Looking up Hermione could see for the first time in her life, the rather shaken form of Harry Potter.
"DADDY!" Mina shouted as she ran from Hermione side into her father's waiting arms.
Harry scooped his daughter up and held her tightly, "Mina, oh thank Merlin you're safe, I was so worried."
Aurors Thompson and Davis approached the father and daughter and Davis coughed softly, causing Harry to look up at him. Harry's face cracked into a grin, "Thanks for finding her you guys."
Auror Thompson smiled, "Don't thank us Harry, Ms. Granger here is the one who found her."
Thompson nodded in Hermione's direction. Harry's gaze shifted to her and his smile vanished. Hermione took that moment to examine Harry Potter's appearance. He was a few inches taller than her, probably a little under six feet. His messy hair was black like Mina's; in fact, the two of them looked a lot alike right down to the bright green eyes. His clothes were disheveled and he had bags under his eyes. He probably hadn't been sleeping much lately. Harry examined her for a minute as if trying to decide whether or not she was trustworthy. Suddenly, the small child in his arms spoke up.
"Hermione is nice Daddy, she made the bad men go away and she my friend."
Harry looked at the grinning child and then back at Hermione. The brunette smiled nervously and tried to keep herself from averting her eyes from his. Then slowly, Harry raised a hand to her.
"Ms. Granger isn't it?" He said more to himself than to her, "Thank you for saving my daughters life."
Hermione stared at his hand and hoped to god she wasn't blushing from embarrassment. She realized that she couldn't keep him waiting forever and took his hand in hers. After a rather awkward moment they let go.
"It was nothing Mr. Potter," Hermione ansered, "I was more than happy to help."
He smiled at her and then turned back to the Aurors.
"I've got it from here guys, thanks again for everything."
"You sure you don't need us to stay?" Asked Thompson.
"No I'm fine now." Harry answered.
For the first time, Davis smiled, "Alright Harry, we'll see you later."
With two cracks, the Aurors vanished leaving Hermione alone with the two Potters. Mina by now was getting restless so Harry put her down.
"Ms. Granger," He addressed her again, "I don't know how I could ever repay you for this. If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask."
Hermione opened and closed her mouth trying to think of a decent response.
"Well Mr. Potter, you could call me Hermione." She suggested simply, unable to think of anything else to say.
Harry chuckled, "Alright, then you have to stop this 'Mr. Potter' stuff and just call me Harry."
Hermione grinned almost stupidly but caught herself, "Alright then."
Mina had long ago lost interest in the adults conversation and was now attempting to turn on Hermione's television set. When Harry noticed her he called out to her.
"Mina, be careful with that."
"It alright Harry," Hermione told him, the name felt native to her tongue but she was surprised how comfortable it felt to say it.
She turned away from him, turned the set on, and turned it to a channel playing an American cartoon called 'Spongebob Squarepants' which Mina seemed to enjoy.
While she watched her show Hermione decided it was only right to offer Harry something to drink. Several minutes later they found themselves sitting at the kitchen table drinking tea. This would have been a good time to start a conversation, however neither party could think of a single thing to say.
Hermione glanced up at his face for perhaps the fifth time before Harry cleared his throat, almost making her jump.
"So," He started and stopped as if he was unsure of where he was taking this, "'Hermione', that's a Shakespearean name isn't it?"
Hermione's eyes locked onto his face and she smiled, "Yes it is, how did you know that? Most people don't."
"Well my brother-in-law acts in a theater troupe that mainly does Shakespeare's plays." Harry explained.
"Really?" Hermione asked genuinely interested.
"Yeah, my wife used to make me go with her to see them every time they preformed nearby," He told her, "I remember the first time we went they were performing Hamlet and Elliot, that's his name by the way, he was playing Laertes and during the sword fighting scene in the end he actually fell off the stage."
Hermione brought a hand to her mouth to stifle her laughter, "Was he alright?"
"Oh yeah he was fine," Harry told her waving a hand in dismissal, "all he had was a twisted ankle and a bruised pride."
Hermione giggled again and Harry laughed with her. They talked a little more until Harry casually glanced at the clock and saw that it what almost two.
"I'm sorry Hermione," He said getting up, "I have some friend's who've been really worried about Mina, so I want them to see that she's alright."
Hermione felt a small feeling of disappointment that they were leaving but stood with him and put their cups in the sink while Harry went to get Mina. Hermione walked into the living room once she was done to see them off.
"Mind if we borrow some floo powder?" Harry asked motioning towards the small flower pot on her mantel.
Hermione nodded wordlessly and Harry grabbed up the container. Mina took that moment to rush up to Hermione and hug her around the knees.
"Daddy says we leaving now." she said sounding very sad.
Hermione smiled at the girl, "Yes, I know."
"I gonna miss you Hermione, you're nice." Mina told her looking up at her with tear filled eyes.
Hermione crouched down to her level and wiped the tears from her eyes, "Don't be sad Mina, I'm sure we'll see each other again real soon."
Mina brightened up at this, "You mean it?"
"Yes I do." Hermione answered with a big smile.
Without warning, Mina threw her arms around Hermione's neck, "Okay, Hermione, you're my best friend."
Hermione grinned and hugged the girl back, she was just so sweet. Harry watched the whole exchange with a peculiar look on his face. Once Mina let go she ran back to her father and he picked her up and held her close.
"It's been very nice meeting you Hermione, thank you again for everything." Harry said.
"No problem, and it's been nice meeting you both too." Hermione answered.
Harry then turned his attention to his daughter, "Say goodbye now Mina."
"Bye bye Hermione," Mina said happily waving her little hand.
