Athenakitty: You mean for this chapter.lol, you'll see. Yeah, Harry will meet Nyo's parents.not saying when, where, or why, though. As for Snape, you'll find out eventually. I know I'm evil. What else will who do?
Angelic Demon16: Yeah, I know. How totally annoying is that? is WAY too slow when it comes to that kind of thing. Well, I'm glad that you finally got to read it. Thanks for the review!
Magicman: Oh, yes, that will be quite interesting. I'm not sure but a lot of things will probably be revealed when they meet.
Hedowl5: Lol, is Tali pregnant? Maybe, maybe not. Guess you'll find out this chapter, won't you? Is Harry gonna ask Herms on her b-day? Well. her b- day is a couple of chapters away, but you'll find out then.
Ears91: Thanks! I will!
Maxwell Coffee House: Don't worry about it. I've been traveling, too. But I'm home for the rest of the summer, yay! And I'm glad that you like my writing. Thanks a lot!
Istalksiriusonweekends: I tried! I'm not sure if this is getting out by Wednesday when I'm writing this. But I'm gonna try to!
Kim: Oh, don't worry. Yes, I completely understand. I appreciate the explanation, though! Yay! You don't hate my story!
Ladee Sakura Evenstar Night: You silly! The next chapter is right here! Thanks for the review!
Charlie: YAY! Another cool word! And just between you and me.I don't really care how often I get told it gets better.it always boosts my confidence! Thanks! And SURE! If you wanna be on the mailing list, I'd be more than happy to have you.I just need you e-mail and we'll be set! Look forward to it!
BookCrazy77: Thanks!
Damson Rhee: Wow, first of all, I just want to really thank you. I've gotten more reviews from you in the past few days than I have for many of my one-shot stories! I'm glad you like them so much! Congrats on becoming the newest member of my mailing list, and I hope you weren't waiting too long for this chapter.
Fan: Yeah, H/Hr is my favorite couple as well. And just to alleviate your worries, yes, it's a H/Hr story. :Smiles: I can't tell you exactly what I'm planning with Nyo.but.it'll be interesting.
X13: No way! H/Hr all the way. Though.I'm not sure if you can tell, Nyo is kinda developing a crush on Harry. If you couldn't tell that.just forget I told you that.
Lady Reaper of the Shadows: Lol, you're the second one to ask me that. Well, I'm not telling, cause it's in the chapter, you'll have to wait, sorry. So you play bassoon, huh? Isn't that kinda like a clarinet?
Wanted: A Happy Ending
Ch6: The Day of BIG News
"Hey, cool idea, Harry!" a Ravenclaw boy smiled as he dashed past Harry and his friends.
Harry smiled at the back of the boy, "Glad you think so."
The couple of girls that were with the boy giggled and turned away, blushing. Harry sighed and shook his head, "You know, you think they'd stop doing that after the first couple of days."
"Try first couple of years," Hermione laughed. "Those are fourth years."
Harry rolled his eyes and took Hermione's hand before turning into Three Broomsticks, "Good, looks like we're early. No one else from the school is in here yet."
"I still can't believe you gave the entire school Friday off to go to Hogsmeade," Hermione said with a smile.
Harry laughed and pulled Hermione's chair out for her, "Hey, people need to get stuff to wear to the Ball, don't they?"
"You were just looking for an excuse to get me out of Hogwarts to eat," Hermione laughed, shaking her head.
"Ah," Harry said, taking his own seat, "if you recall correctly, my dear, I'm Headmaster. I don't need a reason to get you out of Hogwarts."
"Oh what travesties are to befall our beloved school now that you're in charge," Hermione joked.
Harry pretended to be hurt and put his hand on hers, but didn't say anything, for at that instant, Madame Rosmetta came over to them in a hurry, something Harry had grown used to over the past few months. If there was one perk to his renewed popularity, it was that he hardly had to wait for anything anymore.
"What can I get for you two today?" Rosmetta asked with a smile as she observed Harry's hand on Hermione's.
"I think I'll just have a chicken salad and raspberry lemonade, please," Hermione asked.
