Grecian Holiday

"Hermione, dear, could you come to the kitchen please?" called Mrs. Laura Granger, up the stairs. A few moments later, a smiling sixteen-year old bounded into the room.

"Yes, Mum?"

"Well, your father and I have been discussing something; since you're graduating this year and all, it would be a good experience to go out into the real world and try living on your own. And no..." She broke in hurriedly, upon seeing the look on Hermione's face. "We aren't kicking you out. We just thought it'd be a new way for you to get a view on life. Daddy and I won't be around forever to support you."

"What's the idea you've come up with?" asked Hermione cautiously; her mother was notorious for her bad ideas.

"We give you a fair amount of money to start with. You go buy a house anywhere in Europe, using the money. But once you get settled, find a summer job to help you pay for everything. I had to do the same thing when I was a teenager, and it assisted me immensely in becoming more responsible."

"I'd love to!" exclaimed Hermione, eyes lighting up at the proposition. "When can I leave?"

"Whenever you chose to make the arrangements, but preferably by next week, so you can use your time wisely," answered Mrs. Granger, smiling at her daughter's eagerness.

"I'll start right now. Thanks, Mum!" Hermione gave her mother a quick hug, and rushed up to her room.

"Bye Mum! Bye Dad! I'll send you an owl as soon as I've settled in!" called Hermione. She had found a lovely country house in Greece, which she'd always been fascinated by. She apparated to a secluded spot near her destination, shrunken luggage in her purse. Professor Dumbledore had taught herself, Harry, and Ron to apparate in situations, if the need arose, and it had been a great aid.

Hermione started walking towards the general direction of the house, down a narrow dirt path.

"It's beautiful here," she murmured to herself, once she'd been able to take in the beauty.

The sky was clear as a bell, with a blazing sun overhead. The water was a deep aquamarine, with soft rolling waves created by the light breeze. Groves of trees were scattered about, olive vines hung over mossy boulders, and flowers were in full bloom.

She meandered to the villa she had bought. Hermione stopped short in front of it, and let out of a happy gasp.

The villa was two stories high, with an earthy-colored wall surrounding it, covered in lush vines. As she unlocked the wooden door on the wall, she stepped into a marble courtyard that had a fountain in the middle of it. A small bird was resting upon the statue, whistling softly.

Hermione strode into the house to explore. The kitchen was bright and airy, and led to a traditional Greek style sitting room. Off the side was a set of a stairs, which she quickly ascended.

Upstairs were two bedrooms. One had a single wrought iron bed while the other had a double. Both were covered in crisp white sheets and embroidered comforters. The dark wood floors gleamed in the crisp sunlight, shining in from the open windows. There were also tall mirrors, dressers, and side tables in both rooms.

A door from each bedroom led to a bathroom, which contained Hermione's favorite part of the villa yet, an old-fashioned claw foot bathtub.

Hermione sighed happily, and flopped down on the double bed, and closed her eyes for a moment.

"This is going to be amazing," she said aloud, reopening her eyes. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a spiral staircase outside the balcony.

She stood, and walked out to the veranda. Carefully, she scaled the decorated stairwell; when she reached the top, she grinned widely. The house had a flat roof that overlooked the glimmering bay, and had a romantic air about it.

"Yes, I'm going to have a wonderful summer."

For the following week, Hermione was in heaven. She tanned, swam, cooked, and generally relaxed. At night, she'd do her homework on the roof, basking under the stars.

But, amidst the paradise, she couldn't help but feeling a pang of loneliness.

Greece was a dream come true, yet Hermione couldn't help thinking it would be a bit more memorable with someone to share it with.

She walked down the stairs to the kitchen, where her golden owl, Snidget, was waiting for her. The owl held out her leg, a letter tied to it.

"It's from Harry," muttered Hermione, scanning the letter. Her face fell a bit, and she sighed. "He and Ron can't come."

Snidget nipped her finger affectionately before taking off into the sky. Hermione's spirits had sunk to a low. She didn't have any friends from her old Muggle school and nobody else at Hogwarts to owl.

