Disclaimer: Since I don't own it you can't blame me for books 5, 6 & 7.

Chapter 16

The rest of the weekend had been blissfully uneventful for Harry; most of it was just spent talking with his Mum and Tonks about nothing important and listening to Tonks bemoan having to actually go in to work again

He had woken up early Monday morning and decided to just get started on his day. After preparing everything for breakfast so that he only had to cook it he decided to bake some biscuits to take to the café when he met with Hermione.

Their morning was a busy one; they had met with two tutors early because they also had a meeting with Mrs. Collins before lunch.

Harry had decided five minutes into talking with the second tutor that the first one would be the one he hired. The second sounded too much like his uncle for him to ever be comfortable around.

At the meeting with Mrs. Collins they ran into a snag in his plans. She knew his real age and he had mentioned what his job would be. Rebecca tried smooth things over a bit by telling her a little about Tonks being a government agent for a department that couldn't be mentioned and letting her know that Tonks boss would contact her to let her know a little more. She said that because of some help Harry had given them they were helping him by making him a year older so that he could take this job.

The case worker was understandably not believing a single word of it, so Rebecca excused her self and left the room for only a couple of seconds. When she returned she told Mrs. Collins that they had a way to get a hold of Madam Bones for emergency reasons and that she would be there within a couple of minutes.

It was actually ten minutes later when she arrived, apologizing that the press conference had lasted longer than expected because of the number of questions. Amelia then handed Mrs. Collins a small file folder that had Harry's name on it.

When she opened it she found several papers that surprised her. The first one was an official letter of commendation from the Prime Minister himself complete with his seal. The next was a new birth certificate with his birth date being a year earlier. The third one was also from the Prime Minister; it was a personal letter giving his blessing to the adoption proceedings between Rebecca and Harry and asked if they would consider speeding up the process for it.

Mrs. Collins was wide eyed as she looked up at Harry who just blushed and looked down at his feet.

She looked at Amelia and said "This is…"

"Not to be talked about." Madame Bones finished for her.

"Can I ask about the press conference you mentioned?"

Amelia smiled "Watch the news tonight or read the paper in the morning. You won't hear or see Harry's name but rest assured that he was a big part of it. The Prime Minister knows that both Rebecca and Harry want this adoption to happen and has already had the necessary background and other checks done to help speed things up. The last ten pages are for your records; that should be everything you need to get the adoption finalized within the next month or two."

Sure enough all of the paperwork was there and complete. "So the pink haired lady works for you?"

"Yes, Miss Tonks was part of Harry's protection detail."

She looked back at him "You seemed to be close friends when I saw the three of you last time. I mean you mentioned that you know her parents, is it normal for security details to be that friendly with their charges?"

Amelia answered "Normally no, but several of us have become good friends with Harry, with him living in her flat they spent a lot of time getting to know each other and have become rather close and are planning on remaining in close contact."

Mrs. Collins eyes narrowed slightly "Nothing inappropriate I trust?"

Harry gave a small laugh "Only her jokes."

After that every thing went quickly and they were soon on their way out the door.

Harry was handed a second folder with the paperwork he needed for the job and he asked Amelia how she had gotten those papers from the prime minister.

"He's in a close election right now and needed something to help him out, we gave him a terrorist that had been eliminated and he gave us those papers. I thought they might help at some point in the muggle world, I just didn't think it would be so soon. While we were having our press conference at the Ministry of Magic he was having his own with the muggle press."

With Madam Bones' help they had actually saved about an hour of paperwork that would have only started the whole process so they had time to enjoy lunch at home before Rebecca had to be at work and Harry at the café.

When Harry entered the café he spotted Amanda near the door and waited until she was finished with the customers she was helping.

"Hello Mrs. O'Connell"

"Well hello Harry, we weren't expecting to see you until Thursday. You're looking a lot better, how are you feeling."

"I feel really good actually, much better than Friday. I'm really here to meet someone; I also got those papers early." He handed her the folder.

She looked at him and he anticipated what she was going to say "I promise it will be a lot more peaceful than the last couple of times. I'm going to order the special tea from the beginning and I invited her so unless someone shows up unexpectedly again it should be ok."

A voice from behind him asked "Is that what I think it is in the box?"

