Harry spent most days over the next week, at the Grangers. He kept trying to get Hermione to visit the Tonks but she always had an excuse for putting it off. During that time Juliet was only able to get Hermione down to panties. Every time Hermione went to remove them, she panicked, so Harry and Juliet gave up for now.
Harry and Hermione did manage to get used to studying effectively in underwear and did accomplish much of the work for Potions and Charms. They had wanted transfiguration too, but McGonagall was unwilling to give them extra assignments.
Harry was also learning the impotence charm from Andy, but it was tricky and he wasn't cleared to perform it yet. Soon it was time for the Granger summer vacation. Harry and Hermione were shattered, but things had been arranged, so the Grangers had to go.
Harry was moping in his room. Hermione had been gone for 2 days now and Harry had done little. Andy, tired of the situation, sent an Owl to Lord Black explaining what was going on. Lord Black was not amused.
Andy came to Harry's room, and stated "Harry, Lord Black is waiting for you in the Foyer."
Shocked, Harry turned to Andy, "What?"
She stood there with her arms crossed, obviously angry. She just said, "Go now."
Harry went downstairs and saw Lord Black looking out a window with his hands clasped behind his back and his legs shoulder width apart. He wore armored dueling robes, and looked like a general waiting to inspect his troops, while he stood there at parade rest. Dueling robes looked similar to monk fighting garb. The robe went just below the knees and was slit at the sides. It also stopped just past the elbows and his forearms and hands were covered in black bracers. He had slacks, shirt, cowl, and combat boots on under the robe. Everything was covered in runes and made from Black dragon hide.
Harry came in and bowed. He said respectfully, "My Lord Black. You summoned me, sir."
Lord Black, not turning to face Harry, said with some anger, "What is this about you moping in your room when you have work to do?"
Harry listlessly replied, "I…miss her."
He glanced at Harry, before turning back to the view out the window, disapproval evident in the set of his jaw and the flash in his eyes, "Do you now. You asked for extra work, made promises, in order to possibly skip second year in two subjects. A Black does not fail to meet his obligations, especially after he has specifically asked for them."
Harry hung his head in shame and obviously depressed over not seeing Hermione. He didn't say anything in his defense.
Arcturus then turned and looked at Harry, anger evident in his whole stance. He then stated coldly, "Well, since you have become useless here without your witch, you will come with me."
Confusion evident in his eyes, Harry asked unsure, "Sir?"
With a decisive air and command in his voice, Arcturus stated, "You will spend the next month working hard. You will not have a spare moment to think about your witch. I will teach you how to fight. I will teach you how to feel the family magics and control the black fire." Switching to parsel he stated "{You will learn how the Black fight!}"
Harry not sure what he heard asked, "{Black Fight, Sir?}"
Arcturus with the first glimmer of approval replied, though still obviously angry, "{So, it is true. You have inherited the language of Dragons. We will work on that too.}"
So began a very hard month for Harry. Lord Black was merciless. Harry's days began long before sunrise with physical exercise, empty hand fighting, study, spell practice, all in parsel. All month Harry was only allowed to speak or fight in parsel. Harry was introduced to the family magic, and how to read the Black Grimoire. He was also introduced to Ritual and Ritual Magic.
The first Ritual Abraxas did was bond a custom dimensional store to Harry's magical core. It looked like a black dragon-hide bracer often used as a wand holster, but this one could hold much more, well as much as Harry could keep straight in his head. If he put too much in it, he may pull the wrong thing when needed in combat. So he had to be very ordered in his mind to keep things instantly available when needed. The store was spelled to grow with him as it was going to be part of him for a very long time. While it could be removed, Harry could call it back to his arm with but a thought. It was also invisible and intangible when not in use if Harry wished it, much like his Heir Ring.
