re-uploaded with corrections sorry I was operating on n sleep yesterday so I missed a lot Phinus looked it over after I posted it and told me off for not waiting for him but he fixed it now.

for anyone who is concerned, I visited my dentist today and he has done a patch-up job on my tooth COVID-19 restrictions stop him using the drill witch it needs but it should hold together for a few months.

Chapter 3

If Harry thought shopping with the Grangers during the Boxing Day sales was a chore, he still would rather have done that five times over than one day shopping in Paris with Emma, Hermione, Sarah, and Alison. Harry knew Emma and Hermione didn't normally go this crazy with shopping, and given the looks that Steven was giving his two girls it wasn't normal behaviour for them either. However, something about the group of them being together in Paris had created some type of monster.

The day had started out calm enough. Harry and Hermione had been woken from their beds by Emma knocking at the door, followed by a calm breakfast of coffee and french pastries. Harry was just finishing his second croissant when Hermione jumped up from the table and threw herself at a group of people who had just walked in, pulling all three of them into hugs that were soon followed by that weird French air-kissing greeting with the two women that Harry had heard about but hadn't seen until now.

Dan and Emma, after watching Hermione's exuberant greeting for a few seconds, went to greet the man and two women that Hermione was hanging off. Harry guessed that the man was Steven the chef that she had told him about, who had moved to France to learn French cooking and had stayed after meeting a woman whom he married. Harry trailed behind the two older Granger's feeling awkward.

"Steve! Sara! Alison. Long time no see." Dan said.

He was pulled into a hug by Steven as he said, "Dan my man. How's everything going? The patients still biting?"

"Only the little ones. You stopped slicing open your fingers instead of the meat yet?" The two had the banter of old friends who easily fell back into old habits with each other.

While that was going on, Emma (after also doing the cheek kiss with the two women) was talking with Sarah; unfortunately, they were using a mixture of English and French that Harry just couldn't follow, but the two seemed to be getting along. Hermione was talking to the younger of the two women, excitedly catching up. Harry was left awkwardly standing a little apart from them while they were all caught in greeting each other, but it gave Harry a chance to take in the three.

Steven was a light-haired stocky man, who looked like a rugby player that had let go of himself a little. The two women were obviously mother and daughter, they both had long straight brown hair and matching eyes, and they also both had the build of runners. If Harry had to guess he would say the daughter was about 16-17, so she was probably in whatever the French school system had instead of comprehensive school.

After a few minutes Hermione got around to introducing Harry to everyone. "Harry, this is Uncle Steve, you remember I told you about him moving to France when we went to the Skinners Arms?"

Harry shook the man's hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you Mr…?"

"Tucker but call me Steve. No need to stand on ceremony."

Hermione continued. "This is Sarah. She met Uncle Steve when she used to go to the restaurant he was working at."

"It's a pleasure madam."

"Please call me Sarah. Any friend of Hermione's is a friend to us." It was a little awkward for a second as Harry automatically went to shake her hand and she went to do the French air-kissing thing. After a quick double air kiss Harry was introduced to the youngest of the Tuckers.

"And this is Alison." Hermione beamed.

"It's Ali." She said before Harry could say anything. This time Harry was better prepared for the kissing but considering Ali's giggle he didn't get it quite right. "You English you are never prepared for 'la bise'."

"Uncle Steve, Sarah, Ali, this is Harry, my best friend and boyfriend." Hermione finished.

"Bonjour."

"Nice to meet you."

"Enchantée."

They switched to a larger table and the seven of them sat and finished their breakfast. When the Tuckers got some breakfast, Hermione took the opportunity to get herself a third croissant while Dan good-naturedly grumbled about her teeth. Over breakfast the topic of conversation turned to their plans for the day, which could be summarized with one word. Shopping.

