Chapter 2

A/N: Don't own Harry Potter. The Child Release Act is complete BS and poorly thought through. Also, just imagine them being in their teens. I know Harry and Hermione were a lot younger previously before Ron saved him from the house but since this is a fanfiction, just imagine them around the middle of their teenage years.

Harry Potter couldn't sleep that night. He always found himself blankly staring at the white roof in a room three times bigger and more comfortable than his old one. It still didn't register in his mind that he's no longer part of the Durley's. He kept thinking the door would open and that pudgy man would throttle in with a briefcase of his stuff, rudely beckoning Harry to follow him, "I'm not going back." Harry promised himself and switched his body to the side. He noticed a computer sitting there and it's desktop of what was assumed to be Hermione's family bouncing from one side to another. There was her mom, beautiful, thin; she looked a lot younger than her dad who was giving off some goofy vibe with a Hawaiian print t-shirt.

Hermione, smiling and at her mother's side and then another girl. She was younger by what looked to be two years, straight hair, different from Hermione's brown curls and she tied it in a bun. She had a blue, jean-type jacket wrapped around her waist and she displayed a 'peace-sign' with her hand.

"Hermione had a sister?" Harry whispered. He never heard Hermione say anything about her family, let alone a sibling. She must have kept it a secret from Draco and his Death Eater father. The horrors they could do to torture Hermione or any other wizard based with a muggle family was unimaginable. Harry realized soon that he couldn't sleep so he got up and walked to computer. The slight vibration of him sitting on the chair popped open and the screen saver disappeared. There was no login password which he whispered thanks to no one but instead found weirdly written words used as a background for the desktop. It said, "Welcome to the family Harry!" and there was a crudely drawn family of Hermione, her father, mother, sister and what appeared to be himself. The only distinguishable trait was the circle glasses and the scar on his forehead.

"How did they know about my scar?" Harry wondered. The thought of Voldemort was in mind but that was ruled out during the car ride. Did Hermione tell them about him? The boy who lived? He was a little curious until remembering his goal and dismissed it. He opened the browser and typed in the words that picked on his brain for quite a while.

CHILD RELEASE ACT

There were thousands of websites, each explaining their version of the act but Harry clicked the closest one on top. There was an image of an old portrait of a man who wore a white, powdered wig and had a face of a pug. It was one of those classical 'self-paintings' people used before the photo camera was invented. He looked like a wise man but Harry still couldn't make out how someone looking like that would actually look in real life. He scrolled down and skipped the origin of the act until reaching the description. In bold letters, Harry read.

THE CHILD RELEASE ACT OF 1844 WAS PASSED DURING THE CASE OF FERGERSON V. GRANGER. THE ACT CONCLUDED THAT A CHILD OF ANY BIRTH MAY SWITCH FAMILIES IN A CASE OF ADOPTION, ARRANGE MARRIAGE, LACK OF SUITABLE EDUCATION, INHUMANE TREATMENT AND OTHER VARIOUS DIFFERENT CASES. TO REVIEW MORE OF THE FERGERSON V. GRANGER CASE PLEASE SCROLL DOWN ON THE WORKS CITED PAGE.

The word adoption lingered in Harry's mind until he felt sick to his stomach. He stood up and peeked outside his bedroom. It was dark and he couldn't see all the expensive furniture in its rightful glory but he still ventured out to see if he could get something to eat. Surly it wouldn't be a problem since he is part of the family. As he walked out he saw the light in the dining area dimly lit and felt the presence of somebody. He was caught between asking who's there or casually walking in pretending everything is perfectly normal. He decided on walking in and immediately as he did, he noticed a familiar face and a wave of comfort washed over him.

"Hermione!" he called out, remembering that it was somewhere around one in the morning and one does not randomly scream. Hermione was wearing a dark, thin night gown and her hair was tied sharply to a bun. It reminded Harry of her sister's style but Harry can recognize one of his best friends from a mile. However, Hermione wasn't too excited to see him and not for the reasons Harry thought. She looked slightly troubled and had an awkward aura about her. She kept fidgeting and each step Harry took, she would squirm further away.

"Hermione, it's me, Harry. Don't you remember?"

