After an early lunch, Monica practically dragged a reluctant Hermione up to the master bedroom to help the girl get ready for the meeting.
"But, Mu-um," Hermione whined, as she was being dragged from the room. "I just need to throw on a wizarding robe!"
"No, dear," her mother disagreed. "This is an important function for Harry and the two Houses you are or will represent. You'll need to look your best. And that means taking time to gussy-up."
They were followed up by the female auror who was on their detail that day.
Harry watched them go and snickered in amusement.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
With a little under five minutes to go until they had to floo over to Longbottom Hall, Monica finally led Hermione down to the main floor.
Harry took one look at her and thought dirty thoughts. He immediately blushed. "W-wow!" he managed to stammer out.
Harry barely heard Monica say, "See? Told you." As Hermione blushed at Harry's frank appraisal of her.
Finally getting some semblance of control over himself, Harry said, "The other wives are going to turn green with envy." He never noticed his voice almost breaking as he said it.
'Other wives?' Hermione immediately thought. So, too, did Monica. It led the older woman to outright grin at the boy while Hermione's blush deepened. Harry never noticed Monica's expression, as his eyes were on Hermione or otherwise looking away in embarrassment.
Giving her throat a little clear to try and get the two teens to snap out of it, Monica said, "I think it's time you two made your way down to the Doghouse." Even she was now calling it that.
It was enough for both teens. However, as Hermione was about to turn away to head for the back door, Harry stepped forward and placed a kiss on her cheek. Then he quietly and heart-feltingly said, "I meant what I said. They're going to be jealous of you."
When Harry turned away it was to see the female auror out next to the door to the back hallway smirking at him. Her eyes were even twinkling in amusement.
He had the urge to poke his tongue out at her like a child, but managed to restrain himself.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Right on time, the Longbottom's floo activated.
As they stood waiting in the welcoming hall about twenty feet away from the fireplace, Frank muttered, "Here come the Potter's et al."
First out was the first auror, who immediately ducked off to the side and checked to ensure there was enough room for Harry to make his... entrance. Even the aurors knew about it, now.
A few seconds later, Harry almost flew out of the fireplace and managed to again skid on his knees and toes across the marble. As soon as he stopped he popped to his feet and grinned at the Longbottoms. Alice even mimicked clapping her hands while grinning at him.
As he was doing so, the auror cleared him of soot and moved back towards the fireplace.
Then out came Hermione, who the auror also immediately cleared of soot.
As the two teens moved over to the Longbottoms with wide grins, the Longbottoms grinned back as Frank stepped forward to shake Harry's hand before stepping across to hug Hermione.
As he pulled back he turned to Harry and said, "Much better entrance."
Harry, still grinning, gave a shrug and replied, "At least, this time, I didn't end up on my back and knocking an auror down."
That was as far as he got before he was drawn into a hug by Alice. "Definitely better, young Harry."
After Alice hugged Hermione, Hermione then walked over and hugged a suddenly shocked Neville, who looked a little fearfully at Harry. Harry just grinned at him.
After separating from Hermione with a blush, Neville stepped over towards Frank while Alice hooked her arm into Hermione's and said, "Come, my dear. Us ladies have much to talk about.
That seemed to be a signal for Frank, who said to Harry, "Come into the dining room and I'll show you where everyone's to sit."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Shown into the dining room that was acting as meeting room for the Alliance, Frank indicated the seating arrangement.
"I sit at this end," he said, pointing to the chair where the Head of House sat. "And, you sit at that end." And pointed to the chair at the other end of the table.
"Sitting at my right and left hands, respectively, are Miles Ogden and Griselda Marchbanks. Sitting at your right and left hands, respectively, are Samuel Greengrass and Amelia Bones.
"Next to Miles will be Newton Bancroft and next to Griselda will be Heathcliff Davis.
"Next to Samuel will be Tyler Stebbins and next to Amelia will be Eugene Abbott.
"The three in the middle, each side, are Angus Sibbledotch, Gene Dallyhatch and Fred Bardhall; and Molly Fanwater, Phinneas Puvingson and Hugh Shakedale.
"That means we will have full attendance. Which is actually a very good thing, considering there hasn't been a meeting of the Alliance for over ten years."
"What about Heirs?" asked Harry, looking for the chairs.
"As far as I know, all will be attending," replied Frank. "Except, that is, yours."
"And I intend to keep it that way," said Harry. "The man is my named Heir, but I don't want him to know that unless I happen to die without progeny of my own. Besides, he lives in America."
"That's your choice, Harry," agreed Frank.
He then moved over to where he'd be sitting and tapped one of the documents he had there. "I've also taken the step of writing up an agenda for the meeting. However, it's not chiselled in stone. I wrote it just to be a guideline."
"You're chairing the meeting?" asked Harry. "I ask, because I really don't want to do it."
"Yes, I will," smiled Frank. "However you need to pay attention as, when you host one at Pottermore, you'll be expected to Chair it."
He then hesitated for a moment before he looked to Neville and said, "Neville; I need to speak privately with Lord Potter for a moment."
Neville immediately gave a short bow and said, "Of course, My Lord." Gave a slightly shorter bow to Harry, walked out of the room and pulled the door shut behind him.
Once the door was closed, Frank turned back to Harry and said, "I'll be blunt. What can you tell me of the relationship between Neville and young Miss Abbott?"
"Ah!" said Harry. "Neville's told you, has he?"
Frank gave a slight snort of amusement and replied, "He tried. But, he kept getting tongue-tied and blushed so badly I thought he was going to pass out from blood loss."
Harry gave a snicker of amusement, indicated the chairs and said, "This may take a few minutes, at least. Shall we?"
Once Frank was sitting in 'his' chair and Harry was sitting in the chair that kitty-cornered and would be Miles Ogden's once the meeting began, Harry started to explain.
"Neville and Hannah are mutually attracted to one another," he said. "It was so obvious that even Pauline Abbott saw it within moments of the two seeing each other, when Neville accompanied me around to introduce Hermione.
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