Hermione was shifting uncomfortably on the sofa next to Remus as Sirius sat in the armchair. Ginny was in the other chair, and they were having tea. It could have been mistaken for a usual afternoon, had it not been for Ginny's scowl. You see, Hermione just finished her tale about Sirius and Regulus buying Blame.
Ginny was listening for James, who was napping over the baby monitor. That didn't help the moment either. So, there they all were.
"Tell me, was it before or after you found out that she strips that you bought the club?" Ginny questioned.
Hermione groaned. "They didn't know I worked there."
"Funny," Ginny hummed and relaxed in her chair. "Very funny."
"It's true," Remus sighed. "The events, though quite relatively close, are serendipitous. Sirius received a phone call from Regulus about the club the following week, and we went that Friday."
Ginny arched an eyebrow. "And you're the hot professor she won't stop talking about? I mean, she usually has poorer tastes."
Hermione covered her face and huffed. "Ginny, stop!" She hissed.
"What about me, what did she say?" Sirius teased.
Ginny glanced over at Sirius and snorted. "What didn't she say is the question. She was nearly climbing the counter at the bar to talk to you."
Hermione tore her hands away from her face and sneered. "You're a rotten friend."
"Well, nothing wrong with being truthful," Ginny mused. "I'm just surprised that instead of showing up with one guy to introduce to the family, you're bringing two."
Hermione gasped and waved an index finger. "Don't you even dare!"
Ginny lifted up her phone and smirked. "Say cheese."
Sirius jumped over to the couch and put his thumb in the air. Remus seemed slightly uncomfortable, and Hermione's cheeks were flaming as she glowered.
"Oh, that's a picture for the album. I can't wait to tell mum," Ginny snickered.
Remus hemmed and set down his tea. "Ginerva, as much as I can appreciate your enthusiasm, we aren't dating."
Ginny bounced her shoulders. "You see, Remus, I invited her over to scold her on not calling back one of my former co-workers. This, this is the perfect reason why she wouldn't. I don't care what your status is or how much you're shagging. By the look of her attire, I'm assuming a lot. I care that she's actually doing something with her life."
Remus glanced over and noted the t-shirt he had given her. That did seem a bit obvious. "We aren't shagging," he insisted.
Sirius shoved him and groaned. "He's so modest."
"Sirius, stop," Hermione moaned. "Gin, he's right, we're not shagging."
Ginny folded her leg over the other and breathed. "Alright, but you know what I'm going to say next."
"I'm not at the club, am I? I am here. In fact, before your alarmist type text, we were going to decide how to spend my day off!" Hermione exclaimed.
Sirius's brow furrowed as he glanced at the redhead. "What's wrong with the club."
"Sirius, this woman doesn't relax. When she was going to school, it was school and work. I was concerned that after school was over, all she would do is work all the time. She doesn't know when to have fun! Make messes! Go out on awkward dates or sleep with someone for god sakes," Ginny explained.
"You know that's not entirely true. I come over every Friday and even once and a while make it to Sunday dinner," Hermione said.
"I just want what's best for you, Hermione. I bloody love you. I know you brought them to soften the blow of this conversation and for a possible distraction, but I'm gonna say it anyway. I don't care if you strip, get into politics, or even run for Prime Minister. What I care about is you living your life to the fullest. Connect with someone, have children, and live. Please, all Harry and I could ask for is that you live your life," Ginny's speech ended with a bow of her head.
"What if I don't want children?" Hermione retorted.
Ginny bent forward and glared. "I know you do, and I know your fucking scared you can't. That's okay. I'm here. By the looks of it, these two aren't going anywhere. They've lasted through the Potter inquisition."
Sirius cocked his head. "Potter?"
"Yes, my husband coined it the 'Potter Inquisition,' when we would ask Hermione's dates about themselves," Ginny laughed.
Hermione exhaled and waved. "I told you, Harry doesn't have to worry. These two aren't his business either."
"Says the girl that brought them," Ginny laughed.
"I'm perfectly fine," Hermione grumbled.
Sirius thinned his lips as he leaned back in the chair. "Ginny, do you remember that song you two were dancing to at the bar?"
Ginny gasped and nodded, pulling out her phone. "Oh yes, it was the first song that Hermione and I learned together as kids to dance to. You remember that summer, the first time you spend time with us? God, mum insisted we share a room, and you wouldn't put down your books," she declared and turned it on.
Hermione covered her face, and Ginny stood up and wagged her finger. "Come on, Hermione. Life is a mystery. Everyone must stand alone. I hear you call my name. And it feels like home," Ginny sang along.
Hermione set her cup down and smiled as she twirled the redhead while Like A Prayer, belting out of the phone as she set it on the table. The woman shuffled into positions and danced in unison to the song.
"This is ridiculous," Hermione laughed.
The second verse started, and Ginny stopped to caress Hermione's cheek. She mouthed the words and grinned. Hermione was shaking her head but stifling a smile as they twisted and turned on each other's arms. They danced a few more moves before Hermione scooped up the redhead and giggled as she pressed her forehead to Ginny's. "I love you so much, Gin. I'm so happy you're having another baby Potter."
Ginny cupped her cheeks and nodded. "Me too, Hermione. You know we love you. Even if you get stuck in your head."
Hermione hugged her and breathed. "I'm so happy."
