Sirius eyed the carefully stacked boxes on the floor with a little suspicion and a great deal of wariness. He had been putting this off for months, but now, with a potential move in the future, it was time to rip the bandage off. When he had first gotten back to Grimmauld Place, waking up that morning in his childhood room, it was to the awareness that nothing was as it should have been. Blinking into alertness he realised that the walls were the wrong colour, the furniture moved or even replaced, and the stale stench of decay was gone from the air. With his confused state of mind and panic in his chest he had seriously considered that he'd been dropped into an alternate reality, one in which the home of the Ancient and Noble House of Black wasn't a residence of shadows but a dwelling of light.
Until he had been found at least.
Harry had been so apologetic, hastily explaining that they had remodelled his room when they did everything else. Sirius couldn't have cared less; he had no emotional attachment left to the place. Even when it had been his home, he had coated every bare inch of wall with muggle posters and Gryffindor flags.
As it turned out Harry had kept everything that was in the room, having caringly packed up his possessions and then held onto them, Merlin knew what for. After Harry had returned them Sirius had put them away at the back of his cupboard, out of sight out of mind. But the time for hiding was long gone. He picked up the three that bore his name and with a flash of resolve emptied the contents onto the bed. The remaining boxes, the ones still neatly stacked on the floor, bore a different consultation name, that of the real lion in the family. Sirius' fingers had twitched over the lids of those boxes several times, but there was only so much bravery one person could be expected to display in a single day. At the very least he knew he should wait until there was someone else in the house when he faced that, or a lot of whisky close by, or preferably both.
Sirius ran his hand through the scattered remains of his shattered life, idly picking things up and putting them back down. A red striped tie, a Quidditch jersey, a few magazines. There wasn't a lot there. Most of his things, the possessions that he cared about had been in his shared flat with Remus when he was taken away. He hadn't had the chance to take anything the night he left his family home when he had fled to the Potter's. Despite everything that had gone on between them, the distrust that had been building on both sides for over a year and his eventual imprisonment Moony had kept a few bits from then, his old leather jacket as well as a few of his records and his photos.
He began moving stuff into the rubbish bag he had put aside, lifting out a few things he wouldn't mind keeping. All in all, he was feeling pretty morose after an hour. A quick glance at the clock showed it was eleven, probably too early for a drink.
As he began to magic away some of the mess that had been created when years of dust were disturbed he heard someone walking around downstairs. Harry and Ginny were planning to be out all day, and Remus was off doing something with Teddy, which only really left one option. By the time he registered that the footfalls were now on the stairs he barely had any warning before the door opened and Hermione poked her head around.
"Hi, due to an incident in the office that I am not allowed to discuss with 'non-goblins' I have been given the rest of the day off, I was wondering if you wanted to go for lunch?" she asked brightly until she registered the odd mix of objects that littered his bed. "Or I can come back?"
"No no," he replied immediately, "lunch would be nice."
"Out or in?" she asked.
"Out, definitely out."
He waved his wand to clear the rest up and reached into his cupboard to pull out his jacket. Hermione dutifully walked to the other side of the room not looking at the stuff that he had saved. Unfortunately, he didn't catch on fast enough that the direction she moved in put her right in front of his desk.
"Sirius?" she asked as he shut the cupboard door, turning seeing her fingers on top of the most recent stack of property particulars. "You're moving?" she whispered, her eyes trailing down the parchment until she picked it up alarmed "Plymouth?!"
He walked over and took the parchment out of her hands. "Hermione, I picked up everything they had. I wasn't sure what I was interested in."
"Oh… Well, have you decided?" She asked airly.
"No," he admitted, herding her out of the room. "But I went to look at one" he revealed, casting a covert glance in her direction to judge her reaction.
Hermione worried her bottom lip, but her voice was calm. "Oh… Where was that?"
"Not far from here."
"That's wonderfully specific Sirius," she said sarcastically, and he smiled at her.
"When I know, you will know."