"I remember." Hermione said after hesitating, "I remember you well Harry Potter, the boy who lived, the Quidditch protégé, my friend…and I'm sorry for what my parents made you go through. If you want, I can have you return back to your aunt and uncle…"

"Are you mad?" Harry smiled, "Why would I want to go with them?" He walked over to her and sat next to her. There was a cup and pitcher of iced tea on the table and he stared at it longingly. He really wanted to drink something right now, not only because of what happened but also because the Durley's never allow him to go outside to get his own refreshments. They just give him the basic necessities to live, "Do you mind?" he asked.

Hermione was still pondering deeply about something that she absentmindedly replied, "Not at all, help yourself." It was more automatic than her actual wish but Harry did just that. He took a swig of the golden liquid and enjoyed it thoroughly. Hermione just noticed and stood upright, shocked for a moment, "Harry, you drank from my cup…"

Harry looked at the cup and back to her, not having a single reason why Hermione was acting so uptight right now. Is she a germaphobe at home in the muggle world? She is clean and takes care of her stuff neatly, being a germaphobe isn't something Harry associated with her though but he placed the cup back and swallowed hard, "Sorry…"

Hermione felt a little guilty and embarrassed for snapping at him, "No…you shouldn't be." Hermione then felt overwhelmed and sat back on the gorgeous looking couch. She hid her face in her hands and looked like she was on the verge of crying, "How did things end up this way? One morning I tell my parents about you and how you weren't answering my letters and they go out and steal you from your home."

"Well…" Harry shrugged, "They didn't really steal me. They had my uncle Vernon sign the Child Release Act and I left my room voluntarily, it really was my choice if I wanted to leave or not."

"Child Release Act? Oh no, so they're actually going to go through with it…"

"Hermione…" Harry didn't want it to be this way on their first day reunited. He wanted it to be nice, funny and peaceful but the amount of tension in the air could cut a dragon in half, "…is there something bothering you? Do you want me to go?" he scooted closer to her. He ought to be more welcoming as a brother at the very least. Everything was still so new for him but he was doing remarkably well. Hermione glanced at him and noticed he was very close. Her breath nearly jumped from her body and her face grew brightly red, "I-I don't want you to go Harry…" it seemed super difficult for her to tell him this, "…I'm actually delighted that you're here." And even then there wasn't a single lie in her words.

"But are you really okay with this?" Hermione asked Harry. Harry could have sworn the girl didn't blink once. Is that what's bothering her? My feelings towards the subject of being a part of her family? I have to show her at the very least that I'm determined to go through with this. It was either here or Dursley's and even a nest filled with dragon eggs sound a lot more appealing than the Dursley's.

He grabbed her by the hand, his head near hers more-so that he didn't notice himself on how close he was. Hermione on the other hand took every moment into her memory that she will remember forever, "I'm more than okay with this…" Harry explained gently, "…your dad sounded cool, and your mom seems nice. I haven't seen your sister yet but I'll bet she's kind too but most of all…" it was like he was whispering in her ear, "…you're here…I would love to stay here with you all."

"Forever…?" Hermione answered back, her heart had never beat so fast in her life. Is this a confession? Is Harry Potter really confessing? He's so close to her too, she could almost feel his breath on her face and the sweet fragrance only Harry had. Harry nodded his head even though it seemed like a weird question to ask, unlike Hermione, he had no idea how close he was, nor was he concentrating on her perfume. He just wanted his friend to be comfortable and was concerned for her.

"T-Then…" Hermione finally said, "…I guess I wouldn't mind…" her face leaned forward and her soft, pink lips pressed against his softly. Her eyes were closed but Harry's eyes were so wide that he was unsure if it'll pop off its socket. Is this what her family do to each other? He felt his face grow hot but he knew definitely that Hermione's lips were on his and that there was no other explanation for it.

The kiss soon broke apart and Harry was dumbfounded. He looked completely troubled but Hermione was too love struck to notice it. The way Harry reassured her everything was fine, the way he held her hand and the simple smell he possessed. She fell in love with it. She happily stood up to put the pitcher and cup away. Harry was still on the couch completely shocked at what just happened. Hermione yawned after opening the refrigerator, "I wish I can talk to you more but I think I should get some shut eye so I can study tomorrow." She told him and as she escaped to the corridor that led to her room. The next words she left Harry with to think deeply about for the rest of night appeared, "And here I was worrying you would find it overwhelmingly distasteful at them forcing you to be my fiancé, how very silly of me."

When her door close, the frozen Harry managed to move his lips as he just realized something very troubling, "S-So…when he said father…he meant father-in-law?"