I don't own Harry Potter but I appreciate being allowed to play with the characters

Chapter 21

Unexpected meetings

The following week was spent with their own families. The Granger's were in Diagon Ally on their way to Gringotts, Hermione was going to exchange some of her savings into Galleons to buy a birthday gift for Harry. The family waited patiently in line. Reaching the front Hermione addressed the teller.

"Good day master Goblin, May your profits be great and your losses small. Please may I exchange some Pounds into Galleons sir."

The Teller looked up in shock, A young witch had greeted him with respect.

"May I take your name please."

"Sir my name is Hermione Granger."

The small being looked down at his ledger. The names scrolled rapidly until the young girls was shown. He looked up and smiled.

"If you could step to the side, your account manager will be with you. My name is Axe Guard and my your enemies die painfully by your hand."

The family had only managed to step away from the Teller when another Goblin approached them.

"Miss Granger it is a pleasure to meet you, please follow me to my office and I will address your obvious confusion."

They passed through the large door and were all offered a seat. The Goblin started quickly before the young girl could start to stress.

"Miss Granger I am Dagger Point the account manager for PBL investments. Mr Lupin contacted the bank to arrange a vault for you. It contains the standard consultant fee."

Hermione spoke up.

"Excuse me sir, but I only offered some ideas."

Dagger smiled

"Miss Granger, the mind is a valuable commodity and yours is very valuable."

The young girl blushed red. As the account manager continued.

"As I said the standard consulting fee has been added and when the products go into production you will receive a percentage of the profits."

Hermione started to bounce in the chair. "I can afford to buy Harry a nice present for his birthday."

The account manager laughed. "You could pay your parents mortgage twice and still have Galleons left."

The three were speechless while Dagger explained the investment options available to her.

Harry was sitting in his room reading a letter from Hermione, she was describing her visit to the bank. The peace was shattered by a crack and the appearance of a dishevelled house elf.

"The great Harry Potter must not return to Hogwarts. Great danger, yes great great danger."

Kreacher appeared between Harry and the disturbed being.

"STOP, Step away from my boy."

"Harry Potter must not return to Hoggywarts it is not being safe!, My master be doing bad thing."

The elf bent forward clutching his head. Seeing his distress, Kreacher calmed a little.

"What is your name young elf?"

"I is being Dobby, my master is.."

Dobby stopped at Kreachers raised hand.

"No need to say more, do not risk your bond. I will raise this matter with my family and you can be sure the children will be safe. Harry is my master and I will protect him"

Dobby seemed to ponder this, a few moments later he nodded and left the same way he came.

"Harry, I will call the family, go down to the kitchen." Kreacher was not a happy Elf. If there was a threat to his children, the culprits would feel his displeasure.

Pops scrubbed his hands down his face and stroked his long beard. Two threats in two years, this is a place of education and should be safe to do so. Also the fact that there is no proof that the little being wasn't a total nutter as Harry put it, made it impossible to act on.

Susan and Hermione were walking around a Muggle shopping centre when they were approached by Hannah Abbott from Hufflepuff.

"Hi Sue, Granger" there was obvious coldness in her greeting to Hermione.

"Hello Hannah, what can we do for you?"

"Look Sue I know you don't like what I did but we are best friends."

"No we were best friends you ended that when you did what almost every other so called friends did. You tried to manipulate me to get to Harry."

Hermione was trying to look anywhere apart from the argument in front of here.

"And I suppose SHE is not" pointing at Hermione.

Susan gave a little chuckle. "That is where Hermione is a real friend, she asks for and expects nothing. The fact my bother is in love with her, will be her own cross to bear."

Hermione blushed and Hannah went red and scoffed. "Harry in love with her, you must be joking. What has she got that the rest of us don't have."

Sue leaned forward and stated in a mock whisper "Harry".

The other girl stamped her feet and stormed away.

"Sorry about that Hermione, we were friends growing up but as we got older it became more and more about Harry."

JULY 1991

Sue and Hannah had be chilling in Sue's bedroom.

"So Harry's starting to look cute."

Susan's face scrunched up. "Urg that's my brother your talking about, pain in the ass yes, cute no."

The young girl on the bed didn't seem to hear her friend. " Our wedding will be beautiful."

The other girl looked up in confusion. " wedding, what wedding."

"Mine and Harry's of corse, who else would you want to marry your brother."

"And his opinion on this is."

Hannah laughed "don't be naive Sue these things are always arranged by families, your dad will listen to you and we all get what we want."

"How is that what we want."

Hannah rolled her eyes. "I've done my time and proven my worth, now I get what I want."

"And what about what Harry and I want."

Hannah was to busy ready her magazine to see Susan's temper start to rise, when she shrugged as if those thing we're not important Susan lost it.

The screech of pain echoed through the house. Sirius and Amelia ran to the stairs to find a red faced Susan dragging a sobbing Hannah by the hair.

"Get her away from me she is no longer welcome."

