A/N: I do not own Harry Potter or anything associated with it.


NINE

London Yacht Club

London, United Kingdom

August 29, 1995 ACE

Hermione fought the urge to cover her eyes from the rays of the sun as she and Harry stepped out of the interior of the darkened black luxury car. A bellboy – immaculately uniformed and impossibly polite – held the door open for them and held it long enough to allow the parents of Hermione to dismount from the car.

She found herself staring at the building in front of her, a shocked expression on her face, though in hindsight, she told herself that she should have expected this when Harry informed her and her parents that they would be spending the last weekend before the start of term at a house – and here, Hermione shook her head as she reminded herself that the actual words that Harry used was 'estate' – in North Yorkshire and that they would not be forced to endure the cramped interior of a family van or even an RV to get to the place.

'No, we are going to get to ride a yacht,' Hermione thought to herself even as she turned her attention to her back. She could not help but smile as her father offered his hand to her mother as she was about to leave the interior of the big, black, and shiny Bentley sedan. With an unmistakable giggle, Rose accepted the offered hand of her husband even as she shook her head.

The two of them just could not resist acting out, but in fairness to the bellboy, he kept the smile on his face – and it was a rather genuine smile as well – even though Hermione was sure that the boy would rather be somewhere else.

At that moment, Hermione felt the hand of Harry near hers. She turned her attention away from her parent – who had to supervise the offloading of the luggage from the boot – but she did not turn it to Harry, instead, she turned her attention to his hand. She smiled when she saw that his hand was open and though there were no spoken words, there was hardly a need for them as Hermione was already aware what Harry wanted to ask.

Truth to tell, she was expecting him to be more forceful, given how he had acted when he practically dragged her into his car the first time that they had met – and here, Hermione was thankful that the car that they Harry had brought out for today was not that car, she shuddered as she thought about how her parents would react to that – but Harry taking things slow – even if in the opinion of Hermione it was too slow – was definitely the phase that Hermione wanted.

Without saying anything to Harry – 'why should I say anything?' she asked herself, 'he did not say anything, and I certainly do not need to ask his permission to hold his hand, not when he is offering it himself,' – Hermione took his hand in hers.

Hermione could tell that Harry was amused, there was a smile on his face, but he refrained from saying anything aloud even as he turned his attention away from the façade of the building – and such a magnificent building it is – in front of them toward the direction where they had came from.

Hermione followed the action of the boy – 'no, the young man,' she mentally corrected herself once more – and a frown came across her face as she watched her parents direct porters that seemingly came out of nowhere in unloading their baggage from the boot of the car. She also fought the urge to let out a sigh in thanks to the fact that her father had decided against bringing his so-called vacation luggage with them, though Hermione suspected the decision of her father had something to do with the revelation of Harry that his uncle also enjoyed fishing and that there would be fishing gears stowed aboard the yacht so Richard need not bring his own.

"I told them that they don't have to worry about it," Harry commented a few moments later. Although the tone that he had used was disapproving, there was a smile on his face, and Hermione realized that Harry was just having fun, albeit at the expense of her parents.

Given the fuss that her father had put up – and Hermione had realized that it was mostly for show – when her mother told him that Hermione is planning to ask Harry to be her boyfriend, Hermione thought that her father deserved the notoriety of being the only person in this club to actually have to supervise the unloading of their baggage.

Hermione was about to say something, however, what that something was never made it out of her throat as at that moment, Harry turned his attention back to the façade of the building.

Hermione mimicked the action of Harry and she turned just in time to watch as another immaculately dressed gentleman – although this one was dressed better with a suit – approach Harry with an expression of purpose set in his face. Hermione realized that Harry had turned because Harry was aware that this approaching man wished to speak with him.

"Mr. Potter?" the man asked, and although he had asked that question, Hermione caught the man – and she guessed that this man is the manager of this place – glance toward the direction of her parents. Hermione guessed that the man was of the impression that her parents are Mr. and Mrs. Potter.

