Chapter seven - 'You've been buying me a book, well several actually!'
They took the quickest rout back, walking quickly as the snow began to fall around them so by the time they reached the street Sirius was living on, Harry had pulled up the hood to keep his ears warm and Hermione's hair was covered in little white flakes of snow.
"Harry you've been gone hours!" Ron asked quickly as Harry came in behind Lupin but suddenly they all had to duck as Tonks took aim and through a few snowballs at Sirius as he came in to the hallway to meet them.
"Get in you lot it's drafty.' He called quickly bolting the door down as Tonks came in shoving another smaller ball down Sirius's back.
'Arggh you little minx!" He suddenly squealed grabbing her quickly and lifting her up over his shoulder as Harry started talking to Ron and Lupin finished bolting the door up.
"So how was their shop? What's it like?" Ron asked totally annoyed he'd been stuck in the house all day with his mother.
"Oi, you little banshee what ya do that for!" Sirius shouted flicking his wand down his back so the water warmed and turned to steam to dry him off.
"Oh come on Sirius you like the snow." Tonks laughed at Sirius in her giddy young way.
"I'm going to go read, I don't think that beer did me any good at all." Lupin explained handing Harry the bag and Sirius what was left of his money then heading up stairs quickly to bed without saying another word, much to Tonks's annoyance.
"What do you mean beer, Lupin you haven't been sat drinking all afternoon with Hagrid have you, we expected you lot back here ages ago?" Mrs Weasley asked looking at her watch but Lupin totally ignored her as his only thoughts were bed and they weren't that late by his watch anyway, Harry was fine and it was nice to have an afternoon for once talking to normal people that actually like books of all things!
Moody had already sat down in the living room when the rest pilled in to hear about things and notice Harry's new glasses and Tonks's oddly pink cheeks. She wasn't used to drinking gin and tonics in the afternoon and had found it a little hard to behave properly on the way home what with all this snow and her bubbly nature in full flow.
"I like them Harry, you look good in them." Ginny explained sitting down next to Harry while Sirius hung his cloak back up to dry then sat back down on Harry's other side.
"Yeah it's weird to be able to see ya' know. Everything looks totally different and apparently I can't see shades of green." He explained yanking open the bag to see what to pull out first.
"You've got them colour altering glasses haven't you. Your dad had them, he never realised Slytherin had two shades of green until he got a pair. Idiot didn't have a clue and it never occurred to him." Sirius laughed but Harry merely went red and looking purposefully at him.
"Yes I imagine YOU would find that highly amusing wouldn't YOU!" Harry explained not smiling back at Sirius until he got the point although feeling very pleased with himself for inheriting his fathers poor vision. Sirius was the happiest he could be when he was mentioning James these days and Harry liked it when he thought he reminded Sirius of his father. Unlike Molly who constantly complained about Sirius seeing too much of James in Harry. Harry himself actually saw it as a compliment, even when Snape said he had too much pride. What was wrong with pride and being like his dad? Harry loved it when people said nice things about his parents and referring there memory's to him.
"Oh I'm sorry Harry, I didn't realise. So you can't see it either?" He asked looking slightly uncomfortable as he twigged what an idiot he'd been.
"No, I've got green sodding eyes and I can hardly see green!" He explained with a puzzled look and pulling out the case that went with his glasses dropping it heavily on Sirius's lap, then finding the Quidditch Goggles and smiled again. Sirius was in heaven watching Harry now, most the day out in London and a long kip and Harry was smiling at himself again. He couldn't help but mutter to himself in his odd forgetful way.
"God Dumbledore's good!"
"What?' Harry mumbled back sure he heard Sirius say something of a sort. But Sirius seemed either to have not said anything or not realised he was talking to himself again.
'Guess what you've got me?" Harry pulled out the second box and handed it to Sirius as he never would.
"What then?" Sirius replied obligingly, looking over to what Harry was yanking out the bag.
"They're to help me see when I fly, repel water and everything. And they won't break, even if I get full on hit by a bludger.' Harry explained pulling them out and showing Sirius more carefully. As his godfather came to the conclusion that if he was going to get hit full on hit by a bludger, really wouldn't it be better to duck, he didn't mention this to Harry though as he seemed so happy explaining them and merely kept it too the back of his mind that Harry might forget he was wearing safety goggles and duck anyway.
'And look that stops you from getting injuries to your face." Harry explained passing it to Sirius but as he looked he couldn't help but notice how dark the rings were around Harry's eyes were and how waxy his skin still looked even in the bright light.
"Hay these are neat. I've got good taste haven't I." Sirius forced himself to laugh reading the back of the box. But Hermione had the distinct feeling Sirius would never normally refer to something as 'neat' and wondered if it was something he'd picked up from to much time with Lupin recently or just forced happiness. She did wonder sometimes what went off behind those grey eyes of his as it couldn't just be nothing like he pretended. No-one was that dim, not even Ron.
"Erm, got some stuff form Fred and George's.' Harry explained pulling out several large boxers that had been pre rapped by Fred for Harry earlier that morning.
'Erm, boring stuff for Sirius.' Harry pulled out another brown bag and passed it to Sirius who started to flick through it's contents absentmindedly to get the general gist.
'Oh yeah books.' Harry mumbled a bit as he thumbed through them but suddenly came across one that he was sure was not for him.
'Tonks did you stick this in among mine so no one would notice?" He asked passing the brown rapped book complete with semi-naked man on the front.
"Sorry Harry, I forgot I added that in." She pushed the paper bag under her cloak and tried to ignore it but it was clear she hadn't forgot and was just pushing her look a little with Sirius and his affectionate way with money. Failing that, his blind ignorance towards anybody else when Harry was in the room, after been jealous for a while that Harry could unconsciously produce happiness in Sirius when she'd tried so hard already and felt she'd failed, for now though she now decided it was actually dead useful to be ignored occasionally.
"Oh, Sirius have you ever herd of J.R. Tolkin? You've been buying me a book, well several actually." Harry explained seeing Sirius's slightly puzzled look.
"No. Who is he?" He asked looking at the rather hefty box he was given suspiciously positive this must be something to do with Lupin.
"Wow, I didn't think you had the capacity of reading that?" Hermione laughed taking the box from a Sirius and looking at it carefully.
"Oi, I'm not totally retarded you know, unlike Ron I do read more than one book a year.' Harry replied looking a little annoyed but digging back in his bag all the same, Hermione however was distinctly aware that Ron never read one full book a year if he could get away with a few chapters and a summary off her.
'Ron, got ya some munchies." Harry tossed a large bag of Bertie Bots every flavoured beans over.
"Thanks did you get everything off ya list?" He asked pulling the bag open and digging greedily into the beans. Harry however was giving Sirius a guilty look and nodded quickly over to Ron as he did.
"Yeah I got all me school stuff. What about you Hermione what did you get in London?" He asked trying not to grin too much as Ron popped several beans into his mouth at once.
"Oh well daddy got me a new pair of Calvin Kline shoes and a handbag and you get free men's jumper with it but he thinks he's too old for it, so he said you could have it seen as you pasted his err, test." Hermione explained digging in one of her fewer carrier bags and pulling out a nicely rapped package.
