Chap 4: The Wedding

"You look stunning Ginny!" Hermione squealed, clapping her hand to her mouth as she stood back to view her best friend who stood in her white shimmering wedding dress.

"You – you think?" Ginny asked uncertainly.

Hermione rolled her eyes and grasped her friend's hands, "you look amazing, and Harry won't be able to keep his eyes off you!"

Ginny grinned, "And somehow I don't think Oliver will be able to keep his eyes off you either! I know he's not coming but he needs to see you Hermione, you look beautiful! When Sirius sees you he is going to be kicking himself babe, trust me!" she added with a cackle.

Hermione waved her hand dismissively, though secretly she was revelling with the idea of Sirius's grey eyes rolling over her body as he stared at her with a jaw dropping to the floor. Seeing his expression was going to be the cherry on top of a brilliant day, she was sure of it. He could long for her, but he wasn't going to have her in any way. And if he was anything like he used to be when it came to seeing her looking so elegantly pretty, it was going to kill him. Though she was pretty sure he would ignore her, after yesterday's events, and she wouldn't mind not speaking to the man at all either.

"This is your day Ginny," Hermione reminded Ginny for what was about the fiftieth time that morning. "And I'm sure Sirius will be eyeing up plenty of other women to spare me with attention," she said lightly. "It's never stopped him in the past."

Ginny's expression turned from gleeful to disgusted instantly.

"You need to say something to him Hermione, he is the biggest prick ever for saying what he said about you and the Rosmerta thing. And Charlie," she shot a look of warning at her, "Don't even get me started on him. What a twat. Disgusting. I'll be having more than just words with him."

Hermione bit back a laugh as she pulled the bride from the room and carefully guided her down the stairs to the delightful sobs of Mrs Weasley who was cradling Albert in her arms.

"Okay, calm down Ginny. It is your wedding day. I heard it's meant to be the best day of your life."

They laughed until their stomach's ached.

Hermione scooped Albert up in her arms, stroking his curly hair as she walked nervously walked into the Burrow, where the ceremony was commencing.

She could hear the buzz of waiting family and friends as they waited in anticipation for the bride's arrival. As she drew closer, she could see the dozens and dozens of eyes turn their way as the two women floated down the aisle. Hermione beamed. Ginny looked absolutely stunning, like an angel gliding through the Earth, and she knew she looked pretty okay too.

The Burrow's back garden had been transformed into the perfect fairy tale wedding scene since Hermione had last stepped foot there three years ago. She was aware that Harry had told the Weasley's she would be arriving with her son, and so she wasn't at all surprised when a blur of flaming red hair flung his arms around her and the little boy's neck as she gracefully followed Ginny down the aisle. It was of course, Ron.

"Ronald!" Hermione gasped, hugging him in return but attempting to follow Ginny as they were starting to draw attention to themselves, "It's so good to see you!" she smiled, as he kissed both her cheeks and nose, clearly speechless. He offered her his arm in a gentlemanly manner, and they both followed the bride.

She kissed Albert's forehead as he remained impeccably silent like she had told him to moments before. Ginny had reached Harry at the front of the garden, who stood swelling with pride. Mrs Weasley discreetly nudged Hermione as she came to a halt behind them, offering to hold Albert for her. Hermione politely declined, wanting to hold her baby close to her, watching as curiosity swarmed his eyes as he gazed around him, clutching onto his mummy.

Ron and Hermione eventually parted; Ron standing alongside Harry as his best man and Hermione next to Ginny, as her maid of honour.

She could feel Sirius's burning eyes on her. She never thought that the first time her son would be meeting his father would be at a wedding, and she could only imagine how much he wanted to sprint over to them. She took a deep breath and focussed on the service.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join together this man, Harry James Potter, and this woman, Ginevra Molly Weasley, in holy matrimony," Kingsley spoke loudly, "marriage is about making a lifetime commitment to one another in the name of love and all thee here today shall witness their oath."

