Disclaimer: Every character belongs to J. .
"Hermione?" A sweet as sugar British accent rang through the kitchen and to the front door. "Darling, why are you home so late? Your father and I thought your shift ended at six."
Hermione sighed and hung up her coat slowly, kicking off her shoes and placing them upright with their heals against the baseboard. Her mother wouldn't sound so calm in a moment when she saw the gashes across her neck and cheeks.
"Tonight's your favourite, cumberland sausage." Abagail Granger wiped her hands daintily on a home-knit towel while meeting her daughter in the front entrance. Abby's jaw dropped. "Hermione Jean, you tell me what happened and you tell me right now!"
"Mum," shying away from her mother's searching look (and the hands grasping her shoulders so tightly she could feel the bruises already) Hermione looked away. "Cumberland sausage isn't my favourite - its Mary's."
"Pish posh," Abigail tisked, distracted "darling, tell me who did this to you."
"There was a little accident at the diner. A wizard accident." Hermione brushed her hair behind her ear before her mother could for her. "It's alright. The Wizard Police showed and took care of it."
"Abby, is my little Hermit home?" Hermione flushed and tried to hide herself behind her mass of bushy hair as her father sounded down the stairs. "Did you tell her you made Mary's favourite?"
"Your daughter was out fighting wizards, Evan!"
He stopped on the stairs, 'Did you really? Did you win pumpkin? What - it's an honest question, Abby." Hermione watched her mother turn purple, glaring at her father.
"Yes daddy," replied Hermione honesty, "I did pretty well until the Head of Police, Mister Potter, showed up. Mary had left moments before it happened, so she was fine."
Abigail gasped, towel falling to the floor, "Mary was there? She was supposed to be at -" Hermione squinted her eyes, confused. She watched her mother take a deep breath, hold to the bottom of the staircase railing and scream to the second floor. "MARY LOUISE, GET YOUR ARSE DOWN HERE!"
Evan chuckled, finishing his descent from the staircase and wrapping an arm around his eldest daughter's shoulders before leading her toward the kitchen. His wife was spirited, he'd give her that. Her personality of being a die-hard sport lover but also a smashing housewife somehow changed her from the quirky woman he fell in love with, but it was moments like this that he took the time to appreciate. Abigail usually hid herself behind what she thought was a proper image for a respected dentist and housewife, but when their children stood out of line - Evan sniggered, oh was she fun.
As the father of two girls, Evan wasn't stupid. He knew never to take sides and not to favour one over the other, but very secretly, Hermione was his first born. His eldest certainly had a lot going for her, she was brilliant and gave him less heart failure when she didn't stay out past curfew. While Mary got her mother's character, Hermione got her looks and her fierceness. Evan knew he could never choose between the two, but then again Hermione was definitely a 'model child'. Yet, Mary was a girl any father would be proud of, being involved in almost every sport.
Evan came to the conclusion finally that in his current situation, he'd much rather be with his oldest daughter. He knew not to be too worried about his youngest sassing out her mother, she was much too quiet alike himself in confrontations.
"Tell me what happened," Evan reached for a wet towel and after sitting Hermione down he moved to wipe at her face. Hermione shied away again. "Ah, did they put that magic goop on you again?" She nodded, making room for him to sit beside her. "Fascinating. What colour was it this time?"
Hermione shrugged, "The same as always daddy, blue." They were both silent for a moment, staring at their already set dinner.
"Can you tell me what happened?" Evan held up his hands when she shot him a worried look. "I promise not to tell your mother."
Hermione bit her lip, nodding. "You remember when I told you about these dark people I read in one of my books? They're called Death Eaters. Well, most are in the Wizard Prison, Azkaban, but this one woman who came into the shop today was one of them. We, had a scuffle, I guess you could say, and it was really a close call before the Aurrors - sorry, I mean Police, got there."
Evan's eyes turned angry. "What happened to get all the scratches?"
"She exploded a pile of coffee cups." Hermione put her hand, palm up on the table, inviting her dad to twine his hand with hers. "But it's alright, they'll be gone by tonight."
"I'm not to sure if I like what this world has done for you," Evan said watching his eldest closely. He saw her begin to object. "No, listen, if I had any sense of good parenting I would have yanked you out after a Troll attack in your first year at Hogwarts, but I didn't. I also know that I don't stand a chance against your logic, although mine comes pretty close. But I do know, that if you had left this life, moments like today could still happen, only you'd be less prepared."
Hermione smiled softly, watching him do the same. "Thanks."
"All in a days work," Evan sighed. "The only thing I don't mind about you being a witch is this Quidditch game, which I'm very disappointed that you don't play."
Hermione frowned, "You know exactly why I don't play."
Evan snorted. "Hermione, you and I both know, there can't be people as evil as these Eaters of Death, without a proper leader. What happened to theirs?" He asked after a moment, and watched her brow furrow.
