Harry Potter and the Lion's Roar
Chapter 2: One hell of a summer.
* * * Grimmauld Place* * *
Harry landed in the entrance hall of Grimmauld Place, apparently Remus had figured out how to program certain people's apparation signatures into the wards, so now Hermione, he, Tonks, and Harry when he got his licence, could apparate directly into the house. Harry left his trunk and Hedwig's cage, after letting her out of course, at the bottom of the stairs leaving them for him to take up later and followed the group into the kitchen, where they all sat down around the table while Remus put a pot on for tea.
They all talked for a while, Harry getting updated on Voldemort's latest movements, which weren't so good for their side. He'd been striking more and more in the past few months now that Dumbledore was gone, and the Order...wasn't exactly sure what to do, they knew they needed a new leader, but Dumbledore had lead them since the beginning and it seemed as if anyone they attempted to put in his place just couldn't compare with the likes of Albus Dumbledore.
They eventually moved on to the topic of Bill and Fleur's wedding. The plans they knew about, and they laughed and joked at the prospect of the Weasleys running around trying to appease Fleur and Molly Weasley's demands, that would be an interesting sight.
Through the entire talk Harry couldn't help but notice the chemistry between Remus and Tonks, sure they'd always been close, that was probably why the started dating in the first place, but this was different, it was like they were pulled to one another by some odd force of nature. Remus constantly had to be touching her in some way, holding her hand, their knees touching from where they sat rather close to each other, o hell Tonks was damn near on his lap. He had to smile at them, Remus needed someone like Tonks in his life. The man spent half his life trying to prove himself or being scorned at by people, for something he became for 12 hours out of every month, and Tonks was the person there to keep his head up, and probably some other things that he didn't want to think of. But he, nonetheless, was happy the old werewolf had caught a break, Tonks made him happy, and it was great for Harry to see the last marauder, and last father figure he had, happy.
The quartet chatted about mindless things for a while longer, they had lunch, prepared by Remus, since Tonks' meals had a tendency to either blow up, or make it's eaters sick, and Remus flat out refused to let Harry and Hermione cook, something about being on a break? All in all in was an enjoyable afternoon, but eventually, Harry excused himself to go unpack his things and get settled.
He levitated his things up to the familiar old room which at one point belonged to his godfather, and set to work unpacking them. After a few minutes he was so engrossed in his work of organizing everything so it would be easy to pack up again later, and mulling over his thoughts on Hermione, he failed to notice the presence of the same best friend that had been plaguing his thoughts.
Merlin, he looks good. Ginny's a lucky witch. She thought approvingly though slightly enviously , as she watched Harry reach and stretch his muscles to put something on the top shelf of his closet.
Hermione Granger was no fool, she'd known Ron had held a crush on her since their fourth year, he'd made it especially evident in the last year, but she held to feelings for him farther than brotherly, and couldn't bring herself to let him down, she simply ignored his advances and resolved that if, and knowing Ron, it was a big if, he ever worked up the courage to ask her out, she'd tell him then. A bit cruel she knew, but it wasn't really holding Ron back, he still managed to get girls, Lavender for example, and she wasn't reciprocating his tries, so she wasn't leading him on and left it as it was.
No, she had harbored a bit of a crush on her raven haired best friend since she first met him on the train to Hogwarts. She eventually worked out that it was probably because he was the first boy who'd ever really been nice to her, Ron hadn't exactly been friendly at first, that she developed this bit of a crush, but it had grown as their years of friendship went on. Harry was smart, loyal, caring, hardworking, courageous beyond belief, and one of the sweetest, though he was probably too modest to admit it, guys she'd ever known. He might be a bit insecure and thick headed at times, but he'd always been there when she needed him most, always wearing the same mischievous grin that had recently taken to making her breath catch, and her stomach flip. No, she was no fool, she knew her best friend was one of the most sought after wizards in England, thanks to his good looks and fame, and she knew he could have pretty much any witch he so chose. But it made her smirk slightly to know that out of any of them, he'd always stuck with her, even if only in the form of friendship.
She sighed slightly, how she wished it could be more, but no. Harry had too much to worry about as it was, with the prophecy, and the horcruxes, and there was that tiny snag of having the weight of the world, muggle and wizarding, essentially on his shoulders, relying on his ability to take down the greatest dark wizard since Grindelwald. She would not allow her wants to pull him off track or add to his list of things to handle, she just couldn't, so she'd content herself with watching from the shadows as she had for all their years of friendship.
At that moment Harry finally realized that someone was watching him, and whipped around to find Hermione leaning in the doorframe, not looking the least bit fazed by that fact that he was pointing his wand at her, and had probably almost hexed her. She merely smiled at him and crossed into the room, hopping up on his bed and laughed.
"Relax Harry, no one is going to come a get you, the house is unplottable remember?" she soothed. Harry blushed sheepishly,
"Sorry Mione, habit I guess, what brings you up here?" he stammered, ignoring the racing of his heart to see her to comfortable talking to him from the spot on his bed.
