Hi everyone!

I was away for a few days with friends - so sorry to have kept some of you waiting!

We are back to family dinners again - yay :D We have some Philip and Lydia, some cute Harry and Hermione, some grumpy Aunty Penelope and some arrogant Grandma Eugenia. I love writing their characters, it's so much fun!

I finished the first half of this chapter today and I thought about only uploading it when I finished it in total, but I figured that it's long enough for a chapter and... Well, at this point, the sooner you guys can read it, the better, right?

So - here you go! No smut, just family fun. Enjoy and I hope you're doing okay, wherever you are!

Love,

Flora

Chapter 29: How Hermione avoided a family break-down at Valentine's Day – Part 1

Hermione loved having dinner on Tuesday's.

It had been a stressful day. She had revisited her research on law-making all morning, making sure that the new laws that she would propose for the court would be as tight-sealed as possible. She met with other lawmakers, experts, a group of House-Elves. Laws were taking shape, but the process was absolutely gruelling and she forgot to take a break until half past 1, when she came into her office exhausted and saw Harry seated across from her desk, engrossed in one of her documents, a brown paper bag with the Dial-logo on her desk. She had no idea how he knew, but he knew.

So she ate the bagel, and Harry was kind enough not to remind her that she wouldn't have eaten at all if it weren't for his attentiveness, and he told her something very interesting happened over lunch with Philip.

Philip asked if they needed a ride for this Friday, to go to their grandmother's Valentine's Day ball.

A Valentine's Day ball. A Valentine's Day ball. This was no tradition of her grandmother, nor was it something that was common in their country. This was something her 86-year old grandma made up on the spot, probably just to get her family together in another awkward engagement. The fact that Harry and Hermione were informed by Philip of all people, who curiously asked if he could help them reach Eugenia's mansion because he knew they had no car of their own yet, made it possibly worse. She also felt kind of betrayed that Aunty Penelope hadn't mentioned this to them in person yet, but Harry agreed that he would talk with her about it over preparing dinner for that night.

Dinner at Aunty Penelope's was always a treat. The tradition was only 3 weeks old, but it was a really nice thing to have someone to visit who wasn't aware of their past, who wasn't fixated on their reputation, and who also possessed the knowledge of an old soul. Aside from that, Aunty Penelope was absolutely hilarious.

So, around 5PM, she apparated to Aunty Penelope's cottage, and found Harry and her great-aunt chatting and laughing behind the adjusted countertop. Harry wore a nice, dark green blouse, with Uncle Geoffrey's cufflinks that he had gotten for Christmas.

'Hermione, my dear!' Aunty Penelope exclaimed, as she entered the kitchen. 'Did Alan let you in?'

'I saw him on his way out,' Hermione nodded, as she took off her coat. 'He said you two gave him an extra batch of whatever you're making to eat with his girlfriend tonight.'

'His fiancée,' Aunty Penelope corrected her. 'He proposed last week and she said yes!'

'Oh, really?' Harry said.

'Yes. You had a good influence on him, I suppose.'

Hermione and Harry shared a look as she walked towards him and gave him a kiss on the mouth.

'Hi love,' he said, using the nickname only when they were together with Hermione's family. 'How was work?'

'Good. Second draw of the law I'm proposing is finally finished. It will be shot down at least another three times before we'll even try to take it to the Wizen-… To the court, obviously.'

'Obviously,' Harry answered. 'I've talked with Aunty about this Friday – she said the invitations were sent out weeks ago and that we definitely should have gotten them.'

'Definitely,' her aunty nodded. 'So I phoned your mother – seemed she hadn't gotten them either. Then Jerome came through and realized that he had seen two envelopes that he took into the kitchen to be opened, but had forgotten about a while back. They were hidden behind two boxes of cereal. You get his deepest apologies.'

Hermione rolled her eyes and loosened the collar of her blouse a bit. 'Of course. Dad.'

'Yes, well, you should just give us your address, sweetheart. It would make it a lot easier. You do live together, don't you?'

'We do,' she replied with a sly smile, as she untied her hair. She had planned on giving Harry her key on Valentine's Day – it would be a sweet gesture, and the perfect step forward.

'We live in my apartment for now. Harry still has his apartment on lease, but he doesn't go there anymore.'

She stepped out of her shoes and sighed relieved at the feeling of her toes touching the cold floor. Those heels were like ruthless torture devices at the end of a long day.

