Harry Potter and the Secrets of Alchemy

Chapter 5- Muggle Bonding and Surprises of the Heart

The morning sun shone into the Granger home. Harry had been up for hours. He hadn't yet got used to life at the Granger's. At the Dursley's, he would have already been down stairs cooking them breakfast. The Grangers didn't ask him to do anything, but keep him room clean.

Harry walked down the stairs to see no one was up yet. He figured he would do something nice for them. He knew how to cook, and for once, he wanted to cook. He cooked the eggs just right, and made sure the bacon was perfect. He, unlike pureblood wizards, knew what it meant to do things by hand.

Harry watched as the Grangers piled down the stairs. He could set his watch by them. They always did things on a set schedule. He loved how the house was orderly, but not as oppressive as the Dursley's.

"Morning. Breakfast is about done." Harry told them as he finished setting the table.

"Harry, we already told you that you don't have to do things like this." Robert explained and not for the first time.

"I know I don't have to, but I wanted to. I never had a choice when I was at the Dursley's, and since I don't have to it makes me want to." Harry said with a huge grin.

"Well, Mom and Dad since Harry made this for us I think we should eat it." Hermione said looking at the food and not believing Harry could cook.

The Grangers sat down with Harry eyeing the food. They weren't sure if an almost 17 year old boy could actually cook. They were surprised, indeed, that not only could he cook, but he very well could be a head cook at any place wanted. It didn't take long before the silence was broken.

"You have to let me help next time you cook, Harry." Hermione said happily.

"No!" Jane and Robert yelled in unison.

"Hermione you are good with books and such, but I don't want to be poisoned." Jane said shaking her head.

"Mom, my cooking isn't that bad. Is it?" Hermione said with a blush.

"Yes. It is bad enough that I won't subject Harry to it." Jane said in no uncertain terms.

"It's alright, Jane. She can just read the recipe book." Harry laughed as Jane and Robert shook their heads in agreement.

"So what you kids going to be up to today?" Robert asked.

"I was thinking about taking Harry to the park. Of course, Harry has to agree." Hermione answered.

"Sounds fun. When are we going?" Harry replied.

"After we finish eating, we can leave for the park." Hermione answered.

Jane kept smiling at Robert each time she looked at the two teens. She knew before school started Harry wouldn't be just a friend. They finished eating with barely a word.

With the Mr. and Mrs. Granger leaving for work, Harry and Hermione walked to the park. They sat down on the swings. Harry jumped off a few times while Hermione just laughed at him. It wasn't long before they started talking.

"I love it at your house. I get to choose if I want to do something." Harry said unable to hide a mile long smile.

"Was it really that bad, Harry?" Hermione asked not really wanting the answer.

"Yeah. I slept under the stairs before I got my Hogwarts letter. It was only the address on the letter that got me my own room." Harry told her.

"What do you mean the address on the letter?" Hermione asked confused.

"It was addressed to the broom cupboard they had me sleeping in. They put me in the smallest room that Dudley's broken toys were in after that." Harry explained.

"You mean you went from a broom cupboard to a room filled with junk! If that wasn't bad enough, Dumbledore had to have known to address the letter to your cupboard!" Hermione fumed.

"Hermione, it is the past. It makes me even happier to be with a great family like yours." Harry said with a smile.

"Harry, no one should ever live like that. I am just glad you’re out of there." Hermione said then realized something. "Wait! Didn't Ron pick you up one year?"

"Yeah, he did second year." Harry told her not realizing what it meant.

"You mean Ron knew! He knew what your life was like. He not only didn't say anything about it, but he also had the nerve to get jealous of what you did have!" Hermione yelled with her face turning the darkest shade of red Harry had ever seen.

"Calm down, Hermione. It is in the past, and neither of us want anything to do with Ron anymore." Harry said doing his best to stop her rant.

Hermione got quiet just thinking about all the things Harry had gone through. Ron his supposed best friend was a jealous prat. She herself had not only gone out with Ron in the 6th year, but ignored Harry to boot. Dumbledore was using Harry to kill Voldemort in a stalemate. If that wasn't enough, the people that raised him, the Dursley’s, treated him like a slave. Hermione could now understand how Harry could relate to the house-elves. She had talked about freeing them, but never gave a thought that her own best friend was in the same kind of life. It was at this point she vowed even if they never got together she would pledge her life to him, and give him anything he wanted let alone needed.

