But honey I'm just trying to make some sense
Honey I'm just trying to make some friends
Baby I'm not trying to make amends
For coming to Los Angeles
Oh Los Angeles
Los Angeles, Counting Crows
This is my first attempt at an AU. I want to see what you all think of it so far... Hopefully, you like it enough for me to continue!
xoxoxo
"Are you sure you want to do this, Harry?" Hermione asked the gangly man next to her.
They had just flown to Los Angeles, California doing something life altering for the young man. Harry's horrible family told him a long time ago about his parents died in a plane crash. However, they failed to mention who they were visiting and why. Harry Potter had done his own investigating, since he was, of course, a private eye himself, and found out.
"We are here, aren't we? I know you said Ron was afraid of planes... but you didn't tell me you split." He growled at her.
Hermione ran fingers over her face and nodded, "it just wasn't there anymore, Harry. Seven years and he wasn't ready to get married? Don't you think that is queer, even for him?" She finally admitted.
Unfortunately, her tongue wagged while they were helping themselves to the free drinks on the plane. Harry talked about Ginny and their plans to spend her football savings on a new house for a bigger family. Hermione couldn't help but be over the moon for another little Potter. They all had been through so much.
"Hermione, if they are strange people, we can leave. I just need to ask them about my parents... alright?" Harry murmured as they got into the cab and told the driver the address.
She could feel his anxiety as he gripped her hand and they wove through the strange concrete jungle. Hermione was always fond of new adventures and her job of traveling for her different charities never made her life dull. She took her time off from saving the less fortunate to travel with her friend to visit three particular people.
"Here it is," the cabby said and Hermione glared outside the window.
"Are you quite sure? This is a shop," Hermione retorted and the cabby rolled his eyes as Harry handed him the money.
They grabbed their small bags and got out watching the driver take off and honk at some car almost hitting him. The area was so... gritty. They gave each other a look before turning back to the oddly painted garage. Marauder's Map Motors sounded less that profitable... Hermione patted Harry's back and gave him a nod.
"I will go ask for you first, alright?" She assured him and she could see him shiver with anticipation.
"Alright, Hermione, I will look up a nearby hotel for us." He told her and she nodded before walking inside the shop.
When she stepped inside she was hit with the smells of machinery, sweat and air conditioning. It felt heavenly after that warm drive into the neighborhood. Neither one of the travelers were used to such warm weather. The bell above the door rang and she almost jumped at the alarming sound before approaching the counter.
"Hello?" She called out and chewed her bottom lip out of nervous habit.
"Well, my, oh, my, hello there," A man's voice entered the room next to her.
She turned and saw a smaller man with almost a bug-eyed look about him enter the room, "Hello there, I am-"
"Looking for some work to be done?" He asked with a smile and Hermione blushed deeply.
"I beg your pardon?" She spat and he chuckled.
"Where are you from?" He questioned and she shook her hair from her neck.
"London," she added a crisp texture to her voice now.
"Wormtail, who are you pestering?" A brusque voice came from behind the counter and Hermione pivoted in that direction.
This man was much more appealing and had bright green eyes. His face had a few scratches over his nose and cheek but it did not take away from his features. He was dressed in a button up gray shirt and held a book in his hand; she was already more comfortable with this man. "Oh, hello, I am Hermione Granger. Seems you might be able to help me. I was here to inquire about possibly three individuals."
She reached over the counter and he shook her hand, smiling. "Well, I can try to help you. Peter is not much help with anything but the garage and scaring young women."
Hermione cleared her throat and tried to hide the tint to her cheeks. "I, well, I am looking for three gentlemen that possibly knew a James and Lily Potter."
The man dropped his book and his face paled. "You- did- is Harry alright?" He sounded alarmed and Hermione gasped.
"Oh! Are you Remus or Sirius? His name is Peter Pettigrew correct?" Hermione asked now extremely elated.
The man named Peter ran to the door, "Pads! Come here! Someone is here about Harry!"
Another man came bustling in and he was shirtless. He was a gorgeous man with tattoos etched across his chest and a mane of black hair with gray eyes. Hermione blushed scarlet as the man looked her over.
"Unless Harry decided to get a sex change this is not him... but she is a pretty bird." The man rumbled and approached her. "What are you doing on our side of the woods? You have a look of our home about you."
Hermione gulped and tried to speak, "I- well- Uh- Harry and I- found you," she sputtered and the man gasped.
Hermione held up her finger and cleared her throat, "let me go get him," she declared and walked outside.
Hermione spent about five minutes explaining the little bit that she knew and Harry paced. He was going to meet them finally. The woman stripped her jacket off and fixed her skirt as Harry calmed himself. Straightening his t-shirt and giving him a nod, she took his bag and walked behind him as they went inside. The three men had been watching them from inside and drew back from the window when they saw them coming.
The duo went inside and stood in front of the three strangers. "Hello, I am Harry James Potter. I believe I have been looking for you three for a few years now." Harry spoke and the older men all reacted in shock and surprise.
The attractive man without a shirt walked up first and shook his hand, "My name is Sirius Orion Black. My best mate was James Henry Potter, your dad." Harry shook his hand and Hermione covered her face as tears filled her eyes.
The soft brown-haired man stepped forward and took Harry's hand and shook it. "I am Remus John Lupin, one of three best friends your father obtained." He told Harry and Peter repeated the process.
The small stubby man held Harry's hand a fraction too long and sighed, "he has Lily's eyes." Sirius shoved the shorter man and Remus glared.
