Author Note: I came up with a second chapter for Stripper Granger. The goofy idea kinda morphed into a semi-serious one.

===xxx===xx(Chapter begins)

When Harry woke up the next morning he was confused and startled for a moment. He was in a soft warm bed, it smelled nice, and there was someone warm and soft cuddled against his side.

Looking down he saw the wild brown mane of Hermione and the memories of yesterday came flooding back in. He began to gently stroke her hair, trailing his fingers along her bare upper back.

She groaned softly and snuggled in closer to him if that was possible.

"Keep that up Harry and we'll never get out of bed." She sighed.
"Well we might have to eventually. Food, going to the bathroom, stuff like that."
"Oh pish. I suppose if you have to be all practical about it." She laughed against his chest.

"Someone has to be the mature one." He joshed only for her to give his left nipple a little bite.

"Ow hey!" He said jerking out of her grasp.

She started laughing and trying to pin him. Wrestling around on the bed in just their underwear they were soon aware of a rather stiff circumstance.

"Well well. Looks like someone is needing his wand polished again eh?" She said trailing her fingers down his chest, around his navel and into the waist band of his boxers.

"I guess so. If you really want to." He groaned.

"What I want to do I'm not on the potion for so I suppose I'll give it a bit of a kiss. But one thing Harry." She said sliding his boxers down as she settled in between his legs.

"Yeah?" He asked in a slightly higher pitched tone of voice.

"I'll expect you to return the favor." She sighed with a slight growl.

"Uh. oh. OH! kay. Just t-tell me what and where to do it." He panted as she began to breathe closely on his twitching broomstick.

"Oh trust me Harry I will. I will." She enthusiastically declared.

===xxx===xx

By lunchtime all members of the Granger household had rested, recovered and dressed in relatively modest clothes. As they were expecting Professor Dumbledore and McGonnegal that afternoon Paul, Bill and Terry had joined them for lunch.

Harry was getting teased about his first night with Hermione and how he seemed to still be able to walk when the doorbell rang.

"Well showtime. Now remember Paul, play nice." Emma said.

"I always play nice. That way they don't see it coming." He said with a grin.

Dumbledore and McGonnegal stood on the other side with a pair of traveling cases in their hands. Dan ushered them into the lounge where Professor Dumbledore set up a mirror that he unfolded from his case.

"Now do not worry about getting a notice from the underage magic board as I informed them I would be using magic here today. I am sorry to say Harry that I neglected to inform them of your change of address so they will not be looking for you here." Dumbledore said with a wink.

"Okay. I take it you don't trust your ministry right now?" Bill asked.

"No I do not. There are several people within it that I am not certain have not been compromised. Their attitudes and actions have been growing ever more questionable."

"Great. What a wonderful world when you can't even trust your own government." Bill sarcastically stated.

"Yes well it is the world we have to work with." Dumbledore sighed.

"Alright you promised to explain how Harry was in danger and what this danger was. So lets start with that."

"Well I must first give you some background on this. In the nineteen seventies a dark wizard arose. His real name was Tom Marvolo Riddle. However he chose to use a more artistic moniker and called himself Lord Voldemort. He was a vicious, cold blooded murderer. His dogma of anti-muggle-borns and anti-muggles was a sirens call for like minded individuals who formed an organization they called the Death Eaters."

Harry and Hermione had learned some of this but had never heard it all put together in one coherent story. Harry realized they would find out about his parents death all too soon.

"The ministry tried to fight back but had been infiltrated so its efforts were weakened. They also had to try and prevent the muggle world from having our war spill into it. I had formed a vigilante organization to assist called the Order of the Phoenix. Harry's parents, Ronald's uncles, Neville Longbottom's parents were all members of this organization among others." Albus paused to take a breath and wipe his glasses. Everyone else remain very quiet.

Putting his glasses back on he sighed again then spoke sadly, "Gideon and Fabian Prewitt, Ronald's uncles on his mother's side, were torn apart by werewolves. Murdered in cold blood. Harry's parent's were targeted by Tom himself for their direct interference in his efforts. They had managed to deny him his targets three times directly, personally. I have it on good evidence Harry, that your mother managed to spit in his eye one time." Albus said with a smile. Harry grinned while Hermione nodded appreciatively.