'I should probably just get rid of it,' Harry grinned. 'I hardly remember what the place looks like.'

'Yes, it seems you visit Hermione's collarbone on a more regular basis,' Aunty Penelope said with a sugary smile. 'Would you please pass the pepper, dear?'

Hermione looked down and noticed that the foundation that she had used to cover up the love mark had faded over the course of the day. She shared a mortified look with Harry, who couldn't hold back a snort because of her face, as Aunty Penelope cackled with laughter.

Oh, she had been forced to be reminded of last night a lot throughout the day. She felt sore – with every step she took, she felt the proof of their lovemaking rush through her body. It wasn't painful, the sensation was just there, and she didn't like to admit it, but she couldn't help secretly enjoying it.

'We've all been young, dear. I am kind of jealous of the fact that I don't get to experience those types of nights anymore… Did I tell you of that time Uncle Geoffrey and I were trapped in an elevator? Oh boy did the mechanic look surprise when he opened the doors and he found us both in a very compromising position-…'

The rest of the week passed like a breeze. Hermione wasn't superstitious, otherwise she would have seen a bad omen in the fact that Harry and Hermione left their apartment together, at Friday the 13th. She didn't see the American tourist, wearing clothes that were a bit too extreme to be worn by an woman her age, who almost choked on her sandwich as she saw Harry and Hermione exit the door together. Hermione also didn't notice the camera, that she had hidden behind a newspaper.

They greeted Lydia and Philip in a friendly matter, before they got in the car. Harry had arranged a corsage again – this one featured one big, red rose and a few other pink flowers. She couldn't stop peeking at it in the car, and noticed Lydia glare jealously at the sweet gesture of her boyfriend.

Philip and Lydia spent the entire car ride talking about their upcoming wedding. Hermione was glad she and Harry shared the backseat, so she could spend a lot of time nudging him between the ribs whenever he felt the need to snicker a bit too hard out loud. He started to warm up to Philip, so much was true, but he still couldn't believe how awfully teeth-rottingly cheesy those two were.

'Our venue has a beautiful, lavish gazebo,' Lydia gushed from the front passenger seat. 'I want to douse it in pink flowers – absolutely cover it. And I want glitter and tule and lace. Because my dress' -she covered Philip's ears as he was driving- 'you know, my wedding dress, is covered in glitter and tule and lace! It has puff sleeves as well: it's big enough to knock people over. We actually had to re-order the white carpet for the walk to the aisle to fit my entire dress on it – I don't want to drag it on the grass, but they only had it in pink: not the bright bright pink but more of the soft cheeky rose kind of pink, like a "cloudy" pink – Hermione knows what I mean. And then we had to re-order the curtains for the gazebo-sides, because the shade of white and pink had to be the exact same, of course, otherwise it would just look silly!'

'Oh yes, I can't imagine,' Harry replied, with a serious face. 'Glad you adjusted it. The curtains have to match the drapes, after all.'

Looking just as genuine, Harry evaded the attack on his ribs with quick Seeker-ease; Hermione missed her nudge and planted her elbow in the passenger seat, causing her stifled laugh to cross her lips. She covered it with a cough, but it wasn't necessary, as Philip snickered so hard he almost hit a curb.

'Philip!' Lydia shrieked. 'Eyes on the road!'

'Yes, poo bear. I just get so excited thinking about our wedding.'

She smiled at him favourably.

'I know, honey drop. Me too.'

Refraining from cackling proved to be one of the hardest thing they had ever done, and Harry and Hermione quickly realized that looking into each other's eyes would proof fatal, so they avoided each other's gaze at any cost. When the car stopped at grandma Eugenia's front porch, Harry stepped out quickly as Hermione was still struggling with her belt, and opened the door for her. He reached out a hand, with a very posh look on his face.

'Don't-…' Hermione said, still holding back her snicker, as Lydia got out of the car herself and tottered over to Philip, out of earshot.

'Please allow me to escort you out of the car, my sugary sweet plump and honey-eyed, doe-faced, fairy-eating, glitter-sneezing miracle of a soon-to-be-bride,' Harry said earnestly. 'Accept my hand as a kind gesture as to spare your fragile and deliciously divine ankles from the trouble of getting out of this cursed vehicle of doom-…'

'Oh, Harry,' Hermione warbled back. 'Yes, a thousand times yes!'

