Chapter ten

Lunch dates and misunderstandings

Hermione filed the last of her reports and her holiday form; she was finally using her holidays up. Molly had almost beaten Hermione into submission over looking after Sirius whilst Hermione and Harry were at work.

Now that AJ was attending a young wizard and witches nursery Molly declared that her days were boring and almost jumped up and crushed Hermione when she said Molly could look after Sirius.

Hermione of course was joking after another babysitter had cancelled… a now twelve month old Sirius seemed to scare most of his babysitters.

Hermione looked at the time and discovered it was time for lunch, though she had no plans she wanted to pop into the burrow and see Sirius and spend some time with Ginny, if only to ask her for her advice.

Now in her fourth month of pregnancy Ginny was offering advice to anyone who would listen. The twins were advised on how to run their shop… Draco was advised on how to deal with the twins now he was part owner of the shop, Arthur was advised on how to keep his wife calm and not to annoy her so much. Ron was advised on how to keep his wife happy.

But Ron made a quick exit when his sister suggested that Ron and Luna should try for a baby. Harry was advised… well ordered to settle down as was Hermione who was given a few good tips on how to raise a magical baby.

Hermione however needed Ginny's advice on how to approach the subject of declaring feelings to the man you love? Hermione finally summoned enough courage to stop running from said feelings and admit to Harry that she loved him and finally kiss him without any interruptions.

But before Hermione could make her exit the door to her office opened after a knock and Troy stepped in with a mega watt smile causing Hermione to chew her lip but offer him a smile back.

Troy had become a friend and Hermione was surprised… though he knew he was good looking he didn't seem to use that with Hermione, in fact he made her laugh and asked her questions that most men didn't bother or really want to ask.

"Great I caught you… Hermione I was wondering if we could have some lunch… I wanted to ask you something… I kinder need your help" Troy declared a little nervous. Hermione stared at him tempted to chew her lip once more, she wanted to go to the burrow and talk to Ginny but Troy looked a little pathetic.

"I would love to but I wanted to go Ginny's and ask her something myself" Hermione stated as Troy looked at her and nodded sadly. Hermione heaved a sigh, knowing that any friend in need was the one way to get to her.

"Can't you ask me now" Hermione questioned hopefully but Troy shook his head a little mournfully before shoving his hands into his pockets.

"Its fine it can wait I guess" Troy admitted as Hermione groaned inwardly glancing at the clock once more. Troy turned and went to walk out when Hermione rolled her eyes and grabbed her coat.

"How about a coffee… then will you ask me?" Hermione offered as Troy spun round his face lighting up as he nodded.

Hermione quickly walked out and once locking her office she turned to see Troy bouncing slightly.

"I promise no more then twenty minutes" Troy assured before he all but dragged Hermione from the department.

Hermione glared at Troy again over her coffee cup… they had been at the small muggle café for ten minutes so far. Troy had made small talk but remained mute on the subject of what he wanted to ask.

Hermione was growing impatient and thought hitting the younger man might work… it did with Harry and Ron.

"Troy… not that I don't enjoy small talk with you… but is it you wanted to talk about" Hermione snipped causing Troy to snap his head towards her before gulping then draining his own coffee.

A few more seconds of twirling his fingers he finally released a deep breath and looked at Hermione was an expression mixed with fear, determination and nervousness. For a moment Hermione wondered if he wanted to ask her out… sure she knew that Troy was being nice to her, but she assumed it was because they had gotten off to a less then pleasant start… now she feared he wanted to ask her out on a date.

But before Hermione could rehearse her rejection Troy started "Hermione I need your advice" he admitted as Hermione sighed and nodded, offering him a small smile. He was nervous and Hermione felt sorry for him.

"I like this woman" the fear resettled and the thoughts of rejection sprung to Hermione's mind.

"It's… well its Jessica Booth, from" "the underage misuse of muggle items" Hermione finished as Troy nodded ducking his head while a blush flushed across his face.

Hermione felt a wave of relief flood through her and she almost laughed at how her mind got carried away. But looking at Troy she knew that he was serious and he was confused on how to declare his feelings, which was ironic as he had asked Hermione for advice when she was seeking the same thing.

