Disclaimer. Look for it in the first chapter.
Daily appreciation post to my Higher Power.
Reminder. Without my cheerleaders in reserve, my mom and son no good vibes and no stories.
Acknowledgment to SS and MTU. For they keep up with my writing shenanigans.
Tip of the hat for readers and followers.
Thank you post about keeping the place troll-free.
Enjoy!
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Chapter 20. Tea Party.
Remus Lupin could hardly believe his life was so different from a month ago, lumbering wood in Canada. He had received a glowing letter of recommendation from Gringotts, a new wardrobe, and a wand that fitted his magic so much better. Then he met Lily Evans' most recent reincarnation in the shape of a brown-haired girl who had more magical power in one pinky than an entire prejudiced pure-blood family put together. Not only that, the parents were brilliant, well-educated mundane people, or so it seemed. Jake Hector Dagwoth-Granger was a squib. The parents loved the idea of homeschooling; they got to talk and be involved in the education and advancement of their daughter's magical upbringing. Plus, the parents knew and accepted Remus and his werewolf condition. The Granger family owned a cabin in the woods and Remus was welcome to use the cabin on the nights the moon was at its fullest.
To Andromeda Tonks the proposal of homeschooling a gifted muggleborn called her attention when she noticed the ad on the paper. It was not as if Ted and she needed more money, but this was the first time she read such an ad since before the wizarding war. The thing that made her answer the ad, was the promise of the benefits and vacation time. When she read the amount she was going to get paid, she blinked and asked if the heiress had any special needs or the parents just wanted to go live their lives and leave her behind. Nothing like that, assured the goblin advisor, on the contrary, the parents were very much involved and they were quite interested in potions and etiquette. Andromeda understood she was going to be teaching the entire family, and that's why the pay was so generous. She talked over with Ted and Dora and they all agreed that the change was needed, and welcome.
Miss Matias, was quite shocked at the real social standing behind the Grangers. She knew Hermione's parents had their own dental practice, so they were, all in all, doing well. It was as if Hermione recently came into old money and the first thing the Grangers did was to pull her out of the public school system and decided to go for a more traditional setting, such as tutors. When she took a good look at the contract benefits, responsibilities, premises of study, and vacation time, including boarding and meals, she knew she landed on a bed made of feathers. This was a rare chance and instead of dealing with bureaucrats, angry parents, and little monsters, she was going to teach that very clever Granger girl, well it was really a no-brainer.
This was the first time Sirius had stepped into the Granger home in human form and for once he was quite speechless at all the new and old faces. According to his invitation, this was the party where Hermione Dagworth-Granger was going to introduce herself to other magical children.
Several women gasped as the very composed Sirius greeted Jake Granger, and his lovely wife Charlotte, the couple was surprised to see a very sweet kid with black hair and emerald eyes hold Sirius's hand and take on the room.
Hermione reached out to Sirius and said, "Mr. Black, welcome to our home." She said with a low tone of voice.
"Heiress Dagworth-Granger, thank you for inviting us. I want you to meet my son Harry. Now Harry, please introduce yourself, won't you?" Asked Sirius.
"Hi, Hermione, remember me?" Asked Harry.
"You're hard to forget, but you never said your last name was Black, you said it was Potter?" Asked Hermione.
"It still is Potter, Potter-Black, I got adopted by my godfather, Sirius," Volunteered Harry.
"You know each other?" Asked Jake and Charlotte in stereo.
"Yes dad, we do, from school," said Hermione.
"Well then, go on in, I'm sure you'll fill each other in and get up to speed soon enough." Said Charlotte.
Andromeda Tonks and Remus Lupin closed on Sirius. Andromeda pulled him into a hug, which made Sirius yelp. "Andie, it's so good to see you too,"
"Sirius, I," Remus couldn't articulate since he felt a rock the size of a boulder obstructed his throat. Sirius nodded and said, "We'll have time, it's good to see you too Remus, so where's your kid?"
"I'm a teacher here. You're right, we'll talk later." Remus left as he dabbed his eyes. There were so many things that had taken place in the last five years, they would have to make the time.
Amelia Bones came in next and Miss Matias got a camera. "Oh my goodness, Bridgette Nielsen, would you allow me to take a picture with you?"
Susan, who was next to her auntie was about to correct the muggle woman, when two kids reached out and said, "Hi, welcome to my home, I'm Hermione and this is my good friend Harry,"
Susan blinked and then realized that Harry was in fact, Harry Potter. Susan then nodded and said to Miss Matias, "Ma'am when you are done with your picture, can you lend me your camera so I can take a picture with Harry and Hermione, please?"
Amelia wanted to protest, but, when she noticed Susan getting into the picture thing too, she smiled brightly.
Augusta Longbottom and Neville turned up next, and it was a real pleasure to see parents and children just having a wonderful time, it warmed her heart. "Dear me, are we early?" Asked Augusta. To which, Charlotte and Andromeda, replied, "No, just in time," said Charlotte, and Andromeda added. "Augie, welcome, it's so good to see you in typical dress and not putting away garbage in the office,"
Augusta smiled, and Neville stepped forward with a small potted plant of flowers. "Hi, I thought you might like to have this," said a blushing Neville to Hermione. Hermione in turn, nodded and took the potted flower, and said, "Thank you, that's very thoughtful of you. Hi, my name is Hermione Dagworth-Granger, and this is Susan Bones and my good friend Harry Potter-Black, please come in heir Longbottom,"
The other kids just said, "Hi."
"Goodness, I thought the hippie era was gone," said Miss Matias, while everyone smiled and noticed one more family making an appearance.
"Oh, what lovely ward stones you have on the property, and look Xeno, the old ones resemble children," said a beautiful blonde woman who was gently holding a little girl in her arms. The little girl said, "Mommy, they are kids for the second time, the guardian gave them that gift," added the little four-year-old Luna to the blond beauty.
Xeno just added, "Amazing, a full home devoid of wrackspurts, oh, how rare! Uh, Celeste dear, quick, take a picture with me and Stubby Boardman, before he disappears another six years. Oh, did you know the little boy looks like Harry Potter?"
Harry and Hermione smiled brightly and said to the Lovegoods, "Welcome."
Albus tried locating the Granger home; what no one told him was that the property was hidden from him by Elven wards. Because the time-traveling duo wanted nothing to do with the phony until they were ready to deal with him.
The tea party, without Dumbledore, was a success. Even the mundanes got to enjoy the Lovegoods welcoming the month of May in a very family-oriented workshop and activities that talked about myth and tradition in Britain, going back to ancient times. Magic was mentioned too, but then again, magic is always essential in myth.
Hermione and Harry made a lot of good friends. Hopefully, the friendships would last a lifetime.