The Hidden Hero

“You’re going to have to stop doing such amazing heroics, Harry, if you don’t want to be in the paper so often,” advised Hermione.

Hermione had just finished reading the Daily Prophet’s article recounting Harry’s rescue of Nathaniel Thorpe and Bellatrix Lestrange’s death yesterday.

Harry ignored her. He gave a small wave to Nathaniel, who was waving at him from the Hufflepuff table. While the students eagerly devoured the story in the Daily Prophet, they had already heard about yesterday’s events from Nathaniel himself. Harry was relieved that the younger boy had the sense to keep some matters private; Nathaniel hadn’t shared with anyone Harry’s confession about the memory he had been forced to relive in the cave.

Ron took a bite of toast and, speaking with his mouth full, asked, “Do you want to practice some Quidditch today? The weather’s going to be nice.”

Harry looked glum. “Can’t. Have detention.”

“Detention? Since when? How come?”

“Since last night. Once Snape was sure that the potion I drank wasn’t going to have any lasting effects on me, he decided I needed to be taught a lesson. He gave me two weeks’ worth of detention. If it’s anything like last time, I’ll be washing cauldrons without magic.”

“What a git!” uttered Ron loyally.

“Ron!” scolded Hermione. But she turned to Harry and asked, “But, why is Snape giving you detention? I don’t understand.”

“He said that I left Hogsmeade yesterday knowing that he wouldn’t have wanted me to go. He said that I have to stop acting without thinking. In his words, ‘You need some more Slytherin in you, Potter. You are entirely too Gryffindor and I will break you of this habit, before it kills you.’”

“What did he want you to do?” asked Ron. “Let Thorpe die?”

“No. He said that I’m not the only one in the world who can save people. He said that Dumbledore would have been able to rescue Thorpe if I had just told Dumbledore where the cave was.”

“Oh,” said Ron.

Harry continued. “Anyway, Snape says that at least when I’m in detention, he knows where I am. He told me that if something like this happens again, I’ll be in detention until the indenture is over.”

Hermione looked sympathetic but Ron just tsked. “Well, that’s no worry, then. How likely is it that a crazy Death Eater will escape from Azkaban and try to kill you?”

There was a silence for a minute and then Ron said, “Actually, Harry, maybe you had better slow down and think next time.”

Harry just grinned.

*

The school term drew to a close. Harry did well on his exams. In some, like Transfiguration, he was so advanced that the test was just a formality. Draco’s exam was the hardest. Harry couldn’t believe how much there was to learn about wizarding rules and protocol. In addition to the written exam, Draco forced Harry to attend a formal dinner meeting. It was torture but Harry acquitted himself well enough for Draco to award him an “A” – Acceptable.

Sadly, Harry waved goodbye to his friends for the summer. He resigned himself to a boring summer. He would be staying at Hogwarts for another week, although the school was empty of students. Then, he would be accompanying Snape to the potion master’s home for the summer. Snape had already made clear that he expected Harry to keep up with his studies during the summer.

Harry had made Ron laugh by swearing that he would prefer to return to cleaning tables in the muggle restaurant where he had spent his teenage summers.

Despite Harry’s trepidation, the summer was not too boring after all. Snape dragged Harry with him as he collected his potion ingredients throughout the summer. These trips were usually very interesting, as the ingredients Snape sought were not found in Diagon Alley. Rather, they wandered through some seedy parts of Knockturn Alley and even visited some dark alleys in Bulgaria and Albania.

One night in mid summer, he and Snape attended a formal party at the Ministry. Harry had not realized it was a birthday party to celebrate his turning seventeen until after he had arrived. Harry’s eyes goggled as he took in the birthday decorations. “Happy Birthday, Harry!” banners hung down the walls.

Of course, Scrimgeour and Dumbledore were there. But, so were a number of Harry’s friends who came from wizarding families, such as Ron, Neville and Draco. “Wow!” breathed Harry, looking around in delight.

“It’s not every day the savior of the wizarding world comes of age,” drawled Draco.

Harry rolled his eyes. “I bet you had a fancy party too, Draco.”

Draco looked surprised as he said matter-of-factly, “Of course I did.”

Harry hid his smile. Draco’s arrogance was amusing when it wasn’t so irritating.

When Dumbledore handed Harry a gaily wrapped present, Harry was taken aback. He had never considered that he might receive gifts for his birthday. He had never received birthday gifts before.

