Harry Potter and the Year After

Chapter Thirty: Dragon Skin Gloves

Chapter 30: Dragon Skin Gloves

About a half an hour later, Hermione and Ron were sitting in the front room of Hermione's parents' house. Both of Hermione's parents were home as they wouldn't reopen their dentistry until the following week.

"So nice to see you again already, Hermione," her mother smiled at her.

"Good to see you again too, Mum. Dad."

"And this is Ronald, right?"

"Yes Mum."

Hermione's mother was busy pouring cups of tea for everyone. It was quiet until she sat down and everyone had cups of tea in their hands.

Ron stood and Hermione's parents gazed at him. "I know you don't think you know me very well, but I have known your daughter for more than seven years now. I've grown to love her. I care for her very much. And..." Ron seemed to falter as Mr. and Mrs. Granger continued staring at him.

"Ron and I are engaged to be married," Hermione said into the silence. It seemed silly to ask their permission now that they were there. Hermione's parents, after all, were basically strangers.

"How wonderful," Hermione's father said, smiling politely. Hermione's mother nodded in agreement, smiling too.

"Thanks." Hermione glanced over at Ron. He sat down next to her and she immediately grabbed his hand and squeezed it. He looked at her and grinned at her.

"Erm, do you remember me mentioning something called a Pensieve to you?" she asked her parents.

"Oh yes, something magical to help us remember things, wasn't it?" said Hermione's mother.

"Right. Well, I was wondering if you would be willing to give it, er, another try so that we can get to know each other a little better... I promise you'll be safe." Hermione glanced at Ron for help.

"If you want you can watch me go into it and come out again?" Ron offered.

"Well," Hermione's mother cleared her throat. It was quiet for a few seconds while she glanced at Hermione's father.

He said, "It's like we said before, dear. We just don't quite trust this magic stuff you talk about. We're remembering things bit by bit with the help of the pictures being put right."

"But, really, we don't want to offend you, er, Hermione, but we won't do it. If you'd kindly let it go..."

"Right, sorry, of course." Hermione set her teacup down on a nearby table and hopped up from her seat. Because Hermione hadn't dropped Ron's hand, Ron stood as well. "I don't know what I was thinking. Of course. We shouldn't have come down here." She was fighting back tears as she turned and dropped Ron's hand. "I did mention it to them before," she explained to him. "I just thought maybe if a little more time had passed--"

"Well, if we ever change our minds, we'll write to you," Hermione's mother said calmly. Hermione looked at her mother, nodded and then hurried from the room and out of the house.

Ron watched her leave before he turned back to Hermione's parents.

"Hermione told you why she did the Memory Charm?"

"To keep us safe. She mentioned that she was on the run..." Hermione's mother shrugged and glanced at her husband.

"Merlin, that makes it sound like she was on drugs or something," Ron said, rolling his eyes. "Look, your daughter helped save the world and knew she could have died doing it. If you think I'm scary, or that magic is scary, imagine a mass murderer, like, er, what was his name? Hitler! That's it. But imagine Hitler with magic. That's who we were up against. She didn't want you falling into that guy's hands, alright? That's why she did what she did. And she helped kill him. Imagine that. She's going to be in history books."