Meet You There
Chapter Eight
Harry sat still, stunned into silence…trying to figure out what it all meant, but Hermione beat him too it. "So…basically…half of everything Sirius owns…goes to Harry?" she asked astonished.
Lupin nodded, "The house will go to you Harry, as I already own my own home, and the money will be split between us" he was looking rather uncomfortable, and Harry didn't think it had anything to do with grief.
"What about Sirius' family?" Hermione asked.
"Well you know how he felt about them…don't you?" Lupin said, looking surprised, but Harry knew what she meant instantly.
"Well yes…but what about his…other family?" Harry cut in, looking pointedly at Hermione, and Lupin's eyes widened slightly.
"Do you…" he started, looking between them aghast.
Hermione nodded, "My mum just told us yesterday" she said quietly, looking upset once again.
Lupin looked at her sympathetically, "I'm so sorry Hermione, I know it must feel awful that no one told you all these years…" he said, putting a hand on her shoulder, "…but Sirius made us promise."
"He really wanted to be a proper father to you Hermione, but he didn't think it was right to take you from your parents" he continued quietly, "Especially since he'd been in Azkaban for most of your life"
A tear dropped from Hermione's face as she looked up at him, "He should've told me, I understand why he couldn't be there, it wasn't his fault!" she said desperately.
"I know he should have, but he made that choice, and we can't do anything about it" Lupin replied trying not to sound too harsh. "He wouldn't have wanted you to cry over him though Hermione, he's probably ashamed of how we're all behaving"
Harry looked at Lupin strangely, "You know how Sirius was Harry, he hated it when people were sad all the time, he hated being kept indoors or moping about like we all are." he said, smiling as he remember his best friend. "He was a lively and energetic person, always wanting to make people laugh, he wouldn't have wanted us to act like this." he explained, looking at the both of them.
Harry sighed, "Your right of course, I just can't be happy right now" he said, and Hermione nodded as if she agreed, but tried to stop crying all the same.
"Well we've got to try…for Sirius" Lupin said, smiling warmly at them. "And now that you know about this…" he gestured towards Hermione, "…I can tell you what's exactly supposed to happen with his things" He took in a deep breath and started to explain everything, Sirius had left his house to either his daughter, Hermione, or The Potters, so really it belonged to both Harry and Hermione now. "And between us, we'll split the money in his vault at Gringotts…I'll take care of that for us" he finished heavily.
"So, when we graduate from Hogwarts…we'll live at Grimmauld Place?" Harry asked.
Lupin nodded, "If you choose to do so…of course you don't have to decide that yet"
"Is it still being used for the Order?" Harry asked, and Lupin flinched
"Be careful!" he said fiercely, glancing behind him at an elderly woman.
"She's asleep" Harry said dully.
"It doesn't matter, you have to be careful, I thought you would know that by now" He replied looking seriously at Harry, "...and yes it is" he added in a whisper.
"But what about last year…" Hermione said with no need to explain herself.
"Professor Snape has given a certain Death Eater a 'hint' that we've moved to a new hideout, a long way away from here, and of course they're bound to tell Voldemort that"
"Isn't that a bit risky?" Hermione said, looking at Harry and he shrugged.
"We all have to take risks and some time or another Hermione" Lupin replied simply.
The three of them were quiet for a few minutes; there really wasn't anything to say. But suddenly Hermione began looking in her purse, appearing to have remembered something.
"What're you doing?" Harry asked her, as she pulled out two envelopes.
"This morning, after I left your room we both got letters from Hogwarts, it's strange that they sent yours to me too…" she said shrugging and handing him one.
"It's a bit early for our supply lists, isn't it?" Harry said, but Lupin spoke up.
"I think I might know what it is" he said smilling.
Hermione gasped, "Is it our O.W.L results!?" she asked excitedly.
"That was my guess" he said, "They usually come rather early"
Hermione looked excited but Harry's stomach plummeted, he'd forgotten all about them. What if he hadn't done well enough to possibly be an Auror? It was the only job he'd really ever considered. He would've had to get a pretty decent mark in Potions to get into Snape's Newt class.
