Disclaimer: Only the main plot and the original characters (Rose, Daisy, Andrew, Ti, Maggie, Sam, Daniel and Mrs. Thunderheart) are mine. The rest belong to JKR.
A/N: Just a little note on the different POVs in this story and my mark for changes in POV. If you haven't figured it out, a series of underlined asterixes indicates a large jump forward in time. For changes in POV on the same day or succeeding days, I'll place a series of asterixes not underlined and aligned with the page margin.
Chapter 14: A Hogsmeade date
Rose walked hurriedly through the halls of Hogwarts, excitement bursting through her. It was the first Sunday of October and her lessons with Mrs. Thunderheart were progressing well. Rose still had to struggle to call her tutor by her first name.
In the week after their first meeting, Hermione had managed to find several newspaper articles on the woman which confirmed what Professor Dumbledore said about the extraordinary woman.
Mrs. Thunderheart had predicted many impending disasters in Canada, including several flashfloods and landslides before they occurred, saving countless lives. She had been instrumental in the search for many missing children and tracking down several serial killers all over her country and even in the United States. This excited Rose and made her determined to succeed in learning what the Native American woman had to teach her.
The first three lessons had focused on meditation and finding the center of her magic or her magical core. Mrs. Thunderheart had explained that it looked like a floating multicolored ball and represented the power of her magic. Everyone had one but only seers and those of great power could find it.
She had to struggle on the first day to even sit still and reach deep inside to try to attain the calm and relaxed feeling necessary to find her center. Mrs. Thunderheart had asked her to practice whenever she was alone, especially at night before she went to sleep.
With deep concentration and focus, she was able to attain that calmness within a week. Then it took another week for her to see her magical center, initially taking her several minutes to do so. Mrs. Thunderheart had then said that to be able to use her seer ability, she needed to find her magical center almost instantaneously. It was only the other night that she was able to do it within a couple of seconds.
Rose reached the gargoyle that guarded the stairs to Professor Dumbledore's office. She said the new password, "Three Musketeers" and stepped on the ascending stairs. Once she reached the top, she heard Dumbledore's voice call out, "You may enter, Miss Potter."
She entered to find the Headmaster and Mrs. Thunderheart in the office, apparently in the midst of a conversation.
"Hello, child," Mrs. Thunderheart said warmly. "I believe you've reached the proper frame of mind for the next step."
Rose's eyes widened in surprise, "Yes, ma'am. I've been able to reach my center almost immediately since the other night."
Mrs. Thunderheart smiled, "Yes, I can sense it in you. Now, we can move on to the next step. Please sit down across from me. Hold your hands up at shoulder level with the palms facing outward toward me."
Rose sat down in the chair indicated by Mrs. Thunderheart and did as she said. The woman placed her palms against Rose's so they were touching. She then said, "This will allow me to see what you are doing in your mind. Only another seer can do it this way. Now close your eyes and find your center. I'll know it also."
Almost immediately after closing her eyes, Rose felt herself settle into the calm, relaxed feeling needed before she could find her center. Then she saw in her mind's eye the floating ball of white and yellow light.
"Very good, dear," Martha said, almost whispering. "You've done it. Now, I want you to concentrate on your center and use it to form an image of Albus sitting in his chair, just as he is right now."
Rose struggled and concentrated, willing the ball of light to change into an image of the Headmaster. After several seconds, the ball slowly changed form to an outline of a man in a chair. It gradually solidified and formed into a picture of Dumbledore sitting in his favorite chair. Unfortunately, it lasted only a couple of seconds before dissipating and going back into a ball of light.
Rose felt Mrs. Thunderheart withdraw her hands and she opened her eyes.
"Marvelous," Martha said, breaking into a smile, "That was very good."
Rose looked at her in confusion, "How could that be very good, Martha? I only held the image for a second or two."
She smiled again, "It's very good because you were able to form Albus' image on the first try. Most people I know with this gift couldn't do it that quickly, even me."
Rose looked at her with wide eyes, "Really?"
"Yes, really," Martha said, smiling at her. "Now, close your eyes and do it again. Form your ball into an image of Albus and his chair. Try to hold it longer."
