Chapter 7 – Boxing Day Dialogues

Harry woke up the next morning to fuzzily see that Hermione was kneeling next to his bed. She handed Harry his glasses and wished him a good morning. Harry placed the glasses on his nose and realized a number of things all at once. It was raining really hard outside so the morning run was cancelled. The door to his room was wide open which probably meant that Mr. or Mrs. Granger hadn't gone downstairs yet. He also saw that Hermione had put her hair up which exposed a lot of neck that Harry really wanted to move close to and nuzzle. That led to a memory surge of what he had seen of his girlfriend the previous night and he groaned really loudly.

That sound of pain caused Hermione to reach out for Harry. "Are you feeling sick Harry? Is there something wrong?"

Harry tried moving very carefully on the bed. He had woken up with a big problem and the memory of Hermione's chest was only compounding the difficulty.

"Harry, you're in pain; I can tell. What can I do to help? Should I go get mom?" Hermione stood up to run out the door to bring her mother back and Harry just couldn't allow that. He lunged to catch Hermione's wrist to keep her from escaping and pulled her carefully back to the edge of his bed.

"Hermione, the last thing I want to happen is for your mother to come into this room and see about fixing me up."

Harry's quick reach for Hermione had thrown the bedcovers and sheets back and Harry didn't realized how uncovered he had become. Hermione was trying to figure out why Harry didn't want her to summon her mother when she became very aware of his predicament. Harry realized with some consternation that Hermione was totally transfixed and had her eyes locked on to the obvious bulge in his pajama bottoms.

Harry hastily reached for the covers and that broke Hermione out of her stupor. "Oh Harry, I'm so very sorry!" Hermione's rush out the door was halted because Harry still had a hold of her.

She stared back to Harry who was still moving a little gingerly on the bed. "Don't leave or at least don't leave looking like I've just attacked you somehow. Your parents would send me back to Hogwarts if you went out of my room like that."

Hermione realized that she had panicked and it would look very wrong if she totally ran screaming out of the room. "I think I've got control of it now Harry. I'll be downstairs with my mom and dad."

Harry sighed and Hermione saw a sad look cross his face. "I'm sorry I scared you; I don't have any control over this obviously. Would it help if I explained quickly since I'm pretty sure this isn't something that might have come up in any sort of normal conversation?"

Hermione was a little confused. "You don't owe me any explanations here Harry but I will sit and listen if it's something you want me to understand."

"Foot of the bed then and you can forgive me if I keep my eyes closed while I'm talking. I really don't believe I'm going to talk about this. But I did promise I wouldn't keep things from you and I know you'll never repeat what I say to anybody."

Hermione nodded but then saw that Harry had already closed his eyes. Hermione went and sat on the foot of the bed closest to the door. She just wanted to be able to hear anyone coming up the stairs. 'I'm ready Harry.'

"First off, I'd like to thank you again for that wonderful gift last night. I certainly wasn't expecting anything like that and I need to tell you again how gorgeous you are. Now to the other; I wake up in this condition on average once or twice each week. Sometimes it's just the need to pee really badly and sometimes it has nothing to do at all to do with that. I'm not going to blame that little show you gave me last night as the one reason for my condition mind you but I'm sure it was a factor. Sometimes I have dreams that I remember that are a little more arousing than normal but sometimes I'm sure there are dreams that I don't remember that have the same result. Seeing you first thing this morning just brought a little extra pressure into the scheme of things because I remembered those very sexy parts of your anatomy."

'Does it go away naturally Harry? The pressure?'

"Once in a great while I can relax and things fall back into their normal arrangement. More often other things have to happen before the pain or pressure gets too bad. I'm not disgusting you in any way, am I?"

"No Harry, I'd like to know all the things that happen to you. Even the things that are problems or make you uncomfortable."

"Uncomfortable is an understatement. An erection just doesn't bend the right way to use the toilet without some type of gymnastics involved."

"So the solution when you have to urinate then is…?"

"It sounds gross and feels a little weird and unnatural but standing up in the shower and having to pee upwards is sometimes the only resolution. It makes showering with the other guys a real test some your own rainbow in front of others is not particularly a confidence builder."

