Forbidden Love
Chapter 1
Harry woke up extra early the next day -in fact, you could even say that he didn't really sleep at all. By seven o'clock in the morning he was dressed and ready to go, sitting on the stairs with his trunk just beyond him in the living room by the door with Hedwig's cage placed carefully atop it. He sat anxiously, jumping up a bit every time a car passed on the street. After all, he didn't want to take the chance of missing them when they came and since Hermione didn't give a time he decided that this was the best option. Harry heard another car coming down the road and strained to hear if it would turn into the drive, he was so busy concentrating on the sound that he didn't notice it when Uncle Vernon almost stepped on him as he came sleepily down the stairs to retrieve his morning post.
"Wha-what are you doing there boy! You're a hazard you are! Just sitting on the stairs making it almost impossible for normal people to get down to their posts!" he said angrily, giving Harry a small kick before wobbling the rest of the way down.
Aunt Petunia, who was right behind her husband, gave a little sniff before putting her nose in the air and walking down the stairs and into the kitchen.
Harry rolled his eyes, he was in a good mood and he wasn't going to let them spoil it with their senseless prattle and bad attitudes. He smiled, there wasn't anything that they could do to him, he was out of here today and nothing could spoil his excitement. As a matter of fact he was in such a good mood he even refrained from telling his uncle, that normal people didn't need the width of the whole staircase just to get to down the stairs.
He remained on the steps for hours waiting, even when his bum got numb and Dudley gave him a hard kick on his way down, his good mood still remained. Although he must admit, it did help when he moved his hand towards his pocket after Dudley kicked him and his cousin freaked out, tripping on the carpet and bouncing down the last several steps.
Aunt Petunia had grudgingly offered him some of the breakfast that she had made, to which he responded with a firm shake of the head, he knew better than to fall for that. She glared at him for refusing her food and then whirling around, she stomped back into the kitchen complaining loudly to her husband about what an ungrateful and horrible boy he was.
Harry rolled his eyes at her melodramatics. 'She doesn't even want to feed me' he thought. 'Besides, I don't think my stomach can handle one more piece of greasy burnt bacon or it'll explode, after all even wizards can't avoid food poisoning.'
Giving one last look towards the kitchen where he could still hear her complaining, with his uncle now joining in, he smiled to himself and pulled his last chocolate frog out of his pocket for breakfast. Catching it mid jump, he took a bite, and began examining his new wizards card. Giving a sigh after seeing it was one that he already owned three of, Harry put it in his jean pocket and continued to chew while staring thoughtfully at the door.
At about ten thirty he was leaning with his head against the wall counting the cracks in the ceiling when he finally heard a car pull into the drive. Standing quickly he grabbed onto the handrail and watched Aunt Petunia rush to the door after the first ring (she refused to allow him to answer it anymore). He got on his tiptoes leaning a little over the banister in an attempt to see past his aunt to who was standing on the other side of the door, after leaning a little farther out Harry smiled. He had just caught a glimpse of familiar bushy brown hair, a moment later he heard a familiar voice float from the door.
"Hello, my name is Hermione Granger -you must be Harry's Aunt... Petunia is it? Yes, well my dad and I are here to pick him up, he's going to be spending the rest of the summer with us you see." Harry gave a chuckle as his friend gingerly sidestepped his aunt and walked into the foyer. "He should be expecting us, I'm quite certain that he got the letter that I sent, it should have arrived yesterday," she said looking around; a smile lit her face when she spied Harry on the stairs. "Harry!" she exclaimed rushing forward as he hoped off the last few steps; almost knocking him over with the force of her hug.
"Hey Hurbynee," he said, his voice muffled by the mass of brown hair in his face.
She pulled back grinning, "So are you done packing?"
Before he could answer his Uncle Vernon stormed into the living room, his face contorted into a look of displeasure and his bushy mustache twitching, he was followed closely by a nosy Dudley.
"What's going on here boy?!" he demanded, noticing the petite brunette in his nephews' arms.
Dudley peered around his dad, his gaze merely curious until his eyes rested on Hermione; Harry's grip on her waist tightened. A surge of protectiveness flowed through him as his cousin openly ogled his best mate with a look that was down right lecherous.
