Hey all, I know it has been a long time. I just finished last month with my Child Life Internship. Yay! Now I have a full-time job working with kiddos. I have also been working on Stronger two chapters. I have written notes while the kids are napping. lol. Anyway. I love the reviews I received please keep them coming. It helps me out too. I was on cloud nine in February, you all know why. About time! I hope you like this chapter. I sometimes have writers block on this one, but I know what I want to come out of this story.
AN: Yes Hermione has a lot on her plate and is an overachiever. Have you met the girl, she is amazing and if she puts her mind to it, there is no stopping her. Plus remember why she pushes herself so much. Don't worry it won't be so bad later.
Chapter 10- Dinner with the Potters
"Mum, we're home," Hermione yelled from the front door with her little sister trailing behind her. It had been an interesting day, to say the least. Harry kept to his word about being serious about starting their friendship started again. They all sat together at lunch, but Harry was still holding back a bit. Not that she could blame him she did too. She didn't want her heart-broken again.
"Hello my loves, how was school." Emma said hugging her daughters. "It was great." Nerissa said. "It was very interesting," said Hermione.
"I have dresses picked out for you girls for tonight."
"Mum really? Dresses?" Hermione started. "Hermione Jean, don't start please. It will be lovely on you."
"Oh Hermione did you talk to Harry today?"
"Um yeah we talked, he apologized for everything." Hermione said with a small grin.
"That's great."
"Well I better get this paper started what time do we have to be ready?"
"About 6 then we will walk over." Emma said to her oldest daughter.
"Hey sis can you help me a bit on this project?" Nerissa asked. "Um yeah just a minute."
At the Potter house it was already 4:30 by the time Harry got home from school. Cho just didn't understand that his parents would kill him if he was late for this dinner. I just don't get her sometimes. He pulled his motorcycle into the drive and saw Jeremy and Rosie pulling in from Rosie's gymnastics practice after school.
"Hey squirt how was practice?" Harry hugged his little sister.
"Great but my teacher is going to hire another person on some days, it's getting too much with her kids." Rose said.
"Hey Jeremy how's it going? Thanks by the way picking her up, I couldn't get Cho off my back today."
"No problem mate, you just owe me one." Jeremy said to his brother. "So did you talk to Hermione today?"
"Yeah I did, I think we are okay."
"Good I miss how you were with her." Jeremy said
"What are you talking about Jerm? I am fine."
"Har I am your brother, you changed when you guys stopped being friends."
"You have Harry." said Rose chiming in her opinion.
"Guys we need to hurry up and get ready for the dinner." Harry said changing the subject.
"With the love of your life..." Rose teased her brother.
"Okay squirt I will get you for that..." then started running after his sister. Jeremy grabbed their bags and headed inside after them. He watched as Harry caught up to Rose and picked her up and started to tickle her. Jeremy could start to see his brother coming back to them slowly, really ever since the Grangers came back. Jeremy might not be as athletic as Rose and Harry, he was not really interested in that kind of stuff. However, like his mother he was very observant especially when it came to his siblings.
"Kids..." Lily called over the yelling and giggling. Harry still had his sister in his arms. "Harry James please put your sister down. You need to get ready and I want you, my oldest, to help in the kitchen. Jeremy can you make sure the dining room is set after you get ready?"
"Ok, I just need get rid of this rubbish first." he chuckled. "HEY! I'm not rubbish!" Rose hit her brother. Harry walked towards his dad who just came in. "Hello family."
Harry gave his sitter to James and ran upstairs feeling really excited about tonight's dinner.
"Wow, he really is excited isn't he?" said James putting Rose down for her to go to her room.
"He talked to her today." Jeremy said to his parents from the doorway. Then followed his siblings upstairs.
James looked at his wife. "Well that explains it."
Lily giggled "yep. I can't wait to see them together in the same room again."
"Lils what are you planning?" James said trying to grab his wife around the waist.
She looked up into his hazel eyes.
"I don't know what you are talking about." She said with a smirk.
