The Centaur's Shrine

Chapter 5 - First Morning

Grimauld Place,

Draco woke up early and went down to the kitchen.

"Dobby wishes Master Draco a good Morning, sir," said Dobby formally. "Does Master Draco still like his coffee with sugar?"

"Yes, thanks," he replied automatically. "Not too much sugar, please," he added.

The Elf went to the stove to recover the coffee pot, and he then proceeded to set up a large cup, some plates and miscellaneous things in front of him. Draco looked at the diminutive creature attentively, searching for signs of hostility or resentment.

When Dobby had been in the Malfoy's employ, he had been very roughly treated by Lucius, despised by Narcissa, and occasionally yelled at by him. The Elf had been his father's personal servant, and thankfully Draco didn't remember many occasions when he himself had been very abusive. He didn't have any particular feelings for the creatures, but he hadn't failed to notice that Hermione, and to a lesser extend Harry, had a soft spot for them.

"Here are some rolls, Master Draco, sir."

"Thank you ... Dobby."

A mutually polite relationship seemed the best strategy for now. Certainly he could live with that.

"Morning!"

He turned his head as Harry and Hermione came in.

"Hi."

"Harry Potter, sir, Missy Hermione. Dobby is very happy to see you on this fine morning. Will Harry Potter and Missy Hermione want their breakfast be as usual?"

"Yes Dobby, thank you."

Draco rolled his eyes as the Elf fussed over Harry and Hermione like a five star maitre d'hotel on overdrive. He thought about it and then decided that he had two choices. He could be annoyed, or he could use the occasion to observe his friends in this new environment. The second alternative was much more positive and it fitted with his natural inclination.

I need to understand why others act as they do.

So he would play at being a student of human nature, and a judge of character. He already knew some of the techniques, but he had mainly tried his hand against Slytherin minds.

Looking at them, he could already detect interesting differences. Harry treated Dobby as a friend with weird manners, and he tolerated the Elf's eccentricity because of this. Hermione on the other hand appeared to base their relationship on an ethical level, and she was always careful that the Elves were not forced to do anything against their wills, or their best interest.

It was interesting to look at. When they were at Hogwarts, they all interacted with other students and teachers in a very standardized situation. Most of the times they had spent together, it had been to discuss training, classes, or the trivial subjects of boarding school life.

"Day dreaming?" asked Hermione.

He shook his head.

"Just thinking."

"Pleasant thoughts I hope," asked Harry.

"Yeah." He made a face. "Sorry about last night."

Both nodded with some sympathy. None of them noticed Dobby looking at Draco carefully from the side.

"You sound better this morning."

"We talked about it, Ginny and me."

Hermione raised an eyebrow. She'd heard more than talking at one point. Actually, it sounded like a screaming fight, although it didn't last long. If it had she would have intervened.

"You talked," said Harry, looking at him attentively. The other boy shrugged.

"Okay, we had an argument, then we talked and now it's better," he said defensively. "And we redecorated the room," he added, trying to steer away from the subject.

"Maybe you'd like to talk with us too," said Harry carefully, not letting himself be side tracked.

Draco frowned. Hermione reached out and took his hand.

"It's what friends are for," continued Harry.

The other boy hesitated. It had been difficult enough to open up to Ginny. Both of them were looking at him with earnest faces. He could feel the warmth of Hermione's touch, and he realized how in tune with each other those two were. The way they reacted, they might as well be a single personality.

He shrugged, unwilling to open up. Yesterday, he had almost been anxious to talk to Harry, but this morning, he felt more cautious. I'm not going to tell them that I'm still learning what friends are for.

"Do you feel bad about what Dumbledore said?" asked Hermione. He grimaced. She didn't miss much. Actually she was probably as frustrated as he.

"Yeah. I didn't realize it at first but it's what's been bugging me since yesterday." He sighed. "I was really hoping to be able to do things."

She gave him a sympathetic smile.

"And to top it all we've got to swallow take all this crap." He gestured toward the day's edition of the Daily Prophet, which had done a special feature on their arrival and Fudge's welcome. The Minister's figure was gesticulating on the front page, in the middle of one his speeches. The six of them were standing in the background.

Harry looked at it and chuckled. He took out a pen and drew a moustache on the Minister's face. The image immediately tried to wipe it off. It broke the tension and they burst out laughing.

