DISCLAIMER: yes, this is a disclaimer.

REAL DISCLAIMER: I don't CLAIM to own any of the HARRY POTTER characters in DIS story. (Get it? DIS? CLAIMER? Disclaimer? HAHAHAHAHAHA! Okay, I'll shut up now) Oh! But I own JASMINE and OAK and LUELLA and GEOFFREY

Chapter 8 – Bargaining with a hardheaded wood

.:.

During the ride home from the zoo, Oak no longer sat in the middle. Hermione and Oliver had to bribe him to sit in the end.

Flashback

"I'll give you ten chocolate frogs. I swear it." Oliver said. Oak shook his head. "No way am I gonna fall for that again, Ollie! Las' time you said that I only got nine!" Oliver frowned. "I WAS HUNGRY!"

Hermione intervened. "Oak, please listen. Oliver may not have kept his promise to you—"

"I WAS HUNGRY!"

"—but I will. I promise you a dozen chocolate frogs and some muggle candies." Hermione smiled down at him, but Oak was a smart kid. "How do I know that you aren't bluffin'?" Hermione shrugged. "You don't. You just have to trust me."

"Hmm. Why don' we forget 'bout the chocolate frogs?" Oak suggested. Hermione's eyes lit up but Oliver was suspicious. Oak never gave chocolate frogs up. "Oh, that's wonderful Oak! I—" but Oak silenced Hermione.

"You tell me what you were doin' hidden between the hotdog stand an' the loo all cozy, eh?"

Hermione and Oliver looked at each other, then at Oak. The boy had a wicked smile on his face. He was serious.

"Well," Hermione started. "We were . . .you see I was eating a hotdog and—"

"No, that isn't what happened at all, Hermione. Okay Oak. As your older brother, I shall set a good example for you and tell you the truth. Hermione lost her coat and she was feeling cold so naturally—"

"She didn't have a coat to begin with, Ollie."

"See here, Oak! If I say she had a coat, she had a coat! Now, as I was saying—"

"Your nose is growing, Ollie. I think it's sprouting leaves. You look like Pistachio."

"Pinocchio, Oak."

"Whatever."

"Will you just listen? Hermione was feeling cold and she asked me to keep her warm so I—"

"Liar, Liar, Voldie's Pliers!"

"Liar, Liar pants on fire."

"Liar, Liar Voldie's pliers!"

"Liar, Liar pants on fire!"

Hermione had had enough. "STOP IT, both of you!" She turned to Oliver. "I think Oak ought to know." Oliver looked aggravated. "Why? He's just a kid!" Oak threw him a nasty look. "I'm a smart boy! Mommy said so!"

"Yes, Oliver. Oak is smart. He's smarter than most children his age. I think he has a gut feeling or something. Just tell him." Hermione looked at Oliver sternly. He sighed. "Alright, you little bugger. See here's what happened; Hermione and I have—"

"Finally released your undying love for each other that you've kept inside for oh so long that it was driving you up the wall. I know, I know." Oak said. Oliver and Hermione were stunned. "You see Ollie," Oak said, coming up to the pair with his hands clasped together and a triumphant look on his angelic face. "I like to observe things. You may refer to me as Oak the Observer."

Oak grinned and was only a few feet away from Oliver and Hermione when he turned around and said, "I know you want me to sit at the side so you can hold hands and be all lovey-dovey. I don't think I can take that, so I shall sit with mommy in the front. I'm only six, you know."

End flashback

And indeed, Oak sat in front with Luella and Geoffrey as Hermione and Oliver discreetly held hands all throughout the ride home.

At the Wood residence

"It has been such a lovely day. I'm almost sorry to see it coming to an end." Geoffrey said, as he walked Luella and the children to the door. Luella smiled. "It doesn't have to end so soon. Won't you come in for milk and pie?"

Geoffrey shook his head. "I have an appointment in an hour. I'm sorry, love." He pecked Luella on the cheek. Oliver, Oak and Hermione made faces. Geoffrey glanced at Hermione. "But Hermione can stay, if she'd like. I'll pick her up after my appointment. How does that sound?"

