Chapter Five
It was finally time to return to Hogwarts. The four students were being escorted by their usual group, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Bill, Fleur, Tonks, and Sirius. They pushed pushed the trolleys through the platform and stopped a bit away from the train. Molly and Arthur hugged all the children and reminded them to behave. Hermione and Ginny were saying goodbye to Tonks while Sirius pulled Harry aside.
Hermione was surprised to feel someone tug on her arm a few minutes later. She was pulled into a tight hug by Sirius. "Take care of him for me?" He asked, Hermione returned he hug and nodded into his chest. "And take care of yourself, don't do anything... rash." Hermione stepped back and looked at him, "Me? Do something rash?" She questioned before snorting "You obviously don't know me very well." Sirius smiled sadly, "Guess not, just behave please." Before she could respond Ron called out from the train, "Let's go 'Mione!" She rolled her eyes and quickly hugged Sirius once more before boarding the train. The adults watched as the train left the station. As it rounded the corner Sirius let out a shaky breath, "That's it," he muttered. "She's gone." Tonks rested a hand on his shoulder. He silently wept, he wept for his godson, for Ginny and Ron, he wept for himself, but mostly he wept for Remus.
Meanwhile on the train, Ron and Harry loaded the trunks onto the overhead racks while Hermione got herself situated. She pulled out the book on Animagi that she had nabbed from the Black family library. Normally she wasn't one for sticky fingers but she knew that Sirius didn't care if anything went missing from that house. Ron was grilling Harry about Quidditch, how he was going to do tryouts, who he had in mind for each position and what Ron could do to secure a spot. Hermione could tell that Harry was incredibly uncomfortable with what was going on. Thankfully he savior came in the form of the sweets trolley. Harry and Ron both bought armfuls of sweets while Hermione just chose a cauldron cake. Thankfully for Harry, Ron was too busy shoveling sweets into his mouth to keep questioning him.
Sometime later the compartment door opened and Ginny poked her head in. "Wanna come join Luna and I?" She asked Hermione. "Depends," Hermione said "Are you two talking about Quidditch?" Ginny laughed "With Luna? Never. Now come on." With that Hermione closed her book and picked up Crookshanks. "Hello, Hermione," Luna said in her dreamy, far away voice. "Hello Luna, how was your summer?" Hermione asked, "It was wonderful really, father and I went searching for Golden Snidgets." She explained. "Snidgets? Like the little birds snitches are based after?" Ginny asked. "Yes those, lovely little things." Hermione and Ginny exchanged a glance, "But Luna, they're extinct... Aren't they?" The curly haired witch said, she was sure the little birds went extinct centuries ago. "Well yes, but my father heard a rumor that there's a small flock in the Highlands. They're protected by a herd of centaurs." Luna explained. "Did you find them?" Ginny asked. Luna shook her head "No, unfortunately the centaurs have them hidden too well." Ginny and Hermione both looked at each other. They loved Luna, truly they did but she was incredibly spacey.
Before they knew it they were pulling into Hogsmede Station. Hermione said goodbye to the two girls and ran to catch a carriage with Harry and Ron. It was weird knowing they were pulled by skeletal horses that were invisible to all but those who had seen death. "I hope there's a roast at the feast," Ron said almost drooling. Hermione just rolled her eyes, "What are you looking forward to 'Mione?" Harry asked, she thought for a minute. Normally she would say the library but the school library couldn't hold a flame to the Black Library. Yes there were far more book in Hogwarts but the tomes in Grimmauld Place were far more interesting. She thought back to the uncomfortable twin sized bed she'd been on for weeks now. "My bed," She finally answered. Harry chuckled "Yeah me too."
