(A/N) Thanks for the review! I enjoy writing and hopefully this story might run into some plot soon. Such as in Chapter three, *wink*. I hope you enjoy reading Chapter Two!

Chapter Two

The sun glinted off Harry's inheritance, which was an impressive black stallion of a motorcycle. Hermione had to admit that Sirius had taste. Just because Hermione was terrified of riding them doesn't mean she couldn't recognize a good one when she saw one. After all, her father wasn't obsessed with motorcycles for nothing. Some knowledge about motorcycles had to rub off on her. So when Hermione saw Harry's new bike she knew it was a good one. A very good one in fact. The bike was nearly perfect in every way. Hermione could practically see her father drooling over it. It was eerily similar to Harry's firebolt, which was nonsense, but she couldn't help feeling that that was the reason Harry was so eager to ride it. He held his arms out proudly.

"So, what do you think?" Apprehension caused Hermione to stand no less than six feet from the bike.

"You mentioned extra features earlier, what were they exactly?" Harry's face turned mischievous, looking for a moment like a young Sirius as he did so.

"It wouldn't be fun to tell you everything, but I can say that the motorcycle can really move." Seeing the look on Hermione's face, that was a clear indicator that she didn't think that the motorcycle's speed was a good thing, Harry hastily added, "And its extremely safe. Even a bloke who never had a riding lesson in his life could ride this thing and survive it." Hermione's stomach did a dangerous dive to the floor. She wondered uneasily how many times Harry had ridden the bike before this. Then she stopped thinking, as she had no other way of getting home. Besides there was a chance that if she agreed to go through with this Harry would later confide in her. That was if they managed the ride to her house of course. And that was if they survived her parents after. She had the feeling that they wouldn't appreciate seeing their daughter on the back of a motorcycle with a boy they had barely met.

Harry took Hermione's silence as an opportunity to get going before she lost her nerves or before he cracked under her watching eyes. He lifted the seat that was toward the back of the bike to reveal a hidden compartment that must have had an expansion charm because he lifted out of it two black helmets that could not have possibly fit otherwise.

"Harry will the motorcycle get you in trouble with the Ministry, it being an enchanted muggle artifact?" Hermione said, her voice laced with something close to panic.

"Of course not Hermione, that's what makes it so great. No muggle could possibly get into trouble with this. If anyone tries to use it who I didn't give permission to they'll just find themselves riding an old broom stick, one that doesn't fly. No person at the Ministry of Magic will assume that it's a enchanted muggle artifact either, because I have a license for it." He patted his bike lovingly. Hermione was sure that what Harry had mentioned wasn't even a sixteenth of what the bike could do, but she preferred not to think about it, as she was sure they were illegal, but useful modifications. She had already noticed that the handles had many silver knobs and small buttons that she was sure weren't there on regular bikes. Muttering darkly words that would've caused her mother to ground her for a week and Harry to chuckle, Hermione somehow found herself and Harry on the bike and on their way to 37 Yorkshire Drive.

The ride wasn't as bad as Hermione thought it was going to be. It was utterly terrifying, but at least it wasn't as bad as her ride on Buckbeak in her third year. That was one of the most frightening things she had done in her life and that was including the Department of Mysteries. The bucking and swaying of Buckbeak's flight had strengthened Hermione's resolve never to ride a broomstick if she could help it. The ride on Sirius or rather Harry's bike was better, only because she at least was firmly seated and she didn't feel like she was going to fall at any second. Nevertheless she was frightened enough to entwine her arms tightly around Harry's waist. When Harry felt her death grip he whispered hoarsely that she was strangling him. Hermione was so surprised that she could hear him with her helmet on she almost fell off.

"Harry, don't ever do that again. Next time tell me the modifications you're going to use" She threatened through gritted teeth. She held on even tighter, despite Harry's complaints. Harry was sympathetic for Hermione's fear of falling off and he went about 50 mph for the majority of the ride, but he couldn't help going fast when their was a long stretch of empty road. He would go just over 100mph before noticing Hermione's shrieks in his ears. Going that fast gave him a wild excitement, a rush. He loved the feeling. Hermione was shocked to see that she enjoyed going fast. That is, until she remembered the road that was zooming past underneath them and she was back to being terrified. If only she could get over her age old fear of falling.