As he looked down at Hermione beside him, he was surprised to see that she hadn't opened her letter yet, in fact she was fidgeting in her seat.
"I can't do it Harry, what if I failed everything?!" she said, looking frantic, but Harry and Lupin snorted with laughter.
"That's impossible Hermione" Lupin said laughing, "But let's wait till we get inside to open it shall we?" he suggested, as the bus came to a screeching halt. They both agreed, and put their letters away as they exited the bus.
Harry thought, "Number 12 Grimmauld Place" and suddenly the door appeared, he looked at Hermione and saw a feeling of apprehension in her eyes, which he knew must be reflected in his own.
But as they stepped into the entrance hall there wasn't enough time to dwell on their feelings, as more than a dozen people appeared screaming "SURPRISE!!!"
Hermione screamed as Harry had taken a step back in shock. He looked at Hermione and started to laugh at the look on her face.
"Shut up Harry" she said, hitting him playfully, as she saw him laughing at her.
Harry looked around at the people gathered around them and gave a start as he saw the entire Weasley family. "I thought you were on holiday!" he said looking at the family of red heads.
Mrs. Weasley smiled, "I'm afraid we told you a bit of a fib Harry" she said grinning.
Harry laughed, but the sound died in his throat as he took in his surroundings for the first time. It was completely re done. The walls were painted in a gorgeous sky blue, and the floors were no longer covered with moth eaten carpet. Instead they now stood on a gleaming hard wood floor, looking like it had just been freshly polished. The chandeliers, lamps, bookcases, everything, was shining spectacularly. He couldn't shake the feeling that it looked oddly familiar.
He simply stood there gaping like an idiot at the newly decorated house. Hermione had her hand clasped over her mouth as she looked around herself. "What…how…" Harry tried to say something but found he was lost for words.
Ron stepped in, "When Professor Lupin… "
"Remus, Ron, please call me Remus" he added in before Ron could say anything else and everyone laughed.
"All right, when Remus told us you were going to inherit the house Harry, we wanted to fix it up for you" he said, "We all helped" he said, gesturing to the group around him.
"I can't believe this…I don't really know what to say…thank you…" Harry managed, looking in awe at the people standing in front of him. "How did you manage it?" he added, amazed at all the work they'd done.
Seamus spoke up laughing, "Loads of work mate" he said, and everyone murmured their agreement.
"You're worth it though Harry, all the stuff you do for us" George said,
"Yeah, I think we all owe you one" Fred added and Harry smiled at their sincere words.
"Thanks" he said simply, going slightly red in the face. He never really knew how to take compliments like that.
Beside him, Hermione seemed to have gotten her voice back, "How come no one told me?!" she asked, looking indignant.
Ron snorted, "Why didn't we tell you?Come off it Hermione you know you can't keep secrets" he said, and a couple fellow Gryffindors started to laugh as well.
"What are you on about, of course I can!" she said angrily.
Harry was trying desperately to keep a straight face, as he was expecting Hermione to blow up beside him any second. He was right.
"Stop laughing, I could've kept it a secret, it's important!" she ranted on for a good minute until Harry put his hands on both of her shoulders.
"Hermione calm down." He said in her ear, laughing quietly still, along with the rest. She shivered slightly, and immediately stopped her tirade. She turned around, to look at him curiously, and gasped his sparkling emerald eyes. Harry let go of her as if he'd been stung.
Everyone in the room looked at them confused of what had happened, as Harry and Hermione looked at each other, unable to understand what they were feeling. Harry felt like he simply could not make himself look away, fortunately Ron interrupted. "Erm, guys?" he said, making them look up at him quickly.
"What?" they said together and a few people in the group shared knowing glances.
"You kind of just zoned out for a minute there" Ron said laughing
They both forced a laugh, "I guess we're a bit tired…" Harry said meekly.
Fred and George were smirking, and Ron had a confused frown on his face, but everyone else had started talking again
"Well let's get this party started shall we?" Remus said loudly, trying to direct everyone's attention away from the awkwardness of the moment, and steered them all towards the kitchen.
Harry glanced at Hermione, who gave him the best smile she could at the moment, before walking in front of him and following Remus.
"This looks new Harry, where'd you get it?"