Hermione glanced over to Sirius, who stood looking as handsome as a royal prince in the front row next to the twins. She caught his grey fathomless eyes for a split second before returning her gaze to the front. She suddenly felt extremely relieved she had ordered Oliver to stay at home, as she knew being as paranoid as he was, he would read into the exchange between the two and accuse Hermione of not being over him. Whenever old feelings crept over her though, she only had to remember his words said about her that time to Charlie Weasley for a powerful wave of anger to sweep over her and remind her why she left Sirius in the first place.

She had never truly gotten over those words.

"Now for the vowels," Kingsley announced, indicating to Ron who fumbled in his robe pocket for the rings. He held them out with a shaky hand. Kingsley smiled pleasantly.

"Now Harry, repeat after me – I, Harry James Potter…"

"I, Ginevra Molly Weasley, take thee Harry James Potter to be my wedded husband. To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us depart," Ginny spoke, fiercely confident.

She grinned as Harry interlaced their fingers.

It was the most beautiful service. Hermione felt tears of joy trickle down her cheeks as she witnessed her best friends marry. Their love for one another was so evident. It was constantly there; in their eyes, their smiles and the way they spoke to one another and the way they held each other's hand.

She felt a tiny palm rest against her cheek and peered down to see Albert staring up at her with worried, big grey eyes.

"It's okay darling," she whispered, snuggling him close, "mummy's fine."

When the service had finished Ron immediately rushed over to her.

"HERMIONE!" he shouted through the crowds as he pushed past them and finally managed to reach her.

Hermione laughed at his enthusiasm and held him close as they hugged.

"So this Albert?" Ron asked weakly, smiling kindly at the tot.

She nodded.

Ron held up his hand for a high five which Albert responded to powerfully.

Ron raised his eyebrows impressively, "quite a strong little guy, aren't you?"

Albert nodded proudly.

"So how have you been?" Ron asked Hermione excitedly, "it's so good to see you; I don't know how we've survived without you Hermione, truly. What have you been up to? You have to tell me everything!"

Hermione giggled and started to talk animatedly until she looked absently over her shoulder. Her voice faded to silence.

Sirius was making his way towards them, running a shaky hand through his unkempt locks nervously. Ron noticed him approaching too and whispered a 'good luck' and 'see you later' before slipping hurriedly away.

Sirius stopped in front of them.

His heart hammered against his chest as he took in the adorable little boy's appearance. Same eyes, same hair, and same smile as he had – even the same cute dimples on his cheeks. It was like looking upon a younger version of him.

Their eyes met and for a minute it felt as if the world had slowed down for this moment as father and son acknowledged each other for the first time, gently smiling to one another as a sizzling connection fused between them like they understood one another already.

Sirius found himself fighting back the tears. He couldn't believe it! He had always loved children, he was wonderful with baby Harry back in the day, but he had never thought he'd have a child of his own.

He felt a surge of affection and love for his little toddler son, such strong unconditional love that would last forever and the weight of huge responsibility thrust upon his shoulders. His heart was soaring; he looked so like him it was uncanny – apart from his nose. He had Hermione's cute button nose.

Sirius swallowed hard and stepped closer to Hermione, who was holding him.

"Hello," he said softly, "you made a very good bridesmaid assistant."

Albert smiled shyly at him and buried his head in the crook of his mum's neck. Sirius visibly stiffened and his eyes filled with vulnerability flickered to Hermione's in a silent question. "He doesn't know what assistant means," she mouthed, then kissed the shy toddler's head. "Albert! Why are you hiding?" she said in a silly voice. "Sirius just said hello to you!"

Instead of re-emerging, Albert spoke into her neck, his small voice sounding muffled, though Hermione could hear his words as clear as day. "No Siri..." he struggled to pronounce his name. "No Siri. I want daddy."

Sirius heard too, and his shiny eyes widened. Was he calling Oliver his daddy? Hermione stared silently at the man in front of her with watering orbs of apology and fought herself not to sob as she cradled their son in her arms. "Sweetheart, Sirius is your daddy," she whispered to him. "He's the man I've been telling you about remember? He can roar really loudly. He's your daddy," she said again.

