Remind Me

Prologue -

Hermione sat at the table, a glass of wine in front of her. She watched it fizz, bubbles circling the glass to the top. Fuck life was hard. School was simple, all you had to do was read books – academic knowledge came from books. Where did real life knowledge come from? How was she supposed to know how to love, how to live?

How was she supposed to know about him? She had no idea what he was like before, and she had no idea what he was like now. It'd been 8 months of whirlwind romancing. He'd taken her to France, to Italy, and the Caribbean. Short little trips filled with passion, they'd made love on hot sand and in five star hotels. She just didn't know how she felt. She couldn't continue this knowing that she was falling, falling hard, and that he wouldn't feel the same. He couldn't feel the same, the playboy, the devilishly handsome man 21 years her senior, how could he fall in love with her, the ugly bookworm young enough to be his daughter. So for the last 3 weeks she'd thrown herself into her work – done hours of overtime, skipped meals and stayed with friends any chance she got, just to avoid seeing him. She didn't know how to act around him anymore, things had changed.

Sirius Black was looking for her. He knew she'd be in the kitchen, reading a book with a bottle of wine. He was surprised to find her bookless, staring at the glass in front of her with a confused, thoughtful look. The sound of him shutting the door startled her, and she knocked over the glass in fright. A flick of his wand vanished the mess, and he headed to the cupboard.

"You shouldn't be drinking that water on a night like this. A thunderstorm like this requires whisky" he said with a wink, and she blushed bright. Fuck he loved how timid she could be, like when he put his tongue –

"Well, I suppose one drink won't hurt. I do have work in the morning though" she said quietly, failing to meet his eyes. He wondered why she wouldn't look at him. He loved it when she looked at him with her inquisitive stare. He placed two glasses on the table and poured whisky into each. "Thank you" she whispered, taking a glass and holding it, but not drinking from it.

"'Mione, what's wrong? You've been distant a few days now." He said softly, trying to meet her eyes.

"Nothing, just tired, stressed, the usual" she said, shifting her eyes from her gaze and skulling back her drink – she couldn't lie to him and they both knew it.

"You're lying. Please tell me the truth" he implored, filling both their glasses again "Please" he repeated, seeing her soften.

"I'm just a bit confused. About us." She was nearly whispering, but he still heard her loud and clear. She blushed again and sipped her drink. She didn't want to have this conversation, she didn't know how to have this conversation. Her experience with men was non-existent.

"What's to be confused about? I thought we were enjoying ourselves. I like spending time with you, you like spending time with me." He said simply, pouring himself another drink. He kept his eye on her, watching her. She hesitated before she spoke, she thought through her words some more, she looked at her drink to avoid his stare. "Come on 'Mione tell me"

"It's just, well I think I might be more invested in this thing we're doing than you are. And I don't want to be the silly girl who falls and gets hurt. I'm too smart to be dumb when it comes to these feelings" She sighed heavily and stood up, twisting her hands together as she walked over to the pantry. Grabbing a packet of her favourite chocolate biscuits she came back to the table and sat down, eager to keep her hands busy and her attention away from Sirius' reactions. She liked to think she could read his actions, she was the master of reading, so why couldn't she read his expressions, his gestures, his eyes?

"More invested? Hermione this isn't a business transaction, this isn't school. This is a relationship, at least I'd like it to be that. I can't read your mind, I thought you wanted fun and games – what else could a 42 year old man give you that a 22 year old one couldn't? You want to know how I feel about us? Ask me! Dammit, ask me how I feel instead of assuming it!" He shouted the last sentence and stood up, running his hands through his thick locks, tugging at the strands. She slammed her empty glass on the table, and drank straight from the bottle. He watched her body relax with the alcohol, he saw her look nervously around the room.

"I just, well I just expected that you would find someone better. You could do so much better. I'm plain, I like books, and working, and I'm so different to you. I've seen photos of what you were like, the girls you'd associate with. I'm not one of them. I didn't want to fall in love with you, I've been stopping myself from falling in love with you" She said sadly, a tear slipping down her cheek. The anger melted from his body. How on earth could he stay infuriated with her? He sat back down and smiled at her softly.

"Well 'Mione, another woman would be like a postcard from Paris, when you've seen the real thing. You are incredible, everything I've been looking for. There's a part of me that's known that ever since I met you." He reached out for her hand, and softly took it in his own. He felt so much calmer, just from a single touch. "I want to be your everything, and I want you to be mine. Always" he said quietly, so quietly that she almost thought she'd misheard him.

"I want that more than anything Sirius. But I'm scared, so scared. I don't know anything about this stuff. I'm book smart, not life smart. How could I possibly keep you happy?" She said nervously. Alcohol always made her nervous and made her open up. It was partly why Sirius had gotten the whisky out in first place, he knew she'd never tell him what was wrong sober.

"Just keep doing what you've been doing 'Mione. It's been incredible. And if all else fails, a gobby will fix it" he said with a wink, making her giggle. "Seriously though, I like where I can see this heading. I've never looked to the future with anyone, and that excites me. Knowing that you're the first girl I could be with forever, if you'll let me"

"Of course I'll let you." She replied quickly, standing up and walking around the table to sit on his lap and wrap her arms around his neck, placing a kiss on his lips quickly. "I – I love you Sirius Orion Black"

"The Third" he whispered, closing the gap. Their lips met and she melted into him. These kisses, forever? Sounded good to her. She wound her arms around his neck and leant against him. Kisses from Sirius were intoxicating to her. She couldn't wait for more, she knew that these kisses led to kisses in more intimate places, then the most overwhelming love making she'd ever experienced. He was like a god, he knew just what she needed, when, where and how. She pulled away gently and smiled. He leant down and nibbled her ear lobe.

"Do you remember the way it felt?" He whispered, licking the sensitive spot behind her neck and feeling her shiver.

"You mean back when we couldn't control ourselves?" she answered, tugging his shirt buttons until they snapped and pushing his shirt back to rub her hands all over his chest with urgency. God, she needed him, and soon.

"Remind me" he said simply, grabbing his wand from his back pocket and apparating them to his bedroom. He picked her up and laid her on the bed, removing his shirt before leaning over her and meeting her lips with his yet again.

"All those things that you used to do, that made me fall in love with you, remind me" She whispered, wrapping her legs around his waist and rubbing their covered parts together.

"Your wish is my command, my queen"