Chapter 36 – Bathtub and Stood Up

Saturday 3rd July, Badgers Nook, Just outside Carmarthen, Wales

Hermione Granger was angry. No she wasn't angry she was fuming. She was currently lying on her bed with tears threatening to escape her eyes and race down her cheeks. She was angry about being unappreciated and constantly let down by people who she gave so much and this one time that she'd ask for something in return he'd hadn't even bothered to contact her to let her know she wasn't coming.

She'd made all of his favorite things to eat and had put a lot of time and effort into planning a great evening and she was sick of it. She was broken out of her thoughts by a gentle knocking on her door and as the door started to open slowly her dad stuck her head in the door.

"Princess are you alright?" Dan asked softly.

"I'm fine dad, I just can't believe that he didn't come or even bother to let me know." she replied giving a small sniff as Dan entered the room and sat next to his daughter on her bed.

"I'm sure there is a perfectly good reason why he couldn't come Princess." Dan ventured tentatively.

"and for not bothering to even let me know?" Hermione asked as her dad put his arm around her shoulders.

"Well maybe he got his days mixed up or his owl got lost or he ran out of floo powder or something." Dan replied faltering under his daughter's gaze as it hardened.

"Stop making excuses for him dad, you don't owe him anything and he should be man enough to let me know if he doesn't want to see me. I'm more hurt as this was his opportunity to meet you and Mum and he didn't even bother to say he couldn't come." Hermione said her anger growing again.

"Well I know your angry Princess, but I'm sure there is a logical explanation and he didn't mean to upset you." Dan said giving her a kiss on the top of her head "Come on downstairs your Mum's worried about you being up here all upset and alone."

Reluctantly Hermione nodded and they got up and started making their way downstairs as and they were half way down they heard an owl hoot and Hermione accelerated down the stairs.

Dan Granger thanked god that he'd finally written to her as this should improve her mood... hopefully. In all honesty he was quite disappointed that Ron hadn't bothered to let her know she wasn't coming and it wasn't a very good first impression of how he would treat his daughter and you could only make a first impression once.

Dan couldn't help but smile about the first impression Hermione's other best friend had made on him and his wife and the lengths he was more than willing to go to, to try and make his little girl happy.

Dan entered the living room to see Hermione's owl Lulu shrilling away merrily as another owl chased her making a hooting noise that sounded like it was saying Boo Boo. Hermione and Emma were trying to get Lulu to land so that they could detach the letter causing Hermione to shout at Lulu to stop messing around and Lulu seeing Hermione was getting upset at her antics landed and held her leg out as the other owl landed next to her.

Lulu stood still while Hermione took her letter with a guilty look on her little owl face at seeing Hermione upset and as Hermione took the letter from her, Lulu hopped up onto Hermione's shoulder and nuzzled her head into Hermione's neck by way of apology.

"It's alright Lulu, it's not you I'm upset with. I'm sorry for shouting at you, who's this handsome chap you've brought home with you?" Hermione said giving Lulu a stroke on her feathers as she'd seen Harry do to Hedwig more times than she could remember.

Yogi gave a hoot again and Hermione gave him a stroke as well before telling them that they could go have a rest if they wanted and Yogi and Lulu flew off through the kitchen for a rest together hooting happily.

Dan and Emma shared a look as Hermione sat down and opened the letter expecting it to be from Ron, but given the length of it and recognizing the handwriting she knew it wasn't.

Dear Hermione,

I'm doing alright thanks, amazing what not having a homicidal maniac trying to kill you can do to boost your morale. I hope you are doing better than when you wrote your last letter. It is strange living here on my own and I know what you mean about the nightmares. I thought I'd stopped having them when I moved here as I didn't have anything for a week or so, but since you've gone I've found that I'm having them more often now and I don't understand why.

I'm glad you've got your parents there to help comfort you at least though when you have them as I hate the thought of you waking up and being upset and scared, alone… I never want you to have to feel scared again because of what happened in the past. Maybe a trip to St. Mungo's might be a good idea for me as well.

