After making sure all of the stinksap was cleaned and an air freshening spell used, Hermione got busy working on the contract for Marietta Edgecombe. She told Luna about the deal. Though reluctant, she agreed to it when told the other option was for Neville and Harry to take a more direct approach at the bullies. As the train neared London, she had it completed and during their final round of the train, she once again asked to see Marietta.
"Here it is," Hermione said handing the parchment to Edgecombe.
Marietta took the parchment and read it carefully and then read it again. Finally she looked at Hermione. "What will happen if...if I..." she didn't need to finish the question.
"The first time you will get a warning pimple on the tip of your nose," Hermione replied. "If nothing else happens it will disappear in sixty days. The second one will be larger and it will be between your eyes. That one will not disappear for a year. You don't ever want the third time to happen for I guarantee you that you will not be able to cover it up at all."
Marietta closed her eyes for a second. Obviously imagining what it would look like. Finally she swallowed and looked back at Hermione. "And this will make what you did before.."
"What you did before, you mean?" Hermione asked. "I said at the time that if you signed you were agreeing to not tell Umbridge or anyone else. You signed and paid the price for breaking your word."
Marietta muttered something that sounded like "Bloody Gryffindors and their word."
"Nobody is saying you have to sign this," Harry said. "You now know fully what will happen if you do sign it and fail to live up to your word AGAIN."
"Just give me the quill," Marietta huffed. She took the offered quill and quickly signed her name. When she was finished, she handed the contract back to Hermione. "So when will these pimples go away?"
Hermione pulled out a mirror and handed it to her. "Take a look."
Slowly the balaclava came off and Edgecombe looked into the mirror. Her grimace turned to astonishment as she examined her face and found the pimples gone. She didn't say anything as she looked back at Harry and Hermione only nodded.
Out the window they could see the outskirts of the city of London. "We have to finish our final rounds," Harry said. With a final look between Marietta and them, they turned and walked away as Edgecombe slipped back into her compartment, Balaclava free.
They were back in the compartment when the train rolled to a stop at platform nine and three quarters. Hermione was looking out the window and not moving.
"Your parents?" Harry asked as he moved closer to her.
Hermione looked at him and smiled, but her eyes and thoughts betrayed the sadness she felt. She nodded. "I know it has never happened, not to them, but I still did it. I stole their memories and sent them away."
"You did it to protect them," Harry reminded her softly. "If anyone is to blame, it's me. You did it because of me."
A tear had leaked out of one of Hermione's eyes. She quickly brushed it away but before she could speak, to deny that it was his fault as well, Harry's arms were around her again.
"Think of it as a dream, a nightmare just like the one from last night," Harry murmured gently. "Those two people out there love you and this time it will be different. Just like I've been given Sirius, you've been given your parents back. I have my family and you have yours," He stood up and took her hand. He ran his thumb over the promise ring that adorned her left ring finger and smiled as he pulled her to her feet. "Come now, why don't you properly introduce me to my future in-laws, Mrs. Potter."
They retrieved their trunks and were almost the last ones off the train. When the ticket inspector motioned they could go through the barrier, they found Sirius, Remus and Tonks waiting for them. Behind them Molly and Arthur were greeting Ron and Ginny. Hermione glanced around and saw the two people she most wanted to see. All the trepidation left her as she ran to them. "MUM...DAD!"
Harry motioned to Sirius and the rest that he'd be right back and followed his wife.
"Well this was unexpected," Mr. Granger said as he enjoyed the overenthusiastic hug from his daughter, but as he released her his eyebrow rose at the boy who had followed.
When Hermione had given her mother a hug as well she pulled back and stood beside Harry. "Mum Dad, you met him several years ago and I've written to you about him a lot, but...but I want to introduce you to my boyfriend, Harry Potter."
"Boyfriend you say?" Richard Granger asked as he sized the young man up. He wouldn't want to call himself a social bigot but the boy in front of him didn't look like much. His clothes were many sizes too large, his trainers looked more like something that should be thrown away than worn, and his hair was going in more directions than London streets did. He held out his hand in politeness but was already envisioning getting his daughter away as quickly as possible, but then he looked Harry in the eyes. From behind the spectacles that sat upon the boy's nose emerged a set of green eyes that seemed both nervous and confident. There was also the grip of the young man's handshake. Not firm as if threatening, but not light as well. Again through the handshake came a sense of nervous confidence.
"Sir," Harry said. "Nice to meet you."
"Likewise," Richard replied still trying to figure out the contrasting youth in front of him. "Richard, Richard Granger."
"Harry," Harry replied.
....
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