Chapter Sixteen of Oh, What Will The New Year Bring?
They arrived at the house Hermione grew up in, and Hermione knocked. And her father opened the door, "Hermione! How was China?"
"Wonderful Dad, I got to see the sight where they found the Terra Cotta Soldiers and where they found Peking Man. It was wonderful!" Then she went on past her Dad to see others leaving her Dad with Harry.
"Hello again, Harry, how are you?" Giving him a quizzical look after staring at his hair for a bit.
"I'm well, Mr. Granger, Jack I mean."
"Back for another interrogation?"
"I sure hope not."
"What's with the new.."
"Hairstyle? There dread locks, when I was in the states, I got them."
"Why?"
"Well, for a change, this or green hair," he joked.
"Okay," looking at the young man before him, like he'd grown another head. Mr. Granger stepped back, "Are you coming in or not, Harry?"
"I don't know... But I better or Hermione'll hex me," he joked, as he finally stepped into the house.
"Don't say that too loud now Harry," the double meaning evident in his voice, "Would you like something to drink?"
"Sure," and he walked into the living room, following Jack to the punch bowl.
"Are you going to follow me around all night?" Jack asked as Harry still followed him, now with a cup in hand.
"Oh, sorry, I'll go away."
"It's okay Harry, no one's going to bite. Still not the best in crowds are you?"
"Not at all."
"Why don't you go join Hermione?" Jack hinted, and Harry took his advice.
"There you are! Dad coerced you into having some punch, I see?" Hermione greeted Harry.
"Yeah, but it's not bad."
"So whos the fellow, Hermione?" asked the gentleman she had been conversing with.
"This is my dear friend Harry."
"Nice to meet you Harry," he stuck out his hand, which Harry took, "I'm Jake Ling, Hermione and I were childhood friends."
"Cool, I've known her since we were eleven."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"So, you went to the boarding school she went then?"
"Yeah, I did as well."
"How did you meet?"
"On the train."
"And have been friends since?"
"Give or take a few months yes."
"Why's that?"
"Oh we didn't hit it off imediately, but as soon as we did it's been practically smooth sailing since."
"Seeing anyone, Harry?"
"Not at the moment."
"Really! Interested then?"
"Yes."
"No hints?"
"Not a one sir, I did just meet you."
"Harry, come and meet my cousin, sorry Jake," as Hermione came and pulled Harry away.
The rest of the evening went along just lovely, with Harry meeting her cousin, Paul, and various others.
The next few days passed uneventfully, with Ron giving Harry the occasional wink, nod, trying to get him to do anything, with out avail.
Now it's Sunday evening, and Ron & Luna, and Neville all have announcements, to make, though the others not having a clue.
"Hey Harry will you turn that off, I have to break something to you."
"What? What's wrong Ron?" Harry burst out. "Did something happen?"
"No Harry, don't worry mate, everything fantastic!"
"Good, then what is it?" asked Hermione.
"Well, We're engaged!" He burst out.
"Congratulations!" chorused Hermione, Neville and Harry.
"And, we've bought a house. We move in mid January, so I'm sorry to say, you guys'll either have to find a new place or take a bigger chunk of the rent, sorry."
"Well, I better tell my news now as well."
"What, your getting married too, Nev?"
"Oh no, not yet anyway, I'm moving in with Liz."
"Really! Whoa, how long have you been dating her anyway, Neville?" Harry asked out of no where.
"Since last January."
"Guess I missed a lot in my months away, cause I didn't know about Ron and Luna either," Harry thought out loud.
"A little tired there, mate?" asked Ron.
"Yeah," Harry yawned.
"Why?" asked Hermione.
"Long nights, need I say more?"
"No that's okay, mate," Ron pitched in.
"Why were you up so late?"
Yawn, "I was talking to Isiah, then Rube was over and I was talking with him as well, plus Kendra was there and had to bug me with Satch, and Josh and Leroy en Paige."
"Lot of people?" asked Luna, stating the obvious.
"Yeah, and that's just Isiah's family and our buddy Rubie."
"A girl?"
"No his names Andrew, but everyone calls him Rube."
"Oh, why?" asked Hermione.
"I have absolutely no idea," Harry replied happily.
"So what are you two going to do?" asked Neville of Harry and Hermione.
