I still haven't finished War and Peace instead I read Crime and Punishment! In the book someone has the nickname Squib! I was laughing when I read it! I wonder if that's were J.K. came up with it... I gotta finsihed this I'm going to Oktoberfest today...so...anywho, here's the chapter...enjoy...

Happy Birthday Hermione!

Chapter 36: Surprises (again)

Harry was making his way back after the short private meeting with his father. He was now on his way to double potions. He had left a note to everyone that he had gotten up early and already had left and don't wait for him. He and his father had arranged plans to meet early this morning for two plans. They were both, he crossed his fingers, were going to go off without a hitch. Harry slowly made his way down to the potions classroom, he skipped breakfast. Luckily, he walked in two minutes before Snape did. Today they were making a clever concoction, Pepper-Up potion. It was rather complicated but quick to make and very useful as they had all at one point had used it. Harry had found this of a little complicated, but didn't mess up...luckily. As soon as class was dismissed Harry, Hermione, Draco, Tori, Chris, and Kate, all headed up to lunch, Harry more eager than the rest.

"I'm just guessing, Harry," Began Hermione. "You haven't eaten yet?"

"Nope." Harry said, smiling and holding her hand.

"Why not?" She aksed, he knew if they were standing still and facing one another her hands would be on her hips. Harry pulled her off to the side and told everyone else to go on and meet up with Ron, Luna, and Ginny. Harry put his hands--caustiously--on her hands that were on her hips and gently pryed them into his. He brought them both up to his face and kissed them.

"If I told you, I'd have to lie, and I don't really want to do that. Mione, don't worry about it. This year I may not tell you everything...but I will certainly try to." Harry said, looking straight into her eyes.

"It won't still stop me from asking." Hermione said, as slyly as she could, Harry's eyes were radiating with raw emotion and power. She knew it was something not to bug him about for a while. She thought for a moment and figured it had to do with their new professor's assignment. They stayed there for a little longer staring into each other's eyes. A few people walked past them, smiling, scorning, whispering, and much more. Harry suddenly dropped her hands and moved closer and leaned down and kissed her. It had been a moment before she responded.

-------------

Great Hall...

"Wait, where are they?" Ron asked again. Ginny looked at her brother as if with that look saying you're-such-an-idiot-I-want-to-slap-you-upside-the-head look. Kate took great joy in what he said.

"Harry,..." She paused. "And,...-pause-...Hermione-" Kate was saying slowly before Ron interuptted her.

"No, I mean you left them were? Alone?" Ron asked, smiling.

"Err...yeah, you see he pulled her off to the side because she was asking questions as to what he's been up to lately." Tori explained.

"Yeah, she even put her hands on her hips and I'm sure if she had and extra arm, she would've wagged a finger at him." Draco said, sitting down at the Gryffindor table.

"Where'd you go?" Ginny asked.

"I tried to sit at my own table, but they were all saying snide remarks and such. Well...not all..." Draco said, taking the seat next to Ginny, who was sitting next to Luna, who was sitting next to Ron.

"Awe." Ginny said, she gave him a hug, both blushed. Harry and Hermione came in, holding hands and smiling. They too sat down, but on the opposite side of the four, to help balance the people out, it was easier to talk that way. Although they made it five on one side and four on the other. Harry immediatly dug into the sandwiches and potato chips that were there.

"Where are the Doritios?" Chris asked. A/N: I can't spell! lol

"Doritios?" Ron questioned, and if Ron didn't know that wasn't a good sign, when talking about food.

"It's a type of chip. They're the best, besides Goldfish which are more like a cracker, which I don't see here either." Tori explained. "We'll jus thave to fix that." She looked from one end of the table to the other, then to the head and other tables. No one was directly looking at them. She pointed her finger twice and appeared on the table two bowls of food. One contained orangy-red, triangular shaped chips. The other were yellow/orange fish shaped crackers, but smaller. The three Americans dug into these bowls and galdly enjoyed the snacks. The others shrugged and tried a sample from each. They all went back for more. These snacks were addicting...

------

After lunch...free period...except for Ron...he had two free periods that morning...he had just woken up before lunch...much to the rests' annoyance

Everyone plopped onto a couch or armchair in the hideaway common room. Luna and Ginny had to go to another class and Draco had made a quick run to the library. They were already starting to feel stressed from all the work the teachers were putting on them for O.W.L.s. Harry was carelessly waving his hand making things levitate, move, come alive, open and close, and all sorts of things. Harry stopped all those things and decided to do what many people couldn't. He looked into the fire and sensed it, though of it's properties, and guided it. The mentors had tought him a little elemental magic. Fire was the hardest, he knew how to manipulate it, but not create it--without a match or spell first. He got the fire to transform into a lions head, he made it roar.

