Hiei's Angel Sakura: Really? I was afraid it was a bit too obvious.glad I at least threw you off for a bit, though. Thanks for not yelling at me about taking so long. I hope this chapter gets out quicker.
Elessar: His reaction.I have no idea.:Grins evilly:
Athenakitty: Yeah, she's pregnant. I can't tell ya more than that, though. And I'm sorry 'bout those symbols, I'm trying to figure it out.
Ears91: Yes.then again, aren't all the Wood's a bit off the loop? Lol, thanks! I feared that I led up to it a bit too openly. And as for Sirius.lol, yeah, it'll be good.
Baby-bear: Yeah, they are a bit young, but who said that they're gonna get married right away? He just wants to propose to her.
Rachel A. Prongs:Sighs: Yeah, I know, I gave it away too much. As for Nyo, she's gonna be VERY important to the story. You don't think I would create her for no reason, do you? Lol, pretty soon you'll understand part of why she's acting strangely.
Charlie: Oops! Guess I better get my butt into gear and start writing the next chapter, shouldn't I? Wouldn't want to keep you waiting.Here I go!
Istalksiriusonweekends:Winces: I'm sorry. I know you told me how to spell it.I forgot, though.sorry! OMG:Looks around crazily: ARE YOU CRAZY? DON'T TELL ANYONE ABOUT THAT! THEY'LL SKIN ME ALIVE:Clutches heart and breathes heavily: Whatcha trying to do, kill me? Lol.
Bookcrazy77:Grins: Yay! Someone gets it from the last story! Yep, remember the rep the hotel has? Always gets 'em, everytime. Lol.
Fan: Oh, you have NO clue. Some might not consider it romantic, but it will be, trust me. It's something every girl dreams that their guy will do for them.
Hedowl5: Guess you got my e-mail.THANKS SO MUCH! Hope you got caught up on your stories!
Angelic Demon16: Lol, glad to be back in civilization? Yeah, I know, I'm gonna try to fix the marks.
Crater212: Thanks! Hope it was quick enough!
Lady Reaper of the Shadows: Lol, me either, it probably won't be until after 'Mione's b-day, though.
DISCLAIMER: There are two songs used in this chapter. Everybody Dance Now by C&C Music Factory, and I Can Love You Like That by All4one. I own neither of the two!
Wanted: A Happy Ending
Ch7: Dance into My Heart
"We're gonna be parents!" Tali bawled, now known to everyone, in tears of joy.
Silence echoed off the walls in the infirmary for seemingly an eternity. Hermione, Nyo, Remus, and Lavender all smiled brightly while Harry and Ron's eyes bulged out of their heads. Harry's glasses slid to the tip of his nose and he only just caught them from falling to the floor.
"W...we…we're gonna what?" Sirius asked dumbly.
"Oh, Sirius! Do you hate me now?" Tali wailed.
"B…baby? Me? I'm having a baby? Sirius Black, father? A kid? Me? Baby?" Sirius continued to ramble on, making no sense at all and Tali cried even louder.
"You're going to leave me for some skimpy bleached blonde!" Tali howled.
"Baby?" Sirius asked incredibly again, completely oblivious to everything else.
All of a sudden, it was as if something clicked inside his head. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open, and, ever so slowly, he turned his head towards his wife.
"I'M GONNA BE A DADDY!" he shouted so loudly that everyone had to cover their ears.
"And you hate me!" Tali cried.
Sirius dove in and hugged Tali who continued to cry like there was no tomorrow. Both continued to shout their emotions to the best of their ability, neither seeming to comprehend what the other was saying.
"Er…are they going to be alright?" Harry asked Madame Pomfrey without removing his eyes from the two.
The matron nodded, "Oh yes. Sirius is showing similar behavior to most who find out that they're going to be fathers. And as for Mrs. Black, I'll give her some medication to keep her emotions in line."
"At least we know that the Saga Resort has yet to turn up a disappointed couple," Remus joked as Tali let out a particularly loud whine.
"Well if James' son turned out to be Harry, then I dread to think what Sirius' is going to be like," Pomfrey shook her head.
Harry's mouth dropped open in indignation, though he fought to keep down a smile, "I think I am insulted. What's that supposed to mean?"
"Don't get me wrong, Mr. Potter, but you have gotten yourself into quite a bit of trouble in your time," Pomfrey said over the rim of her glasses.
"Now you're beginning to make me sound like an old geezer," Harry shook his head.
"Look at the bright side, Harry," Ron laughed, "With us around, this kid's bound to be taught the basics by the best of the best."
"Yeah," Hermione nodded, "He's bound to be top in his class...if it's even a boy that is."
"Of course it's going to be a boy, Hermione!" Sirius exclaimed, whipping around to face them, "What fun's a girl?"
Harry, Ron, and Remus all looked at each other and slowly started edging towards the exit as the girls in the room glared at Sirius.
"What's that supposed to mean, Sirius?" Lavender asked, slowly walking forward.
"He's gonna leave me if it doesn't have a winky!" Tali cried.
Ron turned around, shrouded in a dark cloak. His face was completely covered in the shadows and he almost melded away in the dark light.
"Are you sure you're ready?" he asked in a somewhat creepy voice.
Nyo looked around the dark surroundings with a raised eyebrow, "Er...Ron, why is it so dark in here?"
"Ah, scared of the dark, are you?" he asked with a smirk.
"No, I'm just asking," Nyo clarified.
Ron sweatdropped and hunched his shoulders, laughing nervously, "Right…well...as soon as everyone else gets here we can get started."
"We already are here, Ron," someone said into his ear from behind.
Ron jumped with a shout and the hood fell off his head as he came crashing down to the floor, "Bloody hell, Lavender. Don't sneak up on me like! You're going to give me a bloody heart attack!"
"We didn't sneak up on you. We were waiting here for you two when came in and turned out the lights," Harry said, giving him his hand and helping him to his feet, "What's up with that anyway?"
Ron shrugged, "I don't know."
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Good answer, Fang."
"Oh!" Ron jumped to his feet, suddenly remembering why they were there, "Right! You ready, Nyo?"
Nyo looked from face to face and nodded, "I suppose…what do I have to do?"
"Well," Harry cleared his throat and pulled out the book they had salvaged from Moaning Myrtle's bathroom the previous Christmas, "According to this, you have to find out what your Animagus form is first."
