The rest of that week was quite ordinary. Hermione joined Harry at his hotel room each night, sleeping better than ever, but faded back home early in the morning. They still spent some time talking or just cuddling before falling asleep. Selma joined Harry for breakfast, making it as long as possible to let her talk to Harry, and then he would meet Hermione at the train station and spend the whole day with her. They went to one of the parks when the weather was good enough, or spent it in the library at other times. Harry even took her to the cinema once. They managed to re-read all the books they had bought at Flourish and Blotts together and started going over the school books as well. Harry was sure they'd have read them twice by the time they reached school, but he didn't mind. Any time spent with Hermione, even while reading books, was time well spent, from his point of view. Selma got some more time with Harry after dinner, usually sitting in his room and talking, and then Hermione came for the night.
16 August 1991, Friday – Telling
"My parents expect you to come for this weekend too," Hermione reminded him Friday morning, before fading back home.
"Did you tell them…"
"Only that we were dating. I'm going to also tell them about fading, though. I think Mum already suspects something."
"Won't they be angry at us?"
"They can't be angry at you, can they? As far as they are concerned you're just a friend. They may frown at me keeping it secret, but I've already told them I needed to spend each night with you if only to sleep better. As you can't stay with me…"
This made Harry laugh. "You're surely accustomed to getting things your way, at least with your parents."
She didn't laugh. "I had nobody else until I met you, and now we have each other. That reminds me – we need to find some more about our bond. We may check this today."
When they visited the bookstore, they didn't find much. A book about bonds had a single paragraph dedicated to each kind of bonds and a very thin booklet dealt exclusively with soul bonds, yet both had very little information in them. They still bought both but spent most of the day just strolling leisurely in the streets, window shopping and then cuddling together in one of the parks, enjoying the rare English sun.
Harry did notice that they were talking less with words and more with… Well, he didn't know exactly what it was, but it felt like Hermione was talking directly into his mind.
"You know, I think I can hear you in my mind even when you're not talking. Do you think it's due to the bond?" he asked.
Hermione looked delighted. "I feel the same. It actually agrees with what we found about soul bonds, although the information in the books was so vague that we could have just misinterpreted it."
This kind of direct communication made him feel even closer to this smart girl. It was also nice thinking of her as his bond mate.
–..–
Just like the previous Friday, he joined her for the train ride in the afternoon. Although they could easily fade to the Granger house, it was more fun riding the train, especially since they were both proud to be seen with each other.
Hermione hadn't said it, but he already knew that she had been teased on more than one occasion for having no friends. Coming home with him in view of the whole neighbourhood was a kind of revenge that was also doing wonders to improve her self-confidence.
Jean Granger welcomed Harry like he was her own son. He couldn't detect any difference in the way she treated him from the way she treated her own daughter. She hugged him as tightly, kissed his cheeks and looked him over as if to make sure he was well. Dave wasn't quite as warm, giving him only a short manly hug and shaking his hand, yet Harry still felt welcome in a way he had never felt anywhere else. Hermione escorted him to the guest room and helped him unpack. They were surprised when Jean entered the room and closed the door behind her.
"You've been spending the nights together since last week, weren't you?" she asked both children.
Harry felt his face get hot. Hermione only blushed slightly before answering, "Yes, we were. I've already told you that I slept much better with Harry at my side."
Jean didn't look angry, only a bit confused. "Care to tell me how you managed to do it? I'm sure you didn't hide Harry in your room."
Hermione answered nonchalantly. "We've just found a way to reach places magically. We call it 'fading'. I faded to his hotel room each night, after saying 'goodnight' to you, and faded back in the morning."
Jean looked less surprised than one could expect. "Can you show me how you do it?"
Hermione left Harry's hand and faded to the farthest corner of the room, and then walked back and took his hand in hers again. Jean looked with awe, before asking, "Can you do it too, Harry?"
Harry nodded. He freed his hand and then faded to the same spot as Hermione and walked back, taking her hand in his.
Jean smiled. "Well, it looks like you won't have any problems sleeping together at school too. Just don't make me a grandmother too early."
Harry blushed at the implications. Hermione spoke, though. "Mum, I'm still a virgin. Besides, I'm having my period now. I've also learned the contraceptive charm and so did Harry. There's also a contraceptive potion that we may be able to brew after we learn a bit about potions. I will be well protected. Besides, none of us feels ready. I believe it may take two years, at least, before we both are. I only intend to make you a grandmother after we graduate."
Jean opened her arms to hug them both. "I'm glad you're so mature and so capable, although it's quite a bit frightening. I thought I'd still have my little girl for a few more years."
"You still have me, and you now have Harry too," Hermione said from within the hug.