"Harry? What in Merlin's name are you doing?" Hermione asked, cracking an eye open. He let the fire slip back into the form of flames.

"What are you talking about?" Harry asked, I was adding wood to the fire.

"Oh, I thought I saw...oh nevermind." Hermione said. The other trio hadn't been paying attention until it had roared, none had seen what Harry had done. Myddrin had told him to use it only in secret until it was most needed. Especially if their name was Harry Potter. Feeling a little drained Harry climbed over the back of the couch Hermione was on and slid in behind her and put an arm around her. The two fell asleep while the other three finished up their potions homework. The portrait door opened and in walked two men who had been visiting their other best friends and dropping off documents to the headmaster.

"Hey, you lot!" Sirius greeted loudly, not seeing Harry and Hermione sleeping.

"SHHHHH!" The trio sounded.

"What?" Sirius whispered.

"They're sleeping." Kate said, pointing to the two sleeping teens. Sirius quickly established a glint in his eye. Remus caught this, after soon taking in Harry's appearance.

"Sirius, no." Remus warned, grabbing his friend's arm.

"Awe, why not, Remy?" Sirius asked, as if Christmas had been cancelled.

"Look at Harry, he must've used some serious power today-" Remus said.

"He used some of my power?" Sirius suggested with a smirk.

"I'm not joking," Remus said, careful not to say serious. "He must've used some-look at your godson, Sirius!" Sirius had taken his wand out to conjure something. Sirius cocked his head, looking at his godson and noticed how pale his face looked and how exhusted it appeared.

"Such a good oppurtune moment, gone..." Sirius whispered.

"Wait, what do you mean, he hasn't done anything all day that could do that to him." Tori spoke, quitely at first. "The only thing he was doing was simple things, nothing that could tire him to that extent."

"She's right, nothing that he's done today could do that, and he didn't look like that before this free period.

"Maybe he did have something to do with that roar." Kate suggested.

"Roar? What roar?" Remus asked.

"We don't know, he said he was adding wood to the fire." Hermione spoke, surprising a few.

"We thought you were asleep. Wait, is Harry really asleep?" Sirius asked. Hermione closed her eyes for a moment.

"Yes," She said, relieving everyone in the room.

"Good, he doesn't like it when we talk about him." Remus said, smirking. "That' would've been too pretty." He added. The others laughed quietly. Hermione tried to sit up but Harry wouldn't let her move.

"I swear he could give the jaws of life a run for their money." Hermione said, trying to pry his arm from around her. The others laughed, again in a quiet manner. No matter how hard she tried the stronger he got.

"Hermione, try this." Chris said, handing her a potion.

"What is it?" Hermione asked, before taking the potion.

"It's muscle relaxant potion." Remus said, recongizing it at once. Chris handed Hermione an eye dropper, she sucked some of the bright blue liquid into the eye dropper and put some in Harry's mouth. It'd also help him regain some strength quicker, she thought. Harry immediatly relaxed and Hermione was able to slip out. She smoothed her uniform and tried to unwrinkle it. She waved her hand and a new one was in it's place.

"That's better." She smiled.

"How long does the potion last for?" Sirius asked.

"Well," Chris began.

"We're not sure." Tori said for him.

"We haven't tested it yet." Kate said.

"Oh this is just brilliant." Sirius said, thinking of different ways Lily could kill him.

"We're dead." Remus said. "If Lily finds out what we've done-"

"We've got James next then Lily, by then it should where off." Tori said.

"True, but if we're in the building she likes to check up on James's classes!" Sirius paniced.

"Then leave!" Chris suggested.

"That's not a bad idea, but she'll know something is up!" Remus said.

"Hermione, is there a counter-potion?" Sirius asked. Hermione had been biting her lip for the past five minutes racking her memory for a solution.

"Not one I can think of. Remus?" Hermione asked.

"Neither can I." Remus said.

"We're dead." Sirius said, bluntly, throwing his hands up in the air.

"Poor Harry, his mother's going to end up in Azkaban, his godfather and pretty-much an uncle dead. Great I get to die again! That's not fair!" Sirius babbled.

"Poor Harry will have to be raised by James." Remus said. The two burst out laughing.

"You mean, Harry will have to raise James. Or James deal with Harry or Harry deal with James rather." Sirius laughed, falling over.

