Chapter 4

Edited: 01/01/17 8:09 PM

Warnings: Basic plot, humor, mild angst/anger

"So you see Professor, that's why I was wondering about exactly what the text was specifying."

"Hermione, please, I'm not your Professor anymore." She blushed in embarrassment, clearing her throat as she fiddled with the book on wards she had asked him about.

"Yes, well, that is when you are most memorable to me. I will try and remember to call you by your name, Prof - Remus." Remus couldn't stop smiling; remembering them all as young children always did that to him.

"It is quite alright, I am glad to have made such an impression on you. As I said before though, when it comes to blood wards, it all depends on what is being specified in what you wish to ward from. Like Malfoy Manor, you can only be allowed in if you are personally invited by a Malfoy themselves, which means in the wards, they have used their blood to key in specifics; leaving them absolute in their construction – understand?"

"Yes sir that makes it clearer than this book anyway."

"You are welcome Hermione, anytime." The knock at the doorway broke them from their talk and they both looked over.

"Hello you two, you seen my Godson anywhere?"

"I saw him earlier today headed downstairs for breakfast." Sirius looked to Remus to see if he had. Fighting off the flush when he thought of how he'd slept next to Harry, Remus gave the man a smile.

"Severus mentioned coming by today for a while to see Harry, so I assume they would be in the lounge." The look of anger flashed over Sirius' face as he went on mumbling about how he hated having that man in his house made Remus roll him eyes; Hermione easily mimicking him.

"Is it me or have you noticed Sirius doesn't complain about Snape as much as he use to?" Remus heard Hermione's question but tried to ignore the fact he knew exactly why that was. Sometimes heightened senses weren't the greatest.

"I noticed, but you know Padfoot; he'll do anything for Harry."

(HP)

"Thank you for coming by, Severus. It's always good to see you."

"Likewise, Harry. I'll send some potions over for you as soon as they're finished." Harry nodded his thanks, but stayed silent. He knew that they could become easily addicting, but he hoped he did have to use them too often. Walking Severus towards the floo, they stopped when Sirius entered the room.

"I've looked all over for you, pup. The twins wanted you to help us with something." Harry's eye lit up in mirth and he quickly hugged Severus.

"Better see if I can help then." Without another word, Harry left the two men alone. The silence was quickly broken by Sirius.

"I don't know why you bother to come by Snivellus."

"Still being a child, I see. Maybe you can talk to me when you move past the age of puberty, mutt." Severus had tried to tone down his bantering with his old school bully, for Harry's sake. The boy didn't say it but he could tell it bothered him. The red face of Sirius was ignored as Severus tried to make his leave.

"Don't walk away from me when I'm talking to you!" Severus paused, not even glancing back at the man.

"Talking? Is that what it is you're doing? I could have sworn you were just trying to start a fight with me, which I refuse to partake in. I'm done with your childish games, Black. Grow up." Growling like his grim form, he hurled a hex at the other man who easily brushed it off.

"Really? Attacking me from behind? How cowardice." Severus sneered before leaving through the floo; leaving Sirius with mixed emotions. He'd always hated the Potions Professor. All his life he'd tormented the other man, even after he finally escaped Azkaban; it'd been his goal to see and feel the fire that the man produced with few words and actions. The fighting had been wonderful, filling Sirius with life he didn't know he still had after that abysmal place; though it started to change as the man got closer to Harry. He loved his Godson dearly, finally accepting after a long conversation with Remus that Harry wasn't James; he never would be. It was liberating to spend time with someone who he thought of as his own son, but once Severus started to befriend him; he'd stopped fighting back. Sure, words were tossed; insults slurred, and even a hex or two. But now, it was just a few verbal exclamations and ignorance with a few insults thrown about. It was frustrating him beyond belief that he couldn't bring that fire to the surface anymore.

'I'll be damned if I stop trying though. I just need a new tactic.' With devious thoughts in mind, Sirius headed upstairs to join the twins and Harry in whatever mischief they were concocting this time.

