Chapter 1
The first evening
Hermione paced the floor in her room, shaking her head every once in a while like she was trying to clear it.
"I must have Harry on the brain," she said, "I didn't see that lieutenant's face and just because he has unruly black hair doesn't mean that it's Harry!" just then her thoughts were interrupted by a tremendous crash from the lobby. Hermione raced to the top of the stairs and saw a familiar clan of redheads one of them with a pair of skis over his shoulder. When he turned his entire family had to duck to avoid getting clobbered in the head. Hermione looked on the floor and saw that the source of the crash was vase that had been knocked of the table and smashed presumably by Ron's skis.
"Ron," said Hermione from the top of the stair, "put those skis down before you take somebody's head off."
"Hi Hermione," said Ron Lowering his skis to the ground, "Fancy meeting you here." Hermione immediately took Ron's skis and put them on the rack outside. Then coming back inside she joined Ron and the other guests as they gathered around the Huge oak table in the dining room that was layered with a hearty Stew, Made from scratch flour biscuits, there were also plates piled with steamed green beans, ears of corn, fried chicken, Cole slaw, skillets full of warm corn bread, slices of the reddest tomatoes that Hermione had ever seen. And for desert there almost as many choices from pumpkin pie to seven layer chocolate cake. They had just sat down to eat when suddenly Nathan appeared in the dining room doorway. He wearing a solid blue button- up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, blue jeans and snakeskin boots. He put one hand over his ear and began to speak like a radio announcer.
"Here he is ladies, the biggest Heartthrob on the mountain, Lieutenant Harry James Potter!" Harry came strutting in wearing a dark green button up shirt, also with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows blue jeans, and a matching pair of snake-skin boots.
Hermione gasped and Ron Hiccupped, what Harry wasn't wearing were his glasses and with out then he was even better looking than before.
"He's gone and gotten contacts," thought Hermione as watched Harry hamming it up for the whole room. What really got Ron's attention was the shiny Park Ranger badge, which Harry was wearing on his belt. Hermione got up from the table and walked around to where Nathan and Harry were. As Harry finish spinning around again he came face to face with Hermione.
"Hermione!" he gasped. Hermione widened her eyes and put the back of her hand to her forehead.
"The great heartthrob knows my name," she crooned going into a fake swoon, " I feel faint." The whole table erupted in laughter as Hermione swooned into Harry's arms.
"Hey," whispered Harry, "who's the comedian around here anyway?"
"So this is the famous Hermione Granger," said Nathan as Harry put Hermione on her feet again.
"How did you know my last name?" she blurted out
"Oh," said Nathan, "Harry might have mentioned you once or twice-a minute." Harry blushed and Hermione did too.
"And I certainly can't knock his taste in women," Nathan continued, "you're even prettier than he said you were." At this Harry turned even redder. Hermione was mentally jumping up and down.
"Harry thinks I'm pretty! Harry thinks I'm pretty!!" out loud she said,
"Thank you Mr. Williams."
"Call me Nate, all my friends do." He said. Before anyone could say anything else they heard the front door open and then the sound of two girl's voices in the lobby.
" I can't wait to see darling Harry again," said one of the girls excited. Hermione noticed that Harry looked as if he was about to turn green.
"Alright," he said, "Who told the Carson twins that I was going to be here?!"
" I squealed," said Maggie suppressing a laugh.
"You just love to watch them torment me, don't you?" said Harry.
"What are their names?" asked Ron.
"Ditzy and Ditzier," mutter Harry rolling his eyes.
"Hush," scolded Maggie half-heartedly, "their names are Heather and Janet." Just then the two girls appeared in the doorway. Both had light blonde hair and blue eyes and they were about 5'3" inches tall.
"Harry!" they said in unison. They ran over to Harry and each grabbed one of his arms.
"Come over here," said Heather as they jerked him toward an empty chair Janet let go of Harry's arm and pulled back the chair.
"Sit here," said Janet, "she shoved the chair into the back of Harry's knees and caused him to sit down hard.
