Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to JK Rowling. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 171: Grangers Reaction
Steve came today for only one reason, he wanted to see Hermione and propose right away infront of her family.
For the past few days, his thoughts had been in constant turmoil. Ever since Dudley gave him the Multiplayer reward from his gaming system, Steve knew that things between him and Hermione could no longer remain the same.
This wasn't just about feelings anymore, it was about the future. With the threat from Voldemort getting bigger, Hermione would be in danger so thus her family.
Multiplayer ability can give Hermione the same type of magic and skill set that he had mastered, she no longer need a wand to use magic and can even use Portal Spell, Mirror Dimension and many more.
"…Calm down," Steve muttered to himself as he entered the Granger residence.
He adjusted his breathing, trying to steady his racing heart.
Even though he had lived far longer than he appeared, even though he had faced life-and-death situations countless times which is him facing the examinations to get a good grade so he can still be sponsored.
This... Felt completely different.
Technically, in this world, he was only twelve years old, first-year student from Hogwarts
But in truth, he is more than twenty years old and Hermione. She was already eighteen... Older than him at least on paper.
Still... He had already decided to come.
His eyes are looking to both Mr and Mrs Granger, talk about Mr. Granger unlike his wife, he wasn't even smiling at guest
Instead, he was observing from hair to toe and Steve appearance.
"Sit," Mr. Granger said shortly.
"…Thank you," Steve nodded, taking a seat.
There was a brief silence.
Mrs. Granger tried to lighten the atmosphere.
"So, you're a friend of Hermione?" she asked gently.
"Yes," Steve replied with a small smile. "We study together."
"That's nice," she said, clearly pleased.
But Mr. Granger leaned forward slightly.
"What kind of friend?" he asked.
Steve met his gaze calmly.
"…A close one."
Mr. Granger's eyes narrowed.
"Define 'close.'"
"Henry," Mrs. Granger said, nudging him lightly. "You're being too intense."
"I'm just asking," he replied, not looking away from Steve. "I want to know who my daughter is spending time with."
Steve remained calm.
"I understand," he said. "You have every right to ask."
That answer seemed to ease the tension, slightly.
But not completely, Mr. Granger still wasn't convinced because steve unlike Harry Potter and Dudley Dursley is different.
The way he act, his face, his body who looked like an athlete screamed something on Henry Granger.
"So," he continued and just asked what on his mind, "are you her boyfriend?"
Mrs. Granger immediately kicked his leg under the table.
"Henry!"
"What?!" he whispered harshly. "Better to ask now than regret later!"
Before Steve could respond, footsteps echoed from upstairs.
"Steve, you're here?" Hermione's voice rang out.
She appeared at the staircase, her hair still slightly damp, clearly having just finished her shower.
The moment she saw him sitting in the living room, her eyes widened because she realize that she never give Steve her home address.
"How did you know my house?" she asked, completely surprised.
The room froze.
"…What?"
Mr. Granger slowly turned his head toward Steve.
"Wait a second," he said, his voice dropping dangerously. "You came here… without her telling you the address?"
"Dad, no" Hermione startled because she just revealed to her parents on what Steve just did.
"YOU FOUND OUR HOUSE ON YOUR OWN?" Mr. Granger suddenly raised his voice. "Are you stalking my daughter?!"
"No, Dad!" Hermione rushed down the stairs, flustered. "It's not like that!"
Mrs. Granger quickly stood up. "Everyone calm down, please!"
Steve raised his hand slightly.
"I didn't stalk her," he said calmly. "I asked someone who knew where she lived."
"…Who?" Mr. Granger demanded immediately.
"…Dudley."
Hermione blinked.
"…Of course it's Dudley," she muttered under her breath.
Mr. Granger frowned, clearly still suspicious but slightly less aggressive.
Hermione finally reached the living room and stood in front of Steve.
"Steve…" she said, still trying to process everything. "Why are you here?"
Her voice softened slightly.
"It is about the Dark Lord," replied Steve.
Both Mr and Mrs Granger blinked their eyes and take a look at Hermione reaction.
"Hermione, you never told us about Dark Lord," said Mr Granger.