They continued doing this and by the end of their time together, Rose could actually hold that image in her mind for several minutes.
"Very good, Rose," Martha said. "Now, practice some more. Next week, we'll go further with that."
Mrs. Thunderheart left soon after. Professor Dumbledore praised Rose on her advancing skill, causing the young seer to blush and hurriedly excuse herself. She rushed off to the Great Hall to see her brother and friends, eager to tell them about her latest lesson, though in the back of her mind, she wondered how forming an image of Dumbledore out of her magic would help her see the future.
Harry and the rest of the New Marauders had another session of Dueling practice and Animagus training. In the latter, most of them were now able to change both sets of limbs to the appropriate animal counterpart. However, only Harry and Ginny had been able to change their bodies to their animal forms.
Later that evening, as the whole school sat down to dinner, Dumbledore announced that the Saturday two weeks from that day would be a Hogsmeade visit day. This aroused a sense of excitement among the students.
After dinner, Rose was sitting alone at one of the tables in the common room, writing essay for Charms when she sensed someone sit beside her.
"Hey, Rose," a familiar male voice said.
"Hi, Ti," Rose said, not looking up from her writing.
"Uh, Rose," Ti said, a bit nervously, "You remember I asked you earlier in the summer to go with me to Hogsmeade on the first Hogsmeade visit day?"
"Oh, of course," Rose said, looking up from her essay, "I remember. I'm looking forward to it." She smiled at him. She liked being with him and had decided to give him a chance.
Ti blew a sigh of relief and grinned back at her, "Great, I'm also looking forward to it." He brought a book on Transfiguration out of his bag and they did their homework side by side.
(Ti's POV)
Most of October passed relatively quickly. Before anyone knew it, it was the third Saturday of October and the day of the first Hogsmeade weekend. Because of that, James had agreed to suspend the New Marauders' training for the day.
Ti was the first one down in the common room early that morning among all the Gryffindors, wearing a pair of beige slacks, a blue collared shirt and trainers. These were among the first Muggle clothes he'd ever owned, a gift from Sirius for Christmas. Ti checked the clock over the fireplace which said that it was barely past six.
He had barely slept a wink last night since he was nervous about his date with Rose. This would be his first one, plus it was his first time to Hogsmeade. He hoped his plan for the day would be successful. He hoped to ask her something if the opportunity arose.
He had wondered who to get advice from about where to take Rose in Hogsmeade for their date. He felt uncomfortable asking Harry since it was his sister he was taking. He considered asking Ron but he wasn't as close to him as he was to Harry due to Ron's initial displeasure over a Malfoy being a part of their circle of friends. He didn't care to trust Fred or George because of the advice they gave Ron and Harry on Valentine's Day last term. He was sure Rose wouldn't like Madame Puddifoot's Tea shop.
Finally, he had asked Neville, though he didn't think the older boy had been on many dates before. Neville had been surprised that Ti had gone to him for advice instead of Harry but understood Ti's reason. The advice he gave Ti played a large part in Ti's plans today.
As he waited for Rose, his thoughts turned to his older brother's recent behavior. The past two years since Ti was sorted into Gryffindor and especially after their father had disowned Ti, Draco had gone out of his way to humiliate and abuse his former sibling whenever Ti wasn't with Harry and the rest of their friends. Draco would taunt him with insults and purposely push or bump him as they walked past each other in the corridors of the school. Of course, that had lessened after the first task of the Triwizard Tournament where Harry had distracted a dragon before it could attack Ti.
But, since they first saw each other on the Express on September 1st, Draco had behaved a lot better toward Ti than he had ever in their entire life. He no longer insulted him or pushed him around. Draco even helped him one time when his bag had spilled its contents on the ground. They still hadn't talked much but Ti supposed they really didn't have much to say to each other yet. Still, as he had told Rose, Ron, Ginny and Neville on the train, he hoped his brother was changing his ways from the ones instilled in him by their father.
His thoughts on Draco were interrupted as he heard footsteps from the girls' stairs. A few seconds later, Rose stepped into the common room, dressed in a light green jumper and dark blue jeans. She smiled upon seeing him and came up to him.
"Good morning, Ti," she said. "I'm a bit surprised to see you up already. I guess you're excited about today."