Harry smiled and handed it over to Lisa. "Try to save some to go with my tea please." He said as her hand had a biscuit in it almost before she had the box.

As she took a bite the box disappeared from her hand and reappeared in Amanda's. "I'll just give all of this to Conner." She said as she walked back to the kitchen.

Lisa glared at her back then turned it on Harry who laughed. "Don't look at me, I didn't do anything, I even gave you the box first."

She chuckled then took a good look at him "You are looking better, how are you dealing with every thing?"

He shrugged "After thinking about it for a while I'm actually just relieved that it's almost over. Just a few trials and I won't have to worry about any of it anymore. How about you, how are you doing?"

It was her turn to shrug "I think I'll be all right. Aunt and Uncle have been great and have kept me from thinking about it a whole lot." She nudged him and smiled "Who are you meeting today, and do I need to get my Uncle to stand by?"

"No, I think he can relax today, I'm meeting my friend Hermione."

"Oh goody, I finally get to meet the last one."

A voice that he recognized came from the side. "The last what?"

He looked over and saw a familiar bushy head of hair and brown eyes sitting with her mother.

"Hi Mrs. Granger, it's nice to see you again. How are you doing Hermione?" he asked with his grin.

She was looking a little nervous "I'm fine, what am I the last of?"

Lisa answered as Harry blushed "The last of his rescued damsels. I met Gabrielle, Ginny and Amelia on Friday; you're the last one for me to meet. Of course that's not counting the Godfather, only the damsels. I'm Lisa Mears; it's nice to meet you." She extended her hand.

Hermione shook it as she looked at Harry who answered her "Tonks likes to talk and yes she knows about the M thing, her Aunt and Uncle do too, it was kind of hard to hide it last week." He turned to Lisa "It might interest you to know that Hermione's saved my life at least twice literally and even more times figuratively."

"So you not only rescue the pretty girls, you also get rescued by them. I'll have to make a note to watch out for that. It could liven up the breakfast crowd a bit when you start. How about I get you some of that tea; and maybe a few of those biscuits you brought." She added with a grin.

"Could you have at least two of them reach the table please?"

"No guarantees, but I'll try."

He turned back to the table as Lisa walked away and Hermione started to speak.

"Harry I'm really so…"

He interrupted her "Hermione, if we both start apologizing to each other for every thing that we probably should, we won't do anything else for a while. Can we just both accept that we're sorry for everything and see if we can go from there?"

"What do you have to apologize for?"

"Several things, can I sit and I'll explain a little more?"

Hermione sat with her mother as he sat opposite of her and he continued in a little quieter voice.

"I've watched all of my memories of school and found that I have a lot to apologize for. Neither of us could really say we've been the best of friends to each other at times. So I was hoping we could just accept each others apologies for everything at once and see if we can't still be friends. I really am sorry for everything."

Hermione smiled "I'm sorry too."

They sat for a few moments in silence when the tea and biscuits arrived.

"You're getting better; you made it over here with a whole plate of them."

"Quiet you" she said as she snagged one off the plate.

"Well I see smiles this time, so do you need Uncle Conner's tea?"

Harry shook his head "No, we don't need it, but I really like it so we'll keep it."

"Just remember we actually have some other customers today, no shouting, threatening or…well none of that other thing either."

He laughed "I promise to behave this time."

She snorted "I'll believe it when I see it." and snagged another before she went to help someone else.

Mrs. Granger and Hermione just looked at him for a moment before Beth asked "Do we want to ask what that's all about or what the deal with the tea is?"

"The tea's easy. Conner, the owner, has a special blend of tea he claims can calm an angry rhinoceros, it also tastes really good." He said as he poured some for them.

"The rest is a little harder to explain. How much have you told your Mum Hermione?"

"I finally told her everything on Saturday. Why what's going on?"

He gave her a weak smile "The first time I came in here Tonks and I met with Lupin. He had just dropped Ginny off at the clinic. I lost my temper and threatened him and the rest of the Order, rather loudly. I said a whole bunch of stuff that I shouldn't have in public and had to explain some things to Lisa and Conner." He saw an arm shoot across the table and another biscuit disappeared from the plate.

"If you want any of those you might want to get them now, her Aunt and Uncle hide them from her."

They both took one and Hermione asked "Why are you bringing biscuits to a café? Shouldn't they be baking them here?"

