A Summer of Love

Harry sat at the end of the couch in the Granger living room. He was in the company of all the Grangers, including baby Ashley. Mr. and Mrs. Granger had called a family meeting.

It seemed that in their haste and excitement to have Harry over for the summer, they had forgotten a key event, a Dentists' Convention. And this Dentists' Convention just happened to be in Paris. So what were they to do with Harry, Hermione, and little Ashley?

Harry had never been to one of these 'family meetings' before. In fact, he doubted the Dursleys had them. The family pretty much did what Vernon told them to do. And Dudley was also very persuasive in that family. Needless to say, Harry had very little input on what they did. So this family meeting thing was quite a new concept to Harry.

Mr. Granger started the meeting. "Well, as I'm sure you all know by now, this is to figure out what to do about the Dentists' Convention. Mum and I have to speak at the convention, so it is paramount that we go. So what do you all suggest?" He sat down in a chair, positioned behind him.

Mrs. Granger was the first to raise her hand, barely beating out Hermione. So that's where she got it from, Harry thought. Mr. Granger nodded at his wife, recognizing her to speak. She took a breath and said, "Well, we could always take Harry back to the Durs--"

She was cut off my Hermione, who said, "Mum! NO!"

Mr. Granger looked at Hermione, and said judicially, "Hermione, let your mother finish."

Mrs. Granger continued. "As I was saying, we could always take Harry back, but I'm not sure that any of us really want to do that." She smiled at Harry, having taken a liking to the boy since she had picked him up.

Mr. Granger nodded. "Yes, that's always an option. Any other ideas?"

Hermione's hand shot up, and Mr. Granger recognized her to speak. Harry could tell she was excited. It was much like her answering a question in a class at school.

She jumped up and said, "Well, since you absolutely have to go to the convention. And since none of us, including Harry I'm sure, want to take Harry back to the Dursleys, why don't you just let Harry and I stay here and take care of Ashley while you're gone?! It'd work better then you carting off three extra people with you to Paris. And that way you'd get some quality alone time that you know you want."

This was all said at about one hundred miles a minute, and Hermione had a light pink flush to her cheeks as she sat down. Mr. Granger steepled his fingers in thought. Mrs. Granger had a smile on her face, knowing that her Hermione had managed to come up with another good idea.

Mr. Granger looked at Harry and Hermione intently. "Can I trust you two to behave and take care of the baby?"

Harry was about to say yes, but Hermione beat him to it. "Yes, Daddy, you sure can. Harry's going to be seventeen soon, and I'll be seventeen in a couple of months. We're almost of age and old enough to be set out on our own. Besides, Ashley is a really good baby and we'll take really good care of her and you can trust us, I know you can." Hermione finished breathless again.

Harry nodded, and added, "Yeah, Mr. Granger, she's right. You can trust us. We are practically seventeen."

Mr. Granger chuckled slightly. "That's what I'm worried about." He paused, smiling at his daughter and her friend. "Any other ideas?"

Nobody had any other ideas, so they voted. There were zero hands for sending Harry home. And even baby Ashley raised her hand in favor of having Harry and Hermione take care of her.

Everyone laughed at the sight of Ashley voting. "So it's settled?" Mr. Granger queried.

Harry and Hermione nodded. Mr. Granger clapped both of them on the shoulders. "Good. We'll be leaving in a couple of days, so that'll give us time to show you the basics of caring for Ashley."

---

So for the next two days, Harry and Hermione were tutored in the arts of burping, diaper changing, and the other elements of baby care. While they watched the Granger parents change the diapers, they never really got a turn themselves. However, the Granger parents let them feed and burp Ashley. They also showed Harry and Hermione how to put Ashley down for a nap, and to put her to sleep.

By the time the Grangers were ready to leave three days later, Harry and Hermione thought that they had the baby thing down pat. As Mr. and Mrs. Granger drove off to the airport, the two teenagers and the baby waved farewell.

They looked quite the family picture: Hermione had Ashley held on her hip. And Harry was next to Hermione, waving with the two sisters.

Harry and Hermione walked inside. As they entered the empty and very quiet house, Harry asked, "What do we do now?"

Hermione, slightly incredulous, replied, "I don't know. It's so... quiet."

Harry nodded. After a few moments of silence, he said, "How about we go swimming?"

Hermione nodded in agreement. "Okay. You get Ashley's pool toys and stuff ready. I'll get her in her swimsuit."

Harry smiled at her, then went off into the guestroom to change into his swimming trunks. Once he finished, he went out to the pool. He made sure that Ashley's floaties had enough air and made sure that her other toys were in working order. Just as he finished, Hermione walked out, helping Ashley walk by holding her up by her hands.

Hermione looked up and grinned at Harry, and he couldn't help but smile back. Hermione would make a great mother.

The sisters made it over to Harry. Harry lifted Ashley on to his lap as she gurgled a little baby gibberish. Harry slid her orange floaties onto Ashley's arms, and asked her, "Ready to swim?"

Ashley smiled and said, "Daga!" Harry took this to mean 'yes'. He laughed, and walked her over to the shallow end of the pool, where he pulled her around by the arms, laughing as she let out high-pitched giggles and screams of delight.

Hermione smiled as she sat down at the pool's edge, watching as Harry played with her younger sister. She dangled her feet into the water, watching how the sun's rays hit the bottom. Harry was so good with Ashley. It was a wonder that she was the first baby that he had met.

Harry's voice snapped Hermione out of her reverie. "Hey Hermione! Why don't you come and join us? I'm sure Ashley wants her big sister. Don't you?" Ashley let out a squeal of baby gibberish, and Hermione laughed.

She took off her over large T-shirt, and jumped in the pool. She extended her arms for Ashley. "Come here, you!"

---

It was ten o'clock that night. Harry and Hermione were sitting together on the couch, watching something on TV. Ashley had gone to sleep about two hours ago, and Harry and Hermione pretty much hung around the house, waiting to be sure that Ashley was okay.

They had a diaper-changing episode after the pool. Hermione handled that one perfectly. Then there was another one right before bedtime, which Harry took care of. Ashley wasn't really much of a problem. She took her nap easily, especially after swimming.

It hadn't been that bad of a day, especially considering that it was their first time alone without parents for an entire day. And considering that they were in charge of a small baby. Harry had to admit that they had done a fine job.

Hermione stood up, yawning and stretching. "I'm going to bed. Night, Harry."

Harry nodded. "Night Hermione. Sweet dreams."

Hermione started to walk up the stairs to her bedroom, but turned around and said quietly, "You'd make a really good father." With that, she dashed up the stairs, embarrassed.

Harry sat on the couch, surprised. What had caused her to add that last bit?

About a half-an-hour later, Harry also went upstairs and retired for the guestroom. But not before he checked on Ashley in Hermione's parents' room. The baby was sleeping as soundly as before. Harry smiled and closed the door quietly.

Then he paused at Hermione's door. He opened it slowly, peeking inside.

Hermione was obviously asleep. Harry could hear her heavy breathing. Plus, she was laying on her side, facing him. She was so peaceful. She had a little smile on her face, and occasionally, she'd let out a sigh, and moved a little, but she never stopped facing the door. She also had a teddy bear hugged to her chest. While in some instances, Harry would have found that childish, Hermione was different. It made her look even cuter, if that was possible. Harry couldn't help but smile as he closed the door.

As Harry fell asleep, images of Hermione passed through his mind. She was beautiful. How could he have gone on such reckless adventures with her, study into the early morning hours with her, and do so much more without noticing it? Harry let out a soft sigh and turned on his side, falling into a deep slumber.