"She's one of my best mates from Hogwarts and she's here to pick me up." he said, then directed the next part solely at Dudley. "She's a witch you see, as a matter of fact she's the most intelligent and powerful witch in our class."
He smiled in satisfaction as his cousins' gaze went from leering to nervous as he looked at Harry and then back at Hermione. His skin took a sickly white tint as he noticed the wand sticking out of her front pocket.
"Gee thanks Harry," she said giving him an amused look. "So are you ready to go?"
"Yeah, my trunk's right here, let's get out of this place." He cast one last look at the Dursley's who were now looking at Hermione as though she had grown another head, before heading into the living room. Pausing to let her grab Hedwig's cage, he then grabbed his trunk, hefting it up using his knee and then carrying it out of the door.
Hermione followed closely behind holding Hedwig's cage and making sure that the cover was down properly as they headed into the sunlight. They both gave a reflexive turn as the door slammed immediately behind them and shared a mirthful smile as they listened to the locks click.
"Boy am I gonna miss them," Harry muttered sarcastically making her laugh as they walked to the car.
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"She's one of my best mates from Hogwarts and she's here to pick me up." Hermione heard Harry say from next to her. "She's a witch you see, as a matter of fact she's the most intelligent and powerful witch in our class." She cast him a startled glance upon hearing his words, seeing that he seemed to be directing his comments to someone other than his uncle. She craned her neck slightly looking past the large man, at which time she finally noticed and even larger boy.
'I don't know how I could have missed him,' she thought to herself, watching as the boy gave her a bewildered look, before casting a wary glance at her wand. 'Ah, so that's what he's about,' she thought rolling her eyes before looking back at her mate.
"Gee thanks Harry," she said, giving him an amused look; then pulling away a bit she faced him. "So are you ready to go?"
"Yeah, my trunks right here, let's get out of this place." He motioned to the living room, casting a quick glance at his relatives he then headed over to the room.
After entering, he quickly stepped aside and she grabbed Hedwig's cage off of the top of the trunk, falling back as he stepped forward. She was surprised to see him grab the heavy trunk and with little effort heft it up using only his knee, before turning and carrying it effortlessly out of the door.
Hermione followed holding Hedwig's cage, busying herself by making sure that the cover was down properly as they headed into the sunlight and ignoring the strange feeling she got from seeing his small display of strength. She and Harry gave an automatic turn as the door slammed immediately behind them and shared a mirthful smile as they listened to the locks click.
"Boy am I gonna miss them," Harry said sarcastically making her laugh as they walked to the car.
As they neared the beige colored sedan her dad popped the trunk, then stepping out of the car he walked around to the back, waving them over.
"Hello there Harry," he said with a smile, motioning towards the trunk he continued. "You can just put your trunk right in here," he smiled when Harry gave him a dubious expression. "Don't worry, Arthur Weasley enchanted it for me so that it could fit all of Hermione's school supplies. Trust me, your one large trunk is nothing compared to all of the books that my daughter's constantly buying."
"Dad..." Hermione groaned blushing, parents were so embarrassing.
Harry gave a smile, sliding the trunk easily into the trunk and closing it firmly. He then walked around the car and opened the back door, but before he could react Hermione slipped in past him taking a seat and sitting Hedwig's cage next to her.
"Thanks for opening the door for me Harry," she commented with a smile, picking her book up off of the seat.
"Uh, actually..." he trailed off when she gave him an innocent look. Giving a small frown he hesitated and then closed the door, walking up to the front passengers' side. He didn't see it as she and her dad shared amused smiles as he slid into the drivers' side.
"So Harry, you've sure grown a lot," Mr. Granger said as he started up the car.
Hermione watched her friend give a small smile, before looking around nervously unsure of what to say. Taking pity on him and his lack of education on proper conversational skills she interjected.
"Well daddy, you know that teenage boys are prone to growth spurts. But to be fair you haven't seen him since Diagon Alley second year. It's only natural that he would be taller by now." She saw Harry give her a grateful smile in the side mirror.
"True, true," her dad replied, checking both directions as he prepared to make the turn onto the highway. "So what classes are you planning to take this year?"