"I know I like her… but… well she's different from other girls and I don't want to put my foot in my mouth and mess it all up" Troy admitted as Hermione patted his hand, causing Troy to smile at her a little sheepishly.

"Troy it's clear that you're good with women" "I know what they think of me at work Hermione… even you would have to admit you thought I was a ladies man. But the truth is, well Jessica is different and well I don't think I can talk to anyone else about this… I've wanted to ask your advice for months, but when I got the courage you would be in a bad mood or busy. So when you had Sirius I thought that could be a starting point, in fact the moment I started working with you I knew that you would be a great friend… not that I just became friends to use you… it's just that I don't have many friends who are women and I know you to be the most level headed and determined woman I know and if anyone could help me it would be you" Troy gushed becoming red as he ducked his head. Hermione shook her head and patted his hand before she kissed his cheek lightly.

"Troy… thank you… that was sweet, and of course I'll help you" Hermione declared as she signalled for another cup of coffee to which Troy raised his eyebrows and glanced at her.

"I thought you had to go ask someone something" Troy added as Hermione sighed but smiled at him.

"I can speak to her later… and I can see Sirius tonight" Hermione admitted as Troy grinned at her with a new sense of relief.

"Thank you Hermione… Sirius is a great kid and he has a wonderful mother" Troy admitted as Hermione blushed and nodded thinking of her baby boy.

"He has your eyes you know… which is strange… well it's strange on a lot of things really" Troy commented as Hermione frowned. The new coffees appeared and Hermione waited for the waitress to disappear once more before she looked at Troy.

"What is strange" Hermione questioned as Troy looked at her and stirred his coffee, waving a hand absentmindedly.

"Well Sirius… he has your eyes for sure… but you adopted him and yet he still has your eyes… I sort of came up with a theory" Troy blushed and lowered his eyes but Hermione furrowed her brow and stared at him.

"Well" Hermione urged as Troy looked up and took a deep breath "well the theory is that he's really yours… I mean he's your child, flesh and blood and all that. But you said you adopted him because you and the father aren't together which I find strange seeing that you two love each other so much" Troy declared as Hermione gapped at him.

The information sunk in but it still confused Hermione who was still gapping at him, it took a few moments for Hermione to close her mouth and summon up a question.

"Father… who do you think Sirius's father is" Hermione questioned as Troy stared at her in disbelief but then raised his eyebrows figuring out Hermione had no idea what he was talking about.

"I thought that would be obvious… I mean Sirius has your eyes but… well he looks like Harry" Troy admitted causing Hermione to slump back and stare at him, confusion written across her face.

Troy lent forward with a sheepish look on his young face "I thought you knew… I mean any one who sees Harry and Sirius together can tell that their father and son… don't you see the resemblance" Troy asked while Hermione shook her head in silence, she continued to stare at Troy who grew red under her gaze.

"Well… um… I just well I thought that you two didn't work out or it was a drunken one night stand and I didn't want to ask or seem nosy. I thought you two knew… or where keeping it a secret because of how famous Harry was. I mean I know he doesn't like me because he thought I wanted to ask you out… wow Hermione I'm sorry… I'm rambling like a fool" Troy declared looking to his coffee while Hermione stared into thin air.

However she was picturing her son and Harry… wondering if Sirius truly did look like Harry and if he did what could it mean.

Harry however was wondering something completely different, he decided to cut his day short seeing as Ron owed him for taking a week longer on his honeymoon. Harry finished at lunch time and collected Sirius from Molly telling her he was going to surprise Hermione with a day at the park with just the three of them.

Ginny was gushing over how lovely that would be and she nearly burst out in tears when Harry admitted to her privately that he was going to make sure that no one disturbed them… for he was going to admit to Hermione finally that he loved her.

But when he reached Hermione's office he found that she had gone out for lunch five minutes before hand. Harry ready to take Sirius to the park by himself decided he really did need to talk to Hermione and discovered she had gone to a local café.

Harry wondered if he had some how used Magic to get to the café because it didn't feel like he even blinked and there he was staring in through the window of the café.

He grinned and held Sirius up when he spotted Hermione at the table looking a little nervous, he went to tap on the window when a waitress moved and sitting beside Hermione was Troy who was gushing about something. Harry gritted his teeth and attempted to decide if hexing Troy would get him any time in Azkaban.