Harry shrugged his shoulders, while Hermione said, "Well I guess I could go stay with my parents."
"And I'll find a place, but till I do, can I stay with you?" Harry asked turning to stare at Ron.
"Of course mate," he said laughing, at Harry's look.
"I'll be careful to not overstay my welcome, like I did for sixteen years."
"Shut up Harry," Ron countered.
"I'm off to sleep, where should I do that?"
"Where ever you want." Ron answered.
"Alright, night everyone, I'll start my apartment hunt tomorrow, did anyone get a paper today?"
"Muggle or the Prophet?" asked Hermione.
"Muggle."
"Yeah, you need it?"
"Yes, could you save that for me, I want to check out the classifieds, see if there's any for rents."
Hermione went off to call on her parents, while the rest went out as well, Neville to dinner with Liz and Ron and Luna, to who knows where.
Harry woke up at around three am, wide awake, he went out into the living room and plopped onto the couch, 'Hmm, it's too early to turn on the telly, without waking everyone up,' he turned on a lamp to find Hermione asleep on the lazy boy with a book. "Some things never change, and you don't even have classes," he thought out loud.
"What?"
"Oh, sorry I woke you up," he replied guiltily.
"It's okay, why are you up any way?"
"I woke up, I did go to sleep at around six."
"True, what did you plan on doing?"
"Sitting around, read a book or magazine, maybe check out the housing listings."
"What are you looking for, maybe I can help."
"Nothing big, just something I can live in frugally and comfortably."
"So a studio would be okay?"
"What's a studio?"
"A studio apartment, it's one room with a kitchen and a bathroom."
"Oh, yeah that'd be fine."
"I'll circle this one then."
"Alright, so are you for sure going to go live with your parents? Your always welcome at wherever I live."
"Yeah, but when they drive me mad, I might just have to take you up on that offer."
"By all means do."
"Okay."
"What will I need for my place?"
"Probably kitchen stuff, table, chairs."
"Who's is the stuff we have?"
"Mine, or my parents old stuff mostly, I can talk to them, see if you can have it."
"At least the microwave and toaster are mine or my parents, the table is I think Neville's."
"I can get a card table."
"Definitely a nice simple solution, Harry."
"Hermione?"
"What is it Harry?" Hermione asked looking up from the paper.
"Will, will, wha, never mind," he backed down his nerve was up, 'Dammit Potter, come on, you can do it, come on," Harry chastised himself internally.
"What are you trying to say Harry?"
"Wha... will, wi, nothing."
She looked at him strangely, but went back to her paper anyway.
~~~~~~~~~BRIEF INTERLUDE BEFORE I ATTEMPT WHAT I'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE! Basically to get people to quit bugging me so here comes Hermione's perspective, alright!!! I'm in a good mood this afternoon and keep breaking into song, so if the characters start to it will only be in yours or my heads, alright? It would be wonderful if I knew all the words in the songs I'm singing, RICKIE LEE JONES IS AWESOME!!!! And when the coffee maker says it makes ten cups, it makes ten cups, not three like you wanted, ten! Now I'll go back to my watered down coffee and the story, there's my advice for the day!~~~~~~~~An hour later I'm finally starting!~~~
'What in muggle or magical world is wrong with Harry? Is he just sleep deprived or does he need a shrink? I'm really glad I saved him from Jake, cause a few more minutes and he would have for sure went bloody mad, as Ron always says. Wondering how Harry will do living on his own? Or the rest of us, we've barely been apart for the past nine years! Oh my god, what am I going to do? What is any of us going to do? He's the only one in this flat who can cook! Well anything that doesn't require a microwave, or boiling water, but....'
""Hermione?""
"What is it Harry?" Wonder what he wants?
""WIll..will, wha, never mind.""
'What's wrong with him, he can ask me anything? Why is he now silent, why can't he ask me something, what's going on, oh yeah I should probably say something'
"What are you trying to say Harry?" 'Really, what?'
""Wha... will, wi... nothing.""
'Now, something is seriously off with him, actually it has been ever since... Friday! When he went and got a sweatshirt from his room, it did take an abnormally long time, maybe something happened, wonder what Ron said? Damn mysteries, thought I'd be done with them after seven years of them, but I guess not when your best friends with Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley, what's up with Ron anyway, and all that winking! Does he have an eye problem? Or is it something else? Oh guess I better listen to Harry again, he is trying to talk to me again.'
