Just reposting this chapter to fix a minor error caught by my muse dancing in rain. I'm so embarrassed! I just finished watching the third movie yet again so my brain must have been in third year mode! Forgive me please!
Elbereth Gilthoniel – Holy Crap thanks for the awesome review! I really hope you will continue to enjoy the story!
Mai Gamit – Thank you so much! I'm so glad people found that chapter amusing. I could totally picture it in my mind and so I couldn't resist having Sirius do it! Lol
dancing in rain – I haven't decided yet if I'm going to set this story near a full moon or not. It has been running through my mind and could definitely cause some major mayhem! I think I'll be just as surprised as everyone else as to what the answer to that one will be. Lol It is amazing how this story just seems to be writing itself..well with a little help from my muse! Thanks so much for all the insight that you give to me hun.
moonyNZ – I think only Padfoot could have done that and not have been killed by an irate Hermione. Lol I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for the review and I can only hope that I can continue to keep the story interesting for you.
lee74 – Thank you so much for the review! Here is the next chapter for ya! I hope you like it.
PadfootsLuvr – I'm glad that you are feeling all the emotions you have been. It is a real compliment and I hope that I can continue to keep your emotions all jumbled about! Lol Thank you very much for the review!
Forgive me all as this is not one of my best chapters, but I hope it isn't overly bad! On with the story!
Ginny was impressed at how quick Draco was in learning sign language. He had mastered the alphabet early as Hermione had taught him the basics and now they were working on the signs for words. After awhile they chose to take a break and simply talk to one another.
"Are you ok?" Draco signed.
"Yes." She replied.
Draco watched her for a moment and then his hands moved as he signed to her again. "Are you ok? Really?"
"I'm scared." She signed back.
Draco nodded and then smirked for a moment before signing again. "Aren't you supposed to be a Gryffindor? Where is all that hope and courage you 're supposed to have?"
Ginny's eyes flashed with anger and then she started to chuckle softly. Trust Draco to be Dracoish at a time like this.
"Seeing a man get his head blown off can shake the bravest of souls I think." She replied.
Draco signed back, "I agree." He noticed Ginny's eyes flicker beyond him and he turned to look down the aisle. A guard walked down to Hermione's cell and took some time in convincing the dog within, but eventually he managed to clip a leash onto it and led it out of the cell block. When the wizard and witch were sure they were alone their hands started to move at the same time.
Draco indicated that Ginny go first and so she started moving her hands. "What is going on with Hermione do you think?"
"I can't be sure really. I thought it was a training session, but it has been too long. To take the dog away as well…it worries me." Draco gave a concerned look before it turned curious. "When did Hermione get a dog?"
"Oh, he is a new addition to her house." Ginny lied.
Draco's brow furrowed and his gray eyes turned steely. "You are lying to me."
"Yes, but it is not my place to tell." She admitted.
Draco didn't seem to want to accept the answer, but he simply nodded and allowed it to rest.
"Will you tell me of the training sessions? I'm worried." Ginny signed to Draco.
"I don't want to because I hate to picture you going through them, but I will if you really want." He replied.
She gave him an affirmative nod and Draco spent the rest of their day trying to explain all that he had learned about the company from his experiences and why they were living in this hell at the current time.
Harry walked up behind his friend and rested a hand on his shoulder. "We'll get them back Ron."
Ron didn't move his gaze from the window. He wasn't looking at anything in particular, just off in the distance somewhere while his mind sorted through memories from long ago.
"I feel like I'm back in second year." Ron said softly.
Harry settled in beside him, letting his own gaze wander aimlessly over the street below.
"I know, but you were brilliant then. If you hadn't been there for me and Hermione we never would have killed the basilisk." Harry replied.
"You killed the basilisk. My crappy wand caused that cave in and I wasn't able to help you one bit." Ron muttered. "My own sister could have died because of me."
"Ron, don't you even remember Lockehart trying to Obliviate us? If it wasn't for your crappy wand we wouldn't have remembered that Ginny was even in the Chamber of Secrets." Harry said as he looked at his friend's profile.
They both stood silently for a while, Harry's gaze back upon the view out the window and Ron's gaze was glassy as he stared into nothing.
"We may have our fights Ginny and I, but I love her and I would die for her Harry." Ron said softly.
"I understand mate, I truly do." Harry replied.
Ron finally tore his gaze away from the window and looked at his friend's profile. "Yeah I guess you do. So when are we set to leave? By the way do we really have to tolerate Snape?" Ron's voice started to sound incredulous and Harry laughed in response.
