Disclaimer: I do not; I repeat; do NOT own Harry Potter. I own the plot, the band and any characters that have not appeared in the books.
Author Note: My first fan fic posted! Yay! Be gentle! It takes place in their sixth year summer when they are about to go back for the seventh year.
~*~
"Got everything Harry?" Sirius called from the waiting lounge. He had already carried most of the bags onto the apparating section they had been designated. Harry checked his list one more time.
"I think it's everything," he laughed. "I could always come back if I've forgotten anything."
"Like hell you could," Sirius laughed with him. He picked up Harry's suitcase. Harry got his hold-all and they walked swiftly to their point.
The stewardess stood next to their point and waved to them.
"Enjoy your trip!" she called.
Harry was just about to say she was cute when Sirius called out, "The Burrow, England!"
Seconds later, Harry and Sirius were standing in the Weasley's front garden looking up at the Burrow. It was absolutely breathtaking for someone who'd just travelled around the world to see. Home was always going to be here.
It was dark…very dark. Sirius glanced at his multitude of watches on his wrist. Harry swore that he had one for every time frame in the world.
"It's 3:30 am. Everybody will be in bed," Sirius stated looking up to see if anyone's light was on. Not one speck of light anywhere.
"What do we do know?" Harry asked. He didn't want to wake anyone up. He glanced up at the moon. A half-moon…Hermione was on her monthly week. Harry somehow managed to fit her in close combination with the moon's cycle. It was the only he could keep himself and Ron informed of her mood swings and irritable nature.
A smirk appeared on Sirius' face. "Well, we can go to the Leaky Cauldron and have a drink then come back and cook breakfast for this lot. Sound like fun?"
"Yeah, sounds great! What about our stuff?"
"Let's leave them in the garage."
After all their belongings were safely stored in the garage, Harry and Sirius apparated to the Leaky Cauldron.
They settled with a drink after a long conversation with Tom on Harry being a very big boy now since he'd first come in with Hagrid six years ago.
"Six years ago?" Harry asked. "It can't be…I remember it like it was yesterday."
"Just like you to rub it in isn't it?" Sirius smiled playfully. "I didn't see you for three years of it and now you tell me it hasn't been that long."
Harry chuckled light heartily. "Sorry Sirius. I feel…so…old."
"You look it too," Sirius remarked taking a swig of his whiskey. Harry was still only seventeen and because of that he was only allowed butterbeer. It was a great drink though. "So what does this year entail for the famous Harry Potter and his infamous best pals?"
"For me, relaxation in the arms of some gorgeous female," he leaned back in his chair smiling at the thought. Sirius just made a slight hiccup giggle into his mug.
"For Ron and Lavender, they're big kids now. They play their own games…with or without each other. Hermione will be living in the library. She really should go out and get a boyfriend."
Sirius made a little hiccuping laugh into his mug. "What make you say that?"
"It's just…she's been going out with all the wrong types of guys. I just reckon she needs a break from the wrong sort and moves onto the light side."
"Are you going to show her the light side, Luke?" Sirius smiled playfully.
"I'll introduce her to some guys I know. She's gorgeous so she won't have a problem."
"You think she's gorgeous?"
"Definitely, especially her eyes." Harry realised who he was saying this all too.
Sirius just nodded knowingly and understandingly. "I know exactly what you mean."
"You do?" Harry questioned. He didn't want his godfather thinking his best friend was hot.
"Definitely, especially her eyes." Sirius laughed as he imitated Harry's fluttery-eyed expression.
"Is it that obvious?" Harry chuckled, leaning forward and taking a drink.
He shook his head. "No it's not. As long as you don't tell other people that her eyes are 'gorgeous' no one will say anything. How long?"
"How long what?
"Have you liked Hermione?"
"From fifth year," Harry ran a hand though his hair.
"Any specific reason?"
"She's Hermione; no one else. Just herself."
