As Harry got ready to take the Hogwarts Express, he recalled conversations he had had over the last several days.
Sirius had owled that he had contacted Gringott's and had hired the services of the goblins to put wards over whatever locations Harry would be staying this summer. Harry remembered Grimmauld Place and hoped that there would be other options.
Harry was eating lunch with Hermione and Luna when Hedwig had arrived and landed in front of Hermione. Hermione got very excited. Her parents had earlier approved a visit by a friend over for the holidays. Harry had asked if her parents would object to wards being added to their property; apparently the answer was here.
Hermione made apologies to Luna and dragged Harry off to talk about the letter. When they arrived in a deserted hallway, Hermione turned to him. "Harry, Sirius has contacted my parents and the wards have been approved. They also have invited your godfather and a guard to stay with you. Apparently Professor Dumbledore contacted them and they were told that because of your celebrity status, sometimes a guard was necessary."
Harry just shook his head. Interfering old goat. "Did it say who it was?"
"Apparently, Sirius arranged with Amelia Bones to borrow the services of his cousin, Auror Tonks."
Harry grinned. If he was going to have a guard, it might as well be one that had a sense of fun.
"Also, they know about your appointments on the 1st and 3rd of July. However, they're planning on a trip to Naples for two weeks beginning the 7th. You have been invited along. Will that be a problem?"
Harry shook his head. "Not a problem with me. I haven't really ever gone anywhere so a vacation sounds wonderful."
Hermione started jumping up and down excitedly and then threw herself into him.
"Finally, a summer holiday I can enjoy," was Harry's only thought.
"Hello, Harry. You gonna come over to this Burrow this summer?" Ron asked at dinner Wednesday night.
"I don't know, Ron. With Sirius getting guardianship from the Dursleys, I'd have to talk to him. And because of the kidnapping at the tournament, I have to have extra security this summer."
"Well, my mum wanted me to invite you to stay. If you don't come over, she will be disappointed. Besides, with quidditch coming back next year, I thought I'd try out for Keeper and I want to practice. I thought we could get in a few games. Plus some chess. It's been a while since we played."
Harry almost groaned out loud. He'd have to owl Sirius to make excuses to the Weasleys. With Professor Dumbledore requiring where he was to be a secret, he thought it might be able to be pulled off.
"Well, I'll owl Sirius and let him know. You ought to get your brothers and sister to help give you practice."
"But Ginny's a girl!" Ron didn't notice the heads of every girl in listening range turn toward him with the same scowl.
"But she's also a Weasley! You know your family has quidditch in the blood!"
Ginny walked over and thanked Harry before slapping her brother in the face and walking out. It was all he could do to not laugh out loud at Ron's confused reaction.
As he settled on the train with Hermione, Ron, Luna, Ginny and Neville, Harry made sure that he was next to Hermione and when Luna sat down on his other side, he was tempted to turn and thank her. Ginny didn't look very happy that Harry was between two other girls, but she hid it well. Ron was only paying attention to the game of exploding snap that he was trying to start between everyone.
As the train rushed toward London, he thought about the fact that there was one area that he had almost no experience in. He was almost sweating bullets as he contemplated how he was going to interact with Hermione's mother and father. If her mother was anything like her, that wasn't going to be a problem. No, he admitted to himself, it was totally the father that he was worried about. As Harry nervously glanced toward Hermione, he could see the small smirk she had behind the book she was reading. Hermione always could read his mind.
Talking to Luna was always fun though. He got the compartment into a discussion of crumple-horned snorkacks and where they could be found.
As they got off the train, Harry saw Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Oh, Merlin. More overbearing mothering! As the group moved toward them, Mrs. Weasley hugged each of her children as well as Hermione and Harry. "Oh, Harry. I head that Ron invited you over this summer. You MUST talk to Sirius about it."
"I will Mrs. Weasley. When I know more information, I will have Sirius or Professor Dumbledore contact you."
Before the Weasleys moved off, Fred and George took Harry to the side and thanked him again for setting them up with Padfoot. "And, by next year, we will have some products for our agent, Mr. Harry Potter!" Harry laughed and waved as the Weasleys moved off.
Harry and Hermione turned and saw Sirius standing with an older version of Hermione, minus the bushy hair, and a tall man who looked like he led a comfortable life. Hermione pushed her cart over and then threw herself into her father's arms before turning to her mother. Harry was amused to see the result of two competing Hermy-hugs at the same time. Harry moved over himself toward the group.
"Oi, pup! How was the end of term?"
"Just fine Sirius. I take it these are Hermione's parents."
Hermione turned and said, "Harry, meet Mr. Robert Granger and Mrs. Emma Granger, my parents. Mum, Dad, this is my best friend, Harry Potter!"
Emma moved over to him and gave him a hug and said, "So this is the Harry we have heard so much about over the years!" Hermione blushed at her mother's comment.