It was a complicated ritual, but Harry was able to get it done by the second week, under Abraxas demanding tutoring. Abraxas then required a second, slightly easier ritual, the ritual of entailment. This was very useful as it could be used to attach possessions to houses and vaults. Many of the noble families had all their heirlooms entailed. it was the same ritual which rescued all the Potter possessions which had been 'borrowed' by Dumbledore. Abraxas showed it could also be used in a more personal situation. He showed Harry how to entail his wand and attach it to his personal dimensional store. Once completed, if Harry's wand was removed from his hand for any reason, it would appear back in the store. Once this ritual was completed, Harry was drilled in releasing his wand and holstering it with a thought.
While taking a break from the brutal training, Harry was shown the parsel library. The Blacks had been speaking parsel for over 2500 years. Unfortunately, it had mostly died out, and it was been awhile since it has shown up in the blood. Abraxas had feared he would die before it rekindled. He snorted thinking it shouldn't have surprised him it was Dorea's blood where it reappeared. By Hekate, he missed her! The Black library was rivaled by only a few families in Europe. Truly, you need to go to China or India to find better ones on Parsel or the ancient magics. Every book was ritually entailed. If removed from the library, it would return on the next new moon as if it had never left.
Lord Black was aware of Harry's healing ability. At 9pm every night, he would have a full-on duel with Harry and held little back, just making sure Harry lived long enough to reset. Harry felt the effects of many of the Black spells, many grey and dark spells. Bone shattering, flesh rending, organ liquefying, fire, ice, lightning, pain unimaginable, crucio and imperious. He was punched, kicked, thrown, and broken. Harry suffered, fought, but never gave up. Soon the imperio only slowed him for a moment. Crucio still dropped him to the ground, but he did get back up.
Harry fell completely exhausted, physically and magically, every evening. Every night Abraxas would imagine no one would willingly go through this again, but on wake-up call at 4am Harry would still have fire in his eyes, his magic stores replenished, and look ready for more. Over the month, he started to hold his own, if only for a short time.
Harry's body also changed. Normal people needed time for their muscles to heal from the trauma of intense exercise. Harry was completely healed every night. The daily brutal exercise tearing muscles, rupturing tendons, breaking bones, along with the effects of puberty, changed him, hardened him. Harry had grown 2 inches, but had also put on over ten pounds of muscle. Any remaining baby fat was gone. He wasn't bulky, but had the hard, corded muscles of a fighter or dancer. Harry now walked like a big cat, an apex predator, willing and able to strike with blinding speed and ferocity. An obvious adolescent, but very dangerous all the same.
Lord Black was no longer disappointed. Harry dodged and moved like quicksilver, and when that failed, he shielded. Arcturus didn't tell Harry his shield was already OWL level…and would only get stronger with his maturation. Harry when able, attacked. He was a damn prodigy, casting in parsel, many spells were being sent from his continuously moving wand. He was still limited in his power as he hasn't undergone the 2nd maturity, but he was learning highly destructive, dangerous spells, even if he couldn't yet cast them…and he was beginning to understand the black fire, even if he was nowhere close to controlling it.
With some approval evident in his voice, Arcturus stated, "You have done well this month. I expect you to continue to push yourself. You now know how. I don't want to hear of you being useless, or weak, ever again. If you care for this witch, you need to become strong enough to protect her. Indeed, strong and fierce enough that you don't need to protect her. We will be doing this again next summer, and every summer after that, I still live."
Changing subjects, Arcturus stated forcefully, "I think you are too young to be so attached to this witch, but the Potter Foible cannot be denied. I hear she is brilliant, and despite her ignorance, is completely loyal to you. I will allow you to Betroth her…as a Potter."
Not understanding where Lord Black was going with this, Harry asked "Sir?"
Trying to explain so Harry understood he is not trying to get between him and his witch, Arcturus replied, "You will not betroth her as the future Earl Black. You will betroth her as Baronet Potter, since it was the Potter Foible which caught her. Once you are an Earl, you can do as you wish. If you wish to make her Countess Black when you are 20, you can, but I will not do it for you."
Looking slightly confused and hurt, Harry asked "Why, my Lord?"
