Rising From the Ashes

Making Friends

   She tucked a stray curl behind her ear and began to wander. She needed clothes and she needed to see if she could find hair products for her hair before she ran out of what she already had. She began humming as she wandered along, when a store caught her eye. It stood out amongst the other stores because in the shop window, next to a set of robes, was a muggle dress. Hermione smiled and stepped inside, still humming. 

   She found several tops and pants that she liked and moved to the skirts. As she pulled one out, a pleated plaid one, she felt lips against her ear murmur, "I think that one would look rather nice covering your arse, love." Hermione dropped the skirt and had her wand against the throat of the boy who had surprised her in an instant. 

   It was difficult to say who was more shocked; Hermione, when she looked up into the handsome face of a sixteen year old Sirius Black or Sirius Black as he gazed down with warm gray eyes at the petite witch who'd managed to get the drop on him. The sound of laughter behind them broke them from their trance. 

   "Oh Pads, I like her. Any girl who can get a wand up on you is a keeper in my book." Then, turning hazel eyes on Hermione, the newcomer continued. "Please ignore my very rude friend. I'm James Potter. This idiot," he pointed his thumb towards Sirius, "is my friend, Sirius Black."

   Hermione broke eye contact with Sirius, slowly lowering her wand as the calming words reached her. "You shouldn't sneak up on unsuspecting witches, Black. Nice to meet you James. I'm Hermione Granger." She placed a hand on Sirius' chest and pushed him back lightly as he hadn't moved. She picked up the skirt, considering it before pulling out a couple others, contemplating.

   "I already told you love…" Sirius began before Hermione interrupted.

   "Yeah, and if I had wanted your opinion I'd have asked, Black," she responded absently, still considering the skirts she'd pulled out. "Damn it. I need to try these on. James, do you know if there's a changing…" Hermione was looking around the shop as she spoke before her eyes landed on what she was looking for. "Oh, never mind. Here, Black, hold these for me. I'll be right back." 

   The boys stared after her, bemused, as she took the clothes she wanted to try on and just dumped clothes in Sirius' arms without waiting for an answer.

   "Prongs, that woman is absolutely mad," Sirius said, sounding completely in awe of the girl. 

   James turned to look at his friend, seeing the awestruck expression on his face. "She's definitely different from your usual type, I'll give you that. She's not the type of girl you can just have a fling with.She's the type who digs her claws in and doesn't let go. I think you're in trouble Pads." James chuckled as Sirius scoffed.

   "I'm not in trouble, Prongs. I'm not interested in her. At least not that way. She's just interesting because she's different. That's all James." Sirius was frowning.

   James hid a smile. His friend had no idea. Suddenly there was a shout from the changing room and Sirius shoved the clothes in his arms into James' arms before hurriedly making his way over to the changing room, James following behind. It was Sirius who called out to the petite brunette. "Kitten? Are you alright?"

   They heard a thump, a curse and then a sigh. "Oh it's useless. I need help. If you can behave yourself, Black, you can assist me. And hurry it up. I don't particularly fancy being stuck in this skirt all day." Sirius slipped inside the room with a blushing Hermione after a quick glance at a smirking James. "The damn zip jammed. Can you please fix it? I would but it's in the back and I can't see it." 

   "I can, but why ask me? You don't seem to like me much. You seem to like James better, Kitten." He had moved closer and looked at the jammed zipper. He was able to fix it fairly quickly but waited a moment to see if she'd answer.