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. Changes to the Belvina/Harry talk about the broom. Deleted the changes to the broom stats. 29 May 22
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Chapter 8
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August 3, 1996
London, England
They had received their letters yesterday and met Hermione's parents today. Aunt Bel had taken two satchel bags for them and given another to Hermione. Harry would get his supplies. Aunt Bel needed to deliver some items and restock their potions supplies. Diagon Alley had two apothecaries with very hard to find ingredients.
"You have your list?" she asked him.
"Yes, Aunt Bel. Not my first time," he told her.
She shook her head. "Don't get snarky with me."
"I'm a perfect Angel," he replied with a winning smile.
Hermione laughed. "No, you aren't," she told him.
He smirked. "Fine, I'll let you be the angel, and I'll be the troublemaker. You would look cute with wings."
Her mother laughed. "That sounds more reasonable," she said as Hermione blushed.
"You sure you don't want to go with us, Belvina?" Dan asked.
"I'll meet you for lunch. Harry and I usually do this."
"I'm stopping by Quality Quidditch to put in the order," he told her.
"Wait until after lunch," she countered.
"Sure."
"What's on your list this year?" her mother asked.
"A dozen books. I need to restock my potion kit and pick up some other ingredients. The usual quills, inks, maybe a few nice hard or leather-bound books," Hermione answered.
"Neville suggested to get new gloves and a few tools," Harry reminded her.
"Did you also want to go to Ollivander's? You said Remus suggested a second wand, especially for DADA this year," Hermione added.
"Yeah. I wish I knew why. It's not on the list," he told her. "Aunt Bel, we will have to stop by the Ministry if I find a second wand."
"We can do that tomorrow. You have five days to get the permit for two wands, as long as you have the slip from Ollivander," his aunt commented.
"Maybe I should get one too," Hermione said thoughtfully. "I need to get some treats for Crookshanks also."
Dan shook his head. "Should we just let you two go off?" he asked.
"No," Hermione said, taking his hand. "I was looking forward to spending a day with you and mum."
Harry convinced her to go to Flourish and Blotts last, knowing if they went there, he wouldn't drag her out before lunch. She didn't look as pleased but gave in easier than he thought.
As they approached Gringotts, so Hermione and her parents could exchange pounds for galleons, his eyes went wide to see the gaudiest store front he ever had. He stopped, a smile growing on his face as Hermione and her parents kept walking. When his arm pulled tight, he turned to see Hermione looking at the store. After a moment, she shook her head. "I thought it was bad all the Zonko's and their test products I had to confiscate last year."
Harry laughed. "I know. I busted them a few times, but you have to admit those canary creams were brilliant at dinner April Fools," he said. He had grown up much more than his friends, but maybe not totally.
Her father looked stern while her mother just laughed. "You need to have fun sometimes, princess. Harry, why don't you go in and we'll join you in a few."
The giant sign for Weasley Wizard Wheezes beckoned to him. "I promise I won't get anything that will get me into trouble."
She smiled at him. "You better not. I don't like my hair purple."
He gave her a wincing smile. "I apologized. Would you like blue instead?" He couldn't help himself and she just gave him a look that said he would be in the doghouse if he did.
"Apologized for what?" her father asked.
"I don't think we need to know everything about our daughter's life," Jane commented when it looked like neither Harry or her daughter wanted to expand on what happened.
"Do you mind?" he asked her. He wouldn't jeopardize his Prefect badge, or the new Captains badge he had received yesterday.
"Go," she said, and he kissed her hand before he left her to go into the store.
When he walked in, he looked around with a huge smile. "Harry!" George exclaimed.
"George. Where's your better half?" he asked.
George chuckled. "You always were my favorite friend of Ron's. Fred's in the back-stock room, if you want. We're still trying to restock from yesterday. I think more than half the school was in Diagon Alley. It was nuts, but very profitable. Hoping today is half as busy."
"Glad to see you doing so well. Anything you recommend that won't make me have to turn my prefect badge in," he asked.
George laughed even harder. "I could recommend you walking out the door."
Harry laughed this time. "Fine, I'll take my galleons elsewhere," he said, turning.
