-1Disclaimer - don't own Harry Potter please don't sue!
Previously in chapter ten
"Alright boys to Hermione next?"Ceidhli asked with a smile
"To get her for shopping?" Harry asked fearfully.
Ceidhli rolled her eyes. "No, we will wait a day or two and then we all will go shopping for the rest of the supplies you babies. But today we can simply hang out for a while. . . Is that cool?"
"YES!!!" Both Ron and Harry yelled inside Ceidhli's mind and Ceidhli simply smirked at them knowing that was going to their answer.
"Alright then hold on to me."Ceidhli said and each boy grabbed a shoulder and Ceidhli quickly popped them away from Diagon Alley.
Chapter eleven Meeting Mrs. Granger
The rush of wind circled Ron and Harry making them close their eyes to Diagon Alley and when they opened them again Diagon Alley was replaced with a view of a large garden with a multitude of flowers that surrounded a picturesque two story Victorian house.
"Whoa, what was that?" Ron asked looking around the neighborhood.
Harry watched Ceidhli smile brightly at the question, "Ceidhli was that apparating?"
Ceidhli made a face at the question, "no I never like apparating, to messy. There is always a chance of being splinched and I know that I don't look very good with multiple body parts missing from my beautiful body so I make a note of never using apparating."
"Well what did you do then? It wasn't that fire thing?" asked Ron confused as to what happened, Harry had earlier explained about the fire teleporting but he knew it wasn't the same thing. He didn't see any flames and Harry said that the flames were always there covering them.
"I teleported like before but instead of using fire I used air . . ."
"Wait a minute Rowena never said . . ."
"Harry, my love. Rowena wasn't alive for over a thousand years to have a chance to study her powers like I did. I know a lot of things she couldn't even imagine. Besides I need different ways to travel by. I mean I love horses and all that but traveling days upon days with them is kind of smelly so I worked on different ways to travel so I wouldn't have to rely on fire." Ceidhli said with a smile, "floo and apparating were out, they really suck, so I needed my own style.
"Oh," Harry thought for a moment, "so will you teach us that?"
"I will try to teach you all but using other elements to travel is much harder to teach control but we will try if you all want to." Ceidhli explained slowly.
"We want." Ron and Harry said quickly and together they both smiled at each other before Ron spoke up while looking around again.
"So where are we?"
"This is Hermione's home, you guys haven't been here yet?"
"No we always went to Ron's house or the Order," Harry said looking around.
"And either my dad or an order member would pick her up." Ron explained looking at the garden, "hey there aren't any gnomes here."
Harry smiled at Ron's observation and asked Ceidhli, "how do you know where she lives?"
"Well when you all became friends and stopped Voldie for the first time, I figured that your families could be targets so I set up security around everyone the best I could without the Guardianship complaining that I overstepped my boundaries."
"Did you do this for me? For us?"
"Yes of course, all my family has some kind of protection, and in your mind family means friends also, so they are under my protection also." Ceidhli stopped and thought for a moment before continuing. "Most of the protection is for my own enemies that wizards never deal with. I kept them up just for my mental state. Most of my enemies aren't stupid enough to go after you all because no one wants to see me piss. I am supposedly very scary."
"So only Death Eaters aren't something we need to worry about?" Ron asked.
"You have to worry about them, I can only do so much when dealing with wizards like I said before, a few groups found you all once in a while. But the protection makes it look like Albus's magic. If they got past the protection then they are dealt with quickly and personally by me." Ceidhli said coldly thinking about those who got past her shields.
It was then that Harry knew his aunt was a dangerous person to have as an enemy and not to piss her off. He watched her shake away the anger that was on her face.
Ron also saw this dangerous person and quickly jumped into the conversation trying to lighten up the mood. "Enough talk lets go see Hermione," and then he grabbed Harry and together they ran towards the front door of Hermione's white door and knocked both waiting impatiently for someone to answer the door. Ron knocked once more louder than before while Harry turned to Ceidhli.
"I think that you should turn into Asia again."