"Fine," she pouted, and Sirius reached forward to run a hand over her upper arm soothingly.
"Come on," he chided, "I'll apparate us."
Sirius was once again gathering up his stuff to make a hasty departure the day of Ginny's baby shower. Witches had been arriving for the last half an hour and Sirius would happily have been long gone hours ago had he not been waiting on Remus to show with Tonks, and Harry to convince himself after 'one last check' that Ginny was okay to be left alone for a couple of hours.
Far from the man that Hermione had to chastise to stay sober previously, with the due date looming Harry had gone into overprotective mode, suddenly gripped with intense fear that something was going to go wrong. He had almost vaulted the dining table when Ginny had sneezed the day before, and Sirius was going to be using the time out of the house to attempt to inject some calm into the boy, as well as some booze. Harry would need it, the pregnant witch in question seemed to find his new attitude even more irritating than his previously lack of preparedness and her temper was constantly flaring.
When Harry extracted himself from the kitchen and finally ran up the stairs to get his coat, Sirius bravely dipped his head in to shout his goodbyes, or a hello in Hermione's case. He had only seen her partially since she arrived earlier that morning as she was either obscured behind various boxes or moving as a barely visible flash as she ran around to make last minute preparations, since she had arrived earlier that morning.
Ginny was sat at the top of the table, surrounded by gifts, and animated chatting to Fleur and Tonks who were flanking her on either side. Predictably, Hermione had not yet taken a seat and was at the end of the table pouring drinks for the assembled rabble.
"We are finally ready, so we will leave you witches to get up to whatever mischief you have planned, have an excellent time Ginny," he called. The young witch smiled at him, the most serene expression he had seen on her face for days, and he planned to turn to Hermione and get out of there while his luck was in, but as he stepped into the kitchen, he was intercepted by Luna.
"Are you not staying Sirius?" she asked in her dreamlike tones that unnerved him greatly, she was a carbon copy of her mother in looks and heart, but the way she looked at him, head cocked to the side like she could read his every thought freaked him out. He had seen her looking at him and Hermione on several occasions before, and he wondered what the little witch had said about what she suspected to her friend if anything.
"No, I'm off to seek sanctuary in a pub while you lot attack the wine supply."
"Really? I thought you might be interested in our conversations, Hermione was just explaining a muggle concept."
"Luna," Hermione interrupted warningly, and Sirius curiosity was instantly peaked.
He turned back towards the ethereal blonde ignoring Hermione's narrowed eyes. "You don't say, please continue."
"What was it called Hermione?" she asked, trailing a delicate finger around the top of her champagne flute.
"Luna not…" Hermione tried, pink pooling in her cheeks but Luna didn't listen.
"Oh that was it…. 'Butlers in the Buff'," Luna exclaimed happily, and Hermione uttered a muffled curse.
Sirius raised an eyebrow at the curly-haired witch, her face now in flames, "What's that poppet?"
"I'm sure you can deduce from the name Sirius," she bit out, and he moved to stand closer to her.
"Well I mean I'm game," he teased.
"Don't you dare Sirius Black," she forced out between gritted teeth, and he smirked at her.
"As you wish," he responded brightly, planting a kiss on her forehead before leaving the room with a spring in his step.
He bumped into Remus as he closed the door behind him, leaning against the wall with a bemused expression. "I don't know what's got you so happy; you were just dismissed from the room."
"No," he denied, "just because you have freakish hearing doesn't mean you understand. Hermione was practically forbidding me from getting naked in a room full of witches," he replied smugly.
"Yes, a room which includes her," Remus replied exasperated.
"Don't piss on my bonfire Moony."
The baby shower ended up being a huge success by all accounts, not that he would have needed to take people's word for it, he had seen the state of the kitchen, it was evident there had been a good party. He had hoped to see Hermione when he got back from the pub and had tried to hide his disappointment by asking about her instead. Ginny had packed her off home apparently, saying she had done enough with taking on all the clear up as well, Sirius agreed, though it was an incredibly inconvenient time for him for Ginny to realise that Hermione might be over contributing suddenly.
