Family Tensions

The four set off to find an empty room and no sooner was the door closed than Emma exploded. "What the bloody hell was that all about? Have you lost your mind? I have never been so ashamed of my family in my entire life."

To say that the Potters were gob smacked would have been an understatement.

"Mum, I didn't think Harry's singing was that bad?" said Hermione

Emma was ready to let rip when her husband's hand reassuringly squeezed her shoulder, signalling that he would handle it.

Dan said, "I don't know what you were trying to achieve out there but I'll tell you how it was perceived. Harry strutted up and down the stage boasting about killing someone."

Harry and Hermione were turning grey as Emma hammered home the point. "Almost everyone in that room lost a relative recently and you just rubbed their noses in it on Christmas Eve."

She was fighting to get her temper under control before saying something she'd regret, "can you please arrange for us to be taken home?"

Hermione replied, "we had hoped to spend Christmas at Potter Manor. Your things have already been moved to a guest suite."

"I think we need a break from the magical world. I would like to return to our own home." Emma said as the Grangers left the room.

Hermione didn't know whether to cry or scream as she watched Harry arrange with Dobby for her parents and gran to return home. Outwardly, Harry projected an image of being in control, no matter the situation. Inwardly he wasn't that far removed from the child being locked in the cupboard under the stairs.

It had taken an immense amount of courage for Harry to get on that stage, her parent's remarks had left him shattered and near to tears.

Had anyone else spoke to her husband like that the wrath of Hermione Potter would have rapidly descended upon him or her? This was her parent's though, who liked Harry. Could we have got it so wrong?

Harry was explaining to Dobby that he wanted the Grangers protected around he clock when they were interrupted.

A knock at the door announced the arrival of a very nervous Ginny and Neville, 'more bad news' thought Hermione.

"Hi Guys, can I talk to you a minute?" asked Ginny

"Sure Gin, what's up?" asked Harry

"It's rather delicate and I don't know how to ask." Mumbled Ginny

"Just come right out with it, things here couldn't get much worse," said Harry

"Well my five brothers are getting together tomorrow for Christmas dinner and have invited Neville and myself. The thing is our father is being released for the day and has asked to see me. You two have been brilliant and I love you more than words can say but I still have issues and I need to take them up with him." Ginny said the full speech without ever raising her eyes from her shoes.

Harry and Hermione both enveloped her in a hug. "Ginny, it's so much better to deal with these problems than let time erode your relationship. Enjoy your day and we'll discuss what's happening later." Harry's final words confused Ginny but before she could question him, Hermione jumped in with one of her own.

"What did you think of Harry's singing?"

"I didn't understand it, Harry is a good singer but why the Draco Malfoy impersonation? Sorry Harry, it must be a muggle thing." Stated Ginny, while Neville nodded in agreement.

Harry sank to his knees with his head in his hands muttering, "how could I have been so stupid?"

It was as if someone had switched on a light as Hermione realised the mistake they had made.

Anyone raised in the muggle world would have recognised the Freddie Mercury impersonation but their guests were almost all purebloods. Her mother and father only listened to classical music; to them, Gershwin was heavy metal.

The whole hall missed the point and now probably thought that Harry was some arrogant prick, they needed to speak to Narcissa quickly.

Narcissa thought she was at a tennis match as Harry and Hermione finished each other's sentences.

"I decided to copy a famous muggle singer" started Harry

"But we forgot the audience was almost all pureblood"

"I changed the lyrics slightly"

"We have already lost five members of house Potter"

"And hoped this would make any others think twice"

"Since no one had heard the original"

"They think I wrote it, Merlin I must have looked like a right arrogant arsehole"

"Which of course he's not, so what can we do?" finished Hermione

Narcissa shook her head to clear her brain from the duo's rant. She could see the problem and two solutions, neither of them all that appealing.

"Ok, you can do nothing and they might take it as a warning or try explaining, though you could appear weak."

There really wasn't much of a choice.

Martha Flint had never been so angry, considering what she just came through that was really saying something.

....

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