As I am NOT the original author of the Harry Potter series, who as anyone should know is the wonderful JKR who lets us play with her world. I don't own a darn thing here. On with the story.
Chapter 17 Meeting Interesting People
Hermione came up to the hazy level of sleep when she hear her mothers voice announce brunch shooting wide awake and sitting up at the Mrs. Potter comment. Looking around she realized she wasn't in her room and the boy in bed next to her mumbling, "Hermione come back to sleep," had her checking her clothing.
'Panties - nope, Bra – nope didn't wear one last night, top – none, hose- yes, what the heck am I doing in bed with Harry wearing just hose? Of all the things hose!' Hermione thought then remembered the Gallery opening they'd attended last night. That evolved to memories of her and Harry undressing and climbing into bed. She'd been so tired she had just joined him in the guest bed. Now her mother's comment about Mr. and Mrs. Potter at least made sense. Evidently she'd been spotted in bed with Harry. Ah well when all else fails bluff your way. "Harry we need to get up."
"Her…Hermione?" Harry asked coming awake. His eyes going wide as he looked up at her still nude beside him.
"Yes Harry,"
"You … you're…"
"Don't you like the view? You seemed to enjoy it last night," Hermione said looking over at Harry trying her hardest not to blush and admit embarrassment.
"Yes I like the view but?"
"I can't believe you are so comfortable dressing like that." Harry said feeling a blush start on his cheeks when he stood up wearing just his boxers.
"When I was younger and just starting to develop curves it did bother me to go to the beaches when we took a vacation in Spain but after a few days I realized my mother was right. Boys looked rather they could see something or not and I could not control what they thought. Last night I felt comfortable and beautiful on your arm. Mother knew the outfit I'd selected for the evening and said nothing. Your opinion was the only one that really counted and you said I was beautiful. The rest do not matter." Hermione explained.
"Thank goodness you didn't wear something like last night to the Tri-wizards ball. Ron would have gone catatonic." Harry said seeing Hermione headed across the hall he added, "You might want to mess up your bed a bit."
"Seeing as how my mother just called through your door for Mr. and Mrs. Potter to come down for brunch, I suspect they are aware of where I spent the night."
"Your father is going to kill me," Harry said following Hermione out of bed and pulling on a robe that she passed him.
"I doubt it. He might try and scare you but just remember compared to Snape he's an amateur."
"That may be but unlike Snape he has a very good reason to kill me."
"Don't worry about dad Mum is the one that will kill without remorse."
"Gee… Thanks… Now I have to worry about both of them," Harry said guilt setting in at what they thought he'd done.
Hermione decided to let Harry off the hook. "If my mother had betrothed for you to be punished in anyway she'd come in here and had it out with you right then. I suspect we'll be in for some teasing but that's about it," Hermione said following Harry down the stairs to the kitchen area. Once there they quickly found themselves in a discussion with everyone.
"Actually we are about the mid-point in terms of age. A surprising number of marriages are arranged between birth and two years of age, normally between pureblood families. Most of the rest become engaged between the start of sixth year and the end of school with the wedding occurring right after the end of seventh year." Hermione said entering the kitchen and speaking up.
"Don't you have a lot of divorce as a result?" her mother asked.
"Actually in the Wizarding world they have less than one divorce a year. That's in all of England." Hermione explained "That is amazing." Jane Granger replied watching her daughter give Harry a kiss.
"Nice of you to finally join us. Did you have a good night's sleep?" Jane asked her eyes twinkling.
"Yes mother I did. I haven't slept that well in years."
"And how did you sleep Harry?" Alan asked looking at him with a neutral face.
'I'd rather be killed for being honest.' Harry thought before replying, "I've got to agree with Hermione it was the best night's sleep I've had in quite a while."
"Do you need anything from the chemist dear?" Jane asked.
Hermione looked at her mother in shock that she'd asked such a question at the table. "No mother there is no need. Everything is in the same condition it was this time yesterday. As we've both said, we slept nothing else," Hermione said firmly.
"Can we expect the same thing to happen tonight?"
"Ask me tonight. Harry and I have to talk about things."
"I agree we need to talk. As Hermione said we were quite exhausted last night and just fell asleep," Harry said turning bright red.
"Am I to understand my daughter was so tired she couldn't walk ten feet to her own bed?"
"No Mrs. Granger, I mean… I don't know what I mean. Mrs. Granger I feel quite strongly about Hermione and I wouldn't do anything with her that she did not want to do."
