A Warning from the Future
Between their 5th and 6th years, Harry and Hermione meet someone who will change the course of their lives and ultimately help finish Voldemort. Alternate. Adventure/Family/ Romance. Harry&Hermione. Neville&Luna. OC&OC
Chapter 2: Meeting the (Grand)Parents
After Rose's revelations that led to Harry and Hermione's confessions of their feelings towards each other, the three sat on the sitting room divan, Hermione snuggled into Harry's side and Rose snuggled into Hermione's other side. From time to time, they spoke to each other, just bits and pieces, not even a true conversation. But they found that more than that wasn't needed. Already the three of them shared the rapport that Harry and Hermione had often experienced.
"Harry love, when did you first know?"
"I'd like to say that it was when you came in and asked me if I had seen a toad, but I'd never known what love is, thanks to the Dursleys. I know that I knew you were different and special to me after the troll. I knew what I felt towards you was love when I saw you at the Yule Ball. You?"
"Rose could tell you, but it was the end of Third Year, when we'd turned back the clock. We were across the Lake from our earlier selves and you had just tried to save us and Sirius and failed. My heart went out to you then. And then you cast that perfect Patronus next to me and saved us all. I knew then and know now it would be you forever for me. If only I had had the courage to tell you..."
"Lucky for you that Rose Molly Weasley is on the job!"
"Thank you, from the bottom of both our hearts, Rose. Holy Cricket! I just sussed it out, I'm your uncle!"
"Yes, Uncle Harry." For a moment or three, Rose giggled uncontrollably. The other two thought she sounded the happiest since they'd met and their hearts went out to her again. "You are indeed my uncle and my favorite uncle at that. You always were, long before I started figuring things out about you and mum. I could tolerate my Weasley uncles, but I always loved you."
"Rosie, I hope soon that I can return that love. I feel that's beginning even now."
"Uncle Harry, 'Rosie' was always your pet name for me. Dad for some reason didn't like it, but mum did."
"'Mione" said Harry, suddenly concerned. "When do you expect your parents home and what are their plans?"
Hermione bolted from the divan. "Oh dear, they should be home by 6:00, in an hour! We're
going to my favorite Italian restaurant at 7:00."
Harry and Rose hugged her reassuringly. "Love, you will be going away, just not to the Burrow. But Rose and I will need decent clothes. Forgive me darling, but I see no other way. Dobby!"
With a barely audible 'pop', the House Elf appeared in the sitting room. "Harry Potter! Can I help the great Harry Potter, his Grangy, and..."
"First things first Dobby. This young lady's name is Rose Granger. Please call her by that name only. Next, I have a question for you. Is there anything I could do that would make you happy?" Hermione saw where this would lead and was clearing her throat, but Harry cut her off. "Sweetheart, later please. Dobby?"
The Elf looked at the ground and blushed. "Since the great Harry Potter freed Dobby from the Bad Master, Dobby has wished Harry Potter bind Dobby to him. But Dobby is too unworthy for a Wizard like Harry Potter to notice..."
"Never in life should you ever think you are unworthy of me, Dobby. I would be honored to have you as part of my family, if you agree, but listen. First, you will NEVER punish yourself! If you think you have made a mistake, talk to me. Second, you will accept from me a wage of 1 Galleon a week, and two days free a month without argument. Third, you will take some of my money and buy everything you need to make a uniform, befitting the House of Potter, in which you are a full member. Lastly, Hermione Granger and Rose Granger are my family and belong to House Potter. You shall obey their requests just like you would mine. Do you agree?"
Tears running down his cheeks, Dobby managed to say, "I agree, Harry Potter."
"Then I, Harry Potter, last of the House of Potter, Lord Potter accept you Dobby as my Elf, my friend and as a member of House Potter."
With that, a great flash of blue light illumined the sitting room. Both witches gasped as they saw Dobby grow in stature from just under Harry's knee to midway between his knee and hip, becoming strong and muscular.
Dobby bowed. "How may I serve you, Lord Potter?"
"First, call me Harry. We're family now. Please go to Gringotts and ask to see the Potter estate manager. Explain who you are and make an appointment for 7:00 am, or later if that is too early, but it should be early. Make sure we can go directly to a private office, not stay in the lobby. Next, get a wallet and £1,000 from my vault. Then use additional funds from my vault and buy a nice, dressy non-magical outfit for me and one for Rose, shoes and all. Also buy each a week's worth of good quality non-magical casual clothes for us too.
"When you've returned, you must protect us while we are out. Also, if you can, make this house invisible and unfindable to Wizards and Witches. Thanks, Dobby."
