A/N - Sorry for the delay, but I already warned you guys! I thank each and every one of you guys for the reviews, and I unfortunately didn't get the time to reply, in addition to my effed up connection. I shall try next time, though. This chapter is more of a light one, and not very eventful, but I think it has to be done. I was experiencing a major writer's block this past month and also while writing this chapter, but I think I finally managed to complete it. Even though you will probably get bored reading it. O.o; I dunno. Review? Please? -Cute pout.- I shall be in your debt forever. And just a warning, I didn't read this chapter through, so excuse the mistakes.
Chapter 4: Moving In
"I got the job." Hermione called out, grinning as she closed the door behind her.
"Praise the Lord." Abby drawled from the couch, flicking through channels. Hermione failed to come up with a decent glare, and laughed instead, plopping down beside her best friend.
"It's great, isn't it?" She sighed in bliss, closing her eyes.
"Yep. How's Potter? As hot face-to-face as he is in Witch Weekly?" Abby smirked, finally turning her attention to Hermione. The brunette laughed.
"Oh, you bet. And the house…Oh, sweet Merlin, the house. I've never seen a house so posh." Hermione gushed. "This huge pool, saunas, hot tubs…Abby, there's this whole big section downstairs that's fully equipped with muggle technology…everything from flat-screens and computers, to DVD's and popcorn machines! It's truly amazing."
"Awesome." Abby looked intrigued. "Well, Potter's loaded, so…"
"Oh, yes." She nodded. "He is. I can't even begin to describe the house to you." She shook her head. "And my room is huuuuge. I love the place."
"Enough about the house, already. Did you meet the players? Ron Weasley? I want to meet him."
Hermione shook her head. "How typical, Abby. I see your redhead fetish is kicking into action."
"I'm serious, woman."
"Mmkay. I'll introduce you guys some time…" She shrugged.
"Good girl. Did you have lunch? I made some spaghetti."
"Well, Harry invited me, but I said no. I have to pack up and stuff."
"Yeah…" Abby frowned.
Hermione bit her lip. "I know it'll be weird and all, us not seeing each other all the time…but I'll come around every other weekend, promise. And you can visit too."
Abby nodded and shrugged. "I guess so. We'll cope."
Hermione smiled and leaned over to hug her best friend.
"I don't know what I'd do without you", Hermione smiled.
"Me neither, as much as I hate to admit it." Abby tried to keep a straight face, and Hermione hit her arm playfully, grinning. Abby stuck her tongue out rather maturely.
"I'm going to eat", Hermione shook her head, disappearing into the kitchen.
* * * *
"Ron, enough. You've wiped off half of the potatoes yourself!" Jess exclaimed, holding her arm out for the bowl.
"I'm a growing boy!" the redhead replied defensively, dumping another spoonful onto his plate before handing the bowl over.
Harry snorted. "You've been saying that since first year, Ron."
"Sod off", Ron muttered, starting to stuff his face.
Oliver looked up. "So when's Herm-er…"
"Hermione", Harry prompted.
"Hermione", Oliver repeated sheepishly. "When's she moving in?"
"Tomorrow."
"Need me to make arrangements to pick her stuff up?"
"No, actually," Harry replied. "She said she'll just use a Shrinking Spell or two."
Oliver raised his eyebrows. "She sounds pretty smart."
"She is," Jess chimed in proudly. "She graduated at the top of her class from Beauxbatons."
Adam looked impressed. "No wonder…Pass the curry, sis."
"You know, at first I thought she was no good", Harry admitted. "But damn, did she show me up."
Jess grinned. "I know. She strikes most people as this bookworm who always has her head buried in some book. But she knows how to go out and have fun. She does now, anyway. Abby tells me she used to be such a tight-ass back in school."
"Yeah…" Harry said thoughtfully. "And you know what the best thing is?"
"Hmm?"
"She didn't even glance at my scar."
* * * *
"Why do you have to take ALL your books? You've read them a hundred times already!"
Hermione shrugged, taping up the last box. She plopped down on the bed next to Abby, wiping her forehead.
"You have so much stuff, 'Mione…"
"I know", Hermione shook her head. "Eleven boxes."
"Mostly books", Abby said pointedly.
"Give it a rest, already", Hermione groaned, lying back on the bed. "I'm so tired…"
"Mmhmm."
"Thanks for helping me out today, Abbs."
"You would've done the same for me."
