Holy bananas! I am actually updating a story instead of endlessly posting new fics! Lol, sorry guys, I have always had issues with staying focused, and lately have been finding myself coming up with multiple fic ideas at once. I'm trying to update some of my existing fics for those of you waiting.
Curls and Kisses
It was turning into one of the stranger Saturdays Hermione had gone through in quite some time. It started with Luna, which should have hinted at how the day was going to play out. She was woken up by the sounds of the dreamy blonde going through her trunk and dresser.
"Wake up Sunshine, we have a full day ahead of us."
Sunshine… Hermione always thought the pet name Luna used on her was much more suited to the girl herself. Her light porcelain skin, bright baby blue eyes, and pale blonde hair. Sitting up in bed, she gave her friend a bleary eyed once over. Her long blonde hair was in smooth waves, some thin braids scattered throughout it. Those bright wide eyes of hers seemed to glow in the early morning light that filtered through the towers windows.
"Luna, Darling-"
She stopped once her eyes settled on clothes that were spread across the end of her bed. Her clothes to be exact. A very short red long sleeved dress, thigh high black velvet boots, and sheer black tights. Raising an eyebrow she looked back towards Luna.
"I know that I have plans today… What exactly is going on with you today?"
Luna merely beamed back at her, that lovely sunny smile of hers.
"Also, I do not believe I shared my plans with you, so-"
"It's a day of red." The blonde interrupted.
And that was that, Hermione knew that's all she would get out of the girl. Cats and Luna Lovegood never give straight answers. With a sigh Hermione pushed her hair back out of her face and got up to get ready for the day. She had planned to wear something else, this outfit just the tiniest bit much for school. But with her black robes, left open, it would make it presentable, yet still chic.
After a morning wake up call from her best friend. Her only friend really, and having her outfit for the day chosen for her as if she was still a child, they made their way down to breakfast. Not a moment after having taken a seat, with Luna giving up her usual place next to Hermione, to sit across from her instead. Hermione found herself surrounded. The two ginger twins from Gryffindor had sat on either side of her, both smiling handsomely. A day for red indeed!
"Hello Gentlemen..."
Hermione eyed the two shrewdly. They were tricksters both, though neither had tried anything on her since her 3rd year. A telescope of their engineering had ended up in her bag, and when she went to use it, she had received a punch to the eye. In retaliation, the twins had found themselves conjoined 2 weeks later. Quite literally stuck hip to hip with each other. And only able to speak if the other was not speaking. It took the Professors nearly 2 weeks to break through her charms, and unstick them. A point of pride for Hermione.
Though it seemed her gagging spell had only gone on to make them more annoying, as proved shortly.
"Hello" Started the twin on her right.
"Beautiful." Finished the twin on her left.
It wasn't exactly a secret what had happened between the 3 of them, the whole school knew. But none of them had spoken up when asked by Professors and Headmaster about the black eye, and sticking jinx. They all feigned innocence, preferring to settle the score personally. The Professors had their suspicions, of course, but couldn't prove anything when no student came forward with the truth.
A respectful truce had come out of the ordeal, and they had left each other alone since. Hermione glanced from one to the other.
"What brings you two fine men over to our neck of the woods?"
"Two things really." Replied the twin on her left.
"Hello Fred." Luna glanced over at the twin on her right, Fred apparently, just as he was opening his mouth to speak and finish his brothers sentence.
"Ah- Hello Lovegood." He replied, clearly caught off guard by the brightly smiling Witch across the table from him.
"How did you know I'm not George?"
Luna looked at him reproachfully.
"Because your Fred. Would you like some french toast?"
George looked at the Blonde shrewdly, as she set a plate in front of his brother and started filling it with food. He leaned over to whisper in Hermione's ear.
"That one is trouble, mark my words."
Hermione almost laughed. The nerve of a Weasley, specifically this Weasley, to call someone else 'trouble.' The blond soon had his twin locked in conversation and George had no choice but to go through with whatever this was about on his own.
"Well Hermione, you don't mind if I call you Hermione do you?"
Arching an eyebrow at the tall young Wizard beside her, she simply nodded at him and made a motion with her hand to continue.
"Thank you dear. Well you see Hermione." He continued. "It has come to our attention that a certain member of our family is a complete Prat."
"This has just come to your attention?"
She snarked back. George laughed before throwing an arm over her shoulder, pulling her close.
"Gred! Did you hear that?"
Fred turned from Luna to face the other two. Watching in amusement as Hermione tried to disentangle herself from his brother.
"Hermione here cracked a joke! I never thought I would see the day!"
