Second Destiny
The following chapter was inspired by a review to Chapter 18 by site user "geoslim21" who complained that while they (I don't know the reviewer's gender, so I am using a neutral term—sorry if I have offended you) have enjoyed the story so far, they were wondering about the reaction of Hermione's parents to the entire soul-bond situation.
While this story was intended to be structured only around Harry's journey to correct what had happened in his previous runs, I decided to throw in this little "interlude" (chronologically set after Chapter Ten of the main story) to address geoslim21's complaints.
In regard to the given names for Hermione's parents, since canonical names were never given in any of the books or films (to my knowledge), I have chosen to go with Neil and Jean, the names I have used in my Harry Potter/Star Trek trilogy.
As for a review for Chapter 7 by user "Nysk" asking if Dumbledore will face any repercussions for improperly placing baby Harry with the Dursleys, that will be addressed in Chapter 19 of the main story. Please look forward to it.
Please enjoy and keep those reviews coming.
INTERLUDE: "Telling the Parents"
-FLASHBACK-
The Leaky Cauldron
Diagon Alley, London
2 November 1991
As Harry and Hermione walked down the stairs after their meeting with Rita Skeeter, a horrible thought came to Hermione's mind.
"Harry, my parents don't know about us...about the soul bond," Hermione said.
"And since they're mundane-born-" Harry began, using Hermione's preferred term for those born to non-magical parents. "-they would not have access to owl-post or other magical means of communication."
"I might have a solution, Lord Potter," Tom said. "I can call the Knight Bus for you."
Harry smiled as Tom continued, "Tickets for the Knight Bus are part of the fee you paid me for the room you talked to Rita Skeeter in."
"That would be perfect, Tom," Hermione said. "Would you be so kind as to contact them?"
"As you wish, milady," Tom said before picking up a communication mirror. "Stan, this is Tom at the Leaky. Lord and Lady Potter are requesting a pickup, Silver Service."
"Aye, we're on our way," a voice on the other side of the mirror said. "We'll be pickin' them up on the Muggle side."
As Tom closed his mirror, he turned to Harry and Hermione. "The Knight Bus will pick you up on the Muggle side," Tom said. "Silver Service is the term we—Stan, the conductor, Ernie the driver and I—use to note an all-expenses-paid trip as covered by service here at the Leaky."
And so, Harry and Hermione stepped into the alley next to the Leaky Cauldron on the Muggle side of London. Transfiguring their clothes into fashionable Muggle equivalents, they then stepped out onto the sidewalk.
A giant purple triple-decker bus came barreling down the street, pushing all it would have come into contact with out of the way and restoring them into place as it passed.
As the bus came to a stop and the doors opened, the conductor smiled at Harry and Hermione. "Milord and Milady Potter, I am Stan Shunpike, and your driver is Ernie Prang. Thank you for choosing the Knight Bus for all of your magical transport needs," the conductor said.
"Thank you, Mr. Shunpike, Mr. Prang," Hermione said. "Here's the address we need transport to. We'll have elf transport back to Hogwarts."
Hermione handed Prang a piece of parchment with the address of Hermione's parents' residence. "Aye, we'll get you there," Prang said.
Harry and Hermione tightly grasped poles near them as the Knight Bus sped off towards its destination.
Ten minutes later, the Knight Bus had stopped in front of the Granger residence. "Here's your tip," Harry said, handing Stan five Galleons.
"Thank ye, My Lord," Stan said before Harry and Hermione stepped off the Knight Bus.
As the Bus pulled away, Harry gestured for Hermione to step ahead of him and up to the door. Hermione took a deep breath then rang the doorbell.
Neil Granger opened the door and did a double take when he saw Hermione. "Hermione, why are you here while Hogwarts is in session?" Neil asked.
"That is why we're here, Dad: to explain," Hermione said. "May we come in?"
"Of course," Neil said.
Harry followed Hermione into the house. A voice from the kitchen called out, "Neil, who is it, luv?"
"It's Hermione, and a very nice-looking young man," Neil said. "Can you fetch a pot of tea? I anticipate we'll be needing it."
"Sure," the female voice said as Harry and Hermione sat on a couch in front of Neil.
"Dad, this is Harry Potter, a classmate of mine from Hogwarts," Hermione said. "Before we continue this conversation, however, we need to put up a privacy ward."
Harry stood up and pointed his wand at various parts of the house. "No one outside this house will hear what we have to say," Harry said.
"All right," Neil said. "Now. Explain."