'And the other times when it's the other reason makes it necessary…'

"To take matters into your own hands, as they say. And forcing yourself to do that sometimes leads to the condition just collapsing naturally but leads to another situation which can also be very uncomfortable. "

'Ooh, that must be hard then… Oh, I'm terribly sorry! Horribly bad phraseology."

"That's my explanation for now Miss Granger. I hate to be insistent but I really need to take care of this now one way or the other. So if you'll scoot along so I can throw a robe on, I'll carefully walk myself to the loo."

"Thanks for explaining Harry; I don't think it's something guys usually do for girls. I've got a couple questions for later but I'll be going for now and tell mom and dad you're in the shower."

"By myself!"

"Of course." Hermione got off from the foot of Harry's bed kind of grateful that he was considerate enough to explain part of the mystery that boys were.

Xxx xxx

Harry came downstairs about 15 minutes later to find a stack of pancakes sitting on his plate. Everyone had been waiting for him and Harry apologized for his tardiness.

"It's ok Harry, everyone loses track of time in the shower once in a while. It just feels so good making a clean job of it." The casual statement from Tony had both Harry and Hermione choking on their sips of orange juice. Harry had to turn away from the table as his face got very red. Dee assumed it was him choking and pounded him on the back a couple of times. Harry finally held his hand up and said that he was ok.

Hermione still had a napkin held up to her mouth and she was very careful about her wording when she looked across the table. "All better now Harry?"

Harry nodded, not trusting himself to say anything else without blushing. Before Hermione could ask any more of the questions she looked to have, Harry sent her a message. 'I'll answer anything but not over breakfast. Please?'

Dee announced that she and Hermione were going to do a little shopping after breakfast to take advantage of the Boxing Day sales. Hermione said that she was mostly doing some shopping for Crookshanks. She asked if Harry wanted to go with them but he just said that he would rather avoid the crowds and would take a look through the new books they had received. Hermione nodded at that but wondered if Harry really needed a little space away from her. It's not every day that somebody explains some very personal bodily functions to a member of the opposite sex.

Tony and Dee talked about the things she was going shopping for and Hermione asked Harry if there was anything special he wanted brought back. He simply said "You" which caused Hermione to smile.

Tony insisted on doing cleanup and Harry wandered into the living room while the ladies went upstairs. Harry noted that Crookshanks also went upstairs and had been following Hermione around like he had been on a leash. Harry realized that he was happy that Hermione would have somebody else to keep her company when he wasn't by her side himself.

Hermione and Dee came down and put on some of their raingear for the shopping trip. Tony had just sat down with a cup of tea and the paper but was happy to stand back up and give hugs to his wife and daughter. Hermione waved Harry back down when he started to stand and just came over and kissed the top of his head. "That will just have to do till later, Mr. Potter." Dee waved at him as she headed for the garage and Harry called out for Crookshanks to prevent him from following Hermione out to the Land Rover.

The Kneazle hesitated just long enough for Hermione to slip out the door. Crookshanks looked at the garage door for a few seconds and then came back to stare at Harry. Harry couldn't stand the stare for long and finally explained to the cat that Hermione had left but she was definitely going to come back in a while. That seemed to satisfy Crookshanks and he curled up into a circled and promptly fell asleep.

There was a nice comfortable silence in the living room as Harry relaxed and read his book. He got used to the occasional rustling of the paper as Tony read through the various sections of the paper.

Twenty minutes later, Harry looked up as he noticed the sound of the paper turning had stopped. He caught Tony staring at his cup of a tea a little abstractly. Harry sighed and put his book down. He cleared his throat and Tony looked over at him.

"You want to talk to me, don't you?"

Tony nodded slowly and Harry leaned forward in his chair. Crossing his fingers, Harry really hoped that Hermione's father didn't want him to leave.

Xxxx xxx

Tony started a couple of times but it appeared he was undecided about what to say to begin. He finally settled on something he was really worried about. "Do I scare you Harry?"

"A little" Harry admitted after a few seconds

"Why?"

"Because if you ever changed your opinion of me, you could ask or tell Hermione not to see me anymore. While she probably wouldn't like it she would obey her father."

"So are you more worried about messing things up with Hermione or me?"

