A/N All right, it's been a little while between posting times. This part has been wiped out , started over and still there'll be one more part.Hope you enjoy.I will try to finish, before life "distracts " me again. Thanks to the people who kept on me,in the nicest possible way.
Summer 27
The following day was a busy one at the Granger house. That evening the house would be full of witches and wizards, Harry didn't know how many.When he asked Hermione's dad, Chris wasn't sure either.
"I know there have been lots of owls flying in and out. Ivy has had a time keeping them hidden from the neighbors. I don't mind telling you, Harry, this may become a bit awkward, Ivy returning to the wizarding world."
"After all these years, I can see why." replied Harry." It was quite a shock when I found out the truth about who I am, when Hagrid came for me. Took me a long time to begin to catch onto things most people had known for years."
"Yes, Ivy has often said she wished things could have been different in that way.If she'd been more certain of Hermione's safety, I believe she would have made more of an attempt to persuade Dumbledore to have you with us , some of the time." Chris said regretfully. "We knew it wasn't easy for you there. Having the Dursleys as patients only made that more apparent. It did make Ivy decide it was time to take some action. That and this past year's events."
Harry laughed mirthlessly."Hermione's safety. She'd have been a lot safer if she hadn't spent so much time with me and Ron. OOPS, maybe I'd better not say anything about that."
" I won't say there haven't been sleepless nights around here," Chris answered with a rueful shake of his head. " I was expecting Ivy to make the decision to return to your world from the time Hermione received her first Hogwarts letter. She's shown amazing self-control, knowing as much as she does about the school, and the fact that Hermione will not let things alone, once she's made up her mind."
Harry laughed sincerely this time. "Things would have turned out a lot differently, in every year, if Hermione hadn't had that stubborness, as we all like to call it. I can't say I've always enjoyed it though."
They both laughed at this, Harry having a strong feeling Chris got the same treatment from Ivy that he'd received from Hermione over the years. A little shiver passed through him,though, as he remembered the feeling of her leaning against him yesterday, after she'd kissed him, and the fire in her eyes when she had told off the Krums. Amazingly, however, she had returned from taking Crookshanks upstairs, completely composed and had been amazingly friendly to Viktor and his family, though a bit formal.
He remembered Ron teasing her after the Krums left, about not being able to make up her mind. She had wasted no time in blasting Ron, the way he'd seen her do since they were eleven.He grinned as he remembered her impassioned speech about not being an ungrateful daughter, that she had no intention of putting her parents to this trouble for nothing. She'd finished by telling Ron that perhaps he'd better work on his own mind a bit, before questioning the workings of hers, and that he'd do well to remember the O.W.L.S. coming up this year for them. Before Ron had had a chance to send a blast back, she had hugged both of them hard, and disappeared in the direction they'd seen Ivy, Ginny and Mrs. Weasley go, leaving Ron standing open- mouthed and Harry chuckling.
Just then Mr. Weasley and the boys appeared, looking a bit harrassed.
"Molly's just threatened to put the Full Body Bind on all of us if there's any mess in the house"
"She's already gone through our stuff three times." George said, looking meanfully at Harry.
'Uh-oh,' he thought,'There goes our plan,'
"Good thing we'd thought to hide a few things under Hedwig's cage," whispered Fred to Harry." Otherwise we'd be starting over. and we'd be a little too late to help dispose of Viktor."
After that all of them were kept busy by various errands and last minute things that needed to be done for the evening. Harry nearly forgot to get his wrinkled robes out of his trunk. Ron had been surprised that Harry's trunk was here."You really have been spending some time here, haven't you? To have all your Hogwarts stuff here."
"It was pretty much done without my knowing about it." Harry told him. "Ivy just apparated over one morning and brought everything back. Even Hedwig's cage. Think she didn't trust them." Harry grinned, remembering how excited Ivy had been after apparating again after so long.Then he continued "Erm, Ron , the Grangers have mentioned taking me with them when they go on holiday, out of the country. How does that sound to you? I'd really like to go, but...."
"Are you bonkers? Why wouldn't you go? How long have you been stuck at those Muggles' house every summer. Besides, I'd be really surprised if you and Hermione didn't have some pretty nice chances to be alone. Who knows what might happen." Ron winked and Harry felt his face go red.
