The Bodyguard

AN: WOW. I never expected the response I've gotten with this story! You guys are wonderful, thank you so much! Major props to LostEboni, to whom I completely blame and thank for this plot bunny. *grin* Thank you for all your help, and I look forward to seeing where this story (and yours) takes us.

Chapter 3

Harry had met Hermione's parents, Daniel and Emma, a couple of times over the years. It was easy to see where Hermione got her quick mind and acid wit from. Harry knew that Hermione was very close to her parents, ad was fairly open about being a witch, although he would bet a hundred Gaellons that she didn't tell them everything about her time at Hogwarts. Still, he would have to watch himself and make sure he kept to cat-like mannerisms around them. Harry knew that Mr. Granger had spent some time with Arthur Weasley over the previous summer, so he had become more aware (or immune?) of strange, er, things.

"Now, Dad is a softie, but Mum's the one you have to convince," Hermione was saying. "I mean, full out turn on the charm. Crookshanks was different--he was magical and a present for me doing so well in school, but he also was still a regular cat. A great black panther prowling around underfoot is something else!"

They reached her house and she looked at him pleadingly. "Max says you're intelligent, so I can only hope you understand."

Leo stared back at her with those intensely green eyes, before turning away and tugging her gently toward the house. Hermione gaped at him. Did he just wink at her? Shrugging it off, she allowed herself to be led into the house.

"Mum! Dad! I'm back!" She called. "Be good," she whispered to her companion as she took off her jacket and hung it in the entryway closet.

Emma Granger was the first to hear her daughter's call, and came into the living room to greet her. "Hi sweetheart. What happened? Did Max not need you today? She stopped short at the sight of the large black cat sitting calmly at her daughter's side.

Her husband, Daniel, wandered in. "Emma, do you know where--" he stopped mid sentence and stared at his daughter. "Hermione, sweetheart, it seems like one of your four legged friends followed you home."

Obviously not much phased Mr. Granger, Harry thought in amusement and approval. Of course, having a daughter who was a witch may have inured him to many surprises.

"Er, yes. Mum, Dad, this is Leo. I...kind of adopted him for the summer. Just for the summer, " she repeated, seeing her parents frown. "He'll be with me at the shelter during the day, and he's very gentle, I swear. Max said he's a special breed, more like a guard dog than a cat, very intelligent."

She was rambling, Harry noted. He had never seen Hermione so flustered. It was kind of cute. He leaned against her leg, giving her silent support, and felt her take a deep breath. Her hand automatically came down to caress him behind the ears. "Max also said that he could be the shelter mascot and stay there permanently, if necessary."

"But Hermione, he's so big!" Emma exclaimed.

"I can do a spell to make him smaller when he's around other people." Hermione replied earnestly. "I got special permission from Professor Dumbledore to do small bits of magic, so the Ministry won't be on my case. Or I'll ask Max. He's a Squib, but maybe he'll be able to suggest a book or something. Leo is very obviously part magic, so it might be dangerous for him to go someplace else where they won't understand why he is the way he is." She shot a pleading look at her father, who held up his hands.

"I defer judgment to your mother on this one."

Emma's eyes were narrowed as she regarded him. He shivered. It was clear where Hermione to her steely eyed stares from. He swallowed and returned her gaze as calmly as he could.

"And with the increase of 'activity' around the neighborhood, it would be nice to have a four-legged companion again." Hermione bit her lip as Harry's ears pricked. "Please?"

Her mother's lip twitched slightly, as if holding back a reluctant smile. She led out a hand and waited. Harry let his cat instincts take over slightly, walking over to where she stood and gravely sniffing her hand before bumping it gently with his head. Automatically her fingers moved, and he leaned harder into her fingers. Hermione held her breath. The ice melted, and a true smile broke out on Emma's face.

"Well, aren't you a charmer." She chuckled. "I suppose it's alright with me, especially since he'll be at the shelter during the day." She looked at her daughter, whom had a huge grin on her face. "But I want you to write to Professor Dumbledore and see if he can recommend some books or any info about your friend's--Leo, was it?"--last home. I would be interested in knowing why his last owners gave him up."

Daniel nodded in agreement.

"I will. Thank you Mum! Thanks Dad! C'mon Leo--I want to write to Harry and Ron and tell them about you."

Great. Hermione didn't know about the Dursleys going on "vacation". How was he supposed to write her back when he was there (and a cat)? This was getting complicated. He needed to talk to Professor Dumbledore, but couldn't until Hermione went to sleep. Luckily, she was an early riser, not a night owl, so he was fairly certain he could stay awake long enough to out stay her. He was a cat, after all; he was supposed to take naps in the middle of the day.

***

Hermione's room was very neat and organized, although he had expected no less. Two large bookshelves, both filled to the brim with Muggle books, lined one wall. Curious, he padded over for a closer look, interest to see if his friend every broke down ad read purely for pleasure. Of course, many Muggle science fiction books were actually historical magical fiction written by witches and wizards whom made a killing in the Muggle world with their true accounts of magic history. Harry had even heard there was already a series chronicling his life, plus four movies to boot! He snickered when found them on the shelf, and turned to shoot his friend a look.

"It's a part of history!" She said, somehow feeling the need to defend herself. It was silly, but she had watched Leo look around her room and deliberately walk over to the bookshelf. She somehow knew what books he was referring to when he had shot her that exasperatedly amused look, so similar to Harry's. "Besides, how often do you find an accurate account of someone's life? It's kind of scary, really, how on the spot the author is--and why am I arguing with a cat?" She threw her hands up in the air and turned away to rummage under her bed. "Honestly! I need to get out more--explaining things to a cat! Of course, he's supposedly a very smart cat, but still a cat, nonetheless. I would never hear the end of it from Ron or Harry--especially Ron! How I've survived nearly six years of being friends with them, I have no idea. And wipe that smug expression off your face!" She shook her finger at the surprised animal, who immediately looked sheepish. She huffed and returned to looking under the bed.

Harry had indeed been smirking to himself, but he had thought she hadn't seen it. Now he rubbed a paw over his face, pretending to wash but really struggling to hide his grin, which she apparently could see. He was beginning to see why Ron liked riling her up so much.

"Males!" She huffed again and took the pile of blankets she had unearthed to the foot of the bed, arranging them in a lush pile. "There. This will have to do for now--you're much too big for Crookshank's old bed."

"Hermione!" Emma called from downstairs. "You have company!"

"Just a minute!" she called, and rose. Leo rose with her and followed her to the door. "Leo, stay here. I'll be right back." She tried to slip out of the door, but he caught one big paw in the opening and pulled it back. She glared at him. He glared right back. It was clear that he had appointed himself as her new bodyguard and wasn't planning on letting her out of his sight. It was also a bit eerie, how much he reminded her of Harry in protective mode. She had a feeling that, like Harry, he would do as he pleased whether she liked it or not. So, like with Harry, she gave in, figuring it was better to have him with her where she could pull him out of any potential trouble if necessary. "Oh alright." Stifling a sigh, she pulled out her wand. Leo's ears laid back flat on his head. "Relax. It's just a Reductio charm. You're somewhat intimidating, and this is a mostly Muggle neighborhood, you know." She performed the charm, and Harry felt himself shrink slightly. Now the top of his head reached her knee, instead of mid-thigh. "C'mon, then."

She strode out the door with him prowling a pace behind. At the top of the stairs she automatically paused to see who her visitor was. Her eyes widened.