"Of course. I think I'll go take a shower. Then have a kip."
"You do that", Abby stood up. "And I still think you should forget about the shrinking spell and just have someone pick all this up. You'll probably lose something."
"I'll be fine. I'll put them in a handbag and get it over with. I don't want all the fuss."
"All right, then." Abby lifted her wrist up and had a look at her wrist-watch. "I'm running late. I'll see you soon, hopefully."
"Yes", Hermione replied as they hugged. Abby Disapparated, and Hermione buckled down to setting the Shrinking charms.
* * * *
Two hours later, she showed up at the Silver Arrows' door, and rang the doorbell, bouncing on the balls of her feet.
The door swung open, and Jess's grinning face appeared, before she was engulfed in a big hug.
"Hermione!" Jess smiled, letting the other woman in. "Come on in."
"Thanks", Hermione replied as they went upstairs, to her new room.
"You're actually moving in!" Jess grinned. "I won't be the only female here now. You'll be sharing my misery."
Hermione laughed. "It can't be that bad."
"Well, it's fun a lot of the time." Jess admitted. "But it's hard living with six males day in and day out."
"True", Hermione conceded, arranging the miniscule boxes from her handbag on the floor, and undid the Shrinking spells. "So I don't expect the 'house rules' are actually played out?"
"As if", Jess scoffed. "Not even one of them. Well maybe the Silencing charms one, and most of the time, the 'be on time for practice' one…And you still have to add yours. The seventh place is blank."
"I noticed. I will after I think of something."
"The boys are downstairs watching a movie; they won't be out for an hour or so…We could get started on this", she waved a hand at all the boxes. "Damn, girl. That's a lot of stuff."
"I know", Hermione said sheepishly.
They started to put Hermione's things away; clothes in the closet, and some of the books stacked in shelves.
"Crikey! You have enough books to rival our library downstairs, Hermione", Harry announced his presence from the doorway.
"And that's saying something", Oliver said, over Harry's shoulder, shaking his head.
Hermione blushed. "I read a lot."
"We can tell," Jess said dryly. "Hermione, get away from there."
"What?" Hermione looked at her in confusion from where she was placing her clothes into the closet.
"Move", she said impatiently, and Hermione obliged, still confused. Jess waved her wand, and clothes flew out of the suitcases and stacked themselves neatly into the closet. "There."
Hermione shook her head, although grinned. "I just like to be more practical."
"It's easier this way", Jess said smugly, replacing her wand into her pocket.
"Good work, sweetheart", Oliver winked at her, then dragged Harry off. "We'll go out somewhere to keep out of your hair", he called out.
"Hmm…" Hermione pulled out her wand, looking at the plain surroundings speculatively. She muttered a few spells, and Jess watched as the bed sheets turned into a light blue, the curtains that hung around the bed a dark blue.
"Definitely", Jess agreed, fingering the window curtains, a silver-ish blue, that went marvelously with the dark blue carpet. "Very nice."
"Thanks. I'm really going to enjoy living here." Hermione smiled, Vanishing the empty boxes.
"You will! We're the only team in Britain who actually live together."
"Really? I wasn't aware of that."
"We are. I think it helps our relationships; we stick together more."
Hermione nodded. "Helps the team-work."
"Yep. So how do you like Harry?"
"He's a good bloke." Hermione smiled. "He was quite the opposite of what I thought, really."
"Oh?" Jess said interestedly. "What did you think he'd be like?"
Hermione made a face. "Well…I thought he would be like those rich stuck-up guys who just like showing off their money."
Jess laughed. "Well, maybe it's fair enough. He thought you'd be one of those girls who are going to freak over meeting him. It makes him sick."
Hermione snorted. "Hardly. But to tell you the truth, I was a bit nervous."
"I expect so. He was pleased you didn't even notice his scar, and actually treated him like a normal person."
"I thought he'd get uncomfortable", Hermione nodded. "I bet he gets it all the time."
"He does. It tires me out. And you know…"
"What?" Hermione raised an eyebrow at Jess's smirk.
"I think he likes you."
"Not bloody likely", Hermione rolled her eyes. "Harry Potter, like me?"
"What's there not to like?"
"Oh come on, Jess. He's…well, he's Harry Potter."
"So what?"
Hermione shrugged. "It's not possible. You just think he does. Come on, I'm hungry." She stood up, trying to avoid the subject.
Harry Potter, like Hermione Granger? That'll be the day.
R&R!
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