When they were about fifteen minutes to her house, Hermione began dreading what her parents would think. Her father would slobber over the bike for about ten seconds before he would start shouting at her about being on the back of a bike with a boy he barely knew. Her mother on the other hand would hit the ground running. Not only would she yell about Hermione leaving the diner with Harry, she would yell about the bike too. Needless to say she was surprised when her parents didn't appear running out of the house when they parked in her driveway.

Harry gazed at his surroundings with interest. Even though he had been friends with Hermione for five years he had never been to her house. When he noticed the expression on Hermione's face he wondered if there was a reason that Ron and he had never been invited to her house. He shrugged it off, he had met her parents and they had seemed like a decent pair. Then again he hadn't really talked to them. He shook his head in an effort to rid himself of those thoughts. He hadn't thought about why he had never been invited to Hermione's house before, there had always been an invitation to the Weasley's or something else came up. For instance, last year he had ended up at Grimmauld Place. He inwardly shrugged.

Hermione was appreciating standing on solid ground and she couldn't help grinning at her home. It was a Victorian, which was uncommon in that part of London. There was usually rows and rows of small identical houses that made Hermione grimace when she saw them. Her house was a cheery white with green window shutters. There was a small porch in the front with a large swing tucked in the corner. On particularly warm days, Hermione usually curled up on it with Crookshanks and read. There was a small balcony that was connected to her parents room. Hermione hadn't been up there since she was three years old. Her cousin Natasha, Hermione had many cousins as her dad had quite a lot of siblings, had held her up to see the view when her grip slipped and Hermione fell. Thankfully Hermione had begun to reveal her powers by then because she had floated down to the ground like a feather, to the shock and relief of her parents, but even now Hermione was absolutely terrified about flying no matter what she did to try and cure her fear. Her father, in his spare time, loved to landscape and as soon as he had purchased the house he was planting trees and planning how the yard would look. One of the other things he did was build a high white wicket fence to separate their property from their neighbors. He claimed this was for privacy, but Hermione knew it was to discourage the unbelievably unlikable people that lived next to them, the Pinsnips. Her mother, for once, shared his enthusiasm and she planned and was in charge of the flower beds. Through their combined efforts the yard turned out to be a miniature Garden of Eden.

They made their way to the front door on the stepping stone pathway. If her father could he would have posted a sign that demanded that no one step on the grass without the threat of their lives. Reaching the steps Hermione turned around to take one last look of her yard.

"So what do you think of my parents masterpiece? I know its no Burrow and probably less inte" Harry stopped her with his hand on her shoulder as he stared awestruck at the garden.

"It's unbelievable." Hermione smiled proudly. Her smile faded as they both heard a silky voice that was coming from the direction of the fence. Hermione groaned softly, so that only Harry could hear her, put on a fake smile and gazed at the boy she knew would be there, Edward Pinsnips. He was a thin, pale boy that reminded Hermione of Malfoy, but with a couple of major differences. One, the boy had dark brown hair. Two, he had dark blue eyes and three, he had a huge crush on Hermione. Ever since she and her parents had moved there he was always there trying to become her boyfriend. Hermione had rejected his offers for as just as long. He disgusted her with his cruel behavior to people who were different, so of course if he found out she was a witch he would hate her as well. He also annoyed her with his clinginess. Edward was the main reason Hermione never had any friends over, especially if they were boys. They would play with her at school just find, but if she ever brought a friend over Edward would scare them away. For example, when she was eight her friend Charlie had visited her and had gone home with a bloody nose, a burn and a bruise that shadowed his left eye. When Hermione had questioned Charlie about he had gotten his injuries he explained that while they were playing hide and seek he had tripped and that he couldn't be her friend anymore, sorry. She immediately found out that Edward was behind it all and when she was more careful playing with her friends, not venturing near Edward's house so he could do them no injury, Edward blackmailed them into avoiding Hermione. So Hermione couldn't help but resenting Edward for her lonely childhood.

