Okay... Not the response I was expecting. Or hoping for. Thanks to those who reviewed, few who you are.
Here is chapter two. I have a feeling that this is going to be around five or six chapters. So.. Please stick around?
Enjoy. Please Review.
August 2, 1995
Number 12 Grimmauld Place
Kitchen
It was a sick parody of a council of war. The Order of the Phoenix had been gathered because its most precious weapon had almost been taken from it. And it made Sirius sick.
Not only had his godson been attacked by two Dementors, the horrors of which he vividly remembered in both his waking moments and dreaming ones, but he was being punished for fighting for his life, and saving his useless lump of a cousin as well. And Dumbledore was more concerned about the status of his weapon.
At this meeting, concerning the welfare of one Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley were present, as they had been the ones Harry had contacted directly after the event. Several owls had flown between Number 12 and Number 4, with the end result being that Harry was to stay with his relatives.
As Dumbledore talked, speaking of the need for Harry to stay with the people who despised him, Hermione threw worried glances in Sirius' direction. He was sitting upright, back straight as a board, eyes cold, jaw clenched.
Hermione was sitting next to him, by the now subconscious maneuvering the two of them did to try to get seats close to each other or across from each other. Slowly, Hermione moved her arm under the table so that her hand was resting on Sirius' leg, where his fist was resting. Slowly, she wormed her hand in to his, noting when his jaw relaxed and he allowed himself to slump a bit. Slowly, she rubbed her thumb along the side of his hand, giving comfort and receiving it.
It early in the morning of the third the first time they got to talk after the reunion in the pantry.
"Why is it always Harry?" the question was asked in a voice that burned with fury at its own helplessness. "Why him?"
Hermione's heart was breaking at the lines of grief etched on to Sirius' handsome face. "Because. Because Lily made a choice and Voldemort made a choice and Harry ended up in the middle somehow."
"How is that an answer?" asked Sirius. "How can it just end there?"
"I don't know. But it's happening more and more often now." Hermione winced at her unintentionally cryptic statement. Now she would have to explain. "He is pulling away from Ron and I. His life is in danger again and again, and the people with him have no idea how to help him!"
Sobbing now, Hermione cried into Sirius' chest. "It is always him. Always. From first year with the god-damned thrice-cursed stone, to know with the Dementors. I want to help him, to stop him from having to bear it all alone but I am never there!"
Sirius was shocked. Theoretically, he had known Hermione's best friend was Harry. She had known him for almost six years, by her clock. And she cared about him as much or even more than he did. And all he could do was hold her while she cried over the boy they both loved in their own way.
August 6, 1995
Number 12 Grimmauld Place
Sirius' Room
"He hates me, Sirius. He hates me and I didn't do anything and-" Sirius grabbed Hermione's wrists, and led her over to the bed.
"Calm down, love. And Harry could never hate you. He is just a frustrated teenager right now. One that is in pain and letting us know. We could all hear him shouting, you know. It is not you he is mad at, Hermione." Sirius ran his hands up and down her arms, letting her get the fear and sadness out.
"I told him off," Hermione admitted. "I got him calmed down, and the entire time I was scared that he would hate me." She was calmer now, a side effect of Sirius' presence. They were just lying together on his bed, her head resting on his bicep.
"You were strong for him today," Sirius said simply. "He needed someone else to be strong for a while. Ron couldn't do that, so it was you. He needed to place to blame on someone else for a few moments."
"Thank you." Hermione turned her head and placed a kiss on his neck, smiling against the slightly stubbly skin when he shivered. She kissed her way up his jaw, ending at his lips. She flung a leg over his hip, bending down so she could kiss him deeply.
"Any time," Sirius said breathlessly, taking in air in quick pants as Hermione nipped at his neck gently. "Anything for you, Hermione." With a quick roll, he had her under him, her arms ending up around her neck.