"That's cool but what does all that have to do with Harry?" Paul asked.

"Yes well that is part of the problem. Harry has already been told this, but a prophecy was given. It said,

Born at the closing of the seventh month,

to parents who thrice defied him, a boy shall come to vanquish the dark lord,

with a power he knows not.

He shall be marked by the dark lord himself as his equal,

for one must slay the other,

as neither may live, lest the other dies."

Dumbledore swallowed grimly after giving the words of the prophecy. He had not wanted to ever reveal those words until the time was right but with the way things had gone it seemed that time was now. He had already told Harry after the battle but looking at Harry and Hermione he saw the wheels in their minds turning trying to figure it out. Harry now that he was in a supportive environment was taking it a lot more calmly Albus saw.

Emma was the first to speak though, "Why wasn't Harry given more training if you knew all of this? Why dump him off with those, things?"

"I was not entirely certain that the prophecy had been fulfilled somehow when Harry was a child. I was also not entirely certain that it had not been. So I placed him with his aunt, the last surviving blood of his mother who had used an ancient power to protect Harry. An ancient ritual of self-sacrifice that resided in the family blood. I thought they would love and protect and care for him. I see I was wrong."

"And as for the training?" Bill asked.

"Well he has been receiving an education at the school, in a rather unorthodox manner. Plus he has excellent teachers and a rather skilled tutor." Albus smiled looking at Hermione.

Hermione nodded, "But we could have been a lot more prepared with more help."
"True, although, I am not entirely certain how much more help could have been given. You had to develop the ability to handle the magical energies of the spells to cast. So you would have had to learn the spells in the order you did anyhow. The fact that you felt the need to push yourselves harder might not have come about if we had held your hand. I felt this was the best way. Perhaps I am the product of a bygone era when tough love as its called was far more prevalent." Dumbledore explained with an apologetic tone.

Bill nodded looking to Dan and Paul. "I can understand having to learn to walk before you can run. I was Royal Navy so a lot of the traditions of the military might not make a lot of sense at first but later you understand. So while I agree with Emma the Dursleys were not showing any love at all tough or not, and the training might have been better, there is only so much one can learn at one time."

"Yes. Attempting to cast a spell that is beyond your magical strength is like trying to lift a weight beyond the ability of your arm muscles. An eleven year old body is simply not capable of casting something like a patronus Harry. I hope you understand."

Harry sighed, "I think I can. It still seems like we could have been given better training from the beginning."

Hermione scowled but nodded, "I think I understand. When we first start a new spell there is a period where it feels like we're straining then we finally get it."
"I know. There are a great many mistakes I have made in my life. This was one more. And I cannot make up for what has happened, all I can do is accept and build on what you start this last year with your organization. We will help you with any advanced training and I swear there will be no more lies or half truths. Can you accept that?"

Hermione spoke for both of them when she said, "Yes of course sir. But are you expecting just Harry and I to take on the dark lord by ourselves? Or can we have help, reactivate Dumbledore's Army maybe?"
Dumbledore sighed, "I suppose you would know who would be the best out of your peers to assist you given the group you created last year. I will let you determine out of those you know who you would trust to form a serious fighting force, not just a student defense club. Although you might want to limit whom you tell all of the secrets. Your parents learned that mistake the hard way."

Harry snarled the name, "Pettigrew"

"Exactly Harry. Not all who claim to be friends are truly loyal."

"So we can handle that. Now how is Harry linked to Voldemort? He sent Harry visions before the Ministry attack."

"I believe the scar in Harry's head has more to it than merely a decoration. I would like to not reveal more until Harry has developed better occlumancy shields. I would recommend you not make too in depth of plans until he does as well."

"So who is going to teach that?" Hermione asked.

"I was going to ask Severus to help."
"NO. His anger and resentment towards Harry is at toxic levels. It wouldn't work." Hermione crossed her arms over her bosom.

"I am not entirely certain who else would be capable of teaching such shields as you would need."
"What about Professor Lupin? He seemed pretty effective at teaching defense. He could tutor us in all of this." Harry suggested.