"Hermione; she's a brilliant attractive witch that could have her choice of blokes. That she's ended up with me is something that I'm very thankful for every day. She's a part of my life now and not just because of the bonding. I'd hate to think of continuing on without her."

Tony smiled. "An answer like that is exactly why you shouldn't ever have to worry about me asking my daughter to give you up. Dee and I are both happy about the way you treat Hermione. You respect her but let her make her own decisions. She sees a challenge in you and I think that's part of the attraction. You make her laugh and you're friends above everything else. That's something some married couples never achieve even with the love they might share."

Harry was a little surprised. "I hadn't realized I'd been doing all that."

"I'm sure even Hermione isn't aware of how perfectly you complement each other. It's a little scary watching as a father because you are replacing me as the most important male in her world. Don't try to deny anything Harry. I know Hermione will always love me but the love she has for you is of a totally different sort. I just never expected it to happen so quickly. You should know that I very happy for Hermione and you. Does what I've said make me a little less scary?"

"Yes but I'd like to make it clear that I want no part in getting between Hermione and her parents. You're very important to her and I never want to place that relationship in any sort of jeopardy."

"Yet another reason Dee and I like you so much Harry. You're totally unselfish about things. My daughter tells me you are usually shy and reserved around most people. I think you and she are alike in that matter but the bond and friendship you've shared makes what we've seen of the two of you together very gratifying. Hermione has always been serious and a little mature for her age. That's only increased since the two of you have been together as you definitely don't act as I'd expect some boy of your age to be. Watching the two of you have fun together makes me feel good as a father because I'm certain that neither of you would ever do anything to hurt the other."

"Of course not! I trust Hermione to always be there for me and vice-versa."

"I am on your side Harry as much as I'm on Hermione's. Let me get something else out of the way then since we're being so frank with each other. I'm not so old that I don't remember what raging hormones can do to a young lad."

Harry blushed at those words. "We've talked about that already. I'm not going to ask or force Hermione to do anything she's not comfortable with. We're perfectly content for now with kissing and hugging."

"She's said that and I believe her. And you. Dee and I have no problem allowing and being witness to that level of intimacy between you. But there may come a point where you both decide that you both want something more. We have no control over what Hermione and you do during the school year."

"Tony?" Harry was very uncertain what and where Hermione's father was going with this bit of conversation.

"I hate being blunt about this but could I get some reassurance from you that you and my daughter won't be totally intimate until you graduate from Hogwarts?"

Harry blushed and stammered out a reply as best he could. "I.. Hermione's never told me… Neither of us… Whew, Ok. I was thinking that something that momentous shouldn't happen until we're much older. Like after graduation and until we get married. And if we didn't get married for whatever reason, I wouldn't want to ruin any experience a future husband for Hermione might want. That sounded terribly lame, didn't it?"

Tony smiled. "Actually, to a dad that sounded perfect. Harry, you're part of our family now and I like you being here. I trust you and you should take that as a very good complement. I am even considering an option of you and Hermione sharing a room on that cruise instead of having separate accommodations."

Harry's jaw dropped in shock. "I didn't expect…"

Tony smiled in reply. "You have given Dee and me as much respect as you have given our daughter. You both know how to behave and what might happen if we lost our respect for you. I'm technically saying it's ok if there's other levels of closeness you two could share but I don't want to know anything about it and I will deny ever giving you outright permission."

Harry sat back on the couch and processed the strange conversation that he never expected to have with Hermione's father. Harry definitely understood the outright ban on shagging until much later in their lives but the rest had been totally unexpected.

Straightening up Harry cleared his throat. "Thanks Tony. I won't disappoint you but I need to know if you want me to share this conversation with Hermione."

Tony shook his head. "This is strictly man-to-man. I'd like Hermione to think her father is trying to protect her virtue instead of allowing something of a sexual exploration between the two of you. I'll tell Dee what you've said but I think it needn't get any farther than that. OK?"

Harry shook his head in agreement and both returned to their reading for a while. Tony finished his paper and brought out a regular book he had been reading. Harry went on to the book that Tonks had got Hermione.

It was another twenty minutes when Harry cleared his throat and Tony looked up. "Something you need clarification on of our last discussion or a different topic?"