She stood up, and strolled out of the villa, and down the small dirt road leading to the town.

After about five minutes, Hermione heard a whimpering from a ditch off the side of the road. She cautiously looked over.

A large muddy dog was lying in the ditch. It looked up, and Hermione locked her eyes with the dog's. She gasped.

"Sirius? Is that you?" The dog wagged its tail ferociously once it realized who she was.

{Hi, Hermione.}

"I--how'd you do that? Am I supposed to be able to hear you?"

{It's an Animagus thing. I'm letting you talk to me in my head, otherwise you wouldn't be able to hear a thing I was saying.}

"Dear Lord. You can elaborate later. What are you doing here?"

{I should be asking you the same thing.}

"I'm here on--I'll give details in time. Why the hell are you here? You're still on the run, and you're lying in a ditch. I want some sort of an explanation."

{I was hit by a car. See my front leg?}

"Oh Sirius, it's bleeding!"

{No, the driver spilled ketchup on me when he hit me. He thought I'd make a good entrée.}

"Geez, no need to get snippety."

{It hurts.}

"Then let's get you back to my house. I can bandage your leg up, and no one will mind, I'm the only one there."

{What about your parents? Won't they mind coming back home to a muddy house?}

"They're back in England."

{Did they forget something?}

"I'll tell you later. Can you walk?"

"You don't expect me to carry you, do you? I'm not incredibly strong."

{Then how are we going to get back to your house?}

"Let me go get something. I'll be right back."

{You are so cruel. Do you know how embarrassing this is? If Remus was here, he'd be laughing his arse off.}

"Shut up, you big baby," said Hermione good-naturedly. "You've been complaining the entire time. Shouldn't you be bowing down before me?"

{I praise to thee, O Exalted One.}

"Don't push it, buster. Okay, we're here." Hermione kicked open the wooden door leading into the courtyard, and set the wheelbarrow down, which had been used to transport Sirius.

{I still can't believe you.}

"Hush. You're going to have to walk upstairs to the bathroom. You need a bath," remarked Hermione, scrunching her nose. "You smell."

{I do NOT need a bath! And I smell like buttercups and roses, thank you very much.}

"Shut it, dog boy. Now come on."

{That is the by far the most insulting thing I've ever heard in my life.}

"What?"

{You called me a BOY! I'm a man, damnit! Treat me like one!}

"You act like fifteen year old. You're supposed to be more mature now."

{Well, it's a bit difficult when almost thirteen years of your life is stolen away from you. I have to make up for lost time.}

"No time for brooding. You have to move on. Get in the tub. And yes, you can stay in dog form."

Sirius gingerly slid into the tub. Hermione filled it with warm water and poured in some soap.

Sirius lapped up some water, and spat it back out. His dog nose wrinkled in distaste.

{This water's disgusting!}

"That's because the water has soap in it. I'll give you normal water later, when we go back downstairs."

"Yes, soap. You know, smelly good stuff?"

{I vaguely remember my mum telling me to use the stuff.}

"You must have reeked horribly back in school."

{Excuse me, I smelled like--}

"I know, I know, buttercups and roses. Though the reason why you'd want to smell like that is beyond me. After all, you are a guy."

Sirius barked, and his indigo eyes brightened.

{You'll pay for that one.}

"What do you mean by tha--SIRIUS!"

Hermione's shriek filled the tiny bathroom. Sirius had grabbed her shirt by his teeth, and pulled her into the water.

"Now I'm all wet!" moaned Hermione, splashing a bit of water towards Sirius, who seemed quite pleased with himself.

{That's obvious.}

Hermione clambered out of the tub, sopping wet.

"Time to get out of the tub, Sirius," she said, wringing out her curls. Sirius did so without complaint.

"Now go to the balcony in the other room. The air'll dry you off quickly. I'm going to change."

Sirius pranced out of the room towards the balcony. As soon as he was gone, Hermione grabbed a towel and ambled to her room. She peeled off her wet clothes and dried herself off. She opened a drawer, pulled out a pair of jean shorts and a white tank top, and quickly put them on.