"True and his loyalty is unquestioned." Hermione agreed.

"Alright so Professor Lupin will tutor us." Harry declared with a tone of finality as he turned to Dumbledore who pursed his lips.

Minerva spoke up, "I will contact Professor Lupin. He will be quite happy to help no doubt."

"Good we'll be more than happy to have his help, although where are we going to do this as this is a muggle house." Hermione said looking at her parents. They shrugged not sure what other options there would be.
"Well there is Harry's house in Grimmould as well as the Burrow." Dumbledore said.

"My house?" Harry asked in confusion.

"Yes. Sirius left you his entire estate. Aside from a few things for Remus and his sister Andromeda."
"Oh so I own Grimmould now? And we could use it for spell-casting?"

"Yes Harry. And as it is hidden behind powerful wards and protections even the Ministry could not know what you are doing there. You can use it as a safe house or training house. Even live there if you desire. Although If the Grangers do not mind I will set some stronger wards and protections around this house as well as put an agent of mine on watch here."

"You're going to help protect my parents?" Hermione made sure to clarify his comment.

"Yes. They are important to you, you are important to Harry, so the logical course of action is to ensure their safety to ensure your continued safety and focus on your education."

"Okay. We can accept that." Harry nodded eagerly. Hermione and her parents exchanged a look of relief.

"So we'll go over the list from the DA and see who we want for the advanced group." Hermione said.

"Well I definitely want Ron and Neville with us. Actually all of the Weasleys." Harry said firmly.

"I suppose. But the moment Ron gets handsy or rude to me is the moment I hex his bits off. I'm done tolerating his rudeness anymore." Hermione declared.

"Agreed. I'll hold him down for you." Harry agreed.

"So Neville, Ron, Ginny, Fred and George would be a good start." Harry said to Professor McGonnegal.

"We might add more people along the way. Or remove others if need be."
"Very well. I suppose we can trust the two of you to make the decision on who you want to train with and who you do not." Albus nodded his agreement. "As you will have to be able to trust them in all things and all regards."

"Now you're not going to just dump all this on the kids are you?" Bill Granger asked pointedly.

"Oh no. They are going to learn to fight and defend themselves as no matter what the adults do they will have to grow up and be able to handle themselves. And with the prophecy no matter what Harry does, Tom and his followers will come after him. So the better able he is to defend himself, and his friends, the better his survival chances are." Dumbledore described the plan. "I was hoping that you could help him in muggle fighting as many wizards are not accustomed to that."

"Okay I can help with that and I understand that now, but what will the adults be doing?" Bill had made some notes and wanted clarification on things.
"I have begun to reactivate an old team of mine from the previous war. We are going to be conducting intelligence against our enemy, harassing them, undercutting their ability to gain allies and power whenever and wherever we can. As well as doing what we can to support and protect Harry." Albus explained.

"A sort of guerrilla resistance?" Bill grunted in observation.

"Yes. Only more of a magical being called the Phoenix."
"Okay. Whatever you call yourself as long as it takes down bad guys we're in." Paul and Terry nodded.

"So judging by your skill with the blade the other day I take it you can teach the youth knife fighting?" Albus said.

"Yeah we can do that here if they want." Paul grinned.

"I'd like that uncle Paul." Harry said. Hermione grinned at the way she heard Harry call him uncle Paul.

"Alright well. We will get with the ones involved and see about getting a meeting and then training schedule. We have a little over a month before we have to go back to school so we shall be busy." Albus said standing and packing the materials back into their cases.

"I am sorry Miss Granger but Poppy did not have any of those potions available in the infirmary when I spoke with her. If you desire one you will have to go to the clinic in Diagon Alley." Minerva quietly told Hermione as they stepped off to the side

"Okay I think I still have time to get there and back."
"Just so long as you are careful."
"Of course ma'am."

===xxx===xx

Harry and Hermione had gone to Diagon Alley with her uncle Paul and his boyfriend. He was looking around in amused interest as they wandered up the street. People moving aside to avoid coming close to him due to his tattooed, muscular visage. Although he did notice a couple of wizards checking him over as he softly pointed out to Terry who laughed.