"Conner apparently can't make them, when Tonks and I tasted the ones they were buying we almost choked. Tonks said they could be considered attempted murder. I offered to make them some hoping to get a part time job. I start on November 1st."

They both took a bite of one. Beth's eyes got bigger "You made these?"

"Yes Ma'am, just this morning." He had a huge smile.

"I didn't know you could cook Harry."

"I didn't really talk about it because I had to do it for my Aunt and Uncle; I never really got to eat any of it. It's no big deal Hermione," he added seeing her look "they're going to be arrested and charged when they get back in a couple of weeks so it's all in the past now."

They were silent again while they drank some tea before Hermione asked "Should you be out alone right now? I mean we know that the headmaster and You-Know-Who are still after you."

He stared at her for a moment before shaking his head. "I keep forgetting that nothings been in the paper yet." He took a deep breath and continued.

"Voldemort and most of his Death Eaters were killed on Thursday by over a hundred Aurors from all over the Continent. They were ambushed in Malfoy Manner and only a few of them are still alive, the trials are this week. I know Wormtail's is on Tuesday and should get Sirius freed."

"Is he really dead this time?" Hermione was wide eyed.

He nodded and answered quietly "Yeah, he's really dead this time and everything he was using to come back has been destroyed."

The silence stretched for a moment before Beth asked "I heard that your headmaster was also after you, aren't you afraid he'll find you here?"

Harry gave her a weak smile. "Not anymore, he already did. Friday he was convicted of kidnapping and attempted murder and was sentenced to Azkaban. Snape got him before he reached the prison and they came here. Mum, Tonks, Bill, Ginny, Fleur, Gabrielle and Mr. and Mrs. Delacour were here with me for a lunch to kind of celebrate his conviction and the fact Ginny and I didn't have any pieces of Voldemort in us anymore. He came in and…well he won't be coming after me anymore." He was staring into his tea as he finished.

"Uhm, Harry I'm really confused. You've said a lot of things since you got here that don't make any sense. Whose Mum was here with you, Ginny's?"

Harry laughed "Can you imagine Mrs. Weasley in a café like this? It's Rebecca Hermione, we started the adoption paperwork this morning and it should be final in a month or two. She's my Mum now."

Hermione just stared at him open mouthed until her Mother reached over and put a hand under her chin to help her close it.

"Congratulations Harry" Beth said "but don't adoptions usually take longer than that?"

"Normally I think they do, but Amelia got some letters and stuff from the Prime Minister and its speeding things up."

"I think you broke them Harry." Lisa said as she snagged another biscuit.

Both of the Granger ladies had their mouths hanging open.

"Uhm, are you two all right?"

Hermione recovered first and looked at Lisa "You don't seem surprised, did you know about the Prime Minister stuff?"

She shook her head "I just found out when I went to the kitchen. Uncle Conner and I had to help Aunt Amanda to a chair when she saw the letter thanking them for giving Harry the job. I think she's going to frame it."

"There was a letter in there too?" Harry asked with some surprise.

"Yeah, didn't you know?"

"No, she told me it was the papers that make me sixteen so I didn't even open it."

"Tonks was right; Madam Bones really does love you." She snagged another biscuit and left again.

Harry just stared after her and said "I'm going to have to bake ten dozen everyday just for her."

When he looked back he saw the Granger girls staring at him. "Uhm, I really can explain everything, I just can't really do it in public. Would you like to go back to my home and I can tell you everything that's happened?"

Hermione nodded "You're going to tell us everything, right? You're not going to leave anything out?"

"I even have enough paper so you can take notes." Seeing her eyes he added "I'm not making fun of you Hermione, I know that taking notes helps you organize your thoughts and questions. You'll need them because if you ask questions when they occur to you we'll get off track and it'll take all night to tell you everything. I need to start at the beginning and tell you everything before you ask, ok?"

He smiled "You could even stay for dinner and see what else I can cook."

Hermione looked at her Mum who also smiled. "All right, I just need to call your father and let him know. Do you have a phone at home?"

"Yeah, but you can also use the one at the clinic, I'll need to stop in and let Mum know."

They all rose and Harry went to pay for the tea where they ran into Conner.