Everyone was sitting around the large table, eating and chatting merrily; Harry was sitting in between Hermione and Ginny, who was now gesturing towards his black sweatshirt, and jeans.
Harry was about to answer her, when Hermione cut in "Me and Harry went on a shopping spree in muggle London" she said grinning.
Many of the boys laughed loudly as Harry's rolled his eyes.
"I needed clothes, it's not like I enjoyed it" he said, glaring at Hermione, who just laughed.
"Sorry Harry, I know I said I wouldn't call it that, but I couldn't help myself" she said trying not to laugh at him.
Harry's glare quickly melted as he watched Hermione laughing, he just shrugged as the twins continued to laugh at him.
A little while later, as Harry was taking a sip of his butterbeer, Remus appeared behind him, "Can I talk to you for a moment Harry" he asked, looking pointedly out the door.
Harry nodded, and pushed his chair back, getting up from the table. Once they were out in the hall, Remus shut the door, and looked at Harry, "I just want to know why you and Hermione left her house this morning" he said in a would be casual voice. "I mean…nothing bad happened, did it?" he added, looking slightly worried.
Harry sighed, "Nothing too bad, Mr. Granger just…well he kind of insulted Sirius and it really upset Hermione…and me come to think of it" he said, looking slightly angry.
"But it was bad enough for Hermione to actually want to run away?" he asked, looking almost sceptical.
"Yeah…she was really upset about it." Harry answered.
"Are you sure you can't tell me Harry?" Remus asked looking not only curious, but worried.
"I'm not sure if Hermione would like me to, you could ask her though…she might tell you." Harry responded.
Remus looked like he'd given up, "No that's okay Harry…but I do have another question." He said, smirking.
"What…?" Harry said, not having the slightest idea what it could be.
"What's going on with you and Hermione?" he said with his smirk still in place.
"What do you mean…" he said completely lost.
"Oh come off it Harry, you know what I mean" Remus responded teasingly, "You like her don't you?"
"Well of course I like her…she's my friend."
Remus rolled his eyes, "Honestly Harry, you're dumb as a board sometimes…I meant that you like her more than a friend"
Harry looked at him as if he'd gone mad, "Why on earth would you think that?? Of course I don't like her like that!" But while he was saying it, he felt his cheeks growing hot.
Remus chuckled, "Sure Harry" he said simply patting him on the shoulder, as he walked past him and back into the kitchen.
"You're nutters!" Harry yelled after him, flushing as the whole kitchen turned to look at him.
Harry laughed nervously as the room burst into laughter, and walked quietly back to the table. "What was that all about?" Hermione asked him as he sat down.
"Nothing" he said, stuffing his mouth with food so he couldn't answer anymore questions.
"Bye Harry!"
It was around 12:30 and mostly everyone was leaving. Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Seamus and Kate were standing by the door saying good bye to everyone.
"Sorry I can't stay Harry, but I've got football practice tomorrow morning" Dean Thomas said as he pulled away from Ginny who'd given him a hug and a kiss on the cheek while Ron had glared at them. Seamus and Kate were staying, along with Hermione and the Weasley's, and Dean didn't look to happy about having to leave.
"Ahh well, at least we'll see you next week!" Harry said trying to cheer him up, but he still looked gloomy,
"Yeah I guess, see you then, bye guys, bye Gin" he said waving as he left.
Suddenly Harry yelled after him, "Hey, aren't you going to Diagon Alley tomorrow?"
Dean turned around and grinned, "Hey I forgot about that!" he said, his mood picking up in an instant.
"Then we'll see you tomorrow!" Harry said laughing, and Dean grinned again, getting into one of the cars at the end of the path.
"Bye!" he yelled, as they drove away down the street.
"I wish I could stay too Harry but I didn't do too well on my O.W.L's so my gran won't let me" Neville said, as he walked past Harry.
"I totally forgot about those, we haven't read them yet" Harry said, turning to look at Hermione, who's eyes had widened.
"I can't believe I forgot too, it's so important!" she said, looking quite annoyed with herself.
"Well good luck, I'll see you at school since I already got my Hogwarts things" Neville said, waving, and walking down the path.
