The day of his date with Hermione had arrived. Harry was finally getting nervous when he was putting on the fancy suit he had chosen for this evening. The suit was a dark grey with an subtle emarald waistcoat and he looked mature. Styling his hair as good as possible, doing a last check and then he was done. Even the enchanted mirror seemed to approve with the wistle 'she' let out. Harry hadn't know mirrors, even magical mirrors could do that.
Now he needed to go for a last check up on the wardstone. He already had given Hermione acces to the Manor but he wanted to be sure that he had done it right. It would probably not make the date go well if his date got violently transported to where ever the Elves had set it. Knowing Dobby it would probably be somewhere in a shark infested sea. His friend had learned some interesting things when he was still with the Malfoys.
No, everything looked alright. The wards would let him bring Hermione here without issue. Taken a fast look at where the ward would dump the intruders, he saw that he had been partly right. There were multiple levels of offenses. Level one was getting dumped somewhere in the Forbidden Forsest but if a intruder would dare to try again, they'd be sent somewhere in the middle of the most dangerous part of the Pacific Ocean.
Ah well, if they were dumb enough to try to invade his home even after the first warning, they desereved to go for a swim with the sharks.
Since he had some time left before he had to pick Hermione up, he went for a talk with his grandparents portrait. They were visibly amused at his nervous rambling, but his grandmother was kind enough to at least try and keep a straight face.
His grandmother beamed at him, "Harry dear, you look so handsome! But take a deep breath dear, there is no need for you to be this nervous. Just remember what you've told us about this girl, Hermione's your best friend, she will love whatever you have planned for this evening. You've planned this perfectly and we couldn't be more proud of the man you are becoming."
His grandfather nodded with a smirk, "You are already doing much better than your father, lad. It took him six years for our Lily-flower to even have a normal conversation with him, let alone agree to go on a date."
Harry needed to hear that. It was nice to know that he was at least better with Hermione than his father had been with his mother. Not that those early years of his parents knowing each other could have gone much worse according to his grandparents. But now it was time. Time to go and pick Hermione up from her house.
Apparating to Hermione's house was a breeze. He was so happy that Amelia taught them that skill, if he'd needed to ask one of his Elves to bring him here, he didn't want to imagine what they would have done. Something embarrassing for sure.
He rang the doorbell and waited.
Mr. Granger opened the door with a scary blank look on his face. Harry almost took a step back but held his ground. Hermione's father looked him over and to Harry's relief, started smiling. It transformed his entire face from dangerous veteran to friendly dad. Hermione had told him some things about her dentist parents and that also included Mr. Grangers millitary knowledge.
"Harry! Glad to see you are on time. Now, come inside and tell me what you've planned for this date with my little girl." He stepped aside so Harry could step inside the house. Mr. Granger was an older man yet Harry could clearly see that Hermione's father had once a millitary background. The man always stood with a straight back, with a sharp look in his intelligent brown eyes and was still in a good physical shape.
"Hello Mr. Granger, how are you and Mrs. Granger doing? Is Hermione still getting ready?"
Mr. Granger told him that Hermione and Mrs. Granger were indeed still upstairs getting Hermione ready. Harry wasn't sure what Hermione was doing for so long but he was sure she would be beautiful. She always was.
Sitting in front of Mr. Granger -please call me Wendell- at the kitchen table, Harry explained in a soft voice what he had planned. Mr. Granger was clearly pleased which was a great relief. If anyone would know Hermione it'd be her parents. He told Harry that he was glad that Harry was the one taking his Hermione out on a date. Apparently he and his wife had been afraid for a while that it would be Ron or Krum.
Not that there was anything wrong with either boy but the seemingly lazy Ron was clearly not a good match with his ambitious daughter and Krum lived so far away. So they were glad that he and Hermione finally decided to try. Harry blushed bright red. Even Hermione's parents had noticed what they themselves hadn't.
Footsteps sounded on the staircase and Harry turned around to see Hermione. She looked beautiful in her dark blue cocktail dress with her hair lightly curled. Harry quickly stood up and went to her. She was breathtaking.
Kissing her hand as he had been taught to do this summer, he told her so. Blushing slightly she replied, "Thank you, Harry. You look good too. Is that a new suit?"
