Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter
Recap:
When Harry was ready for bed and was almost asleep he heard a tapping at the window. Hedwig was perched on the sill with a red envelope tied to her leg. Why would the Weasley's send her back? And what's on her leg. That looks like a HOWLER!
Chapter 8: Too Much Yelling!
Harry walked over to the window and net Hedwig in. she flew to his shoulder and nipped his ear affectionately. "Hey girl. Did you miss me?" She hooted and bobbed her head. "I missed you too girl. Were the Weasley's mad when they sent this letter?" As Harry took the letter, Hedwig cocked her head as if she was saying 'what do you think?' She flew to the window and started her search for rats, while he stood there wondering what it could be.
I better get Hermione so we can read…erm hear the letter together.
He walked through the bathroom and tapped lightly on her door. She opened the door and immediately blushed when she saw it was Harry. Before Harry got to say anything Hermione pulled him in her room and pushed him on the bed. Harry sat there confused about what she was doing. All of this for a letter?
She shuffled over to her other door and peeked out into the hall towards her parents' room. When she saw that the coast was clear she blushed harder and said, "Harry I'm flattered, I really am. But I don't think it would be wise to want to stay here. I know we're dating and guys get a thrill out of disobeying their girlfriend's parents, but I don't want to get caught in a midnight cuddle with you….. Look they would have our heads if they found out."
Harry put his head down trying to hide his confusion. Find out? Cuddle? Thrill?
Hermione took that as a sign of dejection. She put her hand under his chin to force him to look at her. When their eyes met, she gave him a light peck and said, "Well, maybe we can have a small snog then send you back off"
Finally realizing what she was implying a faint blush came across his face.
Hermione only seemed to notice his smirk. It told her that told she had everything wrong but he liked her idea much better. Realizing her mistake she turned away completely embarrassed.
Harry didn't want to make it worse by laughing so he gave her a hug and whispered in her ear "Don't worry. I wouldn't have said anything if you had come to my door at this time a night; I would have been too busy snogging you senseless. At least you had the right mind to think before you did anything."
When he saw that she wasn't a red as an apple anymore, he spoke a little louder, but not loud enough to draw her parent's attention. "I got a howler from the Weasley's. I wanted to open it with you because last year when Ron got one it burst into flames after it was finished speaking and that was the end of it. I'd rather you hear it in person because I may not remember it"
"Why did he get a howler?"
Harry chuckled and said ,"I'll tell you later but let's go somewhere to listen to this."
Hermione nodded and grabbed his hand. She led him to the back yard and into the shed. They looked at the letter and Harry slowly broke the seal. The little red envelope turned into four rigid mouths. Two were bigger and two were small. The first one started to speak.
"Harry Potter! How dare you force headmaster Dumbledore to let you stay with some girl you don't even know!"
Another less furious looking pair of lip floated forward and said, "Dear, Harry is a good boy and a darn good judge of character. He must trust her and we should too"
"Who asked you Arthur!? He doesn't know what's best for him" The rigid Weasley replied.
"Honey, we have to trust Harry. And if you don't we can lose him forever."
Another floating mouth spoke up but it sounded distant. "Harry is going to stay with a girl! That's no fair! I want to go too mum. I can't believe he didn't tell me. We're supposed to be best mates! And to think, he hurt mum's feeling by not wanting to stay here!"
There was a slight pause and the voice that belonged to Ron began to talk again. It floated in Harry" face and went around to his ear.
"Oh and Harry if you can hear me ask the girl if she thinks I'm cute. You still have that photo album Hagrid gave you on the train don't you? Show her the picture of me when I was leaning on the tree with my arms crossed making my bad boy look. No! On second thought show her the one where I had a smile. Fred and George gave you that picture with of me. They said girls like some thing that muggles call The Mad Boy and I looked like him. Since she's muggle she should like it!"
The smallest mouth danced around the mouth that they assumed was Ron's and teased him saying "Ron you looked like a monkey in that picture. Monkey, Monkey, ha ha, ha ha."
"You look like a monkey!"
"Ronald and Ginerva get back in your room!"
Both little mouths quivered and disappeared after saying "Yes mum"
The rigid mouth softened and said "I'm sorry Harry dear. Arthur was right. I was just upset that you didn't want to stay with us. But promise me you will see us before the end of the summer. Well, I leave you now. Once again I'm sorry." Then the last two mouths disappeared.
Harry and Hermione looked at each other. Then they jumped when the letter burst into flames.
Hermione was still pretty shocked from the odd exchange of words but she decided to break the silence, "Well that was interesting"
"How could she send me a howler!? It's not like I purposely meant to hurt her feelings"
"Harry she was hurt, just let it go this time."
Harry was still angry at Mrs. Weasley but he was beginning to calm down. After all, Mrs. Weasley did apologize.
"Now, why did he get a howler?"