"Yes sir," the man replied, not missing a beat that caused Hermione to revise her earlier assessment. It was obvious that the manager was already aware of who Harry was and with a mental sigh, Hermione told herself that that was probably because he had already been informed, "Your uncle had already made radio contact and his vessel has already requested a harbor pilot, they should be entering their berth in less than an hour or so, sir."

Hermione turned her attention to Harry and watched as he gave the man a smile and a nod, "Thank you," Harry replied cordially toward the man, "Has he sent any other messages ahead of him?"

The manager shook his head, "I'm afraid that other than asking for us to inform you of his impending arrival, Mr. York had not left any other messages, sir," he paused for a few moments before he asked, "Would you like to send a message to him sir?"

"Not necessary," Harry replied, he looked toward Hermione and smiled in response to the smile that she gave him before he returned his attention to the manager and asked, "Do we have a waiting room?"

"Of course sir," the manager replied, and Hermione thought that the man actually looked offended at the suggestion that no room would be made available, but given that this is her first time here – or in any social clubs for that matter – and given that Harry appeared to be on the top of things, she elected to keep quiet. In any case, it was not as if there is something constructive that she could do, "Philip would be more than happy to show you the way, sir"

Philip turned out to be another man – over six feet tall at that – who wore a suit, although the standard of his suit was obviously lower than the man that had greeted them whom Hermione labeled as a manager and whom she had neglected to ask the name of. Harry did not seem bothered by the fact that he does not know the name of the man and Hermione decided to follow his lead.

A few moments later found the four of them inside a relatively small – the living room of the Granger house was nearly as big as this room, but it was still small by the standards of the rest of the building – room. A large flat-screen television was mounted on one of the walls of the room and was turned on to the BBC Channel where a report regarding the debates of Parliament regarding some monetary measure was being discussed.

Hermione ignored the news – in a good day, she would listen to them, but today hardly qualifies as a good day because the young girl knew that using the label 'good day' for today would not do today justice, today was the best day – and instead allowed her gaze to wonder over the room. At one small table, there was a bucket of ice where a glass of wine was resting along with four wine glasses and Hermione cannot help but watch as Harry strode towards the table.

She watched as the young man that she is attracted to pick the bottle. There was no doubt in the mind of Hermione that Harry was reading the label, but before Hermione could even take a step toward Harry, he had already opened the bottle – she guessed that it had been opened prior to being delivered – and was pouring the contents to the glass.

"This is a very good year for this vineyard," Harry said a few moments later. He gently took the hand of Hermione and guided it toward the stem of one of the glasses that he had filled earlier. Before she could even think, Hermione found herself with the glass rested at her hand, but her parents – who had joined them – merely smiled at her. She took that as a silent permission from them to drink, but then again, hardly anyone gets drunk with one glass of wine.

"My uncle has little tolerance from wine from this vineyard, but this year was an exemption from their usual standards, according to him," Harry said, though this time, the comment was directed toward Richard Granger, "My aunt says that she cannot tell the difference, before she would make him frown by draining her glass with one gulp."

"She must be quite something," Rose commented under her breath, she sipped her wine in an attempt to cover her mouth, but Hermione caught the smile that came across the face of her mother after she said that.

Before Hermione could say anything, however, Harry returned to the conversation, "That she is," he agreed and he added more conviction to the statement that he had just made by nodding fervently, "My aunt and uncle, they took me in even if they did not have to, and raised me as their own."

"They don't have their own child?" Hermione asked before she could stop herself. Harry turned her attention toward her and Hermione fidgeted uncomfortably before she could even note the look on the face of Harry, "I'm sorry."

Harry smiled at her, and Hermione felt her heart flutter, but she still kept her silence, "It's alright," he replied, and before Hermione can say anything, Harry quickly added, "I am not privy to the details and I suspect that only three people are aware, but there is a story behind the reason why my aunt and uncle do not have children of their own," and with a frown, he quickly added, "Those three people, I suspect, are my aunt, my uncle, and the person who probably informed them of the reason."