"Not fair," gasped Hermione. "I was having fun." Sirius just grinned and kissed her. It was the only sure-fire way he knew to shut her up.
"Now it's my turn," Sirius teased. "I want to be on top." Hermione blushed, and Sirius realized that she had probably never joked about sex with a boy. Gods, she was so innocent.
"And do I get a say in this?" she asked, letting out a small moan when he sucked on her neck. "Sirius-"
"Not if I catch you off guard," Sirius answered her. "I like seeing you like this." And he did. Something about the curls spread on his pillow, the flush in her cheeks, and the red hickey starting on her neck.
"Like what?" questioned Hermione. "Embarrassed?"
"Yes, but I was thinking along the line of 'helpless and under me,'" Sirius said with a wink. "You have no idea how much you affect me."
"Then show me." In her eyes was a silent demand, a test that only had one right answer. And as much as he wanted her, Sirius knew what the right answer was.
"Not tonight." The fire in her eyes dimmed a little as she accepted his answer. "Because as much as I would like to pin you to my bed and ravish you," another kiss to her neck, and a little bite. "I think we would be going too fast, too soon."
Hermione smiled at him, a brilliant smile that made him so proud to be the one who had caused it. "Thank you, Sirius."
"Any time, love."
August 13, 1995
Number 12 Grimmauld Place
Kitchen
"Did you ever doubt he would get off?" Sirius asked. It was just the two of them, taking tea in the kitchen.
Hermione considered for a moment. "Yeah. I did. I know far too much about the legal proceedings of wizards."
Sirius frowned. "How? Why? Even for you, Hermione, that is a strange thing to study."
Hermione shrugged. "I was trying to save Buckbeak from the ax. It was a double victory for Harry and I when we saved you and the hippogriff."
Sirius snorted. "I find hard to believe that you could fail at anything you put your mind to."
Hermione wrinkled her nose, and spontaneously Sirius bent down to kiss it. "Sirius! Get off my nose," she squealed. "And I didn't really fail. Lucius Malfoy had the entire thing was stacked against me from the beginning. And I saved Buckbeak anyway."
Harry walked into the kitchen, and raised his eyebrows when he saw his godfather and best friend talking together. "Is there any tea left?" he asked.
"Of course," Hermione said with a warm smile. "Sirius? If you would?" She didn't want anyone to know she could to magic out of school yet. Professor McGonagall, Dumbledore, and Sirius were the only ones who knew. And a few Unspeakables.
"No problem, love. There you go, Harry." With a few flicks of Sirius' borrowed wand, a hot cup of tea was floated toward Harry.
"Thanks, Sirius." Harry's head was spinning. Why the hell did Sirius and Hermione seem so close?
"I've been meaning to ask you, Harry," Hermione said, noticing where Harry's thoughts were going. "Have you finished your summer homework yet?"
August 24, 1995
Number 12 Grimmauld Place
Sirius's Bedroom
"I love you." Hermione's heart soared as she took in the three words that she had been hoping to hear for weeks.
"I love you too." Her declaration of love was said quietly, and unassumingly.
Sirius let out the breath he had been holding. That had been spur of the moment. One minute they were kissing heavily on his bed, and the next he had just blurted out what he had been thinking for the past two weeks.
"What will I do when you go to Hogwarts?" he asked her. "I'll miss you. Like I've never missed anyone before. It will be almost like losing James again."
"You will write to me," Hermione said firmly. "And I will write to you. I'll come here for the break. And we can talk in the Floo. Or-"
Sirius leapt up from the bed suddenly. "I can't believe I haven't thought of it before," he muttered. "Just like James. Hermione, I have these mirrors, that work kind of like Muggle telephones. You just say my name and my mirror vibrates, and we can see and talk to each other. Wait here-"
Hermione waited patiently on the bed until Sirius returned, holding a black box. "I got James' mirror off of his body, at Godric's Hollow. Where he and Lily were hiding."