He had tried to contact her a few times that week, but she had apparently been busy with work. A massive raid in Paris had been undertaken by the field curse-breaking team and according to Fleur Hermione's department at Gringotts had been backlogged with the potentially dangerous artefacts that had been retrieved, then additional pressure had been heaped on them by the French Ministry who wanted findings as soon as possible to organise trails. All of it had meant that Hermione had been out of contact for a few days and it made Sirius feel off kilter.
He had settled into the living room, it being another Friday night where he just didn't feel like going out. Instead, he loaded up one of the DVDs Hermione had left in a neat stack and tried to lose himself in the story. It didn't work. He kept catching himself turning to look at the other end of the sofa, where she would normally be. He had invited her, despite how busy she was, but like every other request that week she had turned him down with apologies. He had looked at her response for a little while, turning the scrap of parchment over in his fingers. This time he protested, just a little bit, he was sure she couldn't have actually been at work after the amount of hours she had done that week and she confirmed that she wasn't but said she was tired and wanted to get an early night. Once again he regarded the note for a while, something about the wording didn't sit right, it was too stiff, something was lacking. In the end, he chucked it into the fire and gave up on seeing her for a few more days.
As soft click of heels distracted him and he turned his eyes to the screen again to watch who he thought must be the protagonist walk along the corridor in front of the cells. So that was what a muggle prison looked like? He sat lower in his seat and tried to focus his attention on the unfolding plot.
Sirius drummed his fingers on the arm of the sofa and looked up at the clock, the film had been on half an hour, and he wasn't sure he had taken any of it in. There were no blankets or cushions here, he had felt a bit silly when he considered going to get one and in the end hadn't bothered. He had however made popcorn, not that it tasted anywhere near as good as the way Hermione made it.
He signed getting to his feet; there was nothing else for it, he would go loopy if he continued sitting there staring into space. Before he could talk himself out of it, he grabbed a handful of floo powder and shouted the direction to Hermione's flat. It wasn't that late he told himself, well, it was kind of late for a social call but he thought he could get away with it, he could probably just play it off as being bored at home, maybe say he'd already tried Remus. He shook his head as he sought to navigate the darkened living room, he couldn't do that could he because that was….
"Ow Fuck!" he cursed loudly into the darkness as he collided into a dark shape. When did she move her fucking coffee table?
He reached down to slide off his boot and grip his battered toes. Limping slightly as he did so. Suddenly the room was washed with light, and a wand was pressed against his chest When his eyes had lost the white dots from the sudden light he registered more than Hermione's frantic breathing. An eye mask was pushed back into her unruly curls, her body almost completely hidden by pyjamas far too big for her, a mass of white cotton with little purring cats all over.
"Don't think much of your bedroom fashion love," he quipped, while gingerly moving his toes and putting his foot back down.
She huffed, crossing her arms defensively over her chest, "I'll have you know not all of us go to bed like Victoria Secret girls Sirius," she replied frostily.
"What's one of them?"
"Underwear models." she muttered as she tugged at the bottom of her shirt awkwardly.
He filed that for further investigation later. "I meant the cats," he clarified pointing at her pyjamas.
"Oh," she looked down blushing slightly, "present from Molly."
"Why didn't you come over?" he blurted before he could stop himself and Hermione took a step back looking up at him perplexed.
"I told you why," she replied but she averted her eyes, Sirius stepped forward to eliminate some of the space. "I wasn't feeling too good… tired, I was feeling tired."
Liar. He was torn between teasing the real answer out of her and ignoring it totally when in his moment of indecision he heard a voice, a distant voice, a man's voice. Sirius' eyes bore into Hermione, "Have you got company?" he demanded shortly.
"No," she protested swiftly.
