The room that greeted Hermione was in the shape of a circle, 25 meters in either direction. On the left side were 4 practice dummies and on the right were weapons of every shape and size. Bows and arrows, swords, axes, even an over sized lance that looked as if it had lightning running through it. At the far end of the room was the only door in the room. Hermione began to walk towards it as she noticed the guys behind her talking about possible drills to run in this room. The door opened up into a small living space, with 4 chairs surrounding a circular dining table. A fireplace was tucked into the back corner and a long counter with a small fridge and stove ran along the back wall. There were 4 doors leading off the common room and Hermione walked through the first one on the left.

She was greeted by a stunning four poster bed in the center and a small reading bench by the window on the left.

Window, she thought. Obviously enchanted. She walked over to it and realized it reflected the actual weather outside of Grimmauld Place. On the right of the room was a door that led to a cozy bathroom, complete with clawfoot tub and pedestal sink. She walked out of the bedroom in time to see Harry and Sirius admiring the common room.

"This will do nicely," Harry said. "I wonder is house elves can apparate down here."

"One way to find out," Sirius said with a grin. "Dobby! Winky!" Both elves apparated in front of Sirius and bowed deeply. Hermione frowned slightly.

"We is here for Masters, Mistress," Winky said.

"So, you can apparate in and out of this chest at will?" Harry asked.

"Yes, Master Harry," Dobby said with a smile. "We is house elves! This be your new house!"

"Alright," said Sirius. "Let's get started."

After they made their way back upstairs, Sirius began composing letters to Flitwick, McGonagall and Lupin. They all agreed to help out for 14 days until school began again. All three would live at Grimmauld Place. Every hour, someone would come down into the chest as the previous person came out. Therefore, Flitwick would spend a "chest" day training, but when he came back out of the chest, only an hour would have passed. He would be able to sleep while in the chest so no one would become too tired. Sirius felt like it was the perfect plan.

Hermione was grateful for the house elves during their final day in the real world. They helped move most of the books that Hermione would need down into the fourth bedroom. They had converted it into a makeshift library and while it wasn't as grand as the library in Grimmauld place, it would do. Dobby and Winky would also be able to grab any other books Hermione might need.

Harry began creating a training plan for the three of them. He wasn't at full strength after his battle against the Death Eaters but he knew now that he had time to recover. His plan looked like this:

0700 - Wake up

0715 - Strength and Agility Training

0800 - Breakfast

0900 - Training with Professor du Jour

1300 - Lunch

1400 - Research

1800 - Dinner

1900 - Free Time

Harry thought it seemed like a good plan. We could always alter it if needed, he thought.

At dinner that night, everyone seemed tense. Sirius was going to see all of his old friends the next day, Hermione was going through the list of books she needed, afraid she would forget the one important book that he needed to help Harry, and Harry was imagining how the duelling practice was going to go. Hermione was pushing her food around on her plate. Finally she stood.

"I'm going to bed guys," they both looked at her with glazed eyes, focused on their own ideas. "Goodnight," she said as she walked upstairs to her room. Harry sighed and pushed his plate away. Sirius gave him an appraising look.

"Want to talk about it?" he asked Harry. Harry let out a long breath.

"We haven't talked since, that incident," Harry blushed. "I was in the wrong. It's awkward between us now." Harry ran his hand through his hair. "I kissed her too." He looked up to see Sirius smiling at him.

"Did she kiss you back?" Sirius asked him.

"Well, yea," said Harry.

"She likes you, Harry. It would be in your best interest to apologize." Sirius went back to eating his steak and let Harry mull that over. Finally Harry stood up and left the table.

Harry made his way upstairs and knocked on Hermione's door.

"Come in," she said. Harry walked in and saw her untangling her hair from its braid. She had already changed into pajamas, silk bottom pants and a matching shirt and she had her night light on. She studiously ignored Harry as he walked into the room. He cleared his throat and rubbed his neck.

"I'm sorry about yelling at you earlier," he watched her continue to mess with her hair. "I was incredibly stressed about the whole, you know, dying thing." At this, Hermione stopped and looked at him. Harry took this as a good sign and continued. "Destroying the Cup put me in a bad place, emotionally, and I took it out on you. I know you are doing everything you can. I should not have treated you the way I did." Harry took a step forward.

"And by the way," he said with a glint in his eye, "No one has ever touched me, where you did." Hermione blushed furiously but maintained eye contact. She lifted her chin.

"I meant what I said," she said, as Harry took another step toward her. "About cutting them off."

"I don't doubt it," he said, reaching out his right hand. His hand stopped a hair's breadth from her waist. She looked at him and her lips parted slightly. Harry put his hand on his waist and pulled her close to him, closing the gap between them. Hermione gasped as she felt his erection through her thin, silk pants. She raised her hands up to his face and began to back up to the bed, pulling him with her. She turned at the last second and Harry fell back on the bed with Hermione on top of him.

"Wait a second," Hermione said, pulling back to look down into Harry's eyes. "I'm not ready for sex." Harry laughed and Hermione looked taken aback by his reaction.

"Well, neither am I," he said and pulled her in for a kiss. He flipped her over onto her back and slowly lowered himself onto her body, making her bite back a sigh.