When the little boy still hadn't moved, Sirius bent down so he was at eye level with him. "Here Albert," he said. "Do you want to see something amazing? Something no one else can do but me? Not even your mummy can do it," he told him, with a teasing smirk directed at Hermione, who tutted and rolled her eyes playfully.

"Albert watch darling," she whispered in his ear, and sure enough he unburied himself from his mother's neck enough to peek a glance at Sirius transform himself from a man into a dog in less than a second.

Snuffles the big black dog animagus began leaping up in an attempt to lick the boy's face and his big grey eyes brightened with intrigue and fascination, so much so that his tiny hand curled around Snuffle's thick fur. His dangly slimy tongue came into contact with Albert's cheek and the toddler burst into a peal of giggles and the sensation, making the dog bark happily and turn back into human form again.

Hermione squealed as Sirius appeared clothes-less in front of her and whipped around so she wouldn't have to witness the sight. Sirius merely beamed and rumbled a laugh from behind her, not at all bothered that he had just appeared naked in front of dozens of people. When his chuckling continued she turned to shoot him a glare, but immediately felt embarrassed for doing so when she saw him rearranging his manhood inside his boxers with one hand and pull on his suit trousers with the other.

She remembered that body well. It wasn't a body you could easily forget.

"Daddy?" the toddler piped up. "Daddy?" he almost shouted to Sirius as he watched him over Hermione's shoulder facing the other way.

Sirius shrugged on his white shirt and made quick work of the buttons, smiling widely as he did so. "I'm coming," he told the boy, and quickly shrugged on his suit jacket, trying and failing to hide the contagious ear to ear grin that spread across his face. It made him look younger, because he was bursting with pride as well as immense happiness. He deserved it too, after having been denied it so long and Albert deserved his daddy.

The toddler squirmed in his mother's arms as he reached out to his father, wishing to be taken by him. With three quick strides Sirius had closed the space, put his hands under his armpits and picked him up. He held him in one arm like he had been holding him for three years, and bobbed him up and down gently. It was the first time having him in his arms, and he couldn't help but shed a tear. His little one felt so small, so delicate, so soft that it felt like a fragment of his imagination.

"Daddy," Albert smiled, and Sirius saw a perfect reflection of his own cheekiness in his son.

"I'm here, I'm right here," he murmured into his silky black-brown head of hair, kissing it. "I'm not going anywhere. Daddy's not going anywhere."

Hermione watched and found herself having to fan away the tears welling in her eyes. The loving scene made her realise that she had achieved all she ever wanted: for Albert to have his dad who loved him unconditionally. The subject of love wasn't (and would never be) an issue. Sirius had loved him from the moment he found out he was a father. Now Albert had the oppurtunity to see how alike he and his dad really were - like she had told him he would.

For the rest of the afternoon Sirius strolled around with Albert parading on his shoulders, or swung over his back in a fireman carry, chuckling as he burst with exhilarating giggles. Each of the Weasley children were introduced to him and they had all taken to the toddler like they had known him since he was born, and it warmed her more than words could say.

She felt like she was really home.

"Speeches!" Fred called over the garden a few hours later, the sky became darker but it didn't stop people dancing wildly, sloshing their drink in their hand or chatting animatedly on the outskirts around circular tables.

George charmed the pumping music to fade out and requested everyone to take their seats at the tables.

The Weasley's, Sirius, Hermione, Neville and Luna were seated on the bride and groom's table. Albert had fallen asleep in his father's arms, his tiny hands curled around Sirius's neck. Sirius relaxed in his chair, a smile playing on his lips as he watched him sleep.

"Ron, best man, come up here you great buffoon," Fred smirked.

Ron turned scarlet and stumbled up to the front of the garden, tripping over his feet as the effects of drinking firewhiskey started taking over. Harry and Hermione exchanged amused looks and looked away quickly to stop laughing. Ron had never been able to take his alcohol.