"Hermie, your parents are out. Who's your little friend?" Edward's soft voice easily carried across the yard.

Edward was causally sitting on a branch of a tree that grew on his yard, but drooped over Hermione's. That was his usual roosting spot. It was creepy how he could just appear like that. Edward gazed at Harry with cold dislike. He gaped for a moment when he saw Harry's bike, but that was quickly changed to a sneaky smirk. Hermione dropped all pretense of being polite and glared at him.

"This is Harry, Edward, and if you touch Harry's bike that's your problem. I'll just feel really sorry for what happens to you. Wait, scratch that. I won't feel sorry. Where are my parents?" Hermione said. Harry stared at her in amazement. Hermione wasn't half this angry at Malfoy. Edward must be even worse than Malfoy and until then Harry thought that was impossible. Harry looked at Edward with mounting dislike.

"Harry, what kind of name is that?" Edward snarled. Hermione looked at Harry uneasily as if fearing that he would explode.

"Edward, do you always butt into other people's business or is this a recent development? And I believe Mione asked you a question." Harry had just met Edward and already he felt that he deserved slow and painful Chinese water torture. Hermione smiled and was pleased to see Edward's stunned expression. No one who knew better, besides Hermione, dared stand up to him, not even the people that towered over Edward, who was rather short. Edward was already jealous of Harry. He had tried for nearly 14 unsuccessful years for Hermione to accept Hermie as her nickname he had failed on all counts. Now some fresh boy from her school shows up and calls her Mione and Hermione didn't seem to mind at all. She was actually smiling. Hermione could see the wheels turn in Edwards slimly little head and she watched as he regained his composure.

"They went to pick up your brother at the airport Hermie." Edward's voice no longer sounded silky, it sounded like a sharp bark from a small dog. Hermione pulled out her house keys and unlocked the door before she went in she heard Edward again.

"Now now Hermie I wouldn't do that if I were you," Edward shook his finger at them. Hermione heard a soft grunt of annoyance from Harry.

"And why pray tell not?" Hermione's hands went to her hips. One of these days she was going to go over to that branch and she was going to slap Edward so hard that he'll fall off.

"What will your parents think when they walk in and see you entertaining your guest?" Her face turned red with anger and the keys jingled in her hand as she shook with rage. She pointed at Edward shakily.

"Harry already met my family and they know that he's just a friend. How dare you say such a thing you disgusting, slimy, despicable prat!" With that Hermione stormed in. Harry noticed that Edward chanced a glance at Harry's motorcycle.

"If you decide to slither down from there and ruin my bike I should warn you, my bike is temperamental. It doesn't handle well under slime balls like you." Making sure neither Hermione nor Edward could hear him he whispered something, then he followed Hermione into the house and shut the door.

Hermione knew that Edward was mean, cruel, and heartless among other bad things, but she could not believe what he had just said. It had sounded innocent enough, but it had a vicious double meaning. She walked to the kitchen sink and washed her face, trying to cool down. Usually she kept her temper when Edward made mean comments like that. The day was so hot and she had just survived a ride on a motorcycle so she had the right to be short tempered. It was bad enough that Rita Skeeter along with most of the wizarding world and Tonks thought that she and Harry were more than friends, but when a muggle that had lived next door to her for most of her life said that, that was another matter entirely. No matter how cruel and stupid Edward was it still was disturbing that he thought something was going on between Harry and her. Like she thought earlier, she was just sick of the rumors when there was nothing behind any of them. Entertaining, Hermione thought bitterly, blushing slightly.

"Hey, are you alright Hermione?" Asked Harry worriedly. Hermione spun around feeling strangely disoriented. It was weird seeing someone from the wizarding world standing in her kitchen.

"Yeah, Edward's just a prat." She scrunched up her nose in distaste. Harry looked out the window to see if he was still there. He was. He let the yellow curtain fall.

"Why didn't you tell us that you have to come back to that git every summer?" Hermione sniffed.

