A Summer of Love

Harry woke up later the next morning than he had the previous two. He quickly freshened up and changed into the clothes he had set out the night before. Surprisingly, they weren't any of Dudley's hand-me-downs.

He carried his trunk and Hedwig's cage downstairs, so that when Hermione's mother drove up, he'd be out of the house as fast as possible.

Then he went into the kitchen, and poured himself some cereal. He ate slowly and deliberately, pondering what Hermione's house would be like. The only other family he had known, besides the Dursleys, were the Weasleys.

And the Weasleys had to be different than the Grangers. After all, the Grangers were Muggles, and the Weasleys were wizards. The Weasleys had seven children, and the Grangers had one. It was bound to be different.

After breakfast, Harry waited by the front door with his stuff, waiting for some unfamiliar car to pull up, and Hermione to come and ring his doorbell.

According to the clock in the kitchen, it was a couple of minutes past noon when Hermione bounded up the front walk. Almost immediately after she rung the doorbell, the door swung open, revealing Harry.

Harry grinned broadly, glad to see Hermione. He swept her up in a hug. "I'm so glad to see you!"

She hugged him back, then pulled away. "I'm glad to see you too." She walked inside the door and grabbed Hedwig's cage. "Let's get your stuff and go."

Harry nodded. He grabbed his trunk and followed Hermione to the car that was idling on the street. Harry placed his trunk in the trunk of the car, then sat in the back seat.

Right next to a car seat. Which coincidentally contained a sleeping baby. Hermione sat on the other side of the car seat. She said, "Harry, this is my little sister, Ashley. My parents adopted her right before I got home."

Harry looked at the sleeping baby. She was so peaceful, and so utterly cute. Harry felt a smile coming on as he looked at the baby. His reverie was interrupted as a woman with bushy brown hair, much like Hermione's, addressed him. "Hi Harry! I'm Hermione's mum."

Harry smiled and nodded at her. "Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Granger."

She laughed and said, "Oh no, the pleasure is mine. Finally, I get to meet 'Mione's friend. She talks about you all the time!"

"Mummm!" Hermione whined, obviously embarrassed by the nickname and that her mom told Harry that she talked about him all the time.

"Sorry dear." Hermione's mom smiled, and winked at Harry. Harry felt a growing fondness for Hermione's mother. She was different than most adults. She treated Harry like an equal. If Hermione's dad were anything like her mum, then Harry knew that he'd like her family very much.

---

The first few weeks of staying with the Grangers flew by quickly. There were some middle-of-the-night cries by Ashley, but for the most part, she slept through the night. Harry was glad for this.

He and Hermione spent a lot of time together. The Grangers had a pool in their backyard, so Harry and Hermione often went swimming. They also went to the local library, and pretty much just walked around town.

Harry was discovering that Hermione wasn't just his brainy best friend. She had depth and feelings and desires. And though Hermione wasn't skinny, she wasn't fat either. And her swimsuits showed off her body and her assets. Harry was a teenage boy. How could he help himself?

Harry was happy with the Grangers. Sure, life was a lot quieter than it was at the Burrow, but there was just as much love in the house. Harry could see it in the way the Mr. and Mrs. Granger looked at each other. He could see the love in the looks the parents gave both of their children.

Harry wanted love like that.

But the happy summer was to change quickly. After his third week at the Granger household, a family meeting was held. It seemed that the Grangers had forgotten something when they had been planning to invite Harry to stay with them.