I'm sure my Mum would be more than happy for you to read her Journal and share some thoughts with a witch who is even cleverer than she was. I know for a fact my Dad doesn't mind you reading his, so if you ever want to read them then just let me know.

Thanks for the book suggestions I'll certainly go and get them as I'm really enjoying Runes and looking at different clusters and what they can do is really interesting and I'm thinking of maybe experimenting with some when I get better although I know I have a lot more studying to do and maybe it would be better to try when you're around.

I feel that I have to apologize for our time together at Hogwarts being dominated by me and Ron talking about Quidditch and what was going on with me so much and for not giving your wants and needs as much attention as I should have. I feel like I was a bad friend and promise I'll try and be better.

I feel kind of selfish knowing that I denied you the opportunity to talk about other things you'd be interested, but I'm quite surprised to hear that you did have other girl friends for girl talk available to you as I'm sure talking about hair, make up, clothes and boys with me and Ron would have been a very one-sided conversation.

Plus, if you talked to me about boys you liked, I'd have had to admit that there wasn't a single bloke in Hogwarts that I'd have thought deserved you, as you're amazing and no one there is good enough for you. But then again I guess I'm biased as I don't think anyone in the world would be good enough for you and I just hope that Ron doesn't takes you for granted as he'll have me to answer to. That makes me sound horrible doesn't it?!

I can't wait to sample the new dishes that you're perfecting. Knowing you I'm sure they're amazing and a lot better than you're giving yourself credit for. You really do need to be more accepting of how brilliant you are.

Ah ha so Ron has got a free morning, that's good I'm glad that he's spending more with you, the lucky devil, as he's been all about his Quidditch practice recently I can't wait to see the improvement in his game ... When you do see him please tell the git that he still hasn't replied to me and now that he's got Sal he's no excuse for not writing back.

I went to the Greengrass' last night as Gerald Greengrass invited me to dinner at the ministry ball and as Fleur had drunkenly summoned his chair he was about to sit on away from him, I felt compelled to attend and it was quite fun actually. Pansy and her parents along with Tracey and her parents were all there and it was quite nice although, I ate so much I reckon I could not eat for a week and still not be hungry.

We ended up playing a card game called Poker in a kind of tournament amongst ourselves and get this I ended up losing in the final match to Daphne. I can't believe I lost as I had a full house, but she got four of a kind and that was what beat me. She made a bet with me that I had to take her out for the day as punishment for losing the bet we had about who would win…. I hope that she doesn't make me go shopping or anything like that…. God the thought of it makes me shiver.

I had fun at Susan's with Neville, Hannah and Susan and I have decided to create a business together as we both want to leave our families mark on the world after were gone, but were still ironing out the details of what we are going to do. Susan's house is nice and had a swimming pool so we went swimming and played darts and all got a little drunk ended up back at mine watching films until we all passed out. It was really fun, the film watching and darts not the passing out, and I was thinking of maybe getting a dartboard for the Potter's Arms so that we can play. Up for the challenge? Watch out for Neville as he cheats ha ha.

Susan told me something that was strange to hear and that came as a complete surprise as I never even had any inkling. She said that she had liked me since our first day in Hogwarts, but that she was too shy to say anything and that she didn't think she would ever stand a chance of winning my affections from another certain witch? I have a feeling I know who she was talking about, but knowing me I'll be wrong about that.

It was kind of strange as we fell asleep on the sofas and I woke up and she had fallen asleep on me and I didn't know what to do as I felt really awkward with her waking up next to me. The only girl I've ever woken up to is you, so it kind of freaked me out a little bit as I didn't want her to think I'd cuddled up to her in the night or anything.

Neville and Hannah seem to be getting on really well and Neville wants to ask Hannah out on a date, but he's asked me to double up with Suzie, so that he doesn't feel awkward being with Hannah on his own.