'In other words, a doctor,' Hermione thought to herself. She briefly wondered if Harry's aunt was unable to have children on her own or of it was his uncle, but after a few moments, she reminded herself that it was none of her business. If the two people whom Harry called his aunt and uncle had not even seen fit to inform Harry of the reason, then there is no way that a stranger like Hermione would be told.

The hand of Harry on her shoulder tore Hermione out of her reverie at almost the same time that it nearly made her drop her wine glass in surprise. Fortunately, while the former did happen, the latter was prevented. She turned to look at Harry and caught him as he gave her a smile, "Cheer up, Little Kitten," he said, the smile on his face as broad as any that she had ever seen him give, "You'll like them, my aunt and uncle,"

Hermione gave Harry a smile. She certainly hoped that his aunt and uncle would like him. She glanced toward her parents and fought the urge to sigh as she considered what was likely to happen if his aunt and uncle expressed their disfavor of her. She certainly would not be able to find out what it means to have Harry by her side at the least.

Aboard the Emma Charlotte,

London, United Kingdom

August 29, 1995 ACE

Alex handed the pair of binoculars that he held against the bridge of his nose just a few moments later to his wife. Emma took the ocular device and pressed it against her own eyes so that she may see the sight that had obviously caused some sort of reaction from her husband.

The two of them stood inside the bridge of their yacht, located within the second highest deck of the vessel. Near where the two of them stood, the bridge crew worked in silence as they responded to the commands given by a man that just a few hours ago, they did not even know.

The rules of port entry, however, are very strict. It does not matter how gifted and how familiar the captain of a vessel is, when a vessel is entering a port, the authority aboard any ship – whether it was a small weekend schooner or a two hundred meter or even longer oil tanker – is the harbor pilot.

Just a little over thirty minutes ago, the Emma Charlotte slowed down to pick up a harbor pilot that had been given a lift by one of the small boats that the club operated. After the necessary pleasantries – including introducing the man to the owner of the boat – the harbor pilot went straight to business.

Alex fought the urge to snort as he turned his attention away from the direction where his yacht was heading at a moderately sedate speed of five knots and toward the harbor pilot. The man was easily distinguishable because aside from the fact that he is the only person aboard the yacht that Alex was not familiar with – the twenty six men and women who make up the crew of this boat is familiar to Alex, they are, after all, handpicked – he was also the only one amongst the five other people inside the bridge that was not wearing a uniform.

A sigh escaped from the lips of Alex as he returned his attention to the front of his boat. At least the harbor pilot seemed competent enough to do this job and Alex fought the urge to smile as he told himself that the man is supposed to be competent, after all, there was no way that the club would send an incompetent to guide a ship as big as the Emma Charlotte is to the berth that was reserved for her.

Emma removed the binoculars from her eyes and turned her attention toward her husband. Her action precluded Alex from doing anything other than return his attention toward his wife.

"He seems healthy enough," Emma commented as soon as she returned the binoculars to Alex. He took it without comment – aside from a smile – but then again, before he could say anything, Emma cut him off, "I fail to see any reason for you to be distracted."

The smile on the face of Alex broadened even as he shook his head. He told himself that he should have realized that Emma would not pay attention to the companions of the boy that she considered as her son.

"We saw less than a month ago, no one can change that drastically in just one month," Alex commented under his breath. He purposely refused to look at the face of his wife in order for him to not see the frown that she was sure she gave him – and she gave him a frown in response to his statement – before he added, "The girl that he was holding hands with is sure to be this Hermione character, those two older ones are probably her parents"

Emma smiled. There was a hint of amusement in her voice as she said, "I had came to that conclusion myself, but nevertheless, thank you for your help."