"Well, I want to take Herbology, Transfiguration, Defense Against Dark Arts, History of Magic, Potions... well I don't want to take potions really, I mean who does except perhaps a few Slytherins. However, it is very useful to have on your schedule and knowing how to make a proper potion always comes in handy. But anyway, where was I- oh, yes, then there's Muggle Studies for a bit of extra credit, Ancient Runes and of course Charms."
Her dad gave a bewildered look in the rear view mirror, "Can you take that many classes? I mean it seems to be a bit... much-"
"Only for those not prepared for, or willing to strive for a detailed and well rounded education," she responded flipping through her book and not noticing as he and Harry shared a look.
The idol conversation continued for the remainder of the ride, with her dad asking about school, their friends and their plans for the summer. Hermione mainly answered the questions and kept the conversation afloat until the time they were about five minutes from her house and her dad asked about sports. Harry came alive as he attempted to explain the rules of Quidditch to her father, looking intensely animated as he tried to construe the intense feeling of the wind rushing through your hair as you rode on a broomstick. Just as they were really getting into the conversation, her dad finally pulled into the drive.
Seeing the escape she had been longing for Hermione quickly hopped out of the car, eager to get away from all of the Quidditch talk. As an after thought she quickly rushed around to the other side of the car, opened the door and took out Hedwig.
"Sorry girl," she whispered to the owl. "I didn't mean to forget you, but I just had to get out of there if I would have heard one more Quidditch team, player or reference I would have screamed."
Seeing Harry and her father already walking around the car she followed them up the drive to the porch where her mum was waiting. Mrs. Granger stood patiently in front of the door, with a pleasant smile on her lips as she tucked a stray strand of hair that the fluttering breeze had blown into her face, back behind her ear.
"Hello, Harry," She said giving a warm smile and a small waive once they reached her. "It's nice to see you again. I don't know how well you remember me, since we only met for a moment and such a long time ago. I'm Hermione's mother Eloise Granger, but you can call me Ella -and of course you met my husband already. Dan, help the young man with his trunk, he is a guest you know." She finished giving her husband a reproachful look and making a small shooing motion with her hand.
"Sorry, dear," he replied, Hermione almost laughed aloud as her dad nearly toppled over from the weight of the trunk. "Working out there Harry?" He asked in a strangled tone as he slowly stumbled into the house, his face red and little veins protruding from his neck. Once he reached the hall he dropped the heavy trunk none to gently onto the expensive hardwood floor.
"Daniel," her mum reprimanded, "be careful you don't want to break anything."
"Oh, you mean other than my back," Dan responded with a groan, rubbing his lower back and giving a curious look to the dark haired boy next to her. "That thing weighs a ton. How on earth were you able to carry it so easily?"
Harry blushed, giving a shrug. "I dunno…I didn't have anything else to do this summer so I spent a lot of my free time working out. I knew that I had to get in shape in case the Volde-er, various... Quidditch teams were more abrasive this year."
"Yeah, mum, dad," Hermione interjected, hoping to help buffer his slip of tongue "Harry's the Quidditch captain for Gryffindor."
Her parents each gave a nod and then smiled. Coming forward they shook his hand congratulating Harry on his position, her dad a little more enthusiastically than her mum since, now thanks to Harry, he actually knew what Quidditch was.
"Well," Mrs. Granger said smiling "Hermione, why don't you show Harry to his room while we get lunch ready?"
Mr. Granger looked between Harry and his daughter for a second before interjecting.
"Honey, why don't I show Harry to his room and Hermione can help you out with lunch?"
Hermione and her mum both rolled their eyes.
"We can do that, if you're willing to be the one to carry the trunk back to the room for him," her mum answered with a smirk.
Mr. Granger looked down at the enormous trunk on the floor and his face contorted into a grimace.
"So, what are we having for lunch?" he asked quickly, clapping his hands together and walking past his wife to the kitchen.
Mrs. Granger, Hermione and Harry shared a laugh as she turned to follow her husband into the kitchen. When she rounded the corner Harry stepped forward and easily hefted up his trunk.
"Right this way," Hermione said still smiling and leading Harry down the hall to what was going to be his new room for the next couple of weeks.
A.N. Well that's chapter one, if you've read my stories you know I don't rush the action, I can just tell you that there will be action in the story. Sorry it was so short; chapters will probably get longer as the story progresses. Until next time Please Review! Ja ne!
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