A/N ~ Although it is almost unheard of from me it is true that I am updating again already… shocking I know. I'm so glad you all enjoyed the first part of the story so much and I hope you enjoy part 2 just as much.
Disclaimer~ I do not own Harry Potter, I do not make any money from this.
Accidentally Married ~ Part 2
Meet the Parents
Harry sat quietly with his head in his hands beside Hermione's bed in the hospital wing. Madame Pomfrey had tried to make him leave but thankfully being Hermione's husband had some benefits. Harry groaned and massaged his head lightly, he still couldn't believe that he and Hermione had somehow accidentally gotten married. They were walking to the hospital wing, Hermione hovering in front of them when Professor McGonagall explained.
`It's an ancient ritual, and although it is occasionally done by accident I don't think it's ever happened between two people who are so young before.'
`I don't understand though, Hermione and I didn't do any ritual's last night… we just went for a walk around the lake.' Harry felt his face burn as he said it and from Professor McGonagall's shrewd look he knew that she didn't believe him.
`Well the ritual of which I speak will only work if true vows of love are exchanged and sealed with a kiss and then the union is consummated within twelve hours. Are you saying that nothing like that happened last night?'
Harry couldn't look at her, so he looked at his shoes instead his face burning.
`That's what I thought.' She replied stiffly.
At that moment Harry didn't know how to feel, he was still in shock from it all, but mostly he was glad that school was finished for the year and he wouldn't have to face all of the stares that this latest news would bring. Harry looked up at Hermione and wished that she would wake up, he understood that it had been a huge shock but she'd been out for nearly two hours now. It wasn't exactly a compliment for her to have that reaction to finding out she was married to him. He noticed then a flicker of movement in her hands and then her eyes fluttered open.
`Hermione, are you okay?' he asked reaching out and gently taking hold of her hand. Hermione pushed herself into a sitting position and looked at him, then looked at her left hand and his to confirm that the wedding bands were really there.
`What have we done Harry? My parents are going to kill me and maybe you as well.'
Harry dropped his gaze and looked at the floor, `I know, I keep imagining what everyone's going to say when they find out and I'll be honest I'm not looking forward to it. McGonagall said she wouldn't tell anyone so everyone will want to know what's going on when we get out of here.'
`Did she tell you anything else about how this happened at all?' Hermione asked next.
`She just said it's an ancient ritual that is occasionally stumbled onto by accident, but not very often and she said that it's never happened between two people so young before.' Harry replied looking up at her.
`Can it be… undone?' she asked hesitantly then added in a rush, `not that I want to, necessarily, I just want to know if it's an option, so we know what we're dealing with.'
Harry nodded, knowing exactly how she felt, `Its ok, I understand. I meant everything I said to you last night and nothing has changed, but we are a bit young to be married. I asked and she said that it could be undone if it was what we really wanted.'
Hermione took a deep breath, `I guess that's the question, isn't it? Is that what we really want?'
Harry nodded but kept silent, he honestly didn't know what to say. He couldn't help but feel that undoing it was somehow wrong, that it made a lie of what they'd said to each other. `What do you want?' he asked finally almost dreading her answer.
`I …. I don't know what I want.' Hermione answered looking miserable.
`I don't want to take it back.' Harry blurted suddenly, then feeling as though he had to explain he continued, his gaze firmly fixed on his shoes.
`I know that neither one of us realised that by saying and doing what we did last night that this would happen. I know that we wouldn't have married for a couple of years yet if things took their normal course. The thing is though,' he paused and took a deep breath, `everything we said last night, we meant. This couldn't have happened otherwise. So I guess, I just feel like… it would be, I don't know… wrong, to try and take it back. But… if you want to undo this, then, I will. I'm not going to hold you to it if you don't want to.'
`Harry, look at me please.' Hermione said her tone pleading. Harry looked up and their gazes locked.
`I feel the same way, I just didn't want to make you feel like you had to because of me. Your right, if we'd had our way we wouldn't have married for years, but, we still would have married. It's going to be difficult telling everyone, and there will be people who will be a bit upset, but we'll do it together.'
Harry smiled, his first since he'd seen the gold band on his finger, `You're right, we'll do it together.' Then he kissed her to seal the promise.
