Hermione already knew that by becoming Harry's close friend, she had made her life quite more interesting and even dangerous, as the previous two years had shown. Turning Harry's wife certainly didn't make it any safer. She was even more worried about his well-being after their lives were tied in marriage, and his role as a seeker during Quidditch games didn't help either.
Her worries were proven spot on when he fell off his broom due to the dementors' attack during the game. She did her best to soften his fall. She probably did well enough at that, but she failed to notice that his broom was swept by the winds, ending at the Whomping Willow. It wouldn't matter that much, except that the tree seemed to get offended by the broom, expressing its displeasure by beating the broom vigorously, turning the top-of-the-line broom into splintered wood and twigs.
Knowing how much gold they had in their vaults, this wasn't much of a problem, really. They could afford even a better broom. The problem was that it would expose their new position, something they didn't want to happen yet.
Harry still stayed a few days in the infirmary, since Madam Pomfrey wanted to be sure he suffered no ill after that potentially fatal fall. Hermione missed her regular shags quite badly. She suspected that Harry missed them, too.
They worked on catching up as soon as Harry was released, spending several hours out of sight. Hermione was glad that she could give the excuse of helping Harry catch up with missed lessons and homework. Judicious use of the time-turner and moving between a few unused rooms also helped.
Once that subject was covered, Harry returned to what was bothering him since that match. "I should have held to the broom despite the dementors. Besides, now Wood would want me to buy another broomstick. How can I do it without exposing our position? I can't say I used money from my trust vault — it's too expensive for that."
"Are you sure? I don't remember any limit put on that vault."
Harry shrugged. "There's no limit now since I'm emancipated, but there was a very strict limit before. I could buy some clothes and a few more things, but nothing close to the price of a quality broomstick. That's standard precautions on such vaults to prevent children from spending it all on stuff unrelated to their studies."
Hermione cringed. "I didn't know that. What will you do?"
Harry sighed. "I'm not sure. Maybe McGonagall can help this time, too. I may have to look for some 'benefactor' to buy me a broom, even if I secretly pay for it."
She smiled. "That can be a very good idea. Do you have anybody in mind?"
He shook his head. "Not right now. I'll need to think about it some more. Besides, I don't think I'd like to buy a new broomstick only for it to be destroyed like my first one."
Evidently, his inability to hold onto the broom in the presence of dementors was highly bothering Harry. It bothered Hermione, too, but she had no idea how to help him.
Luckily, another person offered help with the dementors. Professor Lupin promised Harry to teach him during the coming term. He just didn't have time to do it earlier.
That didn't help much with the broom problem.
–..–
The problem was solved in a surprising way that neither of them expected. A few days before the winter vacation and before they had a chance to do anything about a new broom, Harry got a package by owl. From its form, it was evident that it contained a broom. When Harry opened it, they found out it was the newest Firebolt broom. It was the fastest and costliest broom in Britain.
Unsurprisingly, Ron urged Harry to try it as soon as possible and give him a ride, too. Hermione was more cautious. Ron wouldn't let her put a word in, as was his habit when talking about anything Quidditch-related, but Hermione could communicate with Harry differently.
'Harry, I suspect this can be a trap. Maybe Sirius Black sent it to you so he could kill you, the way Quirrell tried in our first year?'
Harry glanced momentarily at her and turned his eyes to Ron, who continued blabbering. 'That's a worrisome thought. How can we make sure it's safe?'
Hermione had no doubt. 'Ask the professors to check it. I'm sure Professor McGonagall is eager for you to have a good broom; she bought you the first, after all, and Professor Lupin is also concerned with your safety.'
Harry gave her a minuscule nod. 'I'll ask for it to be checked.'
He then turned to Ron. "As much as I want to try this magnificent broom, it's not safe. We don't know who sent it, and it could easily be enchanted to kill me when I try it or when I use it during a game. I'd rather have it checked for curses before I use it."
