Chapter Ten
Miss Hermione Granger,
We are pleased to announce that you are Head Girl for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. For this honor, you are expected to perform a setting task of keeping in line, and setting an example for the future prefects and Head Girl and Head Boy. Enclosed is your Head Girl pin and your list of items needed for the school year.
We would also like to inform you that the Head Boy for this year, is Mr. Draco Malfoy. He will be your partner for nightly patrols, and will, of course, share your duties to the school. We await your owl no later than July 31st. Have a good remainder of your summer holiday.
Minerva McGonagall, deputy Headmistress
While Sirius busied himself with tying the note to Dumbledore to the school owl, Hermione thumbed through the note she had just received from the school, as well as the list of books and supplies that she would need for the upcoming school year. Although she had purchased many of the books that she would need for her Seventh Year, she still required many new, and old, ingredients for her potions kit, new robes, and, if she could actually get it, an owl. Not having one was getting on her nerves.
Hermione stared at Sirius with a daft expression. He was sprawled out on top of her bed, grunting every few moments, while staring up at her bedroom ceiling.
"What are you grunting about?"
"Nothing in particular. Hey, let me see that." Sirius grabbed at the envelope from Hogwarts, and the letter that Hermione clutched in her hand. His eyes lit up when he read across the letter, grinning. "Seriously… You're almost exactly like Lily. Head Girl… It seems as though you'll have your own dorm this year."
"Just like Lily? Too bad Harry isn't Head Boy… maybe we could have shared a room. You know… Head Boy and Girl, together… Patrolling the school at night… Snogging while no one in particular is looking…" She stared up at the ceiling, eyes glinting maliciously in the light.
"Ah, but instead, you have Draco Malfoy. Pity you didn't have to share a room, huh?"
"That's hitting a little too hard, Sirius." Hermione frowned and jumped onto her bed. "Only Twelve days to go."
"No, Hermione. You've had your chance, and you passed it up. You're not getting an owl."
"Mum… Why can't I? Owls are my only contact to the Wizarding World… Besides Floo Powder, but… Mum, please?"
"No, Hermione, and that's final. I don't want one of those filthy, stinking creatures in my house! Plus, with the babies and all! No, Hermione, you simply will not have one of those dirty - AWW! Oh my… Hermione! Come look at this…!" Mrs. Granger's face plastered to the window of the Magical Menagerie. "Isn't it beautiful, 'Mione? Look at it…"
The thing she was staring at was an owl. "Yes, Mum… It's very beautiful… Just imagine, it could be ours."
Mrs. Weasley turned to Hermione, eyebrow cocked slightly. "I don't know. I have to think about my babies!"
"Mum! The only way this owl'd cause a ruckus is when I come home for Christmas Break, and over the summer holidays… He'd be staying at Hogwarts, wouldn't he? I'd use him to send letters to you, and Dad… Or you could keep this one and use him to send me letters at Hogwarts, updating the news about the babies. See, Mum? They come in useful…"
Mrs. Granger's eyes glassed over. She was contemplating it. She really was. "Oh, Hermione… I don't know if I can afford this… with the babies and all…"
"How else would you be able to keep in contact with me over the school year? Mum, you really need one…"
Hermione's Mother opened the door to the menagerie, and the two of them walked inside. The stench of wet animal, animal food, and animal bowel hung in the air. Mrs. Granger walked to the cage by the window, glancing at the hooting owl.
"Oh, yes… Wonderful choice. We've only just received this owl… She's very beautiful, isn't she? She's a Western Screech Owl… from America."
The small Screech Owl turned her head, hooting, to stare at its visitors. Its amberly-yellow eyes fixed on the three women before her.
"How much does she cost?" Mrs. Granger had asked, eyes widening as the owl gave a slight ruffle of her feathers.
"Twelve Galleons… She's an import, you know." The Menagerie Witch's eyes gleamed over the cage. "An additional Thirteen for the cage, which comes with a supply of food." She turned to Mrs. Granger. "You're interested, of course?"
"I'll take her!" Mrs. Granger announced. She was so pleased with the little owl in the cage, with its dark ear tufts that ringed around its little face. Mrs. Granger paid the Witch, and Hermione looked around the store.
Hermione had, already, Crookshanks, and Snuffles, in a sense. Maybe an Owl would be asking too much; besides, she did have the school owls if she needed them… why go and get something that would be already in stock for her to use? It was a waste of money, she figured.
The two of them walked from the Menagerie, and Mrs. Granger was busy cooing to the owl in the cage. "I know! I'll name her Lessa, after a character in a book that I read. Yes… Lessa… You like that, don't you, Lessa?"
After a fitting at Madame Malkins' Dress Robes for All Occasions (Hermione received special Robes that read 'Head Girl') the two went to the Apothecary to restore Hermione's Potions kit, and left Diagon Alley through the Leaky Cauldron. Hermione only had 10 days until she would board the scarlet steam engine, The Hogwarts Express, and be taken to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry… she only had one year left of this school, and she would be on her way to becoming Hermione Granger… and would build a life, being a Witch.