"I think I've had a bad influence on you luv." James said kissing her sweetly on the lips. "Do you think we have time for some alone time?" he said nuzzling her neck.
"I don't think so luv." she teased pulling away from him going back to the fruit she was cutting. "You're an evil woman, you know that right?" James said smacking her ass playfully. Lily giggled at his affections.
"I need you to go get changed too." Lily said looking at her husband. "Maybe if you are good." he smiled at her and followed his three kids upstairs.
Sometime later Harry was in the kitchen with his mother cooking a huge dinner for their guest.
"So you and Hermione are okay?" Lily asked her son.
"Yeah I guess," Harry said mixing the salad after adding the tomatoes.
"That's good."
"Yeah." Harry said looking at his mom.
"Harry are you ever going to tell me what happened?"
"I don't know mum, its complicated." Harry answered putting the salad to the side and taking out the potatoes from the oven.
"Okay, just when you are ready, your father and I will be there." Lily said kiss him on the forehead.
"I know."
"Did you find a tutor for French yet?"
"Not yet mum."
"I think I know someone who would be able to help."
"Who?"
There was a knock at the door.
"Why don't you go get the door?"
"Yeah sure. If only Rose doesn't beat me there, she is so competitive."
"Huh wonder where she got that from Mr. Captain of the futbol team."
"Yeah, Yeah, I get it."
As he would have guessed it Rose was running down the stairs at the same time tying her red hair into a ribbon to match her dress. "I got it!"
"Oh no you don't squirt."
Before Rose got to the door Harry grabbed her and spun her around set her behind him and opened the door.
"Minnie!" Rose shouted at the guest.
"Hello." Harry greeted Hermione first making her blush. Harry was staring at her in her short burgundy dress with a belt around her tiny waist.
"Um hello Harry," Mrs. Granger said grinning at the young man staring in awe of her oldest. Rose nudged her brother in the ribs.
"Oh, I am so sorry hello Mrs. Granger, Mr. Granger, Nerissa. Come on in. I need to help mum in the kitchen, but Rose will show you where to go."
"You cook Harry?" Emma Granger asked.
"Um yeah, me more than the others. Jeremy is hopeless."
"Hey!" Jeremy said walking down the stairs.
"Wow," Emma said as the boys disappeared into the kitchen while they followed Roselyn who was talking to Nerissa.
Emma leaned towards her daughter. "Sweetie he cooks." nudging her in the arm.
"Mum please, we are just now friends again and I am not interested, I have a boyfriend." Hermione whispered back.
"I will leave it alone, for now." Hermione rolled her eyes at her mother as they entered the family room.
It was strange being in his house again, sure when they were younger they were always going to each others house. Hermione walked around the room to see the different photographs on the fireplace. There were so many pictures of the Potter kids. She stopped at a picture of Harry holding her. She sighed and turned to her family and Rose.
"Hello everyone!" James Potter said walking into the room. Hermione couldn't help but think how much Harry looked like his father.
"James, mate how is everything with the law firm? Lily keeping you out of trouble?" Daniel questioned.
"The firm is great Remus and Sirius are great too, we are turning London on its ear as always. I couldn't do it without them. Now my wife I don't know what you are implying Dan. I never get into trouble."
Suddenly there was a burst of hysterical laughing. "Yeah right!" From the kitchen came a beautiful redhead followed by Harry. "They don't call you four Marauders for nothing! You are the definition of trouble my husband."
Hermione had to admit that Harry looked great in his light Khakis and his button-down navy blue shirt. Very sexy. Wait a minute shit no, not sexy! I have a boyfriend, plus he broke my heart. We are just friends, plus he is such a womanizer.
"Well everything is ready so if everyone would go to the dinning room." Lily instructed.
Their dinning room was very modern with a touch of elegance due to the crystal chandelier in the middle of the dark wood table with white and black chairs.
"Harry, Hermione did you want wine with the chicken?" asked Lily.
"Yes mum."
