AN: I own nothing.

Thanks for the reviews, follows and faves.

Sorry the update took so long. I've been a bit sidetracked with some of my other stories.

We only have about 3 chapters or so before the end. Maybe more. I'm not sure yet.

Enjoy!

Hermione was walking down the corridor with her arm around her dad's waist, smiling and laughing.

''Perfect as always, guys.'' Jared, a stage hand, said as they walked past him.

''Thanks, Jared.'' Christine smiled.

''Before we get to the dressing room, I should probably warn you there's some people in there.'' Hermione said.

''Oh? Not reporters, I hope.'' Christine said. ''If I'm doing interviews, I'd like to freshen up first.''

''No, not reporters. My friends, actually.'' Hermione said.

''Your..magic friends?'' Anthony asked as he looked down at her.

Hermione nodded. ''Yep. Turns out, Sirius, Harry's godfather, is a big fan of yours. So, when he got the chance to bring everyone to one of your concerts, he took it, and..well..they're all here.'' she said.

Hermione's parents exchanged looks of shock. Who knew they had fans in the wizarding world? Her mother shrugged as she looked at her husband. ''Well, then. I for one am looking forward to meeting everyone.'' her mum said, making Hermione smile.

''Yes, let's. I for one can't wait to see your friends again.'' her dad said. ''The last time we met was for all of what, two minutes or so, way back when you were twelve. I'm looking forward to officially meeting these friends of yours.'' he said, squeezing her shoulder.

Hermione smiled. She was glad her parents were looking forward to meeting her friends. The last time they'd met Harry and Ron was the summer before second year. They had accompanied her to Diagon Alley for her school supplies. She'd introduced Harry and Ron to her parents when Arthur and Lucius Malfoy had gotten into their fight at Flourish and Blotts, prompting her to get them out of Diagon Alley as quickly as she could.

''Oh! They're coming in here!'' Sirius exclaimed as he jumped off the sofa, kicking Harry and Ron as he did. ''How do I look, Remus?'' he asked, smoothing down his hair.

Remus smiled as he barely held in a laugh at Sirius' antics. ''You look fine, Pads. Calm down.''

''Calm down!?'' Sirius exclaimed. ''How am I supposed to calm down? I'm about to meet Velvet BlackBird! I can't calm down!'' he yelled as he smoothed his hands over himself.

''Ten galleons says he pisses himself.'' Fred said to George as they laughed at him.

''Nah. Ten galleons says he faints.'' George replied.

''Deal.'' Fred said, shaking George's hand.

A few moments later, as Sirius was still grooming himself, the dressing room door opened, and Hermione entered, followed by her parents.

"Hello, again.'' Hermione said as she entered. Noticing Sirius rocking from foot to foot, she asked, ''Alright, Sirius?"

"Ungha...ha...umph." he said as he stared at her parents.

"Okay.'' she said slowly. Turning to look at her parents, she smiled. "Mum, daddy, this is Sirius Black. He's Harry's godfather.''

"Oh, so you're the one who so graciously allowed my baby to stay with you during the summer, then?" her father asked, sticking his hand out toward Sirius.

"Yes, sir." Sirius said with a smile. Looking at his hand encased in Anthony's, he started rambling. ''And let me say I'm a big fan of yours, sir. Have been for a while. Since the first time I heard 'Baby Loves It' on the radio during the summer. Been a fan ever since, sir." he said.

Anthony cut him off with a laugh. "It's always nice to meet a fan." he said. "And...please don't...call me...sir.'' he said, struggling to pull his hand free from Sirius' grip.

''Siri, let go.'' Hermione said as she helped her dad. "Sirius! Let go!" she yelled, finally pulling her dad's hand free.

"Sorry." Sirius said sheepishly.

"And over here are the Weasley's. Arthur, Molly, Bill, Fleur, Fred, George, Ron and Ginny." Hermione said as the Weasley's stepped forward one by one to shake her parents hands.

"Arthur, Molly, it's nice to see you again." Christine said.

"Yes, it's been a while, hasn't it?" he agreed. "Lovely show, by the way."

''Well, thank you." Anthony said. "Ron, it's a pleasure to meet you properly." he said, shaking Ron's hand.

"Same here. And that was a great show." Ron said.

"Thank you." Christine said as she greeted the Weasley's.

"And this is Professor McGonagall, Professor Dumbledore, Professor Snape, Tonks, and Remus Lupin." Hermione said as she moved her parents along.

"I remember you." Christine smiled at Minerva. "You're the one who came to our house to tell us about magic. It's nice to see you again" she said, shaking Minerva's hand.

"Hermione, I've told you to call me Minerva." she said. "And it's a pleasure, Mr. and Mrs. Granger." she said.

"Oh, call us Christine and Anthony, Minerva." Anthony said. "All of you." he added with a smile, looking around the room.

"Professor Dumbledore, it's nice to see you without Hermione being in danger for once." he said as they greeted Albus.

Dumbledore chuckled a bit. "Same here. I agree with everyone else, it was a great show." he said.

"Thank you." Christine said. "Now, you, young man, you're Harry, correct?" she asked as she turned to the only person she had yet to meet.

Harry blushed as Hermione's parents greeted him. "Uh...yes, ma'am. Sir." he nodded.

