A/N: Sorry for the long update. I could not get the 'alone' time with my PC these last few days.

Revised: 28 August 2004

The Future Awaits
Chapter 11: The Magnificent Venue

Both Harry and Ron had taken the liberty to apply for leave on Tuesday, without letting Hermione know. It was already two days before Hermione's birthday. The task of asking Hermione was well of forgotten with Harry. As for Ron, his nerves were getting the better out of him day by day.

"Okay, guys. I just called Hermione's Mom that we'll be at their house by noon," announced Harry.

"Called? When?" asked his godfather.

Harry did not answer him. Instead, he took out a small silver, metallic-looking device out of his pocket and showed it to him.

"What's that?"

"It's called a cell phone, Sirius."

"Sell fone? I only know of a fel- umm… t-telly-fone?" asked a confused Ron.

Harry sighed, shaking his head a bit. "I think you can leave that to Hermione to explain. Now, that's not the point. She told me she would prefer us making our entry like normal muggles do. So…"

The two purebloods nodded understandingly. They had discussed with Hermione's parents through owls that they want to make the party at their house, which they had agreed to wholeheartedly.

Today was the day they would start helping out decorating and setting up the place. All was going as planned. Mrs Granger with the ordered birthday cake, Molly with the dishes and delicacies, Harry and Ron with the guests, Remus and Sirius with the finance, Arthur with the transportations, and Fred and George who offered themselves for the surprises, despite Molly's disagreement telling them the Grangers won't be a tad happy with it.

All the three of them were very much excited to go to Hermione's house. None of them had ever gone there, except for Ron who did in their 4th year.

"Well, I did. But we never really got to tour the house. We landed on a small study room where Hermione was alone waiting with her luggage," explained Ron.

"C'mon, let's get a taxi. It's been long since I took these muggles' transport," said Harry.

The three of them walked out to Muggle London, when Sirius cautiously took out his wand… "Accio Tax-"

"Sirius!" Harry gasped, frantically lowering his godfather's hand, "that's not the way to get a taxi!"

"Then?"

"You've got to wait for them to appear and hail them like this," he said, putting out an arm, waving it a little.

Ron, who was pretty used to muggle transport, thanks to his soon-to-be-fiancée, sniggered loudly. Sirius gave him a withering look, obviously annoyed and insulted.

Five minutes already passed, and no vacant taxis were in view. Suddenly, a girly voice shouted at them. In a moment, Harry was scared it was Hermione. It was Ginny. Running towards them, panting heavily. "I hope you guys don't mind me joining. I think Mrs Granger would love to have at least one female company with her. Besides I'm bored at home."

Once Harry turned back to the road, a dark blue, capped-car stared back at him. He looked at Sirius who was smiling winningly. Harry gave him back an impressed look. The four of them finally entered the car, Ginny having taken the front seat.

"8 Westbury Grove, please," Harry told the driver, looking down at a small piece of parchment he had written on.

It was a long ride. It was not until fifty-five minutes later, until they saw a signboard with the words 'Westbury Grove' printed on it. All four of them were starring wide eyed at all the big houses… make that mansions, passing them. Even the taxi driver looked entranced by the neighbourhood. Ron gulped loudly. Hermione had never told him that she was this wealthy. He was now terrified about his plans for her birthday.

They passed 6th and 7th Westbury Grove. Ginny wore an expression of utter confusion. Where was the 8th? As in cue, the car turned in to a secluded path, leading to a magnificent circular driveway, decorated with hedges, flowers, plants and fountains. The taxi finally stopped in front of the mansion's entrance. "Here you are, 8 Westbury Grove. 23 pounds, please," said the driver.

But the driver was returned with nothing but silence, for his passengers were looking out the window with opened-mouth at the humongous, rich-looking brick mansion in front of them.

"Harry… are you sure this is Hermione's house?" asked a timid Ginny Weasley.

It was not Harry who answered her, but an annoyed looking driver, "Of course it is! Look at that!" He pointed to an elegant wood carving which was pasted on the wall of the building; '8 Westbury Grove – The Grangers'.

Just then, an old looking man came out from the back of the building. Harry quickly paid the driver with the muggle money he had on hand. Once the four of them were out, the old man welcomed them and introduced himself as the watchman of the mansion. Suddenly, there was a squeal heard from inside the house. The front door burst opened, and out came Wylona Granger, a pretty curly-haired middle-aged woman, best known as Mrs Granger. Right after her, came a man who looked in his early forties. It was Karl Granger, Hermione's Dad. Hermione's mother went down the steps before embracing the three young adults standing in front of her.

