Kingsley Meets the Grangers
Chapter 7
August 15th, 1998
Hermione was still riding the high off of their Paris shopping trip. The experience she had in Dior was unlike any other shopping experience she had previously had. She was so excited to wear her dress that she completely forgot to make sure Harry and Ron had gotten themselves properly outfitted for the occasion. She quickly checked the time, making sure the boys would be awake, before sending her patronus over to the burrow to check on things.
It was just before 8:00, someone there would be awake. She picked up her new Vinewood and Phoenix Feather wand so she could cast. "Expecto Patronum."
"Take a message to Harry at the Burrow." Her otter patronus flitted around her head. Letting her know the other was ready to hear the message. "Good Morning, are you and Ron fully prepared with your Dress Robes for the ceremony on Sunday?" Her patronus looked at her, making sure her message was complete. Hermione nodded, said thank you, and the otter made its way towards the burrow.
Now 8:05, she still had plenty of time to get ready for brunch with Kingsley and her Grandparents at eleven. The best part of the day was that she didn't think her grandparents had any idea she was home and they absolutely had no idea about Kingsley. Given the bit of spare time sthe had this morning, she threw on her riding pants, an acceptable shirt, and made her way downstairs. She made a quick stop in the kitchen where she grabbed an apple to eat as she walked down to the stable.
She walked right into the busy stable. She had missed the hustle and bustle of a busy morning in the barn. The grooms were working closely with each of the horses, preparing them for exercise, grooming, therapy or riding. She walked around for a moment, checked on who she wanted to check on, then made her way to the tack room. She looked at the state of her gear and realized she was going to need some upgrades as she had grown taller, and changed. She also saw the state of her boots and made a note to get new ones.
Leaving the tack room, she walked around some more,the eventually made her way into the arena. Her mum had one of the older horses out on a lunge line. The 18 year old mare, she knew to be Pepper, was bucking around like she was a yearling, and her mum was laughing watching her.
"Well she's still a spitfire." Hermione said.
"Hermione! I didn't see you there. She really is! I feel like I could still take her out and clear a 1 meter 90 cm course, and she's 18."
"Are you still competing with her?
"Rarely. I'm trying to convince your dad to take her to ameture Eventing Competitions." Emma couldn’t finish that statement without starting to laugh. Hermione echoed her mum's laughter.
"Oh my lord could you imagine." She laughed. “I could see Dad doing dressage and instead of counting strides he would be cursing under his breath." They were both laughing so hard they had stopped lunging Pepper. They hadn't even noticed Hermione's dad come in.
"Ladies, you seem to be having far too much fun. Also it's 9:10, and my parents will likely be here around 10:45." They quickly turned Pepper over to a groom who was more than happy to get her properly settled, and turned out. The family of three walked together up to the house. Once inside, they went their separate ways to get ready for brunch.
When Hermione got into her room she noticed Harry's stag patronus, and Kingsley's lynx. Harry let her know they were all set, and that both he and Ron would be wearing all black. She sent a quick response back, thanking him for the quick response and letting him know she was wearing bordeaux red so they will photograph well together.
She was confused why she had a message from Kingsley as she would see him in an hour and a half, so she made sure to pay attention. "Hermione, woman. You invited me to brunch, which is in less than two hours, but you didn't tell me how to get there… Some help is necessary…"
Hermione laughed. Well that small detail must have slipped her mind. "Expecto Patronum" Her otter joined her, ready to deliver a message. "Please deliver the following to Kingsley: Wow Kings. I thought you said you were working on your legilimency. Since you were unable to figure it out, and I assume you've been to Manchester Airport, I'll pick you up at the Manchester Airport Arrivals apparition point at 10:35." Her otter immediately flew away to deliver its message.
It was now 9:30 and she had to get moving to be ready in time. As she started the water for her shower Kingsley responded with, "Smartass. I'll see you at 10:35 exactly." She laughed and thought Kingsley really had no clue what he was getting himself into.
She took a shower and did her hair, thankful she wasn't meeting Kingsly anywhere magical so her hair wouldn’t look awful. She put on some light makeup then it was time to find something appropriate to wear. It was only brunch, so she threw on a simple sundress and matching cardigan. By now it was 10:20 and she wanted to make sure she had time to let her parents know she had to run and pick up Kingsley.