Luella clapped her hands in delight and nodded. "Of course! Yes," she turned to Hermione. "Won't you stay, dear? Just for a little while?"

Hermione and Oliver exchanged looks. "Yes, I'd love to. Thank you, Luella."

The remaining four waved at Geoffrey got in the car and sped off. When he was out of sight, Luella smiled at the kids and ushered them inside.

It was Hermione's second time to be in the Wood house. She loved it there for she always felt a warm atmosphere. "Oliver, do show our guest to the living room while I prepare the snacks."

"Gladly." Oliver grinned at Hermione who, in turn, smiled up at him. Oak tagged along.

The three sat down on the massive sofa with Hermione in the middle of the two Woods. "Well isn't this something." Oak giggled. Oliver shot a threatening glance at his younger brother. "Not a word, Oakar Wood."

"I won't tell anyone." Oak promised. "Because you will. Mommy ought to know."

"NO!" Oliver and Hermione exclaimed. "Mother can't know!"

"And why not?" Oak folded his arms over his chest. "Never keep secrets from your family, Ollie." Oliver rolled his eyes. "Don't you see the awkwardness that will stir if we do tell?" Oak shook his head. "Not in the least."

Hermione cleared her throat. "If you tell your mother who is dating my father—" she trailed off, hoping Oak would catch on. "Then we'll all be a happy family!" Oak said. Oliver's jaw dropped. "I can't believe you can't see it, Oak!"

"Oak," Hermione began. "That's just it. We can't be a happy family." Oliver nodded in agreement. Oak stuck his tongue out at them. "You're just being stupid, that's all. If I were in love, I'd tell mommy. She'd be happy for me, I know it."

"But—"

"I'll never tell you if I've got a lady of my own, Ollie. You'll be the last to know, and you'll feel so terrible about it. You'll come crying to me and saying 'Oh Oak, why didn't you tell me? I feel hurt!' but I won't feel sorry for you at all." With that, Oak stalked off to his room. After a few moments, Oliver and Hermione heard a loud bang.

"That was an interesting display of behavior." Hermione commented. Oliver shrugged. Then they heard Oak open the door and shout, "And you'll have to spill the rutabagas sooner or later or you'll be in a tight fix!" then the door slammed shut again.

The pair didn't think much of the six year olds last comment, but little did they know that the boy was right.

Next day, at the Granger Residence

As Hermione dreamt of Oliver in her cozy bed, Geoffrey and Jasmine were having a rather heated debate downstairs.

"Do you love her?"

"Of course, mother! Luella is the most fascinating woman to ever grace this planet with—"

"Spare me, dear."

"But mother, I thought you liked Luella!"

"I do, Geoffrey! But it's just so soon!"

"Of course not! Ever since the divorce I've been so harried but when I bumped into Luella is was as if—as if we were meant to be together!"

"Geoffrey, please! Do think about this!"

"I have thought it over, mother, and I know this is what I want. And if Luella agrees, then—"

"What about Hermione?"

"What about her? She loves Luella! She gets along great with the boys—"

"Have you considered about how your only daughter might feel about your decision?"

"Well . . .no but—"

"Geoffrey Callahan Granger, how can you expect that Hermione will agree to every decision you make? Surely you have to sit her down and tell her before you do anything! Her opinion is important!"

"I will!"

"When? I know you to be a procrastinator, Geoffrey."

"I will, alright? Just let me handle my own daughter. I'll talk to her about it, but not anytime soon!"

"Oh, you'd better make it soon! If you don't I will tell her!"

"Mother! Sometimes you're just so—"

"Still your tongue, Geoffrey, and I may spare your life." Jasmine said fiercely. Geoffrey scowled.

"Now go and prepare breakfast, Geoffrey. I think Hermione's awaken."

Not much of a chapter here, but not to worry! The next will be so much better! I bet you're all wondering what Geoffrey and Jasmine were arguing about, eh? Haha! You'll see!

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