Disclaimer - The world of Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling and various publishers. I make no claim to ownership.
A/N: Thanks to my beta Vettesr, and those kind enough to review.
Chapter Three: The Grangers
Harry and Hermione flooed to her parents home after spending a week at the Burrow. Harry was extremely nervous, as he was not sure how Mr. Granger felt about him. He had three weeks to smooth things out and he was quite nervous.
Dumbledore had the Granger house connected to the floo network and they were able to floo directly there.
As the pair exited the fireplace, Harry felt a dread in his heart. Hermione! Help me, I don't think I'm up for this meeting. Your Dad didn't seem too happy to see me last time.
Don't panic Harry, Dad won't bite and Dumbledore has explained everything to him. Moreover, I've owled them loads of times. You'll be alright. I'm right here to smooth the rough spots.
"Come and sit down you two, we'd like to get to know our future Son-In-Law better, said Mr. Granger. "Please call me Dan, and my wife is Jean."
Harry blushed and sat down beside Hermione.
"Jean, where's our other daughter Emily," asked Dan.
"You have another daughter?" asked Harry, surprised.
"Didn't Hermione mention her? She starts Hogwarts this year," Jean said.
Yes, Harry, don't you remember, I told you about her on the train in first year, Hermione reminded him.
"Oh, of course, Hermione mentioned her last year when we met. I'd forgotten," Harry quickly said.
A shy girl came down the stairs. You could see the resemblance to her mother: fair skin and blond hair: shorter than Hermione, but still attractive.
"Emily, this is Harry Potter; Harry, Emily Granger,"
"Hello Emily, your parents tell me that you start Hogwarts this year," smiled Harry.
Emily shyly smiled and squeaked, "N-Nice to meet to meet you Harry. Hermione tells me that you two are Soul bonded. That's so incredible!"
Sitting down next to her parents, Emily listened quietly, while Harry explained what had happened to them last year, and the mystery of why it happened.
"Even Professor Dumbledore doesn't know all the details. He suspects some deep magic buried somewhere within the school bonded us," Harry told them.
"Harry and I have completed the first two stages of the bonding, the third stage will be the final stage and will bind us magically in marriage. We don't know when this will be, but the magic is irresistible. We grow closer every day. We love each other, and this also is part of the magic. We both find it impossible to live without the other. The books say that if one dies, the other won't live very long after: that's how strong the magic is.
Her family gasped. Dumbledore had not told them this last bit of news.
Jean looked distressed. "Surely there must be a way…" But her voice died as she realized the implications.
Dan looked alarmed, but finally seemed to accept what his elder daughter had said.
Emily's eyes grew large. "Y-You are almost m-married now?" she stammered.
"Yes," Harry told them, not wanting to hide the truth from them. "We are connected as one and share thoughts and emotions as if we were one person. What Hermione sees, I can see, I'm in her head as well. Our magic is very powerful together. If we hold hands and perform magic, it's almost too strong to control."
"Professor Dumbledore explained some of this, but we didn't realize it was that intense," said Jean. "This won't affect Emily will it?"
"No, we don't see how. This bond was very specific, and sought us out when we first met on the train," explained Hermione. "I could feel the magic start to build even before I got on the train. When we shook hands… well it's impossible to explain the sensation that went through us. Like the world lit up! Like Roman Candles going off inside you!"
"Wow!" exclaimed Emily. "That sounds really romantic. But you're both so young!"
"We know, but the magic has compensated somehow. I've um… filled out a lot sooner than normal, and Harry has added quite a bit to his formerly skinny physique. We've both matured emotionally as well. And a side benefit is we never quarrel, since we can see both sides of an argument and work it out before it becomes a problem.
"Well," said her mother, "we want to know when the final bonding takes place. Hopefully not too soon, but when it does, we'll host a party. I want my girls to marry respectably. That means a proper wedding! No excuses, you two!"
"Yes mum," said Harry.
"Of course mother!" exclaimed Hermione.
"Good! Well I think dinner is ready, I hope you're both hungry."
Dan led the way to the dining room, letting them wash up first. The food was excellent, and Harry complemented Jean on her cooking.
"Actually, I did most of it," said Dan.
"That's great! I did most of the cooking at my relatives place as well," exclaimed Harry.
"So Hermione will get a cook as well as a husband," Emily teased.
Harry and Hermione flushed pink at this.
Later, Harry went to bed in the Granger's guest bedroom, aware that Hermione dearly wanted to join him, but dared not.
Harry and Hermione stayed the rest of the summer, playing cards and visiting.
Toward the end of the second week Mr. Granger suggested a week trip to the beach at Brighton, and asked if Harry had ever been there.
"No sir, my relatives wouldn't take me anywhere if they could help it. I did get to go to the zoo once, but I accidentally set a snake on my cousin. They banished me to my cupboard for a week that time."
The Grangers gasped in horror when they heard that.
"Surely nobody treats a child like that!" Mrs. Granger wondered aloud.
"Actually, Aunt Petunia has been getting better lately. She seems to be accepting my magic. Uncle Vernon and my cousin Dudley would just as soon I didn't exist," said Harry.
"That's terrible, Harry, surely the headmaster or the local authorities can do something," replied Mr. Granger.
"I'm afraid not, sir. It has to do with the blood magic imparted by my mother before she died. My relatives are the only safe place for me and the muggle authorities have been kept away."
