A/N: It occurred to me that I've mostly discounted the whole "We're at war" thing because this is a fluffy little series. But you know me. I gotta try killing someone. Or at least making someone bleed! This is a bit longer than usual for these guys but I couldn't divide it.

Also, thank you so much, everyone. Your delightful comments make me smile. American Pureblood Hermione is probably shaking her head, but *I* am vastly enjoying myself.

Dagworth-Granger Ancestral Manor, 30 December 1977

Daniel Dagworth-Granger folded the missive from Albus Dumbledore. He really didn't want to join any Order out to oppose anyone; he was here to continue in Potions Development and keep the family in good standing in Britain. Even Hermione had bowed to the inevitable, or so he'd understood.

And there were other, darker requests that had been made.

"I heard your daughter was not yet betrothed," Lord Malfoy had said last week when Daniel had had business at the Ministry. "There are many families—strong, with good ties—who would be interested in allying themselves with your House, Dagworth-Granger." And then, "Someone, someone of great power, could use a Potions Master of your calibre. And we understand your daughter is equally gifted. This same powerful someone would show her great appreciation were she to . . . make herself available."

The insinuations had not gone over his head, and it had been all Daniel had known how to do to keep from shuddering.

He didn't tell Hermione about any of it.

"Er, hullo? Dagworth-Grangers?" The voice calling through the open Floo was young and male and it partially banished Daniel's misgivings. "Did I get the proper address?"

"Hello there. Yes, it's the Dagworth-Grangers. Who is this?"

"Oh, hello, sir. Remus Lupin. We met in Hogsmeade a few months ago."

"Lupin." Good lad, Lupin. "Come through, then, lad."

The young man emerged and wordlessly banished the ashes from the hearth. Daniel approved the silent, wandless display of magic. He was about to speak again when Lupin cleared his throat.

"Is Hermione here?"

"Yes, indeed. I'll call for her."

"I can," Lupin assured him before producing his wand and sending an actual corporeal Patronus into the room. To his credit, he only looked a bit smug when he told the shining silver wolf to "Find Puck."

"That was impressive, Mister Lupin."

"Thank you, sir. I, er, am trying very hard to do well on my exams of course."

"Of course."

"Not that anyone can compare with your daughter, sir! She's in a class all by herself. Sometimes, literally." He rubbed at the back of his neck and shrugged a bit. "Keeps us on our toes."

"Remus!" Hermione hurried into the study, her eyes bright and smile warm.

Daniel had to get a hold of himself for a moment. That was his little girl, looking like Christmas had come again when she saw a young man. Well, now. He should probably investigate this Remus Lupin character.

"What brings you here, Remus?"

"Er, I wanted to invite you to the Potters' New Year's Eve party, Hermione. Sirius would have come as well, but he got last Hogsmeade so it's my turn."

Hermione's blush amused her father a great deal even as he cleared his throat. "So. I'll just, ah, leave you to it, then. Good to see you again, Lupin. Hermione, update me when you're ready."

Daniel left, but he didn't close the door behind him. He knew his daughter was an Animagus, so if she could sense him close by, he didn't worry about that as he hunkered down close enough to hear what might be said but far enough to not hear what might be done.

Because his daughter was eighteen and he wasn't a fool.

"Update your dad?"

"Yeah. Let him know about the party and all."

"Ah."

"Yeah. So, your turn, you said?"

"Well, I was sick the last time you agreed to go out with us . . ."

"Right. Can I get you something? Wine, maybe?"

Wine? His daughter was offering a young man alcohol? Hermione . . .

"No, no thank you. I just, I missed you."

"Oh. Well. I missed you, too."

"Sirius misses you as well."

Daniel heard his daughter laugh softly and he wondered what the hell was going on. Sirius Black. That was the young man who'd been wearing the Pink Floyd t-shirt in the town months ago. The brother of the one that had written to court Hermione.

Hermione had written to say she wasn't going to be seeing Regulus Black but she hadn't mentioned Sirius Black. Hmmm…

It had been suspiciously quiet for a bit long and Daniel smirked, pushing himself up to his full height again. Then he heard, "You should probably know, Remus, that I have a duty to, to my family . . . I mean, I'm not trying to be presumptuous but I'd hate like anything for anyone to be hurt, you know?"

"Ah, yeah. Well, as to that, Miss Dagworth-Granger, we already caught wind of the name issue."

"Oh?"

"You left a certain piece of parchment under a cushion in Lily's rooms."

"Oh. Well. Fine. Just so it's not going to make things . . . awkward."

There was a laugh. Low and masculine. "Oh, I daresay we have enough awkward already, yeah?"

It got quiet again and Daniel shook his head, pleased that the young man was thinking of the future, but also quite curious. He was on his way to leave the two of them alone for a bit, though, when he heard a commotion behind him.

"Dagworth-Granger!"

The small exploding sounds of multiple sources of Apparition filled the Manor, insofar as he could tell. Over in the foyer, some breaking furniture in a bedroom and the kitchen and—

"No! Get out! Who are you?"

The study. And his daughter was in there. With another student. Daniel couldn't even breathe, for a few heartbeats.

"Expelliarmus!"

"Bombarda!"

"Stupefy!"

"Avada Ke—"

A shriek. "No!"

Hermione! Daniel was there, wand out and trying desperately not to show how terrified he was. He was not raised to combat. He was a Potioneer, damn it!

But he had an advantage. Americans cast silently. He sent a wordless sweep of his wand behind him, pushing all the approaching masked men off their feet in what he hoped was a stunning hex that would serve for more than a few minutes. In the study, he saw two more masked men, one of whom had his daughter around the torso, his wand to her throat.

Daniel had to take a breath. What to do to keep her safe? He sent another silent stunner in that man's direction, but the masked intruder was already shielded. So perhaps his daughter was as well. All right.

The other intruder was fighting with Lupin, who brandished a maple end table before him like a medieval shield. They were engaged in a duel until Daniel shot a piercing charm toward the attacker, catching him from behind—where he did not have a shield in place. Down he fell, blood pulsing from somewhere near the kidneys.

Lupin dragged in a quick, ragged breath and turned without thought to the other masked man. "You!" He cast spell after spell at the man, all aimed for the lower body, and Daniel joined him, edging as close as he dared to perhaps go for a physical attack.

Remus Lupin beat him to it, though, jumping across the room with a low, guttural sound. The young man reached actively for Hermione, breaking the masked man's wrist as he did so, to get the wand away from Hermione's neck. "Stupid," Lupin growled, kicking the newly barefaced man as he fell. "Only single-shielded." More words, words Daniel didn't want to know and wouldn't have condemned if he did, flowed from Lupin's mouth as he kicked the intruder into unconsciousness.

Daniel held his daughter close. "Are you all right, sweetheart?"

"Yeah, but Dad, we have to get those guys bound up or something. Where do we take them, here?"

"Call the Aurors," Lupin advised, casting more spells on the men in the study. "Hermione? Did he hurt you?"

Daniel reluctantly relinquished his daughter into Lupin's care. "There are more out there. Can you get her someplace safe, Lupin?"

"Of course, sir. I'll take her to the Potters, if that's all right. Their home is warded enough to repel You-Know-Who."

Daniel snorted at the need for the euphemism, but nodded. "Fine. You do that. Hermione? Is that all right?"

"Lily's there," Lupin said softly.

"I'll be fine, Dad." Hermione hugged him hard and then let Lupin lead her to the Floo. Trusting that the young man would take care of his daughter, Daniel turned to the others in his house. Piercing charms for all of them.

And then, he'd call the Aurors.

Note: And breathe!

Gonna try for more fluff next time...And dancing!