AN:/ based on a challenge by Legolas Lover

Grimmauld Place 2001

Hermione Granger was at the downstairs kitchen table of number twelve Grimmauld Place pondering her situation. She was a best friend of Harry Potter, the boy who destroyed the Dark Lord Voldemort. Now she was in love with of all people his godfather Sirius Black. It was quite funny really, they considered her brave in her actions to help Harry in his quest, yet she could not tell this man how she felt.

She lived with him and Harry at his childhood home and where getting on rather well.

She never doubted that he cared for her, they had developed a warm friendship. Truth be told she never expected to see him again after being killed by Bellatrix and body thrown into the veil where it could not be recovered.

He returned one day three days ago the morning after the final battle. He appeared in the department of Mysteries dazed but otherwise unharmed. The theory was when Molly Weasley defeated Bellatrix and braking her wand, broke the curse that held Sirius. Not that it mattered to Harry Hermione or Remus, they where just happy to have him back.

He was pardoned and allowed home where Harry followed. They invited her after she sent her parents away and really had no place to go. Remus followed after his relationship with Tonks fell apart.

It was a beautiful Saturday a day off to ponder her life. Then she heard two sets of footsteps one set heavy, the other light like a woman, in the hallway and then more coming down the kitchen to her.

That must be Ron and Lavender they said they would stop by today.

Sure enough the face of her other best friend and his girlfriend showed up. Lavender smiled and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Ron in his usual manner sat down at the table and helped himself to the pancakes that Remus had made earlier that morning.

"Where are the boys today Hermione?" asked Lavender. She could not help but smile at the comment.

"Remus is at the Ministry working at the Werewolf Registry with Kingsley."

The other werewolves nominated Remus as a spokesperson for the nations on their advocacy. When he was not there he was working for a publishing company acquiring old manuscripts and making a fair amount of money.

"Harry is at the Ministry again another Auror meeting." Harry despite not officially graduating went through Auror training and passed with flying colors. Ron shuddered at the thought.

"I do not think I would want to do that, so much work and aggravation. That job would drive anyone nutters. I am glad Fred and George asked me to work with them. Money makes the world go around".

Hermione and Lavender just rolled their eyes. Lavander worked at the shop as a salesgirl. There they where reacquainted and fell in love once more. Hermione was glad for Ron, he was happy at last. Fred and George along with their wives Cho Chang and Katie Bell continued to make their shop a money-spinner. Bill and Charlie with their wives Fleur and Susan Bones where silent partners in the venture. Bill and Charlie still remained at their jobs that did not pay much. Being silent partners allowed them much more finical stability. It was a good thing considering that Fleur was pregnant with their first child. There was talk that if it was a boy they would name him after Percy who died taking a curse that was meant for Fred.

"I am not sure where Sirius is at the moment. Must be still in bed after the late night 're-aquatinting himself' with life stuff."

Sirius although well physically was not completely healed mentally. He was the same person, but he still had bouts of time when he would be locked in his mind, reliving the horrible state of limbo he was in for years. He would go out at night drinking and sleeping away his troubles. It broke Hermione's heart to see Sirius like that but he was the kind that did not ask for help or was receptive to receiving it. All she could do was be there for him when he needed her.

"How are things at your end of the Ministry Hermione?" Lavander's question seemed to ring through her head, interrupting her train of thought. Hermione was working as an intern at the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. It was the only place she ever wanted to work for, a place to protect the weak and abused of the wizarding world.

"It is going well thank you Lavender. I am making great progress in house-elf rights."

Ron gave her a look that said, "not SPEW again". She thought better of it and said no more. They sat together for a long time idle chatting catching up on things until they had to go check up on the shop.

She was left again to her own thoughts that always came to one thing, Sirius Black.

She was tired of feeling like she was stuck in a rut, she wanted Sirius and she needed a game plan. So she decided that she would attack the problem like she would attack any other problem. She would research and would plan accordingly It would give her a better idea of how to approach him, That was the easy part. The hard part was that he had a lengthy line of women that he was involved with. How was she going to find out where they where and how was she going to approach them? She sighed, the only one who would know would be Remus. Yup, she could see it now.

"Hello Remus, I was wondering how many women Sirius nailed and what would their numbers be?"

An amused voice behind her said, "Yes, I know, and no, they where not all women, yes, I can give you numbers of those that are living". She turned around to see Remus coming in with an amused look on his face, while she had a completely mortified look. " Now why would you want those numbers?"

Hermione was embarrassed but she did trust Remus so she told him. " 'Mione, love, it would be simpler to talk to him directly, then you will know for sure where the relationship would go"

"I can't, Remus, too much of a chance of rejection. This way, if it falls apart, I would be able to salvage a friendship"

Remus sighs and nods "Alright, love. Just remember the old Muggle saying, be careful what you wish for, you just might get it."

The next morning

Hermione was sitting at the table when Remus walked in. He had a small journal in his hand.

" Are you sure about this Hermione?" at her nod he gave her the book. " Here are Floo addresses like I promised." He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. " I have a breakfast meeting with Kingsley I have to go or I will be late. You know where I am when you need to talk."