"Thanks I always wanted something from there." Harry explained opening up the wrapping and pulling out a fitted pale pink jumper with CK written on the front and was immediately not quiet sure if he really did want a small, pink jumper.
"Sorry I didn't get you anything Ron." Hermione added looking at Ron who was now chocking and looked about ready to be sick over the back of the sofa.
Leaning over the back he suddenly spat out all the beans and tried not to puke in the process.
"Oi I just cleaned up in here?" Sirius joked loudly seeing Harry about to fall off his chair with a fit of little giggles.
"Not that you could tell a difference." Mrs Weasley grumbled from her corner with a utter look of disgust on her face at the room that Sirius noticed and Harry was annoyed by. There was no need to be rude about the room, particularly if Sirius had really made an effort to clean it up for them.
"Harry you didn't get them from Fred and Georges did you?" Ginny asked sweetly looking up at Harry who was so over come with laughter now for the first time that holiday, that he could hardly speak.
"Harry your sick, how could you let me eat them, they taste like dog shit?" Ron grumbled trying to rinse the taste out his mouth with water.
"How do you know what dog shit tastes like?" Ginny laughed seeing Ron's disgruntled face return and looking warningly green around the mouth.
"Ginny wash your mouth out." Her mother snapped but she merely ignored her mother and laughed even harder as Tonks sniggered a way next to Hermione. Sirius however was just so pleased to see Harry laughing again and would have happily eaten them himself if he thought Harry would find it funny.
"I think that's more something Ron wants to do." Ginny giggled quietly looking at Harry as Ron quickly left the room to be sick properly in a toilet.
"I think it's time you lot got ready for dinner. Why don't you take your things upstairs Harry?" Mrs Weasley bustled in quickly, but for once the group agreed as they all had something to benefit from leaving the room.
When he'd got upstairs Harry sat down on the empty bed next to Ron's that he guessed he should probably start using, even if he hated the eerie feel this room had. Every time he came in, he could feel the temperature drop and it was like the room had some dark and dreadful past that it was keeping secret from the world. Once, when he was half asleep, he was sure he heard the walls whispering to him but it may have just been Phineas being awkward again to try and wind him up.
"I'm sorry about that Ron, it was meant to be a joke." Harry explained when Ron finally came in and sat back down on the bed opposite to talk to Harry.
"It's ok, I know it's only a joke. I'm still going to try and get mum to eat one though.' He grinned then looked about for something else to talk about. Harry couldn't understand why but Ron had always been a bit edgy since Harry came to see him this summer and seemed to choose his words more carefully around Harry rather than blurting things right out like he normally did.
'Hermione said you stopped for a drink with her mum and dad before coming back. Mum's not too happy when she over heard and keeps going on about it not being safe. How was it, she seemed to think something was the matter?" Ron explained a little disappointed that Harry didn't have to injure his mothers moods in the same way Ron did. Ron however was always careful about how he complained about his mother since Neville had pointed out he'd rather have her annoying him than how she was now and Harry probably quiet agreed with him.
"Erm, ok I suppose. Her dad's a bit uncomfortable with the idea of his little girl running off all the time. I don't think he quiet likes the idea of her being a part of something he knows nothing about but he doesn't seem to want to stop her just because of that." Harry explained as he started pulling parcels and books out of the bag properly.
"You got enough books there?" Ron suddenly asked as Harry pulled out yet another large volume.
"Yeah most of them are for our NEWTS and stuff.' Harry explained passing Ron one of his Transfiguration books.
'It looks a bit difficult so I picked up some of those easy help guides for us, I figured we could do with the extra help." Harry explained passing one to Ron who was pleased as always Harry was egger to share extra things with him.
"Not half, have you seen this and I bet it only gets harder further into the book.' Ron explained showing a particularly difficult charm.
'How did it go then with Mr Granger, Hermione mentioned something about him taking you off to talk with him for a bit?" Ron continued trying to sound as casual as possible.
"Yeah err, he wanted to know if I was screwing Hermione and came out with it as plane as anything." Harry smiled seeing Ron's slightly bemused face as he tried to remember what screwing was.
"You gotta-be kidding, he always seemed like such a well mannered bloke. I've hardly ever spoken with him but the way Hermione is..?" Ron started then shaking his head in disbelief turned back to his book.
"Yeah well seems there was more to the Krum thing than Hermione lets on and she gets far more proper around Daddy you know. Think I pulled it off ok though told him Hermione's just a friend and all that but he seemed dead interested in Sirius though."
"You called?" Sirius smiled wondering in and sifting through the pile on Harry's bed for his shopping. He'd been hanging around outside waiting for an appropriate time to go in and hearing his name hoped it was suitable. He didn't like to interfere but he couldn't tell if he was or not half the time unless Lupin told him so.
"Yeah well, I think he's just a bit unsure about him. You know he's been all over the muggle papers a few times and Mr Granger's bound to have read a lot of it, he's just that sort to read and remember anything and everything, like Hermione does.' Harry continued before a slightly wicked grin came on his face as he winked at Ron who knew the look perfectly well from many an occasion when joining in on a bit of Draco verbal slapping with Fred and George.
'I don't think he likes the idea of Hermy being around all these men, so I made out how camp Sirius was and how Mr Weasley should be the one to worry not him. Then after threatening to use me Bollocks as a pin cushion if I put my dirty hands any where on his daughter, he tried to get me drunk, but fortunately I don't really like Guinness so Lupin drank it.' He paused to see if Sirius had been paying attention or just nodding along politely.
'Don't think that beer agreed with Lupin somehow though, he wasn't himself walking back and Moody must have had more than one scotch I'm sure." Harry finished as Sirius finally twigged what he'd been listening to.
"Did I just hear that right Lupin's been drinking? Wow he was always so T-Total, he must have finally given in.' Sirius explained as Hermione came in sitting next to Ron.
'Hang on a minuet did I miss summit then about her dad?" Sirius just asked as Harry grinned again knowingly to Ron as they looked over to Hermione.
"So what was that about with my dad, he best not be having a go at you, I told him he wasn't to pester you but he did it anyway?" Hermione asked impatiently while Sirius tried to figure out why he had both powdered and solid Benzar in his hands when all he'd put down was 'summet benzar' on the list.
"He wasn't that bad, he just seemed a bit worried about you that's all." Harry explained passing another book to Ron for his disbelief to continue.
"Yeah well, after threatening to use his bollocks as a pin cushion and Harry said something about Sirius being overly camp not much else happened from what I can gather. What is camp anyway?" Ron suddenly asked having heard the word so often and never really understood muggle slang.
"You didn't tell my dad Sirius was gay, did you?" Hermione asked still slightly stunned with how casual Harry was being about the whole thing.
"Oh you told him Sirius was a sissy." Ron suddenly understood but unfortunately, now did Sirius and giving up on his Benzar's slapped Harry round the back of the head as gently as he could.
"Oi, I didn't say you were gay. I just said you were and ok man and not in the least bit dangerous, that was all. But I might change me mind if you whack me around the head any more. These glasses you brought weren't that cheap you know!"