Arcturus shook his head, again trying to explain to Harry, "I cannot say at this time, but I do have a reason. The reason is not because I do not approve of her, because I do. She breathes the Black Motto with her loyalty to you…but there are other considerations which I may not disclose at this time."
Harry accepting that he will, at least, get his witch, let it go for now. He replied, "Thank you, my lord."
Arcturus finished, "I have had a set of battle robes made for you. Since you are a Hogwarts student they will have appropriate Hogwarts insignia so they will be uniform compliant. These will serve you well, at least until your 2nd maturation. With each maturation, there will be changes in your core which will allow you to channel larger amounts and higher mysteries. Combat robes can be enchanted to enhance these abilities besides offering greater protection at each level. I expect you to entail them as you have been taught. Your witch is expected back tomorrow. Go."
Harry floo'd back to the Tonks. Andy was waiting for him, and after seeing him, had obvious concern in her eyes. "Let's go to your room.", she ordered, and quickly led Harry to his room, continuing into his bedroom.
In full Healer mode, with a professional demeanor and command, she stated, "Strip, I need to examine you."
Harry looking somewhat confused, striped down. Andy could not believe what she was seeing, he was taller, and his muscles were defined way more than a 12-year-old should achieve. He looked like an athletic 14-year-old in the full throughs of puberty more than halfway completed. She motioned for him to lie on the bed and scanned him. Just as in the past, no injuries were noted, nothing. She could sense nothing wrong, but was able to see his magic channels were more defined and significantly larger, though still with the immaturity of a pre second-maturation child, his magical core was significantly larger too, his body was much stronger, and there was large amounts of parsel magic, as well as the time magic flowing in him now.
Andy looked distressed and very upset. She exclaimed "How could he?"
Harry was obviously confused, and asked "How could he what?"
Andy almost yelling she was so upset, exclaimed "He must have done dangerous rituals to get you like this!"
Harry shook his head trying to calm his mother down. He sat up and explained calmly, "No rituals other than bonding my wand and store. I swear it!" and magic swirled around him indicating his truthfulness. "Daily exercise, study, and a brutal training regimen requiring the reset, so I could do it all again the next day. Lord Black held little back and I endured, I improved. I will never be weak again." Getting up from the bed, and holding his arms out to his mother, "Can I have a hug now, mother? I missed you."
With a cry, Andy pulled him into a hug, "Ohh, my beautiful boy! I missed you, too!"
After a while, they both calmed down and Andy released him. "Since you are already undressed, why don't you join the girls in the pool? They have wondered about you too. Tonks was very disappointed, she couldn't say good bye to you. She is at the Auror Academy now, and will get no leave, for at least 6 months, no letters allowed."
Harry nodded and frowned. He replied, "Well that's irritating, I would have wanted to say goodbye to her as well. At least, I can say hello to my other sisters, and a swim would be nice."
Harry went down to the pool. On stepping outside, he noticed the three girls. Harry thought how everything had changed. It felt like an eternity since he was at this pool, yet nothing looked different. The three looked just as they had in the past, talking there among themselves.
As Harry came out into the sun they noticed him and stopped talking. Emma yelled "Harry!" and came running over to him. She stopped a few feet from him and quickly curtseyed, to which Harry half-bowed. With a smile he held out his arms, and she gave him a big hug while he lifted her off the ground, swinging her around, both of them laughing.
Harry put Emma down as Sophia came over and curtseyed. With her usual bluntness Emma stated, "Wow! You have changed! Your taller, your muscles are bigger. Morgana, your dick is bigger too!"
Chastity on approaching and hearing that last comment, blushed bright red with her hair going red too. She yelled, "SOPH!"
Sophia looked back at Chastity, and defensively replied "Well it is! Can't you tell? You know what mum said, 'powerful wizards have big dicks.'"
Chastity almost blushing hard enough to faint and utterly mortified yelled, "Soph! SHUT UP!"
Chastity then groaned. She closed her eyes with a slight shiver. She then opened them and gave a passable curtsey, to which Harry bowed.
