Chapter Six: Family Gatherings
It was almost Saturday lunchtime when Richard and Helen Granger received their first letter from their only child from Hogwarts. They were a little startled that an owl had come flying in through the window, but once they saw the envelope it was carrying they got over the fact that there was an owl in their house.
Richard detached the envelope and handed it to his wife who promptly tore it open and took out the parchment inside. She read the letter aloud to her husband and when she had finished, he said, 'She couldn't make friends with any girls?'
Helen laughed and said, 'Apparently not, and she seems to like Ron the most.'
'Great, just great, my daughter has only been at school for a week and she has already found a boy she likes!' said Richard.
'I'm sure it's just a crush, after all, she is nearly twelve, and Ron seems to stick up for her a bit,' said Helen.
'That's another thing, how can they allow all that bigotry? My daughter has done nothing wrong!' said Richard.
'According to this it's only a few people who subscribe to it, and Ron, Harry, and Neville will look after her, I'm sure of it,' said Helen.
'I should have built a bloody dungeon. She's too young for boys!' said Richard.
'Really; and what if it was us?' said Helen.
'You can't be serious, Helen, it's different when it's your own daughter!'
'Look, all I'm saying is that if Hermione likes Ron, then we should not get in the way, and it's a big if, Richard.'
'Well, he does seem like a good kid if he's sticking up for her, so we'll just have to wait and see, won't we?' said Richard.
Helen then turned to the owl and said, 'Can you wait for me to write a reply?'
The owl hooted once in the affirmative and Helen went to the study to collect a pen and some paper and came back again before sitting down to write a reply.
Dear Hermione,
Your father and I are really happy you have made friends with some nice boys. However, your father is a little uptight about the fact that they are boys, but friends are friends and it doesn't matter to me if you make friends with boys or girls so long as you are happy. Ron, Harry and Neville sound like nice boys and we couldn't be happier for you. But if you have any questions about boys, just ask and I will be only too pleased to help you. Your father on the other hand is under the impression that he should have built a dungeon because he is scared he is going to lose his little girl to one of those boys. But I do have to ask you, do you like one more than the other two? Do you maybe have a crush on Ron? I only ask because you wrote in your letter that you sit on his lap, and he has kissed you on the cheek. I'm not telling you off, Hermione, I'm just being nosy! Mother's Prerogative!
We are both glad to hear that you are enjoying your classes and that you are working hard to impress your teachers. Professor McGonagall sounds like a good role-model for you.
By the way, Neville has "Girl-o-phobia"? What's that all about? Sounds like there's a story in that! (Your father's words, not mine).
Your father and I miss you very much. Are you coming home for Christmas? I know it's early to be asking you about Christmas, but we just miss you so much. Your father and I love you so much, Hermione, and well, as I said, we miss you.
We look forward to your next letter, and to when we can meet your boys in person!
Love Mum and Dad
Once Helen was finished, she sealed the letter in an envelope as she waited for the owl to finish drinking the water Richard had given him before giving him the letter and flying away.
Richard then took his wife by the hand and led her to the lounge where they sat down and watched television.
0o0
James, Lily, Sirius, Arthur and Molly were sitting down to very late lunch with Charlus, Dorea and Ginny, when two owls flew into the kitchen at Potter Manor. James detached the single letter from Harry as Arthur detached the three from Ron and handed them to the addressees.
James handed the letter from Harry to Lily and she opened it eagerly and it aloud to the group. When she was finished, she noticed a sad look on Dorea's face as it appeared that Ron had taken a shine to a new girl.
'"Ickle-Drakey the Ickle-Snakey"?' said James with a chuckle.
'I'm guessing that's the spawn of Lucius, so …' said Arthur.
'I'm not pleased that Ronald and Harry hexed the boy, they could've gotten in trouble!' said Molly.
'It's called friendship, and standing up for people, it's what Gryffindors do, Molly!' said Sirius.
'I understand that, Sirius, but I don't want our boys in trouble all the time!' she said in retort.
'Malfoy-spawn got what he deserved, and it's his father's fault for raising him to be a bigoted little slime-ball,' said Sirius.
'Still, it can't have been easy for Lucius to raise his son alone after what happened to his wife, I'm just saying that there's no way I'd do a good job with Harry, Charlus and Dorea without Lily,' said James.
It was a sticky moment before Arthur broke the silence and asked Molly to read out the letter Ron had written to them. Once she had finished, Sirius said, 'Short and to the point, I suppose, eh?'
Once again, Lily noticed the sad look on her daughter's face as Ron had written about Hermione and how pretty she is, before she opened the letter to her and James from Ron. Again she read it aloud to the group as she kept her eye on Dorea as she read the short paragraph Ron had written about Hermione.
Sirius then opened the letter to him from Ron but read it in his head instead of aloud. As he read, he could not help the smile that appeared on his face and his laughter.