"Oi, I didn't mean it that way," George said and Harry turned. "Make a little joke and the smarmy git thinks he's funny."
Harry chuckled. "There are reasons why I have avoided most of your pranks."
"I just thought that was because you threw Ron in the way," George commented.
"There is that too," he said and they both chuckled. "Speaking of which, do you know when Ron is back," he asked.
George looked at him, a smile still on his face. "Still trying to throw him before us?"
He shrugged. "When he comes back," Harry said.
George scrunched his brow. "Ron and everyone came back last week. He didn't tell you?"
"No. I'll have to send him an owl," he said, unsure why Ron hadn't said anything. Last he knew they were gone for the summer, and, so far, he only got a postcard from his 'best mate' two weeks ago. Usually by now he had been asked to stay a week or two a half-dozen times.
George shrugged. "He'll be here in an hour. He's working for us the rest of the summer. Now..." he started and the bell on the door rang.
Harry turned to see another familiar redhead with her aunt.
"Hello, Susan," he said with a smile. He may not like Susan in the way most thought him too, but Harry still liked her. She was nice, worked hard to be fifth in class and always good for a conversation on quidditch. She also had a wicked humor when you got to know her and had been an accomplice a few times for his pranks. "Madam Bones."
A brilliant smile spread across Susan's face when she saw him. "Harry!" she said excited and rushed to him, giving him a hug. They were good enough friends that it wasn't anything he thought twice about.
Her aunt came up to him when Susan let him go, holding out a hand. "Mr. Potter. Always a pleasure to see you."
"Thank you, ma'am."
"How is your summer?" Susan was just about bouncing.
His smile didn't leave his face. "Brilliant, actually."
"Mine too. Auntie and I are going to France next week and we are going to see France play Austria in two weeks," she told him.
"I just saw the Harpies beat the Tornadoes last week on my birthday and I'm going to see England vs. Sweden in two weeks," Harry replied.
"I want to see Bulgaria again. Krum is just about as good as you," she told him.
He chuckled. "I'm not even in the same league as him."
George 'tsked'. "You really don't know how good you are, Harry, do you?"
"That was just a fluke I beat Krum fourth year," Harry said. The Triwizard Cup had been held for the first time in a hundred years their fourth year and the Houses had organized a pickup league. He had gone against Krum three times and won the second match against him. The third match was a dead heat until Harry took a bludger to his hand and broke a few bones.
"Susan told me about those games. It sounds like you held your own," Madame Bones said.
Harry shook his head. "I just got lucky. I couldn't keep pace with his Firebolt."
"I still say you would have won the other two if you had a Firebolt. You nearly got the last game," she told him.
"Maybe," he said.
She was looking at him as though expecting him to say something else. Harry wasn't sure what. "So, you see anyone else from Hogwarts?" he asked.
"A few. We should be meeting Hanna later today, and Michael Corner has asked us to go with him and a few others this weekend to his lake house," she said. "He asked us to invite anyone we want."
"That sounds brilliant. I hope you have fun. I'm sure Dean or Seamus might like to go. Their last letters sounded like they were bored but didn't want to come out to Sark," he told her.
George shook his head, and he gave the boy a questioning look. Madam Bones didn't look as pleased with him either. He really didn't get it.
"I was kind of hoping you might be available," she put to him with a hopeful tone. Harry didn't miss how she looked at him. It was like how Hermione looked at him since they had started to date.
He shook his head. "Not this weekend. I already have plans," he said. "Maybe next time I can join you all."
"Mr. Potter, what other plans do you have?" Madam Bones enquired.
He smiled when he saw Hermione come up to the door. "Saturday I am going into Cherbourg and Sunday the ruins on Guernsey and Alderney."
Susan blinked. "Cherbourg? What is in France?" she asked.
"The old Norman Library and a nice restaurant," he said reaching his hand towards Hermione as she came in. He pulled her in and pecked her cheek. He didn't notice Susan's eyes widen before narrowing. He thought Hermione's flush and odd expression was because he kissed her before all these people. He wouldn't be embarrassed to call her his girlfriend. "Got what you need from Gringotts?"
