10 August 1991, Saturday – A Fine Day
Both children ate breakfast leisurely. Hermione seemed to cherish the fact that she was having some company for breakfast. "I usually eat breakfast alone, as my parents need to leave early," she told him.
While not rainy, it was still a bit cold and windy outside. Hermione turned the television on and they both lay on the carpet in the living room, enjoying some of the morning programs for children. They then read for a while, trying to do as many of the charms mentioned in the books. As Bill had already told them that they shouldn't use their wands out of school before reaching seventeen, they tried doing these charms wandlessly, not being aware that wandless magic was considered very advanced and most magical people were unable to do it.
When her parents returned home, they found both children immersed in a book, oblivious to the world. Dave frowned a bit, but his wife smiled and took him to the kitchen, to help her prepare lunch.
It turned into a nice day, and the Grangers decided to go to the nearby park and spend some time there. Hermione was eager to show Harry all the places she liked and where she had used to play when she was smaller. Harry enjoyed his time with her. Seeing her happy and content, and not just reading, made him happy too. He wondered if that had any meaning.
Eventually, they just sat on the lawn, not too far from where Dave and Jean were hugging on a bench, talking softly and occasionally glancing at the children.
Hermione and Harry were also talking softly to each other. "I think I'm going to sleep in your bed tonight again," she said.
"Why? I mean, your parents may be angry if they find out."
"So? Do they fear I may have sex with you? I could probably do it when they're at work, either by going to London to meet you or having you come here. I'm going to do what I feel is right for you and for me, regardless of their opinion."
Harry was actually surprised. "Doesn't it matter to you what they say or what they think of you?"
"It does, very much so, but this is not their decision to make. I'm going to be at Hogwarts in a few weeks, a place they can't even see, where they have to trust me, whether they like it or not. If I decide to sleep with you there, they won't even know. It shouldn't bother them too much if I do it a few weeks earlier. And I do mean sleep only."
Harry blushed at the idea. "If that's what you have in mind…"
"I must also ask for your opinion, of course, but it's not their affair, one way or the other. Still, I'd like to sleep at your side tonight, if it's alright with you."
"I agree, of course. Last night, with you at my side, I slept much better than I can remember. It's just… I don't want your parents to be angry at you or me. I think I'd like to visit for the remaining weekends as well."
Hermione smiled at him. "We don't need to rush anything, but I really want to sleep at your side. They'll just have to accept it and trust us."
She then thought for a little while. "You know, I think we should learn the contraceptive charm that I've found in one of the books, just to be on the safe side, even before we go to bed."
Harry blushed. "But why? I mean… We're not going to do anything, right?"
Hermione smiled. "I don't plan on doing anything but sleeping. Maybe some talking as well. I don't think either of us is ready for anything more, but I've already read that sometimes things may change unplanned. I'd rather be safe than sorry."
Harry blushed some more, glad that they were sitting with their backs to Hermione's parents.
"Now, how do you feel about me?" she asked.
Harry was surprised by her question. He had not yet given much thought to the way his feelings towards his new friend were changing. "I… I'm not sure. I like you a lot, and I also like the way you look. I know I'd like to keep our friendship and let it evolve, but I don't know where that would lead us."
Hermione seemed content with his reply if her smile was any indication. "I also want to let our friendship evolve into much more. Still, we don't need to rush it. We'll follow our path naturally, wherever it may lead."
She suddenly seemed full of energy. She jumped on her feet. "Let's run a bit!"
"Where?"
"Just try and catch me!" she said, starting to run even before finishing the sentence.
Harry was not one to dismiss this challenge, and he could run quite fast, as he had usually had to, in order to escape Dudley's gang. Yet he had usually been the chased, not the chaser, and Hermione gave him a good run before he could finally catch her, as both were running out of air. They both fell on the grass and tumbled together until Harry was finally lying on his back and Hermione was lying at his side, her head on his shoulder.
"I didn't know you could run so fast," she told him.
"I didn't expect you to be a fast runner either. How come you run so fast?"
She shrugged. "It's the only sports activity that I like. I'm not interested in ball games and not flexible enough for most gymnastics, but I'm really fast on my feet. I was the fastest runner in class."
Although she didn't ask, Harry knew it was his turn to explain. "I didn't participate in most sports activities, as my cousin wouldn't let me. Whenever I got a higher grade than his, he would beat me, if only he could catch me. I had to run fast to evade him and his gang, even if I made sure to get low enough grades to let my family be content that he was doing better than me."
"That's awful, Harry! I think that's criminal!"
"It doesn't matter any longer. I'm out of their house and they are out of my life, and that's the way it should stay!"
Hermione was practically cuddling with Harry. Her mother seemed amused, despite her father's frowns. They couldn't do it for long, though. The wind was getting stronger, pushing along dark clouds, promising some rain soon. "The weather is changing. We'd rather reach home before it starts raining," her mother called.
It was just in time. The rain started almost as soon as they closed the door behind them. The adults decided to take a nap until dinnertime. The children went to Hermione's room and read some more.