Susan then turned and ran up to her room crying and stating she would not be going to Hogwarts.

Amelia took the girl home to her parents, she was ready to apologize to Hannah's parents. When her farther asked if this would affect the betrothal. Lady Black informed them that there would never be a contract for any child of hers and left. Neville was summoned, the boy rushed over to comfort his friend. The parents didn't hear what he said but when they came down Susan's eyes were a little puffy but she was adamant they would all be attending Hogwarts. Amelia looked to the strong boy standing beside her daughter. Many old families would be scrabbling to knock up a betrothal between the pair. She was more than happy to let anything develop on its own. Now they just had to convince Harry to go.

PRESENT DAY

The whole time Susan had been talking Hermione had been guiding her to the loo.

"I'm sorry Hermione you are going to face shit like that all of the time if you stick around."

Hermione smiled " but like we are best friends for ever."

The other girl laughed "can you sleep over tonight, we could plan your wedding to Harry."

"nah your alright but wouldn't mind ice cream and dodgy movies. Get rid of Harry and it could be perfect."

Sue smiled " definitely "

They arrived back at Grimmauld place. Harry had been informed he was going to Nev's, so off he popped with his broom, the two boys would be going for a fly. The two girls had dinner, changed into PJ's and spent an evening being girls. No hidden agendas, just two friends enjoying each others company.

Harry received a message on his mirror informing him to sod of to Nev's house as the boys were not wanted, he was at Longbottom manor before lunch. Harry and Neville were shooting around on their brooms above the beautiful home, weaving and barrel rolling when an unwanted voice called.

"BOY GET DOWN HERE NOW!"

The two lads landed and approached the older man.

"What can I do for you uncle Algi?".

"Listen to me you little Squibb, I run the family green houses and apothecary. No snot nosed little punk will change that. Your mute father and damaged mother won't stop me claiming my birth right"

Neville stepped up to the bigger man, rolling his wrists.

"Do not insult my parents you free loading scum, my farther is lord longbottom and I am his successor. Talk about them like that again and we will cross wands, let's see who is a Squibb."

The boy was almost nose to nose with the older man. It always amazed Harry how his friend could switch from the playful boy who had been chasing him on a broom, into the warrior that was willing to fight to the death for family and honour. The stand off was broken by a high pitch whistle that echoed around the grounds. All three turned to see an elderly witch wearing a hat adorned with a stuffed vulture. She was pulling two fingers from her mouth as she approached. The older man paled.

"Augusta I though you would still be in Brazil."

"I can see that Algernon, I can only assume that is why you are accosting my warrior grandson. I have no intention of missing his birthday."

Pride in Neville evident in her words. Looking back to the man.

"I an tired of this conversation you are my husband's younger brother and therefore you would never inherit. Now you can continue this and Neville will feel the need to involve his friends."

"I'm not afraid of the Blacks." A sneer in his voice as he looked to Harry.

Augusta laughed as she replied.

"Unlike most of the population I do not believe that young Harry is on this planet to fight everyone's battles. However the Goblin clan that treats Neville as an adopted son will."

The man turned and stormed away. Augusta left him with a parting shot.

"We are very aware of your colourful accounting, as long as my family doesn't suffer I am letting it pass."

The man paused for an moment but decided to keep walking. The old women then turned to the children.

" Neville Frances Longbottom where's my hug."

The boy smiled and wrapped his strong arms around her. She then motioned to the other boy. Harry embraced the older woman.

"Gran that was mint."

"You can choose your friends, you cant choose your family. But you can keep them in line. I do need a couple of gentlemen to escort me up to the house."

The two boys took an arm each and they walked up to the house together.

Two days later Neville awoke at the crack of dawn on his birthday with a smile, his friends would be arriving early. The tents were ready, they were going to hike to the lake and camp and play. They were going to spend the evening by a camp fire. Walking down to the parlour he was surprised when his girlfriend leapt on him and kissed him. Turning he could see his uncle Sirius giving him an appraising look. His parents, Hermione and her parents as well as his grandmother were waiting with back packs for all of them. 45 minuets later they arrived at the lake, Daniel Granger was in heaven he was sharing a part of his past with his daughter. They put up their own tents and then Dan showed them how to make a fire the Muggle way. He then dished out the 24 hour MRE's he had brought for them. They were all surprised with the contents of their individual ration packs, not just 3 meals but also snacks, sweets and drinks. Dan explained that when it was all you had to eat then you made do. They played hide and seek with the adults in the nearby wood. Nobody could evade Mr Granger. After lunch from their 24 hour pack they played in the water until it started to get cold. Then they gathered around the fire and ate dinner. The couple's cuddled under shared blankets until it was time for bed. Neville went to sleep thinking it had been the best birthday ever. Harry woke the following morning excited for his own birthday, the tent was silent and Neville's bed was empty. Exiting the he found the others were gone and only Hermione was standing waiting for him with a massive grin on her face.