7 Granger House

Harry stepped forward to shake hands, yet Jean surprised him by opening her arms for a hug. "I'm very glad to finally meet you. Hermione didn't stop speaking or writing about you since the first year."

"Mom!" Hermione protested, blushing nicely, as did Harry.

Dave didn't offer a hug, but shook hands solemnly.

Susan got a hug and a handshake just as well, and seemed just as surprised, making Hermione smile. "You'll see it will go much better than you fear," she whispered to Susan, hoping it was true.

Hermione was glad that Harry offered to help her father put everything in his car's trunk. Despite trying to tell him beforehand how to behave, she just couldn't think of each and every aspect of their vacation and give instructions about it beforehand. She had to trust her husband to do the right thing even without instructions, and she was glad he actually did. She was slightly more worried about the seating arrangements during the ride, but Harry helped her there too. "I'll sit in the middle, so you, girls, can sit more comfortably," he suggested, making her mother smile.

Both her parents seemed confused by the familiarity between Harry and Susan. Hermione sighed internally. That was something she was still not absolutely happy about, despite accepting Susan as Harry's unofficial second wife. If it wasn't for the imminent war, she would not have accepted that kind of relationship, nor this early pregnancy, of which she was not yet sure how to tell her parents. She was glad that Harry, at least, seemed happy.

When they arrived, Susan went out first, followed by Harry, who then helped Hermione out. She noticed that her mother looked approvingly at his help. Harry also helped carry all the luggage to the upper floor while the girls joined Jean in the kitchen, helping prepare dinner.

Jean looked at her daughter questioningly. "What is it that you didn't tell us yet?" she asked.

Hermione cringed internally. She knew it would be difficult to keep it a secret and just as difficult to tell. "I think this can wait until we finish dinner. Then we can talk leisurely in the living room."

Jean gave it some consideration. "Alright, and make sure not to hold anything back this time."

Hermione blushed. "I think there are some details I'd rather skip."

Jean smiled. "Of course, dear. Certain details are better kept private." She added a wink, making Hermione blush even harder.

Harry didn't have an easier time. As soon as they reached the upper floor, Dave put down the luggage and scratched his head. "I haven't thought about where you'll sleep, until now. I suppose you and Hermione sleep together, don't you?"

"We are a married couple, aren't we?" Harry still blushed when saying that.

"And the other girl, Susan?"

"She's a very close friend."

Dave looked at him with some concern. "Is that all she is?"

Harry felt uncomfortable. "Her story is a bit complicated. I think it should better wait until we finish dinner and let the girls tell it."

Dave sighed. Hermione had never done things the normal way. Why should her marriage be any different? "Well, take Susan's bag to the guest room," he pointed at the door, "and I'll take the rest to Hermione's room."

They joined the women in the kitchen and helped them set the table. Dinner passed leisurely with very little talking, as everybody was absorbed in their own thoughts. Hermione felt thankful that her parents didn't press the issue. Dinner also gave them more time to observe the interactions between the youngsters. She hoped they would not find any more reasons to worry.

They moved to the living room for the tea. Harry sat on the sofa, with Hermione cuddled into him on one side and Susan sitting at his other side. She didn't cuddle with Harry but didn't keep her distance either. It was evident that she felt very comfortable at his side. Dave sat on the other sofa and waited impatiently until Jean served the tea and sat at his side. Hermione knew he could wait no longer.

"Care to tell us a bit more about how you got married?" he asked.

"You know I had a crush on Harry since before I even knew what a crush is," Hermione started. "I was extremely frustrated of not having advanced our relationship beyond friendship and I even considered looking for another boy, despite not feeling right about that. I then had a dream that showed me the way. A week later, I asked Harry to come with me as I wanted to show him a new spell I found, one that could be useful in combat, as it can't be stopped by any magical shield. After I demonstrated the spell, we both confessed our love to each other. That was accepted as wedding vows, as evidenced by the rings which appeared on our fingers during the night, and the confirmation letters from the ministry the next morning."

"Haven't you skipped some details?" Dave asked.

"Only ones you wouldn't like to hear, Dad. Nothing extraordinary."

"I was hoping your first time would be extraordinary," Jean commented, mischief evident in her voice.

Hermione blushed, noticing that Harry's face reddened as well. "Oh, it was! And so was almost every time since, but the details are better kept private, I believe."

"Yes, much better," Dave agreed hurriedly. He stayed silent for a moment and then looked at Harry. "If you're married to my daughter, how come you are so close to Miss Bones?"

"Please call me Susan, or Suzy, if you prefer. Although I'm the Head of my house, as Harry is, I'm still young enough to be addressed by my first name, especially by friends and family." She took a deep breath. "As a friend and an ally, I'll never do anything that may hurt the relations between Harry and your daughter. I actually plan a long-term cooperation with them, possibly continuing with our children as well. This cooperation is what made us so close, actually."

Both elder Granger looked puzzled. "Care to elaborate?" Dave asked.

Hermione jumped into the conversation. "Dad, before she tells more, I think you should know a bit more about us. When we went to see the Potter account manager at the bank, he requested us to do an ancestry test first, according to regulations. That's simply putting a drop of blood on a magically treated parchment, which eventually changes to show our family tree as far back as can fit. It turns out that Harry is the heir of Gryffindor and Slytherin, among others, while I am the first magical person for about a millennium who can claim Ravenclaw as her ancestor. Susan is the acknowledged heir of Hufflepuff. Together, we own the school and can set policies, hire and fire and do whatever an owner can. We have not yet claimed that position, as we need to learn some more before claiming it."