"Good reason. Tell her that."
Harry scoffed. "I'm her best friend remember. Harry Potter, the best, and only ever going to be, best friend of Hermione Granger."
"You said it yourself. You can be her best friend."
Harry smiled. "But?" He was anticipating something. Sirius never gave up on something that quickly.
"But you can be her lover as well as her best friend."
"I can't. I need to be there to talk to her about her relationship and not be the relationship problem."
"You know, it must have hurt when Ron and Hermione were going out."
"Not really. They never 'really' were, just a kiss every now and then. More like practice for someone else. That's the thought that got me through it anyway."
Sirius laughed. "What about all the other guys she's been out with?"
"What about them?"
"What were they like? In your opinion."
"Pompous twats with no respect for a lady in anyway or fashion. They thought Hermione was a piece of human meat, I could see it. Dean and Seamus weren't all bad. Justin was not to good. Generally none of them were right for her…none. She deserves someone totally better."
"Like you?"
"No, not like me. I'm nothing compared to what she deserves. If something went wrong then we'd end up not being friends. If I couldn't even have her as a friend, I think I'd go mad."
"Oh dear…" Sirius sighed and looked down at the table.
"Oh dear what?" Harry looked confused.
"Well…" Sirius rested his hand in support on Harry's shoulder. "You're going through the James phase."
"Did dad fancy Hermione?" Harry smirked.
"Close but no cigar," Sirius chuckled. "But he did fall in love with Lily…the exact same way you're going to for Hermione."
Harry looked taken back. "I'm not going to fall in love with Hermione."
"Why not?"
"She's my best friend!"
"So was Lily to James."
"But…but…this is completely different."
"How is it?"
"I'm not my dad."
"I know but there are certain parts of you that are. You are like your mother and your father. You can't deny it. I'm just giving you a fair warning in advance. Don't break your own heart."
Harry sighed. He knew that it could very well be true but he didn't want to believe that he loved his best friend in an unfriendly like way. It was…unfriendly like!
From the bar, Tom was waving something around. He waved to Harry and Sirius.
"Hey, Harry! Guess what?" Tom called.
"What?" Harry shouted back over the dozens of people inhabiting the pub.
"You're the second sexiest wizard in the Witches Weekly!" He shouted. The whole pub seemed to stop suddenly and stare in Harry's direction. A few witches (and a few wizards) were smiling intimately at him.
"Thanks Tom!" Sirius shouted laughing.
Harry's face flushed crimson. Sirius patted him on the back.
"You wanna go now?" Sirius asked his now very embarrassed godson.
Harry nodded a yes and finished off his butterbeer.
Sirius and Harry were laughing together as they exited the Leaky Cauldron. It was all right for Sirius to be out in public now. His name had been cleared with the Ministry and Witch and Wizard newspapers all over the world commented on how he helped his godson save the world from Voldemort. His presence was now celebrated rather than resented.
When it came time to retreat back to the Burrow, Sirius rushed into Diagon Ally into one of the open all night stores to find some cooking ingredients.
Harry and Sirius cooked up a storm in that kitchen. They managed a silencing spell during all the commotion so as not to wake everybody. By seven, the outcome was two massive platters of bacon and sausages, another with eggs, another with mushrooms and tomatoes. Two big racks held about thirty pieces of toast on and by the end, Harry and Sirius had managed to clean up as well. Heating spells were conjured by Sirius to keep it all hot as Harry dragged their bags upstairs.
Harry dropped his bags in the middle of Fred and George's room which he would be occupying whilst he was there.
Among Harry's belongings was his guitar. Sirius had taught him to play it in his fifth year. Once Dean and Seamus had found out they had Harry in their band straight away. Who knew Harry could sing? He now played guitar (rhythm and lead) and lead vocals. Dean was a master on drums and Seamus rocked the keyboard! You plugged that boy into the wall and he'd have you tapping your foot in a few seconds. It was really no wonder that Ginny absolutely adored Seamus. When they needed a girl singing they just asked Blaise who was more than great and had a really big crush on Harry. Of course he knew but he didn't humour it. He'd been out with Blaise but it didn't feel right. They'd both agreed that Harry's heart wasn't in it as much as hers was and being friends was better than being enemies.
