One Last Try [HP Jamione fanfic]

19. Should've Said No

1st March 1975

Hermione had managed to do quite a good job over the last few weeks of avoiding her boyfriend, but upon the exasperated urging of her friends she was finally going to end things with him. She'd only started dating him as a distraction and it felt wrong to lead him on when the 'relationship' certainly wasn't going anywhere.

She'd written to her father in a panic as soon as she'd heard about the possibility that he'd agree to the Diggory's suit. She'd received a rather amused letter back from him assuring her once again that when she was betrothed it would be to someone of her choice, and also that the Diggory's were bloody annoying, and even if Geraint had been choosing for her she wouldn't have had to worry that he'd choose Amos Diggory.

She'd put it off long enough now, so on the evening of what would be Ron's birthday in just five years (she tried not to think about being Ron's aunt in the future - it was too strange), she gathered her Gryffindor courage and entered the Great Hall right at dinner time when most people would be in there. She'd been arriving late for the past couple weeks, or just eating in the kitchens, to avoid Amos.

She took her customary seat between Frank and Lily at the Gryffindor table, Dorcas and Alice seated opposite as usual. They and the Marauders all looked at her in surprise, except Dorcas and Lily who'd talked her into this.

"The prodigal daughter returns!" Sirius crowed, just grinning cheekily at her when she rolled her eyes.

"You okay, 'Min?" Frank asked, looking her over. She resolutely ignored the way her heart fluttered a little in her chest at having his attention.

"Yea," She smiled at him widely, "Lily and Dorcas had a go at me earlier. They pointed out I wasn't being very Gryffindor, avoiding breaking up with Amos."

"You're breaking up with Amos!?" James practically shouted, cringing when half the table turned to look at him.

Hermione glared and then frowned, confused over his level of interest, "Yea," She sighed, "He was already trying to get a bloody betrothal contract with me, which I didn't much appreciate. I wrote to my father to stop him." James and Sirius gaped at her.

"Your father lets you decide?" Sirius asked, surprise colouring his tone.

Hermione nodded, knowing it was unusual. "Yea. Molly, my sister, was allowed to choose, and so am I. He still makes a damn contract of course, but it's my choice whom with."

"Huh." Sirius looked surprised.

"Not the same for the Blacks?" Hermione asked, a little amused. She knew the answer in general of course, but was curious whether Sirius already had a contract or not.

"Fuck no." Sirius snorted derisively, "I didn't have one planned for me from birth like my female cousins, but both me and Reg have contracts."

"What!?" James exclaimed, turning to his best friend with wide eyes. The rest of the Gryffindor fourth years were equally shocked, Peter and Remus gaping. "Who with?"

Sirius grimaced, and muttered something under his breath none of them caught. When they all just stared at him blankly he scowled, but spoke a bit louder, "Alicia Fawley."

"Who?" James asked blankly.

"She's a third year." Remus responded to save Sirius, "Ravenclaw I think?" Sirius nodded angrily.

"What the fuck, mate?" James was blinking in surprise, clearly not expecting to find out this kind of information about one of his best mates at dinner on a random Saturday in March.

Sirius was still scowling, and ruffled a hand through his hair, mussing the carefully artful non-style style he'd had it in. "It's not my choice." He snapped.