Before he could press her, he heard it again, a quiet rumbling that was coming from the second floor. Not willing to stand there a moment longer he brushed past her, anger burning up his throat as he marched up the short flight of stairs. Hermione, in a daze for a couple of moments, chased after him when she realised what he was doing, racing to catch up to his much longer strides, her little feet hitting every step in pursuit as he took them three at a time. "Sirius, what are you playing at?" she demanded, "What are you even doing here?"
But he didn't reply; he followed the voice until he was outside what he assumed was Hermione's room before taking one last glance at her face and whipping the door open.
As he had climbed the stairs, his mind had provided a montage of worse and worse images of what he would find, but nothing had prepared him for an empty room. He walked towards the bed bemused, holding himself back from checking in familiar hiding places until the voice started again, much closer now, and he snapped his head around to see a TV, much smaller than the one in the living room, mounted on the wall.
His heart was still pounding as Hermione finally caught up, and he tried to find the words to cover up his extraordinary behaviour but came up a blank. "Did you think I had a man up here?" Hermione demanded between breathing in gulps of air from the exertion, with an irritated gleam in her eyes as she walked into the room. "Look at me Sirius," she said incredulously, holding her hands away from herself to gesture at what she was wearing.
I am.
As she began shuffling about his brain finally caught up, and he sauntered over to the unrumpled side of her bed and threw himself on top of the covers. "Well this is much nicer," he grinned.
"Excuse me Mr Black did I say you could get into my bed?" Hermione huffed, folding her arms across her chest.
"We both know you were thinking it," he teased, and Hermione dropped a hand over her face muttering something about 'Jesus'.
"Well, are you getting in or what?" he asked, holding up a corner of the plush covers watching as she narrowed her eyes at him. After a moment she raised her eyes heavenward before stomping her foot and getting back under the covers. Propping herself up against the headboard.
"Please tell me you took your boots off," she asked as she settled herself.
"Trying to get me undressed?"
"Sirius," she complained.
"Oh, sush woman I took them off downstairs after I nearly got Avada'd by your coffee table. What are we watching?" He asked as he stretched out.
"I am watching Practical Magic," she replied tartly.
"What's that about?"
"Witches."
"You're being deliberately obtuse Hermione."
She snuggled down a little lower, her hair fanning over the back of the pillow, "It's about two sisters that are witches, and the different ways they cope with it."
After a while, his questions died down as he relaxed into the bedding. The bedroom, it turned out, was even better than the living room to watch films.
About midway through another character appeared and he turned to Hermione. "Who's the redhead?"
"Gillian, she's Sally's sister," Hermione replied in a whisper, behaving adorably like they were in an actual cinema.
"Reminds me of a girl I used to know," he responded with a smile, and Hermione snorted.
"I bet she does. I would also imagine a girl is something of a gross underestimation."
Sirius laughed softly before shifting on the bed towards her and raising his arm, Hermione, seemingly without conscious thought snuggled into his chest.
"Do we like her?" he asked quietly, emulating her soft tones and moving the conversation away from his rather checkered past.
"We do, but we don't like her boyfriend."
"Got it."
It was late by the time the credits began to roll, the conversation in the room had been non-existent for the last half an hour, and Sirius thought Hermione had fallen asleep. She was curled up into an impossibly small ball, her legs pulled right up almost against her chest under the covers, and her head had moved farther onto his chest, her gentle breaths heating his skin as he played with her hair. He was so relaxed that he almost jumped when she suddenly spoke, "Sirius it's time to go."
Sirius' hand stilled in her hair. He didn't want to go, though he didn't think either of them were ready for a frank conversation about where their friendship was going. So he covered up with humour. "You can't expect me to go home now; it's late, and dark outside. Anything could happen to me," he protested.
"Through the floo?" she replied dryly and he smiled.
"I'll make you coffee in the morning?"
Hermione sighed, "Fine, but I'm going to bed."
"Me too."
While Hermione sorted out turning off the film Sirius ran down the corridor to use the bathroom, washing his face quickly he eyed her toothbrush and a smirk formed on this face.