"Stop it, Peter." Remus growled and cleared his throat, "is this your wife, Harry?" Remus asked and Harry tucked Hermione under his arm and laughed.
"Hardly, this is Hermione Granger. My best friend from school. She is like my annoyingly smart sister." Harry teased and Hermione rolled her eyes and nudged him.
"His wife is by far much better looking than I. You might have heard of her. She used to play women's football for the England team. Ginevra Weasley then, of course." Hermione said matter of factly and Harry grinned.
Sirius chuckled and nodded, "A Weasley girl? Red hair?"
"Where are our manners, would you both like to come have a cup of coffee or tea?" Remus offered and Hermione's eyes lit up.
"That sounds so lovely, what do you think, Harry?" Hermione questioned and Harry grinned brightly.
"Of course, they are the whole reason we are here!" Harry exclaimed and ruffled her hair to the woman's distaste.
0o0o
All five of them were convened in a living room in the house behind the shop. Hermione walked around with her mug in hand and gazed at the wonderful library that was there as Harry spoke about his life to the three men. He would bring her in occasionally for stories, but she let him have his moment. She was surprised to see such a vast amount of knowledge in the small house.
"That is Remus's collection," Peter told her and the woman smiled over.
"It is a very lovely expansive selection," she commented and Remus blushed lightly.
"I cannot teach young minds if I do not keep my own busy." He declared and she giggled.
"So very true. I used to have a collection of my own, but my last trip to India made me choose between storing them or donating them." Hermione murmured and sighed.
Harry smiled and shook his head, "Hermione does a bit of traveling. She works for a few charities that help young women learn and educate them about their influence in the world. It is pretty amazing."
The woman blushed brightly and shook her head, "you give me more credit than I deserve, Harry."
"Traveling? Keep yourself busy with exotic men, love?" Sirius asked her with a flirtatious smile and Hermione almost dropped her mug, spilling some on her white shirt. "I take that as a yes."
"Sirius, behave yourself," Remus grumbled and stood up, handing her a handkerchief. "My apologies, Hermione. Sirius is not used to having female company he does not take to bed."
That made her blush even more and clear her throat, "well, I am quite sure I am a bit more deserving of just a shag." She said pointedly and Sirius gasped.
"She has a bloody mouth!" Peter retorted joyously and Hermione smirked slightly.
"Be careful, she will spit daggers. I have never known a woman with so much poise able to swear so much when she is sloshed," Harry teased and Hermione glared over at him.
"If you and Ronald were not such dunderheads when you drank I wouldn't be so flinty," she snapped and Harry chuckled.
Sirius cleared his throat, "where are you both staying while you are in L.A?" his voice announced his interest.
"Oh, we are going to stay at the hotel down the way," Harry told him and Remus waved him off.
"No, you are practically family, you can stay with us." Remus declared and Sirius nodded.
"We do have those spare rooms, so it shouldn't be too hard." Sirius agreed and Hermione smiled and sat down next to Harry.
"That sounds pleasant, I am sure he would love to spend as much time with you as possible," Hermione muttered and Harry grinned at her.
"Are you sure you can handle that? You are a bit of... you are a neat freak, Hermione." Harry said bluntly and she glared at him.
"Are you saying I cannot handle staying a week with four men?" She challenged him with a stare.
Harry bit the inside of his cheek and tried not to laugh. "You can hardly handle-"
Hermione interrupted him with a wave of her hand, "Harry, I used to have men in foreign countries rubbing parts of their bodies on me that would be considered rude in London as a greeting. I am quite positive I can handle a few Englishmen." Her delivery was flawless and made the older men drop their jaws.
"Well, that settles that then," Harry told her and she nodded and folded her legs.
"Would you let me show you to your rooms?" Peter asked and Hermione tried to hide her discomfort; there was something she did not quite like about him.
Sirius shook his head, "Remus will. He knows where all the fresh bedding is. If he loved sucking cock he would be my girlfriend anyway." The dark haired man teased and the other man rolled his eyes.
Remus stood up and gave the younger visitors a nod, "just up the stairs." He told them and Hermione set down her mug.
"Excellent, Remus, thank you," she murmured and he smiled.
The younger Limeys followed Remus up the stairs and he stopped at a door down the way, "This was your parent's old room, Harry. If you like, you may stay in here." He declared and Harry hugged him.
"Thank you, Remus," Harry whispered and the man hugged him.
Harry gave Hermione a smile, "thank you, Mione. I will see you soon. I am bushed."
Hermione nodded and sighed, "get some rest, I will call Ginny soon and let her know about today."
Harry disappeared into the room and the older man stood awkwardly in the hallway with her. Hermione smiled and tilted her head, "are you expecting me to sleep out here?" She teased and he cleared his throat.
"I am sorry, this way," he murmured and led her down the way.
He stopped at a room and patted the door, "this is yours. Well, for now. Sirius's room is across the way and mine is right near the restroom. The loo is the only door that is cracked so you won't accidentally walk in on a couple of old men getting dressed." He teased a bit and she grinned.
"Are we on jesting terms now?" She asked and he chuckled, "I just wanted to thank you for being so hospitable. He really wanted to meet you."
She thought about hugging him, but decided against it and held out her hand. "You are very welcome, Miss Granger. Thank you for bringing him." He shook her hand and she blushed deeply.
"Of course, Remus," she murmured and he smirked.
"Go get some rest, you might need it. We are a bit of a handful around here." He told her and her lips curved playfully.
"So are we, Remus." She finished and went into her room.