A/N: Ok, I think this will be the next to last chapter. Seems that my brain has locked up concerning dear Sirius and I don't want to ruin the story by running on and on with stupid ideas. Anyway, please enjoy this next chapter!
***
Well, after hearing Remus' little trip down memory lane, I decided to abandon any plans for flammable spells. Not that I was planning any! Of course not! Ahem.
Anyway! This left me to try to do things the old fashioned way. I was going to have to create a romantic atmosphere for love to blossom.
I had a few more days left in the Christmas holiday, so I decided to use them. Bless the Brown family for coming home earlier than expected so that Ron would want to visit Lavender for a few days. This left me much more "Harry/Hermione" time.
For now, I was stuck between making dinner or taking them out. I opted for making dinner myself, since sometimes I still got unwanted publicity in restaurants and such. I wanted this to just be them. Plus, there was something else I needed to investigate … Hermione's diary. I know, I know, it's terrible to do, but I know about girls and their diaries.
So, I had to set a plan into motion. I considered making dinner myself, until I realized that taking them to the hospital right after wouldn't be romantic at all. Now, one of them nursing the other back to health … nah, too chancy. I knew that making dinner with magic could be easy enough, but I was looking for perfection. So I contacted Dobby. Dear, dear, Dobby. I told him that I would be more than willing to pay him to make an amazing dinner for Harry and Hermione and he was instantly in agreement.
"Mr. Harry Potter and Miss Hermione Granger? Of course Dobby will help!"
I smiled; this was going to be easy.
When dinner rolled around, I had to assure Hermione that this was completely paid for and that Dobby even got socks and a cute hat as a tip.
We all sat to eat and I intently stared at the two.
"Sirius? Are you ok?" Harry asked.
Damn! Caught planning.
"Um … well, no. Not exactly. I'm not feeling too well. I think I'll excuse myself early. But you two! You stay and eat. Enjoy dessert! Dobby made a wonderful pumpkin pie. Looks delicious. And I'll … um, I'll see you in the morning."
"Ok, well, I hope you feel better, Sirius," Harry said.
"Yes. Let us know if you need anything," Hermione agreed.
"No, nothing. I'm fine - will be fine!" I corrected myself. I probably sounded like I was delirious with a fever.
"All right then. Good night," Hermione said, slightly skeptical. She was just like Lily to see through me.
"Good night," I replied and quickly made my way to Hermione's room. Had to get that diary.
When I got there, it wasn't too hard to find, but like I suspected, it was charmed shut and locked.
"Ah, Hermione," I whispered. "Just like Lily. Powerful charm, but not powerful enough for a Marauder." I muttered the spell that we had used to unlock Lily's diary and countless other locks that we shouldn't have. It was impressive magic that I was surprised Hermione didn't know yet.
As the lock opened, I felt a pang of guilt. But this was for a good cause, so I turned to a random page and read.
September 1, 1996
Dear Diary,
I can't believe it! I'm back in Hogwarts now with Harry and Ron and our fellow Gryffindors. I'm so excited. I was especially glad to see Harry. He looked so dreadful after just a summer with those awful Dursleys. I just wanted to hug all his pain away, but I didn't want to embarrass him in front of all the guys.
But you know, in spite of looking so under nourished, he still looked hot. Those green eyes are my weakness. I think I can get lost for hours in them. And that hair is just too adorable, no matter what he says. I can't believe he hasn't noticed my feelings for him. But, he's got so much on his mind, and I would never distract him from all that he's got going on. So, I'll keep trying to hide my feelings from him and the rest of the world. It's getting to be harder and harder, but I have to for his sake. I refuse to put one more thing on his plate.
Ah well, I can tell by the incessant giggling that it's time to review our summers and who Lavender and Parvati snogged for hours on end. More later.
With love,
Hermione
Ah ha! She did have feelings for him! I knew it! I flipped ahead.
November 25, 1996
Dear Diary,
I can't believe that November is almost over. Christmas holiday is right around the corner and I just know that Harry will be stuck here alone. Perhaps I'll ask my parents if he can stay with us. Look at me, worrying about him so. It seems like that's all I do. But after that terrifying time in the DoM, I can't help it. Even though I almost died, I still feel worse that he went through all of that. He's shard the "Prophecy" with me after dinner tonight. He hasn't even told Ron and I don't think he's going to. Ron can't handle things like that well. I can't believe it. What an awful thing to know. Kill or be killed. But I know that he'll get through it. It's what he does.
I'm so scared for him, though. What if he doesn't make it? I don't know what I would do if I lost him. I'd be losing most of myself as well. Yet, I remain as positive as I can for his sake. I have to make him believe that this will be fine. I can't let his confidence falter any more than it already has. I will protect him as best I can. Whether that happens mentally, emotionally or in the battlefield, it doesn't matter. I will be there for him, no matter the cost. I love him.
