Chapter 9
Meeting the Parents
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: I do not own or claim to own anything related to Harry Potter I just own the plot.
A/nHi guys sorry it has taken me so long to post this chapter. Hangs head in shame I moved shorly after christmas then we had computer problems and i have recently started a new TAFE course. So it has been really busy for me. Don't worry through all this i have continued writing this story, i just need to type it all up, hopefully it wont take me too long. I hope you are all enjoying this story and i'll do my best to post asap this time. Thanks to everyone who reviewed.
Last chapter...
Hermione stifled a sob and covering her eyes she turned and buried her face in Harry's shoulder.
"D- dead?" asked Harry, choking over his words, as he wrapped his arms around Hermione.
"Yes," said Dumbledore, solemnly. "Voldemort was here. He must have come to the castle with his Death Eaters, but then come by broom up to the Divination Tower. He then tortured Professor Trelawney." Hermione gasped.
"But why?" asked Harry, shocked.
"Harry can you not remember what happened eighteen months ago?"
"The prophecy," breathed Harry so only Dumbledore could hear
"Yes. However, one of Voldemort's downfalls is that he overlooks things. He did not think that Professor Trelawney would not be able to remember,"
"So all that happened downstairs … that was all a diversion?" asked Harry, slowly.
"I fear that is so," replied Dumbledore.
"How would he know where Trelawney was?"
"Peter Pettigrew," said Dumbledore simply.
Harry felt a rush of anger towards his father's former friend, he swore then and there to get him back for everything he had ever done to ruin his life.
And now on with the story ...
After the disaster that was the Christmas ball the teachers he decided that is was in everyone's best interests for the students to be sent home earlier than planned. The students were informed that the train would arrive to take them home at 9:00am the next day, and that their parents would be informed. This allowed time for the staff to attend to the captured Death Eaters as well as assess and repair the damage to the Great Hall.
"What do you think they will do with the Death Eaters?" Hermione asked Ron and Harry later that night as they sat in front of the fire.
"Who knows," muttered Harry, who was slowly drifting off to sleep with Hermione snuggled up to him.
"I think Dad mentioned something," said Ron thinking for a minute. "That they were building another fortress, somewhere in Alaska I think he said" he finished as he put down the book he was reading, Famous Quidditch Players of the Last Century.
"Well as long as its more secure than Azkaban, I don't care where it is" yawned Harry.
"Come on Harry you should go to bed." Said Hermione getting up "You too Ron we need to get up early tomorrow so that we can finish packing." As she said this she attempted to pull Harry to his feet, with little success. When she finally got him to his feet she turned her attention to Ron who had started reading his book again. "Come on Ron, as much as I don't want to stop you from reading you'll never get up in the morning if you don't go to bed soon, it's already…. 2:30" she said looking at her watch.
"Yeah, yeah, I'll go in a minute" said Ron, not really listening to her. Hermione sighed and grabbed the book out of his hand as she followed Harry over to the staircase and gave him a good night kiss before he slowly made his way up the spiral staircase.
"Come on Hermione give me the book back grumbled Ron as he made his way over to her.
"Night Ron!" she said handing the book back to him and watching him make his way up to the dormitory, she could hear him grumbling the whole way.
Hermione woke at 6:30 the next morning to the sound of her alarm. She rolled over and turned it off before sitting up in bed and rubbing the sleep from her eyes with one hand, while propping herself up with the other. There was a soft knock at the door and Harry's face appeared around the door a second later.
"Good morning beautiful" he said cheerfully.
"Morning," she yawned. "You're up early."
"Oh, I couldn't sleep" he said as he walked over to her bed and flopped down beside her.
"Have you finished packing?"
"Yup, just a minute ago. So I thought I'd come see if you were awake yet, and obviously, you are," he said grinning at her. Hermione couldn't help but laugh.
"Well I haven't so I'm going to get a shower so I can finish okay?"
"Aww, but I just got here." He pouted. "Can't you wait a little while?" he added, giving her puppy dog eyes.
"Harry," she said rolling over to face him. "If you want to actually come to my place for the holidays I'm going to have to get up or I wont be ready by the time the train gets here."
"Well," said Harry with a mischievous grin. "We could stay here? We'd have the whole Gryffindor tower to ourselves for two whole weeks!"
"Harry!" she exclaimed laughing, and hitting him on the arm.
"What? It was just a suggestion." Giggling she leant over and kissed him, but pulled away as Harry began tickling her.