He wasn’t sure he wanted to accept any present from Dumbledore. But, the wrapping was so pretty, he couldn’t bear to refuse the gift. Harry turned the package over in his hands, wishing he didn’t have to disturb the wrapping. Finally, he carefully opened the present and took out the pair of socks inside. They were black with little red snitches flying around. They were kind of cool, Harry thought to himself. “Thank you,” he said politely.

“You are welcome, Harry,” Dumbledore smiled. Watching the teen, Dumbledore wished that he could have given him a far fancier present. The boy deserved it. But, the headmaster knew that Harry would not be willing to accept an expensive gift from him. It would have seemed too much like bribery – as if the headmaster were trying to buy Harry’s forgiveness. Dumbledore sighed internally. If only it were that easy.

Soon the boy had unwrapped a pile of gifts, ranging from the expensive crystal set given by the Malfoys, and the jewel encrusted medal of Merlin given by the Minister, to the more modest broom-servicing kit from the Weasleys and the subscription to Quidditch for the Serious Fan from the Longbottoms. While Harry thanked everyone politely, Dumbledore suspected that he preferred the less expensive, but more thoughtful, gifts given by Ron and Neville.

Everyone was curious to see what Professor Snape had given the boy. When Harry opened the package and took out a small bottle, he wasn’t sure what it was. “Thank you, sir,” he said courteously.

“It’s a memory, Potter,” explained Snape. “You will need a pensieve to view it. I am sure that the headmaster will let you borrow his if you ask politely.”

“Oh. Thank you, sir,” repeated Harry, still unsure about the gift.

“What memory is it, sir?” asked Ron.

Snape looked like he would prefer not to answer but, with all eyes on him, he grudgingly said, “It’s a memory of Harry’s mother.”

“What?” breathed Harry. He looked back at the bottle, this time eyeing it as if it were gold.

“You know that I knew your mother as a child, Potter. I have selected this memory of her for you to see. I believe you will find it enjoyable and I believe Lily would be pleased that I have shared it with you.”

“Thank you, sir,” repeated Harry. This time his voice rang with sincerity.

Snape inclined his head graciously.

“That was generous, Severus,” said Dumbledore, when they were able to exchange some words alone.

“Surprised you, have I?” said Snape with a bite in his voice.

“A bit,” admitted Dumbledore. “You appear to have become fond of the boy.”

“I have not,” the potions master lied. “It’s unfortunate that he looks so much like his father. Still, it is Lily’s spirit and heart that I see shining from the boy. There are times he looks at me with her eyes and I swear it’s her looking at me. While I may not like the boy, I am sure that Lily is pleased that I am watching over him.”

Dumbledore smiled at Snape’s determined refusal to admit he cared for the boy. He turned the subject, saying, “Harry seems happy today.”

“The medical treatments are starting to have an effect. He is not as burdened with memories as he was and he is usually able to sleep without nightmares.”

“It will be interesting to see how he manages his final year at Hogwarts. Let’s see if he can avoid finding trouble.”

“I’ll be keeping a close eye on him,” promised Snape. “Just because he’s of age doesn’t mean that he’ll be permitted to run wild. He is far too impulsive and headstrong.” He cast a sideways look at the headmaster. “The Gryffindor in him, no doubt.”

Dumbledore smiled. The men continued to watch Harry, pleased that the boy was enjoying himself.

The headmaster mused aloud, “One more year. In a year’s time, the indenture will be over. What will he do then?”

“What do you mean?”

“I sometimes wonder whether he’ll return to the muggle world.”

Snape cast an alarmed look at Dumbledore. “You can’t be serious!”

“It’s hard to know what the boy will do,” admitted Dumbledore. At least, he won’t be suffering from depression if he does elect to leave us this time.”

“Dumbledore! He can’t leave the wizarding world! That can’t be permitted.”
Dumbledore looked at Snape in surprise. “Once he is no longer bound by the indenture, we could not prevent him. But, there is no reason to look concerned, Severus. Harry may very well decide to stay. Anyway, I didn’t think you’d care.”

“I don’t!” said Snape, hastily. “It’s just that Scrimgeour was right. Harry belongs to this world. He shouldn’t be living among muggles.”

“It’ll be his choice,” said Dumbledore softly.