Making her way downstairs she found her mum and let her know she had to apparate to Kingsley and bring him to their home as apparently she had forgotten to give him directions. She also said she should only be gone for 5 minutes, as she was hoping to be back before her grandparents arrived. Her mum just laughed, and was thankful she would be home quickly.
Hermione looked down at her watch, it was now 10:30 the walked out to her normal aparation point in the quiet area of the yard and apparated to the Manchester Airport Arrivals apparition point. Looking around the area, she was thankful there was no one around this morning. The last thing she wanted to do was draw unnecessary attention when she was on a tight schedule.
Less than two minutes later she heard the familiar crack of apparition. The large clock showed 10:32, and a short moment later she heard Kingsley greet her.
"Hermione Granger, is that you?"
"Who the hell else would it be Kings?" She laughed.
"Seriously, I almost didn't recognize you. Mundane clothes, fully tamed hair and you're not being flanked by Harry and Ron." Kingsley joked, while Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Ha, ha, ha." She said sarcastically. "Are you all ready for a fun brunch?"
"Of course. Is this proper for brunch with nobility?" He asked. He was in slacks and a simple button up shirt.
"It looks perfectly suitable. Are you ready to go?" She asked rhetorically, checking the time, thankful they were three minutes ahead of schedule.
"Yes ma'am. Lead the way." He said, offering his arm. Hermione took Kingsley by the arm and side apparated both of them to her normal apparition point in the woods near the house. Kingsley, taking a moment to orient himself with his surroundings was confused why he was in a forest.
"Um, Hermione. Why are we in a forest?"
"Follow me. I couldn't exactly apparate directly into the house. Our staff is all muggle, I believe." She elaborated.
Kingsley understood Hermione was of noble birth, but in the wizarding world that didn't mean anything about financial status. Having a staff though, that meant they had money.
"You have a staff?" He asked, confused.
"Absolutely. It would be quite impossible to run this place without one." The pair had just come through the trees near the back of the house, giving Kingsley his first look at the sheer size of the home. He was astounded by the sheer size of the building in front of him. This was larger than any of the magical manors he had raided during his time as an Auror.
"Merlin, Hermione. This place is huge." Kingsley was still in shock. She didn't have the heart to tell him that from the angle they were standing at he was only seeing the smallest wing of the manor and only one of the many over the top homes on the estate. She walked the pair of them into the garage and hopped into a Range Rover. In order to keep up appearances, she was going to enter from the front via car. This should elicit an interesting reaction from Kingsley.
"I'm going to bring you in the standard guest way so no questions are raised." She said, and Kingsley nodded.
Not even a minute later, Kingsley was getting his first look at the place Hermione called home.
"Welcome to our home, Adlington Hall."
"What the hell Hermione, I've never seen a home this large. You didn't say your family was wealthy."
"I thought It was implied, given the whole, my family is in politics, and my grandpa is a Duke conversation." She said, not understanding Kingsley's confusion. Kingsley just blinked at her a few times and wrinkled up his eyebrows. Deciding not to waste any more time she put the car in park and got out with Kingsley following her lead.
She walked inside where her parents were waiting. Once she was sure her grandparents hadn't already arrived, she introduced Kingsley to her parents.
"Mum, Dad, this is Kingsley, the Minister of Magic and the man we are helping get one over on grandpa." Her mum and dad both greeted Kingsley. Her dad was laughing heartily, excited to help pull one over on his dad.
"Nice to meet you Kingsley." Her dad said offering a handshake before continuing. “We are happy to have you, I'm always excited to pull one over on my dad. He thinks he's the worlds best jokester, and I'm absolutely positive he has no idea this is coming."
Kingsley, who was also laughing, was put at ease following his introduction to Hermione's dad. "I'm sure we will have a great time today at your fathers expense." Kingsley added.
"My parents should be here in the next few minutes, my dad called just after Hermione left, saying they were running late, and would be here around 10:55."
Kingsley looked at his watch, noting the time. "We have 7 minutes, how should we go about this for the ultimate joke factor?" Kingsley asked Dan.
"Hmm, maybe we have you step out while we greet my parents. Then we spring you on them when we enter the dining room." Dan said, with a mischievous glint in his eye. Emma and Hermione started leading the two men towards the dining room where Dan got Kingsley settled with a nice glass of scotch.