"Who would kill whom first, do you think?" Remus asked, joining his friend on the ground, still laughing.

"Why would they try to kill each other?" Kate asked.

"Those two would try to prank each other and oh I could see it now." Sirius said. "Could you imagine if use three tried to raise Harry ourselves without Lily? Harry'd be in massive trouble by now!" He added. "I'm glad Lily's around to keep us straight."

"Remember the time...uh oh." Remus said.

"What?" Sirius asked.

"James'll kill us too!" Remus shouted.

"You're right! Remember the time when we put a calming draught in Harry's bottle once?" Sirius yelled, he was a step away from ripping out his hair and having a panic attack.

"You did what?" Hermione asked. The door opened and everyone was deadly silent.

"What's going on? Hey Remus, hey Sirius." Draco said.

"Thank Merlin it's only you." Remus sighed.

"What's going on?" Draco repeated.

"We gave Harry a muscle relaxer that we don't know how long it'll last and you've got your next class in...MY MERLIN!" Remus said, checking his watch. Harry's eyes opened, the relaxer hadn't effected him yet.

"What's going on?" He asked. He stood up and walked over towards Sirius but his legs gave out. Sirius dove and caught him. "What theeee heeeeel?" His words slurred as he struggled to get up. He stood up with the help of Sirius and tried to walk but fell again and Sirius stood him up still holding on to him. Harry's words were definatly incoherant now. It just sounded like babble.

"You're next class is in 10 minutes and this relaxer is just kicking in!" Sirius said, dropping Harry on the couch. He paced the room repeating oh my Merlin over and over. Harry was looking at Hermione and kept babbling. He tried to move his hand but he couldn't. He focused and with all his energy (it was weak from the potion) he made the quill on the table, where the other trio were doing their homework, start writing on the parchment.

"What's going on! Help I can't move or talk! What did you guys do to me, Sirius, Remus this really isn't funny!" Harry's handwriting scribbled quickly. Remus scanned the paper and looked at Harry.

"We didn't do it...well on purpose...actually we did but not for this reason. You see we wanted you to relax but didn't know the time on the relaxant." Remus said.

"Harry we're really sorry, but if Lily or James find out we'll be dead so do you know any counter potion or spells?" Sirius asked, sitting in front of Harry on the coffee table. Harry thought the answer to Hermione, that was an open connection, but it still drained him some.

"He said no." Hermione said. "Look, none of us know anything to counter it, so lets thing of something we can do so he's not missing from class." Hermione said, biting her lip.

"Good idea." Remus said. The room became silent.

"We could tell Lily and James he wasn't feeling well and went to Pomfrey." Tori suggested.

"Nah, Lily and James would check on him." Sirius said.

"Why don't we just tell them that Harry's at Dumbledore's sorting their argument out." Draco suggested. Harry made a noise.

"I think that's a no." Remus said.

"Maybe he's talking with McGonagall about his transfiguration paper." Kate said.

"They'd ask Minerva what was wrong with it." Sirius said.

"We could just tell them the truth and you guys could run." Chris said.

"That's the last resort." Remus said.

"What is?" Said a man from the door way.

"JAMES!" Everyone in the room shouted. Harry closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep. He thought to Hermione with all his might.

"Tell him I'm asleep!" Harry thought.

"What?" James inquired. "When did you guys get here?"

"We thought you had a class so we came here." Sirius said.

"Yeah, they woke me up. Harry didn't though I suppose he's a heavy sleeper." Hermione said. Harry opened his eyes to scowl at her but she kicked the couch. "See." She said, realizing she had attracted attention. He had closed his eyes when she kicked the couch.

"Oh...right...wait why's he so pale?" James asked.

"He used some magic today, he was practicing some advanced stuff." Draco said.

"Yeah, we found him like this." Sirius said.

"What happened?" James asked, in a tone that none of them had heard before. It was slightly cold with harshness, Harry had one like it but his had part of Lily's tone in it as well.

"Nothing, Harry's just a bit tired that's all, Prongs." Remus said.

"Don't Prongs me, Remus. What have you lot done to my son? You didn't give him calming draught again did you?" James asked.

"No, we learned our lesson the last time..." Sirius said, remembering how long he hurt after James got through with them. They had used an expired bottle of baby calming potion.

"I think I've got scars from that." Remus said. Harry tried hard not to laugh.

"Good, you two deserved it." James said, gritted teeth baring.

"James, calm down. You'll wake him, why don't you go and get ready for class and we'll join you in a moment." Remus suggested.

