A/N What's there to say? NM, just hope you like it! Two more chapters, three at the most, and Paris will be a thing of the past. I just love seeing Harry having fun, don't you?
Love from Circe
Paris Six - Lunch with the New Kids
Ivy did come to pick Hermione and Harry up far sooner than they wished. Harry held Hermione back twice for "one more hug and kiss", but finally they both realized it was really time to go. The last thing they wanted was Ivy looking for them, and possibly suggesting they visit museums all day instead of shopping.
"I've seen enough museums already, I think, haven't you?" Harry asked Hermione. They had spent the first few afternoons taking guided tours, since Chris felt Harry deserved to hear the official tour guide's information.
"If you listen to Ivy and Hermione's version of what the paintings and sculptures are, you may wind up embarrassing yourself someday. I once spent ten minutes telling a woman about the meaning of a Cezanne, while I was cleaning her teeth. It was a bit embarrassing to find, when she could talk again, that she'd once owned that very painting,and had sold it to the museum! That was why she'd mentioned that particular painting. " Chris had laughed ruefully, and looked at Ivy, who smiled back sheepishly. "I explained to her that my wife, the other Dr. Granger, had an unusual sense of humor, but she's never attempted to discuss art again."
They arrived in front of the Tuileries Pond barely a minute before a taxi drove up with Ivy looking out the window anxiously. "Hop in, kids!" she exclaimed. "We're a bit late, and my friend will love teasing me that I haven't become more punctual as the years passed. I'm sure she still runs her house with absolute punctuality."
"Oh, Mom, you know we'd hate that. Half the fun of growing up with you was never knowing what to expect." Hermione hugged her mother, and Harry tried to fight the lump in his throat, as she went on. " I turned out all right, in spite of not having the perfectly punctual, well planned life, didn't I?"
"Yes, you did, but you also were more serious than I would have had you be. I sometimes wondered whether you were growing up to be more responsible than you should be." Ivy looked at Harry and smiled. "I didn't have to worry about that, did I ? Not after you joined up with Harry and Ron, and started on your own course of rule breaking"
Harry couldn't help marveling again at the ease Ivy seemed to have in accepting her daughter's part in some activities that would have turned most mothers' hair white with fear. But he guessed it made her feel better, knowing she and Chris would be at Hogwarts this year. Harry himself was still wondering whether this was going to make things better or worse for him, Ron and Hermione.
Before he could go into these thoughts they arrived at a small restaurant with a garden on one side, and tables among the huge pots of plants. As they left the taxi, a woman stood and waved to them, and Ivy waved back. Harry hoped these people were friendly, and could speak at least a little English. Otherwise, he was going to feel like an idiot, sitting there while Hermione translated everything.
They went out through the restaurant, which to Harry looked more like the library in someone's home. He realized again how little experience he'd had in the world, considering his age. During the years with the Dursleys, Harry was left with Mrs. Figg and her cats, in her smelly home, when his aunt, uncle and Dudley went out for dinner or other social engagements or entertainments. He looked around in wonder at the long, gleaming wood bar that seemed to go on for a mile. There was a fireplace that was tall enough for two men to stand in, and besides the tables, there were couches and chairs in front of the fire and in each of the alcove windows.
"Now this place feels like me!" he told Hermione, looking all around, as they walked out to the garden area. " I could imagine living someplace like this!"
Hermione laughed. "You'd like to have a bar that size in your house? You must be planning some big parties, Harry. Oh, I know, you were thinking of setting up a huge potions laboratory back there, and having Snape come help you out."
"Yeah, I'd like to have him back there. Maybe I could get him confused, and he'd drink some of his own Veritaserum potion. I'd still like to hear what that greasy git has been doing." Harry frowned, suddenly remembering something. "That party your mom and dad had- was Snape invited to that? It must have been a little awkward not to invite him, since the other teachers were there"
Looking a little startled, Hermione replied, "I hadn't even thought of it. We'll ask Mom when we leave here I think Snape is one of the furthest things from her mind now."
Looking at Ivy, Harry could tell Hermione was right. Ivy and her friend Marielle were now standing by the table, hugging and exclaiming over each other in a way Harry had never heard. Oh, he'd heard Aunt Petunia complimenting guests in a voice loaded with syrup, but Harry knew from experience, as soon as the person was gone, Aunt Petunia's tone would change. He'd heard her too many times, sugar straight to vinegar or worse!
Ivy and Marielle had now turned back to the table and were re-introducing Hermione and Marielle's children. For some reason, Harry realized he'd been expecting someone like Fleur Delacour, but he couldn't have been more wrong. The brother and sister looked as if they had spent most of their lives outdoors, and both had a twinkle in their eyes that somehow reminded him of the Weasley twins, when they were about to play one of their better pranks..Maybe this wasn't going to be so bad, after all, if he could only understand them!
