A Paws in Time
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, as revolutionary an idea like that may seem to you. JKR owns the Potterverse.
Summary: During the "final battle" Hermione is hit with a curse and falls through the veil. Time Travel HGSB
Chapter 9: Captivation
Midnight, and Hermione still couldn't sleep. The bed did not feel like its normal comfortable state, the dim light that made its way from behind her curtains streaming from the moon was too bright, the tiny noises just seemed too loud. Most of all, Hermione just couldn't clear her mind.
She kept replaying her conversation with Lupin. She had admitted out loud that she liked Sirius – a thought she could barely comprehend herself, let alone allow Lupin to know. Why had she told Lupin?
She turned onto her side.
Because she needed to have someone to talk to in this time. She was so used to having Ron and Harry to talk to (just to get something off her chest, if not discuss it) that having no-one to tell her problems to seemed foreign and difficult. So she had told the first person who had worked out who Polaris really was – her only objective confidant in a strange time – if you could call the younger version of the man's best friend objective. Had it done her any good?
She tossed over onto her other side.
Yes, she liked Sirius, she really did. He was handsome, intelligent, funny…the list went on. For the first time since she had met him, Hermione could see the qualities that others had told her and her friends of, but had never seen first hand because of the hand that fate had dealt him. But could she really act on her feelings?
Hermione sighed and rolled over, pulling the quilt up to her chest. She didn't know. She knew that Sirius liked her, that much was obvious. But what would Harry think of her dating his godfather? She knew that Harry's opinion didn't matter but she used it as just one of the reasons not to answer her ultimate question.
She rolled over again and pushed the quilt back down to her waist. She couldn't continue this way. She'd never sleep again if she didn't get a straight answer. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and pulled a kimono over the shorts and vest top she was wearing. She crossed the bedroom to the door and paused. Would she really do it?
Taking one look back at the messy blankets on the bed she answered herself. Yes she really would.
Walking though the dark, empty classroom to the door to Polaris's office seemed to take an hour, anticipation building up inside her. She walked through the office to a portrait of a man standing by the Forbidden Forest during a full moon.
"Password?" the man asked.
Hermione hesitated a second before saying "I'm sorry, sir, but I don't actually know the password."
"No password, no entry. Sorry," the man said, turning to enter the Forest.
"Wait!" Hermione called after him. "Could you tell him that I'm here to see him? Only it's kind of important." The man left his frame and the minutes that he was gone for felt much longer. He returned and the portrait swung open allowing Hermione entrance to Sirius's rooms. As she walked into the living room, Sirius entered out of the bedroom. His eyes were full of concern.
"What is it? Another nightmare?" Sirius queried, worried about her. His eyes scanned her appearance, taking in every inch that he saw. Hermione took this as a good sign and answered the question.
"No, not a nightmare," she replied, returning the cursory look over Sirius's body, dressed in boxers and a t-shirt.
"Then what's wrong?" Sirius asked, confusion evident on his face.
"I…I couldn't sleep. There's so much I need to…Sirius, I… I like you." Hermione rushed out.
Sirius stood blankly for a few seconds and Hermione's heart sank as he said "you can't."
"What?!" she screamed. "Why not?"
Sirius didn't answer. How could he tell her that she couldn't like him because he knew that she'd break his heart one day and that that day would be the one that would kill him? He remained silent, unable to put this into words.
"Honestly, Sirius. Do you like me?" Hermione asked, desperate not to be rejected.
He couldn't lie to her. But he couldn't tell her the truth. He said nothing.
"Sirius?"
Still nothing
"Sirius! Answer me!" Hermione's eyes showed the desperation; her need for his answer.
He hesitated briefly before striding over to where Hermione stood, wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered "Yes." He bent his head down and pressed his lips to hers.
A/N I'M SOOOOOO SORRY! SORRYSORRYSORRYSORRYSORRYSORRY. I've no idea what happened. I just got so caught up in that sucky thing that most people call life that I completely put off doing this. So I'm going to make it up to you. I'm posting the next chapter with this as well. puppydogeyes am I forgiven? Anyway, what do you think (and not just about it being 3 months between posts, yes, that sucks)? You've read it, so review it and make me smile! Honestly, I love to hear what you think of the story and constructive criticism is always appreciated. As always, a HUGE "thank you" to my beta Coolkitten12! Lul, J
