Chapter 198
He gave a nod and walked further into the room. "You're worried and angry about something, what's going on?" he asked.
"Come into the office, Neville," she said. "I have news." And strode past him, heading for said office.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
At the Grangers, Wendell walked into the dinette, where the two teens were yet again, and said, "Come on; we're going out for the day."
"Where?" Hermione immediately asked.
"It's a surprise," he said. "Dress warm, though. Jeans, jumpers and jackets; that sort of thing. I need to go let the aurors know."
As Wendell walked back out the two quickly packed up what they were working on and set it aside, making sure to cap the ink bottle so as not to let it dry out.
Once the dinette was tidied, the two quickly made their way upstairs to change - Hermione was, at that time, wearing a skirt and thick stockings.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
An hour later, Neville was out in his greenhouses. Working with the plants had also allowed him to focus and think. And that's what he now needed to do.
As he began re-potting a series of seedlings he was cultivating, he was thinking. 'Is this what you were trying to hint at, Harry?' he thought. 'Did you have something to do with the disappearance of my parents?'
The only thing his grandmother could tell him was that they were both alive and, apparently, well. Before coming home she had gone to Gringotts and confirmed their stones were still glowing. So, whoever took them, was caring for them.
'That hint to read the section in the Charter about providing aid to the other alliance houses certainly pointed to it. But, to what end? Did Harry know how to cure them and didn't want his grandmother to interfere? Did he fear for their lives if he just told Saint Mungo's how to do it? Maybe he did it because he didn't believe Saint Mungo's would believe he knew how to do it.'
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
The surprise for Harry and Hermione was a day at an amusement park in the southern London outer 'suburbs'.
It hadn't taken Wendell and Monica long to work out Harry had never been to one. And, even though the weather was chilly, the park had remained open an extra couple of weeks longer than anticipated due to the unseasonably warm weather.
This was the last weekend it would be open before closing until March, so the Granger parents took the opportunity while it was there.
Taking both cars due to the aurors, Harry was in a car with Monica and two of the aurors on their detail, today. Hermione was in the other car with her father and the third auror.
It wasn't until they were on the road and off that Harry looked about and realised he was the lone male in a care with three females. And he had a right to be concerned.
Almost as soon as they hit the road, not even reaching the end of the street on which the Grangers lived, Monica asked, "So, Harry; what else did you and Hermione do besides 'write letters and go through Potter family documents' all week?"
"Nothing improper, if that's what you're hinting at," he immediately and comfortably returned. "No hands wandered where they shouldn't have, or anything like that.
"I know it might sound all fuddy-duddy, but the both of us just don't... I mean, we're not looking for an excuse to find a broom cupboard or the equivalent. The odd kiss, holding hands occasionally, that's what we're comfortable with."
"That wasn't what I was getting at, Harry," she wryly returned. "But, thank you for saying so."
In a lighter voice she said, "I was simply asking to ensure the two of you did not just do the equivalent of office work for the entire week. You're on break. You should be making the most of it."
"Sorry," he sheepishly returned. "I guess we're both aware that, at this moment, we should be at Hogwarts, attending classes and studying. So, yes, we have been spending a lot of time doing office work, as you put it. But, we've also taken a couple of walks outside, weather permitting."
"You should be making use of the break," she said. "Besides going to the shops to do a grocery run, have you been far out of the house?"
"No," he sighed. "The idea of having... the aurors with us - and neither of us having much in the way of close friends, besides ourselves - there's really been no desire to go and visit anyone."
"Well, Wendell and I would like it if you found somewhere occasionally to go while we're at work. Are you sure you can't contact some of your school friends and pay them a visit?"
Harry thought about it for a while before he said, "I really should pay a visit to some of the Heirs of the alliance. There's Susan Bones, Daphne Greengrass, Tracey Davis, Hannah Abbott and Neville Longbottom on that list. Plus we should, maybe, visit the Weasleys; but that is dependant on how Ron's going to behave himself while we're there.
"We also need to let them all know that Hermione and I are now betrothed. I was just holding off because of... what's going on leading up to the Wizengamot meeting on Tuesday morning."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
The day at the amusement park was, as far as Harry was concerned, brilliant!
While he was not afraid of heights due to his playing Quidditch, the idea of being flung about in a roller-coaster where he had absolutely no control of the movement was a little thrilling - and deafening. Hermione had one hell of a set of lungs on her and could reach quite the high note when she screamed.
He much preferred the more leisurely rides, where they could cuddle against one another. Of course, when one of the aurors smirked at them while they were doing it, they used the excuse they only did so because it was cold. It was also clear the auror didn't believe that for one moment.
The 'fast food', though, he felt he could have done without. It felt like he was eating almost ninety percent fat and oil. It did not sit well in his stomach and he was glad to have found somewhere that sold fresh fruit. That apple had done a lot to settle his stomach again.
While the day had turned out overcast, it did not rain. So they did not have to experience that bane of the amusement park day. And finally decided to head back to Wimbledon when the light was starting to get a little too dim.
As they arrived home too late for Harry to cook, Dobby cooked dinner that day.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
The two Longbottoms had been under time dilation now for seven days of dilated time. They were both up and walking around and had been allowed to explore the small set of rooms that made up the chamber. However, they were both still far too weak to remain out of bed, or at least sitting, for too long. Both also had modern recliner chairs, so they could feel like they were out of bed when they needed to rest.
Their hospital beds had since been transfigured into a single standard queen-sized double but, at nearly hip height, was still a bit high for their liking. However, at least it meant they were sleeping together again. For the first time in thirteen years they could lie together and cuddle.
While they had been taking their potions and doing their exercises they were now much more focussed on regaining their health than they might have otherwise been. Since reading Harry's letter the two, once both got their anger under control, had almost both living in a state of perpetual simmering rage ever since - and not aimed at Harry, either.
.
.
.
🎉The novel is available in PDF with more than 400 chapters, visit us in our Ko-Fi store🎉
🎉ko-fi.com/shihao123🎉