Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and its world. J.K. Rowling does.
Chapter 4:
"That was easy!" Hermione smiled at Ron in an alley near Flourish and Blotts.
Normally he would smile back, but not only was he currently irritated, he was also more focused at walking around the tiny house-elves in his way. The little rascals were busy doing some art project, if the large plastered rectangles with pictures of house-elves and random words were anything to go by. Merlin, it felt weird to see the strange creatures as a strong presence in the random corners of Diagon Alley instead of sticking in the shadows of their masters' homes.
Once he reached Hermione, he spat, "Talk about yourself. Your mum was blabbering away. It took forever for me to get rid of her!"
When Ron first asked Hermione's mother for directions to robes shop, he thought he would only have her talk back for the second that was needed for Hermione to sneak behind her. Instead the woman went on and on.
"Robes shop, you say, I went to it just last month with my daughter. It was quite a sight. You know this magical world is simply enthralling. With all its glittering displays and medieval architecture. Oh, I simply would love to stay here all my life just looking around at everything." Blah. Blah. Blah.
"Yeah, mum can be quite the babbler." Hermione gazed dreamily toward the direction of the bookstore. "Its simply wonderful to listen to her so happy with magic again. She and I had a lovely conversation a few days ago on magical buildings styles. Do you know that the columns at the minister were designed after the Bruscan wizarding style that was a big deal in the 1890s? Thelmy Bratton was a leading pioneer in the idea to sketch pictures of dragons around the thick columns."
"Yeah. Yeah." Ron smiled, realizing something then. "You got the babbling thing from her then."
Hermione snapped from her dreamy lecture. "Oh, don't be so prissy. I just thought you would care. But I guess you want to go on like last time and barely interact with my parents."
Temporarily annoyed, Ron jaw dropped and his throat constricted. "Oi, I do care. I didn't offer to go visit 'em for nothing."
How dare she not think he cared about knowing her parents! He was the one who kept insisting that they visit Australia together all last summer.
"You said nothing about meeting my mum earlier! Only going on and on about sneaking out without her noticing."
"Oi, piss off. You wanted to get out as much as I wanted."
Hermione's eyes went brazen and she gripped her legs tight. "Maybe, I forgot what a pain you are and that's why I was so excited to see you today. But now I wish you just allowed me to continue my summer in peace."
And then he felt a laugh emerging in his throat. Oh Daedalus's geezers, this was just like them, to get bugger by some silly slight. "Boy, we are a mess, aren't we? Know what, after we meet Harry, we should introduce our parents to each other. Would that be enough for me to prove I'm interested in meeting them?"
"Fine!" Hermione brushed past him and headed around the still gathered house-elves. She soon called back to his still form, "Are you coming or what?"
They soon started laughing together as they walked around the alley, their earlier tension soon forgotten as they talked about how different the alley looked. The place appeared so lively with no broken walls and blocked-off windows. Each store's windows displayed the latest knick-knacks. Ron gazed lovingly at the popular display of the Nimbus 2000. He bet he could convince Harry in a few months to let him ride it after Professor McGonagall gave him one. Now that would be a ride!
He could just feel his legs dangling in the air, while Harry hollered loudly for Ron to give him the bloody broom back. But then Ron would do a nice Warrington Fizzburg and Harry would beg Ron to teach him the flying maneuver. He was so lost in thought, that he didn't notice that Hermione was no longer beside him. He would have continued unaware if a man had not taped his shoulder.
"Excuse me," the man asked with a thick French drawl. "Where are you parents? I thought British children stay with parents, no? Or is I a free-for-all in this country?"
"Free-for-all." Ron grinned at the man. His words reminded him of Fleur's casual concern to understand British culture. "We Brits love letting kids wander with their friends."
"I see." The man nodded. "And ez your, er, friend invisible?"
Ron laughed. "No, Hermione's is not. I'm surprise you can't see her. Her hair can be quite the sight." He went to raise his eyebrows at Hermione when he noticed that the man was right. Hermione was nowhere in sight.
Bloody hell. Where did his girlfriend go? Did she see Harry and decide to meet him without her favorite person? Or worse, did the genie get her? Oh, no. No. No. His chest hurt with worry. Was she gone? Would he have to go through all this alone? Was she lying right now in pain, wishing for him to save her?
"Little boy, garçon, you ok?" Brow furrowed, the man waved frantically at Ron's face.
"Yeah. As bright as a unicorn. I just need to got meet my friend, yeah. I might have left her at the Quidditch shop." Ron ran quickly back to the direction of Quality Quidditch Supplies.
Ron groaned when he saw an even bigger crowd around the broomstick. Blasted, he lost her.
"There you are! I was wondering where you ran off to." Ron breathed heavily with relief at those words, for a second thinking the voice was Hermione's. But then he started heaving when he saw his mother's glare. "Ronnie. I thought I told you to stay in the bookstore. I was so worried."
Behind her, his father softly sighed in relief, Ginny giggled and the twins saluted him happily.
Fred hollered proudly, "Oh, here's the Chessmaster, off raising havoc as usual!"
As his mother continued to reprimand him, Ron gazed around nervously, hoping to catch sight of Hermione. He hated how everything was ruined. Now they wouldn't be able to meet Harry at all.