"Yes Mrs. Potter."
Lily had to giggle at this, they always talked in unison when the were younger.
"Hermione, please call me Lily, I have known you all your life."
Hermione blushed. "Yes, thank you Lily."
Lily handed her the glass of red wine.
Hermione was sitting down next to Issa and would luck have it across from Harry. Harry was sitting next to his little sister. While Jeremy sat next to her. Jeremy was always the quite and shy one in the family. If you got him riled up though watch out.
"Mione, you look so pretty in that dress." said Rose. Hermione blushed at her comment. Rose turned to her brother. "Don't you think so Harry?" she noticed her oldest brother staring at her. Harry blushed and then kicked his sister under the table.
"Ow! What was that for?"
"Harry, Roselyn. Stop! I swear these two are my trouble makers." James said sternly at his two children. "I think Jeremy takes after Lily and not me." looking at his middle child.
"So what have Remus and Sirius been up to. I heard Remus finally went for Sirius' cousin Tonks?"
"Yeah Remus married Nymph, but she only likes to be called Tonks. They have Teddy who is six and Hope who is three. Sirius and Maleda, Lianna and
Altair are fantastic. They are both like Sirius, bless Maleda," chuckled James.
"I can't wait to see them again." Hermione said. "I've missed them."
"Oh you will my dear, and they have really missed you too," James said to her.
"So kids how is school going for you?" asked Emma.
"Great I'm doing a big science project with my friend Emily." said Jeremy.
"His girlfriend." stated Rose in a matter of fact tone.
"She is just my friend Roselyn!" Jeremy retorted blushing.
"Yeah and best friends make the best romantic relationships." she said.
"Where young lady have you heard this?" James said.
"From you," she said grinning at her father. "Mom's your best friend and you have a great relationship."
Everyone at the table except Harry and Hermione laughed, but they were glancing at each other, then went back to their food.
"Roselyn leave your brother alone." Lily said.
There was a pregnant silence when Emma started the conversation up again.
"Harry, your mum told me you are in futbol."
"Yeah I'm actually the captain."
"What position?" Dan asked.
"I'm striker, with my friend Draco. Ron is the goal keeper."
"That's fantastic." said Emma. "I remember you loved that game so, trying to help Hermione with it."
"Yeah, I remember." Harry said looking across the table.
"Hermione do you do any sports?" asked Lily. She knew Hermione did. Emma looked at her with a grin knowing what her best friend was trying to do.
"Nothing like that. I am in gymnastics though. I'm actually going to start teaching younger girls like primary school next week."
"Where at?" Rosie chimed in.
"London Academy of Gymnastics and Dance. They needed some help."
"Seriously! I go there! And my teacher said she hired someone to help." Rosie smiled at the older girl.
"Wow, I can't believe it." Hermione said looking at the small redheaded girl.
"I can't wait for class now. I get Minnie back and she is one of my teachers." Rosie got up and ran to the 18 year old and hugged her.
"Such a busy girl, I wonder when you ever find time for fun stuff." James commented looking at the two girls. Rosie sat back down in her seat.
"That's our Hermione."
"It's for a scholarship program for college next year." Hermione stated.
"What about you Nerissa?"
"I do a little gymnastic, but what I really like to do is photography. I did some in France. On the way back my camera broke. I am saving for another one. A lot of my work revolved around Hermione's drawings. They were really beautiful. I would take some of the snaps and she would draw her perspective of the subject."
"You draw?" Harry said looking at her. God she is so amazing.
"Yeah, it's usually different subjects or scenes from stories I have read. I usually do it for fun." She said looking up at her friend. They weren't best friends yet but it was nice to have a civil conversation with him.
"Hermione could you show me sometime?" asked Rose.
Hermione smiled at the younger girl. "Yeah sure."
"Yes!"
As they ate the parents asked about sports, jobs, school. Including Hermione's part-time job at the bookstore and Harry's couching job.
"Actually I am wanting to start tutoring, but no one has signed up."
"What subject?" James asked.