"Harry," she gasped between giggles. "Stop, please stop" She finally managed to roll away and jumped to her feet. "You're in a strange mood this morning." She said with a smirk
"Oh, I'm just happy it's the holidays." Said Harry stretching out and linking his fingers behind his head as he crossed his ankles.
"Yeah, it'll give us a chance to catch up on all the homework we haven't had time to do," said Hermione crossing the room and picking up the clothes she had laid out for herself. Harry groaned. "Well if you want to fail your N.E.W.Ts"
"I never said that," he replied, but she had already closed the bathroom door, and a minute later he could hear the running water as she got into the shower. Harry sighed as he got off the bed and made his way down to the common room.
Two hours later the trio were sitting in one of the many Thestral drawn carriages on their way down to the Hogsmeade train station, where the Hogwarts Express was waiting to take them all back to London.
"I can't waif yo get home," said Hermione from beside Harry. "I missed not spending Christmas with my parents for the last few years.
"Well this year is going to be the best Christmas yet, well for me anyway," said Harry as he put an arm around her shoulders.
"You better watch yourself around her parents mate," said Ron with a smirk. Harry's face dropped slightly.
"Don't worry Hon," said Hermione soothingly. "You've met my parents before."
"Yeah, but that was under different circumstances. This time your dad is likely to bite my head off if I put one toe out of line, or at least lecture me." Hermione giggled.
"Yeah, well, knowing my dad, he always was a little over protective." Ron burst out laughing at the look of horror on Harry's face.
"So NOW you tell me, and here's me thinking I was only joking." Said Harry rolling his eyes causing Ron to laugh even harder. Which brought Hermione's attention to him instead.
"So do you and Luna have any plans for the holidays?" It looked like you were both having a great time at the ball last night." Ron immediately turned bright red, making Harry laugh.
"Oh shut up Harry." Said Hermione as sternly as she could, a smile playing on her lips. "Well?" she said turning her attention back to Ron.
"NO, umm… not really, she said she was going away with her dad for a while and didn't know when they would be getting back. Said she'd owl me when they got to where they were going though.
"Oh ok." By now they had reached Hogsmeade and a minute later the trio were climbing out of their carriage and making their way onto the platform where the scarlet steam engine was waiting. The three of them dragged their luggage towards the train. Having caught one of the first carriages down they were soon able to find an empty compartment.
"Do we have to go up to the front?" asked Harry as he settled himself down next to the window.
"No," replied Hermione as she closed the door behind them. "We just have to patrol along the train every so often to make sure everything is alright."
"That's ok then,"
The train was quickly filling up and Ginny, Luna and Neville soon joined them.
"Hi guys," said Ron as they entered and sat down. Luna took the seat next to Ron, Ginny net to Hermione and Neville across from Ginny next to Luna.
"So what has everyone got planned for Christmas?" asked Neville
"Not much for us, hey Gin. Probably just relax."
"Dad and I are going to Australia to visit some family down in Tasmania."
"We'll probably have a quiet one as well, won't we Harry?"
"Not if you have anything to do with it. You'll probably get stuck into your homework, putting the rest of us to shame as usual," said Harry grinning at her, making her blush slightly. The train jerked slightly as it began its long journey to King's Cross Station.
"Half an hour into their journey Hermione stood up saying.
"I better just go make sure everything is alright, won't be too long." She made her way to the door and pulled it open.
"Wait up Mione, I'll come with you." Called Harry as he jumped up from his seat.
"Not that's okay, I can do it, and I'll be fine really."
"Oh, umm… okay, you sure?"
Yeah, I'm sure." She said as she pulled the door closed behind her. Harry sat back down, a disappointed look written all over his face. Ginny Took her eyes off the door where Hermione had just disappeared, she took one look at Harry and hurried after Hermione.
"Hey Hermione, wait for me," she called as she followed her down the hallway.
"Oh, hey Gin."
"You alright?"
"I'm alright, it's just –"
"Just what?"
"Why does he have to do that?"
"Who do what?"
"Harry, with the homework thing."
"Oh that, you know he doesn't mean it, he's just playing around."
"Yeah I know" she sighed, "but still…"
The two girls walked from one end of the train to the other, stopping every so often to poke their heads into a compartment and say hi to its occupants, many of whom were members of the DA, which Dumbledore had allowed Harry to continue after their fifth year. It was this that kept his mind off Sirius, without it, Hermione suspected it would have taken him a lot longer to get over Sirius' death. The trip so far had been without incident so they made their way back to their friends. They entered the compartment to find Ron and Luna snuggled up together in a corner talking and Harry and Neville playing a game of exploding snap. Ginny sat down to watch the game, while Hermione pulled a book out of her trunk and opened it to the marked page. She curled up next to the window and began reading, and didn't stop until the witch came around with the lunch trolley.
