Guess whoose baaaaccckkk :) Whoo!
Firstly HAPPY 4TH JULY EVERYBODY! Here's my little gift to you all. Plus I just took a sorting hat quiz online and if I went to Hogwarts I would be in Gryffindor :) Whoo take the test and see which house you'd be in :D
Secondly I have a question; do any of you guys remember/know of the AU H/Hr story where it was an alternative Goblet of Fire and Harry was sorted into Slytherin, becomes best friends with Draco and has a twin sister called AJ. I think that Harry and Draco make a bet of somekind that Harry - a resident ladies man - can't Hermione but of course Harry falls for Hermione yada yada yada... It was a really really good story, one of the best written on but I got a feeling that the author took it down and I think if so I think a petition should be made to bring it back! Whoo! If you remember the story leave me a comment :)
Anyway enough of my ramblings lol ;p
MidsummerNightGirl, pawsrule & Lientjuhh - Whoo! Agree totally :) Thanks I love those bits too :)
Salerio the Dragon & TsukiyoTenshi - Here we go lol :)
oceanluvr - Thanks for the great review as always :) I agree Harry is stuck deep in a large forest that I call Delusion but it's AU and for throughout his life he hasn't had a person like Hermione there - someone who can keep his feet on the ground and tell it too him straight. That's all I'm saying cause it'll give too much away lol :P I can say though that whilst Ginny maybe taking charge of the wedding (mainly because no one else will! lol) she doesn't control or have any say in the rest of Harry's life. She just a close friend (which is what she should have been in cannon :/) who tries to speak her mind. Not that Harry takes much notice lol. As for Lily, she has rarely seen the two of them together plus shes only 5 and has just found a new bff in Sirius (not Harry's godfather lol) soshe hasn't got much of an opinon yet. Ahhh I've said too much, tune in next time :p
Alyssa-Mustang - Thanks for your great review :) As I've just said to Oceanluvr, Harry is stuck deep in a large forest that I call Delusion but it's AU and for throughout his life he hasn't had a person like Hermione there - someone who can keep his feet on the ground and tell it too him straight. That's all I'm saying cause it'll give too much away lol :P Hope youkeep reading :)
Emry Skye & starboy454 - Thanks for the advise, i'll bear that in mind :)
catgirl87, Megii of Mysteri OusStranger, Readerforlife, emshap, Madengineer, witchysha hazeleyez2 & bikegod- Thanks :)
Many many many thanks to everypne else who has R&R'd, I'm just sorry that I can't speak to you all! Please please please R&R! It makes me feel good inside :)
Any questions or ideas let me know, you never know I might just use them ;)
Disclaimer: All characters belong to JKR and publishers. *sob* Kudos to majorgtpie for the original plot bunny :)
Hermione never made it to the destination of her bedroom as she was met halfway there by Ginny who immediately grabbed her arm and steered her out the door and into a waiting car.
"We're a bit behind schedule but that's alright we have all day to shop. We can cancel our lunch reservations and just have a café meal instead." Ginny babbled on as she and Hermione climbed into the car.
Hermione nodded absentmindedly and tried to focus on what Ginny was telling her as they were driven to Ginny's apartment. Yet it was difficult to really comprehend any of what Ginny was saying with her mind reverting back to Harry with every other word. `He's so complex.' She thought pressing a hand to her forehead to stop the migraine that she was sure to develop.
"We're here!" Ginny sang out as they pulled into a spacious car park.
`Wow, just look at all these cars! Ginny must live amongst the elite!' Hermione thought as she followed Ginny inside the building and into the elevator.
"Oh Hermione this is going to be so much fun. They're going to love you and it'll be excellent." Ginny squealed, clapping her hands together excitedly and making her look like a young preppy teenager.
Hermione smiled back at her, albeit strained. She liked Ginny, she really did but this news of the wedding had almost flipped a switch inside her and transformed Ginny into a small red-haired tornado. Hermione feared meeting more overly excited women she barely knew, she just wished that she could revert back to her simple close relations wedding she'd thought she'd have.
The lift stopped and Ginny pressed her wand tip against a small button in key pad on the elevator panel.
"Ensures that no one can get into my apartment without me." Ginny informed her as the doors slid open revealing a magnificent living room. Immediately after stepping out of the lift they were on plush white carpet.