Please don't let it be the one subject I need help with, not French. Cho will kill me. Harry though.
"French." Hermione stated.
Fuck! Really?
"Wow, well Harry actually needs a tutor in that class." said Lily.
"Mum"
"He is very good at other subjects, but not French."
"Mum!"
"Well Hermione there you go, your first student." Emma said.
"MUM!"
"What sweetheart? You are friends again and I don't see a problem do you Lily?"
"But..."
"Not at all." said Lily.
"But..." Harry and Hermione said.
"Hermione you wanted to help people with it why are you backing out now?"
Harry smirked. "Yeah why Mione?" Might as well.
Hermione stood up, looked at him and snarled "Now don't you start!"
Everyone looked at Hermione seeing what would happen next between the two oldest.
She sighed. "Fine! Harry can we talk? in privet?"
He was getting to her and he couldn't let being charming go could he?
"Why Hermione? Can't wait to talk to me alone again?"
James laughed at his son. Wow he is like me.
"Now Harry James!" she shouted.
"Son you better go, when they start saying the middle name they mean business. Haven't you learned that from your mother?"
"James Charlus!" Lily shouted.
James winked at his son. "See?"
"Okay Mione," he got up and Hermione followed him to the den.
He closed the door after her. God she is sexy in that dress. Of course we both are in a relationship.
"Yes my dear Hermione Jean?"
"Harry please stop."
He started walking towards her and leaned against his father's desk.
"Stop what?"
"Trying to bait me. I am not your floozy girls"
"I'm not saying you are Mione."
"I will tutor you on conditions and you will follow them."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Fine, sorry. Is it always this easy to get you upset?"
She let out a big sigh "Only with you for some odd reason!"
"Okay what are the conditions?"
"One: No flirting or bringing your girls to tutoring."
"I only have one girlfriend Hermione." Harry bit back.
"Not what I have heard."
"You can't believe everything, especially at Hogwarts Hermione."
"Two: No slacking off because I am helping you."
"I don't slack."
"Three: I want to buy Issa a camera, one of the reason I have so many jobs. So I need help with that."
"I can do that. You're a good sister." He said smiling at her.
"Thanks, and four: you are not to insult my boyfriend."
"But..."
"Harry please."
"Fine, I won't talk about what's his name."
"Andrè" she snapped. Running her fingers through her short hair.
"One question: Do you love him?"
"Maybe, why do you want to know?"
"Nothing"
Hermione looked at him wondering why it was so important for him to know if she loved her boyfriend. Why it concerned him.
"Are we still okay?" Harry asked her.
"Yeah we are still okay. When did you want to start the tutoring?"
"How about tomorrow?"
"I'm working from 9 til 4. Mr. Burn let's me have people over when we are slow."
"That will work. I coach the boys until noon, so I can come by at 1:30?"
"That works." she smiled at him.
He got off the desk and sat on the couch. "let's get back, before they get any wild ideas."
"I hope not." Hermione said.
"Oh believe me, my parents are nutters they will think what they will think." Harry chuckled.
"Okay so you understand the conditions?" Hermione asked.
"Yes Hermione I understand." He said rolling his eyes.
"Good." she said holding out her hand to shake.
"Really?"
"Yes, its proper with a deal."
Harry held out his hand as she took it.
"So we better get going." Hermione said walking towards the door of the study.
As they were walking to the dinning room. There was a pregnant awkward silence. When they got back the others were laughing at something.
"What's going on?" Hermione said sitting down his her seat.
"Oh nothing dear." Emma said. "Everything sorted?"
"Yep. She has agreed to help me with French." Harry said taking his seat across from her. "Really?" Lily said with a smirk to her friend.
Hermione nodded and went back to her dinner.
Cho's going to fucking kill me. Thought Harry looking at the girl across from him. This should be interesting.
Okay so here is chapter 10 folks. I hope you like it. Please review. If anyone might be interested in being a bata for me let me know. I am not sure how the batas work but I will be willing to try.