Aunt Petunia was waiting for Harry at the train station. She hugged him briefly before holding him at arm's length and inspecting him thoroughly. "You look well," she noted.
Harry smiled. "Uncle Vernon told me to stay safe. Where is he?"
"Vernon went to fetch Dudley," she explained apologetically. "He'll be waiting for us at the train station near home." She noticed Harry was only holding a small bag. "Is that all your luggage?"
"I left most of my stuff at school, taking only the minimum with me," he explained.
Petunia now turned to Hermione, who had just been hugged by her parents. "You look happy. Is school so good?"
Hermione was still smiling happily. "It could be better, but we have a big library there and we made some friends, and now we're back with our families for Christmas. Isn't that enough to make one happy?"
Petunia had to smile as well. "Of course, dear. It's simply nice to see you two so happy. I also think you both grew a bit taller."
"We probably did. The school robes have a growing charm on them, so it's hard to notice, but these clothes," she pointed at the jeans and shirt she was wearing under the winter coat, "seem to be a bit too small now."
Hermione turned to Harry. "I'll stay in touch with you. We still owe Neville an answer."
"Yes. Just phone when you can." They hugged tightly before parting.
Vernon was waiting for them on a bench, but Dudley ran forward, hugging his mother. He then surprised Harry by hugging him as well. "I missed you," he said, adding to Harry's surprise.
"Why?" he blurted.
Dudley smiled. "I did well in my studies and they have a Gym there..."
By now, Vernon also arrived. He looked Harry over and seemed pleased with what he saw. "Everything alright, boy?" he asked.
"Yes, Uncle Vernon. I'm fine." Harry smiled back. He really felt that way, which somewhat surprised him. These people were his family now. They had always been, but only lately had he started feeling that they really were. It was refreshing.
Dudley kept talking about Smelting and how he did there all the way home. While it was natural for Dudley to get his parents' full attention, Harry suspected that Dudley didn't want any problematic issues to be raised during the ride. He felt thankful for that.
It was much later, when he helped his aunt with the last dishes, that she asked him to sit down. "How is school, really now?"
"It's alright, I suppose. It is interesting to learn new things, but the pace is painfully slow, much slower than in the previous school. It looks like many of the children from purely magical families are not very bright and have a lot of difficulties mastering even the simplest magic. I feel like I could learn the whole curriculum in a few weeks."
"Didn't you try to talk with someone about this?"
Harry shrugged. "I told the headmaster, but he doesn't seem to mind much. He wants all students to have a chance, making the slowest students dictate the pace, which is not very smart. I also talked with my head of house. She suggested studying on my own, using the library for reference." He smiled and added, "That's what I've been doing for some time already."
"Are they trustworthy?" Petunia was still concerned, since finding that Dumbledore used money from Harry's inheritance.
"I don't trust Dumbledore. He tried to penetrate my mind and Hermione's as well. We had some nasty surprises ready for him." He couldn't hold back his smirk.
"And the other?"
"Professor McGonagall is quite nice and very strict. I'm sure she doesn't know about what the Headmaster did with my money. Yet she considers him her leader in many ways."
Petunia frowned. "Don't you have any teacher you can trust?"
"I've not found any. I can trust most of them to give me good advice, as long as they don't concern the headmaster. I can fully trust only Hermione and Neville."
"I really wanted to ask you about him. I heard you discuss a visit there with Hermione."
Harry smiled. "Actually, you've seen him during the summer before the last, when I played with other children at the ice-cream parlour. He is from a very old family. His parents are very ill and he's been raised by his grandmother. We've met him again at the train and we've become very close friends since."
"I'm glad you found a new friend. Are there more?"
"Not really. I'm friendly with my other classmates, but none of them can be considered a real friend."
Petunia nodded understandingly. "Well, I believe this has been a long day. We should all go to bed now. Goodnight, Harry."
"Goodnight, Aunt Petunia."
He really was tired. He got ready for the night and then turned off the lights before finding his way into bed in the dark.
"Hey, be careful!" he heard as he sat down on the bed.
"Hermione?! What are you doing here?"
He could see her smile in the faint light coming through the window. "Why, aren't you glad to see me?"
"I'm always glad to be with you. I just didn't expect you here tonight." He still made his way under the covers. Hermione shifted a bit to make room for him.
"You know I sleep best when I'm with you. I don't dare do it at school, but I can do it during vacations."
"Won't your parents be angry?"
"I keep locking my door ever since I started changing. Dad understands I need my privacy. Mum suspects a bit more, especially since I told her about fading, but she didn't say anything, except for insisting I learn all about the use of contraceptives." Harry was sure she was blushing just as much as he did, but none could see it in the dark. "I've not told her about that lesson we had with the school healer, who taught all the girls about the contraceptive charm."
"Why do you even need it?"
He could see her smile again. "Harry, I'm turning into a woman, as you are most definitely aware of. My breasts are growing and my body is changing and I will soon be feeling some urges, just as you will soon feel similar urges. If we continue to share a bed, I'm sure we shall sooner or later act on these urges. We should rather be prepared."
His mind seemed to refuse to understand. "What do you mean?"
