Once again, please read and review! And same as before: not my characters, don't sue me!

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Sirius hadn't been this nervous about a date since… well, he couldn't remember when. He left Number 12 Grimmauld Place at 5 o'clock the next day dressed in a simple but perfectly tailored black suit and black shirt with thin grey threads running through it. His hair was perfectly tousled to look like he had just gotten out of bed and he carried a small bag and a single black magic rose. He made his way through muggle London to the Leaky Cauldron.

The pub was busy with the after work crowd. Sirius had to push himself past all the witches and wizards that were already a little tipsy to get to the trash bins. On his way, several witches that he had had one night stands with threw themselves at him but Sirius just ignored their advances and kept on walking. He poked the right brick with his wand and made his way into Diagon Alley.

Dumbledore's Library wasn't too far from the Leaky Cauldron and was right across the street from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Sirius was just about the knock on the door of Hermione's shop when he heard to distinct voices shout at him.

"Oi! Sirius!"

"Fancy a drink?"

He turned and saw Fred and George running over to him. They wore neon yellow robes that matched the trim on their purple shop. For some reason, it took longer for Fred to return than the others. He had only returned about two months ago, in his bed. Since Fred had died, George had gotten very close to Angelina Johnson, whom his twin had been dating since their fifth year. Fred's return initially complicated things between three of them but soon, much to the chagrin of Molly Weasley, Angelina moved into the flat above their shop with the two and was apparently dating the both of them. Angelina said that she simply couldn't choose between them and, for now, this arrangement seemed to be working.

"Um… no, boys."

"What's the matter? Gotta hot date?" George asked with a big, lascivious grin.

"Actually, yes. I've got plans with the young lady inside." He braced himself to be hexed by the pair, fully aware that they thought of Hermione as their second sister.

"There's no young lady inside, just Hermione," Fred said dumbly.

"I am in fourth year again?" The three men turned and saw Hermione, arms crossed, leaning against the door frame of her shop, delicately fingering her wand. She was wearing a bulky, cream colored cardigan sweater over Gryffindor T-shirt, jeans and multi-colored toes socks. Her hair was pulled back in a simple ponytail and she wore her glasses low on her nose, similar to Professor McGonagall. "Why, oh, why do all the Weasley boys not believe that I'm a female until they've seen physical evidence?" she asked, more to the world than anyone in particular.

"You're welcome to prove us wrong, Mione," George said, waggling his eyebrows.

"As tempting as that is, I don't think Angelina would like it much," she said, pointing across the way. Angelina was sticking her head out the window, looking furious with both of them.

"Come back here and clean this mess up! Merlin, I don't care what messes you make in the workshop or downstairs, but I thought I was perfectly clear when I said that there would be absolutely no testing of new products in my home!" She slammed the window shut and even through the glass they could here her stomping around.

"What'd you do?" Sirius asked.

"Well, we've developed a new version of Skiving Snackboxes and let's just say Ron was over for tea," Fred said, innocently as they crossed the street. "Sirius, treat our Miss Granger right or we'll be sending some of them your way."

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind." He turned back to Hermione. She was incredibly adorable right now, in her stocking feet, grandma sweater, and glasses. He held out the rose to her. "Ready for dinner?"

"Sirius, I'm not even dressed! I was planning on going home and ch—" she stopped when Sirius held up the small bag in his hand.

"Ginny picked it out for you. I don't think I've ever seen her so excited."

Hermione giggled and beckoned him into the shop. "I just need to straighten up first, then I'll change and we can go."

It looked like a tornado had hit the usually tidy store. Books were scattered everywhere, magazine were strewn about and a mountain of returns was stacked up by the register. With a wave of her wand, everything began whizzing around to its proper place. In a moment, it looked as if no one had ever set foot in the shop. Hermione took the bag from Sirius and ducked into her office to change.

Sirius looked above the register at the large portrait of a purple robed man with a waist-length silver beard and half-moon spectacles that dominated the room. It was Dumbledore. Professor McGonagall had given it as a gift to Hermione when the shop first opened at the subject's request.

"Hello, Professor." Sirius stepped closer to the portrait.

"Mr. Black, good to see you again. I take it you lost your bet with Miss Granger, did you not?" Even in paint, the old man's bright blue eyes somehow sparkled.

"Let's just say she won."

Dumbledore chuckled. "I hope for both of your sakes that this evening goes well."

"What do you mean, Sir?" Sirius asked.

"As Mr. Potter has proved many times over, you can not escape your destiny, even if you do not believe in such things."