"'Morning, Rose," Ti said. "Yeah, I guess I am." He smiled back at her, praying she didn't see his nervousness about taking her on a date. She looked really pretty to him.
"So, are you ready to see the village?" Rose asked him.
"Sure," Ti said, "Are you ready to show me around?"
Rose giggled, "Yeah, I know where to go. Now, shall we go down to breakfast or wait for the others?"
"Um, let's go down to the Great Hall now," Ti said. "We can get an early start to Hogsmeade while there's less of a crowd there."
"That's a great idea," Rose said. "Let's go."
They went down to the Great Hall where they found only a few older students eating at that early hour with no one yet at the Gryffindor table. They sat down beside each other and started their breakfast. Halfway through their meal, more students started to filter in. Harry and Ginny sat at the table just as Ti and Rose were finishing up.
"Good morning, sis, Ti," Harry said. "Are you guys done already?"
"Yeah, Harry," Rose said. "We decided to have an early start to Hogsmeade since it'll be Ti's first time there. That way, we'll have more time to look around."
"All right," Harry said, "Have fun. We'll wait for Ron and Hermione before going there. Um, how about meeting up for lunch at the Three Broomsticks, say at noon?"
Rose turned to Ti and asked, "Ti, what do you think?"
Ti nodded his head and turned to Harry, "Sure, that would be great. We'll see you guys there." He turned back to Rose, "We better get going, Rose."
Ti stood up and offered Rose his hand. Rose smiled and took Ti's hand, firmly gripping it in hers as he gently pulled her out of her seat. Ti grinned at her and they left the Great Hall holding hands.
(Ginny and Harry's POV)
Ginny watched Harry's face as Ti and Rose exited the Great Hall. His eyes remained fixed on the Hall's doors several seconds after they had left.
"Harry?" Ginny asked in Harry's mind.
"Hmm?" Harry absently answered her.
"Rose will be fine," Ginny said to him. "Ti's a good bloke. He won't do anything to hurt her."
Harry sighed, "I guess I know that, Gin. It's just weird to see her going out on a date. She's barely fourteen."
"Hey, so am I."
Harry turned to face her. "I know," he said softly. "Maybe it's just an older brother thing. I kind of understand what Ron feels when he sees the two of us together. I remember what happened at the Yule Ball."
"I understand, Harry. Rose didn't really have a good time then until she danced with Neville. Don't worry. I think Ti's a bit more mature than Ron, even if he's two years younger than my dear brother."
"All right, we'll see them anyway later," Harry said as he started eating. "Speaking of Neville, I heard he's taking Lisa Turpin to Hogsmeade today."
"Oh?" Ginny asked, "I've never met her. What's she like?"
"I don't know much about her since she's in Ravenclaw, only that she's got an interest in Herbology, like Neville. She and Nev have worked together in that class from time to time."
"Maybe we'll run into them later," Ginny said. "I hope Ti and Rose have a good time together today."
Harry nodded his agreement as they continued eating.
(Rose's POV)
Meanwhile, Ti and Rose were now on down the road from the castle, past the Quidditch Pitch and walking towards the front gates, talking quietly about their classes and training.
At the front gates, they joined the short line of students already passing through Filch's scrutiny. Once past the castle caretaker, they walked down the road to the village.
As they passed the railroad station, Ti asked Rose, "So, where shall we start?"
"Let's start with the Honeyduke's and go down to road to each shop," Rose said.
"Sure," Ti said, grinning. He loved sweets just as much as any boy.
They entered the sweets shop and found only a couple of other students already there. They looked at every shelf in the store and picked out many types of candy. It seemed that Ti liked anything that had chocolate in it while Rose liked anything with mint or strawberries in it but didn't care for toffees or gums. They left the shop after twenty minutes with one bag each laden with their favorites.
Next, they entered Zonko's where they looked at every joke item on display. They ended up buying quite a few items, including dungbombs, Fanged Frisbees and screaming yoyos.
"These things are great," Rose said as they left the store, "But I bet Fred and George can come up with better stuff."
"They probably can," Ti said. "The ways they've come up with to help us pull off our pranks have been ingenious."