The whole room was decorated with a modern art feel. Hermione had a strong feeling that Ginny didn't exactly see children in her future. Like Harry's house before Lily, the whole apartment screamed 'do not touch'. The black leather couches looked as though they'd never been touched and they surrounded a glass table which sat on an expensive looking modern rug. All in all it looked as posh as Ginny yet to Hermione this was no surprise. The young woman was after all a high powered fashion designer. Her whole world revolved around appearances.
"Come, come." Ginny tittered as she ushered Hermione through the living room and turned immediately right which lead into a posh kitchen, a mix of black and white marble and stainless steel. The utilities were separated from the dining area by an island which housed a bar on one side and matching stools with posh expensive looking women perched on them.
Hermione froze on the divide between the carpet and marble. She felt as if another step would lead her into the moving cover of a Gladrags magazine and she'd be horribly out of place looking like an average joe.
Of course she knew that she wasn't inferior to these women but they sure did have a way of making you feel like it without even trying. `How do they do that?' Hermione thought. All they had to do was lift the corner of those perfect glossed lips in a half smile and you felt as though there was more a chance of hell freezing over than you had fitting in.
Hermione was trying to think of the quickest means of escape when Ginny latched onto her arm, grinning like a mad woman and dragged Hermione over to the circle of women, strategically placed around her kitchen table.
"Hermione I want to introduce to you the most amazing women you'll ever meet; the vivacious Lavender Brown, tantalizing Pavarti Patil, darling Luna Lovegood, and the talented three, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnett, and Katie Bell. Ladies meet Hermione Granger or should I say the future Mrs Harry Potter."
Hermione attempted a smile and tried her hardest not to cringe under the scrutiny of these beautiful people. Of course to Hermione these women didn't need introducing, she already knew exactly who they were. Her friends talked about them so much it was hard for her not too know. Hermione was almost struck dumb by the fact that she was in the same room as many of her friend's style icons.
Lavender Brown, famous around the world for her predictions and horoscopes and sat nearest to Hermione, greeted her first. "Oh Hermione, we're going to have so much fun. It's going to be so wonderful having you here." Lavender gushed, springing out of her chair and enveloping Hermione in a brief hug.
"Hmm, yes her aura is so peaceful, an honest innocence about her." Luna commented, misty eyes traveling over Hermione. Hermione smiled nervously, she knew all about Luna's quirky reputation from her friends. What more could she expect from a girl whose father runs the Quibbler that sprouts nonsense about imaginary creatures.
"Right whatever that means," Parvati laughed, rolling her eyes in amusement at her friend's behaviour. "I agree it's going to be super fab having you here."
"You'll love it here." Angelina grinned. "You'll have absolutely no problem fitting in, I can tell."
"Are you a sporty girl? Play quidditch perhaps?" Alicia asked.
"We can teach you if you don't" Katie put in.
Hermione was almost bombarded with questions yet somehow she managed to keep track of them all. "Er, no actually. I'm more the books and cleverness type. I don't tempt gravity unless it's necessary, I might try my hand at tennis again though."
Parvati breathed a loud sigh of relief. "Thank goodness, no offense guys but it's so tough being outnumbered by all you quidditch buffs. To be honest Lavender and I enjoy looking at the players more than the actual sport."
Lavender nodded and giggled. "Angelina, Katie, and Alicia play on the same team as Harry. They've played together since we were in school. Quite an unbeatable pairing I suppose."
"Air certainly is his element, isn't it?" Luna agreed before her face somehow became even dreamier. "Much like fire is Ronald's"
The rest of the girls, including Hermione, rolled their eyes at Luna's comment. It was all too obvious of Luna's shine to Harry's best friend Ron Weasley; Ginny's elder brother.
"Thank you Luna, but today we are not to dwell on the men folk. It time for some serious female bonding. We should go out and have some fun. After all, there's a lot to do." Ginny grinned, sweeping up her purse and linking arms with Hermione. "Shall we ladies?"
Hermione plastered on another sugary grin and nodded though inside she was beginning to truly wonder what she'd gotten herself into.
While Hermione was being bombarded by question and style tips from the girls, Harry leaned sulkily against a wall in his living room, muttering irritably to himself. How did that woman always provoked him to say something rash? Now she was probably off somewhere thinking he was the worst person alive.
Yet what bothered him was that he actually cared. If it was any other person he wouldn't care one jot about what they thought yet Hermione Granger had become an incessant fixture on his mind form day one and to him, her opinion tied with Lily's in level of importance. Above Ginny's, Draco's even Ron, his best friend. When it had changed he didn't know but it pissed him the hell off that it did. She was changing things, changing him and he wasn't at all appreciative of it.
