Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Harry Potter/Wizarding World. They were all created by the genius that is J.K. Rowling.
Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who's reading and enjoying this story. I'm bringing Redwoodx's suggestion for Hermione to take Harry to meet her parents. It gives them a 'normal' aspect as far as relationships go
Chapter 9: Promises
Harry was nervous…very nervous in fact. Sure, he'd met Hermione's parents before, during the summer before their second year of Hogwarts in Diagon Alley. A lot had changed in that time, for one Harry had met them as her friend then, now he was meeting them has her boyfriend. What if they didn't approve? He knew that she'd told them about their 'adventures' at Hogwarts, what if they thought him as a troublemaker? Besides it wasn't fair to Hermione not to see her family while they were on holiday. She never came out and said it but Harry knew that she'd changed her plans at the last minute to go to the Burrow for Christmas, instead of home because she knew that it would a difficult time for him. There were times that he wondered what he did to deserve someone like her. On New Year's Eve morning Lupin and Tonks arrived at the Burrow to act as escort to Hermione and Harry. While they were going to be out in the Muggle world and would probably be safe or as safe as one could be Dumbledore was insistent that Harry wasn't to venture into public without members of the Order acting as guard and that he took his Invisibility Cloak just to be safe. They decided to travel by Muggle means as well as an effort not to draw attention.
The car ride to Hermione's home was not uncomfortable but there was defiantly something that wasn't quite right between Lupin and Tonks. It wasn't a secret that Tonks had been in a 'rut' of sorts ever since Bellatrix LeStrange had murdered Sirius. Even her appearance was suffering from this. She was no longer able to morph her appearance at will and the result of this was the mousy brown hair that replaced the bubble gum pink pixie cut that she usually sported. Not to mention that her Patronus had changed form, into what they weren't sure or what had caused it. Lupin was rather run down as well, he'd confided in Harry that he'd been 'living among his own kind' at Dumbledore's orders. Werewolves weren't exactly accepted among 'respectable' wizards. Because of that they tended to side among Dark Wizards who allowed them to gorge on flesh of hapless Muggles and Wizards alike. It was Lupin's job not only to act as spy for the Order but to try to convert as many of them to their side as well.
Hermione couldn't help but smile when she saw how nervous Harry was. He could face down the most evil wizard their world had ever known but the thought of facing her father and mother shook him to his core. She slid her hand in his squeezing it gently as she lead him up the stone path leading to the cottage her family called home. "Mum…Dad?" she called as they went inside and removed their winter gear tucking it into the closet beside the front door.
"Hermione." Mrs. Granger walked into the living room. "We weren't expecting you for another hour or so." She hugged her daughter then turned to Harry and gave him a hug as well. 'Harry how are you doing?"
"Quite well." Harry said hugging her back.
"Hermione has told us so much about you I feel I already know you. We were sorry when she told us you lost your godfather." She said her concern showing in her eyes.
"I'm doing much better." Harry assured her.
"Come on in I was just setting the table for tea. Mr. Granger will be down shortly he's handling some business." She said then noticed Lupin and Tonks who'd just came in. "Will you be joining us?" she asked.
"No we're here as escort for Harry and Hermione." Lupin said.
"Yes, Hermione explained that there were dangerous wizards at large." She said then changed the subject. "After your long drive you both have to be hungry as well."
Mr. Granger ushered Hermione, Harry, Lupin, and Tonks into a small dining room where a small round table was. It was set with small sandwiches and biscuits. Shortly after they were seated at the tea table Mr. Granger joined them. Mrs. Granger poured tea for all of them before sitting down with them. All the while she asked questions that any other normal would. How things at school were, if they were getting good marks. For the first time that he could remember he was just a normal boy who was meeting his normal girlfriend's parents. There weren't millions of questions about his triumphs against Voldemort or what may or may not have happened the night Voldemort killed his family. Throughout tea they made small talk, Mr. and Mrs. Granger was interested in not only learning about their daughter's boyfriend but in Lupin and Tonks as well.
After they were finished Tonks, Hermione and Mrs. Granger set to the task of clearing the table. Mr. Granger invited Harry and Lupin to join him in the sitting room. Harry followed him but Lupin excused himself. Once again Harry found himself nervous; he'd heard all kinds of tales from Fred and George about the horror of meeting girlfriends' fathers. While he knew that for the most part they were all greatly exaggerated but still they had to have some root somewhere didn't they? "Hermione has told us much about you, Harry." Mr. Granger said after a few moments of silence.
"All good I hope, Sir." Harry said with a nervous laugh.
"Did she tell you that until she went to Hogwarts she didn't have any friends?" Mr. Granger asked.
Harry shook his head. He and Ron had assumed but they never brought the subject up. After all Harry hadn't been exactly swimming in friends before he went either. "No, sir, she didn't."
"Hermione was different from the day she was born. We always knew that she'd be something special but we didn't know what. From the time she was able to read she'd hid herself away in the library pouring over book after book. She never came out and said it but she wasn't happy not really."
"I didn't know that." Harry said.
"Then she went to Hogwarts and she met you and Ron. The summer after her first year she came home and she was beaming. We honestly didn't know what to think." He said with a laugh.
"Did she ever tell you how we became friends, Sir?" Harry asked.
"Honestly we didn't ask questions we were just happy she had someone."
Harry went on to tell him about the 'duel at midnight' and the troll in the girl's toilet. By the time he was done both he and Mr. Granger was laughing so hard that they had tears in their eyes. "To be honest Sir, if it wasn't for Hermione I probably wouldn't be sitting here. She's saved my life in many ways."
"When it was time for her to go back to Hogwarts this year, to be honest, we weren't sure if it was safe."
Harry nodded, "I understand."
"Do you love Hermione?" Mr. Granger asked.
Harry nodded, "More than anything."
"She's my only daughter; she's my pride, and the best thing I've ever done in my life." Mr. Granger said. They set in silence for several minutes. "I'm trusting you Harry Potter…to take care of her. I know that something big is happening I can see it every time I read the paper or watch the news. The bridge collapsing wasn't of natural causes no matter what Hermione tried to assure me of. She thinks she's protecting us because against the people in your world we're like sitting ducks. It's my job to take care of her and I can't."
Harry nodded the way Mr. Granger looked at him the intensity of his words seared into him. "I…I'll do my best you have my word." He said.