"I.... I... Don't worry about it," said Hermione and she glanced at Steve with anger. "You have crossed your line."
Steve felt guilty but he need to do this because the safety of Hermione and her parents are in danger.
Mr Granger who earlier had put a guard to Steve finally put down his guard, instead he asked Steve about the Dark Lord.
"Dad, it is not a big problem," Hermione try to cut the conversation but with one glare she become silent.
"Hermione," said Mrs Granger with anger. "You never told us about the danger and we thought everything is okay there."
"Im sorry mom," replied Hermione weakly.
"Steve please tell us everything about the Dark Lord," begged Mr Granger.
Steve began tell the story about Hogwarts despite Hermione protest, he tell them about Magical World, the racist and bigots that happening there and about the movement from Death Eater and the Dark Lord.
Both of them fell silent, they become anxious and scared at the same time because they never knew that the magical world are so dangerous.
"Hermione," said Mrs Granger weakly but didn't continue to say anymore word so does Mr Granger, he also didn't have a word to say about this situation.
The news was too sudden from peace suddenly become worst.
Hermione shot him glare that said, this is all your fault.
"To be honest, the reason I come here is because I wanted to propose to Hermione," said Steve suddenly.
With his word everyone in the room become speechless, did this man just proposed out of nowhere because he was afraid of dying?
Steve didn't wait for their question instead, he told them everything about his origin which is mage from another dimension stumbled here and now have younger body.
He show them some magic that didn't exist in this world such a teleportation spell and many more advanced skill. Lastly he told them the reason he wanted to get married with Hermione, it is because he wanted to form some soul of bond magic.
With this, every spell that he had mastered Hermione can also do it.
"Hermione, although this is sound like im trying to save you but the real thing is actually because I really loves you and wanted to marry you," said Steve.
Mr and Mrs granger exchanged glances and Hermione cheek had become red when Steve confessed her feeling infront of her parents.
"Steve stay here, I wanna have a family meeting," said Mr Granger then he ordered Hermione to go the room, he take Mrs Granger hand and also entered the room.
They took around 10 minutes leaving Steve alone in the living room and the door being opened by Mr Granger.
"Steve, I agree and you can marry my daughter," said Mr Granger.
Hearing this Steve felt really happy. "Will you marry me Hermione?"
"Yes," answered Hermione and with that the same thing that happen to Susan are also happen to Hermione.
Both their body glowed and Hermione suddenly sutffed with knowledge and power that felt different but completely overpower her previous magic.
When it was done, both Mr and Mrs Granger are trying to open their eyes.
"What just happened?" asked Mrs Granger.
"It is like your body light up," added Mr Granger.
"Like I have told you before, this is bond magic and what ever magic I have mastered and can use, Hermione also can use it at the same time," replied Steve.
Hermione didn't say anything because her mind are on the new knowledge she just received.
"By the way I also have a contract if you both wanted to become magician," said Steve.
"Wait, you can give others your power and why do my daughter need to marry you for having the same power like you?" questioned Henry Granger, he felt that Steve just lied to him.
"By marrying, I can give bond power so that means she had the same power like mine without drawing away my magic but for you two is different, you can only use magic by drawing away a power from me," said Steve. "For example if I have 100 unit of magic and you wanted to use 30 unit of magic, I have left 70 unit of magic and need to wait for it to become 100."
Both of them blinked didn't expect it, even Hermione who also had the knowledge are looking at the knowledge like reading the book.
Steve continued. "With Hermione it is different, she will have 100 unit of magic the same like me also have 100 unit of magic."
"Let me do it," said Hermione. No way she will weaking her husband magic.
"No I think let's do it like this, let mom form a contract with you and dad form a contract with me," replied Steve.
"Wait did you forgot to ask ours thought first?" asked Mr Granger.
"Yes, you definitly forgot about it," added Mrs Granger.
"Mom dad, you don't want to become magician?" asked Hermione.
"Of course we want," answered Mrs Granger.
In the end both Mr and Mrs Granger formed contract and they become a magician but they still need a training, unlike Hermione already have a knowledge.
Unfortunately they can't spend more time together because today is 1 September 1997 which means it is the day that they will return to Hogwarts.