Disclaimer: I own nothing that has anything to do with Harry Potter. All that stuff belongs to JK Rowling. I just wanted to play in her world a bit to make mine seem more fun.
Chapter 6
`Oh boy', Hermione thought to herself. `This is not going to be a pleasant experience.' But she forced a smile to her face and remembered her manners. "Hermione Granger," she said, extending her, not expecting a positive response. "It's good to meet you."
"Isn't it?" Victoria replied snootily.
The smile frozen on her face, Hermione tried again. "I've heard lots about you. It's nice to have a face to go with the name."
Victoria scoffed at Hermione's politeness. "I'm sure it is. Although I wish I could say the same for you," she added cruelly, seemingly unfazed that Harry was standing --and seething-- not more than a foot away.
"Um, Harry, I think I'm going to go back to your parents' place, then head home," Hermione said softly, preparing to Disapparate. "Thank you for showing me around."
"You do that," Victoria answered rudely. "Bye-bye now." She made a move to pull Harry away but he wasn't budging. "Harr-eee," she whined, trying again.
"Let go of me," Harry hissed, his voice dangerously low. "Now."
Surprised, Victoria dazedly dropped his arm. Taking full advantage of her shock, Harry hastily grabbed Hermione around the middle, pulling her close, and Apparated them back to his parents' house.
Harry was so rushed to get out of Hogsmeade, he wasn't concentrating as hard as he should have. Instead of ending up in the foyer of the house, he and Hermione ended up in his bedroom-- directly on his bed. The sudden lack of hard ground under her feet caused Hermione to lose her balance and bring Harry along for the ride, bags and all.
The two landed solidly and bounced, before settling on the bed, Harry's arms still around Hermione's middle. There was shocked silence for a moment or two, broken by Hermione's snicker.
"It's not funny," Harry pouted, looking exactly like James did two days prior.
Hermione burst into laughter, remembering the incident, while Harry tried to keep a straight face. Hermione wriggled her eyebrows at him and he lost it, laughing as hard as Hermione.
"I'm sorry, Harry, but did you see the look on her face?" Hermione asked, wiping her eyes. "She looked like a fish!"
"That she did," Harry agreed. "But I wouldn't be surprised if…"
He never finished that sentence, as the doorbell rang, interrupting him. He started laughing hard again. "I bet that's her!" he managed to gasp out.
"Well, if it is, I don't want to know!" Hermione exclaimed.
Downstairs, Lily had heard the small bell and the cow moo, signaling Hermione and Harry's arrivals; James' invention made it possible to tell who was coming into the house by means of Apparation, sort of like Muggle caller-ID.
So it wasn't really much of a surprise when the doorbell rang not 5 minutes later, and she had a fairly decent guess as to who was behind the door. Knowing she was going to regret it, she opened the door to find Victoria.
"Hello, Victoria, dear. How are you?" she asked, pleasantly.
"Where are they?!" Victoria demanded, trying to push her way into the house.
"Where are who, dear?" Lily responded innocently.
"Harry and her, of course," Victoria snapped. "I know they're in here!"
"I haven't seen Harry since lunch," Lily answered, feeling her anger grow. "And I would appreciate you not trying to barge into my home."
Victoria looked at Lily in disgust. "Just tell me where he is," she said exasperatedly.
Lily glared at Victoria, no longer hiding her irritation. "I don't have to tell you anything, young lady. And it might be a good idea to remember to whom you are speaking. I am not a HouseElf. I can, and will, fight back. Now, please leave."
"No! Not until I see my Harry!" Victoria insisted, stomping her foot.
Lily raised her eyebrow at Victoria's mini-tantrum. She desperately wanted to say something to Victoria, but bit her tongue. "I will let him know you stopped by. Good day, Miss McKennan."
With that, Lily shut the door firmly in Victoria's face, not noticing or caring how close she came to actually closing the door ON her face. She turned to go upstairs to have a talk with Harry about his choice of company when she found him and Hermione right behind her.
"Mum, I'm sorry," Harry said. "She should not have treated you like that."
"You're right, Harry, she shouldn't have," Lily agreed. "But you aren't the one who needs to be apologizing. And she will not step foot into this house until she does so."
"Yes Ma'am," Harry answered. "Does that mean if I don't tell her, she's not allowed over any more?" he added mischievously.
