A/N: Hello there! Thanks for reading and for those of you that review, thank you so much! I see you all lurking out there…go ahead and tell me what you think! This originally was planned to be an OC/Harry story. Up until now it's mostly been OC/Sirius, and in this chapter…well, you'll see. I haven't quite made up my mind yet either! So weigh in after you've read
Also, there is a large time shift here and I will be marking space breaks like this 'oo0oo' so that you know when pov/setting is being changed etc. Thanks! Xox Rileypotter
2 Months Later
"Oh Merlin Harry we are going to be late for work," Riley groaned. She whipped the down comforter off of her naked body and scrambled for her overnight bag, changing quickly in a cream colored blouse and simple black slacks. She shrugged her work robes on over and quickly magicked her hair into something somewhat resembling normal. The look on her face made Harry laugh.
He was still lounging in bed, his arms crossed behind his head and resting against the headboard. He was grinning ear to ear watching her dress. Last night had been the second time they had slept together. And it had been amazing.
"I don't mind. I'm content right here…besides, if you hadn't kept me up till all hours of the night, we would have woken up in plenty of time," he smiled. A blush crept up Riley's cheeks as she smoothed her hair and shook her head.
"Harry James Potter get your ass out of bed and let's go!" she tried to sound stern but then ended up in a mild fit of giggles. His little goofy grin made her smirk. She briefly let her mind flick to the events of last night before grabbing her wand, "Fine then, I'll meet you there," she conceded as he finally tumbled out of bed, running a hand through his hair. She gave him one last look and then headed to the floo.
Oo0oo Interlude oo0oo
A lot had changed in the past two months, more than Riley herself could even believe. Immediately after Ron had sent the letter to Hermione and to his family, the threats against her stopped. And they hadn't heard a thing about his whereabouts. No owls, no mysterious break-ins, and their Auror work plummeted massively to mere petty thefts and small crimes. No crazy dark wizards, nothing. It was like it had all been a dream.
Regardless, there were still enchantments on Riley's apartment, but no guards or anything extra. Harry moved out of his place and into a spacious one bedroom loft in the heart of London. Hermione moved as well, just two blocks from the ministry. She didn't want to be anywhere in that old apartment and no one blamed her.
And as far as Riley's personal life went: even more had transpired. A week after her last talk with Sirius, she had decided that she wanted to give everything a fair shot. She was out of any sign of present danger, and she wanted more than anything to experience what it felt like to be a single girl in her early twenties. She wanted to date casually. And she had made it clear to everyone involved.
Sirius, though understanding, didn't take it well personally. He moped when she wasn't around and soon that sadness turned to hardness and he regained his usual mannerisms tenfold.
Draco and her took things slow and steady, although she still hadn't slept with him. He was the middle-ground; the mix of bad-boy and good-guy that Riley couldn't exactly figure out.
And Harry…she had finally made amends with. More than amends. They began dating and his feelings for her almost threatened to take away all of her time. But she enjoyed his company. She had wanted him first after all.
Hermione was slowly recovering from the loss of Ron. At this point, everyone assumed he was dead, or if not, didn't want to be found. She took it hard, but was beginning to slowly heal. And finally, the two girls had rekindled the friendship they hadn't had in a long while. All seemed right with their world. For the moment.
But…with dating three men that worked mere feet apart from each other daily, things were bound to get complicated again.
Oo0oO
"It's been much too long," Riley sighed as she sat with her best friend Hermione at the Three Broomsticks with two pints of butterbeer on the table between them. The girls both beamed at each other. It seemed their lives were finally in the clear of that horrible dark cloud that lingered over them not long ago. They took eager sips after their long day of work.
"Much," Hermione seconded, "But I'm glad for this, I have something really…pressing…to ask you,"
Riley raised one eye brow. Hermione rarely ever needed to ASK anyone anything. The girl always had all the answers, except when it came to…
"Alright who are you shagging?" Riley said bluntly and this made Hermione turn a shade of cherry that made her friend burst into giggles, proving she was right.
"Riley, no…listen…what do you think about dating older men…" she said, lowering her voice, although they were in a pretty isolated corner of the pub. This made Riley even more curious, although her stomach twanged guiltily about Sirius. Still no one knew about them.
"So he's older, ooooooh!" her friend ribbed her and now Hermione was dangerously on the verge of shutting up for good, and Riley could tell. She stopped her playing and put on her listening face.
"I think it's perfectly acceptable. You are a smart, mature witch. Why not?" Riley shrugged. It was the truth, after all.
She could visibly see Hermione breathe a sigh of relief. Her friends light brown spiral curls hung low to the table as she leaned over and whispered, "Remus asked me out…on a date…"
Riley fought hard not to spit out her gulp of butterbeer, swallowing it hard and leaving an uncomfortable lump in her throat, "Lupin?"
"Yes. I know…it's so terrible, but he's really grown on me and since Ron…well, he's been there for me," Hermione sighed, not pleased at the reaction she was getting. Riley felt awful. She knew she was being a hypocrite. She knew there now had to be perfect honesty between the two girls.
