Taking a moment to compose myself, I rang the doorbell. The chime echoed faintly through the house before the door swung open. Hermione stood there first, her eyes wide with excitement, followed by a smiling Emma. Emma paused for a moment, taking in my appearance. I could almost see her mind racing.
"Hey Hermione, hello Emma. I hope I'm not too early," I said casually, though inside I was aware of the tension this meeting might bring.
"Hello Harry, you arrived just at the right time. Come in and make yourself comfortable," Hermione said, stepping aside.
"Thanks. I was excited to finally be able to talk to a friend," I replied with a small smile.
"That's very sweet of you, dear. Hermione has been up, waiting for you from 7 o'clock," Emma added warmly.
"MOM!!" she cried, half embarrassed, half exasperated.
"Hello Harry. How are you?" Daniel came downstairs, his voice steady but curious.
"Hello Dan, thank you for having me here," I said politely.
"So Harry, did you use the Knight Bus to arrive here?" Hermione asked, barely able to contain her excitement.
"Haha. Yes, Hermione, I hailed the Knight Bus. But I suggest you only keep it as your last option," I replied.
"Huh, why?" she asked, tilting her head.
"The ride is not exactly comfortable. Scratch that, it's very, very uncomfortable. The bus moves so fast that you'll be thrown around unless you hold onto something tightly. It's a scary and vomit-inducing experience," I explained matter-of-factly.
"But... but... that's very illogical," Hermione stammered.
I sighed softly, deciding it was time to drop the real bombshell. "Emma, Dan, Hermione… now I'm gonna say some things. Don't react before you've fully taken them in, okay?" I said seriously, letting my words hang in the air.
"What is it about?" Emma asked, her tone cautious.
I took a deep breath, pulling my mother's trunk from inside my pocket — it had been there all along without anyone noticing. Then I drew out three papers from another pocket and handed one to each of them.
"Please listen carefully. There is a magical vow written on these papers. It says that what I'm about to tell you must never be revealed to anyone in any way possible. Hermione just needs to hold her wand in front of her and speak the vow. For you two, I will personally assist, one at a time."
Emma and Dan stared at me intently while Hermione's face showed curiosity mixed with unease.
"Why do we need to do this?" Dan asked in a serious voice.
"For your safety. The wizarding world is not as safe as you think. You can't run away from it unless you decide to leave Hermione behind — which I know you won't. There are powerful beings out there who can read minds, force you to speak the truth, and even erase all your memories. This vow will make it possible for me to keep you safe."
"And why would you go to such lengths to save us? We barely know you," Dan pressed.
"I've seen glimpses of the future. That's all I can tell you before you take the vow. Trust me, Dan, Emma… I'm doing this for your own good. I have nothing to gain, except maybe a true friend."
I could almost sense the questions forming in their minds. Many might wonder why I cared so much. But after reading countless books, fanfics, and watching the movies of what this world could be, I knew the truth — Hermione's life was constantly at risk. She was muggle-born, Harry Potter's best friend, and that painted a huge target on her back.
She could have died countless times — troll, basilisk, dementors, werewolves, Pettigrew, the Triwizard tasks… the list was endless. And yet she stayed, choosing danger again and again. She wasn't perfect — bossy, stubborn, jealous — but she was fiercely loyal. That loyalty was her strength, and if she gave her complete faith in me, she could become far more powerful than she realized.
"Alright Harry, we agree. Just know we are putting our faith in you. Don't make us regret this," Emma said, taking a deep breath.
"You will thank yourselves for this decision, Emma." Without another word, they all took the vows.
"Now tell us, young man," Emma pressed.
"Not here," I said quietly, opening my mother's trunk and stepping down the ladders. "Follow me."
When we reached my office, I called out, "Alfred!!" startling them.
"Yes, sir?"
"Arrange a table and four chairs. And bring some snacks." Alfred obeyed instantly, completing the task in under two minutes.
"What was that, Harry?" Emma asked curiously.
"That, Emma, is my personal house-elf," I said with a faint smile. "Let's sit, then I'll explain everything."
They settled down while Hermione's eyes darted around the room, curiosity evident.
"Harry, please explain," she urged.
"Emma, when Professor McGonagall delivered your letter, did she mention that agreeing to join Hogwarts means you can't transfer to another school under ICW jurisdiction without special cause?"
Hermione's expression shifted to surprise. "There are other magic schools?"
"Yes," I said. "One in France, one in Bulgaria, Japan, America… few others."
"But Hogwarts is the best," Dan interjected.
"Perhaps once. But not anymore," I said bluntly. "There is more at stake than prestige."
"But just this will not warrant that vow, right? There's more to it… go ahead, tell us," Emma said shrewdly, leaning forward with her hands clasped.
"Today's magical world categorizes itself into three groups — pure-blood, half-blood, and muggle-borns. Like Hermione here is a muggle-born, and I'm a half-blood. There's rampant discrimination and bigotry in the magical world, so much so that muggle-borns are often treated like disposable objects. Employment opportunities are limited for them, they face constant humiliation, and even if they die, those in authority often dismiss it without investigation." I paused, watching their expressions harden.
"Did you ask McGonagall whether they would even inform you if something happened to Hermione? This is the reality for most of the magical population worldwide. Even in America, they distrust and dislike British wizards."
