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Chapter 10
"You're kidding, right?" Hermione asked her godfather.
"No, I'm not." He said, smiling at her.
"A gala? An official function? Something that I have never attended in my life?"
"Then it's time you got used to them." Bruce said.
"Why?"
"One reason, I was looking for a suitable punishment for you, for sneaking out, and the second is that people would expect to see my adoptive daughter attending these galas with me." His grin grew.
"Adoptive…?" She trailed off. Had he really…?
Bruce nodded at her. "I filed the papers yesterday." He said.
Hermione launched herself at him and hugged him. "Thankyouthankyouthankyou!" She practically squeeled. "How did you manage? I mean, he hasn't even been sent back to England for his trial yet."
Bruce laughed at her antics, and then sobered to answer her question. "Well, the evidence against him is pretty solid. Add in the fact that with enough money you can do just about anything…"
"You do realise this is the best Christmas present you could have given me this year, right?"
"Then you won't mind putting up with the gala and all the other functions you'll have to attend from now on."
Hermione groaned. He had to bring it back to that, didn't he?
"You really should thank Alfred. He was the one to suggest me taking you to the annual Christmas gala."
Hermione wrinkled her nose. "I won't have to put up with any of those models that you take as dates, right?"
"Not this time Hermione." Bruce laughed. "Now, I have a business meeting at Wayne Enterprises this afternoon, so Alfred's going to take you out to buy something to wear."
"Do I really have to go, Uncle Bruce?"
"Yes, you do. Most people would take your phone privileges, or tell you you're not to watch T.V until all your homework is completed or something like that, but with you, that is impossible. So, this is the only thing left as a suitable punishment. So, yes, you do have to go."
"Fine." She said. "I won't have to go to many others, will I?"
"Sorry, but you'll have to go to plenty of others." He said. "I've had to put up with them, and now, you do. It's all part of being a Wayne. The next part is the press."
Hermione groaned again, she hated being in the spotlight. Then something dawned on her. "What if they ask about my schooling?"
"I'll simply tell them that you are happy in the school you go to in Britain, so you'll carry on attending there, and they will not be informed of what that school is, as your studies are very important to you, and you do not want to be disturbed during school time. They'll be disappointed, but they'll back off for fear that I'll sue them."
Hermione grinned. "Why do I get the feeling the sorting hat would put you in Slytherin?"
"It probably would. You should see about expanding on your friends too Hermione. Have a few from each house, not just Gryffindor."
"I'll do my best." Hermione said. She knew that it would be an advantage, to be able to trust those in all houses, instead of just a few from one or maybe two.
Hermione hated clothes shopping; with a vengeance. The shop assistants were such suck ups after they realised who she was. Merlin knew how they'd react to her when it got out to the press that Uncle Bruce had adopted her… well, then it was going to get interesting. She also found a new pet hate. High heels.
The shop assistants had had her try on a few pairs, and she very nearly broke her neck when she tried to walk in them. They were quickly gotten rid of in favour of a pair of flats. After about two hours of allot of fuss on the part of the shop assistants, Hermione finally had her outfit.
It was simple, but pretty. A simple black dress, the skirt was flared at the waist and pleated. The top had short sleeves and a black bow tied at the front of the waist. The shoes were black flats with a small red bow on the side to add a bit of colour to the outfit. Hermione also had a new necklace that was single small ruby pendant, in place of her bat pendent. Then there was her coat. That also went down to her knees, like the dress, and was entirely red.
When in the back of the Roles, Hermione finally relaxed. "Alfred?"
"Yes Miss Hermione?"
"Will I be able to just wear this dress to every function I have to attend until I grow out of it? I don't want to have to go through that again."
"I'm afraid not miss. But don't you worry, in the summer, when you get home from school, we'll go out and buy you several at once, so you don't have to do it again for a while. Teen magazines will probably start taking an interest in you soon. Your age group will undoubtedly start looking at you as a potential style icon."
Hermione wrinkled her nose. "I hate being in the spot light." Hermione groaned.
"Sometimes, the best place to hide is in the spotlight Miss. Master Bruce takes full advantage of that fact."
"I know. But I don't have a secret identity to hide."
"But you do have a secret to hide." Alfred pointed out. "Now, tomorrow afternoon, before the gala, you have an appointment with the hairdressers. Do you want to go to them, or for them to come to you?"
"What do you suggest Alfred?" Hermione asked.
"Have them come to you Miss. Stay within your comfort zone; no doubt by tomorrow it will be all over the news that Master Bruce has adopted you."
"Then they can come to the mansion. Thanks Alfred." Hermione smiled. She was so glad she had Alfred and Bruce to guide her through all this, or she'd be completely lost over what she should do, and what she shouldn't.
"Oh, Merlin!" Hermione cursed.
"What's wrong Miss?" Alfred asked.
"Harry. How's he going to cope with all this sort of thing? He's the wizard equivalent of Uncle Bruce. He doesn't have anyone to help him through it. I'm going to have to convince him to go to Professor McGonagall for help. And I'll have to rope Draco in. Harry doesn't know the first thing about how to go about his duties as a Lord!"
"He already has the title Lord?" Alfred asked.
"Yes, he does. He found out during his parents will reading. He's the only heir to the Potter line left."
"I'm sure your head of house will take care of it Miss Hermione. And even though there are bound to be several differences, there are bound to be things that you pick up that you can pass on."
"I guess so Alfred." Hermione sighed.
"So, Hermione, how did you get out of the House, past the gates and the squad car?" Bruce asked her the next day.
"Well…" Hermione trailed off, trying to think of how to tell him. Then she grinned, and teleported from her seat on the one sofa, to a seat on another. She then teleported back. "I may have discovered the ability to teleport."
"Any other abilities I should know about?" Bruce asked her, an eyebrow raised.
"Well, I can control the elements, to an extent. Professor McGonagall is helping me unlock the others that I've found I can do." Hermione had found out that it wasn't as simple as just wanting to o it. She had to really concentrate to get the abilities to work the first time. After that, it all came naturally to her and Harry.
"You left one of your History of Magic books down here yesterday night." Bruce said.
"Did I?" Hermione asked, hoping he hadn't read it. It hadn't been a history book.
"It wasn't a history text book, was it?" Bruce asked.
Hermione slumped. He'd read it, and figured out she was soul bonded.
"You could have told me that you had gotten married Hermione." Bruce said in a teasing manner.
"Yeah, well, Harry and I decided that we were too young to be married, so we're just going out. There are only three others in school who know. Draco and Professors McGonagall and Snape. Then the Goblins know too, because they keep track of those things."
"Don't worry about it. I understand why you didn't say anything. With everything that was going on as well, well, it's perfectly reasonable. And I'm in complete agreement. You are too young to be married."
Hermione laughed. But stopped at what he next said.
"Just tell me your mother gave you 'the talk'."
"She did. The night before I went to Hogwarts. Don't worry about that."
"Thank God for that. That would have been an awkward conversation otherwise."
"You don't have to go through it with me Uncle Bruce. Don't worry."
He seemed immensely relieved.
The doorbell rang then. Bruce checked his watch. "That will be the Hairdresser then." He said.
"Let's get this part of the torture over with then." Hermione said.
A/N: Seriously, I want to know what people think, so please review, it's not that hard surprisingly.