Nodding he looked behind her to see Mrs. Granger smiling down on them from on the staircase. Hermione clearly took after her mother in looks with her fathers eye color. Mrs. Granger came down and hugged Harry. She gave the same comforting hugs as her daughter and Harry felt himself relax. He got this.
Some surprisingly comfortable small talk followed in which Mrs. Granger told him to call her Jean. Harry really wasn't comfortable calling Hermione's parents by their first name. Any adult really. Could you imagine Professor McGonagalls face if he called her by her first name? He'd get detention for the rest of his life.
Mrs. Granger seemed to realise that too but she didn't seem to mind. Soon she asked them, "Hermione dear, would you and your dashing date be opposed to having a picture taken for your old and boring mum and dad before you leave?" Hermione looked at him and he nodded. If her parents wanted a picture of them then he could do that. He hated getting pictures taken of him but this felt different.
This was a family picture, something that would be saved in a picturebook somewhere. Harry hadn't been in a family picturebook since his parents deaths, so this felt different, more important than the pictures Colin or other people kept taking of him without his permission.
So standing with an arm around Hermione he let Mrs. Granger take a picture. And another one. And another. She kept clicking and Harry could see Mr. Granger shoot him a look full of pity.
Clearly Hermione knew her mother too and decided that it was enough with a warning, "Mum!"
Looking up from her camera Mrs. Granger blushed, "Of course, sorry. You kids have to leave for your date." Mr. Granger took over as he went over to her to gently take the camera away from her with a wink in his daughters direction, "Well Hermione, you know the rules. Have fun and we expect you back by 10."
Hermione nodded and took Harry's hand to lead him to the front door. He wouldn't say dragged but it was close. Harry didn't see anything wrong here but he could imagine that it might be a bit embarrassing for Hermione. Either way, Harry decided he liked her parents. They clearly cared for Hermione.
Just before the front door closed they could hear a laughing, "Have fun, love!" from Mrs. Granger. Hermione rolled her eyes but she didn't look annoyed. Clearly, she cared for them too.
Looking at her he asked, "Shall we?" With her nod of agreement he wrapped an arm around her and apparated them to Potter Manor.
The date had been lovely. It started when Hermione had stared with an open mouth at Potter Manor. She had loved the house and Harry couldn't be happier. Leading her into his home, she couldn't keep her eyes from roaming around her surroundings, taking everything in. But the best thing was when they reached the library.
Hermione audibly gasped when she saw the rows of books in the library of Potter Manor. Harry had to laugh at the look on her face. She hadn't yet noticed why he had brought her here but he hadn't expected anything else. You didn't come inbetween Hermione and her books.
"This, this is just beautiful, Harry! Did you know this room looks just like that library from the movie, Beauty and the Beast? I loved that movie as a child." She looked so happy when she looked around, Harry didn't dare to interupt her or ruin the mood to tell her he hadn't been allowed to watch movies when he was living with the Dursleys. He could hear them sometimes from his cupboard or the kitchen when Dudley was watching a movie but he hadn't been allowed to watch them.
"Your ancestors have collected so many books. This is amazing, I've never even heard of any of these before!" After seeing Hermione almost visibly talking to herself to leave the books where they were, she turned around to face him. She smiled that brilliant smile of hers and Harry was gone. He took her hand again and led her to where he, alright the Elves, had everything prepared for their date.
Harry had planned a candle light dinner for her in the library of Potter Manor. After all, what better place for a bookworm like Hermione? Surrounded by the books she so loved he asked her for a dance when dessert was finished. Lovely as dinner had been, this was truly the best. Holding her in his arms as they danced to a muggle song on the old gramophone the Elves had found for him. He was truly grateful to Gran and her dancing lessons. Before he'd never been able to lead Hermione as he was doing now.
After dinner and dancing in candle light, he took her to the owlery. There he finally introduced her to the three owlets. Hedwig was clearly proud to have another human coe over her chicks.
Harry asked Hermione if she wanted to name them together and after some thinking and Hedwigs approval, the owlets each got a name. It had become clear by now that there were two snowy owls with golden eyes who they named Helios and Selene after the god and goddess of the sun and the moon.
The littlest one, a brown feathered male seemed to greatly like Hermione and with how energetic he was, they decided on the name Hermes after the Greek god of messengers and travelers.