Harry complained and after a moment of Sirius looking at him in his very still way he smiled and leaned over to scruff Harry's hair up. Ron was exceptionally pleased to see Harry laughing away as the two opposite escalated there play fight into a full blown pillow fight that only ended when Harry fell off the bed and fortunately landed on the duvet. All three of them were pleased to see Harry much happier again although Sirius was sure he would have to be really careful not to knock Harry back to square one by accident. After all his big foot used to be famous.
Over the next few days Mrs Weasley's bad mood never really burst again but neither did it improve. Lupin spent much of his time hiding away in Sirius's library much to Tonks's annoyance and Harry divided his time up between messing around getting to know Sirius, having cozy little chats with Ginny in the Library when Lupin was asleep. He slept in late nearly every day and napped regularly in front of the fire at random intervals throughout they day. This seemed to really annoy Mrs Weasley who thought Harry was becoming too lazy like his godfather, so Harry did it more often and Sirius always made a point of keeping people out the room when Harry was napping taking particular care to annoy Mrs Weasley if he could. It was the only way he could be sure Harry was getting better, he always seemed much better for a nap so he wasn't the only one to encourage it.
Some times Harry played chess with Ron and sometimes with Sirius who was surprisingly good and often made Ron struggle to beat him. When he wasn't doing this though, Harry found that he quiet liked the idea of jumping up behind Hermione and making a big deal on the landing about not putting his hands on her until one day by accident he fell off the bed and landed flat on his back with her on top seconds before Mrs Weasley walked in on the scene.
Harry laughed about that with her for hours after as she had obviously got the wrong end of the stick and made a point of sending someone into the room for a needless errand when ever Harry and Her, as Mrs Weasley had started calling Hermione were alone. Sirius never really got a proper wind of this and decided she was being totally ridiculous again, so started making Kresher walk in to the room whenever Mr and Mrs Weasley were talking alone just to be annoying.
If there was one thing Sirius could always count on with Kresher was that he always made cutting remarks and a nescience of himself in a room until Sirius sent him to yet another part of the house. Usually his den off the kitchen as it was beginning to smell particularly bad again and no-body dared go near it.
Harry truly enjoyed having Sirius around and Sirius was overjoyed when Harry asked him if he could come for Christmas too. He didn't really fancy going with Ron to the Burro this year and wanted to spend more time with Sirius, now he realised it would be in only a few days that he went back to Hogwarts.
Sirius was so pleased by the news he barely said a word about it to anybody in case Harry changed his mind, but fortunately his good mood lasted much longer than it usually did considering Harry was leaving so soon. Lupin however had become far more distant from Harry and everybody else, keeping to himself most of the time and eating in his room whenever he could get away with it.
Harry wondered why but had the horrible feeling he was still hung up about trying to eat Harry at the last full moon. Sirius however dismissed this when Harry asked, saying it was something quiet different and as soon as Harry had gone safely back to Hogwarts he was going to make it the next focus point of his life.
It wasn't that Harry had forgotten about what had happened to him recently that allowed him to come more out of his shell, because every night Harry hated going to sleep, in case he ended up finding himself in that ally again. Ron noticed this and told Sirius who asked him to stay awake while Harry went to sleep to make sure he dropped off properly and didn't pretend. Hermione however soon worked out what Sirius was trying to do, he was forcing himself not to sulk and even made Lupin either play fun in Harry's company or keep out the way so Sirius could keep the atmosphere around Harry as happy as possible and as occupied as possible.
Sirius saw quiet quickly that if he allowed Harry to sit for long stretches without something to do then he was going to drift in his own mind and scare himself in to a stronger depression. Sirius really didn't want this as he knew, from his own experiences that the more you allow your mind to dwell on dreadful things the harder it will be to accept them.
"Never mind him now Harry, I want to ask you something." Sirius asked but rather than stand there and ask he headed up the stairs gesturing to Harry to follow him, until they reached a plain door on the far side next to Sirius's room.
"What you going to show me? And I hope it's not another charming family heirloom." Harry asked cautiously but slightly sarcastically as Sirius pushed the door open and smiled as he walked in.
"I wondered, if you didn't mind that is, at Christmas, if you'd like this room to be yours. I don't get that many house guests for the size of the house but I wondered if you'd like to have this one just for you rather than always stopping in that room downstairs weather you've come with Ron or not.'
Sirius explained looking slightly nervous at his bold suggestion. Harry however looked around the room and although it was a bit dingy and it was clearly just for one. It had an old bed on one side with a little chest of draws next to it. There was a large old writing desk at another wall and matching dark, wooden, wardrobe opposite. Harry felt it did have an old man's sort of feel to it, with all the dark furniture as the entire room was covered in dust and even had shabby ripped curtains by the window, which had long since lost there colour. But still, as Harry looked over to it there was a warm and bright light as the little bit of sunshine shone in through the dirty window and made the room look far more welcoming than his current one ever did.
'I know it's a bit grubby now, but I can clean it for you and change the mattress and curtains and things. The floors not particularly rotten it just needs some varnish on it. It's just that one you and Ron are in now, it's so dingy and horrible. I'm sure it's got a weird vibe to it and personally I can't stand Phineas's painting in it. But unfortunately I'm not allowed to rip him down." Sirius explained carefully still watching Harry's face as intently as he dare do.
"Yeah I get it too, you can't seem to explain it can ya? It just always has that weird smell in it for some reason like something's old and rotten in it." Harry added pleased he wasn't the only one to have noticed.
The thought of having his own room though hear with Sirius, was too much to take in at once. He had never felt like any room had just been for him except his cupboard and that was after all, only a cupboard under the stairs, even his bedroom at the Dursley's had all Dudley's old stuff in it and was never really just for him.
"So what do you think?" Sirius asked again still terrified Harry might shoot him out the sky and say 'not a chance I hate you' or something.
"Oh yeah, it'd be great to have my own room. But you promise I'm not going to find a boggart in the wardrobe when I try and hang my clothes up?" Harry asked smiling at Sirius who seemed to have heaved a subtle sigh of relief now.
"Err, might you have to wait until Moony's had a look in it first, but I promise to clean it up before you put your clothes away.' He replied flicking his fingers over the dusty head board in the centre of the room.
'Or even better you could just dump it in a heap on the chair. This isn't the Weasley house, tidying your room comes as an optional suggestion." He grinned then pushed half a chair out the way of another door that Harry had barely noticed.
"What's in there? Walk in wardrobe?" Harry wondered having recently heard about Hermione's home wardrobe as Mrs Weasley had commented on the amount of change of clothes Hermione seems to possess, only to receive a saucy remark about not having to put with hand-me-downs and that her daddy likes to buy her new things as gift's. Hermione herself felt the comment was a bit out of line, particularly as it wasn't anyone's fault that the Weasley family just wasn't as well off as the Granger family but she was in such a bad mood with Molly, for her part, she didn't care.
"Err, no, better than that come and have a look." Harry climbed over the chair and followed him to find an equally dirty room but this time it was a small bathroom.
"I know it isn't that big and I'd have to work out how to fix the mirror and the taps but what you do think? You can clean your own toilet mind but still, would it be nice to have your own washroom?"
He asked carefully, looking in the cracked mirror that was half hanging off the wall above a large sunken sink with matching stained tapes which knowing this house were probably solid silver or something. There was, as Sirius had clearly pointed out a toilet in one corner and despite the odd old magically feel to it a large walk in shower in the far corner and yet more dry and dirty floorboards that probably only needed a clean and some varnish like Sirius had said before.
