Wonderful beta love goes to the amazing NetsirkElocin! Art work belongs to Freya Ishtar.
As always I do not own Harry Potter.
The first Hogsmeade trip came the first weekend of October. It was just a few days after the first full moon the Marauders had spent together.
Alice, Marlene, and Lily all decided that they were going to help Hermione get ready for her first date with the Ravenclaw keeper. Alice did Hermione's hair while Marlene used her makeup. Lily had pulled a cream colored collar shirt with long sleeves that she matched with a red plaid skirt and red stockings. She also demanded that Hermione wear a pair of black boots that went up to her knees.
Hermione and Jasper had decided to meet outside the Great Hall after breakfast and go down to the village together. She grabbed her cloak and knitted hat and walked down to the Great Hall for breakfast once the girls had finished fixing her appearance.
She sat down next to the Marauders, and all three boys looked up.
"So, you ready for your date?" Remus asked.
"Yes. Lily, Marlene, and Alice played dress up with me all morning long. I don't think I have been this nervous since my first day at school," Hermione replied as she quickly grabbed some toast and spread strawberry jam carefully on it, being mindful not to drop any on her cream-coloured shirt.
"Well, you look incredible. Wood won't know what hit him, Boots," James stated smiling.
"We will be in the village today also so if you need us you just find us and we will help you alright," Remus declared in a concerned voice.
"Thank you Moony, but I don't think I will need a rescue today. Jasper is a good person. I'd better go, so he isn't waiting too long for me. See you guys later," Hermione proclaimed as she finished her toast and quickly left the table.
She found Jasper outside the doors waiting for her.
"Ready to go?" he asked as he held out his arm for Hermione to hold.
Hermione linked arms with him "Yup, all set," she said.
Jasper smiled, and the couple made their way down to the front gates.
"By the way, you look beautiful today," he said once they were checked off the list and were on their way to the village.
Hermione put her head down trying to hide her blush. "Thank you. It's really all thanks to the girls in my dorm. Sometimes I think I'm just a life-size doll for them to play with."
Jasper laughed "In either case, they did a terrific job. That color really sets off your red hair."
The couple walked down to the village talking about their classes and their families.
Jasper, Hermione found out, had an older sister who had already graduated and a younger brother that would be starting in a couple of years. Even though he was a pureblood, he enjoyed reading muggle literature. His favorite book he told Hermione was "Oliver Twist" by Charles Dickens.
Once they reached the sleepy village, he turned to Hermione and asked: "So, where would you like to go first?"
Hermione thought for a moment. Every other time she had been here in this time she was with the Marauders. However, this was a date and therefore not the same thing.
"I don't know, maybe Honeydukes first and then we can figure it out as we go along?" she suggested.
"Sounds perfect," Jasper said beaming.
They ended up going into almost every single shop that day. After they had left Honeydukes, where Hermione allowed Jasper to buy her some Pumpkin Pasties, they went to replace Hermione's draining ink supply. Then they went to the bookstore and browsed the shelves for a while. They even went into the Quidditch supply store so Jasper could check on the latest model of a broom he wanted.
It was a little after noon when they exited the pet shop where Hermione had restocked on owl treats for Jewel.
"Want to grab something warm to drink at the Three Broomsticks?" Jasper asked.
"Sure," Hermione answered. So far the date was going perfectly.
They entered the tavern and found it crowded with Hogwarts students.
Jasper turned to Hermione "Why don't you get us a table, and I will get the drinks. Warm Butterbeer sound good?"
"Yes, please. With a little ginger on top?"
Jasper nodded and walked over to the bar to get the drinks. Hermione quickly scanned the room looking for a table for the two of them. She saw one and started to make her way over before reaching it and sitting down. She didn't notice the Marauders who were seated in the back corner of the tavern.
Try as they might, Remus and James couldn't keep Sirius at their table, and he soon found himself sitting with Hermione.
"Hey, Boots. How is your date going?" he asked as he sat down.
Hermione looked up and saw him. "It's going perfectly. Padfoot. Now get out of here before Jasper comes back with the drinks," she stressed.
"Why? He isn't good enough for you. Not like he is anything special."
"I think I can make that decision for myself, thanks. Now, please leave. He will be coming back soon, and I don't want you here when he does."