Suddenly, he found himself wanting a family, wanting her around, wanting her to be happy. He refused to believe in love - that was a bunch of sappy crap used to sell books and cheesy movies - however he would admit that he was lacking in a long-term female companion.
And Hermione was definitely going to be a long-term companion. He didn't mind his ever growing lust for her. When the time came she'd open up to him and he'd sort all this mess out. Tell her to take this damn spell off him.
He gave a curt nod to himself, deciding on this plan of action and proceeded to snatch up the plate of snacks that had long since been sitting on the counter waiting for him. Balancing several plates and the food tray in his arms, he levitated the cups and beverages behind him to return to his study.
When he reached his study he was almost speechless with laughter at the sight that he found and it took everything he had to hold back his laughter at the state of his closest friends inspecting his daughter as though they'd never seen a child before. Having said that they probably hadn't, each one of them were confirmed bachelors and it blew their minds that Harry, the biggest bachelor of them all, had a child and was on the verge of settling down. The most worrying aspect though was that they might be called upon to baby-sit and hadn't a clue what to do with a little girl, a problem that they were experiencing now.
"So what exactly does it do?" Dean asked, watching Lily closely as she sat on the floor by the coffee table colouring.
"I don't know, but I have to say she's pretty darn cute. Maybe she just sits around looking all sweet and innocent, like most women." Seamus shrugged.
"Then she must be a little devil underneath if she's like any of the women we know." Fred and George exchanged grins.
"No, she has to have a purpose, that's what Mum said once about Ginny anyway." Ron told them, sounding strangely grown up all of a sudden. "I don't think they're as devious until they get all grown up. Judging by her step mother I'm pretty sure she's a little genius, she walks and talks like she's been doing it for years. I don't know how she does it."
"You idiots, of course she talks and walks. I've seen her walk and Harry told us she could read. Do any of you know how to take care of it though?" Draco snapped.
"It's another species. Of course we don't know how to take care of it. It's a girl!" Seamus replied.
Dean nodded. "He's got a point!"
"Buy her something shiny that seems to work with most women." Draco decided, looking pleased with himself.
"Maybe she could help us play pranks on people?" Fred suggested.
"Yeah, no one would expect her to be in on the pranks and you can't hex her for it." George added. "She's just a kid after all."
"You aren't going to do any such thing to her." Bill hissed angrily.
"Because if Harry doesn't kill you for it then his fiancée probably will." Charlie interjected, crossing his arms over his chest.
"For once I am stumped. I don't know how she functions so I can't explain how to take care of her!" Percy grimaced, his glasses askew. "Girls are just too complex, even for me."
"Why do you keep talking like I'm not here?" Lily finally inquired, in a very Hermione like manner. The room was in an instant uproar as the bewildered men moved away from their now talking specimen.
Lily giggled at their antics. "What are you doing? Is this a game? Can I play too?"
"How can she hear us?" Ron hissed across the room.
"She isn't deaf you git!" Draco glared.
"She sounds so smart for someone so young." Percy gasped.
"You prat, I told you she was plotting against us!" Bill grumbled.
"Do any of you speak little girl?" Ron asked.
"Do any of us look like girls?" Dean snapped.
"Let's try simple communication!" Charlie suggested.
"Right, um . . . Seamus first!" Dean said pushing Seamus from behind the chairs.
"Erm . . . uh . . . Hi, I'm Seamus and I'm a friend of your dad. Do you understand?" Seamus asked speaking really slow and clear.
"Why wouldn't I understand?" Lily asked, face creasing in confusion. "I don't like this game. Where'd my daddy go? I want to show him my picture." She held up the paper she'd been colouring on, grinning broadly. "Do you like it?"
"Well, Harry's still alive, and she is just a little kid, I mean, she can't be too dangerous." Ron declared, causing the rest of the men to look at him in disbelief.
"Hold your dragons bro." George said, stopping Ron mid speech. "I don't know much about little kids but I do know, they're like exploding snaps. They look harmless but the slightest thing can set them off. They scream and shout and it's scary!"
"Maybe we shouldn't go near her then?" Seamus replied.
"Honestly, Harry plays with her all the time so she can't be that bad." Draco grumbled before getting up and going over to Lily. "Are you some form of little disaster waiting to happen or not, because I'm not spoiling you rotten if you're going to be a bleedin' nightmare?"
"But I don't want to be rotten." Lily whimpered. "I've been a good girl."
"Oh now you've done it. Look her lips quivering. Any minute now it's going to start. You've set her off." George scowled, dragging Draco back.
