Disclaimer: I don't, nor will I ever own the magical world of Harry Potter.

Playing God

Chapter 5

Hermione awoke on her last day at the 'Triwand' by Madame Rosmerta shaking her gently.

"What time is it?" Hermione asked around a yawn as she half sat up, resting her weight on her forearms.

"Early. You don't have to start work for about three hours yet." Rosmerta answered, sitting calmly on the edge of Hermione's bed and watched amusedly as Hermione rubbed her tired eyes.

"So why are you waking me up?" She asked around another yawn, watching Rosmerta carefully as the older woman glanced down at Hermione's bedcovers, tracing random patterns across the grey cotton. "Rosmerta?" Hermione prompted gently, wondering what was wrong with the woman.

Rosmerta sighed and rubbed the back of her head slightly awkwardly, her dirty blonde hair piled on top of her head in an extremely messy bun. "Well, the thing is you're leaving today and…I don't know, I don't feel right just letting you go and live in an apartment alone, honey." Rosmerta said, lifting her head up so that her eyes met Hermione's, who smiled back sadly – she didn't want to leave either, if she was being truthful – she had come to care for the older woman and wasn't quite ready to let that go. "I know that you have to, of course you do, you're growing up, you're independent and I don't really know you that well, love, but like I said, you'll be alone…And you're a Muggle-born and these are bad times for you. I don't know about the situation in France, but here it's deadly."

Hermione nodded slowly, understanding her friends' worry. She grinned at Rosmerta and flung the blanket up and off her, throwing it to the floor as she jumped up. "Rosmerta, have you got any ice-cream left?"

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That morning, Hermione breezed into work, a small smile on her face as she remembered her reassurances to Madame Rosmerta as they ate ice-cream (which really helped calm her friends' nerves) that if she thought she was in danger, that she was to go straight to the Triwand. Hermione grinned at Remus, who had peeked his head around the doorframe of the door to the back of the room, his golden hair a rumples mess about his head.

"Morning, Hermione – I hear that Sirius signed me up to help you move your stuff to your apartment?" Remus said, ducking back into the room and Hermione's mind flew to the moment on their…She hesitated to call it a date…when he offered his and his friends services.

"Oh, ignore him." Hermione called, taking off her outer-robe and stepping behind the counter to the register. She'd get to ring up purchases today as Remus worked in the back, going through all the invoices from December. "You don't have to do that."

"Nonsense, Hermione – Chivalry isn't dead, you know. Besides, you're apartments opposite mine – it isn't really a bother, to be fair." He assured her and Hermione smiled at his helpful nature.

A few hours later, just nearing her dinner break, the door opened carefully and the tiny bell rung out quietly, alerting Hermione to their presence. "If you need any help, just give me a shout." She called out without looking up from the book in her hands – she may be supposed to be working, but once Hermione lost herself in a book, it was a while until she was found again.

"I will do, dear," a warm voice called out – a warm, familiar voice.

Hermione practically slammed the book to the counter as she looked up, her eyes searching frantically for whoever had called, but they weren't there. A dim part of Hermione realised almost instantly that they were to the back of the store and Hermione could hear the chatter of children that told her one thing – she knew who this woman was.

She couldn't stop the pull in her heart and she stepped around the counter and made her way down the back to the shop, her heart pounding practically a mile a minute as she got closer to the voices – she could hear what sounded like two boys bickering loudly with each other over a book until the warm motherly voice interjected, breaking them apart.

The second she saw the woman she almost cried. Her hair was a lot redder now then grey, but her eyes still sparkled with wisdom and love for the five ginger haired children around her, all boys, her hand resting gently on her heavily pregnant stomach.

Mrs Weasley.

She watched as the tallest and oldest looking, who she knew was Bill, stood behind a smaller boy with Horn-rimmed glasses and a sour expression, his hands resting on his shoulders as if to say to the younger boy (who Hermione easily recognized as Percy) that he couldn't win. Hermione's brown eyes slid just to the right and saw another boy with all dark clothes and short cropped hair – Charlie. He was glaring at Percy and Hermione realised that it was Charlie and Percy who had been squabbling. Two identical children where sat in a double pram, giggling together and they seemed to be plotting something, sneakily looking over to Percy and Bill and Hermione just knew that Percy was going to get more upset as the day wore on.

And Ron…Ron wasn't even born yet, but Hermione couldn't stop the tears running from her eyes as she gazed at the small family, soon to be ripped apart and never stitched back together.

