Chapter 12
Hermione turned and smiled at the group that had approached them. Her friends forming up behind her. Hermione signed behind her back that she would handle it. Neville pulled the others back slightly understanding Hermione would deal with it.
"Stranger Granger your still using that one, let me introduce my friends. This is Harry Potter-Black, girls don't look into his eyes for to long you will fall in love with him and I don't share. This is his sister Susan and tall dark and moody over there is Neville "
One of the girls in the group interrupted her snorting
"That hunk is never your boyfriend"
Harry had had enough he really disliked bully's
"sorry Hermione but I need to put a stop to this"
The smirk was whipped form the girls face when Harry pulled Hermione against him and kissed her it may have only been the pressing of lips together and not intense snogging but it had the desired affect. Hermione found herself melting into the kiss. She had heard about French kissing and decided that some proper research was in order. If it felt even better than this.
Susan then stepped forward and flashed her smile at the boys
"could you gentleman aid a lady"
The boys in the group al gave goofy smiles
"Good, now Fuck Off before my cousin and brother decide they don't like you and you have to crawl away"
Dan made to stand "That boy is snogging my daughter"
Emma grabbed his arm
"your daughter is willingly engaged in a rather reserved kiss, not like when we would attempt to suck each others faces off. Besides Dan you showed her how to look after herself "
This was proven a moment later the boy Susan addressed grabbed her arm and spun her towards him.
"Don't turn your back on me you little tease"
Neville lurched for the boy. Harry released Hermione and moved like Neville. Hermione was quickest, her arm shot out like lightning, clamped onto the boys wrist and twisted. All the blood drained from his face as he fell to his knees.
"If you ever touch her again you will need your other hand to play with your little prick, now piss off"
Sirius leapt to his feet
"Neville just rolled his wrists, I need to stop this before he decides to draw blood, that boy thinks too much like a Goblin at times"
The four adults approached the growing crowd. A large round red faced man started to demand why his son was nursing his wrist. The mistake he made was shouting at Hermione. When he grabbed her shoulder the protective farther appeared.
'How dare you lay your hands on my daughter"
The punch was sweet, fast and pin point accurate. The man flew back on his ass.
Sirius and Amelia turned to Emma ready to apologise, they found her berating the boys mother
"I warned you to wind that little thug in, now Hermione has enough confidence to stand up to your bully son. You want to cry wolf. Think on this, he got off lightly. Neville is as protective of Susan as Harry is of Hermione. If your son would have hurt her, there would have been blood shed and all from your son. Now get away from me before I do something only you will regret"
Emma decided to twist the knife
"I'm sorry Lord and Lady Black but I will not have my daughter subject to this abuse"
"I would have it no other way Emma putting on his most pompous front"
Hermione threw herself onto Harry a began to cry
"I've spoiled everyone's night"
A crying Susan was blaming herself as she gripped onto Neville. Harry lifted Hermione's chin
"I promise I will dance with you at the stroke of midnight"
Sirius looked to Amelia and she nodded, while Dan turned to his wife
"He has taken my little girl"
Emma kissed his cheek
"No but I think they each make the other stronger "
Sirius and Amelia returned a moment later
"We have made sure that my son didn't just lie to your daughter"
Dan spoke "it's already 8.30 what did you have in mind"
Sirius guided them out to the hotel reception. The receptionist gave him a room key and directed them to the lifts. The lift door opened on the fourth floor, they followed Sirius to a room. Once inside he called Kreacher. Seeing how upset Hermione the little elf became enraged
"Who has upset Miss Hermione, Kreacher will teach them how to behave"
Sirius stopped the elf from leaving "Kreacher my friend have you managed to do what I asked"
He nodded and Amelia smiled "Excellent work as ever"
She then removed a piece of string from her bag
Everyone needs to touch this at the same time"
The Grangers were sceptical but did ad they were asked. The following two minutes of disorientation were not pleasant for them.
Sirius clapped his hands "Ladies you have 10 minutes."
8 minutes later they stepped out of the front of a building. Hermione was holding Harry's hand so when she stopped he had to.
