"Mum, Dad, you already know Harry, and the young woman is Fleur Delacour, of whom I've told you already."
Dave Granger seemed almost blinded by Fleur. He barely managed to welcome her before his wife pushed him aside. "You must forgive my husband. He has never seen someone as enchanting as you are."
Fleur smiled nervously, not quite sure what was expected of her. This didn't stop Hermione from going on. "I visited Harry this afternoon, and it so happened that Fleur came to visit him as well only a few minutes earlier. As you were invited to spend the vacation with her parents, I thought this was a good opportunity to get to know her and learn a bit about her family. Don't you agree?"
"Yes, dear, but shouldn't we make dinner first and talk later?" her mother said. "Just stay with your friends and I'll make sure dinner is ready on time."
Hermione took them to her room and silenced the door. "I know what I'm going to tell my parents about me and Harry, but I'm not sure what, if anything at all, I should tell them about you," she told Fleur.
"You already told them I was there, so how will you explain having sex with him while I'm there?"
Hermione blushed. "Oops! I didn't plan on telling them. Now it looks like I have no other choice but the truth."
"Won't they be mad at me or at you?" Harry asked worriedly.
Hermione thought for a moment. "I've told Mum I intended to get closer to you, so if she has to be mad at anybody, it will be me. Boys at your age are not expected to show much restraint, you know. They are practically expected to try and shag any available female around. I still don't see how to explain Fleur's part, though."
"Why don't you try the truth?" Fleur suggested. "I can tell them about the Yule ball and what came after. They may have many questions, but they can't disapprove of Harry keeping me alive, can they?"
.
They couldn't. While nothing important was discussed during dinner, Fleur started her story as soon as the desserts were served. "I needed a date for the ball but none of those who showed interest in me was suitable. They were all interested in my looks and possibly in having sex with me. I then noticed that Harry had no date either. I knew he would have liked Hermione to be his date, but she had already accepted another, so I decided to try him as my date, thinking that him being so much younger than me would make it safe for both of us."
"What do you mean by 'safe'? Was there any danger?" Dave asked.
"Well, there's always the danger of falling in love with someone inappropriate. Then, as a Veela, I needed to be extra careful who I let deflower me, since it could have grave consequences for me."
She had to tell them some more about Veela and their mates, yet they were quick to understand. "So, you eventually gave your virginity to Harry?"
"Yes. My magic seems to have chosen him as the one, and I had to accept it."
"If so, why don't you marry him?"
"Had he not been in love with another, that would have been the best way to handle this. Unfortunately for me, his heart belongs to another."
"That other woman, is she Hermione?"
Fleur only looked down in embarrassment. Hermione seemed to start answering, but Harry spoke first. "Hermione has been the only one I wanted since the first year, although I only understood this due to Fleur. I didn't understand why having the most sought-after girl as my date didn't cheer me up much; why even sex with her seemed to lack something, until I realized that anybody but Hermione would be only a substitute for the real thing."
Hermione didn't wait for her parents' next question. "I also felt that way. I've been asked to be the date of the most famous international sports star, and he really was a very considerate date and gave me a really good time, and yet – he wasn't Harry. Eventually, he noticed where my eyes were constantly looking and he offered Harry to exchange partners for a while. The two dances with Harry were the highlight of that evening for me."
Dave understood quickly. "So, you two are in love yet Fleur needs to have sex with Harry to stay alive. That's really a complicated situation, if there has ever been one."
Fleur intervened. "Actually, it's not so complicated in the magical world. A lord, like Harry, is allowed more than one wife, especially if he's the last of his line. It is also common to have concubines or mistresses. Even casual shags out of wedlock are no less common than in the muggle world, yet we don't need to decide before they both finish school."
Dave nodded and turned to Hermione. "So, you intend to get married as soon as you finish school?"
Hermione blushed. "It's a bit more complicated." At his raised brow she continued to explain. "Fleur was at Harry's for a regular shag, as she needs it to survive. She didn't mind my presence, though, and I was eager to learn, so I stayed. It affected me unexpectedly. Once they finished, I just pushed Fleur aside and took her place."
Dave grimaced. "Do I want to hear the details?"
Fleur took over. "The only relevant details are that once they started, they were engulfed in a golden haze that signifies a soul bond. That is recognized as equivalent to marriage. Hermione is now Lady Potter."
