Author's note: I REALLY want feedback on this. Good or bad. Just please say it nicely. Thank you so much to everyone who has already reveiwed it. Please let me know what you think and what needs changing!
Disclaimer: None of these people are mine, they are all J.K Rowling's. The title song belongs to Brad O'Donnell and is called Things I Cannot Say, it comes off of his wife's album, that I totally love, called A Scrapbook of Sorts. I'm just borrowing it all. The other songs aren't mine either. Everything that isn't theirs is mine, and I'd be happier if you didn't take it. Thanks.
A Scrapbook of Sorts Part 4
Hermione's skirt flapped against her ankles in the warm breeze. Harry reached over for her hand, she slipped it into his and gave it a quick squeeze. He look over at her and smiled. She looked back with shinning eyes. "Harry, this is weird." Hermione commented.
"What is weird?" Harry asked, not understanding.
"All of this, it is all too fast."
"What? Our relationship?"
"Well, yes and no. It is just so strange. Yesterday we were friends and house mates; there was nothing romantic happening at all." She paused and Harry squeezed her hand. Urging her to continue. "Well, then we blew up at each other. We were downright mean to each other. And now this." She motioned to herself and Harry. "How did we get from friends to here? Why did it happen tonight? What changed? It just seems so weird." Hermione paused, "But at the same time, it seems so perfectly right."
"I don't have clue as to what changed. I don't know if I want to know, I just want to enjoy it, and be happy that it happened." Harry said.
"I guess that is one way to look at it."
They turned onto the small foot path that led up to Hogsmeade Hill.
* * *
The next morning Hermione woke up late. She opened her eyes and stared up at the ceiling in her room. She thought back to the night before. It had been nearly 1:00 before she and Harry had come home from Hogsmeade Hill. She couldn't wait to tell Ginny about the evening. "Oh!" she thought. "Ginny probably thinks that I'm still upset with Harry. She is probably downstairs trying to get him to make up with me."
Hermione climbed out of bed and got dressed. She walked downstairs and towards the kitchen. She could smell pancakes cooking. "That's funny," she thought, "I guess Ginny decided to cook breakfast today." But when she got into the kitchen it wasn't Ginny that was cooking, but Harry. Ron and Ginny were sitting at the table eating. "Good morning!" Hermione said cheerfully.
"'Morning Hermione." They all replied.
"The princess finally woke up." Harry said with a smile.
"Yeah, *someone* kept me out until 1:00 last night." Hermione said laughing.
"Sorry, next time I'll leave you crying on the porch." Harry and Hermione bantered back and forth, ignoring their friends at the table.
"So I take it you guys have made up?" Ginny interrupted.
"Yeah," Harry said, setting a plate of hot pancakes on the table in front of Hermione. "I came to my senses."
"Well," Ginny said, "I'm glad you are all happy now." There was an uncomfortable silence.
"So what does everyone have planed for this wonderful Saturday?" Ron asked.
"Well, I want to hang around here for awhile," Ginny said. "Then I'll probably head over to the shop and see what those brothers of mine are cooking up. How about the rest of you?"
"I'm not really sure," Hermione said, clearing her plate. "There are loads of things I should be getting done here. I'll probably stay and try to tackle some of them. What about you Ron?"
"I'm going to work on my strawberries this morning. Then I hope to relax and do some work in the garden later."
"Sounds like you all have busy days planned." Harry commented. "It makes me feel really lazy. I was just planning on hanging around here. Sirus might be stopping by, and I want to be here to see him."
Harry's godfather Sirus Black lived at the other end of Hogsmeade, with his new wife Janin. They had a daughter who was two years old, named Dawn. Sirus worked for the Ministry of Magic, and was gone quite frequently. Janin was a singer. She was well known throughout Hogsmeade and other wizarding towns. Both Sirus and Janin were very close to Harry, they were the closest thing to parents that he ever had.
"Janin isn't coming, is she?" Hermione asked hopefully. Janin was like a second mother, and a good friend to Hermione. She often gave her advice, and did mother-daughter things. Herimone's parents were currently living in the US, and she couldn't spend very much time with them.
"I don't know." Harry said. "I think she had a concert in Caulding City, (a near by wizarding city.) last night, I don't know if she is back yet. But if she is, she will probably come over."