"Would you tell people that you live next to some one like him and oh yeah, the reason they can't come over is the git over there will find every way to make their life a living… Well you got the idea." Straightening Hermione gazed pointedly at the pocket that Harry had stuffed the letter into. Harry always loved the art of procrastination.

"Aren't you going to give me a tour of the house?" Hermione's eyes flared, but Harry thought he saw the sides of her lips twist into a small smile.

"You know, some people would have thought that was rude Harry." She humored him and led him through the house. The kitchen, the large living room with a huge fireplace and overstuffed chairs. The dining room with the glass chandelier. Hermione told him that when she was six and she was trying to get out of going to bed early she had found herself sitting quite comfortably on that very chandelier. They halted at the library and Harry whistled in appreciation.

"Hermione… Do your parents like reading too?" Harry couldn't imagine how all of the shelves stuffed with books could belong to one person. The library caused Hermione to relax, like she always relaxed in that room. She practically lived in the library, all of the books in it were dear familiar friends of hers.

"My dad spends all of his time obsessing over motorcycles, so he doesn't have time to read. My mom though, she loves to read, but most of these books aren't hers. She keeps the majority of hers in her and dad's room. Most of these…" She waved her hand at the wall to wall bookcases.

"…are mine." Harry stared at her blankly for a second and then started laughing.

"Hermione, when do you have the time to read all of these? You don't have another time turner now do you?" He gasped clutching his stomach from laughing too hard. Hermione was tempted to stamp her foot in frustration. Her life wasn't all reading. She had skied, well at least she tried to. She had been to France and she had nearly went to Bulgaria a year ago.

"For your information Potter," Harry winced, that was what Malfoy normally called him. "For the past couple weeks I haven't touched a book at all." With that she walked out of the room, leaving Harry to follow her in bewilderment.

"Hermione Granger not reading for more than a week? I think I'll eat my shoe." Harry had actually began pulling one of his trainers off before Hermione broke out into a laugh and stopped him.

"I've been trying to get into shape. Especially focusing on building up my stamina, maybe I'll be more useful next time." Harry sobered, comprehension etched into his face.

"Hermione, you don't have to do that. Who says there will be a next time anyway? Maybe Voldemort has finally given up." Hermione could easily see that Harry believed in what he was saying as much as she did.

"Harry, with Voldemort there's always a next time." Hermione sighed, suddenly feeling tired.

"Hermione there's the Order, they'll take care of things." Harry sounded just as weary. He was as tired of facing Voldemort as much as she was, more even.

"Harry friends stick together and if you are going to end up in the thick of things, so am I. Anyways, better to be safe than sorry." Knowing that Harry was about to protest, Hermione talked first.

"Come one, I'll show you the upstairs. That is unless you want to open the letter Tonks gave you." Hermione hoped to catch Harry off guard, on the off-chance that he might say yes. To her dissapointment he shook his head stubbornly. That was okay with Hermione she could be just as stubborn.

"Alright lets go," Two things happened at once. Hermione heard her parents drive up bearing her eldest brother, Todd and a shriek echoed in the street. Harry, who knew who that shriek belonged to grinned feeling a little guilty, but only a little. Fortunately for Harry, Hermione didn't know what was going on and she rushed outside Harry was at her side pretending to be surprised as they saw the scene that was taking place before them.

Hermione's parents had pulled up in their green mini van. They had gotten out and were in the process of unloading luggage from the trunk. Todd, who was returning from Harvard to spend his break with his family, was helping them. Neither of them had noticed Harry and Hermione halt beside them because all of them were staring transfixed at the street. Hermione should have known what had happened when she had finally registered that Harry's bike was no longer neatly parked in her driveway, but it was hard thinking when a voice that was magnified one hundred times was bawling and pleading like a baby. The voice belonged to Edward and Edward was riding Harry's bike up and down the street. Something was wrong though. Surely Edward did not mean to drive a motorcycle with his pants pulled over his head. He couldn't see. And surely he did not mean to drive backwards and then stop jerkily only to speed forwards and start the process over again. And then there was the fact that Edward was bawling like a baby so loudly that everyone clearly heard him.

