Disclaimer: nothing Harry Potter related belongs to me. Just having some fanficfun.

This chapter has not been betaed.

Strictly written for a bit of fun and enjoyment so the reactions are probably a bit ooc at time. At least from how I usually perceive the characters.

Meeting his mother

Oo0oO

Hermione was seriously starting to wonder if getting kicked out of the castle for trespassing or even being arrested for that offence would not have been preferable. Throwing Harry a look which simply demanded for him to get her out of this situation.

Which he did. Sort of…

Kind of…

"Mum, I'd like you to meet Hermione. Hermione, my mother, Lilly Potter."

"A pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Potter."

"Call me Lilly, dear, and I must say the pleasure is mine." Again the look she threw in her direction seemed to indicate more than Hermione was comfortable with. It did not help that Harry was still holding her arm and she quickly tried, unobtrusively, to put some distance between the two of them. He seemed rather reluctant to let her though and all subtlety was lost when she used more force than she would have liked. Her action was not lost on anyone.

Hermione felt her face heat up as when Harry pretended to pout and Lilly's eyes twinkled in affectionate amusement at her sons actions. Somehow Hermione believed her action had proved to solidify Lilly Potter's thoughts on the subject. A suspicion further supported by the fact Lilly Potter put her right arm around her guest and led her further into the room-inviting her to sit. Hermione was not too surprised when Harry sat right next to her.

A younger version of Lilly Potter was sitting in a big comfortable chair, her legs folded under her, intently reading a book. She was either so lost in her reading that she did not notice she had company or she simply did not care. Either way Hermione was glad she did not have to deal with another 'eager' Potter.

"This charming lady is Jasmine." Harry made a half hearted introduction. His annoyance with her was rather obvious.

Her disinterested glance told Hermione she was not as involved with her reading as she pretended to be. Not that it was any of her business. No, her only business was on the subject of how to get out of there without alienating the most influential family in wizarding Britain.

The younger version of Lilly Potter looked up from her reading with disdain and mumbled something that sounded like. "Pleasure I'm sure."

Hermione noticed Lilly's irritation clearly and Harry looked at her with rolling eyes but nothing was said. Obviously this was not unusual behaviour for Jasmine, Hermione concluded idly as they were all sitting down.

"You are Hermione Granger aren't you? The Hermione Granger!" Jasmine's outburst took her family by surprise just as much as their guest.

"Ehm, yes?" She asked more then comfirmed-looking completely bewildered at the Potter girl. Sure she was, somewhat, making a name for herself as a writer in the Muggle world but surely nothing to warrant such a reaction?

The mystery was quickly solved as Jasmine Potter gushed. "You were the one responsible for the new laws protecting house elves! England adopted the Australian laws which you initiated while you were still at school."

"Oh." Was Hermione's surprised and eloquent reaction. House elves had been her project during her fourth year and because she had the 'right' friends at the time S.P.E.W –ugh, what had she been thinking when she thought up that name- had taken of like a rocket. She had been so proud but no elves ever took liberty of their new rights. And as they later explained to her they loved their work-lived for it in fact and over the whole they were happy. In the end it had all felt like a big waste of time. It had been years since she last thought about it.

"You never told me about that." Harry's voice had a teasing quality to it but she also detected a hint of admiration.

"You're dating her and you did not know this?" Jasmine asked her brother, her tone making it clear what an idiot she thought him to be.

"I'm sorry sis but it is not a subject that's come up." It was clear to Hermione that he was not bothered by his sister's ire.

"Please don't tell me you've bored her with Quiditch Harry." Groaned the youngest Potter present.

Throwing a wink in Hermione's direction Harry answered his sister. "Don't worry sis, I haven't bored her with anything. Right Hermione?"

It was the way he looked at her. The teasing that almost made her wish she was his girlfriend. Merlin those eyes and that grin… whowa Granger don't be going there. So after collecting herself again she wryly said. "No, we haven't once discussed Quiditch."

Harry smoothly interjected. "Our discussion ran more along the line of mothers and literature."

Seeing the incredulous look on his sister's face Harry and Hermione were saved from further Quiditch talk by the arrival of even more Potters. Two cute five or six year old Potters –Hermione suspected they were twins – and a middle aged man who Hermione believed to be Harry's father entered the room. Harry was a clear, albeit younger, copy of the man. Only his eyes were a different colour.

As Hermione contemplated this and was starting to wonder just how many Potters there were James Potter cheerfully asked. "What's this I hear about mothers?"

Spotting his oldest son he continued warmly but also with a hint of rebuke. "Harry my son, how nice of you to join us."

Harry had the grace to look slightly ashamed. Hermione concluded he must not visit his parents that often. A shame really because despite her own current discomfort she could easily see the good relationship between the parents and their children. At that moment James seemed to notice her and Hermione braced herself.

"Well hello, and who might you be." James Potter asked her with honest interest. Harry started to introduce her but to the surprise of all it was Jasmine who enthusiastically said. "Dad, this is Hermione Granger, she came up with the house elf laws-remember I told you about that."

"Ah, you're a friend of Jasmine's then?" James concluded while holding out his hand for Hermione to shake.

"Actually dear," Lilly interjected, again with that pleased smile on her face, "Hermione is Harry's friend." The smile was immediately mirrored by her husband and Hermione's wanted to sink through the floor.