"Leaving already lad? You've only caused a small ruckus this time; it seems that you kept it to only the Missus."

"Sorry about that, I didn't know it was in there or I would have warned her."

Conner laughed "I'll be a week trying to get her off the phone, she's already telling Lisa's Mum."

When Harry reached for his money Conner stopped him. "Why don't we call it even for the biscuits, even if my niece will eat them all?"

He said thank you and they left for the clinic. When they got there Harry asked.

"Hermione, can you look inside and see if it was Bill or Lupin who brought Ginny today?"

"Why?"

"Because I seem to always get mad when I see Lupin, I'm trying to control my anger because of the accidental M thing."

"All right, but you're going to explain that too." She looked in the door and her eyes widened before turning back to Harry. "It's Fleur Delacour."

Harry smiled and then held the door for Hermione and her Mum and followed them in. All of the guys in the waiting area glared at him as Fleur greeted him with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. He introduced Mrs. Granger and reintroduced Hermione.

"So you're transporting Ginny today?"

"Oui, Remus told Bill it would no longer be good for him to do it."

Harry looked kind of sheepish "Sorry, that's my fault. I didn't mean to inconvenience any one."

"It is no inconvenience Harry. Gabrielle is staying with Ginny for a few days so this gives me a chance to see her a little more."

She kissed his cheek again "That is from Mrs. Weasley; Bill has made the most wonderful dinners for all of us the last two nights and she wants to thank you."

"Why? It's Bill who's making them."

"It is because of what you said about her cooking and Bill that he has bought the cook books. She is very happy that he did not forget how to take care of himself and has been enjoying the time away from the kitchen and visiting with Mama."

"What did you say about her cooking?" Hermione asked.

"That it was really good but that she cooked more for quantity than variety. She taught Bill, Charlie and Percy to cook and Bill helped me with dinner one night. He's really good in the kitchen."

"He has started to teach Gabrielle and Ginny to cook also. They both have decided that they will not wait for the man who can do it as well as the two of you. They will be training their men to do it."

"Ok, now I really need to see what you can do." Mrs. Granger said and turned to the receptionist desk and asked to use the phone.

By the time her phone call was done Ginny and Rebecca was coming out of the back.

"Hey Hermione" Ginny said then gave Harry a hug "How are you Harry?"

"I'm doing all right, you?"

"Only a couple of nightmares about it, but neither Gabrielle nor I had any last night so we should be ok."

"Good, I'm glad." Harry then made introductions.

"Mum, this is Mrs. Granger and you've already met Hermione. This is my Mum, Rebecca." He said with a huge smile.

Mrs. Granger extended her hand "Please call me Beth, it's nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you too." Rebecca looked at her a moment "Beth Granger sounds familiar, have we met before?"

"No, but you've sent some dental patients to my husband and I."

"Ahh, Bethany and Richard Granger DDS, thank you for all that you've done for them. We'd have a really hard time if it wasn't for you and the other dentists who help."

"It's our pleasure; I wish we could do more."

"Funny you should say that. We've been working on something and I'm wondering if we could meet up sometime to discuss it. We'd really like to hear your views on it."

Harry spoke "We're headed back home so we can talk about things with out worrying about who overhears. I've invited them to dinner if that's all right."

"Sounds good, maybe we could talk a little about it then. I should be home a little after five."

"All right, I'll have dinner ready about five thirty then." He gave her a hug and everyone said their good byes.

Mrs. Granger drove them the short distance to the house and once they we're inside Harry got everyone drinks before sitting down and starting his story of the last couple of weeks.

Hermione and her mother had sat horror struck through most of it. There was a loud pop in the kitchen before he could finish the story. Both the Gangers jumped and Harry only hollered.

"Hey Tonks, we're in the sitting room. Grab yourself a drink on your way in."

A moment later she came through carrying a glass. Hermione introduced her Mum and Harry told her what they had been doing.

"So, how far have you gotten?"

"Me standing in front of Dumbledore and Snape, I don't know how to tell them what happened."

"Would you like me to tell them about it?"

He thought about it for a moment then shook his head "No, I should." He took a deep breath "Conner had snuck up behind them and he hit Snape in the back of the head with a metal bar and killed him. I attacked Dumbledore; I tackled him and started hitting him in the face. I just kept hitting him and yelling. Rebecca says it was accidental magic giving my body a boost." He looked Hermione in the eyes "I killed him. I beat him to death with my bare hands."