"Well since we're here alone, I'd like to ask a question I couldn't possibly ask Dee or ask you if she or Hermione were here."

"That's an intriguing way of saying it. Would you like a butterbeer to help talk it over in the kitchen? I got a few the last time we went through the Leaky Cauldron since I know you and Hermione like them."

"That would be great. I am a little thirsty now."

Harry followed Tony out to the kitchen and sat at the table. Tony rummaged through the fridge and pulled out a bottle of butterbeer for Harry and a sugar-free ginger ale for himself. He opened them up and sat down at the table across from Harry. "Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed at the pace of things or discussions around here? You should be relaxing and having fun Harry. If Dee or I have upset that somehow, I apologize."

"No, I'm having a wonderful time, other than that weird jingle bell rock incident. I don't get to relax and enjoy Hermione's company quite so much at school. We both have a lot of other concerns with classes and such. Being here we're a lot more relaxed and carefree and that's been great."

"So you have a question about something Harry?"

"Not a question really but I would kind of like to understand the circumstances that led you into becoming a naturist. I absolutely could not look your wife in the face and asked why she wanted to become naked?"

Tony laughed a little at Harry's discomfort but nodded his head. "That's fair I suppose. Make yourself comfortable, this may take a little time in the telling."

"Hermione's told you I was in the army. I joined up right after I became a dentist because I wanted to give a little bit back to the country. I suffered through 44 weeks of officer's school at Sandhurst and became a very proper second lieutenant. My first, and only assignment, was to a base at Swinton. Myself and a half dozen other dentists and dental assistants provided for the needs of a couple brigades of engineers. Nothing that was too hard or unusual of an assignment."

"A new commanding officer a year in had what he thought was a wonderful idea. Dentists are technically doctors after all and he thought a little cross-training would be an excellent idea in case of emergencies. So all us dentists began having weekend assignments in other branches of medicine: neurology, pediatrics, internal medicines and the like. Under the supervision of the trained specialists."

"It was my unfortunate luck to be shadowing an emergency room surgeon one weekend when a train and a couple of loaded troop buses collided. The more serious trauma victims were shuttled to the regional hospitals immediately but a number of our troops were sent right to our emergency room."

"Sounds horrible" said Harry.

"It was quite a shock a shock to have to suit up and start assisting in some very serious surgery while other surgeons were summoned to our hospital. I spent a very long night helping a lot of skilled surgeons accomplish some small miracles. I did no surgery of my own but I was there as second chair of a sort. Anyway at six or seven in the morning I was finally relieved and got out of my latest blood soaked gown and into my very trim and proper officer's uniform. I had too many disturbing images in my mind to actually get some sleep so I decided to get in my car and go for a ride."

"I wandered who knows where for a couple of hours and ended up at a little park way over by the Bristol Channel. I pulled off into a little dirt lane that led to a lake. Wimbleball Lake, if you can believe such an absurd name. Anyway I pulled up close to an empty beach and walked down close to the shoreline. It was such a nice day then. Warm and the lake looked so peaceful; I took off my dress shoes and socks and removed my tie. It felt so good getting out of that after the night I had that I just kept going until I was down to my skivvies and nothing else. I guess the setting and the peace and quiet affected me more than I knew. I sat there on a big flat rock watching the sun and birds and felt more in touch with nature that I had ever felt before. It didn't take much more of the seclusion and peaceful feeling to get rid of the last article of clothing I had on. It was a feeling of belonging and restfulness that came from being naked. It wasn't dirty. It wasn't harming anyone. I didn't even feel like I could be embarrassed if anybody should even find out where I was and wanted to share the beach."

"It sounds like almost like a mental transformation." Harry said.

"It was. Hermione had trouble describing to us what she felt and how her life change so dramatically when she felt the first magic through her wand for the first time."

"I can understand that. It was absolutely a life altering experience for me."

"Well anyway, that started me thinking on my drive back to Swinton on how to get that feeling again. I spent some time looking into naturism and thinking about things before I found a place with people to go to. It was a little awkward the first time or two but my body quit responding to the visual stimuli and I got that feeling of peace and being a part of the natural order of things."

"That's very nice story Tony. Thanks for telling me; it helps a little in understanding."