"And I'll take a plate of spaghetti and a cup of Mr. Phibb," Harry said.
"One chicken salad, one spaghetti coming up," Rosmetta said before hurrying off.
"So what were we talking about?" Hermione asked.
Harry grinned, "You were just getting ready to tell me about your dress for the Ball."
Hermione breathed a laugh and shook her head, "I don't think so, Harry. I told you, it's a surprise."
"I'll never understand women," Harry said, shaking his head.
"That," Hermione said with a frown, "was a low blow, Harry. A low blow."
"I was just kidding, Herms. Lighten up a bit," Harry said as Rosmetta returned with their food.
"So how are classes going for you?" Harry asked, taking a bite of his pasta.
Hermione brightened up instantly, "Oh! They're going wonderfully! Everyone seems to think that I'm going to be valedictorian!"
Harry smiled at her, "I could have told you that."
Hermione frowned, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Huh?" Harry asked, confused.
"You weren't going to hand it to me just because we're going out, were you?" Hermione looked at him very seriously.
Harry dropped his fork and stared at her indignantly, "Hermione! Of course not! I've known you'd graduate top in the class since first year!"
Hermione blushed and looked down, "Of course...I'm sorry, Harry."
Harry closed his mouth and nodded, "It's alright. Being Headmaster does have some advantages, though."
"Like what?"
Smiling, Harry scooted his chair closer to hers, "Like I can pull you out of class any time I want to for no reason at all."
Hermione giggled and looked at him, "And why, Headmaster, would you want to do that?"
Harry leaned over to her ear, "To tell you how beautiful you are."
He grinned at the blush that crept upon her face. And, before she could say anything else, Harry kissed her. Hermione, completely lost herself in the kiss and it wasn't until she felt herself being stared at that she broke it.
Harry groaned, perturbed, and, without even turning around, "Hello, Ron."
"Er…hi! Sorry to interrupt you two, but, well, Lavender dragged Nyo into the dress shop, and they wouldn't let me come, not that I wanted to in the first place, so now I'm by myself and—" Ron started.
Harry looked at Hermione and she nodded, "Sit down, Ron."
"Harry! Hermione! Ron! What are the odds of seeing you here?"
Sirius, Remus, and Tali took the remaining seats at the table and smiled at the three, "Oh! Sorry, were we interrupting you two?"
"No, no. We were finished," Hermione said in a voice that clearly contradicted what she had said.
"Sorry," Remus winced.
"It's alright. I'll just have to use some of my advantages later," Harry said with a wicked glance at Hermione who blushed.
"Er…I'm just going to leave that alone," Sirius said, leaning back in his chair.
"You sure you're done?" Tali asked.
"Yeah," Harry and Hermione sighed.
"Oh good! Are you planning on finishing that?" she asked Hermione eagerly who pushed the bowl to her, having lost her appetite.
Sirius looked at her, "You're kidding! Tals, you just lunch before we came."
Tali frowned, "First of all, all I had were a couple of sandwiches. And second, you ate half of them, darling."
Sirius laughed and clapped her on the shoulder, "So I did, so I did. Looks like I'm beginning to rub off on you, eh, Tals?"
"Guess so," Tali rolled her eyes.
"You finished with that?" Sirius asked Harry.
Harry rolled his eyes and handed Sirius the plate. Sirius instantly started inhaling the spaghetti roughly at the rate of an army.
Ron turned to Sirius and Tali, who seemed to be having a contest to see who could finish off their food first, with his mouth open, "You two are a couple of pigs, you know."
"Hey!" Sirius said indignantly.
"You ate a lunch and a half already, Padfoot," Remus reminded him with a smirk.
"Yeah? Well…well..." Sirius desperately searched for a comeback, "So?"
Everyone at the table snorted and Sirius mock-glared at them, "You all are so mean sometimes."
"We're just playing, Padfoot," Harry playfully shoved Sirius' shoulder, "You know we love you."
"Yeah, yeah, sure you do," Sirius said, rolling his eyes.
"I GOT IT! I GOT IT! I GOT IT!"
