Harry returned to Hogwarts and managed to get a couple of hours of sleep before Hermione demanded an explanation, about what had happened. Harry told her the basics, not wanting to upset her. He hadn't wanted to say anything until Dumbledore's body was found. Three days later the former Headmaster's body was discovered half way into the tunnel. Harry took the body and burned it on a pyre, then mounted his Firebolt and spread the ashes in the wind. He was taking no chances of someone trying to bring Dumbledore back to life. Later Hogwarts gave Hermione a more detailed account of what had happened. She was horrified that Dumbledore had murdered the Weasleys for their magical power and had tried to use it against Harry. She shuddered at the thought of what might have happened if Harry had lost. Both Harry and Hermione joined the remaining Weasleys in saying good-bye to their family. Not because of the ones lost but for Bill, Fleur, Fred, and George.
Harry felt a great deal of weight lift from his shoulders now that Dumbledore was gone for good. He hadn't realized the strain and worry that the old man had caused in his life until he was gone. Now all Harry had to worry about was Voldemort, Hermione, Michael, and meeting his in-laws.
To say that Harry was scared about meeting his in-laws would be an understatement. He was terrified. He had slept with their daughter, got her pregnant, and married her. All of this without their permission or of them knowing the details as to why. He knew that Hermione had told them something but didn't know exactly what. If he were Hermione's father, he would have strung himself up and let the vultures slowly eat him alive. No matter what Hermione said, her father would want to at least hit him for all that happened. He expected no less.
As the weeks rolled by, Harry became more and more nervous about meeting them. He was now having nightmares about Hermione's parents taking her and the baby, not to mention Michael, away from him. Hermione thought it sweet but silly. Michael seemed to understand Harry's emotions and tended to react to them. Harry had never had so many hugs as he did in the weeks leading up to the Christmas holidays.
The weekend before the holidays started Harry escorted Hermione around Hogsmeade to do her Christmas shopping. In his arms was Michael, who seemed to be enjoying the crowds, the snow, and the Christmas decorations. People around them seemed nervous but Harry didn't know if it was because of him or the threat of Voldemort.
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Lord Voldemort was seated on his throne reading a copy of the Daily Prophet. The headline had grabbed his attention, as it was meant to. He laughed outloud over the facts that the leader of the Light, Albus Dumbledore, had gone to such dark tactics to keep and regain control over his Weapon. Potter had been very Slytherin in what he had done. It was something that he, himself, would not have thought of. Creating wards in such a way. He had to acknowledge the cunning of his enemy. It made the game more interesting. To bad the boy couldn't be brought over to his way of thinking. They could do much together and no one would be able to stop them.
He thought over his plans for Potter and the take over of the school. Over half of his forces were now in Azkaban, with no way of getting out. He had no idea what type of ward Potter used but it was very effective. All he had left were some Vampires, Giants, and some odd and ends of other Dark creatures. Morale was low. He knew that much of the Wizarding population was sitting on pins and needles waiting for him to strike during the Christmas holidays. He had decided not to. It was amusing to watch them scurry away so as not to get caught by one of his minions. No, he had a better date in mind for Potter's downfall. A date that celebrated love.
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Harry watched as the Hogwarts express left the Hogsmeade station, taking the few students who desired to go home for the holidays. It was interesting to note that the entire house of Slytherin had remained.
He made his way to the Three Broomsticks so that he could floo to the Leaky Cauldron. He was meeting Hermione's parents there, alone, and bringing them back to the castle for the holidays. This was one of Hermione's gifts, the best one as far as Harry was concerned. He had already spoken to Hogwarts about letting the Grangers into the castle and about adding a room to their quarters for the other couple to sleep in. Harry thought that they and Hermione would want to be close by each other.
"Hello, Harry. Care for a pick me up?"
"Maybe when I return, Rosmerta."
"Right , I'll see you when you return. Have a fun time."
Harry snorted as he walked up to the fire. Grabbing some floo powder, he stepped into the flames, threw down the powder and yelled, "The Leaky Cauldron!"
