Warning – This chapter contains Hagrid-size fluffy plot bunnies. Hermione's dentist parents would be appalled at the levels of sugar shock this chapter may induce...and of course, cavities.
Author's Note – The usual thank you to readers and reviewers (you know who you are), regulars welcome back, new people just welcome. I know I've said it before but I am really flattered at the response this story has had (and it has already gotten me thinking on the sequel though that's a long ways away given our dear protagonists are only 5th years). Here's Ch 13:
Ch 13
As Hermione steps through the floo back into the Headmaster's office he looks up from his paperwork to smile, "Ah, Miss Rookwood, you had a good time I trust?"
"Yes, thank you Headmaster. I had a lovely time," Hermione says happily.
"Kaah," Ambarisa says from her shoulder, glancing around curiously particularly towards the Phoenix.
Fawkes trills something, sounding rather amused.
"You made a new friend, I see," Albus says, eyes twinkling. "A fine young rook, his plumage is quite nice, not all of them have that particular shade and he appears quite intelligent."
"His name is Ambarisa," Hermione says happily, "It means Ruler of the Sky in Sanskrit."
"Ruler of the Sky, yes, I know," Albus says it with her, smiling. "You won't give the owls any trouble, sir," he says, turning his twinkling eyes on the bird.
Ambarisa stares at Albus haughtily for a moment before giving a reluctant nod and a low, "Kaah," in acknowledgement.
"Very good then, he may stay," Albus decrees with a chuckle.
Hermione, who hadn't even been thinking about the rook being an exception rather than one of the more typical familiars, smiles gratefully, "Thank you sir! He picked me before I had a chance to even consider an owl," she admits.
"Then how could I possibly deny him when his heart has chosen you," Albus says kindly. "Run along now, Miss Rookwood. I daresay you're looking forward to introducing him to your new friends. You can have one of them show you the owlery later."
"Thank you sir! Have a good afternoon," Hermione says, making her way out of the office and down the stairs to head back to Gryffindor Tower.
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'Hmm, I wonder how close to dinner it is,' Hermione thinks as she walks, humming softly as she makes her way down the corridor towards the main stairs.
As Hermione pauses to cast a tempus charm to check the time she becomes aware of voices approaching.
"I still say Black and Potter are up to something," Severus says, spitting the names out as though they taste of something foul and sounding more than a little paranoid.
"What else is new? That lot is always up to something," Avery sneers.
Regulus rolls his eyes, "At least you aren't stuck living with one of them during the summer," he says, though there is a faintly vulnerable look to his eyes much as he tries to hide it from the older boys.
"Quiet," Severus shushes them suddenly.
Hermione resists the urge to roll her eyes having heard them already and says, just as though she wasn't paying them a bit of attention, "Quarter-past, lovely, I should have plenty of time then." Looking up deliberately from the numbers displayed by her wand she "notices" the three boys and gives them a charming smile, "Why, hello!"
The different reactions are rather priceless as the three boys take in the attractive young lady in golden robes before them with the bird upon her shoulder. She isn't in school robes so they don't have an instant identifier of her house so there isn't the instant reaction of Gryffindor enemy!
Regulus being perhaps the most observant of the three notes almost immediately that the girl is wearing a family ring, though he can't tell which family, and gives her a small bow, "Good evening are you new?" He's rather confused by the lack of uniform.
Avery catches on next and nudges Severus who is regarding her, as is perhaps no real surprise, suspiciously. "Good evening."
Severus gives Avery an annoyed look at the nudge and looks rather pained as he forces a smile, which looks more like a grimace, "Good evening." It comes out grudgingly.
Hermione's eyes dance in amusement. She can almost bet that Snape is suspicious that her presence is some sort of elaborate plot by the Marauders, though it isn't of course. "Yes, fairly new. I had placement tests on Thursday but I'm just getting back today. My brother wished to take me to Diagon Alley you see – but where are my manners... I'm Hermione Rookwood and you are...?" She quirks one refined eyebrow at the boys in front of her.
The younger Black is not quite as charming as his elder brother, being only a third year and lacking something of the rebel about him, but it doesn't stop him from unconsciously trying to emulate him at times. He reaches for her hand and bows over it, "Regulus Black, at your service, Miss Rookwood."
