Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
AN: For those that I have read chapter four. I meant to erase the idea of Hermione being at the party. I wanted to introduce her in a different light with this chapter. I thought I have fixed it before posting, but with that said enjoy the new chapter.
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Vernon stood in front of the full-length mirror and growled at the bowtie he was struggling with to tie. He and the had a business dinner to attend to night. He dressed in tux and he hated wearing this type of suit. It made him feel like a penguin.
Harry knocked on the open door and laughed. "Uncle Vernon are you having trouble with the tie again? Sit down I'll tie it." said the eight-year-old.
Vernon sat down in the chair nearby and Harry stood behind his uncle and easily tied his bow. He took the boy's hand and he walked around and faced his uncle. He ran his fingers through Harry's hair causing it to stick up more.
"You had to inherit your father's unruly hair didn't you son." Vernon said as he struggled to lay it flat on his head.
Harry shrugged his shoulders and laughed. He looked over and saw his aunt and his green eyes shined brightly. Petunia was dressed in nice full length long sleeve velvet black dress with slight medium heals and her hair was curled nicely. She wore simple stud earrings and a heart shape necklace that held a picture of her and Lily inside it.
"Wow, you look great!" said Harry.
"Thank you, Harry. You look very sharp." She said taking in the young man's appearance. He had on the same type of suit as his uncle as well as Dudley who now stood next to his mother.
"Why must we wear these suits Dad?" asked Dudley slightly tugging at the collar. "It's tight around the neck."
"We really must be going boys." Vernon said standing up. "We are meeting Doctor John Granger and his wife this evening. I want you two on your best behavior. This could mean big money for the company. They are planning to invest. Doctor Granger might become a new major share owner." He looked over at Harry. "Please stay calm and try not to let your magic get out of control. We won't have Charles there to help out if something flares up."
Harry nodded his head understanding that he needed to keep his emotions under control. He had made Charlie Whines hair blue when he was teasing a new girl at school and school had called to report the issue.
The family left the house for The Tavern. It was a five-star restaurant that held high standing. Thanks to Vernon's investments they were extremely well off as money was concerned. He had moved up at work and was now the junior vice president of the company.
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Harry and Dudley sat at a table near the adults as they waited for the Grangers to arrive. Vernon and Petunia always got the boys their own table knowing they could have their own conversations without interrupting the business meetings. It made things go a lot smoother for everyone involved.
Vernon rose from his seat when saw the Granger family walk to their table. Mr. Granger was a tall thin man with short black hair, fare skin, bright brown eyes and wore a suit and tie. Mrs. Granger was a short small woman with slightly frizzy chin length hair, green eyes and wore a red knee-high dress with nude heels. The little girl about Harry and Dudley's age. She had frizzy shoulder length hair, fare skin, button nose with a slash of freckles, slightly thin mouth and she wore that matched her mothers with nude flat shoes.
"Dr. Granger, Mrs. Granger, Miss Granger it's nice to meet you. I have a table for children if that is all right with you. I'm Vernon Dursley. This is my wife Petunia, my son Dudley and our nephew Harry Potter. Please have a seat." Vernon said introducing everyone.
They all shook hands and sat down at the table. Hermione chewed on her bottom lip wanting to sit with her parents but there were no empty chairs. She took a deep breath and walked over to the boys.
"Hi, I'm Hermione Granger. I just moved here. I started school last week." She said shyly.
Harry got up and pulled out Hermione's seat. "I'm Harry Potter and this my cousin Dudley Dursley." He said returning his seat.
"Would you like some grape juice?" asked Dudley motioning to the small decanter on the table.
Hermione smiled and nodded her head. Dudley poured Hermione some juice into a small wine glass. She took it with a thank you.
"You were the girl that Charlie was making fun of, weren't you?" asked Harry with frowned brow.
She nodded her head. "Yea. I'm sorry I got you trouble Harry."
He waved it off. "It's not a big deal. I don't like bullies. Besides you are new here. There was no reason for him to do that to you." He motioned to Dudley and said, "Just stick with us and we'll take care of you."
Hermione blinked back the tears and nodded her head. "Thanks. I'm always made fun of because I like to read and do extra work. I can't help it if I like to learn."
