DISCLAIMER: Just playing with someone else's toys. Not getting paid, so don't sue.
AN: ok, I know I took way too long to get this thing out but I've been swamped with everything! I'm in journalism so I have to run the school paper and being Co-Editor takes away time from my true favorite form of writing.. le sigh... anyway, sorry for being so long and the reviews definitely encouraged me! Keep em up and maybe I'll start pumping out chapters faster!
7. Just The Way You Are
Three weeks have passed.
Things around Grimmauld Place were definitely changing.
The members of the Order were working around the clock tracking and spying on Voldemort.
He was last rumored to be in Romania. Charlie, Bill and a team were sent looking for 'overgrown snakes.'
Sirius and the restless teenagers were often found in the sitting room playing wizard chess or telling stories. Although, mostly it would just be Sirius and the girls; the boys were off in their own little worlds.
Ron and his twin brothers would usually rather be up in the taken over attic (they traded rooms with Buckbeak from more space.) experimenting with new products for the joke shop than replaying each other in wizard chess fourteen billion times.
Draco and Harry had made a habit of spending hours together behind the locked doors of their room.
Hermione noticed all of theses going ons and she wasn't sure if she liked being stuck with Ginny day in and day out. Not that Ginny wasn't her best-friend or anything, it's just they ran out of things to do. All they did was gossip about what they hear around the large house.
Hermione thought she would share her last observation about the absent Harry and Draco with Ginny one day when they were playing chess.
"Don't you think it's a tad funny how all of the boys never hang around with us anymore?" Hermione said
"Yea, but I don't mind all that much. You and Sirius keep me entertained." Ginny said focusing on the board, plotting her next move.
"Oh and why not? I'd think you'd get bored of us."
"Well, you see my brothers as friends, I see them as brothers. I think they are annoying and even when we're doing nothing; they still annoy me with it. Only Ron doesn't bother me so much. Harry might as well be my brother, and ever since I stopped, well, crushing on him; they're all just prats! You and Sirius are different, your actually friends to me." Ginny smiled. "Knight to B5."
Ginny's knight glided over to its spot, smashing Hermione's pawn.
Hermione sat there, looking at the smashed pieces of her pawn, pondering what Ginny had said.. "I guess I understand that… I don't have any siblings so I don't know what that's like, exactly."
"Yea well, sometimes it's great, but honestly, I think your better off without any siblings." Ginny said, "Your move."
"I know… um... pawn to… oh I don't know, I forfeit." Hermione said with a sigh.
"Are you ok, Hermione?" Ginny asked, getting out of her chair to sit next to her.
Hermione looked into the concerned eyes of her best friend. She could trust Ginny right? Indeed, she could.
"I... well…" Hermione began, and then paused to think. "I'm in love with someone, and they are in love with me. We aren't together out in the open because we can't be…"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa… you're in love! And you didn't tell me! Who is it, Hermione!" Ginny said before she could finish.
Hermione blushed and looked to the floor. "Oh Ginny… it's so wrong, but it's.. It's so right… but if anyone found out, we wouldn't be able to be together anymore. No one knows about us except us and one other person…"
"Someone else knew before me? Oh you're going to get it... Who is it?"
Hermione mumbled something, still staring at the floor. She glanced up at Ginny quickly to see if she had heard her words. By the confused look on her face, she hadn't.
"What Mione?"
"It's… Sirius…"
Ginny sat back. And just stared, open mouthed.
"Please don't hate me, Gin! It's really not that horrible is it?" Hermione said, on the edge of tears.
Ginny shook herself out of her stunned state. "Oh no, Mione. It's fine." She scooted forward engulfing her into a hug, holding her close. "I think it's great. Who else knows?"
"Dumbledore, Sirius went to him before even trying to star anything with me. Dumbledore approved of it. You see," Hermione said as she sat back to look her friend in the eye. "He and I were sort of, fooling around a bit, and involved before he um... died… but anyway, when he came back, I knew I couldn't let him go again. I love him, Gin. I really, honestly do with all my heart and soul. He says he wants to be with me, but we cant really be together until after next year… I wish it could be sooner…"
"Oh sweetie, it's ok. You'll get to be together before you know it. You know who else I believe has been getting involved?" Ginny asked with a smirk.
Hermione smiled knowingly. "Harry and Draco."