"Are you alright, dear?" Mrs Weasley asked and her voice was so comforting that Hermione longed to just hug the woman and close her eyes, trying to block out the horrors of the world and the hollowing responsibilities that fell on her and just sink into Mrs Weasley's safety and comfort.

But she couldn't. With a shake of her head she couldn't stay and watch – she ran. She didn't even think about it, just left the bookstore with a quick yell to Remus to tell him that she was taking her lunch break, not even stopping to hear his response and she just ran. She tried to dodge the swarm of people in Diagon Alley, but the tears in her eyes were making it hard for Hermione to tell where she was going and she crashed heavily into someone with a muscular chest, his arms coming up to catch her so that she wouldn't fall.

"Hermione, what happened?" His voice said urgently and Hermione looked up at him, recognizing it as Sirius (though he was still a little bleary because of her tears) and she could feel the worry coming off him, he was someone that she knew, someone that she trusted – she sobbed and just crumpled and he acted instinctively, bringing her closer to his body at the same time as moving them both away from the cluster of witches and wizards, some of whom were staring and others who were tutting at them because they were in the way.

He was a little confused, he had to say – he'd been on his Lunch break and had been strolling leisurely down Diagon Alley, taking in the warm weather (for January anyways) and sending winks to the gaggles of women who had stopped to stare unabashedly at him when Hermione barrelled into him in tears.

He just huddled her closer to him, silently wondering how he always seemed to manage to run into the curly haired girl before him but stopped wondering about that when she let out a particularly loud sob.

"Hermione, what is it? Are you hurt?" He whispered, bowing his head so that he could ask against the shell of her ear and let his hands run over her arms (which were clamped around his middle) and down her back, but she seemed unharmed. He sighed and wrapped his own arms around her, his mind going to what had upset her.

After a few moments, Hermione composed herself and pushed herself away from him slightly, lifting up one hand to rub at her face with the sleeve of her light jacket but Sirius cupped her face with one hand, his thumb erasing her tears for her.

"Hermione, what the bloody Hell was that –"

"Would you like to go for a walk?" Hermione interrupted him and Sirius blinked at her for a moment, trying to process her words.

"Err…Okay, but Hermione, I think we need to –"

"I'll tell you. Let's go." She reached up to the hand on her cheek and linked her fingers with him (he momentarily paused at how well their fingers fit) and she led him away form the hustle and bustle of Diagon Alley to a more secluded area.

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"I saw her and I just freaked." Hermione explained, leaning back against the tree beside Sirius, feeling slightly foolish at how she'd reacted towards Molly and she hoped dearly that she wouldn't hold it to heart.

"So, she's the mother of your ex?" Sirius asked, slouching almost elegantly against the tree trunk and Hermione closed her eyes, not wanting to go to the memories, but knowing that it was time she spoke about Ron – besides, if she was supposed to get Sirius to fall in love with her, she couldn't have that many secrets. "The ex whose comatose?"

Hermione nodded and leant her head back until it met the unforgiving bark of the oak tree. "Yes. His family home was attacked and two of his brothers, his sister and his father were killed and he just went mad with grief." Hermione paused and breathed deeply, need to find her Gryffindor courage to continue, "he was hell-bent on revenge. He disappeared one night without telling anyone and went to confront them, alone and they –" her Gryffindor courage failed her as she sobbed again, her shoulders shaking as Sirius' arm wound its way around them, pulling her in closer to his body where she curled into his side.

"It's alright, Hermione." She heard him through her memories, but his voice was just enough to stop her from dragged under in her horrible memories of that traumatic injury. "You don't have to finish. I get the picture." He said kindly and Hermione sighed thankfully, relived.

They stayed that way for a while, neither one feeling the need to move and, with a quick glance at his watch, he knew that he had actually a lot of time left of his lunch break. Sirius liked the feel of her pressed against him so close and Hermione liked feeling protected, like she didn't have to do everything alone. But the spell was broken when a silvery patronus wolf burst through the tree's and told Hermione that he needed her help at the shop.

Together, they apparated to the small book shop and Hermione turned to Sirius to thank him. "Any time, Hermione." He answered truthfully, pressing a quick, reassuring kiss to her forehead and Hermione knew in that second that if Sirius's actions weren't powered by the mirror's magic, then she'd definitely run after him and kiss him properly.