"Well that's difficult to explain," she looked at the tablecloth, as if deciphering it. "Obviously there was a leader, 'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named' or some other rubbish, but how he disappeared is a mystery. The most I've read was that the Aurror who came today, James Potter, was part of the group that lead to his 'defeat', but besides that there isn't much on him. Anything else they tell in books are the mass murders."
"Well, that makes me feel loads better. Do these murders have anything to do with muggleborns like yourself?" Hermione sighed heavily and Evan took that as a yes. He cursed under his breath. "I'll never know why I let you go back there every year. Where's your owl? I need to talk to that Headmaster."
"You're awfully chipper this morning."
Harry flinched, slipping on the nonadhesive shower floor. "Don't you knock!"
Sirius ignored his godson, grabbing his toothbrush off the counter to begin brushing. "We're all family here."
A sopping Harry glared at his godfather, his head appearing from around the shower curtain to yank a towel from the hanger. Quickly he retreated. "Maybe not really, but I've seen you at all ages, pup."
Harry wrapped the towel around his waist, stumbling from behind the tub. He scrubbed at his hair with his bare hand, "You don't need to go around professing it to the world."
"Afraid your girlfriend's going to get jealous?" Harry slipped, flailing his arms. He glared.
"What did you say?"
"You can't honestly expect me to not know about your new bird," Sirius snorted, foam bubbling further from his mouth. "You're as subtle as a Filbuster's Firework. I knew when it started three months ago." Harry ducked his head, but not before sending his godfather another annoyed look, and headed toward the open door and down the hallway to his room.
Sirius spat in the sink, hollering as his godson left, "Just remember those special spells Harry-kins, we don't want any more sprongs around this place! One was enough!"
"SHUT UP PADFOOT!" Sirius sniggered before continuing to brush his teeth. Harry was far too easy to rile up, especially if it was about his private life. Not once did Sirius, Moony or James meet any of Harry's numerous girlfriends which made it all the more fun to bug him about them.
Remus knocked on the frame of the open bathroom door, "Did I hear something about sprongs? Why do we need more sprongs? Harry's more than enough trouble -"
"Harry's got a new bird." Sirius watched his old schoolmate raise his eyebrows before heading off toward Harry's bedroom. Sirius grinned and followed, clapping his hands with glee. Remus knocked, pushing Sirius back when he made to barge in.
"Hey, Junior, why did I need to learn from Padfoot that you're dating again! She's from the Ministry, I gather? It's not like I have much to go off of here -" Remus chuckled with Sirius, "I thought I was the one you trusted."
Harry's door swung open, nearly knocking back two of his three guardians. "It's none of your business." The door slammed shut. Remus shared a Marauder smirk with one of his best friends before knocking again.
"Sure it's our business, we need to warn her about you."
"Like hell you will." Harry's voice was muffled by the door. Sirius sniggered.
"Is she a a red head?" Remus questioned, "Or maybe she hated your guts? Potter's seem to like a challenge..."
"She's not a challenge."
Sirius rolled his eyes, "That's what your father said at one time too. Is she a brunette? I bet she is -" Padfoot knocked Remus' shoulder enthusiastically, "Which reminds me, when were you going to tell us about your party in a muggle cafe? I hear a bird there put you in your place. I'd give my wand arm just to see that..."
Harry's bedroom door was flung open again. Remus staggered back, Sirius ramming into him, from Harry's quick advance. "She's a daft, munter who wouldn't be able to find a brush if it smacked her on the arse!"
Sirius frowned, face falling, "Hey mate, that's not very -" Remus held up a hand.
"Harry, I'll have you know I was at the Ministry when she came in. She was rather helpful and she's nothing of the ugly sort." Remus' brow furrowed seeing Harry seethe, his face turning redder.
"Well you obviously didn't stay long enough around that nutter!" The green eyed wizard made to slam his door again. "She had the gall to tell me I can't do my job right when she's the nasty little blighter who lost LeStrange! A Muggleborn too no doubt, why is it always the unprepared ones who fight the battles?"
"Watch it Harry," Remus' voice darkened, "your mother was a Muggleborn and a great witch."
Harry softened sheepishly before glowering, "All I'm saying is that she lost LeStrange and it's because she wasn't prepared. Bollocks, she didn't even know who she was up against!"
"Can you really blame the bird for losing her?" Sirius threw up his hands, sticking his foot in the door before it shut. "She hasn't had any training and is damn lucky to be alive when up against Bella. Bugger Harry, you've been in her position before as the one who's let LeStrange fall through your fingers - why are you being such a prick?"
"Don't defend her!" He shouted, "I'm not about to have some underage witch tell me how to do my own job!" Shoving his godfather's foot out from his door, he glared at the two of them before slamming the door with a loud thwack.
"Well, that went well." Remus eyed Sirius who was still frowning.