Ginny giggled. "I can't believe it! Harry and a Malfoy! Wait until Ron finds out! He'll be livid."
"Oh, Gin! We're not even supposed to know" Hermione whined. "We really don't even know if it's a true fact yet or not. But I do admit, if it isn't what's going on, I'll be wondering what spell Draco put him under to keep him captive for so long everyday." She smiled and gave a small giggle. "But personally, I think it's cute. It'll be good for Harry to have someone close to him in another fashion than just having all of us around all the time."
Ginny nodded with a smile. "I'm glad I got over him, I'd be heart broken right now other wise, but I really could care less, in fact I'm happy about it."
Hermione looked at her with a slightly confused, amused expression. "But Ginny, I thought you loathed Malfoy and he was a jerk and blah, blah, blah…"
"Yea, well, I got over Draco awhile ago, remember? He and Harry are not on my list as potential boyfriends. In fact, there is not a single person on my list at the moment."
Hermione had started to comment but was interrupted when Sirius opened the door, swaggered in, and quickly closed it behind him. He saw who was sitting on the couch and smiled.
"'ello, ladies."
"Sirius!" Hermione said breathlessly as she squirmed in her seat a little.
Ginny looked at Hermione, giggled and said hello to him.
"What's up with you two?" Sirius said with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh, nothing… right Gin?" Hermione said while trying to inconspicuously jab Ginny in the side with her elbow. Sirius being Sirius noticed of course.
Ginny just tried not to grin and nodded. She looked at Hermione who just kept looking at Sirius and started to giggle again.
Sirius huffed. "Alright, you squirming like you have ants in your pants you and you giggling like a bull goose loony trying to tell me there ain't anything going on. Right, now what's up?"
Hermione opened her mouth to speak but Ginny started talking before she could get one sound out.
Ginny grinned and giggled. "Well, now, Siri, don't get your knickers in a bunch; I know about, well, you know… you and her… I won't say a word! I promise on, um," she paused and then said." On my life! I promise on my life!" Ginny looked pleased, hoping that Sirius wouldn't freak out if she swore on her own life.
Sirius looked at her in feigned utter shock, and then grinned devilishly. "So that means I can kill you, right? If you break that promise?"
Ginny's giggles and smile faded. She gulped and stared for a second, then slowly gave a tiny nod.
Sirius laughed. "I'm kidding, Gin. I wouldn't kill you. I'd just... well, I won't get into that right now, and you might run off screaming like a little piggy." He gave his big Cheshire cat grin and started laughing like a maniac.
Sirius had changed when he went away, not a lot, but he did. No one really noticed except for Hermione and if anyone could tell if was her, and hooey-boy could she tell.
He had become a lot more rowdy and boisterous; a little odd for a man who just escaped from hell. She called it McMurphy Syndrome, naming it after a character in a book she read last summer called One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. The character, McMurphy, is a loud, charming, rebellious man with a strong sense of humor and comic exaggeration. According to Hermione, Sirius was all these things. McMurphy was also a manipulator, but not Sirius, he just seemed to joke around and pull pranks more; although he could get Hermione to do anything.
Hermione didn't mind him being like this, it was better than what she expected to be, haunted and skittish.
"So, what's up, we plotting how to burn down the house?" Sirius said rocking on his heels, Cheshire grin still occupying his face.
"No, dear, we're discussing Harry and um... something…" Hermione said, catching herself before she slipped out the rumor. She heard Ginny sigh in relief.
"Discuss Harry and what? He and that little ferret? Leave em be, they'll say something when they're ready to." Sirius said with a laugh.
"How'd you know?" Ginny asked with a sly smile.
"Fathers, well, godfathers, know these kinds of things. Mothers aren't the only ones who get that eerie sense of what their kids has in their head. Anyway, I've heard em; I figured it out real quick."
Hermione and Ginny's jaws gaped open slightly. Hermione collected herself first and said, "What do you mean you heard them?"
"Oh c'mon Hermione, you and I do it all the time." He said, eyebrows cocked, smirking.
Hermione turned a red to rival Ginny and Ron's hair.
Ginny saw how red she was and started to giggle herself silly.
Hermione punched her in the arm, "Oh shut up, Gin." She looked to Sirius, "And you're now on restriction, buddy, for saying that." She smiled as his grin fell.
