Harry Potter belongs to J. K. Rowling, I am just playing in her world

A little 'S' and 'M' and creature comforts

Previously

Dan Granger relaxed from the explanation that thankfully didn't have his daughter married to his, well other daughter.

"So we have a plan of protecting Heather until she doesn't have to be a partial kneazle with diminished legal power. Including today, your dad and I have only four days before needing to return to work for a week. Then your grandparents will be here. So in those four days, that include this weekend, we have to worry about how we are handling my parents' visit, Luna's letter, Heather's wardrobe, our protections, concerns we need to be aware of in regards the ministry and the war. Is there anything else we need to know or do?" their mum asked.

"I need to visit Flourish and Blotts. Heather has a task Dumbledore gave to her that is critical to the war. Ron and I are going to help her. We need information before we can work out what we need." Hermione added, before looking at Heather. "Anything you want to add, sister?"

Heather was still stuck on the worry of the resurrected wardrobe problem, just shook her head unable to think of anything.

"I have nothing currently to add too." Mr. Granger added. "With Heather's task and information gathering both subtasks of the war topic, that adds the topics, Ron and magical supplies. That means first topic Luna. Princess, what is your take on her letter?"

"Well to start with the problems with the request. Grandma and Grandpa are coming. So it will be awkward enough without a second friend being here during the visit. Also she still has the trace on her so it could bring the ministry. If she travels with her father she isn't in as much danger from the war as if she was with us. I know it will hurt but I think she is better off and safer even if initially she will have emotional pain of thinking friends' let her down. We can make it up to her later but it makes this more dangerous for us and significantly harder. Having said that my emotional response is to beg you to let her stay with us and find ways to overcome the hardships it causes us. I have several vials of polyjuice potion and I know Luna would not be hung up with using the potion where Ron is more stubborn. We have Crookshanks. No we would need a female half kneazle…

"I think I have to abstain from a vote on this as I am too emotionally caught up to make a rational choice." Hermione summarized her take on the issue.

"Noted, Heather do you have anything to add on Luna?" her dad queried putting Heather into turmoil.

Heather replayed everything Hermione had said along with recalling the contents of Luna's letter she had read last night. Two phrases that kept repeating from the letter jarred against Hermione's comment of making it up to her later. Which didn't make sense to her? Why would they nag her attention to see a connection between them? Luna's first comment about how during the year before last was wonderful for she felt like she almost had friends. Of course both of them were feeling guilty in how little they had interacted with Luna this last year. The guilt though huge, was hiding the niggling more dangerous worry. That was linked to her other comment in the letter and Hermione's comment on making it up to her later.

"Heather…

"I am thinking. Give me a moment there is something." Heather cut her dad off.

She had to corral her thoughts again. The second comment of Luna's was discussing the train trip home for this summer. "She didn't mention or reference it like we were almost like friends?"

"I am guilty too for how little time I spent with Luna…

"No, Hermione that is a red herring. The issue is the train trip we took home this summer. On that the way she talks is as we are her friends, she doesn't reference it, especially in the negative. Prior to that she thought of us as 'this must be like having friends', but she actually risked everything in thinking we now are friends. It's not explicitly stated but it is implied in her word choice. I am not explaining this really well." Heather frustratingly forced out.

"My worry is we won't have the chance to make it up to her later, if we fail Luna. I know I am already a burden, and apparently only have access to the few hundred galleons in my trunk so shouldn't ask for anything, but we need to find another solution at least. I think the Luna prior to our Express travel could have handled with the mask she had worn.

"On the train ride she abandoned her mask. She opened up to us and became a whole person. She kissed both of us in front of the whole Weasley family, one of us right after the other. She even told us she was welcome to a relationship with either of us. However, having opened the shell, she is now far more vulnerable and based on the emotion of the letter most likely would refuse to hide behind a mask once more if she thought there was no future worth hiding in the present for. She now hates her mask Hermione, but unless we do something then it being her only defense...