Dudley thought for a moment while he took a sip of his juice. "I was thinking Hermione. I know you're smart because you always raise your hand in class at each question. But I am not doing this to mean, but all the other students are calling you out about it. I just thought I would let you know."
Harry nodded in agreement. "Yea. You're not giving the others a chance to answer the questions. So maybe this up coming week kind of hold off a bit and see what happens. They might stop making fun of you. It's worth a shot, right?"
Hermione thought for a moment at their words. Her parents had told her the same thing before she started school, but she ignored their words and answered all the teachers' questions none the less.
"I guess it wouldn't hurt would it." said Hermione after thinking.
The kids asked questions and learned about each other, and boys became quickly protective over Hermione during their dinner time together. The boys found the girl nice and funny to be around.
Meanwhile over at the adult's table they watched the kids talk and laugh. John and Jane Granger smiled grateful that Hermione the makings of a good relationship with the boys.
Towards the end of dinner John signed his name to the contract being a major shareholder in Gunnings Oil Company. The men shook hands after everything was signed. Vernon ordered a bottle of wine to celebrate the new partnership.
"I believe we will have to set up some playdates Petunia." Jane said as she looked over at the kid's table.
Petunia smiled at the kids. "Yes, that would wonderful idea. We have park walking distance from our home. The boys ride their bikes there. I will give you the address and our phone number." Petunia said and wrote down all the information and handed it over to Jane.
Jane picked up the paper and studied the address. She noted in her head that they live about 30 minutes away from the Dudley home. She nodded in agreement that they would plan a weekend for the kids.
"Hermione it's time to leave dear." Jane said standing up from the table. "You can see the boys at school on Monday."
"Ok Mummy." She said and rose for her chair. "Thanks boys. I'll try what you suggested but I can't make no promises about answering questions."
Harry nodded his head. The boys waved bye to the Grangers and Vernon paid the bill and they headed home after a nice dinner.
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Hermione stood in the front of the bathroom mirror and growled at her unruly hair. She struggled to run the brush through her tangled curls. She pulled it back in messy ponytail. She walked into her bedroom and put on her school uniform. She clipped on her tie and but on her black shoes and grabbed her backpack. She grunted at the weight of the books in the bag. She walked down the hall to the living room.
"Ok Mummy I'm ready to go." Hermione said when she saw her mother carrying her lunchbox.
"Here is your lunch. Please try not to let the teasing get to you today." Jane told her daughter as they left the house for the school.
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Jane pulled up to the large private school and parked the car. "Have a good day sweetheart. I love you." She kissed her daughter's cheek.
Hermione smiled and said, "Love you too. See you after school," and she got out of the car and kids laughed at her as she walked into the building.
"Hey head-mop you're such a mummy's girl that you can't leave without a kiss." Charlie Whine mocked. He had short blonde hair, brown eyes, fare skin and large round body.
"At least I have Mummy that loves me, so shove off." Hermione snapped back. "Harry, Dudley!" called Hermione and ran over to the boys.
"Hey Mione!" said Harry and wrapped his arm over Hermione's shoulder and they made their way to the classroom.
Harry and Dudley sat on each side of Hermione leaving her in the middle desk. Dudley winked at Hermione and turned attention to the teacher who was calling roll to make sure everyone was in the class.
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The day went by quickly and Hermione chewed on her bottom as was itching to raise her hand at each question, but she reframed from raising her hand at every question. The day got to her and she raised her a couple of times throughout the day.
Harry smiled at his friend when he noticed that the those in the class were raising their hands. He tapped Hermione with his pencil and she looked around and noticed other students were answering the questions. She smiled and realized that she didn't have to raise her hand at every question maybe she could do that to give others a chance.
After the end of the day the students stood outside waiting for their rides to go home. Charlie come up to the trio.
"Hey mop-head, why didn't you answer the questions in class?" asked Charlie.
"Maybe I was giving others a chance to answer." Hermione told him.
Charlie picked up Hermione's bag and unzipped it and dumped her books on the ground. He grabbed a book. "Charles Dickens. You really are looser."
"Charlie, what is your problem?" snapped Dudley and put Hermione's books back in her bag and threw it over his shoulder. "She likes to read unlike you. You can't even read a pre-k book. The pictures are even too big for you make out what they mean."
