Disclaimer: It's not mine. JKR's. I swear.

A/N: Carshaa, I am extremely sorry that in the last chapter I sounded so mean. You are by no means on my bad list, I swear. I was just agreeing with you, it came out sounding catty (on further inspection, I realize this) and I didn't mean for it too. I was kinda miffed that it was so sickly sweet. That's all. Just for you, it's going to be Sirius/Skylar. And, this chapter is dedicated to you too. I am sorry! Neveada, I agree, Yay! I couldn't let Sirius stay dead. . . I'm sorry, but he's a quintessential character, and my fic just could not survive without him. BTW, any of you who haven't read some of Neveada's work, you should be ashamed. She is absolutely gifted. Read Heart of a Lion, Skin of a Snake! Tinkerbell_06, you are one of the most talented writers I've ran across. Keep up the good work. Now, with that, on with the show! Heh, thankies to the reviewers.

Double Trouble

Chapter 11

"Molly, that was excellent, as usual." Sirius smiled slightly, pushing his plate away from him. He had polished off a record eleven egg sandwiches in the past fifteen minutes, by no means a small feat. Remus sighed next to him, looking just as happy.

"Where's Hermione?" Sirius looked around, suddenly realizing the girl in question was missing.

"Oh, she, erm, is outside, eating with her cousins." George stuttered, blushing. Fred whacked him in the back of the head.

"Oh."

"Sirius." Harry looked at his Godfather. "Where have you Been?"

Sirius' face fell. "I'm, uh, not entirely sure."

"What do you mean, not entirely sure." Harry's eyes widened with curiosity.

"Well, I mean that, the last thing I remember, I was taunting Bellatrix, and then, I was standing on Remus' doorstep. And now I'm here. Everything else is a little fuzzy." Sirius admitted, pushing a breadcrumb around the table with a finger.

Hermione entered through the backdoor, looking slightly harassed. "Charlie, look, as a friend, I'm begging you to do something with Elizabeth, she's driving us all crazy! Charlie this, Charlie that." Charlie blushed, excusing himself so that he could attend to his girlfriend.

"Elizabeth?" Remus glanced at Hermione, surprised.

"One of my cousins, Professor."

"Hermione, how many times do I have to tell you, I'm Remus. I'm not your Professor anymore."

Hermione grinned, "Whatever you say Pro-Remus."

"One of your cousins?" Sirius looked out the backdoor, where the four girls were sitting, Charlie pulled one away from the group, walking her through the yard, into the little woods. "All of those girls are your cousins?"

"Yeah, er, they're Quadruplets."

"What are they doing here?" Sirius looked confused.

"Um, they did live in America, now, er, well, their family was attacked by Deatheaters."

"Oh."

"I'm going back outside, so Harry can spend some quality time with you." Hermione looked pointedly at the twins, Bill, and Ron.

"Oh, us too." George quickly stood, catching the point. He went to stand by Hermione when he was jerked roughly backwards. "What the-"

"Work first, play later." The voice of his twin echoed in his ear.

Hermione just chuckled, grabbing Ron's hand, pulling him into the backyard. Both were oblivious of the glares George was sending their way as he left to go upstairs.

"So, Harry?" Sirius sighed, resting his face in his hands. "How's your summer been?"

***

"Elizabeth?" Charlie's voice carried softly on the gentle summer breeze.

"Yes?" Elizabeth took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of the woods, * Mmmmm. . . Cedar and Honeysuckle.* She thought, silently.

"We're alone now." His voice dropped an octave, rich and deep, hiding a myriad of possibilities in his mere tone. She shivered pleasantly, the tiny hairs on her arm standing at attention.

"Mmhmm." Was her reply, as she turned to him, her hazel eyes unreadable.

"Yes." He whispered breathily, pulling her close to him.

She smiled coyly, "Any suggestions?"

"Just one." He replied, capturing her lips with his.

*Alone at last! * Was the one thought that ran through her brain before her thinking capabilities melted into oblivion.

***

Remus looked at the two, smiling quietly. He stood up, squeezing Sirius' shoulder, then made his way into the backyard. Bill and a dark headed girl were off to the side, talking quietly. Hermione, the blonde girl, and Ron were watching the clouds

The brown haired girl he had startled earlier was sitting off by herself, sketching quickly in an art pad. Intrigued, he snuck up behind her, looking over her shoulder. She was sketching a little bird, as it was eating breadcrumbs of the top of one of the picnic tables. Her talent was amazing, she was able to capture the nuances of innocence and wonder that surrounded the little animal, able to instill a certain amount of grace into the picture without losing the naturalness.