"Yes. So, that is what you were keeping from me about Saturday?" she asked.
He winced. "That was supposed to be a surprise."
"How long?" Susan asked Hermione in a tone that sounded angry.
"Long enough. Good day, Susan," Hermione answered.
"Susan, who is this?" Madam Bones asked.
"Hermione Granger. Misses?" Hermione held her hand out to the woman.
"Madame Amelia Bones. No relation to the Dagwood-Grangers or the Grangers from Pontypool?" the woman asked.
"My father's parents are from Brentwood, Madam Bones," she said.
"This is the head of our year, auntie. I usually study with her and Neville for Herbology and Potions."
Madam Bones eyes lit up. "Ah, the Muggleborn you are always telling me about. I hear you are very bright, Ms. Granger. As is Mr. Potter. Are you out and about today?" the woman asked looking at their hands.
Harry didn't like the tone of her voice. "What does it matter if she is a Muggleborn? Isn't it enough that Hermione is just brilliant?"
They all looked at him. Hermione's hand tightened in his.
"I meant no offense, Mr. Potter. I was just saying, it's remarkable what she has accomplished," Madam Bones said in a tone that said she didn't understand Harry's outburst.
"Why is it remarkable? She's not the first Muggleborn to do so well. And what of my mother? She was a Muggleborn, and Hermione is matching or beating her record," Harry said. "I think only Dumbledore achieved better grades when he went to Hogwarts, and only by a hair."
"Harry, auntie isn't trying to say anything bad," Susan said giving her rather austere aunt a hard look before looking at Harry and then Hermione. He thought he saw a sadness in her features. "Hermione, you are brilliant and as far as I am concerned deserve the grades you have gotten. Without you and Neville I would never have achieved Outstandings in Potions and Herbology. You deserve what you have earned. Congratulations," she said.
Hermione took a moment to respond, putting a hand on his arm to keep him from responding. "Thank you, Susan. I am glad I could help you. I wasn't trying to lead you astray in other matters."
Harry felt confused, not understanding the exchange.
After a moment, Susan's eyes looked a little wet. "I wish you the best." She paused before continuing. "Are you still doing Herbology and Potions? I could still use a study partner."
"I would love too. Harry is not taking them, so it will be us and Neville again."
Susan nodded. "Auntie, can we go to the apothecary now?" Susan said turning.
Her aunt gave him a hard look for a moment before nodding. "Mr. Potter, I will be owling your Guardian about some matters with your House. You turn seventeen next year?"
"Yes, ma'am. I will let my Aunt Bel know," he said.
She frowned and they left.
George whistled. "I don't think I could convince you to return all the stuff you nicked last year?" he put to Hermione.
"I handed it all into Professor McGonagall. What did Susan want?" she asked.
"Susan just wanted to see how my summer was going and we talked a little Quidditch. Where are your parents?" he returned.
"They're waiting outside. My father didn't want to come in," she told him. "What did Susan want?"
"Oh, Harry just turned Susan down," George said with a disappointed look. "Not sure I would have said no to Susan Bones, if I were you, but it looks like you already have a witch picked out."
He looked confused at George. "What do you mean 'turning' Susan down?
She didn't look quite as pleased as earlier and George looked like he didn't want to say with the glare from his girlfriend. George gave a nervous chuckle. "I swear Harry was thinking of you the whole time."
It suddenly dawned on him. "You mean going to the lake house?"
George gave a more mirthful chuckle this time. "Here I thought you smart."
"What lake house?" she coolly asked.
"Corner has a lake house out in the West Country. I went there two years ago when Dean and Seamus were invited. Merlin, I have a girlfriend!" he said. "Are you sure she was asking me out?"
Hermione pinched her nose. "He really is clueless, isn't he?"
George laughed this time. "About as bright as a troll."
Hermione laughed. He looked at them confused. "Hermione, I said I was busy and plan to be."
She put her hand down and smiled at him. "I know, Harry. I think we need to have a talk later. Let's go meet my parents and then your aunt."
"I really didn't try to go on a date with her," he told her. Hermione was his first girlfriend, and he didn't want to chase her away.
"I believe you, Harry. George, have a good day," she said.