"I'll say. We teased him for only a minute before he went to town on the Granger-girl." Sirius scratched the back of his neck, "Well c'mon, Crimp's probably got breakfast ready."
Inside his room, Harry was still seething. Last night was a nightmare; after the second sighting of Bella he had arrested an overweight forty-year old wizard with more force than necessary and spent the rest of the night steadily avoiding Sadie. When he finally got home he fell into a pitiful sleep, thinking of diners and eggs with dead Muggles littering the floor and an arse of a girl with frizzy brown hair. Everything had seemed fine when he woke up to the blazing sun that morning, everything leading up to his shower at least.
Harry flopped onto his bed carelessly, tossing an arm over his eyes and sighing loudly. It wasn't because she was a Muggle that he hated her, even hate seemed like too strong a word now. He 'hated' her because she was there and he wasn't. Harry snorted, giving a small credit to the brown-haired girl. Bellatrix wasn't easy, the scrapes on the younger girls face were proof, and considering she was still alive was - good. Frowning, he sat up frustrated with himself.
Why the hell was he giving her credit? She threw her three minute battle in his face and told him he was unfit to be an Aurror in less than a minute. Who did she think she was, Merlin? After one run in with a Death Eater... Harry jumped toward his dresser, no longer thinking that she was brave to stand her ground yesterday. No, right now, she was the ugly little teenager who thought she was all that, and he was unimpressed.
Ripping a shirt over his head with force, Harry staggered from his room and headed to the Floo Network without so much as a goodbye to his two guardians. He was already late for work and would need to avoid telling Sadie why he was avoiding her. It didn't seem like a good idea to let her know he was stewing all last night about a girl, a girl that had no resemblance to his girlfriend. Sighing, he tossed powder to the ground and disappeared.
Reappearing, Harry strode forward and didn't bother tapping her on her shoulder before ducking down for a hug. "Morning Alice. Have a good night at home?"
"Oh, morning Harry." Alice grinned looking far away, she sat down, "Neville made dinner last night. It was Franks turn to make it but he was on a late night raid." Harry couldn't help but be reminded that he almost didn't eat dinner because he was too busy thinking of the small, fire-filled brunette in the coffee shop.
Alice looked haunted for a moment, the paleness of her face and the dark bruises from lack of sleep seemed to be more prominent. Suddenly she sat up taller and grinned, Harry wondered if she was thinking of the night before. The dark haired woman chuckled and stared at the framed picture on her desk.
He interrupted her thoughts and his own. "How do you deal with it?"
"Hmm," Alice asked, "what having a husband in the same work?" She shrugged. "It's not a pleasant feeling, having him on a job without me - wondering who's going to be there to have his back when I'm not." Alice frowned, scrutinizing Harry. "We work best as a team and being married for twenty years makes you appreciate and understand someone in every way."
Harry's green eyes watched her closely, Alice smiled taking his hand. "Harry, what it comes down to is my love for Frank." He squinted, confused. "I love him more than enough to trust him, to know that when he goes out to night raids without me he'll always come back. I'm not about to let him quit his job just because I stay up every night sick with worry." Alice reached out a hand, comforting the boy in front of her.
The corner of Harry's lip upturned, "You're a great witch Alice." She tutted, patting him affectionately. "No really, you're strong, smart and deal with Neville..." Alice tilted her head and he blushed, embarrassed. "You're brilliant."
Worried, Alice grabbed his hands, "Harry, where is this coming from?"
"Can't I say how much I appreciate my mother-figure?" Alice looked dumbfounded. He leaned forward, grabbing her in a hug. "I might stop by for dinner tonight. It's spaghetti night, right?" Harry stood up chuckling at the older woman's befuddled look. Walking away he heard her reprimand him from a distance and continued laughing.
"HARRY!"
In mid laughter, he turned to see Sadie who looked sophisticated and pissed out of her mind. Suddenly he wasn't staring at his gorgeous girlfriend anymore. He long brown hair was shorter, more bushy than sleek, her eyes morphing from blue to brown. Harry blinked, his comparison from Sadie to the uptight teenager at the dinner was astounding. He reasoned they looked nothing alike and he really shouldn't be thinking of her. He frowned, watching Sadie tap her foot impatiently in a pair of ridiculously high heels. Walking closer to her, he felt a small sense of fear (that she knew he wasn't thinking of her just then) and pride in seeing her still look up at his intimidatingly tall frame.
"Look before you -" Harry was yanked by the front of his shirt before he could finish his sentence and was pulled into her office. He brushed her hands off his chest, shocked. "Gods Sadie, could have warned a man before you maul him in front of the Department -"
Again he was silenced, this time by a sharp tug at his hair and her lips against his. It took him a moment to realize she wasn't shouting at him and demanding why he didn't find her after work. Harry laughed deep in his throat before he lent down and thoroughly kissed his girlfriend. All thoughts of Hermione - bushy haired - Granger leaving his mind.
For the moment.