"Harry that looks like the Eiffel Tower but that would mean we are in Paris"
"you transported us all to Paris, just so my daughters boyfriend would not be a liar"
Sirius smiled as Amelia spoke "This is the best new year we have had, that little sod was not going to spoil our Susan's birthday night. I pulled a couple of strings and sorted a port key while Sirius arranged for the house to be ready"
All the Grangers were shocked at how accepted they were. When they had first been told about Hermione they were equal parts relieved that there was nothing g wrong with their daughter and scared that they would never truly understand her life. Over the last three months that had changed. The Potter-Blacks had treated them as equals from the moment they met, magic was simply a different skill set in the same way a dentist was different from a butcher.
They entered a ballroom near the tower
"Jean Pierre do you have room for 8"
The man smiled and guided them to an empty table.
"We have lost an hour to time difference I don't want you four back at this table before midnight"
Susan pulled Neville onto the dance floor. Harry laced his fingers through Hermione's
"Would you care to dance"
Hermione bit her lip and nodded, Harry bounced around like he was trying to river dace while being electrocuted. Hermione found it hilarious and started to let go of he restraint, she flailed her arms to the music and flicked her head around. Dan watched the kids dance
"seeing her so happy and free, makes me feel amazing . I just wish it wasn't because of a boy"
His wife looked to where he was watching Hermione and laughed
"Yes Harry has had an affect on her but she is not changing because of him. Harry just helped her see that life has many aspects and you can be intelligent and hard working bit still have fun. We both worried she would be even more isolated being on her own at school, Instead she is blossoming"
Dan could only nod his agreement, his little girl looked truly happy. Neville and Sue bounced over and the strangest dance competition commenced. The adults soon joined and the next hour was spent on the dance floor. They returned to the table at 11.30 for a well needed drink. A smiling Susan plonked down on Neville's lap.
"Susan you have a perfectly good seat"
She smiled at her farther "yes I do"
Moments later all four lads had a beautiful girl in their laps. The music started to slow
"Hermione I'm going to steal your boyfriend for a dance"
"That's OK mum I get to dance with my daddy"
"Up you get Nev you get to dance with me so Sue can dance with her dad on her birthday"
Dan waltzed around with his daughter in his arms
"Are you having a good night princess"
The young girl looked at her farther
"Amazing dad, I'm seeing new year in with my parents in Paris"
"What about Harry"
"Harry has show me we all face our own demons, but it is always better to face them"
"He is a special young man".
"Yes mum seems to think so"
Harry and Emma pasted performing a strange form of the Tango laughing. Where Harry got the red rose that was clamped between his teeth was a mystery.
"Thank you for making my daughter feel so special"
"No thank you for creating a very special person, I hope I never do anything to have kick me to the kerb"
Emma kissed his cheek
"I think you are all very special, your Sister is already starting to feel like a second daughter"
Harry laughed
"It was her idea for mum and dad to adopt us, so she picked me as her brother"
His sister was being twisted and spun by her farther
"How is your night honey?"
"Dad thank you for bringing us to Paris having both you here is the best birthday present ever"
"What about having Neville here as well"
The girl smiled
"He is as amazing as ever, he is the perfect amount of calm to my manic"
"Still planning on marrying him"
"well to be honest Hermione said something and it has stuck with me, we are girls we develop crushes but do we truly know what it is to be in love"
Sirius smiled
"So she hasn't figured out she is in love with your brother and vice versa"
"Nope it's sweet how stupid clever people can be"
Neville and Amelia spun passed
"Nev you always amaze me when you move so softly"
"walk softly but carry a big sword, is a Goblin motto that was pounded into me"
Amelia smiled she was always amazed at the two sides to Neville. There was the side that joked, played and moved like champion of the dance floor. The other side was a solid block of steel who would stop at nothing to protect his family. She felt she would need a quiet word with regards to the fact it's not polite to take hidden knives to a party.
"I worry about your daughter, that temper will get her in serious trouble one day"
"It's you I worry about not her, any trouble you face it will be my children dragging you not the other way around. Now pull me close I want to see if I can make my daughter jealous"
"Are you mad she may berate you, me she will kill"
Amelia laughed, he was absolutely right her daughter had a temper. God help anyone who crossed her. They changed partners for the next song. Neville found himself dancing with Emma Granger.
