Authoress Ramble: Uh - it's been a while. Hope you're not too angry with me. I've had sooo much to do - if you wanna know, I'll tell you in a mail. Finally got a Beta-reader! Great! If I could write you a ton of prasing letters, I would. And while I still have some kind of memory left: this story is dedicated to the one and only Annie! You helped me build this, though you probably don't know how...

WARNINGS: FROM NOW ON, HUGE WARNINGS OF PEOPLE BEING OUT OF CHARACTER!

CHAPTER 5

Harry stared at Hermione, looking like a goldfish for all he was worth. Hermione was scowling, arms crossed. Her hair was as brown and bushy as ever, her eyes still the same. She wore a pair of old jeans and a knitted sweater, clearly one of her own productions.

'Harry?' she asked in a tone that made Harry's goldfish-manners flee and a look of pure embarrassment

replaced them. Draco swallowed nervously in Harry's arms, his hands still clutching Harry's hips firmly.

"It's okay, Draco. Go sit by the table," Harry said and signed at the same time. 'Take a seat Hermione, I'll make you some tea.'

'What's he doing here?' Hermione blurted out as soon as she'd found a chair. 'You know what kind of weekend it is!'

'I - uh - It just - happened,' said Harry as he searched for a clean teacup. 'It's not like I planned it.'

'Really?' said Hermione, sounding both tired and annoyed. 'Be very, very glad that Terry took Jonie with him to get her a banana. I'd have had a fit if she'd seen you.'

'Crap,' Harry mumbled as he put the kettle on, before sitting next to Draco.

'What's going on?' said Draco a bit too loudly. Hermione seemed uneasy and shifted in her chair, looking at anything but the former Slytherin. Harry reached for Draco's hand and signed.

Hermione's angry with me because I forgot they were bringing Jonie.

Why, Harry? Who's Jonie? Are there more people here?

Not now, Terry took Jonie to get a banana. I suspect they'll be here any minute now.

But, who is Jonie?

The door opened and Harry could hear Terry and Jonie laughing in the hallway. He rose, signing fast in Draco's hand.

I'll have to find more cups, I'll explain soon.

'Dada!' squeaked a little girl in the arms of a brown-haired man. She was holding a large banana in her hand and waving it against Harry. 'Nana!'

'Jonie!' Harry beamed. 'How good to see you!'

'Dada, nana,' said Jonie, her brown eyes wide and black hair in a mess. She patted Harry's cheek with a small hand. Harry smiled at Terry and took his daughter in his arms. Terry was watching Draco with slight fear. They walked over to the table, where Hermione was smiling at the little girl. He sat next to Draco.

'Jonie, this is Draco,' he said. 'Wave!'

Jonie waved both her hands, managing to smack Harry on the nose with the banana.

'Daa-koo,' she said and the turned to Harry again. 'Nana!'

'Yes, a banana. You'll eat that in a moment. Say hi to Draco first.'

'Hi,' said Jonie, looking a bit shy.

'Draco can't hear you,' said Harry. 'Like this.'

He took her hand and laid it on top of Draco's. Draco jumped slightly. Harry held Jonie's hand and pulled it down to Draco's fingers and then let Jonie touch the tip of Draco's middle finger. Jonie frowned, but giggled and waved the banana in her other hand.

"Hi," Harry said and kissed Jonie's cheek. 'Banana?'

'Nana!'

'Okay. Just a second.' Harry signed with one hand in Draco's. "That was Jonie saying hi. Can you hold her while I get her a plate? She has a banana in her hand and is waving it a lot."

'I'd rather not,' said Draco. 'What if I drop her?'

"You wont. Here, hold her like this."

Harry placed Jonie securely in Draco's arms, ignoring Hermione's worried look. Then he went to get the kettle, a teacup for Terry (who had sat down next to his wife), a plate and a small spoon. He poured tea for everyone, put a cooling charm on Draco's cup so he wouldn't burn his hand and mashed half the banana.

'Boot?' said Draco suddenly. 'Is that you?'

Terry swallowed nervously.

"It is," signed Harry. "I'll take Jonie now, so I can't sign for a while."

They drank the tea in silence; both Terry and Hermione giving Draco uneasy looks. Harry fed his daughter the mashed banana, even though she probably drooled half of it out again. Then Harry handed the now a bit sleepy girl to her mother and took Draco's hand.

I'm done now, Hemione's holding Jonie.

'Could you explain what Boot is doing here?' said Draco, quite testily.

"He's been married to Hermione for almost a year now. Didn't I tell you?"

'Can you translate?' asked Terry. Harry nodded. 'Hi, Draco.'

'Boot,' Draco recognized, voice loud and cold. 'I thought I smelled you.'

'You - oh.'

'Why are you trying, Boot? Don't bother. You never cared and I don't understand why you would now. No need to translate more, Harry. I'll go to bed for a while.'

With that, Draco pulled his hand back and rose, walking out the room. Hermione stared after him, fright and awe in her eyes. Terry just looked ashamed.

'What was that about?' she asked, handing the half-sleeping child back to Harry.

'We have some history, me and Draco,' said Terry. 'Nothing to worry about.'

'Well,' said Hermione in a way that made Harry wince. They would be talking about it. 'Thanks for the tea Harry. I left Jonie's stuff in the hallway on the table. I'll get her on Monday morning.'

'But -' said Harry.

'I don't care Harry, as long as you don't force her to - comunicate,' Harry scowled a bit, 'with him. It's your mess Harry. You knew I'd bring her here this weekend. I trust you to take care of it.'

'But -' said Harry again, his little daughter yawning in his arms.

'You missed the last time Harry, that's enough. You're her father. Act like it. Come on Terry, we must get home.'

With that, she stalked out of there, Terry mumbling appologizes and following.


As for my stories: My longtime pride, The Secrets of Dragons, is currently on hold. In fact, so is Touch and Go too. I quit writing in the begining of June 2005 when my father suddenly died in a heartattack at the age of 46 and I have not yet found the inspiration to continue. I will though, because I love the Potterverse and I love playing in it. Both stories are unfortunately inchohorent and OOC and AU, which means that when I do return to writing, they will be rewritten.

Thank you for all your support and prayers due to the loss of my father,
- Sanna-Terocia.