As always, I'm only playing with JK Rowling's toys.
All credit goes to JK Rowling, her publisher and all the other people involved in bringing her work to life.
#
Gryffindor tower woke to find that two of their number had disappeared at some point during the night. Neville Longbottom knew full well where Harry and Hermione had gone and knew that it was only thirty minutes ago that they had left, but he wasn't inclined to tell anyone else that.
The morning rush happened as it did every morning; it wouldn't be until breakfast that the two most prominent members of the house would be missed.
'Ron? Have you seen Harry this morning?' asked Ginny
'What? yeah, he was just...' Ron put his fork down on the plate and looked up and down the length of the table, 'come to think of it, I haven't seen Harry this morning.' He looked up and down the table for a second time before employing his legendary powers of deduction.
'Maybe he's still in bed; he did sit up kind of late last night with Hermione. He'll be down shortly.' Concluded Ron, Neville shook his head and smirked to himself.
'Feed the Weasleys, let them know that purebloods care' Draco, and the bookends sang as they walked past, heading for the hallway. Ron sprang to his feet ready to brandish his wand, only to find that he had a fork full of baked beans in his hand.
'Sit down, Ron. You're making a scene.' Said Dean Thomas.
'Making a scene? It's not your family that blond ponce is badmouthing is it?' argued Ron.
'No it's not, but here's a news flash for you Ronnie. Malfoy only says those things to you. Not once has he said anything to Ginny or the twins. Stop being such an easy mark.' Said Dean pointing out what everyone else had figured out at the beginning of term.
'That's just...it's not even...' blustered Ron. The twins looked at their irate brother and turned away from him. While they did indeed share the same genetics; the famous Prewitt temper had skipped over the elder Weasley kids and flourished in the younger two.
Ron sat back down and in a fit of pique pushed the uneaten remnant of his breakfast away.
Neville sat quietly observing everyone at the table, over the summer he had taken to people watching. While normally he would use his powers of observation in his greenhouse tending to the various plants he had cultivated, he realised that he could employ the same skill to get a better read on people. It had aided his confidence no end.
He spent time in Diagon Ally watching the shoppers going about their business, and tried to pick up on the subtle signals that people would give off in their body language. It was this newly developed skill set that gave him an insight into the changing dynamic within the so-called "Golden Trio."
Neville looked up from his porridge and saw Hannah Abbot looking towards the Ravenclaw table. As the quiet man of Gryffindor, Neville could pretty much go about without being noticed by most people. It gave him the advantage of getting to the Ravenclaw table without anyone realising that he had moved.
'Listen, Lovegood; I don't care what Harry said. Ravenclaw is my house, and you are not wanted or welcome. Have you got it!' Cho Chang had a fist full of the young blonde's hair and was pulling it, causing Luna significant discomfort.
Neville, unnoticed by everyone, crouched behind Cho and whispered;
'Let her go, and apologise now and I won't tell Harry you're targeting his friend.'
The resulting shriek from the pretty Asian caused her to let go of Luna's hair and fall off the bench at the same time.
'Mr Longbottom, I assume that you have a good explanation for being at another house table?' asked the diminutive charms professor.
'I noticed that my friend was in distress and thought I should offer her some assistance.' Replied Neville
'That is very chivalrous of you, Mr Longbottom, I am sure that Ms Chang appreciates your concern.
'I'm afraid that you miss my meaning sir, I was referring to Ms Lovegood.' Neville explained
'Ms Lovegood does not appear to be in any distress, Mr Longbottom'
'Perhaps you failed to notice, sir. It would certainly explain a few things.' Admonished the Longbottom scion.
'Longbottom, fifteen points from Gryffindor for your lack of respect and general insubordination towards a member of staff.' Barked Snape
'No, sir, I don't accept that.' replied Neville.
Instantly the general background chatter of the hall stopped, Longbottom had spoken back to Snape. Collectively the hall held its breath.
'Professor Snape, I am more than capable of defending myself, thank you; Mr Longbottom could you care to elucidate?' Professor Flitwick asked calmly.
'Of course sir, please excuse me I meant no disrespect to you. I was merely pointing out that your house has a significant bullying problem that has gone unchecked. Ms Chang here being the chief culprit and this is the second time since the beginning of term I have had to intervene.' Neville explained.