Those at the table turned to see Lavender and Nyo running into the store, or, rather, Lavender running into the store pulling Nyo along by her wrist.
"Bloody hell, Lavender. You think you could've been any rougher?" Nyo asked when she was released, rubbing her wrist.
Lavender ignored her and turned excitedly to Ron, "Ron! Guess what? I got it! The only one they had, and I got it!"
"Got what?" Ron asked daftly.
Lavender sighed, "My dress for the Ball, silly. Don't you remember? That was the whole point in Harry giving us the day off to come to Hogsmeade."
"Which, by the way," Tali interjected, "I might point out is highly unorthodox."
"Oh, give it a rest, Tals. The Ball's in two days, and half the school didn't have anything to wear," Sirius said, glancing over Hermione's shoulder, "Oh good, food's here!"
Lavender and Nyo pulled up chairs, and Harry ordered six more Butterbeers, "Did you get your dress, too, Herms?"
Hermione nodded, "Yes, it's absolutely lovely! It's—"
"Hermione!" Lavender exclaimed, "Shh! You can't tell them. It's supposed to be a surprise, remember?"
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Yes, that's what you keep telling me."
"What about you, Nyo?" asked Harry.
She nodded, "Yeah, I don't know why I even bothered getting one, though. It's not like I have anyone to go with."
"Oh, don't worry, Nyo!" Lavender said cheerfully, "I know the perfect guy for you!"
Nyo eyed her, "Do I even want to know?"
Lavender only smiled into her Butterbeer which had recently been dropped off and Hermione turned to Nyo, "I think that's a no."
"In other news, you two are just in time. Tali here is working on putting Ron to shame," Sirius joked, nodding his head at his wife.
Ron crossed his arms and muttered something about how everyone always picked on him while Tali's eyes narrowed and she turned to him, "What?"
"Er...it was a joke, Tals. I'm sorry. Didn't mean it, honest," Sirius said, sensing an oncoming storm.
Instead of exploding at him, however, Tali's eyes watered up and she fled from the store, "You think I'm fat!"
Sirius winced and chased after her, "Wait, Tali! I didn't mean it like that! Come back here! You're not fat! You're skinny!"
"Oh! So now you're saying that I'm bony?" Tali fumed, spinning around at the door.
"No! No, what I meant was—was that…Merlin, you're awfully sensitive today, aren't you?"
"So now I'm emotional, too, huh?" Tali asked furiously before storming out of the store.
"Tals!" Sirius called after her before disappearing behind the door as well.
Everyone in the store stared after them, unblinking, for several minutes. Soon enough, however, the many mixed conversations reappeared again. Remus, Lavender, Harry, and Hermione let out laughs and went back to their Butterbeers.
Nyo looked between them, "Shouldn't we go after them?"
"No, they'll be fine. They always fight around this time of the month," Remus said with a hint of a smile.
"Thanks for that, Remus," Harry said, shaking his head, before turning to Nyo, "He's right, though. They've probably already made up by now."
"Oh, alright then," Nyo took a sip of her drink, "So, did you two get your clothes for the Ball?"
The boys nodded dutifully, and Hermione and Lavender cast doubtful glances at Ron.
"What?" he asked, "I got mine already."
"Really?" Lavender asked, "You mean to tell me Mr. Procrastinator here has prepared ahead of time?"
Ron nodded, "Harry gave me a couple dozen pairs."
The girls looked at Harry and he laughed, "Madame Malkin sent me half of her store a few weeks after I came back. Half the clothes didn't fit me, so I gave them to Ron, Sirius, and Remus."
"Why didn't you just send them back?" asked Hermione.
"And give up perfectly good free dress robes?" Ron asked unbelievably.
"Oh, you really are hopeless, Ron," Lavender shook her head.
Ron smirked, "You say that as if it's a bad thing."
"Hey, Harry!"
Harry turned to see Colin Creevy standing behind him with his ever faithful camera, "Hi, Colin."
"Ginny's over looking at robes if that's who you're looking for," Hermione told him.
"I know," Colin said, shaking his head, "She's been in there for three hours. Won't let me help with a thing. Says it has to be a surprise. What is it with girls and stuff like that?"