'What does Ron's letter to you say, Sirius?' asked James.
'Oh, just a rude joke he heard from someone,' he lied smoothly, 'I've heard it before, but it was still funny.'
Lily knew he was lying so she sent Charlus and Dorea outside to play with Ginny and once they were outside, she asked Sirius for the truth, so Sirius read the letter out to the adults.
When Sirius was finished, Lily said, 'Poor Dorea, she would've been heartbroken if you had read that aloud before.'
'That's why I didn't read it, Lily,' replied Sirius.
'Why is my son asking you for girl advice?' asked Molly.
'He looks up to me, I suppose, and by the sounds of this letter, he's doing a good job of looking after the object of his affections, don't you think?' said Sirius.
'But you can't fall in love at eleven!' said Molly.
'I did,' said James.
'Aw, James, you're still so sweet, after all these years,' Lily cooed.
James pulled Lily into a kiss before Sirius cleared his throat to remind them that they had company.
'Sorry about that,' said James.
'Don't be,' said Molly, 'I remember what it was like when I was your age, dears.'
'Are you saying that I'm not as sweet to you as I was when we were younger?' asked Arthur.
'Oh, not at all, Arthur,' said Molly.
'I'm going to get some parchment and a quill to reply, would you some too, Molly?' asked Lily kindly.
'Yes, please, thank you, Lily,' said Molly.
'I'll come with you, Lily,' said Sirius.
Lily shrugged and Sirius walked with her to gather the parchment and quills.
'What do you reckon, then? Do you think he's fallen in love with the girl or not?' asked Sirius.
'Maybe, but I don't know. I haven't seen how he looks at her, so I can't honestly say for sure,' Lily replied. They then collected what they needed from the large study and brought it all back to the kitchen.
Lily gave Molly some parchment and a quill before starting to compose a letter to Harry.
Dear Harry,
Thank you for your letter. Your father and I are really pleased that you have settled in nicely and that you have befriended a muggle-born girl and look after her. Or is it Ron that does the looking after? Anyway, your father and I wish you good luck with the Seeker try-out next weekend we hope you make the team!
As for classes, you should try in all of your classes and not make Hermione do all your other work for you! (Though, we do agree that History of Magic was, and is, very boring with Professor Binns and his sleep-inducing voice). I know you have your ambition and that's what you are working towards, but you should not put all your eggs in one basket. Remember don't work too hard or too little, and do try not to get yourself, Ron, or anyone else expelled for pranking the entire school!
We're glad that you and Ron are keeping fit and practicing your Karate somewhere sensible, try not to injure one another while you spar!
Charlus, Dorea and Sirius send their love.
Love from Mum and Dad
Lily then put her letter to Harry in an envelope before starting one to Ron.
Dear Ron,
Thank you for your letter, we're very happy that you took the time to write to us.
We're both happy that you along with Harry are enjoying classes, but as I've already said in Harry's letter; you should try and do your best in all your classes, not just the ones you need to succeed in your ambition.
We're also happy that you have met a nice girl and that you are looking after her. According to Harry's letter, you are rather fond of her? That's good, Ron, make sure that you are always nice to her and she'll like you just as much as you like her.
Don't worry about the length of your letters to us. We appreciate the fact that you care about us enough to write to us. We love you to bits, Ron, never forget that!
Charlus and Dorea say hello.
Love from Lily and James
Lily looked at her letter again before sealing it an envelope.
Molly was writing to Ron.
Dear Ron,
Congratulations on making Gryffindor, your father and I so proud.
We're happy that you are settling in nicely at Hogwarts, and that you have made a new friend, Hermione sounds lovely, we can't wait to meet her. Make sure that you are looking after her. After all, I suspect it's a little daunting joining our world and giving up the muggle world at eleven. We're pleased that you told Hermione the truth about the bigotry in our world and we hope you'll do your very best to protect her from it. Even if it means you have to hex the bigots to do it. (Your father's words, not mine).
Do try to work hard in all your classes, Ron. I know you have your ambition, but you might need a back-up plan in case things change.
Ginny sends you her love as do we.
Mum and Dad
Molly finished the letter before putting it an envelope as Sirius was writing his letter to Ron.
Dear Ron,
Thanks for your letter, mate.
So you've met a girl, have you? She sounds nice, so look after her!
I can't tell you if you've met your future wife or done a James Potter as I haven't seen the two of you together, but the way you write about her, I can tell that you have deep feelings for her already. The only person who can know what your feelings are, is you, Ron. Don't let anyone tell you what you are feeling in any aspect. You are the only one who knows what goes on in your heart.
But I do have to say this: Your letter if I had read it aloud would have broken Dorea's heart, Ron. I know you don't return her crush on you, so I hope you didn't send that letter just to break her heart. I'm sure her little crush on you will pass soon, especially when she meets boys her own age at Hogwarts. I know you told me that Dorea looks too much like Ginny for you to return her feelings.