No! Bad thoughts bad thoughts!! BEST FRIEND!! He thought for the up tenth time since he saw her that morning,
Hermione laughed, the melodious sound washing over him and making him feel like jumping her then and there, his situation was not made any better by the fact that she decided to lie down now, staring at the top on the massive four-poster bed, and making herself perfectly comfortable.
O. Bleeding. Hell. He thought bitterly. Fate is cruel.
" I actually just came up to see how you were doing, and well I guess I was wondering if you'd put anymore thought into my letter." she said.
Change of subject. Thank you Mione! He thought.
"I did, somewhat, and I admit the idea does seem good, but I don't know Mione I'm still a bit... hesitant to go back there, after last year." He replied.
Hermione sat up again and she took in her friend, all playful wishes of a moment ago gone now, as she slipped into her protect-Harry-mode she often found herself in over the years.
"Harry I know it's hard for you. I know I spend more nights awake thinking of what I could have done to help you that night rather than just sat there thinking Snape was right, that I could have done something more, but in the end Harry, it's in the past. Hogwarts is safer now, McGonagall had to oversee an entire security overview to convince the Ministry to allow the school to stay open. This would be a good thing Harry, like I said, I'll follow you either way, but I just want you to be sure about this before we do this." she said firmly, yet with a hint of bitterness and he knew it wasn't directed at him.
He crossed the room and sat down on the bed next to her, catching her eye and holding her gaze. He could see the sadness in her chocolate brown pools that she held for him, he knew she was angry with herself about last year, thinking she'd been too distant from him and let him down. What she didn't know was she couldn't let him down if she tried, she'd simply been trying to live her life, how could he blame her for that. Forgetting everything but caring for his friend, he reached out and grasped her hands in his, keeping the eye contact he had with her.
"Alright Mione, if you think it's worth it, I'll go back." he said quietly, Hermione smiled at him,
"Good, Harry. I'm glad." she replied. Harry cracked a grin,
"You're just happy you get to be Head Girl" he joked.
Hermione appeared to be thoughtful for a moment,
"Well it does mean I get to share a common room with the Head Boy, and there's always the possibility he'll be a good catch." she smirked. Harry was confused now,
I thought she fancied Ron?
" Well, I did hear that the Head Boy this year is a handsome bloke, but I don't think Ron would be too pleased with you drooling over him." he said with a grin, though inside hinging on her response.
Hermione rolled her eyes,
"Ron will live with it. He can go find Lavender to snog again for all I care, he's my friend and nothing more, nor will he ever be anything more despite what everyone seems to think." she said flippantly. Now Harry was caught between jumping up and down for joy, and questioning her further.
He decided to take the middle ground and leave it alone, as he was now painfully aware of his surroundings, mainly he was sitting on his bed, in and extremely close proximity to his beautiful best friend whom he was beginning to realize he fancied, holding her hand, when the nearest adults were a few floors down and his wand was lying on his bedside table, capable and tempting him to block them out. Hermione came to this conclusion a second later than Harry and they both turned away and flushed, Harry standing quickly to straighten his closet, something anything to occupy his hands.
Damn that was close. Hermione thought.
"Well I guess I'll leave you to unpack, and I'll see you at dinner Harry" she said meekly, they locked eyes again and Hermione bit her lip to keep from grinning, and all but rushed from the room to keep him from noticing his effect on her. After exiting and shutting the door behind her she leaned on it, breathing deeply.
This is going to be one hell of a summer. They both thought, before Hermione collected herself and went off in the direction of the library, Harry back to his unpacking.
* * *
Dinner was wonderful, yet uneventful. They quartet exchanged pleasant conversation that continued from lunch, but nothing Earth shattering happened. Remus asked if he could speak with Harry afterwards in his study, and Harry accepted the offer.
After dinner Tonks and Hermione volunteered to wash up, probably since they knew it would take all of 3 minutes to do with magic, maybe 4 so Hermione could repair any dishes Tonks broke and then they could catch up on girl talk. So taking the opportunity Harry and Remus headed off in the direction of his study, but they were stopped halfway up the steps when a pounding on the front door rang through the hall. Harry and Remus dead stopped and looked at each other worriedly, before both pulling their wands and walking back to the bottom of the steps, preparing to open the door. Hermione and Tonks emerged from the kitchen, obviously having heard the knocking, well pounding too, and seeing the reaction from the other two pulled out their wands as well, taking up defensive positions behind their men. After one last eye exchange Remus pulled open the door and prepared to cast an immobilization charm, but froze mid sentence, Harry turned to look at their visitors and when he did, he almost fainted.
Standing in his doorway grinning like an idiot, was Sirius Black, behind him two very familiar figures, long thought dead. One with fiery red hair and emerald green eyes that shone in the old light hanging from the porch, the other an almost exact copy of himself, down to the last inch of height, which was around 6' 2", except for his warm hazel eyes.
"Jesus Christ." Harry whispered.