" This IS Hermione we're talking about, Ron. I ... well, she did kiss me last night. " He could have kicked himself as soon as the words were out of his mouth.
"She DID? Hermione? You do mean like a peck on the cheek, like when you got ready to leave for the summer?" Ron asked eagerly.
As carefully as he could Harry answered," No, it was NOT that kind of kiss. I , well, I kind of lost the bones out of my knees for a minute. We were pretty close, she was leaning on me and , well, I can't say I don't hope it happens again soon. For longer."
Ron nodded. " It will. You don't see the way she looks at you. I do."
He shook his head and added, " I'm glad we had that talk yesterday. Saved me from making a total ass of myself."
Harry laughed. "So instead , you're going to watch your best friend do it.
Gee, thanks.! I don't think there's any going back now though. That boneless feeling wasn't all that bad"
They heard Ginny calling them at that moment, When they found her, she said," Fred and George have let me in on the plan. And I just have to say, I hope you guys know what you're doing. Hermione could get really mad about this. " Then she grinned, and added, "Or, she might be grateful forever that you got rid of the pompous ass. Do you know exactly what they are doing?"
" No, they won't say," answered Ron. "What do you know ?"
" Something is going to happen with a note, and they have some kind of special ink. I just hope it's better than that stuff they gave me for my hair."said Ginny, remembering Crookshanks fur. "They want me to get something Hermione has written on, a blank piece of her note paper, and an envelope."
"And you need us because? " asked Ron. "You're staying in the room."
"I want one or both of you to look out for Hermione, moron boy." replied Ginny." It would be great for her to walk in on me snooping through her papers.."
"Third drawer on the left hand side of her desk." said Harry, as if automatically.When Ginny and Ron exchanged a look, he quickly added,
" So, I've been in there a couple of times when she was writing. Why shouldn't I notice?"
"I doubt you would have a month or two ago," Ginny said with a quirky look on her face that Harry couldn't quite read. " OK, you watch and I'll fetch it. Then you can take it down to Fred and George.And MAKE them tell you what they're doing!"
Harry noticed it was one of those days with a feel of very slow movement of time, then a quick speeding up. Though he wasn't expecting to meet any mortal danger this evening, he had to admit to being quite tense. He and Ron had finally forced some sort of explanation from Gred and Forge. If things went as planned, he, Harry could come off looking quite the hero.If things didn't go well, Hermione would probably insist her parents send him back to Privet Drive, due to meddling in her life.
At seven o'clock, they all assembled downstairs, and Harry had to admit, Ginny and Hermione had both changed a lot over the past months. Without their loose robes, wearing Muggle dresses, well, they weren't little girls any longer, either of them. He guessed it was a good thing Ginny had stopped blushing every time he was around, but looking at her now, he wondered why he'd been so annoyed before by her attentions.Still, he pitied the poor guy who had the first serious crush on Ginny. Her brothers were bound to nearly kill the poor guy.
Looking at Hermione though, he forgot anyone else was in the room, until Ron poked him, "Stop gawping at her, before she notices. You want to ruin everything?"
" Oh, eh, sorry. Didn't realize.......but look at her!" Harry had the feeling it was going to be a very long evening, if he couldn't manage to find some time alone with Hermione. He didn't know anything about girls' clothes, but someone had to have enchanted that dress. It looked like the night sky, and small sparkling stones that looked like stars seemed to have been thrown across it randomly.He could see the fairies were in her ears again, and he saw his mom's bracelet on her wrist.
Before Harry could make his way across the room that was already crowded, the doorbell rang. Hermione did see him coming toward her, and her eyes smiled so warmly at him, he almost felt she had hugged him!
The feeling didn't leave as he saw who was at the door. It was Professor Dumbledore, followed by Professors MacGonagall and Flitwick. He'd never seen them outside of Hogwarts, and was amazed to see MacGonagall embracing Ivy, with a tear on her cheek. They had apparently met Chris in the past and Harry was relieved to see there didn't seem to be any awkwardness about Chris being a muggle. Next to arrive was Neville with his formidable grandmother. Neville looked no end relieved to be back in the company of wizards and witches his own age and Harry could tell his grandmother was still ordering his every move. Mrs. Weasley quickly took Mrs. Longbottom off for a chat, and Ginny and Neville were soon deep in a conversation about the gardens they had at home over the summer.
