Chapter 3

Emma Granger had just finished showing her last appointment out the door and was waiting for her husband, Dan, to finish his; then they would go out to dinner before returning home and seeing what mischief they could get up to since their daughter Hermione would be gone for the rest of the summer. As fun thoughts were swirling around in her head the bell on the front door rang announcing a visitor. "Sorry, were closed for the evening, unless it's an emergency otherwise I'm sure we'll be able to fit you in early next week", Emma said smiling at the tall, well dress gentleman that stood before her. "My name is Dobby, Lady Granger's mum and I've been asked to deliver a letter to you and the Lady Granger's dad" Said the tall, well dressed gentleman in a high, squeaky voice more suited to something out of a fairytale creature rather than human. "Alright, I'm Emma Granger and my husband is Dan, maybe he knows this Lady Granger, I'll ask him in a couple of minutes. You said there was a letter, can you give it to me or do you need my husband to sign for it or something"? This seemed to catch the man off guard for a moment but then he recovered and produced an envelope with a wax seal sporting a stylized G imbedded in it and handed it over to Emma. "I'll be going to report to the Lady Granger that the errand was successful", and with that he turned and left the office as quickly as he had come. Ten minutes later, as Dan let his last patient out and locked the door, he noticed his wife was standing very close and after drawing the blinds on the windows spun and caught Emma in a surprise hug before trying his best to kiss her senseless. Several minutes later a smiling Emma pushed her husband away and took a deep breath. "Down Tiger, we'll have our fun later. This arrived for you as I was showing Miss Wilson out. A very tall gentleman with a very high, squeaky voice delivered this letter for us from a Lady Granger, any idea who that could be"? Dan looked confused as he shook his head no and broke the wax seal on the letter. Emma was looking over his shoulder and they began to read;

Dear Mum and Dad,

I know you had plans for tonight, but something has happened and we need to talk as a family, Dad you have some explaining to do as well. This letter is also a portkey, a magical way of traveling, and if you would just trust your "kitten" I will explain everything when we meet. Sorry for being cryptic, but we are no longer sure who we can trust. I love you Mum and Dad and will see you both soon.

Love,

Hermione

They were both holding the letter when Emma started talking, "Who's "we", and what's with the kitten comment. Anytime you would call her that she would say "Kitten, Smitten", and at that moment both Emma and Dan disappeared from their dental office and appeared in the foyer of the Granger Manor.

Hermione and Harry appeared in front of a large wrought iron gate with a stylized G in the center. Hermione touched her signet ring to the symbol on the gate and the gate disappeared only to reappear once they had crossed the boundary of the property. They were met almost immediately by an old house elf that introduced itself to Hermione as Kipling, the Manors Head Elf, "Would Mistress and her Sir like a quick tour of the grounds before we adjourn to the main house"? "Please Kipling, when it is just us or family and friends I must insist that you call me Hermione and this is Harry. If you really can't then can you do Ms. Hermione and Mr. Harry and yes a tour of the grounds would be wonderful, thank you". "Of course Ms. Hermione, I believe that you and Mr. Harry would be more comfortable riding", and with that he snapped his fingers and a white buggy came into view pulled by two of the whitest tigers either had ever seen. They seemed as tame as new born kittens but Kipling assured them that if there wasn't a Granger present they would defend the property from all intruders. Kipling saw the look on Harry's face and wryly noted, "Fear not Mr. Harry, as the Husband of our Lady you are protected as well". Visibly relieved Harry leaned back in the buggy and enjoyed the scenery and Kipling's running commentary. They rode through an exquisite flower garden and when Hermione asked about a certain flower another elf appeared; her name was Jane and told Hermione that it was a hybrid orchid found only on these lands called the Granger Orchid. Hermione asked Jane if it would be possible to get a mix of fresh flowers in the main house on a daily basis. Jane said that she would coordinate it with Alcott, the Manors main house elf; Kipling said he would introduce Ms. Granger to her in a little while. Overall there was 50 acres of immaculately cared for lawns and gardens, a stable that housed four pure white Apollonian stallions along with the white tigers; and an Owlery that produced only Snow Owls, allowing them understand why Hedwig liked Hermione so much, she had been born and raised at Granger Manor. The tour continued at the Manor with Alcott leading the tour. They started at the third floor which consisted of four huge Master Suites each with their own spacious bathroom and reading room. Any book from the main library could be transferred to one of the reading rooms by writing its name in the directory located in each room. The second floor was more bedrooms, eight to be exact, each two joined by a Jack and Jill bathroom and each room had its own directory and reading area. The main floor contained the parlor, main library, a formal and informal eating area, a billiard room, the kitchen and pantries and a study/office for the Head of House. The first thing Hermione did when entering the room was to move over to a map of the buildings and grounds and place her signet ring against the map and declared the Wards to be in a state of "Battle Ready" the exception to the wards would be Hermione, Harry Potter, Dan and Emma Granger, Hedwig, Dobby the house elf and the Granger Elves and Gringgotts. Anyone not following proper protocol would find themselves forcibly removed from the grounds and swimming in the North Sea, or worse mauled by white tigers. The Manor also had a cavernous basement only about a quarter of it was being used and that was as a wine cellar, with everything from 25 year old Ogden's Finest Firewhiskey to Château Laffite 1787. They had just returned to the main floor when a small "pop" was heard and Dr.'s Granger arrived in the main entrance.

The first thing Dan noticed was that the large stylized G embedded in the floor looked like gold leaf, but considering this was a magical dwelling was more likely pure 24 karat gold. Emma noticed her daughter rounding the corner accompanied by someone who could only be Harry Potter, by all of Hermione's descriptions of him over the years, and a small, well dressed creature (for lack of a better word at this time) and rushed over to embrace her. Dan, broken out of his trance by the movement of his wife, joined her in hugging their daughter. Emma was the first to speak, "What was this letter about? Are you okay? How did we get here? Where is here? Is this the Harry you are always talking about? Who is this other "person" beside you? Who is this Lady Granger that Dobby person kept talking about, is she here now and can we meet her? Well, are you just going to stand there or do me and your Father get any answers"? Emma just stared at her daughter with a mixture of humor as to how she must sound and fear that something may have happened to her little girl. Hermione just looked at Harry before laughing, "Is that what I look and sound like when I get going? No wonder everyone is always trying to get me to relax". Harry just smiled at her as she turned to her parents, "We'll leave the letter for later, but yes we are fine; you and dad got here using a magical form of travel called a portkey, it can take you places almost instantly. Here is called Granger Manor and it's located just outside of Glasgow. Yes, this is the Harry I am and will always be going on about. This is Kipling, Kipling these are my parents Dan and Emma Granger will you please see that they are made comfortable, and he is the Head Elf for the Manor. Lady Granger is here now and will explain about the letter and as much as she can when we get to her and we can meet her now if you like? Kipling could you have three Butterbeers and a glass of one of the finer Scotches brought to the parlor please"? With that Hermione locked arms with her parents and began leading them to the parlor. Emma noticed Harry hanging back, "Oh no you don't", she smiled, "I know you have a part to play in all of this, so you are coming with me mister". At that she grabbed Harry with her free arm and latched on like he was a long lost relative eliciting small laughs from both Hermione and her dad.