"You know. He's so ridiculous, you really have to laugh," said Hermione.

"Yeah," replied Draco. "Until you feel like screaming."

"I want to go further too," she said more seriously. "But maybe we should take the time to think it out." She drummed her fingers on the table. "Dumbledore said 'patience'. I'd rather say 'prepare'."

He nodded slowly.

"Okay, here's what we could do," said Harry. "Mione and I will be going to see her parents, and probably having lunch with them. Tonight we'll be at the Weasleys, but tomorrow we can start analyzing what our options are."

"Sounds good."

"Hi guys, Hi Hermione."

Ron, Luna and Ginny came in and took seats at the table. Normal breakfast activities resumed for a while, and when the subject of the day's activities came up again, Harry repeated what he'd said to Draco.

"I'd like to see my father," said Luna. She turned toward Ron. "Will you be coming with me Ronny?"

"... ure" he replied, his mouth full of toast.

Draco and Ginny decided to stay in the house. Ginny proposed that they arrive early at the Burrow, so that she could spend more time with her family. She and Drago would also think about the layout of the house during the morning.

"Don't start redecorating everything before we have a chance to participate," said Harry, winking.

"Nothing irreversible, and we'll just work on the living room."

"Don't forget that it's not just your two Houses," added Luna. "Some blue and yellow would be nice."

"It's a good thing that none of us is from Hufflepuff," said Ginny, chuckling. "It's going to be complicated enough as it is."

Draco looked at her and turned his mind on how he would like their new home to look like.

I need to find the right shade of green that will go with her hair.

It was a much pleasant thought.

- - -

Later in his room, Harry changed into semi formal Muggle clothing. He didn't have a great deal of choice, but at least it wasn't reduced to Dudley's leftovers. He selected black pants, a shirt and a light sweater.

"Do you know were they're staying?" he asked.

"In a hotel: Crowne Plaza St. James."

"How do you plan on getting there?" They couldn't exactly Apparate on the street, or inside the hotel lobby.

"I've got a map of safe Apparation points in London." She showed him a piece of paper with the Ministry logo. "It'll be about ten minutes from the nearest one."

Wrapped up in warm coats, they went outside and transported themselves to the safe point she'd indicated. They appeared inside a dark cellar. Judging from the smells, it was under an Indian or a Chinese restaurant. They got out without meeting anybody, and he let her guide him along the streets. He must have been goggling a little, because she threw him an amused, if superior, look.

"Never been to London before?" she teased.

"Well the Dursleys didn't take me out often," he replied, a little defensively.

Hermione's expression narrowed. The Dursleys had better hope that she never meet with her.

"Would you like me to show you around later?" she added, in a gentler voice.

He thought about strolling together along the streets, shopping and maybe finding a nice tea house afterwards. It would be different than Hogsmeade certainly.

"I think I'd like that a lot."

"Deal."

Entering into the hotel, they asked for Mr. and Mrs. Granger and were directed to their room. Hermione's parents welcomed them and ushered them into what was actually a large suite. They evidently didn't live on a tight budget.

"Delighted to see you again Harry."

"Thank you, sir. Me too."

"So, that was a heroic welcome we saw yesterday. It looks like you're all pretty famous now."

Harry raised his eyes to the ceiling and grinned.

"Yeah well, I'm not looking for it."

Mr. Granger's face suddenly turned sober.

"We received some explanations from Mr. Weasley, but perhaps you could go over what happened in some details for us?"

"And maybe, you can admit how dangerous it actually was," added her mother. Harry winced at that.

"We're not stupid," continued her husband seriously. "If so many people react as if a war had just been won, then you've been part of something important."

Hermione looked at Harry and wondered how much they could tell. There were no real secrets or menace anymore, but even without going into details, it was going to be a long story, and a scary one.

"Are you sure you want to know everything?" she asked.

They nodded gravely.

"Well, here goes ..."

She and Harry alternated talking for a long time, glossing over the fine points but giving them as faithful a telling as possible. The two adults grew more and more concerned as the story unfolded. They called a break for them to drink something before they got to the climax of the last days.

"Young lady, if we'd known any of that before, I don't know if you'd have been allowed back to that school," said Marc Granger with feeling.

"If she hadn't, then I'd probably be dead, and you would all have been in greater danger," answered Harry brutally. They looked shocked.