She gave him her ankle instead of her foot, so Harry lifted her out of the car by her hips, as Hermione squealed and clutched her hands around his shoulders. When they both got out of the car, they were howling with laughter, and Hermione placed a loving kiss on Harry's lips, still held up in his arms.

'Merlin, I love you so much,' she whispered against his skin. Harry smiled happily and gave her another chaste kiss. They were cut short by a flash - Harry almost dropped her on instinct and Hermione yelped in surprise as she clawed Harry's neck.

'Smile! This is for Madam Blisters's photo album! I am capturing all the arrivals,' a happy cameraman shouted. He took another one of them, staring fazed in the camera, and then disappeared in the crowds.

'I can't remember a photographer being present at the other events,' Harry said concerned, as he put her carefully on the ground. 'Do you think he might be from the Prophet?'

Hermione shook her head. 'He was at the start of the New Year's reception and the Christmas Ball as well. You could have known – or no, wait. Who was late to both of those events, hmm?'

'Fashionably late,' he corrected her, with a very James Potter-like air, and he winked. 'Right? So – let's get inside!'

Grandma Eugenia had overdone herself again. Luscious decorations of silk and golden hearts adorned the ceiling and walls of the enormous mansion. She even placed a few statues inside her house – all golden, all of Cupido with a drawn bow. Hermione was reminded of the Valentine's Day decorations in their second year, where Gilderoy Lockhart had turned the Great Hall into a screaming pink hell. This was not as outrageous, but it was absolutely just as tacky.

A few waiters guided them to their chairs, for this ball included another dinner. The dining table was just as elaborately decorated, but here her grandmother had erected an absolutely enormous dessert table, with creamy cupcakes, glistening donuts, melting carrot cakes and in the centre a huge golden, chocolate fountain as a jaw-dropping masterpiece. Hermione immediately reminded herself not to eat too much during her regular courses – she wanted room for at least another two rounds of desserts.

As they were all seated – Harry, Hermione and her parents close to Aunty Penelope and the other less-annoying half of the family, thank God! – Grandma Eugenia opened the ball with a little speech, as usual. She talked about the importance of family, which she always talked about, but then she commented on how glad she was to have rekindled with the Granger-family. That was new. Hermione arched her eyebrows as she looked to her mother, who batted her wet eyes with a golden accented, creamy napkin.

'And, of course – I want to say a special thank you to my granddaughter Hermione and her soon-to-be-husband, Harry Potter. They have both shown me what true love is. When the marriage of my favourite grandson was in turmoil, she and her wonderful fiancé stepped in and went to great lengths to get them together again. I know I speak for my grandson Philip and his Lydia too when I say that you have shown us heaps of kindness when we showed you so little for a long time. So, for all your selflessness, we want to thank the both of you. A round of applause for Hermione and her Harry!'

Hermione and Harry looked on awkwardly as her relatives and a few of Grandma Eugenia's closest friends applauded them. What a difference it was from half a year ago – her uncles, aunts and cousins smiled encouragingly at them, their comments heartfelt, their applause welcoming. She felt a pang of guilt when she thought about how the only reason for her and Harry's match-making was because they couldn't get married on August 3rd because of their fake engagement, a ploy they were still holding up, but neither of them could stomach it to out their secret right then and there. So they nodded their heads, gracefully accepted their compliments with clenched teeth, which were surely interpreted as modesty.

After a few more sappy comments on a few family members, dinner was served. The room was soon buzzing with conversation as Hermione cut down her vitello tonnato.

'So, Harry,' Uncle Eric asked after they discussed mundane things like politics, sports and weather, 'I remember you telling us quite a few amusing anecdotes over New Year's dinner. Please tell me you have some more to tell us. Has work been exciting lately?'

Hermione looked quickly at Harry, who stopped chewing on his third course for a moment, before he swallowed and smiled.

'No, actually. I've been fired.'

'You've been fired?' her uncle repeated, and the largest part of the family grew silent, eagerly listening in on their conversation. 'But I thought you said you were doing really well? Was that a lie?'

'It wasn't because he was underperforming,' Hermione said swiftly, feeling heat rise to her cheeks at the thought of Harry lying about something like that. 'He was actually working on a very important case, and we had a break on it, it's just…'

She haltered, looking at Harry, who smiled at her. He stayed so calm – that wasn't like him, but she guessed he had either matured in conversation with her relatives, or felt very at ease with her family.

