At breakfast the next morning Harry sat down next to Hermione with a huge smile on his face, he couldn't remember the last time he had felt so happy. He looked at the small family around the table and once again he thought about the fact that he now had a proper family. A legal loving family and he had his Hermione.
Hermione was busy reading the letters they had both received that morning from Contraho Veneficus containing the lists for the school requirements. The booklist had slightly more advanced grades than the one from Hogwarts. The school supplies required were much more modern too, only requiring ten lined exercise books and a small supply of note books pencils and pens, two reams of paper were recommended but not required they were for general work and letters. There was no mention what so ever of robes or parchment and quills. The school uniform was like any muggle school would request their pupils to wear. School ties were on sale at the school along with the school crest for their blazers. Each pupil was also required to provide some form of overall or coverall for the combined potions, healing, and herbology class.
When Hermione had finished comparing the two schools it was obvious to her that though Hogwarts might claim to be the premier UK magic school, it was not up to the standard of the exclusive Irish school. One thing she did find odd was some thing her dad had picked up on instantly.
Contraho Veneficus fee's were just over twelve and a half percent of the Hogwarts fee's. The fact that Hogwarts was a boarding school also seemed a little odd as it was the only one among both the English and Irish magical schools that they had checked. Every school but Hogwarts provided their pupils with portkeys for commuting.
Richard signed the acceptance letter for the Irish school almost instantly. Neither he nor Helen wanted to send their children away for months each year to a boarding school they could never even visit to check out. It was a much wiser idea to have your children come home after school. Hogwarts got their rejection letter filled and Hedwig was sent off to deliver the two letters.
As Harry and Hermione sat reading and eating they gradually became aware that the two adults were looking at them with some odd sort of questioning looks. Both adults were smiling as though they had seen or were participating in some fantastic unbelievable event.
It was Hermione who finally spoke up "Mum? Dad? Why the funny looks? What… what did we do?" she asked almost cautiously.
"We were just waiting for Mr Griphook, he said he will be here as soon as he can get away from his desk." Richard said as he remained staring at the children.
"Er… is there some thing wrong with my eyes or nose?" Harry asked rubbing away non existent smudges and then making sure his glasses were on straight.
Helen laughed a little and was just about to try to explain what they had seen the night before when there was a saving knock on the kitchen door. Which she rushed to answer.
As Griphook sat at the table and sipped his tea, Helen and Richard told him what they had heard and witnessed the night before. When they had finished speaking Griphook seemed to be in awe of the Grangers.
"Mr and Mrs Granger I wish with all my heart I had been here, last night you were privileged to witness a heavenly wedding. To witness a soul bonding is extremely rare, to witness one that was held in heavenly light and sound is a privilege beyond any I ever heard of happening in the past 1000 years. There are tales, fables about heaven and earth coming together to complete the soul bond, but that's what I thought they were, fables of old, tales to be told around camp fires by the old women. This will cause many to think twice before they upset the young couple. Any that would try to separate or attack them will be foolish in the extreme."
With her old memories practically gone Hermione could not be sure what the bond meant but she had a darn good idea, and from the pale colour her mother had just acquired so did she.
"Mr Griphook, are you sitting there and telling us we saw what we call a marriage made in heaven, a marriage between Harry and Hermione?" Helen asked quietly and looking as though she did not wish to hear the answer.
"It's just Griphook Mrs Granger and yes that is exactly what I am telling you. If you are correct in what you described then they are indeed married in the wizarding world." Griphook said smiling a smile that on a Goblin looked like a grimace. "This will do much for their safety as they will no longer be classed as underage. None in the magical world will be able to force them to attend Hogwarts, or any other school. Dumbledore will simply hate this, his self acclaimed magical guardianship over Harry has ended as of last night. I should carry out a test just to make sure, don't you think, and do you think it would be possible to take a copy of your memory of the event?"
It took Griphook just a few seconds to explain the procedure to remove a copy of someone's memory of an event, and just a few more for Richard to volunteer and Helen to find a small clean medicine bottle to place the memory in.
Harry and Hermione sat holding hands while listening to the adults say they were married. Harry thought the idea was the best thing since someone placed butter and bread together and grinning like mad he said so to Hermione. Hermione was remembering their shared experience of the night before and the kiss she had given her apparently new husband. The idea came to her that someone above had decided to make sure they got married this time around, and she then wondered where that strange thought came from.