Because Harry and the Grangers hadn't had the opportunity to go shopping for holiday clothes between getting home from school and then leaving for their holiday, it made some sense to Harry that they would need some new clothes. However, listening to the two older women plan, they definitely were looking for more than they could wear in a month, let alone the ten days that they were staying in France. By the time they had hit their fourth store, Harry understood. They weren't just shopping for their holiday; they were doing the type of clothes shopping he had done with Hermione last summer, getting most of the clothes that he would be wearing for the next year. Only they weren't shopping for just him this time, but all seven of them.

It turns out that the Tuckers lived in Nice, which was where they were all going tomorrow. Originally it was planned that they would meet the Tuckers there, but when Emma had told Sarah on the phone that she planned a shopping trip in Paris first, the plans had changed and the shopping trip from hell was born. It wasn't completely terrible, though. While on one hand he had tried on an ungodly amount of clothes that he apparently had to model for the woman because his opinion wasn't good enough, he also got to see Hermione model just as much for him.

-ϟϟϟ-

Harry collapsed on his bed almost as soon as he was in the room. He was all types of exhausted. He was physically drained from all the walking and carrying of bags. He was mentally drained from all the decisions asked of him, such as Hermione asking him his opinion between two items of clothing she was considering for herself when he honestly didn't have an opinion.

Lastly he was emotionally wiped out from a fight he had had with Dan and Emma. Harry had tried to get the receipts for his clothes because he fully intended to pay the Grangers back every penny for them. Dan and Emma had taken offence to that idea and the three of them had had a fight over it once the Tuckers had checked into their own hotel room to wind down for a while, before the two families went out for dinner.

From Dan and Emma's point of view, they were the adults responsible and money wasn't a problem for them, so they would pay. Harry, however, was adamant that he didn't want to be a burden on them. They had already done so much for him when they opened their home to him, they didn't need him taking their money as well. Hermione had been caught in the middle.

In the end Emma had done something Harry had never experienced before: she pulled the "I'm the mum" card. She hadn't used the word mum but it was implied and she told Harry he was to keep his money for after he was done with school. She said he wasn't going to spend his inheritance on living until he was an adult and responsible for his own finances. From now on, just like Hermione, they would be buying his clothes, books, and school supplies. Harry was going to be treated like a regular teenager and he would just have to get used to it.

The whole argument had left him feeling confused. He was so used to being made to take care of himself that it was easy to forget that most thirteen-almost-fourteen-year-old children didn't need to do that. He didn't know what he was supposed to do. Hermione came into the room they were sharing and after putting her bags on her bed sat down next to Harry.

Hermione broke the silence after almost a minute. "Hey."

"Hey."

"So that was a little rough."

Harry snorted at the understatement.

Hermione relented. "OK, it was very rough. How are you feeling?"

"I don't know." And he really didn't, the whole thing was so confusing to him. "Are your parents still pissed at me?"

"Harry I don't think they were ever angry at you to begin with. They are upset with the situation, not you. Mum made a good point Harry you are fourteen-

"Not till a week next Sunday."

Hermione laid herself on the bed next to him. As it was a single, they were touching in a few places. "Close enough Harry. You're fourteen, you shouldn't have to worry about money like that. Most people our age just need to worry about budgeting our pocket money."

Harry slid over to the side of the bed giving Hermione a bit more room. "I don't want to be a burden on your parents. They have already done so much for me, I don't want to become a parasite just bleeding your family dry."

She frowned. "OK Harry stop that talk now. That's not you, that's your uncle talking and you know it. Both my parents have high paying jobs, and until now only me to pay for. I don't know the ins and outs of my parents' financial situation, but I know enough that they don't need to worry. They aren't rich but we are comfortable."

"But they shouldn't have to spend their money on me. I can pay for myself. It's not fair on them." Harry wanted Hermione to understand. "It just feels wrong to take their money."

Hermione went quiet for a few minutes thinking before she replied. "You aren't taking their money though. They are choosing to spend it on you. That's what families do Harry, they look after each other. And that's what you are now, family. That means we help each other. Sometimes you are the one being helped but sometimes you are also the one helping us. Just think of all the times you helped me; you saved my life from that troll-"

Harry interrupted "You saved me as well."

