Title: True Love and Secret Crushes 4/?
Author: Kristen
Email: daydreamer257@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in the Harry Potter books. Their creation belongs solely to J.K. Rowling.
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairings: Sirius/Hermione, Percy/Luna, Draco/Ginny
Spoilers: Up to Book 5, Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix. Characters and situations from the book Except the major character death may be mentioned. If you haven't read it and wish to remain unspoiled, turn back now!
Summary: Answer to Shannon's Shades of Grey challenge with a Harry Potter twist. Fred and George's new invention causes everyone to admit to past or present crushes. The results inspire some very interesting changes.
Feedback: Is appreciated and cherished. This is my first HP fic I've been brave enough to post. Let me know what you think.
A.N. 1 Obviously this is slightly AU since Sirius is still alive in this fic and it's set in the future, post-Hogwarts. Just assume that everything else in Book 5 happened with one exception: Sirius didn't die. Now that we're all clear, enjoy!
A.N. 2 Much thanks to Emmy for the beta and to those who have sent feedback.
A.N. 3 I know it's still not Christmas yet. Don't shoot me! I wanted to get this out of the way first before I tackled that. Christmas morning mayhem will come in the next part I promise.
Part 4
The next day was Christmas Eve and the house was buzzing with noise and energy. At the moment, Fred and George were slipping some of their trick candy into the candy dishes set around the house hoping to catch visitors unawares.
Meanwhile, Molly had her troops busy in the kitchen producing cookies and getting things ready for the next day's dinner. Ginny, Luna, and Hermione had been commandeered for this task. Tonks was determined to help as well and Molly had her cutting cookie shapes from the dough. It was the only thing Molly could think of with the least potential for disaster. Tonks had fallen to her task with gusto and was creating her own style of Christmas cookies. One thing Tonks wasn't was traditional. And there were very few of the traditional shapes lining the cookie sheets.
Throughout the day Sirius and Remus conspired with Draco, Ron, and Harry to distract the women and snatch some cookies. When Draco had picked a fight with Ginny they had managed to get away with a whole batch by pulling the other women into the argument.
Remus preferred a more sneaky approach. He would come in frequently to see Tonks and pocket a cookie or two while he kissed her senseless.
Sirius approached the chaotic approach. He transformed into his animagus form and chased Crookshanks around the kitchen. They raced around the kitchen between feet and under chairs, over the counters and around the table while Molly chased Sirius with a rolling pin. Tonks aimed curses their way and accidentally hit Ginny with a shouted, "Petrificus Totalis!" Ginny went down with a crash and Molly leaped over her like an Olympic hopeful clearing the last hurtle for the gold. Sirius weaved and dodged and managed to bring Molly and Tonks crashing into each other. They went down in a heap of curses. Luna grabbed what she could to keep it from being ruined and tried to stay out of the way.
Seeing that Hermione was the only chance of stopping them, Sirius bore down on her with a determined run. "Padfoot, don't you dare!" With a gleam and a joyous bark Padfoot leaped and toppled Hermione to the floor. Unnoticed Harry and Ron grabbed as many cookies as they could carry and quickly left the kitchen. Seeing that the mission was successful Padfoot wagged his tail and deposited a sloppy kiss on Hermione's face. "Sirius!" She shouted. Hermione reached for her wand and Sirius made a quick escape. She noticed Crookshanks sitting next to her and glared. Crookshanks appeared to smirk and walked smugly out of the kitchen in Sirius' wake.
After that the women had banned everyone from the kitchen.
Sirius soon found himself wishing that the banning had happened sooner as he ate his share of the cookies. If it had he wouldn't have pinned Hermione on the floor in the kitchen. That wouldn't have led to thoughts of pinning her down in other places. Places like his bed for instance. Or up against his shower wall and even upon the floor of the library.
The library was his favorite fantasy. He imagined himself lying on top of Hermione's wonderful curves (and he knew she had them, he had gotten a nice introduction to them in the kitchen) on the padded rug surrounded by all the books. The books were the clincher. He knew how much Hermione loved books. He imagined showing her around his new home and the library he built just for her. She would look around in excitement until he directed that excitement towards more pleasurable pursuits than reading.
Sirius lost himself for a moment in the fantasy before the last few thoughts replayed in his head. Wait a minute. Library built for her? What was he thinking? He couldn't be thinking those sorts of thoughts. Those were serious thoughts and he made a point of not thinking serious thoughts. What was he doing noticing Hermione's curves or imagining them anywhere in his vicinity? Her parents would kill him. Ron would kill him! What would Harry think? He glanced nervously at Harry beside him who was munching happily on stolen cookies oblivious to Sirius's thoughts.
