Chapter 16: In-Laws
Where is Dan, Emma thought as she had almost finished preparing dinner. She looked up, catching motion out the back doors and saw Hedwig land on the back porch. Putting down the spoon she had been stirring the pot with, she turned off the burner and walked outside. Hedwig looked exhausted but stuck her leg out for Emma to remove the letter. She glanced at it quickly
Mum ONLY, Dad this is girl talk, give it to mum and do not open it please. H
Oh my! I wonder what this is about? Hedwig needs my help first though. Emma placed the letter in her pocket then held her arm out and Hedwig stepped onto it. She walked carefully so as not to unbalance the tired bird, she went inside and up to Hermione's room. Though they did not have an owl Hermione insisted on having a perch and food in her room. "Just a minute girl, I'll get you some food and water, and then you can rest all night."
Hedwig hooted her appreciation softly.
Emma placed Hedwig on the perch and filled the food bowl with treats. She then took the water bowl and filled it in the bathroom. With Hedwig eating contentedly Emma sat on her daughter's bed and took a deep breath to steady herself. There were very few things that Hermione wouldn't want Dan to be privy to. It was fortunate he had not returned home yet. Opening the letter she started to read.
Mum,
Wow, it's hard to know where to start. You already know that I love Harry, but he loves me too! When we both confessed this to each other he immediately proposed to me. Well mum, what was I to do, the man of my dreams just asked me to marry him? I have accepted. We want to get married soon; probably next month. I am the one pushing for a quick wedding; Harry wanted to wait until after graduation. I want to spend every moment from now as his wife. We are in a lot of danger and no one knows if we will both live thru it. Should I not survive this war I want the world to know how devoted I was to Harry. Since we are both under age we will need your approval for this to happen. Mum he is definitely the one for me. I can't imagine a moment without him in my life. Just as I have tried to help and support Harry when he needs it he has always given me support when I have needed it. We would love you both to spend time with us. Please pick us up here on August 1st. We will be going to that 'special' house I visited last summer. It's Harry's house now and we want to get some remodeling done before school starts. I am leaving it up to you to figure out how to tell dad about this, I think he needs to know very soon but I can't figure out how to tell him.
Love,
Hermione
P.S. To answer your question. Yes mum. And he was wonderfully understanding, helpful, and supportive. Everything I have ever dreamed of and more. He is and always has been a perfect gentleman to me.
"What's wrong Emma?" Dan asked. He was standing in the doorway to Hermione's room. She had apparently not heard him enter the house or call for her so he had come looking for her.
Emma looked up at him. He seemed very concerned, well of course he would be she told herself. I'm sitting in Hermione's room reading a letter that obviously just arrived and I'm crying. She folded the letter over once then patted the bed next to her. "Come sit dear, we need to talk about Harry and Hermione and before you get too worried they are fine."
A visibly relieved Dan Granger came and sat down next to his wife. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and wiped her tears away. "Ok tell me what I need to know darling."
Emma tried to think of a logical way to explain it but after twenty years of marriage she knew better. "They're in love Dan. They want to get married next month. Oh Dan she sounds so happy to finally be with him." It all ended up coming out in a big rush. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him fiercely. "Just like I was Dan; just like we are" she corrected herself.
Dan thought about this for several minutes then spoke slowly. "Oh, my, I certainly didn't expect it to happen so soon but I can't say I did not expect it at all. They are an awful lot like us aren't they my love?" He felt Emma nod her head into his shoulder then pull back to look at him.
"Ok since you're taking that so well go ahead and read the letter she sent me." Emma unfolded the letter and held it out for Dan.
Dan read it in silence; she noticed his eyes grew very damp. He was trembling a little when he got to the end but, she could tell it was not in anger. He dried his eyes on his sleeve "Guess our little girl has grown up. Damn I wanted to get to know Harry before any of this happened."
"What are we going to do about their wedding Dan?"
"I have been thinking a lot since Hermione told us she loves Harry and went to live with him. She has never even had a crush that I am aware of, yet she has talked an awful lot about Harry for the last few years. Our little girl may be young but she is very intelligent and I am sure understands what she is getting into. Harry is the one I'm worried about dear. From what Hermione has told us he can't have much of an understanding of what marriage is all about, the commitment, the need to compromise and work together."
"Well remember when we were talking to Dumbledore the other night? He said that Hermione was the one person that Harry trusted. Hermione has always spoken well of him and praised his willingness to help others. Remember that troll incident in her first year Dan. Harry never explained to her why he suddenly thought of where she was and that she needed to be warned about the troll. She could have been safe in their dorm already. Yet off he ran at his own peril to find and warn her about the danger lurking in the castle. The first night back home from school remember I found her crying by her window holding her diary? She said it was because she had failed Harry three times this last year. First she hadn't learned Occulmency, mental protection, and Voldemort had used that to trick Harry. Second she had allowed him to go to the Department of Mysteries when she felt it was a trap. Third she had allowed Ron to convince her not to talk to Harry about Sirius' death before they left school."
"You never told me why she was crying that night. I feel so powerless in these magical things. Is that why you didn't object to sending her to help Harry?"
