Chapter Fourteen... Uh, Oh!

The next morning, as Hermione and Viktor Krum were making breakfast (scary huh?), Harry went and got the Daily Prophet from the back porch (just off the kitchen). As he entered he opened up the paper and read the headline, "MALFOY HEIR DROWNS OFF THE COAST OF GREECE!"

Bloody hell, no," Harry said sadly.

"What's the matter, Harry?"

"He's dead, I saved him, he saved me, and now he's dead."

"Who... Patrick?" asked Krum.

"Ratface is dead. He was such a bastard at school... Then we sort of came to an understanding, during training... then during the stints in Azkaban and the wretched cubicle."

"Vell, you saved him, then he save you, vight?"

"Yeah."

"Vell, he vas just returning the favor. You var even."

"Harry, he left you to rot in Azkaban. While he, the little bastard, he went prancing off to Greece."

"He did, didn't he?"

"He most certainly did, and oh, bloody hell!"

"What?" Harry asked concerned.

"I just called you by the wrong name... Patrick."

"Well, don't slip up again, or it could be the end of me."

"I won't. I can't let it happen, not again." (Is there a double meaning there? Ponder that.)

"You've vot an vowel, Hermyowninnny." He handed it to her. (What Krum said is: You've got an owl, Hermione.).

She read it, "Anyone want to go to the Cannons match, this afternoon?"

"Quidditich." Harry said dreamily, "I haven't been to a match since school..."

"Well, that needs to change. Do you want to come along, Viktor?"

"Ves," he nodded.

"Anyone have a quill, or shall I say a pen?" Hermione asked as Harry produced a pen (not out of thin air, from his pocket), and she scribbled a reply.

"Um, I don't think, Ron left an owl," Harry said looking around the back porch.

Hermione whistled and a familiar snowy owl flew to her, "Hedwig?" Harry asked.

"Indeed," Hermione replied as she tied th letter to the snowy owls' leg, and the bird flew off to her destination.

"I don't think she recognized me."

"That's good, isn't it?"

"Yeah, but I wonder why she doesn't."

"Well, you smell and look differently."

"Do I?"

"Very much so."

"Will Moony be able to recognize me then?"

"I'm not sure. I can recognize you, but..." she stopped speaking in the precense of Krum, "Ready for breakfast?"

"Definitely," Harry replied, as they sat down across from Viktor and started to eat.

After all three of them were finished eating, "Viktor started in on an awkward topic. "You do know that avound Veasley, you vill have to act like a couple, since you have veen dating vor vour months... Am I vrong?"

They looked at eachother panic striken. "And what does that entitle to, Viktor?" Hermione asked raising an eyebrow.

"Vum, vow do I phrase vhis... vmm, showing some effection. I veed to go to va meeting. Ve vill meet here before the game, ves?"

Both nodded.

"Have va nice day," He smiled and left.

"So, Hermione, what's the most secure room in the house?" Harry asked.

"The basement room and I can secure yours..."

"You mean yours.... right?"

"Right.. ours."

"It's more comfortable there, right?"

"Yes," Hermione refrained from replying with an obnoxious, Duh!

"Alright, so are we going there or not?" Harry wondered.

"Shut up, Patrick," she replied before getting up and heading up the stairs.

They reached the room and Hermione put up the charms. "So, Hermione. What's my name?"

"Patrick."

"What was that?"

"PATRICK."

"Now, can you remember to call me, Patrick?"

"Yes, Patrick," Hermione smiled seductively.

Harry just backed away, as Hermione laughed.

"So, how do couple act?" Harry asked aloud.

"You tell me. You've been on more dates then me."

"But I've been crazy for the past, uh... years."

"Plural and still are, right?"

He smiled sardonically, "Yeah."

"So, have you ever seen any movies?"

"Yeah, when I was little, you don't want us to act like people on TV... do you... like the idiots in soap operas, do you?" Harry asked nervously.

"Absoulutely not!"

"Good."

"Soap operas are stupid, but can be hilarious."

"I completely agree, and I was only like five."

"So... what are we supposed to do?"

"Uh... hug?"

"I think we know how to do that, Patrick."

"I know that! ... kiss."

"Yeah, as Viktor, so noblely(sp.?) pushed us into doing." Harry reminded.

"That's for sure."

"We've been dating what... four months?"

"Yeah," Hermione replied exasperated, they better remember the supposed starting date, or it could muddle everything.

"So, in reality, we probably would have... you know," he said blushing.

"I guess, but nobody needs to know what we have or have not done, right?"

"Definitely, why should anyone care anyway, are we forgetting anything?" Patrick asked.

"Uh... couples hold hands.. I guess."

"Yeah... we can do that, right?"

"Of course we can, we've been best friends for... a long time."

"Yes, four months," Harry replied sarcastically.

"Oh, no!"

"What?" Harry asked.

"I have a meeting in Diagon Alley in ten minutes."

"Oh..."

She started to change her clothes.

"Uh...."

"Patrick, aren't you going to come along."

"Sure."

"Then get ready, throw on something decent," Hermione was now wearing a short sleeved white blouse nad black skirt along with a black robe and flats.

