Hello, my freaky darlings! We are back to our regular posting schedule. I did have a lovely birthday. My husband and I never had a honeymoon, so we took one. And spent the week being told we looked too young to have been together for as long as we have, or be as old as we were. Which is nice. Now, onto the next chapter.

Chapter 7 Hermione Sets Boundaries

Ten minutes to five they stood in her front garden talking quietly. Oliver suggested staying the night at her flat, then go to the Burrow together after a lazy morning. The Grangers pulled up the curb in a small SUV hatchback. Oliver observed the annoyance that crossed the middle aged man's face. The woman smiled tightly and said something to her husband. Hermione took Oliver's hand and walked towards the car. "Oliver, my parents, William and Moriah Granger. Mum, Dad, Oliver Wood, my boyfriend. Not a tawdry one night stand as you hypocritically implied," Hermione introduced them in a tight voice.

"Watch the attitude young lady," snapped William.

Hermione stepped back from the vehicle, "You may go. Dinner is canceled. We're done here. Do not contact me again."

Moriah frowned, "Hermione, no."

"I am not a child anymore. I pay my own way. I owe you nothing. If you cannot understand that basic fact there is nothing more to say."

"Your father is just concerned..."

"That I am not doing enough to live out his dreams for him in the exact manner her wants. I'm sorry that the girl I am isn't enough like the boy you wanted." Hermione snarled. "We do need to clear the air, but this isn't going down the way he wants."

Moriah looked at her husband, "You know she's right. You promised to hear her out and listen to what she's saying."

"The boy doesn't need to be here," William glared at him.

"I think the 'boy' is going to be around for good, so perhaps he should be," responded his wife.

William studied her, he knew the signs, Moriah was putting her foot down. Best to get in line or get run over if she decided to charge ahead. She did it so rarely, that it had the desired results when she did. He said the only thing he could, "Fine."

Moriah turned to the younger couple, "Please get in, sweetie. Nice to meet you, Oliver."

Hermione directed her father to a French restaurant just around the corner. Oliver noted it was easily in walking distance back to her place, but remained silent. He doubted any of the them missed it. The hostess started briefly when they entered, but recovered smoothly. She seated them with menus and went off to alert the rest of the staff a celebrity was there. The conversation level in the dining room spiked then dropped back down. The four consulted their menus and ordered when the waiter appeared.

William sipped his water. "Hermione, I have never wished you were a boy. I have tried to treat you the same way I would have if you'd had a hundred brothers."

"By trying to to control every aspect of my life? Nothing is ever good enough, especially when it isn't what you want. And I am done living like that."

"I don't," he started.

"You do. You have this delusion that if I try hard enough the coaches will realize I'm in the wrong position. That will never happen. These are highly paid professionals. They know what they're doing. You have to accept that." When William remained silent, she continued, "I tried out to keep my promise. I tried out for midfielder. A youth coach who remembered me suggested putting me in the goal. I took the job because I wanted to. My career is going to be on my own terms."

"You never complained when you were younger," he protested.

"I couldn't. Anything less than perfect marks and not training the way you demanded meant no more Hogwarts. I was desperate to prevent that." She ignored Oliver's concerned face. "You never gave me the chance to express a differing opinion." They fell into silence as the food arrived. She began eating. When the silence continued, she spoke, "I cannot do nothing but train and play in matches. I have to have down time. I have to have a social life and time for other things or I will burnout. You have to stop or I will grow to resent you, then hate you. Please tell me you understand?"

William sat considering everything she said, "I think I do. As your mother says all the time there's more to life than football. I work, I do other things, but I'm trying to make you devote every second to it."

"Exactly."

Moriah took his hand, "Embrace the life you have, not the dead dreams. You've done it before, you just have to find your way back."

William nodded, "I will certainly try. I love you, and don't want to lose you. I'm sorry. I never realized what I was truly doing. All I saw was the results I wanted." He gave her a small smile, "Though any chance on getting traded to Chelsea?"

Moriah rolled her eyes and swatted her husband, but laughed with him and Hermione. "Highly unlikely, Dad."

" More like over my dead body," said a female voice drawing their attention. Danvers smiled down at her star goalie. "Chelsea gets you after I punch the clock on my way to the pearly gates and not a second before."

"Noted," Hermione smiled, "these are my parents, William and Moriah Granger and my boyfriend, Oliver Wood. Everyone, Gretchen Danvers, my head coach."

"Hello, everyone, now, what's this about trades?" demanded Danvers.

"Family joke from my childhood. You know, 'when you play for XYZ'" explained Hermione.

Danvers eyes her critically, "You're sure?"

"Yes, ma'am," promised Hermione.

William nodded, "The joke is Chelsea because they were my team going up. But what parent isn't proud to have their child in the Premier League?"

"Glad to hear it. But you become unhappy, you talk to us before putting out feelers. Big game players are worth their weight in gold. You have a spine of steel and ice water in your veins. We're not losing you without a fight."

"I appreciate the sentiment, and I will, should I become unhappy." assured Hermione.

"See that you do," Danvers nodded farewell and left them to finish eating.

Sensing it was time to change subjects, Moriah turned to Oliver, "Tell us about yourself."

He straightened slightly, "Ah have an older full brother and three older half sisters. Ah was in Gryffindor with Hermione, only Ah was four years ahead of her. Ah play quidditch for Puddlemere United. Ah'm the keeper which is like a goalie."

"Quidditch? It's like football, only with more balls and on brooms?" clarified William.

"Quite similar, only everyone can touch the ball. Ah can show ye some time."

"Maybe some day," Hermione offered, unsure if her father was truly interested or being polite.