Harry quickly silenced his bedroom and plucked away at the strings. He was enjoying himself immensely and was standing and singing along to the music.
He started to play a version of Kiss the Rain. He'd be singing it at their Hogsmeade concert in two weeks time so he might as well get some practice in. Of course, he'd got his friends front row seats and VIP backstage passes. What kind of friend wouldn't?
~*~
Lavender and Hermione were up at the crack of dawn and getting dressed already. Hermione had woken Lavender up so they could greet Harry as he arrived.
"Come on Lav!" Hermione pleaded.
Lavender came out of the bathroom looking extremely frustrated. "You wake me up at six in the morning when Harry isn't probably going to arrive until about ten and tell me to hurry up?"
"Yeah!" Hermione replied with a wide grin on her face. Lavender had to smile. Whatever made her friend happy was going to kill her eventually form lack of sleep.
Eventually, they were both dressed and ready to go downstairs. They walked along the landing. Lavender suddenly stopped.
Hermione whizzed around to find Lavender staring at Fred and George's bedroom door. "What's up?"
Lavender pointed to the door. It was ajar. "I closed that last night."
Taking a quick peek inside, Lavender retreated and laughed.
Hermione looked at her friend questioningly. "What is it Lav?" Lavender couldn't answer. She simply pointed to the door, signalling Hermione to look for herself.
She did. The sight that greeted her was indeed funny but she'd seen Harry singing and playing before.
"He's just practising, Lav," Hermione sighed.
"Yeah, but it's sweet."
A light bulb went on in Hermione's head.
"Can we watch?" She asked with wide eyes.
Lavender sighed loudly. "Fine, fine."
They opened the door.
~*~
Harry finished the last chord with a final strum. He had got some good practice in on that song. What he didn't notice were two girls stood at the door watching him.
The chord rang out for a brief second before being overtaken by clapping. He looked up and saw Lavender and Hermione clapping hysterically at him whilst laughing. Harry didn't blush or feel embarrassed; he simply bowed.
"Very good, Stan!" Lavender exclaimed. Stan was the nickname Lavender had adapted for him to his face. Of course, she called him Harry to everybody else but to his face he was Stan. She couldn't think of a nickname that came from 'Harry', she didn't want a boyfriend named Jay (after James) or Potts (after Potter) so she came up with Stan.
"Thank you, Miss Brown," Harry bowed again with a huge grin on his face.
"Are you performing that for us, Harry?" Hermione asked excitedly. .
Harry looked at Hermione to answer but his mouth nearly dropped to the floor. Had she always been that gorgeous? She was wearing a white tank top, boot-cut jeans and a denim shirt. Her flat stomach definitely showed through the tank top. Her hair was tied back in a pony tale and smooth on top. Her smile made him buckle at the knees.
"Wow!" he mouthed. He remembered that he must have been staring so he quickly turned back to his guitar and sat down on the bed.
Hermione had noticed him checking her out but she had been doing a little observation herself. Harry had obviously been working out. His face was toned and slender. His smile was wide and particularly attractive. His hair was the same as always; tousled and dreadfully pleasing to all the female occupants of Hogwarts. Some described it as one of his defining sexual features. Hermione thought that his eyes; his green emanating pools of radiating emerald were his dominating feature to any attracted girl. He was wearing a loose hanging black shirt and deep blue jeans. His arms were getting muscular and his chest had pecks and a four-pack. Hermione suddenly found herself thinking if he had chest hair or not.
"Silky smooth."
The voice made Hermione jump out of her trance of Harry and consider the statement.
