Summer at the Grangers

Julie turns on the kitchen's radio and sets the dial to a music station. As the dj announces the next song she begins to gather the dishes swaying her hips to the music and humming the melody. You decide to give her a hand and take the glasses and cutlery.

"You don't need to do that." She hip bumps you when you stand next to her in front of the sink.

"I know, but I wanted to." You say.

She grins, turns around grabs your hand and makes you do a little twirl as she keeps moving to the rhythm of the music.

"I can't dance, Julie." You say but still try to keep up with her.

"Nonsense, everyone can dance. You just need to keep moving." She says before joining the singer in the chorus.

You try, you really try but you know that...

"Oh man, you really suck." She says as the song fades and the dj introduces the next artist.

You avert your gaze trying to hide your embarrassment. "I told you." You say softly.

"Hey, it's okay." She says putting her arms around you and gently bringing you closer to her. "I'm just teasing you." She says one arm across your back embracing you and the other hand coming to your chin to make you look at her. "I thought that you needed a little something to cheer you up and dancing is something that does that for me so I thought that you might enjoy it." She says as the soft tune of the next song begins to play.

"I've never danced before." According to uncle Vernon dancing is not something that real men do. And even if he couldn't care less about you, he wouldn't want you to do anything he disapproves of in case you infect Dudley with it. That is more than enough reason to make you ask your next question. "Could you teach me?"

"That's the spirit." She says beaming at you. "Just leave it to big sis Julie." She adds rubbing the tip of her nose against yours. "Let's begin with something easy, slow dancing." She guides your hands to her hips and puts her arms around your neck. "It's easy, just sway with me."

You do as she says, slowly reducing the small distance between you as you dance. You find yourself with your hands on the small of her back, her chest pressed against yours. You close your eyes enjoying her warmth. You two stay like that until the end of the song.

"Well, I'd say that you nailed your first lesson." She says separating from you. She takes a look around and when her eyes fall on the kitchen sink full of dishes and pans from breakfast she groans. "Ugh, sorry Harry, we'll have to leave the rest of the lessons for another time. Duty calls." She says pointing her thumb at the sink.

"Actually, if you want, I could take care of it for you." You say, after all this isn't even half the task clean up after a Dursley meal is.

"You are our guest Harry, I can't make you do chores."

"It's okay, Julie. I'm used to do a lot more for a bunch of people who I can barely stand. Doing this for someone who I actually like is nothing."

"I don't know." She insists biting her lip in a manner similar to Hermione.

"How about this, then. While I clean kitchen you have that talk with Hermione for me." You say.

She sighs before giving up. "Okay, but just this once."

You turn to the sink while Julie goes to the door. "Julie." You call out to her just as she reaches the stairs. "You are the best big sister ever."

Her smile illuminates her face and she continues up the stairs with a bounce in her step.

You have all the used kitchenware clean in no time and after rummaging around the cupboards you find the cleaning supplies and proceeded to clean the rest of the kitchen. You find that having music playing while you work, another thing that your relatives would never approve of, makes it less of a chore.

An hour later even your aunt would be hard pressed to find a fault in your work. Satisfied with a job well done you go back to your room. You are standing outside of your door and can hear Hermione's and Julie's voices coming from the younger sister's room but can't make out the words. It looks like they are still talking and it will be a while.

Once in your room you try to think what you could do to kill time. For a moment you consider jerking off, you certainly have enough material about Hermione, Julie and even Mrs. Granger; but you know that if you start you won't be able to stop for a time. And wouldn't it be awkward if Julie or Hermione walks in on you given how tense are the things between you three.

So you take your other option, homework. Since the Dursleys despise magic they didn't let you even see your school things. And since right now you don't have anything but time...

You decide to begin with the easy subjects and leave the more complicated ones for later.

You have completed your first draft of your herbology essay and are working through your charms homework when there is a knock on the door.

"Come in."

Hermione opens the door and enters the room timidly.

"Hi, Harry. We need to talk."