Ron tried to protest, but Harry ignored him. He took the broom to the head table and gave it to his head-of-house. "Professor, I got this in the mail with no identification of the sender. Due to the situation with Black, I believe it should first be checked for any malicious magic before I even try it."
The professor nodded. "I'll have it checked thoroughly as soon as possible. If it's safe, I'd like you to be able to use it before our next Quidditch game."
Harry smiled. "So do I, Professor."
Ron, who stayed at the breakfast table along with Hermione, seemed very upset. Without a proper target for his feelings, he simply attacked the pile of food on his plate.
–..–
Harry didn't put his name on the list of students staying for the winter vacation. With his (unknowing) parents-in-law's invitation, he planned to join Hermione for the holidays. Neither was surprised when he was summoned to the headmaster's office a day before leaving for the holidays. Hermione thought it would be appropriate to be at his side.
Dumbledore frowned when he saw her coming along with Harry. "I only invited Mr. Potter. Why are you here, Miss Granger?"
She shrugged. "Harry suspected that you're interested in why he decided not to stay for the winter vacation, and I'm involved in it."
Dumbledore looked surprised. "Indeed, that's what I was going to talk to him about. How are you involved?"
She smiled. "I told my parents that Harry is my best friend, so they decided to invite him for the holidays, and he accepted the invitation."
Dumbledore looked pensive. "I see…" he said, passing his fingers through his beard. Hermione thought that he was looking for a reason to keep Harry at school, but failed to find one good enough.
He turned to Harry. "Is that really what you want?"
Harry's wide smile could be answer enough. "Sure! I want to meet her family, and I hope to learn how the holidays should be celebrated. I never learned that at my relatives'."
Dumbledore sighed. "In that case, I hope you enjoy your vacation and return rested and invigorated to continue your studies."
Hermione could sense that these words didn't quite represent his feelings, but they were what one would expect him to say. It didn't make him more trustworthy in her opinion.
–..–
The train ride was about the same as their previous rides. Although Hermione would have liked to stay with only Harry and maybe use the long ride for some intimate fun too, she found that getting rid of Ron was not quite possible. And then, they also had some visits.
"My Gran would like you to come and visit us. She said that due to our age and to sharing a dorm, I can invite you verbally, and there's no need for a more official invitation," Neville told them.
Hermione could already give him some vague instructions just by thought. 'Say you need to see what my parents plan.'
Harry seemed to understand. "I really like to visit you. The only magical home I've seen is the Weasley house, and it isn't like any other, so they told me. Still, I should first see what my hosts are planning and try to fit anything else around that."
Neville didn't seem to mind. "I know you can't decide on the spot. Just owl me when you can. I don't think we're going anywhere during the holidays, so every day should be fine with us."
Harry smiled. "I'll do. When I come, I plan to take Hermione along, you should know."
Neville smiled. "Of course. I didn't expect it any other way, or I would have invited her separately."
–..–
Ron wasn't pleased with Harry visiting Hermione and not coming with him. "Why are you going to spend the winter vacation with muggles? You would enjoy it much better with us at the Burrow."
Hermione didn't leave Harry to fend for himself alone. "They heard so much about him that they want to get to know him. Do you think he should have declined their offer?"
"Maybe not, but he could have come for only a day or two and spent the rest at the Burrow," Ron compromised.
"Ron, my parents work each day. They can only spend time with us in the evening or during the weekend. They would have been offended if he chose to only stay a day or two."
Ron didn't like it, but couldn't find a proper counterargument. "Alright, but I expect him to come with me to the Burrow next time."
"That's up to him, you know," she noted. Ron only grimaced at that.
–..–
They had some more visits. Hermione's dorm mates came to snoop for gossip; Daphne Greengrass came to ask Hermione about a common project they needed to do after the New Year, making Ron leave the compartment until Daphne finished her visit; Susan Bones came to ask about the Patronus charm, having heard rumours about Harry mastering it. He had to disappoint her, unfortunately.