"Did you know they plan on opening a joke shop after they graduate from Hogwarts?" Rose asked.
"No," Ti said, "I didn't know that. That would be bloody brilliant. Um, what about their mum? From what I've heard, she doesn't like it when they pull pranks. What'll she think if she finds out her prankster sons want to do that for a living?"
"Well, that's true," Rose said. "She doesn't like those two pulling pranks. Over the years I've known them, she's given them a lot of lectures about it. But that hasn't stopped them. So, I guess they won't tell her until they've done it."
"Well, I say good luck to them," Ti said, "Where do you want to go next, Rose?"
"I'm not sure," Rose said. She pointed to next store after Zonko's. "That store over there is Gladrag's Wizardwear. Being a boy, I don't think you'd like going in there." She said that with a smirk, enjoying the look of relief that appeared for a moment on Ti's face. "Let's skip that and check out Scrivenshaft's. It's a quill shop. I need a few new ones."
They walked into the shop to find several students already there, looking over the different quills on display.
"Oh, Ti," Rose said, "Look how beautiful these quills are." She was looking at some brightly colored but fragile looking quills. The sign under them said that they were made from the feathers of birds from the tropics.
"They look okay," Ti said, "But they're a bit flashy for my taste. I prefer those quills over there." He pointed to some blue quills that were made from eagle feathers which usually lasted a longer time.
Rose shrugged, "Looks too plain for me. But I guess they're the practical choice."
They each bought several quills of their choice and left the shop.
"Where to now?" Ti asked Rose.
"Um, why don't we check out that store over there?" she said, pointing across the street. A sign hanging over the door read "the Little Menagerie". "It has all kinds of things that can be given as gifts."
"Okay," Ti said.
They entered the shop and started looking around together. Rose took note of several items that she could give later as Christmas gifts.
After that shop, they visited Dervish and Banges for a while before Ti noticed that it was almost noon. They walked back the way they had come until they got to the Three Broomsticks. When they entered the pub, they looked around for their friends.
Rose noticed Neville was at a table for two near the door talking with a blonde girl she didn't know. The girl was wearing school robes over her Muggle clothing, her house badge showing the raven. Rose frowned for a moment then turned away to look for her brother and the others so she failed to see Neville turn in their direction.
"Hey, Rose, Ti, over here," she heard Harry's voice calling her. She turned in the direction of the voice and saw him with Ginny, Hermione and Ron sitting at a table farther inside the pub. She tugged on Ti's hand and they walked toward them.
(Neville's POV)
Neville was enjoying his time with Lisa. After the Yule Ball, Neville had not continued dating Lavender, finding her a bit shallow. Lisa, on the other hand, was more to his liking, especially since they shared an interest in Herbology. Neville then decided he'd like to find out if they could be more than friends, hence this date in Hogsmeade. So far, it was working out.
They had gone around Hogsmeade, visiting the shops around. They had enjoyed the sweet shop and Zonko's. The only snag in the day had been when Lisa insisted on going into Gladrag's where they had spent an hour, much to Neville's discomfort. At any rate, they had gone on to Scrivenshafts' and Dervish and Bange's after that. Overall, Neville had decided that he could think of having more dates with Lisa. That is until he saw Rose Potter walk in the Three Broomsticks.
When he had asked Rose to dance with him during the Yule Ball, Neville had done so because he had felt sorry for the way she was being treated by Ron. He had enjoyed dancing with her but at that time; he had seen her as only a friend and a good friend's younger sister. However, over the summer, as he joined Harry and the others in dueling and animagus training, he'd noticed how beautiful she was becoming and enjoyed her fiery and exuberant personality.
He had thought about asking her out but was a bit intimidated by the possibility of a bad reaction from Harry. He'd seen how Ron had reacted to Harry dating his sister last year. Neville worried that Harry would react just as badly and didn't want to jeopardize their friendship just to date his sister. Now, seeing Rose as she entered the Three Broomsticks hand in hand with Ti, he was starting to regret his hesitation.
"Neville?" he heard someone call him.
"Huh?" he said, turning his attention back to his date, "Oh, sorry. I just saw a couple of my friends come in. What was it you were saying?"