"Harry are you and Ginny going to get back together after this?" Hermione asked.

"No. I have come to realize that she doesn't even know me. If I was honest, there is another girl that I would rather be with. I don't want to do what others want me to do anymore. I think I was only with Ginny to make Mrs. Weasley happy." Harry said unable to believe he had just said that out loud.

"Harry just tell me who this girl is, and I will make sure you get her." Hermione told him.

"Hermione you don't have to do that." Harry told her.

"I mean it, Harry. Tell me right now so I can snag her for you." Hermione insisted.

Harry's heart sunk. How could he tell her his biggest secret? How could he tell her the girl he had secretly loved since he say her on the train. He knew he couldn't get her to drop it. He knew he too well to even hope to change the subject. He quickly resigned himself to his fate like the true Gryffindor he was.

"It is you, Hermione. Happy now?" Harry said holding his breath waiting for her to laugh.

Hermione had expected him to say Cho or anyone but her really. She couldn't believe her ears. She had fallen for him when he saved her from the troll. She only went with Ron because she thought she could never have Harry. She couldn't believe he had said he was in love with her.

"Did you just say you are in love with me?" Hermione asked not daring to believe it.

"Yes, I did. Go ahead and laugh at me and tell me you don't feel the same." Harry replied very interested in his shoes at the moment.

"Harry, I can't..." Hermione said taking a deep breath, "because I love you too."

Harry was about to apologize, and beg her to still be his friend. He opened his mouth, but then closed it when he realized what she said. No she couldn't have said she loved him too. She was just settling because Ron cheated on her, right? He had to ask to find out.

"Hermione, you love me? You aren't just settling for me since Ron cheated on you?" Harry asked.

"No, Harry, I am not settling for you. I was settling for Ron because I thought you could never love me." Hermione replied taking her turn to be interested in her shoes.

"Does this mean we are going out?" Harry asked very confused.

"I think it does." Hermione replied.

Harry drew Hermione in a deep kiss. They spent the rest of the day kissing, and repeating that they each loved each other. Before they knew it, the sky was already getting dark. They broke apart after the 30th kiss if Hermione was right.

"Look at the sky. We better get home before Mom and Dad send out a search party." Hermione told Harry taking his hand and leading him home.

Harry froze at the door to the Granger's. He suddenly realized that when he entered the doors again, it would be as Hermione’s boyfriend. He would be the one that was trying to steal Robert's little princess away. Sure, he had spent the last couple weeks getting to know the Grangers, but now, he was every father’s worst nightmare, a live in boyfriend. Suddenly, he didn't feel very much like a Gryffindor.

Hermione felt Harry stop suddenly. She could almost see the gears turning in his head. To be honest, she didn't know how her parents would react to the news. She just shook her head for a second, and she drug Harry into the house.

"Where have you two been, young lady?" Jane yell for a moment then spotted Hermione's hands holding Harry's.

"We lost track of time. Sorry, Mom." Hermione answered squeezing Harry's hand for support.

"It was my fault, Jane. I am sorry. It won't happen again." Harry told Mrs. Granger and paled when he saw Mr. Granger come into the room.

"What is this? Why are you holding hands?" Robert Granger asked.

"He asked me out, Dad, and I accepted." Hermione answered holding Harry from running.

"It is about time!" Both Robert and Jane exclaimed at once.

"Your not mad I am dating Hermione?" Harry asked leaving his mouth wide open.

"Of course not. Harry, we have been waiting for this for the last week." Jane explained.

"You can't blame them, Jane. We were the same way when we started dating." Robert told Jane.

"Well both you off to bed. If I remember correctly, we have to go shopping for Harry's birthday tomorrow. Hermione told me yesterday that it was tomorrow." Jane Granger explained.

"Oh by the way, an owl dropped this off for you, Harry." Robert told Harry and waited for Harry to read his letter.

'Dear Lord Potter,

We at Gringotts need you to stop by. There is a matter of the items of the Potter family vault. As you reach your majority on the 31st, we need you to claim your family name and title as well as that of the Black family. Please drop by before 5 p.m. on the 31st, and ask for Chief Ragnork.

Yours in bussiness,
Goblin Chief Ragnork"

Harry simply handed the letter to Mr. Granger to read. He followed Hermione up to the second floor, and he kissed her goodnight. He feel to his bed, and fell asleep the moment he reached it. He knew tomorrow was going to be interesting.