A/N: Harry Potter and his world belong to J.K. Rowling, Warner Brothers and anyone that has received licensing rights. I am grateful she gives us the privilege of playing in her world.

Edited: Proofed, edited and adjusted for consistency. 20 May 22

-oOo-

Chapter 7

-oOo-

July 29, 1996

Little Sark, UK

Harry yawned. Five was Merlin-be-awful early this morning. It was his responsibility to take care of the sheep. Then he had to go take care of the Bakers horses. He was working today to take his birthday off Wednesday.

He had just made sure the sheep had their feed buckets when his aunt walked up to the pen he was in. "So, how did it go last night?" she asked.

Harry tried to keep the smile off his face. "How did what go?"

She shook her head. "I wasn't born yesterday, Harry. Is she your girlfriend now?"

A smile broke across his face now. "I hope so."

She chuckled. "Margaret sent me an owl the moment you left. She was asking to be invited to the wedding."

Harry's face drained of color. "We aren't getting married," he told her. "Stop that," he told Jack, the ram that was in the stall with him. The sheep was nudging him, trying to get at his clothes.

His Aunt laughed. "Is she your girlfriend?"

"The actual word didn't come up," he said. They had been a little busy kissing towards the end, or just smiling like fools as they walked back to the nearest floo fireplace.

His Aunt laughed even more. "To busy snogging?"

He still felt drained from the marriage comment but managed a blush. "Merlin, Aunt Bel. I hate you some days."

She was still laughing. "No, you don't. I'm glad it went so well last night. So, Wednesday, it's kind of a special day."

"Is it?" he asked, not wanting her to tease him anymore and feeling like she was setting him up.

"Yeah, kind of. Your Uncle Remus said he was meeting us there. You have the third ticket if you want to take someone else with you," she told him. "I think I will stay here this year."

"Why don't you want to come?" he queried.

She shook her head. "I thought you might like to take Hermione," she told him.

He closed his eyes for a moment. Quidditch on his birthday had always been his Aunt and him, many times Uncle Remus. He hadn't thought of any other option. "Are you sure?" he put to her.

"Harry, I love going to see you at your games and taking you, but I am not a huge quidditch fan," she commented.

"You sound like Hermione. If she says no, will you still come?" he asked her.

"Of course. I would be surprised if she says no, especially if she is your girlfriend."

Harry smiled. He liked the sound of calling her his girlfriend. He hoped she liked it too.

"Why did you authorize a draft to my vaults?" he questioned. She had always been very stingy of letting him use the inheritance his parents had left him. After this year at Hogwarts, he had to admit he was thankful she hadn't given him carte blanche. He saw the spoiled Purebloods and he doubted he would be able to compete with Hermione if he hadn't learned the work ethic he had learned from his aunt.

Hermione had pushed him to a new level to keep up with her this year. He didn't doubt it was their study sessions that had earned him his Outstanding in Potions. He was no slouch, but the exam had been harder than he thought it might be.

"You are getting closer to seventeen. You have shown how responsible you can be with money. I think it time for you to start understanding your accounts. Next summer your Uncle Ted and I will continue to manage them, but you have free reign when you turn seventeen. Next week we are going to Gringotts for an appointment with the Goblins," she said matter of fact.

"Once you're sixteen, you are old enough to put the application to move your vaults and accounts to Guernsey, if you want."

"You know I don't want anything to do with the Ministry and the Wizengamot," he told her.

"Have you told anyone?" she queried.

"I've only talked with Neville. Most think I will move back to Potter Manor when I turn seventeen," he said. He sighed. "I will not be part of those prats."

"What did Neville think?" she asked curiously.

"He doesn't know yet. His Great Aunt Augusta is pushing him to take over for her. He really doesn't want to be involved in politics though."

She nodded. "Maybe you should tell Hermione. She might have something else to say on it we don't? I know I have not kept my opinions to myself over the years about the Wizengamot. Or she might just listen."

"I have no intentions of living where the Ministry reaches. Did you see the issues Fudge got into with that failed muggle relations project? He put two Blood Supremacist's in charge, and they bated the people. They are all corrupt," he told her.

Jack seemed full and he took the food bucket off his face. "There you go, Jack. Prim," he called out.

She popped in. "Yes, Master Harry?"

"Jack has some stuff in his fleece. Could I ask you to get it out? He tends to like how gentle you are."

"Yes. Prim, will you take care of Jack? Come here handsome boy," the elf said, snapping her fingers. A normal brush and pick brush came to her hand. One had to be very careful, otherwise the hair could be damaged. Even a few ounces of the golden fleece could be worth tens of galleons. In a garment it could be worth a hundred times that, and when enchanted, a thousand times as much.

He moved to the gate as Prim got to work and Jack bleated at her.

