Chapter 29: First Date
After two days of being in Hawaii, everyone started to get into a usual schedule. The teens would head to the beach or the town along with the adults and hang around having a good time, then go home for meals. The Marauders were waiting for this, a suttle day of unexpectence. They would sneak out after everyone went to bed into the den and concot their plans. Finally the day came, the three true Marauders were going about business as usual. The three boys came into the family room on the fifth morning of their vacation. Harry sat down at the bar and looked at his father just like every morning and noticed a glint in his eye, but dimissed it from his mind.
"Good morning boys." James said.
"Morning." The boys muttered. Hermione came down the stairs and sat down next to Harry and kissed his cheek. She looked at the men in the kitchen making breakfast. She nudged Harry and he gave her a puzzled look.
'Your father has a glint in his eye.' Hermione thought to him.
'Yeah, that's normal.' Harry replied.
'No, it's different it's like the one you get when you get an idea no one can stop you with.' Hermione explained.
'Do you think he's trying to pull one over on me?' Harry asked.
'Probably.' Hermione said.
'It makes sense, he was waiting for a suttle day that I or anyone else for that matter weren't expecting something.' Harry said.
'Good point.' Hermione complimented.
"Thank you." Harry said aloud.
"Care to clue us in on that one?" Sirius asked.
"No, not really." Harry said, getting up and took out the orange juice and several cups. He poured many glasses of the juice as the rest of the girls came down the stairs, giggling.
"No, not the giggling!" Ron said.
"It's nothing to do with you." Ginny said, grabbing one of the cups of juice on the counter.
"Thank, Merlin." Ron said, sarcastically.
"Alright you two, cut it out. I swear you two could go on for hours." Luna said.
"You haven't heard him and Hermione, they do go on for hours." Harry said.
"HEY!" The two said.
"It's true." Harry said.
"What are we doing today?" Draco asked.
"I don't know. We should go into those woods. Hiking sound good?" James asked.
"Sounds like fun." Harry said, looking for the glint. There he spot it, Harry figured his father, godfather, and Remus had snuck out early that morning, explaining them being up early, and set up some type of prank. He didn't want to worry about it today anyway. Harry knew it was going to come but really wanted to relax.
"When breakfast is over go and change into some comfortable clothes and shoes." Lily said. They family finished their breakfast and all ran upstiars to change. Harry put on cargo shorts and a beater. Then put on a pair of sunglasses and a hat. He packed in his backpack ominoculars, sunscreen, insect repelant, camera, healing potions, and waters for everyone along with snacks.
"Are you guys ready?" Hermione said, knocking on the other side of the door.
"Yeah, you can come in." Draco said. Hermione came into the room wearing simple jean shorts with an light blue tank top. Her hair was put into two braided pig tails. Harry was just putting on some sneakers when she came over and sat next to him on his bed.
"So..." Hermione said.
"Are you all ready for the hike?" Ron asked.
"Us girls? Or all of us here?" Hermione asked.
"Both." Ron said.
"I came to get you three and told Ginny and Luna to go on downstairs." Hermione said. Ron nodded and went downstairs.
"Draco, are you all ready to go?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, I think so." Draco said, putting on a hat.
"Okay, let's go and meet up with everyone." Hermione said, getting up from the bed.
"Alright." Harry said, grabbing his backpack.
"What's hiking like?" Draco asked.
"I'm not sure." Harry said. Hermione explained to Draco what hiking was all about. When they got into the family room everyone was there except James, Sirius, and Remus.
"Mum, what are they up to?" Harry asked.
"Hunny, I wouldn't be able to tell you." Lily said.
"We're not up to anything." James said, walking into the room with Sirius and Remus.
"Not at all suspious." Harry said, sarcastically.
"Our we just hiking or are we going to camp as well. Me and my father camped while looking for Zumbobats." Luna said.
"We can camp too if you lot want to." James said.
"Sure sounds good. Why don't we just grab a few extra clothes and such and meet back here. When we find a good camp site we can magic a tent and sleeping bags." Harry said.
"I'm up for it." Hermione said.
"Me too." Ron said.
"Me three." Draco and Ginny said, both immedatly blushing afterward.
"Sounds fun." Luna said. The teens returned to their rooms packing some extra clothes and other nessesities in their duffles before heading back downstairs. The family set off towards the woods and walked for an hour until they stopped for a rest.