Heather grabbed Harry's plate and began piling it with huge servings of everything on the table. Meanwhile, Janet, though she was supposed to be in the chair next to Harry, was practically in his lap.
"Harry you look very handsome tonight," she said running her fingers through his hair. After a few more minutes Maggie got the twins settled down and acting as normal as could be expected for them. Hermione had taken it upon herself to protect Harry from the dingy duo and had moved between Harry and the twins.
It was at this point that she got to take a good look at the guests that were seated around the table. There were three Lawyers and there families, four Doctors, two old Mountain men and there was the Movie-star Camilla Faye an attractive somewhat slinky looking blonde.
"What were you and Harry doing on the mountain today, besides catching poachers?" Maggie asked Nathan part way through the meal jarring Hermione out of her thoughts.
"We were hunting avalanches," Harry replied for Nate who had his mouth to full of chicken to answer, "Then we were lucky enough to spot Jannigan and company."
"Hunting avalanches," Said Hermione with a puzzled look on her face, "what does that mean."
"Well," said Nathan, " I means that we cover the high mountain and ridge areas looking for potential avalanches and we set them off before they get set off accidentally and bury someone in a tomb of snow."
"What's your status report on the Razor ridge area," asked Maggie, "You know that that is the starting point for the mountains highest and fasted as well as most popular runs.
"There as still more zones for us to cover, Maggie," Nathan replied, "but don't worry when it is safe to open them to the public you'll be the first to know," their was a chorus of groans from the more avid skiers in the group.
"Oh Mister Williams," said Camilla walked toward Nathan with a sway in her hips she perched her self on the edge of the table and began to play with Nathan's bangs, "are you sure that no exceptions can be made." Nathan calmly caught her wrist.
"Miss Faye," he replied, "until I say differently the Razor ridge area is off limits to everyone and that includes you." Camilla jerked her wrist away and skulked back to her chair.
After dinner some people went out for night skiing, some to there rooms and some moved to sit in front of the fireplace in the lobby with after dinner coffee and cocoa.
"Harry, Nate," said Maggie, "why don't you to play us a tune." Nate walked over to a large cabinet reached inside and pulled out two guitars one a regular guitar and the other a Dobro (acoustic steel) guitar. Nate turned around and tossed the Dobro to Harry who caught it in his right hand while taking a sip of his coffee. Maggie cringed.
"Nate," she said, "How many times do I have to tell you not to do that!" Nate just smiled.
"Don't worry Maggie," he said, "Harry never misses."
Then returned to his seat next to Harry and they began to play. And Hermione was astounded when Harry began to sing in a beautiful baritone
When you're weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes
I will dry them all
I'm one your side oh, when times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled waters
I will lay me down.
Harry smiled at Hermione as he began to sing the next verse.
Sail on silver girl, sail on by
You time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine oh if you need a friend
Look around I'm sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled waters
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled waters
I will ease your mind
Everyone applauded as the song ended. Nathan stood up.
"I hate to cut the concert short," he said, "but Harry and eye had better hit the sack we have a early day tomorrow." Harry stood up.
"Good night all," said Nathan as he and Harry disappeared up the stairs.
* * * * * *
The next morning found Harry and Nathan out on the Razor ridge area hunting avalanches again. Just as they came to the top of ridge they spotted some people in the area immediately below them.
"Who is that," said Nathan, "don't tell me that Jannigan is out of jail already." Harry pulled out his binoculars. And peered through them as Nathan did the same.
"That's Hermione, and Ginny Weasely!" said Harry, but I don't know who that other guy is."
" I do," said Nate, "That's James Vandameer, he's a member of the richest family in the county, biggest bunch of snoots you ever met! He thinks he's a master skier and that he's god's gift to women!" as he watched he and the two girls turned and began to ski down a pass between to huge boulders.
"OH NO," said Nate, "Look where he's taking them, you know what's at the end of the of the black diamond pass don't you?"
"Yeah," said Harry, "Dead Man's Gorge!!"
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