Tonks quickly wrapped Harry in a hug recognizing the tone of his voice. "It was an accident Harry; you didn't mean to do it. With the shape you were in you could barely stand up so you know it was accidental magic. Don't you dare blame yourself for that bastard's death, do you hear me?"

He just nodded into the hug and held on another minute.

When they separated she asked "Are you all right?"

He nodded "Yeah, I will be. Thanks." He looked at the two women sitting opposite of him. Hermione was crying and being held by her mother.

"I'm sorry; I really didn't mean to kill him."

Hermione looked at him for a moment before launching herself off of the sofa and grabbing him in a hug. Harry just held her as she cried for a few minutes before pulling herself together.

"It wasn't your fault Harry. We all heard him say he was trying to get you killed, you just protected yourself."

"Thanks." They were all silent for a few moments before Harry asked if they would all like to sit in the kitchen while he started dinner.

As he gathered everything he needed Hermione asked him a question he knew was coming.

"Harry, are you really going to quit using magic."

He paused in what he was doing for a moment before answering. "I can't quit using it until it reaches maturity or I'll have more incidents to accidental magic. I have to use it some to keep it in check until sometime around when I turn seventeen."

"So are you going to be coming back to Hogwarts?"

He shook his head "I can't Hermione. If I do then it will just be someone else who tries to kill me. I figure it's that damned Boy Who Lived crap, it makes all of the crazy's want to try to prove it wrong. Even though we think that all the living Death eaters are in, or will be in Azkaban, there's no guarantee that some aren't still out there. Not only am I safer by not going back but the rest of the students are too." he looked at her "You're safer without me there; you know that's the truth. I'm going to be taking Mums last name when the adoption happens, it will make it harder for them to find me. I think it will make Mum happy too, I haven't told her yet I want it to be a surprise."

"What about Ron?"

He sighed "I don't think I can remain friends with him Hermione. I don't understand him and I can't really think of why we were friends in the first place. We don't have anything in common except slacking off on homework really. I want to remain your friend, but I need you to accept what I'm doing. Just read the Prophet lately and you'll see that they won't leave me alone.

"Fudge was going to tell everyone that all of it was a false trail for Voldemort, but it wasn't. He's only saying that because he's being blackmailed by Tonks and Madam Bones."

Tonks grinned. "He did a really good job of giving her most of the credit today. It really shocked me that he did that, he also mentioned Jacques a couple of times."

"Really, he must be slipping."

"Not really, he mentioned a few times that he was the one who put her in that job knowing she could build ties with our brothers and sisters on the Continent. He can lay it on thick when he wants to."

Hermione was biting her lip and Harry asked "What's the matter?"

She had tears starting to build in her eyes. "I don't know if I want to go back if you're not there. You're my only real friend."

He walked over and gave her a hug. "Hermione, I'm sorry I can't go back, if I ever want to be left alone for a while I have to leave."

He held her for a moment thinking "Tonks are there magical tutors?"

"Sure, why?"

"Knowing how much Hogwarts tuition costs I was thinking that if Hermione didn't want to go back she could afford a tutor and keep going." He smiled "With the way she studies she could probably take her OWLs right now and ace them. Could Madam Bones get her a waiver for underage magic?"

Tonks laughed. "You could probably ask her to give one to everyone in Hogwarts and have her do it."

He looked at Hermione "What do you think? If you really don't want to go back, it's another option."

"I don't know I'd have to think about it."

Harry laughed "Be careful, thinking can be really dangerous. That's what led to all of this."

He went back to preparing dinner and Beth asked.

"Tonks you said that Harry could barely stand on Friday. Why was that?"

She just looked at her for a moment then glared at Harry "If you're going to tell a story, you really need to tell all of it."

"There was no reason to tell about that, I'm better now so it doesn't matter."

"Doesn't matter? You almost died and had the rest of us watching over you all night. How can you say that it doesn't matter?"

"I'm sorry; I just meant that there was no reason for anyone else to worry about it. I know everyone was up all night and I appreciate it. I really do."

"I'm sorry Harry I didn't mean it to sound like I was mad at you. Did you at least tell them about the ritual and Madam Bones?"