Although it was just as dirty as the previous room, everything seemed ok and looking through the large horizontal window along the wall Harry got the feeling this room would be just as sunny most the day as what was going to be his bedroom.
"It looks great Sirius honestly. I can roll out of bed in the night and through up in peace with out stumbling in on anything but my dirty washing.' Harry explained warmly as he looked at his watch then realised for the hundred thousand time that it had been broken over a year and it was pointless wearing it.
'You any good at fixing these?" He suddenly asked thinking it was about time he made a point of fixing it, failing that, knowing Sirius he probably had about fifty old watches lying around this old house or something and would happily lend one to Harry until he got round to buying a new one.
"Yeah easy." Sirius took off the watch tapped it with his wand reset the time by his own and then gave it back to Harry as if it was so easy, any idiot could do it, just not idiot Harry.
"I bet dinner's ready soon." Harry decided walking back out to the hallway and taking one last glance at was to be his own room. Just for him, he couldn't help but let his stomach take a back flip with joy at the mere thought it. And knowing Sirius better now, he would make a real good job of cleaning it up and probably enjoy it looking forward to having Harry in the room next door, it was a perfect idea.
"I hope Mrs. Weasley doesn't try and feed me half a horse again because I really don't like eating that much before going to bed it keeps me up half the night with stomach-ache."
Harry explained wandering down the stairs and absentmindedly rubbing his stomach as Sirius found this odd bit of information slightly uncomfortable but still, chose to ignore it for now and make sure Harry ate plenty at dinner which was indeed ready. Unfortunately just as they opened the door Mrs Black managed to set herself off so Sirius had to try and wrench the curtains shut over her again.
"I'm glad to see you've joined us for once Remus." Mrs Weasley explained as Lupin came and sat down opposite Harry and the empty space waiting for Sirius.
"Well I guess it is your farewell dinner so I can hardly miss it?" He explained trying to be casual as Mr Weasley handed out the plates.
"Where were you Harry, we sent Ron up ages ago but you weren't in your room?" Ginny asked seeing Ron quiet happily sat opposite with his dad.
"Oh I was, just. Never mind I'll explain another time." Harry replied seeing Sirius walk in and grin broadly at Mrs Weasley.
"Ooo chicken, my favourite how on earth did you guess!" He was deliberately laying on the good food thing for a while, commenting on how lovely Mrs Weasley's cooking was and how much he was going to miss it when she went back home. This unfortunately annoyed her immensely however much her husband whispered that at least he was trying to make an effort, but Harry and Ginny knew full well Sirius was trying to be painfully polite, not good-mannered.
Harry however soon worked out that his good mood at the dinner table wasn't the food it was the fact that Mrs Weasley was bogging off home, now Harry was going to Hogwarts which some how seemed to be a considerable buffer on his annoyance that his favourite companion was leaving him.
Harry was going to comment on this to him when Mrs Weasley brought up the subject of how Tonks had wanted to come to dinner tonight but unfortunately was delayed at work. Harry however noticed along with Ginny that at the sound of Tonks name, Lupin accidentally knocked his glass over spilling juice all over the table. Before Mrs Weasley could get her wand out though Sirius had flicked his wand lazily and cleared the mess up rolling his eyes at Lupin who merely tried his best to ignore him unsuccessfully.
Harry wasn't the only one to notice Lupin was being rather quiet at the dinner table tonight, even by his standards and it wasn't as if it was a full moon any time soon either, having finished last a few weeks ago. He was usually at his best at this time of the month, but for some reason, he had chosen to sit at the end of the table and easily allowed Ron to talk to his dad throughout most the meal so he could eat and drink in silence.
The evening waned on and Harry happily chatted away to Ginny about allsorts as Sirius, as custom, turned quiet when he started counting down the hours until Harry left in the morning and tried not to wonder how long it was going to be before he could have such lively company again, other than Tonks.
Harry couldn't help wonder why but he was really enjoying talking to Ginny about allsorts but in particular, she was asking about who he'd pick for Quidditch laughing at all the ridicules choices he could make.
"Come on you've got to be a bit lenient with letting me on the team?" She mock pleaded at Harry, who despite being slightly red was up holding that he wasn't before finally explaining why he was determined not to be.
"You know I'm really glad Fred and George have left, because what with them to as beaters, you as a chaser, Ron as a goalie and me as seeker that only leaves space for two other Gryffindor's and some how I'd think they'd call that favouritism." He giggled but Ginny was whispering something quietly.
"Three, Harry. Three, what with Ron's track record he might not make the team, if you make him go through trials like everybody else!" She laughed and although Ron was totally oblivious to what she'd said he had a horrible feeling that she was going to be right. Ron did have shocking confidence problems even by Harry's standards.
It was just eleven when Sirius's grandfather clock chimed in the corner and Mrs Weasley sent them off to bed. Sirius although annoyed at the time was beginning to feel the pinch of sleep himself, however continuing his gracious manner offered to help tidy up while Lupin sneaked of quick to go to bed and Mr Weasley sat down to read the daily paper finally. Ron had decided that really, he should finish packing before going to bed leaving Harry to walk Ginny up to her now rather lonely room.
"Sure you don't want company now that Hermione's run off back home." Harry asked leaning on her door frame while Ginny looked around for the last of her stuff.
"It is really lonely up hear by myself, but I don't think mum would agree after finding you manhandling Hermione in your room the other day." She laughed giving up on her packing to talk.
"I wasn't, I promised her father I wouldn't lay a dirty little finger on her. Besides she got some pointy knees that girl and I was protecting myself."
Harry grinned suddenly aware of how pretty Ginny was looking tonight with her hair tied up different and an old washed out white t-shirt that Tonks had died pink and stuck a picture of The Weird Sisters on.
He looked slowly around the room and noticed just how large it was for one little person like Ginny, who although perfectly proportioned was still a good few inches shorter than Harry and seemed to make him feel just a bit more grown up than he did around Hermione.
"You know I do really like those glasses you've got, they seem to open your face up a hell of a lot more." She explained quietly taking half a step closer without Harry realising until he suddenly felt her warm breath on his neck making the hairs on the back stand up on end for some unexplained reason.
"Yes well, I'm shocked at how bad my old ones were, no wonder I was always banging into things. I'm surprised I didn't break my neck when I flew in matches." He explained.
"It was really funny, but now you look much more handsome I think."
"Why thank you. You are looking really lovely tonight as well, though I do think the pink slippers and panda pj's are far more sexy. Why don't you put them on?" He whispered quietly in her ear absentmindedly putting a hand on her waist. She smiled cheekily realising her mother had carefully folded them up on her bed for her out of habit despite being still really rather cross at her only daughter.
"Yes well, I've seen enough of you lying around lazily like a cat to realise YOU, can't be bothered with them most the time." She whispered back pulling him quietly into her room and shutting the door to a very annoyed Sirius who had been sneakily watching from down the hall. He couldn't see much but he was sure Harry was paying her far more attention than he normally did through the meal.
This seemed to have two effects other than annoying Sirius. One it made it so Mrs Weasley had no idea Harry was in there when she walked up to her room to get things ready for a bed and two, it made Harry suddenly find himself with one of Ginny's arms around his neck and both his hands now on her waist.