""Hermione, I'm sorry.""
'Sorry, sorry for what?' she gave him another quizzical look. What was he trying to ask darnnit why can't he ask me whatever it is without looking like it's the end of the world? He's so sweet he came with to that party at my parents, god that could have been a disaster, I didn't know it was a party, I thought it was a family gathering, poor Harry. And another thing, why was he sleeping in my room? What the heck, oh wait I should answer him.'
"Sorry, Harry you have nothing to be sorry about, what's wrong?"
""Noth, nothing.""
'And when did he start talking like Neville with Professor Snape to me, his best friend! Wait has he realized, no could he really, no he can't, what would Ron say if, wait does Ron know that... no what if Harry knows what I think, or Ron told him, because he somehow found out what I feel, what if Harry knows, is that why, does he hate me now? Oh no, noooooooooooooooooooo, okay get a hold of your self Hermione, he is still talking to you, in incoherent sentences as if he's afraid of me, but, now why would he be afraid of me?'
"Harry why are you talking like Neville locked in a room with Professor Snape?"
""I.. I'm not.""
'Oh, you most certainly are.'
"Are you okay, are you sick or something?"
""I... I... I.... Don't think so.""
"Okay, but are you sure, do you want a cup of tea, or something?"
""Na, na na, no.""
'What's wrong with him tonight, did my dad confront him or something? Saying if he saw him with me again he'd decapitate him or some other such nonsense?'
"Ah, man!" she exclaimed out loud.
""Wha... wha ... what?""
"Never mind Harry."
""o...o..... okay.""
Okay there's Hermione's perspective Happy now? She's freaking out and Harry's turned into a bumbling fool, wonderful isn't it? REVIEW or die (evil cackling) just kidding, but please review, and check out my au, though it's only au, because of a few minor changes, which are basically explained in the first paragraph, okay, so now that your not scared read it, please, and review, please.
Now how in the world am I going to follow up mumbling and incoherent thoughts?! Well, I guess we'll all see, including me. Ahh!!!!!!!!
They arrived at the house Hermione grew up in, and Hermione knocked. And her father opened the door, "Hermione! How was China?"
"Wonderful Dad, I got to see the sight where they found the Terra Cotta Soldiers and where they found Peking Man. It was wonderful!" Then she went on past her Dad to see others leaving her Dad with Harry.
"Hello again, Harry, how are you?" Giving him a quizzical look after staring at his hair for a bit.
"I'm well, Mr. Granger, Jack I mean."
"Back for another interrogation?"
"I sure hope not."
"What's with the new.."
"Hairstyle? There dread locks, when I was in the states, I got them."
"Why?"
"Well, for a change, this or green hair," he joked.
"Okay," looking at the young man before him, like he'd grown another head. Mr. Granger stepped back, "Are you coming in or not, Harry?"
"I don't know... But I better or Hermione'll hex me," he joked, as he finally stepped into the house.
"Don't say that too loud now Harry," the double meaning evident in his voice, "Would you like something to drink?"
"Sure," and he walked into the living room, following Jack to the punch bowl.
"Are you going to follow me around all night?" Jack asked as Harry still followed him, now with a cup in hand.
"Oh, sorry, I'll go away."
"It's okay Harry, no one's going to bite. Still not the best in crowds are you?"
"Not at all."
"Why don't you go join Hermione?" Jack hinted, and Harry took his advice.
"There you are! Dad coerced you into having some punch, I see?" Hermione greeted Harry.
"Yeah, but it's not bad."
"So whos the fellow, Hermione?" asked the gentleman she had been conversing with.
"This is my dear friend Harry."
"Nice to meet you Harry," he stuck out his hand, which Harry took, "I'm Jake Ling, Hermione and I were childhood friends."
"Cool, I've known her since we were eleven."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"So, you went to the boarding school she went then?"
"Yeah, I did as well."
"How did you meet?"
"On the train."
"And have been friends since?"
"Give or take a few months yes."
"Why's that?"
"Oh we didn't hit it off imediately, but as soon as we did it's been practically smooth sailing since."
"Seeing anyone, Harry?"
"Not at the moment."