"Why?" James asked. "You're not telling me something." He growled.

"James you're getting a little carried away don't you think?" Sirius said. James's eyes flashed and his hands trembled.

"Wouldn't you get a little carried away if someone wasn't telling you something?" James said, but his eyes got wide. He looked over at Harry and then to Hermione.

"Yes, I would, Prongs." Sirius said, wondering why his friend suddenly lost his temper. (Litterly lost his temper not as in he got angerier.) Hermione realized why James had gotten suddenly calm. She grabbed his hand and went into the corridor, dragging him.

"Hermione, I'm such a hypocrite." He confessed as soon as the door closed behind them. "But this is different though isn't it? I mean Harry's my son-"

"But she was his finacee." Hermione said, knowing exactly what he was talking about.

"Damn, Hermione, this really puts me in a hard spot." James said.

"Look calm down." Hermione said, awkwardly putting a hand on his shoulder. After all this was her boyfriend's father.

Inside they took this time to their advantage. They were all waiting for the effects on Harry to were off while thinking of a plan incase they didn't.

"I think we're a step short from casting the Imperius curse on him!" Remus yelled.

"But he can throw it off." Draco said. "That's the problem."

"Not if he lets it through-what am I saying, I'm not going to cast it on him! No one here is, if we think we'd get in massive trouble for this potion could you imagine what it'd be like if we'd cast a unforgivable on him!" Sirius said.

"Lets see...lets see..." Remus said, pacing the room. "It'd be risky but it may work, hopefully we'd get past James, but no way would we get past Lily with this." Remus said. "Harry always has polyjuice potion on hand, just in case...Sirius or I could...pose as Harry."

"I'll do it." Sirius said.

"You'll have to make sure that James doesn't know it's you." Remus said.

"I'll do my best. Draco go and get the potion. Remus help me put Harry in his room. Sirius picked up Harry's legs and Remus got his arms. The two carried him into his bed room and swung him onto the bed. They used to do this all the time when he was a baby. They tucked him in all nice and tight. Words appeared behind them. 'As if I could even move before...' They laughed and Sirius went over to him.

"Sorry, Pronglet." Sirius said, plucking a hair. 'Ouch...' Draco was going through a whole case full of potions.

"What does it look like?" He asked. Remus and Sirius looked at each other and shrugged. Harry with all his might levitated the vial out of the case and made it hover to distinguish which one it was. Draco grabbed it and brought it over to Sirius. Words appeared again for a third time. 'This is my last message, I'm probably not going to be awake much longer, but Sirius that lasts for about three hours it's extra potent. It tastes really bad, mind you. My homework is in my bag and it's already packed for you and ready to go. Change into Gryffindor robes after you're done and take my wand just in case. The potion should last you for both classes, come straight back here when they're over tell Mum and Dad you're tired. Wait in the bathroom to transform back into yourself incase they come to check on me. Good luck.'

"Wow, poor kid." Remus said, as he watched Harry's eyes close. "That must've taken a lot of strength." Sirius dropped the hair into the potion and muttered "cheers" before drinking it.

"That stuff is-" Sirius was cut off. He fell to the floor and groaned. The transformation hurt some. Remus helped him up, his vision was blurred. "Horrible. Can you hand me his glasses." The other trio had come in time to read Harry's message and watch Sirius. Kate handed him Harry's glasses so he could see.

"That's better." Sirius said. "So this is what it feels like to be Harry Potter, eh?" Sirius said, smirking at himself in the mirror. He noticed his robes were hanging loosely from his body. He went into Harry's armour and grabbed the Gryffindor's uniform. He walked into the bathroom and changed.

"How do you feel?" Remus asked.

"Short." Sirius said.

"You're only a few inches taller than Harry is." Tori said.

"So...it feels different." Sirius said, walking over to Harry and pulled out the wand from it's hollester and pocketed it. He picked up the school bag and drapped it on his shoulder. "I've forgotten how heavy this thing could be."

"That's only for D.A. and Charms." Chris said.

"That sucks for you guys." Sirius said.

"What should we tell James when he asks were've you gone to?" Remus realized.

"We'll just say that I'm having a lie down because I wasn't feeling good." Sirius said.

"Good one." said Draco.

"Let's go, guys. We have two minutes to get down to the classroom, Hermione came back in and said she was going with James." Tori said, grabbing her bag. Everyone headed down towards the Defense Classroom.

"Do you think you can handle this,...Harry?" Draco said.

"I think I can." Sirius said.

"What are you the little engine that could?" Kate laughed, having read that book to her little brother over and over again.