I don't know the boy is happy to take on Voldemort and Nagini with a sword and a whole army of Death Eaters but he's scared of going on a date by himself with a girl…I can't figure that one out although saying that I remember my first date with Cho and how nervous I was about that. What should I do? Tell him to go on his own or go along with Suzie, so Neville and Hannah don't feel uncomfortable? I mean if they aren't alone then how are they going to know how they really feel about each other. So I need your help...what should I do? What should I say to him?

Speaking of knowing about how they feel for each other I think we're going to have to keep an eye on Lulu and Yogi. Lulu is currently having a rest in the feeding area in my sitting room and as soon as she had delivered her letter Yogi hoped down wanting permission to go off with her. I didn't have the heart to say no, so I take full responsibility for any baby owls that might come along.

I can't wait to see you it feels like I've not seen you in ages and it's a very strange feeling as I'm wondering now how I used to cope going for weeks in the summer without seeing you…

I'm trying to keep myself busy the last few days but still another six days until I see you. I'll be marking them off on the calendar as I can't wait to see you again and finalize our plans on getting to Japan.

I've found somethings in my Parent's and Sirius' journal about some potions and charms to help me with my appearance and I think you'll find some of them pretty amusing as I'm playing around with different looks at the minute and who knows maybe they'll help me go incognito out in public and I won't get mobbed as much. For example, I went to Daphne's house the other night with long hair down to my shoulders and a ponytail in Sirius' honor and in his style. You'd have laughed so hard if you'd seen me.

I'm really looking forward to seeing you and let me know if you want me to bring anything with me.

Love and Hugs,

Harry XXX

P.S - Say hi to your Mum and Dad for me. Let your Dad know that I've got some ideas for a car I'd like to get.

She felt her stomach do a little flip and couldn't help smiling as she re-read the part he'd written about no one in Hogwarts and the world deserving or being good enough for her. She knew he was more than good enough and was unbelievably sweet for saying so. In fact, he was too good for her and that was part of the reason she was with Ron if she was honest. Ron was a good guy as well and would look after her. Well she thought he would, but so far he's got a lot of catching up to do with Harry.

"So is it from Ron?" Dan ventured a guess cautiously.

"No, it's from Harry." Hermione replied trying to keep the smile off her face.

"Is it errr good news?" Emma asked seeing the smile on her daughters face and feeling her heart melt at her daughter's mood instantly improve on reading her letter.

"For the most part yes." Hermione replied while reading over the letter again before she got to the part where he was talking about Susan saying she liked him and Daphne betting him to take her out for the day.

She could remember all too well how they used to pepper her with questions about him during runes and constantly telling her how lucky so was that she got to spend some much time with and actually got to touch Harry.

Hermione started feeling anxious because Daphne and Susan were both really pretty and she could sense that they really liked Harry. Susan had the perfect hour glass that got better and better with each passing year and breasts that must have been at least a DD in cup size that all the boys in school lusted after as they were much bigger than every other girls and the only girls that came close to her was Lavender Brown, Pansy Parkinson and Cho Chang.

Daphne on the other hand was athletically built with long toned legs and was more than amply equipped in the boob department as well as pretty enough to be a model. Hermione wouldn't have been surprised if Daphne was part veela like Fleur. She had beautiful ice blue eyes and all the boys at school wanted her, but she'd managed to keep all the boys in their year away from her and usually only dated older guys, but she'd also confessed that the only boy in their year that she'd consider going after was Harry.

Hermione had been more than a little surprised when Daphne and Susan had told her that they'd be more than happy to share Harry with another which after they had found out that Sirius was Harry's godfather as they thought he might be becoming head of two houses and would be allowed more than one wife.

She'd found the idea completely preposterous when she had found out, but after reading up about it she found that throughout wizarding history this polyamorist way of doing things was the normal practice for line continuation in the wizarding world and that witches were drawn to wizards by their power. Hermione after her chat with Madam Pomfrey in those witches' education classes knew that her magic was drawn to Harry like a fly to a bug zapper.

She couldn't help feeling worried as both Daphne and Susan were really nice girls and she was convinced that either of them could make Harry fall in love with them, if he allowed himself to fall for them. Hell if she was a boy she'd quite happily go out with either of them, so why wouldn't Harry. She realized that she didn't want him to and again chastised herself for thinking about Harry when she was with Ron and that's where her focus should be. She needed some air.