Hermione continued "You stayed with me after the Polyjuice incident-"

"That you were only in because I was accused of being the Heir of Slytherin."

"Nope. I'm a Muggleborn, I was in danger already. I wanted to help myself as well as you. You helped me with my furry little problem."

"Yeah, because I love you and you needed help."

Hermione smiled. "That's my point exactly, Harry. You just need to remember help goes both ways. Mum and dad want to help you. It's now your turn to be helped."

"I doubt they want to help me anymore after how I shouted at them."

Hermione pulled Harry's head onto her chest and started to gently run her fingers through his mop of hair. "Oh Harry, if you think a little tiff like that is going to change anything, you really don't understand family at all."

She looked a little embarrassed as she continued. "I once had an argument with my parents that lasted weeks, all because the other kids in school got to eat so many sweets and I wasn't allowed any. I was screaming at them every chance I got for days over wanting sweets. You shouted at them for ten minutes because you wanted to pay for your clothes instead of leaving them out of pocket. Trust me everything is going to be fine."

The two of them laid together for a while without saying anything, taking an hour to recharge.

-ϟϟϟ-

Harry and Hermione left their room dressed for dinner. Hermione had instead that they dress up, so Harry was wearing a dark sports jacket despite the heat while Hermione was wearing a light blue summer dress. Hermione disappeared into her parents' room looking for her mum, while Harry was left standing in the room's sitting area with Dan."

"Hey Dan," said Harry awkwardly as he remembered the fight from only an hour ago.

"Hey kid, how are you doing? Calmed down now?" Dan asked.

The question was gentle and not accusatory but it still made Harry feel terrible. "Yeah. I'm uh - sorry for earlier, I shouldn't have shouted at you and Emma like that. The two of you have done so much for me you deserve way better from me. I understand if you want me to move out."

Harry was babbling on until Dan put a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Harry, it's OK. You're not going anywhere. Yes, you weren't the best behaved earlier, it's not OK to shout and scream like that. At least unless something really big is happening." Harry felt even more guilty but Dan carried on talking.

"However, Emma and I didn't exactly handle it well either. Once the two of us calmed down, we were able to look at it from your point of view. And while we are right about the money, teenagers shouldn't have to worry about money like that, it was inevitable that you would feel like you were taking advantage of us and you would try to fight back."

"But I don't want to be a parasite on your family's finances." Despite Hermione's words, his uncle's old description of him came easily from his lips.

Dan looked Harry over and gave a small nod as if he realized something. "Harry you need to understand something. You are a person, not a burden, and in no way a parasite. Emma and I know how to manage our budget, you don't need to worry. Now let's just agree that we were all a little out of line, we are all sorry, and all three of us will try to do better in the future. Is that OK with you?"

Not really knowing what to say, Harry just nodded.

"Good, well now that that is all sorted out why don't we get a move on." Harry jumped at the sound from behind him and found Emma and Hermione both standing behind him ready to Leave.

"We are supposed to meet the Tuckers in the lobby in…" Emma checked her watch. "Seven minutes." She finished off.

"Emma I'm sorry about earlier. I should not have shouted at you like that."

"It's nothing Harry. Sometimes families fight. It happens, we forgive and move on. Let's go before we are late."

The four of them left the room and made their way towards the lobby, where they were expecting to meet the Tuckers. However, the two families bumped into each other on the stairs and continued down together.

Steven picked the restaurant, as he had an old colleague who was working there and he wanted to check in on how she was doing. Harry was a little surprised when they got to the restaurant because they were seated at a table on the street instead of inside the building. However, seeing how everyone else just accepted it, he assumed that was just one of the things they did in Paris.

Once they were seated and a server had taken their orders, they sat chatting as they waited for their food. Mostly the conversation was about their day shopping, until Alison broached a new topic.