Hedwig and her owlets seemed to approve of their names. By then it was getting late so they decided it was time for Hermione to go home lest they tested the rules of her parents.
Standing on the porch in front of Hermione's home, she said, "Thank you, Harry. I've had a wonderful time today."
She kissed him again on that porch and told him their next date would be her treat. Harry also promised to show her around Potter Manor soon since they hadn't gotten much of chance to see everything before Hermione got distracted by the library. With a last wave, she went inside.
Deliriously happy, Harry too went back home.
Tomorrow he would see her again at Longbottom Manor for training. Every day they trained hard since the Wizarding world wasn't exacly safe for anyone. And Dumbledore was still the Headmaster of the school they went to. For now at least.
After a shared breakfast with Effy and Dobby, in which the two Elves told him that they were formally courting now, and after congratulating the two blushing Elves Harry went to the study room where Effy had told him he had some mail waiting for him. Harry's little nudge of getting the two Elves together seemed to have worked well.
There were a few letter from the DA members he had gotten in contact with. Also a letter from Luna which was just as unique as Luna herself.
Dear Harry,
It is very nice to hear from you. Does this mean we are friends now? I don't have many friends so that would be nice. The DA last year was almost like having friends so I would like to do that again this year.
Daddy and I have traveled through Iceland and are only just back home. We haven't found the Crumple-Horned Snorkack but next summer we will look somewhere else. Daddy and I found some evidence that they like to live in cold climates so next summer we will go to Siberia! I'm very excited.
How are you doing, Harry? Are the Wrackspurts still bothering you? I have made you a necklace just like my own so that you can be sure that they will leave you alone. Do you think your Hermione would like one too? I think she needs one.
Love,
Luna
Honestly, Luna was a very unusual girl but Harry thought she was great. But how did she know about him and Hermione? They hadn't told anyone just yet. Neville and Susan knew of course but they wouldn't have told anyone before Harry and Hermione told them it was okay.
Luna was special, Harry'd always thought so. Strange but special. Though no offence to other girls, Luna never bothered to become just like almost every other girl in Hogwarts. She just was herself and nothing more and Harry thought that that was very brave of her.
She was kind and smart and Harry really needed to talk to her more often. He thought that she might be a bit lonely and he promised himself that he'd be there for her. He'd be a better friend to her from now on.
The next was a short letter from Andromeda. Which was a bit strange since he still regulary went over to Grimmauld Place to spent time with his family. He opened it and started to read.
Dear Harry,
I just walked [Under a glamour. Stop worrying, dear] past Dumbledore while he was passing Saint Mungos and I did what we talked about. The spell had a lot to tell me and none of it was good. Albus Dumbledore is dying. He is cursed with some kind of Withering curse. It seems to be contained to his hand but it wil slowly spread until it reaches his heart at which point he will die.
Dumbledore is also suffering from dementia. It seemed that you were right, Harry. He is self medicating with wit-sharpening potions and has devoloped an addiction to them. It is not good, Harry. Not good at all.
The dementia makes him erratic, not to mention what his addiction will do and with his power it's a very dangerous combination. Be very careful.
Love,
Aunt Andromeda
Harry had done some research into the illness from muggle books after he noticed some strange things about the Headmaster but the letter from Andromeda confirmed it. Dumbledore was suffering from dementia.
From the book Harry read he knew that when people had the disease it meant that they would lose their short term memory first. They would have mood swings and eventually unable to remember the people around them. After a while they would only be able to remember things from their early childhood.
Thought Harry did wonder why Dumbledore had started acting like a villan from a story. Was that him in some point in his youth? Harry had read that people with dementia could remember things from their childhood but not recent memories.
Hmm... That was something to look into. Now if only he knew a reporter who could do research without anyone knowing it was her and owned him for keeping her illegal and Azkaban-worthy secret.
He'd ask Hermione to write her a letter. His best friend and maybe soon to be girlfriend was surprisingly good at blackmail for a girl who would rather die than be expelled.
It was a few hours later that Harry apparated to Diagon Alley to meet with Hermione. They couldn't wait to see each other again so instead of waiting until later this afternoon, Hermione had invited him to join her in Diagon Alley as they had planned to do a few weeks ago. Before everything happened. Before theyhappened.