Avery meanwhile is racking his head trying to recall if he's ever heard of Hermione Rookwood but since he can't really remember, he merely smiles and offers, "Robert Avery II."
Hermione immediately files him away in her head as 'Bob Jr.' after noting that Sirius' younger brother is actually a rather cute kid and turns an encouraging smile upon Snape, mostly because it seems to unnerve him.
"Severus Snape," the words are clear and crisp, lacking the deeper, rich, silky quality of the elder Severus Snape, but still not holding the gawkish changes in pitch of a youth suffering his voice change. He eyes the bird on the girl's shoulder warily.
"How charming to meet you," Hermione says, taking a moment to meet each boy's eyes and, noting Severus' interest in her familiar smiles warmly at him, "This is Ambarisa, he's my new friend as well."
"Ruler of the Skies, a fitting name for your rook," Severus murmurs, unbending towards the girl a bit.
Hermione grins delightedly, "Yes, exactly."
The other two chuckle.
"Well I suppose I ought to let you gentlemen continue before you miss dinner entirely due to speaking with me. I suppose my housemates will have gone down already but I'm not really hungry anyway. It should be a good time to put away my new things," Hermione says, smiling. "Now remember gentlemen no letting a silly thing like Houses pick your quarrels for you. I can see that you are charming, so don't prove otherwise when I see you in class." She gives them a saucy wink and departs, quite amused at the puzzled looks of the Slytherins she leaves behind.
Regulus watches after her a moment noting that she's heading up the stairs and turns to the other two, his small frown of puzzlement changing to dawning comprehension, and says conversationally, "I bet you a galleon, Avery, that she's a Gryffindor."
"What?" Avery protests, "No, she's too pleasant to be a Gryffindor, and besides look at what a complicated name she picked for her bird. Lastly she's a Rookwood, they're always Ravenclaw or Slytherin. We haven't seen her in our Common Room so she must be a Ravenclaw. I'll take your little bet." He's firmly convinced that he's right.
Severus smirks at the pair, "She didn't even tell us what year she's in," he points out as well, though determining her House shouldn't be all that difficult.
"She's got a point though," Avery says, stomach growling, "let's go eat."
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Hermione arrives at the portrait just as the Marauders are coming out, "Hermione! Come to dinner with us!" Sirius says cheerfully.
"I'm not hungry guys, you go ahead. I need to get Ambarisa settled and unpack my new things," Hermione replies, smiling at them before stepping in through the open portrait hole.
"Okay, but let us know if you get hungry later," James says, then eyes Remus meaningfully, "someone can arrange something."
Peter whines, "Let's goooo, I'm hungry."
Clearly keeping a hungry Peter away from the food isn't a good idea.
Hermione chuckles and nods, "Thanks. See you later, then." She heads up to the dormitory as the boys make their way towards the stairs to go down to the Great Hall.
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"Looks like Lily and Alice already went down," Hermione murmurs to herself as she removes her trunk from her pocket. Setting it down at the end of her bed she takes out her wand and taps it to restore it to its original size, then just stands a moment admiring the craftsmanship. Ambarisa perches on the end of her bed to watch.
It would probably come as no surprise to anyone who knows her (or even who thinks they know her) that Hermione's mind is constantly awhirl with thought – neither would it surprise them that when alone (or occasionally in company) her thoughts spill out in an almost constant monologue murmured or muttered as the case may be.
"Might as well unpack then," Hermione murmurs as she opens the first compartment of the trunk. She takes a moment to just smile over her new acquisitions before opening her wardrobe and putting the clothes away. "It's rather nice to have new and flattering clothes. I rather like the styles... I wasn't sure if I would or not." Given what some of the 70s styles of muggle clothing look like she really wasn't sure but wizarding clothing has less extreme changes over the years, "Gus has good taste," she adds to herself thoughtfully.