"Well," Ron said, clearing his plate and putting it into the sink, "I'm going to pop over to the shop and see what I can do about those strawberries. I'll be home for lunch."
"Ok. See you then!" Hermione said, "Tell Fred and George they are welcome to come over for lunch."
"Will do!" Ron called from the hall.
* * *
Harry offered to do the dishes so 'the girls' could talk. They happily accepted and went upstairs to Hermione's room. "So tell me all about your evening last night." Ginny demanded, flopping down on Hermione's bed.
"Well," Hermione said slowly, sitting on the window seat. "We made up."
"And?" Ginny prodded.
"Hermione smiled, "He asked me out."
"I'm so happy for you! So what did you do the rest of the night? Did you, you-know?"
"No," Hermione said, holding back a laugh. "We didn't, 'you know'. He did kiss me though. He knows I don't want to get any more physical then that yet. He didn't push me."
"Sounds like a wonderful evening."
"It was." Hermione said with a dreamy look on her face. "So what about you Ginny? Have you found a special someone yet?"
"No, you know my situation. Nothing has changed." Ginny had two admirers, Alec and Brendan. They were both wonderful young men. Ginny loved them both very much. She didn't want to choose one over the other because she was afraid she would hurt the other.
"You know Ginny, you are going to have to choose sometime, or your relationships with them will never move on. Are you sure you don't love one more then the other?"
"No." Ginny said simply. "I know I like one better then the other. But I know it would hurt Alec so much if I went out with Brendan; I couldn't do that to him." she paused, thinking. "I thought we were talking about your love life, not mine."
Hermione took the hint and changed the subject. "You mind giving me a hand with some house chores while we talk?"
"I'd love to," Ginny said as the walked downstairs, "But don't let me have so much fun that I forget to do my homework."
"Don't worry," A voice came from the bottom of the stairs. "Hermione never forgets to remind people to do their homework. She has seven years of experience in homework reminding."
"Well Mr. Potter," Hermione retorted, "If you had remembered to do it yourself I wouldn't have had to remind you."
"Yeah, but doing homework early ruined the fun in life. And I always thought it was cut how you would pay that much attention to me." Harry said with a sheepish grin.
"Aw, how sweet." Ginny teased.
"I'll be in the den if you need me." Harry said, as he walked away laughing.
* * *
Sirus Black apperated onto the front lawn at Benncarin and walked up the stairs. He knocked loudly on the door. He could hear laughing inside, and Harry's car was in the driveway, so he knew someone was home. He knocked again and waited. Nobody answered. He opened the unlocked door and let himself it.
* * *
Ginny and Hermione were too busy talking and laughing to get much cleaning done. They were cleaning windows in the living room when Sirus walked it. "Why are my two favorite girls so happy?"
Hermione looked up with a startled look on her face. "Is that the kind of welcome I get?" Sirus asked. "You look scared to death."
"Oh, Sirus." Hermione said, her face relaxing into a smile. "I didn't realize it was you, I thought you were someone else. How are you doing?" She asked getting up to hug him. "Did Janin come too?"
"She had a concert last night. I left her a note, I hope she will come over when she gets back. I know that she'd love to see you two."
"So how have her concerts been going?" Ginny asked.
"Really well. She is getting great attendance, she really loves it. Though she missed being at home with Dawn, she might start cutting back on concerts so she can spend more time with her."
"I'm glad everything is going so well for her." Hermione said, "When is her next concert in Hogsmeade going to be? I'd love to hear her preform again."
"I don't know when her next performance date is." Sirus sat down on the loveseat, Hermione made herself comfortable on the couch and Ginny sat in a large easy chair. "So how are things going around here?"
"Sirus"" Harry interrupted, walking into the room. "Too busy flirting with the girls to say 'hello' to me? How are you doing?"
"Fine and dandy! How about you?"
"I'm extremely happy." Harry said snuggling next to Hermione on the couch.
"Oh I see." Sirus said, with a slight grin on his face, "And why is that?" Harry looked over at Hermione. "Does it have something to do with this lovely young lady?"
"Yes," Harry said slowly. "It does."
"Did you two finally get around to telling each other how you feel?"
"Uh huh." Hermione said.
"It's about time." Sirus told them. "I think everyone knew it but you."
"Maybe so." Harry said, "But we know it now."