"I have to go to bed soon before your mother comes in." He whispered quietly in the dark.
"First let me give you a good night kiss on the cheek." She replied lifting up on to her toes to kiss his cheek but at the last moment Harry turned his face and cheekily caught her on the lips.
He had no idea why he'd done it, he just felt he should but once he had he didn't care anyway. He didn't even care that it wasn't something he could tell Ron about and keep all his manhood in one piece, he enjoyed that fleeting moment and found himself happily leaning in to be kissed back by Ginny who had suddenly swelled herself closer for a tight embrace however soft she felt in Harry's arms and on his lips. Harry could feel the fiery personality she had beneath all this softness and was beginning to wonder why it had taken him so bloody long to notice her properly before.
He didn't stay for that long after, he knew Mrs Weasley would be coming back soon and really didn't want her ruining the moment. So he kissed her quickly twice the second time ending much longer than he'd expected and then leaving her in the dark tiptoed back to his room making some easy excuse about talking to Sirius for being late to Ron.
Harry didn't want to tell Ron anything about Ginny, she was his kid sister and Harry wasn't really sure what they had going either if anything at all, it was just as kiss for now and nothing more.
The following morning Harry woke still quiet pleased with himself from last night and although smiling more frequently at her when no one was looking, it was clear to him this wasn't something she wanted the whole world to know about. Harry grabbed the last of his things and looked out the window at the now blustering weather rather than snow outside. It was Sunday and he was leaving to go to Hogwarts in just a few hours and judging by the weather, they would have to set off a bit early to walk through all that wind and slating rain.
"Harry I want you to take this. It's cold outside and I know you don't have much of a coat so here." Sirius explained holding up the black and purple coachman's coat he'd lent to Harry on his last venture into London.
"You sure, I mean I can keep it hear if you like." Harry explained unsure weather such a gift was suitable from Sirius.
"It's a hand-me-down Harry and I don't want you getting cold out there walking to the station. Besides, when am I ever going to wear something like that?' He smiled holding it up for Harry to slip easily into.
'See you look much better in it anyway."
"It is really nice and warm.' Harry admitted doing the toggles up and rapping his scarf around and tucking it down.
'And I do look much nicer in it than you do." He added with his cheeky grin he now often reserved only for Sirius but seemed to show it more all the same.
"Not to be kill joy or anything but I really don't think red goes with it." Sirius explained seeing Harry's Gryffindor scarf, then striding over to his wardrobe pulled out a very deep purple scarf and handed it to him.
"Hmm." Harry muttered curious what else Sirius might have lying around this place. He did seem to have an awful lot of wardrobes and shockingly little variety in what he wore.
"Here, it was a present from your grandmother to me. Made it herself saying red really wasn't my colour. It's a bit worn on the edge because I hardly took it off but still, matches don't it." He explained helping Harry pull the Gryffindor scarf off and put the new one on.
"Thanks." Harry replied doing his toggles back up.
"She was always so nice to me ya know. She never once complained about me sneaking in James's window at two in the morning. And she used to make wonderful shepherds pie too." He explained happy in his memories before heading back down the stairs with Harry in a comfortable silence. Harry didn't see the need to spoil it for him with questions though he often wondered what his grandparents were like, Sirius must have know them but Harry always got distracted and wanted to know about his own parents more.
"Harry have you got everything?" Moody asked seeing Harry finally come down with Sirius.
"Yeah everything's in here." He replied as Moody opened the door and Harry turned back to Sirius for a quick hug to remind him.
"Please use the mirror this year Harry, it's far safer for Hedwig than making her fly all the way down here in this weather and there's no chance she'll get interfered with this way." He reminded firmly like a proper annoying parent making Lupin actually rather proud of him.
"I will. I promise. But only because I worry about Hedwig." Harry agreed glad Sirius wanted to keep in touch and that this whole summer hadn't just been one long sleep ranging from extreme nightmares to much more happier things.
Harry walked to the station talking next to Ron, taking sneaky looks at Ginny just in front as often as he could while Lupin walked ahead with Kingsley and then Mr and Mrs Weasley and Moody hobbled behind at the back with his eye spinning in almost every direction at once.
When they reached the station Moody and Kingsley disappeared quiet quickly leaving the others to watch the train to leave. He dragged his case up into an empty compartment then jumped quickly back down to say good bye, well aware of all the looks he was getting from other students and their parents.
Harry didn't like it at all, but Ron merely shrugged and said it was expected given the givens. Harry however annoyed took some comfort at how from what he had heard from the loud whispers around him, at least it didn't seem to be all bad stuff and he was sure someone had commented on his nice coat looked but didn't really want to get bigheaded so pretended he hadn't heard.
Later when he'd finally got himself sat down in a nice quiet empty compartment having said goodbye to Ron and Hermione to there prefect duty's and had sadly watched Ginny walk off with one of her friends. Although enjoying her very cheeky smile as she left and deliberately watched her walk away, he sat down and pulled the first book out of his bag, The Fellowship of the Ring.
It was cold in this compartment and although he'd pulled his scarf off and tucked it back in his bag he kept Sirius's coat on as a warm reminder that at least one person outside of school cared about him, just because he was Harry and no other reason. Harry however had barely got through the first chapter when Neville stumbled in having come all the way down the train in search of him.
"Harry it's brilliant to see you again. I just found out from Dean you made Captain. Knew you'd get it in the end, you fly so well." He explained brightly sitting down on the seat opposite, quiet oblivious to Harry's now ruined solitude, but he didn't mind, he'd get plenty of time to read later and after all, Neville was a good mate and Harry liked him.
"Yeah well, truth is I'm not looking forward to it. It's one thing to be a good flyer, but it's a totally other thing to be in charge of other people's good flying." Harry explained gently putting a marker in his book and tucking it in his pocket for later as Neville quickly thought of something else he wanted to say.
"Right cold, isn't it these days, it's been rotten all summer. I had to stop in most days with Gran, couldn't hardly get out the house for anything." Neville explained having clearly had a boring summer himself at home.
"Yeah, I'm sure it's never snowed in August before. How's your Gran anyway after what happened end of last year?" Harry asked, not sure how Neville's formidable grandmother would take the news that her grandson had broken into one of the most secret parts of the ministry and basically made a huge mess and a load of trouble.
"Well, she was a bit difficult at first, I think she was just worried about me. But after Great Uncle Bertie had stepped in and said how proud he was of me and how I would have made mum and dad proud, she softened up a bit and even took me to get a new wand." He explained pulling out a very different looking wand to his fathers, that he'd always used before.
Harry had a sneaky feeling that the correct wand might do Neville the world of good magic wise. He hoped beyond everything that this new found confidence wasn't just a blip and that Neville was going to suddenly pull off some cleaver magic again.
"I'm glad. I had a similar sort of thing but I don't think Ron's mum likes my godfather, she seems to go out her way to annoy him." Harry explained quietly having finally explained to Neville about Sirius being innocent last year and all, when he'd for some reason, saved Harry's life and tackled Bertirx to the ground so she didn't get chance to put a excruciating curse on Harry and Neville.