***
When they left Hogwarts the next morning the halls were empty, except for Professor McGonagall who advised that Mr Weasley was waiting to hear from them as soon as possible. They sent Ron an owl telling him that everything was fine and that they'd visit soon, but they decided that Hermione's parents should be the first to know. With that in mind they apparated from Hogsmead to a spot hidden from view in the Grangers front garden that had been designed as an apparition point. As they walked up the garden path to the front door Harry felt the knot of anxiety that had formed in his stomach tighten with each step. He barely knew Hermione's parents, he had said hello to them maybe twice and seen them less than a handful of times from a distance. He knew almost nothing about them and he was terrified.
Hermione knocked on the front door and Harry heard a woman's voice call out from within `George can you get that please?' Some footsteps were heard and a moment later Hermione's father opened the door. He looked at them for a second and then caught Hermione up in a bone crushing hug.
`Hermione!' then he released her, `we weren't expecting you, come in.' he turned towards the back of the house. `Julie! It's Hermione!' Hermione's father was leading her towards the living room and Harry dithered uncertain on the door step, but not for long. Turning back Mr Granger beckoned him in, `Come on in son,' he said then turning to Hermione he asked, `is this one Harry or Ron?'
Hermione blushed, `it's Harry Dad.' She replied sitting on the sofa, Harry sat next to her feeling even more nervous.
Then Mrs Granger bustled in removing her rubber gloves as she did, Hermione stood up and greeted her mother with a hug also. `Hi Mum.'
`Hello darling,' her mother said returning the hug, `What a pleasant surprise.' Then she released her daughter and turned to Harry, `and you must be..' she hesitated a moment, `Harry?' she said with a glance at her daughter. Hermione nodded.
`Well it's very nice to see you too Harry.'
`It's nice to see you too Mrs Granger,' Harry replied almost chocking with nerves.
`Can I get either of you a cup of tea, or something to eat?' Mrs Granger asked
`No we'll be fine thanks Mum.' Hermione replied looking just as nervous as Harry felt.
Harry knew that Hermione wanted to get her news out straight away but he could feel her nervousness. Mr and Mrs Granger appeared to be typical English parents, their home was just as clean as the Dursleys but still felt homey and welcoming. They had pleasant faces and Mrs Granger had the same curly brown hair as her daughter. In any other circumstances Harry thought he would have felt extremely comfortable here. There were an unusually large number of bookcases around but being Hermione's home he would have expected that. Hermione's father looked like he was probably an avid reader as well he wore wire rimmed glasses and had the look of a slightly old fashioned college professor.
`Well then' said Mrs Granger sitting down, `You've graduated from school now, haven't you? How did your speech go sweetie?'
`Oh it went fine I suppose.' Hermione said her nerves showing in her voice.
Mr Granger looked concerned and leant forward, `Is something wrong sweetie? You seem a bit out of sorts. Is there anything you want to tell us?' He glanced at Harry then a considering look in his eye, as though it suddenly occurred to him to wonder why he was there with their daughter.
`Well actually, there is. I know you're going to be disappointed but…'
Mrs Granger leaned forward then studying her daughters face, `What is it Hermione?'
`I may as well just say it, get it over with… Harry and I are married.'
The silence was deafening. Mr and Mrs Granger just sat with their jaws hanging open as they stared at their daughter. Finally Mrs Granger smiled, `Well that's exciting news, your getting married. Do you want a big wedding? I always thought that it would be nice if you were to get married in the same church as your father and I. What do you think of that?'
But Hermione shook her head cutting her mother off, `No Mum, we're not getting married, we are married.'
This time it was Mr Granger who recovered first, `Well I never thought I'd say it but I'm disappointed in you Hermione. What possible reason could you have had for getting married without telling us first? You've broken your mother's heart.' Then as though on queue Mrs Granger started to cry.
Hermione looked as though she was about to cry too, `I'm sorry, we didn't mean for it to happen.' Hermione pleaded with her parents.
`How does this happen by accident Hermione?' Her mother asked through her tears.
`It's an ancient ritual, we didn't know about it because apparently it's pretty rare for it to happen by accident and it's never happened before between two people so young.' Harry said speaking up for the first time.