Harry chuckled, "He told McGonagall that she was a fine looking old lady. And he wouldn't mind escorting her to the nearest broom closet! She gave him a month of detention. Ron really needs to know when to keep his thoughts to himself."
Hermione laughed and they walked back into the house in silence. They went to their rooms said goodnight and immediately fell to sleep.
~~~~NEXT DAY~~~~
Harry awoke and walked down the stairs. Hermione followed her mom, down. He chuckled when he saw the 4 week bag of luggage under her eyes. Harry stopped laughing when the food was sat at the table, because he was too busy drooling. Just as he was about to dig in, he noticed Vernon standing at the back door.
Rachael gave Harry a nervous glance and she walked over and opened the door. Vernon was fuming. He put his beefy finger in her face and yelled, "He is supposed to be cooking you breakfast! Not the other way around!!!"
Tim stood up to the fat man and defended his wife "Now listen here Dursley, My wife cooks breakfast in my house when she wants to. AND IF YOU YELL AT HER AGAIN I'LL BREAK YOUR FAT FINGER!!!!"
Vernon was visibly shaken. "I… I came here to discuss something that will affect your opinion on Harry…and your daughter." Vernon was smirking at the brief look of worry on the Grangers face. Harry was absolutely terrified. He knew when Vernon made that look it meant He was in trouble…or was going to be.
"Last night I got up to get a midnight snack. You know the usual foot-long sub, a big cookie, and a diet soda"
Everyone stared at him while he drifted off into thought about his small midnight snack.
"Anyway I peeked out my window. I saw your daughter dragging that boy out to your shed. I heard loud voices and they were out when it finished. I supposed you can imagine what happened in there! Now, I will take Harry back and keep him out of your hands. You should do the same for your daughter if you know what's best for you."
Tim turned around and looked at Harry. If looks could kill Harry would have used all nine cat lives with that stare. Rachael was chewing on bottom lip trying to analyze any alternatives as to what could have happened in that shed. Anything other than what Vernon was implying happened.
Hermione was scared. She never thought her father would look at Harry that way. There was no real way to explain because the howler is no longer in existence. They would have to take their word for it.
Before either of them could speak Tim grabbed Harry's arm and pulled him out to the shed. Rachael and Hermione ran after him, while Vernon cockily walked to his house.
When Hermione and her mom got in the shed, Tim was already yelling at Harry, "What the hell went on in here last night!? Tell me the truth! Were you in here with my daughter around midnight?!"
Harry was shaking and trying his best to hold in tears. He nodded his head yes and Tim exploded. "I trusted you two. You are twelve! I was STUPID. I let her have a boyfriend and this is what happens!!!"
"Dad it's not what you…"
"And YOU Shut UP!"
Hermione didn't have the years of practice that Harry had, when it came to not showing her emotions. She burst out in tears before he finished his sentence.
"I thought you knew better! We expected more from you!! Your mum and I are very disappointed in you." That hurt her more than it could have hurt any other child. Hermione took pride in her parents being proud of her.
Harry knew how hurt Hermione was and he wasn't going to let anymore come out of this than it already did. "Tim!" when everybody looked at him with shock. He gulped Better not lose your nerve now Potter! "Hermione and I never...erm did any thing. We're twelve! Yeah we've made out once or twice but that was all, if you can really call it making out. It was just a kiss or two. We were in the shed at midnight. But it was only so we can listen to a letter. I got a howler last night. It's a letter when someone literally talks to you, most of the time they yell. I didn't want to wake you up but I really wanted Hermione to hear it with me. The yelling Uncle Vernon heard was Mrs. Weasley yelling at me because I told off Dumbledore and she was mad that I didn't want to stay with her…If you are going to be mad at anyone be mad at me. You really hurt Hermione by saying you were disappointed in her, and it was all for nothing."
Harry puffed out his chest a bit to help his ego. I'm a Gryffindor for crying out loud! I was only slightly shivering in a corner. Oh please Potter you nearly wet yourself when he looked at you. I hate the other side of my conscience.
Rachael was proud of Harry. She knew there had to be a valid reason for what happened. Hermione was beaming! What girl wouldn't? Her boyfriend just stood up for her, to her father.
Tim looked at everyone and stomped out of the shed. Instead of going into the house and sulk, like everyone thought he would, he marched over to number 4. Vernon walked out expecting Tim to be willing to return Harry and make sure he's severely punished. But oh no that's not what he got.
WHAM
Tim knocked Vernon clear into the air. When he hit the ground they were sure it was an earthquake.
Petunia, Dudley, Rachael, and Hermione we shocked, all for their own reason. Harry, on the other hand, was currently on the ground holding his stomach laughing like a hyena.
Hermione soon joined him, while Rachael snickered.
"You will never have custody of Harry again! We already spoke to their headmaster and the paperwork is being filed!"
Vernon's eyes widened when he mention that Dumble-bore. "You…you are FREAKS just like the boy!"