This was followed by a sudden silence. Harry wasn't sure if he shouldn't run away immediately; Hermione was looking expectantly at her parents and Fleur was just watching. Dave seemed a bit shocked, but his wife was the first to comprehend and react. She stood up and moved to hug Hermione and Harry as one. "Congratulations, dears. This is much earlier than I expected, but if you're happy, then so am I."
"Yes, Mum, we're very happy," Hermione reassured her.
It took Dave a bit longer to accept the new situation. "Well, princess, this is not the way I thought it would happen. I thought we will give you away in an elegant wedding and I'll have a chance to scare your intended a bit, to make sure he treats you well. Still, if you're happy, that's all I could really ask for. Congratulations, pumpkin, and good luck to you two."
They had already moved to the living room and were sipping their tea when some pecking on the kitchen's window attracted their attention. Hermione rushed to open the window, letting two owls in. One flew directly to Harry while the other landed in front of her. She took the parchment from the owl, noticing the Gringotts emblem on it. The owl took off immediately.
Harry was also opening his parchment, which looked identical. "Gringotts is happy to congratulate Lord and Lady Potter for your recent bonding. You are kindly requested to come to the bank at your earliest convenience to take care of the changes in your accounts due to this happy event,"
Dave seemed pensive for a moment. "Harry, I've never asked Hermione to tell me anything about you, but now that you are family and have taken the responsibility as a husband, I'd really like to know some more about your finance, just to assure myself that you can take good care of my princess."
Harry smiled reluctantly. He knew he had more than enough, but he only had a vague idea of his possessions and he feared it would sound as if he was evading the question. Hermione responded before he had time to think, though. "Dad, Harry is the only heir of a very rich family, although he had found out only recently about it and had no time until now to get a fuller explanation. I know he owns several houses and castles and has shares in quite a few businesses. We'll know more after visiting the bank."
"How do you know that?" Harry asked.
She rolled her eyes. "Harry, where is my favourite place at Hogwarts?"
"The library, so...?"
"There are books there about every influential family in the last thousand years. Books about Myrddin, Gryffindor, Slytherin, Peverell, and up to (or down to) Malfoy and Crabbe.
"It was natural for me to read the books pertaining to my classmates, don't you think so? Besides, you've told me most of it after visiting Gringotts with Alain, remember?"
Harry nodded. "Yes, dear. I should have known, really."
Two other owls arrived, landing in front of them. The letters they carried were identical, except for the names.
"Dear Lord (Lady) Potter,
Congratulations on your bonding with Miss Hermione Granger (Lord Harry Potter) which took place today at 15:23 at Little Whinging. This bond makes you a married couple and emancipates you, if you've not reached seventeen yet.
The registrar of marriages and bonds."
Dave sighed. "So, this is fully official now..."
"Yes Dad, and please don't think of this as losing your daughter. On the contrary – you now gained a son."
Dave smiled reluctantly at her. "It may take some time for that to sink in."
Fleur stood up. "I need to go now. Thank you for the nice supper and for being so understanding. May I tell my parents that you accept their invitation?"
"Yes. Can they call us to set up the details?"
She smiled. "Sure. Dad may call you tomorrow or just pop in, as I did."
She hugged Hermione and Harry and said goodbye to her hosts before disappearing from the room. Dave shook his head. "I don't think I'll ever get accustomed to that!" It was not clear if he was referring to apparition or to the Veela.
Hermione was already standing. "Mum, Dad, I think I should join Harry at his relatives' house, since he needs to stay there until we all go to France. Will you help me pack, Mum?"
With the women going upstairs, Harry was left alone with Dave. He dreaded the conversation that he expected now, yet Dave was deep in thought. Dave knew of all the adventures his daughter had had with Harry, although he was sure that she had spared him the most frightening details. Yet even what he knew was quite enough to understand that this young man was more than capable of protecting his daughter. He couldn't doubt the love these two shared, although he wondered how Fleur's presence could affect it. Still, there was nothing he needed to ask the boy at the moment.
He did talk eventually. "Harry, you must know that my daughter is very dear to me. I know you'll do your best to keep her safe and happy, but I must emphasize this nevertheless. If ever you hurt her, I'll hunt you for as long as I live. Am I clear enough?"