She waited for the new information to be absorbed. It took a while before both her parents nodded, making her understand that they were ready for what she had to tell them next.

Hermione didn't think they could be ready, nor was she, but she had to continue her story. "Susan told us that due to the upcoming war with the Dark Lord, it would be advisable to ensure we have an heir before it may become too late. She also wanted to have an heir before that time, yet she can't marry anybody who may need her to produce his heir. She asked if I would agree to let her have an heir with Harry, and I agreed, as did Harry. We're both pregnant now."

Dave paled considerably. Harry seemed to shrink as much as he could in his seat, and Jean seemed a bit shocked, yet both young women stood proud, side by side. Jean was the first to speak. "Are you sure about it? Is it even wise to become pregnant so young?"

Hermione answered. "We both had the healer check us before we left for the holidays, and we're both pregnant. We planned it so that we could give birth during the summer vacation and be ready for the next school year. We're all sure this is the best way to act."

She glanced at her parents. Her mother looked pensive as if trying to understand how to handle all the changes in her daughter's life; her father looked as if knocked on his head, too shocked to say anything. She came to him and sat on his knees, just how she had used to do when she had been much smaller. "Dad, I'm still your little girl; I'll always be. You didn't lose me – you only gained a son, and then a grandchild, in less than nine months."

Dave didn't answer, but he hugged her the same way he had always done. She could hear his breathing calm down, and then his murmur, "My little girl, soon to be a mother…"

Jean finally talked too. "I think we should all get some sleep now. It's been a very busy day for us all and we need to calm down and learn how to deal with this new situation. What will the sleeping arrangements be?" The question was addressed to Hermione.

"Harry and I will sleep in my bed. I'll probably make it much wider, of course. Susan can sleep in the guest room or join us in bed if she wants to."

"Is that wise, dear?"

Hermione shrugged. "She's been sharing our bed more often than not since we agreed to this. It doesn't really matter."

Dave only shook his head in disbelief. His little girl was not little any longer. He just kissed her goodnight, as did his wife, said goodnight to the others and went upstairs. Jean hugged Harry and kissed his cheek just the same as she did with Hermione. She then seemed uncertain with Susan. The redhead didn't hesitate. She hugged Jean tightly. "I'm so glad to be accepted," she said.

Jean hugged her back. "I understand that you're a part of the family now, and you're just as welcome. Goodnight dear." She then went upstairs too.

Hermione plopped on the sofa, beside Harry. "It went better than I expected. Dad was too shocked to ask embarrassing questions, but he may still do this tomorrow."

Harry hugged her. "They already accepted the situation. Whatever problems may come, we'll tackle them together."

Hermione smiled at him. "Of course, dear. Now, shouldn't we go to bed together as well?"

"May I join you tonight? I may feel too lonely in a room by myself," Susan asked.

"Of course, Suzy. I'll make the bed wide enough for three," Hermione said. Harry hugged the two girls and they all mounted the stairs, with Hermione turning the lights off.

–..–

The weather turned quite bad during the night. Whatever plans her parents had for the day needed to be changed. "We thought to go for some Christmas shopping together," Jean told them during breakfast, "but it looks like we'd rather stay at home, at least for the morning. Did you make any plans?"

"Not really," Hermione answered for them all. "I hoped to spend as much time with you as possible, as neither Harry nor Susan have any close family. I may be all grown up and married, but I'm still your little girl."

This brought some laughter to Jean and a frown to Dave. "A little girl cannot be pregnant, and would certainly not let another girl share her man," he said stubbornly.

Hermione already knew that it was his way to try and find some more information before accepting the inevitable. She'd even tried to make Harry and Suzy ready for such behaviour, yet both seemed a bit upset. "Was there anything in what we've told you not clear enough? Do you want some details to better understand it? Should I tell you how we managed to enjoy each other or how we got pregnant?"

Dave blushed at her words. They also seemed to make him more aware of his unbecoming behaviour. "Not that kind of detail, please. I also understand the sharing bit well enough, although I never thought my daughter would agree to that. Still, I understand why this became a viable option. What I fail to understand is how you got married in the first place, despite knowing it is official now. Care to enlighten me?"

Hermione smiled. Her father was so predictable. She moved to sit on his knees again, the way she had always done when much smaller. He grimaced, as she was certainly much heavier than a little girl, but didn't object. "Well, Daddy, you know I had a crush on Harry almost since I met him. I never kept that a secret."

"Sure. We could hardly know what happened to you. All your letters were only 'Harry this' and 'Harry that.' I thought it was over lately, as you started talking about that redhead friend of yours… Ron, isn't it? Well, he didn't seem to be too likeable, judging by your description." Dave seemed delighted to have something to say.

Hermione would not be deterred, though. "Well, that was because I thought I may have given Harry too much effort, gaining nothing, and I started checking other options."

"Yet you still ended with Harry," he commented.

"Wasn't that natural? When Ron indicated that he preferred another, I tried checking my options again, and Harry was still at the top. Nobody came even close. I then found a way to make him understand, and it went fluently from there on." Hermione was smiling brightly. Her father wasn't.

"So, you let him see what he was missing, didn't you?"

Her smile didn't falter. "What else? He really appreciated it in every possible way. Do you want more details?"

"No details, please!" It was evident that she was teasing him, but it was also evident what she had done that she didn't tell. She was pregnant now. Wasn't she?

"So, you understand now?" she asked.

"Much more than I'd like."

Hermione moved off his knees and sat at Harry's side. Dave massaged his knees for a moment.