Hermione had just got in from spending all day with Professor McGonagall, speaking about the Avada Kedavra curse. Professor McGonagall had then offered Hermione a job. Hermione was delighted but declined; she couldn't get her head round what she had done to Sirius and Remus. It was only tinkering, she had insisted. Hermione thought back to when Lord Voldemort had first tried to murder Harry: love had saved Harry. Hermione believed love had made tinkering go a long way.
"Kreacher?" Hermione called softly, as she made her way up the stairs.
She sat on the stairway. Kreacher appeared with a pop.
"Yes, Miss Hermione?"
Thinking about Remus and Sirius, Hermione spoke.
"What are your views on homosexuality?"
"Well… that depends," answered Kreacher, confused. "May Kreacher ask from where the topic arose?"
"Yeah. But I'd better not tell you, Kreacher… can houselves fall in love?"
Kreacher's ears drooped.
"I do not know - I serve my masters."
"Oh," Hermione thought. "Can I give you permission to?!"
"I suppose so. Still, I don't know what you're doing with this curiosity over homosexuality and love. You just be careful."
"Okay, thanks. And I give you permission to fall in love and have babies and stuff!"
Kreacher dissaparated leaving Hermione alone on her step, thinking for a while.
"Hello."
Sirius came up the stairs and sat down next to Hermione on the stair.
"We've got a visitor coming next Saturday. Guess who?"
"Umm… Dumbledore?"
"Nope. I wish… it's Bella!"
"Bellatrix Lestrange! Your cousin!"
"Yup."
"I thought she's dead."
"Not anymore: horcruxes. She's supposed to be fine now, laying low. She must have gone through immense pain to get back into one piece – remorse! Haha!"
"Youch. Why's she coming?"
"She just is. I wonder what she'll say when she sees me: that stupid bitch killed me! You don't want me to avenge me, do you?"
Hermione grinned evilly.
"Of course! But if anyone is going to, Harry should."
There was a huge jolt in Hermione's stomache as she realised something.
"Have you told Harry she's coming?!"
"Nope."
"Are you going to?!"
"Nope."
Hermione's face caused Sirius to explode with laughter.
"Relax, Hermione!"
"No! So you have told Harry? Or is Bellatrix Lestrange not really coming?"
"Ha! She is coming and I'm leaving it a surprise for Harry! I forbid you to tell Harry!"
Hermione glowered, "You can't stop me."
Sirius raised his eyebrow, "I know I can stop you."
Harry appeared on the landing above Hermione and Sirius.
"What's for dinner, you two?"
Hermione spoke to Harry without breaking eye contact with Sirius, "Whatever you put on."
"Oh. Good," Harry said, then turned his attention to Sirius. "Was Chobits good then?"
Sirius presented the three books cheerfully. He had liked them – although he was confused over how Hermione thought they were relevant to him.
"After reading it I thought Chi was just like Hermione," Sirius stated matter-of-factly.
"What?! A gorgeous humanoid with weird ears and big anime eyes?!" spluttered Hermione, laughing.
An irritated snort escaped Hermione. Sirius wasn't getting her point – not that Hermione was like Chi – but that Sirius and Remus just couldn't accept each other! Hermione had a dark thought: could Sirius be homophobic but in love with a were-man at the same time?
"So is that a complement?" continued Hermione curiously.
"Maybe it is! Does Ronald consider you to be a super-hot manga character?"
"Probably not."
Harry left to make some beans on toast.
Hermione knew she needed to delve into the marauders' past to find what was preventing possible romance between Sirius and Remus.
"Go and help Harry in the kitchen," Hermione urged Sirius. "He's missed you… so much."
Hermione met Sirius's gaze again.
"I'd better tidy my room – I'm bound to end up bunking with Bellatrix if you get your evil way!"
"You'd better!"
Sirius laughed, but it faltered.
"Did Harry really miss me?"
"You have no idea."