"Oh, have you been living with him over the summer? I thought Dumbledore always sends you back to your aunts." He asked quietly checking no-one was standing near there door.
"Yeah, after I'd been back to the Dursley's for a bit.' Harry explained darkly but trying to be jolly he pulled himself together and added.
'It's him that gave me this and the new glasses." Harry explained gesturing to the long coat around him.
"You look a lot older with them on and that coat's really nice, everyone's mentioned it down the train from what I've heard. You've got half the train talking about you and for once, they don't think you're a total nutter." Neville explained in his odd little way of telling jokes.
"Great, I think." Harry replied not sure how to take the news that people were so openly talking about him again.
"Err, I can't stop long, I was supposed to be looking for Seamus. Do you fancy coming for a walk down the train?" He asked but Harry had already decided he would really rather stop here, he couldn't face the rest of the school yet and hoped for at least half an hours peace before term really started for him.
"Erm, do you mind if I come find you later? I really don't want to be talked about and hear it yet, I was up late last night." Harry tried to explain but Neville already understood.
"Say no more, I understand you'd rather keep you head down. I don't blame you, but it won't take long for people to realise your hiding up here. Anyway, talk to you later Harry." He replied and left, leaving Harry to rap his coat back around him, lean his head on the window and continue with his rather fascinating book.
Harry was surprised how long he'd had to read before he heard the familiar giggle of Cho Chang and her friends come up the train to his door and could have kicked himself for not wearing his fathers cloak. He did try and be so absorbed in his book that he could pretend she wasn't there but when she came in and sat down with her friends next to him he knew he had no escape.
"Harry. What a lovely coat you've got?" She asked smiling broadly at him as he stuffed his book back in the inside pocket.
"Thanks." He replied trying to be polite but annoyed by having to endure her friends giggling away at him. Cho was one thing he could probably put up with, but THEY, were a totally different ball game to deal with and unfortunately, they always moved around in packs.
"Where did you get it from, the colours are lovely?" She asked taking hold of part of the hem and lifting it up to have a closer look.
"It was a sort of birthday present. Friend of the family kind of thing." Harry quickly added not wanting to go too far down the line as to who this friend was and why he was forking out for such expensive presents.
"Wow, I bet it's nice and warm in there. You don't look half as cold as me." She giggled and Harry had the horrible feeling she wanted to get in there with him, but still played along, for some reason liking the attention even if he would really rather be with Ginny under it.
"It is lovely and warm, but a bit tight across the shoulders I'm afraid." He explained subtly twitching the side a bit, so it made him look slender rather than skinny.
"Did you have a good summer? With Professor Lupin?" She asked having been one of the group spying on him at the platform and whispering loudly.
"Yes, after I went to my aunts. What about you, did you manage to get a good holiday this year?" He asked trying to ignore her friends and keep Cho's attention so she couldn't look away and giggle too often.
"Oh yes, I had a lovely summer. Me and mum took a trip to Rome in Italy had a lovely time."
"Was the weather good? I've had snow out my window for over a week now." He smiled pleasantly, as she let herself lean in a bit closer.
"Not as good as it should be, but much better than up here. I haven't managed to go as brown as I hoped, but still, at least it wasn't snowing on my birthday. Your birthday's over the summer too isn't it? Did you have a nice day to celebrate?" She asked nicely trying to keep Harry talking as long as possible in case he looked at her friends and suddenly preferred one of them.
"Hardly, but it wasn't snowing I don't think. When was your birthday?" Harry asked still wondering where this was all going.
"18th August. Arrr, did you not have a good day?" She asked pouting her lips a little as she tried to look mock sad.
"No unfortunately I was still at my aunts and well, it hasn't been too good there this time. My birthday's at the end of July so I'm hardly sixteen." He explained gently but seeing the lady with the trolley he steadily got up and walked over, not sure how annoyed he was about the whispering behind his back as he carefully stepped to the door. He was just picking up a few packets and tossing them on to his seat to pay, when he decided it was only polite to offer her something.
"Would you like anything Cho?" He asked as she jumped slightly having being whispering with her friends about him rather paying any attention to his personally while he was stood up.
"Oh, I really like chocolate frogs ya' know?" She asked going pink in the cheeks and throwing cheeky looks to her friends. Harry however thought it only best to get a few more things for her four annoying friends. Before saying good bye politely to the lady that pushed the trolley and returning to his seat. He did seem to noticed for some odd reason, that she too seemed oddly pink around the cheeks as she set off, although Harry was oblivious as to why and figured she must be wearing an extra thick jumper today or something.
Picking up the pile and dropping them on the little table in front of him, Harry passed a chocolate frog to Cho and offered the rest to her friends before pulling out the bottle of pumpkin juice Mrs Weasley had made for him taking a quick swig.
"Is it true you made captain this year?" One of Cho's friends suddenly asked, while Cho was eating her frog, despite the dangerous look she received for daring to take over Harry's attention.
"Yeah don't know if I'll be any good at it though." He explained gently putting his hand in his pocket to retrieve the badge he'd refused to wear so far out of shyness.
"I'm sure you will Harry, your really, really good. Except when you play against me of course." She smiled taking the badge from Harry and having a good look before her friend could.
"Of course. I hope we get hold of some decent beaters though, now Fred and George have left." Harry explained wondering how many of Cho's friends would be bored by the subject of Quidditch but apparently none of them so far.
"I'm sure you'll find some.' She passed him his badge back making a point to grab his hand in the process for a second before letting go.
'You you look much older, with those new glasses Harry. You don't look sixteen at all, nearer eighteen." She grinned and although Harry was really rather skeptical about looking older than he was he leaned in to whisper quietly to her.
"Just between you and me, I could hardly see a thing before with my old ones and now it's like looking at everything for the first time. Nice top by the way." He added sitting back up straight and opening another chocolate frog while she giggled away to her friends but suddenly, no doubt by design, two of her friends stood up.
"Err, we have to go see Rosie now don't we Amanda." She declared looking at her friend and linking arms together.
"Yeah it was nice talking to you Harry. See you later girls." She added and winked at Cho, as Harry chose to ignore it but took a slight point of looking as they left, to see Cho's satisfied grin.
Although Harry had never really considered himself either a ladies man or a chauvinist pig as Hermione sometimes referred to Krum as, when he hadn't written to her in a while. (Which Harry and Ron both agreed was really rather unfair, he couldn't help being a bit dim he did have a melon for a head after all.) But if Cho must insist on playing silly games he was determined to check the next two friends out that got up to leave by design, just to be annoying.
"I'm glad they've gone to be honest, would you three like some Firewhisky cake?" He asked pulling out a cream tub and opening it to reveal Sirius's supposed none-alcoholic cake that some how made you feel giddy and drunk when you ate it.
Harry knew Hermione wouldn't approve and Ron didn't like the taste anyway but Harry loved it and figured now might be a good time to eat some before his two friends returned.
"My mum likes that stuff. Makes you go all giddy and hot." One of Cho's friends declared quickly but Harry merely gave a cheeky grin and replied.
"I know but to be fair, it is cold in here. Would you like a piece? I suggest you just have the one, the cook has a habit of using nearly an entire bottle in it and I wouldn't want you three getting a bit tipsy before term starts."