"Sirius! C'mere, so I can look at your leg!" called Hermione, leaning her head out of the door. She stepped back as Sirius trotted into the room, and stretched out upon the floor.

Hermione took one quick glance at it. "I'm going to have to wrap it."

{Will it hurt?}

"No."

{Oh, all right, then.}

Hermione found some gauze and wrapped his front paw. "There. Now we have to get you some other clothes before you transform back to your human self. There's ore normal clothing in the next town over, so I'll drive us there."

Sirius wagged his tail and followed Hermione downstairs. She grabbed her keys and purse from the counter, and slipped on a pair of running shoes.

The two walked outside and climbed into Hermione's red jeep. Hermione started the ignition, and jumped when a burst of Sirius's words exploded in her head.

{It's a car! It's a car! It's a car!}

"Wow, would've never thought that," remarked Hermione sarcastically. Sirius ignored her comment.

{It's a car!}

"We've established that fact," said Hermione, a smile playing on her lips.

{Go really fast!}

"As soon as we're out of town boundaries," Hermione answered, sticking a pair of sunglasses on her head.

After an hour drive, they reached a large town that was more modern than the one where Hermione was living.

{The ride's already over?}

Hermione could hear the disappointment in Sirius's voice. "We'll be driving back to the villa later. We're just shopping here, not staying."

The two strolled into a shop, and started to pick out clothes. Hermione handed over a large sum of money, and lugged their bags back to the car.

Sirius was overjoyed at having another ride in the car, which Hermione supposed was a dog thing, and probably a bit of a fascinating Muggle artifact.

After four trips between the car and the villa, Hermione collapsed onto the couch. Sirius neatly picked up a bag in between his teeth and pranced up the stairs.

"Oh, and Sirius, you can transform back into your normal self again," she exclaimed, hoping her voice reached him upstairs

"I didn't think I was normal in the first place." Sirius's rich tenor voice floated down the stairs, and gave Hermione a small, but not entirely unpleasant shiver.

She looked up, and felt her jaw drop. For someone who had gone through the misery that he did, and regarding his age, Sirius looked damn sexy. His style consisted of a pair of dark baggy jeans and a clingy gray t-shirt, much like the contemporary Muggle teenager. His hair, Hermione noticed, had been cut, but was still at a length where Sirius could pull it into a black ponytail, as it was.

The girl realized her mouth was open, and swiftly shut it, and hoped Sirius hadn't noticed. She pushed a curl behind her ear, and tried to appear cool and collected. "You look good."

"I do, don't I?" replied Sirius, coming over to sit in an armchair beside the couch.

"I really believe that you never grew up," commented Hermione.

"Well, I did miss my twenties, so I guess I can live them now," said Sirius wistfully, and Hermione immediately regretted her choice of words.

There was a moment of awkward silence, until Sirius spoke again. "So, why are you here? And without your parents at that?"

"Oh, yes, that. They suggested I go and try living on my own. I bought this house, and I was considering putting it up on the market after the summer's over, but I'm becoming quite attached to it."

"Wow," said Sirius, looking impressed. "My parents wouldn't have ever trusted me on a responsibility like this."

"From what I've heard from Professor Lupin and the brief times when we've talked before, is you were the most mischievous student in Hogwarts history. No wonder you parents didn't fully trust you! And you were a Marauder. I can see you family's reasons." Hermione smirked at Sirius, who gave her a withering glare.

"Thanks for your confidence." He rolled his eyes. "And I bet you'll be wondering why I'm here?"

"Of course," answered Hermione. "I found you in your Animagus form with a hurt leg in a ditch. Don't you suppose I'd be a bit curious?"

"You never know with people nowadays," said Sirius airily. "So, I had to track down Mundungus Fletcher, because I had to ask him about a report for the Order. Obviously, he didn't tell Dumbledore he was going on vacation, and I had to track him all the way down here. I caught him before he went down to Italy, and I was going to travel back north, but then I was hit, and you found me."