Ceidhli sighed and rolled her eyes, "I knew that you were embarrassed to be seen with me, I just knew it." she said in mocked sadness before shifting into the beautiful white and black husky again.
"You know I think I like her this way." Ron said to Harry, who laughed when Ceidhli's voice filled their heads.
"BITE ME!" then they felt Asia do a kind of doggy smirk in their minds. "Remember darlings I can give you nightmares . . ." she said in a sing song voice and before they could say anything the heard an older woman's voice shout out to them.
"COMING!"
Ann Granger was sitting in her living room with her daughter Hermione. Both reading, she was half way through the new dental medical journal that had been published a few weeks ago. While she was reading the journal Hermione was reading a book on advance charms, something she said was a must have if she was going into the NEWT charm class as if there was any doubt on that. When a knock on the door interrupted the quiet.
"I'll get it." Ann said to Hermione who nodded absent mindedly while continuing to be engrossed in her book. Another knock at the door woke her up from her musing about her daughter, "COMING!" she cried and then she quickly stood up and walked to the front door to see who it was.
Ann swung the door open and came face to face with two teenage boys. Both wearing similar style of clothing- the taller of the two wore a brown leather jacket with baggy black jeans and a dark brown tee-shirt with a skull cap that his most of his red hair, but because it was so long she could see the tips of his hair. The other boy just scream power and danger. Hermione had tried to explain how she felt when she was around her Headmaster and her best friend Harry Potter, but Ann didn't really understand what Hermione meant until no with this teen who was wearing all black making him seem darker than he might have bee.
"Can I help you?" Ann asked calmly, readying herself for anything they threw at her.
"Mrs. Granger?" Ann nodded at to the taller teen who smiled brightly at her, "my name is Ron Weasley and this is Harry Potter. We were wondering if Hermione was home and if she is could we talk to her?"
"Wow I am impress, you can be polite." Harry said smirking at Ron in his mind.
"Yeah well what can I say my mother actually taught me something." Ron said right back at Harry.
Before Ann said anything about Hermione being home, she remembered what her daughter had said if these two ever showed up, or anyone claiming to be them.
"Password?" she asked sternly, she watched 'Harry' laugh gently.
"You are right. We are a paranoid bunch." Harry said to Ron who was also laughing.
"Well it was you idea to begin with." Ron said smirking.
"Yeah well when your teacher used Polyjuice made me change my mind at the idea a person was simply the person he or she said they were. So bite me. So tell me oh great one which one were we suppose to give the Grangers?" Harry asked innocently.
"Oh shit. Think for a second who thought of the password- Hermione. She wanted something that was with knowledge remember."
"Oh yeah alright I remember it. Mrs. Granger ' the possession of knowledge does not kill the sense of wonder and mystery . . . '"
"' There is always more mystery.'" Ron finished with a smile.
Ann also smiled they are very much like what Hermione said they would be like except that Harry seemed less depressed than she expected him to be, which was a good thing in her mind.
"Come one in Hermione is in the living room reading."
"Well there goes the theory of her living like the a wild child during the summer and saving the responsible stuff for school and us." Ron said with affection. Ann looked them over and saw that there was no hostility from either of them like Hermione's old school mates from when she was younger. Both boys had simply smiles of real love and friendship on their faces at the thought of Hermione. They both waited patiently for her to show them to Hermione. Before Ann could let them in though Harry spoke up.
"Do you mind if Asia comes in too?" Harry asked pointing to a beautiful white and black Husky that was sitting behind Harry. "I bought her when I got to the Dursleys to keep me and Hedwig company." Harry explained. " I wanted Hermione to meet her and get her approval."
"That's fine Harry. She can come in if she doesn't mind Crookshanks." Ann said waving them all into the house, both teens nodded their thanks.
As they entered the living room no one said a word as they looked around. An entertainment system was in one corner and the rest of the walls held two paintings and bookcases and shelves that were filled with books.