"Water?" Harry said, holding out the water to everyone. Everyone took some eagerly and looked around their senery. They were in a thick part of the woods and were sharing rocks to sit on.
"We best be getting a move on if we want to get to the camp site." James said.
"How do you know where one is?" Ron asked.
"This map." James said, holding it out to show him. Everyone got up and followed the path James leading the way. Harry pulled ahead not really paying attention to the path or where he was going. He felt a hand on his shoulder. He snapped out of his day dream to see who was hold his shoulder back. He saw Sirius looking at him with a worried look on his face. Everyone behind him was looking at him worrilied.
"What?" Harry asked.
"Harry, don't be alarmed but look where you're going." Ginny said. Harry looked infront of himself and noticed he was about to walk off a cliff edge.
"Whoops." Harry said. Sirius pulled him back away from the cliff.
"You can say that again." James said, sarcastically.
"Harry don't scare us like that." Hermione said, hugging him. Harry hugged her back looking over her shoulder to his family and friends. It then really hit him that how much they really worried about him.
"Sorry. I was kinda in my own little world there. Just thinking. I think the woods do that to me...at Hermione's house they calmed me down and really left me to my thinking." Harry said, gripping Hermione tighter.
"It's okay...just be more careful." Lily said.
"I'm going to try." Harry said.
"Funny, yet weird thing was...you were going in the right direction of the clearing until you steered off course there." James said.
"I have a sense of direction then." Harry said, laughing. He laced fingers with Hermione and followed his Dad.
"How about we sing a song or something." Lily suggested.
"Alright, which one?" Ginny asked.
"One-thousand-bottles of beer on the wall, 1000 bottles of beer, take one down, pass it around, 999 bottles of beer on the wall." Harry and Hermione began.
"You take one down, pass it around, 998 bottles of beer on the wall." The Marauders continued. Everyone joined in from that point singing at the top of their lungs, while waiting for a clearing to appear to set up camp. An hour later the song was finally winding down and it was getting hotter out. The family was resting right now on more rocks. Harry, James, Remus, Sirius, Ron, and Draco all had taken off their shirts from the heat and Lily, Hermione, Luna, and Ginny all were in their bikini tops and shorts. The trees weren't helping with shade, the sun still beat down on them. But they continued on until they found a small area with a small waterfall about 20 feet high with it's own small lake.
"Wow." The group said.
"I like this spot!" Harry said.
"Me too!" The rest shouted. Harry let Godric and Rosie out of his book bag. Everyone had the same idea and ran into the pond. Cooling off for a few minutes Harry got a good idea and thought it to Hermione as they climbed out and ran up the hill to the top of the water fall. Harry and Hermione grabbed hands and jumped.
"WOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO!" Harry screamed.
"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWHOOOOOOOOOOO!" Hermione screamed.
"HARRY AND HERMIONE!" Lily screamed. Everyone looked at them then to Lily. They were in trouble. But she smiled.
"James let's do that too!" She yelled. Everyone climbed up the hill and jumped. Sirius jumped off alone, then Remus, Lily and James, Ron and Luna, Harry and Hermione. Ginny was next ready to jump but very scared.
"You alright?" Draco asked.
"Yeah, just a little scared." Ginny said. Draco stuck out his hand. She took it knowing what he meant and they both jumped together. After a few minutes they figured it best to make camp.
"Well how about you girls stay here and set up the tent while we go and get wood." James said.
"Sounds good." Lily said. Harry magicked a few axes as they wen't out into the woods and found a small tree to chop. They began and brought back a few bits of wood.
"There's our big strong men." Hermione said.
"And there's our gorgous women awaiting with...dinner?" Harry said and sniffed the air.
"Yup." Luna said, stirring what looked like some type of soup.
"Smelling good." Ron said.
"I agree." Draco said. Harry just raised his hand agreeing. He started the fire and helped set up a stand to put the pot on to cook the soup. Then he took a seat on a stump. Hermione was sitting on the ground with Ginny braiding her red hair. All the teens (including adults) sat talking around the fire awaiting for the soup to finish cooking. Sharing old stories from the Marauder days to them making them cry from laughter. Soon enough they ate and night came. They split into two groups, boys and girls, and went to sleep in the two different tents. The boy's tent was expanded to fit six men comfortably. Harry laid out his sleeping bag and crawled into it after striping down to his boxers. Seems he got this trait from his father as well because he did the same.
"So, you guys like camping?" Sirius asked.
"Yeah, it's fun." Harry said.
