Green is Good, but Black is Best

By Maridee Eternity

Summary: Hermione is so engrossed in work she is neglecting everything else in her life. So she goes out for some fun and finds herself caught up in a mess. How is she going to get herself out of this? Does she even want to? HG/SB This story will be rate M for later chapters

This was written for the Twin Exchange March 2010 Challenge but never posted. It was my first attempt at writing mature content and I was a little nervous about posting it and quite frankly I still am. But after showing this to my beta she encouraged me to go ahead and share it with you. I hope you enjoy it and please review, I just love reviews.

Prompt:

The Three Broomsticks

A Seven-Leaf Clover

Pairing:

Sirius/Hermione

Quote:

"Do you have any idea what you've done?"

Theme:

St Patrick's Day

CHAPTER 1

I walked toward the Three Broomsticks desperate for some fun with my friends. For several months now I had been burying myself in my research. I had been neglecting my friends and my social life. As I opened the old rickety door to the pub I was blinded by a sea of green. It was then that I comprehended that I had also neglected to notice what day it was.

Green was everywhere, green robes, sparkling green butterbeer, and green festive decorations adorned every spare inch of the walls and ceilings. Even the shrunken heads were deck out in green reciting "Happy St. Patty's Day, shut the door or get the hell out!" to everyone as they entered the pub.

They were right I had to leave, I was not properly dressed for this, the black v-neck jumper, tight jeans, and high heel black boots were great for a normal night out, but without a speck of green on I was in danger of getting my arse pinched.

As I spun around I ran into a wall of black, Sirius Black, that is. He reached out and caught me as I began to fall backwards. I placed my hands upon his chest to steady myself, 'wow, were did all of that muscle come from?' I thought to myself.

Looking up I found a crooked smile waiting there for me. "All right there sweetness?"

Sirius had as of late taken to calling me by cutesy nicknames because he knew it annoyed the heel out of me. It seemed his favorite pastime was seeing how much of a rise he could get out of me. It infuriated me to no end. We argued back and forth endlessly, all the time with him just smirking at me with his head cocked to one side, it was like he enjoyed making me miserable.

"As much as I would love to stand here holding you in my arms all night , I think our friends are awaiting on us."

Oh dear Merlin, what was I doing? I pushed him away and huffed out loud at his remark. He crooked his head and smirked at me in that oh so evil way of his, barked out a genuine laugh, and headed over to the bar shaking his head.

At the bar Madam Rosmerta was flirting with Sirius and taking his order. Glancing sideways as I crossed the room I looked him up and down. How had I missed the fact that this man was stunning? A well muscled athletic body, great arse, and a presence about him that said, 'Go ahead and look, I have nothing to hide, and I rather enjoy it'. When I looked back up he winked at me. I smirked back wanting to throw him off, but instead I was thrown a little when I received a raised eyebrow and a questioning look in response. Not knowing what to do next I turned quickly and made my way to where Harry and most of the Wesley's were sitting.

Avoiding the other side of the table where I knew Sirius would sit next to Harry I placed myself between two redheads. About the time that my rear hit the cool wood of the bench I realized I had made a huge mistake.

In my left ear I heard, "Her" and to my right, "mione"

"Glad to see you"

"And all in black"

"How wonderfully"

"Delightful"

I rolled my eyes and silently scolded myself; I had sat between the Wesley twins.

"Black on St Patrick's Day Hermione"

"Does that mean you forgot"

"or possibly"

"that you are feeling"

"rather naughty."

"Should we George?"

"I think we should Fred"

Closing my eyes, I braced for my fate. I felt a sudden jarring and a rush of cool air at my sides. Curiously I opened my eyes to find Ginny and Harry across from me in fits of hysterical laughter. The bench on either side of me was now empty and I was at a loss, I looked to Ginny, who could only point behind me she was laughing so hard. There hanging from the main chandelier in the center of the pub were Fred and George, their robes and hair had been turned ebony and directly beneath them stood Sirius with his wand in one hand and two green butterbeers in the other.

