A/N: Alrighty, I hope I canmake these daily updates a habit! Some deliciouslyintriguing plot twists are forming in the story... but you'll have to wait a few chappies to get to them.
Oh, and anyone who is waiting on pins and needles for HG/SB to hook up, don't hold your breath. It is going to take awhile for things to develop. I just don't think I can stay true to their characters and rush into a romance. Plus I am an aweful tease. But Don't worry it will happen.
A very special THANK YOU to my beautifully talented beta, and official wall that I will bounce Ideas off of - Padfootz-Luvr.
Chapter 3 - Good Morning, Good Morning
The golden sunlight peeked through the curtains of the bedroom Hermione slept in, heat falling on her body, warming her face and gently nudging her awake. She stirred as she slowly drifted out of dreamland and into the land of the conscious. She stretched her arms above her head, yawning for good measure, as she peeked at the clock on the bedside table.
"Seven-Thirty on the nose," Hermione said to herself, pleased with accuracy of her internal clock.
Hermione had always been an early riser, relishing in the hours she could spend alone reading, studying, or just lost in thought. This morning, Hermione decided cooking breakfast for the boys was a worthy use of her very valuable alone time.
Hermione got out of bed, shivering as her bare feet met the freezing hardwood floors of the old house. She crossed to the dresser, pulling out some clothes, and made her way to the bathroom in the hall. After her very thorough morning routine of brushing her teeth, washing her face, and untangling her matted curls she stepped into the steaming hot shower, sighing contentedly. As was her custom in the shower, Hermione's mind began to drift finding its way to the previous days' events.
She and Ron sat at the kitchen table, in shocked silence, for what seemed like hours as both their Headmaster and their best friend explained to Sirius his current situation upstairs. The whole time they waited Hermione was internally berating herself for being so careless. How could she have let those boys rub off on her so much? They were the dangerously curious ones, not her! How could she be so stupid? Needless to say she was quite relieved when Harry finally made his way downstairs, at nearly midnight, and filled them in. Hermione was thrilled that Sirius would be staying in the present, partly because Harry would have his Godfather back (sort of), but mostly because it meant that she hadn't screwed up too terribly.
Hermione stepped out of the shower and muttered a quick drying spell, thankful that she was of legal age to do magic outside of Hogwarts. She took a long look in the mirror and sighed.
"It's a lost cause," She thought to herself, taking in her appearance. She was a very tiny girl, slightly shorter then average, and terribly thin. The previous year had wreaked havoc on her body with all of the training and stress. She, like Harry, couldn't eat when feeling intense emotion and had therefore lost a lot of weight. Now that the war was over and things were settling down, she hoped she could start paying more attention to her health...starting with her appetite. She pulled on her faded blue jeans and white tee shirt and set her attention to her hair. It was getting very long and Hermione thought a great deal about cutting it. However she knew that the length had tamed her hair from wild and frizzy to elegant soft curls. Consequently she let her hair hang as she always did, coming down to the sleeve of her shirt.
Hermione made her way downstairs and into the kitchen, surprised at the sight that greeted her.
"Harry! You're up awfully early," Hermione said to her friend.
"Yeah, well last night I slept well for the first time in…well, in years actually," Harry replied, looking surprised at his own response. "So I was feeling rested enough and thought I'd come downstairs to see you."
"Well, thanks for the company. Want any breakfast?" Hermione asked pulling out pans from the cabinet.
"Please and thanks!" Ron answered for him, entering the kitchen, looking pleasantly disheveled.
"Well, this is a surprise. I'm not used to you boys being up untilafter you smell the food." Hermione commented as she began cracking eggs into the pan.
"Hermy, will you do some pancakes and toast while your at it?" Ron asked, using the nickname Grawp had given her long ago.
Hermione just rolled her eyes, pretending to be irritated, but secretly grateful that her two best friends were alive and well. She would never let them know it, but she would have made a Christmas feast right then and there if they'd asked for it. She was just so happy that they had all made it through the war.
"You know what's funny?" Ron asked , starting in on an apple, "You-know-who always waited until the end of the year to pull something! I mean like we weren't gonna figure it out eventually. In fact, I had bet that he would've waited until the end of our seventh year for the final attack, like some big finale or something."
Harry laughed, "You know, you're right Ron! Why did he always wait until the end of the year? I mean, was that the only time his calendar was free or something? Like 'Wormtail, tell me what's on the schedule for June?' 'Well master, you've got a family reunion on the twentieth, then you have to kill the boy-who-would-not-die, shortly followed by complete world domination.'"
