A big thank-you to Sassygirl for info on the Potions. And this chapter is for CeLeStIaL BeInG and s.s. harry. I love your reviews! Also, Moony's Angel, hope you feel better!
Chapter 17
Quidditch
Hermione was bent over in the Gryffindor common room reading The Mystery that is the Ministry of Magic. A lovely peace had settled over her. She and Sirius were together, and it seemed like she could do anything when she was with him.
"Hermione!" Hermione looked up. It was the boy in question. Sirius walked in, his hair slightly windblown, but attractively so. His dark eyes sparkled from the sunlight.
"Yes?" she asked. She waited for him to kiss her gently before he answered.
"There's a Quidditch match today. James is playing. Come watch, won't you?"
"Sure!" Hermione said eagerly. She hadn't seen a Quidditch match since before last summer. "James is Seeker, right?"
"Yeah. You know what Quidditch is, right? I'm sure they had it in Beauxbatons."
"I sure do. My best friend played. Actually, all three of my best friends played," she told him, thinking of Harry, Ron, and Ginny.
The Quidditch pitch was just like Hermione remembered, and she was glad for that. Little rememberances from her own time made her smile. Some things never changed. There was still the freshly cut grass, the hoops, the students wearing their team's colors.
Sirius led Hermione to a spot in the stands, next to Lily.
"Hi!" she greeted them. There was a pink tint in her cheeks. She looked proud as she watched James fly out with his team members.
Since it had gotten so crowded, Hermione had to sit in Sirius' lap.
"Darn," he said. She knew he'd planned it that way. He could have easily saved a couple more inches for her. The girls that sat around them would have thrown themselves off the stands for him.
Madam Hooch (a much younger Madam Hooch) blew the whistle, and the two teams, Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, whizzed around in the air.
James flew around so quickly that it was hard to keep track of where he was.
The Beaters for the other team, Williams and Perry, aimed Bludgers at James but he easily deflected them.
"Oh, look at him!" cried Lily with glowing pride.
James whizzed so fast that Hermione saw Harry in him.
Hermione desperately wished Harry could see this. She froze the memory in her mind for him. Maybe if she got a Pensieve she could show it to him.
Harry. If Hermione squinted she could just see him whizzing around. Hermione realized she missed Harry and Ginny desperately. Harry was always loyal to her, and she to him. Even when she was dating Ron Harry was always there for her, chiding her, making sure Ron treated her right. And Ginny. They had become best friends in sixth year, and it had been Hermione who had encouraged Harry to ask Ginny out. She'd watched their romance flourish, and her romance with Ron flourish. Invariably, she missed both of them so much it hurt. She missed her own time, she missed lunch with Ginny and trips into Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley and Crookshanks and her own clothes. . . and her parents. Her parents, who were always so good to her. Who would pack her sugarless snacks. Who were so proud to have a witch in the family.
Hermione's eyes misted but Sirius and Lily were so into the game that they didn't notice. She was glad, she didn't want their fun to be ruined. Instead, she filled her head with thoughts of Harry and Ginny and her parents. Who was taking care of Ginny, making sure if she needed advice she got it? Who was making sure Harry didn't fly off the handle? Who was comforting her parents?
Hermione was jerked out of her thoughts by the students jumping up and screaming.
Gryffindor had won the match! James flew his broom over to Lily in the stands, lifted her up and rode her back to the field amidst the screaming fans.
Sirius hugged Hermione victoriously. She managed a weak hug, lost in her memories.
***
"What are you thinking about?" Sirius asked kindly, later that night. He had been trying to talk to her about the match, but she had been staring into the fire.
"Oh, nothing!" Hermione said quickly. "We were talking about music, weren't we?"
"Hermione, what's wrong? I know something is wrong."
Maybe he knew something was wrong because her face looked troubled, or maybe it was because he could see into her soul. Hermione chose the latter.
"I-I miss my family and friends," Hermione admitted.
"Have you written them?" Sirius asked gently.
Oh, sure. Mr. and Mrs. Granger, 20 years in the future. School owls would circle for ages. Literally. "I haven't had the time."
"If you want to, you can tell me about them," Sirius said gently. "I'd love to hear about them."
Sirius didn't know he was doing the best thing possible for Hermione. Talking about her family and friends in loving terms helped them come a little closer to her.
"Okay!" Hermione sat up eagerly. "Where should we start?"
"Your parents."
"Well." Hermione clasped her hands together. "They're both dentists, as you know," Hermione was referring to when Sirius had first comforted her, "and they hate all sweets. Sweets are their enemy. I've never had a cavity in my life."
