Ot Not Much Else

Remus sat back in the chair and sighed. "We need to stop staying up so late, Sirius." The thin, dark haired man grinned as he sipped his tea. "Who cares?" "I do. We're old, Sirius." "You mean that you're old." Remus closed his eyes and smiled, "Of course. Live in denial, Cleopatra." "I try to. everyday of my life." Sirius' eyes twinkled. He set his cup aside and was about to ask Remus a question when a loud shriek came from the fireplace. He jumped up and pulled his new wand out. Remus simply opened an eye and whispered, "Hermione." Sirius stared at his friend as Hermione and Ginny tumbled out of the fireplace. He turned back to the girls and helped both of them up from the ground. He noticed Ginny blush slightly when he let go of her hand. Hermione wiped the soot off of her pants and then looked at Sirius. She rushed at him and hugged him tightly. "I'm so happy for you!" Remus watched Sirius gently hug her back. He smiled at Ginny who whispered a greeting in return. Sirius let go of Hermione and looked toward the fireplace. "Where's Ron?" Ginny frowned, "He's not coming." Remus tensed slightly. He could feel the worry coming from both of the girls. "Why not?" Sirius rubbed his forehead, "Draco." Hermione responded, "Yeah." Sirius could tell that it was already a sore subject for Hermione. "Come on." He looked at Remus. "Get up, Moony." He led the way to the door. "Harry and Draco are in the Great Hall." Remus groaned as he got up. "Remind me to buy myself a gilded cage before I turn forty, Sirius." "Would you like a girlfriend to go with that order?" Sirius shot back as the group walked down the hall. "Shut up." "Make me." "I will." Ginny giggled at the two men. They were acting like children. "Do they always act like this?" She looked at Hermione. "No. They're just in a weird mood." Hermione answered. "Sirius hardly ever jokes anymore." Sirius said, "I heard that." "That was the idea." Hermione smiled sweetly as the group reached the doors to the Great Hall. They could hear shrieking coming from the other side of the doors. Remus opened the doors and shouted out in surprise. He wiped his face and stared at the three people inside the room. "Water balloons? What are you? Ten?" Hermione and Ginny rushed forward to find Harry and Draco soaked in water and staring at the floor. They saw a woman standing behind the two boys. She was trying not to laugh. Lily bit back a laugh, "Come on, Remus. You remember, don't you?" "Too fondly." Remus rubbed at his now wet robes. "Hermione and Ginny, this unfortunately is Lily Potter." Ginny stared at Harry's mum in disbelief. No wonder she had fallen for one of the Marauders. "Hi." Hermione stepped forward and hugged Harry. She didn't mind the water. "Hey, Harry." A low drawl interrupted the greetings. "So where's Weasel?" Ginny was about to defend her brother when Lily sternly responded. "Draco, try again." Malfoy looked back at Harry's mum. "Where's Ron?" Lily looked at the girl who had her hand tangled in her son's. "I thought he was coming, too." Hermione sighed and looked into Harry's eyes. "He's angry. He needs some time." Harry flinched and sighed. "He's mad at me." Ginny disagreed. "He's not really. Ron's just confused." The door slammed and brought everyone's attention back to the matter at hand. Lily called out, "Draco!" Remus stopped her from following the blond. "Let him go. Sirius can find him." He looked pointedly at his friend who quickly walked out of the room. "They have kind of an odd respect for each other." Lily smiled weakly. "Okay." She turned to look at her son and his friends. "Hello, Ginny and Hermione. Let's go find some lunch." Harry mumbled, "I'm not hungry." Lily watched as Hermione squeezed his hand tighter. "Just try, Harry. Please?" "Fine, Mum." Harry let Hermione lead him over to the table. Remus had also noticed the interaction between Hermione and Harry. "When did that happen?" He asked Ginny. "Before the end of the school year. Ron's been kind of testy about it." Lily looked at the tall redheaded girl. "Are you Arthur's daughter?" Ginny blushed madly, "Yes." Remus offered his arm to Ginny. "Madam?" Ginny turned an even brighter shade of red before letting Remus guide her to the table. She was really glad she had come with Hermione. She had seen both Sirius and Professor Lupin. What a treat!

NOTE: I couldn't help giving Ginny a tiny crush on Sirius and Remus. I mean, think about it. Yum! We're going to leave Ron be for a little while as he was such a bastard in the last chapter. He'll learn how to behave soon enough.