Hermione's father shook his hand, "Nice to meet you, Harry." Harry looked into his eyes and could see torture under the use of dental equipment in his eyes.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Granger," Harry replied nervously.
"None of that now. You'll make us feel old," Mrs. Granger said. "You can call us Emma and Robert."
As the group moved out of the station, Sirius said, "Well, we're going to go together in the Grangers' car to their house. I was going to offer to follow them, but it's a long ride."
"Follow them?"
"Yes!" Sirius replied. "On that!" He pointed over to a motorcycle sitting in the lot next to what was apparently the Grangers' car, which was a nice Mercedes with plenty of room. "As it is, I'll follow till we get to a quiet area and shrink it. I promise a ride later to both you and Hermione."
"How did you get the Grangers to agree to THAT into their neighborhood?" Harry smiled.
Sirius leaned over and said quietly, "I promised them each a ride sometime as well."
Harry and Sirius laughed as they followed the Grangers over to the car.
They loaded the back hatch and Hermione led Harry over to the side and pulled him into the 2nd row of seats.
"Mum, Dad, why the bigger car?"
"Well, honey," Mrs. Granger began, "with Harry visiting as well as Sirius and his cousin, we thought that this year's lease could be something a bit roomier. Especially as we're planning on taking more time off to spend with everyone." Hermione looked happy at that. That meant that Harry might be spending more than just two weeks over the summer with her, and she wouldn't miss seeing her parents as much.
"I want to thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Granger, for letting me visit this year, especially with my godfather."
"Really, Harry, it's not a problem. Hermione has never had a friend stay over and we're happy to have you. Besides, we have plenty of room."
During the car ride to the Grangers', Hermione answered her parents' questions enthusiastically about her term and they talked about the happenings this year. Harry answered questions about the tournament. However, all throughout the ride, Harry could see the looks Mr. Granger, Robert, was giving him as Hermione seemed to drift closer and closer to his side.
Finally, Emma gave her husband a fond but annoyed look and then asked, "So, is there something that you two wanted to mention?"
Hermione blushed and she replied, "Well, just before the term ended, Harry and I decided to start dating."
Robert almost lost control of the wheel as Sirius yelled out from the rear seats, "Well done, Harry! The brightest girl in school!"
Harry stammered out, "Well, we've been best friends for almost four years, and we decided that we decided that we were interested in going out with each other."
Emma hit her husband in his shoulder and then turned back towards them, "Well, I for one am very happy for you two. I'm not surprised either. Hermione's letters home have featured you prominently almost since she started."
Sirius piped up from the back, "His father was the same. The only girl he was ever interested was the brightest girl of her time, and Harry seems to have the same tastes."
Both teens blushed as the adults in the car laughed at them.
Emma was actually VERY happy. The only other boy her daughter mentioned regularly was Ronald Weasley. Although she liked the boy's father when he had picked Hermione up for the World Cup the year before, there were too many times that Hermione had mentioned being upset by some careless remark the red-headed teenager had made.
Robert wasn't quite as happy as his wife. Even though he could see how happy Hermione was dating this bloke, the whole celebrity thing worried him. He needed a bodyguard for god's sake! However, he also seemed respectful and that was not something he had expected, well not to this degree anyway. But if he hurt his little girl, the boy had a date with dentistry lined up the likes of which he had never imagined!
Harry got up the next morning, happy about how the summer start so far. Once they had arrived at Hermione's house, she had shown Harry and Sirius around the house. Tonks was there as well and was staying with Sirius in the guest house at the back of the property. It was decided with the wards that there would be enough time for them to get to the main house if there was an attack. Also, there was room in the guest house if Moony decided to visit. In the backyard was a pool, which caused Harry to have thoughts about Hermione in swimming attire.
The main house was amazing. There were two stories in the house. The main floor had a kitchen, dining room, entertainment room, sitting room, bathroom and a den. The second floor had a master bedroom with a bath, 3 other bedrooms and another bath; one bedroom had been converted to a library room for Hermione when her books no longer fit in her own room. There was a plush couch and two plush chairs, as well as a desk for Hermione to work at. All in all, it looked like Hermione had brought elements of the Hogwarts Library and Gryffindor common room home with her.
They had stayed up late watching a movie in the entertainment room, Harry and Hermione and fallen asleep against each other toward the end of the movie. Emma was smirking at them when she woke them up to go to their own rooms.
Harry woke up early as he was wont to do when he was at Privet Drive. He took a quick shower and went down to the kitchen. Tonks was sitting at the table reading a copy of the muggle daily newspaper.
"Wotcher, Harry! How are you doing this morning?"
"I'm good, Tonks. So far this summer has started off brilliantly. What would you like for breakfast?"
"Cor blimey, you cook?" Tonks was amazed. Her own cooking skills were less than exciting and she ate a lot of takeout. Of course her clumsiness didn't help in the kitchen much.
"Sure. One thing I learned at my Aunt and Uncle's house was how to cook. So what do you want?"