"Well we now know that her love of reading is genetic." Harry said. " I would be careful how many children you have later, you might be out numbered very quickly."
"I don't think anything would change much. I am already outnumbered with only Hermione." Ron said back to Harry not realizing that he had agreed that one day he was going to have children with Hermione.
"Boy, he is oblivious ain't he?" Ceidhli said to Harry only to have a 'duh' in return. Getting back to what was happening outside their conversation, they realized that Hermione didn't notice that they were here.
"Shall we have some fun, I mean how long before she realizes that we are here?" Ron asked with a smile that would make the twins envious of.
"Sounds fun. But remember she's reading so it might take awhile." Harry said sharing his own mischievous smile with Ron. Ann watched them smiling not knowing why they were smiling like that and she was becoming confused.
"Hey Mione, can I borrow your potion homework to see if I did it right?" Ron asked aloud in a nonchalantly trying to get a rise out of her.
"No Ron that's called cheating, do the work and I may check it after you finished but you are not touching my work." Hermione said automatically while still reading her book.
"That's not fair, I always go for the homework ploy she doesn't even realize she said it." Ron said but still smiled.
"Auto response Ronny Boy." Harry said smirking. "Sorry out of luck. My turn."
"It is kind of fun though."
Harry smiled at Ron, " Hermione I am really sorry that I was such a jackass to you and Ron last year." Harry said sadly Ron whipped his head to look at Harry who really was saying this and meaning it. Ron nodded in understanding- he knew that this apology was for the both of them.
"I promise that I will me a better friend to both you and Ron."
"Harry it is alright. You are allowed to be depressed and stuff. You are already the best friend I can ask for with the exception of Ron . . . Harry?!" Hermione had began a long speech trying to reinsure Harry that everything was alright. When she realized that Harry shouldn't be here with her.
She looked up from her book and saw two teenage boys standing in front of her. The shorter of the two took off his sunglasses and cap like thing and replaced the sunglasses with regular glasses making his green eyes were shinning brightly . His hair was a chaotic mess do to the skull cap and the lightening bold scar on his forehead was showing because of it. All this screamed out to her mind telling her that her best friends were here.
"HARRY!" Hermione screamed and jumped up off her chair and ran to Harry who barely was able to continue to stand up as she jumped from a full run on him to hug him tightly.
"He gets his name yelled out and a hug and all I got was a lecture. Can't you feel the love in the room Mrs. Granger?" Ron said as he held his hand over his heart as if it hurt. Hermione squeezed Harry one last time and then went over to Ron and gave him a hug and a quick peck on the cheek. Ron and Hermione both blushed slightly and moved away from each other quickly. It was only with Asia sitting hard on his foot made Harry keep quiet about the peck on the cheek.
"Don't you dare say anything or I swear as soon as you get a girlfriend I will embarrass you so badly."Ceidhli said in Harry's mind and he had a feeling that she would do that and more if he did anything. Hermione quickly got over her embarrassment and started to talk, well more like scolding the boys.
"Not to be predictable or anything but what are you two doing here?" Hermione asked her hands on her hips waiting for an answer.
"Oh you two are so busted."Ceidhli said in her sing song voice then she finished with an evil cackle.
"Not helping Ceidhli, we can't say anything in front of Mrs. Granger." Ron said snapping at Ceidhli.
"But it was a very good cackle though." Harry said.
"Thank you I have been practicing."
"You two are nuts, you deserve to be related to each other." Ron said rolling his eyes at them.
"Thank you."Both Ceidhli and Harry said smirking at Ron.
"Ron let me handle it. I usually can get her to do more stuff for us than you."
"Yeah that's true and how fair is that!"
"Well you are going to date her soon so get over it, Soon you will be able to distract her with kisses and then we won't need me for convincing." Before Ron could remark on Harry's statement Ceidhli interrupted.
"BOYS! Please people are waiting. People who hold your lives in their hand."Ceidhli said while laying down behind Harry watching the show with interest.
"Right here I go."Harry said to Ron and Ceidhli he took a deep breath and gave a quick shout out to Merlin hoping that this will work.