"He's also very generous," Hermione murmurs as she finishes with the clothes. Shutting the trunk she reopens it to the second compartment and then locates her potions kit. Opening it up she adds the new ingredients to it and smiles. "Very generous indeed," she says with a pleased nod. Switching to the third compartment she retrieves her schoolbooks from the desk where she left them and adds them to her collection. "I'll have to ask the others what classes we have Monday so that I can get my bookbag ready," Hermione murmurs, still looking at her books as she tries to decide what to read. "If I knew I could find out what chapter they were on and do the reading... but as I don't..." her fingers linger over the books indecisively.
Finally she snags an old favorite that she was a little surprised Gus didn't fuss over, Most Potente Potions, and settles on her bed to read after propping her pillows behind her. Before she can even open the book though she ends up setting it down next to her and sighing. Biting her lower lip in thought a moment she murmurs, "You know not a lot of this makes sense. How did I end up Augustust Rookwood's sister of all things? I mean... I even have memories that aren't my own. I can picture parents that aren't my parents. A house that isn't my house... and I don't feel quite myself either all the time. It's very, very strange."
Ambarisa cocks his head to the side as he listens to his human ramble. He had no idea she was so chatty, but all the same she feels like the right one so he supposes he'll just listen.
"Hesitant... that isn't really like me. Nor is that girly way I want to please Gus with having the right appearance... and since when am I so charming? I'm not known for being charming... or wrapping boys around my little finger..." Hermione says, shaking her head. "Definitely confusing... but oddly it did seem to work with those Slytherins and the Marauders for that matter seem to be responding well. I really don't know how I'm going to make this work... there's so much that could be better."
Alice enters just in time to hear the last, "What could be better?" she asks.
"Erm..." Hermione looks at her new friend sheepishly, and with a bit of quick thinking holds up her book, "One of the preparation techniques in here is a bit off," she replies. "Sorry, I was just talking to myself."
Alice grins, "I suppose we all do that," she says and notices the bird now staring at her from the end of Hermione's bed. "New friend?" she asks.
"Yes, this is Ambarisa, he's a rook," Hermione replies.
"And a handsome one too, aren't you sir?" Alice croons, "Such lovely plumage."
"You should see him when it catches the light just right, there's a bluish-purple cast to it," Hermione says, smiling.
Ambarisa, well aware that he is being complimented, preens.
Hermione looks at him with amusement, "Perhaps I should have called him Narcissus, he's a bit vain, but Ambarisa is fitting. It means 'Ruler of the Skies' in Sanskrit," she explains at Alice's puzzled look.
"Ah, yes, quite fitting," Alice agrees. "So what else did you get?"
Hermione hops off her bed and smiles as Lily comes in, "Hello, Lily."
"Hello, Hermione, did you have a good time today?" Lily asks, smiling back.
"She's just about to show us what she got today," Alice says with a grin.
"Oh good," Lily says.
"Yes, I had a very nice time. Well... except for spending two hours at Madame Malkin's - that was a bit tiresome. I have some very nice clothes to show for it though so I suppose I can't complain," Hermione says with a laugh, making her way over to her wardrobe. "Oh I should give you your robes back, Alice. I forgot I was wearing them," she adds before slipping them off. 'Another odd thing given I usually take robes off when I'm back at the dorms right away,' she thinks.
"Don't worry about it," Alice replies with a wave of her hand.
The girls spend a while looking at Hermione's new purchases and chatting.
"Looks like your brother is a generous one, Hermione," Lily says. "That's very nice for you." She looks a bit wistful, remembering how kind Petunia used to be to her before she got her Hogwarts letter. Still her parents are very proud of her. Her smile returns as her thoughts turn to them.
"Yes, very much so, I think he'd have bought me half the alley if I'd wanted it," Hermione says, blushing a little. "I'm not really used to that much fuss," she admits.
"Rather fun though isn't it?" Alice says, her eyes crinkling with amusement, "I can wheedle whatever I want out of my dad."
Lily gives Alice a sly look, "You can wheedle whatever you want out of Frank Longbottom too," she teases.
Alice blushes, "Oh hush!"
Hermione chuckles, "You're a fine one to talk, Lily. I think that there's a guy that would do just about anything for you as well if only you'd give him the chance," she says.
Alice coughs, "James Potter."
Hermione grins at her as Lily sputters.
Alice laughs.
