The Captain's Son

In the Summer before what should be Harry's 7th year, he is overcome by several changes. How will this influence the outcome of the war, and what discoveries will be made because of it? Also, how will Harry deal with realising that his feelings for Hermione may be something more than friendship? [HHr]

Chapter 1 - Summer Changes

Harry didn’t understand what was happening to him.

Ever since Dumbledore’s death he’d been feeling… strange, as if something within him was unbalanced.

On top of that, his physical appearance had changed as well.

Since his return to the Dursleys’ three weeks previously, he had shot up several inches in height, standing at just over six feet. Harry had also gained visible muscle-mass, and his hair had lightened considerably - becoming a sandy-brown with the barest hints of amber - but it was still just as unmanageable as ever. His eyesight had also improved so much that he was able to get rid of his glasses.

All-in-all, he looked completely different to the boy who had left Kings Cross at the end of June. Harry thought, in fact, that his friends would barely recognise him, apart from his emerald eyes and lightning-bolt scar, both of which had stayed the same. He hardly recognised himself.

Aside from that, Harry had also recently had problems controlling his own strength. A few days previously, he’d been washing the dishes when one suddenly shattered in his grasp. Aunt Petunia, of course, hadn’t cared about the blood that had begun to seep from his hand where the porcelain had cut it. Instead, she started shrieking shrilly, and Harry had winced at the high-pitched tone. Then, Uncle Vernon had come barging in and glared at him, his face turning a putrid purple as he surveyed the sight of the mess and blood that Harry had caused. He stepped forward so that there was barely an inch between himself and his nephew, and they glared at each other. It was then, however, that the older man realised that Harry now loomed over him by several inches, looking down at him with eyes blazing in fury - for while Vernon had considerable mass, he lacked the height to match - and he slowly backed away, anger giving way to fear. Vernon knew that the boy’s birthday was only a few days away, the one that he had been dreading, because the boy would be able to use magic without getting into trouble for it.  He only hoped that those freak friends of his would collect him before then.

That particular incident wasn’t isolated, unfortunately. Harry had also managed to dent his door-handle, break his window when it had gotten jammed and he’d tried to open it, and send the weeds flying as he pulled them out.

Harry had also discovered that he had increased speed, agility and stamina. He’d found that out the hard way, when Dudley and his gang had resumed their game of ‘Harry Hunting’, despite the fact that their prey was now larger than they were. They’d begun the chase in the park nearby, and Harry had been grateful that he’d worn trainers that day. As soon as he’d seen them running towards him, he’d taken off, dodging people, trash cans and various other items along the way. Before he knew it, he'd reached the alleyway he usually hid in half a mile away, amazed that he’d hardly even broken a sweat and gotten away so quickly.

'Just what exactly,' he wondered, 'is happening to me?'

…::-::…

Meanwhile, Hermione was busy staring out of her window absent-mindedly, immersed in thought.

She'd recently come to realise that her feelings for Harry weren't purely platonic. She thought, looking back, that they hadn't been for quite some time, since about third year, but she'd just been too blind to see it. She'd also come to understand that her feelings for Ron were nothing more than teenage lust. She loved him like a brother, and the idea of them together romantically just did not sit well in her head anymore.

Unfortunately, Hermione knew that Harry didn't love her the same way she loved him. He loved Ginny, and had only broken up with her to protect her from Voldemort.

Hermione would just have to learn to suppress her feelings for Harry.

She hoped she'd work it out before she next saw him.

Sighing wistfully, she wondered what Harry himself was doing at that moment…

…::-::…

Harry, at that moment, had managed to sneak back inside Privet Drive and was busy sitting on his bed, staring at his hands, deep in thought.

He knew that whatever was happening to him wasn’t normal, not even for a wizard. No one he knew had just suddenly changed their appearance so suddenly. Something was wrong

And, as usual when something was wrong, Harry decided to write to Hermione.

…::-::…

Dear Hermione

How’s your summer going? I hope you’re having a good time, even with the threat of Tom looming over us.

