Hello everyone! I hope you're all well and comfortable back in your common rooms! Another September 1st! I know i have been away for a long time but I'm doing my best with how hectic my life has gotten recently. Things in Greece are tough so I am trying to be focused on work. Anyway, here is a new chapter for my story, I hope you're still interested in it. Thank you all for your patience and

Enjoy...

Chapter Eight - Understanding People

Hermione collapsed on the chair before her desk, it had been hours ever since they started cleaning, the simple task of cleaning had turned to a mania of tidying around for the both of them as it worked as an anti-stress therapy. Hermione sighed and looked above her head. A single ray of light from the setting sun outside was escaping through the curtains of the upper windows, revealing all the dancing dust particles in the air that kept swirling around the place no matter how much Hermione tried to eliminate them with spells and dusters. She felt mesmerized by the odd dust dance, hearing Harry's distant sounds of cleaning with spells somewhere on the second floor in the department of hobbies and free time with magic.

The loud sound of the floo network being activated broke her stupor and she stood up immediately to see the visitor, just in time to be attacked by the hug of her friend, dirty blond colored hair blocking her vision and some odd earring hitting her cheek.

'Luna!' Hermione exclaimed as she breathed out, Luna Lovegood laughed and hugged Hermione tighter before she could make a step back and look at her brunette friend with her large, dreamy eyes.

'Hermione! Congratulations! I knew I'd find you here and of course I'll be the first reporter to have the story of the year in the Quibbler and nowhere else!' Luna exclaimed happily before she could grasp Hermione in another hug that oddly reminded of Molly Weasley's.

'Sorry Luna, but no comments.' Harry's voice was heard as he moved down the stairs of the store and Luna rushed and hugged her friend with the same joy.

'Of course, I know, guys, I know, not even a tiny comment, and of course none knows I'm here. But I knew you'd be here!' Luna said happily, her good natured self not making the couple of friends worried about what she might write in her magazine.

'So, when's the honeymoon? Odd of you to come back to England after your wedding, kind of impolite not to invite a single soul but I understand it was a spontaneous move… Otherwise you'd have never done it…' Luna started asking and concluded on her own. Hermione tried to keep calm before the complete acceptance of yet another person of their marriage and spoke before Harry could even say a word. She should practice after all as they'd be visiting her parents very soon for dinner.

'Well, Luna, there is no honeymoon; we actually got married by accident and we'll wait until we can cancel the entire thing in seventy four days. As for the whole mess we created, Kingsley took care of it quite swiftly, so we only have to wait, with the school starting in a few days I'll pull through because of the costumers who will flood the shop and slowly the whole deal will blow off.' Hermione said her well rehearsed little speech she had created while cleaning the potion department of the store. Luna was left speechless for a moment, looking between the two younger Potters until she shrugged and spoke.

'Wow, some things never change. Such a waste of titles about bravery and brightness, maybe in a few years I should add the whole thing in my autobiography, your chapter will be called "the dim ones"…' Luna said mostly to herself than the two friends who blushed and looked away in awkwardness and embarrassment.

'What about the fiesta tonight? You can't have the English team partying without its seeker.' Luna said and both Harry and Hermione nodded their heads.

'We know and we'll be there for the after party, we first must visit Hermione's parents for dinner and then we'll be there as not to have Oliver Wood beyond himself with grief over the absence of the seeker in his team's triumph.' Harry said this time and Luna nodded as she searched in her purse for something, she took out a small jagged piece of metal.

'It's for good luck, take it with you for the dinner and the fiesta, I must go because people will suspect I'm with you. You can't imagine how many reporters from across the world have begged for my input on your marriage through a comment or an entire interview. Of course I declined everything, those people never cared about my essay on the nargles even if the ministry accepted it as an official statement on a new species…' Luna monologue again and hugged Hermione first before she could go to Harry. She reached the fireplace before the two people could thank her for her discretion, she turned around and spoke again.