"Just the man I want to speak to"
Neville became nervous and stiff
"You probably know Harry better than almost anyone, tell me honestly about him"
The boy relaxed a little
"The first thing you need to know is he can't lie only ask his opinion if you want it"
Emma wanted to test him. Neville could see her mind working.
"Nothing about Hermione. He is very protective of her"
Emma was shocked by the frankness of the boy in front of her, but realised if Harry truly was what you see is what you get. She didn't need to ask she only had to observe.
They swapped back to their original partners for a last dance before the countdown. Susan pulled herself close to Neville and kissed his cheek
" This is my best birthday every, thank you for everything you did "
Neville lifted her chin so he could look her in the eye
"Anything for you" The young couple smiled happily
Harry and Hermione had their hands gently wrapped around each other, Hermione's head on Harrys shoulder turned in towards his neck.
"so my lady how is your night going"
Smiling she replied " fantastic"
"you due realise you have to kiss the bloke your dancing with at the stroke of midnight"
She lifted her head to look at him
"how long do I have to find someone"
The DJ started to count down, 10, 9, 8
As he got to 4 she spoke
"Oh well to late I will have to make do with you"
She pulled his face to hers and kissed him, mentally reminding herself to research kissing.
All eight were happily seeing in the new year lost in their own kiss.
The party soon started to wind down, they made their way back to the building they arrived at hours earlier. Susan insisted that Neville give her a piggy back ride because her feet hurt. Hermione was holding Harry's hand. Amelia and Emma hand their arms linked and were whispering. Dan and Sirius were comparing football to quidditch.
They strolled into the entrance of the building
"Sue, Hermione is in with you. Nev your sharing with Harry. Kreacher can you show the Grangers to their room when they are ready"
Hermione registered the comment.
"were staying in Paris"
"Only for 3 days and there won't be alot of time to sort your things to return to school"
Here mother replied
"we will just have to make do, you showed earlier that you can be good at your job and still have fun. Come on Sue we need to get to bed these two are taking us shopping later"
Pointing at Neville and Harry
Harry asked a question "Do I have a say in this" he smirked
Hermione walk over to him lent down and kissed him on the cheek
"No, no you dont" she said smiling
"Fine by me" he said with a smile
Sirius turned to Harry "I'm glad you changed your mind and decided to take our advice"
"What do you mean dad" Harry looked genuinely confused
It was Amelia's turn to look confused "you and that loverly young lady "
Pointing between Harry and the doorway the girls had disappeared through
"No I still believe she deserves better than the baggage I drag around"
Daniel Granger tipped his head back and laughed
"I sorry Harry you told Emma Grangers daughter she could not have something she wanted"
Emma smacked him on the arm but he continued
"Hermione has decided you are her boyfriend your opinion was listened to and promptly ignored"
"As it should be" Emma's grinning face quipped
"What do I do she could be setting herself up for trouble"
Dan became serious
"Harry am I totally happy my twelve year old daughter has a boyfriend? No. Seeing as I don't have a choice, am I happy it's you? Yes. Do I think I have any say or control? No. You have two choices you can fight this on stand there shut up and wait to be told what to do"
"I'm impressed Emma how long did it take you to train him, I still need a rolled up newspaper sometimes with him' Amelia said Pointing at Sirius. Both women laughed while Sirius mock pouted and Dan shrugged
Harry smiled and stood " well as it seems I have a girlfriend and I'm taking her shopping I best get to bed"
Neville followed Harry, as they reached the door way Dan called
"Harry obviously I don't have to tell you if you hurt my daughter I will happily cut your balls off, sleep well"
In their bedroom the two girls were chatting in bed
"so how long before dumb and dumber realise they are ours"
Hermione smiled "I think they are starting to figure it out"
The next three days passed quickly, after lunch an afternoon was spent touring the shops of Paris. On the second day Harry insisted on taking Hermione on a proper date to the Louvre. Part way through the tour Neville realised everything Hermione was doing with Harry, Susan was doing with him. He lent over a kissed her cheek.
"Took you long enough"
"in my defence her dad explained it to him, I worked it out on my own"
Walking around the magnificent building holding Harry's hand had Hermione practically floating up to bed that night. The last day they prepared for their return to school. After lunch they travelled back to England and their own homes. They would see each other the following day on the train.