Soon Dumbledore moved over to the wall where Harry was standing, just smiling at the scene in front of him. "A bit different from your usual summers, Harry? " he asked, laying a hand on Harry's shoulder.
Harry didn't know where to begin, he felt so full of happiness, and was relieved when Dumbledore went on after he had merely replied, "Yes, sir."
" i understand you've found the box with your mother's letters? You enjoyed them, it was not too upsetting?" asked Dumbledore, studying Harry's face carefully.
" Oh no!" Harry answered enthusiastically.' I mean, it did hurt, but it was a good hurt, if you know what I mean. Besides that Ivy gave me an audio tape of my parents' voices. I can almost feel them in the room with me." Then he rememberd the bracelet."I um, asked Hermione to wear the bracelet you gave my mom. It's really beautiful. I hope you don't mind."
To Harry's relief, Dumbledore laughed comfortably.' Mind? I certainly do not. The bracelet being worn by your closest friend will replace the protection that was taken the day of the tournament's final task. And not only for you, but for the Weasleys and the Grangers. All I ask is that you let me or Ivy know immediately if anything unusual arises concerning it."
" Ivy told us that too. The most unusual thing so far was Ron being surprised Hermione was wearing any jewelry. Um, Hermione is a little, um, I mean Hermione and I....." He stopped, realizing he had no idea how to explain his feelings to Dumbledore. With relief he saw Dumbledore's eyes crinkle at the corners and twinkle intensely.
"I understand Harry. No surprises there, though I did wonder whether you'd mistake the signs and give it to the Ravenclaw seeker you've been watching this year.' Harry felt his face turn scarlet, but Dumbledore went on." You wouldn't have been the first or the last wizard to mistake a pretty face for something else. Although I see Miss Granger is looking quite attractive these days. Being her mother's daughter, that was inevitable. Ivy always had the looks and talent to do whatever she chose .I expect it will be the same with your Hermione."
'His Hermione,' thought Harry. Well, it was a nice thought, even if he didn't know it was exactly true. At least not yet.
At that moment, Mr. Weasley appeared and was soon in conversation with Dumbledore about recent happenings at the Ministry. Harry noticed several more witches and wizards had appeared while he had been talking to Dumbledore. Some looked vaguely familiar, others were total strangers.
He also noticed the room seemed larger than it had previously. Apparently Ivy had used the same charm she had on the room he was sharing with Ron, George and Fred. He then noticed George beckoning to him, and went over to see what was going on there. Fred, he saw, seemed to be deep in conversation with Hermione.
"Come on Harry, " George said with a smirk. " He can talk to her, can't he? You going to try to keep Hermione in a bottle like she did with that Skeeter woman?"
" No, and thanks for telling me that. Guess I didn't even realize what I was doing . Oh, Hermione would NOT go along with that." He looked questioningly at George. "So what's up? Besides telling me to wake up?"
"Just wanted to make sure we were all set. We need to move as soon as the Krums get here." Before Harry could reply,the doorbell rang again, and he heard a different note in Ivy's voice though he couldn't hear the words. A moment later though, she appeared in the room followed by- he couldn't believe his eyes! Not only the Krum family but Draco Malfoy and his mom and dad.
Although Ivy was obviously shocked and not happy with the unexpected appearance of the Malfoys,, she had quickly recovered and called for the attention of the rest of the room. "Our guests of honor have arrived, please make Mr and Mrs, Krum and their son Viktor welcome." She paused ever so slightly then continued," I believe you are all acquainted with Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, and their son, Draco."
There was a moments' silence, then a babble of voices as the rest of the guests came forward to speak to the Krums, and the Malfoys..Harry watched Draco's eyes wander around the room scornfully at first, but with his expression quickly changing to one of surprise. Apparently he was discovering Hermione had nothing to be ashamed of in her home, and in fact probably lived much better than he did. The Grangers light filled, comfortable home, full of beautiful paintings, books and comfortable furnishings was sure to look better than any moldy old mansion.
How was the little slime going to keep the superior look on his face now, given the fact that he could no longer fling the term "mudblood" in Hermione's face?
To be continued............
( Showdown time! Will Viktor and Draco band together?
And what's with this INK ???? )