This time it was the turn of Alex to frown, though there was an unmistakable hint of amusement in his tone when he said, "Keep up that attitude, Little Kitten and you would enjoy the interior of our quarters for the rest of the trip," he paused for dramatic effect before he quickly added, "And it would be the only thing you would enjoy"

"Bully," Emma replied as she hooked her right arm on his left. She smiled, however, when she added, "That would not be a punishment for me, it would be a punishment for our guests"

"Really?" Alex asked, genuinely confused, "And why is that?"

Alex had to admit that she was expecting his wife would reply in the lines of, 'they would be deprived the chance to meet with me,' so he was surprised when instead of that, the reply of his wife was, "Because if I'm stuck in the room, then you would be stuck in the room as well," and before Alex could comment, she quickly added, though this time, it was just a whisper, "Since when have you been able to resist me pouting at you without the benefit of clothes, dearest Sir?"

Alex laughed silently as he conceded that that would be an effective way for her to keep him inside their quarters as well, "Well, we'll just have to think of another way to punish you, won't we?" he asked, the hint of mirth in his voice as unmistakable as the rays of the sun in the middle of the afternoon. When Alex next spoke, however, it was full of seriousness and given the topic, it was to be expected.

"It is the man that I want you to look at," Alex said, and when Emma nodded as she realized that the time for serious talk had arrived, Alex added, "He seemed familiar."

Emma blinked and before Alex could say anything else, she retook the binoculars that she had already handed to him and in one quick motion, she replaced them against her eyes so that she may look again at the party that was, without a doubt, waiting for them. After a few moments of study, she removed the binoculars against her eyes and handed them back to Alex, "I can't say that I've met him before," she admitted.

For a response, Alex pulled his wife closer to him, "He just seemed familiar, Little Kitten," he replied as he started to caress her hair, causing Emma to purr against his ministrations, "I did not say that we've met him before."

Alex continued to attend to the hair of his wife and she continued to purr in absolute pleasure against his ministrations as the yacht approached the berth under the guidance of the harbor pilot. The distance between where Alex and Emma stood and where Harry and the Grangers waited for them was still considerable that Alex was sure that Mr. Granger still could not see him, and he was thankful for that. Despite what he had said to his wife, he had met the man before, he just could not place where.

Alex mentally shook his head, as he told himself that it is of no concern. He had met a lot of people in his life, as a lawyer and as a member of the organization. It was not surprising that there might be one – or a hundred – faces that he could not place.

Aboard the Emma Charlotte, London Yacht Club

London, United Kingdom

August 29, 1995 ACE

The eyes of Hermione widened as Harry opened the door and she gazed upon a relatively small library. The two of them were inside the private apartments – and that was the term that Harry used to describe the place – of the owners located at the upper deck of the yacht.

As preparations for casting off were completed on the main deck, the lower deck, and the bridge deck, Harry had volunteered to take Hermione to a tour of the vessel. Actually, he had volunteered to take everyone who was not familiar with the vessel, but Richard and Rose Granger had begged off, having preferred to stay with his aunt and uncle at the main saloon and talk about topics that Harry was sure would soon include him and Hermione.

The young man had to admit the knowledge that the two of them would soon be included in the topic of the conversation was one of the reasons that had motivated him to take Hermione out for the tour.

"This is amazing," Hermione said as she took a step into the room that had been converted from a children's room to a floating library. Harry turned his attention toward Hermione as she practically skipped toward the mahogany and oak bookshelves filled with books. He watched as she scanned the titles and his worry increased when he saw the frown on her face.

"No magical books?" Hermione asked, and that told Harry what caused the frown to appear on the face of Hermione.

Harry smiled as he shook his head, "Unfortunately not," he replied, and before Hermione can say anything, Harry quickly added, "This is an oceangoing boat, Hermione, but it cannot stay outside a port for long, it has to dock every now and then, and in all of those docks, there are mandated inspections, I doubt my aunt and uncle could explain the presence of magical books in the boat."