Harry while desperately trying not to think about that dick comment...and if it was true he now had a big one. 'I wonder if Hermione will like it.' He asked himself. Shaking away that thought, Harry returned to his sisters, "How are my sisters doing?" Harry asked after daydreaming for a second or two.
Chastity, able to get herself mostly back under control, though her hair was still red, answered "Mum has been pushing me hard since I start Hogwarts this year. At least, without you getting me in trouble, I can sit down comfortably, most of the time."
Harry smiled at her comment, but gently chided "Hey, that's not entirely fair…though I understand your point. We certainly got off on the wrong foot, didn't we? Can I have a hug?" and he held out his arms with a grin.
Chastity, blushing gave Harry a big hug.
Harry whispered in her ear, "I missed you, sis." and Chastity realized he really did. That felt nice.
Sophia then asked in her usual completely innocent way, "Hey, Chas. I thought you said he got hard when he hugged you bare? Why isn't he hard now? I want to see how big it gets!"
Emma yelled "SOPH!!!" and grabbed her by the arm, roughly dragging her away while fiercely whispering to her. Chastity jumped away from him, beet red. She would not meet his eyes, though he did notice more than a couple of glances at his equipment.
Harry surprised he wasn't as embarrassed as much as he thought he would be, "I have mastered the impotence charm. It makes things much less embarrassing…or at least I thought it would, before you ladies started obviously examining and talking about my dick."
Chastity still blushing, giggled her hair returning to blue, "Get used to it bro. You are gorgeous, and large…all of you." She then shyly said, "I actually missed you too. Have you learned to swim yet, or do we need to get the toddler spells placed on you again?" and she ran back to the pool laughing.
Harry just grinned, "You are SOOO going to pay for that!", and chased her. They had a fun time, just playing like kids. Andy smiled, watching from the house.
The next day, Harry asked an elf to pop him to the grangers. Harry walked up to the door with some trepidation. He hadn't seen her for a month. It felt like a lifetime. Harry rang the bell and waited. No answer. Harry waited on the step for an hour, and was about to call for an elf when a car pulled up.
Hermione got out of the car and saw Harry as he stood back up.
"Harry?" she said disbelieving, then realizing it was him "HARRY!" she screamed, and ran to him throwing her arms around him and kissing him soundly on the lips. Harry was surprised, but immediately put his arms around her and kissing her back. There were so engrossed in their greeting, that her parents had come over watching.
Stephen cleared his throat, and the kids broke up, blushing a bit. Harry then bowed, saying in formal tones, "Greeting Drs. Granger, I hope you had a good vacation?"
Stephen replied a bit disgruntled. That kiss was not casual, "It was very nice…despite Hermione doing some significant moping without you around." Looking at Harry closely, "You look different. What happened to you?"
Hermione had felt how hard and muscley Harry had become, not to mention taller, and was more than a little curious too.
Harry knowing this was coming, sighed, "My grandfather, the Lord Black found out I was moping," He glanced at Hermione who grinned shyly up at him.
'Up at him, when did that start?' she thought.
Harry continued, "and not meeting my responsibilities. He took me to his place for a month of intense training. I only came home yesterday, myself."
Hermione always curious about learning new things, "What did he teach you?"
Harry replied, having answered this question numerous times before, "Physical training, empty hand fighting, dueling, combat magics, parsel casting, but mostly he taught me how to lose. To endure. He would beat me down day after day, and I would return the next day, trying to get just a little bit further along."
Stephen shook his head and said somewhat disbelievingly, "That is military training, SAS level. Only special forces teach soldiers how to lose and endure, so they know how to avoid it, overcome it, and accomplish the mission at any cost."
Hermione looked concerned at what her father explained, especially with how hard Harry looked. She quietly asked, "Are you OK?"
Harry kissed her palm and looked in her eyes with such happiness, "Now that you are here, I can fly." Getting more serious, "How about you? Did you learn how to walk among strangers bare?"