"What if we don't let her attend any school and make her a career in the non-magical world?" Dan asked grimly, his voice low and serious.
"They will not stop you. What they will do is snap her wand and wipe all your memories of anything related to magic. Magic is inherently chaotic. If it is not learned properly, it can take lives." I spoke plainly.
"Harry, you must have thought of some solutions, right? You just said that you are half-blood." Emma's voice trembled slightly, and Daniel instinctively held her hand.
"My situation is much more complicated, Emma. When I was one year old, a lunatic — but a very powerful dark wizard — attacked me and my parents with the intention to kill me. My parents died protecting me, and when that man tried to kill me, he himself died somehow, leaving me with this lightning bolt scar. I was then raised by my maternal aunt and uncle, who hate anything related to magic with a passion. I am also very famous in the magical world, known by the masses as Harry Potter — the Boy Who Lived." I let that sink in before continuing.
"Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts, is a man of many titles and immense power. He is known as the leader of the Light, but he has a penchant for sacrificing good people, manipulating masses, and forgiving the wicked — all for some perceived greater good. The dark wizard who killed my parents is not dead. There will be constant confrontations between Dumbledore and Voldemort, and I will be the target of both of their attention. Wherever I go, it will become a war zone."
"Then should we not just stay away from you? It will be better to be discriminated against than killed." Dan's tone was sharp, skeptical.
"Dan —" Emma and Hermione both interjected at once.
"Please, calm yourselves," I said firmly. "To answer your question, Dan: I called that man a lunatic for a reason. He wants to be the strongest, to rule the whole world, and his agenda is the elimination of muggle-borns and half-bloods. Do not think for even a moment that he will spare anyone. If he wins, he will systematically attack other magical civilizations. Then there is the statute of secrecy, which Voldemort will ignore entirely. That will lead to witch hunts far worse than anything we have seen — magicals captured, experimented on, even forced to breed."
"Please stop… Harry, just tell us our options. I know you have thought about this. Tell us. Please help us," Emma said, her voice pleading.
"Emma, after hearing everything, do you still think I'm a normal boy?" I let the words hang. Slowly, I could see their expressions shift as realization sank in.
"Dan, Emma — I am confident that I can face the whole world myself when the time comes. Both magical and non-magical. I am not boasting. I know the seriousness of this matter. And I can guarantee that all of you will be safe if you listen to me. I also promise I will keep Hermione safe and happy if she puts her complete faith in me." My voice grew softer but more determined.
"Or I have another option for you — let them wipe your memories and go hide in some other country. I'll tell you everything again, creating new memories. This way she will still be able to practice magic secretly. You would simply have to keep fleeing." I said sincerely, locking eyes with them.
"Harry, can you tell me what you saw in the future?" Hermione asked quietly, her voice barely audible.
Dan and Emma looked at me, expectant. I nodded.
"Alfred!"
"Sir!"
"Tell Bogrod to lend me a pensieve for a month."
While he went, I explained what a pensieve was. "Wizards can time travel up to five or six hours into the past, so beware before doing anything."
"Harry, if you don't mind me asking, who is this Bogrod?" Dan asked.
"Bogrod is a goblin, the account manager of my family vaults. Goblins are generally rude to humans, but I made them respect me. Don't expect them to treat you the same way."
Alfred returned. I placed memories from Harry Potter movies into the pensieve and invited them in.
The memories unfolded — my first meeting with Hermione on the Hogwarts Express, Halloween and saving her from the troll, petrified Hermione beside me as I revealed the Basilisk's truth, riding Buckbeak together, the Quidditch World Cup and Death Eater attack, the Triwizard Tournament, the Yule Ball… and finally Voldemort's resurrection.
They sat silently, processing everything.
"What happened after that, Harry?" Hermione asked softly.
"I don't know," I said carefully, lying. "This is all I saw. Maybe Voldemort killed me there. I have no idea." Silence enveloped the room.
After a long pause, Emma stood, approached me, and took my hand. Then she did something unexpected — she pulled me into a tight hug. My body froze in surprise.
"Thank you, Harry… thank you so much. Thank your future self for looking after Hermione, saving her life, and telling us everything. We saw how important Hermione is to you and how close you both are. Even if we die in between, we will die knowing she is safe," she said softly.
At first, I froze, unsure what to say. Then I relaxed. "It's what we do for our loved ones, Emma. Don't thank me for this."
"Dan, let Hermione follow Harry. He will protect her better. Even if we die, we'll die with honor," Emma said firmly.
"Emma, what are you saying? Don't rush this. We should take the other option," Dan countered.
"No, Dan. Your love for us is clouding your judgment. Can you guarantee Hermione's safety before Harry reminds us of everything? Do you really think you'd protect her better if something like witch hunt really starts?" Emma's voice was steady, unwavering.
Dan faltered. Hermione looked at me and said softly, "I agree with Mom. In those visions, Harry always protected me. I'm not going to run away. I'll stand with him."
Her words brought a faint smile to my face. "Thanks, Hermione." She shyly looked away, and Emma chuckled softly.
At last, Daniel nodded, the decision made.
____________
A/N: This single chapter is nearly 2000 words long.
For those who doubt my judgement of telling Grangers all those things, just know that Hermione Granger will be Harry's biggest and most loyal supporter during the whole book.