"Animagus? Are you kidding? That takes years to master!" Nyo exclaimed.
"Normally you'd be correct, but you forget that you're dealing with the Marauders here," Lavender smiled, "There's a short cut to everything with us."
"And what would that be here?" Nyo asked skeptically.
"Drink this," Hermione said, pushing a goblet into her hands.
"What's this?" she asked.
"Just drink it," Hermione urged.
Nyo sighed and downed the liquid in one gulp, "Okay, now what?"
"Close your eyes and you should be able to see your animal," Harry said and she closed her eyes, "Do you see it?"
She said nothing for a second before saying in a shaky voice, "Y—yeah."
"Okay, concentrate on it."
All of a sudden, Nyo's body lifted off the floor and started shrinking towards her stomach. The four Marauders stared incredibly at her as she shrunk smaller and smaller until it seemed almost inevitable that she would shrink into oblivion. What appeared to be crystal blue water surrounded the remains of Nyo and, though it was only a few seconds, it seemed like an eternity until they saw her.
"A fish?" Ron asked, "You can be a fish?"
Indeed, where Nyo had just been standing, floated a blue fish of no previous genre. Its scales were shiny and a few of them were even different colors. The blue water that had appeared during her transformation circle around her as she "swam" through the air.
"I didn't know that," Hermione said speechlessly.
"How can she breathe without water?" Lavender asked.
"Wow," was all Harry could muster to say.
The fish turned away from the staring eyes and, soon enough, the young black-haired girl was back, "Are you guys alright?"
"Yeah, we're fine, why?" Hermione asked.
"You're all staring at me," she pointed out.
"Oh, sorry," they all muttered, breaking their eye contact.
"That's amazing, though! I didn't know you could become a fish!" Lavender exclaimed, taking Nyo's hand and jumping up and down.
Nyo shrugged, "Always a first time for everything I suppose."
"Well congratulations! Welcome to the Marauders!" Ron smiled, clapping his hand on her shoulder.
"Thanks," Nyo said, rubbing her shoulder.
"Well, what now?" she asked after a moment of silence.
"You need a name, don't you?" Ron asked.
"I already have one," Nyo said.
"No, Fang means a code name," Harry explained.
"Code name?" Nyo asked blankly.
"Here," Harry said, smiling as he casually tossed his arm around her shoulder, not noticing the deep blush the rushed to her face, "Let me introduce you to the Marauders."
"Sirius is Padfoot and Remus is Moony. They're the last part of the original generation with my dad, Prongs. Ron is a red wolf so his name is Fang. 'Mione's a raven, so she's called Blackbeak. And Lavender's a clouded leopard, so she's Specs," Harry said, pointing to each in turn as they transformed to and from their Animagus form.
"What about you?" Nyo asked.
Harry grinning broadly, "I take after my dad. My name's Prongs Jr."
"So what are you?" she asked.
In response, Harry transformed into a pure white stag that seemed to be quite a bit taller and intimidating than last year. He transformed back to the applause of his friends.
"Bloody hell, Harry. I think that whole ordeal last year must have done something to you," Ron gaped.
"Yeah, you're at least two feet taller as a stag!" Lavender said with her hands over her mouth.
Harry shrugged, "No different than I was earlier this summer, am I, 'Mione?"
A faint blush crept unto her cheeks as she looked away, "No, you're the same alright."
A toothy grin spread out across Ron's face, "Oh, I get it. For shame, for shame. Were PJ and Blackbeak up to something in our absence?"
"I really don't think that's any of your business, Fang," Harry laughed.
Ron laughed and playfully punched Harry's shoulder, "Good show, mate."
"So do you know what you want your name to be?" Hermione asked Nyo, quickly changing the subject.
"Oh, Merlin, I don't know." Nyo led off into thought.
"Well, you're a fish. Tie it into that somehow," Lavender said, sitting on a desk.
Nyo sighed, "A fish…what has to do with a fish."
"Scales," Harry said at the exact same time as Ron said, "Gills," at the exact same time as Lavender said, "Fins," at the exact same time as Hermione said, "Water."
Nyo looked at the four, overwhelmed at the sudden suggestions, "Whoa, one at a time."
"What about Hina?" Harry asked, "That's Hawaiian for goddess of fish."
"And how, prey tell, would you know that, Mr. Potter?" Lavender asked with a raised eyebrow.
Harry shrugged and looked down, "The Dursleys went to Hawaii once over summer break and brought back a video tape."
Hermione, Ron, and Lavender cast nervous glances at each other, but before they could change the subject…
"Didn't you go with them?"
The three winced at Nyo's question and looked anxiously at Harry for his reaction, which was quite unexpected. He smiled sadly and shook his head, "No. Not like I expected them to, anyway."
"Why not? You lived with them, didn't you?" Nyo asked.
Hermione and Lavender had to keep both hands on Ron to keep him from tackling Nyo to prevent her from asking more questions.
Harry breathed a laugh, "Your parents really did keep you isolated over in Ireland, didn't they?"
Nyo nodded after a moment, "Yes, why?"
Harry shook his head, "Nothing, just forget about it. I shouldn't have brought it up."
Nyo looked at him for a moment before deciding to drop it, "...Hina. I like it."
"Yeah, me too!" the other three exclaimed, excited to change the subject.
Harry rolled his eyes and laughed, "You three really do try too hard sometimes… .Bloody hell, Ron. What happened to you?""
Ron brought his hand up to the side of his face where a nasty bruise had begun to form and grinned dumbly, but before he could answer, Lavender shoved him backwards.
"He fell down the stairs today on the way back Divination," she said, sending him a murderous look, "I told him not to fall asleep, but did he listen to me? No. He goes right ahead and gets himself hypnotized into sleep. Then, at the end of class, he's all drowsy and trips on the bottom of his robes."
"Hypnotized?" Harry and Hermione chorused.
Lavender and Nyo looked at each other and broke out into bad giggles as Ron blushed furiously, "It wasn't that funny."
"Yes it was!" Lavender laughed.
"What'd he do?" Hermione asked anxiously.
"I'll show you," Nyo said, bringing her hand up to her mouth when Ron grabbed her hand away.
"Nyo, please! Not again!" he begged.
"Why not, you're the one who was too stubborn to go tell Trelawney that you were dozing off in her class and accidentally got hypnotized. She would have fixed you," Nyo smiled wickedly.