Heather found word's failing her so just looked at the Grangers and drew several deep breaths. "I had a bad childhood. My relatives were bad. They could have been worse, and I dread to think how I would have handled surviving in that household as a girl. In the storm where I jumped from facing one dangerous problem to the next I never…

"I never lived, and then, I know I have to learn to cope with being a girl now, but this is the best. I willingly accept being a girl if it is the price for this. It isn't a steep price and I am alive and know that prior to this I was not. If I suddenly then lost you. Was back in my old hell…

"If Luna has her hope in us shattered, she might decide life isn't worth it. Even though I am so emotionally compromised on this issue I knowingly vote with no rational thought. I vote we let Luna stay with us.

Hermione pulled Heather into one of her wonderful hugs and then Mr. and Mrs. Granger were holding her too. And multiple comments were said repeated and agreed by all of her new family; comments expressing that she was not a burden, had every right to make requests for anything, was a Granger, and was their daughter / sister. That the overly emotional filled vote was completely rational; that when emotions welled up so strongly they must be voted on.

"I change my vote. Luna stays with us!" Hermione had yelled at one point and there was a 'unanimous' called at some other moment later by someone, after mum and dad also voted to have Luna visit.

"Let's take a break. I am going to make some tea and I need to eat something." Dad said.

"I can cook breakfast." Heather chimed in.

"No you are not doing any chores today Heather." Mum informed her.

"I actually enjoy cooking. It calms me." Heather stated.

"We normally eat a light breakfast of cereals, fruits or toast. If you want to cook for yourself we have eggs in the fridge, but I don't think we have any other cooked breakfast foods." Mum answered.

"I actually wanted to cook for you all." Heather mumbled.

"I won't say no, to letting you cook lunch or dinner for us on another day, but I am not interested in a cooked breakfast, and we will be eating out today both meals due to lots of shopping." Mum added. Dad and Hermione indicated they didn't want a cooked breakfast too.

"I actually only feel like some fruit," Heather added realizing there were no takers for a cooked breakfast.

"So what fruit are you this morning, baby?" Dad jokingly queried.

It was nearly an hour later but surprisingly not even nine am when they were ready to resume the family pow-wow.

"So next topic is Ron, Heather why don't you start with this one?" Her dad asked.

"What do you mean the topic is Ron? What about him, he is my best mate."

"You are starting just fine. Carry on explaining his strengths and weaknesses. Whether he should be here, at chateaux Granger? What you need or expect from him this summer, for the war, etcetera." Mum clarified.

"Unlike Luna that I could easily see taking polyjuice, I don't think Ron will. So for summer there would be the trace issue. He also would rather be with his family. It is more a case of him wanting us with him at the burrow. Though now I am Heather he might not want me there. He wants Harry and doesn't really know how to handle me. It's awkward. Ron is a package deal with his family and before because I wanted family so badly I was willing to accept it on any terms, on their terms. Please don't take this wrong, the Weasleys are awesome, but well I think they need the pow-wow. When I think of the Weasleys method and handling of confrontation and arguments, I think, loud. It seems that the loudest, Mrs. Weasley, can drown out others if she wants to. Smother their voice. Whereas here with your 'pow-wow', even though earlier I felt ganged up on, I have a voice here…

"I think I am lost on this. I have no clue where to go next."

"No, baby you summarized my main concerns and the good points of the Weasleys adequately. We will let everyone else say their thoughts on the package deal of Ron and the Weasleys, and then put it to the vote. So darling you are up," Dad kindly told Heather while giving her arm a squeeze and then looking toward his wife.

"Heather can I say a few words and after I finish you tell me yes or no if it describes Ron?" her mum asked. After receiving a confused nod she continued, "Thoughtful, dependable, loyal, dedicated, lenient, helpful…

"Mum that's not Ron." Heather interjected at the stream of words.

"So which words would you use to describe your 'best mate'?"

