A/N: Ah! I finally reached the 10th chapter of my story! This chappie is dedicated to Captain Oblivious who can't wait to know whether Harry saw the album or not. ;) Hihi!

Revised: 28 August 2004

The Future Awaits
Chapter 10: Ponderings

It was 7 o'clock in the evening. Dim lights filled the dark room. Harry was lying on his bed, starring blankly on the ceiling. None of his friends were back. Just then, the doorbell rang. Harry sighed heavily, before getting up to get the door. He cast a visibility spell it, which Hermione had taught him to see the visitor. It was Ron. Glad to have a company, Harry opened the door to let his flatmate in.

"Hiya, Harry! Is Mione back yet?"

"Nope."

Ron sighed a relief, which made Harry narrowed his eyes.

"Good, good. I want to show you the ring Ginny and I chose this afternoon, for her birthday."

Harry's eyes widened. "You mean… You're going to…?"

Ron blushed, and nodded. "I'm really nervous, Harry. Do you think she'll agree?"

Harry gave an immediate frown. "I don't know, mate. Let me think…"

Ron's expression immediately changed to horror.

"RON!! Of course, you jack ass! You guys have been crazy for each other since… I dunno… since forever! Of course she'll marry you!"

Ron looked down, looking glum as ever.

"Don't worry, mate. You're worrying as if you're asking Queen of England's hand in marriage!"

Ron nodded, feeling reassured. He finally took notice of the atmosphere of the room. "Why is our apartment so dark, Harry?"

Harry smirked. "Sometimes, it's good to think in the dark."

Ron shook his head, not believing his friend. Harry has gone a bit bonkers ever since Sirius fell into that Veil.

"Sometimes, I'm scared of you, Harry…"

"Oh, yeah? BOO!"

Ron rolled his eyes. He sat in his favourite armchair, still fiddling with the velvet maroon box in his hands.

"So, let me see the ring," said Harry.

"Oh. Yeah. Here," Ron handed the box to his friend.

It was a pretty simple white gold ring with a small diamond and some engravings 'To Love And Beyond', which would glitter when it's being read.

"Not bad. I bet it was Ginny who chose it for you, since I know you got crappy taste."

"I'm touched, Harry. You know me so well… or should I say, 'you know Ginny that well?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Harry said, handing the box back.

Ron just sniggered.

"We're actually planning a surprise party for our Mione."

Ron looked up. "Sirius planned it up. He said he wanted it to be a thank you note for her."

"How come you never tell me?" Ron asked, feeling offended.

"Well… you were sleeping this morning. Sirius came by to tell me that."

"At least, you could have woken me up… It's my girlfriend's birthday."

Harry fidgeted, not knowing what to say. On one hand, he didn't want to hurt his friend's feelings, and on the other, he wanted to defend his godfather.

"Well… Sirius told me I could tell you later." In truth, Sirius uttered none of these. Ron looked intently at Harry. Harry knew he was trying to read his mind. He finally heard a sigh from Ron.

"I don't know, Harry. I kinda have a feeling Sirius is avoiding me. He never really talks to me. Did I do something wrong?"

Harry couldn't help but agree silently. He too didn't understand his godfather's behaviour towards his best friend. He was okay with him in their 4th and 5th year…

"Nah! I think it's just your imagination."

Ron snorted and said, "That's what Mione told me."

The door bell rang just then. It was Hermione. Ron gave her a peck as a form of greeting.

"Guys, please excuse me tonight. I'm really knackered. I'm going straight to bed." With a big yawn, she went straight to her room.

"Whoa! I never knew a Hermione Granger going to bed without getting a shower," Harry mused. Ron rolled his eyes.

"I'm going in too, Harry."

"She already said she's knackered, Ron. There's no point decoying her anymore."

"Harry, mate, if you don't get your perverted mind out of my way, I'm gonna bloody skin you alive!"

Harry rolled his eyes. "Okay, okay. Go on. Leave me alone…"

Ron was already walking into his room which he shared with Hermione, when Harry said these. The last words he heard from Harry was his continuing self-pity, "…all by myself…"

Outside in the living room, Harry sighed heavily. Feeling totally lonely, he retreated into his own bedroom. His mind started reeling on what Ron said earlier. He pulled out his drawer on the end table, and took out the piece of picture he had 'smuggled'. He lied back onto his bed.

Green bespectacled eyes narrowed down at the two figures in the picture, totally ignoring his parents, and the other two men.

Sirius was pointing his finger at the camera, whispering something to the brown haired girl in his arms before getting swatted on the arm. He then continued devouring her neck when suddenly he stopped to look at Harry, probably getting scolded by the cameraman, as the rest of the whole group sniggered. Finally, the whole lot of them gave a good pose.

Harry closed his eyes, drinking in the information from the picture. He gave one last look before putting both the picture and his glasses away.

"I've got to talk to Hermione about this," he promised himself before drifting to sleep.

A/N: Sorry there are not much SB/Hr scenes in this one. I wanna thank all my reviewers. I've decided that this time round, I'd like to give individual messages :)

Satin Valkyrie: Actually, I'm very honoured to be getting reviews from you. Honestly! I'd just found out about ur 'HG & the Voudoun Mirror'. Truly flabbergasted by it! I find it kinda difficult to find specific stories in FictionAlley. I read your beta version of ur 10th chapter in ur LiveJournal. Really wicked! Update soon, woman!

Jessie: Thanx! And yeah! SB/Hr rocks!

Rane2920072: Heheh! You're so sweet! Reviewing every chapter of mine… Thank you!

confused: Actually, there's no such hints of SB/Hr in the books. I dunno if the rest of the SB/HG fans agree with that. But in my case, I stumbled upon a fic about Hermione turning back to time (timeturner cliché), and found the pairing suitable. Time-by-time, I got addicted to this pairing.

fuzzfurry: Thank you! :) I just hope my future chapters will be up to standard. I'm a horrible planner. Sometimes I can just get stuck, not knowing how to continue!

Green-Eyed-Moony: So sweet! Thank you!

Captain Oblivious: Heheh! I hope this chapter satisfy you ;) As for the other part of your musing, yes. Hermione had already gone back in time, (which occurred in her 7th year; currently, she's already 19 years old.) My chapter Five actually kind of explains the main situation.

s.s.harry: 'Spaghettios'? What are 'spaghettios'? I can only think of 'spaghetti' right now… Uh! I'm hungry!