Charlie's face turned read and ripped the pages from the book and balled them up throwing them at Hermione in the face.
"That's not mine it's a library book!" snapped Hermione in horror of destroying the book.
Harry balled up his fists in anger and walked over to the bully. "Charlie are you stupid." He said stepping closer to the boy his magic crackled around him. "How did you like your blue hair! How about a matching eye to go along with it?"
"No, Harry don't stoop down to his level he's not worth it." said Hermione and grabbed Harry's arm causing a magical lash out when they touched sending Charlie flying across the school yard.
Hermione's eyes widen in shock. "What did I do?"
Harry turned his head and looked at his friend. "You didn't do anything. I did it, or did we do it?"
The headmaster came up to the trio and he crossed his arms over his chest. "My office now." He was a large man, with black short hair, nice trimmed beard and wore a brown suit.
Hermione bit her bottom lips and tears filled her brown eyes and looked down at her feet. She nodded her head. Charlie stood up and ran over to the group crying about how they threw him across the yard and students quickly moved aside when the group went back inside the school.
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Harry, Dudley and Hermione sat down on the leather couch in the headmaster's office. Charlie sat in the armchair with a smirk on his face he was the victim.
"Mr. Potter over your years here you have caused these problems. We don't do violence here at Villa Academy."
"Headmaster Gunner Charlie was picking on Hermione he was ripping up her book." Dudley told him. "We didn't lay a hand on him."
Hermione brushed away the tears that had fallen down her cheeks and said, "Dudley is right sir. Charlie tore up a school book. We didn't touch him. I put my hand on Harry and Charlie was thrown across the yard."
"A likely story Miss Granger it was three against one." The headmaster said.
Hermione's mouth fell open. "You're taking Charlie's side over ours. You can ask the others what happened. They saw him rip the book and threw the pages at me!"
Headmaster looked over at Charlie and asked, "Did you rip the book?"
"Of course, not sir. I was just looking at the book. See for yourself." Charlie said handing the perfect book.
Harry's eyes widen at the book. It was in perfect shape no missing pages. He ran his fingers through his hair wondering how the book was in perfect condition.
"It was torn I we promise sir!" said Harry and grabbed the book the nice desk and flipped through the book. "I can't explain it sir but half the book was ripped out!"
"Enough Mr. Potter. You three are here by expelled from classes for the week." He told the trio.
"What?! But sir it will be on our records!" cried Hermione and she rocked on the couch.
Harry looked around and saw the books start to shake on the shelves around the office. He looked over at his friend and realized that she was causing the books to now fall onto the floor. 'She's a witch!' thought Harry because he remembered when he was seven that his aunt and uncle told him truth of him being a wizard and of course the house elf Charles that lived with them.
"Hermione you have to calm down." Harry whispered. He turned to the headmaster and said, "Fine sir we will take our punishment. But our families will know the truth. Come on guys let's go I know they are waiting on us." He got up from the couch and narrowed his eyes at Charlie and they left the office.
Charlie smirked at the headmaster and nodded his head. He left the office with smile on his face knowing he wouldn't get in trouble his father owned the school and could get out of anything.
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Hermione ran over to her mother and quickly wrapped her arms around her waist. Petunia stood near Jane and could tell something was really wrong when Harry and Dudley walked over to the ladies. The boys explained what happened and that the headmaster had suspended them for the week. Petunia sighed heavily and nodded her head.
"I'll call you later Jane. We can discuss what happened on Wednesday with the kids." She told her new friend.
"You understand what's going on, don't you?" asked Jane. "How Hermione can do things others can't."
Petunia nodded her head. "I do. But we must let things die down a bit. Let Hermione have the day to collect her thoughts. It's best to come into this with an open mind."
"Ok. We'll see you on Wednesday. Boys thank you for sticking up for Hermione." said Jane and helped Hermione into the car.
Petunia sighed and got into the car followed by Harry and Dudley. They went home. They knew that Vernon wouldn't be happy about it and would talk to the headmaster. But she knew that things happened that the young witch and wizard were not able to control. She had promised herself never to punish Harry for an out burst of accidental magic.
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I hope you enjoyed the new chapter.