"I know, dear, but it's not the same. You may still look not much older than a little girl, but I can feel you're quickly becoming a full woman. You've already chosen your life mate. Haven't you?"
Hermione only nodded. Harry, despite feeling very uncomfortable with the subject, couldn't refrain from asking, "How do you know?"
Jean smiled, still hugging both. "I know my Hermione. Once she made up her mind, nothing would stop her. The first time I found her in your bed, although it was completely innocent, I knew where it would lead. I don't yet know you too well, but you seem to care for her and to appreciate her opinion. It's very clear where this closeness will lead."
She turned serious again. "I think you should tell your father too, dear, or would you like me to tell him?"
Harry could sense that Hermione wasn't too sure about it, but it was her decision to make. He only tried to make her feel that he supported her decision, whatever it would be. "I'm not sure," she finally said. "Maybe it would be better if you tell him first, as then he won't be too angry when we tell him."
Jean nodded. "I'll call you down for dinner after I tell your dad while preparing it. I don't think he'll be too surprised."
Left alone, Harry felt his apprehension grow. Hermione tried to calm him down. "Don't worry. Young boys are not expected to show restraint. I don't think it's fair, but it's always the girls who are expected to be cautious and act respectfully, so that if he's going to be angry with anyone, it will be with me, not with you. We've also done nothing but sleep."
Harry, for whom loving parents were a rare commodity, had slightly different feelings. "I don't want anybody to be angry with you; certainly not your father."
Hermione smiled. "Dad loves me and wants me happy. He may be upset for a bit, but he won't stay angry at me."
Dave was sitting at the table, looking pensive, when the children came for dinner. He didn't bother them with questions during the meal but was very attentive to the interactions between them. He soon had no doubt – the two children were a couple as much as he and his wife were, or even more so. They seemed to anticipate the needs of their mates and act before being asked. Harry offered Hermione the salt before she even needed it and she did the same with a napkin. Dave could not say that he and Jean had already reached that kind of understanding although they'd been together for almost two decades.
After dinner, they all moved to the living room. Harry wasn't sure how to act. Hermione spoke first, as soon as her parents were seated. "Mum, Dad, I think you need to know about some changes that occurred in my life."
Jean, who thought that she already knew what it was all about, seemed surprised at the serious tone. Dave only looked expectant.
Harry held her hand tighter while Hermione continued speaking. "I've already told you that I found Harry to be the one I want to share my life with. I know we are very young and people may change their minds several times while growing up, yet this is not the case with Harry and me. We love each other deeply and we share a kind of magical bond, a very rare one. You see, when we finally consummate our love, we'll be magically bound for life, making us legally married."
Her parents gasped. This was certainly not what they expected Hermione to confess about, yet this was much more than that. "I don't understand. Care to explain?" Dave asked. It was clear that he didn't need an explanation about consummation but wanted to know some more about the rest.
It was Harry who replied this time. "We've lately realized that we can communicate with each other even without talking. We can sense the moods of the other and some thoughts. According to the books we've found, these are the first steps in forming a soul bond. Judging by the speed these changes are taking place, it may turn into a very strong bond."
Dave looked somewhat lost. "So, am I losing my little girl to this young man?" he asked nobody in particular.
"Dad, we're just the same as before. I'm still your loving daughter and you may treat Harry like the son you always wanted. We're still children and we need a lot of advice from you. You haven't lost me and never will. You only gained a son."
It took Dave another moment to comprehend and let it sink. He still looked somewhat confused. "Well, Harry – welcome to the family!" He stood up, as did the children, and he hugged them both, Jean joined the hug a moment later.
It was a very new sensation for Harry. He could not remember ever being hugged before he escaped the Dursleys. He'd been previously hugged only by Hermione, yet this was different. He felt acceptance and even love in the hug, he felt his heart overflow with emotions, and he also felt some tears reaching his eyes. He then felt Hermione's soothing presence in his mind. 'They love you, Harry. They understand we are one from now on.'
Eventually, they broke the hug and returned to their seats. Dave still had something nagging in his mind. "As you're going to marry Hermione, I think I should know a bit more about your finances, maybe even help you with it."
"Dad, Harry has more money than we could spend in several lifetimes, and enough assets to let us live comfortably only on that income, without touching the savings at all. You don't need to worry about that. Besides, we've found out that I also have some magical inheritance that gave me a vault with some money in it. We'll be alright."
The Granger parents left the subject alone for the rest of the evening, not quite sure what to ask. Both couples enjoyed some entertainment on the television for a while. Hermione's parents retired early to bed, kissing both children goodnight. Although still apprehensive, Harry felt that he was fully accepted, yet it would take Hermione's parents some time to come to terms with the new situation.