***
The trip to Brighton was by train. They bought round trip tickets for the five of them and they all were excited. This would be the first time Harry had seen the ocean and he was looking forward to it. Hermione was looking to spend a bit of alone time with Harry and had brought a daring bathing costume with her. The water could hide a few naughty things she had in mind.
After they had secured a cottage for a week and unpacked, Harry had his first look at the English Channel. He had never seen so much water and stood for awhile just taking in the vastness of it.
Changing into their bathing costumes, Harry could only gape open mouthed when he saw Hermione. She was wearing a skimpy light blue and green bikini that did little to hide her developing body.
Smirking, Hermione asked, "Well Harry, it is summer, shall we go for a swim?"
Harry could only groan and nod his head. "Bloody hell Hermione, you should warn a guy, you just about gave me a heart attack with that outfit!"
"Like it? Mum thought it was a bit daring, but I persuaded her to buy it for me. Dad hasn't seen it yet, so lets get into the water before he has the same reaction and bans it."
Racing to the water, they just made it before Mr. Granger saw them. The two adults presently joined them in the water and then were joined by Emily.
Swimming underwater, Hermione caught Harry unaware and pulled him under. Sputtering for breath, Harry surfaced, took a deep breath and chased after Hermione. He had never swam before but caught on quickly, since Hermione swam well and shared the experience with Harry.
This is fantastic Hermione, I can swim, knowing that you can teach me instantly!
I forgot you had never swum before Harry. The bond comes in handy for instant learning. Come closer and we'll experiment a little.
Swimming closer, Hermione suddenly grabbed him in a tight embrace, lips meeting his underwater. As the kiss deepened, their bodies intertwined, legs tangled together pulling them closer together. A green glow started to surround them, heating the water, but enabling them to breathe without surfacing. They maintained the kiss for several minutes before surfacing.
Untangling themselves, the glow vanished as quickly as it formed. Searching around for her parents, they noticed them a few meters away with a strange look on their faces.
What just happened Hermione? Harry thought. Your parents seem agitated. They couldn't possibly have seen us underwater.
I'm not sure Harry, This can't be good. Lets find out what's wrong.
Approaching Hermione's mum, she asked what was wrong.
"Hermione, you and Harry were underwater for almost ten minutes, and there was a strange green glow in the water that disappeared where you surfaced. We were some distance away and were getting worried when you didn't surface. What was that all about?"
"It must be something to do with the bond magic, mum. We were just playing underwater and didn't notice anything, although I didn't think we stayed under that long."
Harry, I think the bond has allowed us to breathe underwater!
I didn't think about it, I was too busy snogging you, but yeah, now that you mention it, we must have been breathing underwater. That's fantastic! That could be really useful. That green glow though… did you notice it?
No Harry, she smirked, I was too busy snogging you back. Let's not tell anyone else about this, it could come in handy some day.
Leaving the water, they set out beach towels to lie down on.
"Can you apply sunscreen to my back Harry? We wouldn't want to burn."
Mr. Granger, who had been silent until now, joined them.
"Hermione, don't you think that costume is a little too ah… revealing?"
"Dad, mum picked it out for me. Harry likes it, don't you Harry."
"Erm… uh… yes, it certainly is nice," Harry stuttered, flaming red in the face.
"Well, as long as Jean picked it out, and Harry seems to like it…"
Harry bent over and started to apply sunscreen to Hermiones back. He was amazed how soft her skin was as he worked it down her back.
All the way down Harry, do my legs too and then I'll do you.
Your skin is so soft, Hermione, I've never felt such soft skin. You really are beautiful in that costume.
Thank you Harry, that's sweet of you to say. A little more down around my bathing costume Harry, I don't want a red sunburn mark there.
Harry's hands massaged the sunscreen as directed, and even managed to get some under her costume, his hands shaking all the while.
Alright Harry, my turn to do your back. Turn over. Hermione's hand worked expertly massaging his back and legs, surreptitiously working her hands under his bathing trunks to his bum.
Harry gasped as he felt her hands on his bum, but said nothing, enjoying the sensation. Hermione hid her actions from her parents and quickly withdrew before they noticed. Emily noticed, however, and giggled, a shocked look on her face.
Hermione, people will see! I think Emily saw that.
Aww… spoilsport! I'll be good. Now the front side.
They were more circumspect on the front, not wanting to get caught at inappropriate behavior. Fortunately, her parents didn't notice, and Emily was too scandalized to say anything. Lying back, they let the sun do its magic and had the start of a nice tan by the end of the day.
The lazy days swept by, with Harry and Hermione relaxing and swimming the rest of the week, with a few intense snog sessions underwater. They were able to remain underwater in contact with each other for increasing amounts of time, finally going as long as an hour without surfacing. Apart, they could last only a few minutes, although even that was longer than most people could.
Hermione's parents were astounded by the length of time they were able to stay underwater. Emily marveled at how they seemed to know how to do things that should have been impossible.
***
Returning home, they declared that the best vacation they ever had. All had very nice tans, with Harry's and Hermione's reaching new areas. Both had been getting bolder as the week had progressed. Somehow, her parents chose to ignore the occasional slip of the hands as they applied the sunscreen. Emily missed nothing, however and planned to have a private talk with her older sister.
As the summer drew to a close, they planned their annual trip to Diagon Alley.
Meanwhile, at The Burrow, Ginny was sulking….
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