"So Harry, how did you meet Hermione then?" she asked before she took a sip of wine. While her accent was definitely French, she didn't have the problem pronouncing the H at the beginning of words that TV had taught him to expect.

"We go to the same boarding school. We shared all our classes for the first two years and still share most of them." Harry answered.

"And the two of you became firm friends instantly, I bet?" Alison smiled, obviously picturing some love at first sight scene.

"Nope, Harry and I didn't become friends for almost two months." Hermione answered while munching on a breadstick.

"Yeah I was a total ass for the first two months." Harry looked sadly at his lap, still a little guilty that he hadn't stopped Ron from bad-mouthing her.

"He wasn't that bad. There were a few that were but Harry just sort of didn't get involved."

"All it takes for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing," Steven quoted. All the Tuckers were now focused on Harry, but he just nodded in agreement.

"So how did you become friends?" Sarah asked.

Hermione decided she would answer this question. "Well I was alone using the uh… facilities in a part of the school away from everyone else. It was Halloween, so most students were at the school's Halloween party. A stray dog got into the school. The teachers moved all the students to the common rooms so they could deal with the dog, but I didn't know about it and neither did Harry. Harry found me cornered by this dog that was bigger than I was, and he saved me by making the dog chase him instead. Then I stopped the dog chasing Harry, and when it turned back to me Harry jumped on it and managed to accidentally knock it out. After that, we were friends," Hermione explained.

She was using the same explanation that Harry had given to Hermione's grandmother Jean. Harry and Hermione had talked once Jean had gone home, and he filled her in on his alterations in their story. Hermione had agreed that it was as close to the truth that they were likely to get, when telling their story to non-magical people.

"Mon dieu! You were attacked by a dog? Are you OK?" Alison seemed so worried about Hermione that she forgot that the incident was about two and a half years ago.

"Calm down Ali. It was ages ago, and I didn't even get bit. Don't get me wrong, it was scary as hell while it was happening, but I was completely fine."

The conversation continued for a while. Harry and Hermione talked about how the two of them got together, as well as a few things that had happened since. Hermione changed her potions accident to a case of flu, to cover why Harry was sitting with her in the hospital wing over Christmas.

Ali found Harry reading to Hermione while she couldn't read to herself was brilliant. "It shows that you paid attention to Hermione. You know what to do to make her feel better. That's better than some uh…ignorant bloke?" Ali stumbled over the phrasing in English.

"Typical bloke." Steven helped her.

"Thanks Papa, better than some typical bloke who thinks that a bunch of flowers fixes everything."

Harry was uncomfortably reminded of the fight he and Hermione had had earlier in the year. When Hermione had barely been talking to him, he had sent flowers then. Hermione wasn't the kind of person who appreciated flowers. Books yes, sugar quills definitely, even if she would never admit it. Tracey had pretty much said the same thing about flowers. Flowers said that you don't have any better ideas.

Ali continued chatting with Harry and Hermione most of the night. Harry learned that Ali also attended a boarding school, she was in her final year and was hoping to start learning medicine once she graduated, and like Hermione she loved books. Ali was actually similar to Hermione in a lot of ways. They both had an act now type of personality once they had decided that something needs doing, and they both had a similar sense of humour. It was easy to see how the two got on as well as they did.

Not that Ali was a copy of Hermione, in some ways the two were very different. While Hermione was more introverted and preferred smaller groups of people, from the stories Ali was telling she was more comfortable being in large groups of her friends. Another difference was that Ali apparently loved to look her best as often as possible, whereas Hermione was always careful to look presentable but didn't bother with really dressing up unless there was some type of occasion.

Dinner continued for a while as Harry got to know the Tuckers. Steven was interested in the fact that Harry could cook and the two spent a good twenty minutes swapping recipes and cooking tips. Harry enjoyed getting some recipes and cooking tips from an actual chef.