"You wouldn't want to clean up the Wizengamot and Ministry?" she inquired as he moved to the next pen. Thomas was done and needed his bag off.

"No. The ICW has already sent them three notices. I have a feeling the Wizengamot is going to be dissolved in the next few years. Any more muggle bating incidents like that, and they will break the Statute of Secrecy. The story actually made it into some muggle papers. The Ministry is going to be forced to change," he told her. "I prefer our sheep and living on Sark."

"What if Hermione decided to stay in England?" she asked.

He stopped. What if she didn't want to move out here?

Why would he even care about that? They had only just started to go out.

You will follow her, his inner voice said.

He didn't deny the voice.

"We're only sixteen and only just started to date," he told her.

She gave him an unimpressed look. "This is the girl you have been talking about for five years. You want me to believe you wouldn't follow her?"

He sighed. "I want to stay here," he said, knowing he would follow her.

"I know. Just think about it and talk to her before next Thursday. If you want to move your assets here before you turn seventeen, the application needs to be into the Goblins and Ministry by end of August. You have thirty days from your birthday."

"You have always let me know stuff like that. You really think I'm responsible enough to use my accounts?" he asked her.

"I put a two-thousand galleon a month cap on your draft line," she told him.

His eyes went wide. It had taken him almost three years to save up sixteen-hundred galleons. He licked his lips. "I don't even know what to do with that much."

She smiled. "Good. My lessons have sunk in."

He wouldn't disappoint her. "I'm down fifteen galleons from yesterday. I won't be able to afford the Firebolt on my birthday," he told her. He was twenty-two galleons short now. He had spent so much time earning every galleon he had towards the broom. It felt like cheating to suddenly just take the money from his accounts. It might take another week or two.

Hermione was worth it though.

She shrugged. "Up to you. Either way, I'm proud of you," she said.

He smiled. "I need to finish here and then go across the street."

She gave him a wink. "Say hi to your girlfriend. Hermione is invited over for dinner tonight."

"Thanks, Aunt Bel," he told her.

She cupped his cheek and pat it affectionately. "I wish Lily and James could see how you are growing up. They would like Hermione too."

He smiled. He liked when he was compared to his parents. He knew his Aunt had raised him, but they were still his parents.

-oOo-

July 31, 1996

Holyhead, Wales

Uncle Remus was waiting for them when they came out of the Floo at the Harpies Plight. It was much the traditional English wizard pub. It was old, had exposed wooden beams and had dirt in areas that would never come out.

Even with this feel, it was busy. It always was the few times he had come here. Of course, it was always on days of a match, so that probably had much to do with it.

"Harry," a man said as Harry helped Hermione as she stepped out. She could come out without help now, but he liked touching her and she didn't complain.

He turned to meet the green eyes and sandy colored hair of his Uncle. "Uncle Remus," he said, taking the man's arm and they clutched each other's forearms before the man pulled him in for a one arm hug.

"It's only been a month, but I think you already grew more," the man said with a smile. "Happy birthday."

Harry liked when the man smiled like that. It made his scars fade.

Harry shrugged. "I am sixteen today. A sudden growth spurt makes sense."

Uncle Remus chuckled. Harry tried to push the man off when he put his hand on his head and ruffled his hair. "It's messy enough," he told his Uncle.

"Your still young enough I can do that. Ms. Granger, it is a pleasure to see you. I wasn't expecting to see you here," he said looking past Harry.

"Good day, Professor," she said.

The man chuckled. "No Professor anymore. Just call me Remus. Harry, is there something you want to tell me?"

Harry tried not to blush as he reached a handout for her. She took it.

"Hermione is my girlfriend."

The man just smiled and nodded. "About time," he told them.

His mouth dropped open. "What do you mean about time!" he exclaimed.

His Uncle just shook his head. "Hermione, I wish you luck with this one. His father was pretty clueless too."

"Thank you, Prof... Remus," she said smiling.

"I am not clueless," Harry scoffed.

"Remus, we should be heading over soon." A woman in her twenties said walking up to them. "Wotcher, Harry. Happy birthday," she said with a smirk"

He did a double take to see the pink hair. "Dora? What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Another family friend?" Hermione enquired.

"Try more like family," Dora said.

"Hermione, this is my cousin, Nymphadora Tonks. Don't call her Nymphadora though," he said quickly as his cousin looked ready to yell at him.

Dora's eyebrows shot into her hair line. "Hermione. As in 'The Hermione'?"

Hermione chuckled. "This is never going to get old to see you blush like that," she told him before kissing his cheek.

"OH! Wait! Are you actually seeing him?" she asked Hermione.

"Thanks, Dora. You sound like I'm some plague ridden mongrel," he told her.

"You said it, not me. Here, come with me. I have some stories to tell you," Dora said moving in and taking Hermione's arm. She looked at him alarmed for a moment.