"Stoooooooooppppppp!! Someone helllllllpppp meeeeeee! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!" It was only when the motorcycle started trying to throw Edward off like a horse would, bouncing back on forth from the front tire to the rear one, that Hermione's father finally said something.

"Where in the heck did Edward get that bike?" Harry studied his shoes carefully. No one had noticed him yet.

"Someone really should help him." Hermione's mother said quietly. Everyone murmured agreement, but no one moved. They looked like they were trying to capture the moment forever in their minds.

"I'll help him." Relented Todd. Harry didn't want to, but he called attention to himself.

"It's my bike, I should." Both of Hermione's parents and Todd turned to stare at him. Hermione sensed that they were trying to figure out if they were supposed to know him. It would be amusing to see her dad and her mom interrogate Harry, but Hermione rushed into save him.

"Mom, dad, Todd, this is Harry Potter. One of my friends from Hogwarts." Todd's face was one of disbelief. Her parents looked slightly less menacing than they would have if they hadn't met Harry before, but only slightly. Harry felt uncomfortable and felt like a spotlight was shining directly on him.

"You're one of Hermione's friends from that school?" Todd spluttered. Harry nodded. Todd looked to his parents for an explanation. Mrs. Granger enveloped Harry in a brief hug and Mr. Granger held out his hand for Harry to shake.

"Hi Harry. We're surprised to see you here. Weren't you two supposed to be at a diner in Little Whinging?" Mrs. Granger said. Todd held his arms out with an expression of complete confusion.

"So you mean to tell me that you guys are okay with a 16 or something year old guy that goes to her boarding school, which you two are not present at, being friends with your young impressionable daughter?" Hermione frowned indignantly. Todd had always been protective of her, but this was going too far. Harry had saved her life too many times to count and here Todd was accusing Harry of being a bad influence. She certainly broke more rules than she would've if she wasn't Harry's friend, but that was only in cases when breaking a few rules meant saving the school.

"Harry is not making a bad impression on me." Hermione argued heatedly. Mr. Granger then remembered what Harry had said.

"That's your motorcycle?" He pointed at the motorcycle that Edward was still clinging to. It was hopping on the back tire around and around in a circle.

"Yeah." Harry answered cautiously. Mr. Granger's eyes widened for a moment. Mrs. Granger nudged him lightly with her elbow.

"Could you please get it to stop and then show it to me?" Hermione's mother stomped on his foot and hissed, "Timothy."

"Ouch, I mean, can you please let that poor boy off?" Harry tried not to smirk as he made his way to the hopping motorcycle. He was strongly reminded of Mr. And Mrs. Weasley.

As Hermione watched, Harry walked up to the motorcycle and said something that she couldn't hear. The motorcycle landed with a crash and Edward toppled from the seat, whimpering. Harry helped him up, but not before he gave him some advice.

"Next time wear a helmet." Edward scrambled away and ran as fast as he could to his house. He only looked back when he was at his steps, his face a mix of fear and hate, then he flung open his door and let it slam shut behind him. Harry rolled his bike slowly up the driveway, stopping when he was in front of Mr. Gramger. Mr. Granger gazed at the bike with longing, but with his wife standing right beside him he didn't dare do anything. Something just dawned on Hermione.

"Mom," She said hesitantly, "Did Dumbledore arrange the meeting at the diner?" Mrs. Granger looked flustered.

"Yes. You were supposed to go from there to the Black Manor with Harry, they figured that if you two went together there would be less of a chance of danger."

"Danger, Hermione's in danger?" Todd intervened. He knew that Hermione was a witch and that she'd been attending a school to learn magic for the past five years, but that was about all he knew. He didn't know about the danger Harry, Hermione and Ron had faced. Hermione's parents were more aware that there was danger present, but Hermione couldn't bring herself to tell them any of the details or the close calls.

