Hermione Granger and the Theft of Magic

Chapter 9: Calling Upon Friends

[A/N: Thank you to Calamity Owl for beta-reading this chapter!]

Sirius peered out into the light afternoon rain. "Are you sure you don't want to take the floo?" he asked.

"Hermione has been traumatised enough for one day," Harry said. "We'll walk."

"Oh, it's not that bad," Remus said.

"As someone who was not raised by wizards, I beg to differ," Harry said. "I'll tell you what: if, when Hermione finally does try the floo, she thinks it's an easy way to travel, I'll buy you a six-pack of real ale. If not, you buy me one."

"Deal," Remus said. "Wait, though, what if this is just a plan to bribe her with a bottle of the ale so you get the rest?"

"Then you'd better offer me at least three to beat his offer," Hermione said as she pulled on her mackintosh.

Sirius barked out a laugh. "I'll give you four," he said.

"Wait," Harry said, "you're not even a party to this bet."

"I know," Sirius replied. "I'm just willing to give her four ales to see if I can get her drunk. She was hilarious last time."

Hermione blushed. "I won't be drinking that much again."

"That's enough of that," Harry said. "Sirius, Remus, thank you for everything."

"Yes, thank you," Hermione said. "You saved my life twice. I can't even begin to thank you enough."

"Don't worry about it," Remus said. "Your company has been a breath of fresh air in this old house."

"And my parents would have hated you," Sirius said, "which makes it even better."

Hermione blinked. "Oh...um...I'm glad, then. I've enjoyed it here, too."

"Same here," Harry said. "We'll be back for dinner next week, and maybe we can have you over for a muggle-style dinner the following week."

"We'd like that," Remus said.

Harry and Hermione waved one last time and stepped through the front door and out into the cold, rainy London afternoon. "Is it a long walk to your house?" she asked as he led her down the front walk to the square in front of the townhouse.

"It's actually a little less than fifteen minutes," Harry said. He offered her his arm as they walked, which she accepted with a tight-lipped smile that was still warm enough to make him forget about the cold and damp for a bit.

Hermione looked around as they walked. "Are we near my university?" she asked. "This looks vaguely familiar."

"We are, yes," Harry said. "I'm on the other side of the Tube station, closer to Regent's Canal."

"I see." She looked around as they walked at the rain-stained but well-kept brick buildings and tall trees. "This is such a beautiful part of town."

"It really is," Harry said. "I spent most of my Quidditch bonuses to buy this place, and I'm glad I did. It's beautiful, in a relatively quiet part of town, near Sirius and Remus, and has a corner pub."

She laughed. "I like the addition of the pub on the end of that list. It's nice to see that even wizards are still British."

"Very much so." Harry smiled back. "Oh, here's our turn."

Harry waited at the zebra crossing and led them across the street. "This isn't strictly the fastest way to get to my house," he said, "but it's definitely the nicest." Instead of walking up the little cross street, he led them into a little park maybe half a block wide but several blocks long.