Sirius laughed. "Go on."
"My best friend Gi–" oh, what was the name she had given Ginny? Ella? Emily? Emma. "Emma is so spunky. She's in love with my other best friend, Frank. I helped them get together. Emma had had a crush on Frank for years. So I was the one who pushed her to ask him out. He never stopped thanking me. Frank's a nice person. His parents died when he was a baby, and he had to live with the worst Muggles ever. When he was 11 Dum–" Oh, no! She couldn't say Dumbledore, Harry was supposed to have gone to Beauxbatons. "When he was 11 the headmaster whisked him off to Beauxbatons. Now he and Emma are really in love."
Sirius listened to her talk animatedly. Her eyes glowed when she talked about them. It was obvious she loved these people and missed them.
"Why are you here, then?" he asked. "If you miss them so much."
"I–I wanted to see what school in England was like," Hermione said quickly.
"But your accent's British."
Sirius was really keeping Hermione on her toes. "I was raised in England when till I was 8, then we moved. I wanted to see what it would be like to come back."
"Fair enough. What else?"
Hermione leaned against Sirius. "You don't want to hear about all this."
"Sure I do. If it makes you feel better baby, I am all for it."
Hermione beamed. She was glad he'd said that. "Okay. Well, one summer Emma and I–" she launched into a two-hour story about herself and Ginny. Giving Sirius a glimpse into her life cleansed her pain, even if it was just a little bit. The evening passed quickly and peacefully.
Big thank-yous to:
QOA: You know I love you girl! Hope you're doing well.
Moony's Angel: I sincerely hope you feel better. I am pulling for you. Hope this chapter made you smile a little.
solar: I am hoping for about, oh, 30-50 chapters. :)
magic sparkle 1: can't tell you! then the whole plot will be ruined, won't it?
Leila3: thanks for telling me how you wait for chapters. That brightens my day. What do you think the task is? And THANK you for reviewing every chapter!
Willow 'Black Rose' Edra: We all have weird moods, don't worry. Spring break is coming up, YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't tell you how badly I need a break. It falls around my birthday.
Melody's Song: What does Ja Nae mean? I am so so so glad you root for S and Hr. Even though I know you are a R/Hr girl. You'll probably have them in canon, though.
Raven Potter Weasley: thank you for putting me on your favorites list! I appreciate it.
Sassybird: thank you so much. I know my Potions is very rusty. I tried to use good judgment. When I get a spare second (ha) I'll go fix them. Many thanks.
Rane2920072: Here I am! Hope you like it!
Mydream: Well, things just come to you. I think one of the great things about authors is how people come into your head and tell you a story. In this case, Hermione and Sirius are telling me their story. I would love to see your fanfiction!
Merlinsmagic: lol you were in a giggly mood......good for you. It's hard to have those.
Siriusly Mione: Heh, you didn't think I would keep my end of the deal? I wasn't gonna post a new chapter but since you challenged me I thought I really should. Only bet on sure things next time:) Spring break=all that I am living for right now. :)
eye-candy 56: I did! Hope you like this.
Riffinton: Aw, thanks. Thanks for sticking with me, all the way from chapter 1! Yes......tell them Mione.
Padfootz-Luvr: Ah, another Sirius fan! *sob* I miss him.
Sara Lily Potter: I will never abandon this story. It is so clear in my mind. I already have the ending thought out. I promise I won't abandon it. This fic is like my baby:)
laurea-vean: I am glad you absolutely loved it!
MaisjetadoreSiriusNoir: Well, she struggled A LOT with letting go of Ron. It took her 14 chapters, you know. With Sirius, it seems like he knows her and that she belongs with him. When she is with him, it's like all the other boys disappear.
Kitty katty sweet: I adore HP, and my fav was OOTP, but I love LOTR a lot more, hence my username. I adore Arwen and Aragorn. Who are your favs?
Irish Elf: Tomorrow is St. Patrick's day, isn't it? :)Yes, Jen is pretty bad.....but she WAS burned by Sirius, after all.
Fallen Angel of Hell: It's okay. I know how other stuff can make you crumble. I myself am dying from the load of schoolwork. I should lead a worldwide protest.
Meenyrocks:Yes, my birthday is on April 12 :) And it falls during spring break. Thank God. I said it once and I will say it again: your reviews aren't crap!
CassandraTheEvil: Aw, can't give away plot. Even my beta is sworn to secrecy. I am like JK? Right. Lol.
Yoblossom: what a great guess! You may or may not be right. 50% chance (ugh, math. No more math).