"Really! Interested then?"
"Yes."
"No hints?"
"Not a one sir, I did just meet you."
"Harry, come and meet my cousin, sorry Jake," as Hermione came and pulled Harry away.
The rest of the evening went along just lovely, with Harry meeting her cousin, Paul, and various others.
The next few days passed uneventfully, with Ron giving Harry the occasional wink, nod, trying to get him to do anything, with out avail.
Now it's Sunday evening, and Ron & Luna, and Neville all have announcements, to make, though the others not having a clue.
"Hey Harry will you turn that off, I have to break something to you."
"What? What's wrong Ron?" Harry burst out. "Did something happen?"
"No Harry, don't worry mate, everything fantastic!"
"Good, then what is it?" asked Hermione.
"Well, We're engaged!" He burst out.
"Congratulations!" chorused Hermione, Neville and Harry.
"And, we've bought a house. We move in mid January, so I'm sorry to say, you guys'll either have to find a new place or take a bigger chunk of the rent, sorry."
"Well, I better tell my news now as well."
"What, your getting married too, Nev?"
"Oh no, not yet anyway, I'm moving in with Liz."
"Really! Whoa, how long have you been dating her anyway, Neville?" Harry asked out of no where.
"Since last January."
"Guess I missed a lot in my months away, cause I didn't know about Ron and Luna either," Harry thought out loud.
"A little tired there, mate?" asked Ron.
"Yeah," Harry yawned.
"Why?" asked Hermione.
"Long nights, need I say more?"
"No that's okay, mate," Ron pitched in.
"Why were you up so late?"
Yawn, "I was talking to Isiah, then Rube was over and I was talking with him as well, plus Kendra was there and had to bug me with Satch, and Josh and Leroy en Paige."
"Lot of people?" asked Luna, stating the obvious.
"Yeah, and that's just Isiah's family and our buddy Rubie."
"A girl?"
"No his names Andrew, but everyone calls him Rube."
"Oh, why?" asked Hermione.
"I have absolutely no idea," Harry replied happily.
"So what are you two going to do?" asked Neville of Harry and Hermione.
Harry shrugged his shoulders, while Hermione said, "Well I guess I could go stay with my parents."
"And I'll find a place, but till I do, can I stay with you?" Harry asked turning to stare at Ron.
"Of course mate," he said laughing, at Harry's look.
"I'll be careful to not overstay my welcome, like I did for sixteen years."
"Shut up Harry," Ron countered.
"I'm off to sleep, where should I do that?"
"Where ever you want." Ron answered.
"Alright, night everyone, I'll start my apartment hunt tomorrow, did anyone get a paper today?"
"Muggle or the Prophet?" asked Hermione.
"Muggle."
"Yeah, you need it?"
"Yes, could you save that for me, I want to check out the classifieds, see if there's any for rents."
Hermione went off to call on her parents, while the rest went out as well, Neville to dinner with Liz and Ron and Luna, to who knows where.
Harry woke up at around three am, wide awake, he went out into the living room and plopped onto the couch, 'Hmm, it's too early to turn on the telly, without waking everyone up,' he turned on a lamp to find Hermione asleep on the lazy boy with a book. "Some things never change, and you don't even have classes," he thought out loud.
"What?"
"Oh, sorry I woke you up," he replied guiltily.
"It's okay, why are you up any way?"
"I woke up, I did go to sleep at around six."
"True, what did you plan on doing?"
"Sitting around, read a book or magazine, maybe check out the housing listings."
"What are you looking for, maybe I can help."
"Nothing big, just something I can live in frugally and comfortably."
"So a studio would be okay?"
"What's a studio?"
"A studio apartment, it's one room with a kitchen and a bathroom."
"Oh, yeah that'd be fine."
"I'll circle this one then."
"Alright, so are you for sure going to go live with your parents? Your always welcome at wherever I live."
"Yeah, but when they drive me mad, I might just have to take you up on that offer."
"By all means do."
"Okay."
"What will I need for my place?"
"Probably kitchen stuff, table, chairs."
"Who's is the stuff we have?"
"Mine, or my parents old stuff mostly, I can talk to them, see if you can have it."
"At least the microwave and toaster are mine or my parents, the table is I think Neville's."
"I can get a card table."