(HP)

"So you see, my brother from another mother,-"

"This will work just right if you happen to convince little Ronnikins to come on through,-"

"And that you haven't seen us all day,-"

"You understand, yes Harry?" He grinned between the twins, more excited than he'd been in a while to do something mischievous. He noticed that Hermione had been acting standoffish and cold, but she refused to talk about it. Whenever he brought it up to Ron, the man busted out in frustration of having no idea why his girlfriend wouldn't even talk to him.

"You guys wouldn't happen to know what's going on between Ron and Hermione, would you?" The twins both shook their heads at the same time, grinning.

"No sir we don't,-"

"But our dear sister might,-"

"As you should know, she knows all in this house,-"

"Even more than dear mum does." Harry nodded, reminding himself to go talk to Ginny later.

"Alright, I'll bring him on through. Just no permanent disfiguration, yeah?"

"Promise Harry!" They both hollered together, hiding off on the sides of the doorway as Harry went off to get Ron. Once he found him, desperately trying to talk to Hermione who blew him off in a cold polite manner, he wrapped his arms around his shoulder.

"Hey Ron, I wanted to talk to you for a bit.'Mione seems to be a bit busy, so I'm sure she won't mind if I steal you for a bit, would you 'Mione?"

"Of course Harry." The dejected look on Ron's face made Harry look to Hermione with eyes that expressed they would be talking after he got Ron to leave. Leading him down the hall back towards the twins, he tried to calm his friend down.

"I don't even know what I did, Harry! She won't even tell me!"

"I know, Ron; don't worry. I'll talk to her and help fix it." Ron sent him a brilliant smile, wrapping his own arm around Harry.

"Thanks mate, you're a life saver."

"I think you mean I saved your doomed sex life."Ron flushed as Harry laughed, patting him on the back.

"I'll meet up with you in a bit, I'll go talk to 'Mione right now and see what's up." Another smile was tossed his way.

"Thanks again Harry."

"No problem Ron." - 'Don't thank me just yet.'

(HP)

"What's going on, Hermione? And don't even think to tell me 'It's nothing Harry.' Also, before you think of redirecting me, I'll just go ask Ginny; so spill." He imitated her, shutting the library door behind him and adding silencing charms. She sat her book down, looking sad and awkward.

"It can't be that bad, can it?" Hermione sighed, brushing her hair from her face. She'd matured since the war, losing some of the baby fat that never seemed to want to leave. Her chest had grown out more, her hips curving deeper. Even her hair was more tamed, pinned back at the nape of her neck.

"It's nothing to do with you Harry. It's between me and Ronald."

"Yeah, well from what he tells me, he has no idea what's going on." This caused her to flush angrily.

"No idea?! No idea! He's the one who made me look a fool Harry! Until he apologizes and pulls his head out of his arse, I have nothing to say to him!" Harry took a step back, remembering why he feared Hermione when she was angry; and beyond glad he wasn't the recipient of said anger now.

"I don't see how Ron made you look like a fool, 'Mione. He doesn't even know what you're upset about." Seeing the tears well up in her eyes made him move forward and wrap her in his arms.

"Talk to me, 'Mione. Everyone's worried, but no one wants to say anything." There was a pregnant pause where he left her to gather herself before continuing.

"After losing my parents...I knew the only home I would have left would be with you and Ronald. It wasn't a bad thing; I love you both dearly. It's just...Ronald gave all the hints that he was going to propose! I even expected it to be sooner than I had originally thought. I had dressed up nicely, you know I don't do that often, but I wanted it to be special. He'd done everything that said he would ask, Harry. Then he...he just came back and said, "What's for dinner?" He didn't even mention how nice I looked; he didn't even look at me! How should I take something like that from someone I want to spend my life with? Who I expected to live my life with after the war ended?" Harry was shocked silent, he didn't realize that it had been that kind of situation. Ron had spoken to him about it before, during their hunt for Horcruxes. He had told him it was a brilliant idea, that Hermione would love it; but that he should wait until the war was over. A fresh start during a better time of their lives; which Ron had agreed to wholeheartedly. He had even told Harry all about the ring he was going to buy the moment he graduated. Why hadn't Ron gone through with it?

"'Mione...I...I have no earthly idea why he didn't. We talked a time or two about your relationship and he seemed like he was in it for the long haul."

"I did too Harry, that's what I don't understand. What did I do wrong? Was I being too pushy again? Was I not noticing something?" He could feel her getting worked up again and wrapped an arm around her tighter.

