CHAPTER 29
Grimmauld Place was relatively empty the next morning. Mrs. Weasley had called them all over for a Hallowe'en dinner at the Burrow, and had gone over with her husband and the twins to get everything ready. She had wanted Ginny to come, but the latter had declined, saying that she felt a little ill. When Mrs. Weasley expressed concern, Ginny simply said, 'Oh, relax Mum. It's just a bug. It'll probably pass over."
When Hermione and Sirius got into the house, Sirius headed straight to the kitchen where Remus and the others were eating a cold breakfast. Hermione told him she'd join him in a bit.
Sirius blinked. 'Where are you going?'
'To see Ginny,' Hermione explained. She bit her lip and added, 'Mrs. Weasley said she was a little ill.'
Sirius nodded and left. Hermione mounted the stairs with a slightly worried expression, and knocked cautiously on Ginny's door.
'Who is it?' Ginny's voice sounded hoarse and irritable. Hermione winced.
'It's me,' she called, 'Can I come in?'
There was a slight pause, and then Ginny said, 'Sure.'
Hermione opened the door and slipped inside, making sure to shut it tightly after her. The curtains were drawn, and the room was slightly dingy. She caught sight of Ginny, who was lying under several blankets and a lemon colored eiderdown. Her face was turned towards Hermione, and the latter saw that it was sickly and pale, with circles around the eyes and little lines at her brow.
She sucked in her breath. 'Ginny, you look like hell.'
Ginny frowned. 'Gee, thanks, Herms.'
Hermione crossed the room and sat down on the edge of the bed. She took Ginny's small hand between her own.
'I mean it. How do you feel? Have you been eating right?'
'I guess so,' said Ginny, with a frown, 'I'm still not over my morning sickness, so I don't come down that much.' She heaved a deep sigh, and added, 'It's horrible hiding this from everyone, you know.'
'I know it is,' Hermione whispered, 'But you don't have to, you know.'
'Yes, I do,' Ginny said, bitterly, 'At least until Harry's letter comes back. Pregnancy really sucks. My feet ache all the time.'
Hermione managed a watery smile. 'Doesn't your mum suspect anything?'
Ginny shook head head. 'She thinks I'm down with the 'flu,' she explained, 'It's going around now, so it's kind of believable. But it's only going to be a while before she starts to suspect. Let's not talk about it, shall we? I want some normal time. Tell me what's been going on.'
'Well,' Hermione began, obligingly, 'I suppose you know about the cameras. Your dad got hold of a bunch of them, and-'
'Hermione,' Ginny interrupted, 'I meant between Sirius and you.'
Hermione looked taken aback. She frowned.
'Oh,' she said, after a slight pause, 'What- what makes you think anything's going on?'
'Well, nothing except the fact that everyone's talking about it.'
'Everyone's talking about it?'
'Sure,' said Ginny, with a little shrug, 'Mum says you two have become virtually inseparable, and Dad says he's pretty sure Sirius is in love with you. Remus doesn't say anything, but he flits around with this secret little knowing look whenever the topic comes up. So, I'm going to ask you again. What's going on?'
Hermione shrugged, looking a little lost. 'Nothing,' she said, quickly, 'I mean, obviously, I love him, but-'
'Woah,' said Ginny, raising a pale hand, 'You love him?'
Hermione nodded, and said, matter-of-factly, 'Quite a bit, really.'
'So then- how can you say that nothing's going on?' Ginny asked, sounding puzzled.
'Because- oh, well, this is hard to explain, but because it doesn't feel like a relationship. I mean, it's not so structured. It's more like we're just taking things as they come, like we're two people who finally realized they loved each other and want to have a nice time of it.'
'Is he romantic?' Ginny asked, with interest.
Hermione considered this. 'Not really,' she conceded, 'He doesn't get me flowers or write me poems. But I feel so ridiculously comfortable with him, you know? It's like- well, it's like he's my best friend.'
Ginny managed a strained smile. 'Boy, you have it hard, don't you?' she asked.