"I'm having fun." Ron said.
"It's fun, I've never done this type of thing before." Draco said.
"Glad to hear you all are having fun." James said, a marauder grin spreading on his face. Everyone fell asleep except for Harry. He lay awake, his hands under his head, looking up at the tent's ceiling.
'Hermione?" He asked in his mind, as Godric came and laid on his stomach.
'Yeah...you can't sleep either?' She asked.
'Nah, not really.' Harry replied. They talked until they fell asleep.
Harry awoke not yet opening his eyes he heard a voice in his mind saying to move. He rolled to his right, where his Dad was sleeping and heard a SPLASH!. He opened his eyes and saw that where he was just sleeping was where a water balloon landed. James was the one who dropped it.
"How'd you do that?" James asked.
"I dunno. You're guess is as good as mind?" Harry said.
"Actually, I told you." Godric said.
"Thank you." Harry thought to him.
"No, problem." Godric replied, coming over and laying on his chest. Harry scratched him behind the ears and Godric purred.
"I'm going to get you soon." James said.
"I'll be expecting it." Harry said, walking out of the tent. He saw Hermione sitting on the bank in sweat shorts and a tank top for pajamas, with Rosie in her lap.
"Hey." Harry said, sitting down next to her.
"Morning." Hermione said, kissing his cheek. Harry turned and kissed her cheek too. She smiled at the kiss, but went into a blank stare again.
"What'ca thinking about?" Harry asked. She snapped out of her thoughts and looked at him.
"Nothing, just thinking about Hogwarts." Hermione said.
"Really, care to share?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, sure, see it's about the war...you have to train those kids. I mean...the students will want to fight especially the D.A. so...we will have to call up a meeting as soon as possible. I will help to as much as you need. I figure that first and second years can't really fight well so they can learn the healing spells and help Madam Pomfrey for people who get injured. I'm sure Dumbledore can make apparation portkeys. That way they can go to people hurt and supply them with a healing potion. We'll teach as may as we can to the D.A. and have a lot of potions premade to the war, since we know when it's coming. Also we need a lot of students to help. The Order probably only has about 200 people. Voldemort has probably 100, not to mention dementors, and giants...and if we have 200 people plus about...120 students. They all need to learn the Patronus and other defence spe-" Hermione began to ramble, but was cut off by a kiss.
"Calm down. Breath...in...out...in-" Harry said.
"I can figure that out." Hermione said.
"I know. Look I now you're worried just think how I feel.
The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches...Born to those who thriced defied him, born as the seventh month dies...And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have the power the Dark Lord knows not...And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives...The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies..." Harry said in a low whisper. "I have this on my mind ever day and I will probably everyday for the rest of my life. I want him dead and a few others...and I will fufill my goal." Harry said.
"I'm sorry, Harry. I had no idea...I-" Hermione said.
"Don't worry. Just I don't want you hurt, I really don't want you or Ron in that battle. Actually, I should go alone..." Harry said.
"No you will not." Hermione said, fiercily.
"I don't want you hurt. What if you...die. I mean I couldn't live with myself if you or Ron died for me. There's no reason you should have to die for me." Harry said.
"We'd be dying for you and the world." Hermione said. "Weither you like it or not, I'm going." Hermione said.
"Just don't die." Harry said, burying his face in her embrace.
"I won't if you don't." Hermione said.
"Good. I don't plan on dying until...I'm old." Harry said.
"And that's how it should be." James said, sitting down next to his son. Harry reluctantly came out of the embrace and looked at his father. "Hey Pronglet." He said.
"Hey Prongs." Harry said.
"You two okay...you seemed like you were having a fit with each other." James said.
"Just talking about the war." Harry said. James frowned.
"This trip was supposed to be a carefree one, and no more talk about it or I'll have to...do something about it." James finished, lamely. Harry and Hermione laughed at him and nodded their heads.
"So, what are we doing today?" Hermione asked.
"Just camping out here, exploring the woods maybe." James said.
"I like that idea." Sirius said, sitting on the other side of Hermione.
"You just want to be lazy is all." Harry said.
"So..." Sirius said.
"Goofball." Harry muttered.
"At least I'm not in the middle of the woods in my underwear." Sirius said.
"Yeah you are." Hermione said.
"Oh yeah." Sirius said. Harry and James burst into laughter laying down on the shore of the small lake. Lily came over to them standing over them looking at them wondering what they were doing.