Arriving at the clinic Hermione ran into Lavender Brown. Lavender was taking names and helping out in the office.

Lavender's eyes grew wide when she saw Hermione walk in. She was wearing a tight T-shirt with a undergarment that accentuated her bustline. Tight jeans showed off her well toned legs.

"Hermione? Wow. I thought you couldn't do magic outside school?"

"This is all me Lavender. I just decided to stop hiding it." Hermione smiled proudly. Harry was grinning as well while he held Hermione's hand.

Lavender looked surprised and slightly disappointed, "Oh well. Uh That's cool."
"Yeah it is. I sure don't mind." Harry crowed.

"Oh. I guess you two are finally an item?" Lavender smiled awkwardly.

"Yeah we are?"

"Oh congratulations. I know several girls whoa re going to be so jealous of you Hermione." Lavender sighed.

"Well they'll adjust. And don't feel bad Lavender. I'm not going to flaunt it or lord it over everyone."

Lavender chuckled, "Oh yeah. That's cool. So uh what brings you in here today?"

"Well I was wanting to get a monthly prophylactic potion. You see I want to have sex with my boyfriend but want to be responsible about it." Hermione matter of factly declared.

Lavender looked at her in amazement, "I guess things really are going to be changing aren't they."

"Yep. So is there going to be a problem?"

"Oh no. Just sign in and when they're ready I'll call you to go back. It'll be a 5 galleon fee."

Hermione nodded, "Okay. I think I have that."
"If not I do." Harry offered.

Lavender nodded and spun the book around to Hermione.

Signing in Hermione and Harry walked over until she was called back.

===xxx===xx

While Hermione was back with the healers Lavender came over and sat beside Harry.

"Harry is that really Hermione? I mean she seems so different than the uptight bookworm at school."

"Yeah that's all her. Trust me." Harry sighed happily.

"Oh. Wow. She looks awesome." Lavender sighed.

"Yeah. She works to get that good looking. It takes some effort and training."

"Sort of like the DA?"

"Sort of. Speaking of which we are going to be forming a, I guess advanced DA. You think you would be interested? Its going to be by invitation only and there will be a lot more risk and serious effort required."
"Okay I wouldn't mind. I liked becoming a bit more self-reliant. You taught us some really helpful things. Although you could have gone with some more healing spells."

"Well I didn't know many. Do you?"

"I know a few. Mother and Randolph, the other healer here, have been teaching me a few things."

"Well if we get into a fight we might need some healing so if you could help teach those to us we'd appreciate it." Harry politely asked.

"Yeah sure. I don't know if I can teach as well as you can but one thing. Will I learn what it takes to look as good as Hermione?"

Harry chuckled, "I think Hermione would be willing to teach you. I can ask her at least."

"Oh good thanks Harry."

Hermione came out at that point coming over to her boyfriend and Lavender. "Hi guys, not interrupting anything am I." She teased.

Harry shook his head, "Nah just talking with Lavender about the club. And she wants to learn your secret for looking that good."

"Well if you can come to a muggle house day after tomorrow we're going to work on getting the club together and stuff. But it will be a muggle house so no magic allowed."

"Okay I can do that."

"Alright and don't tell anyone who isn't authorized by us about this? Understand? What happened to Marietta will be a minor pinch if it happens."

Lavender blinked a few times but nodded her agreement, "Uh I understand."

Hermione told Lavender her address and said she'd see her then. Harry and Hermione left hand in hand after that.

===xxx===xx

Paul and Terry had been waiting outside the clinic. A wizard that had been talking to them nodded to Harry and Hermione as they walked up. He then hurried off into the crowd.

"Making a new friend Uncle Paul?" Hermione smirked.

"Maybe. He has been to the club before only in normal clothes." he laughed.
"Well that's cool. So anything else before we leave the alley?" Harry asked.

Paul looked thoughtful, "Are there any magic knife makers or something like that around here?"
"Probably over in Knockturn alley." Hermione said uncertainly.