As he climbed into bed, he rearranged the pillows looking down when he heard a strange rustling. "What in the name of Merlin?" he slid a hand under the bottom pillow and pulled out a series of chocolate wrappers.
Hermione buried her head against his chest. "I don't like watching films without treats," she mumbled, muffled against his t-shirt.
"Hermione Jean Granger, you were raised better."
Hermione snatched the packets away from him and scowled with mock indignation. "Considering you behave as if you were raised by a pack of stray dogs most of the time I don't believe chocolate in bed is a capital offence."
Sirius' smile took on a wicked gleam. "There's nothing wrong with chocolate in bed poppet, just you know, it's usually a little bit more exciting than empty wrappers."
Hermione pulled her head away from his chest, her mouth open and her eyes like saucers.
"Too far?" he asked.
"No, I don't think anything you say would shock me anymore, but I just thought what a mess that would make of the sheets."
Sirius barked out a laugh and deciding to utilise her distraction while he could, he leant forward and pressed a soft kiss on the side of her mouth. It was fleeting, far too quick, but he didn't dare linger for much longer. He didn't look at her for a moment, closing his eyes as he revelled in the soft feel of her warm skin, as she shifted slightly he caught her eye and saw the thoughtful expression on her face.
"Did you use my toothbrush?" He smiled against his will, and she shoved him a little before turning over and flicking out the light.
"Good night Sirius."
"Good night Hermione."
The room was silent, and Sirius moved around in her bed trying to get comfortable, he rolled onto his side to face her back and looked up over at the pillows, only this time they weren't empty, they were filled with a mass of chocolate curls. "Hermione?" he asked softly.
"Yes."
"Can I come over and watch another film tomorrow, I don't think that TV you set up works properly at Grimmauld."
There was a pause, a couple of seconds too long and then her voice broke it, "if you would like."
He waited a moment until he could feel her settle again and he spoke, "And Hermione?"
"Yes, Sirius."
"Can it be my pick?"
"Yes Sirius," she responded with a yawn.
"Good."
He turned over onto his back and stared at the ceiling; he couldn't remember the last time he shared a bed with anyone, it was very unfamiliar. He was nervous he realised, not of the act itself but what it meant, but it didn't mean he didn't want more, to make the most of it. "Hermione, can we spoon?"
"If we do will you shut up?"
"Yes... Maybe," he said with a smile leaking into his tone, "one last thing." He reached around to his nightstand and casting a quick lumos before he waved his hand over her pyjamas, and the meowing cats changed into silently panting black dogs. "Much better."
"I'm so glad you're happy," Hermione tutted, and he put his wand back before settling close behind her gently pushing his arm under her neck and resting the other at her waist.
"Hermione?" he asked again, this time right by the shell of her ear.
"Black if you don't shut the…"
"Aren't you glad you can yell at me again now?" She giggled, and he could feel the tremors running through her body.
"Sirius?"
"Hermione this better be important" he replied imitating her indignant tone. "What is it?"
"Why did you come over?"
"Because the film it didn't work …" he began, but she cut him off.
"Sirius."
"Let me finish," gripped her a little tighter, snaking his hands around her, so they joined across her middle. "The thing you did the charm work or whatever was all right, obviously fine as you know, it was you. But it wasn't the same without you there."
It was easier to say now they weren't looking at each other, much simpler than when they spoke in the kitchen, for as raw as that had been he had made himself keep his distance, it was a lot easier to say what he had while she was tucked into him. "Hermione?"
"Yes?"
"Why didn't you come over?"
She stilled, "I'm not sure how to answer that."
"It's a simple question," he pressed gently.
"I know…. I just….I can't give you an answer. Not right now at least, not honestly," she finished quietly.
"Was it that you didn't want to see me?"
"No, it… it wasn't that."
"Is whatever it was going to make you do it again?"
She slid her hands to rest over his, "I… I don't think that's possible anymore."
A/N Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback lovelies, updated estimated chapter length is 7/8. Next one should be up Monday or Tuesday.