"Don't get me wrong," he continued. "I'd give my life for her without a thought, but the only way to stop Voldemort was to work together, and don't forget he was planning on killing all Muggle born wizards and witches."

Marc grunted. "I'll accept that I guess. But why would he want to do that?"

He shrugged.

"Blood prejudice. In a nutshell, he was a racist psycho."

The Grangers looked back with horror.

"These things happen," added Hermione. "Remember the Holocaust?" Marc nodded somberly.

"Do you want to continue this after lunch?" asked Mrs. Granger anxiously. She could see that both of them had gotten quite tense during the retelling.

"No. This last is the hardest part to tell, so please don't say anything. We'll answer all your questions afterwards."

They retraced the last few, from Hermione and Ginny's kidnappings to the final battle. When they finished, there was a long silence as the Grangers digested the extraordinary tale. Harry and Hermione sat on the couch. She'd moved to snuggle against him, and his arm was around her.

"This is really incredible," said Marc finally. Awe and respect showed in on his face. "I don't know what else to say."

"And you're both all right now?" asked Jane Granger.

"We're fine mom," said Hermione softly. She looked up toward Harry, and lost herself in his eyes. "Not a care in the world."

Marc grunted, and Jane felt a twinge in her heart, looking at them. Her little girl was living her own life.

No one said anything for a while. They just sat there, looking at each other. It wasn't really an awkward silence, but they simply preferred not to talk while they adjusted to the new situation. From the way the Grangers were looking at him, Harry felt that he had passed some kind of test. Hermione was relieved that her parents knew the truth, and that they appeared to handle it well.

"You were talking about some lunch," said Harry finally.

Marc blew a short breath and nodded. "Yeah, good idea that. We've reserved a table downstairs."

They stood up and went to the hotel's restaurant. The food was great, and they talked about happier subjects. The Grangers would be taking a Christmas vacation at a ski resort in France. They had planned of taking Hermione over there of course.

"Would you like to come with us, Harry?" asked Jane.

"I don't know. I can't ski."

"Come on. You're a great Quidditch player. Skiing is much easier," said Hermione.

"Well, all right then. I accept with pleasure. Thank you."

"Good. We'll be leaving in a week."

Harry nodded but he still looked doubtful. Hermione proposed that they buy some ski clothes later. She was euphoric at the idea of him joining them. He told himself that it would probably be real fun.

"And what are you going to do now?" asked Marc.

"Finish school of course," said Hermione. "Afterwards, who knows?"

"I know," said Harry mischievously. She shot him a warning look.

"Harry ..." she hissed.

He laughed.

"Okay, I won't say what it is, but I do have a very special project in planning."

"Nothing too dangerous I hope?" asked Jane.

"Well, I've done worse," he replied, ignoring Hermione's furious scowl. He could see that she was also fighting not to smile.

Marc had a sudden suspicion about what was going on. Harry had the kind of prankster's mind that he liked among his friends, and his daughter was reacting in the same manner as when someone played a joke on her.

"Would it be a long project?" he inquired, winking.

Harry beamed.

"Oh definitely. A life long committement you might say." Hermione groaned, which only confirmed her father's guess.

"Really?" Both men's eyes twinkled. Hermione decided to ignore them and took a sip of wine.

"But the result should be worth the effort." Harry's lips were beginning to twitch uncontrollably.

"And what do you think of Harry's idea my dear," her father asked his daughter, in the most innocent voice he could muster.

Hermione lowered her head in surrender. She knew she couldn't fight it anymore, and in truth she was flattered. She smiled sheepishly, but kept her eyes on her glass.

"Okay Mister Potter. I will let you say it."

Harry suddenly turned serious. He looked at her.

"Hermione?"

She raised her head slowly and looked at him. Despite her previous protest, she felt her stomach fluttering.

"When we finish school ..." he began.

She held her breath, and her lips opened ever so slightly. Jane and Marc looked on with wonder.

"I will ask you to marry me."

Hermione's lips trembled, and there was a sharp intake of breath from her mother. She ignored it, looking at his face instead. It was touching in its candor, and of course he meant everything he was saying. She also noted that he'd talked of asking, and not directly of marriage. He knew that it would make her feel more comfortable.

"Yes," she whispered. "I think that would be a good project."

First morning Ch5 - 7