A/N: Comment answers,

Ahyanah - Aroug, back at ya! Thanks

Mia - Your comments about crying almost made me cry. Of course I'm an old softy so it's easy to do. Thanks!

Sarah - thank you. I'll keep everything just as it is then!

Serenity - I know what you mean. I try to be as original as possible. With over 80,000 HP fics on this site alone that is a tough job.

Baby Sphinx - I hate puppets! No more puppets!

Comments make me work faster, obviously. Five chapters in one day. I think that's a record even for me. Keep them coming and I will keep writing! Thanks again for all of your time spent reading this story!

Chapter 5

Harry watched as Hermione made herself comfortable in the main living area downstairs, unpacking all of her books.

"So are you going to tell me or do I have to drag it out of you?" Harry said expectantly.

"What?"

"How many O.W.L.'s did you get?"

She bounced up and down on the couch with glee. "Twelve."

"Twelve?" Harry was stunned. "How were you able to get twelve O.W.L.'s? Did you even take that many courses?"

She smiled and nodded eagerly. "Remember third year. I had the time turner."

"Oh yeah."

"So?" she prompted him.

"Six," he said dejectedly.

Hermione bounded up and hugged him, "Harry, that's great! I'm very proud of you!"

He pulled back, after she released him, with a curious look on his face. "You didn't think I'd get that many, did you?"

She looked slightly ashamed. "Harry, with everything that has gone on over the last couple of years -- yes, I am surprised." She let that sink in before she continued, "As for more, I think you should appeal to retake those tests you were borderline in for no other reason than that."

Now Harry looked surprised.

"There is precedent, you know. I could help you draft an appeal if you want."

When Harry received his O.W.L.'s in mid-July he was disappointed but not shocked that he received a P in Potions and History of Magic. History wasn't as important as Potions. He needed an Outstanding in Potions to take the proper classes for his seventh year N.E.W.T.'s. Without that grade, his dreams of being an Auror were shot.

"That'd be great, Hermione. Thanks."

They sat for the better part of two hours studying and Harry would stop every once in a while to look up at his friend. Her concentration level was enormous. She stared intently at the pages of the book she was reading. He followed her eyes as they stopped and retreated to a previous section on the page.

She paused once more and leaned back on the couch, hitching her feet on the edge of the coffee table. Harry sat crossways on the couch so that he had the perfect angle to look up at her and back down to his book without being caught. Well, except for this time.

"You know of course," Hermione said with a bit of pride, "that I have perfect peripheral vision."

Harry knew when he was busted and lifted his book an inch higher to hide his quickly reddening face. Hermione smiled privately to herself when she knew he wasn't looking.

Once lunch time came and went Harry became a bit restless after being inside for all morning.

"How 'bout we go to Diagon Alley and pick up our school supplies?"

Hermione dried off the last of the dishes and nodded, "That'd be great." Then as an afterthought, "Oh, Harry I can't. My mom and dad usually pay for everything and they're supposed to be at a dentist's seminar today."

Harry shrugged, "Mione, I just inherited the Black family estate this week. Along with what my parents left me I won't ever need to work a day in my life."

She blinked. Hermione saw something in Harry that perhaps he hadn't even realized himself. She closed and hugged him tightly. "I'm so sorry, Harry."

He hugged her back and felt relief tugging away at his chest.

"They all loved you very much, you know."

Harry felt something catch in his throat and just nodded, "Come on, we better get going before the afternoon rush."

She pulled away from him, her eyes sparkling, and he thought she never looked prettier ... for a girl, that is.

*******************

Gnog Gnast greeted Harry and Hermione as they entered Gringott's Wizarding Bank, "Good day to you Mr. Potter. Back again so soon?"

"Got ratted out by a portrait, Mr. Gnast. This is my friend, Hermione Granger. We've come to change back the muggle money I withdrew yesterday and make a trip down to my vault."

The Senior Executor nodded, "This way sir."

Hermione took hold of Harry's arm as they walked along and closed in so that she would not be overheard, "Since when are goblins nice to their customers? And how long have you been known at Gringott's? You only come here once a year."

Harry smirked, "I think you might want to hold all of your questions until we reach my vault."

She gave him a look of utter confusion, "You couldn't be that rich!"