Hermione face clouded over, "Yes and No. I was able to go nude, but mainly because there were so many beautiful adult women to ogle, the boys only glanced at me. The one time two boys came over to talk to me, I almost had another panic attack."
Harry glanced at her mother for confirmation, who nodded. Harry then put on a brave face, "Hey, that's a significant improvement! You are doing great."
Stephen, a bit grouchy about the conversation, "Am I the only one who finds it strange that we, Hermione's parents, are helping her boyfriend get her out of her knickers?"
Harry looked distressed and guilty. After all, everything Stephen said, was technically correct. He started responding, "I…"
Juliet cut him off, "Stop that, Stephen! I explained everything to you. Harry has been a complete gentleman."
Stephen in full dad mode, showing he did not ignore the fact that Harry had spanked his daughter, growled "Gentleman do not spank their women!"
Juliet now angry with Stephen, "Oh really? Who was that last week, who bent me over the couch, spanked my behind, and ploughed me until I couldn't stand?"
"MOTHER!" "JULIET!" both Hermione and Stephen exclaimed mortified by that very vivid description. Harry started imagining doing something like that to Hermione, and almost lost the train of the conversation.
Juliet continued completely unembarrassed and still irritated, "The point is, Granger women like the occasional caveman treatment. As long as Harry never violates a safe word, I consider it no different than Hermione smacking or diddling herself." Turning to Harry, "Have you ever spanked or forced Hermione against her wishes?"
Harry paused, obviously thinking...and still imagining that scenario Juliet had diagramed, answered still unsure, "I don't know. To get the point across, I have spanked her bottom to the point of her crying. However, at any time she could stop everything…and she never has. As far as the other, I will never force her to do anything! I cherish her trust and loyalty too much to risk losing her."
Harry shook his head, and turned to Stephen, "Let me help you with the luggage. We should continue this discussion somewhere other than the front stoop." Stephen nodded realizing Harry wanted some man talk without the ladies. He wanted it too. While the girls went inside, Stephen and Harry then started unpacking the car.
While getting the luggage, and after verifying the front door was shut with the girls inside, Stephen asked abruptly, "What are your intensions toward my daughter?"
Slightly surprised by that question, Harry thought for a few seconds, and then looked Stephen in the eye. Harry very earnestly said "To paraphrase the bard, Hermione is my Sun. Without her, there is only darkness. My intentions are to do whatever will make her happiest. If that includes becoming my lady and bearing my children, great. If she would prefer me as a friend and protector, I will do that. Not gladly, but if that is what she wants, so be it."
Still with a fierce look daring Harry to flinch, "What about sex?"
Harry with no fear looked back at Stephen, and frankly said, "She cannot have vaginal intercourse until her 2nd-maturation, or 14-years-old. This is not some artificial and arbitrary social rule. A witch who gets pregnant before her 2nd-maturation dies…every time. On top of that, the potion, a near foolproof birth control potion, doesn't work reliably until that 2nd-maturation."
Harry looked Stephen in the eyes, and said dead seriously, "Anything else, is only going to occur when we are both ready, and I am currently only comfortable with kissing and hugging. I don't know when we will move on to more, but I guarantee it will be her moving that line, not me."
Then with a questioning look on his face, Harry asked, "However, I never heard of these safe-words. They sound like a good way to minimize miscommunication. I would never forgive myself if I misread some signal, and scared or harmed Hermione. Forcing her to do something she did not want."
Stephen taken aback by such an astute question, thought for a minute. He then answered, continuing to unpack the car. "Safe-words are a simple yet profound idea. Juliet and I use three. 'Green light' which means more. Thrust harder, smack harder, suck or bite harder. Whatever you are doing, she wants to feel it more intensely. You get the idea. 'Yellow light' means caution. One of you will use this word if the intensity is getting to be too much. When you hear that word, back down the intensity. Go slower, gentler, pause for a second to reassess and give them time to recover, whatever you are doing. 'Red light' means stop immediately, and let her go. As this is a full stop, the usual rule is you immediately separate for 24 hours after using that word. It means, somehow you have misread the signals and scared her, or pushed her past her limits. It should never be necessary if you both pay attention to the 'yellow light' warnings, but mistakes can be made, and at least you will prove yourself trustworthy."