As Dobby bowed (Harry though he'd have to work on that later) and left, Harry turned towards his two witches and started answering their unspoken questions. "Rosie, we were very lucky this afternoon. 'Dung' Fletcher must have been on duty, so we didn't have to evade any of the Order. They will come after me and want to control me, like last year." He saw Hermione nod at the memories they shared from last year. "If things stand like they did, I'd have been collected after my birthday, but if they don't know I'm gone yet, they will soon. That's why the protection for us and this house."
The others nodded their heads, but Hermione looked both impressed and confused. "Harry, that is very well thought out, in fact the most thoughtful you've ever been around me. What has changed?"
"I don't know. I feel like my brain is working on a level it's never reached before. It makes sense though. After all, some call you the Lily Potter of this generation." Hermione blushed scarlet. "My dad must have been no slouch either, if she fell in love with him. I don't know why the change now, but I like it, and have to credit it to my wonderful niece!" With that, he enfolded Rose in a big hug and kissed her cheek.
Just then, Dobby returned with the clothing. "Thanks Dobby. Please hide yourself and watch over us." We need to get dressed, and Rose and I need showers."
"Dobby, please bring Rose's things to my room and Harry's things to the guest bedroom." Hermione looked at her daughter and her love. "Rose will shower in my bathroom and Harry, you use the shower in the guest bedroom. It's fully stocked, use what you need."
Harry and Rose followed Hermione's instructions. Soon the three teens were back in the sitting room, refreshed and properly dressed. After inspecting each other with approval (Harry found himself particularly enthralled by Hermione's form-fitting silver sheath, with 4 centimeter silver heels and matching ear rings and necklace), they returned to the divan and planned the conversation with Hermione's parents.
"Harry, Rosie, I'll have to take the lead on this, but you will have to add in things," Hermione.
"Love, I agree, but we need to know. How open have you been with them about our adventures at school?"
"Dearest, they know everything, and believe me, it has been at times a struggle to talk them into letting me go back. They also know how I feel about you. I think that has been decisive for them, more than once."
Harry's regard towards her grew soft and he gently kissed her. "I think that makes things pretty easy. Just be ready to follow my lead and support me. Rose, have your wand ready to show to them, but I can handle this. Trust me. By the way, we've an appointment tomorrow at 7:00 at Gringotts."
He received nods, and a moment later, the door opened and Hermione's parents entered, looking with considerable surprise at three young people where they expected one.
-WftF-
Emerson and Danielle Granger looked askance at their daughter holding hands with the young man they knew she loved. While they had accepted the existence and depth of Hermione's feelings, they had always had grave doubts about his feelings toward her, even wondering if he saw her as more than a schoolmate or friend.
They could see their daughter looking vastly uncomfortable, glancing at Harry, seemingly gaining courage from him and then looking at them. "Mum, dad, you've met Harry before. I wish to introduce you to Rose. Mum, dad, this is Rose Granger. She is related to us. Rose, this is my mum and dad, Danielle and Emerson Granger"
Dani and Em look with astonishment and more than a bit of suspicion at the other teen girl, noticing that she did have more than a bit of the 'Granger look' to her, along with a resemblance to someone they had met, but could not place a finger upon right then. For her part, the girl looked both hopeful and a bit fearful. "Good evening Mr. and Mrs. Granger, I am glad to meet you. I know that you have a lot of questions for me, for us. We'll answer them all, as long as it takes to answer them, but it is so very strange and we're in danger and..." here her voice petered out and both she and Hermione looked imploringly to Harry for help.
Harry looked at The Grangers, hugged their daughter and kissed her cheek, hugged the other girl and murmured to them, "It's all right," then turned to them. They saw a Harry with much more assurance and poise than they expected.
"Mr. and Mrs. Granger, we have a lot to tell you and all will seem incredible, even crackers. I'd love to swear to you an oath on my magic and life that what we'll tell you is true, but tonight that would put us all in danger. We will go where we can swear that oath safely tomorrow, but for now please trust us. First, would you call the restaurant and ask them to change your seating to five? If there is a problem, tell them that a relative and Lord Potter came unexpectedly?" While they waited, Em called and changed the seating and returned.
Harry continued. "Thank you. I hate my fame, but I guess I have to use it this time. In the fewest words, Rose warned both of us this afternoon that people we trust are planning to abuse us and manipulate us. When Hermione goes to the Burrow tomorrow, they will feed her love potions so she will marry Ron in a few years and potions to destroy her friendship with me. When they 'rescue' me from my Privet Drive prison, they will feed me love potions so I will marry Ginny Weasley. They intend to give us these potions for the rest of our lives."