"Okay. Well you guys should get your own knives I think. And a magic blade might not be a bad idea."
"I'll have to go to the bank and get some coins but yeah we can find a bladesmith." Harry agreed.

====xxxx====xx

Harry had retrieved some coins from his vault. Taking Hermione along with him to ask her advice on a few things she had her eyes bug out at the gold in his vault.

"Harry this is all yours?"
"Yeah I guess. I mean its the only vault I've been aware of."

"Have you ever asked if you had any other holdings here at the bank?" She asked looking around carefully.

"No. You think I should?"
"Probably. I mean you don't want to blow through all of this without knowing if you get any more coming in, or have any other."
Harry smiled, "See this is why I love you Hermione. You're always thinking of things."
She smiled to hear him say he loved her, "I love you too Harry. And yeah we should look into this before we leave."

Taking a bag of coins they went back to the surface.

====xx=xxx

Stopping at the main teller Harry asked if there was a way to get some more information about his accounts the Goblin told him to step aside and he would get someone to help.

After several moments a goblin came out. He was wearing a suit and had his long grey hair pulled back in a pony tail. A small van dyke mustache and beard was worn. "Greetings Mr Potter I am Rothak. The accounts manager for the Potter family. Please follow me to my office."

Harry and Hermione looked at each other in surprise but followed the diminutive being.

Entering the office Harry and the Grangers looked around to find furnishings that could have been in a Bank of England office. Taking seats across from the Goblin named Rothak they waited for him to gather several papers.

"Well Mister Potter. This is unexpected. We were told you would not be asking about this until after you graduated."
"Well I uh. I was advised to ask about this now by someone I trust." He said glancing at Hermione.

Rothak raised his eyebrow with a grin but merely nodded, "Yes, well. I recall your parents Mister Potter and served them well. Your mother was a wise and honorable woman who always treated us with respect. It was quite sad to hear of their deaths."

"Uh yes it was." Harry wasn't sure what to say but felt that was safe.

"Well, for security purposes we will need to perform a blood test to confirm your identity then from there we can discus your holdings and accounts."

"Uh okay." Harry shrugged but since Hermione didn't say anything went with it.

Rothak brought up a piece of parchment and a sharp looking silver needle. He placed them both in front of Harry. "Simply prick your finger and place the blood drops into the square on the parchment."

Harry took the needle and did as he was told. The blood soaked into the parchment then began spreading backwards. His name appearing in bold letters, his parents, his grandparents, back further and further with branches off to the Longbottom, Black, Macmillan and even the Bell families. Back until it reached Linfred of Stichcombe who appeared to be the founder of his family line with his wife.

"Well Mister Potter it appears all in order." Rothak said making a copy of the parchment and giving it to Harry.

"Wow. That's a lot of family." Harry said looking at the list.

"Yes unfortunately the most recent generations appear to have dwindled in numbers." Rothak pointed out.

"Yeah. They have. I only have several distant cousins on my dad's side. On mom's side it looks like my Aunt Petunia is really it."

"Oh wow. Sorry Harry." Hermione said rubbing his arm.

He shrugged sadly, then turned to Rothak. "So what else is there?"
"Well your list of assets are rather limited. I am sorry but your family home in Godric's Hollow was turned into a memorial by the Ministry after the October 1981 incident. Beyond that you have your trust vault which is replenished at the first of each year from your familial vault. You may have access to that one when you come of age in the wizarding world. There are a great many business investments that your mother persuaded your father to diversify his holdings into, both muggle and magical. Here is a list of the holdings, their incomes, and percentages owned by you." Rothak said sliding a small booklet across to Harry.

Taking it he thumbed through it. "Okay I'll study this later unless there is anything I need to do right now."
"Without you understanding where you stand now I would recommend not doing anything. The investments are stable and producing wealth without your manipulations."

"Oh okay. I'll let you know then if there is anything I want to change." Harry said glancing at Hermione. Rothak did not miss the exchange.

Rothak looked at another paper, "Now there is one other thing that we need to deal with. Apparently your godfather, Sirius Black has recently passed. His will became active and has passed through the period of contestation. So we can release your inheritance to you."