Looking dissatisfied, Snape gazed back at the boy. Was it really possible that Harry might leave the wizarding world? “Lily wouldn’t want him to leave our world,” he pointed out.

“Is it Lily who wouldn’t want him to leave or you, Severus?”

Snape glared at the headmaster and turned away, refusing to answer.

*

The Daily Prophet article the next day caused Harry to want to hide under his bed in embarrassment. Under a picture of him holding a goblet of pumpkin juice that had been deliberately tinted by the paper to look like firewhisky, ran the headline, “Wizard’s Most Eligible Bachelor Turns of Age”. The article went on to describe Harry’s birthday party in detail. A number of guests at the party had been happy to give interviews and describe everything Harry had said and done. Scrimgeour himself was quoted extensively. He had wanted to show the wizarding world that Harry was happy and doing well.

However, the part that made Harry want to curl up in shame was being named as the most eligible bachelor in the wizarding world and the blatant speculation as to whether he had a girlfriend.

When Snape entered the room and asked Harry if he wished to accompany him to Diagon Alley, Harry lifted miserable eyes and announced that he would sooner die.

Startled, Snape asked in shock, “What’s the matter?”

“Did you read the paper today?”

“Yes,” admitted Snape.

“Did you see what they said about me?”

Snape rolled his eyes. “Are you telling me that you are embarrassed because of some ridiculous article in the paper?”

“They said I was the most eligible bachelor! They listed me as the sexiest wizard in the U.K.! How am I ever going to face my friends again?”

“I guess now would not be the time to tell you that I had planned to have us meet up with Draco for lunch.”

“Draco! Never! Can you imagine what he’ll say to me about this article! I am never leaving this house!”

“If Draco says anything to you, it would be sour grapes. He was named the most eligible bachelor when he turned seventeen.”

“Really?” Harry felt marginally better. “How about sexiest wizard?” he asked hopefully.

“Maybe not. Why don’t you ask him?”

Harry looked at Snape suspiciously. “Are you making fun of me?” he demanded.

Snape narrowed his eyes. “Am I known for my sense of humor?” he asked.

“No,” admitted Harry. But, it wasn’t until later, when he replayed the conversation in his head, that he realized that Snape hadn’t answered his question.

*

Harry relented and joined Snape in Diagon Alley later that day. He wore a hooded cape but a number of people guessed who he was anyway. He thanked people for their birthday wishes and pretended to find it amusing (rather than completing mortifying) when they teased him over being named most eligible bachelor and sexiest wizard.

After yet another such encounter, Harry muttered, “Why couldn’t I be invisible?”

Snape took the question seriously. “Actually, Harry, you could be. Why not use a glamour charm, as you did with ‘Mark Twist’? No one would need to know who you are.”

“No!” said Harry definitively. “I promised myself that I will never do that again. I am who I am, like it or not. I am not going to pretend to be someone else ever again. Voldemort stole too much from me. I won’t let him steal my identity.”

The potions master had not realized until then how bitter Harry was to have had to live his life incognito for so many years. Snape nodded in understanding. Just then, they were hailed by Draco, who was sitting at an outdoor table waiting for them to arrive.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the wizarding world’s most eligible bachelor!” he called.

Harry turned red and turned to Snape. “You see! What did I tell you!”

He strode over to the table and angrily grabbed a chair to sit down. “Don’t start!” he warned Draco. “I am now seventeen and able to use magic. I swear I won’t hesitate to use it if you piss me off!”

Draco put on an innocent face. “My! Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed. What did I say? Was it my comment that you are the most eligible bachelor? Should I have said that you were the sexiest wizard instead? I apologize.”

Harry bared his teeth and growled.

“Enough!” said Snape. The two subsided but Harry felt that Draco’s smirk was still taunting him. Under the table, he stomped on Draco’s foot. (Snape’s command was not sufficiently clear to cause the indenture to stop him.)

“I saw that, Potter!” said Snape. “I said ‘enough’. When we return home, you will write 100 times that you are the most eligible bachelor in the wizarding world.”

“Sir!” Harry gasped, betrayed.

“If you continue to disobey me, you will write 100 times that you are the sexiest wizard.”

Harry’s mouth dropped open. Draco snickered. “Mr. Malfoy,” cautioned Snape. “I would hate to have to inform your father that you were not a gracious guest.”

Draco immediately sobered. “I am sorry, sir.”

This time, Harry smirked.