Stopping a second before grabbing another suitcase, Stephen continued, "These words are especially useful when you role-play, like in dominance games. These games involve someone pretending you are 'forcing' them against their will. They say things like 'don't, stop, that hurts, you brute, let me go'. You get the idea. While pretending to be the ravaged prisoner with her demanding captor, she can pretend to want you to stop, but if she doesn't use the safe words, you know she is just pretending. Remember, if you violate a 'red light' safe-word even once, all trust is lost. Never forget that."
Harry paused in unpacking and asked, "Were you using safe-words last week?"
Stephen blushed, then grinned, then in all seriousness, "You are always using the safe-words…always. Before engaging in anything more than kissing, make sure you both are very clear on what the safe-words are, and to always be listening for them. It will keep things from going further than either of you wants, at that time. Oh, and also have a signal you can use, if one of you is unable to speak the words."
Harry looked confused, so Stephen looking exasperated and embarrassed, explained sarcastically "If her mouth is wrapped around your dick, she will hardly be able to say 'red light' will she."
Harry going red faced "OOOOH!...what do you use?" he asked, not at all intimidated by Stephen's aggression.
Stephen in all seriousness, and impressed with Harry's composure despite himself, replied "Tap Out. If either of us taps, slaps, or kicks three times in a pattern, STOP! Same as in grappling fights."
Harry nodded as that made sense, "Tap out, got it."
Entering the house, Harry noticed Hermione looked nervous while Juliet asked also looked concerned, "That took a while, what were you two discussing?"
Harry going for broke, responded bluntly. He wanted them to know he kept nothing from Hermione. Harry looked at Juliet and replied, "A frank discussion about my intentions toward your daughter, though he did explain these safe-words to me. It sounds like something every couple should use." And with a slight grin glancing at Hermione with some intent, "Especially if someone occasionally seeks the 'caveman' treatment."
Looking disgruntled, Juliet asked with some irritation, "Anything else I missed?"
Harry sighed and responded looking Hermione in the eyes, "I explained I want your daughter to be my wife and the mother of my children. However, if she wants to just be my friend, I will live with that. Her happiness is more important to me than mine own."
At which Hermione jumped into his arms saying "Oh Harry!" and he hugged her tightly.
He then released her and looking at Juliet said, "I also explained how a witch having vaginal intercourse is a near fatal risk prior to 14, but very safe after. Besides that, I said I am currently only comfortable with kissing and hugging and anything going beyond that will be on Hermione's schedule...if I am ready." Hermione was blushing and looking down at this point, but didn't let go of Harry.
Juliet glanced at Stephen who shrugged and nodded. Nonplussed, "Wow, you covered most everything. Harry, how are you able to discuss these things so easily? Kids your age are usually too tongue-tied to answer embarrassing questions at all, much less so bluntly."
Harry paused while he went emotionless, cold, and succinct, "I was never a child, I was a slave. I would be beaten and broken for the slightest perceived failure, and I learned how to survive. Most importantly, I learned I had no one to rely on except myself, so if I needed something, I had to make it happen. Very young, I noticed how adults speak to each other. What worked, what didn't. Being useless, immature, or indecisive resulted in more beatings, so I rapidly lost such traits."
Looking at Hermione, with the warmth returning to his eyes, "It is only in this last year that I have discovered people who I can rely on in my life. Your daughter was my first ever friend, and it soon became apparent to me, she valued my friendship as much as I cherished hers. Now, it seems I am caught up in the Potter Foible; but, if I thought it would damage our friendship, I would fight it with all my being."
Hermione with a cry, hugged Harry resting her head against his neck, and he kissed her on the forehead hugging her back.