"I always knew she had it in her, that prank she played on us couple years back was devilishly clever."
Hermione finally managed to get Georges arm off of her, only to have Fred jabbing her in her ribs with his elbow. Touching, to much touching! Gryffindor's had no sense of personal space whatsoever!
"Hey there gents, what did I miss?"
And then Harry Bloody Potter was sitting down, at the Ravenclaw table across from her, right next to Luna. This was all surely his fault!
"Hello Harry, would you like some french toast?" Luna smiled up prettily at the raven haired boy beside her.
"Why thank you Luna, I would love some french toast."
Luna started making him a plate as well, just as she had done with Fred. Hermione knew better than to do anything other than go along with the girl. It really was the only way to deal with her, so she politely passed some fresh cut strawberries and bananas over and placed 2 heaping spoon fulls on his plate, before pushing an empty plate in front of George as well, and slowly filling it up for him. Harry and George blinked in surprise.
"Harry, these Birds are amazing!" Fred banged his fork on the table, "None of the girls over in Gryffindor worry about us eating, or having delicious French Toast." Harry and George nodded along, both with surprisingly serious faces. Boys… Hermione couldn't help but sigh to herself. Eating was always serious business for them.
Turning back to Luna, Fred grinned sweetly at the girl. "Luna these are first rate, I swear the food at our own table doesn't taste nearly as good. I think I will need to take all my meals here from now on."
Hermione hoped to God he was joking. She even sent a silent prayer up to the heavens, the first time in years, for him to be jesting. Before she could even do a discreet sign of the cross, another person was crawling over the bench, to sit on the other side of Luna. And now the 2 girls, who usually ate alone, social outcasts in their house, outcast in the whole school really, were surrounded.
"Diggory! What brings you over here?"
Hermione rubbed at her ear, were Fred had just yelled into it, while reaching over her for some more syrup. Cedric Diggory, the handsome Head Boy, nodded at everyone present, a pleasant smile on his face.
"Good morning everyone, Hermione, Luna." He bowed his head to the two girls. Such a gentleman. "I saw you all here, and it looked like fun, I didn't want to be left out."
And then he was blinking down in surprise at a full plate Hermione and Luna put in front of him. French Toast with fruit in the shape of a smiley face, whip cream, and a dollop of chocolate hazelnut spread.
"Hey!" Fred elbowed Hermione's poor ribs again. 'How come his is nicer than mine?"
Hermione sniffed, and discreetly, (or not so discreetly) stomped on his foot under the table.
"Because Cedric is Headboy, and not a pain in my ass."
The table laughed as Fred winced in pain, and all of a sudden, it wasn't so bad. It was still a tad overwhelming, and sweet Lady and Lord of the Sky was it loud, but it was a bit fun. And Luna was beaming, and that had Hermione's heart melting. She didn't need people, Hermione was fine on her own, but Luna did. She deserved this. Hermione could deal with the loudness, the lack of personal space, and two Weasleys, if for no other reason than to see her best friend giggling and enjoying herself. Making friends.
All too soon it seemed to be ruined though. Hermione felt a chill go up her back, and the table seemed to go quite. She turned on the bench to find Ronald Weasley standing a few feet behind her, his cheeks flaming red, his arms crossed defensively across his chest as he glared at the floor in front of him. A stern looking Dean Thomas was beside him, pushing him forward none too gently.
"Ah yes." George continued. "As I was saying before, it came to our attention our little brother has been a complete asshole to you. We wished to convey our sincerest apologies on behalf of the Weasley clan. Well Ron, do you have something to say?"
Ronalds blush now extended from his cheeks down his neck, disappearing into his shirt and robes.
"Um, that is." He paused and took a deep breath and finally met Hermione's eyes. "My brothers and Harry are right, I have behaved disgustingly, and have been an utter prat. If someone had treated Ginny or any of our Witches over in Gryffindor the way I have been treating you, I would have pushed them down the moving stairs by now. I'm sorry Granger."
Hermione was struck mute. She wasn't expecting this, she had never expected to get an apology from Ronald Weasley, not only that, but he actually seemed to mean it! It was an honest to god heartfelt apology on his disgusting behavior. She could only nod at him, no words would come out.
The boy in front of her let out a sigh, and nodded back at her, a small friendly smile on his lips, his cheeks still pink.
"Hey is that french toast?"
And then he ruined it. With a scoff, Dean Thomas threw a wave Hermione's way before dragging the idiot back towards their own table.
"Wait Dean! We don't have any french toast at our table!"
Hermione turned back to the table, The Gryffindor's around her rolling their eyes, and sending dirty looks at the retreating back of their brother and house mate. Cedric continued to eat his french toast while look around at everyone curiously.