Well, I need to get to bed. Big Transfiguration class tomorrow!
Love from,
Hermione
Wow. That was a pretty powerful entry. She actually admitted to loving him. That was certainly more than I had hoped for.
Ok, one more and I swore that I was done. (Geez, this was turning into a drug for me!) Ooh, yesterday's entry!
December 22, 1996
Dear Diary
Well, it's almost Christmas time and I can't believe that we're here at Grimmauld Place! We've been here for a while now, but I haven't had time to write. I've been living in the library (and getting teased about it relentlessly from Ron). But it's been wonderful! We're having such fun! And seeing Harry happy is just making it all the better for me.
I hope he likes what I got him. It was so hard to pick something for him. I mean, sure, he doesn't have much and all I would have to do it buy him anything to do with Quidditch and it would be fine, but I wanted something more. I needed it to be memorable. So, I took my cue from Hagrid and began a scrapbook. I found everything I could that would be memorable for Harry. I found some old pictures, a few twigs from the Whomping Willow, the article about the flying car, some Gryffindor emblems, the article about Nicholas Flamel, basically stuff like that. I just hope he likes it.
Oh dear, I hear someone's chess pieces getting pummeled (probably Harry's). I wish those two would just go to bed!
Love from,
Hermione
If she only knew how memorable that gift was. Harry showed me that scrapbook over and over, even after Christmas. Suddenly it occurred to me, if she was so deeply in love with him and he was so deeply in love with her … should I be leaving two teenagers in love with raging hormones alone? What kind of a godfather was I?!?!
I quickly re-locked and replaced Hermione's diary and flew down to the dining room.
As I entered the room, it seemed as though they were leaning in towards each other, but my bursting in interrupted.
"Sirius!" Hermione screeched.
"Is everything ok?" Harry said, quickly standing.
"Um, yes … fine. I'm very sorry to interrupt you two - I mean, your dessert! Nothing else, obviously. Well, I just came down for a glass of … um, water. And I'll be leaving now."
"No, that's ok, Sirius. I was finished anyway," Hermione said. "Scourgify!"
The dishes all became instantly clean and she smiled.
"Well, boys, I'm off to bed. Good night." And she left.
"Um, Harry. I -"
"It's ok, Sirius. Good night." And he was gone just as suddenly as she was.
I wandered into the kitchen. Hell with water, I needed a firewhiskey. I couldn't believe that I had just stopped what I was working for. I didn't want it going any further than that kiss, but it was going to happen and I stopped it!!
"James, what have you left me with?" I wondered aloud. "I'm trying my best here, but I've been forced to raise your son from 14 on. Do you know how bloody hard it is to jump in and raise a boy beginning with the teenage angsty years? I wish you were here, Prongs. You too, Lily. I just can't handle this. Harry's got issues. I mean, besides the whole Voldemort thing (as if that's not bad enough for a 16 year old), he's got a crush. He's finally learning love. But it's with his best friend. I'm sure you know her; she's the girl with all the hair - well, it's getting better now. And I know she loves him back, but how am I supposed to get them to realize their feelings without ratting out the other person? And if that's not bad enough, it looked as though they made have been having a moment and I interrupted it. Talk about your screw-ups. It's hard to be the grown up, guys. A new generation of Marauder's … hard to believe.
"Still you should be so proud of him. He's a great kid - excuse me - young man. He's smart, brave, funny, and he's the spitting image of you, James. Except for Lily's eyes. Sometimes it's painful to see him, because it makes me think of you two. But, then it's like having you back at the same time. I don't know, guys. Where do I go from here?"
"Sirius, who are you talking to?" Harry asked from the doorway.
"Harry! What are you doing back here?"
"I've come for a glass of water. Are you ok? Who were you talking to?"
"Don't laugh, but I was talking to your parents."
"I would never laugh at that. I do it all the time," Harry said.
"They're pretty good listeners, but poor conversationalists," I joked.
Harry smiled a little.
"What were you three talking about?" he asked.
"You. How proud we all are of you. And how quickly you're growing. None of us like it, so stop it!"
"I'll see about that," he said with a chuckle.
"I meant it, you know. How proud we all are. I know they are. You're an amazing young man, Harry. Just remember that."
"I will."
"Good. Now, get back to bed before you're parents yell at me for poor parenting."
"Sirius, have I ever told you that you're strange?" he asked.
"Yes. And I have yet to believe you."
"Good night, Sirius."
"Good night, Harry. And Harry?"
He turned around.
"I'm sorry about earlier."
"I know. It's ok. Maybe there'll be another chance." He shrugged and left.
I looked up as if to say good night to my friends in the beyond and shrugged as well.
Looks like it was back to the drawing board.