"Professor Dumbledore told me he left me something." Harry looked sad.

Looking over the paperwork that Rothak pulled out of the stack he grinned, "He left more than something to you, he left almost everything to you. All of his worldly goods, estates, and properties, minus a healthy amount for one Remus Lupin and Andromeda Tonks nee Black. You are now the head of the Black family line. Which you can add to your Potter family name or fold into the Potter line ending it."

"What should I do about that?"

Hermione frowned, "Rothak the Blacks are a very old and powerful family?"

Rothak laughed, "That is like saying the sun is a rather bright and hot orb. Yes. Think of the wizarding world as a tree. The Blacks are the trunk that all other families spring from."
"And Harry would become Harry Potter-Black if he wanted to accept the family line?"

"Yes. The Potters while wealthy have no titles and lands. The Blacks are wealthy, titled and propertied. Either way he would become one of the top tier hew-mons in the wizarding world. Among the mundanes, well, he would be very comfortable but not gold plated toilet wealthy." Rothak said with a shrug.

"Harry I think you should accept the Black title but not fold it in. The kind of power that would give you would be very helpful to do things. Plus as head of the Black family you would be able to disown people like Draco and his mother. Do a lot of good things."
Harry smiled at Hermione thinking that he heard Sirius somewhere hooting in appreciation of her logic. "Yeah I agree. Rothak what do I have to do?"

Rothak pulled out several more forms and another packet that explained what Harry would have to do and what he now owned. It took another half an hour to get all of it sorted out but at the end of it Harry was wearing a new ring on his right hand and was a lot richer.

"Very well. Is there anything else I can assist you with today?" Rothak said crossing his fingers on the desktop."

"Do you know any blade smiths that might be able to get a small weapon made for myself and my girlfriend?" Harry asked.

Rothak smiled, "You seek goblin blades?"

"I have had some experience with the quality of one. The Sword of Gryffindor." Harry explained.

"Ahh yes. That blade. Some of our more fanatical clan members would love to get their hands on it. They have an interesting concept of ownership."
Harry looked at Hermione in confusion then back to Rothak. "Excuse me I don't understand."

"Ahh. Some of my kinfolk feel that Goblins are the true owners of anything made by our hands. That hew-mons are merely paying to hold the items until they die. It is only some of the clans that feel that way, not all of them though." held his hands up to emphasize his comment.

"I think I would like to be able to pass it on to my children when I die." Harry explained and saw Hermione nod in agreement.

"Understandable. Goblin Blades will last over more than several hew-mon generations. They make excellent heirlooms." Rothak proudly stated.

"Good. Then that's what we are looking for." Harry explained.

Rothak wrote a name and address down. "Here this bladesmith will craft you any weapon you desire and he does not have any silly notions of ownership. All he asks is that if you become famous or infamous enough that you let others know who made your blades." Rothak said with a chuckle.

Harry chuckled, "I think that can be arranged."
"Good. Then is there anything else I can help you with today?" Rothak said clasping his hands on his desk.

"No I think this is pretty much it." Harry said looking to Hermione for confirmation. She nodded so Harry stood up.

"Very well then Mister Potter. I look forward to further business dealings with you."

===xxx===xx

Entering the workshop of the Goblin Rothak had pointed them to Harry and the Grangers stood patiently. Soon a muscular Goblin came over.

"Yes Hew-mon? What do you want?"
"I want to speak with the Goblin Horthon. He supposedly makes excellent blades and I wish to purchase one for myself and my girlfriend." Harry stated firmly.

Looking at the two of them appraisingly the goblin nodded. "Very well Hew-mon. If you have coins I can make you the blades."
"How many coins are we talking?" Hermione spoke up.

"Depends on the type of blade."

Paul drew his knife. "Something like this." He said handing it over handle first.

The goblin took it and flipped it around. Balancing it on his fingers he nodded then handed it back. "A fair blade for hew-mon workmanship. I can do far better. But is that what you wish young warrior? A close in fighting blade?"
Looking at Hermione and Paul who both nodded Harry said "Yes. I want a blade I can use for utility as well as close in combat."