He grabbed the microphone rather aggressively, "well today has been bloody wicked," he slurred, grinning lopsidedly, "my little sis and my best mate Harry getting married. Now I'm not one to be all emotional and that, but as this a speech then I'd just better say that Harry has always been by my side with everything, and we have had some good times and some bad, at times we have argued yeah, but we have always gotten over it, mainly because I've beaten him," he winked, and everyone laughed, "but yeah – it has always been the golden trio, me, Harry and Hermione and it's a friendship that no one can ever break," Hermione felt herself blushing as some people's eyes swivelled to her, "so I would like to wish the happy couple the best future," he raised his glass, indicating for everyone to do the same and shouted, "to Harry and Ginny!"

"To Harry and Ginny!" everyone announced happily, and downed their glasses.

Ron managed to make his way back to their table without tripping up, and the music started back up again, causing many to jump back on their feet and dance.

"Do you fancy a dance Hermione?" Charlie Weasley said, charmingly, leaning on the back of her chair. "I want to take you for a spin. Something tells me you're a good mover."

Hermione choked on the wine she was currently swallowing, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.

"Just a dance, I swear! I'm not going to take advantage!" he yelped, holding his hands up in surrender,

"Yeah you better not!" Ron warned.

Feeling as though she couldn't exactly back out now, she reluctantly accepted on the basis that she wasn't going to let him touch her inappropriately in any way whatsoever. Standing up and smoothing her dress, she immediately regretted her decision to accept when Charlie pulled her with no hesitation to the dance floor.

"I'll talk to you later, Luna!" she called over her shoulder.

Sirius sat reeling as he watched Charlie dance suggestively with her, never missing an opportunity to touch her waist or sneak a peek at her breasts and bum. He watched how Hermione would steer his hand away when he came to close, or nudge him in the ribs if he tried to dance behind her.

Remus seemed to sense his uneasiness from across the table.

"It's just a dance Sirius, he's not going to try anything," he said quietly.

"He already is," Sirius said hotly, trying not to raise his voice as Albert slept soundly on his lap.

"Can you blame the man?" Remus asked incredulously, "She looks absolutely gorg-" he met Sirius steely gaze and hastily added, "Er – she look's alright."

Remus looked questioningly at his friend, shaking his head in confusion.

"I don't understand why you're getting like this. You have Loretta. She has Oliver. Why are you still acting like you're with her?"

Sirius murmured something unrecognisable.

"Sorry, didn't quite catch that," Remus chortled.

Sirius sighed dramatically, and beckoned Remus to lean in so no one would overhear.

"Because I wish I still was with her," he said through a strained voice, as if every word was causing him a huge amount of effort.

Remus smiled smugly and leaned back against his chair, "I knew it!"

"Oh shut your trap Moony," he snapped.

"Alright, alright, I'm just saying, it was obvious you still had feelings for her," Remus said, "why don't you go and talk to her?"

Sirius shifted in his seat, hoisting Albert further on his shoulder protectively. "Because we'll probably end up arguing," he sighed heavily.

Remus contemplated this for a moment before shaking his head, "no I don't think so Padfoot old friend," he watched as Sirius's eyes followed her every move, "not if you play your cards right."

Sirius groaned, "well, when it comes to winning girls, I have that all worked out," he took a swig from his firewhiskey, "it's just making up with them that's the problem. Especially her," he grimaced, "Normally, girls are predictable, their body language - if they like you they're suggestive, touchy... easy to read. But with Hermione, I can't read her at all."

"I'm sure she says the same about you," Remus laughed.

Sirius sighed and grunted, "I'm going for a smoke."

He rose from his chair, kissing his son softly on the head and strutted over to Mrs Weasley to take Albert until he came back.

Hermione managed to shake Charlie off half an hour later after much wild dancing, saying she needed to speak urgently with Luna and quickly scarpered before he could call her back. He really was disgusting, in every way. Just the feel of his sweaty hands on her waist made her recoil and her stomach lurch.

And it wasn't from all the alcohol.

Breaking away from the crowd, her eyes searched the packed garden for Sirius holding Albert but she couldn't find him anywhere.

She wandered back to their table, her mind hazy from too much wine.

"Are you feeling alright, Hermione?" Remus asked, concerned.

She nodded feebly, gripping on to the back of a chair for support, "have you seen Sirius?"

"Yeah he went for a smoke."