It was bad enough convincing them that most of what the Daily Prophet described was fabricated. Her parents received the Daily Prophet because of their insistence that they should know what was occurring in their daughter's world. They were worried when they had read about how rebellious and crazy Harry was supposed to be. Hermione had written ten rolls of parchment to them explaining that Harry was not crazy. She had even gone as far as giving them supporting facts with lots of detail. Hermione was afraid that Harry would get angry if he saw that her muggle parents needed to be convinced that he was sane. When Ron had asked her who she was writing to Hermione fed him some nonsense about writing to Vicktor Krum, like she would be writing to him. After she had told him that she didn't want to spend the summer holidays with him he had acted childishly and refused to speak to her. If Hermione told her parents what really had happened to her, there was no way they were going to let her still attend Hogwarts.

"No I'm not in any danger!" Hermione snapped. Todd looked at her as if she was stupid. Harry had wisely decided before this to remain in the background.

"Your headmaster seems to think so." Todd retorted.

"Its only a precaution." Harry, to his horror, heard himself saying. Todd shot a nasty look at him.

"If I didn't know that Hermione is bloody terrified of motorcycles I would've thought that she rode on the back of yours all the way here from Little Whinging." Harry took the hint and kept his mouth shut. Mr. and Mrs. Granger watched this interchange with bemused expressions on their faces. Now that everyone had paused for air Mrs. Granger took over.

"Lets continue this conversation inside. Todd, Harry, Hermione if you could be so kind as to help us move the luggage inside." They complied hastily. When all of the luggage was haphazardly stacked in the hallway and Mrs. Granger had made a cup of Earl Gray Tea for everyone, they settled in the living room. Mr. Granger cleared his throat conversationally while Mrs. Granger was taking a long drink of her tea.

"Harry, what model is your motorcycle? I've never seen one like it." Harry grinned, glad for this opening.

"I'm not quite sure, my godfather said it was a black stallion, but I don't think he was being serious." Mr. Granger was sitting on the edge of his seat in his excitement.

"Really? That sounds familiar. Maybe we could see if it's in one of my magazines later." Harry accepted readily, not knowing it was a trap. Hermione had recognized that her father was genuinely interested in Harry's motorcycle, but he also was genuinely interested in threatening Harry. As soon as Hermione finished her tea, burning her tongue in her eagerness to escape, she stood up.

"Well, I still have to show Harry the upstairs and we have to talk so…" She pulled Harry out of his seat, he had a slightly alarmed expression on his face. Hermione led Harry upstairs to her room. Todd appeared shortly after and he stopped at Hermione's doorway.

"This door stays open and I will be right next door." Todd said carefully, while looking at Harry menacingly. Todd finally stalked away.

Harry was surprised to find that Hermione's room wasn't intimidating at all. He didn't know what he had been expecting, but it wasn't the room that surrounded him. There was of course a book case, but it was small and was only filled with schoolbooks. There also was a large bay window and it had a window seat next to it. It wasn't hard to imagine Hermione lounging on the seat and reading or gazing out the window to stare at the night sky. Near the window there was a large desk with a school book left lying open, with a neat stack of completed papers beside it. One of the walls was completely covered with shelves. Harry could identify a boom box, a pile of taebo tapes that surprised him until he remembered that she said she was getting into shape and a TV from where he was seated. He was seated next to Hermione on her bed. It was a normal queen-sized bed with a blue comforter covering it. Crookshanks, who had been dozing off underneath the bed, had leapt up and was now purring contentedly in Harry's lap.

Hermione shook her head. Crookshanks had always liked Harry, but now he was behaving as he had with Sirius. Maybe the large feline had sensed Sirius's demise and was now seeking a new 'dad.' Cats always seemed to have a sixth sense, another perfect example was Filch's cat, Mrs. Norris, who somehow alerted Filch of troublemakers. Sometimes Hermione wondered if Crookshanks only liked her because she was the one who put cat food in his bowl every morning.

"My family is nuts." Hermione said loudly so that Todd could hear her if he was listening. Harry said nothing for a moment and stroked Crookshanks.

"Sometimes that can be a good thing. They're really nice, unlike my insane relatives." Hermione blushed she had forgotten for a minute about the Dursleys. She thought about the rude blonde haired boy that was at the diner and shuddered.