Jean Granger, Hermione's mother, brought a steaming pot of tea into the living room a few minutes later.
"Mum, Dad, I don't know how to say this any other way, so I'll just come out and say it," Hermione said. Taking a deep breath, Hermione then said, "Harry and I are married."
"But how?" Jean said. "You're only 12!"
And so, Harry began to explain the circumstances behind the troll incident and the formation of his and Hermione's soul bond.
"At least those bullies got punished," Neil said. "But it still does not explain how this...soul bond thing...is even legal!"
"Dad, Harry and I have been doing a bit of research and, apparently, the Ministry for Magic and the other magical governments around the world have an alliance with their counterparts in the mundane or non-magical world," Hermione said.
"This alliance allows certain legal situations to have an impact on both worlds," Harry said. "For example, the emancipation of a minor in the magical world is also recognized in the mundane world utilizing a cover story."
"Case in point: Harry's aunt, uncle and cousin were recently convicted by Surrey's county court for various mental and physical abuses," Hermione said. "The soul bond emancipated Harry and I in the magical world; so, to act as the mundane world justification for the emancipation, the mundane courts emancipated Harry because of what his uncle, aunt and cousin did to him."
"I see," Neil said. "Putting aside that you two are married as young as you two are, how will you two support yourselves when not in school?"
"I was waiting for you to ask," Harry said. "Baron!"
A loud popping sound heralded the appearance of Baron. "This is Baron, a house elf sworn to the service of my family," Harry said. "Baron, do you have the folder from Silverstone that I asked you to prepare while we were on the Knight Bus?"
"Yes, Lord Potter," Baron said, withdrawing a folder from the satchel slung across his body and handing it to Harry.
"Thank you, Baron," Harry said. "Stand by for the summons to take us back to Hogwarts."
"Yes, My Lord," Baron said before popping away.
Harry then opened the folder and withdrew some parchments before handing it to Neil. "These are the records of the assets belonging to House Potter, as recorded by Gringotts, the primary financial institution of the magical world," Harry said. "You will see that House Potter is among the richest families in all Britain...regardless of if it's in the magical world or the mundane one."
"Be that as it may, Mr. Potter, the thing that is truly on our minds is the fact that you two are way too young..." Jean started to say as she looked at some of the parchment.
"Mum, let me stop you there," Hermone said. "The morning we found out about the bond, Harry and I swore an oath, witnessed by Professor McGonagall, known as the Unbreakable Vow."
"This vow, sworn on one's own life, forces the people who swear it to abide by the terms of the vow on pain of death," Hermione continued. "The exact wording of the oath was that we will not engage in any form of sexual physical contact until we are both seventeen years old, which is the magical world's age of majority."
"The oath that we swore went on to define 'sexual physical contact' as anything stronger than mere kissing or hugging—meaning intercourse, oral, et cetera," Harry said. "We will be released from the oath on the 31st of July, 1997—which is five years and nine months from now."
Neil and Jean sat, stunned for a moment, after hearing about the vow that Harry and Hermione had swore. "I am happy...and scared, in equal measure...that you have done this, you two," Neil said.
"We were sure you were going to ask about that, Dad," Hermione said. "Harry and I would have waited in any case, but we wanted to have some kind of insurance."
"We also have two individuals who will help protect us and our interests in both worlds," Harry said. "My godfather, Lord Sirius Black of the House of Black; and Remus Lupin, the House of Potter's voting proxy on the Wizengamot—the magical Parliament. While our emancipation renders us able to use magic outside of school under the terms of the International Statute of Secrecy, we were advised by Silverstone to find people who could back us up if we get in over our heads."
"All right," Neil said. "Stand up, Harry."
Harry hesitantly stood up, face to face with Neil. Neil then held out his hand and said with a smile, "Welcome to the family, son."
"Just call us by our names—Neil and Jean," Jean said.
"Thank you, Neil and Jean," Harry said before shaking Neil's hand.
An hour later, Hermione put down her teacup. "Mum, Dad, Harry and I must be getting back to Hogwarts soon," she said. "We have to go back to school tomorrow."
"All right, Hermione," Neil said. "See you at Christmas."
"Thank you for the hospitality," Harry said. "Baron!"
Baron reappeared in the Granger living room. "Baron, send us back to Hogwarts," Harry said.
"Yes, My Lord," Baron said before taking hold of Harry and Hermione's hands and popped away.
The main story resumes in our next installment.
Until then...
:TBC: