Albus patience was wearing thin as he sat waiting for Sirius.
He hadn't anticipated an empty cave and was starting to get seriously annoyed with people not following his instructions, 'Stay in the cave and no one will find you!'
How hard was that but here he was sitting waiting while that moron Black was probably roaming the countryside instead of following his orders. He decided he'd waited long enough; it was time to move on to his next targets.
An old man with a ridiculously long beard and attention seeking wizard robes appeared in the enclosed back garden of the Granger residence only to find the house unoccupied so sitting on a garden chair while casting a warming charm on himself Albus settled down to wait.
...
The group of six who appeared on the top step of Gringotts caused quite a few heads to turn. When considering that the group was comprised of two muggles, two Hogwarts students in Gryffindor robes with two house elves walking beside their masters with their heads held high it was probably unsurprising that the group gathered attention.
While the senior Grangers recovered from the side along apparition they were ushered into the bank by Hermione, "Can you explain how we're safer in Diagon Alley than we were in our office and why is everyone staring at us?" said a still nauseous Emma.
"It's impossible to apparate into Gringotts as it is a bank after all so we got as close as allowed and since it's run by goblins it's against their laws for a wizard or witch to draw a wand in the bank far less use one. You never want to mess with goblins," said Hermione.
Harry made his way to a counter only to be intercepted by Griphook offering his assistance. Minutes later the party were shown into a rather plush office with an impressive desk that looked centuries old. Griphook proceeded behind the desk while conjuring four chairs for his guests. Hermione's parents looked in dire need of a seat so took the offered chairs with thanks while Harry and Hermione remained standing, both stared at Griphook who was deeply worried.
His orders came from the top and he seemed to have offended Lord and Lady Gryffindor but had no idea what he'd done. Harry's glare left Griphook for an instant as he glanced at the standing elves and the now perspiring goblin realised that they wouldn't sit while their house elves stood so it was a shocked Griphook who offered an apology while another two chairs appeared. It would seem that these were not ordinary wizarding folk.
Regaining his composure Griphook got down to business, "Lord and Lady Gryffindor may I on behalf of Gringotts Bank and the Goblin nation offers our congratulations on your bonding and asks how we can be of assistance."
Hermione watched as her parents nearly fell of their chairs in shock.
Harry replied, "Thank you Griphook now could I please see a list of our holdings, my parents will, a copy of any transactions from the accounts and we would really appreciate any literature you could provide on soul bonds and our names are Harry and Hermione."
"That may take some time my lo…Harry, would you and your guests like some refreshments while waiting?"
"That would be splendid though could we have some brandy for my parents as they've just had a bit of a shock!" replied Hermione.
A very rare sighting of a chuckling goblin was seen as Griphook waved his hand and a table full of refreshments appeared, "I will return with your requests very soon," leaving the room as both Grangers glared at the teenagers.
Harry turned to the Grangers, "I think we owe you an explanation but please understand this is all new to us as well."
Dan gave Harry a look that said 'continue and this better be good' so he did
"When we finished classes today I asked Hermione to be my date for the ball and my girlfriend, she said yes, we kissed and now we're married."
Dan waited but when Harry didn't say any more he exploded, "You ran away from school, dragged us out our office to the other side of London then give us this bullshit! Are you serious?" asked an angry Dan Granger
A giggling Hermione got up and perched on Harry's lap before saying, "No dad, that's his godfather you'll meet him later."
The sight of their bookish daughter giggling was such a shock that neither of the parents commented on her new seating arrangement.
"Sir I just wanted to assure you and Mrs Granger that nothing inappropriate took place and that I love your daughter with all my heart. She's been my best friend since I was eleven and had things progressed along normally we would have had a few years for you both to get to know me better before I asked for Hermione's hand in marriage but the instant we kissed a soul bond formed which is a legally binding marriage for all time."
Hermione continued, "Now for some reason this really upset our Headmaster which is why we had to get our families to safety and we hope Gringotts holds the answer."
Dan Granger was in a quandary, the fact that his daughter was giggling and now sitting on this young mans lap, arms wrapped around his neck gave such a feeling of relief that his lonely little girl had found someone who obviously thought the world of her but the problem was she's still his little girl. He looked at his best friend and they realised they had to get this right, all the parenting manuals had went in the bin as soon as magic entered the equation! What do you look up when your daughter gets attacked by a mountain troll in a girl's toilet or petrified by a basilisk in a school corridor? They looked at their daughter and neither had ever seen her look happier which for both of them was more important than anything else.
Hermione could see her parents struggling with the situation so tried to help, "Mum, dad we don't have all the answers yet which was why Harry asked Griphook for any books on soul bonds. While in the muggles world this would be called a marriage made in heaven the wizarding world can actually detect the effect and recognise it legally. When Harry and I kissed and the bond formed it was so powerful it knocked us both unconscious."
This comment brought about loud laughter from both the elves before Dobby was able to explain, "Begging your pardon my Lady but it was more powerful than you thought as you broke half the windows in the castle," as both elves dissolved into more fits of laughter.
"We're not going to get a bill for this are we and what's with the Lord and Lady, does your mum have to curtsy when she brings you breakfast?" said a smiling Dan trying to keep the mood light.
"Actually dad we own Hogwarts, my official title is Lady Hermione Jane Potter Gryffindor and I wouldn't expect mum to bring my husband and I breakfast as it would upset the elves."
She managed to hold her emotions under control but the look on her parent's faces started her giggling which soon became fits of laughter which everyone couldn't help but join. It was to gales of laughter that Griphook re-entered the room weighed down with folders and scrolls. He began to understand director Ragnok's delight as this young couple who were going to stand the wizarding world on its head, the treatment of their elves had shocked Griphook but he now understood that they were not considered slaves.