Kingsley settled into the dining room with his glass of scotch, surveying the space he currently found himself in. How is it that none of them know this was Hermioner life? Were they all so ignorant that they never even asked the simple questions about where she grew up? No wonder she felt like the magical world wasn't her safe space, if even those of us close to her didn't take the time to get to know her. He just let his head fall to his hands, unsure how to make any of this right.
Meanwhile, at 10:55 precisely, a car containing Hermione's grandparents arrived in front of the entrance of their home. Her dad was giddy, full of excitement, knowing what was about to come. The door opened, her grandparents entered, and Hermione, who loved their sense of humor, decided to immediately bring the sassy attitude.
"I'm finally home and now you two leave me wondering if you're even going to show up?" Hermione joked.
"Hermione!" Her grandparents both shouted, and rushed over to give her a hug. The relief on her grandfather's face, at seeing her safe, was evident.
"I'm so glad you're home sweetheart." Her grandfather said.
"As am I dear." Echoed her grandmum.
"I can't wait to hear about everything you've been up to." Grandpa said, giving his stern, you better not lie to me look. Hermione just laughed, and rolled her eyes.
"Dad must you always give my daughter a hard time?"
"She started it." Grandpa retorted. They were all laughing now, well mum and grandmum were rolling their eyes.
"Giving Hermione a hard time before she has even had a chance to introduce you to her guest." Her mum threw out there.
"Hermione brought a guest?" Her grandmum questioned.
"Did Hermione finally bring a boy home from that elusive school of hers?" Her grandfather teased. Hermione and her parents looked at one another, willing each other to keep things secret for a few more minutes.
"Something like that Grandpa. We didn't meet at school, but through some mutual friends a few years ago." Hermione said, with a glint in her eye.
"Why don't we make our way to the dining room and you all can meet him." Her father added.
The group of 5 made their way into the dining room, where Kingsley was waiting. Kingsley could hear Hermione starting the introduction just outside the door.
"Grandmum, Grandpa, may I introduce you to my good friend," Kingsley could tell she emphasized the word friend, and wondered what he missed. "Kingsley Shacklebolt"
At that moment the door to the dining room opened and Kingsley made eye contact with Hermione's grandfather. To his surprise the senior Granger let out the fullest belly laugh Kingsley had ever heard, leading everyone else to follow in kind.
"Kingsley Shacklebolt. I'll be goddamned. Quite frankly you are the last individual I expected to see when Emma said Hermione brought a guest for brunch."
"Yes well, seeing as you, and all of cabinet, seemed to know who I was, and that you all seemed to bask in my inability to understand who Hermione was to you…" Kingsley said with a playful glare.
The senior Daniel Granger was truly impressed with the man in front of him. “Well Kingsley, do you know how long it’s been since a member of cabinet, or prime minister has been able to have an advantage over the individual that normally sits in your spot? At least 50 years from the rumors I’ve heard. But alas, this is wonderful, and I truly have to say you guys did a great job pulling one over on me.”
The group of six sat down to breakfast, and had a fantastic time. Hermione was happy to see that Kingsley got along with everyone easily. There was fun banter between Kingsley, her dad, and her grandpa. They seemed to enjoy giving one another a hard time, but the laughter was contagious, the food was delicious, and the drinks were flowing. Overall, she would call this one of the best days she has had in a long time.
It was nice for her to share stories of the magical world while she had someone else around who was able to help answer any questions. She shared, highly edited, stories of her last year with her grandparents, and let them know she would have to unwillingly return to Hogwarts for one final year of schooling. Kingsley did earn a glare from her at this announcement, but came to his own defense, letting everyone know he would be helping her continue with her commitments outside of the magical world.
For Kingsley, brunch was truly eye opening. He received an unfiltered look into a muggle born witches life outside of the magical world, and he could feel his preconceived notions slipping away. How could the magical world ask muggle borns to give up their family, and the society they had known for years before their introduction to the muggle world. It became clear to Kingsley that even for a witch as gifted as Hermione, she was far more comfortable in the muggle world than the magical one. This was something he would have to keep an eye on, as the PR disaster that would ensue if the Golden Girl left the magical world would bring everything down they had worked so hard to build.