"Here he is!" Everything felt good again when he heard Hermione's voice. How could he think his mother's voice was Hermione's? No other voice could be so lovely. "Oh, Ron. I look at the newspaper for a second, and there you go off who knows where."
By Hermione's side, stood a very nervous looking Harry and the gigantic form of Hagrid. Hagrid smiled lopsided at Ron and his family. "We're sorry to bother you, but when you friend got separated from ye, we decided to help. Hope that's not a problem."
Brilliant, Hermione's was bloody brilliant. Of course, she would find a way to locate and befriend Harry while he languished on in daydreams.
"Not a problem at all," Ron replied cheerfully. "Hi, I'm Ron." He gave Harry his hand, excitement evident in his bright face.
His future friend looked at it confused and nodded back. "Hi. I'm, er, Harry."
Instead it was the half-giant who shook Ron's hair fervently. "Pleasure to meet ye. I read all about your matches. Who knew one person could win so many? Sorry about the last one. It must have been a pain to be ill in middle of a match." He then explained to Harry. "This boy here a bloody chess champion. Be good to try to beat him out. Who knows, ye can become one too."
Hermione grinned. "You definitely should try, Harry, I hate …"
Harry interrupted her, "I guess I'll try. Nice to meet you and all, but Hagrid do you think we can get my supplies now."
Hagrid nodded. "Ye right. Time for socializing later. Nice to meet you all."
Right after the two left, Hermione whispered to Ron in a pained voice. "He didn't like me at all. It was so awkward."
"What?" Ron didn't notice anything wrong. "Did you gush to much or something?"
"No. I kept it simply." He gazed at her knowingly. "Fine, I got a bit too eager. But you would too if you had stayed with him and met him outside Gringotts."
"You're right. I got a bit to happy, didn't I?" Ron gazed back at the place Harry stood a few minutes ago. "Next time it got better. Promise."
"Ron! Are you going to introduce us or leave us hanging?" Ginny jumped cheerfully over to the two of them. She shook Hermione's hand vigorously. "Ginny! The Chessmaster's little sister. Where did you both meet? How did Ron convince you to sneak around with him? He's usually the worst. Always far too loud and rowdy. But this time we didn't even notice."
"I'm very much curious about that too, Ronald," his mother said, mouth set in a firm grimace. "Why did you leave us? Its dangerous to wander alone."
"We wanted to look around the alley," Ron explained. "I met Hermione at Flourish and Blotts and she and I wanted some time to explore the rest of the place. Catch an eye at the latest Nimbus."
"And where's your parent's, Hermione?" His mother asked, trying hard to mask her irritation. But Hermione could tell, if her biting her lip was anything to go by. She did know Ron's mother well.
"My mother's at Flourish, Mrs. Weasley. Would you like to meet her? It's a pleasure to meet you and I would love for our family's to know each other."
His mother stared at Hermione for a few seconds, contemplating the offer. "Sure. That's sounds like a good idea. I would hate for this to happen again and it be best for Ron to explain to her why you wandered off."
The walk back to the bookstore was tense. His mother's eyes stayed close to Hermione's back, obviously distrustful about Ron's girlfriend. His father glance every so often at her too, as Hermione wrinkled a newspaper fiercely in her hand. The twins kept whispering tisking noises in his ear. Ginny was the only chipper one in the whole procession, hopping excitedly by Hermione's side.
At last they reached the bookstore and all of them were greeted by the loud voice of Hermione's mother. "Thank goodness."
Hermione's mother ran over to Hermione, hugging her tight. Two unfamiliar wizards walked over to Ron and his family. The taller one with graying hair asked gruffly, "Do you know the fines for kidnapping?"
"We didn't!" Ron screamed, outraged. "Hermione and I just wanted to explore the alley. We were planning to come back eventually."
"Ronald, quiet, young man," his mother snapped and then explained to the two wizards. "I'm sorry my son decided that it was a good idea to wander off with the girl. He will do what's necessary to make it right."
"Don't worry about it." Hermione's mother came over. "I was just in shock. Hermione was nowhere in sight, and then the protest started and I simply thought the worst. You don't know how relieved I am that you son kept my daughter safe. I'm Melissa Granger, by the way."
"Molly Weasley." His mother shook her hand. "Protest? You say."
"Yes. It was those funny looking creatures. The one's with fox ears and…" Hermione groaned beside her mother as the woman talked.
"House-elves," his mother said, eyes wide. "Melissa, you better be careful about talking about them. They are a menace, especially when you describe them like that."
"Oh, don't worry, Molly." Ron's father walked over to them, happily shaking Hermione's mother's hand. "They aren't that bad. Bit silly, but nothing to be scared of."
And that was when the protest came to their area of Diagon Alley. Side by side, hundreds of house-elves stood, raising large signs in their air and screaming loudly for equal rights.
AN-
I am amazed at the great response I'm receiving for this story. I love all the good questions I'm receiving in the reviews. It makes me more excited to share this story. Thanks for your reviews, JeanandBilius, Gilbee, Gja03 and HeRonLove.
I hope you like this chapter!
HappyTerrier