"Good, you two are engaged and I'll trust the two of you to make your own sleeping arrangements…, as long as they stay sleeping arrangements. Is there anything either of you don't understand."
"No Mrs. Granger."
"No Mum."
They were walking out on the grounds before Harry relaxed enough to look at Hermione asking, "Were we just given permission by your parents to sleep together?"
Hermione stopped and thought for a moment before replying, "Yes provided all we do is sleep together."
"No snogging?"
"Oh I believe that is on the allowed list." Hermione replied with a big smile.
After a relaxing day spent visiting with her folks and exploring the manor's grounds Harry watched Hermione walk upstairs in front of him wondering what tonight held in store for him. They hadn't discussed tonight's sleeping arrangements and to be honest He really wanted her in his bed tonight. The shocking thing it wasn't for any fooling around although he hoped that might happen. He had told the truth that morning when he'd said last night was the best night's sleep he'd had in years and to be quite frank he was looking forward to having another great nights sleep of course if it came after a bit of snogging who was he to complain.
Hermione's mind was arguing with herself. On the good girls side it was saying that what happened last night couldn't happen again or Harry wouldn't respect her. Hermione heard Harry sigh softly after she'd kissed him at his door and continued on down to her own room. It wasn't until she'd donned the one baby doll nightgown she owned that she realized where she actually planned on spending the night.
"Budge over," Harry heard as he was starting to drift off to sleep.
Not trusting himself to speak he shoved over towards the wall and felt the bed move as a body laid down. Rolling over he looked Hermione in the eyes, "My parents don't mind and we both got a great night's sleep," She explained.
Harry didn't say anything he just put his arm around her and pulled her close for a kiss.
The next morning Hermione awoke to a new feelings running through her body. As the haze of sleep cleared she realized what was causing those problems. She was now Harry's teddy bear and his arm was wrapped around her his hand cradling one of 'the girls' as she thought of them. Examining her feelings she decided this was something there would definitely be more of in their lives.
Hermione gave Harry a quick kiss before rolling out of bed to reveal she was still wearing the thong she'd worn last night when they went out and nothing else.
Harry and Alan arrived at the club early for Harry to spend a few minutes picking up his own set of golf clubs before they spent half an hour on the driving range while waiting for a tee time. "What do you normally do while waiting to start?" Harry asked as they walked from the driving range to the first tee.
"Socialize with the other members waiting to start. That's one of the big things about this club Harry. I was able to join because there has always been a member named Granger. My brother lives too far away to play here often but he is on the rolls as an associate member. Perhaps I might nominate you for associate someday." Mr. Granger said with a grin.
"What's the difference between a member and associate?"
"As a member I play for free and can bring up to three other people for a round. As an associate member you have access to the club but will need to pay the green fees for each round you play."
"If you don't mind telling me what does a round cost?" Harry asked as they approached the tee.
"₤ 200 per round per player, but don't worry. You are my guest and are covered under my membership." Alan said with a smile watching Harry's mouth slowly open.
"Are all the courses this expensive?" Harry asked just before he placed his ball on the tee.
Alan waited until Harry had driven his ball about 150 yards down the fairway with it landing just off to the left but still in the main fairway before he replied, "Not at all most are quite reasonable but we like to keep this one rather exclusive. Only members, associate members, or invited guests can play makes it far easier to get tee times when we want. Why did you ask?"
Harry repeated the courtesy and waited until they were walking down the path on the side while the other twosome they were playing with took their tee shots before he said, "I am starting to like this game but I didn't want to spend a fortune playing it."
"Don't worry Harry you will always be welcome to be my guest and given what little I've heard about your finances becoming a member should not pose a problem for you." Alan said noting the balls of the other two in their foursome while flying further both caught the rough grass on opposite sides of the fairway.
"Yes sir but that has to last us quite a while." Harry said walking beside Alan.
'Us?' Alan thought for only an instant before he realized he was talking about Hermione and Himself. "I take it you are including my daughter?" He asked.
"Yes sir,"
"I thought it was Alan?"
"It is when I'm talking with my friend and occasional golf instructor but when I'm talking to my future father in law it is "Sir", Mr. Granger." Harry said with a big smile on his face to take the sting out of his words.
"About that tell me about your plans for the next few years." Alan said with a smile.
Another Sunday ritual was taking place at the Manor with both Hermione and Jane Granger taking advantage of the absence of men to insure their lack of tan lines. Taking a bit of time to gather her thoughts before starting Hermione broke the confortable silence that normally accompanied their sunbathing to say, "Mum I really don't want to wait. Sixth year there isn't much pressure on the students and that might be a good time to have a baby."