The men at the table shrugged and Ron laughed, "You figure that out, Colin, and I'll give you fifty galleons."
Colin shook his head, "That's okay, I have a job now. I don't have to waste time on that kind of thing anymore."
"Good, cause I don't have fifty galleons," Ron smiled into his Butterbeer.
"Where do you work?" asked Remus.
Colin smirked broadly, "I'm not supposed to say. You should know by June, though."
Harry eyed him, "You're not working at the Daily Prophet are you?"
Laughing, Colin shook his head, "No, but I do need to take a nice picture of you sometime this year."
"What for?" the entire table asked.
"For the C—" Colin lost his smile instantly and chuckled nervously, "Er—nothing."
"Colin..." Harry said in a warning tone.
"Oh, look, is that Ginny? I think I better be going! Bye!" with that, Colin hurried out of the store to a street that held no sign of Ron's red-headed little sister.
Harry sighed and shook his head, "Why do I have a bad feeling about this?"
"Because it's Colin," Ron pointed out.
"Right," Harry said, hoping it wasn't anything too terrible.
"We should start heading back up to the castle soon. It's almost three," Remus said, draining the last from his cup.
"Right, I need to finish getting those stupid papers signed," Harry said with a groan.
"What papers?" asked Nyo as they all tossed their share of the payment on the table before making their way back into the cool September air.
"Sorry, I'm not at liberty to discuss it," Harry said with a mysterious smile.
"Ah, come on, Harry," Ron whined.
Harry laughed and came to a stop before leaning into a huddle, "I'm just picking up a few things for this year."
"What kind of things?" Hermione asked.
Harry grinned broadly, "Let's just say that Prongs Jr. has a long way to go before he retires."
"Alright!" Ron shouted excitedly, jumping up and down, "I knew you wouldn't let me down, Harry! The Marauders live on!"
Hermione, Lavender, and Remus all smiled wickedly as Nyo stared at them, "The who?"
Ron stopped jumping about and turned to her, "You've never heard of the Marauders?"
"Well, duh. She did live in Ireland for sixteen years, Ron," Harry said, rolling his eyes.
"That's it, then!" Ron exclaimed before clapping his hand on Nyo's shoulder, "Nyo, strap yourself in, you're about to be inducted into the Marauders!"
"Yes, very good, but who are 'the Marauders'?" Nyo asked.
The five sweatdropped and Ron patted Nyo's shoulder, "We've got a lot of work to do."
"Heads up!"
Harry dove down just in time to feel the wind of a Bludger sail over his head. He whipped around to see Sirius salute him with his bat. Harry rolled his eyes and was about to go back to searching for the snitch when Tali flew up to Sirius.
"What do you think you're doing? Sirius! Sometimes you can be so thick! What if that had hit him? You could have seriously hurt your own godson!" she screeched at him.
"Here we go again," Harry muttered under his breath.
Shaking his head, he flew over the two, "Tali, I'm fine. Padfoot gave me plenty of warning, besides, it wouldn't have been the first time I've been hit with a Bludger."
"That's exactly what I said!" Sirius exclaimed.
"Exactly! And remember what happened last time? You went unconscious and spent a majority of the day in the Hospital Wing!" Tali shouted, ignoring Sirius.
"That's only because Malfoy was so close!" Harry protested indignantly.
Tali turned to him as if she had only just realized that he was there. Her eyes widened and tears started to gather. He was within arms distance, and she pulled him into a hug, "Oh, Harry! I'm so glad you're alright!"
Harry in took a sharp breath just before the full impact of the hug hit him. His broom collided roughly with Tali's as he peered over her shoulder at Sirius, and now, Remus.
"Help," he choked out.
"Tals, I think you're doing more damage to him than I was," Sirius laughed.
Tali pouted and let go of him, "You're so mean, Sirius."
"Yeah, but we might as well finish discussion on the ground, looks like Harry's going to beat us there as it is," Sirius said as they turned to see Harry speeding towards the ground.
"Got it!" Harry called out as he closed his hands around the Snitch.