Harry made a round of the train, just before lunch reminding the other prefects that they were meant to do the same, while he was at it.
Just before they reached platform 9 ¾ the six occupants of the compartment decided to change out of their school robes and into muggles clothes, ready to make their way into muggle London. Fifteen minutes later the train pulled into the station and there was a rush to grab luggage, the noise of the students exiting was almost deafening. Harry, Hermione, Ginny and Ron took their time gathering their belongings, knowing that if they wished to make it to their parents unharmed they would be best to wait for at least 5 minutes.
Once they had made it off the train safely they grabbed a couple of trolleys and piled all of their luggage onto them. Harry and Hermione's on one, Ron and Ginny's on the other. They made their way over to the cue that was forming to make their way into muggle London. After a few minutes it was their turn and they took the barrier two at a time. Ron and Ginny went first followed by Harry and Hermione. Before Harry was able to take in his surroundings he felt someone pulling at him from behind. He soon realised that it was Mrs Weasley pulling him into a tight hug, cutting off his air supply.
"Hi Mrs Weasley" he said as she let go of him.
"Oh Harry dear I have been so worried about you. Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine thanks to Hermione." He replied smiling at her.
"Oh Hermione dear." She shrieked, as she now pulled Hermione into an equally tight hug. "I was so worried about you all when we heard what had happened. It must have been awful for you all." Just then Hermione looked past Mrs Weasley and saw two figures walking up the platform.
"Mum, Dad!" she called as she hurried off to greet them. Harry said a quick goodbye to the Weasleys before following Hermione, pushing the trolley with their luggage along with him. He stopped a couple of meters away unsure of what to do. Hermione soon turned around looking for him.
"You remember Harry don't you?" she asked her parents as she walked over to him.
"How could we forget?" replied her mother smiling warmly at him, making Hermione blush slightly for some reason.
"It's nice to see you again Harry." Said her father holding his hand out for Harry to shake
"Nice to see you too." He replied taking his hand.
"So how are you Harry?" asked her mother as the four of them made their way towards the exit, Harry and Hermione turning one last time to wave to the Weasleys.
"Ohh.. not too bad thanks Mrs Granger, pleased that it is the holidays"
"I'm sure you are, and please call me Helen, there's no need to be so formal. Michael," she said turning to her husband "Why don't you take that trolley off Harry's hands."
"Yes dear" he said as he moved in behind the trolley Harry had just moved away from. He moved over to Hermione and slipped his hand in hers. She gave it an encouraging squeeze and smiled at him.
"Thanks Mr Granger" he said after a second."
"Call me Michael Harry, and it's no problem" They continued chatting as they made their way out to the Granger's car.
"Thanks again for inviting me" Harry said as they all piled into the white car.
"It's our pleasure Harry." Said Helen "Isn't it Michael?"
"Of course, we've been wanting to meet you for some time now. Although it feels like we already know you, it must be the fact that Hermione never stops talking about you."
"DAD!"
"What? It's true." Hermione groaned as she settled back into her chair. Harry couldn't help but laugh quietly to himself as he saw the look on his girlfriend's face.
Hermione had told him earlier on the train that it would take about an hour to get to her house from the station, depending on the traffic. He soon settled himself into his chair to enjoy the view when he felt Hermione head slip down onto his shoulder. He looked over at her to discover that she was fast asleep. Helen and Michael were having a conversation in the front, but Harry wasn't paying attention.
It wasn't long before they were pulling up into a long driveway, Harry looked up to see a large two-story house, surrounded by immaculately kept gardens. Michael drove up the gravel driveway between neat box hedges. He pulled the car around to the side of the house and parked it in the double garage. Hermione stirred as her father stopped the car and woke with a start when he closed his door with a bang. She sat up quickly rubbing the sleep from her eyes as Harry and her mother climber out of the car. Harry stretched before hurrying to help Michael pull their trunks from the boot of the car. AS they made their way inside Michael called out.
"I'll take your things up to your room honey while you show Harry where to hang his coat and help him carry his luggage up to his room."