Hermione just ignores the glare Lily is shooting at her as she says to Alice, "One of these days we'll get her to give the poor boy a chance. There's more to him than she is giving him credit for."
Alice nods, "One of these days... we just have to get past the pig-headed refusal to see anything positive," she agrees.
"Pig-headed! I'll show you!" Lily says, grabbing a pillow and smacking Alice with it.
Ambarisa, smart bird that he is, flies from the end of the bed to perch on top of it well out of the way of swinging pillows.
"Oof," Alice says upon getting hit.
Hermione grabs a pillow and comes to the rescue and soon it's pillows and feathers everywhere as the pillow fight is on.
Eventually they all collapse laughing and tired.
"You two really think I'm just being stubborn about James Potter?" Lily asks after a minute of just trying to slow her breathing down.
Hermione nods. "Look I'm not saying you have to go out with him... but give the guy a chance to show you he's more than just the pranks he plays," she suggests.
Alice nods her agreement, "James can be very nice, Lily, and he really does like you. Honestly I think that's why he's always showing off around you he's been trying to get your attention almost from day one even if he isn't going about it the right way. That's what boys do when they aren't that mature yet... but he's improved more than you might think," she says.
Lily looks thoughtful. "I'll think about it I guess," she says.
"Good enough. I'm going to take Ambarisa to the owlery, I'll be back," Hermione says, looking up at her bird. Ambarisa doesn't wait for an invitation, flying down and landing on her shoulder. "Such a smart bird," Hermione murmurs to him, pleased.
"Okay," Alice says, currently not thinking that her roommate might need help finding it.
Lily isn't thinking about it either and so she flops on her bed.
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Hermione makes her way down the steps from the dormitory into the common room and smiles as she spots Remus doing some homework at one of the tables. She's a little surprised that the other boys aren't in there. "Hello, Remus, where'd the others go?" she asks.
Remus looks up and smiles warmly at her, "Oh, here and there. I thought I'd get a little studying down while its actually quiet. Where are you off to?" he asks.
"I need to take Ambarisa up to the Owlery. I suppose I'll see if I remember the way from the tour you guys gave me then," Hermione replies, reluctant to interrupt his studying.
"Well if you'd like company I'd be happy to walk with you, this essay isn't actually due until Thursday," Remus offers.
"Are you sure?" Hermione asks hesitantly, "I know I always like to be ahead so I wouldn't want someone else to feel like they are behind on their studies..."
"I wouldn't have offered if I minded," Remus assures her, shutting his book and tucking it along with his parchment in his bag. He stoppers the bottle of ink before adding it and his quill to his bag as well. Lifting his bag as he stands he places it over his shoulder and asks, "Ready?"
Hermione smiles and nods, "Sure, thanks."
Remus opens the portrait hole and allows Hermione to pass through first before following her, a small smile lighting his face as they walk along silently at first. It is just one of the many things he likes about her that they don't always have to talk, but also he's starting to get the feeling that he could talk about anything with this girl.
"I haven't received my schedule yet, could you tell me what we have on Monday?" Hermione asks after walking along silently for a short while.
Remus nods, "Of course, though electives will vary a bit," he says. "Monday I've got Arithmancy after breakfast, then we have double Potions with Slytherin and then Defense Against the Dark Arts. It's Transfiguration after lunch and that's a double class again followed by Herbology."
Hermione's face lights up, "I like Monday more already," she says with a laugh.
Remus gives her a lop-sided grin, "Classes you like then?" he asks.
Hermione nods, "Yes, some of my favorites... Herbology the least of the bunch, but even that isn't bad," she replies.
Remus nods agreeably, "Yes, at least it is at the end of the day though. We can come back to the dorms and clean up with plenty of time before supper."
"True. I expect that's better than some days?" Hermione asks, "Or are we always lucky enough to get it toward the end of the day?"
"Herbology is Monday-Wednesday-Friday this term with Wednesday being a double. Most classes we get four hours in per week with the exceptions being History of Magic and Astronomy, which are two each. That isn't a bad thing though, really since Astronomy is fairly late in the evening for a double class and History of Magic has Binns. I suggest for that one you bring your own reading material. I mostly just pay attention long enough to figure out what his topic of the day is and then check into researching it myself; that tends to be more accurate and less tiresome than his lectures," Remus says.