Her eyes widened in shock.

"WHAT?"

"No – not with Albert – he gave him to Molly until he got back!" Remus stammered, looking quite alarmed.

She relaxed in relief and thanked Remus before heading off to find him.

It didn't take her long; he was round the front of the Burrow, leaning against the fence as he sucked on his cigar in the darkness, gazing up at the bright moon.

She walked unsteadily towards him.

"Still smoking then?"

He turned to look at her and smiled.

"Oh yeah – I forgot you hated it," he mused, stroking his goatee before taking a last drag of his cigar and flicking it away.

She didn't speak for a while.

He cleared his throat to break the tension.

"We need to talk," he murmured.

State the obvious. Hermione thought.

She, however, wasn't feeling too confident either.

She swallowed nervously and stared at her feet, to avoid meeting his intense gaze.

"I know."

He watched her look anywhere but his eyes, how she cuddled her arms from the cold and he couldn't help but admire how stunning she stood there before him, like the first night they made love… He wrenched his mind away from that night. That was then, and this was now. Too much had changed. They needed to talk about a lot of things, he knew; the whole situation was so much more complicated than either of them could have fathomed. It wasn't just that Hermione left now. It was so much more than that. Three years on and they had a son together, a vault full of words left unsaid and feelings swept under the carpet. Feelings that would be wrong to express since they both had long term partners.

"You left me," he said, his tone full of accusation, "why? You never explained properly yesterday - not really."

Hermione fought the urge to roll her eyes as she finally looked up at him. Vulnerability was screaming across his face as he stared at her, his brow creased in frustration and longing for what she was going to say. It reminded her of his innocent puppy dog look he pulled rather a lot when they were together, and it didn't make her feel sorry for him like it used to. It didn't make her laugh either; more than anything it killed her to think he saw her as a stupid little girl who didn't know when she was being made a fool of, which she wasn't going to stand for.

"Stop acting like you don't know Sirius. You know what you said, those words which are just so wrong and horrible that I wouldn't wish the pain I've gone through on anyone," she backed away as he stepped closer towards her, "and then you have the nerve to ask me why I left?" she pressed her palm to her forehead hysterically, "you know, you are such a prick it's really quite unbelievable…"

"WHAT DID I SAY?" he roared, the shadow of his maddening Azkaban escapee-self creeping through, "I don't remember! And if I said something so bad for you to react like this then I wouldn't have bloody meant it I SWEAR to you! What have I done? Please Hermione just tell me…"

"Do you really think I'm so stupid enough to fall for your tricks again? 'I'm THE Sirius Black, every witch I woo falls for me eventually!'" she shrilled, "no I won't, it's not happening Sirius! I'm never going to forgive you and I'm never going to love you again!"

Sirius looked as though his mother had arisen from the dead and greeted him with a kiss on the cheek. His hand lunged for hers desperately and he pulled her against him, she tried to shove him away but he held her firmly in his arms; she could feel him shaking against her. It wasn't with anger.

"Please – please, don't say that," he croaked, his voice breaking, "you know how I feel about you, you know I'm all yours, I'm sorry for whatever I said! I didn't mean it, it's a load of shit, I love y-!"

"DON'T SAY YOU LOVE ME!" she shrieked, throwing punches furiously against his chest, half sobbing as she did so, "if you loved me you would've cared that I was ill and not pissed off that you couldn't have sex, you would have stuck up for me when Charlie asked for you to FILM IT and not laugh along with him…" she was crying now, it hurt more than words could say speaking of it, she would remember his words forever. "You would have actually w-wanted me for m-me!"

Sirius's eyes were wet with tears as he cradled her. He couldn't feel the punches anymore; his whole body was numb with pain. He wondered if this was what it like to for your heart to be broken again when it had never recovered from the last blow. Azkaban was nothing compared to this. The dementors were crawling in his veins like bugs, infecting his blood, sucking and sucking showing no remorse. Instead of black hoods they had chocolate ringlets… beautiful eyes you could get lost in… full and sensual lips… a throaty laugh…

"Hermione love, what are you doing?" Sirius called, a hint of amusement detected in his voice.