He looked sheepish "I told them about the ritual and that Madam Bones led the attack."

She shook her head "Did you leave out anything else?"

"No, I think that's it."

Hermione huffed "You promised to tell us everything."

"He never tells everything he's done. When he told Conner and his family about his life at Hogwarts those of us who had seen his memories had to keep cutting in because he always leaves out everything he does unless it's bad."

Beth asked "What really happened?"

Tonks told them about the whole thing leaving Hermione hugging him again and Mrs. Granger just staring at him.

After a moment Rebecca walked in "Do I want to know what's happened?"

"Harry's just been telling stories his way, so I've had to fill in a few details."

Rebecca sighed "The ritual or the café?"

"The ritual, I was here when he told about the café."

"Are you ok Harry?"

"I'm fine Mum; I just didn't think they needed to hear about that part."

She kissed him on the forehead and gave him her own hug. "How's dinner coming, need help with anything?"

"No, I've almost got everything done. You can talk with Mrs. Granger about what you wanted to."

She gave the hug another squeeze before turning to Beth. "How would you like to hear a proposal?"

"About what?"

"We've been running the figures on how much it costs to send everyone to different dentists around the London area and found that it would be cheaper for everyone involved if we had our own dental office in the clinic. We'd like to have a kind of rotating schedule of dentists who come in for half a day each week to see patients.

"We'd be able to cover the cost of the supply's and what ever you needed; we just can't afford a full time dentist."

"Do you have the proposal written up?"

"I even brought it home with me with explicit instructions not to let you leave with out an agreement for four hours a week for you and your husband. How about we go to the office and take a look at it?"

When they left Harry noticed Hermione biting her lip again "You really shouldn't do that, one of these day's you're going to bite a chunk out of it."

She looked at him with a sad smile "Did you really mean it about staying friends with me? I mean with everything I did I thought you'd be really mad at me."

He looked down at his feet "I was really mad, I was ready to give up our friendship altogether. Hermione I know you trust people in authority blindly, but you really need to stop doing that. You need to make your own decisions about what to do at times. I was hurt when you thought I could do those things. I still don't understand how you could think that about me.

"I thought about everything that's happened and decided that the only way we could be friends still is if we sort of started over because there have been times that I've treated you like garbage too. That's why I wanted us to just do a sort of blanket apology for everything we did or could have done to each other over the years. I wanted us to start with a clean slate.

"I really do want to still be your friend Hermione."

"I'd like that too."

Harry got a big smile "Good, now why don't you two set the table, dinners almost ready."

They were almost finished setting it when Hermione stopped and slowly looked at Tonks.

"You knew where he was."

Tonks looked up "What?"

"You knew where Harry was the whole time. He said you were the one to get Madam Bones and Rebecca. You told us you wouldn't stop looking for him until you found him but you already knew where he was."

Tonks laughed "It actually took me longer than I thought it would. When I got back to my flat I found Madam Bones looking a little bewildered. Harry apparently completely ignored her with his 'I'm fine,' then shoved her into a chair and told her to stay put. That made the search last about five minutes longer than I thought it would."

"Why didn't you tell us you knew where he was?"

It was Harry who answered by asking a question of his own. "Hermione, what would you have done if you knew that I was at Tonks place?"

She bit her lip then looked at her feet "I would have told Dumbledore."

"That's why she didn't tell anyone except Bill, we needed his help and she made him and Fleur take an oath before she let them know anything. He was allowed to tell only three people anything, Sirius and Lupin he was allowed to tell I was ok to stop them from drinking themselves to death. Ginny he could tell everything as long as she took an oath because she had that shadow of the diary still in her."

He let out a sigh "When Tonks, Madam Bones and Mum came and took me out of my uncle's house I had already kind of figured out that Dumbledore was trying to kill me. That meant that before Tonks came and got me I didn't have anyone that I could really trust, after that I had three people.

"I wasn't in good shape when they came to get me and I'm not talking about physically. That night when Tonks came with Lupin and Moody I heard the noises in the hall and thought that it could be Death Eaters, I didn't care Hermione. I wasn't hoping to die or anything but I didn't care if I did. I had nothing worth living for, no family and no friends, I felt more alone than even when I was locked in that damned cupboard as a kid."