"Not before that bat made me do something embarrassing in front of everybody!" Ron protested.
"What? Like this?" Lavender asked, whistling.
It was obvious that Ron was fighting against it with every shred of strength that he had, but he, apparently, wasn't strong enough. He dropped to his hands and knees before crawling around, oinking like a pig. Harry and Hermione snorted, jumping out of the way of Ron who was snorting around as if looking for something to eat.
"How long has he been like this?" Hermione asked, completely amused with the situation.
"Only since this afternoon," Nyo smiled, pushing Ron, who was sniffing rather far up her leg, away from her, "I told him I'll give him up until the Quidditch game to get help from somebody before I get Trelawney to fix him."
"Is there anyway to get him back to normal?" Harry questioned.
"Oh yeah, but we only know the temporary cure," Lavender nodded.
"And.?" Harry asked.
"You have to." Lavender broke off into a small fit of giggles before composing herself, "You have to rub his belly."
"We have to what?" Harry and Hermione asked in laughter.
"Yes, and if you can catch him, I'll do it for you," Lavender nodded.
"Catch him?" Hermione asked.
"He's a pig, Hermione. He acts like one," Nyo said pointedly, "He's not going to just let you rub his stomach."
Harry and Hermione looked at each other, "Are you serious? We really have to hogtie him?"
"Well, not hogtie him. .Just catch him and hold him still is all," Lavender said.
Hermione looked at Harry again and he shrugged, "Let's have at it then."
With that, he dove at Ron only to find that, along with the pig instincts, Ron had apparently gained the agility of the pig as well. Ron squealed in a manner that he most certainly would not have been able to pull off in his right state of mind, and skidded out of the way.
Harry landed roughly on his stomach. He sat up quickly as the three girls laughed at him, "Don't just stand there. Help me catch him."
They gave one last laugh before nodding and chasing after Ron. The noise and commotion that followed was, by far, some of the loudest that had ever graced Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Papers and quills flew in every which way in the air as desks and chairs fell to the floor, along with those who knocked into them, with loud crashes.
"Quick! Someone close the door!" Harry shouted as he struggled to untangle himself from the mass of chairs that were on him.
A particularly loud squeal, and Harry turned just in time to see the three girls accidentally run into each other, bumping foreheads rather roughly, before falling to the floor. In the meantime, pig-Ron skidded out from the center of the three and out the open door, racing right past a very confused Filch.
"What has been going on here?" he demanded to know.
"Hurry! We have to catch him quick!" Lavender exclaimed, ignoring the caretaker's question.
The four quickly stumbled out of the completely destroyed classroom and after the noisy squeals that echoed off the hall walls.
At the time, most students and faculty members were at dinner, but those who were still out and about, stared, very amused and just a bit confused, at the "pig" and its pursuers who were desperately trying to recruit people to help them catch Ron. No one seemed to be in much of a helpful mood, though, and after ten minutes of running, it was still just the three.
"Look! There he goes!" Hermione pointed just in time for Harry and Nyo to see Ron's shoes disappear behind a corner.
They picked up their pace just in time to hear him collide with something that made an angry "oomph." The three looked at each other and slowed to a walk as shouts reached their ears, "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING, KID?"
"IS THIS SOME KIND OF FREAK GAME THAT DAMN HEADMASTER IS TEACHING YOU?"
Harry looked to the others in indignation and they seemed to be feeling the same way.
"I don't know who you are, but you have no right talking about Harry like that!" Hermione said angrily, stalking around the corner.
"And just who do you think you are?" a snooty looking woman asked.
"Mum? Dad? What are you doing here?" Nyo asked, instinctively shrinking back slightly as she turned the corner with Harry and Lavender.
"Oh good, you caught him!" Lavender exclaimed, walking over to Ron who was struggling to escape from Quincy's arms.
"Look at the trouble you've caused, Ron," she said, looking at him sternly before rubbing his stomach.
Instantly, Ron's arms and legs shot out from under him and he looked around, before turning deep crimson, "Thanks for that."
He quickly jumped out of Quincy's arms and looked around, "What are we doing here? What happened to the classroom?"
"You trashed it before running loose all over the castle. For a pig, you sure were jumpy," Hermione said, rolling her eyes.
"Er…sorry 'bout that...it explains why my knees feel like shit, though," Ron said, rubbing his knee caps.
"What are you dong here?" Nyo asked her parents again, and everyone suddenly seemed to remember that they were there.
"You know why we're here, Nyoka. Come, we're leaving," Quincy said, grabbing her arm and roughly pulling her down the hall.
"Hey! Wait a minute! Who the hell are you, and what do you think you're doing?" Ron asked angrily.
"We are Nyoka's parents, and we're taking her back home if that's alright with you," Nyo's mother, Belle, sneered.
Ron glared at her and stepped forward, but Harry put a hand up before turning to the adults, "As a matter of fact, it's not alright. Nyo's my student, and, more importantly, my friend. She's not going anywhere if she doesn't want to."
"How dare you! I am her mother, and if I say she's coming with me, you have no right to stop it!" Belle shouted, enraged.
Harry looked at her, calculating, before nodding, "Let's go to my office and talk about it there, then."
"I'm not going anywhere the 'Boy-Who-Lived' calls home," Quincy growled.
"You're here, aren't you?" Harry asked with a raised eyebrow, "Hogwarts is my home."
The two glowered at him, but Harry pretended not to notice, "Let's get going then, we're not far."
Begrudgingly, Belle, her grip on Nyo's arm still death tight, and Quincy nodded, and Harry turned to Hermione, Ron, and Lavender, "Go take Ron to Madame Pomfrey. She should be able to get rid of that whole hypnosis thing."
"But—" they started.
"No," Harry said firmly, leaning into them, "Trust me, I've met these two before. They're a nasty sort, I'll handle this."
"But—" they started again.
Harry shook his head, and they sighed irritably before nodding and heading towards the infirmary. Once they were gone, Harry mocked a bow and he and the Rills made their way to Harry's office in complete silence. It wasn't until they were all seated comfortably in the plush red and gold chairs in the Headmaster's office that anyone spoke.
"She's coming with us, and we're taking her back to Ireland to finish her schooling in a competent school," Quincy said with utmost distaste.
