Daddy’s Boy

Kent

James was still unwilling to rejoin the British Wizarding world. There was nobody there to trust, as he saw it, and there were too many bad memories. He decided to "go muggle" just as he had done in France, although for a very different reason. In France, he only wanted to give his son the best environment to grow and have friends. In England, he wanted to keep his existence secret from the magical world. He bought a nice house in Kent, in a middle-high class residential area, between lawyers, doctors, dentists and other high-income professionals. As a successful businessman, he found it quite easy to integrate into the local society. He even joined some charity events and went to the local church once in a while, although he had no religious feelings at all. Liz, at least, found it comforting, reminding her of her childhood. While not a devout Christian, her father used to go to church regularly, as part of being a doctor, so that people would know him and trust him as part of their community. She used to go to church with her parents, and she loved the serene atmosphere. It was now part of her job, as she saw it, to make sure that both James and Harry were fully accepted by the local community.

Harry found some new friends at the kindergarten, although his French accent attracted some unwanted attention at the beginning. His best friend was actually a slightly older girl, who initially found his accent interesting and tried to learn French with his help while teaching him proper English. They soon found out that her family lived just across the street from the Potter residence and the two children started spending most of their waking hours together, usually at the Granger residence.

Liz came that evening to collect Harry, when Mrs. Granger stopped her for a chat.

"Would you and your husband like to join us for a barbecue during the weekend?"

Liz didn't know what to say, at first. She just blurted, "I'm not married."

Jean Granger felt uncomfortable. She'd never liked to peek into other people's lives. "I'm sorry, Liz. I just assumed that having a child..."

"He's not my child. His mother died and I'm his nanny and housekeeper since he was less than two-years old."

This shocked Jean a bit. "I would have never guessed. You give him so much love, and you seem to be very close to his father as well..."

"I wish..." escaped Liz's lips before she could control herself. "Well, I love Harry as if he was my own. He's so easy to love..."

"And so is his father, isn't he?"

Liz just blushed and said nothing.

Jean smiled knowingly. "Do come on Sunday, the three of you. Harry has become such a close friend with Hermione that we think it would be just right if both families spend some time together."

"I'll pass the invitation to Mr. Potter," Liz promised.

"Don't you call him James," Jean teased.

Liz blushed again. "Only when nobody else is present. Except for Harry, of course."

Another conversation took place at the same time in Hermione's room. "Your mother is very nice," Hermione commented.

"I don't have a mother. Liz is my housekeeper."

"What?! She loves you like a mother, Harry. Are you sure?"

"My mother died when I was a baby. Liz came to help raise me. She loves me a lot." Harry didn't feel embarrassed to tell the facts he had known since before he could remember.

"Why doesn't your father marry her, so she could become your mother?"

Harry scratched his head. "I don't know. He loves her, but it's a secret."

"Does Liz love your father?"

"Oh, yes, but I shouldn't tell him."

Hermione thought about it and then smiled mischievously. She already had a plan.

Sunday was quite cold, making them all stay indoors. James helped Dave Granger with the barbecue. After living several years in muggle environment he was quite good at it. Liz was chatting with Jean about raising children while said children were spending their time in Hermione's room.

Both children were already avid readers, having learned to read at age four. They were currently reading a book about African wild life, also enjoying the exotic pictures like any child their age. They were lying on their bellies on the carpet, with the book in front of them and their bodies touching as much as that position allowed. None of them thought anything about it. They were close friends and liked to stay close.

They all sat at the dining table when the barbecued meats were ready and then moved to the living room for the tea and biscuits after they finished eating. James and Liz were sitting close to each other yet far enough not to touch. It looked like an invisible barrier was keeping them apart.

Jean and Dave had no such barrier. Jean snuggled into Dave and he put his arm around her shoulders. Jean noticed a quick glance of longing from Liz towards James, before Liz returned to her stoic expression.

Harry and Hermione were sitting on the floor, behind the sofa on which James and Liz were sitting. They were talking loud enough for these two to hear, yet softly enough not to be heard by Hermione's parents.

"If you loved me, would you have kept it a secret?" Hermione asked.

"No, I would have told you as soon as I knew," he said. "And if you loved me, what would you have done?"

"I don't think I would have told you. Girls don't do it. I would have shown you. I'd put my head on your shoulder, hold your hand in mine and just let you know without really saying," she told him.