"What?" she asked, sounding quite drawn back. Could he read her mind or something?
"Silky smooth strings," Ron repeated to Hermione. Ron was standing next to Harry feeling the strings of his electric guitar. "Are they new?"
"Got them from Japan," Harry smiled. Hermione felt her legs go from underneath her but she grasped onto the doorframe for support.
Lavender grinned and leaned in closer to Hermione. "Ron came in a little after you started checking Harry out. The best thing was, Harry was talking to you and you didn't even notice."
Hermione laughed and moved into the bedroom with Lavender.
"What songs are you playing at the concert?" Ron asked smiling as Harry handed him the guitar.
Harry tapped his nose with his index finger. "It's a secret."
Ron stamped his foot on the floor. Harry stared at his friend. "You'll go through the floor, Rumpelstiltzskin."
The girls laughed.
"But when will I know when a slow song is coming on?" He flashed a wicked grin at Lavender who smiled slyly back.
"I guess you won't," Harry chuckled looking back at Hermione and winking at her.
At this simple gesture, Hermione felt a tingle run up her spine. It was Harry for crying out loud! Harry James Potter! Her best friend and confidante.
'But he's your crush as well!' Her thoughts reminded. She'd been through most of the girls throughout their years with him; giving him advice on what to do if the situation got to intense and other stuff Ron could never grasp hold of. She was really one of the guys to him…or so she thought anyway. Of course, he'd done the same for her. He was there for her when she need him and he gave advice on the male sex although it didn't amount to any good use.
"Pretty please, Potter?" Ron whimpered. Harry shook his head. Ron was getting really worked up, which made Lavender giggle a little at her boyfriend's silly behaviour over a song.
"Please!" Harry shook his head again. Ron leaned over to Harry's ears so Hermione and Lavender couldn't hear him and whispered something. Harry's mouth dropped open in surprise and his eyes widened. The girls suddenly wondered what he'd said. They'd bug Harry about it later.
"I'll say something before we play it," Harry replied to Ron's whisper. Ron patted him on the back.
"Thanks mate," he grinned and started to pluck idiotically at the strings. "Can never play this damn thing."
Harry walked over to his trunk and opened it. He brought out a large brown parcel and handed it to Hermione.
"What's this?" she asked hopefully.
"Sushi like I promised," Harry joked and proceeded to unload the presents he'd bought everyone. He handed Lavender a long cardboard package. He handed Ron a small box the size of a shoe box.
Ron took it and opened it vigorously bringing out a pair of wooden polished sticks.
He held them out to Harry. "Drum sticks," Harry smiled.
"What would I need these for?" Ron asked scrunching his nose up.
Harry turned back to his trunk "For the drum kit in the garage."
Ron let out a half "Oh-My-God" and a half squeak. "Thanks!" He smiled profusely.
Harry simply smiled as Ron ran down Fred and George's private entrance, which led straight to the garage for their convenience.
Lavender was next in opening hers. The cardboard lid slid off and there in the box was the latest and most expensive racing broom. Lavender jumped up and down and hugged Harry. "The A-Model Stream-Lightening? How the hell did you get this?" She nearly screamed.
"I have my ways," Harry smiled.
Lavender picked it up from the box and thanked Harry again before running down the same way Ron had.
Hermione was last in opening her present. It looked as big as Harry's trunk and she wondered how he'd fitted it in. The lid slid off the box. A thick denim jacket stared back at her. It was dark blue but had white for the stitching. She lifted it out and put it on. "Thanks Harry!" She laughed genuinely. "Just what I needed! How did you know?"
"Bonding instinct," he replied smiling. He looked over at the box. "Look under the white wrapping." He urged pointing at it.
She complied and lifted the thick sheet of white wrapping from the bottom of the box. Her mouth fell open in complete shock.
"Harry…you didn't have too…" she gasped, in a complete state of amazement and shock.