'And by the way, before I come here, I passed by Grimmauld, I don't know what's going on but the house felt haunted. I think there are two ghosts, one felt friendly, the other mischievous, it even threw an umbrella on the floor to scare me but I just declared I'm not new at this. Maybe you should do something about it.' Luna said casually and both Harry and Hermione looked at her with wide eyes as she waved and flood herself away.

'I'll never understand that girl,' Hermione said shocked as Harry moved closer to her and patted her shoulder.

'Maybe you just need to believe in her…' Harry said and Hermione looked at him.

'I do, she's my friend,' she said calmly as before years, she felt uncomfortable before the dreamy eyes Ravenclaw, now she considered her family.

'We should go to your parents, I'm sure they'll be happy to see us.' Harry decided to get to the pressing matter.

'Unless the Prophet reached them first.' Hermione said and sighed. They had cleaned the entire store but now it was time for them to get to her old house and face her parents. She had told them before her trip to the States that she'd visit after the match no matter the result of it but she hadn't considered back then that she'd visit them as nee Granger in her titles…

'I know, but we'll explain, your parents are understanding, they proved it when you brought them back from Australia…' Harry tried and Hermione sighed, wondering how many strikes they'd take until the exploded and cast her away.

'I know, you're right, I shouldn't be losing faith in them, after all they can't just send me to my room for a year as punishment, which may I add, I would fully accept to do so with all those nosy people out there wanting a piece of us.' Hermione said and Harry actually chuckled as he hugged her from the side and kissed her cheek.

'Come on, after that, we have the fiesta and those same people actually getting the piece.' Harry said and Hermione groaned as he took her close to the fireplace. Before they could leave, Hermione rushed back to the table and took the little jagged thing Luna had left for good luck, no matter how silly it seemed, she needed luck. She held Harry's hand allowed him to floo them away to one of the very few muggle houses connected with the Wizarding world.

'Mum, Dad, I'm home!' Hermione called out the moment she and Harry stumbled out of the fireplace and into the living room of her old house in Camden, a beautiful semi-dethatched house the Grangers had bought before they had Hermione.

'My little Pumpkin!' an elated Jane Granger said as she showed up from the door connecting the living room with the kitchen, an apron around her waist being used as a towel before the matriarch Granger could hug her child happily. The two Granger ladies shared most of their features, only Jane's hair had started to show grey strands here and there and maybe from years in medical books, she wore glasses, still she looked beautiful.

'And my sweet Harry, welcome, my dearest.' Jane said as she left her daughter to hug the young man. 'Edward! The children are here! Bring the best wine we have!' Jane called as she moved a few steps away from Harry to the door of the living room to alert her husband who possibly was at his study.

'My Minnie is here? I'll be there in a minute with the wine!' Edward's voice was heard and Hermione felt much better before the warm welcoming of her parents. Harry too was always happy to visit the Grangers with their genuine hospitality and enthusiasm.

'I missed you even though I can't get you to call me with the name you gave me…' Hermione said as she realized her cheeks were burning. Harry chuckled as her mother brushed her off.

'Oh come on, Pumpkin, you know we only did it because of your grandmother, you'll always be our Minnie Pumpkin,' Jane said and Hermione rolled her eyes. 'After all, Harry here is family,' Jane added the moment the older Potters showed up in the living room, visible only to the two younger Potters, unnoticed by the oblivious Jane.

'You can't imagine how close family,' James commented and sniggered before Lily could elbow him.

'And there's none else around but Harry, so your father and I can call you with our favorite nicknames for you,' Jane added without having heard anything and James sniggered harder as Lily glared at him and looked apologetically at Hermione who only rolled her eyes and shook her head as Harry tried to suppress his owns chuckles.

'Here is my beautiful pumpkin!' Edward Granger finally showed up from his study holding a bottle of wine that Jane took so he could hug his only child. Hermione hugged her father back, noticing the smiles of the Potters who could see how much loved she is from her own parents.

