Lord and Ladies

Weekend

With their business resolved, the teens spent the afternoon leisurely, mostly window shopping in some of the famous areas. The weather was nice, making people nicer as well. They bought some soft drinks and sipped them while walking, seeming just like a bunch of teens passing their vacation.

Hermione stopped in front of a shop that sported various detective gadgets. "Mind if we check this over?" she asked the rest.

Nobody seemed to mind.

"Can you show us some miniature listening devices?" Hermione asked the shop attendant.

They spent almost half an hour there. Hermione was eager to learn about listening devices and about miniature cameras. She bought none, but found a book explaining about modern detective practices, which she bought, making Harry giggle.

"And why is that?" she asked in mock annoyance.

"It's just like you, to look for books everywhere."

"And why is it funny?"

He wasn't sure about the answer. "I think I just like you acting this way, especially when it's unexpected."

This gained him a quick kiss and a wink, promising some more.

Tired of walking, Harry suggested a visit at the cinema. Hermione was quick to spot one which showed a romantic adventure. This time, she let Susan and Daphne cuddle with Harry during the film, while she just watched. Harry didn't remember much of the film, once they came out of the cinema, but he surely enjoyed the time in the dark, with both girls directing his hands to very pleasurable spots.

After eating dinner at an Italian restaurant, they returned to the apartment that was becoming Home, at least for a while. They found a pile of books waiting for them. "Mr. Moony passed here earlier and left these. He said you should read at least the top book before the end of the week, and the next two before next weekend, as they may prove very important for what you want to do next," the house elf informed them. "Shall I serve dinner now?"

Harry smiled. "No, thank you. We dined outside. While you are a better cook, a restaurant has its own appeal, and not merely the food."

Hermione was already checking the books. "The top one is the history of your family, evidently taken from the library here. You really should know it all as soon as possible. You then have a book about criminal law and another about managing magical companies – these may be relevant to Sirius and to the Prophet. We should study them before the shareholders' meeting."

Hedwig fluttered through the window and settled in front of Hermione, who took a letter from her. "Oh, my parents would like us to spend the weekend with them. I'd really like to as well. Do you all agree?"

Harry smiled at her and the other girls nodded. Harry knew he would need to spend some time with the Greengrass family and with Madam Bones – probably other weekends. He wasn't sure he was looking forward to that, but he knew these were some of his obligations as a married man.

Saturday afternoon, they all put on muggle clothes and walked out the back door. A short walk brought them to the underground station, and after another hour on the train, they took a local bus that deposited them just around the corner from the Granger house, where Hermione's parents were very glad to invite them in.

The conversation drifted from one subject to another until after dinner. Both Daphne and Susan were fascinated with the television and were eager to watch it as soon as dinner was over, making Hermione smile understandingly. Harry wasn't sure what to do. Should he join the girls in front of the television, or should he stay with Hermione and her parents, who seemed inclined to talk some more in the kitchen? It was then that Mr. Granger talked to him.

"Harry, we had a lot to think of after meeting the headmaster and your godfather. We wonder if you can enlighten us some more."

"Sure. Just ask."

The man smiled as his wife came to sit at his side, just as Hermione sat at Harry's. "Why don't you start by telling us a bit about the first year at Hogwarts, the way you experienced it?"

They spent the rest of the evening there, eventually joined by Susan and Daphne as well – both were eager to learn some more about their husband. The Grangers paid attention to details and wanted to understand everything. When they finally retired to bed, it was close to midnight, and Harry had not yet finished the first year's story.

"Why are they interested in the details so much?" Harry asked.

"There's a saying, God is in the details," Hermione replied, "and my parents really want to help us. The better they understand, the better they can help. Just be patient with them, alright?"

If her words were not enough to convince him, her promising smile and the way she moved her body assured it. Once in bed, Hermione proceeded to take his mind off his troubles, and so did Daphne and Susan. When the four sated teens finally fell asleep, Harry could only think of how lucky he was to have these three as his.

Harry was asked to continue his story soon after breakfast. Daphne and Susan spent a bit in front of the television set, watching some children programs, before they joined the others, listening to Harry's adventures. It was almost lunch time when he finished telling about their second year. "...and then, while the feast was on, Hermione, who'd been unpetrified with the mandrake potion, hugged me tightly, glad that I managed to kill the snake."

"Do you know what happened to the defense teacher?"

"He was probably transferred to St. Mungos hospital. I don't know anything else about him."

"So, your first year defense teacher hosted the dark lord in the back of his head; the second year one was just a fraud and an incompetent fool, who would do anything for his glory, Then you have a boring ghost for a history teacher and somebody who hates students for potions. I'd say this doesn't give a very good impression of the headmaster," Mr. Granger concluded.

