The Secrets Within
By Lady Lupin
A/N: I wonder if anyone likes this story as I've only got like 9 reviews. Oh well, it shall be continued anyway.
Disclaimer: All that is from the Harry Potter world is JK's and I wouldn't dream of saying it was mine, Lenora, and Nyah, however are mine, and if you would like to use them please ask permission first.
Chapter Three: Meeting the Parents
"Now remember Ron, be sure to thank Mr. and Mrs. Granger, and be very polite." His mother told him. Her eyes then narrowed. "And I don't want to see you again until we meet you at Diagon Alley, you begged us to let you leave this 'boring place" as you put it, and I don't want to see you coming back, you hear me?" Mrs. Weasley asked, pointing her finger in Ron's face. He sighed.
"Of course Mum, whatever you say." He smiled. She looked at him fondly.
"Have a good time dear." She said, hugging him. "And keep an eye on Harry once he gets there."
"So Ron, what was the name you picked out for Hermione's home again?" His father asked as he gave Ron a small bag of Floo Powder. Ron's answering grin was reminiscent of the twins.
"I've decided to call it 'Know It All's'," He said evilly. His father snorted with laughter, and his mum glared at him.
"Is that very smart Ron?" His father asked, eyeing his wife. Ron nodded.
"Whatever you think best then, she is your friend." Mr. Weasley agreed. Fred and George appeared just then, dragging Ron's trunk behind them.
"Ahh, thank you boys, stand it on end, and give it to Ron," Mr. Weasley instructed. The twins did as told.
"Have fun a Hermione's, lover boy," George sang, as Ron got ready to go. Ron went scarlet.
"Yes, and remember to tell your girlfriend hello for us." Fred added. Ron went even brighter.
"Oh! You two leave him alone!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, swatting at the twins, though she did this smiling. Ron swallowed as his father threw some powder in the fire.
"Bye all," He said with a wave. He stepped in the fire, dragging his trunk, and yelled, "Know It All's!" Through the ash.
Ron zoomed past many fireplaces and after about a minute landed in the right one. As soon as he landed, he and his trunk fell over and landed on some thing soft. Ron looked down. That something was Hermione. His he felt his ears get red again.
"Hi, err, happy to see me?" He ventured. She looked at him, and seemed a little flustered.
"Get off me Ron!" She squeaked, standing up. Just then her parents ran into the room. He stood there; a little uncomfortable as Hermione explained why she had to use magic. Ron was a little surprised at how fast Hermione talked her way out of getting in trouble. Then Hermione turned back to Ron.
"Mum, Dad, I'd like you to meet Ron, Ron, my Mum and Dad." Hermione introduced.
Ron walked over and shook their hands and said in his best Percy imitation, "Hello, how simply splendid to meet you." Hermione shot him an amused look, letting him know she knew what he was doing.
Her dad stifled a laugh and her mum just shook his hand and said "Ron, how nice to meet you."
"Come on Ron, let me show you to your room, I'll help with your trunk." They walked upstairs heaving the trunk along with them, and as they went they heard her father say, "Well he doesn't seem like I imagined him."
Ron laughed, "I like your dad, he seems like he has a good sense of humor." Hermione smiled.
"Yes, he balances my mum out, she's a bit strict." She admitted as they reached the guest room. They walked in the room to find it dusty and dark in the room. They set down the trunk and Hermione wrinkled her nose.
"It is way too dusty in here, watch the door for my parents, will you?" She asked as she took out her wand. Ron did as told, and watched in amazement as Hermione cleaned the room with magic.
"Hermione! What are you trying to do, get expelled? That's the second time in ten minutes that you've done a spell." Ron exclaimed. To his surprise, she laughed.
"Sorry Ron, I never told you guys… Professor McGonagall got me permission to use magic over the summer, so I can help protect Harry if we need it suddenly."
Ron looked at Hermione in awe, "I guess being smart sometimes does have its advantages…" Hermione looked a bit uncomfortable.
"Yea, I guess." She looked about the room quickly. "You'll stay in here. Harry will too, when he gets here, but until then you have it to yourself. Do you want to unpack?" Ron looked at Hermione, she still seemed a bit nervous.
"Yea, I think I will." He said slowly. She smiled.
"Ok. When you're done you can come to my room if you are bored. I have to clean a bit. It's across the hall." She told him, and left. Ron ran a hand through his slightly messy hair. What is up with her? She seemed to be uncomfortable when I said she was smart. He shook his head in confusion. I guess I'll just have to wait and find out. He pulled his trunk into the room and began to take out some things.