Turning back to George, Hermione asked, "And the second thing?"
He blinked at her a few times, confused.
"You said two things brought you here. What was the second reason?"
And then he was smiling that wicked trickster smile at her.
"Why to thank you of course."
"Thank me?" Hermione stared at him, a bit lost and wary on where this was going.
"Of course we wanted to thank you." Fred on her other side replied. Oh bother, they were doing it again. "We had to thank you for wearing all those adorable short Muggle skirts and dresses you wear."
Back and forth the two of them continued on.
"Every since you started here."
"Sashaying around in delightfully pretty and bewitching Muggle garb."
"The trend has caught on!"
"And we teenage boys salute you!" They finished the last sentence together, bringing their hands up at the same time in a jaunty mimied salute.
Hermione groaned and glared at the two reproachfully before looking across the table. Harry only smiled back at her, his eyes dancing in amusement. Cedric had the decency to blush at the very least, and wouldn't meet her eyes. Though he seemed to be trying to hide a smile of his own behind his hand.
"I dress perfectly respectable, thank you very much!" She was definitely not pouting, no sir, not even a little. Sure her clothing was a bit more runway than day-wear. Plus her legs were long! It's not her fault skirts seemed so short on her, she always made sure to wear hose underneath.
"Of course you do Hermione, no one is saying otherwise." Cedric finally chimed in, to put the girl at ease.
Fred brought his hand up and waved it, as if to say so-so, while smiling devilishly. "You walk the line between very respectable and sexy quite well, but the other girls don't! Which we are forever grateful for." he finished with a grin and a high-five over her head with his brother.
Hermione looked down at her plate. This! This was why she didn't have friends except Luna, people were exhausting, and annoying blast it all! She hated people, especially teenage boys. They were just the worst.
Breakfast didn't last much longer after that, slowly everyone went their separate ways until Hermione left Luna and Fred alone at the table. The two in a deep discussion about the Muggle sport Hockey of all things. Well more like Luna was talking about it while simultaneously confusing it with soccer somehow , and Fred seemed to actually be listening quite avidly. Hermione just didn't have the heart to correct her friend, plus she had a schedule to stick to.
Hurrying to catch up to Potter, she reached him just as the shortest and youngest Weasley was approaching him and reaching out to grab his arm. No that just would not do, Hermione had plans today and a very strict timetable to keep.
Something no one knew about Hermione, except perhaps the Headmaster, as she had her suspicions about him and that damn Hat being in cahoots. Regardless, the thing is that Hermione had been a Hat stall. Five minutes the hat sat on her head, and the real reason was not that he couldn't decide where to put her, but that he wasn't allowed to put her where he wanted. Hermione had to sit and listen to the blasted thing whine for five minutes.
No matter whatever charms where placed on the Sorting Hat to make it sentient, it was still unable to sort a Muggle-Borns into the house of Snakes. Slytherin could not refuse her kind entrance to the school, but it seemed he could ban them from his House. And so Hermione ended up in Ravenclaw, which suited her just fine. She couldn't imagine how much worse her already lonely school life would have been if she had to be surrounded by bigoted Pure-Blood prats her entire school career on top of everything else.
So though she was quite happy with her sorting, there was no denying that she had her Slytherin moments, such as now. Dashing up to Potter, she called out to him when she was only a step away.
"Harry, could yo-"
Thankfully Hermione timed it perfectly as she really had no clue how she was going to end that sentence. He turned to face her surprised, and she managed to 'trip' before she could finish. Stumbling between him and Ginny Weasley, his quick seeker reflexes kicked in, as he grabbed her around the waist to steady her.
They were close, her chest almost touching his, his large hands circled around the smallest part of her waist. Her height blocked out the diminutive red-head behind her. She looked up at him through her charmed thick lashes. A hint of a blush (also charmed) on her cheeks. She blinked up at him, twice, slowly, her eyes wide. (A move practiced in the mirror last night, to get it just right)
"Thanks Potter, that's the second time you saved me now."
Behind her, she heard Ginny mutter, "Second?"
Thankfully Potter still had nothing but Hermione in his sights. His pupils were blown wide, only a small ring of green could be seen framing them. He squeezed her waist, almost pulling her closer.
"I told you to call me Harry."
With a smile she bit her bottom lip, drawing his eyes downwards
"Walk me to the Library?"
He was nodding before she even finished her sentence. Ah, teenage boys, how easily their hormones blinded them. Taking his arm, the same arm Ginny had been reaching out for, she made to turn, before acting as if she just noticed Ginny behind her for the first time.