Staring at her were the whole four complete volumes, leather bound hard copies, of Hogwarts: A History. To top it all off was the Hogwarts: A History Revised First Edition unable to buy in any bookstore internationally. It had to be ordered straight from the author. She picked up the last book and stared at it disbelievingly.
"How did you get this?" she asked finally breaking her gaze from the front cover of the book and looked up at Harry.
Harry shrugged. "A friend of a friend."
"I…Th…thank you," she couldn't find the words to express her gratitude.
"Let's call it a 'You Saved My Butt So Many Times So I Owe You' present," he laughed folding his clothes on his bed and pulling out his present for Mrs Weasley.
"You don't owe me anything, Harry," she laughed with him.
Harry looked over to her with a very serious expression. His emerald eyes pierced her golden brown ones. Something about those eyes was so drawing, so sweet and tender…so loving.
"Quite the contrary," he grinned. "I owe you more than you'll ever know." With that, he resumed his unpacking.
Hermione walked up to him and hugged him from behind. Harry immediately stood straight and turned still in her arms. He looked down into her perfect face with a soft smile on his face.
"You know if you wanted a hug all you needed to do was ask."
"I want a hug."
Harry wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her tightly almost burying his face in her soft hair. She rested her head in the crook of his neck and closed her eyes slowly.
"What have you washed your hair with?" he asked smelling it deeply.
"Why?" Hermione asked, enjoying the moment too much to even care.
"It smells great," he sniffed again at her hair. "It looks great too."
Hermione broke away from his shoulder but stayed in his arms. She poked at his chest playfully.
"You look great too," she smiled. "You been working out Potter?"
Harry looked down at his shirt. "Don't think so."
"You're developing a very nice chest," she didn't blush. She'd been around Harry for too long to get embarrassed over something like that. He did it all the time to her.
"Why, thank you, Miss Granger." He grinned. "So are you." He pointed to her chest.
Hermione could see where this was leading. "Mine's bigger than yours." She pulled out her tongue.
"Maybe but I've seen bigger."
"And I've seen better men than you."
"Like who? You can't get better than me."
"Two words, Finch-Fletchley."
"Justin?"
"Yep!"
"Well, you snore!"
"And you stink! Speaking of stink did you just role in dog muck or bathe in it? How many times did you actually change your clothes whilst you were there? How many elephants pissed on you?"
Harry laughed. "I've missed you Herm," he hugged her tightly.
"Missed you too, Harry," She rested her head on his shoulder contentedly. 'Perfect and unrivalled bliss.' She thought burying her face deeper into his shirt and tightening her arms around his waist. They stayed like that for a while.
After a few moments, Harry started to hum a tune. Hermione snapped out of her dream-like state and looked up at him. He had his eyes closed and was humming away softly to the song he sang slowly in his mind.
"What are you humming, Harry?" she asked breaking him from his trance. He looked down at her and grinned evilly.
"Secret," he left her arms and continued unpacking.
Hermione suddenly felt very cold, missing his presence in her arms. She picked up a pillow from his bed and hit on his back.
His attention quickly turned to her. She was stood with her hands on his hips holding the pillow in one hand.
"Tell me," she demanded playing a small smile on her lips. Harry looked over at the alarm clock on his bedside table. It blinked 7:30 am. Sirius was probably sound asleep on the Weasley's living room sofa. Harry smiled playfully and picked up another pillow quickly swinging around and hitting Hermione on the torso.
She let out a small cry and almost fell to the floor.
"No!" Harry laughed and raced around the room away from Hermione who was trying to attack him with her pillow.
After a very vicious pillow fight, Harry and Hermione collapsed onto Harry's bed exhausted.
"So, what did Ron whisper to you before being all secretive?" Hermione asked turning on her side to look at Harry. Harry was staring at the ceiling and smiled as she asked.
"Nothing," he tried to keep himself from bursting into fits of giggles.