"I've waited a long time for you, Hermione," he said, in between kisses. He trailed light kisses across her jawline and down her neck. "Plus," he said, flushing slightly, "I'm a virgin." Hermione smiled up at him.

"So am I," she said. Harry rolled away from her and made to get off the bed.

"Whoa, whoa, I can't make out with a virgin," he teased. Hermione threw a pillow that hit him squarely on the face. He lunged and Hermione tried to squeal away but Harry grabbed her feet and pulled her toward him. She sat up and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him furiously Harry lifted her so she was able to wrap her legs around his hips. He put his hands on her ass and she moaned against him. He walked forward and kneeled on the bed. Very gently, he lowered them sideways onto the bed.

Hermione pulled back and brushed the hair away from his forehead. For a moment she was reminded of the Horcrux, but then Harry ran his hand down her back and she shivered and forgot all about it.

Harry and Hermione snogged for an hour. Running their hands up and down each other bodies, never lingering, never going under clothes. Harry could feel her breasts pressed up against his chest but had refrained from touching them. He had wanted to respect Hermione's body, but had every intention of taking them into his mouth in the near future. Currently, both teens were holding each other in bed and looking up at the ceiling.

"We should set physical boundaries," Hermione said, as she ran her fingers through Harry's hair.

"OK," he said, turning on his side and propping his head on his elbow so he could look at her. "What did you have in mind." She blushed furiously but turned her head to meet his eye.

"Well, I don't think I'm ready to go below the belt, but we are both adults. I don't think it would be acting too soon if we, ah, that is," Hermione struggled to put her thoughts into words. Harry stayed silent, not wanting to push, knowing she would continue when ready.

"Next time, can we take off our shirts?" Hermione asked. Harry resisted to urge to laugh at how uncomfortable she was talking about it.

"I would like that," Harry said. "Is next time right now?" Hermione laughed and Harry was pleased that the tension was broken.

"No, it is not now." She looked away then coyly back at him. "But maybe it can be tomorrow?" Harry grinned and leaned forward to kiss her on the nose.

"Then I will take my leave," Harry said, untangling their arms and legs from each other. He kissed her on the mouth and lingered a second more than a chaste kiss would last. "I will see you in the morning."

"Goodnight, Harry," Hermione said with a smile.

"Goodnight, Hermione," Harry said as he gently closed the door.

The next morning, Sirius noticed the two teens walk down to breakfast hand in hand.

Shit, he thought. I have put off the talk long enough, I suppose. He looked back down at the Daily Prophet. News of his and Harry's return to wizarding society had not gone unnoticed. Not had the battle at Hogsmeade. They really were running out of time. The chest could not have come at a better time.

"Alright you two?" Sirius asked as they disengaged from each other and sat at the table. Hermione blushed but Harry only grinned at Sirius.

"Great, Godfather. And yourself?" Harry asked with a smirk.

Shit, Sirius thought again. That boy is in trouble. So am I, as their only guardian. He groaned inwardly. I'm going to have to give them both the talk.

Minutes later, the Floo sprang to life and McGonagall walked through followed shortly by Flitwick. Both seemed to be in good spirits as Dobby and Winky took their luggage. They greeted Harry and Hermione warmly while Sirius was greeted with a bit more skepticism.

"Wait until Remus gets here and I will explain everything," Sirius said. Not five second later, a very disheveled Remus Lupin stumbled through the Floo. He gave Sirius an energetic hug and greeted everyone else. Finally, everyone made their way into the living room where Sirius explained all about Pettigrew and the Secret Keeper and Azkaban and his escape from Hogwarts. Lupin backed up the story when he could, as did Harry and Hermione. He then began to explain about Horcruxes and how they needed to complete their training. By the end of it all, McGonagall and Flitwick sat opened mouthed.

"Well, we are here to help in whatever way we can," Flitwick said, recovering first. Sirius handed him a parchment.

"This is your schedule for the next 14 days." Sirius said and looked at Harry expectantly.

"If we need to change anything, just let me know." Harry said.

"This looks great, Harry," said Remus, reading over Flitwick's shoulder. "Are you guys all set to head in the chest?" Harry glanced first at Hermione who smiled and then at Sirius who nodded.

"We are. Professor Flitwick, if you will follow us first, Professor McGonagall, you will be the next hour and Professor Lupin, you will be the third hour." Harry nodded at each in turn.

"Let's not waste any time then," Hermione said, standing up and grabbing her bags. She walked towards the chest. Harry was close on her heels.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," Harry said, placing his hand on the chest lid. The lid opened and both teens descended quickly. Sirius looked back at his three friends.

"Thank you all so much for helping Harry," he said, making eye contact with each of them. "Remus, we should probably talk when you come down to teach the kids." Remus cocked his head to one side.

"Indeed we should, old friend," Remus said with a sad smile. Sirius clasped his hand.

"Flitwick?" Sirius motioned toward the chest. "After you." Flitwick took a long, dubious look at the chest before climbing down the ladder. Sirius gave McGonagall and Remus one last look.

"See you guys soon!" he said a second before the lid slammed down on top of him.