"I'm sorry, Remus, I didn't mean to be gone for so long." She said apologetically at her kind-of boss/friend who rolled his eyes good naturally at her before telling her to see to an elderly couple who had requested his help a few minutes ago as he served a teenage boy with a double lip piercing.

She shook her head lightly and pushed her sad lingering thoughts to the back of her mind as she focused on work and it turned out to be a good distraction. She threw herself into her job and, before she knew it, it was six o clock, time for the shop to open and for Hermione to move into her apartment.

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Hermione stood in the middle of her living room, gazing in wonder at the spacious apartment, taking in the electrical light fittings that the previous witch or wizard before her must have put in, the wonderfully cream walls that she knew would compliment all of her things and she smiled a little at the thought of going furniture shopping – call her a geek, but it's one of her favourite things to do.

She was momentarily distracted as she heard a loud bang and a slight yelp of pain and she turned to see James bouncing on one foot and clutching his other, her largest suitcase on the floor, the contents spewed out.

"God, James, you're such a butter fingers." Sirius snorted, carrying two suitcases in with ease. Hermione (And Minerva, of course) had the fore mind to bring furniture that she already owned along with her, such as her bed, so that she could have somewhat of a homely feel to her new place almost right away.

Hermione smiled lightly at Harry's carbon copy and brought her wand from her holster, sending a pain relieving spell his way. He grinned his thanks and pushed his glasses up his nose, his golden wedding band glinting in the artificial light.

"I want one of those." Sirius said wistfully, staring at the holster that Harry had bought Hermione two years before that wrapped around her hips and kept her wand safe and secure for when she wasn't using it, so she could carry it around at all times without being worried about accidently blowing one of her limbs off.

Then, Peter lumbered in and Hermione had to calm herself from launching herself at the man before her, who held her smallest suitcase in his small hands and Hermione couldn't help but notice that he didn't look a bit like the traitor that she knew he was to become. She felt the hate bubble in her stomach like a cauldron bubbling away and she saw red.

When Sirius had mentioned his 'goon squad' a small part of her had forgotten that that meant Peter as well. As stupid as that sounded, she had half-hoped that Peter would just stay out of her way.

"Where's Remus?" Hermione asked, trying to divulge her attention from the backstabber before her (who had placed his suitcase carefully by her front door) and Sirius raised his eyebrow lightly before answering her.

"He's talking to his neighbours and he'll be inviting you to them later." Hermione blanched a little at the thought of meeting a lot more people thinking that the best thing for her right now would be a nice, warm, relaxing bath when someone knocked on the front door lightly (which Peter had kicked shut) and James jumped up from his place on the floor and practically skipped to the door, opening it to reveal Lily Potter.

"Oh, my gorgeous wifey! What brings you here on this slightly cold evening?" James asked cheesily, but Hermione knew that he had asked her to accompany them – it was painfully obvious and judging by Sirius snort beside her, he knew it to.

Lily rolled her eyes – like Harry's, so much like Harry's – and pushed past her husband, brushing her long, red hair behind her ear and she grinned at Hermione, moving closer to engulf her in a welcoming hug.

"Welcome to London!" She said cheerily, still hugging her tightly and Hermione couldn't fight the smile at the woman's kind demeanour. "I hope the boys have been treating you right. They can be a little overwhelming, but they are sweethearts, deep down." She beamed and Hermione knew instantly that Lily would be an amazing mother.

"I know." Hermione assured Lily, who smiled brightly again before taking her wand from inside her sleeve and gesturing wildly, watching with satisfaction as the furniture rose up from the suitcases and situated themselves, fully built, before them all.

"Now boys, I'm sure you'll have no trouble moving these around to where Hermione wants them, will you?" She phrased it like a question, but her tone left no room for arguments and Hermione grinned as the boys rolled their eyes but did as she asked, moving together as one to the red sofa to move it around to face the wall the Hermione instructed them to.

After they were all done rearranging her furniture (Hermione had told them that they didn't really have to, but they seemed determined to do this for her), the boys had collapsed on her couch and she was pretty sure that Sirius was asleep, his head on the arm rest and his socked feet in James lap, who was blinking sleepily. Hermione smiled and rolled her eyes in amusement and Lily grinned back before moving to get her husband. She pulled him gently from the sofa, being careful to not disturb Sirius and together they left, Lily promising to invite her to her home for a 'girl talk' and Hermione almost felt her heart break as she allowed her thoughts to stray to what was to become of Lily's future. Peter followed after the Potters, running a hand through his hair lazily.