"You speak of Andromeda's prophesy."

"Indeed, I do."

"Well, if things are destined to be a certain way, then how tonight goes shouldn't change anything."

"Very true. But it will be easier for you in the grand scheme of things."

Before he had a chance to ask anymore questions, Hermione returned from her office. Sirius had no idea what Ginny had picked out for her to wear when he left the house and he was glad he had resisted the temptation to peek. Hermione wore a simple black, A-line dress that was modest but somehow still sexy and metallic strappy heels. Her hair was now hanging loose and she had tucked the rose behind her ear. She was shrinking her other clothes and putting them in the bag before shrinking that bag and placing it in her purse.

"Good night, Albus. I'll see you tomorrow?" She flicked her wand again to turn down the lights.

"Yes, my dear. Oh, Minerva asked to tell you that she would love to come in tomorrow for the children's reading hour."

"Wonderful! The children love her, especially when she reads muggle fairytales." She opened the door to the shop and Sirius followed her. She cast the locking spell she had created and sighed. "I will be glad when Hogwarts season is done."

Sirius took her hand tentatively in his and began to lead the way out of Diagon Alley. "How bad was it?"

"It would be fine except for the mothers. I swear, some of them are on their fourth child and you would think they would have an idea on where to find the textbook section. It's in the same place it was before!" Sirius chuckled at her as they pushed their way through the pub and into muggle London. "It's not funny! If it weren't for Molly, Tonks and Lily, I'd really think that witches got dumber with each baby they popped out!"

"What about the muggle mothers?"

"I don't mind their questions because they truly don't know. They are in such shock by everything that they rarely ask any questions at all. That's why I started selling all the first years' books as a package; it's just easier for them to comprehend." She hadn't really been watching where they were going but she soon realized that they were in the really nice, expensive part of town. "Sirius, where are you taking me?"

"It's a surprise."

"I don't like surprises."

"Trust me, you'll love this one."

They walked for several more blocks before they finally stopped in front of a large building with a marquee. "Here we are."

"The Winter's Tale?" She couldn't help but smile. It was her favorite Shakespeare play. "How did you know about this?"

"Shakespeare is my favorite playwright but I've never seen The Winter's Tale. I was in a coffee shop the other day and overheard to women talking about it and I remembered you saying that you liked it so I thought that this would be something nice to do together." He led her into the theatre and handed their tickets over to the usher who led them to their seats.

For the next three hours, Hermione and Sirius sat in complete silence, watching the play before them. At the end, as Prospero raised his staff above his head and broke it, thereby giving up his magic, Hermione felt tears begin to slide down her cheek. The cast came out to bow and she stood to applaud them, tears still flowing. Sirius looked at her, shocked. He was surprised that this would affect her so much. They left the theatre, hand in hand.

"Do you want to get something to eat?" he asked her.

"Yeah, that'd be good," she said softly. They ducked into a small restaurant near the theatre. They received some odd looks from the other patrons and their waiter because Hermione was still weeping. Sirius ordered a bottle of wine for the two of them and watched Hermione nervously.

"I'm sorry, if I had known, I wouldn't have—" he began but Hermione cut him off.

"No, no, it's fine; it's not your fault. I'm sorry for acting like this. It's just… Merlin, his last monologue always gets to me." She dabbed her eyes with her napkin, finally beginning to calm down.

"Why?"

"Because I would have done that for Ron if he had asked me to. I would have given up my magic to be with him." Hermione stated it matter-of-factly, as if she had known this for years and it would never change. However, Sirius could tell that he was the first person she was admitting this to. "Now, I wouldn't. But from the ages of eleven to eighteen, I would have done it in a heartbeat. That is how much I loved him. I guess that's stupid and doesn't make sense."

"Mione, I know what you mean." He reached across the table and took her hand in his. "I would have done the same thing to get James and Lily back."

"Really?"

"Yes. I think that every," he looked around to make sure no one was too close before continuing, "witch or wizard would do that at some point for someone if they were asked. It's human nature."

"I guess it is."

They ate a quiet dinner with minimal conversation, not out of awkwardness but out of comfort. For the past year, they had shared almost every meal together and talking was not necessary for them to carry on a conversation. They returned home to 12 Grimmauld Place in the best of spirits because, for both of them, it was the best first date they had ever had.

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Thanks to everyone that has read and reviewed so far! I'm not too much of a fan of this chapter, probably because I'm finishing it at 4:46 in the morning. Please continue to read and review as I keep posting new chapters, your support is greatly appreciated!