Lily had to laugh and ruffled Harry's hair affectionately. "Well, I don't think that's the best way to handle it, but…"
She was cut off as an owl flew through the open window and landed in front of Harry; in its beak was a red envelope. Harry just sighed and banished the offending mail with a flick of his wrist. "It's ok, Jade. I'm not upset with you. You're just doing what she asked."
The owl hooted in reply and took off through the same window. Harry glanced up and answered the unasked question. "Yes, that's her owl."
"Well, I was going to say that's not a polite way to end a relationship," Lily began. "But after that, I'm not so sure."
"I'd understand if she sent you an owl, but a Howler? Was that really necessary?" Hermione asked hesitantly.
"No," Harry answered. "But that's how it's been lately. She's getting all clingy on me and I don't like it. Oh well."
Hermione and Lily exchanged glances and silently agreed to let Harry be and figure out what he was going to do about Victoria.
"Ok, well, thank you for the wonderful day, Harry," Hermione started. "It was fun…mostly," she smirked.
"Oh, you're going?" Harry asked, disappointed.
"You just look like you have a lot on your mind," Hermione answered. "Plus I have to let Desse out…again."
"Ok," Harry acquiesced, although reluctantly. "You were great company today. It was fun to show someone Hogsmeade for the first time."
He smiled, a real smile, and Hermione gladly returned it. She wasn't surprised when he turned and gave her a hug. "Bye, Hermione. I'll see you tomorrow at the match."
"You bet," she replied. "And I'm only a floo away if you need it," she added with a wink.
"Bye Lily," she said, turning to her. "Thank you for making me go to Hogsmeade."
"Bye Hermione," Lily answered. "We'll see you tomorrow."
"Ok. Tell James and Sirius I said to be good!" Hermione added, giving Lily a quick hug.
"Now, you know that won't do any good," Lily joked.
"I know. But it can't hurt," Hermione shot back. "Bye!"
With a crack, Hermione was gone, only to reappear in her flat, Desse jumping around at her feet.
"Alright, Des, let's get out there," she said, attaching the lead to the Crup's collar.
The two made it outside with relative ease. With all the muggles around, Desse sometimes would begin barking uncontrollably and Hermione had to cut the walks short. But these episodes were usually few and far between. Desse was an exceptionally good Crup.
The pair had made it halfway back to the apartment building when a figure with dark windswept hair came jogging up to them.
"Harry," Hermione said, surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to ask you something," Harry answered, panting. "Hey Des," he said, scratching the Crup behind her ears.
"Is everything ok?" Hermione asked.
"Yes…and no," Harry replied. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I was wondering if you would like to come to dinner with me tonight? I mean, it wouldn't just be us," he hurriedly added. "My friend Ron and his sister and some other friends will be there. I just wanted to know if you would like to maybe tag along?"
`Stupid!' he mentally added. `Tag along…she's going to think you really don't want her there!'
"Tag along, eh?" she teased back. "I'm not sure I want to be a tag-along."
"I'm sorry. Dumb choice of words," Harry apologized, blushing.
"It's ok. I know what you really meant. And I would love to come out and meet with you…and your friends," Hermione replied. "It'll be nice to meet more people my own age."
"Really?!" Harry asked excitedly.
"Yes, really," Hermione confirmed, chuckling. "What time did you want to meet?"
"How about I meet you at your flat around 8?" he suggested. "Will that give you enough time to get ready?"
"Of course," Hermione responded.
"Great! And we're probably going to just grab dinner and head to a pub, so dress is casual," Harry added. "In case you wanted to know."
"Thank you, Harry," Hermione said, smiling. She thought it was so endearing that he would get flustered around her and found it refreshing as well; he wasn't the self-assured, arrogant type whom she seemed to attract. "I will see you at 8. And I will be ready."
"Great!" he repeated. "I'll see you then!" He leaned over and gave her a very quick kiss on the cheek and turned to run back the way he'd come.
Hermione sighed dreamily and Desse had to tug on the lead to get her attention. "Sorry, Des. There's just something about that boy that makes me act all floofy."
Desse barked in reply and she and Hermione finished their walk. Hermione walked into her room and flopped onto the bed, remembering landing on Harry's bed and falling over-how comfortable she felt with his arms around her. Suddenly, she sat up, eyes wide, like she'd been shot out of a canon. "What am I going to wear?"
AN: Thank you for your patience and well-wishes. As promised, this fic isn't being abandoned…but for future reference to some, you'll find people respond more favorably when you don't curse them out. My life does not revolve around writing and I can only do so when I have the time, energy and inspiration…all of which I have had very little of lately.
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