A/N: I've been getting some complaints that my chapters are too short. Sorry about that (sheepish look), I can't seem to be able to write really long chappies. I'll try making this, and my future chapters longer, though.
My wonderful reviewers! I love you all (MWAH)!!!
Arestoktra: I hope this chapter's length's better. I like Dottie too! J
Granger-gurl-rox: Even Harry and Hermione can't get over how cute Lily is!
insertgoodnamehere: Don't worry, it's not going to end just yet. I don't know how long it's going to be, I just write down what I feel at the spur of the moment. Thanks! J
friendofdobby: Thanks for liking my writing style and my idea! Hope you like this chapter better!
clarissa I'll have more chapters up in the future, don't worry.
freespirit65: Wow! Even your brother's reading my story? You make me so happy! J
Ashley Potter13: Umm… was this a good or bad review?
MysticalSpirits: Thanks! I really liked your fic too!
Lunatic Pandoral: That's exactly what Harry and Hermione want to know. J
toink: Lots of people from the Philippines visit the site! Anyway, I'm glad that other kabayansare reading my story too!
Harmony Granger: I'll read and review your story as soon as I can. Can't seem to get into your bio… stupid computer!
Nyoko: I'm so glad that my story took your mind off some trouble. I agree with you in chemistry, it's not one of my better subjects…
wockygal: You'll find out more about Ron's job in later chapters. Thanks for your compliments! J
quizgirl: Hi! I'll find time to read your story after my computer project's done. Is that alright?
Thanks also to NoOrDa, Queen of Harry Potter, HarryNDracosDarlin, Dude Formerly Known As Coty, Hikari Kuu, miz-impatiant, Ives, year1989rocks, kensit, penmom, Blueshoes06, Daniellover1000, Lil Miss Emzy, blue3ski, Meaka, Emma Laraliean, tacobeesh and sally.
Your reviews always brighten up my day! And now, without further ado…
Chapter 6
"So, tell me about myself." Hermione said to Dottie.
"You is Mrs. Hermione Granger Potter, twenty-four years of age and wife of Harry Potter, international Quidditch champion!" Dottie said brightly. "You is also the President of S.P.E.W., the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare."
"Hang on, did you just say I was the President of S.P.E.W.?!" Hermione asked quickly, not quite believing what she heard.
"Yes, Mrs. You got license to start the organization after your assistance in the defeat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named." Dottie gave a slight shudder at Voldemort's memory.
"So what does S.P.E.W. do, exactly?" Hermione prodded.
"It campaigns for better treatment of house-elves worldwide! It also finds jobs for house-elves who have been dismissed. Nowadays, house-elves is allowed to wear clothes and not be dismissed, and get paying if they wants!" Dottie squeaked happily.
"Do we pay you?" Hermione asked Dottie.
"No, Mrs. Dottie likes working without pay, but I gets one weekend off every month!" Dottie answered.
"That's not much. Would you like more days off?" Hermione asked concernedly.
"Oh, no, Mrs.! As the great Dobby once said, 'I likes working better!'".
The great Dobby?What was that all about? Hermione decided to brush it aside for now then nodded, "If you're sure…" she said. She then remembered something.
"Erm, wait a minute. Back then, house-elves didn't like the idea of reforming their way of life. Why the sudden change?" Hermione asked.
"House-elves was emboldened after the Defeat, and also because we takes great pride in emulating the first house-elf hero, Dobby!" Dottie said proudly.
Dobby again! "What did Dobby do?" Hermione asked, her curiosity piqued.
"He was a key part in the Defeat. Afterwards, he spoke much concerning his past life with his old masters and his new life at Hogwarts. He then encouraged house-elves who was mistreated to seek better lives. He is now the elf-spokesperson in the Department of Elfish Rights and Welfare at the Ministry of Magic." Dottie replied, sounding like she was reading from textbook. "Would you also like to know how Mr. Harry defeated the Dark Lord?" she added.
Hermione shook her head. That was one thing she definitely did not want to know about ahead of time.
"So how did you come to work for us?" Hermione asked, continuing her questioning.