'You look more beautiful every day, pumpkin.' Edward said and Hermione blushed and chuckled. 'How are you, son?' Edward addressed Harry who nodded and smiled.

'Very well, sir, thank you.' Harry replied and Edward smiled as he looked between the two younger people. 'So how the Cup went?' Edward asked and Harry smiled again and nodded more enthusiastically.

'We're champions,' he said proudly and Edward clapped and laughed.

'Then we must drink all the wine!' Edward exclaimed as he led both Harry and Hermione to the dining room with his arms around their shoulders. Jane was before them, talking about the food.

'Thank Lord, I made more pasta and we have enough of everything for a proper little feast that we must have here. Harry, I hope you like my sauce with basil and tomato.' Jane said, slightly blushing as it was evident she had put effort in cooking, just like her daughter.

'I'm sure I'll love it, Mrs. Granger.' Harry said honestly and the older Granger smiled and blushed at the same time.

'Oh such a charming young man, and please call me Jane. Hermione dear, will you help me set up the table? Let the boys talk over some first sips of wine here.' Jane said and Hermione nodded and left Harry behind who smiled awkwardly while James and Lily moved inside the dining room as well.

Jane moved close to the oven where she started stirring the sauce while Hermione, like back in the past, started slicing the bread. There was a pregnant silence for a few moments that Jane interrupted.

'So how are things between you and Ron?' the question felt tensed, surprising Hermione who always expected Jane not to like people like Ron, especially with the history she had with the ginger young man, but the older Weasley had tried to like him for her daughter's shake, one of the adjustments she had put effort on making for her only child.

'Well, he's trying but after some recent events I don't think he'll try again for at least some months to follow…' Hermione replied as honest as she could and to her bigger surprise, saw Jane exhaling in relief.

'Then, how are things in your life? How's Harry?' Jane asked, trying poorly to ask for both individually. Jane, like Hermione, had expected Harry to be the prefect along her daughter in fifth year, expressing her genuine surprise in one of her letters, answering her daughter about the news of that year of Ron being the one in position. Jane had met the Weasleys, especially because of Mr. Weasley's love for Muggles but as the years passed by, she had only learnt how Ron mistreated her daughter and how good, brave, kind and unfortunate Harry were so she had grown to like the man she knew the least than the actual ex-boyfriend of her daughter.

'We're good, he won the cup, not just his team, he made it, it was really nice. Harry's doing good, he finally has everything he needs. And I'm fine, the shop will skyrocket now with the new term starting in two weeks, not that it needed the term, everything is good.' Hermione said, trying to show her mother everything is fine by projecting the career news of both to Jane who smiled and nodded as she started serving the food in large plates for everyone to take from in the dinner table.

'And what about you and Harry in… other ways?' Jane asked boldly, always striking like a very certain dreamy-eyed Ravenclaw, Hermione knew. She was ready to roll her eyes and avoid the question but Hermione knew she was there for some shocking news she needed to break to her parents and Jane spoke again.

'I know how you feel about him and I can see he likes you too, now can you stop letting the years pass you by and finally make a move? You're Gryffindors, you're supposed to be brave.' Jane said in quick whispers and Hermione looked deep into her mother's eyes for a moment as she expected something from her and Hermione could only give the truth.

'We got married in Vegas the day before yesterday,' Hermione said and the expectance in her mother's eyes turned into terror and then quickly into shock that faded into surprise.

'That's way too drastic of a move…' Jane commented after a moment as her daughter moved carefully close to her as if Jane could implode all of a sudden.

'I know, it's drastic, we got drunk and got married by accident, it's a magical marriage that we can cancel in seventy four days, which we will of course but please don't freak out, mum. I know both you and dad like rules, they are there to be followed but I made a mistake, the first in years actually, so please don't freak out.' Hermione tried to explain quickly as she actually grasped her mother's forearms to keep her in her spot from maybe running to the rooftops and killing herself before her daughter's wrongdoings. Jane remained silent for a moment looking at her before she could sigh and speak.