The Goblin in Filius Flitwick was stirring, as a being with mixed heritage; he was all too familiar with bullying, having had to endure it from both human and Goblin children. A dark look crossed his face as he considered his house.
'Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Mr Longbottom. Twenty points to Gryffindor for exemplary courage and inter-house relations.'
The Half Goblin got up from his seat and made his way to the house table and addressed the students.
'All Ravenclaw classes as suspended for the day, for some it may be permanent. I want everyone in the common room in ten minutes.' He demanded.
#
At the same time, Neville was defending Luna in the great hall, Harry was arguing with Emma about making breakfast.
'Mrs Granger, Please, I want to do this for all of you. It's a special day, and you deserve to be able to share it with your only daughter.' Harry Pleaded.
'I appreciate the sentiment, Harry, but you are a guest in our home. It wouldn't be right. Please go and spend time with Dan and Hermione' Argued Emma.
Harry rubbed his face with both hands and sighed.
'Ok, how about this? Why don't you and I make breakfast while Mia and Mr Granger spend some quality time together?'
'Mia? Does Hermione know that you shortened her name?' Emma asked.
'She does, she said that I am the only one that is allowed. I take great pride in that fact.' Beamed Harry
Emma smiled and set about getting the various ingredients and utensils out to begin prepping the food. She was in a quandary; this was the first time that Hermione had brought a friend home from school, and it was also the first time that she had brought a boy home. Given the hugs, the subtle looks and the general air of comfort between them; all the evidence pointed to them being a couple.
The Grangers had always taught their daughter never to jump to conclusions and apply logic to any problem. So Emma did the only thing that she could, given the circumstances.
'Harry?' she asked
'Yes, Mrs Granger?'
She calmly asked 'How long have you being in love with my daughter?'
Without missing a beat, Harry responded 'since about two minutes after I met her on the train in the first year. She took my breath away, and I have been unable to function properly without her being on my mind. I don't expect anything in return, as I told her on the way to school this summer, and even though I'm only fourteen, I told her that she is the love of my life.'
From any other fourteen-year-old boy, this heartfelt declaration would have sounded vapid. But something in the way that Harry spoke resonated with Emma, she had always believed that the truth would always make it's self-apparent and she could hear the distinctive truth in the words that Harry spoke.
'Well, for what it's worth Harry, your honesty means a lot to me. I'm sure that later on when you get to spend some time with Dan, he'll be just as impressed.'
'I do hope so Mrs Granger. Now how does this sound; Bacon, eggs, black pudding, haggis and some sausages with a little fruit pudding on the side?' asked Harry
'We don't have any of that Harry.' said Emma
'Never fear Mrs Granger; I am, after all, a wizard.' Harry said before calling out to Dobby.
#
'Hermione, Darling, what's going on with you and Harry?' asked Dan
'Nothing Dad, he's my best friend. That's all.'
'Best friends don't normally give each other two hundred and eight-year-old first editions as birthday presents.' Dan explained.
'I know that dad, and I know that you are simply trying to be rational about everything, but I promise that Harry and I are best friends and nothing more.' Hermione explained to her father. Dan wasn't buying it.
'Would you like to be more?' he asked
'Of course, I would, but it's not possible Dad. In the Wizarding world, Harry is as famous as Romário, and Roberto Baggio rolled into one. He desperately wants to be anonymous and to be normal, he being with me romantically would make the front page of the Daily Prophet, and it would cause so many problems for him that it doesn't even bear thinking about.' Hermione said with a sigh.
'Does Harry know how you feel?' Her father asked.
'I...I'm not sure dad. He told me on the train going to school that he was deeply in love with me, the type of love wars are fought over; you have no idea how deliriously happy I was to hear that.' Hermione sat with a goofy grin on her face.
'Well, I suppose since he made you deliriously happy, then you must feel the same way. Now I know that I'm old and have never been a fourteen-year-old boy and your mother and I know nothing at all; however, I would also urge caution. It is my understanding that fourteen-year-old boys are usually only interested in one thing.'
As Dan spoke, Hermione caught on to what he was about to say 'DAD! How can you say-'
Her father held up his hand and continued 'Fourteen-year-old boys are usually only interested in one thing, so I have to ask; what football team does he support?' Dan asked with a smirk.