"What... oh no, Mione, princess, sugar, please… pppppllllleeeeeaaaaassssseeeee! Anything but that!" Sirius said, launching himself at her feet, taking her hands and kissing them between words.
Ginny looked at them in a total awed expression as Hermione just sat there awestruck herself.
"But Siri," Hermione whined, "How can you always make me forgive you? Your so... So... ERG!"
"It's because I'm a charming fool that's madly in love with you," He said as is smile grew bigger, "and you love me back."
Hermione just sat there staring at him with the sweetest smile on her face, she opened her mouth to speak but no sound came out. She just blushed and looked at the floor then back up at him and bit her lip.
"Damn you, Sirius," She said as she slid off the couch onto him.
Ginny sighed, "Oh my god you two, jeez! I don't know how you've kept this a secret for so long now. You guys are so freaking cute it's disgusting. I hope Harry and Draco don't get as bad you."
"Oh Gin, your just jealous." Giggled Hermione.
Sirius smiled and whispered something that sounded like French into Hermione's ear.
Ginny pouted, "Damn right I'm jealous! Everyone's getting a boyfriend except me! Whatever, I'm going to go find somebody else to keep me entertained."
Ginny got up, walked over to the door and left.
Sirius smirked. "À ma tanière, mon amour ?" (To my den, my love?)
Hermione smiled, "Oui, de cours, chéri." (Yes, of course, darling.)
"What do you mean no?" Draco said haughtily while pacing in front of the grimy window.
"What does no mean, Draco? You should have figured it out by now, love." Harry said with a cheeky smile.
"They're going to find out eventually, Harry. If you don't say anything soon, then I will. I don't think Weasley will take it very well. If he has any issues with it, I'll curse him into the next millennia"
Harry glared at him, "You wouldn't dare, Malfoy."
Draco looked at him curiously, "Why don't you want anyone to know? Am I that horrible?"
Harry sighed and put his face in his hands. "No, Draco, you're not horrible. It's just that not everyone knows I'm gay and well…" He sat up, making the bed squeak, and then stared intently at the floor.
"You're afraid they'll be ashamed of you? Disgusted?" Draco asked quietly, kneeling in front him.
Harry gave a meek nod, never taking his eyes off the ground, avoiding Draco's gaze.
"Oh, Harry, I thought the same thing. I thought mother would hate me and disown me or something, but she didn't. She still loves me just the same, nothings changed. If they love you as much as I think they love you, and well, it's totally obvious you naïve prat, that they will love you no matter what. Trust me. Baby, I love you just the way you are, and I know they will to. Don't change a bit. "
Harry's watery emerald green eyes finally looked into Draco's loving silver ones. Harry smiled, causing a tear fall that Draco immediately wiped away.
"Plus, love, if they do 'disown' you, which they won't, but this is just so you'll feel better. Ok, if that happens, what did you think I would do? Just let them toss my boyfriend out the door? I don't think so, Harry. I'm always going to protect you" Draco got up, and sat on the bed next to him, wrapping him in his arms and gave him a passionate kiss.
Harry smiled into the kiss and moaned softly.
That moan drove Draco crazy, but he knew he couldn't go as fast as he would like to with Harry. He still slowly pushed Harry back onto the bed, leaning over him, kissing fiercely. Harry's hands went up the back of Draco's shirt, the touch making Draco shiver and moan, kissing Harry harder and more passionately. Draco's hands were tangled into the raven locks that belonged to his boyfriend who loved ever single second of it.
Draco realized he had to stop or he'd end up going over the edge so he lightened his kissing and slowed, breaking the kiss with Harry. He sat p fully, leaving Harry lying back, panting.
"Why do you always stop?" Harry said in a breathy tone, "You know, I don't want you to."
Draco looked down to him, "Well, it's so I don't end up going to far, I want to take things slow with you. I don't want to mess this up. I won't let it get messed up."
"What do you think your going to do that I won't like/" Harry asked innocently.
"I'm going to end up shagging you bloody senseless that's what!" Draco practically groaned out.
"Oh…" Harry said, realization dawning on his face. "I never really thought about that. I do want that to happen one day though, you know."
Draco grinned mischievously, "Is that a fact, Mr. Potter?"
