The morning of September first found all the occupants of Black Manor up with the sun.
Harry stumbled down stairs and fell into one of the chairs at the table where Remus and Sirius were both already sitting. Remus pushed a cup of tea toward Harry, who gladly accepted it and took a drink. "It's early," he stated, his voice still thick with sleep.
Sirius merely nodded, and Remus smiled, "Nice observation," he said cheekily.
Harry stuck his tongue out at his dad and all three men laughed. "Are we doing anything today, besides going to school I mean?" he asked.
"We hadn't thought about it." Sirius said, "Why don't you owl Hermione and see if she wants to floo over and you guys can spend the day together before we head to the school."
Neither of the older men missed the smile that lit up their son's face. "That'd be great!" Harry said happily, headed to the library to write a note to Hermione.
Once the note had been sent and a response was received, Harry sat down on the couch to await Hermione's arrival. It wasn't long before the low flames in the fire flared to life and turned green. Hermione's trunk came through first, then Hermione stepped into the library with Crookshanks' cage in her arms.
"Hermione!" Harry exclaimed, clearly glad to see her.
"Hi Harry," Hermione said with a smile. "I've missed you."
Harry stood and took Crookshanks and sat his cage on the table before giving Hermione a hug. "I've missed you too," he said happily.
Hermione kissed him on the cheek. "Do we have any plans for the day?"
"I hadn't really thought about it. I woke up early this morning and my dads suggested that you and I could spend the day together and then head to the train station together. I hadn't really got past there yet." Harry admitted.
"We've got all kinds of muggle outdoor things out back, I think you two were just too into each other the other day to notice them." Sirius said, his voice teasing. "Hello Hermione, welcome to our home once again," he continued.
Sirius took Hermione's trunk from her and shooed the kids out into the yard once again.
"I think they're really good for each other," Remus said, coming up behind Sirius.
"I think so too. He seems so much happier and more relaxed than he has any other summer that I've seen him." Sirius agreed.
"I don't think that's just Hermione though. He must be feeling incredibly relieved to not have to go back to the Dursley's house anymore, not to mention, he's lost the 'Harry-freakin-Potter' moniker that he's been stuck with since he was barely more than a baby." Remus thought out loud.
"You're probably right Moony. He's had a pretty good summer since we got him away from those muggles. I'd still like to run my fist through Dursley's forehead though. Knocking my son around like that," Sirius growled.
"And that's why I went to get Harry and not you," Remus reminded his mate, "Harry needs you here, not in Azkaban for killing a muggle."
"I know, I just wish there was something we could do." Sirius said, angry for his son.
"All we can do right now is get their things ready to go and let them spend time together. Then we'll get them to school safely, then we'll call Kingsley and see what we can do about the abuse. Surely Vernon can at least be charged with child abuse." Remus calmed the animagus.
Harry's dads took Hermione's things to put with their's and Harry's and get everything ready to head to the train station.
Harry and Hermione went out to explore the back yard and found stables with several beautiful horses, a muggle game called badminton, and a trampoline.
Hermione ran up to the trampoline. "I love these!" she cried out.
Harry looked at her like she had gone a bit crazy when she urged him to get on it with her. "What exactly does it do?" he asked.
"If you'll just get on, you'll see." Hermione impatiently told him.
After a bit more urging, Hermione managed to convince Harry to get on with her. She took his hands and instructed him to jump with her.
Once Harry got the hang of bouncing, Hermione let go of his hands and did a flip. "How did you do that?" Harry asked, intrigued.
"Watch me again, I don't really know how to explain it, other than to show it to you," she said.
Hermione bounced up in the air and did another flip, then another and another. "Ok, I think I get it," Harry said.
Harry bounced as high as he could, and Hermione watched as he flipped about halfway over, and landed on his back. She stifled a giggle until she was sure that he hadn't hurt himself, then she let it go. "The look on your face was priceless!" she said, still laughing.
Harry continued bouncing and flipping, and landing on his back. Hermione continued to give him directions until he finally completed a flip and landed on his feet.
Hermione hopped over to him and hugged him. "I knew you'd get it."
Together they fell back onto the trampoline and stared up at the clouds. Harry reached over and took Hermione's hand. "Thank you," he said.
"For what?" Hermione asked, propping herself up on her elbow.
"For being there for me. No matter what's happened, since I was 11 years old, you've been there for me. I could be an out right jerk, and you'd just correct me and stick beside me. Thank you." Harry said, looking into her honey eyes.
Hermione took the initiative this time and leaned in to kiss Harry. Her tongue slipped past his lips as the kiss deepened and his hands found her curly hair, holding her in their kiss. Both came up for air after a few moments and had a light pink blush to their cheeks.
The two settled together on the trampoline, Hermione's head on Harry's shoulder and his fingers twirling a strand of her hair, talking and watching the clouds until Sirius and Remus called them in, to head to the train station.
