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Sorry I haven't been writing, lets just say I'm having issues, with time and the drive to write. I've had this chapter written for a while in fact I thought I had posted it, guess I didn't.
CH6 84.8hrs/days in fast-time
Harry was showered, dressed and waiting when fast time ended on Saturday, the day he told Hermione he'd see her and he couldn't wait. He gave Dobby the three packages for the girls before heading towards the front door grabbing Hermione's notes and journals on the way.
Harry crossed the street just as Mr. and Mrs. Granger started to pull from their car park. Mrs. Granger opened her window once she noticed Harry was heading for them. "Mr. and Mrs. Granger, I hope you remember me, I'm Harry a friend of Hermione's."
Mrs. Granger stepped from the car. "Oh yes I remember you, but why are you not at the Weasleys."
"The Weasleys, I haven't even been asked over but I wasn't planning on going this year anyway, why do you ask?" Harry asked confused.
"Well Arthur came last night and picked Hermione up, we assumed you were already there."
"Oh well no I'm not, I guess they're finally together then." Harry said dejected as Mr. Granger stepped from the driver's side.
"Together?" Mr. Granger asked from the other side of the car.
Harry couldn't help feeling he'd just got Hermione in trouble. "Um, Ron and Hermione have been circling around each other a few years now; I knew a long time ago it was only a matter of time, but I could be wrong, Hermione may have just thought I'd be there, you know the trio together again or something. Thank you, I'll see about sending Hedwig with a note. Have a nice day." Harry added as he turned to leave.
"Harry!" Harry stopped and turned back to Mrs. Granger. "Why don't you come to dinner tonight?" seeing Harry was about to refuse she added. "We hadn't expected Hermione to leave so soon so her portion will go to waste. We'd normally take it for lunch, but with it being the weekend we can't do that, so please come, we won't take no for an answer." She finished with a smile, one much too much like her daughter, how could he say no?
Harry spent the next five hours in fast time after returned to his hidden home. Mr. and Mrs. Granger were very nice, much like Hermione, and he decided to do something nice for them. About an hour before dinner, he popped to the owl store, picking up treats for Hedwig and a few presents for the Grangers before heading home to get ready for dinner with the Grangers.
At 6:50, an owl pecked at the window and expecting a letter from Hermione Mr. Granger opened the window but instead of Harry's Hedwig or that annoying owl of Ron's Pig a large brown barn owl entered, with a note addressed to both Granger parents.
Hello Mr. and Mrs. Granger
I came upon this owl needing a home and a name. He can be your family owl so he won't go against school rules about Hermione having two pets. I will be at your door in about ten minutes.
Harry Potter.
It was less than five minutes later when there was a knock at the door.
It was several hours later before Harry sat down heavily on his couch; it was a good dinner but not knowing what Hermione had and had not told her parents he hoped he didn't get her in to more trouble. The conversations brought up a lot of hard memories and how much things were going to change with the trio, it really couldn't be a trio anymore could it. Friends yes, best friends even but with Ron and Hermione, dating that will change. Harry wrote a note to Hermione to send with Hedwig once she returned. Maybe he should find a girlfriend, he knew enough and seen enough of Susan to know he wouldn't have any problem dating her if she was interested. Luna and he had a good rapport so that could work. Dating Daphne would cause so many problems with both the Gryffindors and the Slytherins that it wouldn't be worth it and Padma would be out after their fourth year, Harry was surprised she even lent him her notes.
While he was at the Grangers Dobby had returned, before Harry read the return notes he asked Hedwig if she could deliver one to Hermione, receiving a nod Harry tied the note and sadly watched Hedwig fly off towards the Borrow before turning to the three notes Dobby had brought him. Each said thank you though Susan's said more first her Aunt wanted to talk to him and second that Susan would like to thank him personally and very privately for what he did for her and her Aunt. Making Harry think maybe finding a girlfriend wouldn't be so hard, but after sending that note to Hermione he couldn't think about Susan or having a girlfriend. He didn't want to think about anything at the moment but his own thoughts were hard to stop. Maybe he shouldn't have sent her that note, maybe he should have let her explain. Harry entered fast time; he needed time to think a lot of time, 48 hours in fact.
The borrow was quiet, everyone else was asleep however Hermione couldn't sleep, Remus had only left a few hours before, Harry was missing. Remus had found the notice-me-not runes on his door but nothing inside, Harry's room had been cleaned out, not even a scrap of paper had been left behind. Mr. Weasley said Harry would soon be here, but he isn't, the Headmaster was supposed to bring him but the Headmaster hadn't been to the Borrow in the last few days, with or without Harry. Hermione was worried for her friend, the Death Eaters had attacked Susan and her aunt, it was a good thing they failed but no details were given other then Voldemort and 26 of his Death Eaters including Professor Snape and no surprise Draco, had been killed in the attempt, but somehow Voldemort had survived death once why not again. She was glad Susan had survived she was a nice girl. However, she was a little too trusting of rumors especially ones concerning Harry than Hermione liked.