Worse, what would Hermione think?
Would she think him a dirty old man if she found out? Would she feel pity for him reaching way out of his league? Sirius's stomach twisted itself in knots. He couldn't bear that. That wasn't even the worst case scenario either. What if she was horrified and repulsed? Or angry and cut him out of her life and from her friendship? Sirius couldn't eat another bite at the thought.
That couldn't happen. It wouldn't happen. He resolved to put these thoughts out of his mind. He looked up gratefully when he heard Snape's voice in the entrance hall. For once he was actually happy to see the greasy git. He needed something to take his mind off of Hermione and the developing feelings for her that caught him by surprise. Annoying that Slytherin bastard would do nicely for a distraction.
********
The cooking managed to get done, the decorating of the house was finished, mistloe was put up, and last-minute gifts were wrapped. All day a steady stream of visitors descended upon Grimmauld Place.
Fred and George kept an eye on their intended victims and one by one as they happened to catch them alone made plans for the next morning. Everyone was easily convinced despite the twins' flimsy excuse to get up early and exchange gifts. It had been a long time since they were all together. It would be nice to keep the opening of their gifts between them. It would be a chance to speak freely among them without worrying about parents and such listening in. Which was exactly what Fred and George wanted.
Catching everyone for a private word also gave the twins a chance to observe just what was going on. To their surprise, there was rather a lot going on.
Sirius was avoiding Hermione but watching her with a wistful and sometimes yearning expression when she wasn't looking. Likewise Hermione was trying to ogle Sirius without being caught.
Percy was watching Luna with a thoughtful and considering expression throughout the day. Briefly the twins felt sorry for Luna until they nonticed her checking out his butt when he bent over to talk into the floo. Then they just wondered if she really was that loony or perhaps under a spell. Surely no one would willingly check out Percy's ass?
Draco and Ginny argued over how to hang this or what to do with that all the while trading outrageous innuendo in an attempt to goad the other into finally making a move. For a fearless Gryffindor and a confident Slytherin neither was willing to take that first step without being sure of the other's feelings first. Both found it impossible to imagine that the other might be interested in them.
All in all Fred and George determined that the situation was ripe for their brand of magic.
End Part 4
Author: Kristen
Email: daydreamer257@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in the Harry Potter books. Their creation belongs solely to J.K. Rowling.
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairings: Sirius/Hermione, Percy/Luna, Draco/Ginny
Spoilers: Up to Book 5, Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix. Characters and situations from the book Except the major character death may be mentioned. If you haven't read it and wish to remain unspoiled, turn back now!
Summary: Answer to Shannon's Shades of Grey challenge with a Harry Potter twist. Fred and George's new invention causes everyone to admit to past or present crushes. The results inspire some very interesting changes.
Feedback: Is appreciated and cherished. This is my first HP fic I've been brave enough to post. Let me know what you think.
A.N. 1 Obviously this is slightly AU since Sirius is still alive in this fic and it's set in the future, post-Hogwarts. Just assume that everything else in Book 5 happened with one exception: Sirius didn't die. Now that we're all clear, enjoy!
A.N. 2 Much thanks to Emmy for the beta and to those who have sent feedback.
A.N. 3 I know it's still not Christmas yet. Don't shoot me! I wanted to get this out of the way first before I tackled that. Christmas morning mayhem will come in the next part I promise.
Part 4
The next day was Christmas Eve and the house was buzzing with noise and energy. At the moment, Fred and George were slipping some of their trick candy into the candy dishes set around the house hoping to catch visitors unawares.
Meanwhile, Molly had her troops busy in the kitchen producing cookies and getting things ready for the next day's dinner. Ginny, Luna, and Hermione had been commandeered for this task. Tonks was determined to help as well and Molly had her cutting cookie shapes from the dough. It was the only thing Molly could think of with the least potential for disaster. Tonks had fallen to her task with gusto and was creating her own style of Christmas cookies. One thing Tonks wasn't was traditional. And there were very few of the traditional shapes lining the cookie sheets.
Throughout the day Sirius and Remus conspired with Draco, Ron, and Harry to distract the women and snatch some cookies. When Draco had picked a fight with Ginny they had managed to get away with a whole batch by pulling the other women into the argument.
Remus preferred a more sneaky approach. He would come in frequently to see Tonks and pocket a cookie or two while he kissed her senseless.