Hermione took his hand and put it on her chest, where he could feel a not-so-small bulge. "My tits are growing." She then moved his hand down along her body. "I feel this area is changing as well." She moved his hand back to his own body, where it bumped into his tenting pyjama bottom. "And you are also affected by this. Right now, it's just embarrassing us both, but when our bodies reach a certain stage, we shall both find it difficult to stay apart, and honestly – I don't even want to start keeping some distance between us. I'd like us to always be as close as possible."
Harry had a faint idea what she was referring to, but he wanted to be sure. "What do you mean?" he asked again.
He thought she blushed some more. "Sex, Harry. In about a year I'll be physically ready for it. It may take you a bit longer, since you are a bit younger, but eventually, you'll want it very much. I don't want that to push us apart. Whenever we shall both be ready and willing, I want to let it come naturally, causing no weirdness between us."
"I also want us to stay close," he mumbled, too embarrassed by her boldness to say any more.
"Then hug me, and I really don't mind where you put your hands on me. I expect you to let me be as free with you."
Harry did as requested. He hugged her tightly, enjoying feeling her so close. He was sure they would have a few moments of embarrassment, no matter what they said, but he was feeling they would be able to overcome them.
He wasn't aware of falling asleep, but his clock woke him up, as usual, only this time he was not the only one to wake up.
"What time is it?" Hermione's sleepy voice asked from under the blanket.
"A quarter to six. Time to drink something warm before my daily exercise." He then frowned. "We failed to exercise at school, you know."
"Too cold!" He wasn't sure if she was referring to the Scottish climate or just the weather at the moment.
"Don't you need to go back home before your parents notice?"
Hermione yawned. "I suppose so. Dad wakes up at six. He expects me to exercise with him during vacations."
She turned to Harry and hugged him tightly. Harry hugged her back, just as tightly. She then released the hug. "I'll come back tonight. Earlier, if I have a chance."
Harry continued his morning as usual, only in a better mood than usual, like every time Hermione spent the night with him. He knew his feelings for Hermione were way beyond friendship, yet he still couldn't give them a name.
Hermione called soon after lunch. "My parents agreed to spend the weekend at Longbottom Manor, and Neville's gran invited them. Can you join us?"
"Yes, my aunt has already agreed. I only need to tell her the date."
"Great. You can fade to my home and we shall go to the Leaky Cauldron together. Neville will be waiting for us there. And I intend to be in your room soon after dinner. Bye."
Harry smiled as he put down the phone. His aunt was probably suspecting something, as she already knew about his fading ability, but she said nothing.
Petunia was gone during the afternoon. Harry thought she was visiting somewhere, as had become her custom since both boys had left home. He was busy exercising with Dudley, since both found the afternoon hours more appropriate, leaving the evening free for watching television or for reading.
By the time Petunia returned, both boys had finished their training session and were fresh from the shower. She asked Harry to help her in the kitchen and then closed the door.
"Harry, I know Dudley is still not interested in girls in any way, but it's evident that Hermione is more than just another friend to you. I suspect you will soon become a couple. I'd like you to read this book before the end of the holidays, to make sure you don't become parents before you are ready." She gave him a small book, whose cover only showed the male and female symbols combined in a suggestive way.
Harry blushed crimson. "I... We... not really..."
Petunia put her hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure it's all completely innocent by now, but you seem to mature really quickly. I'd hate to find out you've done something stupid before the end of term just because you lacked some knowledge. Show this to Hermione, when she comes tonight. I'm sure she will find the information useful for her as well."
Harry was surprised. "How...?"
"You taught her to move magically, just like you do. I've seen the way she looked at you at the train station. It's not the first time she comes to your bed either, is it?"
"No. We spend a night together about once a week, making sure no one knows. You should know that we both wear our pyjamas and do nothing you wouldn't approve of."
Petunia smiled at him. "I'm sure of that, but can you promise that it will stay the same a few months from now, once your hormones kick in? You should both know how to prevent unwelcome consequences before you let your hormones get wild."
Harry nodded, not quite sure what to say. He took the book reluctantly. "I think I'll take it to my room now. And... thank you, Aunt Petunia."
She only smiled knowingly.
\/\/\/
Hermione was waiting in his room when he came up after dinner, wearing her nightgown and a dressing robe over it. She was already reading Harry's new book, making Harry blush as he saw that. She lifted her head and smiled at him. "Where is this book from? It's not from your library."
"My aunt gave it to me. She said we should be ready for the time we'll want to do more than just sleep. She already suspected you'd be here tonight."
Hermione didn't look surprised. "Your aunt is very observant. I think I should thank her, although my mother gave me a similar book this summer. She said I should be ready for any occasion and not make her a grandmother prematurely. This book is quite similar to the one I got." She still blushed nicely.
"We can read it together," he suggested, not quite sure it was for the best.
"Sure! Whenever we don't understand anything, we can check each other's bodies." Was there a bit of mischief in her voice?
The book was straightforward, with clear drawings and very precise wording. Harry still enjoyed checking the drawings against Hermione's body, just as she enjoyed checking other drawings against his body. They didn't try to verify the copulations drawings. They thought these could wait at least a few more months. Still, when Harry hugged her as they cuddled to sleep, she couldn't ignore the very hard protrusion pressing on her back, just as she couldn't ignore the very warm feelings she got from his hands cupping her budding breasts.