Hermione nodded, not trusting herself to speak. "Sirius- Are you sure-"
He silenced her with a kiss. "Of course I am. I love you. I want to be able to see your beautiful face every night before I go to sleep."
"I wish I could see your face every night before I fall asleep," Hermione whispered. "If only I wasn't sharing with Ginny. Then I could sneak up to your room and-" she paused.
"Do you have an idea?" asked Sirius, eager. "Because I would really love it if you could spend the night with me."
Hermione let a little half smile play around her lips. "I think I do. Ginny doesn't know I can do magic, so she wouldn't suspect anything if I leave a fake Hermione in my bed at night."
Sirius grinned, and kissed Hermione. "My love, you are brilliant. I swear, if you can figure out a way for us to sleep together, I will-"
"Love me 'till the sun comes up?" finished Hermione. "Pin me to the bed and ravish me?" She felt a foreign stirring in her body, one that had been bothering her more and more lately.
Sirius' eyes were an intense shade of charcoal gray as he stared at her. "Is that what you want, Hermione? Do you want me to ravish you, to take your body and teach you the ways of love?" He moved himself until he was on top of her, his body barely touching her's. "Answer me, Hermione."
Hermione wound her arms around his neck, and kissed him. "Yes."
August 25, 1995
Number 12 Grimmauld Place
Drawing Room
"My word! It's almost one o'clock. Everybody head to the kitchen, and we'll get something to eat before tackling the rest of this project," Mrs. Weasley said in the clucking, mother-hen way of hers. "Sirius? Can you help the girls down from the ladders?"
After a busy morning of cleaning, the boys- Ron, Harry, and the twins- tried to race to the kitchen. Mrs. Weasley followed them, leaving Sirius, Ginny and Hermione still in the Drawing Room.
With a gallant smile, Sirius offered Ginny his hand, helping her down the steps of the ladder. As soon as she was on the ground, he was at the bottom of Hermione's, doing the same.
"Thanks, Sirius. I'm going to see if Mom needs help," Ginny called, leaving the room without looking behind her.
Sirius kissed the hand he had taken to help Hermione down the wizarding ladder. As soon as they could hear Ginny start down the stairs, he started kissing her, trapping her against the wall.
"Sirius... Someone- Sirius- could come in-" He kissed her harder.
"I'm kissing you right now. I really don't care." They snogged for a few more minutes, until they could hear someone coming up the stairs.
"Sirius? Hermione? Lunch is ready!" Remus walked into the room to see a flushed Hermione and a rumpled Sirius with a cocky grin on his face regarding the Black Family Tree.
Hermione turned even redder, then started laughing when Sirius poked her in the side. He held open the door for her, and watched her go down the starts.
"Sirius. What are you thinking?" Remus hissed. "Were you-"
"Relax, Moony," Sirius said, eyes glued to Hermione's arse. "I promised you I wouldn't do anything until she turned seventeen. And to me, anything includes kissing her. Okay?"
August 27, 1995
Number 12 Grimmauld Place
Ginny and Hermione's Bedroom
"Hermione? What is that on your neck? It looks like a- a hickey!" Ginny cried. "Hermione-"
Hermione just groaned, and covered the love bite. "Be quiet, Ginny! Do you want the entire Order to know I've been snogging?"
The redhead fell silent, but crossed her arms over her chest. "Who? Who have you been snogging?" The girl's eyes widened. "Ron? Fred? George?"
Hermione bit her lip. "Ginny- I can't tell you-"
"Harry?" the younger girl glared at Hermione. "You've been snogging Harry! After telling me to give him space and just wait, you've been making out with him?"
"Gods, Ginny, no!" Hermione exclaimed. "I just cannot tell you! And I wouldn't do that to you! Who do you think I am?"
Ginny shrugged, still looking at Hermione with anger in her eyes. "I don't really know. All I do know is that you've been sneaking around with either my crush or one of my brothers. And you've been disappearing for hours at a time and I hardly ever see you anymore. You're as bad as Sirius!"