The frown on the face of Hermione stayed for a few moments, but after a while, she gave him a nod of understanding. She knew that the aunt and uncle of Harry are both magicals, Harry had said so, but just because they are magical would not mean that they are exempted from the Coast Guard inspections that they have to undertake when they enter the borders of a country.

The look on the face of Hermione told Harry that he might have trouble in keeping her out of this room in the future, and as Hermione moved to probably take a book from one of the shelves, Harry pointedly cleared his throat.

Hermione returned her attention toward Harry, and there was a questioning look on her face. Harry smiled at her and said, "The library is not the only highlight of this tour, Hermione," – he fought the urge to call her 'Little Kitten' – "we should go see the other places first before you lose yourself in the books."

Harry caught Hermione frown as the smile on his face broadened, but after a few moments, she gave him a nod, "Very well," she said. She actually looked pained as she extracted herself from the library.

"It won't go anywhere," Harry assured her as he caught her take one last glance at the room. Hermione gave him a nod that nevertheless conveyed the message that Hermione does not fully believe him, and Harry would have laughed in response had he not seen the look that crossed her face when she caught sight of the closed door that was directly in front of the open door to the library, "My quarters," he said, and with a sigh, he quickly added, "The library was converted from a room that was supposed to be exactly like mine when my aunt and uncle accepted that they do not need a second children's room," he frowned as he added, "and I am soon going to outgrow this room as well."

Hermione smiled in amusement as she made a show of comparing her height with his. The top of her head could only reach till his nose, which probably led her to ask, "Can I have your room instead? You can have mine."

Harry laughed. The room that was assigned for the use of Hermione was one of the three VIP suites in the main deck. Her parents had one of the other three while the remaining rooms – one more VIP suite and two double suites – were to remain empty.

Harry gently took her hand in his. While he may not have thought much of it, it was clear that Hermione did. A blush came across her face as she realized what he had done, but Harry failed to see it because he had his attention away from her. He gently pulled her with him until they were standing in front of a narrow corridor that ends in another closed door.

"My aunt and uncle's room," he said. He inclined his head toward the direction of the closed door and said with a smile, "They could be noisy most of the time."

The blush on the face of Hermione deepened, but Harry mistakenly interpreted the blush as having come from what he had just said rather than the fact that what he had just said actually just helped to spread it.

"Want to see the pool?" Harry asked a few moments later. It was a loaded question as he already knew what her response would be. After what he had just said, there was no doubt that Hermione would want out of the private apartments as soon as possible.

A few moments later, Harry had shown Hermione not only the jet pool at the top deck and to the aft of the boat, but also the Jacuzzi forward of the sundeck with its excellent panoramic view – which was ruined by the fact that they are still berthed, so there was no excellent sight to look at, and Harry was sure that Hermione was already tired of the city – the exercise room located at the amidships of the top deck, the spa beside the exercise room, and the view from the sundeck.

He refused to show her the view from the number two and the number four radar platform – the latter higher than the former, but those two provided the most excellent viewing platforms in the boat – as that would mean climbing the mast. Harry had only climbed the mast once in his life and had been grounded for two months and two weeks because of it.

They were inside the bridge assembly – in particular, the navigation room – where Harry was teaching Hermione how the use the astrolabe – after he assured her that they have little need for it since the yacht was equipped with GPS – when one of the members of the crew found them and informed them that their presence was requested at the saloon where dinner was to be served shortly, so Harry led Hermione back to the aft of the main deck, and in the process, he showed to her the fastest way back, using passages that were supposed to be for the crew only.

Harry and Hermione heard the laughter that came from the direction of the outside saloon even if they were still a considerable distance away. When they got to the saloon, they were both not surprised to see that their parents – for Harry, his aunt and uncle are his parents – seated at the huge circular table that could seat fourteen people. Harry was also not surprised to see the captain of the vessel – a man whom Harry refers to as Martin because the man insisted when Harry first met him – had joined them for the evening.