Anyway back to Hermione. I think she likes you back, Ron. If she didn't, she wouldn't sit on your lap or let you kiss her on cheek or kiss you on the cheek in return, but I might be wrong. Like I said above, I haven't seen the two of you together to give you a more accurate and more useful opinion.
As for pranking the Malfoy kid, good job! His father is a piece of shit and is as bigoted as they come! He's obviously passed the Malfoy family trait on to his spawn. The mooing hex was the perfect hex to use, I bet it was hilarious. But for your first big prank, don't over extend yourselves. After all, you'll be expected to come up with something bigger and better next time!
Good luck with your girl and all the best with your pranks.
Sirius
Sirius finished by putting the letter into an envelope before joining the other letters to be taken by the two owls.
0o0
By the next day, Harry, Ron and Hermione had all received replies from their correspondents. It was a Sunday so the three of them and Neville were doing absolutely nothing. Their homework was done and there was nothing to do.
Ron and Harry had shown Hermione the room where they practice their Karate and she had been impressed. Harry also showed her the Marauder's Map and his invisibility cloak. She had never seen anything like it before and said it was amazing.
The part about boys and Ron in her mother's letter had left her thinking. She knew that Ron was special. She liked him a lot and trusted him implicitly already. She liked holding hands with him and sitting on his lap when there was nowhere to sit. She liked that he carried her bag for her. She liked having friends, but more than that, she liked Ron even more.
Ron was thinking about the reply from Sirius. He had definitely not sent that letter to break Dorea's heart. He sent that letter asking for advice and he got it. He was still looking after Hermione, he was still carrying her bag for her, and he was still holding her hand a lot. He would look at Hermione when she wasn't looking. He loved her hair, her eyes and that when she thought no-one was looking, she would lick the ink off of her fingertips. He noticed her nervous habit of biting her lip. He admired her ability to be able to listen to Binns and her work ethic. Unlike him, she wanted to excel in all of the classes. But then again, Ron knew what career he wanted to pursue when he got out of school, while Hermione probably had not even thought that far ahead.
Harry, meanwhile, was thinking about the Seeker try-out next weekend. He could not help but be excited at the prospect of becoming the youngest Seeker in a century. He knew that if he got in the team his dad would be proud of him as would Sirius. He wondered if he would have to write home for his Nimbus 2000 to be sent to school for practices and games. He just hoped that if his parents and Sirius came to drop off his broomstick that they would not embarrass him too much.
Neville was thinking about Herbology. He wished that he could have that class all the time. Sometimes he wished he was a Hufflepuff so he could spend more time with Professor Sprout so he could pick her brain about different plants and their properties. He had received a letter from his parents telling him that they were pleased that he was settling in nicely at Hogwarts.
After the four of them got sick and tired of the sounds of their sighing, they went down to the kitchen and got some food. Ron, of course, ate the most, with Hermione eating the least. Once their trip to the kitchen was over, they went up to Gryffindor tower and the boy's dorm. Hermione had been reluctant to follow the boys but Ron gave her a smile so she went with them.
The other two boys in the dorm were Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas. The two had become firm friends pretty quickly. Ron invited the other two boys to join them for a game of Exploding Snap and they accepted. The games they shared were fun before it got tedious. It was always the same that at a certain time of day people started yawning. The first who decided to get some sleep was Seamus. He got on to his bed and pulled the curtains shut. He was quickly followed by Neville, who went to his own bed to get some shut eye before dinner. Then it was Dean, and then Harry.
This left Ron and Hermione alone.
'Perhaps I should go, Ron, everybody else is "resting their eyes",' she said.
'You don't have to go anywhere, Hermione, even if I could do with an afternoon power nap too,' he said.
'Dinner will be in a few hours, so I should go to my dorm,' she said.
Ron stood up and then helped Hermione to her feet. He then took of his shoes and got on to his bed. He then patted the space next to him.
Hermione bit her lip thinking about it for a moment before she toed off her shoes and led down on her side next to Ron. Ron pulled her closer so her head was on his shoulder and his arms were wrapped around her.
'Is this okay?' he asked.
Hermione quickly sat up and pulled the curtains closed before she went back to being in Ron's arms again.
'Yes, it's okay,' she said.
'Good, I'm glad. I like it that you're here,' he said.
'Me too,' she replied.
They looked into each other's eyes and did not speak. Ron then gave her a kiss on the forehead before closing his eyes. As Ron kissed her on the forehead, Hermione had closed her eyes. Before this moment, she did not know if she had a crush on Ron. But now, now she knew and she was going to have to write to her mother to tell her that not only did she have a crush on Ron; she felt that he was the best thing to ever happen to her. Hermione closed her eyes with her heart beating that little bit quicker than before.