"Well, what's your way?" asked Hermione.
"We'll have to go through Bulgaria," Jason said plainly. "It will take a few weeks though."
Hermione smiled, Ron scowled at her and mouthed something that looked like, 'fraternizing with the enemy.' Harry rolled his eyes.
"What's wrong with Bulgaria?" James asked Harry.
"Viktor Krum, a Quidditch player from Bulgaria, likes Hermione but that was a few years ago," Harry said looking as Hermione tied up her hair in a ponytail and tried to make it look neat. "I didn't think Ron would still be jealous of him."
"I am not jealous," Ron said. "Even if you did fraternized with the enemy."
"The enemy?" Hermione said taken aback. "He is not the enemy!"
"Here we go again," Harry said rolling his eyes as they started to argue. "Another dose of déjà vu."
"Okay," Jason said over the bickering of Ron and Hermione. "Let's go then."
"I am not going to Bulgaria," Ron said.
"Deal with it, Ron," Hermione said. "We are going and that's final."
"Oh, so you want to see Vikki, don't you Hermy-own-ninny?" Ron said imitating Viktor.
"Do not call him Vikki!" Hermione said. "What's you're problem with him anyway?"
"I do not have a problem with him!" Ron said.
"Then why are you stalling this trip?" Hermione said.
"Oh, so it's a trip now?" Ron said. "A trip to all you-can-snog Bulgaria!"
"I didn't mean it that way, Ron!" Hermione said as the speechless audience stared at them.
"So, what did you mean?" Ron said cooling down a little.
"I mean it would be nice to see a friend once in a while," Hermione said.
"Don't you mean boyfriend?" Ron asked.
"If you think it's like that, why don't you take another route, then?" Hermione yelled.
"Fine!" Ron said. "I will!"
"Fine!" Hermione said. "We split up into two groups and each of us takes a different route."
"The best idea you ever had," Ron said. "Anyway, Hermione, we're through."
"FINE!" Hermione bellowed. The rest of then widened their eyes in shock as Ron dragged Sirius through a clump of trees. The centaurs shrugged and followed them. "I've got to warn you, this rout if the most boring," Jason said. Hermione, Harry, James, Lily and Remus were left in the clearing.
Harry watched as Ron, the centaurs and Sirius disappeared through the trees. Hermione took a deep breath and looked at the map. "Bulgaria is to the east," she said. "Here," she tossed the map at James. "Lead the way," she muttered.
James hesitated but walked briskly with Lily at his side. Harry gave a confused look at Hermione who was forcing back tears. Hermione motioned him to follow James and, Harry, still confused of what had just happened, walked away from her. Remus cast a concerning to Hermione but she didn't seem to notice this and broke down completely. She sobbed into her hands, unaware the Remus was standing next to her.
Remus hesitated but knelt down beside Hermione. He put a hand on her shoulder. Hermione, not looking who was beside her, hugged him and sobbed quietly into his shirt. Remus was completely shocked by Hermione's actions. After a few silent seconds, Hermione looked up and was shocked to see Remus's concerned and bewildered looking face. She had thought it was Harry who was trying to comfort her. She sat up and brushed some tears from her eyes.
"Sorry, Remus," she muttered blushing, tears still streaming from her eyes.
"It's okay," Remus said. Hermione gulped and managed a smile.
"We better get going or we will be separated, not that I need another separation," Hermione said.
"It's okay, Hermione," Remus said helping her to her feet. "These things happen."
Hermione smiled and hugged him again, resting her head on his shoulder. After a few seconds, they walked, away hand in hand, from the clearing, unaware that two people were watching everything.
"Looks like someone has a crush on Moony," Sirius said, smiling.
"She doesn't need me now that she has him," Ron muttered angrily, brushinga few unshedtears away.
"You know that's not true, mate," Sirius said.
"Yes it is," Ron said forcefully. "I broke up with her and in a few minutes, she gets a new boyfriend! What does she have that I don't have? Wait don't answer that." Ron added as Sirius opened his mouth.
"Well, you know," Sirius said. "I could be your boyfriend."
"Sorry, Sirius. I'm not gay," Ron said pushing him away.
"Only joking, mate," Sirius said.
"Your jokes don't turn out funny, only your reality does," Ron said and added with a laugh. "Rita Skeeter?"
"Still not proud of it," Sirius said in a sing-song voice, closing his ears.
"Let's get going, Jason and Audrey would probably be halfway there by now," Ron said.
"Think again," a voice said behind them. Both of them turned around and smiled. Jason and Audrey were hiding behind them in the shadows.