"This is our friend, Harry Potter, he and Hermione are in school together." Ivy was saying. "Harry, this is Danielle, and this is Max. You're very close in age aren't you?"
They did look very similar in age, Harry noticed. Danielle was blond, but her hair was more the color of sunshine, and instead of Fleur's cool blue eyes, hers were more like a piece of Honeydukes chocolate. Max was brown haired and his eyes were interesting, Harry thought, they seemed to change color each time he looked at them. He also seemed to have an honest, direct way about him that made Harry feel comfortable right away.
"Practically twins, everyone says" answered Max. " I have to stay close to Dani, like it or not. She's always finding some trouble."
"I am finding trouble?" his sister asked, indignantly. "I am not the one who kept us out in a thunderstorm on the lake yesterday. 'Ah, it will blow over, Dani' he tells me. And now Mama says we may not take the boat out for one week!"
"You didn't try to persuade me differently," he answered coolly. "You know you are the one who likes fighting the waves!" Max turned to Harry and Hermione, "I'm sure neither of you like doing such dangerous things?"
Hermione and Harry looked at each other, and Harry was more grateful than ever for Hermione's ability to think fast. "We have had an adventure or two since we've been at school, I don't suppose you could say either of us is a stranger to trouble. Too bad about the boat though, Harry and I would have loved to go out with you."
'They would?' Harry thought, looking at her with disbelief in his eyes . These two seemed nice enough, but what about the time alone they'd been enjoying? Was Hermione growing tired of him, already? But there seemed to be a more immediate problem. The others were ordering lunch, and he realized nothing on the menu looked the least familiar or readable.
He was ready to accept making a prat of himself when Hermione turned to him and said," Everything sounds so delicious, I just can't decide. Harry could I order two things and we could share both of them?" Harry nodded gratefully, and found her hand under the table, giving it a squeeze of thanks.
Hermione returned the squeeze, along with a look that told him she was far from tired of him, and Harry leaned back in his chair, giving an involuntary sigh of contentment. "Tired Harry?" Ivy asked, with a twinkle in her eyes. "Hermione's been keeping you pretty busy in and out of those shops . I'd never have expected you to be such a shopper!"
"I, erm, guess the newness of shopping hasn't worn off yet. I am a bit glad to have a nice comfortable spot for awhile. Hermione could teach a class in covering ground shopping!" 'There!' Harry thought. 'Managed that one fairly well!'
Marielle burst into laughter, and exclaimed, "So, your daughter is much like you, my Ivy! More than you had told me."
With an even bigger twinkle in her eyes, Ivy replied," Hermione and I are finding we are alike in more ways than you can imagine this summer!"
The meal came then and they were all busy eating for a few moments. Harry was relieved to see Hermione had ordered something he was familiar with, and they divided up the two meals. Soon Max turned the conversation back to the sailboat he and his sister owned, and was telling them about some of the races they had entered.
"I can see Max is trying to make me change my mind about their banishment from the water." Marielle told Hermione and Harry. "And I can see the two of you would enjoy a sail. What do you think , Ivy?"
"They have been spending a great deal of time shopping. A day on the water would probably be a nice change. So, Marielle, I see you are a very stern parent. Never bend the rules do you?" Ivy answered, laughing. "I seem to remember in our younger days, you said YOUR children would be brought up according to strict rules. What happened?"
Marielle also laughed, a bit sheepishly. "I suppose I had not anticipated having children such as I do. These two are more like you than they are their own mother. It's possible we did more to change each other's minds about having children than we realized." She looked at Danielle and Max sternly. "Can I expect that you think more carefully about what is safe than you have been, if I allow Hermione and Harry to come to us for the day?"
"Oh, yes, Mama! We can sail to some of the islands, and pack a picnic. We'll be back safe and early. Just one more chance!" Danielle pleaded, her eyes shining. " To come to France and not enjoy a day on the water, you know this would be so sad!"
Everyone laughed, and as they finished lunch the rest of the plans for the next day were made. Harry found he was really looking forward to the day.Even if it meant no time alone in the park with Hermione, he looked forward to being out in the sunshine, and doing something really physically challenging. The way Max had described sailing on their small boat, it sounded as if one was rarely still. Besides, there was the picnic on the island to look forward to. If he could speak to Max alone, he could arrange something, he was sure.
Disclaimer: What doesn't belong to me? Harry, Hermione, the Dursleys, and the Grangers- except their personalities and characters. Thank you and Christmas cheer to you, J.K. Rowling, where ever you may be. ( Working in Book V, may I hope? )
Max, Danielle, Marielle belong to me. How much more they'll be around, I don't know.
The Tuileries Pond belongs to Paris I guess. The restaurant you'll hear more about later.