"I'm going for a drive I need to clear my head. I'll pick us up some dinner." Hermione said suddenly standing and making her way to the door.

"Do you want us to come with you?" Dan sitting up ready to go with her asked her, which caused her to pause at the door.

"No, I need to think about some things and I need to figure some things out. Thanks for the offer though." Hermione replied seeing the look of concern spreading over her parent's faces. "I'm alright don't be worrying." she said sounding far more cheerful than she felt and seeing the tension lift on her Dad's face, but her Mum just tilted her head slightly to one side and gave her a curious look like she was trying to puzzle something out.

Hermione gave a little wave and went out to the garage before getting the keys from the rack and jumped into her Range Rover, gunned the engine and shot off out of the garage, down the drive way and onto the lane.

Back in the house Emma Granger picked up the letter that Harry had sent Hermione and started to read it.

"You shouldn't read that." Dan admonished stepping towards his wife "It's private."

Emma raised her eyebrow having read the part of the letter with Harry telling Hermione that he didn't think there was anyone good enough for her and a warm smile spread across her face. Looking up at her husband she asked "So I take it you don't want to read what Harry had to say that cheered her up?" with a smirk on her face as her husband was positioning himself near her to slyly read the letter.

"No I never said that," he grinned "Just that we shouldn't." getting a smile lighting up his wife's face. They read through the letter together, before Emma folded the letter up and put it back in the envelope.

"When do you think she's going to wise up to the fact that Harry's in love with her?" Dan asked.

Emma let out a sigh "Probably about the same time that she wises up to the fact that she's in love with him. She's very confused about why she kissed Ron and after last night and him being a no show, I have to wonder why she's not realizing he's not right for her considering how much Harry seems to care about her let alone what they've done for each other over the years."

"Well we'll just have to try and step back and let them find their way together themselves. I have a horrible feeling that things will get worse before they get better." Dan said.

Tuesday 6th July, Longbottom House, Little Somerton, Chippenham

Harry woke up slowly with water dripping on his head slowly, before suddenly turning into a turret causing him to splutter and move around trying to get out of the way of the onslaught of water that was rushing onto his head but found his upper body movement restricted.

Suddenly the water stopped and Harry on opening his eyes suddenly heard the same spluttering noise coming from Neville and in Neville's thrashing his foot swung out and kicked Harry in the shin causing a groan of pain from Harry.

Harry found himself again half lying in a bath tub with his legs hanging out over the side. 'how the hell did I manage to do this again. Is it just a thing I'm going to always do when drunk?' he thought to himself, and Neville in a similar position just next to him. Harry felt like he had been folded in half from sleeping at such an unusual angle and on such a hard surface. He managed to extract himself from the bath tub at the same time as Neville who was somewhat bewildered into what had so rudely awakened him.

Both their eyes fell upon Neville's grandmother Augusta Longbottom who was stood there trying to repress a smile.

"So boys, do you normally sleep together and half in and half out the bath tub? How did you even manage to fall asleep face first in the bath?

"I don't know Gran; I'm confused how we even got here or why we'd be sleeping face down in the bath? What we're doing to end up like that?" Neville asked scratching his head and instantly regretting it as it felt like a claw had scratched his brain and a shooting pain went through it causing him to let out a groan.

Harry let out a groan as he moved searching for his glasses "Ohhh my head!"

"Not feeling too clever boys? Well I'd imagine the three bottles of fire whiskey and twelve butter beers you drank last night is probably the answer to your questions. "Augusta laughed. "Make your way downstairs boys, you've got a pair of visitors that have come to see you, but I'd suggest that you maybe drink these first and make yourself a little more presentable." and she handed both of them a small glass filled with a bubble-gum blue liquid that looked almost as thick as ice cream.