He took a few breaths to steady himself and looked at Hermione who was crying.

"I'm sorry Hermione, I'm not trying to guilt trip you, I was only trying to explain why no one else was told anything. If I didn't want to try to keep your friendship we wouldn't be here talking. I don't know when or if I'll ever talk to Ron again and I'm almost certain I'll never speak to Lupin again." He gave her another hug "We've both already accepted our apologies for everything; it's still going to take me some time to get over it all though."

Hermione nodded and took a few moments to wipe her eyes as Harry finished the meal.

"Harry, can I ask why you won't talk to Professor Lupin again?"

"It's because he's a complete arse." Tonks answered for him.

"I thought you got along with him Tonks. Sirius, him and you spent a lot of time talking at headquarters."

"That was before I knew what he was really like and how he treated people and automatically assumes that people are having sex."

"Hermione, how many people do you know who were friends with my parents?" Harry asked as he saw hints of red start to appear in Tonks hair

"I only know about Sirius and Professor Lupin, why?"

"Sirius was in Azkaban for twelve years so there was really no way for him to contact me. Where was Lupin for all of those years?"

"I don't know."

"Neither do I, but I do know that he never once tried to contact me in any way. No visits, no owls, no muggle post. Not one thing that told me there was someone out there who cared about me. I get to meet him when he's my teacher and being paid to be around. After third year how many letters or visits did I get from him? None, he doesn't show up in my life again until he's told to by Dumbledore. Now he wants to be all concerned about my mental status, were I should be staying, who I'm dating and sleeping with, and whether or not I'm safe.

"I don't need someone around who's paid to care for me, I'm doing just fine with the people who actually do care, and they do it because they want to not because they're told to. Hell Tonks was all but told not to care about me.

"Lupin's two answers to where he's been were that Dumbledore told him not to be around me, and that it wasn't safe because he was a werewolf. My parents thought he was safe enough to be around me when I was a baby, and he's still a werewolf right now. That means that he either wasn't a good friend to my parents or he just doesn't like me. I don't care which it is because neither of those answers is going to make me want him around.

"The way everyone talks about my parents I'm pretty sure they had more friends than just the two of them and the rat. Where are those people Hermione?" She shook her head "I don't know either, but I do know that if I ever meet them the first question I'm asking is 'Where have you been?' and they'll need a lot better answer than Lupin has come up with before I'll let them be a part of my life."

"I never thought about it like that."

He gave her a weak smile as he finished putting the food on the table. "Like I said, thinking is dangerous, it led to all this."

He sighed and looked at her "I guess the only one you haven't been told about is Sirius. He's got a couple of questions to answer too; I just don't get to ask them yet. He's gotten past Tonks questions and lived to tell about it, now he has to answer to Mum and Tonks together. After that he can see me and answer them. I'll go get our Mums for dinner."

Hermione looked at Tonks. "Thank you for helping him."

She smiled sadly "I couldn't not help him. Hermione, I hope you know how lucky you are. Sirius has restrictions on getting to see him again. Lupin would have probably been allowed by Harry to be part of his life again eventually except he keeps pissing everyone off. Ron isn't even getting a chance for the friendship to continue.

"You not only have your unspoken apology accepted but got one in return. A piece of advice, you're a smart girl so use that intelligence and start thinking for yourself. In the end you'll be a lot happier with yourself and most everything else.

"Now you get the same warning that Sirius is, don't hurt him like that again because Rebecca and I aren't as forgiving as Harry. You and Sirius are the ones that hurt the most for him, the fact that you're the only two being given a chance says a lot. If you make an honest mistake there's no problem, but think things through before you act or as was the case this time don't act. I'm sure you'll come to the right decisions if you do."

Hermione nodded "Mum's told me pretty much the same thing. After Dumbledore said he was trying to kill Harry…I can't believe I ever listened to him. I knew it was wrong to ignore Harry's letters but didn't do anything because I didn't want to disobey the headmaster."

She looked Tonks in the eyes "It won't happen again, I promise."

Tonks just smiled and nodded as the other three came back in and sat down to eat. Dinner conversation was mostly Beth asking questions about magic and Hogwarts and the rest answering.

Afterwards Hermione and Harry exchanged phone numbers, addresses and one last hug before the two Granger ladies headed home.