Harry Potter The Surprise

With her dad now staring at them in awe, and her mother pretending this wasn't really happening, Hermione decided to call for reinforcements. Dobby popping into existence at Hermione's side blew the last vestige of Emma's indifference to smithereens. Her eyes almost popped out her head at the little creature wearing what looked like a cutdown version of Hermione's school robe, with what she now knew to be the Potter Family crest featuring prominently on his chest.

"Dobby, this is my mum and dad. If they call for you, will you hear them?"

"Dobby always hears his family. You is family, they be your family, they is Dobby's family too."

Smiling, Hermione rested her hand on Dobby's shoulder. "Dobby works for us but is certainly someone we consider family. Dobby, could you fetch the papers that had pictures of Harry and me in them? My parents might like to see them..."

She never got to say anymore as Dobby was gone, appearing moments later at her father's side and presented him with the relevant newspapers. Dan's 'thank you' had the little guy wearing a wide smile. A gasp from Emma was the only sound she made, her hand covered her mouth as she struggled to make sense of what she was looking at. It was left to Dan to ask the question they needed answered.

"What the hell is that enormous creature in the picture with you?"

"Well, there were people at Hogwarts who didn't believe my Harry had saved the school last year, by killing that monster with a sword that's nearly as famous as Excalibur. Those pictures proved beyond doubt that Harry was telling the truth. The other three people in that picture are coming on holiday with us today."

After seeing that picture, the waitress serving a sweet was exactly what the Grangers needed. Hermione knew sweets weren't usually on the menu at home but her mother had one weakness, she adored tiramisu.

In a pique of teenage rebellion, Hermione ordered the richest cake on the menu - with ice cream on the side. She would suffer for the sugar-rush later, but a small victory against her mother seemed worth it at the moment.

After finishing, Harry was able to tell the owner with complete honesty that he'd just eaten the best meal of his life - and would certainly be back here again.

Leaving the restaurant, both Granger parents got to see first hand how the wizarding public reacted to the boy who was apparently going to become their son-in-law one day. If they thought the staring and pointing was disconcerting, what they made of the couple almost being mobbed as they entered the Leaky Cauldron was lost in the melee as Sirius and Remus had to act like the bodyguards Dan had earlier accused them of being.

Making it out the door, Remus soon transfigured their robes into attire more suitable for muggle London. Hermione explained that they wouldn't be using owls to communicate over the summer, and that Dobby would be handling all letters and messages between them. "If you have a letter for me, just call for Dobby and he'll get it to us much quicker than an owl - though don't mention that to Hedwig."

Putting his arm around Hermione, Harry didn't need their bond to understand how hard this was for his betrothed. She was desperate for a hug from either of her parents though it was plain to the rest of them that wasn't going to be happening. He held Hermione tight as her parents said goodbye and left, like saying cheerio to a friend you would see later. Hermione had a job on her hands keeping Harry's anger in check.

"It's just the way they are, Harry. I learned long ago not to expect anything else." While that might be true, Harry knew that Hermione still longed for a hug from her father, or her mother's approval. As neither was happening today, they made their way along to King's Cross.

Passing through the brick barrier saw the transfiguration on their robes end, they were actually a little early for the train. There were parents standing waiting though, two with a trunk in tow headed straight for them. The couple bowed so low to Harry, he was actually embarrassed - especially when discovering this was Millie's parents.

"Mr and Mrs Bulstrode, please... Millie is getting used to calling me Harry, can we start from there?"

The woman, who her husband introduced as Glenda, had tears in her eyes, thanking everyone for the opportunity they were giving her Millicent. While there was no sign of tears, it was easy to see her husband, Graham, agreed wholeheartedly with his wife.

It was too much for Harry, who confessed the truth of the situation to them. "We don't really know Millie well but, since she's now the girlfriend of our best friend, we're hoping this holiday will give us all a chance to become friends with her too."

From just meeting these two, it was easy to se how much they doted on their daughter. Comparing their behaviour to that of the Grangers was startling, and hurt Hermione despite her protestations over their bond of being used to it.

They were soon joined by Amelia, who also introduced Hannah's parents. They formed a strange group, having luggage with them before the train actually arrived. It was the arrival of the Malfoys though that started the free entertainment, the instant Lucius spotted that Hermione's robes bore the Black crest.

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