"The what?" Sirius asked.

"Nevermind, we'll explain it later." Kate added, walking into the classroom. Hermione was already sitting waiting for the rest to come. She gave a very confused look when she saw Harry walking in.

"Harry?" James said. Sirius froze, unsure how to act.

"Dad?" He asked.

"That was a quick nap. Can I talk to you in my office please?" James asked.

"Sure." Sirius said, following James into the office. The rest of the group sat down at their desks, Hermione very confused couldn't ask any questions because other classmates came into the room. Sirius and James got into the office and closed the door.

"Harry, are you alright?" James asked, quickly.

"Yeah, Dad, I'm fine." Sirius said, rather awkward to be calling his best friend, Dad.

"Did Sirius and Remus do anything to you?" James asked.

"No, why?" Sirius asked.

"They just seemed rather jumpy. Then again techically I was being a hypocrite." James said.

"How?" Sirius asked, a little too quickly, curious as to why James would think he was being a hypocrite.

"The plan..., Harry, are you sure you're alright?" James asked.

"I'm fine, my mind just is a little fuzzy I guess from sleeping." Sirius said, smiling.

"You're starting to sound like Sirius." James joked, patting him on the back.

"Is that suppose to be bad?" Sirius asked, frowning.

"Not at all." James said, smiling. "Lets go, before the whole class gets here." The two walked into the classroom. The group looked worried but Sirius gave them a quick thumbs up. He sat next to Hermione, smirking.

"Hello, Mione." Sirius said, pretending to be Harry.

"How did that where off so quickly, and you don't have any after effects?" Hermione said, looking at him.

"I dunno." Sirius said. Hermione rose an eyebrow at him but dismissed it from her mind.

"Well, what did James want to talk about?" She asked.

"He wanted to know if he should have blueberry or strawberry jam with his toast tomorrow morning." Sirius said, sarcastically.

"Ha ha." Hermione said. "So it was about the muscle relaxant? Did you tell him?"

"No." Sirius said.

"Well, I'm sorry I gave it to you. I shouldn't've. Why did I give you a potion I didn't even know the length of or-" Hermione went on.

"Hermione, calm down." Sirius said.

"But, Harry." Hermione said.

"But, Hermione." Sirius mocked.

"Stop that."

"Stop that."

"I'm serious."

"No I am."

"Wait...you're...no...so you're not...and he's..." Hermione spoke uncertainly. They were talking quietly so no one had heard what they were talking about.

"That's right, love cakes." Sirius said.

"Eww...don't...eww...I've been flirting with my boyfriend's godfather." Hermione said.

"Well for the next three hours, I'm technically your boyfriend." Sirius said, with a smirk.

"Eww! Cut it out!" Hermione said.

"I can make up a whole bunch of new nicknames for you. Pumpie-umpie-umpkin, gumdrop, snookums, dumpling, even...Hermy." Sirius whispered.

"I'm trying not to scream at you right now because it'll look like I'm yelling at Harry. He's nice to me." Hermione said.

"I'm nice to you." Sirius said.

"Yes, when you're not being Harry." Hermione said.

"But this is fun!" Sirius whined.

"So not only are you Sirius, but you're Harry?" Hermione said.

"Yes."

"So you're a hairy Sirius?"

"No, I'm Sirius but Harry."

"Hairy but Sirius?"

"No, I'm-" Sirius began.

"Please pass up your homework, it shouldn't've been too hard." started James. Sirius dug into Harry's bag and found the rather long paper on the assignment. Sirius had thought he had grabbed the wrong one, seeing as everyone else only had a half a roll (excluding Hermione who had a full role.) But Harry had two with the same heading for this class. He passed it up and Hermione looked at them with her eyebrows raised. She checked them in case Sirius grabbed the wrong ones. Harry had written two full roles for the assignment. The subject was review for defensive magic. Everyone knew he knew a lot about the subject, but didn't think he knew that much.

"Now onto a new subject today. Many wizards, mostly dark, make their own spells. Sometimes it's accidental and an actual spell is misprenuncated and made into a deadly or very useful spell. For example, the Avra Kedra Charm was an early Sourgify Charm, until mispronouced by a wizard named Salem McLarn, it then became the killing curse, Avada Kedevra." James said, pausing letting the students take in the knowledge. Sirius remembered how they had come to find out this knowledge over the summer. He saw Hermione taking notes and he figured if Harry didn't know any of this, which he knew very well seeing as he had accidently accomplished something along similar lines. Draco raised his hand, having not been there he doesn't know anything about it.