"Okay thanks dad" Hermione called after her father, who had now reached the top of the stairs.. Harry placed his luggage down on the floor of the large entrance hall and removed his coat, scarf and gloves. He stuffed the gloves into one of the coat pockets as Hermione came over and took the jacket off him. She turned around and opened a door to the left, which Harry then saw was a closet.
"This is where we keep all our coats" she said as she pulled out a coat hanger and hung his coat up. She then took his scarf and wrapped it around the top so that it would not fall off. "Come on and I'll show you your room" she said, grabbing Hedwig's cage and a few other bits and pieces, and heading for the stairs.
"Is it alright to use magic? Just that this trunk is a bit heavy."
"Don't see why not, we're over the legal age and my parents know about it already."
"Great" said Harry "It'll give me a chance to practice Lupin's wandless magic."
"You actually want to do homework! Wow that makes a change" she giggled.
"Yeah well, it might come in handy next time I have to face Voldemort." He said quietly before raising his hand and muttering 'locomotor mortis' at the trunk. At the mention of Voldemort's name Hermione fell unusually silent as she slowly made her way up the stairs and down the hallway to the right.
She led Harry into the second room on the left Harry's jaw dropped as he walked into the room, which was as big as the fifth year boy's dormitory back at school. The room was painted cream and had red everywhere. The carpet was a deep red with specks of gold throughout as were the curtains, which were hung over the windows on the opposite wall to the left and right of the fireplace. The fireplace had a mantle of dark mahogany wood and had a few ornaments sitting on top. Along the wall to the left was a large queen size bed with a red and gold quilt cover and pillows. To the right next to the wardrobe was another door, which Hermione was now walking towards.
"This leads to the bathroom" she said as she opened the door. Harry, who was still levitating the trunk, lowered it gently to the ground then followed her into the bathroom. The bathroom was quite large 'At least 2 ½ times as big as the Dursley's bathroom' he thought to himself. To the left was a blue bench that stretched the entire length of the wall. In the middle of that wall above the bench top was a window over looking the Granger's backyard. There were lace curtains, tied back with blue ribbon. On either side of the window was a mirror, each above a white basin. Harry could see other bits and pieces sitting in various places along the bench. He cast his eyes around the rest of the room.
There were white tiles covering the floor, with the occasional tile that had a blue rose. The same tiles were placed halfway up the walls around the bath, which was on the right hand side of Harry's door. Along the top of the white tiles was a small row of blue tiles with white roses.
Across the other side of the room was another door, which Harry assumed led into the hall. Beside this door was the shower, there was a blue mat lying on the floor in front of the shower and a towel rack, which was situated on the wall between the shower and bath, was holding blue and white towels.
The mirrors made the room look even brighter in the evening light. It took Harry a minute to take everything in and once he had he realised that Hermione was still talking to him.
"-Is already in the shower for you, and your's are the blue towels." She finished.
"Umm… alright" said Harry looking around.
"This door" she said walking over to the door Harry had assumed led to the hall. "Leads to my room, but don't get any ideas, my parents room is just across the hall." She said giving him a fake stern look, before bursting out into giggles at the look on his face.
"Who said anything about ideas?" said Harry absentmindedly, making Hermione wander if he was even listening to her.
"So," she said walking up to him and wrapping her arms around his waist. "Do you think you can manage to unpack all your stuff without me?" she asked teasingly.
"Oh, I don't know," he said in mock concern "I might get separation anxiety?" he added putting on a serious look. Hermione giggled before letting go of him and walking towards the door that led to her door, leaving him standing in the middle of the bathroom watching her.
Hermione wandered back into Harry's room half an hour later and flopped down onto the bed beside his trunk, which was still half full. She lay there on her back for a few seconds listening to Harry open and close draws. She rolled onto her stomach and brought her arms up and folded them in front of her so that she could rest her head on them while she watched Harry.
"Finished already?" he asked as he walked back towards his trunk/
"Uh huh, I didn't have that much, a lot of my stuff that I'll need is already here." She said lazily. "How ate you going?"
"Not too much to go, mainly just the school books that we'll need."
"Just leave them in your trunk for now." she said as she sat up "We'll have a break until after Christmas.
"Alright sounds good" said Harry, throwing the book in his hands back onto the pile in his trunk. He then closed it before levitating it into a corner out of the way "So, what now?" he asked sitting down next to her.
"Sleep!" she replied yawning
"Mione, it's only 6:45" he said looking at his watch and laughing "We haven't even had tea yet!" just then the two teenagers could hear Helen calling up the stairs.