"Who just came in?" Lisa asked, turning sideways to face the door.
"Rose Potter and Ti Black," Neville said.
"Harry Potter's sister?" Lisa asked.
Neville nodded. He and Lisa had said hello to the four other Gryffindors when they'd come into the pub earlier.
"Black's a third year, isn't he?" Lisa asked. "Isn't he a bit young for her?"
Neville shrugged. He watched them head for the other side of the pub where Harry and the rest were. Then he turned his attention back to Lisa, hoping that being with her would make him forget his growing attraction to Rose. "I think we were talking about Hagrid's pumpkin patch."
"Right," Lisa said, "So, I was wondering how he got them to grow so large. I asked him yesterday….."
(Rose's POV)
Rose and Ti greeted the four already seated at the table as they sat down.
"So, have you guys been waiting long?" Ti asked.
"Not really," Harry said, "We just got here five minutes ago."
Just then, Madam Rosmerta, owner of the pub, came up to their table. "Hello, dears, what will you have?"
"Six butterbeers please, Madam Rosmerta," Harry said, "What do you have on the menu for lunch today?"
"Well, Mr. Potter, we have roast beef, roast chicken, steak and kidney pie, chicken or tuna sandwiches, some salads and pork chops," she said. "For dessert, we have chocolate cake or pumpkin pie."
"I'll have the steak and kidney pie," Harry said. He turned to Ginny, "Gin?"
"A tuna sandwich for me, please," Ginny said.
"Roast beef and the chocolate cake for me," Ron said.
"I'll just have the salad please," Hermione said.
"The roast chicken for me," Rose said.
"I'll take the roast beef and some pumpkin pie," Ti said.
"All right, kids," Madam Rosmerta said, "That'll be a few minutes. I'll come straight back with the butterbeers."
When she had left them, Harry turned to Ti, "So how do you find Hogsmeade, Ti?"
"It's really great Harry," Ti said, "Honeyduke's and Zonko's are fun. Scrivenshafts and Dervish and Banges are nice, too. I also found the Little Menagerie to be interesting. Thankfully, Rose didn't make me go into Gladrag's. It's a great place to relax away from the school."
"Definitely," Ron agreed, "Of course, Zonko's products are getting old. They haven't come up with anything new over the last decade or so."
"Yeah," Harry said, "I'm sure Fred and George already have loads of ideas for joke items that will be better than anything Zonko's has."
"They sure do," Ginny said, "This past summer, whenever they had free time, those two would lock themselves in their room. We've heard all sorts of noises from there. Who knows what sort of things they've dreamed up? I bet they're working on products they plan to market when they open that joke shop they're dreaming of."
"How do they plan to do that?" Hermione asked, "Wouldn't setting up a store take a lot of galleons?"
"I'd say so," Ron said, "I think a lot more than they've got. After all, they can't ask Mum or Dad. Mum would kill them if she found out they'd rather open a joke shop than get a regular job and Dad knows Mum would kill him if he helped them."
"So how will they come up with the money?" Rose asked.
"I'm not sure," Ginny said, "They may have to take a job at the Ministry to come up with the money."
"Maybe I can be of some help," Harry said, "I still have my winnings from the Triwizard." Fudge had decided to divide the thousand galleon prize money between the three champions so Harry had three hundred thirty-three galleons. "I don't want it. We've more than enough in our vaults already. It may not be much but it'll be a start for them."
Ginny pulled him into a hug and kissed him quickly on the lips. "That's great, Harry. They'll really appreciate it."
Madam Rosmerta came up then with their butterbeers and, soon after, their food orders. They spent the rest of the meal talking about their classes and the village, especially DADA.
James Potter was quickly becoming the most popular professor at Hogwarts. He made each lesson interesting and had them practice spells at each one.
Ginny mentioned that she had seen several seventh year girls following James around, much like they had done with Viktor Krum the previous year. The idea of his father having a fan club seemed to throw Harry for a loop. He just shook his head. Rose wasn't bothered by it since she knew their father was too in love with their mother to do anything wrong.