George scoffed. "I get people, and no one buys anything."
Harry reached in his pocket and put two Galleons and a few sickles on the bench. "I did use a few things I confiscated last year. Hope that covers it."
George laughed as Hermione hit his arm. "Harry Potter! You're a Prefect!"
"I reported myself. McGonagall gave me a detention. It was worth it though."
"What did you do?"
"You remember when Crabbe and Goyle suddenly had their tongues grow," he asked her. "It was like big snakes coming out their mouth."
She closed her eyes. "You mean after that day they put Dennis Creevey into the lake in the middle of January?"
"Yeah, that would be why."
"Harry, I think you're my new hero. Bill was cool, but he didn't cause trouble as a Prefect," George said. He pushed the money back towards Harry.
"I owe you that," he said.
George shook his head. "They were used for a good cause. It also allowed us to finally figure out the antidote when McGonagall found us to help heal them. I should pay you."
"Please don't encourage him," Hermione chastised.
"I promise I will be good," Harry told her. "Mostly."
She took the coins and pulled him. "Come on, before you have to turn in your badge before we even get to school."
Harry gave George a cheeky grin as the young man held up two thumbs.
They joined her parents and finished all their stops by noon. It was a nice lunch with her parents and his aunt. After lunch, they finally made it to Quality Quidditch. He had avoided this place, not even looking in the window earlier, knowing he would not be able to stop himself from going in if he had looked.
In the window was a Firebolt. It was sandwiched between the new Cleansweep 12 and a new broom he hadn't seen before. He stopped and they all stopped with him.
"What is that?" he asked sounding like he had just found something new to love. He eyes took in the sleek appearance of a new broom. It was just as elegant as a Firebolt, but a half foot longer, like a Nimbus, with white twigs and a polish that looked like it was made of a light-coloured wood he didn't recognize. The foot holds were silver, not the normal brass or gold he was used too. His mouth watered to see it. There was something about it that just oozed speed and maneuverability.
"I want one," he said.
"I think it just came out two days ago," his aunt said. "Want to go check it out?"
His face turned into a smile of wonder. "What is it? Tell me it is not as much as the Firebolt?"
"I think it's a little more," she said.
He felt the pit form in his stomach. "You knew about this! How much better is it?"
"I think it's rated at ten more miles per hour than the Firebolt. It also has a maneuverability rating of 7.8," she said.
He groaned. The Firebolt was rated to reach a hundred-fifty mile per hour in a straight line. This one could go a hundred-sixty and had a whole point on maneuverability. They mad his Nimbus look like a Sunday stroller at a hundred miles per hour.
"How much more," he asked.
"Belvina, how fast does that go?" Jane asked.
"Let's go ask," his aunt said to him before turning to Jane. "Fast enough to cause serious damage. It's a good thing that the International Quidditch League now allows cushioning and momentum arresting charms in case they collide with another player or the ground. He could still break an arm or something though."
Jane looked uncertain and Hermione clutched his arm. "Harry is a phenomenal flyer, aren't you?" she said fiercely.
"Can I just touch it?" he asked in an envious tone, not really paying attention to them.
His Aunt laughed. "Come on," she said moving to the door and opening it.
"Can I convince you to go flying?" he asked Hermione, not really taking his eyes off the broom.
"Maybe if you fly with me," she told him.
He liked the thought of her being that close.
By now, Diagon Alley was busy and a crowd of kids, and even adults, were around the display in the window. His Aunt took them to the busy counter. Harry was trying to look over the people at the new broom. "Can I go up to it?" he asked. He sounded like a little kid that just caught sight of the newest toy everyone wanted.
"Stay here for a moment," she said. "Afternoon, Eric."
"Belvina!" a man about the age of his aunt said. "Gary, get out here!"
A young man, probably a few years out of Hogwarts came out of the back room. "What's ups, boss?"
"Help Meghan. I have a special customer," he said.
"Thank you, Eric, but I don't think we will be long," she said.
"Are you kidding, I want to see this," he replied.
Hermione pulled his hand. "What?" he asked.
"Your Aunt wants us to go in the back," she told him.