Harry looked already different enough after all the changes that he barely had to glamour himself to look much different. He just turned his hair a mousy brown and his eyes a dark blue. He looked like a completely different person now and he was curious to see what Hermione had done with her glamour.
They agreed to meet in front of Gringotts that morning and Harry recognised her immedately. Her hair might be black and her eyes a hazel green under the glamour but she couldn't change herself so much that Harry wouldn't recognise her anymore. When he walked closer to her her eyes fell on him and lit up. She knew him too, glamour or no glamour.
With a whisper she said, "Harry! Glad you could still meet with me today," and a even quieter, "Thanks again for the untraceable wand. I feel a lot safer now that nobody can recognise me."
Hugging her again just because it felt nice he replied, "Of course I wanted to see you again. It was no problem, I'm glad that wand liked you enough to let you use it. What did you want to do today?"
Hermione smiled and started to babble cheerfully. She wanted to go to the bookstore, of course, and also to the trunk shop. Her book bag had reached their limid and she needed a new one which would be able to carry more books. Otherwise she had nothing else she needed to do.
Harry proposed they also went to the new shop of Fred and George. He'd have liked to go for ice cream but Florian's Ice Cream shop was abandoned. They hoped the kind man was alright. Voldemort might be dead but the people of Magical Britain didn't know that yet. Hopefully the man was just in hiding and would come back as soon as he heard it was safe again.
Hopefully it would be truly safe again soon.
Hermione hooked her arm in his like a proper lady and together they walked through the Alley. She talked a bit about her own lessons with Augusta. Apparently she found her lessons old-fashioned yes, but also delightfully clear. Hermione had always struggled a bit in social situations, but this brought some safetly for her. Hermione loved her rules. Not to mention learning new things.
It was quite calm today which was nice since he really didn't want to deal with people wanting to talk to him. Althought with his glamour he did look quite different so they probably wouldn't even recognise him. Hopefully they wouldn't even without the glamour. That would be brilliant.
They talked about everything. About the past, the present and the future. Their hopes and dreams and what they wanted from this relationship. It was a scary talk for Harry to have but Hermione started it. It was nice to lay it all out. Hopefully this talk would make them avoid some nasty surprises later on.
"I'm so glad you finally got the help you deserve, Harry. It's absolutly brilliant that Voldemort's now permanently dead. We just need to get rid of the rest of the Death Eaters and Dumbledore and you will be safe again." Hermione looked ready to go to war for him when she said that and Harry was touched. He had such great people in his life.
Harry gasped dramatically, "Hermione! But what if you die or worse, expelled?"
Hermione groaned and punched him lightly on the arm, "Merlin, don't remind me of that. Be glad I don't think like that anymore or you would have been in a lot of trouble over the years. Or would that be less if I wasn't there to help you out?" She said with a raised eyebrow.
"True, we would have gotten in a lot less trouble if it wasn't for you." Harry said with a big smirk that made the resemblance to Sirius very obvious.
Hermione poked him again and laughed.
"But seriously, without you I wouldn't have survived the last few years. Thank you for always being there for me, Hermione."
Hermione had tears in her eyes when he told her that and she said with a bit of a wet laugh, "Oh you stupid boy! Thank you for being my friend and coming to my rescue when no one else seemed to care."
After that emotional moment the two took a moment to just walk in peaceful silence before they started talking again. Harry talked about his plans for a prank on the whole school in both of his fathers honor and asked her if she wanted to help. Harry knew that pranks weren't really her thing but neither it was his. But he wanted to do it, and he hoped that she would be willing to help him.
Harry had big plans for this prank and Harry could use all the help he could get with it.
Hermione took a moment to think about it before she nodded decisively, "Yes, I'd like that." Harry laughed at her nerves but only until Hermione told him pertly to shut up. Harry dared to kiss the side of her head in thanks before asking Hermione is she would be willing to contact Skeeter for him so she could investigate the life of Albus Dumbledore. Hermione agreed immediately and said she'd write the woman after they were done in Diagon Alley.
It didn't take long before they saw what really couldn't be anyones shop but the twins.
It was bright orange and it said on a sign outside of the shop: WHY ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT YOU-KNOW-WHO? YOU SHOULD BE WORRYING ABOUT U-NO-POO. THE CONSTIPATION SENSATION THAT IS GRIPPING THE NATION!