Listen, if you’ve decided to back out of coming with me on my mission, I wouldn’t love you any less. If you’d prefer to stay at Hogwarts, that’s fine by me. At least I’d know you’re safe.

Besides that, though, I need your help. If you could possibly meet up with me in the next few days, that would be great. There’s something I’d like to speak with you about, and I’d prefer to talk face-to-face. If you can, please phone the number I gave you last month and let me know where. It’s more secure than a letter, and I’d prefer not to be ambushed.

Hoping to see you soon, whatever you decide.

Love

Harry

…::-::…

Hermione stared at the letter from Harry, reading it carefully before grabbing her cell phone and quickly dialling the number he had given her.

She held her breath as the phone rang, before someone on the other end answered it.

“Hermione?” Harry’s voice came over the line and she breathed out.

“Harry James Potter!” She cried, “How dare you even try to suggest I would leave you to go on the Horcrux hunt alone!?”

“I’m sorry, I just thought you’d be -”

“I’d be what?” She demanded, “Safer? You do realise that the current headmaster is Snape, right? The man who killed Albus Dumbledore?!”

There was silence on the other end.

Hermione sighed, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have shouted. Now, where do you want to meet with me?”

“I’m not sure,” Harry admitted, sounding sheepish, “I was hoping you had some suggestions?”

Hermione thought for a minute, “Well, if you’re able to travel, there’s a small café not far from where I live. Would that be alright?”

“Sure,” her friend replied, “Should we say 10 o’clock tomorrow? Just send me the address and I’ll find my way there.”

“That’s fine,” she replied, smiling, “I’ll see you then.”

“And, ‘Mione?” Harry said, “Thanks.”

He ended the call with a click.

Hermione smiled, shaking her head.

‘That boy,’ she thought.

…::-::…

The next morning, Harry collected the few pounds he’d had converted from Galleons the year previously and caught the train to Hampstead.

He arrived shortly before ten, and walked the few blocks to where Hermione had explained the café was. He smiled when he found her already sitting there, scratching around for something in her handbag.

He strode forward and pulled out the chair opposite her.

“Morning, Hermione.”

She looked up abruptly as he spoke, and her eyes bugged out as she caught sight of him.

“Harry?” she asked incredulously, “You look -”

“Yeah, I know,” he interrupted, “That’s what I need your help with.”

She looked surprised, but leaned forwards and listened attentively as Harry explained what had happened to him that summer, up to her phone call the previous day.

As he was talking, Hermione studied his new features, trying to work out where she had seen them before. Then it hit her. If you changed his eyes to blue and lightened his hair a bit, then he looked…

‘It can’t be…’

“… and so I was wondering if you’d help me research it. To see exactly what’s happening to me and help me understand it.” He smiled at her, “‘Cause if anyone could work it out, it’s you, ‘Mione.”

She smiled back at him, her mind whirring beneath her expression, “I appreciate your trust in me, Harry.”

They sat in silence for a few minutes, before Hermione spoke up again.

“Harry?”

“Yes?”

“You look like Captain America.”

“Who?”

Hermione rolled her eyes, “Captain America, Steve Rogers? Didn’t you pay attention to your History lessons in Primary School?”

“I was trying to avoid Dudley’s spit balls hitting me so, no, not really.”

She sighed again, “Captain America, or Steve Rogers - his real name - was a war hero presumed to be killed in action in 1945. He sacrificed himself, crashing a plane into the middle of the Arctic to prevent civilian deaths. The plane was discovered just a few months ago, and they found him still frozen inside it. You see, he’d been the test subject of an experiment. Rogers was given what was known as the ‘Super Soldier Serum’, which gave him superhuman strength, speed and agility, as well as endurance. So, when they found and, well, defrosted him, he woke up again, the same age he’d been when he crashed, except almost 70 years in the future.”

Harry gaped at her.

“Why the hell,” he asked, “would I look like a war hero who’s been presumed dead for 70 years?”

Hermione shrugged, “I guess that’s what we’ll have to find out.”