"Oh! Jenny, was there something you needed?"
She looked down at the petite Gryffindor, moving closer to Potter in a show of giving the other girl room. She curled both her hands more securely around his bicep, as if to steady herself. Ginny's eyes followed her hands as she did so, her eyebrows drawing down in a frown before she looked up to meet Hermione's eyes. She was easy to read, like all Gryffindors she wore her heart on her sleeve. Confusion, then suspicion crossed over her face before landing on a simmering anger. The girl had an infamous temper after all.
"It's Ginny, actually."
"Oh, I'm sorry." Hermione looked up at Potter then, she affected an embarrassed and anxious expression. Harry's eyes softened and he smiled at her encouragingly. He placed his hand over one of hers that rested in the crook of his elbow in friendly support. (Oh yeah, he definitely had a bit of a Hero complex.)
Ginny narrowed her eyes at Hermione before turning to Harry.
"We were gonna play a pick up game of Quidditch with the Badgers, you coming Harry?"
She smiled up at the Boy Who lived, her hands on her hips, her feet planted wide. The fool girl. She was his best friends little sister. If she wanted him to ever look at her as anything other than that, she really needed to change her presentation. She really was pretty, with enviably shiny straight hair. It took Hermione 40 minutes alone to Charm her curls into nice neat smooth ringlets each morning.
Ginny grew up surrounded by brothers though, and it clearly showed. She was the type of girl that made male friends easily, but not boyfriends, for all that she was a looker. Some men loved brash woman that swore like sailors, and that was fine. But if she wanted a bloke like Harry Potter, she really had to switch things up. Harry had enough male friends, and was raised by his godfather with no female interference. In short, he had a distinct lack of women in his life. A feminine touch is what was needed to woo a boy like him. Hermione almost felt sorry for the girl. Almost.
"Yeah, that sounds like fun. I'm going to walk Hermione here to the Library and then I'll meet you guys up at the Pitch, yeah?"
Ginny snorted and rolled her eyes.
"Did little Miss Know-it-all forget her way to one of the few places she ever goes outside of class?"
Hermione almost smiled, This was playing out better than she thought. Smoothing her expression, she let go of Potters arm and turned towards him. Her face set in stone, she gave him a cold brittle smile, and took a step away from him.
"If you will excuse me Har-… Potter."
Yup, make a show of putting your walls back up Hermione. She watched his his eyebrows creased, a small hurt look crossing his face.
"Go ahead and go hang out with your friends. I can find my way just fine after all."
And she turned away, she hadn't even taken her third step away from them when Potter started yelling at the short red Witch.
"Seriously Ginny? It's not enough that your brother has been a grade A tosser to her lately, but now you have to go and start taking jabs at her?"
She kept walking, she heard Ginny sputter, but before she could get anything out Harry interrupted her.
"I thought you were better than that. What ever, count me out, I'm not in the mood for that game of pick up now. Hey Hermione! Wait up!"
In just moments, a long strong arm was thrown over her shoulder, and he smiled down at her. She arranged her features into one of shock.
"Potter.."
"Ah! What did I tell you about calling me Potter huh?" And he pulled her in closer to his side, and brought his other hand up to tug on one of her curls.
"Call me Potter again, and I will pick you up and carry you to the Library tossed over my shoulder. Imagine what Madam Pince would say!"
She let a small smile through, and made sure her cheeks pinked up.
"You wouldn't dare!"
"Try me Doll-Face."
She laughed as they walked out of the Great Hall. Looking over her shoulder discreetly and catching Ginny's eyes, she smirked at the girl. Her face ended up turning as red as her hair, it was glorious to watch.
Sorry it is such a short chapter, I usually like to get at the very least 5k words per chap, but I am currently working on updating 2 other stories and my head space is stuck on them. I didn't want to extend this chapter and compromising it, just to up the word count.
How are you guys liking a Harry raised by Sirius? I just feel he would be more confident and flirty with Sirius's influence on him growing up. But I would like to think he would have that same kindness about him and aversion to bullies and bullying in general. Also, as always, I love to dress Hermione like she is walking down the runway. Sorry, it's my thing. She already doesn't have many friends, is a know it all, and everyone thinks she is a frigid bitch, the least I can do is dress her well!
Also I know I promised some fun lemon in this chapter, but it was too soon! I needed to build up the characters more, which I struggle with in my stories, and do some world building as well. Next chapter we should be getting into some 'fun situations' though. Fair warning though, I am trying to update 2 other stories, This was not supposed to happen, and, Luck, before I get back to this one.