They all said good bye to Neville and as soon as Harry shut the door Hermione spoke up, "Let's go open our letters!" she said excitedly, running up the stairs before anyone could say anything.
The rest of the group laughed but followed her anyway, "So how'd you guys do?" Harry asked the others as they walked up the stairs casually.
"I did pretty well…" Seamus said, looking rather proud of himself.
"I didn't get as many as I would've liked" Ron said, looking rather miserable about it.
"Oh well, there's always the N.E.W.T's eh?" Harry said trying to cheer him up.
He shrugged, "I guess so" he said simply as they reached the room that the girls were staying in.
Hermione stood up from the bed, holding the two envelopes in her hand, "Merlin how slow do you people walk!?" she said exasperatedly, handing Harry his letter.
He felt the nervousness he'd felt when he'd first seen the letter coming back to him, he hoped desperately that he'd gotten what he needed.
The group sat down together on the large bed, nearest to the door, and watched as Harry and Hermione tore open their letters.
But as Hermione took the letter out of her envelope she handed it to Harry, "I can't do it, open it for me" she said, looking at Harry anxiously.
"Hermione you probably did better than the lot of us, what are you on about?" Seamus said, laughing along with the others, but she simply gave Harry a pleading look.
"All right, if you're that worried, give it to me" he said laughing, "You can open mine"
The pair of them opened the letters at the same time, the looks on their faces mirroring each others.
"What'd you get?" the other four asked impatiently.
Harry looked up from the paper and grinned at Hermione, who was grinning right back, "You got Outstanding in every subject Hermione!" Harry said laughing, feeling truly ecstatic for her.
Hermione's jaw dropped. "Honestly??!" she gasped, and started to laugh herself out of pure happiness.
Harry nodded, "What'd I get?" he asked apprehensively, but the feeling was gone in an instant, as Hermione smiled at him, and handed him the paper. Harry's mouth fell open as he read it:
Ordinary Wizarding Level Result for Harry James Potter
Herbology – Outstanding
Potions – Exceeds Expectations
Divination – Acceptable
Defence Against the Dark Arts – Outstanding
Charms - Outstanding
Transfiguration – Outstanding
History of Magic – Poor
Care of Magical Creatures – Outstanding
"I can't believe it" he said hoarsely, "I passed everything except History of Magic!" he said happily.
"Congratulations" Seamus said, grinning, "Can I see your paper?"
"Yeah sure" he said, passing it over, as the rest of them read it over his shoulder.
"Wow, good job Harry!" Ginny and Kate said together.
Ron nodded, and gave him a somewhat forced smile, "Well done mate" he said as he gave him a one armed hug, looking like he was really trying hard to look happy.
"Thanks" Harry said grinning, as Hermione looked at him proudly.
"Well done Harry" she said, giving him his last hug.
"Harry!! Get up you lazy git! Ron and Seamus have already gone downstairs!" Female laughter filled the room, as Harry slowly opened his eyes the next morning. He spotted a blur of blonde, brown and red, and groaned. Having girls wake you up was a lot worse than having Ron do it, all he did was throw pillows at you until you woke up…but girls…
Harry was suddenly ambushed as Hermione and Ginny jumped on top of him, tickling him anywhere they could reach, laughing hysterically, as Kate watched holding her side while she laughed.
"GET OFF! GET OFF!!" Harry yelled in between his laughter, and easily pushing them both off him and dumping them at the end of the bed. They looked slightly put out for a second, but quickly got over it and started laughing again. "All right, you had your fun, but I'm going to have a shower now, so can you leave please?" Harry said looking at them amused, and getting up off the bed, walking over to his own bathroom.
The girls nodded, "Okay but breakfast will be ready in 10 minutes so you better hurry up Harry" Hermione said, and continued to laugh as she walked out the door with Kate and Ginny, shutting it behind them.
Harry laughed and looked around his new room one more time before going into the bathroom. He couldn't believe he'd actually be living here when he wasn't at school…no more Dursleys…wait…What?! "No more Dursleys" Harry muttered to himself, suddenly leaping with joy towards the bathroom. As he walked in and shut the door he thought, "This might not be such a bad year after all"
Hope you liked it, please review!