"I was dismissed two years ago from my old masters and you offered me a job here in your home!" Dottie said, her eyes now shining with gratitude and looking up at Hermione with adoration.
"Er… right." Hermione said. So this was what Harry felt like whenever Dobby was around him. "Tell me about Lily. How old is she?"
"She will be four next April, Mrs. Hermione." Dottie said.
"Okay, tell me about my relationship with Harry." Hermione continued.
"You and Mr. Harry is a very loving couple. Never gets tired of each other, the two of you!" Dottie said, beaming at Hermione.
"Er… how exactly do we act around each other?" Hermione asked, an uneasy feeling in her stomach.
"There is not a day that you don't tell each other "I love you" and if Mr. Harry is home, you is always holding hands, kissing, or hugging!" Dottie said with a giggle.
Oh Merlin! "So are we always like this? With the…er…endearments, and stuff?" Hermione asked. Please say no, please say no.
"Yes!" Dottie said with delight. "This is because you and Mr. Harry love each other very much and wants the whole world to know!"
Oh Merlin!!!
"Dottie, where's Hedwig?" Harry asked the house-elf the moment he and Lily came back from snowman-building. How could he have been so stupid?! The snow had reminded him of the owl; they could send a letter to Vablatsky!
"She is with Crookshanks in the Magical Menagerie for their yearly check-up. They will be back later today." Dottie said.
Great! Harry thought. Finally, a plan!
"Mummy, mummy! Daddy and I builded the best snowman!" Lily exclaimed excitedly.
"Built, Lily, not builded." Hermione corrected automatically. Hermione, Harry noticed, had an odd look on her face.
"Built." Lily said, trying out the word. Then she nodded. "Daddy and I built the best snowman!" she tried again.
"That's wonderful!" Hermione said, trying to throw in some enthusiasm in her voice. Harry wasn't fooled though, and his green eyes looked at her with concern.
Hermione scooped Lily up and told her, "Now let's get you out of these wet clothes, okay?"
"Okay, Mummy." Lily said, snuggling up to Hermione.
Earlier, Dottie had told Hermione about her and Lily's close mother-daughter relationship. Lily was such a sweet little girl, and Hermione didn't want her to find out that her parents were actually seventeen-year-olds, which meant that she had to act the way the future Hermione acted with her daughter. She looked at Harry, who was trying to catch her eye.
"What's wrong?" Harry mouthed.
"I'll tell you later." Hermione mouthed back. How was she going to tell Harry that they were supposed to be a lovey-dovey couple?
Harry shrugged, and then followed behind Hermione to change into dry clothes as well.
"So are you going to tell me what's wrong now?" Harry asked Hermione a while later, after she had finished changing Lily and had tucked the girl in for a quick nap.
"Erm… what do think of Lily?" Hermione asked.
"Lily? She's really energetic! And she's really sweet and cute too!" Harry told Hermione, a big smile on his face. Hey, the kid was supposed to be his daughter, why shouldn't he be proud?
"That's what I think too." Hermione said. "The thing is, I don't want her to realize that anything's out of the ordinary, which means that we'll have to do our best to be good parents to her and act like nothing's wrong. The truth might traumatize her."
Harry nodded. "Don't worry, Herm, I'll do my best."
"I know you will, but…" She had to tell him. Now.
"I was talking to Dottie earlier. She told me how the 'future us' act around each other." Hermione said quickly.
"How do we act?" Harry asked her warily. Hermione's expression at the moment was a little hard to read.
"I don't think you'll like it" Hermione told him.
"Let me be the judge of that." Harry said.
Hermione told him. Harry's eyes widened.
"So, you understand that in order for us to appear like nothing's wrong, we have to… you know…" Hermione said.
"We don't have to be all mushy all the time, right?" Harry asked Hermione, his voice a little constricted.
"No, of course not! But remember, we're doing this for Lily so… we have to look convincing." Hermione finished, looking at her feet.
Harry gulped. This wasn't going to be easy.
A/N: I know it's still short but I hope the length is much better now! I'm in the middle of my computer project right now so I don't know when my next update will be. Stay tuned anyways for the next chapter because it's bound to be… interesting… J