"Well my dear sweat Hermione. Professor Dumbledore felt sorry for me being stuck inside the Dursleys all summer so he decided to allow me to see my bestest friends for the day." Harry said smiling innocently. He had a look that screamed 'butter wouldn't melt in his mouth.' But Hermione crossed her arms across her check while Mrs. Granger tried to chock back a laughter.
"That was pretty weak Harry darling. Not even your eleven year old selves would have been convinced."Ceidhli said all the while smirking. "And you three were naïve."
"HEY!" Both Harry and Ron cried out in protest, they weren't that naïve when they were younger.
"Strike one, Mr. Potter." Mrs. Granger said through her laughs. Ron and Harry looked at each other in question.
"Uhm?" Harry said, he was confused.
"I wrote to Professor Dumbledore two days ago Harry to ask him if you and Ron could visit me for at least a couple of days. But you see yesterday I got the reply. Would either of you like to take a chance on guessing what he said?" Hermione asked glaring at the now worried looking teens. Ann watched her daughter chewing out two taller boys with a smile on her face. Both Ron and Harry stole glances at Ann and Hermione and then looked at each other.
"Well Hermione is quite scary today." Harry said to Ron. "Did you know she was going to that?"
"NO but she does it every year. But usually everyone comes to mine instead because it is safe." Ron said, looking from Mrs. Granger and Hermione than to Harry. "Well mate what do we tell them."
"We can't lie. Once she is on to us lying we aren't any good. It's like she can smell the lies."
"Which is quite annoying I mean we can lie to everyone else." Ron said frowning a bit. "Not even Snape can catch us if we don't look him in the eye."
"You guys can't lie to me." Ceidhli said happily as she scratched behind her ear.
"That's because you cheat and read everyone's minds."
"Hey no one is perfect. Any way tell her the truth, just tell her that you ran away for the day and kidnapped Ron to go with you. It's the truth without telling her the whole truth."Ceidhli said while rolling her eyes at them both. "Honestly must I hold your hand through everything?"
"You talk Harry mate, she is much more sympathetic to you than me." Ron said ignoring Ceidhli's last comment. Harry nodded and then looked back to Hermione with his big green puppy dog eyes turned on brightly.
"Well you see Mione, I may have run away." Blunt but true, Ron chocked down a nervous laugh when he thought of what Harry really did. Hermione was about to open her mouth to yell but Harry held up a hand to interrupt her so she couldn't say anything.
"Not forever Hermione, I promise it's just for the day. I wanted to get some books to read from Diagon Alley to pass the time during my prison sentence- I mean my summer vacation. Then while I was shopping I saw Ron at Diagon Alley. Did you know he is working with the twins that itself was a shocker. Anyway I thought about it for a second and said to myself what's fun about running away if you can't take your friends with you?" Harry said in a questioning voice, he didn't wait for an answer just continued talking.
"So we hung out for awhile, went to the bookstore and looked at brooms, then took the Knight Bus to come and see you, to see if you wanted to runaway also.
"Hermione I promise I will go back later tonight but I wanted to see you and introduce you to Asia, the dog I got." Harry said finishing up his explanation then pointed to Asia who barked a quick hello while getting up off the floor.
"HARRY JAMES POTTER! I can't believe you ran away. How did you even get past the guards?" Hermione said clenching her teeth so not to yell. Harry and Ron looked at each other, Ron kept his mouth shut. Harry was swinging by himself on this one.
"Sorry mate I will face Death Eaters for you but Hermione is pissed."
"Chicken."
"Damn straight."
"It was actually relatively easy. Which if you think about it, that isn't really comforting when my guards are supposedly going to protect me from Death Eaters and yet they can't stop me from leaving. That really doesn't bode well for my safety." Harry said while pretending to think about his safety all the while smirking innocently at Hermione which was quite a feat it was the Marauder in him coming out. Ron had to pinch himself to keep him from laughing aloud as Hermione took a deep breath and counted to five softly so she wouldn't lose her temper at her so-so brother.