Hermione was caught completely by surprise, and the head of steam that she had built up in her fury vanished like spring mist.
'I don't know if he's into football.' She admitted, still very puzzled by her father's response.
Harry and Mrs Granger brought the food through to the dining room and called for the others. Hermione and Dan came through and saw the spread and gasped.
'How much food did you too cook?' asked Dan
'Well we argued who was cooking, Harry wouldn't take no for an answer so we decided that we would both cook. His little elf friend was kind enough to get the ingredients for us, so dig in.' Said Emma.
The three Grangers eyed some of the offerings with more than a hint of suspicion, but it wasn't until everything had passed the ubiquitous sniff test that the eating began.
'WOW, Harry, this fruit pudding is fabulous.' Emma said, between swallows.
'I'm glad that you like it, Mrs Granger. I hope that you don't mind, but I have planned a few things for today, would you like me to give you a brief rundown?' Harry asked the family.
The Grangers three all nodded as their mouths were full.
'When I spoke with the bank a few weeks ago they arranged all of this for me; at ten, we have an appointment at Harrods. We will be getting fitted for outfits that we will need later tonight. At one o'clock we have a table booked at the Dorchester. We could catch a movie or go to the zoo or whatever else you might want to do. Tonight we have tickets to a midsummer night's dream at the Barbican.'
Harry wasn't aware that the Grangers had stopped eating, talking and generally functioning to their usual capabilities. A moment passed before he looked up at them.
'What?' he asked uncertainly.
'What do you mean the bank arranged all of this for you? I can barely get my bank to send a statement on time.' Mr Granger asked.
'Well, sir, the goblins run the wizard bank, and I found out a few weeks ago that I am rather well off and as my family are rather old I have more than a few non-magical investments as well. For example, my mum used to love the theatre, so my grandfather bought my parents a box at the Barbican as a wedding gift, the Potters have had a suite in the Dorchester for decades, and as such, I can always get a table. I have an account at Harrods that has been sitting unused since my parents died.' Harry explained in an offhanded way before popping a piece of black pudding into his mouth.
Mrs Granger confronted the elephant in the room, 'I hope that I'm not impertinent when I ask this Harry when you say well off are you talking The Queen well off or Bill Gates well off?'
Harry thoughtfully chewed the black pudding in his mouth before answering.
'My account manager said that I had approximately G331,845,841 in gold in my family vault and a little over G100,000 in my trust vault. I can't touch the family vault until I come of age in the Wizarding world.' Said Harry before adding 'I'm not sure how much it is in Pounds as it just looks like a load of numbers to me.'
Hermione stared at her best friend, this was huge and if it ever got out exactly how much he was worth then every witch in the country would be after him.
'Are you ok, sweetie?' asked her mum.
'erm... just a little bit shocked is all.' She stammered.
'Harry, the current exchange rate, is what, five pounds for every galleon?' Mr Granger asked.
'It's something like that.' replied Harry
'Tell me something, Harry, what football team do you support?' Mr Granger asked while looking at his daughter.
'Well I'm not much of a football fan; however I have got into following Scottish football. I do find myself listening and looking to the results of a team called Rangers; they're based in Glasgow.'
'Good to know Harry, you never know, maybe sometime in the future you, and I could catch a game.' Dan offered.
'I'd like that.'
Soon the sound of eating recommenced, and after a short time, Harry asked Dobby to whisk the dirty dishes away.
Mrs Granger said 'We have a little while before we have to leave, why not show Harry the rest of the house?'
'I'll show you my room first Harry' Hermione took him by the hand and the left the dining room and headed upstairs.
Hermione's room was light Lilac with a double bed dominating the centre of the room. Along one side was a wall of shelves that held row upon row of books, the desk housed several photos of various important times in Hermione's life and the special people that she cared for more than anyone else.
Once Harry was in the room, Hermione closed the door. She turned to face Harry, her arms crossed and a stern look upon her face.
'Why didn't you tell me that you are a Billionaire? That's importing information I needed to know.' she scolded.
'I'm sorry, Mia, I didn't know until the letter come back on Saturday. I didn't think it would matter.' Harry looked at the floor, the sadness evident in his voice.
'It doesn't matter to me, Harry, but how am I supposed to look after your best interests to save you from all the gold diggers.'
'You could always be my girlfriend.' Replied Harry