Harry explained taking out a small piece and handing it to Cho and then a piece each to the other girls before taking a piece himself and putting the box away.
"Trust me it's nice. Really warms you up." Harry declared biting in to his and after Cho had bitten in to her's and decided that it was actually rather nice the rest followed suit.
"Wow, my mam's gonna to kill me if she found out I'd been eating this stuff." The first girl continued after finishing her piece first and going rather red in the cheeks.
"I promise, it shouldn't get you drunk, well not too much anyway." Harry replied giggling away with the others at her warm face.
"Shouldn't get you too drunk, Harry. It's wet in the middle from far too much liquid." The other friend explained nearly finishing her piece off just before Harry.
"Yeah but it tastes good doesn't it!" Harry laughed wiping his mouth quickly with the napkin and sitting back to enjoy the effect.
Once Cho had finished hers and leaned back deliberately nearer to Harry they all started laughing at different pink cheeks. Harry was getting better accustomed to it now and didn't go quiet as giddy as when he first did, but Cho decided it really did warm her up and pulled her jacket off to reveal a casual tight little cardigan underneath deliberately with the first few buttons un-done.
"Yeah it's too warm now in this.' Harry explained standing up and taking his jacket off to lay it on his trunk before sitting back down almost on Cho's not so subtle hand.
'Well I hope I don't get detention for this, but I must say it's worth it." Harry laughed away with them as the other two girls pulled there coats off too.
"Can I have some of that pumpkin juice Harry?" Cho asked seeing the bottle half out of his bag.
"Sure help yourself." He replied just as Cho bent down to take it Harry couldn't help himself but check out the small of her back as the back of her top rode up no doubt on purpose.
"Oh, what's this Harry?" Cho asked sitting back up oblivious to Harry's subtle roaming eyes and held up the pale pink jumper Hermione's dad had passed on to him.
"Erm, that was sort of a late birthday present I was going to wear today, but didn't think it quiet suited me." Harry explained hoping it didn't make him look like a sissy to have a pink jumper in his bag.
"Wow that's a Calvin Kline they're really stylish.' The taller of Cho's two friends explained taking the top and examining it clearly having clearly at least one muggle parent.
'Orlando Bloom has one just like it.' She explained seeing the slightly confused look on Cho's face continued.
'You know he's the guy off Amanda's wall, the sexy one, she drools over his topless poster nearly every night?" It suddenly twigged to Cho and her friend who Orlando Bloom was and they both immediately became really impressed and looked at Harry with a bit too much admiration for Harry to take all at once.
"Oh he's really sexy isn't he but I bet it's his clothes that do it for him.' Cho explained then taking the jumper back and turning back to Harry.
'I bet you'd look really nice in it, Harry, dead sexy actually." She added but Harry didn't know what to say to this, it was one thing to say he was brave or handsome, but he'd never dreamed of himself being called sexy before.
"You really think that?" He asked not pretending to be modest as he tried to take in what he was hearing and not blush too obviously.
"Yeah what with your glasses and sexy arse you'd look ace. Why don't you try it on?" She asked cheekily smiling away at the prospect of Harry taking his current jumper off and maybe his t-shirt.
"Maybe later." Harry decided, positive it wouldn't look right over his current old t-shirt and not intending to strip of for any lass however much she complimented him.
"But for now why don't you tell me a charming story about you and your dear friend here, skinny dipping at Hogwarts last summer?" Harry pondered having heard the rumors from the twins and grinned, but other than embarrassing her or making her angry at him. She merely giggled in her flirty little manner and proceeded to explain that they weren't skinny dipping, they were just cooling off for a while.
This funny little conversation continued for quiet a while and even stretched on to describing how annoyed the girls were that the weather hadn't been warm enough for bikini sun-bathing, until Hermione and Ron appeared at the door already in there uniforms to the sound of Harry and three girls laughing away merrily.
"Harry we found you at last." Hermione explained coming in and sitting firmly down kicking Ron to do the same.
"Oh hello Hermione, you'll be wanting Harry's attention all to your self now won't you?" Cho explained a little viciously as Harry merely shrugged at Ron.
"Yes I would." Hermione replied flatly. He politely said good bye to Cho and her friends as they left, leaving Hermione in her smug way to sit down opposite Harry and take up one of the remaining chocolate frogs Cho hadn't yet eaten.
"So, you look very cosy sat with Cho and her bimbo friends." Hermione asked ripping the head off the frog with excessive force as Ron merely looked on, not quiet sure what to say.
"Well you were gone ages, I was just enjoying there company that was all." Harry explained trying to sound innocent but aware that Hermione never really approved of anybody she called a bimbo talking to Harry.
"Harry it smells like firewhisky in here, have you been feeding little bits of cake into Cho's massive gob?" She continued clearly annoyed about something and Harry wasn't sure if it was him that had done it or not so looked to Ron who merely shrugged and rolled his eyes.
"It isn't that bad, I just had a bit of his cake left and I could hardly sit here eating it by myself, so I let the three of them have a tiny piece too. Now come on Hermy something's pissed you off, are you going to tell us what it is or are you going to sit there and sulk for the rest of the trip?" Harry explained not sure if she was going to cry or slap him now.
"For Gods-sake Harry don't you know what your doing? Half the girls on this train bloody fancy you and you're sat down here with her and feeding the gossip by giving her Padfoot's bloody cake!"
She replied but she wasn't shouting at him like he expected but still the signs were there that she wanted to, so Harry merely sat back in his chair totally gob smaked by his friends odd behavior. He'd been trying really had recently to at as normal as he could around people, after overhearing Tonks and Lupin talking about how worried Sirius was about him. And here she was acting even more odder than normal.
"I told you Harry's far to dim to work out people like him and it's not as if half the train haven't spent there time discussing his business before. What's got into you Hermione you aren't this pissed normally unless it's got something to do with house elves?" Ron asked sitting down next to Hermione after digging in his case for a drink.
"What would you know about it your as bad as he is? I just don't like the sound of all those girls talking about it in the toilets, why can't they go and gossip about something else?"
She explained starting to blubber slightly as tears formed in her eyes and her face went red. Harry didn't know what to do but judging by Ron's expression neither did he, neither of them ever really understood Hermione's girly side, they just treated her like a friend and usually forgot about her girly feelings.
"What were they talking about in the toilets Hermy?" Harry finally asked, passing her a clean napkin to use as a tissue and hoping he may have finally learnt something about crying women. You give them a tissue and things start to get better.
"Harry don't you get it?" She cried. But Harry clearly didn't, making Hermione just get worse until after an encouraging nod from Ron, he tried to pull her next to him and gave her what she considered a rather willing hug.
"If you don't tell us, then how are we supposed to help you Hermy?" He asked but she merely went in to full on tears now on Harry's shoulder. It really wasn't like Hermione to be like this, making both Harry and Ron rather nervous, Harry couldn't get a word out of her now, she just cried and cried into his shoulder until Ginny stumbled in.
"Oh Harry, what's the matter with Hermione?" She asked sitting down next to Ron cautiously. He knew how this must look, last night he was kissing her and today he's sat with another girl hugging up to him in his arms.
"She's just gone nuts, started blubbering latched on to Harry and hasn't stopped crying for twenty minuets." Ron explained totally confused as Harry merely sat there with Hermione half on his lap. This seemed to make more sense to Ginny than it did to either of the boys but Harry was just glad that she didn't seem to look cross with him.