"Ron! Harry! Ginny! How so very nice to see you!"

They have seen a lot of the Grangers these past years, but never at their house. They always meet the Grangers either at the Burrow when they'd dropped Hermione over for the summer or at King's Cross Station. They would also make a few visits at their current apartment, once in a while. All the three young people smiled happily at the motherly figure. Mr Granger took his cue by smiling affectionately at his daughter's friends, "Hello there, people!"

'They were truly down-to-earth human beings, for someone so wealthy,' Harry thought, 'and the Dursleys are snobbish?' He snorted mentally at the thought. He suddenly noticed Sirius fidget silently. "Oh! How rude of me. Um… Mr and Mrs Granger, this is my godfather, Sirius Black. He was the one who planned this whole thing."

"Oh! Thank you, Mr Black. How nice of you. I'm Karl and this is my wife, Wylona," Mr Granger greeted, shaking his hand. He suddenly stopped, and stared at Sirius, "I remember hearing your name somewhere…" Sirius just smiled nervously.

"Well, c'mon you lot. Come in, make yourself at home," said a smiling Mrs Granger. She then called out to her house maid. "What would you have for drinks?" Wylona asked the four of them sweetly.

Sirius spoke up first, "C-Coco-Lala."

Both Ron and Harry stifled their laughter into choked coughs. Mrs Granger, however merely raised her eyebrows at Sirius, but quickly smiled at the man. Sirius was quickly reminded of Hermione's brilliant smile. So this is where Hermione got her smile from…

"Oh! You mean, Coca Cola?"

Sirius smiled sheepishly, looking utterly embarrassed. Sirius looked up at their maid to see she too was trying to hide her smile.

"I'll have that too," said Ron.

Wylona smiled at her daughter's boyfriend, and then looked at the two remaining friends who looked at each other. "Well, make that four Coca Cola with ice, please," Harry said politely to the maid. He quickly cringed at his own words, not really used at ordering people around. Ah! I bloody sounded like ordering food in a restaurant!

The maid smiled and disappeared into one of the rooms. She came back moments later with six glasses of dark brown bubbling liquid. The Grangers and the four of them chatted for a while before Karl Granger said, "You guys can just call any of the maids here if you need any help.

Soon, the four of them worked around the house. "I don't understand why you guys want to do the setting up, when they got house-maids of their own," grumbled Ginny.

The three men were instantly wondering about Hermione's SPEW. She seemed to have no qualms in having house-maids at her parents' house…

Just then, one of the maids came up to Ron and said, "Mr Weasley, Mr and Mrs Granger wishes to speak to you."

A/N: I don't know much about London. So, the taxi rates' too low or high, I don't know. I had thought of stuffing the whole idea on this one chapter. But it will make it long, and I guess it would make no difference separating the next part in a different chapter. But fear not, the next chapter should be up very soon.

I watched the 3rd movie last Tuesday. I'd watched it 2 times already. And I must say that it was quite satisfying for us SB/Hr shippers. (Spoiler warning) The climax, mainly! HELL! I even went ballistic when Snuffles (the dog) jumped over Hermione and Harry! Haha! I love the part when the 3 of them rode Buckbeak. Sirius was holding Mione on the waist. Even after that, he helped Mione (practically carried her) get down off Buckbeak, and held her hand for like 2-3 seconds. And what's more, even complimented her which caused her to smile at him with twinkling eyes. Quote from movie-Sirius "You are truly the brightest witch of your age." I just went to Heaven and came back to Earth right then!

Angulgurl: Heheh! Thank you.

fuzzfurry: Really? ;)

Sissiro: Yeah… SB/HG is very addictive!

Captain Oblivious: Glad you liked it. I have a "fair" deal for both Ron and Sirius in mind for this story. That's all I can say.

PsYcHoJo: Thank you so much!

Rane2920072: :) Hihi!

foggyglass: Thank you for the compliments. :) Though, I for one am both an R/Hr and a SB/Hr shipper.

Crystal: Harry is actually shocked about the photo, to say the least. Though he didn't show it to the Marauders, and his friends… I don't know how to put it… he wanted to find out about this 'mystery' by himself. Ah! That came out wrong. I hope the future chapters will explain better on this issue.