Both Granger parents began loudly denouncing the Weasleys and Harry had to interrupt them. "Please, this is very hard. It isn't just them. I think the Headmaster has plans that might not let me live long enough to ever marry." Harry said this, realizing the fears and uncertainties he had felt for years about Dumbledore had crystallized in one afternoon. "Even if that part is not right, the Weasleys can't poison us without his consent. Rose has told us this at a risk to her own life. She convinced me because she knew I am in love with Hermione, she convinced Hermione by telling details about her love for me that only you knew besides her.
"I know she has told you about our times at Hogwarts. Did she ever tell you about life debts?" They nodded. "Then you know that I can ask ANYTHING in return for payment. This is Old Magic and won't be noticed. It is the only way I can show you how I feel for Hermione until tomorrow. Hermione Jean Granger, do you acknowledge the life debt you owe me from 31 October, 1991?"
"I do, Harry"
"In repayment, you must thank me for saving for life. As I have said it, so mote it be!"
Hermione blinked, then smiled dazzlingly at Harry. "Harry, thank you for saving my life."
"You are welcome, love. "Hermione Jean Granger, do you acknowledge the life debt you owe me from 20 June, 1993?"
"I do Harry."
Again Harry intoned, "In repayment, you must thank me for saving for life. As I have said it, so mote it be!"
Hermione blinked again, and again smiled dazzlingly at Harry. "Harry, thank you for saving my life."
Harry smiled, the love light in his eyes plain for all to see. "You are welcome, love. Hermione dearest, I feel I owe you life debts too. Please check?"
She stepped to him locked her arms around her neck and kissed him. Nobody could miss the feelings exchanged in that kiss. "Harry James Potter, do you acknowledge a Life Debt owed by you to me since 1 September, 1991?"
In response, a very faint, almost invisible blue light briefly formed and died. "I'm sorry, Harry, magic does not find you owing me for your life"
The third voice startled everyone, they forgot Rose was even in the room. "Hermione Jean Granger, do you acknowledge the Life Debt you owe to me from today?"
"I do, Rose"
"In repayment, you must tell us the place you see Harry James Potter in your life 10 years from this day. As I have said it, so mote it be!"
Hermione turned to Harry and smiled a smile of the gentlest of love. "In ten years, I see my husband Harry and me awaiting the birth of our child and it is not our first. I do not know when we married, except that it was between his 18th and 21st birthdays. Together, and with our true friends, we ended the threat of Voldemort for good, that one is naught but a memory, along with his DeathEaters. Our married life has been filled with joy, with only the problems common to all spouses arising, but rarely."
Harry step forward and embraced his love. "You are the love of my life and may it be from your lips to God's ear. Rosie, I freely acknowledge the Life Debt I owe to you from today."
"Then Harry, in repayment, you will tell us the place you see Hermione Jean Granger in your life 10 years from this day. Furthermore, you will tell us why you feel you owe her a Life Debt, As I have said it, so mote it be!"
Harry nodded. He then faced Hermione and took her hands in his. The other three knew that for Harry, the entire universe had been reduced into just her eyes. "I see you in my arms, my wife for all time. We are at peace, Voldemort and his followers vanquished and gone, never again a threat. I do not know when we became one, to me it feels as if you have been my wife since I was born. We have at least two children and you are heavy with our next. We have jobs and responsibilities, but those come behind our little ones, each other, our family and our friends. Finally, we know this will continue to be our lives for a hundred years, maybe two hundred."
Then he dropped his hands, sank to both knees and resumed, eyes focused to the floor. "Since the day my parents died, I knew only pain, misery and abuse until my 11th Birthday. After that I still knew pain, abuse and manipulation. Of the joy I have known in my life, I know now that at least 95% has been through knowing you. Were it not for a bushy-haired, bossy know-it-all asking me if I'd seen a toad Neville Longbottom lost, I fear I would long ago have become an insane, inhuman danger to all around me. That I am not, I give to you the full credit. Even if Magic does not count it as such I know I am nothing greater than what your friendship, regard and love have made me. And it is my goal every day to make you never regret befriending me."
Harry felt himself being drawn up and engulfed in her arms, and safe from everything. He heard her say, "We complete each other, Harry, complete and heal each other. We will be greater and better people than we could be apart. Trust me." Before he could say 'always', her lips had claimed him, and for a timeless space all he knew was that her soul would have poured into him, if it could. Vaguely, he felt three more pairs of arms around him, and tears. Slowly, he came back to himself and then heard Hermione's parents.