"Me too," Ginny responded. "What I would like to know is how does he know how to stop your moods already?" she asked while pulling away to glance at Sirius.
Sirius arched an eyebrow and pointed to Hermione. "She was pissed at me when she found out I bought the club with my brother. She was dancing to get it out of her system. You ladies were enjoying a more drunken version of that dance the night I met you both. Not hard to guess."
Ginny gasped and smacked Hermione's shoulder. "He gets you!"
Hermione winced and sat back down. "That's all fine and well."
Remus checked her arm and smirked. "Sirius has a knack for being a keen observer."
Sirius jutted his thumb toward Remus. "He doesn't dance, but I found that chocolate does the trick."
"I like chocolate too," Hermione added as she smiled at Remus.
"So, can I be blunt?" Ginny asked.
"You usually are," Hermione exhaled.
"I'm going to say something completely out of character. I think you should stay at the club instead of quitting," Ginny declared.
Hermione covered her mouth as Sirius and Remus both jerked to stare at her.
"Oh, you hadn't told them," Ginny gasped.
"You're going to leave?" Sirius asked.
Remus scrubbed his face and pinched his forehead. "Don't, Sirius."
"Honestly, it wasn't until the Fall," Hermione puffed.
"But you can't leave, you're bloody amazing at it!" Sirius exclaimed.
Hermione waved a hand and groaned. "I have a degree now, Sirius. I can't strip forever."
"Very true," Remus sighed. "But, you're excellent at what you do now."
"And what? Waste my time at Blame?" Hermione questioned. "My parents wanted me to be more than this."
"No, it's not wasting time, but I can understand how you feel that way. Now, I wasted time. I wasted three years of my life in the back of a department in Uni because a student found out about my illness. I was exiled from teaching, which I love, because of something I couldn't change. However, if I didn't, then I would have never discovered how freeing it is to have control of my life now," Remus explained as he reached for her teacup. "Life isn't conventional. That's the lie we tell ourselves. Life is messy and full of hard choices, some of which aren't going to follow the same route," he finished with a nod.
Sirius's mouth fell open. "Wow, Moony, I didn't realize you felt that way."
"Illness?" Hermione asked.
Remus puffed with a nod. "Yes, and we'll talk more about that when we aren't in mixed company. I just felt, if you were going to bare your soul to us, then we should be willing to reciprocate."
The baby fussing through the monitor caused everyone to shudder. Hermione stood up and kissed Remus's forehead. "I'll get him, Ginny."
Hermione disappeared, and that left Ginny with the two men. She stared at both of them a moment as they heard Hermione talking through the speaker.
"My lovely, James," Hermione cooed.
Remus glanced over at Sirius, who nodded. They had their own speculations, and it was slowly being confirmed. Outside of the oddity of them joining her on this excursion, there were questions answered.
"So, how's this gonna work? I see you both. I know the signs. Are one of you going to step up or what?" Ginny asked.
Sirius bounced his shoulders. "Honestly? We just got her to spend time with us. I text her an insane amount and know she doesn't get it. I even think Moony and her debate over books in texts. Isn't that right, Moony?"
"Well, yes, but that's because we spent time clearing out her library," Remus huffed.
Ginny tapped her cheek and smiled. "Good, I like that. I like you both for the part. She needs something different. Hermione's never been average, fellas. She's odd, quirky, a bit stubborn, but extraordinary. When she started at Blame, I was convinced it was a decent thing for her. She was close to losing it after her parents died and needed something new to challenge her. You're new and challenging."
"You never asked if we'd be interested," Remus remarked.
"Oh, I know you are, Remus. You can't hide it, and it's quite evident."
Sirius raised an eyebrow as she turned to him.
"And don't you give me that devilishly handsome expression, Sirius. I know you've had the hots for her since she was drunkenly slurring Shakespeare to you at the bar."
"Shakespeare?" Remus asked him.
"Yes, that was quite cute," Sirius laughed.
"So, she was planning on leaving Blame?" Remus questioned.
Ginny exhaled and nodded. "I think it's the worst decision ever. She wants to be normal. There's no such thing. Her parents were dentists, and she had an ordinary childhood, but she's not average. I told her that so many times over."
Sirius scratched his chin and nodded. "She needs a reason to stay, then? Outside of romantic interests."
"Yes," Ginny agreed.
"Okay, I'll hammer out some details with my brother later," Sirius said.
"What kind of details, Pads?" Remus asked.
Hermione appeared with the sleepy two-year-old and stopped the conversation in its tracks. "Look at this little cutie. He's getting so big, Gin."
The boy cuddled against her, and she sat back down. "He missed you," Ginny grinned.
"We'll get out of your hair so you can relax before Harry gets home," Hermione declared as she stroked the boy's black hair.
"Oh, no need. I'm sure he wants to meet them," Ginny laughed.
Remus glanced at the child before looking over to Sirius. The stormy-eyed man nodded and settled. "How about we plan for dinner on Hermione's next night off?" Sirius inquired.
"Wait. What?" Hermione asked.
"That sounds perfect!" Ginny exclaimed.
Remus ran his hand over Hermione's shoulder and smiled. "Would that be alright?"
"Well, yes," she blushed.
"Good then, what day this week, Hermione?" Ginny clapped and yanked her phone off the table.
"Friday?"
"Friday it is," Sirius agreed.