"Sirius..." Harry choked out.
"What did you do now?" Lily asked.
"Nothing! I swear!" Sirius said.
"What happened was Harry called Sirius a goofball then Sirius said at least I'm not in the woods in my underwear then I said yes you are. Then these two started to get hysterical." Hermione explained. Lily laughed too at Sirius.
"Sorry Sirius, but that was funny." Harry said, sitting up. James put a hand on his shoulder to keep his support.
"Yeah, sorry Padfoot." James said. Draco came and sat next to James and rubbed his eyes to wake up more. "Morning." James said.
"Morning. Morning everyone." Draco said, yawning.
"Morning." Everyone replied.
"Where's Remus?" Harry asked.
"I went into the wood really quick. Seeing there isn't a regular bathroom around here. I didn't want to have to pee myself." Remus said, sitting next to Sirius.
"That would have been funny." Sirius said.
"Sort of." Remus said, laughing and taking a seat next to Sirius.
"Well, I have to argue, Dad says that a computer is a great muggle invention." Ginny said to Luna.
"I believe it's nothing but something that wastes time." Luna said, taking a seat next to Remus, then Ginny next to her.
"Hermione, please tell her a computer isn't a waste of time." Ginny said.
"Depends, it's a great access to reasearch and other things. Also it has entertainment, games to play when you're bored." Hermione said. Everyone's attention was diverted as someone came stumbling out of the boy's tent and tripped. Poor Ron.
"Ron, you alright, mate?" Harry yelled over to him.
"Not the way I wanted to wake up, but otherwise sure!" Ron yelled back, causing everyone to laugh. Harry got up and guided his friend and sat him next to his girlfriend.
"Morning." Ron said.
"Have a nice trip?-" Sirius asked.
"-See you next fall!" James finished.
"Hardy har har." Ron said.
"You lot ready for breakfast?" Lily asked. Everyone got up some slower than others. Unlike Sirius and Ron everyone could wait for breakfast a few seconds longer. Everyone ate breakfast and split up to do a few different things around the camp site. Harry, Ron, and Draco were fishing, the Marauders were sitting atop the cliff watching everyone, Hermione, Ginny and Luna were helping Lily clean up and set up camp a little better. Towards noon Harry had caught a few fish along with Ron and Draco. The girls were done setting up camp better and the Marauders had disappeared into the woods, claiming they wanted to explore.
"We have lunch." Harry said, holding out four fish. Ron held out four and so did Draco.
"Terriffic." Lily said. "Could you make up some roaster forks?"
"Sure...let's go and find some sticks and I have a pocket knife." Harry said. They went and found ten sticks and began to debark the sticks. Ron had a pocket knife and Harry made one up for Draco out of magic and they were making fast progress. First they had to strip the sticks of bark and then sharpen the tips. When the girls had a good fire going they were done six sticks.
"You guys start to eat. I'll finish these." Harry said.
"I'll help. I'm not hungry right now anyways. Go ahead, Ron." Draco said.
"You sure?" Ron asked.
"Yeah." Harry said, sharping another tip, finishing it. He handed it to Hermione after stabbing a fish with it.
"Thank you." Hermione said.
"Welcome." Harry said, picking up another stick.
"AH!" Draco said, jumping up from the ground shaking his finger. Harry saw a drop of blood fling off and reached out his hand. He dripped onto his palm instead of Ginny's face.
"Calm down. You alright?" Harry asked.
"No, I cut my bloody finger! Ouch it stings." Draco said.
"That's probably because you got a splinter in it while carving." Harry said. "Stand still and let me see it." Harry said, grabbing his hand. "It's nothing major. Come here." Harry said, walking over to the mini lake. Draco followed, blood dripping off his hand. Harry grabbed his arm and put his hand in the water. Draco made a face.
"Yeah, I know it stings. I need to take out the splinter so it'll sting even more." Harry added. Draco pulled out his hand and saw a piece of a shaving in his finger, pretty deep.
"Ready." Draco said.
"Okay..." Harry held out his hand and the splinter came zooming out of Draco's finger and into his hand. "There's the sucker. That's pretty big, no wonder it hurt." Harry ran his finger over the cut and it healed slowly. "All better. Just be a little more careful." Harry said.
"Thanks, Harry." Draco said, looking at his finger.
"No problem." Harry said, sitting back down to his knife and stick.
"Let me see." Ginny said, taking Draco's hand. She traced over it with her own.