The rest of the lunch passed amicably enough. Just as they were getting ready to leave, Snape was greeted by a man who Harry didn’t know. Apparently, the gentleman, Edgar Tiles, knew Snape from their mutual interest in brewing potions. Edgar shook Harry’s hand eagerly when introduced.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the man said, “I know it’s a bit of an imposition, but would you mind saying hello to my little girl?” He gestured toward a child standing impatiently across the street. The girl looked to be about five years’ old and her mother was holding her hand firmly to prevent the child from darting across the road toward them. “She’s a real fan of yours, Harry, and it would mean a lot to her if you would say hi.”

Harry nodded, although he wasn’t too pleased. He was all too aware of Draco listening and knew that the other boy would be gathering up ammunition to tease him later. At Edgar’s signal, the woman leaned over and spoke to the little girl. She must have told the child that Harry had agreed to meet her because the kid immediately starting bouncing up and down on her feet, and pulling impatiently at her mother’s hand. The child half-dragged her mother across the street.

When they reached Harry, the woman politely shook his hand and thanked him for agreeing to meet them. Harry thought that, at least, this family was far more polite than most. They asked his permission before just trying to accost him. Crouching down, Harry smiled at the little girl, who had become suddenly shy.

“Hello,” he said softly. The child buried her face in her mother’s robes. “What’s your name?” he asked.

A muffled response followed. Harry looked up at the father, who obediently repeated, “Gloria.”

“Hello, Gloria,” Harry said. “I understand you wanted to say hello. Please don’t be shy. I promise not to eat you.”

The little girl giggled and pulled her head out of her mother’s robes. “I know you won’t eat me, silly!” she said. “You’re Harry Potter. You protect people. You would save me from anyone trying to eat me.”

Harry blushed but he nodded. “Yes, I would,” he admitted.

The mother nudged the child to say hello. Harry held out his hand, but the child ignored it. Instead, in a rush, she flung herself at Harry, almost knocking him over. Her thin arms wrapped themselves around his neck and she hugged him tightly. She gave him a wet, noisy buss on the cheek. “Happy birthday, Harry!” she said, stepping away.

Harry lifted a hand to his cheek. His eyes shone. “Gloria,” he said. “You know that they say you always remember your first kiss. I will always remember you.”

Harry didn’t notice the adults exchanging surprised looks. Harry’s first kiss?

The little girl whispered something. Harry leaned forward and asked, “What was that?”

She moved closer and whispered in his ear. “Will you marry me?”

Harry let out an involuntary laugh that he tried to disguise as a cough. “Don’t you think you’re a little young?” he asked.

“But they say that you are an ‘ele gerbel bat ler’ now!” she wailed. “If I wait, someone else will marry you!”

Harry blushed. “Don’t worry,” said Harry. “Only the luckiest man will marry you.”

She flung herself at him to hug him again. Harry’s arms tightened instinctively on the child, holding her close. She was so soft and sweet smelling. Her hug was like phoenix song. The most wonderful glow seemed to start in the pit of his stomach and spread a warm trail throughout his body. When the child stepped back, Harry reluctantly released her. His arms felt empty.

“Thank you, Harry,” said the mother gratefully.

“The pleasure was all mine,” said the boy, his voice thick with emotion.

When the family left, and Snape had stepped away for a moment to pay for their lunch, Draco eyed Harry assessingly. “Your first kiss, Potter?”

Harry stiffened. Was Draco going to tease him? Hunching his shoulders defensively, Harry said, “It’s not as if I had a happy home life! No parents around to kiss my boo-boos!”

“I guess I never really thought about what that meant,” Draco admitted. His usual mocking tone was missing from his voice. “You really did have a crap life, didn’t you? Even apart from You Know Who.”

Harry snorted. “Yeah! I know.”

Snape returned and the boys made their way to Flourish and Blotts, where Harry picked up some more books to read over the summer break. Harry would have been alarmed if he had known what Draco was thinking.

Draco had been raised by a doting mother. While Lucius Malfoy was demanding and difficult to please, Draco had never doubted that he was loved by his father. It came as a shock to realize that Harry Potter, the Golden Boy, for all that the wizarding world fawned all over him, had no one to give him loving attention.