"What's this?" Neville and Harry asked together taking a sniff and instantly regretting it as it smelt horrendous

"Hangover cure although I must warn you," she said as Harry and Neville both necked the potion in three huge gulps "that it tastes like troll dung." she laughed with mirth as both boys scrambled to the toilet and threw up quite violently into the bowl.

"I'll see you downstairs in a moment and I'd suggest that you both cast a teeth cleaning charm at the very least. Oh and by the way it's good to see you Mr. Potter, even if it's not exactly how I imagined us meeting again." and with that she turned and left.

After five minutes of taking turns to throw up Neville looked at Harry "I think I feel a bit better, but next time I think I'll go for a pepper up potion instead of that."

Harry shook his head "I think next time I'll try sleeping in a bed and getting up when I've slept off the hangover." causing Neville to laugh as he helped pulled him up off the floor and they made their way to Neville's bedroom to see if any of his clothes would fit Harry as he had a bit of the blue hangover potion that had splashed up on him on his top.

"Who do you reckon is here?" Harry asked how looking around Neville's room saw and explosion of Gryffindor banners along with Puddlemere United banners.

Neville who was rummaging through his wardrobe looking for something for Harry shrugged. "Don't know, but there's only one way to find out."

Five minutes later the boys made their way down the stairs feeling a lot better than when they had been so rudely awakened by Neville's Grandmother, although unsuccessful in finding something of Neville's to wear that fit, so Harry cast a cleaning charm on the liquid that seemed too determined to be removed and only faded a little in color, which left Harry thinking he's probably have to throw out unless his hangover was affecting his magic.

They made their way through the sitting room towards the kitchen where they heard laughter and looked at each other as they could hear what sounded like Neville's grandmother recounting the condition she had found the boys that morning followed by female laughter.

They entered the kitchen to find Hannah and Susan sat at the breakfast bar with a cup of coffee each and Augusta pulling faces at them that Harry and Neville both found peculiar and the two girls were giggling at the impression she was doing.

Sensing the boys' entrance Susan turned her head and gave Harry a dazzling smile and said hello. Hannah turned looking at the boys who didn't look as worse for wear as she'd expected. "Good Morning Handsome, your Gran was just telling us the delightful story of how she found you both this morning."

"Gran you didn't!" Neville turned to his gran with a mortified expression on his face. 'Did Hannah just call me handsome?' thought Neville.

"Don't worry about it Nev, I haven't told her about the condition you were in when I woke up next to you last time you had one too many." Hannah said back to him causing Neville's jaw to drop expecting his gran to flip out at Hannah admitting that he'd woken up next to her at Harry's house and was even more surprised when Susan and Augusta began to laugh heartily and his gran didn't even appear to bat an eyelid at the quip.

Wiping tears from her eyes Augusta said "Well I'll leave you all to your plans and hope you enjoy entertained these two lovely ladies for the day. I'll leave you all in peace, but try and be back before midnight Neville and I hope I don't discover you and Mr. Potter sharing a bath together again, as you only used to do that when you were babies."

Susan and Hannah howled with laughter at Harry's and Neville's blushes.

"See you soon Mr. Potter." Augusta said as she passed him and patted his shoulder as she started to make her way out the kitchen as Harry called after her to tell her to please call him Harry.

Augusta turned back and told Harry she would do just that and turned to Susan and Hannah saying that they were both delightful and welcome to just pop round whenever they wanted as she'll make sure Neville changes the wards to accept them both straight away next time.

Susan and Hannah both beamed at Neville and Harry who were both quite surprised by Augusta's blatant prompting for them to take Hannah and Susan out.

"Well that was different." Harry said to Neville.

"Your gran is so cool Neville!" Hannah exclaimed getting up and giving him a quick hug and a peck on the cheek.

"She is aces, Neville." Susan agreed getting up and giving Harry a quick hug and peck on the cheek as well.

"She's never actively encouraged me to go out with girls though, so it's kind of freaking me out a little bit." Neville replied. "How did you convince her to let you passed the wards of the house?"

"I told her that we were going on a date and Harry was taking Suzie out for her birthday." Hannah grinned mischievously at them.

Thanks to Goldzar for editing my chapter.