Petunia and her son hid at the thought of them being magical.
"Who are you to call my daughter a freak? Horse-face, Shamoo, and Shamoo Jr. want to call us freaks? My daughter and Harry are far better than we'll ever be! I AM PROUD TO BE HER FATHER!" Hermione smiled hearing her father say that. "They have powers that I never knew existed! And you call them freaks!?" Oh yeah, Tim was pissed.
"What makes you think you can take him now? He is still in my custody. And when the papers are finished he may not still be alive!" Vernon's voice was more menacing than Harry ever remembered it being before.
"Because… You won't get him back. If you try to take him I will be sure to tell the police about the abuse Harry has been retrieving under your custody."
Vernon looked at Harry who was now standing to the left of Tim. Vernon glared at Harry then launched at him. His fist connected to Harry's jaw and Harry immediately fell limp to the ground.
Hermione ran to him and tried to wake him but he was not responsive. Tim punched Vernon in the gut and gave him a good punch in the jaw. He told his wife to call the police and get an ambulance for Harry. When he saw Vernon trying to get back up he tackled the fat man and used all his body weight to hold him down.
Rachael came back saying they would be here shortly. Petunia looked like she wanted to have a go at the Granger women. But Rachael was far too intimidating for her. Dudley, however, pushed Hermione off of Harry. "You were supposed to like me you little tramp. How can you like filth like him!?" Hermione's eyes narrowed and Dudley flew against the wall. Petunia quivered and tried to hide behind a lamp.
Rachael was worried about her daughter because her magic was out of control.
"Don't you ever talk about him that way you obese pig!"
The police arrived to see Tim on top of a struggling Vernon, Rachael was glaring at a scared Petunia, and Hermione was standing over a half conscience Dudley.
The officers looked at one another then back at the scene before them. "Um...Who needed the help?"
While Vernon was being escorted into the police station, Harry was being checked over by a doctor in the nearest hospital.
He said Harry needed a lot of rest and be sure to give him a special prescription to help his body get the right nutrients. "This child is very much smaller than other boys his age. I would have originally thought it was genetic. But knowing that he was abused and malnourished leads me to believe that this supplement of vitamins should have him healthy in a few weeks."
***
When the occupants of number 3 got home they all sat in silence contemplating today's events.
"Harry I'm sorry. I should have let you both explain before I snapped. I was no better than that fat oaf. I'm really sorry." Tim looked truly hurt and sorry that he ever doubted them.
"It's okay. I can see how it could be hard for you, and I forgive you. But if you don't mind I'm really tired and I still have a head-ach." Harry headed up to his room and was asleep before his head hit the pillow.
"I'm sorry to you too Hermione. I was wrong about everything…"
Hermione only gave a small nod. There was a knock on the door and Rachael answered, "Headmaster! What a surprise! We were just settling in for the night."
"Oh I won't be long." Sensing the gloom in the room Dumbledore asked "Is there something that happened?"
"My husband was involved in a fight with Vernon. That fat oaf knocked Harry out. He is now in jail awaiting trial or bond or something. Harry is upstairs resting. Is there something is specific that you wanted?"
Dumbledore actually looked concerned. "Is Harry ok?" When they nodded yes, he continued. "I brought these papers over one is to finalize the emancipation in this world, it has already been settled in our world. The other letter is an accidental magic report. Don't worry Ms. Granger it has been taken care of. The wizarding world has already acknowledged Harry as an adult. Fudge wanted his public to know he was there for their savior who only wanted one thing in return. So I told him about Harry's request and he was happy to oblige. Now if Petunia could sign these papers it would be final. I just came by to let him know he is in the final step and he could celebrate in the morning."
"How do you know she will sign?" Hermione asked.
"I have my ways Mrs. Granger. Now I will leave you to rest. Goodnight."
Hermione told her parents goodnight and went to bed. Tim looked at his wife and she cuddled under his arm. She placed her head on his shoulder and said "I love Harry like he has been with us all his life. Like I love your daughter." She looked at her husband lovingly and said "I love you more than anything in the world" Tim appeared to be in deep thought.
He looked his wife in the eyes she look at him and moved in to kiss him. Tim looked away and smiled. "I really hit him good didn't I?"
She rolled her eyes at his lack of emotion and excess of maleness. As she headed upstairs she heard him still going on.
"He was a big man and I beat him up? Honey? Honey? Aw come on I was gonna say I loved you too! You know it was a good hit! Both of them! I'm sorry again then. For the third time tonight I'm sorry! Okay. Rach? I love you! Oh come on."
She kept her back to him as she walked to their room and smirked; because she knew he was going to say sorry in more than one way tonight. Yeah, she still had him wrapped around her finger.
A/N: Hi all. I know the Grangers getting it on, is a little different but hey Hermione came from somewhere right LOL? Thanks to all my reviewers! Hope you liked this chapter! Thanks a lot and don't forget to review!!!