"I thought you said that the bike would turn into a broomstick if a muggle tried to sit on it! You didn't perform any magic did you Harry?" Harry scratched Crookshank behind the ears and Crookshanks purred louder with delight.

"That was one of the 'features' Sirius added, you just have to say 'Please give any slime balls a bumpy ride' and anyone who tries to ride it… You saw what happened to that creep Edward. So no Hermione, I didn't use magic. I was being a good boy." Hermione shrank back at this, feeling furious with herself. This was the problem that occurred last year, everyone had treated him like a little boy that couldn't think for himself and they had ended up at the Department of Mysteries.

"I'm really sorry. Last year was hell, I should've tried harder. I was completely useless the whole time. I should've bugged you more about your Occulemcy lessons. I should've realized that it was all a trap. Sirius might still be alive if I was more of a help." To Hermione's annoyance, tears were trickling down her cheeks. Remembering that Harry couldn't handle girls crying she rubbed her eyes with the back of her hands. Harry looked stricken. He didn't know that other people blamed themselves for Sirius's death besides Dumbledore. Surprising himself, Harry hugged Hermione, rubbing her back in slow soothing motions. Crookshanks yelped out of Harry's lap and onto the floor, spitting. This wasn't like Cho crying at all. Hermione hardly ever cried and Harry actually understood why Hermione was crying now.

"Hermione it isn't your fault that a death eater stunned him, you didn't push him into the veil. In fact, if I had listened to you Sirius would still be alive." His voice didn't sound like his, it was strained and cracked with emotion. Hermione pulled out of his arms.

"It isn't your fault either Harry! You went to the Department of Mysteries because you cared about Sirius. You were trying to save him. Voldemort played a dirty trick Harry and that isn't your fault! Harry we're not going anywhere, not even to the Black Manor, until you believe that Sirius's death isn't your fault." Hermione poked Harry so hard in her frustration, that he almost fell off the bed in surprise. When he righted himself, he glanced behind Hermione and eyed the door wistfully. If only he could run from the room, or if only he could seek sanctuary underneath the beneath the bed like Crookshanks had wisely done. He didn't feel ready to talk about what had happened. A sharp pain pierced his gut every time he thought about Sirius. The only thing was, despite Hermione's tear streaked, flushed face and her red, puffy eyes, she was glowing with fierce determination. Harry swallowed dryly.

"Hermione I'm sorry, but I can't." Hermione's eyes welled up with unshed tears, but she did not cry.

"Why?" Hermione put her face into her hands. She gazed back at Harry suddenly feeling ashamed of herself.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't force you to talk or to believe something you don't, but listen. I can't shake this feeling that you need to talk to someone soon. It doesn't have to be me, it could be anyone, Ron, Professor Lupin. As long as you talk soon. Emotions aren't meant to be kept bottled up inside of you Harry, sooner or later it will cause a catastrophic explosion that no one needs right now. I know that you think you are the cause of Sirius's death, but that just isn't true Harry. You just said that I shouldn't blame myself for his death, so why should you? I'm sorry." With that Hermione backed out completely from Harry's arms and sat on the window seat. She had recognized the grateful look in Harry's emerald eyes and she could not help from feeling disappointed. She had been wishing that Harry would choose her to confide in. Now that she thought about it, she should have expected Harry to trust Ron more than he trusted her. After all, if it wasn't for that stupid troll in first year Harry or Ron wouldn't look at her twice. Part of her was screaming that she was dumb for thinking that, but the other larger part believed that it was true. Sniffing, Hermione drove back her tears forcefully. Harry probably already was considering her as unhappy and as whiny as Cho had been. Lately, Hermione had been feeling depressed, everyone had since the death of Sirius. To her surprise Harry sat next to her. He turned her chin so they were facing each other.

"I've been really stupid lately Hermione. I've certainly made a lot of stupid mistakes and I still believe that I was at least partially responsible for Sirius's death, but I'm not about to make another stupid mistake. Hermione, you and Ron are my best friends, you especially stuck by me no matter what and I am not going to forget that. When I feel ready to discuss this I'll go to you and Ron first." Harry said. His eyes were watery as well. Hermione turned her head toward the side, so that Harry's hand dropped in his lap.