"Well, I'm happy for both of you. You make a good pair."
"Who are we pairing up?" Janin Black walked into the room. Janin wasn't what you would call a particularly stunning woman, but she was pretty. And there was something in her eyes and smile that make her face positively beautiful. She had shoulder length red-brown hair that made her face glow. "Hello honey," She said sitting down next to Sirus and giving him a kiss. "I've missed you. So what were you guys talking about?"
"I was just congratulating Harry and Hermione. They finally came to their senses about each other."
"Oh I'm so glad to hear that!" Janin and Hermione exchanged a warm smile, Janin flashed a look that said 'see, I told you that it would happen sometime.' "Hey Ginny, good to see you! How is everything at school?"
"School is school. I'm glad it is my last year. And it is good to be here with everyone for a few days."
"Sirus, where is Dawn?" Janin's motherly instinct kicked in. "You said you were going to bring her over here.
"She is over playing with her little friends. She is going to be very happy to see you. She asked me 'when Mommy is coming home?' at least twenty seven times this morning."
"What a cutie. I can't wait to see her."
They continued to talk of Dawn, Harry and Hermione, and other subjects throughout the morning. Around 11:00 Hermione got up. "I need to get lunch started. And Ginny, remember your homework."
"See!" Harry said laughing, "She never forgets."
"Hermione, do you need help with anything?" Janin asked.
"Not really, but I'd love it if you would come and we could chat while I cook." Janin got up and followed Hermione and Ginny out of the room, leaving Harry and Sirus alone.
* * *
"So what is new at the Ministry?" Harry asked Sirus.
"Things are pretty quiet at the moment. But I'm just on the Memory Charm Squad, so I don't really hear much of the big talk. Just last week there was a strange amount of Muggle sightings. We are trying to figure out why."
"I think something is happening on the dark side. I've been seeing lots of strange wizards in town. And, I probably should have told you this before, my scar has been acting strange in the last few days. It isn't hurting the way it has hurt before, it isn't just a one time thing that only lasts for a few minutes. It is like a bad bruise, always hurting."
"That is strange Harry, very strange. Please tell me if it starts acting up again. I don't want anything to happen to you, or anyone else." Sirus sat staring into the corner for a moment. "Malfoy." he muttered.
Disclaimer: None of these people are mine, they are all J.K Rowling's. The title song belongs to Brad O'Donnell and is called Things I Cannot Say, it comes off of his wife's album, that I totally love, called A Scrapbook of Sorts. I'm just borrowing it all. The other songs aren't mine either. Everything that isn't theirs is mine, and I'd be happier if you didn't take it. Thanks.
A Scrapbook of Sorts Part 4
Hermione's skirt flapped against her ankles in the warm breeze. Harry reached over for her hand, she slipped it into his and gave it a quick squeeze. He look over at her and smiled. She looked back with shinning eyes. "Harry, this is weird." Hermione commented.
"What is weird?" Harry asked, not understanding.
"All of this, it is all too fast."
"What? Our relationship?"
"Well, yes and no. It is just so strange. Yesterday we were friends and house mates; there was nothing romantic happening at all." She paused and Harry squeezed her hand. Urging her to continue. "Well, then we blew up at each other. We were downright mean to each other. And now this." She motioned to herself and Harry. "How did we get from friends to here? Why did it happen tonight? What changed? It just seems so weird." Hermione paused, "But at the same time, it seems so perfectly right."
"I don't have clue as to what changed. I don't know if I want to know, I just want to enjoy it, and be happy that it happened." Harry said.
"I guess that is one way to look at it."
They turned onto the small foot path that led up to Hogsmeade Hill.
* * *
The next morning Hermione woke up late. She opened her eyes and stared up at the ceiling in her room. She thought back to the night before. It had been nearly 1:00 before she and Harry had come home from Hogsmeade Hill. She couldn't wait to tell Ginny about the evening. "Oh!" she thought. "Ginny probably thinks that I'm still upset with Harry. She is probably downstairs trying to get him to make up with me."
Hermione climbed out of bed and got dressed. She walked downstairs and towards the kitchen. She could smell pancakes cooking. "That's funny," she thought, "I guess Ginny decided to cook breakfast today." But when she got into the kitchen it wasn't Ginny that was cooking, but Harry. Ron and Ginny were sitting at the table eating. "Good morning!" Hermione said cheerfully.