After lunch, the three couples decided to separate again. Rose suggested to Ti that they take a look at the Shrieking Shack. Ti nodded and shyly offered his hand to Rose. Rose grinned as she grasped Ti's hand firmly and they walked up the road from the Three Broomsticks toward the decrepit house. Soon, they were staring at the unsightly building.
"Well, there it is," Rose said as she leaned on the fence surrounding the house. "Doesn't look like much, does it?"
"No, it doesn't," Ti said, "But I guess it's different if you know its true history." He turned to look at her as he asked, "What was it like when you, Harry, Ron and Hermione went in there to rescue Ginny two years ago?"
Rose grimaced, "Really creepy. We went in through that tunnel under the Whomping Willow. It was very dirty. The stairs we took up from the tunnel creaked badly. The door at the top of those stairs we went through to get to Ginny had several holes in it. I can't believe Remus had to stay there every full moon."
"Well, at least it was only once a month," Ti said. "Sirius told me about how they'd run around the Forbidden Forest with him. I wonder how that would be like. When all of us can transform into our animagus forms, maybe we can try doing that."
"Yeah," Rose said, turning to face him, "That would be fun."
"Are you having fun, Rose?" Ti asked, moving closer to her and looking slightly up into her eyes. Due to a growth spurt in the last few months, Ti was only an inch shorter than her now.
Rose smiled as she stepped closer to him, "Yes, Ti. It's been a wonderful day so far."
They leaned forward at the same time and their lips met. Unfortunately, they didn't stop leaning forward and their foreheads connected rather hard.
"Ouch!" they said at the same time. They pulled back, rubbing the aforementioned areas. A few seconds later, they burst out laughing.
"Well, that was smooth," Rose said, giggling.
"Yeah," Ti said, smiling sheepishly. A moment later, he added, "Um, care to try again?"
"Why not?" Rose said, smiling back. They both bent their heads forward again.
This time, they managed to stop moving forward once their lips connected. After a few seconds, they both pulled back slightly and touched foreheads again, though much more gently this time.
"Wow!" Rose said a dazed look on her face.
"I can't disagree with that assessment," Ti said grinning now.
They stared at each other for a few seconds. Then Ti shyly asked, "Uh Rose, would you like to be my girlfriend?"
Rose grinned and said, "I'd like that. Now shut up and kiss me again."
(Harry and Ginny)
Ginny was laughing as Harry chased her through the woods around Hogsmeade. After their lunch with Ron, Hermione, Ti and Rose, they had opted to find some privacy away from the other students. So far, they had seen no one amongst the trees.
"Come on, Harry!" she called out to him through their bond. "Catch me if you can. You might get a nice reward if you do."
For a while, Harry could barely keep up as Ginny weaved among the trees, dodging his hands as if he was a bludger. Finally, Harry managed to grab one of her arms and pulled her towards him. She stumbled and fell to the ground, pulling Harry on top of her.
"There, I caught you," Harry said mentally. "Now where's my reward?"
Instead of responding, Ginny pulled his head down to her so their lips pressed together firmly. They continued kissing as their hands began to roam over each other's bodies. Harry's hands threaded their way down her hair, her back, her sides, eliciting shivers from her. Ginny's hands moved over his back, down to his hips then back up to his already messy hair.
Then, Harry's hands went under the hem of Ginny's blouse and encountered warm bare skin. A small part of his brain yelled a warning and he pulled back, leaning his forehead against hers. Ginny gave a small groan of disappointment. They were now breathing heavily and their hearts beating rapidly. After a few minutes, their breathing and hearts slowed down to normal.
"I think we better get back to the castle," Harry said softly. "It's getting late."
"If we have to," Ginny pouted.
Harry got up and pulled her up from the ground. They brushed off the leaves and grass that had gotten on their clothes. Harry then took hold of Ginny's hand again.
"Harry," Ginny said, looking behind him, "Isn't that the Shrieking Shack over there just beyond the trees?"
Harry turned to look. "Yeah, it is. Hey, there're a couple of people over there by the fence around the Shack. I wonder who it is." He moved a little closer up to the last tree then he recognized the people as Rose and Ti. He also saw that they were kissing with their arms around each other. He felt a rage envelop him. He released Ginny's hand, balling his hands into fists and took a step towards the snogging couple, intent on breaking them apart.