He turned, finally realizing he was still with his girlfriend and others. Harry blushed. Hermione was worth so much more than a broom. She seemed to get his embarrassment and reached up and kissed him on the cheek. "I get it. I get the same way with a good book."
He smiled. "Why didn't I sit with you first year?"
"You were as much a coward as I was," she told him.
He chuckled. "And they call us Gryffindors."
She giggled. "You finally got the courage."
"Glad I did," he said as they walked into the storage area.
There were a few benches with brooms, obviously in states of repair or building, and one bench with two brooms in paper wrapping. He looked at them. His Aunt had told him to not order one. He thought he was only putting the order in today.
"Harry, is it?" the man asked. He was leaning against the workbench with the two wrapped brooms.
"Yes, sir," he said.
The man motioned for him to come over. Hermione pushed him when he hesitated. He looked at his aunt and she just motioned for him to move forward. "Is that what I think it is?"
"Depends. Your Belvina says you've been saving for a Firebolt for three years. I did some asking around and heard you're a Seeker. Did you really beat Victor Krum on a Nimbus 2001?"
Harry felt nervous. "Yes, sir. I got lucky to see it first."
The man chuckled. "Lucky, he says. Rolanda and I are good friends. From what I heard, you won that fair and square, and then almost beat him again?"
"Harry is very skilled. Most say he is the best Seeker in the last century," Hermione said.
He let out a nervous chuckle. "I'm not that good."
"I agree with your girlfriend. You are good," his aunt said.
"So, how much you save up?" the man asked.
"Sixteen hundred and forty-eight," he said. He had recounted the other night and realized he had enough over a week ago.
The man nodded. "I have a new Firebolt that someone just canceled the order on. I also have a new Thunderwave. The American Broom Company sent me two. You want to see it?"
"Is that what that new broom is?" he asked. Quidditch Monthly didn't tend to report on the American Leagues. That would explain why he hadn't seen anything on it.
"Yep. I had to try it out and it feels more like a Cleansweep Nine with the speed of a Firebolt," the man said.
Harry looked at the man. The Nine's were an excellent broom, with smooth handling and no vibrations at speed. The only issue was that they could only go about 85 miles per hour. The Nimbus 2001 was just shy of a hundred, with a nice feel to its handling. He licked his lips.
The man chuckled. "I see you understand what I am saying."
"How much?" he asked.
"That depends," the man said.
"On what," he asked.
"You going to play like you did in your last match?" the man asked seriously.
Harry met the man's eyes. He could tell he knew what Harry had done. "Summerly deserved that catch. He sat on the bench for four years waiting for Diggory to graduate. He also helped to tutor me for three years in Defense Against the Dark Arts."
The man chuckled. "That's the way a quidditch player should play. You still want that trade, Belvina?"
His aunt nodded and took a book out of her satchel. "As we agreed. One copy. Nothing was left out."
The man nodded and Harry looked at his aunt. "What is this?"
"My grandfather left me a vault. My great-grandfather, your great-great-grandfather was a broom maker. These secrets are probably a hundred years out of date, but this book is very valuable to those in the trade," she told him.
He looked at her. "You never told me you had some of those materials."
"I know. I was waiting until you were seventeen. I know you, Harry. You would try casting anything you could. I also don't want to horde our knowledge. I figure Eric would get more out of this than us. Unless you plan to make brooms?"
He looked at her for a few. "I don't plan to make brooms."
She nodded and handed the book to him. The man looked just as reverently at the book as Harry had the broom in the window. Harry knew this was the right thing to do. "Take your choice, kid," the man said, opening the book.
His eyes went wide. "What?"
"This book is almost priceless, even if it is a copy. Take them both. Part of the deal is lifetime repairs on any broom you bring in. Edward Potter made racing brooms that are still sold privately and recently won the Sweden Long Run just two years ago. If I could make a racing broom from this, then those brooms will be pennies compared to what the racing brooms will cost," Eric told them.
He stood there dumbfounded. "What? There are still Potter brooms out there?"
"I still have two brooms made by him, but I never thought you into racing," his aunt said.
Harry wasn't, but this was a big secret his aunt had kept from him.