"I assure you that Hogwarts is just as 'competent' as any other school you might find on this planet," Harry said, leaning back in his chair.
"Any school run by a pompous airhead who thinks he's all high and mighty just because he defeated Voldemort is no school I will have my daughter attend!" Quincy shouted.
"Father!" Nyo exclaimed in horror.
"Shut your mouth, Nyoka! Don't speak unless you're spoken to!" Belle snapped.
Nyo looked down and leaned back in her chair as her father continued, "I don't know what England was thinking, putting you in charge. You're not even a full fledged wizard yet! Certainly not qualified enough to run a school!"
Harry raised his eyebrow, "Are you through?"
Quincy and Belle exchanged quick glances at each other, as if to assure each other of Harry's response. Harry, on the other hand, laughed on the inside. If they expected to get some sort of big response out of him, it was going to take a lot more than a few meaningless insults. He had been raised on those and had learned long ago how to shut them out.
"What are you playing at?" Belle asked quietly.
"I'm not playing at anything, Mrs. Rill. I simply wished to know if your husband was through with his incessant ranting and raving," Harry said, suppressing a small smile at the looks on their faces.
"I should have known to expect such arrogance out of you, Potter. After all, you are James' son," Quincy sneered.
Harry was taken off guard and felt himself slip a little, "You knew my parents, then?"
"Knew?" Belle shrieked, "Knew? Why with all the time—"
"Belle, hold your tongue!" Quincy said, casting her a meaningful look that only the two seemed to understand.
Both settled back into their chairs and looked back at Harry, "I don't know why we are even bothering. Nyoka is my child, and she will do as I say."
"If you don't mind me saying," Harry said, knowing perfectly well that they did mind, "Nyo is hardly a child. In a few months she'll be a fully registered witch, completely capable of making her own decisions."
"Unlike you," Belle said, not bothering to keep her voice low.
Harry looked at her over the rim of his glasses, and chose to ignore the comment, "Nyo, do you want to leave?"
Nyo looked mortified at the question, and tried her best to not look at her parents who were glaring daggers at her, "...No."
It was said so quietly, that it was barely understandable, but they all knew what she had said. Harry beamed at her, "There you go then. I'd say she's old enough to make her own decisions and she said she doesn't want to leave."
"Yes, unfortunately, your opinion isn't one that matters," Quincy scowled, grabbing Nyo right under the armpit and pulling her roughly to her feet and towards the exit, "Come, Nyoka, we're leaving."
"Ow! Father, you're hurting me!" Nyo pouted as she was dragged across the ground.
"Shut your mouth, you filthy little bitch!" Quincy said with hatred so pure, it made her shiver.
They were right at the door when, in a pop, Harry was blocking the exit. He was glaring at them so menacingly that it actually would have made Voldemort cower, but Quincy and Belle stood their ground, "Out of the way!"
"I think you should let her go, and we should finish this discuss—" Harry cut off in mid-sentence, as he easily ducked to the side to avoid a fist that Quincy had thrown at him with his spare hand.
If Harry had been angry before, the attempt at causing him physical harm sent him over the edge. With the twinkle in his eye gone without a trace, his deep emerald pools shone in rage through and through. Without even raising a hand, simply by his eyes widening powerfully, Quincy and Belle were sent sailing across the room and into the stone wall.
They stood up quickly and glowered at Harry who was helping Nyo to her feet, "This isn't over, Potter!"
"If I were you, I'd get out while you still can," Harry said in a low voice.
They sneered at him before turning to Nyo, "Nyoka! We WILL win! If I were you I'd think twice before joining sides with scum like the Potter boy and his sorry excuse for friends!"
Harry was more than prepared to send them flying back into the wall again when, quite to his surprise, they vanished. He glared venomously at the spot they had been standing a moment longer before turning to Nyo who was shivering slightly and crying softly to herself.
Forcing himself to cool down, he knelt next to the chair she was sitting in and put a hand on her shoulder, "Are you okay?"
Catching him off guard, she threw herself in his arms and sobbed on his shoulder. Harry, knowing all too well the types of feelings she was most likely going through, gently rubbed her back and rocked her back and forth. His entire shoulder was soaking wet, by the time she managed to compose herself, and pulled back.
"I'm sorry," she whispered almost inaudibly.
"For what?" Harry asked, perplexed.
Nyo looked away, "My parents."
Harry shook his head, "Don't worry about it. No one was hurt…well...no good guys anyway."
Nyo laughed and shook her head, wiping her eyes with her robe sleeve, "I don't know what I'm going to do when I go back this summer."
"You don't have to, remember, you're going to be a full fledged witch. You don't ever have to go back there again," Harry said with a smile.
"But they'll come back to get me," Nyo shook her head.
"And I'll stop them again," Harry grinned.
In spite of herself, Nyo laughed, "No, you don't know them. They'll never stop, not until they have me back in Ireland."
"Hey," Harry said seriously, "You're not going anywhere you don't want to. You're a Marauder now, and Marauders stick together till the end. Ron, 'Mione, Lavender, Sirius, Remus, and I will keep the sharks at bay. Tali, too. She's not a Marauder, but she has this thing about her students missing her classes."
Nyo laughed again and hugged him, "Thanks, Harry."
"No problem," Harry smiled, standing up, "That's what friends are for, right?"
She smiled, somewhat sadly at first but then brightly, "Yeah, friends. Come on; let's go see if Ron'll still turn into a pig."
Harry laughed, "Yeah, just make sure the door is closed this time."
"Would you two relax already?" Remus, dressed in a light green dress robe, begged, collapsing in a chair in Great Hall.
The day of the Back-To-School-Ball had finally arrived, and Harry, Ron, and Sirius were all waiting for their dates to arrive. The Great Hall was decorated magnificently. Deep shades of almost every color imaginable coated the walls and tables. The ceiling sky was perfectly clear, and the stars shining down were the only light in the room, and the only light needed at that. Any and all food that was good to eat could be found on the concession table that stretched along the whole of one wall.
"But, Moony! This is a BIG night! Things like this don't happen everyday!" Sirius, dressed in dark red dress robes, exclaimed.
He had been nothing short of a nervous wreck ever since he found out he was going to be a father. Pomfrey had been giving him calming potions every morning, but that night he had another reason to be nervous.
