A/N: Don't worry, The Cat With Blue Eyes! I see you. Valid concern! We are only 2/3 of the way through the story. There's something coming 😊

It took two weeks for us to get our allotted dragons as well as the eggs. During that time our team was put to the test as we figured out how to work together now that we actually had residents. The training we had provided proved efficient and things were working just as we had hoped.

About a month after we were settled, we were given the OK from the Minister to tell people where we had disappeared to and, as long as protocols were followed, guests were allowed on the reserve. When Charlie got the news, he turned to me.

"'Mione, now that we can have guests, would you be ok if I invited Mum and Dad? They haven't been too suspicious of me because they are used to not seeing me, but I know they must be worried about you. This would be a way for me to tell them I'm closer to home, but also clue them in to your whereabouts to tell the others."

I briefly thought it over. "What do we tell them about us?"

"That we're madly in love?" He raised an eyebrow as if it was the most obvious answer in the world.

"Are you ready for them to know?"

A brief flash of hurt crossed his face. "Hermione, love, it's been over six months. If I could shout it from the top of the astronomy tower, I would. Is there a reason you don't want them to know?"

I hesitated wondering if I should voice my concerns and decided honesty is the best policy. "I'm a bit worried. Your mum is a lovely person. She has been wonderful since the war and says she has accepted me completely, but she has been a bit judgmental of me in the past." I thought back to fourth year when she exiled me for hurting Harry when I had done nothing of the sort. "Between the history I have with Ron and the age gap, I'm a bit worried of what she will say."

"I'll tell you what, love. We are two grown adults in a consenting relationship. No one gets to decide how we feel about that but us. If they don't like it, they will be welcome to leave."

The conviction in his tone that he would pick me over his parents was startling and my hand rose to my mouth in surprise. "You'd really risk your relationship with your parents over me?"

His hands came to rest reassuringly on my shoulders. "Listen carefully. I really don't think it will be an issue and if it was, I'm confident that they would come around. I love you Hermione Jean Granger and there is nothing they can say to change that. You're my person and I won't let their opinion change how I feel about you."

His words were like a soothing balm on my frazzled nerves. "Ok then. Write the owl."

And so, this was how I found myself nervously wringing my hands two weeks later as we awaited their arrival. We agreed that Charlie would go meet them at the check point and I would wait for them at our home.

I don't know why I thought this was a good idea. It only prolonged the inevitable and left me alone to deal with my nerves.

Finally, I heard the sound of approaching voices. I straightened the sundress I had put on for the occasion as the doorknob turned.

"And this is my new home." Charlie said as he opened the door and made a sweeping gesture with his arm.

Mr. And Mrs. Weasley were following along behind, their eyes wide.

"Well, it's certainly an improvement from the huts on the last reserve." Molly was saying as she crossed the threshold.

Then, her eyes met mine. I saw the recognition and confusion fighting for control over each other on her features. "Hermione? Why, what are you doing here?"

I approached her and she held her arms open for a hug. "Surprise!" I joked.

Charlie stepped in. "Hermione is co-managing the reserve with me."

Molly looked between the two of us while Arthur sat back with his hands in his pockets taking in the whole thing.

"This is the job you took over the ministry dear? It's so dangerous! You were making such good headway and could have been department head soon."

This judgement I could handle at least. It was no secret that Molly didn't approve of Charlie's career in dragons and it made sense she would have the same apprehension for me. "I know Molly. But this was an incredible opportunity. I was told if I didn't take it the reserve wouldn't happen and I couldn't let that happen. The Romanian reserve is beyond capacity and unfortunately there are more dragons to be saved. This allows me to be on the front lines and make real change from within instead of behind a desk."

Molly shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot and sighed. "Wonderful. Now I get to worry about two of my children being burned to death."

I cracked a smile. Her comment showed that while she wasn't happy about it, she did accept my decision.

"Now that that's out of the way, where is the guest room to put my things?" Molly peered into the two hallways.

Charlie took the lead and I could tell he was becoming a bit nervous. "Why don't I give you the tour. Obviously, this is the sitting room." He motioned with his arm. "Over here is the kitchen and dining room."

"Oh how lovely. You actually have a kitchen this time!"

I had seen Charlie's hut at the other reserve and hadn't been that bad, but I could see where Molly, who spent so much of her life in the kitchen, would appreciate this set up more.

"Then as we come down this hall we have the bathroom, my office, and this is my bedroom where you will be staying. The opposite hall over there is basically the same, just Hermione's space.

At that Molly whipped around. "The pair of you are sharing a house?"

I could feel my face reddening, but before Charlie or I could step in, Arthur took charge. "Now Molly dear, you know that the housing arrangements at the reserve can be tricky. I noticed this is the biggest house in the area and I'm sure it has more to do with them running the reserve together than anything. And even if it wasn't, we raised a perfect gentleman. Didn't we son?"

Arthur gave Charlie a stern look and for the first time I saw his confidence start to crumble.

"Oh, of course dad. Perfect little angel over here. Hey! Why don't I take those bags for you?"

Molly glared at her son, but let it go for now. Charlie busied himself by making a show of getting them all settled.

We made tea and went back to the sitting room to fill them in on our time here so far. Molly seemed both impressed and appalled at the same time as she heard of the vigorous trainings we had to go through and all the work involved in getting this place ready to go. Arthur was clearly proud at the success of his son, though he had always been more acceptive of his chosen career.

It ended up being really nice to catch up and I was looking forward to them staying for the weekend to see the fruits of our labor.

Though they hadn't traveled, far, Molly and Arthur were getting older and it had been an eventful day. We decided to call it an early night.

As they were going to bed, Molly made a realization. "Charlie, I didn't happen to notice a guest room. I do hope we aren't putting you out."

Charlie was quick on his feet. "No worries mum. I'll enlarge the couch and it will be just fine."

The matriarch glanced between us but said nothing other than goodnight.

Once his parents were both safely in bed, I pulled Charlie into my own room. "Are you really going to sleep on the couch when I have a perfectly good bed here?"

He laughed. "No, but I'm certainly going to enlarge the couch and toss some sheets and bedding on it. Then I'm going to roll around so it has a nice slept on look and set my alarm to be up before them."

I swatted his shoulder playfully. "You're such a sneak." Then I got serious. "We really should tell them. Don't you think?"

Charlie rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Absolutely. However, I think it would be best to tell them closer to the end of their trip. I don't want to be questioned incessantly the next two days if possible. I know she won't be happy that we are living together for sure. The rest I think will be fine. Dad won't have an issue at all and he will just sit off to the side like he does while mum rants."

I was hesitant at this strategy, only because Molly was a pro at spotting things amiss, but agreed anyways. In the end, Charlie did sleep in my bed, but when his hands started to wander, I swatted them away. No way was I going to risk my boyfriend's parents walking in on us in bed!