"Eric?" Harry asked. He wanted to talk more with his aunt, but this was not the place.
"What, kid?" the man returned, flipping a page and sitting on a stool.
"You really don't want any payment?" Harry had to make sure.
"Merlin, Belvina. I've only seen some of these spell chains in recent years," the man said.
"Eric, is our deal good?" Aunt Bel enquired.
"Yeah, yeah. Take them both," Eric said distractedly.
His Aunt walked over to the table and took both packages. "Here," she said to him.
Harry took the longer package. He looked at his aunt. "You are really good with this?"
"I have always told you I don't like to keep our magic secret we either don't need or is not dangerous. There is nothing bad in that book. If you want, I still have the original at home," she told him.
"Is it really worth two top notch quidditch brooms," he asked.
"If Eric can figure that out, he can make and sell racing brooms for two or three thousand galleons a piece. I'm sure he will be able to improve them too. If he can figure out how our ancestor did it and improve them, they will be worth three or four times that amount to made with Potter broom techniques. Eric, I will want the five percent royalty and acknowledgment."
"Yeah. I'll give you ten if this works out," Eric said absently.
Dan whistled. "That is a lot of money."
"It is, but the International Long Distance Broom racing is big business and very popular on the continent and in most of Asia. Thank you, Eric," his aunt said.
Hermione took his hand and they left the store. Harry felt like he stole the brooms, even if he knew how valuable that book could be.
"Belvina, how old is your magic," Jane asked as they made it into the alley.
"The Flint line or the Potter line?"
"Either," Jane said.
She looked at him. "The Potters are about eight hundred years old, but our ancestors trace back about twelve hundred years. The two oldest lines I know of trace through the Peverell's and Gryffindor's," she said.
Hermione squeezed his hand. "What do you mean through?"
"Well, the Gryffindors were only around for about two hundred years. Godric Gryffindor was only the third Gryffindor. Our family tree goes a few generations before that. And the Peverell's go about as far back, though that name lived for almost four hundred years, dying out when Iolanthe married a Potter in the late 1200's. I have made sure Harry knows his lineage," Aunt Bel said.
"God, I only know my great-grandparents," Dan responded.
"To Wizards, there is an importance to your family line and magic. Even those of first-generation magic can have talents and special magic that can be passed to their offspring. Knowing where that blood is and came from can be important."
"And do you see Hermione with special talents?" her mother asked.
"She is exceptional. Very few Muggleborn take to magic as quickly as Hermione. Her OWLs show a natural talent that spreads across multiple fields. She may not figure out what her highest power is until after graduation, when she really gets to focus on a single field, or two," his aunt said. "Hogwarts encourages everyone to be good in many things."
"Do you understand all this?" Hermione asked him.
He was still in a bit of shock. After three years, he finally had enough to buy the top broom on the market. The money was still in the satchel. Then suddenly, after three years, his aunt springs this on him. He was now holding a broom rated even better than the Firebolt, and she was holding a Firebolt.
He shook his head. "I'm sorry, what?"
She tightened her grip on his hand. "You want to get back and fly that broom?" she asked.
"Yes and no," he told her.
"No?" She asked surprised.
"Three years. I spent three years to get a Firebolt, and now I have one. I also have this one. I feel like I cheated."
They stopped at the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron. Hermione kissed his cheek. "I'll be back in a few hours. I'm going home with my parents for dinner and to pack my school trunk," she told him.
"Do you want me to go with you," he asked her.
"I think I have it. You told me how to get the Knight bus. Can I come by when I get back?"
"Sure," he said.
After saying goodbye, he went through the fireplace and walked out before his aunt came through. As he processed what just happened, he felt upset and disappointed. He wasn't sure why.
Walking into their house, he put the still wrapped broom on the table and took his satchel into his room. He took his school trunk and started to pack everything except the books.
"Harry?" his aunt called out.
He didn't say a word.
She came to the door as he put his new robes and uniforms away, one set into his bag for the train, the others into his trunk. It was still a few weeks away before he needed to pack anything else.
"Harry, you going to talk to me?" she asked.
"I'm really upset," he told her.