"You should talk!" Harry, who was also wearing a dark red dress robe, said as he allowed his head to hit the table they were seated at, "I've never been in such a lose-lose situation before!"
"What 'lose-lose situation?'" Ron, wearing deep blue, asked with a laugh, "This is a win-win, mate. If she says yes, you're engaged, and if she says no, at least she knows you care enough about her to want to be with her for the rest of her life. And face it, Harry, she's going to say yes. It's not every guy who arranges a school dance just so he can propo—"
Harry jumped up and clamped his hand over Ron's mouth, "Are you crazy? Keep it down, Ron! I don't want the whole world knowing."
"Sorry to break it to you, kid, but everyone here already knows you and Hermione are going to get hitched one of these days," Remus laughed.
Sirius looked at Harry, "Oh! It seems like only yesterday I was changing your diapers!"
Ron burst out laughing as Harry turned bright red and Remus rolled his eyes and muttering something about 'not recalling ever seeing Padfoot holding a dirty diaper.'
"Hey guys! Sorry we're late!"
The men turned to see Lavender, Nyo, and Neville, the date Lavender had set Nyo up with, hurry over to him. When they reached the table, Lavender smiled broadly and hugged Ron, "Hey, Ron!"
"You guys look nice," Nyo commented.
"You three do too," Harry smiled back.
Neville was wearing a black dress robe while his date, Nyo, was wearing a forest green, off the shoulder dress that stopped just before it touched the floor. She had on a golden necklace, and her hair was free to run down her back.
Lavender, on the other hand, graced her body with deep purple dress that clung to her figure nicely. Hers did have straps, though they were only pencil thin at that, and they crisscrossed in the back. Her hair was up in a ponytail with fringes left down to frame her face.
"Where's Hermione?" Harry asked, causing Sirius, Remus, and Ron to snicker.
"She's running a bit late. She had a stain on her dress that she had to get out," Lavender informed them.
"Oh," Harry sighed, hitting his head to the table again.
"Sirius! Sirius Black! You'll never believe it!" Tali exclaimed, running up to the group in a long teal dress.
"Careful, Tals. You're pregnant now, you can't go running around like that," Sirius said, smiling warmly at her as she came to a stop in front of him.
"Oh, quiet!" she said, playfully slapping his shoulder, "I have a while to go before I have to spend all my time sitting down."
"Not if Padfoot has anything to do about it," Remus said under his breath.
"Right, right," Sirius said, not having heard Remus, "What won't I believe, Tali?"
She grinned broadly, "I just came from the infirmary. Madame Pomfrey says we—oh, Sirius! We're going to have twins!"
The look on Sirius' face was priceless. It was almost as memorable as when he first found out he was going to be a father. Harry lifted his head off the table and laughed quietly to himself as Sirius fell into an empty chair.
"Twins?" he said incredibly, "Twins?"
"Yes! Isn't it wonderful?" Tali asked, spreading her arms wide.
Sirius shook his head in disbelief and breathed a laugh, "Twins."
He turned to Tali and broke out into a huge smile before sweeping her off her feet and spinning her around in a circle, "Tals, we're having twins!"
"I know! Oh, Sirius!" Tali exclaimed as she was set back on her feet and pulled him into a hug, "I love you!"
"I love you, too, Tali," Sirius kissed the top of her head.
"Holy shit," Ron said breathlessly, staring at the entrance.
Everyone in their little group turned and froze. Harry was certain his heart had stopped as his jaw quickly raced to greet the floor. He blinked several times to make sure that he wasn't dreaming. Sure enough, he wasn't. Hermione had arrived.
He tried to tell his legs to start walking towards the beauty in the doorway, but they didn't seem to get the message. He gulped dryly and continued to stare at the girl who was making him feel as if all around him had vanished.
She was dressed in a light peachy-pink no sleeve dress that clung to her figure all the way to her hips where it flared out all the way to the floor where it just barely brushed the stone surface. Her hair was up on top of her head, held there by a silver tiara with peachy-pink gems set in it. Several curly sprigs of hair were let out purposefully to line her face.
Earrings, of the same peachy-pink gems decorating her crown, sparkled from behind the sprigs of hair. And, even from the distance that separated them, Harry instantly recognized the necklace that she had chosen to decorate her neck with the locket he had given her last Christmas.
As the distance between them closed, he could see her face more clearly. Once again, the light job on makeup made her already beautiful features ten times lovelier. The lightest touch of mascara and white eye glitter made her chocolate brown eyes jump out even more than usual. And the lip gloss that covered her naturally pink lips made Harry want nothing more than to pull her into his arms and kiss her. Hell, he was ready to drop down on one knee and ask her to marry him on the spot.
"Hello, Harry," Hermione smiled as she came to a stop in front of him.
Harry blinked again; he hadn't even noticed her coming up to him. He gulped once again and blushed for some reason he couldn't ascertain. She giggled momentarily before he bent down and kissed her hand, causing her to blush as well.
"You look ravishing, 'Mione," he smiled softly, standing up, though he kept her hand in his.
"I must say," Hermione said, fighting the giant grin on her face, "You do look rather debonair tonight as well."
Behind them, Lavender was practically pulling Ron's arm off in anticipation, not that he noticed. He, too, was enthralled in the couple. Everyone near them seemed to be sensing the tension in the air. Sirius' hands were clamped over his face so tight, that his face was beginning to loose color, while Nyo lowered her head and partially hid herself behind Neville.
"Hermione." Harry said, his voice trembling in nerves.
"Harry," Hermione said at the same time.
The two blushed and looked away. Hermione cast a look to the dance floor, "Why isn't anyone dancing?"
Harry shook his head and his nerves were temporarily reprieved as everyone around them let out a frustrated groan.
"No one likes to be the first person on the dance floor, 'Mione. You should know that," Harry said pointedly.
Hermione pursed her lips and nodded her head, "Alright then. Come on, Harry. Let's have a go at it."
The color in Harry's face drained and he croaked, "What?"
Ron snickered at Harry's slightly high-pitched question. He knew, perhaps better than anyone, how much Harry detested dancing. Throw in being the first at the party to do so, and it was worse than hell for him.
Harry cast him a short glare before turning back to Hermione, "Can't someone else go first?"
"If everyone thinks that way then no one will ever start," Hermione rolled her eyes as music started to play.
"Everybody dance now...
Everybody dance now...