'I like the rules but you dear have stuck with them way too much,' Jane first concluded and then kept up. 'We need a valium for your father, or some calming spell, you have my permeation to cast a spell on him. As for your drunken marriage, did you… err… complete the marriage?' Jane asked and Hermione blushed furiously as she avoided her mother's eyes quickly. 'I see, then did you protect yourself?' Jane asked and Hermione snapped her eyes back at her mother, this time in terror.

She had stopped any kind of contraceptive charm or muggle pill since she hadn't been in a relationship in months and had wished not to keep her body under unnatural influences but in her drunken state of getting married to her best friend, she had forgotten to cast the simple anti-pregnancy spell she had been taught from a book in sixth year.

'Oh my God,' Hermione whispered as she realized her circle was on perfect timing with the day she did it with Harry. 'Oh my God! Oh my God!' she called out again and Jane clapped a hand over her panicking daughter.

'Is everything alright, girls?' Edward asked from inside the dining room while Hermione exhaled through her semi blocked nostrils while Jane cleared her throat and called out.

'Everything is fine, sweetie, just told Minnie Pumpkin here about her old room being converted into a library and she's ecstatic!' Jane said and Hermione's eyes widened even more but got cast down the moment her mother glared at her as if she needed nothing more from her to actually get angry.

Jane finally took away her hand and Hermione breathed deep in and then out while her mother waited.

'OK, I'll take a test tomorrow, the easiest way right now is to cast the spell. Now we need to tell dad and then keep him alive.' Hermione said and Jane nodded as she passed her the bowl of sauce. 'Mum, how do you feel about all this?' Hermione asked fearfully and Jane looked back at her girl.

'About the fact of you getting married while drunk… shocked. About the person you got married with, not shocked at all. About your intention to destroy the marriage, quiet appalled but I can't do something more to open your eyes, my sweet pumpkin.' Jane said and Hermione was left shocked to be looking at yet another person admitting how they expected her and Harry not only to get together but get married, even if drunk and out of their minds with Elvis as the priest, even though she hadn't gotten into details with her mother yet.

'I see, you're disappointed?' Hermione asked quietly and Jane smiled and cupped her daughter's cheek with her hand.

'Not even if you made the sun set from the east, Hermione.' Jane answered sincerely and Hermione felt her eyes filling with tears, one of her greatest fears being destroyed.

'I love you, mum,' Hermione confessed and Jane smiled and kissed her girl's cheek above the steaming sauce.

'I love you too, pumpkin, now take the sauce to the table and I'm following with the pasta.' Jane instructed and Hermione nodded.

'A great sauce, I am certain,' she tried one more compliment to coat her mother with who only laughed and followed with the pasta on a bigger bowl.

The two women moved to the table where Jane had previously to the couple's arrival, had set. The two Grangers found Harry and Edward laughing about something and the two men smiled at the two ladies while James was still laughing at the joke the two living men had shared while Lily was looking with sympathy between Hermione and Jane. The older Granger brought two more sets of plates, glasses and silverware from a drawer and Hermione set them up for herself and Harry. Edward started pouring wine in the glasses while Hermione moved back to the kitchen and returned with one more plate of the bread she had sliced.

'Nothing much but I hope you'll enjoy it.' Jane said modestly and Harry smiled.

'We're sure it's perfect, Jane.' Harry tried in good spirits and Jane smiled and thanked him, for a moment looking at the young man with a mixture of interest and skepticism. Hermione kicked her mum's foot from under the table and Jane nodded and started serving everyone as they all sat down.

'She knows,' Hermione only whispered to Harry as she adjusted her chair and Harry looked at her in terror but her eyes told him he shouldn't worry about it. He nodded, sighed and thanked Jane just in time as she served him first.