She finished off the sketch with a little sigh of self-satisfaction, holding the pad away from her, eyeing it critically.

"Amazing, really." Remus commented casually, causing the girl to jump. "I'm sorry if I startled you." He amended softly.

"It's quite alright." Raya turned, eyeing Remus for a moment, then turning to eye her picture critically again. "And, no, it's not amazing. The tiny thing's misshapen and quite out of proportion." She snorted derisively, making as if to ball the paper up.

"Don't!" Remus cried, snatching the drawing out of her hands. "Don't ruin it." He pleaded, clutching the drawing lightly, but firmly, to his chest.

"If you like it so well, keep it then. I certainly wasn't. It's not one of my better pieces." Raya smiled, her chocolate eyes alight with laughter.

"If you say so." Remus cradled the drawing carefully. "I'm sorry about earlier, I was just a little. . . excited."

Raya nodded. "Fine, rest assured. Oh, I'm Raya Trenton, by the way. Hermione's cousin."

"I'm, ah, Remus Lupin, a friend and former professor of the golden trio."

Raya laughed, "More the pity you."

"Hey!" Hermione cried indignantly, catching their conversation.

"Hermione, good little girls do not eavesdrop." Skylar admonished, her voice rich with barely suppressed laughter.

"No, but naughty one's do!" Ron exclaimed, then began tickling Hermione, who was blushing too furiously to do naught but fight back.

"She's not naughty Ron, she's purely bad." Ginny giggled.

"Where did you come from?" Ron stopped his assault on Hermione to glance at his sister.

She held up a little camera, "Let's just say I've collected a little fodder on Charlie." Ginny grinned evilly.

"If I'm bad," Hermione began.

"You are."

"Then you, Virginia Weasley, put the E in evil."

Ginny blushed, "Thank you," She replied modestly, "I do try. It's so hard-"

"Ginny shut up." Ron groaned.

The girl sniffed, then spying something, grinned again. "Hold that thought Ron." Ginny walked away for a moment, then returned with something in her hand. "Here, I've gotten something for you."

Ron perked up, holding out his hands for whatever it was. She smirked, tipping her hand sideways, a little object falling onto his palms. He stared at it a moment, going white, then screamed, shaking his hands furiously.

"Ginny! What did you do!?" Bill rushed over to his younger brother, trying to calm him down.

"Ron, honestly, you'd think it was a tarantula or something." Ginny said between giggles. "It was a house spider, for Gods sake!"

"Virginia!" Hermione sounded scandalized, then her laughter got the best of her.

"It. Wasn't. Funny." Ron muttered from between clenched teeth.

"Of course it wasn't, ickle Ronniekins." Ginny cooed, pinching her brother's cheek.

***

Sirius smiled, hugging his Godson tightly. "I've missed you Harry." He whispered softly to the boy.

"And I you, Sirius." Came Harry's muffled reply.

"So," Sirius pulled away, "Are we ready to join the natives?"

"Sure." Harry got up, then stopped. "Does Dumbledore know you're back?"

A pop sounded next to Harry, "I do now." Dumbledore chuckled softly.

"Sirius!" The old man clapped him soundly on the back, "Aren't you a sight for sore eyes?" He then turned to Harry, "Where is Miss Granger?" His blue eyes twinkled brightly.

"In the backyard. Why?"

Dumbledore nodded, then made his way to the backyard.

***

Hermione looked up as the door opened, expecting to see Sirius or Harry. Instead, Dumbledore exited, looking right at her.

"Miss Granger." He greeted her, then held out his hand. "We must be going."

"Going?"

"Yes, you have a meeting to attend. Rohan has asked about you. He wishes to begin your training immediately, he just wished to give you a few days rest. Your ordeal was quite a shock to your system, y'know."

Sirius and Remus stared at Dumbledore as if the older man had finally rid himself of all the wisdom and commonsense he had possessed.

"Yes." Hermione stood, waving goodbye to her friends, then took the Headmaster's outstretched hand. The older man disapperated them away with a pop.

"What did he mean, ordeal? Training?" Sirius glanced questioningly at Hermione.

"That is a long story." Harry whispered, staring at the spot his friend had been standing in. "A long story indeed."

*______________________________________________________________*

A/N: So, my dear friends, that concludes another chappie of Double Trouble. I don't know why I keep the title, there's obviously no Double Trouble. Unless, of course, it refers to Hermione's special Abilities. That would be Doubly Troubling. Until we meet again, do not forget to RR. Until the morn, Adieu.

Love,

~Me~