'I suppose so.'
'If it means anything, I think Sirius and you look charming together,' Ginny said, with a little laugh. 'Is he downstairs?'
Hermione nodded. 'Brainstorming, as usual. We wanted the twins to be here, but your mother whisked them off to help sort cutlery and dark table clothes.'
Ginny rolled her eyes. 'Lucky them,' she said, sarcastically. 'You better get down, though, Herms. The others will be waiting for you.'
Hermione hopped off the bed, and kissed Ginny's brow. 'You sure you're okay?' she asked, 'Because really, Gin, if you feel something's wrong-'
'I'm perfectly fine,' said Ginny, injecting a hint of cheer into her voice, 'Now you go down and kick those Ministry asses.'
The kitchen was full of cold disapproval.
When Hermione entered, her gaze first landed on Sirius, who was sitting in an exaggeratedly casual pose, which could only mean he was on the high defensive. His head was thrown back, and he raked a hand through his hair every now and then, but she could see the rigid line of his back, and the firm set of his mouth. When she shut the door behind her, all eyes including his turned to face her.
'So,' began Remus, grimly, 'Sirius was telling us about your little adventure last night.'
Hermione bit her lip worriedly as she sat down next to Sirius, and he draped his hand over the back of her chair. 'I take it you don't approve?'
'Of course not,' Moo
'Not to mention potentially dangerous,' said Remus, eyes narrowed, 'What exactly would you have done, Sirius, if an alert was put out that Carla was missing, presumed dead?'
Sirius looked furious. 'Remus, I took a chance, and-'
'It was a risky chance, Sirius,' Kingsley said, gravely. He turned his eyes to Hermione. 'And did you have to go along with this?'
'Don't drag her into it,' Sirius said, loudly, 'The entire thing was my idea.'
'Sirius, that isn't entirely-'
'The point is that you took a huge chance,' Remus cut in, 'And it could have gone horribly wrong.'
'But it didn't,' Hermione said, earnestly. 'Don't you see? It's all worked out perfectly.' She glanced around the table, and was met with stony faces. 'Look,' she said, spreading her hands, 'I know it was stupid, but what's done is done. Look at the silver lining: Sirius had perfect memories of the city, and now you can use his Pensive.'
Remus raised his eyes heavenward. 'Silver lining,' he muttered, 'That's a nice one. Oh, well- I suppose I've grown too tired of telling Sirius he's a stupid imbecile. Looks like he's got to you faster than I expected, Hermione.'
Sirius chuckled, and Hermione looked indignant. 'And what's that supposed to-'
'Enough chitchat,' Moody said, gruffly. He turned to Sirius. 'I'll get the Pensive Basin from the upstairs and we can get down to business.
The Burrow had been extravagantly decorated that night. The little house was brightly lit, and large pumpkins reposed cheerfully on every available surface, their carved faces stuffed with candy and nuts. The table had been set out in the garden again, and festooned with a red and orange table cloth, on which Mrs. Weasley's grandmother's gold candlesticks glowed with carefully moderated flames. The food had surpassed itself. Hermione found herself eyeing the spread with an open jaw: a cursory glance registered a pork roast, a vegetable melange, a clear soup, carefully crafted mincemeat croquettes, and a coconut souffle for dessert.
'Brilliant,' breathed Sirius, coming up behind her and settling his hands on her waist.
Hermione turned to him and smiled. She had dressed in an appropriately festive manner, in a coral colored dress with three quarter sleeves and a fitted skirt. She wore a kneel length sweater over it, and Sirius's mother-of-pearl pendant at her throat.
'You look lovely,' Sirius murmured, kissing her cheek.
Hermione smiled. 'I thought Mrs. Weasley sent us out here to uncork the wine, not exchange mindless flattery.'
'What Molly doesn't know won't hurt her,' said Sirius. His arms linked in front of her stomach, and his lips slipped lower, to the crook of her neck. He breathed moistly on her sensitive skin, and she closed her eyes for a brief moment, breath catching.