"Ron, mate to save Hermione and Ginny I would be willing to drag Voldemort along if I knew he would help." Harry said with a smirk.
Ron shivered visibly. "Well thank Merlin he is dead and you aren't tempted to do just that." He muttered.
Harry laughed and clapped Ron on the back.
"Hey, is dinner ready yet? I'm famished." Ron asked which caused Harry to laugh even more.
"Lets go check, I'm sure we can find something to eat if it isn't." Harry replied and both friends turned to fill their bellies.
Merlin had listened in at the door hearing the loud splash and yells of Hermione and figured that the dog had joined her. He chuckled as she yelled at the dog and asked if she was ok. Her response had seemed so natural, as if she had been talking with a friend and not stuck as a prisoner. Perhaps he was one step closer to his goal of her acceptance of him.
He called out to her letting her know that he was going to get her food ready and started to head down the stairs, chuckling on the way down. He made it halfway down before he realized what he was doing. His hand flew up to his lips and he wondered at the smile upon them. It was a rare thing for him these days to smile about something other than power and money.
He shook his head and scowled as he continued his path down to the kitchen. The meal only needed to be heated as he had sent one of his men to retrieve it while he concentrated on her clothing and the dog. Soon he would have to face a barrage of her questions, but he would refuse her until she had a meal in her belly.
Hermione wrapped the towel around herself as she stepped out of the bath. She took a moment to survey the destruction of the beautiful washroom. "We sure did a number on this room Snuffles." She said with amusement.
The dog turned his eyes towards her and she felt her cheeks redden with the knowledge that he had seen her very naked just a short while ago. Hermione shifted uncomfortably for a moment and then pointed over her shoulder with her thumb as she spoke.
"I'm..I think I'll just get changed now. I'll be right back ok?"
Sirius gave a slight nod and Hermione could feel his gaze on her until she was through the doorway. She paused when she entered the bedroom and sighed deeply. The fact that Sirius did not seem repulsed by her body was a good thought to her and she felt her stomach flutter with butterflies as she pictured Sirius in the bathtub as a man and not a dog with her. Hermione closed her eyes and gasped softly as a wave of warmth rippled through her core and her skin prickled with goose bumps at the mere thought of his skin on hers.
Her breathing was a little shallow as she opened her eyes and refocused on the room and she had to give herself a shake to clear her mind. The room was beautiful with a giant king sized bed within. Her eyes focused on the clothing that lay upon the dark burgundy comforter and she about squealed out loud when she saw the pair of cotton knickers and the simple lace bra.
After she put on her undergarments, she allowed herself to look at the outfit that was laid out for her. It was beautiful and she prayed that it would look just as lovely on her. The pants were straight legged and cream coloured with a matching jacket that had a belt about the waist. The sleeveless blouse was an emerald green and the material was a glorious silk. It was dressy yet business like and it was perfect for her she thought to herself.
"Damn it he is good." She muttered as she reached for the pants to put them on. When she had slipped on the entire outfit, she belted the jacket loosely but enough that the curve of her waist was accented. Now her eyes drifted to the shoe box and she admired the most gorgeous pair of strappy sandals that were inside. After Hermione slipped them on she walked over to the floor length mirror on the one wall and couldn't help but be pleased with how she looked.
Hermione watched as her cheeks started to redden when she thought of what Sirius would think of her in this outfit. "Why delay it?" she muttered to herself and entered the bathroom once again.
Sirius turned his head when he heard the tap of the shoes against the tile and his head snapped into place. 'Merlin she is beautiful.' He thought to himself. The outfit that she was in was before was revealing, but Sirius hated it because it was not Hermione. This on the other hand had to have been made for the beautiful witch.
She twirled in front of him while holding her arms out. "You like?"
Sirius couldn't help himself as he walked over to her slowly, never taking his eyes off of hers. When he got within a foot of her he let himself fall to the ground and rolled over onto his back.
Hermione giggled and knelt down to rub his chest, letting her fingers slide through his slightly damp coat. "I'll take that as a yes." She said before standing up again.
She completed getting ready buy drying her hair and applying a light coat of makeup that was found in the vanity. When she was done she leaned back against the counter and looked down at Sirius. "I'm worried about him. I'm worried as to why he wants me here and why he is doing all this. Watch him Snuffles, when I'm not around him watch him really carefully. Maybe one of us will get a whiff of what his plan may be."
Sirius gave her an approving nod and the two of them seemed to collect themselves before Hermione opened the door to face the next challenge before them.