Give me the music
Give me the music
Everybody dance now...
Everybody dance now..."
"Oh! Harry, this is the perfect song! Come on!" Hermione exclaimed as she dragged the very reluctant Harry onto the dance floor.
Harry blushed a thousand shades of red as all eyes in the Great Hall turned onto him and Hermione.
"Hermione.I can't dance," he said slowly through clenched teeth.
"Sure you can, Harry!" Hermione said confidently as she started to dance, "Just do what I do."
"Yeah ... Yeah ... Yeah
Everybody dance now
Yeah ... Yeah ... Yeah
Everybody"
Harry weakly tried to copy her movements in very subtle motions. He was beginning to have second thoughts about even having the party, though he knew all too well that it was too late to call it off now.
From the crowd, Harry could clearly hear the snickers bouncing off the walls in the room. And though, true, that the music nearly made it impossible to hear it, Harry was all the more humiliated for it. He groaned inwardly, but forced himself to remember that it was for Hermione. Who, by the way, wasn't half bad at dancing.
"Harry, come on! I know you can dance better than that," she exclaimed, taking his hands and dancing with him.
"Here is the dome, back with the bass
The jam is live in effect and I don't waste time
On the mike with a dope rhyme
Jump to the rhythm jump, jump to the rhythm jump"
Hermione laughed merrily as she twirled around on the dance floor with complete and total elegance. If there was one thing Harry was sure of, it was that Hermione was one hell of a dancer. Of course, he had known that ever since fourth year when she and Krum had danced together at the Yule Ball.
He looked out across the faces in the crowd, and was relieved to note that most of his friends from Gryffindor weren't laughing. That alone gave him a bit more confidence, though he knew he must have been giving everyone else a good reason to do so.
"And I'm here to combine
Beats and lyrics to make your shake your pants
Take a chance, come on and dance
Guys, grab a girl, don't wait, make her twirl"
Back in the crowd, Harry and Hermione's friends continued to watch the couple painfully.
Ron leaned over to Nyo, "You know earlier when I said Harry can do anything? Nyo nodded Er. . .Harry tripped and nearly fell on his face Better make that anything except dance."
"I think this is actually worse than the Yule Ball," Lavender said, wincing as Harry stumbled again.
"He can do it," Sirius said with confidence, "James and Lily were both great dancers.some of it must be in there."
"...Somewhere," he added after a moment.
"It's your world and I'm just a squirrel
Trying to get a nut to move your butt
To the dance floor, so yo butt's up
Hands in the air
Come on say yeah"
It amazed Harry to no extent how Hermione could dance so well in a dress that looked like it would make her trip even more than him. He quickly sweatdropped when he realized that, compared to him, practically anybody would look good when it came to dancing.
'Out of all the things I can do, why can't dancing be one of them?' he asked himself as Hermione returned over to him.
"Harry?" she asked with a frown, "Are you not having fun? We can go if you want."
It took every ounce of self-control he had not to take her offer and run away from all the prying eyes of his students and staff, "No, no, I'm fine, Hermione. Just a bit rusty."
Hermione smiled broadly, "Is that all? Come on, I'll help you."
"Everybody over here everybody over there
The crowd is live and I pursue this groove
Party people in the house
Move ... (Let your mind)
Groove ... (Put me online)"
"No, no. It's okay. You go on. I'll get it eventually," Harry said, waving her off with his hand.
"Oh no you don't, Harry Potter," Hermione said, smiling broadly, "Come on, I'm helping you whether you want me to or not."
"But-" Harry started before he found himself yanked forward.
"Now, just do like I do," Hermione instructed before doing a simple movement with her feet.
Harry, humiliated beyond belief at this point, tried to mimic her, only to trip forward into her, sending them both to the floor.
"Come on let's sweat, baby
Let the music take control
Let the rhythm move you"
Even the Gryffindors who had, up to that point, refrained from laughter, chuckled at the two. Harry started panicking again and stumbled to help Hermione to her feet.
Quite surprisingly, she had managed to make the fall without so much as roughing a single strand of hair out of place. It was at this, Harry was most positive, that she had placed a spell on it to keep it in place all night. He smiled slightly at her cleverness. She always had known how to plan ahead.
"You okay, Hermione? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I—" Harry started but Hermione only giggled and shook her head.
"It's okay, Harry. No harm done. Let's try again," she said, performing another simple step.
Giving a huge sigh, Harry, once again, attempted to mimic her. And, once again, the two were knocked to the ground.
"Sweat, sweat
Let the music take control
Let the rhythm move you"
"He's dying out there," Lavender groaned as Harry helped Hermione up again.
"Well what exactly do you propose we do?" Ron asked in a perturbed tone.
Lavender looked around the crowd, most of whom were laughing, "Well we can't very well let him go on making an idiot out of himself, can we?"
They all looked around at each other for ideas, and if anyone had any, they certainly didn't make it known. Until…
"I think we all know what we have to do," Tali said with forthcoming dread.
Everyone looked at each other and reluctantly nodded before simultaneously running out to the center of the dance floor.
"Everybody dance now …"
"Hey, guys! Sorry we're late!" Neville smiled nervously as he looked around.
Harry and Hermione turned and smile, in Harry's case most thankfully, at the sight of their friends.
"Well it's about time, isn't it?" Hermione smiled.
"Why don't you say we give them something to laugh about?" Sirius asked with a smirk.
Everyone grinned, but before any could so much as move.
"Wait for us!"
Turning, they saw Ginny, Colin, Seamus, Parvati, Dean, and Padma running over to them.
"Right, let's get started then!" Hermione smiled.
"Da da da da da da da da
Da da da da, da da da
Da da da da, da da da
La da da da, la da da da
Dum da dum da dum
Everbody dance now"
It was made quite clear from early on that Hermione was really the only person with any talent on the dance floor. Sirius, Remus, and Tali weren't that bad, but they did, rather often, bump into each other.
No matter that, though, Harry was quite relieved to have a larger group of people on the dance floor. In his opinion, it made him less of a spectacle when there were thirteen other people for the rest of the school to stare at. He even felt comfortable enough to give more effort.
...He still wasn't that good, but he wasn't any worse than anyone else.
"Pause, take a breath and go for yours
On my command now hit the dance floor
Gonna make you sweat till ya bleed
Is that dope enough, indeed"
"Ready and...spin!" Hermione called out the moves.