It was Harry's 21st birthday, and they were celebrating it at the Burrow. Everyone was out in the backyard, soaking in the July sun and enjoying ice cold beers. Sirius was standing on the patio watching her attempt to mount a broomstick. She had never been very confident with flying.

He chuckled as he heard her snap, "what does it look like I'm doing?" He set down his firewhiskey on the table and jogged towards her, abruptly leaving Charlie in mid conversation.

"It looks like you're about to fall off any minute darling," he teased, kissing her on the cheek before grabbing the back of the broom to hold it steady, "you need to move back first, you're too far forward."

Hermione shot him a mock glare before shuffling backwards. She raised her eyebrows when the broom instantly became more balanced in the air.

"And now hold your hands here," he said, gently placing one hand near the top of the broom and the other beneath it, he smiled as she crinkled her nose in concentration, "you're going to need to lean further forward than that love," he said, chortling as her breasts peeked out from her low cut dress she wore.

She made to slap him on the shoulder but thought better of it when her broom shook unsteadily and she grasped it fearfully again. He kissed her softly on the neck, "there we go," he murmured, "you're ready to fly now."

She didn't budge, but just bit her lip and glanced at him.

"Come on with me," she whispered, "I'm scared."

He didn't say anything for a few moments, but just nodded. It was a mark of their relationship that he didn't laugh, like she thought he would have.

He wanted to protect her when she felt frightened, and he did.

He swung his leg over the broomstick and settled in behind her, wrapping one arm around her waist and resting a hand on top of her hand at the top of the broom for comfort and reassurance. He felt her muscles relax immediately. It made his heart warm knowing that she felt safe around him, even when he kicked them off the ground and sped into the sky – around Sirius, she was safe.

"'Mione, look at me," he whispered, cupping her face in his hands, "I just want you, just you and our little boy, and you'd make me the happiest man on Earth," he kissed her trembling lips softly. "I'm sorry, I have never meant it more – please – please. You're killing me Hermione."

They stayed like that for what felt like forever, but in reality it could have been seconds, or a couple of minutes. Hermione didn't know. His words were beautiful, she couldn't deny, but whether he meant them or not was another matter. She felt herself shake her head, tears trickling down her rose cheeks as she did so, and wriggle away from his strong hold.

"I need to go," she hollered, "I need to clear my head… give me some space okay? I'll bring Albert to you. I-I told you I never want to love you again and I'm sticking to that, and if you do love me, you can experience the years of pain I went through over you, Sirius."

She raised her chin defiantly and turned on her heel and ran away from him.

He caught her by the wrist and pulled her back, "'Mione no! For fuck's sake - I love you! Please I love you!"

Catching his pained expression, her breath hitched before pressing her lips against his. The second their lips touched it was a haze of tongue swipes battling for dominance and heavy breaths. Her arms were wound round his neck. And his were everywhere, caressing her collarbone, cupping her cheeks, tangled into her hair... There were teeth clashes and tugs on lips and traces of saliva on chins. It wasn't a good kiss in any means. Sloppy, desperate, and rushed deemed more appropriate - but it was a kiss searing with passion at its highest. They were drunk on each other's scent and taste from three years ago. She pushed back against his chest and pulled away but he only re-captured her lips and pulled her closer, and she whimpered into his embrace. The fiery kiss would start again.

Somehow, many minutes later, she found the strength to break away from his lips and take a shaky step back. When she opened her mouth she said the words that she had been meaning to say. The words which - though cliche - best summed up their situation.

"Love isn't enough anymore Sirius," she whispered.

And with that, she disappeared around the corner before he could catch his breath. She left him, just like she had done last time, with her last words floating in the air and the taste of her stinging his lips.

A/N: It's all very dramatic! I hope it isn't too cliche, but I wanted their passion to be shown in all it's light. Even if it meant saliva on chins. I watched the Harry Potter Part 2 opening night (obviously!) and it was amazing. Nothing compared to the book but still, I was sobbing hysterically with my best mate in the cinema. Bit obsessed I'd say. Anyway, I'll keep writing through my depression!