It was Christmas Eve at Grimmauld Place and Hermione Granger was alone in the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on her Christmas gifts. Ginny Weasley was doing the same in the room the two girls shared, but Ginny was still fuming after a row she had just had with her mom and Hermione felt it was safest to just stay clear of the youngest Weasley for awhile.
Everyone else in the house; that being the rest of the Weasleys, except for Percy, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black and Harry Potter, were all upstairs in the library chatting and playing innumerable games of Exploding Snap. Hermione was quite enjoying the solitude and most importantly the silence of the kitchen. So she was a little irritated when she heard the kitchen door creak open behind her. Hermione was pleasantly surprised however, to see that it was Sirius Black.
Sirius was holding a mug of hot chocolate and looked a bit pensive. He seemed surprised to see someone else in the kitchen, but he smiled and took a seat next to Hermione when he saw who it was.
"Hello Hermione," he said in greeting. "Why aren't you upstairs with everyone else?"
"I was just wrapping the last of my Christmas gifts," she told him. "Why are you here?"
Sirius frowned and shrugged.
"I don't know. I guess I'm just not used to hearing so much laughter in this place."
Hermione thought Sirius sounded bitter and she knew that he was thinking of when they would all leave again and he would have to stay in this gloomy house by himself. She hated to see the look of loneliness in his eyes; it made her heart ache to see Sirius so unhappy when everyone else was enjoying the festivities of the season.
"Sirius, why don't you open your gift tonight?"
Hermione asked this in an attempt to take his mind off of all that was troubling him.
To her delight, Sirius brightened at once and grinned at her. Hermione handed him a package wrapped in silver paper and watched as he opened it enthusiastically. Inside was a royal blue scarf that Hermione had knitted just for him. She watched as Sirius's face went from one of pleasure at the gift, to a look of bitterness.
"Thank you Hermione," he said flatly, "but I'm afraid it won't get much wear. Kreacher keeps this prison rather warm."
Hermione leaned towards him and took one of his hands in her own.
"I know," she told him softly, "I made this for when your name is cleared and you can leave this prison."
Sirius looked up and met her gaze; his eyes were wet.
"Thank you," he whispered.
Hermione began to pull her hands away, but Sirius held onto one of them. He caressed the back of her hand with his thumb and Hermione felt a jolt of electricity run through her as he did so. She leaned closer to him, ignoring the fact that he was over twice her age and that he was her best friend's godfather. She thought only of the way her hand tingled as he held it and of the overwhelming need she felt to take away some of his loneliness.
Sirius leaned forward to meet her and their lips touched, hesitant and gentle at first, then firm and hungry. Hermione parted her lips slightly to let him deepen the kiss, but he pulled away. She was hurt and disappointed, but then she heard the voices of Harry and Ron as they came down the hallway towards the kitchen and she understood why he had ended the kiss.
Hermione sighed softly, knowing it was unlikely that she and Sirius would ever share another kiss, but as Harry and Ron entered the kitchen, each laden with a tray of empty plates and mugs, Hermione caught Sirius's eye and thought that, just maybe, he looked happy.