A tapping at the window brought Hermione from her musings. It was Hedwig with a letter in her beak, Hermione excitedly opened the window only for the owl to fly in drop the letter and fly out and into the night.
Hermione watched confused until the owl disappeared into the night before turning to the letter she had dropped.
Hermione
I went to see you but you're already with Ron, you know I think you have nice parents, but with not having parent so I could be wrong. However, if I did, I hope I would treat them better. They are worried about you Hermione, with you getting hurt and all, and then you run off to Rons.
You know forget it, they are your parents you know what you're doing. I'll see you on the train, you and Ron have a good summer.
Reading the letter Hermione had collapsed in on her-self on the bed and cried. She didn't truly want to leave her parents so soon, Mr. Weasley had just shown up with a letter from the Headmaster saying to go to the Borrow and he was personally bringing Harry. However, the Headmaster hadn't said when he would be getting Harry just that he would be, he could have meant the next day or the next week, Hermione should have read the letter more closely and asked questions, and now Harry was missing and wasn't planning to be found till Sept, 1st. Then to top it all off, she had hurt her parents. Harry was right her parents were very nice, maybe too lenient with her, they rarely said no to their little girl, even when they should have. What was Harry doing with her parents?
"Hermione there is an owl downstairs for you."
Hermione opened her eyes and regretted it. "Ginny, what time is it?"
"9:30 are you OK, you sick, or something?"
'9:30 no wonder it was so bright, she never slept this late, even with those healing potions Madam Pomfrey had her on. "Um… no, just didn't get much sleep, worried about Harry."
"Uh. Well we all are, but come down and get this package, maybe it's from Harry."
Even as Hermione shook her at the stupidity of Harry even thinking of using another owl other then Hedwig she rolled from the bed, stumbled out of the room and down the stairs to find a large barn owl watching her. Hermione sat and after the owl regarded her for another moment, it hopped over to her and stuck out its leg, and the letter attached.
Hermione opened the package noting it was from her parents. She absently fed the owl a piece of bacon from the plate Mrs. Weasley had set in front of her as she read the letter setting the diary like book that was wrapped with it aside. As she read, she got angrier and angrier.
Hermione
The owl is from Harry so we can keep in better touch with our little girl. We had a lovely dinner with said young man. He had come to see you; he was under the impression that you were expecting him, but he said he might have been a little vague in the details.
Anyway we had a good time, but he had brought up a few things that we don't understand and Harry stressed he truly didn't either so we are hoping you can shed some light on a few things.
First, it's not you having a boyfriend but that you felt that you needed to hide it from us, you father and I are sorry if we made you feel you needed to keep that fact from us. We are happy you found a boyfriend we just hope you wait to make it a more serious relationship for a good long while, you father thinks about five years, but you know him.
Second, what about this life debt you own Ron for saving you from that troll, Harry said you showed him a book on debts shortly after the incident but Harry never truly studied the matter, he did say he would make it a priority to do so now.
Third, is a wizard's debt Harry owns Ron for some chess game the three of you were in, Harry wouldn't go into detail about that game, but Harry said he truly didn't understand that one either, but Ron had called it and Harry has to ignore any feeling he has for you in favor of Ron.
Please write back and help us understand all this.
Love mom and dad
Hermione was red with fury as she turned to Ron. "I don't owe you a life debt Ron, it was Harry that risked his life to stop that trolls club from killing me, and what is with a wizard's debt Harry owes you? If Harry has kept his true feelings from me because of something, you said to him I will turn you into one of those slugs you were so fond of in second year. And I don't know where Harry got the idea we are dating but I wouldn't date you if you were the last man on earth, Draco would be a better choice then you." Hermione turned to Mr. Weasley.
"Mr. Weasley I need to go home and fix things with my parents and I don't think I can stay here any longer, unless you want to be less one son." She glared at Ron as she said that, and she wasn't the only one glaring. Ron was going to be having a hard time very soon.
"Yes I think I should, I think we are going to be have a long family discussion." Ron gulped and was actively seeking a way out of the kitchen seeing this; Ginny stationed herself at the backdoor while her mother could grab Ron from where she stood by the kitchen if he tried for the stairs or living room.
137.8hrs/days in fast time