"Binns?" Hermione asks with a little smile.
"Our instructor for the class is a ghost. Rumor has it he dropped dead in the teacher's lounge and was so stuck in his ways he just got up and went right on teaching. He should have stopped boring people when he died. He seems pretty stuck on the goblin wars," Remus says with a little laugh.
"Oh dear, so he tries to bore his students to death does he? Thanks for the tip. I don't really advocate not paying attention in class for the most part but perhaps I'll make an exception for that class," Hermione says, amused. He sounds like he has the right idea with merely researching the topic of the day... it makes more sense actually than taking notes from his lecture. She wonders why she never thought to just do that, though she did get resources to complete her homework of course.
"He does and you are quite welcome," Remus replies.
Hermione smiles at him. Young or older, she's finding that she quite likes Remus Lupin, maybe a little more than likes, she admits to herself as she studies him.
"What?" Remus asks upon catching her looking at him intently.
Hermione blushes, "Oh nothing really, I was just thinking that you are very nice," she admits after a moment.
Remus feels his face heat. All the same he can't prevent a pleased grin from appearing.
"I think you are very nice as well, Hermione," he says sincerely.
Reaching over, Hermione takes Remus' hand in hers, lacing her fingers through his and giving him a shy smile as she does so. "I'm glad," she says softly.
Remus gives her hand a gentle squeeze. His eyes hold a depth of joy in them and the soft smile he gives her is almost radiant. He never expected that a nice girl like her would actually know what he was and still like him. "The owlery, my lady," he says in a manner that would do Sirius Black proud and with a twinkle in his eyes.
Hermione giggles and replies with mock formality, "Why thank you, kind sir."
Ambarisa preens her hair a moment before launching himself off her shoulder to fly up into the rafters with a soft, "Kaah."
"I suppose he took that as his cue to find himself someplace comfortable to settle," Hermione says.
"So it would seem," Remus agrees. "Can I escort you anywhere else?"
Hermione smiles, not at all adverse to spending more time with him, "The kitchens perhaps? My brother actually tipped me off about how to get in, but I'm not sure that I would actually find them," she says and adds, still feeling a bit shy about it, "and I wouldn't mind spending more time with you either."
Remus smiles happily, "The kitchens it is then," he says, giving her hand another light squeeze. "You are saving me, you know, I would have gotten a merciless teasing if the guys caught me studying on Saturday night," he explains at her quizzical look.
Hermione grins and nods, "I understand. Mother always said I should have better things to do on the weekend than keep my nose in a book," she replies. 'More like Harry and Ron,' she reminds herself, a bit discomfited to find herself remembering a mother who is not her mother trying to pry her from her books upon a weekend.
"Sadly my friends rarely appreciate books," Remus admits, "though they are, for the most part, lucky in having some natural talent to avoid being completely hopeless."
Hermione chuckles, "Mother could appreciate a good book, she just didn't think reading all the time was particularly healthy so she was forever trying to send me outside or to encourage me to go watch some of the villagers play football," she says. Not that Hermione particularly cared about the sport Americans would term soccer. She's not exactly a sports nut regardless of the culture she's in.
"Not into sports?" Remus asks.
"Not really, no. I don't mind watching when I know someone playing I guess, but I've never been very good at things like that," Hermione replies.
"I don't think it is required to live and breathe them, don't worry," Remus says with a grin, "Though at least pretending to like quidditch is something of a requirement. I don't mind it but Sirius and James are both big fans of the game."
"I'm sure I'll enjoy watching quidditch so long as no one tries to get me to play. I can't imagine that I'll ever like flying as I don't much care for heights," Hermione explains.
"There is nothing wrong with that," Remus says, "and you can always work on it if you want to. I'm no natural on a broom like James, but I'd help you if you want to try."
"I'll think about it," Hermione says with a small smile. 'Remus is a very good teacher' she reflects to herself. 'Maybe, just maybe he really could help.'
"Alright," Remus agrees, reaching with his free hand to tickle the pear as they reach the portrait that hides the kitchens. As they enter the House Elves perk up.