"You didn't do anything, 'Mione. You know how clueless he can be. I'm sure he didn't mean to hurt you, 'Mione. He's just as hurt that he doesn't know what's bothering you. How bout I talk to him, but not directly tell him what's going on?" Hermione brushed the tears from her eyes, looking up at Harry.

"You-you'd do that?" He looked at her shocked, pulling her into a big hug as he rocked her. This caused her to laugh and latch to his arm, which in turn made him smile to hear her laughing.

"Duh! Seriously 'Mione, I love you. You're bloody gorgeous, if I was into your bits, I'd steal you from Ron." Hermione busted out laughing, hugging Harry tightly as she remembered walking in on Harry and Ginny when they were discussing Harry's sexuality. She never commented about it, because as she saw it; it wasn't her business how Harry chose to live his life - only that he did it happily.

"Thank you Harry, I appreciate it. All of it." This caused them both to fall into laughter before they both stopped at the yell that rang through the old house.

"What was that?" Harry chuckled, using the flick of his wrist to fling the door open. George and Fred shot by before stopping in the doorway to give Harry two thumbs up before running off in laughter when they heard Ron getting closer.

"Harry, you didn't!" Harry could only laugh as a female version of Ron ran past the doorway.

"I'll bloody castrate the both of you!"

"Ronald Weasley!" They heard Molly holler from somewhere down the hall, causing them both to tumble back on the couch in suffocating laughter.

"I can't believe you did that Harry." He could only grin, gently bumping her with his elbow.

"Why not? It's too much fun not too." They put Hermione's books away before heading downstairs, waiting for Ron to get changed back. Both Harry and Hermione knew Ron was not going to go out to Diagon Alley looking like a woman.

"Bollocks, this bites." Hermione covered her mouth to hide her chuckles while Harry just openly laughed.

"This isn't bloody funny, Harry!" Hermione bit her lip, making herself put on a stern face as the twins came back inside once the threat was over.

"Fred, George. I want you to turn Ronald back this instance." The twins pouted, batting their eyes at her.

"But 'Mione dear,-"

"We don't know how."

"That's right, it was an experiment,-"

"And who better to experiment on than Ickie little Ronnikins?" Harry had to bite back more laughter as Ron fumed; Hermione standing up.

"You two listen carefully. I will not ask again. Turn him back." The smile on her face that she struggled to hide made her seem less serious than she was attempting to be.

"And if we don't,-"

"What shall you do?

"Hang us by our toes,-"

"And have us listen to mum sing?" Both Hermione and Harry tried to bite off more laughter as Fred pretended to sing like Mrs. Weasley while George struggled to cover his ears in feigned horror.

"No, I'll do better. I'll have Lee stop your weekly meetings." The twins froze, their faces turning identical shades of red as Harry and Ron looked on curiously.

"Hah, didn't think I knew, did you? Well, I do. So be good boys now and turn Ronald back. Maybe then I won't have to tell your mum about…" The twins quickly did as Hermione told them, rubbing the back of their necks in embarrassment.

"Don't think this is over dear brother,-"

"Your woman may have saved you this time,-"

"But we know where you sleep." Ron was excited when he was switched back, grabbing his crotch first thing.

"Merlin, they're back." Harry busted out in laughter, Hermione flushing at the implications. Looking to Harry, she warned him he would be in trouble for assisting the twins later.

"Go on you two, before I decide to spill."

"Yes mother!" They ran off laughing, making Hermione shake her head in wonder. She never did understand how she could get the twins to listen so well. Turning back to face the other two men, she scowled.

"Don't even think I'm going to tell you how I did it, 'cause I won't."

"Awhh," they replied in unison pouting. Hermione ignored them, looking back up to the time.

"Alright, I suppose we should head out now. Ginny is going to meet us there." Harry and Ron got up to follow Hermione, heading towards the floo.

"So did you find out anything?" Ron asked quietly, looking up at Hermione with longing affection. Harry felt slightly bad for his friend, but nodded.

"Yeah, I'll talk with you about it later." Another pat to his shoulder and then Ron moved to follow Hermione through the floo.

"Thanks mate."