Unfortunately for Vernon, Dan's patience had run out. He was tired of excuses. He hadn't fought in a long time, but he still packed a powerful punch. Vernon collapsed in almost the same spot his son had earlier. "Now it's his son's turn," Dan vowed darkly, after checking that the fire had gone out on Harry's back as it should have.

Harry, with his usual tendency to save people, chose that moment to wake up.

Hermione, of course, was the first one to get to him, followed closely by Emma and reluctantly by Dan, who still felt Dudley deserved a good beating. He didn't know that Hermione had done that for him already.

"Harry?" Hermione whispered to him desperately. "Are you okay?"

Harry, as usual, replied, "I'm fine, 'Mione. What about you? The last thing I remember was holding you while you cried."

Dan and Emma looked at Hermione. They hadn't heard that part. It was at that point that Harry noticed them. Still a little drunk on pain, he said, "Oh, hello Mr. and Mrs. Granger. When did you get here?" He tried to get up to greet them. And fell back down. "Sorry I can't greet you, there seems to be something wrong with my back." He frowned at it, as though it had disappointed him.

Unnoticed to him, both Hermione and Emma were crying at this point. Even Dan was struggling with the urge to cry. He had been whipped with a studded leather belt to within an inch of his life, and disappointed he couldn't get up. What was wrong with people who could make him think like that?

After a moment of silence, Dan cleared his throat, saying roughly, "It's alright Harry, you don't need to get up. Just rest for a while."

Harry frowned, protesting, "I need to greet my girlfriend's parents. It's respectful. I just can't seem to get up."

The way Harry seemed unable to process reality gave Hermione on of the least pleasant thoughts she could ever remember having. What if the pain drove him insane? He was so frail, it wouldn't take as much….

Hermione couldn't take that thought, and fled from the room. "Hermione?" Harry called. There was no answer. Harry's thoughts crystallized. He knew what happened with Dudley. There was no way he was losing Hermione over this. He stood up.

The two adults cried out in alarm, saying he must rest. After swaying for a moment, he shook his head, saying, "With all due respect, I refuse to not at least try and go after Hermione. She's too important to ne for that. I can rest when I'm dead."

Dan didn't think his daughter could have picked a better man. He reached out and shook Harry's hand. "Harry," he said, "it will be a pleasure to have you as a son-in-law one day."

Emma couldn't agree more, and gave Harry her arm support, with the simple persuasion, "If you insist on going after me daughter, I insist on helping you." Although Harry would never admit it, he was grateful for the support.

It took him a few minutes to get down the stairs-even with the help of the people he knew would one day be his in-laws. He was surprised that they had accepted him so fast, but he would ask Hermione about it later. But right now, he could hear her crying, and comforting her came first.

"Are you okay, Hermione?" Harry asked quietly once he made it to the couch.

Hermione jumped at the sound of his voice. She was shocked for a moment that he was standing. It took her a moment longer than usual to start reprimanding him. "Harry, you should be resting…."

Harry started to chuckle, and released Emma's arm. Hermione moved towards him to keep him from falling. It was exactly what he wanted. He grabbed her in a surprisingly enthusiastic hug, considering the state of his back. "I'm glad things are back to normal, Hermione."

Dan and Emma shared a worried glance; how was this normal? But their shocks weren't over yet. Harry wasn't done. "Hermione, being with you is plenty of rest. You're presence keeps me calm. How was I supposed to sit there when half of me had left? And why did you leave?"

God I love him, Hermione thought to herself. She just wished he hadn't had to mature so fast. She wrapped her arms around his neck so she didn't have to think about the fact that his back was basically a giant burn. "I'm sorry, Harry," she began-

"No!" He interrupted. She pulled back from him, startled for a second. "Don't you dare be sorry! Me being sorry is why there are belt marks on my back, cuts on my arms, and cuts on my legs."

She decided to ignore the fact that there were cuts on his legs for now, and just continue where she left off. "Harry, you were lying on the ground, barely aware of reality. All I could think of was that you were going insane, just like Neville's parents, and I-I c-couldn't bear the thought, and-" Hermione was very surprised to feel Harry's lips on hers. She would never get tired of it.

After a minute, Harry pulled back and said, "You were saying?"

"Wow." Hermione said. "I don't remember."

"I believe it was something along the lines of me forgetting something for a moment meant I was going insane," Harry said helpfully, smirking at her dazed expression.

"Oh, yeah," she said. Then she realized what he had done, and protested, "Hey!"

"So you've changed your opinion then?" Harry asked, still smirking.

"Yes, I have," she retorted.

"That's a pity," he said. "I was hoping it meant you were crazy about me."

Hermione blushed, and her parents-the ones the couple had forgotten about-just laughed at the scene.

"Now, if everyone is in a better mood," Harry began, "I would like to know what happened."

"So would we," Mr. Granger said, looking at Hermione.

"Right, well…" and with that Hermione launched into the tale.

At the end, which was the part where Harry woke up, Mr. Granger leaned back and said, "Wow, I guess I don't have to beat the whale's son. My daughter already did."

Hermione blushed, but Harry's face was a bit darker. "Maybe, but I think he deserves more." Everyone agreed, thinking he was referring to the belt he'd been beaten with. Apparently, no one was following his train of thought. "How dare he try to hit Hermione!" He exclaimed venomously.

"What about what he did to you?" Hermione exclaimed in protest.

"I don't care about that!" Harry said dismissively. "I do care about you."

Hermione just gave an exasperated sigh. "On the topic of what he did to you," Hermione began heatedly, "why didn't you cry out sooner? I could have stopped him earlier!"

"I told you, I don't care about that," Harry reiterated, "but you needed your sleep."

The Grangers just looked at him. They adults had heard from Hermione how selfless he was, but this seemed extreme. And Hermione knew there was something he wasn't saying. However, it still wasn't even noon, and everyone was already exhausted.

Emma said she was making lunch, and Dan was setting the table. Hermione said she was picking up afterwards. Harry was told to sit there and pretend to be happy about being served. He wasn't very good at pretending.

The rest of the day was spent playing cards, and just being together. No one was upset to not see the Dursleys, even if they were curious.

Hermione was just upset that she hadn't had an opportunity to talk to Harry yet. Tomorrow, she swore to herself.