"What cans we gets yous sir and miss?" An excitable female elf squeaks as she comes over to the pair.
"A roast beef sandwich would be nice if you could, please," Hermione says.
"Something chocolate?" Remus asks hopefully.
The elf looks delighted and nods excitedly, "Yous sit over there," she says, pointing to a small table.
Hermione chuckles and says softly as they make their way over to the table, "You know I used to think that it was quite unfair that House Elves are bound, but then I realized as long as they are treated well they like serving us far too much. I still think that the ones that aren't treated kindly should have a way out, though."
Remus nods and says, equally quietly, as he wouldn't want to insult the little creatures, "Yes, they would be horrified most of them to be presented with clothes. For the ones not treated well, though, I agree that they should have a way out."
The little elf comes over with a positively huge tray. On it are two enormous roast beef sandwiches, roasted potatoes, a pitcher of pumpkin juice, a pot of hot chocolate and a whole chocolate cake as well as the plates, cups and silverware to consume them. "Is this good?" she asks anxiously.
"My goodness, yes, I can't think what else we could possibly want. Thank you," Hermione says, smiling at the little elf.
"You did very well, thank you," Remus assures the elf.
"I is very happy you likes it," she says, beaming as she goes back to work leaving them to enjoy their 'snack'.
Hermione reluctantly releases Remus' hand, "Could I persuade you to have a sandwich? I'm not sure I can finish one of these much less two, though it looks really good."
"It does. I suppose I could suffer through one if you would help a bit with my cake for after," Remus replies with a small laugh.
Hermione grins, "I don't know many girls who will say no to anything chocolate," she says as she transfers one of the sandwiches onto a plate and adds some of the roasted potatoes.
Remus fixes himself a plate as well.
"So what did you do today, Remus?" Hermione asks once they've settled to eating.
Remus, having far better table manners than Peter or Ron, finishes chewing and swallowing his food before replying, "Peter dragged me to watch Sirius and James practice for a while this morning and then we mostly sat around." In other words they were plotting a prank.
"Sat around, hmm, is that code for we're up to something?" Hermione asks teasingly before taking another bite of her sandwich.
"Maybe," Remus says with a grin. "Guess you'll have to wait and see, won't you?"
"I hope it isn't going to be something that will get James in trouble with Lily again," Hermione says, "Alice and I only just got her to at least think about giving him a chance." She leaves off saying that she'll be disappointed if the boys play a mean prank herself.
Remus shakes his head, "No, I don't think this one should make her too mad," he says.
'So they are plotting a prank,' Hermione thinks to herself, smiling. "Good... you could maybe use that as something to point out when you think they are getting carried away by the way," she suggests.
Remus grins across the table at her, "That might just work on James actually. Good idea, Hermione," he says.
Hermione grins back, "Well I don't think any of us expect you guys to stop playing pranks entirely. I know she agrees with me though that pranks shouldn't hurt anyone or be humiliating," she replies, though she reaches over to touch his hand a moment before adding, "Though I expect I'm talking to the conscience of the group anyway. I don't think you would intentionally hurt anyone Remus."
Remus nods and tries to explain, "They are really good guys... but... some things are kind of sore spots. For what it is worth I think you got them thinking the other day."
"I'm glad. Very little in the world is pure black and white... or green and red as it were," Hermione says, chuckling. "I'll stay off the soapbox though."
Remus smiles. 'She really is a smart girl too,' he thinks. "Can I cut you a slice of cake?" he asks having made short work of his sandwich. He was hungrier than he thought.
Hermione nods, "Sure, I'm still working on this, but I know I'll want some of the cake. It smells heavenly," she says. She's eaten more of the sandwich than she thought she'd manage, perhaps due to all the fresh air she got while shopping she was hungrier than usual.
"Chocolate cake is a little bit of heaven," Remus says seriously as he cuts into the cake serving them each a generous slice.
"Oh ho, what have we here?" Sirius asks as he and James suddenly appear.
Neither Hermione nor Remus heard the portrait open, looking at the pair like deer in the headlights.
James flops down next to Hermione and Sirius settles in beside Remus.