"That's this year." Jane said her voice shaking.
"Yes it is, I've been thinking this through for a few months now and with the changes that have occurred in the last two weeks I think now is the time." Hermione replied calmly.
"You want to have a baby? You who only last summer told me how much they would interfere with your plans." Jane asked looking at her daughter still stunned by the revelation.
"I know what Harry wants. Actually what he needs more than anything else to get him through the challenges he has coming is a family, his own family. We can get married but it will feel like we are just friends living in close quarters, it won't be that big of a change. He will lookout for me like he always does. The only real change will be that instead of Molly Weasley mothering him it will be you. My having a baby will change everything; Harry will focus on me and the baby. He will do everything he can to insure he is around to be a dad."
"Is he ready to be a dad?"
"Yes, I think he is." Hermione said firmly.
"What about schooling?"
"If I have a baby sixth year that would leave seventh year free, add two years free after Hogwarts to start a career or settle into an apprenticeship then we could have another. Three years apart would be a good spread." Hermione said working the timing out as she discussed this.
"Hermione, you will be only 17 and Harry will be 16 isn't that a little young?"
"Actually mum, I've read a couple of studies that say although it's preferable for a woman to be between 20 and 35 to give birth with proper medical support a women even younger than I will be should not have an increased medical risk. I am a witch and will have a healer closely monitoring me at school."
"You are talking about getting married in the next two months." Her mother replied trying a different tactic before going silent as she tried to digest the information her daughter had just relayed. She had promised herself when Hermione was born that she would not be a controlling mother but this last revelation was trying her resolve.
"Mum, you know what you and dad are like once you set your minds to something. You both have told me I am worse than either of you two in that regard."
"You are telling me that even if your father and I forbid this marriage. You and Harry will go ahead with it?"
"Seventeen is legal age in the Wizarding world and I'm sure I can figure a way to allow Harry to wed if it is necessary."
Jane watched her daughter's face as she spoke reading it with a mother's skill, 'She all ready knows how they can get married at sixteen. She just doesn't want to show her hand too early.'
"Have you gotten your summer homework done yet?" She asked changing the subject. A tactic, which Hermione gladly went along with explaining they didn't have summer homework but she had asked her teachers to suggest books she could read over the summer something, she and Harry were doing.
The day's golf round came to an end early due to a passing storm and Harry found himself inside the clubhouse at Alan's elbow being introduced to his various friends. Everything was going fine until, "Harry I'd like you to meet Armand Pimbley, He works at Burkes Peerage, they keep track of who's who among the well to do. Well at least he claims to, I don't recall that he's ever pointed anyone out to me."
"Pleased to meet you Professor Pimbley." Harry said watching as the man's eyes flicked from Alan to him only to go very wide causing Harry to think, 'I hope he didn't recognize me but why should he. He's a muggle.'
"Lord Potter, it is a pleasure to meet you."
Harry glanced at Alan in a panic before he replied far more calmly than he thought possible, "I'm sorry you must have me mistaken for someone else. I'm Harry Evans."
"Evans, Your mother's name I believe. Of course Mr. Evans my mistake." He said to Harry who was looking shocked. Turning to face Alan Pimbley asked, "How is it you happen to know Mr. Evans?" making Harry's name sound phony.
Alan's eyes were flicking between Harry and Armand trying to gain time to figure this out. "Harry goes to school with my daughter. They are engaged." He finally replied.
Armand Pimbley looked at Alan for a moment lost in thought before he continued. "Alan, I know your family but what was your wife's maiden name and her parents names?"
Stunned Alan supplied the information.
"I must be off this will give me plenty of work to do. Will you be here for your normal Wednesday round of golf Alan?" Armand asked.
"Sir, I suspect you know about me but this knowledge could put people I love in great danger. Can I ask what work you are talking about?" Harry asked.
Pimbley looked at Harry for a few moments before replying, "Sorry, of course I will be discreet. I do realize the danger. What Mr. Granger is unaware of is that my specialty is the heraldry of, let us say, the graduates of your school. A school I graduated from myself. Alan what would you say to a round of golf on Wednesday I'll join you and Harry here. You need to arrange a fourth that you trust implicitly. We should have enough privacy during that round that I can bring you up to date with facts that you are both obviously unaware of."
"Until then." Alan said as Pimbley walked off a little bounce to his step.