Harry made his normal exit out of the floo. He stood up and looked around for Hermione's parents. He saw that Tom, the barman, was trying to gain his attention. Harry made his way over to the bar.
"Mr. Potter, I have a message for you from Mr. and Mrs. Granger."
"Really?"
"Yes, they said that they would return within an hour. Something about wanting to get their daughter something fro Diagon Alley while they were here. They also said to say 'Hello' to Prongs, whoever he is."
Harry understood. When he had written the Grangers he told them to use the phrase "Hello to Prongs' as a code, so that he would know if it was really them. They not only agreed with the idea, they suggested their own phrase 'Hermione hates A Winter's Tale', so that they would know if it was really him. He hated all the subterfuge but it was necessary part of his life right now. "Thanks Tom, how about a butter beer while I wait?"
Twenty minutes and two butter beers later Harry saw the Grangers return from Diagon Alley, their arms full of shopping bags. "Mr. and Mrs. Granger?, I'm Harry. Hermione sends her love and asked me to tell you that she hates 'A Winter's Tale'."
Both Grangers smiled. Mrs. Granger handed all of her bags to her husband and drew Harry in for a hug. "It's nice to finally meet you, Harry. Hermione's mentioned you quite a lot over the last few years."
"Uhmm, thanks, Mrs. Granger. Are you finished?"
"I'll say she's finished! Spent every last, what are they called? Oh yes, Galleons. Spent every last one we exchanged. She can get quite mad, shopping for the holiday."
"Shush! I didn't spend all of it or don't you remember what you just had to get for your grandson?"
"You got Michael something?"
"Of course we did, dear. He's your son, therefore, our grandson."
"Thank you for feeling that way. I didn't want Michael to grow up like I did, with very little family. I wasn't sure how you would react to him."
Mrs. Granger's eyes softened. Hermione had written whole volumes on this young man. There probably wasn't a secret about him that she didn't know. She had known for sometime now that Hermione and this young man would finally get together, she just hadn't thought that they would get married that fast. But even that spoke of his character. He refused to accept her 'help' unless she had agreed to. There were very few, including Hermione's father, which could hold off such a surge of love and lust.
"Hermione wrote to me about Michael. Although I don't encourage starting a family at your ages, I do understand why. I was rather shocked when Hermione wrote asking for advice on infants and toddlers. It seems that our grandson has a mischievous side to him."
"You don't know the half of it." muttered Harry.
"Has you running in circles, does he?" chuckled Mr. Granger. Harry only nodded. The other two adults laughed.
"How about we go meet the little devil?"
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The Grangers were dumbstruck. The castle was simply huge. Mrs. Granger could honestly see why Hermione was so smitten with the place. She wanted to stay forever.
To say that Michael was a mini prankster was an understatement. The baby had more tricks up his sleeves than most magicians. He was very good at getting treats from all of them, especially his grandparents. Until his stash was discovered by Hermione, in his cot, one evening when she went to put the rascal to bed. Several open chocolate frogs packets were found trying to jump out of the cot. Harry thought it was hilariously funny and pointed out that the baby was just following his inner Slytherin and practicing for when he played Quidditch. That Mr. Granger agreed with his son-in-law was a surprise and it ended with both men sleeping together in the guestroom.
Christmas morning showed just how powerful little Michael was getting. Once his grandpa had released him from his cot, the rascal baby crawled directly to the tree and sat down in front of it. The adults thought that he was simply admiring the tree but not more than a minute later every single present was levitated into piles for each person, Michael's being the largest. The baby clapped his hands when he was done. The other adults looked at Harry.
"I DIDN'T do it!"
"Are you saying that Michael did?" asked Mrs. Granger.
"It's not the first time that he's levitated something. But I am impressed that he knew who's present was who's" said Hermione.
"Michael has the Potter gift of wandless magic. But I have never heard of one doing it so young." stated Godric from his portrait.
"He is going to be a great and powerful wizard someday." added Rowena.
"He already is", finished Harry.