Hermione's stomach lurched. Only one year left… What would she do after leaving the halls of Hogwarts? Where would she live? She couldn't stay with her parents forever… Not while they had other children to raise.
Lessa chattered happily, flittering around her cage and ruffling her tail feathers. Hermione's mother continued to coo at her through the bars of the cage. "You're such a beautiful owl, aren't you, Lessa? Aren't you? Oh, your father will be so happy, Hermione…"
The car pulled into the Granger's driveway. Hermione stepped out, carrying her packages in her arms, greeted at the door by a hyperactive Snuffles. "Oiy! Snuffles! No, off, off! Don't jump on my legs… No!"
Snuffles ran around Hermione's legs, barking happily and wagging his tail around. Mrs. Granger walked into the house holding Lessa's cage, and greeted Mr. Granger with a "Hi dear! Look what I've got!"
Mr. Granger leaped up at the sight of the twittering owl. "What's that, dear?"
"Isn't it beautiful!?! It's an owl… so we can keep in touch with Hermione… during my pregnancy and all. She wanted to be informed, so I decided to buy her. Isn't she beautiful? Well, isn't she?"
"I'll say! What's her name, dear?"
"I named her Lessa!"
"After the Dragonriders of Pern?"
"Of course!"
Mr. Granger shook his head and Mrs. Granger put the cage containing the solemn little owl on a stand in the kitchen. "Should I keep her here, Hermione? Or do I let her out to go hunting?"
"Mum, honestly! I say we test her out first… just to make sure she's efficient. I'll send an owl to Harry…" Hermione bent her face close to the cage with Lessa in it. "Do you want to take a letter to my friend, Less? Hmm?" Lessa gave a soft chirp, and Hermione nodded. "I'll just run upstairs and write out a note."
Harry,
There's no particular reason why I'm writing this owl to you, except the fact that we're testing out our new family pet owl, Lessa… Mum named her, so it's best not to ask. How are things going today? How is Hedwig…? Now she and Pig have a friend.
- Hermione
Hermione tied the letter to Lessa's foot, who stood exceptionally still, as if to prove herself as a message carrier. "Alright, Lessa, take this to Harry Potter."
The owl took off, wings rising and falling in its path through the sky. Mrs. Granger looked teary eyed and stared down at Hermione. "Will she be back, Hermione? Is it all right that we've let her go out? I don't want her to run away, Hermione, I don't want her to run away!" Silent tears ran down her face.
"No, Mum, she won't run away. I've told you; this is how people in the Wizarding World communicate. Their owls always return to them, usually carrying a message in return. I've just sent Lessa to Harry's house… He'll write something back."
"Don't you talk to me like that, young lady! Take your things and put them in your room!"
"Yes, Mum." Hermione took her packages and walked up the stairs, a frantic Snuffles jumping along behind her. "Come on, Snuffles… Lets go, boy."
"Your Mum's in heat…
Hermione stopped walking up the stairs and Snuffles crashed into her legs. The force of Snuffles' body knocking into hers sent her falling backward, on top of the dog and the two fell backwards down the stairs, entangled with each other. Hermione's head knocked into the railing and her legs scuffed the wall, but when they landed at the foot of the stairs, the two were all right. Mrs. Granger ran to the stairway.
"Oh, my poor baby Hermione!!" Mrs. Granger scooped her daughter up into her arms, cradling her head next to her bosom. "Are you alright, honey? Oh, what would I have done if you had gotten really hurt like that? I'm so sorry, Hermione, I'm so sorry!" Hermione's Mum rocked back and fourth, clutching her daughter still. Snuffles gave a soft whimper.
"I'm fine, Mum, really… I just need to go lay down."
"Okay, dear…"
"Come on, Snuffles! Get up…" Hermione cooed to Snuffles, who was lying on the floor.
"Oh no you don't. That dog is outside for the night."
"No, Dad, please! He didn't mean it… he's just a little hyper. I'll make him calm down…"
"No! That dog is a menace!" Snuffles' ears folded back against his head.
"No, He's not, Dad… He's just too wound up. He needs a bath… Can't you smell that?" Hermione wiggled free of her Mom's iron grip and scooted across the floor to where Snuffles lay. "See? He's calmed down now. I'll take care of him upstairs, alright, Dad?"
Her father let out a long breath. "Fine. But any more roughhousing, and that dog is out of here for the night. I won't have it, especially when it comes to endangering my daughter's life." He glared down at the large, shaggy dog. "I'm warning you, boy…"
Snuffles gave a soft bark in return. Hermione wrapped her fingers around the dog's collar, and forced him to get up. "Come on, Snuffles… bath time." The two attempted to go up the stairs once again, and this time, made it successfully.