"She doesn't bite, and Aunt Andi makes sure she has all her potions," he told her.

Dora laughed. "Bighting can be fun," she told him with a wink.

He watched as Hermione was dragged away and gave his Uncle a look. "Why is Dora here," he asked him.

Uncle Remus ran his hand over the back of his neck. "You know how you were asking me if I was seeing someone at Easter," he said.

Harry looked at him and then the disappearing women out of the pub. "No way! Merlin! She likes you?"

The man looked unsure. "Apparently."

Harry laughed. "She always had the worst taste in men," he said cheekily.

His Uncle chuckled. "Can't disagree there. Come on, let's go save your girl," he said.

They caught up with them outside the stadium. Hermione was laughing. "Did you really blast a bowl apart at your aunt's?

Harry gave an abashed smile. "I was like three and hated peas at the time," he told her.

Dora laughed at him. "Dad was covered in the stuff."

He moved to Hermione as they got in line. "I hope you can forgive me?" he whispered to her.

She smiled. "I'll let you make it up to me later. Your cousin is rather interesting. Any other cousins I should know about?"

"A few, but Dora and Neville are the only ones I talk to," he told her.

She looked at him for a moment. "Neville is your cousin?" she asked.

"Like Dora, second cousin, once removed. I think that is how it goes. My other cousins and I, let's say we don't see eye to eye," he told her.

"Who are your other cousins?"

He sighed, not really wanting to talk about them, but it may make other conversations go easier in the future. Uncle Remus and Dora were holding hands and leaving them alone at the moment.

"The Flints, Malfoys and Lestranges," he told her.

She gasped. "You aren't serious!"

"I wish I wasn't. They are all second cousins, or second cousins once removed," he told her.

"You and Malfoy fight all the time," she remarked.

"Can we not talk about it on my birthday?" he requested.

She looked at him for a moment. "Sure."

"Harry?" Dora asked from behind them.

"Yeah?" he said over his shoulder. Hermione took his hand and wove her fingers into his.

"You have to come see mum and dad soon. They will want to meet Hermione," she told him.

"Everywhere I go, I feel like everyone knows me," she said with a smirk to him.

His Uncle and cousin laughed. "He has talked about you. Incessantly. How long has it been? Five years now?" Dora enquired with a laugh to her voice.

"He talks about quidditch to," his Uncle said with a chuckle.

Harry was regretting to agree to go with his Uncle. "Next time I'm leaving you both home," he grumbled. Dora and Uncle Remus laughed at him.

They made it in and stopped to grab a pasty and butterbeer before they went to their seats.

"So, Hermione, how did you do on your OWLS?" his uncle asked.

"Very well. Though I missed getting an outstanding in DADA. I'm sorry, Remus," she told him.

The man shook his head. "You two were some of my best students. There is nothing to be disappointed in. How many Outstandings did you make?"

Harry had sent Uncle Remus a full report on his results. He had not mentioned Hermione. Harry wasn't sure why he hadn't mentioned her. Maybe Mrs. Baker was right at the time. He had liked Hermione for a long time and didn't want to really say anything to mess this up.

"Nine, and the one EE in DADA," she said sounding proud of herself.

Dora whistled. "I thought Harry was the biggest bookworm around. No wonder she always beats you."

"Hermione is extremely bright and earned it," he defended her.

Dora laughed. "I assume because you are snogging him now, that is why he is so defensive? He wasn't that way before."

Hermione blushed. "What Harry and I do is between us," she told Dora.

The woman wagged her eyebrows. "I bet. Now, what's the wager today?"

"Five galleons on Jones making more than a hundred points, and another five Turner will get the snitch when they are more than seventy up," Harry told her. This was a time-honored tradition between them since he could remember. Though, it had just been sweets when they were younger.

"I'll take that they will be down more than fifty when the snitch is caught," Dora told him.

Uncle Remus held up his hand. "I've yet to win against Harry. I'm out of this today," he said.

"What about you, Hermione?" Dora put to her.

She looked at him. "I say five on Jones getting more than a hundred-twenty points."

He smiled at her. Jones was usually good for a hundred in games over three hours, rarely getting over one-thirty, and most games were under four hours. "Sure," he said.

"We are stopping by Diagon Alley after this?" Uncle Remus asked.

He shook his head. "Not today," Harry told him.

The man looked confused. "I thought you finally had enough to get that Firebolt you wanted?"

Harry shrugged. "In another week or two."

Hermione scrunched her brow. "Harry, last weekend you said you were only six galleons away," she pointed out.

He shrugged again. "Something came up. I'll get the money," he told her.

After a moment, she moved in and pecked him. She smiled.

"What was that for?" he asked.

"Just because," she stated.

Dora laughed at them. "I remember being that cute and innocent," she told them.

Harry, his face feeling warm, turned to his cousin. "You were never innocent," he remarked.