"Look, Sirius, they saved us some cake," James says cheerfully. "Two more cups please, Sessy, and can we get some treacle tarts?" he asks when one of the house elves comes over.
"Oh! And jam tarts!" Sirius adds, accepting a cup and pouring out some pumpkin juice.
James takes his cup and pours some hot chocolate.
Remus and Hermione exchange an amused look.
"Don't mind us, just make yourselves at home," Hermione teases as the boys cut cake and help themselves.
"Hermione was finally hungry for dinner," Remus explains.
"Oh we don't mind you a bit," Sirius assures her. "Cake for supper? Great idea!" He snags a jam tart off the tray of tarts the elf is setting down and gives the small creature a wink, making her giggle as she walks away.
James smirks at Sirius, "I see the remains of a sandwich there, so it must have been more than just cake for supper... though it is very good cake. Possibly worthy of foregoing supper in favor of it," he says, though he sets his fork down and snatches up a treacle tart when the tray arrives.
'So Harry comes by his love of treacle tart naturally it seems,' Hermione thinks. "So where's Peter?" she asks.
"Detention," Sirius says proudly.
"Filch caught him setting off a dung bomb earlier," James explains.
Remus smirks.
"I see," Hermione says, finally trying a bite of cake. "Mmm. They do make really good cake don't they?"
Remus is looking pretty blissful over the cake himself and just nods.
The other two regard them, particularly Remus, with amusement – that is until they too try the cake and discover that it is, indeed, chocolate bliss. Thus all four fall quiet as they eat cake.
"Shall we head back?" Hermione asks Remus when they finish their cake.
"We can do that," Remus agrees.
"But there's still jam tarts left!" Sirius protests.
James kicks Sirius under the table. "We can just stay and finish them then," he says quickly.
Sirius looks puzzled, then as though a light bulb goes on he nods excitedly, "Yeah, we'll just do that then. You two go ahead."
Hermione looks from one to the other and smiles, "You do that," she says, amused by them. "We'll see you later."
Remus just shakes his head at them, "Come on Hermione," he says and the pair head out of the kitchens.
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"Why'd you have to kick me, James?" Sirius asks.
"Are you really that blind mate? This way they get a little alone time. How often does ol' Moony find a girl he likes? She seems to like him too and she already knows so he can't use that as an excuse. It's perfect," James replies.
"Good point. But did you have to kick me so hard?" Sirius asks.
"Quit whining. You're a beater suck it up," James says, smirking.
Sirius rolls his eyes.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Hermione smiles at Remus without saying anything as they head down the hallway from the kitchens toward the stairs.
Remus gives her a sheepish smile in return. "They are kind of obvious aren't they?" he asks finally, reaching over for her hand.
Hermione places her hand in his and her lips tug upward as her smile grows, "Maybe just a little," she replies, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Do you mind?" she asks.
Shaking his head, Remus gives her hand a gentle squeeze, "No, for once I don't mind a bit."
Hermione looks at him inquiringly, "Do they do this often?"
"No, I don't really give them the chance to," Remus admits.
"Hmm," Hermione says thoughtfully, "I can't say I'm not glad... though I suppose I am a bit surprised..."
"Oh really?" Remus asks, a grin slowly spreading across his face.
"Yes, really," Hermione concedes, feeling a blush spreading across her cheeks.
'She really is beautiful. I can't believe she likes me too,' he thinks to himself. "I guess I was waiting for you," Remus blurts out before blushing and saying quickly, "I can't believe I just said that aloud."
Hermione gives his hand a comforting squeeze, "It's alright, Remus. I like you too, but it isn't as though we have to rush into anything. You just met me. I understand. Matchmaking friends aside we'll see where it goes on our own, hmm?"
Remus takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly before nodding his agreement.
"Just don't talk yourself out of the possibility alright? Maybe we'll just end up friends anyway, but there's something very special about you," Hermione says softly.
Remus lifts his hand and hers with it and gently kisses the back of Hermione's hand before letting both drop again, "As you wish," he says gently.
Hermione smiles at him and he smiles back. The rest of their walk to Gryffindor Tower is companionably silent as each is lost in their own thoughts. Neither, however, lets go of the other's hand until they part to go to their own dormitories.