"So, you're the lad we've heard so much about?" Anthony asked as he smiled at Harry.

"I want to thank you, Harry." Christine said.

"For what, ma'am?" Harry asked, confused.

"Christine." she said with a smile. "And for making sure Hermione didn't spend all her time in the library. For giving her a life someone would want to read about someday. For making her live." she said as she leaned closer to him, not wanting to embarrass Hermione in front of the whole room.

"Oh!" Harry said with wide eyes. "You're welcome, Chr...Christine." he said.

"Um...excuse me." Crystal said as she entered. "Hermione, there's some people outside that want autographs."

"Okay, but why tell me?" Hermione asked. "Tell mum and dad."

"I would, but they don't want their autograph, they want yours." Crystal said with a smile.

"Oh." Hermione said. "Alright, then." she said. Turning to her friends, she said, "I'll be back in a bit, guys."

"Hey, can I come with you?" Harry asked.

Hermione nodded as she turned to the door. "Come on, then." she said.

Harry jogged to catch up with her, having gotten a bit ahead of him.

"Merlin, Hermione, how do you walk so fast in those?" he asked, pointing to her boots as they walked.

Hermione shrugged. "I just do." she said with a little laugh.

"Must be a girl thing, I guess." he said with a shrug of his own. "So, I didn't tell you yet, but you were really good up there, Hermione."

Hermione smiled. "Thanks, Harry."

"How long have you been doing that, anyway?" he asked. "Going on stage with them, I mean?"

"Ever since I can remember." she said.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." she nodded. "Growing up, I didn't realize that not every little boy or girl did that. I thought that was part of being a kid." she said. "I shouldn't be long, Harry." she said as they got to the people who wanted her autograph or take a picture with her.

Harry watched her the whole time she was signing their photos and books. He was ashamed to admit he had no idea what she wanted to do with her life after Hogwarts. He always assumed she'd go work with them at the Ministry. He and Ron as aurors, and Hermione in the DMLE, or as an Unspeakable or something like that. Harry never thought she might not go that route.

He started thinking about what life would be like if she did this for a living. He and Ron would hardly see her if she took after her parents and decided on a life where she'd always be on the road night after night, week after week, month after month. Only coming home for holidays. Seeing her only once every four or five months, maybe.

The thought of not seeing Hermione every day made his heart race. He couldn't imagine not seeing her smiling face for months on end. Not getting to stroke her hair as she leaned on him when she was tired. Not getting to enjoy the sound of her laughter at something. Watching her bite her lip as she read a book. The way she'd lick the foam from a butterbeer off her lip.

Hermione sighed as she walked back to him. "That was actually fun." she smiled. "Harry?" she asked, noticing he was off in a daydream. "Harry!" she yelled, tapping him on the shoulder.

"Yeah?" he asked as he came out of his thoughts. "Sorry, Hermione. I was just thinking." he said as he walked with her.

Hermione slid her arm through his. "About what?" she asked.

"What do you wanna do after Hogwarts?" he asked.

"I dunno." she shrugged. "I haven't decided yet." she said. "Why?"

"I was just thinking how I didn't know what you were planning for your life, is all." Harry said.

"Oh. Well, as soon as my parents go back on the road, I have a flat waiting for me in Diagon Alley, then I have to start looking for a job." she said.

Harry let out a breath of relief. She wasn't leaving him after all.

"What?" she asked, pulling him to a stop.

"Huh?" he asked.

"That little huff you just let out. What was that about?" she asked.

"I didn't let out..."

"You did." she argued, getting her dander up. "I already told Ron and he was supposed to tell you, but I guess he didn't. I'm not living with you two so I can clean up after you constantly, and I'm not living at the Burrow with Molly breathing down my neck wondering why I don't want to date her son." she ranted. "You two can come over anytime, but I'm not going to be a live in maid."

"No, Hermione, that's not it." Harry said, stopping her rant before it really got started. "That wasn't a huff, but a breath of relief. I was terrified you were gonna do...this...for a living, and we'd never see you." he said as he gestured around them with his hands.

Hermione deflated a bit at hearing that. "Oh." she said. "Well, just as long as we're clear, then." she said, making him smile. "And as nice as this would be, to do what my parents do all the time, I want a quiet life that doesn't require I live in a bus most of the year." she added as they started walking.

Harry laughed as he walked beside her. "That's good to know, Hermione." he said. After they walked a bit further, he stopped walking and turned to her. "Go out to dinner with me." he said.

"I am. After the meet and greet in the dressing room was over, I was going to suggest we all go out for dinner. I don't know about you, but I'm starving. I haven't eaten since breakfast, and even that was..."

"No, I meant just us." he said. Running his hand through his hair, he smiled shyly at her. "Like a date." he said.

"Like a date, or an actual date?" Hermione asked in confusion.

"A date. Dinner, dancing, the whole nine yards." Harry said.

"Alright. Yeah." she said, smiling brightly at him before hugging him.

Harry smiled into her hair. Inhaling the scent of vanilla and coconut, he relaxed even more. He had been wanting to ask Hermione on a date for a while, and felt so much better now that he had and she'd agreed.

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Til next time!

XOXO - Onyx Obsidian