"C'mon," Audrey said. "It's going to be a long and boring walk ahead of us." Ron and Sirius groaned but followed them.
Back to Harry and the gang…
"What took you so long?" James asked as Hermione and Remus caught up.
"Just a few tears," Hermione said.
"Oh, lookie here," Harry said sarcastically. "I'm going to be surrounded by couples."
"True," Lily said. "The only ones left are you, Ron and Sirius."
"Unless," James said in a mysterious tone.
"Unless what?" Remus asked.
"Unless they're gay," James said shifting his eyes.
"They do make the perfect couple," Hermione said, suddenly smiling.
"True," Remus said smiling.
"So, you two admit it," Harry said. "You two are a couple."
"Uhh...umm…" Remus and Hermione said.
"Anyway, let's get going," Lily said.
"Look out, Bulgaria, here come the Marauders, at least half of the Marauders," James said. All of them walked quickly as James led them, without knowing it, into a troll infested cave.
Thirty minutes and a few trolls later…
James had fallen onto the ground, pulling Lily with him, Harry was walking as though he was drunk, Remus and Hermione were both holding each two branches and were using them as crutches. Harry, Remus and Hermione fell next to Lily and James. "Let's never, ever, let James lead the way, again," Remus said as one of his branch crutches broke in half and he fell on to the hard ground.
"It was an honest mistake," James gasped.
"Honest mistake my ass!" Lily said. "There was a huge sign that said 'Danger'. How thick can you be Potter?"
"Hey, guys!" Harry said drowsily. "I found a rock. A rock! Is that cool?" Harry broke out laughing.
"What happened with him?" Remus gasped.
"Didn't you see?" James asked.
"Sorry, we were trying not to get hit by a giant spiked ball of doom and didn't have time to look at what was happening to the rest of you ," Hermione said sarcastically.
"He fell right into a pond," Lily said. "Only it wasn't a pond, it was a giant bucket of some kind of rum."
"Didn't know trolls made Firewhisky," James said shaking his head.
"Sorry, Malfoy, my good fellow," Harry said groggily to a tree in a posh English accent. "I didn't notice your new bikini. It's pretty nice, though."
"I think it was way stronger than Firewhisky," Hermione said shaking her head.
"Hello, there!" Harry said suddenly to a frightened squirrel. "Nice day for a stroll d'you think, Mr. Fudge? Is it true that you are made from real chocolate fudge? Can I have some of your hair?"
"Okay…" Lily said.
"KARAOKE!" Harry bellowed holding a stick to his mouth. "Old McDonald had a farm and Bingo was his name-oh! B-I-N-G-O! And Bingo was his name-oh! M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E! Mickey Mouse! Mickey Mouse! Oh, Mickey you're so pretty, you don't understand! You take me by the heart and you take me by the hand!"
"He's quite a good singer, isn't he?" Remus said as Harry broke out into the Chinese classic, 'Para Para Sakura.'
(A/N: It's a bit like the Macarena but the moves and melody are different, it's quite fun if you know the steps)
"I think he learned that from Cho on their last date," Hermione said.
"That's my boy!" James said and he paused. "I'm bored."
"Hello there, Bored!" Harry said to bending over and looking at James. "I'm the, newly crowned, Miss Las Vegas!"
"Goodness," Remus said. "He's pretty drunk. Normal whisky would probably wear off by now."
"Well, you know the saying," Lily said. "If you can't beat them, join them."
"What did you mean by that?" James asked.
"Firewhisky for everyone!" Remus said as Lily took out a few bottles of Firewhisky fromHermione's bag.
A few bottles of Firewhisky later…
"Sakura!" Everyone shouted, striking a ridiculous pose.
"Didn't anyone tell you that you are a great dancer?" James asked groggily.
"Yes!" Lily said. "After all, I am the Queen of England!"
Back to Ron and the centaurs…
"Are we there yet?" Sirius asked.
"For the bloody millionth time, NO!" Ron said.
"This is boring," Sirius moaned.
"Well, find a way to entertain yourself," Ron said irritatedly.
"Pop!" Sirius said.
"I watched the movie and I don't want it played out by you," Ron said.
"This is going to be a long walk," Jason muttered.
"You got that right," Audrey said.
"I just remembered something," Sirius said, stopping.
"What?" Ron asked.
"Hermione's got all the food," Sirius said.
"Noooooooooooooo..." Ron and Sirius yelled at the same time.
(A/N: Well, that's the next chapter! Sorry for the delay, I had to study for my Science exam. Look out for the next chapter! There will be Hippogriffs on the next one. By the way, press that button over there that says, 'Submit Review' and type. Thank you!)