The door to her bedroom was closed. She twisted the metallic doorknob open, exposing her lightless room. Reaching to the side of her doorframe, Hermione flipped the light switch on, and a series of colors swam to greet her eyes. The two walked into the room, Hermione closing the door firmly behind her, locking it with the lock on the door handle.
Sirius sat on Hermione's bed, clutching his head with his hands. "Are you okay, Sirius?" Hermione asked, stepping closer to him with her right hand extended. "What's wrong? You weren't hurt, were you?"
"It doesn't matter, I'm fine." He walked toward her bathroom, left hand still massaging his temple. "I guess I just take that bath you were talking about earlier… I guess I do smell quite ripe." Hermione patted his arm softly, massaging his bicep with her fingers.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe warm water will cool me down." Sirius opened the bathroom door and walked inside, shutting it behind him. "Do you have any bubble bath?" he asked through the door.
"Yeah, I do, actually… It's in the cupboard under the sink. The purple bottle, mind you!" She could hear shuffling from the bathroom.
The next thing she knew, she heard water running, and Sirius going, "How much do I put in?" which she retorted by saying, "Only a capful! Possibly two if you want." Two minutes later, Sirius said, "Come in," and Hermione stared at the door with a dumbfounded look.
"What?" she asked, eyebrows raised.
"I said, come in!"
"Why would I do that, huh?"
"Because I told you to, why other reason would you want to? To size me up, huh?"
"Don't flatter yourself, Black, I'm sure you have nothing of proportion to 'size up' anyhow!"
"You know, I would have said the same thing, had I not seen you in the shower the other day…" He grinned from inside the bathroom, hearing Hermione's growl. "Are you coming in, or not?"
"Fine!" she huffed, opening the door. Sirius was sitting inside the tub, clothes strewn across the floor, bubbles covering the water. "Well, now… Is that why you wanted bubble bath?"
"Actually… Yes, it is!" He grinned, slinking further into the water.
"Well, at least you didn't just hop into the shower, leaving the bathroom door open." Hermione's face tinted red, and she turned away, staring at the door she had closed behind her.
"Would you rather have me do that?"
If Hermione's face had been red before, it was deep crimson now. "No! Of course not!" Sirius laughed loudly at that, reaching up and pinching her leg.
She sat down on the toilet, trying her best not to stare at the figure in the tub. Their conversation was rather odd; Hermione tried to stay away from any words that would suggest anything to him. She was still rather distraught about hearing that her Mum was in heat. That, she thought, is something that I could have lived without knowing.
"What did you write to Dumbledore in that letter?" she asked, looking down at Sirius' face.
"Stuff…"
"Stuff…? Like what?"
"Nothing!" he chimed, singsong voice filling the bathroom along with his various splashes of water.
"Fine, don't tell me. I'll get it out of you sooner or later." She leaned over, fingers stretched out, and pinched Sirius' nose. Sirius, in return, growled, and wrapped his hand around Hermione's wrist. He tugged a little to forcefully and Hermione fell into the tub on top of him.
Hermione's face was, yet again, deep crimson. She was lying on top of Sirius, her chest against his, her legs sprawled out behind her in some fashion or the other. Sirius was laughing stupidly, his hand still clasped around her wrist. "It's nice to see you, too!"
Oh my god, I'm lying on top of a naked man, in a bathtub. Hermione's mind raced, and incidentally, she squirmed around. Sirius' eyes widened a bit. "I just wanted… to be a little closer to you, that's all," she joked, giving him a quick nip on the temple. She didn't, though, make any move to get out of the tub.
Sirius laughed, squirming a little underneath her. If she doesn't get up soon, she's going to have quite a bit of a surprise… Hermione attempted to get out of the tub, putting her hands on the side railings to heave herself up. Her hands proved to be a little too slippery, and Hermione crashed down upon Sirius again.
"Oh my… I'm so sorry, Sirius…" Her face was as bright as ever. She attempted to get out of the tub once more, and this time, was successful. Sirius chuckled inwardly at the sight before him; tall, bushy haired Hermione, still dressed in her wet clothing that clung around her. Hermione gave a soft whimper. "I'm all wet…"
Hermione snapped open a cupboard and pulled out a towel. She slipped her wet pants and shirt off of her, leaving her in only her bra and panties when she wrapped the towel around her figure. She threw the wet clothes into the bathroom sink, and walked into her bedroom to change out of her wet things.
Sirius, in the bathroom, groaned and glanced toward the bathroom door. Hermione had shut it, thank god… His hand reached into the water, cupping around his nether region, which was stiff in his hands. He had to relieve himself before he exited the bathroom.
A sweet smell entered her nostrils. She smiled; turning her head to the side and cracking open her eyes just slightly. Next to her head, on her pillow laid a small flower; she couldn't tell which kind, but it was nonetheless, a flower. Attached to the stem was a note; she picked up the flower and pulled off the note.