Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, events and/or places that are recognized as being written and created by J.K. Rowling. J.K. Rowling owns all the characters and places from the Harry Potter books including the ones used in this story.
A/N: Thanks for the lovely reviews Larka, Bethje, lelegurl9 and Jelli-baby!! And Larka-I'm a Lupin girl too....so he won't be missing from this story!!
A blur of orange ran across the table and pounced, tail wagging, onto Sirius's lap. While, Crookshanks purred loudly, Sirius started scratching behind the cats ears with both of his hands. Crookshanks stroked his head under Sirius's chin and curled up against his chest.
Hermione couldn't help but laugh; even Crookshanks was infatuated with Sirius.
"I think I've got a boyfriend," Sirius said smiling at Crookshanks and laughing at his own comment. Hermione stuffed her mouth with food and giggled. She reached her hand over to pet her cat. Instead of feeling fur though, her fingers came into contact with skin and she withdrew her hand back; ignoring the burning feeling left on her fingers. "Sorry," Hermione squealed.
Sirius burst out laughing. "That's all right Hermione," he said. "You can pet my hand if you want," he added with a smirk.
Hermione giggled uncontrollably. "Ouch!" she screamed suddenly, bringing her leg up to her chest and rubbing her calf.
"Oh, I'm so sorry Hermione," Ginny said, in a mock concerned voice. "Was that your leg? I thought it was the tables'."
Hermione and Ginny both glared at each other making Sirius feel slightly uncomfortable. "I need to go feed Buckbeak," he said glancing at the clock on the wall and pushing Crookshanks off of him.
Hermione pulled her chair back and stood, allowing Sirius room to get out.
"Thanks," he said. "You know? I like this whole look you've got going on today." He pointed his finger up and down Hermione as he strutted out of the room.
Hermione smiled toothily at him and pulled herself back up to the table.
"What!?" Ginny shouted at Hermione, once Sirius left. "I'm wearing the same thing!"
Hermione shrugged her shoulders, smiling triumphantly and stuffed her mouth with food once more.
"What do you think you're doing anyways?" Ginny asked, completely annoyed.
"What do you think you're doing?" Hermione asked back.
"I asked you first!"
"So?"
"So!?" Ginny screamed, causing Crookshanks to hiss and duck under a chair. "Answer the question!"
"I don't think I'm doing anything, Ginny. Calm down."
"Sorry," Ginny whispered, smoothing her hair back behind her ears. "You should know though, I've claimed Sirius."
Hermione leaned forward, confused. "Excuse me?"
"I've claimed him. He's mine."
Hermione laughed. "I don't think so."
"Think again then," Ginny said in a deadly tone. "I liked him first."
"Ginny, Sirius isn't yours,"—Ginny opened her mouth to retaliate—"He's not mine either." Ginny stared blankly at Hermione. "Sirius is 33 and we're 13 and 14. Do you really think he'd go out with us?"
"No," Ginny said, pouting. "But it's fun to flirt with him."
"I know!" Hermione said, giggling. "Especially since he obviously flirts back."
Ginny joined in with Hermione's giggling. "What do you like best about him?" she asked.
"Um...his hair; I love his black hair."
"Please don't tell me you have a crush on Harry too." Ron said; he had walked into the room and caught the end of Ginny's and Hermione's conversation. He stood in front of the table, glaring at Hermione.
"No!" Hermione shrieked, shaking her head,
"Oh good!" Ron said, breathing a sigh of relief. "Who were you talking about then?"
Hermione stared wide-eyed at Ron, blushing deeply.
"Snape!" Ginny blurted out. Ron and Hermione shot her confused looks. "We were making fun of Snape."
"Yeah," Hermione said turning back to Ron and mentally praising Ginny. "I just forgot to add greasy."
Ron laughed. "Come on. Mum wants you two to come help clean."
Hermione and Ginny received their instructions from Mrs. Weasley and they made their way into one of the upstairs bedrooms. They were put in charge of cleaning an old, stained rug. The two hadn't spoken since they left the dining room.
"You still like Harry, right?" Hermione spoke up finally.
Ginny shrugged her shoulders. "I guess; maybe a little."
Hermione stopped what she was doing and gaped at Ginny. "You don't like him," she said slowly.
"Well," Ginny said, putting her wand in her pocket. "Harry doesn't like me, so, why should I keep chasing him? I need to move on."
"And Sirius Black is the perfect person to move on to," Hermione said, sarcastically.
Ginny laughed. "Oh, shut up." Ginny sat down on an old chair and lounged back comfortably. "What about Krum?"
Hermione walked over to where Ginny was and sat down in a similar chair next to her, leaning her back against the arm rest and swinging her legs over the opposite one. "What about Krum?" she asked.
"Isn't he your boyfriend?"
"No!" Hermione shrieked in the same manner as when Ron asked her if she liked Harry.
"I thought you just sent him an owl?"
"Well," Hermione said, sighing. "We're friends. He'd like to be more but I just don't like him like that."
"Like how you like Sirius?" Ginny pressed.
Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes. "I don't like Sirius, Ginny. It's just some stupid crush. I don't plan on attaching myself to him and following him around like some love sick little girl."
"Good," Ginny said standing up and walking back over to where she was cleaning. "Because I do; and there's only room for one love sick little girl in this house."
Both of them started laughing. "Let's not forget Ginny," Hermione joined Ginny on the rug. "He did like my outfit and not yours."
Ginny stuck her tongue out at Hermione. "I bet he likes my hair better than yours." Ginny said, eyeing Hermione's hair in mock disgust.
"Of course he does. I like your hair better than mine." Hermione said, pulling at one of her curls.
Ginny flipped her hair back snobbishly and laughed. Hermione and Ginny both went back to their work.
"Hey," Ginny said after five silent minuets passed. "Which one of us do you think Sirius really would like better?"
Hermione rolled her eyes and planned on not responding.
"I bet it would be me," Ginny sighed. Hermione made a sound in the back of her throat. "Yep; actually I would bet 500 pretend Galleons that he would fall in love with me and not you."
Hermione surveyed Ginny. "I don't bet," she said in an annoyed tone.
"We're going to do it!" Ginny proclaimed and Hermione stared at her like she didn't understand English. "We're--me and you--are going to find out which one of us Sirius would fall in love with first."
"Um, no we are not," Hermione stated, shaking her head vigorously.
"Come on" Ginny whined. "Is there anything better to do around here?"
Hermione thought about this for a moment. There really wasn't anything better to do around there. "All right," she said, to Ginny's delighted squeals. "May the best girl win."