"Are you still going back north?" asked Hermione curiously. "I know it's more dangerous up there than it is down here. And the Greek Ministry is incredibly lenient, they wouldn't keep searching for you, as Fudge is."

"Nah," spoke Sirius, after musing for a few minutes. "I would, to see Harry and all, but as he's not allowed to leave the Dursleys, there isn't much point in me staying in England at the time. And it's much warmer down here than it is in that cave where I stay during the school year."

"No kidding," murmured Hermione.

"Nicer here, too. The weather's almost always clear, and I can eat normal food," he added, stretching his full length in the chair, Hermione trying hard not to stare.

"If you'd like--" Hermione gulped, and wondered what had possessed her usually calm and unadventurous self, "--you can stay here. I'm all by myself, and I do have a spare bedroom."

Sirius lit up. "You wouldn't mind? Even Moony wouldn't want me to stay in house for more than two weeks."

Hermione eyed him cautiously. "Why?"

"Oh, just because he's the most fun to pull pranks on. He always has the most astonished look upon his face, like he can't believe I would still pull a prank." He glanced quickly at her. "And no, I won't pull any pranks. Marauder's Honor."

Hermione raised his eyebrows, and exhaled. "If you do, you'll live to regret it. Those are my final words."

They talked for a good hour, before Hermione nodded off. Sirius sat in silence for a few moments, before gently picking up Hermione. He carried her up to her room, and carefully set her into her bed. He then transformed, and curled up in a corner by the window.

Sunlight crept through into the room, and hit Hermione's eyelids. She opened her eyes, and slowly sat up, trying to properly awaken. She realized that she was in her bed, and not on the couch, where she'd fallen asleep.

Sirius must've carried me up here. Damn, what if I snored? Her cheeks tinged a dusty rose. She pushed any further thoughts regarding Sirius out of her mind, and tiptoed into the bathroom.

Sirius awoke suddenly, hearing the water run in the bathroom. He noticed Hermione's bed was unoccupied, and figured she had gotten up to take a bath.

He altered his dog form back to his human shape, and meandered into the other bedroom. He rifled through his untidy pile of clothes, and chose his swimsuit and a white tank top. He descended the stairs, and started to read the paper, which Snidget had left on the table.

Eventually Hermione emerged, and Sirius secretly thought she looked stunning. She was in a golden orange bikini, with an open ¾ length white button up shirt thrown over it, and a yellow sarong tied about her waist. Her feet were encased in a pair of orange flip flops, and her hair was swept into a messy bun.

"Good morning," said Sirius pleasantly, ignoring the urge to stare incessantly at the gorgeous girl in front of him.

"'Morning," answered Hermione, padding over to him. "I was going to make breakfast, but I'm too lazy. Want to head over to the café?"

"Sure," replied Sirius, folding up the paper.

"Let me just a quick adjustment," said Hermione, pulling her wand out of a pocket on the inside of her shirt. She muttered a few spells, and pointed her wand at Sirius.

He look at the mirror above the stove. "I don't see any difference. You sure you cast the spell right?"

Hermione cast him a smug glance. "Yep. A rather brilliant spell, if I do say so myself. Invented it during school. For the person who casts the charm and the person the charm is cast upon, they only see the subject as they are. But others see a completely different façade, such as yours...your hair is now brown with blonde highlights, you have an Australian accent, you're a three inches shorter, and your eyes are ice green. Oh, and I also cast a spell that will enchant your name so nobody will recognize it. As soon as I tell another person of your pseudo name, the spell will activate."

Sirius shot Hermione an impressed look. "When did you find time to do this?"

Hermione smiled sadly. "I was left alone most of the school year."

"What about Harry and Ron? Or Ginny?" broke in Sirius, sounding puzzled. "They're your best friends."

"Best friends don't matter when you have a girl to drool over," she remarked. "Harry and Ginny are dating, as you know, and they spend most of the time fawning over each other, and Ron's got Lavender. I was left out in the cold, most of the year, so I had to keep myself occupied." Hermione's tone sounded jealous and a tad bitter. "Probably the worst year I've had so far."