Soon the three students were sitting down in the Great Hall. With the sorting done Professor Dumbledore stepped up to the lectern for the start of term announcements. "Welcome and Welcome back!" He called. "A few things to address before dinner. Our newest addition to the Hogwarts staff," He said while gesturing to a round man with a flap of white hair on his head, "Professor Horace Slughorn will be taking over the position of Potions Professor." Murmurs erupted across the room. Dumbledore patiently waiting until they subsided before gesturing to his right, "Professor Snape will be taking over the roll of Defense Against the Dark Arts." A roar of outrage sounded across the hall. Harry and Ron were both yelling, with the latter using quite a few obscenities. Hermione grabbed both boys by their cloaks and forced them into their seats. "Absolutely not." She reprimanded quietly. "But 'Mione," Ron whined "He's a git. He'll ruin the best subject in the school!" The girl huffed "Do not call him that Ronald. I expect better from the two of you, or do I need to write your mother?" Ron glared at her but remained silent. Harry folded his arms and scowled at the table. Hermione looked to the staff table and found that Professor Snape seemed to be taking the reaction in stride, merely smirking at the outraged students.
Soon after the table was loaded with food and everyone was digging in. Hermione was enjoying a wonderful beef stew over mashed potatoes. While she ate she quietly discussed her summer with Neville. She always had a soft spot for the boy but after he carried her to safety in the Department of Mysteries they were even closer. "Gran and I had quiet summer. And those muggle seeds you sent me took really well in our garden!" Hermione laughed, earlier in the summer she had sent him a pack of chocolate cosmos seeds. He had never tried planting muggle flowers before and she was happy to share them.
Once dinner was finished the Gryffindors retired to their common room. The trio took their place on their favorite couch in front of the hearth. Harry sat between the others and Hermione swore she saw all the tension leave his shoulders as soon as he made contact with the couch. She gave his hand a squeeze and he smiled at her. "So Harry will you come flying with me tomorrow? I want to get in all the practice I can before tryouts." And immediately the tension returned to Harry's body. "Ronald, it wouldn't be fair if the captain helped you out and no one else." Hermione scolded before Harry had to. "Why don't you ask Ginny? She's trying out for a permanent position this year." Ron glowered at the thought of asking his baby sister for flying help. "He's not going to be helping me, I just want a flying buddy." Hermione sighed and pushed herself off the couch. "Where are you going?" the red head asked. "Bed," She answered shortly. "I'm tired and I still need to unpack. I'll see you both at breakfast."
The next morning Hermione found herself down at the Quidditch Pitch watching Ginny and Ron run drills. Harry was down in the locker room with Katie Bell discussing the upcoming season. Katie's position was the only one he wasn't holding tryouts for as he had seen her play for five years now and knew he wouldn't find anyone better.
She was watching Ron as he worked on blocking a charmed Quaffle. He was wearing Bill's hand-me-down Quidditch uniform and it was just a bit too snug. She could see the outline of his biceps and she was wondering when exactly he had started filling out like that. "See something you like?" Ginny's voice came from behind her causing Hermione to jump. The redhead landed in the stands and sat down next to her friend. "Don't do that!" Hermione yelled as Ginny chuckled at her. "What? I can't help it that you were so focused on him that you were practically drooling." Hermione felt her face heat, "I was not drooling." She said indignantly. Ginny snorted "Sure you weren't." The girls watched as Ron made an impressive save. "You know," Ginny started "If you never say anything to him it won't go anywhere. He's too dense." Hermione sighed, she knew her friend was completely right but she also didn't think she was wrong for wanting him to make the first move, to be wanted. "I know, I just... I don't know." She sighed and laid down on the bench. "I guess I just want him to be more mature about the whole thing." Ginny laughed at that, "My brother? Mature? Unless you're talking about Bill your crazy." Hermione laughed lightly. Her friend wasn't wrong at all, deep down she knew that Ron wasn't right for her but he was comfortable. Not quite home but maybe close enough.
A/N Well hello there. I under estimated how difficult moving to another country would be. But I'm here, I'm settled, I have internet, so we can resume our normal upload schedule. Though with the time difference the days might be off every now and then, but expect uploads to be done Tuesday- Thursday at sometime. Also I think I fixed Chapter Four, I have no clue what happened but my whole save file was messed up.