Stephen was not sure what he was hearing, it sounded like some fairy tale, "Potter Foible?" he asked.
Hermione turned to face her father, "It is a well-known trait of Potter wizards and witches stretching back hundreds of years. They tend to find their mates young and form a love match. The mates always have the three B's. Bashful, Brainy, Bookish." With a smile at Harry, "Evidently I fit the profile."
All three snorted at the same time. Then surprised, smiled at each other.
Juliet looked a bit sad, "Are love matches so rare?"
Harry replied, back to his lecturing voice, "Marriages and children are about extending the magical bloodlines and improving the family magics. There are many marriages where there is little love, much like the royal or blue-blood arrangements which still occur in the muggle world. Those who are trapped in such arrangements, will often find lovers on the side. As long as they are discrete, and have no children with these lovers, no one will care as it is an understood and accepted necessity."
Harry continued, glancing at Hermione, "However, the Potters are known for making a connection in their first years at Hogwarts, and being unwilling to turn aside from those love-matches. It's a reason Potters do not arrange marriages for their children as other noble houses tend to do."
Stephen frowned, thinking there was some misdirection here, "Yet you wish to bind Hermione to you with a betrothal."
Harry tried to explain it wasn't limiting but freeing, "It will have an escape clause either of us can activate prior to the hand-fasting or her first pregnancy. The clause will not be punitive. The betrothal's purpose is to protect both of us. As my betrothed she will be protected by two great families and anyone attempting to harm her will have to deal with me." Harry all but growled out that last line, his eyes flashing dangerously.
For a split second, Stephen saw the apex predator there in Harry's eyes. He actually took a half-step back, before stepping back forward again. "You said both of you, what do you get…besides access to my daughter?"
Harry glared at Stephen, really disliking what he was implying, and growled "I will not take, what is not freely offered! Neither the Black, nor the Potters treat their women as property! I was a slave my whole life, and I would rather die, than see myself treating anyone that way!"
Calming himself a bit, realizing this was Hermione's father, and he was entitled to protect her. Harry continued to answer "As to what I will get. I will get protection. Now that I am to be an Earl, the women are trying to catch me. Families are trying to trap me. With a betrothal in place, I will have some protection from all these manipulations." Harry turned and looked Hermione in the eyes, "Most importantly, I know Hermione is with me…loves me, loyal to me, for me and not my title or money."
Hermione with tears in her chocolate brown eyes looked into Harry's emerald green eyes with such joy, "Always and Forever, Harry, always and forever."
Stephen, looked at Hermione and noticed she was happy…actually happy. She seemed somewhat happy during the vacation once she stopped moping, but now he realized it was an empty, hollow thing. "My god, you really do love him. You do realize teenagers fall in…and back out of love many times as they grow up? What do we do, if this great passion burns itself out, over the next few months or years?"
Harry turned to Stephen and said with all seriousness, "As I said earlier, there will be an out clause. We will have years to break it off, if either of us finds someone else to love. Even then, I will try my hardest, to remain in my best friend's life, no matter what happens. I value that friendship more than anything."
Harry changed tactics, "Please don't rush into any decisions. Talk to Dowager Countess Longbottom and verify everything I have said. Talk to the Tonks, or Baroness Malfoy. Gather as much information as you need."
Becoming business like, Harry turned to Hermione, "Enough of that. We need to make a schedule. We have a bit over a month to finish our second-year work in potions and charms, so we can advance as we planned. You need to come to the Tonks so we can work on your spell casting and brewing. No more excuses. I will be back tomorrow to collect you. Be ready at 7am."
Harry turned and bowed to Stephen "Sir" and kissed Juliet's hand "Ma'am" and was then popped away by an elf.
Stephen turned to his ladies, "I'll say one thing for him, that young man is impressive."
Turning to Hermione, "You mother and I need to discuss this. I'm not saying 'Yes', but I'm not saying 'No' either."
Hermione just hugged her father fiercely and quietly said, "I love you daddy, but I love Harry too."