"She's been tricked into taking a wet damsel potion.' Ginny explained with a sigh sitting down next to Ron.
'It's usually found in sweets and it basically turns any girl into a blubbering wreck for half an hour. I bet she took one but got all the way here before it kicked in. She should come out of it by herself soon if she's bin like this twenty minuets." Ginny explained but Harry and Ron were both rather skeptical.
Harry instead tried to move her off him, he didn't like the way Ginny was looking at him now but she didn't seem angry, he just whished it was her in his arms instead even if she had more about her. Unfortunately the more Harry tried to push her off the tighter she clung until she ended up pretty much sat entirely on his lap in the end he gave up hoping it would wear off soon.
"Oh sorry Harry I left my jacket." Cho's friend was back quickly grabbing her jacket from the seat next to Ron, as she surveyed the sight of Hermione hanging on to Harry.
"What's the matter with her?" She asked realising Hermione was in fact crying.
"None of your business." Ginny snapped annoyed the girl was only talking to Harry as if the rest of them didn't exist, but fortunately not registering why she might have left her jacket in the same carriage as Harry. She quickly left and Harry was quiet sure the entire scene would be talked over for hours with Cho and probably leaked out round the school but found himself not really caring while his friend was in such a state.
Finally Hermione's tears began to stop and she lifted her head up quiet appalled as she realised where she was on Harry's lap.
"I'm so sorry Harry, I didn't realise what I was doing, I just couldn't help crying for some reason." She explained suddenly terribly embarrassed and rubbing the tears off her red cheeks.
"It doesn't matter Hermione. Ginny recons someone fed you wet damsel or something." He explained letting her sit back down next to him and rubbing his rather stiff knee.
"Oh I didn't realise.' She sat quietly for a moment until starting up in her usual manner.
'What sort of an idiot makes up something like that and gives it to random people?" She argued straightening her top.
"Someone who likes having girls crying in his lap, rescuing the wet damsel and all that." Ginny explained a little bitterly.
"Don't look at me like that and how do you know it was a guy who came up with it?" Harry asked slightly annoyed by Ginny's deadly look.
"Because it's got Fred and George written all over it and from what I've heard it only works on girls." Ginny explained, but Harry was beginning to see that look in her that he liked and really whished Ron and Hermione would have to leave some time soon so he could sit up close with her and do something.
It took a while but eventually Hermione began to laugh at the whole thing noticing Harry's slightly damp sleeve and embarrassed expression. Although it soon became time for them to change into there robes and after waiting outside for the girls Harry was soon left alone with Ginny as Ron and Hermione finally went off to do there prefect duties. After carefully packing Sirius's coat away in his bag and double checking it was locked properly Harry, left his case and sat down opposite Ginny with a smile on his face as he saw her looking.
"I guess you'd rather Ron didn't know?" He asked as she leaned closer across the carriage to him.
"No, but it was just a kiss you don't want to be fully fledged going out with me do you?" She asked a little nervously but Harry had guessed this might be the case and hoped that it was what she really wanted.
"Well, I don't want the whole school talking about you being a little harlot when your not." Harry explained smiling back at her not exactly sure what they were agreeing to.
"So it's just a casual thing then. Just extra close friends or something like that?" She asked hoping Harry felt the same way or even better that he was about to sweep her off her feet and tell her how much he loved and adored her. Either way, she hoped he would be the sort of lad to only have one sort of girlfriend and not a hundred.
"Casual fling sounds fun. But I really don't want to walk in on you and Neville some day, because I can't help but get jealous of someone getting there dirty little hands on your really rather sexy body." He explained with his cocky little grin making Ginny laugh and glow hot in her face.
"No I suppose not, although it might be quiet fun to see you and Neville fight over me, but I don't want you getting expelled for pulling him to pieces.' She smiled but then quickly added.
'But I don't want to hear about you and some lass in a broom cupboard. Hermione's right, you've recently become one of the most sexist males at school now." She laughed but Harry really didn't believe her, he was sure it was some fad or something and he was the unfortunate target again.
"Fine, every time another girl flirts with me I'll come find you and drag you into a broom cupboard or something for a bit ok?" He whispered in her ear just as the train came to a halt, shocked that casual things like this could possibly exist between ladies and lads and not get complicated.
"Depends what you try and do to me? Anyway aren't you supposed to be protecting my honour for the twins?" She asked as they stood up and waited to get off the train.
"Only from other lads they never said anything about little ol'me!" He whispered as Neville came back to find them before heading up in the horseless carriages to Hogwarts.
The three took there seats at Gryffindor table along with most of the school before Hermione, Ron and the other prefects came in. Despite Harry's annoyance and Ginny's outrage Ron made her scoot down two seats for him and Hermione to sit down next to him. Harry merely shrugged at her hoping they could talk some more later behind Ron's back but as the school waited for the traditional sorting of first years Harry couldn't help but here his name mentioned a few times as Ron began to explain why they were late.
"New safety rules have been put in place, so we've got more duties than ever before. It's a real drag having to do them but I can't bunk off, it seems we've been all rotated in for stuff in half me frees, I thought we had a bunch of Aura's wondering around the place. So why've they got us doing stuff?" Ron whispered before Hermione gave him a dirty look and they sat in silence for the sorting to take place.
The entire meal went through just as it always did and eventually Dumbledore stood up to give his speech and sent the school to bed. Harry who was nearer the front knew he'd have to wait a while before making it out of the hall hoped to linger and catch Ginny but it seems McGonagall was striding over to catch him before he went up.
"Harry can I have a word before you go?" She asked and after feeling slightly annoyed that he'd missed Ginny, followed her to the end of the teachers table where Harry noticed that somehow Dumbledore had disappeared rather quickly.
"What is it professor?" Harry asked seeing her stern face and was sure he couldn't be in trouble already, unless she's caught wind of Sirius's cake and wasn't very amused by it. But then he supposed that if she did know about Sirius which she obviously did, he'd have a better chance making up and excuse for him.
"The headmaster has asked me to tell you, that this year he would like you to take extra lessons with him. You don't get a choice in this Potter, it is his wish to see you get an extra bit of education and he would like you to start reading through this book by yourself. He'll be sending a message along soon as to when he would like to see you, so you'd better read it Harry, I don't want you letting us down."
She explained handing Harry a rather old book that he knew had to have come from the restricted section, but Harry had the slightest feeling that McGonnagal wasn't exactly warning him, she was more requesting in her odd very strict manner.
"Oh." Harry wondered taking it and realising it didn't actually have a name on the cover.
"Did he say what sort of things he'll be teaching me?" Harry asked but assumed that either she didn't know or wasn't going to tell him.
"It's a variety of different things that he feels you need to know about. However, although he doesn't mind you telling your immediate friends that your having lessons he would rather you didn't discuss there content with them in too much detail or to any of the other staff.'
'This is something just for you and I suggest you get started on that book tomorrow. Off to bed now Harry." She chivvied and turning rather quickly to leave him. Harry started wandering up to Gryffindor tower wondered what these variety of things might be and hoped someone would let him in soon otherwise he'd be stuck out side half the night.