"'Morning Hermione." They all replied.
"The princess finally woke up." Harry said with a smile.
"Yeah, *someone* kept me out until 1:00 last night." Hermione said laughing.
"Sorry, next time I'll leave you crying on the porch." Harry and Hermione bantered back and forth, ignoring their friends at the table.
"So I take it you guys have made up?" Ginny interrupted.
"Yeah," Harry said, setting a plate of hot pancakes on the table in front of Hermione. "I came to my senses."
"Well," Ginny said, "I'm glad you are all happy now." There was an uncomfortable silence.
"So what does everyone have planed for this wonderful Saturday?" Ron asked.
"Well, I want to hang around here for awhile," Ginny said. "Then I'll probably head over to the shop and see what those brothers of mine are cooking up. How about the rest of you?"
"I'm not really sure," Hermione said, clearing her plate. "There are loads of things I should be getting done here. I'll probably stay and try to tackle some of them. What about you Ron?"
"I'm going to work on my strawberries this morning. Then I hope to relax and do some work in the garden later."
"Sounds like you all have busy days planned." Harry commented. "It makes me feel really lazy. I was just planning on hanging around here. Sirus might be stopping by, and I want to be here to see him."
Harry's godfather Sirus Black lived at the other end of Hogsmeade, with his new wife Janin. They had a daughter who was two years old, named Dawn. Sirus worked for the Ministry of Magic, and was gone quite frequently. Janin was a singer. She was well known throughout Hogsmeade and other wizarding towns. Both Sirus and Janin were very close to Harry, they were the closest thing to parents that he ever had.
"Janin isn't coming, is she?" Hermione asked hopefully. Janin was like a second mother, and a good friend to Hermione. She often gave her advice, and did mother-daughter things. Herimone's parents were currently living in the US, and she couldn't spend very much time with them.
"I don't know." Harry said. "I think she had a concert in Caulding City, (a near by wizarding city.) last night, I don't know if she is back yet. But if she is, she will probably come over."
"Well," Ron said, clearing his plate and putting it into the sink, "I'm going to pop over to the shop and see what I can do about those strawberries. I'll be home for lunch."
"Ok. See you then!" Hermione said, "Tell Fred and George they are welcome to come over for lunch."
"Will do!" Ron called from the hall.
* * *
Harry offered to do the dishes so 'the girls' could talk. They happily accepted and went upstairs to Hermione's room. "So tell me all about your evening last night." Ginny demanded, flopping down on Hermione's bed.
"Well," Hermione said slowly, sitting on the window seat. "We made up."
"And?" Ginny prodded.
"Hermione smiled, "He asked me out."
"I'm so happy for you! So what did you do the rest of the night? Did you, you-know?"
"No," Hermione said, holding back a laugh. "We didn't, 'you know'. He did kiss me though. He knows I don't want to get any more physical then that yet. He didn't push me."
"Sounds like a wonderful evening."
"It was." Hermione said with a dreamy look on her face. "So what about you Ginny? Have you found a special someone yet?"
"No, you know my situation. Nothing has changed." Ginny had two admirers, Alec and Brendan. They were both wonderful young men. Ginny loved them both very much. She didn't want to choose one over the other because she was afraid she would hurt the other.
"You know Ginny, you are going to have to choose sometime, or your relationships with them will never move on. Are you sure you don't love one more then the other?"
"No." Ginny said simply. "I know I like one better then the other. But I know it would hurt Alec so much if I went out with Brendan; I couldn't do that to him." she paused, thinking. "I thought we were talking about your love life, not mine."
Hermione took the hint and changed the subject. "You mind giving me a hand with some house chores while we talk?"
"I'd love to," Ginny said as the walked downstairs, "But don't let me have so much fun that I forget to do my homework."
"Don't worry," A voice came from the bottom of the stairs. "Hermione never forgets to remind people to do their homework. She has seven years of experience in homework reminding."
"Well Mr. Potter," Hermione retorted, "If you had remembered to do it yourself I wouldn't have had to remind you."
"Yeah, but doing homework early ruined the fun in life. And I always thought it was cut how you would pay that much attention to me." Harry said with a sheepish grin.
"Aw, how sweet." Ginny teased.