"Yeah, I kind of caught that. Why?" Aunt Bel queried.
He turned to look up at her. "Three years, Aunt Bel. I spent three years begging, pleading and doing everything I could to get that broom, then you suddenly pull this? Why make me go through that? Why didn't you ever tell me!"
"I thought you knew. You read the family history on it," she said.
"I'm not really upset about the book," he told her.
"Then what are you upset about?" she pressed
"Three years, Aunt Bel! On my thirteenth birthday you said I had to save up for a Firebolt if I wanted one. You told me there was no way I could get one otherwise. Yes, I'm upset! You always taught me to work for my goals. That things were never given out. That you didn't want me to become a spoiled prat by using my inheritance. Then you do this? I am not trying to sound ungrateful, but I don't really want those brooms," he told her.
She pinched her nose. "You really feel this way?"
"Yes. Did you know Hermione gave me twenty-two galleons on my birthday so I could get it?"
She chuckled. "I like that girl. I guess I did a good job of raising you."
"Aunt Bel, you have always taught me I should earn what I have. Why is it different now? I feel like we are some of those prats you always complain about. How did I earn those two brooms?" Harry questioned.
Aunt Bel sighed. "I was trying to do a good thing for you, Harry. You're older. I know how much you work to earn everything, and I am proud of you getting that Captains badge and how you did on your OWLs. Eric had been bugging me for years to get his hands on any journal by Edward Potter and offered a broom. I thought this would be a good treat. You have earned it."
He sat on the floor. "Then why didn't you tell me that? I have done everything I can for three years to get a Firebolt."
She sighed. "I never meant to belittle your accomplishment. I really thought I was giving you a treat. Understand, Harry, I grew up having everything handed to me. I will admit I was a pampered, spoiled brat until I met Camden. He changed my world and my family tossed me out for it. I was just barely surviving until the Wizarding Child Services found me. I took the money your parents left for me to raise you and the funds in my vault left from my grandfather Potter to build this farm. I made copies of many of the books I needed out of my parent's library when I was in Hogwarts, loving the family magics and runes. Once we moved out here, I focused on the Flint family magics most have forgotten. I learned all I could about runes and how to do all this to support you. Since then, I have paid for both of us and invested the money I get from your parents' will so you would have what you needed."
"As I learned to support myself and got to know Millie, I thought it best to teach you how to do things for yourself and be proud in your accomplishments. I may be your cousin, but I love you like a son, Harry. If I had a son, you would be what I would picture him to be."
Harry let out a breath. "Aunt Bel, why didn't you marry Camden? You almost never talk about him."
She looked at him for a long moment. "Camden and I were engaged. We were supposed to get married in the summer of eighty, that was until he was killed by Bellatrix Lestrange. He was working as a Trainee in Magical Reversal. He was a Gryffindor, and he was a Muggleborn. He was also very stubborn and proud. Camden didn't want to go into hiding. That was why he didn't quite when You-Know-Who threatened to get rid of all the 'mudbloods'. Lestrange and a few others laid a trap. His entire squad was killed. That was about six months before you were born. James and Lily helped me find a safe house. The least I could do was raise their son with what they did for me."
He looked at her. "Why didn't you ever tell me?"
"I thought you too young and I wasn't ready to talk about it. I just want to give you a good childhood, teach you what I wasn't and see you grow up. The last thing I wanted was to spoil you and have you act like we did. It really is the least I can do for my cousin and your parents," she told him.
He looked at her before taking the satchel. "Sixteen-hundred and forty-eight galleons, twelve sickles and eight knuts."
"I am not taking that Harry. You earned every knut," she told him.
"What am I going to do with this then?"
"Anything you want. You have a girlfriend who may be feeling a little left out the way you left her. Margaret usually works tomorrow night," Aunt Bel suggested.
Harry looked at the satchel. "I can't spend that much in one night," he commented.
She chuckled. "I didn't mean to do that. If you want, that would be enough to setup your own workshop," she told him. "There is a back room, and some upstairs, we don't use. You could buy the tools you need for this year if you are serious about the research grants you applied for. Get started early. We could request a lean from the Council to let you use magic for the rest of the summer. I could sponsor Hermione as well."