Draco came to a decision. He knew what Harry needed. It was clear that the Boy Who Lived needed a girlfriend. He, Draco, would keep an eye out, and take a look at the possible choices for Harry. The other boy might have made the sexiest wizard list but Draco was sure that Harry was inexperienced when it came to the opposite sex.

Harry was blithely unaware of Draco’s plans for him. He enjoyed a pleasant half hour wandering through the store. He even permitted himself to splurge on a beautifully bound book of charms as a birthday gift to himself.

As they left the store, Harry saw Fred and George Weasley in the distance. Leaving Draco and Snape to meet him at Madam Malkin’s, where Draco wanted to view fabric for some new robes, Harry ran over to greet the twins. He had not seen them since their ill-fated attempt to rescue him from prison. “Fred! George!” he called excitedly.

The twins grinned widely when they saw him. “Harry!” they called happily, and slapped him on the back in greeting. “It’s great to see you! You kicked butt, big time, Harry! We know everyone tells you, but we need to say it too. Thanks for killing the evil dude!” said Fred.

“We can’t believe we knew you when you were just lowly ‘Mark Twist,’ pariah,” commented George.

“You may be famous Harry Potter now but you’re still scrawny,” observed Fred.

Harry grinned at the teasing. “What are you doing here?” he asked.

“We’re looking for premises for Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes,” explained George. “It’s a joke shop that we want to open.”

“I remember. Ron mentioned months ago that you wanted to open a joke store.”

Fred and George nodded. “We’ve been working at Gringott’s on a temporary basis to earn some money,” said Fred. “We’ve got some money saved and we were hoping it would be enough to rent a shop above Eeylops Owl Emporium.”

“But,” said George bitterly, “the landlord wants a security deposit in addition to the first month’s rent in advance. He seems to think that there’s a risk that we might damage the shop. Can you believe?”

Harry could well believe. Fred and George’s inventions often involved explosions of varying degrees of strength. He made a noncommittal sound.

“Anyway, we’ll have to save a bit more in order to afford a deposit.”

“It’s not the greatest location,” admitted Fred. “We’ll have to start small. But, we’re sure that we’ll be able to grow quickly once we get started.”

Harry looked around to make sure that they couldn’t be overheard. “I’ve got a great idea! I can lend you the money to start the shop!”

“What do you mean?” demanded Fred.

“I just turned seventeen.”

“Yeah. We heard,” said George. He and Fred exchanged smiles.

“Don’t start!” cautioned Harry, knowing what they were going to say. He continued quickly, to forestall the teasing, “I’m in charge of my finances now. Or, at least, most of the principal. I think some of it might be tied up in trusts until I’m 25. Anyway, I could make you a loan of the money to start the joke shop. You can repay me from the profits.”

Fred and George stopped smiling. They looked very earnest now. “Are you serious, Harry?” they asked in unison.

Harry nodded. Then, he looked around again to doublecheck that no one was listening. “Let’s not tell Snape though. I’m not sure he’d agree with this.”

“Can you do this without his permission?” asked Fred.

“I’ll just send instructions directly to Gringotts. Snape hasn’t chosen to exercise any control over my finances. He could tell me not to invest in the shop if he wanted to. You know, because of the indenture. But, what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him!”

Fred and George let out a loud whoop. “This is phenomenal, Harry! Let’s go right in and rent the place.”

“Wait!” said Harry. The twins stopped and looked worried that their dream was about to be dashed before it had even begun. “That’s not the place for you,” scorned Harry. “If I’m going to bankroll this project, I want it to be a success. You’ve got to spend money to make money! When Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes opens, it needs to be in a premier location in Diagon Alley. It needs to be visible and attract plenty of foot traffic.”

George looked at Harry consideringly, “You sound like you know something about business strategy.”

“Draco’s lessons are coming in handy.”

“Draco? Draco Malfoy? He’s been teaching you?”

“Well, he considers it his responsibility to single-handedly teach me how to take my rightful place as head of one of the oldest wizarding families.” Harry rolled his eyes. “This has involved learning some financial planning. It’s pretty boring.”

Fred shrugged. “You might think it’s boring, but it appears to be sinking in. Although I’m not sure any financial advisor would recommend your investing in us.”

“I don’t know why not. I have every faith that you will do well. I already know from first hand experience that you are both very skilled wizards and that your talents lie in the making people laugh.”

The twins looked more excited by the moment. “Harry, are you really sure?”

Harry nodded. “About this? Completely sure! The world needs more jokes.”