At Hermione's guilty look, Ginny gasped. "No. Hermione, no. Not Sirius. Please tell me you've been snogging Ron, or even one of the twins. Just not Sirius-"
"And why not Sirius?" snapped Hermione. "What's so bad about him?"
"He is more than twice your age!" Ginny yelled. "He spend twelve years in prison! He's a dangerous player! If half the stories about him are true, he's probably slept with three quarters of the girls at Hogwarts twenty years ago!"
Hermione held up a hand. "One minute, Ginny, then I'll explain." She took out her wand and cast several spells around the room. "Okay. First off- age. I'm legally seventeen. So that is no problem. He didn't even kiss me on the lips until I turned seventeen. Second- he is innocent, Ginny. He didn't go crazy. And I really don't care about who he slept with twenty years ago."
The rest of the night was spend explaining her strange relationship to Ginny, and swearing the redhead to secrecy. She could not let the information get out to anyone else. Harry and Ron would probably try to kill Sirius, with plenty of help from Remus. And the rest of the Order would be so disgusted with her- and him. She couldn't do that to Sirius. She- she loved him too much.
August 28, 1995
Number 12 Grimmauld Place
Sirius' Bedroom
"Ginny knows."Sirius' hand paused for a moment, then resumed stroking Hermione's hair.
"And?" This was when he would see who mattered more- her love for him or the opinions of her friends.
"She is not happy. Actually, that is an understatement. She thinks you are going to break my heart, she thinks that Harry deserves to know, she thinks that we are totally wrong for each other." Hermione sighed. "I could go on, but I have no need to. I've made her sign a written oath. If she says anything without my permission, she will be even more unhappy than she is right now."
Sirius buried his face in her curls. "Thank God."
Hermione propped herself up on one elbow. "'Thank God?' I tell you that my only girlfriend hates the idea of us being together and you say 'Thank God?' Sirius-" Hermione couldn't finish, instead breaking out in laughter. When she finally stopped giggling, she kissed him. "Care to explain?"
Sirius gave her a tender smile, and caressed her face like he had done that one day in the Drawing Room. "Thank God that you are so smart. Thank God that you made sure she can't blurt out our secret just to spite you. And Thank God you care more about us than about her." He kissed her slowly and sweetly, the kind of kiss that made a comforting warmth spread through out her body.
"Sirius," she said when they stopped to breath. "I love you. Ginny is just the little sister of one of one of my best friends. What we have between us- the love, the discovery, the passion- it means more to me than the opinion of anybody, be they Albus Dumbledore or Ginny Weasley."
The love- it was new and tender and sweet and it made Hermione feel like smiling all the time, so happy that she had found someone who could keep up with her mind if he wanted to and thought she was beautiful.
The discovery- it was slow and deliberate and Hermione was loving the way Sirius was introducing her to the many pleasures of the flesh, taking joy in the way he could make her feel and taking pride in the way she could make him feel.
The passion- it was wild and exciting and dangerous the way he kissed her in an empty room when someone could come in at any moment, or caressed her leg under the dinner table or the way they couldn't keep their hands off of each other sometimes.
And she would give up all the Ginny Weasley's in the world if it meant she could keep it.
September 1, 1995
Number 12 Grimmauld Place
Pantry
"I hate leaving you," Hermione said between kisses.
Sirius kissed her back hard. "I hate having you leave me. I hate knowing you won't be back in my bed until Christmas."
"We have the mirrors," Hermione said, trying to hold back tears. "And you had better write to me."
"Of course I'll write to you, love." Sirius pressed her body against his, and kissed the side of her neck. "And we can talk every night."
"I love you." She just rested her head against his chest. She loved the way she felt safe and protected in his arms, like Voldemort could never hurt her.
"I love you, too." He tilted her chin up so he could kiss her again. "Go on. Harry's probably wondering where you've gone. And congratulations for making Prefect."