As well as Harry got on with Ali and Steven (call me Steve), he didn't quite click with Sarah. He didn't know why, Sarah hadn't been rude or anything, and she hadn't said anything that rubbed Harry the wrong way. On the contrary, she had been polite and friendly. However, Harry couldn't quite slip into easy conversation with her like he could with her husband and daughter.

-ϟϟϟ-

Hermione bit her lip in indecision while Harry changed in the bathroom but nodded to herself as she came to a decision and sat cross legged on the foot of Harry's bed, waiting for Harry to get back. It took Harry a few minutes as he not only needed to change but to brush his teeth a little extra. When he came back into the room, Hermione saw the look of surprise that flashed over his face for a moment before his face settled into a more neutral look.

Hermione could understand that, she was wearing a new pale blue night dress that was quite a bit more appealing to look at than the thick pajama bottoms and spaghetti-strap crop top she wore to bed while they were at Hogwarts. She and Ali had picked it up earlier; the male half of the group had been sent off for a while to do something else while the women visited a couple of shops that were women's specialty.

"Harry, can we talk?" Hermione tried not to sound nervous but doubted she pulled it off.

Harry stiffened almost like a rabbit caught in the headlights of an oncoming car. "Uh OK. Have I done something wrong?"

Hermione inwardly cursed; this was exactly why she had been putting off this talk. She didn't want Harry to get the wrong idea. "No! You haven't done anything wrong. I… I just… I have kept a few things from you and I need to be honest with you."

Harry relaxed visibly but Hermione felt her tension reach new heights. He sat on the bed as well, there was no room next to her so he sat in front of her, mirroring her crossed legs and facing her. "OK, well whatever it is, I bet you have a good reason to keep it to yourself till now."

"Well, first is…" Hermione hesitated for almost 5 seconds before she continued. "I'm bisexual, Harry, that means I like boys like you, but I also like girls, and I don't want you to misunderstand, I still love you but I don't want to keep this from you anymore." Hermione only stopped the run-on sentence because she ran out of air and needed to take a deep breath.

Before she could continue Harry started talking. "Mione, calm down a bit. It's OK, as long as you haven't cheated then I don't care if you also have a crush on someone else. It happens," he looked a little uncertain for a second before he steeled himself. "I notice other girls occasionally, but I still love you and want to be with you. So you notice both boys and girls, it doesn't matter. What matters is if we are both happy together. Anything else is nothing compared to that." He watched her looking for her reaction.

When Harry mentioned noticing other girls Hermione's first thought was anger. But Harry was right, noticing other people was normal. She couldn't get upset with Harry for that when, if she was honest with herself, she did the same. Harry was right. If they were happy nothing else mattered. And it seems as far as Harry was concerned that includes if she also likes girls.

Hermione practically leapt at Harry, pushing him onto his back and into the bed and enveloping him in her arms as he fell backwards. She could feel some of the tension she had been carrying for so long flowing from her shoulders. She pressed herself into Harry and started to kiss him. She could feel herself waking up, her fear of Harry breaking up with her at hearing about how she also likes women replaced by relief and a little lust. Harry tried to put his arms around her as well, but her arms were wrapped around the top of his so he could only move them below the elbow. All he could do was put his hands on her hips.

"Hermione, you said there were multiple things you needed to talk about," Harry said when she broke the kiss for air.

At first the words didn't hold any meaning to Hermione. She was too focused on kissing Harry to understand much. "What?"

"As enticing as this is, trust me a part of me hates me right now for stopping you, you said you had things we need to talk about. We only talked about one thing."

Hermione let out a groan of frustration. Harry was right, and considering how she felt right now, she needed to have the conversation with Harry now before she pushed too far too quickly. She climbed off Harry, feeling her tail flicking back and forth in its sock. She would have taken it off when she got ready for bed, but her new sleepwear didn't have accommodation for her tail so she had had to keep the sock on.