"Ron," Heather sighed in exasperation. "Well he is fun to goof off with. He is bit hot headed, but in a good way. Childish, but he can be better. He wants to help most of the time. He is easily jealous, but that is due to feeling insecure with having five older brothers. Also I said the Weasleys are a package deal with Ron, and though the family is loud and stubborn. They are a good family, strong, happy, vibrant, and loving."

Let's analyze what's been said, mum suggested, "Ron is quickly associated into the Weasley package. Would it be safe to say that Ron's primary loyalty and dedication is to his family?"

"I am still trying to wrap my head around a sentence with Ron, loyalty and dedication in it. Having said that, then yes, except for his conflicting jealousy, that is his biggest detraction, Ron would put his family first."

"Describe Hermione for us Heather."

"Scary smart, a little too dependent on book knowledge, caring eyes, warm hugs, helpful, trustworthy, dependable, strong, a good listener, fun when pushed, but wickedly painful if ticked off, someone I can count on and who at the same time will point out if I am making an error, a good sounding board, so she is not just a blind follower or sycophant, useful…

"Describe Luna, now."

"Whimsical, unique, strong but also really fragile, helpless, fun, comedic, sweet, blunt, priceless, exasperating, tiring, can be annoying, stunning, kind, nice, confusing."

"Thanks Heather, now Hermione, do you agree with Heather's choices of words? If not why not, and what am I wanting you to look at and think through?" her mum interrupted her and Heather noted how silent and poised Hermione looked. Her sister was neither quite angry nor upset but she wasn't happy. Had she been rude in describing her sister, had she said something wrong? What had she said? She had blurted out words without filter had she messed up. Would the Grangers' want her to leave?

"No I can't disagree with Heather's words. Wish I like you had broken up with my Weasley during Dumbledore's funeral. As I think we both were in relationships for the wrong reason. Heather, you like me before Hogwarts, you didn't have a friend did you?" Hermione waited for Heather to acquiesce before continuing. "Our relationships with the Weasley youngest two were based on the need to be accepted into the Weasley package because we were jealous of that package. We weren't born into it, but with a relationship we could get assimilated into the Weasley family that was fun and filled with life. Further, by being included in a large family we would never feel alone again.

"Your words for your best mate Ron…

"Well the words and body language that you used to describe me are more suitable for a best mate. Don't feel bad though, my words for Ron are completely inadequate for a boyfriend so I was worse than you. Then look at how you describe Luna. How you lit up describing her, how you blushed. I internally described her with similar if not exactly the same words. We both want to protect her. She can send both of us through a wide range of emotions.

Hermione looked to her parents "You've opened Pandora's box."

"No, princess, your mum used Heather to lead you to Pandora's Box, you chose to open it."

"I think I am missing something here guys." Heather interjected.

"You might be best missing it Heather." Hermione replied.

"No, it is always best to know the monster, than to get hurt from being blindsided later." mum disagreed. "But just because you know, it also doesn't mean we endorse you to do anything about it now. It does mean that Luna will have the study on the main floor changed into her bedroom. Night time the first floor belongs to Luna in the study and us in the master bedroom. When your grandparents arrive they and you two will be on the second floor. If either of you are in the study or Luna is in either of your rooms during the day the door will be open.

Mum carried on after a moment looking at her daughters' faces, a contrast in conflicting emotions. One disappointed and one horrified. "Come on Hermione there is everything still in the air. There is the war. Madam Pomfrey might find a way for Heather to be Harry. Heather might anyway chose to remain Heather. One or all of you could find someone else. The human race would have become extinct if there was only one person that was right. You are running late and fail to miss that one and only acceptable person, because of it. Yeah, there is a species with built in extinction criterion. Your sixteen and seventeen, things change, people change. We are not saying get started on competing against your sister. We are saying be honest with your feelings."

Heather just stared at the Grangers getting paler by the second. She wanted to disagree but didn't know where to start. "Does the tea have a mood altering hallucinogen in it? I would never feel this way and if I did I would know, before you would. You've never even met Luna. Hermione, Ron is your boyfriend; I plan to get back with Ginny…

"Will Ginny accept a relationship with Heather? Tell you what sis, I know Ron would, and you could leave me Luna. Hey you could have your best mate be your true mate."