Harry gave it a thought. "I think he has good intentions, but he may not be as wise as some claim in acting upon them, despite being a great wizard."

Mr. Granger didn't seem convinced, yet his wife intervened. "Give him a rest, dear. He may be a married man, but he's not fifteen yet – just a child. Let them all enjoy the weekend as well."

"Of course, dear. I didn't intend to make this into an interrogation, but if I want to give them good advice, I must first know all the facts, or as close to that as possible."

He still let the youngsters have some fun while his wife made lunch, showing them some of the cartoons he had collected. He also told them about his Star Wars collection, but that needed more time than they currently had.

"We usually take a nap after lunch," Mrs. Granger told them, "as we can't do that during the week. You may do whatever pleases you until we wake up – in about two hours."

"I think that a nap could be nice for us as well," Hermione said, yet the glint in her eyes meant that she was thinking of something more entertaining than that.

After their five-o'clock tea, Harry continued his story. By now, the Grangers had enough background details to stop him less frequently, and Harry had also learned what kind of details they wanted, so he included them without being asked. This allowed him to finish both third and fourth year – including the visit at Potter Manor – before dinner.

The Granger parents were very pensive during dinner, but let the youngsters enjoy the meal with no disturbance. They did ask the girls about the differences between the houses and about some professors, but nobody felt interrogated. It was more like gossiping about school affairs.

With dinner over, they all moved to the living room, yet Mr. Granger turned off the television. "We may still need to think some more about what you've told us, but I believe we can already share some of our understandings with you," he said, sounding quite formal and grave. That was not like he acted normally, making Hermione worried.

"From what we knew before and from what we've learned this weekend, I believe we can no longer trust Mr. Dumbledore without reservations. We accept your statement that he has good intentions, at least until proven otherwise, but his actions are not always wise and may even cause you damage in some cases. It's absolutely clear to us that he has much more information concerning you and your cause than he has revealed to you. He said that Harry was crucial for defeating Voldemort, but he didn't explain it. I'm not sure he is right, and in any case – I'd like to understand why he thinks so.

"There's also the way he sent you, Harry, back to your relatives each summer. You haven't talked much about them, but they were clearly not the right people to raise you. I suspect you were even abused there in some ways. Why did he insist, when you could go to the Weasley or join Hermione here?

"He said that getting you married would enhance your powers. Are you more powerful now in any way? I'm not referring to your political and financial powers."

Harry gave it a thought. He wasn't sure, really. He recalled some older boys telling how exhausted they were after a shag. He was now sating three wives, once or twice a day, but it wasn't too exhausting, really. This was not something he could tell his in-laws, though. Was he more powerful magically? He didn't know, not having used magic since he found himself married to three. "I'm not sure. I haven't tried using magic since that night."

"Why don't you try? You're already allowed to, according to your letters, I understand."

Harry took his wand. "Lumos!" he muttered. The tip lighted brightly, much brighter than it ever did before. "Nox!" It returned to normal.

"It looks much brighter than before, which means I'm probably more powerful, though I can't say by how much."

The next question was quite expected. "Is there a way to measure your power?"

None of the teens was quite sure, yet Susan spoke. "I've heard there's a way to do it and it's probably done when we get our medical checkout, first week in Hogwarts, just as they take blood samples to check our ancestry and who knows what else. Maybe I should ask my aunt about this."

"I suggest you do that. It might have some legal implications, doing these tests without you or your guardians being aware of them."

Mr. Granger sighed. "We may need to think some more of all that we've learned from you before we can come with some additional advices. Do you have any plans for the coming week?"

"We shall probably have a shareholders meeting, where we intend to take control of The Prophet, although we shall stay hidden," Harry said. "We still don't know the exact time. Other than that we made no specific plans."

"In that case," Mr. Granger looked at his wife, as if asking for her confirmation, "do you mind staying here for another day? We shall not be at home for most of it, but we'd like to talk with you in the evening, after we return home."

Harry looked at his wives. Neither Daphne nor Susan seemed to mind, and he didn't need to look to know that Hermione agreed wholeheartedly. "It's alright with us."

The rest of the evening was spent leisurely. The two pureblood girls were still spending most of their time watching television, switching channels frequently, trying to see as many interesting programs as possible. They found the mere quantity of entertainment available to Muggles almost unbelievable. Hermione only cuddled to Harry, enjoying their togetherness. She also felt her bond to Harry getting stronger and she liked it. Her parents were also cuddling together, talking softly with each other. Hermione felt sure that they were trying to think of ways to help. She smiled and cuddled tighter with Harry.