Sirius approached the chaotic approach. He transformed into his animagus form and chased Crookshanks around the kitchen. They raced around the kitchen between feet and under chairs, over the counters and around the table while Molly chased Sirius with a rolling pin. Tonks aimed curses their way and accidentally hit Ginny with a shouted, "Petrificus Totalis!" Ginny went down with a crash and Molly leaped over her like an Olympic hopeful clearing the last hurtle for the gold. Sirius weaved and dodged and managed to bring Molly and Tonks crashing into each other. They went down in a heap of curses. Luna grabbed what she could to keep it from being ruined and tried to stay out of the way.
Seeing that Hermione was the only chance of stopping them, Sirius bore down on her with a determined run. "Padfoot, don't you dare!" With a gleam and a joyous bark Padfoot leaped and toppled Hermione to the floor. Unnoticed Harry and Ron grabbed as many cookies as they could carry and quickly left the kitchen. Seeing that the mission was successful Padfoot wagged his tail and deposited a sloppy kiss on Hermione's face. "Sirius!" She shouted. Hermione reached for her wand and Sirius made a quick escape. She noticed Crookshanks sitting next to her and glared. Crookshanks appeared to smirk and walked smugly out of the kitchen in Sirius' wake.
After that the women had banned everyone from the kitchen.
Sirius soon found himself wishing that the banning had happened sooner as he ate his share of the cookies. If it had he wouldn't have pinned Hermione on the floor in the kitchen. That wouldn't have led to thoughts of pinning her down in other places. Places like his bed for instance. Or up against his shower wall and even upon the floor of the library.
The library was his favorite fantasy. He imagined himself lying on top of Hermione's wonderful curves (and he knew she had them, he had gotten a nice introduction to them in the kitchen) on the padded rug surrounded by all the books. The books were the clincher. He knew how much Hermione loved books. He imagined showing her around his new home and the library he built just for her. She would look around in excitement until he directed that excitement towards more pleasurable pursuits than reading.
Sirius lost himself for a moment in the fantasy before the last few thoughts replayed in his head. Wait a minute. Library built for her? What was he thinking? He couldn't be thinking those sorts of thoughts. Those were serious thoughts and he made a point of not thinking serious thoughts. What was he doing noticing Hermione's curves or imagining them anywhere in his vicinity? Her parents would kill him. Ron would kill him! What would Harry think? He glanced nervously at Harry beside him who was munching happily on stolen cookies oblivious to Sirius's thoughts.
Worse, what would Hermione think?
Would she think him a dirty old man if she found out? Would she feel pity for him reaching way out of his league? Sirius's stomach twisted itself in knots. He couldn't bear that. That wasn't even the worst case scenario either. What if she was horrified and repulsed? Or angry and cut him out of her life and from her friendship? Sirius couldn't eat another bite at the thought.
That couldn't happen. It wouldn't happen. He resolved to put these thoughts out of his mind. He looked up gratefully when he heard Snape's voice in the entrance hall. For once he was actually happy to see the greasy git. He needed something to take his mind off of Hermione and the developing feelings for her that caught him by surprise. Annoying that Slytherin bastard would do nicely for a distraction.
********
The cooking managed to get done, the decorating of the house was finished, mistloe was put up, and last-minute gifts were wrapped. All day a steady stream of visitors descended upon Grimmauld Place.
Fred and George kept an eye on their intended victims and one by one as they happened to catch them alone made plans for the next morning. Everyone was easily convinced despite the twins' flimsy excuse to get up early and exchange gifts. It had been a long time since they were all together. It would be nice to keep the opening of their gifts between them. It would be a chance to speak freely among them without worrying about parents and such listening in. Which was exactly what Fred and George wanted.
Catching everyone for a private word also gave the twins a chance to observe just what was going on. To their surprise, there was rather a lot going on.
Sirius was avoiding Hermione but watching her with a wistful and sometimes yearning expression when she wasn't looking. Likewise Hermione was trying to ogle Sirius without being caught.
Percy was watching Luna with a thoughtful and considering expression throughout the day. Briefly the twins felt sorry for Luna until they nonticed her checking out his butt when he bent over to talk into the floo. Then they just wondered if she really was that loony or perhaps under a spell. Surely no one would willingly check out Percy's ass?
Draco and Ginny argued over how to hang this or what to do with that all the while trading outrageous innuendo in an attempt to goad the other into finally making a move. For a fearless Gryffindor and a confident Slytherin neither was willing to take that first step without being sure of the other's feelings first. Both found it impossible to imagine that the other might be interested in them.
All in all Fred and George determined that the situation was ripe for their brand of magic.
End Part 4