`Really so you accidentally married my daughter and now you're sitting here in my house and you expect me to be happy about it!' Mr Granger roared venting all of his anger on Harry.
`No not at all. I love your daughter Mr Granger, but I never wanted things to happen like this! Neither of us did.'
Mr Granger seemed to calm down after that and even Mrs Granger sniffled back some of her tears. After a few minutes more of silence Mrs Granger spoke again, `So magically you are married but… with normal laws, maybe you aren't?' She asked hopefully.
`Technically I suppose, but, we are married mum.' Hermione replied.
`I know sweetie, I know… what I meant was that, if you wanted to, you could have a proper wedding?'
Hermione glanced at Harry, `I suppose,' she said hesitantly, `what do you think Harry?'
`If that's what you want to do, there's no reason why we can't.' Harry said.
`And who's going to pay for this?' Mr Granger asked looking directly at Harry.
Harry was a little taken aback by this, `Well, I will, I've got no problem with that. Hermione's already my wife so it'll be no problem getting her a key to my vault.'
`We can help though, can't we George? It might get awfully expensive.' Mrs Granger said to her husband.
`I can afford it, it's no problem.' Harry interjected.
`That's very sweet of you Harry, but the average wedding costs around twenty thousand pounds.' Mrs Granger said smiling at him.
`That's ok, really, it's no problem.' Harry reassured her.
Hermione smiled and hugged him, `Thankyou Harry, this is going to be so great!'
`You know I still have my wedding dress upstairs, would you like to try it on Hermione? If you don't want to wear it I understand but lets go have a look.'
Hermione glanced from Harry to her father, Harry nodded to reassure her even as he was swallowing nervously at the prospect of being alone with Mr Granger.
`Ok then,' Hermione said standing up, she kissed Harry on the cheek and then turned to her father, `be nice Dad.' Mr Granger didn't answer he just raised an eyebrow at his daughter. With a sigh Hermione left the room with her mother leaving Harry alone with her father.
`So, Harry, would you like a drink?' Mr Granger asked standing up and walking over to a small sideboard that held a bottle of brandy.
`Um, no thankyou sir.' Harry couldn't recall ever having felt more nervous than he did right now.
Mr Granger gave Harry an appraising look and then poured two glasses anyway handing one to Harry as he took his seat again.
`You don't need to be so nervous Harry, I just want to ask you a couple of questions. I know, mainly from what Hermione has told me, that you haven't had an easy life.'
`No sir.' Harry replied wondering where this was going.
`I want to know, how you intend to support my daughter. I gather from what you said about paying for the wedding that you're obviously not destitute but I want the best for Hermione. She had talked about attending Oxford and getting a degree in law and human rights, would you be able to support her through that?'
Harry swallowed, `I think so, I mean I've got a fair bit of money in my vault from inheritance and stuff.'
`I see, and what about work Harry, what do you intend on doing now that you've finished school?'
Harry took a sip of his drink the liquid sending a trail of fire down his throat but strangely making him feel a bit calmer at the same time.
`Well I've already had a few offers so I really just need to make up my mind which of them I want to take up.'
`That's good, I understand you're actually quite well known amongst wizards and such is that right?'
`Ah… that might be a bit of an understatement sir.' Harry replied trying to hide his amusement.
`Yes, what I really want to know is, do other wizards know about this news as yet?'
`No, we felt you and Mrs Granger should be the first to know.' Harry replied.
`Well that's thoughtful and I appreciate it.' Mr Granger took a sip of his drink and Harry waited for him to continue.
`I must say I feel a lot better about all of this now that we've had a chance to talk but I do have one more question for you, if I may?'
`Of course sir.'
`How will the other wizards react to all of this? Will Hermione be in any danger?'
`I don't know how everyone will react, though my guess is they'll all be pretty shocked by it. As for Hermione being in danger, I can't make any guarantees but I can say that I'll do everything in my power to keep her safe.'
Mr Granger sat back looking satisfied, `Thankyou Harry, I feel much better about all of this now. I know you don't need it, but you have my blessing.'
Harry took a deep breath relaxing properly for the first time since they'd arrived, `Thankyou Mr Granger that really means a lot to me.'
A/N ~ Please a review.
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