Harry just chuckled.

"Harry? You couldn't?"

Hermione looked rather green when they finally arrived at Harry's vault. The goblin opened the door to the small cart so that they could exit and she swayed left the right before Harry caught her.

"I never want to do that again," she commented while holding her hand to her mouth, just in case.

Harry smiled, "We still have to go back up."

She gripped his arm tighter, "Then I'll walk."

"I forget that you've never been down here. I guess your parents change muggle money upstairs."

She nodded, "I'm glad. I don't think I would be able to come down here every time. I know my mother wouldn't be able to. She hates the rollercoaster."

"Your vault sir."

The large door opened and a torch inside automatically lit. If Harry was surprised when he first came here six years ago it was nothing compared to the look on Hermione's face at that moment.

"What do ya think?"

"Merlin," she said in awe. "Harry ... "

"A bit overwhelming, isn't it?" He unfurled a cloth bag filled it with gold Galleons and a hand full of silver Sickles went into one of his pockets. "Sirius described the family fortune as 'such as it is.' I thought I'd maybe find a couple hundred Galleons or so. "

He snickered, "He liked to have his little jokes."

After Hermione tore her eyes away from the mountainous piles of gold and silver she took notice of the family jewels on a large table to the side.

"Oh, Harry. Look at these!" she gasped. "They're beautiful."

Rings and necklaces of every type and laden with every precious stone imaginable laid under glass on a velvet tablecloth. Harry hooked the sack of gold to his belt and retrieved his wand from an inside pocket.

"Wingardium Leviosa!"

The large glass covering lifted high above the table, at Harry's direction, so that they could get a closer look.

"Which do you like the most?" he asked.

"They're all so ... "

Harry followed her eyes to a platinum circlet with a single pear-shaped emerald perched atop. He reached out and picked it up. "Try it on."

She pushed away, "I shouldn't.

Harry frowned, "Go on."

She looked down at the ring and back up at Harry. "I guess just trying it on wouldn't hurt."

He shook his head not understanding her reluctance, "Quit being silly. It's my ring. There's nothing to hurt."

She smiled quickly and took it gently from his hand. She tried it on her right hand at first and it didn't fit any finger properly until she switched to her left. As expected it slid perfectly over her ring finger of her left hand. Hermione held it out to let the torch light flicker through the stone.

"It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, Harry."

He nodded, "Good then." He flicked his wand and the glass cover slipped back down on top of the table, again protecting its contents from the dank air of the caves.

"Harry!"

He looked concerned, "What?"

"Lift it back up I have to put the ring back."

He noticed she had already taken it off and was showing it to him and her urgent need to set it back down before she broke it or something.

"You can't put it back," he stated flatly.

Hermione's brows furrowed in confusion. "But ..."

Harry turned and started out of the vault, "It's your ring, Hermione. Put it back on."

He was almost to the vault door when Hermione's voice raised to a very loud volume, "Harry James Potter! You get right back here and put this ring back this instant."

He snickered again. He did however turn back around and return to her side, taking the ring in his hand. She looked visibly relived until Harry took her left hand in his and put the ring back on the third finger of her left hand.

She was about to protest once more when Harry stopped her, "Hermione, it would mean a lot to me if you would take this. It's not charity; you know that. I know your family is well off, your parents being dentists and all, but I never see you with something to ... I don't know ... something to enjoy.

"I saw the way your face lit up when you spotted this ring and I'd like to see that more often this term. You know this sort of thing," he rounded his hand across the room, "doesn't mean anything to me." I'd give it all up tomorrow if I could have my parents and Sirius back."

She nodded and looked down.

"Sirius gave me these things because he loved me and I'm giving this to you because I ... um ... because you are one of the most important people in my life. I'm tired of holding back my money because I'm afraid people will think I'm trying to buy yours and Ron's friendship, or some silly notion of pride."

She raised her head in denial, agreeing that Harry would never do such a thing. He held her off once more.

"I think by now everyone involved or more to the point, everyone I care about, knows what kind of person I am. So I'm sharing my wealth and you are the first person that I wanted to share it with. The ring looks beautiful on you, Hermione. Please take it."

He watched as her hand closed and reopened then he was nearly knocked over when she threw her arms around his neck and proceeded to squeeze the life out of him.