She pushed Harry over and laid down next to him. It wasn't like when they were 12-13 in the hospital wing, where the two of them could easily fit on a single. Nor were the beds in the cramped Parisian hotel anywhere near as big as the four poster beds in the Gryffindor dorms. While the two of them fit side by side, there was no room to move at all.

"You're right, there is something else that we need to talk about. It's going to be embarrassing so don't interrupt me till I'm finished." Hermione went on to tell Harry about the aspect of her transformation that she had kept secret from as many people as she could. She told him about going into heat, how up until now she took potions to suppress her lust and why she had had to stop. To his credit, Harry didn't once interrupt her. He just took hold of her hand and held it while she talked, both of them staring at the ceiling above them.

"So, what do you want to do about it?" Harry's question was like Hermione's explanation, blunt and to the point.

Hermione could understand that. If Harry's face was blushing as red as hers felt right now, being charming was probably beyond him right now. "Well, it sort of depends on you, Harry, how do you feel about taking our relationship to the next level?"

"I don't know. It's a big step. A part of me is all for it, but then that part of me never seems to want anything else. What would we do if you got pregnant? We don't have jobs or any way to make money. I may have joked about it in Gringotts last year, but I know that the money my parents left me won't last long past paying for my Hogwarts tuition and books. Though it will probably go further now, because your parents are paying for my books and clothes. But if there was a baby to pay for, it wouldn't last long at all."

Hermione wasn't surprised that Harry thought about kids first, with his desire for a real family of his own. She was glad though that he could see the downside as well. "I'm taking a contraceptive potion every cycle; it's 99.9% effective and I have some for you as well. Although the one for guys only lasts thirteen days, it's 99.9% effective as well, so there's only about one in a million chance I'd get pregnant."

"You got potions for me too?"

"I want to have kids someday Harry, but I definitely want to finish my N.E.W.T. exams first and I'd like to get a mastery as well. So yes, I got you potions as well so that if we…we… if we start having sex I don't get pregnant until we are ready."

"Is it something you are ready for?"

"I think so. The Kneazle that the hair came from was an adult, so it pushed that part of me to be more mature. Not older, just further along with that stuff."

"How long until your next..." he didn't need to finish the sentence for her to understand."

"Not until after your birthday so you have some time to think about it." Hermione tried not to be disappointed that Harry didn't just jump to wanting to make love to her. It was a big thing to decide.

"I love you Mione, I don't need to think about it. I just need a bit of time to get used to the idea. It's a big change."

Hermione squeezed his hand that was holding hers. "Love you too Harry."

"Now that I'm thinking about our relationship, isn't it a little weird? I mean considering how old we are. I'm not even fourteen yet but we've been together for a long time. Don't most teenagers have much shorter relationships?" Harry voiced his thoughts.

"It's not common but it does happen. Why? Are you thinking of breaking up with me?" Hermione asked. She was trying for light-hearted joking with the question, but something in her tone said that Harry's answer mattered more than she wanted to admit.

Harry sat up and pulled her up until she was sitting next to him and he pulled her into his arms. "Hermione, listen to me for one second. I do not want to break up with you. Never have, and I'm starting to think I never will. I love you with everything that I have. I promise you I was just thinking about how unusual our relationship is. Just because something is different doesn't mean I want it to end. You are the best thing in my life. A bright warm light in a world that is far too full of the cold and the dark-"

Harry was cut off by Hermione as his mouth was suddenly occupied by hers. Harry had said so many wonderful things, now she was going to continue where she left off before the second embarrassing conversation of the night.

A/N

sorry, this chapter took so long I don't really have an excuse I just haven't been writing much because I got hooked on a few fics I was reading and some computer games.

for everyone who has been following me complaining about toothache and not being able to sort it during Carona well I finally have an appointment to see my dentist crossed he can do something about it because I think it needs drilling and my dentist can't do that during Carona (something about flying bits of infected tooth and saliva) honestly right now I wish I could just jump in my fic and go see the doctors granger, lol

help pay my dental bill? pay pal dot me fs lowten86