'Sirius...'
'Yes, honey?' he asked, innocently.
'The others will be out in minutes. Fred and George have already apparated over.'
'I don't know what you're talking about.'
She laughed, and batted his face away.
'Paws off, rabbit,' she grinned. 'Come on- let's pour out the wine we brought and then go in to see the twins.'
Sirius grumbled, but let go of her. Hermione handed him a cork-opener and he expertly uncorked the Merlot, setting it at the table and then turning back to the house. They could hear cheerful voices from the kitchen, and hand in hand they walked back in.
The first person Hermione caught sight of in the crowded room was a stocky red-head with a remarkably pock-marked face.
'Charlie!'
He turned to her and bestowed her with a classic Weasley smile. He looked a little older than when she had last seen him, the first crows-feet etching into the corners of his eyes, and a hint of extra fat at his waist.
'Hey, Hermione,' he said, easily. He leaned over and gave her a hug. 'You look great. Have you grown a couple of inches?'
'I think that's the heels,' Remus said, mildly. He was standing over the table, his hand draped over Tonks's shoulder. She waved cheerfully at Hermione. She was wearing a gingham frock, and her hair was strawberry blond. The twins stood next to them with their father, dressed in identical jackets, and then Moody who looked uncomfortable and out of place. Ginny stood in a corner, her face still sickly. She was dressed in a loose tunic that hid the small bump on her belly, and a forcefully cheerful expression.
Hermione was about to go over and talk to him when Mrs. Weasley bustled into the room. She wore a checked apron over her sky blue dress, and a pearl necklace. She smiled when she caught sight of Hermione and Sirius.
'Have you two uncorked the wine? Let's go out to eat, then, shall we? I'll just put the finishing touches to the dessert.'
Dinner was a loud affair. Hermione sipped her wine, feeling slightly tipsy as she speared a cheesy mushroom with her fork and put it in her mouth. The food was brilliant, as usual, and it was only after fifteen minutes of hearty tucking in that she turned to talk to Charlie, who was on her right.
'When did you get back?' she asked.
He took a sip of wine. 'Today. I was planning on coming earlier, but some stuff came up. Nothing serious,' he added quickly, seeing her expression, 'Just a bit of helping out here and there.'
'Harry's last letter said he was in Bucharest,' Hermione said, taking another sip of wine.
Charlie nodded as he attacked his pork. 'I left just as we reached the city. Thought I could help out more over here.'
'Are things okay there, then?'
'More than okay,' said Charlie, with a little smile. 'The Death Eaters are in the city, and the others are planning an attack. Their numbers aren't quite large, so it should be wrapped up quite easily. Harry and Ron should be home in a couple of months.'
Hermione brightened up immediately. 'You should tell Ginny that,' she said, 'She misses Harry quite terribly.'
There was a pause in the conversation, as Mrs. Weasley brought out the dessert. In addition to the coconut souffle, she had made an ensemble that consisted of a heaped mountain of macaroons and almonds, festooned with a graceful veil of spun sugar. Hermione applauded along with the rest and then turned back to Charlie.
'How are the boys?' she asked, quietly.
Charlie took a moment to answer. 'Not at their best, obviously. But they've risen magnificently to the occasion. They've learned a lot from the war, you know. Some of the maneuvers Harry came up with were fantastic.'
Hermione looked proud, and then a little subdued. 'I'm glad he's coming home, though,' she said, 'I miss him awfully. He doesn't deserve any of this.'
Charlie smiled, and took her hand. 'Don't worry, Hermione,' he said, soothingly. 'Everything's going to be right, you know.'
Author's Note: Okay, so this one was a bit shorter. I'm sorry it took a few days to update, but I'm back in college which means updating speed is going to reduce a bit. Not a lot though. I hope.
Also, this story is going to wrap up in about ten chapters or more. Sigh.
Oh, and I've also started planning a new one, which I'll put up only when this is done. Stick with me, okay?
Happy reading =D