A loud clapping met his ears, and Harry glanced downward to see the Gryffindor Quidditch team clapping vigorously for him. He smiled sheepishly, not aware that he had been watched.
"Sirius Black! Don't you fly away from me!" Tali yelled angrily as she and Sirius darted past Harry towards the ground.
"Think we ought to save him?" Remus asked with a bemused smile as he came to a stop next to Harry.
"We could..." Harry led off, "Or we could just let them at it and see what happens."
Remus laughed as the two slowly made their way to the ground, "What'd Padfoot say this time?"
"I'm not exactly sure." Remus said thoughtfully, "I think it was something about women being too emotional every month."
Harry snorted, "Are you serious?"
Remus nodded grimly, "I'm afraid that in all his years of living and learning, Padfoot has yet to learn the finer points of etiquette and tact."
"I don't find that hard to believe," Harry smiled as they touched down.
"Hiya, Harry!" Ron greeted enthusiastically, "Is that it?"
Harry smiled and held up the broom, "Yeah, this is the Starshooter 83."
The Gryffindors goggled at the stick in Harry's hand; Megan actually started to drool a bit, "It's not fair! It doesn't even come out forever!"
"Mind you, he did kill Voldemort, Megan," Ginny rolled her eyes.
Megan pursed her lips but nodded, "I suppose."
"What are you guys doing out here anyway? Shouldn't you be in class?" Sirius asked.
"Where's Tali?" Remus asked.
"She headed up to Madame Pomfrey. She said she has a headache," Sirius said, shaking his head, "I think it's probably those twelve cauldron cakes she had after her last class today."
"Twelve?" Harry exclaimed.
"Yeah, tell me about it," Sirius said with a heavy sigh, "So what are you guys doing out here?"
"Quidditch practice. Classes have been out for an hour already," Ron said, casually prodding his chest out to display his captain badge. He had been co-captain last year, but, this year, now that Harry was no longer a student, he was going solo in the position of captain.
"Practice?" Harry asked, "Don't you need to find a Seeker first?"
"For once, Harry, I'm way ahead of you," Ron smiled, stepping aside, "Allow me to introduce you to our new Seeker."
"Nyo?" Sirius, Remus, and Harry asked at the same time.
"Yeah, she's nearly as good as you," Dean said, "Still has a long way to go though."
Nyo laughed, "Quite a long way. I've heard nothing but stories about the games you played in over the years."
"I wouldn't be too worried about it. You'll never be Harry, but you'll do fine. Especially considering that you have the Firebolt. That's two on the team now!" Megan exclaimed.
"I wonder what ever happened to my old Firebolt." Harry asked himself as he led off into thought.
He remembered all too well when he had been knocked off the broom at the beginning of the previous year by a couple of Death Eaters. It had nearly been the end of him there, but he had made it out alive, not that he could say the same about the broom which had yet to be seen again.
"It sure is weird not having you play Quidditch this year, though, Harry," Colin said, downcast.
"Hey, it could be worse," Megan said in her typical filled-to-the-brim-with- self-pride voice, "He could be playing against us, then he'd have to lose."
"Is that so?" Harry asked with a smirk.
"Sorry, Harry, but a Seeker can only do so much," Megan said shortly.
"Really?" Harry asked with the same devious smile.
"Uh oh," Ron said, rolling his eyes, "Looks like you've gone and given him another idea."
"What do you say we put that theory to a test, Megan," Harry smiled.
"What kind of a test?" she asked, not daring to back down.
"We'll play you. Then we'll just see how useful a Seeker is."
"Who's 'we'?" Megan asked.
Harry motioned behind him at Sirius and Remus, "A team made up of the Professors and myself against Gryffindor."
Megan narrowed her eyes, "You're on!"
Harry smiled smugly as the Gryffindor team jumped on Megan, "What are you crazy?"
"Yeah, play against them? We'll never win!"
"Oh, have a little faith would you?" Megan said, perturbed.
"Last time I checked, Megan, I was the captain," Ron said pointedly.
"What? So now you're going to back down?" Megan asked.
Ron glared at her before sighed, "Fine. Fine, we'll play the stupid game."