"Aww, but Boots. It's my job to make sure whoever is going out with you, is good enough. You're a fellow Marauder. When one Marauder is asked out, it's the duty of the rest to make sure said the date is good enough," Sirius said with a grin.
"Then why don't I see Remus and James over here? Just go Sirius," she said through clenched teeth.
Just then, Jasper came to the table holding two mugs of hot Butterbeer.
"Oh, hello, Sirius. How are you today?" he asked as he placed Hermione's cup in front of her and sat down in the seat across from his date.
"Just fine, Wood. I was just asking Hermione here if she knew the proper way to dissect a flobberworm for potions," Sirius said not looking at Hermione, whose face was getting redder and redder by the minute.
"Well, I'm sure she does know. Hermione is quite brilliant," Jasper said.
"Yeah, she is. Say, do you like dogs?" Sirius asked as an evil smirk appeared on his face.
"Not really. I'm allergic," Jasper said as he was trying to figure out what was going on.
"Oh, that's a shame. Hermione has a pet dog. Great big black one that she loves to pieces."
"You didn't tell me you had a dog, Hermione. What's his name?" Jasper asked politely to Hermione
"I don't have a dog," Hermione said her face turning the color of her hair as Sirius continued.
"Well, it isn't really only her dog. It's more of a family pet. Isn't that right, Boots? She loves that mutt. I think he's a good dog. Except he likes to lick his butt, then slobber all over you. Remember that time he did that at your house, Boots? I think it was your birthday party. Silly thing went around licking his arse and balls then tackled you over and started in on your face. Remember that, Boots?"
Jasper looked confused as he asked Hermione, "Is there something going on here that I should know about?"
"No, Jasper!" Hermione said. "Sirius is just being a pain, but he is leaving now. RIGHT, Sirius?" Hermione stressed as she turned to Sirius.
"Aw, but Boots you promised me you would help me with my flobberworms," Sirius whined.
Jasper looked at Hermione and then Sirius and then back at Hermione. He knew that something was going on, but he didn't quite know what. He had had enough. He stood up and placed two galleons on the table. "I'm going to leave, I think. I will talk to you later, Hermione," he said as he left the tavern.
Sirius watched him go with a smirk on his face. His plan had worked. However, the grin soon left his face as he turned to face Hermione, who was furiously staring him down.
"Sirius. Orion. Black," she said as she emphasized every syllable of his name. "How dare you?!"
"What? You know he wasn't good enough for you, Boots. He was way too old for you, AND he was Ravenclaw," he said as he pretended to shudder.
"BUT it was my decision to make, Sirius! And he's not so much older than me. He's a year older! And don't give me that bull about him being in Ravenclaw! I've never said anything about all the girls you hang around. First, it was Lucy then it was Cindy; then it was Jocelyn! And the last one was Ravenclaw, and the first two were Hufflepuff! You ruined my first date! I won't ever forgive you for this," she said as she stood suddenly from her chair and it fell to the floor. She had rushed out of the restaurant before the first tear fell from her face.
Sirius stood up from the table and made his way back to the other two Marauders in the corner. James and Remus had seen everything.
"What in the name of Merlin's left saggy ball sack was that all about?" James asked his eyebrows raised.
"Nothing. I told you he wasn't good enough for her," Sirius said as he finished his drink. Before either of the others could say anything, he set his mug on the table. "Come on. Let's go over to Quality Quidditch and look at the new brooms." And he turned and walked away.
Hermione ran all the way to the Shrieking Shack. She tripped over a branch and fell to the ground. She sat there and cried. She cried because she fell and ripped Lily's stockings and she cried because Sirius had ruined her first date. Hermione sat there until all her tears fell. She didn't realize how late it was until she started to get cold. She stood up and quickly made her way to the castle.
Once she opened the fat lady's portrait, she saw the Marauders sitting on the couch.
"Hermione! Where were you? We were getting worried," Remus said as he started to get up from the couch to make his way to his friend.
"Just don't!" Hermione said as she ran up the stairs to the girls dorm and slammed it shut.
That night Lily, Alice, and Marlene all held her as she told them what had happened. It was clear to all the girls that Sirius had been jealous of Hermione's date. It was also clear that Hermione liked Sirius, no matter how many times she said she didn't.
Till next time, lots of love from the bookworm