They tried to spin around as Hermione had done, but only ended up ramming into each other and landing in a heap on the ground.
Hermione groaned and shook her head. She hurried over to them and helped them all to their feet, "You're all trying to hard. Just relax."
"Hermione," Nyo moaned at the bottom of the pile, "There are, like, hundreds of people out there."
"So? This may not be as true for you as everyone else, but they've all seen us do stupider stuff before. What's so bad about dancing? Who cares if they laugh? Just have a good time!" Hermione said brightly.
"Easy for you to say," Colin groaned as he rubbed his back, "You actually have talent."
"I paid the price, I control the dice
I'm more precise, to the point I'm nice
The music takes control, your heart your soul
Unfold, your body is free and a whole"
"'Talent' has nothing to do with it," Hermione said, crossing her arms, "I'm just concentrating on having a good time, and so should you all."
Harry looked at his friends and sighed heavily, "Okay, Hermione, I'm in. Let's have some fun."
"Great!" Hermione smiled broadly.
Ron stepped forward, "Yeah! Let's have some fun!"
"Yeah!" was the general consensus from the rest of the group.
"Dance till you can't, dance
Till you can't dance no more
Get on the floor and get raw
Then come back and upside down
Easy now, let me see ya
Move ... (Let your mind)
Move ... (Put me online)
Cause music is my life ..."
"Now, everyone, just listen to the music and let your body do the rest," Hermione instructed.
They all nodded and listened to the music, and, slowly, they all started tapping their feet and nodding their heads a bit. Then, simultaneously, and without any command, they all jumped in line and started dancing, leaving the rest of the crowd in complete shock at the turn in talent.
"Everybody dance now ...
Everybody dance now...
Everybody dance now...
Everybody..."
The music changed slightly, and they all broke apart from the line.
It was as if they had rehearsed their steps hundreds of times before. Everyone was in sync with what they were doing. Harry and Hermione danced incredibly around each other with such grace and flawlessness it left all dumbfounded as the rest of the couples shimmied forward, back to chest, leaning farther and farther back with each step/jump forward.
"Come on let's sweat, baby
Let the music take control
Let the rhythm move you"
The rest of the school stared at them in complete and utter silence. All the laughter had long since left the room as every jaw hit the floor, not that any of those dancing noticed. It was now them who were laughing, and having a great time in the process at that.
"Sweat, sweat
Let the music take control
Let the rhythm move you"
As the music died down, the entire Hall burst out into a thunderstorm of cheers and applause. Those on the dance floor looked around with a dignified air about them as they smiled happily.
"Merlin, that was AWESOME!" Seamus exclaimed.
"Forget that, we were bloody brilliant!" Ron laughed.
"I knew there was talent in there somewhere!" Sirius said, playfully punching Harry's shoulder.
"Thanks to Hermione, there is," Harry smiled at her, causing her to blush.
"I just helped your dancing self out," she said shyly.
"You helped all our 'dancing selves' out," Remus said pointedly, "But all that dancing has made me thirsty, I think I'll go get a drink."
Everyone else smiled wickedly and made similar excuses until Harry and Hermione were alone again. Harry opened his mouth to speak when music started up again, this time a slower beat.
He smiled softly and bowed, "Would you like to dance?"
Hermione smiled back and nodded. Harry pulled her close and put one hand on her hip before taking her other in his. Hermione put her spare hand on his shoulder as they slowly started to dance.
"They read you Cinderella
You hoped it would come true
That one day your prince charming
Would come rescue you"
"You were really something out there," Harry said quietly, "I didn't know you could dance like that."
Hermione smiled wistfully, "My mother always used to tell me that music and dancing were God's gift to the romantic inside all of us."
Harry looked down, remembering all too well the previous year when her mother had been killed as a hostage by Wormtail, ".Do you think it's true?"
"Of course," Hermione said earnestly, "When I was little, I always used to watch those Muggle musicals when they'd fall in love over a song. .I used think that's how lovers met."
"Like Romeo and Juliet?" Harry asked.
Hermione giggled, "Yes. That used to be my favorite. I haven't seen it in ages, though."
"Why not?"
"Why should I bother? You make life so much more interesting than any play could ever be," Hermione said, hoping to get a blush.
Harry didn't disappoint. A light red came over his features, "I hope that's a good thing?"
"Oh yes," Hermione nodded, "…Besides, I've memorized the entire play anyway."
"You like romantic movies
And you never will forget
The way it felt when Romeo kissed Juliet"
The two continued to spin around slowly, unconsciously drawing closer to each other with each passing minute.
"I can hardly believe that this is my last year in Hogwarts," Hermione said, looking around desolately.
"I know what you mean, I didn't even get seven," Harry joked.
Hermione laughed and looked up into his deep emerald eyes, "Yes, but you're staying here until the end of forever."
"What makes you say that?" Harry asked with a smile.
She raised and eyebrow, "I'd like to see you try to step down. No one would hear of it."
Harry mocked a sigh of frustration, "I know. I'm just too popular sometimes."
Hermione laughed again as Harry spun her out so that they were standing in a line, their hands the only thing keeping them together.
"And all this time that you've been waiting
You don't have to wait no more"
Harry spun her back into his arms, and they momentarily stopped all movement, caught up in each other's eyes.
'Now, now!' Harry's mind screamed at him, but he couldn't seem to get the message anywhere else.
He shook it out of his head and, slowly, they started dancing again. Harry's throat had gone dry in nervousness, and he prayed to heaven that his hands didn't start sweating.
"You might want to be careful, Harry," Hermione said, breaking the comfortable silence, "You were beginning to sound like Lockhart back there for a minute."
Harry laughed, thankful for the temporary distraction, "Glad to hear it. That's what I was aiming for."
"I can love you like that
I would make you my world
Move heaven and earth if you were my girl
I will give you my heart
Be all that you need
Show you you're everything
That's precious to me"
"NO!" Lavender exclaimed on the other side of the room, "He was getting ready to ask her! I know it!"
"The night is young, Lavender, calm down. Harry has plenty of time," Remus said, resettling in his chair.
The girls at the table huffed and rested their heads on their hands, causing the men to roll their eyes.
"I still say he should have just hit her with a pie and ask her. That's the easy way to do it," Sirius said.