With one last kiss, she opened the door of the Pantry and slipped out, rejoining the Weasleys and Harry.
September 2, 1995
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Fifth Year Girl's Dorms
"Sirius Black." Hermione looked down at the simple hand mirror in her palm, smiling in relief when she saw his face.
"Hermione Granger," Now he could see her. "How was your first day, love?"
"Absolutely terrible," Hermione said with a glimmer of true anger in her eyes. "The Ministry is interfering with Hogwarts."
"Explain?" Sirius' brow was furrowed and his eyes had narrowed slightly.
"Dolores Umbridge," sat Hermione. "Little toad-"
Sirius raised his eyebrows. "Woah. Calm down, kitten. I think I need a little more information."
"I told you about the speech she made last night," Hermione said. "That was bad enough. She wants to make over Hogwarts in her image- or the Ministry's. But today-" she stopped, holding back tears.
Sirius looked concerned, and rightly so. "Go ahead Hermione. What did she do today?"
"It was all my fault," Hermione whispered desolately. "I started it all. She told us to read the utterly stupid book the Ministry wants us to study from. And she practically spelled it out for the entire class on the blackboard that we aren't going to be using spells anymore. And I was looking at the book and realizing all this and I was wondering what you would do and I got so mad-" She stopped again.
"Hermione- what did you do?" asked Sirius in a stern voice.
She let out a breathless little laugh. "I stood up to her. I sat there with my hand in the air for twenty minutes until she finally acknowledged me. And I started arguing with her and Harry stepped in to defend me." Hermione's eyes were wide as she stared into the mirror, gazing at Sirius' face. "And he started yelling and telling everyone that Voldemort is alive, so she took away points and gave him detention. She ended up sending him to McGonagall. She is a piece of Ministry issued crap-" she finally gave into the tears, sobbing.
"It's okay, baby, it's okay," Sirius said through the mirror, trying to comfort her, hating not being able to be with her, to hold her while she cried.
September 8, 1995
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Gryffindor Tower
Hermione greedily drunk in the sight of Sirius' face in the fire, standing slightly behind the boys so they couldn't see her face.
"...If you can stand to risk it?" Sirius said, catching her eye at the last part.
"I love you," she mouthed. He popped out of the fire, and she sighed. He was probably mad at her. "Are you boys ready for bed?"
Harry and Ron looked at each other. "We have to finish up our Astronomy essays," Ron pointed out. "Thanks again for doing this for us. We really appreciate it." Hermione raised an eyebrow. Since when did Ron appreciate anything? But since she wanted to talk with Sirius, she let it go, hugging her boys and walking up the stairs to her dorm.
She slid into her room, doing her best not to wake her two dorm mates. Quickly, she dressed for bed and grabbed the mirror, performing a quick silencing charm. "Sirius Black," she said clearly, then waited.
She was still awake and holding the mirror when the sun came up
September 10, 1995
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Fifth Year Girl's Dorm
"Sirius Black," Hermione said for the third night in a row without an answer. All she heard was a soft whisper of some sort. "Damnit! Damnit! Damnit, Damnit, Damnit!" she cried with a sob. "I'm sorry, Sirius!"
"Did you call me, love?" Sirius asked, face appearing in the mirror. His grin turned into something else when he saw Hermione's face.
"Don't do that to me!" she half yelled. They her face changed from fierce to pleading."Sirius- you are the only person I can really talk to here. Please, please don't shut me out." She bowed her head. "I'm sorry- I'm just- I'll go now-"
"Don't you dare, Hermione Granger," he said softly, but sternly. "Hermione. I was acting stupid. I was mad for no reason. I love you."
Hermione smiled faintly. "I love you too."
"I made a mistake," Sirius said. "I should have learned my lesson by now. Harry is not James and he never will be. I feel so trapped here."