"Very well and the shieldmaiden?" He said turning to Hermione.

"Something similar. Also we will want to be able to conceal them." Hermione pointed out.

"Sheathes with a concealing rune on them?"

"That will work very nicely." Harry said with a grin.

"Very well let us begin with you." The goblin said taking Harry to an area where he measured Harry's arm length, which hand he was dominant with, grip and a few other factors. Repeating the process with Hermione.

Once he had all of the data he nodded and handed Harry a piece of parchment. "This will be the price for two 7" clip point blades with a wedge taper. They will be balanced for each of you individually and have a sheathe that has selective perception filters on them."

Harry whistled softly and showed the parchment to Hermione who raised her eyebrow. "This is a rather large number."
"You wish quality you pay for quality hew-mon." The goblin said crossing his arms.

"I also do not wish to be taken advantage of for being a human." Hermione said crossing her arms.

"I am affronted that you would think that hew-mon."
"None the less. You are not denying it?" She merely raised her eyebrow at him.

"You would deny a honest businessman his profits?"

"No but I would also want those profits to be earned with honor." She sighed.

The goblin laughed heartily and took the parchment back. He scribbled out the earlier numbers and wrote a new set. Handing it this time to Hermione she looked it over and passed it to Harry, "Give him half that upfront. The other half on delivery of course."

"Your mate is wise and strong hew-mon."
Harry fished out the coins and counting them out nodded. "Yeah she is."
"Come back in six weeks. The blades will be ready by then."
Hermione bowed to the goblin and taking Harry's hand turned and walked out after the goblin bowed to her back.

===xxx===xx

"So what was that all about?" Paul asked once they were back out on the street.

"I read about the goblin society. They are a matriarchal clan based culture with a strong sense of honor and honesty. If we had not tried to haggle or argue with him though he would have been insulted." She explained. "He would have thought we were weak and foolish to just accept anything he said."

"Oh. Okay." Harry sighed glad he had a smart girlfriend.

"Don't worry Harry we can go over the book I read that in when we get back to the house."
"Okay good."

===xxx===xx

Arriving back at the Crawley home of the Grangers Paul took his leave of them and returned to Soho while Harry and Hermione relaxed at the house.

"Okay well Mum and Dad will be home pretty soon so we don't have any time to get into anything serious. So we might as well go to the library and look at the book I was telling you about."

The two teens were still studying when the Granger parents got home from the office.

"Well looks like you were wrong Dan. They both have all their clothes on."
"Hunh well. That's a good thing unless they somehow magically snapped their fingers and got dressed." He grinned.

"Dad. You know we cannot do magic in this house yet."

"Oh yeah. Wait does that mean there is a spell that can do that?"

"Yes there is. Also to get undressed." She smiled winking at Harry.

"Oh, nice. I am really liking magic." Dan grinned.

"Hmm. Well there goes my fun job." Emma pouted.

"Oh I'd still go to your show." Dan said giving her a hug.

"Ok, down you two. Harry and I was about to get some food." Hermione snickered at the two of them.

"Well we'll get dinner then you two should get to bed early. You have another big day tomorrow don't you?" Dan said.

"We're going to go over the list of our friends from the D.A. And consider who we want for the Advanced D.A. Then we'll take the knight bus to talk to them in person. We don't want to do this by even owl post."

"Things have gotten that serious?"

"Yeah. It has dad. And we'll have to do this because muggles can't."

"Well. If you're involved in this you'll have whatever support we can give you pumpkin. You and your friends will."

"I know dad. I wish I could show you the magic we can do."
"Hey if they come to Grimmould they can. We can cast magic there." Harry pointed out.

Hermione grinned, "True. We'll get things set up there for our headquarters then."
"Yeah."

"Grim old?" Emma asked, "That is a serious name?"

"Uh kind of. Its the ancestral home of my Godfather who left it to me when he died. He had a strange sense of humor."
"It seems like it. Dan would have liked him I think."

Harry thought about it, "Yeah he would have."

"Dad has the same kind of childish humor."

"I do not have a childish sense of humor," Dan pouted. "I have a highly evolved and sensitive style." He then stuck his tongue out.