"Er, chocolate, we need chocolate. Kids like chocolate." Ron announced.
"Then someone find some chocolate." Charlie shouted.
Harry decided now was his time to make an entrance and slipped in silently to stand beside Dean. He slipped a chocolate frog wordlessly into Dean's hand, wondering what exactly it was they planned to do once they found some chocolate. Dean hadn't seemed to register just who gave him the chocolate as he held it up triumphantly and shoved it into Ron's hands.
"What are you giving it to me for?" Ron cried, trying to hand the chocolate back.
"You're the one who gave us the tip about chocolate. You try it." Dean snapped.
"Cowards." Ron muttered under his breath as he inched closer to the sniffling girl. He plastered on an overly bright smile as he dropped to one knee holding out the chocolate to her.
"We come in peace." Ron declared offering her the treat.
Harry burst into laughter, unable to contain himself any longer at his friends' antics. He clutched his sides in laughter, having put down the tray of treats down on a nearby table.
"I wish I had a camera because that would have been priceless. You lot can be so stupid. You're all supposed to be big tough guys and you were afraid of a little girl." Harry laughed.
"Shut up Harry. You never know with females. They're weird and they have those mood swing things." Ron muttered getting off his knees and tossing the chocolate onto the tray.
"Yeah!" The others agreed, trying to reclaim their dignity.
Harry said nothing and just continued to laugh at them. What they would ever do when they became fathers he didn't know, but he'd sure as hell pay to see it.
When they arrived in Milan to go shopping Hermione knew it was going to be hard, she knew that she probably wouldn't like it but Merlin, did she feel so overweight and plain. She'd absolutely despised all those weight and beauty obsessed girls in her school days but it was near impossible to not feel inadequate when you were in the only four in a world of zeros.
To the other girls' credit they didn't seem to care what size she was, they were simply interested in dressing her up but the manager, who had insisted on being the personal shopper to his favourite customers, was making it increasingly clear that four simply wasn't done. He hadn't said much beyond his first comment upon learning her size.
"I don't believe anyone around here carries anything that large." He had said snidely but snapped his mouth shut when Ginny and the others shot him glares so fierce that he couldn't help but keep quiet.
"Oh Hermione just ignore him," Angelina whispered to her as she held up a shirt for Hermione to try on. "He spends his life chasing after male models. He's just jealous that Harry isn't gay and will find any reason to complain about you because you're the woman Harry's about to marry."
"Well he better get over it fast or he won't be the first to boast Ginny's newest line." Lavender smirked knowingly, placing another skirt onto the large pile of clothes floating behind them.
"Or maybe we should just cancel the shopping trip and I'll go into town later. I can't even begin to imagine the price of these clothes, when that belt over there is over three thousand euros." Hermione suggested. The tinkling of Ginny's laughter told her she was about to have another budget what budget moment.
"Hermione stop worrying so much about cost and just enjoy it. Harry'll take care of everything else later. He wasn't kidding when he said it's probably impossible to break the man's bank account." Ginny informed her.
"But I don't want to break his bank account; I don't want to even dent it." Hermione exasperated.
"Trust me with the way you shop, you don't have to worry about that." Pavarti tossed over her shoulder as she passed by with a shop assistant, informing him that Hermione would have the skirt she was currently modelling in every colour because it looked absolutely smashing on her. Hermione's eyes went wide as she watched him move to the shelves and begin pulling down skirts.
"I can't afford all those." Hermione whispered to Ginny who waved off her protests.
"Hermione listen to me, just relax and enjoy this. For once just go shopping and don't think about the clothing's price. Just fall in love with the fabrics, the colours, the accessories. Let's play dress up, as though we were little girls." Ginny pleaded, "Besides does it help that all those are Virginia originals and I promise I won't be ripping my new sister in law off."
Hermione looked at the pleading faces around her and with a sigh, she dropped her shoulders and silently asked 'What harm would it do to play along for a while.' After all, what woman hadn't dreamt of at least one all-expense paid shopping trip in her life.
"I suppose if I'm going to be Mrs. Potter, I might as well look the part, right?" She sighed, breaking into a slightly forced grin. The women around her nodded eagerly seeing as they'd won her over. "Then you'll have to help me because I haven't a clue what I'm doing."
Ginny emitted a short ecstatic squeal as she waved over a handful of attendants, arms with clothing items and accessories. "We're going to make you a posh Italian diva!"
Well there you go guys. Hope you had a fab 4th July and please please please R&R! In search of a Beta so drop me a line if you want the job :)