"How about a fry up with eggs, bacon, scones and sausage?"
"Alright. Why don't you go and wake up Sirius and by the time he gets over here, breakfast should almost be ready."
Tonks moved to the back door to get Sirius out of the guest house, while Harry moved around the kitchen to make breakfast for everyone.
Soon the smell of breakfast permeated the house, drawing the other residents down from their beds.
Hermione's parents arrived first and Emma said, "Harry, you don't have to cook around here. I'm more than capable of handling meals. You're supposed to be on holiday."
Harry smiled at her. "That's alright. I have a lot of practice from growing up, and I wouldn't feel right if I didn't do anything to contribute. Besides, I enjoy cooking breakfast. So if you don't mind, I'd like to cook at least sometimes, and maybe even a dinner or two. Also, I'm a fair hand at gardening and it's nice to work outside during the summer."
"Well, that's alright as long as you realize that we don't expect it," Emma replied as she walked over and gave him a hug. Hermione came down the stairs in pajamas and Emma walked over and hugged her as well and kissed her forehead.
"Good morning, mum. What smells so good?"
"Harry decided to cook breakfast this morning?"
Hermione seemed to wake up at that. "You can cook?" she asked amazed.
"I'll have you know I am an accomplished master in the kitchen. And once everyone sits down you will see what I mean," Harry said at her.
Hermione laughed sheepishly as she admitted, "Well, it's one thing I can't seem to do. I've been banned from the kitchen since I tried to cook eggs and they came out green somehow."
Harry smiled at her. "Oh, come on Hermione. You're good at potions. It's not like it is THAT different." Just then, Sirius and Tonks came in the back door.
"Well, everyone, have a seat and dig in!"
As everyone tasted the eggs and pancakes, there were appreciative comments all around. "Blimey, Harry, this is better than my mum's!" Tonks commented.
As breakfast progressed, Harry brought up something.
"You know I have an appointment at the bank this afternoon. I have asked Hermione and Sirius to accompany me as Sirius knows politics and banking procedures; Hermione has read far more than myself about goblin customs. The goblins are very touchy."
Emma looked at him, "Well, that should be fine. What will you have planned before then?"
Harry smiled sheepishly. "Well, I need to go shopping. I would like to show up at the bank looking smart, and, well, to be honest, my wardrobe has far too many hand-me-downs from my cousin."
Sirius growled at mention of Harry's relatives. He settled down and said, "Well, that's a smart idea. What do you ladies think?"
Emma, Hermione and Tonks looked VERY excited. "That sounds great! We can take you and get you fixed up nice," Mrs. Granger bubbled.
Robert was looking at Harry with pity in his eyes. "Oh to be young and naïve. You do realize that shopping with three women isn't conducive to your health, right?"
Emma hit him in the shoulder as everyone laughed. "No, that sounds good. I already asked Hermione to help me as I'm pants at fashion."
Robert was secretly impressed. Usually teenage boys had their own ideas of what to wear, which was often far too flashy. It usually took years before they realized that it's better to have one's girl do the deciding as a man never wanted to upset his wife or girlfriend by being too flashy in front of other women.
"Well, pup. That sounds good to me. I have my debit card from Gringott's so I'll cover the costs. The girls can cover the dressing up. And Robert can cover sitting back and laughing!" Everyone around the table laughed at Harry's pouting expression.
"That sounds like a good plan," Emma said as she continued to laugh. "By the way, Sirius, why do you call Harry 'pup'?"
Sirius asked her, "Do you know what an animagus is?"
As Emma shook her head, Hermione explained, "It is a witch or wizard who can turn into an animal form. There are now 9 registered animaguses in Great Britain including Professor McGonagall and Sirius." She didn't want to mention Wormtail. The Grangers looked interestedly at Sirius as he stood up and morphed into his Padfoot form. Emma squealed and clapped as Sirius turned back.
"So, as I'm a dog, and Harry's my godson, I call him 'Pup'."
"That's very interesting. Is it hard? Is it related to what Tonks can do?" They spent the rest of breakfast talking about animaguses and metamorphmaguses, before they headed out for shopping and Gringott's.
A/N: Well, here was the next installment. The hardest part was researching cars that were available in 1995 in Great Britain as well as common breakfasts. I know a lot of fan fiction has the Grangers covering all the costs of Harry's wardrobe and such and living in some really huge house, but I decided it was more realistic for them to live in a well-to-do home and have a decent car that was widely available to the upper-middle class. It wouldn't be so unusual for there to be a guest house on a property, but 3-people families don't usually live in mansions. Also, they just met Harry and he isn't portraying himself as "Poor, poor Harry" with all of his problems. So, Sirius, as his guardian can cover his wardrobe and the Grangers accept that he will help out around the house some, as teenagers that are respectful would do when staying somewhere without paying rent. Oh and the "Date with Dentistry" was a play on "Date with Destiny." At least *I* thought it was funny.