The Importance of Intent: After the Credits

Avengers: Endgame - Part 3

A warm smile broke out on Harry's face and as much as she wanted to be annoyed it had the opposite affect...annoying her in an entirely different way. He took over the conversation.

"You said that generations of your family have spent loads of time and money looking for a cure and donating to charities to make amends, right?" At her nod he continued.

"Do you remember how I explained the security Dumbledore used on the Mirror of Erised to protect the stone?" he asked.

"The only way you could get the stone would be if you didn't want to use it," she answered, not quite sure where this was going.

"Why did the people your family worked with try to help?" he continued.

"Because they were the experts in their field and we paid them accordingly," she answered, now starting to become annoyed with Harry's obtuseness.

"And why has your family donated so much to charity over the years?" he plowed on.

"Because it was the right thing to do to make amends," she answered, instantly causing Harry's eyebrows to rise. She reluctantly gave the real answer.

"Because we were advised by the experts that it could possibly help offset the atrocities that caused the curse."

Hermione resumed the questioning...now in a much gentler tone. "When you agreed to help Harry were you doing it to make amends for the curse?"

"Of course not," she exclaimed.

"Come on," Harry coaxed. "You're telling me there wasn't a little thought in the back of your mind that helping me might help cure your sister?"

"No!" she nearly shouted. "If I had been thinking about that my spell never would have worked."

She gasped in realization.

"Exactly!" Hermione exclaimed. "You and Harry did this amazing thing for all of us simply because it was the right thing to do. Whatever your ancestors did to allow for such a curse it would have to have be horrific and unjustifiable. I think the only way your family could make amends is to help others honestly with no expectations. In helping Harry and all of us I think you and your parents have done that. But that's just a part of it. Other people have to recognize it as well."

"Other people?" she asked dumbly.

"I'm not doing this to be paid...I'm not doing it for recognition...I'm not doing it because I find it interesting. Well I do find it interesting but that's beside the point. I'm doing it for you and your family. And I'm not the only one."

A million thoughts were swirling in Daphne's mind as the hope she had held at bay had pushed its way to the forefront after many years. "What do you mean you're not the only one?" she asked.

"Ron's brother is a curse breaker for Gringotts. Your parents gave us permission to speak to him about your sister's condition and he immediately offered to help in any way he could...weekends...late nights after work...free of charge. He spoke to some of his colleagues about Astoria's condition and they want to help as well," Hermione explained.

"Why? I don't understand," Daphne asked. It was becoming too much.

"You saved them, Daphne," Hermione stated simply. "You and Harry saved all of us. I've spoken with the Hogwarts staff and they've promised to give me all the time I need if I have questions I think they could help with. They have many connections with other schools and said they could reach out to any specific experts we thought could help...that they would call in every favor they had to make it happen."

Everything they were saying reminded her about the random leaps of logic and theoretical assumptions that had invigorated her when creating Harry's spell and she desperately wanted to believe them. She suddenly realized that she had embedded herself into Harry's side.

"There's more," he said warmly, giving her shoulder a squeeze.

Of course there was. Harry Potter was involved and whenever Harry was involved there was always more. Always.

"Hermione thinks the biggest remaining roadblock will be learning what specifically your ancestor had done to warrant such a curse," Harry continued. "We happen to have something that will allow us to go straight to the source."

"The Resurrection Stone," she blurted as another piece of the puzzle snapped into place.

"Your parents said that the specific person responsible and what they had done was lost over time. I've begun doing some research on your lineage and Madam Pince has been really helpful in reaching out for some older texts. Ilvermorny has a few promising things they will be sending for us to borrow next week and-"

"You're starting to ramble, Hermione," Harry interrupted calmly, "keep going."

"Right...sorry...we can get into the details later," Hermione corrected before moving on to the next point. She took a deep breath before continuing.

"So once we finish the research, use the stone, and come up with the countercurse, we then have maybe the most powerful wizard alive...the owner of the most powerful wand ever created...whose life you've positively impacted more than anyone else...who can cast the spell."

"So that means you can't dump me," Harry said softly into her ear as she continued to process all she had learned over the last thirty minutes.

She laughed at the absurdity of it all. "You are such an idiot," she muttered as she stood and quickly made her way to Hermione, pulling her into a fierce hug.

"Thank you," Daphne whispered as she felt Harry begin rubbing her back and tears started to fall. "Let's do it."