"Did you participate in the war?" asked Moriah.

"Not as deeply as yer daughter and her mates. Me parents weren't in Dumbledore's Order of the Phoenix. Ah fought in the Battle of Hogwarts, the big fight at the end. Ah helped with the aftermath." He looked down at his plate. Hermione reached over and squeezed his hands.

"It's done and we're still here."

"Ye keep saying that."

"Ron, Harry, and I saw a therapist immediately following the war. He's a muggleborn so he knew about magic and the war. Sadly, few wizards know about counseling. Wizards have so few coping skills beyond fight or flight. It is sad."

Again changing the subject, Moriah inquired, "How did the auction go?"

"Good. They raised 25% more than the goal."

"Who won your outing?" asked William.

"Oliver. That's part of why he went. He wanted to spare me some creep."

William grinned approvingly, "Good man." They discussed families and the Grangers' dental practice. When approached Hermione sighed a few autographs before they left. Her parents gave them a ride back to her place.

"One parent meeting down, two to go," quipped Oliver. She raised an eyebrow. "The Weasleys are totally your wizarding parents. And until about an hour ago their opinion mattered more than your parents'. Your dad started to redeem himself, so we'll see." He shrugged.

"That did go better than I expected," she confessed. She headed into the bathroom to change.

"Ah think yer mum sensed yer done with that behavior," he called through the closed door.

"Honestly, I go fed up with it years ago. But if I had pushed back then he might have pulled me from Hogwarts. I couldn't risk that."

"Is that why ye were so set on following the rules and getting good grades?"

Hermione frowned, nibbling her bottom lip absently, "As as child I was a know-it-all brain at school. The other kids made fun of my enjoyment of reading. So I fulfilled their expectations of me. Because that's what I did at home. I made myself what I thought people wanted me to be. A student with the best grades, a goody-two shoes. By Hogwarts, I had to keep it up or risk not getting to learn magic. I used to think if we all followed the rules everything would be fair. But life isn't fair and there are different rules for different people. Though watching the pureblood bigots in Slytherin and most of the Ravenclaws lose their collective minds over my grades gave me endless amusement. Even Percy bet on me to get top marks."

"Impressive, he hated losing money."

She shrugged, "Can't say I blame him." She climbed into bed. "But enough about the past and Percy Weasley's gambling habits."

"Agreed." He crawled up the bed and stopped hovering above her. "Hello."

"Hi," she grinned up at him. "Can I help you with something?"

"Ah hope so. It's been hours since Ah snogged a beautiful woman. Ah might die." He lowered himself to kiss her. She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him down further. "Hmmm," he moaned and she thrust her tongue into his mouth to tangle with his.

They rolled to their sides, caressing skin under pajamas. Hermione gasped when Oliver's hand brushed her breast. He gently massaged the soft flesh, earning him a moan of pleasure. She reached down to grasp him through his sleep shorts. He thrust into her hand. She tightened her hold and pumped her fist in time with his thrusts. She added a twist to her stroke, moving faster as he increased the movements of his hips. He reached between her legs to stroke along her cotton covered slit. His movements became erratic. "Oh fuck! Hermione!" Oliver cried as he came. He fell back on the bed. Panting, he kissed her. "That was...yeah."

"You're welcome," she laughed. She waved her wand to clean the resulting mess.

"Do ye need me tae..." he trailed off a little embarrassed he'd neglected her need in the moment.

"No, I did, just not as dramatically as you did," she giggled again. "Now, I just want to cuddle." She nestled in next to him.

"Yes, ma'am," he wrapped his arm around her.

Sunlight streamed under the curtains. Birds sang in their nests. Hermione idly ran her hand up and down Oliver's bare chest. She contemplated doing more, but decided again that their last first time should feel significant and that wasn't a quick shag ambush in the morning. Also, she wanted to take her time and explore, and be explored. Oliver stirred next to her. "Good morning," she whispered.

He blinked sleepily, "Good morning. What time is it?"

She rolled over to look at the clock, "Just gone nine."

"Ah don't usually sleep this late."

"Me, either," she shrugged, "I rarely sleep so deep."

"Ye just need something to snuggle with," teased Oliver.

"That's possible."

"Ah volunteer me services."

"I will keep that in mind. What would you like to do this morning? We're due at the Burrow at eleven. I advise against a big meal, Molly makes enough to feed three armies."

"Shower, coffee, toast, and the fantastic experience that is the telly?"

"Sounds doable. Shower together or separate?" she threw back the covers and slipped out of bed.

"Would Ah get to wash yer fun bits if we shower together?"

"Might cut into telly time, but sure."

"Together it is. Can we use yer washing machine to clean me clothes?"

She chuckled, "You know that's just for show, right? The small wardrobe has clothing cleaning charms on it.

"Thank Godric." He placed the items in the small wooden chest. "Nae, tae clean ye." He flashed her a feral grin.

"Is this where I say epp and run?"

"If ye like."

She gave him a fake look of horror, "Epp!" She ran for the bathroom, Oliver fast on her heels. They were both laughing when he caught her round the middle. Once in the shower she demonstrated how to properly have a fun shower when he focused too long on her breasts. He proved to be a fast learner. By the time they finished they decided to skip food and the telly and just head over to the Burrow before they were late.

A/N If continues to be difficult to post on this will be my last story on that site. If I reach that point, which seems increasingly likely, I will be on AO3. I will let you know. But I do not have the time or interest to retype chapters every week because the website constantly needs to verify I am a human and does not upload the chapter. And inserts website code if you copy and paste. And make it look fine before publishing.