"Definitely a nice simple solution, Harry."
"Hermione?"
"What is it Harry?" Hermione asked looking up from the paper.
"Will, will, wha, never mind," he backed down his nerve was up, 'Dammit Potter, come on, you can do it, come on," Harry chastised himself internally.
"What are you trying to say Harry?"
"Wha... will, wi, nothing."
She looked at him strangely, but went back to her paper anyway.
~~~~~~~~~BRIEF INTERLUDE BEFORE I ATTEMPT WHAT I'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE! Basically to get people to quit bugging me so here comes Hermione's perspective, alright!!! I'm in a good mood this afternoon and keep breaking into song, so if the characters start to it will only be in yours or my heads, alright? It would be wonderful if I knew all the words in the songs I'm singing, RICKIE LEE JONES IS AWESOME!!!! And when the coffee maker says it makes ten cups, it makes ten cups, not three like you wanted, ten! Now I'll go back to my watered down coffee and the story, there's my advice for the day!~~~~~~~~An hour later I'm finally starting!~~~
'What in muggle or magical world is wrong with Harry? Is he just sleep deprived or does he need a shrink? I'm really glad I saved him from Jake, cause a few more minutes and he would have for sure went bloody mad, as Ron always says. Wondering how Harry will do living on his own? Or the rest of us, we've barely been apart for the past nine years! Oh my god, what am I going to do? What is any of us going to do? He's the only one in this flat who can cook! Well anything that doesn't require a microwave, or boiling water, but....'
""Hermione?""
"What is it Harry?" Wonder what he wants?
""WIll..will, wha, never mind.""
'What's wrong with him, he can ask me anything? Why is he now silent, why can't he ask me something, what's going on, oh yeah I should probably say something'
"What are you trying to say Harry?" 'Really, what?'
""Wha... will, wi... nothing.""
'Now, something is seriously off with him, actually it has been ever since... Friday! When he went and got a sweatshirt from his room, it did take an abnormally long time, maybe something happened, wonder what Ron said? Damn mysteries, thought I'd be done with them after seven years of them, but I guess not when your best friends with Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley, what's up with Ron anyway, and all that winking! Does he have an eye problem? Or is it something else? Oh guess I better listen to Harry again, he is trying to talk to me again.'
""Hermione, I'm sorry.""
'Sorry, sorry for what?' she gave him another quizzical look. What was he trying to ask darnnit why can't he ask me whatever it is without looking like it's the end of the world? He's so sweet he came with to that party at my parents, god that could have been a disaster, I didn't know it was a party, I thought it was a family gathering, poor Harry. And another thing, why was he sleeping in my room? What the heck, oh wait I should answer him.'
"Sorry, Harry you have nothing to be sorry about, what's wrong?"
""Noth, nothing.""
'And when did he start talking like Neville with Professor Snape to me, his best friend! Wait has he realized, no could he really, no he can't, what would Ron say if, wait does Ron know that... no what if Harry knows what I think, or Ron told him, because he somehow found out what I feel, what if Harry knows, is that why, does he hate me now? Oh no, noooooooooooooooooooo, okay get a hold of your self Hermione, he is still talking to you, in incoherent sentences as if he's afraid of me, but, now why would he be afraid of me?'
"Harry why are you talking like Neville locked in a room with Professor Snape?"
""I.. I'm not.""
'Oh, you most certainly are.'
"Are you okay, are you sick or something?"
""I... I... I.... Don't think so.""
"Okay, but are you sure, do you want a cup of tea, or something?"
""Na, na na, no.""
'What's wrong with him tonight, did my dad confront him or something? Saying if he saw him with me again he'd decapitate him or some other such nonsense?'
"Ah, man!" she exclaimed out loud.
""Wha... wha ... what?""
"Never mind Harry."
""o...o..... okay.""
Okay there's Hermione's perspective Happy now? She's freaking out and Harry's turned into a bumbling fool, wonderful isn't it? REVIEW or die (evil cackling) just kidding, but please review, and check out my au, though it's only au, because of a few minor changes, which are basically explained in the first paragraph, okay, so now that your not scared read it, please, and review, please.
Now how in the world am I going to follow up mumbling and incoherent thoughts?! Well, I guess we'll all see, including me. Ahh!!!!!!!!