That left her and Sirius alone in the living room and he rolled over onto his side, his arm curving to the floor, his fingertips brushing the crème carpet. Hermione softened at the sight of him and wondered, not for the first time, how somebody as attractive and caring as Sirius could still be single and remain single for pretty much most of his entire life – then she realised, quite quickly, that he wanted to be single and that just made her plans that much harder. That and his Azkaban stay would have affected his game.

She sighed softly and crouched down before him, not letting her eyes linger on the smooth curve of his jaw or his high cheekbones that indicated his aristocratic heritage and placed her hand gently on his broad shoulder, attempting to wake him with gentle shakes, but she figured out that this just wasn't going to cut it as someone knocked lightly on her door. With a resigned sigh she left Sirius where he was (he seemed to be comfortable) and went to answer her door not surprised in the least to see Remus stood there, leaning casually against the doorframe.

"Ready to meet the neighbours?" He asked with a wolfish grin and Hermione smiled and nodded despite the feeling of unease that settled low in her stomach. She left a quick note to Sirius and shut the front door quietly behind her, following Remus as he headed for the third and last apartment on the bottom floor and knocked on it without hesitation.

The door was opened to reveal one of the most stunning girls that Hermione had ever seen in her life, tanned skin, long curly black hair, deep sensual eyes and a body to die for. But Hermione could also sense that she wasn't a girl to be messed with and she bit her lip in trepidation, waiting for Remus to introduce her. "Hermione this is Natalia. Natalia, Hermione just moved into to apartment 2 and wanted to meet her neighbours."

"Er…Hi?" Hermione said tentatively and Natalia raised one eyebrow in a casual gesture, letting her eyes trail down Hermione's body quickly before snapping up to meet her eyes and Hermione couldn't help but gulp.

"Yeah. Lupin, you rethinking the offer?" Hermione knew that she'd just been blind sighted and a small part of her was relieved – she could deal with rejection rather than outright hate and prejudice.

"It's still no, Natalia." Remus grinned, running a hand through his messy hair and Natalia rolled her eyes and closed the door, barely glancing Hermione's way as she shot a 'your loss' look Remus' way. "Ignore Natalia, she always acts like that when she doesn't know someone – you'll find out in about a week if she likes you or not. If it's the former, you've made an extremely loyal friend, if it's the latter…" Remus hesitated as they started to climb the winding stairs to the top floor and Hermione felt the unease tighten even more.

"If it's the latter…?" She prompted and she heard Remus chuckle lightly.

"You might wanna hit the ground running. She's no Slytherin, but she might as well have been sorted into that house for all the conniving things she's done to other people who have lived here."

Suddenly, the apartment didn't seem so inviting.

At the next apartment she was greeted by a tall man with tanned skin, broad muscles and thin dreadlocks that hung to his shoulder and Remus introduced him as Steven. Steven seemed polite enough and the girlish giggle in the background and the predatory grin on his face told her that she wasn't the only one who thought he was attractive.

At the next apartment she was greeted to a young couple, about their age, maybe a year or so older. The girl was pretty with slightly curly blonde hair and green eyes with a happy-go-lucky attitude named Caitlyn who had hugged Hermione on being introduced and the man had short black hair with hazel eyes who was called Jack and smiled at his girlfriend's antics.

In the final apartment there was a guy with his light brown hair in a ponytail at the nape of his neck, deep chocolate brown eyes, a nice neck and jaw line and rings on all his tanned fingers, a guitar held in one hand and the other in his pocket. The first thing that Hermione noticed after Remus introduced him as Cal was the Irish accent. Hermione knew that she was here for Sirius and Sirius only, but that didn't stop her admiring the way that he pronounced his R's or the way her name rolled off his tongue.

Hermione now knew her neighbours and it was a very strange, very odd feeling – this was something that she never thought she'd live to be able to do and the feeling of euphoria at this little indulgence was slightly foreign, but she accepted it all the same.

As she kissed Remus gently on the cheek good night and slipped back into her own home, attempting one last time to wake Sirius she hoped that Natalia wouldn't make her run for the hills. She was quite happy here and she knew that she would be for some time.

A/N: Okay, I'm back! I hope you all like this chapter – If anyone has ever seen Chuck (if not, you should – it's Totally awesome!) where Hermione lives looks like where they live :D I'm sure that made sense…

Anyways, thanks for being patient!

Kelly

xxx