Hermione said. "I don't speak it so I can hear the difference. Does that make sense?"

"Not really but I'm glad it works," Harry replied. "It means you can get down to Sirius if I'm not available."

"It means a lot more than that Harry. Don't you see?" Hermione replied excitedly. "If we can do this with other things, the potential is limitless. I might be able to learn the Patronus Charm from you by just reliving your memory of casting it."

"Do I get your limitless supply of spells?" Harry asked with happiness of a smile across the bond.

"As long as you figure out which ones you want to ask for," Hermione replied. "But think of the potential if this works. We could learn twice as many spells or actually four times as many if you include Fleur and Gabrielle," Hermione's excitement was pouring over the bond.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Harry said. "Let's get Fleur and Gabrielle and test it tomorrow to see."

"OK…fine," Hermione said obviously annoyed that Harry wasn't sharing in her enthusiasm.

"Run the idea past Fleur and Gabrielle while we are walking back up," Harry said. "We might test it later tonight. Okay love?"

The thought of Hermione learning at four times her normal speed frightened Harry. "Well it wouldn't be four times her speed, since I can't learn as fast as she can."

Hermione was listening in on him and Harry could hear her smirking as she thought; "Guess I need to get your studying habits changed some."

"Remind me again why I love you?" Harry thought.

"Prat."

Harry Potter Veela's Embrace Ch. 62 "Defending Innocence"11 hours ago

Harry had an arm around Fleur and the other around Gabrielle as they and Dumbledore left the Chamber of Secrets, once past the guarding snakes the walls closed behind them with a hiss. A few minutes later they were past the snake skin and further on they found Hermione waiting for them at the bottom of the staircase.

"How did you come to be down here Miss Granger?" Professor Dumbledore asked. "Harry said the portkey took you took the bathroom."

"It worked fine sir," Hermione replied. "We just figured out a way for me to open the door."

"But you're not a parseltongue?" The Headmaster countered.

"True sir, but I was able to mimic the action exactly because I have an exact image from what Harry did," Hermione explained.

Professor Dumbledore studied her for a short time "I wonder if the same could be done through a pensieve memory?"

"I doubt it sir," Hermione said. "The pensieve only deals with external senses, sight, sound and such. With Harry I can feel what he did and was able to mimic the actions exactly."

"Ah, a very useful talent," Dumbledore said. "I can already see that you are imagining ways to utilize it?"

"Yes sir," Hermione said as a blush crept onto her face.

It was another few minutes before the group had made it back up the steps and into the bathroom. Once the wall had closed behind them Professor Dumbledore turned and cast several spells at the spot where the door was located. "Amazing magic," He murmured. "Nothing I do reveals either a door or an opening behind that wall. I think after Sirius is gone from there, we might see about opening it permanently."

The youth made a quick stop by their rooms for a shower, each of them felt like being next to the Basilisk made them feel grimy. When they were all showered and dressed they made it to the private dining room that had been set up for them. As they entered, Mr. and Mrs. Granger looked at their daughter.

"Dear, we have been having a lovely conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Delacour," Jean Granger said. "Have you forgotten to tell us things that go on at this school?"

"Oh no!" Hermione screamed to Harry then to her mother. "Like what mother?"

"Oh, we must have missed the owls mentioning Trolls and giant snakes and Dragons?" Richard Granger said looking sharply at his daughter.

"Yeah…um," Hermione sputtered as she blushed and looked at Harry.

"Ma'am, sir," Harry jumped in. "Hermione just didn't want you to worry about her. The magical world is much more dangerous than the non-magical world."

The elder Grangers looked at their daughter's boyfriend. "So why should she stay in a place that is much more dangerous?"

"Your daughter is magical sir," Harry said his gaze steady on Hermione's father. "Though the dangers are greater, the ability she has to defend herself is also much greater."

"Zis is true sir," Fleur spoke up. "Your daughter with a wand in the magical world is more able to defend 'erself zan in your world without one."

Richard Granger let out a sigh as he looked at his daughter. "I can't protect you anymore can I princess? You have your castle and your prince," He looked at Harry who had moved to Hermione's side and put his arm around her waist. "She looks to you now," Mr. Granger shook his head a little, "You have to understand that when I look at you Harry, I see a young man who should be out playing football or lounging around watching the tele with a group of friends, not fighting real monsters in some medieval castle," He held out his hand to Harry. "Take care of my girl, Harry. If anything does happen to her, I will find you."

"We look to each other sir," Harry said taking Richard's hand. "She's already saved my life more than once. I will promise you this though; I will always do my best when it comes to protecting your daughter," Harry looked over at the Delacours who had been following the conversation "And your daughters as well. I can't promise their safety, only that any danger they face will have to come through me to get to them."

Hermione wrapped her arms around her father's neck. "Dad, I'm always going to be your daughter as long as you accept that I live in a different world sometimes."

Mrs. Granger took her daughter's hand. "So tell us about this troll."

"Do you remember my first few letters that I wasn't really happy? And then after Halloween I had met Harry?" Hermione started. "Well on Halloween night, I had been crying in a bathroom because a classmate had insulted me again. While in there a twelve foot tall monster shows up with a huge club and a boy with the most dazzling green eyes leaps out of nowhere onto the back of it…" and for the rest of the dinner the Grangers were told of all the adventures their daughter had gone through with Harry except the rescue of Sirius. The Delacours even brought out a copy of the newspaper article that showed Harry's picture riding on his broom against the dragon in the first event earlier in the year. By the end of dessert Mr. and Mrs. Granger were looking at Harry in an entirely different manner. They now understood what they saw lurking behind the innocence in his eyes.

After dinner was over and a final hug for their daughter, promises of letters, and seeing them in a few months for the summer, Professor Dumbledore created another portkey and transported the elder Grangers back to their house.

After the Grangers had left, Fleur turned to her father. "Papa, before you go, can we tell you something?"

"Of course."

"Sir," Harry started. "Are you familiar with Sirius Black?"

"Ze murderer who broke out of your Prison?" Mr. Delacour said. " 'E killed a lot of muggles and..." He hesitated.

"And supposedly betrayed my parents," Harry finished for him.

"Supposedly?"

"Yes sir," Harry replied. "Sirius is innocent. I met him last year, along with the person who really betrayed my parents and killed those people."

"We've seen it Papa," Gabrielle said. "Harry and Hermione both were there when Sirius confronted the real murderer. The other person, Peter Pettigrew confessed, but he escaped."

Mr. Delacour looked cautiously at Harry "And you wanted to tell me zis why?"