"Draco?" James said.

"Well, what would happen if someone accidently discovered another killing curse and they used it for the bad." Draco asked.

"Mispronucation is uncommon and rarely results in finding another killing curse. I don't believe that there is another wizard that has done that, but you never know." He quickly glanced at Sirius.

"Now, please open your books to page 24 and quickly read or scan I won't really know the difference unless I become a mean teacher and give you a pop quiz." He laughed micheviously. The whole class pulled out their books and read the material throughly. Sirius finished rather quickly, having already learned all this and knew it throughly, he sat and looked around the room observing it's detail, having not done that for a while. He missed being at Hogwarts sometimes, not having to worry about the real world. He had felt a little guilty for taking up residence at James and Lily's for nothing, but they had insisted that he could stay as long as he liked for no cost what so ever. Remus felt even worse, James had ordered him to get new robes because no friend of his should have to wear old robes and it was at least he could owe him for watching out for Harry when he could and making sure he stayed out of trouble or as best he could.

"Harry." James said. Sirius still was caught in thought. "Harry!" James said, louder.

"Yeah, that's me, isn't it, sorry Dad I was just thinking." said Sirius, slyly.

"Well, if you do it again it'll be points from Gryffindor." James said, warningly. "Now can you tell me, if a word is mispronuncated and the spell backfires, what is most likely to happen?" James asked, trying to stump him.

"The caster is throw backwards and it also depends on what the caster was casting. For example if it were a jinx, the caster would have the jinx placed on themselves and only the victum would be able to remove it or a backfire potion would." Sirius said, in a lazy tone.

"Very good, I won't award points because of you're daydreaming." James said, smiling. "Just kidding, 5 points to Gryffindor."

The rest of class went off without any problems except when it came to doing practical stuff, Sirius wasn't very good with Harry's wand. Luckily James didn't notice, he was busy with Crabbe, he had set his robes on fire trying to create his own spell from another. On their way to Charms Sirius was rather nervous, she could always tell James from Harry, he hoped if she should ask that she'd believe he wasn't feeling good and wasn't feeling like his normal self. Hermione whispered a few reminders to Sirius along the way to help him act more like Harry.

----

Meanwhile...

Harry lay on his bed still unconsious, but was having the best dream of his life. Hermione was swimming in the small pond behind her house. She didn't notice Harry sitting on the rock, he figured she couldn't see him. A man with messy black hair came walking through the thick trees with a basket in his hand and a small decorated box in the other.

"Harry!" Hermione shouted, obviously suprised to see him. Harry dropped the basket and box and ran over to her and met her half way, he was up to his shins in water. They were hugging so tight, younger Harry thought they'd die from lack of oxygen.

"I'm so happy you're back." Hermione said.

"I haven't been gone for long." Harry said, his voice had a hint of laughter.

"You call dissapearing a week after the war until now not long?" Hermione asked, her hands flew to her hips.

"I needed time, Hermione." Harry plead.

"We were all suppose to go together!" Hermione argued.

"I just wanted some time to myself." Harry exclaimed.

"No letters, calls, nothing! We didn't get anything! We didn't know what happened, we only got a note. That's it, Harry Potter!" Hermione said, her face now grown rather red.

"I didn't want anyone to find me." Harry said.

"You did a damn job with that. We had the WHOLE Order looking for you." said Hermione, a few birds flew out of the trees near by.

"If you want, I'll leave again, there were a few places still left on my list I was waiting to go to with you guys, but if you want..." Harry said. Hermione smacked him on the shoulder.

"Don't leave me again." Hermione said, hugging him again. "You had me worried sick. Do you know how many calming draughts I ingested! James, Sirius, and Remus considered even put me in Saint Mungo's, along with your mother! She's as nearly bad as I was! You made everyone worried sick. Ron couldn't even play Quidditch! Everyone! I mean EVERYONE tried to get him to play! You know you could drive a person to drink! Faith even was worried about you, my parents, Jess, Jeff, just about everyone you know! The Ministry even sent some of their best Aurors out to find you! Tonks thinks she spotted you once, but she wasn't even sure." Hermione yelled. Harry was considering running away, but he figured that wasn't the best option. Instead he took off his shirt and threw it towards younger Harry's sitting place, and dove into the water, popping back up and floated on his back.