~~~~~~~~~~
Hermione flopped onto her bed with a sigh. She had gotten butterflies in her stomach when Ron had complimented her. She was used to him picking on her for being smart, not telling her it was good thing. She stood up and looked in the mirror. There in front of her was a short girl with bushy brown hair, and cinnamon brown eyes. Nothing remarkable, nothing interesting. Just a plain looking girl that could never compete with one so beautiful as Fleur Delacour or Cho Chang. She sighed again, walked to her window seat and looked out it morosely. Life just wasn't fair sometimes. Why is it that I have to fall for the most stubborn, clueless git there ever was? Honestly, I shouldn't even be worrying about boys. The O.W.L's are coming up and I should be studying. But no, I'm here thinking about a boy who doesn't even think of me as a girl. A knock on her open door pulled her out of her thoughts.
"Hermione?"
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After putting away some of his stuff he headed across the hall. The door across and a little to the left of his was open, the sun shining through. He went and stood in the doorway. Hermione's room was large and airy with many windows. In one corner was her scarlet and gold bed. Obviously for Gryffindor. On two of the walls there were built in bookshelves, all filled with books. Of course. On the third wall there was a desk, a dresser and a chair filled with old blankets. On the last wall was the bed, and in one corner, was a scarlet window seat, on which Hermione sat, looking out the window. She looked a little sad, a bit angry and very far away.
"Hermione?" He called quietly. She didn't answer. He tried again and knocked on the door.
"Hermione?"
She started and looked at him.
"Oh, Ron, you startled me." She said. He walked in the room farther.
"So, done with your room?" He inquired. She looked about
"Uh, yea. I really didn't have to do much. Just put away a few books." She said, indicating the bookshelves. He nodded. "So what do you want to do?"
"I don't know, what kind of things can we do? I've never been to a muggle home before," He admitted. She smiled.
"Do you want to play chess?" She asked. He rolled his eyes.
"Hermione, I know how to play chess. You know that," He reminded her.
"Yes, you know how to play wizard's chess. But you've never played the muggle way. Want to give it a try?" She asked slyly. Ron knew that was a challenge and he certainly couldn't back down from it.
"Sure. It can't be that much different." He said, shrugging. She grinned at him.
"I wouldn't be so sure," She said. He rolled his eyes again. "Come on, the chess set is down the living room." She said, heading out the door. Ron followed her.
When they reached the living room they found Hermione's parents doing the exact thing Hermione and Ron had planed to do.
"Oh boy. You might as well take a seat Ron. Their matches last forever." She told him, indicating the couch. Ron did as told.
"They do not, Hermione, you're just exaggerating." Her mother said. Her father grinned.
"They do to Char, and you know it," He said, winking at Ron. "But don't worry, we've been playing for a while now, Charlotte is bound to lose soon." Ron grinned. Hermione's dad was fun.
"Haha! Checkmate! I win!" Mr. Granger said about ten minutes later. Mrs. Granger smiled.
"I suppose you deserve to win once in a while dear," She told him. He rolled his eyes. "Hermione you're father and I are going to the grocery store-"
"We are?" Mr. Granger asked. She glared at him. He smiled at her innocently.
"As I was saying, we are going to the store to get some things for dinner. You and Ron behave, and don't forget to let Crookshanks out." She said as she pulled her grinning husband out the door.
"And Ron, don't do anything I wouldn't do!" Mr. Granger called, grinning. Hermione snorted.
"As if that narrowed it down at all," She commented, shaking her head in amusement.
"Your dad is a bit like Fred and George," He said.
"I've noticed. It's really funny. Him and mum have blazing rows sometimes, and then he gets and sweet and mushy and they make up. It's funny in a way." She said, setting up the chessboard.
"So can we play now?" Ron asked.
"Sure, I just have to explain the differences to you." She told him. "You have to move the pieces yourself. They don't move or talk. When you take a piece, you just remove it from the board; you don't bash it to pieces. Got it?"
"Yea, yea, it's not that different," Ron said sitting behind the white pieces. They began to play, and while Hermione took an early lead, Ron soon caught up and ended up winning.
"Haha! Checkmate! I win! See! I told you it wasn't that different!" He told her, looking triumphant. She laughed and shook her head, looking at him. He caught her eye, and saw something there he hadn't noticed before. He found himself unable to look away. The smile slowly faded from her face, and was replaced by a faintly uncertain look. It puzzled Ron. They probably would have stayed like that for a long time had it not been for the sound of the door slamming. They both jumped and glanced guiltily at the front door. Hermione's mother was walking into the kitchen with a bag in her hand. Her father however was looking at them with a peculiar look on his face. When he saw them looking at him though, the expression changed. He grinned at them slyly and winked at Ron, and then followed his wife into the kitchen.
They both sat there for about thirty minutes, Hermione reading a book and Ron walking around the room, idly looking at family pictures. He was looking at one of Hermione in France when her dad came back in.
"Alright you two, dinner is ready," He said, ushering them into the dinning room.