She shrugged. "Maybe not."

Soon after, the match started and it was getting close to nightfall when the Harpies finally won. Jones had scored almost three-hundred points in the seven-hour long game. The final score was seven-hundred and ten to Five-hundred and thirty.

"I think you owe me five galleons," Hermione said with a smirk.

He handed over the coins. "Fine," he said.

She kissed him, making him feel better.

"It's not all bad," his Uncle said. He took an envelope out of a pocket. "Happy birthday again. This is for you."

Harry took it. "Should I open it here or later?" he enquired as they walked back to the pub. It was going to be a floo ride back to the Leaky Cauldron, and then another back home.

"Up to you. Dora went in on it too," he said.

Harry opened the envelope, and his eyes went wide. "These are tickets to the English match in Sweden," he said.

"Belvina mentioned how much you wanted to go. Dora and I will take you, but I'm afraid it's at the same time as your Portree tickets," he said. "You are invited too, Hermione."

"I don't care about Portree. I want to see England crush Sweden," he said with a broad smile.

Hermione shook her head. "Is he always like this?" she asked.

"Welcome to the family, Hermione. Like I said, his two favorite points of conversation are you and quidditch. You should see when my dad and him get together, Dad and him don't always see eye-to-eye. Harry is a Harpies and Portree fan. My dad isn't."

"It's not my fault he thinks the Tornadoes are so good. Barmy, if you ask me," he commented.

"I'm telling him that," Dora said in a tone she meant to get him into trouble.

"Good. I'll tell Uncle Ted myself," he told her with a smirk. "Uncle Ted and I actually get along well."

"Are you going right home when we get back?" Hermione asked him.

"I thought you asked for a birthday dinner with me," he said.

"I was still hoping," she told him.

They walked into the pub. "Happy Birthday," Uncle Remus said one last time and took him into another one arm hug as they grasped each other's forearms.

"Thanks."

Dora gave him a hug. "Treat her well. I like her," she whispered into his ear before letting him go. "Tell Aunt Bel I said hi."

He smirked. "Sure," he promised.

His cousin eyed him. "You better not say anything bad," she warned him, eyeing him warily.

"Would I ever do that? I'm sure she will be interested to know who you are dating," he countered.

Dora shrugged. "I've never been shy about showing off who I'm shagging with."

His eyes went wide.

Hermione chuckled to see his face. "Come on. That match went longer than I thought it would," Hermione said to him.

"Yes, dear," he said jokingly, which made her flush and Dora and Uncle Remus to laugh.

"Go have fun," his Uncle Remus told them.

When they came back through, Mr. Guille and a few guests were in the pub at the La Nuit Etuille. "Nice to see you back. Did the match go late or where you just out?" Mr. Baker asked.

"Match went over seven hours," Harry said, still enthused over the match.

"Are you two hungry? I still have one table left," he said indicating the corner.

Hermione looked at him. "You want to eat here?"

"I'm hungry."

They sat and Mr. Baker brought them a plate of beef, potatoes and some locally grown greens. "Did you enjoy your birthday?" she wondered.

He smiled. "I had you and Uncle Remus. It was really good."

"What about Dora? I liked her," she commented.

He chuckled. "Oh, yeah, and her." He hadn't forgotten Dora.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "She didn't tease you that bad," she said.

"She was tame today. I don't think she wants to scare you away. I don't either," he said a little low at the end.

She took her hand across the table. "Do you really see me as your girlfriend?"

He smiled. Today was the first time he had used the word when he was with her. "Yeah."

She returned his smile. "Good. I haven't given you your present yet." She took up her handbag and took out a card and a small present.

It was placed on the table before him and he took it. "You didn't' have to do this," he told her.

"If you're my boyfriend, I rather think I should."

He opened the card and smiled at it before opening the box. Inside was four coins. Each one was a five-galleon piece. He looked at them and she put two more on the pile. "I think that is what you needed," she said with a smirk.

He looked up. "Hermione, this is too much," he told her. He was looking at three to five days' worth of work.

"I get paid just like you to help my cousin. I don't have much else to spend it on right now and I figure we will be getting our letters soon, so you can get your Firebolt when we go to Diagon Alley."

A smile came across his face and he reached across the table and kissed her. "You didn't have to do this."

"Yes, I did," she said and kissed him this time.

"You want to go to the Vineyards tomorrow?" he asked, putting the lid back on the box.

"Don't we have to work tomorrow?"

"You are usually off by noon, and I don't need to be back to the stables until about five," he told her.

"I was actually wondering if you would take me back to St. Peter Port? I would like to go back to the bookstore and see the gardens again," she told him.

"The bookstore is only open until six on weekdays," he told her.

"I would like to see the gardens in the light too," she added. "We can always find a place to snog later."

He smiled at her. Dating Hermione Granger was going to be great.