Harry looked at her, noticing the position they were in. "Oh... but your head is on my shoulder and you're holding my hand. I know you're my best friend and I'm your best friend. Do you love me?"

Hermione blushed. "You're my best friend. Of course I love you!"

"Well, maybe... I love you too," Harry said hesitantly.

They stayed comfortably that way for a little while, before talking again.

"Will you marry me when we're older?" Hermione asked, not sure why she was even thinking of it. That was not part of her plan. Still, knowing her parents and seeing Liz with James, made this question come to her mind.

Harry didn't hesitate. "Yes, I will marry you once we're old enough," he said with all the seriousness of a five-years old.

They couldn't see it through the backrest, but the couple on the sofa seemed to have lost the invisible barrier. Liz's head was resting comfortably on James's shoulder, her body snuggling into him, and James put his arm on her shoulders while holding her hand in his. Both felt content.

Hermione peeked over the sofa and smiled. Her plan had worked well. Little did she know that their little conversation also had some far fetching consequences.

It took a few more months for James to fully accept his sentiments for Liz. He was still feeling occasionally like he was cheating on Lily by showing love to Liz, yet her love was making wonders, and he was finally letting go of the woman in his memory for the woman in his arms.

It was just before dinner, when James decided it was time to act on his feelings. As Liz finished checking that Harry was sitting properly on the chair, James stopped her from starting serving by putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Liz, you've been a ray of sunshine in my life since you first came to the castle. It took me way too long to understand and acknowledge my feelings and I feel undeserving of your attention and your patience and lately – your love. Still, I hope that love will prevail." He dropped on one knee, presenting an elegant ring in his hand. "Liz, my love, will you give me the honour of becoming my wife, even if I'm not really worthy of you?"

Liz bent down, disregarding the ring. "I love you, James, and if marrying you is bound to make you happy, then I'll marry you, as you wish, hoping to be worthy of you."

Harry watched them kiss and smiled. He knew they would all be much happier from now on.

James still didn't want anything to do with the British wizarding world. They married in early summer at the local church of the small town where the DuPont family lived. None of them minded if it was a catholic or a protestant church, as long as their marriage could be recognized. Sirius and Remus were present, of course, and so were the Grangers. Harry served as the best man, while Hermione was the maid of honour. All the guests smiled as they saw the two children taking their roles so seriously. It was extremely cute. Nobody even knew that they had played an even bigger role in making the two realize their mutual feelings.

They spent the rest of the summer on the French Riviera. Sirius continued studying the female gender on the beaches and Remus also tried his luck to find love, yet the newly wed seemed oblivious to almost everybody, except for Harry.

The children also enjoyed this summer. The Grangers took them to visit many castles and palaces as well as other attractions, yet both children found the museums most interesting, making Sirius wonder. "Where did we go wrong with them?" he whined, to the amusement of the others.

It was a lazy afternoon. The adult Grangers were taking a nap; the newly wed were cocooned in their bedroom, and the two marauders were trying their luck on the beach. Hermione and Harry were just strolling in the garden surrounding the villa.

"Would you like to have a brother or a sister, now that your Dad and Liz are married?"

Harry thought for a bit. "I don't mind. Liz would like it, though."

"And you're alright with it?"

"Sure! She loves me and I love her. If she wants more children, it's alright with me."

Hermione seemed to have thought of this before. "Would you like to have children with me when we're old enough?"

Harry looked bewildered. He wasn't even sure what bringing children meant, despite having read a book explaining this in terms appropriate for children his age. Yet if Hermione wanted it... "Sure! I'd like it."

They were now sitting on a bench, their legs dangling under it. Hermione lent on Harry and looked content. He put his arm around her and held her tight. "I think I love you," he said softly.

"I know," she whispered, enjoying the moment. Harry smiled and leaned back.

As expected, Harry and Hermione attended the same primary school. They were even lucky to be put in the same class, which made them both very happy, although they didn't sit together in class.

Their "bookworm" tendencies made them less than popular, yet they managed to find a few friends. Being outstanding students, while making their parents happy, was a mixed blessing, concerning their social standing. Still, both were mainly interested in spending their time with each other and any new friends had to accept them both.

Surprisingly, both also proved quite good during the physical training lessons. Harry could outrun all his classmates and Hermione was the fastest runner among the girls. Both proved quite good when playing basketball or volleyball, where good coordination was needed. While their achievements, both at sports and other subjects, brought some envy, they also made them popular enough. None felt any lack of friends.