Ron didn't glance at Hermione as he followed her father into the kitchen.
"Ah there you are. I do hope you like pasta Ron, we're rather fond of it here," Mrs. Granger said. Hermione snorted.
"Don't worry mum, he'll eat anything," She said sitting down. Ron glared at her and also sat down. They ate in silence for most of the meal. As things were coming to a close Mr. Granger began to ask Ron some things.
"So, Ron, how long have you and Hermione been friends?" He asked. Ron thought about it a bit and grinned.
"Well, I've known her since we met on the train in first year, but she's been friends with me and Harry since Halloween of 1st year." He told the older man. Hermione glared at him as she and her mother picked up their plates. "Thanks for the wonderful dinner Mrs. Granger, it was really good," Hermione rolled her eyes at his obvious attempt at flattery. But her mother beamed.
"Why thank you Ron! Aren't you sweet." She looked at her husband sternly. "Really Geoff, you should take lessons from this young man here, has his head on straight." Hermione's dad rolled his eyes at her. She missed it, but Ron didn't, he had to muffle his laugh.
"Come on Ron, lets go talk, and leave the women folk to do the cleaning." That was the wrong thing to say. Both Granger women got an identical look of fury on their face.
"I don't think so Geoffrey. Now you get to do the dishes." Mrs. Granger said angrily. Hermione turned to Ron.
"You as well. You'll dry. You men folk can spend quality time with the soap suds." She told him, pointing a finger into his face. Both males sighed and did as told. There really was no way to get out of that predicament. Hermione and her mother disappeared into the living room, giving Mr. Granger a time to talk to Ron alone.
"Well that worked well, those two are so predictable." He said washing a plate. Ron stared at him.
"What do you mean?" He asked. Mr. Granger grinned.
"Ron, I think you and I need to talk and it's best if Miss Strict and her daughter aren't here to listen," He told him, still washing. Ron gulped and nodded his head. "By the way, you can call me Geoff if you want. I don't mind."
"Ok," Ron said slowly. Mr. Granger gave him a look. "Ok, Geoff." Geoff grinned at him. Ron felt a bit uncomfortable using his first name. But as he was Hermione's father, Ron figured it'd be better to do as he was told. He cleared his throat. "So what do you want to talk about exactly?"
"Well Ron, I want to talk to you about the dangers of dealing with my daughter." He told him. Ron gulped again. "You see, my daughter takes after her mother, who takes after Hermione's grandmother, and so on and so on. Understand?" He asked, glancing at Ron. Ron nodded. "Well, aside from inheriting that wild bush they call hair, my daughter inherited the gene that causes her to be extremely stubborn. For some reason, those women will not admit when they are wrong. You'll just have to get used to it. And another thing, they love to fight. It must be in their blood or something. So take it as a good sign if they fight with you. To a certain point of course." Mr. Granger explained cheerfully. Ron was silent for a moment.
"Geoff?" Ron asked finally.
"Yes?" he asked, glancing at him, amused.
"Why exactly are you telling me this? I mean I appreciate it, but I don't know why you'd bother tell me." Ron admitted as they finished. Hermione's father grinned at him once again.
"Well Ron, you remind me of someone I knew when I was young," He said.
"Really who?" Ron asked, curious.
"Me." He said. And with that he went into the living room. Ron stood in the kitchen, and processed this comment.
~~~~~~~~~~
"Mother, what do you think of Ron?" Hermione asked. She and her mum were both reading. Charlotte looked up from So Your Child is Magical.
"Well dear, he seems very nice. And well, dear to tell you the truth, he acts an awful lot like your father." Her mother said quietly, glancing towards the kitchen.
"Oh," Hermione said. They both went back to reading. Her mother took of her reading glasses and looked at Hermione carefully.
"Are you two arguing with each other Hermione?"
Hermione looked slightly guilty, "Well you see I'm not quite sure," Hermione started. As she explained what had happened earlier, her mother seemed to gain an amused look to her face.
"Well dear, listen closely because I hope I never have to say this to you again. You made a mistake to act spiteful to Ron. There was no reason for it. Apologize. Soon." With that her mum went back to reading. Hermione closed her eyes and sighed. Just then her father came in.
Without even looking up her mother spoke to him, "I assume the dishes are done, right Geoffrey?" He grinned.
"Of course they are my lovely one!" He exclaimed. She laughed at him, set her book on the table, and placed her reading glasses on top of it.
"We've got an early surgery tomorrow, let's head up to bed." She commanded.
"Of course," He agreed. He walked over to Hermione and kissed her forehead. "Ron's in the garden." He whispered and then left the room with his wife. Hermione sighed loudly, and headed to the kitchen.
A/N: So what do you think?? Let me know by reviewing!!!! PLLLLEAASSE!