Neither Harry nor Hermione knew, but Em and Dani had perfected the 'wordless conversation' many years before the younger couple had met. While Hermione and Harry had shared their mutual love, Em and Dani had 'talked' and decided.
"Harry? Son? Dani and I are agreed. You have our blessing to be our little girl's boyfriend. We know her feelings, and your feelings towards her are clear to us. We hope that when you court her, your relationship with each other will grow and deepen. We think that whenever the two of you are ready, we will be delighted to give you another blessing. She is right, you know, trust in her and you'll never regret doing so. No calling us Mr. or Mrs. Granger for you, we are Dani and Em."
Brokenly Harry nodded, saying, "Dani, Em, thank you." Then his stomach rumbled. "Think we are too late for dinner?"
Laughter, deep-throated and hearty, breaking the mood and lightening it. "We'll be on time if we leave now!" They made it so.
-WftF-
Considering his day, Harry wasn't surprised at his hunger when they arrived at the restaurant. After all, I've not been fed too well by the Dursleys and this afternoon has been one shock after another. This morning, I had some good friends, but knew of nobody who loved me. I loved someone, but one whose friendship could never be risked. Now, I have a best friend who I know loves me and never wants to let me go and I feel the same for her. I have a niece (!) who has turned things upside down, who loves me and I her. Hermione's parents approve of us, approve of ME. And they seem to want to parent me too. Finally, I am beginning to think and plan and speak the way the son of James and Lily Potter should. Takes a lot of energy just to cope and I feel I could eat like Dudley or Ron!
Em had ordered antepasta for the table, then Harry caught their attention. "We have protections so we may speak freely here and without concern. I'll explain about it when we return. But now, you need to learn about my life. Call this a start, it is going to take a long time to get my full story. Hermione, Rosie, I'm going to tell you things you've never known about me, I've never told anyone before. Em, when did you know that Hermione knew she was Hermione Jean Granger?"
"She was just a couple months under 3 years old. We had been teaching her how to identify herself to adults. It was about the same age that it was for me too and likely about the same age for Dani and Rose, I'd imagine."
The other two nodded. Harry thought that they'd never understand. "I remember it like it was yesterday. It was my first day of Primary and the teacher called the roll. At the end of it, she asked me why I hadn't answered when my name was called. I said I hadn't heard my name, and she said my name was Harry James Potter. I said they never called me that name at home. She asked what they called me at home. I said, 'They call me Freak. mam.'"
Harry looked at his dinner companions. Their faces had turned white as chalk. It's going to get worse. Harry continued. "When we got home, Dudley told my aunt what had happened. She sent to my cupboard," and Harry felt them stirring, but held up a hand. "I could hear my aunt talking to the school on the phone. The next day, my teacher punished me for telling lies about my relatives. From that day, I had a reputation in the school and in the neighborhood of being a 'bad boy' and I took the blame for many things others did. When I got my Hogwarts letter, they told the neighbors that I was being sent to 'St Brutus's Secure Centre for Incurably Criminal Boys'"
Harry saw that their faces were now 'Weasley red' with rage. He'd have been frightened, but he knew this was anger on his behalf, not directed at him. "From the time my parents died until my first Hogwarts letter arrived, I lived in the cupboard under the stairs. I did not get a bedroom until that letter and then it was the room Dudley used for his broken toys and old bed. I wasn't allowed to clean it out." Harry sighed and went on.
"When Dudley was four, I asked my aunt if I had a birthday. She said freaks don't have birthdays. My first real birthday I remembered was my 12th. I never remembered having any Christmas presents until the Christmas I was 11."
Harry saw the sorrow in all their faces. During the rest of the dinner even, allowing for his raging hunger, he continued detailing his childhood, holding nothing back.
The trip home found Harry held tightly by Hermione and Rose, both murmuring over and over, "It will never happen to you again".
After they arrived home, Em told Harry, "We'll talk more about your childhood soon. What they did to you is against the law and they need to face justice." Harry nodded.
"Thanks Em. But tomorrow, we have a 7 am appointment at Gringotts to see about a safe place to live for the rest of the summer. Dobby."
The Grangers jumped when the House Elf appeared, next to Harry. "Dobby is a House Elf, bonded to me and the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter. He will ensure we're up by 6, have breakfast and arrive for our appointment on time. He will also see that this house is safe from any wizards. For now, I've got to go to bed. It has been a crazy day and tomorrow might even be worse."
With that, Harry went to his room, put on his new pajamas, and despite all the thoughts roiling through his mind, fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.
A/N: Thanks go to texan-muggle for being my beta for this story.
Posted: 10/00/2014
Words: 3,974