"Some of it, her issues are way beyond a normal sixteen year old girls, she has taken on adult responsibilities. You know she has always been serious and mature beyond her years. Think about this statement of hers:
'Yes, I love Harry; I can't stop thinking about him. He has become the reason I work so hard on my studies. I need to help him prepare to face Voldemort. I need to prepare myself to be worthy of standing beside him and to help him in any way I can in the final battle with Voldemort.'
When she said that the other day it was etched into my mind. She told us her deepest feelings there dear, never has she been so open about anything. That is not the statement of a girl that is a woman profoundly committed. She is devoted entirely to Harry and now we know that he wants to marry her. I don't think that even someone who grew up like Harry did would carelessly suggest such a commitment if he did not feel the same about her. Yes he has inner demons to work thru and one nasty one out there that keeps trying to kill him, but look at this letter from her Dan. She has always said how nice Harry was, I can't imagine that if she feels this way about him even after knowing everything she does about him that we won't find him a wonderful son-in-law."
"I could never deny my daughter her happiness you know that. Just show me where to sign the paperwork. Damn, loose a son; gain a son-in-law. Strange how the world works huh Emma?" He smiled at her.
Emma smiled back "Yes dear, quite strange."
Suddenly they both heard a soft popping noise from the hallway in front of them. Startled they both looked up to find Dumbledore standing in Hermione's doorway. His half moon spectacles glinted in the lights and he looked decidedly out of place in such a mundane setting.
He stepped thru the doorway and addressed them. "Ahh I see you have also received a letter from them. Poor Hedwig, she flew all over England today." He pointed to Hedwig who was now sound asleep on the perch. He pulled a small white paper bag out of his robe and offered it to them "Lemon drop? I find them quite soothing"
Each of them took one automatically and felt a soothing warmth start to come over them. Taking one himself Dumbledore continued "This development changes a few things. You are going to Grimauld place with them in three weeks?"
"Yes" Dan answered as Emma nodded yes.
"The two of you may need to stay there indefinitely I'm afraid. Once this is known to Voldemort you will become prime targets for him. I will not permit either Hermione or Harry to suffer thru the loss of either of you. I must ask you to make arrangements for an extended sabbatical from your practice and your home. I have already warded this house, years ago actually, but Number 12 Grimauld Place is definitely the safest place to be. There I have let you in on the secret; you will now be able to see the building when you get there."
He pulled out his wand and summoned three trunks like Hermione's. "Since you will be away for some time you may wish to take a lot of things with you. These will hold far more than they appear capable of, yet weigh no more than a lightly packed one. I do not believe it will be safe for any of you to return here for some time. She may wish for some things from her room, so please pack for her." He looked pointedly at Hermione's large collection of books. "Oh let me help you with her library."
Dumbledore pointed his wand at the books in the corner "minimus" and flicked rapidly it in a small circular pattern. Instantly the massive volumes on the shelves that seemed to cover half of Hermione's room were each reduced to the size of playing cards. "Locomotor books" as the astonished Granger's looked on all of Hermione's books suddenly leapt into the air and formed up and started marching in a neat queue towards one of the trunks. Dumbledore tapped the trunk with his wand once and it sprung open. Looking like the conductor at some strange concert Dumbledore directed the books which stacked themselves inside the trunk very neatly. When the hundreds of books had all finished the trunk was still only about one quarter full. "Yes plenty of room for clothes or anything else you think she may wish to have."
Dan and Emma seemed only capable of minor movement; they both nodded their heads in agreement.
He pulled a small brass ring out of his robe he looked down at them and they caught a glimmer of sadness. "Alastor Moody has been killed by Voldemort. I have made this into a portkey to take you to the funeral site. A portkey is a device for traveling. I would like you both there as this has been another traumatic experience for them. They are strong and with each other's support, I believe they are capable of the task before them. This portkey will activate when both of you touch it. I would suggest about six tomorrow evening. There will also be a memorial for Mr. Black. I would have liked to do it earlier but only now does Harry appear ready to deal with this." He handed the brass ring to Dan who took it gently, as though it were very delicate or very dangerous. "Until tomorrow night then, Farewell" with a soft pop he was gone.
Dan and Emma sat there for a few minutes. "What have we gotten into dear?" Dan asked softly.
"I think we have just been pulled into the turmoil surrounding Harry. Turmoil that Hermione has chosen to be part of because Harry needs her. Turmoil which Dumbledore seems to expect Harry and Hermione to do something about."
"The task he just mentioned," Dan nodded thoughtfully then seemed to come back to himself, "Well I hope we can find something to do at this Grimauld Place once they go back to school."
With a twinkle in her eye Emma replied to him "I think we can manage to 'find something' to do Dan. Meanwhile let's go have dinner and discuss what we are going to take with us for a year long sabbatical."
Dan stood, helping his wife up he handed her Hermione's letter and put the brass ring into his pocket. "How about we tell the office we are going on a world tour for the next year or so?"
"Pity we will be in some house the whole time, a world tour would be fun."
They left the door open for Hedwig but turned off the lights and headed downstairs for dinner.