Alan continued to introduce Harry around as they slowly made their way to the car. Returning to the Manor with this week's peace offering in the back seat Alan said, "Harry, you seem surprised when Pimbley addressed you as Lord Potter."
"I was, I have no idea what he is talking about. I should check with Hermione she might know what he is talking about."
"I didn't bring this up earlier but if you are enjoying our outings there is something we should talk about. Jane and I start working our summer hours this week, which means we have Wednesdays off. I normally golf every other Wednesday in addition to my normal Sunday outing. I was wondering if you would like to come with me? I should warn you we might encounter some resistance from the loves of our life."
"I think I'd enjoy that, Alan."
Everyone was just finishing with the take away Harry and Alan had brought when Alan asked, "Jane do you remember Armand Pimbley?"
"The heraldry expert?"
"That's the one, when I introduced Harry to him he did a hard double take before addressing Harry as Lord Potter. I asked Harry about it and he wanted to check with Hermione."
Hermione looked between her father and Harry who wilted under his girlfriend's gaze saying, "You are the smartest girl I know. I thought you might know what he was talking about, because I sure don't."
Hermione's eyes went wide before she looked off towards a corner of the room where the ceiling and walls met in her classic 'I am running through my memory' pose. It was almost a minute later that she said, "I do not recall reading anything about that."
"That settles that question. Whatever he was talking about is not well known." Harry said smiling at his girlfriend.
"But how did he know you?" Jane asked.
"Evidently he graduated from their school and his field of Heraldry is Wizarding Heraldry. By the way we have a round of golf with him set up for this Wednesday and we need a fourth that is in the know." Alan said glancing at his wife.
"Alright I will do it. Hermione would you like to come along with us? Perhaps you can be Harry's caddy?" Jane said with a smile on her face.
"There is no way I'm going to miss this discussion. I'll be there even if I have to lug bags for all of you." Hermione replied firmly.
Alan smiled at his daughter then remembered something else, "Jane I don't know what this means but after he found out Harry and Hermione were dating he asked for your parents names saying he knew mine."
"Probably wanting to insure I was good enough to date Lord Potter." Hermione said with a chuckle.
"It should be the other way around love. You are the prize, I am just your lowly suitor." Harry said looking at Hermione with love in his eyes.
Jane Granger looked between her daughter and Harry thinking, 'I wonder how an August wedding would be received by my folks? She did say this year would be a good one for a baby and seeing the looks those two are exchanging it is becoming increasingly likely it will happen wedding or not. We can give her permission if it's needed but he will only be sixteen, almost a year younger than her. Who has to sign for him and how do we get them to do it?'
That night Alan looked at his wife while she was puttering around their bedroom getting things set up for the next morning before asking, "You went really silent at dinner tonight is there anything I should know?"
Jane thought for a moment deciding to sound out her daughter tomorrow before breaking the news to her husband, "Not just yet. Don't worry I'll let you know in plenty of time. I'm just not sure of all my facts, when I am I'll tell you."
"While we were playing today I asked Harry why he didn't wait until they were finished with school to propose to our daughter." Alan said looking at his wife as she got into bed beside him.
"What did he have to say on the subject?"
"Quite a bit it turns out. I will tell you it wasn't like I was talking with any teenager I've ever met and I've met quite a few being a dentist. He gives himself a ten percent chance of being alive in three years."
"Then he wants to cram a life time of living into the next three years." Jane surmised.
Alan looked at his wife his voice serious saying, "I don't believe so. He decided to propose to her to insure her inheritance of his estate can't be challenged."
"What?"
"He told me that as far as he was concerned all the other stuff one would do now they are engaged was secondary to making sure Hermione was set for the rest of her life. Jane he was dead serious. We talked most of the round about this and various related issues. He wants to live with her and play with their great grandchildren but he's scared to death he won't."
"I was going to tell you this later but you should be aware your daughter wants to be married before they return to school and pregnant before the Holidays."
"He'll only be sixteen." Alan said with a start.
"True but if we object to the wedding I'm reasonably certain she knows a way round that. I could see it in her eyes."
"Ah yes the Gretna option. Let's talk about this tomorrow during the commute. I'm not sure how I feel about knowingly giving them the go ahead to make me a grandfather before next summer."
"And me a grandmother." Jane said before resting her head on Alan's chest in a manner that her daughter was unconsciously copying in Harry's room. Jane's dreams that night were of her playing with green eyed grandchildren and when she awoke the next morning she realized she liked the dream… a lot.