Hermione smiled at the girl and turned away once Harry called out their destination and threw the powder into the fire, disappearing with Mina. It was only after they left that Hermione realized how tired she now was and decided to take a quick nap before dinner. One hour later she got back up and read a bit. Then she went into the kitchen, had dinner and opted to turn in early.
Her mind would often wander back to the Potters.
Hermione tiredly entered the kitchen the next morning to make her daily cup of coffee and found not only her mail on the kitchen table but also a snowy white owl perched on the window sill waiting for her.
"Hey girl," Hermione said petting the owl, "Where did you come from?"
The owl hooted and motioned toward the mail. Hermione figured it must be a post owl, although she had no idea what it was sticking around for if it's job was done.
She sat down with her mug and began rifling through the envelopes. It was mainly work-related stuff but in between were two handwritten letters that she decided to open first thing. Picking up the first one she ripped open the envelope as neatly as possible and pulled out a decently length bit of parchment. She brought it into better view and began to read:
Dear Hermione,
I'm sorry I didn't write you back sooner, classes have been rather difficult this year. My transfiguration grade has improved though thanks to you, really I don't know where I'd be without all you help.
Guess what? You remember Marc right? That boy I told you about? Well anyway he asked me yesterday if I wanted to go for a walk with him and of course I said yes. And while we were out, he kissed me! I can't believe it, he really likes me Hermione! My friends all say I'm too old to act this way about a mere kiss, but this is different; I think I'm in love.
You'll probably see him next month at the graduation ceremony, you are still coming right? Silly question of course, I know you'd never miss that. Well I should go now, I'm meeting Marc in a few minutes. We're going to be 'studying' together if you know what I mean. Mother, father and Fleur all send their love.
Sincerely, Gabrielle.
Hermione smiled and rolled her eyes. She made a mental note to respond later and congratulate her old friend on finding love. Part of her wondered if it was for real though. Hermione knew of the veela genes in the Delacour family and hoped that that wasn't the reason this was happening. If it was, poor Gabrielle would be heartbroken.
Hermione and her parents had first met the Delacour family after Hermione got her letter from Beauxbatons on her eleventh birthday saying that she was really a witch and had been accepted into their school. They thought it was a joke at first until a wizard representative from the French Ministry of Magic arrived at the Granger home later that day. Once he convinced them that he was really a wizard (and turned their living room couch into a zebra and back to further prove his point), he explained everything to the stunned parents and a very excited Hermione.
Pending his instructions, the small family left their home two days later and found their way into the Wizard part of Paris. Once there they entered the bank and after getting over the initial shock at the appearance of the tellers (Hermione only later found out they were Goblins), they managed to get their muggle money exchanged for wizard money. They'd been a bit unsure of what to do next until a regal looking gentlemen approached them.
He looked snobbish in his expensive looking robes but turned out to be very nice, he introduced himself as Girard Delacour and then took them to meet his family consisting of his wife Apolline, a very beautiful blonde haired woman and his two also blonde daughters Fleur and Gabrielle. The French family assisted the Grangers in purchasing Hermione's school things, while the bushy haired girl spent the time asking Fleur a million questions about the school and what it was like. Thinking back Hermione had probably annoyed Fleur greatly by being so talkative but if she had, the quarter-veela hid it well.
The friendship between the two families continued from there and once Gabrielle entered Beauxbatons and began doing poorly in transfiguration, Monsieur Delacour asked Hermione to tutor the young girl even offering to pay her. Hermione did it for free though and in that time grew very close to the young girl. She and Fleur also managed to form a friendship even though Hermione found her to be rather vain; somehow she knew that deep down Fleur was a good person.
Putting Gabrielle's letter aside, Hermione opened the other one and the owl hooted again, making Hermione think that this must be the one it delivered. She read the letter carefully and when she finished, was rather surprised and nervous.
The letter read:
Dear Hermione,
I hope you don't mind me writing to you, I didn't think it would be very polite to just apparate in and I don't know your phone number.
Anyway I suppose you're wondering why I'm writing you in the first place, well you see Mina hasn't stopped talking about you since I brought her home last night. Now she's insisting that I have you over for dinner as soon as possible. So, I'd like to formally invite you to our house tomorrow night for dinner at around 7 pm. My owl should have waited for you, so you could send your response quickly (her name's Hedwig by the way). Don't feel obligated to say yes though, we understand if you can't.
Signed, Harry.
Hermione lowered the letter and turned her attention back to the owl.
"Hedwig is it?" She asked her and received another hoot in response.
Thinking for a moment, Hermione realized that Harry and Mina had been on her mind all day and if she refused their invitation, not only would little Mina be disappointed, Hermione wouldn't be too happy either.
She got up to retrieve an envelope and some parchment to write on and upon finding it, went back to her desk. In very neat handwriting she wrote:
Dear Harry,
I would be honored to join you and Mina for dinner tomorrow night. I can be there by 6:30. See you then.
Love from Hermione.
Deciding that was good enough even though it was somewhat short, Hermione folded the parchment and sealed it in an envelope. Right on cue, Hedwig jumped off her spot on the window and held out her leg for the letter. Hermione tied it on and the owl quickly flew back out the window. Hermione watched it fly away and casually thought forward to tomorrow.
A/N: I know this chapter isn't as interesting as the last one but then again it is just a filler. The next chapter will feature Hermione's dinner with the Potters, and we'll find out who Mina's mother was.
One more thing, I'm sure most of you have noticed that Hedwig is alive, and yes that is the original Hedwig in this chapter. Well the thing is I thought JKR was evil for killing Hedwig as well as several other characters, therefore in this story they are alive. Here's a list of some other characters who did not die:
Fred
Remus
Tonks
Dobby
They are all alive here. Other than that the story went pretty much the same only without Hermione and with a few other altercations I've made which will be revealed throughout the story. Anyway, don't forget to leave some feedback on your way out! See ya.