As usual, they didn't escape Malfoy's visit, but Harry got rid of the git by threatening to call his Patronus. That frightened the blond ponce out of their compartment in no time.
–..–
The Granger adults were waiting on the Muggle side of the barrier. Hermione ran forward to hug them and get hugged back while Harry brought their luggage. She then made the introductions. "Mum, Dad, this is my good friend Harry Potter, of whom I've already told you quite a bit. Harry, my parents, Jean and Dave Granger. They're not formal at home, so you may call them by their names."
Harry mumbled his acknowledgement and shook their hands. Jean seemed to want to hug him, but changed her mind.
–..–
Harry felt welcome at the Granger residence. He didn't feel like one of the family, of course. Hermione hadn't yet told her parents about the bond, and she wasn't even sure if it was right to already tell, so they only treated him as a close friend. They were still much warmer to him than his relatives had ever been.
Hermione hoped to keep the truth about their bond a secret a bit longer, but her mother was too observant for that. The third night, after sending the teens to sleep, she came into Hermione's room and closed the door behind her. "Harry is much more than a close friend to you. Isn't he?"
Hermione wouldn't confess yet. "Why do you say that? You know he's been my friend since our first year. I think we're getting closer as time passes."
"Very close, I believe. As close as lovers, I'd say."
"I'm not sure I understand," Hermione tried to evade the question.
"Oh, you're smarter than that, I know. You two have been shagging several times a day when we're at work. You can remove the signs, and you probably do that, but the scent lingers, and not only in your room or his."
Hermione felt like the cartoon figure with the balloon of "Busted!" above it. She sighed. "Yes, our relations became intimate at my birthday. It was my initiative, not Harry's. Had I waited for him, I would have needed to wait until after graduation, at least."
"But why were you in such a hurry? You could wait a year or two, I'm sure."
Hermione sighed. "I'm not sure. There are some girls who are extremely interested in him, although he's currently oblivious to most of them. I couldn't wait to see another catching him."
"But he can still decide he likes another, can't he?"
Why did her mother ask all the wrong questions? How could she answer truthfully without revealing the bond? She couldn't. "No, Mum. The first time, we were engulfed in a golden haze that turned into a bright flash when we completed a bond. We're magically bonded, and that is recognised as legal marriage, despite our ages."
Her mother seemed to collapse on the bed at her side. "Legally married at fourteen? How can that be?"
Hermione couldn't answer, since somebody else opened the door. Harry stepped in, looking extremely worried. He didn't even seem to notice Jean. He stepped directly to Hermione and took both her hands in his. "What is it, dear? I felt you were extremely anxious, so I came here immediately. I only needed to put on some clothes first."
Hermione smiled at him with evident relief. "My Mum knows. We should have used air freshening charms. She smelled our sex sessions."
Harry seemed to finally notice her mother. "I'm sorry, Jean. We didn't want to burden you with the news. We tried to be as discreet as possible."
Jean smiled faintly. "Evidently, that wasn't enough. Now, what does it mean that you're married? Is that recognised by the normal authorities too?"
Hermione found that easier to answer than the previous questions. "No, unfortunately. For the muggle authorities, we're still both single. I think that even had we been adults, they would not have known of our magical bond. We'll need to get a normal wedding after we're old enough for that."
Jean gave it a thought. "Then, it should be easier for all of us if we gain guardianship of Harry. That way, he can join us on our summer trips without running to his current guardians for everything. Would you like that?" The question was addressed to Harry.
"That should work well. I only hope my relatives won't cause any trouble. Dumbledore, too, for that matter."
Jean sighed. "Alright. We shall discuss this during the weekend. Now, married couples should better sleep together. Hermione, you may move to his room, where the bed is wider. I'll handle Dave. And don't forget the contraceptives, please. Goodnight."