Chapter Text
1. The boy meets a girl
The boy was tired from a long day of cleaning and gardening. He got very little food again, almost, but today was a lucky day. There has been a new neighbor moved to the big house - other neighbors called it "the manor" - and the kind family stopped by every single house in Private Drive and Wisteria Walk and did a round of greetings.
The boy was not called upon to greet them at the door like Dudley did, but while they were at Dursley's door, a girl from that family found him at the garden and shared her snacks with him! The snacks were so good, the boy never seen or tasted something like those before. He was worried Aunt Petunia would notice him not working and having snacks, but the girl said she could do magic and no one would see them - it was true! The boy was eating cakes and drinking milk and Dudley did not notice them at all! That was amazing. The girl said a lot of things but the boy does not remember much, he was just too happy to have such wonderful treats and did not get punished at all.
Later, when everyone was gone and it was time to get back to house, he saw the weeding he was told to do was all done and his hands and clothes were clean. He believed the girl did magic. It was a wonderful day.
2. The girl meets an unexpected supporter
Hermione cursed her tiny body and tiny power. She could manage mild compulsion, a faint confundus and very short-lasting notice-me-not charm. It was so frustrating - Harry is being abused by his relatives everyday and she could not save him for four-freaking-years! Damn her baby body. Damn her tiny muggle social circle which gives no access to a wand. Damn the principle of time travel of not changing "what it has been".
She just cried her baby eyes out after meeting Harry for the first time in this world. Harry was skinny, had numerous scratches in his hands and arms, and did not know his own name. Hermione did her best not to scare him away - she was smiling, soft-spoken and offered him FOOD - which nearly made her cry right there in front of him when she saw how obvious it was he has never eaten anything good until then.
A loud pop noise startled her out of her funk.
"You is saying the truth."
A very old female elf - almost older than Kreacher - declared primely.
Hermione blinked her puffy post-bawl eyes.
"Wha..? who..?"
"I is Glazy. I is the last elf of House Potter. You called us. Glazy found out you is not lying."
Hermione could so hug the life out of this elf. She has forgotten the wild call she made when she visited Godric's Hollow a few months ago - when she managed to persuade her parents to indulge her, after getting all horse racing results right (her parents doesn't allow her to "guess the racing result" or buy a lottery ticket any longer, but it was the day before her mother's 40th birthday and an exceptionally fine spring day - also the day she managed her first wandless compulsion charm on her father.) She was so hopeless, so desperate to find a way to help Harry, she had just spoken to empty space at the ruin of Potter's cottage.
- "Elf, please, is there an elf who worked for the Potters? Any magical beings who wants to help the Potters? Please help Harry Potter, please help me to help Harry Potter!"
Oh thank God, (Hermione still thank God not Merlin, thank you very much) it had worked!
But, safety first.
Five-years-old Hermione Granger put her small hands on her hips.
"How do I know you are a Potter elf? what if you serve an enemy of Potters but just pretending to be a Potter elf?"
The old elf glared her fiercely.
"Glazy is loyal elf of House Potter. I is going to help yous to help master Harry, I is swearing so, so mote be."
A bright swirl of light appeared around Glazy and Hermione. It was obviously a magical oath.
Hermione did hug the elf, then.
"Oh, I am so very happy to meet you, Glazy! You can't imagine how much relieved I am! I wanted to help Harry but my body is so small, and my magic is too weak, and I ..."
Hermione started crying again, but the elf stopped her getting worked up again.
"I is very old. I become weak with no family for many years. I waited and waited for master James to call Glazy, then I waited for master Harry to call... You is not going to waste time crying. You is strange, You is a child but has grown magic. You is knowing a lot of things no one is knowing. You is a dangerous witch."
Hermione sighed.
"I may be a dangerous to those who means to harm Harry and my family, but I am loyal to them. Harry has been my best friend and we saved each other's life so many times. I think that's how I was sent back in time and came back to my baby self. Harry left all his magical belongings to me and I had accepted the inheritance. We owed each other life debt many times over. I think that's how I did not die but sent back."
The elf narrowed her eyes.
"You is inherited master Potter's cloak?"
"Yes. I had his cloak, his wand and the stone. Harry had all of them and left all of them to me."
Glazy was trembling, then with her gnarly shaky hand, she touched Hermione's exposed arm - Glazy's eyes widened.
"You is a Potter heir!"
"No! No! I am not! Harry is alive here, he is the Potter heir! I was his heir, I guess, in legal terms, but I am not a Potter. You know that, right? I am just here to help him, and be his friend again. And I need your help to help him, please focus on that."
Glazy was still trembling slightly, but she nodded.
"I is already promised so. I is loyal elf of House Potter. What can Glazy do for you, young and old one?"
"Please, call me Hermione. No one should know I came from different time. That is the first thing I want you do. Promise me you will keep that secret."
"I is keeping that secret. I is calling you little miss, yous name is too long. You is old and wise but still little. Little miss it is."
"Alright, I'll take that."
Hermione had a bit of experience how to persuade a house elf - she would choose her battles wisely this time. Helping Harry was the most important right now - she'd work on elf rights later. All in good times.