Harry smiled reassuringly. "Yes, Dad, I know, and I promise to do my best to make her always happy. I've finally realized that I love her very much indeed."
\/\/\/
Aunt Petunia didn't seem happy at seeing Harry return with the girl, carrying an overnight bag to boot, yet both were holding those wands and she knew better than to annoy them. She even managed to stop Vernon from saying anything – not a small feat.
She couldn't stop Dudley from talking, though."You have a girlfriend?"
"I have a wife," Harry replied. "Let me introduce Lady Hermione Potter to you," he added with a wide smile.
"Wife? When did you even get married?"
"It was not a regular wedding, but it happened this afternoon and we're both very glad about it." Hermione nodded her consent.
"Well, congratulation, although I don't think I would like to get married at this age," Dudley said, surprising Harry as well as his parents.
"We didn't expect it either," Harry responded, "but things just... happened..." He didn't want to mention the M word.
"Is that common in... your world?"
Harry looked at Hermione, as if consulting with her before answering. "It's very uncommon, but I seem to attract the uncommon, no matter what I do."
Dudley laughed, extending his hand to shake Harry's. "I know. Even there you must be special." He shook hands with Harry and then did the same with Hermione, while his parents were still looking dumbfounded.
"Why are you still staying here, though? I thought you'd like to leave as soon as you could."
Harry frowned. "The Headmaster insisted that I spend at least three weeks here to charge the wards protecting this house. I'm not sure how effective that may be, so I intend to use other wards as soon as I leave."
Dudley seemed anxious to ask some more, but Harry stopped him. "We should find some other time to talk. Right now I have a new wife to please, so I wish you all goodnight."
This seemed to have some effect on his aunt. "Harry, what about breakfast?"
He smiled reassuringly at her. "I'll make it, for five."
Hermione was still a bit sore from her afternoon activity, but she was just as eager as Harry to try it again. They spent quite a big part of the night just showing their love to each other, seemingly insatiable, until they finally collapsed into blissful sleep after having reached innumerable peaks each. Luckily, Hermione remembered to silence their room just before undressing, so that none of the Dursleys could hear anything out of order.
Harry was barely able to wake up on time, yet seeing his beautiful wife sleeping peacefully at his side filled his heart with joy. He used his new bathroom to get ready and was preparing breakfast before Aunt Petunia came down. Hermione woke up when the smell of his cooking reached the room. She got ready quickly and joined Harry in the kitchen at the same time as Vernon. The presence of the older couple didn't deter her from approaching Harry and kissing him, despite the grimaces.
Vernon ate silently, looking pensively at the youngsters. He only said "Goodbye" when he left the kitchen, not addressing anybody. Petunia waited until she heard his car drive away before speaking. "Can you tell me how you happened to get married so quickly and so young?"
Harry looked at Hermione, as if requesting her permission. She shrugged, as if saying she didn't care. Harry sighed. "I didn't expect this at all. I only thought of marriage as something to consider after finishing school, at the earliest. Yet I knew I loved Hermione dearly. She's been my best friend since the first year and stayed loyal even when others didn't. Apparently, she also loves me, because the first time we dared show our feelings we were soul-bound, which means that we've become legally married. I can show you the letter from the ministry, if you want."
Petunia sighed. "Are there any other ramifications?"
"Well, we're both recognized as adults, so we can use our abilities freely. As an adult, I no longer need a guardian and I can take control of my assets. We're going to the bank soon and then we shall see what we own and where we would like to live. I'll only stay here until we go on vacation to France. Fleur's parents invited us and Hermione's parents to spend our vacation with them."
"Will you come back here?" It was unclear if she was glad to get rid of him or worried she won't see him again.
Harry shrugged. "There were times I wanted nothing better than to leave this place and never come back. Now I don't really care. I'll come to visit, if you want me to."
Petunia was silent now. Harry didn't wait for her to talk. He collected the dishes, washed them and put them in place. He was heading for the kitchen door when Petunia asked, "Will you be back for dinner?"
Harry looked at Hermione before answering. "We shall probably dine out, but we'll spend the night here."
Both teens changed to more formal clothes and then used the Gringotts' letter to portkey to the bank.