"I'll be in the den if you need me." Harry said, as he walked away laughing.
* * *
Sirus Black apperated onto the front lawn at Benncarin and walked up the stairs. He knocked loudly on the door. He could hear laughing inside, and Harry's car was in the driveway, so he knew someone was home. He knocked again and waited. Nobody answered. He opened the unlocked door and let himself it.
* * *
Ginny and Hermione were too busy talking and laughing to get much cleaning done. They were cleaning windows in the living room when Sirus walked it. "Why are my two favorite girls so happy?"
Hermione looked up with a startled look on her face. "Is that the kind of welcome I get?" Sirus asked. "You look scared to death."
"Oh, Sirus." Hermione said, her face relaxing into a smile. "I didn't realize it was you, I thought you were someone else. How are you doing?" She asked getting up to hug him. "Did Janin come too?"
"She had a concert last night. I left her a note, I hope she will come over when she gets back. I know that she'd love to see you two."
"So how have her concerts been going?" Ginny asked.
"Really well. She is getting great attendance, she really loves it. Though she missed being at home with Dawn, she might start cutting back on concerts so she can spend more time with her."
"I'm glad everything is going so well for her." Hermione said, "When is her next concert in Hogsmeade going to be? I'd love to hear her preform again."
"I don't know when her next performance date is." Sirus sat down on the loveseat, Hermione made herself comfortable on the couch and Ginny sat in a large easy chair. "So how are things going around here?"
"Sirus"" Harry interrupted, walking into the room. "Too busy flirting with the girls to say 'hello' to me? How are you doing?"
"Fine and dandy! How about you?"
"I'm extremely happy." Harry said snuggling next to Hermione on the couch.
"Oh I see." Sirus said, with a slight grin on his face, "And why is that?" Harry looked over at Hermione. "Does it have something to do with this lovely young lady?"
"Yes," Harry said slowly. "It does."
"Did you two finally get around to telling each other how you feel?"
"Uh huh." Hermione said.
"It's about time." Sirus told them. "I think everyone knew it but you."
"Maybe so." Harry said, "But we know it now."
"Well, I'm happy for both of you. You make a good pair."
"Who are we pairing up?" Janin Black walked into the room. Janin wasn't what you would call a particularly stunning woman, but she was pretty. And there was something in her eyes and smile that make her face positively beautiful. She had shoulder length red-brown hair that made her face glow. "Hello honey," She said sitting down next to Sirus and giving him a kiss. "I've missed you. So what were you guys talking about?"
"I was just congratulating Harry and Hermione. They finally came to their senses about each other."
"Oh I'm so glad to hear that!" Janin and Hermione exchanged a warm smile, Janin flashed a look that said 'see, I told you that it would happen sometime.' "Hey Ginny, good to see you! How is everything at school?"
"School is school. I'm glad it is my last year. And it is good to be here with everyone for a few days."
"Sirus, where is Dawn?" Janin's motherly instinct kicked in. "You said you were going to bring her over here.
"She is over playing with her little friends. She is going to be very happy to see you. She asked me 'when Mommy is coming home?' at least twenty seven times this morning."
"What a cutie. I can't wait to see her."
They continued to talk of Dawn, Harry and Hermione, and other subjects throughout the morning. Around 11:00 Hermione got up. "I need to get lunch started. And Ginny, remember your homework."
"See!" Harry said laughing, "She never forgets."
"Hermione, do you need help with anything?" Janin asked.
"Not really, but I'd love it if you would come and we could chat while I cook." Janin got up and followed Hermione and Ginny out of the room, leaving Harry and Sirus alone.
* * *
"So what is new at the Ministry?" Harry asked Sirus.
"Things are pretty quiet at the moment. But I'm just on the Memory Charm Squad, so I don't really hear much of the big talk. Just last week there was a strange amount of Muggle sightings. We are trying to figure out why."
"I think something is happening on the dark side. I've been seeing lots of strange wizards in town. And, I probably should have told you this before, my scar has been acting strange in the last few days. It isn't hurting the way it has hurt before, it isn't just a one time thing that only lasts for a few minutes. It is like a bad bruise, always hurting."
"That is strange Harry, very strange. Please tell me if it starts acting up again. I don't want anything to happen to you, or anyone else." Sirus sat staring into the corner for a moment. "Malfoy." he muttered.