Hermione was nearly in tears from laughter by the time she added, "Maybe he went into hibernation during the winter, or some kind of evil-villain hyper sleep."
The trio laughed, fully worthy of their carefree attitude towards serious and dangerous events from their past. They deserved the laughter; in fact, they needed it. They had barely survived the past six months, and the only thing that kept them sane was joking about things that none of them honestly found funny. Their laughter grew and eventually stirred the sleeping man upstairs, and drew him into the kitchen to see what was going on.
"What's so funny?" Sirius mumbled, still groggy.
The trio stopped laughing immediately and exchanged glances. What should they say? What should they do? Was he okay? Hermione didn't know how to react. There is no rule anywhere telling you the proper etiquette for this situation. Nowhere is there any information in any book saying, "When you wake the sleeping memory of a dead man, be sure to…", and Hermione, for all of her smarts and reasoning, was lost if there was no book to reference something in.
Sirius, not missing a beat, was the first to speak, "What's the matter? You all look like you've just seen a ghost. I mean come on, your laughing was loud enough to wake the dead...Honestly, you're looking at me like I'm dead man walking or something."
Hermione couldn't help herself she exploded in a fit of giggles, overcome by Sirius' witty and timely use of clichés. The boys too, realized that he had in fact been teasing them, and joined Hermione in her laughter.
Four people sat around a kitchen table, full from a good breakfast, and happy to be alive. Sirius, who had always been a care-free spirit had decided to just go along with this new life. He had, after all, gotten what he had asked for: adventure, excitement, mystery. Although it hadn't been what he'd had in mind, he knew this life brought more opportunity then a life spent imprisoned and then tragically cut short, and he was grateful.
A great barn owl appeared at the window above the sink and tapped rapidly to be let in. Harry stood, took the letters from its claw and closed the window behind him.
"Hogwarts letters!" Harry exclaimed passing one to each occupant at the table, even Sirius.
Ron and Hermione looked at Sirius, curious as to why he had also received a letter. Sirius simply ignored their questioning stares and opened his letter.
Mr. Black,
I do hope that you have given thought to my offer. Term starts next week, and I desperately need a Transfiguration professor. I trust that you will make the right decision and get back to me shortly.
On a lighter note, I have spoken with Arthur Wealsey and his official response can be found in the envelope.
Have a pleasant afternoon,
Albus Dumbledore.
Sirius smiled at the old man thinking that when he had said 'I trust that you will make the right decision' he had really meant, 'I trust you will accept the teaching position'. he put that letter aside and opened the one from Arthur.
Dear Albus,
I hope this letter finds you in good health. I must say, that you gave me quite a shock with that last letter you sent! Is it really true? Sirius Black, alive and well? I am so thrilled! Of coarse no charges will be pressed, seeing as we both know that he actually didn't kill all of those people, but I've released an official response that will hopefully appease the public.
"Mr. Black cannot and will not be charged for crimes that he did not have the opportunity to commit. He is a free and innocent man, and shall be treated as such."
How's that? I visited Remus Lupin last week in the hospital and I am pleased to see his recovery is coming along nicely. I daresay that he will be in good health and great spirits be the time start of term rolls around. I think that you've made a wise choice in giving him his old position back.
Best Wishes,
Arthur Weasley
Sirius put down the letter and glanced up at six eyes focused, unblinking, at him. He smiled inwardly, making his decision.
"Are those your school lists?" He asked, knowing the answer, "Why don't we go to Diagon Alley today. You need new books, and I am in desperate need of some clothes."
Harry ignored Sirius' suggestion and asked, "So, are you taking the job?"
"He's been offered a job!" Hermione and Ron said, almost in unison.
"I'm gonna run up and grab a quick shower. Ron, you look about my size, can I borrow some clothes?" Sirius asked, ignoring the trio's questions. "Thanks mate. You boys better get dressed. And Hermione, since your already ahead of the game, could you write a quick note to Dumbledore. Tell him 'I've got nothing better to do.' He'll know what I mean."
"Sirius! Are you taking the job or not?" Harry yelled at Sirius' back. His Godfather was already in the hallway heading for the stairs.
"Shh, Harry! You'll wake Mother!" Sirius replied in a mock whisper, and disappeared up the stairs.
A/N2: I couldn't resist putting that conversation about Voldemort in there. I have been wondering why he waits until the end of the summer for ages now! I just thought it was funny that JKR never has the characters pick up on that.