Just a few moments later Griphook stood up and having cast a small spell on a piece of paper he asked Hermione if she would mind having her thumb pricked so that he could test a drop of her blood.
Hermione pricked her thumb on the small dagger that Griphook offered and allowed a couple of drops to fall on the clean paper. There was a quick fizzle and a small spiral of golden smoke rose from the spot where her blood had fallen. Slowly in a gracefully curved script the name Hermione Jane Potter written in red emerged. The two young ones were indeed married, they were Mr and Mrs Potter for all time. As Helen reached to take the paper two more wisps of golden smoke rose and two rings appeared. Griphook tried to lift a ring to examine but it appeared far too heavy for him to pick up but he gave out an odd sound for a Goblin he let loose a chuckle."
"They're the Potter ancestral wedding rings, these haven't appeared for generations," Griphook declared as he examined them where they lay on the piece of paper.
"Harry, Hermione if you will," Griphook said pointing to the rings.
Harry and Hermione stepped forward and seemed to know which ring to pick up and what to say, they both lifted a ring each and then Harry turned to Hermione and placed the ring on her finger as he said "My life, my soul, my eternity, a Potter for all time." Harry watched fascinated as the ring reduced its size to fit her dainty finger.
Hermione did the same and as she placed the ring on his finger she said "My life, my soul, my eternity, a Potter for all time." Every one watched as his ring reacted exactly the same way. Before both rings glowed a deep blue for a few seconds before returning to their previous condition.
"Well that takes the prize doesn't it, here I was thinking of Harry as my son and now he really is. What the heck is all this going to mean for the future, I mean they are just kids. They should be playing games and things, I mean they aren't even old enough to start playing Dr and nurse yet let alone be adults," Richard gasped adding in a very quiet "I hope," on the end of his words that was heard by everyone.
A still rather confused Harry and an excited Hermione sat back down at the table. "Hermione? how did I get to be an adult?" Harry asked a slight worried looking frown on his face.
Hermione smiled knowing what he must be thinking, taking his hand in hers she whispered "Don't worry husband, mum and dad will still think of us as their children, so don't worry ok."
Harry looked a little sheepish "That's good then. Just so as I know," he said quietly squeezing her hand for a little comfort.
Griphook spoke as he finished his cup of tea "The change in your status will require you to pay a visit to the bank as there will be several forms to sign, and a few heirlooms to look at and sort. There are also several homes that will need your attention. I will look forward to your visit." He then stood and wished them all a good day happily placing a small medicine bottle containing a copy of Richards memory into his pocket before he left, escorted to the door by Richard who thanked him and wished him farewell.
Just after Griphook left an owl carrying the government seal arrived. Hermione opened the window for the huge proud looking bird which having looked around at the occupants flew directly to Harry and landed on the table in front of him.
Harry gingerly reached out to take the large envelope the bird carried, as the owl stood there and seemed to be ok with his approach Harry became a little braver and used both hands to take the birds cargo from it. As soon as the letter was removed the owl leapt into the air and flew of out of the window and away into the distance.
Hermione joined Harry at the table and together they opened the large manila envelope. In side they found a large ornate copy of a marriage certificate and a copy of marriage registry form that had apparently just appeared in the records at the office of records, marriage dept.
They now had legal proof that they were legally registered with the ministry of magic as a married couple.
After their breakfast finished Richard started to make some phone calls and after several quietly whispered conversations over the phone he returned to the table and informed them they were going to have a family conference at Nan's house later that day, meanwhile he told Hermione and Harry to go get dressed and to pack for a few days away at least.
Harry was a little baffled by these comments by Richard, "What's a Nan?" he asked Hermione as they began to pack two small suitcases with enough clothes to last a few days.
Hermione looked sadly at Harry for a moment before she could answer. "Nan's the name we all have for my grandmother, she and gramps live in a small village over in Wales. It's a beautiful place Harry, you'll love it."
"Oh, well I don't know if I have a Nan, the Dursleys never told me much about anything except 'don't ask questions boy'" Harry said smiling at Hermione and beginning to look forward to finding out what it was like staying at Hermione's Nan's.