"Harry James Potter!" he heard Ginny scream in his mind, causing him to stop and wince, "Don't you dare do what you were going to do!"
He turned toward Ginny and winced again at the angry look on her face. "But, Gin…"
"No buts, Harry," Ginny interrupted him forcefully. "Do you really think Rose will let a boy kiss her if she didn't want to? I thought you were okay with Ti. You're acting just like Ron does when he sees us snogging. She can take care of herself."
Harry sighed and looked over at his sister and friend. They hadn't come up for air yet. He felt the urge to do something but realized Rose wouldn't stand for him interfering in her private life.
"I guess it's hard to see your sister growing up," he said to Ginny.
"I know, love," Ginny said as she wrapped her arms around him, "But you have to let her live her life the way she wants to. She's doing nothing bad, Harry. We should let them alone. Come on. Let's go back to the castle. Maybe we can find an empty broom cupboard."
Harry looked down and felt a thrill pass through him at the mischievous look on Ginny;s face. He wrapped his arm around Ginny's waist and, after one last look at Rose and Ti, headed back toward the castle.
Later that afternoon, after a fulfilling hour together on the third floor, Harry and Ginny sat down in the Gryffindor common room, in their favorite armchair. The rest of the New Marauders were there talking about their day. Neville was with Dean and Seamus, presumably talking about his date with Lisa. After a few minutes, Ginny nudged Harry and nodded her head toward the Portrait entrance. Rose and Ti had just entered, holding hands.
"Don't do anything rash, Harry," Ginny said to him. "Give them a chance to tell us."
"Oh, all right, Gin," Harry said.
Rose spotted them and headed toward them. Ti looked nervous as he allowed Rose to pull him forward.
"Hey, guys," Rose said as she sat down in one of the couches across from them, "How was the rest of your day?" Since, she hadn't let go of his hand, Ti was forced to sit next to her.
"Good," Ginny said immediately. She grinned as she continued, "Probably as good as yours was. So, what did you do after leaving the Three Broomsticks?"
Rose and Ti looked at each other. Ti looked at Harry and seemed to cringe at the frown forming on Harry's face as he looked at their linked hands.
"Well," Rose said, "We decided to sneak a peak at the Shrieking Shack. I told him how shabby it looked that night we rescued you from Wormtail then we remembered how Remus used to spend the nights of the full moon in there. He said Sirius told him a bit about how he and Dad would run through the forest on those nights when they became Animagi and how much fun it might be when all of us can transform."
"Yeah, we saw how you were talking," Harry blurted out. "We couldn't hear any words."
Ti's eyes widened, "You saw us….."
Harry and Ginny nodded. Ti looked like a deer caught in headlights. Rose, however, looked like she was getting angry.
Harry sighed and raised his hands to appease them. "I know it's none of my business, Rose," he said "But I have to ask. Are you two a couple now?"
Rose and Ti nodded their heads, though Ti's nod looked reluctant.
Harry took a deep breath and said, "Okay. That's fine with me."
Rose and Ti goggled at him. "Are you feeling all right, big brother?" Rose asked. "You're okay with us being boyfriend and girlfriend?"
Harry shrugged, "Yeah, I guess, though Ginny had to remind me that you can take care of yourself, sis. Plus, I trust Ti. So, congratulations." He extended his hand towards Ti.
Ti gingerly shook hands with Harry. Then Rose jumped on Harry's lap and hugged him fiercely.
"Thanks, Harry," Rose said. "That means a lot to me."
"You're welcome, sprite," Harry said, returning her embrace. "Just don't let me see you two snogging, okay?"
A/N: How was that for romance and fluff? I hope you guys loved it. Now, I have a poll for my readers. I haven't decided on the sex of Sirius and Sam's child. Let me know whether you prefer they have a boy or girl.
I also have a bit of a teaser for those who guess the answer to the following question: What scene is on the cover of the American edition of HP and the Deathly Hallows? I figured it out a couple of days after finishing the book. Those who can guess correctly will be rewarded with an excerpt from the next chapter featuring the first quidditch match, Gryffindor versus Slytherin.
For now, please review. Thanks for reading my story.