Hermione confronted her parents during dinner. "I'm going to spend the night with Harry," she said.
Her father almost choked on his food. Her mother didn't seem surprised, though. "Why do you want to do that?"
"I've not slept too well since before the end of school. I believe that being with a friend would help me sleep much better."
Her father regained control of himself. "It's improper for a young lady like you to stay in a boy's room for the night. You already know it."
"Do you fear we may have sex? Had I wanted to, we could have done it this morning, when you weren't home, or any other day when we were alone in London. One can have sex at any time of the day, you know."
Her father was changing colours at her words. He was smart enough to understand. "I know, dear, and I trust you to do what's right, but still…"
"Don't you want me to sleep well? Last night, after I moved to his bed, I slept better than I slept for many weeks."
This didn't help much with his composure. "You've already…"
"Yes, dear. I found them sleeping together when I woke up, both fully dressed and completely innocent," Jean intervened.
"Then why…"
"Look at how you react to the idea of them sleeping together. Your face is so red that I fear it's not good for your health. I believe that you can trust them. As Hermione said, she doesn't need the night to do what you fear she would do."
Dave seemed to try to calm down a bit, looking at his wife accusingly. Hermione decided it was time to put the last card on the table. "I'm not going to have sex with him before I feel ready for that, no matter where I sleep. Whenever I decide to give my virginity to Harry, I won't let mere sleeping arrangements stop me."
Harry was also surprised. It seemed like Hermione had already decided to do it. It was no longer a question of 'if', nor a question of 'with whom', only a question of 'when'. For some reason he couldn't understand, he felt happy about it.
Dave seemed deflated. "You're not yet twelve, pumpkin. It seems like it was yesterday when you made your first steps, falling on your behind. You're turning into a very impressive young lady, and I find it very difficult to adjust to the quick change. Please understand that I care for you. I don't want you to be hurt and early loves are almost sure not to last. Please don't do anything hasty that you may later regret."
Hermione smiled reassuringly at him. "I won't, Daddy. I know Harry is the one for me. It's not only that I like him. I feel like some major force is pushing us together. Maybe it's Magic, I can't tell, yet I feel that once we cross that barrier, we'll stay together for life."
Dave shook his head. "I really hope you're right, dear. You've always been headstrong, yet I hoped that this confrontation was still years ahead in the future. It's just too early now."
Hermione smiled. "I know, Dad. I didn't expect to feel this way for a few years to come, but I won't deny my feelings. I'll let things happen naturally, without pushing and without holding back, and I hope you will still be proud of me."
"We're always proud of you," her mother said. "Just remember your promises and… lock the door, please."
Harry feared the rest of the evening would become awkward, but it didn't. They all watched some entertainment programs on the television. They turned it off after a while. Jean took a book and started reading, cuddling into her husband. Dave started to talk to Harry, trying to find some more about the boy that seemed to have captured his daughter's heart, but only asked some general questions, noticing that Harry seemed uncomfortable about his childhood.
Hermione was also holding a book. Once Harry was no longer in conversation with her father, she opened the book and they both immersed themselves in reading. They didn't even notice how they were practically merging into each other while sitting so close, but Dave noticed and sighed internally. His daughter was very stubborn – a trait she had inherited from both her parents. He knew there was nothing he could do about this relationship, as he saw it, and that Harry would probably become his son-in-law. At least the lad seemed decent enough and seemed to really care for Hermione. Maybe it would turn out alright.
When the children started yawning, Jean sent them to their rooms. Harry brushed his teeth and changed into his pyjamas. Hermione came into his room a moment later, clad in her nightgown and a dressing gown covering it completely. "Let's say goodnight to my parents."
They descended to the living room. "Goodnight, Mum, Dad."
"Goodnight dear," her father said, adding a kiss on her cheek and a short hug.
"Goodnight, darling," her mother said with a kiss and a hug as well.
She then turned to Harry. "Goodnight, dear. Sleep tight." She kissed his cheek and hugged him just as she did with her daughter, leaving a very confused Harry.
Dave took his wife's example to some degree. He gave Harry a short manly hug and said, "Goodnight," too, before mounting the stairs and going into the bedroom, closing the door behind him.
Although they had already spent a night together, Harry found it a bit awkward to go to bed with somebody else, especially since this was a girl he was realizing that he really liked. She took her dressing gown off, revealing her silky nightgown and slid under the blanket.
Harry did the same on the other side of the double bed. They still had a gap between them, but Hermione wouldn't let it stay. She moved closer to Harry, putting her head on his shoulder and pressing her body to his. She sighed contentedly and promptly fell asleep. It took Harry quite a bit longer to fall asleep. Hermione's presence in his bed made him think of her intention to give him her virginity, and he had a vague idea of what that meant. His body was not yet ready, though, and even thinking of it was improper at this time. Harry forced his thoughts elsewhere and eventually fell asleep, still aware of the lovely girl at his side.