Sirius didn't know how to respond to her comments, so he just opened the door, and the two left the house noiselessly.

"How on earth did you hang the Slytherins by their underwear over their table?" giggled Hermione.

"Few charms here, few charms there..." grinned Sirius.

"Ant the use of a certain cloak and map?" asked Hermione slyly.

"Yea--hey! You're not supposed to not about that! It ruins things!"

"When your friends with the Boy Wonder, pardon the slur, it's sort of difficult not to." Hermione's eyes twinkled brightly.

"Nice café," said Sirius finally, just noticing the décor. They were sitting at a small café, chatting and wolfing down delicious pastries. They were sitting outside, in hand-carved wooden chairs, feet propped up on matching footstools, with a yellow umbrella hanging overhead.

Suddenly, there was a wolf whistle from behind the pair. Hermione groaned and closed her eyes in irritation.

"Please let it not be--"

"Morning, Hermy."

"--Donny." Hermione put on a strained smile. "Morning." A pudgy boy with bleached hair came to stand next to Hermione, and as Sirius noted, acted very much like a tourist.

"You look quite fetching today," he said, smiling and swelling up, making himself look like a pig with a gland problem.

"Bugger off, Donny. I'm having a nice day, and you're ruining it," said Hermione, an edge in her voice.

"Why?" he asked stupidly. Hermione let out an annoyed sigh.

"Haven't we gone over this? You bug the hell out of me, and you're a prick. Get it through your skull," she growled, through gritted teeth.

Donny ignored her remark. "Who are you?" He was now starint Sirius.

"This is..." Hermione frantically searched her mind for a name. "Roux."

"What kind of name is that?" sneered the round boy. Sirius just sighed.

"I think it's best we be going, Hermione," he said, standing up. Hermione caught his eyes and caught the hint.

"Cheers, Donny," she said. "Not that I'm sorry to be going or anything."

As soon as Sirius and Hermione were far enough away, they burst into loud laughter, clutching their stomachs.

"Did you see his face?" snorted Sirius. "Looked like he was hit by a car."

"He won't stay away, though. He'll just keep coming back," snickered Hermione. "He's stupider than Harry's porker of a cousin, Dudley. They look relatively similar, related to pigs, they are."

"So, what's on the agenda?" asked Sirius, once they had calmed down. "Anything special?"

"Nope," said Hermione cheerfully. "Not a thing. Even I don't make plans when I'm on vacation, contrary to popular belief. Why don't we head to the beach."

"Smashing idea," replied Sirius, walking alongside her through the golden sand.

"Hermione, are you going to just tan all day long?" called Sirius. He'd been swimming for about an hour, and Hermione had lain down on a conjured beach chair, sunglasses over her eyes. She lowered the glasses, and raised her eyebrows.

"There is no bloody way I'm going in that water. I'll get wet."

"Isn't that the point of water?"

"Yes! But I'm not coming in!"

"It's not even cold!"

"Yeah, cos you probably peed in it or something. That's the only time its warm. I know from years of watching kids over the summer."

"Thanks for the update, and I did not!"

"Sure, Sirius, whatever you say." Hermione pulled the sunglasses back on, and closed her eyes. Sirius waited for a minute, then quietly snuck out of the water. He scooped her up before she could do anything and threw her into the water.

"SIRIUS!" Sirius grinned doggishly, as Hermione shrieked. He ran back into the water and dove beneath the soft waves.

"Get back here! You are in deep, deep trouble!" she screeched.

"Correction: This is shallow water, so technically I'm in shallow water." He gave her a winning smile.

"Don't get so full of yourself, Snuffles!" she taunted.

"I hate that name!" fumed Sirius in mock anger. He swiftly tackled her, and she fell back into the water. Finally, she emerged, and darted back to shore.

"I can't believe you did that," glared Hermione. "Now I'm all wet."

"No, really?" he said sardonically. "I would've never guessed."