"Easy way to start a fight that is," Ron rolled his eyes, "I still don't understand how that worked."
"Neither do I." Tali led off with a smile.
"It's just because I'm so loveable," Sirius said, kissing her cheek, "Come on, let's dance."
Tali grinned and took the hand Sirius offered her.
"If you give me a chance
I can love you like that
I'd love you like that
I could love you like that"
"—It would have to be horrible, though," Hermione shivered.
"I can't imagine," Harry shook his head, "You said this woman grew how many heads?"
"Three! And then her husband and friends up and left her, calling her a 'Medusa wannabe,'" Hermione shook her head, "Can you imagine? I don't blame her for killing herself."
"And this is all in Hogwarts: A History?" Harry asked incredibly.
Hermione nodded, "I told you and Ron it was interesting."
"Yeah, tell Ron that and he might actually read it," Harry laughed.
Hermione laughed, "That's terrible! He'd probably laugh about the whole thing. Can you imagine what he'd do if it happened to me? I'd never hear the end of it."
"Ron wouldn't do that, Herms. You should know that by now," Harry said firmly.
She giggled, "I know. What about you, Mr. Potter? Would you up and leave me something like that happened to me?"
"'Mione, you could grow a hundred heads, and I'd still love you forever," Harry said, staring into her eyes intensely.
Hermione's smile slowly fell as she lost herself in his eyes, "Really?"
"Really," Harry said, not removing his eyes.
Hermione smiled broadly and hugged him tightly, "I love you, Harry."
"I never make a promise
I don't intend to keep
So when I say forever
Forever's what I mean"
Harry's head was positively flipping out at this point, 'NOW! ASK HER NOW!'
"Hermione?" Harry asked nervously.
"Yes, Harry?" Hermione asked, pulling back from the hug.
"Will...will you." Harry kicked himself on the inside, "I love you, too."
Hermione looked at him a bit awkwardly but smiled, "I always hoped so."
The couple slowly started dancing again. The stars above head seemed to be shining brighter as they moved with more and more passion in each step.
"'Mione, you know I'd never keep anything from you, right?" Harry asked.
"Of course, Harry," Hermione nodded.
"Well...there's something I've been wanting to get off my chest for ages now." Harry led off.
"What is it?"
"Well, I'm no Casanova
But I swear this much is true
I'll be holding nothing back
When it comes to you
You dream of love that's everlasting
Well, baby, open up your eyes"
The music reached a climax and they moved around the floor with such grace, that it left those near them silenced. Without the notice of the two, the floor slowly cleared until it was just Harry and Hermione on the floor.
"It's coming, I know it is!" Tali exclaimed, practically pulling Sirius' arm off, which was quite similar to what Lavender was doing to Ron.
"Come on, Harry! You can do it!" Lavender cheered quietly through clenched teeth.
The couple swooped past where they were standing without even noticing them, and they could all see the anxiety clearly written all over Harry's face. Nyo bowed her head sadly and shrank to the back of the crowd undetected as everyone else continued to watch the couple dreamily.
"I can love you like that
I would make you my world
Move heaven and earth if you were my girl
I will give you my heart
Be all that you need
Show you you're everything
That's precious to me"
"Harry? Are you okay?" Hermione asked after a long period of silence.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Harry said, snapping out of his reverie, "Why?"
"You were going to tell me something and you just zoned out," Hermione explained.
"Oh…" Harry led off.
In truth, he had lost the guts, and become lost in thought of possible ways to back out of something he was too nervous to do. Unfortunately for him, he had yet to come up with anything.
"Well, Hermione, the truth is—" he started.
"If you give me a chance
I can love you like that
I love you like that"
Harry took a deep breath, "Hermione, the truth is that I love you more than I know how to describe. I've loved you for the longest time, and I can still hardly believe that you're mine. I know as well as you do that you could have any guy you wanted. I'd do anything, and I mean anything, for you. I know everything about you. Everything. From your favorite color to your hopes and dreams—"
Hermione listened to him contentedly, her own feelings beginning to overwhelm her. Silent tears started gathering in her eyes as Harry continued talking.
"There's not a thing in this world that I wouldn't do to make you smile, and I'll always be there for you. If ever just want someone there to listen, all you have to do is call my name," the whole time he spoke, he never removed his eyes from hers, "I'll always understand you, 'Mione. And I love you…now and forever."
"If you want tenderness, I've got tenderness
And I see through to the heart of you
If you want a man, who will understand
You don't have to look very far
I can love you, I can love you, love you"
Hermione's cheeks were, by now, soaked with her tears, "I love you, too, Harry."
"Hermione, I've known you for seven years, and for the longest time there's something I've wanted to ask you," Harry said, his heart in his throat.
"Yes?" she asked.
"Hermione Granger, will you-"
"I can love you like that
I would make you my world
Move heaven and earth if you were my girl
I will give you my heart
Be all that you need
Show you you're everything
That's precious to me
If you give me a chance
I can love you like that"
The song ended and Harry was cut off by the loud sound of applause. The two looked around and were quite surprised to discover that they were by themselves on the dance floor.
Hermione smiled, "I told you all you needed to worry about was having fun."
Harry turned back to her and she took his hand, "Now, what were you going to ask me?"
His heart was suddenly in his throat again as he took a deep breath, "Hermione, will—"
"You two were bloody brilliant!"
"I didn't know you could dance like that!"
"Forget that, I didn't know anyone could dance like that!"
Harry groaned inwardly as all his students of various grades complimented Hermione and him on their dance. He looked around and his eyes fell up on his friends who were, in Sirius and Ron's cases anyway, cursing verbosely at the entire school having "fucking messed up Harry's goddamn proposal!"
Sighing, he shook his head. It was okay. It was only September. He had all year to propose, and he was going to do it if it killed him.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Yep, yep. This is one of the LONGEST chapters I've ever written! 18 pages! A lot's happened, too. For any of you who have been having doubts as to whether this is going to be a H/Hr story, I do hope this has erased those fears. And for those of you who have been waiting for things to pick up, it'll be happening soon. When, you ask? Hermione's birthday, of course, which is gonna be a couple of chapters. Hope you all liked this one!
NEXT CHAPTER: Harry knows what he's getting Hermione, and he enlists a couple of people for help. Trelawney makes a real prediction. Plus! A new character's intro! Who? Someone Remus is sure into.