"I'm not going to ask you to start going naked around here but would you like to try shedding some clothes and try to understand the feeling?"

"I could try but I know I'm going to have some reactions to Hermione and Dee being less than fully dressed and that might be more than I could handle."

"I'm sure Dee and Hermione would understand your initial reactions and make allowances for it. They wouldn't make fun of you."

"I'd like to talk to Hermione about it first. I need her to understand that.. I'm not sure what I need her to understand."

"That's fine then Harry. We are not trying to push you into anything you might be uncomfortable with."

Harry laughed. "I think I just said something almost word for word like that a little while ago."

Tony smiled. "Yes you did. I guess great minds think alike then."

Any further discussion was interrupted as Crookshanks came rushing into the kitchen and jumped up on a counter. Harry and Tony were still staring at him when they heard the garage door opening. "Cats are really scary at times. This one maybe more than normal Harry."

Harry agreed with Tony as they went out to the garage to help carry packages in.

Xxxx xxx

The afternoon was quiet for Harry. They had a nice lunch of some of the leftovers and Harry had felt sleepy and gone back to his room for a nap. By the time he had woken up later Hermione had gone out for a little walk with her father and Harry helped make up a salad to go with a spaghetti dinner that Dee was making. Harry thanked Dee for thinking to get a couple of perches for Hedwig while they were at the pet store. Hermione had placed one in her room and set the other one up a clear area of counter space next to the door leading into the backyard. Harry tried to pay Dee back for the expense but she said that it wasn't necessary.

"Hedwig is another part of our family now and has helped us keep in contact with both you and Hermione. We can spare a few pounds to make sure that she is comfortable while she is here. I am sorry that we hadn't thought of something so simple before."

Harry had no response to that but started talking to Dee about the previous cruises she and Tony had been on and what kind of activities to expect once they were aboard. Harry told her that except for the trip that they had made to a beach the year before, he had never even seen the ocean. Dee said that they would make an effort to correct that situation before the cruise happened the next summer. Harry thought of something important and asked Dee when the cruise was planned for. When she said that it was in August, Harry breathed a small sigh of relief. He explained that he had to spend most of the summer at Privet Drive to recharge the wards that protected the Dursleys.

Dee said that she had been thinking about that and was going to write to Dumbledore and ask if Harry had to be there every second. She said that they would like to have Harry come and visit or possibly spend a couple nights once in a while. Harry said that would be a very nice idea if he could do it. When Dee suggested that Hermione go over and spend some days at Privet Drive, Harry said it might be ok with his aunt but that they would have to clear it with his Uncle Vernon. Dee said that she or Tony wouldn't let his uncle intimidate them about something so important to their daughter. Harry blushed a little but did stammer out his thanks for their intentions.

Harry was thinking he might mention the fact that Tony told him about his revelation about being naked when Tony and Hermione returned from the walk. Hermione hurried in to give Harry a hug and Tony did the same for his wife. Hermione playfully said "copycat" and Tony stared at her for a second and then put his wife into a deep dip and brought her back up kissing her. "Well?" said Hermione looking at her boyfriend.

Harry shrugged. "Ok, I'm game but are you sure you can hold me up like that Hermione?" Hermione's mouth dropped into an "O" and then she was chasing after Harry threatening to tickle him as he ran away laughing.

The Grangers watched the scene for a few seconds and then called for the two to go wash up for supper. They both came back giggling at Harry's joke and helped pass around the salad and main dish.

Dee and Tony decided to out for a long walk after supper and that left Hermione and Harry alone with each other for the first time since the girls had come back for shopping. Harry and Hermione were sitting on the couch and when Dee and Tony left they adjusted their positions so that Hermione's back was against Harry's chest. "This is nice" Harry whispered. "We haven't done this since the holidays started."

"It has been a little hectic for one reason or another. Mom and dad go back to work Monday so we've only another day to watch out for them."

"Actually, I think both your parents would be ok with us sitting like this as long as my hands didn't go anywhere else from where they are now."

"So should we just sit like this until they come back and see if they say anything?"

"Anything that lets me hold you longer is ok by me. So what did you and your mom talk about while you were out shopping this morning?"

"Oh a little of this and that. Mom says she trusts you to behave yourself so she was going to try talking dad into letting us share a cabin on that cruise."