Harry had to laugh. It was so very much like Fred and George. To his surprise he heard a muffled snort coming from next to him. Hermione had her hand in front of her mouth and looked surprised at the sound she had just made. That set him of again and after a moment Hermione too. They walked laughing into the joke shop where they were met with the proud twins themselves.
Harry made a subtle gesture and luckily, they seemed to understand. The twins led them to a private room, a storage room from the look of it and turned to face them. Harry pulled out his own untraceable wand and dispelled both their glamours.
"Hiya Harry, Hermione how are you guys doing?" Asked Fred. George continued with, "Did you have a nice summer? You have a lot to tell us, right Harry?"
Harry nodded. He cast a privacy spell and told the twins what he had been up to this summer. They were clearly impressed and relieved to hear what happened to Voldemort. They promised to keep it a secret for as long as Harry needed. They also promised to keep an eye on Dumbledore for him. The man was still visiting the Burrow every now and then for Order meetings.
There were more people who had noticed Dumbledore's changing behavior. Kingsley per example, the man had faith in Dumbledore but it was weakening. It was a good thing to hear. They needed as much people as possible on their side when the news of Dumbledores actions came out. The twins needed a moment and told the two lovebirds to look around the shop.
Hermione and Harry were surprised and proud with how well the twins were doing. The shop was clearly populair and there were so many colorful products for sale. The twins had done a really good job with it all.
Fred and George came back and offered them a small tour. They were walking by what Fred called the witches section when Harry saw they were selling love potions. Harry stopped abruptly and startled the other three stopped too, "Blimey, Harry, what is the matter?"
Harry pointed at the love potions and asked, "Are you really selling love potions?"
Fred looked at what Harry was pointing at and nodded confusingly, "Yeah?"
Harry closed his eyes for a moment before he opened them and asked Fred, "It might be my muggle upbringing but don't you think that Love Potions are dangerous? That they are a violation, a drug and when used on a non-consenting person, an assault or rape?"
Fred and George looked shocked at that but also thoughtful. Hermione was clearly agreeing with what Harry said but George still asked her, "What is your opinion on Love Potions, Hermione?"
Hermione looked ready to start a lecture and that is exacly what they got. Hermione was of the opinion that while Love Potions were not illegal they really should be. It was a drug that made the one taking it unable to give consent in their right mind. It was a violation and in the worst case, rape, assault or enslavement.
Both Fred and George looked shocked at Hermione's well thought out opinion but Harry was in complete agreement with her. Love Potions were a horrible thing and he didn't want to know what the people who had bought them from here were doing with them. It scared him to think about what someone could do with them, could do to him.
Fred and George were talking in hushed whispers but they seemed to come to an agreement quickly. George turned to the two of them and said, "Blimey you guys, we never saw it in that way. Mum never talked about them like that but we really should have thought about it better. We will take them out of the shop immediately. You're right that they are dangerous even if we only sell the weak versions."
Harry and Hermione were very relieved to hear that. He just hoped that the people who already bought a potion would never dare to use them on another person.
Fred waved his wand and all the Love Potions disappeared. Continuing the tour, Harry saw quite a few things he was interested in but when he walked past a sign with a enclosure filled with fluffy little creatures in a lot of different colors called Pygmy Puffs, he knew he had to buy at least one. Pointing them out to Hermione, they decided to buy one for their friend's birthday together. Susan would love to get one for her birthday since he knew she had been talking about wanting a pet she could cuddle with.
Harry and Hermione chose a deep violet one for Susan. It was her favorite color and the Pygmy Puff seemed to like to be held. He hoped the little ball of fluff would like her new home and her new owner. The violet ball of fluff made herself at home on his shoulder and went to take a nap.
Harry and Hermione spent the rest of the morning with the twins. They thanked him for the Mandrake leaf again and they talked in a bit more detail about all their summers. Fred and George had worked hard to make this shop possible and it showed.
Soon it was time for them to go to Longbottom Manor. Harry called for Dobby to take the Pygmy Puff and all her stuff to Potter Manor so Susan wouldn't see her present before her birthday. They said their goodbyes to the twins and apparated to Longbottom Manor.