"Do you have a problem with black?" Sirius said.

You could have heard a pin drop in the pub as Sirius waited for his answer. When nothing came quickly he flicked his wrist again and the chandelier began to spin. George and Fred understanding what was about to happen to them began to plead.

"Sirius"

"we did not"

"mean to offend you"

"we were just"

"fooling around with Hermione"

Grinning Sirius asked" If I let you down do you promise to behave yourselves?"

His only response was silence followed by a squeal of "Weee" from one of the twins and then "Faster" from the other.

Sirius chuckled and said "OK, so maybe that is asking the impossible, instead if I let you down do you promise to let Miss Granger alone?"

By now the chandelier was spinning so fast that the fun was over and they both cried "YES!"

Sirius flicked his wrist, the chandelier stopped, and the twins dropped to the floor with a rather loud thud. They pointed at one another with their mouths agape and looking appalled.

"George, we look like"

"Snape!"

True enough, with their long now black hair and black robes; they resembled a set of young Severus Snape twins. Suddenly looking as if they had light bulbs pop on above their heads they began another of their infamous twin-versations.

"George do we still have any of that voice-altering gum in the storage room?

"Fred, are you thinking what I am thinking?"

"Well George if you are thinking we should find some Slytherins to freak out, then by George yes I am."

With that the twins burst out the front door leaving the whole pub in stitches.

Sirius walked over and sat next to me in one of the now empty seats that the twins had left behind. He placed the second butterbeer in front of me as I looked over at him and asked, "Do you have any idea what you've done?"

"Why yes my darling, I have accomplished three things at once." He said," One, I have provided tonight's entertainment. Two, I have set the twins out to wreak havoc on unsuspecting Slytherins. And three, I saved your sweet arse."

I choked on the butterbeer he had brought me and sputtered out a surprised "What?"

Tilting his head and looking at me with those eyes, those deep pools of mercury, I sat there stunned for the second time tonight. He leaned in closer to me and said loud enough for the other s to hear, "Why sweetheart, do you not realize that before I pulled the twins away, they were about to assault your sweet little arse by pinching it from both sides?'

Still to stunned to speak I could only reply" I, I..."

From down the table I heard, "Pads I do believe you have done the impossible and rendered Miss Granger speechless."

Another round of laughter sounded as Sirius smirked at me and said without looking away, "Yes Moony, I do believe I have. You know I think I deserve a reward for not only my heroism, but for achieving the impossible."

Cheers of "Here, here" arouse from around the table. Ginny took that opportunity to jump up excitedly in a half drunken stupor and yell, "Kiss him!"

The butterbeer I had been holding dropped from my fingers and spilled across the table. A quick Scrougify from Sirius and a lofty statement of, "Now, now everyone, we do not want to overwhelm the poor girl now do we?"

Offended I snapped out of the trance I was in and remarked, "Excuse me. It would take a lot more than you to overwhelm me Sirius Black."

Again Ginny jumped up and yelled, "Kiss him!"

Harry yanked her back down, took away her butterbeer and chuckled out, "You have had too many of these. You know Hermione wouldn't kiss Sirius if he were the last man on earth."

Angry at everyone now, I grabbed Sirius by his velvet lapels and kissed him full on the lips. After a much longer period of time than I had intended I let go of him and turned back to what was left of my butterbeer. As nonchalantly as possible I looked up to find every mouth at the table agape and staring at me.

I shrugged my shoulders and replied, "What? Can I not perform the impossible as well?"

Everyone turned to Sirius who was now the speechless one. Starting with Harry they all burst out into another round of laughter. I nudged Sirius under the table with my knee to dissuade him from staring at me with that sweet yet puzzled look on his face. Snapping out of it he gave me that crocked grin and said, "Good one Mia" and turned back to his own butterbeer.