"You don't have to do that. If you don't want to tell me that's okay. I knew that you'd rather want to talk to Ron anyway." She mumbled, staring at the blue carpeted floor. Harry's voice, because it sounded so shocked and more than a little angry, caused Hermione to peer back at Harry's face.

"Why do you think that?" He asked, his voice getting slightly louder. Hermione laughed bitterly. Her throat was really starting to hurt now. She knew she should stop herself from saying what she was going to say next, but it was pointless. Once you start a train wreck, it's very hard to stop it.

"Would you honestly have been my friend if the mountain troll hadn't attacked me in our first year? Everyone just thought I was a bossy know-it-all." She hugged her knees to her chest and placed her chin on them.

"Hermione who knows what could have happened? If Ron and I were given a chance to get to know you I'm sure that we would still be friends. I know that I would have. You're smart, caring, fun when you want to be, loyal…" Hermione cocked her head and blushed.

"Thanks for that Harry. I would have ended up being friends with you and Ron anyway. How could I not?" The sincerity in her voice surprised Hermione, but it felt right. Ron was funny and unpredictable, he always brightened up her day. Harry was another thing entirely. It was hard to interpret her feelings that she had for Harry. Out of habit Hermione made a movement as if to hug him, but she stopped herself. Boys were always uncomfortable when girls hugged them, especially when the girls happened to be there friends. Harry leaned forward and hugged Hermione tightly.

"Thanks for this." He kissed her cheek and let go of her. She was stunned. An electric shock had coursed through her. Mostly it was from surprise, she had kissed Harry's and Ron's cheek upon occasion, but they never returned the favor. The other smaller part was a confusing web of emotions, emotions that she quickly ignored. Thankfully Hermione did not have enough time to dwell on it because she saw the corner of a white envelope from Harry's front pocket.

"What the heck?!" Todd strode into the room. His face was bright red from anger. His eyes flicked from Hermione's tear stained face to Harry's panicked one that was close to Hermione's. By Todd's counts he was too near, way too near.

"Hermione did he do anything to you? Did he touch you?" Before Hermione got a chance to answer Todd faced Harry.

"You… If you touched my sister I'll kill you!" Harry didn't speak, but he stared defiantly into Todd's eyes. This had gone too far. Hermione stood up, pushing Todd back, which was difficult to do as he was almost a full foot taller than her.

"He didn't do anything Todd! We were just talking! I'm crying from laughter, alright? These are tears of happiness! We were talking about the how funny Edward looked. Get out please." With that Hermione managed to slam the door in Todd's face. She took a deep breath and sat back down next to Harry. Todd opened the door again stubbornly.

"The door stays open." Hermione shook her head in embarrassment. Todd was way too protective of her. When she was nine years old a bunch of bullies had followed her home. Pulling her hair and taunting at her until she reached her front lawn. That was when Todd came running out at full steam. He chased the four teenagers down the street, cursing and shouting threats. Hermione wasn't bothered after that.

Ron would have a field day if he had seen what had happened. People thought Todd being overprotective was hilarious, amusing, sweet even. They usually came off sounding like Snaggle Puss. Actually, now that Hermione thought about it Ron and Todd would get along nicely. They at least shared one attribute, both were too protective of their sisters and both were not aware of it. Hermione's thoughts were interrupted by what suspiciously sounded like a snort of laughter in Harry's direction. She glared at Harry in disbelief.

"Todd's nice. Very welcoming, quite charming really." Hermione laughed, normally to Harry's relief.

"If you're not ready to talk, can we at least read the letter Tonks gave you?" Harry nodded slowly and very reluctantly, he had a feeling that he knew what was in the letter. It wasn't something he wanted to face. Achingly slowly, Harry withdrew the crumpled envelope from his pocket. Suddenly, a loud pop echoed throughout the room. Someone had apparated next to Hermione's bed.