"Wow, that's really cool." Ginny said.
"Thanks...it's simple wandless." Harry said.
"Did you learn it in the past?" Ginny asked.
"No, before. I had to get my mind off Sirius so, I read a book and practiced it. Also it's undetectable, unlike a wand. So I could practice magic and not get called on it by the Ministry." Harry said.
"Impressive." Draco said.
"Thanks...remember the D.A. last year?" Harry said. Everyone nodded except Draco.
"What's that?" Draco asked.
"Dumbledore's Army." Harry said. "It was our group, the one you caught us coming from. I've got an idea, what if we got the teachers to pick trustworthy students to join. That way, we can get as many students needed for the war. Then all the members now, can also pick other students they think are trusted enough. We'll still have to do it in secret though. But we have a teachers permission this time, so we don't have to sneak around as much." Harry explained.
"It's brilliant, but who's the teacher?" Draco asked. Everyone went silent and looked at Harry.
"I am." Harry said.
"No way. A student teaching other students. That's weird, how do they even listen to you?" Draco asked. "I mean, do they even pay attention?" He added.
"Yes, they actually look up to Harry." Hermione said.
"I know I do." Ginny said.
"Thanks, Gin." Harry said.
"Do you get homework?" Draco asked.
"No. Except practice some of the spells and stuff we do in class." Harry said. "Want to join, I think you can be trusted." Harry said, with a smile.
"Sure, sounds great." Draco said.
"We need to teach them everything we can before May." Harry said.
"Why, what's happening in May?" Draco asked.
"The second war." Harry said.
"BOO!" James and Sirius said jumping out of the bushes.
"Ah!" Harry said quietly, not from being scared. He sliced his palm, letting the knife slip. "Bloody hell." Harry said, holding his palm.
"Oh Merlin, Harry, I'm sooo sorry." James said.
"Same here, I'm so sorry, Harry, we didn't know you had a knife." Sirius said.
"James and Sirius!" Lily started.
"Mum, stop, it doesn't hurt that bad, I'm okay." Harry said, as the blood dripped off the side of his hand into a small puddle on the dirt. He went and washed it off and came back. A large chunk of shaving was in there almost an inch, burried in the skin. Harry held a hand over it and it soared out. Everyone made a face, while he kept his blank. He ran a finger over the cut and it healed slowly.
"See, all better." Harry said, holding his palm out to his mother. He picked the knife back up and finished the stick like nothing happened.
"Harry, didn't that hurt?" Ginny asked.
"Believe me, I've been through worse." Harry said.
"I know, just...ouch. Looked like it hurt." Ginny said. Everyone ate and finished. Day wondering into nightfall. Everyone was going to head to bed, when Harry was struck with an idea.
"Why don't we sleep under the stars?" Harry asked.
"Sounds good." Ron said.
"Yeah, and we can point out what's what." Luna said. Everyone brought out their bags and set up by the fire. They pointed out different stars and planets they learned about in Astronomy. Everyone went to sleep except Harry, Hermione, James, and Sirius.
"Hey, I've got an idea." Harry whisphered to Hermione.
"What?" Hermione asked, staring into the fire.
"Wanna go on that date with me?" Harry asked.
"When?"
"Now, and aren't you just full of questions." Harry said.
"Are we allowed?" Hermione asked.
"I dunno, maybe." Harry said.
"Hey, what are you two talking about over there?" Sirius asked, he and James had been talking on the opposite side of the fire.
"I was asking Hermione out on a date." Harry said. "Can we go?" Harry asked.
"Sure." James said. Harry got up and pulled Hermione up with him.
"You mean now?" Sirius asked.
"No, next tuesday." Harry said. "Yes, right now."
"Oh, in that case, I don't see why not either." James said.
"Just, stay with in sight please." Sirius said.
"Alright." Harry said, lacing his fingers with Hermiones'. He led her up the hill to the top of the cliff. Then summoned a few candles to appear and a soft blanket to sit on. Hermione sat on the blanket between Harry's legs and leaned back on his chest, while he put his arms around her waist.
"So, it's our first date. What do you want to do?" Harry asked.
"I don't know." Hermione said, leaning her head back kissing him.
"There's a start." Harry said, kissing her back. After a few minutes they stopped to catch their breath and talked about the future. What their plans were after the war. Seventh year and after that.
Thus ends Chapter 29. I SOOOOOOOOO SORRY! it took forever to update.
Yours Tori