Harry Potter and the Book of Dust.

Chapter 4: Life As It Should Be

Authors Note: Ok sorry this is taking so long. I wanted to update like every day on the weekend. And like every other day during the week. But with homework, school, and life, I really haven't had time to get this up. So be patient please. I appreciated all of the reviews you've been giving me. It really boosts my self-esteem, and gives me inspiration, which helps me write faster. Sooo. more reviews= More updates! Thank you all who have reviewed. And thank-you Andrew, my wonderful beta reader. I couldn't do this with out you!
Thank-wonderful reviewers. Without you, my life would be worthless. Keep it up!
Now remember I would love to thank-you individually, but that takes up valuable space, and deceives you guys into thinking there is more story then there really is. So I'm gunna shut up and get on with the story.

Oh yes. The reason I haven't had it in a different POV yet is because this story is just in Harry's POV. What a cawinkidink.

Disclaimer: Seriously now. Anyone who thinks I own Harry Potter or anything related to that really and seriously is a hazard to themselves and needs to be locked up for a long long time. Thank- you. That is all. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hermione bounded up the spiral staircase, with me at her heels. We had dumped my trunk in the entrance hall as soon as getting in the door.

I followed Hermione through a hallway, until we reached the end. She opened the door on the left, and beckoned me to follow her in.

"This is going to be your room while your here. The door to your left is your bathroom. The door to your right is your closet. Feel free to use the T.V all you want. Make your self at home. Use the phone. Eat from the fridge. Though, I'm not so sure your going to be used to all the health food." Hermione turned around and faced me, grinning.

It was contagious. I started grinning and looking around.

"Don't worry. All I've been living on this summer is what you and Ron sent me. If it weren't for that I would be dead. Those sugarless cookies your mom makes are delicious." I rubbed my stomach to express that point.

Hermione started giggling. " My dad made those. My mother couldn't cook if her life depended on it. But please don't tell her I said that. Every Wednesday she cooks dinner. We always tell her how we look forward to it, and love it." Hermione shrugged. "But we'll get to that soon enough. What do you want to do now that your here. Haven't you been having trouble with your Transfiguration homework? Now I'm sure it's all about your wand movements if you would only."

I started laughing and shaking my head.

"Harry James Potter. What on earth are you laughing about? Your grades are a serious subject. You do understand that the N.E.W.T's are this year. That is NOT a laughing situation!"

I quickly shut up.

"No of course not. I would love to work on my Transfiguration with you. But first, I would revel in a total tour of the house."

Hermione glanced at me wearily before striding past me out the door. Looking back only once to see if I was following.

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It was dinnertime and Mr. Granger was taking off his apron before joining us at the table.

"So, Harry, Hermione has told us so much about you. You're famous are you?"

I squirmed at the mention of my being famous.

"Yes Sir. I am. Though it isn't all it's cracked up to be."

Mr. Granger gave me a friendly smile.

"Don't worry. I understand completely. In my collage years I was in a rock band. I couldn't go anywhere without everyone wanting my signature. Though, that wore of pretty quickly, and it brought my darling here to me." Mr. Granger gave a loving look to his wife across the table from him.

Hermione started coughing and I had to pat her back for a few seconds before she was able to breath normally. "Dad! You were in a rock band. You. My father. Mr. Dentist? Ha! I will hold this agents you for the rest of your life. My father. A rock star."

Mr. Granger looked a little disgruntled. "The only reason you can't imagine it now is because having to raise a little girl like you puts hair on one's chest."

Mr. Granger turned his eyes to me and leaned forward a bit, as if to tell a secret.

"There was this one time when Hermione here was four. She was still sleeping in her cradle because."

Hermione interrupted Mr. Granger by silently warning him with a; "Dad. We really don't need to hear that story right at this moment. I imagine Harry is hungry and would love to eat his dinner with out the disturbing images from the story going through his head."

Mr. Granger grinned and politely wiped his mouth and went on with his dinner.

I was sullen for the rest of the evening, wishing that I were able to have a life like this.

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That night after saying goodnight to Hermione, and taking a shower, I lay in the strange bed, with images racing through my mind.

This way of life was something so amazing a precious; Hermione had no idea how lucky she was. Her and Ron both. Having these wonderful loving families. It made the Brady Bunch seem like the Druslys.

The Grangers were such wonderful people. They raised Hermione with such love and freedom. I was grateful to be able to experience this atmosphere now before I left everyone for good. I would miss it all so much. But I knew that all this fake happiness would have to end once and for all. Voldemort would come back, and when I got rid of him for good, it was very likely that I would have to go with him.

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The summer went by fast. September 11th came all to soon. That morning we were rushing around in a frenzy trying to remember everything. Hermione's trunk kept on popping open, it seemed she was trying to take her entire library collection with her.

Crookshanks having died a year earlier (from choking on a pixy) left Hermione able to get the owl she wanted. Of course she was devastated but surprisingly happy.

Athena and Hedwig being the last to get packed, we got in after them driving away from one of the best summers I've ever had.

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I didn't know what I was doing. I wandered aimlessly through the train. After saying good-bye to Herm's parents, she and I climbed on the train with our luggage and I soon disappeared. I had been standing by this particular window for about five minutes. We were going to beautiful countryside; I wanted to catch every breathtaking moment of it.

"Harry?"

I nearly jumped out of my skin at the sound of Herminie's voice. I turned around sheepishly for being caught off guard.

"Harry, are you alright? You haven't been acting yourself lately?"

"I'm fine. really don't worry about me. Lets go see Ron."

I didn't really feel like talking to her right then. Maybe seeing Ron would distract her for the moment.

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AN: I'm sooooooo sorry about how long this has taken. I hope none of you are mad at me. And I hope you actually like this. I would cry if you didn't. I've basically been writing this over the course of like a month or something. I haven't been motivated.. Hint hint!

Well I'll try and do better next time too!