"What did he say?" she ordered him to tell her and smacked him playfully on his chest.
"I promised him I wouldn't tell because I know you'd tell Lavender," Harry remembered what it was and grinned. "You wouldn't like it if I told Ron about your little secret would you?"
"What little secret?" Hermione was surprised. Yeah, she told Harry everything but still she was curious as to which one he meant.
"Oh, about you and Tom Foller last year in the…"
Hermione smacked is chest again. "Ugh! Don't remind me!"
"Then don't ask me to tell you my friend's secrets," he laughed and stood up holding out a hand to Hermione. She took it and let him help her to her feet.
"I'm glad you're my friend Herm," he wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed the side of her head.
"Me too Harry," She smiled at his touch but couldn't help thinking that she wanted to be more to him than just his friend.
They walked down the stairs hand in hand.
"Glad you two could make it," Sirius commented. Ron and Lavender were already munching down on some bacon and toast. "Early make out session?"
Harry glared at his godfather. "Don't be daft."
"Yeah, I've seen orang-utans with more sex appeal than him," Hermione chuckled.
"Ha Ha Ha," Harry laughed sarcastically. "Nice to know you care."
"Aww," Hermione gave him a small hug. "You'll find a girl who'll swing through the tress with you as well."
This made the whole table laugh as Hermione and Harry sat down to breakfast.
Hermione took a bite of some toast. "Did you cook this Sirius?"
"No, Harry did the toast," he replied.
She looked at Harry who was smirking. "I didn't know you could cook toast!" Hermione giggled. "You usually burn it!" She shovelled a piece of toast with some mushrooms on it into her mouth with her fork.
Harry laughed sarcastically. "Pick on the boy who can't make toast!" The whole table laughed at him.
"I can defeat Voldemort, the biggest threat the Wizarding World has ever seen, I can do wandless magic but ask The Boy Who Lived to make toast? Are you mad?"
If the table wasn't in hysterics they certainly were now.
Hermione rubbed her hands together.
"Show us some wandless magic then," Ron laughed.
"You sure?" Harry asked with a very wide grin on his face. Sirius laughed. He knew what was coming. Harry had learnt something new on his travels and had been dying to try it out on his friends.
Ron nodded.
Harry's attention quickly turned to Hermione. His green eyes were piercing hers as if trying to see right through her.
"Don't be afraid, Herm," a voice echoed in her head. Harry was smiling but concentrating.
"Is this it?" She asked excitedly and aloud.
"Is what it?" Ron asked. "He's not doing anything!"
"Shh," Lavender smacked him on his arm lightly.
"Do you like it?" Harry voice asked in Hermione's head.
"It's great but how do I do this to you? Like say something back without people hearing?" She asked aloud.
"Say something without people hearing?" Ron asked.
"Just think of an answer."
"Like this?"
"Exactly!"
Harry stopped concentrating. There was a small snapping noise then Hermione turned back to Harry.
"Where'd you learn that?" She smiled profusely.
"Learn what?" Ron was getting frustrated now.
Harry turned to Ron. "It's a mind connection. I can say things to people in my head as soon as I've made a connection, and they can hear me. I can only do it form a few metres yet. I'm not powerful enough to go full spread."
"Still, it's so cool!" Ron exclaimed. "We can have full conversations in the common room and no one will know!"
Once breakfast was finished, Sirius decided he'd better get back to his manor. The housekeeper expected him home a day ago.
He gave Harry a hug, quickly because of the manly image. "Had a great time, Kid," He laughed.
"Me too," Harry smiled. "I'll probably be back for a weekend at New Year."
"Great, you lot wanna come?"
The friends laughed. "Yeah, sure, Sirius. You sure you want us lot messing up your manor?"
"It's big enough," Sirius chuckled and climbed into the fireplace and took some floo powder from the holder.
"Later guys!" He shouted before yelling, "Marauder Manor!"
In a puff of green smoke, he was gone.