When? Didn't he mean if? Was this so horrible he thinks that I would have to run to him to talk about?

He was barely out the door when Harry ran down the stairs grabbed a piece of toast kissed her on the cheek and ran out.

Another day another hurricane she thought to herself amused.

The object of her affection arrived last wearing what he always did which was nearly nothing at all. He was wearing boxers and an old robe thrown over untied showing his tattoos on his chest neck and stomach, his feet where bare. His hair was still long but only to his shoulders now and still fell into his eyes in an adorable manner. She turned to get him some tea hoping to hide her reaction to him, which he almost always seemed to do without even realizing.

" Hurricane Harry strikes again," he said in the same amused way she just moments ago were thinking.

" He is helping to reorganize the Auror department he tells me it is a lot of hard work. He barely gets to talk to us anymore." She replied. He smiled his thanks as he takes the cup in his tattooed hand.

" Did Remus leave already?"

She nodded." breakfast with Kingsley. I hope it means that the efforts that they are making to change the werewolf laws are working."

" I hope so too, Remus has suffered way too much under those bloody laws," said Sirius in an angry tone.

"So true. Kingsley will be good for the ministry he is fair-minded and tolerant. I see no one better to improve life of werewolves and the like than him."

He nods at that. " I would not have even considered a job in the ministry if Kingsley was not appointed the Minister for Magic."

"How is the internship going?" he asks. "It is going well, I enjoy working with Hestia. I never really got to know her during the war to much, she is really fun."

He gave a rather strange smile at that remark. " Yes she is." He looked over to the journal that was on the kitchen table.

What was that about? She shook her head, somehow the comment seemed too strange to her for some reason.

" What do you have there?" he asked startling her from her thoughts. Hermione afraid of almost getting caught with her plan quickly put it in her briefcase. "Nothing interesting, just some history of Giants on their fights etc, something I have to do for work".

"Does not sound very interesting at all." His expression darkened a little bit "Are you still working on those potions with Snape?"

Hermione sighed. After she and Harry came across a wounded Snape they where able to save him by some quick thinking on Hermione's part by using herbs around the Shrieking Shack. After he recovered they started on a rocky road to friendship and a partnership in snake venom research antidote that they would sell soon and share the profits.

" Yes I am, Sirius" she replied.

" You would tell me if he was forcing you or hurting you right?" he asked with a concerned look on his face. Hermione could not help but be amazed at how quickly he could switch from dark rouge to kind gentlemen over his concern for her or a friend.

"I do not foresee any trouble Sirius, but if there is you of course will be the first to know." This seemed to satisfy him and he gave her a smile before sipping on his tea.

She knew she had to leave to get ready for work and take a long cold shower before hand. She could fell how uncomfortable her underwear was getting. She walked out in what she hoped was a dignified walk rather than what she felt was a run.

***

Later that Evening

Hermione was going out to meet Ginny to eat dinner together. She did not see that much from her since she was in training as seeker for the Holyhead Harpies. She was going out again with Harry and living with Tonks in an apartment in the center of wizarding London. Hermione was very proud of Ginny but she missed the close friendship that they shared in the past. She felt isolated from her and from Tonks who was also very busy helping Kingsley reorganize the Auror department and Ministry.

She meet with Ginny at the Three Broomsticks for an ulterior motive, to speak with Madame Rosmarta. During lunchtime at work she peeked at the first name, and there she was.

It was not surprising to Hermione that Madame Rosmerta was on the list. She was attractive, good natured, and a favorite of all Hogwarts students. It would make sense that Sirius would have chosen her as his first.

Her depressing train of thought was interrupted by Ginny entering the pub. She looked as lovely as ever with blue robes that brought out her eyes. They embraced and sat down and stared to chat about everything that happened since the last time they met.

Towards the end of the meal Ginny looked her dead in the eye and said, " How is it going with Sirius?" Hermione nearly choked on her drink at the blunt and out of the blue question.

"I don't know…"

Ginny stopped her with a hand. "Don't even try to deny it. You have been hung up on him for a while now. Did you get any progress since I seen you last?"

Damn it! Ginny still could read her like a book! There was no point in keeping things from her so she told her what she planed on doing.

There was a strange look on her face when she was told of the plan. Then she smiled at her and said "good for you Mione. About time you do something about this. Mum and Dad would be proud."

Hermione missed the Weasleys very much since they decided to move Italy. They just could not stay in England anymore, it reminded them too much of Percy and how they lost him. She loved them like her own parents and missed their parental support.

Hermione was able to see Madame Rosmerta in the corner looking at them intently before returning to her customers.

It was after Ginny left and asked for her to keep in touch that Madame Rosmarta approached her with a bottle of firewhisky and two glasses.

"It looks like you might need this." At her confused expression she added "I have seen a lot of women with the same look on their faces after they get their heart broken or is in love with Sirius Black."

Hermione was embarrassed but thankful that the subject went so easily to where she needed to go.

She was thankful for the firewhisky, it helped her with her nerve to ask what she needed to know.

The older woman sighed and put her feet up and began to tell her story…