"Hermione, Harry, dinner is nearly ready."
"Okay mum," called Hermione, slowly getting to her feet. "We're coming" Hermione crossed the room and made her way down the hall, Harry close behind.
"So what do you want to do tomorrow?" asked Harry as they made their way down the stairs.
"I still need to do a bit of Christmas shopping, do you mind if we go down to the mall for a few hours?"
"No, that's fine, I still need to get something for your parents anyway."
"You don't have to do that."
"Yeah I know, but I want to say thanks for doing this, I know what letting me come here means, and I don't know how else to do it" he said just before they entered the kitchen, hand in hand.
"Ahh, there you two are." Said Michael "Could you please set the table Hermione?"
"Sure Dad." She said letting go of Harry's hand, walking past him and opening a drawer next to the fridge.
"Drink Harry?"
"I'd love one thanks Michael" he replied as he watched Hermione set the table.
"What will it be?" Michael asked as he moved towards the fridge. Harry, who was too busy watching Hermione didn't answer "Harry?" Michael said a little louder, a smile playing on his lips.
"Huh?" he said jerking around to face him. Michael indicated to the fridge. "Oh, umm… just some juice if you have some please." He said blushing slightly as he realised what had happened.
"What about you Hermione?"
"I'll have the same as Harry thanks Dad."
"Should have known." He chuckled to himself. Making Harry blush even more. "Wine dear?" he asked Helen as she approached the table with two plates.
"Yes please sweetheart" she answered as she looked to her left and saw him place the two glasses of juice on the table. Harry, Hermione, here's yours" she added as she went to grab the two remaining plates. She placed one in front of her husband at the head of the table and put hers down before hurrying back into the kitchen to make sure she had turned everything off.
"This looks great Helen," said Harry as he picked up his fork.
"Yes Mum, it's absolutely delicious." Said Hermione before taking a sip of her drink "I had forgotten just how good your cooking was." She added as she put her drink down.
"So Harry," said Michael from the end of the table. "Hermione here has told us a lot about you"
"Has she," he said glancing at Hermione who had turned slightly pink "All good I hope," he said trying to lighten the mood.
"She tells us that you love playing sport and are an excellent... What did she call it?" he mused attempting to think of the word.
"Quiditch?" Harry offered before taking a bite of his spaghetti
"Yes, that's it. She said that you are an excellent Quidditch player."
"Well I am pretty good, but the best thing about it is that when I'm up there I feel free like I have no worries in the world."
"Ahh, yes I no that feeling" said Michael with a far away look in his eyes. "So," he said after a second "How exactly does this game work?"
"Oh Michael, now isn't the time" said Helen sternly "There will be plenty of time for that later."
"Yes dear" There was silence for a few minutes as they enjoyed their meal. Helen eventually broke the silence.
"Do you have any plans for the summer Harry, with it being your last year at Hogwarts and everything?"
"Well, depending on my NEWT results, I really want to join the ministry as an Auror"
Auror?" asked Helen and Michael in unison.
"They're just like police." Said Hermione "I've been considering it as well."
"Sounds dangerous" said Helen the concern evident in her voice.
"Yeah, well no where is safe at the moment" said Harry sighing and giving Hermione a sad smile.
"We'll get through it, we always do," she said softly, giving him an encouraging smile. Harry sighed again and returned to his food. Helen and Michael just looked at each other. The rest of the meal passed in silence.
Dessert was Harry's favourite, treacle tart, but he only managed to pick at it. After a while he put his spoon down and pushed his plate away.
"If it's alright I think I might have an early night. I'm not feeling too well. Please excuse me." he then rose from his chair and hurried from the room.
Do you think he is all right? Was it was something I said?" asked Helen.
"It's alright mum, there has been something bothering him for quite a while now, I just wish he would talk to me about it." She said still looking at the door where he had disappeared a moment before. "He hasn't had a very easy life so far. I've only told you what's on the surface. There have been things that have really affected him. A lot of bad things have happened to him over the years, more than anyone should have to deal with." Her parents sat there staring at her, she sighed. "I think I better go see if he is okay." She said standing up. "Goodnight," she added giving her mum a kiss as she passed.
"Goodnight sweetheart" they both said and Hermione disappeared upstairs. Helen shot a worried look at her husband
"What could she be keeping from us? I thought she told us everything?"
"She did, but she isn't a little girl anymore. She's growing up" he sighed sadly as he picked up the plates left on the table and places them near the sink.