Draco turned and looked down at Harry. He grabbed his arm and pulled him upwards into an embrace. Harry smiled and leaned in to start kissing him again. Draco's hands started roaming again…
"I wonder what Harry's been up too with Jerko Malform all this time. I wonder if he's tried to kill him yet." Ron pondered while searching for the fire pixie powder on the ingredients shelf.
"Come the fuck on, Ron, what are you doing, whacking off?" Yelled George over the loud bubbling and sizzling noises coming from around the vast room.
"Yea, Christ, Ronnikins, hurry up! We only have about 45 more second to get this into the potion before it explodes!"
'Shit!" thought Ron as he grabbed the little orange bottle and ran over to George, and handed it to him.
George took the bottle, sprinkled some into a spoon, and then dumped it in to one of the bubbling cauldrons. The bright pink turned to a violent orange striped with vivid purple with the powdered fire pixie.
"Your lucky, Ron," Fred said smiling, patting him roughly on the back, "The powdered pixie wing is very expensive,"
"And hard to find" added George
"And, of course, obtain." Fred concluded.
"Yea, damn, bloody lucky, mate." George said to Ron, "now hurry up and stir the cauldron over there, yes, that green one."
Ron sighed. Why had he gotten himself working 24/7 with his bossy and pranking older twin brothers?
Something behind him exploded.
"Fuck!" was heard yelled somewhere over by the explosion and then maniac laughter.
"Damn, that must have been the Maniacal Mixture potion,." groaned Fred. "He'll be laughing like that until dinner. We're still working on the potion, not the remedy."
At the mention of the dinner, Ron's stomach was hungry for the lunch his mother probably had for him down stairs.
"Hey Fred, I'm going to go down and eat lunch. You want to come?" Ron asked, hands in his pockets.
"Nah, I need to watch Loopy here." Said Fred. "I'll eat something at dinner when he's better, I'm not hungry anyway."
"Alright, see you later, bro." Ron said opening the door
He walked down the narrow stairs onto the hallway and got to Ginny and Hermione's door. He knocked and Ginny answered.
"Hey, what's up, you been blowing the roof off the house again?" Ginny asked.
"Going down for lunch, want to come?" Ron said, ignoring her question, stomach grumbling again.
"Yea, sure." Ginny said stepping out into the hallway shutting the door.
"Where's Hermione?" Ron asked curiously.
"I don't know where she is, she could be anywhere." Ginny said sounding a tinged irritated.
"You mad at her?" Ron said dumbly.
"Yes Ronald, I am, now let's drop the subject." Ginny snapped.
"Alright, jeez." Ron said looking down at the old hall runner carpet. "Do you think we should, um, get Harry and Malform, I mean Malfoy?"
"Malform?" Ginny asked amused.
"Yea, um… well, just something I came up with while hanging out with the twins. We talk crap about Jerko all the time."
"Ron, you better not let anyone hear you call him that. Draco's had it hard just like we have, he's not bad, Ron." Ginny said defensively,
"Why? Do you know something I don't?" Ron interrogated.
"No, I don't know nothing about nothing." Ginny said smirking at him. "Oh look at whose room we're at." Ginny was looking at Harry and Draco's room door.
Ginny knocked. They heard scrambling and then a throat clear and Harry opened the door.
"Hey guys, what's up?" said Harry, looking a little flushed.
"Oh, you know. Hungry, wanted to get lunch, wanted you and Draco to come down with us," asked Ron with a slow expression of understanding, turning a light pink. "So, you want to?"
"Sure, I'll go." Said Draco sweeping out of the room past Harry into the hallway next to Ginny.
"Well, I guess I'll be going to." Harry said shutting the door behind him as he followed the others down the hall.
Harry was walking on clouds for sure, going down that hallway. Draco Malfoy had Harry Potter wrapped around his finger and Mr. Potter was not complaining.
Draco was everything Harry had needed for so long and it had been in front of his face disguised as an enemy the whole time.
Harry liked who he was with and who he was and who he considered those to be family were. He liked everything, just the way it was.
"...The way you talk
The way you movin' closer
The way you kiss
The way you dip inside me
cause everytime
Everytime I think about you
I want you just
just the way you are..."
- Milky "Just The Way You Are"
AN: alright, so sorry about the wait again. I love you guys for reviewing, please keep doing it. If you want to know when it's updated, leave your email at the end of your comment and I'll let you know!
Next Chapter: Someone new, someone familiar, someone to love all rolled into the same person.