"You know what, Hermione. On my little crusade I learned something. No matter how far you go or what you do, you never can forget what's waiting for you. The whole time I was out exploring, all I could think was, I wish Hermione could be here. Or I wish my parents and everyone else could see this. I was put on t.v. a few times for things I did. I saved a baby from a burning building you know. But no matter what happened, I would always have this ache in my heart knowing how much pain I was causing for you guys. I just guessed I needed some personal time, where no one would be able to find me or contact me. I got these clever muggle skin patches, women use them for scars and marks they don't want seen, and I put it on my forehead each morning. At a point I had dyed my hair red and changed my name. No one could recongize me. For awhile I felt...normal. I didn't use any magic for the most part and it felt wonderful. I always knew something was missing though, but I knew I had to do this. Hermione, don't you see? I had almost everything I ever wanted, but I wasn't happy. I finally realized what it was like to be normal, but I wasn't having the best time I knew I could have with you guys." Harry said, he was silent now. Hermione had taken to sitting next to younger Harry and he didn't realize that she was crying. Neither Harry's had. Older Harry still hadn't unsure to look at her.

"You probably hate me, I can't blame you." He said, then looked at her. "Mione! I'm so sorry-" By now he was in front of her. She smacked his shoulder again, which hurt since he just got out of the water.

"Don't say you're sorry for saying that." Hermione said, she let out another sob and sat back down. Harry sat next to her (younger Harry had gotten up since older Harry wanted to sit right there) and put his arms around her and hugged her. She had situtated herself into his lap and cried, in happiness. Harry just held onto her, never wanting to leave her again. Young Harry looked on and wondered if this were a vision, or a sign to do this in the future. Harry's vision of the scene began to fade when the two kissed and older Harry said, I got you a gift. It was a small box, decorated in red and gold.

Harry stirred in his bed, he noticed he had moved from where he once was. The potion had worn off, and he felt strong and powerful. He noted it was still rather sunny out but without his glasses he couldn't tell what the time was. He got up from his bed and found the door and found his way over to the grandfather clock, careful not to walk into the fire. Harry looked into the face of the grandfather clock, his nose almost touching the face of it, and saw that Charms was almost over. Harry then got an idea, he transformed into a pheonix and he could see. He took flight into his room and opened his trunk and took out the Marauder's Map and transformed back into a human, muttered the incantation and transformed back into his animal form. He saw that Sirius was sitting next to Hermione in Charms, not moving around. Harry hoped this meant their secret hasn't been discovered. Harry transformed back into a human and decided he wanted to get a shower. He walked into the bathroom and grabbed a quick shower and changed into his pajamas. Lily had gotten them for him, he liked them. They were green with golden snitches on them. They didn't move, but if you wanted to all you had to do was tap them with your wand and say 'move.'

His stomach growled and Harry remembered that Dobby said if he ever needed anything all he had to do was call his name.

"Dobby?" Harry questioned as he sat on his bed. A small pop sounded and Dobby appeared in front of Harry.

"Harry Potter! What is it you calling Dobby for? Dobby is most happy to serve the great and noble Harry Potter." Dobby said, excitedly.

"Dobby it's great to see you. How are you and Winky?" Harry asked.

"Dobby is very good, Harry. Winky is doing greats too, she is now helping with the lunches and dinners. Would you likes something?" Dobby asked.

"Can I just have a drink and a quick snack, maybe some soup, please?" Harry asked.

"Dobby is right on its." Dobby said, disappearing only for a moment's second.

"Thanks, Dobby, this is terrific. Would you like to join me?" Harry said, observing the tray.

"Dobby would be most happy, but Dobby need be watching the house elves in the kitchens, Dobby has been promoted!" Dobby said, sticking his chest out in a proud manner.

"Congradulations, Dobby. Are you a supervisor now?" Harry guessed from his mentioning of watching the other elves.

"Yes, Dobby's now in charge of watching the rest. It is very fun, very. I even gets a raise." Dobby said, pointing to his socks. "Dobby gotted these with the bonus!" They were heavy wool socks, one would wear in the winter season. One had a candy cane design on it and the other had stars on a blue backround.

"Good job, Dobby. That's great news." Harry said, taking a bite of his Chicken Noodle Soup.

"Dobby must be going now, Harry Potter. Dobby wishes to visit again." Dobby said. Harry said good-bye before the elf snapped his fingers, disappearing. Soon he finished and tapped the tray twice and it disappeared. He left the drink next to his bed he laid down and thought of his dream. He liked the idea of traveling the world a little bit after the war. Although he wasn't entirely sure he could, considering how painful it'd be to leave everyone. Harry saw Hermione's reaction and heard what happened to everyone else.

"Harry." Sirius burst into the room as him still.