"Harry," Alex said as soon as he caught sight of the boy whom he had raised as his own, he motioned toward two empty seats and said with a smile, "Take a seat, dinner would be served shortly"

"Yes uncle," Harry said, he turned toward Hermione and gently pulled her with him, but before they took their seat, Harry stopped beside the seat of the captain and introduced Hermione, "Captain, it is good to see you again," he began, "May I present Hermione Granger?"

Captain Martin smiled and stood before he inclined his head toward Hermione, "Welcome aboard, Ms. Granger," he said, "I hope you've had a wonderful time in the few hours that you've been aboard and I could only promise that the rest of the time would be just as grand if not more so."

Hermione smiled back, "Thank you captain," she said.

"Welcome aboard the Emma Charlotte," the captain replied. Silence descended as Harry pulled a chair for Hermione and he actually waited till she was comfortable in her chair before he took his own seat. By the time that Harry took his seat, the waiting staff had already appeared and began serving their food.

While they were having their dinner, Rose said toward the direction of Alex, "I've never heard of anyone actually naming their boat after their wife," she commented.

Alex smiled, but before she could reply, Emma – uncharacteristically for her – spoke first, "I asked him when he told me of the name of the boat if he was comfortable not only with the fact that people are asking permission to board me but also with the fact that someone else is driving me."

Alex shook his head in amusement even as the rest of the table erupted into laughter. Alex allowed the mirth to continue for a few moments, but once it had died down, he quickly seized the moment and said, "I thought about naming it after an ex-girlfriend, truth to tell,"

Emma shot her husband a glance of malevolence and once more laughter erupted around the table. Throughout dinner, the conversation was about non-descript and everyday topics and Harry was once more treated to the display of his uncle actually directing the conversation. He sincerely doubted that anyone noticed, but when the conversation approached a topic that his uncle does not want discussed in his table, the man stirred the conversation away from that topic.

Once dinner was done, Captain Martin excused himself and announced that he is going to prepare for the departure. Once the man had left, Harry realized that only those who are aware of the world of magic – actually, the captain was aware, but Harry was also aware that Hermione and her parents does not know that – were left at the table and when he realized that, he turned his attention toward his uncle just as the man turned his attention toward Hermione.

"Your parents tell me that you are the best student in your year, Hermione," Alex said.

Hermione blushed and shot her parents a look of irritation, before she returned her attention toward Alex. She wanted to remind the man that all parents think that their children are the best, but before she could open her mouth, Alex quickly added, "I disagree," before he paused for dramatic effect and added, "We – my wife and I – think that you are the best student within the last hundred years or so," the smile on his face widened as he added, "After all, not every student regularly receives one hundred twenty percent in their records."

"How..?" Hermione began. Not even her parents were aware that she had broken most – if not all – of the records at Hogwarts. Her eyes widened as Hermione suddenly remembered whom she was speaking with.

It was obvious that Alex had accessed the official records.

"As you know, Harry had been sent here to observe the education process of Britain," Alex said, "When he told me about you, I requested for your files and they were more than happy to give it to me," he smiled toward Hermione and said, "They are right to be proud of you,"

Hermione bit back a sharp comment, but it was of no use, Alex heard the comment even before she could say it, and he did not hide that fact from her, "I take it the look on your face that you are unhappy with the education system yourself," he said, he frowned as he quickly added, "Your records were incomplete, certain days, in some cases, months, were completely glossed over in those reports."

Hermione stared at Alex and could not help but nod. She was certain that he referred to the incidents that she was forced to undergo in the school.

"Would you tell us about them, Hermione?" Alex gently asked.

Hermione turned toward her parents and saw that they have the same curious expression on their faces. She mentally smacked herself for not telling her parents before, now she had to tell them because some other people had requested.

The look on the face of Harry was what convinced her and with a silent sigh, she gave a nod and said, "Alright,"