The meal started between some laughter, talking and enjoying the food that indeed was really good in everyone's opinion to Jane's delight. Harry could feel the worry entering his veins with every passing minute. Hermione's mother knew but now it was time for Edward to learn about what happened in Vegas and the more friendly and kind Edward was now, Harry wondered how fast he was going to change the moment the news were out.

'Just relax, it'll be fine.' Lily told Harry quietly while the two airy forms remained around in the dining room. Harry wasn't sure if he wished for his parents to be there when the news would be out but at least, if Edward got out of his mind with anger, Harry and Hermione would have one pair of parents by their side, that alone was comforting to some extent.

'Oh the meal was amazing, my dear Jane, well done!' Edward said as he drank from his wine and nodded. 'And the wine is perfect; I hope you kids liked it.' He added and smiled at the young people. Hermione spoke first as Harry felt a knot on his throat, the time was approaching.

'Everything was great, dad, as always.' She replied and Edward smiled and patted her shoulder with one hand.

'Always the best for my pumpkin.' He said happily and smiled at Jane who nodded. 'So tell us everything about the cup, how our mighty country won over the Americans?' he asked, he wasn't a fan of Quidditch, he couldn't after all since he couldn't watch it but he was a British man happy with the victory of the country.

'Well it was amazing to win in such a tournament, if we didn't, my team captain who had been also my school captain, he'd have me beheaded… so it's nice to have the cup and my head…' Harry said modestly and Edward gave a booming laugh and nodded.

'I like your motivations, my boy!' he said with laughter before he could look at his daughter. 'And what about you, Pumpkin? You saw the match, we deserved the cup?' he asked and Hermione smiled.

'Oh totally, we played really nicely and we deserved it, and Harry deserved his head so…' Hermione said and Edward laughed again while Jane brought some ice-cream for dessert. They all started eating the chocolate flavored ice-cream until Hermione decided to be done with mother knew, and she had given permeation to Hermione for using magic, none would die.

'Dad, we came here not only to see you and tell you about the cup, but also to inform you about something more since the Prophet will be reaching you tomorrow morning with today's news in the Wizarding world.' Hermione said and Edward looked at her child with interest.

'Some new threat?' he asked seriously and Hermione shook her head.

'No, daddy, nothing like that, we're all safe.' She said and tried to avoid the creeping feeling of fear as she could see the dead Potters with the corner of her eyes, someone was playing with the Resurrection Stone but this wouldn't consider her parents, not now.

'Then what could it be? If we're safe it can't be something too bad.' He said and Hermione wished for someone to help but she knew both Jane and Harry would let her on her own to deal with her father.

'Well, after we won the cup, Harry and I… got drunk, really drunk and apparated ourselves to Vegas, where we got married in a chapel.' Hermione said and for a moment Edward was left speechless until he burst into laughter.

'Really? I always wanted to do such a marriage, with your mother of course, you know, for fun, with an Elvis and all, so for the state of Vegas, you're married? Or you canceled the marriage the day after?' Edward asked between chuckles and Hermione hadn't thought he'd find it funny, until not until he knew it all and maybe not with so much wine in his system.

'Actually,' Hermione said before she could clean her throat. 'For the magical world, no matter where you get married and under what circumstances, you get legally married, but magical law gives us seventy seven days together, then we can cancel the marriage, which we will and it will all be over… so we're married for Vegas, and the Wizarding World….' Hermione said and this time Edward was serious and watching the young people.

'So… you got married… without inviting us?' Edward found the first thing to get angry about and Hermione sighed.

'Dad, we were drunk…' Hermione tried and Edward shook his head.

'This is not a good excuse about getting married, Hermione Jane so don't use it on me. You got married with your best friend while drunk yet aware of the Wizarding laws I'm sure you've studied and fully knowing our values as a family. You ruined your wedding day, the chance to be walked down the isle by your father because you were irresponsible and… and drunk!' Edward shouted and Hermione bowed her head while Jane stood up and moved closer to her husband.