"What?" Harry asked.

"Thank Merlin, you're back to your old self. Your parents said they'd be up to check on you in a minute. How am I to get out when they get here?" Sirius asked, he was starting to change back into himself.

"Change quickly before you rip my robes, then cast a disillusionment spell on yourself, oh and give me my wand and glasses." Harry said. Sirius threw the glasses and wand and began to undress in the bathroom. Harry's door opened once more, he quickly pretended to sleep, he'd put his glasses and wand on his nightstand already. He felt his bed lower a little bit on the edge and a hand run over his forehead. He opened his eyes and saw Hermione.

"Thank Merlin." Harry breathed, grabbing his glasses.

"What do you mean?" Hermione said, but she turned and saw Sirius in the bathroom he was still dressing. She quickly covered her eyes and turned. Harry grabbed her middle and rolled over with her in his arms so they were facing each other.

"Are you scarred for life?" Harry asked.

"Not sure yet." Hermione giggled.

"I heard that." Sirius said, coming out the bathroom, putting on his cloak.

"Well you flirting with me all-" Hermione said.

"You flirted with my girlfriend?" Harry asked.

"Maybe, her new nickname is Pumpie-umpie-umpkin." Sirius said, laughing like the true Marauder he really is.

"Pumpie...umpie...umpkin?" Harry asked.

"Yeah, he tried to flirt with me and-." She shivered at that point. "It's so wrong, at least you're not James that would've been even more weird." Hermione said.

"Yes, it would've." Sirius said, they went quiet for a moment and then they heard voices. It was Lily and James. Harry put his glasses on his nightstand, Sirius cast the charm on himself, and with a wave of Harry's hand the Marauders Map erased itself, folded, and flew to his desk. The door opened again revealing the two parents, Sirius slipped out the door and through the portrait without notice. Hermione was laying down next to Harry, looking as if she were to fall asleep like him. Lily and James smiled, knowingly. Lily sat down next to Harry and James next to Hermione.

"Hey guys." Lily said, she had begun to push the hair out of her son's face. James sat next to Hermione and tucked her hair behind her ear and out of her face. Harry pretended to stir and slightly wake up.

"You must be really tired." James said, to both teens.

"Yeah, I've been up since five." Hermione said.

"I got up about a half hour later than that because I wanted to meet with you this morning about...the plan." Harry said, stretching. Hermione looked at him thinking of how adorable he looked.

"Well, if you could stay up only another hour that way you don't have to miss dinner." James suggested.

"Alright, I can try." Harry said, sitting up. He grabbed his school cloak and put it on over his pajamas, so they didn't show. He didn't feel like changing.

---

Friday

'The weekend at last.' Thought Harry, walking along the corridor after his last class, alone. Although he was on his way to his mother and father's dorm. Even though there's a dorm in the Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts classrooms; his parents had Dumbledore find them one to share elsewhere. He did of course but Harry couldn't help but feel a strange vibe from the room. It figured it was because of the secercy charm cast so the students couldn't find them easily and bother them. Harry knocked twice on a piece of blank wall with the exception of a picture of a stag on it.

"Hey," James whispered. He pulled his son inside, it was brightly lit wtih a cheery fire and lightly scented candles.

"Alright, here's what I've got planned." said Harry, throwing his bag onto an empty chair. He took a spot in another. His father sat down on the couch opposite him.

"I've got an idea too, but you first." James said, giddy with excitement, even though it was for both ideas of Harry's.

"Okay, for plan one, we have to do it either tonight or Sunday, I've got plans for tomorrow." Harry said, the idea of an acutal date for him and Hermione.

"What type of plans, Pronglet?" James asked, teasing his son who was very shy to intamacy with Hermione.

"Nothing extreme, but a nice day in Hogsmeade and a quiet dinner." Harry said, trying not to show his awkwardness.

"Just the occasional snog and-" James joked.

"Dad!" Harry exclaimed, embarrased.

"Yes?" James quirked.

"I want to ask you before we leave, is it tonight or Sunday?" Harry asked.

"No, we'll go Saturday night or Sunday night." James said.

"I can't Saturday night-" Harry protested.

"No after you two are done, sneak out, leave a note, and we'll go home, sleep, and go there Sunday morning and if we have to...Monday." James said, smiling like the true Marauder he was.

"Well, I'd have to get a note from a teacher to excuse my absence." Harry said, adopting the same grin, completly identical to his father's.

"That...can be arranged." James said.

"My excuse is?" Harry inquired.

"We'll work on it." James said, laughing.