"I'll let mom tell you what to do with that tongue dad."

Emma laughed as she took her husband off to get cleaned up, "We'll probably order out for Thai tonight. That good?"

"Fine by me." Hermione said looking at Harry while nodding.

Harry nodded, "Yeah Thai is fine by me."

===xxx===xx

Dinner had been finished. Hermione and Harry read some more then retired to her room. On the way Emma stopped Hermione, "So this potion? You have it?"

Hermione nodded, "Already taken and good for the next 30 days mom."
"And its 100% effective?"

"Yeah magic makes it that way." Hermione explained.

"Okay. And you and he'll be able to figure things out?"

"I'm pretty sure we can handle it." Hermione snickered.

"Oh I'm sure you'll handle it just fine. I mean did you want your dad to talk to Harry about anything before hand?"

Hermione thought for a moment, "No. I think Harry might be more comfortable if I'm just the one teaching him."

"Okay. Well good night and have fun. But don't get too disappointed."
Hermione sighed, "I know mom. But we'll figure it out."

The sounds Dan and Emma heard later that evening from her room proved that they seemed to have figured it out quite well.

===xxx===xx(Review Responses)

kimjo2: Thank you. And yeah according to a woman I know who does pole dance she extols the virtues of it as an aerobic and fitness exercise. Says that it works most of your core muscles and increases endurance and flexibility. All I know is she has a very toned set of abs she likes to show off and her husband is a very happy man.

Alaskan-dracolych: Thanks. I do try to keep it to mostly the romance novel level of description. I feel very awkward reading porn, much less writing it so will leave a lot of details up to the reader's imagination. Besides I'm sure given the way humanity works they can come up with a much kinkier version than I could ever write...

tjearl22170: Well I came up with a second chapter and noted a few ideas in the notebook of doom for an expansion of this. I may focus on it more when I get a few of the other irons in the fire struck.

IdlemanRPG: Thanks. I do like playing with the Grangers because they are an open book. Plus we see so few loving, happy, well developed families in the Potterverse, so I like to give Hermione the sort of life I grew up with. A happy stable home life that is not perfect but at least good. The only other family that is even close to a good one we see is the Weasleys and they are not Ward and June Cleaver by any stretch. The Weasleys are at best a loving but dysfunctional family with some issues. At worst the Weasleys should be on an episode of the Jerry Springer show. Ron is definitely a problem child. Like I've said I know guys like him in the real world. Most of them served for domestic violence or drugs or both. A few managed to eventually grow up and get their stuff together but it took getting kicked in the teeth a few times.

Oh I always have ideas. Having ideas is not the problem. Focusing on one particular story idea or continuing a story idea is where I get the problem sometimes. Like I've referenced before I have a notebook I write all the story ideas in, some notes etc.. Things I see here, things some of you have mentioned in reviews or private messages, tv shows, random thoughts and dreams, etc.. They go in the book. Sometimes my mind latches onto an idea and it just starts flying and sometimes I sit staring at the screen while the hamster dies slowly.

Like with the Booty growth idea. I do sort of kinda have the vague outline of the possibility of an idea forming. The word bootyfruit and the twins being involved somehow, maybe Luna as well and one of her odd plants, or Neville. They're what floated up on my brain and got written in the notebook under that idea heading. Someday though it might coalesce into an actual story idea and show up.

Dennisud: thanks. I do try to find something that hasn't been done before, or at least take a pre-existing idea and go off on my own tangent with it.

Jadesabrexiv: Thanks. The shock of a lot of the students, as well as jealousy would be rather interesting to explore. I might set this one up for further development later. I had a second chapter come to me as this week at work has been rather quieter than usual. So had a lot more time to think.

Timekeeper: Thanks. Yeah Vernon having the three Granger men show up and tell him Harry will not be back would make him the happiest man in the UK for a brief time...And this summer is definitely going to be a Happy Harry. And I have an Idea for Ron. Its going to be a bit of a kick...

Starie78: Thanks. Just giving him a dose of his own redemption message.

OfficerDonNZ: I have a few idea for how this is going to go. Its going to be interesting. Thanks.