Harry smiled. "That would be nice. It's been really nice when we've woken up those few times together. I'd be very content with that." Harry was trying to keep his word to Tony about keeping their conversation confidential.

"I hope you won't get upset Harry but mom kind of made me explain why you and I were both delayed after I was sent up to wake you up this morning,"

Hermione felt the wince that went through Harry. "So what did you tell her?"

"I don't lie to my mother. I told her you gave me a sort of complete explanation of a morning 'woodie'."

"And she didn't get mad at me about that?" Hermione felt a lot of concern and worry coming through their connection.

"Mom appreciated the honesty. She told me that Dad didn't get around to telling her all about that phenomenon until 2 months after they got married."

"Oh boy! There are times Hermione when I feel like I'm way over my head or totally out of my league with you and your family."

"I'm sorry Harry but you really shouldn't feel that way. I think you are fitting in quite nicely."

"Yes but we both know you're a bit prejudicial when it comes to me."

"Not prejudicial Harry. I just love you very much."

"As I do you Miss Granger. You want to ask those questions you have left over from this morning before you're parents come back?"

"Only if it's not too much trouble."

"It can't be any more disturbing than having to explain it in the first place. I told you I'd try to never keep anything from you and I meant it. And since I'm holding you this way, it's easier for me because I don't have to look you in the eyes."

Hermione took the hint and faced forward completely. She put her hands over his and composed herself. "So which was the difficulty this morning?"

Harry sang back his reply very softly. "Why are there so many Songs about Rainbows?" Hermione giggled just a little bit as she remembered Harry's description of the two common fixes. "Next question?"

"I know it's really weird of me, but I'd like to see that just once Harry. But not if you don't want me to. Taking care of things yourself wasn't one of the reasons you wanted to learn to use each hand as well as the other was it?"

A small dig to her ribs and a firm "No" let Hermione know that she was correct about that her assumption to that question.

"Don't take this wrong but I was wondering if a solution to your morning problem would be a little more frequency of … self-expression?"

Hermione heard a chuckle in her ear instead of the gasp of surprise that she expected. "That sounds almost like a scientific experiment when you word it that way Hermione. Are you interested in tracking my progress if I attempt that? Drawing diagrams for me? Measuring the results?"

Hermione started getting giggly. "Making flow charts?" she answered. And then she and Harry started competing.

"Doing weights and measurements?"

"Holding you up to a higher standard?"

"Coming to conclusions?"

"Making sure that you perform to the highest standards."

"Establishing the longevity of the test material."

"Drawing it out to its natural conclusion."

"Handling the results personally."

When Dee and Tony came back into their house they found Harry and Hermione laughing uncontrollably on the floor of the living room. Their faces were very red from laughing and each time they managed to look at each other they broke out laughing again! It took a good number of minutes for the two youngsters to regain control and get off the floor. Harry explained to Dee and Tony that they had been talking about a potions experiment and they had just gotten silly about it.

Dee looked at the still smiling faces and turned to her husband. "Maybe we shouldn't tell them we're thinking of making a road trip tomorrow."

That immediately got Hermione's interest. "A road trip really? Harry come on – we need to make plans." Hermione ran up the stairs but paused at the top when she found Harry wasn't following her.

Tony turned and gave Harry a small push. "Go on up; she'll explain."

Harry hurried up to Hermione's room to find her pulling maps, tour books and brochures off her shelves and onto the bed. "This is always fun Harry. We start out with breakfast out and then make a couple of stops at various places in or around London. I, sorry, we get to choose one place and Mom and Dad find something totally opposite for the other activity. So what do you want to go see?"

Harry and Hermione spent about an hour going over all the sites and attractions that she knew about. They were still discussing various options and looking at pictures when Tony gently interrupted them and told them they needed to get some sleep as they were starting early. Hermione frowned but her father reminded them that they could still 'talk' to each other and reach a decision. Hermione gave her father a hug and kiss and then shyly did the same to Harry as Tony waited for him to leave her room.

Harry went back to his room, changed into his pajamas and slipped into bed. He and Hermione visited and finished deciding on a choice. Harry rolled over and fell asleep with the sound of Hermione humming a little song in his head.