'It's just that my boss made some very degrading assumptions about the relationship Hermione and I have. My supervisor and I had been at odds for a while, and her commenting on the fact that I couldn't close the door when I was alone with Hermione in my office was the last straw. I blew up and called her… some nasty things. Totally unprofessional, I know. But I couldn't help myself and she… Well, she kind of had to fire me after I called her those names. I don't blame her. It was my fault and my fault only.'

'Oh my!' Grandma Eugenia said, shocked, and a few family members joined in.

'That's very unfortunate,' Uncle Eric nodded. 'If there's any way I can help you – I am the CEO of several businesses throughout the UK: B&Q, Castorama, Drillings, Hornbach, to name a few… I'm sure I can arrange a proper job for you my boy, with a decent payment…'

Hermione blinked a few times. She knew their family was rich and all that, but she had no idea her Uncle Philip had that much cash to burn.

'Drillings?' Harry replied, with a glistening in his eyes. 'You are the CEO of Drillings company?'

'Yes. Are you interested?'

'No. I mean – thank you, it's just. My uncle…' Harry stammered. 'He… Never mind, we'll talk about that later. No, I am working again, actually. At Hermione's Department. She is my supervisor for the next few weeks, until I feel confident enough to grovel back to my old boss.'

'Hermione? You're Harry's superior?'

'For this case only,' Hermione blushed. 'It's no big deal – he is actually onto something really big that involves my Department as well and it felt only right to offer him a place within our ranks without rising too much suspicion.'

'What a breath of fresh air,' Aunty Penelope interjected, before anyone else could make a comment, 'to actually have someone in our family who doesn't keep up appearances like the world is going to crash and burn after every possible mistake they make. Someone who just comes clean about their mistakes, someone who's actually being open and honest…'

'Sister,' Grandma Eugenia warned.

'What? I applaud you Harry – you're going to do just fine, I'm sure of it. As for some other family members – please, Paula, explain why your husband Thierry is not here with us tonight? I kind of expected him, I have to say.'

There it was. The build-up. Hermione looked over to her older cousin, a girl who had accused Harry of "dumping her on the first day of the year" not two months ago. She looked like she was slapped across the face.

'That's a very sensitive subject, Aunt,' Uncle Eric said defensively, as Hermione saw the lip of Philip's sister start to quiver.

'He went along on Philip's Stag Do, didn't he?' Aunty Penelope said cruelly, looking far too happy with herself. 'The one that almost caused our dear Philly's engagement to break down?'

Hermione looked to Harry, who seemed shocked, as if he suddenly realized something.

'He was cheating too,' he whispered to her, as she bowed over to him to hear him more properly. 'I remember now – he went with one of the Harpies, but he told me he was single, and I didn't recognize him…'

The fact that Aunty Penelope hadn't outed this secret to them in one of their private dinners was only for effect of drama, she knew. No one in the room seemed to know – the entire room was silent and everyone's eyes were plastered on the rapidly paling face of the miserable girl.

'So, dear, sweet Paula – how's the divorce going? I'm sure a number of aunts and uncles will most graciously help you pick out a decent attorney. Or maybe your own brother can help you, now that he is in fact back on the scholarship again…'

'Enough!' Grandma Eugenia squealed. 'You've had your fun, Nel!'

'Oh, I haven't even started yet, Genie,' Aunty Penelope countered, just as shrill. 'I have a whole damn container filled with dirty laundry that desperately needs airing!'

'Aunty, please,' Hermione heard herself say, as she laid her hand on top of hers. 'This is not the time. We are here to celebrate love, to celebrate the evening, to have a good time with the family we love. Let's focus on that, instead of on all the bad things that have happened. Life's too short. You know that.'

Aunty Penelope looked like she wanted to spit something offensive back, but Hermione knew that she wouldn't, not to her. Not until she finds out our enormous lie, Hermione thought, with a tight feeling in her stomach.

'Well-… Well-…' her great aunt sputtered, but then she conceded.

'Fine. But this isn't over yet. It would be so much easier if people just started to talk.'

She revoltingly shoved the entirety of her vitello tonnato in her throat in one fell swoop.

'NEXT COURSE!' she bellowed. She winked to Harry, who looked at her with an amused smile.

This was going to be a long night, Hermione thought. A very long night indeed.