Discussions began around the table after the laughter and ribbing died down. I turned to listen to what Remus and Sirius were discussing when I felt the side of my foot being tapped. Sirius Black was tapping my foot to the beat of the music. I moved my foot slightly to the side thinking it was something he was doing unconsciously, but a moment later it began again. I wasn't sure how to react but I decided to be bold and tap back. This started a battle for dominance under the table that I was determined to win. I ignored the fact that Sirius looked back at me and I asked Ginny what their plans were for the evening.

Tap, tap. Tap, tap.

Sadly she looked me in the eyes and said" All Aurors and their spouses are required to attend the annual St Patrick's Day Dinner at the Ministry."

Tap, tap. Tap, tap.

This meant that Ron and Luna, along with Remus and Tonks, and Sirius would also be attending. Well there went my night of fun.

Tap, tap. Tap, tap.

Ginny reached across the table, grabbed my hand and said, "You should go too; they would be honored to have the second member of the Golden Trio there."

Tap, tap. Tap, tap.

"Second, what does that make me?" Ron asked.

Tap, tap. Tap, tap.

"Last" Ginny said as everyone burst out laughing again.

Tap, tap. Tap, tap.

When she caught her breath she said, "And besides Sirius doesn't have a date."

Suddenly the tapping stopped.

Luna said, "Yes Sirius, please bring her. It would not be the same without everyone there."

Again everyone looked to me and Sirius. I had never heard such silence, then, "OUCH!" I yelled, someone had kicked me, I looked at Sirius, but it was Harry who said, "Sorry Hermione, I was aiming at the git sitting next to you who doesn't seem to be able to ask a friend to come to a party for some fun."

"That's Ok Harry, he probably has someone better than me to take anyway, don't put him on the spot."

Grabbing my arm and turning me back toward him Sirius said," Now see here woman, I do not have anyone 'better' to take to this party. Harry knew perfectly well that I had planned on going alone and leaving early. But now that I have the opportunity to take out a beautiful woman for the evening I will not take no for an answer. I will see you this evening."

With that said Sirius stood up and walked out the front door, leaving everyone at the table with mouths agape for the second time that afternoon.

"Did Sirius just call me beautiful and demand that I go out with him?" I asked to no one unparticular.

Ginny jumped up and down squealing, "Yes and we had better hurry over to Madam Malkin's and get you some new clothes for the party!"

"No, that's just crazy. He doesn't really want to go with me." I said.

Remus sat down his butterbeer, loudly cleared his throat and said, "Sirius Black does not do anything that he does not want to do Hermione. If he says he taking you, it is only because he wants to, not because he feels pressured to do it."

"But Remus"

"No buts Hermione, I know what I am talking about."

Tonks giggled next to Remus like she knew something too.

Giving in I said, "Ok Remus"

"Good, now let the girls take you out to get all dolled up and go have some fun, you deserve it."

"You never know this could be your lucky night." Tonks said," I should know I overhear every -"

Remus' hand shot up and covered Tanks mouth, "Dora I think we should leave and go home and get you sobered up before the party. Goodbye everyone see you this evening."

Tonks' hair turned red and she glared at Remus, "I was just going to tell them why it was ok for-" That was all that was heard before Remus had dragged her out the front door in protest.

"I wonder what that was all about." Ron said with a bewildered look on his face.

"He probably has a head full of Wrackspurt, you know they cause people to do the weirdest things" Luna said.

I glared at Luna about to remark on her idiosyncrasies when Ginny pulled me from my seat and said," Goodbye everyone, we are off to Madam Malkin's. What say we all meet at Grimmauld to get ready?"

Acknowledgments of approval rang from around the table.

"Good. Harry, tell Sirius and Remus to meet us there. That way we can all portkey to the party together." Ginny said. With a fluttering wave of her hand and a jerk of my arm we were out the door, down the street, and flooing to Diagon Alley before I could blink.