But what stopped him was when Hermione patted Troy's hand and kissed his cheek, Harry didn't move even when Sirius poked at him. It took a few minutes for all feeling to come back to him before he stalked away… not even bothering to charge in.

He could just about deal with Troy when he thought it was one sided… but Hermione… Hermione kissed Troy. Harry bounced a grumbling Sirius who some how sensed Harry's mood and was beginning to cry.

Harry was oblivious to everything even when a blonde haired man stopped him; Draco had been calling him for a few minutes before he finally stopped Harry forcefully.

"Dear Merlin Potter, what the hell is wrong with you… and why on earth is Sirius crying" Draco demanded as he took a now crying from Harry and soothed him, glaring at Harry who was still fuming.

"She…and that git" Harry growled causing Draco to raise his eyebrows while Sirius whimpered.

"Who are you talking about Harry" Draco demanded offering Sirius a small smile and tight hug.

"Hermione… she's drinking coffee with Trentworth and then she kissed him" Harry growled throwing a dangerous look over his shoulder; Draco rolled his eyes and rocked Sirius who was murmuring while shooting an evil glare to Harry.

"Kissed Troy… why" Draco asked as Harry stared at him as though he was fool.

"How the bloody hell should I know… I saw enough" Harry all but bellowed making Sirius buried his head into Draco's shoulder.

Drac glared back at Harry while soothing his godson "Potter you idiot… you saw enough, why the bloody hell didn't you ask… oh I know because it easy just to run away. Well guess what you can't do it anymore, because Sirius is here now and Hermione needs you to be the BLOODY BOY WHO TOOK A CHANCE" Draco snarled before he handed Sirius back despite his protest and steady an evil glare at his friend.

"Take Sirius to the park… and decide how you're going to fix this because I'm sick of this dance you two are doing… I can't be offering you advice when I have a two year old boy who thinks putting shoes on means putting them on his hands or ears and a four month pregnant wife who thinks everything I say or do is an attack on her" Draco snapped before he pointed to a local park and narrowed his eyes on Harry and Sirius who were both gapping at him.

"Now go… or so help me Potter I'll change you into a ferret and give you to the twins" Draco ordered before he stalked off leaving Harry to stare at where he stood and Sirius watching his godfather leaving him with an annoyed Harry.

Harry snapped out of his trace and trooped towards the park with a quiet Sirius.

Draco grumbled under his breath gaining strange looks from muggle's, after a few minutes he went from groaning about Harry to groaning about stupid muggle's.

"Draco" a chirpy voice called causing Draco to snap his eyes up to see a slim dirty blonde woman smiling at him. Draco blinked a few times before he offered a tight smile to the woman.

"Hello Grace I didn't see you" Draco admitted as Grace Gregson beamed at him, tucking her hands into her jeans, Draco admitted to the twins that the muggle born witch was pretty but she was not his type. However Ginny only heard that Draco thought the witch was pretty while she was big and heavy looking six months pregnant with AJ.

"You looked like you were in a world of your own… Ginny mad at you once more, what have you done now" Grace asked as Draco growled and shook his head, remembering who started his bad mood.

"No, Harry Bloody Potter… the daft git doesn't understand a thing and I'm supposed to clear the mess up… well they can think again" Draco growled as Grace smiled and rolled her eyes.

"Harry… he came into the shop once… I say once I mean there was a time him and Ron lived in the Quidditch supplies shop" Grace declared with a giggle and Draco nodded before grunting. He rubbed his forehead before he looked at Grace and smiled slightly.

"Well Potter is taking his godson to the park… I feel bad now because the poor kid didn't do anything to deserve that" Draco admitted a little sheepishly as Grace grinned glancing to the park.

"well I'm going to the park for a little while… my boss wants some ideas for a new broom, wants to see some muggle influence" Grace admitted as Draco nodded then pointed over his shoulder.

"Well if you see him… either steer clear or try and make him less annoyed" Draco ordered before offering Grace a small smile. She nodded and carried on walking; Draco managed to make it a few steps before he snapped back and stopped.

"Maybe she won't find him" Draco offered to himself before groaning and hurrying back to Diagon Ally, the twins will know what to do.

see i told you that Troy was nice... however you might not like Grace thanks for the reviews and enjoy the story