'Edward, it's fine, they will cancel the marriage after those days and she will do it properly when the time will be right, it was a mistake.' Jane tried and Edward this time looked at her even more wounded.

'You knew about this?' he asked and Jane nodded.

'She told me in the kitchen, before.' Jane said as casually as possible while Edward huffed and finally looked at Harry.

'And what about you, young man? I open my house for you, I trust you with keeping my girl safe, like every father is made to do with his daughter's best friend, and after Weasley and his ways with her, I never expected of you to treat her thus! What is your excuse?' Edward asked and Harry spoke uneasily.

'I really want to apologize myself, Mr. Granger, my only excuse is that I were drunk and actually I was the one who apparated us both to Vegas, it was my idea, not your daughter's, but we were both drunk and now we're extremely sorry for the way we make you feel.' Harry said honestly and Edward could only huff even more as Harry was only truthful and sorry about what had happened.

'Edward, the kids just wanted to warn us about the whole deal, nothing major happened, they will cancel the marriage just with a few days of delay due to the laws they're bound with and then it'll be ok.' Jane said and looked at Hermione from next to her husband, making her daughter's stomach drop with the possibility she had made her realize before.

'She's right dad, mum's right, it will be fine, it was a mistake and we'll fix it, we just wanted you to know because tomorrow the newspaper will be here and we wanted you to know from our own lips and not just a piece of paper. You're right to be mad at me and Harry but just try to accept that we were drunk and we're sorry for our actions. We meant for no one to feel bad about our wrongdoings and especially you two who have been so understanding with us and the way our world works.' Hermione spoke sincerely and Edward sighed this time and looked between the people around him.

He was upset, Hermione could see that but she knew her parents, no matter how much they followed the rules and had specific ideas and dreams for their child, they loved and understood her in the good and the bad days.

'I need some time to think about it all. Excuse me.' Edward said and stood up, moving out of the dining room and into the study. Harry and Hermione stood up as he left but Jane kept them back.

'Daaad….' Hermione begged as she saw his disappointed eyes.

'Let him be for awhile, Minnie, a drink, some tears over your old childhood photos and maybe half a valium and tomorrow I'll throw away the Prophet and he'll get over it in a week's time.' Jane said and Hermione sighed and nodded as Harry turned around and patter her shoulder soothingly. 'He'll be fine, he was just getting to accept you're over thirteen and suddenly you're married.' Jane added to lighten the atmosphere and Hermione nodded as she looked at Harry who nodded as well.

'He'll be ok,' Harry tried to reassure her and the brunette sighed.

'We better leave, you need your peace,' Hermione said and Jane smiled and hugged her daughter. 'I'm sorry for all this trouble, mum.' Hermione added and this time her eyes filled with tears again. Jane patted her daughter's back and kissed her cheek.

'I know and don't worry, sweetie, parents are there for the grey days, daddy just needs to get his raincoat.' Jane tried and Hermione smiled tearfully and nodded. 'Harry dear, it was great to see you.' Jane said and Harry smiled and hugged the older Granger.

'It was great seeing you too, Jane, I hope next time will be in better conditions.' Harry said and Jane smiled and nodded as she followed the two in the living room. Harry moved a couple of steps further as Jane took Hermione's hand.

'Check the thing we said and send me a letter, let it arrive in the night when dad will be asleep, just in case things are more… complicated.' Jane said and Hermione didn't dare object, she only nodded and left her mother to reach Harry.

'Take care, dear ones.' Jane said before they could floo away.

hehe ok, Luna arrived and she's the knowing one, as always, even felt the potters as for the grangers, i wanted them to be less angsty like in other fics, especially Jane, we're talking about being in the 00's, not in the 30's so i wanted a new approach, i hope you enjoyed, I apologize for possible mistakes, it's 03:36 am and my mind is a fuzzy thing that can't even control my vision so i better go to bed quickly

thanks for reading please review and show me if you're interested, i'll try to update as soon as possible