"Excellent!" Harry said enthusiastically.
"Oh, you're so dead," Sirius said, laughing as he shook his head.
"Well, I guess we better practice then, hadn't we?" Ron asked, mounting his broom and kicking off.
The team quickly followed him, but Harry held Nyo back, "Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?"
Nyo glanced at her teammates in the sky before nodding, "Sure."
Harry smiled and pulled her towards the bleachers, "You're a girl, right."
Nyo frowned, "I'd like to think so, yes."
"Er, sorry. Didn't mean it like that," Harry winced, "Anyway, you know that Hermione's birthday is coming up, right?"
Nyo nodded, "It's on the nineteenth, isn't it?"
"Right. Well, you see, I want to get her something special. but, frankly, I have no clue what to get her," Harry sweatdropped.
"Is that it?" Nyo asked, "It can't be that hard. You've known her for practically ever, right?"
"Seven years, yeah," Harry sweatdropped even more.
"Well, what does she like?"
"Books?" Harry said weakly.
"Harry, you're her b...you're her boy...you're her boyfriend. You have to know something that she likes…other than books," Nyo added the last part after a moment of thought.
Harry thought for a minute, "She likes to dance."
"Er…that's a start," Nyo said supportively.
Harry hunched his shoulders and head in defeat, this was taking way too much effort…not that Hermione wasn't worth it. He knew he'd go to any lengths to see her smile. A dreamy grin had begun to spread on his face, and he quickly wiped it off.
"Just try to think of something that'll mean something to her," Nyo continued, not noticing.
"Mean something, right. Okay, I can do that." Harry led off.
"Hey, Nyo! Get up here and look for the Snitch!" Ron shouted from the air.
Nyo winced, "I guess I better go."
"Yeah. Thanks," Harry said as Nyo flew off into the air.
"Sirius! Sirius!"
Harry turned to see Hermione running onto the field towards Sirius as fast as her feet would carry her. Curious, he hurried over to where the group was congregating.
"Sirius! Tali's in the hospital wing!" Hermione exclaimed.
"I know that, she didn't feel well," Sirius said, not worried in the slightest.
"No! No! She's going hysterical! She's sobbing like crazy and keeps talking about life and death. You need to come talk to her!" Hermione grabbed his hand and started to pull him, though she had to quickly release him, for he was running with double the quickness that she had been.
Soon enough, Harry reached the infirmary with Remus, Hermione, and Sirius to see Lavender trying desperately to comfort Tali who was, as Hermione had said, sobbing on a bed.
Sirius ran over to her as quickly as he could, "Tali? Tals? What's wrong? Are you okay? Do you not feel well?"
Tali looked up at his voice and pulled him into a death tight hug, "Sirius! Oh, Sirius!"
"Tali? What is it?" Sirius asked, growing more nervous with each passing second.
"Sirius…I'm so...so…fat!" Tali sobbed.
Sirius instantly lost his worry and got a look in his eyes, "Tali, is that what this is all about? How many times do I have to tell you—"
"We're gonna be parents!" Tali bawled, now known to everyone, in tears of joy.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Okies, another chapter done and much more to come! So super sorry it took so long to get out! I just got a job and it's actually taking up more of my time than school does! Crazy, I know. Anywho, I'll try my very best to get them out quicker! Sorry!
NEXT CHAPTER: You guessed it! Time for the Back-To-School Ball! Also, Nyo gets inducted into the Marauders. Harry talks to a couple of rather...unpleasant people. And! Harry finally starts to get an idea of what to get Hermione for her birthday.
CONTEST: Ah yes, I know, it's a bit late for this, but I can't remember if I already did this before or not. If so, I didn't get any entries. Anyway, as many of you know, this story is the sequel to Wanted: Love. Well, I'm poor, and if you decide to enter it'll be b/c you're so TOTALLY nice, but I'm holding a contest to find a "cover" for my story, Wanted: Love. If you want to enter, by all means, go ahead! The more the merrier! You can submit as many as you like! But if you do want to, please say so in your review or in an e-mail and give me your e-mail address so I can send you a list of the requirements. Thank you!