Hermione put a finger on the glass wanting so badly to feel his face under her fingertips. "I know. He knows. But do you?"
Sirius sighed. "I'm working on it. I'm sorry."
"Thank you for apologizing," Hermione said with a smile. "I need to tell you something though-" and she preceded to fill him in on all that was going on in her life.
"So does he want to teach Defense?" asked Sirius. "If I know my godson at all he won't want to be in the spotlight."
Hermione winced. "He doesn't. He shouted at Ron and me. And then he smashed the essence of murtlap I got for him."
Sirius apparently sat up from where he was lying on the bed. "He yelled at you? And what would he need essence of murtlap for? And how did you get it?"
Hermione sighed. "Yes, he yelled at me. And the detentions Umbridge has been giving him involve him carving his hand open with a blood quill over and over. And I got the murtlap by-" she stopped and blushed.
"Hermione," said Sirius, face serious except for the grin in his eyes. "How did you get the murtlap?"
"By getting the twins to get it for me," she mumbled. "Fred and George were happy to help."
Sirius laughed, a deep belly laugh that made Hermione smile with him. "So you batted your eyelashes and they fell over themselves to help you."
Hermione smirked, an evil grin growing on her face. "Not exactly," she started to say, then shrugged. "Oh, who cares. Yes, exactly."
Sirius frowned a bit. "You aren't, I dunno," he ran a hand through his long hair. "You aren't attracted to them, are you?"
Hermione stared at him incredulously, then started laughing. "Of course not!" she said in between giggles. "They look too much like Ron."
"I'm glad to find that the thought of my girlfriend cheating on me is so funny," said Sirius with a world class pout.
Still laughing, Hermione explained. "The only boys I'm around are Ron and Harry."
Sirius snorted. "And Fred and George when you want something."
Conceding the point, Hermione continued. "And I am sure Harry is more interested in Cho than me. It has never been and will never be me for Harry. And as for Ron," Hermione trailed off with a shrug. "No way in Hell."
He gave her a charming smile. "And Fred and George?"
Hermione pretended to think. "Well. Let's think about what I like in a man," she said, tapping a finger against her lips. "Intelligent, handsome, a trouble maker. I guess both Fred and George work."
"Hey!" protested Sirius. "You forgot tall, dark, and charming."
Hermione gasped. "I guess you're right. They aren't as tall as Ron or Bill. They're more like Charlie. And their complexions are certainly... pale."
She and Sirius laughed together, before Sirius once more posed a question. "You've had a crush on Harry, haven't you?"
Blushing, and refusing to look at the mirror, Hermione nodded. "Yeah. From when he saved my life from the troll to this summer."
Sirius frowned again, and opened his mouth again. "You've never not had a crush on him?"
"Well, does a few months when I was petrified count?" snapped Hermione. "We've had the discussion about my past boyfriends before."
"You're right, you're right," backtracked Sirius. "Sorry. I'll see you tomorrow?"
Hermione smiled at him softly, relenting. "Yeah. Tomorrow."
"Love you."
"Love you, too."
September 24, 1995
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Fifth Year Girl's Dorm
"Sirius! He finally agreed!" shouted Hermione, face glowing with happiness. "Harry's going to teach us Defense against the Dark Arts!"
"That's great!" replied Sirius, eyes bright. "When?"
At the query, Hermione paused. "I'm not really sure. He just decided. But isn't it great! We'll get to defy Umbridge!"
Sirius nodded. "Be careful, Hermione. I don't know what she would do if she caught you."
"What is there to catch?" asked Hermione. "There is no rule about school clubs."
"Yeah," said Sirius sourly. "Yet."
Like it? Hate it? Tell me. I love to hear what you think.
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I haven't decided yet if I want to stick to canon events: Sirius dying and Hermione marrying Ron. Tell me what you want. A mini poll if you will since the poll I have up now is for TWoT.
Please Review. And check out my other, depressing SB/HG story.