"Look 'Mione. I'm not judging you. I'm just going to tell you it's hard…from experience…" she said, hoping the smart witch would catch her drift. She did. Riley saw the dials turning. She was mentally naming off the older wizards they worked with. It obviously wasn't Remus…not Mad-Eye heavens no, most likely not Kingsley, the man was too busy…
"Oh good Merlin youare shagging Sirius!" Hermione said in a half shocked whisper and half giggle. The girls held hands, almost giddily and squealed a bit, in the way girls do when they share something with each other that is of utmost secrecy.
"I am…oh 'Mione we have so much catching up to do!" she smiled at her friend. She was glad she wasn't alone. They promised each other not to tell anyone else with just a look, before Hermione dived in.
"Is he amazing in bed? I've always wondered," she asked scandalously and Riley gave a slow, self-satisfactory nod.
"He's down-right flawless," Riley blushed. It was true. She couldn't attest from Draco—yet, but between Harry and his godfather, the older man had him beat.
Hermione's face then turned into a frown, "Poor Harry…does he know?"
"Gods no…it would kill him. But I don't see Sirius as much as I used to. He's been…distant. I am just trying to see what I like. I haven't experimented in the same way you have…" Riley sighed.
"You could hardly call missionary at 9 pm three times a week with the same man experimentation," Hermione shook her head, "I think we both need to spread our wings a little,"
"So you don't think I'm a harlot for sleeping with two…maybe three men?" Riley blushed. Hermione looked as if she was going to faint.
"You're going to sleep with Draco too? Oh Merlin's beard Riley…" Hermione laughed and her friend smirked at how well the brunette caught on. They hadn't talked like this in ages and the girl knew all of her ardors. She blushed wondering if it was that obvious.
"Just tread lightly, but I don't judge you, if anything, I'm dead jealous!" Hermione assured the red-head. "And you don't think it's weird I want to date my ex-professor?" Hermione asked; back down into her embarrassed whisper.
"Not at all. But only if I get to hear every detail," Riley made her promise. The girls swore on it, then continued drinking, laughing at their intended escapades.
Oo0oO
"How are you and Riley?" Remus Lupin asked as he and his animagus friend sat and drank expensive firewhiskey and played wizards' chess in the latter's apartment. Sirius moved a pawn, took a large sip, and then sat back in the comfortable armchair. He was reluctant to answer, and the former Professor could tell.
"Oh, you know…"
"I actually haven't the slightest clue Pads," Lupin challenged him, taking one of his rooks.
"She's driving me bloody fucking insane, she is," Sirius spat out, looked angry with himself, then finished off his glass.
"Why's that?" Lupin asked as one eye brow rose on his scarred face. He always kept his calm when Sirius overreacted, it was the only way he knew how to diffuse him.
"Wants to date…casually…I know she's with my godson constantly. The two of them have certainly passed the 'just friends' level. I know she hasn't called it quits with Malfoy either. I don't.."
"She's young Sirius. She's confused. Look at all that took place a few months ago. Now she has the time to explore. Let her. Don't you see how happy she is at work? She's doing what she wants," Lupin explained reasonably but Sirius wouldn't have any of it.
"I do what I want. Not her. She should want me," he argued.
"You have the maturity level of a sixteen year old boy. I always say that Azkaban emotionally retarded you…" Lupin went on, trying to diagnose his friend. This sent Sirius into a fit. He pouted and stopped playing chess.
"Screw that bloody witch, I don't want anything to do with her!" he roared, standing up from his chair and pacing around the house. He seriously considered turning into his dog form so his thoughts would be simpler and wouldn't hurt him so much.
"That's bullshit and you know it. You are just mad that one girl has come along and changed the heart of ol' bachelor Sirius. If you are that upset, why are you sitting here with me drinking when you could be showing her why she should want to be with you?"
This made Sirius pause in his tracks. His friend was right. He was being moody and selfish, but he was angry at her. She held all the power. She was playing the field, playing the game. With blokes he knew. Whom he sat across from at the ministry. It was all too much. Too close for comfort.
"I'm here because you wanted to tell me something in person," Sirius sighed, remembering their conversation earlier in the day. Remus had seemed anxious, needing time with his best friend. Sirius happily obliged Moony.
"Oh, right…." Lupin said, suddenly shy, and unhappy that the conversation was steered back to him, "Well, it's about Hermione…."
Sirius sat down, only mildly interested but it took the sting off of thinking of Riley, "What about the little swot?"
"I want her. And that's what I wanted to ask you. If it's even worth it. Going after her, going after someone younger, someone we've known for years…."
Sirius was quiet for a moment. He didn't doubt there was chemistry between them. He had seen it grow in the last month alone. But it was a sticky situation…one he didn't love with Riley at the moment.
"I think you two could work. First, because you aren't as fucked up as I am, and second…because she's not dating the entire city," he said with bitterness. Lupin gave him a look that shut the dog down.
"Try it mate, what's the worst that can happen?" Sirius shrugged.
A/N: I know this chapter is mostly re-cap/convos, but I hope you enjoyed it. Please review and weigh in on who you want Riley with! Do you think Hermione and Lupin are a good match?