"Hermione Jean Granger! People are not things to shove off like belongings. Like… like some kind of game of matching pairs. We have got off of the topic which was a vote on should Ron be here and in the war effort with the task Dumbledore gave to Heather. I think he is a danger to us and should be excluded," mum stated, "and we will discuss how to address your uncalled for comments later Hermione."

"I also think Ron brings more problems than solutions and help. I vote against too." Dad quietly told them.

"No Ron," Hermione stated and Heather wandered if she meant that in ways more than the current vote.

They were looking at her again. The old Harry would have bunkered down defended his best mate stubbornly. "Look before we took off on flights of fancy and delusions of dementia I had already said that the cons outweighed the pros. So ignoring the last several minutes I will just say no, and that it was unanimous and what is the next topic?" She felt like such a heel, for not having her best mate's back. She also couldn't forget the image of Luna twirling toward her and kissing her in front of the whole Weasley family.

"Our protections, are they adequate princess?" dad asked Hermione.

"I need more information, part of the gathering topic."

"Baby, are we safe?" dad asked her. She hadn't noticed but dad had used that before, she liked having a nick name. Offering a megawatt smile to her dad, she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "Baby, not that I am complaining but what is this for?" dad queried.

"For being dad, I hadn't realized. With everything that is going on and all. I guess how you completely accepted me. I hadn't really registered it.

"I don't know anything on wards. I didn't take runes or arithmancy, so nothing to add." Heather wrapped up that she had nothing to add and wrapped up her dad in her arms. She couldn't work out why she felt a need for closeness for security. She never had before.

"Knowing nothing on the wards means we can't trust them and likely even if we do find enough to know we could. We would still need a back-up if they fail." Mum said.

"Grimmauld Place?" Hermione asked looking at Heather who was sitting in dad's lap clinging to his neck like a life-line. This had to be the first time she had ever seen a hug that wasn't initiated by the other person. She should be happy for the emotional growth. She also knew she had jealousy from what Luna saw in Heather spilling over into now worry of losing her dad to her too.

She had wanted a sister, well sibling all her life. She had been so happy to get one right up until a few minutes ago. Now she was worried that she would lose everything she wanted, just moments after realizing what she wanted. She looked down to see her mum was squeezing her hand. The look she gave her told her to not worry, to give Heather what she needed. Biting back tears she hoped her mum was right. "Heather, try to call Kreacher to you."

Heather looked toward her sister. She was positive now she had done something to upset her. She couldn't for the life of her figure what. Hermione had said she agreed with her word choices. "Kreacher!" she forcefully yelled.

"Mudblood, not-mudblood, no there is mudblood, you're not only witch but you call me with the power ungrateful-son's-godson's-halfblood-wizard has, but you're not wizard at all, but you can call Kreacher and you're ungrateful-son's-goddaughter, but he never had a goddaughter. Your magic is all twisted, but I must answer to you as mistress.

"No! Mistress is in painting, can't have two mistresses. I can't lose Mistress, but magic forces me. You are mistress. But, Mistress in painting would never let not-mudblood-halfblood-bloodtraitor-not-wizard-now- witch-creature be mistress, but magic demands.

A strange light seemed to pass across, Kreacher's eyes then the stooped aged elf seemed to become stronger and healthier. Kreacher stood straight and looked at Heather. "Mistress Black, Grimmauld Place is under lockdown because magic thought you were threatened. Only you and who you want can get in. You must let me take you home. I will keep you safe Mistress. No one will ever hurt you again. Please, Mistress, only Grimmauld Place and I can protect you.

"You must punish me for all the times I listened to not-mistress-in-painting and did bad things. Mistress Black, please will you let me take you to Grimmauld Place and then punish me for the bad things, so I can keep Mistress safe?"