Harry on the other hand haphazardly threw on a nice brand new pair of blue jeans and a dark green t-shirt, if it wasn't for the contacts, it would have looked lovely with his eyes.

"Am I presentable?" He inquired in an Irish accent.

"Throw on a robe and you'll be set," she smiled, "And don't forget shoes."

"Right," and he pulled on some socks followed by a pair of brown hiking boots.

"Is this good?"

"Excellent Patrick, ready?"

"Yeah," and they made there way to the entry way, and apparated away, with two cracks.

They reappeared in the middle of Diagon Alley. "Where do you have to go, love?"

Hermione smiled, "To Blotts Publishing House."

"Where's that at?"

"Behind... well not behind, above Flourish and Blotts."

"Is that where your books are being printed?"

"Yeah. You can look around if you like, Patrick. I should only be an hour."

"Alright, where shall we meet?"

"In front of Florish and Blotts?" she asked.

"Okay," Harry replied, as he was pulled down for a kiss.

Hermione winked before turning and walking away.

Harry stood there for a moment as people bustled around him, thinking, 'Now, if anyone saw that, there's confirmation of Hermione Granger having a boyfriend,' then he thought, 'Hermione's not with me, I can go check out the Quidditich shop!'

And he walked in that direction.

A half hour later back at Hermione's place, Krum was back, his meeting had been quite brief. The doorbell rang, Viktor went and opened the door, "Hello?"

"Hello, who are you?"

"Viktor Krum."

"Ah, Hermione's friend from Bulgaria?"

"Ves."

"Is Hermione home?"

"No, I vhink she and Patrick have vone out."

"Who's Patrick?" asked the man.

"Her boyfriend... vait, who vare you?"

"Her parents," replied the woman.

"Vuh, voh."

"So, how long have she and this Patrick fellow been dating, Viktor?" asked Hermione's mother, as her parents pushed past Krum and sat on the couch.

"Vuh... vour months, I vink that is vhat my cousin vold me."

"Your cousin, Viktor?"

"Oh, yes, Patrick vis my cousin."

"Had you known they were dating before you arrived in town, Viktor?"

"Ah, no, though Patrick did vell me avout the vonderful voman he vas dating in vis letters. I vas pleasently surprised vhen I vound out it vas Hermyowninny."

"So.. do they seem to be a good match, Viktor?"

"Voh, yes, they vare both highly intelligent though my cousin vis vot much driven, vhile Hermyowninny is. He is also vuch prone to spontaity vhen she. They seem vell together. She grounds him, keeps him vrom acting vashly and he velps her to vave vun, rather then to alvays vork."

Her parents smiled. "Viktor, will you tell her we stopped in and to call us?"

"Of vourse, Meester Granger."

The Granger's left.

Driving back to there home, "Bert, what do you think fo what Viktor said?"

"About our little girl dating someone?"

"Yes."

"I want to meet this, Patrick, it sounds like there quite a pair."

"But why didn't she tell us?"

"Who knows, this is our daughter, Hermione, we're talking about."

"Yes, that is true."

"From what Viktor was saying, it seemed as he thinks they are extremely happy. When was the last time our daughter was really happy? Truely happy, when Samantha?"

"Her early years at Hogwarts after she became friends with Harry and Ron, and before.."

"Harry disappeared to wherever he vanished to."

"Do you think she's finally moved on from whatever happened at that school?"

"I don't know, love."

"She's been so different, distant since she returned from her final year of that schooling. I mean, a five year research fellowship, without return visits. I know she's been acting like nothing is the matter, but she's guarding somthing. I just know it, she's keeping something from us, just what?"

"Bert, do you think.. this Patrick knows?"

"I have no idea Samantha."

An hour later, "Hermione, Patrick, your home!"

"Yes, we are. What's the matter, Viktor?" Hermione inquired.

"Vell... vum, vell, vour parents stopped by."

"You didn't tell them did you?" Harry asked in panic.

"I'm sorry, I vid, I vidn't realize vho they vere."

"Uh, oh, well, Patrick. Get ready to meet my parents."

Harry gulped, "They don't have to meet mine do they?" Harry asked worridly.

"Patrick, your parents have been dead for almost ten years."

"Oh, right!"

"Your just being stupid, now." Harry put his head down.

Hermione pushed it back up, "Quit it."

"What time is it?" Harry asked.

"Two," said Krum.

"We need to get going then," Hermione added.

Do you all know what I've realized, and if you've read all of my stories you'd see the pattern as well. If Harry is an Auror in any of them at any time, he eventually quits, or is fired, or put on leave of absence, I always find some way for him to not be an auror... why do I have the inability to let him be happy as an auror???? Any takers?

So did you all like that? It's only taken me, what, a week to update??? And no one even reviewed the last chapter.... was it that bad??? Come on give me a pity review or something. I think I'm finally getting over my cold, I've been sick since last Satruday. Hope you all enjoy this Chapter and have a good weekend.

Chapter 15 is called: Dinner with the Parents.

I have all the chapters through 24 tentitively named, some all but 21 and above complete, so far it goes for 79 pgs (hand written). Hope you all enjoyed and Please Please review.

Oh, and Jenna Kathleen, I have Yahoo Messenger and soon will have AOL, my yahoo name is: ears9115.