Harry blinked at her. "That would be wicked. Do you think Hermione would take some of it to set up her own lab?"
She shrugged. "One way to find out. You can offer her a room, if you want. You can leave them setup when you go to Hogwarts."
"I'm sorry for being a prat," he told her.
"I should be the one apologizing. You reacted just the way I should have known you would. I did raise you," she said. "I think you need to apologize to your girlfriend, though. I am growing rather fond of her and don't want you to scare her away."
Harry gave a small smile. "I'll send an owl to Margaret for tomorrow night."
His Aunt chuckled. "You know they always keep a table for us?"
"Someone taught me to be polite," he told her. "I'm going to have to give Hermione the run of the bookstore."
She smiled at him. "Just don't stay out too late. The store on Guernsey closes at six. Love you, kid. Don't change."
He shrugged. After a moment, he asked, "So, do I really own the two best brooms out there now?"
"Possibly. I haven't opened the wrappings."
Harry let out a breath. "I'll get dinner going and then can I take one of the brooms out?"
"I'll have Prim do dinner tonight. She'll be happy about that. Take out the new Thunderwave. You have your special gear and maybe you can get Hermione to go with you," she said.
He shook his head. "I doubt it, but I will try."
A while later, he was flying over their fields. His Aunt had made him some gloves and a scarf with some of their family magic. It would keep any muggle from seeing him. He stayed close enough to the house to see the curly hair of the girl he really liked as the sun got low in the sky. He flew down, turning upside down and dropped his head next to hers. "Hey," he said.
She screamed, turned and her fist connected with his face.
"Aawwwwomph," he said as pain laced through his face and his grip lessoned.
"Harry," she yelled out as he fell off, dropped five feet onto his back and the broom clattered next to him. "Oh, Harry. I'm sorry. I didn't mean that."
He chuckled, holding his nose and sitting up. His back was already hurting. "I deserved that," he told her.
She was at his side. "You didn't deserve me punching you. Let me look at it," she said taking his hand away. He tasted the blood and saw it on his hands.
"Remind me not to really upset you," he said jokingly.
"You prat," she said backhanding his arm with no strength behind it. "Let's get you in. I think it's just a bloody nose."
"You have a good hook," he praised. "Maybe you should learn some Muggle fighting."
She shook her head. "I used to do KenpÅ. Dad wanted to make sure I could defend myself."
He got up, pinching his nose before picking up the broom. The Thunderwave didn't look damaged, but he was more concerned by the look on his girlfriend's face. "I was going to ask you if you wanted to go for a fly. I'm sorry for ignoring you earlier."
"I get it, you saw a new shiny toy. You also looked upset," she said opening the door to his house.
Harry tried to grin, but his hand on his nose, and the blood on his face, ruined it. "My Aunt and I talked. I'll tell you later."
His Aunt was at the table partitioning ingredients for potions. She was probably going to pack them away, since she liked making kits to make it easier. Harry recognized the ingredients as those used to treat the raw wool.
When Sunt Bel looked up, she rolled her eyes. "You haven't even been flying that for an hour and you already hurt yourself."
"That was me, Ms. Flint," Hermione said.
His aunt rose her eyebrow and moved to him as he sat. Her wand was out. "A bit of a lovers' quarrel?" she asked with a laugh on her voice.
"I may have snuck up on her," he said.
His aunt looked at Hermione. "You want me to heal his eye or leave the shiner?"
"I didn't mean to hurt him. He snuck up on me," Hermione said defensively.
His Aunt laughed and Harry felt the pain in his face fade after a few wand movements. "All better?" she asked.
"Think so."
Hermione moved in and hugged him from behind. "Don't sneak up on me like that again."
"Sure, beauty," he said, moving to peck her cheek.
"If you two are going to snog, either go to your room or somewhere else," Aunt Bel told them.
His face felt a little warm. Hermione looked a little flush too. "Your room?"
"Unless you want to go for a fly," he suggested.
"Your room," she said resolutely.
"My only rule is keep your clothes on," his aunt said. "Oh, and I reserve the right to just walk in, knock or not."