"Is she now? Well, it is lovely indeed…" However before he could finish whatever he was going to say Harry finally came to her aide. Probably spurred on by the two youngest Potters who had been quietly demanding they too were introduced. "Hermione, meet team J. Jake and Jenny my youngest siblings. As you may have guessed they are fraternal twins."

Eager to avoid further talk with Harry's parents and their insinuations Hermione focused her attention on the twins. "Hello guys, I'm Hermione."

It was really cute how solemnly both kids shook her hand and introduced themselves. You could always count on children to divert attention from uncomfortable subjects.

"Are you Harry's girlfriend?" Jenny asked.

Unless of course they were Potters meeting Hermione Granger for the first time.

Harry kneeled down next to his little sister whispering as if he was conspiring with her but loud enough so everyone could hear and winking at her again. "Well, Hermione is a girl who is a friend but give me a bit of time and she will be my girlfriend."

Say what? Surely she misheard…

"Then you have to buy her flowers. Daddy said if you give a girl flowers she is your girlfriend." Jake said with conviction before eagerly asking Hermione. "What flowers do you like?"

Hermione had reached the point where she no longer bothered to hide her reaction and decided to give in to her urge to run and she started to walk towards the door. "Uhm, all kinds. Uhm, its been lovely meeting you all, but I've got to go."

"You're not staying for diner?" Lilly asked with obvious disappointment. "You're more then welcome too."

"No, that is very kind of you but I've got…" What did she have to do? Her usual brilliant mind came up blank and was not aided by the fact that Harry was suddenly standing at her side and wrapped his arm around her.

"Actually, I'm taking Hermione out for dinner and…"

He was?

"… and she wanted to go change before that but she was kind enough to come and meet you mum."

What?

This seemed to please the Potter matriarch. "Of course, of course, Hermione it was lovely to meet you and I hope we get to see you again soon. In fact I'm sure we will." Before Hermione could make her escape the older witch stepped forward and hugged her before hugging her son. "Harry, take good care of this one. I've got a good feeling about her."

Oo0oO

After finally making her escape from the assembled Potters – sans Harry with whom she was now standing near the place where they had first met. Usually being in a library would calm Hermione down but right then she released her ire on Harry effing Potter.

"What the heck was that?" she managed to keep from screaming but her message uttered through gritted teeth clearly showed her frazzled emotions.

With a sheepish grin Harry offered an apology. "I'm sorry. I knew she was eager for me to find a partner but I honestly had not expected this." A brief moment of quiet before a boyish grin appeared on his face. "So where can I pick you up and does six o'clock sound okay? That would give you a little over two hours."

Now she was faced with only one Potter she was not as easily thrown for a loop but she still had to ask. "What are you talking about? We aren't really dating."

Harry's grin disappeared. "No, but I would really like too."

It was not that she would mind. In spite of her unorthodox introduction to his family she really liked what she had seen of Harry Potter so far. But why would a guy like him possible want to date someone like her? Bewilderment took hold of her again and he must have noticed. For the first time since they met he seemed nervous too.

"You know why my parents were so pleased to meet you?"

"Because you never brought a girl home before?" Hermione guessed.

"Yes, but it is more then that. Look what I'm about to say may sound crazy but please hear me out."

Harry looked really cute as he nervously pulled his hand through his messy black hair and she nodded for him to continue.

"When my dad saw my mother for the first time he knew she was it for him. He was eleven at the time. When my grandfather met my grandmother Emily for the first time when he was fourteen he never even looked at another woman again. There are countless stories like this in the Potter family. It is something in our lineage that when we meet the person we are meant to be with we know."

Hermione listened to the green eyed wizard in astonishment. Was he saying what she thought he was saying?

"I thought I would be the exception to the rule. I mean I'm twenty six and all the other Potters were so young, teenagers really, when they noticed their life partners but when I saw you standing in our library I knew. I cannot explain it any other way - I just knew. Something my family caught on too the moment we saw them just now. That is why they responded like they did-so strong."

He was saying what she thought he was saying. Hermione felt that even though the word flabbergasted was American in origin it was highly appropriate for this English situation. "Wow, I don't know what to say, this is a lot to take in."

"Say you'll let me take you out tonight. Give me a chance? I promise you won't ever regret it."

He was looking at her with hopeful longing and an eagerness she had never seen directed at her. Really-who could say no to that?

Oo0oO

As Hermione finished her granddaughter's bed time story she noticed her six-year-old granddaughter Lucy had fallen asleep. The slightly older Laury however was listening to her gran's story with bated breath even though she had heard the story quite a few times already.

"And you went on a date with papa Harry." Laury finished the tale with satisfaction when she became aware her gran had stopped talking.

"Yes we did." Hermione confirmed, looking at her grandchild with fondness.

"And you lived happily ever after." Laury giggled at her own words and Hermione could not help but join her.

"Gran, how did grandpa meet your parents?"

"You know what. Ask grandpapa to tell you tomorrow. He loves to tell that story. You need to go to sleep now."

As she tucked Laury in for the last time that night her thoughts went to her husband. Unaware of the smile that appeared on her face she thought back on her life with Harry. They had lived a rather blessed life together-they still did. After so many years together they had quite a few stories accumulated for their grandchildren. Some bad but mostly good and she knew Harry would love to tell all of them to his grandkids. Especially the one of meeting her father.

Fini.