"Don't be mad Hermione, I just wanted some freedom. If only for a day." Harry said sadly, hitting her with his puppy dog eyes and a woes me look that not even Hermione could stay mad at after being hit by it.
"Harry what if you had gotten caught? By Death Eaters or worse the Order?" Hermione asked logically- well Hermione logic. Both Ron and Harry looked at her in amazement.
"Are you saying that Death Eaters come up short while dealing with the Order. So you are saying they are more dangerous for us. Ron next time those pesky Death Eaters come and try to kill me, I am really going to have to tell them that, they are second in rate of who to fear." Harry said looking at Ron, who was looking at Hermione as if she had grown an extra head.
"You know that really sounds a lot like the time we met up with Fluffy, you remember Harry?" Ron said smiling at the memory.
"' I am leaving before you get us all killed or worse Expelled.'" they both said to the exact same time laughing as Hermione' s checks went red as she frowned at them both.
"That's not funny Harry, Ron. I am really concerned, what would you have done if you were caught by Death Eaters."
"I would have dealt with it Hermione. Just like I always do. I want freedom. I won't be Sirius, I won't be lock up for my own good. I will do what ever I have to do to get that freedom. If Death Eaters come I will fight them even with the Ministry out for my blood if they try to expel me I will just deal. That's my new philosophy- deal with it and get over it."
"What about Dumbledore?"
"Dumbledore. Trust me the next time I see Dumbledore he and I are going to have a few words. After you little talk, me running away will be the least of his worries." Harry said as he thought about Dumbledore and McGonagall being family and not telling him. Ron thinking alone the lines nodded in agreement. It wasn't going to pretty when they talked, Harry was not very happy with either of them.
"What stuff are you talking about?" Hermione asked her curiosity getting the better of her, she had forgotten she was suppose to be angry at the boys at the moment.
"Stuff that we really need to talk about in private." Harry said looking towards Mrs. Granger, "no offense Mrs. Granger but I really only want Hermione and Ron knowing right now. No one else, not even the other Weasley are going to know yet."
"None taken Harry." Thanking him silently for telling her it wasn't to do with her not being magical. "Why don't you all go up stairs and talk. When you're all finished I will have some lunch. . . " Both Asia and Ron began squirming in their spots at the word lunch, ready to jump at any food they see.
"Thanks Mum." Hermione said smiling at her mother for being so understanding.
"Thanks Mrs. Granger, but you don't have to go to all that trouble to making our lunch." Harry said he began to scratch behind Asia's ear to keep her from whining loudly in protest of his comment about the food.
"Don't worry about it Harry. And please the both of you call me Ann. Getting you lunch isn't a big deal. Also don't worry I won't even cause a fuss about the whole running away thing." Harry and Ron looked at Hermione's mother in amazed shock, who in turned laughed at their faced. "Well I have a feeling that any lecture I would give you couldn't work as well as the one Hermione will be giving you in a few minutes." Ann said motioning to her daughter who soon got over her curiosity and her anger rose and it was written on her face.
Hermione didn't believe for one second any of Harry's sob story. He may have given her parts of the truth but that story was more fiction than truth. Too many years as part of the Golden Trio made her believe that half truth are better than full lies. Harry and Ron both looked at Hermione with trepidation, her arms crossed and with an expression that would make McGonagall proud. They both sighed knowing that in the next few minutes could be their last healthy ones.
Ron had to speak up, to try and save them at least for awhile, to cool Hermione down some.
"Do you think we could eat before talking?" Harry nodded in agreement, rubbing his stomach but Hermione answered instead of her mother almost growling her answer.
"No," then she pointed to the hallway where the stairs to go upstairs were. Harry and Ron looked at each other sighed again slowly as if walking towards the gallows of their own execution, they creped towards the stairs followed by Asia whose tail hung low.
In Harry and Ron's minds Ceidhli began humming an execution melody.
"NOT FUNNY!" They both yelled at her.
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